@takenpeace· said:“ come here. ”
she lingers, just in the door way. it’s guilt, that tears her apart. for his pain, for the loss of hilltop. already, tears cascaded down cheeks. it’s a sense of relief like ocean waves washing over, to see paul still standing, still breathing. “ i’m so sorry. ” she breaks the distance between them, arms take their place round his frame. “ i shoulda been here. for you, for everyone else . . . for our home. ” her voice shaky, as she holds to him. afraid if she lets go, she’ll lose him forever. the ruins, she had just visited before making her way to what was left of alexandria. “ but i’m here now. ” it wasn’t enough, it would never be enough. would things have been different? it’s a question she’ll never hold answers to. but now a new trouble lays in wait, one she’s brought right to their doorstep. careful, but not careful enough.
but she’d make sure, they wouldn’t take her home. they wouldn’t take away the people that she loved. she’d fight until her last dying breath to keep them safe, to keep them alive. gloved hands wipe her face, turning attention now to the boy, who had made his way into the room with them. familiar hat atop his head, that large grin upon his features, shone brightly just like his fathers. “ this is jesus. ” too young he had been when they had left, but now plenty of memories to be made, plenty of time to catch up on everything they had missed.
the hesitant leader of hilltop isn’t one for displaying too many emotions . he’s caring with a big heart but he’s always able to keep his composure . the attack on him , though , he left him raw , unbalanced and unsure of everything he ever thought he knew . paul was never afraid of anything and now . . . he’s afraid of it all ( not that he’ll easily admit it ) . nightmares comes and he has flashbacks when certain situations arise . the doc calls it ptsd , he’s reluctant to agree. paul sees her standing there and it almost doesn’t feel real . after all this time , maggie has come home . tears well in his eyes at the thought of what hilltop was and what it is now and just how much he missed her .
these days there’s still a bit of pain that comes up with too much pressure , a lot of damage was done without the miracle of modern medicine and surgery . a miracle all its own that he’s still standing and breathing . maggie hugs him and he groans a bit but his arms wrap around her to hold on tightly . ❝ it’s okay , maggie . i’m okay. ❞ truth is he’s not and neither is anyone else but she cannot blame herself , he doesn’t . she had to do what she thought was best for her and her child . no one could ever fault her for that . his attention turns to the boy at her side and he’s taken aback by just how much he’s grown . ❝ wow . . . he got big , ❞ paul says wiping at his own face to kneel down in front of young boy . ❝ it’s good to see you again . i haven’t seen you since you were much littler . ❞
