Fifteen years later

Dina pov -

There was a warm breeze in the air this morning, the sun rose over the mountains on the outskirts of Jackson delivering an orange glow over the town. I sat on the front porch of our house, Joel's house. In his old rocking chair, my knees pulled up to my chest, blanket draped over me, mug of coffee in hand. Yeah coffee, In my old age I've grown a taste for it. I'm not sure if it's just the caffeine hit that I enjoy on an early morning more than the actual taste of the dark brown beverage. I take a steady sip from the old beaten owl mug, I've glued this thing back together more times than I can count and looked out at the town. Ready for the day ahead.

Today was a big day. It's JJ's 18th birthday and I've still got a lot of things to do before the party in the Tipsy Bison tonight.

"Morning Dina" Tommys husky voice pulled my attention

"Hey Tommy" I answered back

He limped his way through the white gate up towards the porch, a long parcel tucked under his arm. He lowered himself into the chair next to me. He had changed over the years, his thick brown hair was now thick white hair, cut neatly and pushed behind his ears. His face was worn and looked older and he needed a cane to walk, his knee slowly giving in over the years.

"Big day today huh?" He looked over at me with a smile propping the package up next to his leg "Where is the birthday boy?"

"He should be out anytime now actually. He's got this first patrol duty this morning"

Before another word the front door creaked open and loud footsteps sounded on the porch next to us. JJ was standing next to Tommy, a huge grin on his face. He had grown into a tall man, he was about 6ft tall, thick black hair and starting to grow a beard. He looked just like Jesse but with my complexion. He reminded me of his father every day.

"Hey Uncle Tommy" JJ spoke in a deep voice

"Morning kiddo, happy birthday" He lifted himself to his feet letting out a grunt, looking up at him as JJ towered above the older man, he must have had a growth spurt. I didn't remember him being so tall. He made me look like a child when I stood next to him. Tommy handed him the package with a small smile on his mouth "This if from me and Maria, thought you might like it before you go out"

"Oh thanks!" He took the present and ripped the wrapping off revealing a long box. Tommys eyes were wide with anticipation. JJ placed the box down on the table next to us and lifted the lid "Coooool!" he gasped taking the hunting rifle out of the box

"Now you take good care of that. It's been in the Miller family for a long time"

JJ took the rifle in his hand placing it to his shoulder and checking out the scope "so cool" he grinned showing all his teeth. He adjusted the rifle in his hand taking a good look at it, he brought the but of the gun to his eye line, running his fingertip over the inscriptions, he smiled again and looked over at me showing the carving in the wood.

A rough carving was on the left side, he was holding it up so I could see 'Ellie' and I smiled.

"Mine and Joels names are on the other side" Tommy took the rifle in his hands turning it over to show him "Add yours under your mums name, we've all used this, all carved our names into it" he laughed "silly tradition really"

"Thanks uncle Tommy" JJ swung his arms around him and pulled him into a tight embrace, Tommy let out a groan at the force

"Your welcome Kiddo"

"Well I best get going, I don't want to be late for my first day" JJ pulled his backpack on and moved over to me planting a kiss on my cheek "See ya later mom"

"Oh wait" I called, standing up and walking over to him "Take this, It's for luck" I took the old worn bracelet from my wrist and wrapped it around his, It was just long enough to wrap around his thick wrist.

"Mom, you know I don't believe in that" He huffed

"Yeah, well I do" I looked up at him with a serious look

"Okay, okay, thanks" he smiled and pulled me into a hug, this time a little more gentle than he did with Tommy.

"Now get going, don't be late" I nudged his arm

He threw his new rifle over his shoulder and bounded down the stairs, out of the yard and down towards the main gates of Jackson.

"Was he always that big?" Tommy asked scratching his head

I laughed "No, he definitely didn't get his height from me"

"Well, I best be off too. I'll see you tonight. Maria has everything ready so just make sure you get yourself there on time"

"Okay no problem" I smiled

The rest of the morning was spent doing chores, tidying around, tending to the gardens and wrapping the rest of JJs presents. By the time it hit midday I was beat, ready for my second caffeine hit of the day. I sat at the dining table with the few tools needed to wrap the remaining gifts.

JJ was obsessed with space, he was a huge dork Just like Ellie. He read all her books from cover to cover growing up and knew everything about space. Countless nights of sitting on the porch looking up at the dark sky, picking out the constellations and quizzing me on everything he'd learn from his books. It didn't stop there. Ellie had written in each and every book, noting down her thoughts, making up facts and doodling what aliens looked like. It took years of convincing JJ that half the stuff in there wasn't actually true and it was just the wild imagination of his mother.

