The incident with Daryl had prompted Rick to organise gun training for everyone in the group. Lori was not happy about the idea of Carl handling a gun and made that fact known frequently.

"He has just been shot and you want to let him near a gun?" she threw at him over breakfast.

"He needs to know how to protect himself, we all need to know how to protect ourselves," Rick told her firmly aware that everyone was listening to their conversation.

"Aava you can't possibly want to see the children with guns?" Lori exclaimed.

Aava looked quite taken aback that Lori had dragged her into the argument. The rest of the campers turned to face Lori and Rick assuming that it had now become a public discussion.

"I know how you feel Lori but the fact is there is no room for a weak link. When it was just me and Claire out there I learned that the hard way," Aava softly sighed "They need to be able to protect themselves 'cause we can't guarantee that we will be around to protect them."

Aava's answer was not what Lori wanted to hear and the scowl that took over her face proved it.

"Gun training tomorrow then," Rick said ending the discussion.

Claire, hoping to escape the tension, volunteered to take Daryl his breakfast. She gingerly knocked on the door before letting herself in. Daryl, who was already awake, pulled the blankets up to his chin and shot her a glare.

"What d'ya want girl?"

"Just dropping off your breakfast," Claire chirped while setting his plate down.

"Well you can go now," Daryl grumbled.

"Well someone is not a morning person," Claire commented making no attempt to leave.

"What?" Daryl asked unnerved by her continued presence.

"You're very brave," Claire told him, ignoring his previous question. Daryl was surprised by the comment and expressed his confusion by deepening his scowl. Noticing Daryl's expression made Claire's smile grow, the man was like a mystery she was determined to solve. Deciding not to elaborate on her compliment she informed him that Rick planned to teach everyone to shoot a gun.

"Bout damn time," Daryl muttered.

"And moms gonna teach self-defence," Claire added.

"Well it can't hurt,"

Daryl grudgingly admitted that Aava was an asset to the group. As much as Daryl knew that Rick was a good leader, much better than Shane at least, the man had a tendency to bury his head in the sand and ignore issues that had to be addressed. Without Aava the group gun training wouldn't have happened. "The woman was something else," Daryl couldn't help but think.

Aava was aware of a shift within the camp and she knew it was because of her stance on the gun training. Lori decided to continue giving her the cold shoulder while Carol showed her disapproval by not allowing her to help with the chores. Feeling suddenly very unwelcome in Rick's camp she made her way to the stables. The comfort she was hoping to find there was short lived once she spotted her dad. Seeing her father grooming the horses brought her back to the times when they did it together. It was something they both enjoyed and for once they didn't argue. But things had changed. She wasn't a little girl anymore and realistically he hadn't been a father to her for years. A part of Aava wanted to reach out to her father, talk to him, fill him in on her life. However a larger part of her felt that she was entitled to her anger and that he should make the first move.

"I didn't see you there," he said softly breaking Aava out of her musings.

"I just needed a place to think," Aava replied avoiding his eyes. The awkwardness between them was palpable as both scrambled for something to say.

"You.. ehm.. were eh .. very helpful yesterday," Hershel said.

"Look dad we can make small talk all day but it's not going to fix anything. Don't you have anything you want to say to me?" Aava implored.

Anything Hershel might have said was cut off by the stable door opening and banging shut.

"Oh sorry," Beth said nervously glancing between the two adults.

"That's quite all right Beth. Would you mind finish grooming her?" Hershel asked while hurrying out of the stable.

The moment Aava might have had with her father was over and any ideas of her reaching out to him were shattered.

The days dragged for Daryl. His body ached but what was really making him uncomfortable was the fact that he could no longer look for Sophia. Daryl knew that the others would continue the search but he had no confidence in their abilities- well except for Aava he thought grudgingly. As the thought crossed his mind Aava entered the room.

"How are you feeling today?" Aava inquired moving in to check his stitches.

"Just peachy," Daryl scoffed. Rolling her eyes at his sarcasm she examined his head wound. Aava tenderly probed the wound but Daryl still tensed when she touched him.

"Well you're healing as best as can be expected but you'll have to be careful with the stitches," she informed him as she sat on the end of his bed.

"I have to get out of this house," Daryl groaned.

"If you'd be more comfortable in your tent there's no reason why you can't move out there. But you have to promise that you will take it easy."

"Yes mom," Daryl mocked while Aava wrinkled her nose in distaste.

"Please one kid is enough," Aava teased.

The pleasant atmosphere that they had was ruined by Hershel walking in. Aava quickly excused herself and Daryl watched her go with a sigh. He would much rather have Aava playing nurse than Hershel.

The days on the farm ambled by with very little change. However Aava couldn't help but feel like the stability they had built was going to come crashing down. Subtle things were making her uneasy ; Lori was acting strange, there was a new tension between Glenn and Maggie and of course the awkwardness with her father.

"Mom?" Claire called waving a hand in front of her face.

"Sorry what?" Aava asked blinking fast to regain her focus.

"You didn't listen to a word of what I said, did you?" Claire accused playfully.

"Zoned out for a minute. What were you saying?"

"Just that things are bit weird here." Aava was slightly shocked that Claire picked up on the underlying tension in the group.

"Don't worry. I'm sure things will work themselves out soon," Aava reassured although not truly believing what she was saying, "now let's go get some breakfast."

Claire nodded in agreement and they both exited the tent. The mother and daughter walked over to Ricks camp taking in the sight they had grown used to over the past few days. However today Daryl had joined them although he wasn't sitting around the fire with the others. Claire made straight for him and plopped down beside him. Aava couldn't help but smile at her daughters determination to befriend the recluse. Before Aava could take another step she was blocked by Glenn.

"Peach?" the young man offered her.

"Sure thanks" Aava answered but Glenn was so distracted he rushed off before she could even finish her sentence.

Confused by her encounter with Glenn her eyes followed him as he made his way to talk to Dale.

"Morning," Carol greeted her and handed her a plate.

"Morning," Aava answered with her gaze still fixed on Dale and Glenn.

This morning felt different and the apprehension she had been feeling for the last couple days tightened in her stomach. Looking around it didn't seem like anyone else shared her anxiety so she pushed her feelings aside and tucked in to her breakfast.

"Guys," Glenn's voice called out "there's Walkers in the barn."

A/N: Sorry sorry sorry sorry! I know it's been forever but life got crazy. Anyways I decided to continue with this story. Please let me know what you think. This chapter is a little shorter but dont worry I have a longer one already in the works. What would you like to see happen? How are Daryl and Aava? More Claire? Any other characters you would like to see? Please review and thank you for reading xxxxx