Chapter Two: As long as we're going down...
Baby you should stick around.

Disclaimer: I own nothing other than the plot. J

The sun had shone brightly through the clouds. The swift thunderous wind flew over the valley in the Prison yard. It was cold, far too cold for early fall. The overhead cover lit everything with a gray tint. The wind swirled up the leaves in the surrounding trees, causing the leaves to tumble in Beth's direction.

She had always loved fall, but as of late she had hated it. It meant cold, and suffering. It reminded her of death, and that was something she no longer wanted to think about. It was already everywhere around her.

She rocked slowly back and forth outside on the swing, Judith playing on a blanket before her feet. She was reading a book on the ocean. There were so many different creatures in the ocean, and it was so breath-taking. "Beth." A voice began, coming up the walkway.

Beth looked up, and she closed her book. "Rick." She smiled, and she patted the seat next to her. Rick slowly made his way to her. His curly brown hair was slicked back as per usual. He wore dark brown pants along with his usual tanned button shirt.

"What's up, Rick?" She asked. Rick pulled up his drooping pants, and he sat down next to her. "I haven't gotten around to saying it yet, but I just want you to know that I'm grateful for you taking care of Judith. Even Carl too." He confessed and he leaned back. Beth placed her book beside her, and she nodded. "No problem, Rick. I love doing it."

He took a deep breath, and he scooped up Judith into his arms. "Yeah, I know." Judith had gotten so big. He sat Judith on his lap, and he kissed her forehead. Beth curled up on her seat, and Rick rocked them back and forth slowly. Judith was giggling, and playing with Rick's face. It was far too chilly for the season. "Rick, what do you know about the ocean?" She asked, and she regarded him quietly.

"The ocean?" Rick laughed, and he turned to face her. Beth laughed nervously along with him. He ran his free hand through his hair. "Well. Not much. Why do you ask?" Beth shrugged, and she placed her feet back on the ground. "I'm just curious, I guess." Rick grinned, and he let out a small laugh. "An odd thing to be curious about. Especially in this world." Beth nodded, and Judith began to grow fussy. Beth let a soft sigh escape her, and she tucked her book under her arm.

"It's her naptime." She informed him, and she stood. Rick shook his head. "Aw. Don't worry about it. I'll take care of it." Beth cocked her head to the side, hesitantly. "You sure you don't have any things to do? You know, stuff?" Rick smirked at her as he stood, putting the toddler on his hip. "Really, Beth. I've got it." She forced a grin, and she kissed Judith on the top of her head. "Okay, Rick."

He watched her as she walked off, still amazed at person she had become. Her light blond hair was so long it reached to the middle of her back. She too wore a button up long sleeved shirt, but hers happened to be black, pink and green plaid. Her blue jeans were pressed tight to her skin. They were the only pants nearest her size as clothes were hard to come by.

On the way back, Beth kicked at some rocks on the dirt pathway. She felt lost without having Judith by her side. She wasn't paying attention to where she was going, and she nearly tripped over a bucket. Laughing to herself, she picked it up and she placed it on a hook in one of the sheds. As she stepped out, she saw Daryl walk up the path. He was dirtier than ever, sweat slicking his dark brown hair down his face. She beamed and she ran to hug him.

She wrapped her arms around his chest, and he held her awkwardly. She breathed in his scent, and she cringed inwardly. "What's that for?" He asked, mid-hug. She looked up at him. "I'm just glad you're okay. Run's always make me nervous." She released him, finally realizing the intimate position they were in. She rubbed her arm, nervously. "Me too." Daryl admitted, and he adjusted his crossbow. Before he could say anything more, she pecked him on the cheek and she bounded away.

Daryl froze and he tried to regain his senses. The very presence of her made him falter, and he shuffled away awkwardly. How was it that she could make him nearly swoon like a goddamned broad whenever she was near? She was so.. Just so damn beautiful. He shook his head and he jogged towards Rick. "Did we lose anybody?" Rick questioned when Daryl was close enough.

"Naw. We all made it in one piece, and we got some supplies too." Judith began to squirm. "Dada. Sleepy." She yawned, her nose pink. Daryl almost did a double-take. "How old is the little asskicker now?" He asked. Rick shrugged, and he nodded in the direction of the prison. "I think she's about two." He replied, and they began to walk back together.


Maggie stared out of the watchtower window, lost in thought. How would Glenn react to her terrible, wonderful news? She didn't want to end up like Lori had. They were underprepared, and the baby couldn't have come at a more difficult time then.

