#maggie x glenn

[stilinski-ortiz-dolan]

[alvivaarts]

first wip of the year and its walking dead au of a favorite classic ooooooo baby I love ya wayyyyy

[rememberwhouare]

When someone asks me what my favorite ship was on The Walking Dead.

But then I just remember...

🥲

[winnie-the-monster]

[rottentiger-art]

Someone on tiktok pointed out Maggie now has known Negan longer than she has known Glenn, and I think that's reason enough to kill myself

[0clxver0]

Michonne and Glenn art!

[lunajay33]

@deansapplepie @azanoni @writer-ann-artist @ghostboneswrites2 @daryldixmedown

[daryltwdixon]

Sucker

Daryl Dixon x Reader One Shot

You're out on a run with the group when you spot a bag of candy. Surely no one in their right mind would leave them behind. Before putting them in your bag, you stick one in your mouth. Daryl is the sharing type.

original idea is from this post by : @dixonzzgirl "eating a lollipop and daryl walks right up and pulls it out of your mouth and puts it in his (or vise versa)"

You weirdly were looking forward to this run into town. The prison life was good, and easy. You loved it there. But once in a while you craved the adrenaline rush that was brought on by being outside the walls and tall gates. 

Today Maggie approached you about joining her on a run to the drug store for baby formula and potentially cold medicine if you were lucky. Judith had come down with a runny nose and they needed to up her formula amount now that she was getting bigger. Of course you agreed, and Daryl sitting next to you at breakfast offered himself as well. So it was you, him, Glenn, and Maggie on this run together. Maybe back when the world was normal you could call this a double date–except for the fact no one knew you and Daryl were a thing. You weren’t exactly sure if you could call it a relationship yet or not, but you two enjoyed each other’s company. Especially in dark corners of the prison…with your clothes off. 

You’re bringing up the back of the group with a knife in hand and assault rifle strapped on your back. 

Daryl turns around, checking to see you’re still keeping up, and when he meets your eyes he gives you a wink. You stick your tongue at him playfully, and he pulls back to walk next to you. When he’s in stride with you, he reaches behind you and pinches your jean clad butt. You yelp and swat him away, making Maggie and Glenn turn around to see what the commotion is from. You and Daryl glance at one another, and when the other two see there's nothing to worry about, you whisper to Daryl, “Don’t, they’ll see,”

“Who cares,” he mutters with a playful smile, “cats gon’ come out the bag one day, sweetheart,” he opens his stride to walk next to Glenn again. You shake your head, trying to make the blush recede from your cheeks as you follow along.

You’re jogging up the strip of stores when you take a halt in front of an old CVS Pharmacy. The windows are hazy and Glenn cups his hand around his eyes against the door to get a look inside. He looks back at the group, nods, and you all hold up your weapons, ready for the attack if needed. Glenn slowly opens the sliding door that was once automatic, and peers inside looking left to right. 

“Clear” he whispers back to the group. You lower your knife and follow inside. You immediately elongate your steps, passing the others and head toward the cold medicine aisle. On your way you pass the candy section and a lone bag on the shelf catches your eye. You smile and take the detour to grab the bag of colorfully wrapped candies. You can’t believe anyone would leave this treasure behind. Before putting it in your bag, you grab one sucker out and unwrap it, sticking it in your mouth. You sigh in ecstasy at the flavor on your tongue. It’s been a long time since you’ve had anything remotely resembling a piece of candy. Your mouth even cramps up at the feeling of how sour the sucker is to your dulled taste buds, but you revel in it as you continue on into the medicine aisle. 

Once you’ve grabbed what you needed plus a few extra things, you return to the front of the store to wait for the others.

“Daryl?” you call, and he comes out from the back room stealthily toward you. He has a small smile on his lips when he approaches you, reaching for your face. You’re hesitant, unsure what he’s going to do since it’s been clear he doesn’t show affection in front of the group back at the prison–you had both kept quiet about your frequent rendezvous in the night. You’re not entirely sure where Glenn and Maggie are at the moment, so you let your guard down for his approach.

Daryl is in front of you, and as he passes you to stand on your left, he pulls the sucker from your mouth, sticking it between his teeth while looking you in the eye. You feel blush heat your cheeks and smile back at him, with teasing eyes. Jesus, this man barely has to touch you for you to be immensely turned on by him. He is playing with the candy in his mouth and sucks deeply on it, then returns it to your mouth and puts it between your lips. The sweetness sticks to your lips and you dip your tongue out to taste it again. Daryl’s eyes are dark and he pulls the sucker away, back to his mouth again.

