I feel like I start my chapters out by apologizing wayyyyy too often lol but here I am, apologizing for a late update, yet again. Don't sue me, I was sick, I have a valid excuse for this chapter's lateness, I promise. I'm not completely better but I can't stand waiting too long for an update, like ya'll.

Want to just give you all a heads up about the update next week, I will be late. Bottom line, mothers day is coming up and school is almost done for my kids so they have a ton of crap coming up this month (-sobs in a corner-) For the rest of May into the 2nd week of June (because I have a brother coming home at the ending of May that I haven't seen in a while) updates will be late, well later than their usual Tuesday schedule. May 29th-June 12th, like I said, I have a brother coming in from Texas. I'd really like to spend time with him while he is here so from the week of May 29th to the week of June 12th, I will not be posting. Hope ya'll can forgive me!

New favorites/followers: shadow384, mucasara, VictoriaEther95, Miss Cassandra and AquaRoseWater!

Reviews:

Frankie: Can't agree more with you on our similar opinions over Lori. She is trying really hard for people to hate Ana, like there is anything to hate. She just needs something over Ana since she believes wholeheartedly that Ana has not only stolen Rick but Carl right out from under her. She's delusional and that's how its gonna stay till she dies, unfortunately, lol either than that, love that you are enjoying the story! Hope you continue to do so!

Dark Rose Charm: Ughhhh, she is soooo annoying, I know! I feel like the entire situation with Carol was started by Lori. After feeding her head with those things about Ana 'knowing what's coming before it actually does', I feel like the trust Carol once had in Ana, is waning, sadly. Sure, the woman did save her damn daughter for god sakes, but since she did save her daughter, the death that was supposed to happen to create the Carol we know and love today, hasn't had a chance to come out. Sadly, she's going to continue to be that pathetic and weak character we saw in Season 1, easily manipulated and controlled. It's annoying, but it adds to the plotline. Ana can't be friends with everyone lol

Crissy: So glad you were able to catch up! Also glad you are liking it as much as you say, gives me a nice pat on the back to keep going in the direction I am. I laughed out loud at your comment on 'the drama that is Rick'. I couldn't help but instantly agree that Rick is the best drama maker, aside from his wife lol but what is a good story without some drama huh? Keeps you on your toes and makes you realize you hate a character more than you thought you did lol well it did for me!

Disclaimer: I do not own the AMC's The Walking Dead or its characters, just Ana!

Enjoy~

Ana's POV...

The inmates that were left after our little debate with Thomas, were ordered to stay within their own cell-block and to never cross over to ours. Rick made it incredibly clear that he saw them at any point, cross into our half of the cell-block, there would be hell to pay. I had attempted to defend what inmates were left, knowing not all of them were as bad as Thomas, but once again, Rick wasn't having any of it, so I left it be.

Now a week after clearing out a cell-block on the opposite end of the prison, we were in the works of better preparing the grounds to keep in permanently. Daryl nagged me for answers, knowing I knew if this place was definitely as permanent as Rick preached it would be, but it wasn't for me to say. He grew annoyed with my silence to his questions, something I was used to by now before he marched off while cursing me under his breath.

I couldn't stop myself from chuckling under my breath as I watched my redneck match away like a petulant child that had just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

"Everythin' alright?" A voice asked hesitantly from somewhere behind me as my eyes forcefully pulled themselves from Daryl's disappearing form and towards Glenn. I smirked at the man, turning back in the direction Daryl had gone before snorting.

"Men always have to have things their way, don't they?" I teased as I listened to his shoes approach across the gravel before coming to a stop beside me.

"Not all men..." Glenn muttered sending me chuckling under my breath before I side eyed the man, who I only then noticed was fidgeting awkwardly beside me.

"Everything alright?" I then turned his question on him, turning to give him my full attention as his eyes snapped to me in surprise.

"Uh...no, everything's alright." Glenn's lips twisted into an awkward smile causing me to snort, my arms crossing over my chest in the next moment.

