Chapter Text
5 Years Later…
The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the front yard. Birds chirped softly in the trees as the sound of laughter filled the air. Birdie sat on the porch, cradling Baby Hershel in her arms, wiping his mouth clean of the food he’d been eating. His little hiccups echoed in the quiet afternoon, the kind of noise that was somehow comforting in its innocence. It felt like a lifetime ago when she was just trying to survive, constantly running, fearing for her life and the lives of those she loved. Now, here she was, watching her children play in the yard with Judith, the soft buzz of daily life all around her.
She couldn’t believe it had been six years since the world fell apart. The end of the world had given way to something new—a kind of peace they hadn’t thought possible, a peace they’d worked tirelessly for. The world hadn’t become perfect, but it had become something worth living in. And in this moment, Birdie couldn’t imagine a better place to be.
“Eowyn! Eomer!” Birdie called, her voice carrying over the yard. The twins paused from their playing, giggling as they ran over to her, their faces smeared with dirt and the remnants of their earlier games. She smiled as they tumbled toward her, their little feet kicking up dust.
“It’s getting late,” Birdie said, wiping her hands on her jeans as she glanced up at the fading sunlight. “Pack up your toys before your dad and uncle get home.”
Eowyn pouted, clutching a small doll in her hand. “But we wanna play with Judith more!” she protested, her voice high-pitched and insistent.
“You can play inside,” Birdie said, grinning at her daughter’s dramatic expression. “Now, go on. Help Judith gather up the toys.”
The twins sighed, but reluctantly ran back toward the yard where Judith was helping them gather their things. Birdie chuckled to herself, watching them move with the uncoordinated energy that only small children had. Baby Hershel, still in her arms, wobbled a few steps on his chubby legs, tottering dangerously close to toppling over. Birdie laughed softly, letting him toddle a few more steps before she scooped him up again.
“Hands full?” Carl’s voice came from behind her, and she turned to see him and Sofia walking toward her. Carl had a smile on his face, though his eyes were tired, the lines on his face deeper than they once had been. Life had been hard on him, but it was clear that he’d found his place. His hand was intertwined with Sofia’s as they walked, and Judith, noticing them, ran to her older brother with a squeal of delight.
“Carl!” Judith laughed, practically launching herself into his arms. Carl caught her easily, lifting her high, and she giggled.
Sofia, ever the quiet observer, moved toward Hershel. She bent down, picking him up with ease and holding him close. Birdie stood up, brushing off the dust from her clothes as she glanced at Carl and Sofia. “Where have you been all day?” she asked with a teasing grin, her eyes scanning them both.
Carl rolled his eyes, his expression almost amused but tired. “Checking on the battery and the turbines in the water,” he said, lifting Eowyn and Eomer up at once, the twins whooping in delight as they kicked their legs and wrapped their arms around his neck.
Birdie chuckled, crossing her arms and watching the children. “You know,” she said, “you make having all these kids look easy.”
Carl’s brow furrowed as he carried them across the yard, though a small smile tugged at his lips. “Not as easy as you make it look.” He glanced at Sofia, who was holding Hershel with a gentle affection, her eyes soft as she rocked him in her arms.
Birdie watched them for a moment, her heart swelling with pride. She couldn’t believe how much had changed. Six years ago, their community was just a handful of survivors, huddled together in fear. Now, it was thriving. The farm was flourishing, families were growing, and there was a rhythm to life that had been impossible to imagine back then.
In the distance, she could see the houses lined up along the street, some of them newly built, others repaired and spruced up by the hands of the community. People walked down the street, talking, laughing, or simply enjoying the afternoon. Others sat on their porches, exchanging stories, watching the children play, keeping a watchful eye on the next generation.
Birdie glanced at the horizon, the late evening sun casting a golden hue over everything. The weight of all the loss was still there, buried deep in her bones, but she had found something worth fighting for. They had all found it—this new kind of life. It wasn’t perfect, and it would never be, but it was enough.
Tyreese and Sasha had moved on, setting up their own place down the road with a few others, and Andrea and Oscar had gone off to start a community of their own, taking a few of the younger survivors with them. People were no longer just trying to survive; they were building, creating new lives in the midst of the chaos. There was hope now, a fragile but undeniable thing that had taken root in their hearts.
The evening air was warm as the family gathered on the street. The sun had just begun to dip behind the trees, casting a soft, golden light over the small community. Laughter echoed through the yard as Eowyn and Eomer spotted Daryl and Merle walking down the street, their faces lighting up with excitement.
"Daddy!" Eowyn and Eomer cried in unison, their little feet pounding the concrete road as they ran toward Daryl. He grinned, bending down to scoop them up in his arms. With a joyful laugh, he spun them around, their giggles ringing in the air.
"Careful there, Daryl!" Merle called out, a smirk on his face as he watched the chaotic yet heartwarming scene. He raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest.
Daryl set the twins back down, who immediately began to run toward Merle. "Wyn, Mer, do I not get a hug?" he asked with mock offense.
Without hesitation, the twins darted toward him, their little arms wrapping around his legs in a tight hug. Merle’s expression softened for a moment as he looked down at them, his gruff demeanor giving way to something warmer.
Birdie smiled, leaning against Daryl’s side as he walked over to her. Daryl gently cupped her face, his thumb brushing over her cheek as he kissed her softly.
“How was your day?” he asked, his voice low and affectionate.
“Another day in paradise,” Birdie replied with a grin, her heart full as she leaned in for another kiss.
“Ew, stop it!” Eomer shouted from beside them, pushing between the couple with a playful frown on his face. Birdie laughed, swooping him up into her arms and planting a big, exaggerated kiss on his cheek.
