Lottie Grimes in the Apocalypse

Chapter 20

{~Later that night~}

Lottie's POV

I sat in the tent with Carl laying beside me in his sleeping bag. Daryl had brought him down from the house a few hours ago and moved his tent closer to ours. I was running my fingers through his hair when dad came back from wherever he disappeared to.

"Hey...." I said softly "Hi" dad whispered back before coming over and hugging me gently "I'm so sorry" he murmured into my hair "Where did you go?" I asked as I hugged him back "I just.... I walked around for a bit" he answered before pulling away and gently placing his hand on Carl's chest to feel his breath's.

He sighed before leaning back and rubbing his hands across his face "I messed up..." he mumbles making me shake my head "People make mistakes, they're human. Even parents are allowed to make a few..." He looks at Carl and says "I don't even know what to tell him..." I shrug and say "The truth. He deserves that much" I go back to running my fingers through his hair before sighing and saying "There's something else....."

Dad looks at me and nearly groans as he says "Tell me" while taking my free hand. I squeeze his hand in return before starting "Lori and Shane...."

{~Meanwhile~}

Lori's POV
I unzipped the tent and creeped out. I was being as quiet as possible as to not wake anyone up. I glanced over and scowled when I saw Rick and Charlotte both wide awake in their tent. She was probably poisoning his mind and turning him further against me.

She'll no doubt do the same to Carl.

I ignored this and went to get my mission done. I went out into the open field and opened the box that Glenn got for me earlier in town today. I undid my pants and squatted down before uncapping the stick and holding it underneath me.

It was difficult to relax as paranoia refused to leave me be for a few seconds, but I was able to get the job done. I was thankful that I remembered to grab toilet paper before leaving. I cleaned myself up before sitting on a log nearby and waited for the results.

I realized at the CDC that I missed a few periods when I found out that Charlotte was four moths pregnant. I hadn't been able to get ahold of a pregnancy test until now....

I raised it up into the moonlight and saw the results. At first I panicked, thinking that I couldn't one up Charlotte by being smart enough to not getting pregnant in the apocalypse, but then I realized that I could used this to my advantage.

Rick would never abandon his baby after all.

{~The next day~}

Lottie's POV
The next morning I woke up to see dad gone. I assumed it was about the search for Sophia and decided to go about my day. After getting dressed and situating Carl, I left the tent to start on laundry.

It was almost noon by the time Lori emerged from her tent. She sauntered over to us seeming a bit too smug for comfort.

"Morning" she said cheerily making Carol and I exchange looks before mumbling "Good morning" in return "I can't believe I slept in. I must have needed it..." she said as if she was gloating about needing more sleep which sounded like a health concern.

"Feeling all right?" Carol asked warily "Fine, fine" she answered distractedly as she looked around while she was going through the clothes to see which ones were dry despite the fact that we literally just hung them up.

"Where's Rick?" She asked astounding us. 'Did she forget what happened yesterday?' I looked at Carol before answering "He left early this morning with Daryl and Shane to look for Sophia" this made Lori's mood sour instantly "Oh..." "Problem, Lori?" Carol asked eyeing her up and stepping in between us to put some distance between us.

"No....Next time wake me, all right? Especially on laundry day" Lori says baffling me and Carol as Lori never helped with laundry. She just leached onto either Shane or dad, and acted all high and mighty.

We decided to ignore Lori's weird behavior and instead go back to our conversation "I had an idea I wanted to run by you....." Carol says making me say "Shoot" "That big kitchen of theirs got me thinking. I wouldn't mind cooking in a real kitchen again. Maybe we all pitch in and cook dinner for Hershel and his family tonight. Kind of looking for things to keep my mind occupied" Carol explains to me making me nod.

"After everything they've done for us, seems like the least we could do" I tell her "You mind extending the invitation? Would just feel more right coming from you" Carol asks me before I can answer Lori says "How so? I'm Rick's wife. It sort of makes me our unofficial First Lady" Carol and I look at her as if she grew two heads.

"Did you forget what happened yesterday? Dad gave you his ring back, he left the marriage" I tell her "Oh, that? Don't worry about that. It's just a minor setback" Lori waves me off. Carol and and I exchange looks and Carol says "Well, Lottie is the better choice because she's practically heir to the throne. She's his first born and takes on his leadership role pretty well."

Lori scowls at this and scoffs before storming off. We shrug her off thinking that she's finally lost it....