𝗦𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗥𝗦
CHAPTER SIXTEEN!
〔 Season two, episode two 〕
𝑩𝑨𝑪𝑲 𝑶𝑵 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑩𝑶𝑨𝑻, Cassandra sat outside looking up at the stars, she found them peaceful, a little bit of beauty in a world gone mad. She had spent her whole life in Los Angeles she had never seen the stars this bright
She felt someone sit next to her, glancing away from the sky for a moment she saw Nick with pillows and a blanket in hand, leaning her head on his shoulder she went back to looking at the star's – but he couldn't tear her eyes away from her, she looked so peaceful that he couldn't help the smile that crept on his face as he watched her
He tugged her closer leaning down to whisper in her ear "you look beautiful"
Nick didn't share her fascination with the stars but he loved watching her, he would sit next to her for hours bored If it meant seeing her this peaceful
She laughed softly smiling up at him
"Your really good with kids you know"
"Yeah?" Nick smiled back, making her hum in response
"You will make a great dad one day" she whispered, neglecting to mention the baby fever she was having earlier. She couldn't help but imagine Nick with their own kids. A little girl she knew would definitely be a daddy's girl or a boy that looked exactly like him
She always knew she wanted a family with Nick but never thought she could since of his addiction and she certainly didn't think that she could bring a child into this world but maybe one day, they would be safe enough
"You wanna have kids with me" Nick asked shock written across his face, his words getting caught in his throat. He thought after everything he had put her through that she wouldn't want that future with him. Wouldn't trust him enough
"Of course I do" she turned to him, her eyebrows knitting together in confusion as she still held a small smile
Nick smiled a big grin as he leant down kissing her before pulling away, resting his forehead against hers "I hope we get that one day"
Cassandra nodded and she knew if she did get that one day. She wouldn't be like her dad. Her children will never have to feel pressure like her, she would love them no matter what. No matter what choice they make. Unconditional love. Something she never had.
Nick and Cass both laid down cuddled into each other as the Parker girl continued to look at the stars, absently mindedly tracing little patterns over Nick's tracks marks, it something comforting to both of them though it was always something different to Cass every mark on his arm could have taken him from her but it didn't
They heard footsteps approach them,
Turning their heads they saw Alicia wrapped in a blanket
"Hey, you want to know what the most underrated perk of the apocalypse is?" Nick broke the silence, making Alicia move
Towards them
"Yeah."
"No planes. No noise pollution. No smog...Just stars"
"I guess the apocalypse can be kinda beautiful" Cassandra whispered glancing at the Clark siblings
"Yep, well we definitely stopped the climate crisis" Alicia sat down facing Nick and Cass, smiling slightly at them, she hadn't seen them this happy with each other for a long time, that was another underrated perk of the apocalypse a clean Nick "awesome. Why are you both up?"
"Why are you up?" Nick shot back, Cassandra rolled her eyes snuggling closer to Nick as he tightened his arm around her, she was practically ontop of him with how small the couch they we're laying on was but neither them minded, he smiled feeling her soft breath hit his neck
"I drank to much wine. My minds racing" Alicia replied "come on, what's your excuse?"
"It's these kids, man" Nick fiddled with Cassandra's fingers as she listened to him speak "they've seen more then their share, you know?, like, what they're living in now and what they're gonna live in, like, it's l--I don't know. Things are never just gonna be normal for them, you know?"
Alicia nodded, Cass felt sadness wash over her children will hardly have happy memories from before and any child born into this world now will only know death and killing but would it be so bad if that's all they know, they wouldn't have the feeling of a lost world.
"It's not fair."
"I mean, at least they're prepared." Alicia replied
"Yeah, they're prepared like it's the end times" Nick said
"Isn't it?" Alicia voiced
"No, Alicia it's not the rapture"
Alicia rolled her eyes looking up at the sky,
Cassandra felt her eyes get heavy she knew she was tired but she didn't want to take her eyes off the stars, she didn't want to miss this moment she didn't know how many more they would all have
"Something is off here." Nick whispered
"everything's off. Everywhere."
〕〔
Early in the morning Cassandra still half asleep followed Nick into the family's home, she didn't know what he was looking for but she knew he was suspicious
Standing close to the door, she watched him search through the bathroom, through their pills which left a worried look on her face but when he walked away from them she couldn't help the smile that crept on her face and a feeling she couldn't describe, she didn't know if she was proud, she didn't know what It was but she knew she was happy
She followed him into the next room which she realised was a office, she glanced over the room it looked normal enough. She was getting anxious now, it all seemed normal what wasn't normal was the two of them searching through their house
She watched Nick check through notes on the table, before his attention focused on a globe. Picking it up he opened it, Cassandra's eyes widening as he pulled out a packet of pills
"What are those?" She asked thinking of all people Nick may know but he just stared at them confused, shaking his head
"Cassandra!" Willia excitedly exclaimed making both Nick and Cassandra startled, Nick quickly hid the globe as Willia hugged Cass
"Hey willia" Cassandra hugged the girl back tightly as she looked at Nick making sure he hid the globe only letting her go once he had placed it back
"Hey Nick" she giggled looking up at the Clark boy
"Heyyy Willia. Where is everybody?"
