Carl's POV

I woke to the familiar bumpy road that lead up to the prison gates. I groaned and stretched my arms.

"Ah, you're finally awake." My dad said.

I looked over towards Riley. She was still sleeping. Sometime during the night Chaco must have moved from my seat to hers. The two were all cuddled up. I smiled to myself.

The gates opened for us as we approached. We drove up the hill where we were met by Michonne. Dad told me to go ahead and wake Riley up and to get breakfast before he got out to explain things to Michonne. It wasn't everyday we brought home a new person. The last addition to our big happy family here at the prison had to be over a few months ago. And we definitely never brought home a dog.

I shook Riley gently. "Hey." I said as her blue eyes started to flutter open. She suddenly sat up, alert. "Whoa, there."

"Where are we?" she asked.

"Welcome home." I said with a smile.

Riley's POV

"Welcome home." he had said. Home. I guess home was a prison.

I got out of the car behind Carl and was followed by Chaco. He ran over and gave the woman standing near his father a hug.

That can't be his mother. I thought as they approached.

"Riley," he said, "This is Michonne. Michonne, Riley."

"Hi." I said.

"Hi, Riley." Michonne replied. "And who is this?" she asked pointing to Chaco.

"Oh," I said. "This is Chaco."

"She's a pit bull." Michonne observed.

"Yeah—" I was about to go into a small speech about how she was a great dog, but I didn't get the chance.

"I had one growing up," Michonne said. "Best dogs you could ever find."

I smiled at that. Maybe this place wouldn't be so bad after all.

Carl's POV

I took Riley into the kitchen/ cafeteria. Chaco stayed outside to get attention from all the kids who hadn't seen a pet in who knows how long.

Maggie and Glenn were in the already there. Sitting with the one and only Judith, who was playing with her food rather than eating it. She was two—almost three— now, and getting as big as ever.

I forgot Riley for a moment and ran over to the table where the three were sitting and scooped Judith up. She yelped with delight. I turned her around to face me. He hands were covered in oatmeal, but she was smiling so I didn't care.

"You're back!" Maggie said.

"Of course I am." I said. "What? Did you doubt me?"

Glenn and Maggie smiled. "Of course not."

"Oh," I said remembering Riley. "This is Riley."

"Oh!" Maggie said taking notice. "Hi, Riley. I'm Maggie and this is Glenn."

"Hi." she said.

"Um, welcome." Glenn said.

Like I mentioned before, it had been a while since we had new people arrive.

"And this," I said as I returned to Riley's side. "Is Judith."

"Hi, Judith." Riley smiled. "Oh you're hands are so dirty."

Judith held her hands up as if to say Yes, yes they are.

I laughed. "Yeah, that's my baby sister for you."

Riley looked at me surprised. I just nodded and took Judith back to her spot to let her finish eating.

I walked Riley into the kitchen to start explaining how everything worked.

"So," I began. "We get three meals a day. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Sometimes there are people here to serve and sometimes there aren't. When nobody is here, just use your best judgement and take what is fair."

We sat down to eat. It was kind of awkward. I have never had a meal that involved more silence than food.

I stopped by Beth's cell with Riley. Beth gave Riley some old clothes she had left over. Jeans, a tank-top, a flannel, and the other girl stuff.

"Why don't I take Riley to the showers?" Beth said.

"You sure?" I asked. I hadn't really talked to Riley a lot, but I still felt somewhat of a protectiveness over her. I knew I could trust Beth. It's Beth but still. I found her. I saved her. I'm...responsible for her.

"Yeah." Beth said, but she must have noticed something in my expression. "Don't worry, Carl. She'll be back soon."

That was enough to make my cheeks flare up red.

Riley's POV

Beth was nice. Everybody I had met so far was, but I kinda wished that I hadn't have had to leave Carl. It's not like I wanted to take a shower with him, but you know, I felt safer with him. Or something like that. All I know is that he's the only one who has done anything to earn my trust.

Beth explained the shower system. We got hot water, but not to overdue it. In and out as quickly as possible.

Beth sat outside the shower room while I bathed. She would have left me, only, the prison is like a maze and she didn't want me ending up in the wrong place. Apparently they had yet to clear some cell blocks and parts of the prison, but who could blame them? This place was huge.

Like Beth had said. In and out as quickly as possible. In the shower, out of the shower. Into the clothes, and not out of them.

Oh, what a relief. I thought while getting dressed. A bra that actually fits.

Carl's POV

I knew I had jobs to do, but I didn't. Instead, I sat in the cell block, doing nothing, as I waited for Riley. It felt like forever before they returned, but it was probably only twenty minutes.

"Carl," Beth said. "Aren't you supposed to be on fence duty?"

"Yeah," I replied. "But I was waiting for Riley."

"She's already been asked to fence duty?"

"No, actually. I was just about to."

Beth looked confused as my statement. The person who usually asks anybody to do anything is my father. It's not usually an invitation that you receive from anybody else.

"So do you?" I asked Riley. "So do you want to do fence duty. I mean. I'll be there to. But it's better to do it in pairs, and you know. So..." I was mumbling on.

Riley and Beth shared a look and smiled. They were laughing at me.

"Sure," Riley replied. "I'd love to."