Disclaimer:
Carol Peletier, Sophia Peletier, King Ezekiel, Henry, Jerry, Shiva, and any other recognizable character or plot of The Walking Dead belong to AMC Network and Skybound Entertainment, Image Comics and Robert Kirkman.
In no way is the author claiming ownage of any of the characters nor is there any economic/monetary gain at any time. The author is extremely respectful of the original creators and is willing to take down this work of fiction if requested.
No copyright infringement intended.
Original characters are the property of the author.
Chapter 8: Welcomings
It surprises Carol how quickly they fall into a routine.
Ezekiel gets up early every day because of his job which requires him to be at the zoo bright and early every morning. He tinkers around the kitchen, preparing breakfast for the three of them. Carol wakes up to the scent of food she hasn't had to prepare, a smile always painted on her lips. She turns towards Sophia, who is sprawled on the bed, happily sleeping and taking over far more of her share of mattress and blankets, and wakes her up by gently caressing her cheeks and peppering kisses to her beautiful face.
When Sophia has somewhat woken, Carol picks her up, secures her against her hip, then walks out of Ezekiel's bedroom to join him. They have breakfast together where they introduce Sophia to new things every day, things that had previously been forbidden for her; pancakes and waffles, a cereal that doesn't taste like cardboard, fruits other than apples, and chocolate or strawberry milk. When they are done Ezekiel goes to have a shower while she cleans up, something she insists on doing since he cooked. When he's ready to go, he says goodbye to Sophia by kissing her forehead then he says goodbye to her by kissing her hand.
Carol and Sophia occupy themselves around his home while he's at the zoo; reading books about wildlife or playing with her doll or enjoying a round of hide and seek. She cleans whatever mess they do and as a thank you for another day of protection, she cooks dinner despite Ezekiel insisting she doesn't have to, that is if he doesn't call with the news that he's bringing something exciting for her daughter to try. She knows he's talking to the zoo's Human Resources department to see if there is a spot she can work in so that they won't have to stay secluded at his home but she's not in a hurry to leave. Ezekiel's home brings them a sense of peace and protection neither had ever felt before and she, for once, isn't trying to run away from that feeling.
By the end of the week, they have their routine down pat just in time to welcome little Shiva to what will be her foster home for the foreseeable future.
Sophia wakes up fully knowing what day it is, with bounds of energy that Carol doesn't know where they came from. She wakes up Carol by happily bouncing on the bed with her little toddler legs, clutching her tiger plush by the ear.
"Shiva day!" She exclaims excitedly. "Mama! Shiva day!"
Carol smiles up at her daughter's antics. Giggles as she sees Sophia's bushy-from-sleep pigtails bouncing around. Sophia is happy and that's all she cares for, so she lets her jump on the mattress in a way that her little girl had been unable to do before today. Ed would have surely protested her doing this in his house and Sophia would have never felt secure enough to express her happiness while her father was at home.
Hearing that Ezekiel is already tinkering at the kitchen, Carol catches Sophia in a bear hug and plants kisses all over her freckled cheeks. "Let's get ready then!"
Moments later, once she has wrestled Sophia into one of the outfits Ezekiel got for her and has managed to get her daughter hair back into two neat ponytails, Carol opens the door for her to scurry away. Sophia silently rushes out of the room. She knows she'll make a bee-line towards the kitchen door where she will patiently wait for Ezekiel to pick her up and set her on the counter.
"Little Princess! You have wakened!" She hears Ezekiel welcome Sophia.
Her daughter, true to her blossoming toddler self and with the softest voice, requests. "Up?"
"Your request is my command." She can't help but smile at his response. Sophia is starting to explore her newfound freedom and Ezekiel has been nothing but a cheerleader and supporter.
Quickly she changes into the clothing she chose the day before, a pair of dark blue jeans which for once aren't baggy and a white cotton blouse. She washes her face, her teeth, then fumbles with her hair. As always, it's a mess of dark auburn curls that she can't control no matter what she does with them. She pulls them back, a couple of stray strands fall from her hold and fall down on her face. They don't look bad but they certainly look like they have a life of their own.
