A/N: I finally have a new chapter for y'all. I'm so sorry it took so long but it's finally here! I hope y'all enjoy this chapter and review.

Finger on the Trigger

Part II

Chapter 5

Rick-

Beth jerked away when I hugged her, I wasn't expectin' her to do that, and I certainly wasn't expectin' her to grab Judith out of my arms and go runnin' into another room.

Now Daryl runnin' forward and slammin' Father Gabriel into the wall, I expected that, but I couldn't focus on them and what Daryl was yellin', all I could focus on was the door Beth had disappeared behind.

My anger at the thought of Father Gabriel bein' the one who had taken her disappeared the moment she pulled away from me.

"Beth?" I found myself knockin' on the door and callin' out to her. I tried the doorknob but the door was locked.

I turned around to face the others and saw that Maggie was now standin' next to Daryl, with Glenn standin' between them and Father Gabriel, tryin' to mediate the situation.

None of them tried to stop me when I walked past them and grabbed the front of Father Gabriel's shirt, pullin' him towards the room Beth was in.

"You have it wrong. You are all wrong. I...I didn't take her from anyone," he tried to reason. "She needed help and I offered to help her. She and Judith have always been free to leave whenever they want, but she has chosen to stay here. They've been safe here."

I gripped his shirt with both hands, tighter than I had before, and slammed him against the door.

"She's my wife," I growled. "If I find out you've hurt her, either of them, I'll kill you. Slowly."

"I...I...," he stammered and looked around at everyone, clearly surprised. "You...you're Beth's family? She...she told me about all of you but...but she said you were all dead. That those things attacked you all."

Before I could get my head wrapped around what he was sayin', Judith's cries came through the door and the sound of the lock clicking was louder than I had ever heard.

I threw Father Gabriel aside when Beth cracked the door open and peeked out. Her eyes immediately fallin' on the priest as he stood up.

"Judy's hungry," she said, addressing him. She didn't take her eyes off of him as he walked over behind the first row of pews, and pulled a can out of a box on the floor.

Before he could get to the door, I took the can from him and turned back to Beth.

When I held the can out to her she lowered her eyes and tried to shut the door, but I stuck my hand out to stop it from closing.

That's when I saw it, the fear in her eyes as she looked at me. It had been a long time since I had seen that look, but I remembered it all too well.

I dropped my hand and watched as she slammed the door shut and clicked the lock back into place.

Judith was still cryin', and it seemed her cries were gettin' louder. They were almost loud enough to drown out the sound of somethin' sliding across the floor, and against the door.

Beth was barricading herself and Judith in that room.

"Here, may I?" Father Gabriel motioned to the can.

"Beth?" He called out and knocked on the door after I handed the can over to him.

We heard her movin' whatever she had put in front of the door and the lock clicked and when the door opened, Father Gabriel slipped inside.

"I don't like this," Maggie said from beside me.

"Neither do I," I told her.

Beth-

I took the can from Father Gabriel when I let him into the room and after opening it, I sat down to feed Judy.

"Are they your family, Beth?"

"They used to be but I don't know them anymore."

"Your husband wants to see you. Is it alright if I let him in?"

"No," I jumped up. "I don't want to be around them."

Father Gabriel gave me a soft smile before leavin' the room and I went back to feedin' Judy.

I could hear the mutters of everyone outside the room all talkin' at once. There were a few familiar voices and a few new ones but even my curiosity didn't make me move to see who all was out there. It didn't matter anymore anyway. We're never goin' to be a family again.

Judy stuck her hand into the can of peas and squeezed them and laughed. I smiled at her when she clapped her hands, smearing the peas all over herself.

"My silly girl," I said as I picked her up and took her into the bathroom.

"Ma..ma!" She laughed when I started wiping her off.

"Yeah. Mama's here. I'm not leavin' you, Judy," I said.

I felt a pain in my chest as I spoke to her. Here I was tellin' her I'd never leave her when I had done just that to my babies. I had left Annie and Shawn. But I haven't heard them cry or anyone talkin' to them so I know they didn't make it. There's no use in cryin' over the past.

"Bethie?"

