FanFicReader47: I certainly hope that you enjoy this, because, like in the show, this is where the minor adjustments to leadership happen, but it's a bit more succinct and I like to think it shows off Ani's vulnerability and weakness. She's a badass and amazing in so many ways, it's easy to forget she has downfalls.

Thank you to everyone who has enjoyed and favorited this fanfic. I truly appreciate each and every one of you have continued reading this far, especially when there's 43 chapters and I'm just now finishing season 3. I ask that you all be patient with me from here on in as I will be going off canon for a few chapters before returning to season four, which I have yet to watch...XP

Tea hopped on behind Daryl and moved to where her entire front was pressed as tightly against his back as she could, even her thighs were held tightly against the backs of his. Her arms wrapped around his waist in the tightest embrace she could give him without hurting him or interfering with his ability to operate the bike. As they got up to speed, he took one hand from the handlebar and grabbed hers tightly for a minute before returning it to it's spot. He was happy that she'd taken him seriously when he said he needed to feel her. It was helping to settle the fear and anger he was still trying to work through. The trip to the prison took a lot less time than he'd have liked, but at least Ania was safely back home as they entered the gates.

She didn't let go even after he'd parked and turned off the engine. His arms wrapped around hers and held them tightly as the others came out of the prison and gathered around in the courtyard while Merle got out of his vehicle. No one said a word as they watched the hunters sit on the bike, Daryl looking down and Tea with her face pressed between his shoulder blades. Eventually, they both took a deep breath and let go. Tea got off the bike, but didn't move away, waiting for Daryl to get off the bike and wrap an arm around each other as they moved towards the group. The others gathered around in one area and stood silent as she began to talk.

"So, I got a few things ta say. First, the Gov'na offa'd me a deal. Michonne for peace. I didn' agree with it and adamantly denied we take it. Rick, he went behind me back, and trust me, we're gonna talk 'bout that," she said, looking directly at the man and gave him a glare. "If it weren' for Merle takin' me side, well, I don' know what would a happened. We wouldn' a been left in peace, I'm still sure a that, and we'd a been down a strong fighta. This decision, it caused me ta react. And in a bad way. I rigged the meetin' space. Several a the Gov'na's men are dead now, the meetin' place is in shambles, and we're down roughly fifteen grenades. I wasn' thinkin' when I left, and I put us all in danga and I'm sorry. I can' do that again. From now on, if we stay, it's our choice. If we leave, it's our choice. I'm still gonna lead ya, still gonna make the choices. But I need y'all ta keep me grounded, help me make the best choices and speak up if ya think me choices are wrong. Think a it like this, I'm the President, and y'all are me House and Senate," she told them seriously. "We all savived this tagetha, not 'cause a me alone. We all did this. We all are makin' this place a home. So we all need ta have a voice in who we are and how we survive."

"Second, Carol, Sophia, ya helped me taday. And while I am thankful it went well, ya should a stopped me. Ya should a held me there and gone and got Daryl or Merle," she chastised. "What I did taday was idiotic and reckless. Not only did it potentially put us at greata risk, I put meself at risk. I'd neva driven a motorcycle 'fore and a lot could a gone wrong. On top a that, the Gov'na could a easily been at the spot 'fore me and grabbed me up 'fore I could do anythin'. I didn' know what the hell I was doin'; I learned how ta make the traps from movies, not professionals, and a lot could a gone wrong. The two a ya aided me in that 'cause ya put too much trust in me ta make choices based on me intellect. Problem with that, I don' always act on me brains. Especially when I am as upset as I was this mornin'. Ya let me go 'cause ya thought I had a plan more'n booby trappin' the place when that was literally all I had when I left. That was as stupid a ya as it was a me ta go. But I blame meself for that partly. I've told y'all 'bout me condition, but never fully explained what happens sometimes. I was so focused on keepin' Merle and everyone else 'ere and safe I neglected ta teach ya safety measures for meself."

"That brings me ta me last topic. Y'all know I'm autistic and ADHD. I go through bouts a anxiety and depression, too. Taday was prolly the worst day ya witnessed a me losin' me control when me anxiety goes through the roof. Ratha then shuttin' down, per say, I acted on impulse and impulse only, 'til I got ta the site, then it was jus' on instinct. Used ta be, I'd drink or get high. Can' do that in this world no more, and that's fine. But I need ya, me family, ta keep me in line from now on. If I'm actin' erratically, y'all need ta do ta me what I told ya ta do ta Merle. Ya restrain me, lock me in a cell if need be, and ya get anotha Dixon pronto. Don' matta how much ya trust me. Truth is, I can' even trust meself sometimes. That's why trust is such a big thing ta me. If I trust ya ta keep me in line, I trust ya more'n I trust meself. So this is me tellin' y'all how much trust I got in ya, even the two a ya, Tyreese, Sasha. This ain' exactly a democracy, but it ain' a dictataship eitha. I need ya."

