The Way it is Now

Five Years Later

Warm breath grazed the back of my neck, and a calloused hand curled around my waist beneath the old shirt of his I slept in. I smiled before my eyes even opened.

“Mmm… good morning,” I murmured, my voice still husky with sleep.

Daryl's lips pressed to my skin again, rough stubble scratching gently against my neck as he murmured back, “Mornin’.”

I let out a small giggle, biting my bottom lip as his hand roamed - familiar and hungry. I turned to face him, our bodies falling into that same rhythm they always did, like we’d never stopped dancing.

Our lips met, slow and deep, and God, it still made my stomach flutter after all these years. His fingers lifted the hem of my shirt, inch by inch, his mouth beginning a trail of kisses lower down my body-

“Mommy! Daddy!”

We froze.

I sighed, but I couldn’t help the grin tugging at my lips. Daryl pulled away with a quiet, amused growl as the thunder of small feet echoed down the hall.

“Here comes the stampede,” I whispered.

The door burst open, and Briar launched herself onto the bed like she was storming a castle, her long, curly, brown mane bouncing along with her. Daryl caught her mid-flight, chuckling as she nuzzled into his chest like she belonged there - which, of course, she did.

“Hey my Lil’ Badass,” he said, brushing her hair back to kiss her forehead.

“Morning baby." I smiled, leaning across to kiss her good morning. Then, even though I already knew the answer, "Is your brother awake?”

“I am!” came a yell from behind the door.

Before I could react, he came barreling into the room, all limbs and dark, shaggy hair - almost identical to Daryl’s - bouncing straight onto the mattress like it was a trampoline.

“I’m hungry!” he declared.

“Sawyer’s always hungry!” Briar proclaimed.

“Am not!” he shot back, then flung himself right into my arms with the kind of chaotic love only a three-year-old could give.

“Okay, okay!” I laughed, catching him. “I think it’s time for breakfast before you eat your own hand.”

“Pancakes, Mommy?” Sawyer asked, peering up at me with those stormy blue eyes - Daryl’s eyes.

I grinned. “You know Daddy’s the one who’s good at pancakes.”

“Pancakes, Daddy?” he repeated, practically vibrating with hope.

“Yeah Daddy, I want pancakes too!” Briar joined in, already halfway into bribery-mode.

Daryl gave a long, theatrical sigh - like this wasn’t his favorite way to be woken up. “Y’all gangin’ up on me now?”

“Yup. I want pancakes as well.” I teased.

He shot me a look that was half amusement, half affection, then scooped both kids up over his shoulders with a growl. “A’ight. Pancakes.”

And just like that, our morning began - with tiny feet pounding toward the stairs, Daryl rubbing sleep from his eyes, and me trailing behind them all, heart full and eyes soft.

We’d come a long way.

~

Alexandria had changed in five years - but not in the way things had before. It hadn’t been ripped apart, rebuilt, broken again. No… this time, it had grown.

There were more gardens now - rows and rows of them, all filled with crops we used to dream about. Peach trees had finally taken root near the southern wall, and sometimes you could hear kids laughing as they climbed them, despite the signs Eugene had hand-painted that said “NO MONKEYING AROUND.” (He painted a little monkey on it too, just to make the point.)

The walls were taller, stronger. And the people? So many more of them now. Those who’d opted to come from Hilltop, Oceanside, and The Kingdom in search of a change of scenery.

We had a small school. A clinic that actually looked like a clinic. A council that didn’t make everyone nervous. But for me, the biggest change wasn’t in the town. It was in us.

There were days I still woke up expecting the world to fall apart. Nights where I jolted awake, heart racing, sure someone was gone. But then I’d hear Sawyer’s soft snores, feel Daryl’s arm wrapped around my waist, or hear Briar murmuring in her sleep - and the dread would pass.

Life wasn't perfect. Walkers still roamed outside the walls. The kids were wild and stubborn and got into everything. I still had nightmares sometimes. Daryl still blamed himself for things long buried, and Alexandria didn't accept new members anymore.

But Daryl and I had made something that lasted. Something real.

And that morning, as I leaned in the doorway watching Daryl flip pancakes while Briar stood on a chair beside him (offering way too much advice), and Sawyer danced around the kitchen table with a fork already in hand, I felt it again:

That quiet, beautiful truth.

We were still here.

Still standing.

Still us.

~

A knock sounded at the door just as Daryl was handing Sawyer a slightly burnt pancake - exactly how he liked them.

