I am asking you all to hate me. Feel free to do it - I certainly would. I don't think I can express how sorry I am for the massive gap between this update and the last.
I don't want to be giving you all excuses but I do have reasons. 1- As you all know I was going on holiday. I did say I'd try to update before I left but I hadn't even finished the chapter then so I couldn't. And then I didn't have time to write during my holiday and only found out that my mum and dad had planned for me to stay longer than them so I had a longer holiday then expected. 2- I would have updated even if I did write a chapter on holiday but there was no internet (such a long holiday without my precious internet). 3- As soon as I got back I had to go to work at four in the morning (not happy about that. Got in at eleven the night before and had to wake up at four.) 4- I received my A-level result and got excepted into Uni! Big important news for me! 5- The Word account on my laptop has expired so I couldn't write anything for a while. (Still haven't got it back yet but I found ways in which I could write.) Trust me there may be a few mistakes in this chapter. 6- I had major writers block ad have only just gotten over it.
There are a few more things I could add but they are stupid such as me getting addicted to playing Skyrim and forgetting about this story until I had a dream about it and decided to finish the chapter. Like I said stupid. There should be no reason why it's taken me this long to update and write this chapter but I am cool with you all calling me lazy - that could work for us all. If you did like the 'excuses' I came up with (they were all real) feel free to tell me which one was your favourite.
REVIEWS - please review as I love receiving them xx I love hearing what you all have to say even if it isn't much. Although I haven't had a long review in a long time. Any got any ideas to input in the story please tell me. Like if there's a conversation between characters you want or if you want me to add a new character and then kill them off? I know I repeat this but please PM me with ideas - don't be shy, I can't bite - I'm no walker.
Quick Message (Slightly Important) - I wanted t let you all know that I was going to make this chapter longer to apologise for the long duration you have had to wait but decided to stop it where it ends for a few reasons. I liked the thought of a cliff-hanger and It's 1:49 in the morning and I'm really tired. I promise that the next chapter will be worked on tomorrow as I will start it then and it will be longer. Plus I can have a bit more fun with the next round of chapters as it's that long period of time between season three and four where the prison lot find more people and wait around for the new season to start.
I hope you all enjoy this chapter and I am so sorry for the long wait but please, please give me a review even if it is to shout at me for taking so long to give you this short and slightly crappy chapter xxxx Comet96 xxxx
It was amazing what one woman could make out of so little food and ingredients but Carol really seemed to have a nack for this sort of thing. Carol had really outdone herself with the celebratory meal so had made for the few of s staying at the prison in honor of Glenn and Maggie's wedding. She hadn't overdone it either – still rationing between us all but making a wonderful meal in the process.
It was only a bowl of pasta covered in a tomato sauce with canned mushrooms and light seasoning but it smelled wonderful and it sure as hell tasted great as well. It had just forked a small spoonful of pasta in my mouth when Hershel cleared his throat signaling that he wanted to speak. Beth, Glenn and Maggie all paused with their forks to their mouths looking to the older man as his eyes landed on everyone before giving us all that soft smile that only belonged to Hershel.
"There's a few words I wanted to share," he started glancing to his two daughters and then to his new son-in-law. "I know not everyone would be thankful for the way the world's turned out and I'm sure you'd all join me in wishing that time turned back and we didn't have to live like this but there are days I am grateful. I'm grateful for the people I get to spend my life with in this world. I've lost people – we all have but we still have family.
"I have my two beautiful daughters and they have each other, I've got a great guy for a son-in-law who would do anything for Maggie because he loves her so much and I can see that. I know I don't have to worry about her safety when he's around because he'll always be looking out for her. I've got that wonderful, amazing woman that enters your life and finds a place in your heart as the nagging younger sister that mothers you even though she's younger," he added glancing over to Carol sending her a warm smile as he spoke so she knew he was talking about her. His eyes darted to Kelly then a twinkle in his eyes as his grin grew larger. "A free-spirited niece that won't sit still and gets protective of everyone around her because she has a beautiful heart and soul." Kelly's eyes shone with tears then and I knew that it meant a lot for her to hear – she hadn't had the greatest relationships with her family, only speaking with her older brother on occasion because of her nieces. "I've got a family I'd never thought I'd have.
