AN: Okay, I know I have a lot of stories out there right now, but, I just can't come up with ideas for any of them...and I got this idea. And, on another note, I changed quite a bit from the first episode, so kinda just roll with it. It is a fan fic after all. In case you don't read the summaries, this will be a love triangle between my OC, Shane, and Daryl, but trust me, I put my own twist on it. Nothing that I've read has used this idea. And, those of you who hate Shane, try to forget the character he was in the show, and only judge him based upon his actions in my story. I'm one of those people that tries to see the good in people (that might be why I don't absolutely hate Shane). Daryl stuff won't start for a few chapter...Here goes:

"Shh...you need to be quiet," Marie urged.

"Momma," her son whined. "I scared."

How they are you suppose to tell your son, who was only almost three, that everything would be okay when there they are people outside trying to eat you? Marie and her son, Gavin were hiding in her brother's house. About a week ago, she boarded up all of the windows.

"I am too Sweetheart, but we have to stay quiet, okay?"

"Okay," he hugged his mother tighter, as they sat in the bath tub. This whole mess started a few they eks ago. Marie's mother was with them when they were in New York, but she didn't make it past Virginia. Gavin and Marie made it all the way to King County, Georgia. Which, is where she grew up. Marie was hoping they'd come across his brother and his family, but no such luck.

"Let's get some sleep, huh?"

"Okay, Mommy." Together, the mother and son laid down in the bath tub and fell asleep.

"What do you want for breakfast, peaches, or pineapples?" Marie asked in the dark kitchen. It was a good thing that she brought all the canned food they had at home.

"Peaches!"

"I thought so too," Marie gave her son a kind smile, and sat down at the table with a fork, giving one to him.

"Lori! Lori! Lori!" a voice shouted from outside the door. "Carl!"

"Stay here, be quiet," Marie whispered. Gavin nodded and slipped under the table. The mother walked to the front door quietly, her bare feet pressed against the cool hardwood floor as she walked to the door. Her small hand reached the golden knob on the door and slowly turned it. When Marie opened the large white door, she was met with blue eyes that matched her own. She blinked twice, wondering if what she was seeing was even real.

"Marie?" his voice was rough and sounded like he'd been asleep for a log time. He was there wearing a hospital gown, and his facial hair had grown out into an almost full beard.

"Rick!" Marie jumped into her older brother's arms.

"Where's Lori and Carl?" he asked with his face in his little sister's hair.

"I-I don't know...they weren't here when I got here."

"Mommy, I come out now?" Gavin called from the kitchen.

"Yes, baby," Marie replied, and he toddled into the entry way next to her.

"Mommy?" Rick asked as he knitted his brows.

"Come in, and I'll explain," she sighed. Marie never planned to tell her brother that he was an uncle. Rick joined them at the table, and Gavin took a seat on his mother's lap, Marie brushed his dark hair back gently.

"When did you have a kid?" Rick asked.

"Almost three years ago..."

"And you never told me!?"

"Nobody but mom knew..."

"Well, what's his name?"

"Gavin Rick..." Marie took a deep breath before she spoke the last name it was one she hadn't dared to say in so long. "Walsh."

"Walsh!? Marie thought he looked familiar..." Rick buried his face in his hands. "Does Shane know?"

"No."

"Mommy, who Shane?"

"Nobody, baby," Marie kissed Gavin's head. "Why don't you lay down for your nap, hm?"

"I not sleepy."

"I don't care, c'mon." He sighed and they both walked to the couch, Marie tucked him in with one of the thin sheets, and kissed his forehead. "Sweet dreams." Gavin let out a yawn and closed his eyes. She reclaimed her seat at the kitchen table.

"You're good with him," Rick commented.

"I try...I'm amazed he's not trouble...like Shane."

"You should've told him."

"What good would that've done? We had one night that meant nothing to either of us. It was just a mistake. I wouldn't go back and change it, though."

"I'm just sayin' Shane coulda helped you. I coulda helped you..."

