Chapter Text
In the beginning, there were three types of people brought into this world.
The first beings were the Alpha’s, who was at the top of the social ladder — the leaders of the world. They are often intense and territorial, but that does not mean they are not capable of compromise and understanding. Like every person in this world, every Alpha is unique. Alpha’s are rare and can experience ruts. When an Alpha suffers a rut, they tend to search out an Omega and mate with them while in their heats — thus creating offspring, which is the point of every rut and heat.
Betas are next. They are the 'norm' but bend to the will of the Alphas. Not overly strong, or excessively weak either. Each Beta is unique. Betas make up most of the population of the world and in America. They do not experience heats or ruts for children can be produced at any time. Betas had jobs but couldn't get leadership positions for those were for Alphas.
Omegas are last. They are the nurturers and caretakers of the pack. They can have jobs but not ones that can put them in harm’s way. Most are submissive towards Alphas, but on rare occasions, they can be quite feisty. Like Alphas, everyone is unique. Omegas are rare and considered as precious gifts when an Alpha finds one. They experience heats. Heats are when the Omega’s are fertile and ready to be impregnated.
Then, of course, everything went to shit.
___
Before everything went to Hell, Rick Grimes was a pure-bred Alpha working at the local Sherriff’s department in King County, Georgia and Lori worked at the local school as a teacher that was a safe job for an Omega at the time. They were married and mated within a few years of knowing each other. They waited to have pups until one day after a successful mating, Lori went up to Rick and put his hand on her stomach. He knew the significance of this gesture for his face brightened with a smile on his lips and a twinkle in his eyes.
A few months later, a brown-haired baby girl named Kathryn Grimes was born. There was something unique to Kathryn though. Her eyes were of different colors. One eye is blue, and the other eye is brown. This condition was called complete heterochromia of the eye. It is somewhat familiar with cats with white fur and in other animals as well. Because of this condition, it was the reason why Rick called her his little ‘Kitty Kat’ and it became her nickname throughout her life. Lori would chuckle and say that Kat got one eye from her and the other from her father.
Four years later, Kathryn was blessed with a baby brother. Kat would love to help out with Carl and her mother as much as a little four-year-old could. When her brother was born, this was when things got strained between her parents. She noticed the tension between her father and mother in the last few years before the dead re-animated and walked the Earth. Kat was an observant child, another characteristic of a cat.
Then her father got shot and put in a coma at the hospital. Lori moved her family with another Alpha named Shane Walsh, a family friend, to a camp outside of Atlanta. Kat was very wary of Shane because of the way he acted around and looked at her mother like Lori was his Omega to take care of and cherish. Lori believed that Rick was dead and moved on with Shane. Kat didn’t want to consider this and kept her distance from Shane knowing that her mother has started a relationship with him. She was wary of the Alpha. Her Omega senses were beginning to appear at the time, and she could smell him on her.
One day, Lori sat with Kat about these senses. “You are an Omega, like me.” Lori hugged her daughter close and pulled out tablets for her to take. “This will help you keep safe from unmated Alphas which unfortunately there are a lot of in this world. I am sorry for burdening you with this life.” Lori cried, but Kat buried her head underneath her mother’s and wrapped her arms around Lori trying to comfort her mother. Lori warned her daughter about taking too many of them and when she hits her first heat. “These are to help deaden your senses and hide your scent as well. Do not take too many of them or when you experience your first heat. They could kill you, Kat. Do you understand me?” Ever since then, Kat would carry suppressants around when her Omega senses became too strong to handle or if her heats get close.
Kat was off helping people when Rick came into the camp the first time, and Kat was thrilled to see her father again. They were a happy family for a little while until then Lori found out she was pregnant for the third time in her life. Her pregnancy started to fracture their perfect, happy family life. Her parents tried to move on, but Shane kept slithering into the relationship and always was trying to ruin any form of happiness between the two of them.
