Kels

So after all the chaos, things seemed to calm down once the group arrived at Hershel's farm. It was like everyone could finally breathe for a minute, especially after those crazy days they'd been through.

Well, except for Carol and the Grimes family, of course. It's like they can't catch a break. I guess when everyone decided to call it quits on the search for Sophia and started heading back to the highway camp, Lori got whisked away to this farm a couple miles out. This green-eyed girl, Maggie, found her and said Carl had been shot. So, Lori and Maggie hurried off on horseback to there family's farm, leaving directions for the small group to follow.

After Aurelia and the group finished setting up their tents around the farm, and Carl finally feeling better running around outside playing with Aurelia for hours she falls to the floor. She sees Carl come above her covering the hot sun from her face laughing.

She squints “Man you have a lot of energy, I can’t keep up with you.” She says catching her breath, Aurelia gets off the floor dusting off all the dirt from her pants and heads inside the farm house, she has yet to introduce herself and thank the farmer’s family.

Aurelia approached the front door and rapped her knuckles against the wood. "It's open," she heard the farmer call out from inside. She reached for the doorknob, twisting it to swing the door inward.

Stepping inside, Aurelia's eyes landed on the farmer and his family gathered around the dining table. She offered them a warm smile, hoping to ease the tension of the situation.

"I just wanted to personally thank you and your family,” she said, "I know Rick already has on behalf of the whole group, but I wanted you guys to know how much this means to us."

Everyone at the table turned to Aurelia, their faces softening into heart-warming smiles. "Well, thank you very much—" the farmer began, before being gently interrupted. "Aurelia," she offered, filling the pause with her name.

"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Aurelia," Hershel said, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled. "I'm Hershel, and these are my two daughters, Beth and Maggie." He gestured towards the two young women seated beside him.

Beth's face lit up at the mention of her name. "It's so nice to meet you, Aurelia!" she exclaimed, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm. "Would you like to see my room, I'd love to show you!" She looked at Aurelia with hopeful eyes, eager to share her space with a new friend.

Looking into Beth's bright, eager eyes, Aurelia found it impossible to refuse. "Of course! I'd love to see your room," she replied, her voice warm with genuine interest. "Only if it's okay with your father, though," she added, turning her gaze towards Hershel.

The farmer considered for a moment, a thoughtful expression on his face before offering a small, almost imperceptible nod. "Go on ahead," he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

With a shared glance of excitement, Beth led the way towards the staircase. Aurelia followed close behind as they ascended the long, creaky stairs, each step echoing through the quiet house.

As they reached the top of the stairs and entered Beth's room, Aurelia's eyes widened in surprise. The walls were adorned with colorful posters and handmade artwork, giving the space a cozy and inviting feel. In the corner, she spotted a vintage camera sitting on a small table.

"Wow, that's a beautiful camera," Aurelia said, her voice filled with admiration. "Do you take a lot of photos?"

Beth blushed slightly, her fingers tracing the outline of the camera. "It was my mom's," she explained softly. "I haven't really used it much, to be honest." She paused, then looked at Aurelia with a newfound resolve. "You know what? You should have it," she said, surprising Aurelia. "I can tell you'd really appreciate it, and I think my mom would want it to go to someone who would use it."

Aurelia's heart swelled with gratitude as she wrapped her arms around Beth, holding her tightly. "Thank you, Beth," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

After spending some more time in Beth's room, chatting, laughing and sharing music taste, they noticed the sun beginning to set, casting a warm golden glow through the window. "Wow, it's getting late," Beth said, glancing at the sky. "I should probably show you the way out."

As they walked towards the front door, Beth turned to Aurelia with a smile. "Thank you for spending time with me, Aurelia." she said sincerely. "I had a really great time.” She paused, then added with a playful wink, "Take lots of amazing photos!"

As Aurelia thanked Beth once more and stepped outside, she immediately looked around for Daryl, but he was nowhere in sight. A slight feeling of concern washed over her as she wondered where he could be. Walking towards the field, she noticed a faint figure and a campsite far out by the woods. Curiosity piqued, she quickened her pace, her eyes fixed on the distant scene.

As she got closer, the figure became more distinct, and she recognized Daryl sitting by the campsite, intently sharpening a twig with his knife. A wave of relief washed over her as she realized he was simply enjoying the solitude of the outdoors.

As Aurelia approached Daryl, she couldn't help but tease him about his secluded campsite. "Why did you set up camp so far away?" she asked, her voice laced with playful amusement. "These people don't bite, you know."

Daryl simply grunted in response, his eyes fixed on the twig he was sharpening. He didn't offer any explanation or justification for his choice of location.

*Click*

Daryl finally tore his gaze away from the stick and knife, his eyes meeting Aurelia's. He was met with the sight of a camera lens pointed directly at him, and Aurelia's face was beaming with a mischievous grin.

“Stawp” He says with mixture of annoyance and embarrassment flickered across his features as he realized he had been caught in the act.

Here’s some more photos Aurelia has taken:

Here’s one’s Daryl would secretly take when Aurelia wasn’t looking:

Aurelia had been on the road for days, weeks, hell she might have been for a month. Walking on long rail road tracks to a “safe place” called Terminus. After the prison was raided by the Governor, the walls were teared down, walkers came inside killing all her family, all her loved ones. Well she didn’t know all for a fact.

…

Aurelia and Hershel being kidnapped and being bait for the group to give up the prison, As Hershel's lifeless body fell to the ground, Rick's anguished cry echoed across the battlefield, igniting a firestorm of gunfire. Aurelia, her heart pounding in her chest, fought desperately to free herself from her bonds. With nimble fingers, she worked at the knots. Finally, the ropes gave way, and she scrambled to her feet, grabbing her sword.

