A/N: Hey guys, next chapter up! Hope you all like it. As before, constructive criticism is welcome, but be kind ;) This chapter, like every second one, is a flashback chapter. Still first person perspective, but past tense. It is set just before season 1 of TWD begins. Happy reading xo

2.

I drove slowly and turned into the quiet and picturesque street that was my destination. Pulling my Hyundai Elantra to a stop in front of a large, typically American house I lowered the sun visor in front of me to use the little mirror covering the back. My hair and makeup were still intact after a busy day of shopping and I raised an eyebrow at the small, inflamed area around my fresh nose stud. I had never been one for piercings, but occasionally I had the urge to do something spontaneous and the piercing parlour's neon sign had caught my eye. Live while you're young, I figured.
Grasping the book bag that had been sitting on the passenger seat beside me, I slammed my door and made my way up the path towards the white weatherboard, locking the car behind me with aid of the little button on my key chain. I flipped through my keys idly; selecting the one I was looking for and unlocked the hardwood door. The cool air from inside the house surrounded my body and I sighed happily, the best part of my day awaiting me.
Neither of the Blakes were home yet, Penny would be arriving by school bus in about 20 minutes, Philip would still be at work for another few hours and that suited me just fine. Dumping my book bag by the coat stand in the hallway I proceeded through to the country style kitchen, making myself comfortable and getting snacks ready for Penny. I worked quickly and efficiently, humming the latest Justin Timberlake pop anthem to myself. The front door made an audible sigh as it swung open and a bang as it slammed shut, eager footsteps clattered up the hallway towards me. Penny dropped her backpack to the floor next to my bag and entered the kitchen, a grin plastered across her round face.
"Lily! Lily you'll never guess what happened at school today!"
Her enthusiasm made me smile warmly and I seized the little girl for a hug.
"Hey darling! You had a good day? Tell me all about it," I expressed, gesturing to the plates of sandwiches and cookies that now sat on the table in the centre of the room.
Penny pulled up a chair and immediately tucked in. Not for the first time I wondered how she was so skinny despite her ferocious appetite.
"Damien Smith punched Jack Winston right in the face! It was so scary", she told me between mouthfuls, "They both got sent to the principal's office. Tammy thinks Damien is going to get…expelled." She practically whispered the last word, her green eyes widening as if she has just mentioned something taboo.
I chuckled,
"Well that would probably serve Damien right hey? I bet they just call his parents though." I started wiping down the bench and then nicked a cookie from Penny's plate. "Should we get started on your homework lovey?"
Penny moaned and rolled her eyes, but stood up from the table and picked up both our bags from near the kitchen doorway.
"Alright, but can we do homework in the lounge room?"
"No TV!" I waggled my finger at her and accepted my bag, "I doubt your daddy will approve of that when you have better things you should be doing."

I watched Penny as she lay, stomach down, on the plush grey carpet. She bit the end of her pencil before scrawling an answer and looking up at me for confirmation. I glanced over and nodded, feeling more than a little bit proud. I hated to admit it, but the 8 year old was quickly becoming more academically capable than I was, particularly in maths, my real weakness. School had always bored me, especially the earlier years. It wasn't until college that I had actually started to excel. Not that business studies was all that challenging, but I guessed my priorities had just changed.
A beam of sunlight peeking through the curtained window reflected off a framed picture on the nearby bookcase and I stared at the photo and felt tears prick my eyes. I knew the image well; in fact it had been me behind the camera capturing Philip, Sarah and Penny who were all holding each other close in a tight embrace, broad smiles on every face.
It had been taken just a few short weeks before Sarah had died, and in spite of the fact nearly 18 months had passed since her tragic accident I don't think any of us were close to healing yet. Especially Philip. He had never been the same since that day.
I heard the front door open and smiled down at Penny,
"Sounds like your dad is home!" Right on cue Philip entered the lounge room, removing his suit jacket and laying it carefully on the arm of the couch.
"There are my girls!" He declared, bending down to kiss the top of Penny's blonde head and beaming at me. His smile didn't quite reach his eyes, however, and I could immediately tell something was wrong.
"Hi daddy!" Penny gushed, adoration all over her face as she showed him her school work and he pulled her into a one armed hug, a little awkwardly because of his daughter's position on the floor.
"Good job sweetheart, you can watch TV now if you want," he exclaimed, passing her the remote.
My brown eyes locked onto his and his glance flickered towards the kitchen door. I took the hint and rose from the swede couch to follow him, Penny already absorbed in some cartoon or other.

Philip stood with his hands pressed against the grain of the kitchen table, leaning slightly as if he was using the wood to balance himself.
"Are you okay Philip?" I placed my hand gently on his right shoulder. My voice sounded relaxed to my ear, but inside I could feel the panic rising like bile from my stomach. Philip Blake was one of the most collected people I had ever known. I had started babysitting for the Blakes when I was 15 and Penny just 2, not even toilet trained yet. Before then I had known Philip and Sarah through our church; myself, my parents and the younger couple having sat side by side on a pew for several years. In all those years the only time I had seen him drop his calm façade and break down was at Sarah's funeral, I had wrapped my arm around his waist and watched quietly as the tall, strong man had sobbed openly into his hands.
He reached into the pocket of his neatly ironed pants and handed me a crumpled piece of newspaper. My hands couldn't help but shake a little as I smoothed the article out and laid it flat on the table. I skim read it, only the title really registering in my brain. 'Dead Man Walks'.
I giggled nervously, but one look at the fear in Philip's eyes shut me up.
"Oh you can't seriously be worried about this? It was probably a medical error Philip, someone didn't check his pulse properly, he was hooked up to a dodgy machine. Those kinds of things happen all the time." I giggled again and pushed the clipping aside, moving to pick up the dishes from Penny's after school snack.
"True, but not three times in one week Lily. They are talking about some sort of fever, a pandemic. It's going to be worse than swine flu." His voice was higher pitched than usual, southern drawl almost unrecognisable.
"You watch way too much late night television. These things always get blown out of proportion. You aren't actually suggesting that this fever causes people to rise from the dead." I laughed loudly and placed the plates in the sink, turning on the tap to start washing up.
"That is exactly what I am suggesting," he replied, his voice even and deathly serious. I snorted derisively, in truth much more shaken up by his words than I wanted to indicate. It was just plain ridiculous. All those long days working in a small office had clearly gotten to him.
He sighed heavily and touched the back off my neck, at my hairline.
"Please be careful. Come straight here tomorrow afternoon. You're studying in the library yes? Don't talk to any strangers and lock your car."
"Yes mom!" He smiled wryly at my impertinence and started drying the dishes I had finished scrubbing.
"Nice nose stud by the way, are you a rebel now?"
"You know it!" I stuck my tongue out at him playfully, happy that his negativity had been defused and headed to the lounge room. I could use some cartoons and Penny cuddles.

The next day everything went to shit…