"Three wonderful grandchildren that crept their way into my heart with each passing second." His eyes were settled on Carl and the twins as he spoke before turning his head to me and pausing and giving a deep sigh. "And who do I have to thank for bringing them into my world but their mother? Well and Rick. I never thought I'd end up with another daughter before I was taken from this world but these things have a way of creeping up on you unexpectedly. I could ask for a better daughter than the one I got in you," he mumbled softly his eyes telling me more about his emotions that his tone of voice did as well as his words. "All three of my daughters are more than I could ask for. Not are they only beautiful but they also have outstandingly good hearts and pure souls and I am thankful that I can call them my girls. I'm happy I can call everyone at this prison my family. Rick, Daryl, Michonne and Amy – the four of them are as much family now as my girls, as you lot.
"In this messed up world a bunch of strangers that had nothing in common a year ago have managed to find a family in each other that has helped us survive. But that's what this new world is about I think. Family and love, the way it wraps itself around our lives and gives us something to fight for, something to strive for to prevent being torn away from each other because it keeps us fighting. At the end of the day we need it, not only to keep going but because without it what have we got to live for? Survival's not enough without it and I can guarantee that we'll need it more now than ever. We need each other and God blessed us with each other."
I never know such simple words could hold such a meaningful truth. He was right, we did need each other because he wouldn't be able to survive otherwise. There would be no point in going on in this world if we didn't have each other. I wasn't the only one that thought so either as the silence around the group grew after Hershel spoke his words. It was like we had no clue what to say to his words. There was nothing to say to his words because we couldn't say anything to change them, to make them mean something different. We just needed to let them sink in. We needed to believe that being here with each other would increase our survival in this world.
"Can I stay with you tonight mom?" Carl asked hanging by the sheet covering the cell as he looked in as I rocked Theo against my chest as he whined. The poor boy was still feeling sick and wouldn't let me put him down while he was awake. I looked to Theo's older brother as he dropped his eyes down to his little sister as she slept in her bassinet before smiling at her and flicking his eyes back to me.
"Of course you can," I told him moving over on the bed so there was enough space for him to join me. "But know that your dad won't be happy to see that you took his place in the morning," I teased him feeling sure that Rick and the others would be joining us in the morning.
They still weren't back but I knew that it might have been a possibility. After all Maggie had made it clear that Woodbury was quite a large town and it was at some distance from the prison even if it was still close to us. It would take them time to finish this especially if the Governor was there to be dealt with. Just because they weren't back tonight didn't mean they wouldn't be back in the morning.
"Dad will just have to fight me for the largest bed then won't he?" The boy teased back the light tone in his voice making me smile as he relaxed back on the bed, rolling around slightly as if proving his point that this bed was the largest in the prison.
"I'm sure he'll beat your ass," I warned him glancing back at him over my shoulder in a mock glare before dropping my eyes to Theo as his body went lax in my arms. After holding him for longer than half an hour the boy had finally fallen to sleep.
"Yeah I wouldn't bet on it," he grumbled and I could tell he was already falling asleep as he curled up against the edge of the bed, leaving me with my regular space by the wall. I managed to slip off the bed without catching myself on Carl and settled Theo down in his bassinet without him waking up before glancing back to the eldest Grimes child as he snuggled deeper under the blankets, his eyes closed and mouth hanging open. He looked like a child here and I wished he could still be like that when he was awake. Shaking my head from the thoughts I climbed over his legs before slipping into the bed behind him, running my hands through his hair like I had down to him when he was younger and climbed between me and Rick when he'd had a bad dream.
"I love you Carl," I whispered to him pressing my lips to the back of his head as he slowly nodded the mop of dark hair, allowing me to know he had heard.
It was an early start for all of us in the prison, each of us up before the sun even made is way passed the trees. The others hadn't got back yet and it was concerning us all. Even though Carl was angry with his dad I knew that he was just as concerned about him as I was.
I knew that if the others were going to be back it wouldn't be too long from now. Actually it was less of em knowing and more of Maggie assuring me that they would be back by mid-day. Not that we could tell when mid-day was, only getting a jist of time from the few watches shared between us all.
