Happy Walking Dead Day! In celebration, here is a new chapter, as promised! So this is where the story really starts to get interesting. I hope that it turns out as good as I hope!

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Enjoy this next chapter!

Warning: Profuse swearing in this chapter. Just a warning. LOTS of the f-bomb.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize.

Chapter Sixteen (Rick POV)

I groaned and gripped Beth's hips. "Beth," I growled, using every ounce of will-power that I had to push her away. "We can't right now. We can't risk getting caught-"

Beth huffed and covered herself with the sheet. "Ever the peoples role-model," she complained. I smirked as her bottom lip pooched out into a pout. "When are we gonna tell 'em, Rick? I don't wanna hide anymore. I wanna be able to sleep in the same bed without having to worry about-"

"Beth, I know." I sighed and gripped her hand gently. "These things take time. I can't just walk up to your dad and tell him that I've been sleepin' with ya out of the blue."

I groaned as she straddled my lap again. I balled my fists at my sides to keep from touching her as she gripped my face in her hands, forcing me to look at her. "He doesn't have to know that part of it. Just...tell him what you told me."

"And what's that?" I said through gritted teeth.

She smiled warmly, ignoring my obvious distress. "That you love me."

My eyes snapped up to meet hers and I felt my lips tug into a tight smile. Beth leaned forward and kissed me on the cheek and I sighed, finally wrapping my arms around her body, willing myself to forget about her lack of clothes. I rested my forehead on her shoulder. "I think that would be a good place to start." I kissed her one last time before I pushed her off my lap gently. "Now get-"

"Rick!" Maggie screamed from downstairs.

"Put clothes on," I growled at Beth before bolting out the door and down the stairs. "What is it?"

Maggie stepped to the side and there was a man laying on the floor, bleeding from the gut. "He came stumbling into the clearing-"

I took a menacing step towards her as anger swelled within me. "So you brought him here?"

Glenn took a tentative step around Maggie. "He was dying, Rick," he said quietly and carefully. "We couldn't just leave him."

In the pit of my stomach I knew that he was right, but all I could think about is what happened to Beth the last time we came across strangers. "Patch him up and let him go."

"Rick, he's got a bullet wound to the stomach," Hershel called from behind Maggie and Glenn. "He ain't in any condition to be let go right now."

"He could be dangerous!" My voice rose with anger and conviction.

"He can barely walk," Maggie said, beginning to get annoyed. "I highly doubt that he is capable of taking us all out."

Before I could respond, the man in question cried out in agony as Hershel dug around in his stomach in search of the bullet. "Rick, I'm gonna ask you to put aside your prejudice and help me out here," Hershel said almost pleadingly. "I need you to hold him down. Luckily the bullet isn't deep, and it didn't hit any major vessels, but it's still gonna hurt him, and he will try to fight me off."

"AAHHRRGHH!" The man screamed. "Get off me, ya old mother fucker! I don't need your damn help!"

Hershel looked at me sternly. "Now, Rick!"

I rushed over to the man's side and held him down by the arm. "Glenn! Grab his leg!"

Glenn and Maggie each grabbed a leg and we all struggled to keep the big man down. I figured it would help if I tried to distract him, so I decided to ask him the three questions. "What's your name?" I shouted to get his attention.

The man's brown eyes looked at me harshly. "Seriously?"

"Answer the question."

"Fuck!" His body jerked as Hershel dug around in the wound. "Damnit...Aaron. Aaron fucking Shultz."

"Alright, 'Aaron fucking Shultz'," I said trying to lighten the mood. Aaron chuckled, but it quickly turned into a cry of agony. "How many walkers have ya killed?"

"Fuck, partner, I don't know. Do you count every fuckers head ya bash in?"

I smirked. "Last one. How many people have you killed?"

Aaron answered without hesitation. "Eight."

I narrowed my eyes. "Why?"

Aaron gasped, fighting back tears. Hershel took notice and quickly reassured the man. "Hang in there, son. You're doin' just fine. Almost done here. You just keep on answering what you're bein' asked."

Aaron turned his attention to me. "If I knew better, I'd say you were a cop. Feel like I'm bein' fuckin' interrogated or some shit."

I smirked again. "That's because I am, and you are."

"Fuckin' figures," he groaned. Beth suddenly came out of nowhere and started dabbing Aaron's head and dirty blonde hair with what I assumed to be a cold cloth. "Holy shit," Aaron said, looking up at Beth lazily. "What's your name, sweetheart?"

My hands tightened around Aaron's arm, making him wince. "Answer the goddamn question."

"Damn, watch it, Officer Fuckhead!" Aaron shouted angrily. I heard Daryl snicker from the other side of the room and I shot him a glare, which quickly turned into a smile. "They were part of - fuck old man, would you watch it? - part of my old group. They stabbed me in the back, so I took out the knife and stabbed them in their fucking throats."

My heart stopped and I glanced at Beth, who ceased to dab his forehead with the cloth. "What do you mean, 'they stabbed you in the back'? Are they the ones who shot you?"

"They...fuck...they killed my fucking family while I was out on a hunt." Aaron cried out to the ceiling in anguish. "Jesus Christ," he said, his voice cracking slightly. I couldn't help but feel sorry for him, knowing that I did the same thing when Beth was being attacked. "Fucking hell! I'm sorry, Joan. I'm so fucking sorry."

"Who's Joan?" Beth asked so softly, I wasn't sure Aaron even heard her.

"My beautiful wife. It's all my fault..." His muscular body began to go limp and his eyes began to close. "It's my fault..."

"Daddy, is he dying?" Beth asked, worry in her doe eyes.

Hershel reached up and checked his pulse. "No, just shock. Keep holdin' him down. I got the bullet out, but I gotta stitch him up."

(Rick POV)

About an hour later, we had Aaron moved up to the couch. I sat on a chair next to the couch, gun in its holster. We were taking turns keeping watch on him, waiting for him to wake up. He was still asleep, but would at times stir and call out to Joan, causing my heart to clench sympathetically for him, knowing pretty much exactly what he was feeling. I felt a and hand rest on my shoulder gently, startling me out of my thoughts.

"Just me, Rick." Hershel pulled up a chair and sat down next to me. "How's he doin'?"

I shrugged and looked down, beginning to pick at my nails. It was unsettling to be around Hershel lately considering all that I have being doing with, and to, his daughter. "He's been sleeping, but he keeps calling out for Joan."

Hershel shook his head sadly. "Some people can be so cruel."

I could tell something was up with Hershel and I looked at him expectantly. "You ain't here to talk about Aaron, are you?"

The older man chuckled and patted my knee. "You know me too well, son. I came to talk to you about somethin' important." I remained silent and waited for him to continue. Hershel cleared his throat, his face suddenly growing serious. "What's goin' on between you and my daughter, Rick?"

Damn it all. "I'm not quite sure what you-"

"Now, Rick," Hershel's eyes narrowed. "I advise you to think twice before you decide to lie to me. I'm not a stupid old man. I've been around the block a few times. I see how you look at her, and I know you were in her room all night last night." I opened my mouth to speak but he held up his hand, silencing me. "I don't want to know what you two have done, but I do want to know one thing."

I cleared my throat nervously. "Anything."

"Do you love my little girl? Because I will tell you right now, if you don't, you can consider whatever it is between you two over."

"I do," I answered quickly, not liking the idea of losing her.

"You what?"

"I love her."

AUTHORS NOTE: Hershel knows! And Rick is still alive! Yay! Well anyways, let me know what you guys think of it please! Hugs and kisses!