Eve's POV

Oh damn, I can smell the food from here.

I jumped the fence to the farm instead of going all the way around and undoing the gate, I don't have the patience for that right now.

I don't know how everyone does it. I can't idle like they do.

I have to keep moving— be doing something; Occupy my brain or my body, I can't just sit unless that's my task. If that makes sense.

I can keep watch and sit still as stone when I'm hiding but that's part of what I'm supposed to be doing. My patience isn't lacking, my ability to more or less stand down, is iffy at best.

When every second counts, I—...I can't let my mind wander to cold places, or begin to question my resolve. I might not get it back.

Exhausted, my feet dragged themselves as I walked through my strangely deserted camp.

I peeked in a tent or two, but there's not even someone on the RV, taking watch. The fire isn't lit. Where is everyone?

Looking around, my eyes landed on the house. The lights are on up there, so there must be somebody here.

Oh God, please don't tell me they went looking. Nothing good ever comes from any one of them going into the forest to search for either me, or Daryl.

I made my way up to the house with my lead legs and tried to jog up the porch steps. Big mistake.

Reaching the top step, my boot caught on the top stair and I nearly went face first into the screen door.

My hands flew up reflexively; smacking against the door frame before my cheek made contact.

My breath fogged on the glass of the screen door. That was a close one.

Straightening, I glanced around to make sure no one saw that before I went inside and saw Maggie, Beth, Jimmy, and Glenn sniggering my way.

I stuck my tongue out at them as I got closer. Everyone was in the dining room eating dinner.

Why wasn't I told about Thanksgiving? Although, I don't remember it being November. I could be mistaken what with the apocalypse and all, but I could've sworn it was—

"Welcome back" Rick turned, setting his fork down.

I nodded in acknowledgement, taking notice of the strange relief on their faces.

Kay I know my last few days haven't exactly been the most reassuring display of skill, but there's no reason for this amount of disconcert in my few hours of absence.

"We weren't sure when you'd be back, so I left you a plate in the kitchen." Carol pointed over her shoulder.

I flashed a grateful smile and gave her shoulder a thankful pat as I made my way across the room and to the kitchen.

I grabbed the plate off the counter, along with a fork and guzzled my water before going back into the other room.

"Does anybody know how to play guitar?" Glenn asked, half turned in his seat to face the rest of the adults lining the room. I'm sorry Glenn, but you sit at the kiddie table with the rest of the under 25-ers.

The silence he was met with was awkward even for me.

Something happen I don't know about? I've only been gone a few hours and everyone here looks like someone spit in the juice.

"Dale found a cool one" he tried again.

Stone cold silence...and a few —frankly unnerving— long stares; the type you get from a parental figure when they're simultaneously trying to figure out why you thought that was a good idea, and trying to punish you for it.

Good lord, I really can't leave for more than ten minutes without something breaking, can I? What am I, the babysitter? Rick and Shane were cops why am I the peacekeeping/authoritative figure? Is this what internal affairs feel— felt like every day?

Glenn half-sigh half-chuckled, "Somebody's gotta know how to play"

Okay, this is gettin' sad.

I raised my hand— fork but nobody was looking at me. It occurs to me, they might not know I'm here— er back. I am eating in the doorway instead of the table. They're all kinda just...looking at their plates or glaring at one another.

I tried not to sigh as I leaned against the doorframe and shoveled another bite of mashed potatoes in my mouth, but it wasn't easy. I feel like a foreigner watching other people try and fail to speak my native language. Not funny failing though, more like...awkward and offensive.

The tension in here is so thick I can almost taste it.

"Otis did" Patricia finally spoke up.

…

I slowly put my hand down, awkwardly returning to filling my empty stomach.

Mmm— son of the round table, I've missed mashed potatoes. Is there any salt?

"Yes, and he was very good too." Hershel gave her a long look I don't quite understand. Best I can describe, is something encouraging, or sympathetic— maybe both. Probably both.

Glenn awkwardly turned back around and returned to his food. I spotted the shaker on the table and stepped forward to snag it and coat my meal.

I didn't notice before but I don't see Daryl here. He wasn't outside either.

"He's in the bedroom."

I looked at Dale, who's staring at me with that knowing look he gets.

How did he—? He must've seen me lookin' around.

I swear, you scare me sometimes Dale. I don't think I've ever met someone quite as perceptive as you.

Why is Daryl in the bedroom?

Whoa, kay— what's with the smiling at me now? Why is Carol— why are people smiling at me? Why do you look like they're trying not to laugh?! What is going on!?

