A/N All characters belong to the writers and creators of The Walking Dead. Except those that arose from my own twisted imagination.

Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, commented or subscribed to this fic. It's gone on a lot longer than I intended. I actually have a couple of different endings written that have since been scrapped, though bits and pieces will work their way in as needed. Also, Season 4 premiere tonight! Maybe some new source material for later? *Fingers crossed*

Chapter 32-The Buckeye State

"You guys got everything you need?" Daryl asked as he shut the hatchback on the Hyundai. Abraham tucked his machete and gun into the console between the front seats and gave him the thumbs up.

"I think we're ok." He looked up as Michonne and Tyreese walked to the car.

"You got room for one more?" asked Tyreese. Abraham nodded.

"Absolutely." Rick and Daryl exchanged a look.

"Tyreese, you sure you want to do this?" Rick asked, a little concerned. Tyreese looked at Michonne and nodded.

"I'm ready Rick. This needs to get done." Rick extended his hand to Tyreese who shook it.

"Thank you, Tyreese." Tyreese smiled in response.

"For the good of the group right?" When everyone was loaded up in the car, Daryl whistled at Carl and motioned for him to open the gate. The car headed quickly down the drive and Carl shut the gate behind them. Rick glanced over at Daryl.

"Are you sorry you're not goin'?" Daryl squinted in the bright sunlight and shook his head.

"No." Daryl motioned Carl over to him. "Dani said she'd teach you how to use her bow, if you still want to learn." Carl grinned.

"I thought she forgot." Daryl shrugged.

"Lot's of things happened." He jerked his chin in the direction of the prison. "Go on now. Tell her you're ready." Carl, looking like a kid rather than a child soldier for the first time in months, turned and ran inside. Daryl crossed his arms and looked over at Rick.

"I'm gonna tell you somethin' but you need to keep it to yourself awhile." Daryl tried to keep his face serious but couldn't keep the smile out of his eyes. "Dani's gonna have a baby." Rick was floored. He figured that Daryl had his reasons for backing out of the Woodbury run but he had never expected this.

"Wow, Daryl. I don't…I don't know what to say." He laughed. "Congratulations, brother. This is great news." He held out his hand and Daryl took it, pulling Rick in for a quick one armed hug. Stepping back, Daryl pulled his crossbow up on his shoulder.

"I just don't want you to think I was just flakin' out on you. There's a reason I needed to stay." Rick nodded.

"I understand. And hey, you need anything, anything at all you let me know. You and Dani both, you hear me? We're family, all of us." Daryl nodded.

"Thanks Rick."

"So.." Alice looked up from the medical book she was reading. "How'd Daryl take the news about the baby?" Dani turned from the bookshelf and raised her finger to her lips.

"Would you keep quiet?" She walked to the library door and looked out in the hallway. After seeing they were actually alone, she walked over to the table. "Good lord Alice! I don't want everyone to find out yet. It's bad luck!" Alice rolled her eyes.

"Whatever. That's an old wives tale anyway and most of the old wives that thought that are dead. I asked you a question. How did Daryl take the news?" Dani looked at the table and smiled.

"He's happy, really happy." She bit her lip. "He told me he loves me." Alice reached across the table and took Dani's hand.

"Honey I'm happy for you. And stop worryin' about the baby. You both'll be fine." She picked up the medical book. "I'll make sure of that." Dani raised her eyebrow and laughed.

"Didn't you spend six years in the OB department of Atlanta Medical Center? Shouldn't the whole baby thing be old hat for you? If you're readin' a book on how to do it, doesn't make me feel too good." Smiling, Alice raised a finger in warning.

"Honey just 'cause you're knocked up don't think I won't slap you silly! You watch that sass now girl!" They both started laughing. When they calmed down, Alice showed her the book. Dani read the cover.

"'Operative Obstetrics?'" She looked up at Alice. "Wasn't this a men's prison?" Alice smiled.

"I took it from Woodbury. I found it in a doctor's office there, along with a bunch of other medical books and I brought them all with me. Figured I might as well brush up. I mean, I know how to tell when someone is having problems. I've monitored countless labors, personally delivered over a hundred babies when the doctor was late and assisted in a number of c-sections. I know I can monitor you throughout this pregnancy and deliver your baby without any problem. I just need to know that I'm prepared for the worst because if I am, it won't happen. Ok?" Dani smiled.

