AN – the song used here is "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" (Cyndi Lauper version). And I apologize if I got some of the makeup terminology wrong. I'm not a makeup guy.
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It began with an argument.
"Look," Andrea began, "I just want to make sure we're still alive here!"
"But it's dangerous!" Rick said.
"We know that, Rick." Michonne patiently said. "But we want to do this and…" she glanced at the other women, then back to Rick, and defiantly added, "we're gonna do this."
Rick scowled, letting his hand rest on his hip, above his .357 Magnum. He realized that it wasn't getting him anywhere and he didn't like what he was confronted with. He glanced at his wife, who hadn't said a word. But she did shrug as if to say, it's out of your hands, Rick. Realizing defeat of sorts, he knew he wasn't going to get around this and considered his options. He saw Daryl watching the conversation from the wings of the room.
"Make sure the truck is gassed up and oiled." Rick ordered.
"Ya' got it." Daryl replied. He immediately left.
Then Rick turned back to the group. "Take a radio with you."
"We will." Lori compassionately said. "And we'll use it at the first sign of trouble."
"Where are you headed?" Rick asked.
"We don't know." Maggie said. "Probably just into town. There's gotta be some more stuff there for us to use."
"I thought," Beth chimed, "that we were going to…" She trailed off.
"Yes?" Rick asked.
She shook her head. "Nuthin'…"
He scowled. "I don't know what's promptin' this, but…" He glanced out the window and could see Carol and Sophia's graves. "looks like I ain't stoppin' ya'."
"That's right." Lori said with half a smile. "Good boy."
He partially glared at her and he would not smile. No, he would not smile. No dammit, he would not smile. Instead, he just turned and walked away with a little huff. As he did, he passed Carl and put a hand on his hair, ruffling it up a little. But boy smiled and watched him go. Then Carl turned to the women in the dining room and looked them over. Beth was smiling at him and Michonne was looking at the graves. Only Lori squatted down to eye level and encouraged him to come to her. But he didn't.
"Can I come?" Carl asked.
"Ummm, sorry honey." She soothingly said. "This is just for the girls."
He looked confused. "Why?"
She stood back up. "Well…we girls sometimes need a day to ourselves. You'll be safe and fine here with your dad and the others."
That's when T-Dogg showed up from behind and addressed him. "Yeah, we can take some of that wood from the barn and break it up for firewood."
The barn. Memories of what happened crashed their minds and T-Dogg didn't even notice. Instead, he just turned to the women and produced that broad, almost giddy smile.
"Ya'll goin' to town?" he asked.
"Yeah." Andrea said.
"Get me some Hennessy." He said with a cheeky grin.
The women smiled but didn't say anything. Instead, he took that as his cue and steered the boy away from them. And when the sound of the screen door shutting could be heard, Michonne turned to her fellow, female survivors.
"Looks like the Estrogen Fair is on."
Every single woman smiled. Lori, finally able to relax, turned to the others. "Alright. Let's get our handguns, some water, and…" She took a deep breath, held it, and exhaled slowly. "some sandwiches."
"You alright?" Maggie asked.
Lori stroked her stomach. "Oh, that soup didn't exactly agree with me this morning."
"I think we have some antacids upstairs."
Lori smiled. "I think I'll be alright but I'll grab some."
"OK!"
And with that, the great Estrogen Fair had begun.
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It was actually a short drive. The little nearby town was basically in ruins. Every single door was either bashed in or completely intact. Windows were smashed, debris strewn everywhere and the fellow Georgians wandered aimlessly at first. Securing the little town was first and foremost in their minds and yes, a few walkers had to be dispatched. Other than that, the town was basically theirs. Maggie and Beth approached a gas station. After it was secure, Beth found the one thing, the surest item that would be pleasure to their meager lives.
AA batteries.
She put them in the jukebox and the Estrogen Fair had officially begun…
The phone rings in the middle of the night
My father yells, "What you gonna do with your life?"
Oh daddy dear, you know you're still number one
But girls, they wanna have fun
Oh girls just want to have fuuuun!
The '80s boombox blasted the classic and at first, Michonne was worried the sound would draw walkers. But after seeing Andrea, Lori, Maggie, Beth, and even herself (a little) wiggling their hips to the silly classic, why, Michonne didn't even bother to question it. Soon, the women was bouncing around the streets, ignoring this crosswalk or that stoplight, slapping "Ped Xing" signs along the way.
The song ended and "Dancing in The Street" came on. The women partially split up as was expected. Lori found some antacids at a drugstore and Andrea almost stepped on a pair of pilot sunglasses before slipping them on. Maggie was helping Beth apply some foundation as they sipped some whiskey from a nearby bar. And Michonne? Well…she found her own happiness.
There was a tiny restaurant that Lori would not enter. Michonne didn't know why but she figured there was some kind of memory attached to it. So Michonne ignored it. In the end, she found something that was sorely needed. Of course it wasn't food, fresh water, batteries, or firewood. Nope. Instead, it was a stuffed, rainbow-colored elephant. When she emerged from the restaurant, she saw Andrea staring at her.
"What?" Michonne asked. And then, she almost grinned. "It's for Carl."
