Louis and Clementine had a lovely evening, and he felt a bit excited by the way she kissed him and had to fight off the temptation of giving in to his desires he wanted for her but doesn't know if she was ready for him to go there with her. But man, her kisses drive him off the walls, and at times he can't help but enjoy the pleasure she gives him.
Louis slept with Clementine holding him after their hot moment passed and they settled down for the night. When he thought it will be a pleasant night, the night terrors crept back into his slumber as he has another episode.
Louis was watching the boat burn, with rotting corpses floating in the river, and the fire burned all around him. He calls out Clementine and AJ's names, in this burning wasteland. "Clementine! AJ! Where are you? Clem!" Louis wondered and felt like his throat was closing in with the smoke and fumes from the fire. "Clementine please Call out to me!"
He walked aimlessly to try and find her, as tears burned in his eyes, "Clem.." He crashes into the sand filled with ash and embers. Just when he thought she was lost to him, he heard her voice calling out to him.
"LOUIS! LOUIS, HELP ME!"
Louis's head snaps up as he bolted from his spot and heads in the direction of her voice. His heart raced as he fought through the flames burning his flesh. Louis didn't care He wanted to have Clementine safe in his arms.
His head was spinning, and he didn't know which direction. He heard her voice again as it sounded more urgently than before, "LOUIS!"
Louis focus and fought to get to her. He spots her as she was fighting with a dark figure who has her pinned against a rock, with a knife threatening to slice her. Louis zeroed in on the dark figure and charged at it with a burning log to knock the figure off of the love of his life. He saw Clementine flee as he looks to see the dark figure He takes the log and whacked the dark figure again and again. He looks and sees the eyes peering right at him. "Marlon?" Louis drops the log and can't kill his best friend.
The figure disappears as Louis's hands shake uncontrivable at what could have happened. He then heard a scream of despair from Clementine as she sees the lifeless body of AJ, on the ashy sandy beach. "NO! MY GOOFBALL! NO NO NO!" Louis runs to her side as she holds the lifeless body of her child. Hearing Clementine sob and mourn the child she protected. Louis's tears flowed with Clementine as she turns to him holding AJ's bloody body. As Clementine is in Louis's arms he looks up as a dark figure knife plunges a knife into Clementine's back, as she falls into his arms dead just like that "Clem….Clementine, my love no!" He looks to see who took the life he loves and sees the evil eyes of Minerva glaring at him.
"Louis", a faint voice calls out in another world, "Louis, wake up, Louis"...
Louis flung awake just then as Clementine stood back when she brought him out of his nightmare. Louis moves to the edge of the bed by the bookshelf to regain his breathing as the air felt tight. He took deep breaths as he studies his heart from what he saw in his vivid dream.
"Another episode." Clementine softly whispers, and Louis silently nods as he can't speak, and trembles from his nightmare.
Clementine sighs as she moves from her spot and tenderly places her hands on his back and softly and gently strokes it with her healing touch. When she felt him still trembling and shaken from his nightmare, she closes her eyes, left tender kisses on his backside and put her arms around his upper body, and held him. Pressing her chest into his backside to have him feel her warm sheltering body and tenderly strokes his chest with her fingers. Clementine still felt Louis shaking and now hearing him sob, she knows one thing she can try to pull him out of this. She tries to wrap her head around songs that have a slow rhythmic piano melody to it so that Louis can focus his energy on them. One song stuck out to her, and she finds the melody in her mind as she sings it to him.
She took a deep breath, and in a soft soothing tone, she sang to him for the first time since they were trapped in the fishing shack together. She doesn't know what his favorite song is, but she knows this one it is one of her favorites growing up as a little girl, and sees if Louis will focus in on the words with the piano melody.
There's a calm surrender
To the rush of day
When the heat of the rolling world
Can be turned away
An Enchanted moment
And it sees me through
It's enough for this restless warrior
Just to be with you
Louis focuses in on Clementine's words as she lightly is singing to him and he feels calmer about it. His breathing is slowing down, and his trembling and easing up. As he is listening, he imagines the piano melody being played along to Clementine's sweet beautiful voice she has and focuses on the notes to the song from The Lion King. The song Clementine is singing to him is evening out his rapid breaths, to slow ones with Clementine singing the notes.
Can you feel the love tonight
It is where we all
It's enough for this wide-eyed wonder
That we got this far
And Can you feel the love tonight
How it's laid to rest
It's enough to make kings and vagabonds
Believe the very best
When Louis stopped trembling and his breathing evened out, Clementine stops singing as she looks at him. She felt Louis touch her hand and brought her right hand to his lips as he kisses it. She smiles to the touch as he slowly looks at her. He softly spoke once he found his breath, "Thank you"
Clementine looks away shyly, "You're welcome."
"You don't have to stop singing, you know…" Louis looks over his shoulder at her.
Clementine smiles and met his gaze, "You stopped shaking, so there is no need for my singing to continue…" She reminded him.
Louis gave a little smile to that, "I know, but I was enjoying it."
Clementine shakes her head. She then grew serious and looked at Louis as the moonlight made his eyes a midnight chocolate. "You haven't had those night terrors in a while. You want to talk about it, or was this one of those dreams so bad, that talking about it will….you know."
Louis looks at the wooden floor of her room as he let out a heavy sigh. He then closes his eyes as he spoke very softly just above a whisper, "I saw your death again Clem."
Clementine looks at him over his shoulder. She closes her eyes and presses her forehead to his strong shoulder blades, giving him her support. "I wish you didn't keep having these dreams, Louis." She kisses his shoulders tenderly. "I wish I can heal you from your pain, and take away whatever trauma, or whatever keeps triggering you into these episodes."
Louis nods and breathes evenly, "I know.." His voice quivers as he said the name that haunts his dreams, "Minerva" He finally spoke.
Clementine looks up from kissing his shoulder and peers over his left shoulder, "What?"
Louis lets out a shaky breath as he finally tells her what haunts him, "I keep seeing Minerva killing you. In different ways. Sometimes with her crossbow, sometimes with a knife…or sometimes with that axe."
