𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐑 𝐋𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 ➳ 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥 𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬

Chapter 22 ~ Wedding Vows

It was a struggle but finally, the three of us managed to get Carl to Gabriel's church on the corner. It was burned out, of course, from where it had been hit - the interior only black rubble and charred wood - but the structure still stood despite it. The only thing inside left untouched was the stained-glass windows. My eyes fluttered closed - if only for a moment - as I recalled the first time I'd come here. A sigh escaped my mouth as I opened my eyes, gazing back down at Carl. That was gone now too...

But before I could reminiscence too much, Carl put a hand into his pocket before fishing out two wedding bands. I gasped, putting my hand over my mouth.

"You...you had the rings-" I started, breaking off when I couldn't form the words.

He smiled sadly up at me, his one blue orb watching me intently, "I knew you'd want to marry one day. And...and I knew how spontaneous you are so-so I wanted to keep them close...just in case,"

I let out a quiet sob, my chest heaving before I nodded, sucking up the tears.

"Are we ready?" Michonne asked from beside me and I nodded to her as I sat next to Carl, his hand in mine.

"We are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Carl Grimes and Angel Dixon, two of...the most incredible people I know. They met in a world that was already torn apart but...somehow they found each other," Rick began and I could hear his voice trying not to break with the emotion, "And...I couldn't ask for a better woman...for my son,"

Tears filled my eyes as I locked eyes with Rick's ice blue orbs. I mouthed a silent 'thank you' and he nodded to me before Michonne took over.

"Now for the wedding vows," she said softly, glancing at the two of us.

"Me first," Carl said wearily, making us all crack a smile before he began, his eye connecting to mine.

"When I first met you...back on that-that porch...I thought you were the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen. You were so taken with Judith and...and gosh...you were breathtaking..."

A quiet laugh bubbled up from my throat as I brushed away the tears on my cheeks, the memories of that night clear as day in my head.

~ Flashback ~

Glancing up ahead at the house I shared with the others, I saw the figure of a teenage boy sitting in a rocking chair, a toddler pressed to his chest. He was rocking her back and forth. Smiling, I realized it must have been him singing. Slowly, I made my way to the large house and stopped just in front of the porch. The boy cooed at the little girl and she giggled, her blonde curls bouncing. His hands rubbed up and down her back soothingly and my smile widened as I watched him.

I placed one foot on the porch steps then and it creaked. The boy's head shot up and my chocolate brown eyes met icy-blue. I sucked in a breath, nervous at the fact that he'd just caught me watching them.

"I...I'm sorry, I'll go," I started, turning to leave as an embarrassed blush rose to my cheeks.

He stood up then, bouncing the little girl on his hip. He wore a faded blue-and-white plaid button-up t-shirt with white peeking out beneath it paired with jeans and combat boots. A Sheriff's hat was perched atop his shaggy brown hair and every once in a while, he'd adjust the bandage across his right eye. The small girl on his hip smiled a toothless-smile at me as the boy's eye returned to mine.

"No, it's fine... You're the wolf, right?" he asked, his voice guarded but soft at the same time.

I cringed at the word but nodded.

"Yeah...I'm Angel," I told him, slowly walking back over to him.

When I made my way up the porch steps, he held out a hand to me and I shook it.

"I'm Carl and this is my little sister, Judith," he said and nodded towards the small child who cooed at me in greeting.

His hands were calloused, probably from holding a gun so much, but his skin was warm. Something about him seemed familiar somehow... I bit my lip and tilted my head to the side. My eyes widened then as it hit me.

"You're Rick's son! The one who got shot during the walker attack..." I started and trailed off, mentally kicking myself for bringing up his injury.

His eye looked pained but he nodded.

"Yeah...although I kind of remember it more as a wolf attack," he quipped, lightening the mood.

I laughed and it felt genuine as I nodded in agreement.

"Fair enough, I suppose it was," I smiled up at him.

He smiled back and for the first time in what seemed ages, I didn't feel that emptiness that had embedded itself in my heart from the loss of Owen

~ End of Flashback ~

He shook his head at me slowly, "But you were never a Wolf...you were always an angel...right from the start,"

I laughed through my tears, blurring my vision but I blinked them back before taking a deep breath.

"My turn now..." I said, squeezing his hand gently, "That first time I met you...it was the first time in a long time I felt something...something real. And it was nothing like I'd had before - the love I felt was true... I knew the moment I met you that you'd be the closest I'd get to being...close. With anyone..."

I could see the light in his eye fading and I squeezed his hand so hard I feared I'd hurt him but he only smiled weakly in response, fingertips caress my hand gently in an attempt to soothe me.

"Do you, Carl Grimes, take Angel Dixon to be your lawful wedded wife?" Michonne spoke up then, her dark brown eyes filling with tears.

Icy-blue connected to chocolate brown and I felt my heart flutter in my chest through the sadness.

"I do," he whispered, only looking at me.

"And do you, Angel Dixon, take Carl Grimes to be your lawful wedded husband?" she asked me and I nodded, half-crying, half-laughing.

"I do...with all my heart," I added, my gaze glued to the man before me.

"Now the rings.." Rick said quietly.

Slowly - and with help from Michonne - we exchanged the rings. The diamond ring shone on my finger...but nearly as bright as the look in his eye - that look of love. True love.

"You may now kiss the bride," Michonne said, her voice breaking with emotion.

Leaning down to him as I cupped his face in my hands, our lips connected. In my heart, I knew it would be the last time I felt his lips, felt that love I only found in his touch, in him. Our lips moved in sync, knowing each other like the pieces of a puzzle you'd put together so many times before. We'd loved before each other...we both knew it. But...there was no one in this world that could compare to Carl Grimes. No one.

His mouth was soft and gentle on mine, tasting like chocolate mixed with caramel. And in that moment - that one blissful moment - the words to an old song came back to me in flashes.

"And I don't wanna fall to pieces, I just wanna sit and stare at you...I don't wanna talk about it..."

Ever since I'd met him, my life had changed drastically. I was no longer the Wolf girl, no longer the pregnant teenager on her own, no longer broken.

"And I don't want a conversation, I just wanna cry in front of you..."

I didn't feel like that lost little girl thanks to him. I felt complete - for the first time in my life, I felt whole. As we broke the kiss, he smiled up at me with a look of pure love radiating from him.

"I love you, Mrs. Angel Grimes," he teased me, making me chuckle through the onslaught of tears.

And as I gazed down into his icy-blue eye, I knew it my heart it was because...

"I'm in love with you..."

"And I'm so in love with you, Carl..."

But even as the words left my lips, I knew...deep down...letting him go would destroy me.