This is my first fanfiction that I've decided to post. I realize now that my story had a weak start, so I've decided to rewrite the first chapter. I apologize for any spelling or gramatical errors. I have no Microsoft word to check that on my computer. Which is a crummy '07. So please, bare with me for now. Critisism is welcome by all means. The setting of this story is Season 2, the episode Daryl is searching for Sophie, and stumbles across an old home where he discovers someone's been sleeping in the cabnit.

/The hardest part of this new world is all the waiting../ Elizabeth thought to herself. She was rocking back on the back legs of an old wooden chair. She'd turned it from it's original place beside the table to face the small crumpled body on the floor. It was her sister Abby, who'd died earlier that night from a bite. Elizabeth lost herself in thought as she remembered the hellish scene.

She'd only left to scavenge for supplies for an hour or so, but Abby went outside to play. Despite the fact that Elizabeth had told her not to. A walker had come by at the wrong time. When Elizabeth had gotten back Abby had been bit. Elizabeth had taken it pretty hard, and carried the girl inside, near tears. She kept herself together for Abby's sake, assuring the girl she'd done nothing wrong. Abby died in her arms from a high fever that night. Elizabeth didn't react at first. Instead she was completely numb. She stood and turned a chair around, and sat. She waited, knowing that the girl she'd loved would turn into one of the monsters she detested.

When the tangled blonde hair rose up from the ground Elizabeth snapped out of her thoughts. The sight of the little walker brought tears to Elizabeth's eyes. The color of her once pale blue eyes were a sickening mucus green. Her skin was grey, veins darkened and obvious amongst the girls face and arms. The purple on the girl's daydress brought out the dark circles around her eyes. The thing that bothered Elizabeth the most though, was her expression. Abby had always managed to keep a smile on her face. Even through the hellish new world. That smile had kept Elizabeth going. The thought that perhaps there was something to work forward to. Now here were no traces of a smile anywhere on the walkers face. Just a deadly frown.

The walker growled an unhuman sound. Elizabeth brought the bow up in the darkness, aiming it for the girls head. When the walker moved forward to attack, Elizabeth sent an arrow flying into it's head. Elizabeth watched as the creature went limp, and fell to the floor of the old dusty kitchen. Elizabeth slumped into her chair, tears slipping down her cheeks. She let the bow slip to the floor, and wrapped her arms around the buldge in her stomach. Breathless sobs shook her body.

/Well.. It's just us again baby./

XXXXXXXXXX

Morning light had started to filter through the boarded up windows. Dust mites were dancing in the air throughout the long beams of light that lit the floor and room. Elizabeth stared at them, pissed off that they dared to act cheerful on such a sad day. She hadn't gotten a wink of sleep that night, dark circles rimmed her blood-shot eyes. She had been up thinking last night, and she was still at a oose at what to do. The only thing that had kept her going this past few weeks was now dead on the floor in front of her. She'd contimplated sitting in the forrest and waiting for the first walker that stumbled by. Letting it dig in. Though her baby kept coming to mind.

Finally she sighed, dragging herself to her feet. Whatever she did, she wasn't going to stay here. There were just too many memories here. Even now, despite the fact that she was still grieving, she expected to see Abby walking past the corner with a huge grin asking what was for breakfast. Elizabeth clentched her fist and walked into the other room, walking briskly into the living room. She grabbed a large black backpack, and started filling it with clothes.

After she was finished she put down her bags and grabbed one of Abby's clean dresses and a haribrush. She walked back into the kitchen and kneeled beside Abby's body. Her hand rested on her cheek a moment before her other hand grabbed the arrow implanted deep in the little girl's cranium. Elizabeth murmered a soft apologie before ripping the arrow out of her sisters head. She set the arrow down on the floor, turning back to her little sister.

XXXXXXXXXX

Elizabeth grabbed the little girl's ankles, apologizing several times while she dragged her out in the yard. She wished she could be gentler, but she wasn't really in any shape to be carrying a 9 year old across the yard. She'd decided to burn her under a tree she used to play under before the walkers got too out of control. Elizabeth knew she'd want to be outside, floating in the breeze. Not stuck in the ground, 7 feet under. Elizabeth had put the girl in one of her favorite dresses, and french braided her hair. Abby had been begging her to do so for quite awhile, but Elizabeth never really had the time.

Elizabeth could feel tears started to sting in her eyes, and she bit her lip, knowing there was no time to be weak. After she had burned the body she'd have to clean up and hit the road. Perhaps she'd find shelter before night fall. Though Elizabeth knew she'd feel much better once she got in some clean clothes. Abby's blood stained her clothes, and rested down her arms, and even on her cheek.

A rustling in the brush caught her attention, and she turned back to catch sight of an arrow flying towars her from quite a long distance. She threw herself to the ground, landing pretty hard on her back. She cried out a low howl of pain. "What the hell?!" She shouted, speakig so whoever had shot that arrow knew she was, indeed, alive.

"Can ya really blame a guy fer shootin' what he thinks 's a walker?" A masculine voice called out as he ran forward. As he advanced he shouldered his crossbow. He was tall, but that could be because Elizabeth was still on her back, looking up at the world. When the man reached her he held his hand out, grabbing her wrist and pulling her upwards on her feet. Yup, he was taller than her alright. Though who wasn't taller than Elizabeth? She was a 'towering' 5'2.

"I guess not.. Though you could've at leat paid closer attention. I mean obviously, do I really look dead to you?" She watched the man look down at her, smirking.

"Yup. What the hell was I suppos' to think? Here you are all bloody an draggin' a girl around by 'er ankles. Not ta mention how pale you are."

Elizabeth looked down, realizing how bloody and dirty she'd become from just one night. She sighed, looking down at the little girl that lay on the ground near her. The man's stunning blue eyes followed her gaze, and he frooze seeing the blonde hair. He kneeled beside the girl and grabbed her jaw, looking at her face closely. Her face was unrecognizable due to the arrow hole.

"What are you-?" Elizabeth started to say before the man stood up and grabbed her shoulders.

"Who the hell is 'at?" His voice held anger, and Elizabeth was wondering what had caused such a sudden mood change. Her large hazel eyes just stared at him. She always froze when confruted with something she didn't understand. The dark-haired man shook her a bit, raising his voice. "I said who is 'at?!"

Elizabeth felt anger boiling up under her skin. "That's my little siter, Abby. Or at least it was before last night." She clentched her fist. "What's it to you?"

A sudden look of realization crossed the mans face, but only lasted a second before his usual emotionless face returned. He released her shoulders and walked back a step. "Sorry. Thought she was someone I'm lookin' fer." His eyes caught on her arm. Elizabeth had brought her arm protectively over her stomach without thinking. It was just a habit now. "You pregnant girl?" He asked.

Elizabeth nodded once. "It just so happens that I am." A hint of surliness was in her tone. The man stopped a moment, lookinglike he was running something over in his head.

"What's yer name girlie?" He asked, his gaze returning back to her.

"Elizabeth Sawyer. What about you?"

"Daryle." He reached out his hand, and Elizabeth took it in hers. She noticed his firm handshake. "Daryle Dixon."