Without hesitation, Aurelia darted around the perimeter, using the cars as cover, her sword a blur as she cut down the Governor's men. Each swing was precise and deadly, driven by a burning rage and a need to protect her family. The prison, once a sanctuary, had become a battleground, and she would fight to defend it.

Aurelia's heart pounded as she watched Rick grapple with the Governor, his face turning a desperate shade of purple. Without hesitation, she sprinted towards them, her boots pounding against the blood-soaked ground. Seeing the Governor's hands wrapped tightly around Rick's throat, she knew she had to act fast. With a fierce battle cry, she swung the back of her sword, slamming it against the Governor's spine.

The Governor recoiled, his grip loosening on Rick's neck. Aurelia watched as his body convulsed, his eyes rolling back in his head. The Governor fought against the darkness, but Aurelia's blow had been true. He drowned in his own blood, his reign of terror finally over. Aurelia looked down at Rick, his face pale and drawn. She helped him to his feet, and he gave her a grateful nod.

A wave of relief washed over Aurelia as she realized what she had done. She had finally gotten her hands on the Governor, the man who had taken so much from them. With him gone, a sense of freedom washed over her, a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time.

The moaning of the walkers coming towards Aurelia snapped her back to reality, the adrenaline slowly fading as the weight of their situation crashed down on her. She followed Rick back into the prison, the once-familiar corridors now a maze of debris and death. Every shadow seemed to hold a lurking walker, and they fought their way through the hordes, their movements synchronized, a dance of survival they had perfected over time.

"Carl!" Rick's voice echoed through the prison, raw with desperation. "Carl!" Aurelia joined in, her own voice strained with fear. "Carl!" Suddenly, a figure emerged from the darkness, running towards them. "DAD!" Carl's voice was a beacon of hope in the grim landscape. They embraced, a father and son reunited, but their joy was short-lived. Judith was nowhere to be seen.

A wave of dread washed over them as they spotted the overturned baby car seat, stained with blood. Rick rushed to it, his face contorted in anguish. The sight of the blood was a crushing blow. Tears streamed down their faces as the moans of the approaching walkers grew louder. They had no choice. They had to leave, leaving behind the memory of a daughter, a sister, lost to the chaos.

…

As Aurelia walked the long, desolate tracks, her mind was thoughts of Daryl. Was he safe? Had he made it out of the prison? Terminus, with its promise of sanctuary, was now her only beacon, the one place where she might find him again. Each step she took was driven by the hope of seeing his familiar silhouette, of hearing his gruff voice once more. The possibility of reunion was the only thing that kept her going.

“I think we got a days worth of water left.” He says looking down “we’re lucky it’s cooled off a but…” Rick says turning around. “What are you doing?”

Aurelia snapping out of thought looking behind her to see Michonne and Carl balancing on the train tracks.

“Winning a bet” Carl says looking up from the tracks and smiling.

“In you’re dreams” Michonne says smiling

Aurelia smirks and crossing her arm letting out a laugh.

“I’m still on” Carl says swinging his arms towards Michonne to knock her off, while almost making him fall off.

Michonne laughs “You spoke too soon, wise guy.”

“This might go on awhile, maybe we can speed this up.” Rick says walking towards them

“Yeah you’re right, shouldn’t be fooling around. We should probably…. CARL!” She says shaking her body in his direction, wobbling back and forth as she falls off.

“I win” Carl says laughing with a smug grin on his face. “pay up” He says extending his arm.

She gives face while taking her bag and swinging it around her body and zipping it open, Rick starts laughing. She pulls out a big cat and a cruncho.

“Is that really the last big cat?” Carl says staring at what one to choose.

His hand get closer to the big cat “oh come on” Michonne says pleading.

“Hey, but you said winner’s choice”

“Go head, take it, It’s yours” Throwing the cruncho in her bag. “You won it fair and square”

Carl splits the candy bar in half and hands some to Michonne “Come on we always share.”

She smiles taking some off “Fork it over” Pointing her head towards you. Carl takes the candy bar towards Aurelia, she smiles and takes some.

Rick smile looking over at you, he hasn’t seen you smile like this since the prison. He turns back and everyone sets back on the tracks.

…

After walking a long time Rick decided to set camp in the woods giving everyone a break , everyone is surrounded by the fire heating up food “How hungry are you on a scale one to ten?” Rick says turning towards Carl

“Fifteen” Carl scoffs.

Rick looks over to Michonne “twenty eight”

Lastly he looks over to you “fifty” you say looking over at him.

“Yeah, well it’s been awhile” Rick say’s chuckling “I’m gonna go check the snares” he says standing up.

Carl blows out his stick turning to his dad “Can I go with you?”

Rick laughs “Well, how else are you gonna learn”

Rick puts out the fire and looks towards you and Michonne “Hey you too as-well”

You help Carl finish putting out the fire and stand up grabbing your sword and following them, ducking over ur can fence.

“We will say another day or two, get some rest.”Rick says

“You finish healing up?” You say looking his way.

He shakes his head “I’m almost there”

Aurelia stared at the ground as she walked, her thoughts swirling with memories of Daryl and all those they had lost. Grief was a strange beast, she realized, its claws sinking in at the most unexpected moments. A sudden image of Daryl's chuckle, or a fleeting memory of a shared laugh, would send a fresh wave of sorrow crashing over her, a stark reminder of everything that had been taken away.

