Chapter Text
It's a crisp fall evening, the wind from the east is picking up, dark clouds are swirling, some sort of storm is brewing. Inside the Grimes household is descending into utter chaos. The children, Judith age 6 and Carl age 9 are muddy and dishevelled. Their mother, Lori, is frazzled and very angry. Their father, Sheriff Rick Grimes is hungry and completely unaware of what he's about to walk into.
"Hey Lori, what's for Dinner? I'm starving," Rick announces as he shuts the front door and starts toeing off his cowboy boots.
"How about instead of worrying about your dinner you ask your son what he did today." Lori's tone does not lead Rick to imagine it was anything good.
"What happened this time?" He asks cautiously.
"We saw something, Dad! Out the window, it looked like a monster. I had to follow it!" Carl's voice is raised, his face flushed with anger.
"Him and his sister both disappeared from the after-school program. Showed up 2 hours later looking like they've wandered around the woods for a week." She sighs, running her hand down her face."They called me out of work, again. My boss says one more and I'm done. Rick! I refuse to lose another job over this. They are your children too!"
"What do you want me to do?"
"Well, they have been kicked out of the after-school program. So YOU need to take a few days off and figure something else out. They clearly cannot be left alone." Lori grabs her car keys. "I can't handle this any more."
"What?!" Rick hopes he doesn't look as stupid as he feels.
"Hire a nanny, quit your job, move your mother in to watch them. I'm giving up. I literally do not care anymore. I'm going to pick up pizza."
After the door slams the house is so silent it almost seems to pulse. Rick feels like he took a round to the vest. He's out of breath and might throw up. He doesn't want to deal with this.
"Dad, can we get a cool nanny? Like someone who will take us on adventures?"
"Can she be a princess?"
Rick sighs, "How would I even find a nanny like that?."
"Well we have to post the right ad, obviously," Carl explains.
"Oh right, post an ad. That's actually a good idea," Rick mumbles to himself.
Rick pulls out his phone and starts scrolling through childcare ads posted in their county. Carl grabs the phone and swipes around for a minute before he starts to type as Judith dictates.
"Wanted a nanny for two sweet children.
Must be bright and sunny, know games of all sorts.
Be extremely kind and funny and very very pretty.
Must take us on adventures and bake treats."
Rick pulls the phone away from Carl. Deleting everything as he trudges towards the bathroom to start a bath for his mud caked children. Hopefully if they are clean Lori will be a bit happier when she gets back.
Sitting on the edge of the tub watching it fill Rick mutters to himself as he types.
"Needed ASAP nanny for two high spirited children. Must be firm and no nonsense. Focus on education and behaviour management encouraged..."
Once he's happy with what he's written he clicks to post the ad and leans over to turn off the tub at the same time. His phone surges with electricity, burning his hand before he drops it into the bathwater. When he fishes it out of the bubbly water it's lightly smoking and won't turn on.
Rick swears, "Fuck it." He decides he will post an ad first thing after getting back with a new phone tomorrow.
The next day does not go as smoothly as Rick had hoped. He has the day off so Lori has him get the kids ready and take them to school. He burns the toast so bad the fire alarm goes off and they end up being late. He honestly doesn't know how Lori does this every morning. Once he's done dropping the kids at school he goes to replace his phone. He doesn't want anything fancy, just the same phone he already had. So of course it takes hours and is painfully tedious and very expensive. By the time he leaves the store it's pouring rain and he has a much newer model of phone with an operating system he doesn't really know how to use, a pounding headache and only 40 minutes before the kids are done school.
The Grimes Street is quiet, the only sounds the pitter patter of rain and the rumble of Rick's approaching station wagon as he returns home with the kids. Just before they round the corner there is a loud electrical pop, a bright flash and a slender young woman appears on the side walk in front of the Grimes house. She's dressed all in black; a pleated skirt, and black blazer with grey elbow patches shaped like heats, sheer tights with several runs in them and Doc Martin boots. A small black leather back pack hangs off one shoulder. Her frizzy blond hair is gathered in a high ponytail. Her open black umbrella shoots a spray of yellow sparks up into the clouds. The rain stops and the clouds clear instantly. The young woman lowers the umbrella and gives it a shake, a few scattered sparks fizzing out on the wet sidewalk, before she closes it and swings it round her finger by the curved wooden handle.
