Chapter 49

"Amelia? Hershel is awake and he's asking for you." Rick sat down on the couch beside her. It was the next afternoon and she was sitting with Hannah and Judith in the main lodge.

Amelia swallowed with difficulty and gave Hannah a trembling look. She wished Daryl was here. He had taken Glenn's watch with Nathan and wouldn't be finished for another couple of hours.

"Honey, do you want Rick to go and get Daryl?" Hannah read her look perfectly.

"I can take over his watch so he can go with you." Rick smiled and patted her shoulder awkwardly.

She shook her head, "No. It's fine." She stood and followed Rick out of the main lodge.

"Are you ready?" Rick gave her a reassuring look as they stood at the door to Hershel's lodge. She took a deep breath and nodded.

Rick opened the door and they entered the cabin. Amelia squinted in the dim light. Glenn was sitting at the table eating a can of peaches. He gave her a brief smile before continuing to eat.

Maggie appeared in front of her and Amelia rubbed her hands nervously down her pants. She hadn't seen Maggie since they had arrived back in camp and she had no idea what to say to the brunette.

"Maggie, I'm so sorry. I – "

She gave a small squeak when Maggie suddenly embraced her. "Thank you." She whispered in Amelia's ear before kissing her cheek.

Amelia, stunned into silence, allowed Maggie to take her hand and lead her to the bedroom. She opened the door and pulled Amelia into the room. Dread filing her belly, Amelia slowly approached the bed.

"Daddy?" Maggie said softly. "Amelia is here."

Hershel was sitting up in bed, his lower half covered with the blankets, as he reclined against pillows propped against the headboard. Maggie urged Amelia to sit on the bed beside Hershel. Amelia, her knees shaking and feeling like she might vomit, fell more than sat on the bed.

Hershel stared at her silently for a moment. Amelia could feel the tears pooling in her eyes and she gave him a look of anguish, "Hershel, I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have – "

He reached out and took her hand, squeezing it firmly in his warm grip. "You saved my life Amelia. Thank you."

Now she did start to cry, great hiccupping sobs that wracked her entire body. Hershel tugged lightly on her hand and she collapsed against him. "I'm so sorry Hershel."

He patted her back, "Don't be sorry Amelia. I'd be dead right now if it wasn't for you." His voice was raspy with weariness and she sat up, wiping at the tears on her face.

"How do you feel?" she whispered.

"Not bad." He smiled at her as Maggie gave him a glass of water. He took a sip and sighed, leaning back against the pillows.

"I'll be a lot better when I get out of this bed."

Maggie smiled as Beth entered the room and sat at the end of her father's bed. "Not yet dad; Paul says in a few days you can try."

Beth tapped Amelia on the shoulder and she turned to look at the young girl. "Hi Amelia."

"Hi Beth."

"Thank you for saving my dad's life."

Fresh tears started down Amelia's face. "It wasn't just me. Mattie and Rick helped save him too."

"I know." Beth replied. She stood and hugged Amelia briefly before smiling down at Hershel, "Daddy, I'm going to the lodge for a while okay?"

Hershel nodded, squeezing Beth's arm as she hugged him hard before leaving the room. He shifted, wincing a little and Amelia gave him a grave, worried look. He was pale and tired looking and although he was smiling at her, it was obvious he was in pain.

"I'm going to let you rest okay Hershel?" She stood and leaned over him, kissing him lightly on the forehead. "I'll come by tomorrow and visit you alright?"

"I'd like that." He smiled and squeezed her hand. "Thank you again."

She nodded and left the room as Maggie helped Hershel to lie down.


"Amelia, wait up." Mattie jogged over to her as she walked across the clearing.

He fell into step beside her, "How did it go with Hershel?"

She gave him a weak smile of relief, "He wasn't angry with me. He wanted to thank me for – for saving his life."

He gave her a delighted grin, "I knew he wouldn't be angry with you."

She wiped the tears from her face. "I was so worried. I thought he would hate me."

Mattie dropped his arm around her shoulders and squeezed her affectionately. "Who could hate a gorgeous woman like you Amelia?"