Maggie then clears her throat, and your blush has turned firetruck red as you glance at her and Glenn, whose eyes are wide on you both. They’re approaching from the other end of the store. Daryl plays with the sucker in his mouth to hold it in his cheek, and follows your line of vision and turns towards them. Both Glenn and Maggie look toward each other, and suddenly burst into laughter.

“Guess that cats out of the bag now,” Daryl grumbles at you, turning to head out of the store. Rolling your eyes, you follow him out. Glenn and Maggie don’t stop laughing til the car is entering the prison gates an hour later.

[book-place-incorrect-quotes]

Random person in Alexandria: Wow, your group is so strong. What’s it like being with them?

Y/N: Well, imagine being with some completely mature, civilized, and responsible people

Random person: Oh, wow! That’s great-

Y/N: *having flashbacks to every chaotic moment that has ever gone on with everyone* Now throw that image out the window

[stilinski-ortiz-dolan]

[angelwings-crossbowstrings]

-Everyone at a small gathering in Alexandria-

Carl: If you put 'violently' in front of anything to describe your action, it becomes funnier.

Enid: Violently studies.

Glenn: Violently sleeps.

Maggie: Violently looks over expansion plans.

Spencer: Violently checks out Y/N.

Y/N, looks worriedly between Spencer and Daryl: Violently kisses Daryl.

Daryl: Violently stabs the head lady’s kid.

Rick: Violently worries about the previous statement.

Y/N: Violently takes Daryl home.

Rick: Violently appreciates that.

Carl: Violently wonders how that escalated so quickly.

[daddygrimes]

y/n: why are you two holding hands?

maggie: he was scared.

glenn: I’M NOT SCARED.

y/n: …do you want me to hold your other—

glenn, grabbing their hand: yes.

[grimesgirll]

it all started when glenn caught you checking out maggie.

your eyes had been glued to her form, not just enjoying the view of her ass from behind but her figure as she made her way to help rick with the new tractor they’d salvaged. maggie had no idea that you were doing your best at lip reading every word and catching every mundane detail. you had no idea glenn was watching.

he’s returning from the showers to maggie in their tent in the yard, getting ready for bed when he breaches the subject. the man is half expecting to get some backlash on why his eyes were on the girl from woodbury in the first place but he’s wildly surprised to hear, “you too?”

apparently maggie had caught you in action herself. breath caught in your throat, you’d been letting your eyes linger a little too long on the way glenn’s hands gripped around the rake he was using to clear up the fields after a gusty rainstorm.

none of you thought that a joke from maggie about the length of your shorts would end up with your head in between her thighs.

what you thought had been playful banter turned into a threeway makeout session against the toolshed followed by you all crashing into their tent, and a quest to rid you of your panties. hands on the front and back of your legs, the couple didn’t waste any time - not with you so eager. maggie’s making fun of your blush when she maneuvers a finger around to find you revved up and ready to go, but glenn’s pants are only tightening.

the barrage of open mouthed kisses and fingers tangling in your hair almost distract you from maggie weaseling another finger inside of you.

“such a pretty girl,” glenn is whispering into your hair from behind. a hand lays claim on your tit, squeezing and doling out pleasure even as his girlfriend picks up her pace.

“gonna have to keep quiet if you wanna come, sweet girl,” maggie advises and suddenly you’re reminded of the sunny afternoon right outside the tent flap.

maggie and glenn share a look that you don’t quite recognize yet. it’s like there’s some couple’s wavelength that you’re not on that has glenn starting on his pants and maggie ridding you of your tank top.

and just like that, your mouth is encompassing glenn’s head as he hisses, “fuck.” your cheeks hollow like it’s a setting triggered by his cock, sliding further down your throat.

