76 • old times

THE WALKING DEAD

FOUR WEEKS LATER(25 weeks pregnant — 6 months)

     Many things had happened in the past four weeks, and many things had changed. Gregory had stepped down as leader of Hilltop, giving the title to the one and only Jesus, who quickly proved himself to be a capable and compassionate leader.

Under Jesus' guidance, Alexandria and Hilltop had worked together as allies, the two of our communities working together and even trading. Hilltop had become more organized and cohesive, which was nice to see.

The moment that Jesus stepped up as a leader, some of our people such as Rosita, Abraham, Sasha, and Michonne traveled to Hilltop, gifting Jesus and his people some weapons as well as extensively training them about self-defense and how to handle a gun as well as a knife properly.

Rosita and Abraham at first had a hard time working together considering he had left her for Sasha, but the two began to rebuild their friendship. However, their relationship issues were the least of our problems at the moment.

While Hilltop hasn't yet dealt with the Saviors, they were almost ready to fight against Negan and his people– who were unaware of our plan. But in addition to Hilltop being our ally, we had forged alliances with other communities who were under the same treatment as Hilltop.

The Kingdom, led by the charismatic and expressive King Ezekiel, brought many disciplined soldiers as well as weapons of their own. Ezekiel discovered Hilltop's struggle with the Saviors as well, and he immediately joined the fight, knowing he could easily defeat Negan and his people with Hilltop's help.

Yet, we had run into another community that was once under the control of the Saviors, the community going by the name of Oceanside. It was Tara who told us about them, and due to that knowledge, we visited the community and told them about Hilltop's and The Kingdom's struggles.

Oceanside, of course, was hesitant at first, not wanting to get into a war after they'd lost so much already. But after a long heated discussion between Cyndie, Jesus, Ezekiel, Rick, and me, she had finally agreed to join the war with Hilltop and The Kingdom and agreed to trade with Alexandria.

Back in Alexandria, life had found a new rhythm. The community was bustling with activity, from securing the wall to expanding our gardens and creating more space for living as more people found our community.

Alexandria was growing stronger every day, and I couldn't be happier to see it happen. We weren't struggling like we were weeks ago, we weren't starving, we weren't weak, we weren't afraid. We were finally living like we were meant to.

Every day for the past four weeks I had been outside taking care of the growing garden with Maggie by my side, the two of us would talk about the past and the future, just having the best time as we tended to the plants.

The two of us had been hanging out almost every single day for four weeks straight while Glenn and Rick were gone helping Hilltop, The Kingdom, and Oceanside prepare for the battle against the Saviors.

I was currently knelt in the soil, the warm sun blazing down on our backs as we worked on expanding the garden, I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand, glancing over at Maggie with a thoughtful expression.

Maggie's brows were slightly drawn together as she shoveled the soil, a small bag of seeds in her hand. I sighed heavily, closing my eyes as I felt a harsh kick against my abdomen. At 25 weeks pregnant, the baby was becoming more active, and as much as I appreciated it– the kicks hurt like hell sometimes.

The Rhee woman glanced over at me, noticing the discomfort on my face. "You okay, Nola?" she asked, pausing her work to examine me closely.

I smiled faintly, placing a hand on my belly. "Yeah, just a strong ass kick. I swear, they do it on purpose."

She chuckled softly, her eyes crinkling at the corners as she grinned. "I wouldn't be surprised," Maggie joked.

A moment of silence passed between the both of us, our laughs fading away as we sat in complete silence, our eyes lingering on the soil below us. I turned to Maggie, seeing her toothy grin was now replaced by a small frown.

"What's on your mind, Mags?" I asked her softly, noticing her contemplated expression.

Maggie sighed heavily, swinging her head back to get her messy hair out of her face. "I'm glad we found Alexandria– and Hilltop, as well as The Kingdom and Oceanside, but..." she paused, licking her lips. "I wish Dad were here. And Beth. I miss 'em."

