Maggie: between season 3 and 4.

This one got kinda long because I had to set the scene up a bit more but the longer the better right? This one isn't as angsty, but I will try and get more in next time.

The end of the world stunk.

Figuratively, yes, but right now it was the very literal sense that concerned Maggie. Months had passed since the walkers had overrun her home. That gorgeous country farm that, despite what she sometimes said, she had always pictured herself someday growing old on that expanse of land. Inheriting it from her father, like he had always planned. Perhaps she should tell him that their future plans had not differed as much as he may have believed.

Now, though, everything was different. Everything had changed.

Now she was stuck in the back of a van, sandwiched between Hershel and Glenn. Beth and Carl were sitting in the middle seats with a ragged collection of the groups supplies between them. Worn thin backpacks and an odd assortment of weapons. Somewhere deep within Maggie, her protective instinct told her it was irresponsible to keep such dangerous tools stored beside the youngest members of their groups before she remembered that the world was full of dead things...very dangerous dead things, and Beth and Carl had both been trained.

Rick was driving and Lori was laying in the front seat. Her seat was reclined to the point that her head was nearly laying within Beth's lap, allowing the young teen's fingers to softly card through her dark locks, gently tugging out the tangles.

The vehicles that they had escaped the farm house in had broken down a few days prior and they had been forced to find this van, a soccer mom minivan if Maggie had ever seen one. There had even been an actual soccer ball in the trunk before T-Dog had tossed it out to clamor in himself, as there were not enough seats for everyone. He was currently crammed in the small space, and though the seating itself was uncomfortable, Maggie could not help but find herself a bit envious with the leg room he had back there.

Sweat beaded upon everyone's skin, dirt and blood marred their flesh and stained their clothes. The weather had grown unseasonably warm for spring the last few days and they had, of course, found a van in which only one of the windows even opened, sticking half way. The fresh air from that window was only the merest of whispers once it reached them there in the back.

It left her very, very jealous of Daryl and Carol who were currently perched out on the redneck's motorcycle. They had plenty of fresh air out there.

Leaving her mind to wander, Maggie began to wonder why, with the amount of stench within such a confined space, there were not swarms of flies above their heads. Though, she supposed there was now enough rotting flesh out there for them to feast upon, why bothering with a few humans who would likely fight back.

Resigning herself to another long wait within the car and attempting to ignore the constant protests of her nose, Maggie gently rested her head down upon her boyfriend's shoulder. Her bright eyes watched with little interest as the scenery passed by. Trees, rocks, the occasional stream, there wasn't much to take note of. Nothing special, nothing new-until suddenly there was. A large stone, roughly shaped like a bird on perch, propped up in a low hanging oak branch.

Sitting upright suddenly, Maggie focused intently upon the road.

"Maggie?" Glenn's voice was soft but concerned. "Is- is something wrong?" He asked, while the rest of the car's gaze turned to her as well, even Rick, who's blue eyes watched her in the rear-view mirror.

She failed to respond, still staring out the window, looking for something.

Trees...trees..a small patch of blue...trees. She waited another moment. Knowing, hoping she was right until it was proven.

"There!" She nearly squealed with delight when she saw the weather worn road sign. The forest had almost overtaken it entirely. It had fallen over slightly, sticking up from the ground at an angle. Tall grass surrounded it and vines were slowly climbing up the metal pole, but it could still be read.

Chota creek.

"Pull over!" She demanded, her tone excited instead of harsh.

The group's quizzical gazes continued but if anything came of the apocalypse, it was trust. Pressing his foot down upon the brake, Rick followed her instructions, steering the vehicle to the side of the road. The action was more out of habit than the thought of blocking any oncoming traffic. He pressed on the horn once, delivering a short beep to signal to Daryl that they were stopping.

Taking a cue from Maggie, Beth slowly opened the sliding door allowing most of the group to spill out onto the grassy roadside. Stiff limbs protested the change in position and vertebra cracked as they stretched.

"Why'd ya'll stop?" Daryl asked as he and Carol walked over to them, his crossbow was in hand and at the ready for when, not if, the walkers appeared. T-dog, having been released from the truck was scanning the woods, peering through the trees for any signs of danger. Carl was hovering near the van, close at hand, in case his mother might need him.

Rick shrugged and motioned towards Maggie, who had run to the edge of the forest as soon as she had exited the van. She was eagerly walking along the tree line, clearly looking for something.

