Hey there guys - sorry if this was a long wait for some of you but here is your next chapter xx

I know it's not that long but I felt that the chapter should stop here at the moment as I have a lot planned for the next couple of chapters. Plus I don't want too much action going on in every chapter. I know some people look forward to that but I don't want too much to be going on between the season break between three and four. New group members will be added within the next few chapters as well such as Lizzy and Mika etc.. May even add a few OC characters - if you are interested in being a character just leave a review and I'll PM you about it. I'm sure that would be a little fun. I could even kill you off before the Governor attacks any way you want.

Also if there is anything you guys would like me to add during these chapter before the Governor attacks in season four just leave it in a review and I'll see what I can do about it. I would really love it if I could get your ideas on this as I want you all to feel part of this story as much as I am. After all it is the main reason I write this story - to keep you all happy. So remember if you want me to add something just let me know.

Other than that I assure you that I am going to follow the TV Show storyline and won't go too AU on you all. The only way that will happen is if I get to Alexandria before season six starts which I doubt very much.

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.

Thank you all so much for sticking with me xxx Comet96 xxx

She looked the same from the last time I saw her at dad's funeral when I was sixteen. They had long been divorced since then but for her to turn up at his funeral as if she expected to be given a golden platter. Nana almost kicked her out if it hadn't have been for the lawyers telling her she need not to worry about her because she was there for her son's funeral.

She had the same blonde hair as she did then and it wasn't a surprise for me to see that it was almost as bright as it had been then, but I could not miss the grey hairs that were coming in at the roots now. How was she coping without all the beauty products she adored?

"Aren't you going to introduce me to your friends?" She asked looking between Rick and then Tyreese and Sasha. Not particularly wanting to but feeling like I had to I reluctantly let go of Lily's hand, pushing her towards Hershel and Beth before looking over to Tyreese and Sasha as they both stood by the now empty bus watching the interaction between us.

"Rick, Tyreese, Sasha, this is Kathleen Jacobs," I muttered introducing her to the three of them as she had asked. "Kathleen, this is Rick, Tyreese and Sasha," I went on pointing to each one as I introduced them to her hoping she would except that and let me leave.

"Kathleen, how funny of you Faylin," she giggled stepping forward slightly smiling over to Tyreese and Sasha before turning her gaze back to me. "I don't know why she introduced me like that. I'm her mother Kathleen Fairfax," I felt fire burn within me when she used that name. She hadn't been Kathleen Fairfax in twenty-six years. Dad had filed for divorce after I was born not wanting to be with a woman that had tried to kill his only child. I knew she had been in a rehab centre for five years after I had been born, attempting to take her life three times during those years.

"You're not my mother!" I spat at her taking a step forward only stopping when I felt Rick's hand on my arm as a warning. "A mother wouldn't do what you did. A mother would care for her child, love them dearly and protect them at all cost. You didn't do that!"

"I was very sick Faylin, you should understand that," she argued back taking a step forward as she raised her hands in what I suppose she thought was a calming gesture.

"You could have asked for help! You could have-"

"Mom!" Carl's voice echoed through the hall leading out into the courtyard, stopping me from continuing as I glanced to the entrance waiting for him to appear. He did so seconds later, his cheeks flushed and his chest rising fast as he was out of breath. "Theo's been sick again," and I could tell that he must have still been crying if Carl had come to get me. I glanced at the woman known as my mother before sharing a look with Rick and following Carl back into the cell block.

"Have you got the list ready yet?" Kelly asked coming up to me in the communal area, making her way around the large mass of people that were already making themselves at home. She along with Carol, Beth and Maggie had been sorting out Cell Block D ready for the new comers to move into.

"Just finishing it now," I mumbled writing the last name down on the two list before glancing at them and nodding my head. "Chloe and her son Owen are in cell one, Eryn and Gemma in cell two, Leola in three, Danny in four, Bill in five, Abigail in six, Lucy in seven, Jeanette in eight, Mr Jacobson in nine, Thomas in ten, Greg in eleven, Karen in twelve and Kathleen in thirteen." I told her handing her the list for Cell Block D before glancing down at the other list. "I added Tyreese and Sasha in our Cell Block along with Lily and Becca. The girls will be fine sharing a cell and I knew you would want them with us but I thought Tyreese and Sasha should be in with us."

"I'm sure they'd like that," Kelly replied glancing down at the two lists before giving me a soft smile and walking over to Hershel, handing him the sheets. I knew he'd be the one to announce the new housing arrangements.

Rick had meant what he said about this group being led by all of us now – even if it would take him time to stop thinking he had to protect and lead the group. With one last glance over to Hershel I rose from my seat at the table, looking to Beth whom had been sat opposite me as I went through the list of information given to me by the new members of the group.