Her voice slightly quivered as she spoke, though she cleared her throat to try and remove the emotion from it. I felt a pang in my heart at the mention of Hershel and Beth, my own smile faltering in a small frown.

I let out a breath, glancing between Maggie and the growing vegetables and fruits below us. "Me too," I replied quietly. "I think about them every day."

Maggie placed down the small shovel, the frown on her lips only deepening as she stared down at the sprouting seeds in the soil. We didn't say anything for a second, just simply letting silence consume the space between us.

"I've been tellin' Judith about them," I began softly, keeping my eyes on Maggie. "And about Myles... Lori, Tyreese, my parents. Sometimes I keep forgettin' they're not here anymore. I tell her stories like they're still around, like they're just in another room, waiting for me,"

I paused, trying my hardest to suck down the tears that pricked my eyes. "'Cause I only got my memories, and I don't wanna lose those, too. I don't want to remember 'em... gone. I want– I need to remember their voices, their smiles, their laughter. I want Judith to know them as much as I do, even though she'll never get to meet them. And I want you to remember 'em in that way, too,"

Maggie nodded, her sage green eyes glistening with unshed tears. She opened her mouth slightly, but no words escaped her mouth. A tear then slipped down her cheek, her chest shaking in strangled sobs as she lurched forward, wrapping me in a tight hug.

I closed my eyes as I held Maggie with the same grip, my chin resting on her shoulder. My hand rubbed comforting circles on her back as she sniffled, her hot tears drenching the yellow blouse I wore.

She then suddenly pulled away, her hands moving to hold mine as her tear-filled eyes looked into mine. "I think about what Dad would say if he saw all of this," Maggie began, her voice a whisper. "He would've loved it. He'd be proud to see what we've built– what you and Rick built."

A grateful teary-eyed smile grew on my face at her wholesome words, my hands squeezing her's in sistery love. Maggie went to speak again but paused, her eyes glancing behind us, causing her eyes to light up in surprise.

My brows furrowed in curiosity as I turned my head in the direction Maggie was looking, only to see Rick and Glenn approaching the both of us, both of them smiling widely as they noticed us.

"Hey, you two," I called out, standing up and slipping the thick gloves off my hands. "You're back early."

Rick grinned, his eyes twinkling with warmth as he walked toward me, his arms wide open. "We managed to wrap things up sooner. Thought we'd come back and surprise you."

The smile on my face never faltered as I leaned forward, wrapping my arms around Rick's shoulders as he reached forward as well, his arms gently encasing my body.

I closed my eyes as I pressed my cheek against Rick's shoulder, breathing in his familiar scent. His lips sweetly kissed my naked cheek and neck as he tightened the hug, the two of us slightly swinging as we held each other.

"I missed you," I murmured against his skin.

He pulled back slightly, one of his hands moving to cup my face, and the other moving to rest on my swollen stomach. "Missed you too, honey," he replied, his voice low and sincere. "How are you and the baby doin'?"

"We're good," I said, a content grin curling on my face. "They've been kickin' my ribs, though. Makin' it hard to work."

Rick's eyes softened as he glanced down at my belly, a small smirk on his lips as he shook his head. "Can't believe I still haven't felt 'em kick"

"They're stubborn," I quipped in response. "Just like you."

The ex-sheriff snorted with a roll of his eyes, his thumb gently tracing circles on my belly. "I guess they take after both of us, then."

I shook my head with a cheesy grin, my eyes glancing over his shoulder to see Maggie and Glenn holding each other closely. Glenn held the back of Maggie's head as she slumped against his strong figure, her hands wiping her stray tears.

Rick's hand on my baby bump brought a sense of comfort and warmth, calming my tense nerves. I sighed contentedly, feeling a wave of peace and happiness wash over me despite the chaos that happened outside the walls of Alexandria.

