Sweet and Salty ~ Carl Grimes

The Last One - 061

Listen up, y'all! This isn't an official trigger warning, just a general warning... This one is brutal, and that's coming from me. And, in my Ellie Dixon book, I gave Maggie and Glenn twins (Glenn didn't die in the line up) and I killed one of the two month old twins. I have no mercy, and yet even I think this is brutal. So, uhm... Yea, good luck, my lovelies!

That night, Hershel and Brooks stayed in the bar. Brooks couldn't bring herself to sleep in the kitchen, so the two of them sat opposite each other in the wine cellar. It had all the barrels, but the barrels were drained of all wine. It was a bit cold, but nothing that they couldn't handle. Especially as Brooks pulled Sebastian's flannel around her tighter. She was only wearing her blue shorts, and a white top, so she really needed that flannel. Brooks was leaning against one empty barrel, while Hershel leaned against the one opposite her, with outstretched legs their feet were inches apart.

They didn't want to get caught in the forest in the dark, because those nights really were the worst. 'Sleeping' outside, surrounded by danger... You can barely blink you're so scared of the unknown. However, the pair were so excited they couldn't sleep anyways... Well, Hershel was excited, and though Brooks was too, she couldn't help but think of those five people who wouldn't be making it to this place called Terminus.

Hershel kept Maggie's letter with him, in his breast pocket, closest to his heart. His way of keeping his daughters in his heart, until he had them back in his arms. The smile never left his face, just knowing that Maggie was alive, let him know that the bus made it. Let him know that Beth made it, along with everyone else which even included little toddler Judith.

"What're you gonna do when we get to that community and see Beth and Maggie?" Brooks asked, striking up conversation.

Hershel hummed, thinking it over in his head. Picturing his daughters faces. "I don't think I'll be able to speak." He admitted. "I'll just hug them. I just need to feel them in my arms again."

Brooks smiled. "Should be tomorrow, if not it'll be the day after at the latest."

"What about you? Who's the first person you're runnin' too?" Hershel asked.

Brooks thought about it for a moment, before the name came off her tongue easily. "Carl." She didn't know why she chose Carl out of all people, but she did. When she pictured all of their people standing there... She imagined Carl running towards her first.

Hershel warmly smiled, aware of Carl's feelings towards Brooks. He didn't say them though, that wasn't his place. However, in this new place called Terminus, he was excited to see the two grow up together, and realise things about themselves, as well as each other. The conversation got a little darker with Hershel's next words. "How are you, Brooks? After... After them all?"

She sniffed, looking down to her hands. "I'll be alrigh' once me 'n' you get our people back. Once I see you huggin' Maggie and Beth again? That'll be the moment everything changes. The second you get your girls back, is the same second I'll be okay."

Hershel brought up a hand to wipe away a happy tear that managed to slip down his wrinkled face. "I never lost one of my girls." He admitted, smiling at Brooks softly. This took Brooks by surprise, her lips parted slightly as her forehead creased with emotion. "Truth is, you, Sophia, Judith and Carl became like the grandkids I always wanted to have."

She couldn't help but smile at him, she sniffed away any emotions that wanted to pour down her face before she responded. "I know that Will... Was technically my grandad, but... You're like the kind, old grandpa I always wanted too, Hershel."

"I don't think callin' me old was necessary." He joked, causing Brooks to laugh loudly, her chest shaking with how loudly she laughed. It wasn't all that funny, but to her it was the best thing she'd heard in over a week, so she laughed, and he laughed, and they laughed together. They smiled together, like a real grandfather and granddaughter... Because, that's what they were, in their hearts. "Oh, I do love you, Pumpkin." He said through his chuckles.