twd imagines✨

reunited❤️‍🩹

word count:853
reader and their childhood best friend reunite in alexandria
i know it's a bit longer than most of these sorry
requested by: kendelle999
~~~

it had been a while since i had been left on my own. my sister died at the start of the apocalypse. then my parents died about a year ago. and a few months ago, my brother left for a supply run and never came back.

as i walked through the isolated road in the middle of the woods, i couldn't help but think about my childhood best friend, carl grimes. he was probably still alive.

his dad was the sheriff, his dad's best friend was a deputy. they would have taught him to survive. all three of them were probably alive still. if only i had them to help me. not that i was helpless, the company would be nice, and extra people to watch my back.

i hadn't seen him since we were like 8 or maybe 9. i'm not sure. keeping track of time was difficult these days. i wasn't even sure how old i was anymore. i bet carl was doing just fine. he probably looked amazing. i never realised it then because i was so young, but now i'm older, looking back, he would probably now be a great boyfriend. but i would never get that chance.

i stopped dead in my tracks when i came to a big gate, at least 4 times my height. maybe it was somewhere i could stay if they'd let me. i walked over, bashing the metal, rattling it and making noise to catch attention from whoever was inside.

the cover behind the door moved to the side and i saw a whole group if people. 'can you please help me? i have literally nowhere and all my friends and family are either gone or dead.' i nearly broke down into tears.

the man on the other side of the gate looked at me sadly ' i'm sorry but that would only possibly put others in da-' he was cut off.

the other man speaking ran over 'c'mon. she's only a kid. we beed to help whoever we can.'

'rick?' i asked, recognising the atlanta sheriff anywhere.

the gate slip open as his haw dropped as he took a good look at me 'y/n?' i nodded. 'i haven't seen you in years.'

a boy my age, taller than me with long brown hair covering one of his eyes ran over 'what's going on?'

i didn't need to be told his name. i could recognise that pairing of dark hair and ocean eyes blue enough to drown in anywhere. 'carl?!'

he took a second to either recognise or remember me but is jaw dropped the same as his dad, as if he was seeing a ghost. 'y/n!'

he ran over, engulfing me in one of his comforting hugs which i missed so much over the last few years.

'i missed you.' i whispered into his grey, chocolate smelling shirt. he still smelled the same. i looked up at him, smiling. then i noticed the bandage over his eye 'what the hell happened?'

'i'll explain later.'

-time skip-

carl helped me get set up in a room in the house he shared with his dad and a woman called michonne. and we were sat on the porch with his baby sister, judith, who was sat on my lap, playing with a strand of my long, grown out hair.

'so can you explain you eye to me now?'

he sighed. 'there was an incident here a while ago. one of the other boys, he's now dead. but but before he died, he tried to kill me. ended up shooting my eye out.'

i gasped 'are you okay?'

'am now.' he looked at me 'where have you been? and your family?'

'around. grace died as soon as all this started. my mom and dad died a year ago now. and toby disappeared a few weeks ago.' my face dropped.

'i'm sorry.' he frowned. we sat in silence for a minute until i caught him staring at me. 'would you be cool if i tried something?' he asked.

'what?'

'well since you showed up. i couldn't help but notice how great you look. and i remembered how close we were when we were younger. and i really want to kiss you right now.'

i nodded. he came up behind me. i tilted my head back and he put his lips on mine. just how i imagined it. perfect. it kind of felt like we had a life together, with judith on my lap.

he sat back down, smiling 'that was nice.'

'it was. by the way? what's the date? i haven't been able to keep track.'

'umm. i well our calendar might be slightly off but i think it's y/b/d.' he smiled 'meaning today, if my math is correct, you're 15.' his smile grew 'happy birthday y/n. i love you. i always have.'

my jaw dropped. we just had out first kiss and he told me he loved me. i pulled it together and returned his words 'i love you too carl.'

he came over and kissed me again and everything felt perfect.

~~~
i love writing carl stories. i get so many spoilers from tiktok so i kow im only episodes away from his death and im going to cry so bad when it happens.
as always please help a girl out and vote makes me sound better than i am lol🫶