Maggie and Glenn slowly made their way over to us, Glenn's arm around Maggie's shoulders as they shared a quiet conversation. Maggie's tears had dried, replaced with a soft, grateful smile. They stopped in front of us, looking between the both of us.

The two men exchanged long glances, and Glenn cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "How about we all have dinner together tonight? We've got a lot to catch up on, and I'm starving."

My eyebrows quirked up in surprise and delight. "Dinner sounds nice," I said, smiling at Glenn's suggestion. "We've been workin' up quite an appetite out here."

Maggie met my gaze, nodding in agreement. "Sounds nice to all be together again, like old times."

I softly smiled at the woman, reaching closer to link our arms together. "Like old times," I repeated in a murmur.

All four of us walked together, endlessly chatting and laughing with one another. For the first time in months– maybe months, everything felt normal, and it didn't feel like the end of the world.

It truly felt like old times– when everything was normal, happy, and able to live instead of survive. I almost felt like my old self, but stronger, more prepared, and happier. Never in my life did I think I could ever be this happy.

•••

An hour passed and we were all sat at the dinner table, along with Judith and Carl. We had easily cooked up fresh veggies, and bread, along with warm stew that Carol had made before leaving for The Kingdom.

The four of us settled around the table, 11-month-old Judith happily nestled in her high chair, her tiny fingers reaching for the chopped food in front of her. Carl sat beside her, his overgrown mop of hair covering his right eye, though he still had a pleased smile on his face.

Rick took a moment to glance around the table, his ocean-blue eyes lingering on each person with a mix of relief and gratitude. "Feels good to be back here with everyone," he said, his voice steady and warm. "It's been a while since we've all been together like this."

Maggie nodded, a soft smile on her lips as she swallowed her food. "It does. Almost feels normal again," she replied, her voice soft yet carrying a hint of nostalgia. "I just wish everyone else were here, too."

My own blue eyes glanced around the table, my eyes lingering on Glenn as I noticed the glint of amusement in his eyes. "Got somethin' on your mind, Waterboy?" I raised an eyebrow with a playful smirk.

Glenn chuckled, leaning back into his chair. "This reminds me of when we had a similar dinner back at Hershel's farm. Everything... was so different. We were different. I just missed it– the normal feeling, I mean. This feels normal and... I'm just happy."

The small smile on my face faltered in confusion as I couldn't quite remember the exact dinner he was speaking of, though when I glanced around the table, I could see Rick and Maggie both smiling softly, clearly resonating with Glenn's nostalgia. I gave Glenn a curious look, hoping he'd elaborate.

He noticed my confused look, a sigh escaping him as he shook his head. "Shit— I mean shoot. You weren't there. It was when you and Daryl got injured looking for Sophia– y-you were stuck in your room... Uhm, sorry."

I raised my eyebrows in remembrance, now knowing exactly what Glenn was talking about. It was the day I nearly got myself killed by stabbing myself with my knife and stupidly pulling it out in panic, hallucinated Myles, and then got grazed with a bullet. Oh, and when Lori told me she was pregnant with Judith.

God, what a day that was.

I hummed, scooping food onto my metal spoon. "Well, it's good to see we've come a long way from me nearly bleedin' out and getting shot in the head with Daryl by my side," I teased with a slight grin. "I owe y'all some gratitude for not lettin' me die from my own stupidity."

Everyone chuckled softly in response, their heads wagging back and forth. Rick gave me a warm smile, clearly appreciating the moment. "You've come a long way since then," he said, his voice filled with pride and affection. "We all have."

Judith, sitting in her high chair, reached out for a piece of bread with a loud giggle, her bright brown eyes watching everyone around the table. Carl, ever the protective brother, reached over to help her, a tender smile on his face as he helped the 11-month-old.

Rick took a sip of water, his eyes drifting around the table before resting on Glenn. With a subtle nod, he cleared his throat, catching all of our attention.

"So," Rick began, his voice heavy but carrying a hint of weight to it, "there's somethin' we need to talk about."