The group had grown silent as she spoke, Daryl taking up his place behind her with his arms wrapped tightly around her, growing tighter as she spoke. Merle was standing with his arms crossed off to the side behind them, listening intently to what she was saying. Rick wouldn't meet anyone's eyes as he turned away from the group. Carol and Sophia looked ashamed of themselves for not having stopped her. Tyreese and Sasha were sharing a look of astonishment on what she was saying. The rest listened closely to her and considered her words.

"You barely know us," Tyreese commented.

"But ya were willin' ta protect the prison 'fore ya eva knew ya could stay. Knew we were in some deep shite and came back ta help. Ya are willin' ta risk ya lives for me family, that makes ya family, makes ya one a us," she told him. "Now, I need ta know what y'all want ta do. Do ya want ta stay, or do ya want ta go?"

"What do we do if we stay?" Beth asked.

"There's a few things we can try," Tea said. "Mostly, I'm thinkin' we empty out the prison. Get Beth, Hershel, the baby and the kids up inta the woods out behind the prison with all the supplies and vehicles. Set trip wires in the tombs for smoke bombs and flash bangs once they get in there ta drive 'em back out. Then we saprise 'em from the inna guard towas. We cannot risk anyone bein' in the top a the guard towas. These people may very well have grenade launchas or some otha kinda explosive device that they'll take out the tops a the towas with, guaranteein' no one is in there. So we wait in the lowa levels. In the darka cells near the catwalk. The places they won' be expectin' us ta hide. They're civilians holdin' guns, not killas, not savivas. They'll piss and shite 'emselves as they run screamin' for the hills so long as we get 'em panicked in the tombs and shoot their feet out 'ere."

"My thoughts exactly," Michonne said. "Make it more trouble than it's worth to face us. Smart thinking, Dixon."

Merle chortled as Tea seemed confused, "Alright, is everyone jus' tryin' ta fuck with me now? What the fuck are y'all tryin' ta say me name is, eh?"

"Well, Merle seems to think you're Ani Dixon and tends to correct people rather adamantly about it," was Michonne's reply. "His reasoning is kind of noble, to be honest."

"And what reasonin' is that?" Tea asked, looking back at the older redneck.

"Your family's here, girly. Our name for ya, not theirs," was all he said, ears completely turning red.

"'Sides, your my woman, which makes you a Dixon," Daryl input smugly with a million dollar smile that made Ani's heart race.

"Guess I really will take up the name Ania Dixon, then, though ya still the only one that can call me Ania, D. The rest can call me Ani," she said with a smile of her own.

~x~

A short time later, Ani stood in the catwalk as Rick came out. He took one look at her before he looked down, ashamed at what he'd done. Ani's face betrayed the underlying anger in her eyes.

"Why didn' ya come ta me and talk ta me 'bout it?" she asked tersely. "Why rope Hershel and Daryl into it? Why ask Merle? If ya can' do somethin' yaself, especially somethin' like that, it shouldn' be done. If ya have ta turn ta someone else who's rough 'round the edges ta do it for ya, why'd ya think it was a good idea in the first place?"

"I knew you'd argue it," he answered firmly, but quietly. "It's no use tryin' to argue with you. You're always logical and you point out the moral aspects too, like you just did. You're right. I couldn't do it myself, so I went to Merle. Even he said no."

"That's right. 'Cause he knew what the Gov'na'd do. I should a known he wouldn', but I wasn' sure. I should a trusted 'im ta do the right thing, but I didn'," she said, her own head hanging in shame. "Rick, ya can' be doin' that. Makin' decisions on ya own like that. Handin' Michonne ova was as stupid and reckless as me goin' taday was. Ya could a lost two good fightas right 'fore the biggest battle we have."

"I realize that now," he said quietly.

"Ya saw her again, didn' ya?"

"Yeah. Outside on the catwalk. I was down there tryin' to find some wire. Had it wrapped around my wrist and she was just there. Wouldn't go away either, not 'til I threw the damn thing down and walked away."

"Post traumatic stress disorder," Ani said in confidence. "Ya sufferin' from it, Rick."

"Isn't that for war veterans?"

"Look 'round ya. If we ain' livin' in war times, what are we livin' in? On top a that, the loss a Lori with the stress a leadin', ya mind jus' can' handle it no more. When ya get too stressed, ya eitha gonna snap and become a monsta like me, or ya gonna see her."

"Does it get any better?"

"Sometimes. Sometimes it stays steady, the same basic copin' mechanisms; violent outbursts and hallucinations. Sometimes it gets worse, and the person can' separate reality from whateva situation ya brain has a problem with. I don' see ya gettin' too far gone inta that last one, but I definitely see ya havin' the outbursts and hallucinations. Can always meet up with me ta talk, if ya wanna."

