Hey all my lovely readers!

Whew! Chapter 10 already? I am so exited to continue this story,I would get it all done in a day if I could. But unfortunately,there is this really lame thing called reality that prevents me from doing what I love. I wanted to thank you all for reviewing and favoriting and such. Love it all. Wanted to show my appreciation by just shouting out to some awesome people:

GeminiCross, RebelA2013, YunaCastia, what evil lurks (awesome pen name by the way), and a MAIN shout out to livelovemusic96, for being so cool for reviewing all the time!

If I didn't mention you,I'm sorry. Just gotta get to the story,ya know? No matter what,you guys all rock!

Also,I don't really remember what Carl was off doing in the events following his mother's death. That episode,if I remember correctly,was mainly focused on a rampaging Rick and Daryl and Maggie on their run. So if I get anything wrong,oh well.

Enjoy :)

(Disclaimer- I don't own TWD or its characters,just Riley)

Carl's POV

Empty.

That's all he felt since he he sounded the gun shot that echoed threw the boiler room. Even as he stepped into the warm sunlight out in the courtyard,it did nothing for him.

It all felt like a horrible dream,a twisted nightmare. Like he was supposed to wake up any second and hear his parents bickering in the next cell over. Oh,how he wanted that. He wanted to hear his mom say something,anything. She could even be yelling and screaming at him and his dad. He just wanted her back. He wanted his mom.

As the events played out in the courtyard,Maggie crying her eyes out, his father charging back into the prison, nothing caught Carl's attention till Maggie asked Daryl about some certain group members.

He was deeply saddened by the unexpected departure of T-Dog. He was a kind man,always willing to help. Now he was gone too.

Carol' s death was also a heavy blow. She was like everyone's mother,always seeing who's okay,who she could help. And,like T-Dog,she was gone too. Carl knew Daryl was upset,though he kept it well hidden. He had been closest to Carol,and Carl have heard some of the other group members betting on when they'd finally just get together. Now they'll never know what could've happened.

When Daryl told them about Riley,though,Carl was all ears. Daryl hesitated for a moment before explaining what he knew about the girl's whereabouts,and when he finished,his eyes hardened in a way that Carl understood. Determination.

Carl also caught how the man avoided stating she was dead.

Was she alive? Or was she one of the undead?

Carl shivered at the thought. Riley wouldn't want that. She'd rather die than become a walker. Carl also knew she could take care of herself. Survive.

After Daryl took off with Maggie to raid the daycare for formula,everyone sorta paired off. Beth took the baby inside the now cleared cell block and Glenn grabed a shovel and headed out into the lawn,the prisoners trailing behind him. Herschel regarded Carl for a moment,giving the boy a pat on the shoulder before limping after Glenn.

He wanted to help the boy,comfort him in any way he can,but he knew Carl also needed space. And though he was incredibly worried about him,Herschel had no choice but to give Carl just that.

Carl stood there a moment,trying to get it together. He took a deep breath before walking into the prison,looking for Beth and his sister.

Sister.

Whoa,he had a sister. A baby sister. He remembered always wanting one. He had wanted to have something to protect and care for,and now he did. He just wished she hadn't come when she did.

He found Beth in her cell,rocking the bundle in her arms frantically,trying to get the crying baby to hush.

"Shhh..." She whispered to it. She looked up and jumped as she saw him standing there. Her eyes widened. "Oh,Carl,I'm sorry. I guess you don't want me holding her. Here," she tries to hand him the baby,and he only stares at her,extremely confused.

"Why wouldn't I want you to hold her?" He asks.

Now she's confused." Well,she's your sister," she almost sounds exasperated. "And I figured,you know,since your mom just died that-"

"That what?" He snapped. What did her holding the baby have anything to do with his mother? Was she just trying to bring her up? Was she just trying to make him upset,make him angry? If so,it sure was working.

She then clutched the baby closer,near protective. "I just figured you wouldn't want me touching her," Her tone then transferred from fragile to heated. "But now I see you don't care,so I'll just take her-"

"No,you won't." He nearly growls. This was so unlike him,but he couldn't help it. She thought he was going to hurt the baby. His little sister. He would never,ever do something like that to her. Him and Beth,despite a lot of things,have grown close over the last few months,and Carl thought she knew him more than that. And it was really hurtful for her to think such things.

He holds his arms out,signaling her that he wanted to hold the baby. She hesitated.

"Beth," he says,trying to soften his tone slightly. "I want to hold my little sister."

Still cautious,Beth slides the bundle into his open arms. She doesn't remove her hands from the baby,so she still technically held it. Carl scowled at her,narrowing his eyes slightly.

"I got it,Beth." He says,his tone heated. When she still didn't remove her arms,he openly growled," Let. Go. Now."

She jumped at his tone,but her constricting arms retreated. Carl then turned his back to her,stalking out of the cell, a gurgling baby in his arms.

He trudged around the cell block awhile,wrapped up in his thoughts. It wasn't until his sister let out a little whine before he really took notice of her. He looked down at her pink,pudgy face and looked into her eyes. They were a clear blue. Carl had heard that most baby's were born with blue eyes that would change later. He wondered if they'll change to his mother's dark brown,or stay blue like he and his dad's. He partly wanted her eyes to be brown,because then she'd be a reminder of Mom. He partly wanted her orbs to stay blue for that same reason. Did he really want to be sad any time he looked at her?

Suddenly,Daryl burst into the cell block,the rest of the group right behind him. He held his large arms out for the baby,and Carl,shocked,gave her to him. As Daryl fed the baby with their newly acquired formula,Carl didn't even try to fight a smile. It was just so bizarre to see such a large,no-bullshit man feed such a tiny baby. It was near comical.

"Any names?" Said man asks him.

"Well,I was thinking of maybe Amy,Andrea,Jacqui,Sophia,Carol,Patricia...Lori.. "

Everyone's shoulders slump at the mentions of there late group members. Daryl only nods.

"Howa bout Riley?" Beth pipes up.

Everyone looks at her,and she quickly adds, "Well,she's dead too..."

Daryl's face constrict' s with rage,before he quickly bottles it up. "Naw,she's still out there,somewhere." Carl nods,narrowing his eyes at the blonde. Her cheeks redden with shame.

"Well,you sure are a lil ass kicker," Daryl tells the baby,and she gurgles happily. "What? Ya' like that? Lil ass kicker?"

Everyone laughs,and Carl notices the lack of voices. So many are gone,taken in just an instant. All because of some crazy prisoner, Daryl later tells Carl.

While it was too late to save the others,Carl hoped they'd find the one both he and Daryl were sure was still alive,still fighting.

After the baby's fed and everyone goes about their business,Daryl makes his way over to Carl. "You doin anythin tomorrow mornin?" The redneck' s voice is hushed,the man obviously not wanting anyone eavesdropping on them.

"Uh,no." Carl replies. His brow furrows. "What,are you going on a run again or something?

The man shakes his head. "Naw,me an' that Oscar dude are sweeping threw the rest of the prison,take out any stragglers." He then leans in a bit closer,his voice dropping. " And between you and me, I'm gonna look for Riley. I wanted to ask if you'll come with. You seem like the only other person that really gives a damn about her. You in?"

Carl grinned. For once,him and Daryl were on the same team. And Daryl Dixon was a sure advantage on a team. "Hell ya."