I want to say I am soooo sorry for not updating all weekend! I went home for the weekend because it's been like 2 months since Iv'e been home and college beds aren't even a fifth as good as home beds. It snowed a lot too so OBVIOUSLY I had to play in it for hours on end, like any sane 21 year old does. Then The Walking Dead was on Sunday, which meant I had watch the marathon that was on AMC non stop all day. It all just got away from me. Don't hate me! Did everyone watch!? SPOILER ALERT! I screamed at my tv when Daryl left and scared my dog. He better get his sexy ass back to the prison ASAP or I'm going to be a very angry girl.

Anyways! Here's the next part of my story, hope you enjoy! I don't have much to do at work this week so I'm going to try and write some more by Friday. Hope you all have a lovely week !

All the girls stood in a line, left hands resting delicately on the middle bar. Effy walked past them slowly, adjusting an arm here and straightening a leg there.

" slowly down 3 4 up 6 7 8" The familiar chant came like second nature. The girls dipping low in time with her mantra. As their knees bent, their heels would rise. With eyes forward, they held their balance with such grace. Effy could see their mothers watching from the small waiting room window.

"Good, girls. Very good. We're just about out of time for today. Lets say we wrap up, huh?" She was already bending down to turn the stereo on when the girls squealed in approval. They ballet slippers made a swishing nose as they took their places in the center of the room. The room was suddenly filled with Bell Biv Devoes Poison, a nice break from the usual slow piano music they danced to. This little game was something Effy had stolen from her former teacher, Ms. Shepard.

"Never let them leave frustrated or angry. Send them out smiling and they will always come back" she had told Effy after offering her a job teaching at the studio.

Effy laughed before she could stop herself as two girls twirled into each other. The girls leaped and spun and laughed as the song played. When it finally ended, everyone bowed very low and clapped. Effy was just about to dismiss them when a siren began to blare outside. Everyone who lived in the dust bowl new what a siren like that meant: tornado. The studio door opened as the girls' mothers came in and began collecting their daughters' belongings.

"Okay don't panic please. Jess you know you're not supposed to run. Everyone down to the basement. Please Mrs. Mckenna, just go to the basement, I'll get the front door. Thank you." The children and their parents began to file down in to the storm cellar as Effy when to shut the front storm door The sun was shining brightly and the air was still as Effy stepped outside. Odd weather for a tornado, she thought as she turned to look down the empty street. A huge caravan of military Humvees roared past her, causing her to jump back. She watched with fear rising in her stomach as trucks filled with soldiers drove past. They all wore gas masks over their face. Effy walked into the street in horror when gunfire erupted somewhere in the distance.

Her head felt like it was as heavy as an anvil when she opened her eyes. The tent was dark, but wrong. This wasn't her tent. Effy rubbed her eyes, trying to recall why she would be here, wherever here was. She remembered walking to the other camp with the group. She had been talking to Daryl when something had happened, but what? Effy sat up quickly and regretted it instantly. It felt like someone had put razor blades in her skull and shook them around a bit. She rested her head on her knees, desperately trying to remember what had happened. When she felt a hand on her shoulder, Effy just about jumped out of her skin.

"Relax, kid! Jesus, lay down. What the fuck you doing?" Jed whispered, pressing her back into the air mattress.

"What happened" she groaned as she closed her eyes again. She moved her hand through her hair and hissed when she touched something tender.

"You tripped over a fuckin' rock and cracked your head, dummy" Jed was sounding more and more like their father everyday. It was oddly calming.

"I what?"

"You fell. Daryl brought you back here with ya head bleedin'. Said you were walkin' backwards or some shit and fell."

Effy groaned louder, remembering falling over. Could I be anymore embarrassing, she thought to herself as she remembered Daryl yelling at her as she walked.

"You know, for someone who used to pride themselves on being a 'ballerina', you sure do fall over a lot" Jed said under his breathe as he handed her a wet cloth.

"Fuck you. Move over." She pushed at his shoulder, rolling off the mattress and crawling to the door.

"Where ya goin' Ef?" he asked, taking her place on the mattress and laying down.

"Well excuse me daddy, but I didn't know I needed you permission to leave the house." She spit at him as she fumbled with the zipper or the tent.

