Existing Hearts
Chapter 4
Hey there guys! Well let's get to it shall we, a full episode full of Andrea and Michonne, so let's get to it! Hope you enjoy this...
All three of them watch as the helicopter falls through the trees, all of them holding a shocked expression. Layla begins to walk forward and she hears Andrea and Michonne with the boys follow behind her, they walk through a field and when they finally get close enough Andrea begins to throw up. Layla and Michonne both start to rub her back to soothe her.
''Don't push yourself, you better sit down.'' Michonne says to Andrea and she crouches down with Layla and Michonne doing the same.
Layla continues to rub Andrea's back, smiling at her reassuringly. Layla then watches as Michonne ties the boys to a nearby tree.
''I'll check it out. Layla look after Andrea.'' Michonne says and Layla nods her head.
Layla watches as Andrea walks forward. They both see a solider lying on the floor but Michonne ignores him and keeps walking forward.
''What do you think happened here?'' Layla whispers to Andrea.
''I have no idea. It seems so weird for a helicopter to crash like that, nothing can take it down.'' She whispers back.
''I know what you mean.'' Layla whispers back.
''How you holding up after our conversation earlier?'' Andrea asks.
Layla takes in a breath. ''I'd rather not talk about it, don't want to cry at this moment in time.'' Layla whispers smiling at Andrea.
Andrea takes Layla's hand and squeezes it tightly, she knows how hard it has been for Layla to talk about Daryl and her, she may laugh about it and be crude but in her eyes all you see is pain and heartache. That's love and Andrea knows that she loves him.
Then they hear the sound cars approaching and they see Michonne run back towards them quickly.
''Someone's coming.'' She states and all three of them huddle together watching as men exit the cars.
''How's the wreck look?'' Andrea asks.
''Two dead, not sure about the other.'' Michonne confirms.
All three of them watch as the men observe the scene in front of them. Layla keeps her hand attached to Andrea's as the men getting a little closer. One points their gun at an approaching walker but one of the men stops him. The walker is then shot in the head by another man with a bow and arrow. Layla winces at the familiarity. Then another man approaches and takes out two more walkers with a baseball bat.
''Got a breather. Tim!'' One of the men shouts.
The boys start to groan behind them causing Michonne to look over her shoulder at them. A walker is approaching and Michonne pulls out her katana as well as Layla pulling out her knife.
''No!'' Andrea hisses. ''You see anything. We should show ourselves.'' Andrea states.
''Not yet.'' Michonne confirms.
The boys start to groan louder causing Layla to gulp as she watches one of the men stab the dead soldier in the head, all three of them watch on glaring confused at why he has just stabbed a dead man. The men turn towards them clearly hearing the boys moaning. Andrea begins to cough quietly and Layla rubs her back making her stop. The boys continue to moan and suddenly Michonne gets up and chops both their heads off and Layla gasps in shock. All three of them hold their nerve as the men disappear into their cars. They all look each other and begin to get up.
''Ah ah ah easy does it girls. Now put down your weapons.'' A voice says behind them and Layla's eyes go wide recognising the voices instantly. ''That's it nice and easy. Now let me see your hands. Twirl around that's it easy does it.''
Layla turns around and comes to face with Merle Dixon. She looks at him with shock and freezes.
''Holy shit Blonde hey you look good.'' He says to Andrea. ''My oh my little lady what a pleasant surprise.'' He says to them.
''No fucking way.'' Layla breathes.
''Now how's about a hug for your old pal Merle.'' He says.
Layla chuckles at him and jumps up from her crouch and wraps her arms around him.
''It's good to see you too little lady.'' He says hugging her with his one good arm.
''You have no idea how happy I am to see you Merle.'' She breathes pulling out of the hug.
Then Andrea faints and Layla quickly comes to her aid as they are all forced into a car. They are all blindfolded and then seated in the car before they set off.
''Four. Three females, found them hiding in the woods.'' One of the men says.
Layla doesn't move and then Andrea speaks.
''Michonne? Layla?'' She questions.
''Here.'' They both say before Merle shushes them.
All three of them are then locked in a room and Andrea gets treated by a nurse.
''Why are we being held here? We want to leave.'' Andrea says.
''You're not well enough, you can stay the night.'' The nurse says.
''Where are we?'' She asks.
''Not for me to say, he'll tell you.'' The nurse says.
''Who?'' Michonne questions furiously.
Then Merle enters the room and Layla smiles at him sweetly as he pulls up a chair and sits on it backwards.
''Bet you was wondering if I was real or if I wasn't well here I am.'' He says. ''I guess the world gets smaller towards the end ain't so many of us left to share the air right?'' He asks.
Layla moves closer to Andrea looking at Merle with a straight expression.
