Chapter 13

"She not been sleeping?" he asks

"No, she had a lot of nightmares last night" I tell him hoping he won't ask what they were about

"Nightmares? Bout what?" No such luck I think as I bite my lip and look down at a sleeping Anneliese trying to think up a response

"Gen? Nightmares bout what?" he presses, and I look up to meet his eyes and sigh debating on whether or not to tell him the truth.

"Nightmares bout you and me" I mumble toying with the edge of Anneliese's blanket

"What d'ya mean bout me and you?" he asks shifting towards me

"Uhm" I say not sure how to respond

"Gen?" he prompts

"She saw you when they dragged you back to camp when you were all bloody. And she's been having nightmares about it since. Sometimes imagining me being hurt instead of you" I blurt

"Ah shit Gen I'm sorry" he says rubbing a hand across his jaw and looking at the tiny girl curled up next to him

"It's not your fault Daryl" I tell him, but he just shakes his head

"Kinda is, if I would've just asked bout the damn horse ain't none of this would've happened" he says, and I raise my eyebrow about the horse comment

"No Daryl, she's little I'm surprised she hasn't had more nightmares. I mean the dead are walking we're practically living a nightmare"

"Still sorry."

"It's okay. Now I just gotta get these two little ones back to the RV so they can get proper naps" I say and he's quiet for a moment as I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to carry two sleeping children without the baby sling

"You can leave her here if ya want" he says

"Daryl no I can't ask that of you, you really do need to rest, and you've had her for more than half an hour now" I protest

"Gen it's fine, she's asleep, I'll be resting" he tells me, and I think about it for a moment

"If you're sure?"

"I'm sure. I'll get her to you as soon as she wakes up" he tells me, and I nod. I know I can trust Daryl with her.

"Okay, yell if you need anything" I tell him, and he just rolls his eyes before settling into a more comfortable position on the cot. Sensing that he wasn't going to say anything else I nod to myself and head towards the farmhouse.

Upon entering the kitchen I'm mildly surprised to see Carl and Jackson still sitting at the kitchen table but working on problems from what looks to be an English textbook.

"Hey y'all haven't been causing too much trouble have ya?" I say pulling everyone's attention to me

"They've been model guests Genevieve" Patricia says from her spot at the stove stirring what looks to be a pot of broth

"Good, what're yall working on" I ask the boys peering over Jacksons shoulder

"Beth gave us a few textbooks, there's a reading one, a math one, a history one and a science one. She even gave us more notebooks" Carl says and I smile

"That's awesome I hope y'all told her thank you" I say

"They did, and they seem to be doing pretty good with that English book too" Beth says coming in from the back porch

"Good! Thank you so much Beth. Lord knows I was running out of math problems to give them" I laugh

"Where's Penny?" Jackson asks

"With Daryl taking a nap"

"Daryl?" he asks

"Yea she's okay" I tell him sensing his uneasiness at his little sister not being close by. He nods and before I can say anything else Herschel steps into the kitchen

"Well isn't this a welcome sight, young people doing schoolwork" he says upon seeing the kids at the table

"Well we can't let them completely off the hook now can we Mr. Greene?" I joke

"No, we cannot and call me Herschel" he tells me, and I nod

"We'll get out of your hair as soon as they finish this set. Should probably see who's going to start dinner anyway" I say speaking my thoughts aloud

"It's no rush" Hershel says but for some reason I don't fully believe him. He has always been nice to me and the kids, but I can sense that the group is starting to grate on his nerves

"Thank you, Herschel, but I better check that someone is making dinner or there might not be any made" I tell him.

It doesn't take long for Carl and Jackson to finish their problems and when they do I have them collect the books and take them to the RV.

"Genevieve?" Herschel asks as I'm checking to make sure we weren't leaving anything behind

"Yea?"

"Do you want to take some vegetables with you to make dinner for your group?" he asks, and I turn to look at him

"Vegetables as in?"

"Beth just got some fresh carrots and string beans from the garden. You're welcome to them"

"Are you sure?" I ask and he nods

"Well then, thank you. Fresh veggies will be a nice change from canned." I tell him accepting the basket that Patricia is passing me with at least a pound of carrots and string beans.

"Here take some olive oil too, so you can cook them up good" she says grabbing a bottle of oil from the cabinet and placing it in the basket.

"Thank you so much! And thank you for the lemonade earlier I know the kids enjoyed it"

"You're very welcome" Patricia says running a hand over Anneliese's head.

