Chapter Text
A week had passed—and AJ and I had gone to the river to do some spear fishing. Things were calm and peaceful now. AJ and I walked up to the riverbank and with a soft clank, AJ set a bucket down.
“Ready to catch some fish?” I asked with a smile.
“You bet I am!” AJ looked up at me with a grin.
We both looked down at the water and readied our spears—before we each took turns stabbing them into the water, pulling a fish out as it flopped violently on the spear.
“Haha, gotcha,” AJ giggled as he pulled his first fish out of the water before he tossed it into the bucket.
“Nice!” I smiled before I stabbed through the current, raising my spear as I pulled out a fish. “Into the bucket you go,” I hummed and pulled it off the end of the spear and dropped it in with the others.
Rosie had joined us and sat behind the bucket, watching us as her tongue hung out of her mouth and she panted happily. She rose to her feet and looked into the bucket, before her eyes fell on AJ and I and she barked happily.
“Who’s a good girl?” AJ asked the dog with a smile. “It’s you, Rosie!”
The dog whined happily, her nubbed tail wagging violently behind her as she watched us.
“Goodest girl in the world,” I added on and AJ nodded.
We turned our attention back to the water and AJ managed to nab another fish out of the water.
“Boom-boom,” AJ chuckled.
“Another one for the count,” I chuckled.
I managed to stab another fish and plopped it into the bucket, and with a sigh—I looked into the bucket.
“Alright, AJ. I think we’ve got enough,” I looked over at him.
“Okay,” AJ smiled and pet Rosie. “I can put the spears away.”
“Thanks, AJ,” I smiled and handed him my spear.
AJ headed off towards the fishing shack, and he took some time inside. I sat on the edge of the bank, looking at the water with a content sigh. It wasn’t until I heard the door to the fishing shack open that I stood up. AJ walked back over with a smile and I looked down at him.
“Ready to go?” I asked him.
Just as he was about to answer, we both looked down into the water and saw a familiar sight…it was Clem’s hat bobbing down the water. AJ rushed to grab it, but he missed. We both ran down to the bridge and I tried getting it—but it was barely out of my reach as my fingers brushed the wet fabric.
“No!” AJ muttered and tried grabbing it from the other side of the small wooden bridge.
“No, no!” We both exclaimed as the hat continued floating down the water.
That was when Rosie ran into the water and caught the hat for us. Both AJ and I sighed in relief as Rosie brought it over to us.
“Yes!” AJ exclaimed with a grin.
“I can’t wait to see Clem’s face when we give it back to her,” I smiled.
AJ went over and took the hat from Rosie, “Good girl!”
Suddenly, off in the distance…we looked over and heard the soft groans of a walker. AJ put Clem’s hat away as we both slowly walked over…AJ then pulled out his gun and raised it. Our gazes softened when we both realized who the walker was…It was Tenn…
“I’m sorry, Tenn, but…” AJ said softly and his voice trailed off. “You were gonna get Louis killed. I had to do it.”
We then both watched as the undead Tenn just groaned…not noticing us. His skin was now a rotting pale blue, and his eyes were a glazed, milky white. AJ looked down and saw a rock beside his foot. I stood in silence as AJ decided what to do…he kept the gun raised and aimed, before he pulled the trigger and shot the undead Tenn in the side of the head, making him collapse instantly.
“Sorry, Tenn…” AJ said softly and Rosie whined beside him. “I know. Me, too…”
“At least he can truly rest now,” I said softly and put a hand on AJ’s shoulder.
“Let’s go home?” AJ asked Rosie.
“Yeah,” I smiled. “They’re probably wondering where we are.”
“Let’s go home,” AJ smiled and looked up at me with a nod before he picked up the bucket and I picked up my guitar.