I froze at the sound of my sisters voice.

"Bethie, please open the door. Please?"

I hurried and shut the bathroom door. Locking it and sittin' with my back against it and Judy held to my chest. I closed my eyes and felt tears runnin' down my face as Maggie continued to knock and ask me to open the door.

Maggie-

"I give up," I growled in frustration. "Someone else can try now."

I didn't understand why Beth wasn't opening the door or why she refused to be around her family. It didn't make any sense. The only explanation I could come up with was that this preacher had done somethin' or either somethin' else really bad has happened to her and I don't even want to think about what that could've been.

"What did you do to her?" I asked the preacher and causing him to stumble over his words as he looked at me then to Rick who had stood up and had his hand resting on his gun.

"I...I told you. I haven't done anything to her. She had nowhere else to go so I offered her and her child a place to stay and she accepted."

"Then why is she locked in that room?"

"She's scared. She's told me that many times."

"What is she scared of?" Rick asked, steppin' closer to the preacher.

"Herself. She's scared of what she'll become and...and she's scared of you."

Rick took a step back and glared at the preacher.

"Scared of me?" Rick asked with fear in his voice.

"Yes."

"Why the hell would she be scared of me?"

The preacher looked over at me and Daryl before lookin' back at Rick. "She...she saw something. I'm not sure exactly what it was but she said she saw you do something. She said you were a monster."

I saw the hurt look that crossed Rick's face before he wiped his hand across his beard and all but ran out of the church.

Rick-

I sat down on the steps and put my head in my hands.

What the hell could she have seen that would make her hate me? What did I do to scare her?

"Fuck!" I groaned out and stood up.

I was pacin' when Daryl and Maggie came out of the church.

"Hey," Maggie said and stopped me with a hand on my shoulder. "I wouldn't listen to him if I were you. Maybe he's tryin' to scare us off, maybe he has hurt Beth."

"He ain't hurt 'er," Daryl said and we both looked at him. "I know he ain't done nothin' to 'er 'cause he's scared. Y'all didn't see the way he looked at her, at us? He's scared shitless. I don't know why but he's scared of Beth."

"He said she's scared of herself," Maggie said. "I don't like this. Any of this."

I sat down on a stump and tried not to lose my mind over this.

"What the hell did she see that makes her scared of me? I mean, I know I've done some horrible shit but I tried not to do those things in front of her or the kids."

"Shane," Maggie said. "We're the only ones who know about that. I know she knows you killed him but what if that's what scares her?"

"Naw, that cain't be it. After I told her he was finally gone for good, she...she started comin' back. She started to be Beth again," I sighed and shook my head. "Maybe she blames me for what happened to Hershel. She has every right to blame me for that."

"I don't think that's it," Maggie said as she sat down next to me and put her arm around my shoulders. "She can't blame you for what I happened to daddy and I know she never would."

Daryl cleared his throat and we both looked up at him to find he was fidgeting and kickin' at the grass.

"Mind if I talk ta Rick alone?" He asked Maggie.

"Sure," she nodded. "But if y'all need anythin', let me know."

We both nodded and waited for her to walk away.

Daryl sat down and started twirlin' his knife in his hands.

"Got somethin' you wanna say?" I asked.

He looked at me then back down at his knife.

"Ya know that night, when Joe an' 'is men found y'all, you told me after that that you thought you'd heard someone. You said you could've sworn you heard someone cryin'. What if that was Beth?"

"Beth? You think...you think she saw that?" I jumped up and felt like my heart was gonna bust out of my chest. "No, that couldn't have been her. We looked for tacks and didn't find anythin'."

"I know," he grunted. "But ya know I taught 'er ta cover her tracks. I told ya that 'fore we even knew she'd been with Carol and Tyreese. I told ya 'bout ever'thin' that happened while I's with 'er."

"Ah, shit. Fuck! That was...fuck. That's why she's fuckin' scared of me, ain't it? That was her?!" I shouted.

Maggie-

I hadn't noticed Rick was back in the church until I heard Judith cryin' and then I saw Daryl and Glenn were pullin' him away from the door Beth was locked behind.