“I’ll get it,” I called, already making my way over.

When I opened the door, I blinked at the figure on the porch. “Merle? What, you piss the bed?”

He squinted. “The hell kinda question is that?”

“You’re up early,” I smirked.

“I was on guard duty. That’s why I’m here-”

“Uncle Merle!” Sawyer shouted, pancake forgotten, sprinting down the hall like a wild animal. Briar wasn’t far behind.

The second they reached him, Merle was scooping both of them up in a flurry of exaggerated grunts and playful growls, spinning Sawyer around and letting Briar climb halfway up his back like a koala.

“And we’re wrestling already,” I sighed lightly, crossing my arms.

“Are they here yet?” Briar asked, peeking up at Merle with hopeful eyes.

“Your cousin won’t be here for another couple months, baby,” I said, ruffling her curls before turning back to Merle. “How is Annie?”

He grinned. “She’s doin’ good.”

I raised a brow. “Uh huh. And by ‘good,’ you mean?”

“Fat as hell,” he replied with a proud grin that made me roll my eyes.

“Don't let her hear you say that.”

He laughed. “She’s still got the attitude, so I know she’s alright.”

Daryl’s voice came from the hallway, low and suspicious. “Why the hell ya at our door before seven?”

Merle set the kids down and straightened up, suddenly serious. “Got somethin’ one of ya needs to see.”

“Nooo,” Briar whined, tugging at Daryl’s hand. “Daddy’s making pancakes!”

“I'll come,” I offered quickly, already turning back toward the stairs. “Gimme two minutes to get dressed.”

I could see the unease on Daryl’s face, but he didn’t stop me. Just stood there watching me with that quiet worry in his eyes.

When I came back down, I was pulling my boots on. I leaned in, kissing him quick.

“Ya good?” he asked.

“Yup,” I told him. Kissing him again. “I’ll report back”

“Pancake duty, huh?” he said under his breath.

I nodded with a smile.

Outside, Merle walked fast, his boots crunching against the gravel. I kept pace beside him.

“Judith snuck out at sunrise,” he muttered. “Slipped out while I was takin’ a piss - little ninja.”

I stopped cold. “What?”

“She’s fine,” Merle added quickly, holding up a hand. “Aaron, Rosita and Eugene went after her.”

“Does nobody here ever get to sleep in?” I asked sarcastically. “So what do I need to see?”

“They’re back. But they ain’t alone.”

We reached the gate in less than a minute. Just inside, I spotted them - Judith standing in front of a group of strangers like she was their damn shield.

Three women, a teenage girl, and a man stood behind her. One of the women was clutching a bloody wound on her head. They looked exhausted. Worn down. Like they’d been through hell.

“Aunt Athena, please,” Judith said, eyes wide and pleading. “I found them. Don’t make them leave. They need help.”

My stomach sank. I looked at Aaron.

He looked defeated. Judith must’ve made it impossible to say no.

Before I could even ask what the hell he was thinking, the gates creaked open again, and a horse trotted in.

Michonne, back from a couple of days at the river.

She slid off the saddle and tied the reins off in one fluid motion, eyes narrowing the second she saw the strangers. She didn’t say a word - just moved straight to the group and started frisking them.

“Who are they?” she asked flatly, looking at Eugene.

Aaron stepped forward, clearly ready to take the blame. “I brought them in.”

Michonne raised a brow. “It’s not your call to make.”

“I decided,” Judith said stubbornly, stepping in front of the group again.

Michonne’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t get to decide things like this, Judith.”

“She already did,” Aaron said with a sigh. “And they’re here now. We should at least talk about it.”

Rosita stepped between them, eyes flicking from Michonne to the newcomers. “We’ll vote. Tomorrow.”

Michonne’s jaw tightened, but after a beat, she gave a stiff nod. “Fine. They stay in holding ‘til then.”

“Come on,” Rosita muttered, already moving to escort the group away. The newcomers didn’t protest - just followed, too tired to do anything else.

Michonne looked at me. She didn’t need to say anything. We both knew what had happened the last time we trusted a stranger

I couldn’t hold her gaze. Instead, I watched them go, a pit growing in my stomach.

Who the hell had Judith just brought into our home?

~

The smell of blueberries hit me as I walked back through our front door.

Sawyer was under the table, giggling as Briar tried to drag him out by one ankle. “You’re gonna spill honey all over his hair,” I warned, toeing off my boots.