"Thank you Alice. I'm glad you're here." She turned when she heard a cough behind her.

"Carl, hey." Carl shifted uncomfortably.

"Daryl said you were ready to teach me how to shoot your bow." Dani was surprised at how glum he sounded. The kid had been pestering her to teach him how to use her bow since her first week at the prison. It had never really been a good time and she had thought he was still excited to learn how so she had told Daryl to send Carl in when he had a chance. The way Carl sounded now, Dani would have sworn Daryl sent him in as punishment rather than reward.

"Sure. Go get the target set up and I'll meet you out there." Carl nodded and walked out of the library. Dani bit her lip and turned to Alice, who had a bewildered look on her face.

"What's with him?" Alice asked. "Pardon the expression, but he looks like someone just died." Dani shook her head.

"I don't know unless.." Dani's shoulders slumped as it dawned on her. "Ah shit Alice, do you think he heard us? I mean, he had to put his mother down after she died giving birth to the baby." Alice shrugged.

"He may have. If so, you aren't gonna be able to keep this a secret for much longer you know." Dani snorted.

"When do we ever get to keep things a secret around here? Everyone's up in everyone else's business." Dani stood and walked out of the library.

"Dani," she turned back to Alice. "Go easy on the kid ok?" Dani nodded.

Carl had tacked the target to the mattress they still used for practice when they had time. Dani set her bag of arrows down and handed Carl her bow.

"Ok first off, stance is really important, ok? If your stance is off, your balance is off and you'll have a hard time hitting your target." Carl nodded. "Alright then, start off standing at a right angle to your target." She quickly demonstrated and he followed. "Great, that's it. Now, make sure the bow isn't facing anyone and load an arrow onto the rest." She handed him an arrow and he did.

"Like this?" Dani nodded.

"Perfect. Ok, you see that notched piece at the end of the arrow?" Carl nodded. "That's called the nock. Slide the arrow back until the nock locks onto the bow string right here. You'll feel it click. Make sure it's nocked right, that's important."

"Got it." Dani smiled and handed him the trigger release.

"Personally, I don't like using this. My daddy taught me how to shoot old school, Robin Hood style but it's harder to do on this bow if you're not used to it. You want to attach this to the d-loop on the bowstring." Carl did and started to raise the bow.

"Hold on a second. Keep your finger behind the trigger. You don't want to press it and accidently fire when you're not ready. This is just as deadly as a gun alright? You need to remember that." Carl nodded. "Ok then. Keep your left arm straight as you raise the bow until it's parallel to the ground." The bow wobbled a bit in Carl's outstretched arm. "It's not too heavy is it?" Carl shook his head slightly.

"No, I've got it." He was eyeing the target seriously and in such a way Dani was sure he was picturing a walker standing in front of him.

"Don't grip the bow too tight, keep your hand relaxed. You don't want to tighten your muscles up or your bow will bounce around. Now, draw the bowstring back until it's even with the corner of your mouth, using that as your anchor point. Get used to that feeling. You want to anchor at the same spot every time, just touching your cheek and your nose. Then you can line up your target in your sight. Once you're lined up, then pull the trigger." Carl made a couple of slight adjustments to his aim and fired, jumping when he felt the bowstring against his face.

"Startle you a bit?" Carl nodded and grinned.

"Yeah it did." Dani smiled and patted his shoulder.

"It'll almost always make you flinch, it's just reflexes, but you'll get used to it. Just don't bury the bowstring into your cheek, ok, rest it against your face." She looked down at the target and raised her eyebrows, impressed. "Not bad for your first time. You hit the target. That's a good start." Carl frowned and looked at her.

"It's at the bottom of the target though. I was aiming for the bullseye." Dani nodded.

"You might have dropped your bow a bit. You have to have a bit more follow through when you release the string. Don't just drop your arm down. Hold that position until you see your arrow hit your target, ok?" She handed him another arrow. "Ok, try another one without me tellin' you the steps. Let's see if you were payin' attention." Dani handed him another bow. He loaded it, aimed and fired perfectly, hitting slightly higher and to the left of his original arrow. "That's good. You need to keep practicing and trying to hit the same spot every time. It'll get easier the more you work on it ok? Bow hunting takes a lot of practice but you're a natural." She narrowed her eyes at him though a smile played on her lips. "You sure you never done this before?" Carl smiled and looked down.

