{"id":458,"date":"2014-07-23T08:56:15","date_gmt":"2014-07-23T08:56:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/?page_id=458"},"modified":"2014-07-29T08:19:36","modified_gmt":"2014-07-29T08:19:36","slug":"chapter-108","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/story\/chapter-108\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 108"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chapter 108<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t know if I have words yet for this. I\u2019m just happy.<\/i><\/p>\n

Unbelievably, stupidly, incredibly happy.<\/i><\/p>\n

I remember the day we met so well. It\u2019s weird to think how far we\u2019ve come since then. How much has changed. I used to be such a different person, and you (along with the end of the world) helped me change into someone better. Sometimes, Nick, I don\u2019t think I deserve you. I feel like I don\u2019t deserve to be this happy. But I\u2019m grateful for everything. I\u2019m thankful for this second chance at life. I\u2019m so thankful for you. In the end I\u2019m thankful for everything, especially our newfound family. I couldn\u2019t live without any of them. I think if my family\u2019s looking down they\u2019re happy for me. Happy for all of us still here.<\/i><\/p>\n

Everything\u2019s changed so much, us the most I think.<\/i><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a whole new world now. A world I never thought would look welcoming ever again.<\/i><\/p>\n

And I can\u2019t wait for everything that\u2019s to come. <\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

Wednesday, October 16, 2013<\/b>
\nWeek Seventy-Eight<\/i><\/p>\n

The plane was probably somewhere over the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. She wasn\u2019t quite sure. Riley was holed up in the tiny excuse for a bathroom in the back. The goodbyes to the remains of the European group of survivors had been hard. In the past months, she\u2019d found some great friends. But that was the difference between them and the people she\u2019d known for the past year-and-a-half. They were friends, <\/i>while those with whom she\u2019d lived since the world changed had become family. And who knew, perhaps one day they would see each other again. She hoped so if only for Gabby\u2019s sake. There weren\u2019t many people her age left in the world. One day they\u2019d have to travel to South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia to see if there was anyone left alive there as well. But that would wait for awhile. For when Evette was older, for one.<\/p>\n

It\u2019d been a long flight so far. Nick\u2019s fear of flying hadn\u2019t lessened any and, with the way she\u2019d been feeling, hadn\u2019t made that any easier. Finally, she\u2019d told him she wasn\u2019t feeling great and ran back to this death trap of a restroom. Within moments, she had hurled that morning\u2019s breakfast Liz had lovingly made for the group before they\u2019d left. That was when she\u2019d decided it was time to finally see if perhaps her suspicions were right.<\/p>\n

She\u2019d been avoiding runs outside the castle the last couple of weeks before they left because she had been unable to handle the smells up close. It was bad enough when she got by what were AJ\u2019s favorite sniping positions along the wall. Sometimes she\u2019d say she was watching the baby so Brian and Gretchen could get some rest \u2013 which was true. Other times she\u2019d find a task to be doing around the time Kevin would gather people up. She didn\u2019t think anyone had really caught on just yet.<\/p>\n

Well, one might have.<\/p>\n

Cracking the door open, she looked around and found Gretchen thankfully not too far from her as she watched AJ hold the baby. Oddly enough, he\u2019d become a downright softy around the child who cooed up at him happily. It looked so natural, though, and Riley knew AJ would make a great father someday if he let himself. Maybe he would now that he had Selena.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe loves you.\u201d<\/p>\n

AJ smirked and ignored Selena\u2019s snort from beside him. \u201cOf course she does.\u201d He tickled under her chin. \u201cI\u2019m a fucking lady killer.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, Gretch, can I borrow you?\u201d<\/p>\n

A brow rose, and AJ turned to Nick, a few rows up. \u201cHey, Carter, looks like your girl\u2019s gonna get the preacher\u2019s wife to join the Mile High club with her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick looked up from where he was, a little pale but a lot less green, a sight that had Riley sighing inwardly with relief. He wiggled his brows at them with a grin. \u201cRye, I didn\u2019t know you were freaky like that. Let me join in!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy would you want to join them?\u201d Gabby asked. They could tell she knew they were talking about sex but probably didn\u2019t know much about the more interesting<\/i> kinds just yet at her age.<\/p>\n

