Who We Are

It was still dark the next morning when Daryl was wakened by a pounding noise on his front deck. He grabbed his bow and slid into a pair of sleep pants. He was headed toward the door and Carol was right behind him with her pistol. There was a man standing on the deck and he had turned a flashlight so that it illuminated his face. Daryl recognized Carol's long lost cousin, Jesse Graham standing there. Carol gasped, "Something has happened to Grandma".

Daryl growled, "Stay back now". He didn't know this man. You aren't really paranoid if they are to get you.

Daryl turned on the outside lights that illuminated the deck and the yard. Jesse appeared to be alone and standing in several inches of snow and the snow was pouring down. Daryl opened the door, "Come on in".

"Has something happened to Grandma?" Carol could hear Michonne and Morgan coming down the stair, but her first concern was for Lydia.

Jesse came in and shook off the snow. "Grandma is fine. She sent me here. I need help and Grandma said that I would find it in his house. She sent you some eggs for breakfast". He brought out a plastic container of eggs and handed them to Carol. She took them and went into the kitchen and lit the gas stove. Carol decided that she might as well make breakfast.

Morgan began to build up the fire in the wood stove. The house was warm from the outdoor wood furnace but it made the big room cozier. Michonne stood with her arms crossed looking at Jesse. She trusted Grandma Lydia but didn't know this guy, "What kind of help do you need?" Michonne kept her voice neutral.

Jesse took off his pack and coat and sat down on one of the chairs at the dining room table. He sat with his back to the window so that they could see his face. Carol had turned on the overhead light in the kitchen and Daryl had turned on a couple of lamps in the great room.

Jesse began, "I didn't come alone. There are more… people in my group. We have been traveling since last summer. We have two vehicles and one broke down about a hundred miles west of here. I looked around and found the safest place I could find and I left them. I wanted to scout this place out. I couldn't risk bringing them here if it wasn't safe. I didn't know if I would find anyone alive up here but I wanted to bring them here if there was a place to live. This mountain is my home. I didn't say anything last night because I wanted to talk to Grandma Lydia. I don't know you. There is so much evil out there and you can't trust anyone."

He got up and brought out a digital camera. "Let me show you my group." He clicked it on and brought up some images on the screen and handed it to Daryl.

Carol watched Daryl's face change from suspicious to one of shock. He handed the camera to Mchonne who looked and then clicked on image after image. Her face was impassive as always and she handed it to Morgan. He looked at the photos and sighed. Morgan carried the camera to Carol.

She was curious by now. The photos seemed to flatten rising resistance to helping Jesse. Daryl was looking conflicted glancing at her and biting his thumb. Carol took the camera from Morgan and looked at the screen. The images were all somewhat alike. Jesse was in part of them and but every photo was of children. The group shot was Jesse in the middle holding two small children that looked to be about Judith's age. They must be twins and they looked like Jesse. Standing on each side of him was a boy and a girl about thirteen or fourteen. In front of him were three children. Two girls about eight or nine years old and a little boy who looked three or four years old. He looked like a miniature Daryl to her and Carol wanted to hug him. Carol put the camera down and looked at Daryl. She nodded and then continued to make breakfast.

Jesse started again, "I need to bring them here. I know it is treacherous out there right now, but Grandma thinks it is only going to get worse. My vehicle ran out of gas ten miles from here. Help me get there at least. Give me enough fuel to go to them and get them here."

Morgan said, "I can help you. We have good tires on the suv's and we can put chains on before we leave. We have fuel too. I'll change my clothes."

Carol said, "I am going to have breakfast ready in a bit. Sit down at the table and make your plans. You can't put all those children in with Grandma Lydia." She looked at the others and they all nodded, "We'll find some room here. We were going to build on in the spring anyway".

Jesse smiled at Carol and Daryl saw that they had the same smile. Jesse said, "You look like Nancy McAllister and you have her heart too."

Michonne was being left out and she pouted a bit as she helped Carol. Alia woke up and came into the kitchen. Carol handed Michonne the spatula and picked her up. "Daddy is going to go with Uncle Morgan and Jesse this morning." Carol wanted to keep this light and not upset Alia.

