epilogue

THE WALKING DEAD

ONE YEAR LATERAugust 25th, 2013

      I let out a soft groan followed by a sniffle as the warmth of the morning sun brushed against my sleeping face, my hand tiredly reached up, cupping a hand over my eyes. A soft buzzing was heard on the nightstand beside me, alerting me to wake up.

My eyebrows furrowed at the sound, my eyes squinted as I perked up my head from the soft pillow below me, seeing my alarm clock buzz and ring. A raspy sigh escaped me as I leaned forward, hitting the clock with the palm of my hand and shutting it off.

I lay there momentarily, my eyes shut as I took in the silence around me. A yawn escaped me as I stretched my limbs underneath the blanket, my hand instinctively reaching out for the familiar warmth of Rick beside me. But as my hand slid across the bed, it was met with a cool, empty sheet.

My hazy blue eyes shot open, confusion flooding my groggy mind as I realized he wasn't there. The spot he usually lay was cold as if he had been gone for a while. I blinked a few times, the lingering haze of sleep dissipating as concern began to creep in.

"Rick?" I called out softly, my accented voice still heavy with sleep. There was no response, only the quiet hum of the house around me. I sat up, glancing around the room, half expecting him to appear in the doorway with that reassuring smile of his. But the room was empty, and a small knot of worry began to form in my chest.

I quickly pushed the covers aside and swung my legs over the edge of the bed, my feet hitting the hardwood floor with a thud. My eyes briefly glanced over at the alarm clock, the blue digital letters saying it was 8:02 am, I then moved my eyes to the calendar, a breath leaving me at the sight of the date that was circled in red.

August 25th, 2013.

My birthday. Today, I am 33 years old. Damn, what am I? A grandma?

I bit my lip as I concealed the giggle that tried to consume me, but I simply shook my head, knowing the main priority was to find Rick. I knew it was unlike him to leave my side, especially on my birthday.

My hands combed my messy grown-out hair behind my ears as I moved toward the desk chair, grabbing my soft blue robe that was draped on it. I quickly slipped on the fabric, a soft shiver leaving me as I touched the cool hardwood floor.

With a bit of caution, I moved toward the bedroom door, slowly creaking it open. I protectively wrapped my arms around my chest as I moved down the hallway, my ears straining for any sound, but everything was uneasily silent.

When I reached the top of the stairs, I hesitated a moment, peering down into the shadowy hallway below. A faint light was coming from the kitchen, and I could make out the murmur of voices– low, hushed as if someone was trying not to wake the entire house. I couldn't make out what they were saying or who they came from, but it made me feel less on edge.

I descended the stairs slowly, careful not to make too much noise. My heart pounded a little faster with each step, not out of fear, but out of that lingering confusion mixed with excitement, and uncertainty of what I would walk into.

As I reached the bottom of the stairs, the voices became clearer, and I could finally pick up on Carl's mature yet excited voice mixed with someone else's laughter. Enid. My lips twitched into a small smile, realizing just how close they had gotten in the last year.

Just as I was about to step into the hallway, two bodies suddenly jumped out from behind the corner, their hands up in the air as they yelled out. "Happy Birthday!"

The sudden burst of noise made me jump back, and before I could stop myself, a loud, startled scream erupted from my throat. My hands flew up to my chest, and my heart hammered relentlessly against my ribs as I took a few stumbling steps backward.

Carl and Enid both doubled over with laughter, their teenage faces flushed with amusement at my reaction. My scream echoed in my ears, and I could feel a harsh heat rising from my neck to my cheeks, making my head go dizzy.

"Oh my God!" I gasped, pressing one hand to the thumping heart and the other to my cheek as I tried to gather myself and steady my breath. "You two nearly scared me to death! Oh my God, I might pass out."

Carl straightened up, another breathy laugh leaving him as he stepped forward, wrapping me in a tight hug. His freshly cut hair tickled my neck as he embraced me, his tall body overtowering mine.

"Sorry, Mom," he managed between snickers, though he didn't sound sorry at all. "But you've gotta admit, that was pretty funny. The way you–"

Enid pulled the 15-year-old off of me, shaking her head at him with a slight smile. "We're sorry, Nola. We didn't mean to scare you that badly," she said, her teeth biting her lip as she concealed her own grin. "Right, Carl?"

The teenager awkwardly cleared his throat, folding his lips into his mouth. "Yeah... right, sorry..."

I couldn't help but chuckle, rubbing my tired eyes. "It's okay, you two," I told them, shaking my head in disbelief. "You got me good. But you best believe I'll get you back."

