𝗙𝗜𝗙𝗧𝗬, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲

𝗜𝗩𝗬 𝗦𝗪𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗔𝗜𝗡 killers, gulping them down and slipping the bottle in her pocket. She held the water bottle— that she kindly took an air sip from due to the fact that she was giving it to Lydia. Ivy took the painkillers, but there was no pain to kill. She just took them to take them. No real reasoning behind it.

Ivy walked down into the cellar and walked to Lydia's cell. She sat down on the chair in front of the cell.

"You finally come to kill me?" Lydia asked.

Ivy scoffed and rattled the pill bottle. "It's for your ear. You keep pulling on it like it hurts." Ivy poured one pill into her hand and held it out to the girl.

"Why don't you just give me the bottle?" Lydia inquired.

"Yeah, right." Ivy laughed. Lydia furrowed her eyebrows and Ivy sighed. "No way in hell am I giving a teenage girl in an apocalypse have a full pill bottle. When I was your age, I was slitting my wrist hoping it would make me feel better— which it didn't."

Ivy leaned forward. "Three of ours went missing. One of them being my husband. We found their horses, though. Half skinned, half eaten. Do you know anything about that?" Ivy asked.

"How could I?" Lydia sassed. "I've been here."

"What would your mom do if she crossed some of our people?" Ivy inquired. Daryl and Enid told her all about the conversations the teenagers in the cells would have, and Ivy even heard some of them. The ones about Lydia's mother, and everything. "W—Would she kill them?"

Lydia nodded. "She would if she had to." Lydia answered. Ivy sighed and ran a hand through her hair.

"He used to sing to me when I was scared. Which was a lot back then. It was Lydia the Tattooed lady." Lydia told Ivy.

Ivy's eyes softened. "How old were you?" Ivy questioned.

"Five... Six. Who knows?" Lydia answered.

"I was twelve." Ivy put forth. "I know..." Lydia nodded. "Your mom... she did what she had to do. I heard what she did when you were young, to that guy."

Lydia pulled at her ear again, and Ivy held the pill out again. Lydia took it hesitantly.

"I've killed a lot of people..." Ivy stated. "thirteen. Not something I'm proud of, but it was all for a reason. They all deserved it. I was like fourteen through eighteen killin' people left and right. I was fucking reckless."

Lydia let out a small laugh. "You could stay, you know?" Ivy smiled at the girl. "I'm kinda the leader and I get to make all the big girl decisions, so..."

"How old are you?" Lydia asked. "Y—You're married... You're the leader? I— I— I thought you were like... 18, 19, maybe."

Ivy chuckled. "Well, thanks for the compliment. But, I'm, um, twenty three." Ivy answered. "Twenty three and still beating on some sixteen year old like some pussy."

"Can I have some water?" Lydia asked quietly. Ivy nodded and passed the water bottle through the bars. Lydia grabbed it. "Thank you." Ivy nodded, and left her hand there for a second.

Rookie mistake.

Lydia roughly grabbed Ivy's arm, but Ivy was quick to stop her, and Lydia's sleeve pulled down slightly. "They used to call me Khaleesi, ya know?" Ivy told the girl.

"Why?" Lydia breathed out.

"Would you ever fuck with Daenerys Targaryen?" Ivy asked. Lydia shook her head.

"Nah."

"Then, you shouldn't fuck with me." Ivy stated before pulling down Lydia's sleeve. "Jesus christ..." Lydia spit in Ivy's face, but the Grimes woman didn't budge. Lydia grabbed her arm away and walked deeper into her cell.

"Switches, huh?" Ivy asked. "I had this friend... his dad used to beat him silly. While I was at his house a lot of the time, his dad would come home... drunk and yellin'... blaming everything on my friend."

"His mom died when he was young... his dad always used to blame him for that." Lydia's mouth gaped as she listened to Ivy's story. "I watched my friends dad push his kid out the door and force him to get the biggest switch... I tried to tell the police but they just told me I was telling stories."

"So, when ever I got back from his house, I would hit myself with a switch. I didn't want my best friend to suffer alone..." Ivy concluded.

