Hi all, just letting you know I have changed the time line a little but to suit me and my story line better. I hope I haven't confused any one; this is set after the last episode of season three, but I am making it a bit longer of a period of time before season 4 starts (which I have only seen bits and pieces of; dam living in the country with no shops or tv.) . So honestly I have no idea how much time actually passes, it looks like they were in Autumn (Fall) at the end. I can't wait till I get to see season 5 Please read and review, I love to hear your thoughts, Enjoy!

Chapter 17: Bliss

The hot days of summer had faded away to the cool relief of autumn, at least it didn't mean panting and struggling to get to sleep in the horrible cells, most nights anyway. It made tasks a little easier, like running for our lives and standing on guard under the sun but what was harder now was getting to use to the chatter and movement of people inside the prison fence.
The Governor had tried to attack, they had done some damage but it only took the handful of us to scare the people into fleeing; they were not soldiers, they had been sheltered from that sort of thing, I had no idea what the Governor had been thinking but it didn't matter anymore; we had survived, but we had no idea if he was still alive or not.

Rick had returned with a bus load of people; women and children that had been left behind at Woodbury and with everyone gunned down in the Governors fury, the only humane thing to do was bring them back to the prison. I still don't know how I feel about it, there were either too many people or I wanted more.
Since it had ended, Rick had stepped aside, allowing us to set up a council that was working just as effectively, probably more so but I watched each day as Rick became more and more recluse, treated by some as though he was a weapon that we called upon when we needed him.
In the few weeks that it had been, the prison was beginning to look like what we had all dreamed about; people welcomed, thriving. The fences had been rebuilt stronger and more efficiently, the courtyard became like a communal meeting and eating area, barrels were filled with fresh water for everyone, and other cell blocks were cleared for everyone to have their own space, a place where cells became rooms filled with personal items, people becoming friends or lovers; it was like a miniature town.

It had taken some time for myself and the group to get used to welcoming people into the fold but we all knew that we were the originals, and that bond could never be stretched or broken. Everyone that had accepted the rules here and chose to work to keep this place the haven that it was, they seemed to forget everything that had happened. But we hadn't, the Governor was still there like a shadow on our minds, a fear that nibbled at the back of our necks; was he coming back?
I glanced around from where I stood, watching as everyone walked and talked and lived, spying Axel and Carol giggle and flirt with one another, wishing that they would just hurry up and get together. Glen and Maggie were over whatever had happened at Woodbury, that memory long gone as the couple bordered on a lovey dove attitude that made me want to be sick. Hershel was maybe the most popular man here, the one everyone turned to for advice, for a heavenly word or medically. Beth still had Judith in her arms everyday, Rick no longer afraid of holding his child but I think Beth took comfort and pride in caring for baby Judith. Of course this meant that Carl was never far away and I watched him talk with some of the other children that had joined the prison. He seemed better, not the cold boy he had been a few weeks ago. That soldier in him was still there, the struggle between being useful and being a child evident but at least he seemed better. Michonne helped with that, and in turn I think it helped her, no longer the heartless warrior she had tried to come across as and I think my brother had caught onto that; as I had caught him watching her longer than what was considered normal.

My eyes looked out towards the road, and my thoughts drifted to Daryl.
It was hard to think that Merle was gone, someone like him was dead but that was the reality and for a while Daryl had struggled to cope with it, not understanding why Merle would have done something like that. Nobody would know, and I doubted that even Merle knew why. Daryl carried on though, he had his own way of mourning his brother and when he had returned that night, telling us, we had all been silent. No one had expected Merle to do such a thing, a sacrifice that we were didn't take lightly. It had been hard for me to know what Daryl needed for a period of time, did he need to me to stay away and give him space or did he need me to lean on? We waded our way through it, feeling closer together than ever before.

