AN: It's been a while since I've written anything, but after Coda, I felt it was necessary. I'm a bit rusty and I'm afraid it shows, but I'm hoping this little piece will get me writing again. Enjoy!
. . .
"Carol…?" Judith asks hesitantly. They are bundled underneath blankets, the chill of winter's air finally moving across Virginia - where they've been holed up for a couple of weeks. A six year old Judith is curled next to Carol, and Carol strokes the young girl's wavy strands of hair.
"Hmm, Jude?" Carol responds, already drifting off to sleep.
"I never met my mom, right?" Carol blinks, suddenly awake in the dark room. She pulls Judy closer to her, unsure of what to say at first.
"No, sweetie. Remember? Your mom died when you were born."
"I know," she whispers back softly. "But I remember someone."
"Maybe you're thinking of - "
The impatient six year old cuts Carol off. "She has yellow hair, Carol. And she's singin' all of these songs. I can hear 'em - sort of, but every time I try to really remember, she goes away."
"Oh baby," Carol murmurs. "That wasn't your mom, Jude. That yellow haired girl was someone very special and her name was Beth. She took care of you when you were a baby and she loved you as if you were her own."
"What happened to her?"
"Beth saved me, and she saved Noah. You remember Noah, right?" Judith nods so Carol continues. "She loved us all so much but…"
"I know. Like my Daddy?"
"Yes, just like your Daddy." Carol takes a deep breath. Some of these conversations are just too hard, but she owes Judith the truth. "Just like Glenn and Rosie and Tara. They all loved us so much that they made sure we could keep goin'. And we can talk about them whenever you want. You know what?" Judith nods her head rapidly at that, but her blue eyes are droopy and tired. "I bet your Aunt Maggie would have some great stories about Beth. They were sisters, you know that?"
"Mmm hm. Maybe tomorrow." Judy yawns largely. "'Night, Carol. I love you."
"I love you too, Jude."
Some hours later, Carol's door cracks open the tiniest bit and someone steps inside silently. Daryl slides smoothly into the bed next to the sleeping pair and brushes his lips against Carol's neck. Rolling gently away from Judith, Carol turns to face him.
"Didn't mean to wake ya," he mutters.
"I was awake, couldn't sleep."
"I thought your nightmares were finally gettin' better."
"No. It wasn't… it was… Judith remembered Beth tonight," she slowly, tears filling her eyes.
Daryl looks at her for a while, his expression unreadable before he cracks a bittersweet smile. "Forgot how much time they spent together at that prison. Remarkable, huh? Beth really loved lil' ass kicker."
"She doesn't remember much, but yeah.. it is remarkable. We should talk about all of them more. There's so much she doesn't know… so many people who are gone."
"Hey," Daryl says and strokes her cheek. "We ain't goin' anywhere. We're gonna be here for Judy. That promise to Rick…. we're keepin' it."
"I just wish she knew..."
"She does, Carol. We'll make sure she knows. Beth, Rick... all of 'em. They'll never be forgotten."
"Okay," she says and smiles at him, a small tear trickling down her cheek. Daryl wipes it away and rests his thumb on her cheek lightly.
"Go to sleep, I'm here now. Ain't goin' nowhere."
A fleeting image of Beth flashes in Carol's mind as she finally finds herself drifting off to sleep. If she listens hard enough, she can almost hear the song Beth is singing, but before Carol can figure out what it is, Beth is gone. Even so, Carol smiles.
End.
. . .