“we’re close right?” Carl says breaking ur train of thought.

“To Terminus?” Rick replies

“Yeah” Carl says

“We are” Rick says

“When we get there, are we gonna tell them?” Carl says

“Tell them what?” Aurelia says

“Everything that’s happened to us, all the stuff we’ve done.” “Are we gonna tell the truth?” Carl says

“We’re gonna tell them who we are” Aurelia says

“But how do you say that… I mean who are we?”

Aurelia looks over at Carl about to say something but a walker snarls drawing everyone attention making Aurelia jump grabbing her sword pulling it out of the case and walking towards it, she slices the walker head off from its body and it drops to the floor.

…

“There you go” Rick says running towards his snare “it’s a small one” he says undoing the dead squirrel “It will do” putting it into his bag.

“So this is just a simple slipknot, tie one to both ends then tighten one to a simple branch. Now you see how the ground here is sort of like a funnel shape?”

“It’s a trail?” Carl says

“That’s right, that’s where you wanna set the noose. So you hide it with leaves, then you put sticks all around it so any animal that’s going by has to run this way, right into the trap” Rick says showing the trap tightening up with his hands.

“HELP!” Making everyone’s head snap into the distance “SOMEBODY HELP!” next thing you see is Carl get up and start running towards the man.

“Carl!” Aurelia and Rick yell trying to get him to stop.

Everyone running after Carl you can hear the man getting louder telling the walkers to get back, you see the walkers getting closer and surrounding the man, Carl pull his gun and you speed towards him and pull him back behind the trees, you look back to see Rick and Michonne with you.

“We can’t help him.” Aurelia tells Carl, watching the walkers tear him apart biting into his skin, blood going everywhere, listening to him scream and get torn apart falling to the floor. One of the walkers see you guys and start going into your directions the rest starts to pull there attention off of the person they just ate onto there new food.

“We’ve got to go” Rick says turning around running as fast as they can back onto the train tracks and following the tracks to Terminus. Infront of them they see walkers feasting on more food, so everyone pulls there weapons out killing all the walkers one by one. After loosing all the walkers behind them Aurelia and the others went back to walking pace.

“Thought maybe there’d be some houses down this way, maybe even a store” Aurelia says still trying to slow down her breath. “There’s gotta be some food around here”

“Hey look” Carl says pointing to the blue rundown car. Michonne and carl getting there weapons ready while Rick and Aurelia walked towards it ready for anything, while they were searching for any sign of food Michonne killing a nearby walker, flicking off the blood on her sword.

…

Night arrived sooner than Aurelia expected, Rick finally feeling safe enough to let Carl get some sleep. You, and rick we’re taking watch on a log faced turned towards the warm fire. The heat felt nice on your face, it was the first thing in a while to make you feel something.

“That was one small rabbit” Rick says turning towards you.

“It was something” Aurelia says “Gotta hand it to the thing, it traveled well” Rick chuckled.

“Have you noticed that’s all we talk about anymore? Food, I forgot what this feels like”

“Me too, i hope we’re able to forget again soon” She adds

“We’re close” he says looking down at the fire “just gotta make it through another day, if folks are there taking people in, they have to be strong” Kicking out the fire. “They have to have a system”

“ I wonder if the whole things legit” she says looking into his face

A branch snaps not far away making you and Rick turn your heads toward the noise, putting your hand on your sword getting ready for whatever it is. Rick stands up fully trying to get a better look, not hearing anything after just the sound of crickets rick falls back down onto the log.

“We let people in” He says

“We did, so did the Governor”

Rick looks down at his hands and shakes his head “Yeah, it’s always the same, isn’t it?” “Don’t get to know until we know” You hum “Maybe this place isn’t even there anymore” Not a second later there’s a gun pointed at your head.

“Oh, dearie me” The mystery man says

Out of instinct Rick goes to grab his gun and see a man in a blue shit with a vest around him pointing a gun at his head, he kicks you’re gun away.

“You screwed up, asshole” More men come from the woods with gun pointing them at our heads.

“You hear me? You screwed up”

Rick is shaking of anger, face twitching making him boil with rage.

Aurelia’s hands are up listening to the men trying not to get killed. Her breath quickens as her ears begin to ring as the gun goes closer to her eyes, directed at the brain.

“Today’s is a day of reckoning, ma’am . Restitution” Aurelia looking over at the man with a grey beard “A balancing of the whole damn universe, shit and I was thinking of turning in for the night, on new year’s eve” he says laughing.

“Now who’s gonna count down the ball drop with me, huh? Ten Mississippi……. nine Mississippi……. eight Mississi-“

“JOE!” You hear someone say behind the car, wait… Aurelia you know that voice…

Daryl comes out from behind the car, you thought was gone this whole time, you couldn’t even react because a man had a gun to your face. You couldn’t run up to the man you loved, confusion came across you’re face looking at you’re lover.

…

When Daryl first sees you’re face his eyes soften thinking you weren’t alive anymore, seeing the gun pointed to your head made him snap. “Hold up” He said not taking his eyes off you.

“You’re stopping me at eight Daryl” The man said frustrated.

Daryl walks closer, with fear written all over his face. “Just hold up”

“This is the girl that killed Lou, so we got nothing to talk about” One guy says nudging the AR closer to you.

“The thing about now and days is we got nothing but time,” Getting closer to you. “Isn’t that right beautiful” He says while rubbing your cheek, making you cringe. “Say you’re piece Daryl”

Daryl boils with rage looking at ‘the head man’. “These people, you’re gonna let ‘em go” He says staring down Joe. “These are good people”.

