Maggie was going to kill Negan. And dad was going to do everything he could to help her do it, including trying to stop Rick from reaching Alexandria.

There was something in my dad's eyes as he spoke which didn't sit right with me, I thought that his expression was off as I puzzled over it. When his bike got too far out of camp I made a decision.

I grabbed the reigns of Rick's horse and jumped on quickly. I may not be the best horse rider, but boy did I have to go fast. I kicked the horse on and I rode straight out of the camp, it was impossible to catch them on foot. But even so, it was still difficult to catch up to a speeding motorcycle on a galloping horse.

I rode the horse to some crossroads, the marking of the tyres led away from Alexandria. Cursing quietly I kicked on the horse again. "Please don't do something stupid. Fuck. Please."

As I was riding, I heard gunshots coming from camp, a loud noise like that could easily bring the herds closer towards the camp.

I desperately wanted to turn back and stop the herd, but I also desperately wanted to stop Rick and my dad from doing something they'll regret too. So I kept going, I was quick to dismount the horse and tie it to the tree when I saw the bike laying in the middle of the road.

"Rick! Dad!" I yelled loudly.

"Lilia?" Rick replied in confusion. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm not letting you idiots do something stupid." I replied. "Where's my dad?"

"Down here!" A voice came.

"Down there." Rick replied."Lend us a hand will you."

"Dare I ask what happened?" I ask.

"Fell in this pit." Rick answered. "The walkers fell in after us. We gotta get him out."

"Fuckin' hell!" I groaned. "Dad, you gotta hurry!"

"I'm hurryin'." He replied.

Rick grabbed a nearby tree branch but unfortunately it couldn't reach enough into the pit to pull my dad up. "Lilia?"

I nodded quickly, gripping the tree branch with one hand and grasping Rick's hand in the other. He leaned down into the pit, to reach for my dad's hand.

"Take my hand." Rick said. "You're almost there. Come on. You're almost there. Brother...Brother, take my hand."

"Take the goddamm hand!" I yelled.

"Alright, Lilia pull!" Rick said as we pulled my dad up onto the ground. When we made impact with the dirt, Rick's voice shouted, "Heads up!"

He swiftly killed the walker behind my dad, who got to his feet and I took care of the other. When the danger had finally passed, I crashed into my dad's chest and hugged him.

"You're an asshole. Really, you are." I squeezed him. "I'm so glad you're okay."

"I'm fine, I'm here." He reassured.

"I heard gunshots back at camp." I mentioned. "We gotta get back, and quick."

We struggled back up the road, eventually we saw the top of my horse and dad's bike that were still in good shape. Dad gestured to Rick. "Come on, let's go."

"Wait." Rick said. "I'm gonna stay back, lead 'em away from the camp."

"What?" Dad asked.

"I'm staying." Rick replied.

"You can't!" I said.

"No, man!" Dad protested.

"I'm not giving up on it. Not yet." Rick stated.

"The river." Dad mentioned. "Take it to the bridge. It ain't ever gonna hold, they'll get washed out to sea."

"Nah, man, I'm not sacrificing the bridge." Rick said. "I'll find another way."

"There is not other way Rick!" I yelled.

"There ain't no other way, man!" Dad shouted too.

"I'm not destroying the bridge." Rick shot back. "We need it."

"Fine." Dad gave it.

I stood in shock, he's gonna get himself hurt by doing this! I went over to him and hugged him tightly first. "Be careful, for the love of God don't do anything dumb."

"I'll come back. I promise." He replied. "I always do."

"I love you Uncle Rick."

"Love you too Lilia, now go." He said and I went over to my horse.

"Hey." Dad called after him. "Be safe."

"You too." Rick replied.

I got onto the back of my horse and squeezed the reigns tightly. Rick mounted his horse, but I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was going to go wrong.

Then things did go wrong..

Seeing Rick standing on the bridge with the herd, blood soaked his torso and hand. The look in his eyes, so tired yet so fearless. The walker moving close behind him refused to back down, and he didn't not have the strength to move any faster.

When he saw everyone down below, screaming and calling his name. A mix of thundering sound of the herd growling in unison and the river below. Rick Grimes was scared and so was Lilia.

Another arrow struck a walker from behind. Daryl ran up beside his frozen daughter, standing by her side, looking up at his brother. Somewhere deep down they all knew that Rick Grimes wouldn't be lucky enough to escape this.

Everyone started to run, filled with hope that they thought they could help. Lilia had ran out of hope. The strength drained from her as she couldn't do anything but stand next to her father and watch the downfall of another Grimes member in front of her.

She was too shaken to run, or jam her rifle through the trees to reach the bridge. She was too tired to draw her sword and scramble up the slope to kill the walkers.

Rick held up his gun...

He pulled the trigger..

The bridge exploded.

It went up in clouds of flames and smoke, she stayed still in her tracks. It wasn't beautiful, or graceful. It was a violent and ugly end of Rick Grimes and his determination to build to bridge to unite all people together. The smoke stung her eyes, the air got trapped in her lungs.

She didn't scream like Michonne.

Cover her mouth in shock like Carol.

Gasp in horror like Maggie.

She just stood there next to her father, unable to let go of the breath and foggyness that coiled together in her throat. Feeling the tears escape her eyes, the sob finally breaking out of her chest. The flames reflected in her eyes as the bridge burnt.

Knees feeling weak, she collapsed to the ground to sob. She barely registered her dad's touch to her shoulders as he bent down to wrap his arms around and soothe her, she was too numb.

Even six years later, hearts still ached at the mention of Rick Grimes. But Lilia did what she was told to do by her lover.

Don't lose who you are

It was like driving a stake through the heart to loose both Grimes. But she kept her composure.

Don't become someone your not

She didn't let the grief get in the way.

Don't be sad.

The sadness was hard to overcome but in the end it was what made her stronger.

be strong for everyone.

She always was.

For Michonne.

She was there day and night when she cried for him, when she couldn't find him after looking in the woods months after the incident, when Judith asked for her dad, or when anyone said his name.

For Judith

Even though Judith kept asking for her dad a while after that, she was always there for her to keep his memory alive in her head.

and for my dad.

She kept his memory alive.

She did it for everyone, And Carl's, she promised his honour alive.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

EPILOGUE OUT SOON!!