“such a good girl for us,” maggie proves with a thrust of her fingers. “sayin’ yes without hesitatin’. you like watchin’ us. we’re gonna love watchin’ you come.”

you can’t complain and you have no reason to. maggie’s fingers are working out a much needed massage on your most tender muscles. a third finger has you moaning around glenn, and with every noise from you, his hands find your hair, stroking and petting as you swallow around him. he’s only tensing and throbbing in your mouth even more at the filthiness of it all; maggie’s fingers stuffed up your cunt and his cock stuffed down your throat.

a gag has him shooting his hips nearly into your face. you - in turn - grind up and down on maggie’s fingers. her lips are pressing instructions to “just wait” against your skin. it’d be easier to “just wait” if she wasn’t rubbing such precise circles into your clit - motions that you didn’t even know you liked.

the new touches and sensations are overwhelming you. you’re almost happy glenn is angling impossibly down your airway because otherwise, you’d be loud enough to provide an inappropriate work environment for everyone in the fields. you only grow louder as the woman twisting her nimble fingers inside of you doesn’t relent. you’d beg if it wouldn’t be so muffled around glenn’s cock.

vibration after vibration echoes against glenn’s length anyways. when he looks down at you, base of him in hand, he thinks you have to be the sweetest boon to ever have fallen into his lap.

he’s even more impressed when his girlfriend declares that you’re “close” and he’s getting a front row seat for how you absolutely fall apart in the wake of your orgasm. your reddened face has to be cherry now. lips swollen around glenn, all you can do is whimper when the digits extracting every ounce of pleasure they can, curl and guide you through the wet, squirming release pulsing around maggie’s fingers.

glenn spilling down your throat and maggie removing her fingers give you a break from the physical overwhelm.

your mouth isn’t ready for a break just yet though. not when you’re making the executive decision to wipe whatever’s left of glenn from your lips and settle down between maggie’s pillowy thighs, shushing her “but”s when you lower her denim shorts and sage panties.

maggie’s green eyes are flickering between yours and glenn’s. glenn is no doubt sitting back, enjoying the love of his life getting eaten out just like she deserved to after a hard morning of work in the sun. you’d had him down your throat just mere minutes ago but the sight of you so furiously bent on getting his girl off has him bricking up again.

the feel of maggie’s hands in your hair is remiscent of glenn’s and each time she tugs your strands, you’re nosing deeper. you don’t care that your face is covered in maggie’s arousal by this point. you’d be in awe of the couple; glenn’s side swept hair and maggie’s delicious demeanor - and her derrière.

tongue flattened against her entrance, you lap up maggie as if her pussy were pure nectar of the gods. her heaving exhales are. it’s all the confirmation that you need that the pattern you’re drawing with your tongue lights up every pleasure receptor in her. fingers grow harsher, a tug to match every taunting lick.

before you know it, maggie’s sweet release is filling your mouth.

even maggie can’t help but let out a few choice words and some huffy praises of, “good girl” and “what a mouth.”

glenn can’t help but look at you with an open mouth because god, you look cute with your nose covered in her slick.

there’s not enough time for maggie to laugh at her boyfriend or for you to get all flustered - not if the three of you want to work a nap into your day before dinner.

you happily accept their invitation and glenn straightens out their mussed up sleeping arrangements. he finds you a pillow, passing it to you and placing one last eager kiss on your lips before pulling his girlfriend into his arms, not unlike how she grabs you next. maggie’s kissing the top of your head and you’re forgetting all about the empty bunk back in your cell, blissed out enough to relax your head against her chest and let the sounds of the cicadas chirp you to sleep.

[angelseraphines]

ೃ⁀➷ wild at heart ˗ˏˋ꒰ 🦢 ꒱

╰┈➤ rick grimes x greene!reader headcanons

a/n: i would like to give a special thank you to @lumillsie for the layout of this post and for the filter used on the header!

╰┈➤ as the middle greene sister, you possessed the fierce loyalty of maggie, the eldest, tempered by the gentle quietude of beth, the youngest. the bond between the greene sisters was as thick as the bark of an oak tree, strong and enduring. though you welcomed a few close friends into your life, it was in the company of maggie and beth that you discovered solace and understanding, a sanctuary from the world. you and beth being the daughters of your father’s second wife made no difference to maggie, all that mattered was that you were flesh and blood, a greene.

╰┈➤ when the outbreak began, your world unraveled. acquaintances and friends went missing or left the georgia countryside, resources were scarce and so your focus on your education was abandoned for the sake of your family, you could not leave your father’s farm, it wasn’t safe, despite your father’s belief in that a cure could be found. your days were spent hauling haystacks and knelt over the rich soil, your skin burning beneath the scorching rays of the sun.

