𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 || 𝘚𝘌𝘊𝘙𝘌𝘛𝘚 𝘊𝘖𝘔𝘌 𝘛𝘖 𝘓𝘐𝘎𝘏𝘛
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[ ʜᴏʟᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪɴᴇ, ᴀʏᴇ
ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ꜰɪɢʜᴛ ꜰᴏʀ ᴘʀɪᴅᴇ ᴏʀ ɢʟᴏʀʏ?
ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴏʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ꜱᴄᴀʀꜱ ᴄʟᴏꜱᴇ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ? ]

ROLAND SAT ON a log as he took a bite out of the burger Dale had cooked. Too much in his thoughts to try and have a conversation with anybody. His mind was just too couped up with Beth that it'd been tough for him to act straight.

But that was quickly cut off as the sound of a gate slamming shut got his attention. Lifting his head in the direction of the outburst and seeing Maggie with a pissed off look and Glenn following closely behind her. Walking directly towards Lori who was folding clothes. "Hey!" Maggie called out. "We got your stuff." She told the mom who stopped folding the clothes to turn to the pair. "Maggie, hang on, please." Glenn pleaded in hot pursuit of the woman.

Lori glanced back at Roland who was watching, wanting to know what the whole problem was. "Come on in here," Lori said in a hushed tone, motioning to her tent behind her. "Why? Nothing to hide. We got your special delivery here." Maggie excused as she reached into the bag and began tossing things onto the ground. "We got your lotion, got your conditioner, your soap opera digest." She listed off, continuously sending glares towards Lori.

"Maggie." Lori breathed before not able to get another word out. "Next time you want something, get it your damn self. We're not your errand boys." Maggie seethed. "Honey, I-" Lori was cut off by Maggie reaching down for a blue box that Roland couldn't quite see from where he stood. "And here's your abortion pills."

Roland felt his body tense fully, his breath catching in his throat as he stared at the back of his moms head. Watching as Glenn walked after Maggie, leaving both Grimes alone to either speak or walk away from the talk needing to happen.

Never would he ever expect his mom to give up so easily on anything, especially a child. Usually, Roland was understanding of people's decisions, but this was something he couldn't brush past. He had a sibling developing in his mother's stomach, a sister or brother of his. Of course, he understood that he had no control over his mother's decision, it was her body, but he needed something to brighten his life. Just having Beth would be enough, but if he had something to look forward to like taking care of his baby brother or sister would do it for him. Taking care of Carl was one of Roland's brightest highlights growing up, and living through that again would be amazing for Roland.

He just felt angry that his mother wouldn't come to him to tell him about her decision. It just hurt for Roland knowing his mom didn't trust him or feel the need to confide in him. Their decisions were shaping him as a person and it was turning him out for the worse. Roland couldn't see it, but his mom and dad could.

Tossing his plastic plate with the half-eaten burger to the side, Roland marched over to the R.V. Ignoring the desperate look from his mother. "Roland." She called out, following closely behind him as he entered the R.V. Lori following in and shutting the door behind her. "I can explain." She started and Roland sat at the table with his hands over his face.

At the moment, he was unsure of how to feel. "Mom, I love you, but this- This is all wrong." He told her, not allowing her to speak. "I get why you wouldn't want to have the baby. Growing up in a world like this, no one should be put through that. But with this baby, it could give our group a reason to keep going on." He explained. "So, what? You want to use your baby sister or brother as some type of- of an item? Only meant to be used to keep everyone motivated on surviving?" Roland removed his hands from his face and pointed at his mother accusingly. "Don't twist my damn words. You know that's not what I meant." He told her as he got up from his seat.

Roland placed his hands on the table and let out a deep sigh, trying his best not to freak out. The last thing he wanted to do was make his mom feel worse than she already did. "I can't force you to do anything." He began, not looking at her. "But, I can try and convince you that the baby would be the best thing to happen to our group." He told her as he turned to her.

The conflicted look on his mother's face made him step forward. Pulling her into a hug as he spoke softly. "Mom, Carl is going to need a reason to keep going on because even if you don't want to admit it. All of us are going to die someday. When? Don't know, but if we can raise this kid long enough, Carl will be able to take reigns because the inevitable will come for me, dad, you, Daryl, Shane, all of us." He explained to her as he pulled away.

Spotting the tears rolling down his mother's face, making him act quickly and wipe them away. "I don't want your baby brother or sister to live in a world like this." She sobbed out and Roland shushed her. "You and dad will make it work. You always have and always will. The baby will be safe." He reassured her as they continued to hug. Letting the comfort of silence wash over them.

Water cascaded down Roland's body as he had one arm propped up onto the wall of the shower. Letting the water hit his head as he wiped the grime from his face. Lifting his head and letting the water hit his face as he closed his eyes.

His mind had been occupied by the continuous anxious thoughts around his mom's decision. Growing more when his dad had come around questioning her about it. He hadn't heard any of the conversation, but when he saw the pair talking near the field it was enough for him to understand.

And when that happened, Roland distanced himself from the group. Not seeing how he would be helpful around after the long day he'd had. And with those thoughts, he'd retreated to the house and started himself a shower.

It was where his mind could run freely and allow him to be honest with himself. The one place he trusted being in and not feeling ashamed of himself for the person he was becoming. Everyday was changing each person, and that was including Roland. They all had to adapt and Roland was trying to do so as fast as possible. Because when the time came when someone needed to make the tough decisions, Roland would be waiting for his dad to confide in him for advice.

