VILLAINESS [TWD]

➴55

"It could cause your mom some bleeding. But, she and the baby will both be fine," Doctor Carson assures.

"When will she wake up?" I ask.

"Sometime soon. But, considering the tear, she needs all the rest she can get. It's best to not force her awake or anything for the time being. The longer she stays asleep, the better, honestly."

"The baby.." 

Doctor Carson pulls the ultrasound wand to the side and pushes mom's shirt up enough to see her tiny bump.

"Usually, the tear can cause the baby to lose oxygen, but.. the heart rate and movement is just fine."

"She said she couldn't feel him move. He's.. he's moving?"

Doctor Carson smiles and looks closer at the screen.

The baby moves a little like it knew I was asking about that.

"Yes," Doctor Carson says. "He is moving just fine."

Everyone else questioned why I called Green Bean a 'he'.. 

"He?" I repeat.

Doctor Carson nods. "He."

I sniffle and take a breath, brushing mom's bangs to the side. 

He. I was right. Green Bean is a he. My little brother.

"I'll keep a close eye on her vitals and condition. You should get some rest, too. Some food."

"I should stay-"

"Ellie, she could be asleep for a few days. She's safe now."

Carefully, I pat mom's arm and nod. "Thank you, Doctor Carson."

I make my way outside. I sit at a picnic table and reach into my pocket. When Sasha and I buried Glenn and Abraham, she checked their pockets.

"What is that, anyway?" Sasha asks, startling me.

"My grandfather's watch," I hold it up for her to see as she sits down beside me. "He gave it to Glenn when he and my mom started dating."

Grandpa's pocket watch wasn't the only thing Glenn had. He also had the ultrasound of te baby in his pocket. I made sure to put it in his shirt pocket before we buried him. The baby was with him just as much as he was going to be with the baby.

"Hershel.." Sasha breathes the name. "He was a good man.. Better than good."

"The best," I agree.

If mom and I had to have anyone here with us, I was glad it was Sasha.

Sasha understood mom's pain. 

They lost Beth an Tyreese at the same time- their siblings. Now, they lost Glenn and Abraham at the same time- their partners.

Plus, Sasha was there for mom when we lost the prison. When grandpa was killed and Glenn, Beth, and I were missing. Mom was there for Sasha when she lost Bob.

They understood each other. They were there for each other.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" she asks.

"What part?" I huff.

Sasha taps her thumb against the table. "Rick."

"Rick?" I repeat. "Negan's bitch?"

"Ellie," she sighs. "He's family."

"Yeah," I click my tongue in annoyance. "He was."

"Why do you say that?"

"My mom wanted us to stay heavy-guarded. Rick is the one that let his ego get in his way. Saying we can't lose.. That the world is ours. It was selfish. Stupid. We just got tricked into believing it was true."

Sasha wraps her arm around my shoulders and sighs.

"How are you doing?" I wonder. "You're checking on me and mom.. You've had it hard, too."

"Yeah.. It's been.. a hard twenty-four hours."

"You can go back to Alexandria if it will make you feel more comfortable. I can take care of things here until mom wakes up."

"No. No, I.. It's better if I stay here."

"Why's that?"

"I don't want to go back home to an empty house," she admits.

I frown and inch closer to her, wrapping my arm around her waist. I give her a gentle side hug.

"I'm sorry. Abraham was a cool guy."

"He was a dumbass," she laughs.

I chuckle and hum to let her know I heard her.

"I'm sorry, too," she says. 

I purse my lips and nod again.

"How about you go get some rest? I'll stick around outside the med trailer in case she wakes up. We can take shifts."

"I should-"

"It's fine, Ellie. Really. I need some time to think and.. breathe."

"If anything changes, just let me know." I stand and give her another hug from behind. "Thank you, Sasha."

--

I was woken up by mom the next morning.

I tried to scold her for being up and going, but she assured me that she was fine. 

I gave her grandpa's watch and she teared up a bit. I was asleep in Jesus' trailer. He'd given me some spare clothes and then did the same for mom and Sasha. The four of us would bunk together.

Doctor Carson told mom that she should stay for the rest of her pregnancy just to be safe. I was a given to staying. But, Sasha said she would stay as well. That made me happy.

Gregory wanted us to leave. He was in charge, so what he said goes. But, not really.. he was stupid. Just another guy with a tile that made him think he knows best. We were allowed to stay the night, but we had to leave in the next morning.

Mom was.. strong. Stronger than I could ever imagine being.

I could see that a light was gone in her. She walked with less spark. She spoke with less flair.

I hated seeing her like this. I haven't seen her this down and out since grandpa and Beth. Since the farm, before that.

But, she was so, so strong.

That gleam was replaced with determination. That spark was replaced with motive. That flair was replaced with authority.

We were going to fight the Saviors. Mom was going to lead us there. 

And this time.. under mom's leadership.. this time, we'd win without a shadow of a doubt.