The next morning went by in a blur. She had been waken up by Daryl telling her she had get ready for her and Rick's outing. She got dressed in some different jeans leaving the shirt she put on lastnight on. She recieved yet another glare from Lori. The woman just didn't like her for some reason. She feed Annie and herself then headed to meet Rick by the front gate. She had braided her hair to the side this morning to keep it out of her way.

Daryl walked her out of the prison towards the suv. She saw Rick standing beside it looking over the area. She had to push all her thoughts from her head about him. She could not get involved. Walker world or not, she was no home wrecker. She looked around for any walkers like the one's who tried to tear her and Annie apart the night they climbed the fence. But there wasn't one in sight.

As she approached Rick looked up nodding before climbing into the driver seat on the truck. She told Daryl bad before climbing into the passengers seat. Rick pulled away the prison slowly fading in the rearview mirror. She was staring out the window when she felt something lay on her leg. She looked down to see a gun laying in her lap. She looked over at Rick with a smile.

"I thought i was a threat" she smiled. He smiled and looked at her from the corner of his eye.

"Yeah well maybe i was wrong" he smiled. She was glad he no longer thought of her as a threat. But something about yesterday was still bothering her.

"Why did you save me? I know you don't think of me as a threat anymore but you did yesterday. So why not let me fall to my death?" she asked looking over his face. He looked at her then back to the road. He simply shrugged. "Well thank you anyways" she smiled before picking the gun up from her lap. She knew how to use one she had a gun before she taken to the group. They took her gun and her ammo.

"So where we off too?" he asked handing her a map. She grabbed it then looked over it before pointing to the spot near a river.

They parked the car near the road deciding to travel on foot for the next half mile. He walked in front of her as she looked at his back. Her embarrassment from the night before was returning. Maybe he didn't feel her hand She told herself but she knew he did. He turned around when she stopped Of course he felt it. She walked beside him looking at his face. She wondered what he was before everything happened. If he would go home kiss his wife and son and watch football on Sunday on the big screen. She heard Carl say something about him being a cop before everything happened. Bet he was a great cop she thought to herself. Her father was much different. He was on the other side of the justice system yet he pushed her to hard. Run faster, be smarter, learn more. Her life wasn't all love, rainbow, and ponies. No she had to work hard for her college scholarship in track. He looked relaxed as he walked along the trees. He caught her staring she quickly turned her attention forward.

"You know it's rude to stare" he said from beside her. She didn't dare look at him afraid she was blushing.

"I wasn't staring." she lied. She knew she was staring. She just couldn't figure out why Lori had given her a glare before she left his morning, or why Rick didn't give his wife a second glance? She would have to ask Carol later. Of course they were together she was pregnant with his child after all.

"Liar" he teased she could see him looking at her from the corner of her eye. She looked up at him.

"Fine I was staring, but not for the reason you think. I was just wondering if you watched sunday football like my dad" she admitted with a simple shrug.

"Dad? How old to you think I am?" he laughed.

"I don't know 32 maybe. I didn't mean to say it like that." she argued turning back forward in embarrassment. "I don't think your old. " She thought he was very goodlooking of course she didn't think he was old, just older.

"I know what you meant, I was just teasing you" he smiled looking down at her. She playfully rolled her eyes picking up her pace. She did not want to be in the coversation anymore. She told herself she would no longer be crushing on Mr. Grimes for Annie's sake. He probably thought of her as a child anyways. She was young and less experienceed in life then he was.

The weather was perfect today. The wind kept it cool from the sun leaking through the tree tops. The only sound was the leaves shaking and their footsteps. She kept an eye out for any walkers or people from the group. One thing she did not want to happen was being caught and taken for prisoner. For all any of them knew she was the one who had gotten Greg killed. It was to protect herself and her new group. The same reason Daryl and Rick had killed them. One must fight for survival.

