Loving You || Daryl Dixon

Chapter Thirty-Nine - Bonus Ending

~JORDYN'S POV~

Daryl and I had been in France for a few weeks, I don't truly know where it all went wrong, but something did. The kids and I woke up one morning and Daryl was just gone. I tried to check the surrounding areas for him, but with kids it wasn't easy to do. 

I spent almost a week searching, but I just couldn't find him. I began to feel the way I did when we lost Rick. I couldn't let myself fall that deep into depression because I had four small children depending on me. I had to make a choice, stay here and be in constant fear one of the kids would go missing, or leave my husband and go home. 

In the end, I decided to get the kids the fuck out of France. I left so many signs for Daryl that we went back home, in hopes that he would see at least one of them. We left signs from where we were staying, all the way out to the docks we came in on. 

Thankfully there was a boat that still ran, big enough for all of us. The kids and I loaded our belongings into it and set sail. I kept checking behind us just to see if Daryl would appear behind us, but he never showed. I picked up the walkie talkie we had, "Daryl, baby, if you can hear me please say something." There was nothing but silence over the walkie. "I hope you're okay, my love. The kids and I are returning home. If you're still out there, still alive, come back home to me. I'll be waiting. I love you so much" I said, tears welling in my eyes.

Days later the kids and I docked somewhere along the coast, we found the truck we hid weeks ago when we first left for France. We loaded up and headed home. I kept my walkie on, hoping to hear more than just static over it. A pit grew in my stomach the longer I went without hearing from him. 

What I didn't know at that time was Carol was already in France searching for us to bring us home. The lead we had on a cure was nothing but a dead end. 

We arrived at the gates of Alexandria, the guard on watch was Gabe. He ushered for them to get the gate open and let us in. I pulled the truck in and put it in park, the kids were asleep in the back when I stepped out. 

The second my feet hit the ground, the tears started flowing. I think it was the first time I started crying since Daryl went missing. Gabe and Aaron both rushed to me as I fell to the ground sobbing. "Jo! What happened?" Aaron asked, wrapping me in a hug. "Daryl, Daryl went missing. I needed to leave and bring the kids home so they were safe" I sobbed out. 

"What do you mean missing?" Gabe asked. They helped me bring the kids and our things into mine and Daryl's house. We took the kids to their rooms to keep sleeping. I went out and sat on the porch swing, both men right behind me. 

I sat there with them for a bit, none of us speaking before I finally told them what happened in France. "I'm so sorry Jo. You still haven't heard anything from him?" Aaron asked, holding my hand. "Not a single word since we left. I didn't know what to do, I couldn't protect four small children on my own. France was far more dangerous than we thought" I sniffled. Dog came running at me from the road, he licked my face like crazy. "There you are boy, I was wondering where you were" I said, rubbing his head. "He's been living with me and Gracie, we've kept him safe" Aaron said. 

"I'm sure Daryl is okay hun, he's a badass with a crossbow. You left him signs as to where you and the kids went, he'll be home in no time. Especially with Carol out there looking for him." Gabe said. "Wait, Carol is in France?" I asked. "She just arrived a few days before you came home, she went to bring you guys back" Gabe said. 

"Bring us back for what?" I asked. "Something, you'll find out soon. You take a few days to readjust and then you can take back over running Alexandria" Aaron smiled. "No offense, but I want to take back over now, it'll help keep my mind off of Daryl.