"You and the kids are welcome in the house anytime Genevieve" Herschel cuts in

"Thank you, I appreciate it. Now I better go start dinner before the kids get up to trouble" I laugh and start towards the front door. Anneliese cradled in one arm and a basket with vegetables in the other.

Carl and Jackson are waiting for me at the campfire. I can see Lori and Rick over by their tent talking. Dale is on the RV, T-dog is sitting next to fire, Glenn is on the porch with Maggie and I don't see Andrea, Shane or Carol.

"Hey T-Dog, do you know if anyone was planning on starting dinner" I ask

"Nah I don't think so; I haven't seen Carol in a while and Lori looks busy" he says

"Alright well Herschel gave me some veggies and oil. I was gonna cook them up with a can of beans and rice."

"Sounds good"

"You have fresh veggies?" Jackson speaks up

"Yea Beth got them out the garden"

"Awesome I miss fresh veggies"

"I know you do, maybe one day you and Carl can help Beth in the garden" I tell them

"Could we do that instead of schoolwork?" Carl asks

"Sure, as long as you're actually working and not playing around"

"Can we do that tomorrow" Jackson asks

"Have to ask Beth. Jackson can you go get a blanket from the RV so I can lay Anneliese down while I cook?" I ask him but before he can get up T-Dog speaks up "I can hold her for you"

"Are you sure?" I ask turning towards him

"Yea she seems easy enough" he laughs, and I chuckle placing the baby in his arms

"Thanks"

Dinner takes a little longer to cook than normal and just as I'm mixing the rice into the vegetables, I see Penny running towards me.

"Woah Pen slow down! This is hot!" I call as she gets closer, but she doesn't slow down. I'm about to yell again when Daryl scoops her up from behind. "Your mama said slow down" he chastises her

"But I wanted to hug her" she whines as he comes to stop next to me

"And you can hug me as soon as I'm not holding a hot pot okay?" I tell her

She nods, sticking out her bottom lip in a pout.

"Don't pout Penelope." I scold, mixing the food together

"You should put her down Daryl you're not completely healed" I tell him

"I'm fine she don't weigh nothing'"

"Well I'm just about done here and then I'll take her from you"

True to my word as soon as I'm done stirring the food and put the lid on the pot, I stand up and pluck Penny from Daryl's arms. She hugs me quickly before wiggling to be put down. Once on the ground she joins Carl and Jackson sitting on the ground between a few of the chairs. Looking around I catch Ricks eye and he raises a hand in a wave.

"Dinner's done" I call waving back; he nods before him and Lori start heading towards us.

Within 5 minutes dinner has been served to everyone and I've taken Anneliese back from T-Dog. A few people comment on the fresh veggies and how nice of a change it is but other than that dinner is verging on awkward. As soon as dinner is over Carol and Lori work together to clean up while I make a bottle for Anneliese.

While I was in the RV, I could faintly hear Shane start a conversation, something about guns and needing to know how to use them. And when I reclaim my seat, they're still talking about it. Rick arguing that Herschel doesn't want guns being used on his land and Shane arguing that they'll leave his land then.

"If they don't know how to use the guns how are they going to protect themselves. What about Carl?" Shane asks his voice rising

"Leave Carl out of this! Herschel doesn't want guns on his land. We're lucky he's let us stay this long; we don't need to give him a reason to kick us off his land!" Rick argues back

They continue like that for a few minutes everyone's eyes moving back and forth between the two as if it were a tennis match. Before Shane turns to me out of nowhere "What about you? Don't you want Jack to know how to shoot a gun?" he questions

"He knows how to shoot a gun" I state raising an eyebrow

"But does he know how to aim?"

"As good as he can, I don't see how this relevant" I tell him

"It's relevant because, if he knows how to shoot a gun but not the best than that's a hazard. That's why I think we need to do these trainings" Shane says shooting me a glare.

"Where do you want to do these trainings?" Rick asks running a hand down his face

"We can go to a field somewhere"

"And who's invited to these trainings?"

"Anyone who needs to learn"

"Who is gonna teach?"

"Well I would and you, Rick. We've both taught people of all ages hell kids even younger than Carl." Shane says

"Okay I guess, as long as it's off of Herschel's land. When do you want to start?" Rick asks

"Tomorrow, the sooner the better" and with that the conversation is moved to a different topic; supplies.