╰┈➤ it had been a peaceful morning when he arrived, a man stained in his dying son’s blood and blue eyes clouded with terror. you were drinking chamomile tea on the porch with maggie when your brother-in-law, otis, came rushing, gasping for air, yelling that a boy had been accidentally shot in the chest and needed medical treatment. maggie would go find your father, you would go help the man with his son. he said nothing then as you took the pallid boy in your arms, you would briefly look into the eyes of the man. his gaze and the distress etched onto his white face told of the love he bore for his young son.

╰┈➤ you would not learn his name until later that night, the man was rick grimes, once a sheriff from a nearby county. in the spare room where the boy had been laid for your father to deal with the bullet shards in his chest, rick had been sat by his son’s side since he arrived. with his head hung low and skin drained dry of color, he would speak to you as you inserted the needle into the crook of his elbow for the blood transfusion. “when will your father begin with the operation?” rick slurred out. he had given far more than the safe amount of blood, you would not answer his question concerning the procedure as you were unsure and didn’t want to worry him any further, but you would warn him about the danger of donating more blood. as weak as he was, rick shook his head and stuck his arm out for the next transfusion, stating that carl was his son, his life was worth little without his family.

╰┈➤ when shane broke the news that otis was mauled by walkers on the mission to retrieve the necessary supplies to save carl’s life, you broke down in tears. maggie was left distraught and left the farmhouse to grieve on the porch, beth locked herself in her bedroom and wept all night, you would go on to assist in the bullet fragment removal in spite of your anguish, you had responsibilities that could not be forgotten in the name of misery. rick would come find you after the operation had been completed successfully, “i’m sorry about otis, he was a good man.” the grave weight of his tone left no doubt of his sincerity. you thanked him for kindness and expressed that you were simply grateful otis had not died in vain, but to save a child’s life.

╰┈➤ life returned to its more mundane state, only it was not only her family present, but rick grimes and the entirety of his group, living half a mile or so from the family farm. you had met some of them, but it was rick grimes who caught your interest. he was a true southern man, family-oriented and self-righteous in his beliefs, but you didn’t find that to be an unappealing characteristic. you were coming to realize that in dire times such as these, honor was something humanity desperately needed to cling onto.

╰┈➤ maggie knew you as if you were the palm of her hand, she would tease you endlessly for your little crush on the former sheriff. flustered, you would retort by bringing up her growing relationship with glenn rhee, to which maggie would toss an apple at you for your mockery. you were somewhat ashamed and tried your best to keep your affection for rick buried in your heart, as not only was he two decades your senior, but he was married to a woman named lori and had a young child. though there were times when you questioned how happy his relationship with his wife was, but you figured it was your fascination with him that clouded your judgment.

╰┈➤ you tried your best to push aside your feelings for rick, but days turned into weeks, and your sentiments toward him only became more serious. you were shy around him, a stark contrast to your usual demeanor which was lively and friendly. rick would go on to jest, saying, “you’re as quiet as a damn mouse.” the mirth in his eyes meant he was only joking, but your father would overhear this conversation in passing. when rick left to go deal with personal matters, your father would stop you, warning you that you should stay away from rick grimes. when you argued that he was a good man and your relationship with him was innocuous, your father shook his head, telling you they would have to leave sooner or later, he was responsible for his family, not for these strangers who indulged in their strained resources. you would accuse your father of being inhumane, of essentially sending them away to die, and would refuse to speak to him the rest of the day.

╰┈➤ you would come to find out that because of a botched plan to secretly meet between maggie and glenn your father’s secret barn harboring walkers was discovered by rick and his group. rick’s so-called best friend, shane, demanded with a great deal of aggression that all the walkers be slaughtered for everyone’s safety, but these were your friends and family. your father had explained these people were merely ailing, and that once he found a way to treat them, they would return to their previous state, a notion you were becoming to doubt. yet, you still held to a sliver of hope that your mother and your brother could be saved. rick came to confront you about this revelation when you were returning from the chicken coop, “you knew the entire time? and you didn’t say anything?” the question angered you, and for the first time since he had arrived, you were not so enamored by his charm. you answered that your father knew his best how to handle his affairs and went about your daily routine of chores, but you would be distracted as you picked root vegetables and swept the kitchen floor.

