Hey guys! So this is it! This is the end of This Strange World and I can't believe this but I actually have tears in my eyes right now. It's just a little bittersweet that this is the last chapter of Brooke and Daryl. I have all these feels! You guys have been super amazing, I mean fantastic! I could not have done this without you guys and I applaud and thank each and every one of you! I love y'all so much and I'm cyber hugging you right now! I loved writing both this story and Their King County Past every minute and it's sad that I won't be coming home and sitting on my computer wondering about what Brooke and Daryl should experience next. It's been amazing writing this story and I can't wait to write more fan fictions that I promise I will finish! Thank you for all the views, reviews, favorites, follows, and all of your support. Please leave a review because you guys are awesome! Thanks and as always, happy reading.
Chapter 27: This Strange World
Three years later:
"Daddy!" A small voice called and Daryl popped into the kitchen with a mason jar in his hands.
"Yes baby?" Daryl asked his three year old daughter.
"We have to hurry!" she said.
"You need to be patient Samantha, Momma and Dean are almost done." Daryl explained. His daughter held the mason jar tightly as she pouted. Samantha was born in December just a week before Christmas. She was a perfectly healthy baby and Daryl and Brooke were overwhelmed when they learned they had a girl.
"The lighting bugs will be gone though!" she complained and Daryl picked her up. "They'll be back home having their tea parties!" this entire situation reminded Daryl of the dream he had before the outbreak. The dream he told Brooke about when all she could think about was going home.
"Samantha Regina Dixon, they'll wait for you because everything loves you." He told her. She had dark blue eyes like Brooke that would always melt his heart, fair skin, a light river of freckles across her cheeks and nose, and chocolate brown hair. She looked like Brooke but had Daryl's temper, they were sure of that. She also looked a lot like Meemaw when she was younger and she was precious.
"I love you Daddy." She said and pressed her full, pink lips to his cheek.
"I love you too Samantha." He smiled.
"Alright now next time you have a race with Carl you pick your feet up and tie your shoe laces." Brooke told a six year old Dean, who would turn seven in September and had a band aid on his elbow. Brooke was still the most beautiful woman Daryl had ever seen and their marriage was still growing strong. Everything seemed to be growing strong. The town had expanded even more and Brooke had done the unthinkable. She had reversed engineered a vaccine from her own blood. Everyone in the town was immune now and everything was great.
"Yes Momma." Dean said. He looked more like Daryl, even more than before. While Samantha was dressed in a cute tank top and jeans with little pink sandals, Dean was wearing a t-shirt, cargo shorts, and a pair of converse. Daryl was always wearing his usual and Brooke wore some jeans and a dark green with black polka dot mid-sleeve shirt with some black converse. Dean grabbed a Mason jar and held it tightly to him. "Hey Sammie!" Dean said and kissed his little sister's cheek.
"Deanie!" She exclaimed. "Okay, can we go now?" she asked.
"Let's go!" Brooke exclaimed and they ran into their backyard. Dean and Samantha ran around their backyard laughing as the lightning bugs surrounded them. Brooke and Daryl stood there smiling as their children came back to them.
"Alright, how do we catch lightning bugs Momma?" Samantha asked.
"It's easy Sammie, I'll help you out." Dean said.
"You just unscrew the top and swoop the bugs in." Brooke explained.
"You could probably get some in your tree house too." Daryl added. "Alright, lets catch some lightnin' bugs!" Their children cheered as they began to run around. Dean helped his sister out by giving her a piggy back ride so she could catch some. Dean loved Samantha for all it was worth. If anyone was trying to be mean to her he would always step up. He wanted to be there for her and he loved playing with Samantha. He would tell and read stories to her even though Daryl did it all the time and he would sing with Brooke when Samantha needed a lullaby.
Daryl draped an arm around Brooke's shoulders and she turned her head so she could kiss him. He took her by surprise when he turned and pulled her up on his back. She laughed into his ear as she tried to hold on to him, her brown hair flowing over his shoulders.
"Catch some lightnin' bugs Momma!" Dean yelled as he and Samantha climbed into their tree house. Daryl ran across the yard as she caught the lightning bugs. She made him stop and wrapped her arms around his shoulders and kissed his cheek.
"I love you." She said softly.
"I love you too." Daryl replied. Brooke's head stayed on his shoulder and her body stayed on his back as Samantha and Dean climbed down the ladder with their jars.