"What happened to your friend?" Lydia hesitantly asked.

Ivy shrugged as tears filled her eyes. "Oh, his dad killed him and himself. Murder-suicide type situation." Ivy answered.

"I didn't get abused, but I'm not blind..." Ivy trailed off. "If daddies dead, then whose beating you?"

"My mom." Ivy's jaw clenched at Lydia's response. Ivy hadn't gotten to see the young girls good side, but she was just a kid. No kid deserves this. No one deserves this.

"Where is she?" Ivy asked angrily.

Lydia smirked. "Be glad you don't know." Lydia answered.

"I'm not glad, though. She has my husband, and my sisters boyfriend. I'm these peoples leader, I can't just lead them astray, Lydia." Ivy explained. "At the end of the day, there's still some part of me that's a kid and that makes this so much harder. I haven't been without Carl in a long time, and if I lose him... I don't know what I would do to you or your people."

"Now, I'm gonna ask you again." Ivy walked up to the bars, wrapping her hands around two of them. "Where is she? Where's your camp?"

Lydia didn't answer.

"Are you protecting her because you love her, or because you're scared of her? Because if you're scared of her, Lydia, I'll protect you. I promise." Ivy explained. "It's a huge promise, but I'm willing to make it. If anything happens to you, I'll make sure you're safe. You're safer here."

"This place isn't real. The world changed, and you're all acting like it's gonna change back. My walks 'cause that's what the dead do. It's their world and we have to live in it. And what my mom does, she does for a reason." Lydia said as she lifted up her sleeve, revealing her bruises.

Ivy shook her head. "No... see, that's you're mom talking. The girl that I heard talking to Henry, I'm talking to her right now." Ivy stated. Lydia scoffed. "See, Lydia... you're a kid. I bet your mom tells you she loves you after she beats you, doesn't she?" Lydia paced around her cell.

"See, Lydia, that ain't love!" Ivy said, raising her voice slightly. "People here can show you love! Henry can show you love! I can!"

"You choked me and threw me against the cell bars! That's love?" Lydia yelled.

Ivy regretted laying a hand on Lydia, and everyone knew it. She was just losing it, and herself in that moment.

"You ain't my kid! If you were my kid, I would never fucking touch you! I'd never lay a goddamn hand on you!" Ivy yelled back. Lydia stopped walking and looked at the woman. "I would treat you right because you deserve better, Lydia! When I was sixteen, I was running around with my boyfriend! Yeah, I was watching my friends die, and my dad die, but at least I had something! You have nothing! And that ain't fucking fair!"

Lydia's mouth gaped as tears filled her eyes.

"You're a kid! And I can't sit around and let you think that everything your mom is doing is you're fault! If anyone tells you that it's you're fault, I'll fucking kill them! Okay?" Ivy continued. "Would your mother says those things to you? Would your mother make those kinds of promises? No! I'm not your mother but I'm a good person!"

Lydia went to speak, but Ivy cut her off. "This conversation is done." And with that, Ivy walked out of the cellar.

Henry quickly jumped out from beside the door and followed Ivy. "You could've just asked me to help." Henry spoke. Ivy shook her head. "Where are you going?"

Ivy didn't answer. "What's gonna happen to her?" Henry asked.

"Did someone used to beat you up, too?"

Ivy stopped in her tracks. "That whole thing about your friend maybe can slide with Lydia but I don't believe it. I think he's fake."

Ivy turned around. "Liam was real. And he was great. Nobody used to beat on me, or do anything." Ivy got quickly defensive. "I've just seen a lot of shit."

"I think you've been hurt." Henry whispers. "Once, I heard my dad ask my mom why she kept her hair so short. She said when it was long, her first husband would grab it when she tried to get away. He would pull it and slam her against the wall. So, one day... she just cut it all off so he couldn't. And I guess it took her this long to feel safe again."

Ivy hadn't even realized a tear fell down her face. "You act like everything's alright, but I know you're not feeling that." Henry added.

"You shouldn't listen to people talk." Ivy laughed awkwardly.

"Look, I know Lydia's people are bad, but that doesn't mean she's bad at all. And— And I feel like everyone thinks I'm crazy for thinking that, so it makes me feel better that you think it, too." Henry smiled.

