If I wasn't currently falling asleep while I write this I would take the time to thank each one of you personally for your AWESOME reviews on the last chapter. Know this: I love you. Here's a hug. ((((O))))

Now... it's been a long week and my bed is singing it's siren song. Enjoy!

Chapter 24

The day after the Governor's attack seemed to take forever to get to them. Night passed without much sleep and the sun was just cresting above the clouds as Leah stepped out of the prison. She found Glenn, who had refused to let anyone take over on watch for him, on the breezeway. He was diligently peering through the binoculars, doing a careful scan of their surroundings.

"Anything?" She asked, while wrapping her arms around her torso to shield from the biting cold.

Glenn shook his head and frowned. "Didn't expect them to be gone overnight."

Worrying her bottom lip, she walked to stand beside him. She could relate to the uncertainty in his voice; she hadn't expected Daryl, Rick and Michonne to be gone so long either. The anxious knot in her stomach tightened with each passing minute. She took a hard look at Glenn and the frown on her face deepened. He looked exhausted. "Why don't you go in and get something to eat? I can take over for a bit."

He looked ready to say no, but then shook his head and quickly changed his mind. "Are you sure?"

She nodded. "Positive."

He rubbed at his eyes. "Thanks. I won't be long."

Anxious to keep an eye out for Daryl herself, she waved him off. "Take your time. And get Maggie. She needs to eat too."

As Glenn turned to exit the breezeway the distant sound of Daryl's motorcycle cut through the air. Leah put a hand to her chest and released a breath that she didn't realize she had been holding.

Glenn paused at the doorway, his eyes quickly snapping back to the road. "The hell?"

Leah caught the puzzled expression on his face and then looked out to the road. A huge school bus was roaring up to the prison. "Why do they think we need a damn bus?" She asked, holding her hand up to shield her eyes from the sun, trying to figure out their reasoning for bringing a gas guzzling bus back to the prison.

From her post at the entrance, Maggie gave a sharp whistle. Glenn took off towards her to lend a hand with the gate. Leah followed him and together they thundered down the stairs and out into the small yard. Glenn reached the gate just in time to open it and let Daryl's bike pass through. As he slowed the bike down and rolled towards her, they locked eyes and she gave him a confused raise of an eyebrow before turning her attention back on the bus. As it rumbled closer, Carl and Beth exited the prison, attracted by the sounds of the commotion outside. Instinctively, Leah reached out to touch the boy's shoulder, but he skirted around her.

The bus pulled to a stop in front of her and Leah's eyes grew wider at the sight inside. A few sets of eyes stared back at her through the grimy windows. She felt Daryl's presence at her side and turned towards him. Grabbing for his hand, she gave it a quick squeeze and looked up into his steely eyes with questions swimming in her own.

"Woodbury survivors." He said casually, but Leah could tell there was more to the story.

She shook her head, still not quite understanding what was happening. "How did-?"

Her question was cut off when the first passenger stepped off the bus with the help of Tyreese. His worn boots hit the dirt hard as he took in his surroundings with curious eyes, his dark gaze sweeping over Leah and Daryl only briefly. An older woman followed him, her hand holding fast to a little girl with tight cornrows in her kind- faced woman met Leah's eyes and she gave her a soft smile. Leah forced a smile in return and then dropped her eyes to the little girl. She couldn't have been more than seven, but wore a slight frown on her tiny lips. It was the look of a little girl who had been through hell and back.

Leah watched in quiet shock as more survivors piled off the bus. Although, she wasn't sure who was more confused at the change in events- her or the newcomers.

Daryl held tightly to Leah's hand and watched her face closely, wondering how she would react when a certain blonde- haired 4 year stepped off the didn't have to wait long. Leah's eyes went from confusion to shock at the sight of the small familiar face. She took a step forward, dropping his hand as the little girl made her way down the steps.

"Lily?" Leah whispered in disbelief.

Lily tiredly blinked into the sunlight as she stared up at Leah. "Is my uncle Chase here?"

Looking behind her shoulder to Daryl, the man sullenly shook his head. An unexpected lump rose up in her throat and she quickly pushed it down. Leah moved forward and pulled Lily into her arms.

