Hope//C.G *Finished*

Not Tomorrow Yet

Carl and I sat on the porch laughing at each other, as I sat on his lap. "Chloe! Carl!" we heard and turned to see Carol coming up the steps. "Hey you two. Glad to see you guys made up" Carol said and I smiled. "Me too" We both said and Carol chuckled. "Here made you guys some." Carol said and handed us some cookies. "Make sure Judith gets come Carl" Carol told him and I laughed as he nodded. "I will" She smiled at us and turned leaving. "I love you" I whispered and he put a cookie in his mouth. "I love these cookies" I laughed as broke one if half before putting it in my mouth. "You wont once you know whats in it" I muttered and Carl rolled his eyes at me. Suddenly Judith started crying and I slid off his lap. "I'll go get her" I said and kissed his cheek, before leaving.

I came back to the porch to see Carl and Sasha. "Look whos up from her nap" I said and they smiled at me. "What's wrong?" I asked and Carl took Judith from me. "They're back. Everyone needs to meet in the church in an hour" Sasha said and I nodded. Sasha left us and I turned to Carl. "Well lets go" I said and we walked off the porch before Carl slid his hands in mine.

We go in the church and sit next to each other. Carl slid a hand around my waist, as he held Judith. Once everyone gets to the church he starts "Jesus took us to a place called the Hiltop. And we can work with the Hilltop. Maggie hammered out a deal. We're getting food-- eggs, butter, fresh vegetables. But they're not just giving it away. These Saviors, they almost killed Sasha, Daryl, and Abraham on the road. Now, sooner or later, they would've found us, just like those Wolves did, just like Jesus did. They woulda killed someone or some of us. And then they would try to own us. And we would try to stop them. But by then, in that kind of fight, low on food, we could lose. This is the only way to be sure, as sure as we can get, that we win. And we have to win. We do this for the Hilltop, it's how we keep this place. It's how we feed this place. This needs to be a group decision. If anybody objects, here's your chance to say your piece." Rick explained while Jesus sat up there with him.

I placed my hand on Carl's knee as I called out "You're sure we can do it?" Everyone turned to me. "Rick you know I highly respect you. You're like a second father to me, and we've been through some tough times together. but do we even know how many people they have? Guns? weapons? I think before we decide we should look at this all more." Rick then nodded. "Chloe. I understand why you're skeptical., but what this group has done, what we've learned, what we've become, all of us-- yes, I'm sure." I nodded and everyone turned back to the front, until Morgan spoke "Then all we have to do is just tell them that." Carl looked at me and I smiled softly. "Well, they don't compromise." Rick said, but Morgan called out "This isn't a compromise. It's a choice you give them. It's a way out, for them and for us."

Rick just calls out "We try and talk to the Saviors, we give up our advantage, our safety. No, we have to come for them before they come for us. We can't leave them alive." Morgan cut him off "Where there's life, there's possibility." Rick just says "Of them hitting us."

Morgan just says "We're not trapped in this. None of you are trapped in this." I sighed as Rick tried to reason with him "Morgan... they always come back. Come back when they're dead, too." I looked down instantly knowing what he's talking about. "Yeah, we'll stop them. We have before." Carl nudged me, but I shook my head, as Morgan called out "I'm not talking about the walkers." Carl stood up and handed Judith off, before coming back to me. He took my hand in his and I laid my head on his shoulder. "Morgan wants to talk to them first. I think that would be a mistake, but it's not up to me. I'll talk to the people still at home. I'll discuss it with the people on guard now, too, but who else wants to approach the Saviors, talk to them first?" Instantly Aaron stood up "What happened here, we won't let that happen again. I won't." Aaron sat down and Rick called out "Looks like it's settled. We know exactly what this is. We don't shy from it, we live. We kill them all. We don't all have to kill. But if people are gonna stay here... they do have to accept it." With that said Rick turned and left.

I stood up and walked out after him. "Rick" I called out and jogged up to him. "Chloe if you're trying to back out I understand" I cut him off. "No. I'm saying I understand where you're coming from, but I also understand what Morgan is saying. I made you and Carl and Hershel and even Noah a promise. I'd do whatever is in my power to keep myself, Carl, and Judith safe. So.. I'm in" I said and Rick nodded. Rick pulled me into a hug and I sighed hugging him back. "Thank you" He said pulling away "But. You're staying here with Carl and Judith" I nodded and he kissed my head before leaving.