It anyone tried to harm Annie's safety she would gladly stand and fight. Her bravery was what had kept her alive all this time. That, and wanting Annie to grow up and see a world withoout walkers or people killing you to keep themselves alive. But she is no better, she had lived the living to keep herself and Annie alive. Woman were not made for this world. When a men saw her and Annie they would always try something stupid getting themselves killed. But some, not many, had left their mark on her as well. That's one reason she had no idea why she trusted the three men standing outside the prison that night. Maybe it was better to be treated badly then to let Annie go hungry. The moment she seen the look in their eyes when they saw Annie behind her, she knew they wouldn't hurt her. Now if it would have been just her she was sure they would have locked her up in a cell or killed her with an arrow through the had said she was a threat even with Annie beside her. When did she not become a threat? At what moment did she prove to them she could be trusted?

She looked at her shoulder to Rick. He was staring ahead but not at her. She turned foward stopping so he could catch up. She waited until he was beside her before she started walking once again. Neither one spoke it was just silence.

A echo of a gunshot when off causing both of them to flinch. She covered her head hoping they weren'y shotting at them. It came from the direction of the camp. Several more gunshots went off until once again there's nothing but silence. She looks up at Rick waiting for his next move. He looked down at her motioning for them to continue. He takes a step forward but she grabbed his arm pulling him back.

"Are you crazy? Did you just not hear that?" She asked looking at him in disbelief. Something had happened at the camp and she did not want to find out.

"They were shotting at us. We have to check first. And if there's any sign of trouble, we'll leave." Rick explained pulling his arm from her hand's. She stared as his back as he walked away from her. She shook her head at him before following.

Smoke was coming through the trees. Something was on fire from what she could tell. She stayed close to Rick not wanting to lose him if the smoke got any thicker than it already was. As they approached the camp, she gasped at what she saw.

All the tents were on fire and all the members of the old group were laying around with their heads smashed. Why smash somebody's head in if they are already dead? She bent down next to Rick by a tree looking for anyone who might have done this? Nicole saw nothing moving other then the flames of the fires. But something wasn't right about this scene. All the supplies that were stacked up in the truck was now gone. who ever was here is more deadly She thought to herself as she looked at the damage around the camp.

"Come on" Rick whispered standing up pulling his Python from his hostler. She nodded standing up beside him. She pulled her handgun from her pants looking out for anyone who might be alive or walkers. Rick stepped out first gun ready. She stepped out next to him.

"I have a bad feeling Rick" she whispered grabbing the sleeve on his shirt. He nodded in agreement before moving deeper into the camp. Because her grip was still on the sleeve she was pulled with him.

They looked around the camp finding no survivors or anything useful. All guns, ammo, food, and medicial supplies was taken. Who ever they were moved fast and knew why they were here and what they were up against. And if they knew that Nicole knew this group was being watched for a while. She wondered if they had seen her. She let go of Rick bending down next to one of the female soldiers. Her head was completely smashed in.

"Why would they smash their heads in? It's completely inhuman." Nicole growled looking down at the girl.

"So they won't come back as walkers." He said behind her. She turned around looking at him in confused.

"But they weren't bitten. They can't be walkers." Nicole argued standing to her feet.

"It's in us now. The virus. If we die doesn't matter how, we come back as walkers. Unless you get killed through the brain then you won't." Rick explained looking at her. Quickly she stood to her feet looking at him in disbelief.

"What? We all carry it? So this hell will never be over?" she worried looking into his eyes. There was sorrow in them. She wanted to scream, cuss, cry, throw things. This was not how her life was suppose to be. Or Annie's. Annie was suppose to live through this and have kids with out walkers.

"Nicole-" She cut him off. "No, there is nothing you can say that will make this any better. What about Annie and Carl? What about your unborn child? Will they ever get to see a world without these fucking monsters?" She cried wiping at the tears threatening to fall. She wanted so much yet, could do nothing. "I hate this so much, Rick." She hissed through the tears.

