IVORY | Carl Grimes

fifteen - felicity ;

carl's grip tightened on the handle of judith's stroller gifted to his family by the people of alexandria as yet another passerby walked in front of them. saskia reached her hand out reassuringly and grabbed carl's wrist. he looked down at her with soft eyes but could not reach a smile. saskia rubbed the fabric of the flannel he was wearing with her thumb slightly, before dropping her arm back to her side.

saskia's heart raced in her chest. the uneasiness she felt over being in alexandria was surely reciprocated in her companion if not even based solely on the uncertainty present in his features. the furrow in his brow seemed constant. however protective over his sister he usually was, it seemed to have increased tenfold in carl's nature now.

the sky overhead was saskia's only solace. it was a brilliantly constructed masterpiece. painted with pale pinks and electric blues, it softened the atmosphere around the kids. unbeknownst to them, both of the teenagers found comfort in the constant of the sky. for it did change, but it always remained. they have seen the sky tormented by storms and the canvas being painted over with gloomy grays, but the blue would always return. the watercolor of its paint dripped down in the form of raindrops, but always dried. 

the pair had just turned the corner when they heard two voices call them over. sitting on a porch up ahead were two older alexandrians. their faces instantly brightened as they saw the baby fastened in the car seat being pushed by the two teens. saskia nodded her head in their direction and carl chuckled, ducking his head and guiding them over to where the couple was.

saskia reached down and gathered judith in her arms, smoothing out her dress, and took to the white steps of the front porch. her confidence had grown in the area of handling the child recently. carl found his way up after his friend. judith's head gingerly peeked out over saskia's shoulder and carl offered her a wave, garnering a sparkling smile from his sister and a laugh that seemed to spill over her lips.

"well," the older woman cooed, "isn't she just the most precious thing!" the smile lining her face seemed to light up her husband's universe as she reached out her hand, allowing judith's fingers to grasp on tightly.

saskia passed the girl into the woman's arms after glancing back at carl. he nodded, and she took this as permission to hand his sister off. judith squirmed at first but slowly relaxed into the arms of the grandmother who pinched her cheeks lightly.

"she's my little sister," carl spoke timidly after a moment, running a spare hand through his hair, which lacked his signature hat, as he gravitated more towards saskia.

"she's beautiful," the husband remarked with a smile, "my wife hasn't seen a baby in a while so you must excuse her eagerness," he finished with a chuckle.