Dixon's Girl- TWD- Completed

Epilogue

Daryl Pov

Jody and I have been married for 18 years. It is crazy how fast time flies by. Our son, Daniel, is now 19 and in college in florida. It broke jodys heart to see him go, but we couldn't be prouder of him

We reconciled with Donna and Merle many years ago. Merle still wasn't clean, but he was always clean around the kids. That was the compromise

Speaking of kids, me and jody have 3. Daniel of course, although he is hardly a kid anymore. Then once he started school aged 4, me and jody tried for another baby. We got lucky, getting pregnant on the first try. Another boy, Charlie. He is 15 now and suddenly decided he isn't interested in spending time or loving his parents. Although he does enjoy our hunting trips, and he's a momma's boy. He'd protect her with his life if he had to.

We never intended on having another kid but the world had different plans. 5 years ago, jody got pregnant again after a careless weekend away. This time, she had a little girl and she is the light of my life. We named her Brooklyn, and she is a mini Jody. Feisty, chatty, but also the most loving person I've met

"You alright?" I asked jody as she frantically ran out of the bedroom, stumbling to get dressed

"The school just called. They're sending kids home because of this disease."

"It's getting that bad, huh?"

"Or the teachers wanted a few weeks off. I'm going to go and pick them up. I'll see you soon." She gave me a quick peck on the lips before running towards the car

We have become that family that is late for everything. It doesn't make sense how, we just are

I got a phone call from Daniel as I was waiting with merle and Donna for jody to come home

"Hey buddy. How's college?"

"You heard about that disease? It's insane over here."

"Really? What's going on?"

"College has been cancelled until further notice and one of the kids on campus got sick. Weird thing is, no one has seen him since last night. He wasn't in his bed this morning and he just...disappeared," Daniel said

"Maybe he's gone home. Didn't want to be there whilst sick."

"Maybe. Hang on. Dad..."

"Yeah-"

"I think there's someone in my bathroom."

"You got a gun?" I asked him

He didn't reply but I could hear him moving about

"Daniel? Daniel?"

"Aah! Fuck! He just fucking bit me! The fuck is wrong with you?" He screamed

"Daniel! Who bit you, what's going on?" The line disconnected and I tried redialling but it didn't work

Suddenly, the front door swung open. Jody was there with the kids and Brooklyn was crying

"Everything okay?"

"We need to leave right now."

"You're scaring me, Jo."

She ran off to pack some bags whilst Charlie told us, "we were listening to the radio. The military is getting over run. Hospitals are rioting. This disease, it ain't normal. People are coming back from the dead as cannibals. It's like they have rabies or some shit."

"Is it contagious?"

"Not by air. But they say that if you get bit, you'll turn into one of the infected. We saw a few on our ride home, that's why momma is packing a bag."

I lifted brooklyn up who was clearly panicking. But all I could think about was Daniel. What did this mean for him?

Once all bags were packed, we got in the truck. "Where are we going?" Donna asked

"Florida," jody said

"What? We can't go to-"

"Our son is there! We will pick him up and decide what to do then. What?"

Before I could tell her, we got stuck in traffic. "Fuck," I yelled, slamming my fist against the wheel. Jody could tell I was about to cry. She was the only person I'd ever cry infront of

"We could be here for a while. Momma, merle, do you guys wanna walk around with the kids for a bit? Everyone else is getting out of their cars. Maybe find some kids their age," she told them

They got out although brooklyn was a little bit reluctant

Jodys hand held onto mine tightly and she leant over to kiss my cheek. Within a second, I had broken down. I leant into her chest and sobbed, both her arms wrapping around me tightly. "I know this is scary but we will get Daniel and then we can all be together. That's what's important," she whispered kissing the top of her head

"Jo, I'm so sorry."

"What? Why?"

"Daniel called whilst you were picking the kids up. He got bit whilst talking to me. The lines cut dead and I can't get a hold of him. There's no one waiting for us in florida, baby."

She didn't say anything. All she did was sit back in shock. There were no tears, no screams, just a blank face

"Jody, please talk to me. "

She opened her mouth but no words came out. Not even a squeak.

I tried to dry my tears with the back of my hand but they just kept pouring. Silently, we sat together in the car, waiting in the traffic. What do you say to a mother who has just lost her first baby? Are there any words? Daniel got her through one of the toughest moments of her life. Without him, I'm not sure she would still be with us. And now he was gone.

After half an hour of us just sat there, she let out a strangled sob and fell into my arms. I held her tightly, cradling her shaking body to my chest. She couldn't even speak from the pain, and her screams were silent, but they were there. They were real. All of it was real. We had no choice but to carry on for our children. We knew that. But at that moment, all we wanted to do was sit there and cry, just the two of us, how it used to be.