Family Ties ✔

Chapter 1

~Lizzie~

"Mommy," Maddie squeaked from beside me when we heard a noise at the back door to the Sheriff's Station we were staying at. "It's okay baby," I said holding her, "okay go and hide like we planned. Okay baby girl?" She nodded and quickly ran to her hiding place we had picked out to keep her safe from any walkers that might get in. I felt bad as I grabbed my gun and made my way cautiously to the back door, I hated my daughter having to grow up in this hell that was now our world. When I made it to the hallway that led to the back door, I stood there with the gun at the ready as the door opened and the blinding light from the outside came in with three figures blocking some of the light. "Who the fuck are you," I said as I took turns pointing my gun at each of the three people standing in front of me. "Elizabeth," came a familiar voice from one of the three.

"Uncle Rick," I asked more unsure than anything because when Maddie and me came back here from Atlanta after this shit started, I couldn't find them anywhere and figured either they got out of here, or they were dead. One of the people stepped towards me, with his hands still raised at the moment. I looked closely as I watched his face come into view so I could see. "Oh my God," I said dropping my gun and running to him, "I went to the house when I came back from Atlanta. I didn't know what happened to you when I didn't see anyone there. Is Aunt Lori and Carl with you?" "No," he said shaking his head, "I was hoping you'd say they were with you. Where's Madison?" "She's fine," I said smiling as I turned and they all followed me, "she's hiding." We walked farther into the Sheriff's Station in silence as I led the way to where Maddie was hiding.

"Maddie," I called out when we reached the room where she had picked out her hiding place, "Maddie its safe. Come out and see who I found." I heard little footsteps making their way over to where I stood with Uncle Rick and another man who had his son with him. "Uncle Ricky," she said smiling after catching sight of him. "Hey there Madison," he said kneeling down to her height as she went running straight for him. I smiled as he picked her up and wrapped her into a tight hug while walking over to me and wrapping a free arm around me. "I've got two of my three girls back," he said smiling as he kissed the top of my head. "When Aunt Lori told me about what happened," I whispered as I felt a tear slide down my face while still hugging him, "I didn't know if you were going to pull out of that coma. Then the world went to hell and I just had to get down here and find you."

"You shouldn't have come back down here," he said, "you should've stayed in Atlanta." "I couldn't," I said, "I had to know my only family was okay." "Mommy," Maddie's quiet voice said causing me to look over at her. "C'mere baby," I said holding my arms out to her as Rick handed her over. "Elizabeth," he said as I started to walk away, "the showers?" "They still work," I said smiling back at him as I turned to take Maddie and lay her down for a little nap while the men went and took a shower to clean up. I sat on the floor in my old office there at the station and held Maddie in my arms rocking her lightly as she fell asleep while I was softly singing for her. "Have you been staying in here ever since coming back from Atlanta," a voice said causing me to jump. I looked over to the door to see Uncle Rick, the other guy, and the guy's son. "Basically," I said looking back down at my sleeping daughter, "we leave from time to time to get food. But other than that we just stay here."

I looked around Rick to look at the other man and the kid and he finally realized he hadn't introduced us. "Oh um Elizabeth this is Morgan and his son Duane," he said, "Morgan, Duane this is my niece Elizabeth and her daughter Madison." "Uncle Rick," I said finally looking back up at him to see he wasn't empty handed, "did you just pack every gun that was locked up?" He looked down then back at Morgan who nodded and took his son, leaving just me and Rick with my sleeping daughter in my arms. "Why Uncle Rick," I asked trying to keep my voice down so I didn't wake up Maddie, "what am I supposed to use to protect myself if more walkers show up?!" "You're coming with me," Rick said, "you and Madison. We're going to Atlanta to try and see if your aunt and Carl are there."

~Rick~

"I don't know Uncle Rick," Elizabeth said looking down at the sleeping child in her arms, "I don't know if I could put Maddie though that long trip again." "You won't be making it alone," I said kneeling down in front of her as I too looked down at her daughter, "I'll be with you." "What about Morgan and his son," she asked looking at me. "They'll be joining us later," I said as I rested my hand on Madison's head. "Okay," she whispered, "we'll go with you. I want to know Aunt Lori and Carl are okay." "Okay," I said smiling and nodding as I leaned forward placing a kiss on her forehead before wrapping my arms around Madison and lifting her up out of Elizabeth's arms so she could stand up with me. I continued to hold the little girl while her mother began packing the sparse belongings into a single backpack before placing it on her shoulders and holding her arms out to take the sleeping child.

"Come on," I said placing my hand gently on her back and pushing her forward, out of her old office here at the station and leading her towards one of the few cars left in the parking lot. I watched as Elizabeth placed Madison in the backseat and buckled her in before I turned to Morgan who had sent his son to their car with a bag of guns from the station's small armory. I handed him one of the walkies that had been in the car and told him when I got to Atlanta I'd turn it on for a few minutes every day at dawn for when he finally came and joined us in Atlanta. "You be careful," he said as I looked back to see Elizabeth climb into the passenger side of the car, "look after your niece and her daughter." "I will," I said nodding and looking back to him, "you look after yourself and Duane."

~Lizzie~

I glanced back at Maddie in the back seat as Uncle Rick finally climbed into the driver side beside me. "Good to go," I asked as I looked over at him. He glanced back at Maddie then looked at me and smiled. "Yeah let's go find Lori and Carl," he said nodding as he started the car and pulled out from the station. I watched as we went one way and Morgan and his son went another. "Think they'll really come to Atlanta," I asked as we drove out of town in the direction to the big city. "I don't know," he said honestly as he glanced at me then looked back at the road, "maybe." "Do you think Aunt Lori and Carl are in Atlanta," I asked looking at him. "I hope so Elizabeth," he said. I looked at him and nodded then looked back at my sleeping Maddie. After looking back ahead of me, I laid my head against the cool glass of the window and drifted off to sleep.

Woohoo first chapter of my new story! Hope y'all like this one. :)

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-Kenz