This story is going to take another track from now on until its end. Daryl and Carol have adopted a daughter and a son. They have found happiness in their marriage. They will meet challenges coming from evil forces of all kinds. Nothing is ever easy in their world.

Hard Roads

The first weeks of January were snowy and cold. Carol was busy with Alia and Matthias and settling into her new house. She visited with Grandma Lydia almost every day. She was growing closer to Emily and Jesse and their families. Her marriage to Daryl had given her the confidence to be more open with the others. Rick was making all the right moves to repair their friendship and she was trying to do her part. The group was meeting every day to talk over problems and make plans. Her world revolved around her family and she felt as if she could be perfectly content never to leave the mountain.

Carol was working on laundry one morning when John McKenzie knocked on her door. Grandma Lydia was having chest pains and was going in and out of consciousness. She left Alia and Matthias with Beth and she went with John to the McKenzie farm. Jesse and Emily were in the living room talking when she came in. "We think she has some wrong with her heart. She wants to talk to you, Carol". Jesse was obviously upset and Emily had been crying.

Carol went into Grandma Lydia's room and found that the old woman was propped up in bed. Lydia looked tired but her eyes met Carol with the same love and kindness as ever. "Oh Grandma Lydia, I'm sorry that you aren't feeling well". Carol's voice broke. She couldn't bear to watch this dear woman look so weak.

Grandma Lydia gave a faint smile, "I feel worse than I look. Now let's not waste what little time I have left talking about my health. I need to talk to you and some others before I depart this mortal coil. Are you ready to listen?"

Carol nodded. She wanted to tell Grandma Lydia to save her strength and rest but the old woman would have it her way. Carol sat down by Lydia and took her hand and tried to ignore the truth that was coming to her in waves.

"You see it, don't you? I am dying and that's the truth of it. Don't weep, child. I have had a long life and I am ready to go. More wait for me over there than I know on this side. But, I need to talk to you and some others before I go." Lydia's voice seemed to grow stronger and she squeezed Carol's hand lovingly. "I love you, Carol and it hurts me to tell you that I am going to leave you. You are happy and content and I have to tell you some hard truths before I go."

Carol wiped her face with a soft washcloth and bent and kissed her hand, "You need to rest."

Lydia said, "No, you need to know this. You are going to be the oldest female in our family. Nancy was the oldest girl and had the most of the sight; Jesse's mother was the only daughter and she left no daughters behind. After Nancy and Catherine passed I received more of the sight that I had. You have it and when I pass you will get more. Use it, Carol to save your family and the people on this mountain. Stop being afraid because you made a wrong call at the prison. You were being swamped with visions and you didn't understand the sight. Think of all the right calls you made. Trusting Morgan and joining with him to bring down Terminus was an example of a right call. Listen, stop hiding from the sight and start using it. The Governor is dead and Terminus is destroyed but the next enemy will come wrapped in an army uniform and the flag of the United States. You must prepare the whole mountain to withstand that army or all will be lost."

Lydia slumped back a little, "Now, I want to talk to Daryl, Michonne, Morgan, and Rick. Send them to me today." Her eyes met Carol's, "Go, child. I haven't forever. I am going to take a nap until Rick gets here". Her eyes closed and Carol went out to the living room to send John to get Rick at the barn. Daryl, Morgan, and Michonne were taking advantage of a break in the weather to go on a run to Adair.

Carol, Jesse, and Emily sat in Lydia's room until Rick came in. Lydia woke up then, "Go on out, children. Rick and I need to have a little talk." The cousins obeyed and Rick was left to stand by the old woman's bedside. "Rick, do you believe I have the sight?"

Rick hesitated, "I don't believe in that kind of thing."

Lydia said, "Your true name is Jacob Richard Grimes. You are named after an uncle who was a bit of a scoundrel and you chose to be called Rick instead of Jacob. Am I right?"

Rick started, "How can you know that?"

Lydia, "You need to listen. Carol has the sight; she has been trying to hide from it. You need to tuyou will do it. You'll be rewarded for your loyalty. It is always better to be on the side of the winning horse. "

"What if what she wants to do is wrong?" Rick remembered the woman who killed two of their own.

