crooked heart → the walking dead ⁵

[ 018 ] the calm before.

CROOKED HEART.

chapter eighteen, the calm before.
[ season nine, episode fifteen ]

AFTER LISTENING TO EZEKIEL'S speech to kick off the fair, the search party assembles at the front gates. It consists of Carol, Kelly, Luke, Magna, Yumiko, Cori, and Flynn.

Cori and Flynn have been to the Kingdom before. Cori's only even been here under bad circumstances, one's that involved the Saviors when they still owned the communities. But now they're here to attend the Fair of New Beginnings.

Alexandria is here. Cori silently wonders how they managed to get Michonne to change her mind. Cori avoids Theo at all costs, still angry about the past. She does greet Jax with a smile and a hug, though. It was their first time meeting. Still, they smiled and they talked. They are married to siblings after all.

Flynn stands nearby, throwing his rifle over his shoulder as he prepares to go out and search for the rest of his family.

Cori tried her best to convince him to stay, but he didn't listen. Odessa, Brielle, and Koda have been missing for days. His family. He's getting them back.

"Open the gate!"

"Are we going or what?" Kelly asks, looking to Carol and Ezekiel who talk quietly together. "My sister is out there somewhere."

"No," Magna speaks up. All eyes turn to her. "She's not."

Then they follow her eyes. As the Kingdom gates open, relief floods through the families.

Odessa's eyes brighten as soon as she sees Cori and Flynn. Brielle is off of the wagon before the horses even stop. She races towards Cori and Flynn. "Mama!" She cries out. "Flynnie!"

"Ellie!" Flynn calls.

Brielle and Flynn crash into each other. Both laughing and crying at the same time.

Odessa gets off of the wagon slowly, holding her hand to her pained chest. Cori approaches her, concern in her eyes as she looks at the bandages that peak out from under Odessa's shirts "What happened?"

Odessa just smiles. "Come here." She breathes out at the sight of her wife.

They embrace as if they'll never touch again. Odessa brings one hand up, clutching the back of Cori's head. Cori holds her wife tightly. "Never again," she says, her lips touching Odessa's skin on her neck. "You're never leaving us again."

"Never," Odessa whisper back. When they pull apart, they press their lips together.

It's a passionate kiss. It's says I'm sorry, it says I love you.

After they pull apart, two smaller bodies crash into them. Odessa recognizes the curls immediately. She wraps her arms around Flynn, holding him as tightly as she can. "Hey, Flynnie," she breathes out as she kisses the top of his head.

"Don't ever leave again." He mumbles.

"I'm not," she says. "I swear."

"I'm so pissed at you right now," Cori says as holds Brielle tightly to her. "But I'm so happy to see you right now, baby."

Koda whines, her tail wagging erratically. At the same time, all four of them reach to pet her. She relishes in the attention.