Chapter 110-Hope
Carl's P.O.V
Carl sat on Rick's couch on the day of the wedding, rubbing his hands as he looked at them tightly. He looked at Michonne as she walked downstairs, smiling at his expression. "You have cold feet yet?"
"No," Carl says. "I've never been more sure about anything."
"I know." Michonne says as she sits down beside him.
Carl sighed "More anxious to get this over with. I love Enid, Michonne. I do."
"I know you do." She put a hand on his face, and smiled with wet eyes "I'm not your real Mom Carl. But I'm so proud of you."
"You may not be my Mom by blood, Michonne, but you are my Mom" This caused her eyes to widen more as tears started to fall as Carl touched her shoulder "I couldn't imagine this day without you here. I couldn't imagine this world without you. You brought me back from a dark spot, Michonne. At the prison, during the war, It was you. You helped Dad too. I told Negan I need him there, but I need you more." Carl says. Michonne smiles as he hugs her son.
Daryl's P.O.V
Daryl walked up to Maggie as she walked through the streets of Alexandria, lips bitten and pacing "Hey." He says to her, causing her to look up as if broken from thoughts. "You ready for today?"
"I am I just..." Maggie says for a moment then looked down, almost embarrassed to admit it. "I'm sorry Daryl I...I just can't stop thinking about him."
"I know," Daryl says softly, knowing who she was talking about. "You know he would be happy for you, though, right? This is what he would have wanted. Glenn wanted you to be happy above all else."
"I know, He would," Maggie says after a moment, pausing. Then nodded, looking back up at him. "I am happy."
"I...I made you something, or I had Earl make you something." Daryl says, Maggie, noticing his stutter, as he reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a necklace. He holds it out to Maggie, who takes it and looks at the initials on it. It had a heart engraved in it with the letters M, G, H, and A in it.
"Thank you, Daryl." Maggie says softly, beaming at it. "It's beautiful. Can you help me put it on?"
Daryl nods as he takes the necklace and puts it around her neck. "Looks good."
"I gotta go get ready, but thank you again," Maggie tells him. Daryl nods as he hugs her and kisses her cheek before she walks away, clearly spirits lifted.
Rick's P.O.V
Rick walked into the room Carl was getting ready in and looked at his son as he put his suit on. "You look damn handsome Carl," Rick says, making him look at him.
"I know, must get it from the other side of the family." Michonne teased, kissing Rick's cheek, causing him to laugh heartily.
Carl smiles as Michonne walks in. "I need to tell you two something," Rick tells them. "Sit."
Carl and Michonne look at him, confused, as they sit across from Rick. "A year ago, I went to see Lilly, and she told me there was a chance my leg could heal."
"A year ago? Why are we just hearing about this now?" Michonne asks him with a little bit of anger in her voice, Carl looking at him wide eyed then at his Mother figure...likely worrying if her katana was nearby
"Because I didn't want to get your hopes up." Rick said a bit hasty, raising his hands. "The only people who knew were Daryl and Enid. I'm telling you now because I recently saw her, and she told me that there is a good chance I'll be walking again within the next year."
Carl and Michonne look at Rick in shock before a large smile forms on Carl's face. "That's amazing, Dad," Carl says as he hugs his father. "I understand why you kept it but keep us updated from now on, please."
"I will I promise." Rick says as he stands up. "You pissed?" He asks Michonne, who shakes her head as she hugs him.
"A bit. What about the others?"
Rick shook his head "No not right now. This is Carl, Enid, Al, and Maggie's big day. I'm not taking that from them."
Beth's P.O.V
Beth and Maggie sat in Aaron's house, getting ready as they were in front of a mirror, Beth brushing her sister's hair. "What do you think Daddy would say if you could see us?" Beth asks her softly.
"I think he would tell us how proud of us he is, at least I hope." Maggie says as she looks at her sister. "I wish Daddy was here. I wish Shawn, Otis, Patricia, and Mama were here for this, they should be here." Maggie says as a few tears form in her eyes. Beth smiles as she hugs Maggie.
"They are," Beth says. "Shawn would be giving us both so much crap. We both fell in love at the end of the world. We both also fell for another woman so that would surprise them."
"Daddy would have loved Tara and Al," Maggie says reassuringly.
"He would have, and Glenn would have loved Al." Beth tells her. "They all would have loved her." Maggie nods as Beth hugs her again. "Hey, no tears, not yet."
Maggie chuckles Then heard a noise behind them.
