The morning light woke Daryl. Carol had slept cuddling up to him, her head resting on his chest, her silver hair tickling his nose. It had grown longer and now curled down to her shoulders. Gently, he stroked it, hoping she'd wake up.

At Carol's persuasion, he'd cut his hair as short as it'd been at the farm. Now he had a girlfriend, he'd felt encouraged to shower more often.

He'd never had one before. He wasn't sure how it would work. He'd been worried that a romantic relationship would change the beautiful bond he'd had with Carol.

It hadn't. Apart from making love as often as they could, the couple remained as close as they had been in Georgia. Life was good.

Carol stirred beside him.

"Do we have to go?" she mumbled.

"M'hmm," he softly kissed her cheek, "we gotta give Maggie a ride."

She'd given birth to a healthy 6lb 8oz boy a few weeks ago. The thought of meeting him jolted Carol with energy. She sat up smiling.

"I can't wait to see the baby!"

Despite feeling the same, Daryl grunted. Part of him still felt responsible for Glenn's death. He owed it to him to be there for his son.

"Ain't stayin' there long," he lurched off the bed, "'bout twenty miles from there to Alexandria."

Carol nodded as she headed towards the wardrobe, trying to hide the anxiety in her voice, "no, we can't be late."

After the war, she'd decided to stay in the Kingdom. She couldn't face going back to Alexandria, a place that had not only emotionally destroyed her but would now remind her of the people they'd lost.

She'd thought that Daryl would've wanted to return to his home, to be with Rick, Michonne, and Judith.

Sure, he'd told her that he loved her, and they'd slept together, but they were in the middle of the war. Emotions were high. It could've just been the heat of the moment.

When it was over. she'd returned to the Kingdom. She'd apologized to Daryl, telling him that she couldn't go back to Alexandria. She hadn't expected him to join her, to leave his family.

"Ain't leavin' ya," he'd told her, "wanna start over. Both of us. Together."

As Carol opened the wardrobe, she took a deep breath, pushing her anxieties aside. Today would be the first time she'd return to Alexandria.

As much as it pained her, she needed to go back. She owed it to Rick and Michonne.

Carol forced herself to smile as she pulled out a beautiful, blue dress that she'd salvaged on a supply run to a local mall. She'd been so used to wearing dowdy jeans and baggy tank tops. She couldn't remember the last time she'd worn a dress.

Unbeknownst to Daryl, she'd also picked up a suit for him. She knew he'd hate it. She held it out to him and watched as his eyes widened.

"Ain't wearin' no monkey suit."

"It's just for the ceremony," Carol folded it on the bed, "you've got to wear it," she watched Daryl turn away, grunting, "you're the best man!"

Carol put their clothes in their black Dodge Challenger, along with a cake she'd improvised out of sorghum flour, eggs and apples.

"You're one hella baker!" Jerry smiled, jumping in the back seat of the car. "Morgan comin' too?"

Carol shook her head. "He wants to stay with Henry and Ezekiel."

Daryl headed toward the Challenger, reluctantly carrying his suit. She found herself smiling at the memory of when Rick had asked him.

"Ain't never been to a weddin' before," he'd told her, "what the hell's a best man s'posed to do?"

Since the war ended, the Hilltoppers had worked hard to rebuild their community. The grenades had completely destroyed Barrington House, but in its place, they'd erected a series of small, wooden cabins.

Maggie was walking towards them, holding a small baby with a smattering of straight, dark hair.

"Meet Hershel Rhee," she announced proudly, smiling as she passed her son into Carol's arms.

She held him close to her. He smelt sweet and comforting. His eyes, dark and intelligent, were definitely Glenn's.

"He's perfect." Carol smiled.

After leaving Jesus in charge of her baby, Maggie bounded in the Challenger, joining Jerry in the back.

There were twenty miles between them and Alexandria. Daryl drove, while Carol fiddled with the music. The previous owner appeared to have an obsession with the '80s, which led her to find the perfect tune.

The guitar opening caused Daryl to groan, while Maggie and Jerry struggled to contain their laughter. Carol smiled, looking out the window as she listened to Billy Idol.

It's a nice day for a white wedding.

It's a nice day to start again.