So I've posted a total of three chapters today. Plus two yesterday. If this doesn't make sense to you right away, you probably skipped a chapter. Just wanted to make sure you don't miss out on anything.

During dinner Rick went over everything again. "Daryl, Stella, you two sneak away after dinner to the south tower. Make it look like you two are wanting some alone time." Rick looked at us dryly. "I'm sure you two can manage that. Bring a blanket and hide your weapons in it. Maggie, Glenn you two do the same a little bit later. You two go to the north tower. The rest of us will be in the cell blocks, except Beth and Hershel. They'll be in the infirmary with Judith."

I couldn't help but notice Lori hug the baby tight. I couldn't even imagine what she must be feeling. To have to leave her baby, her husband and son going to both be in the line of fire.

"Those of us in the cell blocks will take turns keeping watch as well. If something happens, Daryl and Glenn will come down from the towers. Carol will join Stella and Lori will join Maggie. Daryl, Merle, Allen, Tyreese, Axel, Michonne and myself will be behind the cars on the ground. Carl and Ben will protect the doors and run out ammo as needed. Sasha, you head up to the roof, let us know if you see them trying to get in a different way."

Beth spoke up. "Are we sure the way they all got in is closed off?" Beth nodded to Tyreese's group.

"Oh yeah, sugar cake. 'Ole Merle even left them a nice surprise." Merle laughed.

I rolled my eyes.

Daryl explained. "There's a large open room that they came in from. All the doors are locked except one. If they take the bait, they'll walk down a corridor and right into a room full of walkers. Merle figured out how to get them in there and shut the door behind them."

"Any more questions?" Rick asked. There was a chorus of no's. "Alright, everyone just remember, try to act as normal as possible."

I took a deep breath. Easier said than done. Well time to get the show on the road. I got up to take everyone's dishes. Daryl was going to follow me in a few minutes later. As soon as I was inside I dumped the dishes and went to get everything together. I was in one of the supply rooms stuffing magazines any place they would fit when Daryl came in silently behind me. He quickly broke down the sniper rifle to fit into a pillowcase. A second pillow carried my bow and arrows. Daryl swung his crossbow on his back then picked up two automatics. He positioned the blanket to cover them. "Ready?" he asked.

"Just a minute." I turned and went to our room. Gertie trotted in behind me. I sat down on the edge of the bed and called her over. She sat down in front of me. I started petting the top of her head. "Alright sweetie. You're going to stay in here. I brought you a nice bone to chew on. No eating it on the bed. You be good and Beth will come let you out in a little bit." I kissed her wet nose and quickly walked out of the room and shut the door. It was so hard to leave her.

Daryl pulled me tight and gave me a hug. "It's better that she's here. It'll be to dangerous for her out there." He was right. It was the safest place for her. That was, unless we didn't win.

"I know. Beth and Hershel will take good care of her." I took the pillows from him. "Let's go." We walked back towards the yard. Just before we stepped outside I stopped him. "Wait. We're supposed to be heading out for some nookie, and we look like we're going to the dentist to get our teeth pulled."

Daryl looked me up and down then reached over and pulled the pins out of my hair. Running one of the strands through his fingers he said, "Well technically we don't have to start keeping watch till everyone else goes to bed. We could put on a good show. In fact I think it's our duty, to distract whoever's out there."

I started laughing. "Sometimes I wonder about you Daryl Dixon."

"Yeah, sometimes I do too." He kissed me till my head started to swim then pushed the door open.

Sometime later I woke. Daryl was moving across the room, he noticed as I lifted my head. "Sorry didn't mean to wake you."

"Don't be silly. What time is it?" I sat up and stretched to get the kinks out of my back.

"Probably a little after midnight." Daryl leaned against the desk. "Wish I could figure out a way to really get a good look out there. I don't want to use the scope in case they see it. Every time I look over I feel like I'm staring."

I pushed myself up. "I think I can probably help you out with that. " I undid the laces on my boots and pushed my pants down.

"Stella? What are you doing?" Daryl asked shocked.

I looked at him. "I'm getting us out on the balcony. Just give me a minute then come join me. Keep your pants on, but get rid of that shirt and your shoes. Most men don't hop out of bed fully dressed." I pulled the elastic out of my hair and shook it out.

I leaned against the balcony railing, looking out over the fields. Daryl's hands slid around my waist a few minutes later. "I have to give it to you, I would never have thought to do this," he said quietly.

I laughed lightly. "Daryl, you were the one who suggested we put on a show." I twisted to face him, repositioning us so that he was now looking at the tree line. I slid my arms around his neck.