"No need to be bitchy! Jesus Christ. It's like 3 am, but go on then." He smiled at his sister as she tripped out of the tent into the cool night air. "Hey Eff?"

"WHAT!" she said a little too loudly.

"Hey now!" He looked slightly offended by her attitude. Effy sighed and forced herself to smile.

"What is it sweet brother?"

"I just thought you might want to put some pants on, but if your gonna be like that…." He held her jeans up and laughed. She had thought it was a bit chillier then usual. Effy snatched them from Jed and put them on as quick as possible.

"Thanks dude."

"Anytime sis. Beau's on watch tonight, I figured you wouldn't wanna walk about pantless with that animal around. Is it just me or does he seem a little too keen on you lately?" Effy looked at the ground, remembering their late night conversation. Now was neither the time nor the place for sharing THAT story. Effy just shook her head and shrugged. "Okay, then." Jed answered as she zipped his tent up.

Effy lit up a cigarette as she walked over to her tent, rubbing her head a little. She would have to go thank Daryl for helping her.

Her sleep was anything but relaxing.

Tanks rolled through her dreams, shooting the dead and the living alike.

The chaos was everywhere she turned. Children screamed while their parents fled for their lives. Effy saw Jed driving towards her, screaming something silent. She tilted her head as he leapt from the vehicle and sprinted toward her, bat in hand. Effy turned her head slightly as someone reached out to her from behind. It was their neighbor, the one with the two children, but no wife. He has always been so sweet; Effy had taught his daughters ballet for free on weekends. But it wasn't him. His mouth hung open, red with blood. His skin had turned gray and his hair was falling out. Confused, Effy tried to speak, to ask him what was happening. Nothing came out of her mouth. She stood motionless and watched her brother push her aside roughly. He bashed in the other mans head with a sickening crack. Jed turned and gabbed her by the shirt, hauling her over his shoulder. He raced back toward the truck and threw her in the passenger seat, slamming the door behind her.

Effy was sitting up in her tent, listening to Cissina's quiet breathing, when Miss V poked her head in.

"Oh.. I didn't expect you ta be awake." She whispered, "how's your head feeling sweetie pie? You took quite a fall as I heard."

Effy rubbed at the back of her head and cast her eyes down, feeling her face start to heat up. It always seemed to embarrass her when Miss V mothered her like this.

" 'm fine." She mumbled. Miss V watched her closely as she moved to leave the tent.

"No offense darling, but you look like hell, bless your heart. Come on out, I'll fix you somethin' to eat. Put some color back on your face. Too young for bags like that under your eyes" she continued to talk as she shuffled away towards the fire. Effy stretched her arms high over her head and cringed a little when her shoulders made a deep popping noise. Must have slept weird, she determined as she cracked the rest of her joints.

Ryder was already half way through his plate of food when Effy sat down next to him. She ducked her head to light a cigarette before quickly putting it away. Miss V shot her a nasty look when she clicked the lighter. That woman must have super sonic hearing or something, she thought to herself when she noticed Ryder was looking at her.

"Can I help you?"

"Didn't you hear what I said?" he asked, looking a bit annoyed. Effy just started at him and waited for him to go on. "Can you take my watch tonight?"

"Why, you got a hot date?" She nudged at him with a smile.

"No! shut up. I just got stuff to do tonight okay? Jesus Christ nevermind" He got up and stalked away. Effy couldn't help but shake her head at his strange teenage boy hormones.

"I'll do it" she yelled after him. He answered with something that sounded like a thanks. Effy looked up and saw Miss V shaking her head as well.

"That boy has got it bad. Saw him talking to that little blonde who came in with the others all yesterday. Looks like Romeo and Juliet to me."

"I think her name's Beth" Effy said with a mouth full of food. She couldn't remember the last time she had eaten. Was it yesterday? "How can watch stand in the way of true love." She added. The two of them laughed for a minute. Effy threw some of her food to Pebbles, who was curled up by the fire. She watched as the dog ate up the food without a thought. She rubbed at her head again. There was a nice big bump forming where she had hit it. An ice pack would have been greatly appreciated, but she decided a semi-warm beer would do fine too. Effy fumbled with the cap and nearly dropped the whole thing when it cut her palm. It slipped from her hand, and into another before hitting the ground.

