Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with the Walking Dead, OCs and plot twists are all that's mine.

Hunting Trip

I beamed at Beth, leaning in and whispering. She giggled, unsuccessfully smothering a smile.

"What are ya bein' so secretive about over there?" Willy asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

I batted my eyes at him innocently. "I was just telling Beth about that fishing trip we took five years ago."

He straightened in his chair, food momentarily forgotten, and groaned. "Dang it, woman, you promised!"

"I did no such thing." I protested, smiling sweetly.

He glared at me. "Don't ya dare."

I ignored him, launching into the story so everyone could hear. I stood up at one point, miming casting and yanking on a fishing road, exaggerating the motions occasionally. Hershel cracked a small smile, eyes shining in mild amusement. I sat back down, going in for the kill, so to speak.

"Honestly, I didn't know what to do. Willy is sitting in the boat, leaning back and his fishing rod is bent. He's screaming and hollering, I can't tell if he's talking to me or the fish!" I exclaimed, laughing.

"I was talkin' ta ya." Willy replied, frowning.

"You kept hollering 'git over here! C'mon!' How was I supposed to know you meant me?" I countered.

"I told ya to grab the net!" He exclaimed, stabbing his fork viciously into some mashed potatoes.

"You did not!" I smacked his arm when he nodded his head. "You did no such thing Willy Ray Pickens."

The Greene family laughed at our expense. Otis and Patricia shook their heads and smiled.

It was nice, to just sit at the table during dinner and enjoy ourselves.

Our time on the road was always serious. Willy had to be alert and focused the entire time to keep us alive. I missed seeing him laugh, goof off like he used to before the world went to hell.

"Fine. Yer right an' I'm wrong." My southern brother finally admitted, grumbling and stirring his food on his plate.

I smiled. I hadn't seen him relaxed enough to do that in a long time.

"Thank you for conceding defeat graciously." I teased, nudging his shoulder with mine.

"Yeah, yeah."

"So, Jimmy, how were the cattle this afternoon?" Herschel inquired, bringing the soft serious note back to the table.

"Alright. A few tried to fight, but none escaped." The young man answered, taking a sip of his iced tea.

I glanced at my glass of ice water dismally. Healthy and smart, but boring after a while. I got tired of plain old water, even putting one of those Kool-Aid packages in it would be an improvement! All I've had since Will found out I'm pregnant is water, water and more water!

I missed iced tea, sweet tea, Kool-Aid, soda pop. Oh, good Lord did I miss soda pop! Fizzy calories of flavor!

My mouth watered at the thought of the delicious fizzy delight.

A firm pat on my leg jerked me out of my thoughts. Huh? I lifted my eyes from Jimmy's glass of tea.

"Abilene?" Herschel's voice broke through the confusion.

Hmm?" I hummed, returning my attention to the others at the table.

"Are you feeling alright?" The older man asked, probably repeating a question I hadn't heard the first who knows how many times.

"Yeah, I was thinking about a few things. From before." I shook my head, smiling sheepishly. "Sorry, I didn't mean to zone out."

"It's alright, as long as you're feeling well." He replied kindly.

"Right as rain." I promised, taking a hearty bite of meat.

We all took turns talking about our day, sharing a few stories that were appropriate for the dinner table.

Maggie reported that there were less walkers in town and there were also less medical supplies in the pharmacy she goes to for Herschel.

Good news followed by bad.

We resolved to speak more on the matter when the time came. For now, Maggie would continue to run to the pharmacy for anything we needed.

The rest of the evening was uninteresting. The dishes were done in silence, every one tuckered out after the day.

I dressed in a comfortable pretty pink nightgown Maggie brought back for me. I said my nightly prayers and hummed a song as I brushed out my hair. I got into bed, sighing happy at the soft silky sheets.

I was out before I felt my head touch the pillow.

I shifted in bed, blinking my eyes open and hissing when blinding sunlight shone into them.

I was still so tired, even though I had to have slept at least ten hours.

I made myself leave the bed and get ready for the day. My chores needed done and there was no reason to laze about in bed all day.

I trudged through my day, getting chores done with heavy yawning throughout the day.

I was growing more concerned.

As the days progressed, I realized I was becoming more tired every morning I woke.

I was having more difficulty performing my chores as well.

Herschel and Willy were really getting worried. They weren't sure what was happening. The vet studied his books every chance he could so he could find answers.