I stood there as he left and an arm went around my waist. "Cheating on me with my dad?" I heard and laughed turning to my boyfriend. "The stuff I do with you. I don't wanna do with your dad" I whispered to him and Carl laughed, before leading me back to the house. I just noticed he was carrying Judith. Carl and I stood in her nursery standing over her as she slept. He wrapped his arms around my waist and I whispered  "He told me I have to stay and protect you two." Carl nodded and I smiled. Carl took my hand and lead me back to our room. We turned the lights off and laid in bed. I just stared at the ceiling.  "What if the plan doesn't work?" I asked, and it was silent until arms went around me. "It'll work." Carl whispered, "Now get some sleep" I nodded and he turned around. "What if it doesnt" I asked and sat up. "Chloe" Carl said and sat up to. "I'm just saying" I said turning to me. Carl sighed and held his arms out to me. I went over and crawled into his lap. "I know youre concerned, but it's okay. It'll work, and they'll be back before we know it" I nodded and we laid back down.

Carl wrapped his arms around me before playing with my hair. I then suddenly started to doze off, "I love you" He said and I smiled "I love you more" I whispered, before falling asleep.

The next day I woke up earlier than Carl. I grabbed my gun and checked on Judith before going outside to the shooting ranges we set up awhile ago. I held my gun up and took a deep breathe before shooting the cans straight off the post. I went and set everything back up before doing it again and again and again. "Chloe!" I heard and turned to see a woman and little boy. "Hey" I said smiling. Aaron and Dayrl brought them in awhile ago but I didn't get a chance to meet them. "I'm Lyra and this is my son Brenon" I nodded "Hey." Lyra just says "I was told that you can teach little kids about guns and safety and how to shoot?" I nodded. "Can you help us?" I smiled and said "Course!"  I spent most of my morning teaching the two about safety before actually letting them shoot. "Keep this one. Get used to the feeling of having it on you" I said and she nodded.

"Chloe!" Carl called out and I turned to see him and Judith. "Now if you have any questions at all I live right over there" I said smiling and Brenon hugged me. "Thanks Chloe" I giggled and ruffled his hair "It's no problem honey" I said and turned going to my boyfriend and his baby sister. "Hey you" I said and greeted him with a kiss. "Whos that?" he asked and I shrugged "Another training class, has she ate?" I asked but Carl shook his head. "Well let's go get some food for that tummy" I cooed and Judith giggled. We went inside and I made her a bottle giving it to Carl. We went outside and sat in the rocking chairs, as he fed her.

I smiled lovingly at them as a little boy ran up on the porch. "Chloe Chloe!" He called out and I turned smiling at Brenon. "Yeah buddy?" I asked and he just says "I did it! I knocked the cans off! All of them!" I giggled as I held my hand out. He high fived me and I called out "Thats great! Go practice more with mommy" He nodded and turned before running back to Lyra. Carl and I turned to each other and smiled.

Later that night after we put Judith to bed we went downstairs and moved the couch and table. "Ready?" I asked dancing from foot to foot. I threw a fake punch and was lifted by my waist and thrown over his shoulder. "This is cheating!" I called out but Carl laughed and dropped me on the couch. I laughed and grabbed his arm pulling him down with me. We laughed as we rolled off and hit the floor. I pinned him down and smirked "I win" Carl then chuckles and says "Really" I nodded and he flipped us over so he was pinning me down. "I Win" he said and leaned down to kiss me. "You sure did love" I whispered and kissed him again. I flipped us again and slid my hands up his shirt before taking it off. I smiled and placed a hand on the faded bullet wound.

"What are you doing?" he asked and I just kissed my hand and placed it on the bandage over his eye. "Coming to terms with everything" I said and took my shirt off. Carl put his hands on my hips before feeling up and finding the scar on my side from being stabbed. He copied my actions and I leaned down to kiss him softly. "Wanna go play cards?" I whispered and he laughed "hell yeah" Getting off the ground I grabbed Carl's hand and pulled him up the stairs.