Chapter 24: Gone


~13 years ago~


KPOV


"Hey, Dad?..." I called out to him and he smiled at me. His eyes lifting from the paper he was reading. Looking up at him he gave me that small gleam in his eyes, the sound of Carl's crying and Mom's cooings came running in as I went in and shut the door behind us.

With a chuckle, dad quickly sipped on his coffee and held his hands out for me, to be able to raise me to his lap and prop me to sit on it. Smiling, he wrapped his arms around me into a small, lazy hug. Holding me to him. "What is it Kitty Kat?" he asks me as I blush lightly at this new nick name.

"How do you know when people are good and when they're bad?" I ask him, curious as he was a cop and clearly he would have to find out if what people were saying were true. His blue eyes shone as he gently pushed a few strands that covered my eyes away, behind my ear. Staring into my eyes, he glanced to see if there was any chance in my expression and gave a small side smile before leaning in and pressing a kiss to my forehead.

"Well...you have to see if they look you right in the eyes," he says as he teasingly went to poke my eyes. Making me giggle and flinch a little. "Then...you have to check to see if they smile when they talk. If they...wiggle," he teases me goes to tickle my sides. Making me wriggle around a little. "But...you know what is the biggest clue to knowing if someone is good or bad?" he asked me with a gleam in his eyes that I didn't know why he was looking at me like for.

"No...how?" I ask him with a quiet and curious voice. He smiled and gently pulled my shirt down so that it wasn't exposing any of my skin. His hands were soft as they gently brushed my skin. The way he held me was firm, so I wouldn't fall and so he could keep me close to him.

"The way I do it...is by trusting one thing," he stated and I looked to him curiously. He had a mischevious look in his eyes as he went to tickle my tummy. Making me laugh and wriggle under his touch again. This time he kept his hand on my stomach and went to poke it. "I trust my gut. Somehow...it always tells me when I'm right about something. You should follow your heart and trust your gut always," he said as he looked at me seriously in my eyes. He meant every word and to this day...I took notice of my gut and listened to both my heart and gut.


Present day...RPOV

Carol got into a car and began to clear up the area so our cars could enter more easily. "Okay, let's get the other car in. We'll park 'em in the west entry of the yard," I ordered as T-Dog, Carol and Daryl were helping me out with cleaning up the place.

"Good, our vehicles camped out there look like a giant 'vacancy' sign," Daryl growled as I looked around and began planning for the day's events. Carol was getting out of the car and making her way towards us.

"After that, we need to load up these corpses so we can burn 'em," I said as I walked around and pointed at the corpses that still laid around after our attack. The bodies were all in piles but they needed to be moved away from the grass that we would hopefully use for crops.

"Gonna be a long day," T-Dog whined, possibly not wanting for the day to be so long, seeing as we had a lot to do in order to feel at home and to see that we don't get a bad smell or the crops to be tainted from corpse flesh.

"Where's Glenn and Maggie? We could use some help," Carol asked as she walked closer to me. This made me look to her curiously and then towards the prison building. They didn't come back last night...at least...I didn't see them this morning.

"Up in the guard tower," Daryl informed us as he pointed up to the gaurd tower I had occupied the day we took over the prison. This made me look at him stunned and then up to the guard tower.

"Guard tower? They were just up there last night," I asked musing in my own thoughts. Surely both of them aren't up there...are they? What the hell are they doing? Weren't they meant to be guarding? Please don't tell me they're sleeping or having sex.

"Glenn! Maggie!" Daryl shouted up to the guard tower. We were the only ones so it would have surprised me if they didn't hear Daryl calling for them. Daryl's voice echoing and bouncing off the walls. The door clicks open before we see a half naked Glenn come out, trying to fasten his pants up.

"Hey, what's up, guys?" he asked as I chuckled softly. The rest of us stood around, waiting for them and this made me chuckle as we all knew what these two were up to now that they had the privacy they needed.

Daryl laughed himself a little as we saw Glenn all frustrated but happy. Buckling his belt and shirtless. "You coming?" Daryl called out teasingly. Ah Daryl...always know how to cheer me up in a stupid and unique way.

"What?" Glenn asked down at him. Myself and T-Dog laughing, looking around, I could see Carol try and hold her giggles in. Daryl stood strong, his expression playful as he squinted up but kept a straight face.

"You comin'?" Daryl teased again. Making myself and T-Dog laugh, smiling up at the couple who looked like they had just woken up after a night of complete sex. "Come on, we could use a hand," Daryl told him as we all turned to go towards the cars.

"Yeah, we'll be right down," Glenn said as we all got ready for the long day of work we would have to do. Shaking my head as a smile was plastered on my face. So silly...got to love Daryl.

"Hey, Rick," T-Dog called to me which made us all stop and look to T-Dog. Seeing where T-Dog was looking at, I let my eyes trail to where he stared and slowly my smile began to fall.

"Come with me," I ordered them as we walked towards the prisoners who had left their building and had now stepped into our part of the prison. "That's close enough," I growled at them which made them stop in their tracks. "We had an agreement," I remind them coldly.

"Please, mister. We know that. We made a deal. But you've gotta understand we can't live in that place another minute. You follow me? All the bodies...people we knew. Blood, brains everywhere. There's ghosts," one of the prisoners said. His name was Axel, accent thick and made me glare at them.

"Why don't you move the bodies out?" Daryl asked them as though it was that simple of an action to do. It is simple. So why are they trying to come up to us and complain about it all.

"You should be burning them," T-Dog advised them but Axel's already wound arms that hugged himself tightly, pulled closer to his body than I thought possible. It seemed as though he was nervous about the fact he had been in that building and seen such 'disturbing' things.

"We tried. We did," Axel said in a tone that made me think it was true but I was still wary. The entire time we were speaking, Maggie and Glenn had already made their way down and were now watching what was going on.

"The fence is down on the far side of the prison. Every time we drag a body out, those things just line up. So hump in a body and just running back inside," Oscar said as he looked to us, informing us of why they couldn't do anything about the bodies.

"Look, we had nothing to do with Thomas and Andrew. Nothing. You trying to prove a point? You proved it, bro. We'll do whatever it takes to be part of your group. Just, please, please. Don't make us live in that place," Axel pleaded as though this was his final chance of convincing us to change our deal.

"Our deal is not negotiable. You either live in your cell block, or you leave," I told them coldly and they looked to me then to each other. Waiting a moment as though I would possibly change my mind.

Oscar makes a noise that makes me look to him curiously. "I told you this was a waste of time. They ain't no different than the pricks who shot up our boys. You know how many friends' corpses we had to drag out this week? Just threw 'em out, like. Humph. These were good guys," Oscar tried to point out that these men were 'good'.

"Good guys who had our backs against the really bad dudes in the joint, like Thomas and Andrew. We've all made mistakes to get in here, chief. And I'm not gonna pretend to be a saint, but believe me we've paid our due. Enough that we would rather hit that road than to go back into that shithole," Oscar told me as he looked me dead in the eye.