Clementine looks at him and spoke, "I thought it was Dorian who kept being in your dreams, because well…she was your first kill.."
Louis shook his head, "Sometimes it will start off that way, of me replaying what happened on the boat, and I see her death again and again. But really, it is Minnie I keep seeing haunting me…."
Clementine closes her eyes as she lays her chin on the rim of his left shoulder, "The incident on the bridge traumatize you more than I ever realized," Clementine shifts her amber gaze to Louis's moonlit face and sees Louis nodded in agreement to Clementine's words.
"Not just the bridge, but when she….she had you pinned." Louis said looking at her and catching her eye contact, "And it's not just you I keep seeing dying darling, but…" Louis looks away with tears flowing down his face as he was afraid to speak the name. Took Louis so much courage as he finally said, "AJ"
He turns his body to face her as he shares about his dreams, "This dream I had, I was walking a fiery beach, like when the boat blew up. I saw dead bodies in the river, bloody sand mixed with ash and smoke from the fire that burned my eyes, and made me cough. Then I heard your voice as you sounded like you were in danger, but I couldn't find you. When I did manage to find you,…I charged at the dark figure who was going to kill you. I took a burning log and beat it over and over, and I realized I was hurting my best friend, Marlon." Louis's hands shook as he was retelling what he experienced. Clementine reaches out and placed her soft hands on Louis giving him all the support he needed, and keeping him calm. Louis's voice shook as he spoke again, "His figure disappears, and I heard a despairing cry, and it was you. You found…..you found AJ dead….and there wasn't anything I could do….When I tried to comfort you…that's when…that's when I saw Minerva stab you in the back, and you laying motionless in my arms, like…AJ"
When Louis was telling her this, she presses her forehead to his and held it there as she feels Louis's tears hit her hands. She had no words to offer, and all she could do is be close to him as possible.
She heard Louis speak in a low whisper as he spoke his deepest fear he has. "I keep seeing the people I care about die. I don't want to lose you or AJ. If I lose either of you two…"
Clementine sighs still having her forehead to his, "I know…" She kisses him tenderly on his forehead letting him know she understands his pain, and never minimizes his fears. They stay like that for a good long while not saying anything and being each other's rock.
After a while, they settled back down to the pillows Clementine caressing Louis's shoulders and forearms as he snuggles in her chest hearing her heartbeat and wrapping his arms around her upper body holding her close to him. Clementine whispers in the moonlight, "Louis…I know it can't be easy for you, but telling and sharing with me about your nightmares, helps me understand your pain a bit. I had no idea that, that Minerva was the source of everything."
Louis smiles a bit, "I never thought she will be my inner demon, but when she threatened you most of all, I guess…"
Clementine squeezes him tighter, "Let's not go into that again, and try to sleep."
Louis nods to that as he felt exhausted. "Clem?"
Clementine opens up her eyes to peer down on Louis's handsome face, "hmm"
"Thank you, for not leaving me to drown in my fears. You are the light that guided me out of my nightmare hellhole, so….thank you for being my light in my dark world, and my rock. Or what Lady Galadriel once said the light of Enwiden, is the most precious star, may it be light in dark places when other lights go out. You are that star for me, darling." Louis smiles he heard and felt Clementine giggling with his last comment.
Clementine giggles at his last comment of a Lord of the Rings reference, and replies back, "You're welcome, prince charming." Clementine smiles as the words flowed off her lips so naturally.
"Glad that nickname is catching on." Louis joked back and felt Clementine grinning now.
…..
Morning came way too early as Clementine opens up her eyes to see the sun coming through the window. For the rest of the night Louis didn't have anymore more episodes of this PTSD. And for once he slept peacefully in Clementine's chest, which is something they never did before. Clementine looks down over to her right and sees Louis sound asleep with his back facing her.
She gave a little smile to him and wishes she can take his pain, but Aasim was right, having Rosie be in here several other times before helped Louis cope with his nightmares, and was talking to her about it. Sometimes it is so bad they have a code that is best to leave it be and think of something else. Clementine places her hand on his back and rubbed it in a slow motion.
Soon Aj comes through the door, just then snaping Clementine from rubbing her boyfriend's back, "Hey Clem I…"
Clementine turns and moves her body to the edge of the bed, "Shhh Louis is still sleeping."
AJ looks at the window and told her, "It is well in the morning, why is he sleeping in so late."
Clementine looks to AJ then back at her boyfriend, "He had a rough night again with his nightmares. Letting him get as much sleep as possible." She watches as AJ puts his little knife next to the fly trap, and plops on his bed. "Something you want with him, buddy?"
AJ turns to look at her, "Was kind of hoping for him to finish reading to me Lord of the Rings. He promised he would when he didn't have anything chore-wise to do. He isn't scheduled for hunting today, and has evening watch so…"
Clementine shakes her head. She looks at her sleeping boyfriend and then at AJ, "So you are just going to wait in her until he gets up?"
"I got done with all my duties. Willy help me set the traps for the walkers, and helped Omar with the meal, so." AJ smiles. Clementine rolls her eyes, she heard Louis stir from his sleep, and AJ goes to him, "Yay your awake!"
Louis yawns as he rises in Clementine's bed, "Yeah…just barely."
"AJ let him get up, my gosh kiddo." Clementine giggles holding AJ back. Clementine looks to her boyfriend, "I tried to let you sleep."
"Appreciate it, darling." Louis lets out a stretch as he looks at the window, "How long was I out of it."
"A long time dummy." AJ squirms out of Clementine's arms and moves to be beside Louis, "Can you read to me now! I got to find out what happens. You can't just leave me on a cliffhanger." AJ demands.
Louis looks at Clementine and then to AJ, "Alright little man alright. First, can I have a meal and eat first then meet you in the music room."
AJ nods to him and climbs out of Clementine's bed and heads to the door, "I'll fix you up a bowl from Omar." And dashes out.
