Tears fell down Nicole's face as she watched Carol sob into her daughter's dead body. Nicole felt her heart constrict as she bent down to the grieving mother's level.

"Carol, I'm so sorry," Nicole croaked out.

Carol bawled into the sheet encasing her beloved daughter. Nicole sat there, tears streaming down her face too. "This is your fault!" Carol yelled, shoving Nicole to the ground. "You killed my daughter!" Carol shot up to her feet.

Nicole tried to get up. Nadia quickly rushed over and helped her up. "Carol, it was an accident," Nicole cried out. "I'm so sorry!"

"It being an accident makes it all better!" Carol yelled. Her blue eyes were full of tears and hatred. Nicole knew this would happen. After all, she did kill her daughter. "Sorry isn't going to bring my little girl back from the dead!" Carol stormed past, ramming her shoulder into Nicole's. Nicole lost balance, luckily having Nadia there to stabilize her.

Nicole felt tears fall from her eyes. Everyone watched her as if they'd seen a ghost. Then a scream erupted from behind them. Their gazes shot over to where a young platinum blonde girl was being held by a walker. While everyone rushed over to her, Nicole stood still.

Nadia ran over to the screaming girl and grabbed a scythe from the barn wall. "Look out!" She yelled, before swinging the blade into the walker's head. The blonde girl curled into an older man's arms. Nicole assumed that he was Hershel.

Nadia made her way back over to Nicole as everyone began walking toward the house. She helped Nicole along, but her injury didn't cease Shane from yelling.

"We've been out combing this woods for y'all and you got her killed?" Shane yelled. Nadia cradled Nicole tighter when she felt her legs get wobbly from fear and anxiety.

"Leave her alone!" a short haired brunette called from beside Hershel and the young blonde.

Rick tried to get his partner to stop, but Shane shrugged him off. "You knew that she was dead and you kept it from us."

"How the hell was I supposed to tell you, Shane?" Nicole cried out.

"You could've found a way to tell us, Nicole!" Shane screamed.

"No, she could not!" Nadia retorted back as they reached the stairs.

"Shane! I don't know if you noticed this, but my ankle," Nicole began to spat out as she pointed to it. "Is royally fucked! I haven't been able to walk for days and I could barely sleep! So you tell me, dickweed, how in the holy hell was I supposed to tell you our status?!"

"You expect me to believe your stupid sob story? After all the shit you've pulled?" Shane shot out. "Do I look like an idiot?"

Rick tried to diffuse the situation. Shane kept getting closer to her. "I don't care what you believe, Shane! It's the truth!" Nicole cried out, fresh tears slipped out over the old ones.

"Everyone just calm down," Rick spoke out in a calm tone.

"Get him off my land!" Hershel said as he marched beside Nadia. The young brunette followed him.

"Let me tell you something," Shane spat as he marched forward.

"Hey!" the brunette yelled, before smacking him across the face. "Don't touch them!" She was absolutely livid. Hell, so was Nicole. "Haven't you done enough?"

The girl walked back up and into the house, holding the door open for the crying blonde. "I mean it -- off my land," Hershel spoke out, pointing to Shane. "Nadia, bring her inside."

Nicole glanced to Rick, who held a face of pity. Nadia helped Nicole up the stairs and into the house. "Sit her down over here," the brunette told Nadia as Glenn walked inside.

The brunette walked over to the medical supplies that she had yet to put away. Glenn stood there at the door, staring at Nicole. "I have to ask," he began, "how did she die?"

Nicole looked down to her dirt and blood covered hands and she picked at her fingernails. "I didn't sleep the night before it happened," Nicole started. She noticed the younger brunette walk around and sit on the arm of the couch. "Then I fell down a hill and screwed my ankle up." Nicole peered down to the bandage wrapped around it. "I was exhausted, needed to find a place to rest," Nicole choked on tears in her throat. "I told her to go to sleep -- that I'd take watch. Then I fought to stay awake but I fell asleep. You can assume what happened afterward, Glenn."

Glenn sighed and bent down to his friend's level. Tears brimmed his eyes as he met her gaze. "I don't blame you, Nikki." Nicole softly smiled at him, before embracing him into a hug. Glenn pulled away and stood up. "You know, maybe in some way, this is for the best," he said as he walked toward the window. "At least we know and now we can move on."

"Move on?" the brunette suddenly asked.

"Yeah, it's just like it meant so much to everyone--finding them both, you know? But we only got one back," Glenn told the girl. Nicole glanced to her hands again. Nadia gently placed her hand on Nicole's thigh.

"So now you'll just move on?"

"If we can. I mean, we've lost others," Glenn began before chastely laughing, "This is Sophia." Nicole could feel the guilt build inside her. She tried to get up but Nadia pulled her down.

"No, you sit."

Glenn gave her a sad look but then continued. "The whole group-- this one was different."

"So what happens now?"

"We bury her with your stepmom and your stepbrother," Glenn told her.

"And then?" the girl asked.

Glenn walked forward, placing a kiss on her forehead. Nicole wondered when the hell that happened. "I don't know, Maggie. I don't know," he sighed, before glancing to his friend. "I'll leave you alone." Glenn turned around and walked out of the house.

Maggie wiped tears from her eyes, "Let's get you patched up." She bent down in front of Nicole and lifted up her foot, sliding off her shoe. Maggie unwrapped the bandage around the inflamed ankle. She gently felt it, pressing certain pressure points trying to figure out what to do.

Pain seared through as Maggie checked it. Nicole gritted her teeth before Maggie lowered it. "It's definitely fractured," Maggie sighed, observing the dirt and blood on Nicole's hands and face. "Uh, you should go take a shower and then I'll patch you up."

Nicole nodded before Nadia helped her up. "Do you remember where the bathroom is?" Maggie asked Nadia. She just twitched her head. The two began walking toward the bathroom as the house door opened. Carl and Dale walked in. Carl glared at Nicole as he stormed by.

Dale gave her a comforting smile and walked up to her. "I'm glad you're back with us, Nikki," he said, embracing her into a hug. "You had me so worried."

"I'm sorry," Nicole whispered into his shoulder. She wrapped her arms around the older man.

Dale pulled away, giving her a look of confusion. "For what?"

"For not protecting Sophia," Nicole choked.

"You did. Rick told us that you did all you could," he responded, putting his hand on her shoulder.

Nicole smiled softly, "Where's Cheyanne?"

Dale faltered, glancing to his feet. "She doesn't want to see you."

Nicole's heart felt like someone stabbed it. Tears welled again before she turned and started walking away. Nadia showed her where the bathroom was and Nicole ran inside and locked the door.

Then she sobbed.

And sobbed.

Until there were no tears left to cry.

hey y'all. it's ya girl here with another update! i hope y'all had a fantastic day :) please feel free to vote, comment or follow me. it would mean a lot :) this is where stuff starts picking up. get ready for some major nicole development soon :) i'm excited. any ideas as to what's coming? anyway, i hope y'all have a great day/night and i love you all so much :) stay safe and make smart choices. i'll see you on friday, babies. peaceee -erin