Glancing around, I looked to everyone's expressions and wasn't convinced that these men could be trusted. Looking to Daryl, he stared back at me and shook his head. Sighing, I had finally made up my mind and decided they couldn't be trusted. At least...not yet. "C'mon, dude," Axel complained as Daryl locked them behind the gates, in their part of the prison.

"Are you serious? You want them living in a cell next to you? They'll just be waiting for a chance to grab our weapons. You want to go back to sleeping with one eye open?" I asked him incredulous that he would even want these men to be sharing the same building as us.

"I never stopped. Bring them into the fold. If we send them off packing, we might as well execute them ourselves," T-Dog suggested as he would point to the gates and tried to bring his point accross.

"I don't know. Axel seems a little unstable," Glenn pointed out. Drug addicts. Always wanting to get their next hit and at this point...he clearly wants a hit but is struggling to keep his calm.

"After all we've been through? We fought so hard for all this, what if they decide to take it?" Carol asked as she looked to us and sounded genuinely concerned for all our hard work to be thrown away by two prisoners.

"It's just been us for so long. They're strangers. I don't-...it feels weird all of a sudden to have these other people around," Maggie spoke as she was changing her weight from one foot to another. Her entire body seemed to tense up because of this situation.

"You brought us in," T-Dog spoke bluntly. Stating a fact more than an opinion over this whole situation.

"Yeah, but you turned up with a shot boy in your arms. Didn't give us a choice," Maggie responded as she too stated a fact in return. This made me think about Carl being shot and Kat being strong by searching for a dead girl who we believed was still alive at the time.

"They can't even kill walkers," Glenn pointed out after he had heard our stories about the encounter we had with them and the other prisoners that were now dead.

"They're convicts, bottom line," Carol stated as she looked to each of us. Agreeing that these men couldn't be trusted and that we're safer together. Without prisoners in the mix we would be a whole deal safer.

"Those two might actually have less blood on their hands than we do," T-Dog tried to stand up for the prisoners. He might be right but...we needed to kill for our lives to be saved. They might have killed for the 'fun' of it.

"I get guys like this. Hell, I grew up with them. They're degenerates, but they ain't psychos. I could have been with them just as easy as I am out here with you, guys," Daryl informed us which made me look at him curious. Guess there is a thin line between what is good and bad.

"So are you with me?" T-Dog asked him curiously. Sounding hopeful that Daryl would back him up and agree with his opinion to allow the prisoners to join us.

"Hell, no," Daryl spoke as though T-Dog was crazy to think he would agree with such a decision. "Let 'em take their chances out on the road. Just like we did," Daryl growled as though it was meant to be this way. That we should send them off and let them see what this world really is like now.

"What I'm saying, Daryl-" T-Dog went to speak but a thought occured to me. A case that happened and one that really pissed me off. I remember it, since I practically never left Kat alone and told her what to do if she had a boyfriend like the one I had dealt with.

"When I was a rookie, I arrested this kid. Wanted for stabbing his girlfriend. The kid blubbered like a baby during the interrogation, during the trial...suckered the jury. He was acquitted due to insufficient evidence, and in two weeks later shot another girl. We've been through too much. Our deal with them stands," I informed them as I brought them into my past and it made them all look to me sadly but understandingly.


KPOV

"Hey!" the Governor spoke as he ran towards me. The sun shone and was bright, shinning in my eyes and blinding me for split seconds. He was wearing his normal, boss like and fight like clothing. His eyes were smokey and they made my stomach turn and twist.

"Oh! Governor...how are you this morning?" I asked him. His eyes gleamed brightly as he smiled from ear to ear. It seemed fake to an extent, like he had been stretching his face so often like this that it no longer seemed genuine but was forced more than once in this new role he had taken.

"I'm good thanks. What about yourself? Had an...interesting conversation with Michonne. Heard you, Michonne and Andrea were leaving today," he said in a voice that sounded like stale honey, thick but slowly infecting itself with something I couldn't put my finger on.

"Yes...I need to go look for my family," I inform him. Flashes of familiar faces came into my mind. They were all different but there were bright blue eyes that came into my mind. Much like my eyes but lashes weren't as thick as mine. Then the flash of hazel eyes came up behind my eyelids as they would shut. Mom. Dad. Carl. The rest of the group too.

"Surely you can find them better with Merle and my help," the Governor tried to make it all seem as though it were better that way. Smiling to him, my lips thin and eyes glancing to the ground to shy away from both the sun and the Governor's eyes. Looking back up at him, he smiled and pursed his own lips as though to be polite.

"Yes but...I've been through a lot with Michonne and Andrea. We've been looking out for each other. They're like my family...my best friends. Even though we fight, we still would do anything for each other," I state as my heart skipped a beat for a second. Knowing that what I said was true, I smiled more to myself at the memory than to anything else.

"You seem different to the other two," the Governor said as there was a slight gleam in his eyes. Something told me that he was speaking of something that would probably get on Andrea and Michonne's nerves. That maybe it was personal to speak of.

"Well...I guess it's my family's fault to blame for that," I say teasingly. This made him smile and chuckle softly for a few seconds. They're family is dead for all I know. Michonne cold to those she doesn't trust and Andrea depressed more than half the time. Speaking about Amy made Andrea all...well...Andrea. Pissy and sad.

"Why do you say that?" he asked me as he looked me in the eyes. Stopping from the walk we were both going. He followed me almost to my house and I kept my eyes on the ground or glanced to him. He stopped, hands on his hips and I looked to him, stopping slightly in front of him.

"They're out there somewhere...and I will find them. It's my goal and I won't ever give up on them," I tell him and he gave me this smile that felt more genuine than the one he gave me before. I felt like there was something he saw in me, something that he could possibly relate to or admire.

"Tell me about this family...this family that keeps you surviving," he suggested as we began walking again. His eyes were on me, but he kept he was watching me intently. As though he was prepared to keep digging into my life. To see where my weaknesses were.

"They do keep me alive but...it's because I will do anything to keep them alive. I need them in my life. My brother...my pregnant mother...my father. Michonne and Andrea, I consider them sisters. They've been there for me and I've been there for them. My family...we always seem to fall away from each other but somehow, we always find our way back to each other," I inform him with a small but sad smile. Biting back tears that threatened to build in my eyes at the thought of my family.

"It's happened before?" he asked me curious as to if it truly did happen. Yes it did. My dad returned to us. I returned to my family when I was younger, that time that I had ran away at such a young and stupid age.

"It's something that keeps occuring...it's sort of what we do," I tell him and he gave me a nod, a small smile on his face.

"Sounds like a strong and loving family," he spoke with a small but polite smile on his face.

"I have no doubt in them being strong," I answered. We were by my door, he stopped and looked to the house before he turned to look at me.

"You don't see yourself as strong?" he asked me curiously, a look in his eyes of amusement to my words.

"I see myself as being realistic. I might be strong but...we all eventually die. My dad taught us that. Told me to care for my brother if anything was to come to him or my mother. Funny thing was...I've always been looking after them," I answered him with all the strength and truth in my voice. Showing him I didn't fear him and that yet they may be my weakness, they are also my strength.

"I bet they would be proud," he spoke softly and I just look to the ground, nodding to myself and to him.