"Ain't blind Rhee, something's up. Is it Maggie? She leave ya?" I tilted my head jokingly, amused as his eyes shot over to me in horror as I grinned wider at his reaction.

"Well then tell me what shits crawled up yer ass and died?" I placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, turning him so that we could walk further down the gravel road into the field.

"It's Carol..." Glenn hesitantly began as I turned back to him, stopping just a few feet into the grass, my brows furrowed both in confusion and worry.

"She alright?" I asked in concern as he glanced up the road towards the prison then down towards the fence line where T-Dog and the woman in question we're dealing with a small herd of walkers collecting at one point in the fence.

"She's been...she's been practicing cesareans on the walkers." Glenn muttered under his breath as my eyes widened in surprise, my head snapping in the direction of Carol.

"Why?" I inquired, unsure where this particular conversation was going as Glenn sighed.

"She said you don't have enough training in that area and if you did the surgery yourself, you'd be putting the baby and Lori at risk." I hadn't been expecting that comment as my eyes quickly sought out Glenn's.

"So, bottom line, she doesn't trust me?" I mumbled, unsure how to feel about what I just learned about a woman I thought trusted me with everything. But the more I thought about it, would I trust myself if I was in her position? I did continuously tell people I was not qualified to help people medically but no one had ever listened to me. The thing with Hershel was a fluke I went off of from the television series, that I was still shocked even worked, well, I hoped it worked anyways. But now that I thought about it, the fact that the woman held no trust over me, didn't sit right with me for some reason.

"I trust you, Ana. And I tried to tell Carol the same but she..." Glenn began to point out as I quickly shook my head, stopping him from continuing.

"Ain't yer fault, she has every right ta think what she does. Everyone has a right to their own opinions I guess..." The further into my sentence I got, the less confident I grew as my eyes slowly began to turn away from Carol and to the man standing beside me.

"Ana, you'll do fine. I know Hershel gave you those books and I've seen you read them countless times. If anything, you are more qualified to do it then Carol, even with the practice she's been doing." Glenn grabbed me by my shoulders suddenly, surprising me as I hadn't expected the man to grab me so suddenly.

"Don't doubt yourself because you can do this shit, no problem!" His grip on my shoulders tightened briefly as his eyes bore into my own. I stared at him, shocked by his sudden confidence in me before I snorted, amused by his words.

"Not sure if I told ya, but, ya get on my nerves from time ta time..." I took a step back from him, being sure to keep an emotionless expression on my face as I watched his own morph into sudden horror.

"Ana, I..." He began to reach out for me as I took another step back from him, avoiding his touch as his lips opened and shut like a beached fish.

"Ana, please..." He sounded desperate this time causing me to break the facade as I slowly began to smile before snorting out a laugh.

"Thanks Glenn..." I thanked him, watching as his face flashed from worry to confused to uncertainty in the span of 5 seconds only sending me laughing further.

Author's POV...

"You two are up early..." A voice startled the two from their conversation as they glanced back at the same time to see Rick heading towards them with a smile.

"How anyone can sleep past 9 in this world isn't normal." Ana teasingly commented as Rick rolled his eyes, clearly amused by her comment while Glenn eyed the two silently.

"Feels nice to sleep in a bed once more." Rick slipped between them with a shrug, watching as T-Dog and Carol continued to clear out the fence line together.

"That ain't a bed. More like a slab of cement covered in a sheet." Ana muttered under her breath, unconsciously reaching behind her where she began to knead at a knot in her lower back.

"What's the chores for today?" Rick then asked, his eyes seeking her own out as she stared up at him confused.

"Why the hell ya askin' me? Yer in charge..." She shot back with a scoff and a shake of her head.

"You're as much in charge as I am." Rick confessed as her wide eyes shot over to him.

"What?" Ana asked, not sure what he was trying to get at as she watched him sigh, his hands finding their usual place on his hips.