"Carol was given visions of the death and destruction that was coming. It confused her and she acted hastily. She is stronger now and she'll listen to all of you, but you must right now swear to me that you will allow her to be your leader." Lydia was determined that Rick understood the new chain of command.

Rick turned away ready to leave and Lydia touched him and he was filled with visions of the horrors of the cell block that housed the flu patients, the walls tumbling down, and the prison burning. Those were the visions that had pushed Carol into action. He saw David already turned and stumbling out to bite Carl. Karen choking on her own blood while her body convulsed with pain. He looked back and she nodded. He sat down in the chair beside of Lydia. He thought of Hershel and Michonne waiting at the fence line with the Governor. He wished he had taken a shot and killed the Governor where he stood before he decapitated Hershel and ordered the tank into the prison. Carol might have been able to warn him before they came. He sighed and stood up, "I promise that my allegiance and my trust will be in my leader, Carol McAllister-Dixon." He met Lydia's eyes and smiled.

Lydia nodded, "Now I need Jesse and Emily to come in, Tell Carol to stay out while I talk to them."

Rick bent and kissed her goodbye,

Emily and Jesse came in and stood on either side of Lydia and they each took her hand. She shook her hand at them, "I have loved you every day of your lives. Nancy told me that her children and grandchildren were to be a blessing to her and me. Carol is going to need you. Jesse, you are a warrior and Carol is going to need you at her side. The enemy that is coming will be dressed as a soldier but he is an evil man. He is gathering an army of men like him who will justify killing your children because of their race. He hates all people of color and he worships at the altar of the National Socialist Party and his god is Adolf Hitler. He will come in late spring to recruit soldiers to his army. They will either go willingly or by force. You and Carol must stop him before he gets stronger." She stopped then and looked at him with so much love that he was moved to tears again.

Jesse bent and kissed Lydia's hand, "I love you and I understand. There are easy roads to walk and hard roads and we will have to travel the hard road to survive."

Lydia looked next at Emily. "Carol will get more sight when I pass but you'll get a share. You will need to help her with her children. She is going to be called away at times and she'll need a safe place for her children. You have to leave your comfort zone and go out with Carol and help survivors in any way you can. Hungry desperate people turn to anyone who offers hope. All of you must help the ones who need it. "

Emily bent and kissed her hand, "I will help in any way I can. I love you, Grandma and I love Carol. She is like a sister to me."

Lydia smiled, "You three will be brother and sisters from now on. Now let me sleep until Michonne, Morgan, and Daryl get here." She closed her eyes and they tiptoed out.

Michonne, Morgan, and Daryl were met by John on the mountain road and he directed them toward McKenzie Farm. They waited in the living room with Brian until Grandma Lydia woke up and asked for them.

Michonne and Morgan stood by Lydia's bed. They were both shocked at how weak she was but there was a determined look on her face. "I'm dying but don't waste time mourning me yet. I know that you both love Carol and I want you to promise to have her back after I am gone. "

They both nodded and Michonne said, "We will always protect her. She is my sister."

Lydia said, "There is trouble coming and the only way to survive is to listen and follow her leadership". They nodded and she said, "Congratulations on the baby by the way and send in Daryl. Now kiss me goodbye and know that I loved you both." They each kissed her cheek and their tears fell on her pillow.

Daryl came in and stood by Lydia. She was drifting in and out of consciousness and he knew that she was struggling to stay here for a little longer. She focused her eyes on him, "Ah, the hunter comes. I know that you love her, but she is more than your wife and your children's mother. Carol will need you at her side and not pulling her back."

Daryl wanted to tell the old woman no. He and Carol were building a family and they were happy. Couldn't the world just leave them the hell alone? He wanted the life he had now and not the one the old woman wanted for them.

"The man who is coming will kill Alia because she is of mixed race." Lydia said.