"Beth if anyone needs me tell them I'll be given Judith her feed," I told her looking over at Rick as I spoke making sure she knew I was talking about my husband. If he looked over and saw me missing I knew he would worry.

"Of course," she muttered before looking back to Carl as he sat next to her trying to get him to talk. He had been like this since the other had joined us this morning. I don't think he liked the intrusion they posed on us. Given them both a smile I slipped passed the large group in the communal area and into our cell block and over to my cell were the twins were resting during one of their naps.

The room was bigger than I originally thought and it was for that reason I knew it would be perfect for my little project. Just think I was still able to have little project during the end of the world. It was Day Two of what Kelly was calling the 'Prison/Woodbury Take Two'.

She still had that notebook of hers where she was making a tally of the outbreak and the days that had gone by. She had a habit of mentioning the date, or what she had worked out the date, every morning. It was her way of keeping sane in this world. According to her it was April 14th 2011 – Day 322 of the outbreak and Day 2 of the Prison and Woodbury Converge.

"Do you think it will work Judy?" I asked the girl in my arms knowing she wouldn't be able to answer but feeling the need to speak as I glanced around the room once again as I rocked her in my arms gentle. I looked down at her then not actually believing I had this little girl two weeks ago. Thanks again to Kelly, she had informed everyone that the twins were born on the first of April. April Fools day no less. "All we got to do know is let your daddy know because we both know how he gets,"

"How do I get?" The man in question asked causing me to jump slightly as turn towards the door where my husband was stood, Theo resting in his arms wearing just his vest and a light blanket. He got too fussy if we put him in a onesie, crying because of the temperature he had. In the end Hershel and I decided it was best to let him be cool to see if it would help with his fever. I knew this wasn't him turning into a walker, it was actually common for new-borns to get these fevers after birth. And to think of the conditions he was born in – he was doing quite well in my eyes.

"Overprotective and annoying," I teased placing a kiss on his cheek as he stepped closer to me glancing around the office space like I was. "What do you think of it?" I asked nodding around at the space picturing my small clinic in my mind as I waited for him to answer.

"What about it?"

"I'm thinking about turning it into a clinic of some sorts. I think it's a better idea now that we have to others here as well. It will at least give them somewhere to go and a professional view on everything." I told him nodding towards the desk and wheelie chair as it over looked to communal area. "I'd leave the desk there but I think this is the best place for it really. It's in the communal area and it's accessible for everyone now. The communal area is open to everyone and there's entrance up here from there." I glanced to him, turning away from the window that looked down at the area below giving him a waiting look. "So what do you think?"

"I think you've put a lot of thought into this," he grumbled walking over to the window, looking down at the people below that were shuffling about. "We both know that if you want it, you'll get it. There's going to be a lot of changes around here … are you sure you can handle this on top of the twins?"

"Rick, you know me," I sighed to him stepping forward as he turned away from the window and gave him a small smile. "It won't be like the hospital, plus you need to remember I managed to work there and look after Carl. I promise you if it gets too much I'll get Kelly to take over, she'll be helping as well. We'll take turns when needed and Beth wants to be trained as well. I think she needs this. We all need this." I muttered to him softly hoping he would understand where I was coming from.

"Hershel agreed to this?" Rick questioned probably thinking that this was what Hershel and I had been whispering about on the many times he had seen us talking alone.

"It was one of our ides," I mumbled peering down at the new-born in my arms before glancing back up to my husband. "With all the people here now, we're going to need this. There is so many of us now, disease and sickness is more likely to spread through the prison. It's just a precaution. With Hershel's knowledge in plants as well and a few tips Nana gave to me we'll be able to use natural remedies to cure most things."

"I'm not the leader anymore Fay, I can't tell you whether or not to do this. If you want to do it I can't stop you," he grumbled leaving me with the feeling that he wasn't too sure about this.

"You may have said that this is a democracy now but you'll always be the leader. No matter if you say we're a group, you and I both know everyone will still look to you." I came to his side, brushing up against him in a way to be close to him and touch him while we had the twins in our arms. "You brought us here in time for the twins to be born. You supplied us with this home and then you helped protect it so we could stay here and then you brought those defenceless people back here to keep them safe. You never had anything to prove but you did. You will always be our leader even if you don't think so."

He didn't reply to my words, just gave me a tight smile before glancing back out the window again, no doubt looking down to Carl as he sat in the communal area below. The boy had been punished for killing the Woodbury boy out in the woods. He'd been banned form going on watch or leaving the communal area or cell block without asking permission before hand. He'd also been given chores to do such as helping Carol with cooking or helping Hershel or others that needed his help. It had only been one day since he'd been given this punishment but I could tell he hated it already.