Ivy began crying. Ivy brought her hand up to Henry's face and rubbed his cheek, the boy blushing in result. Ivy always looked at Henry as a little brother, but his thoughts were too occupied by teenage boy thoughts that he just couldn't resist liking Ivy.

"Y— You have a good heart, Henry." Ivy cried as she nodded. "You are a brilliant young man and I don't want you to lose you're kindness. So, for the sake of everyone at Hilltop, The Kingdom, and Alexandria..."

"Never grow up, Henry."

Henry nodded as Ivy took him into a hug. She cried in his chest, sniffling slightly. "You're gonna get Carl back, Enids gonna get Alden back, and that new group is gonna get Luke back, okay?" Henry assured the girl.

"Thank you." Ivy sniffled before wiping her tears. "Goodnight, Henry."

"Goodnight, V."

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗡𝗘𝗫𝗧 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗥𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗗, and Ivy still woke up to an empty bed. She walked through Hilltop in her denim bootcut jeans, and Carls army green t-shirt with a small tie in the front.

Ivy walked into the cellar and saw two kids laying on the ground. Ivy smiled when she saw Henry and Lydia sleeping, holding hands through the bars.

Avalyn would he devastated.

Ava and Henry broke up about two months ago and they are still living in the same community. The tension is awkward everyday from how Ava described it. Ivy felt bad for Ava, of course, but Henry deserves to move on.

The two teenagers shot up after a few seconds. "Took y'all long enough." Ivy joked.

"She didn't want to be alone." Henry defended himself. Ivy shrugged.

"I ain't mad. Its cute. Reminds me of Carl and I back in the day." Ivy smiled. Henry laughed slightly and stood up, crossing his arms.

"Yeah, when dinosaurs roamed the earth." Ivy kicked Henry's leg slightly. "Leaving now."

"Yeah, see you later." Ivy smiled. Henry waved before Ivy turned her attention to Lydia. "Hungry?" Ivy gestured to the food she had prepared.

"My ear hurts. Everything hurts. You still have those pills?" Lydia asked. Ivy nodded and pulled out the pill bottle. She made it easy on herself and just left two pills in the bottle.

Ivy handed the bottle and some water to Lydia.

Lydia looked up at Ivy with saddened eyes. "My moms not coming for me. None of them are. If someone dies or gets taken or whatever, they move on. Like they never existed. That's how it's always been." Lydia explained. "They don't come into contact with big groups unless they don't have another choice. That's why I— I was trying to find out everything I could about you. 'Cause then when I escaped, I'd have something to give them. No reason for them to take me back."

Ivy's jaw clenched. "You're her daughter. Does that not matter?" Ivy asked. Henry peered around the corner, which Ivy signaled him over. "What about our missing people? My husband?"

"If my mom found them..." Lydia sighed. "I can't think of a reason she'd keep them alive."

Ivy stepped back a bit. "Sorry." Lydia muttered.

Henry looked over at Ivy. "Hey, how about you go up there... I'll take care of this. Okay, V?" Henry whispered. Ivy nodded and thanked the boy before walking up the stairs and out the cellar.

Ivy spent some time in her room, holding onto Carls flannel and crying. She just lost Jesus, she couldn't lose anyone else. Especially Carl and Alden.

It had been about twenty minutes since Ivy had left Henry to talk to Lydia, and she hoped all was well.

A knock was heard on Ivy's door, and her head peaked up. "Yeah?" Her voice was raspy and breaking. Enid entered the room with a worried look.

"Um, Henry said he needs to see you. Said it's urgent." Enid informed the girl. Ivy stood up and nodded, walking towards the girl. Enid stopped the girl at the doorway. "We're gonna get them back."

Ivy sighed. "Enid... Lydia's mom is ruthless. She doesn't care. I just... If we lose Alden and Carl, I'm gonna lose myself over and over again. And, imagine if the new group lost Luke, they would be devastated." Ivy explained. "I just started leading and I feel like I'm failing everyone already."