I tune out most of the conversation as Anneliese finishes her bottle and starts fussing. I burp her and check that she doesn't need to be changed but she doesn't want to settle. I stand with her and walk a little distance away where I can see the sun setting behind the trees casting the camp in twilight.

I walk with Anneliese for a good half an hour as the group continues to talk and the sun is setting. And then I rejoin the group around the campfire. Anneliese isn't completely calm, so I remain standing, bouncing her.

"I think we need to focus on getting canned food and rice, they're the easiest things to keep on hand" Rick says and Glenn nods agreeing

"We should also think ahead; it'll be winter quicker than we think" Lori cuts in

"It's just now the end of summer, we don't need to be worrying about coats and blankets Lori" Andrea protests which leads to everyone going back and forth.

'Should've stayed away from the group' I think to myself as everyone starts talking louder and Anneliese starts whining again.

Rick has now gotten up and is pacing around the campfire looking stressed to the max.

"Okay so we all have opinions on what we need to focus on right now" He practically shouts over the loud talking

"Glenn what have you seen when you've went on runs?" Rick asks turning to Glenn

"There's not really any winter stuff. I mean everything started in the summer so I'm not going to be able to find winter coats. At least not around here. Non-perishable food is getting low too" Glenn says

Just as Shane starts to talk Penny stands up from her spot next to Jackson and walks around the campfire until she gets to Daryl – who hasn't been involved in the conversation as much and is sitting a little apart from the circle – with no hesitation Penny climbs up into his lap and lays her head on his shoulder and starts sucking her thumb. I feel my eyes widen as they slowly meet his over her head. I shrug at him and give him an apologetic smile as he wraps his arms around her back. Deciding not to dwell on it the conversation moves on.

"So, we have to go out farther search more stores" Shane says

"That'll be a waste of gas and horses can only go so far" Glenn tells him

"How would getting food be a waste of gas?" Shane asks getting agitated

"There's not much gas to gather either" Glenn protests

"Okay, okay so we need food. We'll have to make a plan for getting more. Daryl? Is there a way to set up traps in the woods?" Rick cuts in

"Well yea, I'll need traps in order to set them. But I can also go out and hunt" Daryl says, and I glance over at him to see that Penny is nearly asleep.

The group talks about food shortage and hunting for almost another hour, all the while Penny is asleep on Daryl's lap. When the conversation is over, I help Jackson up from the ground and tell him to go get ready for bed.

"I'm gonna go lay Anneliese down and then I'll be back for her" I tell Daryl nodding towards Penny.

I change Anneliese as quickly as I can without waking her and then I settle her into her mosses basket. Jackson is already in bed and almost asleep by the time I'm walking back out of the RV. Rick is standing talking to Daryl when I approach them.

"Hey Gen, do you want Jackson to go out tomorrow to get trained?" he asks me, and I think for a minute

"I want him to know how to shoot a gun properly and I trust you Rick, but I don't want him going anywhere without me."

"Well why don't you come. You could probably use a refresher"

"I do, but what would I do with Anneliese and Penny. I don't want them to be around guns going off any more than they have to be" I tell him

"I would watch them, but I have to be out there with y'all"

"I can watch them for ya" Daryl speaks up

"You would? Are you sure?" I ask quickly

"I could yea"

"Really?"

"Yes Gen" he says

"Well that settles that, I'll let you know what time we're going to head out in the morning. Good Night" Rick says heading off to his tent

"Good Night Rick" I tell him before turning my attention back to Daryl

"Are you sure you can watch them?" I ask

"Yea. You and your boy need to go out there and get some gun time in." he says

"Well thank you Daryl. And thanks for letting her pass out on you" I tell him as I reach down and with his help shift Penny into my arms her head lolling onto my shoulder. He stands as I straighten up and just as I'm turning towards the RV his hand catches my elbow and halts my movement.

"Be careful out there with Shane, he's gotten shifty lately" he whispers

"Okay. Thanks again Daryl. Goodnight" I tell him trying not to think about his warning too much.

"Goodnight Gen" he says letting go of my elbow and turning to head towards his tent. Shaking my head to myself I ascend the steps into the RV quickly and walk quietly past a sleeping Dale and into the back bedroom. Penny snuggles into the sheet as soon as I lay her down and I smile at all 3 of the sleeping kids. They look so happy and peaceful in their sleep, as if the world around them isn't in shambles.