Hiraeth

Noun - homesickness tinged with grief or sadness over a lost home that can never be returned to.

Story Premise:

Persephone Pines former muggleborn Hufflepuff unspeakable tossed into the walking dead dimension after a botched up portal take down at work. This is an alternate universe Walking Dead.

This story is rated M for future scenes and vulgarity. You have been warned.

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Be warned, this is an alternate universe story so things will be different at times. This is not a happy rainbows and pink kitten fluff story. It may be a dark at times. If that's not what you wanted, there are many other great stories to pursue out there.

Reviews mean that I keep going and update sooner. Flames are not appreciated or welcomed. Remember what Thumper the rabbit said in the movie Bambi. If you have nothing nice to say, then don't say it. If you have constructive criticism, go ahead and give it, that's always welcomed.

Thank you to the lovely lobelia for reviewing! I will be putting in the bigger on the inside tent in this chapter. Laura does love abusing magic. ;) I hope you like it. :D

Thank you to those that put my story on their favorites list and/or followed it: gabby521, SilverPoisons, lobelia, HarbringerLady, Mike in the Mirror, sage1992

You guys are beyond awesome! 262 views, 92 visitors, 10 favorites, 12 followers and 7 reviews in four days is fantabulous! Well, at least for me. I seriously wanna cry; I am that happy. COOKIES AND HUGS FOR ALL!

I was thinking about putting a poll on my profile page about what the outcome of the little surprise should be. If ya'll wanna participate, that will be there. Otherwise you could leave a review.

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Chapter Six

2012 and Doomsday

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Hi Diary,

This might be my last entry for a while….Another seven years passed since I last wrote, and it was glorious. A lot of different things happened. I got a small star tattoo on my inner wrist on my right hand. It was the Steven Universe Star.

Judy went through a mermaid phase, Carl went through a mystery hunters phase, and Rick and I had our hands full between the two of them. I transfigured Carl's bed into a proper twin from his crib turned toddler bed, and I did the same for Judy. They both loved having a mom that could change their furniture whenever they felt like it.

Rick and I agreed to transfigure the inner workings of our SUV into a water fueled SUV, and it was one of our stranger conversations. I think it was because gas prices were starting to rise down here. I could only imagine what the prices were now in comparison to Canada.

I also convinced Rick that it would be okay showing our kids, god child, and Sophia the cartoons I saw when I was growing up. That was how we got our Smart TV in the living room and one very small one in the car, both were circa 2016. If the kids had other friends over we made sure to place a slight confundus around the TVs that would dissuade anyone from asking any strange questions. We got to see our daughter and son grow up into great kids.

Carol's bakery, Sweet Treats To Go, was booming, Jenny was now a principle at the elementary school nearby, Morgan was doing great as one of the head engineer professors at the local college, and Rick was content being the Sheriff. Sophia and Duane were my son's best friends, and Judy was spoiled rotten by the two of them. They were all getting to be so tall.

Besides that, Lambert got promoted as a Sheriff too and was due to move to another town. He'd be staying here for another week while they moved everything in the system. Life was going so well. I knew it wouldn't last, I could just feel it.

I was also pregnant again! Seriously, Rick and I used birth control, but I don't think it worked that well because I was on the pill when we made Judy too. Rick has super sperm. For once I wasn't sure what we were going to have. Carl was eleven almost twelve, and Judy was only seven when everything went to shit...

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It was just the first of September when I had told Rick we were expecting again, first thing in the morning, and he was so god damn happy. He spun me round and round, Judy was chanting for a baby girl, and Carl playfully groaned, but muttered for a little boy. I couldn't wait to tell our friends and after Rick, hopefully, came home from work today; we would have a great party.

I was nervous because today was also the day when Rick was supposed to get shot in the show. I had hoped and prayed that the protections on the necklace that he always wore would be enough to stop bullets, but I didn't really know. There wasn't anyway we could test that.

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The afternoon sky was beautiful and the kids were sitting on the porch with me waiting for Rick to come home. Carl, Sophia, and Duane were playing Mario Smash Bros. circa 2015 on their Nintendo 3DSes and Judy was happily playing on my android phone. I think she was on a Dumb Ways To Die kick.

