A/N: Hope everyone had a happy Christmas! Okay I've been a bit busy with the holidays but I'm back and ready to update! Hope you all have a happy new year!
Sailent Spring- Yes, may the moustache gods have mercy on Kenny and something funny happened with the copy and paste feature and I couldn't get the links to the tracks you sent, but I'm sure they fit the said scenes perfectly
BlackGalaxyStars- Glad to see you back! Don't worry about not reviewing I know how busy life can get at times, however I'm glad you're enjoying the story and I'm looking forward to hearing reviews from you in future
Transformers g1's-prime- Thank you! 500 reviews WOO! My life is complete and this is now the third most reviewed story on the site and I'm honestly astonished by it's success, because when I read my chapters back I always facepalm myself when I spot a spelling or grammar mistake and I know I've read stories on here that have much less grammar mistakes and are better written than mine. So I don't know what it is about this story that makes it a success (I know people have told me with positive feedback, but as the author itself I'm always critical of my work) but I hope I continue to entertain you guys
Upset Person- Sorry about Sarita, but the motto of the walking dead is... No One Is Safe
Catz Rule- That's fine, I appericate your reviews for the story and your support for it and thank you I had a very merry Christmas
AquaDestinysEmbrace- Liking your little song in your review and the latest chapters of Bad Things Will Always Happen, can't wait to read more!
ffapathy- Thank you for another great review on the characters and situations, I'm glad in the end I got you too feel sorry for Sarita, originally I was going to pull a "Lori" on her, having Rebecca cut her open so the baby could live, but that felt to self sacrifice-y and repetitive to the TV show, I thought having her die because there was a lack of meds to help her would be more tragic and as prove that Kenny's and Sarita's reason for murder by training to gain meds could be justified somewhat by seeing what happened if they didn't have meds.
Chameishida- Glad you ntoiced the whole "time travel" thing, I'd keep a close eye on Luke as well, that's all I'm saying on the matter, but I have big plans emerging for him.
Kristal Dynamite- Thanks another fantastic review, sorry if I left you scared of Dango's I can imagine you'll never look at them in the same way again and yep the Nick-Stef ship has set sail indeed and I'm looking forward to writing them as a couple.
A Writer With Mixed Interests- Glad you agree with me on the cabin group and expect to see more of the remaining 4 members as the story goes on.
and thanks to everyone else who reviewed and read the chapters so far! and now on with the story...
Nick half expected to be awoken by a snide remark from Molly about how him and Stephanie were cuddled up so close together in their sleeping bags, or an excited squeal from Sarah. Surely the pair were smart enough to realise that him and Stephanie had been kissing last night and were officially an item, but Nick didn't hear a peep out of either of them which made him suspicious. He awoke and shook Stephanie's form from his chest, as he rose up in his sleeping bag and stretched.
He looked back down at Stephanie as she grasped at the empty sleeping bag with her outstretched hand and mumbled his name in her slumber, Nick smiled down at her, as the weak morning sunlight highlighted her petite face, as she slept peacefully with a small smirk on her face.
"God, she's beautiful" Nick thought to himself, realising only then that he was staring, snapping out of it he proceeded to see what Sarah and Molly were doing, he found the pair of them packing their sleeping bags with their heads bent down.
"Mornin'" he grumbled.
"Good morning Nick" Sarah replied cheerfully as ever, yet her eyes didn't avert up to him which Nick found slightly odd, as he coughed to break through the unusual silence in this odd four piece group "You two have gone quiet" Nick observed openly in which Molly and Sarah finally both seemed to look up, they smiled at Nick.
"Um... just tired that's all" Molly reasoned, still smiling.
"What's gotten into you?" Nick inquired of her, rather intrigued by their strange behaviour, he noticed then that Sarah was holding her mouth over her mouth as she began to giggle uncontrollably "Control yourself" Molly quickly whispered at the teenager, who seemed unable too, as Nick felt a stab of annoyance hit his gut at Sarah's laughing as she looked back at him and then laughed harder... "Hey... what's so funny!" The hot headed man demanded to know, as Molly began to chuckle slightly.