My hand moved to ruffle through Carl's short hair, his eye shutting closed as he tried to shake my hand off his head. "Yeah, yeah, sure,"

I sighed as I pulled my hand away, my hands moving to dig themselves into the pockets of the robe I wore. "Do you know where your dad is?"

Carl raised his eyebrows, glancing over at Enid before turning back to me. "Oh, he's in the kitchen. He's been up for a while now."

I quirked an eyebrow at the teenager, a small surprised huff passing through my nostrils as I looked over Carl's shoulder and heard a sizzling from the kitchen. "Hopefully not burnin' our kitchen down," I murmured to myself. "Sorry, what's he doing?"

Enid's smile turned secretive, and she nudged Carl with her elbow. "Why don't you see for yourself?"

The two teenagers stepped aside, gesturing toward the hallway that led to the kitchen. I eyed them suspiciously but I couldn't suppress the growing excitement bubbling up inside me. With a playful roll of my eyes, I took a deep breath and made my way down the hall.

As I rounded the corner into the kitchen, the sight that greeted me nearly took my breath away.

Rick stood at the stove, his back facing me, focused intently on flipping pancakes. The smell of breakfast filled the air–fresh coffee, sizzling bacon, and the sweet scent of homemade syrup. The kitchen was bathed in warm, golden light from the morning sun streaming through the windows, casting everything in a cozy glow.

And there, at the table, were the people I loved most in the world.

Maggie and Glenn were already sitting down, Glenn holding 1-year-old Myla in his lap as she babbled happily, reaching for a piece of toast. Maggie was cutting up some fruit for 2-year-old Judith, who was perched on her lap, her little hands grasping everything within reach. Hershel Jr, who was nearly a year old, was sitting in his highchair beside them, contently munching on a small piece of pancake.

The scene in front of me was so peaceful and so normal, that I almost forgot the chaos and uncertainty that took place outside these four strong walls. Standing at the entrance of the kitchen, I nearly forgot the undead creatures that took over our planet. It felt as if I had gotten into a time machine and was taken back to over 3 years ago when everything was normal.

Rick must've sensed me standing there because he turned around, a wide smile spreading across his face as our eyes met, blue on blue. He looked so handsome, his long, curly brown hair messily hanging down his forehead, his blue eyes swollen with exhaustion but bright with excitement and adoration.

He looked so at ease in the kitchen, as if this was an everything routine for him– which it wasn't. I could feel my throat close in emotion at the sight of him standing there, surrounded by our children and friends, and it filled me with a profound sense of happiness.

"Happy Birthday, honey," Rick's southern voice said gently, his eyes soft and full of affection as he wiped his hands on a towel and walked over to me.

I could barely speak, my heart so full it felt like it might burst. "Thank you," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion.

As soon as the ex-sheriff reached me he pulled me into his arms, holding me close as he pressed a tender kiss to my cheek. The two of us swayed in each other's arms, my eyes shutting as I soaked up the comfort of his hold and the pure lightness around us.

"I didn't know you could cook," I murmured into his shoulder, resulting in a breathy laugh to escape him.

Rick shook his head, pulling away from me with a shiny look in his eye. "I can't– well, I couldn't two weeks ago. I started wakin' up early every mornin' and Carol taught me."

All I could do was grin up at Rick, my hands holding his. "Just for my birthday?"

"Well," he began, his eyes softening as he glanced between my eyes and lips. "For your birthday and the rest of our lives."

A small wave of redness washed on my face from his words, my body instinctively leaning forward as he gazed down at me with a pure look of love. My hands held the back of Rick's neck as I stood on my tippy toes, my lips firmly pressing against his.

Rick's kiss was warm and tender, a reminder of the love we had built together through everything in the past years. As we parted, I gazed up at him, my eyes reflecting the joy and gratitude I felt. His smile was genuine and filled with pride, making my heart swell even more.

"Come on, let's get breakfast before it gets cold," Rick said softly, his hand still gently holding mine as he led me to the table.

As we approached, the others looked up from their seats, their faces lighting up with smiles. Maggie turned to me, a warm smile on her face as she paused on chopping up the fruit, her movements slow as she passed by Judith and walked up to me.

Maggie embraced me with a quick hug, her hands tapping against my back as she bounced up and down. "Happy Birthday, Nola," she said, her voice cheerful yet quiet.

Judith let out a gasp, her blonde locks flipping to the side as she spun her head to look at me. The toddler grinned brightly, jumping out of her seat to race over to me. "Happy Birthday, Mommy!" her little voice exclaimed happily.

I knelt at Judith's level, my heart melting at her enthusiasm. "Thank you, Sunshine," I said, scooping her up into my arms. Her tiny arms wrapped around my neck, and I couldn't help but smile at the warmth and love radiating from her. She nuzzled against me, her small face pressed against my cheek.

