Solitary {2} : The Walking Dead

Chapter Eighty-nine.

Rest In Peace. ||||

Iris sits in the porch chair with her knees to her chest, she holds a lit cigarette in one hand and a hot coffee in the other, looking out at the sky as the sun rises, she looks over as the front door opens, "mornin'" Daryl mumbles, closing the door behind him, Iris stands from the seat and walks over to him.

She hands him the coffee, gently kissing him on the cheek as he takes a sip of the hot liquid, "mornin''" she smiles, taking the cup again and handing the man the cigarette as he sits down, holding the stick between his lips he gently holds onto her hips and pulls her onto his lap.

He wraps his arm around her waist as she leans back, sipping on her coffee, "it's weird" she whispers, looking back up at the sky, "what is?" Daryl questions, pulling the cigarette from his mouth, "being here without them. Being here with the possibility of Rick coming home" she explains.

Daryl hums and gently traces shapes onto her thigh, "I've had so many dreams where he would be at the door. I'd open it and I'd be able to hug him. And when we pull away, he moves to the side and everyone is standing there. Carl... Hershel, Glenn, Abraham, Juniper, Enid, Tara, Rosita" the woman explains, a sad smile on her face.

"Everyone would be there, we'd have a calibration, Bear and Dog would be playing, the night would be filled with laughter and love... but then i wake up and their not there" Iris turns slightly and looks at the man, "it feels weird being here without them" she says, Daryl reaches up and gently brushes a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"I know" he whispers, leaning in and kissing her on the cheek, the couple sit together for longer, watching the sun heat up the sky, Iris stands up and grabs the coffee cup from the table before looking down at Daryl, "I'm gonna give you a haircut today" she says, walking back into the house.

...........

Daryl sits on the dining room chair, staying still as Iris focuses on cutting his hair, she moves in front of the man, trimming the front of his hair, he rests his hands on her hips, admiring her features as she concentrates, she lets out a small laugh when she notices the man staring.

"You're all done" she says, kissing him quickly before stepping back and walking to the front door, she stands on the porch and smiles as the kids play around, Daryl stands behind her, snaking her arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder, Iris rests her head against the man, resting her hands over his.

"I love you Daryl Dixon" she whispers, closing her eyes and taking in the moment, "i love you Iris Dixon" he whispers into her ear, watching the smile on her face grow.

...........

"Iris, you're the best person I know for this job. With your experience and training i think you are the best" Ezekiel explains, Iris looks at the man, thinking about the opportunity, "i'll do it" she says, Ezekiel smiles, "amazing" he cheers, Iris smiles at the man's reaction, "i'll go get Michael" the man says, standing and walking out of his office.

The two men walk into the room and take a seat, Michael sits next to Iris and Ezekiel sits across them, "so what would I be doing as the sheriff?" Iris questions, "you'll be working closely with us, working out plans for the community, and you'll be teaching classes to new recruits and the community members" Ezekiel explains.

"Are you up for this?" Mercer questions, Iris looks at the man next to her, "i can do this" she says, "okay then" Ezekiel says, opening one of his drawers, Iris watches him reach in, "you're gonna need this" he says, Iris looks at the black cap with the word 'sheriff' written in white, the man sits a small silver pin next to the hat, 'sheriff' carves into the metal.

"It's yours" the man says, Iris stares down at the hat, processing it all, she reaches forward and picks up the things, "i never would've thought i would get to be sheriff. Rick always said I could" Iris mumbles, looking down at the badge in her palm.

She stands from the seat and looks at the two men, "thank you" she says, offering a small smile before leaving the office, Iris walks back to the house, her mind glued on the thought of being the sheriff, "what did Ezekiel want?" Daryl questions, Iris looks up at the man sitting on the porch.

"Pardon?" she asks, confusion on her face, "what's wrong?" Daryl asks, looking at her concern, Iris walks up the porch steps and stands in front of the man, he gently grabs her waist and pulls her onto his lap, the redhead looks down at the man, watching his face as he looks at the things in her hands.

"They want me to be sheriff" she mumbles, "what'd you say?" Daryl asks, looking up at Iris "I said yes" she says, "you're the best person for it" he says, Iris lets out a sigh, shaking her head, "no, it feels wrong. It should be his" she mumbles, looking down at the hat, "it should be Ricks... or Carls. Not mine" she says.

Daryl gently takes the things from her and sits them on the table next to them, he reaches up and holds onto her face, wiping away the stray tears that had fallen with his thumbs, "he would be proud of you. Everyone knows that you deserve this" Daryl says, Iris lays her head on his shoulder, "i'm proud of you" Daryl says, wrapping his arms around Iris and hugging her.

................

Iris adjusts the black cap on her head as she watches the class fight in pairs, wrestling each other, "okay. Stand up" she orders, the group stand and look at the woman, "you need to remember when you're out there in the real world, fighting, you're doing it to survive. The other person ain't your friend, it aint your neighbour. It's either you or them. Life or death" Iris explains.

She walks over to the table covered in guns and knives, "who here prefers to use a gun?" Iris questions, standing in front of the group, all of them raise their hands, "not anymore" she says, sliding the knife into her belt, she raises the gun and points it at the class.

"You like it because it scares the person on the other end" she says, Iris turns and points the gun at the ten targets lined up behind her, she shoots the bullseye on all of the targets, she lowers the gun and turns back to them, "a gun is good, but only when you're fast and have good aim" she says, walking over to the table, "if you're using a gun you need to be sure you aim perfectly and then you need to be certain you can move fast enough before the walkers get you" she explains.

"Your first choice in weapons should be a knife. Everyone go get one" she orders, pulling hers from her belt as they all do as she told them, "hold them up" she says, the class hold up the knife differently, "this blade will be a part of you, another limb." Iris says, she holds the knife in her right hand, holding her fists up, the blade pointing out and away from her body.

"The blade follows wherever your fist goes" Iris looks behind the class to see Judith standing watching her, "that's it for today. Think about what you've done today and figure out what you did wrong and fix it for our next class" she says, placing the knife on the table and walking over to the girl.

"Hey kid" she smiles, laying her arm over the girl's shoulders, "hey" Judith smiles, as they start walking together, "how was school?" Iris questions, "it was good" Judith says, "good. What do you want for dinner?" Iris asks, "spaghetti" Judith says, "let's go make that then" Iris says, smiling down at the girl as they walk towards the house.