"Uh huh." Andrea said with a smile.
That time, Michonne Anthony smiled. Andrea was in awe of the site and took a step closer to her.
"You know," Andrea began, "you really are beautiful."
"Oh, bullshit."
"No, I mean that. You've got a booty for days and your smile brightens your face."
Michonne began walking towards the drugstore. "You…you think so?"
Andrea kept in pace. "Yeah. I do. I really do." And then, an idea hit her. "In fact, I'll bet some rouge blended with a nice palette would really bring out your eyes."
Michonne looked down, trying to ignore the katana bouncing on her back. "So, you think makeup is what we should do…now?"
Andrea shrugged. "Why not? That's what Beth and Maggie are doing." Then, she spread her arms and spun once. "We have the wholllllllle town to ourselves. Let's have some fun!"
The warrior giggled for just a brief moment and reluctantly shook her head. "Alright."
By that time, they arrived at the drugstore and saw that Beth and Maggie were laughing. It was a glorious sound that filled the dusty, moldy room that wonderful afternoon. Michonne thought their laughter sounded like singing and was completely foreign to their world. But it was absolutely appropriate. Laughter was in short supply and everyone needs to laugh.
Of course, Beth and Maggie was laughing a bit too much. Michonne spied the half empty bottle of Jack Daniels and knowingly grinned. Lori was applying a rather smart looking lipstick that had an earthy color and everyone was in their element. Andrea guided Michonne over towards the drunken sisters and came to a stop near them.
"I have another victim for you!" Andrea cheekily announced.
When they looked up, Michonne could see the glassy look in their eyes and stifled another laugh. But Beth was encouraged!
"Oh yeaaaaah!" she all but screamed. "Yeah! Michonne you would look great with some eyelashes and toner." And then, she covered her mouth. "I mean, you'd look great. I mean, you'd look great…er! I mean-"
"I get it."
Beth breathed. "Oh good. Can't believe this whiskey hit me so fast!"
"Maybe we should have some sandwiches." Andrea suggested.
"Oh, fuck that!" Maggie exclaimed. "Let's all do a shot!"
Well, when in Rome. All but Lori took a healthy swig from the black-labeled bottle and within just a few minutes, the axis in Michonne's vision began to tilt. But that's when something terrible happened.
"We're out…" Beth muttered, tipping the empty whiskey bottle upside down.
"Isn't there a bar," Michonne quietly began, "just up the road?"
And that was all it took. Eyes went wide again and everyone got excited. But Michonne wasn't that drunk yet and she knew that the bar hadn't exactly been explored for any danger. So, she approached Lori.
"They want another bottle of whiskey." Michonne said to her.
"Uh huh. You do too." Lori said, perusing a three-month old magazine. She was seated on the counter of the drugstore.
"Well, I suppose."
Lori smiled. "So, go for it."
"We need to make sure the bar is clear of walkers and they're already drunk."
Lori understood. "Ah. I see. Alright." She hopped down and immediately groaned at the pain in her stomach.
"Need more antacids?" Michonne offered.
"Yeah, I think so. I must not like Carol's soup recipe. There's…"
Carol. Both Michonne and Lori froze. The party atmosphere was still there, but the harsh reminder of this new world hung all around them. At least it was only for an instant. Young, feminine giggles brought the other two out of their reverie and duty called.
"Let's just go." Lori muttered.
"Alright."
They left and didn't even tell Beth or Maggie where they were going. But that didn't matter. A small argument about color schemes broke out between them as they left.
Meanwhile, Michonne and Lori strolled the two-block walk to the nearest bar. In fact, it was the only bar in that little Georgian town. The sun beat down on them and there was no breeze to speak of. Without much need for conversation, they strolled soundlessly, looking left to right and back again. Sure, the town had been cleared of the few walkers that were there, but a new threat could always pop up. Regardless, the journey was uneventful, they inspected the bar, which was clear of danger, and approached the bar.
But when they did, Lori plopped in a barstool, her hand holding her head up. Michonne grabbed a bottle of Jack Daniels from behind the bar, turned to leave and then stopped. Well, one just wouldn't do. She found another bottle…and then another… And then they would probably need some gin. So she grabbed a bottle of that. And why not some rum?
She grinned as her arms were completely full. But when Michonne turned around to leave, she saw Lori in severe pain. Concerned, she approached Rick's wife.
"You alright?" Michonne asked.
But Lori didn't answer right away. She rubbed her belly back and forth and back and forth. Nothing seemed to work. That's when Michonne could see that Lori was actually stroking her abdomen and was grimacing even more.
"Y-yeah…I think so." Lori muttered.
"Antacids not working?"
But Lori finally looked up at her. Michonne could see that Lori was immediately pale.
"I don't think I should have any more antacids."
Arms still full of alcohol, Michonne softly asked, "Why not?"
"Two months."
"What?"
"We've been here two months."
Michonne was confused. "What does that have to do with anything?"
A dawning realizing hit Lori's face. She looked away and immediately frowned. And when she finally looked back at the fierce, female warrior, she couldn't hold it in any longer.
"I haven't had my period in two months."
Michonne dropped every single bottle of alcohol in her hands.
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