» Time Is Dancing « | » Carl Grimes «

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Blood Don't Mean Shit

I walked beside Rick along the track, our journey seeming to never end.

"I think we've got about a day's worth of water left. We're lucky it's cooled off a little bit, but-" He turned around, stopping. I copied, seeing Carl and Michonne balancing on the metal bars. "What are you doing?"

"Winning a bet." Carl held his arms out to stay upright.

"In your dreams." Michonne challenged.

"I'm still on." Carl waved his arms in her direction, trying to push her off but he just stumbled himself.

"You spoke too soon, wise guy." Michonne chuckled. The pair were taking their time as we traveled, which Rick noticed.

"This might go on a while. Maybe we can speed this up?" I followed as he walked over to them.

Michonne didn't look up as she spoke. "Yeah, you're right. Shouldn't be fooling around. We should probably- Carl!" She made him jump, but the force made her feet slip from the track.

Carl grinned, knowing he had won. He held his hand out expectantly, taking one of the two chocolate bars from Michonne. They walked behind us as they shared the candy, laughing about something I couldn't hear. There was a thought in the back of my mind and it was slowly starting to bother me. I think I already knew the answer but I thought I should ask anyway, even if it was a damp subject.

"Rick...where's Judith?" I asked in a small voice. I peered up at him and saw the look on his face. Loss, anguish, grief. My heart thudded hard in my chest, my lip trembling. "I'm sorry. I wish I could've protected her." I said quietly.

He put a hand on my shoulder. "It's not your fault. Don't even think that."

"I just...why can't I save anyone? I lost my sister, and then Sophia, now Judith. Maggie, Beth, Lizzie and Mika. They're all gone." I held back my sobs.

"They're out there. That's why we're going to Terminus. Someone else would've seen those signs." I felt bad that Rick was having to comfort me when he had lost his baby daughter. I had to be stronger than this.

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I woke up from a light sleep, seeing Carl's closed eyes next to me. The crackling of a small fire alerted me and I peeked up, seeing Michonne on watch. I stood carefully, trying to wake Carl and Rick, sitting down next to her.

"Man, I'm so glad I found you guys." I admitted as I looped my arm around hers, huddling in front of the fire.

"You know, I was alone, too. Before I found Rick and Carl, it was just me." She confessed, staring into the flames. "It gave me a lot of time to think."

Her expression was one I was all too familiar with. It told me that she lost someone close to her a long time ago.

"Who did you lose?" I gently asked. She didn't even question how I understood what she was thinking.

"My son, Andre." She smiled at me sadly, and I could see her eyes slightly brimming with tears. "He was my baby, and losing him still hurts. But I've made my peace with it. Carl helped me find that peace...so did you."

We had spent a lot of time together in the past year, whether it was sword training or reading, more often than not I ended up treating her wounds from when she left the prison.

"I lost my family. My mom and dad, and little sister. I guess I didn't think I could love people because of them. When they died, I almost felt nothing. Relief, loneliness. But I was never sad. And then, when I found this group, I learnt that love was something that had to be earned. Glenn earned it, and Carl and Daryl. Maggie, Beth, Rick and Hershel. And you. I love you, Michonne." We both had eyes full of tears as she embraced me.

"I love you too, Belle."

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(3rd POV)

Glenn and Maggie heaved the bodies to the side of the tunnel, clearing a path for the morning. It took a long time, but they had finally found each other. With the help of others, of course.

Glenn wouldn't have made it this far without Tara, who promised to help him find his wife. And it would've taken a lot longer, too, if they hadn't been given a hand by Abraham, Rosita and Eugene.

They glanced over at the fire, seeing Sasha and Bob talking to the new group. Their faces glowed in the light and the couple soon joined them, leaning against Glenn's backpack. Maggie adjusted her position, noticing a familiar item stuffed in the outside pocket. She pulled it out and fixed it's hair and dress.

"You saw her leave?" She asked her husband. The group all listened to the conversation, their voices hushing.

Glenn shook his head in disappointment. "No. I looked everywhere, but I didn't find a body either."

"Who's this?" Tara inquired, hoping to help out.

"My sister, Belle. This doll belongs to her." Maggie answered. "Last time I saw her she was kneeling on the ground beside..." She couldn't think about that.

Tara realised who she was talking about. The kid the Governor tied up, the one she cut free. "She's out there. I'm gonna help you find her."

Glenn smiled appreciatively, turning back to Maggie. "I just thought she would be so happy when she sees this again."

"She will be."

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There's a lot of love in this chapter