She placed her face in her hands dropping the gun to the ground. What was the point in fighting if you couldn't beat the walkers? She felt arms wrap around her shoulders. Then her face was pulled into his chest. She moved her hands from her face grabbing the front of his shirt pulling him closer. It was comfort that's all she wanted from him. Comfort, him to tell her everything would be alright. That all this was just some bad dream. Even though he didn't say anything she knew he was telling everything would be alright. That she needed to calm down and think about Annie.

So she did. She laid her hands flat against his chest gently pushing him away.

"I'm sorry, I just don't think this is a good idea." she whispered not meeting his eyes. She bent down picking the gun back up. She placed it in the back of her pants before stepping back in the direction of the car. She wasn't sure if he was following until they made their way to the car. He got into the driverseat before she made it around.

"So we need to keep an eye out for any people. If they can take down a ground with many fighters well have to watch for anyone walking around the prison" He said pulling off the grass back onto the road.

"Agreed. Can't have any more people trying to take the prison from y'all." She nodded.

As they pulled back up to the prison Daryl was standing outside with Glenn beside him. Rick parked the car quickly jumping out and making his way to them. With Nicole not far behind.

"What's wrong?" Rick asked looking at the men.

"The two inmates are wanting to talk to you" Daryl shrugged.

"About what?" Rick asked

"Moving into our block something about not wanting to be around the dead" Glenn answered looking from Nicole to Rick.

"Tell them we made an agreement" Rick growled to Daryl. Nicole didn't understand what was going on. Daryl nodded. "Did you find out how the other people got in?"

"Back way, don't worry fixed it right up nobody getting in there, How'd y'all trip go?" Daryl asked.

"The other group was killed no survivors. Someone got there before us. Took all their weapons, ammo, and supplies." Rick told them.

"Who?" Glenn asked looking from Nicole to Rick.

"We're not sure." Rick sighed running his hand over his face. "We'll just have to be on top of everything that goes bump. Whoever they were knew what they were up against"

"So they watched, learned, then killed?" Daryl asked confusion written all over his face.

"Yeah looks like it. We're going to have to work on that water supply and the crops before winter so we'll need to have Daryl check around before anyone goes outside" Rick explained. Everyone nodded before parting ways. Nicole followed Daryl went inside as Rick and Glenn went to check the gates once again.

"He gave you a gun, huh?" Daryl asked as Nicole walked behind him. She looked down at her gun before answering.

"Yeah he did." She answered walking up next to him.

"Do you know how to use it?" he asked looking down at her from the corner of his eye.

"Kind of." she shrugged.

"Well don't show yourself, okay?" He teased.

"Once again I fell on it Daryl. I didn't stab myself" she groaned looking up at the sky.

"Whatever you say Walker Bait" He said opening the cell block door for her. She rolled her eyes walking into the cell block. Her eyes searching for her small Brunette child. She seen Carol, Lori, Maggie and Beth standing around but no Carl or Annie. She walked up to the girls.

"Hey where's Annie?" she asked them all.

"She's upstairs in the cell placing Go Fish with Carl" Maggie responded.

"Thank you" Nicole smiled before jogging up the stairs. She walked into her cell hearing Carl say fish. Carl and Annie were sitting on the floor with poker cards. She smiled sitting next to Annie. Annie smiled at her then continued with the game.

"I'll be downstairs with Carol if you need anything" Nicole smiled before kissing Annie on the cheek. Annie and Carl both nodded as she walked out the cell. From below Rick and Glenn were now inside telling everyone the news. She sat down on the stairs next to Beth watching the men talk. They told them about everything and how they would need to get the crops planted quickly before winter. Nicole wasn't looking forward to the winter. It was hard to stay warm with very little to no clothes. Last year she had wrapped Annie in all her shirts and jacket to keep warm. Everyone nodded parting ways to get to work. Carol stopped infront of Nicole.

"Do you need clothes washed?" She asked.

"yeah I'll wash them though" Nicole responded looking up at the older woman.

"Well you can come with me to wash some while the kids are playing." Nicole accepted the offer really needing to get some of her clothes washed. She went to her cell grabbing all her and Annie's dirty clothes before heading down to the clothes bucket and line outside. She and Carol sat on the ground washing the clothes.

