It had been about 6 months since Hershel lost part of his leg. Meredith still felt horrible about doing that to him. She hadn't been sleeping well lately, she was often awake and just watching Hershel, and doing what she had to do around the prison to make chores easier to keep herself busy. She was fixing his pants in the chair in their cell. She didn't hear him wake up, It was still early and the sun hadn't even started to raise yet. Hershel turned over when he realized she wasn't in bed.

He groaned softly, sitting up. "Dove?" He rubbed his eyes and sat up more.

Meredith looked up for a second, "Good Morning." she said gently, working more on his pants.

"Everything okay?" He asked moving a bit, grabbing his other jeans, and slide on his prosthetic leg, and then his pants. He stood up and buttoned them.

"Just can't sleep." She said softly. She had maybe gotten an hour and a half or two hours of sleep tops all night. She usually faked being asleep and just laid there staring at the ceiling or the wall.

"How long have you been awake?" He asked going over to her, he looked at his pocket watch.

"Hour or so." She said looking up. She had a small panic attack while he was asleep. "Not really sure."

"Oh Dove." He sighed and sat down in the chair beside her.

Meredith kept sewing his pants and sighed softly. She shifted a bit in her chair.

Hershel smiled slightly watching her, and looked out the window. "How about we go for a walk?"

She smiled softly. "That would be nice." She finished and bit the thread after knotting it. She slid on her pants and a shirt, then a light long sleeve shirt. He held out his hand and smiled taking her hand. They walked outside. He wrapped an arm around her and held her close as they walked.

They sat on the bench after walking around for a while, and sat down to watch the sunrise, his arm wrapped around her. She kept a hand on his lower back. "Dove." He said quietly. He could tell something was bothering her, every time she came near him or talked to him she was slightly hesitant about it.

She bit her lip, "Yes...Bear.." she finally answered after a few minutes.

"How are you doing?" He asked softly, taking her hand, squeezing it softly.

"I.." Meredith closed her eyes. "Bear...I'm so sorry." She let the hot tears fall, and she looked down.

"Dove.. What are you sorry for?" He asked looking at her, rubbing her back.

She took some shaky breathes and looked down. "You must hate me.." She felt so guilty for doing that to him, even though it was to save him. "I wish there could have been another way." She shook her head, and started panicking. "I'm so sorry I did that to you.." She started crying more.

Hershel moved a bit, and turned her to him more. He caressed her face and watched her, it broke his heart to see her this broken and upset.

"Oh, Dove." He said softly, wiping her face with his hands and got her to look up at him. "I don't hate you for doing that to me." He said softy. "I could never hate you." He wiped her eyes more. "Is this what you have been upset about for so long?"

Meredith nodded looking at him, and the tears continued to fall. "I feel so guilty for doing that to you." She sniffed softly, and looked at him. "I'm so sorry." She was trying to calm down and catch her breath. "You had to go through all that pain..."

"Dove. I don't hate you. You did what you had to do to help me." He watched her and rubbed her back. "Breathe honey." He wanted her to calm down. " You did. You helped me." He kissed her face softly. "It was only painful for a while." He tried reassuring her. "We are okay - I am okay."

She breathed and tried calming down, she wiped her eyes. She wiped a few years from his eyes too.

"You were scared too." He said softly. "I'm sorry I didn't pay close enough attention to my surroundings. That was on me." He pulled her close holding her tightly. "I'll be honest - I was scared too." He sighed softly, closing his eyes. "I'm sorry I did that to you." He watched her. "That guilt.. You don't need to feel it honey. I'm okay." He looked in her eyes. "Thank you for doing that to save me."

"I was so scared." She said going closer to him. "I…" She laid her head on his chest. "My gosh. I could have lose you - our kids could have lost you." She said trying to not panic again, she shook slightly.

"I'm sorry I scared you." He said holding her close, and tightly.

Meredith wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "You..you where scared too?" She asked almost whispering.

"I was.." He smiled and hugged her tightly. "I was scared I wouldn't be around for you all...Dove,I love you...Nothing will ever change that. I could never be mad at you honey."

"Don't you ever scare me like that again.." She nodded listening to him. "I love you too, Bear. I'm…..I hope I never have to make that kind of choice again.." She kissed him more.

Hershel smiled kissing her more. "I hope - whatever happens in the situation for either of us, we make the best decision possible to keep us safe and healthy.. That is all we can do.."

"Amen." Meredith smiled softly. "I should have talked to you earlier about this.. I'm sorry.."

"It's been a long 6 months." He said softly. " Thank you for finally telling me." He kissed her more, and smiled.

She sniffed and wiped the last of her tears away, kissing him more. "I love you Hershel." She cuddled with him.

"I love you too, Meredith." He kissed her again. He held her close.

They watched the sunrise together.