The ten of us, well eight really because Judy and Theo didn't count, had spent the last few hours we had been up wandering around doing silly little things that weren't really important but helped get our minds off of the others late return. Carol had done everyone's washing and had started to hang the wet -not dripping wet - clothes on the railings around the cell block and communal area. Hershel had started his plans for the farming area he wanted to start once we were sure we'd be able to settle down in the prison without incident for a while. Glenn and Maggie were on watch as well as clearing the yard and keeping an eye on Beth and Carl as they cleared the fences of close walkers. Kelly had taken a page out Carol's book and had started to clean the cell block and communal area, trying to make it more at home for all of us. As for me, I had just settled down on one of the tables going through the medical supplies we had after managing to put the twins down for a nap after their feeds. Theo was out like a light halfway through his feed and I knew it was because he was still ill and was thankful that he went straight down without fussing. Judith on the other hand fussed, her face flushing red until I wrapped her in one of her daddy's shirts and watched as she settled down, the tears she had cried rolling down her cheeks as she snuggled down in her bassinet and dropped into a sleep like her brother.
"Their back!" Carl's voice echoed through the communal area startling me as I continued going through the medical supplies. At his words I dropped the two bottles of pills and shared a glance with Kelly as she paused in her actions as well. As if reading my mind she glanced towards the cell block where the twins were sleeping.
"Go on, I'll stay here," she mumbled making me feel bad because I wasn't the only one that had someone they loved coming back to them at this moment. Although I may have been married to Rick, Kelly was in a relationship with Daryl and I knew that she had been worrying about him while he was gone.
"I'll send Daryl in," I promised to her as I pushed off of the table and rushed out of the block and out into the yard, pushing by Beth, Hershel and Carol as they hung around the door and over to Carl where he stood waiting. My eyes settled on the bus that pulled up into the yard followed by the single car Rick and the others had taken the day before. As the bus rolled to a stop I became confused and settled my eyes on my husband as he glanced at the bus and then made his way towards me and Carl. If he was okay with the bus being here then I knew it must have been his decision that these people came to join us. Where these the people from Woodbury?
"What's this?" Carl asked as soon as Rick reached us nodding his head towards the bus as the doors opened allowing Tyreese to step down off of the bus followed by his sister. I couldn't help the smile that flirted across my lips as I watched the two of them help the elderly people off of the bus.
I didn't need Rick's answer because I knew exactly what this was. These were the people the Governor had left behind at Woodbury because they were either too old or too young to help with the attack here. And if I was to carry on with my theory, Tyreese and Sasha stayed behind to protect them.
"They're gonna join us," Rick supplied looking to Carl as he spoke giving the boy the answer to his question. Carl's jaw tensed at his dad's words before he scoffed and pushed passed Rick, making his way back into the block without a word. Rick sighed at the reaction and I could tell that he was thinking about their argument the day before.
"He'll get over it," I mumbled taking his hand within mine as he turned to face me before burying my face in his chest, sighing deeply as he wrapped me in his arms. "I'm so glad that you're okay. I was worried when you didn't come back last night but Maggie told me it was a possibility." I pulled back so I could look in his eyes, noting the small smile on his lips but I couldn't help but take in the sadness and anger shining within those blue orbs. "You know Carl's going to see it in a different light in a couple of days, right? You bringing these people back saved them, you didn't leave them behind. You gave them a new home. He'll understand that." I added wanting to make sure he didn't feel guilty about bringing them back because of Carl's reaction.
"It's not that," he muttered taking my face within his hands, stepping back slightly so he could peer down at me. It was the look he always gave me when there was bad news. "Andrea didn't make it," he whispered making my heart jump in my chest at his words. It was painful to hear even though there had been months between last seeing her before now. She may have changed during that time but she was still part of this family. She was Amy's sister. My blood ran cold at that thought as I pulled away from him, looking around at the small line of people that were greeting Hershel, Carol and Beth before Carol slowly lead them into the communal area.
"Where's Amy?" I asked not seeing the blonde girl anywhere and feeling the panic grow within me. As if sensing my panic, Rick caught my chin lightly in his hand, pulling my head towards him until my eyes settled on his.
"Michonne took her inside just a minute ago," he assured me leaning forward and pressing his lips to my forehead. "She needs some time to herself, we got to give her that time."
"I know," I mumbled blinking back the tears that had slowly started to roll down my cheeks as the news about Andrea settled into my mind. "I suppose I should go say hi to Tyreese and Sasha and introduce myself to the others," I sighed wiping my face roughly with my fingers before stepping away from him and heading over to Tyreese as he leant against the bus. His eyes settled on me, taking a moment before he seemed to realize who I was and a smile crept on his face as he stepped towards me.
"Fay," he greeted holding out his hand in greeting but I pushed it aside and gave him a warm hug. It may have seemed strange but I knew as soon as I saw Tyreese a couple of days ago that this man was a kind-hearted soul. It felt like I knew him for a long time.