"Sweetie, were you at Woodbury?" She asked, avoiding the little girl's question.

Lily didn't resist Leah's touch and let herself be picked up off the ground.

She wrapped tiny arms around Leah's neck and nodded. "Yeah, with Uncle Chase."

Leah's heart hammered and mind ran crazy with unanswered questions. Questions that she would need Daryl to answer later. She held Lily tightly before the little girl squirmed against her.

"Leah, where's my Uncle Chase?" The tiny girl asked again.

Leah shook her head and felt bile rise up in her throat and tears sting her eyes. She looked back at Daryl, hoping for help but his face was grim. "I don't know, sweetie." She murmured into her curly locks. "You can stay with me until he comes back."

Daryl shot her a stern look and Leah shrugged. She had no idea how she was supposed to break that news to a four year old. Poor girl, first her mom and now her uncle. The undead world had created another orphan.

The rest of the day passed in a flurry of newness and activity. There had been very little time for their makeshift family to process what happened. Rick was briefly able to fill her in about Andrea. Even as Leah's heart broke, there was no time to grieve as they all jumped in, taking responsibility for a different task.

With Lily refusing to leave her side, Leah kept busy learning everyone's names. Together she and Beth helped everyone find a bunk and get settled. They had brought very little possessions with them, but were still grateful for a place to put older survivors were appreciative of their help. But there was a quiet undertone to every conversation. They had lost their home, loved ones, and what little safety they knew. The children had lost parents. The ache the loss brought couldn't be shaken from their appreciative smiles.

Rick walked around with a new confidence, a new purpose. Somehow, his deep frown lines seemed less prominent; his face more open. Carl, on the other hand, was doing everything in his power to defy his father. His permanent scowl gave his childlike face a frightening appearance. Every time Leah tried to catch his eye she was met with a coldness that made her ache.

The residents of Woodbury had been well cared for physically, which left Hershel available to quietly talk with some of the older people about their conditions and ailments. A few times, Leah caught him scribbling notes on a pad.

Throughout the day Maggie and Glenn helped Daryl with the watch. None of them trusted that the Governor wouldn't be returning soon.

Daryl stayed quiet for most of the day, opting to hang back from the commotion. Instead, he unloaded and organized supplies from Woodbury and took extra watch shifts. His actions didn't surprise Leah, but she still felt her lips curl upwards when he walked back into the prison at dinnertime. As he grabbed his share of dinner from Beth's hands, her hunter locked his eyes on Leah before taking up residence on the outskirts of the group.

All around her people were finishing up their dinner. Leah pushed her own empty bowl away. She ran her hand through Lily's hair before whispering in the girl's ear. "I'll be right back."

Lily's eyes were wide and scared, but she nodded when Leah stood up. Sasha, who was sitting on Lily's other side, quickly wrapped her arm around the little girl. Leah gave her an appreciative look and moved towards the steps where Daryl sat. His blue eyes watched her as she climbed up the stairs.

"Hey." He greeted her quietly when she reached the top.

"Hey yourself." She smiled and gave his knee a gentle nudge.

Without a word, he scooted over so she could sit. She let her tired body collapse next to him and stretched her legs out on the step below her.

"Haven't seen you all day." She dropped her head and used her fingertips to gently knead at the back of her neck.

He nodded, and took a bite of his food. "We got a lot of shit from Woodbury." He managed to get out between mouthfuls.

Even though the news was positive, she heard the hesitation in his voice. "But not nearly enough?"

He watched as she continued to press her fingers into her tired muscles. If there hadn't been so many people around he would have brushed her hands away and taken over. "Nope."

They sat in silence for a few moments, watching as everyone settled into their new home for the night. It was tight. They wouldn't be able to live like this for long. It felt weird having so many people in their space. Their tight knit family dynamics were going to be changing dramatically.

Daryl must have been thinking the same thing. "We're gonna need to clear out another cellblock."

"I am more worried about how we are going to make it through the winter on limited supplies."

Daryl nodded. "Can go back to Woodbury. Clean 'em out."

Cupping her hands around the back of her neck, she turned to look at him. "There are more supplies?"

