As we crept up along the shed, I could hear Denise crying her eyes out. Carl gave no time to waste, and busted through the door, alarming Denise.

She jumped up and tried to fix her clothes and wipe her sobbing eyes.
"Hey, we got a better place to stay." I told her

"Y-Yeah?" She asked, through sniffling and stuttering.

"We got a little food and water too." I hugged her tightly, everything must be so hard for her right now.

I let go and joined Carl sitting by Jay. All he could do was stare at his body that was going lifeless.
He leaned in to Jay's ear and whispered something so quickly and quietly he could be a mouse.

Carl sat back up and pat Jay's chest, "hang in there bud."
He murmured

He got up and brushed past me, leaving Judith in my arms  and going outside.
He looked so sad, like he couldn't take it anymore.

I followed behind him to find him crouched down outside, against the shed's wall.

"Hey, Carl, it's okay.." I said

Rick, Sasha and Abraham approached, finally joining us after the walk.

"What's up?" Rick asked

"Go, I gotta talk to him." I commanded

Rick looked at Carl and then back at me and grabbed Judith.

"Okay." he whispered.
He kissed my forehead and continued into the shed.

"You okay?" I asked

He still held his head down, "does it look like it?"

"No, but you shouldn't worry so much.  He'll make it."

Carl shook his head at me, "but what if he doesn't? I finally let my guard down and he just leaves me like this!" he exclaimed

"Carl, you don't get to choose if you live or die in this world."

He put his hands over his face and threw his head back against the wall, really hard, "that sounds like something he would say! Make these thoughts and  notions go away!!" he exclaimed

He yanked at his hair and that's when the tears came on.
He began rocking back and forth, still pulling at his hair and sobbing like he was insane.
He was having a mental breakdown.

I scooted over and hugged him tight, "I'm here. I'm here." I said, cradling his head in my shoulder.
____________________________________

Rick's P.O.V

When we got everyone back to the house, the sky was falling and stars began to appear, we would all shack up in the basement or something.

I walked into the living room and gently laid Jay across the living room chair. Abraham and Michonne struggled to get the Mattress from the basement, and Denise and Sasha settled in, making oatmeal for everyone.

Once the mattress was into the living room, we tidied it up so everyone will have sleeping space and we will be together.
Carl tied all the doors shut and retrieved any useful stuff from upstairs.

He came back with a few ropes and some batteries and really nice covers.
We sat in the sofas and  ate our oatmeal. Everyone held their own little conversation and even though Michonne sat in silence, eating and feeding Judith, I was still happy that she was beside me.
Just her presence.

Sasha and Abraham laughed about whatever they were talking about, Denise occasionally joining too, Carl eyed Jaden and Michonne fed Judith.

I got up to put my bowl up and sat in the kitchen for a second.
God, how do I talk to her now that she knows I like her? I'm such a dweeb.

Abraham came into the kitchen and dropped of his and Sasha's bowl.

"You okay man?"

I shook away the thought and nodded, "Couldn't be better.."

"Want to talk?" he asked

Boy, did I. I could really use some advice.
"Yeah.. Sure."  I agreed

"Meet me outside hog skinner."

What? Okay.....

Abe and I made our way out the front door and sat on the porch.
He stared at the ground and I stared at the sky. There were so many stars tonight, they all twinkled in their own way, they were the answers to the universe. They remind me of Michonne.

"You're lovestruck ain't ya?" he asked

I chuckled a bit,  "how'd ya know?"

"A man can tell," he said

"I'm head over heels for her, I just don't understand."

"That's what love is. Damn hog skinner, you ain't been in love in a while, huh?" he asked

"Well, not since my wife. She's been gone almost 4 years now. But even before her leaving, I forgot what love was. Our marriage suffered before my coma and after." I explained

"I'm glad you got Michonne to show you the new world." He said

"Yeah, me too. Finding her in all of this was my miracle."

He chuckled and looked up at the stars with me.

"Miracle." he murmured

"Yeah.. What's wrong?" I asked

"Sasha.." he sighed
"She's pregnant."

Whaattt?

"Congratulations, Abraham."

"Thanks." he said "I'm really happy about it."

I chuckled, "yeah?"

"Yeah, having a little red, and with her... Best thing I could ask for." he said

We just sat in silence for a second. "Imma head back in, getting late." he said

"Alright, I think I'll hang out here a little while longer."

He pat my shoulder and got up and walked back inside while I just stayed and stared at the stars.

I was outside alone for about 30 minutes, thinking about things, how crazy life is right now, until someone came and sat beside me.

She grabbed my hand and locked her fingers into mine, "hey." she said

My body tingled and I got the chills staring at her, "hey, beautiful. "

She half grinned and looked off into the distance.

"Did you mean all those things you said earlier?" she asked

"Of course I did. I have been meaning to tell you that ever since you first kissed me, I knew I wanted to pursue you," I said.
She looked at me weirdly and I knew I said something weird.."I'm not good at my emotions, forgive me. I've  literally only had one girlfriend my whole life."

She bursted out giggling and leaning on me, to the point where she leaned on my chest and I wrapped my arms around her waist.

"I gotta tell you something too," she started

"I'm listening."

"It's you, it's you, it's all for you.
Everything I do..
I'd tell you all the time that Heaven is a place on earth with you, tell me all the things you wanna do. I heard that you like the warrior girls
Honey, is that true?
You're better than I ever even knew,  and they say that the world was built for two but it's
Only worth living if somebody is loving you...
Rick, now I do."
LDR excerpts

I held her tighter and kissed head, "I do, too."

She turned around and began kissing me passionately and I don't mean a few pecks, we full on made out and I was shaking.

She pulled me closer bur everytime she did she smiled and that was my weakness. I could make her legs weak and put her back out right here, right now.

I was on top of her now, readjusting her hips as she smiled at me.
We got deeper into the kiss until she pushed me off, "we're outside." she giggled

"You're right. Let's take this to the basement." I joked

I picked her up and walked up the steps to the screendoor.

It was dark inside and everyone was asleep...except... Carl?

He got up and looked around and made his way by Jay's side.

Me and Michonne watched him quietly, careful not to let him catch us spying.

He grabbed Jay's hand and held his head down and began speaking.

"Hey, Jay what's up man."

Michonne looked at me and pulled me closer, she couldn't bear to look at Carl.

"I got shot once.. Well twice and look at me, I'm still here. Now, you're much stronger than me, so I know you'll make it." He said

"I just wish there was a way I could save you. It's so much brighter with you here. You make everyone laugh and so happy I forget that we live in a world with dead people walking around eating other people. We let our walls down for you, Jay. I never thought I'd get so close to someone in 2 and a half months. You know me, probably more than I know myself but -- you want to leave me now?"

Carl began to cry and shake Jay's hand.

"You're my best friend, my brother. You're part of my family and I can't lose you man.. I just can't. So, brother let me be your shelter, I'll never leave you all alone, I can be the one to count on when you're feeling alone.
Brother let me be your fortress
When the night winds are driving on, I'll be the the one to light the way, if you just come home."
____________________________________

Hi :)
*video games and brother excerpts
1. did you enjoy this chapter?
2. What do you think of Richonne right now?
3. What do you want to see in future chapters?