𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐋 𝐆𝐑𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐒 [ 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐬 ] ✘

A Christmas Argument

Note: Sorry it's been so long since my last update, guys. My grandmother passed away last week and I haven't felt like writing again till now. But I hope you enjoy this seasonal one shot... Also you can play the song at the top if you want to go along with it :)

The sound of bells ringing and a soft melody filled the kitchen of the house I shared with Carol in Alexandria. She had left me in charge of baking while she went and "chatted" with the neighborhood ladies. It was all a farce though so she could worm her way into the community. I snorted, grinning wildly. Carol was such a boss. I sprinkled chocolate chips onto the globs of cookie dough and licked the residue off my fingers.

"THE SNOW'S COMING DOWN! I'M WATCHIN' IT FALL!" I sang at the top of my lungs as the timer on the oven beeped, "BABY, PLEASE COME HOME!"

I slid the tray of her homemade cookies in and closed it quickly so the heat wouldn't escape. My fingers glided over the buttons until the minutes flashed on the tiny screen. I moved my hips in time to the music.

"THEY'RE SINGING DECK THE HALLS! BUT IT'S NOT LIKE CHRISTMAS AT ALL! CAUSE I REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE HERE! AND ALL THE FUN WE HAD LAST YEAR!" I sang along, my mind going to Carl.

I turned around to look back at the living room. The lights twinkled on the Christmas tree - red, yellow, green, blue, purple, orange. I had met Carl around this time three years ago. Him and Rick had found me in an abandoned house all by myself. I had been so miserable on my own like that. But when they brought me back to the prison with them, I didn't feel so alone anymore.

Everything changed then. And not just for my livelihood's sake but for my social life as well. Rick, Carl, Michonne, Maggie, Sasha, Rosita, Carol, Daryl, Judith - hey, even Eugene  - were all my family now. Well...Carl was a BIT more than family actually. A blush formed on my cheeks at the thought. We'd started dating a few months ago but this would be our first Christmas as boyfriend and girlfriend. And it was nerve-wracking.

I mean, of course, I'd gotten gifts for him before from one best friend to another but what does a girlfriend buy?! I sighed and slid my cartoon Grinch socks across the wooden floor. A loud knock on the door broke me from my reverie. My eyes snapped to the door and I grinned when I saw Carl standing there, his Sheriff's hat slipping over his cerulean-blue eye. I strolled over to the door and wrenched it open.

Carl looked me up and down, taking in my Rudolph-patterned green and red pajamas. A laugh escaped his plump pink lips.

"I take it you're ready for Christmas," he smiled, walking through the doorway.

I nodded joyfully and stretched my arms out before spinning like a ballerina.

"I can't wait! It's almost here!" I cried out, a smile still plastered to my face.

He laughed again and shook his head at my behavior.

"December just started," he said, crossing his arms.

"Well, duh, but it's still not that long! I mean, besides, aren't you at least a little excited for Christmas?!" I said, coming to stand in front of him.

I gently pulled on his arms and he uncrossed them before wrapping them around my short frame.

"Of course I'm excited...It's the first Christmas we've spent together," he smirked and I felt butterflies erupt in my stomach at the mention of it.

I arched an eyebrow up at him. He rolled his eyes playfully.

"Well, not together but together together," he said.

I nodded in approval and he laughed once more before placing a chaste kiss on my lips.

"Baby, please come home! Baby, please come home!" Mariah Carey sang over the small radio I owned, courtesy of Michonne.

"But what if you don't like my gift?" I asked hesitantly, breaking away from his embrace to stand in the doorway to the living room.

He walked up behind me and wrapped his muscular arms around my stomach. Soft lips kissed the back of my neck, making shivers go up and down my spine.

"You know I'll like your gift. I always do," he whispered softly against my skin, his hot breath making goosebumps appear on the nape of my neck.

"Yeah but...I've never given you a gift as a girlfriend before..." I trailed off.

"Why does that make a difference?" he snorted, his lips going to my neck again.

I pulled away from him angrily and spun on my heel to face him.

"Because it does, Carl! The first gift a girlfriend gives their boyfriend is important!" I pressed on, placing my hands on my hips.

This time, he arched his eyebrow at me.

"How so? Because I fail to see the importance here," he sighed.

"Because it just is, Carl!" I huffed.

"That's not an answer!" he countered.

"WHY DO I EVEN HAVE TO GIVE YOU AN ANSWER AS TO WHY IT'S IMPORTANT?! YOU SHOULD KNOW WHY!" I shouted at him.

"THEN PRETEND LIKE I'M STUPID! WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO YOU?!" he yelled back, throwing his hands up in the air exasperatedly.

"BECAUSE I DON'T THINK I'M GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU!" I screamed back at him.

I sucked in a large gulp of air. I hadn't meant to admit that out loud. And most especially, not to him. His blue eye widened and he took a step forward.

"Why would you even think a thing like that?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper now.

Hot tears filled my eyes for a split-second before they came pouring down my cheeks.

"Because it's true, Carl!" I said, biting back a sob.

I sat down on the couch in the corner and put my head in my hands. It only took a second for the cushion beside me to sink down and I felt Carl's hand rub up and down my back soothingly.

"I'm not good enough for you now and I never h-have b-been!" I choked out, tears trickling through my fingers.

"That's not true at all...You know it's not..." he said softly before sliding off the couch to kneel down in front of me.

I shook my head "no" at him, still refusing to look at him. Slowly, he pried my fingers away and cupped his hands around my face. His blue eye stared into my brown ones and I let out a shuddering breath.

"You are my everything. You're beautiful and funny and kind... And you're the most blunt person I've ever met but I even love that," he said, making me chuckle.

"If anything, I'm not good enough for you...not the other way around..." he continued.

More tears trekked down my cheeks and I fell into his waiting arms then, wrapping my legs around his waist koala-bear-style. His hands instantly rested on my hips.

"I don't deserve a guy like you," I whispered against his flannel plaid button-up shirt.

The soft material brushed across my skin as he stood up, lifting me up with him. He pressed his forehead against mine and I looked up into his blue eye.

"Yes, you do...because you deserve the best..." he said, his voice soft and serious.

It took me a moment to catch the joke and I slapped him on the arm playfully once I did. He laughed loudly, filling the room with his voice.

"Merry Christmas, Carl," I said, smiling up at him.

His long fingers dug into my Rudolph pajama top, bringing me into his chest. I rested my head underneath his chin and I heard him sigh.

"Merry Christmas, baby..." he whispered back softly.

Note: Fun fact! I actually used to own some Grinch socks...before they got holes and my mother brutally forced me to throw them away and I never had Grinch socks again in my whole life! ....Not that I'm bitter or anything like that ;)