Maggie chuckled softly, returning to the table where Glenn was now holding Myla and feeding her a piece of toast. "We've been plannin' this for a while," Maggie said, glancing around the table with a grin. "Rick wanted to make sure you had a special birthday, so we chipped in."

"Don't forget about the party tonight," Glenn spoke up, his voice full of playfulness.

I raised an eyebrow at Glenn, a curious smile tugging on my lips. "Oh? Really, a party?" I asked, looking around at the familiar faces that gathered around the table.

Rick rolled his eyes, shaking his head as he took a step closer. "Don't spoil anythin' now, Waterboy," he warned in a mocking tone, clicking his tongue.

Maggie snorted, waving her hand dismissively. "Barely a party, it's more of a little celebration tonight–nothin' too big. We thought it'd be nice."

I beamed at the thought, feeling a warmth spread through me. "That sounds fun," I said aloud, genuinely touched by their effort to make this the best birthday for me. "Y'all really know how to make the birthday girl feel loved."

Rick squeezed my hand gently, guiding me to sit between Myla, Glenn, and an empty seat that belonged to Rick. "Well, we wanted to make sure you had a day to remember. You deserve it."

As I settled into my chair, Rick placed a full plate of food in front of me and pressed a kiss against my cheek, his stubble scratching against my skin. Soon enough, Carl and Enid joined us at the table, fixing their plates while telling me another happy birthday for good measure.

3 years ago today, I would've never imagined that I'd be in this position, but I was glad that I was.

•••

    Hours had passed, and the sun had now dipped below the horizon and the soft glow of lanterns lit up the room, everyone gathered around the dinner table mindlessly chatting away.

It seemed as if time had passed so quickly since this morning, after breakfast, I got myself, Judith, and Myla ready for the rest of the day and played with them outside with Rick by my side. We all giggled as we ran around the yard, helping Myla stand on her two feet, her blue eyes shining in excitement and curiosity.

But once the sun had escaped the sky, every single one of our friends soon arrived at our doorstep, ready to celebrate my 33rd birthday. Maggie, Glenn, and Hershel Jr. were the first to arrive, followed by Carol, Ezekiel, and Daryl, then Michonne, Rosita, Eugene, Tara, Denise, Abraham, Sasha, and of course, Rick, Carl, Enid, Myla, and Judith.

I felt nothing but overwhelming gratitude as I glanced around the large table, the table filled with nothing but pure laughter, the clinking of glasses, and the comforting hum of familiar voices. My chin was resting on my hand as I lovingly gazed at my family and friends around me, my heart swelling as I looked at everyone.

The table was set with care, and the food was prepared with love by everyone who had pitched in to make this day memorable for me. Rick sat to my left, his hand resting on my thigh, his thumb gently tracing circles that sent shivers up my spine.

Just as I was lost in the comforting hum of voices, Carol suddenly stood to her feet, softly apologizing to others around her as she disappeared into the kitchen. A few moments later, she reappeared, holding a cake lit with softly glowing candles, carefully carrying it to the table.

Everyone let out a cheer followed by claps as they noticed the cake, immediately causing my face to go red. Rick turned to me, a toothy grin on his face as he gazed down at my blushing face.

"Alright, everyone," Carol began, quieting everyone down as she gently placed the dark blue and white cake in front of me. "We're going to sing Happy Birthday to Nola, everyone joins!"

Carol took a step back, her eyes quickly looking around as she counted down. "Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to Nola– Happy Birthday to you!"

Mixed with my name, I could also hear the faint singing of 'Mom', 'Mommy', and 'Lia' mix within the song, only brightening my flustered grin as I stared into the fire of the candle.

I couldn't stop the tears that welled up in my eyes as they finished the song, the final note hanging in the air for just a moment before fading off into small cheers and giggles. Everyone was looking at me expectedly, waiting for me to make a wish and blow out my candles.

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes, thinking of all the things I could wish for. But at that moment, I realized that I already had everything I could ever want. Despite losing the most important people of my life through the past 3 years, at this exact moment, sitting in this chair with my loved ones around me, I knew I had everything I wanted– but it would be better with them by my side.

But with that in mind, I leaned forward, making a simple wish in my mind. I made a wish that this feeling, this sense of peace and happiness, would last forever. With that, I leaned forward and blew out the candles, the room erupting into cheers and applause.

