The trucks moved down the dock then came to a stop and Carol looked at the Blue Dolphin. They had been able to stay at a few inns and she smiled at the memory of Mercer having to sleep in one of the trucks. She knew he said he was guarding the trucks, but she knew he didn't want them to be sent away after whoever ran the inn saw him.
"Looks like Negan was wrong," she said, looking at Daryl. "He said they would have left without us."
"Guess they don't wanna die," Daryl said, opening the driver's side door. He got out of the truck while Mike walked to him and Mike looked at the crew mates standing at the top of the gangplank. "Think they're gonna cause trouble?"
"Nope," Mike said while Dawsons walked to them and Mike looked at Dawsons. "Go get us ready to set sail."
"Aye, Captain," Dawsons said and Daryl frowned.
"Trask was killed after he failed to deliver you to whoever had you kidnapped."
"Hmph," Daryl said and they went to go get the plastic containers.
The Blue Dolphin
The moonlight shimmered off the water while Carol stood at the railing and she looked out at the darkness. She held onto the railing while the soft breeze moved through her hair and she sighed.
"Nice night," Daryl said, walking to her. She turned to look at him and he slid his arms around her waist.
"Excited about going home?" Carol asked.
"We ain't goin' straight home. Caroline told me Murphy wants to take her to Ireland."
"He does?"
"It was somethin' he promised to do before…," he said then paused. He knew Caroline hadn't told everyone everything about her, Murphy and Connor, but he knew Carol wouldn't judge them. "Before they went to prison."
"They were in prison!?"
"Yeah. Look. It's a really long story. Just know Murphy and Connor would never do anythin' to put her in danger," he said then lightly placed his right index finger on her lips. "Ok. She got shot helpin' them, but that wasn't on them. The guy who shot her was an asshole. What I'm tryin' to say is this is somethin' she wants to do. Mike said they need to stop at a port not far from where Murphy and Connor lived for supplies anyway. I'll go with 'em and make sure nothin' happens."
"Do you think she'll mind if I go, too? Never been to Ireland," Carol said after lowering his hand.
"I don't see why she'd say no," he said then ducked his head.
"Daryl…," Carol said and he looked at her. "Be honest with me. Do you still want to go there? New Mexico, I mean."
"No. I don't. I have had enough travelin' fer one lifetime," he said and he took hold of her hands.
"What about going out and seeing what's out there?"
"Seen enough. It's just the same old shit."
"Still want to get on your bike and ride?"
"That ain't gonna change. Just not gonna go far."
"What about looking for Rick and Michonne?"
"Not sure what to do about that."
"Sounds to me like you want to retire and sit all day in a rocking chair on a porch."
"I ain't that old," he said and she laughed.
"I'm teasing you, Pookie."
"Been a long time since you called me that."
He moved in to kiss her lips and she lightly swung their hands side-to-side. He moved back and she brushed some hair out of his face after letting go of his left hand.
"What about you? Still wanna go to New Mexico?" he asked.
"No. I don't. Not just because I'm busy doing Lance's old job. I'm finally happy where I am."
"Hmph."
"Still want to go with you when you got out on your bike."
Nodding, he let go of her left hand as he leaned against the railing and he placed his elbows on the top of the railing. He looked out at the moonlit water and he sighed.
"Found out the guy who kidnapped me and Caroline has connections with Milton," he said.
"He does?"
"Yeah."
"Did his first name begin with an "A"?"
"Yeah. His name was Andre Du Monte. His brother's name was Anton. They were twin brothers. Anton was the one who gave us some of the information we brought onboard."
"How did he get hold of the information?"
"He was one of the scientists who made the virus that caused all this. Was workin' on a cure when things went to shit. He downloaded the information, made a hard copy of the information and his servant…butler…whatever he was gave it to us."
"And you're sure the information is legit?"
"Nope. Only someone like Eugene can tell us that."
