A/N: Hello! I'm so happy to be back. This chapter however, isn't exactly what I thought or wanted but I think it's okay for my first time in awhile. I'm looking forward to going forward though and have some major ideas so just mind this one for now but it will get back to what you all expect and deserve. Let me know what you think!
Chapter Fifty-Four: Ready For It
'"DAD", Riley screamed watching as a bloody Rick made it to the end of the bridge, Walkers in a mass shuffling their way towards him. Rick turned catching her eye, his own taking on a gentler approach. He let a ghost of a smile cross his lips before nodding, softly he mouthed 'love you Rye Bread'…. Riley watched as Rick turned and raised his gun, lining up his shot and pulling the trigger. '
Tara was just finishing up in the bathroom when she heard it. It had been like this ever since that day. Some days were better, some worse. Tara knew it was because Riley had yet to give up hope, still thinking that her father could possibly be alive. The fact that no body, or trace of Rick had been found, made it harder to move on. Leaving the washroom, she headed toward the bed. Slowly she sat beside her wife, seeing the distress and sadness dancing across her face. Gently she placed a hand onto the side of Riley's head, feeling the raised and bumpy skin…another reminder of days gone by. Tara looked towards the window, seeing the glow caused by the early morning Sun. Humming a soft tune she moved her hand running her fingers through Riley's sweaty hair. It took only a moment but Riley let out a breath and eased in her twisted mind of mangled thoughts. Smiling sadly, she kissed Riley on the forehead before leaving the room and heading towards the kitchen to start a pot of coffee. Tara looked back at Riley and placed a hand onto her belly "mama…. she needs you more then you know little one, you're going to help fill that hole in her heart"
Riley sat against the stone wall, reading a book that contained various names that could be for boys or girls and interchangeable between the two. Her eyes skimmed the pages before looking up at Negan watching as the man read his own book his back resting against the opposite stone wall. Feeling eyes on him, Negan glanced up and took in the form of the young girl, who had become like a daughter.
"what did you want to name a kid if you had one"
The question caught him off guard and he was taken aback. He remembered telling Riley about how him and Lucille wanted children but the deck was stacked against them.
"sorry I didn't mean…. it's just my dad…." Riley stumbled after the word left her lips. Negan noticed her eyes go distance for a moment before she regained her senses and continued "he…he let me name Judith…" she spoke with a smile "names are important" she added, her eyes finding his.
Negan leaned forward, rubbing at his chin "whatever you decided or that wife of ours thinks of, will be perfect…."
Riley smiled before it waivered "all this stress with the Whispers…. it's not good for her…..."
Negan stood walking towards the steel bars "and what about you…all this stress with the Whispers, your family, your friends….me, that can't be good for you either"
Riley turned her eyes away, looking towards the window she watched as Judith caught her gaze before ducking out of sight
"yeah….well I'm use to stress, wouldn't know how to function if I didn't have it" Riley spoke with a chuckle, also getting to her feet "at least we have the fair in a day, hopefully that will bring everyone together…"
Negan smiled, he knew Riley had been working hard on getting Michonne and the others to come together and restore the communities and all the hard work that her dad had established. He watched as she headed towards the door
"I'll be back later…. I'll try and bring Tara…she's beginning to understand…."
Negan placed his hands onto the rusted metal "hey Riles…"
He watched as she turned back "don't Negan…. I…I…." she walked back over to the man and placed her hand over one of his, "I need to get you out of here…its been six years…I need….I need you out of here"
Negan took a breath, his heart breaking, with his free hand he reached out and pulled her head forward placing a gentle kiss to her forehead
"it's okay, goose…. It will be okay"
Walking into the sunlight she turned and smiled as Judith stood awkwardly underneath a tree across from the holding cell "you know mom doesn't like that you sit with him"
Laughing she beckoned Judith to come towards her as she led the way back towards home "and mom wouldn't like to know that you sit outside and listen in"
Judith smirked and leaned into her sister. Glancing up her eyes running over the raised and melted flesh of Riley's face "how can you treat him so kindly after everything he did"
Riley clenched her jaw and turned the corner seeing Tara help load a buggy with supplies for the Kingdom "everyone can change, everyone deserves a second chance and everyone has a story….in the end, Negan showed me that he can and will…plus we…he…", Riley stopped short. In truth it was complicated. No one really understood the relationship between the two but it was deep and it was tight.
