Forever Broken // Carl Grimes

Bonus Chapter: Before The Battle

The night before the Battle of Sanctuary...

Neither of them felt much like sleeping that night. Perhaps they both wished to drink in a few moments of contentment before they laid their lives down in pursuit of a better life for everyone. Lauren couldn't help feeling scared. She was scared of loosing everything she had worked so hard to build for herself and her extended family. She was scared of loosing Carl and even if she denied it, she was afraid of dying. She tightened her grip on his bare torso and pressed her head to his chest, the beat of his heart relaxed each tense muscle in her body. He gently caressed the skin of her shoulder with the pad of his thumb. She couldn't put into words how much she loved him.

"Some day we are going to die - I am going to die. I don't plan on dying any time soon, but it could happen. I'm going to live while I can." I mused, tugging on the ends of my brown hair.

"You know I won't let you die, Lauren." Carl changed his happy tone for a more serious one.

"There will come a day when you can't save me, and a day when I can't save you. I'm going to live while I can."

She sighed aloud and pressed her lips to his chest, just above his heart. She could feel his smile. She never lost that flutter in her stomach when he looked at her with that gaze so full of adoration. There was nobody else that could make her feel so alive.

"What do you think it's going to be like when this is over?" She asked, her eyes meeting his one. He tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"Freedom. Our own little utopia," He said wistfully. She couldn't help but admire his joy. "Just imagine it. We'd have everything, a home, people, security. Nobody to fight anymore. We'd be utterly free. I'd give you the world, like you deserved all along."

"The world, huh?" She laughed, running her forefinger down over the light stubble on the side of his face. "We could go on road trips together, do the craziest and silliest things because we are young and we deserve this happiness."

"Like what?" He chuckled, the sound causing his chest to vibrate.

"Like..." She said. "Going to a theme park and climbing to the highest part of one of the rollercoasters. Going roller-skating and bowling, like a date."

"This is only the beginning," He smiled to himself. "Can you feel it?"

"I feel it."

"Do you feel it?" He said and she nodded, her head tilted to the side. "My heart is beating with yours, it's beating because yours is too. If your heart stops beating, so does mine."

"Are you scared?" He asked and she tightened her grip on him once more.

"Terrified," She said. She hated admitting her own fear, but he was her confidante, the barer of her heart. "I'm not afraid we'll fail, we won't, but I'm afraid of loosing the people I love. Of loosing you."

"Whatever happens," He said, placing a soft kiss to her temple, "This is still only the beginning. Wherever we are, we'll be there together."

"Shh," He cooed, holding her against him as she pulled away, her fists balled up and resting on his chest, "It's okay. You can't do this to yourself. You have to let yourself feel the pain, Lauren. Don't bottle it up."

"I can't," She shook her head, her eyes staring off into space as she finally relaxed into his hold, "I chose anger.. I chose it over feeling pain and grief. I chose not to let myself fall again. I have to be strong now, for everyone else. I have to be strong."

"You don't have to be strong for me," He said, his eyes searching hers, "You just have to stay with me, Lauren. I love you more than I can even understand."

Carl didn't just touch her heart, he touched her soul.

"I love you, Carl Grimes," She whispered, pressing her lips to his, "Never forget that."

Her heart surged. If she had died in that moment she would be happy, with no regrets. All the pain, all the sadness, it all led to those moments, those fleeting yet beautiful moments of pure contentment. She knew people would fight their whole lives to try and feel just a fraction of the love that she had in her heart for that boy. She didn't take any of it for granted.

~•~

Carl had died just hours after Lauren, and he had said his goodbyes to everyone he loved. He wasn't upset or afraid, it was his fate to lie beside her for eternity.

And so they were buried together, on a tranquil hill overlooking the lush grounds of Greenview. They had fought for their freedom and they earned it, for they would never feel any more pain.

A cross stuck from the stone-covered ground, two names etched neatly into the wood. As the sun rose and fell, the faded and tattered Sherriff's hat remained atop the grave, a tribute to the lives of two people who lived more in their eighteen years than anyone would in a full lifetime.

In the darkening light, two people sat watching the sunset shimmer and the breeze ripple the blades of grass over the hilltop.

Two hearts with the same beat.
Two souls intertwined.
One the strength.
One the heart.

~•~

Just to conclude and to make you all cry (but probably not 😂)

Everyone needed some more Larl feels! Don't lie!