He finally told me to stay in the house and do smaller, simpler tasks like dusting above the waist and sweeping.

Willy took over my portion of the egg gathering and helped wash dishes.

Patricia and the girls picked up my slack on the other chores.

I felt guilty about the others needing to take over my chores as well as do their own, but I couldn't help my condition.

I was beginning to feel helpless and my mood sank.

I sat up, rubbing my eyes. The urgent call of my bladder had me throwing back the covers and walking as fast as possible across the hall to the nearest bathroom.

Once my bladder was relieved, I noticed something else.

The ache I'd had when I woke up was still there and my thighs seemed wet.

I frowned, lifting my nightdress higher up my legs to wipe the excess pee away. I didn't remember it reaching my legs.

My heart flooded with ice and my hand paused, hovering over the trash can.

There was blood on the toilet paper.

Oh, god. Please no.

I stood up, yanking my underwear on and hurried for the door. "Hershel! Hershel!"

Please be okay, please be okay, please be okay.

Willy arrived first, his hair a mess, pants inside out and red marks on his face and torso from the wrinkles in the sheets. He was breathing hard, his eyes fully alert as they scanned the hallway and bathroom for danger. "What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

I felt my chin quiver, tears blurring my vision. "I'm bleeding."

He blinked. "I'm sure we can find a band aid somewhere. How bad is it?"

"No, Willy, I'm bleeding." The realization slammed into him, his face and eyes tightening with sadness. "I think I'm losing the baby."

Hershel hurried into sight, his white hair a bit wind blown and the sleeves of his white button up rolled above his elbows. "Abilene? What seems to be the problem?"

"I woke up this morning to an ache in my abdomen, I thought it was from holding my bladder too long, but then I saw the blood. Please, is there anything you can do to save him?"

"Try not to think about it, I need you as calm as possible. If there's still a chance you aren't miscarrying, the stress will finish the job. Let's go to your room, I'll have you lie down and I will examine you there. I promise I will do everything I can and let you know all I find out."

I nodded, forcing myself to breathe normally and focus on positive thoughts.

My baby is alive. I'm going to carry to term, he's going to be delivered perfectly healthy on the farm. Missy is going to be showing up any day now, and I will hug the daylights out of her. Everything is fine.

I kept up my mantra of positive thoughts all throughout the walk to my room and the exam.

"I don't find any evidence that you've bled out the baby, but it's better to be safe. You will take the day off and rest. Under no circumstances are you to be wandering around or leaving this bed for anything save using the restroom." Hershel told me sternly in the tone he takes when he's practicing medicine. He cracked a small smile. "You have been very fortunate, I'm glad everything is alright."

I thanked him and settled down for the day, stroking my abdomen lightly.

I shifted in bed, trying to ignore my fatigue.

I glanced out the window, the scene never changing. I had a view of the south yard behind the house. It had been cared for, but no one messed around back there.

My mind drifted into the past against my wishes. The memories further darkening my dreary mood.

Dark.

There was no light shining under the door, no streetlights to shine through the window.

Darkness. Inky black that coated everything.

Shivering.

It's so cold.

A flimsy, filthy, tattered paper thin sheet.

Footsteps.

No. Please no.

Voices.

Laughter.

Footsteps thud on the stairs.

Cccrrreeaakkkkk.

The door. Not the door.

No. Please.

The footsteps were coming for her.

Warm, putrid breath.

Heavy weight pressing down on her.

NO!

I shoved the memory out as hard as I could, forcing it away.

I didn't want to remember.

I sucked in unsteady breaths, trembling. I wiped at my cheeks, the wetness a sign that I'd been crying.

Damn it. I mentally cursed, upset with myself for letting the memory get to me.

I pushed myself up further, so my head and back rested on the headboard. I pulled the blankets tighter around me, pausing when I caught sight of my bare left arm.

No, bare wouldn't be the correct word. It was covered.

Covered with scars.

Round, circular marks dotted the skin. Slightly discolored, raised pink scars.

I stared, tracing the length of my arm. Dozens of scars littered my skin from wrist to elbow. They were spaced out and placed randomly, no rhyme or reason behind their placing.

I turned my face away and yanked my sleeve down, hiding the marks.

They were disgusting.

They were reminders of a past I'd rather bury at the center of the Earth.

