Chapter 6, Winter's Coming.

Morning came too quickly for Rick's liking, it wasn't just the time of day he decided to wake up but rather from Judith's cries for attention. Rubbing his eyes he swung his legs over the side, his toes curled as his feet met the cool concrete floor. The cold morning air didn't affect Rick nor did he really pay attention to it. He was still not fully awake yet but his body moved willingly.

Judith continued to wail as Rick reached down and picked Judith from her crib, holding her small body against his chest he walked out the cell he shared with Judith and his son. He often wondered as Judith gets older what would happen with the sleeping arrangements since the cells where originally made for two people. He figured Carl would want his own cell since he was going through some changes, he defiantly noticed Carl's voice slightly getting deeper. But he decided he wouldn't worry about this problem just yet.

Walking out the cell moving towards the small cafeteria he and his people set up when they moved into the prison, Rick grabbed a bottle of pre-made formula he made last night since he knew Judith would wake up at the earliest hour in the morning to be fed. Sitting himself on the nearest chair he plopped Judith on his lap while he fed her, her cries softened as she gulped down the formula, Rick smiled softly and whispered,"someone's hungry"

Judith's big blue eyes met his, those sweet spheres of innocence melting his soul.

"There's nothing quite like it Rick", Rick recognized Herschel's voice anywhere.

"Nothing quite like what?", he replied, his eyes never leaving his child.

"Waking up early hours of the morning to comfort your little girl", Herschel spoke, moving along with his crutches to where Rick sat."walking outside on the porch bouncing her gently", with some effort Herschel managed to lower himself down to the chair beside Rick.

Rick glanced at the elderly man,"sounds like you enjoyed waking up early"

Herschel chuckled,"memories like that put a smile on my face every day Rick, wether it's a bad or good day"

Rick nodded,"I'm not too sure about taking her outside. I know its safe-but it never stays safe for long. And who knows who might be watching"

"It'll get better Rick. The Governor has nothing left and it's only a matter of time before this place becomes our safety, a real place to call home. I see the look on your face when something goes wrong, but we always fix it"

"Not everything can be fixed. I can't tell you how many nights I stayed up wondering if I could've done more, keeping us safe- fed- or even being a better father", Rick sighed heavily,"Carl is still mad about me bringing back the Woodbury people"

"That doesn't make you a bad father Rick, just a better person"

"Did I do the right thing? What if these people are a mistake? For all I know they could still be loyal to the Governor and are waiting for the right moment to strike. I've already lost my wife Herschel, I can't live without Carl and Judith", his eyes once again looking down at the little girl gulping down the remaining formula.

"if these people where still with the Governor don't you think they would've attacked already. These people are unarmed Rick and its doubtful that they can handle a gun, these people has suffered like we all have. Yes not everybody stays themselves in this world, but listen to your own words, we're not too far gone and neither are other people. You need to learn to trust in others again, not just so you have to but for Carl and Judith's sake to", Rick nodded, his mind soaking in the information. Herschel was right, and yet when was he wrong, people do change in this world just like Shane did. The memory sent a shiver down his spine.

"Alright I'll give this a chance", Herschel was pleased to hear the change in a Ricks tone. He had seen this man go through hell and he still doesn't let it get to him, he took it rough just as any man would after his wife died, but he came back because he still had a duty towards his children. Who knows what would've happened if a Rick hadn't bounced back when the Governor kidnapped his daughter and Glenn, the closest thing he has to a son.

"Good", Herschel pulled himself off the chair and leaned into his crutches, moving toward the door.

"Where are you going?"

"Outside", he replied,"I need to check up on something", with that he left Rick to be alone with his daughter.

The outside air was refreshing, Herschel enjoyed mornings like this where the air was warm and the breeze cool. His gaze was immediately diverted to the dark clouds in the distance. It was no shock that he'd expect this kind of weather when it was so close to winter, hobbling down the stairs he made his way to a certain hunter who sat with a bow in his mouth while pulling back the string of his crossbow.

"Your up awful early", the old man commented, Daryl briefly glanced at him.

"Figured I'd be back before y'all woke up", Daryl removed the bow from his mouth and placed it in the crossbow.

"Going somewhere", it was more of a statement since he already knew Daryl was heading out.

"Saw a deer movin' around the bushes near the creek"

"I didn't know we where that low on food"

"We ain't", Daryl stood up and started moving toward the gate,"just need somethin' ta do", Herschel followed him to the gate as he opened it, they still couldn't access the field since the gates where still down so the top gate leading in the prison was the only thing keeping them separated from walkers now. Although the Governors people took care of the walkers and Glenn parked a car in front of the entrance, walkers still would find their way into the yard.