Carol and Jenny were inside baking up a storm, and Morgan had offered to make us all steak. It was their way of treating us before they went off to their couple's vacation for a week. Morgan was beyond excited, as was Jenny. They were hoping our baby luck would rub off on them too. They'd been trying for another child for the last seven years. Carol was happy with just Sophia, and when I had asked her if she was looking for someone she'd always reply with that warm smile of hers before winking, "I'm always looking for love. I just have to find it someday, but certainly not with you." That statement of hers always made me snort in amusement, and I'm pretty sure she knew that too. She always found my odd quirks funny instead of sweet like Jenny did.

The Sheriff squad car came driving up and I let out a breath that I hadn't known that I'd been holding. Maybe I was wrong? Maybe this place wasn't the Walking Dead, and Jenny was right that this was really my new chance at life this entire time? I was so God damn hopeful; my heart felt like it would burst.

I ran towards the car with the children at my heels, a grin spreading across my face dimpling my cheeks. I could hear Carl and Judy getting excited which in turn excited Duane and Sophia, their giggles were soothing. The lamp lights flickered on in the streets signaling that it was far later than I had anticipated. The cool Georgia air filled my lungs. We reached the gate to our cobbled pathway, but I didn't dare touch it. I didn't want to jinx it.

Except…Rick didn't come out, Lambert did, with his hat held in his hands, and I felt my world crumble. I think I may have broken down into wailing sobs because my world felt hazy. Tears kept streaming down my face, I hadn't cried like this since my past husband and child died. I may have fallen onto my knees holding onto the garden gate for dear life. Some of the neighbors stared. Let them damn well see. They've seen worse things, bastards.

Carol came running with Jenny and Morgan in tow. I think one of them held me up, but all I could see was Lambert's grim face. Their worried voices and the children's anxious cries buzzed on in the back of my mind.

"Laura-girl, the shoot out didn't go so well. There were only two assailants. We made sure because we searched the area when the rest of us converged, and we got them both, but…" Lambert looked like he was quietly fuming at this point.

"But what Lambert?" I whispered with a shuddering breath, the tears kept coming. I knew it was Carol that was holding me up and rubbing circles into my back because she always smelt like fresh baked cookies. Jenny was holding the kids back with Morgan straining to hear our conversation.

"Laura, Rick still went down. He's in a coma. I thought I should tell you instead of having Dr. Subramanian making a call. I think Shane shot him, Laura. There was no way those two could shoot anyone with anything when Leon and Rick had them down cuffed on the ground. And Shane only reappeared after Rick went down. The other guys won't say anything…I think they're wary of Shane…" Lambert shook his head, "I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault Lambert…" I couldn't help but feel like I was going to choke, "I need to see him." I should've killed Shane when he started stalking us in the shadows. I needed to work on making my protections better, ones that would make us bullet proof.

Morgan knew about magic and the future now too so getting him on board wasn't a problem, but not Lambert. He just wore what I gave him. I hoped that I would see him again so I could make his protections stand up against bullets too. Glancing over at the kids, I saw that they were all wearing the various protection pieces of jewelry I had crafted. Judy and Sophia's earrings glinted in the lamplight and Carl and Duane's necklaces had come out of their shirts.

I stood up straighter and felt Carol's arm tighten around me. "We'll go with you, little bean." I nodded and looked over at Jenny and Morgan.

"We'll get the kids ready to go and lock up. We'll follow behind after the kids are loaded up." Morgan nodded and guided Jenny towards their car. Carol was taking over amongst the chaos, and I couldn't be more grateful.

She shuffled me towards the front of my SUV sitting me down in the front passenger seat, while Lambert lumbered back into his squad car. I had convinced Rick into transfiguring our old 2001 Honda SUV six seater into one from 2016. He certainly liked the Honda Pilot SUV better, eight seats, black leather interior, and all the new little gadgets, and I was happy our black SUV was now a cheery yellow. It ran on water and I had just filled it with the garden hose earlier that morning after watering the plants in the front yard.

The passenger doors opened and the kids piled into the car, the boys choosing the seats at the very back. I felt like my world was covered in fog when I felt Carol start up the car with a simple touch of a button. Vaguely, I could hear a Steven Universe Movie turn on in the background while we made our way to the hospital.

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I looked at my husband's pale face in the light of this hospital and the wound that was on his head and not his chest. My heart felt like it was in my throat.