Clementine looks to AJ, and he left and turns to look at her boyfriend, "Well congrats Prince charming, you created a monster with your reading." She was obviously teasing him.
"I guess I have…honestly, I never thought he will be into it. I guess is my somewhat acting skills of bringing the characters to life." Louis looks at the door.
Clementine leans over and plants a sweet kiss on his cheek, "I think it is sweet."
Louis looks at her and blushes, "Thanks for helping me last night with you know…"
"Don't mention it." Clementine looks at him with admiration in her eyes and felt Louis close a gap to give her a morning kiss. She felt her heart beating she wants to continue their passionate kiss from last night, but that will lead to other things and time is not on their side. So before Louis crashes his lips to hers, Clementine puts her hand up to his lips to stop him, "As much as I want a make session with you, you are wanted by my little goofball. And he will be pushy about it. Believe me."
That shook his love affection out of his eyes, "Right…later then." Louis cocks his head to one side.
Clementine giggled with that and very giddily said, "Sure." Clementine removes herself from the bed and puts on her prosthetic foot as she sees Louis put on his boots he took off by the bookshelf and the two of them walk out of their room together.
….
Violet finished eating her meal as she lays on a picnic table daydreaming about Maya and her tender kisses. She loved everything about her, and she can't wait to spend time with her again. She hopes soon Maya will be off of probation from her group so they can sneak into each other's encampments. Violet looks up and sees Aasim standing by. Violet looks up at him and shields her eyes from the sun, "What is it, Aasim."
Aasim cleared his throat, "You good at taking Willy's shift on watch this afternoon."
"Ah…I wasn't planning on it until morning why the switch." Violet asks.
"I need to take Willy out hunting along with Omar. And Clem has your morning shift." Aasim said looking away.
Figures. Violet thought for a moment and smiles to get to see Maya again tonight, "Fine I will take Willy's watch shift. Anything else?"
"No, that is it." Aasim looks at her and noticed something different about Violet as she doesn't fight about cross-switching on chores, which he finds rather odd about her. Aasim breathes a sigh, "Just be ready when we head out okay."
Violet nods and turns to lay back down on the picnic table dreaming about Maya, and the way her soft lips crashed onto hers the other night. And she can't wait to kiss those lips again and again.
…
As soon as everyone had enough to eat, Aasim and Willy go out hunting, and Violet attends to watch for danger, although she is counting down the hours to see Maya again at dusk. Now that Maya taught her how to read time using the sun, Violet estimates it is nearing eleven in the morning. She breathes out a sigh, and she finds herself kind of pacing back and forth, Stop it, Vi. You are going to let others know you are anxious about something. Violet then thought about Maya's sexy brown eyes, and she shakes her head to stop being infatuated by Maya's rich brown eyes. She is so beautiful I can't get her out of my mind. Why does that indigenous girl make me so crazy at times? Violet gazes out over into the woods. I think I may have truly fallen in love with her, more than I...
Violet furrows her eyebrows as she is beginning to think she may have fallen deeper and more in love with Maya than she ever had with Minerva, This is different than what I felt with Minnie... With Maya, I feel I am being truly loved for the first time, which is all new. Minnie never loved me this deeply. Violet gazes at the blue sky, she is nothing I have ever known, and I don't know if we are supposed to be together, or we are soul mates if that is even a real thing, but damn it….her sexy swagger and flirting lines get me feeling like a love-struck yearly. Okay enough Vi, stop thinking about Maya. You will see her, just not right now. Goddamn it she is so beautiful. Violet stomps her foot and sighs as she leans up against the railing.
Louis takes AJ and Tenn into the music room to read Lord of the Rings, and Clementine waits just in the lobby for Ruby, to come down from the nurses' office for something. She decided to listen to Louis read to the boys as she waits.
She leans up against the door frame of the room watching and listening in as Louis reads to Tenn and AJ of Lord of the Rings. Seeing AJ get so involved with the story made her heart sore with pride. Then her eyes gaze upon Louis. She smiled at the way he was reading the story to the kids, and how he was so natural at doing so.
Clementine was in a trance after seeing Louis reading out loud one of his favorite books. She kind of was against the idea of having AJ be involved with the book but seeing how he takes his patrols of Walker hunting more fun and imagining the walkers were orcs like in the story was kind of cute. Louis got AJ to use his imagination and act like a kid of admiring his favorite superhero or something. Then it hit her as she watches Louis reading to AJ, that she has a feeling in her heart that she wants him to read to her kids of her own one day. And looking at Louis makes her envision of a future with him, AJ, and their kids.
Clementine is scared of being a mother, but looking at how much Louis longs to be a father gave her a source of pride and hope of wanting and dreaming of what life would be like to have him be the father of her kids. She and Louis had many moments of giving into passion and desire, but fear always stopped her from being truly intimate with him. Louis never pressured her into anything. And now seeing him reading to AJ, Clementine has that burning desire in her soul of wanting to be intimately close to Louis.
Ruby walks up from behind Clementine just then, and she stands there looking at Clementine as she looks into the music room with Louis and the kids. She sees how Clementine sighs and smiles at him and knew Clementine is deeply in love with Louis. She didn't want to break up the cute moment before her, but she and Clem have work to do in the greenhouse. Ruby clears her throat which startled Clementine and broke her thoughts. "Sorry to interrupt, but we got some herbs to bring up for dinner tonight."
Clementine shakes her head to clear her thoughts and what ifs dreaming of her Louis, "Right sorry…" She hides her slight embarrassment from Ruby, as Ruby chuckles at Clementine's love moment.
"No need to be embarrassed. We all know how much you two feel about each other. In fact, I find it sweet. Never knew a boy like Louis will ever come out of his childish ways, but for some reason when he is with you, he man's up." Ruby admits.
Clementine smiles at that compliment. "Well, he is still a goofball and a dork at times."
"True. I guess that is how he is. But I have noticed he acts more mature when you are around. And how you are with him, you tend to lower your guard a bit. It is sweet." Ruby smiles as she and Clementine exit the main yard of the school.
