A|N:
Well guys. This is it. The end. Fin. No mas. Our farewell, if you will.
115 Reviews. 49 Followers. 24 Favorites.
And 21,268 view later we have reached out final chapter.
For the last time; i love you guys. Thanks for sticking around, it's been a blast.
Enjoy your well deserved and hopefully fulfilling final chapter of Arrow's in the Darkness.
TWD isn't mine, but this story will forever be ours. See you next time.
Daryl had woken up early that day, the hustle of the prison starting just as early as he was. The sun was shining and the day was beautiful. It was hard to believe that four summer's had passed already. There were so many people living here now. Here in there little prison town of theirs.
New Hope.
Rick and the council had named it that. Yeah. The council. Rick, Carol, Andrea, Glenn and himself made up this council. They kept New Hope safe, made it a place where people could call home. It seemed that a lot of people were calling New Hope home these days. It felt good though, that he and this family of his had finally gotten their happy ending.
Daryl stared out into the field, his eyes looking for someone in particular. In the field he could see blue shine under the summer's sun. He smiled and headed into the field, his crossbow thrown over his shoulder.
"Mornin' Daryl."
"Good morning, Daryl!"
"Sup, Daryl?"
The voice that called out for him always seemed to amaze him. Being a part of the council made him.. famous in a way. He was a big part of protecting New Hope, so people loved him for it. Carol had told him he had to learn to live with the love. He scoffed at her reply. He would never get use to so many people being nice to him. As he entered the field he opened the white picket gate to the garden. Covered in dirt and sweat, filling the air with her sweet giggles and laughter was his baby girl.
"Mornin' Marie." Daryl smiled as he approachedhis daughter.
The blue ribbon turned to face him. Marie smiled at her father, "Good mornin' daddy!" She was no longer his baby girl anymore. No matter how much Daryl didn't want to admit it, Marie was now a beautiful sixteen year old young lady. Her hair was so long now, but still that blue ribbon was still in her hair and her eyes always that dark brown color he loved.
"Mornin' Daryl." Beth smiled next to her. She was much older too now. Twenty two I believe... damn how time flies.
Daryl smiled, "Mornin' Beth, how's Maggie feelin'."
"Great!" She smiled, "Carol and Doctor S says she's due any day now. Glenn and Josephine can't wait to meet the baby." Damn that's right, this is baby number to for Glenn 'n Maggie. Time really does fly, huh?
He gave her a quick nodded then looked back at Marie as he adjusted the crossbow over his shoulder, "I've been lookin' for the pup, have ya seen 'em?"
"Nope. Last time I checked, lil'pup was with Carl.." Marie stood up from the dirt and looked out to the other side of the field where Carl was taking a walk with his father and Andrea, "Hey babe!"
I swear, no matter what Carol says, I ain't ever gettin' use to that.
No matter how long Daryl had no Carl, or how close they may have gotten over the past few years, nothing could have saved him from the Dixon rage he had experienced the day he asked Daryl to date Marie. Carol of course gave the young Grimes boy the okay, but Daryl will always be overprotective of his little girl. It had already been a year, but Daryl still wasn't use to it.
Carl waved to his dad and Andrea and then ran over to Daryl, Marie and Beth in the garden. "Hey, what's up?"
"Thought yer gettin' ready to go huntin'?" Daryl raised an eyebrow.
Carl tugged on the crossbow over his shoulder, "I am, Daryl, promise! I was just gonna come lookin' for ya but dad n Andrea stopped me."
"U'huh," Daryl gave him a smug nodded, "Likely story... now where's the pup?"
"He's with Judy, by the fence." Carl pointed out to the fence, where Judith and the baby Dixon where standing together.
Daryl leaned over to Marie and gave her a little kiss on the forehead, "Take care of yer momma while we're out."
Marie smiled as Daryl turned to leave the garden, "I always do."
Daryl and Carl made there way over to the fence as he approached the kids, he could here Judith giggling. The five year old was always giving his youngest trouble. "You liar, you said you know how to use that thing!"
"I do!" The four year old yelled. The little Dixon readied the little kid sized long bow and aimed for a walker on the other side of the gate. As the arrow was released a familiar voice startled 'em.
"Norman James Dixon, the hell are ya doin'?" Daryl crossed his arms as he approached his son. Yup, his son. The boy was the spitting image of his father. That same light dirty brown hair he once had when he first got to the group and his same blue eyes. Daryl considered Norman his little shadow, following him everywhere he went. His baby boy Dixon was named Norman James Dixon, after Daryl and Merle's grandfather. It seemed only right to name him that, since the boy's name would already be tattooed to his chest, right above his heart. It's where his only son belonged.
The arrow hit the shoulder of the walker. So close, Norm. Norman looked back, "Daddy it's not my fault! A.K. keeps callin' me a liar!"
"No I'm not Uncle Daryl! Norman keeps calling me mean nicknames!" Judy whined back.
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Good god, stop!" Daryl yelled to get them to stop bickering. "Pup, what are ya callin' Judy that ain't nice?" Daryl grumbled. These two knew how to give Daryl a damn headache, they were lucky their cute. Adorable lil' bastards.
Norman smiled taking a few steps away from Judith, "Lil' ass kisser." He giggled as Judy leaned over to shove him.
