Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead.

Her Angel, His Strength

20 Seed

Lily Hollins had no idea how much time had passed ever since they left the farm, only knowing it was months because of Lori's growing belly. Jumping from house to house, sometimes taking shelter in storage lockers, the winter had made them stronger, harder and hunger. Hershel had started to teach Carol and Lily a little of medicine, mostly to prepare them on how to give childbirth in case something happened. Rick had taken into hunting, Carol and Carl had become a good shot, Beth learned how to use a gun, and Lily, who now was able to hit her target every time, was taking hand to hand combat lessons from Daryl. She could only be grateful for the ballet lessons she had had her whole life, for it gave her body a fitness she wouldn't have otherwise. When she mentioned it to Daryl, he snorted, thinking Lily was joking, though when he realised she was serious, his expression morphed into one of pure disbelief and amusement. He never believed that dancing, ballet in special helped one to fight.

Surviving by whatever food they could find, never sleeping more than a few hours a day, they were all tired, constantly afraid and more often than not, bound to explode with one another. Daryl had become Rick's second in command, and sometimes Lily felt the only one he truly trusted.

The winter had brought some closer, Beth and Carl a good example. It was clear to all that the boy had a crush on the sweet blond girl. Glenn and Maggie also stopped their fighting and their relationship blossomed into something so beautiful and strong, Lily knew that if the world were what it used to be, they would already be engaged. Another relationship that had grown was Daryl and Carol's. Lily knew it was silly, knew that if there was one person whose loyalty was never to be questioned was Daryl's, but sometimes, she couldn't help it, she felt jealous. She never let him on how she felt, though Glenn knew and always tried to reassure her. One bond that was broken, however, was Lori and Rick's. Her unfaithfulness to their leader with his best friend became common knowledge among them, and while Lily understood Rick, she felt he was a great deal too harsh on his wife.

Lily and Daryl's romance, contrary to Maggie and Glenn's, appeared to have been frozen in time. A few kisses were shared, sometimes as the one she initiated on the road after the fall of the farm, however never passed that. It frustrated her but she couldn't fault him. Being the second in command and the provider of meat meant that Daryl almost never had much time alone with her. Nonetheless, while they had not evolved in the physical aspect of their relationship, they achieved a completely new level of understanding of each other. They developed a type of game whereas whenever one of them shared something personal, the other had to share something in return. Daryl learnt that Lily's grandmother was the one to teach her all the different kind of plants and their respective uses, though her abilities with a bow came from a teacher at her local school. Lily discovered that Merle taught Daryl how to hunt, track and work his crossbow.

Lily loved red wine; a trait she got from her father, Daryl loved all kind of alcohol, a trait he got from his whole family. She spent a lot of her time on the hospital her father used to work, learning enough to know she would never be a doctor. He spent most of his time on the woods, knowing little of what to do with himself out of it. Neither of them believed in God, both their brothers did.

Daryl told her how he never left Georgia before and that he used to work odd jobs here and there, but mostly followed Merle who never lasted long enough in any job. He shared with her how he never finished high school and that his mother died in a fire started by her own reckless with cigarettes when he was still young. She told him she never ate meat in her own home, just the occasional barbecues and restaurants, and that she always avoided industrialised food. She could speak Spanish and knew a little of Italian, French and Portuguese, having always had a facility with languages. She had traveled a great deal, and knew many different places of the world.

He was more than ten years her senior, a fact that made him uncomfortable around her for a few days. He thought her stupid for believing in horoscope and had no idea what was his sign. He only had his brother around while growing up, and even Merle was not always around. She had a good family, but like him, had mostly her brother, Lucas, to raise her with the help of their grandmother for their parents were mostly traveling around the world because of her father's job, a medical researcher. It was only the last few years that he decided to put an end on the countless times sleeping on airport's seats in favour of a laboratory and care clinic

She loved to read, a hobby she shared with her father and brother. He never finished a book without falling asleep on the first three pages. She liked long travels by car; he did not. She liked riding his bike more, he smiled for a long time, until the night T-Dog murmured something she could not hear to him, with a suggestive smile on his face and Daryl scowled something back at him, which only made the other man laugh louder. Neither had had a serious relationship. Daryl was both relieved and nervous she would not have anyone to compare him with, would not know she could so much better than him. Lily was both incredulous and nervous, because he would have someone to compare with her. She did not think they had the same concept of what a serious relationship entailed.