"Ana, I think Glenn can agree with me on this, but out of everyone, it's your decisions and advice I trust above all." Rick turned to stare down at her seriously as she gaped, having not expected this conversation to happen, ever.

"I completely agree with that." Glenn added in for clarification as Rick nodded towards him.

"I also know that you're not the type to run the show or carry the weight of leading a group, but I'd still like you to take charge when you know it's best. When you think I'm not doing the job right or if you know something isn't gonna work out, step up and lead. I know you'll be good at it." Slowly a smile began to climb across Rick's face as he watched the various emotions cross Ana's.

She looked more annoyed than anything right now.

"Ya need to shut yer fuckin' mouth and stop spouting shit..." Ana couldn't find it in her heart to snap at the man like she wanted to do and found herself grumbling under her breath for him to hear.

"Ain't spouting shit if it's true." Rick laughed as Glenn chuckled from behind the man in agreement.

"So, what's it gonna be 'boss'?" Glenn went on to tease as Ana was quick to shoot him a warning look, which didn't go unnoticed by the Asian who ducked out of cover behind the Sheriff.

Ana rolled her eyes away from the two men who were obviously enjoying her annoyance and turned back to the field in front of them. She didn't want to lead the group, she knew what was coming, or what she could remember. She didn't want to be the one that leads the group through turmoil after turmoil. She didn't want to hold the blame for lives on the line but then again, when she thought about it further, the fact that she knew certain things were coming, the blame laid on her because she knew.

She eyed the grass field and the cars that still laid in a circle around the center before sighing, fine, if he wanted her advice, she was going to lead them in a way that she could help as best as possible.

"Alright, first we should get our cars in. Park 'em in the west entry of the yard." Ana began as she pointed to the cars they had left outside the fence line the day they had broke in.

"Keepin' our vehicles out there for others ta see, ain't doin' anythin' good on our favor. It's like puttin' a huge 'vacancy' sign up on the gate!" She further explained as Rick nodded in agreement.

"After that, we need ta load up those walkers, burn um. Can't keep them layin' out and rottin' any further."

Ana's POV...

We quickly worked at moving the other cars in before going about loading up what walkers we had taken down when we first got here, dragging their bodies to the far side of the field, and burning them. It was a tedious job that the majority of us complained about but nonetheless did.

Once that was done and we all stood, silently watching the flames of the bodies grow larger, T-Dog was the one to speak, gathering everyone's attention.

"Uh, guys..." He began as we all turned to see him staring up at the prison just up the hill behind us. Naturally, our eyes all panned up in the same direction to see the two prisoners we had let live, Axel and Oscar, standing awkwardly out in the open. My eyes glanced over at Rick before landing on Daryl who was already pulling his bow from the back of the truck, his eyes unmoving from the duo.

"Come with me..." Rick growled out from under his breath as the men were quick to follow him up the hill, both myself and Carol pulling up the back of the group.

"How are you doing Ana?" Carol's question caught me off guard as I had still been fizzing after hearing what she had said about me to Glenn. I fought to keep my composure under control as I clanked my two machetes together in front of me, wanting to keep my hands occupied.

"I'm fine, can't complain, you?" I kept the conversation on a light note as I kicked a piece of gravel out from the crack of my boot.

"Same. Sophia has been asking about having a sleepover in your cell one night. Told her she'd have to ask you but not to push it. Everyone's busy trying to get this place cleaned up and whatnot, so I understand." Carol added as I couldn't stop myself from smiling at the mention of the little girl.

"I don't mind." I answered shortly as we grew closer to the top of the hill where Rick was already yelling at the inmates to stop.

"Ana..." Carol cut me off quickly, stepping out in front of me, stopping me from continuing on any further.

"Did I do something? Say something?" Carol then asked worried as her eyes gazed across into my own, searching them for answers.

"Everythin' okay?" Daryl's voice stopped Carol from barrelling into me further for answers as I stared over at him in relief.

