Dead Man Walking

lxxxiii.

They made their way through the gates of the Kingdom. And the streets were filled with people. Luke, Yumiko, Magna, and Kelly spotted them first and started running over. Hunter got out and he spotted Carol and Ezekiel. He hasn't seen her in a long time. And she had grown out her hair. Something he's never seen in all the years he's known her.

"Michonne, Hunter..."

Hunter smiles at Ezekiel, "We were in the neighbourhood, so..." Hunter shook the King's hand. It was good to be here. It took a long time but they came to their senses.

Carol walked over to them, she looked down at Judith before looking up at Hunter. They've known each other since the beginning. A few days after Judith was born they found Carol in solitary, "Judith?"

Hunter wipes the tears that had fallen from his eyes and he nods his head. He remembered Carol soothing him after Lori died and all of this just felt so weird without the people they started with.

"Do you remember us?"

"I've been drawing pictures of you since I was little. You're Carol, and you're the King," Carol chuckles, "Your hair got really long."

"It did."

Hunter took a step forward and wrapped his arms around Carol and she was quick to do the same. Hunter tucked his head in her shoulders as he started crying, "I'm sorry, it took us so long to remember that we're family."

Carol breaks away and wipes the tears from his cheeks, "We all lose ourselves. I'm just glad you remembered."

Hunter chuckles through the tears, "I won't ever forget again. I promise. It's been you, me, and Daryl since the start. We've been through hell together. I don't want to forget that again. 'Cause, you guys mean a lot to me. So let's gather up the leaders. We have a lot to talk about."

Hunter backed away and wiped away the rest of his tears before walking through the Kindom to find Rosita. But he didn't find her, she found him and she was quick to notice his bloodshot eyes.

"Why are you crying? What happened?"

Hunter chuckles as he wraps his arms around her, "Nothing happened. I'm just happy. I haven't been for a long time. I can't believe I'm gonna say this but Negan helped me remember who I was. I've known Carol and Daryl since the start, and Judith, she asked me when we stopped loving them. Really cleared my head. 'Cause I never stopped but the way I acted showed that I did. But not anymore."

As Rosita looked into his eyes, they were back to how they were when she first met him. Filled with hope and a bit of joy. She hasn't seen him like this in a long time. After Glenn, Carl, and Rick she thought he'd never be the same again and he won't be but he's getting back to the person he once was.

"I'm glad you're back."

"Me too."

____

Hunter stood behind Daryl who was sitting on the edge of the stage as all the leaders gathered in the theatre, "I know I haven't always seen eye-to-eye with everyone in this room. But I never stopped caring about any of you. I was just trying to protect my family and do right by my people. Alexandria's future is here. Together, with you."

Hunter nods in agreement with what Michonne had said, "We lost sight of that for a while. But...We're here now. We're here now."

"I've taken an informal vote with the other council member at the fair, and we all agree. Alexandria is willing to grant asylum to Lydia," Gabriel spoke up, "She's one of us now. We hope the rest of you can join us in doing the same."

"Thank you," Lydia says, "I'll do whatever I can to earn my keep and pay you back."

"If her mother retaliates, it's gonna be against Hilltop, not Alexandria. I have to do right by my people," Tara says, "I thought we were on the same page."