"Oh nothing..." Molly said, but her eyes rolled away from Nick as she also started chuckling.
"What? What did you see, what is it?" Nick asked feeling defensive as Stephanie walked up to Nick, wiping her eyes she was half way through her "Good mor..." but she stopped, stared at Nick, her blue eyes seemingly popping out of her head as her face went pink in embarrassment as she groaned "Oh God..." and buried her face in her hands. "What's a matter!" Nick asked of them all, finally seeming to realise that they were laughing because something was up with his appearance, he looked into a dirty pond.
To see the words LOST VIRGINITY TO STEF! drawn onto his face, the letters all big and bold, the LOST dominating his forehead and the second word scribbled all over his nose and cheeks, and the last two words were plastered in small characters onto his stubble and chin. The raven haired man, glared openly at Molly who collapsed in fits of laughter as Sarah followed suite. Now Nick knew why they were so quiet, they had already seen him and Stephanie kissing no doubt and had made their opinion on the matter very clear.
"Did you... erm...?" Stephanie was too embarrassed to say the rest, as Molly merely nodded.
"You can't pull bullshit on me now Stef, I'm going to have a lot of fun with you guys" Molly mused, as Nick groaned aloud.
Eddie gulped, there had always been warnings beforehand always places he could go, he could get AJ ready save him from all their impending dooms but this time it was too late there was no place to run and there was no place to hide.
Today it ended, Eddie noticed it first, the stench of death was thick in the cold air as Eddie stopped, his heart racing as he looked down at AJ before nervously looking up at Luke and Clementine.
"Guys" he called out.
It was too late, the angel of death hit Luke first as he wheezed and fell to the floor, Clementine was next to fall to the floor, both were gone as Eddie was left alone to place AJ on a rock as he gulped, swaying on the spot. Sweat dripping down his forehead as he glanced behind him and then back at AJ.
Luke and Clementine (by some means) managed to stand up once again and dragged themselves over to where Eddie was standing, the trio of them looked down at AJ, Clementine had tears streaming from her eyes as she glanced down at the blank eyed infant. Their time was up, Luke used his arm to cover his face as he finally grunted "Jesus... Christ... How?"
Eddie had no answer he shakily prepared his hands, as Luke continued...
"how... does one child shit like that!?"
There was no logical answer, AJ grinned up at the three forsaken older people in his group seeing as he didn't have a nappy anymore Eddie always knew when the infant had blown off and could sit him down on the forest floor to release whatever was in his system and AJ always tended to cry before he needed to pee, so Eddie always made sure the infant didn't stain his bundles, he tried to get AJ to stand up and upon hearing Eddie mutter the word "Pee" the child would happily obey the bearded man. Peeing on the spot and then laughing at Eddie afterwards.
"It's like our little code, huh?" he asked of the infant, who babbled a reply as Eddie pretended to nod his head at an intellectual comment as he mused "Yes, just I was thinking to Sir Alvin, yes..." he only stopped there when he found Clementine staring at him as if he had lost his mind completely.
All points aside however AJ had never dirtied his blankets, so now the group were faced with a dilemma worse than death.
Changing AJ's blankets and cleaning the child's buttocks.
"Erm... so Luke you're a master at pulling woman, surely you must have a child out there you didn't have planned..."
"What are you suggesting? I've never had a kid. I'm not good with babies" Luke spat out in defence almost instantly as Eddie merely planted his hands on his hips and tutted "Luke, Luke, surely you had a little sister..."
"No"
"Baby cousin..."
"No"
"Oh come on! Past girlfriends ever had a baby sibling, or even a cousin with a distant sibling or...?"
"Eddie! Stop tryin' to drag me into this! I don't know shit about changing diapers or anything like that, just... I dunno use a leaf or something".
And so Eddie gathered the crisp autumn leaves as make-shift wipes to use, as he coughed assuming that gathering the leaves was all his part of the job done a slightly uncomfortable AJ (covered in filth and lying on an uncomfortable rock) began to wail as Luke muttered "Shit Eddie! The kid will draw walkers, just wipe his damn butt!"