The station wagon rolls to a stop in front of the young woman and Carl and Judith jump out while Rick yells at them to slow down and grab their school bags.
"Why hello, you must be Carl and Judith. It is a pleasure to finally meet you." Beth bends at the waist and looks the children directly in the eye when she addresses them.
"Hello," Carl and Judith answer in unison.
"Your dad looks like he's having a hard time. Why don't you grab your bags before we head into the house."
"Ok Miss," Carl agrees and climbs back into the car to pull out both school bags.
"I'm sorry, can I help you." Rick hurries around the vehicle trying to angle himself between Judith and the young woman helping her into her backpack.
"Hello," the young woman straightens up offering Rick her hand and a huge smile,"I'm here to interview for the nanny position. You must be Mr. Grimes, I'm Beth Greene."
"Um... What... How?" Rick crosses his arms when he realizes he's flapping his hands awkwardly.
"Your email said 4:00 pm, is that not right?"
"My email? I didn't think the ad even posted. My phone died while I was doing it." Rick tries to explain the confusion.
"I can go if it's a problem, but Mr. Grimes, you look like you could use some help." She sounds concerned.
She might not be the type of nanny they are looking for but Rick knows she isn't wrong. He sighs and ushers her towards the front door.
"I'm sorry. I'm being rude, please, come on in and we'll discuss the position."
Once their inside Rick starts coffee brewing and opens his new phone determined to figure out what's happened. The young woman flutters around the kitchen opening cupboards and making herself at home. Rick scrolls through his inbox growing more disbelieving with everything he reads. There is an email from the previous evening confirming his ad just been posted, but the text of the ad shows what Carl had written, text he himself had deleted. There is also a thread between the Beth Greene in his kitchen and himself that he has no memory of. She sent her resume, Rick replied suggesting an interview at 4:00 pm, Beth confirmed. Her writing is professional, her spelling immaculate. Rick opens the file with her resume and finds she has several years experience working with children at the daycare in her church, as well as recommendations from multiple families she has nannied for.
Before the coffee is finished Beth has brought a plate to the table loaded with fresh fruit and crackers and cheese. Then she calls in the kids, helps them wash their hands and instructs them to eat their snack and work on any school work they have. Carl doesn't talk back or give her any sass, in fact both children seem perfectly happy to do as they're told. She's loading the breakfast dishes into the dirty dishwasher when Rick asks how she takes her coffee.
"Cream and sugar please Mr. Grimes."
Rick is watching her, trying to think of how to explain that she saw the wrong ad. She helps Carl with a math problem and compliments Judith on something she's colouring, and he still hasn't thought of anything. The house hasn't been this quiet or calm in months. Rick gives up and decides that while she's likely not going to be the firm hand they need in a nanny he'll pay her for tonight and use the time to get his new phone setup properly.
At one point he hears her light the stove when he glances up he thinks he sees her pull a giant cast iron pot out of her backpack. He shakes his head, it must be one Lori keeps in the pantry. The next time he looks up from the screen the kitchen is empty and what appears to be spaghetti sauce is bubbling on the stove. There is a loud thump that sounds like it came from the playroom upstairs and when he leans out into the hall he can hear Beth's tinkling voice and peels of laughter. A moment later the garage door opens and Rick realizes he has to figure out what he's going to tell Lori.
After helping Carl and Judith with their school work, tidying the kitchen, throwing in a load of laundry and starting super, Beth leaves Mr. Grimes engrossed in his phone at the dinner table and heads upstairs to find where the kids went off to. She finds them both in a family room that's seen better days. There are toys everywhere, all dusty and ignored while the kids watch TV in the corner. She leans her bag and umbrella against the wall.
"What are you two watching?" She asks as she picks her way across the floor.
"Nothing, there's never anything good on." Carl pushes forcefully at the remote flipping the channel as he complains.
"You have loads of toys why not play with them?"
"Their boring, broken and old toys."
"Can never find all the pieces." Adds Judith.
"I think we just need to tidy up and see what's really here and what can be done with it."
Carl grumbles but Judith watches as Beth grabs her umbrella and flicks it. Yellow sparks shoot out from the end hitting a teddy bear. All of a sudden the bear stands up and starts gathering blocks, taking then to the toy chest in the corner.
"That's amazing!" Judith's eyes are as big as saucers.
Now Carl's not watching the TV. Little race cars are zipping across the floor and back onto their race track. Plastic animals have started stampeding.