Joe looks at Daryl “Now I think Lou would disagree with you on that. I’ll of course have to speak for him and all, cause your friend here strangled him in a bathroom.” Pointing towards you.

Daryl can’t let anything bad happen to you.“ You want blood, I get it” He says dropping his crossbow and putting his hand out. “Take it from me, man. Come on”

Joe looks at Daryl in disbelief “This woman killed our friend. You say she’s good people. See now that right there is a lie. ITS A LIE!” Daryl drops his hands next second you see him get punched.

“NOO!” You scream tears falling from your eyes, watching daryl beat down, getting pushed towards the car.

“Teach him fellas, Teach him all the ways” Joe says.

Carls door gets swung open “NO!” Carl screams.

“Come here, boy” The fat man grabs onto him yanking him out of the car, as the same goes for Michonne.

“YOU LEAVE HIM BE!” Rick says getting up, but the blue shirt man ties him right back down into the log. Carl starts to cry as the man takes a knife to his neck.

“You’ll get yours, you just wait your turn” A man says to Michonne dragging her right next to Rick.

“Listen, it was me. It was just me!” You say eyes becoming more blurry as you speak.

“See beautiful, now that’s right. That’s not a damn lie” He says coming down to your level. “Look, we can settle this, We’re reasonable men. You turn your head to Daryl seeing him get beat to the floor.

“First, we’re gonna beat daryl to death, then i’ll have you. Then the men will have the other girl. Then the boy. Then i’m gonna shoot your friend over here, and then we’ll be square” He says laughing.

You start shaking in rage turning over to see Carl get pinned to the ground “Let him go.” You say, the man gets on top of him telling him to stop moving he starts laughing. “Let him go”

Hearing your ears ring without a thought you smash your head into the back of Joes head sending him back making his finger twitch pulling the trigger sending a bullet out of his chamber, Making you’re ears ring more, hearing him cough sends you back turning around quickly and punching him in the face, he sends one right back into you sending you to the ground “I got her” he says kicking into you’re stomach. “Oh you just made it so much worse now, sweetheart”

You try to get up but fail miserably. “Come on get up!” he yells “Come on let’s see what you got”He says right into you’re face.

“Get away from him before I—“ You say tripping into Joe

“Huh? Right over here, what the hell are you gonna do now sweetheart?” Not a second later you take your teeth right into the base of his neck bitting hard and deep, ripping out a big chunk oh his skin into your mouth and spitting it out. Hearing him gurgling and bleeding out onto the floor tasting iron inside your mouth feeling wet from your mouth down, your legs weakening making you fall to the floor, making your ears ring.

Michonne making the next move taking the gun that pointed towards her and turning it around and pulling the trigger sending the man down and shooting the man on Daryl.

The man with Carl putting the knife up to his throat “I’ll kill him, IILL—ILL KILL HIM!” He says screaming.

“Let the boy go” Michonne says putting the gun up to him

Daryl finally finished the last guy on him grunting smooshing his head on the concrete.

Rick walks up to Joes dead body taking the knife off him and walking up to the fat man and Carl “He’s mine” he’s says casually walking towards him, the man becomes scared dropping Carl to the floor.

“Stay back— Stay” Rick drives the knife into the fat man’s body making blood come out of his mouth stabbing him over and over again making the man scream, blood covering Rick’s face and hands.

Daryl runs to you his voice cut through the ringing in your ears, his hands gentle as he pulled you up from the ground. Your vision swam for a moment, the world tilting precariously before settling into focus. Daryl's face, etched with concern, was the first thing you saw. "Aurelia," he repeated, his voice rough but laced with a tenderness that always managed to ground you.

Tears welled in your eyes as you looked up at him, the metallic tang of blood still lingering in your mouth. "Did he do anything to you?" Daryl's thumbs brushed against your cheeks, wiping away the drying blood, his gaze searching your face for any sign of injury or trauma. You shook your head, unable to find your voice, the image of the man's lifeless eyes still burned behind your eyelids.

Daryl pulled you into a tight embrace, his strong arms wrapping around you, offering a sense of security. "It's okay," he murmured, his voice low and soothing. "You're safe." You clung to him, burying your face in his shoulder, the scent of leather and woodsmoke a familiar comfort. In that moment, surrounded by the carnage and chaos of dead bodies, Daryl's presence was a beacon of hope you were holding onto this whole time, and you finally had him back into you’re arms.

…

That whole night you couldn’t sleep, you’re outside that same blue car sitting with your hands up to your knees, your hands are shaking, thinking about what happened all night, you can’t even cry anymore, you feel emotionless. Your brain keeps going back to you biting that man’s neck. He did deserve it, but that just wasn’t you.

Daryl walks up to you, setting his crossbow against the car taking his rag out of his back pocket and opening the water bottle and pouring someone the rag.

You look up at him “We should save it to drink” you say arguing.

“You can’t see yourself. everyone else can” He handing you the rag, you take it and start cleaning your face off.

He looks over at you “I didn’t know what they were”

You nod your head “How did you wind up with them?” you asked

“I was with Beth, we got out together I was with her for a while” He said looking at his hands

“Is she dead” You asked worried

He looks over at you “She’s just gone”

“After that, that’s when they found me, I mean I knew they were bad, but they had a code. It was simple. Stupid, but it was something. It was enough”

“And you were alone” You comforted him

“Said they were looking for some girl, they said last night they spotted her. I was hanging back, I was gonna leave, but I stayed. That’s when I saw it was you four. Right when you saw me, I didn’t know what they would do” He says looking down at his feet.