\u201cNever mind, Gabby; you\u2019re too young,\u201d Howie mumbled, half asleep. \u201cAJ\u2019s crazy. You know that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not crazy; I just know what I like.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHowie\u2019s right.\u201d Gretchen rolled her eyes, but she was trying hard to keep herself from smiling. \u201cYou guys are perverts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, wait a minute,\u201d Brian chimed in, laughing. \u201cWhy would you get to go in instead of me, Nick?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDuh, you\u2019re a preacher. Preachers don\u2019t get threesomes.\u201d<\/p>\n

AJ snickered. \u201cThat\u2019s gotta be in the fucking Bible somewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSee! So it\u2019ll be me. Ha!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFuck this. I\u2019ll join in \u2013 that way you two don\u2019t have to fight about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

That earned him a smack to the back of the head from the Brit. \u201cThe bloody hell you are.\u201d<\/p>\n

Riley shook her head at them. \u201cNone of you are coming in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick pouted at her. \u201cAwww, that\u2019s not fair.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, don\u2019t start pouting at me.\u201d She was smiling. \u201cBesides, nothing\u2019s happening except in your fantasies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her fianc\u00e9 grinned that charmingly goofy grin of his. \u201cAnd what great fantasies they are.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd on that note, we\u2019re taking our leave.\u201d Riley reached out and pulled Gretchen gently in and managed to shut the door behind her. Shifting around, there was enough space between them so that the tiny stall didn\u2019t feel so suffocating. She shook her head, bemused at the conversation still taking place outside the stall. \u201cI swear, if I didn\u2019t love them\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019d want to kill them,\u201d her friend replied with a smile. \u201cSo why was this worth the scene outside?\u201d<\/p>\n

She handed the object she\u2019d been hiding in her pocket over to Gretchen. \u201cBecause I can\u2019t look.\u201d She bit her lip as she watched her. \u201cI\u2019ve been suspicious for awhile, and I\u2026 it\u2019s the first chance I\u2019ve had to find out. It wasn\u2019t easy finding that without anyone noticing, let me tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEspecially with you ducking out of runs.\u201d Gretchen hadn\u2019t looked at the stick yet. \u201cI was wondering myself.\u201d She chuckled lightly. \u201cNot that I haven\u2019t enjoyed all the babysitting time. I\u2019m actually able to get some real sleep and alone time, thanks to you and AJ.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes I think AJ\u2019s gonna kidnap Evie for his own,\u201d Riley teased.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow you might have one yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know. Gah, I can\u2019t look, so can you? I don\u2019t even know what I want,\u201d she admitted. \u201cI never thought I\u2019d get married some day. Now I\u2019m engaged, and there might be a baby. And I\u2019m scared because, during your labor, when you passed out, you scared the living shit out of me. For a moment, I\u2019d thought you\u2019d\u2026 and I know I could.\u201d She looked sheepish in that moment. \u201cI know it sounds stupid.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gretchen looked at the pregnancy test in her hand and smiled, taking Riley\u2019s hands to show her. \u201cNo, it doesn\u2019t. You have every right to be scared about this. Just answer this question for me, then: Do you love Nick? Really love him?\u201d<\/p>\n

She nodded. \u201cOf course I do. You know that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The pair looked back down at the results. \u201cThen you\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The plane touched down a few hours later, and Riley had napped for most of it, her head on Nick\u2019s shoulder and feeling as safe and secure as she possibly could. She wanted to talk to him desperately, but she also knew that they needed to be alone to do so. Of course, everyone would know soon enough. She just wanted to talk with Nick about it first. Despite her own worries about what was to come, she wasn\u2019t worried at all about Nick\u2019s reaction. Nick was the type of guy who was loyal to the end. Just like Spunky had been. Or Lucky, who was currently camped out on top of Nick\u2019s backpack in the seat beside them. She mewed contentedly before curling back up for another nap.<\/p>\n