Does Ezekiel like them?
With a sigh, she looks away from the bathroom mirror and leans on the sink.
What is she thinking? Why does it matter to her if Ezekiel likes her hair? Sure, they have talked about the feelings that continue to quickly grow between, but she hardly thinks that Ezekiel will like a vain person and certainly a person who worries about her hair is as vain as they can be. Hadn't Ed called her vain back when they'd just gotten married? Maybe he had been right all along.
She looks up again, this time focusing on the greenish bruise on her eye. The swelling has drastically lessened and she can open her eye but it's still slightly puffed. The edges have started to turn yellow and she gives a little thank you to God for her fast healing, but most of her eyelid and cheekbone is still marred in green and yellow tones and the white of her eye still has a bit of red where Ed had broken tiny blood vessels.
She can't help but chuckle pitifully at herself. Who does she think she is? Here she is worrying about whether or not her crush likes her hair when her face is all kinds of swollen and colored. Despite Ezekiel voicing his crush to her, at that moment Carol can't help but think that he really can't be serious. How can he feel anything for the likes of her?
With a sigh, she starts working on covering the bruise with the makeup Ezekiel got for her. He'd insisted she didn't need it because there was no shame in surviving her husband's wrath, but they were going to accompany him to the zoo and the last thing she wants is to have to hide her face. Years of covering up bruises serve her perfectly and soon she comes out of the bathroom and out of the bedroom with almost no evidence of her husband's fists except for the puffiness around her eye.
Her daughter's giggles welcome her as she moves through the living room towards the kitchen. She can't help but peek into the kitchen where she finds her daughter sitting on the counter, her nose and cheeks with a dust of flour. Ezekiel is standing in front of the stove, a white hand imprint on his cheek which looks suspiciously like Sophia's. He flips the pancake up high which makes her daughter dissolve into giggles around the spoon she's licking. Judging by the purple tinge on her lips, Ezekiel has given Sophia a spoon with blueberry conserves for her to lick away.
"What are you two doing?" She asks as she steps into the kitchen.
Ezekiel and Sophia both turn to look at her with matching grins on their lips. She has to shake her head a little to clear it from the thoughts that flood her mind, especially the one that screams at her that this is perhaps the family unit she's been yearning for all her life.
"Mama!" Sophia greats her with all the happiness her little body can contain. "Cakes!"
"Ezekiel is doing pancakes?" She asks her daughter even though she can clearly see that's exactly what's happening.
"Blueberry pancakes." Ezekiel is the one to elaborate.
"Yummy!" Sophia declares with a rub to her tummy before she once more occupies herself with her spoon.
Carol moves to her daughter's side where she tenderly wipes away the flour from her daughters face. "Did you have fun helping Ezekiel?" Sophia eagerly nods before scooting closer to the edge of the counter and opening her arms for Carol.
"Down please." She requests. Carol taps her daughter's nose before helping her down from the counter. It doesn't take long before Sophia has scampered away, spoon still in her hand.
She's left alone with Ezekiel.
Instantly, and despite the fact that they are comfortable with each other, Carol can't help but feel her cheeks reddening and the heat taking over her skin. She tries to busy herself in helping only to make a mess as she knocks over the batter. "Shoot!" She exclaims and quickly tries to put the bowl in its correct position. Ezekiel must have been doing the same thing because their hands end up one over the other. Sparks ignite up her arm and the butterflies in her stomach take flight. Neither pulls their hand back.
"Sorry." She says. Carol tries to hide her face from Ezekiel, feeling how much it's truly burning, but Ezekiel only chuckles beside her.
"No harm is done." He promises before flipping the pancake over yet again with his other hand then transferring it to a plate. "Does my presence make you nervous?"
Carol quickly turns to look at him, her cheeks blushing even harder. How does he know? How can he read her so effortlessly? Despite her lack of answer, Ezekiel squeezes her fingers then brings them up to his lips for a gentle kiss.
