Finding Sophia (The Walking Dead Fanfiction)

Thirteen: All By Chance

"Great." The black guy smiles. "I'm Tyreese. This is Karen and that's Ryan."

"Andie." I introduce, "This is Sophia."

"I'm gonna check on Lizzie and Mika." Ryan announces, obviously a little paranoid about the situation. He walks on first, past the second gate and meets up with two little girls, who I presume are his daughters.

"C'mon. I'll introduce you to the 'leader'." Karen says, putting air quotes around leader, "Daryl!" The name sounds vaguely familiar, from a story or something, but it's pretty common, so I don't worry much. I mean, a million people used to be named Daryl. Sophia's hand is still firmly grasped in mine, but it tightens just a bit as we walk inside the second gate.

"I'm scared." She whispers.

"Me too." I whisper back. My free hand is still holding onto my hatchet so hard, my knuckles are turning white. I release a breath of air I didn't realize I was holding in as we followed Karen, Tyreese trailing behind us. I see Ryan talking to the little girls and sigh. "Why'd you put quotes around leader?" I ask Karen.

"He's not really our leader. We have a council, the government almost, that makes the big decisions, but it's pretty much a democracy. The people here are good." She claims. I've heard that before. "Daryl!" She yells again, leading us to the left, toward a pavilion that appeared to be the dining place. They had...everything. "Goddammit, Daryl." She mutters.

I see plenty of people under the pavilion and my breathing hitches. These are actual people. Not geeks or psychos, not anyone who'll put a bullet in my brain...hopefully. My eyes widen and my heart pounds as we pass the people, all eyes on us. I can hear the whispers about us.

Are they covered in guts?

Didn't Michonne do that?

Do we know them?

The girl looks familiar.

When I hear the last one, I grip onto Sophia's hand even tighter. I wasn't going to go with the whole 'Mama' thing again. That was bullshit in the past. Sophia may be hella stronger now than she was two years ago, but I'm going to protect her until the end.

Then literally the last thing I expected happened.

They really did recognize us.

Or...her at least.

"Sophia?" The lady behind the counter asked. She had short grey hair and big blue doe eyes, like Sophia. I knew who she was before she introduced herself, before she said anything else. Before Sophia responded. She was Carol, her mother, the abused woman that Sophia spent months crying about. And now...here she was.

Sophia looked just like her, just...a lot younger.

"Mom?" She asks, letting go of my hand. "Mom? Is that you?"

No, I thought. I didn't care how selfish I was being. I couldn't let go of Sophia...not of her...not again. Goddammit...

Carol drops the bowl in her hands as Sophia makes her way behind the counter. All I can do is watch as Carol and Sophia reunite...it's all really sweet and good...but I know this is the end for me...

Sophia and Andie, the unstoppable duo...just died in a fiery car crash after being shit on by a passing deer. All in all, it was all dumb luck, all by chance.

The Carol looked at her when she realized it really was her...she looked scared, almost like she didn't believe it, or didn't want to. I don't know how I'd react. Probably how I did when I got Sophia back from the psycho lady: fear, happiness, anger, and confusion.

I then realized I was 'Mama' in this situation. I was just the crazy woman who stole Sophia for no reason except for my own personal gain. But this time, I actually kept her safe for two long years...

Carol doesn't cry, but Sophia does. There's hugging and crying and by the time everyone's figured out what's going on, the crowd is cheering and excited and well...a group. I hang by the counter, feeling awkward around all the new faces, around the reunion. It wasn't my reunion to attend. I was that crazy cousin who just tagged along because they were part of the family, not because anyone really liked or knew them.

"You're so beautiful." I heard Carol tell Sophia. I've told her that countless times...I'm not going to lie, I was jealous. It was just me and Sophia...and now it was me and Sophia and this group of people.

They started to gather a crowd, the people working in the fields, a few from the fence. I hung back on the dining area, leaning against the counter, biting my lip and looking at my feet. I didn't want to make eyes contact with anyone, out of fear they'd realize that I was there. I didn't want to be noticed...I didn't want to be here.

"Who're you?" A rough male voice asks me suddenly. I look up and see this guy with shaggy hair and a crossbow slung over his shoulder standing in front of me, completely ignoring the reunion going on, as much as I was trying to. It seemed to be easy for him, like it didn't phase him at all that a mother and daughter were being reunited after two years. I was doing it because I was selfish. I wanted to know this guy's reasoning.

"Andie." I tell him, "Tyreese and..." I search for the name, "Karen let us in...me and Sophia." I look back down at my feet. "I don't know how long I'll be staying." I pause a second before asking, "Who are you?"

"Daryl." He answers.

"You run the show around here?" I ask, crossing my arms, trying to keep my attention on Daryl and not Carol and Sophia.

He shrugs, "More're less. You plannin' on leavin'?" He has a thick Georgia accent, probably from Macon or somewhere around there.

"Yeah." I mutter, "I think I am." I look over to Carol and Sophia. She's completely forgotten about me and it hasn't even been ten minutes. I don't care how selfish I am, she was the only person I had left...and now, all by chance, she's...gone...