"I did, didn't I? Well I suppose we should make it good." His lips caressed my neck, his hands travelling over my body.

"Not too good of a show, I'm not that type of girl," I said. It was so hard to protest. Someone had better be out there.

He pulled back and his eyes scanned the tree line behind me. "Lets go in, but do it slowly."

So there was someone there. I let my hands trail down his chest. Then I clasped his hand. He gave me a reassuring squeeze and I slowly lead us back in to the tower.

"So?" I asked as I was laying on the bed pulling my pants back up. I quickly shoved my feet back in my boots and started doing up the laces.

"They're definitely out there. Saw movement all along the tree line." He yanked his shirt over his head. "Here, put these on." He passed me the knives, then moved to grab the guns off the desk. "They'll be coming soon. They think we're going to be busy for a while." He started checking all the guns, switching off the safety's.

I fought to keep all the fear in check. I had known that this would happen, but now that it actually was happening, the whole thing could only be described as surreal. I let out a deep breath.

"Pick out a target but wait for me to fire first. As soon as Carol's here I'll head down. Use the sniper rifle till they're closer than switch to the automatic. Try to keep them pinned down as much as possible." I listened as I watched him shove the magazines in his pockets.

He looked up at me. "Don't take any chances, keep your head down. Alright?" He kissed me. It was gentle and tender. It promised things to come.

When he pulled back I touched his face softly. "Don't you take chance either. I love you. I'd like to see you when this is all done." Staying low I climbed on top of the desk. We had already moved it close to a broken window. I set the stand on the sniper rifle and pulled it in tight. I switched the scope to night vision and scanned.

"How many do you see?" Daryl asked.

Too many I thought. "Twenty, maybe twenty-five. There could be more I can't see."

"See if there's anyone that seems to be in the center of a group. That's probably someone in charge. Keep him in your sights. We're not going to fire until they start across the clearing." I kept scanning till I found someone that looked like they were giving orders. I tried not to look at his face. And then we waited.

Five minutes later it happened. They started across the clearing. "They're coming," I said softly. Daryl moved to the window next to me.

"Ready?"

"Yeah," my finger moving inside the trigger guard. I took a deep breath. Here we go.

Daryl stood and fired. I pulled the trigger and watched the man in my scope fall. Reloading quickly I aimed again. Gunfire erupted from the other tower. I could hear yelling from back in the prison.

It didn't take the advancing men long to realize where we were. Bullets tore into the ceiling above us, the glass that was still intact in some of the windows shattered. Daryl ducked down behind the concrete walls.

I scanned again, finding someone firing at us I put a bullet into his chest. "Maybe they'll turn into walkers and take each other out. Never thought I'd wish to see more walkers." Especially not after we had all but cleared the area surrounding the prison.

Just then Carol arrived. She moved over to were Daryl was. "Short controlled bursts Carol. Don't let them move forward." Then he was gone, running down the stairs.

Carol began firing out the window. A minute later I heard her say, "Oh no," I pulled my head up. There was a line of trucks, looked like military vehicles. They spread out in front of the advancing men. They rolled forward slowly, giving the men cover.

"Aim for the drivers!" I yelled over at Carol. I took aim, but it was hard. I couldn't see past the reflection of the glass. Suddenly the room exploded with noise. Carol yanked me off the desk and we laid on the floor covering our heads. "What the hell was that?"

Carol looked over. "I don't know what you call it, but it was big fucking gun." Another barrage began again. "We can't stay in here!"

She was right, but we couldn't leave either. We had the best line of sight. "Stay here!" I threw the quiver with my bow in it over my head. If I had to get out of here quickly I wasn't leaving it behind. I crawled over to the balcony door and slipped outside. As soon as I got around the corner I could see what Carol was talking about. I had watched enough war movies to know a .50 caliber gun when I saw one. It was firing rapidly at the tower were Lori and Maggie were. I laid out, ignoring the pain as various weapons and equipment dug into my body. I squeezed the trigger. It bounced off the steel of the truck. I reloaded and set myself up again. Apparently he realized he was being shot at because he was swinging back around at us. He opened fire a second before I pulled the trigger. His body dropped back inside the vehicle. I hurried back inside.

Carol was already up again, spraying the windows of the car. I tossed the sniper rifle aside and grabbed the other automatic that Daryl and I had brought up earlier. We managed to get two of the drivers before they reached the fence.

"Come on Stella! We've got to go! Can't do anything else here." Carol began tugging on my arm.

She was right. We had lost our line of sight. In order to fire we'd have to stand on the balcony. We'd be too exposed. I grabbed everything I could carry and followed her down the stairs and out into the yard.