AN: if anyone is reading The Outdoor Cat and His Unicorn, I'm sorry I'm really stuck on it:( I promise I will finish it! This is the last time jump, it's been about a year since The prison, please excuse me if my timeline is messed up. Judith is about 20-21 months old. Reunion is coming very soon her I promise! Let me know what you think! I love reviews!

I do not own or profit from The Walking Dead

Chapter 10

Who is gonna save you, When I'm gone?

And who'll watch over you, When I'm gone?

You say you care for me,But hide it well

How can you love someone,And not yourself?

And when I'm gone, Who will break your fall?

Who will you blame?

I can't go on,And let you lose it all

It's more than I can take

Who'll ease your pain?

Ease your pain

~Alterbridge~Watch over you

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5 months later (one year since fall of prison 7 months Carol has been with new group)

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"Aww fuck Jude that's fucking nasty"

"Fuck"

"Shit no, no,no don't say that! Auntie Carol will kill Miller, you don't want that do you?"

"Shit"

"Traitor, and after I changed your nasty assed diaper too"

Carol smiled as the sound of laughter filled the air, Miller was obviously tickling Judith to her delight. Stretching in bed she glanced at the clock, she had wanted to get up early, usually Judith was up with the sunshine a sure fire alarm clock. The guys regularly would sneak into her and Judith's room, to take Judith out, trying to give Carol a little more sleep. She usually heard them when they did so, they weren't exactly graceful or quiet. Perez had once stubbed his toe and cursed so loud he woke Thomas in the next room, but she always pretended to be asleep. She appreciated the fact that they cared enough to want her to sleep in, despite their teasing that she could sleep through a tornado.

The group had arrived at the safe zone 5 months ago, Alexandria. Two months on the road with her new little family had solidified without a doubt how lucky she was to have found them. She would have never made it on her own.

Alexandria was a large settlement, streets blocked and walled off much like Woodbury had been. Their group had been well received. Doctors were always in demand, the settlement had only two prior to Thomas arriving., and none with a surgical background. The guys military background also got them immediately tasked with going on runs. There was a rotation and Paul had attempted to ensure that two only ever went out at one time, never wanting to leave Carol and Judith alone. Carol had assured them until she was blue in the face, she would be okay on her own, but they stubbornly refused.

Alexandria was baby friendly, a staffed daycare allowed for working parents, but Carol had been told there group's contribution was more than enough, Carol could stay home with Judith if she wanted. Carol had been tempted to throw herself back into a job like at the prison. Never wanting to be a burden, but she realized that she had been a little burned out at the prison, from a the responsibilities leveled on her shoulders. She had felt like the weight of the world was on her shoulders. Most of the council had been focused on runs, the day to day running of the prison had fallen on her. She'd been overwhelmed. Carol had asked to be placed at the daycare part time, that way she would never have to leave Judith. She felt right now Judith deserved her undivided attention.

The best she could figure Judith was almost two, and hadn't seen her father in a year. Every night Carol would tell her stories about Rick and Carl, and Lori, and ...Daryl. Judith would sit listening and riveted then ask in open curiosity "Calol..Dadda all gone?". She would always respond by telling her he was lost, but looking for her. Judith spoke about the prison group as though they were imaginary friends as a result of the stories. Dadda, Momma, Cawl(Carl) Dawel(Daryl) Bett(Beth) were all part of her vocabulary. Carol thought it was important for her to know about those who had loved her so much, that it made possible her survival.

Judith had imagined Daryl to the likes is a superhero, much to the guys dismay. They competed ferociously for the title of Judith's favorite. Spoiling her rotten, they could never come back from a run with no gifts for her. Piggybacks abounded and they were Judith's ultimate playmates when they were home. They never tired of her or got impatient, Judith thought they hung the moon, but when asked who her favorite was Judith would never hesitate; Dawel (Daryl).

They had been given a four bedroom house, Miller had claimed the den and everyone else had settled into a room on their own with Carol taking Judith in with her.

As Carol dressed she could hear Perez making his way to the living room searching out Judith.

"Good morning Princess Asskicker"

"Fuck!"

"God Dammit Miller!"

"God Damwit Millwer!"

Carol put her hand to her mouth to stifle a giggle. She'd basically resigned herself to Judith picking up bits of their foul language. She figured there could be much worse things in life.

Making her way downstairs Judith spotted her first.

"Calol!" She said running and flinging herself in Carol's arms.

"Morning Baby girl" Carol said picking her up as Judith rested her head on her shoulder twirling a piece of Carols growing hair. "Were you getting another vocabulary lesson this morning from those two?" she asked with a grin.

"I have no idea what you are talking about" Perez deadpanned.

"Yeah! Me fucking neither" Miller piped in and she laughed as Perez playfully swatted him calling him a dumbass.

Making her way into the kitchen , she deposited Judith into her high chair and started breakfast. Alexandria still had large supplies of propane many of the houses including there's had a propane stove, which Carol used sparingly wanted to conserve as much as possible. Usually she didn't turn it on for breakfast but yesterday they had received the first delivery of real eggs so she was definitely using it this morning.

"Where's Paul and Thomas?" Carol asked as she set about making eggs while Perez broke apart some pieces of bread for Judith.

"Thomas got called into the clinic at 3am this morning the motherfu" Perez stopped and looked at Judith then continued on "the Motherlovers woke me up pounding on the door...heard them say something about an appendix, Paul's at the early morning meeting, they're planning the next run. Gonna be a long one, were leaving in two days, venturing out farther than ever."

Paul had been asked to join the council at Alexandria, a responsibility he took very seriously. Carol felt some anxiety in the pit of her stomach at the thought of Paul. She was pretty sure Paul had developed feelings for her.

Maybe it was all in her head, but lately he'd been different with her, she caught him staring at her and he seemed to take any excuse to touch her. She knew he would never push her, but she didn't want to hurt him. She was not ready to move on, She was not in any way over Daryl.

She was able to function during the day, laugh at the guys, play with Judith, but her nights were still haunted by Daryl. She would close her eyes and he would be there. Lately her dreams had become sexual in nature and she blushed thinking of some of those dreams, and what they had done. It was like her mind was torturing her reminding her that she would never make love to Daryl, never feel him inside, never have him stare at her as he slid in and out of her, never have his face in neck, or his hands on her body.

Every morning she woke in a haze and had to remind herself Daryl was dead, and every morning she felt like she died a little more inside. She didn't know if this pain was ever going to leave her. Maybe in the future she might be willing to try with Paul, but right now she wasn't ready and nothing good would come of that. She couldn't give him what he needed right now.

Her mind started to wander thinking of her dream from last night. Daryl's eyes and his smile had been so happy and passionate...

"Yeah alright Carol you look flushed" Perez asked suddenly from behind her and Carol startled

"Jesus Christ you scared me!"

"Jeeezus Chwist!"