"Awww!" They both turn around and look at Arya, who is standing in the doorway with a dress, braids in her hand and a huge grin.
"How long have you been there?" Maggie asks, raising an eyebrow at her surrogate granddaughter.
"I don't know, long enough?" Arya says with a cheeky grin.
Maggie rolled her eyes "I know where you get that cheek from."
Arya didn't press the issue as she walked inside...then suddenly looked hesitant "Uh...Aunt Beth? Grandma? Would...um...would they have liked me?"
Maggie's eyes softened and took Arya's face in her hands "Sweetheart they would have adored you."
"Probably give Daddy a heart attack from how much you need to soap you mouth out." Beth cheekily said back.
"Ha. Ha." Arya rolled her eyes then beamed "Oh can I help too?"
"OK Ok sure." Beth and Maggie nodded, laughing as the excited young woman ran over already darting around to help.
Church of Alexandria
No one's P.O.V
Carl and Al stood at the front of the church. Beside Carl stood Michonne, Daryl, and Shane, and beside Al stood John, Madison, and Morgan. In between them stood Gabriel. Carl looked around the church and smiled when he saw Negan standing in the back with Kate next to him with Javier and Gabe.
He seemed to notice that Kate seemed to almost shyly blush as she gave Negan a glance, but the man didn't seem to notice as he grinned at him and held his thumbs up, making Carl chuckle as the doors to the church opened. Everybody stood and looked at the door as Beth, Tara, and Alicia walked in slowly, and beside them were Arya, Rosita, and Clementine. They slowly walked up to the front and stood as Earl entered with Enid on his arm, and Maggie entered with Rick holding her arm, smiling wide. The church was silent as Rick and Earl led Maggie and Enid to the front, grinning ear to ear.
Once they reached the front, Rick hugged Maggie to kiss her forehead while Earl hugged and kissed Enid's cheek as the two women stood across from the person they were marrying. Gabriel watched as they sat and smiled as he looked around.
"Today, we gather to celebrate the love between Carl Grimes and Enid Rhee and the love between Maggie Rhee and Althea Szewczyk-Przygocki. I have known all four of you for a very long time, and I have watched you all grow."
"I watched Carl grow from the strong young man he was to the man who now leads Alexandria, the man who lets mercy prevail over his wraith." Carl smiled at the priest in thanks as Rick gave a soft smile while Negan from the back gave a soft snort, knowing well enough the importance of that phrase
"Enid grew from the closed-off girl she was to a mother and one of my most trusted allies and friends." She wiped her eye as Earl and Tammy held hands while Aaron wiped a tear away, giving Jesus a shrug as he looked at him amused.
"Al, from the woman who just cared about getting the story to a woman with a family she would happily die for."
Althea smiled, knowing that was true as Madison and Alicia grinned at each other while Strand tipped his head to her.
"Maggie, from a woman who fought for her family at all costs to a woman who fights for not just her family but everybody, for the new world."
Maggie gave the priest a tearful smile as Beth smiled at her sister comfortingly, while Michonne and Tara smiled wider.
"It has been my honor to watch you all grow, and it is my honor to be standing here today. Today proves that everything we have fought for has been worth it, that our friends and family who died did not do so in vain, and proves that every day after today will get better, and we will make the world deserving of those friends and family. Of our children and us, I do believe you have prepared your own vows." Gabriel says.
Carl nods as he looks at Enid. "When I first met you, you looked at me like I was a mystery and one you wanted to figure out, and I'm so glad you did. Being with you has proved to me that no matter the odds, this world is worth fighting for, and I know that as long as I'm standing with you, we'll beat those odds and protect our daughter and friends as long as we can. I love you, Enid, and every day I spend with you will be the best day of my life."
Enid smiles and wipes some tears from her eyes. "I was lost and broken after my parents died. It wasn't Alexandria that fixed me, Carl. It wasn't Ron or Glenn. It was you. You were a beacon of hope, and you have been the light that I turn to when days grow dark. Meeting you was the best thing to ever happen to me, and as long as you're alive. The light in me, in all of us, will shine brighter and brighter each day. I love you, Carl Grimes, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you and our wild child." Enid says, making everybody chuckle and Arya pouted, but shrugged conceding.