"I can only hope," I reply unsure of how to end this conversation. When he looked to my house, I glanced to him and saw him watching me with a gleam in his eyes that I didn't feel like I should trust to be true. With a nod, I walked inside and shut the door, he stood there for a few seconds and then walked off towards the distance. Disappearing into a building, I turned to see Michonne's eyes staring at me, a dark nature about them behind them.


DPOV

"Move the cars to the upper yard Point them facing out. They'll be out of the way but ready to go if we ever need to bail," Rick said as we all began to get to work, finishing up what was needed to be done and planning to move the bodies out to burn them. Throwing the keys to Glenn, who began to ran off to go open the gates for us.

"We'll get the prisoners. A week's worth of supplies for the road," Rick spoke as he slowed down behind me, fixing my bow that rested on my shoulder, I was prepared for what could come from what we were planning.

"It might not last a week," I heard T-Dog reply to him from behind me. T-Dog was losing his mind, thinking that these guys are any good to us and that they could possibly help us in any way.

"It's their choice," Rick answered back a little coldly. I saw Carol go into a car and prepared myself to get onto my bike and to speed away.

"Did they really have one?" T-Dog questioned Rick a little dryly. As though we were being the assholes for not letting them live under our roof. Hell if I'm going to let them into our fold simply for saying a few good speeches and killing a few walkers.

"Hey, hey. Whose blood would you rather have on your hands? Maggie's, Glenn's, or theirs?" Rick's voice questioned T-Dog as the pair paused to speak face to face to each other. Rick's question was one that seemed to be of difficulty to T-Dog.

"Neither," I heard T-Dog answer back to Rick which made me laugh a little to myself, a huffing and puffing noise as my chest would rise and fall.

The car engine came to life as I placed my keys in and heard the car door slam shut, indicating that both Rick and T-Dog were ready to go. "Twin cylinder. Is that a Triumph?" Axel asked me as I got my bike in position to move to a certain direction.

"Don't even look at it," I growled at him, the way he was a drug addict and clearly into bikes reminded me of my brother in some twisted way. Is this what Merle would have ended up like? Nah...he's too tough to act like a pussy. Asshole.

"Didn't want it bored out?" Axel asked me as my motor revs. "Sounds like it could use a tune-up. I'm pretty handy with the grind. Heads are leakin'. I know my bikes!" he called after me as I slowly rode off after the others.

"Man, will you just stop? Have some balls," I could hear Oscar scolding Axel for being such a try hard. Exact opposite of Merle. I wonder if he's still alive...if he is happy.

"Just sayin'," I heard Axel speak back to Oscar and then the rattle of the gates shutting behind us as we rode off and not once did I look back at those sorry pricks. Those who commit crimes, will always commit crimes and I won't let that come anywhere near our group.


CPOV

I was fixing something that required my attention. Hearing the door creak opened, I saw Mom walk in with crutches in her hands. Beth gave me a kind and pretty smile. "All right," Mom said as she entered the cell that was occupied by Hershel. "Just take your time," Mom suggested as we watched Hershel slowly get up and onto his foot.

"Daddy, don't push yourself," Beth said as she went to go hold him, to stop him from pushing himself too hard to get onto his feet. It only made Hershel chuckle at his daughter as he got up onto his foot with the help of Mom handing him the crutches.

"What else am I going to do? I can't stand looking up at the bottom of that bunk...any longer," Hershel struggled as he twisted and turned on that one foot to keep himsef steady.

"Whoa," the women said as they held onto Hershel and helped him gain his balance. My eyes on the three of them as I too entered and decided to help them.

Hershel stood on the spot and began tapping the floor, trying to gain his balance and check the support given to him by the crutches. "You know? I can go pretty steady," he said when he was confident to move from the spot and to hop out of the cell.

"That's a good start. Want to take a rest?" Mom said with a smile, shuffling beside him and watching to make sure he was doing alright. He was and he was doing a lot better than any of us could have expected.

"Rest?" Hershel chuckled at Mom as he looked to her surprised she would even suggest something like that to him. "Let's go for a little stroll," Hershel said as we slowly got out of the cell block. Following after him as the women were there to guide him and were there to help him if he fell.


KPOV

"If we leave soon, we'll got a few hours on the road before dusk," Michonne spoke as we were all gathered on her bed, looking down at the map and watching her, I began to find where the farm once was.

"Where are we heading?" I asked her curious, picking up a red marker and glancing up at her from my position. Laying on the bed, my stomach pressing against the matress and my elbows supporting my upper body.

"I'm thinking towards the roads. We have the supplies from stray cars, maybe we find Kat's family. Best thing we can do is find the group," Michonne spoke as she looked to me and Andrea. Andrea sat cross legged on the bed, Michonne pointing to the map and seeing the directions we could go.

"And if the group are all dead?" Andrea asked bluntly. This made me tense, circling where I believed the farm would have once stood, I looked to Andrea stunned and angered at the same time. Why did she say that?

"Don't say that," I growled at her. Hating how she always would think my family either ditched me and her, or if she thought that they were dead and roaming around as walkers. Little faith they have in me and my family. We're pretty strong. They'll be fine. They have to be.

"Keep moving," Michonne answered Andrea as though I hadn't said anything. Ignoring both of them, I continued to search the map to see where everything was and is.

"Then what do we do? Just grow old, live on the run by ourselves?" Andrea asked her a little stunned. Wait...is Andrea considering staying? Does she really think we'll do any better here than out there? Any moment this place could be torn apart. Just like the farm did.

"I'd rather take my chances out there than stay here," Michonne growled out lowly and this made me glance at the pair of them. They both looked as cold or confused as they normally did. Andrea's look was more of a playful, curious and unsure look on her face.

"Because your gut tells you there's something off about this place, about the Governor?" Andrea asked her curiously. Her expression turned to one of confusion and incredulous.

"It's kept us alive this long," Michonne spoke back, a-matter-of-factly. A voice inside my head made me remember that conversation I had with my Dad years ago. The one of trusting my gut and following my heart.

"That's true," Andrea said as she looked to Michonne. Looking away, she laid to mirror my way of being on the bed. Looking at the maps and reminding me of the areas we had been looking for Sophia in and marking them.

"Dad always told me to go with my gut feeling. I think we should go with Michonne's," I spoke out as I thought of my father. He would want me to trust my gut, and it's telling me something just isn't completely right with this place. Certainly the Governor is a little...off.


RPOV

We were all busy, with jobs to do and climbing out the hole we had clipped the first day we arrived, I saw Glenn pull out his gun and stare at a walker in the distance. Ready to shoot her. "Should I take her out?" Glenn asked me as he was ready to fire and bring her down.

"No. If that armory hadn't been picked clean, we could spare the ammo," I tell him as I thought about the armory that wouldn't be too far from where we were now. Remembering how prisons worked and those that worked in the areas.

"I'll start making runs. The sooner the better," Daryl spoke as he went behind us, doing his own thing and possibly checking for the best routes for him to take in order to get us some food. Some meat in the time being.

"We'll throw as much wood as we can in the dog run," I speak as we think of what we should do for the walkers and the piles we had yet to burn.