Kat was there when her other sibling was born. The second best day of her life, but it was also the worst day of her life as well. She and Carl gained another sibling, but in return, they lost their mother. Lori gives her last dying words towards her children. "You are going to beat this world; I know you will. You are smart, and you are strong, and you are so brave, and I love you. You gotta do what's right. It's so easy to do the wrong thing in this world. So, if it feels wrong don't do it, alright? If it feels easy don't do it, don't let this world spoil you.” She looks over at Carl. “You're so good, my sweet boy.” Then she turns her head to look over at her eldest child. “Best thing I ever did, and, I love you. My sweet, sweet, boy and my darling girl, I love you both."
Lori and Carl embrace then she turns towards her eldest child. “You are like me, and I am sorry for that.” Kat nods her head ‘no’ before her mother speaks again. “I never wanted you to be like me in this world but please, take care of your siblings and your father.” Lori cups her daughter’s face while tears roll down Kat’s cheeks. “I’m sorry, my children.”
Everything after that was a blur for Kathryn. She remembers bits and pieces with the small baby in her arms and her Father falling to the ground crying.
___
A girl with long, straight dark brown hair was standing off to the side watching people coming and going from the RV. Kathryn was older now, and her Omega genes were kicking in more strongly than before when she first presented when Kat was with her mother. Her figure filled out to help with baring future pups, and her dual-colored eyes twinkled with mischief. She was no submissive Omega like her mother; Kat was raised by an Alpha father who was kind and gentle as well as lived with an overprotective Alpha brother.
‘A lot has happened since then.’ Kathryn thought to herself about the past when all first started while watching her father and company get Maggie into the RV. She is holding Judith on her hip while Rick and the others set up the RV for Maggie, Kat talks to her friend. “The doctor there will help you. Be safe, Maggie.” Maggie groans from the pain, but she could nod at Kat before she was placed into the RV.
She watches Carl come up to the RV and was about to go in when Kat stops him with her voice. “Carl.” He stops and turns towards her giving her a wary glance expecting her to stop him. “I am not going to stop you.” She grins, and Carl releases his tense shoulders. “Just keep him and yourself safe.” Kat didn’t elaborate on ‘him,’ but Carl knew she meant their dad. Carl nods and walks into the RV.
Kat walks away from the RV to stand off to the side and watch the rest of the people get in until her father was the last one. Rick walks over to Kat and smiles down at her. “Did you take your suppressants?” Kat nods. “Do I need to get more?” This time she does speak.
“No. I am good for a while, Dad.”
Her father comes forward and cups the back of Kat’s head to bring it forward towards him then carefully proceeds to kiss her forehead. “I love you, Kitty Kat.” Rick looks down at Judith in Kat’s arms and gives her the same loving kisses. “Love you too, Judy Bear.”
Kat chuckles at her father’s antics. “We love you too, Dad.” Father Gabriel walks up behind Kat. She looks down at Judith who decided to take a nap on her. Kat chuckled once more and caught the tail-end of the conversation between Gabriel and her father about trusting him as well as protecting both of his daughters. “And I can protect myself,” Kat added at the end. Rick looks over at her and smirks.
“Of course you can, I taught you.” She scoffs and gives him a look, but Rick pats her head.
“Michonne did as well but please, be careful, Dad.” Her father nods at her then looks over at Gabriel before getting into the RV.
Kat held Judith close to her chest while watching her Father and company leave. She had a terrible feeling in the pit of her stomach as she watched the RV drive out of sight.
___
Kat was putting Judith to bed that night and worrying about how late it was. Her Father and his entourage should have been back hours ago from Hilltop. She stayed up all night waiting for the headlights to come through the windows of the house. Kat kept herself busy by tiding up the house and going over the things that they still needed.
When she finally heard a vehicle coming through the gate, Kat brought her head up and looked out the window to notice that the sun was coming up. She ran out of the house to see her Father, her Brother, and Michonne on the porch. Kat looked at her Father and saw his slumped shoulders. Carl was off to the side and looking down at the wooden floor angrily. His fists clenched. Michonne wouldn’t even look at her. She knew something was wrong because of the way that these three were acting on the porch.
