(Here she be, chapter 3. Hehe, I rhymed. So I just have to toot my own horn here a little but I think this is coming along very well! Yes it is already written and really I am just going back and tweaking it here and there and checking for errors and such. I am really sorry if I do miss anything though! But I am very proud of this one! Oh and this is set after season 2 abouts, after they get run off the farm by the walker herd. Sorry if stuff doesn't really match up and seasons and whatever, I am trying but it isn't easy. So thanks for reading, I will stall you no more so here is chapter 3!)

Early that morning I was up, packing my things into my bags, ready to get moving, they were nice but I didn't want to overstay my welcome. I was used to being alone, I was better off that way, I could say what I wanted, do what I wanted. I didn't have to take orders from anyone, just me and Hera, the two amigos, three was a crowd anyway, right? I lifted up my saddle when I spotted him coming over to me, I stopped and Rick stood in front of me, his thumbs hooked behind his belt buckle. He hesitated for a moment, like he was working to say something. I got ready for the goodbye, this was how it was, what more could I expect?

"You, you're welcome to stay with us, you don't have to go it alone anymore." Now this, this was the biggest shock of them all. I felt my jaw drop and the saddle I held slipped from my fingers slowly.

"You mean it? I mean-no, I wouldn't want to… to intrude on your group." I tightened my grip on the saddle again, thinking that was that but it shouldn't have bothered, he had heard the excitement in my voice, he saw the way my eyes lit up.

"We talked it over last night, it was unanimous, you're good with a weapon, you seem to be a hardworking, and when we are past introductions, you are a nice girl." He gently teased and I felt my heart swell.

"But really, I couldn't…" I tried to be firm with myself.

"I insist." He pushed.

"I… I don't know what to say…. Thank you," I meant it.

"Don't thank me; you'll be a welcome addition to the group."

At first fitting in wasn't easy, woman's work, that was something I didn't do very well, never had, probably never will. Cooking was impossible for me, fetching wood was a boring, I got antsy and agitated just sitting around doing laundry, and the only time I could really force myself to sit still was when I had watch. I just felt like I contributed so little to the group, I wanted to do more than little chores. It didn't take them too long to figure out how useless I was at camp and I found myself with the men. Scouting, hunting, more difficult work, finally I felt like I contributed. Hera was enjoying her time off too, although I wondered how it would go when it was time to move on but I decided not to think about that now.

One night as we sat around the fire, idle talk was drifting around; we were just about to get to sleep but didn't want to leave the warm fire just yet. For a long time the cracking and popping of the fire was all that filled our ears. The cool night made us huddle deeper into our jackets and it nipped at our noses and cheeks.

"So Jem," Hershel piped up. "What's your story, if you don't mind my asking?" All ears were trained on me, waiting for my answer.

"I guess I knew this question was coming," I half joked but I paused, thinking hard. Did I really want to tell them? "But sure, I'll tell, if I only have to once." I decided and they got comfortable, their faces grew somber, it was obvious this would be no good story. "I guess in a way I'm one of the luckier ones," I started. "I mean, I wouldn't say I'm lucky, just that, at least my mom was long dead before the outbreak. I didn't have to worry and wonder about her. Not that I really worried about my father… My mother was taken by cancer when I was a little girl, it was hard but maybe better in the long run." I paused to stir the dirt under my boot for a moment, not sure how to go own. I had never really told anyone about my past like this, especially not people I didn't know, but things were different now, what did it matter?

"And your father?" Maggie gently asked.

"After my mom died, and my brother and I were left alone with him, things got worse. I mean, he could be a jerk before but her death turned him into a monster… The moment I could I got out and then it was just me and my brother for a while. But we grew up, went our own ways, did better for ourselves. It's funny, I raised him, so isn't it fitting that I ended up putting a bullet in his head." I said it with dry humor and they looked at me, eyes wide and full of sadness and pity. "Now before you go thinking I'm heartless it was what he wanted, he told me to. He got bit and when the fever attacked, which we knew brought death then resurrection, he begged me to end it before he could come back. He said he wanted to die knowing who he was, not as a mindless beast. It was the hardest thing I've done but I don't regret it. After that I left with my dog, got Hera, gathered the things I would need, and set out on my own. Not a week in they ate my dog, the bastards." It was another somber joke but I saw a few half smiles. "And well she and I have been wandering ever since." I finished and I could see the looks of misery as they relieved their own experiences as they sympathized with me.