"You know you do." She admits as she tries to push away the rush of heat her skin is feeling. "But... that's not always a bad thing, right?"
"I don't believe it is." He agrees with her before slowly releasing her hand and leaning forward to kiss her forehead. She closes her eyes and leans slightly forward to feel his lips longer agains her skin. A deep breath fills her lungs with his scent. She wants nothing more than to cuddle at his side, to have that right, but she knows she doesn't so she eventually pulls back.
"Boo!" Sophia's sudden appearance makes them jump apart, half scared and half caught. "Tiggy day!"
"You are correct, Sophia. The time has come for our beloved tiger to come home. But first, we must fill our bellies." He declares before shooing them away playfully with sweeps of his hands toward the kitchen door. "Now go, relieve my kitchen of your presence. I will deliver breakfast when it's prepared."
They have breakfast together with Sophia practically smooshing the pancakes into her mouth despite both her and Ezekiel reminding her to take small bites. Carol knows that she's excited and wants to be done with breakfast as soon as possible in order to go with Shiva, but she certainly doesn't want her to choke. She's about to reach over and cut her pancakes into acceptable bites when Ezekiel beats her to it. She smiles at him and he smiles back before sending a wink her way.
The wave of emotions that crash into her definitively tell her she's in over her head where Ezekiel is concerned. It doesn't scare her though, not really. It actually sort of excites her.
When breakfast has been finished, teeth have been washed, clothes have been straightened and they've double checked everything is ready to receive the tiger cub, they pile into Ezekiel's car. Sophia sings to herself all the way, occasionally reminding her and Ezekiel that they are going to go pick up Shiva as if either of them could forget. Carol angles herself inward so that no one can look at her face from outside, just a precaution, but it also serves so that she can see both her daughter and the man that is slowly stealing her heart.
"And how do tigers communicate their happiness?" Ezekiel quizzes her daughter.
Sophia grins, showing off her little baby teeth and making her chubby cheek appear rounder than they are. She attempts to make the chuffing sound that she's heard Shiva do but falls into giggles when Ezekiel joins her. Carol loves her daughter's laughter more than anything in the world, the fact that Ezekiel is bringing it out of her makes her fall more for the man.
"And if a tiger gets scared, what do they do?" Carol asks.
She watches as Ezekiel tilts his head a little higher, catching Sophia's reflection in the mirror.
"Jump!" Sophia declares, after all, that's what the tigers she has seen on the videos in Ezekiel's home have done. "And puff!"
"Puff?" Ezekiel asks her a little confused.
"Yes! Puff!" Sophia demonstrates by pushing her hands against her belly then extending them outward, as wide as they possibly could be.
"She means their fur," Carol explains. "They get all frizzy."
"Oh." Ezekiel nods with understanding. "And how do tigers behave when hunting their prey?"
Sophia crouches a little on her seat, as best as she can since she's in a sitting position and restrained. Her shoulders go high as her head goes low. She doesn't break eye contact with Ezekiel, her pray, she barely moves a muscle.
"That is actually very good, sweet pea." Carol praises. To her daughter, this is all play about her favorite animal, but to Carol and Ezekiel, this is information she needs to know now that Shiva is coming home with them.
"Remember, we must pet her gently. She mustn't be frightened, this is unfamiliar territory to her, similar to when you and Mama came to my house, weren't you fearful?"
Sophia takes a moment to consider his question and the way she had felt. Surprisingly she ends up shaking her head, her pigtails flying everywhere. "Nope."
"No?" Carol asks softly making eye contact with her child. She would have thought her daughter would have been fearful, after all, they'd just gotten out of a dangerous situation and Ezekiel's home was nothing like she'd ever been in.
"Nope," Sophia repeats as she shyly brings up her stuffed animal against her chest, partially hiding her face in it. "Kekiel is nice." She explains with wide eyes, not a trace of indecision in them. "Pro...protect Mama and Phia."
There's a second of silence in the car before Ezekiel agrees with Sophia. "You are correct, little one. I will always protect you and your mama."
