Little Abel ran up to Opie, smiling happily at him. He was already in his costume. He wore his own cut, the fake leather loose on him. "Uncle Opie!"
"Aw lookit you, kiddo. Just like you Old Man." Opie knelt, reaching into an interior pocket on his cut. Around this time of year, he always carried candy on him for his own kids. The habit just never died. "Remember what you have to say to get candy." He pulled a lollipop from his cut and held it out, but not handing it over yet.
"Omomomom!" He took the edge of the fake leather cut in his mouth, biting it through his lips for a few seconds before letting his nephew go. "I ate you." He chuckled, kissing the top of Abel’s head.
Abel laughed happily, clinging to his uncle. He smiled widely. “Opie! Why you eat me?” He giggled, panting. He had so much fun with the man and it was silly fun. He tried to calm his excitement, looking at his uncle.
"Cuz I’m a big bad zombiiee!" He garbled and laughed, holding onto Abel. "And zombies eat people. They taste like chicken." He picked his nephew up and held him on his hip, like he’d done with his own children when they were this size…
He squealed again, playfully fighting against the man. “Not Abel!” His fingers absently played with Opie’s hair and the hem of his cut. Looking at the man, his grin fading a bit. “Do you miss Auntie Donna?” He’d only heard stories about the woman.
"Yes… I do. Every day. But sometimes… you have to miss someone, or something… in order to appreciate what you still have…. Like you, or your dad… or little baby Thomas. Even Uncle Tig." Opie smiled sadly at Abel. "Understand?"
He hugged the man. "Like Uncle Opie." Abel was all about family, his family. Maybe it was because he was only five, but all he could think about now was losing them. "I love you, Opie."