"Rick!" I called out, grabbing his arm and makin' him face me.

"I...I have to see her. I need to see her," he said.

"I know, Rick, but you're scaring Judith."

He rubbed his hand over his face and looked at all of us before shakin' his head and walkin' off.

I should've known right then that this wasn't over, that Rick was going to find a way into the room.

He had walked over to one of our bags and pulled out a crowbar.

"Rick!" Carol shouted. "Stop it!"

Everyone was shouting and tryin' to pull him away from the.

"Leave me the fuck alone!" He screamed when Abraham and Tyreese grabbed his arms, pullin' him back with Daryl gettin' in between him and the door.

"This ain't the way, man," Daryl said, tryin' to calm him down.

"Go outside," Carol said sternly. "Go kill walkers or scream or whatever you have to do but let it out. Let out your anger and calm down."

Somewhere in Georgia

Merle-

"What tha fuck?" I groaned an' opened my eyes but ever'thin' was blurry.

I didn't recognize tha room I's in but it reminded me of tha infirmary back in Woodbury an' all those times I's locked up.

I blinked a few times tryin' ta get my eyes clear 'fore I noticed there was a fuckin' clock on tha wall an' tha damn thing was workin'.

"Oh good, you're awake." I heard a woman say. "How are you feeling?"

"Who tha hell are you?"

"I could ask you the same thing," she said. "But to answer your question, I'm Officer Dawn Lerner. How are you feeling?"

"Where tha fuck am I?"

"You're in Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. My officers found you on the side of the road surrounded by rotters. You had two babies with you. If we hadn't saved you, you'd be one of them right now and those babies would be dead."

I jumped up out of that bed quicker than I'd ever done. "Where's my kids?"

"They're not your kids," some fucker with a white coat said from tha doorway. "We tested your blood and theirs and you're no relation to them."

I stepped forward an' was 'bout ta grab that lil' shithead but that bitch stepped in front of me.

"This is Dr. Steven Edwards. I had my suspicions when they brought the three of you in so I asked him to do a DNA test."

"I don't give a fuck who he is.

They're my kids an' I want 'em back then we'll be on our way."

"I'm sorry, but that's not going to happen," Lerner said. "I told you, we saved you three so now you owe us and since they are just babies, you'll be doing enough for three. Besides, even if I let you go, I wouldn't let you leave here with them. You only have one hand and there's two of them, you wouldn't make it out there."

"We made it jus' fine without y'all. I don't need none of yer help ta take care of them kids."

Rick-

Everyone was lookin' at me like they had when Lori died.

"Dad?" Carl stepped forward and tried to take the crowbar away from me. "Leave mom alone for now."

I dropped the crowbar and backed away from everyone as they continued to stare at me.

They watched me walk back to the door and when I started pushin' on it, Daryl tried to pull me away again.

"Get the fuck off me!" I growled and shoved him away.

"Beth! Open the God damn door!"

I beat on the door for a while until I heard Judith cryin' and Beth tryin' to quiet her.

I took a step back and bent down to pick up the crowbar then I was tryin' to pry the door open.

There was a creaking sound and then a loud snap as the door came open. I pushed it the rest of the way open and stepped into the room.

"Beth?" I whispered when I saw her sittin' in the corner of the room with her eyes squeezed shut and Judith held tightly to her chest.

"Beth, baby, look at me," I said as I knelt down in front of her. "Open your eyes and look at me."

She shook her head 'no' and when I reached out and touched her face, her body stiffened.

My hand was shakin' as I cupped her cheek and rubbed my thumb over her skin.

"I've missed you," I breathed out and leaned in to kiss her.

She whimpered and tried to move away from me so I withdrew my hand.

"Please," she whispered as her tears began to fall. "Please don't hurt me."

Judith started squirming in Beth's arms and when she looked up at me, she started cryin' again.

"I ain't gonna hurt you, Beth. I...I'd never hurt you. I love you."

Beth shook her head and whimpered again when I put my hands on either side of her face.

"Please," she cried.

"Bethie, please look at me."

"No."

I took my hands off of her face and reached out for Judith. Beth's eyes snapped open when I tried to lift Judy and she pushed me away.