"I'll think about it," Rick said earnestly.

"Rick," she said, forcing the man to look at her as she lay a hand on his shoulder. "Ya ain' in this alone. Ya got us all, and we'll help ya through it. The weight a the burden ya carry, it ain' jus' carried by ya own two hands alone, okay?"

"Thanks," he said, after a pause adding, "Ani."

She just smiled and walked back into the prison. Being greeted by both Sophia and Carol, who apologized and tried to explain, but Ani just laughed and smiled at the pair, telling them that she understood. It's hard thinking that someone you look up to can have weak and reckless moments, but that didn't mean it didn't happen. After that, she made her way back to Daryl, whom she had promised she would return to after her talk with Rick. He was still pissed at her, which meant that she was probably going to be reporting even every piss break to him before he was willing to trust her again. She couldn't blame him, and if it was what would make him happy, then that's what she would do.

Walking up to the cell, she found him leaning against the door frame. Merle was in his cell as she passed and she waved at him with a smile. She didn't notice his shiner until the next day, but she did notice Daryl's swollen knuckles as soon as his hand became visible.

"The hell happened?" she asked him.

"Nothin'."

"D?"

"Just had a little chat with my brother, Ania, don't worry about it," Daryl said, grabbing her hand and pulling her into the cell and a heated kiss.

Everything his brother said was true, but he didn't want to think about not having Ania in his life ever. In his mind, there would never be a day where he wouldn't see her, where he wouldn't be able to touch her. She was the rock he'd come to build everything on, and while there were supports from the others around him, it was Ania that kept him sane when the weight of everything had crashed down on him. It was Ania that made him think a little bit better about himself. As he closed the cell door and threw the blanket over it, he made the motion with his hand for her to be quiet before all but ripping her shirt off of her. When he'd said he needed to feel her earlier, he'd meant all of her, and he had no intention of waiting.

~x~

"Merle," Daryl said as the man walked away from him while Ania was talking to Rick. "Merle!"

"What do you want?" said the man as he turned around.

"Did you think I was done just 'cause I walked away back there?" he said angrily. "Why the fuck didn't you tell me my girl was missin'?!"

"I thought it best I took care of it on my own," Merle told him honestly.

"Fuck's that supposed to mean?"

"It means you've gone soft, boy!" Merle shouted at him. "Means you wouldn't a been any damn good to me if I'd shown up there and she was already gone or captured. You couldn't handle it."

"Fuck you! I'd have been just fine!"

"Really now? So, say we went together. Say we show up and the Governor and his men already have her. Could you bear to hear her as she screams for you to make it stop? Could you end her sufferin', even if it meant a bullet in her brain?"

"She's my girl, not yours!" Daryl fumed at him.

"Maybe that should change," Merle taunted him, needing the boy to cool off before he could tell him the real reason he didn't let him go.

Daryl roared when Merle said that and sucker punched him in the jaw. Glenn and Tyreese had been standing closest to the pair and went to keep them separated, Tyreese grabbing hold of the much smaller Daryl by wrapping his arms around his biceps from behind while Glenn got in between the two. Merle was knocked right back to the floor, thankful the man had finally worked up to the peak of his rage and released it on him instead of the shit he'd pulled with Ani earlier. As Merle got up, he laughed and spat blood on the floor.

"And that right there's proof ya couldn't handle it if she got hurt!" he chortled before turning deathly serious and, shoving Glenn aside, walked right up to Daryl and looked down at the man menacingly. "You'd have gotten her killed if you went. You're still too soft, baby brother. Gonna have to toughen up about her eventually."

"The hell's that supposed to mean?" Daryl growled.

"It means get used to the idea of her not being around!" Merle yelled at him, making everyone in the room flinch at the thought before he addressed the room. "You're all too dependent on her, and that's why she got out today. Like she said, she might be able to make all kinds of smart, tactical choices, might be able to keep us alive, but you all gotta do it on your own too! Shit, been here maybe a week and this whole group would fall apart without that little girl. One day, that's goin' to bite you in the ass."

~x~

Andrea had tried to run. She'd made it over the wall and right to the prison before the Governor had managed to capture her. She'd hoped she'd killed him after he took her gun and wanted to take her knife. He 'wanted to keep her separate,' which she took as code for wanting to keep her in Woodbury indefinitely so that she couldn't tuck tail and run back home. And when she did, he'd gone after her. It was when she was handcuffed to the old medical chair that Andrea realized Tea was right. She was never going to make it back to the prison.

She'd been in the room for a couple days when the Governor marched in with a beaten Milton, "See? She's still alive. I'm gonna need her for something."