"Maggie...what are you looking for?" Glenn asked, trailing behind her like a rather worried puppy. He was rather worried at the strangely excited grin that light his girlfriend's face. She was almost giddy, something that you didn't see anymore, not in days like these.

Her fast pace skidded to a stop suddenly causing Glenn to nearly collide into her. "This is it!" She exclaimed, her smile growing brighter. Confused, Glenn's eyes narrowed as he attempted to see what she saw. All he saw were rocks and leaves, dirt and litter, nothing of any note.

By now the whole group had been drawn to her odd behavior, many walking over to the pair of them to see what the commotion was about. "What is it, Maggie?" Hershel asked, his low-key calm voice finally reaching his daughter and reminding her she needed to explain herself. Her cheeks grew slightly red, as though she was embarrassed but Hershel knew his daughter, she was not the type to be embarrassed about her happiness. Something else was up.

"Um, I'm sorry daddy, but in high school I ah-would come down here for parties." She answered him sheepishly, knowing her rebellious teenage years had hurt her father. "There's a creek and a waterfall. It's secret and beautiful and we could all use a break."

She looked around at the group, studying each face. Many of them look intrigued by the thought, many yearning for a bath, to wash the stink from their bodies. Rick and Daryl, however, looked a bit more suspicious. Daryl walked up, sending a more critical eye into the underbrush. His tracking skills quickly picked up the faint trail. The kids had done a decent job at hiding the entrance to their little party spot, but further in the path became more clear.

"It's not hard to get down there and it's well worth it." Maggie said, attempting to persuade the group to accept a little R&R, for one afternoon. Life on the road, the hard winter had taken a toll on them. They had grown stronger and yet weaker at the same time. They were tired and weary and had dealt with so much loss, Maggie hope a small bit of beauty might improve their spirits.

"A creek does sound nice." Beth agreed when her sister fell quiet. "We were gonna stop for lunch anyways. Maybe we could catch some fish."

A few of the others nodded, also feeling encouraged by the idea. Rick's concerned eyes looked at each person around him, before he shifted to look over his shoulder towards his wife who was still sitting in the car. The constant traveling had been the hardest on her, the constant stress of living on the run, not to mention the regular troubles that simply came with pregnancy. If it wasn't morning sickness it was motion sickness from the car. His wife needed this, his son needed this, and so did everyone else.

"Okay," Rick said, looking back at Maggie. "How far is it?"

Maggie smiled once more, her freckles standing out against the sun. "Bout a quarter mile down hill. The path was pretty smooth last time I was here."

"Daryl and I will go check it out, make sure it's safe then we can have you guys come down." Rick instantly stepped into his 'leader mode', his voice full of authority. Once it had been decided that the best way to avoid any trouble would be to have the vehicles ready at a moment's notice, just in case, the pair headed out through the trees.

Sure enough, after a rather short walk, they found the creek just as Maggie had said, but instead of the smallish stream everyone had been imagining they had discovered a truly beautiful hidden treasure. A rather large waterfall, it's face reaching nearly thirty feet up, cascaded into the clear lagoon. Large boulders sat in the pool, forming small, smooth islands. It lacked the sandy beach but each flat rock made a wonderful open shelf for sunbathing. Lush trees surrounded the space and a smaller creek flowed away from the pool and into the woods.

Cautiously stepping forward, Daryl let out a low whistle as he attempted to draw possible walkers out from where they might be lurking. When nothing made itself known, Rick upped the ante and called out but still nothing appeared. It still took a few more minutes before the pair was willing to call the area safe. They scanned the bottom of the pool and the top of the waterfall as best they could before finally deciding to call the rest of their people to them.

The way down was not a smooth as Maggie had once remembered, but she had been well fed and younger then. Beer cans and bottles were scattered over the dirt ground, Hershel giving each one a disapproving eye despite himself. Soon, though, everyone was down and staring in wonder at this secret, untouched gem of nature.

"I'm gonna look 'round." Daryl said gruffly once everyone was settled. The redneck disappeared into the thick underbrush without another word, intent on searching the area further for any possible dangers.

Sadly enough and very telling of the life they now led, neither Beth nor Carl were quick to venture into the water. Their young eyes kept looking towards everyone else, as though they could not remember how to relax or have any fun.

"Come, guys." T-Dog spoke up, stripping off his shirt as he stepped into the water. "Race you to the other side." He challenged, urging the youngest pair to follow him in. The man, in another life, would have proven to be a wonderful dad. He may have been kinda quiet in social interactions but he had proven to be strong, loyal, and caring. A truly beneficial member of the group.

