Chapter 7 – If God's the game that you're playing, well we must get more acquainted.

Things didn't seem to be going great for Maggie. Just that morning she'd been forced to confront Glenn about the barn and then her father got mad after finding out she and Penny had hidden it from him. She hadn't even wanted to go on the supply run. Glenn had been hesitant to allow her to go but she didn't particularly care about his opinion right now. Then she had found out about Lori's morning after pills. She felt sick to her stomach at the thought of what the woman was trying to do- what they were helping her do. Maggie wasn't really the judgemental type when it came to personal choices, in particular with things like this, but being already mad at the world, she hated it down to her very bones. Especially since it had been trying to find the pills that had gotten her attacked.

It had happened too quickly for her to even react. Not that it would have helped. The decaying hand was gripping her arm so tightly, too tightly. The moans he, no it, was making had sent chills right to the core of her as its jaws snapped with anticipation- with want, and need. Never could Maggie feeling such paralysing terror. Even when Glenn had managed to sever one side of its neck- enough that the head was left hanging and lost its balance- she was still in a state of shock that she swore she would never come out of. That thing had been a person and it had tried to eat her. If it wasn't for Glenn's comforting arms around her, Maggie was sure she would have collapsed.

Of course, that's exactly what she'd wanted to do when she'd arrived back at the farm but then she'd spotted Lori and she moved without thinking- shoving the pills into her hands and near enough exploding from the fear turned to anger. She'd almost died because Lori wanted to abort her child. Well she could risk her own ass next time; there was no way Maggie was playing delivery girl again.

It was even worse when Glenn had followed her, telling her to admit all the things she didn't want to; he kept pushing her and she couldn't handle it. Not then. How the group used Glenn for their own purposes without a care. Walker bait. It was the first time she called them 'walkers' and it was staggering to realise how right it felt to finally admit they weren't people any more. It was even more astounding to realise that admitting she didn't want to lose Glenn turned out to be the hardest thing she'd have to say.

She ended up sitting on her bed- knees up to her chest, head resting on her arms- when Penny found her. Maybe she'd known all along if she hid herself away long enough, Penny would come find her. She always did.

"Maggs, what's wrong?" Penny asked, taking a seat beside her. She was worried.

Maggie didn't reply, hearing the sympathy and concern in her sister's voice had broken down the rest of her defences. She sniffled quietly as she attempted to hold onto her tears, burying her face into the crook of her arm. Penny moved immediately, placing a hand on Maggie's shoulder to show she was there more than anything.

"What happened, Maggie?"

This time Maggie did break, her words suddenly tumbling out of her mouth yet still muffled by her arm.

"The pharmacy… a walker… it grabbed me and I-" She broke off, unable to stop the sob that racked through her body at the memory of what had happened. Her eyelids were clenched shut as she tried to block out the image of it.

Penny pulled Maggie to her, wrapping her arms around the weeping girl who buried her face into her older sister's shoulder, fully appreciating the comfort. It was then that Penny actually considered the words that she had pushed out at the sight of her little sister's tears. The thought that Maggie had been put in danger was terrifying and made her tighten her grip. The fact that Maggie had called it 'a walker' didn't escape Penny's notice either but her choice of words was not too much of a concern at that moment. She was more concerned with finding out if Maggie was hurt but this thought was even more terrifying than the last. What if she had been bitten? There was no coming back from that. She absently ran her fingers through Maggie's short hair, something that seemed to calm them both.

"Did it… hurt you?" Penny eventually asked in a very small voice, one that was not suited to her at all.

Maggie pulled out of Penny's arms, running her hands over her cheeks to wipe away the streams of tears that had fallen. She shook her head, no it hadn't hurt her.

"Just grabbed my arm… tried to pull me closer. I couldn't get away, Penny it was holding me so tight. Glenn… he hit it but it just got back up again. He stabbed it in the head and it was still making noises… still moving. There was so much blood."

Penny's eyes narrowed in concern and also disgust as she listened to the description. Maggie just stared straight ahead. Penny reached out to take her hand. "Hey, you're home now. It's gonna be ok- you're safe here."

"I know…" Maggie replied, her shock slowly dissolving and she felt her anger flare again. "Just can't believe I nearly died for a bottle of lotion and abortion pills!" Penny jerked her hand out of Maggie's as she stared at her sister, wide-eyed; it was her turn to be shocked.