“It’s not on you Daryl” You say looking into his eyes.

“Hey, it’s not on you” You say making him look at you to clarify.

“You being back here with me now, that’s everything—“ You pause.

“I love you”

He turned his head, his gaze meeting yours. His eyes, usually guarded and intense, softened with a look of pure, unguarded emotion. His silent was language of vulnerability and trust. In that moment, the world seemed to fade away, leaving only the connection between you.

“Hey what you did last night, anybody would have done that”

“no not that”

As you both looked ahead, a comfortable silence settled between you, allowing the weight of the moment to sink in. You leaned into his shoulder, finding solace in his familiar presence, and rested your head against him with a soft sigh.

Aurelia just got done being sick with whatever was going around the prison, finally being able to walk outside and feel the nice sun and fresh air in her skin. She let out a long sigh letting whatever build up she had in her out finally being able to breathe.

Seeing everyone slowly healing and feeling better made her feel relaxed and relieved and she has thanked Hershel, Bob, and the group that went out for the medicine for all they did for her and the group. She made her way over to Hershel, Daryl and Tyreese, joining the conversation.

“How’s Glenn doing?” Tyreese said

“He made it through the night, He’s breathing on his own now. Maggie and Bob are with him, He seems stable enough for me and Aurelia to get some air.” Hershel said

“He’s a tough son a bitch.” Daryl said

“He is.” Aurelia says shaking her head

“You’re both tough son’s a bitches.” Daryl said pointing his hand at ur bodies.

“I am.” Hershel says while walking away going towards Michonne to talk to her.

“What about Carol? She’s up in A block with Lizzy?” Daryl says turning to Aurelia.

“No. Talk to Rick about her.” Looking towards Daryl with ur hand blocking the sun to see his face of worry.

“She’s okay, just talk to him.” you say reassuring him, looking at your feet and turning around going towards Michonne.

You see Michonne loading up dead walkers

in a buggy and walked over greeting her with a heartwarming smile ready to help, Michonne returning the small gesture helping her pick up the walker and throwing it in the back.

Finishing up with the last of the walkers, Michonne shutting the back of the buggy while giving you a nod of great fullness.

“You heading out now?” smiling after all you’re hard work.

“You want to come?” Michonne said while heading towards the Drivers side smiling.

“Hell yeah.” Opening the passenger side door and hopping in.

The gates were opened and you and Michonne headed behind the prison into the woods where the walker burning pile was. After dumping all the walkers into a pile and pouring gasoline all on the dead corpse Michonne lights a makeshift torch and throws it into the pile putting all the walkers on fire. Feeling the hot air on your skin makes you back up into someone’s body making you turn around grabbing your gun and every thing goes black….

—

Michonne nudging your side “Aurelia, wake up.” she whispered.

The bright sun poured through the rv’s windows trying to fixate your eyes seeing Michonne next to you tied up. The Governor walkes into the rv sitting down on the chair, Aurelia exchanged determined glances with Michonne.

Michonne’s voice was steady, fierce. “I’m gonna kill you.”

He takes a sip of his whiskey “No you’re not.”

Michonne turns towards the Governor “ i’m gonna take my blade and-.

Aurelia shushing Michonne trying not to make things go worse than it already is. She tries reasonings with him, saying Rick agreed with sharing the prison but it just seemed like he was ignoring her.

Aurelia’s hand brushed against the hidden blade in her sleeve, fingers trembling just slightly with the weight of the moment. With careful precision born from countless battles, she began to saw quietly at the ropes binding her wrists. The coarse fibers frayed and snapped, and soon she was free. She moved swiftly to Michonne handing the knife over to her and she startsworking on her restraints with the same focused determination.

The Governor’s smug grin, so full of cruel confidence, suddenly faltered as Aurelia lunged forward, the blade catching the sunlight and glinting sharply. The rv’s cramped interior became a chaotic battlefield. He fought back fiercely, swinging wildly, trying to keep control. The two women ducked and dodged, their movements fluid and desperate, crashing against the metal walls of the rv.

But Aurelia’s resolve was unbreakable. She managed to pin him down on the floor, her strength fueled by anger, thinking of what all he did to Daryl, Merle, Rick, and the rest of her family. The Governor struggled beneath her, screaming in rage and pain, but she kept her grip firm. With a swift, merciless motion, she drove the knife through his heart, he starts gurgling blood into his mouth. Diving the blade even further into him silencing him instantly. His screams turned to a silence as he crumpled, stunned and defeated.

Breathing heavily, Aurelia looked to Michonne, who nodded grimly. They had won this fight, but the danger was far from over. The rv’s engine still hummed, and outside, the world awaited their next move.

Aurelia and Michonne start searching the rv trying to find weapons ready for whatever is outside waiting for them, her and Michonnes back turned from the the rv door searching the cabinets Aurelia felt something cold and hard at the back of her head, turning towards her side seeing Michonne take her blade out ready to kill whoever is behind her a gun takes the back of her head.

“Drop your weapons.” The mysterious woman says, her voice shaking. Aurelia taking a moment staying still taking in what’s happening

“NOW!” she says cocking there gun and shoving it more into her head, Aurelia finally dropping her knife in defeat. “Now turn around, I wanna see your faces.”

The tension in the van thickens as you and Michonne slowly turn to face the brunette girl with blue, teary eyes, gun steady against your skull. Aurelia’s anger flares, but she holds herself still, aware that any sudden move could be fatal. To her right, the other girl presses her gun into Michonne’s temple, her brown eyes sharp and unyielding.