"You're not." Enid laughed. "You're doing more for that girl than her own mother has. You're giving her life, and you're gonna figure out a way to fight this."

Ivy nodded. "Thanks, E." Ivy smiled. She grabbed Enids hand and began walking.

They stepped outside The Barrington house and saw Henry sitting on the steps. Henry whipped his head at the sound of the door opening and quickly stood up.

"Ivy..." Henry trialed off. Enid patted Ivy's shoulder and walked away, leaving Henry and the woman alone. "Lydia's mother... this whole time shes been making Lydia think that it's her fault her dad died."

The Grimes woman saw red. "What?" Ivy angrily said.

"What happens now? Can she stay here with us?" Henry asked. Ivy bit her cheek and nodded. "Really?"

"We should get her some fresh clothes. I got some. Come with me." Ivy stated and began walking to the Barrington house.

The two stepped into the house, and up into Ivy's room. Ivy got down on her knees and looked underneath her bed, pulling out a tote full of clothes.

Ivy smiled slightly as she pulled out a pair of jeans, a shirt, and some socks.

"Are those knee high socks?" Henry asked with a small laugh. Ivy nodded. "I heard those were like, you're signature thing back then."

Ivy nodded and stood up, clothes in hand. "Yeah... they were my favorite things in the whole wide world." Ivy handed the clothes to Henry. "Go give those to her. I have watch."

Henry obeyed and walked out the door. Ivy looked around and sighed the second he left the room.

Did I just give somebody else my knee high socks?

𝗜𝗩𝗬 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗩𝗘𝗗 𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗧𝗟𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗚𝗨𝗥𝗘𝗦 into the wood of the watch tower. The sound of footsteps up the ladder pulled her from her thoughts. Ivy looked to her right to see Yumiko joining her. Her small group left without asking, and Ivy wasn't necessarily thrilled about it, but she also wasn't opposed to the idea.

"Hey." Yumiko breathed out. Ivy smiled slightly.

"Hi." Ivy greeted. "What'd you find?"

Yumiko laughed awkwardly. "Nothing." The woman truthfully answered. Ivy frowned and toyed with the wedding ring on her finger. "Look it was was wrong of us to leave—"

"I'm not mad." Ivy assured her. Yumiko nodded as stood closer to the girl. "If I wasn't stuck with my leader duties I would've been out there myself."

Yumiko sighed sadly. "We're gonna get them back." Yumiko said.

"The more people keeping saying that, the more I don't believe it." Ivy laughed. Yumiko frowned at the woman's words. "Carl has a little sister that he can't leave. He can't leave me. Alden cant leave Enid, and Luke can't leave you guys. Its just not fair—"

"Open the gates!" Someone yelled. Ivy shrugged it off knowing it was just more from Yumiko group.

Ivy smiled. "I get why you did it. Why you went out there. Just please, next time, come and talk to me about it. I don't need anyone else getting hurt." Ivy stated. Yumiko nodded. "I don't need any more blood on my hands."

Ivy turned slightly and saw a group of people approaching the gates. It was some people from Yumikos group... And people with masks.

Walker mask.

Ivy's hand met her mouth as her eyes wandered to Connie who was walking farther behind the group. Kelly obviously took notice of that and began trying to fight her way through some people from the Hilltop. Connie signaled her to go, and Kelly had to get dragged away. Connie ran into the corn field and hid.

Ivy grabbed her gun. "Hey! Daryl!" Ivy yelled and Daryl quickly ran to the ladder and up it, Magna following.

Everything came back to her. Jesus dying. Rosita getting hurt. If anyone died or got hurt again, Ivy wouldn't know what to do with herself. Everyones lives were so precious to her nowadays, and she couldn't lose anyone else. Especially not now. Especially not after Jesus.

Ivy stared down the group of walker covered people, one woman catching her eye.

Lydia's mother.

"I am Alpha." The woman declared. Ivy bit her cheek, blood filling her mouth. "And we only want one thing from you."

"My daughter."

Ivy's eyes formed into small slits of anger. That woman should not be allowed to refer to Lydia as her daughter. It just wasn't right. Lydia deserved so much more. She didn't deserve this.

