This story seems to have generated a little more interest than I initially thought, feel free to drop me a few lines in a review so I know what you guys like about Elliot and the story or don't like, either way. Just a quick update with a few teasers to where Elliot has come from.

Afraid I own no characters from TWD. Elliot is all I got. Enjoy!

Strength is something we chose

The little bedsit in Georgia was worse than she had prepared herself for, she wasn't used to a life of luxury but at her home back in Kentucky at least the walls weren't damp, pulling her knees close to her chest Elliot rested her chin on her kneecaps and hugged her legs close. Squeezing her eyes shut she tried to drown out the sounds of the drunk abusive husband downstairs. It killed her to think that she had left the comfort of her family loving home to come here, but she knew it was for the best, her parents would never have supported her decision. This wasn't the path they had envisioned for their daughter, her father would have had a heart attack at the mere thought of what she had decided, the reality would have finished him off. Her parents were good people, they had taught Elliot and her older brothers respect and instilled them with strong moral compasses. Elliot felt in her momentary lapse judgement she had let her family down but she was a Brookes and they always saw things through to the end, no matter how tough things got she wasn't going to quit , she had to stay strong and just pray what she had was enough but she knew they couldn't live on love alone. It was going to be tough, no doubt , but Elliot wasn't afraid of hard work, if she had to work 2 jobs then so be it. She would do what was necessary, she wasn't going to be beat down by the reality she had been dealt.

Her thoughts were broken by the sound of a new born babe crying, a cry only a mother could soothe.

The cries of a baby ripped Elliot from her sleep it took her a few seconds before she remembered her house guests and the 6 month old baby girl they had brought, little screamer was busy alerting walkers to the house full of fresh meat. Throwing her feet over the side of the bed she padded sofly to the babe that was crying, she opened the door to Ricks room. He was clearly in a deep sleep as he kept twitching almost waking to tend to his daughter, deciding to leave Rick to enjoy what was probably his first good nights rest in many months Elliot lifted her out of the crib and cradled her in her arms carrying her out the room and down to the kitchen.

Judith had began cooing as Elliot rocked her in arms, it came flooding back to her the second she picked the baby up just how easy motherhood was to her, like a second nature. While she was heating some formula she had found in their bags with a pot of hot water, she stroked Judiths cheek tenderly. As Judith greedily drank from the bottle Elliot found herself wondering how Judith would fit into this world, she couldn't possibly be afforded the same childhood as Carl, Beth or her own son, Joshua.

Just thinking of his name ripped her beating heart in two, the tears already began before she was even aware. She'd been on her own for so long she had been able to put Joshua out of her mind, to get on with surviving but having the Grimes children and Beth around made that so much more difficult right now. She felt a pang of jealousy towards Rick, not only had his son survived but he had the miracle of Judith in the middle of the worlds end. Elliot was more than aware that his gain had not been without loss but Elliot had lost her boy and her fiance.

Looking down at baby Judith she saw sleep had overcome the little babe as she lay slumped aginst Elliot, her little hands wrapped around Elliots index finger. The gesture warmed Elliots heart and the sentiment took her away from the world where the dead walked the Earth and gave her a few moments of bliss to bask in the wonder that was a new born baby.

Elliot was so engrossed in Judith she hasn't noticed the presence stood leaning against the wall behind her watching, Daryl had used his hunter like stealth to follow the sounds of Judith. He had been atuned to the baby girls sounds since Rick had gone postal back at the prison. She was one of the most important people he had to protect, such innocence born into a world overcome with evil. It was true Judith Grimes had Daryl Dixon wrapped around her little 6 month old finger. He listened carefully, he could tell Judith was asleep by the sound of her level breathing so the other so the other had to be Elliot. She was sobbing. He figured he'd interrupted a private moment and was stuck between standing there silently like a coward or trying to take Judith so Elliot could have her privacy.

He quietly cleared his throat, not missing how Elliot's shoulders frooze, he crept over to sit on the coffee table in front of Elliot who had her legs tucked under her with Judith cradled in her arms.

"I heard her crying, didn't think Rick had woken," as though explaining why he was there he glanced up at Elliot before staring at Judith, the only female that brought a smile to his face, he reached a hand out the touch rub her little chubby arm that was reaching up gripping Elliot's finger. The woman nodded brushing away the tears that were rolling down her cheeks.

"Yeah, I thought maybe you guys were just in a deep sleep. Its okay though, I don't mind," She looked down at Judith with a look Daryl could only describe as longing. "Did you have any?" Elliot looked up at Daryl.

His face twisted " Hell naw! Dixon's don't do family all that well," truth was no one stuck around long enough for it to be an option, his brother Merle may well have had a couple of illegitimate little brats running wild round the South but the younger Dixon had always been more careful, raising a kid had never been his agenda. " You?"

Elliot nodded, holding Judith tighter as the little girl protested and began to stir, "His name was Joshua," she smiled as she said his name but Daryl could see a flood gate behind that sad pathetic smile.

Luckily Rick appeared behind them breathing a sigh of releif , "Sweet Jesus Elliot, when I saw Judith wasn't there I thought the worst! Is she okay?" Daryl had never been more happy to see Rick, dude had timing of a saint, no way was he ready to hear another story of a lost child. The thought of Sophia still hung heavy on his heart.

Elliot handed Judith to her Daddy before wrapping her arms around her chest trying to savour the feeling, "Yeah, little tyke was just hungry. I didn't wanna wake ya. Was sleeping like a baby," She laughed rubbed her cheek.

Rick apologised before he returned back upstairs with Judith leaving Daryl and Elliot in the front room, Daryl hadn't moved from his seat on the coffee table but Elliot was now stood behind the sofa supporting herself by clutching the back. She exhaled loudly bringing herself back into the present moment looking over at Daryl, she was stuck in the most awkward tango with the most socially awkward guy alive in the South.

"So what coffee you got in this fancy joint?" Daryl broke the silence, was no way he could sleep now. He was up for the day.

Elliot smiled pushing her self from the sofa thankful for the distraction, " I'll see what I got,"