"I'm so happy you're okay," I whispered to him pulling back and smiling the same smile he had given me before I pulled him into a hug. I was actually quite funny and I bet Rick was laughing on the inside as he watched me climb on my tiptoes to wrap my arms around this giant in front of me. That was what Tyreese felt like to me – compared to my small size he was a very tall man - hell Rick was tall to me and I knew Carl would be catching up with his dad soon. The boy was already taller than me.
"I'm happy you're fine as well," he replied slowing down his words as they settled on the plaster covering part of my head. As of remembering it was there I lightly touched the wound before shaking my head.
"It's nothing," I mumbled stepping back as a force rushed into me and I almost lost my balance. Taking in a deep breath I looked down at the two figures that had wrapped their arms around me only to see two brunette heads pressed into my chest. It wasn't until they pulled away that new tears rolled down my cheeks. "Lily!" I exclaimed wrapping my arms around the oldest before turning to her sister and pulling her back into my chest. "Oh my god, are you two okay? Where's your mom? Your dad?" I asked them stopping when Lily looked to her little sister before giving me that sad smile I knew too well.
"Mom died at the very beginning," Lily supplied taking hold of Becca's hand as the little girl sniffled, dropping her head against her chest at the older girls words. "Dad died a few weeks ago. The Governor told me he was killed on a run. I found it strange since dad told me he was going on watch. I guess it makes sense now." She mumbled at I felt sorry for the eleven year old as she pulled the eight year old into her side. She had to grow up with the loss of her parents. She needed to grow up for Becca.
"I'm so sorry Lily," I whispered to the girl taking her face in my hand, wiping away the tears that started to roll down her cheek. Here were these two girls that had lost their parents but one of them couldn't act like a child that had no parents because she had to take care of her sister.
"Do you know these girls?" Tyreese asked looking between the three of us as Rick stepped closer to us having watched the small commotion. As Rick stepped closer to us Becca lifted her head, her eyes growing larger as she finally recognized the man.
"Uncle Rick!" She exclaimed pulling out of Lily's grasp and running towards the man, jumping into his arms. Rick chuckled at her actions but lifted her to him as she rested her head against his shoulder. It was sweet and I was surprised he hadn't mentioned that the girls were alive to me before.
"These are your nieces?" Sasha asked standing beside her brother as she looked between the two girl and me before setting her eyes on Rick as he cuddled the youngest. I shook my head at her words as I ran my hands through Lily's hair before looking over to the woman asking questions.
"They're Kelly's nieces," I told her before freezing and then realising that these were in fact Kelly's nieces. "Oh my god! Kelly!" I exclaimed sounding much like Becca had when she realised Rick was beside me. "I need to take you to your aunt!" I announced to the two brunettes noting the way they both looked extremely happy to hear that their aunt was here.
Lily nodded eagerly as she took my hand in hers while Rick lead the way towards the open door where Hershel and Beth waited, Becca still in his arms. I knew Kelly would be over the moon with this news. She had Daryl but having her two nieces here with her would make her so happy. She had given up the chance to be with her brother when this all started to stay with me and now she got part of her family back.
We had barely made it to the door when a voice behind me had us all stopping.
"Faylin Fairfax?" A strange voice called out causing me to stop with the use of my maiden name. Everyone I knew had known me as Faylin Grimes for the last couple of years. There wasn't anyone before the end of the world that called me by that last name that I didn't know. Turning on the spot I froze as I locked eyes with an older woman in her fifties. She had grey-blonde hair and brown eyes but I recognised her face. There may have been few times that I had actually seen this woman and most of the times it was in old photo albums but I knew her.
"Mom?" I muttered feeling my heart sink as I looked at the woman that had brought me into this world.
Thank you for reading. I know it's not much of a cliff-hanger but it still feels like one to me. Sorry for taking forever to give you this chapter and I promise the next chapter will be better. There will be a lot of Rick and Fay action.
Please give me a review. I'd like to know if I've still got a few fans out there that are going to read this as I promise that it's not abandoned. Hope you all review or at least enjoy the chapter. If there are any ideas floating around your head feel free to PM me at anytime to tell me what you're thinking and maybe I can add it to the story or keep it in my notes to add in as the story grows.
Once again I hope you enjoyed the chapter xxx Comet96 xxxx