Making Room

The next few days were filled with chaos, dirt, mess, and confusion but for once it was for a good reason. Carol and Eugene had mobilized their group to gather supplies, tear down the existing structures in the basement, and rebuild the space as four small bedrooms, a big bathroom, and a storage place for their supplies.

Rachel had stepped up to help. She was always quiet and unobtrusive but she was an experienced fixer upper and had a degree in electrical engineering. Rachel, Carol, and Eugene did most of the work though Elijah, Tyreese, and Rick took care of the heavy lifting. The three men also gathered the needed materials and emptied out the space.

The end result allowed more space and privacy for the men living in the basement. Eugene, Elijah, and Tyreese had rooms of their own and Rick and Carl had a larger room together. Carol recognized the need to have someplace to escape the presence of so many people living so closely. Rachel and Sarah were still sharing a room with the two children. Beth had Judith in her room and Michonne had been more than gracious in sharing her space with Morgan.

Carol snorted a bit at that. Morgan had moved his things in the next morning. He and Michonne were passionately something. Carol wasn't sure whether it was love or lust, but suspected it was love and the lust was just an added bonus. There was shared pain between them; they had both lost beloved sons. They had survived alone, but both of them were tired of being alone. They both seemed happy and content in the new arrangement but they were still making adjustments to being with someone so much.

Michonne had talked to her about feeling a little strange sleeping in the same bed with someone after being alone for so long. Carol had laughed, "It does take getting used to. Poor Daryl waits until I go to sleep and then moves farther away from me. He needs his space in bed and out. We all do, but he sometimes gravitates back during the night."

Morgan, Daryl, and Michonne had busied themselves finishing the snares and traps around the house. There was now a strong defense completely around the house, barn, and yard. They had also built a series of gates to slow down any attacker. Sarah and Abraham had cut a trench around the yard using some equipment that Sarah had found at a building site. They had gone over to the other house and dug trenches out there as well.

Carol figured that Abe was hanging around for a reason. Glenn had told her that something was going on between Tara and Rosita and Abe was finding it convenient to keep busy away from that house. Carol remembered talking to Daryl about it one night in bed. Daryl had laughed, "Ultimate male fantasy. Two women in bed with him, but won't do him much good if they don't want him in their bed. Just cause he can't keep his woman, don't mean he needs to be sniffing around ours."

Carol had pinched him on the butt for the ultimate male fantasy line, "It's not a joke. He and Rosita had been together a while. Abe is hurting".

Daryl had bit her on the shoulder for pinching him, "He don't love Rosita, you know. She was his fuck buddy and his ego is a bit bruised. No man likes to think he can't satisfy his woman."

Carol had pinched his butt again and then his nipple, "You are never getting that ultimate male fantasy but you do have one woman in your bed that wants you and nobody else".

Daryl had kissed her then, "I'll settle for one, as long as it is you".

Carol pushed that happy memory back and surveyed their finished project. She congratulated Rachel and Eugene for a job well done. The rooms were finished and they could all move in. She went to find Daryl to see how busy he was. She wasn't starting anything new for a while.

He was outside with Michonne and Morgan working on a set of swings for Michael and Alia. The two children had escaped the noise and chaos of the building project to hang around the yard while construction was going on there. The children were swinging as she came out and Daryl was watching them. Morgan and Michonne were leaving in the truck and they waved to her as she was walking toward Daryl.

He turned and smiled, "You get finished? Can I have my wife back now?

"You never lost her, and the guys are moving their stuff in now. So are you Daddy Day Care now?" Michael and Alia stopped swinging and were moving toward them and clamoring for a walk.

"These knotheads just hang around getting in my way. I am going lock them up in the watch tower." His voice was more indulgent than stern. "Now they want to take a walk too. Damn nuisance".

Carol tried not to look at their expectant faces but one look and she was lost too. "I want to take a walk. We can take these two to fight off any bears that we meet". Her tone was light and Michael grinned at her but Alia looked at her almost fearfully. Carol never wanted any child to be afraid of her and she squatted down close to Alia, "Would you let me take a walk with you?". Alia smiled unexpectedly and said, "We need to make the sandwiches."

Daryl looked embarrassed, "We went for a walk yesterday and we made peanut butter sandwiches to take". They had all walked up to the top of the hill yesterday and out along the pasture. Michonne and Alia had made the sandwiches before they left.

Carol knew that this was going to hurt, but she held out her hand to Alia, "Let's go make some sandwiches." Alia's hand felt so tiny in hers as they walked toward the house. Elijah and Beth had made bread this morning and Carol cut slices and handed them to Alia who carefully applied peanut butter to the sandwich. Carol helped her finish and she grabbed some water stored in bottles on the way out.

Daryl and Michael had been foraging for apples in the orchard and had a few in their hands when they came back. Daryl put them in his pocket and carried the knapsack with the sandwiches and water. Carol had a pistol and her favorite knife with her. Daryl picked up his bow and they maneuvered their way out of the new defense system.

The children led the way up the farm road but they stayed close to the adults. Carol knew that these children had never known a time in which their lives were free from fear. They knew better than to wander off.

It felt good to be out of the house and just enjoying the chilly but sunny day. The pasture had some brush in it but you had a clear view of your surroundings. There was a large flat rock in the middle of the pasture and the two children headed straight for it. They climbed up on the rock and stood there.

