Chapter 12: Ian
"T.. Thank you. For saving Carl." With that, Ron walked away. Leaving me with a confused look, before my lips curled into a small smirk.
"What did he t-" Carl trailed off, his eyes darted over my shoulder. I looked in the same direction to see a short interaction between Ron and Enid. Switching my gaze back to Carl, I saw the face I had seen in many different people. My smirk returned. I didn't want to admit it then, but I only teased him to hide the little bit of jealousy I had felt. I loved it there, but I couldn't admit I had feelings for anyone. I just didn't want to get too attached.
"Oooooooooooh. Carl likes Enid." I said in a small voice. I got a second form of confirmation when Carl's cheeks turned bright red. "Wow." I burst into laughter.
"Sunny!" Carl growled, his face red as he lunged at me. I dodged, and climbed up the nearest tree. It was a small oak. Carl tried, but didn't have the technique to get to the high up branches. I smiled down at him, boosting his defeat.
"Oh ha ha. Laugh it up now." He called up to me. "You have to come down eventually."
"Oh really? Says who?" I was still very, amused. I spotted Daryl looking at me as he walked by. I gave him a smirk and a wink before he walked off.
"Wow." Carl rolled his eyes.
"What? You've never slept in a tree before?" I laughed down at him. This just made his blood boil more. I shifted, laying back. "And I'm just startin to get comfy." With an angered huff, Carl sat next to the tree, crossing his arms and leaning against it. I gave off a silent chuckle. Now it had turned into a game of who can last the longest. I was starting to feel bad for Carl...
"Hello?" The radio crackled. There was a familiar air about the voice. I stood there frozen, deciding weather this was actually happening. "Hello? Are you still there?" Snapping out of it I ran to the chair. I couldn't seem to grip the radio for a couple second. Still in shock I dropped it before picking up the radio once more.
"Hey. Hey. I'm. I'm here." After having so long to plan, I lost my words. Nate poked his head in the door. I glared at him. "Go get a table, marker and a map. Hurry!" He did as I asked running off. "Th... This is Bentford, right?"
"Depends on who's asking." They were being cautious.
"I... I need to speak with Luke, Luke Ross Darren."
The radio went silent for a couple moments. In that time Nate opened the door, bringing my map. Bow and a few other council members entered with their own chairs, along with the small card table.
"This is Luke Darren. I am the leader of Bentford." They spread the map out so I had a wide view of it. "Now. Who is asking, and how did you know my full name?" A smile spread across my face.
"Luke. It's Aahana." The two other council members beside Bow and I gave each other a look.
"Aahana? We thought you were dead. Where are you now? Are you hurt? Is anyone holding you?" I sat down in my chair. I couldn't quit smiling.
"No, no. I'm fine. Luke, I'm in a place called EastHaven. They'd like to become allies and trading partners." I paused. "And I would need a way to Alexandria. For me, and two kids."
"Anything, anything. Wait... Aahana?"
"Yeah, Luke. You're an uncle." I laughed as I could hear my step brother's cheering over the staticky radio. Luke gave me the location and coordinates. Taking the marker, I circled the area. Bow was smiling when I looked up at him. I couldn't help but do the same.
"So, when will we expect you?" Luke asked.
"Well, . I am Bow Trent, I'm part of the council here in EastHaven, along with your sister. We go to the hilltop tomorrow, so if that will work, we could stop by and make arrangements."
"Sure thing. Just radio if you need anything. Other than that, we'll be seeing you tomorrow. Over and out."
"Over and out." Bow responded.
I looked at him, as he set the radio down, and everyone else left. They folded the map, and took the table out.
"They answered back." I grinned, and Bow pulled me in for a hug. "They answered back."
Now only one though dominated my mind. CJ and Angel might finally meet their dad. I might finally see them again.
"Yes they did Hawna, yes they did." Bow responded.
I was uncharacteristically every chipper the rest of the day, and the next morning too. Even to the point where I couldn't seem to pick a fight with Ian. The son of a bitch had guts, I had to give him that. Every time I see him I have to shake my head at the memory of how we met.
Bow was showing me around EastHaven. We were walking to the square when there was a sharp, cat call whistle. Unimpressed, I slowly looked at the dumbass with a death wish. He had short golden brown hair, along with some scruff on his face to match.
"I'm surprised you're not hurt." He grinned.
"Keep that up you may be here shortly." I snapped. I couldn't help but think, normally I might have slapped him, or a good sock to the jaw for a comment like that. But then again, CJ and Angel were at Keira's house on the corner. Maybe it was a good thing I didn't. Still not use to my prosthetic, I did something around an awkward limp to try to catch up with Bow.
"No. I guess it did hurt when you fell from heaven Angel." I stiffened at what he called me. My dead best friend, and my daughter came to mind.
