Disclaimer: Don't own Walking Dead or Warm Bodies. Nope.
Warnings and Notes: M for language, death, walkers, language, and junk. Gay characters, talk of sex, but this is so not a porny story. No Terminus and no sickness either. So Patrick isn't dead. Well he is. But he's not. XD
Pairings: Rick/Daryl and Carl/Patrick. Though it's mostly in flashbacks. Because half the couples are walkers through most of it.
Slightly Longer Summary that Wouldn't Fit in Summary Box: Six years ago, they were attacked. They lost more than the prison. They lost everything. Daryl couldn't save Rick but he saved his kids. And then Beth saved them. But now they're safe. There's a vaccine and the country is trying to put itself back together. All seems great! Until Judy follows Carl one day and finds out he lied about killing the walkers they once called family. Judy meets her real dad in walker form and grows a bit too attached to him. Carl starts to worry she's going a little crazy. And then he starts to worry for a whole slew of different reasons when Judy announces she's taught the walker to talk. Rick/Daryl, Carl/Patrick, sorta Warm Bodies merger, without the WB characters.
Ages I'm playing with are: Judith is 8, Carl is 20, Beth is 25, Daryl is like... I don't know. 37? Not important. Patrick was 17 when he was bit.
The Walking Dead: Symptoms
Chapter 1: I Want a Pony!
It was early in the morning, serene and quiet in the house. Well… it had been quiet. The young girl had woken up on her own, rather pleased with herself. She'd gotten dressed all by herself and skipped down the stairs to the living room. It was empty. She frowned slightly. She walked into the kitchen. It was empty too. She crossed her arms and pouted slightly. "Daddy!" She called out loudly. She didn't get a response. "Daddy?" She returned to the living room, took a deep breath and screamed, "DADDY!"
"Damnit, Judy!" The voice that answered wasn't the one she wanted and she pouted as he came down the straits. The young man rolled his eyes as he saw her. He stepped off the stairs and into the living room. He set his bag down in a chair and dropped the hat he held on top of it.
Judy simply narrowed her eyes in a glare. "Imma tell daddy you said a bad word Carl."
He rolled his eyes and shook his head. He leaned against the arm of the chair and crossed his arms. "He ain't gonna care, Jude."
Her face scrunched up and she screamed again. "Daddy!"
"Judith Grimes." He appeared at the top of the stairs, clothes hastily pulled on and his shaggy hair still wet. "I swear…" He shook his head as he started down the stairs. "If ya don't shut yer mouth, yer grounded."
Carl rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Yeah right, dad." He stressed the endearing term sarcastically. "You'd never ground her." He mumbled.
Daryl narrowed his eyes and slapped Carl lightly in the back of the head as he walked past him. "Smartass." It wasn't in anger. There was a hint of a smile on his lips.
"Daaaaaaaddy!" Judy strung out the word. "Carl said a bad word!"
Daryl turned around and pointed a finger at Carl. "Watch yer fucken mouth around your sister."
Carl smiled widely. "Yes dad."
Daryl rolled his eyes and turned to look down at his adopted daughter. "Judy, what'd ya need?"
Judy looked up at him. She tilted her head slightly and smiled. "I want a pony!"
Daryl stared at her blankly for a moment. "Sweetie, do ya even know what a pony is?"
"Yes!" She insisted loudly. "Bethie told me about them. She found a picture book and showed me. She had ponies when she was my age. She said so!"
"You can't have a pony." Daryl said firmly and turned slightly to look at Carl. He nodded towards the bag. "Where you headed?"
"Library." Carl said, pushing off the chair. He threw the bag over his shoulder and slipped on his trademark hat. "Meeting Beth to study."
"Studying? On a weekend?" Daryl shook his head and waved his arm. "Ain't a fucken kid of mine."
Carl smiled and laughed as he walked around Daryl. He bent down towards Judy and kissed the top of her head. "I'll keep my eyes out for a pony."