A knock on the door interrupted my moody musing.

"Abilene? May I come in?" Herschel called from the other side.

"Yes." I called back.

He had increased his check ups since I hadn't been one hundred percent.

He gently prodded along my abdomen, humming thoughtfully. He took my blood pressure and listened to my heart beat.

There was no change to report.

My pressure was slightly higher than he was comfortable with and he still couldn't hear the baby's heartbeat.

Herschel pat my shoulder in a comforting manner before he left.

I cried for a bit.

The events of the past two weeks were getting to me.

I didn't know what was wrong with me. I couldn't make sure my baby was completely healthy like I really wanted to.

My only comfort was that there had been no more bleeding and I had developed a small, but noticeable bump.

I won't let anything happen to you. I promised my little one, pressing a kiss to my hand and rubbed it over my baby bump. "Mommy loves you very, very much."

"Can I come in?" A familiar friendly southern voice asked.

"Get in here." I yelled back, rolling my eyes. "It's not like I don't know who you are, goof."

Willy popped in, grinning. "How ya feelin'?"

I sighed, settling back a little in bed. "No change."

"Hey. I'm sure everythin' is fine." He reassured me, rubbing soothing circles on my hand.

"How can you know that?" I whispered.

How could he possibly know anything to do with this pregnancy? I asked myself. Anything could be happening to us. To him. What if I miscarry?

The thought alone brought tears to my eyes and made my heart clench.

"Ya gotta have faith, Abilene. He's made it this far, I'd be willin' ta bet he'll still be here when the time comes ta meet ya fer the first time." Willy reassured me, patting my hand.

"Not necessarily." I murmured.

"Try ta keep from gettin too upset, Abi. It ain't good fer either of ya."

"Can't promise anything."

"Just try."

"Okay."

"Want some beef jerky?" Willy asked, withdrawing a Ziploc bag with six pieces from his back pocket.

I perked up, smiling. I always had a spot for beef jerky.

He chuckled, handing the bag over to me. "I thought so."

I nibbled on my jerky. "How was your day?"

"Had better days. The cattle and horses been actin up." He replied sourly.

I hummed sympathetically and pat his hand.

It wasn't easy for him to be doing extra work.

"Jimmy got struck by one of the horses today."

"Is he alright?"

"Herschel says it wasn't too serious, thank goodness. He has to rest until tomorrow though, to be sure."

That did not make me very happy. Willy picked up on it but I spoke before he could.

"So you're picking up his slack today. You're working even harder than you were." I narrowed my eyes, my temper flaring. "You've been doing more than enough. It's bad as it is that I can't do my share, so you have to pick up my end. I already hate that, now you have even more to do."

"Abilene, it's fine. I want to earn our keep. You need the rest, now more than you did." He met my eyes, his serious and concerned. "I don't want anything to happen to either of you."

I melted, my anger dissipating quickly. Damn him, but it was difficult to stay upset when he did that.

I sighed, nudging him with a swollen foot.

He grinned, knowing full well that he won.

"Sleep. I'll wake you for dinner." He kissed my forehead and left the room, closing the door behind him.

I took his advice and settled down to take a short nap.

I joined the rest of the household for dinner. A plump roasted ham topped with glistening pineapple slices and cherries. Side dishes included mashed potatoes, green beans and baked spinach.

Everyone was already seated when I arrived in the dining room.

Wait. . . . No. Not every one was present, I realized.

I frowned, glancing around the table. "Where is Otis?"

Beth met my eyes, passing the green beans to Jimmy. "He is packing all the supplies he needs for his hunting trip in the morning."

"Hunting trip?" I echoed, confused. Didn't he get back from one of those just last week? Was I really that behind on what was going on in the house?

I didn't like that thought.

"Yes. We've run low on the live stock daddy set aside for slaughter. To ease the burden Otis, Jimmy, and Willy are taking turns hunting." She replied, glancing at Jimmy.

I turned to Willy. "When were you going to tell me this?"

"It ain't a big deal, Abilene. I'll have a shotgun an' knives ta protect myself, I'll never stay out past dark an' I'll always come back ta ya." He promised, his brown eyes sincere.

I nodded, returning my attention to the food, though my appetite had become nonexistent.

That night as I lay in bed, I said extra prayers and hummed the lyrics to a song that had been part of me so long it was like reciting my name.