"Dude I can't clean my socks! Let alone... do this" he finished lamely.
"You can save AJ's life! But you can't wipe his butt!" Luke reasoned as Eddie merely shrugged.
"Luke. I've done my bit, now it's time to do your bit and take one for the team" he offered as he handed Luke the dried leaves who pushed them away, as Clementine rolled her eyes and muttered "Boys" under her breath. Eddie's eyes brightened when he realised the mature 12 year old was present.
"Actually we need a woman, Clementine..."
"No" she responded instantly.
"Oh come on! Clementine you're gonna have to learn to become a mommy one day, you might as well start learning now" Was Eddie excuse as Clementine merely glared back at him, Luke (seeing a way out of his fate) turned on Clementine as well "Clem, maybe... you know maybe you could..."
Clementine scoffed and crossed her arms together, "You two are just being lazy, I'm just a little kid" she pleaded as Eddie laughed.
"Don't go using that on us Clem, soon you'll be a woman. Hell you're 12, you're going get a woman's body soon and have your first period and all..."
"How that's going change anything!?" Clementine snapped, as Eddie muttered over to Luke "See, already were dealing with the mood swings" as Luke and him gruffly laughed among each other, as Clementine kept her glare trained on them as she groaned "You're like 6 year olds, I might as well wipe your asses for you too..."
"It's not easy being Male and being so naturally useless, unlike you domesticated, lovely females..." Eddie began, singing praises about Clementine as she merely cut him off with a curt "Stop trying Eddie it's not going to work" as Eddie once again faced AJ and moaned "God, I wish Bonnie was here..."
He realised he made a mistake as Luke's head bent down in sorrow, sensing his sorrow he quickly ushered out "Shit, sorry Luke I didn't mean too bring up..." yet Luke cut him off as he muttered "It's fine. Hell I wish Bonnie was here too. Or Rebecca, or Sarita we need some women with us for this task" he summarised as Eddie nodded in agreement, thankful that Luke wasn't arguing with him again as he faced AJ and slid the blankets off the wailing infant, his nose scrunched up and he looked back at Luke in horror.
"I can't do this" he panted as Luke gently patted Eddie on the shoulder.
"You can, Wyatt would be proud" Luke reminded him, as Eddie smiled a single tear falling from his eye as he looked up to the sky, remembering his lost friend as he steeled his inner courage as his hand slowly (and dramatically) reached down towards AJ, the leaf was at the ready...
"Just wipe it already" Clementine wearily demanded of Eddie.
and so he did.
"It's over" Luke muttered.
Luke, Clementine and Eddie stood around the spot where the leaves (stained dark brown) lay in the similar coloured dirt, Alvin's new blankets had been wrapped around him by Clementine herself as she managed to calm down the wailing infant before handing him over to Eddie, who mournfully gazed at his stinking hands. None of Alvin's poop had got on them, but they still stank.
"We survived, thank God" Eddie breathed as Clementine merely muttered "You were only cleaning up manure" as Luke looked at her oddly as she fixed him back with an unblinking stare "What? Lee used to call it manure it's more polite than the alternative" she reasoned. Luke nodded simply at her logic as Eddie held AJ in his arms and thundered "Alright kid, no more... manure. If any more manure squeezes itself from out of your little butt cheeks, I swear to God I will make sure you don't do it again" Eddie finished, even AJ laughed at his threat in a mischievous manner. It was as if the one year old infant already had plans for his next great big evil dump. Luke and Clementine were chuckling at Eddie's phrasing as the small group decided to keep moving on north.
"Squeeze from your little butt cheeks huh..." Luke asked walking up to Eddie, as Eddie scathed his growing black hairs as he muttered "Yeah, weird phrasing but first thing that came to mind" he replied as Luke giggled again and spoke back to Eddie "You're weird as shit Eddie, but hell I guess we all are now" he finished sombrely, Eddie (not wanting to let the mood get too sour) decided to abruptly change the topic as he piped up "Well, I guess we are all grieving and shit. My beard is going to be a foot long after this..."