Carol frowned as he waited for her to say something and she told him about the note she had found in Pamela's office. He told her about the photographs they had found in Andre and Anton's offices and she sighed.
"Lance also told us she would send people to her "friends" and the people never came back," Carol said.
"Damn," he said as the wind turned colder and the sky started to grow darker. "Looks like a storm's comin'."
"We better get below."
"Yeah. Not sure if the kids can handle a storm at sea."
"Judith, RJ and Hershel were fine when we had one during our trip to France."
"I'm talkin' about Chandler, Mark, Peter and Nikki."
Nodding, she held his right hand as they headed for the door which led below deck and he opened the door. They headed inside as the first drops of rain fell and the door closed behind them.
Ireland
The van moved down the street while Daryl steered the van around the abandoned cars, vans and trucks and Connor looked at the map on his lap.
Murphy, Carol and Caroline were in the backseat and Murphy held onto Caroline's right hand. Carol looked at the Walkers heading down the sidewalk and she noticed some of them took a swing at the ones which walked into them.
"Chompies don't get along," Murphy said and she looked at him.
"Is that what you call them?" she asked and he nodded.
Daryl glanced at the Chompies heading across the street as he stopped the van and one of the Chompies turned its head to look at the van. The Chompy was male with dark hair tucked under a tatter flat cap and his right ear was missing. A large bite mark was on the right side of his neck and dried blood covered the right side of the denim jacket. The dried blood covered the white fleece sweater and white shirt as well. The Chompy wore jeans and work boots and the sunlight shimmered off the blade of the knife in the Chompy's left hand.
"Hang on," Connor said as he opened the window, slid the gun with a silencer out the window and fired the gun. The Chompy's head exploded as the body fell to the ground and Daryl backed up the van. He steered the van down a side street and Connor closed the window.
"Which way?" Daryl asked and Connor looked at the map on his lap.
"Keep goin' straight then turn left," Connor said.
Daryl steered the van down the side street then made a left turn and Connor looked at the map on his lap.
"Keep goin' straight then turn right and exit onto th'main street."
Daryl nodded as he steered the van and the van headed for the main street. Connor looked at the map on his lap then looked at Daryl.
"Keep goin' straight. It's th'third buildin' on th'left."
Nodding, Daryl steered the van when Connor pointed and Daryl pulled the van up to the curb. They left the van after Daryl turned the engine off and they closed the doors.
Caroline stood next to Murphy as she looked up at the red brick building and he slid her left hand into his right hand.
"Which floor?" Daryl asked.
"Third floor," Connor said and they headed up the stairs.
Daryl noticed the trash on the cement stairs as he held the crossbow in his hands and Carol walked next to him. She held the gun tightly in her hands and Daryl looked at the door. He turned the door handle then cautiously opened the door. The sour smell caused them to cough while Daryl quickly looked inside, but it was too dark to see clearly if there was anyone in the hallway.
"Here," Carol said as she handed him the flashlight and he lowered the crossbow to take the flashlight from her. He checked behind the door then nodded and they headed into the hallway. Murphy, Connor and Caroline followed them as Daryl shined the light around the hallway and they stood silent in the hallway.
Daryl headed for the staircase as he shined the light up the stairs, turned and motioned for them to follow him. They carefully walked up the stairs then paused as Daryl checked the stairwell and he nodded his head. They walked up to the third floor when Connor went to stand next to Daryl and Connor pointed down the hallway. They walked down the hallway while Daryl shined the light in the other apartments, but nothing moved. They didn't hear any growled or hissing and Connor and Murphy stopped at the doorway to the apartment which had been home for most of their lives.
"Here we are," Connor said. He opened the door as he headed into the apartment then Murphy and Caroline then Carol and Daryl. Daryl closed the door as he scanned the living room/dining room/kitchen with his eyes while Carol headed for the stove and she made a small cough after smelling the sour smell coming from the pot on the stove.
"What is that smell?" Carol asked.