"Here you go, you know where they go."
Tyreese dropped a milk crate of flour into my hands as I turned to him, his kind face smiling cheekily as I tried to balance the paper bags on top. He and his sister Sasha had been a great help, more so than I think they realised and I blew some of my fringe from my face.
"Don't want you straining your back now don't we?" I huffed back, walking beside him as we headed towards cell block C, our original meals area now transformed into a weapons area and pantry; like a traditional American shop. I carefully stepped up the steps, not able to see my feet and I swore as I missed the step, a bag slipping from the top. I expected it to fall everywhere, a waste of food but Vincent's smiling face filled my visions.
"Come on, don't go wasting our supplies."
I huffed again, Vincent playfully putting it back atop of the pile in my arms before he took the crate from me, carrying it inside and setting it down beside the others.
"I wouldn't if Tyreese realised I'm not as strong as he is," Tyreese turning to give me a playful smile, posing like a weight lifter and I laughed.
"Ain't no one as good looking as me either."
"Oh I don't know," Sasha said, dropping a tub of water down and giving Vincent a good look over, "Might have some competition with handsome over here."
"Come on, pretty boy here?"
"What can I say Tyreese," Vincent chuckled, flipping his imaginary locks, "sometimes the ladies just want some white chocolate rather than the rich milk."
"Did you just pull a race card?"

I laughed, leaving the boys to argue as I followed Sasha back outside, sighing as the sun warmed my skin and I pulled the sleeves of my fitting grey shirt down to my wrists, my braid keeping my neck warm.
"Boys will be boys huh?" Sasha laughed and I nodded before she left, heading down towards a group of other people. I stood there, my fingers playing with my necklace as I looked at the surrounding area. If you had have told me I would be standing here, happy and hopeful after everything, I would have probably punched you in the mouth, but here I was. My demon was quiet, my rage tameable and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt like we had a chance, a future.
"What you thinking about?"
Vincent stood beside me, looking out with me and I just shrugged, giving him a grin.

"Hey O'Kane one and two, you busy?"
We both turned our attention to Glen who waved his hand down for us to join him and we did.
"We had a bunch of walkers get through that fence on the west side. They didn't do anything but I'm heading around there now with Maggie and Barry, could you two help out on the fence?"
"Of course," I said, looking over the new man Barry who had proved himself trustworthy the day we found him and his small group help up in a cabin.
"We'll show them how it's done." Vincent chuckled and Glen thanked us before heading towards the car. We made our way down there, and I hated being between the two fences like being in no man's land on a battle field. People were already down there and like many others some of them were testing out new things, trying to get a feel for where they belonged and what they could do while here. Not many people volunteered for runs, and the council was also very particular with who would be allowed to go, majority of the time it was left with us, the original group and a few others that had proved effective.

We were putting on some aprons, grabbing whatever tools were left over which happened to be a simple snapped pole and a crowbar, when I watched Trix run down to join us. Hershel had done as promised and made a splint for Trix in the hope it would heal his ankle well enough and it had. The splint was gone now and even though he still favoured it more than he should, it didn't inhibit him. After an affectionate greet he made himself comfortable a safe distance away and we set to work. Everyone was silent, there wasn't really anything to say and besides, it was hard to hear yourself think as the walkers threw themselves against the metal fence, too stupid to dodge as we thrust our weapons through and into their skulls. It was messy, I had barely killed three of them and I looked like I had a bucket of the gunk splashed against me.
Each time I killed a walker, I couldn't help but stare at it, wondering who it had been, if they had been killed by walkers or humans or killed themselves or simply died. They seemed to be getting uglier and uglier as time went on, and I guess I couldn't expect them getting any prettier, they were exposed corpses. Maybe it was a matter of waiting them out, surely there wouldn't be anything left of walkers after a few years, I would just have to survive long enough to see. Even if that was the case, we still didn't even know if this was all caused naturally, how did we become infected? Was Judith infected?