"Don't say that, mine's already growing outta control" Luke muttered, poking at his growing facial hair, the "pathetic piece of bum-fluff" as Nick and Clementine had cruelly labelled it back in Howe's had grown much longer, hairs crept up the sides of Luke's face and a small but steady brown-ish coloured beard was making it's mark on Luke's face. Eddie had always kept his black beard in tack, trimming it occasionally but never fully shaving it (same with Wyatt, they used to boast about it too the other male's in the store) yet the memory of the beards only brought back memories of Wyatt as Eddie sighed.
"Look Eddie, If I just... I dunno Killed Vince on the lake in the first place, or not even gone to lake at all..." Luke began, judging by Eddie's saddened face that he was thinking about his lost friend. Eddie always tried to keep spirits high, but the joke always ran dry in the end, or reminded him of all they had lost since leaving Howe's. His big brown eyes lifted at Luke's words as he mumbled sadly "You know technically speaking this is my fault, if I hadn't have shot at Vitali in the first place... they wouldn't have got shot. Stef wouldn't have tried to leave, we'd have never been left on the road and been sucked into all this"
"This ain't your fault Eddie, everyone whose died, you... you tryin' to protect Nick, tryin' to protect my best friend..." Luke reasoned as Eddie shook his head.
"That's what Vince said he was doing for the group, trying to protect us"
"Vince was mad, he was doing it for himself. I saw that when I looked at him... I saw Carver all over again and I knew... whoever he once was, that man was lone gone..." Luke looked back at Eddie as he concluded "I don't see the same when I look at you Eddie, I just see a guy who screwed up, like me, like Nick, don't go blaming yourself" Luke said as Eddie merely muttered (despite Luke's motivation) "Luke, I just... I feel useless I just wish I could do something right for once!" he stressed.
"Well I know that, you wouldn't be carrying that child if you were a complete failure" Luke acknowledged as Eddie looked down at the child, it hit him maybe he was already doing good by sticking by the child and maybe more so he would continue to protect the little guy and fulfil his promise to Rebecca. Even if the mother was dead, it was the only redemption he thought he had.
"Thanks" he muttered at Luke, as the young man smiled back at him, Eddie knew his "Thanks" was general for everything Luke had done from dealing with being a stressed out leader, to being falsely accused of rape, to surviving his injuries and still going strong. Eddie doubted he was made from the same stuff as Luke but he had to try.
"Look out there are socks ahead" Clementine joked in a monotone voice, joining the conversation as Luke scooped up the young girl on his back, it was then Eddie noticed something, something he couldn't help but smile at. Luke really did love his little sister figure of Clementine, she was the sole source that was keeping him sane, seeing them joke amongst each other (and for once not having to cheer everyone up himself) was a relaxing scene for Eddie.
"Challenge two, cleaning the socks. A game for boys only" Clementine announced as Luke counter-attacked.
"Challenge two, dealing with your period and mood swings. A game for girls only"
"Luke?" Clementine asked in genuine curiosity.
"Yeah"
"What happens when you have your period?"
Luke placed his fingers on his lips, generally clueless as to what to say. Clementine was mature and all but how did he explain female behaviour to her? He hadn't grown up having a period, he truly needed a woman to help him now...
It was as if God had answered his prayers when Sarah suddenly burst through a nearby bush and screamed "CLEMENTINE, LUKE!?"
"S-sarah!" Clementine gasped back, for a whole two seconds they simply store at one another, until Clementine jumped down from where she was on Luke's shoulders and went up to hug her friend as she cheered, just as Nick ran onto the scene.
"SARAH! GET BACK HERE! YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU HEARD, IT MIGHT NOT BE CLEM AND LU...!" He suddenly found himself face to face with his best friend, his exclamation died on his tongue, as Luke and Nick gazed at each other before they both started laughing uncontrollably as Luke pulled his black haired friend into a hug as he muttered "Is this real?"