She smiled brightly, her whole face lightning up. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. Then she released him and bounced backwards onto the couch.
Daryl crossed his arms and shook his head. "You shouldn't encourage her."
Carl cocked his head to the side, looking at him. "You're one to talk." He stepped forward and wrapped his arm around Daryl in quick hug. "See you later, Daryl."
Daryl pushed him away gently. "Yer ass better be back for dinner."
Carl laughed again and waved as he headed for the front door. "Yeah, yeah, dad."
Daryl watched him disappear out the door. He let out a breath and turned to Judith. "Judy, you ready for school?"
She nodded her head. "Yes, daddy."
He stepped closer to her. "Didja eat?"
"Yes." She said, nodding again.
"What'd you eat?"
"A cookie."
Daryl cocked an eyebrow and tilted his head. "The special cookies Aunt Beth made for me?"
Her smile seemed to widen and she nodded yet again. "Yes."
"That's not breakfast." He said, shaking his head. "Get an apple or something."
She bounced off the couch and ran towards the kitchen.
Daryl watched her, a sad smile stretching across his face. He moved around to the back of the couch and leaned against it lightly. He let out a sigh. Static from the CB radio dragged his attention away.
"Daryl Grimes." A voice said. "Calling for Daryl Grimes."
"Daddy!" Judy called loudly from the kitchen table.
"I heard." He strolled into the kitchen and over to the counter. He picked up the radio transmitter and leaned back against the counter. "Daryl Grimes here."
"Lt. Abraham wants to see you, sir."
"When?"
"As soon as you can, sir."
Daryl grunted and nodded to himself. "Yeah. Ya tell him I'll be there soon as I drop my girl off at school."
"Thank you, sir."
Daryl rolled his eyes. "Don't call me sir." Being called sir wasn't high on his list of things he liked since the return of society. He wasn't a sir. Just sounded stupid. The line when dead and Daryl pushed off the counter. "Let's get a move on, baby girl." He said, glancing back at the table. "Daddy's got work to do."
"Yes sir." She said with a smile.
Daryl promptly ignored her as he turned from the kitchen and ran up the stairs to his bedroom. He slipped on his holster and secured his knives. Then he paused for a second as he picked up the large silver handgun off his nightstand. He ran his fingers over the long barrel and sighed. Even after six years, he still missed the man. He slipped Rick's gun in his holster and grabbed his crossbow.
A few moments later, Judith bounced in his room, holding out her apple core. Her hair was pulled back in a ponytail, her shoes were tied, and her backpack was on. She looked rather pleased with herself.
Daryl grabbed the core from her outstretched palm and dropped it in the trashcan beside his nightstand. "You ready?"
She lifted her shirt a bit, showing the knife at her left hip and the small firearm on her right. They were bulky under her too long shirt but became nearly invisible when she tied her jacket around her waist.
Three years ago, a disagreement between Abraham and someone who thought he should be in charge escalated. While Abraham was off the compound, Daryl was left in charge. And this man thought he could use Judith to get Daryl to surrender. So he broken into the school and busted down the classroom door, waving a large run around. But no one ever thinks to frisk little girls. And when the man turned his back on Judith for one moment, she pulled out her gun and shot him.
It wasn't the life Rick had wanted for her, this wasn't the world she deserved. But Daryl made sure she could live her life in this world. She picked it up quick, had a natural talent like Carl. And she took it seriously, like Carl had.
Judy played with Barbie's and had tea parties with her stuffed animals and once a week before bed, she took her gun apart and cleaned it. It may not have been the life Rick wanted for her, but it was the life Daryl could give her. He made sure she could protect herself when he or Carl or Beth wasn't with her.
He bent down and kissed the top of her head. "Go get your jacket."
She smiled up at him, large and goofy. Then ran from the room.
Daryl followed at a slower pace.
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Author's Notes: Short little chapter to start. Next chapter will delve into what happened over the 6 year gap period.