"Come on Carl, you gotta help catch em!" Judith calls as she chases a herd of hippopotamus towards the open door.
Carl jumps into motion, climbing up onto the back of the couch, running along the cushions. He stretches out like Superman flying and flings himself across the room. The palm of his hand catches the side of the open door, slamming it shut and containing the lively toys. He lands gracefully in a shower of yellow sparks.
"That's the spirit!" Beth cheers brightly as she dodges a rouge fire truck. "We've all got jobs to do, but no reason there can't be an element of fun. Find the fun and -SNAP- the jobs a game."
Lori comes in from the garage, noticing the washing machine running as she passes the laundry room. Rick is rambling on, a dull droning noise that she has to actually concentrate on to discern words. Something about posting the wrong ad and this young lady showing up thinking she had an interview. Lori silently takes in the altered state of the house while Rick explains that she's upstairs with the kids but he's going to explain the mistake and ask her to leave. As if on cue there is a small stampede of footsteps above them followed by the sound of Carl laughing uncontrollably.
Lori walks around the clean kitchen, running her fingers over the crumb free counter tops. She lifts the lid off of the pot on the stove and inhales deeply. Then she flips through the kids finished school work on the table. Rick is assuring Lori he'll take tomorrow off and get the real ad posted and they will find someone reliable and firm when Lori interrupts him.
"I don't care if she's too fun or playful or flaky, or whatever it is you're worried about. If you don't hire her I will never forgive you."
The next day afternoon Beth is waiting out front, wearing the exact same outfit as the day before, when the kids walk out of school. She is leaning against the side of the family's station wagon, which is parked on a bit of an angle with one wheel on the curb. She calls enthusiastically when she sees the younger Grimes's and grabs Judith's hands when she is within reach. The two splash around happily in a puddle for a minute before they stumble over and join Carl at the car.
"What are we gonna do?" Asks Carl.
"Hmm, do you have home work?"
"No."
"Not today!" Judith jumps with her announcement.
"Well then, how would you two feel about going on an adventure?" Beth asks.
"What kind of adventure?" Carl questions, sounding just a little bit suspicious.
"Well, I heard you thought you saw a monster the other day."
"I did." Carl says defensively.
"Good, because I have a friend who specializes in monsters." Beth crouches down so she's looking right at Carl, "How about I introduce you and we all go on a bonafide monster hunt?"
"For real?"
"I don't fib." She says solemnly.
They all pile into the front seat and the car zips out onto the street. Beth is driving quickly, weaving in and out of the busy traffic. The clunky station wagon slipping easily into spaces that seem much too tight and narrow for it. Every light turns to green as they approach, a chorus of honking horns following them.
The kids and Beth and her bag and umbrella are all spread across the bench seat, sliding into each other every time Beth takes a corner. Beth is laughing, fiddling with the knobs on the radio, switching between stations until Tom Waits gravely voice fills the car and Beth immediately starts stinging loudly and enthusiastically.
"Oh, you got to hold on, hold on
You gotta hold on
Take my hand, I'm standing right here, you gotta hold on"
Beth turns away from the road, peering over at her passengers, to ask, "Aren't you two gonna sing along?"
"We don't know the words." Explains Judith,
"This isn't the sort of music our parents listen to." Adds Carl.
Beth rolls her eyes and shrugs dramatically, "Who says you need to know the words? Seems to me that's a silly reason not to sing."
That is all the permission Judith needs to starts singing (mostly oooh's and ahhhh's) at the top of her lungs. Now Carl is still a kid, but he is old enough to worry about things like embarrassment and looking cool. He honestly tries to just ignore them, but even he can't help but join in with the laughing and singing as they careen wildly through grid locked traffic.
After another hard right turn Beth leans over Carl and starts digging into her bag, barely glancing at the road. She pulls out three juice boxes and tosses them to Judith.
Then she starts leaning over even farther before asking distractedly, "Carl can you grab the wheel for a sec."
She's almost disappears into the bag struggling to reach something. Carl swerves missing a FedEx truck by less than an inch just as Beth pops up with a triumphant shout.
"There they are!"
She's got 3 hotdogs, in buns and giving off steam, topped with mustard and ketchup clutched in her hand. Smoothly she slides back into her seat and takes the wheel from Carl before passing out the hotdogs.