╰┈➤ it was the next morning you woke to the sound of gunfire and wailing, terrified, you hastily pull on your leather boots and head outside to find your father’s barn full of walkers, its old wood tattered by bullets and the rotten corpses of family and friends left on the gritty dirt. shane walsh had decided to take matters into his own hands and kill every walker in the barn. you collapsed seeing beth cradling your mother’s barely recognizable corpse. rick would rush to get you to your feet, trying desperately to reassure you, but you pushed him aside and crawled to your sister’s side. when your mother’s corpse began to twitch and her jaw hung open, growling, she reached out to grip beth with thin claws, rick would raise his pistol and shoot her in the head. you then came to grasp what a walker truly was, they were not alive nor sick, that creature who attempted to kill your sister was not your mother, your mother was dead, your brother was dead, the corpses you saw were a monstrous husk of what your loved ones once were.

╰┈➤ your father would disappear from the farm, presumably to return to alcohol to cope, and beth was left in a catatonic state. you stayed in the farmhouse, isolating yourself as you tried to come to terms with what had occurred. it was later that evening when there was a gentle knock on your bedroom door, you were surprised to open it and reveal a rather fatigued rick grimes, standing there with a furrowed brow and a slight frown. he asked if he could come inside and you let him in. you donned only a lace nightgown that fell right below your knee and your long hair was worn loose, tumbling about your shoulders. “i wanted to say how sorry i am for what went down today. i might have been wary about the barn situation, but what shane did… that was no way to handle this.” you were silent for a minute, then told him that he was right about the walkers, they weren’t sick, they weren’t alive, and you couldn’t comprehend how her father didn’t know that. you questioned if he was perhaps in denial, unable to deal with his wife and son’s passing. rick was uncertain himself, but assured you that regardless of any mistakes your father made, he loved you and your sisters dearly. with tears welling in your eyes, rick would instinctively pull you in for an embrace in an attempt to console you, an act that was unexpected, but not unwelcome by any means.

╰┈➤ when he pulled away, you bid him farewell and wished him a good night, kissing him lightly on the cheek before he left. he smiled at you, “i’ll have your father back at home before dawn.” his gaze lingering on you before he headed for the doorway. maggie happened to come to check on you as rick left, he acknowledged her with a nod and headed for the staircase. your sister cast you a harsh glare, saying while she trusted you and rick, you should be cautious in such treacherous times, that others might not see their relationship as so innocent, especially his wife. you didn’t say anything, maggie gave you one last bit of advice before leaving, “don’t let a married man in your room at night.”

a/n: i apologize if this was a little light on the romance, however if you guys to do wish to see multiple parts i promise there would definitely be more between rick and the greene sister! let me know if you want to see a certain era such as the prison arc or alexandria arc, i chose the greene farm for the setting as season two is my personal favorite from the walking dead. i also write for many other the walking dead characters so be sure to check out my masterlist and let me know if you have any requests! 🤍

[winnie-the-monster]

[laangdonn]

not anymore pt2

summary: y/n tries growing in her grief at hilltop.

pairing: carl grimes x female reader

a/n: ya’llllllll thank you so much for loving the first part!!! i’d actually written pt1 a year ago and never rlly planned to ever make a pt2 but ask and you shall receive lolol, hope you like!!

*read part 1 here*

*************************

“todays the day rick n carl should be gettin here,” maggie said, sending a spoon with tomato soup into her mouth, “you ready to see him?”

i released a shaky breath, playing with my own bowl of food as my starved appetite vanished. i stared at the red, swirling liquid. “i don’t know.”

“a month wasn’t enough time apart?” she asked, eyeing me cautiously.

i hadn’t wanted to repeat myself, but i had no other answer. “i- i don’t know.”

it hadnt seemed like a month apart. i would’ve sworn it had been yesterday i walked out of alexandria alone, two duffel bags in my hand and a gun, ready to fend off anything or anyone that crossed my path.

but it had been a month, the longest we’d ever been apart. and i missed him more than anything.

it still didn’t shake my hesitancy, my worry that the moment we spend time alone we’ll go back to disagreements and fighting and perhaps, i’d never go back to alexandria again. and that’ll be the end of us. till one of dies and the other is forced to reconcile the fact that we’d never made up.

it scared me to see him. to see death again.

