3 weeks later:
In the middle of the night a few days later; Ben's family came to the property. A few broke into the house, and some went to the barn and the others went to RV where the Atlanta group slept. In the house, they started multiple fires, along inside the bar and around the RV. They quickly ran and hid waiting for the family to flee.
Meredith sat up coughing. She shook Hershel awake, hearing the yelling outside. They both go up - they had a habit of sleeping in their regular clothing, and boots. Meredith ran to get the babies, as Hershel ran to get the children downstairs on the sofa. The house was covered in flames. "Dove!" He hollered as he got into a fight with Ben's father - Ben Sr.. "Run!"
Meredith grabbed the kids. Beth and Maggie took off running outside, with them. Meredith left the children with Maggie and ran back inside and helped Hershel. Everyone was running around and fighting along with screaming. Maggie took the boys plus Beth into the truck and had them hid down as she and Glenn started fighting also. Meredith and Hershel ran from the house as the flames really engulfed it.
Hershel looked at Meredith. "Hide. Find the kids and hide." He said taking off to help. He started fighting ben's family with the rest of the group. Meredith looked for the kids.
Maggie decided to take off a safe distance away from the fighting with the kids. She didn't see Meredith anywhere. She started shooting the trespassers.
Meredith found a gun, and started shooting. She shot one that was sneaking up behind Merle.
"Thank you mamacita." Merle nodded and got back to fighting.
Meredith nodded and kept shooting. After a while everything died down, they stopped the deceased ones from renaimating. Meredith walked over and hugged Hershel. "Are you okay?" She asked softly.
Hershel nodded and held her for a moment, and turned around to the house as it burnt. "Can't believe it's gone."
"Me either." Meredith said sadly. She hugged him softly, and the girls as they came over. The boys were still hiding in the truck, locked in.
Rick walked over putting a hand on Hershel's shoulder. "Sorry about your place." He frowned.
Hershel just nodded, he hugged the girls tightly along with Meredith. The animals were running off, their dogs came running over and sat with them. Meredith reached down and patted them, Harley, Spot and Tanner. They watched the house burn along with the barn until dawn broke.
Hershel managed to keep his car keys along with Meredith's van keys on him. Maggie and Meredith loaded up the kids in the van, while Daryl and Merle drove Hershel's truck. Meredith smiled looking at the family photos from before the world this way to the new one with everyone in it. She kept a Polaroid camera at home and managed to keep a mini photo album in the car, she also kept the family bible in the car - she had filled out everyone's names and day they were born in it; along with death dates. Maggie and Beth kept their lockets on all the time along with Meredith. Hershel kept his cross necklace on he got as a gift from Meredith for Christmas last year. He reached over and held her hand, as they followed Rick in the Rv - Dale and Shane, died last month due to unknown reasons.
Meredith held onto Hershel's hand and closed her eyes. "We will start over."
Hershel nodded. "All we can do." He said holding her close.
7 Months later:
They arrived at the prison - they managed to get all the walkers out of it and repair some things inside and slowly make it like home. Lori finally told Rick about her pregnancy after the fire, when they started arguing one night at dinner, in front of everyone.
The twins were getting bigger and stronger everyday - along with Daniel and Joel. Daryl, Rick and the other men where teaching Daniel and Joel how to fight along with hunt - Maggie and Beth were learning also.
Daryl was sitting down and holding Eli and Isaac. "Well. My little not yet talking ass kicking boys. Uncle Daryl is going to teach you a whole hell of a lot of crap"
"Language, please.." Meredith smiled bringing over some pureed food. She put them both in the highchairs and started feeding them. She handed a bowl to Daryl. "Might as well help uncle Daryl." She smiled.
Daryl laughed and took it, feeding Eli, smelling the food.. "Smells like ass."
"Well it might smell horrible - but it's a start on something." She smiled, and fed them.
Daryl rolled his eyes and helped her.
Maggie came back from a run with some diapers. "Man. Glad we stopped at your old daycare Ma." She said bringing in 4 boxes. Glenn was carrying 5 also.
"Me too. Glad they usually kept extra boxes." Meredith smiled slightly.
"I also got some of your teaching supplies you left there." Maggie smiled putting a bag down. "They had it in the old storage room."
Meredith have the babies some sippy cups and sat back looking through the books. She missed teaching, and getting to know all the kids. She smiled. "Thank you Maggie." she said hugging her, and kept looking through it.
Maggie nodded and smiled, she started putting the diapers away.
Hershel came downstairs, Lori was up most of the night with contractions but nothing happened. He smiled seeing Meredith looking at the books. "Gosh, haven't seen those in forever.." He smiled glancing at them. He sat next to her and wrapped an arm around her. His beard had grown longer - he tried to keep it trimmed, he was also going slightly grey.
"Seems like an eternity ago - I was teaching preschool… Beth was a little thing, and we met.." She said looking them over.
Hershel nodded and rubbed her back some. " Can't believe that was 11 years ago." He kissed her softly. "Thankful I met you."
"I'm thankful I met you too." She smiled laying her head on his shoulder. "Thankful for Maggie and Beth too - and our other kids.."
Joel came in carrying some rabbits. "Look what I shot!" He smiled proud. Carl was with him, he got a rabbit also.
Meredith looked up and smiled. "Thats wonderful. Who was with you?"
"Merle." Joel said putting the rabbits on the table. Daryl got up and walked over.
"Good job…" He said ruffling Carl and Joel's hair. He started showing them how to skin and clean them. "Gotta cook'em all the way through - Else ya get sick."
The boys watched and nodded. Merle came in and watched his little brother put them over the fire to roast. "Lil' Daryl Crocker." He laughed and took a drink. "Alway' cookin' good shit." He sat on the table watching.
"Merle." Meredith said gently.
Merle sighed and looked at her. "Sorry ma'am.." He grumbled under his breath; was trying to be better- Meredith had stuck up for him when, everyone else wanted to throw him out due to his mouth and inappropriate comments.
"Thank you." She said cleaning the babies up and letting them down to crawl around.
Hershel chuckled to himself slightly, and got up to go to the infirmary to see what else they needed for the supply run. Merle sighed and went outside to find something to do.
Daryl walked over and sat with Meredith. "You didn't have to stick up for him to keep him 'ere." He shook his head.
"I know." She smiled slightly, and looked at her books. "But he's a good asset to the group. He's just got some learning to do."
"You know he used to be a drug dealer.." Daryl frowned.
"We've all made mistakes.." She said gently looking up at him. "The past has been forgiven." She said putting her books on the shelf and watching the kids. "I see something good in him still. Just like i saw something good in you - I didn't trust any of you when you first showed up." She leaned against the table. "But i got to know you and trust you all. God works is through situations to make us better people. He will get there." She looked at him. "Give your brother a chance."
"Did you ever do anything in your life that you regretted?" He asked watching her.
"Of course." She said not saying anymore.
Daryl sighed. "Alright… Well.. He better not screw up."