"We need to do something about your mom," he finally said causing my blood to boil at the mention of that woman. I could not think of the amount of times I had stressed that she wasn't my mom. She did not deserve that name.

"She's not my mom," I spat also glancing out the window to see the woman trying to talk to Carl. The twelve year old ignored her continuing to work on the sheet of school work Kelly had given him. I couldn't help but smile at that. This morning she had announced that she had been working on a school plan for all the children and had even managed to set them some work for the day. Sat at the table with Carl was Lily and Becca, the two sisters sat on Carl's right, Lily sat beside him chatting occasionally but always checking on her sister. On Becca's right was ten year old Owen and nine year old Eryn. Owen came from Woodbury with his mother whereas Eryn was on her own, but had been living with one of the elder woman, Leola and eighteen year old Gemma. As of this morning the five of them had officially started 'school' again, much to the displeasure of Carl.

"Whatever she is then, she's hard to deal with," he sighed giving me a soft smile in apology to calling her my mother. "Hershel gave her a job to do and she just waved him off, giving that job to Gemma."

"I guess much doesn't change over the years then," I mumbled looking over to the woman we were talking about to see her talking to Carl and watching as he glanced up at her a deep frown setting on his face. Carl's face twisted in anger before he spat something at the woman resulting in her slapping him across the face. I sucked in a breath of air as I felt Rick tense beside me before rushing out of the room, adjusting Theo in his arms as he went. "Rick!" I yelled following him out of the office and down the stairs to hear the shouting that had started around the room.

"Calm down!"

"That little brat!"

"You started it!"

"If I had a cane, I'd give you a good old-"

"What the hell's going on here!" Rick spat as I reached the bottom of the stairs pushing Carl behind him as he looked to Kathleen.

"That son of yours called me an old wench. Said I was a monster and had no right to live!" She snapped looking passed Rick to glare at Carl. "As his father you should have taught him a few manners. I understand bringing him up as a single parent is hard and with him not having a mother to make him more respectable-"

"He has a mother," Rick cut her off taking a step back as her eyes flashed as she looked to him. "Carl was brought up with manners, I taught him that and his mother taught him that."

"Obviously you didn't teach him well enough," she fired back crossing her arms under her chest as she rested her weight on her right hip.

"I taught him enough," I grumbled stepping closer to Carl, taking his face in my hands as I looked over the red mark on his face. "You obviously said something to him to set him off,"

"I would do no such thing!" She accused looking to me as if I had suggested the most outstanding thing to her in the world.

"You were asking me questions about the group. I know what you're trying to do but it won't work. We're not stupid. You think you can come in here and act like you rule over us all. You have no respect here. You've been here one day and you're already showing to be lazy and not committed to the group. My dad didn't have to bring you back. He could have left you there but that's not who he is. Be thankful we gave you that chance to survive!" Carl snapped stepping from behind Rick so he could speak to the woman that had hit him.

"Like I said, no manners!" She cried looking around at the people in the communal area waiting for them to back her up. She wasn't in much luck since most of us hanging around in here were from our original group as the other members from Woodbury were out helping where they could.

"Oh shut up!" I yelled feeling Judith shake in my arms at the rise in my voice before groaning out slightly. "Carl's right and you know it. Do you really expect you'd be able to make it living here without pulling your weight? There are others from the Woodbury group that are older than you but are still out there trying to make this a better place to live. If you can't stand hanging around here, pulling your weight then leave!" She stood there taking everything in for a moment but nodding her head slightly, placing her crossed arms on her hips as she took everything in. With one last glance to Carl she turned on her foot and walked through the hallway to Cell Block D.

"I am so glad she is not my grandmother!" Carl exclaimed dropping down in his seat, rolling his eyes as he looked between me and Rick. I chuckled lightly at his words, pressing a kiss to his head before heading over to Carol as she shook a freshly made bottle of formula in her hands. It seemed everyone knew when the twins were due their feeds and more than often made Theo's bottles for me.

"Thank you Carol," I said in gratitude as I took the bottle from her, giving her a smile as I led Rick through the area and to the cell block where we could feed them with some privacy. As Rick settled on the bed beside me I couldn't help but think about what he had said in the office before the whole incident with Kathleen and Carl. "I think you're right about Kathleen," I sighed handing him the bottle as I grabbed the shit Judith liked to be wrapped in as I settled her against my lap before pulling the strap of my camisole and bra down, before lifting her to my breast. She suckled softly, her eyes fluttering before closing as she pressed closer to my breast. "She's hard to deal with and I don't think she'll listen to you or me. Our best hope is for Hershel to talk to her. He always seems to sort out things like this. He's good with his words."

