CHAPTER FIVE,
the silent grief.

Aiden didn't let go of the baby. Even when Carl stepped towards her. Her eyes were like ice, daring them to take her from Aiden.

"Let me see the baby." Hershel said sternly to her. Maggie stepped forwards but laid off when she saw Aiden's eyes cut up at her.

"Don't touch her." Aiden snarled.

"What are we gonna feed it?" Daryl asked. "We got anything a baby can eat?"

Aiden stepped forward but kept her eyes locked on Hershel's face as he looked at the baby. "The good news is she looks healthy. But she needs formula. And soon or she won't survive."

Aiden's head snapped up.

"Nope. No way. Not her." Daryl said. "We ain't losing nobody else. I'm going for a run.

"I'll back you up." Maggie said. "I'll go, too." Glenn agreed.

"So will I." Aiden mumbled.

Daryl quickly shut her down, "no. You need to stay with her and Carl."

Aiden watched as Rick suddenly stood and walked for his axe, "Rick!" She called but he ignored her. "Shit!" She yelled loudly.

Daryl kissed her forehead, "take care of yerself." He told her sternly. Him, Glenn, and Maggie soon walked towards the cars.

»

Aiden had laid the baby on her and Daryl's bunk with pillows surrounding her so she wouldn't fall. Aiden had managed to sing her to sleep, which shocked them all.

Aiden sat on the bottom step when she suddenly asked, "Where's T and Carol?"

Glenn, Beth, and Hershel all stopped and shared looks.

"They, uh- they didn't make it." Glenn said. Aiden sat there a moment with creased eyebrows before her fists clenched and she sucked in a breath. She abruptly stood and punched the cement wall so hard the remaining four heard her bones crack.

Aiden pulled her hand back and cradled it to her chest and her eyes stung with pained and sad tears. She turned to the others, her eyes desperate and her hand bloody and broke. "They're both dead?" She whimpered.

Glenn nodded solemnly. Aiden allowed the tears to fall.

Aiden had seen people scream from the loss of someone they loved, she seen mothers fall to their knees at the loss of a child, she'd heard her brother beg her to stay alive but she knew that silent grief was the worst.

And she didn't speak a word. She didn't scream from the amount of heart break she felt. She just simply let herself fall onto her ass.

They watched as she pressed her wrists to her eyes and lay her head back on the cement.

"Aiden." Hershel said to her. "We need to bandage you hand."

"No." Aiden mumbled. "It's fine."

"We heard the bones crack. It's clearly broken." Hershel said to her.

Aiden sighed and stood up. She followed Hershel into his and Beth's cell and allowed him to bandage it.

Glenn had left to go dig graves for Carol, T, and Lori. Hershel had left to go speak to him, leaving Carl, Beth, and Aiden with the baby. Beth had been told to keep a watchful eye on Aiden and Carl by Daryl.

Aiden had refused to let the baby go. She couldn't.

»

Night had fallen rather quickly, Rick hadn't returned from the tombs and Glenn was outside watching for Maggie and Daryl.

Aiden's head rested against the metal table when she heard the door open and close. "Beth." Maggie said to her sister.

Aiden looked up and saw the two had returned. Aiden had given up the baby when she broke down completely.

"How's she doin'?" Daryl asked. Aiden kept to herself. She watched as Daryl took the baby from Carl's arms. "Shhh."

"I'm sorry." Carl apologized. The brunette stood up and watched as Daryl fed the baby girl.

Aiden couldn't fight off the small smile when Daryl smiled at the others. Hershel looked over at Aiden, worried for the young woman. He smiled gently at her and she returned it.

"She got a name yet?" Daryl asked.

"Not yet. But I was thinking maybe Sophia. Then there's Carol, too. And... Andrea, Amy, Jacqui, Patricia, or... Lori. I don't know." Carl said. Aiden pulled him into her side and he rested her head on her arm.

"Yeah... you like that? Huh? Little ass-kicker. Right? That's a good name, right?" Daryl asked the lot of them and everyone smiled and laughed. Aiden smiled a smile so small none of the rest saw it. "Little ass-kicker. You like that, huh? You like that, sweetheart?"

The baby was passed around when she finished eating and no one notice Aiden slip out of the prison. She walked down the gravel path and towards the guard tower. She climbed up the tower and watched the tree line. A rifle rested in her grip and said grip tightened when she heard the door open.

"What do you want?" She asked.

"You okay?" Daryl asked her.

"No." Aiden replied with a shake of her head. "That was a stupid question."

"Yeah. I know tha'." Daryl replied.

"Why'd you follow me?" She asked.

"To make sure you ain't gone do nothin' stupid." He responded. She whipped around and glared at him.

"What the fuck do you mean stupid?" She snarled.

"Like go off and get yourself killed!" Daryl bellowed and stepped towards her causing her to flinch back. Daryl stopped in his tracks. "I ain't gone hit ya."

"I know." Aiden sighed. "It's just everything that's happening. Losing Lori, Carol, and T. Finally having closure on Dalton. The baby. Hershel's leg. Everything's falling apart." Aiden said.

"Look at me." Daryl grabbed her face between his large hands. "We're not falling apart."

»

The next morning the group sat around eating when they heard him, "everyone okay?"

Aiden looked up and saw Rick. "Yeah, we are." She replied. He opened the door and walked in.

"What about you?" Hershel asked him.

"I cleared out the boiler block." Rick stated.

"How many were there?" Daryl quizzed.

"I don't know. A dozen, two dozen. I have to get back. Just wanted to check on Carl." Rick said.

"Rick, we can handle taking out the bodies. You don't have to." Glenn stood.

"No, I do." He said and then walked over to Daryl and Aiden. "Everyone have a gun and a knife?"

"Yeah. We're running low on ammo, though." Daryl replied.

"Maggie, Aiden, and I were planning on making a run this afternoon. Found a phone book with some places we can hit, look for bullets and formula." Glenn said to him.

"We cleared out the generator room. Axel's there trynna fix it in case of emergency. We're gonna sweep the lower levels as well." Daryl said.

"Good. Good." Rick said and walked out.

"Rick!" Hershel called after him, only to be ignored.

Aiden sighed to herself.

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word count: 1,137
episodes: say the word & hounded

and another edited chapter!

aiden deserves all the happiness in the world. i love her so much. her mama bear instinct are in over drive right now because of judith.

daryl really loves aiden and wants nothing but goodness for her and it's adorable.