Chapter 17

Past

I sighed and turned back to Lilah. My sister had laid her back down on the bed. She was looking around, curious as to where she was. I sat back down on the bed, moving her so that she was facing me.

Rick rested a hand on my shoulder, "Is she okay?"

"Don't you mean, is she gonna turn into a baby walker?" He chuckled, "And no, she's not. She is healthy. She does need a diaper change though, which was what I was gonna do before dickface walked in."

Rick, Isis, and Glenn choked back a laugh at my new nickname for Shane, "What's her name?"

"Lilah."

Present

I looked up at them, "Lilah. Her name is Lilah." The baby girl looked up at me and smiled. I couldn't fight a smile from gracing my face. I caressed her tiny face.

She reached up and gripped my finger. I smiled and made some baby noises at her, which made her giggle. Glenn sat down on the floor and watched me interact with the baby.

Rick shared a look with Isis and Shane, "I think that we will step out, so that you guys can have some alone time with her."

Isis raised an eyebrow, "We will?"

Rick nodded, "Yes, we will." Shane just glared at us, before leaving the RV. Rick and Isis followed him.

I reached for the diaper bag, but Glenn got it first. He pulled out a fresh diaper and some wipes. He stood up and laid them down on the bed next to me. I smiled at him as I undid her messy diaper. She leaned her head back to look at Glenn. She grinned a little baby grin and reached out of her tiny hands for him. He grinned widely, allowing her to take ahold of his finger.

I smiled at them as I changed her diaper. Her onesie was a little dirty, so I decided to change it. I reached into the diaper bag and pulled out a lady bug onesie. I laid it out next to her and lifted her up, so that I could take the old one off. She looked away from Glenn, focusing her gaze on me. Her little brows furrowed and she glared at me. I giggled and lifted the onesie over her head. She struggled a bit, not liking not being able to see us. Once it was off, she let out a little sigh of contentment. I shook my head and picked up the clean onesie. She looked at it and lifted her head up. I put it over her head, slipping her arms into the arm holes as I pulled it down.

I was buttoning it when the door to the RV opened up and Dale walked in, "Ivy, Glenn. We found a car up ahead that has a bunch of baby things in it and a large amount of blood."

Glenn and I shared a look, "I'll go help the others, if you are okay with that Ivy." Glenn said, standing up from the bed.

I looked up at him then down at Lilah, "Go ahead, Glenn. Just be safe. I'll hold down the fort with this little one." I pulled Lilah to me, kissing her forehead.

Glenn leaned down, giving me a kiss and kissing Lilah's head, "I'll be back, love." He moved passed Dale, smiling softly at the aging man.

Dale looked at me softly, "You are good with her."

I smiled down at her, as she grips on to my shirt, "I've always been good with kids."

He took Glenn's seat across from me, "You seem happier with her."

I chuckle a little bit, "Yeah. Since I found out that I would never have my own children, I've been so miserable and angry. Wanting a family was the only thing that made me feel like a normal young woman." I stood up from the coach, "Always being smarter than other people gets lonely."

Dale followed me, "I get it. My wife, rest her soul, was never able to bare children. She had miscarriage after miscarriage. After three, we stopped trying to have our own and considered adoption. That is where found Ansley's mother. She was only 4 years old. We got legal custody right after she turned six. She was a little bit of both of us, personality wise. She got pregnant with Ansley in High School." He frowned a little, "She was so scared. She thought we'd through her out. It was my wife that noticed the signs. My wife took her out for lunch one day and confronted her about it. Lexi, Ansley's mother, cried and begged my wife not to send her away. My wife promised her that we weren't going to send her away."

I rocked Lilah gently, "What happened to Lexi?"

Dale sighed sadly, "She was killed by Ansley's father right after Ansley was born. He didn't want Lexi to keep the baby, said that it would ruin his reputation. After he was arrested, he and his family gave up any right to Ansley. My wife and I got guardianship over her. We raised her together up until my wife died three years ago."

I leaned against the counter, "I'm sorry for your loss, Dale. For both your daughter and wife."

He nodded, "Thank you, Ivy. I think that we should see what the others are doing and give that little one a chance to get some fresh air." He moved to the RV door, holding it open for me.

I agreed with him and stepped out of the RV. I covered her eyes as the sun shined brightly overhead. Outside, everyone was doing something productive for the better of the group. Well, everyone but the children, whom were standing around an object on the ground. I furrowed my brows and walked over to them.

"What are you guys up too?" I ask, shifting Lilah around a little.

They jumped a little not noticing my approach. Carl looked up at me, "They found this car seat. It has a little blood on it, so we are trying to clean it. You know, for Lilah."

I grinned down at them, "Ya'll are the sweetest. Come here." I opened one arm, allowing all of them to squeeze in. I hugged them tightly, "Lilah is lucky to have some really caring cousins."

Sophia looked up at me, "Cousins?"

I nodded, "This group is one large family. The adults, minus me and Glenn, are aunts and uncles. Which makes you guys cousins."

Ansley was the next one to look up at me, "I am gonna be the best cousin ever."

"All of you will be."

~A/N~

Hey, ya'll!

Forgive me for I have sinned… I have not been updating on a regular bases and I am very sorry for that. School has been kicking my butt. My school is insane with all of its issues, plus the classes were kind of hard. I am going to try to update again while I am on break. I've also been busy with work. Well, I was busy with work until I became an on-call hostess/busser for my work. But I digress. This semester has been so crazy. I've met some amazing people. I hope that ya'll have had a great holiday season. I know I have.

Okay, so if you got presents this season, what was your favorite gift? I got some Harry Potter socks and a Harry Potter coloring book. Also, a friend of mine got me some makeup from Sephora. I've never gone into Sephora or ordered any of their makeup online. So, I am happy!

Have a great New Year!

G-V Princess!