"And I'm not?" Rick teased a smile I hadn't seen for so long flirt across his lips. That smile had my heart flutter like I was a school girl with a crush again. Actually I never was like that, focusing on school work far too much to pay attention to boys. But he did make me feel like I did when I first saw him.

"You were never a smooth talker when we first met," I reminded him smile at the memory of it being me that had asked him for coffee in the hospital and not him asking me.

"You had me so speechless when we first met. Instead of the doctor I was familiar with was this beautiful redhead in her place with these sparkling green eyes. You had me bewitched from the first moment. I found it so hard actually getting my words out." He grumbled, his face flashing red as he admitted that he had become tongue-tied at our first meeting. He had never told me this before.

"I'm glad you got over that," I whispered reaching over and running my hand over his cheek, shivering at the tickle left behind by his stubble.

"Yeah me too," he chuckled pressing his cheek into my palm as his eyes rested on Judith as she feed. He furrowed his brow as he looked down at her, tilting his head to the side for a few seconds before a small smirk curled up his lips. "Is it weird that I'm jealous if her right now?" He question causing my cheeks to flash as I pulled my hand away from his cheek, raising my eyebrows at him. It wasn't often Rick talked like this and it had me quite shocked when he did. Sure we flirted but for him to express that he enjoyed certain things bluntly and out of nowhere always had me flushing in embarrassment.

"Stop it," I warned him lightly pushing his shoulder with my palm as he nudged me as he settled Theo on his shoulder to burp him. Rick just gave me his 'charming' smile before setting his focus on our son, trying to get him to burp.

"What do you mean council?" I asked looking between Hershel and Rick as the two of them got me alone in the transforming office. It had been a week since I had suggested my clinic to Rick and the day after the transformation had been undergoing. The store room outside had been cleared – there was more riot uniform in there that we could use – and most of the stuff from the infirmary had been moved into the store room while a gurney had been set up as a medical bed.

"We all agreed that this was a democracy of some sort now but leadership is still being placed on Rick's shoulders." Hershel started answering my question as he glanced over to Rick. "It's not fair to him to always be leading us and for us to be looking to him for advice. We shouldn't have to look to him to live our lives. We can make it easier on him by having a council. If something needs to be dealt with it will go through the council and then we can deal with it that way."

"And who will be on the council?" I questioned understanding where Hershel was coming from but it made it seem like Rick wouldn't have anything to do with this council.

"Daryl, Sasha, Carol, Hershel, Glenn, Amy and you," Rick answered glancing out the window in the office. It seemed he had a thing for looking out of the window when he came in here.

"And not you?" He shook his head at my words not bothering to turn away from the window to look at me. "Why?"

"I've got a few runs coming up in the next couple weeks. There's too many people here now for us not to go out. I can't be responsible for those people if I'm not here. There's enough of you on the council to make the right decision and it will be a group decision so there won't be any finger pointing when something goes wrong. We can't have one leader anymore. That's not how this works." He answered giving me a verbal answer this time.

"When do you plan on telling the others?" I asked them both knowing that this hadn't been discussed with the others yet.

"We spoke with Daryl and he's agreed, we'll tell the others tonight," Hershel told me looking over to Rick before glancing back to me. "We will all be equal on the council but there are positions we feel we should give out."

"And this is where I come in?" I guessed knowing there was a reason behind them talking to me alone.

"Hershel will be a sort of chairman – the voice of the group if you would, he's good at getting people to listen to him," Rick added turning away from the window to look at me. "And you will be the scribe – everything that goes on in the council will be written by you. Plans for defence, medical, anything. It goes by you first, you're intelligent and can see through any flaws. Carol's there for the people. We all know she gets on better with everyone than the rest of us. She's kind-hearted and is willing to help out. Sasha's from the other group, that helps keep the balance. Daryl's got experience with hunting and tracking, he's able to read people better than the rest and Glenn he's a fast thinker. Amy's told us how she was at college doing a degree in law, she's also got a degree in business, that can work too, she knows how to work with and around people. The lot of you make up a perfect group. I'm certain I want you seven on the council, you all have traits that will make this work." Rick explained making it clear to me the reasons he picked who he did.

"Are you sure you don't want to be part of this?" Hershel asked my husband looking to the ex-leader with a look of hope. We had been following him for so long it would be weird not to look to him for advice and such.

"I'm sure,"

"And this is going to work?" I questioned getting the feeling that something was bound to go wrong. Rick and Hershel exchanged a look before both nodding, allowing their positivity to show. "Fine, I'll start putting together some notes." I looked to Rick giving him a small smile as I walked over to the door, pausing to turn back to him. "And you better find me some pens and paper on your runs."

Thank you for reading xxx Please review xxx Comet96 xxx