''When they found me I was near enough bled out. A bullet seemed like a good last meal take myself on a little walk and wait for Daryl on the other side.'' Layla flinches at his name and Andrea takes her hand quickly. ''You seen my brother?'' He asks and Layla begins to blinks back the tears.
''No, not for a long time.'' Andrea says.
''Too long.'' Layla stutters.
The conversation then switches to Rick and Daryl. Andrea talks about how Rick tried to find Merle and how Daryl saw that when they went back for him.
''He's always been the sweet on my baby brother.'' Merle says.
''He wanted to keep looking but then things happens. People died a lot of them. Jim, Dale, Jacqui, Sophia... Amy.'' Andrea stutters out and Layla squeezes her hand as she finally lets her tears fall.
''Your sister?'' Merle asked seeming concerned.
''Yes.'' Andrea answers shortly.
''She was a good kid. I'm sorry to hear it.'' He says.
Andrea then tells Merle about the journey they had been through since he was left on the roof and Layla begins to cry even more as the story progresses. It's hitting her how much they had been through and it's just all too much.
''Daryl stepped up and became a valued member of the group especially to Layla.'' Andrea says and Merle looks at Layla quickly.
''Now he's dead?'' Merle asks.
Andrea is about to say something but Layla buts in. ''No! He's not dead! He's not! We got separated Merle! I'd feel it if he died!'' Layla practically screams the tears coming down her face like a waterfall now.
Merle looks at the crying girl in front of him in shock. ''How long ago?'' He asks.
''7 or 8 months.'' Andrea says.
''We were separated from the rest of them. Left behind.'' Layla breathes.
Merle just nods his head. ''Guessing you and Daryl got close ah little lady?'' Merle asks.
''Yeah, we fell in love.'' Layla says beginning to shake.
Merle smirks and nods his head at her. ''Always knew you two would end up fucking. My brother really in love?'' He mocks.
Layla nods her head. ''Yes he is. He loves me and I love him.'' She stutters.
Layla doesn't listen just cries for the rest of the conversation into Andrea's side. Her ears perk up when she hears that you don't have to be bitten to turn into a walker. This makes her cry even more, so much to take in, in just a few words. Then a man talks about giving them supplies to help them survive on the outside. Layla quickly dries her tears as the man guides them out into the dark.
''Welcome to Woodbury.'' He says.
It's a small community all boarded off and safe by the look of it. ''Oh my fucking God!'' Layla breathes.
''Come with me.'' The man says.
They follow him towards a wall.
''Are you military?'' Andrea asks.
''Hardly.'' He chuckles.
Layla shuts off the man and Andrea then as she stares up at the guards. She hears them call the man the governor and she laughs a little at the mans nickname he has been given. They have more people also and Layla can't believe this place has lasted this long without getting overrun by walkers. The governor takes them to an apartment and lets them into a room for them to stay in with a double bed and a single bed.
''You'll be more comfortable here. Hot showers, food, water, clothes. You're safe here.''
''We appreciate it.'' Andrea says.
''Thank you.'' Layla mumbles.
Then he leaves telling them a man is outside if they need anything. Layla heads straight for the double bed and lies herself down on it and Andrea lies next to her. Michonne quietly approaches the single bed. Layla then strips out of her clothes and walks in her underwear towards a pile of clothes that holds some pajamas She pulls them on quickly and then shuffles under the covers taking in the mattress before she falls asleep. Both Michonne and Andrea smirk at the teenager, she's had a rough day she deserves a break.
/
In the morning Layla awakes first and helps herself to a shower, she does it quickly like the governor had instructed and then she lets her hair dry in a towel. She then approaches the pile of clothes and begins to dig through it, finding a pair of shorts her size and pulls them on quickly. Then the familiar knee high socks, tank top and checkered shirt. She feels herself again but the last time she had gotten dressed like this was at the CDC, where she and Daryl had first come together. She sighs and pulls on her boots and waits for Michonne and Andrea to wake.
When they do, a woman comes by and tells them she is going to take them around on a tour. Layla smiles at the woman as she talks about Woodbury.
''How many people do you have here?'' Andrea asks.
''73.'' The woman says.
Layla then begins to look around at the people who wander around the town, completely unaware of how bad the world is outside the walls. Then a pair of eyes catch her eye and she knows exactly who's they are. His long legs and floppy blonde hair making him stand out. His eyes then lock with hers and his face pales before Layla begins to run towards him and she jumps into his arms laughing and crying.
''Layla?'' He questions placing her on the ground.
''The one and only Christopher.'' She beams.
''Oh my god.''. He says pulling her into a tight embrace laughing. ''How?'' He asks.
''The governor found me and my friends.'' She says directing his attention to Michonne and Andrea who are looking over with surprise.