"No. But it did hurt when I was kicked out of hell." I meant it as a warning, not to join his stupid teenage game. But that's the way he took it, catching up to me as I started walking again.
"Alright Angel-"
"Don't, call me that." I growled, stopping and standing my ground.
"Ok, ok. Then what will my demon want me to call her?"
"First off. I am notyour, anything. Second, I already have two kids. I don't need anymore with someone like you. Or anyone else for that matter. I'm taken." I snapped, before catching up with Bow.
"See you later then Demon."
Cocky bastard.
"What every you have up your sleeve Ian. Save it. I'm in a good mood right now, and I'd like to keep it that way. Ian had the strap of his gun slung over his shoulder. He had trimmed his beard down, it was almost just stubble. "Pull anything stupid, I will hit that smirk off your face." My tone was too giddy to sound like a threat. But Ian, out of anyone, knew I wasn't bluffing. I've done it once before and I'll do it again. It almost gives me reason to worry less that if there's a person that pisses me off enough I'll still hit back. Physically. A sure sign the old Aahana... sunny.. Was still there.
"Calm down there Demon." He gave me his signature trouble smile. "I saw a commotion going on over at radio. Just wanna know what happened." Ian was a Guard, often spending two shifts for a couple hours each day on the wall.
"Hey, Hawna!" John called, smoothing a hand over his short, dirty blond hair. He jogged up to me, and walked beside us. He seemed to be trying to put words together. The one thing with John, he could make things sound worse than they actually were.
"What's up J?" I asked, pulling my hair up into a ponytail.
"Bow told me to find you and tell you, theses a council meeting." John relayed.
"Right now?"
"It'll start as soon as you get there. They said not to rush."
"Alright, thanks John." I waved as he walked off, leaving me with Ian.
The thing with Ian. He was taller than me. But we both knew I could kick his ass if I really wanted to. Ian teased me about being tame. I guess he can tell certain kinds people apart. He could tell since the first few times we saw each other, that in his words I was "putting a wicker basket over that flame inside" of me. He also had brought up wicker burns, and it was a matter of time before it goes up in flames. I didn't know weather to be happy he's been wrong so far, or worried. Becoming a mother changed me, that much was evident.
"I finally got a response on the radio." My smile returned.
"That why?"
"Yeah. I got to talk to my step brother for the first time in years."
Ian looked down at me, tilting his head. "That's good."
Before I could say more, Angel ran up to us, CJ following shortly after. Ever since we came to EastHaven, Angel seemed to be jumping into things. CJ went about things calmly and more hesitant.
"Hi Ian." Angel greeted.
"Hey there kiddo." Ian messed with her hair.
I kneeled to their height. "I have a meeting to get to, so you'll have to stay with Keira a little longer."
"But-" Angel started.
"Okay mom." CJ finished, taking his sister by the arm and leading her away. Ian and I watched them for a moment before we continued walking.
"It's funny, those two are the exact opposites, but seem to have a little in common. And it's just enough for them to get along."
I laughed. "CJ is so much like his father, looks like him too.." I paused, trying to find the words.
"Same with Angel and you. Except the blond hair. I honestly thought Preston was their father when you first brought him here and seemed to know him."
"I guess I should have expected this. With the blond hair and you thinking of who their father was. Their aunt has blond hair, and as far as I know, my grandmother had blond hair too."
"So where did you get the red hair?"
"It's more copper since it's a brown-red. But." I shook my head. "Quit distracting me. That's beside my point. What I was getting at. Both of them act just like us. Their father and I. We were bickering left and right, but always found a moment in between to get along. We could both be impossibly thick headed, and it didn't help my temper was shorter than his." I paused, smiling at memories of Carl and I. "We were so different. But we found our moments, ya know what I mean?" We walked through the small park in the square passing the waterless fountain.
Ian looked ahead, but nodded. "Yeah. I do."
I just now noticed that my good mood had let me put up with Ian for much longer than I normally was able. Half the time we were at each other's throats. But I guess there were days that even we could get along. Now I found myself climbing the few steps to the courthouse. Ian lingered for a little while longer, eyes on me. He sighed softly before starting to walk off. A few people were coming out of the courthouse. I paused, holding the one door open.
"Hey Ian." I looked over my extended arm as he turned around, a hint of hope in his expression. "Thank you." That was the first time I ever told him those two words.
"What for?" He asked confused.
"I don't know yet." I told, before walking into the courthouse.
A/N
I'm gonna keep this short.
Finally someone responded, and Sunny got to talk to Luke.
So when are we gonna get to see the real sunny?
What is Bow still hiding?
Will Sunny actually get to see Carl and the gang again like she plans?
Could there be a bigger danger?
What has Preston told Aahana?
Please remember to vote and comment aaaaannnnndddd find out in the next chapter!