"Won't the fire attract more walkers? Maybe we should bury them," Glenn suggested cleverly but I didn't want to risk the chance of the soil getting destroyed by the corpse's decomposing state.

"We're behind the fence. It's worth the one-time risk to get rid of the bodies for good. I don't want to be planting crops in walker-rotted soil," I tell him and he nods to me, understanding where I was coming from and the point that I had put accross to him.


CPOV

"I got you here if you need it," Mom said as she went in front of him, putting herself at risk as I walked beside him but a little behind. Her hand reaching out to steady him, pushing firmly against his chest.

"Just take your time on these steps," Beth told him as she stood behind us and we watched Hershel slowly make his way down the steps with some minor struggles.

"Ooh, ooh," I said as I saw him wobble on the one leg, one of his crutches no longer supporting him in the ground and making him almost fall if it weren't for myself, Beth and Mom. My hands gently holding his waist as we lead him down the stairs.

"You cleared all those bodies out? It's starting to look like a place we could really live in," Hershel commented as he looked around and was pleased to see the fields were clear and that it was clean compared to the last time he had seen it.

"Hey, you watch your step. Last thing we need is you falling," Mom said as we all walked beside him but Mom kept her arm at his reach, in case he would fall or possibly stumble into her.


DPOV

"Looky here," I said as I climbed into the hole we had cut out, seeing Hershel was out and walking about. He was on crutches but it was better than him laying around, feeling useless. I held the wires opened to allow them to get in, Glenn climbing through after Rick got in. Walking away, he chuckled and stared out to see Hershel was up and about.

"He is one tough son of a bitch," Glenn spoke with a small chuckle. "All right, Hershel!" he shouted out to the older man, I could hear the rustle and groaning of walkers that were getting interested in us. The sound echoing out to the walkers that were surrounding us.

"Shh! Keep your cheers down," I warned Glenn as I looked to the walkers and he did too. Growling coming from walkers as a response for Glenn and myself.

"Oh, man. Can't we just have one good day?" he asked a little annoyed and upset about us always living in constant threat. Shame. That's the life we're all signed up to now. A life where we are always running. Always fighting.


CPOV

"You're doing great, Daddy," Beth spoke softly to her dad, comforting him as we all walked slowly enough for him to keep up. The sounds of his crutches touching the floor was loud enough for us to hear but quiet enough to be hardly noticable.

"Ready to race, Hershel?" I teased him, reminding him of one time we had made a bet, where we had raced and he had won me. The thought of that memory made me smile up at him from under the hat that covered my eyes.

"Give me another day. I'll take you on," Hershel teased back as he sound determined that he would be quicker than me now that he had crutches intead of two feet. This makes me look down and chuckle to myself.

Everyone was stood still for a moment. Looking to one another and to the miracle that was Hershel back outside and enjoying the fresh air. "Walkers! Look out!" I shout when I heard the sound of gurgling, groaning and feet stumbling towards us. Turning to look at them, I pulled out my gun and shot at some.

"No!" I could hear Dad screaming for us as walkers were snarling and coming closer to us. Both myself and mom shooting as many walkers down as we could. "Get out! Get out of there! No! Lori! Carl! Come in here!" I could hear dad scream at us. Shots were being fired from everyone as we tried to kill as many walkers as we could.

"Daddy, behind you!" I heard Beth scream to her father as I glanced to them and saw them trying to fit into a small doorway that had a fence in order to protect themselves. Hershel pushed the walker down and whacked it before going to join his daughter in the small safe place.


RPOV

"Come on!" I screamed as I felt my heart pounding in my chest. Both from running and both in fear for my family. Carl was shooting as many walkers as he could, they were getting close to him while Lori was shooting off any walkers she could. Maggie was defending them, along with T-Dog and Carol.

"The lock-hurry up!" Daryl shouted as Glenn and Daryl ran behind me, trying to reach the others and seeing that Hershel was safe with Beth in a small area. I need to save Lori and Carl. I need them to be safe.

"The lock! Keys!" I screamed in desperation as we all fumbled around, picking up the keys and throwing it to one another in order to open the gates. Seeing our group scattered, screaming and crying. Gunshots being fired and walkers getting closer to members of our groups as they tried to get to safety.


CPOV

"Lori! Here!" Maggie called out to us as Mom pulled me to where Maggie was. All of us going to return to the cell block and Mom stared at Dad who was fumbling with the keys to the gate.

"Come on!" Dad growled as he tried to open up the gates but we were safer where we were than if we were out there. Mom shut the door behind us as Maggie led the way into the cell block. Only to hear the snarling and groaning of stumbling walkers.

"This way!" Maggie ordered us as we all walked away from the walkers quickly and went into the maze that were halls and small corridors. Maggie had shut the door and hoped that the walkers wouldn't follow us inside or learn how to open the gate that blocked them from getting to us.


RPOV

"Get out of my way!" I growled to the prisoners as I fumbled to open another gate. Seeing Lori and Carl head into the building without me and with only Maggie made me begin to panic more. Sweat beading on every inch of my skin.

"Come on, come on!" Daryl encouraged me as I opened the gate and began to run towards where all the walkers were and where our group was now trying to survive against all the walkers.

"Hey, bro, what about us?" Axel asked us as though we would honestly care about their safety. Need to get to my family. Now. You think I would care about the safety of a pair of prisoners? I think not!


KPOV

We both laughed at the memory of Daryl and our small discussion about him. "I circled where you can find that farm I was staying at with Daryl," I informed Merle as I handed him the map.

"Ah, you were right off Route 9 right before it becomes Dahlonega Highway. And you're saying that the farm is only about a day's walk from there?" Merle spoke as he looked to the map and was pointing around to show me what he was talking about.

"Give or take," I answered with a small shrug, not completely sure myself as it was so long ago that we left the farm. "This is where we looked for Sophia," I spoke with a small smile as I remembered the areas we were looking for the poor girl. How close I had got to Daryl during those weeks. "Even made it up around here," I answered as I pointed to both areas.

"How come we never hooked up?" Merle asked as his eyes trailed up and down my body. The way he looked at me made my spine shiver, the hairs on my body on end in either disgust or fear.

"You called me a whore once," I spoke cooly, remembering the times that Merle was high as a kite back when we were in camp. When I was with my mom and my brother. That day that he went with the group, never came back and was replaced with my Dad.

Merle chuckled as he looked me up and down. "Got a way with words, don't I?" he teased and this made me shake my head. Murmering a small 'Yeah,' as I felt awkward about this whole situation. "Mmm," he mumbled in response. "Why are you doing this?" he asked me, curious for my response as he indicated to the map by laying it against his chest.

"I'd want the same thing if someone knew where my family was," I answer as I thought of my brother and parents. Thinking if Mom had already had the baby, if not...she must have been about to pop that new sibling out soon.

"Sure you don't wanna come with me?" he asked me and I felt something in my gut clench. Maybe I should stay but...I won't leave Michonne or Andrea alone. Not now...not ever. They're my friends. Like sisters.

"Mmm," I hummed unsure of what to answer. I feel like he is resourceful, just like the Governor but...I don't think it would be a good idea to leave my friends like that. Especially not these two. Both so...cold in their own ways.

