Three against the world

50

"Well Jude, it's just us" it was mid-day and the heat was at its highest, "maybe I'll call Bethy over" she screamed with a smile "someone misses her big sister", grabbing my phone off the table I gave her a call "hey mom"

"Hey hon, you off today? Wanna come over for a visit" Judith walked over the to sofa and cocked her head to the side hearing her sisters voice "sure! I'll be right over" collage wasn't that far, only a 45 minute drive from the house, we offered her to stay here but she wanted the college experience by living in the dooms and Hershel agreed "mama" she healed her arms up wanting to be held, just as I got up the doorbell rang "Maggie, hi" moving out of the way she stepped in "Rick asked me to check up on ya, said you were upset this morning'" she wasted no time in taking Judy from me "just the hormones I guess, since we found Daryl I haven't been left home alone" she smiled "Ya mean since he shot ya with that arrow?" I rolled my eyes sitting on one of the barstools "that was an accident" Maggie hummed as she made herself at home getting herself a drink from the fridge and some snacks for Judy I never had a loving home growing up so I wanted to make mine a place people could call home and take what they needed.

"Is Enid ok? Carl said you said she couldn't come over" Maggie nodded setting Judy in her high chair and getting her some water "she's sick, got some sort of bad flu, Glenn had to take her to the hospital this morning, she was coughing up blood" she rubbed her belly "he didn't want me to get it in case I am pregnant, didn't want to scare the other two, didn't want them going' to school with that in their head"

"I'm going there after I pick them up anyway so I'll bring them" she joined me at the island placing a cup of ice water in front of me "I'm just scared, what if they lose her, the doctors think its pig flu or something front he trip they had to the pig farm for career class" Judy hit Maggie on the side of the head with an animal cracker "no throwing your food Judy" she blew a raspberry before going back to her food "our fault, we tend to have food fights a lot more lately"

Beth joined us around one, she sat on the floor happily playing with Judy who wouldn't leave her lap, "that was Glenn, they said she's improving" her eyes were watering up "that's good, wanna take the kids out of school and go see her? I'm sure Carol won't mind" she nodded, kissing Beth and Judy before grabbing her keys.

Beth walked Judy across the street so Lori could watch her, she didn't get to see the kids often with all the school work, and face time wasn't the same. "Bye, mom!" I waved back and watched her drive off before climbing into my own car "Maggie took me and Sophia to see Enid don't need to pick us up" i read the text from carl and placed the phone in the empty cup holder I put the car into gear, Shane was going to drop Rick off at the hospital so we would just drive home together.

"Hey kid" we popped in to see Enid before going off to our appointment, Rick made sure I stayed away, and Sophia ran over giving me a hug hard enough for the both of them "hey" she looked pale but for the most part she looked good, "Glenn said he'd drive us home after work," we all said our goodbyes and went to the maternity floor "this brings back memories" Rick smiled at our reflection in the elevator door, "ya it does"

"Can still feel Loris grip on my hand, didn't know she could squeeze that hard" Rick took my hand interwinding our finders, when we turned the corner there stood Daryl, he was cleaned up in a black t-shirt and a pair of ripped jeans, I waddled my ass over and hugged him "how's Merle?" His heart was beating fast, a young couple was sitting down across from us, her head was wrapped and she didn't have eyebrows, despite how scary her husband looked in his leather jacket and salt and pepper beard he doted on her lovingly.

"Don' worry, ya ain't losing your brother anytime soon, jus' needed to process it all" the couple from earlier walked out with smiles on their faces, his hand not leaving her stomach as they walked.

"The twins are both boys," the tech said happily, the boys had giant smiles on their faces "Bella's gonna be happy about that, she guessed right" Daryl tied my shoes while Rick took the pictures from the tech "we should take a trip out to see them" they had to move away for work.

We welcomed the twins home a few months later, "that's it, I'm done no more kids for me" I was exhausted, Daryl was helping a lot with the twins, and Rick picked up extra shifts for some extra money while I'm out of service on maternity leave, Merle moved into the basement, Daryl didn't want to leave him alone he was scared he would do something rash. It was hard losing someone you love, and poor Merle always thought he'd never have someone who'd love him like that.

Carl and the girls got their own apartment while they went to college, Maggie and Glenn's little boy was as healthy as could be, and Hershel was excited to meet the little man. Beth got married to her boyfriend. Everything was going as it should be, well that was until I got a call from general smith that I was needed asap. "I'll be fine, I have Ford to cover my six" I gave everyone a kiss before leaving "Don't give your fathers a hard time you three" Judith smiled while the twins giggled.

Staring up at the smoke riddled sky I realized how bad my lie truly was, we were ambushed, and the last thing I remembered was Abe calling out to me.

3rd person

Rick and Daryl took turns sitting at her hospital bed, there was nothing more they could do, she was beaten up pretty badly, and the doctors said she was lucky to even make it home, Carl moved back in to help with the kids. Sophia had left them a few months after they moved in together, Merle was a big help with the twins "ya think she's gonna wake up?" Daryl and Rick sat by her bedside holding hands, Rick didn't know how to answer that, they all knew the risk of her going out there, "Hey" they both jumped up, Rick cupped her face while Daryl moved to the other side "you're going to be ok, all of you" she knew she wasn't going to make it was hard just to breathe, Daryl sobbed into her hand while Ricks tears fell onto her face.

"I love you"