"Leave her alone!" She screamed.

Carl-

I heard mom screamin' at dad and ran to the door.

Dad was sittin' on the floor in front of mom with his head in his hands and his whole body was shakin'. He was cryin'.

Mom had turned her body away from him and was shieldin' Judy from dad. When she moved away and tried to stand up, dad reached out and grabbed her arm.

"Dad, stop!" I shouted and ran over to them.

Dad looked at mom like he had just lost her, like he did when he first saw Maggie holdin' Judy after she was born. He looked confused, scared and hurt.

Mom looked scared but also like she was ready to kill. It didn't help things none that she had one hand on the knife at her side.

"Rick, back off," Maggie told dad.

He looked back at her then back to mom.

"Beth, I would never hurt you," he said.

She jerked away from him, that's when he let his hands hang down at his sides.

Mom looked at me then moved her hand off of her knife.

Maggie-

Rick sat on the first pew and watched the door to the room Beth was in.

He's barely moved since last night and I'm sure he won't unless Beth comes out.

I sat down next to him as he leaned forward and rubbed his face.

"She saw what I did," he mumbled.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"We told you 'bout that night, before Terminus, I'd told Daryl that I heard someone but I wrote it off thinkin' it was just a walker. But it wasn't, it was her."

"I don't understand. If she saw y'all and y'all had Annie and Shawn with you, why didn't she stay?"

He shrugged and sat back. We stayed quiet for a few minutes, both of us listening to the sounds of Beth shuffling around in the room in front of us.

"You can't give up on her, Rick. You love her and she loves you. She needs you," I told him before takin' a deep breath and sitting up straighter. "Glen and I are goin' to DC with Abraham, Rosita, Eugene and Tara. I just wanted you to know because Beth needs someone and it can't be me."

"She doesn't want me," he said with a shake of his head.

"Yes, she does. She's just alone and scared."

"Yeah, ain't that the reason she was with me to begin with? She was scared of what had happened to her and what was goin' to happen and she was alone. You and Hershel left her alone. She didn't have anyone else."

"You're not goin' to make me leavin' easy, are you? I know daddy and I kept Beth at arms length after you told us she was pregnant but we were both scared. We had just lost Lori and neither of us wanted to see that happen to her," I sighed and turned to look at him. "I was angry with you for the longest time, even after I saw how much you cared for and loved her. Daddy and I had several talks about the two of you and what we thought of your relationship. We knew it was going to happen and there was nothin' we could do about it. You were there for her when she needed someone. I'm glad it was you, though. For a while, I thought it was Daryl who she was goin' to end up with when you started pushing her away."

"Daryl loves her," he said bluntly. "I ain't blind. I can see that but I don't think he's in love with her. He loves someone else."

Rick-

Maggie looked down at her hands and shook her head.

"You know?"

"Yeah," I nodded. "After we got you and Glenn back from the Governor, I overheard some things. Beth knows, too."

I knew I was makin' Maggie feel like shit but she couldn't leave Beth. Not when she needs her family.

Maggie wasn't goin' to DC because she wanted to be safe and with Glenn, she was runnin' from Daryl.

"Y'all can come with us or maybe come later but..."

Maggie stopped talkin' and looked up as Beth eased the door open and stepped out, cradling Judith to her and her head down.

"Beth?" I said and stood. Beth's head snapped up then back down before she hurried away.

I started after her but Maggie grabbed my arm.

"Don't," she said while shakin' her head. "Just leave her alone for now."

Beth-

"Father Gabriel!" I called out as the church door slammed shut behind me. "Father Gabriel!"

"Yes?" He said as I rounded the corner of the church.

He and several others were gathered around the church bus. They all stopped what they were doin' and watched us.

"Is everything alright?" He asked.

"No," I shook my head. "Judy's out of food and...," I lowered my voice, "and I heard them sayin' they were gonna stay...here. Can you keep Judy while I go on a run?"

He nodded and motioned for me to hand her over. Once I had, I told him how long I should be gone, the same as I had on many runs before.

