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In the end, it wasn't exactly the way Hershel had imagined it would be. The women had banded together, taking on the wedding as a personal project. It was the first normalcy any of them had felt in a long time, and it gave the folks from Woodbury and the original occupants of the prison a way to bond with one another. Hershel approved. Even more when he saw how happy his girl was, how much in love she was.

He stood there at the front of the group, waiting for Maggie, watching her appear at the top of the aisle, so pretty in her white dress. How she looked like her mother.

It occurred to him how lucky he was, how few of the people here who had been parents would ever have the chance to see their children married, or happy; how few would ever have their own family at any life event moving forward. And here he was and he had both of his girls here, safe as was possible in this new world.

Some of the Woodbury folks were singing, led by Beth, as Maggie walked down the aisle, her eyes on Glenn, shining with happiness. This was what it was for, Hershel reminded himself. This was what all the fighting and the running and the hiding and the learning to kill and defend themselves was for, to preserve some kind of peace and happiness, some kind of joy.

He opened his Bible, clearing his throat and blinking away tears as the words blurred in front of him, watching as Maggie reached out a hand for Glenn, as the two of them turned to him, side by side, in perfect trust.

The marriage service was fairly simple, and everyone here knew it well—TV and movies had seen to that, as well as their own lives. And Hershel was grateful for that, as his voice faltered trying to say the words, as Rick stepped forward to hold the Bible so Hershel didn't drop it from trembling hands, as Beth's clear voice helped him through. Maggie and Glenn smiled at Hershel's open emotion, repeating their vows in strong voices, sure voices.

And when it was done, instead of exhorting Glenn to kiss his bride as was tradition, Hershel stepped forward and took them both in his arms. His daughter, and the young man who was now his son in every way that mattered. The three of them held each other. And then Beth joined in, and Rick, and Carl, all of them weeping together.

It didn't surprise Hershel that neither Carol or Daryl stepped forward from the front row to join in the cyring, or that Michonne didn't. All three of them were people who liked to keep a certain amount of distance around them, to protect themselves from emotion. He hoped someday they would learn to open up and live, but he couldn't blame them for not doing so, not the way the world was today.

At last the communal embrace ended. Hershel withdrew a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his eyes. "Where was I? Oh, yes. You may—you may kiss the bride."

"Finally," Rick said, and everyone laughed. Even Glenn and Maggie, as they leaned toward each other and sealed their promises to one another with the traditional kiss.

The party afterward was somewhat subdued. Everyone knew the walkers were still pressing at the fences surrounding the prison, that the nearby areas were picked over and that medicines and food were increasingly hard to find. They also knew that the Governor was still out there somewhere, and many of them felt that vague menace in a way they couldn't quite shake.

But somehow they had managed reasonable wedding feast, including a cake, and a half-decent one at that, Hershel thought, scraping crumbs off his plate with his fork. And there was music, and dancing. Other people were coupling up as well, he could see. He wondered if Glenn and Maggie would start a trend, if other weddings would follow. And maybe someday there would be children again.

Maggie came and sat next to him, putting her hand over his. "Thank you, Daddy."

"My pleasure, punkin. Your mother would be so proud of you."

"You think so?"

"Oh, yes. My strong girl."

"And you—you're okay with … with Glenn?"

Hershel's hand tightened on hers. "More than okay," he assured her. "I never would have thought, before, but … He's a good man. A strong man, and one with a good heart. He'll take care of you."

"I can take care of myself."

He smiled as Maggie bristled. "Then you can take care of him. That's what marriage is, a give and take, a filling in where the other one needs something. All I know is I can rest easy knowing Glenn will be there for you, and for the others."

"Don't talk like that, Daddy."

"I won't," he promised. But she didn't understand. Death was very close to them now, to all of them, every day, and he wasn't getting any younger. The missing leg didn't help, either. If they ever had to run again, he would slow them down as much as anything else. But today wasn't the day for those kind of thoughts. For once, they could push the idea of death away, as much as they ever could. "You go ahead and dance with your husband."

"My husband." She smiled, reaching out a hand, and Glenn came to her. The two of them danced away and Hershel sat and watched them, as content as he could be. Even in the destruction of the world, they had found each other. A fairy tale if he had ever seen one.