When Carol, Jenny, and Morgan made sure the private room was clear, I added another layer of charms and runes to make being bullet proof possible for my husband. This wouldn't happen again. The past rual array I did was off. I felt like this was my fault.

I kissed Rick's lips, cheeks, nose, forehead, and anywhere that would be appropriate in company. I couldn't stop weeping, "The doctor said you should wake up in a month and to not worry. He was joking about coma's being a family tradition. I hope he's wrong and you wake up sooner than that. I love you…"

"He was being an ass." Carol muttered, her arms automatically crossing, a slight scowl on her face.

Jenny made a scolding sound before lightly shoving her, "Children. Carol." Carol smiled and rolled her eyes. Jenny stuck her tongue out while Morgan kissed the side of her head.

This made our little group laugh and the boys snort. Morgan put his hand on my shoulder, "Do you want us to cancel our trip and stay with you, Laura?"

I held onto Rick, looking up at my best friends, shaking my head, "You guys have been planning this trip for months. We'll be okay…"

Morgan looked unsure, but Jenny shook her head at him, "He'll be okay Laura and maybe when we get back in a week he'll be up and awake. Do you still wanna take Duane?"

Duane made a whining noise before I heard him yelp. We all turned to him. He and the other kids looked sheepish, while Sophia looked guilty, "She hit me!"

Sophia frowned, "He was whining. He shouldn't whine while Uncle Rick is sleeping. That's rude." Judy nodded, "That's true!" Carl just shrugged, "Judy. I don't think you guys know what you're talking about." Both girls glared at him.

I couldn't help, but cry again. Carol gently pried me off of my husband, "When you two get back could you house sit for Laura until Rick gets back? I think this one needs an impromptu two week quarry camping trip."

I looked up weakly at them, "If you guys wouldn't mind…I think Carol's right." Jenny and Morgan agreed and we all came in for a group hug around Rick.

"Mmkay, honey, we won't have to leave your house for anything, right?" Jenny asked and Morgan let out a sheepish laugh. I figured an extended couple's vacation at my place would be a good enough thank you. "You guys can sit tight till he comes back. It's warded to the wazoo and the enchanted pantry can provide basically all you could want or need. We finished filling it up a couple days ago…" I sniffled.

"Thanks Laura. I'll make sure Jenny has her phone on her at all times. We'll call you the moment we know Rick's woken up." Morgan kissed to top of my head and Jenny gently rubbed my shoulder.

Soon enough the kids and I peppered Rick with kisses. We stayed for hours and the kids put up 'Get Well Soon' pictures and 'Come Home Soon' pictures by my husband's bed. Carl put them up with a sticky charm; he had that mischievous spark in his eyes again. A camping trip would be good for them and me.

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It was September second, and the day was cool with a warm breeze lingering here and there. It was still hitting me that it was the day after my husband's accident and the children were piled up on top of me. Morgan and Jenny were off on their vacation and Carol had Sasha, her assistant manager, running the bakery while we were gone. Everyone began to pack up their go bags. We always ended up using the go bags when we went camping.

I made sure to charm the gas tank to always refill. I wouldn't chance it in case walkers would come sooner. The comics had hinted that it would happen on this month so I made sure to conjure and shrink guns, knives, and cross bows. If they didn't come, I could just disillusion them later...It would be good to stay on guard.

I carved runic protection symbols on all five doors of the SUV and all along its windshield, and all the windows until everything was interconnected and glowing. This car would need to be run over with a hundred tanks before it would give. I couldn't have our safety breached again.

Judy came over dragging the, bigger on the inside, tent, "Mom? Could you charm it pink this time, please? Carl got to make it blue last time and he won't change it. Sophia is siding with Carl again and Duane wouldn't stop playing with his DS." She was holding the fuzzy unicorn from the fourth Despicable Me movie, pouting at me with her big blue eyes. My daughter looked adorable in her galaxy leggings, brown leather jacket, black Gravity Falls vomiting gnomes' shirt, and green child sized combat boots. I made all everyone wear combat boots while camping; they didn't fuss to much as long as they had the colors and designs they wanted.

I sighed and smiled flicking my wrist changing the neutral blue into a pastel pink, "How's that, sweetie?" I bent down and kissed the long dark brown curls on her head. I waved my hand across the top of her head instantly putting her hair into a fishtail braid.

