AN: Last I checked, Lily being pregnant was winning. I am going to close that poll monday (march 4). Thankfully, I kinda have a plan for this, I'm gonna follow the show kinda until the season 3 finally then I'm gonna branch off.
Lily woke up in an empty bed. It seemed rather odd since she'd always been an early riser.
"Aw you're finally up, sleeping beauty," Mason said from the doorway.
"Why didn't someone wake me?" Lily asked sleepily.
"No need. Rick's on watch with Carl, Daryl's on watch for his brother, Beth is watching the kids, and everyone else is trying to prepare for Phil's return."
"He's not the man I knew," Lily sat up quickly and closed the space between her and her brother. "He's...changed..." she couldn't find a better word for it.
"No shit. First, he kidnaps you, which by the way Daryl almost murdered me for! Then, he comes here and shoots up the place!"
"What was I suppose to do? Let him kill y'all?"
"We coulda taken him!"
"He had a whole damn army!"
"It was five guys!"
"Five evil guys," Lily corrected.
"Mornin'," Daryl walked into the cell holing what looked like a bundle of blankets.
"What do you have there?" Lily asked. Mason took his leave, so the couple could have a few minutes alone.
"Little ass kicker," he moved closer to her, with the small baby.
"Aw," she cooed when she saw the baby. "Can I hold her?" Daryl nodded and Lily held out her arms. She accepted the small bundle when it was placed in her arms. "Oh my God. She looks just like Lori."
Carl, kept his eyes on the tree's beyond the prison yard, and the long gravel drive leading right up to the gates. He had to be vigilant, so that the group would be safe. That was his goal. To keep the group safe. Which, also ment he needed to speak to his father.
"Dad," he started, as he adjusted his sheriff hat.
"Yeah?" Rick replied.
"I think you should give it up," Carl looked up, and met his father's eyes, but had to squint on account of the high sun behind him.
"Give what up?" Rick asked.
"Being the leader. Let Lily and Daryl take over for a while."
Rick didn't reply, he just nodded, this was something he'd have to seriously think about.
Lily, after she dressed and was prepared for the new day, slipped into the area where Daryl was sitting. His back was to her, and his eyes fixed somewhere in the distance. He must be thinking, she thought. Because, he was staring at a concrete wall that wasn't just going to grow legs and tap dance. Carefully, she crept up behind him.
"Mornin' Princess," he said.
"How'd you know I was here?" she questioned, as she made her way to face him. He simply shrugged. She sat on his lap, and pressed a hard kiss on his lips, before looking deep into his blue eyes. "I love you."
"An' I love yew."
She grinned before kissing him again.
"Ain't this sweet," Merle called sarcastically from a locked cell across the way.
"Shut up, Merle," Lily replied. She didn't want to hear him mock her and Daryl's romance.
"That the bes' yew can up wit'?" Merle asked. He didn't want to hear his little brother telling some bitch he loved her.
"No, but you're Daryl's brother, so I can't go all Shane on your ass."
"Please," Merle laughed. "He'd break that pretty lil' face a yer's."
Daryl gave her a look that basically said, 'can't we all just get along?' he sent the same look to Merle. It kind of struck Lily as odd that Daryl would be the peacemaker. She sighed softly.
"Let's just bury the hatchet Merle. Work together. You help me, I'll help you."
"How the hell yew gonna help me? Giv' me a hand job? Haven't had one a those in a while."
"God, no. But, you behave, and I'll see 'bout getting Rick to let you roam free."
Merle thought for a moment. He wasn't sure he'd be able to not fight with this girl. But, maybe he had to. Daryl was the only family he had, and the only person on his side. He also knew, that it wouldn't be that way if it was Lily he was fighting with. Daryl would be more loyal to his girl then to his brother. Merle didn't blame him. Maybe if he had a girl of his own, he'd be the same way.
"Fine. Don' mean I'm gonna like ya."
"Trust me, that won't be a problem. We got a deal?" Lily stood and walked over the Merle's cell, and held her hand out in reaching distance of his hand. He nodded and shook it. "Good."
Later that day, Lily kept her promise to Merle. He was allowed to help guard, but would still be locked in his cell at night, unless he was on watch, which Daryl or Lily would have to be with him.
"This is insane," Glenn said as he paced nervously. "We can't even go outside!"
"A luxury we may have gotten too used to," Lily pointed out.
"We're gonna die of starvation without you and Daryl hunting," Glenn replied.
"Got enough food fer a while," Daryl said.
"We're trapped like rats, Maggie added.
"We'll survive. Done it before," Daryl tried to reassure them.
"Exactly, we all just need to stay calm," Lily began. "The worst thing we can do is panic. We'll just have to ration our food better."
"Lily's right. Glenn, Maggie, I want you in the watch tower. Keep quiet, and low," Rick said. "Everyone else, find a suitable place to watch from."
Naturally, Lily and Daryl began walking together, but Merle was hot on their heels. They took watch on the ground level, Daryl and Lily kept their bows ready, and Merle had a riffle.
After a little bit, Lily noticed Carl and Rick moving from their post. They motioned for the trio to follow them, and they went out into one of the prison's many court yards. Merle walked first.
"Clear," he called back, and they took shelter behind a pick up truck.
"Do you think it's him?" Lily asked.
"Not sure," Rick replied.
"I'm going out," she started to move but Daryl caught her arm. "He won't shoot me."
Daryl reluctantly released her. She walked into the open only to see a jawless walker followed by Andrea.