Daryl was at the stove, shirtless - damn, flipping the last pancake onto a plate like it was nothing. Just another morning.

He looked over his shoulder, chewing on his thumbnail - a nervous tell he still had after all these years.

“How many did you have to make?” I asked

“Too goddamn many.” He shook his head with a smirk, picking up the plate and setting it in front of me with a fork. “Here. Eat.”

I sat down. Took a bite. “Blueberry? You’re the best.”

The warmth melted over my tongue, but it couldn’t settle the cold weight that had settled in my gut.

"Damn right... What was it?”

“We’ve got people in holding,” I said between bites, keeping my voice low. “Five of ’em. Judith found them outside the walls.”

He turned slowly. “She found ‘em?”

I nodded. “Snuck out at sunrise. Merle caught on, Aaron, Rosita and Eugene followed her. She was with a group. Three women, a teen girl, and a guy. One’s got a head injury.”

He leaned against the counter, arms folded. “'N' we just… let ‘em in?”

I put the fork down, suddenly not so hungry. “Judith begged. Aaron said they needed help. Michonne’s not happy. She came back just as I got out there.”

“Damn right she’s not,” he muttered. “I don’t like it either.”

I looked up at him. “I'm with you. It makes me nervous, too."

He was quiet for a long moment, jaw tight. I could see the storm brewing in his eyes - concern for Judith, anger at being blindsided, that protective streak of his flaring hotter than ever.

“We dunno who they are,” he finally said. “What they want. Why the hell they’re even here."

“I know,” I murmured, reaching across the table to touch his hand. “But they looked rough. Scared. Tired. Not like they were tryin’ to pull something.”

His fingers curled around mine, but his shoulders stayed tense. “Still don’t want ‘em 'round the kids. Could be anybody.”

I nodded. He wasn’t wrong. We’d learned that the hard way.

“We’ll keep an eye on ‘em,” I promised. “We're probably gonna have to postpone our trip.”

“Yeah.” He sighed. “Maybe wait a few days... Take it Michonne didn’t find nothin’?”

I gave him a sympathetic look. “We didn’t get the chance to talk, but it didn’t look like it.”

Daryl chewed his thumbnail again. I knew he hadn’t let go of the hope that one day we’d be able to lay Rick to rest. He went out there with Michonne sometimes, but he never stayed overnight like she did. I knew it was tough for him - he was desperate to be out there searching for Rick’s body - especially in the early days. I think for him, it maybe would’ve been closure.

We talked about it, right after it happened - I'd even suggested him heading out for a week here and there, just to get it out of his system, but he never did. He didn’t want to be away from Briar and I.

Then, when we found out Sawyer was on the way - it was pretty much just out of the question. Being pregnant while already having a one-year old kicked my ass more than any walker ever had.

I rubbed my thumb over the back of his hand, my voice softer. “Do you really think anything could turn up now? After all this time?

“Dunno.” He rasped. “But I get why she goes out there so much. I’d never leave that river if it was you out there.”

“I know. I’d be the same... but we’re both here, so let’s not think about it."

He didn’t answer. Just gave my hand a gentle squeeze before letting go and pulling me into a tight hug instead.

“Love ya so much,” He breathed into my ear, before his tone turned mischievous. “‘N’ I’m damn sure gonna make up for what we missed out on this mornin’ when the kids go to bed.”

“I love you,” I giggled, my stomach fluttering. “And I’m gonna hold you to that.”

“Good.” He smirked as he pulled away, and I marvelled at how much he still took my breath away when I looked at him, even after all these years.

He looked a little older, tireder, his hair was still untamed - longer than he’d ever kept it, and I loved it. His face was more lined, more scarred, including a nasty one straight down his eye that took a long time to heal, but his eyes themselves were still that same shocking blue that seared into my soul all those years ago. I still often found myself getting lost in them.

Honestly? I found him more beautiful than ever.

Behind us, the kids shrieked with laughter as Briar tickled Sawyer under the armpits.

It was peaceful. Warm. Safe.

Which meant it was just about time for something to go wrong...

A/N: Eeeek! So I went back and forth forever with how to handle the time jump. It seemed a shame to miss out on five years of their story, but, in the end, I decided go for it so we can see how Daryl and Athena’s life together has changed over the years.

I’m planning on including flashbacks to some of the bigger events at some point. Maybe one day I’ll even create a separate story about their missing years. Who knows!?

I hope you enjoyed it! ❤️

Daryl’s POV coming soon!