"Lori called again." Rick observed Maxine's shoulder tense at the mention of the woman.
Three years into their relationship and all was happy. It wasn't until Rick's ex-wife knocked on his doorstep and Maxine was the one to open and welcome the visitor.
Lori Grimes, who still kept the name came barging in and pleading to talk with Rick. She didn't bother talking with Maxine as Lori stepped on the threshold, the same threshold Rick carried Maxine after their wedding.
Her presence was a shocking turn of events, being back to King County all to say that she wants a seconds chance— if not with Rick then with her son.
It took a lot of arguing till they managed to come to an agreement, (Maxine managed to convince Rick of giving the right for Carl to know his biological mother.) having Carl spend his days with his father and some to his mother. Weeks passed until Lori started calling Rick up, wanting to have more days with Carl and later on, have lame excuses to bring Rick over, wanting to mend things between them— which he always brings Maxine with him or he declines immediately.
"What did she say?" Dealing with Lori was stressful, Maxine admits it— the woman was determined, committed to fixing the life she broke— and Maxine admires the woman for it but deep inside, she couldn't help but feel sad for Carl as this must be so confusing for him.
"She wants me and Carl to go on a road trip this weekend." Going by Rick's tone, Maxine could tell he was about to deny the idea— not Carl having to spend time with his mother but him joining the two— and Maxine had enough.
"Why don't you go ahead with them?" Rick froze, gazing at Maxine blankly as his mind tried to process whether her words were a test of loyalty and a wrong answer gets him a bullet in the head.
Reading him completely, her lips lifted and Maxine pats her wet hands from washing the dishes to a dry towel before making her way towards Rick, who welcomes her with wide arms. "It might be good for Carl..."
"And have him interpret something that would never happen?"
"Have him realize that you two are civil. Carl was three years old when Lori left with no idea why— our little boy never had anything of you and her together, I think it is better if both of you are to explain the situation to him. It's not good if you and Lori kept avoiding each other, and using him in the middle of it. He'll think he's the problem, forcing two people to interact because of him— he'll blame himself, Rick. Children do that, I know for sure I did that." Maxine caress Rick's hair, lightly pulling the ends of his strands in a comforting manner, it helps not just her to relax but Rick too. "I'm not saying going on a road trip with your ex-wife is a good idea, that is still your choice. I meant having you and Lori to talk to Carl might be or at least both of you to come to a mutual understanding— could lead to a good understanding."
Lori clicks her tongue when Carl once again fidgeted in his seat. Almost making her cut on his hair close to uneven, "Baby, the more you fidget, the longer it takes. So don't, okay?"
"I'm trying." Carl grumbles under his breath. Glaring daggers on the rocky ground as his biological mother forced his head to look down.
"Well, try harder."
"If you think this is bad, wait till you start shaving." A voice walks towards them, Shane with his shotgun lays it on his lap when he took a seat on a vacant chair in front of the mother and son. "That stings. That day comes, you'll be wishing for one of your mama's haircuts."
Carl scoffs, trying his best not to roll his eyes— not fully believing. "I'll believe that when I see it."
Shane chuckles. Leaning forward, Shane tried to cheer the boy who clearly woke up and chose violence. "I'll tell you what… you just get through this with some manly dignity and tomorrow I'll teach you something special. I will teach you to catch frogs."
Carl perked up but a memory pops up that soon made him a bit glum. "I've caught a frog before." Carl showed it to his Mom, his Maxine mom— only for her to let out a shriek, close to vomiting and both him and Rick made fun of the woman, who didn't seem afraid or easily disgusted over anything but they did set the frog free after a few days of Maxine tolerating it on sleeping in the same roof.
Shane shakes his head, oblivious to the sudden glum on Carl's face. "I said frogs… plural. And it is an art, my friend. It is not to be taken lightly. There are ways and means. Few people know about it. I'm willing to share my secrets."
That seemed to catch the attention of a twelve-year old boy. Carl contemplating, does his mother even know of it?
Yet when Carl turned to look at his mother, Lori quickly pushes his head back towards Shane.
"Oh, I'm a girl. You talk to him."
Shane leans back to his chair, acting as though Carl was the one who lost a billion dollar deal. Picking up a brush, started scrubbing his shotgun clean. "It's a one-time offer, bud... not to be repeated."
Seeing that his mother is indeed a woman, he had no other person to ask to. Carl didn't see the loss and went for it. "Why do we need frogs, plural?"
"You ever eat frog legs?"
"Ew!" Carl quickly grimaced as a response. Even Lori behind the boy gave out a contorted brow.
