Forever and Always

Carl and Fire

I jumped up in a panic, screaming.
Glenn grabbed my arm and shushed me.
"What the hell happened? Where's Carl?"
Glenn hesitated a moment and then said calmly,"You were having a nightmare. For the last few hours, you've been screaming for Carl and yelling at me and Daryl. They're not here."
I placed my head in my hand and felt the sweat that was dripping down my face.
"So he's not dead." I asked.
Glenn shook his head,"Not for what I know."
Suddenly, I felt bad for how I have been acting lately. I wrapped my arms around Glenn's neck and squeezed.
When I let go and pulled back, he asked,"What was that for?"
"For being my family when I needed it."
Glenn smiled and stood up. I followed.
We walked over to my baby brother and I lifted him off if the makeshift crib.
"You know Joce? While you were sleeping, you said a few things that really touched home with me. You said that it was Daryl's job to keep Carl safe and that together, we would survive. You're right. Whether we figure out what's going on or not, we should always be with our family."
I smiled and shuffled Jacob in my arms,"So what are you going to do about it?"
He smiled,"We're going to go find them."

We walked and walked for days, but we didn't find them.
"Do you have any idea where they could be?" I asked for the millionth time.
Glenn shook his head once again.
Suddenly, I thought about the one spot that Daryl and Carl would go.

I shuffled Jacob again as we came up to the prison. The gates were surrounded by Walkers.
"Do you see them?"Glenn asked.
I glanced around,"No, but I'm not giving up."
I walked closer to the prison. the gate was locked, but the prison looked the same as we had left it. I walked the side of the prison and kept an eye out for Daryl or Carl.
Glenn took Jacob from me and told me to look ahead.
I nodded and walked to the back of the prison. Nothing.
Suddenly, I smelt fire.
Walkers couldn't make fire.
I ran in the direction of the using smoke. It was pretty close by. I ran and ran. The hope of seeing them kept me going even when I was out of breath.
But nothing prepared me for the real thing.
I reached the place where the fire lay, burning. Sitting around it, facing it sat Carl and Daryl.
Glenn came running up behind me and came to a stop at my side. He stepped in a twig and the sound caused Carl and Daryl to jump up.
They spun and faced us.
They stared.
We stared back.
"Carl?" I said in shock.
He looked me up and down. I started running to him. He wiped the tears from his eyes and ran to me.
We crashed into each other in the middle of he clearing. He pulled me into a hug and squeezed me into a hug. The force of the jump-hug left me with the ability to wrap my legs around his waist.
Carl leaned in and closed the gap between us with such force that my teeth felt as if they would fall out of my mouth.
He kissed me as I smoothed his hair down. His face slipped past mine and we squeezed each other in a passionate hug.
"Ohmygod, please tell me this is real,"I whispered against his ear.
"I'm here. I'm here." he said as both of our eyes let loose tears.
He placed me on the ground and grabbed my hand. He pulled up my left hand where the ring was placed. He kissed it and pulled me into another hug.
"Okay, Juliet. Do I get any love?" Daryl laughed.
I separated from Carl and launched myself at Daryl, careful not to squish Judith.
"I missed you,"I said against his ear.
He laughed and pushes me back,"Don't get all mushy on me."
He kissed my forehead,"Missed you too, Joce."
I looked over at Carl who was talking with Glenn.
Carl looked over at me and gave Glenn one last bro-hug before coming over to me.
"I missed you." he said while pulling me close.
He held me like that for awhile. That was more than I would have asked for. Just to be there with him was enough.
"I think I missed you more,"I replied.
He pressed his lips against mine,"What makes you think that?"
I told him about my horrible nightmare.
He hugged me tightly,"You can't think like that."
I cried against his shoulder for what seemed like hours. Letting go of the sorrow and pain that I had gone through for the last few weeks.
Eventually, he held me at arms distance and wiped my tears,"None of that matters now. We're together now. Wow, three weeks away from each other and this is how we act."
I laughed,"You counted the days?"
He smirked,"Yep, the days till I got to see you again."
He kissed me again,"Now I feel bad for Daryl and Glenn."
I looked at him in confusion as his hand moves down, lower than my waist,"Why?"
His hands rested on my butt as he smirked,"They'll have to try and make me keep my hands off of you."

For each chapter, I listen to certain song to get inspiration. I think that for the rest of the chapters, I'll share my playlist with you.
This chapter's song is My Immortal by Evanescence. Mostly, it helped me write Carl and Jocelyn's reunion. Luv ya~Miki