“well,” maggie swallowed again, her short hair bristling in the chilly air from the open window, “i think when you see him, that’s when you’ll really know.”

i nodded slowly, my eyes still trained on my soup.

she stood up out of the chair, “i need to find greg, talk to him ‘bout a few things.” she eyed me again, noticing my static, unmoving position. “you’ll be alright while i’m gone?”

i looked up at her then, not wanting her to worry, “i’ll be fine, mags.”

she gave me a small, reassuring smile and a kiss on the crown of my head before she went off, and i was left in my thoughts.

luckily, maggie’s trailer provided a lot of privacy, and knowing the tenants at hilltop, i wouldn’t be disturbed.

i stared off to a chip in the paint, thinking.

——

“i can come with you.”

“carl-“

“why can’t i just take you to hilltop and leave?”

“because, carl, don’t-“

“it’s dangerous, y/n, and reckless-“

“carl-“

“and stupid-“

“would you stop interrupting me!”

he went quiet then, his burly arms crossed over his flannel chest, eye staring daggers into my figure.

we stood by the door to our house, two duffel bags leaning against the wall i so desperately wanted to pick up and run out.

i knew despite him saying he wouldn’t stop me going, it wouldn’t eliminate the imminent last ditch effort fight from occurring.

“you told me you’d let me go.” i said slowly, as if reprimanding a child, “don’t go back on your word.”

he rolled his eyes, “god forbid i don’t want you out there by yourself! have my dad take you for fucks sake just don’t-“ he pinched the bridge of his nose, inhaling stressfully, “don’t go by yourself.”

“i can take care of myself, carl.” i spat, feeling anger surge through me at his distrust in me. “i’ve survived this long.”

“you never know what can happen out there.” he threw his hands up, “or here! yesterday, that dick’s gun was to your head in this fucking room!”

i felt his rage, i voiced his yells. it made my head spiral that i were still trapped in alexandria, suffocating in this broken reflection of my relationship that could barely withstand some independence.

but, bringing myself to reality, i also knew his fear, knew the dread at the unknown. knew the loss he was experiencing even while i was still standing in front of him, alive and breathing.

i shuddered out a breath, walking over to him to put my hands sturdily on his shoulders.

i looked up at him, watching his anger dissipate when we locked eyes.

“i know you’re scared for me,” i said softly, talking quickly before he’d have a chance, “but i need you to trust me.”

“y/n-“

“no,” i put my finger to his soft lips, “let me finish.”

i brought my hand down, his eye watching my finger fall from his flesh.

“i’ll send a letter the second i get to hilltop, so you know i’m safe,” i swallowed, “i’ll have my gun loaded and extra ammo, anything i could scavenge up from the armory.”

his eyebrow relaxed, listening to me talk.

“this is what we’re made for now,” i shook him a bit and sent him a weary smile to ease his tension, “we’re made to do these things on our own.”

he exhaled shakily, nodding to fool himself into thinking he’d allow this, that he’d watch me walk away from him into trees of undead and alive.

i leaned up to his face, our noses brushing every so slightly. my heart boomed in my chest, beating so hard i swore he could hear it himself. maybe it was both of our hearts, desperate to intertwine again.

“do you trust me?” i whispered softly, so our lips grazed.

i heard him swallow, and the breath from his nose fan my face.

“yeah,”

i pulled back at that, knowing if we kissed, for the first time since…, i knew i’d lose the battle to my heart and stay.

i grabbed the two duffel bags and locked my palm around the doorknob.

looking over my shoulder, i sent a reassuring smile, “i’ll see you when we’re okay.”

he didn’t respond, and while it sent a jolt to my gut of disappointment and guilt, i turned back and opened the door.

“y/n,” i heard him say, just as i left.

i barely looked over my shoulder.

“i love you.”

i bit my lip, finally, tears stinging the corners of my eyes.

“i love you, too.”

and the door shut.

——

crossing the lines to hilltop and realizing who i’d be seeing almost sent me running the other direction.

fear of maggie’s state of being gave me a headache as i drew closer to the entrance, and once i was close enough in view, could see her faint outline on a lookout post illuminated by the bright sun behind her.

i knew she saw me when i heard a voice scream my name.

she disappeared from the post and soon the large, wooden doors opened. i ran the rest of the way, dropping my bags and falling tiredly into her expectant arms.

as much as i told myself i’d stay strong for her, the smell of her hair and the memories of that night came sweeping back and i sobbed, wet and noisily, into her chest that shook with her own cries.

i didn’t realize we’d fallen to the floor till i felt my exposed knees sting from skimming the rough dirt.