He nodded and twisted his spoon around the bowl of half eaten grits.

Finally having some semblance at privacy, she took the opportunity to satisfy her curiosity. "What happened out there?"

Dropping the spoon into the mush, Daryl's thumb found its way to his mouth and he gnawed on the nail as he shook his head. "Shit went down." He said around his finger. "Found his whole army eating each other's faces off on the side a the road. Karen," Daryl pointed down to the slim woman with dark curly hair, "said he slaughtered them all. Gunned 'em down."

Leah's hand covered her mouth. "My God." There had been rumors floating around as to what had happened after the Governor's army left the prison, but to actually hear the truth from Daryl's mouth- it shook Leah to the core.

Daryl's fist flexed on his knee. "He's a piece of shit. Wanna fuckin' torture the shit outta him. Make him pay."

She watched his hand making a tight fist and knew exactly what he was thinking. Merle, Andrea, Oscar, Axel, and all the Woodbury residents- dead because Phillip got a taste of power. He tensed when her hand reached over to cover his fist, but she didn't pull away. "Think he'll come back?"

"Hell if I know." He shrugged. "Fucker's still got two men with him. I'd put money on them being dumb 'nough to try."

Leah frowned. "Let him try. I'll put a bullet in his head."

Daryl laughed softly and shook his head.

"What? I will."

"I know ya will, girl. I know." He stroked the hairs of his goatee, scratching the skin underneath. "How's the little girl doin'?"

Leah shook her head. "I feel so bad for her. Chase was an asshole, but he loved her."

Daryl stilled. "Ya know I found him, right? Gunned down?"

Leah frowned. "I had figured."

Daryl nodded and set his eyes back on Lily. "She ain't left ya at all today."

"I know. I've been collecting kids lately, huh?"

He scratched the back of his neck. "She sleepin' with ya tonight?"

"Yeah. I put her stuff in our cell earlier. You okay with that?"

Daryl nodded quickly. "Put her on the bottom bunk. We can move to the top."

"I'll see if Beth can move Judith down into her cell."

"Why? We got room for both them."

Surprised, Leah's eyebrows shot up. "Seriously?"

He nodded. "Yeah. 'Course. Things are gonna be tight anyways. Might as well."

"Geez." Leah mumbled, pressing her palms into her eyes. "This is crazy."

Daryl gave a low sound of agreement.

The door of C block opened and slammed close and the pair looked up to see Maggie and Glenn walk inside, hand in hand.

"What do ya think of all that?"

Leah raised an eyebrow. He was going to have to be much more specific. "Of what?"

"Maggie and Glenn."

She laughed, surprised that he would ask about their friends during a time like this. Daryl shot her a look. Then realization dawned on her. He was fishing for information. "Well. I am happy for them."

Suddenly feeling shy, he looked back down at his dinner. "Ya want that?" His voice was low and quiet.

Leah shrugged. Marriage, although intensely romantic, seemed so trivial these days. "Don't know if it's really us, huh?"

He nodded, but didn't sound relieved. "Yeah."

Leaning towards him, she gave his knee a little bump with her own. "Why are you asking?"

He looked up at her, dark hair falling across his face. "Just want ya to be happy."

She gazed into his eyes and gave him a soft smile. "I am. I don't need anything like that, Daryl."

He nodded. "'Kay."

"Are you? Happy?" She turned the question back on him.

His hands paused and the corners of his lips quirked up. "With ya? Yeah. 'Course."

She placed a quick kiss on the mole that sat above his mouth. "Good. I like us just the way we are."

"Me too."

Risking the chance that he might pull away from her in the presence of so many strangers, Leah leaned closer and whispered into his ear. "And now we are going to have to be a little more creative in how I show you just how happy I am."

Surprising her, he threw a strong arm around her thin shoulders while holding back a smile. "Figure somethin' out."

Creative thinking would have to wait for another time. Lily was slowly making her way up the steps towards the pair. Her eyes drooped and a big yawn overtook her face as she reached the step below them. Instinct took over and Leah reached her arms out, allowing Lily to crawl into them. Daryl stood first and reached a hand down to help Leah up and together, the three of them headed into their cell for the night.

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