Note: Enjoy! (p.s. I'm not good at writing an accent like Daryl's so there isn't much of that, plus it's a bit easier to read when it's not all redneck-y...)

Note2: So this is the ending but I plan to do another story, like an offshoot about one of the characters...when i have it finished, i'll let you all know if you want...Thanks for all the reviews and such...

Max and I slept curled up for several hours before the pain meds began wearing off and I woke with a start. I stared up at the bottom of the top bunk and tried to think the pain away but it was becoming worse. I gripped the edge of the bed and let out a small whimper. The rustling near the bed had me turning my head. Dix was sitting on the floor in the corner where the wall met the cell door, asleep.

"You stupid redneck. There is a top bunk," I called.

He jumped awake, immediately going for his crossbow which laid at his side. I chuckled but the movement caused Max to shift. He had thrown one of his legs over my good one and his foot had nudged my thigh. I sucked in a breath at the pain and slowly let it out.

"What do ya need?" Dix asked, getting up.

I motioned for him to come closer and when he was close enough, I grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him down. I kissed him and smiled up at him.

"I'm good."

"Bullshit, AJ. Ya in pain."

"Of course I am but I doubt we have all the painkillers in the world lying around."

"Maybe not that many but we have some. I won't let ya go in pain."

Dix left the cell before I could refuse him in search of painkillers. I could see the sun beginning to rise, casting a small glow through the outer window. After a moment of peace, a wailing baby cry echoed throughout the cell block. My heart ached for that sound. When I had last heard it, Lori was barely alive and then I had to kill her. My arm curled around Max a bit tighter but the boy didn't wake from the crying.

"Here ya go. Top of the line. Hershel will come by in a bit to see how ya doing."

"How's Asskicker?" I smirked.

"Hungry. Beth or Carol will feed her a bottle. Rick's on guard duty for another hour or so."

"He has stepped up for that baby, right? He barely looked at her when he kicked me out and you mentioned he disappeared."

"He's doing what he can."

I took the small pills that Dix handed me and swallowed it with the water he had. The redneck leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms across his chest. The bottom lifted a little bit and I could catch a small sliver of skin.

"If I could move and Max wasn't here, I'd run my tongue across your skin right there. I'd work your jeans off and…"

"But ya can't."

"I can still tell you what I want to do. Gives you a preview of what will happen when I'm told I can move. I don't have to be completely healed to be able to taste you."

Someone coughed and we both looked up to see Beth holding the baby. Her cheeks were scarlet and she couldn't meet our eyes.

"Sorry to interrupt. She won't take her bottle. Carol has tried too."

Dix reached over and plucked the baby out of her arms. He seemed like a natural holding her. Beth handed over the bottle and with a small rocking motion, he calmed the hiccupping baby down to offer the bottle's nipple. She latched on and the girl smiled. I did too but I could feel the tears dripping down from my eyes. He never had the chance to feed his own son like that. He never had the chance to bond with Travis.

I hadn't realized that I was crying full out until I had Max and Dix trying to calm me down. I couldn't form words around the blubbering and had to gesture with my hands. A nod had me realizing that Dix knew what I was trying to say. Max didn't but wrapped his arms around me and hugged me. It took until after the baby was burped that I could talk.

"Sorry."

"If I kicked you, I didn't mean to. I don't want you to hurt, AJ," Max whispered.

I stroked my fingers down his cheek and looked into his eyes. I shook my head.

"It wasn't that, sweetie. We had a son a couple years older than you but Dix never had the chance to see him. Travis got sick like your Mama."

"Did you have to lock him in a basement too?"

"Not in a basement but I had to leave him behind."

The boy was silent for a few moments before sitting up on the bed. He looked out at Dix and then back at me. He smiled and clapped his hands.

"I'm not Travis but I could be your son. I don't have a Mama anymore but I really liked having one. Mama used to let me sleep with her, fed me, gave me clothes, and kept me safe. You've done all that too so you could be my new Mama."

New tears were filling my eyes and I reached up for Max. I wrapped him in a hug and kissed his cheek.

"I will watch over you even if I wasn't your Mama, Max. Everyone here will."

He carefully squeezed me again before wiggling out of the bed.

"Sorry but I have to pee," he explained as he ran out of the cell.

The painkillers were kicking in and my mind was getting fuzzy. My eyes gazed up at Dix and the baby. Maybe if this life ever calmed down, we could have another one.

"You're a good daddy, Dix."

"Sleep, AJ. I'll try to keep Max busy."

The next time I awoke Hershel was seated beside me checking on my leg. He was rewrapping it and smiled when he saw me awake.