"Eve, you've got somethin' on your uh..." T-Dog motioned at his chest, failing to not grin and I looked down.

Oh that's lovely. Thank you so much, Dale, for distracting me to this point. You're a true friend.

I scooped up the bite of mashed potatoes getting cozy on my cleavage and shovelled it into my mouth, snapping my jaw shut.

Just for that. I started cleaning my plate of all traces of mashed vegetable. Pausing only to scratch my neck.

Carol stood from her place at the end of the long table and smiled at me as she past into the kitchen. "Finish your dinner then you can go see him. Yeah?"

I nodded, stepping out of her way and once she was through, I got another serving of the offending food from the center bowl of the table.

Wow, kay. We should never do this again.

I think we've just set the world record for how fast things can turn awkward. You lot have one skill: making shit tense, and usually it turns into a fight but this feels more...mmm, post-fight.

Again though, why is Daryl in the bedroom and not out here eating? Is he brooding about somethin'? Is that why it's awkward as shit in here?

Daryl's POV

Where the Hell is she? It's already dark. If she fell in another hole—

The door opened behind me and I looked over my shoulder, half expectin' it to be her but Carol came in with a tray.

I pulled the sheet up over my side and chest, covering as much of my skin as I could and turned away from her.

"How you feelin'?" Carol asked.

"Bout as good as I look" my voice is rougher than usual; sore from breathin' so hard earlier.

"I brought you some dinner. You must be starvin'." Carol's voice came out quiet as usual, but softer than normal.

I glanced at it but honestly, I don't feel much like eatin'. The squirrel was enough.

There was an awkward pause, and I expected her to just leave but she ain't movin'.

Carol finally gave a small tight smile and I thought that would be the end of it but apparently not. She leaned over, and as much as I hate to admit it, I flinched.

That made her hesitate but she still kissed me on the temple.

I focused on the sheet farthest away from her, picking at the loose strings. "...Watch out, I got stitches."

I thought she was gon' leave after another awkward silence but she started talkin' again.

"You need to know somethin"

I looked back over my shoulder.

"You did more for my little girl today, than her own daddy ever did in his whole life."

Shifting, I turned back to the section of the blanket my fingers are workin' on. "I didn't do anythin' Rick or Shane wouldn't a done."

"I know." her voice cracked; a smile in her tone. "You're every bit as good as them...Every bit." Carol began to leave before she stopped and turned back.

"By the way, you've got a visitor."

Visitor? I looked at her as she left and a second later the Swamp Monster herself walked in.

"Look what the cat dragged in. The Hell ya been?" I shifted onto my elbows to see her more clearly.

Eve's lips pulled into a tight line, anticipatin' mockery. I was thinkin' bout it but she's draggin 'er feet; Looks almost as exhausted as I felt earlier.

Eve trudged over and flicked my leg. I moved it, letting her sit on the edge of the bed and as soon as she sat down, she sighed, blowing out 'er mouth.

Head lulling to the side, her eyes fell on the bandages and I watched her eyebrows knit together.

"I fell"

She blinked, straightening her neck to look directly at me.

Good lord. I can almost hear 'er sayin, "Into a truck?"

"What're ya my mother? You gon scold me?"

Eve smiled with a 'pfft' and rolled her eyes, shaking her head.

The lighthearted atmosphere didn't last long. She leaned over, resting her elbows on her knees and looked at 'er hands.

As usual she's got a few scrapes, but it ain't surprisin'.

"Guessin' you didn't find nothin' either."

She shook her head.

Damnit. Where the Hell can that lil' girl be?

Eve smacked my wrist away from my head, startling me. I didn't even realize I was gonna touch the bandage.

"Jesus, yur hands are freezin'" How long was she out there? Hand felt like a damn ice cube.

Eve looked at 'er hands before breathing on them and rubbing them together.

We sat in (somewhat)comfortable silence and I picked at the tray a bit. The juice or whatever didn't help my throat much but it's better than nothin'.

The mattress shifted when Eve did, and I watched 'er scratch a red blotch on 'er neck and pull a velvet pouch from 'er pocket.

Eve's POV

"Wanna play cards?" I took the cards out of the sleeve and shuffled them in my hands.

Daryl looked at me, less startled than usual at my voice, scoffed and scooched over a bit.

I toed off my boots and sat criss-cross on the bed, setting up the cards.

"Go fish or Texas hold'em?"

"What're you, five?" Daryl scowled at me incredulously.

"Texas Hold'em it is" I smiled, dealing.