"Come draw with me" she asked looking up at Nick
"Oh, I--I can't draw. No, no, no." Cassandra held back her smile as she watched the girl tug on Nick, she knew eventually Nick would give in
"Draw.."
"Go on Nick, she wants you to draw with her" Cass giggled as stared at him, he looked back at her with narrowed eyes before letting out a playful smile
"Alright, alright. Come on" he took Willia's hand leading her out the room "What should we draw?"
Cassandra stood back watching him bitting back her smile but once Nick was at the door he looked back sending Cassandra a soft smile and her heart melted at the image of him hand in hand with Willia, she couldn't help but imagine how he would look with their own child.
She cursed herself at the baby fever she was having right now but as soon as Nick left the room it was replaced with a feeling of dread. Why did Willia's father have a secret stash of pills
Cassandra glanced at the globe, maybe Nick was right. Maybe this place isn't right.
〕〔
Cassandra ran towards the boat, glancing around trying to catch a glimpse of Madison's blonde hair and when she did, the blonde walking down a path towards Willia's mother she bolted towards her
"Madison!" She called, finally catching up with her. Madison looked at the girl releasing the worry and panic in her eyes, she reached out placing her hands on her shoulders
"Breath" she whispered as Cassandra tried to catch her breath
"Me and Nick. We found something. The man he has pills hidden in his office"
"What?"
"Pills Maddie and Nick didn't know what they we're. I heard you last night you think she turned that light on purpose. What if she's afraid of him. For her children"
"Okay, Okay. I'll talk to her. I'll talk to her" Madison reassured her, running her hand up and down her arm comfortingly
Nodding Cassandra walked back to the boat, jumping up onto the boat, she decided to go and bug Strand. Sneaking up the stairs, she saw him playing with a cufflink in his hand
"Someone gave that to you or you have a memory of someone special connected to that" Cassandra observed, making Strand jump slightly tucking it back into his pocket
"It's not nice to sneak up on people Cassandra"
"Why do you insist on calling me by my full name?" Cassandra asked, realising he always called her that. Strand raised his eyebrows in question, confused on why she was changing the subject she started
But Cassandra knew she wasn't going to get anywhere by asking him personally questions, he would just avoid it
"Because its your name"
Cassandra sighed sitting on the chair beside him "my father called me that all the time but when he spoke to me it was either, leave Nick he's no good for you, he's a sinner or how is school, what did you get on your last test. That's not good enough for a future lawyer"
Cassandra bit her tongue when she realised what she was saying, she was telling him things about herself that she didn't want people to know
"So what I just got from that was your a mix of daddy issues, a father who drummed into your head that you need to be perfect and he gave you a list of what he deemed perfect am I right? And nick wasn't on that list?" Strand questioned looking at the brunette carefully
"No. He wasn't. But I loved him and I wasn't going to fail him, by leaving him"
"You said your dad called him a sinner?, your father was a religious man?" Strand asked
"Every Sunday growing up i was at church. I never really believed in it i don't think i believed because he did. I use to see it as a way I could talk to my mom, dad didn't really talk about her much. But drugs is a sin, that's all I ever heard that Nick was a sinner and that he would drag me down with him. I don't know what i believe anymore. But its there you know?" Cassandra sighed looking up at Strand, she saw sympathy flash in his eyes for a moment
"Father's they mess you up" Strand whispered, glancing down at her
"Alright you don't want me to call you Cassandra. How about Andi?" Strand asked
"Andi?" She looked up at him with a funny face, she had never heard anyone come up with that Nickname for her
"Yeah its different" Cassandra scrunched her face up at the name "Okay..."
"Where are we going Strand?" Cassandra asked
"Time will tell...."
Both of there heads shoot up as they heard Madison's voice echo from downstairs
"She's sick. She can't leave."
Cassandra shot up, heading down the stairs. She noticed Madison and Travis arguing. Gripping the railing as she listened to them
"She's convinced if they stay here, they all die."
"They have supplies, water, food" Travis argued "they even have power"
"And they have infected, all along their fence, others at the marina."
