GUARDIANS

We had made it back to Alexandria. Lyra was still upset with me and Daryl was still at Hilltop. Negan had escaped but returned. Michonne had called a meeting to discuss the secrets we kept from her

"Who else knew about this?" Michonne asked

"Just Eugene and Rosita. We would've told you if we'd found someone out there, but we didn't" Gabriel explained

"Then who knows who else was listening?" Michonne asked

"We weren't being careless with it" Gabriel said

"Rosita and Eugene went out to set up this relay and almost died because of it. Jesus did die because of it. Negan got out while you were distracted because of it! I can't do my job if the council is keeping things from me" Michonne said

"We gave you the power to veto the council based on security concerns, but now everything is a security concern. So our votes don't matter anymore, unless you agree with them" Gabriel said

"Putting ourselves out there when we don't have to is dangerous!" Michonne yelled

"But not knowing what's going on, can also be dangerous" I said

"Y/n is right. Cutting us off from the rest of the world is also dangerous. Who are we supposed to turn to when we need help? We can't be so worried about finding enemies that we lose our friends" Gabriel said

"And we did lose a friend. Look, we all set out with the best of intentions, but that doesn't change what happened. There's a new enemy out there, and they're exactly what Michonne was afraid we'd find. I don't regret the time that I spent out there with Jesus. I don't. And what happened.. Maybe that would've happened anyway. Maybe. But now we know what's out there, and we can't pretend otherwise. We put Michonne in charge of security for a reason. Her judgment has saved us time and again" Aaron said. I shook my head

"Yes, but at what cost? We saw Carol when we were at the Hilltop. And she told me that she tried asking Michonne for help with the fair again, and she said that you turned her down" Siddiq said

"Oh, so you're pissed that we keep secrets but you're doing the same?!" I asked angrily

"You can't compa-" Michonne was cut off

"You spoke on behalf of Alexandria?" Gabriel asked agitated. Michonne looked at him

"The question of the trade fair is old business" Michonne said

"Yes, but we have new information. Look, the fair starts the day after tomorrow, and it's not too late to reconsider. Carol says that the situation at the Kingdom is far worse than Ezekiel let on in his letter. They're too isolated, and they need the trade that this fair will bring" Siddiq said

"The Kingdom can take care of itself. They always have" Laura said

"You act as if you're close with the people of the Kingdom" I said

"Y/n's right. Carol wouldn't ask for help a second time if it wasn't serious"  Siddiq said

"I motion the council take a second vote on the Kingdom's fair" Nora said

"To what end? She'd just veto it" Gabriel said

"I would. The roads leading there are broken and dangerous, and there is a group dressed as the dead who are trying to kill us. Look, I wish we could help them, too, and we could vote to open up our doors to our friends just like we did with the people of the Sanctuary. I could get behind that. But Carol made it clear in her letter that Ezekiel is not ready to give up the Kingdom, and I'm not ready to risk Alexandrian lives over this" Michonne said

"I know that you just want what's best for us. But what does it mean for Alexandria to survive if it means the Kingdom falls?" Siddiq asked

"It means Alexandria survives" Michonne said before walking out. I clenched my hands in anger

"Son of a bitch" I muttered before walking out. I walked home

"Lyra, I'm home" I said as I closed the door behind me only for it to open

"Just gonna close the door on me?" Siddiq asked. I turned

"Sorry, I didn't know you were behind me" I said

"It's fine" Siddiq said with a smile as he entered. I closed the door as I sighed

"Man, I don't even know why we have a council. It's a dictatorship in the disguise of a democracy" I said. Siddiq didn't respond but I knew he agreed

"Is Lyra talking to you yet?" Siddiq asked. I bit my lip

"No, she's really upset.. I tried and tried but.. I can't get through to her y'know?" I asked

"I get it.. Do you think I could try talking to her?" Siddiq asked

"Might as well give it a shot" I said. Siddiq walked towards Lyra's room

Third Person's POV

Lyra was in her room. She was grounded for sneaking out to find Daryl. If she could, she would have never left. It wasn't worth it. She thought when Daryl saw her again, maybe he'd hug her or even recognize her.. but he didn't. Instead he was an asshole

Lyra looked at her window. She walked over to it and tried to open it. Lyra had heard that Negan had snuck out only to come back. Judith told her. Lyra felt like in a way, that made her and Negan kind of similar. They both escaped and now they're both being punished. But she guessed he was always being punished. Lyra knew what he had done, to Glenn and to Abraham

Y/n had told her a lot about those two. Y/n said that Lyra's hair reminded her of Abraham's and that Glenn was one of Y/n's super close friends. Lyra knew that Negan had brutally killed them. Negan even admitted that to Lyra and Judith. Negan was honest with them. He was more honest than anyone else here. Who was Lyra to fault him for that? The window was locked. Lyra had heard a knock on the door. Lyra jumped at the sudden noise

"Lyra?" She heard Siddiq ask. Lyra didn't respond

"It's me, Siddiq.. listen I heard what happened.. I can understand why you're upset.. You know, one time.. my father.. he left for a really long time.. I hated him for it, but my mother still loved him. She was never upset with him. I wished I could not be upset but it just wasn't possible.. When he came back I remembered yelling at him because he had left. I was so stupid. Do you know why he left?" Siddiq asked. Lyra didn't answer

"He left to make some more money for us. I know, money will never be an issue for us now but still, he had left.. for us. It took time, but I have respect for my father, and I love him very much" Siddiq said. Lyra didn't understand what that had to do with her. Why was he telling her?

