Lone Wolf

Chapter Thirty

It was finally nighttime, and we all got situated on the first floor. The kids and I took the couches. I sat on the couch as Athena laid on my lap. I saw Daryl and Tyresse playing with Judith. I heard a knock and could smell Deanna. Rick opened the door.

"Rick I--" She started but was too stunned to speak looking at Rick's face. No beard. "Wow." She said out loud.

Rick just groaned in annoyance.

"I didn't know what was under there. Listen, I don't mean to interrupt. I just wanted to stop by and see how you were all settling." She said, then looked at all of us. "Staying together. Smart." she told him.

"No one said we couldn't." Rick told her.

"You said you're a family. That's what you said. Absolutely amazing to me how people with completely different backgrounds and nothing in common can become that. Don't you think?" Deanna told Rick.

"Everybody said you gave them jobs." Rick said.

"Yeah. Part of this place. Looks like the communists won after all." Deanna said laughing.

"Well, you didn't give me one." Rick told her.

"I have. I just haven't told you yet. Same with Michonne. I'm closing in on something for Sasha and Tyresse. And I'm just trying to figure Mr. Dixon out, but I will. You look good." She told us.

After she left, we went to bed. I felt Rick move and gently place a blanket over me. When I woke up again, we decided to explore. However, Alexander and Magnus wanted to stay. Athena, Isabelle, Carl, and Judith would be with Rick and I.

I stood on the porch as they walked on ahead.

"They said explore. Let's explore." Rick told Daryl.

"Nah, I'll stay." Daryl told him.

"Well, I'm going with the kids. Catch up soon. Daryl, can you watch Magnus and Alec for me?" I asked him.

"Yeah." He told me.

I nodded, kissing Rick's cheek, before following the kids. 

"Excuse me." We heard.

I looked and saw an old couple. 

"What's her name?" They asked me.

"Judith." I told them.

I watched as they played with Judith. I could smell panic. I looked up and saw Rick. I went towards him and saw him with another person.

"Rick. Are you okay?" I asked him.

"I'm fine. I just couldn't find y'all." He told me.

I grabbed his hand, soothing him.

"Hi, I'm Stella." I introduced.

"Jessie." The lady told me.

"Thank you for showing him where we were at." I told her, before we walked away. We went back to the kids as we left the couple. We continued walking until we made it back to the house. Carl left and joined the other teens.

"You don't want to join them?" I asked the other teens.

"No. We're good here." They told me.

I nodded.

"Mom, can we build an archery range in the back?" Alexander asked me.

"Sure. We can also build an obstacle course out there. Help keep us in shape, and I can start training us again in our species. including you, Magnus. I may not be a hellhound, but I have experience with one. I'll help you gain control over your fire and rifts. Help you gain control of the beast." I told them.

They all nodded and I enjoyed my time with Rick. Soon Carl came back and after Rick talked to him, I did.

"Everything go okay?" I asked him.

"It's too normal." He told me.

"You know, when I first went to school, I was so nervous. I had all these advantages over the other kids, and I couldn't use them. I had to constantly act, and it frustrated me to no end. No one understood me, but I was glad in the end." I told him.

"Why?" He asked me.

"Because they wouldn't be involved in the war. They wouldn't have to lose people, to bleed and cry. They would stay happy and all I ever wanted was for people to be happy." I told him.

"But what if the walkers get in?" He asked.

"Then we will fight and so will they. Everyone suffers, that is the way of the world. It's if we choose to let that consume us or change it. Let these people remain happy and ignorant, because they will realize that the world isn't the same and they will grow. People always grow." I told him.

"Thanks, mom." he told me.

I was shocked when I heard it. I wanted to cry but held in my tears.

"I love you, 3000, mijito." I told him.

I left the room and went towards Rick.

"What's wrong?" He asked me, holding my face.

"He called me...mom." I told him.

He smiled at me.

"Of course, he did. You have been there for him since the beginning. He loves you. I love you and Judith loves you." he told me.

I smiled, kissing him as we relaxed in the room. Another day went by and I started my job today.  Tyresse would watch Judith for me and Athena is hanging out with Daryl. Isabelle, Alexander, and Magnus decided to go out. I wasn't worried. I knew my kids could take care of themselves. Carl was with Rick when I left.

It was a calm day in the office. It was just me today. No Pete, thank God. I could hear yelling outside and followed it. I saw Glenn and the others arguing. I saw Glenn punch Aiden, Deanna's son, and laughed. Daryl had the other guy, Nicholas, pinned down.

"Stella." Rick said, pointing to Athena.

I grabbed her and pushed her behind me.

"I want everyone to hear me, okay? Rick and his people are part of this community now in all ways as equals. Understood?" Deanna told everyone around us.

"Understood" Aiden told her.

We watched as she told everyone to put their weapons away and talk with her. She then told Rick and Michonne their jobs. Constables.

Daryl scoffed and walked away. When everyone finally went to sleep, Daryl, Carol, Rick, and I all met up outside.

"We good?" Rick asked him.

"Yeah. You a cop again?" Daryl asked.

"Trying it on for size." He told him.

"So we're staying?" Carol asked.

"I think we can start sleeping in our own homes. Settle in." He told her.

"If we get comfortable here, we let our guard down, this place is gonna make us weak." carol said.

"No it won't." I said.

"Why's that?" Rick asked.

"We've survived too long to let it." I said.

"She's right. We can't get weak anymore.. It's not in us. We'll make it work. And if they can't make it... then we'll just take this place." Rick said.