Her father lifted his head and stared into her mismatched eyes. Kat saw his expression. He looked destroyed. His blue eyes didn’t shine like they usually do. They were blank and defeated.
“Oh, Dad.” She softly says and looks over at Carl. He looked up at her. She saw the rage in his eyes.
“I couldn’t do anything…” He whispers towards her. Kat pulls her father into her arms and rubs his back trying to lessen the pain even by a little bit. “We were intercepted by Negan. The leader of those people we attacked a while back.” Kat sucks in a breath and knows that this meant trouble. “He killed them. He killed Abraham and Glenn.” She let out a whimper at this piece of information. “I will not burden you with any other details.” His voice turned to steel and Kat knew not to ask about Abe and Glenn.
“Is Maggie at Hilltop?”
“Yes.”
Kat nods. “Good, at least she is safe away from here when he comes.”
Rick lays his head on her shoulders and pulls her close to him. What he didn’t tell his daughter was that Negan was an Alpha. An unmated Alpha at that. He wanted to rage, growl, and destroy, but he held down his Alpha instincts. Rick knew that his son was holding back just as much. He glanced over to his son to see a hard glint in his eye.
The urge to protect his child was overwhelming, but Rick knew that he had to accept how things were now or there would be more trouble.
___
The next day, Kat wakes up early and goes down the stairs to find Michonne sneaking out with the hidden sniper rifle in her hands. Before Michonne walks out the door, she sees Kat at the end of the stairs with a small smile on her face and a kind look in her eyes.
“I am not going to stop you.” Kat thought of Michonne as a second mother to her after her birth one past several months back. Michonne taught Kat how to use a katana, and a tanto sword, a short Japanese dagger, to protect herself in case danger came if her, her brother, or her father was not near. For being an Omega in this world now, was dangerous enough and being defenseless was not an option.
Kat goes up to the dark-skinned woman and hugs her gently. “Just be careful out there, please.” Kat whispers.
Michonne nods with a soft smile on her lips and hugs Kat back. “Thank you.” She equally whispers to the Omega and frees her arms from around Kat then turns and leaves out the door.
Kat turns to see her father in the living room staring at the door where Michonne just left. Kat goes up to her father and puts her hand on his shoulder. “She is okay. Just…we have our ways that we grieve and try to accept things, Dad.”
Rick looks down at this eldest child with a slight curve at his lips.
___
Kat is working in the community garden when she hears a commotion at the gates. She walks over and sees that her father is talking with another man on the other side of the fence. From what she can make out is that this man is wearing a black leather jacket and a baseball bat over his shoulder.
Her father was edgy from what she could see with his back turned towards her. His posture gave her a clue on who it was on the other side of that gate; it was the man that killed her friends. Her family. Her safety. This horrible man called Negan who smashed through her world and tore it into pieces in a matter of seconds.
“Do not make me have to ask again.” The man spoke towards Rick in a severe tone of voice. There was an underlined threat in that sentence. Kat frowned.
Her father goes over towards the gates. “You said a week. You’re early.” Rick begrudgingly opens the gate for Negan and his crew.
“I missed you.” She could feel the smugness ooze from his body. Kat decided to ignore the rest of the conversation and go over to her family’s house. She knew what was going to come. They came to raid the houses of their stuff and most likely more than this ‘Negan’ said he would. She scowled and shook her head while walking away from the commotion at the gates.
___
Kat is standing outside her the house that has been her family’s home for the past few months. She noticed all of the Saviors taking stuff out of each house which was more than they needed and going over to the make-shift hospital. She was silently grateful that her father had the insight to tell her to hide the suppressants of hers. Kat didn’t hide all of them, on the offset that there might be more Omegas out there, but she put a majority of them within the church which seemed to her that the Savior’s avoided at all costs. ‘Good thing we hid Judith there then.’
Her thoughts were interrupted by Negan and his irksomely vulgar laughter.
