Wow! What a great turn out to last chapter! I'm so incredibly humbled, you guys. I can't even express to you how happy I am. In reality, it's you guys who write the story. Not me. If it weren't for your reviews and support, I wouldn't be writing right now. So thank you SO much.

First things first:

electrickpanda: Thank you so much for your review! I took it to heart, and I hope that this chapter clarifies some of your questions. Let me know!

jaimek45: That darn Carl! Haha! Thank you so much for your update! I'm currently reading your story, 'Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost' and I think it is absolutely wonderful. Thank you so much for your review! Let me know what you think of this chapter for sure!

K. Lynn Perks: Nope, he's not fighting it! He knows that the fight is pointless. Thank goodness for revelations, am I right? This is a very emotional chapter for the group. I hope I did well with it. Let me know!

Fangirl44: Yes they did! Thank goodness! Thank you so much for your review! Let me know what you think of this chapter!

SoFarFromPerfect50: I really don't like how they portrayed Beth either. But it looks like from the newest episode, she isn't so weak anymore! Yay! Thank you for your review! I'm so happy you like it/ Let me know what you think of this one!

mrsreedus69: Yes, a slow burn indeed. I agree with you! Andrew's eyes are very pretty. Thank you for your review! Please let me know what you think of this one!

texasbelle91: He knows the fight is pointless! I'm really glad you're enjoying the story! Please let me know what you think of this chapter:)

Guest: You're the first one that has said anything about it! I just HAD to put it in! Thank you for your review! Let me know what you think of this one!

: Oh wow, thank you so much! Your review definitely put a smile on my face! I'm really glad that everyone seems to think that I'm doing well. I am my toughest critic for sure, and I'm glad that I'm getting positive feedback! Thank you! Let me know what you think of this one!

And FINALLY thank you to all who favorite and follow! You guys are just as important. THANK YOU.

Disclaimer: I do NOT own the Walking Dead or its characters.

Enjoy!

Chapter 7 (Rick POV)

I couldn't be in the same room with her anymore. There's no way that I could guarantee controlling myself around her anymore. The way she responds to me when I kiss and touch her…it drives me absolutely insane.

I made my way down the stairs to find everyone in the living room on the couch and scattered around. They all seemed to be intently listening to a story that Daryl was sharing, which was strange. He was never usually this open with the group. He has come a long way for sure, but there were times when the old Daryl would come out.

"Me and Merle, the fuckin' idiots we were," He laughed lightly, "took my dad's booze while he was out huntin' one weekend. We fuckin' drank. An' I mean drank till we didn' even know who tha' hell we were."

Everyone let out a hearty laugh before waiting for him to continue.

"My ma'," he shook his head and laughed again. "My ma' comes in, jus' 'bout as drunk as us. Y'all wanna know wha' she said? She looked right at me and Merle in tha' eye and she says, 'Y'all better be sharin' with the dog!'" He smiled genuinely at the group as they all laughed around him. "So me and Merle we gave our dog some booze. We got our asses whipped when ma' dad got home, bu' hell, was it worth it!"

Beth came down the stairs and we locked eyes for a moment, thankful that everyone was too busy laughing to notice. She walked passed me and made her way over to Carl and sat down next to him. Carl suddenly turned his attention to me.

"Hey dad! Don't you think that we should go back to the prison and leave a sign for Michonne telling her where we are?"

I ground my teeth and shared a look with Daryl. He gave a slight nod indicating that now was the time to tell everyone what happened.

I cleared my throat. "It's about time we talked 'bout that." I rested my hands on my hips and paused for a moment, trying to find the right words to say. "Michonne…" I sighed and shook my head. "While she was out on her run yesterday, the Governor got to her."

Carl's brow furrowed. "What do you…what do you mean?"

"When the Governor came to take over the prison, he had Michonne hostage." No one said a word, so I swallowed the lump in my throat and continued. "He…he decapitated Michonne." I didn't know how else to say it, so I decided to take the blunt route. I turned to Carl. "Carl…I'm so sorry. I know you had a special relationship with her. I know she was like your sister. She took care of you when I couldn't…" I walked over to Carl as tears started to roll down his cheeks. I knelt in front of him and placed my hand on his shoulder, tears of my own threatening to escape. "I'm so sorry. I understand-"

"This is your fault," Carl said menacingly, all tears gone now. "This is your fault this happened."

I froze momentarily, trying to digest what he just said to me.

Carl turned his hard, cold gaze to meet my own. "You should've done something sooner! We should've went after him! This wouldn't have happened if it weren't for you!" He stood up and began to walk to the back door.