"Thank you Jem," Hershel's soft voice reached out to me across the fire and I dipped my head in acknowledgment. And I would stick to what I said, I wasn't going to tell it again, already I could feel the nightmares growing. It would be a restless night.

When it came to hunting Daryl was the man, he was a great tracker but we found I was actually a bit better with a bow than him. Having a crossbow he was slower than I was, although maybe he could be more accurate but as far as accuracy went we were pretty close. The one thing he did have on me was distance, they crossbow had a much better range than my bow but that was really his only advantage. Really, it was just that I could reload much faster and a couple times beat him to the shot. Whether it was a walker, or dinner, I didn't try to but sometimes I couldn't help but get to it first. Even if I did notice him getting ready for the kill, I just couldn't stop myself. Which was stupid on my part, I knew it rubbed him the wrong way. He did a good job of hiding his anger from the others but I saw it and he knew it. I really wasn't trying to show him up but I won't deny that I enjoyed it a little, his murderous glares confirming that I was doing a wonderful job of pissing him off. Maybe I wanted to get back at him for the cold and haughty way that he could treat me, could you blame me? Things were tense though, it was an explosion just waiting to happen, we both had very short fuses and that was obvious. It was only a matter of time. Rick seemed to do his best to keep us apart, he was an extraordinary leader, a little hardened yes, there was something going on between him and his wife too, they seemed to be in an argument. But that was none of my business and I would keep my nose out of it.

But Daryl, he was an interesting man, hard to read yet pretty easy to figure out. He was a hick, or redneck, however you want to put it. Just about every shirt he owned was a button down with the sleeves ripped off to show off his muscular arms, his hair was a mess, and I couldn't help but wonder how often he bathed. He had small bright blue eyes which were usually squinted; he sported a sandy colored mustache, and beard that seemed to be based mostly on his chin. Basically he never went anywhere without his crossbow and was always on the defense. As far as his personality, he was pretty interesting to try to wrap my brain around, he was very easy to offend and seemed to rather be alone then with the group yet it was obvious he had a soft spot for Carol and respected Rick very much. He was loyal but unpredictable, annoying but also pretty smart, for a hick. I considered myself a very observant person but Daryl, he definitely gave me a challenge, I liked a good challenge.

Our camp was stationed with our backs to a hill, which was more of a wall it was so steep. It offered pretty good cover while we tried to figure out what to do next. No more than a stone's throw away a gently gurgling creek ran past, which was good for water and cleaning clothes. Overhead we had tall and broad trees that gave us nice shade and a pretty decent roof when it rained. It wasn't a half bad spot to call home, at least for a little while anyway. One morning we stood out by the fire, discussing our situation. We knew we had to move it was only a matter of time before we were attacked again, but what would we do?

"We can't really drive anywhere since we are out of gas and I don't want one car going anywhere without everyone, what happens if that one breaks down as well? We can't have that." We all nodded in agreement with what Rick was saying and a moment of silence fell on us.

"I could always ride out and see what I can find, that would be an easy trip for Hera and I." I suggested.

"No, you couldn't, you are a part of this group now, no one goes alone. We can't risk it." I didn't know whether to take offence to that or feel good, I knew I could do it but I was part of the group now and to know that he wouldn't want to risk me, it was nice to hear.

"I say let her go, anyway we'd be better off without the crazy bitch," I heard Daryl speak up and everyone looked to him in alarm.

"What did you just call me?" My voice was low, my heart beat furiously in my chest and I felt my face redden a little from anger.

"You heard me… bitch," Daryl hissed mockingly, wearing an ugly scowl.

"Daryl," Rick said sharply but I doubted he heard him, I hardly registered that Rick said anything. Our eyes were locked and I glared deep into his, letting him see my anger clearly. His eyes danced and I could see he was loving this confrontation. Really I wasn't a confrontational person but if he was going to push my buttons I would fight back.

"Call me that one more time, I dare you," I growled, low and threatening. If he wanted to be a pig, fine, but it would have consequences.