Clementine pauses at the gate just outside the wall of the school and looks to Ruby, "Can I ask you something, this has to stay between me and you."
Ruby turns as she looks at Clementine as the sunlight highlights the back of her. "Sure, what is on your mind."
Clementine pauses for a moment hesitant of asking this question to her, "Have you and Aasim ever had this burning desire of wanting something more in your relationship when you are with each other…..alone?"
Ruby looks at her in slight confusion, "What do you mean?"
Clementine was afraid to say the words as she scratches the back of her head, "You know, intimacy, can't get enough of each other, or can't keep hands off from one another, that sort of feeling."
Ruby looks at her as she is picking up what Clementine is trying to voice out loud but has a hard time trying to say, "You mean sex right?" She can tell Clementine is embarrassed by the word and she lightly chuckles at the teen's ranging new hormones. Ruby then looks to the ground and back up at Clementine, "Have you and Louis ever…"
Clementine looks at her in slight embarrassment to be having this conversation, but she is the only other kid at the school who is in a romantic relationship with someone and needs some advice, "Not exactly…. done it for say, but we…. We came close several times. I feel it and want it at the beginning of….the moment, and so does Louis but then I have all of these mixed feelings of going down that path with him that I always end up pulling away from wanting it, even though I crave it, a lot when I am with him. Why is that?"
Ruby looks at her and smiles, "Because this is a new experience for you, and you are afraid of letting him in that space.."
Clementine nods as she looks away, "A little of what you said. I just…I don't know….part of me wants a future with Louis, and having kids and him being the father to them, but at the same time, I don't want to be selfish and bring kids into this world with walkers. It just is not fair to them to grow up in a world like this. And a bit of what you said in the last comment." Clementine cast her look to the ground.
Ruby understands where Clementine is coming from. She took her hands and held them, which made Clementine looks up at Ruby, "Clem, you wanting kids is not selfish, and as much as I hate to admit it, I can tell Louis will be a great father. I see him around Tenn, AJ, and Willy. He lights up when he is around them, and kind of shapes him to be responsible in some odd way. And these walls are safe, and we can look after each other. I too often dream of what it is like to be a mother myself."
Ruby looks at Clementine, "Have you talked to Louis about this, about how you feel about it?"
Clementine looks away, "No, I guess I am too scared to bring it up. Or we both are. And the fact is we both never done it before, and will be each other's first time."
Ruby nods in silence and then looks into Clementine's eyes, "You know there is a way you can Louis can be intimate without running the risk of bringing new little ones into this world if you want to try it sometime. I am scared to ask this of Aasim as he and I just started dating, but you and Louis have been a couple for a while and I see the tension growing between you two."
Clementine looks up into her blue eyes, "What is that exactly?"
Ruby smiles, "Come to my medical office later on tonight."
Clementine and Ruby planted some more herbs, tend to the ones that are growing, and gathered them for tonight's dinner. Clementine enjoyed her time with Ruby as she is growing close to having her as a friend. She just wishes Vi will return her once-good friendship they once started before the Raiders came. Clementine hates the hostile tension between them and wishes it can go away. However being with Ruby, Aasim, Willy, Omar, Tenn, and AJ, and yes even her sweet caring boyfriend, seems to balance out the growing wedge between Violet and her.
Ruby sets the herbs down near the spot Omar likes to cook and prepare their meals. Ruby looks up as Violet was on lookout duty waiting for the hunting party to come back. Clementine casts her gaze at Violet and then looks to the ground of heartache. Ruby picked up on that. "You okay there, Clem?"
Clementine shrugs, "I don't know. I don't know how I can make it right with Vi again. Ever since I found her with that girl from the caravan, Vi has been distant, and hostile toward me."
"Don't take it personally, Clem. Vi is just…grieving a bit. She was like this with me and Brody before you came along." Ruby said. "More so with Brody because of Minnie. And Vi held Brody responsible."
"Hard not to take it personally. Just wish I could talk to her, but she won't let me." Clementine admits as she leans her back against one of the ends of the tables.
Ruby sets down the herbs on the table and turns to Clementine. "Honestly, I think she may have fallen for that girl you and Aasim met several days ago.." Ruby looks at her with a sad kind of smile.
Clementine looks up at Ruby then her gaze went to Violet who is up on guard duty. "It is not a think or possibility, Ruby. I know she has..and that is the problem."
"You know?" Ruby asks.
Clementine nods, "She voiced it herself. Well, not said those words exactly, but I knew enough when we worked in the greenhouse together last night. Clementine looks down at the ground, "She still hates me for keeping her away from that Maya." Clementine looks up and meets Ruby's eyes, "Am I doing right by her here? I am trying to ensure everyone's safety because I know two members of Maya's group that raise a red flag with me. But Vi is blinded by her emotions for that girl and can't see the danger. I don't want another Raider incident, which is why…"
Ruby lets out a sigh as she looks to Clementine, "I can't tell you how to lead Clem. I know you mean well in your judgment calls to keep us safe, which is more than what Marlon did. And I understand a bit of why Vi is acting the way she is. Love makes all of us blind to the cautions, we do crazy things we fall for another being. You and Louis do it all the time with your stealing glances. Maybe keeping Vi from Maya is not the best choice." Ruby looks to her leader, "If it were me, I will let them see each other, but still have Vi be committed to her chore and life at this school. I know you are trying to protect her Clem, but if you say is true that Violet is in love with this girl named Maya, you can't stop her from going to find and seek her out. Violet will find a way, one way or another, to be with Maya. Something you can't stop. We don't choose who we fall in love we just do, and the heart wants what it wants."
Clementine is hearing Ruby explaining this and Lee's words flooded back in her mind You're instincts are right not to trust the group Maya is in, but not so much with Maya herself. Clementine looks back at Violet who is leaning against the railing as she is bowing her head a bit. Then she felt a nudge on her shoulder as Clementine snapped her head to Ruby.
Ruby looks to Clementine as she nudges with her head, "Come to my office I have something to give to you."
