"It was very drippy before." Judith whined as she painted on the porch, Eloise and Carl sitting criss cross on either side of her. Eloise childishly furrowed her brows at the small girl, shaking her head. "Was it drippy? That's okay."

"It's a... I'm gonna make it into a heart." Judith cheered, making Carl chuckle. "Okay, that's fine. That's fine. Go ahead."

"It's dripping from the heart." Judith sang, leaning into Eloise slightly, making the older girl smile, looking at the drawing. "Cause the heart's so full. Is that why?"

Judith nodded before pouting slightly, turning to Carl. "Some is dripping on you." Carl smiled, shaking his head as he rubbed Judiths back. "You want to tell me about the painting?"

Judith giggled, pointing at the canvas. "That's our house. And Aunt Maggie. And the King. All our friends. And there's Jace." Eloise and Carl smiled at the canvas before Judith let out an evil giggle, pointing at the drawing versions of Carl and Eloise. "And I put Carl next to Wou because he woves her."

Lou's face instantly burned red, looking down as Carl smiled at her. "Yeah, I do love her. But you spoiled it." Carl said, his last sentence going to Judith as he ruffled her hair, making the toddler whine before a loud gasp escaped her lips as she turned to Eloise. "Wou, can I draw your hat?"

Eloise smiled, nodding her head, making Judith cheer as she turned back to her painting, drawing the army hat Rosita got on her Lou's head.

"Who is that grumpy face?" A voice spoke behind the three, making them all turn their heads to Rick and Michonne. Judith had an evil smile on her face as she looked at her dad. "You get a grumpy, little face."

Michonne instantly started laughing at Judith's words, walking towards the three kids. "He has a happy face, too."

"And there's going to be his big tummy!" Judith cheered and Eloise instantly laughed, quickly hiding it in her hand after Ricks glare. "That's Daddy's big tummy?" Carl said, trying to hold in his laughs, Lou's stifle ones weren't helping.

Rick rolled his eyes as he held back a smile, he walked towards the three as he shooed Eloise and Carl off. "Shoo. Go on. You were supposed to be at Rositas and Jaspers already."

Lou's eyes went huge as she nodded her head, realizing she and Carl were supposed to be there a while ago. "Shoot, you're right." Eloise mumbled, quickly kissing the top of Judith's head and quickly getting up, Carl following after her after giving Judith a kiss on the cheek. "Bye Judy!" Eloise screamed as she ran towards her house. Judith turned around to her brother and Eloise, waving goodbye. "Bye Wouie!" Judith cheered happily, not being able to pronounce her 'L's.

As the couple walked towards the house, Eloise grabbed Carl's hand, turning to face him with a small smile. "What was that back there, lover boy?" She asked, a big grin growing on her face.

Carl's face scrunched in confusion, squeezing Lou's hands. "What was what?"

Eloise felt herself blush slightly as she looked to the side slightly before turning back to him, a small smirk on her face. "You love me?" Carl's brows furrowed, a small smile growing on his face. "Of course I love you. I've said it before..."

Eloise pursed her lips, shaking her head, making Carl's eyes widen. "I haven't said it yet?" Eloise chuckled, making Carl shake his head. "Oh! I thought... I thought I did already."

Eloise laughed, at his words, squeezing his hands. "It's okay." Carl smiled, leaning down to kiss her. "We'll I do... Love you." He mumbled as he pulled away. Eloise smiled brightly, quickly going up on her toes to give Carl a quick peck on the lips. "I love you too."

A giddy smile grew on Carl's face as he squeezed her hand, pulling her to Jasper and Rositas house. Eloise laughed slightly, running ahead of Carl, their hands still conjoined, making Carl stumble after her.

Eloise barged into her house as she pulled Carl into the kitchen and skidded to a stop as she watched Rosita and Jasper on one side of the kitchen, throwing carrots into the pot on the other side of the kitchen.

"We'll you two look like your having fun." Carl chuckled out, making Rosita and Jasper jump, not hearing them walk in. "Oh Jesus, you little shits." Jasper breathed out, running a hand down his face.

"I can see that dinner isn't done yet." Eloise snarked, a smirk on her face as she crossed her arms. Rosita chuckled, walking to the teens, taking the hat the off Lou's head to ruffle her hair, making the girl groan. "Not yet. But... Somebody wants to cut his hair." Rosita said, eyeing Jasper.

Carl grinned turning to Jasper with raised brows. "You want to cut hair?" Jasper sighed, then his hands on his pockets as he nodded.

Eloise snickered, walking to her brother, grabbing his ear and pulling him to the bathroom. "Hasn't cut it since he was 17 so now's gonna be fun."

Jasper groaned as Rosita came into the bathroom with a stool, Carl behind her. Eloise let out a happy sigh, immediately grabbing the scissors, making Jasper panic slightly at how quick she was moving. "Be careful would ya? You're gonna cut my ear off or something."

Rosita huffed at his words as Eloise started to cut his hair. "You don't listen to us anyways." Rosita shrugged, crossing her arms as she leaned against the doorway. Jasper sent her a side glare that made Carl laugh.

Eloise smiled at his laugh, turning her head to face Carl as she snipped Jaspers hair, making the man panic more. "Eye contact, Louie! Eye contact." Eloise rolled her eyes, looking back to her brothers hair as she mocked him slightly under her breath.

After a few seconds, keeping her eyes on Jaspers hair, Eloise started talking to Carl. "So... Can I cut your hair too?"

Carl instantly shook his head as a small smile graced his lips. "You're not cutting these locks, Louie." Carl said, playfully flipping his hair. Eloise let out a playfully sad sigh, continuing to cut Jaspers hair as he and Rosita bickered about how short she should cut it.

...

"And... We're done." Eloise said, making Jasper finally look at the mirror to look at his hair. What was once down to his shoulders was now much much shorter, almost as if he got it at a barber shop. Jasper smiled, feeling a sense of nostalgia and deja vu from a time before walkers roamed the world.

"I like it." Rosita said quickly, pushing herself off the wall she was leaning on and kissing Jaspers cheek. Jasper smiled, turning his head and quickly kissing Rosita, making Eloise and Carl let out playful groans that made Jasper give them the middle finger in return.

Rosita pulled away with a chuckle, grabbing Jaspers hand and pulling him passed the two teens and back to the kitchen. "Come on. We gotta eat."

Eloise went to follow after the two adults but Carl grabbed her hand, pulling her back towards him and into an immediate kiss. Eloise slowly kissed back, her hand going to cup his face to pull him closer.

After a few seconds, Carl pulled away, a small smile on his face. "I love you."

Eloise smiled at the words, nodding her head slightly. "I love you too." She whispered, leaning in for another kiss until...

"Louie! Carl! Get your asses in here and eat!" Jasper screamed playfully from the dining room, making Eloise and Carl laugh. Eloise quickly went on her toes, pecking Carl's lip and grabbing his hand, pulling him towards the table. "We're coming!"

—I have a sad surprise babes...
this is the last chapter
I'm so sorry to end it so abruptly, usually i warn y'all when the last chapter is coming but i had no real way to end it if i ended it right before the time jump because the  everyone is sad that rick is "dead" and as much as i love this book, i don't want to drag it on and continue after the time jump.

i want to thank everyone who commented and voted on the book, I love you all so much
i hope you all enjoyed reading night changes❤️