A/N

This is a short 2 part follow on for Nine Lives and contains spoilers for that story from the start. You will need to read that one first for this to make sense.

I hope you enjoy it, please let me know.

Thanks for reading

xxxx

Epilogue – Part 1

It had been six long months since they had lost Ellie and her absence was still felt by those that had known her. Daryl had finally re-joined the group but kept himself distant from any newcomers, choosing only to remain close to those he had known from the prison.

Life at Terminus was hard but settled and people were trying to live normal lives as much as possible. There had been a few marriages and a birth since the compound had become a genuine sanctuary but finding a suitable partner was becoming harder and harder. Decent available men were now a rarity and the women of Terminus where not prepared to let any slip through their fingers.

Several women, and one extremely brave and optimistic young man, had approached the sullen hunter, trying to get closer. All were driven away by either non-committal grunts or barely concealed anger. He spent most of his days hunting in the nearby forest or out on supply runs. When there was no choice but to stay behind the fences he found things to do that kept him as far away from people as possible.

Daryl made sure he kept an eye on Samantha, and the two young children she cared for, out of a sense of responsibility. After all it was him that had found them and bought them to the group. He was also very aware that it was Sam who had bought him back from the edge when he first lost Ellie. He was sure that without her he would be dead by now. His grief and anger had made him reckless, with no regard for his own safety and her words had made him realise he had to live to make Ellie's sacrifice mean something.

As they were so close in age and both cared for young children, Beth and Sam had bonded and spent a lot of time together. During the warmer weather they were often found in the outside play area, with their charges. Rick's daughter Judith was now over three years old, a lively curious child, with her father's blue eyes and her mother's long dark hair. The children Sam had saved when their camp was overrun were recovering from seeing their parents torn apart by walkers and were slowly becoming more outgoing. Sally was a pretty 7 year old blonde, her brother Mark a serious, quiet, 4 year old. They were never far from Sam's side but were gaining confidence all the time.

Daryl felt if he could keep them all safe it would help make up for his previous failings, as he saw it. The fact he was so protective of the youngest members of the community didn't go un-noticed and made him appear even more appealing to the female newcomers. After a group containing several women had arrived he had had enough.

Everywhere he turned someone was smiling flirtatiously, offering to get him whatever he wanted, some so blatant even he got the message it wasn't just food or drink on offer. After 3 days of this he finally snapped.

A particularly persistent blonde called Anabelle wouldn't take the hint and leave him be. She was always in his face, touching his arm, offering him one thing or another. When she got into his space yet again, trying to get him to take a plate of stew he finally lost it.

Knocking the plate from her hand, only feeling bad about the waste of good food, he let her have it both barrels.

"Take the hint, you dumb bitch" he snarled "I don't need you in my face all the damn time. I want food I can get it. I aint some kid needs lookin' after!"

He pushed the startled woman away from him.

"Just back off and keep the hell away from me" He glared round at the staring faces of the others.

"Same goes for the rest of yer. Leave me the hell alone!"

Anabelle stumbled back, tears of humiliation in her eyes. It did nothing for Daryl, but two of the men from the group she came in with stepped forward aggressively.

"What's your problem, asshole" one of them demanded.

Daryl rounded on him.

"Aint got a problem if you people learn to leave me be" He retorted.

The men advanced, taken in by Anabelle's tears, totally missing the small smirk when she saw the two men prepared to defend her.

Daryl and the men were inches apart, more than ready to trade blows when Beth and Sam stepped forward, putting themselves between the three men.

"You like' em young?" one of the men sneered at Daryl "That why you're always hanging round these two, you hoping to get lucky?" He indicated Sam and Beth.

Before any of them could react Sam slapped him hard across the cheek.

"You're disgusting" she snapped as he looked at her in surprise, rubbing his reddening face.

"Maybe that's how your mind works, but he's nothing like that. You've been here less than a week and know nothing about any of us. Who the hell are you to make comments like that?"

Daryl opened his mouth to say he didn't need anyone to fight his battles for him but before he could get a word out Beth spoke, glaring at Anabelle.

"He's told you time and again but you've been too dumb to take the hint. He's been far more patient with you than you deserve"

Anabelle went to reply but Sam cut her off.

"Just leave it, you've caused enough trouble"

The man she had slapped grabbed her arm, leaning into her face.

"You're going to regret ever touching me" he snarled, trying to save face in front of everyone.

"You aint gonna lay a finger on her" Daryl shoved him away.

At once the three men were inches apart again. Those on the nearby tables decided to move away before things got out of hand. Just when it looked like it was going to end in a scrap, Rick pushed himself between them, Glenn by his side.

"What's going on here?" he demanded "Why's everyone behaving like kids in the school yard?"