“See this; this is kind of thing just tickles my balls, little cooperation, and everything is pleasant as punch. See, we really are reasonable people once you get to know us. Honest.” Kat wanted to roll her eyes at his crudeness and his so-called ‘promise’ but restrained herself.
What she didn’t know was at that exact moment Negan turned his head towards her direction and saw her standing there. Her long, dark brown hair is going down her back like a silky chocolate river flowing alongside her backside, and her pale skin looked soft to the touch. Negan shakes himself out of his musings and introduces himself to her.
“Hey there, cutie! Who are you?” Kat grimaces at the nickname and turns to look over at him with a disinterested gaze. She glances over his shoulder to find her father holding a bat and Daryl in dirty sweats with an ‘A’ branded his chest. He was beaten to hell and back. The state of her uncle made her heart ache for him.
Negan just noticed her eyes when she was looking at the two men behind him. “Hol-y shit, doll. That is fuckin’ cool.” He goes over to her and grabs her chin with his gloved hand. “One eye is a pretty blue, and the other is a chocolate brown. Un-fuckin-believable.” Negan tilts her head to examine her eyes more closely. He sees that within the sunlight they sparkle like jewels. “That is fuckin’ spectacular.” He whispers out.
Kat just blankly stares at him. “It’s heterochromia of the eye or the correct term is heterochromia iridium. It is more common than you think.” She says slowly.
Negan stares at her a bit more until it gets uncomfortable for her and she starts to twitch in his grasp. He chuckles at her reaction and reluctantly lets go of her chin. Kat steps back away from him when he does. She didn’t want to be near him. Negan glances back to Rick to see him tense and uncomfortable at what just happened. A smirk slowly spreads across his face. “Oh! Is this another one of yours? Been hidin’ something precious from me, haven’t you?” He winks at Rick.
Rick, like Kat, blankly stares at him.
“Huh. You both have that stare. This girl here is sure yours. But…that doesn’t answer my original question.” Negan turns back towards Kat. “What is your name, doll?”
Kat glances over Negan’s shoulder towards her father.
“Nuh uh.” He shakes his finger. “I didn’t ask your daddy, I asked you.” Then Negan points his index finger at her.
Kat quickly looks at her father to see him nod his head. It made her heart ache to see him so…broken by this man in front of her.
“My name is Kathryn, but most call me Kat.”
“Alright Kitty Kat, let’s get this show on the road.” Kat lowly growls at the nickname for only her father was allowed to call her that…not this monster who killed her friends! “You get to come on the grand tour with us!”
‘Oh god, no.’ Kat felt Negan come up beside her and put his arm around her shoulders. He pulled her close to him. She got a whiff of his scent and froze. He was an Alpha. Her Omega was purring inside at his nice scent. ‘Stop that.’ Kat took her suppressants this morning, but his scent was so…strong, powerful, and undeniably Alpha.
While Kat was fighting off her inner Omega, Negan looked back at Rick with a smirk on his face. Rick was still staring at Negan blankly. Rick's blank stare caused Negan to chuckle and look down at the girl. She was frozen from his touch which was a normal reaction to being nearby an Alpha. She was a pretty little thing with brown hair that flowed down her to her mid-back. Her skin seemed soft to the touch and her eyes. Her uniqueness made her beautiful to him, and he wanted her.
While glancing at Rick, Negan pulled Kat near him and sniffed her neck. ‘Hmm…’ Before he could comment, one of his men came over and caught his attention.
“Negan.” Negan lifts his head away from Kat’s neck. He almost growls at being interrupted but urges his instincts back at the moment. “Got something that you might want to see.” He glances at the item in the Savior’s hand.
“Well, well, what do we have here?” The man gives Negan a video camera. “I got my fingers crossed for a little freaky-deaky.” He saunters over to Rick to mock him.
Kat frowns and grimaces at his crudeness. Negan notices this.