"There's infected everywhere." Cass spoke Making her presence known "the question isn't where they would be safer. It's who would they be safer with"
Madison and Travis turned towards the brunette
"Sorry" Cassandra mumbled "but it's the truth. Can we protect them better, when we're all still adapting to"
"How long untill the dead make their way up to the house?" Madison asked "It's not secure."
"Yeah, I know, I talked to George. He's got strong opinions" Travis stood walking closer to Madison trying to convince her "but all the man cares about is keeping his family safe. That's all I care about" he glanced between Madison's and Cassandra
"They're just biding time untill it all goes bad" Madison whispered
"Who's to say we're not biding time out there?"
"Where we land next could be safer." Madison argued but Cassandra doubted that, if it was the same here, if other places had been bombed it was probably the same everywhere
"What we find could save us, all of us. We don't know."
"Well I can't take the man's kids just cause she says so" Travis announced
"Then don't do it because she says so. Do it because I'm asking you to" Madison argued staring at Travis
Cassandra watched the interaction, she watched as he stared at her. Cassandra knew what Madison was doing using Travis feelings for her — a man would do anything for the person they love but it's just how far would a man like Travis go
"Your not taking them, Travis. You're saving them" Madison sat down "we can't keep leaving people behind"
"Let me talk to George. Okay, let me talk to him"
"There's no talking when it comes to what a man thinks is best for his children. Trust me." Cassandra sighed folding her arms across her chest, glancing down at the floor when she heard the glass door slide open and wind blow through
Nick looked over at Cass
"Did you tell them?" He asked,
"I told Maddie" she nodded, as they walked over to him
"I think this assholes planning on Jonestowning his whole family" Nick said, Cassandra cringed at his way of phrasing it
"We found pills in his office" Cass filled Travis in on what they already knew
"–I think its poison" Nick said, having time to think about it now
"Well, how do you know?" Travis questioned
"I know my pharmaceuticals" Nick replied "and I know pillheads. Those people are not that. And those pills are not recreational"
Cassandra looked at him and despite the tense situation she couldn't help the thought that crossed her mind, if only he focused this much in school
"We can't leave these kids here" Cassandra stated, causing everyone to look at each other. Knowing she was right.
〕〔
Madison and Cassandra sat in the chairs as Nick and Travis stood beside them. The four of them had agreed to take the kids so they we're waiting for them to pack
"They'll be right down." Melissa annocued, Travis and Madison jumping up.
Travis taking there luggage
"Do they understand?" Madison asked
"Um, I told them they were going on a boat ride. They'd be back in a coupe of days. I think they're excited about it."
"We'll take care of them, I promise you. We'll keep them safe" Madison reassured her, Cassandra watched as she handed Madison a bear and a sling shot
"This--- this is Harry's. He gets scared at night. He pretends not to, but he ends up crawling into his sisters bed"
Cassandra smiled softly at the thought. She couldn't imagine the pain Melissa was going through. Letting her children go for there safety knowing she would never see them again
"We've been trying to discourage him from that, but I think it's okay, you know?. If he does that, it's okay"
Cassandra could see Nick getting a bit upset. She smiled softly as she took ahold of his hand, standing up she hugged him, just making it look like she wanted to be close to him
"You big softy" she whispered, causing him to smile into her neck as he wrapped his his arms around her back holding her tight
"And willia, her hair is--she has this hair-- she'll cry if you comb it, so just wait till you shampoo and put conditioner in it"
"What's going on!?" George's voice came out of nowhere
"Shit" Cassandra cursed pulling away from Nick as everyone stood frozen for a second
"Hey George." Travis dropped the suitcases
"What is this? Melissa" his tone got aggressive, Cassandra stepped forward but Nick tugged her back
"George." Melissa spoke
"Why?"
Melissa tried to calm him down, make him see reason
"I love you. I love our family but we have to give them a chance. I can't look at them everyday and see nothing for them, I just can't"
"–mama"
Cassandra and Nick both stepped forward quickly hearing Harry's voice,
"What, what sweetie what's wrong?" Melissa asked
"Somethings wrong with willia"
"Stay here. Stay right here don't move" both of the parents ran up the stairs, Cassandra close behind as Nick stayed with Harry,
Upon entering the room Cassandra heard Melissa's crys and saw the pills on the side, she saw them. She saw her and Nick put them back. She covered her mouth as she glanced at Willia's body "Oh god" she felt tears fill her eyes
"No you can't hold her!" Madison voice shot through air as she grabbed onto Cassandra, Who was frozen. She couldn't believe was dead, she watched as willia came back, her eye's now a foggy white before bitting down on her own mother. She was no longer a little girl full of hope
"Maddy. Cass" Travis yelled
"Get Harry away from this." George yelled at them pushing them out of the room, Cassandra ran down the stairs Madison behind her
Nick looked up at them, seeing the panic on their eyes, he grabbed Harry lifting him up
"Go!" Cassandra yelled, all of them bolting out of the house towards the boat
"What happened?" Daniel asked as he saw them all running
"They turned." Travis replied "We're taking the boy with us" as they all jumped onto the boat Cassandra going first taking Harry out of Nicks arms, dried tears staining her face
"I want my dad. I want my mama" Harry mumbled and Cassandra felt her heart break for the boy
"I know" she whispered crouching down in front of him, brushing his blonde hair "I know but this is what they wanted. They want you to be safe"
"What happened to willia?" He asked, and Cassandra felt her words get caught in her throat, she didn't want to cry in front of him
Nick crouched down beside her, placing his hand on the back of her head as she looked at him holding in her cries, before turning towards Harry
"She got sick all right?" Nick's told Harry in a soft voice "come on, let's go inside" he glanced at Cass, grabbing ahold of her arm and tugging her up before leading Harry into the boat
"Madison what have you done now?!" Strand asked
"We're taking him with us. We have room."