"No, yum!"
Lori kept her gaxe on cutting Carl's hair. "No , he's right. Eww." Shane chuckles.
"Don't listen to her, man. You and me, we'll be heroes. We'll feed these folks cajun-style Kermit legs."
"I would rather eat miss piggy." Lori behind Carl murmurs under her breath, but the two males heard her clearly. The only difference is one of them understood her, the other confused. "Yes, that came out wrong."
Shane laughs, his eyes bright and in awe. Shaking his stare off of Lori when he realized Carll was already staring. "Heroes, son, spoken of in song and legend. You and me, Shane and Carl."
Carl gave a tight-lipped smile. Compared to the first time he stayed in the quarry, it was a big step. Finding out his father was shot, being forced to leave him and lose his mother and sister in the process, it clipped a little bit of his innocence. His mom no longer annoying him and teaching him a few tricks behind his father's back. No more of his father chasing both of them whenever he finds out. No more all four of them, laying together in the middle of a storm— mom and dad each on the end and Carl and his little sister sleeping in the middle beside each other.
With only one living loved-one left— Carl tried to clung unto Lori.
He still cried to sleep, his constantly puffed eyes in the morning was proof of it. Lori knew but when she tried to talk to him, he only snapped. She found it was best to let the boy grieve not by being talked to but by physical comfort in silence. So, Lori opted instead to hugging her son every night. Lulling him to sleep whilst she was being consumed in guilt and regret.
Carl was giving it a shot. Trying to be a kid again without any fear of going too far a parent, until a car alarm echoed around the mountains, the sirens coming closer to their direction and took form of a red sports car.
His father stepping out of the truck that followed.
"Words can be meager things. Sometimes they fall short." Dale tried to give out a comforting smile, gazing around the group of people huddled and circled around the small bonfire they've built. Mostly the group that was stuck on Atlanta were the one huddled along with Rick and his family.
All of their eyes set on the burning wood, but their attention remained on Rick's voice. All of them silently comforting themselves that they weren't in his shoes of waking up and not knowing the dangers lurking around.
They were all laughing at first, glad for their members to be alive and took out a set of delicious canned good have everybody else eat. It wasn't until one of them asked Rick— especially when they've all heard of Rick's situation firsthand from his family that he was supposed to be dead did the relieved atmosphere turned somber.
"I felt like I'd been ripped out of my life and put somewhere else." Rick added, his voice tense and crisp clear. He really thought he was a goner on that specific moment. "-For a while I thought I was trapped in some coma dream, something I might not wake up from ever."
Carl laid on his father's lap, his expression oddly calm and accepting— not willing to go away or let go of his father the moment they united back from the quarry— Rick having the same thoughts, didn't even let the boy out of his sight when Lori told him to clean up and change clothes. How they got it was a question he regretted to ask— but he was going to hear it eventually. "Maxine packed it when the news of walkers were all over the televisions. She said it kept Charmaine less sassy when she smells you— but we all know it's because she thought you'll come out alive."
Maxine was going to go to the hospital herself to get him. That was what Lori said to him before he cleaned, if it weren't for Shane getting ahead of Maxine and telling her of his condition; his wife would be the one trying to get him out. Rick almost winced at the mention of his daughter, he wanted to know what happened to them— but all Lori could give was what Shane had told her and Carl. Maxine got surrounded. He couldn't get them out.
His mind couldn't process it, it took a few more minutes than normal for him to clean up. His emotions all over the place but he remained in the same expression of nothing. Only the sound of his son's voice broke him out of it, "Mom said you died."
Looking down, Rick's expression turned soft. Almost broken, yet Rick managed to stop himself from breaking down. "She had every reason to believe that. Don't you ever doubt it."
Lori spoke beside him. Her head turning to face Rick but her eyes couldn't connect to his as it kept darting everywhere to avoid his stare that held nothing but only focus. She couldn't take that. Lori wanted more from that stare. She craved for something different. "When things started to get really bad, they told me at the hospital that they were gonna medevac you and the other patients to Atlanta, and it never happened."
Rick pulls his gaze away and turned back to watching a peaceful looking Carl, who it seemed was close to sleeping just by listening to his father's voice. "Well, I'm not surprised after Atlanta fell."
Lori gulps, softly clenching and unclenching her fists— her eyes making contact with Shane's for a moment before she quickly looks away. "Yeah."
"And from the look of that hospital, it got overrun."
Shane huffs, his voice scratchy and monotonous. Almost insecure, "Yeah, looks don't deceive. I barely got them out, you know?"