"I heard you in the other room," she said. "You don't have to lose any more of your men. Just stop this."

"Your friends at the prison. I'm gonna kill them all. Especially that Michonne and Tea you love so much. The people are gonna help me. Didn't even have to stretch the truth. They brought in biters, booby trapped the place, rigged it with explosives. They had no intention of peace and killed thirteen good men. Now the people are foaming at the mouth," he told Andrea before speaking to Milton. "You, get those tools. I'm not gonna need 'em anymore."

When Milton paused, the Governor insisted. Slowly, Milton moved forward, but his unsteady hands and body made him drop all the tools on the floor. It earned him an admonishment from Philip as well as a demand that he pick them up. He did, though he noticed a pair of pliers hidden in the darkness behind Andrea. In a split second decision, he left those pliers there and nervously brought the rest of the tools to the Governor.

"Hold up," the man said as Milton passed him. Grabbing a tool from the tray and then Milton, he slammed the man against the door frame and offered him the tool, "You're gonna kill her now. You're going to show me that you've learned something." When Milton shook his head no, Philip warned him, "Milton, there is no way you are leaving this room without doing it. So don't make it hard. Just—just do it."

He handed the tool over and let the man go. As Milton took slow steps towards Andrea, the Governor leaned back against the door frame, completely relaxed. He was slightly surprised when Milton decided to turn around and take a swing at him instead. However, Milton wasn't a combatant and was exactly strong, so it was very easy for Philip to dodge and grab his wrist, bringing the knife up and into Milton's own stomach as Andrea gasped. The Governor stabbed him three more times after slamming him against the wall.

"I told you you were gonna do it," he whispered venomously. "And now you're gonna die. And you're gonna turn. And you're gonna tear the flesh from her bones." As Milton slid to the floor, the man looked at Andrea and told her, "In this life now, you kill or you die. Or you die and you kill," he said as he left the room.

"Milton?" Andrea asked after the Governor had left.

"When the tools dropped," he struggled to say, "I left some pliers on the floor behind her. If you can drag—if you can drag your right foot back, you, you can get them."

Andrea struggled to reach the things as she bent as low as she could with the handcuffs. It was an odd angle to try to get the pliers, but Milton encouraged her. She could feel the pliers and was working on dragging them towards her.

"I'm gonna get us both out of here," she told him as she worked. "And you're gonna be okay."

"No, when you get free, you are going to find something very sharp," he told her. "And you are going to stab me in the head. That is what you are going to do. Keep trying."

She did everything she could and even contorted her leg painfully until she finally managed to drag the tool close to her, "I got it! I got it!"

Her face fell as she looked at Milton, who had become unresponsive, until he coughed and stuttered, "Why did you stay after you found out your friends are out there?"

"I wanted to save everyone," she told him. "Even the Governor for a while. I had a chance to kill him."

"I stopped you," he said, thinking he was referring to the time she had watched Philip sit right in the same chair she was handcuffed to when he showed her who the Governor really was.

"No, this was before. He was asleep, I had a knife. But I tried to stop it all another way," she confessed, "because I didn't want anyone to die."

"I'm still here," he whispered quietly. "I'm still alive."

"Yeah," she whispered. "You are."

"You need to hurry," he told her as he lost consciousness.

"Right," she said as she kicked off her shoes.

She worked tirelessly trying to get the pliers stable between her toes and up to her hand. The first time she succeeded only to drop it from her hand. When she tried the second time, she managed to get the pliers securely in her hand. She worked hard trying to free herself from the handcuffs while also convincing herself that Milton was still alive. Unfortunately, the snarling she heard proved otherwise as she worked furiously to get the damn handcuffs off as Milton rose from his position by the door. She managed to get one wrist free, but was working on the other when he closed in on her. Andrea couldn't help the scream that escaped her lips as he lunged, barely managing to free herself from the other set of handcuffs as the walker fell on her.

~x~

Ani walked into the cell Carl was in and checked on him as he looked at a picture of his mother. They were all gathering everything from the prison. All the supplies, the food, the weapons, everything and anything that showed signs that they had been there, they packed up and took out to the cars. Carl had been acting out against his dad since the day before and she wasn't too thrilled with it.

"Hey bub, wanna talk?" she asked cautiously.

"About what?" he said gruffly, trying to make her back off.

Ani laughed at him, "Try doin' that ta someone who can' read ya like the back a me hand. Ya pissed at ya daddy, eh?"

"And you!" he told her.

"I deserve that. I'm sorry that I did what I did."

"You left us!" he accused.

"Yeah, I did, didn' I? I'm so sorry, Carl. I really wasn' thinkin' when I left, jus' actin' on impulse. That's why I said what I said outside. I need all a ya, includin' ya, Carl. I need ya help ta keep everyone else safe, but know I don' mean for ya ta take mattas inta ya own hand like I did. That is stupid and reckless and I was wrong."