Carol can't help but slide her hand over Ezekiel's which rests on the car's gear lever. She squeezes it gently before pulling her hand back. She agrees with her daughter completely.
The moment Ezekiel pulls into his reserved spot, Carol instantly grows self-conscious. She knows not many people saw the injuries in her face, but the thought that someone might have and they know her inner most secret, terrifies her. She probably would have shrunk back and insisted she'd stay in the car if it wasn't for the fact her daughter was having none of it. Holding on to her mother's hand, Sophia instantly requests Ezekiel's as well. Once she has both hands secure in her tiny ones, she urges them to start walking, skipping along between them.
To Carol's relief, no one bats an eyelash their way unless they were greeting them. Ezekiel guides them towards the tiger enclosure where Shiva, no doubt sensing Ezekiel's proximity, is already growling for attention. Besides her, Sophia practically dances on tip toes as she tries to patiently wait for the tiger to be left in their care. It takes a little longer than usual but eventually they are let in to spend some time with the cub while the vet, ever patient with Sophia hovering near and asking a thousand and one questions, evaluates if Shiva is ready to leave with them.
"Last chance to change your mind, King!" He jokes with Ezekiel who stands proudly by. Carol is not sure if he's proud of her daughter being so inquisitive or of Shiva getting a clean bill of health, but something tells her it's a little bit of both.
"I am as secure in my resolution as I have ever been." He declares.
Everything goes as planned and soon Ezekiel is signing off paperwork that officially puts him in charge of Shiva. With no one else inside of the enclosure with Shiva, Carol observes as Sophia plays with the tiger cub through the cristal wall.
"Carol?" Ezekiel calls to her, making her jump slightly.
"Yes?" She asks as she straightens up from where she had been leaning against the wall.
"I need you to sign some paperwork too."
Confused, Carol looks at him with eyes narrowed. Her hand raises and gently presses against her chest. "Me?"
"Yes." He ushers her towards him and starts explaining once she's by his side. "I conversed with the head of Human Resources. He owed me a favor and I cashed in on it. From hence forth you are a member of our zoo family. You will be in charge of helping me teach Shiva all she needs to learn in order to survive."
"But... But I'm not... I don't know much."
"That's perfectly acceptable, we don't expect you to be a tiger prodigy. Seeing as you will be home with me, and you'll be in contact with a Shiva as much as I will be, we thought it appropriate for you to be an apprentice to a zoo keeper." Ezekiel explains. Despite the fact that he knows she doesn't know a thing about tigers other than what she's learned at his side, there is no quivering in his voice, no hesitation in his decision. "It officially lets you handle Shiva and helps put some money in your pocket. It comes with its dangers, but it's what we could come up within such short notice."
Her eyes instantly fill with tears. This man is keeping each and every promise he has made to her and Sophia. She knows that for her to get this job he had to put his own on the line, it doesn't go unnoticed by her, but he's ensuring that she has the means to earn money in case she does end up wanting the leave the safety of his home in the future.
"Tha...thanks." She says as a couple of tears escape her eyes.
She fills the needed information then signs the paperwork that officially makes her a worker at the zoo and the paperwork that says she will be part of Shiva's upbringing and just like that she and her daughter's future becomes a little brighter, a little less shadowed by the terror of her husband.
When the time comes for them to leave they encounter a hiccup in the transportation plan that not even Carol sees coming. For Shiva's safety, they have to have her in animal transport throughout the trip back home. The travel kennel designated as hers has been padded so that she doesn't slip and has been made to feel a little more like home with one of her rope toys. Shiva goes in quite easily but as soon as Ezekiel moves to close the kennel, it is Sophia that instantly dissolves into tears.
Carol embraces her daughter, gently smoothing her hand back and forth over Sophia's back. Her daughter seems terrified and can't quite voice what's wrong with her because of her sobs. It takes Carol a lot of soothing words to get Sophia into a state where she can understand her.