Rick nods, his blue eyes brightening in sincerity. Fully grateful and matched his voice. "I can't tell you how grateful I am to you, Shane. I can't begin to express it."
Shane gives a short nod, keeping his dark eyes looking at Rick's but at the sight of his genuine thanks, a sliver of unpleasantness was felt and Shane quickly looked away without raising suspicion.
Dale nods, breaking the silence with a scoffing smile— close to ridicule— placed on his lips. "There go those words falling short again. Paltry things."
Things went silent once more to that specific group and others were content for the silence when nearby an additional log was added to a different bonfire close to them, the wood quickly being burnt and lighting brighter than it should be; gaining their attention.
"Hey, Ed, you want to rethink that log?"
"It's cold man."
"The cold don't change the rules, does it?" Shane frowned. "Keep our fires low, just embers so we can't be seen from a distance, right?"
Rick glances with a narrowed gaze when the man arrogantly countered by saying he should mind his business, making Shane stand up on his seat— his steps searing while making his way over to Ed.
With a hush voice, close to hissing, Shane tilts his head and stands in front of the man. "Hey, Ed… Are you sure you want to have this conversation, man?"
The two kept quiet, Shane keeping a sharp gaze while Ed tried to match up to it but Ed easily faltered and quickly ordered his wife, Carol to take the wood out.
Carol, his wife, pulls the log out of the fire and when Shane saw how Ed didn't budge, he cursed under his breath and stomped the flames out before kneeling in front of Carol and Sophia, with an urging stare. "Hey, Carol, Sophia, how are y'all this evening?"
Carol takes a second longer, trying her best to avoid glancing towards Ed's direction before answering with the meekest voice. "Fine. We're just fine."
Shane nods, letting out a sigh as he stands back up. "Okay."
"I'm sorry about the fire."
"No no no. No apology needed. Y'all have a good night, okay?" Carol gives a quiet 'thank you' while Shane sighs once more when he had to face Ed before rejoining the group. "I appreciate the cooperation."
"Shane, don't you dare leave us here!" The sound of Maxine's cry was clear on his ears even when the thumps of his heart nearly made him deaf along with the snarls of those things.
Maxine once again yells out, cradling her crying baby daughter. "Shane please! Don't leave my baby in here!"
The sounds of her cries, along with her yells gained the focus of walkers that reached their hometown. Following the woman up the stairs as she gazed at the windows— the sight of Shane's jeep completely leaving her behind.
"He left us..."
"Okay, time for you to go to bed..." Rick whispers under his breath as time passed by, Carl was fully sleeping in his arms. Carrying him up, he turned to look at Lori to ask where he sleeps.
"You could sleep with us tonight. In this tent." Lori says, completely meaning about where Rick should sleep and not Carl.
Rick's eyes darkened in clear decline, his lips pursing but remained quiet to lay Carl down.
Lori behind him, fixed her clothes or fiddled at the ends of her fingers. Not sure what to do with her nerves as she waited for Rick's response.
"No." Her shoulders deflated, her lips falling open and kept her attention towards Rick's back— keeping his gaze on Carl's sleeping face, leaning down to kiss the boy's forehead and quietly muttering 'I love you' to the boy.
Rick smiles when Carl sleepily mutters back, "Love you too, dad..."
Giving out a breath, Rick stands up to face Lori— disapproving when the woman's cheeks reddened in embarrassment. "We don't have any spare tents so I thought-"
"I know what you meant and I'll still say no." Rick states, his blue eyes darkening in snapping anger. It didn't felt right. It just didn't felt right sleeping in the same space as his ex-wife, even with his son there— Rick just couldn't do it. The thought of Maxine's smiling face as he woke up beside her, the last memory he had of his living wife that morning before he got shot— he just can't.
With a shrug, Rick steps aside in efforts to calm down. "I'll go sleep on Glenn's tent— told me he has a space when I asked." By then he didn't finish what else Lori would say and walked out before she could.
The Grimes family all curled up on the master bedroom, Carl laying in between Rick and Maxine with their new addition to the family contently sleeping on her daddy's chest laying on her stomach.
The sounds of the television continued to play as they watch a rat climb up a mop and make his way towards the open window for his escape.
The family continued to watch on their lazy Saturday, quietly placing their attention as the rat passed by a soup cooking below him that's been tempered until Maxine speaks up and pointing on the television with a potato chip in hand. "Fun fact: Did you guys know that rats have no gag-reflex? They cannot actually gag or puke which means that that soup was so bad, it broke the laws of nature."