Carefully sitting down on one of the flat rocks, Lori wrinkled her nose as she peeled of her shoes and sweaty socks, laying them beside her to air out. A deep sigh of relief escaped her as she lowered her aching feet into the cool waters. Lori grinned as she watched her son begin to show signs of his former self, of the young boy that he should have been. He giggled, his face bright with mirth as he and Beth teamed up on T-Dog and began to splash the older man.

Maggie took a moment to look out over the area, at everyone she had come to think of as family. Carol was already working to make the most of their time there, collecting laundry and starting a fire. She had been like that ever since they had found Sophia-kept herself focused on survival and nothing else. It wasn't healthy but it was needed to keep herself grounded. Hershel was caring for Lori and Rick was nearby, listening to everything that was said while keeping a close eye on their surroundings.

Walking over to Glenn, Maggie was nearly bouncing as she lay her chin on his shoulder from behind. "Come on, I wanna show you something." She whispered to him, the same grin that she had worn on the side of the road on her lips once more.

He looked at her with confusion, enjoying the physical touch and playful nature but concerned by it at the same time.

"But we just got here." Glenn argued, halfheartedly, almost groaning as she nipped at his ear.

"Just come, I promise it will be worth it." She replied, tugging on his hand and pulling him back into the woods while biting down on the corner of her own lip with a mischievous glint in her eye. He followed her obediently over to the gorge wall. Most of the rock face was a sheer drop, completely impassible without climbing gear, except for one area that Maggie was leading him to. The angle was no less steep here but some trees had seemed to overtake much of the rock. Thick roots twisted around each other, tying themselves into knots until they had created an intricate web of hand and foot holds, perfect for climbing.

Maggie did not even hesitate before pulling herself up a few feet before she turned to look towards her boyfriend. She would treasure that adorable shocked expression for years to come, if she was lucky enough to have them. It only lasted a moment before Glenn's own adventurous nature was sparked as well and his face lit up with a grin.

The pair ascent up the wall did not take them long, both finding enjoyment in the physical exercise that did not involve the fear of death. Though, if Glenn were to be honest, he enjoyed the celebratory kiss they shared when they reached the top a bit more.

"Follow me." Maggie encouraged, leading him back in the direction towards the river. They could not yet see the water but the roar of the waterfall was nearly deafening as they drew closer with each step. "There's a pool. The rocks-" Maggie was explaining to Glenn, leaning into his ear so she could be heard. She stopped short, however, as the trees thinned, her voice caught in her throat. The scene was the same as she had remembered it. Large boulders, too big for the water to push down the waterfall, created a small pool of gently flowing water. It was about waist deep and the shore was muddy. The small embankment, just off of the rushing river, had offered the perfect solitude for rebellious teens. Very few people had even known about it.

Despite it's secretive location, a figure was now standing in the calm waters. Reacting mostly out of habit, Maggie instantly pulled Glenn and herself behind another of the large rocks that were scattered everywhere in Georgia, unsure if the person was dead or alive, threat or not. Two pairs of eyes, one brown and one green, peeked out from behind the rock. It only took them a second to realize that the man was indeed alive and not a threat to them. The still intact flesh was not rotting away and the muscles beneath had not shriveled to nothing.

Daryl Dixon stood, waist deep in the water, his back towards them as he scanned the other shore. He was watching the trees intently though he did not stop his actions as he bent to cup the water and wash off the grime that covered his skin. Laying nearby, his shirt had been abandoned in the hot rays of the afternoon sun. Each small palm full of water was tossed over his shoulders to run down his lean back, washing away the dirt that was caked there. Maggie found herself watching as the liquid flowed in droplets over the flesh. Something did not look right but she and Glenn were still too far away for her to clearly understand what she was seeing. His skin looked mottled by the dirt but thick brown lines also covered his back, darker that the normal grim on the rest of his skin.

She stepped forward, intent to sneak forward for a closer look but was stopped mid-stride by Glenn's hand upon her forearm. Her furrowed brow and narrowed green eyes turned back towards her boyfriend, clearly confused as to why he had stopped her. "Maggie, we should go somewhere else." He said in a whisper, tugging at her hand gently.

The stubborn farmer's daughter shook his hand off, straightening a bit and fixing him with an upraised eyebrow. She was not going to be leaving without an answer, her curious nature was not going to allow her to walk away just yet and Glenn knew it.