I immediately straightened in my chair along with Maggie, the two of us shooting worried looks at the serious tone Rick's voice held. "What is it?" Maggie murmured.

Glenn leaned forward, the quirky smile on his face falling into a firm line as he rested his elbows on the table. "Jesus has been working with the other communities, and they're almost ready. He's planning to attack the Saviors in the next few days."

The air in the room grew noticeably heavier. I shot a quick look at Rick, my heart skipping a beat at the impending attack. The peaceful moment we were all sharing suddenly felt fragile, like it could shatter at any second under the weight of the news.

Rick met my gaze, his eyes soft and careful. He reached over, gripping my hand tightly. "Jesus thinks it's time," Rick continued. "He's confident that they've got the numbers and strength now, with Hilltop, the Kingdom, Oceanside, and Alexandria backin' 'em up. But that means we gotta stay observant. And we gotta be prepared for anythin' that might happen."

The mood around the dinner table shifted after Rick's announcement, the warmth and nostalgia replaced by a tense anticipation. We all simply glanced at each other with gaped expressions, Carl frozen in his spot as he handed a babbling Judith her food.

Maggie bit her lip, her hand tightening around her fork. "We knew this was comin'," she said, her voice steady but twinged with anxiety. "But... I didn't think it would be so soon."

Glenn nodded, his expression serious. "Neither did we. But Jesus says it's now or never. He doesn't want to give Negan and the Saviors more time to prepare or figure out what we're planning."

I glanced around the table, seeing the same mix of emotions reflected on everybody's faces– fear, determination, and a sense of duty. We all knew what was at stake. Alexandria, Hilltop, the Kingdom, Oceanside– every community was relying on each other to put an end to Negan's reign of terror. There was no turning back now.

"Everyone at Hilltop, the Kingdom, and Oceanside already know," Rick added lowly. "Tomorrow I'm gonna gather everyone and let 'em know the situation. We need to be ready for anythin'. We'll need more people guarding and standin' in the towers just in case."

I closed my eyes as I felt the baby shifting inside me, almost as if they could sense the tension too. I squeezed Rick's hand a little tighter, drawing strength from his presence.

Maggie, who had been quiet for a while, finally spoke up, her voice steady despite the fear and unease I knew she was feeling. "We'll be ready," she said firmly, her eyes locked with Rick's. "Whatever it takes, we'll be ready."

Rick sighed, and I could almost feel the worry deeply etched upon his face as he spoke. "We'll get through this," he began, his voice stern yet soft. "Whatever happens, we'll all get through this."

I breathed heavily, slowly blinking my eyes open. Everyone had their eyes on me, almost expecting me to say something. After all, it was partially my doing that Hilltop was fighting against the Saviors and that we were somewhat involved– though we weren't physically fighting with them.

"We will," I finally murmured, my voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside me. "We've come this far."

The tension in the air thankfully wound down, and soon enough, we were back to mindlessly chattering and giggling as we ate dinner. Judith waved her arms around with a small toothy grin on her little face as she ate, Carl sweetly laughing at his young sibling.

Even after we were done eating, all of us simply sat in the same spot, our elbows resting on the table as we talked and laughed about the past, present, and future. It was almost as if walkers didn't exist, that the Saviors didn't exist– it was as if we were living in the old times.

It felt normal.

"What is one thing y'all miss before everythin' happened?" I asked softly, my curious eyes looking at each person as my chin rested on my fist.

Rick leaned back into his chair, a thoughtful expression crossing his face as he looked around the whole table. "One thing I miss?" he repeated, tapping his chin as if pondering the question. "Probably a decent cup of coffee."

I scoffed, slapping a hand over my face as a snort escaped me. Glenn, Maggie, and Carl all chuckled as well, though I could still sense that they were thinking of a response as well.

"I'll be honest," Maggie began, a soft laugh leaving her. "Sometimes I miss a good shoppin' spree. Especially at that one mall in Atlanta, it had like hundreds of stores... Gosh, I can't remember the name..."