Daryl closed his eyes and thought of a world without Alia in it. Carol would never forgive herself and him if they didn't do everything in their power to protect their daughter. "I will be at her side and not pull her back. We will find a way to kill this bastard."

The old woman said, "Carol is going to have a baby. She doesn't know yet. Pretend to be surprised when she tells you. It's a girl. Now go on out and send in my grandchildren."

Daryl bent and kissed her, "I love you and I wish we had more time together. You are a hell of a woman Lydia McAllister." He was crying as he went back to the living room and told the three to come back in.

Lydia prayed for enough strength to tell them goodbye. Jesse, Emily, and Carol came back into the room. They had to stand close to her to hear. "Jesse, take all that I own as yours. Emily, I'll be with your Anne soon." Lydia stopped and closed her eyes for a bit and then opened them again, "Carol, when I pass over I want you to use that knife that you carry to put me down. Promise now." Carol nodded.

Lydia rested a minute and then said, "I know what I ask is hard but it must be done. The light has to defeat the darkness or it will take over everything. I love you and I know that you will be strong enough to finish your fight. Mine is nearly over. Now stay with me 'til I pass." She closed her eyes.

They sat beside her until the middle of the night when Lydia's breathing became lighter and lighter. Carol was holding her hand and keeping track of her pulse. She knew that the end was close and they formed a circle with Carol holding Lydia's right hand with her left hand and holding Jesse's hand with her right. Jesse was sitting on the bed by Lydia and holding Emily's hand left and Emily held on to Lydia's left hand. They all felt the life go out of Lydia and they turned loose and stood back until Carol did what she had to do.

Daryl was waiting to walk Carol back to their house. He held her hand and they walked slowly home. Michonne was up when they got home and she had taken care of the children. She hugged Carol and said, "I am so sorry for your loss".

"Losing Grandma Lydia was all our loss. She loved all of us so much. I'm going to bed now. Tomorrow we will all have to sit down and talk about what must be done this winter before that army lands on our doorstep."

Carol went toward the children's bedroom with Daryl following. They checked on Matthias who was prone to kick off covers in the night and who would crawl in bed with Alia when he got cold. He was all tucked in and she bent and kissed him and Daryl did too. Alia was asleep with her bird book by her side. She bent and kissed Alia and when she touched her lips to the girl's cheek Carol saw her first vision of him, the man in the army uniform. She recoiled back but then steadied herself. Daryl put his arms around her, "You alright?"

Carol knew that she must let the visions come so that she could gather as much information about him as possible. "Just saw him. Army uniform. Maybe forty-forty five. Average height. He's all twisted inside."

Daryl put his hand down and touched Alia's hair. "We'll stop him. You're not alone here. Remember that." She nodded again.

Back in their room Carol decided to take a shower. She went into the bathroom and stripped quickly and let the hot water run down over her body. Daryl followed her into the bathroom and brushed his teeth. He listened for a minute and then went back to their bedroom. He lit the lamp and read the same page of his book over and over. Finally Carol came back into the room and he saw that she was nude under her robe. The warm water had turned her a slight pink and he knew he was in real trouble here.

She took off the robe and settled into bed beside him. Carol usually slept in an oversize t shirt or a night gown. She had turned her back to him. Daryl remembered Lydia telling him that Carol was pregnant but that she didn't know it. They would have a daughter. He put a hand on her shoulder and she turned toward him and burrowed into his chest. Daryl was hoping to be supportive and loving and that little Daryl would cooperate and take a nice long nap. He patted her shoulder again and she cried for a bit. He held her close and he thought that she was going to sleep until she kissed his chest and ran her hand down and rubbed his stomach.

Daryl decided that he could be loving and supportive while they had sex. He kissed her tentatively and she responded in a way that said that she wasn't opposed to the idea. Later, she curled up against him to go to sleep and he held until she drifted off. Daryl stayed awake thinking about the events of the day. He was going to make some more bolts in the few days. He had hoped that his days of needing bolts for anything but hunting for food were over. He was going to be prepared for whatever would come their way.

AN

I hope you like the new direction in the story.

Please review and let me know.