*Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead or any of its characters. The only thing I own is my OC's Ava and Harper. *

AN: I'd like to thank ThreeDarkAngels for suggesting I do Hershel's P.O.V. for this chapter. I was having a bit of writer's block on this one and that suggestion was what got me through it!

AN2: Okay so I decided to split chapter seven into two chapters so this chapter is one that has already been posted before!

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No Rest for the Undead

Chapter Eleven: Interlude

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Hershel's P.O.V.

Anger. Fear. Worry. The only things I've felt since Rick and his group showed up on my farm. Ever since Rick came racing up to the house with his boy in his arms, begging for my help. I'd sympathized with him, and his group. The problem was that I didn't know any of them, and I didn't trust any of them. I especially didn't trust Shane. He seemed volatile, and left me feeling uneasy. But I couldn't just kick them off the farm, not till that boy is back on his feet, and they find their two missing group members. Sophia and Ava, I believe are their names.

Ava. The second I'd heard the name my niece came to mind. God how I missed that girl. I knew it was a long shot that the girl they were talking about could be my little Ava. But I couldn't help but hold out hope. Liam Greene, her father, and I were always close growing up. I was his best man at his wedding, and I was there when little Ava was born. Not only was I her uncle but I was also her Godfather. I was also named Aideen's Godfather as well when he was born. Liam's and Aideen's deaths had left me heart broken. Which only made it hurt more when Abigail took Ava away.

Abigail had been a marine, fighting in Iraq before she met my brother. She'd been shot and had been honorably discharged about a year before she met Liam. She was a strong woman, and had loved my brother dearly. His and Aideen's death had hit her hard. She'd told me she wanted to move away from all the memories, so, one day she just packed up and left with Ava. She wouldn't let me visit in person, but she would send me letters with pictures of Ava throughout the years. I would write back as much as I could, and send photos of the rest of the family to her.

It wasn't until sometime after Ava turned eighteen that I finally got to see her in person again. I'd gotten a call from the police asking me to come to the hospital not too far from the farm. When I'd gotten there, I was told that Abigail had gone crazy and had almost killed Ava, and one of the responding officers had to shoot her. She was killed instantly, and Ava was brought to the hospital for an evaluation. Since I was the only other family she had, I was called.

I was saddened to hear of Abigail's death, but I was happy to finally get to see my Niece after all those years. When I'd stepped into the hospital room, Ava had been sitting on the bed in the middle of the room. She looked so thin, and she was so pale. It looked like even the smallest breeze would knock her over. She was staring out the window, tears rolling down her face. She had turned to look at me, and then suddenly she was in my arms sobbing. She'd been a mess, a black eye, numerous scars, underweight, matted hair, and for the first couple weeks she didn't say a single word.

For the next two years she stayed on the farm with me, before she left to travel. She wanted to explore, and do things Abigail never let her do, but she always came back to visit. Her, Maggie, and Beth had grown close, and whenever Ava visited they were inseparable.

A commotion outside drew me out of my thoughts, and I walked out onto the porch. I could see Rick, Shane, T-Dog, Merle, and Daryl all running down one of the fields towards the tree line. I glanced past them and noticed someone limping out of the woods. The person was too far away for me to make out a face, or to tell if they were a 'walker' as Rick's group would call them. The group of men reached the tree line quickly and they all stopped.

Suddenly a gun shot rang out and the figure fell. Rick's scream pierced the air, and he dropped to the ground next to the figure. Who the hell fired a gun on my farm? It didn't matter right now, all that mattered was to help this new person. The new person that was being carried towards me by Daryl. It didn't take long for the man to reach the porch.

The second I saw the unconscious persons face I felt all the blood drain from my face. There was blood matted into the blonde locks, and smeared across her face, but there was no doubt that was my little Ava. I was so focused on Ava that I just barely noticed Rick's group gathering around me.

"Ava…" I whispered, staring wide eyed at her.

"You know her?" Daryl questioned with narrowed eyes.

She looked so small and fragile in his arms.

"She's… she's my niece," I answered.

"Your niece!" Shane shouted, looking dumb founded.

"We don't have time for this. She's hurt… bad. She needs medical attention," Daryl shouted, scowling at the man.

"Get her in the house," I ordered, rushing inside.

I led them to Ava's room, and Daryl set her down on the bed. I looked her over, assessing her injuries. I took note of the wounds on her abdomen and head, and the dislocated shoulder.

"She's lost a lot of blood," I muttered.

"Can you help her?" Rick questioned, worry plastered across his face.

"I'll do my best," I replied.

Suddenly Ava groaned, and her eyes opened slightly. She shifted then groaned in pain. Her eyes found mine after a moment.

"U... un… uncle Hershel?" She whispered.

Her eyes rolled back into her head, and her body slumped on the bed…

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AN: Okay so I know it's short but it's just a little interlude. I decided to give a little background to Ava's mom, and Ava's relationship with Hershel. Next chapter will be back in Ava's P.O.V.