"It's weird," he said.

"What is?"

"Hearing an adult say they're wrong," he admitted.

"Well, news flash, we're still human. Ta be human is ta make mistakes. I want ya ta be smart, though. I don' want ya ta be reckless like I was yestaday. I want ya ta pay attention and do not unda any circumstances act irrationally like I'd done," she told him. "Ya so much betta than me, Carl. I don' want ya ta become cold. Don' want ya ta get any more blood on ya hands that ya don' have ta, okay? If any a 'em come ya way, ya detain 'em, got it? Do not fire unless ya absolutely need too. Try ta talk ya way outta it. They're gonna be runnin' scared. They fire on ya, they raise their gun, ya take 'em out, no questions asked. But Carl," she told him, grabbing him by the shoulder as she handed him his gun. "Make damn sure they're raisin' their weapon, not lowerin' it. And if they lower it, ya offa 'em sanctuary, okay?"

"Why offer sanctuary to people who want to kill us?" he asked, confused.

"Ya know how ya daddy was controlled by Chrys?"

"Yeah, kinda. You said she played on his emotions and the loss of mom," he responded.

"And that's what the Gov'na's done with the people a Woodbury. They don' know any betta," she said. "They see what he wants 'em too, they don' know who we are. We gotta be the bigga people if they're gonna trust us ta not kill 'em like the Gov'na's got 'em believin'."

"Oh," he said, looking at the gun in his hand. "If you leave again, can I use those holds on you, or would you be able to get out?"

"Oh, I definitely could get out if I wanted ta," she chuckled. "But that don' mean I will. Honestly, for ya, jus' give me a hug. Ya see me outta control, jus' give me a hug. That's all ya'll eva need ta do with me. I dunno, kinda feels like ya me little brotha, but at the same time, I think a ya as me equal, me peer. That's why I wanted ta make sure I talked ta ya and apologized for goin' off on me own personally. I can' imagine how that must a felt ta ya."

"Yeah, it was pretty shitty," Carl told her with a chuckle of his own. "Thank you. For admitting you were wrong and apologizing. I can't lose you or dad or Judith. And when you left, even dad freaked out. And he went behind your back to make you leave."

"Now, now, don', don' be blamin' 'im for me mistake. He didn' even go through with 'is mistake. I did. Ya do not blame 'im for me leavin'," she said harshly before her voice grew softer. "He was tryin' ta keep ya safe. That's all."

Carl sighed and nodded his head as he finished packing his bag. She left the room and continued on to Carol and Sophia's cell where the girl was packing her stuff. The girl had been down since Ani had chastised her and her mother about helping her. Ani decided it was time that she cleared the air with the girl and explain just why she had.

"Hey, Phia. How ya doin'?" she asked as she entered the room.

"I'm okay," she said quietly.

"Ya know I know betta than that. Speak ya mind, sweetie."

Sophia turned to look at her and then went back to packing, "Are you mad at me and momma?"

"No."

"Then why-"

"'Cause I needed ya ta know what was what. Needed everyone ta know. I don' blame ya and I ain' angry with ya. A little disappointed in ya, but mostly disappointed in meself for not preparin' ya betta. I ain' no hero, Phia. I ain' perfect and I ain' eva gonna claim ta be," she told the young woman.

"You're my hero," Sophia said.

Ani laughed, "Well, that may be, but that still don' mean I'm perfect. And even heroes need back up too. That's why they have sidekicks and teams."

"That's true."

"Now, I need ya ta cheer up and help Carl keep Judith and the othas safe while we're protectin' the prison, got it?"

"Yes, ma'am!" Sophia said with a little salute that made Ani chuckle.

Walking down into the tombs, she checked on Merle, Tyreese, Sasha, and Michonne as they set snare traps, making note of each place they had put them. Commenting on the good work they were doing, she pulled Tyreese and Sasha over to the side. Double checking that they were up to it, she offered them a chance to wait with the kids so that they weren't in the thick of it all when shit hit the fan. They tried arguing back, but she hit them with the biggest card she had to play when they finally quieted down.

"Listen, I trust the kids ta protect the othas, but what if, on the off chance, the rest a us don' make it out? What if it don' go the way I'm hopin'? I'd ratha the two a ya be with Hershel, Beth, Judith, the kids. Keep 'em safe as long as ya can. Try ta find anotha group that'll take ya in. But I'm literally leavin' our future in ya hands and askin' ya ta help keep it safe," she pleaded.

