~~ 3 Years Later ~~

It isn't who we are, or where we've been that defines a person's character. It's their actions that speak the loudest. Those of a leader aren't always done to show dominance, only if they want to strike fear into those who follow them. But the best kinds of leaders don't even consider themselves as one. But their actions come from instinct and common sense. One of the best I had known called herself a monster when all she ever did was for the best for herself and the people around her. She brought hope back into those who lost it. Caused her own version of one hundred men to best the thousand against them. That was because she used the wit of her mind, and it was one hell of a dangerous weapon.

But not every story has a happy ending. Not everybody gets to live in the end. And it always seems that the people who try to help the most are the first targets.

Everyone had known the day would come. That some big bad worst than the last would show up and Hope would meet her end. He did far before her. No, Hope slowly broke. But she always found a way to get back onto her feet again. Hope didn't die because of Bob Negan. She lived up until a year after she killed him. All injuries she had gotten in her past proved to complicate how she lived. But what done her in, was taking one last bullet for me. She was hit at the lower end of her chest. She smiled up at me that day as she bled in my arms. It was that day she was able to reunite with her family. It was that day, her suffering ended. Hope didn't have to relive anything anymore. The weight was lifted from her.

Hope was an example to all. She had seen the worst of people, yet she still found the humanity within herself. People spat in her face, beat her; and she still was able to help others. She had been abandoned and left, but none of her men were left behind. Hope had been to hell and back countless times and found she could always get back onto her feet. She, right down to the bone, was a survivor.

Carl sat in his rocking chair on the porch reading the last chapter of Misty Steel's Survivor. The rocking chair next to his was empty. He and his father built that blasted second chair together. CJ played in the street with River, his aunt Judith, and a few other kids. That kid never went a day without wearing his father and grandfather's hat. Without it even meaning to, it seemed to become one of those objects that will be passed down within the family. Maggie and Enid sat together on the porch of the house across the street. They both held their own kids as Glenn joined his wife and got to hold his baby girl. Preston had been right, Enid did have a girl. She had green eyes just like her father. Michonne and Rick had made it official, already making Michonne a grandmother. Abraham and Sasha seemed to be making their way towards that too. Mavrick, who had helped in regaining EastHaven like his friend Heath had, ended up moving here to Alexandria. It was help open trade with the community he was originally from and to the Hilltop and Easthaven. Eugene has never forgotten Keira, but has moved on. Carol and Tobin are still going strong. EastHaven still has a bit of construction to get through, but not as much anymore. And above all, the saviors had a new leader. Negan had boasted he had over fifty men and women. They couldn't have been left without someone in control. Ian had stepped up to the plate when it came to that. Although he does seem to have a few second and third in charge people.

Even though it was a little bit before the sun would set, the sky darkened. That was when it started downpouring. River tried to herd CJ onto the porch.
"Carl Luca! You get inside before you get soaked." I called from the opened doorway. Reluctantly Junior made his way up the steps and into the house. At the same time Michonne was calling Judith inside.

Even though the plot of Survivor had proved to be very similar to my life, it has now been three years after I killed the 'big bad' that was most likely to kill me. I had a tender spot on the lower half of my chest not making certain tasks very easy, but I lived. Everyone knew about my leg by now, and about our daughter Angel.
CJ came rushing back out of the house, but I caught hold of his shoulder before he could get very far. "Dad's comics. I left them out there."
"Maybe this will teach you to quit taking them outside. You go get washed up, I will get them." I turned CJ around before I walked down the steps. Sure enough he had left them under a tree by the lake. The funny thing was, it was the same one I use to climb when his father and I were young. I picked up the small stack, tucking them under my arm before I started walking back to the house.