Together, with Rosie leading us, we made our way back to the school…I began to strum and sing:
“Atop the crags and cliffs, the air is thin,
So we'll find a mountain path on down the hill,
Meet me where the snowmelt flows,
It is there, my dear, where we will begin again,
Skipping stones, braiding hair,
Last year's antlers mark the trail,”
“Take us back, oh, take us back,
Oh, take us, take us back,
Take us back, oh, take us back,
Oh, take us, take us back,”
♩
“I've a friend who lives out by the rivers mouth,
He knows the fiddles cry is an old sound,
A lonesome bow, the creeks and moans of empty houses,
Are songs like falling rain,
Windblown buildings, muddy ground,
The strength of water can sink a man,”
“Take us back, oh, take us back,
Oh, take us, take us back,
Take us back, oh, take us back,
Oh, take us, take us back,”
♩
“When the higher hills have turned to blue,
And the waves are lapping where the children grew,
All that we have known will be an echo,
Of days when love was true,
Muted voices just beyond,
The silent surface of what has gone,”
At one point, when we had gotten closer to the school—a leaf fell into the bucket of fish and AJ pulled it out…he raised it up to the sun that hung in the sky, and one of the holes in it was shaped like a heart. He lowered it and looked at the gates, before he dropped the leaf and it softly fluttered to the ground. Ahead of us we saw Ruby wave to Aasim…Clem and I weren’t the only couple in the school now. Aasim ran over to Ruby with large rabbits draped over his shoulder as she waited patiently for him, and when they met—they took one another’s hand. In the distance, Omar was working on something…he was hammering a sign into the ground and beside it sat Abel’s body. The sign read ‘Don’t FUCK with us’. Omar then joined the small group that formed, glancing back at AJ and I. Willy climbed down from a tree, and joined us as well. Louis was up on the lookout and he waved down at us, and AJ waved back up. AJ and I paused at the gate, waiting for Rosie before we let her go first and I let AJ go in ahead of me. I glanced back into the forest, before I turned back around and crossed the threshold into the courtyard. I kicked the gate shut behind me as I walked in.
Louis climbed down from the ladder of the lookout and watched AJ and I as he did his classic stance—gripping the collar of his trench coat. I finished strumming and sighed softly as AJ and I walked up to Omar, who was stirring the giant cauldron. I sighed contently as AJ set the bucket down.
“What you doin’ there, goofball?” I heard a familiar voice ask as AJ and I walked away. “You too, moth.”
AJ and I both turned around, smiling broadly as Clem made her way over to us—using the crutches we had gifted her a week prior. AJ ran over and hugged Clem tightly. “Whoa! Easy there,” Clem chuckled lightly as she looked down at AJ.
I jogged after him, however I hugged Clem more gently so we wouldn’t knock her off-balance. AJ and I then carefully let her go and backed up.
“You’re out of bed! You’re walking!” AJ beamed before he looked down at her crutches. “And you have the wood arm legs!”
“Crutches,” I hummed.
“Crutches,” AJ said as he learned the term.
Clem hadn’t been out of bed since the day we gave her the crutches, since Ruby demanded that she get plenty of bedrest. AJ then remembered what he had of hers and pulled it out.
“Oh! Y/N and I found your hat!” He smiled. “It was in the creek down by the shack. I thought we wouldn’t get it, but Rosie jumped right in and got it out of the water. It’s all wet now.”
Clem stared down at the hat AJ held, “It’s definitely seen better days. You know what? You keep it if you want it.”
AJ stared down at her hat for a moment…smiling a little before he put it away. “I’ll put it in our room.”
“I have a surprise for you, too,” Clem said with a smile. AJ looked up at her and titled his head like a curious dog. “Come with me. I want to show you something.”
I knew what the surprise was, since I helped Willy put it up. We followed Clem as she led us down the path that led to the graveyard…and when we rounded the corner, our eyes landed on a tire swing. AJ smiled as soon as he saw it and I walked over with Clem.
“So, what do you think?” Clem asked him with a smile.
AJ walked over and looked at the swing, before his eyes fell on Clem and I, “It’s…It’s for me?”
“Yep. Willy and Y/N helped me put it together,” Clem said, then bopped it with one of her crutches. “C’mon, lemme push you.” She looked down at AJ with a smile.
AJ looked up at Clem and I with a large grin that spread ear to ear, before he climbed through the tire hole and sat on it, holding on. Clem then gave him a strong push once he was ready, before she stepped back a bit. I stood beside her with a soft sigh as AJ giggled. She continued to push him with one hand as she kept herself upright with the other, giggling softly herself. I laughed softly with them, watching as Clem pushed AJ.
“Did you ever get to swing? When you were smaller?” AJ asked.
“Yep, sure did,” Clem told him. “A long time ago.”