"Daryl.. he's a tough cookie.. and he certainly doesn't show it but I've seen it. When we were in Hilltop a couple days ago. I had overheard Daryl asking Michonne a bunch of questions about you. Trying to get to know you without you actually knowing. When I say he loves you, I mean it. He would die for you, even if he doesn't show it" Siddiq said. Lyra sighed as she shook her head

"I don't need him! I have you and Mom, it's fine! I don't care about him!" Lyra yelled. This was not the only place where troubles were brewing

At Hilltop, Taylor had requested to speak with Daryl. He had just entered Taylor's office

"You wanted to see me" Daryl said as he saw Taylor sitting in her chair

"Sit, we need to talk" She said. Daryl groaned

"If this is about Y/n-" Daryl was cut off

"Sit" Taylor said. Daryl rolled his eyes and sat down in the chair that was in front of her desk

"What?" Daryl asked

"What the hell, Daryl? I haven't seen you in 4 years? I haven't seen Y/n in 5.. and you're telling me, that you haven't been with her? You just left?!" Taylor asked angrily. Daryl stood up

"I ain't got time for this" Daryl said as he went to leave

"Sit your ass down! I am not done speaking!" Taylor said. Daryl turned and looked at her

"She loves you despite all of your flaws, and this is how you treat her? I don't get it. I can see that you love her.. but you sure as hell don't act like it. You have a child now, you can't just leave when you feel like it" Taylor said. Daryl wanted her to stay out of his business

"Learn your place" Daryl said glaring at her as he went to leave. Daryl's hand touched the door knob

"You know who I see in you, right now? I see that disgusting prick of a father" Taylor said. Daryl's blood boiled at the mention. Daryl spun around and walked over

"Do not compare me to that fucking bastard! I ain't nothin' like him!" Daryl yelled at her. She kept a glare on him

"The only difference between you and him, is that instead of staying and beating the shit out of your kid.. you just left. Now get the hell out of my office" Taylor said. Daryl flipped her off

"Fuck you!" Daryl yelled before walking out

Y/n's POV

Me and Michonne went to see the escapee Negan. We opened the door and saw him. He was sitting on his bed reading a book, behind bars. He closed it once he realized it was us

"Welcome home" Negan said looking at us. Michonne sighed

"I'm surprised it took so long" Negan said

"I want answers. And I'm told you'll only give them to me. Y/n is here because the council wants to make sure I don't attempt to make any decisions without their knowledge. So.. tell me. Why the hell did you come back? 'Cause I know for damn sure it wasn't for nothing" Michonne said

"Well, in fairness to Gabe, it wasn't all his fault that I got out. You can't keep a big dog locked up forever. Sooner or later, he's got to run" Negan said

"Yeah, but you ran back. So what kind of dog does that make you?" Michonne asked. Negan smiled

"I'm glad you asked" Negan said as he set down his book on the bed and then stood up. He walked to the bars

"You know I was in your home. I could've waited there. Bashed your head in when you walked through the door. Hell, I could've bashed in a whole lot of heads. But I didn't" Negan said. I just watched

"Because you knew you'd be a dead man if you tried. You're an asshole, not an idiot. No, I think you decided to take your shot out there, and 'out there' spit you out, so you dragged your pathetic ass right back here. That's it, isn't it?" Michonne asked as she chuckled

"Well, you're right- the world has changed. But the thing is.. I've changed, too" Negan said

"What do you want?" Michonne asked

"If you're not gonna kill me, then maybe you could learn to trust me a little bit" Negan said. Michonne chuckled

"Wow. Wow. You choose self-preservation over revenge, and you think that earns you my trust? Wow. If spouting fresh bullshit counts as change, congratulations, Negan, you are a new man" Michonne said

"You're keeping me in here to remind everybody how merciful the great Rick Grimes was. But I am telling you, I can be so much more than that. I can help you" Negan said

"I don't need anything you're selling" Michonne said

"You have a really good thing going for you here, but it is slipping through your fingers. And it is only a matter of time before you lose control of it completely" Negan said

"Where are you getting this?" Michonne asked

"One, Y/n is here watching you because the majority of the council no longer trusts you and my windows to the world are right outside your meeting room. I'm not deaf. I hear things" Negan said

"Well, you heard wrong" Michonne said

"Look, all im saying is, I know a thing or two about keeping people in line. I could be a sounding board for you. Leader to.. former leader" Negan said

"I'm not the leader here" Michonne said

"Might as well be, we can't do shit without your approval" I muttered

"Y/n is right. Now, I heard you wrote up some constitution that supposedly gives power to the people, and yet you've got it so you're the one who makes all the decisions. Shit. That's one hell of a racket. I wish I-" Negan was cut off

"It's not a racket. And you don't know shit about what goes on here" Michonne said. Clearly he did

"I know that a good leader uses everything to their advantage" Negan said

"Sorry, Negan. If this is why you came back, you should've stayed out there" Michonne said as she turned to the door

"Michonne-" Negan was cut off

"Listen! I'm not finished. Now, we will be tying you up while we fortify that lock. And I want those windows closed" Michonne said as she turned to the windows. She must've have seen something as she left

"Shit" Negan said

—————

Alexandria was getting ready for the fair at the Kingdom. Michonne agreed that she wouldn't veto it and the Council chose to go to the fair. Siddiq had told me that Rosita was pregnant and that it was his kid, but Gabriel would be the father since they were together. Siddiq didn't seem too upset because it was Rosita's choice and he knew that he was allowed to see the child whenever he wanted. I was really happy for him and Rosita. I allowed Lyra to go find Judith, Gracie and RJ. I walked in the meeting room to find Michonne. She was sitting down. I smiled as I looked at her

"Thank you" I said

"You know.. I really thought I was doing the right thing" Michonne said. I nodded

"I know.. you had good intentions, and I'm glad you finally allowed the Council to decide something" I said. Michonne smiled

(2426 words)

Edited: 07/12/22