I was surprised how happy everyone seemed. We ate in the candle light of the church, everyone talking and smiling at each other. I sat beside Daryl, watching as Rick struggled to get Judith to simply take a bite of food.
"She eats for Kat." Tyrese said, glancing between Rick and I. Rick gave a confused look for a moment, before raising his eyebrows and holding Judith a bit more towards me.
Taking her in my arms I watched a smile grow on her face as she grabbed at my shoulders. I couldn't help but smile at the baby girl in my arms and how perfectly intent she seemed by just laying there. Rick handed me her food with a bit of a grin as I held her tightly to me and started to feed her.
"Well I'll be damned, Kat." Rick whispered with a smile. "Tyrese wasn't kiddin', huh?" I let out a huff of laughter as he turned his attention to Judith. "Did your auntie Kat take good care of you or what?" Judith quickly turned to a giggly mess as she looked between Rick and I.
"So Kat, how long you been with Daryl?" Maggie asked nonchalantly, causing me to stop laughing and turn my attention to her.
"Uh... Why?"
Glenn grinned and narrowed his eyes at me. "I bet at the prison, Maggie bet it was during that winter on the road."
I rolled my eyes but heard Daryl laugh. "Both uh y'all are wrong." He stared at his plate but he had a grin on his face. I smirked at him before turning my attention back to the couple.
"How longggg?" Maggie begged. I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck.
"You 'member when I got hurt at the farm real bad."
"When I asked you to go to the bar?"
"Yeah."
"THAT LONG AND YOU DIDNT TELL ANYONE!" She said in a hurt tone, but she chuckled and smiled. "How rude."
"Well..."
"Who'd you tell?" She pressed.
"Your... Uh. Your dad." I mumbled a bit.
She gave me a sad smile, but she seemed genuinely happy. "He was real good at figuring stuff like that."
I chuckled, nodding my head slowly at her. "Definitely was."
We went back on to talking and thinking about things, when Abraham tapped on a glass and stood to get everyone's attention. I raised an eyebrow and looked at Rick as I handed him Judith.
I was trying to listen to the words he was saying, but something was bothering Daryl. "You okay?" I whispered.
"Ima go find Carol. She went off somewhere and it's starting to get me worried."
"Do you want me to come?"
He shook his head a bit in response, but I knew he was just worried with what happened to Beth. Surely Carol had just gone off to think or to do something to get her mind off of what had happened between us all. I couldn't say I blamed her, either.
So with that, I just nodded and kissed the side of his mouth. "Be safe..." He nodded and slowly slipped away from the group, where I turned my attention back to Abraham.
His plan for the group was... well... a daydream. I wasn't stupid enough to believe there was anything left in the continent. If there had been, this would've been cleared up by now. But the group seemed enthusiastic on the subject. I could see it in Rick's eyes. I could see it in Maggie's smile and the way Sasha beamed at Bob. So, when they asked my opinion, my response was simple.
"Why not?" I said with a short laugh. Rick had already agreed he thought it was a good idea, making a joke about Judith in the process, so I really didn't wanna just shoot it down. Who knew? Maybe there'd be something for us to turn into a new home.... I guess we could only hope.
After a few minutes, Rick pulled me to the side.
"Thank you." He said simply, his hand holding mine tightly.
"For what?"
"You saved my daughter, Kat. You've saved both my kids and me. I just..."
I smiled and squeezed his hand tighter. "That's what family does for each other, Rick."
He let out an airy laugh and nodded. "Right."
We both looked at the group, their excitement was contagious. It was, in the most messed up way possible, beautiful to see them all sitting there, their weapons on the ground beside them and drinks in their hands. They were content just being together.
Maybe it wouldn't be the worst thing to go to Washington, like Abraham had suggested. Hell, maybe it'd be a good thing.