"Don't you have lookout duty with Vi?" Clementine asks.
"I do, but this will only take a few minutes." Ruby smiles.
Clementine shrugs as she pushes off from the picnic tables and walks with Ruby to the nurses' station. Tenn, AJ, and Louis are still engrossed in reading the Fellowship of the Ring, and it melted Clementine's heart. She continues to follow Ruby to her nursing office. It gave her chills when coming in the room, as flashbacks of little memory she has after AJ chopped off her left leg in James's barn a few months back. She doesn't remember much of what happened, but Louis filled her in on the day he found her and AJ in the woods.
Casting the memory aside, Clementine makes her way to Ruby she opens up an old dusty box. "What is that?" Clementine asks out of curiosity.
"This was used in a class with older kids who used to stay here. We had a sex ed teacher who kept a stash of condoms and contraception. You know to teach us what sex was and how to practice safe sex. And there have been several older students here who have had intimate relations with each other. Ms. Martin kept it on the down low, but she kept this." Ruby opened the box and fished out a small package square, and handed it to Clementine. "If you and Louis are serious and want to be intimate, here is some protection for you if you know…."
Clementine eyes the square in Ruby's hand. "Thanks, I will think about it."
"Just make sure Louis wears this when the moment is right between you two," Ruby said. "And if you two do it, I won't tell and keep it a secret."
Clementine smiles at her, "Thanks, Ruby. You are a true friend. But I don't think I will tell anyone."
Ruby smiles as she pats Clementine's shoulder, "I have to go do lookout duty. Just keep an open mind, and Clem. There is no pressure in doing it. You and Louis should decide together on that, and you do what you feel comfortable with. And if you need any advice, I will try and help with what I know."
Clementine smiles at Ruby's comment as she watches the redhead walk out of the office. Clementine stared at the object in her hand, pondering of should I go with the idea or not. Clementine stashes the object in her jean jacket as she goes outside and sits under a tree for the rest of the afternoon. She tries to go over in her head how to bring this up to Louis.
Once evening came around, Clementine sat at the table close with Louis, of course, Aasim, and Ruby. Vi ate with Omar Tenn and AJ, and Willy kept her distance from Clementine.
….
Once it was dark out, Violet sneaked out of her room when most of the kids were asleep and made her way to Clementine's tree house. The nights were getting colder as steam was seen coming out of Violet's mouth. But she didn't care. The thought of being in Maya's warm embrace is what is keeping Violet from thinking about how cold she is. Violet holds her vest close to her as she carefully crosses the courtyard in the shadows. Violet sees up on night watch, Aasim and Louis are taking a shift. Fuck….I really got to be careful. Louis already suspects I am sneaking away.
Violet hides behind the picnic tables and can hear the two boys talking.
"Come on, one game of five-card stud? I promise to treat you fair?" Louis asks.
"No." Aasim counters.
"Afraid to lose the bet again, like last time," Louis snickers.
"Let's not discuss ever again of me losing a bet to you... And no it was a lousy card game." Aasim grunts.
"At least the weather was still warm. I mean, think of jumping in that stream now with it this cold." Louis chuckles.
"And how is this not speaking about it ever again, Louis? Besides, we are supposed to be on watch." Aasim glanced back into the courtyard because he thought he saw someone up.
"Look, we have until dawn, and the most I see out here in these woods are four to five walkers, and they are at the trap area, so we have time to play a game or rounds of games. The most I see are walkers getting up by the fence, the traps do the work for us mostly." Louis explains. "So five-card stud?"
"No." Aasim still searches the courtyard.
"Blackjack?" Louis asks again.
Aasim turns around and faces him, "Louis!"
"Okay, Go Fish, but that is my final offer," Louis comments back. "No bets or anything unless you want to."
Aasim sighs and then amuses Louis to get him to shut up. "Fine, but at least face that away so we can see if walkers are getting close to the perimeter."
Once the two are occupied, Violet sneaks into the graveyard, climbs the ladder to the tree house, and does her trick of avoiding the barbed wire and climbing on a tree outside of the wall. She at first thought it was a dumb idea for Louis to build that tree house for Clementine when she and Louis are not going to play in it. But now, it is her secret way to sneak out to meet with Maya.
Violet has her weapon on her in case she runs into some walkers to meet with Maya, but she avoids them. It took her a bit and found the spot halfway to Maya's camp and Ericson's school. She is thinking of bringing her to the fishing shack, eventually to her school, and up to the bell tower that no one goes to except her. Violet sees Maya with a small fire starting as she has a blanket and something else besides her. Maya looks up and sees Violet coming up to her. "I was afraid you got held up and couldn't make it out here."
"No…I had to wait until the coast was clear to sneak out." Violet admitted. She came and sat down next to Maya as Maya made room. Violet then couldn't contain her affection for the native girl and placed her hand in Maya's. Maya never flinched, and this time, Violet is the one to be the first instigator of starting the kiss.
Violet leans in and places her lips on Maya's. As Violet started to kiss Maya lightly, she felt Maya going in deeper as she too missed Violet's kisses. Violet soon felt Maya reaching up to her collarbone and pulling the ends of Violet's vest close to her so their bodies were inches from one another. Violet feels this is getting too deep and pulls back just a bit, and Maya bites her lip and apologizes to her, "Sorry, I got carried away…I'm stopping."
Violet shook her head and placed her forehead to Maya's, "No, it is not that….I liked it…it's just…Never felt this deep with anyone before…." Violet raised her green eyes to look into Maya's midnight chocolate eyes, "Not even with Minerva." Violet stares into her eyes and just gets lost in them as she holds Maya's body and feels her warmth on this very bone-chilling night.
Maya looks down and feels slightly unconformable with this closeness as Violet is making her nervous about how much she is falling for her. "Well…um…neither have I." Maya looks into Violet's eyes and tucks an orange leaf behind Violet's left ear and a lock of her blonde hair. Maya moves her hand so her palm rests on Violet's soft cheek, and lightly Maya strokes it with her thumb tenderly, "You, my spring meadow beauty, are the only one I felt this way ever. I have grown to care for you a lot." Maya watches as Violet leans into Maya's touch on her cheek and blushes and smiles when Maya calls her by her nickname.