They are just finishing eating when they arrive at the Atlanta Zoo. Instead of heading in the front gate they drive past the parking lot and turn into an alley on the far end of the block. The road meanders through some trees and around to the back of the zoo compound. Its not a through road and it ends at a small staff parking lot and loading docks. Beth parks across a three different staff spots that all have names posted above them.
As they load out of the car a man, with shaggy brown hair and blue eyes, dressed in dark layers and holding a crossbow jumps down off the loading dock and walks over. He pulls Beth in for a quick hug, pressing a kiss into her hair line. Then he steps back and gives Judith and Carl a long assessing look while he chews on the skin of his thumb.
"This is my friend, Daryl Dixon." Beth's smile is so wide and her teeth are so white it's a little bit blinding, "Daryl, these are my new charges Judith and Carl Grimes."
"Ya fancy yourself a monster hunter do ya?"
"Well, we never hunted it. But we saw it and we went after it."
"I saw it first," Judith speaks up, pulling on Daryl's plant leg.
"I bet ya did."
"I seen it and then I told Carl, and we decided to follow it together." She explains.
"Well ain't ya just a Little Ass Kicker." Daryl nods approvingly and then asks, "What did it look like?"
"It was as big as Duke, Mrs. Horvath's great dane."
"With leathery greenish skin."
"It had spikes all down it's back."
"A really long tail."
"Huge black eyes."
"It hopped more than ran"
"Hmmm, that's what I thought." Daryl announces, interrupting the excited children, "Sounds like a Chupacabra, a swarm of them moved in last spring and they've been popping up everywhere since then."
"Ya believe us?" Carl is shocked.
"Sure why wouldn't I?"
"I don't think our parents believe in monsters." Judith explains.
"Ya lots of people won't unless they see for themselves. I've seen plenty of monsters."
"What sorts of monsters have you seen?" Carl asks.
"Well," Daryl draws out the word, "There are lots of a jackalope, and thunderbirds around here. I seen a Bigfoot with my brother when we was visiting our uncle in Colorado when we was just little. Seen the Loveland Frog, he was huge! Bigger than any man. There was some sort a lizard man in South Carolina, the Jersey Devil. Was a stink ape that time we was in Florida." He gestures to Beth with a flick of his chin. "Let me tell ya, she did not care for that fella. Also, we can't seem to go a summer without a run in with some sort a Mothman. But I bet there's way more that no one even knows about."
"Have you ever caught one?" Asks Judith, her eyes as big as saucers.
"Sure, but I only hunt them if they're causing problems. Attacking people or animals or getting into places they shouldn't be. If they're not bothering anyone I'm not shooting."
While Daryl is talking Beth follows the wall past the loading dock, into the bushes. Daryl urges the kids forward and they all trail after in a line. After about 50 feet Beth slows and starts running her fingers over the rough stone. Then she stops completely and reaches deep into her bag pulling out a tattered box of chalk. She draws a door using yellow, Daryl reaches around her and adds a big round door handle in orange. Then Beth taps the image with the end of the umbrella, the door bursts up off the wall and Daryl pulls it open.
Beth enters first, the others follow behind in single file. Once Daryl, at the end of their line, passes through the door it slams shut. They are picking their way through dense trees when they hear a loud roar from nearby. Not even a minute later and they are all on one side of a small clearing and a giant tiger is blocking their way on the other. Beth and the tiger seem to hold eyes. Daryl does not raise his crossbow. Then Beth curtseys deeply. The tiger growls, shaking it's massive head. Beth rolls her eyes and points her umbrella at the tiger.
"Shiva." Her tone is sharp.
The Tiger lets out a harsh huff of air and then her shoulders drop low in an approximation of a bow before moving off the path allowing the group to pass.
"Smart move." Daryl whispers to the kids, "I wouldn't want to find myself on the wrong side of that umbrella neither."
After a few minutes they stop at an out cropping of rock. Beth announcing that everyone needs proper gear before starting to pull things out of her backpack. Carl and Judith both get a sturdy pair of boots, leather gloves and wide brim hats that resemble the one from their father's Sheriff uniform. She hands Daryl a large quiver that is practically bursting with brightly coloured arrows. Lastly she pulls out a thick leather belt, wrapping it around her waist over her blazer and then sliding a large knife into the sheath that hangs from it.
"Which way?" Beth asks Daryl once they are all outfitted.
