Miranda's pov
When I wake up, I'm still laying in Jason's hospital bed but he's not here. Then I hear singing. Him singing. "Drink one for me for all the old times we tore up that town raised hell all right tell the boys thanks for having my back and for some of the best memories I've ever had so go on and get crazy and drink one for the ones you can't be with the ones you'll always miss at times like this, times like these!" I open the door, he's sitting around a campfire with a guitar singing the song with Glenn, Abraham, Deanna, Brantley and a few other Alexandrians. I know he's talking about my stubborn Dixon brothers. He stops the guitar since the song's over and everyone claps. "You must've been a professional before this. I mean you're freaking amazing." Glenn says. He smiles and nods. "I was. I was a professional country music singer and that was a song off my night train album." He lowers his guitar and his eyes meet mine. He waves me over. I sit down beside him. "You've really drawn a crowd." I say. He smiles. "You shoulda seen my performin' days. Back then I was sellin' out packed stadiums." He starts playing the guitar again. "A river in July, 2 kids on summer break, another record high, clothes scattered on the bank, the rush of jumpin' in, I wanna feel that again. Guitar comin' through the speakers. That song ya never wanna end gimme some of that you and me, some of that way back when, a little bit of wild and free, I wanna feel that again." I look up at the gate and gasp in shock. I shake Jason's arm. He stops singing. I point to the gate where my brother stands but I can't tell from this distance if he's a walker or not. He sighs and pulls out a knife. "I'll take care of him honey." He says. He must be dead then.
Jason's pov
I walk over to the gate but drop the knife in shock. He's alive! "Daryl?" He nods. "Looks like I'm not the only one who lost an arm." He says, smirking. I see he lost his too. "Yeah, I got nicked. I saw you get bit. You okay man?" I ask, opening the gate. He nods. "What about-" "Michonne's dead. She's the only reason I'm still standing." "Daryl!" Miranda screams and runs over. I smile and close the gate as she hugs him tightly. "Welcome home man." I say, patting his back. She's sobbing in relief by now, I put my good arm around her shoulders. "Come on sweetheart let's go back to the bonfire and my buddy Brantley will show you how to kick it in the sticks." I say, hugging her. Alice takes Daryl to the clinic and we go back to the bonfire. I hand Brantley the guitar. "I see you and me ridin' like bonnie and Clyde, rollin' down 129, lookin' for the law while I push my luck. She's ridin' shotgun like it ain't no thing turn the radio up so the girl can sing, pull into the party like y'all whass up. And tonight is bottoms up, throw it on down rock this quiet little country town and get up, drop the tailgate on my truck, find a keg and fill your cup up, kick it on back pretty little mama lookin' at ya like that." I stop, listening, thinking about my pretty little mama. I sure would love to drop a tailgate on a turn row. Like old times with a cooler full of beer and watching the moonlight with my girl like I used to do.... Before things got bad. She snuggles into my side. I smile and wrap an arm around her. "I'm glad you're okay." She says. "Yeah I'm fine hun." I reply. Brantley puts the guitar away. "So, what does everyone miss from the old world?" He asks. "I miss beer." I say. B laughs and agrees whole heartedly. "I'd kill for a jar of shine." He says. "My husband." Deanna whispers, staring into the fire. "My brother." Miranda mumbles. I hug her tighter. "My vibrator." One girl that I don't know the name of says. Everyone busts out laughing. I can't catch a breath. I wish this could last forever. I feel so free.
*later*
I wake up out of a deep sleep and notice my wife missing. "Baby?!" I call worried. "It's okay Jason. The baby just woke up. Go back to bed." She says from down the hall. I get up anyway and smile seeing her rocking the baby with a bottle in her mouth. It's just like life before the apocalypse. I walk in and she smiles. "I feel more normal every day living here." She says. "I don't even feel like I'm in an apocalypse." I smile and hug her. "We're safe now." I say, closing my eyes and kissing her.