"It still looks good. No signs of infection. I think a few days in bed before we even let you attempt walking."

"How about sitting? Could I sit up?"

"Give it another day and then try but if it starts pulling on the stitches or hurts, it will be back to bed for you."

"Thanks, Hershel. How are you doing?"

"Getting around easier with these crutches. Everyone else is fine, AJ. Do not worry about us. You need to focus on yourself right now."

"I'll go crazy just lying here so my mind wonders about everyone. I bet Glenn is wishing to be alone with Merle so he can retaliate and Maggie is begging him to reconsider. Beth and Carol are probably busy with the baby and cooking. I have no clue as to how Michonne joined our band of misfits."

"All in due time. Rick did want to have a talk with you when you're more up to it."

"Send him in. Not like I can go line dancing right now."

The old man laughed and lifted himself up onto the crutches. He left my cell and a few minutes later, Rick replaced him bringing a tray of food. Whoever made it had kept it easy since I would be eating lying down.

"You are one crazy woman," he started.

"Too true but we all got out alive. Glenn and I will heal while I hope that bastard bled to death. If I keep threatening Merle like I did, he might be some use to us. I think it went quite well."

"You're stuck in bed recovering from a knife to the thigh. I don't call that quite well and Michonne mentioned how she found you."

"But that didn't happen so it's nothing to worry about. We're all alive."

Rick was quiet while I ate a few pieces of meat. I had no idea what kind of meat it was but it was something not from a can so that was a bonus. I took the time to really look at Rick and could see the tiredness settle into his eyes and the stress in his shoulders. He was the pseudo-leader of this group but it was beginning to get to him.

"I'm grateful that it wasn't Carl in your place when it came to Lori. I realize now that you were doing what was necessary, even she knew it was a possibility and planned for it. I should have been thankful that you helped bring my daughter into this world and kept the group safe but in my grief, I could only see you covered in Lori's blood."

"As long as you don't plan on kicking me out again, it's fine. I do have a question though. Why were you all pissy with me when I first showed up?"

He turned away briefly and stared at the wall.

"I saw you as a threat. Not because you had all those weapons and seemed to know how to use them but because you knew Daryl. Having him as part of our group has saved our asses a few times and I couldn't risk you convincing him to leave."

"That's kinda stupid. If you really didn't want Dix to leave, you should have invited me to stay. Keep me, keep him. But it would have been his choice and he has grown close to the group and it had been years since we saw each other last so I doubt he would have left. The saying is 'Bros before hos' so he might have tried to convince you to let me stay rather than having to pick."

Now that I knew why Rick had acted like he had, I felt connected to him in a way.

"So, I hear that Dix named the baby Asskicker. Please tell me as her father that you have chosen something more…um…real. An actual name," I said.

"Judith. Carl helped me with that. Maybe when you're up, I could bring her by."

"Of course. I'd love to see the little girl."

"Mama, she says I have to have a bath. The water is so cold," Max cried, running into the cell.

Carol was standing behind him with a small smile on her lips. I thought I saw a glimmer of sadness in her eyes but it was gone when I looked again.

"When I first got here, I showered in the rain. Now that was cold. I bet Carol wasn't expecting you to sit in cold water. Did you listen to her aside from her saying it was bath time?"

He shook his head and looked at the floor. I lifted his chin so he could look at me.

"Look at me please. Your Mama taught you to listen and ask questions. Turn to Carol and ask her about the bath."

"Will the bath be cold?" he asked, turning around to the woman.

"No. We heat the water over the fire first and it's more of a sponge bath. We use the warm water to wipe all the dirt off and then to clean off the soap. So it's not really even a bath," she replied.

"Doesn't that sound nice, Max? To get all the dirt off and be clean? We could even wash your hair so it wasn't so oily."

"Yes, Mama."

"Good. I can't get up to help but if Carol is OK with helping you, you could hurry back and have a nap with me."

He beamed me a smile and rushed over to Carol. He was almost bouncing on his toes.

"Will I get to put on clean clothes too? I don't want to get my dirty clothes close to Mama's leg. It might make her sick."

Carol took his little hand in hers and led him out, explaining that he could even pick what clothes he wanted to wear.

"You are a natural mother, AJ," Rick offered.

"No, I'm not but thank you for thinking so. I had to learn with Travis."

Rick left and I pondered what life in our prison would be like for the upcoming months. Glenn and I would heal from our injuries. We would kill any walker who got too close and maybe threaten Merle with physical harm if he stepped out of line. But most importantly, we would protect each other and our home. Because that's what this prison is now. It's our home full of family.