"No tracks yet, we should head towards the water might be able to pick some up, or find someone to ask." Daryl answers as he walks around them in a circle staring at the ground and occasionally kicking some leaves out of the way.
The group makes their way over the uneven ground and through the forrest. The colours of the leafs and grass and plants start to change, moving from greens and browns to oranges and pinks and purples, becoming more bright and vivid and until the trees thin out and they hear the sound of running water. They find a wide river, the water a very bright deep blue colour. Sitting on a rock at the edge of the water is a large frog. His legs are crossed at the ankle, he picks absently at the shiny silver banjo across his lap, and a cigarette dangles from his lips.
Beth taps on Judith's shoulder and motions to the frog. "Why don't you ask if he's seen anything?"
Judith approaches the frog and waves. "Hello Mister."
"Hello yourself." His voice is deep.
"I was wondering if you have seen any strange animals around here?" Judith asks.
"I guess that depends on what you mean by strange animals," the frog answers.
Carl eagerly repeats their description of the Chupacabra. The frog listens, nodding occasionally.
"I've seen it." The frog nods and then thoughtfully adds, "Not a friendly fella at all."
"That's why we want to find it." Carl says, "To makes sure it doesn't hurt anyone."
The frog stubs his cigarette out on the rock and gestures towards the running water. "Down stream about 5 miles. I didn't want to stay anywhere around there."
He stands and slings the banjo across his back before leaping easily over the water and walking off into the forrest on the opposite bank.
"Thank you, Mister!" Judith calls after him.
He doesn't turn around but does lift one long hand in the air in acknowledgment.
"Five miles is pretty far." Daryl says as he scratches at his stubble.
"How about a boat?" Beth suggests.
"Where are we going to get a boat?" Carl asks.
At the same time Daryl bends over and plucks a fat red and white mushroom out of the mud. "Will this do?" He olds it out to Beth.
"Perfect." She beams up at him.
Daryl sets the mushroom upside down in the mud at the side of the river. Then he picks up Carl and Judith, one under each arm, and jogs behind the nearest tree.
"What is going on?" Carl demands as Daryl set s them down and covers their eyes with his hands.
Before he can answer there is a loud pop and very bright flash. When they peak out from behind the tree the mushroom is giving off yellow sparks and is gigantic, floating in the water and looking for all the world like a boat. It towers over Beth, who is pointing her umbrella at it and grinning widely. The rounded cap of the mushroom is now the hull, the stem is the cabin complete with a door and windows and a chimney giving off a little trail of smoke.
Daryl herds everyone up the gangway and onto the boat. Beth digs into her backpack again pulling out two life vests that she passes to the children and then a large wooden ships wheel that she can barley lift. Daryl carries the wheel into the cabin and pushes so that it's sticking out of the soft flesh of the mushroom just beneath the forward facing window. Once everyone is settled, the kids perched near the bow looking into the water and Beth in the cabin at the helm, Daryl gives the boat a push from shore before hoping in and they head off down stream.
The kids watch as strange plants and trees and animals pass by on the shore. They hear squirrel's discussing where to find the best trees. They see a bear and a fox who appear to be engaged in an intense game of chess. Then after a while they notice that the plants look wrecked, like something plowed right through them and everything has gone silent. No animals, no chatter. Beth steers the boat over to the shore and they all disembark.
Daryl takes the lead and soon is explaining to Carl and Judith what he is looking for. It's not long until they find tracks they can follow. The tracks are becoming more obvious, pressed deep in the mud, and there is also a distinctly unpleasant smell indicating they are getting close. The monster leads them on a winding path up a steep cliff. Near the top they find it, crouched over the lifeless body of an owl. A wet slurping sound fills the air. They creep closer. Daryl raises his bow. The creatures head pops up, it's giant black eyes scanning the area while it's claws pull at the dead owl. Daryl lets his arrow loose. His shot is true, bright teal and purple fletching sticking out of the Chupacabra's chest.
After a quick field dressing, that Carl and Judith both watch with rapt attention, the beast is trussed up and slung across daryl's back and they are all headed back down to the river. They are on a ledge following a narrow path, far below they can see the river and their boat. All of a sudden out of Beth's bag sounds a deep ringing.
Beth reaches deep into her bag, pulls out an alarm clock and announces, "It's time to go or we're going to be late!"
At the same time Judith who steps back too close to the edge and the ground crumbles under her feet sending her right off the side of the cliff.
