This is the Apocalypse (A Rick Grimes /Daryl Dixon Love Story)

Fresh bruises on baby Carl

I woke up to yelling Daryl was gone I rubbed my eyes and got dressed in some clothes to go on a run and maybe hunting.  I walked out of my tent to see my brother yelling at Daryl. I walked up and he was still yelling i stepped in between them to brake them up they were yelling about Daryl keeping me warm last night " Glenn I was cold and he was helping me keep warm." i said Glenn glanced at Daryl and  walked away. I turned around " I'm sorry 'bout that" I said rubbing the back of my neck moving my long black hair to the side " Its okay I shouldn't have done that." He said walking away. I walked over to where Carol was cooking breakfast I walked over and grabbed a plate  and sat down by Carl who was by himself. He had bruises all over him and one on his eye " What the hell happened to you?" I whispered a tear started to fall from his eyes but I quickly wiped it away and brought him close and held him tightly he fell into me as I cradled him comforting him " I had to watch." he whispered I looked at him confused as he stared off into the distance " Her cheat on my dad." he whispered hate filled his voice he was talking about Lori " Your mom cheated on Shane with who?" I asked quietly " No she cheated with Shane hes not my dad " Carl said "Shane said my dad died when all of this started. But I don't believe him I know my dads alive out there somewhere looking for me." he said "What did they make you watch exactly?" I asked " I had to watch them h-h-have." He could even say it they had done it right in front of this little boy they had sex right in front of him "and then they beat me because I said she was cheating on dad and that dad was still alive" he said "I so sorry Carl is there anything I can do for you." I asked I really was hoping he would say beat his mothers face in along with Shane " Could you be my mother?" he asked this took me by shock he asked ME to be his mother of all people he chose me I smiled at him kindly " yes Carl I will be your mom." he smiled at me and hugged me " Can I call you mom?" he asked i nodded smiling at him "okay lets go get my stuff from Lori and Shane's and I'll move it to your tent" he said super excited now"Okay kid lets go." I said finishing off my breakfast. We walked to his tent and when we got there I had to go to the bathroom " im going to go to the bathroom I'll be right back okay get your stuff and ill help you when I get back okay?" I said he nodded and headed in to get started on packing I headed off into the woods and did my business and while I was pulling my pants up I heard Carl scream "MOM!!!!! HELP!!!!!" I started running back branches were stinging my body but I didn't care I started running faster each time he yelled for me when I got there Lori was hitting Carl I rammed her and knocked her down sitting on top of her and punching her face I stood up and kicked her and spit on her "Bitch hes mine now stay away from us." i spat at her. I grabbed Carl's bag as he kicked and spit on his mother I should have stopped him but I didn't. Once he was done I picked him up and he buried his face into the crook of my neck as I carried him to my tent I felt a warm liquid on my neck he was crying I held the back of his head comforting him. " Your okay Carl, Shh, Your okay." I comforted him " hey you want to learn how to shoot?" I asked him. He looked up and nodded "okay well go rest up a bit and I'll go get you a gun" he nodded and i put him down and then ran off to our tent. Dale was on watch so I climbed up the ladder " Hey Dale." I said "Hey Esme whatcha need?" he asked " I need a silenced pistol and holster for Carl." i said " Is that okay with his mother" Dale asked " I am his mother now his mother was abusing him and torchering him and so he asked me to be his mother." i explained " well okay then here." he said handing me a gun, holster, and a lot of ammo. "Thanks Dale." I said running back to Carl when I walked in he was asleep I walked in and kissed his forehead " Wake up sleepy bones." I said which my dad always said to me. He stretched and smiled " ready to go?" i asked he nodded and got up. We headed out into the woods. I set up a can on a stump and handed him his gun. I stood behind him crouching to his level and helped him hold his gun "Okay now raise your gun and pretend the target is someone you really hate okay." i said his eyes narrowed and he raised his gun quickly and immediately shot the can in the very middle of an O written on the can " damn kid your good." i said shocked  he just shrugged his shoulders " Well since your so good maybe try a bird I said pointing to a bird in a tree he quickly shot the bird down easily. " okay stay here I'm going to go get that bird if you see any other animals get em okay." he nodded and i went to retrieve the bird as I turned around to head back to Carl but a Geek grabbed my ponytail yanking me backwards I yelled and then I felt the geek drop and I opened my eyes to see Carl standing there " okay I think your ready for a run kid 1. your quick on your feet 2. and you can shot." his eyes light up " really can I go on the run tomorrow?"  He asked " I mean yeah sure after a bit more practice on the geeks." he nodded spasticly as we started laughing.  He killed probably about 50 more without them even getting close every one in the head not one bullet wasted. We headed back to camp with a ton of food too. Tomorrow were going to a clothing store in Atlanta and I'm feeling really good about it.