The pair of brother and sister looked at each other and breathed a deep sigh before looking back at her and agreeing. Merle told her that was a smart decision, but asked why she hadn't asked one of their people to do it. When she looked back at him with a small smile, he understood immediately. Tyreese and Sasha were the only ones she could manipulate with that card. The rest had lost too much or been through too much to lay back, except Carol, and Carol wasn't yet hardened enough to be able to keep a group alive. Maybe someday, but not yet.

When she exited back out of the tombs, she grabbed a container to help Carol load up one of the cars and smiled to herself when she saw Carl and Rick talking. Carl was still tight-faced, but he was listening to his dad talk and responded in a way that made his dad smile proudly, albeit small, at his son. Carl walked away and towards the back of the vehicle Ani was at and put his bag in, giving her a nod. He started pulling away, but she grabbed him back and gave him a hug and told him to be safe. If it was the kids, she'd make all the exceptions in the world when it came to hugs. But only for the kids.

She walked over to Daryl with Glenn, as Rick and Daryl were working next to each other. Glenn mentioned about how angry Carl was, but Rick quickly shut him down because Carl was a kid and it was easy to forget. Ani added that they had treated him like an adult for so long, suddenly lumping him with the kids made him feel less adequate, less of an equal than he really was. He'd be fine now that he'd talked to both Rick and her. She watched as Carol walked up to Daryl, who commented about how Merle had never really stuck his neck out for anyone his whole life, but did for Ani. Carol commented about how they were family, and that's just what family does before helping him up and leading him over to Ani. She wrapped an arm around the girl and kissed her forehead before leaving the two hunters alone for a moment, choosing to go and stand by Merle, who leaned over and whispered something to her that made her chuckle.

"Ya ready for this, me lova?" she asked him.

"Ready as I'll ever get. You?"

"Ya know it," she said as she leaned in and kissed him with everything she had.

He could feel her shaking, but this was what it was. This was the big moment that they would either defend the prison or fall with it. She walked back into the cell block and, along with Rick, did a double check of everything, making sure nothing had been left behind. Michonne came in and informed them that the rest were ready. Walking over to her while Rick came down the stairs, the woman spoke up about the happenings of yesterday.

"The deal the Governor offered about me—you had to think about it," she told Rick. "You had to, I get it."

"Yeah," he said quietly. "I'm sorry. I came real close."

"But you didn't," she told the man before turning to the girl. "And you never even considered it."

"Nope. Didn' even thin 'bout consida it," she said. "But I got more smarts when it comes ta readin' people than most do. Sure ya saw it in the Gov'na too."

"You know, I never did thank you," Michonne randomly said.

"For what?" came a unison reply.

"For getting me out there that day, taking me in," she admitted.

"Well, if you didn't have that baby formula, I wouldn't have. It's Tea—Ani that made that call, not me. Hell, it was Carl that made the final call. He said you belong here. That you're one of us," he told her walking away.

"Come on, we got places ta get ta," Ani told the woman before leaving the cell block and returning to Daryl in the courtyard.

They road the bike out and around the prison, leaving it the spot Ani and Glenn had designated them to do so before quickly returning to the prison. Ani waited with Daryl in one of the guard towers, holding their breaths as they huddled beneath the first flight of stairs. As soon as she heard the explosion, she whispered 'called it' to Daryl who told her to shut it in return. They were both tense as gun fire opened on the field. Daryl kept her underneath him, protecting her head with his torso, as they crouched beneath the steps. Another explosion sounded closer to them, probably hitting the other guard tower as gunfire cut through the field. She and Daryl stayed silent and still as they stared in each other's eyes, waiting for when they would move.

She listened with baited breath, barely catching the screeching sound of the gate being torn off to open the cell block. This was it. If they didn't manage to drive them out once they entered the tombs, they were dead. If everything went according to plan, Rick and Michonne would be able to keep the Woodbury people distracted making random noises in the tombs and leading them right into the booby traps. As soon as the booby traps were tripped, Merle would turn on the alarm system in the boiler room, further adding to the spookiness of it all.

Giving Daryl a quick but passionate kiss, she made her way out from under him and quietly out the door of the guard tower. Making her way over to the machine gun on the back of the truck, she removed the firing pin and booked it back to the guard tower, taking the stairs two at a time until she was back with Daryl. The smile on her face when she dangled the pin in front of her face made him smile back. They crouched under the cover of the concrete that surrounded the bottom of this guard tower. Woodbury's army had shot all the glass out of it, but that actually helped because they wouldn't have to leave cover to shoot.

They waited and listened as the alarms began going off. Taking a few deep breaths and gearing themselves up, they braced their rifles on the concrete and took careful aim. Along with Maggie and Glenn, the four of them yelled and herded the Woodbury people away from the prison. Using the barricades they'd previously built and the concrete from the lower portion of the guard tower, they fired round after round at the Governor's people, not felling a single one. They jumped in their vehicles, all while the Governor was hollering at them to stay put and fire back. The man simply didn't get his wish as the vehicles drove as quickly as they could back out of the gates.