"You ain't wantin' to find your family?" he asked me and I rolled my eyes. Of course I want to find them. Just not with you. Not without Michonne and Andrea's help. Their promise to me.

"I'm sure they came back. I didn't stick around to find out, sadly more becuase of Andrea rather than myself. Andrea allowed it for a while but we are all trying to reunite me with my family," I answered as I felt my body tense and looked to Merle. Taking a very much needed sip of the water I was allowed to carry. They had taken my weapons, my belt and I felt naked without them sometimes.

"We got something in common, blue eyes. We got left behind by the same people and saved by another," he spoke as he looked directly at me. Folding up the paper and placing it into the back of his pocket. His body facing away from me but his head turned to my direction. Much like how Daryl looked to me and the rest of us. Always with his body turned to another side, his head looking to you.

"Have you ever thought about leaving this place?" I asked him, curious as to what he would say. His sad eyes on me as I glanced to both him and then to the town that surrounded us. We had hidden ourselves in a small garden that seemed to for where people could have tea or discuss something private. Much like what we were doing.

Merle sighed as he walked around and looked to both me then the map. "Never had a reason to," he said roughly, as though he didn't think his brother was still alive out there and that maybe...there was a reason to leave now. For Daryl.

"So the Governor is a good man?" I asked him, hoping he would tell me the truth and only that. That he would be good enough, after all that had happened to us all and how much admiration I had for Daryl after what happened between us, Carol and Sophia.

"Let me just put it this way...I wasn't in the best of shape when he found me. He should have just kept on going," Merle spoke in a slightly saddened voice. "Yeah, he's a good man," Merle said as he lead the way out of the small garden place, following after him and keeping my eyes glued to him.


RPOV

"Let's go. Pull it!" I ordered the other two as we pried the gates opened and they began to kill off walkers. Shooting at a few, I ran towards Hershel and Beth. "What the hell happened?" I asked them curious as to why there was suddenly so many walkers outside and wandering in somewhere we thought was safe.

"The gate was open!" Beth answered me, panic stricken as she pointed to the gate that I had shut on the second day we had taken over the prison.

"Where's Lori, Carl, everyone else?" I asked them panicked for what had happened while we were trying our hardest to get back to our people. To get to them and help take down all the walkers.

"Maggie led Lori and Carl into C block," Hershel informed me of where my family were hiding out until the walkers were done and dealt with.

"And T was bit!" Beth informed us which made my stomach twist painfully at the thought of T being bit. Fuck. He's such a good man and member to our group. Why?!

"Anyone else?" I asked her, worried that either Carl or Lori got bit and were now dying because of it. Let them be safe. Please. I beg of you.

"I couldn't tell," Beth said as her voice stuttered from the fear and the fact we were all still in danger.

"Stay put," I order them as I felt my voice tremble as I spoke. Gradually we took down the walkers and inspected the scene around us.

"Those chains didn't break on their own. Someone took an ax or cutters to 'em," Glenn informed me which made me look to the prisoners who stood there acting as if they were innocent. Those assholes wanted us dead. "You think they did it?" Glenn asked me, he was panting as he tried to regain his breath and was watching me to see my reaction.

"Who else?" I growled at him as I glared at the prisoners. They're going to fucking- I was about to go and kill the pair when suddenly there was analarm blaring from the speakers.

"What's that?" Glenn asked as we began to search for the speakers the noise was coming from.

"Oh, you gotta be kidding me!" Daryl growled back at the blaring alarms as we paced around, going in circles and searching for the speakers.

"Daryl!" I shouted to him as I threw him the keys and began to shoot at the speakers. "Kill it!" I yelled to Glenn as I noticed walkers getting more aggitated and being drawn towards the prison because of the noise. "Back up!" I shout to Beth and Hershel before shooting the speakers to a silence. "How the hell could this be happening?" I demanded the prisoners as I ran to them, my gun pointing at them.

"Whoa-whoa-whoa! It has to be the backup generators," Oscar defended himself as he raised his hands up in a surrender like pose. Trying to explain to us what was possibly going on with the alarms.

"Well, how do you turn those on?" I questioned him, unsure if he was telling the truth, shouting at him in order to be heard over the speakers and because I was furiously pissed off. My family is in possible danger right now.

"There's three that's connected to a diesel tank, okay? Each one controls a certain part of the prison. The hatch shut them all off when the prison was overrun," Oscar told me as though this was vital information that I would fully understand. He clearly knows about this machine.

"Can someone open up the main gates electronically, with full power?" I asked him to see if he would know for certain. If he did this...he will have a bullet between the eyes, or if he prefers he'll be having the bullet for breakfast.

"I only went in a few days. I guess it might be possible," Oscar suggested as he was looking to me with a clueless expression when it came to that possibility and question.

"Come with us!" I shout to him as I pulled him by his prison outfit and ran towards the buildings, letting them lead the way to where the generators could be.

"Let's go!" I heard Glenn shout to Axel as he ran alongside us, joining us for this mission to turn off the generator and to stop this alarm from calling every walker for miles towards us.


KPOV

"So...what exactly happened between you and your family? Why are you desperate to find them when they aren't looking for you?" Merle asked me as we walked side by side, as equalls and down the streets of busy people.

"Don't say that," I growled at him, unhappy with his conclusion about my family. "They didn't leave me behind like that. We were split up and well...I haven't had any sign of them and I've been leaving messages wherever I can. So they can see it if they are close by," I tell him as I remembered the signs I would make for them. Telling them I was okay and what direction we were going to go.

"Guess they didn't see it?" Merle asked me with curiousity. I suppose they didn't, I like to think they did and are looking for me. That they are any minute from walking through the gates and reuniting with me.

"I don't know. I wouldn't be able to say it, for I am as clueless as you," I tell him with all the pain in my heart. I don't like being in the dark like this. Not at all do I like this. I want to find them. I will find them.

"So...what did happen while I was gone?" he asked me curious as to what all the details of our time has been like. I told him about when the camp was over run, the CDC, Sophia's disappearance, the change in Daryl and the whole Randall and friend situation.

"My family and I seperated...my mom...she's pregnant. Amy died, along with others and well...Andrea is sticking with me so that I can go find my family. Daryl...he did all he could to find Sophia. Daryl took an arrow to his side and took down two walkers while he was injured, almost got shot by Andrea too," I stated happily. Merle gave a whistle, shake of his head and chuckled.

"He sounds tough," Merle said proudly of his brother. A smile forming on his lips as I giggled and shied away from his gaze. Pushing a strand of my short hair behind my ear. Daryl is quite the survivor.

"Like you...equally as stubborn too," I teased him as I walked beside him and he laughed dryly. His raspy voice sounding like sandpaper as he spoke and laughed.

"Funny," he joked in returned sarcastically. This made me laugh and shake my head.

"I know," I teased a little more, equally as sarcastic as him. "Merle...do you know why Daryl would barely look at anyone?" I asked him and Merle suddenly turned cold. As though this was a question neither of us could answer.

"I don't know exactly what is wrong with my baby brother but...I guess it was mostly because of our pasts. Not really the best of starts we've had. Doubt either of us will get a good ending either," Merle answered as he slowed his steps a little. I hope they both get a peaceful end, just like everyone else we care about. They don't deserve a bad end.