"No. Just Daryl's crossbow but that's way easier than this." Dani laughed.

"I should get him to use my bow sometime shouldn't I? Though I shouldn't tease him too much. My cousin had a crossbow and I hated using that thing. It's too heavy for me." She took the bow from Carl, loaded an arrow, drew back and fired. The arrow hit the dead center of the bullseye. She handed the bow back to Carl. "This is my pride and joy so, while you're welcome to practice with it, you need to take care of it. Don't go making any adjustments or anythin' without me watchin' and sayin' it's alright. I still need to be able to use it and I probably won't have time to reset everything if you've messed with it, got it?" Carl nodded and looked up at her.

"Are you really pregnant?" Dani closed her eyes. Dammit, the kid did hear. She pursed her lips and looked around the yard to see who else might overhear.

"Yes I am but don't go tellin' anyone alright? Daryl and I will tell everyone when…when the time is right." Carl frowned at her.

"Why would you do that though?"

"Do what?" The kid was far too serious for his age.

"Have a baby. How could you just be having a baby right now?" Dani looked around for Rick but he was over by the cow. She put her hands on her hips.

"Carl, um, look I really think this is a conversation you should be havin' with your daddy not me." Carl rolled his eyes.

"I know about sex ok? I'm not asking about that. I'm asking you why would you bring another baby into this place? You don't know if they're gonna live. You might not live to even see it. My mom never even got to look at Judith." He looked down at his shoes. Dani chewed on her lip as she tried to think of a response.

"Carl, what happened to your mom was the worst thing that could happen and I am so sorry that you had to deal with that. All I can say to you is you're right. That could happen to me or any woman here who decides to have a baby. Someone could also get real sick and we don't have the medicine to treat it, like what happened to my little girl. You could be over feedin' the pigs, cut your leg on a rusty nail and get tetanus or a blood infection. What I'm tryin' to say is you can't stop livin' because of what might happen, ok? Do you understand? You just do what you have to and deal with the outcome." Carl nodded.

"I guess like Michonne said: 'We have to keep living because that's all we've got.'" Dani nodded.

"Exactly." She tilted his chin up and grinned at him. "Now, are you ready to keep practicing or do you want to just stand here and shoot the shit?" Carl smiled and laughed, his face relaxing.

"Keep practicing." Dani nodded and ruffled his hair.

"That's more like it. Now go on, set up like I told you."

"Where were you plannin' on goin' when we get to Woodbury?" Abraham looked in the rearview mirror at Michonne.

"I want to see about getting as close to the side wall as we can. I don't want to just drive up to the gate of course. I know where they have the guards, you know. The wall was my post." Michonne pursed her lips.

"But where were you plannin' on leaving the car? You know as well as I do that you can hear a car engine for a couple of miles at least. We're gonna have to walk in." Abraham slowed down.

"You have a point. I'm embarrassed to say I didn't think about that." He came to a stop and turned around. "Where would you suggest we go?" Michonne unfolded the map and pointed to a road.

"Here. That's where Rick parked the car when we went in there to get Glenn and Maggie. We park there, it's a straight shot through the woods to Woodbury." Abraham nodded and started driving again. Taylor kept his eyes on the scattered walkers along the road.

"Goddamn. You'd think they'd rot away or somethin'. It's been way over a year, I think maybe even two since those first reports came out of Asia. How are these things still able to move?" Tyreese looked out into a huge field with a single walker still trudging along in the distance.

"Most of these things aren't two years old. Besides, it takes time for the body to decompose. Most of these things are rotting away, just not as fast as we'd like." Taylor sat back in his seat.

"I was pre-med in college man. I took anatomy, biology, physiology, everything. I know what kind of bacteria lives in the body that starts feeding on you when you're dead. These things aren't rottin' near as fast as they should." Tyreese turned around.

"Pre-med huh? What happened?" Taylor kept staring out the window.