As everyone emerged and gathered in front of the courtyard gate, Rick commented, "We did it. We drove 'em out."

"We should go after them," Michonne said.

"We should finish it," Daryl agreed, looking at Ania.

"It is finished," Maggie said. "Didn't you see the way they high-tailed it outta here?"

"No," Ani denied. "They could easily regroup. Don' wanna take the chance."

"They're not gonna stop," Glenn backed her up.

"They're right," even Carol chimed in. "We can't keep living like this."

"So we take the fight back to Woodbury? We barely made it back last time," Maggie countered.

"I don't care," Daryl told her, Rick sighing his agreement.

"They'll be flusta'd and flounda'rin' 'bout like fresh fishies when ya chop their heads off. We'll be fine," Ani tried to console the woman.

"Don't you mean a chicken with it's head cut off?" Glenn asked.

"Depends on who ya ask, I s'ppose. Neva seen a fresh chicken without a head. Cut plenty a fresh outta the water fish heads off, though," Ani said with a shrug.

"Let's go check on the others," Rick told them, prompting them to move back up to the prison.

As they entered the commons, from the cell block, Daryl grabbed Ania and brought her in for a quick kiss to the temple before turning towards the sound of door to the commons opening. The first person to come into view was Beth holding Judith. Following her was Sophia and behind her was a boy about Beth's age in a beanie and a zipper hoodie that none of them knew. Carl and Hershel took up the rear as the group turned to Ani. Apparently, reading people was still her job.

"And where'd we pick 'im up at?"

"He was running from the prison," Carl told her. "I was going to take the shot, but I made sure, like you said. He handed Sophia his weapon, so we offered him sanctuary for the time being."

"Smart," she praised him. "What's ya name, boy?"

"Timothy," he answered with a shaky voice.

"Well, Timothy. It ain' much, but it's somethin' betta than nothin'," she told the boy before turning to Carl and Sophia. "Ya two, guard watch, all times 'til we get back." When the two started to move, she chuckled, "Not the prison, sillies. Ya brought 'im in, ya keep an eye on 'im. Jus' 'til we get back, though," she assured the boy.

"You're going back to Woodbury?" he asked.

"We gotta," she told him with a sigh. "If we don' end this, with how the Gov'na was hootin' and hollerin' and wantin' y'all ta stay, he'll bring y'all back here. We scared ya off. Ya think he'll make it that easy?"

"No," he admitted.

"Then ya know why we gotta go back. Ya have me word that we will do all we can ta protect innocent life," she said seriously.

"Best not take it lightly," Merle piped up, earning a gasp from the boy.

"Merle?"

"Yeah, Timmy, it's me, and trust me, if Ani gives you her word, she'll keep it," he responded.

They spent time gathering various weapons and gear, Ani handing out assignments. Merle was going with them in an attempt to gain trust. Ani watched as Rick and Carl talked. Carl was obviously not overly happy with Rick and tossed something down on the ground to him. When he walked over to them, she noticed the badge he held in his hand. Carl looked over to her and gave her a small smile that she returned with one of her own along with a nod.

"Ani, Rick, we're not going," Glenn said. "We don't know where the Governor is. If he comes back, we'll hold him off."

"Sounds good," Ani told them.

"Just the five of us? Alright," Daryl said before climbing on his bike, Ani climbing on after him.

They booked it as quickly as they could to Woodbury, but less than half way there they came upon a gruesome sight. The members of Woodbury's army were either turned or being eaten. The four of them making quick work of the walkers, Merle not letting Ani deal with anything more than keep watch behind them. She was looking towards their vehicles when a bang on the door of the large truck beside them made her jump nearly out of her skin and accidentally press the trigger of her crossbow, lodging a bolt in a tire, blowing it out. Merle full on laughed while Michonne chuckled. Daryl had the decency to at least try to cover his chuckle while Rick just trained his pistol on the door a survivor of whatever happened here was hiding behind, safely tucked away in the cab of the truck.

Ani reloaded her crossbow as Daryl pulled his buck knife out and opened the door. The woman that came out of the truck explained to them what happened and that she'd help them get back to Woodbury. If the man was willing to gun down the entire able bodied force of Woodbury, she was positive the Governor would go back and do the same in town. They continued their way towards the town with the woman in tow. It was nearly midnight when they reached the wall, only to be met with gun fire that had Ani curse.

"Dammit, that fuckin' stings!" she hissed.

"You get hit?" Merle said furiously.

"Jus' anotha graze, barely even that," Ani assured him. "More like a papa cut, jus' saprisin' is all."