"I am really worried about those people getting into the prison" Carol sighed scrubbing the red shirt she had in her hand.

"They might not know about the prison yet. The only two people who did know about the prison are dead." Nicole stated picking up the shirt with Greg's blood all over it. She looked it over before dipping it in the water.

"Yeah you're right" Carol sighed "I'm just worried about the baby. I just hope I can deliver it without any problems"

"Hershel will be with you every step so I think you can handle it." Nicole smiled playfully bumping Carol with her shoulder.

"I know but it's weird. I know Rick just wants to see if the baby is his or Shanes. We all kind of do." Nicole looked at her in shock. Shane's? She asked herself. Nobody had ever said anything about this guy before. Is that the reason Rick is so cold with Lori? Nicole asked herself still staring at Carol. Lori had an affair with Shane. So where is this guy now? She looked back the clothes. So she had figured out the great mystery. Now all she had to do was figure out happened to Shane.

She cleared her throat continuing to wash her shirt. "Shane?" She asked Carol not making eye contact.

"He was a man in our group. Rick's best friend. He was also a cop."

"What happened to him?" Nicole asked.

"He died on the farm. He had planned out this whole situation where he could take Rick out and kill him. He wanted Lori, Carl, and the baby to himself. Shane made Rick choose either kill Shane or die. Rick choose to kill Shane for the safety of this whole group. And Lori had slept with Shane when she thought Rick was dead. Now the baby is either Rick's or Shane's. It's our own little Soap Opera." Carol laughed looking at Nicole. Nicole was taking in the whole situation. It made Nicole smile it was a Soap Opera.

"Well everything will work out in the end or Shane will have an half sister wanting revenge." Nicole joked causing Carol to laugh. "What about you and Daryl?" Nicole asked still smiling, she watched Carol's cheeks turn red.

"I don't know what you mean." Carol whispered turning her head away from Nicole.

"Oh you know what i mean! You have something with Daryl!" Nicole smiled gently bumping Carol again.

"No there's not anything between us. I guess we are close is all." Carol shrugged. Nicole knew there was more but didn't want to intergate Carol. Carol and Nicole washed and hung up all the clothes to dry on the fence near them. Nicole looked off in the yard to see Daryl, Rick, Glenn, Maggie, and T-Dawg talking to two other men in blue jumpers. "Those are the inmates." Carol whispered as she looked where Nicole was staring. She watch Rick yell furiously as the inmates then he caught eyes with her. She waved at him but he turned back to the inmates. A small frown appeared on her lips. She saw Carol look at her in confusion.

As the day went on Rick locked the inmates in the small gate with the vechicles. Glenn, Rick, and Daryl were out getting fire to burn. Maggie, T-Dawg, and Carol were moving vechicles. Nicole was getting her clothes from the fence taking them in. She sat them down on her bed before heading back out of the prison to get some more. She stoppped to looked out past the fence to look for Rick. He was picking up wood walking along side Daryl.

She let out sigh and moved away from the fence. She turned around to Annie, Lori, Beth, Carl, and Hershel walking out. Hershel was on crutches walking slowly beside them. Nicole smiled at them all as walked towards them. "Looking good Doc" Nicole grinned. Nicole bent down picking Annie up placing her on her hip. They heard Glenn cheer behind them. They all turned around to look at the Korean. Everyone in the yard was smiling at the sight of Hershel walking. Nicole stood next to Lori. She watched Rick leaned against the fence looking at his wife. His hand was clutching the fence watching his wife. Nicole caught the looks the two were giving and quickly looked away. Guilt was rising in her chest. Affair or not they were still married and very much in love. She frowned looking away from the scene.

She heard a growl and Carl yelled "Walkers" She turned around seening alot of walkers heading their way. She dropped Annie to her feet as Beth grabbed Annie's hand. "I have her Nicole go!" Nicole nodded letting go of Annie's hand grabbing her gun from her pants. She armed at a walker shooting it in the head. She watched Lori and Carl shoot some as well. She caught sight of a way to get out quickly running to it unloading her gun on near by walkers. She heard somebody screaming "Lori".