"Whiskey. Ma used it t'cook nearly everythin'," Murphy said.
Caroline was looking at the frame photographs on the shelves of the bookcase as she picked up the frame photograph of infant Murphy and infant Connor and their father, Noah. She remembered how stern he looked the first time she met him, but the man in the photograph was smiling. Daryl felt mixed feeling coming from his sister as he walked over and he looked at the framed photograph.
"Who's that?" Daryl asked.
"That's Murphy, Connor and their dad," Caroline said.
"Hmph."
"What are you lookin' at?" Murphy asked as he walked closer then saw the framed photograph. Caroline handed the framed photograph to him and Daryl noticed the sad look in Murphy's eyes.
"Somethin' wrong?" Daryl asked.
"Jus' rememberin' what Da told us jus' before we got arrested."
"I did notice you were hidin' somethin' back at the cathedral," Caroline said.
"What did he tell you?" Daryl asked.
"He was… He was dyin'. Cancer," Connor said while he and Carol walked to them. Murphy handed his brother the framed photograph and Connor looked at their father's smiling face. "Da started feelin' sick while we were in exile. Didn't want us t'worry. Told us he was ok. But we'd wake up t'him coughin' and I found a few handkerchiefs with blood on 'em. Uncle took him to th'hospital before we left fer Boston. Said it was jus' fer a checkup. Da was there fer nearly a week. When he came back, he kept sayin' he was fine. He finally told us that he was dyin'. That what we were gonna do was how he wanted t'go out."
"He also gave me his blessin'," Murphy said as he slid his right arm around Caroline's waist. "That he wanted me t'finally have th'peace I was denyin' myself fer all those years."
"Wish I coulda been able to say goodbye," Caroline whispered.
Daryl and Murphy noticed the look in Caroline's eyes as she sighed and Murphy pulled her closer. She felt a sense of peace in his arms and Daryl slid the framed photograph in the backpack he placed on the floor.
"Is there anything you want to take with you?" Carol asked after a few seconds.
"Yeah. There is," Connor said, handing her the other framed photographs then he and Murphy headed for the master bedroom. Daryl followed them as he watched Connor and Murphy remove a suitcase from the wardrobe and Connor placed the suitcase on the bed.
"Need some help?" Daryl asked.
"No. B I want t'show you summat," Murphy said and they headed for the dresser while Connor removed the photograph albums from the bookcase near the window. Daryl noticed the framed photographs, a small Bible and a jewelry box on the top of the dresser and Murphy opened the jewelry box. Murphy looked through the rings when he picked up two tarnished rings with clear gemstones and he held the rings in his left hand.
"When Ma… When Uncle had to put Ma down… He removed the ring Da had given t'her and gave th'ring t'Connor. Said she always wanted him t'have it. He gave that ring t'Katherine. I found a ring in a shop fer Jeanie," Murphy explained as he looked at one of the rings and he sighed. "These rings? One of 'em is her ma's ring. Th'other was a present Da had given Ma when me and Connor were born. Ma didn't question where he had gotten th'money. Guess she thought it was either stolen or he had gotten paid fer doin' whatever it was he was doin'."
"What do you wanna do with 'em?" Daryl asked.
"If it's alright with you, I want t'give one t'Caroline."
"You mean like an engagement ring?"
"Yeah," he said with a nod.
"Hmph."
"You wouldn't mind me marryin' her?"
"You shoulda done that a long time ago."
"Yeah."
"No. I don't mind."
"I'm done over here. You find anythin'?" Connor asked and Murphy slid the rings into his jeans pocket.
"Jus' lookin' in her jewelry box," Murphy said.
"Did you check the drawers?'
"Don't think there's anythin' in there."
"Let's go," Daryl said after he placed the Bible and framed photographs in the backpack and they left the room. He saw Carol placing some edible food, some knifes and other pieces of silverware and some pots in boxes she had found. "Where's Caroline?"