"What's wrong, sweet pea?" She asks her before pushing back Sophia's bangs.
"No... Shiva... in box." Sophia mumbles around hiccups. Her tear filled eyes turn to look at the tiger cub who is staring at her with an expression of confusion. "Out! Please."
Carol turns to look at Ezekiel who seems as confused as her. He crouches down in front of Sophia and Carol and gently tilts Sophia's face toward him. "Are you worried about Shiva well-being?" He asks in an equally soothing tone. "Shiva remains safe, no harm will come to her within the transport."
"N...no?" Sophia asks incredulously.
"No," Ezekiel assures her at the same time that Carol shakes her head. "We have made it warm and cozy. She will not suffer from cold."
Sophia bites the inside of her lip. She's obviously thinking hard as she bites so Carol gently sweeps a finger over her daughter's lips to remind her to release. The last thing she wants is for her daughter to get hurt.
"Tiny." Sophia points out.
Carol quickly understands what Sophia is afraid of.
Once, when Sophia was much smaller, Ed had decided to punish her for her incessant crying over a stomach ache by putting her in the closet. Carol had begged and pleaded, holding her daughter close to prevent him from taking her but Ed has been relentless. He'd eventually pushed both of them in, closing the door behind them and bathing them in darkness. Ever since that day Sophia had shown signs of hating closed spaces. Carol understands for she too suffers from claustrophobia, but she'd never thought her daughter would react so strongly to someone else being placed in a close tight space.
"It's small, yes, but see she has space to move around," Carol assures her as she shows her just how big the transport really is. Shiva can certainly move around just fine, she can even lay down and stretch and she still wouldn't touch the ends of the transport. "And see... see all the holes? She can breathe and she can look out. See? She's looking at you and she's just as worried for you as you are for her."
"I know it seems scary, but we need her to be protected for the trek home. We want her to be safe."
"I hold her!" Sophia offers. She quickly brushes her tears away with the back of her hand then opens her arms out for Shiva. "I protect."
"We can't do that, sweet pea," Carol explains. "Remember when you were little and you wanted to ride on my lap when we would get food? Remember how Mama couldn't drive and hold you?" She pauses so that Sophia can answer with a nod of her head. "Well... it's just like that. You have to be on your seat in order to be safe and Shiva has to be in her transport so that she will be safe. She can't ride in your arms because she could get hurt if we suddenly stop or if there is an accident."
Sophia turns to look at Shiva once more. Her eyes water again which is quickly followed by her chin quivering.
"I have an idea." Ezekiel suddenly declares. "Would our Princess feel much calmer if we place the tiger's carriage by her side during our ride back home?" He asks. Sophia's eyes widen and she nods eagerly. "Shiva will remain in her transport but you will be able to keep a watchful eye over her, make sure she is safe. Do you think you are up for that responsibility? You will need to show valor beyond your years."
Sophia doesn't take a second to think, instead she quickly answer with a sharp nod, hair flying everywhere. "Yes! I brave! Mama, I brave!" She declares trying to convince both adults.
"Very well, then we shall depart."
Carol can't help but smile as she realizes just how serious Sophia has taken her new task. She walks besides Ezekiel, on the other side of the pen he carries, glancing inside to make sure Shiva is safe. She keeps to his side all throughout the walk out of the healing center, through the back roads that are accessible only to zoo personnel, and right up until they reach the car. Even when Carol is buckling her in, Sophia keeps careful watch over Shiva even going as far to remind Ezekiel to secure the transport with the long seat belt.
"Hurry! Hurry!" Sophia begs almost as soon as Ezekiel is behind the wheel. Carol can only guess that she doesn't want Shiva to be on the box longer than she has to be.
"Patience." Carol reminds her daughter as she once more settles herself with her body turned inwards towards Ezekiel. This way she can keep an eye on Sophia as well as stay hidden for she isn't entirely sure that her daughter won't attempt to spring Shiva out of her captivity.
