» Time Is Dancing « | » Carl Grimes «

» HEART STILL BEATING «

Today Was The Best Day In A Long Time, And Probably For A Long Time After, Too

Being at the Hilltop made me feel almost at peace, even if we were packed into Jesus' trailer every night. My mind had been racing with thoughts about Carl being at the Sanctuary, and my failed rescue mission for Daryl. But I couldn't do anything while Carl and Jesus were there, it could put them at risk.

Being here allowed me to distract myself as much as possible, mostly by helping out in the medical trailer. Harlan appreciated everything I did, and it gave me a chance to introduce myself to the residents of Hilltop. I got a better understanding of who they were and the lives they lived. Kal and Eduardo did a lot of guarding at the gates, so they were probably the most equipped fighters. There were a lot of physically able people here, some of them using their talents and skills to do the heavy lifting and animal rearing. Then there were the old and incredibly young. I was surprised by the amount of children here, and how many pregnant women there were. It would only be more useful for Maggie to be here.

Today was just like any other day here. Me and Enid sat at the picnic table while Sasha sharpened her knife on the steps and Maggie stood watch on the wall.

"I don't think I've ever seen someone sharpen a knife so much." Enid thought out loud, her eyes on Sasha.

I laughed with an amused expression. "Well, she's ready for anything, I bet."

"You're good with a knife, right?" She asked after a beat as I picked at the wooden table subconsciously.

"Uh, yeah. I mean, I'm better with a sword." I placed my knife on the table, analysing the sharp metal edge.

"Right, but most people don't have a sword. I've used my knife before, I know how, but the people here don't. You taught me how to use a gun, maybe you could teach them, too." She suggested. I considered her words until I saw her gaze drift over my shoulder. I frowned with confusion, turning around the see where she was looking.

I saw Jesus first and figured he had returned from the Sanctuary safely, but my eyes widened with amazement when a second person followed behind him. I swung my shaky legs over the bench, standing up with a huge grin and running as fast as I could towards him.

"Dad! DAD!" I jumped into Daryl's arms, relieved gasps coming from my mouth as he returned the hug tightly. I couldn't stop trembling as happy sobs escaped my lips, tears falling onto his shirt as he buried his face into my shoulder.

"I thought I'd never see you again." I whimpered, my voice breaking. I didn't want to let him go again, the hidden fear of him leaving never disappearing from the back of my mind. I grinned as he reunited with Sasha and Maggie, watching from the side until I turned to Jesus.

"Thank you." I softly smiled. He brushed it off with a nod and folded his arms. I bit my lip in hesitation before I spoke up again. "When you were out there, did you see Carl?"

He nodded with a serious expression, making me worry. "He was in the truck I jumped in. When I got out, he didn't follow me. I'm sorry, that's the last time I saw him."

My teeth dug into my cheek as I thought about Carl being there, alone with Negan. Maybe it was about time I visited the Sanctuary myself.

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I liked the way the Hilltop had lights dotted around the walls, so if you went outside at night you could see the mansion lit up against the black surroundings. It was especially useful now, as I crossed my legs on the bench and scooped peas into my mouth.

Daryl sat on the other side, his meal already finished long ago. He scanned the walls now, keeping his mind distracted.

"I saw him there." He finally mumbled, and I knew he was talking about Carl. The question had been in my mind all night. "He was with Negan."

His eyes flitted over my concerned expressions as he spoke. I had to believe that Carl was okay.

"He won't hurt him, he likes him too much." He finished, and I dropped my fork to the plate with a clatter, nodding my head in agreement. "What're you doing here, anyway?"

I glanced around the community with a calm expression, almost amused at my original plan. Now that I had more time to think about it, there really wasn't much of a plan to begin with. "I was gonna go there, to the Sanctuary. I was gonna rescue you, and then kill Negan. Maybe Dwight, too."

He didn't tell me much about what happened to him in the Sanctuary, but I did know it was something to do with the scarred man. To make someone like Daryl look so scared and broken, they must've done horrible things.

I had to keep reminding myself that he was alive, that I got him back. It seemed almost too good to be true.

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"Abraham told me something about you. About how you took him hunting one time." Sasha had a hint of a question in her voice, as if she was asking if I could remember. Of course I could remember, it was something I would never forget.

I nodded from where I sat across from her, furrowing my eyebrows as she continued.

"He thought you were a good kid. All those times he would go to the infirmary, he never dreaded it because he knew you would be the one treating him. He respected you." Her tone was laced with her distant thoughts, her eyes soft as her mind worked. She seemed to contemplate a decision before reaching around her neck, pulling off a silver chain. On a small metal loop there was a shattered piece of red glass, secured in place by wire.

"Maggie said we didn't need anything to remember them by. Well, this was Abraham's." She let the chain links gather in my hand like a pool of liquid metal, closing my fingers over it. "I know you'll keep it safe for me."

I wasn't sure why she was giving it to me, but I had a better understanding of who Sasha was now. She was hurting, she loved him and he was taken from her. But her courage and determination kept her going through everything.

I clipped the necklace around me, letting it skim my collar bones as it tucked beneath my T-shirt. I could sense the cool glass against my chest, feeling it vibrate with every beat of my heart.

"I will. I promise." I assured her with a smile.

"Sasha! Belle! Enid!" I snapped my head up when Maggie yelled from the wall, watching her take hurried steps down the ladder. I drew my eyebrows in curiosity, standing from the bench with hesitation until I heard the gates creaking open.

I could see them from here. My friends and family striding into the community. Rick took the lead, hand in hand with Michonne as they met Maggie in the middle. But they weren't the only ones. My breaths shuddered as my face melted into pure contentment, my feet stepping one in front of the other as fast as they could until I found myself in Carl's tight embrace. I didn't even need to open my eyes to catch the hat as it tumbled from his head, sighing deeply in his comforting hold.

"I was so worried." I breathed out in relief, pulling away to take a look at him. His features were soft as he gazed down at me, his lips parted in a small smile.

"I'm okay." He reassured me in his gentle tone, one hand going to my cheek as his thumb brushed against it. My lips found his in a fervent kiss, relaxing completely against him. It had only been a few days, but I was starting to realise I needed him more than ever.

"I'm sorry I left." I muttered when I pulled away, scanning his face to work out his inner emotions. "I should've told you."

"You didn't need to." He consoled me, shaking his head gently. I almost laughed in realisation. I wasn't how, but he knew my plan right from the start. "I'm sorry, too."

I gave him a small kiss and laced my fingers through his, turning to find Daryl and Rick in a tender hug, their arms squeezing tightly until they released each other, their eyes holding acknowledging gleams. My lip trembled, tears of joy threatening to spill over. We were together, all of us, once again.

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And now we're going to war

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