"Carl!" I called after him. Thankfully he stopped, keeping his back to me. "Carl, you're upset. I understand. I didn't mean for-"

He whirled around to face me. "Shut up! I'm tired of hearing your excuses! Own up to what you have done for once!"

"Carl, I am-"

"Sometimes I just wish you were the one that died instead of mom."

Beth stood up angrily. "Carl!"

(Beth POV)

Anger flowed through my veins at Carl's words. "Carl!" Everyone's eyes were on me now, but I never took my eyes off Carl. "Do not speak to your father that way! You are a child!"

Carl scoffed. "Just stay out of this."

I scowled. "You need to show more respect. We wouldn't be alive it wasn't for your father. We have all lost people. Yeah, Michonne was a great person. I'm going to miss her so much." Tears filled my eyes. "But pointing fingers and trying to throw the blame on each other is not going to bring her back! I, for one, really appreciate all that Rick has done for this group." I dared to glance his way. "Is he perfect? No. But then again, nobody is. We can't afford to be divided. We have to stick together to survive."

My dad reached up and took my hand. "You're right, Bethie. Absolutely right. Rick has done right by this group. No one can help that Michonne chose to go out on a run knowing well the dangers that were beyond the gates. She was a great loss to everyone. We will miss her."

Maggie sniffled and wiped the tears from her eyes and took my dad's hand in on hand, and Glenn's in the others. Glenn took Carol's hand, and so on so forth until the whole group was holding hands. My heart swelled at the sight. This is my family, my home. This is where we all belong.

"We can do this," Maggie said. "Together."

My eyes met Rick's briefly and there was a certain look in them that I haven't seen in a long time.

Hope.

(Beth POV)

I lay on my bed in mine and Judith's room later that night when there was a knock on the door. "Come in."

Carol walked through the door and smiled warmly at me while she came and sat on my bed. "How are you holding up?"

I shrugged. "I'm as fine as ever, Carol."

"That was very brave what you said today."

I shrugged once more. "It was nothin'."

"No," Carol lay a hand on top of mine. "It was everything. It was just what the group needed to hear, especially Carl. You did good."

I smiled and took her hand in mine, squeezing it. "Thanks, Carol. It means a lot to hear you say that."

"You've come out of your shell quite a bit. I'm proud of you."

"I appreciate it."

She patted my knee and got up to kiss Judith on her head before leaving. I sighed, happy to be alone again. It was great having my own real room, because as much as I loved this group, there were times when I just needed my space. Especially with what happened with Rick earlier, and finding out about Michonne, I really just needed some time to think. So many emotions were flying through my head at what happened today. As far as I'm concerned, Rick doesn't seem to be fighting what is going on between us anymore. What does that make us?

I sighed and rolled onto my side. Michonne. How I will miss her. I wasn't particularly close to her, but I knew her enough to know that she was a good person, and she didn't deserve what happened to her. And Carl. My God, how my heart breaks for him. He was the closest to Michonne out of all of us. She was very much like a big sister to him.

A knock on my door startled me out of my thoughts, causing me to jump.

"What?" I was beyond annoyed at this point.

The door opened slightly and Carl's head poked in. "Bethie?"

My heart immediately softened and I sat up quickly. "Carl, come in."

"Thanks." He walked into my room and sat on my bed next to me. No words were exchanged between us for a moment. It was completely silent. "You were right."

My brow furrowed. "What?"

"It's not my dad's fault. I'm just…I'm so angry, Beth." Tears brimmed his eyes and threatened to roll down his cheeks. "I just…I'm so sick of losing people. Why Michonne?" He turned his head to look at me, heartbreak ridden all over his features. "Why did it have to be her?"

"I don't know, Carl." I wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "I'm tired of losin' people too. Trust me. I'm so sorry."

He leaned in to my embrace and began to cry, causing tears of my own to threaten to fall. "Do you still believe?"

"What?"

"In God. Do you still believe in Him?"

I swallowed a lump in my throat. "Yes. Yes I do."

"How?" Carl looked at me again. "How can you still believe? After all He's-"

"Carl." I gripped his face in my hands. "God loves us. I know He does. I don't know why the hell He is doing this to us." I fought to hold back a sob. "I wish I did, but I don't. But right now, He's the only thing keeping me sane. If I lose faith in Him, I have nothing to live for."

Carl nodded. "I want to believe. I do. But with all that's going on, I just don't know."

I nodded and kissed his forehead. "Right now you just need to rest. Why don't you go get some sleep? We can talk tomorrow."

He nodded and hugged me before getting up. "Thank you, Bethie."

I smiled at him and shut the door, again, leaving me all alone.

AUTHORS NOTE: Kinda an emotional chapter. I really have nothing to say about this, I just want to hear what you have to say. Please let me know.