Broken

Family

The Hilltop is able to take the new people, I go to Rosie's to get Julia before heading to the infirmary to talk to Yumiko before she's done eating dinner.

We chat while she eats, "Is she yours?" the woman asks. I Julia barely looks up from her coloring page. I shake my head, "No, but she is," I say Yumiko smiles, "She's beautiful." I smile, "Are you done with your plate?" I ask.

Yumiko nods and lets me take the tray. I go into the kitchen with it. When I come back from cleaning it she's asleep. I gather up Julia's things from the floor. I shove them into her small backpack before I take her hand.

"Mimi's making dinner," I tell her, Jules nods. She's excited that she gets to play with RJ. The house is lit brightly. "Hey," Carl says from the top of the porch steps.

"Hey," I say as start up the stairs, Carl opens the door for us to go inside. Michonne doesn't look up from the stove. Judith is doing something at the counter and Mika is helping Michonne by chopping veggies.

"Hey RJ," I say as I bend down next to him. "Hi Laine," he says, Julia sits on the floor beside him to play with the blocks. Carl and Michonne work on dinner. I smile as Carl lifts Julia to stir the noodles. It's hot in the house and I don't feel like sweating more than I have to.

I sigh as I walk out the sliding glass door to get outside. The wind is blowing lightly and the moon is out in full with a circle of light around it and a red glow to the normal silvery white.

I take in a sharp breath, blood on the moon means danger. I jump when RJ yells about being hungry.

"Time to go inside," I mutter to myself. I watch through the glass as the boy jumps to his mother and she lifts him up into her arms.

"Then let's eat," Chonne says. I hear the crackle of leaves and the snap of a branch off the porch.

I turn to look into the yard, the grass is bathed in shadow. I stare at the spot that I thought I saw someone moving.

The door slides open, "Hey," Carl says causing me to jump. "You okay?" he asks, I turn to him and smile.

"Yeah I just thought I saw someone," I say, he bends slightly to place a kiss on my temple. "Come on," he says as he takes my hand.

"Blood on the moon, Carl," I say, "What?" he asks. "Danger's coming," I say. I turn back to the yard to look at the trees. Nothing is moving now.

I sigh and walk into the house. We have family dinners like this once a week. We have been for years now. After dinner Michonne and I watch RJ and Julia play.

It's strange to think about how technically RJ is Julia's uncle because of how close in age they are.

Judith and Carl go out onto the porch. As soon as they're outside I turn to Michonne. "Can you at least think about letting them stay, Michonne?" I ask when I know Julia and RJ aren't paying attention.

She tuts in disapproval, I frown as she opens her mouth to speak. She always gets to talk over me.

"I know what happened last time was terrifying. I was terrified too, but you can't let that one incident dictate every decision you make about new people," I say before she can interrupt me.

"Just think about it please," I say, "And even if you don't think you can let them stay maybe they can go somewhere else."

Now that I've planted the idea she might just let them go to Hilltop.

Or even let them stay here.

She shakes her head, "I can't put the other communities at risk. I can't endanger our family."

"Since when do you care about what is best for any one but yourself? You haven't cared about them for years," I say angrily.

Michonne turns her head as the door shuts.

"Oh- Michonne I'm so sorry," I mutter as I stand.

My eyes are only on Judith.

"I shouldn't have said that."

"You're not wrong though, Mom hasn't cared for years, why start now?" Judith questions.

Carl turns to his sister, dumbfounded at her words.

Michonne is getting angry as she stares at the girl, "Go to your room!" Michonne yells finally.

Judith pushes past Carl and runs upstairs. "Michonne I-."

"It's past the kids' bedtime, I think you should go," she says. She has tears in her eyes.

I feel stuck to the spot on the ground as I watch her hurry to clean up dishes and pots. Carl gathers Julia's rhings before putting the girl's coat on.

Carl says goodbye to his mom, Mika and Julia each give her goodbye before saying the same to RJ. "Bye guys," I say to them before I take Julia's hand.

We walk down the street, Magna passes us, "Hey," I say. She looks up from her feet, "Hey," she mutters before she hurries away. I wonder why she's out this late, the thought is pushed from my mind. "Who's that?" Julia asks, "That's Magna," I say. She nods as she walks between Carl and I.

"When is Yumiko gonna be on her feet again?" Carl asks. I shrug, "Any day now, but it doesn't mean she should be on her feet."

Carl nods as he opens the door, "It's bedtime, go get ready," I say to the girls. "Yeah mom," they both mutter as they rush up the stairs. Carl takes Julia upstairs, I stand in the hallway.

I sigh before I head up the stairs, I say goodnight to Mika, she mumbles something through the toothpaste in her mouth. I shake my head before leaving the bathroom.

Carl is tucking Julia in. I place a kiss on her forehead before leaving her to go to sleep. In my bedroom I brush my hair and get out my pajamas.

Carl enters the room, "How do you think everything is gonna play out with them?" I ask as I remove my shirt.

I slip into bed beside Carl with a sigh. The man turns to me.

"How did you think that was going to go over with my mother?" he asks.

"I don't know, I just said it. I shouldn't have," I whisper. He frowns lightly as he grabs my waist. "I think she'll do the right thing, it's just a matter of who wanted her to do it."