Kelly and Tara came and joined the group at the guard post. The Whispers and The Alpha just stared. Ivy wasn't scared. They were just a bunch of people in masks. And it takes a lot to scare Ivy. But, they killed Jesus. It also takes a lot to kill Jesus.

Maybe she should be scared.

"Our community is more than capable of defending itself!" Ivy announced.

"I show you my face because we mean no harm." The Alpha stated. "I just want my daughter. I know you have her."

"You should turn around." Daryl spoke. "Leave now and no one gets hurt."

The Alpha sighed. "Wrong answer." She held up a hand, and more of her group came out. Ivy's mouth gaped at the size of the group. It was an ungodly amount, unlike the amount Lydia had told them about.

Ivy turned around and saw Enid running to the gate. She signaled Enid to stay down there. Enid nodded and stayed put.

"Lydia told me what her mom does to her." Ivy injected. "I'm not sending her back to that."

Tara bit her lip. "Yeah, but what if she has Carl, Alden, and Luke?" Tara asked. "Pissing her off can get them killed."

"Did you kill our friends?" Magna yelled down to Alpha. "We found their horses."

"No." The Alpha answered. "Which one of you leads these people?"

Ivy looked over at Daryl. "The hells it matter?" Daryl asked. He didn't want to put Ivy in the spotlight, making her vulnerable to whatever Alpha was planning.

"Then I'll just address all of you. Your people crossed into out land. There will be no conflict. Your people killed our people. There will be no conflict. I'm done talkin'. Bring me my daughter, or there will be conflict." Alpha concluded.

Ivy looked at the group. "No one touches the girl." Ivy muttered. Ivy patted Daryl's arm and they both climbed onto the ladder.

"V." Tara sighed.

"Where are they going?" Yumiko asked Tara.

Ivy climbed down and ran to Enid, Daryl not far behind. "Does she have Carl, Alden, and Luke?" Enid asked, panic lacing her voice.

"I—I don't know." Ivy answered. Henry approached Ivy, Daryl and Enid in a stressed order.

"What does she want?" Henry inquired. Ivy walked towards the cellar, not answering Henry. "No, Ivy, we— we can't do that."

"She ain't gettin' her." Daryl answered.

"Then what are you doing?" Henry questioned.

Ivy flipped her hair out of her face. "She's done talking. We're not." Ivy stated. Ivy grabbed Daryl's hand as two Hilltop members opened a smaller gate.

The two approached the masked group, not any sign of fear on their face. Daryl and Ivy were good like that. They had poker faces like no one has ever seen before.

"Go get 'em." The Alpha whispered to one of the skins. Two of the skins walked into the corn field Connie was in, and Ivy's chest heaved as she finally approached the outer gate.

Ivy and Daryl stared the Alpha down. The Alpha looked into Daryl's eyes, assuming he's the leader. "He's not the leader, look at me." Ivy said to the Alpha. Her eyes drifted over to the small girl besides Daryl. "You can't have her. Now... if it's a fight you're looking for, we got enough firepower to light your sorry asses up. Right here and now."

The Alpha smiled. Ivy and Daryl's attention shifted to the sound of a baby crying. Ivy's face softened and her breath hitched. She saw one of the skins holding a baby, and she managed to feel even more anger than she had before.

"You brought a baby out here?" Daryl spoke.

The Alpha grinned. "We're animals. Animals live out here. Animals have babies. So we have babies out here." Alpha explained. Ivy looked over at Daryl with a clenched jaw. "Now, what we're you sayin', little girl? Lightin' us all up?" Ivy's eyes trailed over to the skins holding onto three people who were also draped in skins.

"You seem to want conflict. I don't. So I'm proposing a trade." The Alpha stated. They removed the skins from the three peoples heads, revealing Alden, Luke, and...

"Carl." Ivy breathed out.

"Oh, him? He's a feisty one." The Alpha giggled. Ivy reached for her gun, but Daryl stopped her. Alphas smile dropped. "I wanted to kill them. But I want my daughter more. One of mine, three of yours. Its a good trade, which is why you're gonna take it."

"Now... bring me my daughter."

