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CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: KINGS AND TIGERS AND REUNIONS, OH MY!
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THERE WAS GOING to be a fight. After Negan had come to Alexandria again, Rick decided that they were going to fight. They were going to fight to protect their home and their family. They weren't just going to stand by and let Negan take everything that they had built from them. Melanie was ready. She had gained so much ever since Rick and his group arrived in Alexandria. They had become her family and she needed to protect them just like they would protect her. It was decided that to fight, they would need more people and they would need more weapons. They needed to attempt to recruit the Hilltop to join their fight and possibly other communities that were already trading with Negan. The day after Negan had brought Melanie and Carl home, they all piled into the RV and headed to the Hilltop.
Melanie and Carl sat beside one another, holding hands the entire ride there. Everyone had noticed and everyone had said that they had called it, including Rick, Margot, and Michonne. Melanie knew that everyone else had thought the two of them would get together at some point. Not only were they some of the only teenagers in Alexandria but they were also very close and seemed to help one another in ways that nobody else could. Just like Rick and Michonne had said to Melanie, they were good for each other and they needed each other.
Melanie looked over at Carl and smiled. He smiled back at her and rubbed her hand with his thumb. Melanie had never felt happier than when she was with Carl. He had brought her back from the edge and she would never be able to repay him for that. Melanie hadn't been able to stop smiling since she and Carl had kissed. It was sweet and short but Melanie wanted to kiss him and never stop. She was in love with him and even though she hadn't told him and he hadn't told her, she knew that he felt the same way.
When they got to the Hilltop, everyone piled out of the RV. When they walked up to the gates, Melanie looked up and saw Maggie. She called out for Sasha and Enid before the gates opened up. As they walked in, reunions were immediately had. Melanie looked around, smiling when she saw Enid. Enid looked at Melanie and Carl holding hands and gave Melanie a knowing look. Melanie looked down at their entwined hands and chuckled at Enid who had called it from the very start.
As Melanie continued to look around, she spotted a familiar face coming toward them. Melanie's eyes widened when she saw Daryl Dixon. Melanie watched in shock as Daryl locked eyes with her. Melanie smiled just as Rick stepped toward Daryl and the two hugged for a moment. As they stopped hugging, Melanie let go of Carl's hand and sprinted toward Daryl who enveloped her in a hug. Melanie held on tightly, closing her eyes and savoring the moment. When she let go, she asked, "Are you okay?"
Daryl nodded at her, his eyes glistening with tears from being reunited with his family, "I'm okay." Melanie smiled at him once more before Daryl gestured to Carl. "I called it."