The winter ended and they were in yet another house. It won't last long, Lily thought looking sadly at the dog food in Carl's hand, the lack of food would make them leave. And it did. The can was throw across the floor by Rick, making a clinging sound, attracting the walkers outside, and once again, they were on the road.

"We've got no place left to go." T-Dog said looking at the map.

"When this herd meets up with this one, we'll be cut off; we'll never make it south." Maggie agreed.

"What do you say, it's about 150 head?" Daryl questioned Glenn.

"That was last week, could be twice that now."

"This river could have delayed them. If we move fast, we might have a shot to tear right through this." Hershel tried.

"Yeah, but if this group joins with that one, they could spill out this way."

"So we're blocked." Maggie sighed.

"Only thing to do is double back at 27th and swing towards Greenville." Rick said pointing at the road on the map.

"We picked through that already, it's like we spent the winter going in circles." The frustration on T-Dog's voice worried Lily for a moment. Rick did not like it when they used that tone with him.

"Yeah, I know. I know. At Newnan, we'll push west. Haven't been through the area. We can't keep going house to house." He conceded gazing at Lori, who was waiting for them inside the car. "We need to find some place to hold up for a few weeks."

T-Dog went to refill the water, while Rick and Daryl left to hunt. Following T-Dog, Lily tried to wash herself the best she could, months of grime, blood, dirty and sweat made her disgusted with herself.

When Rick and Daryl came back with nothing, she tried to mask her disappointment, but the smile on Rick's face made her confused. Rick rarely smiled these days.

A prison, Rick said, looking at them with so much enthusiasm that slowly, they all started to smile as well. Looking at it in close range, she knew it had the potential to be everything they needed.

Rick cut the wire around the prison with pliers and all of them crossed it, standing on the alley surrounding the prison. After Glenn and Daryl closed it up, they ran to where the alley ended.

"It's perfect. If we can shut that gate, prevent more from filling the yard, we can pick off these walkers. We'll take the field by tonight." Rick said, looking over the field. Lily could easily agree with him.

"So how do we shut the gate?"

"I'll do it." Glenn volunteered, as they all knew he would. "You guys cover me."

"No, it's a suicide run." Maggie protested.

"I'm the fastest."

"No. You, Maggie and Beth draw as many as you can over there" Rick said, pointing to little ways away, "pop them through the fence. Daryl, go back to the other tower. Carol, you've become a pretty good shot, take your time, we don't have a lot of ammo to waste. Hershel, you, Lily and Carl, take this tower." Nodding, Lily followed Hershel to take her position. "I'll run for the gate."

Glenn, T-Dog, Lori, Maggie and Beth screamed to draw the walkers, killing them when they got close to the fence. Lily used her arrows to kill the walkers who got too close to Rick to save their ammo. They did not stop even when Rick closed the gates, entering inside a tower. Laughing, she continued to help kill the others, afraid to believe this was all a dream.

"Fantastic!" She heard Carol's laugh and she herself could not stop smiling. They did it!

After making sure all the walkers were dead, Daryl left to hunt while the rest made themselves comfortable. All of them had smiles on their faces, with the exception of Rick, who appeared to be thinking about their next move.

Daryl got them two possums, leaving soon after to take watch on an overturned car. While Carol prepared their food, Lily sat close to Glenn and Maggie, silently talking about the prison. The three agreed it was the best place for them ever since the farm, a place they could make a life.

"Mmmm… Just like mom used to make." Glenn smiled while throwing a bone away after their dinner.

"Tomorrow, we'll put all the bodies together. We want to keep them away from that water. Now, if we can dig a canal under the fence, we'll have plenty of fresh water." T-Dog commented.

"The soil is good, we could plant some seed, grow some tomatoes, cucumbers, soybeans." Hershel agreed. Looking at Rick, he said, "That's his third time around. If there was any part of it compromised, he'd have found it by now."

"This will be a good place to have the baby." Beth smiled to Lori. "Safe."

Lily could see the outlines of Carol and Daryl in the distance. She frowned, trying to figure out what they were doing, not being able to see much, she gave up. She sighed, and rested her head on Glenn's shoulder.

