The Sun of Tomorrow

Defending what's ours

Gracie's POV

"Neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling." My dad reads from the Bible before taking a long exaggerated breath

"You okay?" Beth asks

"What I wouldn't do to keep you three safe." My dad says as we hear the gate that leads into the cell block opens

"Rick?" My dad asks as we release each others hands and get up from the table

Rick comes into view and Maggie, Beth, and myself walk into the cellblock and leave them alone

*2 Hours Later*

I step out of Carl and I's cell and head towards the common room but I stop in my tracks when I hear my father and Carl talking

"I see the way she looks at you." My dad says as I feel my cheeks get hot

"I--I--uh.." Carl stammers causing a small smile to form on my face

"She's lost a lot, you know that. Just don't hurt her." My dad says

"I could never. I--I-- I think--" Carl starts

"I know what you're trying to say, Carl. But don't tell her until you know." My dad says as he emphasizes the work know

"Be the man she deserves, son." My dad adds

"Yes, sir." Carl says respectfully

"And one more thing I think she loves you, too." My dad says causing my smile to grow before I turn around and head back to Carl and I's shared cell

*1 Hour Later*

I sit down on the bench to the picnic table next to Carl as the cold air hits my face while we wait on the others for Rick's announcement

Soon Maggie, Glenn, and Rick join us

"When I met with the Governor, he offered me a deal. He said-- he said he would leave us alone if I gave him Michonne. And I was gonna do that...to keep us safe. But I changed my mind. But now Merle took Michonne to fulfill the deal and Daryl went to stop him and I don't know if it's to late." Rick explains as he looks around at all of us

"I was wrong not to tell you. And I'm sorry. What I said last year, that first night after the farm... it can't be like that. It can't. What we do, what we're willing to do, who we are, it's not my call. It can't be. I couldn't sacrifice one of us for the greater good, because we are the greater good. We're the reason we're still here, not me. This life and death. How you live... how you die-- it isn't up to me. I'm not your Governor. We choose to go. We choose to stay. We stick together. We vote. We can stay and we can fight or we can go." Rick adds before he walks away from all of us

-The Next Day-

I help Carl pack the last of our things up in our cell as we prepare to head out and hide in the woods with my dad, Beth, and Judith while the others stay back and fight for our home

I look over at Carl and see him holding the only picture he has left of his family

I kneel down in front of him and he locks eyes with me

"She was beyond proud of you, Carl." I say softly as I rest my hand on his right knee and give it a slight squeeze

He puts the photo in the brown paper bag before we both stand up

Carl wraps his arms around my torso and I wrap my arms around his neck as it hits me like a ton of bricks

"My dad was right." I whisper in his ear before releasing him

I peck his cheek as he stares at me dumbfounded. I grab my backpack before exiting the cell with a cheeky grin on my face

I walk out of the prison and head over to the green car before tossing my backpack into the hatch

*1 Hour Later*

The heavy gunfire and explosions finally come to a halt as I lean against the passenger side of the green car while I hold Judith in my arms

A guy about two years older than myself runs towards us causing my dad and Carl to aim their guns at him

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Don't shoot." The kid says as he puts his hands up and keeps his finger off the trigger of his shotgun

"Drop the weapon, son." My dad says

"Sure." The kid says

"Here, take it." The kid says to Carl as he slowly leans forward and holds the shotgun out to him before Carl shoots him and his body falls limp on the ground

My mouth falls open as I bounce Judith in my arms

*10 Minutes Later*

Judith coos in my arms as I walk back into the prison

"Hey." Rick says softly as he steps over to Judith and I

He quickly pecks Judith's forehead before I walk into the cellblock

*2 Hours Later*

Rick, Daryl, and Michonne went to take the fight back to woodbury and the rest of us stayed behind incase the Governor comes back

I run my hand across my forehead as I stare at the wall of Carl and I's cell

"Is your dad still right?" I hear Carl ask from behind me

I turn around and lock eyes with him

"What you did out there--" I start

"I know. I shouldn't have done it." Carl says cutting me off

"Then why'd you do it in the first place?" I ask

"I couldn't take the chance. Not with you and Judith out there." He says

"I love you, and I am not prepared to lose you. Not you." Carl explains before I wrap my arms around his neck and hold him tightly

"I love you, too, Carl." I say softly

-The Next Morning-

Carl and I walk out of the prison to greet the others that just got back from woodbury

I see Daryl get off his motorcycle, Michonne and Rick get out of the silver truck, and a bunch of people getting off of a blue school bus

"What's this?" Carl asks his dad

"They're gonna join us." Rick says as I look at all the people

"Where's Andrea?" I ask as I search for her face in the sea of people

I look up at Rick who shakes his head 'no' and my face falls