"This way" She yelled motioning for Lori and Carl to follow. She looked around for Annie. Her and Beth were locked behind a gate with Hershel. Lori and Carl ran past her and she slammed the door quickly taking one last look at Annie. Annie was looking at her with tears in her eyes. Nicole smiled at her before following Lori and Carl into the prison. Nicole ahead of Lori and Carl going towards the cell block. She approached the door as walkers walked out. She back away looking for another door. She opened it yelling for Lori and Carl to hurry. She ran down the hall with Lori and Carl as her side. She heard a scream from Lori bringing everyone to a stop. Lori leaned against the wall breathing heavily.

"Th-The baby is coming" she informed Nicole looking up at her. Nicole didn't know what to do. She looked at the woman then at Carl.

"We have to find Hershel" Carl stated looking up at Nicole. Nicole heard moans from behind her and quickly took action. There was the sound of the alarms ringing in her ears and she moved to Lori.

"There's no time" Nicole said grabbing Lori. Lori wrapped her arm over Nicole's shoulders. She picked Lori up off the wall helping her walk. "Lead the way Carl" Nicole groaned trying her best to help Lori. Carl nodded arming his gun down the hall. They followed Carl through the halls. Nicole praying she could help the best she could. She had watched a video in Health class senior year about a woman giving birth. She knew only what the video told her.

"This way" Carl yelled opening at door for her and Lori to walk through. Nicole moved Lori quickly into the room as Carl slammed the door. Nicole leaned Lori against the wall.

"What are we going to do?" Lori asked through her heavily breathing. Nicole looked at her trying her best to remember the video.

"I'm going to get that baby out of you" Nicole mumbled stepping foward to help Lori off the wall.

"What? Do you even know how?" Carl asked following them deeper into the room.

"I watched a video about it in highschool. I know alot about it" Nicole told him before looking back at Lori. "We have to get your pants off and see if you're diolated." Lori nodded as Nicole helped her on the ground. Nicole quickly started pulling Lori pants off trying her best not to hurt the woman. She wished they would have gotten Hershel or Carol instead of her. She threw Lori pants to the side looking for the baby's head or something to tell her Lori was diolated. She couldn't see a thing. "Lori I don't know"

"I have to push" Lori mumbled sitting up. Nicole helped to her feet. Lori placed both hands on the wall and started to push. Nicole bent down at tried to her to best to help. She looked for the baby's head and quickly.

"Lori Stop!" Nicole yelled. "Something's wrong" She pulled her hand away looking down at the blood on her fingers running down her hand. She helped Lori back down so she was laying on her back.

"Mom keep your eyes open." Carl yelled brushing the hair away from his mother's face.

Nicole placed her hands on Lori's knees looking down. She couldn't see nothing but Lori's blood. "Lori I can't tell there's to much blood"

Lori took a deep breath looking at Nicole. "I know what it means. You're going to have to cut the baby out"

"Lori, I can't. Carol practiced that. I've watched a video in health class. If i do this, you'll die" Nicole started to tear up looking at the olde woman.

Carl stood to his feet moving towards the door. "I'll go ge-"

"No" Lori yelled before looking back at Nicole. "Nicole please. Carl has a knife"

Nicole wiped the tears from her face looking down at her and nodded. Lori moved her shirt up her belly. "Do you see my old C-Section scar?"

"Lori I can't" Nicole choked shaking her head no.

"yes you can. Do this for the baby. Please it's what I want." Lori whimpered. Nicole looked at the sorrow of the woman's face. She knew Lori was choosing the baby over herself.

"Okay" Nicole sobbed looking at Carl. Lori placed her hand on Carl's face wiping the tear from her cheek. She listened to Lori tell her son sweet words about being strong, watching after his dad and the baby, and beating this world. Nicole placed the knife of her scar waiting for it. Lori looked down at her with tears rolling down her cheek and nodded.

