I'll Always Take Care of You
*This is my first fanfiction ever! Please be kind! I hope you like it because I have big plans for this story. It would be much appreciated if you could do a little R&R. Also, characters from the show will appear in this story as will some events. In this story, Carol never had Sophia. She has no children. However, it will not necessarily follow season by season. As we all know, that would be copyrighting and I'm not about that. This story will be rated T but may later change to M. I sometimes have a foul mouth and I apologize. Now that my little rant is over, please enjoy the story :)
*DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE WALKING DEAD OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS OR PLOTS*
Chapter 1:
Overview
It's been about three months since the zombie apocalypse started and I think I'm even more miserable now than before the world went to shit. I can't escape him no matter how hard I try. The camp we're staying at has become a home to us, the people we share it with our family. But no matter how hard to stay away from him by either cooking or cleaning, he's always right there. I should want to be around him, right? I mean he is my husband.
How do I even begin to explain Ed Peletier? First off, marrying him was the worst mistake I have ever made. Getting beaten every day of our marriage is not happiness. It's misery. He's big, mean and has one hell of a right hook. I should have trusted my gut all those years ago. Those good looks and charm meant trouble. Unfortunately with the world ending, I have to stick with Ed. He's my only means of survival. Although at this rate, my husband may be the one to kill me instead of the walkers.
Present Day
One of the best things about Georgia is that it's always sunny. Even in a world as messed up as the one we live in now, you can always count on the sun. Speaking of the sun, that's the reason I'm up now but also because I have to help make breakfast for the rest of the camp. Quietly, I slipped out of the tent Ed and I shared and made my way over to Lori. I stretched and found I was sore everywhere. I tried to block out the events of last night but to no avail, the memories continued to flash in front of my eyes. A few bottles of alcohol were found on the last run and Glenn decided to bring them back for us. If you thought Ed was mean sober, you should see him when he's drunk. I just gotten comfortable on the floor of the small tent we shared when Ed came stumbling inside, clearly obliterated. Before I could utter a word, Ed threw himself at me. He wanted one thing and one thing only. At this point, I knew better than to say or do anything. Instead, I let him continue his conquest of me. It was safer for me no matter how much I hated it.
"Carol, are you alright?" Lori's voice shook me out of my thoughts. She looked as tired as I was.
"I'm just tired, that's all." I hated lying to her. I suspected the whole camp knew what Ed was doing to me but they never brought it up. Ed was a big man. I couldn't look Lori in the eyes after that for fear of giving everything away. I was never a good liar. To get my mind off last night, I started making breakfast. Our food supply was low but it was enough to last a few more days. Glenn would have to make a run to the city soon.
Scavenging the woods for food didn't give us many options. The walkers tended to scare the game away and not all of us were sure what plants were poisonous. We got lucky though sometimes. Today for instance seemed like it was going to go well. Daryl, our camp's hunter and my new found friend, stumbled out of the woods with a few squirrels hanging from his belt. If anyone were to survive all this mess, it would be Daryl Dixon. He's tough as nails that one. Over the course of our stay, Daryl and I have formed a tentative friendship. It has started out slow but we're gradually getting closer. Daryl isn't one to open to anyone except for his brother Merle and even that is a rare occasion. Ed doesn't know of course. He would kill me if he knew. Literally. He would try to hurt Daryl but we all know he can take care of himself. Daryl walked by me and gave a slight nod of his head. In return I gave him a small smile. It wasn't much but it was enough. He's the first person I felt like I could connect with in a very long time. Since the first day I met the grimy, sweaty, abrasive man, I knew there was something special about him. Even if all he did was cuss and grumble about how much he hated everyone.
Thankfully, the day passed uneventfully. No one was hurt and not a single walker was spotted. It helps that we're very secluded. Night fell upon us and we were all gathered around a small, barely lit fire. Too much light attracts those flesh eaters. Everyone was quietly laughing and telling stories. It was nice to relax a little and do something semi normal. Thankfully, Ed went to bed early that night. It was right about the time we were all about to turn in for the night when a piercing scream broke through the silence. I knew that voice anywhere even if I didn't want to.
Ed.
"Shit."