Maggie looks at Al and nods. "When I came here, I came looking for a story, that was all, and it was all I cared about. Never did I imagine I would meet someone like you, someone so strong and good. I've made a lot of mistakes in my life, but this is not one of them. I love you, Maggie Rhee, and every day with you is better than any story out there. I've never been more glad that I was forced to babysit." Al says while looking at Daryl once again, making everybody snort at that, while Daryl rolled his eyes at that good naturedly.
Maggie stays silent for a moment before she speaks. "When you came here with Daryl, I was in a dark place. My anger and want for revenge had consumed me. I didn't care who I hurt. I just wanted revenge. But you helped pull me out of that. You saved me, Al, and you gave my son a father. You taught me that it is okay to let go and have fun and to accept change, and even when I made stupid decisions, you were there by my side through it all, and I can never repay for it. You brought me back to life, and I love you."
Gabriel smiles and nods. "Rings?" Hershel and Judith stand up and bring the rings up to them. "Carl, do you swear to stand by Enid, through sickness, and through health, for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do." Carl says as he puts Lori's ring on Enid's finger.
"Enid, do you swear to stand by Carl through sickness and through health for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do." She says as she slides Rick's ring onto Carl's finger.
"Maggie, do you swear to stand by Al through sickness and through health as long as you both shall live?" Gabriel asks.
"I do." Maggie says as she slides her ring onto Al's finger.
"Al, do you swear to stand by Maggie through sickness and through health as long as you both shall live?"
"I do." Al says as she slides the ring on.
"Then by the power vested in me by the grace of God and the Holy Catholic Church, I now pronounce thee to be husband and wife and partner and partner. You may now kiss your bride!" Gabriel finishes with a grin as Carl kisses Enid and Al kisses Maggie causing the church to thunderous cheers.
Night
That night Alexandria could be heard from a mile away because of music and talking. Daryl walked up to Rick, who sat beside himself, watching everybody. "You getting too old to dance, old man?" Daryl asks with a smirk.
"I was waiting to watch you fall on your ass, asshole." Rick says with a smile as he looks around. "Back at the quarry, you ever think we would make it this far?"
"No, I thought I would kill you, or you would kill me," Daryl says bluntly, making Rick look at him and chuckle. "But we did it, and we've continued to make it better. We will continue to do that."
"Yes, we will." Rick says as he holds his glass up to Daryl. "To the family and friends we've lost and to the new world."
"Cheers," Daryl says as he clinks their glasses together. "Now come on, Officer Friendly. We have a party to celebrate."
Rick smiles as Alicia walks over to Daryl and grabs his hand. "Have fun, brother." Rick says with a smirk as Alicia drags him away, and soon Rick stands to go find Michonne.
Negan's P.O.V
The next day
Negan woke up the next day with a headache. He looked around the room and realized he was in Gabriel's spare room. Letting out a groan, he stretched and froze as his hand touched flesh.
"What the fuck?"
He looked over and looked at the person beside him as she brought herself up and looked at him bug-eyed.
Negan and Kate stare at each other for a moment as Kate grinned weakly "Uh...hi?"
"...Oh...shit." Was all the usually talkative man had to say.
Daryl's P.O.V
Knocking on the door, the archer grumbled as he rubbed his head...Gabriel opened the door to a neutral face "Yes Daryl?"
"Yeah Gabe, where's the asshole? He's on watch back home and I don't give a fuck how hungover he is." Daryl said curtly, already midday.
"...Oh yes. He's upstairs. You can just head on in." The priest let Daryl inside, heading upstairs.
Heading into the room, he barged in stopping when he sees Kate standing in the room with her underwear and bra on and her shirt unbuttoned.
Letting out a thunderous shriek, she pulled the sheet and covered herself "Jesus Daryl what the fuck!?"
Daryl just stared, utterly thrown, as Negan walks out of the bathroom without a shirt on and looks at him with a sheepish grin. "Oh, uh, hey boss, how's your morning?"
He remained silent as he stares at the two in silent shock before he shakes his head. "Nope, too early for this shit." Daryl says as he turns around and leaves the room. He walks downstairs and looks at Gabriel, who is standing by the door still with a big smile. "Burn this house down. I'm gonna go cut my eyes out!" Daryl yelled at the priest as he almost runs out of the house, and Gabriel stares at the room upstairs.
"Well, you heard him, time to get up Negan!" Gabriel shouts.
"Shut the fuck up, Gabe!" Negan shouts from upstairs, making Gabriel start to laugh.
Thanks for reading. That is it for the wedding, and we have one more time skip before the Whisper war and. I'm so excited for the next one, as it will be the final piece we need to go into the w