"Lenox Square Mall?" I gasped, straightening my posture as I smiled across the table at Maggie.

Maggie's sage green eyes lit up with recognition as she snapped her fingers, pointing in my direction with a cheeky smile. "Yes, yes! That's the one! Oh my gosh. I used to go there with my friends when I was still in college."

I grinned at her, the memory of that mall bringing back a sense of nostalgia. "Me too," I chuckled, leaning in with a playful smile. "It was the place to hang out. I used to go there with my friends when I was in high school... God, that was so long ago."

"I'd have to say I miss getting food from a diner at midnight," Glenn responded, and when I turned to look at him, I could almost see a boyish demeanor, as if he was 23 years old again– when I first met him. "And I kind of miss my collection of comic books... I had a good collection."

Carl's blue eye brightened at the mention of comic books, his eyes snapping between mine and Glenn's. The 14-year-old cleared his throat, finally chiming into the conversation. "I miss school," he said hesitantly.

I raised an eyebrow at Carl's response, surprised by his admission. "School?" I repeated, leaning in with a curious smile. "I wouldn't have thought you'd miss that."

Carl shrugged, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Yeah. I mean, I had some good friends."

A small wave of comfortable silence pierced the air as we all looked at Carl, we all shot him a sad look, knowing he would never get to experience middle school, or high school– hell, even college. And neither will any other children who are born in this world.

"What about you, Nola?" Glenn asked light-heartedly, his calm voice breaking through the tension. "What's one thing you miss before... all of this?"

I hesitated for a moment, considering how to respond to Glenn's question. The memories from before the world changed were both comforting and bittersweet. I took a deep breath, an embarrassed smile curling on my face as I thought of an answer.

"This is gonna sound silly," I began, a shy smile tugging at my lips as I looked around at everyone's curious faces, "but I really miss my phone and camera."

A few chuckles broke around the table, and I could see Maggie and Rick exchanging knowing glances. Glenn raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk forming on his face. "Your phone and camera? Okay... not what I expected."

I nodded, feeling a bit self-conscious but also nostalgic. "Yeah, I used to take a lot of pictures. I loved capturing moments. I miss having those memories saved in a way that's more than just a fleeting image in my mind. I wish they had a Polaroid camera here or somethin'."

Maggie smiled warmly at me, her hand resting on mine in a comforting gesture. "That's not silly at all, Nola. It makes sense, wantin' to hold onto those memories."

Glenn leaned forward, a thoughtful expression on his face. "You know, we could try to find a camera next time we're out on a run. A Polaroid or something," he suggested, his voice filled with determination. "It's not a bad idea. Plus, I found one back at the prison. I don't think it would be a problem to find another."

I felt a warmth in my chest at Glenn's words, a hopeful smile growing on my face. "That would be amazing," I admitted, the thought of something to capture new memories filled me with excitement– especially with a baby on the way. "I'd love that. Thanks, Waterboy."

Oblivious to the conversation, Judith babbled happily in her high chair, her tiny hands grabbing at the carrots in front of her. Her innocent laughter filled the room, a reminder of the new life we were all working hard to protect.

Rick gently smiled at Judith, his head tilting to the side as he helped wipe some food off her face. I watched Rick clean Judith's face with a tenderness that made my heart ache in the best way possible.

•••

After dinner, we all moved along to the living room, where the atmosphere was more relaxed, almost as if the tension from earlier had melted away with the warmth of the meal and the company. Carl, Maggie, and Glenn were seated on the couch, all murmuring nonsense to each other as they sat comfortably.

Judith, full of energy from her meal, was crawling around on the ground, babbling to herself in that adorable way only a baby can. Rick and I sat down on the floor with Judith, the both of us whispering at her with wide grins on our faces.