The Grimes family let out a hum, all of them contently huddling closer each other.
Then Charmaine let out a sudden bomb.
"Charm!" Carl groans out in disgust as he smelled the aromatic gas of Charmaine Grimes. Rick and Maxine laughed at his expression while Rick stood up and coddled up his daughter, who too woke up surprised at her surprise and letting out a cry when her poop farting disturbed her sleep.
"I'm so sorry, sweetie. Were you surprised too? Yeah, we were surprised too." Rick caressed the whimpering baby's head, feeling a few of her blonde strands follow his fingers that she inherited on her mother's side. Maxine smiled at the sight.
He was already wrapped around her little finger as Rick did all the dirty work himself.
The next morning, Rick wakes up. His eyes immediately taking in the unfamiliar surroundings with a confused frown, he was inside a tent when he fully remembers sleeping with—
His thoughts went back. Rick letting out a weak sigh as he massaged the bridge of his nose. It was just a dream.
Rick scoffs, wishing that this was the dream instead.
Picking himself up, Rick took out a big bag that consisted of his favorite clothes and pulled out a white shirt when he felt something hard inside. Rick started digging up his bag and let out a heavy sigh. Fully taking out a frame consisting of him, Carl, Maxine and newborn Charmaine.
Rick's eyes nearly watered at the sight: All three of them were focused on Charmaine, Carl with a wide smile, Rick noticed how bright his smiles was in the picture while Maxine didn't have her sultry gaze he was used to seeing— instead a soft affectionate smile was plastered on her lips as they gazed at Charmaine who was smiling along with them with sleepy eyes. This was the photo from the hospital after Maxine finally woke up from her anesthetics and Charmaine came out clean and healthy— the nurse making sure she was before taking the picture.
Taking out another frame, this time they were on an outing. A familiar beach with Rick and Carl only wearing their white trunks with blue floral patterns while Maxine wore the same pattern, covering her backless one piece swimsuit with a cover up cardigan.
In the picture, Rick was carrying Charmaine proudly in his arms, the baby wearing the same outfit as her mother with a tied hat to protect her face from the sun— her face holding a huge dislike to the wide beach but the girl was content in her father's arms. Maxine was hugging Carl beside Rick, the little boy already grinning wide with his pale skin while the couple were trying to make Charmaine look at the camera with wide smiles of their own.
That was a happy memory. Taking the photo out of the frame, Rick folded it contently and hid it somewhere in his person. He's gonna keep it— a strength to keep going.
Because he knew. He knew they are alive. His wife and daughter— he didn't know where but they are somewhere out there. Because he knew his wife is one tough person— she'll make it out alive. If not for him then for the kids.
She's strong— stronger than me. So with a new sense of faith, Rick walks out of the tent giving greetings to people he passed by— "Morning." Planning on going back to get Merle.
"You're going out again?" Maxine sighs— turning to look at Guillermo.
"I need to G," Maxine shrugs before picking up an empty bag that she'll take for the road. "I need to pick up every baby formula in this city— enough to get by till my baby here can start drinking water and I also need to get diapers, napkins— I can't let you guys be the one sacrificing yourselves when we're the ones leaving."
Guillermo was silent for a few minutes before a wave of acceptance washes over him. Giving out a sigh, Guillermo nods, "A few of us are going out for a run. Said that they saw a bag of guns lying on a road. Have to get it before other people do."
Maxine places her hands on her hip, furrowing her brows in thought and turning to face G. "A bag of guns? You don't think that came from the shots fired yesterday, don't you?" It was a rhetorical question, both of them fully knowing what it meant. The people yesterday would fight for it, so they need to take it before anyone else.
Guillermo nods, a problematic expression crosses his face but his eyes were determined. They need that bag of guns. "Look I know I shouldn't be asking you this, you just healed and you have a baby to look after but you got guts." Guillermo cocks his head back and waves over Maxine's figure. "I mean— damn, you helped protect the place when those thugs wanted to take over and steal our food and medicine." Guillermo steps just a bit closer, his eyes pleading and emphasizing: "I need your help."
Maxine shifted from one foot to the other, thinking it over with a hesitant stare. She owe it to them, letting her stay in the nursing home for almost a month— giving her baby medicine when she got sick and helped take care of her when she sprained her foot. With quick short nods, Maxine lifts her gaze towards Guillermo.
"Take care of my baby when I'm gone?" Guillermo showcased his relief and nods.
"Like she's my own." Was his quick reply, Maxine gives out a smile.
Ahhh! Finally, Maxine is coming up! You guys excited?