Rated: T (I don't know if it will be M in the future, but if you're interested in a M rating I could do so)

Summary: With a child on its way and an abusive father for a companion, Aurora Hawthorne would accept death in the zombie apocalypse with a grateful heart, despite her hesitation on suicide. Will she say good-bye to the cruel remains of the world or can someone convince her live is worth living? (Rick/OC)

Pairings: Obviously Rick/OC. Maybe a little Shane/OC. He's cute (when he had his hair; at least), you can't blame me for it. But he is definitely still 'evil Shane'. I'm not saying they are bad ones, but I am not the biggest fan of 'good' Shane fics.

A Penny for Your Thoughts

Short Prequel

The hot Georgia sun beating down on Aurora's shoulders couldn't be good for the baby. Her whole life was now about the child inside of her. She had to read baby books, do baby yoga, watch parenting videos, get baby clothes, do baby everything. Everything was now dedicated to the little being inside of her. So why was she subjecting it to a life in the world full of zombies? Was she giving birth to a child, forcing it to a life of useless running and fear or was she giving birth to a child who would one day live in a world that was undead free? Aurora doubted the latter.

Beside her was the man who was the essence of her wisdom-ish but morbid thoughts. The bruises covering her arms and back were the root of her pain. What man would beat his twenty-three year old pregnant daughter in the midst of a zombie apocalypse, you ask? A man like her father. Aurora would rather not think about his cruelty at the moment, so she turns away from him and watches the highway.

The trio had been dwelling there on highway 85 for four days and frankly, Aurora was tired and hungry. She wouldn't go against her father's judgment though, as repercussions would involve more than a rap on the wrist. The highway stretches far, and her father looks for the end with his binoculars. Chasing the end of a highway sounds deep, but it's a stupid fucking game that her father refuses to drop. He'll look for anything on the skyline.

But now this game isn't a game, it's a chance for survival. Aurora barely registers his frantic movements that are veiled, her eyelids closed. She is in a deep slumber, one that is rudely interrupted by his excited shaking.

"Wake up, Rosie. I see somebody on the horizon, and god damn he isn't a walker." Wallace, her father, cries. When she doesn't stir he kicks her side, dangerously close to her stomach, and she scrambles away.

If a father doesn't care for his daughter, damned if he cares about her own.

It's a full half hour before the man on the horizon gets close enough. He's dressed in an officer uniform, riding a horse towards Atlanta. Aurora and Wallace didn't exchange any words, only grabbed their bags and followed him. The man spared them a few looks along the way, understanding that they were a desperate and close to death bunch.

I might as well lead them to safety, Rick had thought, despite being uncomfortable of their silence. Aurora had wanted so desperately to introduce herself and have some human contact, but a pinch in the ribs from Wallace clearly stated it wasn't within her rights.

What entitled him to set laws for her? Had she not been in college and far away from a man she obviously did not want to see again? But these 'rights' of hers are set in stone, and they were until her child was born and she had something to fight back for, or until he drops dead.

"A penny for a thought?" The man of the horse offers, a warm and friendly wink throw towards her, but she stays silent and he gives up. Aurora simply tightens her arms around her abdomen when her father shoots her a look, protecting the little miracle within.