Ivy led Daryl away, grabbing onto his arm and bringing him to the gate, her eyes lingering back in forth between him and Carl.

The stepped into the Hilltop, and Enid quickly ran to them. "What'd she say? Are they okay?" Enid asked.

"Yeah, they will be." Ivy answered. "We have to hand back Lydia. Where's Henry?" Tammy rose and Earl stepped besides the group.

"I don't know. Why?" Tammy inquired.

Ivy sighed. "He's gonna want to say goodbye." Daryl responded.

"Guys!" Magna walked towards them. "Tara and Yumiko went to get Lydia. She decided while you guys were out there, when she saw Luke, Carl and Alden."

Yumiko and Tara ran up to the scene as well. "She's gone." Yumiko breathed out.

"What the hell do you mean she's gone?" Ivy yelled.

"Her door was open, key was in the lock." Tara answered. Ivy sighed and ran her hands down her face. "Ivy, you know we have to do this."

Ivy nodded. "I know, I know. I have a plan... I just need to find out where the hell this girl is." Ivy stated. "Split up. Find her. Now."

Ivy and Daryl used Dog to help find the two. Dog lead them to the tunnel the group built way back when.

Dog barked as they approached the tunnel. "Good boy, good boy." Daryl praised him. Daryl opened the tunnel and sighed. "Shit."

"They snuck out?" Enid asked as she and Addy approached.

Ivy nodded. "Yeah. Go tell the others. We can track 'em." Daryl stated.

"You don't have to." Addy spoke. Ivy furrowed her eyebrows. "I know where he probably took her."

Suddenly, they heard a bunch of yelling and banging. Daryl looked at Ivy. "Go see what that is." Daryl instructed her. Ivy shook her head. "These kids are my problem."

"Technically, there mine. And, besides... Carl and Alden are Enid and I's problem." Ivy stated. "Look, I've known Henry since he was a kid. He likes me, too. I can talk to him. It'll be easier."

Daryl hesitated. "All right, go."

Ivy nodded and signaled Addy and Enid into the tunnel. Addy led the girls out the walls, not bringing them too far away. They approached a cabin in the woods.

"Henry!" Ivy called out. No response. "Henry, come on!"

Henry walked outside the door, and Ivy quickly ran up to him. "Henry..." Ivy sighed.

"I didn't want to tell them, but I—" Addy was cut off by Henry.

"Just— Just go." The boy shrugged. Ivy looked to Enid with a worried look. "Tell them we weren't here. Please, V? You want to keep her just as safe as I do. She doesn't want to go back. Her mother— Her mother hurts her."

"Henry, Henry..." Ivy stepped forward and towards the boy. "No one wants this. But Lydia, she— she doesn't belong to us. Carl, Alden, and Luke do. Her mother has them. She'll kill them if we don't give her back."

Henry shook his head. "No, th—there's got to be another way." Henry argued. "You, Ivy! You wanted to protect her! There's gotta be another way!"

"There isn't." Ivy sighed. "I'm sorry."

Henry scoffed. "No. Its not fair. Its not right." Henry breathed out.

"You're right, it's not. But it's just something we're just gonna have to live with." Ivy said, tears brimming her eyes.

"How?" Henry asked.

Ivy let out a small laugh. "When I was fourteen, I... I watched my parents die. I was alone. It changed it me. I wanted to die, and I tried to take my own life, but someone stopped me. He ended giving me a family and I learned to deal with my parents death. I learned to live it it." Ivy continued. Enid frowned slightly as she listened to Ivy's story.

"And then..." Ivy began crying calmly, and controlled. "The man who treated me like his daughter, the man that I still call my father died. I watched him die in front of me. I lost myself again... I thought I couldn't live without him..."

"Did you learn to deal with that?" Henry inquired.

Ivy shook her head. "No. I wont lie and say that everything's gonna be better someday, because it won't. You always lose people. But, you lose some, and you win some." Ivy stated. "And, Carl... He taught me that surviving isn't living. You live with it by staying who you are. By not letting the bad things change you."