"I was fine with mom, Rick," Marie ran her hands through her dark brown hair. "I think we need to leave here. Go some place safe..."

"Like where?"

"Atlanta's suppose to be safe...I was just worried about gettin' there with just Gavin and me."

"Let's go then. they can stop at the police station, and go..."

"All right."

Rick drove Lori's mini van to the station. It barely had enough fuel to make it there, but now he could take his squad car, so they'd be fine. When they walked into the locker room, so many memories came flooding back. The good old days.

"Does the water still work?" Marie brought him from his thoughts.

"It should."

After showering, and clearing out the gun cage, the three got into one of the squad cars and left, bound for Atlanta. Rick messed with the radio, trying to reach anyone living. But, with no luck they continued into the big city.

The police car pulled up into a city block. Rick looked down and saw that the gas light was on.

"Guess this is the end of the line," Rick commented. He took a Beretta from the sheriff bag with guns and handed it to Marie. "Just in case."

"Let's do this," the three exited the car into the street. Marie was the first to hear the groans of the dead. But, even she was too late. The walkers had begun to surround him.

"C'mon," Rick and his sister ran forward, since the walkers had already blocked the path to the car. They were everywhere. Both Marie and Rick shot anyone that came their way. "Under here!" the three scurried under a tank, then inside of it.

"We're fucked," Marie said. She rarely cursed, especially in front of Gavin.

"You think I don't know that?" Rick snapped.

"I scared," Gavin said against his mother's shoulder.

"I know baby," Marie kissed her son's head.

"Hey dumbass," a voice could be heard over the CB scanner in the tank. "Yeah, you in the tank. Coozy in there?"

"Hello, who is this? Can you see us?" Marie grabbed the CB and spoke.

"Yeah I can see you. You're surrounded."

"We have a child...is there anyway we can get through?"

"Yeah. But you have to act now. How much ammo you got."

"Hold on," Marie looked to her brother, who checked the army guy next to him. He found another Beretta and a hand grande.

"Fifteen rounds."

"Twenty rounds, between the two of us," Marie told the other man.

"Make 'em count. Go off the right side of the tank, and continue until you come to an alley."

"Got it."

Rick was the first to exit, Marie followed with Gavin tightly in her arms. They shot as the ran. But, there were just so many walkers!

"Hurry!" Rick shouted. He decided, he'd save his sister over himself if he had to. She had a son that needed her more than his needed him.

"You too," she didn't want to leave him behind. They made their way to the small alley and were met by an Asian man. Rick had a gun to the man's head.

"Not dead! Not dead!" he shouted and pulled the group behind him. They came to a steep ladder.

"Want me to take him?" Rick offered, referring to Gavin.

"No. He'll hang on. Won't you?"

"Yes, mommy," Gavin replied.

Somehow, Marie found herself on watch duty for a handcuffed Merle Dixon. She sat with her back against a wall, and Gavin sleeping on her lap. She loved, even though it was kind of mean to, that Gavin loved to sleep. It was easier sometimes, not that she loved him any less.

"So, he a bastard?" Merle asked.

"Are you asking if he has a dad?" Marie replied.

"Reckon so."

"Then, yes, he's a bastard. He's never met his dad."

"Shocker, though' someone migh' stick 'round with that nice rack a yer's," Merle grinned. Marie just rolled her eyes. "Maybe yew jus' really suck in the sack. Why don' ya let ole Merle find out."

Marie just wanted to get out of this awful city, and get to somewhere safe. That's what everyone else in the group was working on at the moment. An African American man came up onto the Roof. He was the one Merle beat up earlier.

"Hi," Marie waved.

"Hi there. I'm T-Dog."

"Marie. Nice to meet you."

"You too. He your's?" T-Dog gestured to the sleeping boy.

"Yep. Gavin."

"How old?"

"Three in October."

A short while later, the rest of the group made their way to the roof, well not the Asian boy, who Marie still didn't know the name of, and Rick.