"While your out I'll discuss with Rick what needs to be done for a new gate, the walkers had just been cleared and now their finding their way back in"

"Maybe Michone can help out before she leaves", Hershel raised an eyebrow at this,"what makes you think she'll leave"

"Why would she stay? The Governor's still out there and Andrea's dead-"

"And she found comfort here"

"She ain't find comfort here", Daryl said sliding the gate closed behind him,"jus' good people"

"And that will bring her comfort", Herschel replied. Daryl shook his head as there was no wining against the old man. Instead he gave him a slight nod and began his descend through the main gate into the forest brush.

Herschel stuck but what he said. He honestly expected Daryl to know what he was talking about, he remembered when he first saw Daryl, he too was quiet and was tough enough to take anyone on. There is where he and Michone resembled and soon after, he found comfort with the group and made the right decisions when it came down to him and his brother. Merle was his blood brother but they all where family.

Merle had also changed; he thought as he hobbled along the fence, Compared to what he understood of Merle before he could honestly say that the Merle Dixon also cared, and he showed it with his life. Yes Merle could be a horrible bastard-but that's just how he is, and underneath it all was a good man protecting his little brother.

Dropping one of his crutches he used the other as leverage, lowering himself down into a kneeling position his hand gently touched the plant that grown just in between the fence, a strawberry shrub. He discovered this after the battle ended and the Governor retreated. His eyes inspected the shrub carefully, it hadn't developed any strawberry yet since winter was so near, but he had no doubt there would be some fresh strawberries to pick by spring.

His thoughts where interrupted by the roar of thunder in the distance, a winter storm was coming.

Carl shot up from his bed, his eyes wide open dodging left from right. His heart pounded against his rib cage and he swore he could feel his bones rattling. His breathing was hard adding to the effect, he was dreaming of being in the woods with a deer, a big beautiful deer stood in front of him. It made him smile when it didn't run away as he moved forward, he was about to touch it when-

Boom!

He jumped again looking out his cell up at the windows, he sighed in relief recognizing the rain clouds. It was thunder, thunder and nothing more. Sighing heavily he moved out his bed and put on some decent clothes.

The cell block was empty when Carl walked out, everyone was probably still asleep. All but the cell at the end. Carl could hear Maggie giggle, what they where doing he didn't know, Glenn probably tickled her, yeah that explains the giggling I guess, he thought on his way out.

"Mornin'", he heard the unmistakable voice of his father,"where you off to"

"Outside", he replied,"just want to see the weather", Carl avoided his fathers gaze as he moved toward the door.

"Carl stop", he heard his father say, he pretended that he never heard him and continued towards the door.

"Carl! Stop now!", Rick said louder and with more authority. Carl sighed and looked at him.

"We're still not done with our conversation from yesterday, and I want to talk before everyone wakes up", he said repositioning Judith in his arms.

Carl scowled on the inside but remained cool,"Kay", he grumbled sliding open the door and going outside. He instantly shivered at the cool wind that hit his skin, the sky ahead was dark, really dark. It looked like it was going to rain heavily. Carl groaned at the thought of having nowhere to hide from his father inside the prison. Now he had no choice but to talk to him unless he wanted to wait in the rain.

"Morning Carl", Herschel greeted hobbling towards the door,"you need something?"

"No, was just checking the weather", Herschel looked back at the dark clouds.

"Winter's coming", he said,"it's only going to get colder from here on out", he looked back to Carl and smiled,"and by the looks of it your not dressed for the occasion"

Carl looked at down at his clothes, he wore his favorite pale blue top with a paw on his chest and some cargo pants. He smiled at Herschel's words, Herschel always knew what to say to make him smile. He was like a grandfather to Carl."I have my jacket inside"

"And yet you come into the cold without it", he chuckled,"well I'm going inside before I freeze to death", he hobbled past Carl,"are you coming?"

"In a minute", he said walking in no specific direction. He just wanted to get away and think for a while before it starts raining, before he has to sit down forever while his father talks. It was just so unfair! Carl raged, he never listens to what I have to say in the matter! He expects me to get used to those monsters living in the other cell block. I don't care what he says, Carl decided with a scowl, I'll always hate them.

Carl continued walking around the prison not paying attention to where he was actually going. I'll show them, he continued, there wrong, they'll see I'm right I just have to figure out how ill show them-

Carl stopped altogether and backed up. He stared in silence at the fence. Not really at the fence but rather at the gaping hole in the centre. Carl frowned at it, surely he would've noticed this by now. How could I've missed this? I walked passed here yesterday and it-

Carls eyes widened in fear. No, he was certain there was no hole here yesterday. Without a second thought he spun his body around and bolted towards his cell block,"umf", the wind was knocked out of him as he collided with something behind him, his vision blurred as his head bounced of the hard concrete ground.

Carl forced his eyes open, his head spun and his vision was blurry. His eyes focused on a tall blurred figure that knelt before him. Everything seemed as grey as the clouds before blocks dots crept from the corner of his eyes. The last thing Carl knew was the flash of lightning, lighting up the Governors sick grin and the crash of thunder filling the sky.