Henry hesitated, but finally opening his mouth to speak. He was cut off by the cabin door opening. "Henry, it's okay." Lydia spoke. Another tear fell from Ivy's eyes. "I'm gonna go. I have to."

Henry quickly walked up to the girl. "What? No, no, we can— we can—" Henry stammered.

"I want to." Lydia smiled. Ivy looked back at Enid who had a somber look on her face. "She's my mother. They're my people. I miss them. I'm gonna miss you, too. And I'm gonna be okay. So will you, okay?"

The two teenagers kissed, which made Ivy smile a bit. It brought her back to all the sweet days her and Carl spent together many years ago. The days they are still having, but reminiscing on their young puppy love.

The small group brought Lydia back to Hilltop, and everyone surrounded the gate, waiting for the trade to happen.

Daryl was about to walk out with Lydia, but a hand stopped him. Daryl looked over and saw Ivy with a small smile on her face.

"Just give me a moment." Ivy whispered to the man. Daryl nodded and let go off Lydia. Lydia looked over at Ivy and smiled a bit.

Ivy ruffled Lydia's hair before pulling her into a hug. "You be safe. Okay, kiddo?" Ivy told her. Lydia nodded. Ivy released the girl from the hug and sighed. "I promise. I swear on my life... you're gonna come back to us."

"Don't bother." Lydia scoffed. "But, thanks anyways."

Ivy nodded. "Of course, mouse."

Ivy looked at Daryl and let him take Lydia away. Tears filled Ivy's eyes in fear. She wished she didn't have to be put in hard situations. It was either her loved ones lives, or a young girls life? It just wasn't fair.

Alpha approached Daryl with Carl, Alden, and Luke behind held behind her. The meet in the middle, each holding onto something.

Ivy stood besides Enid, fingers intertwined, not daring to let go. Ivy made eye contact with Alpha, and she felt nothing when she looked at the woman.

Daryl hesitantly let go of Lydia and pushed her forward. Alpha nodded, and the skins released their hostages. Alden, Luke, and Carl all walked forward, not wanting to stay by them any long.

Ivy and Enid let go of each other and ran to their loved ones. Ivy ran towards Carl and tears quickly ran down her face. She was hyperventilating and crying in Carls arms.

"I'm here..." Carl whispered as his arms snaked around her waist. "I'm here, love."

The two kissed passionately, but it still didn't stop Ivy's cries. She couldn't help but feel like this, she thought she was going to lose her husband.

Carl grabbed onto Ivy's waist and began walking towards the gates. Carl, Alden, and Luke all laughed when they looked at each other. All the men hugged.

"We survived." Luke breathed out. Ivy and Enid smiled at the men, happy that they all got back together in one piece.

𝗜𝗩𝗬 𝗦𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗧 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗟 as she watched him slip off his flannel from the doorway. He looked over at his wife and did a double take. Her hair was pulled into a high ponytail, and her body was decorated by one of Carls T-shirts and a pair of tight sleep shorts.

"You had me so scared." Ivy spoke as she closed the door and locked it. Carl wrapped his arms around her waist, and Ivy wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

He kissed her lips. "I'm sorry." He apologized against her lips. Ivy smiled and removed herself from the kiss. "What?"

"I just remembered..." Ivy trailed off. "I told you if you came home in one piece... we could do something."

Carl smirked. "Jump." He ordered. Ivy wrapped her legs around his waist and he placed her on the bed, towering over her. Carl stripped away his shirt and pants, making Ivy blush widely.

Carl pulled off Ivy's clothes, leaving the two just skin to skin. Love filled the air as the passionately kissed again. There was never a bad moment between the two. Even when the argued, they would never spit anything hurtful at each other, or distance themselves from each other. Carl and Ivy were the perfect match.

"Mm, I love you so much." Ivy whispered in Carls ear. Carl ran his hands down her curves and stopped at her underwear. "So, so, so much. My pretty boy."

"I love you, too." Carl mumbled, absolutely drunk off of Ivy's love. "I'm gonna treat you right tonight. 'S gonna be all about you, my love."

Ivy ran her hands through Carls hair as she wondered how she got so lucky with him.

𝗔𝗨𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗥𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗘
carl and ivy are what i need in live