Roland jumped at the sound of a knock at the door. Shutting the water off before stepping out of the shower. Wrapping a towel around his waist before opening the door and finding Beth standing there. Clothes in her hands that belonged to him. But Roland picked up on the fact that Beth hadn't made eye contact with him yet. The little droplets of water slowly streamed down his body and Beth was mesmerized by each.

Her eyes glued to his body instead of his eyes where they should be. It amused Roland, to say the least. "Beth?" He spoke up, tilting his head as her eyes snapped up to his. Stumbling over her words as she held out the pieces of clothes. "I heard you having a shower and wanted to grab you some from your group." She explained and Roland took them and smiled. "Thanks." He replied softly and Beth smiled, giving a tiny nod before walking away.

A permanent smile was glued to Roland's face as he shook his head with a chuckle and shut the door. His stomach doing twists and turns of pure ecstasy towards Beth.

The next morning came quicker than expected and Roland sat in one of the camping chairs as he ate his scrambled eggs. Glancing at Glenn who looked out towards the house where Maggie stood. Shaking her head subtly as she knew what Glenn was thinking. Glenn removed his eyes from her and looked to Dale. The older man nodded his head.

Glenn swallowed the lump in his throat before standing up and walking over to the side of the group. Looking at Roland for advice and only getting a nod. Building up the little confidence he had, he spoke up. "Um, guys." The attention of the group drifted to Glenn who stood awkwardly.

"So..." Glenn's voice trailed off as the group continued eating, occasionally glancing at Glenn waiting for him to speak. It was a couple of moments later when he did and it took the whole group by surprise. "The barn is full of walkers."

Everyone's action came to a halt as they looked to Glenn who stood there. Roland glanced at Shane who looked his way as well. Shane didn't know about it, but Roland knew they felt the same way about it.

It wasn't even minutes later that the group was down by the barn. Watching Shane stare through the peephole between the wooden boards of the structure. Pulling away and turning towards the group. "You can not tell me you are all right with this." Shane huffed as he brushed past Rick. "No I'm not, but we're guests here. This isn't our land." Rick excused. "Oh god, this is our lives, man!" Shane snapped getting Glenn to step forward. "Lower your voice."

"We can't just sweep this under the rug," Andrea added, having Roland nod with her in agreement. "This whole thing isn't right," Roland spoke up. "It ain't right. Not remotely." T-Dog agreed.

"Okay, we've got to either go in there, we've got to make things right or we've just got to go," Shane explained to Rick. "Now we've been talking about Fort Benning for a long time." Shane started, but Rick butt in. "We can't go." He snapped and Shane frowned. "Why, Rick? Why?" Shane questioned.

"Because my daughter is still out there," Carol spoke up. Shane went to speak but placed his hands over his face as he nodded. "Okay, I think it's time that we all start to just consider the other possibility." He suggested. "Shane, we're not leaving Sophia behind," Rick told him sternly. "I'm close to finding this girl. I just found her damn doll two days ago." Daryl cut in.

"You found her doll, Daryl. That's what you did. You found a doll." Shane said with a chuckle. "You don't know what the hell you're talking about." Daryl snapped, taking a step forward. "I'm just saying what needs to be said. You get a good lead, it's in the first 48 hours." Shane ranted as Roland stepped closer, ready to hold back whoever he needed to. Rick's calls for Shane were ignored by the man as he continued. "Let me tell you something else, man. If she was alive out there and saw you coming all methed out with your buck knife and your geek ears around your neck, she would run in the other direction." Shane commented.

That was all it took for shouting to ensue as Roland stepped forward, holding Shane back as Rick held Daryl back. Doing his absolute best to hold Shane back as both men tried to get at each other. "Shane!" Lori yelled stepping forward. "Back off!" Rick ordered Shane, pointing at him. "Keep your hands off me," Shane told Lori as he began walking away. "Now just let me talk to Hershel. Let me figure it out." Rick told his friend who spun around. "What are you gonna figure out?!" Shane snapped, Roland quickly stepping between Shane and his dad.

"If we're gonna stay, if we're gonna clear this barn, I have to talk him into it. This is his land." Rick seethed. "Hershel sees those things in there as people- Sick people- His wife, his stepson," Dale explained to them and even Thomas was surprised to hear that Dale knew more about it than him. "You knew?" Rick asked. "Yesterday I talked to Hershel," Dale replied.

"And you waited the night?" Shane questioned, stepping forward. "I thought we could survive one more night. We did." Dale snapped at Shane before looking back at Rick. "I was waiting till this morning to say something. But Glenn wanted to be the one" Dale confessed.

Roland stepped towards his dad, keeping his voice low. "Dad, I think we need to cut ties here. Leave before it's too late." He suggested as his dad pursed his lips. "The man is crazy, Rick. If Hershel thinks those things are alive or no." Shane butted in.

The constant sound of yelling had attracted the walkers inside the barn. Causing them to hit the barn door and making the chain keeping it locked to rattle. Roland's eyes were glued to the lock, wondering how long it would hold before the walkers were able to bust through. Just hearing the moans from the undead inside was enough to make the hair on his arms stand up on end. It was just a matter of time before they would need to decide.

The clock is ticking and it wasn't going to wait.