"Maggie. Tell me no, please." She begged. They couldn't be Maggie's… there was no way her sister could go through that. It wasn't an experience she wished on anyone.

"What? They're not for me if that's what you're asking!" Maggie retorted, indignantly.

Penny sighed in relief, grateful she hadn't been so stupid to get herself pregnant in the first place. "Then whose?"

"Lori's."

Penny leaned back, supporting herself on her elbows, as she took in that piece of information. Honestly, she did not expect to find that out today. "Lori's pregnant? Wow."

"Guessing she won't be for much longer." Maggie said, a bitterness running through her tone, showing exactly how happy she was about it. Penny glanced at her quickly before averting her eyes to the floor- Maggie had never really gotten as worked up about it before. Now she was wondering exactly how much her sister had hidden in the past.

"How did you even know which pills to get?" Penny questioned her. Would they even have abortion pills in an ordinary pharmacy?

"I didn't. She wrote it down- morning after pills. A lot of them."

"Well maybe she's just being precautious? How do you know she's actually pregnant? Would those pills even work for that?" Penny began to ramble in her confusion. She was fairly certain morning after pills only worked before conception, hence the 72 hour window in which you had to take them.

"Jeez, Penny I'm not the expert! It's not like I'm the one experienced in having abortions!" Maggie hissed at her. The emphasis wasn't lost on either girl but Maggie was tired and emotionally drained- the constant questions about things she didn't know were just making her worse. The older girl recoiled as if she'd been slapped.

"Just because you're pissed at the whole fucking world, doesn't give you the right to take it out on me. Don't judge what you don't understand." Penny managed to retort, strangely calm. Maggie took a deep breath and backed down. She'd expected Penny to start screaming at her, yelling hateful things back but it seemed her sister was as drained as Maggie was.

"I didn't mean it like that,"

"Yeah you did," Penny replied and then paused again, like it was difficult for her to say what she was about to. "Did you think that at the time?"

Maggie took a moment to answer. She knew how much her opinion and support had meant to Penny. Could she really just take that away? But then again, she hadn't really thought much about the actual decision; she had just been there to listen to Penny as she made the decision by herself. Why did this have to happen today? "It was your decision."

Penny laughed softly. "That's a yes then." She took a breath, desperately trying not to think about it. "Does Rick know?" she asked Maggie. "About Lori, I mean."

Maggie shook her head. "Glenn said only he and Dale knew."

Penny sighed in resignation, knowing that she might come to regret what she was about to do but needing to all the same.

-8-

Penny stood in front of Rick and Lori's tent, wringing her hands together. She could see Lori inside but the other woman hadn't noticed her and it wasn't as if tents had doors so she called out to her, making Lori jump and stuff something into her pocket.

"Uhm… hi. Everything ok?" Lori asked, coming to the tent opening, obviously surprised at who it was that had come to find her. Penny knew she had the reputation of being the least accepting of the group and also being a little protective at times and so she tried to smile in what she hoped to be a placating manner.

"Can we talk?" Penny responded, her expression giving nothing away. Lori nodded and stepped aside to allow Penny access into the tent before zipping up the opening behind her. Lori took a moment to compose herself before turning to face the girl in front of her.

"Maggie told you." She stated, already knowing it was true.

Penny nodded, confirming it. "Everything."

Lori ran a tired hand across her eyes. "Right. So what're you doing here then?" Lori questioned, as casually as she could whilst beginning to pick up some clothes that were lying around the tent. A distraction if ever Penny had seen one and so she decided to just say what she needed to.

"The pills. Will they even work?"

The surprise was evident on her face as Lori turned back. Clearly she'd been expecting angry comments, not questions on the correct way to do that. Penny knew that with her father being a man of God, most people believed her to hold the same views- if only they knew. "I don't know," Lori answered honestly, sitting on the bed. Penny felt a surge of sympathy for the older woman. She was exhausted. Her son had just been shot, her husband had some sort of hero complex and now she was pregnant. And on top of all that the world had gone to shit with dead people walking.

"Lori, I know we're not exactly best friends," Penny began. "But I know what you're going through. Well maybe not all of it but definitely this part."

If Lori was shocked before, she was stunned now. "You've done this before?"

