Madison Grimes

4

"Belle. Carl. Lori." I can barely get out, a lump forming in my throat. They turn and my eyes become glossy as tears fall down the young children's cheeks. Lori's eyes even glaze over.

"Madison!" Carl exclaims as Belle yells "Mommy," running over to me. I drop a knee, catching Carl and Belle and holding them so tightly, they may not be able to breathe. After a few minutes, I let them go and wipe the tears from their faces. "I missed you so much! Mommy said you were dead." My eyes find their way to Lori, seeing she's trying not to cry.

"I'm right here, Carl. I'm not going anywhere." Carl then starts to bounce.

"Can I introduce you to everyone?" I smile at the bouncy boy.

"No, I want to. She's my Mommy!" Belle exclaims.

"You both can, but you have to introduce my friends to everyone as well." They nod fast, causing them to grab my hands. We go to the truck and I signal the boys to come out. They seem a bit hesitant, but come out anyway. The young kids wave eagerly, earning a just as eager wave from Merle and a light wave from Daryl. "This is Daryl, he's real nice. That's Merle, he's a real butt." They laugh and I pretend not to notice the fake hurt look on Merle's face. After about five minutes, they finish introducing us to everyone.

"You guys can set up anywhere you want." Dale, the old man who's always on watch, tells us. I look at Daryl.

"Put one scratch on her and I'll have your head." He just nods and walks off, going to move the vehicles.

"Why can't I do it?" Merle whines.

"You'd scratch it and she'd kill you." Carl whispered to him, trying not to let me hear. I just laugh as Merle sends a playful look of upsetness to Carl. Carl just laughs.

We've been here several months and everyone is really nice, other then Ed. The boys and I came up with a theory that Ed's abusive since Sophia asks to room with Belle and I almost every night and Carol comes out with bruises when Ed's angry. The first week we were here; Daryl, Merle, Belle, and I shared this small tent. It wasn't very roomy, but it worked for us. Carl would stay regularly too, when he wanted a break from his Mom or wanted time with his cousin. Once Sophia started staying with us regularly, Glenn and I went into the city and got another tent.

"Mads, if ye don't come soon, yer ass is stayin' 'ere!" Merle yells from my truck. I just roll my eyes and put up my pointer finger. He lets out a growl but turns around.

"Stay with Daryl, I'll be back before the end of the night." Belle looks up to me with watery eyes.

"But I'll miss you." She says, I smile and ruffle her hair.

"It'll only be a little while."

"Can I go?"

"Maybe next time." She looks unsure, so I lean down and whisper to her. I whisper to where Daryl can hear us though, so he doesn't get any ideas of leaving her with someone else. "Daryl gets lonely, so you have to keep him good company while his brother and I are gone, can you do that for me?" She furrows her eyebrows.

"Why can't I stay with Daddy?" I swallow a lump in my throat I didn't know I had and take a deep breath. I can't just tell her it's because he's a lying bastard who cheated pretty much our whole relationship because she's too young.