"Gross! No!" Eomer cried, his voice filled with laughter as he wriggled in her arms, trying to escape the unwanted affection.
“Me too!” Eowyn shouted, waving her arms and making the "uppy" motion with her hands. Birdie couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of her daughter wanting a part in her brother’s displeasure.
Daryl raised Eowyn into his arms, his fingers tickling her sides, making her squeal with laughter. “Looks like a party!” Maggie’s voice rang out from behind them, her and Rick’s silhouettes appearing on the edge of the yard. Michonne and Glenn was right behind them, her eyes scanning the horizon before she caught sight of the family.
“Mama!” Hershel’s voice called out from Sofia’s arms, his arms stretched toward Maggie as he let out an adorable whine. Maggie’s heart melted as she turned toward her son, her arms open wide for him.
She walked over to him, scooping him up gently into her arms. “It’s okay, baby,” she whispered softly, brushing his hair out of his face. Hershel settled against her chest, his small hands clutching her shirt as he relaxed into her embrace.
The group gathered around, and for a moment, time seemed to stop. They were surrounded by laughter, love, and the warmth of a family that had been through so much and had come out the other side, stronger. They’d fought for this peace, this moment of happiness, and it was more than they ever could’ve dreamed of in the early days of the apocalypse.
“Alright, alright,” Merle said, breaking the silence as he moved closer. “Looks like we’ve got enough hugs to go around. What do you say we all get some food before I start getting jealous?”
The group laughed, and Daryl kissed Birdie’s forehead before lifting his head, looking toward the horizon. “Sounds good,” he said, his voice steady and calm.
Rick wrapped his arm around Michonne as they walked down the lane, the cool evening air settling around them. Michonne's hand rested on her pregnancy bump, her expression a mixture of calm and quiet joy. After all they'd endured, today felt like a gift—like they were finally able to breathe again.
“T-Dog and Tiny are preparing a feast if we want to join their party,” Rick said, his voice light with a smile as he glanced at Michonne.
The group murmured their agreement, everyone eager for a break from the weight of survival. There was a rare kind of peace in the air today, a quiet acknowledgment that they had made it this far together. They walked hand in hand, their hearts light, as the street began to fill with the sounds of the evening.
Birdie watched as Daryl gave her a quick, reassuring smile before turning to look at the kids. Eowyn and Eomer had been playing near the house, their laughter echoing through the yard as they ran around with Judith. The twins darted toward the porch and scrambled inside, excitedly calling to Birdie, “Gandy! Gandy!”
Birdie smiled as they emerged with the family cat, Gandalf, clutched in their little arms. The Maine Coon, accustomed to their playful energy, didn’t seem bothered by the sudden attention. He lazily blinked his green eyes as the twins carried him outside, a soft purr rumbling in his chest.
“I think he’s ready for the feast too,” Birdie joked, holding her arms out as the twins ran toward her with Gandy in tow.
Eowyn and Eomer giggled, each holding one half of Gandy as they presented him to Birdie. “We’re bringing him with us!” Eowyn declared with a proud smile.
“You know,” Birdie said, bending down to give each of the twins a kiss on the forehead, “if we’re gonna bring Gandy, we better make sure he gets his fair share of the feast too.”
Daryl, who had been standing a few steps behind, watched the scene unfold with a soft smile. He stepped forward, holding out his hands. “C’mon, let’s go. I think the twins are making sure Gandy doesn’t miss out,” he said with a wink, picking Eowyn up and lifting her to his shoulder as Eomer scrambled to keep up.
Birdie smiled, shaking her head as she followed them down the lane, Hershel in her arms. “I guess we all deserve a little fun tonight,” she said, glancing at Daryl as they walked.
Rick turned around, his arm still around Michonne’s shoulders, and smiled at the little scene unfolding before him. The kids, the cat, the laughter—it was the kind of ordinary joy they’d once thought lost to them forever. And yet, here they were, together, making a new life in the midst of chaos.
As they reached the gathering, T-Dog and Tiny were already bustling around, setting the long table with plates of food, the rich scent of roasting vegetables and freshly baked bread hanging in the air. The warmth from the lanterns lit up the night, casting a cozy glow across the group.
The twins, still clutching Gandy, eagerly raced to join Judith on the porch as she ran toward them, her arms outstretched. “Gandy’s here!” Eowyn cried, and Judith squealed, delighted by the sight of the cat. The three children immediately started to play, Gandy content to be the center of attention as they petted him and giggled.
Birdie and Daryl shared a quiet moment, watching the kids with soft smiles. “This is what we fought for,” Birdie whispered, squeezing his hand.
Daryl nodded, his gaze moving between their children and the family that had become so much more than just survivors. “Yeah, it is,” he said, his voice steady, yet full of warmth.
As the group settled into their places at the table, the evening became a blur of food, laughter, and love. T-Dog and Tiny served up a feast, and everyone dug in, enjoying the luxury of a meal shared without the constant threat of danger.
Laughter filled the air as Rick, Michonne, Carl, and Sofia joined the table, everyone settling in around their little patch of peace. The world outside was still a dangerous place, but tonight, in this moment, they were safe. And as they ate, with the children running around and the cat lazily sprawled on the porch, they knew they had something that couldn’t be taken from them—family.
The night wore on, with everyone in their own small corner of happiness. The laughter of children, the clink of glasses, and the hum of voices blended into a perfect harmony. For Birdie and Daryl, it was a moment they could hold onto, a promise that they would continue to fight, together, for the future they were building.