𝐍𝐄𝐅𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐔𝐒 | daryl dixon

- 𝟏𝟏𝟒

     he nodded, laying his head on the pillow next to her, still holding her hand as he stroked her shoulder with the other which he'd slipped under her neck as a headrest. the marksman loved going to sleep like this because he knew that if he needed her she was there.

     rosaline's insomnia had gone through the year. the brunette used to be a very light sleeper or waking up at the crack of dawn because her body refused her any more rest. now she slept through the whole night easily. daryl had done that for her.

     slowly but surely, both of their lids fell close dragging them into sleep.

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     the next day, daryl and rosaline arrived at the hilltop with michonne and rick. when the gates opened, they could immediately see some of the workers continuing on with making the gallows.

     daryl stopped the bike getting off with rosaline to meet maggie. in the afternoon, rick and rosa took the time to have a little bit of a play date with hershel.

     the baby was only a few months old. when hershel went for his nap, the girl gave the two some space to discuss other matters. she was tired of hearing about leading the two communities. rosaline wasn't a leader but she was becoming tired of hearing about the plans. people needed a break.

     her husband met her outside the door. the pair had already heard about what gregory had done. so cowardly. he'd turned against maggie again and plotted to take the hilltop from her with the help of ken's emotional parents. tammy and earl. he took advantage of people for his personal gain once more.

     during the night, maggie had come to daryl for a deal. he was going to punish gregory. however, the punishment that gregory was getting was far worse than what the other man was receiving.

     maggie was going to hang him. the dixon was just going to send the horse off and leave him in the air to suffocate.

     "do you have any final words?" she asked, with a hateful look.

     gregory whimpered above her, "what you're doing isn't right! somebody stop this, please... killing me in the dead of night because you're ashamed."

     rosaline stood between rick and michonne, rheagar watching the scene with hard eyes. he knew what was going to happen as he smelled the fear scent practically flooding from the older man.

     "you're wrong." maggie said jerking her chin at daryl, "i'm not ashamed."

     "stop this! please! now, for the love of god, stop it!" he pleaded, his breathing ragged.

     behind them, rosa and michonne felt movement. when they turned around, two children had come around the corner, curious as to what all the noise was about.

     michonne panicked, "maggie, stop!"

     rick pulled her back, his strong arms trapping her, not actually seeing what was going on.

     it was too late, daryl had already sent off the horse, leaving gregory in the air. his neck snapped as he gasped for air. the rope cracked ominously. rosa's head fell to the ground shamefully as the children witnessed the death.

     maggie had finally seen, "get the children back in bed." she demanded, "i made this decision but this is not the beginning of something. i don't want to go through it again. cut him down."

     rosaline averted her gaze from the swinging body as daryl cut it down, the dead gregory dropping to the ground with a loud thud.

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