"I don't know" Nick mumbled into Luke's shoulder.
It seemed to be validated real when Stephanie's form burst onto the scene as well, running after Nick, seeing the sudden burst of familiar and friendly faces she exclaimed "Oh thank God!" as she announced her relief at finding the others, going to a lonely looking Eddie with AJ, who was glad to see her as another blonde woman causally walked onto the scene, muttering "Yo" and holding up the peace symbol with her fingers, she looked around as Sarah told Clementine "Clem! We found Molly! You know that woman you were on about from Savannah! We found her!" she gasped at a million miles an hour, as Clementine found herself pushed towards the random blond woman.
Sarah stayed silent in anticipation as Molly and Clementine gazed at one another. For a few seconds Clementine didn't know who this stranger was, but then she opened her mouth and muttered "Hey Kid, it's a been while" and Clementine instantly recognised Molly's tone and connected the dots in her head. This (along with Sarah's statement) made her stutter "M-molly!" in wild disbelief as the blonde woman merely smiled at her, as Clementine felt herself crash into Molly as she hugged another old friend returned to her.
"Um... yeah nice to... see you too" Molly said somewhat awkwardly but with warmth interlaced in her voice as she patted Clementine on the back. The 12 year old looked away and blinked, no Molly was still there. First Lilly, then Christa now Molly? Who was next? She couldn't believe this, it was too surreal to have the others turn up suddenly let alone have another piece of her past with her.
"Wait, who are you?" Luke asked finally cutting through the friendly chatter, gazing suspiciously at Molly, as Clementine broke away from her.
"Oh just a friend, a passing stranger, your wife... wait what?" Molly answered jokingly as Clementine decided to answer to a confused looking Luke, "It's okay Luke, she's Molly she's an old friend" as Molly beamed at the 12 year old.
"Yeah Luke, I've been here since the start" Molly muttered picking up on Luke's name, as Nick and Stephanie picked up on the joke "Yeah Luke, she was with us back at the Hardware store, what's a matter with you. She's your wife remember?" Nick added as Luke blinked and asked of him "Okay, what's really going on?"
"Dude she's your wife, how could you forget, we all know Molly" Eddie chipped in, sharing a knowing glance with Molly. Eddie and Molly two complete strangers had bonded instantly over a small joke, that Eddie had quickly picked up on.
"Yeah we all know Molly, Luke" Sarah chipped in.
"Yeah, how could you forgot the most important woman in your life?" Stephanie asked of him, as he shouted "OH MY GOD! I HAVE NO IDEA WHO THIS WOMAN THIS...!" as Molly merely tutted and muttered "It's okay his like this when our anniversary comes up..."
"What anniversary!?"
"Well come on then, my other half will draw every walker in the state to us. Come on we need to keep on going, we need to make sure the plan to get to Wellington succeeds" Molly said, as the others all followed her, even those who didn't know what the hell the plan, expect for Luke who hesitated and blurted out.
"WHAT PLAN! HEY! SERIOUSLY, YOU CAN'T FOLLOW THIS WOMAN!?"
They did so anyway, it had been one of the best days in a very long time for many of them.
Things weren't looking good.
Rebecca kept baby Lilly in her grasp, Kenny had sealed himself in a small room ever since Sarita died and hadn't come out, Rebecca kept guard of the basement just in case he stumbled down there, but so far he hadn't done.
There was no reason to stay at the house anymore, Rebecca was ready to move on with baby Lilly.
But she didn't think Kenny was ready to leave.
She looked up the stairs and saw this as her chance, she could run away now with baby Lilly, her replacement for AJ, who cared if one sad, grieving man was left to rot. She would have her family back...
She realised then, she was thinking like Christa.
She remembered back at the Hardware store, she had remembered passing her newborn son around the group she had labelled them her family as well as AJ, if she ended up thinking like Christa and losing it all, she could be that messy corpse in the ground right now.
The group was her family.
She took a step up the creaking stairs, ready to talk to Kenny.