Ezekiel promises to be as quick as he can be though Carol doesn't really notice a difference in his driving. He maintains her daughter entertained by asking her questions that range from tiger behavior to Shiva specific questions. Sophia answers all of them but she never takes her eyes off the tiger cub that lays beside her.
As soon as Ezekiel pulls into the driveway of his cabin, Sophia starts struggling with her seatbelt trying to get it off so that she can release Shiva.
"Wait... wait!" Carol calls out.
She rushes out of the car and opens Sophia's door as quickly as she can. By the time Ezekiel has opened the front door and has pulled out the transport, Carol has secured Sophia against her hip. They enter the home together but no sooner has she crossed the threshold that Sophia is wiggling in her arms trying to her down.
"Out! Out!" Sophia begs even as Ezekiel is already opening the transport door.
"She has to come out all on her own." Ezekiel reminds Sophia who looks up at him and gives a solemn nod. She then crouches beside the transport and peers in, strawberry blond hair cascading all over her face. She huffs and pushes it away annoyed.
To say Carol is a little nervous would be an understatement. A tiger, even a tiger cub, is a dangerous animal and her daughter doesn't seem to understand that Shiva could hurt her if they aren't careful in helping he acclimate. Carol knows the tiger will be hesitant, after all it is a brand new environment and doesn't want Sophia to overwhelm her by pulling her out.
"Sweet Pea, come here." She calls to her daughter. Sophia does as asked and quickly finds a spot on her mother's lap facing the transport.
Shiva doesn't come out right away which prompts Sophia to look up at her mother with a questioning glance. "It's all right my love," Carol assures her though she too turns to look to Ezekiel for assurance.
"Princess Sophia," Ezekiel once more crouches beside her. They are now all facing the transport door, waiting for a sign from within. "Remind me once more how that special sound only tigers achieve when they are happy and content sounds."
Sophia pulls her bottom lip underneath her top teeth then lets out the air she had been holding on to. It's not quite the chuffing sound Ezekiel can do but it is close enough that they hear Shiva react.
"Oh!" Sophia exclaims surprised, her hands quickly rising to cover her lips. "Mama!"
"I heard."
"Try again, little princess."
Sophia tries once more and soon enough both Ezekiel and Carol are doing the sounds right along with her. It feels like forever but finally, a tiny paw comes out, followed by another, then a head and eventually all of Shiva's body slips out. She seems hesitant, scared, and on edge. Her fur is puffed just like Sophia had mentioned that morning.
Sophia leans forward and Carol reminds her once more to be gentle. Without Ezekiel's prompting Sophia extends her hand in offering so that Shiva can sniff her. Carol can't help but smile at the innocence and smarts her daughter shows. Still, she holds her breath as Shiva leans forward, sniffling from far away.
"Come on sweetheart," Ezekiel whispers his support, his eyes trained on Shiva as she approaches Sophia's offered hand.
Shiva sniffles once more before letting out a tiger version of a mighty roar. For a moment Carol fears she will scare Sophia but her daughter only giggles. Before long Shiva is doing her own version of the chuffing sound while pressing her head against Sophia's hand.
"Good girl." Sophia praises.
Slowly Sophia gets up from her lap, guiding Shiva around the living room effortlessly. Carol watches silently as her daughter, without an ounce of fear, introduces a tiger to her new home. A tiger! Sophia shows Shiva the best hiding spots, the best spot to fall asleep on the couch, the best place to play dollies. It amazes Carol, yet again, the leap and bounds Sophia has gone through. How could this little girl, who had trembled from fear in her arms most of her life suddenly be fearless and strong? Her daughter is blossoming in a way she can't have predicted. It steals Carol's breath away yet at the same time deeply excites her to see Sophia try new things, find the strength within herself to push her own boundaries. It gives her hope; hope that her daughter hasn't been forever scarred by her father, hope that Sophia will grow to be a strong woman who would never let a man hurt her, hope that they really will survive all of this.