“What about you, Y/N?” AJ asked me.
“It was my favorite thing to do,” I smiled.
“Food’s ready, everyone!” Ruby called out. “Come and get it!”
“Welp, there’s the dinner bell,” I chuckled lightly.
Clem stopped pushing AJ on the swing and she stood beside me as the swing came to a stop. Once it had, AJ climbed out of it and joined us.
“You’re the best, Clem,” AJ looked up at her with a smile. “You too, Y/N.”
AJ hugged Clem and I tightly, and I smiled softly. I was so happy to be a part of this giant family now…it was one of the best things that could’ve ever happened to me.
“It’s gonna get cold!” Omar called to us.
“Can it, will you?” I called back, “We’re having a moment!”
AJ let go of Clem and I, and the two of them chuckled a little. Clem and I looked down at AJ with smiles.
“Come on. Let’s go eat,” AJ said eagerly before he turned and ran.
“Wait a minute,” I hummed—stopping Clem in her tracks.
“What?” She asked, looking at me in confusion.
I carefully took her crutches and held them under one of my arms before I scooped her up and held her bridal style, “Up you go.”
Clem blushed a little—she was going to have to get used to me carrying her frequently. “You’re a dork.”
“I know,” I grinned. “You remind me of that constantly.”
I carried her to the picnic table where our food was waiting for us, and I glanced down as we walked past a wooden cross that bore Tennessee’s name. Just as we walked over, Rosie walked over to Willy and begged for some food. Ruby fed Aasim a spoonful of her stew. I gently set Clem between Louis and Vi, before set her crutches aside and I sat on her left next to Vi. AJ sat beside Ruby and Willy—who grinned mischievously at him before he flung a spoonful of stew at Omar and hit his cheek. I snorted softly at the sight, chuckling a little. After a moment of silence, Omar began to laugh and everyone else at the table did too. Once the laughter died down, Ruby took a bite of her food—before she burped.
AJ looked up at her before he laughed a bit, “Ruby. That’s gross.”
Ruby and everyone else began to laugh…and god, this was probably the happiest I felt in a long time…especially since I was holding Clem’s hand under the table.
“I learned from the best, little guy,” Ruby snickered.
Willy then downed the rest of his stew with a great slurp, holding out his bowl. “Seconds, please!”
“Already? Did you even taste that?” Omar asked him.
AJ looked over at Clem and I with a small smile—and Vi kept glancing at us.
“How are your eyes?” Clem asked.
“Between my patch and your stump, we almost make a full pirate,” Vi said.
“Don’t forget I could be the one with the hook,” I said and lifted my hand that was missing its pinky.
“Arrrg,” Clem chuckled and Vi and I laughed with her.
“I wanted to wait till you were up and about, but how I behaved on the boat…it was really unfair,” Vi said and shook her head slightly. “My head was so messed up, by Lilly…and Minnie…I was so wrapped up in my own shit…”
“It’s okay. You went through hell in that boat, and I let that happen,” Clem said softly to her. “I’m just glad we got you out of there.”
I got up and walked over to her crutches and grabbed them for her. I took them to her and handed them over. Once she was steady, we walked over to another picnic table and Louis followed. We looked down at a paper that was unfolded on the table, and I stood behind her—my head gently resting on her shoulder as I wrapped my arms around her waist. She and Louis leaned on the table as AJ came over.
“That’s where Aasim saw them,” Louis pointed at the map. “He was ranging out far the traps just here.”
“I want you and Y/N to go,” Clem said and I let go of her, stepping back so I could stand beside her.
“You want the two dumbasses to go?” I asked her with a small smile.
“Hey!” Louis exclaimed. “Even though it’s true.”
“You’re the boss,” I chuckled
“We need to know who they are. Maybe even see if they’re willing to trade,” Clem said as AJ came over and stood behind her and I. “Just keep your distance until you can make a call.”
“Who WHO are?” AJ asked and looked up at the three of us.
“A group of survivors, out beyond the old safe zone. Some kind of caravan,” Clem explained to him.
“Are they bad people?” AJ questioned.
I walked over to him, “You wanna come with Louis and I in the morning to find out?” I asked.
“We could definitely use the backup,” Louis smiled.
“No arguments there,” Clem agreed.
“Hey!” Louis huffed.
