Walking Dead Game Collection

"Bedtime Story"

Title: Bedtime Story
Characters: Clementine, Luke, Rebecca, Nick, Kenny, Sarita
Summary: When Clementine is feeling restless the adults in the cabin group each try to come up with remedies to get the child to go to bed. But in the end a simple bedtime story and some tucking in does the trick.
Author's Note: tw; swears, mourning. This is so damn pure I'm gunna cry
Requested By: Anonymous
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"Why isn't she in bed?"

"You say that as if I haven't been trying." Luke groaned, the bridge of his nose falling in between his fingers, removing his gaze from the sight of the child swinging her legs against the couch. Rebecca and Luke stood, watching as the girl stared out the window to her side, watching the moon rise higher and higher into the night sky.

"It's past midnight."

"You think I don't know that?"

"You don't know how to put a kid to bed, so who knows if you know how to read a clock."

Luke shot a daring glare, ripping his head away from his hand. "It's not that I don't know how." He grumbled, somewhat insulted. His face, as he continued, grew solemn. "She just isn't sleeping." His gaze turned to the child. "I've tried 3 times now. She just...can't."

Rebecca, arms firmly crossed given his snap, softened. "What do you mean? You've tried, and she keeps getting up?"

"Every time I go up there, Sarah's out cold, and she's sitting, staring out the window. That, or she wanders out here by herself."

"Is she okay?" Sarita's voice, sparking from the background, fluttered into range of the two adults studying the child. To their side, Sarita and Kenny sat at the main dining table, Nick pushed to the other end. Kenny had a beer clutched in his right hand, the other settling against his leg, while Sarita had both folded neatly in her lap before standing to join them. Nick, glancing upwards, silently oversaw. Sarita continued, "we couldn't help but overhear."

Rebecca, wearing a disdainful pout at her blatant eavesdropping, was calmed by Luke. "I..." he sighed before finishing. "I don't know."

"You haven't asked?" Kenny, now piping in, abandoned his bottle to stand.

"Have you?" Luke retorted. "You've been down here longer than I have."

Kenny's nose scrunched in bitterness, arms crossing defensively. "I trust her judgment. She's a smart girl." His gaze wandered, studying Clementine's bewildered frame. His expression thawed. "But if something's wrong that's another story."

"Why is nobody going to check on her?" Sarita questioned defensively, as if it was herself she was standing up for. "If a child can't sleep, something isn't right."

"Fine." Kenny and Luke, speaking in sync, froze after the words had escaped.

Attempting to hide it as much as she could, Sarita smirked. "Let's all go. We're all worried."

At the notion, a creaking sound emerged from behind them and Nick, suddenly, was at their side. While he hadn't spoken, it had been clear from their interactions that he had a soft spot for Clem. There was a strange kind of respect, albeit somewhat one-sided, between the two.

Then, without questioning, they embarked.

"Clem?" Luke voiced, him and Kenny leading the pack. Despite not saying a word, the two silently fought for who stood in front. "What's up?" His eyes flickered to the sky, studying where her gaze lingered, before falling back to her. "What are you looking at?"

The group paused, all studying the quiet child. Then, after a moment, she spoke. "I wonder if they can see us." Her eyes squinted at the stars, fixating on them.