"Oh dear!" Beth exclaims as she takes a large step and follows Judith over the edge.
There is a loud pop and a shower of sparks. Carl yells.
"Don't ya worry now, Beth's got her." Daryl wraps his hand around Carls elbow and steers him towards the edge of the cliff. "We best be joining them."
Carl has his eyes squeezed tight and it takes him minute to realize he's not falling. Soft fluffy clouds are supporting them, floating down towards the river at a slow pace. He can see Judith and Beth laughing and floating on their own clouds below.
When they are all back on the shore of the river Beth draws another chalk door on a nearby rock. This one is pink with bright white flowers all over. When Beth taps it with her umbrella it seems to inflate, pulling away from the stone with a pop. They file through and tumble out into the middle of the penguin exhibit, the little birds chirping and flapping excitedly all around them.
Daryl laughs as he tugs on the end of Beth's ponytail. "Not quite, Blondie."
Beth drops to her knees and starts drawing on the cement floor.
"Hang on a sec, this outta do it."
Her tongue is poking out between her teeth as she squints down at her drawing of a hatch before tapping it with her umbrella. The drawing shifts and pops into four dimensions just as Daryl reaches down and spins the handle in the centre of it. He pulls the heavy metal door up and jumps down into the hole. Beth passes Judith and then Carl down to him before jumping down herself and landing on the asphalt right next to the Grimes station wagon.
Beth digs into her bag and pulls out a length of rope that she tosses to Daryl, who uses it to strap the Chupacabra to the hood of the station wagon. Daryl puts the bag, umbrella and cross bow in the back and all four climb into the font seat. Beth is pulling out of the parking lot before Daryl gets the door shut. Ten minutes later they race up in front of the natural history museum, jumping the curb entirely. Beth brakes so hard the tires smoke and screech. The station wagon sliding to a stop in the middle of the herd of bronze hadrosaurs statues that are featured in the plaza.
Daryl leans over and shakes Carl and Judith's hands, "Thank ya for all the hard work this afternoon. I'd hunt monsters with ya'll anytime."
Then he climbs out and unstraps the Chupacabra carcass from the hood. He lifts it across his shoulders and walks up to Beths side of the car. He reaches in and grabs his crossbow out of the back seat.
He raps his knuckles against her door and looks down at the little blond with a fond smile, "See ya tonight."
Daryl strides towards the entrance. None of the museum patrons walking by seem to notice, him, the beast or the vehicle.
"Tell Merle I said hi!" Beths calls after him as she guns the engine.
They squeal onto the Grimes's street just as the sun starts to set. Everyone climbs out of the car and Beth scrambles into the back seat to grab all of their bags. They race in the door, a pile of muddy boots and soggy jackets. Beth flicks her umbrella and everything zips away into her bag. Beth shuffles the kids into the kitchen where they find a pot of soup on the stove stirring itself. She wiggles her umbrella and the dirt and mud on everyone's skin and under all their nails vanishes, their hair and clothes fluffing up and looking fresh.
They hear Lori and Rick talking about their days as the come in from the garage when Carl's eyes go wide.
"Beth" He hisses, "Your knife!"
Beth winks, "Whoopsie-dasiy." Her knife and belt disappearing in a shower of yellow sparks.
It's dark on the Grimes street. The only light the streaky, muted reflections of the house lights on the wet asphalt. A large motorcycle, with black paint and shiny chrome rolls up to the curb in front of the Grimes's house. Beth Greene dashes down the drive way, splashing through puddles as she pulls a full face helmet out of her little backpack.
Daryl Dixon unfolds from the bike, shaking his hair out like a dog shaking off water. He reaches out, grabbing Beth's shoulder and pulling her into him. Leaning down close to her he says something quietly. Her tinkling laughter rings out in response. He bends and kisses her wide smile, she pushes up on her tiptoes to meet him.
Daryl pulls pack, plucking the helmet out of her hand and pulling it over her head. He does up the chin strap and then grabs her umbrella and holds the straps of her backpack as she slips into it. The umbrella gets tucked between the pack and her back. Daryl looks her over from head to toe, and must be satisfied with what he sees, because he gives a little nod. Then he pats her on the bum and climbs back onto the bike, holding out a hand to steady her as she climbs on behind.
The bike roars to life racing down the quiet street and disappearing in a shower of yellow sparks. The wind starts to gust and rain starts falling again.