“what-“ she sniffled, a sob breaking through her, “what are you doing here?”

i took a shaky breath in, trying to compose myself, “i came to see you.”

she frowned, burying her face back into my shoulder.

we cried a few more moments, let ourselves drown in glenn’s absence, in front of all the onlookers who just watched silently.

i pulled back, dread creeping into my stomach when i looked at maggie’s

“the-“ i swallowed, “the baby-“

“fine,” she answered quickly, stroking tears off my cheeks and sending me a faint smile, “just fine.”

i breathed a sigh of relief, nodding at the scarce good news before standing and helping her up, too.

she looked healthier than the last time i saw her, fatter in her face and her arms. her stomach barely bulged as a reminder a part of glenn resided there.

behind her i saw sasha standing, her arms folded. even from far away, i could tell she just looked even worse, instead of better.

i sent her my best sympathetic smile, receiving one back but knowing deep down, it was just another lie to comfort me.

i looked to maggie, gripping her forearms, “take me to him.”

seeing glenn’s grave, surprisingly, comforted me more than disturbed me. to know we had him, safe under dirt and bugs, but still, safe. better than laying out in the gravel, for prying, evil eyes to view him.

he was returned back to us in less than one piece, but his soul was whole with us.

i held maggie’s hand as we looked down, a few flowers resting over the raised patch of dirt.

i swallowed harshly, “what would he think now?”

“of what?” she asked softly, our eyes never wavering from the ground.

“of carl and i. of what’s been destroyed.”

i felt her squeeze my hand, “you and carl aren’t destroyed.”

i shook my head, feeling tears blur my vision and my nose sting.

she continued, “you’re right for the time apart, to grieve separately if that’s what you need.”

“is it enough?” i asked brokenly, finally looking at her.

she gestured our intertwined hands to glenn’s grave.

“ask him.”

and so i did.

i spoke to glenn’s grave everyday. sometimes scattered stories of our memories, from the prison, from on the road. sometimes i cried so hard i couldn’t breathe under the empty dusk, sometimes i laughed so hard my stomach hurt. sometimes i sat in silence.

but mostly i talked about carl.

——

if i stared hard enough at that paint chip, i could’ve sworn the wall tore a bit more right before my eyes.

i knew who i had to see, to remind me this absence was for something, that i’d grown in my grief.

my feet carried me to his grave, hidden away behind maggie’s trailer. i sat down comfortably in front of it, hugging my knees to my chest.

“are we okay?” i whispered to the air. “will i see you in him?”

“was all of this for nothing? will it always be this way, glenn?” i wiped my hand over my nose.

i let out a shaky breath at the thought, “can we overcome this?”

“yes.”

my head whipped around, and i saw carl, standing with his arms at his sides, tears filling up his ocean eye.

it gave me whiplash how fast i stood up and launched myself into his unexpecting arms. they rested limp for a moment, but quickly moved to hug my torso tightly, lifting my feet slightly off the grass as i wedged my head between his neck.

we pulled back slightly to stare at each other, and i searched his face for the blood, for the black line, for the axe.

i smiled softly when i realized all i saw were glenn’s memories.

happy memories, of the hot days at the prison when we sweat so hard playing tag, of playing a dusty board game in alexandria the first night when we were too hesitant to sleep, of watching his love with maggie and seeing it reflected in carl and i.

“why’re you smiling?” he whispered, his own face pulling to reveal a grin. he knew.

i leaned in closer, tipping his sheriffs hat up so our noses could brush.

“because i don’t see it, not anymore.” i finally let our lips touch, a kiss that sent flames bursting in my stomach and my fingers to shake with anticipation.

he leaned into the kiss, and i felt the breath on my face at his sigh of relief.

i knew he knew what i meant when i saw the tiny twinkle in his eyes reappear looking at me, knowing he felt the same.

i pulled back ever too quickly, evident in how he leaned in again.

but before i gave him the chance to kiss me again, i let my smile burst through.

we all had a long way to go, people to kill and more people to lose, but in this moment, right in this moment:

“i see you now.” i said.

and that was enough.