After a few days of following the map, rations were running low. But lucky for them, the prison wasn't far from their current location. By the end of the day, they began roving over the hillside, weapons at the ready to kill any stray walkers who might have crossed their path.

Nora had never felt more alive, being out in the open like this. The women had easily become accustomed to their home in the apocalypse. There was something about the rawness of everything; of survival and humanity. Something that brought her home and made her feel like not a day was wasted on menial, petty things like social events, texting and technology. It was an uninhibited, wild nature that swooned her; something about basic survival that made her feel... normal.

This was what she'd been trained for.

"Don't know if ya'll can hear me, but if you're a part'a that group from yesterday, ya ain't gettin' access t' this prison. We don't wish to resolve t' violence, but if ya test me, ya might end up with a pretty little accessory like your friend Nelson."

Nora and Andrea exchanged looks; almost as though they were going to break down from the happiness of hearing Rick's voice. Even the humor in his tone was enough to make Andrea beam in excitement. Nora offered a humble smile before she reached out and patted Andrea's stomach to try and keep her alert.

"Watch for walkers. Dey don't know it's us yet. C'mon." She said as she urged Blondie and Michonne along the trail. But even Andrea could tell Nora had picked up her speed quite a bit. Either she wanted to get this awkwardness out of the way or she couldn't wait to see the group again.

While the group got closer to their destination, Nora had paused and the other two girls leaned over the map she was pining over curiously. "There should be a back entrance some-SHITE!" She shrieked as a walker had come out of nowhere. The groan alerted them and Michonne acted fast, lopping off its head with her katana. Nora withdrew her bow and arrow while Andrea remained safely protected between the two; gun in one hand, map in the other, quivering like a leaf. "Where we goin', Blondie?" Nora asked as she noticed a few more walkers piling in. She thought quickly, pegging them down with her bolts.

Andrea shook her head.

"Gotta head further northeast. We're sure to find a gate there, I think." She announced. Nora and Michonne nodded to one another. "That way!" She pointed with a trembling limb.

"Let's go!" Nora demanded, urging the other two along with caution. Nora covered the front, Michonne the back and Andrea on the sides.

For now, the Galway Archer's excitement to be reunited with Daryl would have to wait. Evil was still afoot.

"They don't seem too worrid 'bout yer threat." Daryl stated as the two of them watched the three figures move eagerly to find the entrance.

A thoughtful expression played on Rick's face as he turned to look at the Redneck. "Seems they're headin' to the gates. N' looks like we're still gettin' a few stragglers from when we went in ta town yesterday." Rick noted, as he watched the women take down a walker.

"Best hurry if ya don't wann'em ta be supper." Daryl added.

The two made it to the front of the prison. The giant steel gates were locked in place. "I got ya covered." Daryl stated as he gave a small nod to the Sheriff before disappearing up the watch tower that could oversee the gates. He removed his crossbow from his back and had it aimed and ready incase the mysterious survivors tried to pull anything.

Rick returned the nod to the Redneck before he made his way down to the gate, where he saw that the walkers were piling in. He removed his pistol from its holster and approached the steel gates, his mouth immediately falling open in shock as his eyes rested upon the familiar faces of Andrea and Nora. Before he could even speak a word, he aimed his gun and immediately fired off a few rounds to put down the walkers that had begun to close in. The Sheriff quickly stepped over to open the giant gate before shouting for the three women to enter.

After fighting off the horde, making sure one didn't slip inside, they closed the gates. The Sheriff barely had time to turn around before he was tackled into a hug by Andrea. The woman beyond ecstatic to see a familiar face and knowing they were home. Once she ended their embrace, Rick looked upon the pale Irish woman and pulled her in for a hug too.

"I thought we would never see the two'a you..." He said as he gave her a gentle squeeze before pulling away. A smile was worn upon his face.

Daryl watched the scene from his place at the watch tower, his brows twisting in confusion at first, but then he saw it. That black raven hair. That gothic attire. The pale irish skin. And that bow...the bow he had seen Nora use many times in battle against the undead. He lowered his crossbow, his breath caught in his lungs as he stared in utter disbelief. How many nights and days had passed? How long ago since his eyes had had the luxury of seeing that annoying woman. To hear that voice. To have her argue with him over something stupid. To have her watch him from a distance like he watched her. How long ago had his faith in her survival died?

He didn't move an inch. His crossbow was still aimed, his finger was still rested upon the trigger. He was in a trance. One that he thought he would never break from. But Rick had turned and motioned to him in that instant to come down. Daryl seemed hesitant. He didn't want to. He couldn't.

"Ya'll will love it here. It's safe. We got electricity, water, food...it's our safe haven." He smiled proudly as he walked, expecting the women to follow him as he did so.

