Rick, Michonne and Carl moved quietly through the woods. They had left the lake house behind. They'd eaten their fill and rested up properly and now it was time to get back on the road. Although they had yet to see a sign of another prison member Rick wanted to keep going, confident that if they stuck with their search they'd find somebody. Carl walked beside Michonne as they moved along a road. They had yet to find a vehicle they could use.

"Let's rest here a bit," said Rick, sitting down on a snow bank. It had been a harsh winter so far and Carl hoped the others were handling it as well as they were. He watched his dad and Michonne sit close together, talking with smiles on their faces. His father had taken him aside a few days ago and asked him if he was alright with what was happening between the two. Carl had smiled and said he couldn't have been happier. It was true. He and Michonne had become close and he viewed her as a motherly figure in his life. Of course nothing would ever replace Lori but Michonne gave him that sense of parental security and love. He wandered to the other side of the road and looked around. It was quiet in the thick winter air. He looked over the snowbank on the other side of the road and saw that instead of more woods, there was a steep hill that led down into a field. It intrigued him and he stood up at the top to try and get a better look at the bottom. What he didn't see was how icy the snow bank became at the top and when he set foot on it, he immediately slipped. He clawed at the chunks of frozen snow but it was no use. He yelled as he slid down the hill at top speed. He felt himself hit the bottom. His leg had been under him upon landing and he yelled out in pain as white hot pain shot through it. He opened his eyes and saw his father and Michonne standing at the top of the hill.

"Hold on Carl!" They ran along the edge, trying to find a way down without sending themselves toppling over. But that wasn't what he was worried about. His yell had echoed throughout the trees and he could see four or five walkers making their way towards him. He tried to get up. He managed to stand but his injured leg burdened him and he could only painfully limp away. As one got closer he took out his knife. He stabbed it in the head, sending it to the ground. He looked up and saw more walkers closing in, coming out form the trees. The walkers were nearly upon him now, their greedy hands reached out towards him. He thought he was finished when he felt a pair of strong hands pull him backwards. Next thing he knew he was in Michonne's comforting arms, watching as his dad hacked away at the growing herd. Michonne let him go and took out her sword going to help him. But it was too much for them and Rich turned towards him and said

"Run!" He didn't obey, not wanting to leave his father and Michonne behind. He took out his gun and started to shot down the walkers. It was only when he ran out of bullets did his father look back again and say "Go! We'll catch up to you!" He turned and ran towards the trees, looking back to see the herd engulfing his father and Michonne.

He felt like he had been running for hours when he spotted a lone cabin sitting in the woods and finally stopped and slumped against a tree. His lungs felt like they were going to burst open and he vomited, his body overworked. He knew he hadn't been moving as long as he thought he had been. The winter air made it more difficult to run. He sat down for a minute to catch his breath and make sure he didn't throw up again. What should he do? Should he go back or wait here? Had his dad and Michonne made it out? He picked himself back up and started heading back in the direction he came.

The sun had started setting by the time he saw Michonne's figure in the distance. He ran to her and as he got closer he realized she was carrying his dad, supporting him as best she could. They were both covered in blood and Michonne's face had tears running down it, leaving two clean streaks of skin in the dirt and blood that caked her face. She gently put his father down, propping him against a tree. He didn't have to ask what had happened. He saw that his father had two large gashes on his shoulder and side. Gashes that had been made by teeth. Walker teeth. He immediately broke down. He heard Michonne sniffling next to him.

"Come on Carl," she said, "We gotta find a comfortable place for him." His father's eyes were open but he could tell that he was fading in and out of consciousness as they flickered shut. He and Michonne picked him up again. "There's a cabin some ways back," he said, "We can go there." Michonne nodded and they set out again. His mind was racing. His father couldn't leave him like this. Not now. When the cabin came in sight they rushed towards it. Carl quickly cleared the place and they lay Rick down on a bed. His eyes were open now as he looked up at them. Carl couldn't hold back anymore and he burst into tears along with Michonne. She pulled him against her and said

"It's gonna be ok." His father smiled at him and then lifted a hand to his face so he could cup his cheek.

"You're strong Carl," he said in a weak voice, "You're gonna make it no matter what. I taught you well. You're gonna outlive all of this 'n go on. One day you'll have your own family to protect." He winced in pain but continued to talk. "Me and your mother will be watchin' over you. I love you so much son." He could see tears running down the edges of his father's eyes. He pulled Carl in and kissed forehead. Carl wrapped his arms around him and hugged him tight. His father hugged him back as strongly as he could.

"I love you too dad," he said, "And I'm gonna make you proud." Finally after what felt like an eternity he pulled away and Rick's attention focused onto Michonne. She stepped forward and took his hand in hers. Carl couldn't help but notice the affection in his eyes as he looked up at her.