"Yeah, everythin' okay. Just caught Carol from trippin'." I lied, smiling tightly at Carol before I shook her arm off, brushing past her to approach Daryl who eyed me in suspicion.

"Don't ask.." I muttered under my breath as I passed him, heading towards Rick who was arguing with the inmates.

"Please, mister. We know that, we made a deal." Axel pleaded as I stopped just behind Rick, watching the interaction.

"But you gotta understand! We can't live in that place another minute, you follow me? All the bodies, people we knew! Blood, brains everywhere! There's ghost!" Axel ranted on sending me sigh in understanding. I could understand where these men were coming from and at the same time pity them. They had been locked up in that cafeteria since the outbreak, they didn't know what was out there or even how to survive in this world. But I also understood Rick's reasoning. He didn't trust him, you couldn't trust anyone in this world and for that reason, he refused to let them anywhere near us.

"Why don't you move the bodies out?" Daryl then mocked out from beside me.

"You should be burning them." T-Dog added as I nodded in agreement with Rick.

"We tried! We did!" Axel answered as Oscar stepped up to speak this time.

"The fence is down on the far side of the prison. Every time we drag a body out, those things just line up. So hump in a body and just running back inside." Oscar snapped out at us, eyeing us all defensively as I passed Rick a glance.

"Look! We had nothing to do with Thomas and Andrew, nothing! You trying to prove a point? You proved it, bro! We'll do whatever it takes to be a part of your group, just, please, please, don't make us live in that place." I half expected Axel to drop to his knees in front of us with how desperate he sounded but he didn't.

"Our deal is not negotiable. You either live in your cell block, or you leave." Rick spoke seriously, leaving no room to argue as Oscar turned to Axel.

"I told you this was a waste of time. They ain't no different than the pricks who shot up our boys. You know how many friends' corpses we had to drag out this week? Just threw 'em out like...those were good guys! Good guys who had our backs against the really bad dudes in the joint like Thomas and Andrew. Now, we've all made mistakes to get in here, chief, and I'm not gonna pretend to be a saint, but believe me...we paid our due. Enough that we would rather hit that road, than go back into that shithole." Once again, I could understand where these guys were coming from, why they feared what they came out to. Only an insane person would be alright living in those types of conditions.

"Ya talkin' ta us like we ain't gone through the same shit." I commented, unable to stop myself from going on as Oscar turned to me.

"Ain't look like you've been through as much as us, sweetheart." He mocked back, my arm immediately shooting out to stop Daryl from marching over to the man like I knew he would.

"We've lost people, friends, family, loved ones since shit hit the fan. Some of us had ta sleep where our loved ones were killed and watch helplessly as those things gnawed at others like a chew toy. We've met bad people on the road, trusted shit for brains like yerself all because we had a good heart. Ya gotta know where we're comin' from too. In this world, this world that we live in now, we don't have the fuckin' pleasure of handing out trust cards left and right. Trust isn't somethin' ya can just earn nowadays. It takes time and tons of fuckin' effort to get to that point. Like ya said, we make mistakes and still do, but we learn from them as well." I continued as the two inmates glanced at each other before turning back to me.

"No ones a fuckin' saint in this world, that's somethin' you'll learn real quick. Ya go through yer day, from mornin' ta night, killin' those things just to survive. We have people to protect, kids. And if that means keepin' the two of ya clear from them, so be it. Think about it, if ya had a handful of innocent kids to protect, would ya willin' let people like ya, around them without hesitation?" I finished, eyeing the two as Axel sighed, hanging his head while Oscar subtly shook his head as an answer.

Rick hadn't waited a moment after I finished talking as he led the two inmates in the direction we had just come, locking them on the outside of the prison.

"Come on, dude!" Axel shouted from the other side of the fence as Daryl flipped him off before shuffling back towards the rest of us.

"I say we let um stay." T-Dog didn't hesitate to confess his decision as wide eyes suddenly shot in his direction.