''My best friend Chris!'' Layla shouts and then both nod smiling before they continue with the tour.
The two of them begin to walk around.
''Jenny?'' Layla asks.
Chris takes in an intake of breath. ''Lost her in the beginning. I'm so sorry Layla.'' He breathes putting an arm around her as Layla lets the tears fall.
''Did she suffer?'' She asks.
Chris smiles at her. ''No, she asked me to put her down and to tell you that she loves you so much and that she was sorry for being stupid and getting bit. We are the three gymnasts and only two remain.'' He breathes.
''Oh that silly girl.'' Then Layla looks up at the sky. ''I love you too, you crazy cripple.'' Layla laughs.
Chris cuddles her closer. ''Your mum, dad and brother still kicking?'' He asks.
Layla goes quiet for a moment. ''I haven't seem them for 8 months, a bunch of walkers overran the place we were staying and me and Andrea, the blonde got separated from them. But I know they are alive I can feel it.'' She says.
''My parents are gone.'' He sighs. ''Six months ago, the governor found me and took me in.'' He says.
Layla cuddles him. ''I'm glad you're alive.'' She whispers.
''Me too. So how is it out there?'' He asks.
Layla sits him down on the grass. ''Horrible. But I met someone and fell in love in all this.'' Layla says blushing.
''But he's with your parents.'' Chris states.
Layla nods. ''Yeah, 8 months without him, without his arm, his face, his love, his sex.'' Layla stutters the last one and Chris snorts.
''Finally, that's one hell of a story. Layla Marie Grimes loses her virginity in zombie filled word.'' He says laughing.
Layla slaps him. ''Shut up! Man whore!'' She teases.
''Sleeping with five different girls does not make me a man whore!'' He hisses.
''Does when they were all in the same day.'' Layla sniggers.
Chris looks at her with mock shock and shoves her. ''Shut up!'' He laughs.
''Yo Layla we are having breakfast with the governor come on!'' Andrea shouts.
Layla begins to get up. ''Gotta go, see you later?'' She asks.
Chris pulls her into a hug. ''Of course.'' He says squeezing her before letting go.
Layla smiles at him and walks backwards a few paces before running to catch up with Andrea. Layla stays quiet throughout the whole meeting just eating her breakfast and drinking tea a creepy doctor has made.
''Looks like you're sitting pretty at the end of the world.'' She hears Andrea say before shutting off again. Choosing only to hear about how the children go to school, the adults work and they have a tun of weapons.
A knock at the door then interrupts them and the governor excuses himself.
''So you and Merle's brother involved?'' The creepy doctor asks Layla.
Layla looks at him confused. ''Yes we are, not like it's any of your business.'' She snaps.
''Sorry just a question.'' He replies
Layla scoffs and then the governor returns.
''Take a look around.'' He says letting the women exit.
Michonne then voices how she doesn't trust the governor and then they all talk about trust and how Michonne may have told them who the walkers were but she never told them anything about why she kept them around for so long or how she took them out so easily when they were making to much noise.
''Can I go and find Chris?'' Layla asks when the discussion becomes tense.
''Sure honey, catch up with him.'' Andrea says.
Layla hugs them both and then runs off to go and find Chris. She finds him quickly and they spend the afternoon talking about the 10 months they hadn't seen each other. Chris and his parents had traveled alone before his parents had been bitten by the same walker, but Chris had managed to get out. He spoke about how Jenny had come to him when it had all began with a bite on her arm. She only lived next door and he told Layla how she was terrified and scared, but what hurt her the most was that she wasn't able to say goodbye to Layla properly.
Layla had let a few tears slip but kept it together as she told Chris her story. The Atlanta camp, the CDC, the farm, Daryl, the whole group. Chris had laughed at how Rick had gotten mad at Layla for having sex and how when Layla had found the photos and Rick had laughed sharing the same hope as Layla that him and Jenny had survived. They watch as a group of men return from a mission and they both stand there listening to the governor's words. Both not really listening, then he tells them all to turn in. So Layla jumps on Chris' back.
''Take me to my room Christopher.'' She demands.
''As you wish my lady.'' He says laughing heading for her room.
When they arrive Chris puts her down and hugs her tightly. When he's gone Layla smiles a bright smile, thankful that something good was finally happening. She had found her best friend.
So guys what do you think? I hope you liked it :D I really enjoyed writing this it was a fun episode, even though I cried when Merle started asking about Daryl -.- my inner Layla's fault I'm afraid :') please let me know what you thought of this chapter by leaving me a review it truly would mean a lot (: also follow and favourite too as these three things will motivate me to write quicker after the next episode has aired! Love you all, Vmk-xx
P.S. I'm thinking of making a Layla Grimes parody account on twitter please let me know what you would think of that!