"Look how many I caught Daddy! Do you see how many Momma?" Samantha enthused.
"You did catch a lot sweetie!" Brooke replied and she hopped off of Daryl's back. Dean looked into his jar in complete awe, as well as Samantha. After a little while of talking and laughing they had to release the bugs.
"Why do we have to let them go?" Samantha asked.
"Because Sammie, the lightning bugs have to go back to their homes so they can be with their families." Dean explained.
"Like us?" she asked.
"Yeah baby, like us." Daryl replied looking at Brooke. Brooke gave him a closed mouth smile but it was one filled with joy. They all released their lightning bugs into the night and they all seemed to say goodbye.
"Come on baby, I need to give you a bath." Brooke told Samantha and she nodded. Dean kissed his little sister's cheek and Daryl picked her up to kiss her cheek as well. He handed Samantha over to Brooke and he kissed her before she walked away. Daryl watched as his wife and his daughter walked into their house until he felt someone tap his shoulder.
"You're it Daddy!" Dean laughed and Daryl stood up. Dean started to run away from Daryl but Daryl caught him and engulfed him into a hug before he could get away. They fell to the grass, both laughing.
"You're it!" Daryl told his son and kissed his cheek. Dean wiggled away and Daryl only had seconds to escape.
"I'm going to beat you!" Dean exclaimed as he tried to catch his father.
Brooke was washing up Samantha as she hear 'You're its!" being cried outside. She laughed as she heard Dean's laughter. Samantha was starting to get tired as she played with her rubber ducky.
"Momma, will you sing me the sunshine song tonight?" Samantha asked.
"Of course sweetie." Brooke smiled and Samantha clapped lazily. She smacked her hands in the water and Brooke squeaked playfully as the water hit her. Brooke dried her off as she heard Dean and Daryl panting as they walked into the house.
"I'm really tired now." Dean yawned.
"Go brush your teeth and kiss your Momma and sister goodnight." Daryl told his son. "You can take a shower in the morning."
"Night Daddy, I love you." Dean said and hugged his father.
"Love you too bud, sweet dreams." He replied. Dean walked up stairs as Brooke was putting a shirt over Samantha's head.
"Night Momma, love you." Dean told her and kissed her cheek.
"Night baby, sleep tight." She kissed his cheek.
"And don't let the bed bugs bite, Sammie." Dean told his sleepy sister and kissed her chubby cheek.
"Night big brother. I love you." Samantha replied as she rested her head against Brooke's shoulder.
"I love you too Sammie." Dean went into the other bathroom to brush his teeth as Brooke began to sing to Samantha.
"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray, you'll never know dear, how much I love you, please don't take my sunshine away." She sang as she walked into Samantha's room. They had reused Dean's furniture but the blue was replaced by a pretty, frilly pink. Daryl stood in the doorway as Brooke swayed back and forth while she sang. Daryl walked over and held Samantha as he started to sing to her. He laid Samantha down in her bed and covered her up with her blanket that Carol had made her. It was her Blankie and it was her favorite thing, like the Pooh Bear was to Dean. The parents snuck out of the room and silently closed the door. Brooke wrapped her arms around his waist and he put an arm around her shoulders and held her closely. They walked into their room where she changed into some black yoga pants and white t-shirt while her hair flowed over her shoulders. Daryl just stripped to his boxers like he always did and climbed under the covers. He grabbed Brooke's wrist and pulled her down on the bed, making her squeak. He kissed her neck and she pulled the covers over her as well. She rested her head on his collarbone as they held each other.
"Alright, so how about we have a date night tomorrow?" Daryl asked and she nodded with a smile.
"That sounds really good." She replied. "I'm sure we can get Rick and Lori to watch them."
"The drive-in is showing The Princess Bride and I know that's your favorite movie. I just think it maybe a little too scary for them." Daryl explained.
"I can't wait." She replied. "I love you Daryl." She sighed as she snuggled into him.
"I love you too Brooke." Daryl replied. Seventeen years ago, he was just a guy in love with his best friend. Six years ago, they were finally together but the plague of the twenty first century almost took her away from him. Now here they were, together and with a family. He always knew that somehow they would be together, somehow they would fall in love, and somehow they would live life together. Even though this strange world was frightening and unpredictable, he had her. He had his family and he couldn't ask for anything more than that.