"Seems like they became good friends." He commented quietly for only her to hear. Nodding, Lily bit her lip, not liking the jealous feeling cursing through her body. "Good friends, Lils." Sighing, she nodded again, lifting her head and pushing her recently cut bangs of her eyes. She had no idea how straight it was, but Lori promised her she knew what she was doing, and at that time, Lily had just lost her hairpin, so, irritated that a few strands kept getting on her face, she asked for the other woman's help.

"Yeah… Sometimes I think maybe too good."

"Bethy, sing Paddy Reilly for me." Hershel requested his younger daughter, interrupting their conversation. "I haven't heard that I think, since your mother was alive."

"Daddy, not that one, please." Maggie frowned.

"How about uh… Parting Glass?"

"No one wants to hear." Beth said shyly.

"Why not?" Glenn asked gently.

"I'd like to." Lily said quietly.

"Okay."

Beth had a beautiful voice. As did Maggie, Lily noted when she joined in the song. The singing had attracted Rick, Daryl and Carol back to their fire. As she listened, Lily thought that perhaps they were right; perhaps they had finally found a place where they could settle and build a life for each other.

"Beautiful." Hershel praised his daughters with a wistful smile.

"Better all turn in. I'll take watch over there, we've got a big day tomorrow." Rick said, braking Lily from her hopeful dream.

"What do you mean?" Glenn asked.

"Look, I know we're all exhausted. This was a great win. But we gotta push just a little bit more. Most of the walkers are dressed as guards or prisoners, looks like this place fell pretty early. Could mean the supplies may be intact. They have an infirmary, a commissary."

"An armoury?" Daryl commented, sitting down across from Lily.

"That would be outside the prison itself, but not too far away. Warden's offices would have info on the location. Weapons, food, medicine, this place could be a gold mine!"

"We're dangerously low on ammo. We'll run out before we make a dent." Hershel warned.

"That's why we gotta go in there. Hand to hand. After all we've been through, we can handle it, I know it. These assholes don't stand a chance."

Lily sighed and got up. Taking a blanket, she chose a spot for herself and laid down, not wanting to talk anymore. Rick was right; they would have a long day tomorrow. She felt Daryl by her side, but did not turn around. Tired, she closed her eyes and waited for the sleep to come.

"Ready?" Hershel asked the ones who would go inside the courtyard. Lily was not happy for not going. She knew Daryl had something to do with that, she was as good as Maggie was with dealing with walkers and Rick knew that.

"I can't see them." Lori said. "Can you see them?"

"Back there." Carol answered pointing with her chin. Lily tried to see for herself, but could not. They were out of sight and the rest of them had no way of knowing if they were alive.

When they reappeared, they ignored the ones safe from the other side of the fence, marching forward to the inside of the prison. As the time passed without any sign of them, Lily felt her apprehensions skyrocketing and she could see the others felt the same.

When T-Dog came for them, all smiles and a dead body on his arms, they knew all was as well as could be. Walking inside, they looked around at the grey scenario that were to become their new home.

"What do you think?" Rick asked.

"Home sweet home." Glenn answered tiredly.

"For the time being."

"It's secure?" Lori questioned still looking at the cells.

"This cell block is."

"What about the rest of the prison?"

"In the morning, we'll find the cafeteria, and the infirmary."

"We'll sleep in the cells?" Beth inquired.

"I found the keys on some guards. Daryl has a set too."

"I ain't sleeping in no cage. I'll take the perch." Daryl said when he heard his name. Lily frowned but made no comment about it. Deciding to find a place for herself, Lily tried to find a cell without blood or rests of dead people inside. Finding one that looked good, she settled her bag and bow on the floor and sat down on a bed. To her surprise, it was actually comfortable when she laid down on it.

"Ya gonna stay there?" Lily nodded, not opening her eyes. She could tell that he was still looking at her when he sighed. "Alright." When Daryl left, she felt even angrier than before, though at him or herself, she did not know.

"Rick."

"Good morning." He nodded at her.

"Good morning. Listen, I want to go with you today." He frowned but stayed silent, realising she had his ears, she continued: "I need to know just how good I am and you do too. I'll stay close and won't do anything stupid."