"What's going on?" she asked.

"They're down there. Gonna get us a car," a blonde replied.

Marie watched nervously as her brother made his way though the group of walkers. The thunder crashed above them.

"It's just a cloudburst, we get 'em all the time."

But, no sooner than that was said, thunder boomed once more, and rain came pouring from the sky. Gavin woke with a start and began to cry.

"Shh...shh...shh," Marie bounced the little boy a little to soothe the crying child. "It's okay. Just a little thunder, okay?" Gavin continued to whine and cry. "I'm gonna take him in here," she motioned to the door that led down from the roof. The blonde woman in the group nodded, showing that she heard her.

A few minutes later, the group came bolting from the roof.

"C'mon!" the blonde shouted. Marie carried her son down the flights of steps to a loading dock. The group opened the doors, when a banging was heard on the other side. Rick was standing in the back of a cube truck. He held his arms out to take Gavin, then helped Marie into the truck. She nodded a thanks.

Once Rick was back in the driver seat, they began to move. Marie and Gavin took a seat on the floor, her back was against the wall, while he sat in front of her.

"I'm Andrea," the blonde said.

"Marie."

"This is, Jacqui, T-Dog, Morales, and Glenn's the one in the other car."

"Nice to meet y'all. This is Gavin."

"Honey," Jacqui started. "I have to say, that boy don't look nothin' like his parents."

"His parents?" Marie raised an eyebrow.

"You're his mother, right?"

"Yeah. Of course."

"Rick's not the boy's dad?" T-Dog asked.

"Oh good lord no!" Marie found herself in a fit of laughter.

"What so funny, Mommy?" Gavin asked.

"Nothin', Sweetie," Marie tried to calm herself.

"I'm her brother," Rick spoke. The group was quiet for a moment, minus Marie's laughing. "Speakin' a which, I got you something."

"Me?" she finally stopped her hysterical laughing.

"Yeah, here," he took a hand off the wheel for a moment and tossed her a cloth. Inside, she found a chain with a '22' pendent.

"Rick...you know that was-"

"Yes, I know. C'mon...put it on, please?"

Marie sighed and clipped the chain around her neck. She didn't really want to wear Shane's lucky number around her neck. But, Rick got it for her, so she'd wear it, for Rick, not Shane.

The truck arrived at an old abandoned rock quarry, and stopped. The group, minus Marie, Gavin, and Rick jummped out to reunite with their people.

"This could be good for us. We'll find Lori," Marie kissed her older brother's forehead.

"Yeah. We can stay a few days, and go find 'em..." he replied half heartedly.

"Let's just meet these people and get ready to leave."

Marie took Gavin's and and jumped out the back of the truck. She picked him up, and set him on the solid ground.

"Good people?"

"I hope so. But, stay behind me."

The two walked out from behind the truck and faced the group. Marie's eyes worked from left to right. She saw a dark haired woman with a kid, and on the far side, her eyes were met with a pair of familiar brown ones.

"Marie!?" the deep manly, voice, with a thick southern accent asked.

She couldn't move. She was absolutely frozen with fear, and guilt...this man was her child's father...and he didn't even know it. The man made his way over to her, and stopped when he was within distance of touching her.

"Shane..." she breathed outwardly.

"Mommy?" Gavin pulled at the hem of Marie's shorts.

"Who's this little guy?" Shane tried to not act hurt that Marie had had another man's kid, as he bent down to Gavin's level.

"Gavin," Marie said. She was too sacred to say anything else.

"Where's his daddy?" he asked when he'd reached his normal height again, he hopped Gavin hadn't heard, in case the boy's father had been eaten by walkers.

"Standing in front of me..." Marie dropped her eyes to her feet. She didn't want whatever look Shane was giving her at this moment. Shane Walsh, had just learned he was a father.

AN: So why don't y'all vote on which one of my stories (minus Gone) you like best. That'll be the one that I continue first. I will still write another chapter of this, and hopefully post it the same day as this.