She rolled her eyes and knocked his arm off her shoulder. "You better hope Daryl doesn't see you manhandling me."

He laughed, "Didn't take you to be the kind of woman who lets her man tell her what to do."

She bristled, "I'm not. But I like you Mattie and I'd hate to see that pretty face of yours after Daryl gets finished with you. He's a good man but he does have a bit of a jealous streak."

"So you do think I'm pretty." Mattie wiggled his eyebrows at her and she laughed despite herself.

"Get lost Mattie." She said not unkindly, and quickened her pace for the main lodge.

Matthew was about to follow her when a low whistle caught his attention. Thomas was sitting on the porch of his and Nikki's cabin, watching Selena as she played with some toys. He waved him over and Matthew, after watching Amelia enter the lodge, jogged over. He climbed the steps and crouched beside Selena.

"Hi baby!" he kissed the little girl on the top of her head and she grinned up at him.

"Mama?"

"Mattie, can you say Mattie?"

She looked past him at Thomas, "Daddy."

"Hi sweetheart." Thomas wiggled his nose at her, making her laugh before she returned to her toys.

"Wow, she's calling you daddy now?" Mattie sat down beside Thomas.

Thomas shrugged, "I asked Nikki if it would be okay and she said yes. I love her like she's my own kid anyway."

The two men sat in silence for a few minutes until Thomas sighed and looked at Matthew, "What are you doing Mattie?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean Amelia. What exactly do you think is going to happen with you and her?"

Mattie flushed a little, "I don't know what you're getting at."

Thomas gave him a dry look, "Don't do that Mattie. I've seen the way you've been mooning over Amelia since you got back from that town with a nearly-dead Hershel."

Matthew crossed his leg over his knee and picked at a string on his fatigues. "It's called flirting Thomas. It doesn't mean anything."

Thomas sighed again, "Mattie, how long have we known each other? Eight years?"

"Nine." Mattie grunted.

"We've been through hell together; I think of you as a brother and I know you better than anyone else except maybe your mom. And I know when you're lying to me."

"Aww hell Thomas. In case you haven't noticed, there's a severe lack of eligible ladies in this camp. Can you blame me for hitting on her?"

"Amelia isn't eligible and you know it." Thomas replied. "You're playing a dangerous game; Daryl – "

"I'm not afraid of the redneck." Matthew said with uncharacteristic sullenness. "He's not that tough. He's a civilian for God's sake."

"You would be stupid to underestimate him Matthew." Thomas said sternly. "He may not be military, but he's tough and strong and he loves Amelia. He killed his own brother for her, remember?"

"I remember." Matthew said quietly.

Selena left her toys and toddled over to them. She held her arms up to Thomas and he picked her up, setting her on her lap and kissing the top of her head as she leaned against his chest.

"It's not just Daryl. We have a good thing going with these people and I don't want to see you wrecking it because you can't keep your dick in your pants."

"They wouldn't kick us out; they need us." Matthew frowned.

"Don't be so sure. Rick is a man who values loyalty and honesty, and he and Daryl are close. They did just fine before we came along and I have no doubt that they won't hesitate to cut us loose if we start misbehaving."

He stared down at Selena's dark curly hair, "Nikki and Selena are the most important people in my life Mattie. I'll do whatever it takes to keep them safe."

He stared at Mattie, "I'm asking you to stay away from her."

"He's treating her terribly." Matthew suddenly said, "He's been a dickhead to her ever since we got back from that goddamn hotel. She deserves better."

"And you think you're that better man?" Thomas asked quietly.

Matthew shrugged, "I don't know. But I know I'd treat her a hell of a lot better than Daryl does."

"They're going through a rough time, that's all." Thomas kissed Selena's head again, "If you take advantage of that, then you're not the man I thought you were."

Matthew gave him a wounded look, "Jesus Thomas, what the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Thomas stared at him solemnly, "I love you Mattie; you know that right?"

"Yeah man, I love you too." Mattie said a little self-consciously.

"I'm saying this to you because I love you. Amelia's a sweet lady and I get your attraction to her but you need to stay away from her. It will only end badly."

Matthew didn't reply and the two men sat in silence as Selena babbled softly to herself.