Nicole dug the knife into her skin as Lori screamed. She didn't stop though just kepy trying not to cut the baby. Lori scream died down as her head fell to the left. She heard Lori whisper "Goodnight love" before her head fell. She reached inside Lori then reached for Carl.

"I need your help Carl" she whispered placing Carl's hand where her's was. She reached in trying to find the baby. She found something but wasn't sure if it was the baby's leg or arm. She grabbed ahold of the baby pulling it from his mother's dead body. Blood was pooling up around Lori and Nicole. The baby was white and covered in blood. It was so small. But something wasn't right the baby wasn't breathing. No no you have to breathe your mother died for you to live. You must live. She said inside her head trying her best to get the baby to breathe. She leaned the baby over tapping it on it's back. The baby coughed before letting out a cry. Carl handed Nicole his shirt. She cut the baby's cord before wrapping the baby in the shirt. She placed the baby against her chest before standing to her feet. "We have to go Carl" Nicole whispered cradling the baby to her chest. The baby's head leaned against her shoulder.

"We can't leave her here, she'll become a walker" Carl whimpered looking at her with Sad eyes. She knew what that meant. She would have to shoot Lori in the head to make sure she doesn't come back a walker. She placed her hand around her gun. "No I'll do it, She was my mom" Nicole looked at him and nodded. She wanted to leave them alone for Carl to say goodbye. She walked by the door looking out for an walkers. There were two walkers walking disappearing around the corner. She didn't know what they would do without Lori. She needed to be around for her children and husband. She had choosen to die if that meant the baby would live. She flinched when she heard the single gun shot from behind her. She turned to see Carl. His eyes cold as ice as he walked passed her. She followed him out of the room holding the baby. She looked down at the baby. The baby in her hands will never get to know it's mother. It will grow up knowing it's mother died for it to live. She felt the tears building up in her eyes as she walked down the hall following Carl. She reached forward touching Carl's shoulder.

"I'm sorry Carl about your mother" she whispered feeling him tense under her touch. She watched him nod as he opened the door they came from. They stepped out into the opening looking around. All the walkers from earlier were dead. She stopped dead in her tracks. Rick doesn't know. she thought to herself looking down at the baby. She looked back up at Carl who was now staring at her. She took a deep breathe then continued her way outside. Carl was behind her as she opened the door to see Rick, Daryl, Glenn, Maggie, Hershel, Beth, the two inmates, and Annie. The baby let out a eye peirce cry as she walked down the stairs. Rick was yelling something but stopped when everyone turned to look at them. She held the baby walking out the gate. Rick slowly turned to look at her. He looked from her to Carl then stopped on the baby.

"Rick" She whimpered her lip shaking. He looked at her sorrow covered his features. She knew he knew what this meant. Her holding the baby meant Lori was no longer around. He walked passed her but she grabbed his arm. He looked down at her hurt. "No Rick" she sobbed answering the unspoken question. She slowly released his arm wrapping in around the baby once again.

She closes her eyes as she listens to Rick break down in tears. She hears him scream "No" over and over again in sobs. She opens her eyes to see everyone crying even Annie. Nicole looks at Annie waving for her to come over. Annie wraps her arms around Nicole trying not to hurt the baby. Nicole pulled back looking at Annie then the baby. The small child eye's were closed and was asleep in her arms. She looked back at Rick. He was on his arms and knees sobbing and screaming Lori's name. She didn't know what to do so she did the first thing she thought of, she slowly walked over to Rick. She got down on her knees infront of him. Looking at the broken men, she placed her hand on his shoulder.

"Rick, do you want to hold your child?" She asked tightening her grip on his arm. He looked up at her with tears running down his cheeks. He narrowed his eyes at her.

"NO"

I know I stole the scene from the show but I didn't know what to do with Lori. And I liked their idea. But I put Nicole in Maggie's spot instead. And if you know the baby's sex i'd love it if you told me if it's a boy or girl! Thanks for reading-Hannah Michelle