I flattened a square of brown paper and placed a dark blue NASA shirt onto it, folding it nearly. He will love his. I've been saving it for a while. A traveller passed through a few months ago and I thought he would love it. I traded far too much for it, parting with a good portion of fresh produce and tins of beans. The guy said it was a 'collectors item' I didn't care I knew I needed to get him it. I wrapped it up and held it together with two pieces of string placing it next to the rest of his things he will open when he's home.

With a few hours to kill until he got back I picked up my coat and headed for the door, a walk would be good for me. Clear my mind before it goes into overdrive. I took the main street walking past the bustling shops of Jackson. Over the years it had tripled in size. We had welcomed lots of new cummers with a vast variety of skills, new shops and stalls popping up all the time. We even had annual fairs with other communities.

I stopped in at the florist, an addition that had been around for sometime now. It was little things like this that reminded people of the old world, helped people feel more human, not just like they were surviving day to day. I approached the door ready to push it open but before I had a chance it swung open and a small blond haired boy ran out.

"By mom!" he shouted, not looking where he was going and nearly bumping into me "Oh sorry!" He apologised

"It's okay Jake" I smiled and ruffled his hair

He reached for the door holding it open for me, "Thanks" I smiled. I walked in and the smell of freshly cut flowers hit my nostrils. I took a deep breath and smiled as I approached the counter.

"Morning Dina" Olivia popped her head out from the back

"Hey" I smiled back

"What can I do for you?" She asked

"Just a small bunch, anything you recommend if fine"

"No problem, one second"

She headed back though the back of the shop, I could hear faint rustling before she reappeared holding a small bunch of flowers placing them on the counter.

"JJ's birthday today isn't it?" she asked

"Yeah, he's eighteen"

"Woah, growing up fast aren't they"

"Mmhmm, he's on his first patrol today too, nothing too big just getting the hang of it"

"Well Jake won't be far behind, he's fifteen soon and won't stop talking about going out 'I want to go out and be brave like my dad' " she laughed "it's all he says!"

We both laughed together and smiled as we shared the thought of Kieren.

"How much do I owe you?"

"On the house" she winked

"Thanks" I smiled and left the shop, my feet carrying me through the town centre. Familiar faces passed me by, a few waves and 'good afternoon's' from people going about their day. I walked past one o f the new structures being built, it was a small block of homes. People were carrying long pieces of wood from the carts across the streets and placing them ready to be cut.

As I walked past I recognised a familiar face carrying two huge pieces on her own, the blond woman wearing cargo pants and a tank top flexing her tree trunk arms, set the long pieces of wood down and began directing others where to go. She glanced over in my direction and smiled, breaking into a jog towards me.

The day on the farm after the Willis Tower she and Lev helped me and Tommy get Ellie home. Tommy and Maria offered a place for them to stay for a short while so they could figure things out. It turned into months and eventually years. The first few years Abby and Lev arrived they lived on the outskirts of town, still in the walls but out of the way so nobody could really see them. They set up in Jackson and became a vital part of the community. It was hard at first, for many people not just for those closest to Joel and Jessie but for everyone. It was hard to trust a woman who had brutally killed two of our community. I mainly did it for Ellie, she was the one who forgave Abby, helped her and wanted her to move on with her own life and I thought I owed her that, to help her try and move on.

If you'd have asked me all those years ago if me and Abby would ever speak let alone be friends I'd have told you to fuck off but over the years we have grown a strange friendship. It took a while but I did become friendly with her and over time our friendship developed. She loves JJ and would do anything to protect him. It was hard at first, knowing what he had done to his father but she was trying to make up for it in any way she could. Lev had become great friends with him and took him under his wing teaching him everything he knew.

"Hey Dina" Abby spoke

"Hey" I replied

"JJ get off okay this morning?"