"She went in the other bedroom," Carol said. Daryl and Murphy headed for the bedroom as they walked inside and Caroline was standing near one of the beds. On the bed was the suitcase she found in the wardrobe and she was looking at wooden M on the wall about the bed.
"Hey," Daryl said and she turned to face them.
"Sorry. Just tryin' to figure out what to pack," Caroline said and Murphy walked to her.
"We took most of our stuff with us when we moved t'Boston," Murphy said while sliding his arms around her waist. Daryl walked around the room as he looked at the boxes of boardgames, the stack of comic books and books on the bookcase near the window and he picked up one of the books.
"You think the kids would like these?" Daryl asked as he showed them the books.
"Yeah. Not sure about th'boardgames. Some of 'em don't have all the pieces."
"Know which ones have all the piece?"
"Yeah."
Daryl picked up the books and comic books while Murphy looked through the boardgames and they walked to the bed. They placed the comic books, boardgames and the books in the suitcase and Caroline noticed the tattered ribbon and the tarnished medal on the end of the ribbon hanging on the M.
"What's this?" she asked and Murphy looked at the medal.
"I got that fer winning an art contest when I was nine," Murphy said, removing the ribbon and carefully placed the ribbon in the suitcase.
"Art work?" Daryl asked.
"Used t'draw and paint."
"Why'd you stop?" Caroline asked.
"Connor and my friends teased th'hell outta me."
Caroline saw the tatter ribbon and tarnished ribbon hanging on the C over Connor's bed and she walked to the bed, removing the ribbon from the C.
"Connor won that fer wrestlin' when we were in school."
Caroline placed the ribbon in the suitcase and Murphy knelt down next to his old bed. He looked under the bed when he slid out a dust leather satchel and he held the satchel in his hands.
"This is where I kept my drawin' pads, pencils and color pencils."
"Here," she said as Caroline took hold of the satchel and she placed the satchel in the suitcase. Murphy got to his feet as Caroline closed the suitcase and Daryl lifted the suitcase off the bed. They left the room as Carol and Connor looked at them and Connor had the suitcase for the master bedroom near his right foot.
"Ready to go?" Carol asked.
"Yeah," Daryl said.
They headed for the door when Daryl held the crossbow in his hands He headed for the door as he opened the door and he looked into the hallway. He didn't hear any growling or hissing and he walked out of the apartment. He nodded for them to follow him and Murphy and Connor picked up the boxes while Caroline and Carol picked up the suitcases. They headed out of the apartment as Connor used his right foot to close the door and they walked to the top of the staircase.
"Hang on," Daryl said. He walked down the stairs as he checked the stairwells then nodded his head.
A short time later, they arrived at the front door and Daryl carefully opened the door. He sighed after seeing some Chompies near the van and he closed the door.
"We got company," Daryl said. Carol used the window by the door to see the Chompies and she placed the suitcases on the floor. Connor placed the boxes on the floors and Murphy placed the other boxes next to the boxes. Caroline and Carol placed the suitcases near the foot of the stairs. Connor and Murphy removed the guns with silencers from the pocket of their black Navy pea coats and Carol removed the gun with a silencer from the holster on her right hip. Caroline held the crossbow in her hands as she went to stand next to her brother and he slowly opened the door.
"Shit," Caroline whispered as she looked at the Chompies near the van and one of the Chompies turned to look at them.
"How many are out there?" Carol asked.
"I count six," Daryl said, stepping outside and Caroline followed him. The Chompies growled and hissed at them then moved toward the stairs and Connor, Murphy and Carol walked outside. Daryl took aim at a male Chompy with blonde hair and green eyes and the Chompy was wearing a bloodstained white shirt, jeans and work boots. Daryl fired the crossbow while Connor, who had placed the silencer on the gun, fired the gun and the heads of the Chompy heading for Daryl and the Chompy walking around the van exploded.