Behind them the child with blond hair clutches a pink koala, her small frame trembling as she silently catches the tears streaming down her mother’s face.

Then, the fragile silence shatters. The little girl, overwhelmed by grief, turns away and collapses to the floor. Her sobs echo through the rv as she crawls toward the Governor’s lifeless body, wrapping her arms tightly around him and screaming into his chest. The raw pain in her cries fills the space.

In that moment, Aurelia’s mind races. She knows this is a fleeting chance. Slowly, carefully, she shifts her weight, inching toward Michonne, signaling her to stay calm and ready. The delicate balance of fear, anger, and sorrow hangs in the air, and every second counts.

Seeing the Governor wake up from the dead he clings onto the little girl and takes a bite into her neck, making the little girl scream in pain. Both of the woman with guns turn around forgetting about the two infront of them. Both of them screaming shooting over and over again at the Governor wasting all of their bullets.

Michonne was the first to move picking up her sword and pinning it to the back of the brown eyed brunette shortly after Aurelia doing the same.

“Both of you drop your weapons.” Aurelia says pointing the sharp blade into the blue eyes back.

The blue eyed woman screaming turning around quickly and trying to shoot Aurelia, but nothing coming out all her bullets went into the Governor. The blue eyes woman giving up she ran to the little girl to confront her, The whole family was crying. The brown eyed woman dropped her gun accepting the defeat dropping her head.

Michonne and Aurelia sprinted out of the rv, their footsteps pounding against the gravel ground as they left that harrowing scene far behind. The glaring sun beat down harshly overhead, making the air shimmer with heat.

“THERE!” Michonne says. Without hesitation, they dashed toward one of the cars the group had left behind, a worn but reliable vehicle that promised a chance to escape the chaos. They jumped in quickly, slamming the doors shut and pressing down hard on the gas pedal. The engine roared to life, echoing their urgency as they sped away, tires kicking up clouds of dust.

Aurelia’s heart raced as they tore down the road, the prison being in the distance like a beacon of hope and safety. Every second counted as she pushed the car to its limits, The sun’s harsh light reflected off the windshield. With every mile closer to the prison, she felt a flicker of relief, knowing that they were safe never having to worry about the Governor ever again.

Finally making it back to the prison seeing Rick and Carl outside, Aurelia got out of the divers seat and walked towards Rick smiling.

“Rick, I have an update it’s about the Governor. We need to call a meeting.” Rick nodding and sending Carl off to let everyone know about the meeting later.

Rick reply’s “Alright, tell me everything you know. We’ll get everyone together and figure out our next move.” He says while turning around to walking away.

Aurelia chuckled softly, glancing over at Michonne. “That’s just it he’s already dead.”

Rick stops abruptly, his eyes locking onto yours and Michonne’s with a steely intensity. “is that true?” he says turning back around.

Aurelia steps forward, her voice steady but carrying a weight of urgency. “It’s true, Rick. He took us when we were burning walker body’s and tied us up in his rv, the only choice I had was to kill him.”

Michonne nods, her expression serious. “We need to use this time to strengthen our defenses and make sure the group is united. If the Governor’s dead, whoever’s left might try to take control, or worse, come back with something we don’t expect.”

Aurelia adds, “This isn’t just about surviving anymore. It’s about being ready for whatever is next from these people.”

—

An hour later, the entire group had gathered in the council room, the atmosphere thick with tension and urgency. Rick stood at the front, his voice steady but firm as he addressed everyone. “The Governor is dead,” he began, “but that doesn’t mean his people are gone. They’re still out there, and we can’t afford to waste any time. We need to be prepared for whatever comes next.”

He paused, scanning the room to make sure everyone was absorbing the gravity of the situation. “We’re going to have to teach everyone how to defend themselves, how to use weapons, knives, anything that can keep us safe. This isn’t just about survival anymore it’s about making sure each of us can stand our ground.”

As Rick spoke, you couldn’t help but look around the room, searching for Daryl. As usual, he was nowhere to be found. His absence was noticeable, especially now when every hand was needed on deck. You wondered where he might be out scouting, or maybe dealing with something on his own. Either way, it left a gap in the group’s strength. Rick’s words continued to hang in the air, and the weight of the situation settled over everyone.

—

After the groups were organized and training schedules set, you made your way to Rick, hoping to find out if he had any idea where Daryl had gone.

Rick looked up from the map he was studying and said, “Daryl took off when Merle went missing and hour ago on foot.”

Aurelia, knowing Daryl’s fierce loyalty and how he would never leave his brother behind, decided she couldn’t wait for others to find them. She grabbed the keys to the car one they had used earlier for scouting and set out alone, hoping to track down Daryl and Merle before the situation spiraled further out of control.

The dusty road stretched endlessly under the relentless sun as Aurelia drove carefully, scanning the horizon for any sign of them. The heat shimmered off the cracked earth, but she pressed on, her determination unwavering. After what felt like hours, she finally spotted Daryl in the distance, standing where the Governors people took camp.

His face was etched with deep sorrow, the usual tough, guarded expression replaced by raw grief. Behind him stood Merle, but something was terribly wrong, Merle had become a walker, his eyes vacant and movements slow and unnatural. Daryl’s body trembled, pushing him away every time he got close to him. Daryl couldn’t hold it in anymore crying while watching his brother try to eat him. His hands gripped his knife tightly, and stabbed his brother over, and over, and over, and over, screaming out struggling to hold himself together as he fell to the ground crying feeling all alone.