After spending an afternoon exploring and setting down rules and boundaries for both Shiva and Sophia, Carol spends her time watching her daughter's antics with the tiger cub while Ezekiel prepares their food. She laughs as Sophia tries to walk on hand and feet, mimicking Shiva's way of walking and as she plays her own version of tag, which more often than not gets interrupted by Shiva's sudden interest in her own tail. She watches carefully as Shiva, now more accustomed to the space around her, playfully jumps on Sophia making her daughter squeal with delight and even caresses the tiger cub whenever it will seek her touch. When Ezekiel declares their food to be ready and serves everyone she even allows Sophia to share little bites of her chicken with Shiva, always under the watchful gaze of Ezekiel, dropping them from up high.
She has been hesitant, God knows she's questioning whether she is putting her daughter in danger or not by letting her interact with the cub, but as she sees her daughter curl up with Shiva, both sleepy and with filled tummies, Carol's hesitation lays to rest for the time being.
"I have a feeling that Shiva will neither need you nor me in this endeavor. It will be Sophia that teaches her all she needs to learn." She hears Ezekiel say. Turning she catches his knowing gaze as he sits beside her.
"I think you are right." She admits, leaning back against the sofa with a tired sigh.
"I must remember to endorse my checks to her then." He teases.
She turns to look at Ezekiel who is now looking at the sleepy tiger and human cub who have decided that the middle of the living room is the perfect place to take a nap. Sophia is fast asleep on the rug, thumb in her mouth facing Shiva who has curled herself against Sophia's chest.
She has so many questions she wants to ask him but doesn't know where to start. How did he convince the zoo to give her a job? Why has he taken them under his wing and opened his home? Why does he feel the way he feels for her? Just... why?
She shakes her head as she tries to clear up her mind. "I don't know how you managed to convince them to give me a job when I have no experience... but I wanted to thank you."
Ezekiel turns to look at her with one of those smiles that always seems to light up his face. He gives her a small nod before opening his embrace and letting her know she can snuggle against him if she wants. Carol is not one to pass a chance to snuggle so she inches her way closer before resting against him, pulling her legs up towards her body on the sofa and laying her face against his chest. His arm falls behind her, holding her without being heavy. She can't help but feel like this is natural, that this is what they should be doing.
"It's really no inconvenience." He promises. "As I declared, he owed me so I convinced him that doing this favor for me would wipe the slate clean."
"It must not have been easy." Carol knows it couldn't have. Sure, she had simply had to fill in her information and sign on the dotted line but she knew it must have cost him a lot of convincing in order to get him to agree to that deal.
"He was a little reluctant, but in the end, he agreed." She feels him press a gentle kiss against the top side of her forehead. She can't help but sigh contently as she continues feeling his embrace. How can he be so calming to her soul? "A little good for all the grief he had me go through."
"Grief?" She can't help but ask, leaning back so that she can look straight into his dark eyes. "Do I want to know?"
He chuckles and gently pulls her back to her previous position. "Fear not, it wasn't actual grief." He promises. "Have you ever wondered why those around me call me 'king' even when I hold no title and have no actual Kingdom."
Carol blushes even though she can't see him. The thought has passed through her mind but she hasn't wanted to pry into something he isn't ready to share with her. She's also wondered why it is that he has that funny and very proper way of speaking. "A little." She finally admits.
"People who work at the zoo are a family, we watch out for each other, have each other's back when they need us. Thus, everyone knows about each other's business but I had kept one part of my life a secret." Ezekiel explains as the hand that's not holding her to him starts playing with the end of the fingers belonging to the hand that rests on her lap. "I take part in community theatre and when Phillip found out he invited everyone to one of the showings. Needless to say, I was playing a King from one of Shakespeare's plays. They've called me King ever since."
"Is that why you also talk funny?" She asks, shifting slightly so that her head is tilted upward without having to leave the area of his chest. "Proper... with a... Shakespearean flair?"
"Indeed it is," Ezekiel admits. "I decided that if I was going to play the part I might as well own it and I've been using the speech since then. I fail sometimes but the practice has done wonders for my time on stage."