Maggie began to tremble violently, and she wrapped a blanket around her arms. Tears streamed silently down her face as she recalled the last scare they'd had. She wished desperately for someone to talk to. Ever since her daddy died last winter… She couldn't finish the thought.

It was at that moment, that she felt the fear like ice running through her veins. Her entire body went numb, and she could barely breathe. She shut her eyes tightly, and she held onto her abdomen. There was no movement there yet. How could there be? She was only a few weeks along.

Down below, the metal door to the tower clanged noisily. It was now or never. She cleared her throat. "Glenn?" She called, her voice uneven. She took a deep breath, and she tried to compose herself. She couldn't let anyone see her this way. Not even Glenn.

"Yeah?" He greeted as he took off his coat, and threw it down to the side. "How'd the run go?" She questioned, tightening the blanket around herself subconsciously. Glenn was grinning like a mad man. "We are completely re-stocked." He was nearly jumping up and down with excitement. "It's been so long since we were able to get ahead."

Maggie momentarily lost sight of her fears, and she gripped Glenn into an almost bone-crushing hug. "Oh my god." She commented, and they nearly took off out of the tower like rockets toward the moon. "We've never had it so good." He smiled, in tears of joy. He held her closely to him. "I love you, Maggie. This time, I swear everything is looking brighter."

Maggie nodded, her thoughts leading elsewhere. "Yeah." She whispered, fear overtaking her once more. How could she tell him now? How could she take his happiness and crush it into dust between her fingers? "I love you too, Glenn."


"Dinner!" Karen's voice rang out into the evening, and to every ear it caught it sounded like a young child on Christmas morning. Most of the group came running to the outside 'patio', Beth waited on the sidelines for the children to get their food first.

Carl swaggered over to Beth's side, smirking. Beth shook her head, laughing. "So you're an adult now?" She asked, shifting Judith on her hip. Carl nodded. "I'm 16 years old now, at least I think I am." The pair both shared a laugh, and they took their places at the end of the line with all the others. Purely by happenstance, Daryl was behind them, yet the two caught no notice.

Judith reached out for the man, she knew as "Darwel." She giggled, quietly. Daryl pressed a single finger to his lips, and he booped her on the nose. He absolutely hated the name she called him, but in the same sense he loved it. Beth had not taught Judith many names, but he was proud that she had taught her his. Judith roared with laughter, and she reached out to him again. Beth turned at the noise, and she handed Judith to him caringly. "She must have missed you today."

As they received their food, they all went to sit together with Rick and Daryl side by side, and Carl, Judith and Beth across from them. Beth smiled non-chalantly at Daryl and he reluctantly returned it. This act went unnoticed by everyone else except Carl. Anger flashed across the forefront of Carl's mind. He wracked his brain for an insult. Something.

"This year I turned 16, I think. What about you Daryl, Dad?" Carl questioned as innocently as he could muster. Rick laughed aloud, and he shook his head. "Jeez. I think I might be 37 by now." He scooped up some mashed potatoes, and he shoved them into his mouth. Daryl leaned back, and he stretched, his muscles shifting under his t-shirt.

Beth squirmed in her seat, and her eyes flicked back to her plate. "I'm 35, Carl." He replied, looking directly at him. Both of the men's gazes turned to Beth, grinning like Cheshire cats. "Beth? What about you?" Beth shrugged, and she fed a spoonful of mashed potatoes to Judith. "I'm prob'ly about 20 years old."

A scream cut sharply through the cold night air. Rick looked to see who out of the group they were missing, but he couldn't connect the voice with a face. Beth flung down her spoon, and she turned to Carl. "Watch Beth." She ordered, and she pulled a gun out of her pocket. "That was Noah." She hissed at the two men across the table, and she jumped from the table into the direction of the scream. They followed her, still dumbstruck as to what was happening.

There hadn't been trouble with the walkers for months now. Beth ran at full force with Daryl and Rick trailing after her. She stopped right outside of cell block B, and she clamped a hand over her mouth. "Noahhh!" She screeched. Noah was pinned to the wall several feet from the ground; his arms were stretched out, and his feet were roped together. Below him, written in Noah's blood was "Eye see you."

Beth began to cry silently, and she nearly fell to her knees. Daryl caught her just in time, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Rick patted her shoulder lightly. "We need to get this cleaned up. Then we need to have a council meeting." He whispered fiercely to Daryl, and Daryl nodded.