Charlotte Grimes, or Lottie as she prefers, is the first born and only daughter of Rick and Lori Grimes.
Lottie is a sweet, bright, and beautiful young woman and is the apple of her father's eye.
Sadly the same can't be said about Lori.
One night...
Daryl's POV I woke up to the sounds of retching. Confused, I sat up from my position on the floor (I gave the couch to Andrea sometime during the night) looked over to the bed only to find it empty.
Panic filled me and I bolted up and rushed to the bathroom to find Lottie on her knees hurling into the toilet with Carol next to her. Carol held her hair out of her face and rubbed her back soothingly as she coughed and sobbed.
I feel some relief seeing that Lottie was relatively unharmed, but I quickly grow concerned about what's happening "What's going on?" I ask as I squat down and reach out to join in on the back rubbing. Carol looks up at me, seeing as Lottie is unable to answer and says "Morning sickness. Lottie woke up early craving meat and tried to eat some beef jerky. It didn't end well" I nodded, understandingly.
Lottie hadn't had much trouble with morning sickness in the beginning of the pregnancy but for some odd reason she was getting worse as she was craving something that she never had before and when she tried to eat a replacement this happened. I hated it because it made me feel powerless to help her.
"Can you take over? I'm gonna make her some peppermint tea" Carol asks and I nod. I reach over and take her hair as Carol leaves. Lottie stopped vomiting for the most part and was just gasping for air and refusing to look at me "I'm sorry, I know it's gross" I shake my head and say "It's normal" she scoffs then pulls back and says "I think I'm done" I nod and flush the bile away before helping Lottie up and leading her to the sink to get cleaned up.
I watch her as she rinses her mouth and wiped her face ridding herself of tears and assuring herself that she had no residual vomit on her mouth.
Once she was done I led her to the dining table where Carol set a steaming mug with some pills and gummies; the prenatals that Lottie was taking. After situating Lottie, I noticed that Andrea was awake and getting ready to drive the R.V. and Dale had entered the R.V. looking confused.
"Andrea will drive us to the farm, you're going to rest in the back, we'll wake you up once we're there" Lottie explains "I'm taking that it's not a friendly suggestion?" Dale asks and Lottie shakes her head, sipping on the tea. Dale nods and bids us good night before heading to the back "You going to ride with us? Or are you getting your motorcycle?" Lottie asked me.
I looked at her and asked "What do you want me to do?" She hesitated before asking "Stay?" I nodded and led her over to the couch where I held her as Andrea and Carol sat up front and drove us to the farm.
{~Later, arriving at the farm~}
Lottie's POV We arrived at the farm and when we exited the R.V. I saw T-Dog and Glenn sitting on the porch anxiously.
"You look better" I stated "Yeah, got 12 stitches, and still hurts like a bitch, but I'm better" T-Dog said and I nodded before turning to Glenn "I'm fine, Lots, you good?" I sighed and said "Anxious, but otherwise alright" suddenly the brunette woman stepped out and asked "Lottie?" I nodded and said "Yeah, why?" "Your boy's been in and out of consciousness and asking for you" she states.
I immediately walk over with Daryl, Carol, and Andrea following up the steps but not entering the house. The brunette leads us to a bedroom where my dad and Lori sits by a bed and Carl lays half conscious "Baby? Carl?" Lori and dad asks, he ignores them and calls out "Lottie?" I walk over and gently place myself on the bed next to him. I run my fingers through his hair "Right here sweetheart" I whisper "Sophia? Is she okay?" He asks me with puppy eyes making my heart clench.
"She's fine" dad answered "You need to rest, sweet boy, get some sleep" I tell him "Stay with me?" He asks making me nod and say "Of course" I then settle down next to him and continue running my fingers through his hair. Dad leaves and drags a scowling Lori with him.
Rick's POV "They're here" Maggie tells me as Lori and I step out of the hallway and enter the living room are greeted by Daryl and Carol "How is he?" Carol asks in concern.
"He'll pull through, thanks to Hershel and his people" I tell her reassuringly "Thank god" she murmured "Where's Lottie?" Daryl asks next, peering behind me "She's with Carl now. He didn't want her to leave" Daryl nods, calming down. It makes me smile a little seeing someone take care of her for once.....
I haven't been able to take care of her since she was 9, because she started insisting on taking on more responsibility. It was the main reason that I considered divorcing Lori, but I never followed through. At least someone was able to keep his promises to her.
"And Shane" Lori suddenly says "Shane helped make sure Carl was alive" she explains upon seeing my startled look "Yeah...We'd have lost Carl if not for him" I agreed.
"We were so worried" Carol says "How'd it happen?" Andrea asks from the doorway "Hunting accident" Hershel starts "That's all... Just a stupid accident" I nodded in agreement.
{~Later~}
Lottie's POV
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"Blessed be God, father of our lord Jesus Christ. Praise be to him for the gift of our brother Otis, for his span of years, for his abundance of character; Otis, who gave his life to save a child's, now more than ever, our most precious asset. We thank you, God, for the peace he enjoys in your embrace. He died as he lived, in Grace. Shane, will you speak for Otis?" Hershel says.
We were hold a funeral for Otis. He was the man who risked his life to save Carl's by going with Shane to get the equipment needed to repair the damage from the bullet.
"I'm not good at it" Shane evades "I'm sorry" "You were the last one with him" his wife, Patricia, says "You shared his final moments, please. I need to hear. I need to know his death had meaning" she continues to beg making Shane relent "Okay."
He steps forward and starts his story "We were about done. Almost out of ammo. We were down to pistol by then. I was limping. It was bad. Ankle all swollen up "We've got to save the boy!" See, that's what he said. He gave me his backpack. He shoved me ahead "Run," he said—- He said, "I'll take the rear. I'll cover you." And when I looked back..." he seemingly choked up with guilt "If not for Otis, I'd have never made it out alive. And that goes for Carl too. It was Otis. He saved us both. If any death ever had meaning, it was his."
He then limps over with me staring at him suspiciously. I watch as he places a rock on the rock pile and I think 'Does he really think that after knowing him for 16 years that I wouldn't be able to tell when he's lying?' I glanced at my dad seeing him accept his story without hesitation.
Dad always had a blind spot for the people he loved. He knew that Shane was lying, but he wouldn't go against him. He loved Shane like a brother, even though Shane didn't deserve his love.
Daryl placed a hand on my shoulder and mumbled "C'mon, let's get your tent set up so you can rest" I allow him to lead me away, but once we're out of earshot I stop walking making Daryl pause and look back at me. I then whispered "He's lying about what happened to Otis" Daryl nods and says "I know.... I want you to stay away from him, okay? But if he ever catches you alone" he reached back and pulls out a switchblade from seemingly nowhere and hands it to me "You aim for the neck" he points to the side of his neck for reference.
"And you run like hell, you hear?" He asks making me nod and take the blade before standing up on my tip toes and peck his cheek "Thank you, Daryl" he flushed but nods making smile and walk back to camp with him following.