Out of nowhere a pair of arms wrapped around me. I screamed a little before I broke out laughing.
"I hate you." I mumbled to Carl as he turned me to face him.
"I love you too." He kissed me as we stood there and got soaked. It was when I was able to walk around and my first day back to Alexandria Carl had surprised me with a ring.
"So are you cooking tonight?" I joked as we set our foreheads together.
"No. You?"
"Carl Grimes-"
"Yes, ?" He teased and laughed as I smacked his arm.
"You know I can't cook. And your stupid comics are getting soaked."
"You know I'm kidding. No, Michonne wanted us to come over tonight." Carl paused looking me in the eye as he smiled. Rain dripped off his chin. "I don't care about the stupid comic. I care about my wife." He smiled as he kissed me again, and I kissed back. My loose hair was starting to stick to my neck as he took my hand and we started walking back to the house together. Out of nowhere Carl picked me up and started to carry me for no reason.
"Oh, if you see my brother before I do, tell him I won't hesitate to ring his neck if he gives CJ another motorcycle lesson."
Carl put me down as the devil himself walked up the porch to the house he stayed in with Rick and a few others. "Yeah. Right. Damn romance novel." He grumbled, causing Carl and I to laugh.

As we got onto our own, I threw the comics onto the second rocking chair. I grabbed ahold of Carl's shirt and pulled him back from the door.
"Oh no. Your soaking ass can stay on the porch."
"That means you can stay out here with me." He sat down in his chair and pulled me with him. I sighed and leaned back, still holding his hand. I set my head next to his as the rain lightened up, and the setting sun shone through the clouds.
"So what do ya make of all this?" Carl asked.
"Well. There always seems to be a new mountain to climb." I paused as Carl rocked us. "Just like there's always a mile that seems longer than the rest. And that every battle has its end."

At the end of the longest mile, life started itself again. But at the battle's end, life continued on.

And that's exactly what it did.

A/N
So...
We're at the end.
And this sucks.. As much as I loved writing this, the story (like the battle), has its end.

So, I Have made a series overview typed book. So please be sending or commenting your questions that is about anything related to this book! -You can find the behind the scenes book on wattpad ty1r1Bluent-
If you do ask a question you can either request I don't use your username or I can. If you don't say anything I'll just use the question. This book will also have a bunch of fun facts for in the making and such. Like, for example the death scene I had written for Preston in the first book, and maybe the alternate ending for this one.
But I hope you enjoyed this chapter and the stories! If you have feel free to check out my other TWD book Every Last Breath and its side story Take Me Home, along with the sequel for it. Also fond on wattpad.

- The series overview book is up, again Ty1R1Bluent please send me questions to answer in it. I hope you've enjoyed. I also have an alternate ending that I had created for this that I will post sometime in the overview book on wattpad. thank you so much for reading this far into this series, even if you didn't read the first one. this was my first ever Walking Dead series... so just ... thank you -

I also have two more TWD fanfics I have no clue when I'm gonna publish. One I will call Running in Circles -already published- and the other I will call Fallen Angel. And those (not counting the 2nd book to ELB) should be my last FFs for TWD and I can start back with any other fanfics i need to finish
Anyway enough with my rambling .
I hope you enjoyed!

Please remember to vote
and comment... And until the next book to look back on the series!

~~~~~~~~ Bonus [Just for shits and giggles] ~~~~~~~~

I smiled as I was talking with Maggie and Enid when the loud roar of an engine started up. I narrowed my eyes.
"I'm gonna kill him." I growled before running out the door with River right behind me. Daryl was too busy helping CJ stay balance on his bike to notice me standing in front of them with my arms crossed. CJ looked up and noticed me. He gulped, and ripped up his hat a little while trying to get his Uncle's attention. River sat down next to me.
"Like I said last time. Here's the brake and this is the accelerator. What?" CJ elbowed his uncle Daryl. "What are you looking-... Oh." Daryl kept his hold on the handles of his motorcycle as I gave him a death glare. My son still sat on the bike. I cleared my throat.
"So. Care to explain yourself ? Or should I just ground you both now?"

Knowing better, CJ hopped off the bike and booked it for home, ditching his uncle Daryl. I started to tap my foot as Daryl watched his nephew run off. His stare shifted from the retreating boy to my unhappy glare.
Daryl rubbed the back of his neck. "So uh. I just remembered Rick needed me for something.." Daryl turned around, pushing his bike. I couldn't help the smirk that grew on my face when my brother walked past Rick.
"What did I need you for?" He asked.
"Nothin."
Carl just happened to walk up, slipping his arm around me as we watched my brother walk away.
"So." I started, smirk still plastered on my face. Carl's expression turned to 'oh shit'. "You know I'm gonna kill you one of these days for letting him try to teach our son that."
I slowly looked at him and raised my eyebrows. That's when Carl flashed me his best 'I swear I'm innocent' smiles.