Warnings; use of the word sister, otherwise neutral reader.
Synopsis; Y/n looks after Judith, and Carl's in love all over again.
req
It was no secret that you didn't like kids, you did your very best to avoid watching over them. At least, that's what you'd convinced everyone.
Truth be told, you'd loved kids. However you'd had siblings, young siblings, and none of them were around anymore. So out of guilt and hurt, you always chose to keep your heart safe from kids.
You were scared of lashing out, especially when specifically asked to watch any of the kids. Carl had practically found every excuse under the sun to get you to watch Judith, and you found every excuse not to.
After awhile he'd gotten the hint, and respected your boundaries. Though you could tell it damped your friendship over the years. Judith meant a lot to him, and in a way his only deal breaker was that his friends didn't find her just as special.
But, as you grew, and watched Judith grow, you'd come to realise how much she'd meant to you. She was like a little sister to you in a way, and she grew drawn to you.
And after awhile you gave in.
She would come running to your house in Alexandria, on legs that barely carried her. She always barged in and ran to you. With every run since she'd started this trend, you'd brought back anything and everything she could play with.
You'd been so excited when you found an old doll, one you could easily wash and give to the girl. Glenn had questioned you about why you wanted to take it, after-all he had no clue about Judith's playdates with you.
You remembered shrugging him off, and telling him it reminded you of someone. Given the situation of the World around you, he'd naturally assumed you meant someone you had lost.
When you got back to Alexandria you spent hours trying to get every stain and smell out of the old doll, and by the time you'd finished it was good as new.
However, today was a different occurrence than usual.
Carl had a day off in Alexandria, and had planned to spend the day with Judith. Although, Judith was not going to let this stop her from hanging out with you.
So Carl hesitantly followed the small girl to your door, where she swung the door open and ran in calling your name. In a way he felt he should stop her, but her familiarity with the place led him to believe this happened often.
"Jude!" You called, seeing the girl, a huge grin growing on your own face. You looked forward to seeing her, truthfully. She was a piece of innocence in a World that barely knew the meaning.
You picked her up, swinging her around in a playful manner. "I got you something, Jude." You smiled at her, and presented her with the small stuffed animal you'd gotten the day prior.
She'd thanked you and took the doll from you, insisting on naming the old thing. But, your mind was quickly taken from her when you heard the clearing of someone's throat.
You looked up to see Carl, leaned against the door frame with a small smile on his face. He was watching Judith with the new doll, when his eyes finally reappeared on you.
You let out a sigh of defeat, crouching down besides the girl assuring her that the name Blue was perfect for the doll. After a short while of convincing, you put her down for a nap.
Now was the hard part of somehow having a normal conversation about this with Carl.
"So?" He looked at you, he didn't look like he wanted answers. He looked more, happy. Excited perhaps? It confused you in a way, however you also knew how much he'd wanted you and Judith to be friends.
And here he was finding out that she called you her sister.
"She comes over everyday." You groaned, sitting down beside him on your couch. "I bring her little knick-knacks and we hangout, she's a smart girl. Really smart."
"I thought you 'didn't like kids'" He teased, the same smile never leaving his face. However, before you could defend yourself he continued, "I'm messing with you, means a lot that you care for her so much."
You smiled at him, and nodded. You enjoyed the silence just sitting with him, it'd been so long since the two of you saw eye-to-eye. Because Judith was the most important factor in your relationship, she always had been.
But, with you and Judith being so close now, in a way he'd fallen in love with you all over again. It was safe to say he'd loved you before but he couldn't commit, not if you didn't love Judith too.
"Talk to me Grimes, what's going on in that big brain of yours?' You hummed, messing with a candle on the coffee table in front of you. "I think I love you." He blurted, no thought behind the confession.
You stared blankly at the boy for a couple of minutes, whilst he basked in his own regret. He went to apologize, when you cut him off. "I love you too, Carl."
But, before you could say more, Judith was in between the two of you. She was persistent about you two reading her a book, rather than a nap.
Of course you couldn't say no. Who could say no to her?
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