"Thank you mommy!" She grinned up at me showcasing her deep dimples. Dragging the, now pink, tent away she went to go try and bug the other children to play with her.

"Boo." Carol popped out from behind me. I clutched my chest and thanked God that I wasn't handling a wand anymore. It wouldn't do to accidentally Reducto someone. "Don't do that. Jesus. You scared me."

Carol shrugged and smiled at me, not at all apologetic, "Relax, little bean. You almost ready?" She tugged at the go bag that she had hanging off her shoulder, "Do you want me to drive or do you want to?" Glancing at her outfit, I was glad I made weird rules about quarry camping and that the guy who owned it was okay that we were the only ones camping there. Everyone else appeared to be getting ready to send their kids to school. Carol was wearing deep burgundy combat boots; it was certainly more subtle than what the children had chosen to wear.

"Is that a new jacket?" I had never seen her in a leather jacket before; she always seemed to prefer denim or cotton.

"Mhmm. Sophia picked it out for me. I think the pink leather suits me, dontcha think?" She laughed and tugged at one of her sleeves, "She said it would be great for the fall, and got Carl to cast a warming and cooling charm on it. What've you been teaching that boy?"

I let out a short laugh, "This and that. Judy's learning too. It highlights your cool pixie cut. I just have to pack up and shrink the last of our supplies then we can head out. If you don't mind, Carol, you can drive up this time."

She grinned at me while sitting on the bed, where I had laid out my go bag, and leaned back on one of her hands, "Why do we need supplies when you're magic, little bean?"

Carol could always make me smile, "Magical exhaustion, you know that." I shrunk everything down and stored it away in my go bag with a wave of my hand. I straightened up and began to French braid my now shoulder length hair.

The kids trampled in, the boys looking irate and the girls looking peevish. Sophia spoke up, "Carl and Duane said the news said that zombies are real. They're scaring Judy, mom."

Carol lifted one delicate eyebrow, "Is that true?"

I frowned, "Carl. Duane." I felt my heart quake and gut clench.

Both boys looked properly guilty and Duane shoved Carl forward. He scowled back at his god brother, "Well not the news exactly. We were just looking on the weird and wild forum on Duane's DS, and they said that there was a new disease that was spreading from South America all the way through Europe. There were already a couple cases reported here and Canada. Everyone said it's spreading everywhere faster than the plague."

Carol shook her head sighing before letting herself fall onto her back on the bed. She had looked tense too. We all kept hearing reports of rising cannibalism throughout the world, but nothing that sounded like an outright outbreak.

I bent down and kissed both boys' on the forehead, "See girls. It was just a forum. Not the news. Now go make sure that you have everything and are all packed up because we're not stopping till we get to the camp ground, ya' hear? Make sure to go to the bathroom too!"

The girls hugged both Carol and me before dragging the boys off cheerfully gloating. Carol looked up at me from her position, "Do you think that's true?"

I gave her an exhausted sigh, "Just in case I packed guns."

Carol grinned, "It's good that we all know how to shoot well then."

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We had been camping for several days when the tenth of September rolled on by. We hunted and fished just like normal, but this time I started teaching Carl and Judy how to ward things and carve runes into items. They were doing rather well, although I'm fairly certain Carl and Duane had more fun hunting. The girls liked to practice their aim at the silenced shooting range we had in the tent.

I had given them all more freedom after I figured out how to portkey the kids back to my side. If the little different pendants, that represented each of them on my necklace, would burn to the touch it meant that they were in danger, which meant back to mama bear. That was a headache and a half to charm. I had given it to all the kids; thin shimmering silver necklaces with small starburst diamond pendants for the girls, and small golden cross pendants for the boys. They were one of my best pieces of work with charms to date.

I had offered the heating pendants with the portkeys to Carol and she actually laughed out loud, before she accepted them with a smile. She wore a slim glittering gold chain with the multiple pendants circling around a single enamel chocolate chip cookie pendant. She suggested making it so that we could portkey ourselves to them as well. I would have to tinker with that idea later on.

Since we were in 'camping mode' we didn't really keep up with the outside world, so when I got phone call from Jenny we were all surprised. She said she'd only call if Rick woke up, to check in on us, and if there was an emergency. She had already called earlier in the morning, so I was curious as to what warranted a phone call.

