Never ask yourself during an apocalypse if things can get worse. Trust me on this, because just when you ask it, the universe fucking delivers the worst answer possible.

Hershel, our doctor, our spiritual anchor (for those of us who need one), was out of commission thanks to a bite by an undead fucker and Dad's Civil War era medical treatment of "cut it off and cauterize it". While he seems to be recovering, a bit anyway, what happens? More fucking surprises, that's what.

If this shitstorm that the powers that be have attacked the entire world with ever ends, I swear to that same power that I NEVER want another surprise in my fucking life. EVER.

Dad and the guys went to clear more of the prison, so of course they found a group of prisoners who happened to survive. Of course. Because we don't have enough issues, now we have convicts to contend with. I'm sorry, that sounds insensitive doesn't it? Considering some attempted to kill our group, I think that's a suitable response honestly.

After dealing with the dead, Hershel's "accident", some new survivors, and you know, the entire universe flipping us the bird, I really didn't want to deal with anymore upheaval. Two of the prisoners are allowed to keep their own space, far away from ours on cell block C. While Dad and our group are discussing what precisely the best course of action would be to deal with these men, another fucking surprise. Because of course there's another one.

Apparently one of the prisoners had gotten away (clearly not the two that our group tried to decide the fate for), and then led a group of walkers right inside with an alarm that was screaming so loud that it made my teeth hurt. Our group split up to try to find the generator that would allow the noise from hell to keep going. I stuck with Lori, Carl, and Maggie trying to keep them safe and as serene as the four of us could be given that there was a horde descending, and that's when another fucking shock hit us.

Lori went into labor. Jesus, fuck. Carl and I tried to keep her calm, while Maggie, the only person with a hint of experience in medical care (because Carol had rushed off to try her newfound skills and Hershel was still alive, but not much help currently) tried to decide how best this delivery was going to go.

"I'm not losing my baby," Lori growled, feeling the blood rush down her legs. "You've got to cut me open!" She was looking between Maggie and me.

I knew, watching Lori in such gripping pain, that it wasn't going to work. Whatever Maggie, and possibly I, was going to have to do, wasn't going to allow my stepmom to live. And so, as Maggie pulled out the knife to open Lori up, I told Lori something I'd held back for the entire time she and my dad were together.

"Mom," I whispered, shocking Lori and Carl, "Mom, you know you're the only woman I'd ever call that, don't you?" I gripped her hand, looking into her pain filled eyes. "I'm so sorry I didn't say that before. I love you, Mom."

Lori smiled, and nodded her head at me. "I know, baby girl. I know." Carl and I gripped our mom's hands as I blinked back tears while Maggie brought the knife to her skin. "The two of you, you're both smart and strong. You're going to survive this world, together." She looked into each of our eyes and gave a sad smile. "Don't let this world spoil you. I may not have given you life, Jessi, but both of you are the best thing I ever did."

I was openly crying now, feeling her grip slacken in mine as I heard the first cry from my baby sister. I heard Maggie stand, as if to leave the boiler room to clean the baby and get her away from the carnage of her birth, but Carl stopped her.

"We can't just leave her here," he offers, pulling his hand from Lori's. "She'll turn." And then, without blinking, he did what I couldn't do. He put his gun to her head and made sure our mom never felt the indignity of becoming a monster.

The baby's cries bring me back to the moment, and I look up at Maggie holding the tiny baby. I stood and walked to her with my hands stretched out. I knew my face was soaked from the grief I felt about losing the only mother I'd ever known, but I knew what my responsibility was now. Maggie smiled sadly and handed her over. Tiny and pink, with a soft crown of fuzzy hair, I smiled down at the baby. My little sister.

I moved carefully from the room, rocking and hushing the baby. I needed her to quiet down a bit, terrified of what would happen if more of the walkers came staggering toward us now. I walked through the prison to the outer courtyard, and saw some of our group. Dad sees me with the baby, Carl and Maggie walking slowly and silently behind me. I watch as his face crumbles, and he collapses in grief, knowing that he and Mom will never make up for the months of strife. Seeing his pain, seeing his defeat, I feel more tears burn my eyes.