The 11-month-old giggled as she crawled over to me, her tiny hands reaching out to grab my fingers. "Look at you, Sunshine," I cooed, helping her balance as she attempted to stand up, her legs wobbling under her weight.

Rick watched with a warm smile, his eyes filled with pride as he saw Judith making an effort to stand on her own. The murmurs of Glenn, Maggie, and Carl came to a full stop as they glanced over at Judith, soft gasps and laughs leaving them at the sight.

"Careful there, Judy," Rick mumbled softly, reaching out a hand to steady her.

Judith wobbled on her feet as her grip on my fingers loosened, my eyes immediately went wide and my heart skipped a beat as she let go of my fingers, standing on her own for a moment. Her tiny body swayed, but she remained upright, her doe-brown eyes wide with excitement and a little bit of surprise at what she was doing.

Rick and I exchanged a glance, both of us holding our breath, waiting to see what would happen next. Judith's face scrunched up in concentration as she took a tentative step forward, her little legs wobbly but determined.

A soft gasp left me as Judith took her first steps, her tiny feet moving with a mixture of determination and uncertainty. Everyone in the room was silent, watching in surprise as they held their breath. Rick's hands hovered near her, ready to catch her if she stumbled, but he let her try on her own.

Judith looked up at me with a wide, toothy grin, her face brightening up with pride as she took another shaky step toward me. My heart swelled with emotion, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes as I held out my arms, encouraging her to keep going.

Maybe I didn't need a camera after all. Because I knew I would remember this moment forever.

"You can do it, Sunshine," I whispered, my voice filled with awe and love. "Come to Mama."

The 11-month-old took another step, her little legs wobbling more, but she was determined. The room seemed to hold its breath as she made her way closer to me. I could feel Rick place a comforting hand on my back, his warmth and pride radiating through me.

When Judith finally reached me, I scooped her up into my arms, hugging her tightly as tears of joy streamed down my flushed cheeks. Rick leaned in, pressing a kiss to Judith's forehead before his glistening ocean-blue eyes met mine with a look that spoke volumes–love, pride, and hope.

"You did it! She did it," I exclaimed in amazement and awe, my voice choked with emotion as I held Judith close, her giggles filling the room with pure, unfiltered happiness.

The joy and pride in the room were palpable as everyone gathered around, cheering and laughing in celebration of Judith's first steps. Maggie was the first to move, coming over to playfully tickle the baby's stomach with an earth-shattering grin. "You're gonna be runnin' around in no time," she said with a gentle chuckle.

Carl settled onto the ground as well, a shocked smile crossing his face as he gazed down at his little sister. "Good job, Judith," he murmured, his voice filled with affection.

Judith, oblivious to the significance of the moment, continued to babble and squirm in my arms, her little hands reaching out for the world around her. I chuckled softly, feeling the warmth of Rick's hand on my back.

With Rick's comforting and grounding hand on my back and with my family surrounding me, I wrapped my arms around Judith again, pulling the small girl into a very-needed hug. I closed my eyes as I breathed in her scent, knowing I needed to remember every detail about her.

Because we didn't have cameras to document every moment, we didn't have phones to quickly send a text or call and let everyone know that my daughter took her very first steps. It was like the old times when moments like these were shared with those who were present, captured only in our memories.

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WORD COUNT: 4700+

AHHHHH, this chapter was so cute!!

i think there will be two more chapters until the epilogue, and then maybe a bonus chapter that i've been thinking of for awhile.... 🤭

hope you all enjoyed this chapter, the next two will be CONSUMED with Rick and Nola!!

so sad it's coming to an end :(

let me know if you have any thoughts, questions, advice, or concerns— or if you just wanna chat, i'll reply!

ALSO, thank you so so so much for 80.1K reads on this story!!! it means so much to me :)))))

love u all, thank u <3

see you soon!!

p.s there might be a slight delay in updates, i'll be on vacation from august 10-15 and start school the 19th, i'll try to write as much as i can but it may take awhile!

tpwk,

- L x

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