TIES THAT BIND | Negan Smith

2. Then and Now

"From what I'm hearing, Athena's scared." Shane teased, swinging his arm around said woman's shoulder and squeezing, a large grin lighting up his features.

Athena rolled her eyes in response, gently jabbing the man in the side with her elbow to get him to let go of her, slipping out from under his hold.

"It's not being scared. It's called holding my title of reigning champion of the pool table." She held her chin high, speaking dramatically.

"Sorry, I can't hear you over your own cowardice." Rick teased as he entered the room, plopping down onto the couch.

"Don't listen to the two of them, Thea," Lori entered in after her husband, throwing the men a glare, "They're the ones scared that they'll just lose again and be forced to hold their titles of ultimate losers."

Carl giggled, turning his head up, brown hair flopping over his forehead from where he was playing with legos on the floor, "Dad and Shane are ultimate losers!" He was laughing widely, rocking back and forth.

His aunt grinned, scooping him up into her arms and spinning him around, nuzzling her nose into the back of his head playfully, "You tell them, little man."

The young boy's giggles continued as he stopped being spun, trying to wiggle out of Athena's hold. She relented, placing him gently on the floor, only for him to attach himself to her leg, resting his face against the fabric of her jeans.

She smiled softly, reaching down and ruffling his hair affectionately before turning her attention back to the other adults in the room.

Walsh was holding his hands up in surrender, "Look, I'm just saying," He huffed slightly, "It's been a while since college, and who knows if she's even that good anymore?"

Rick raised his glass of lemonade in a toasting manner, "Here, here!" Though he winced slightly when his wife threw another glare as she sunk down onto the cushions beside him.

"How much longer are you in town for?" Her sister in law changed the subject, glancing up to the blonde woman.

She shrugged one shoulder, her fingers subconsciously playing with her nephew's hair, "I can hang around for a couple more days, then I have to get back home."

Shane threw his head back with a large groan, falling into the Grime's sitting chair next to the fireplace, "I still don't understand why you moved all the way across the country."

"She did it to get away from you." Her twin brother smirked.

"Both of you." Athena amended, making the room fall into a rumble of chuckles.

"Why do you have to go, auntie?" Carl asked, angling his head upwards and staring at the woman with sad eyes.

"I've-"

"Got work." Lori, Shane, and Rick all echoed in sync, cutting her off before the words even slipping past her lips.

She bit back a smile of amusement, knowing that it was more sad than anything that they knew her well enough to know what she was going to say. They were never exactly thrilled with her workaholic nature.

"And for the record," She threw a pointed look at her brother and childhood best friend, "I moved so far because I was presented with a great job opportunity." She paused, "Getting away from the two of you was just an added bonus."

Rick threw a man over his heart, mock sadness falling over his features, "Not the four of us? Just Shane and I?"

"You're the only two bothering me at this moment." The blonde pointed out.