"It's not Ass Kisser! Tell him Uncle Daryl!" Judy pouted as she crossed her arms over her chest.
Daryl nearly chuckled, but he knew if Carol heard him laughing, she'd kick his ass for sure. Then he'd be doin' the ass kissing. "Norman.. where did ya here that from?"
Norman giggled again, "Uncle Merle."
Daryl chuckled, he could hear Carl laughing behind him. "Figures." Daryl let his hand out for his son to grab, "Come on, pup, time to go huntin'."
"Okay, daddy." Norman put the little long bow around him and scurried after his father. As they moved to the main gate Norman turned to wave bye to Judith, "Bye lil' ass kisser!"
"It's Ass KICKER!" Judy yelled back.
Daryl laughed as they approached the gate, "Ya know if yer momma hears ya, ain't no one in New Hope who can protect ya from a whoopin', right?"
Norman smiled as he looked up to his father, "I know."
At the gates was Merle, with a rifle around his shoulder. By the looks of it he was on watch. "Mornin' Merle."
"Mornin' Darylena, boutta take the girl scout's on a lil' hunt, huh?" Merle chuckled as he looked at Carl. "Cut that damn hair son, or I'll shave it off in yer sleep."
"Good morning to you too, Merle." Carl chuckled.
Merle bent down to Norman's level, a smile on his face, "Not you though, lil' man, my nephew ain't a punk like the Grime girl or his mommy Darylena."
"Momma say's if yer not nice to daddy, she's gon' beat you up." Norman smiled as he played with the string of his long bow.
"We'll ain't that so?" Merle chuckled as he raised an eye brow.
Daryl smiled, "Ya best believe him, Merle, cause that wife of mine ain't kiddin'."
Carl groaned, "So ya gonna just make small talk or...?"
Merle laughed as he took out his key, "Alright lady Grimes, 'm openin' these gates calm yer tits."
"Ya better hope Carol never catches ya talkin' like that 'round the pup." Daryl smirks at Merle as they exit the gate and starts to head into the forest.
He could hear Merle laugh as he closes the gate behind them, "That'll be the day, baby brother!"
"Dad.." Norman whispered as Daryl inspected the trail. He had been training Carl to do this for months and as soon as Norman could properly hold the little long bow Merle had found for him when he was a baby, Norman begged his father to teach him to hunt.
He was a Dixon, after all.
"What Norm?" Daryl whispered back.
Norman looked over his father's shoulder, "Do you think I'll get a squirrel today?"
"Dunno," Daryl replied as he pointed Carl in the direction of the new trail. Must be a buck, a big one too. "Don' worry tho. Yer learnin' fast, so y'all get it soon enough."
"Okay." Norman whispered back as he followed Daryl and Carl on the trail for the buck. Carl moved on with out them and Daryl and Norman headed another direction.
On a tree not to far form them, was a little squirrel. Daryl helped Norman get in the stance to properly hold his long bow. Making sure his arms were firm and his back not to arched. "When I say so, ya let go, okay?" Norman nodded yes, his eyes on that squirrel. "Ready and.."
Before he could saw go, the squirrel was spooked.
Norman sighed , lowering his bow, "It ran.."
"It's alright, we'll try again." Daryl could see something from the corner of his eye. He tapped Norman's shoulder, "Look."
Norman turned his head, and standing across from them was the buck. "Can I try, daddy?"
Daryl smiled and nodded yes. He helped Norman get back in his stance, holding the bow just right so he knew he'd hit the buck. Even if it was with his help. "Ready? Aim and..."
Whoosh.
Before Norman could let go, an arrow flew through the forest and hit the dear striking it right in the head. As the buck fell, Daryl jumped to his feet. Norman sighed and lowered his bow again, "Aw, Carl got it first..."
A second later Carl came running, "God damn, you guys got it first, huh?"
Daryl shook his head no, "It ain't us..." There was a sound in the forest that spooked them for a second. Daryl and Carl were both quick to ready their crossbow's, and Norman ran behind his father.
"Is it a walker, daddy?" Norman asked him as he gripped to his leg.
Daryl's eyes carefully scanned the forest around him, "Dunno." With a movement of his hand, he told Carl and Norman to stay put. He moved forward to the buck, keeping an eye out for what ever might be out there. He could hear a moment from his left and when he turned he could see a figure standing in front of him.
"That's my deer, bud, I saw it first. Best ya take a hike, don'cha think?"
A female's voice... Daryl tried to take a better look, but the person was standing in shadow's. "I ain't think so, stranger. Ya better step out here were I can see ya."
As she took a step closer the first thing he saw was a crossbow. The next was the soft brown poncho that she wore around her body. Dirty jeans, boots and a bat that hung from her waist was the next thing he could see, as well as the quiver that was strapped around her chest. As his eyes scanned up and he slowly saw her face. Long dark brown hair fell in front of her chest, tied together in a long braid. Her eyes.. her eyes..
Dark brown, almost black. And they seemed to almost, just maybe... stare right threw your soul.
Daryl dropped his crossbow down to his side, he could feel his heart race as he smiled wide. His eyes becoming water as the tears swelled up. He could barely speak her name. "Lyss?"
She took one final step closer, so he could see her smile, "Hi daddy."
Welcome home, baby girl.