Violet reaches up, places her white hand on Maya's outstretched hand, and nuzzles her face in Maya's palm on her cheek. Then slowly, she takes Maya's hand and lightly kisses it, letting her know she is hers, and letting Maya into Violet's cold heart. For some reason being around her is making melting the ice inside, and Maya is making her feel something she hasn't felt since she was ten years old. Even Minerva didn't reach this deep in Violet's heart.
Violet soon moves in and snuggles in Maya's chest to feel her warm body soaking into hers, and Violet buries her nose underneath Maya's chin and smells her sweet herbal scent, which smells strangely like rosemary. Violet giggles a bit when hearing Maya's heartbeat thump in her chest as she feels her pulse increases when she is around her. This girl seriously has it bad for me. Am I really that attractive that I get Maya's heart to beat a hundred miles per hour?
Violet then felt around and felt an object under Maya's shirt. Curiously she pulls it out and sees a bird-like figure with weird tribal markings The bird's wings had turquoise for its feathers on the back side of the wings, with cool tribal designs for the feathers. The beak was a red color and yellow for the feet. Violet traces the bird's wings with her fingers. Violet then looks at her new love and asks, "What is this?"
Maya smiled as Violet is looking at her totem necklace, as she leans her back a little, "My totem necklace my grandmother made me." Maya sees Violet taking her eyes off the necklace and looks at Maya. Maya then moves so Violet is between her legs as she holds her by the fire, "I know this may be strange to you, but everyone in my tribe had a spirit animal that was their calling. My grandmother was a bear," Maya pulls out her antler knife with her grandmother's spirit animal carved in the handle. "My father's was a deer, my mother's was a badger, My brother Koda's was a porcupine, my sister Aniya is a Lynx, and mine is a hawk."
"I'm a hawk because my nature reflects who I am. I identify with that animal the most because of my gift of being a clairvoyant and my personality. In my culture, the hawk represents these things: messenger, intuition, victory, healing, nobility, recollection, cleansing, visionary power, and guardianship." Maya finishes explaining. "It is a big deal to live out what your totem is assigned to you as you walk this life, finding meaning and purpose, as your totem guides you."
Violet looks and holds Maya's necklace as her thumb traces over the hawks' wings, "That is…. cool. Not that I believe in it, and wasn't brought up in your culture. I grew up in the Christian faith, being a Methodist in my upbringing. My grandma would hold bible studies and take me to church. I spend a lot of time with my grandmother, as my mom had to work three jobs supporting me, and my dad…my dad was a drunken bastard who never really gave a damn about me or my mother." Violet looks to Maya and tells her a little bit about her past life before settling to Ericson, "After church or bible study, my grandma would treat me to going to a fast food joint and get chicken nuggets. Was my favorite thing to look forward to. Yeah, the church service was boring, and never really understood what they were preaching, but what stuck out to me was going and getting chicken nuggets."
Violet smiles, then her smile goes into a sad frown for a bit, "After my grandma passed and I got sent away….I started to question the faith of why God allowed my grandma to suffer. What was the point of going to church and being in so much pain to take your own life? Then having the dead come to life and eat people. I'm sure Jesus and the holy bible never discussed that becoming a reality." Violet got angry momentarily as she moved a little out of Maya's embrace.
Violet closes her eyes and turns her head to look at her new love, "Sorry…just. I am..so much shit came and ruined my life, made me question what was the purpose of the Christian walk when all of it is bullshit fantasy."
Maya moves closer now to Violet and lovingly touches her arms. "I can empathize with your pain there, Vi. I, too, question the spiritual faith of my own culture. Challenged it even, and that is what landed me in trouble back in my youth." Maya spoke. "You see this scar" Maya points to her left eye as the firelight dances across Maya's face, and Violet nods, "A racist cop threw a broken glass bottle at me when I was at a peaceful protest defending my people's burial land, had to get eight stitches."
"I grew up in a ghetto part of an Indian Reservation, where society looks down on me and thinks that my kind, us indigenous folks, are savages, so we are forced to live in certain parts of the US. I, too, questioned the traditions set where I am from and by the elders and chiefs of my tribe when I was young and still do." Maya admitted.
Violet turns to look at her and then reaches up and strokes her face, "I don't think you are a savage. Maybe intimating at times, but not dangerous that I will call a savage." Violet reaches up and, with her thumb, traces Maya's scar above her left eye in a tender, loving way, as she loves this rugged Indian warrior. Violet felt Maya twitching when Violet's thumb traces her scar. "You are so beautiful to me that I don't see a single thing in you to make you a savage."
Maya smiled and couldn't help blushing at Violet's kind words and tender touch, "Thanks. I know you don't see me that way, but many white folks out west in my district do. Try to take the Indian out of me and make me one of their robot machines." Maya's heart raced when Violet made that soft romantic, simple gesture of tracing her scar with her thumb. She was trying hard not to cave into her love hormones and enjoy this moment with her new lover without getting physical.
"Well…they are stupid because I see a person with a good heart when I look at you. And compassion, as you showed me when you saved me from the rapids." Violet then moves her head to rest on Maya's chest. She breathes out a happy sigh as Maya strangely calms down her racing heart, and she never knew Maya and her had something in common of being looked at as less than an equal in the eyes of society in the old world.
Maya looks at Violet and tucks a lock of blonde hair behind her ears as she plants a soft kiss on her head. Violet smiles in Maya's chest as she loves these small touches of showing affection. Maya then leans back and gazes up at the stars. Violet soon turns to look up and stargazes with her new flame. "Wow…never seen them this bright before."
Maya smiles and looks up at the stars stroking Violet's arms. "Yeah…want to know if the Ojiig or Maang is out."
Violet skews her face as she turns to look at Maya, "What now?"
