TALLAHASSEE

The kids were havin' fun, I could tell. Wichita and Columbus sat together by the fire, watching Little Rock and Miami, as Miami did some card tricks for Little Rock. She was blushing and all, but she laughed a lot. Miami turned out to be a great kid. He knew how to cook, and he knew how to shoot. I guess he was more like his momma than his old man.

Speaking of his momma, Vegas was standing on the shore, watching the sun set on the horizon. She had removed her weapons and boots, and the waves touched her toes. Her hair was down, and the wind was playin' with it, making her look like an angel.

I guess I was really wrong about judging her. She was a great woman, who raised a good kid. It was kind of weird that a woman like her would endure so much and still kick ass. But I guess…

I guess that's why I love her now…

"Miami said he liked you." Vegas said as I stood beside her, "He said you are way more awesome than his father."

I laughed, "Yeah, well… I like him too, he's a good kid."

She nodded, "Yes… yes, he is." Her eyebrows furrowed as she looked down to her hand. I watched her, as she removed her glove and looked down at her hand. I saw a gold ring on her finger.

"You're still wearing that." I said, as she used her other hand to remove it. She raised it up to the sky and looked at the engraving on it.

"I… don't want to wear it anymore. I've worn it for almost fifteen years, but it doesn't seem to have much meaning." She said as she lowered it down again and looked at it from the palm of her hand.

I chuckled, "Well, he sure as heck won't be looking for it. Might as well toss it into the ocean."

Vegas was still looking at it, before smiling up at me. Her smile was beautiful. It softened up her look, and made her more womanly than ever. She held out her hand and said, "Give me your hand."

I held it out to her, and she touched it. It was like warm, soft satin on my hand… which is a little strange considering she was so battle-worn. She then placed the ring on my hand, and smiled up at me, before grabbing me by my shirt, and drawing me to her face.

Her lips gave me a soft kiss on the cheek, and she whispered, so soft that it only reached my ear, "This… is my name… if you still want to know me." And then, as I drew back she leaned forward and gave me a soft kiss on my lips.

It wasn't the kind that made all the mushy love movies. It was soft, and sweet and… short. She smiled at me a second later and turned to walk back to her kid. I looked down at the ring, and there, on the inside of it, I found out who she really was.

Amelia… she was Amelia.

Vegas… no, Amelia… now sat with the kids, her arm around Little Rock, and laughing with Miami as he showed her a card trick. Columbus and Wichita laughed with them, and Columbus captured my gaze. He nodded at me, as if encouraging me, and smiled as he pointed at a space between Miami… I mean, Nathan and Amelia.

My son is gone. Killed by zombies. But this… this here is my new family. I got a… hopefully- new wife, and four new kids.

And I'd be damned if I let anything happen to them.