The landing was a bumpy one, which took her by surprise, waking her up when her head bounced against Nick\u2019s shoulder. Minutes later, he was grabbing for a bag and hurling whatever stomach contents he had left inside him. Riley yawned and rubbed his back in small circles, fighting back her own nausea for the moment. She glanced around to see the others with varying expressions of confusion as well.<\/p>\n

Evette had been startled by the jerky movements and was screaming as loud as her little lungs would let her.<\/p>\n

\u201cShit, we can\u2019t go anywhere with the baby going off like that,\u201d Selena said plainly. \u201cIt\u2019s like a damn dinner bell.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat was that?\u201d Gabby asked, getting out of her seat when the plane came to a complete stop.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe base was overrun when we left, remember?\u201d Howie pointed out before hurrying behind her to grab her arm. \u201cWait! Don\u2019t get out till Kevin gives us the okay.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brian had picked up Evette out of her car seat and was soothing the wailing baby as best as he could. \u201cShhhh, it\u2019s okay.\u201d He started humming softly to her. Gretchen was digging through the diaper bag for her pacifier.<\/p>\n

The plane they were in had been one they\u2019d managed to get running from the airport back overseas. The one they\u2019d flown in originally had become overrun by the walking skeletons still managing to roam around. While they could have probably gotten it airborne, Kevin had decided it would be best for the baby if they found a new plane. It had been a bit of a struggle, but they\u2019d succeeded. Only this one had also had the stained remains of the undead on its body, most the windows unpleasant to try and look through.<\/p>\n

\u201cFuck this.\u201d AJ stood up and started hobbling down the aisle. \u201cI\u2019ll go see what\u2019s up.\u201d<\/p>\n

In that moment, Kevin came out from the cockpit. His grin went from ear to ear, his eyes alight with joy. \u201cGuys, come look outside.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick, in his everlasting hatred of airplanes, grabbed his bag, tucked his gun into his belt loop, and followed AJ out and down the steps of the plane. \u201cGladly.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNick, hold on!\u201d Riley dug around for her own weapon, rummaging hurriedly in her bag.<\/p>\n

\u201cRye! Come on out! It\u2019s okay! Guys! It\u2019s okay!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on, you fucking slow pokes!\u201d AJ\u2019s gruff voice called after. It was a mad rush to get off the plane at that point. Everyone wanted to get out and see what had them so excited. To see Kevin\u2019s theory be right.<\/p>\n

Riley stepped up beside Nick and looked around in awe. His hand tangled itself up in hers. It was an incredible sight. There were no moans, the song of the undead they had long ago become used to. Instead, they could hear birds chirping in the air. The smells of the dead were still there, but they were lighter, somehow, perhaps because the bodies were no longer moving. Instead, there were corpses scattered everywhere throughout the base. Several had been squashed beneath the wheels of the plane, like human speed bumps. The base was calm and peaceful in a way Riley had never seen it since coming there in what felt like a lifetime ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s beautiful,\u201d she said softly. The others were around her, marveling as they were, but she wasn\u2019t taking any notice of the others. She was remembering then how this all started. That very first night when she\u2019d met the man who would change the rest of her life. Someone she never would have expected to do so. But in a world where the dead came back, she had learned life wasn\u2019t supposed to be predictable. Riley felt she might like it better that way. She smiled at him. \u201cNick, I have something to tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah?\u201d He couldn\u2019t stop looking around. Lucky was on his shoulder, looking completely at home there.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m pregnant.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick grinned and turned her back towards him. As great as the world looked without any zombies to haunt them, the sight before her was even better. He kissed her cheek softly. \u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

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Chapter 108\u00a0 I don\u2019t know if I have words yet for this. I\u2019m just happy. Unbelievably, stupidly, incredibly happy. I remember the day we met so well. It\u2019s weird to think how far we\u2019ve come since then. How much has … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":8,"menu_order":108,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"onecolumn-page.php","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/458"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=458"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/458\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":475,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/458\/revisions\/475"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/undead\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=458"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}