"Daryl don't do this," Rick warned but it wasn't enough, there was no stopping him. A little smirk pulled at his lips and a playful light entered his eyes.

"Bitch," he sounded it out nice a slow but before he even got the last of the word out of his mouth my fist cracked him right in the jaw. Pain exploded from my knuckles but I hardly felt it I was so furious with him. He reeled back a step, cupping his cheek with his hand, he looked at me with blue eyes wide and I heard a gasp from someone.

"Don't say I didn't warn you," I glared at him a moment more before relaxing my offensive body language. He stared at me with complete and utter shock, unbridled and obvious; I had given him a good surprise. "And if you ever call me a bitch again I'll break your jaw." I added for good measure, knowing I was pushing my luck but with my adrenaline rush I was finding it hard to stop myself. I waited for his explosion though, feeling the cold hand of fear grip my heart as I waited, wondering if Rick was going to have to pull him off of me. But he merely straightened, released his cheek and opened his mouth wide, stretching it out. I saw it there, the respect was clear in his eyes. I didn't think we would have too big of problems between the two of us after this, the worst was gone, I just knew we would probably never see eye to eye.

The others stood watching, mouths agape in speechless in bewilderment, I don't know what they had expected but it wasn't that. I'm sure they expected Daryl to freak, I sure thought he would as well, but he didn't. All that was, was me showing him that I wasn't someone he could push around easily and I think in a little way I might have even impressed him.

"That's some right hook," he finally said and I cracked a half smile, the others visibly relaxed and I had a feeling all my thoughts were right.

"Yeah, so you best not get on my bad side again." It was a lighthearted threat but a threat none the less and he knew it.

"Damn," he groaned stretched out his cheek again. "I'll remember that."

"I can't believe you did that," Maggie exclaimed when she found me a little later, lightheartedly grooming Hera. She grabbed one of my brushes and got started on Hera's other side. Since I came we easily became close because of our affection toward horses. "I mean, I don't think anyone would dare to that to Daryl. That… You have guts." She babbled.

"That felt so good," I laughed and she shook her head.

"You are crazy Jem, just crazy." Since we had become friends she filled me in on the things that lead them to meet up. You see Hershel was the father of Maggie and Beth; the rest of their family had passed. They met Rick when he staggered onto their property after his son Carl had been shot by a friend of theirs' who was now dead as well. Rick and their group had been lead to that area while on search for Carol's missing daughter who they eventually found out had been bitten and became a walker, the poor little girl. It was interesting to hear that it was Daryl who was dead set in finding the little girl, it made me wonder why and it also showed that he made another soft spot. He wasn't quite as tough as he wanted to seem.

She told me about how her father had been adamant in a cure and kept their family and friends who were walkers locked up in the barn. Eventually Rick's group found out and well, it wasn't long before all the walkers in the barn were taken care of properly. Then an evil plot by Shane, who had been part leader of the group before I found them and Rick's long time best friend, he devised up a plan to get Rick alone and murder him without being caught. The reason Shane wanted to do that was because he still loved Lori, he wanted to be completely in charge, and Rick stood in his way. But Rick managed to kill him first, so that's how that went down. Moments after that all went down a huge walker swarm hit the farm and they were driven from Hershel's property, bringing them here. Oh and Lori was pregnant, couldn't forget that. They certainly hadn't had it easy and I'm sure that wasn't all the adventures they had. But with all that went down with Rick, Shane, and Lori it wasn't much of a surprise why things seemed rocky between them.

Hey Maggie," I said after a while and she looked over at me, her brush paused in midair, I think she could hear the worry in my voice.

"What is it?"

"What happens…" I started, almost afraid of what that answer might be. "What happens when we move on, Hera and I can't keep up with vehicles?" I said and she got an alarmed look on her face. "And you know I'm never going anywhere without her, if you go, I'm staying with her."

"I don't know Jem, but we will not just leave you." She seemed to say it to comfort herself as well as me.

"I'm just a burden to the group; I… shouldn't have accepted Rick's invitation." I rested my head against Hera's warm neck.

"No, it's just a little bump, we will figure something out, you'll see." She tried to reassure me, but it just wasn't working.

(Hope you enjoyed it, you know the drill, review please and I'll love you forever. Thanks a bunch for reading!)