Sitting back on the puffy blue couch in our tent's living room, I called out to the kids and Carol who were outside checking on the ward stones we placed around the tent and the SUV.

"Kids, Carol! Jenny's on the phone! You wanna listen in?" I put her on speaker phone while the kids and Carol ran in. Carl jumped into the cushion beside me pecking my cheek. Judy and Sophia took the other cushion on the other side of me while Duane and Carol leaned over from the other couch parallel.

"Hello?" I was feeling queasy and tired today. I think the morning sickness was kicking in, but that was alright since Carol offered to watch the kids until the worst would pass on this trip.

"Laura? Oh thank God. Is everyone there?" Jenny sounded panicked and I could hear Morgan shushing her in the background.

We all looked at one another warily, and Duane leaned in closer to the phone, "Mom, we're all here and nothing's wrong. What's going on over at Aunt Laura's place? Did dad burn their kitchen again?" I chuckled and Carol snickered while Judy pouted, Carl pinched Duane, and Sophia gently slapped Carl upside the head for pinching people again.

We could hear Morgan quietly laughing in the background; that had actually happened last summer by some weird act of God. Jenny quietly giggled as well, "No, sweetheart. Did ya'll hear what was going on down here? The dead are risin' and eating people. We saw it on the news. People are trampling over to Atlanta, but we checked up on the international news as well. They bombed Atlanta." I could hear Jenny choke up. Her parents were living up there for their retirement.

"Laura, Jenny needed a moment. We'll camp out to wait for Rick. His pendant is still not burning, right?" Morgan sounded calmer than his wife.

The smiles that were on our faces faded and Duane crumpled into Carol. Sophia nudged over Carl and sat down at my feet snuggling into my leg. Judy tried to burry herself into my side, "Yeah. His pendant is still cold, and still blue. He's not awake yet, but he's safe."

I could hear Morgan smile, "This house is beyond a life saver, Laura. We'll wait for Rick to come here since we can't venture out right now. Everyone's running in panic and so many of them are roaming around. We already saw your neighbors getting eaten. The walkers don't come near here in a ten foot radius though, and no one else seems to notice the house at all."

I managed to grin at that. My wards worked. "I told you I warded the house to the wazoo, Morgan. Oh! Once Rick comes home could ya'll trace the numbers on our house in a backwards motion twice over? Oh! And do ya'll have proper transport to get here?"

The children tensed while Carol stared down at my phone, they all looked like their gears were whirring through their minds. I wondered what they were all thinking.

"Mhmm…we parked our car in your driveway and its fine. I figure we have enough fuel to get there. Once Rick gets here we'll be sure to do that. What exactly does that do?" Morgan asked. We could all hear Jenny putting on the kettle. She probably really needed coffee doused in double chocolate syrup after all this. She was a coffee nut.

"Well, just so you don't run out into any problems…there are little glowing circle stickers with a bunch of runes on them beside our TV. Make sure to stick the one with the smiley face on your gas tank. It'll make it so you don't need to ever stop for a week, which should be enough. Stick the other twelve around your car and it'll be just as warded as the house. And tracing the numbers on our house backwards twice over who knows where we live activates the charm that shrinks it. If you could bring it with you, I'd be mighty appreciative." The children were less scared now that I had reminded we had magic on our side. Carol got up and tugged them away to probably make hot chocolate. I hoped that they would save me some. I loved hot chocolate with big marshmallows and whipped cream.

Duane hung back, "Dad! You, mom, and Uncle Rick drive safe. Get here soon. I love you!" After that he ran after Carol and the other kids. I could hear Carol turn on the electric kettle the kitchen and prepping seven mugs. The kids were squabbling about who got to do what in the hot chocolate making process.

Morgan and Jenny laughed, "That's my son. I'm gonna hand you over to Jenny now. I desperately need a coffee with some whisky after seeing that shit."

Jenny sounded watery, "I'm sorry Laura. Do you want me to tell you about the news or do you wanna tune in on your side?" I could hear her take a big gulp of her drink.

"I don't really want the kids to see walkers eating people just in case. The five foot mark around our tent and SUV will keep us as safe as the house, so we shouldn't for a little while. Do you think you'll be okay to tell me about it?" I really didn't want to see the walkers on TV or the burning cities either.

