Part 30: Home and new life

Johnny felt his head resting on a blanket. He opened his eyes to see the cover for one of the trucks they took to Seattle. He sat up and felt the bandage where the assistant had cut him. "Its probably healed by now," he thought before taking it off. He got out of the back of the truck and saw they were in the same spot where he got his sword.

He then heard sounds to his left and looked surprised to see Abby kissing Mike, "When did that happen," he thought before smiling. Even though one of them was someone he once hated, he felt happy for them like when he saved Philip and his wife.

"Nice day isn't it," he said making the two of them jump apart.

"What the, wait Johnny," Abby said looking surprised to see him.

"Tommy wasn't kidding when he said you would be out for a while," Mike said.

"Im going to finish patrol," Abby said looking at Mike.

"Okay," Mike said smiling and she smiled at him before walking away.

"What happened with your mission," Johnny said pointing at his bandage.

"We ran into trouble," he said before telling the story about how they reached the scars and how Owen sold them out.

"Johnny your awake," Dylan said walking over after Mike had finished telling the story. The two of them hugged as Johnny thought of what happened.

"Did Owen pass by your group on the way out," Johnny said.

"Yeah he took Mel with him and said they were going to find the fireflies," Dylan said.

"Their still out there," Johnny said looking confused.

"Abby told me Owen heard a rumor they were suppose to be all meeting up somewhere, neither of us are sure its true," Mike said.

"Well until we meet him again we have nothing to worry about," Tommy said walking over and hugging Johnny who hugged him back, "You made everyone worried,".

"Sorry, couldn't help it for much longer," he said still happy to see him alright.

"Well we were just packing up, so lets focus on getting home," Tommy said before going to pick up some stuff.

"Here let me," Johnny said.

"No you just got back up, you sit down," Dylan said pointing to the truck he was just in.

"Fine," Johnny said laughing and so did Dylan as he sat next to him on the truck.

"What I already cleaned up my tent," he said when Johnny gave him a confused look. Abby and Mike sat across from them and Tommy sat on Johnnys left. As the trucks got back on the road Abby filled him in on what happened since he fell asleep.

"Theres a truce now but its going to take a long time for us to get along," Abby said.

"From what I heard you guys were fighting a long time," Tommy said.

"Well luckily we can finally get along and focus on the true enemy," Mike said.

"The infected," Johnny said and Mike nodded.

"Were going to clear them out and take back the city, since I had people from both sides on my team Ive been made the leader of this new united group," he said.

"Well congratulations, I know you can do it," Johnny said.

"Im not so sure about that," he said when Abby held his hand.

"You got me to listen, Im sure we can figure something out," she said trying to reassure him.

"Thanks Abby," he said.

"Okay maybe you two can have your date later," Tommy said.

"Well your wife sounded happy on the radio," Abby said smiling while Dylan and Johnny looked away so he wouldn't see them laughing.

"Whatever," Tommy said but still smiled.

"So you guys are heading back after you drop us off," Johnny said after calming down.

"Will stay for a few days and we were hoping to get some supplies," Mike said, "Were kind of low on food and need some time to make up the farm," he said.

"Will arrange something before you leave," Tommy said.

"Will see if we can send someone with you to help clear the city," Johnny said.

"Thanks," Mike said before they enjoyed a nice lift home.

When the trucks reached Jackson they could already hear the people cheering. Tommy and Dylan got off first and Johnny got off after them. He could see Darren reuniting with his girlfriend not far way. Steven was holding Sam and hugging Rachel.

"Tommy," Maria said running over and hugging her husband.

"Im good, just glad to be home," he said.

"Oh Johnny, heads up," Maria said smiling.

"For what," he said before he felt someone jumping on him and he smiled before hugging his wife Ellie.

"Your back," Ellie said from his neck.

"Good to be home," he said hugging her close, she then kissed him and he kissed her back. He could hear the people cheering but didn't care.