"Oh..." I said slightly unsure of what else to answer him with. Maybe Daryl has more in his closet than he lets on. It would probably explain why he is so cold towards us. I wish Merle would tell me, or Daryl when I finally see him.

"Don't worry yourself over my baby brother. You best get ready if you're going to be leaving with your buddies," Merle said slightly teasingly. As though it was sarcastic at the same time. Emphasising the word 'buddies'.

"Sure...take care Merle. I hope you know what you're doing," I say with a small, polite but sad smile. His eyes shied away as he gave a nod and walked off. Heading back inside, I went upstairs and prepared my things.


CPOV

The alarm blaring continued as we walked down what seemed to be empty corridors and lead them, gun at the ready. Suddenly, I could hear grunts coming from Mom as she began to slow down. "Can you keep up?" Maggie asked her as I stopped and kept watch of any walkers getting closer.

"Something's not right," Mom informed us as she didn't look to us, looking down as she would pant and groan in pain. Crap. Is she bit? Please tell me she isn't bit. I can't deal with having to put mom and the baby down.

"Are you bit?" I asked her, worry clear in my voice as I looked to her and stepped closer. Maggie's hands on Mom as she tried to calm her down and check to see what was wrong with her.

"No, no, no. I think the baby's coming," Mom informed us which made me look at Maggie and her surprised. Trying to reassure me sounded more terrorfying than if she said she was bit, rather than to say she was about to give birth to my sibling.

"Mom?" I called to her worried, to see if she was alright but then there was the familiar sound of walkers getting closer. I was ready to shoot them but Maggie stopped me by lifting Mom up enough to wrap Mom's arm around her neck.

"No, there's no time!" Maggie told me as I began to lead them to another direction, reaching the end of another hall, I saw there were walkers coming closer. In the dark, I did my best to lead them to safety and soon found a room where we could hide. Mom grunting and coughing as walkers got closer.

"In here!" I tell them as I opened the door for them to go into. Thumping the door closed as many times as I could, hearing walkers wander around I decided I needed to stop or I would only gain their attention and put us all at risk. She was panting, grunting and clutching to anything she could support herself with. Walkers shuffling past our door and the three of us hid from them as best as we could.


RPOV

The alarm kept blaring and I shot down a walker, climbing up the stairs, I felt panic rise in my blood as I looked for my wife and son. "Lori! Carl!" I shouted out their names in hope that they were safe and around.

"We just took down five of 'em in there," Daryl informed me as he walked in and began to prepare his crossbow again, ready for action and slightly panicked like I am.

"They were four in here, but no sign of Lori or anyone," I inform them as I climbed back down the stairs and joined them. Looking around to see if there was any sign of them being in there.

"They must have been pushed back into the prison," Glenn said as though this would comfort me but it only made me more worried. Last time we were in there, Hershel got bit and lost his leg. Fuck. I need to find them. Now.

"Somebody is playing games! We'll split up and look for the others. Whoever gets to the generators first, shut 'em down!" I shout as we all began to jog and head to different sections of the cell block. Prepared to either find my family or to find the generators.

"Let's go!" Glenn shouted to the others as we all ran in different directions in order to try and find the generator. Please let them be safe. Safe enough until I find them and shut off this stupid alarm.


LPOV

Grunting, I clutched tightly onto the chains and gasped for breath. The contractions and pains were as though my body was being torn apart. Kat was such an easy birth. Carl was a c-section and now...God. What is going to happen to me? "What are those alarms?" I asked as to get the thought out of my mind, even for a second.

"Don't worry about it," Maggie tried to reassure me as I walked over to her and moved further into the room. Clutching to anything I could in order to get to where I could have the baby in peace.

"What if it attracts them?" Carl asked a little worried for either me giving birth or the alarm alerting the walkers where we were. Panting I stopped and looked to the wall and then to where I was holding onto. I hope the alarm distracts them and muffles my screams.

"Lori, let's lay you down," Maggie tried to instruct me what to do as she kindly placed her hands on my hips and went to guide me to sit on the floor. As to get comfortable and offer me support.

"No. The baby's coming now," I inform them and I could see Carl from the corner of my eye looking at me worried. My poor baby boy. I don't know what's going to happen but all I know is I love him more than anything in this world.

"We have to get back to our cell block to have Hershel help," Carl tried to get me help, professional help and all I could do was pant and grip onto whatever I was holding all the more tighter. Fuck this baby is pulling me apart.

"We can't risk getting caught out there. You're gonna need to give birth to this baby here," Maggie ordered me as she kept her hold on me comforting and looked to Carl.

"Great," I whispered as I tried to get my breath to a normal rate but knew it was near imposible to do. Lord...give me strength to give life to this baby. Take my life but please...don't let me lose this baby.

"What is she doing? Can't she breathe?" Carl asked worried for me as I was breathing loudly and trying not to scream because of the pain. Holding in all my pain in order to not attract attention towards us.

"She's fine," Maggie tried to reassure Carl as quickly as she could, her fingers went to my pant button and zip. "Come here. Let's get your pants off," Maggie suggested as she began to undo my pants and guided me to be laying on the floor.

"Okay. Okay," I mumbled as I got to the floor and laid down. Maggie helping me undo my pants and slipping my panties off along with them.

"You're gonna need to help deliver your brother or sister. You up for it?" Maggie asked Carl as he looked to her, to me and then gulped. Nodding, he didn't seem too confident as the colour from his face was drained. Pale. "All right, let me see if it's dilated," Maggie spoke to me as she pushed the pants away.

I kept mumbling 'okay' but I tried to focus more on my breathing and the fact that this baby was trying to come into this world. "Do you know how?" Carl asked her startled and Maggie was trying not to lose her own control as I was close to either exploding or giving birth.

"Dad taught me, but trust me, it's my first time," Maggie informed him as she spread my legs and tried to see if I was dilated enough to give birth to my child. Grunting, I gasped and tried not to scream. Biting the need to and keeping myself in check. "I can't tell," Maggie said as she looked up at me.

"I gotta push. I gotta push," I mumbled to her with the little amount of air I had in my lungs. Leaning up, I saw Maggie move away a little in order to give me some room and she kept mumbling 'okay' in return to my own words.

Grunting and huffing I got to my feet, gripping onto two handles I began to gather up my breath in order to push. Pushing, I could feel this fire run through my body as I gripped onto it as tight as I could. Sweat covering every inch of my skin. "Somebody!" I screamed in a pant, mid push and feeling a pain run through my body. "I'm okay, I'm okay. I'm okay," I mumbled which earned me an 'okay' from Maggie.

"You're doing great, Lori. Just keep doing it. Your body knows what to do. Let it do all the work," Maggie informed me as though to encourage me, pushing again I yelped and tried to keep my breathing regular but enough in order to do what I was doing. "You're doing great," Maggie informs me as she crouched down to watch my work and to see if there was any head sprouting out of me.

"Lori, don't push. Stop. Something's wrong," Maggie told me after I gave another, hard and agonizing push. My body shook with all the force but all I could feel was a pain I had not experienced with Kat. This was when I screamed and felt the full impact of the pain I had just put myself and the baby through. The warmth of blood running down legs.