"I know you'll take care of him," said his father, "You're all he's got and I couldn't be happier it's you I'm leaving him with." Michonne managed a warm smile through her tears. "Despite losing the prison and the others these past couple of weeks with you have been great. You're amazing and beautiful." He paused and then said "I'm sorry our time was cut short." Then they kissed. Carl was tempted to look away but didn't. He was happy his dad had found happiness in another woman before his death. He would go peacefully, knowing he was leaving Carl with Michonne.

It was soon after that Rick slipped back into a fever-induced unconsciousness. They both held his hands until he passed and the last breath left his body. Michonne knew Carl had put down his mother and didn't want him to have to do the same with his father. She quickly took out her knife and plunged it into Rick's temple. It was in that moment that they both broke down completely. Michonne held him tight in her arms as they sunk to the floor sobbing.

When Beth came downstairs that next morning Bob was already sitting up on the couch, a smile on his face. Sasha was sitting with him.

"Morning," she said, "How do you feel?"

"Pretty good." Sasha chimed in and said

"I checked the wound earlier; it looks clean and is already starting to heal." Daryl walked down after her and said

"Thought we almost lost you."

"Thank god you cut my foot off when you did." Beth smiled and said

"We can try and find you a fake foot or something you can walk on like my daddy had for his leg."

"That would be great."

Beth moved on into the kitchen to make herself some breakfast. There was no sign of Tyreese yet and she was sure he was still asleep. Last night had been exhausting for all of them and sleeping in had given them all a chance to recuperate. Daryl trailed in after her only to let out a sound of discomfort as he stepped on the cold tile floor.

"Gonna needa get myself some thicker socks soon." Beth laughed and said

"How about I knit you some nice bunny slippers."

"Ain't no way you're gonna catch me wearin' that."

"Fine," she said, "I'll knit you some manly looking ones if that makes you feel better." Despite the joking manner they were talking in she was seriously considering it. Instead of just making them out of yarn she could line them with animal fur so they'd be warmer. "You know it is around Christmas time," she said, "We could do a gift exchange or something." Daryl scoffed at her and said

"Ya, right. Want me to go cut down a big pine tree out in the woods 'n drag it in here like some lumberjack?"

"It would be nice."

Archie had returned to the barn cellar again. His father wasn't aware that he was there but he wouldn't have cared anyway. He was too busy making plans with Gareth to pay him any attention. Soon they'd be gone searching for that group. He approached the same woman he'd tortured a few days earlier. Now both of her legs were gone as they'd sawed the other off for more food.

"Please just kill me," she said, crying as he took out a long hunting knife. "Don't make me suffer anymore."

"Sorry sweetheart, I can't do that." He grabbed her and pinned her to the wall. Without her legs she was much more manageable and lighter to hold up by her neck. She clawed at his arm with her hands but it was no use. All she was wearing was panties and a dirty button down shirt. His mind took a dirty turn, no longer just thinking about torturing her. He let her go and she slumped to the floor, coughing and gasping for air. He flipped her over and picked her up again, slamming her face first into the wall. He was no virgin but he hadn't slept with a woman in a long time and to see her exposed to him and vulnerable turned him on. He pulled her panties down and didn't waste any time thrusting into her.

He went on for about ten minutes before finishing inside of her. She had stopped screaming and seemed to be in a state of shock. It was time to finish the job. He laid her out on the floor and took her right arm, holding it firmly by the wrist and bringing it out straight. He kept a knee on her struggling body to keep her from moving around too much. He grabbed his knife and made a small incision below her shoulder, deciding that was where to make the cut. He dipped the blade back into the incision and started to cut deeper. She started screaming in pain again as he cut around the soft flesh. It was easy to get through until he reached the bone. The blade was to dull to cut through that so he reached back and grabbed his baseball bat. Then he stood up, putting his foot down on her chest. He brought the bat up and slammed it down on her arm. He kept doing it until he heard the bone crack and splinter. He stopped to see his work. It was completely detached from the rest of her body. She had passed out from the pain, making it much easier for him to finish things off. He grabbed the knife and cut through the rest of the flesh and muscle. He had put a pan on the stove to heat up when he first came down. He cauterized her wound with it, the smell of burning flesh making him hungry.

When he was done he picked up her arm and carried it back upstairs. In the back room of the barn was a tub full of clean water. It was there that they washed the limbs so they'd be ready to cook and eat. From there they'd go into the freezer to be kept fresh. He dipped the arm in and took the cloth from the side table and began to scrub it down, little bits of broken flesh coming off and floating around in the water.

Thanks dee22dee, K. Lynn Perks and ELLEGIRL840816 for commenting :) Poor Carl :( But things will get better as you know. Not a lot of Beth and Daryl in this chapter. Do you guys think I should do a Christmas chapter? Or would it be too cheesy lol

Thanks for reading,

Wanderlustt