The sun continued to beat down on us even when we all decided to call it a day; if we kept going until there were no walkers on the fence we would be there forever. Covered in blood and mess we all trudged back up to the top, dropping our aprons and tools off in the bucket to be cleaned, which luckily wasn't my job.
"I was thinking of going to the library to find a book, want to come?" I asked Vincent and he shook his head, running his hands through his hair.
"Said I would help out with setting up the generators. We're close to getting the showers working."
"Go!" I said with a laugh, shoving his shoulder.
"They don't need me until later though-"
"Are you kidding? Work on those showers, have you smelt yourself?" I teased playfully and Vincent shoved me back, his face tensing in pain briefly but I pretended not to see it and he pretended it didn't happen; the wound on his back still tender but at least it was healed.
"Have you smelt yourself? You don't exactly live up to your name."
"Are you kidding? I smell amazing."

Our teasing stopped when I heard the familiar rumble of a motor bike and I quickly raced over to the gate, Vincent close behind me as the gate was opened, the two vehicles driving in. Daryl gave me a nod, stopping beside me and Rick got out of the car that pulled up beside him.
"Any luck?" Vincent asked and Rick smiled, nodding as Michonne gestured to the boot.
"Got some wood planks, perfect for setting up a fence for some animals, got some seeds to from a gardening store. Hershel might now what they are."
Rick nodded and was about to get into the car when Daryl cleared his throat.
"It still pretty early, I was thinking of going on another run. There was that baby place we wanted to check out," he looked over to me and I tried to contain my smile, I didn't have my bow on me but I had everything else, "You wanna come with? Easier with just two."

Rick gave us a look but nodded, telling us to be careful and back before it gets dark. Happily I jumped onto the back of Daryls bike, my arms wrapping around his waist as he started the engine again. Vincent gave me a sour look but I gave him a little wave, winking as I gestured to Michonne who stood beside him. She saw and gave an alarmed look to me and then to Vincent who shrugged, but I was out the gate before anything else. I chuckled, leaning back and loving the wind whipping around my face; this is what it must feel like to fly.
We drove for a little while but I wished we kept going, it was bliss sitting on the back of that noisy bike, my arms holding onto Daryl gently, enough to make sure I didn't fly off the back. Walkers flew by us in a blur and I stared up at the vibrant orange canopy over us, the autumns green and orange and brown leaves and the blue sky morphing into one and I smiled to myself, it had been a while since I had been outside of the prison or on a run, it felt good.

A river came into view and Daryl drove the bike down close, stopping and getting off and I looked around.
"Where's the childcare centre?"
Daryl left his bow on the bike and a look came over his face that made me giddy and I stepped off the bike, looking at the surrounding area; it looked safe enough, there were no walkers; which meant nothing, but it was a prime area. Trees offered shelter and the numerous fallen trees would at least give us some time if we needed to run. It was beautiful on the water and Daryl stepped into me, shrugging his shoulders as I laced my fingers on the back of his head.
"We'll get there, but I just wante' a bit of time with you. Between runs and Rick and ya brother," he licked his lips that made mine tingle, "I just want you to m'self for a bit."
I kissed him, his hands tightening their grip on me but I noticed he was careful to avoid where my scar was but I knew it didn't bother him, not like it did me.
"Well," I said, stepping back and starting to take my shirt off, "you have me, so what do you have planned?"
Turning my back to him, I pulled my shirt off and tossed it over the bike, Daryl stalking up behind me, his fingers running down my spine, sending chills throughout my body.
"Lots of things."
He pushed my braid over my shoulder, lowering his lips to my neck as he unclipped my bra. It fell away and he tossed it over towards the bike and I grinned, looking over my shoulder at him as he began to take his own shirt off.

He reached for me but I walked slowly towards the water, it was cold but my burning skin hardly noticed and toed my boots off and wiggled out of my pants before I went in, turning back around fully to Daryl who was watching me from the water's edge, his face clouded with something and I smiled, holding my hand out for him and he followed.