"You do realize it's about 8 in the morning right?" Daryl said, giving her a questioning look.

"Well you know what they say about head injuries" she said sarcastically as she looked at her bleeding hand.

"I don't think it involves drinking" he laughed as he easily twisted the cap off, "at least not alone." He handed the bottle back to her and grabbed on for himself. She smiled up at him as he clinked bottles. Daryl was already walking away when she finished her swig.

"Hey! Wait up now."

"What's up kid" he said, slowing his pace so she could catch up.

"Aren't you hungry? Miss V made enough food for everyone. Enough for a small army from the looks of it."

"That lady back there? She said I ain't allowed at her 'table' unless I clean off" he nodded his head back to where the elderly woman stood around the fire. Effy sighed, knowing full well Miss V would say something like that to a complete stranger. "You gonna come watch me shower?" he added with a smirk.

"Obviously not" Effy said with an innocent look, "technically, since it's a pond and all, it would be a bath, not a shower."

"Well in that case… you better watch your step this time. I ain't gonna carry you threw the damn woods again."

Before Effy could answer him, Beau jumped down from the perch, landing only a few inches in front of her.

"Morning Princess. Hows ya head?" he said, ignoring Daryl entirely. Effy saw him stiffen up beside her with anger. He all but puffed his chest out.

"Fine." She said angrily, trying to side step around him.

"Where you off to in such a hurry huh? Fancy a nice walk in the woods?" Beau had stepped up quite closer to her now, and Effy cringed at the whiskey coming off his breathe.

"God, will you back up?" Effy moved to shove him back but he quickly caught her wrist in his hand and squeezed tightly.

"What I say about being bitchy" his voice was low and dangerous. All of his attention was on Effy, so he never saw the punch coming. Daryl caught him square in the jaw, damn near dislocating it on the spot. Beau stumbled back onto the ground from the force and shock. He looked like a wild animal as soon as his gaze settled on Daryl, who was standing in front of Effy now. He placed a hand on her waist protectively, pushing her directly behind him.

"You little shit…the fucks wrong…." He shuddered as he scrambled to his feet and reached in his pants to pull out his buck knife. Before he could make a swipe at them, Daryl grabbed his wrist and twisted it painfully. Beau yelled out a stream of cruses before dropping the knife reluctantly. The commotion had quickly drawn a crowd from the rest of the group. Ryder looked extremely alarmed at what was happening. Even Pebbles growled from where she stood next to Daryl.

"What the fuck Ef, whats going on?" Jed said with wide eyes.

"This ass put his hands on her" Daryl answered, keeping his eyes on Beau. All Effy could do was shake her head and stare. Beau had to out weigh Daryl by 100 pounds, yet he looked almost reluctant to come at him again. He spit blood onto the dirt before taking a few steps back.

"The fuck you all lookin' at, huh?! God damn, move" he yelled and pushed threw the crowd, towards his tent. Jed just stood there, eyes wide with shock.

"Uhh, good job man" he finally said looking at Daryl. "He touched you Eff? I knew he was a dick but Jesus Christ!"

"I'm fine. Really. I tried to push him and he grabbed my arm." Daryl already had her wrist in his hand, looking at the red hand print that was beginning to show. He mumbled something that sounded like "kill that motherfucker".

"You two clear out for a bit, will ya? I'm gonna go have a long talk with Sir grabs a lot over there. He ain't gonna lay a hand on you again sis. I'll cut off his hands if I gotta." Jed kissed her head lightly and winked at her.

"You need some help with that, give me a holler" Daryl said looking up at him.

"I will man. Thanks"

They watched Jed stalk menacingly over to where Beaus tent stood. When Effy turned back, Daryl was already staring at her.

"Are you sure you're alright?" He asked, placing a hand on her cheek. Effy smiled down at the ground and nodded her head. "Come on" he took her hand and pulled her towards the woods. "You promised me a bath."

Daryl tore the bottom of his shirt off and wrapped it around Effy's bleeding palm as gently as he possible could, but she still winced a bit when he pulled it tight. He bit his bottom lip hard, concentrating on trying to not hurt her. The wind blew softly across the pond; causing the water to ripple and her long hair tickle his arm. Effy looked from her hand, to him, to Pebbles who was laying her head in his lap, back up to his face.