RPOV

We were reaching a room, walkers were growling and snarling as they followed us. "Daryl, Get the door!" I screamed as I shot one down and allowed for Oscar and Daryl to push the door shut as best they could. The alarm blaring clearly as I saw generators and raised my gun to inspect the area. "How do you shut these down?!" I asked Oscar as I tried pressing any buttons but finding no way to turn it off.

"Go help 'em. I got it," Daryl growled to Oscar as he forced the door closed as hard as he could. Oscar ran to me and pointed to what I needed to do in order to shut off the stupid alarms.

Pressing a button, I went back to the buttons but then saw a small figure with an axe in their hands run after me. Seeing them yell as they ran towards me, I ducked and saw as Andrew went to hit Oscar who went to defend me. Grabbing hold of the axe, we struggled against each other as he pushed me against a machine.

Trying to choke me, I heard Daryl yell and hit Andrew as hard as I could in the face. Shoving him back as I still held the axe and forced him against the machines. Elbowing me in the face, I went to clutch my nose and was kicked when I went to pull my gun out. Crawling on the floor to reach my gun, he climbed ontop of me and we began to wrestle on the ground.

Kicking him off, he got to his feet and went to swing his axe at me again when something large hit him. Oscar then grabbed my gun and raised it, cocking it as to shoot me. Raising my hand in surrender, I kept my eyes on him and felt myself close to death. "Shoot him! We can take back this prison," Andrew demanded of Oscar as he pointed the gun at us.

"What you waiting for? Do it! It's our house. Shoot him!" Andrew ordered Oscar as the alarm continued to ring in our ears. Expecting myself to be shot, I was surprised to see Oscar point the gun to Andrew and shot clean through Andrew's forehead.

Daryl slowly sneaked up on Oscar as he handed me back my gun. Taking it back gently, I moved to the generator and shut it down. The alarm finally stops and I turn to the pair in the room. "Let's go," I said when I knew that the alarm was off and we were now safer than we once were.


CPOV

"Mom? Mom, look at me, look at me. Keep your eyes open," I tell Mom as she laid back onto the ground. It was horrorfying to see Mom giving birth like that. Screaming, groaning and in pain. The blood on Maggie's hands made me want to faint or puke.

"We have to get you back to Dad," Maggie said as she was all over the place. Checking Mom's legs and holding her hand. I could feel Mom's strength slowly going with every drop of her blood, only by holding her limp hand.

"I'm not gonna make it," Mom whispered as though she knew what was going to happen. No. I can't lose her too. Please. I don't want Mom to leave me like Kat did.

"Lori, with all this blood, I don't even think you're fully dilated yet. No amount of pushing is gonna help," Maggie said in rushed panick.

"I know what it means, and I'm not losing my baby. You've gotta cut me open," Mom said which made me feel faint and I wanted to cry my eyes out. She wants to end her life only to give life to something so...small and...innocent. The baby won't survive in this world.

"No. I can't," Maggie said with a shake of her head, as though she was going to cry.

"You don't have a choice," Mom told Maggie as though that was meant to comfort the both of us.

"I'll go for help," I said as I let go of her hand and was running away, almost reaching the stairs when I heard Mom's voice call out to me.

"No!" Mom growled at me firmly, demanding of me as I stopped and turned to look at her laying there, cupping her stomach and looking directly at me.

"Look, Carol is the one that practiced that. Dad only taught me the steps, Lori. If I-" Maggie went to say but was cut off by Mom.

"Please," Mom pleaded softly to Maggie as Maggie held Mom's hands, shaken by the thought of having to operate on Mom.

"I have no anesthetic, no equipment-" Maggie went further as to make up excuses as to why we couldn't operate here and without a professional.

"Carl has a knife," Mom said as though that would solve anything for us. I won't give her my knife only to lose her in the process. She's my Mom and I don't want to lose her. Not yet. Please.

"You won't survive," Maggie informed her which made my throat clench and my heart sink.

"My baby has to survive. Please. My baby for all of us. Please, Maggie! Please! Please," Mom gasped as she was panting for air. Pleading Maggie to go through with this. I didn't know what to say. What to do.


KPOV

"I thought we had an agreement?" I asked confused as I looked at the two women beside me. Michonne looked angry and Andrea seemed cool about it all.

"We can always leave tomorrow or the following day," Andrea said as she looked to the pair of us.

"The following day?" Michonne asked a little dryly, clearly not liking the fact that Andrea kept trying to postpone our exit of this eerie town.

"We don't want to walk into trouble that we can't get out of," Andrea said as she crossed her arms over her chest, as though she was trying to be clever or smart about it.

"Tell me about it," Michonne said a little sarcastically. These two bicker more than I ever have with Carl. Fucking hell. Pair of children.

"Michonne, it is just a day or two," Andrea suggested as she looked a little annoyed at Michonne.

"I heard you the first time," Michonne growled before she left us alone and walked out the front door, angered and slightly upset about the whole situation. Sighing, I walked up to my room and moved my bag off my bed, pulling out a book from the shelf and read it until I felt the need to get up and do something.


LPOV

"You see my old C-section scar?" I asked Maggie as she slowly raised my shirt to look at my scar from when I had Carl.

"I can't," Maggie said as her eyes watered. She really doesn't want to do this. I can tell she doesn't.

"You can. You have to," I tell her, as though she had no choice whatsoever. "Carl? Baby, I don't want you to be scared, okay? This is what I want. This is right. Now you...you take care of your daddy for me, all right? And your little brother or sister, you take care-" I spoke to Carl as my voice trembled, my eyes on him as he sat beside me.

"You don't have to do this," he pleaded with his sad little face. Those blue eyes that I had got so used to over the years. Rick...Kat...Carl. I hope this baby has their beautiful blue eyes. Whatever gender it is.

"You're gonna be fine. You are gonna beat this world. I know you will. You are smart, and you are strong, and you are so brave, and I love you," I told him with all the strength in my heart that I held for him. My heart torn at the thought of leaving him and joining my other child.

"I love you too," Carl spoke back to me as his bottom lip trembled and he gripped onto my hands. His tears falling from his eyes and rolling down his cheeks. How I wish to have the strength to wipe those tears away for him. But I'm so weak...

"You gotta do what's right, baby. You promise me, you'll always do what's right," I pleaded of him as we both began to cry to each other. My baby boy. I would have clung onto my life for you. Always. God I love you. So very much.

"It's so easy to do the wrong thing in this world. So don't. So if it feels wrong, don't do it, all right? If it feels easy don't do it. Don't let the world spoil you. You're so good," I told him as I forced any strength I had in me to wipe his tears and cup his face. "You're my sweet boy. You and Kat are the best things I ever did," I cried out as I thought of my two babies. My baby girl and baby boy. Such strong people.

"I love you. I love you. You're my sweet, sweet boy. I love you," I mumbled as I sobbed and held him to me, letting him cry with me as we both felt the pain of slowly losing each other. "Okay," I said as I began to pull away from Carl and kissed his head. "Okay, now. Okay," I whispered as I went to lay down again. God...I love him so much. My little man. My baby boy. "Maggie, when this is over, you're gonna have to-" I said as I refered to killing me.

