Solitary {2} : The Walking Dead

Chapter Ninety.

 Rest In Peace. |||||

ONE YEAR LATER:

"My fellow citizens, it is with profound gratitude... gratitude for the many blessings we've been given. We are here, together, against all odds... on the grounds that were destroyed so that so many of us may live. And on this day, we honour those who have sacrificed for us that we may pursue a more perfect union. And though we are not bonded by blood... we are family." Ezekiel says, standing on the stage.

"As your governor, I and your lieutenant governor, Michael Mercer" he continues, Princess stands and cheers for Michael, Iris laughs at the woman, "And we pledge to live by those words." Ezekiel finishes, Iris stands from the chair and claps cheering with the others.

Her focus moves when she sees Daryl standing off to the side, "hey" she smiles, rushing over to him, "hey" he smiles, pulling her into a hug, "how's it looking?" Iris questions, "good for now" Daryl answers, gently holding the woman's waist and pulling her closer to him, he leans down and captures her lips with his.

They pull away and hold onto each other's hands, walking through the streets together, "hey" Carol says, joining them, the three of them stop and look up at the names on the wall, Iris smiles as she looks over at everyone doing their own things.

"Lydia" Iris grins, letting go of Daryl and walking over to the girl, "hey" the girl smiles, wrapping her arms around Iris, "you look good" Iris says, hugging Lydia, "so do you" the girl says, pulling away, "hi elijah" Iris says, hugging the boy "hi" he says, hugging her back.

Iris pulls away and stands next to Daryl, "I never thought we'd get back to any of this. I had a hope, but we're all very lucky." Aaron says, "Not luck, it's effort. We have a lot to be proud of, my friends. It's our family, our community. Future." Gabriel says, looking down at Coco.

"Aunt Maggie!" Judith says, seeing the woman as they walk around, "Hey!" Maggie says, hugging the girl, Iris hugs Maggie next, stepping back she watches the woman hug Daryl, "Heard you wanted to talk?" Carol asks, "Yeah. I want to talk about the future. There's a lot out there to find out about. And I think it's time we did." Maggie says.

...........

Iris looks out at the water, "it's beautiful out today" she says, "a good day to head out" she adds, looking at Daryl sat next to her, "Yeah." he says, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her closer to his body, "I wish you were coming with me" he says, Iris looks out at the water again, resting her head on his chest.

"I know. I wish i was coming too but i cant leave the kids" Iris says, she listens to the mans heartbeat, "we'll be okay though... i'm proud of you Daryl" Iris says, lifting her head and looking at her husband, he shakes his head, looking at the water, "it's true, you've been working so hard, you've made everything better for the kids. And you'll keep making it better" Iris explains.

Daryl looks back at her, "i love you Daryl Dixon" she smiles, "i love you Iris Dixon" he says, tears fill her eyes as she takes in his features one more time, "dont cry" he says, gently wiping the stray tear with his thumb, "i'll find you again" he says softly, "i'll always find you" he adds, gently connecting his lips with hers.

They reluctantly pull away and Iris takes a deep breath before standing, she holds her hand out to Daryl, he holds onto her hand and stands, the couple walk together in silence, slowly making their way to the gates.

Ezekiel and Carol walk down the road with the kids running ahead, Daryl pulls the kids into a tight hug, "You be good, all right?" Daryl says, messing with RJ's hat, "I will." the boy says, "I'll keep an eye on Dog." Judith says, Daryl pulls the girl into another hug, "Keep an eye on Iris, too, will ya?" Daryl whispers to the girl, she puls away and nods.

"While I'm out there, if I hear anything, see anything, I'll find them both, I'll bring them home. All right?" Daryl says, "Uncle Daryl?" Judith asks, "Yeah?" "You deserve a happy ending, too." Judith says, Daryl looks back at Iris, "I'll be back." he says, looking at Judith again, "I know." Judith says.

Daryl pull Ezekiel into a hug, "Let's go, guys." Ezekiel says, walking over to the kids and guiding them away, Carol says goodbye to Daryl one last time before stepping back and leaving Iris and Daryl alone, Iris walks over to him "be safe" she says, Daryl pulls her into a hug, holding her tight.

"I'll find you" he says again, "i know" Iris whispers, holding him tightly, "i love you" Daryl says, reluctantly pulling away, "i love you too" Iris says, she leans in and kisses him softly, pulling away and forcing a smile on her face, Daryl climbs onto his bike, looking back at her one last time before driving away, Iris stands and watches him go further and further.

Carol grabs onto the redhead's hand, watching as the gates close, "he'll be okay" she says softly, "i know" Iris sighs.

"I think of the dead all the time. And about the living, who I lost."

"I tried to get to you and your brother again and again. It's too far for the radio now. I know that. But I still got you. And you got me. We're connected. We're still connected..."

"I think about them all every day."

" ...to everybody we ever loved."

"Their faces, what I learned from them, how they made me who I am, so much more than all this made me who I am."

"We'll always be together, even when we're apart. We, together, are the strongest thing. We're love, and love is endless. So we, those gone..."

" All of our lives..."

".those away..."

"becoming one life..."

"we are endless."

"we're together, pieces of a whole that just keep going for what we gave each other. One unstoppable life. You showed me that. You gave me that."

"I know you're back there. I know your brother is back there, just as sure as I know he's out there, somewhere. Not just as a part of us. He's alive out there. I will find him. Because I know he's trying to find us... Remember what I said. It's what he said. Hold it to your heart. It's true. Forever."

"We're the ones who live."

"We get to start over. We're the ones who live." Judith says, looking over at her brother.