Judith looked down towards her boots as she walked "well if you like him, then I like him and we just have to get mom to see it"
Letting out a breath Riley nudged Judith "go pick up RJ from Kayla's okay…. dinner will be ready soon; I need to go see Tara"
Judith nodded and skipped off down the street. Riley watched her for a moment taking in how she looked like Carl but also Rick…. Rick believed that Judith wasn't his, that there was no way with the timeline that he could have helped create her, but he was wrong….oh so wrong.
Riley lowered her gaze her thoughts going to her father, it had been six years and it still felt like yesterday. There were still so many things she wanted to learn from him, to talk to him about, to have him witness….
"I can smell your thoughts from here"
Riley's head jerked up and she smirked as Tara approached, one hand on her belly the other holding a piece of paper.
"you should rest…" Riley spoke up watching as a few people finished securing the load to the wagon
Tara smiled and quickly kissed Riley on the lips "I'm pregnant not disabled…."
Riley placed a hand over Tara's belly "eight months…. you're eight months…"
"listen babe…you listening…"
Riley tore her eyes away from the fabric of Tara's shirt and looked into her eyes
"I'm fine, the baby is fine and the fair is tomorrow…you helped make this happen and because of that I can relax…. tomorrow will be wonderful…fair food, fair games, good people and the start of bringing us all back together."
Riley looked beyond Tara for a moment and watched as Michonne came up the street with Judith and RJ "back together…" she mumbled as she pulled Tara into a hug.
Later that night Riley helped Michonne wash up after dinner, both Judith and RJ playing quietly in the next room, Tara lounging on the couch watching as brother and sister explored with various items picked up over many supply runs.
"you bringing a plate home" Michonne questioned, seeing a full plate sitting on the edge of the counter
Riley shut the water off and dried her hands "umm…no I'm bringing that to…"
"you will not…." Michonne cut her child off
Riley placed the dish cloth on the table and turned her eyes going to Tara as her wife sat up hearing the start of an argument
"listen…he's not…he's changing, he wants to change, he wants to be part of the community" Riley pleaded heading towards the plate and picking it up
Michonne followed after Riley as she made way to the door "I don't understand Riles…after everything that man did…. why…how…."
Gripping the door knob and pulling the door open Riley stepped onto the porch "that's right, you don't understand and even if you did you still wouldn't accept it because he's Negan….and that is all he'll ever be to you, to all of you, but that's not all he is to me…" with that she turned and descended into the darkness.
Negan's eyes watched as Riley paced back and forth, his empty plate sitting on the dusty floor beside him. He wanted to speak but could sense she was working through something was lost somewhere else so he sat silent
Stopping short, Riley took a breath and ran a hand through her hair. Turning she connected eyes with Negan and took a step forward. Negan watched her movements and could see she was on the verge of a panic attack. Before he could react, the door to the gate was pushed open and Riley stepped inside. Negan got to his feet and did what came naturally, he opened his arms. Riley looked from his eyes to his outstretched arms and back before collapsing into his tall form.
'Negan sat in his cell watching the light dance across the room. Tossing one of the many books he was given…thanks to Riley…. aside he let out a huff. The day was almost over and Riley had yet to come see him. She made a point to come visit him every day and as the moments ticked away, he was beginning to worry that something had happened, or worse someone had made her realize what a mistake it was to believe in him. A few more minutes passed and then he saw her, she walked past the window her shadow casting a dark glow into his room. A second later the door opened and he heard her boots come down the stairs. He stood a smirk crossing his features "thought you forgot about me….". His smirk fell when he actually took in the form of the girl. She looked broken. She was pale and bloody and looked as if she had seen her dog die. Negan went silent and waited. He watched as she never made eye contact with him, but instead paced the small hall that stood in front of his cell. He noticed how her hands shook and she mumbled quiet words to herself. Suddenly she stopped and turned catching his eye she bit her lip and he saw the walls begin to crumble. He took a step forward and beckoned her forward. Once close enough he reached into her jacket pocket and took out the key, slowly unlocking his cell. Stepping back a foot he watched her again. She looked towards the holding door then to his gate and back. Finding his eye again she pushed the door open and stepped inside. Negan did the only thing he could think of, he opened his arms and then he saw the one thing he never saw in all the time he knew Riley Dixon. She cried. She broke and fell into his body. Negan held onto her, squeezing her and kissing the top of her head. He didn't speak just held. "he's gone….", she whispered into his chest. Negan looked down at the small frame of the girl wrapped in his lanky arms "who goose…...who's gone". Riley simply shook her head. Looking towards the window he watched as feet ambled by and the sobbing of people whose faces, he couldn't see. He watched for a moment longer until Riley's soft voice sailed through the mist "how do I tell Judith"
Negan was taken out of his memory when Riley pulled back a bit "I need to go…Tara's probably worried"
"what about you kiddo…. what's running through that head"
Riley looked down at her boots "I just want people to remember, people to understand"
Giving Negan one last squeeze before she turned, heading back out, and locking the door, her eyes catching his in a quiet apology "understand what…remember what…"
"what my dad would have wanted, what he fought for…what he died for" Riley reached into her bag pulling out a book and slipping it through the bars "nothing will work or last if we can't all co-exist, working together, communicating, we all want the same goal, the same outcome and now with the Whispers we need to do that more than ever…."
