The wind in Alexandria wasn’t cold that morning — just restless. It blew gently through the trees lining the fence, rustling dry leaves, and cracking a half-broken weathervane atop one of the taller townhouses. The kind of morning that pretended peace had always been here, as if blood hadn’t stained those sidewalks, and screams hadn’t once echoed off those walls.

Daryl sat on the porch of his house, one boot planted on the top step, the other resting against the railing, a chipped tin mug of lukewarm coffee forgotten in his hand. His shirt was half-buttoned, his hair tied back loosely — he looked like someone who’d slept two hours too few and thought about sleeping two more, but wouldn't

The soft whimper from inside broke his thoughts.

Again.

A sharper cry followed. Short. Frustrated. Wet-cheeked.

Hope.

He didn’t move right away. He just blinked slowly, like a man preparing for battle — and honestly, sometimes it felt that way. The crying wasn’t constant, but when it came, it had weight. Taking care of his own niece wasn’t easy. He wasn’t experienced with children at all. But this little human was his family. Only one thing remained for his stupid, older brother Merle. She wasn’t hurt. She wasn’t hungry. She was just... sad. Angry. Loud in a way he didn’t know how to fix.

Finally, he stood up with a quiet grunt and pushed the door open. The crying sharpened, as if hearing him approach only made things worse.

There she was — tiny, red-cheeked, fists curled and kicking weakly against the air from her little makeshift crib fashioned out of a salvaged bassinet and a pile of blankets. She looked up at him, wet-faced and furious, like somehow she knew her daddy was gone and this stranger — this scruffy, silent man — was all she had left.

"Alright, alright," Daryl muttered, voice gravelly as ever. He crouched beside the crib awkwardly, like a man trying to tame a wild animal. "Ain’t nothin’ wrong, girl. You just... just tired or somethin’, huh?"

She wailed louder.

He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “Jesus, Hope...”

She didn’t stop.

He tried to pick her up, arms stiff like he was holding a bomb. She squirmed. He bounced her once, stiffly. Twice. She shrieked like she’d been betrayed.

That’s when he heard footsteps.

“Need some help?” a soft voice asked from the open doorway.