Aurelia pulled the car to a stop a short distance away, her heart pounding in her chest. She stepped out quietly, her boots crunching softly on the gravel as she approached the scene. There, on the dusty ground, lay Merle motionless, lifeless. Tears welled up in her eyes despite the complicated feelings she held for him. She had never liked Merle much, but he was still family, and more than that, he was the brother of the man she loved. The weight of the loss settled heavily on her chest, making it hard to breathe.

She didn’t speak or ask any questions, sensing that words would only shatter the fragile moment. Instead, she remained silent, giving space to the grief that hung thick in the air. Slowly, she reached out to Daryl, her hand trembling slightly as she offered what little comfort she could. She could see the pain etched deep into his face, the way his body seemed to sag under the unbearable weight of sorrow.

Daryl finally gave in, collapsing to the ground beside Merle, letting himself be vulnerable for the first time in a long while. He leaned into Aurelia’s presence, taking in the warmth and reassurance she offered without a word.

The whole prison’s gone to hell. Walkers got inside, and we just lost T-Dog and Carol. Lori... she had her baby, but she didn’t make it. We can’t afford to lose anyone else not now. Rick’s went into a rampage locking himself up into a room with a phone, Glenn went down trying to calm him down but almost got killed. So Daryl and I had to step up. That little baby’s our only hope, but we don’t even have the basics to keep her alive. So Daryl and I, are heading out on a supply run,To try and find anything baby food, medicine, whatever we can to help that new life that’s just started in this messed up world. We gotta do this right.

Daryl kicked the engine to life, the rumble of his motorcycle breaking the heavy silence that hung over the place. He glanced over at Aurelia, that usual rough edge to his smile softening just a bit, like he was trying to hold onto something real in all this chaos.

“Hey, I been hearin’ about this old shop a few miles out. Maggie says it might still got some stuff left food for the baby, maybe some medicine too.”

He shifted in his seat, making room for her to climb on, the weight of what they’d lost and what they still had to protect pressing down on him. But even with all that, there was that little spark of hope flickerin’ in his voice, like maybe this run could mean a chance to keep that new life safe.

“We gotta move quick, though. Ain’t no tellin’ what’s waitin’ out there.” Daryl said.

Aurelia nodded without a word, swinging her leg over the bike and settling onto the worn-out cushion. It was rough around the edges, the padding thin and torn in spots, but it was better than nothing better than walking through all this mess on foot. The engine growled beneath them as Daryl twisted the throttle, Aurelia held onto Daryl waistand they took off down the rocky road off to the prison gates. Carl opening the gate for them to get through and closing it.

The ride was rough, every bump and dip jarring through the frame, but there was a thrill to it to the wind whipping past them, carrying away some of the weight they both felt deep down. As they neared the shop, Daryl hid his bike in some bushes and they decided to walk the mile to just be safe. The place looked like it’d been forgotten for years dusty windows coated in grime, faded signs hanging crooked, and the front door barely hanging on its hinges. But something told them it wasn’t completely empty. Maybe, just maybe, there was still something valuable left inside something that could mean the difference between surviving and giving up.

As they stepped inside, the heavy wooden door creaked shut behind them, sealing off the outside world for a moment. Then, faint but unmistakable groans and shuffles started echoin’ from beyond the windows and cracked walls. Walkers had circled the shop, blockin’ every exit, pinning them in like prey. Daryl’s eyes narrowed, sharp and alert, takin’ in every sound, every shadow, holding up his crossbow ready to shoot.

“We need to be quick,” he whispered low, voice tense but steady.

“Ain’t no tellin’ how long we got before they figure out we’re in here.”

The air felt thick, heavy with danger, but there was no turnin’ back now. They had to find what they came for and fast.

They moved through the dim aisles carefully, the dust settling with every step. Shelves creaked under the weight of forgotten goods, but their eyes were sharp, scanning for anything that could help. They found stacks of canned food beans, vegetables, even some canned fruit long past their prime but better than going hungry. Medical supplies were scattered here and there: bandages, antiseptics, and painkillers, neatly tucked away in a cracked cabinet. Then, to Aurelia’s quiet relief, there it was a box of baby formula, still sealed and untouched. She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

Just as they were about to turn back, Daryl’s gaze caught something unusual on a dusty shelf in the corner. A small, worn box sat half-hidden behind a stack of old magazines. He pulled it out slowly, the hinges creaking as he opened it. Inside, nestled in faded velvet, were two matching rings simple bands, but with an undeniable beauty, worn smooth by time. A grin spread across Daryl’s face, a rare softness breaking through his usual tough exterior. Without a word, he slipped the rings into his pocket, a silent promise or memory tucked away. Then, turning back to their task, he focused on filling his bags with the precious baby formula, knowing every little bit counted if they were going to make it through another day.

Carefully, they moved toward the back door, eyes dartin’ around to catch any movement from the groaning walkers outside. Every step was slow and deliberate, tryin’ not to make a sound that might give them away. Once the door creaked open just enough, they peeked out, makin’ sure the coast was clear. Then, without hesitatin’, they slipped through the gap and started makin’ their way toward Daryl’s bike parked a short distance away. They kept low, dodgin’ behind abandoned cars and broken crates, hearts poundin’ with every shuffle and moan from the walkers. Only when they were sure they weren’t surrounded anymore did they break into a run, sprintin’ full speed toward the bike. The relief was almost tangible as they climbed on and revved the engine, ready to put as much distance as possible between them and the danger they’d just escaped.

