ribs || carl grimes x reader

this. here and now. with you. - the cure

Carl's POV

"Feel any older?" dad asks as I approach his truck. 

"Yeah. I noticed a few grey hairs this morning." I joke. He rolls his eyes as he runs a hand through his head of greys.

"Very funny." he murmurs. I head to the passenger door, ready to hop in and start off, but dad grabs my shoulder. I turn around, confused, until he pulls me into a hug. I stand stagnant at first, not used to his affection, but slowly my arms reach up and I wrap them around his torso. It's been a while since he's given me a hug so long and loving, and I almost feel shrunken down to my child self again. I feel like a little 12 year old, scared and confused about what the world was, but knowing my dad would keep me safe. Just as I feel my eyes ache, beckoning the nostalgic tears, he pulls away, and I calm myself down. 

"We don't have to leave so quick...how about we go for a little walk, just around Alexandria?" dad asks me, his face red, probably from holding back his tears. I nod, thinking it'd be nice to have a talk with him, and so we set off.

Your POV

Just as you dip the spatula into the bowl of icing, a finger reaches down and takes some off the sides. You look over your shoulder to see Glenn offering Hershel a taste. The baby takes a small lick, causing his eyes to widen with excitement, and Glenn and Maggie giggle. 

"I hope Carl likes it as much as you." you hum to him, and continue to ice the cake. The Grimes' house is filled with friends/family, everyone reuniting and laughing and chatting with each other. It'd been a while since things were like this. Since everyone one was in one place. Glenn, Maggie, Daryl, Michonne, Carol, and even more, all piled inside. Enid sits across from you at the counter, Judith on her lap telling her imaginative stories, to which Enid simply nods and wows in fake-belief. 

"So, what'd you get Carl?" she asks you, causing you to freeze.

"Uhhmmm..." you nervously chuckle.

"You didn't get him anything, did you?" she smirks at you. It wasn't like it'd slipped your mind or anything, so much as, nothing felt right. 

"I couldn't think of ANYTHING. Everything feels so shallow, or cheesy, or just plain useless. PLUS I even asked what he'd want and he said 'You're more than enough of a present.'. Which is sweet, don't get me wrong, but like, I wanted a REAL answer." Enid giggles as you get slightly frazzled.

"Judith, what did you get your brother for his birthday?" Judith comically strokes her chin as she thinks.

"A rock." You and Enid fein your laughter.

"Anything special about the rock orrr...?" you ask."

"I found it outside." she replies proudly. You and Enid simply smile and nod, anticipating a great reaction from Carl later. A few moments later you finish icing the cake, proud of your clean lines. 

"Anyone wanna help me decorate?" you ask, and Judith perks right up. Her bruised knees crawl up onto the kitchen island, crossing over to the cake. You crushed up some various fruits to create a gel kind of texture so you can write some words on the cake. With the help of Judith, Enid, and a few others here and there, the cake was finally complete with a scrawled 'Happy Birthday Carl' on the top, accompanied by plenty of smudges and dents in the icing. Just then Michonne appears to your right, taking a polaroid picture of the collage-like cake.

"Looks great! Rick and Carl should be here soon, does anyone want some snacks? Fruits, crackers?" Michonne asks, and the group all agrees, flooding into the (thankfully large) kitchen. 

You take the cake to the dining room and set the cake on the table, making sure everything looks neat and perfect. You stand alone there, with muffled voices from around the corner, and finally feel your jaw unclench and your shoulders drop. You take a few deep breaths, trying to help yourself relax. You know Carl isn't one to pay attention to details, or to be too picky about certain things, but you still wanted everything to be perfect. You wanted to feel proud of yourself for doing something, when he'd done so much for you. Just then the floor creaks, making you jump a bit. You turn around to see Daryl standing there, holding a folded piece of paper, which you assumed was a homemade card.