I could hear her take a couple more gulps of her drink, "I can do it. All the states that weren't powered with nuclear, solar, or hydro are shit outta luck when it comes to power." She was actively cursing, which indicated, at least to me, that she was really freaking out even if she wasn't vocally expressing it.

"Mhmm?" I tugged at my braid, anxious, but not anxious enough to turn on the smart TV in front of me. I didn't want some news caster breaking the bad news to me that this was the Walking Dead universe.

She took a breath, "So most of the southern states had no power right away. Everything shut down, that's why I was so worried when I called. Thank you for charming the phones. God, thank you for asking us to stay here…if we were still at the hotel…" I could hear her start to cry. After a couple minutes her cries dwindled to sniffles. I could hear Morgan comforting her on the other end of the line.

"You gonna be okay, Jenny?" I whispered hoping that despite the discomfort and shock she would keep going.

"Yeah…Yeah…I'll be okay. Any ways…Georgia, Kentucky, and a whole bunch of other states are without power, cell connectivity, nothin'. I'm so glad you're magic. They sequestered the president and his family away in some far away emergency bunker, but they won't accept anyone that wasn't directly working for them. A lot of people have fled to all those expansive bomb shelters they built back in world war two all over the world.

People are scrambling and scientists are pointing fingers. They said that someone named Richard Lazarus started all this in New York. The camera crews are saying to stay out of the south since that's where this virus hit the hardest. Most of central Asia went down the hardest. All the flights are grounded, and people that can't see the news don't know about how if you die you come back even if you haven't been bit. It's so horrible Laura." Jenny broke down in tears again. I could hear Jenny handing over her phone to Morgan.

"I think we need some time to absorb this, Laura. We'll keep an eye out for when Rick comes here. Ya'll are family, and family never leaves family behind. We'll call you again for our regular check up and if anything else comes up." Morgan sounded exhausted. I felt emotionally drained and checked up on Rick's tiny gun pendant on my necklace. It was still blue and cool against my skin. I knew the world was going to end. Rick owed me sex on a boat.

"Alright Morgan, you two rest up. Thanks. I'll talk to you both soon." With that the phone call ended and I let myself flop down lengthwise onto the couch. This was a cluster fuck. Groaning I put my arm against my eyes, I had prepared for ten years, but I had always hoped that I was just crazy. Tears streamed down my cheeks. I gasped for a breath, trying to calm my oncoming breakdown.

"Mom?" Carl was kneeling in front of me holding a mug of hot chocolate with Judy peering at me from around his shoulder. "Mommy?"

I rubbed away the tears, "Yes, sweethearts?" I managed a watery smile, "Is that hot chocolate for me?"

Judy nudged Carl. His face was contorted into a worried frown, "We'll be okay mom. Magic's on our side, remember?"

I nodded sipping my drink. The smooth hot chocolate, mixed in with the melting marshmallows, and warm whipped cream helped calm my rising anxieties, "Thank you kids."

Carl gave a curt nod blushing, while Judy beamed, "Does this mean the boy's can't hunt anymore?"

I shook my head, "You're brother's right. Magic's on our side, and we've trained ya'll well enough to know how to shoot and protect yourselves. But just know that if your pendant so much warms I'm going to portkey you back to my side so fast your head will spin. Understand?"

Judy and Carl nodded. I looked over behind them, "That means you too Sophia and Duane."

Carol smiled sipping at her drink. I swear she spiked hers with something because she was so calm. She sat down on the opposite couch facing mine, "Either to her side or mine. So don't do anything to warrant that."

"Yes mom. Yes Aunt Carol." They intoned before Duane started fidgeting, "Can we all go and play in the game room now?" I noticed that all the children had empty mugs now, huh.

Nodding from my position and looking at Carol for confirmation I said, "Sure. Go for it."

Carol had her elbows on her knees, her hands fisted under chin, "We'll be okay, little bean, from the walkers and the very much human monsters that are out here."

I leaned up onto my elbows and tried to smile at one of my best friends, but I could only manage to grimace before shaking my head, "I really hope so."

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To be continued...

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Sneak Peak: Turning to the wary group behind him, I addressed them, "Ya'll can stay. Just tell us who you are first and my lovely friend here'll put down her gun after."