"Haven't heard them this loud since your wedding," Joel said walking over with Jessie. Johnny hugged him as well, "You did good," he said.

"Thanks," Johnny said as Ellie held his hand.

"Your not taking far off from Jackson until I have this kid," she said pointing at her stomach.

"No problem," he said smiling and putting his hand over her stomach. She smiled as well before leaning in close to him.

"Wait your going to be dad," Mike said looking surprised.

"Guess I forgot to mention that part," Abby said looking at Ellie who nodded at her. Abby knowing it was to thank her. The next day Dylan brought Johnny and Ellie to his groups town and Johnny apologized to everyone there for not being able to protect Chris. But no one held any hatred towards him and saids they knew what Chris did was right. Time passed as Dylan became more of a leader.

Outside of radio talks with Johnny who was looking after Ellie. Leo and Derrick made several trips to teach him things. After a few months they got the call that Mike was able to clear out Seattle with a mixture of his people and several others. Then after nine months passed after the group made it back. Jackson was in for a little surprise. Tommy was walking around the town with Maria who was eight months into her pregnancy.

"Do you have to follow me everywhere I go," Maria said.

"Just want to make sure my girls are alright," Tommy said smiling.

"You still sure about that," Maria said smiling.

"Well I only could think of mostly girl names," Tommy said looking nervous while Maria laughed.

"Tommy," Joel said running over with Jessie.

"Hey whats happening," Tommy said.

"Its happening, the two of them are at the clinic now," Joel said before they quickly headed to the clinic. Which used to be small but was now extended. Given there were people coming in and being born in Jackson.

When they reached the door they could hear a female voice scream, "Is that Ellie," Maria sad before they could hear her talk.

"You better not fall asleep after this, no quick healing," she said.

"Got it," Johnny said before she screamed again.

"You feeling okay Maria," Jessie said looking at Maria who was holding a hand over her stomach.

"Oh just fine," Maria said trying to stay calm.

Then after a few minutes of waiting they heard the sound of a baby crying. Joel was the first one to move and opened the door to the building. David walked out and took off his face mask and let out a breath.

"How is she," Joel said looking nervous.

"Shes alright, all three of them are," David said smiling before the couples hugged in excitement.

"Hey," Johnny said walking out from behind a curtain. He was moving his hand as Maria smiled.

"You feeling okay," Tommy said smiling.

"Just grand, you ready to meet her grandpa Joel," Johnny said smiling.

"So it's a girl," Joel said before Johnny lead them to a hospital bed. Ellie was in a gown and her hair was out. But she had a big smile on her face as she held something small wrapped in a pink blanket.

"Joel," Ellie said. Joel got close enough to see a baby girl. Her hair color was close to Ellies.

"I don't even know what to say," Joel said before wiping his eyes.

"Shes beautiful Ellie," Jessie said smiling.

"Thanks," Ellie said before looking at Johnny, "Sorry about your hand," she said.

"Don't worry, you went through much worse," he said before sitting on a chair and kissing her forehead.

"Wait Maria did you hear everything," Ellie said looking surprised.

"Yeah," Maria said.

"Sorry, but this moment makes it all worth it," Ellie said as Johnny held out his finger to his little girl.

"Johnny were you crying," Jessie said.

"Yeah," Johnny said before wiping his eyes.

"Here," Ellie said before handing his daughter to him.

"Hey there," he said looking at her, "Sorry if Im crying, but you and your mother just made me really happy today," he said smiling.

"So whats the little ones name," Tommy said.

"Actually I want to give her a middle name along with the one we picked out," Ellie said making Johnny look surprised.

"What do you mean," he said as the baby stretched out her hands and he tried to calm her.

She then whispered something in his ear and he looked surprised again. "That's perfect," he said smiling and Ellie smiled as well before he handed their daughter back. Johnny then sat next to her.

"Everyone, meet Elsie Samantha Grayson," he said as Ellie leaned her head on his shoulder.