“Regretting your decision pairing us already, eh?” I teased her.
“Aren’t you still mad I killed Tenn?” AJ asked Louis.
“I…” Louis trailed off. “AJ, I guess it’s like…you saw something I didn’t.” AJ stared up at him in slight confusion. “About the situation, I mean. Minnie and the walkers and Tenn, it’s just all this chaos in my head when I think back on it.” He glanced over at Clem and I. “Clem and Y/N say you saved my life? Well then, that’s exactly what you did.” He looked back down at AJ. “And how can I stay mad at anyone for doing that?”
AJ raised his hand out for Louis to shake, and Louis took it. He shook it gently and the two of them smiled as they looked at one another, letting go.
Clem turned her attention to me, “This is the part where you tell me you’ll be really, really careful,” she said softly.
“Do you realize who you’re saying that to?” I chuckled before I leaned forward and gently pressed my lips against her cheek.
Louis turned and walked away, and AJ stood there—watching Clem and I. She then grunted softly in pain, and I knew that she needed to rest.
“You okay?” AJ asked, looking up at her nervously.
“Just…just getting tired. Hey, walk with me a sec,” Clem said to him and she turned.
AJ and I followed her towards the admin building where she plopped herself down on the stone stairs and set her crutches aside before AJ and I sat beside her. AJ and I both glanced down at her nub for a moment.
“Caught ya,” Clem chuckled when she caught us staring.
“Sorry,” AJ said and quickly looked away.
“It’s okay,” Clem said with a smile. “I stare at it, too.”
“I stare at it a lot,” I chuckled. “I think it’s kinda hot..”
“Y/N—” Clem gave me a slight glare.
“It’s true!” I put a hand over my chest.
She then looked down, “If it were just you and me alone out there like this? I don’t know if I’d make it two weeks.” She sighed. “I’m gonna need these to go anywhere. And if we ever had to run…”
“Hey–” I huffed and crossed my arms. “At least you two aren’t out there, alone.” I said and nudged her shoulder gently. “Besides, you’d have me hauling ass with you in my arms.”
“Y/N’s right,” AJ said and looked over. “You made it so we don’t have to run, Clem. We’re safe now.”
“Yeah, I guess we are,” Clem chuckled lightly with a smile.
Rosie soon came over and joined us, laying behind AJ with a soft huff. Clem reached over and gently pet her. We looked up and watched as Aasim chased Willy across the yard for some reason.
“All this,” Clem said softly as she looked out over the other kids who were smiling. “It’s worth it. All those times you would ask me if we’d find a home…” Clem looked down and AJ looked up at her. “...All I could ever tell you was ‘We’ll see.’ And your face would fall every single time.”
“It’s better than saying yes and lying to me,” AJ said...which was true.
“That’s what I told myself,” Clem looked down at him. “But you wanna know something I didn’t tell you?” She looked away. “I never had a plan. I never knew where we were going. I never knew anything. I just fought and fought and fought, and hoped you didn’t notice.”
I stayed quiet, but I gently placed a hand on Clem’s thigh and gave it a gentle rub to comfort her.
“Hoped we’d find something before you did,” Clem said. “Did I do a good job?” Clem asked him, her voice quivering as if she was about to cry.
“Of course you did!” AJ exclaimed without hesitation. “What are you…are you crazy?!”
Clem sniffled softly before she smiled, “Maybe a little.”
“A lot more than a little!” AJ said with a small smile.
“At this point, I think we’re all a little crazy,” I grinned. “But there’s nothing wrong with that.”
Clem just smiled and shook her head, before she looked down and back over at AJ. “When we were in the barn, you didn’t listen to me. And if you had…” Her voice croaked as she looked away. “I’d be dead. I was right to trust you, back in the cave. To make the hard calls, even when I couldn’t.” She looked down at her stump. “You’ll have to be strong for the both of us.”
“You made it so I can,” AJ told her. “So…thank you. For everything.” He smiled.
Clem smiled broadly, “You’re welcome. For everything.”
We all looked out at everyone across the courtyard—both Clem and I sighed softly and contently. I reached over and took her hand in mine, before I gently raised it to my lips and planted a soft kiss on the back of it.
“I love you, Peach,” I said softly to her.
“I love you, too, Moth,” Clem replied with a small smile.