Alia burst into tears anyway and Daryl went to her and took Alia from Carol. His voice was gentle but he was firm, "I don't want to leave you and your mother. Sometimes we have to do things because they are the right thing to do. There are children that are waiting for us to come to them and bring them home. Alia, we need to go get them. This is who we are. What kind of daddy to you would I be if I didn't try to help other people?"

Alia held on tight but she nodded, "Mommy and Aunt Michonne found me and brought me home. Don't be a damn hero, Daddy".

Carol had teared up at Daryl's speech, but she gave Michonne an irate glance after Alia spoke. Michonne tried to look innocent but that did sound an awful like something she would have said in the past and close to what she was going to tell Morgan before he left.

They ate quickly and Carol filled Daryl's run bag while he ate. Daryl followed Carol into their room and sent Alia to check on Michonne who had went upstairs. "I'm sorry that I have to leave you. You do understand? This ain't me trying to be no damn hero." He was trying to be funny.

Carol looked at him, "You are a damn hero. Heroes turn me on, so bring your heroic ass back as soon as you can." Alia came in the room and Daryl picked her up, "Be a good girl and keep an eye on your mother for me, she's all flustered today".

Alia hugged him, "I will and I keep an eye on Aunt Michonne. She told me that she is seriously pissed about being left behind". He put her down and she said, "I'll go talk to Aunt Michonne while you talk to Mommy". She scampered off to Michonne.

Carol said "That does it. New rule, only g rated conversation around here."

Daryl said, "I am trying. I'll be g rated all day long as long as I can be x rated in here." He kissed her and put his hands on her ass and pulled her toward him, "Know what I mean?"

Carol laughed between kisses, "Don't start what you can't finish. I might be so consumed with lust that I ravage Eugene. I never could resist a man with a mullet".

"Thanks a hell of a lot, Now I'll have that image in my head all day." Daryl grumbled, "I have to go. Just control yourself until I get home." He kissed her one more time and released her.

The three men were gone before it was daylight. They had put the chains on the suv and filled up the tank. There brought extra fuel and Carol reminded them to get a chain saw and fuel for it. She loaded up some things they might need including a box of diapers that should fit.

It was a busy day on the hill. Carol and Michonne walked with Alia to Grandma Lydia's to tell her that Daryl and Morgan were with Jesse. Lydia knew she couldn't move around in this snow and directed them to go talk to Emily. They obeyed because when Grandma Lydia was she who must be obeyed.

Emily was surprised to see them but welcomed them in. John and Aryl captured Alia and took her to visit the horses. Brian was at the barn too. It was just Carol, Michonne, Emily, and Tempy at the table. Carol took a deep breath and told the two women all she knew. They listened quietly. She gave them the camera and let them look at the photos. Tempy's face stilled as she looked and Carol figured that Tempy was looking at Jesse's twins. "Grandma had some ideas about how this should go. She seems to think that they are going to come home tomorrow with all the children. She wants to give her house to Jesse and come live with you. She says that it is time for a lot of things to happen. Grandma said that God has seen your empty hearts and it is time to fill them with love. She didn't tell me what that meant but she said that you would know". Tempy pushed away from the table and went back through the house.

Emily's eyes filled with tears and she said, "I had another daughter when this happened. Anne was six. She was a diabetic and had to have daily injections to live. She died because we couldn't get the medication. John and Arya adored her and that is part of the reason they are so good to Alia. The other part is because Alia is lovable all on her own. I need to talk to Brian but I am going to ask to be able to raise the two girls. They are the age that Anne would be now. I have room to love them. Anne's room is empty and I'll put some bunk beds in there and find two dressers. Grandma's room is on this floor so she won't have to do stairs."

Brian came in the house looking a little curious why they would be visiting so soon and in this weather. Emily said, "Wait just a bit". She took the camera and grabbed Brian's hand and they went out on the porch. Carol could see them standing there and saw Brian looking at the camera. He shook his head "no" and turned away staring out into the snow. Carol could see John and Arya building a snowman with Alia out there. Brian watched them for a long time and he looked again at the camera and this time he nodded.

Emily and Brian came back into the house. He was still crying as he handed Carol the camera. "Grandma Lydia is right. We'll always have an empty place in our hearts that belongs to Anne, but there is still room to love other children. God has blessed us with a home big enough to take in more children." He picked up Emily's hand and kissed it. "We'll have a place ready whenever those girls are ready to come. They might be more comfortable if we took the older two as well." Brian wiped his tears, "Now how about that?"