"Are you serious? You want them living in a cell next to you? They'll just be waiting for a chance to grab our weapons, you want to go back to sleeping with one eye open?" Rick was clearly upset by the man's comment as I felt Daryl nudge me.

"Nice fuckin' speech there." He muttered as my eyes narrowed in suspicion before noticing the slight crinkle at the corner of his eyes sending me snorting.

"Go choke on a dick, Dixon." I scoffed, elbowing him back as I turned back to the argument.

"I never stopped. Bring them into the fold. If we send them off packing, we might as well execute them ourselves." T-Dog pressed as Rick sighed in frustration, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"I don't know, Axel seems a little unstable." Glenn added as he glanced past Maggie to eye the two inmates watching us from beyond the gate.

"Gotta be honest here, no ones fuckin' stable in this world." I added honestly as Rick's eyes shot over to me.

"After all we've been through? We fought so hard for all this, what if they decide to take it?" Carol then preached as I sighed, passing Daryl an annoyed sideglance.

"It's just been us for so long...They're strangers. I don't...it feels weird all of a sudden to have these other people around." Maggie whispered, realizing that the inmates who clearly hear the conversation we were having about them.

"What do you think, Ana?" Rick was quick to turn the attention to me, something I still hated till this day.

"You brought us in." T-Dog saved me from spilling any shit I knew people would hate me for saying.

"Yeah, but you turned up with a shot boy in your arms, didn't give us a choice." Maggie defended quickly.

"They can't even kill walkers!" Glenn added as I stared at him with an arched brow.

"If ya think about it, none of us knew how to kill a walker at some point. It's not somethin' ya learn on the playground. And can ya totally blame them, they were locked up since the start, I honestly don't think they knew what the fuck was goin' on outside of that cafeteria." I cut in this time, wanting to voice my opinion on the matter.

"They're convicts, bottom line!" Carol snapped out as my eyes sought out her defensive ones.

"Fuck, those two might actually have less blood on their damn hands that we do." I shot out, watching as Carol stared across the circle at me in disbelief.

"I get guys like this. Hell, I grew up with them. They're degenerates, but they ain't psychos. I could have been with them just as easy as I'm out here with you guys." Daryl added from my side as I nodded shortly.

"So you two with me?" T-Dog turned to both me and Daryl as I shook my head though it was Daryl to lash out.

"Hell no! Let 'em take their chances out on the road, just like we did!" Daryl gestured wildly towards the road as I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose this time.

"When I was a rookie, I arrested this kid. Nineteen years old, wanted for stabbing his girlfriend. The kid blubbered like a baby during the interrogation, during the trial, suckered the jury. He was acquitted due to insufficient evidence, and 2 weeks later shot another girl. We've been through too much. Our feal with them stands." I don't know what it was about Rick's words, but it pissed me off. Sure, I understood, they were not to be trusted. That much I got but to base that on something someone else did, didn't sit right with me. We didn't even know what they were in prison for? They honestly didn't look like the murders in Rick's story from where I was standing.

"I get what yer sayin' but ain't right ta judge someone based on something someone else did." I interjected after Rick as his eyes narrowed in my direction.

"If everyone did that, if that's what we based our judgment on nowadays, would ya be here with us Sheriff?" I tilted my head in defiance as he opened his mouth, no doubt to retaliate against me.

"If we judge ya based on the shit Shane did, where would ya be?" I finished, giving everyone one last look before I turned and made my way towards the prison, ignoring the various calls from the group behind me.

I knew he wouldn't change his mind about letting the inmates into our little group, but I wanted the man to know that judging everyone like that in the days to come, would do him no favors. If he's turning the inmates away like he is based on something that happened back in his career, I didn't want to think how he'd react once Michonne found her way to the prison.

Would he turn her away because of something else? Would he not trust anyone ever again? I could only hope the man would slowly come around, if not to trust strangers, to trust me and my judgment.

Until next week~