Trying to break out of my shell, I put myself out there and mingled with the townsfolk. At first, they were wary of me and I couldn't blame them. However eventually, they started to talk more and I, in turn, became slightly friendlier as well. But the atmosphere still felt unreal and suffocating to me. Nodding a goodbye to Michonne, I stepped outside into the night air. I gritted my teeth.

It was getting colder outside and I hadn't brought a jacket. I shrugged it off though as I made my way down the street. Thank goodness that drunk, Spencer, wasn't around anymore. He was annoying not to mention extremely creepy. My blue dress hugged my body tightly as I walked on the cracked paved road. Suddenly, the soft lull of a song drifted to me.

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine... You make me happy when skies are gray...you'll never know, dear, how much I love you... Please don't take my sunshine away..." the masculine voice sang, his voice nearly a whisper in the darkness.

Glancing up ahead at the house I shared with the others, I saw the figure of a teenage boy sitting in a rocking chair, a toddler pressed to his chest. He was rocking her back and forth. Smiling, I realized it must have been him singing. Slowly, I made my way to the large house and stopped just in front of the porch. The boy cooed at the little girl and she giggled, her blonde curls bouncing. His hands rubbed up and down her back soothingly and my smile widened as I watched him.

I placed one foot on the porch steps then and it creaked. The boy's head shot up and my chocolate brown eyes met icy-blue. I sucked in a breath, nervous at the fact that he'd just caught me watching them.

"I...I'm sorry, I'll go," I started, turning to leave as an embarassed blush rose to my cheeks.

He stood up then, bouncing the little girl on his hip. He wore a faded blue-and-white plaid button-up t-shirt with white peeking out beneath it paired with jeans and combat boots. A Sheriff's hat was perched atop his shaggy brown hair and every once in a while, he'd adjust the bandage across his right eye. The small girl on his hip smiled a toothless-smile at me as the boy's eye returned to mine.

"No, it's fine... You're the wolf, right?" he asked, his voice guarded but soft at the same time.

I cringed at the word but nodded.

"Yeah...I'm Angel," I told him, slowly walking back over to him.

When I made my way up the porch steps, he held out a hand to me and I shook it.

"I'm Carl and this is my litle sister, Judith," he said and nodded towards the small child who cooed at me in greeting.

His hands were calloused, probably from holding a gun so much, but his skin was warm. Something about him seemed a familiar somehow... I bit my lip and tilted my head to the side. My eyes widened then as it hit me.

"You're Rick's son! The one who got shot during the walker attack..." I started and trailed off, mentally kicking myself for bringing up his injury.

His eye looked pained but he nodded.

"Yeah...although I kind of remember it more as a wolf attack," he quipped, lightening the mood.

I laughed and it felt genuine as I nodded in agreement.

"Fair enough, I suppose it was," I smiled up at him.

He smiled back and for the first time in what seemed ages, I didn't feel that emptiness that had embedded itself in my heart from the loss of Owen. Carl opened his mouth to say something but was cut-off by the sound of Rick's voice.

"Angel, I see you've met my son, Carl," he said, his Southern accent making Carl sound like 'Coral'.

I stifled the snicker that rose up in my throat as I glanced over at Rick who bounded up the steps to us.

"And Judith too," I said, smiling at the baby girl.

Rick smiled down at her, his hand running through her soft little curls. She giggled as Carl handed her to Rick. A soft breeze blew my dress against my legs then and I knew it was time to go in.

"Well...it was nice meeting you, Carl," I said, nodding to him and shooting a smile once more at Judith, "You too, Judy."

The baby gurgled happily from Rick's arms as I slipped inside the house.