Daryl and Rick were firing back as they found cover, Merle pulling her between him and Daryl and bringing a flashlight up. She was right, there was barely a scratch on her forearm and it was barely bleeding. Neither of them fretted too much, but told her to stay between them at all times inside. Karen yelled at the person on guard; apparently it was one of the men who was less than willing to fire on the living and volunteered to stay behind to protect his young children. This caused a cease fire, especially when she left the safety of cover. She and the guard shared words where she explained what happened with the Governor once more and then told them that the group of five had saved her.

"We come in peace!" Ani yelled, getting up and standing next to the woman.

"Ani," Merle said at the same time Daryl grabbed for her and told her no.

It was too late though, and the pair looked at Rick and Michonne, the prior of which yelled, "We're comin' out!"

The four raised their hands and walked with Ani and Karen to the front gate and looked at the guard who asked what they were doing here. Looking between each other, they looked to Ani and decided to follow her lead. She looked at them and sighed before taking a step forward.

"We came ta finish this," she told the man. "But then we saw what the Gov'na did."

"He really killed 'em all?"

"Yeah. We'll give ya shelta at the prison for anyone else who wants sanctuary, but Woodbury ain' safe for ya," she told him. "Now, I got question for ya. Karen told us Andrea jumped the wall. Said she was headin' towards the prison, but she neva made it."

"She's here?" the guard asked.

"Sure as I am," Merle said. "Follow me."

He lead them to the area where they had held Maggie, Glenn, Daryl, and Ani and explained the reason for the area to the man. There was a pool of blood on the floor next to the cell Ani and Maggie had been held in, making both Ani and Michonne tense.

"Will you open it?" Michonne asked Rick as Ani stood behind her, next to Daryl, who had his rifle at the ready.

Michonne and Ani rushed into the room as they saw Andrea's bare feet on laying near the door, the blood obviously coming from her. Andrea was burning up as Michonne noted and trying very hard to comfort them by saying she tried. Daryl could see Ania closing up as she took in the situation in front of her. She carefully removed the shoulder of Andrea's coat and saw the gaping, bleeding bite to her collar bone. Ani damn near choked out a sob, but instead breathed heavily through her nose out through her mouth as Andrea asked about the rest of the people at the prison.

"Are they alive?" she asked.

"Yeah, we're all alive."

"It's good you found them," she told Michonne. "No one can make it alone now," she said looking at Daryl, Merle, and Ani.

"I never could," Daryl said, looking towards Ania and Merle, who'd gone to kneel down by behind her.

"I love ya, ya bitch," Ani choked out, barely keeping her tears at bay as Michonne broke down.

She leaned in and kissed her the forehead before repeating the action to each cheek before Andrea spoke again, "I just didn't want anyone to die. I can do it myself."

"No," Michonne and Ani said at the same time.

"I have to," Andrea told them, looking each one in the eye for a moment. "While I still can.."

Michonne nodded in understanding and looked down as Andrea looked to Rick, "Please. I know how the safety works."

Rick handed over his pistol as Michonne sat up, "I'm not going anywhere."

"Me eitha."

"Ania, no," Daryl said.

"Ya were me first friend afta everythin' went ta hell. I ain' leavin' ya again," she said to Andrea, though answering Daryl's silent question.

The other three left the room after Andrea told them she tried, Rick's eyes tearing over. Daryl and Merle said nothing as they exited. Ani standing up and giving Michonne and Andrea space. She was there for support, not the same reason as Michonne. As Andrea held the pistol up to her head, Michonne broke down sobbing, not simply in tears anymore. When she pulled the trigger, Michonne held her body for a long while before Ani felt comfortable going to her side. She simply put a hand on the woman's shoulder and squeezed before leaving the room herself. All but collapsing into Daryl's arms, she let the tears she'd held in fall freely as Merle stood next to them in a mild state of distress himself.

It was just before dawn, the sun still below the horizon but the sky beginning to show the morning's colors when Michonne and Ani were finally composed enough to begin the return journey to the prison. While the two of them and Daryl were out of commission, Merle and Rick had taken up the reigns of gathering the citizens of Woodbury and letting them know what had happened to the people who had ventured tot he prison. Along with Karen's testimony, they convinced the remaining citizens to return to the prison with them so that they could be protected. They helped them gather whatever they needed plus any goods and weapons they could find and piled into two busses, one of goods, one of people, and headed towards the prison. Michonne and Ani had insisted they bring Andrea's wrapped body back to be buried with their loved ones, a sentiment that was quickly agreed to. They stopped to retrieve the truck and bike, Michonne taking time by herself while Ani resumed what she now considered her death grip on Daryl when they were on the bike. Although she was saddened by the loss of her friend, Ani couldn't help the small smile that graced her lips. We're safe at last, she thought to herself as Daryl flew down the road towards home.

Updated 9/10/21