More time passed as they had a new family member. Every leader from every group they had met went to meet the new Grayson. Even Mike and Abby had drove all the way from Seattle to meet her. Joel had almost cried the first time he held her and the next time he was at Ellie and Johnnys new house. They made sure to take a picture of him holding her.

Of course Ellie and Johnny did face challenges. Though luckily during his time off Johnny had found a parenting book. But the thing that seemed to calm his daughter down the most was when he made a toy plane fly.

When she started walking Lily had commented that she was like a mini Ellie. Even though they were now parents they still had work to do. But Joel would happily babysit Ellie with Jessie any time. But Ellie was a little upset when Elsies second word was Joel. The first was dada.

They had managed to clear up the roads and were now connected safely to Seattle and Boston. They would even go weeks without seeing an infected. Then one night after Elsie had turned five.

Johnny was sitting in a chair next to Elsies bed. He closed the book he had been reading to her as she looked asleep holding the bear Jessie got for her. Her hair was long but during the day she kept in a ponytail.

"I want it like Mommy's," she said one day.

Johnny put the book away when he heard her, "Daddy," she said.

"Hey whats wrong, cant sleep," Johnny said sitting back down.

"Do those hurt," she said pointing at his scarred arms.

"Yes but the pain went away a long time ago," Johnny said.

"Like with Mommy's," she said looking nervous.

"Hey whats wrong," Johnny said.

"Some of the other kids talk about the marks on you," she said.

"Well I got these so I could get strong, but me and Mommy don't like to talk about it," he said .

"Well I think your hero's like in the comics I read," Elsie said smiling.

"Thanks Elsie," Johnny said smiling, "Now get some sleep, or else you will be to tired tomorrow,".

"Night daddy," she said before shutting her eyes.

"Goodnight," he said before leaving and slowly closing the door. He went downstairs and found Ellie watching a movie on the tv.

"Shes gone to bed," Johnny said before sitting next to her.

"She always did like hearing stories from you," Ellie said before leaning against him.

"Hey she cares about you to you know," Johnny said smiling.

"That kids going to run faster then me one day," Ellie said remembering when two of them were running around the garden earlier.

"Was she okay," she said.

"Some of the kids were talking about our scars," Johnny said, "She thinks we are hero's," he said.

"I wonder if the next one will think the same," Ellie said before sitting on his lap.

"Ellie are you sure?" He asked.

"Yeah, I said kids which means more then one," Ellie said calmly.

"But I wasn't sure after Elsie," Johnny said remembering when she was in pain.

"It was still worth it," Ellie said holding his chin, "Plus Lily is expecting and Rachel is having her second," she said. Two years ago Dean and Lily got married and a few months ago after they got back from their mission they found out Lily was pregnant. Ellie had found out yesterday at the park with Rachel that she and Steven were trying.

"Do you not want to have a second, Im sure we can make it work," Ellie said knowing he was busy with the other groups. Johnny smiled before wrapping his arms around her.

"One of the best things that's happened is being a dad," he said before kissing her and she kissed him back. When Ellie reached for his shirt there was a knock at the door and they pulled away.

"Whoever it is they're going to regret it if they woke Elsie," Ellie said getting up and looking annoyed.

"At least they're not walking in on us," Johnny said.

"Yeah we same close to being caught by Joel," Ellie said remembering when a few months after Elsie was born Joel had offered to babysit. They had their shirts back on in time before Joel headed up the stairs. Luckily Jessie was holding Elsie.

"But to be fair that was our first time after I had her," she said as Johnny took a quick look upstairs. She then opened the door to find Tommy, "Hey Tommy whats going on, is Sarah okay," she said. Sarah was Tommy and Marias daughter. She was born a few weeks after Elsie.

"Yeah shes fine, someone from far away has come by and wants to see everyone," he said before handing Johnny something small. "He was wearing that," he said and the couple looked surprised by what was on the necklace.

On the back was the symbol of the fireflies. It had no rust on it.