"All right," he acquiesced. "But you're telling Daryl." He gave her a tight smile and turned around. With a resigned sigh, she followed him.

"Not bad." Daryl said looking at their findings.

"Flashbangs, CS Triple-Chasers. Not sure how they'd work on walkers, but we'll take them." Rick nodded.

"I ain't wearin' this shit." Daryl said after picking up a helmet with walker skin on it. The gloves T-Dog had on his hands in the same condition.

"We could boil them."

"Ain't enough firewood in a whole forest, no! Besides, we've made it this far without them, right?" Lily agreed with him. It was just plain disgusting.

When Daryl noticed Lily was still around and counting her arrows he frowned at her.

"Ya ain't goin'."

"Yes, I am." When he opened his mouth again, she continued: "don't you want to know if your teachings were good enough?"

"Not like this, no." He sneered, but she ignored him, going back to work. When he sighed and pulled her aside by her elbow, she went willing. "Why are ya doin' this? Why are ya mad at me?"

"I think it's about time you stop treating me like I'm a child. Asking Rick to always leave me behind, never taking me when you go do something you think it's too dangerous for me to handle, always…" She stopped herself and breathed in noisily. "Just- just stop, ok? I don't need you fathering me around." She hadn't take two steps back to the others who were trying to pretend they weren't listening when he spun her around, kissed her roughly on her lips and growled:

"I ain't your father."

"We don't know what's in there. If something goes wrong, you could be the last man standing. I need you to handle things here." Rick was saying to Carl when Lily finally broke free from Daryl's hand and hard glare.

"Sure." Carl agreed, and Lily smiled at him, trying to calm herself down.

"Great, let's go." Lily made to follow before Daryl stopped her again.

"If ya even leave my sight, I'm gonna lock ya on your cell for the rest of the week. How's that for fathering ya around?"

They moved carefully in the corridors, dead bodies pilling on the floors. Glenn was marking their way on the walls with a spray so they could find their way back. Lily almost realised her arrow at Glenn when he frightened Maggie by accident. Every now and again, Daryl would look for her but she made a point of ignoring him, still angry with him.

Suddenly, turning around a corner, walkers started to come after them, making all the group retreat in a run. Daryl pushed her with this crossbow, making her go in front of him.

"Come on, this way!" She heard him shouting from behind her. When he grabbed her arm to stop her, she screamed. "Shh, shh! Get in here, get down."

Rick, Daryl, T-Dog, Hershel and Lily crouched low on the ground inside a room, waiting for the walkers to pass.

"Where's Glenn and Maggie?"

"We have to go back!" Hershel said, panicked.

"But which way?" They all looked at each other, no one knowing the answer. They had wandered away from the arrows Glenn had sprayed.

Opening the door carefully, they looked around trying to see Glenn or Maggie. With no dead or living in sight, they made their way silently through the corridors, calling softly:

"Maggie? Glenn?"

When Hershel screamed, they all turned around to look for him, Lily gasped aloud when she saw a walker biting into his leg. Rick shot it, though the damage was done.

"No! No, daddy! No!" They found Maggie and Glenn, but the screams had attracted the walkers, who started closing on them on both sides. Rick and Glenn took Hershel by his arms and they started to run for safety. They found a door, and opening it, they got in, depositing Hershel on the floor.

"Shut the door!" While Daryl and T-Dog closed the door with difficulty, Rick tried to save Hershel with Lily looking at his leg with terror. She saw Rick put his belt on the top of the bite on Hershel's leg, but she had no idea what they could do to stop what was about to happen.

"Hold him down!" Rick screamed, and Lily, trying to help, pressed Hershel's good leg on the floor, still not understanding Rick's plan. "Alright. Only one way to keep him alive!" She gasped when he took an axe and brought it down, cutting Hershel's leg. When the old man stopped convulsing under her hands, she looked up to see him passed out from the pain.

"Oh… He's bleeding out." Lily hadn't realised she was crying until she tried to breath but found her nose stuffy.

"Duck." Daryl suddenly said, standing up and pointing his flashlight and crossbow at five men. Five men in prison's suit. Prisoners.

"Holy shit."


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English is not my mother tongue, if you find a mistake, please let me know.

Thank you,

Mel.