Changing To Adapt ➵ TWD

➵ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ꜱɪxᴛʏ ᴛʜʀᴇᴇ

"Lemme ask you," Lucas starts the conversation, a first thing of many. They're cutting down walkers in the field, Maggie and Carl distracting most of them to the fences. "You get that katana before or after the fall?"

Michonne huffs, a sort of laugh, before slicing another walker to the ground and flicking the blood off the blade.

"Show off." Lucas scoffs, using Rick's machete.

Successfully pulling free the barb wire they were searching for, Daryl and Glenn drive the car back around, patting the tray back for them to get into. "Come on, let's go!"

Lucas nods at Michonne, and sarcastically swings his arm out in a gesture that says you first. She rolls her eyes.

Driving back into the safety of the courtyard, Daryl yanks their find out of the back and drags it to the floor for Rick to see.

Glenn swings the car door shut and gathers beside the others, "They try to drive up to the gate again, maybe some blown tires will stop them."

Lucas hops out, and hears Rick hum his approval.

"That's a good idea."

Daryl looks at Rick, something strange in the way he says his next words, "It was Michonne's."

Lucas tilts his head, brows furrowed. When he tries to catch Rick's eyes, the man looks away.

"We don't have to win. We just have to make their getting at us more trouble than it's worth." She explains, smiling a little in satisfaction.

When Carl and Maggie make it back into the courtyard, the moment is gone, and they follow Rick inside.

Splitting off from the rest, Lucas heads into the main room and stops when he sees Carol rocking Judith in her arms. He scratches at the bridge of his nose but doesn't walk away in time.

Carol spots him, and smiles, "You want a turn?"

"Uh," Lucas grimaces, "I've never really- I don't wanna-"

"You're not gonna hurt her." Carol huffs, already walking over. "Here, just hold her head like this."

And then Lucas has a baby in his arms. Nothing can stop the immediate softening of his expression, or his little murmurs, "Hey, little ass-kicker."

He'd helped Maggie deliver her, and it took him this long to get close.

"I'm sorry for not saying hi sooner," Lucas whispers, copying Carol's swaying movement and letting Judith curl her fingers around one of his.

Judith is tiny. And her eyes are like her mother's, a sort of hazel colour. His heart aches when he notices it.

Carol's proud smile is blinding and he knows if he looks up to see it, he'll feel some sort of shame. Shame for avoiding Judith this long, or the shame that accompanies letting down his barriers like this. He was emotional enough with Rick as is. He can't let it be a constant. So he doesn't look up.

After a moment, Lucas notices Carol looking around. She's distracted, all of a sudden, and he cocks a brow, "What's wrong?"

She purses her lips like she's figuring out if she should say anything. Eventually, "Merle. I think he went down to the generator rooms. The last time someone was down there. . ."

"Yeah." Lucas nods, understanding. He gently passes Judith back into her arms and decides, "I'll check it out."

"Be careful."

And with that, he grabs his gun, tucking it into his waistband. Sneaking through the hallways, Lucas finds the generator room easily, slowly twisting his head past the doorway.