☆ All the Stars ☆ (rarl)

Vol. 3 | You and The Walkers

"What do you think?" Michonne asked.
"About Ron? I don't know what to make of it. Carl trusts him. He seems to be pretty genuinely in love with Carl. They're together right now, actually. But we don't know what Negan has put in his mind.
But I haven't see Carl so happy since before Ron was gone." Rick said, contemplating Ron's return.
"Yeah. Do you think he really forgives me?" Michonne wondered out loud.
"I don't know. I guess we'll find out." Rick said.

...

Ron held Carl close.
"Baby, I'm going to have to go soon." Ron said disappointed.
"I know. It's ok. We'll see each other again soon, at least." Carl said softly.
"I.. I don't want to go." Ron said quietly, breaking down into tears.
"I don't want you to go either." Carl said, crying now as well.
"I missed you so much." Ron whispered.
"I missed you too. I love you so much." Carl whispered back.
"I love you more than anything." Ron said, wiping tears off of Carls face.

...

"You know, we have a little memorial for everyone who died that day. And you're making it real fucking awkward now that everyone heard me talk to you when you were dead." Mikey joked with Ron.
Ron had decided to spend some time with everyone before he had to go.
"Really? What'd you say to me?" Ron said with a smile.
"Nothing. Don't worry about it." Mikey said, embarrassed with the things he had said.
"Ron! You were my best friend! I love you so much! You were so hot, it's such a shame." Enid impersonated Mikey.
Ron laughed.
"Woah! I never said that last part." Mikey claimed.
"But you said the rest of it?" Ron asked, holding Carls hand.
"I don't know. Maybe." Mikey whispered.
"He definitely did. I remember." Olivia said, laughing at him.
"Don't act like you weren't saying the same shit Enid." Mikey tried to shift the attention.

"Ok ok! I said I loved him!" Enid stated.
Ron looked around the room at all the Alexandrians.
"Hey, where's Denise at?" He asked, not seeing her.
"She.. she's gone." Heath said, looking down.
"What? How?" Ron asked.
"Well, it was actually the saviors." Rick said, Ron going silent for a moment, and Tara in tears.
"I.. I'm so sorry. Who did it? Negan?" Ron asked.
"Dwight." Daryl said with much distain.
Ron looked down. He had liked Dwight.
"Fuck." He whispered, not knowing what else to say.
The group sat in silence, all thinking different things.

"Ron. Tell us, what's that about with you and the walkers?" Aaron asked, breaking the silence.
"Hm. I don't know. A few of them bit me and then.. just walked away. And none have ever bothered me since. Had a hell of a fever for like a month though." Ron said, shaking his head.
Eugene looked at Ron with interest.
"No, Eugene. He's not your fucking guinea pig." Carl said protectively.
"I just wanted to take a quick look. Ten minutes tops." Eugene said awkwardly.
"No." Carl said, kissing Ron's cheek.
Eugene backed into the group, obscuring himself from view once again.
"You know, Negan already did some "experiments" I guess. He made me bite someone to see what would happen. And he also tested my senses, since walkers can hear better, but can't see very well." Ron explained.
"And what were the out comes?" Eugene asked emerging once again.
"Um.." Ron thought if he wanted to tell the truth.
"Nothing. Nothing happened. I'm just a normal person." Ron said unconfidently.
"What? What happened?" Barbra asked, not believing his answer.

"Nothing. The guy didn't turn, if you were worried.
It's just that sometimes I.. I feel like a.. walker, I guess."
"What does that mean?" Sasha asked, not liking how vague he was being.
"Like, how they feel." Ron said, not really helping anyone understand.
"Like, you want to eat someone?" Aaron said half joking.
"What?! No! Like, well I don't know how to explain it. You'd just have to feel it for yourself." Ron said.
"Can you try sweetie?" Carl said in a comforting tone, rubbing his back.

Ron thought for a moment.
"It's like, sound. Everything is really loud. And my eyes hurt. Everything is super bright too. It usually lasts a day, and it's only happened a few times. I get a killer headache. I just stay in my room with the curtains closed." He tried his best to explain.
"That sounds terrible love." Carl said, giving Ron a hug.

Ron looked at the clock.
"I really have to go. I'm going to go see.. my family before I go. Meet me at the gate to say bye?" Ron said to Carl.
"I'll be waiting for you." Carl said.

...

Ron looked at his family's graves, tears falling from his eyes.
"Sorry I didn't come see you guys for so long. It's just.. I couldn't come here, you know?" Ron said, wiping his face.
He laid down on the grave that was meant to be his own, thinking about the past and the future.
He was feeling immense survives guilt.
Why was he the one that survived? Out of his whole family? Out of all the people who got bit?
He didn't know, but he had to make it count.

...

"I'm going to miss you so much." Ron whispered, hugging Carl tight.
"I'll miss you too." Carl said, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"I love you so much." Carl said softly.
"I love you too. I'll be back soon, ok?" Ron said, wiping Carl tears.
Carl shook his head, knowing Ron would try his best.
"Really soon." Ron stated, kissing Carl and getting in his car.
"Really soon." Carl whispered to himself, watching Ron drive away.

"I still can't believe that shit." Mikey said, his hand on his hip.
"Me either. It like, gives me hope, you know?" Enid said.
"Yeah. Me too." Aaron said.

...

Ron pulled up to the gates of the sanctuary, already wanting to go back to Alexandria.
"Hey Ron. Find anything good?" Arat asked as he got out of his car.
"No. Nothing." Ron replied.
"Really? That hospital has been overrun forever. Didn't think anyone would have went in." She said, pondering why it was scavenged.
"Yeah me too. I was surprised." Ron lied.
"Well that sucks. We could have used that stuff. Damn. Maybe one of the communities took it. Feels like something the kingdom would do." Arat thought out loud.
"Yeah it does." Ron said, walking off.

"Ronnie boy! You're back! You don't even know what you missed!" Negan said excitedly.
"Um.. what happened?" Ron asked, slightly concerned.
"There was a huge fight! Justin and Jed were going at it! Apparently they were dating the same girl who was using both of them to get food and shit. I honestly respect the lady."Negan told the story.
"Wow. Sounds like it was something." Ron said, his mind still in Alexandria.
"Oh it was. You shoulda been there.
How was the run?" Negan asked.
Ron knew this was coming.
"Nothing. Picked over." Ron lied.
"Oh well. Better luck next time I guess. You want a drink?" Negan said, wanting one himself.
"Yeah sure." Ron said, wanting to unwind after everything.

...

Rick put his hand on Carls shoulder.
"How are you feeling? I know that was probably a lot for you." Rick said, referring to Ron's unexpected appearance.
"Well, I'm happy that he's alive. I really love him. But I'm afraid he might have changed.
Especially spending so much time with someone like Negan. But I know Ron's a good person, and he loves me." Carl said, pondering his future with Ron.
"Yeah. I know he's Ron, but he's probably not the Ron we knew." Rick said.
"I know. But.. he's still sweet. Not like the other saviors." Carl said, not wanting Rick to think badly of Ron.
"He's a good kid, I'm sure." Rick said, not sure if he believes it.
"I'm going to rest." Carl said, going to his room.

Carl sat on his bed. It only made him miss Ron more. He broke down in tears. He wants him back.

...