As the cheers and applause took over the room, followed by "Happy Birthday, Nola!", side hugs, and kisses on the cheeks, I felt a deep comforting warmth settle into my chest. The sound of their voices, the laughter, the pure joy in the room– it was overwhelming in the best way possible. I glanced around at everyone, their faces lit up with smiles, and I couldn't help but let out a soft, contented sigh. This was everything I needed, everything I wanted.

The vanilla cake was cut and passed around, each person taking a piece, but I rarely tasted mine. My heart was too full, my thoughts were too occupied in the moment, and I realized that I had something to say. I pushed back from the table, slowly standing up, and as I did, the room began to quiet down, all eyes turning to me once more.

"Um... hi, everyone," I started, my voice a bit shaky with the emotion that was welling up inside me. Rick gave me a confused look but squeezed my hand in reassurance, his touch comforting me and grounding me in the present moment. I took a deep breath, gathered my thoughts, and continued.

"I just wanted to say... thank you. Thank you all for being here, for makin' today so special." My southern voice softened as I looked at each of their faces, feeling the weight of the words I was about to say. "The past few years... they've been hard. I've lost so much– We all have. So many people who meant the world to us. And I know, I know that pain never really goes away. But standin' here, surrounded by all of y'all... I feel like I can finally breathe again,"

I paused, the room silent as they listened intently. "Three years ago today, there was a time where I didn't think I would be standin' here. A time where I didn't think I would be breathin'. I thought the world was nothin' but cruel and full of darkness... but through the world that had begun to turn into shades of its darkest greys, blacks, and whites, there was him," I looked at Rick, my voice catching in my throat as I took in his tear-filled eyes. "And there were all of you."

My gaze shifted to each of them–Maggie, Glenn, Carol, Michonne, Daryl, Carl, Myla, Judith, and everyone else who had become a part of this makeshift family. "You all brought that color back into my life. You gave me hope when I had none. And now... I can't imagine my life without y'all. Without this family we built together."

A tear slipped down my cheek, and I didn't bother to wipe it away. "So, thank you. For bein' my family, for being my light in the darkness. For being the color in the black and white world. In a world that was constantly, trying to break us, you gave me strength that I didn't think I compelled, so thank you. I love you all so much, more than... I can express."

A few more tears escaped, dripping down onto the table below me. Rick slowly stood up, using his hand to carefully wipe away my tears, his hand tightly clasped in mine as he watched me lovingly. "You all gave me a reason to keep goin', to not give up, and because of that, I'm still here," I continued, leaning into Rick's touch. "I don't know what the future holds. None of us do. But I do know, that as long as we have each other, we can face whatever comes our way."

I took another breath, feeling the weight of my words settle over the room. "So, thank you. Thank you for bein' here, for makin' this crazy world worth livin'. I love you all so much."

The room was silent for a moment, the emotion of my words hanging in the air. Then, one by one, everyone stood up, wrapping me in a tight embrace. With tears streaming down my face, I pulled every single person in a tight hug, soaking their shoulder with my tears.

I was surrounded by warmth, by love, by bright colors and it was from the very people who had slowly but surely become my reason to survive in this chaotic unpromising world.

Rick was the last to approach me, Myla settled into his arms, and I smiled at the sight of our daughter, small teeth outlining her mouth as she giggled. I sighed happily, taking my baby from my husband's hands and holding her against my chest, pressing hundreds of kisses on her skin.

The ex-sheriff grinned a tearful smile as he embraced the both of us, pressing a wet kiss to my forehead as he hugged the two of us tightly. "I love you. Happy Birthday, Lia."

I inhaled sharply, blinking my eyes closed as I leaned further into Rick's gentle and comforting touch, his warm and loving words echoing to the very depths of my being. My mind snapped me back to 3 years ago, knowing that on my 30th birthday, the day everything began, was the worst day of my life. But today, on my 33rd birthday, it was one of the best days of my life.

Happy Birthday to me.

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WORD COUNT: 3700+

since today is August 25th, magnolia rose grimes birthday, i thought i'd surprise you all with a chapter that beautifully correlates to the prologue of OOTW.

this story began on august 25th, and i thought it should end august 25th— one day being the worst day of nola's life, and the second being the best day.

this was a bit short, but i feel like it fit perfectly :)

i am SO sad, but this is officially the end of nola and rick's story... (in this universe anyway).

this has been an insanely long journey, so much has happened since i began this silly fanfic and watching this silly show about people surviving the zombie apocalypse. i will NEVER forget the people i met on this app, you all make my day :)

i'm so sad that this is the end for nola and rick, but i'm not sad that this is the end of me writing, bc i will try to start writing BLAZE soon :)

thank you all for reading this book, for voting on it, and for commenting on it. it meant so much at the time, and it still means EVERYTHING now.

as always, tpwk,

- L x

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