What Happens Next

The Changing Battle

I stayed back in Alexandria with Michonne Carl Rosita and a few others. I stood by the gates with Carl and Michonne as we watched everyone leave. I looked to Carl as I walked away.

"You ok? Do you still want to tell me about what you wanted to talk about a couple weeks ago?" He asks looking to me, "I need to tell you before it becomes too late.." I say softly, "I need to get your opinion and know how you feel about it.." I say softer as I looked up to him, "let's get to your house and we can talk." He says. I nod as we made our way to my house and sat down on the couch.

"When we went to The Kingdom, you remember that I went to their doctor..?" I say softly as I looked down, "yeah, what did he say?" He asks softly, "I don't have the stomach flu Carl.." I say softly as I looked back up to him, "I'm pregnant."

It went quiet for a few minutes as he looked at me, "I was waiting for the right time to tell you.. I didn't know when the right time would be.." I say softly, "Jess, you're pregnant, with my kid. Any time would be the right time." He says looking at me, "you're happy about it..?" I ask softly looking up at him, "yeah, but obviously I'm scared, but I know everything will be ok. Who else knows?" He says.
"No one, just you."
"How are you going to tell your dad?"
"I don't know if I will. There'd be no point if he doesn't live to see the day.."
"He still deserves to know you're carrying his grandkid."
"I know. And I'll tell him. Eventually.."

He put his hand against my stomach and looked at me in the eyes, "I'm going to be here for you Jess," he says softly, "I know," I say softly as we hugged tightly.

While the war went on, days went by fast. Every compound was attacked, and the main one was surrounded by walkers. I was alone on my porch as I leaned back on my porch swing as I stared at the gate.

The first fight was won by us. We waited for the next one. I saw the gates open and saw Daryl and Tara return. I stood up when I saw Carl walking up the porch, "hey, where were you?" I ask as we hugged, "I was uhm, scouting the area." He says looking down to me, "I'll be back, I need to do something at my house, ok?" He says as he kissed my head and walked away. I nodded and saw him walk away.

As the sun started to set, I walked around Alexandria as I saw Carl sitting down against a tree by the pond in the middle of the community. I walked over to him, "what're you doing?" I ask softly sitting down next to him, "nothing, just sitting here," he says softly as he grabbed something, "here," he says handing me something in a small box, "what is it?" I smile taking he box from him as I opened it and saw a necklace as I took it out. It was silver but dirty with a 'C' engraved on it. I smiled as I looked to him, "Carl.. that's so sweet," I say softly as I hugged him and put it on. "While on a run a little while ago I found it. Thought some how you'd have me with you if I'm out," he says softly.

More hours past and the sun had set and it was late in the night. I stood by the gates when trucks came driving up. I heard them as I walked up on the watch stand as I looked down seeing my dad get out as I looked down at him. "Hey Jess, my beautiful daughter," he smiles up at me, "are you really going against me?" "No, I'm not. I haven't done a single thing. Even that day when the tiger killed some of your people, I only shot at the garbage people." I say softly. "You almost killed Carl."
"Yes, I know. Not to hurt you Jessica, but to break Rick."
"You would've broke me!" I yell as I closed my eyes and sighed and looked to him, "when ever I can have a 1 on 1 conversation with you, that'd be great."

I felt Carl come up and gently grab my arm, "make sure everyone gets in the sewer. Especially Judith," Carl whispers softly. I looked to him and nodded as I went down, "stay safe.." I say softly as I go down and help everyone get in the sewer.

I suddenly hear a loud blast when next thing I knew I was knocked to the ground. I coughed and caught my breath when I saw the house next to me catch on fire. "No.." I say softly seeing it was my house. My bag was the first thing coming to mind. As much as I didn't need it, there was things I couldn't part with. I ran inside and up the stairs and grabbed my bag. I ran back down the stairs and out of the house when I looked over and saw Carl who was limping.

"Shit.." I say softly as I ran to him and put his arm around my shoulders as I helped him to the sewer. We got down there as I went to the back where Judith was as I looked up and saw a man, "wait," I heard Carl say softly and stopped me, "don't, I brought him down here to help him.".

I nodded a bit and kneeled down in front of Carl and looked to him, "we're gonna be ok.." I say softly as he looked to me. He stayed quiet with a small smile as Rick and Michonne came down and walked up to us. I looked up to the two as I moved for Rick to see him.

I saw Rick smile a bit as Carl didn't as I got confused, "I brought him here," Carl says as Rick looked to the man, "that's how it happened." We all looked to Carl confused as I felt like I was about to tear up, "Carl..?" I say softly looking at him as I kneeled down again. I saw Carl lift up his shirt and remove a bandage on his abdomen. My eyes filled with tears as I looked at Carl, "no.." I say softly looking at him as I started to cry as I stared at Carl's bite as he covered it with the bandage. Michonne fell to her knees next to me as I looked down, tears made my vision blurry. I was pregnant with a dying man's kid.