"Shit!" Caroline grumbled as one of the Chompies climbed up onto the top of the van then jumped into the air and Caroline fired the crossbow. The crossbow bolt hit the Chompy in the forehead and the body felt onto the stairs. Carol fired the gun twice as the heads of the Chompies heading up the stairs exploded and Murphy fired the gun, killing the final Chompy.
"Let's go," Daryl said. They moved the bodies out of the way then went to get the boxes and suitcases, placed the boxes and suitcases in the back of the van and Daryl closed the doors at the back of the van. They got in the van as they close the doors and Daryl started the engine. He put the van in gear then steered the van down the street and he strummed his fingers on the steering wheel.
The Blue Dolphin
The sounds of laughter and talking filled the canteen while Dog ate the cooked meat in the metal bowl and its tail moved back and forth.
Daryl sat next to Carol as he thought about the ring that he had in his jeans pocket and he tried to figure out how to ask Carol to marry him. She glanced at him from time-to-time and he gave her a shy smile.
Murphy sat next to Caroline while Nikki sat on his lap and Caroline smiled at him trying to convince Nikki to eat the carrots on her plate.
"Go ahead," Murphy whispered a few seconds later as Nikki reached into his shirt pocket and Connor felt nervous feelings and apprehension coming from his brother. Nikki removed the ring out of the pocket as she held the ring in her hand and Connor noticed the ring was the one their mother said was their grandmother's ring. Murphy had found something to clean the ring and Daryl had used it to clean the ring he wanted to give Carol.
"It's so pretty," Nikki said.
"Yeah. It is," Murphy said then took the ring before looking at Caroline. Caroline saw a nervous look in his eyes as she turned on the chair to face him and Murphy cleared his throat.
"Is that fer me?" Caroline asked. She felt her stomach tightening as Murphy looked at the ring and the light shimmered off the small sapphire.
"Uh…," he said as he tried to clear his head then he lightly shook his head. "From th'moment you opened th'door and pointed a gun at me…."
"She pointed a gun at you?!" Lance asked with wide eyes and Maggie hushed him.
"From that moment, I knew there was summat special about you," Murphy continued and Caroline licked her lips. Daryl felt the mixed feeling moving through her and he glanced from her to Murphy then back. "You were so lost, lonely and scared. Didn't know who t'trust and what was 'round th'next corner. Th'night I accidentally locked myself outta my place, you let me into yers and I had a feelin' you felt safe havin' me there."
"I did," Caroline whispered.
"We had our ups and downs, ins and outs and there were times when I thought I had lost you ferever."
"I thought I had lost you, too."
"Guess I shoulda believed in this," he said as Murphy reached for the leather cord around her neck and she slid the wooden cross out from under her shirt. "I said it would lead you back t'me and it did. Anyway… What I wanna know is will you marry me?"
Caroline felt eyes on her as she looked at the ring, at Murphy then smiled at him while holding out her left hand.
"Does this answer yer question?" she asked and he slid the ring on her left ring finger. Both were surprised to find the ring fit her finger. He leaned in for a kiss as she moved her fingers through his hair and the room was filled with cheers, hoots and applause.
"I love you," Murphy whispered as he moved back and placed his forehead against hers.
"I know," she whispered and he laughed.
"What's so funny?" Nikki asked.
"When she says that, she's sayin' she loves me," Murphy explained and Nikki giggled.
Daryl felt the joy coming from his sister when he stood, walked over to Caroline and she stood up. She locked eyes with him when Daryl smiled and he hugged her.
"Yer turn," she whispered.
"What?" he whispered
"Yer turn to ask Carol to marry you. Don't want to be the only one with a happy endin'."
"Not yet," he whispered and she saw the truth in his eyes. Nodding, she moved back and Connor stood with his glass of beer in his left hand.
"T'Murphy and Caroline!" Connor said.
"To Murphy and Caroline!" the others said as Daryl looked at Carol and she softly smiled at him.