Christiane Justine Garcia—though she preferred to go by CJ—knew she didn't really have the best foundation growing up. CJ's father was never really around, her mother never really gave her children a stable childhood. She tried not to blame her parents for her not having the best childhood, but there was a big part of her that did blame her parents for a lot of the things that happened to her afterward. The biggest one being CJ's pregnancy.

CJ had only been seventeen when she found out she was pregnant, which was a big enough surprise on its own. It became an even bigger surprise when she found out she was expecting twins. When she'd told her mother about the pregnancy, when she was a little over three months along, CJ's mother was enraged. Arya, CJ's mother, had called her daughter all kinds of names after finding out, then kicked CJ out. As for CJ's father, Ashton, he was beyond pissed. After finding out where his daughter was staying—she'd found a local shelter and stayed there for the time being—Ashton caused such a scene that the police had to be called.

There remained a bitter silence between the three ever since.

As time went on, CJ's pregnancy ran its course and she eventually gave birth to two healthy babies; a boy and a girl. When she was finally able to hold her babies, to see them officially for the first time, CJ couldn't have been happier. Her babies' father bailed the minute he found out she was pregnant, and after she'd been kicked out of her house, CJ had been preparing herself, mentally and emotionally, for raising two babies on her own. She'd promised herself that she'd be a better mother than her own had been.

She was determined to keep that promise.

-0-0-0-0-

It took CJ a total of three and a half years to get on her feet. After the birth of her twins, Sage and Rosemarie, CJ waited until they were at least close to a year old before packing up what little belongings they had and moved down South. CJ had a friend—Teresa, whom CJ knew from school—who lived in Georgia, having moved down there with her parents halfway through high school. Teresa had called after a bit of silence between them and said there was a job opening in Atlanta, where she lived, if CJ was interested in taking it.

Teresa had called CJ briefly beforehand, and she'd been informed that her friend was currently homeless and pregnant. Teresa said that when she got information on any available jobs and housing, she'd give CJ a call.

When CJ got that call, she couldn't have been happier.

Teresa managed to find CJ a job as a receptionist at a local business in Atlanta, also helping her find the cheapest apartment available. When the apartment had been finalized and it was certain that she'd gotten the job, CJ was able to settle down and give her children a home.

It was all she really wanted.

So, early one morning, CJ got up to check on her kids. She had the day off, so she had a bit of time to figure out what she wanted to do for the day. When she went into Sage's and Rosemarie's room—the apartment being only a small, two-bedroom one—a small smile came across her face when she saw their sleeping forms. Sage was lying on his back, his head turned to the side with one of his thumbs in his mouth, his black hair messy. Rosemarie was half laying on her back, half laying on her side, her mouth hanging open slightly with her dark brown hair all over her face.

There were certain features about the twins that they got from their father—Sage's greenish-brown eyes, Rosemarie's smile. It disappointed CJ that their father could leave them before even getting to know them.

That's his problem, she thought firmly. When the twins were old enough, if they ever asked, CJ would tell them what she knew about their father, Bently. CJ's and Bently's relationship had been sort of brief; it was one of those started-too-serious-too-fast relationships, and once there was an announcement of a pregnancy, Bently left without a second-thought.

Sighing, CJ crossed her arms over her chest. It didn't take her long to realize she didn't people like Bently or her parents in her life—she was doing fine on her own, she'd continue to do fine on her own.

Quietly walking over to her kids' cribs, CJ took a moment to just see them. Leaning over, she kissed their foreheads before walking out.

-0-0-0-0-

As the morning drawled on, CJ tried to keep herself occupied—she cleaned the apartment; turned on the television and put it on the news, having it serve more as a background noise than anything. When the cleaning was done, CJ started making breakfast. She jumped a little when she heard a knock on her door.

"Who is it?" she called.

"Teresa."

Walking over, CJ opened the door and was greeted with Teresa's smiling face. "What's up?" she asked, returning Teresa's smile.

"I thought I'd drop by and visit," she exclaimed. "How're Sage and Rosie doing?"

"They're fine, still sleeping." CJ stepped aside to let her friend in.

"I love those two," Teresa giggled, brushing some of her red hair out of her face. "They're so precious."

CJ chuckled. "I was just making breakfast," she said. "You can make yourself coffee if you'd like."

Since it had been Teresa who gave CJ her apartment, CJ considered it just as much Teresa's home as it was hers. So while CJ continued fixing breakfast, Teresa went to make herself some coffee.

"I'll pour you a glass, too," Teresa said.

"Thanks."

When the coffee was finished, Teresa got two mugs and poured straight black coffee for herself and a cup of milk and coffee for CJ, who took it with a murmured "thanks."

While CJ continued cooking, Teresa leaned against the countertop, holding her mug, looking at the television while it showed the news.

"Have you heard about this?" she asked, nudging her friend's shoulder.

"What?" CJ glanced at her friend for a moment before focusing on her task at hand.

"I guess there's this weird bug going around," Teresa said, taking a tentative sip from her mug. "No one knows what it is."

"Is it like a flu or something?"

Teresa shrugged. "No one's saying what it is," she sighed. "They can't figure it out."

CJ hummed thoughtfully. "Where's it at?"

"It's only in a couple states, nowhere near here." Teresa nudged CJ's shoulder again before putting her coffee mug down. "It's probably nothing, though."

"Let's hope so."

(A/N):

Heya, everybody! Hopefully you like this first chapter! I know it's a bit short, but I promise there'll be longer chapters, OK?

I own nothing in TWD. All I own are my characters and the username I go by.

If you've got ideas on anything, don't hesitate to let me know! If you've got OCs you'd like to see added in, review or PM me.

In case there's any confusion on CJ's character, here's a little explanation: her father's been in and out of her life [mostly out]; her mother hasn't given CJ or her younger siblings [I'll go more into them later] a stable childhood; CJ's ex, Bently, is the father of Sage and Rosemarie, but bailed the moment he figured out about CJ's pregnancy; Christiane's mother kicked her out after finding out she was pregnant; CJ went to a shelter and stayed there for a while; Teresa, who knew CJ from high school, moved to Atlanta with her parents and gave CJ her apartment and job; while CJ was still pregnant and staying at the shelter, after her father found out about her pregnancy, caused such a scene at the shelter he had to be taken out by the police. Hopefully that makes a little more sense.

Let me know if there's anything I can improve on.

Many blessings,

Indigo Callahan