Penny nodded frowning. "I know everyone is different an'all but I know when I was trying to make up my mind… having someone to talk to helped me. And I never had someone that understood." She could see how Lori was trying to process everything as she spoke. "Look, the offer's there. Never helps to rush into things but I'm guessing you've already thought this through a lot… maybe it'll help, I don't know." Penny tried again. She wasn't exactly the heartless bitch everyone seemed to think she was. She knew confusion; she knew embarrassment and she knew hopelessness and if her talking was going to help someone go through one of the most difficult things a woman could, how could she turn away? Maybe she'd found someone in this new group she could related to after all.

"I just really do not know what to do," Lori spoke. Penny took this as a good sign, taking a seat on the bed.

"You haven't told Rick, right?"

Lori sighed heavily, "No I haven't. I know what he'd say… that it'll be fine, we'll keep it safe. He wouldn't understand. We can barely keep Carl alive and he's not completely dependent on us. What chance would a baby have in this world?"

Penny couldn't help but agree. At least they were relatively safe on the farm but what would happen to a baby once they had to leave? It wouldn't know it had to keep quiet, it couldn't protect itself. And the group had been practically starving when they'd found the farm… a baby would need constant food, not to mention diapers, wipes. Everything. It would be an extremely hard life. But was that reason enough to not give it a chance to live or was it better to take away the possibility of it dying horrifically before it was even aware?

"Maybe you would find a way to keep it safe… keep both your kids safe. If that's what you want." Penny told her, staring at the ground. "I don't know how but if you wanted to, you'd find a way- you and Rick. He's a good man. And the two of you, maybe it would work. All I know is I wasn't in a proper relationship with a decent man and it seemed like the only option to me. The best option, I mean I was half way through college and the dad couldn't even look after himself. But Rick, he'd understand."

"So you're telling me to tell Rick?"

"Not telling you to. I told you I understand and I do. If you want to do this on your own, it's your decision but maybe it should be his too."

Lori sighed in frustration, "This isn't about me and Rick- it's about Carl and it's about the group… a baby would put everyone in danger."

"Maybe." Penny conceded. "But is that worth not giving it a chance? Because who knows, maybe it will work out, maybe it won't. Maybe if I hadn't done it, I'd be in the same position as you with Carl and have another person to worry about every second of the day but I also know that you love Carl more than this world and you wouldn't give him up for anything or anyone. Is this baby any different?" Lori looked down to the floor, considering the words but seeming to have nothing to say. "I know I've been talking a lot. But ultimately, you get to decide. Whether you tell Rick or not, this is still down to you and what you think is best. Don't let anyone else tell you otherwise."

Lori met her eyes once more, as if she were considering her. She looked to have a million questions but Penny was grateful she didn't ask any, except one.

"Do you regret it?" Lori asked. "Now that you see what's happened to the world- do you ever regret it?"

"No." Penny answered immediately- truthfully. "I did the right thing for me back then. And it's the right thing for me now. You've just got to work out what that is for you."

-8-

Penny sat on the porch that night, staring out into the darkness. Admittedly, she had always been a little afraid of the dark. Not because of the colour or the dark itself but because of the unknown. You could never tell what was lurking around, waiting to jump out- especially now. But somehow, gazing out into the black surroundings from the safety of the porch didn't seem so bad- the lights from the lamps and the house behind her ensured that she could at least see something. It provided a great place to be alone, to think. It had been an emotionally draining day for everyone. Penny actually found it difficult to believe how today's events had actually managed to fit themselves into twelve hours.

Had she really gone to the shooting lesson this morning? It seemed like days ago. Being stuck on the farm was beginning to get to her. Penny would need to get away soon, even for just a little while. Maybe she would take the next supply run… she'd done it before, no problem. Yes, that's what she would do- tomorrow she was going into town. If nothing else came up of course.

The sound of the door opening as the light flooded out alerted her to another presence. Beth popped her head out, looking around before locating Penny in the far corner. It was freezing outside and Penny only had a checked shirt on- Beth couldn't help but wonder how she had managed to stay out this long.

"Hey, you coming in?"

"In a sec," Penny answered her, taking another look into the darkness.

"It's freezing out here, you'll catch hyperthermia or something. Come on Penny."

