S2E10P1

The last week had been busy, filled with Hershel checking Ava's wound, Ava and the others checking on Randal, and everyone else taking watch of the prisoner. It had passed with little incident, though Ava was growing more and more aware of the burden she was about to put on the group.

But first she had to tell Rick.

She sat by the fire, cooking up some eggs for the others who were either off doing other jobs or still asleep.

"Ava?"

She looked up at the voice, seeing Carl exit his tent, rubbing his eyes.

"Hey kid. Sleep well?"

"Yeah." He said, but he sounded very sleepy. He came over to the fire and sat in front of it, looking greedily at the eggs. Ava smirked.

"They're almost done. Just give it a few minutes."

"Okay."

They sat in silence for a few moments and Ava frowned at the boy, sensing there was something he wanted to say but wasn't. With the eggs cooked, she shovelled some onto a plate for him and handed it over, holding on to the edge until he looked her in the eye.

"What's wrong?"

He looked down, taking the plate, and shrugged.

"Nothing."

"Well, I know that's not true. I've seen that look a hundred times on my niece's face. I know you want to say something."

"What did she want to say?" Carl asked before piling eggs into his mouth. Ava sighed.

"Usually she wanted to talk about her dad. He wasn't a good man. She couldn't understand why he didn't want to stick around for her."

Carl chewed thoughtfully.

"Did talking about it help her?"

"I think so." Ava said, smiling. "Talking about things generally makes things better. You can talk to me Carl. I won't tell anyone what you say unless it's okay with you." She promised. Carl thought for a moment, then nodded.

"I was just…You remember that time we went for a walk, before we found Sophia, and mum and Shane were in the woods?"

Ava blanched but nodded, nibbling some egg from her fork. She didn't eat too much in the mornings on account of the sickness.

"Well, I don't understand what happened. Mum and Dad haven't really talked since and I don't know why. What were they doing?"

"I think that's something you should ask your mother about, kid."

Carl huffed.

"I did. She said they were foraging, but I don't think that's true. And why did you stop me looking?"

Ava said nothing, chewing her lip as she tried to figure out what to say.

"I'm not stupid, you know."

"Oh, I know Carl. I'd never think you were stupid."

"They were doing something wrong, weren't they?"

Ava gave no confirmation, but the non-answer was enough. Carl looked down.

"Are my parents getting a divorce?"

Ava sighed and put aside her measly plate of eggs, moving to sit beside Carl.

"Honestly? I don't know, kid. The world is a lot more confusing than it ever was before – for adults as much as kids. I don't know your mum that well but I know your dad. He's a good man and he'll do what is right by you. I promise."

Carl nodded, but the way he avoided her gaze made it pretty obvious to her that he was trying not to cry. She wrapped an arm around his shoulder and squeezed it tight.

"It's going to be okay, Carl."

"I don't want them to get a divorce. I want them to be happy and together like they used to be."

"I know, buddy. Believe me. But sometimes people fall out of love. It happens. But I want you to know that it is in no way your fault and they will never stop loving you."

"But you said people fall out of love." Carl said, looking up at her with red eyes. She wiped a tear from his cheek.

"Not with their children. A parent will always love their child no matter what." Ava felt herself tear up as Carl nodded, wiping his eyes and turning back to his eggs. She looked up at the sound of voices and saw Rick, Shane and Daryl heading towards the cars with Randal, who hobbled behind. Ava rubbed Carls' arm.

"Hey. Is it okay if I talk to your dad about what you said? Like I said, adults get confused too and I think he needs to know how you feel."

"He's dealing with a lot." Carl said, sniffing.

"He is, but he's still your father. He'll make time for you."

Carl looked up at her and nodded. She patted him on the back and stood.

"Go to the RV and tell Glenn the eggs are done. I'm sure he'll tell everyone else. Where's your mum?"

"It's laundry day."

Ava nodded and headed away from camp, looking back at the boy as he headed towards the RV. She sighed. The poor kid didn't deserve to be stuck in the middle of this, but what could they do?

Ava headed down towards the car and saw Daryl shove Randal into the boot. Shane and Rick stood in silence.

"Hey, Rick." Ava said as she approached. "Can I have a word?"

"Now's not the time sweetheart." Shane said, every word dripping with disdain. Ava glared at him.

"Give me a minute." Rick told him, heading towards Ava who moved out of Shane's earshot. Rick frowned.

"You alright? You look concerned?"

"I am concerned."

"It'll be alright." Rick said, his hand moving as if he wanted to touch her. "We're taking Randal 18 miles out. Should be far enough."

Ava shook her head.

"That's not what I'm concerned about. Rick, you've got to talk to your son."

Rick frowned, looking back to camp.

"Why? What's wrong? Is he okay?"

"He's confused, Rick, and stuck in the middle of whatever the hell is going on between us and Shane and Lori. He knows Lori lied about that time in the woods. He knows what they were really doing."

Rick sighed, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose.

"God dammit."

Ava put her hands on her hips and bit her lip, looking between the camp and Shane, who scowled at them every so often.

"He asked if you were getting a divorce."

Rick looked up.

"What did you say?"

"I said I don't know – partly because it's not my place to say that to him but mostly because I have no fricking idea. I've seen you and Lori this past week. She's been all over you and it hasn't made things any easier for any of us."

"You think I want to be with her? After everything?" Rick said, looking at her as if she were crazy.

"I don't know, Rick." Ava said, throwing her arms up. "I don't know what you want. One moment you're kissing me as if it were the last time we'd ever be able to, the next you're telling Lori you can make it work."

"Who told you I said that?" Rick said, his temper rising.

"Lori did. She told me to back off."

Rick stared at her, eyes dark with rage. Ava folded her arms and shrugged.

"I didn't want to turn it into a big deal, so I kept quiet about it. I'm not going to pretend that didn't break my heart to hear-"

"I never told her that." Rick cut her off, stepping forward so their bodies were almost pressed together and Ava saw the dark rage turn to intensity. Ava swallowed.

"Well, maybe she thought we'd stop if she made me think you wanted her back."

"Lori told me that Shane scares her, that he's unstable and dangerous, that she thinks he killed Otis. Sacrificed him so he could get back."

Ava's jaw dropped, but she wasn't entirely surprised at the thought of Shane having done that.

"She wants me back because she doesn't want him. But I don't want anything more to do with her. For Carls' sake, I've been civil, but there are only two people in this camp that I love: Carl and you."

Ava's jaw dropped again for an entirely different reason. She so desperately wanted to kiss him but Carl's conversation was fresh in her mind. She didn't need to confuse him anymore.

She reached across the gap between them and gently interweaved the tips of her fingers with his, a subtle touch that warmed with the connection.

"You need to talk to Carl about this." Ava said eventually, when the glow of joy in her chest had dissipated to a reasonable warmth. "Make it clear to him what's going on, because otherwise this will never work."

Rick nodded, staring deep into her eyes. He licked his lips but pulled away.

"I will talk to him as soon as we get back. That I can promise you."

Ava nodded.

"And Rick?" She said as he turned to head back to the car. He looked back and Ava smiled tenderly.

"I love you too."