Emily said, "That would be fine with me. We can send the boys to the basement. There's a bathroom down there too."

Michonne looked at these people with amazement. They were willing to take four new children in with less stress than some people got a new puppy. Emily was still leaking tears but she had that Carol trait where she could cry pretty. Brian cried ugly but he was trying to hold back his tears. Maybe the secret was just to let them fall. Carol had cried pretty when Emily talked about Anne and Michonne had let a few tears fall herself. She had lost a child of her own.

Emily made some tea and they sat together lost in their memories of their own lost children. Brian left to go look for those bunk beds. Tempy came back in and picked up the camera and stared a long time at the photos. She had been doing some crying of her own but she seemed calm.

Tempy cleared her throat, "I am never an impulsive woman so this is hard for me. I don't understand how Lydia McAllister knows what we need before we know. I have loved Jesse McAllister-Graham for a very long time and I know I will never love anyone but him. I will be moving to Lydia's house because those children need a mother and because they are Jesse's I love them already. I'll need John and Brian to help me move, but I might as well get started." She got up and left with her usual efficient stride.

Carol said, "Well, alrighty then. The little boy, the one who is younger than Alia, the one that looks like Daryl. I would love to have him come to live with us. He may not want to leave the others but if he will we would love to have him." Emily, Brian, and Tempy had sat here and said what they wanted. They had declared it to the universe. They wanted to love even knowing how much anguish that daring to love can cause.

Michonne was never impulsive herself but there was truth telling in this room, "I am late. I did the test last night and it says that I am pregnant. So I'll help Carol rear her children if she helps me with mine. Let's have a toast for open hearts willing to be filled." Tempy had come back into the room in time to hear Michonne's announcement and she filled a cup with tea and the four women clinked their cups together.

The snowman builders came in and shrugged off their snowsuits. Alia sat on Carol's lap and leaned back. She was looking a little tired and Carol thought that she should take her home soon. Emily showed John and Arya the photos and they were genuinely pleased at the thought of more people living there. They showed Alia the photos of the little girls and the two older children but Alia said, "What about that little boy? Who is going to take him?"

Carol hugged her, "That little boy had a place to go and people who will love him. This little girl needs to go home and take a nap." There was a lot of hugging and kissing then as they said goodbye and the McAllister women leaked some more tears.

John offered to drive them home but they walked instead. Carol and Michonne held Alia's hand, "So you are going to help me if I help you?" Carol asked.

"Yes, I think every child should have at least two mothers and two fathers. If you keep collecting kids I may have to recruit another mother and father to help. I am still amazed that Tempy is back there moving her stuff to Lydia's so that she can help Jesse rear those girls." Michonne was a little amazed that she had told the others that she was pregnant. She intended to tell Carol today but telling the others wasn't her.

Carol smiled, "She loves him and from what Grandma Lydia said he has always loved her. I haven't collected anymore kids; just letting it get out there. I wonder where they are and how they are doing?"

"I think they are up to their eyeballs in snow and trouble, but those three men can just about handle anything. Jesse didn't get those kids this far without being resourceful." Michonne was determined to be positive.

"I am so happy about your news, Michonne. We are going to have to talk about your potty mouth though. Alia has picked up a few colorful phrases lately." Carol was glad to see that they were almost home. She gave a silent prayer that it wouldn't be long before everyone came home.

AN

I had a college instructor who used to rant against the expression "raising children". She said that corn is raised and children are reared. Michonne had the same instructor.

The "potty mouth" line. Last year at Walker Stalker Iron E Singleton was answering questions on a panel and this was right after Carol had told Rick that she had killed Karen and David. For some reason he called her up for us and put her voice on speaker phone. He warned Melissa McBride about her "potty mouth", so I threw that in.

Emily and Brian's doomed child Anne was always going to be part of the story. The ZA made common medications unavailable and the lack of electricity will render some ineffective. Watching a child die because you can't get insulin would be agonizing. It would have an effect on the whole family for a long time.

The next chapter will concentrate on the mission to get the children.

I would love a review. I cried when I wrote the Brian watching the children in the snow, but I do have some McAllister blood. Unfortunately I can't cry pretty. Let me know how you feel about these characters. So review please.