She lets out a little giggle against his chest, nothing more than the soft movement of her chest. "You'll have to invite me to one of your plays someday." She whispers. "Maybe when Sophia and I no longer have to hide."
"Hopefully that day will be soon." He says in an almost prayer like tone. "Michonne should be calling soon with news. Though..." he pauses to turn to look at the pile of sleepy bodies currently taking residence on his living room rug. "I have a feeling you will not have to worry about Sophia's well-being for long, not with Shiva by her side."
"Not sure who is who's protector at the moment though," Carol adds, agreeing with his words. It will take off a great source of worry from her shoulders to know that Shiva is watching out for her daughter and that Ed will never dare to approach her with a tiger on the prowl nearby if indeed it were to happen.
They fall into silence, their fingers still playfully caressing the others. She smiles down at their hands and at how easily intimacy seems to develop between them. She can't help but compare him to Ed and how awkward they had been all throughout their marriage, as if intimacy had to be forced even when she had been so sure that she was thoroughly in love with him. Yet, here she was, holding hands with Ezekiel and everything felt right, everything felt perfect.
Beneath her head, she can feel his heartbeat going faster which tells him he's nervous about something. She fidgets for a second before leaning back further, her eyes closed as she finds a spot she's completely comfortable with before opening them up slowly. Her blue eyes lock with his and before she knows it they are both leaning into each other. It's as if there's a magnet between their lips pulling them together, a magnet that finds no resistance whatsoever from either of them. She can feel his breath against her lips which only makes her lean forward even further. One of her hands raises to press three fingers against his chin, steading him as she sends a questioning look through her eyes. He takes a moment to understand what she's trying to say before pressing the side of his face to her nose, slowly turning until their noses rub together, one over the other. Their lips are so close that a shift from either of them would make them touch. She knows, instinctively, that he is not going to lean forward and close the distance. He is leaving it up to her to decide.
She licks her lips once before closing her eyes once more.
She's not afraid. She's not even nervous. It seems right, seems like its exactly what should be happening, what they are meant to do. She closes the distance between them, letting her lips make contact with his. It's not a chaste kiss, though it certainly starts like one. Again it is she who gives way for a deeper embrace by parting her lips and letting the hand she'd press against his chin move upward and tangle with his dreads. She lets out a breath that has been burning her lungs just as he slides a hand upward and into her hair, securing her against him without making her feel like he's holding her with the intention of not letting go. They kiss for what feels like an eternity, something she is very much ready to do. They'd probably have continued well into making out had it not been for a tiny growl that comes from Shiva.
Immediately, they pull back and turn to look at their sleepy cubs. It seems Shiva is still sleeping, probably dreaming of something that has made her give out that tiny cute growl. Carol can't help but laugh, raising a hand to cover her mouth as Sophia sleepily and without opening her eyes pats Shiva's belly in a soothing motion, before taking a look at Ezekiel. He is blushing quite hard and licking his own lips as if to keep the taste of her in his system.
"Got carried away, forgive me milady." He admits with a smile.
Carol gives him a tiny smirk before leaning forward and pressing another kiss to his lips, this time a quick soft press. His smile increases as she leans back which in turn makes her blush almost as deeply as he is.
"I don't mind it." She admits. "I like kissing you."
"It is quickly becoming my favorite way to spend time." He assures her before leaning in for another quick kiss.
It is only when he's leaning back that Carol sees his eyes move away from her face and settle on something behind her. She turns and follows his gaze only to find a blinking red light in what she knows is his voicemail machine. "That must have been Michonne." He theorizes. She moves to let him off the couch but giggles once again as he gets up then quickly leans down to kiss her.
Who is this giggling mess she's becoming? And most importantly, why does she not mind it?
He crosses the short distance towards the answering machine and quickly presses the button beside the flashing light. The silence is interrupted by the crackling of the machine then the woman's voice that takes over the living room.
"11:36 am. 1 voice message."
What she hears next paralyzes her heart. "This is a message for Ezekiel's guest. This is Michonne, your pro-bono lawyer. We need to talk."