Back at the prison, safe and sound, the weight of the day’s dangers seemed to lift just a little. Knowing the baby was safe and warm in Aurelia’s arms brought a calm neither of them had felt in a long time. Daryl made his way toward her quietly, watching as she gently cradled the baby and fed her with a tenderness that softened the hardened edges of their world. Aurelia looked up, her eyes meeting his with a warmth that made the moment feel almost normal again.

“She’s beautiful,” she said softly, laying the baby carefully into her makeshift crib, fashioned from blankets and whatever soft materials they could find.

Daryl grunted, a rare softness in his voice as he reached into his pocket.

“I have something for you,” he said, pulling out the small box with the two matching rings inside.

Aurelia’s eyes widened as she took in the simple bands, their smooth surfaces catching the fading light. A wide smile spread across her face, a mix of surprise and hope shining through. In a world full of danger and uncertainty, this small symbol of hope and commitment meant everything to her. Without hesitation, Daryl gently slipped the ring onto her finger, the gesture speaking volumes in the silence between them.

Aurelia leaned in, her eyes shining with emotion as she kissed him softly.

“I’m so grateful,” she whispered, her voice trembling with feeling.

The sun was dipping low behind the trees as Daryl crouched beside the battered van, frustration evident on his face. The engine had sputtered and died just outside the camp, and without it, their chances of a quick escape were slim. Aurelia approached quietly, wiping the newly dried blood off her hands after helping skin the rest of the squirrels her and Daryl found earlier that day, ready to help him with whatever challenges this van had.

"Need a hand?" she asked, kneeling beside him. Daryl glanced up squinting as the sun got into his eyes, a hint of a grateful smile breaking through his usual guarded expression.

"Ya, this damn thing’s givin’ me hell," he muttered.

Together, they popped the hood of the truck and leaned over the engine, their faces illuminated by the fading light. Aurelia’s sharp eyes quickly caught sight of a loose wire dangling near the battery. “This might be the problem,” she said, her voice steady but careful as she reached in to reconnect it. Daryl handed her a wrench without hesitation, and they began working in sync, passing tools back and forth. Each movement was deliberate, their focus locked on the task as they silently communicated through gestures and glances, determined to get the engine running again.

As the sun finally dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the long road, hours had quietly slipped by. Aurelia wiped the sweat from her brow, her face flushed from the effort and the heat of the day. She glanced at Daryl, hope flickering in her eyes, then raised her voice, “Try it now!” The urgency in her tone mixed with a hint of anticipation.

Daryl got into the drivers seat and shut the door he turned the key in the ignition, and the engine roared back to life with a powerful growl. Relief washed over both of them, filling the quiet air with a sense of laughter. Aurelia walked to the drivers side and He glanced over at her, his eyes softening as he reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. “Couldn’t have done it without you, Angel,” he said, his voice low and sincere. “I love you.” The words hung between them, heavy with meaning, as the hum of the engine became a steady heartbeat in the background, marking the start of whatever came next for them.

Aurelia smiled softly, her eyes meeting Daryl’s as she looked down while her face became a pink color. The tension between them was almost tangible, a quiet moment suspended in time. “I love you too, Dixon,” she whispered, her voice steady but filled with warmth. As she leaned in, breaking the space that had held them apart, their lips met in a gentle, lingering kiss. It was a moment of connection, unspoken but deeply felt, stretching out as if the world around them had paused just for them.

The night had fallen thick and heavy, wrapping the world outside in shadows. Inside the van, Daryl and Aurelia settled in. Aurelia was searching the van for food, water, clothes, anything. She sat in the passenger seat and opened the dashboard and found a cd tape, “Nirvana” Aurelia whispers.

She put the cd in and hits play.

Daryl in the back of the van setting up the blankets they had in their bags. He looks up at Aurelia to sees that’s she put the cd in and hit play. Heart-Shaped Box by Nirvana one of his favorite songs. Aurelia turns the music up by a notch and climes into the back with Daryl.

The cramped space suddenly feeling like a small sanctuary from the chaos of the day. The hum of the van was distant now, replaced by the quiet rhythm of their breathing and the soft rustle of fabric as they shifted to get comfortable. Daryl pulled a blanket over them, the fabric rough but warm against their skin, and without a word, Aurelia scooted closer, resting her head gently against his shoulder.

Their bodies naturally curved toward each other, seeking warmth and comfort in the close proximity. Daryl wrapped an arm around her, pulling her in a little tighter, and she let out a soft sigh, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath her ear. Outside, the faint moans of walkers in the distance. The moon casting a muted light through the window. Inside, wrapped in the quiet music and the warmth of their shared space, they found a rare moment of peace. The world outside might have been uncertain, but here, in the small van, they had each other and that was enough to carry them through the night.

Neither spoke much, words felt unnecessary in the stillness. The van creaked softly as they shifted to get comfortable. Outside, the cold night pressed in, but inside, there was a fragile sense of safety. As they drifted toward sleep, the worries of the day melted away, replaced by the simple comfort of being together in this small, shared space. Tomorrow was uncertain, but for now, the van was their refuge, and the night was theirs to rest.

“Goodnight Dixon.” Aurelia says while closing her eyes falling into deep slumber.

“G’night Angle.” Daryl says while kissing the top of her head smelling the mix of her vanilla shampoo and sweat.

He watched her sleep keeping her safe in his arms while his eyes were slowly closing off to slumber, feeling safe in each other’s arms.

𝒜/𝒩: Do you guys like my drawing of Daryl so far it’s coming together!!! He doesn’t have a head yet because i suck at drawing the heads. His mussels are just so majestic and manly😍🫦.