Michael said quite seriously, "Mr. Daryl told us that this is Indian Rock. It is sacred and we can't yell or make a lot of noise out here".

Carol knew Daryl had not wanted them to make noise that might attract walkers. "I can tell it is a special place so we should be quiet here." She opened up the knapsack and handed out the sandwiches. The children waited and Daryl cleared his throat, "We thank you, Great Spirit for this food. Protect us from bears and whatever might harm us. "The children nodded and began to eat. Carol handed out the water and the apples. They ate facing out so that they could enjoy the view and keep an eye on their surroundings.

Alia said, "Mr. Daryl told us that if you ever came with us that you would tell us about Indian Rock. He said that he couldn't tell it as well as you could."

Carol gave Mr. Daryl a reproving look and thought about her story. They all moved so that they were in a circle. Michael looked like he would love a good scary tale of Indians on war path but Carol told the story that her heart said that these two needed."

"This place was always special. The Great Spirit made it special. It was the place that he brought all the animals together. He told them that they would have to give themselves so that the Indians could live, but that the Indians would honor them and never take more than they needed.

The Great Spirit brought the Indians together and showed them this rock. Once a month on the full moon they had to gather food for the animals and place it on or around this rock. They had to gather fruits and nuts, grass and corn and everything that could find to honor the animals for their sacrifice.

So the Indians would on the full moon of the every month bring food to place around the rock for all the animals to come out and eat. It was forbidden to kill any animal on that day and the animals would gather in the pasture and wait for the Indians to come. They would never come until the moon rose full into the sky.

The Indians would stand on this rock and look up at the sky and praise the Great Spirit for giving them food and protection during that month. Then the animals of all kinds would come in and eat the food. The Indians would walk home in the moonlight knowing that the Great Spirit was watching over them."

Daryl said, "Only Miss Carol can tell that story, but I had better get you two back to the house before Sarah starts wondering where you are". Matthew walked around a bit pretending to be an Indian brave. Alia stood looking out at the pasture and Carol knew that she was seeing it under a full moon and full of animals.

Daryl leaned over and kissed her. "Good story, Miss Carol". He got up and helped her down the rock, "I'll go down first". He smirked at her and she gave him a grin.

The walk back seemed too short for Carol, but she found herself yawning, "We have watch tonight, I am going to go to the house and take a nap".

Michael scoffed, "I am too big for naps." Alia nodded, "Naps are for babies and we are big kids".

Carol thought that they both could use a nap. It was getting colder and the wind had picked up. Sarah was waiting on the front porch when they came back, "It's time for the two of you to come in now and take a nap. Let Mr. Daryl get some work done."

Morgan and Michonne were back and there seemed to be another project to start. "Go take a nap, we are working on the watch tower. It needs a bench and we are putting in some windows. Got anything else you want in there?" Daryl smirked again and Carol flushed a little remembering the other night. She was going to have the last word on this one though.

"I think I would sand off the bench if I were you. You'll be picking splinters out of your ass from now on otherwise." Carol went into the house while Daryl was laughing.

She went upstairs and kicked off her boots and hung up her new coat with a hood that Daryl had brought back yesterday. She took the Hudson Bay blanket and put it on the bed and prepared for a nap. No more than an hour and she would be wide awake on watch tonight. She had just stretched out when she heard a tentative knock. Carol rolled off the bed and opened the door expecting that some minor crisis needed some attention. Alia was there and looking up at her, "That was a good story."

Carol said, "Thank you, Alia. Aren't you supposed to be taking a nap?"

Alia sighed, "Michael is rolling around on the bed because he doesn't want to take a nap."

Carol cursed all fates that seemed content to torture her with beautiful doomed children. Alia looked so small and sleepy. "Come on, let's take a nap." Alia smiled so tentatively that Carol wondered how much courage it had taken her to knock on that door.

Carol put Alia in bed and covered her with the beautiful red blanket. "Aren't you going to lie down too?" Carol closed her eyes for a second and prayed that the Great Spirit would protect this child. Then, she crawled into bed beside Alia who cuddled closer and went to sleep. Carol held onto Alia and let herself weep silently for those that were lost. Then, Carol went to sleep and had a sweet dream about standing on Indian Rock under a full moon while Sophia, Mika, and Lizzie danced and sang in the pasture just out of reach.

Carol woke up in an hour and went downstairs to fix dinner. They had been eating sandwiches and cold foods for days now. She made a hearty rabbit stew with cornbread. Alia came downstairs and helped. Together they made apple pies for dessert.

The crowd began to gather for dinner. Daryl had insisted that they go dish shopping in the middle of renovation. They had found a store that had sold Fiesta and the bright bold colors suited their table. Eugene and Michael set the table which just kept growing as they added new people. It was crowded but there was room for everyone to sit. Carol knew that sometimes you just to make room so that no one was left out.

AN

Fiestaware is made in West Virginia and I couldn't miss a chance to promote a product made in my state. Go buy a plate or twelve plates. Good for the economy and made in the USA too.

I adore Alia already and all children have a life expectancy of one hundred plus years in any story that I write. I restrain myself from writing a Caryl baby but my keyboard is possessed at times and takes control of itself and writes what it wants. So far, no possession.

I would appreciate your review.