"He went to hit me and they came to my defence" Anabelle piped up, glaring at Daryl.

"That's so not true" Sam exclaimed.

"She wouldn't leave him alone even though he's told her loads of times to back off" Beth added her support.

Rick studied the group in front of him, he could see the barely controlled anger in Daryl by the way he held himself, his body tense, his fists clenched. The two men were posturing and puffing themselves up, trying to look more important than they were. He saw straight through Anabelle's tears, could see she was loving being the centre of attention. Beth and Sam were either side of Daryl, indignant expressions on their faces as they glared at the blonde who had caused the trouble.

Finally Rick spoke.

"Anabelle, you go to the kitchen area, see what Carol needs you to do" He cut her off abruptly when she began to protest.

"Everyone pulls their weight, you've been here several days and I've not seen you lift a hand. It's about time you started to earn your keep" Reluctantly, with a final glare at Daryl and the two young women, she stomped off.

"Sam and Beth, I think you need to get back to the kids, I'm sure there's some schooling you could be doing with them" The two girls nodded and headed back to their charges, leaving Rick and Glenn with the three men.

"Glenn, why don't you take these two and show them how to clear the walkers off the fences. Let them blow off some steam" Grumbling about favouritism for friends the men allowed themselves to be lead away.

"You okay?" Rick turned to Daryl, noting the hunter finally relaxing. At his friends nod he grinned.

"Can't think what it is makes you so damn irresistible to all the ladies" he quipped "Every time I look there's one or more making eyes at you"

"They don't come after you 'cos Michonne scares the crap outta them" Daryl smirked, enjoying the embarrassed look on Ricks face.

"There's nothing happening there" Rick stammered, not liking the fact that the conversation had turned back onto him.

"You're about the only one in this place thinks that then" Daryl retorted "Even Jude calls her Mama Michonne"

Before Rick could defend himself a shout from the gate got their attention.

"Gotta group coming in. Looks like six adults, mixed ages" The guard called out.

Quickly they made their way to the gate and climbed the ladder to the watch platform. They could make out a small group slowly heading their way. As they got closer Rick could make out individual features. He saw two men, maybe a few years younger than him and an older man. A middle aged woman was being helped by two others as she limped slowly along the road.

Once the group was close enough to talk to those watching they stopped and the older man approached the gate cautiously, his hands out to show he was unarmed.

"Hi" he started awkwardly "We saw the signs and we're looking for sanctuary, are you still taking people in?"

"That depends on the people" Rick replied, as he took in the huddled group, indicating the injured woman.

"What's wrong with her? Is she bit?" he demanded

"No, of course not" the man replied "She fell and hurt her ankle, when we were running from some of the undead. She wouldn't be with us if she was bit"

The woman limped forward and lifted her pant leg, showing the bruised and swollen ankle.

"Please" she begged "We've been on the road for so long, please let us in, even just for a few days. We've got some food and we can help out, we won't be a burden. We just need a place to rest up."

Rick made a decision and instructed for the gate to be opened. Abraham and Rosita stepped forward, guns obvious as they escorted the exhausted newcomers into the yard.

"Try anything and we won't hesitate to shot" Rosita promised, her tone making it clear she meant every word.

The youngest woman smiled as she approached Rick and Daryl.

"Thank you" she told them "We really appreciate this. It's getting harder to survive on the road now. Foods really scarce and there's groups of people prepared to do anything to survive. We found it's best to avoid them"

Rick gave her a curt nod.

"No promises, but you can rest up for a while. We'll get someone to look at your friend's ankle" he told her.

"It's okay; I can take care of it if we can trade something for some medical supplies. I was a nurse before all this started" She smiled again "I'm Joanna and this is Maya" she indicated the hurt woman, who was gratefully sinking down onto a seat, aided by the other woman in the group.

"The younger men are Ross and Matthew, the one you spoke to is Ash and the last member of our group is Grace, she's Matt's mom and the one that keeps us all going"

The older woman straightened, turning to face them for the first time. Rick saw an attractive woman in her early sixties, her long grey hair tied back in a ponytail, her green eyes sharp and alert. He was sure they'd never met before but there was something familiar about her. He heard Daryl give a sharp intake of breath and was surprised when the man span around and all but ran from the yard.

Grace gave a puzzled smile as she approached him, hand out stretched.

"Was it something I said?" she questioned.

Rick shook her hand with a rueful smile.

"Sometimes I have no idea what goes on in his head, don't take it personally" Once introductions had been made all round the two groups began to exchange stories. Joanna told how she had been on duty in a hospital in Atlanta at the beginning of the outbreak. She said how she had only just escaped with her life when the army came and shot everyone in the building, living or dead. As she'd run from the city she's come across Maya and Ash. Maya had been a teacher and Ash the car salesman trying to sell her a new vehicle. They'd been out on a test drive when they realised the city was overrun with the dead and just kept driving. Ross and Matthew, or Matt as he preferred, were friends and ex-forces, they'd been in California with Grace when all flights were cancelled and then all communications lost.