Penny laughed slightly at Beth's childish whining before pulling herself up and following her younger sister into the house.

-8-

The sun was peeking out above the trees, illuminating the morning sky with its colours. The birds were chirping in the trees and the smell of breakfast cooking completed the scene. It seemed like a perfect morning.

The group gathered around the small campfire while Carol made breakfast for them all. They were silent, each either gathered in their own thoughts or enjoying the quiet. Glenn sat slightly further away from everyone else. He hadn't felt like a part of the group for days. The secret that was sitting heavily on his shoulders made him feel too guilty- plus, by his own admission, he sucked at lying. He wasn't too sure he wouldn't just blurt something out.

He looked over towards the house owned by the people that had caused him to feel like this. Really, he shouldn't have gone into the barn in the first place- it was private property- but who expects a hay barn to be filled with such a dark secret? Glenn's eyes found Maggie's as she stood on the porch, watching him. She shook her head; already knowing he was getting restless enough to let her family's secret slip. A look to his right and Glenn's eyes met Dale's. The old man nodded his head- he wanted the group to know.

Who would he choose to protect? The girl he had slept with, and quite possibly had feelings for, or the man whose opinion mattered most to him…

He took a deep breath and walked over to the group, stopping just next to Rick and Lori's tent. He braced himself for what he was about to do. Maggie would hate him, Penny would probably kill him- but this was about protecting the group, doing the right thing.

"Erm… guys?"

Most people gave him a quick sideways glance but carried on with their meals- if only they knew how much of an impact his next words would have.

"So… the barn's full of walkers."


Cliffhanger! Well almost since we know what happens next. I always loved that scene so it felt like a great way to end it. I loved writing Maggie at the beginning since she's definitely my favourite female character, hoping she was believable enough. Also, I know people hate Lori but I kind of don't so I wanted to get that interaction in there too; show the similarities between her and Penny as I assure you, there are a few.

You probably noticed I stuck to spelling Hershel that way despite people telling me it's usually spelt the other way. I didn't purposefully ignore anyone; to me it just looks better. Creative liberties and all that…

SO views/alerts/favs THANK YOU! I love each and every one of you.

Reviews:

Piratejessieswaby: Penny always seems to get in some sort of trouble… most of it she does herself so don't feel bad lol. Thanks for reviewing again!

Emberka-2012: Penny actually tries with Daryl (sometimes at least) but he doesn't know her and doesn't really want to so it's not all that important to him to say something. Hope the AN at the beginning hoped to clear it up a little… I am sorry for the bad scene!

Padme400: I just don't think it would be very realistic to keep sticking Penny in actual scenes when she really shouldn't be there. I'm trying to make this more about the Greene's view more than anything and hopefully I'm doing that. I'm glad you see things the way I do, I'm just not one for Daryl meeting a person and jumping straight into bed with them. Saying that though, I do have big plans for the two of them… Thank you for reviewing again!

StardustIsMagic: I know how much you like spoilers. I actually meant I didn't want to write the spoilers on here since other people might enjoy spoiler free zones. You already know what will happen with Penny & Carol… forcing me to give you nasty spoilers -.- yeah, I really like writing about her past but I don't want to go into the whole flashback thing so it makes it slightly more difficult but I'm definitely going to try and get her adventurous side back somehow. I just don't see how OC's can somehow know there's something wrong with Shane so I figured, let's show off their similarities. She respects him. Glad you like Daryl! I mentioned it above but they have only just met and we all know it takes a while for him to actually trust someone. Thank you babe, love you!

Bigpinkstork: I really don't know. The more official websites spell it the way I do but the rest spell it the other way. Thanks for the help though!

Honeyconcha: thank you! I love the Greenes but they were always sort of in the background so I really wanted to let them shine for a while. Hope this was quick enough for you!

Lucy: wow, thank you! I can't wait to write more between her and Daryl and I have a little feeling we won't have to wait much longer for that… nice spoiler for you. Yes! Barn scene is amazing and I hope I can do it justice in the next chapter!

One more thing! I'm pretty sure season 3 starts tonight in some places… am I right? If not sorry… but I do have to request a SPOILER FREE REVIEW BOX please! Unless Daryl dies… then you can tell me. So yeah, I'll probably find a way to watch it tomorrow but until then! HOPE YOU GUYS LOVE IT!