"My mom got real sick. I had three little sisters still at home so I took care of them." Tyreese looked flustered.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. At least my mom had already passed before this thing came along and she didn't have to watch me kill my sisters when they turned into those things." The heavy silence that followed filled the car and they didn't speak until they were on the road Michonne had pointed to on the map.

"It's about a mile up there. Just pull over to the side of the road." Abraham followed Michonne's directions and pulled the car over. Once out of the car, Taylor pulled his backpack out of the trunk and tucked his gun into the holster on his belt. When everyone else was armed, Taylor motioned to Michonne and winked.

"Ladies first." They started into the woods, following Michonne's lead. They didn't notice the brunette ducked down behind a fallen tree with a walkie talkie.

"They're here," said Karen. "What do you want me to do?" The voice on the other end of the walkie crackled through.

"How many?"

"Just four. Abraham and Taylor with that Michonne woman and another guy."

"No sign of Rick Grimes or Andrea or Danielle?"

"No. Michonne's the only one I recognize from those people." The walkie went silent for a moment.

"Keep an eye on them Karen but don't do anything until you receive further instructions."

"Hey Daryl," Daryl turned as Bill ran up to him. "You got a second?" Daryl shrugged.

"Depends. What's goin' on?" Bill shifted nervously on his feet.

"Alice told me about Dani and the baby." Daryl rolled his eyes and muttered "Shit" under his breath. Bill held up both hands. "I'm not going to tell anyone, ok? She told me not to. I just wanted to bring this up to you because, well, Rick kind of shot me down when I brought it up to him." Daryl frowned.

"What is it?"

"About eight years ago, I was contracted to design the most secure housing development in the United States. It was a test project, some funding rider that got attached to a defense spending bill for Iraq. The original pitch was that we needed to have these small, independent communities all throughout the country that could remain functioning in the event of a terrorist attack, natural disaster, whatever. The first one was supposed to be built in Wyoming but was relocated to Ohio, not far outside of Columbus. I'm still not entirely sure why they moved it there, but I think some high ranking congressman on the House Armed Services Committee pushed it through. After a bunch of changes and political backroom discussions, it ended up being this super secure housing development for the rich and politically connected. By the time the public found out about it, the money had been spent and the development was well on it's way, no one could stop it. There were about thirty homes, large homes, and the development had it's own well and backup generators so it could function completely off grid. The walls are twelve feet high and fully surround the place. I was out of the whole thing by the time the political shit hit the fan but I've seen the finished product. It's as secure as this prison, maybe even more so." Daryl shrugged.

"So what's your point?"

"My point is, if Abraham comes back and we find out that Woodbury is planning on attacking, we should head north, get to that development and start over." Daryl snorted.

"That's the dumbest idea I ever heard. We're stupid to just give up the prison if we don't have to. Besides," he nodded down towards the practice range where Dani was giving Carl archery lessons. "Anything happens here, Dani and I are heading West. She's got family in Louisiana she thinks might still be around. Whether anyone wants to follow us is their choice but that's what we're doin'." Bill nodded.

"And what are you going to do when the first hurricane blows through there huh? If we head North, we've got winter on our side. You know how scarce these things are during winter down here and it gets cold. Imagine what it's like up North where it snows more and drops below freezing regularly?" Daryl shook his head.

"I'd rather deal with a hurricane than frostbite any day." Bill sighed.

"Daryl, will you just think about it? Keep it as an option at least." Daryl shrugged.

"We'll see what happens when the time comes and I'll talk to Rick." Daryl thought for a moment. "Ohio huh?" It looked like he was trying to figure out how far it was from Georgia.

"It's about six hundred miles, maybe six hundred fifty miles or so. Maybe even a little bit more than that because we'll want to avoid the big cities but I've got some maps and a few alternate routes all prepped out." Daryl smirked at him.

"Figured we'd just go along with you or what?" Bill shook his head.

"Alice and I were going to head up there when we left Atlanta. Her brother played football at Ohio State. But we got caught up in the Army sweep south and just kept going that way. That's how we ended up in Woodbury." Daryl nodded.

"Alright, I'll talk to Rick but don't hold your breath on us leavin' anytime soon. We fought hard for this prison and lost too many people makin' it a home. We're not givin' it up without a fight."