He looked down in a moment of frustration, not wanting to share with her what he had seen of the youngest Dixon's back. "Look, he's got scars, okay..Lots of them-from before."

Glenn had hoped that the small amount of information would be enough for her but Maggie turned around, peering over the boulder once more. If she squinted, she could just see the pattern of the darkened lines that marred his back.

"He doesn't like people seeing 'em. If he knows were here, he'll kill us both." Glenn attempted to convince her to leave once more and this time, she seemed to take his words to heart. Moving back towards him, they were both about to walk away when movement on the opposite shore caught their attention.

A walker stumbled out upon the rocks, it's snarls consumed by the rushing waters and behind it came another, and another. Multiple animated corpses were soon lurching forward, attracted to the loud roar of the rapids and, once they took notice of the living people on the opposite shore, to the potential meal.

"Get outta the water!" Daryl acted quickly as he watched the first walker wade into the water with a splash. The redneck ran over to the very edge of the cliff, leaning down to see the people, his group, below. Each one of them looked up in surprise, which quickly morphed into abject terror as the first walker was caught up by the current and thrown over the waterfall. It hit the water's surface with such impact that it's rotting body broke apart and scattered. One after another was swept over the ledge, snarling death raining down upon the originally peaceful lagoon.

Maggie and Glenn ran to the tangle of branches, intent to get down to help their friends and family. Roots and dirt fell to the ground below in her scramble off the cliff yet and dirt wedged itself under her nails but her only concern was to get to the ground quickly and help everyone get to safety. Once her feet were securely back on earth, she could feel Glenn directly behind her, his strong hand on her back, ready to assist her as they ran.

Back above the waterfall, Daryl watched in shock as more walkers poured from the trees, falling into the river. There were too many for him to take care of with his meager supplies of arrows, but he would try and help where he could. Balancing upon the edge, he was provided with a bird's eye view of the horror below. Most of the walkers broke apart against the rocks as they fell and were driven underwater by the sheer force of the falls.

Young Beth was on the far side of the pool, scrambling to escape. She was wedged in by large rocks on either side of her and the bank was proving too slick for her to climb up. Her father was struggling through the thick forest to get to her and help. Suddenly a still-intact walker head surfaced from the water beside her. It's pale, dead eyes were glaring at her and it's flesh-stained teeth were snapping. The terror in the young girl's face increased ten-fold, tears flooding her bright eyes. Beth's panicked movements became more desperate which, churned the water, and only managed to bring the deadly creature closer to her.

A sharp hiss filled the air next to her ear just a second before the head submerged once more. Shock coursed through Beth and she released a high-pitched gasp of relief when the head bobbed back to the surface, an arrow impaled though one of it's eye sockets.

Cut and bleeding from the thorns that he had fought against to reach his daughter, Hershel finally broke free of the foliage and leaned forward to pull Beth to safety. Chaos ruled as the group ran back up the trail, intent to escape the danger descending from the sky behind them. Maggie ran forward to help Lori and Carol up the path, Lori's enlarged belly making it harder for her to move up hill at such a speed. Carl was behind her, his small pistol held at the ready and his wet hair plastered to his head.

Daryl waited until he could no longer see anyone from his perch before he pivoted on his foot and ran over to the climbing wall to join his group. Acting more out of habit that actual thought, Daryl managed to slip his angel-wing vest over his shoulders as he too ran up the path, passing a watchful Rick, who was hanging back with the intention to be sure everyone got out safely, as the leather slipped into place.

Within minutes the group was back in their vehicle and on the move, leaving the peaceful lagoon, with it's once crystal clear waters now stained red, far behind. Turning in her seat, Maggie watched as the familiar stretch of road disappeared behind them, a deep ache descending over her as she came to the realization that yet another site of her happy childhood was tarnished forever by the dead, just like the farmhouse. And yet, returning to sit straight in her chair and looking out the front windshield, Maggie scolded herself for thinking so selfishly as she watched Carol adjust her grip around Daryl's waist as they sped over the asphalt of the road. The silver haired woman's cheek was pressed directly over the leather where the farmer's daughter now knew hide a rather massive scar. She needed to treasure the memories she had of her wonderful childhood and not allow them to be sullied for anything, for clearly, not everyone could look upon their past with fondness and happiness like she was able to.

Hope you liked it! The lagoon is actually based off a real place I was able to explore when I was visiting friends in North Carolina. I can't remember what the name was but it was gorgeous!

Please review! Love to hear from you!