By the time they had gotten within ten feet of the Watch Tower, Daryl had jumped off the last step of the ladder and adjusted his crossbow, his gaze downward on the ground for a moment. He didn't want to look. His stomach was twisting in all sorts of bizarre knots. His chest tightened and he felt completely suffocated. How he hated what this woman did to him. His head lifted and his eyes immediately met with Nora's. And it was intense.

The whole world stopped. Everything went silent. There was not one sound. Not the wind. Not the birds. Not his heart in his chest. Not the sound of his breath. Nothing. A whole month had passed and Daryl now found himself gazing into the very orbs that he thought for certain he would never look upon again. And he felt it... He knew that she felt it just as much as he did in that instant. That the feeling was mutual. Everything that he was feeling and experiencing in that instant was shared with her.

And just as soon as Daryl had looked upon her, his eyes shifted quickly from her. He tore his sights from her, which only made him come off as indifferent. His gaze fell upon Andrea and then Michone, who he definitely eyed over for more than a minute given her odd apperance.

"Nice'ta see ya'll made it." He spoke the words dryly, as he was really in no mood for conversation at all, but he knew that it was only right to greet them, as they had been a part of the original family they had. He adjusted the strap of his crossbow, his head turning to look at the Sheriff, who was already starting to move again towards the prison. Darly quickly took this opportunity to avoid any human interactions and followed closely behind Rick's step as the Sheriff rambled on to the females about the prison and all it had to offer.

Once they reached the inside, the entire group that was left remaining swarmed in on Andrea and Nora with welcoming arms. Daryl had stationed himself way off in the distant corner, his blue eyes never leaving Nora as he watched the young Irish lass and Andrea being overwhelmed with the greetings and such.

"We just finished making lunch! Are y'all hungry?" Maggie questioned with a big smile.

"Oh, I'm starving!" Andrea blurted out as she rubbed her stomach.

Everyone started to eagerly set up for eating lunch together and to talk and catch up with the two women. Daryl, however, was nowhere to be found by the time Nora would be free enough to glance around for him.

The initial battle seemed to be nothing new. If anything, Nora only relished the adrenaline that coursed through her as she fought against the horde with her bolts and katana. Her trustin her weaponry never faded once and even through all this time in not being able to use them, they still never failed her.

But once it was all over and Andrea had tackled Rick into a tight hug, Nora had used this awkward moment to gather her bolts quickly. That was, until she was turned on her heels and tugged into a tight hug by Rick himself. The moment his fatherly embrace found her, Nora's body almost went limp from exhaustion. Her bolt-holding hand weaved slowly around Rick's waist and her free hand hesitantly rested upon his bicep. Tears welled in her eyes at his whisper and she beamed under her blanket of makeup.

She was home. Rick was her home, not Galway, not her mother, not her dead father. The group was her home. God... for once in her life, she was home.

"Ditto, Sheriff Woody." Nora jested with an embarrassed smile as she wiped away her tears. She did a once-over of the prison, staring intently at the potential and wondering if the very man who had helped save her from her own grave was dwelling within the fortress' walls, waiting for her. Soon, she shook her head, trying to convince herself otherwise, but her heart still held a silly sort of hope.

That was all over the moment the Sheriff had motioned for the Beast to come down from his hiding place. Come to think of it, everything was over the moment two pairs of deep cerulean crashed like blue fire. Nora hadn't even realized she was holding her breath. Her heart hammered relentlessly against her ribcage. She felt his tension, his doubt and hesitation; all because it only mirrored her own. It was like time slowed, making a split second feel like an eternity. And all those doubts, fears and petty dreams were right in front of their eyes... which couldn't pry away from the truth. They were there. Just like she had seen so many times in her mind. Just like those torturous visions she continuously replayed of their memories.

She snapped from her reverie from the Beast's words and a harsh glare settled upon her features. Naturally, he had to keep himself ZEN, as he always put it, but couldn't he at least have a little more respect for the hell she went through just to get here?

Nora supposed it was fair. The bruises on her neck were well hidden and the rest of those cuts, scrapes and markings were on her torso. The only real evidence of her struggles were on her hands... where she had clawed her way through splintered wood and dirt. She mused over this silently as the others pelted Andrea and herself with questions.

She could feel the Beast's eyes on her, boring into her skull. She never looked at him once, not bothering to give him the satisfaction of knowing he was getting to her.

But when she had finally turned to look, Nora noticed he had vanished from sight.

"I'm starving!" Andrea shouted as she patted her tummy. Nora grinned.

"Me too. Could eat a deer. But uh... excuse me for a moment, won't yah loves?" She announced. Rick gave her a look. "Uh... bathroom?"

"Oh. That way, Irish." He said, motioning in one direction. Hoping to God that it was the way to her true destination, she took it.