Carl-

Mom handed Judy over to the priest and took her knife out and ran her hand over the blade.

She said somethin' to him then kissed Judy's head before runnin' off down the road.

I looked around at everyone but nobody seemed to notice she was gone, so I went after her.

She wasn't that far ahead of me. I'm sure she probably heard me walkin' behind her but she didn't turn around.

"Mom!" I called out. She stopped and put her hand on her knife as she looked at me and then she started walkin' again.

"Hey, mom. Wait up!" I said and took off runnin' towards her.

When I caught up with her, we walked side by side in silence until we reached a small town.

"Let's check that store," I said and pointed to the run down convenience store.

"Ain't nothin' in there," she replied.

"How do you know that?"

She stopped and stared at me, narrowing her eyes. "I know that because I've already cleared it, Carl, but you're welcome to go check if you don't believe me."

Before I could reply, she had turned away from me and started walkin' down the street and then into a building.

I shrugged and followed her, at least she still knows who I am.

Beth-

I slammed my knife down into the skull of a walker and pushed it out of my way before I opened the door marked "office."

I heard Carl comin' up behind me but I didn't bother to look back. I was wishin' he'd leave me alone and go look somewhere else but I didn't say anythin' to him. It's clear that he and everyone else thought I was dead. They didn't think I'd make it and now that they know I'm alive, they think I'm weak. They're wrong though. I don't need them, any of them, for anythin'.

"Mom," he whispered and when I didn't reply, he grabbed my arm and I jerked away from him.

"What the hell do you want, Carl? What do you want from me?"

I wanted to yell at him and tell him not to call me mom but I couldn't. He looked scared and hurt and I just couldn't hurt him any more.

He hung his head and scuffed the toe of his boot on the floor.

"I just want my mom back," he mumbled.

"I'm not you mom," the words slipped out and his head snapped up. "I...I'm sorry, Carl."

"You're just like him," he said as he pushed past me.

"Carl, wait. I didn't mean to say that."

"Yes, you did. You're just like how dad was after mom died the only difference is that you didn't lose anyone. We're all still here but you're right, you're not my mom. My mom wouldn't be a bitch like you!"

Rick-

"Rick, put the gun down," Maggie begged.

"Not until he gives me my daughter and tells me where Beth is."

She turned to the priest and stepped between me and him.

"Please hand her over and he'll put the gun down," she said.

He shook his head. "Beth would surely kill me if I handed her over."

Maggie snorted. "Beth won't kill you."

"You don't know that," he said, his voice breaking a little at the end. "I've seen her kill."

"Kill what, walkers? We've all had to kill walkers but Beth would never take someone's life. Not a livin', breathin' person," Maggie argued. "Now give the man his daughter."

He looked back at me and nodded before handin' Judy over to Maggie.

Before he could move away though, I holstered my gun and grabbed his arm.

"Where's Beth?"

"She went into town for supplies," he blurted out. "She should be back soon though. She's never gone more than a few hours at a time."

After that, I took Judy from Maggie and went outside to wait for Beth.

Judy was fussy and cryin' so I tried bouncin' her and walkin' around when Michonne came up to me.

"Carl's gone," she said. "We've looked all over for him but we can't find him."

I looked around then down at Judy and shook my head.

"Damn it," I said. "I bet he followed Beth."

"That's what I was thinkin'. I was also thinkin' about goin' to look for them. Do you want to come with me or stay her with Judy?"

"I hate to leave her but I'll go with you. Just give me a minute to talk to Tyreese."

Beth-

We each had two bags of supplies we had found as we headed back to the church and neither one of us was talkin'.

We had finished out our search in complete silence and when we were done, we started walkin'.

Every once in a while I'd catch Carl look over at me then quickly look forward.

Finally, I stopped walkin', dropped my bags and took a deep breath.

"Carl," I called out and waited for him to stop before I continued. "I'm sorry for bein' a bitch. I'm sorry I can't be your mom anymore."

He had tears in his eyes when he turned back to look at me.

"Why can't you be my mom anymore? You're still Judy's mom and she's not your daughter so why can't you be my mom?"

"It's complicated..."