“What? Not your kind of thing, darlin’?” Kat looks at him with disgust and Negan chuckles. Then he looks back at the camera. “Is that you, Rick? Underneath all that fuckin’ man-bush? Shit, I would not have messed with that guy.” Negan aims the camera at Rick. “But that’s not you anymore, is it?” Negan chuckles at the troubled look on Rick’s face and take the camera to point it at the back to his self. “Nope.” Negan stares at Rick’s beard. “I really gotta shave this shit.” His gloved hand comes up to his face and rubs his beard.
Rick stares at the ground trying not to take Negan’s bait to anger him. Kat turns her face away from the scene to roll her eyes at this man’s childish antics like the schoolyard bully that he is.
Negan stares off to the side. “Whatever happened to that sick girl? That seemed like a hell of a stressful night her.” He then turns towards Rick. Rick just stares at the ground and Kat tenses at the mention of Maggie. “The way she was carrying on she was married to number two, right?” Rick slowly glances up at Negan and glares at the man in front of him. “Careful. Careful how you look at me, Rick.” Both of them were sizing each other up. “Widows, especially ones that look like that. They are special. I love them right after their husbands go. They are just empty inside but usually not for long.” He smirks at the distraught and angry Rick.
But before he could continue his tirade of shit talking about Maggie, Kat spoke and had enough of his pettiness to try and upset her father. Kat could see that her father was trying to hold together. “Stop it. That is enough.” Negan glances over towards her not looking at Rick who was currently clenching the bat in his hand.
Negan raises his eyebrows at her. “And why is that?”
“Do you care to pay your respects?”
Negan turns towards the voice behind him to see Father Gabriel. “Hol-y crap! You are creepy as shit, sneaking up on me, wearing that collar and that freaky ass smile!”
Kat smirks. ‘Are you afraid of God and his disciples, Sir Negan?’ She thought while Father Gabriel apologies which didn’t sound sincere to her ears but it gave her grin at the Father’s antics.
“I’m Father Gabriel.” He says.
Negan chuckles a little bit, but he starts to stare at Father Gabriel in disbelief. He then turns toward her father with that same look. “She didn’t make it?” Both men stare at each other with a hard look in each other’s eyes.
Kat can’t decipher the look between them and doesn’t try to understand it either. Rick then looks away from Negan at the last possible second.
___
Negan, Rick, and Gabriel are standing over three graves in the makeshift cemetery. Kat is standing on the other side of her father staring down at “Maggie’s” grave. Her eyes are glistening with unshed tears for her friends. Even though they are not buried here, she still feels awful about what happened to them. Glenn and Maggie were going to have a child together. Abe wanted to try to have more children with Sasha and spend the rest of his days with her. ‘It’s not fair. But then again, who said that life is.’
“Damn tragedy. That’s what this is.” Negan interrupts her inner musings while he stares down at the graves. Daryl is on the other side of Negan not too far staring down at the graves as well. He wears a blank expression on his face. “This must really suck for you guys.” He begins a speech about how Abe had to die because they needed to learn their lessons.
Kat’s eye twitches in anger towards the vulgar man. ‘Whatever…asshole.’ Kat sneers in his direction while he displays fake sympathy towards her fallen friends. She glances at over at her father and the church’s father noticing them sharing a look.
“Damn, I was gonna ask her to come back with me.” He looks up at Rick then his eyes turn over towards Kat leering at her body. “But I have a new favorite now.”
‘Oh goody. I can see how you are looking at me, Alpha asshole.’ She glares at him. ‘Like some piece of meat dangling in front of a starving man.’ Kat shivers in disgust, but her Omega side would have said in delight.
“Oh-ho! She has the same stink-eye you do! She is really yours even with those dual-colored eyes of hers!”
Before she or even her father could react, a gunshot could be heard throughout the community.
Negan’s smile fell from his face and looked at her father. Rick looked back Negan for a moment before he stares off to the side where the shot came from that particular location. Kat’s heart was full of dread. ‘That sounded like it came from the hospital.’
The next things she knows is her Father walking towards the direction and Negan coming up behind her. ”You get to walk with me, darlin’.”
‘Oh great….’