Negan walked forward grabbing the book "we can only survive if we thrive and that means all of us"
Heading towards the door she turned "I might not see you tomorrow, we head to the Kingdom at first light…but I'll try"
Negan nodded "hey goose…. that dream that your old man had….as long as you remember, as long as you understand it can and will happen…just don't lose hope"
Riley smiled at Negan "night Duck". As Riley closed up the holding area, she heard Negan laugh and settle back onto his bed. She stood by the window for a moment and waited
"The Grandparents Handbook"
Riley smiled as she heard Negan read the title of the book she had found on a run. Listening she heard him open the book, flipping through some of the pages. He stopped and she knew he found it…..
Arriving back home, she entered the living area and slumped into the couch. Closing her eyes for a moment and taking in the stillness. She held back a smirk as she felt the couch dip as Tara took a seat, Riley then felt legs land on her lap and couldn't help the grin that escaped. "I talked with Michonne"
Riley opened her eyes and quickly glanced over, seeing the sad and tired look on her wife's face. Looking down at Tara's feet she slowly began to massage them.
"she doesn't want to understand…its not that she doesn't, its that she doesn't want to"
Tara watched Riley for a moment. Taking in exactly how young, broken and weathered she looked. Riley was a Dixon through and through and didn't show many emotions. She tended to keep them tucked away and out of sight. Tara had only seen Riley cry once and when Riley discovered Tara in the room, she quickly stopped and removed herself from the situation.
"Negan, he isn't replacing dad….no one will, no one ever could. The thing is Negan…. he, he…."
Tara swung her feet off Riley's lap and moved closer "hey…you don't need to justify it for me, I love you and if Negan is someone important in your life, then he's important in my life too….I don't need to understand it in order to support you."
Riley smirked at her wife. "how'd I get so lucky" she whispered catching Tara's lips in an embrace. Tara smiled into the kiss but pulled away shortly
"you know…."
Riley laughed out loud and stood pulling Tara to her feet "come on" she spoke placing a hand on Tara's belly "lets get you to bed"
The next morning everything was loaded up and the community…those that were attending were getting ready to head out. Riley told Tara she would meet her at ventured off down the street
Smiling as she stood in front of the cell she watched as Negan closed the book, she gave him last night "you ready to be called granddad"
Negan stood and smirked "actually thinking I might like pop-pop"
Riley's smile grew and she nodded "that can be arranged", looking towards the window as more feet walked by, she let out a breath "well I'm heading out be back in a day or two…. can't stay away too long…."
"well, have a good time and try to relax, your last big outing before becoming a mama"
Riley bit her lip and looked away for a moment. Negan took another step forward
"and you're going to be one hell of a mom"
Looking back up Riley smiled…. Negan noticed that it didn't reach her eyes but it quickly passed.
"okay then…see you and try and stay out of trouble" Negan gave a little nod and chuckle and watched her go…before she reached the door, he spoke
"love you kiddo"
Riley didn't turn…even if she did Negan wouldn't see her, she smiled though and placing her hand on the door knob she called back down "you too duck, you too"
A few hours later everyone was arriving at the Kingdom, the grounds were amazing and it truly felt like the start of anew chapter. Rile watched as Judith ran around with Jerry's children and Aaron spoke with Enid, The King and Carol walking among the masses with Henry at their side. Riley smiled and grabbed Tara's hand walking toward Michonne as she met up with Carol and Ezekiel.
Walking towards the various leaders she knew what was in store for she talked with Zeke many times about what needed to be addressed and she knew that this moment was when it all came together.
"this is the day" Riley spoke as she came upon the group, Tara looked over "the day of what?"
"the day our lives change"
A/N: What are your thoughts/predications on what's to come. What do you want to see/hope for. Leave a Review and maybe we'll see!