"Yeah he was pretty excited about going out on patrol"

"Yeah Lev was excited too, he made sure he got the patrol with him. He didn't want his first one to be with anyone he didn't trust" she smiled

"Are you coming to the party tonight?" I asked

"Oh yeah, we wouldn't miss it. Levs already got JJs present wrapped. Something he found on patrol a few weeks back. I think it's called a sky map" she scratched her head "He can view the positions of the stars or something" she laughed "I'm not sure, I've no idea about that kinda stuff more into sea life"

"Makes two of us" I smiled back

"Those for Ellie?" she pointed to the flowers I was clutching in my hand

"Oh yeah, I'm going to see her now" I fiddled with the flowers in my hands

"Tell her I said hi" she glanced back around at the others fumbling with the pieces of wood "Well… I best back back to it" she gestured behind her

I nodded "yeah"

"See you later" she turned heading back to the building site delivering more orders

I walked into the small graveyard and headed over to my favourite bench. The bench I'd spent many days and nights sitting on, getting soaked from the rain, nearly blown over by the wind and even sunburnt in those hot summer days. I lowered myself down onto the wooden beam and lent back, crossing my legs and placing the flowers next to me.

I looked at the two gravestones ahead of me 'Joel Miller' 'Ellie Miller' and I let out a sigh. A sight I haven't ever gotten quite used to. A sight I don't think I will ever get used to, no matter how many years pass me by. I think back to the memories I had with Ellie, the true love of my life. It made me smile.

"Hey Ellie…Just seen your friend, Abby. She's made herself quite at home here in Jackson. She's taken on a job as a contractor" I laughed thinking back to Joel and what he did before all this "Her and Lev live on the other side of town, I think they're happy here. Finally moved on from the past. You'd be happy to see it"

"It's JJs birthday today. He's eighteen. Would you believe it? He's so much like you, such a big dork. You should see what I've got him for his birthday. You'd have called dibs on it if you were here, poor kid wouldn't have had a chance" I laughed "First day on patrol too! Nothing too serious though, so don't worry. It's not like how it used to be when we were young. The infected haven't been around these parts for years now and we have made great relationships with the surrounding communities so even raiders are hard to come by. Kinda boring really!" I let out a long sigh readjusting myself "you'd be so proud of him El"

I fiddled with the ring on my finger, the one Ellie gave me all those years ago on that beautiful moonlit night. I've never taken it off, not once and never will.

"I miss you so fucking much" I felt the tears behind my eyelids "Why did you have to fucking die, you should be here with me, with JJ, with your family" The water broke and ran down my cheeks, I dropped my head and let out a sob.

"I thought I'd find you here" Marias voice startled me

"Oh, hey" my voice broke

The older woman sat down next to me and wrapped her arm around me, pulling me into her "She was a stubborn one" she laughed "Always searching for her purpose in this world, always chasing after something" she sighed "but I'd never seen her more happy than I did with you, with JJ. You both were everything to her"

"I know" I replied "I just miss her"

"I miss her too" She pulled me in for another squeeze and we sat in silence for a while listening to the breeze nudge the trees, it was soothing. Maria shot me a smile and started to pick herself up "JJ's back home. Lev said he did really good this morning. A real natural" she smiled

"I'm glad, everything went well?"

"Yeah small patrol route, just ease him into it. He doesn't have to go out though, there isn't much need for it anymore. There's plenty he can do here, at home"

"I know, but he's got a bee in his bonnet and once he's set his mind on something It's hard to get him out of it, so it's best just to let him get on with it for a while"

Maria laughed "reminds me of someone I used to know" She looked over at the graves and back at me "Well I best be off, I'll see you tonight"

"See ya" I waved

I picked up the flowers and knelt down in front of Ellie's grave, carefully placing them down on the dirt "You best be waiting for me wherever you are…I hope you're with Joel, your mum, even Riley. Just don't be having too much fun without me. One day I hope I see you again, what I would do to get a glimpse of those green eyes, that freckled face, your goofy smile" I sighed "I know one day I'll be with you again" I got back to my feet ready to leave "I love you so much Ellie" I whispered before turning and heading for the exit, back to the main street, back to JJ.

Robert Kirkman - "Personally ... I hate knowing what's coming" - On the abrupt ending of the walking dead comics

So thats the end of this story & thank you ever so much for sticking with this story, seeing it out to the end! This is the first story I have written to the end that had so many chapters! It was one hell of a ride and i really enjoyed it.

I'm sorry I killed Ellie off (i really didn't want to!) but I just felt it needed to be done, it was the only way to stop the cycle of death.

I wanted to show that people can move on, be better one bad choice wont define your life. Ellie was changing in this story, she forgave herself, forgave Abby and I wanted Dina to do that too. I think If Ellie was there she would have asked Abby to stay in Jackson and settle down.