Maya chuckles, "Sorry…big dipper and the little dipper. In my native tongue, it is called the Ojiig or Fisher, and Maang Loon as the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper. Constellations in the sky."
Violet looks at Maya fully now, "Why not just call them Big Dipper and Little Dipper."
"Because we have a different meaning of the stars than your way. We use the stars to track and hunt bison, and the change of the seasons, at least with some stars with that origin." Maya looks into Violet's eyes. Maya then gazes up and spots the Big Dipper, and points to it, "I remember my father would tell the story of Ojiig to me and loved that story how The Big Dipper came to be what it is in the sky."
Violet looks down for a moment, then up at the sky at the big dipper. She then turns to look at Maya, "Would you tell it to me?"
"Now?" Maya looks at her.
"Yes." Violet smiles and leans against Maya, "Unless you don't want to but would love to hear it." Violet then, with a teasing grin, reminded Maya of what she had said earlier several days back, "As you said before, when it is not raining, you will share with me stories you know about the stars."
"I did, didn't I…" Maya scratches the back of her head as Violet remembers. "Okay…I will try and remember how my father told it to me."
Maya moves a little bit, so Violet is beside her now. Maya felt nervous when she felt Violet's body close to hers, as this was the first time Maya shared this story before her parents died and left her and Aniya orphans. Maya looks into Violet's eyes, "It is kind of a little long of a story, and I hadn't shared this since my parents died."
Maya takes a deep breath and then tells Violet about the Fisher, "Once Fisher and his friends are out on a hunt. The hunt lasted weeks and weeks. The hunting became difficult because the snow and cold would not leave them alone. Fisher's friend Bear, began to worry. 'Winter has lasted too long' he told Fisher. 'The moose and caribou will have nothing to eat. The Beaver will have no lily roots or fresh aspen bark. Something has happened in the sky world to stop the seasons from turning'" Maya pauses as she switches voices between characters like her father used to do, "'Let us send Wolverine up to the sky world to find out what the matter is.' They sent for Wolverine, and he agreed to go. And he ascended into the sky world by of a great Pine tree"
"He was gone for many days. Finally, Wolverine returned with some news. 'A great Ogre beyond the edge of the sky world captured all the birds. He imprisoned them in great Britch baskets. That is why winter will never end.' Fisher spoke, 'Who is this Ogre?' Wolverine replies back, 'He is bigger and more cruel than any being here in this world. Worse, he has his brothers with him to guard the birds.' Fisher grew angry as he shouted, 'we must kill him and free the birds,'" Maya explains. She took a breath and continued with the story, and was intrigued that Violet was tuning in and listening as she told her favorite native story to her new girlfriend. "Having said this, Fisher strapped on his quiver, and his knife, picked up his bow and set out. He came to the Great Pine Tree, and began to climb it."
"From the top of the tree, it was a bit of a short leap to the opening of the sky. Once through the opening, Fisher found himself in a wonderful world. It was warm, flowers were everywhere. And the air was alive with buzzing bees. Moving across the land Fisher soon came to the Ogre's encampment. The two guardians turned to face him. Realizing quickness is his only chance, Fisher dashed between their legs. He ran as fast as he could to the huge baskets, and shoved them open. Out poured the birds: flickers, jays, robins, ducks, geese and swans. Up they spiraled in a black cloud that darken the entire sky. Then, in a tornado of wings, the plunged down through the hole in the sky and entered the world below." Maya uses her hands as an illustration to the story.
Violet was in awe of this girl as she captivated her in knowing this story by heart. She was falling more and more in love with Maya and more chances she spent time with her. Violet no longer feels the cold lapping at her skin instead, she feels a burning fire set ablaze in her heart being with her new love.
Maya then continues with the story, "The great Ogre was enraged. He and his brothers ran towards the brave little Fisher. Once again, Fisher used his speed and quickness as he dashed between their legs and raced to the hole in the sky. Without hesitation, he threw himself through it. Far below he could see the earth. And before his eyes it was changing from white to green. Down he fell as the Ogre's arrows whizzing all around him. Fisher was lucky none of the arrows found its mark. Fisher landed on the soft mossy ground. He knew the Ogres would not be far behind him, so he had to make his escape fast. He ran this way," Maya pointed in one direction when narrating the story, and pointed the other way as she continues onward, "He ran that way, and dodged terrible flights of arrows. But try as he might, he couldn't lose the Ogre or his brothers."
"In fact they were getting closer. In desperation he raced back to the Great Pine Tree, thinking he could fool them by climbing into the sky world then doubling back to earth. Quickly he climbed the tree, but he wasn't fast enough. The Ogres saw him, and a great volley of arrows whizzed by, missing him by inches. At the top of the Pine Tree, Fisher leapt to the northward sky. Here one of the arrows found its mark and pinned him to the sky. Around and around he turned, and here he is to this very day." Maya points up at the Big Dipper as Violet follows her finger. Violet looks and sees where the story flows together in the stars. She looks back at Maya as she finishes telling the story. "With the freeing of the birds the Ogres lost their power over the earth. So they left by the way of the Great Pine Tree, back through the hole in the sky to their world. They never bothered the inhabitants of the earth again."
Maya turns to look at Violet, "I know to you it doesn't make sense…but loved that story when I was a little girl when my father would tell that story to me every night before bed, even had those glow-in-the-dark stars in the shape of the Big Dipper constellation in my room back home, because I love the story so much."
Violet smiles and leans her head down on Maya's shoulder, and kisses it tenderly. "No, I enjoyed it. You seem to be proud of that story, and it was comforting to hear about it. And makes sense. I see where the arrow pinned the Fisher in the sky. The kink in the handle of the Dipper." Violet then casts her gaze to look at her when she had glow-in-the-dark stars too, and it connected her to Maya even more, "You had glow-in-the-dark stick-on stars too? That is so weird because I did too in my grandma's house and in my room in the trailer where I lived with my mom."
Maya looks at her and then felt Violet's fingers interlocking with hers, "I guess we have more in common than we know." Maya then squeezed Violet's hand and tenderly spoke to her, "I'm really glad to get to meet you, Violet. And I don't know where this is heading, but….when I am with you, I feel the most joy and happiness that I haven't felt in a long, long time."