"Fuck that! It's not complicated. I need you! I need my mom!"

"You have everyone else so why do you need me? I sure as hell don't have anyone and I don't need anyone."

"You have me and dad and Maggie and..."

"No, Carl. I do not have anyone. You're not my son. I saw the signs Maggie left for Glenn but she never left one for me and your dad, he's not the same man I married, he's changed. He's a monster now." I sighed and shook my head. "Look, Carl, I may not be your mom but I can still be your friend."

He stared at me then turned around and started walkin' again.

I let him get a few steps away before I picked up my bags and followed him.

That was the first time I felt my heart break in a long time. It was all because of Carl and the fact that I was finally admitting to myself that Rick was really there but he wasn't the same man. He had changed and I felt there was no way I could love the man he had become.

Rick-

"Mama!" Judy shouted when Beth and Carl came into the church later that night. She almost fell out of my arms from all of the squirmin' she was doin'.

Beth looked at me but for the first time in days she didn't look scared, she looked pissed off.

She marched right up to me after puttin' her bags down and held her arms out for Judy.

"Give me my daughter," she said through clenched teeth.

I nodded and let her take Judy and before I knew it, they had disappeared into that room again.

When I stood to follow her, Michonne stepped in front of me.

"Would you mind if I tried to talk to her?" She asked.

I shook my head and watched as she knocked on the door before it open and she stepped into the room.

Once the door was closed I let out a deep sigh and went to find somethin' to do.

Michonne-

It surprised me when Beth opened the door but she had and I took that as a good sign. Maybe she'd be willing to talk or just listen.

She sat down at the small table that was in the room but didn't say anything as she opened a jar of baby food and began feeding Judy.

I took a sear next to her and but my hand on her arm. She tensed anf immediately looked down at where my hand was.

"How are you, Beth?" I asked.

"I'm fine," she replied.

I removed my hand and watched her with Judy. She wasn't the same Beth I knew at the prison.

"Who is it you're really mad at, Beth? Who do you really hate?"

She jumped up, knockin' Judy's food over and causing the baby to start cryin'.

I stood up and looked at her as I repeated the question.

She was shaking with tears in her eyes.

"I've been where you are, Beth, I know how you feel..."

"No! You don't know."

"Yes, I do," I said, putting my hands on her shoulders. "I had a son and I couldn't protect him. I hated myself for it and now I see that same thing in you. I just want to know why you feel that way. What happened?"

"Nothin'," she whispered.

"That's not true. Something happened and I want to know what it was. Did someone hurt you?"

"No," she shook her head. "I just...my babies are gone. I was supposed to protect them but I couldn't. I don't even know why I thought I could when I couldn't even protect myself."

"Annie and Shawn are still alive. They're with Merle, wherever he is."

There was a flash of hopefulness in her eyes but as quickly as it appeared, it disappeared. I felt so bad for her. She had been so hopeful and loving before.

"We will find them," I assured her. "But until then, you still have Judy and Carl. You have Rick, too."

"No. I don't have Carl or Rick. I told Carl not to call me mom."

"And what about Rick?"

"What about him?"

"He's your husband. The two of you have kids together. Why are you pushing him away?"

"I don't love him anymore."

"That's not true. You still love him. There's something else, something that is making you push him away. What is it?"

"Rick is just like him," she said quietly. "He's a monster. He's evil. Just like him."

"Who is 'him'?"

"Shane. Rick is like Shane."

"Shane?"

She nodded.

I didn't ask anything else. I had a feeling I knew exactly what Shane had done to her but I didn't understand why she was saying Rick was like him and that made me question what went on between them behind closed doors.

Surely Rick wasn't doin' what I thought but things in this world are so screwed up now, even the best men have become monsters.

I picked up the jar of baby food and sat it on the table before I sat down and patted the seat next to me.

After she sat down, I took her hand and gently squeezed it.

"I'm not goin' to assume I know what has happened to you but if it's what I think, then I think you need to talk to someone but you definitely need to talk to Carl. He could really use your help right now especially with what you've been through."

Rick-

Michonne stepped out of the room and motioned for me to follow her.