"Shh-" Maggie said as though not to stress me. Rick shouldn't have to put me down. I don't want him to.

"You have to do it. It can't be Rick. All right all right. It's all right. It's all right," I said as I prepared myself for what was about to happen. Taking deep breaths and then felt Carl's little hand cup mine.

"Mom...say hello to Kat for me. Please. You'll finally be back together again. I know you'll be safe where you are because she'll be there with you," Carl spoke as he held my hand and this nearly tore me in two. My baby girl...my Kitten.

"I'll tell her your message baby," I whispered as I smiled at the thought of reuniting with my beautiful daughter. To be back in her arms and to watch over our boys from the heavens.

"Good night, love," I whispered to both the baby and Rick. Knowing that even though we had our ups and downs, he loved me as I loved him.

"I'm sorry," Maggie whispered and quick as a flash, I felt the blade cut me open causing me to scream and writhe in pain. Slowly, my vision turned to black and suddenly to light. A pull dragging me up to some place only dreams came from...


CPOV

"Carl? Baby, I don't want you to be scared, okay? This is what I want. This is right. Now you...you take care of your daddy for me, all right? And your little brother or sister, you take care-" Mom went to speak as she took my hands in hers.

"You don't have to do this," I pleaded as my eyes began to water. I don't want to lose her. I don't want to lose her. I've already lost Kat...

"You're gonna be fine. You are gonna beat this world. I know you will. You are smart, and you are strong, and you are so brave, and I love you," Mom said as she began to cry, making me all but sob as I stared down at her.

"I love you too," I whispered back as I felt my throat squeeze itself. I regret being so mean to her. To being so horrible to her when it came to Kat. I'm going to be missing both of them like crazy.

"You gotta do what's right, baby. You promise me, you'll always do what's right. It's so easy to do the wrong thing in this world. So don't. So if it feels wrong, don't do it, all right? If it feels easy don't do it. Don't let the world spoil you. You're so good," Mom pleaded of me as she wiped my tears and cupped my face gently in her sweet touch.

"You're my sweet boy. You and Kat are the best things I ever did. I love you. I love you. You're my sweet, sweet boy. I love you," Mom said as she pulled me to her and cried with me. Both of us sobbing as she spoke to me. "Okay. Okay, now. Okay," Mom said as she pulled away and kissed my head. "Maggie, when this is over, you're gonna have to-" Mom went to say something more.

"Shh-" Maggie cut her off but was then cut off by Mom.

"You have to do it. It can't be Rick. All right all right. It's all right. It's all right," Mom spoke as Maggie agreed and gently took the knife I handed her. Taking mom's hand, I leaned down a little to look at her.

"Mom...say hello to Kat for me. Please. You'll finally be back together again. I know you'll be safe where you are because she'll be there with you," I toll her as I thought of my blue eyed beautiful, smart and strong sister. My guardian. Her name made my throat tighten all the more than it already was, almost chocking on her name.

"I'll tell her your message baby," she whispered to me and smiled, possibly at the thought of seeing Kat again. I know I too would love to see Kat again. Even if it were for a single second. To feel her embrace again. To hear her laugh and voice.

"Good night, love," Mom whispered just as Maggie placed the knife gently to her skin.

"I'm sorry," Maggie said before she cut open Mom, blood pouring out of her as she screamed and rolled her head to the side. Passed out from the sudden blood loss.

"What are you doing to her?" I cried as I looked to Maggie and saw her opening up my Mom as she shuddered and blood kept pouring out of her, slowly taking her life away.

Following Maggie's orders I did as she said and eventually with every pull we made, trying to get the baby out, I could feel Mom slowly slipping away from me. Seeing her unresponsive and not breathing made me worry for her. Crying I then saw the baby was out, fluid all over it and somehow Maggie made it come to life. The crying made me pull off my coat and hand it to Maggie to cover the baby with.

"We have to go," Maggie said as she got to her feet and began to walk off towards the door, leaving Mom to turn on the floor after giving birth to my sibling.

"We can't just leave her here. She'll turn. No," I said as Maggie gave me a look suggesting we leave her to turn. To stay walking around like a corpse. Mom doesn't want that.

"Carl," Maggie went to warn me as I pulled out my gun. Tears running down my face as I felt my body shake at the thought of Mom dead and turning into a walker.

"She's my mom," I tell her and that was when she left me. Staring down at Mom's cold and dead figure, I raised my gun and felt my body shake from the held in sobs. No more kids stuff. People are gonna die. I'm gonna die, Mom...Kat. There's no way you can ever be ready for it...

Imagining that day on the farm, I kept my hand firm and shot her. Sobbing as I took a few seconds to recover and slowly went up the stairs. Never turning back, I kept walking and heard Maggie sob behind me.


RPOV

We found two walkers eating the corpse of T-Dog and the scarf of Carol, all while finding Glenn and Axel in the corridor. "Hershel!" I called to him as we returned to them.

"You didn't find them?" Hershel asked us surprised that we didn't come across my wife and son.

"We thought maybe they came back out here," Glenn said as though that could explain what happened to all of us seperating.

"What about T? Carol?" Hershel asked us curious of what became of them.

"They didn't make it," Daryl spoke up for me but this made me shake my head.

"That doesn't mean the others didn't. We're going back. Daryl and Glenn, you come with-" I went to say but was then cut off by the sound of an infant crying. Carl looked cold while Maggie clutched the baby and sobbed. "Where...where is she? Where is she?" I asked them as I paced around.

"No Rick, no!" Maggie called to me as she went to grip me and stop me from going inside. Stopped me from going in to find my dead wife. She's left me with a child. A child that might not even be mine...

"Oh, no. No!" I sobbed. Losing my wife. I've lost my wife...I've lost my daughter. I have lost so much. I can't seem to protect anyone from this new world. All I have now is a baby that may not be mine and Carl. I'm a terrible dad and husband. A terrible leader. "No!" I sobbed. All through the process I had dropped the axe and the gun, rubbing at my face and falling to the floor. Muttering 'no' while Carl stood there frozen, emotionless and silent. There is no hope...


Surprise! Here you go! Hope you liked this update! Tell me, what do you think is going to happen. How do you think Kat will react to her mothers death? What did you think of Merle flirting with Kat? I admit...I did cry when I wrote this. Such a sad moment. Now...time for replies to reviews! 5 reviews this time again please.


redangel2463: You're welcome. Thanks for being so patient! How has this one been to your liking? Anything tingling or stinging in your eyes?


Caity6991: Aww! Thank you hun! You're truly amazing! xoxox


An Amber Pen: How was this for you?


kayley . docherty: That will be soon...hopefully. You'll have to wait and see.


Bloody-Asphode11: We'll just have to see won't we?


KoNeKoLuvsU: We'll have to see how it will all turn out won't we?


Jorylynn12: I would love to hear more of your thoughts. Really interested me when I read your review. Thank you! I'm glad you love Kat and Daryl!


Until the 5 reviews!

Much love!

HeroJustInTime90 x