"Thank you" she said finally. Daryl tied a knot in the fabric in a knot and looked up at her.

"What for" he asked, looking genuinely confused by her statement.

"…for before…and yesterday" she added with a sigh. He shifted back on the rock he was sitting on, causing Pebbles in whine and get up. She walked awkwardly over the loose ground to lay in the sun by the waters edge. Daryl kept his eyes on the boots as he unlaced them.

"I didn't do nothing" he mumbled. Effy snorted and raised an eyebrow at him.

" Uh yea, you did actually" She stood up and pushed her own shoes off. "Don't be so modest and take my damn thank you. He just chuckled and shook his head before standing up and peeling his shirt off. Effy couldn't help but watch as he bunched it up in his hands, flexing his arms in the process. A combination of dirt and sun had turned his skin a deep brown and she could see his muscles just underneath every time he moved. He looked up to see her staring at him, so he threw his balled up shirt at her. She managed to catch it before it hit her in the face ( a very Jed move, she thought to herself, then instantly regretted thinking about her half brother at a time like this).

"There ain't no free show here, ma'am" he covered his chest with his hands in a display of modesty.

"Don't flatter yourself, darling", she threw his shirt back to him. "Ain't nothing I haven't seen before." Effy turned her back to him and pulled her own shirt over her head. Her hair got caught as her shirt came over her head, revealing a cross tattoo in the middle of her back. Daryl used every once of strength he had to not go in for a better look.

"Shy doesn't suit you either" she heard his say as she tossed her shirt over a near by branch.

"How would you know" she answered coolly, looking over her shoulder at him as he pulled the zipper of his pants down. She hooked her thumbs in her own jeans and pulled them down slowly and stepped out.

"Weren't shy when you sat in my lap at the bar."

Effy could hear the rocks moving on the ground as he took a step or two closer to where she stood. She placed her hands on her hips defiantly and turned around quickly, throwing him off slightly.

"I don't know… hey hey.. eyes up here mister….I don't know what your talking about" she shrugged her shoulders, keeping her eyes on his as he failed miserably to do the same. With a sweet smile, Effy took a step forward so they were only a few inches apart. She placed a hand on his chest, right over his heart. "you know what?" she whispered. He leaned in closer to hear her. "You know what you need?" Daryl shook his head quickly, watching her mouth. "You are in desperate need of a bath." With her last word, Effy pushed back as hard as she could and watched as he fell back into the cold pond. Around the sounds of splashing, she could make out things like 'bitch' and 'fuckin' cold'. "Oh don't be a baby", she laughed as he stood up, red faced. "It ain't that bad."

Pebbles barked at the sudden noises but quickly ran into the water when she saw there would be a companion to swim with. Daryl cursed some more before going under the water line.

"if it aint that bad, why ain't you in here?" he yelled from the middle of the pond. Pebbles pushed him under as she tried to climb onto his back. Effy laughed hysterically as he tried to swim away from the dog. Hearing her, Pebbles turned and paddled her way over to Effy, who knelt down to greet her. Peddle shook her fur out, sending mud and water and fur flying at Effy. She wiped her face off as she heard a loud HA from the lake. "Look who needs a bath now!?"

"Do you ever shut up" she yelled back, picking her way into the water. As soon as she came to the drop-off, she dove under and swam to where Daryl was treading water. "Nice isn't it? Being clean" she managed to say before he spit a mouth full of water into her face. "Real mature" she said before splashing at him.

Hidden in the tree line, Beau watched as they swam. The bruise on his jaw was still throbbing from where they younger man hit him. He watched silently, feeling the hatred boiling deep down inside of him.

PS: That dance thing is a real thing! I've taken point and regular ballet sine I was about 3 years old and probably will until my knees and ankles give out for good ( in like 3 years most likely). My teachers used to do it when we were little. Obviously now it doesn't happen cause were fucking adults or something. I don't know. But yea, we would work hard all class and get hit with a cane when your leg bent wrong, or a nice sharp tap on the shoulder when your arm was too high. Then at the end of class, she would put on spice girls or the Austin powers theme song. We would dance around like nut cases and have a blast. That way, you never left angry or frustrated. It worked, strangely enough. FUN DANCE FACT! Ah the good old days. Now it's just boring old dance.