Now Violet is blushing big time, and she reaches up and plants a tender kiss on Maya's lips and holding her cheeks with her hands and being in love with everything she said tonight. Violet felt Maya's hands on her back with a light stroking motion. Violet pulls back and stares into Maya's beautiful brown eyes. Then for the first time, she spoke her true happiness back, "You give me so much happiness and joy too, that I thought was lost in me forever when…." Violet sighs heavily and then admits to Maya she is falling for her, "I think…I think I'm falling for you."
Maya moved her forehead to touch Violet's and admitted her feelings right back to her, "Well…that makes two of us, Spring Meadow Beauty."
Violet laughs a joyous laugh as she plays with her own nickname for her lover, "You are so cute, my Star Bird" Violet then moves to kiss Maya's soft lips and move into Maya's embrace, finally finding her soul mate.
Maya was stunned, and her face was red all over, and she felt her body light as a feather when Violet gave her a special name and moved to make out with her new girlfriend. The two new lovers do a little make out of expressing their love for each other before snuggling in each other's arms the rest of the night.
….
It is the morning of Clementine's birthday. Louis looks down on Clementine as she sleeps. Louis takes out a flower he found when walking and fixing the traps. Then very romantically, he places the sunflower behind Clementine's right ear. When he did that, Clementine slowly opened her amber eyes as she looked at him.
"What did you just do.." Clementine felt her ear and touched the sunflower.
"But a flower in your hair, darling." Louis smiles, "Don't take it out. You look cute with it in your hair. Happy birthday my flower princess." Louis leans down and charmingly kisses Clementine's lips. He pulls back and looks into her eyes.
"It is already October 26th?" Clementine asks.
"Yup. Ever since you revealed it to me on our war game been eager to give you something I have been working on." Louis smiles. "But you are going to have to wait until after breakfast to see what it is." Louis teases her.
"Louis…I don't need any gifts. Not sure I know the meaning of that term anymore as life changed so much since…since I was eight." Clementine looks down, then slowly back up at Louis, "I can't remember what my last birth present was?"
Louis then comes near her and helps his beautiful birthday girl out of bed, "Well…my dear, you will like this one. Took me weeks with Aasim and AJ's help to make it for you."
Clementine looks at her boyfriend and is curious about what he got or made her. "Better not be anything useless."
"It's not, trust me." Louis chuckles. He and Clementine walk out of Clementine's room as AJ is already at the picnic table with Tenn. Signs of morning life on this chilly autumn day were taking flight as Clementine walked with Louis and held onto his arm. She smiles at the kids eating a meal and her small group coming together with the community. She is even surprised to see Violet up and about. There is still tension between her and Violet, and Clementine doesn't know how to make it right with her friend again. She actually misses Violet's input and feels a bit lonely talking with another girl.
Clementine shakes off the feeling and grabs her meal, and eats it with Louis and AJ. AJ then hands Clementine his cutesy birthday card to Clem, "Happy birthday, Clem, even though I have no idea what it is the sign…signif,," AJ was trying to pronounce significance but struggles with the word and switched to a word he knows, "or the importance to celebrate it. But Louis told me why, so I made you a card."
Clementine smiles a warm smile and opens the card AJ made her. In his cute little kid handwriting, he wrote the words Happy birthday Clem, with Louis or Tenn helping him spell it right. And a drawing of what looks to be a birthday cake and a candle. Clementine opens up the folded paper and reads the inside of the message that AJ wrote with the help of her boyfriend of, Tenn. The message reads this,
I am not good with messages, but I wanted to say to you
How much you mean to me, protected and cared for me when,
No one else could or would. I just want to say to you happy birthday
To one of my favorite people. Hope your day is perfect,
And always keep moving forward, and never go alone.. I love you.
-AJ
Clementine read this, and a small tear came out as she looked up at her little boy. Clementine embraces AJ and hugs him. "I love you too, goofball. And thank you for the birthday card. Made my morning."
AJ hates it when Clementine calls him goofball, but he lets it slide just this once for Clementine's birthday. AJ hugs Clementine back and smiles against her chest. Then he pulls back and winks at Louis for his gift.
Once Clementine is finished with her meal, Louis walks her over to the graveyard covering up her eyes, "Are your eyes closed, darling?"
"Yes, you don't have to cover them with your hands. I won't peak." Clementine teases.
"Somehow, I don't believe you won't peak, so I am covering your eyes to ensure you don't." Louis plays back.
Clementine smiles and lets Louis lead her, "Better not lead me into anything to keep me off my feet."
"I promise I won't. Just a little further." Louis smiles as he leads her to the graveyard and the tree where he built Clem's treehouse. "Okay, ready."
Clementine nodded. And Louis removes his hands from her eyes, "Okay, open them up."
Clementine opens her amber eyes and looks at the tree with a purple house, not just any house but a treehouse. Clementine's mouth agape in amazement and adoration from her boyfriend, "A..a tree house, and it is purple." Clementine turns to face Louis, "But…how..and wh—"
"I know, I can't give you the imaginary house we came up with together on the walk back to the school, even though I want to because it is you, and I want a future with you and AJ as you remind me of what I lost so many years ago. So the next best thing is to give you the one last flourish, or the coup de grace to tie it all together, and so…I gave you your tree house. Had to alternate the design because of well your leg…" Louis looks to Clementine as she was happy, crying for once. "You don't like it?"
"No, actually the opposite, Lou. I love it. Thank you." Clementine came to him and kissed him tenderly as she put her arms around his neck and held him close to her heart, as she couldn't believe Louis remembered. She pulls back and gleams her amber eyes into his, and smiles warmly at him.
Louis smiled back and then, in a tender voice, spoke out, "Happy birthday, my darling Clementine."
Clementine giggles and hugs Louis tightly and enjoying her birthday she hasn't had in a very long time and being surrounded by the people and friends she loves most in this life.