Nick and Cassandra sat down, Nick pulled him onto his lap as Cassandra tried to soothe him
"Put him back were you found him"
"We have room"
"We do not. Children are the definition of deadweight"
"Shh... its okay" Cassandra stroked his blonde hair, before glaring up at Strand
"We're doing this. Now move the goddam boat" Madison yelled, Cassandra jumped as a gunshot went off
"Stop!" A yell was heard from outside, Cassandra turned seeing seth, they had forgotten about seth
Nick held Harry closer to him as they watched Seth force his way into the ship
"Get back, get back"
Harry was hiding in Nick as Cassandra shielded him. Whatever was going to happen was something he shouldn't see
"Harry. Harry, come here. I'm taking you home" Seth announced
"There's nothing to go back to" Cassandra spoke up, feeling protective of the little boy, she didn't want him to end up like Willia,
Seth turned his gun on Cassandra, making a series of reactions happen, Nick pulled on her arm trying to tug her back but dispite the fear she was feeling she wasn't moving, Nick glared at seth in worry
"No no no" Madison jumped infront of Cassandra, blocking seths view
"Look There's no home anymore. You don't know what's back there" Travis tried to reason with him
"Shut up!"
"Listen to me–
"–I know what's there. It's our home. This is still our home."
Cassandra watched as seth held the gun on Travis
"If you go back there you will die. Your father saw that in the end" Cass tried to convince him, she couldn't let Harry go back there
"Shut up!"
"Seth your dad doesn't want this anymore" Travis replied "he told us to take Harry"
"My father told me what he wants. He taught me"
"But he changed his mind."
"I don't believe you"
Cassandra watched Daniel as she saw his movements, she watched him. She knew had a weapon
"Come with us, seth. Please" Madison pleaded, the gun switching on her
"Daniel don't" Madison ordered, the man held a gun to Seths head.
Cassandra looked at the boy on Nicks lap, he was scared. He didn't know what was going on. All he knew was that his brother was holding a gun to people who we're practically strangers to him
"I can get at least one of you guys. Maybe more is that what you want?" Seth asked
"Just let us go home"
"Harry, come here. Come on"
Nick sighed looking at Cass, who shook her head before leaning down and whispering to Harry "'It's okay. Go on"
The moment Nick let him out of his arms, he ran to his brother hiding behind his legs. Cassandra shook her head, they we're leaving them for dead. He was so brainwashed by there dad, that he was willing to let them both die
"You caused this" seth directed his words at Madison before backing away and leaving the boat
The group followed them out, watching as they walked away from the boat. Cassandra shook her head noticing the zombie that was heading for them, it was Melissa
"Is he going to be able to do it?" Cassandra questioned, walking towards the railing she watched as seth dropped to his knees pulling Harry behind him. She watched as the blonde boy started to wave at them. Cassandra automatically returned it
"Oh Chris don't look" she heard Alicia whispered her voice cracking, but Cassandra couldn't tear her eyes away either, she watched as seth aimed his rifle firing the shot, she watched as her body dropped
Dropping her head Cassandra turned away, another person they couldn't save, but they didn't want to be saved, maybe you couldn't save anyone in this world. Not even yourself.
A/N
this chapter is a bit boring and I apologise for this that
I didn't really know how to fit cass into this chapter
So I just tried to work on her as a character and her relationships
Let me know if you think the relationships she shares with everyone makes sense and if anything is moving to fast
On filler chapters like this I'm gonna work on relationships and her background
ALSO I WENT BACK TO CH.14
and took out the part of Nick flirting with ofelia cuz I really didn't think nick would do that to cass
So in this timeline that never happened I replaced it with a small moment of Nick and Cass so please go back and check that out