"My husband and daughter were meant to come with us for the first family holiday in years" Grace told them "but he got a last minute rush job at his auto shop and she stayed to help him finish it up. Before they could get to us everything went to hell"

She turned away, her eyes glistening.

"It took us well over a year to get back home, taking cars when we could find them but mostly on foot. My daughter's apartment had been broken into when we got there, with no sign of her and we found my husband's body, sitting in a chair in the office of his auto shop. He'd obviously been there a long time but you could still make out the bite on his shoulder and the bullet hole in his skull" her voice cracked and Matt reached out, rubbing her arm comfortingly.

"We left then and a little while later met up with Ash and the girls. We've been on the move since then, trying to find a safe place"

Rick was still reeling at what Grace had just told them, he glanced at Michonne and saw the same look on her face. He now knew why the woman looked so familiar.

They didn't see Daryl until the next day. He returned from the forest, handing a bundle of rabbits and birds to the woman in the kitchen. He made a point of avoiding the newcomers, not speaking to anyone until Rick finally caught up with him, mindlessly stabbing the walkers that gathered at the fence.

"Think we need to talk" the Deputy grabbed Daryl's arm, stilling him as the blade plunged through skull after skull.

"Aint got nothin' to say" Daryl pulled his arm free and continued to stab at the walkers.

"I know you recognised Grace. I did too, it just took me a while to place her as the woman in the photo Eleanor took from her apartment" Rick tried to stop Daryl again but the hunter just shrugged him off.

"We told her about Ellie, showed her where she is" Rick told him quietly.

"She know how she died? How she was savin' my worthless ass?" Daryl stopped stabbing and faced Rick, anguish clear on his face. "You tell her its cause of me she aint got a daughter anymore?"

"I told her Eleanor died saving someone she loved more than her own life and she said she wasn't surprised. Said that's the kind of person she was" Rick glanced at him "You should go talk to her, she need to know what the two of you had. I think she'll understand"

Daryl wouldn't meet his eyes, staring at the ground silently.

"How 'bout her brother, he as understanding?" he asked eventually.

"He was angry, but it was mainly grief. They spent the last 3 years trying to find them, hoping to find them alive and now they know for sure they're both gone. It's gonna take a while to sink in" Rick gave his friend a final look.

"Just think about it, Grace needs to know what happened, it's only right it comes from you"

He left Daryl there, his mind a mess, not knowing what to do.

Without knowing how he got there he found himself at Ellie's grave, staring at the marker. It was the first time he'd been back since the day he returned to Terminus after her death, and he was surprised how much it still hurt. He was about to move away when a voice stopped him.

"So I guess you're the one" Grace was standing behind him, her face pale, her eyes red and tired as she looked him over intently. She managed a small smile.

"I'm not surprised; she always went for the bad boy look. I bet you ride a motorbike don't you?" at his nod she laughed softly.

"Even when the world ends some things never change" He was starting to feel uncomfortable under her gaze when she spoke again.

"Did you love her?" she said simply.

He found he couldn't speak, his throat choked up and his vision misted over.

"I'll take that as a yes" Grace reached out, her arms wrapped round him and somehow he was returning the embrace, the two of them united in their grief. They stayed that way for several moments then parted awkwardly.

"I should've died in her place, she should still be here" Daryl mumbled, unable to look at the woman in front of him, the mother of the only woman he'd ever loved. Grace grabbed his chin, lifting his head, making him look at her.

"You don't get to think like that. She made her choice and you have to respect it. She was always strong willed and knew what she was doing. She wanted you to live and you have to honour her decision"

"See where she got her attitude from now" he told Grace, a ghost of a smirk on his face.

"It's a trait that runs in the family, I got it from my mother and she got it from hers and so on" she told him, returning the smile. Grace took his hand and he let her lead him to one side of the small graveyard. She settled herself on a low wall and patted the space at her side.

"I want you to tell me about yourself and how you first met Eleanor. How did the two of you get together?" She was desperate to find out more and he felt obliged to tell her.

"Thought she was a pain in the ass when we first met. She'd got herself in a fix and needed rescuing; I saved her and took her back to our camp. It was a while before we got together, too busy fighting all the time" he jumped when she laughed out loud.

"That sounds so much like me and James, her father. We fought for months before we became a couple"

They talked for what felt like hours, both laughing at times, sad at others and it was almost dark before they realised it.

Their conversation was only stopped by the sounds of gunfire, coming from somewhere inside the compound.

Part 2 up in the next few days.