We walked out of the church and into the woods, keepin' the church in sight but far enough away no one could listen in.

It took me by complete surprise when Michonne whirled around, pushed me against a tree and shoved the blade of her sword against my throat.

"I'm only goin' to ask you one time, why does Beth think you're like Shane? What did you do to her?"

"What the hell kind of questions are those?"

Michonne raised an eyebrow and pushed the blade against my throat a little more.

"You know who answers questions with questions?" She asked. "Someone who's guilty," she said before I had a chance to reply.

"I haven't touched her, not like that."

She scoffed. "You're lyin'. Did you forget I was there when y'all got married? Why does she think you're like him? Did you make her do those things? Did she even want to marry you?"

"I didn't forget and I sure as hell didn't make her do anythin'. I'm nothin' like Shane! I love her."

She removed the sword and took a step back.

"What did he do to her?"

I rubbed my hand over my face and took a deep breath then dropped to the ground as I started tellin' her what he had done to Beth.

Beth-

It took me a while to realize what Michonne had meant when she said I needed to talk to Carl.

How could I have been so stupid? How could I have not put the pieces together sooner?

That night I saw Rick kill those men, the one guy had Carl pinned down but I didn't think anythin' about it at the time. I was so scared of what Rick had become that night that I completely forgot about Carl.

I found him sittin' in the back of the church behind one of the pews.

He had his hat on and his head hung down when I starin' down beside him.

"I'm sorry, Carl. I had no idea. But I know what you're goin' through."

He scoffed and tried to stand up but I grabbed his arm.

"You don't get to run, Carl. We need to talk about this."

He sat back down but didn't look at me.

"I don't know what happened to you but I'm goin' to tell you what happened to me because you need to know you're not alone," I said.

He looked up and narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth to speak but I interrupted him.

"No. Just listen." He nodded so I continued. "I was raped. All of this shit with the walkers had already started when it happened. He told me there was no use in tryin' to fight him. He did it several times before your dad found out but by then it was too late."

"Too late?"

I nodded. "I was already pregnant."

"You were wh...," his eyes widened and his mouth fell open. I saw the tears in his eyes before he stood up.

"Why did y'all lie to me?!" He shouted.

"We didn't lie."

"Yes, you did! You didn't tell me Shawn and Annie weren't my dads. I know Judy may not be his but everyone knew that. You were wrong. You are just like my mom!"

I stood up and looked him in the eyes.

He hated me.

Rick-

Michonne and I were walkin' back to the church when Carl stormed out.

He shot a look our way then took off runnin' down the road.

"I'll go after him," Michonne said. "You just go find Beth."

The door to the room Beth had been stayin' in was open when I went inside and I could hear her movin' things around.

She was puttin' things into a backpack when I stepped into the room but she stopped and looked up.

"What are you doin'?" I asked.

She shrugged. "What does it look like?"

"It looks like you're packin'. Where are you goin'?"

"I'm goin' to find Merle. I hear he has my kids. I'm leavin' Judy's things packed up so y'all will be able to quickly grab things if y'all need to go."

"You're leavin' Judy here?"

"Yeah," she said as she moved across the room to pick up a bag off the floor.

"Why?" Was all I could ask.

"Because, Annie and Shawn are my kids. Carl and Judy are yours."

"You don't have to do that, Beth. They're our kids."

"They're not ours. They never were. This was never goin' to work, Rick."

I stepped in front of her, blockin' the door and raised my hand to her face.

"Don't touch me," she said, barely above a whisper.

"Beth, I'm sorry you think I'm like Shane but you need to know that I love you."

She slapped my hand away. "Well I don't love you," she said and pushed past me.

"Beth, wait!" I called out and ran after her.

She stopped and turned around, pullin' a necklace from around her neck and holdin' it out to me.

"This belongs to you," she said, placing the necklace in my hand.

I looked down to see her wedding ring and then she was gone.

I rushed outside to go after her but she was nowhere in sight.

A/N: Well, what do y'all think?

Please review.

*sorry for any mistakes. I was going to wait until Monday so I could edit this at work but I couldn't wait to post it. Any errors will be fixed later.

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