#v;27

Since everything that had happened from the time on her father’s farm, to the prison, and even at Grady Memorial Hospital, and now with Alexandria and Hilltop, Beth tried hard to stay close to the people she considered her family.

Her days in Alexandria were usually busy spent with Judith and the other kids, she was like Alexandria’s most trusted babysitter.  And while she didn’t mind the title, Beth did want to head back to Hilltop for Maggie’s sake, to be with her sister.  As far as she knew, Maggie was still mad at Rick for letting Negan live.  Beth understood her sister’s pain.  The man killed her husband — even if Beth herself still didn’t have a love as true and fairytale like as her older sister had found.  That was one of life’s real blessings.

Beth stirred on the couch, her eyes gazing around the darkened room, the sun setting in the distance.  Judith was still asleep on her lap and the house was quiet.  Swallowing, Beth cradled Judith in her arms as she started to stand from the couch.

There on the table was a note from Carl. He’d scribbled in chicken scratch hand that he was going to hang out with Enid and he wouldn’t be back for dinner.  Beth put the note down and carried the young girl up the stairs to her bedroom, trying to be quite and careful with the sweet toddler in her arms.

One thing about this place was that most of them had each other.  It was nice living with Carol all these years, the widow was kind enough to offer the young woman a place to lay her head at night, and Beth helped her with the chores, and even cooked her meals from time to time.  The blonde considered Carol as a mother figure in her life, but with Carol leaving, Beth had the house to herself, and she did all she could not be alone too much.  As Beth walked with Judith holding onto her hand, two young girls walked by laughing, talking about boys, and Beth realized they looked like siblings.  Her thoughts shifted to her sister at that moment.

While Maggie hadn’t been around much after everything that’s happened, Beth knew she couldn’t go to Hilltop, she couldn’t leave Judith, not yet.  She cared too much for the little girl, she cared too much for all of them.  Surely Maggie had to understand that.  At least, Beth hoped she did.

“Yer Daddy’s gonna make ‘ya dinner,” Beth whispered as they walked down the block. Judith smiled up at Beth as the two ascended steps to the Grimes home, their walk shorter than usual today as Beth knocked on the door.  Judith was growing up so fast, hell some even thought of them as mother and daughter -- but Beth would never want to take the place of Lori.  

When there was no answer, Beth reached for the knob and entered the house, shutting it softly behind her.

“We’re back!” She called, looking around before she let go of the young girl’s hand and watched as Judith climbed the stairs to head to the second floor of the home.

she’ll be mad at me if i go visit them....if i go see rick and carl and judy.