++++++ I do not own the Walking Dead or any affiliated characters apart from my OC's ++++++

Fourteen

Crying.

That was the first thing that I could hear.

Crying.

I didn't know who it was but they were crying something fierce.

My eyes searched through the pile of bodies on the ground in front of me. All of these people used to be somebody but now they were dead nobodies. I strung my rifle over my shoulder and turned away from the scene of carnage to head back up to the house where the three mothers were taking shelter.

It was Beth that was crying.

The closer I got to the house the less I could hear the crying until it was replaced by another set of tears-child's tears. I slammed open the door and knocked three times on the wall-just like I told her I would. Jade came running out of her mother's arms and slammed into me. The poor rabbit was sobbing uncontrollably, she hated the sound of gun fire.

Sophia was clinging to her mother and Lori had a good grip on Carl.

"Is it over?" Carol asked me.

I picked Jade up and nodded. "There was fifteen walkers in total-I didn't stick around to view the mess. Had to see if you were ok."

Jade wrapped her little arms around my neck and sobbed into my shoulder. Ebony sighed and rubbed Jade's shoulder. "What do you think will happen to us now? Do you think Herschel will want us gone?"

I hesitated. "Maybe-we did break his rules."

"They broke his rules," Ebony objected.

"Doubt Herschel will see it any differently, babe," I warned her. We heard footsteps coming into the house so we all headed outside-after all, this wasn't our house. I handed Jade back to Ebony even though she was unwilling to let me go.

You could cut the tension in this place with a bitter knife.

"I want you off my land!" was all I could make out as everyone shouted.

Shane moved towards Herschel until suddenly Maggie slapped him. "Don't touch him!" she shouted. "Haven't you done enough?" Maggie asked him.

They came up into the house, leaving the Atlanta survivors standing on the ground beneath the steps. "I mean it," Herschel growled, turning to face them, "off my land."

I pulled Ebony out of the door way and kept my girls close when Herschel swept passed us. The old man met my gaze and stopped in front of me. "PJ-a word," he ordered more than asked.

"Yes sir," I answered. Ebony shrugged at me and I shrugged back having no clue what he wanted from me. I headed inside after Herschel with Glenn close behind me.

"Take a seat," Herschel frowned, pointing at the table.

I sat the rifle down against the wall and sat down in front of Herschel feeling like I was at the principal's office. "What did you want to speak with me about?" I asked him.

"You're a hunter, a tracker-a damn fine one according to Ebony," Herschel spoke. "Now that Otis is gone, it's not going to be easy to feed us on what we have. I'd like for you and Ebony and Jade to stay on with us."

I laughed. It probably wasn't the best thing to do but I couldn't help it. "You want us to stay?" I asked him. "What about that big speech you had about moving on?"

"I can recognise when I need someone," Herschel assured me. "And you've done nothing bit helped since you got here. Even though you look like a flamingo. You shared you're supplies with us when you didn't have to. We've got enough room for the three of you. With Ebony being an RN, maybe it's better here than out there. I'd like you to think it over."

I didn't need to think it over.

"We'll stay," I told Herschel. "If not for me and Eb's but for Jade. My rabbit needs some stability."

"Will you come to the funeral?" was the next question off his lips.

I sighed. "Listen-Herschel. I've been to enough funerals in my life time. I mean no disrespect sir, but me and death have been together so long one might think we've got something going on."

Herschel sighed. "Suit yourself, PJ. But I would appreciate if you came."

Emotional blackmail.

I like it.

I nodded. "Ok, I'll come."

"I admire what you did for me back there," he continued, talking about the confrontation with Shane. "You showed a lot of respect."

I laughed at that. "I try and have a general respect for my elders, sir. Otherwise my pa would probably materialize out of nowhere and smack me on the back of the head."

Herschel smiled at me. "You can start moving your stuff into the house as soon as you want. And thank you for agreeing to come to the funeral, PJ."

I felt like that was Herschel dismissing me. Standing up, I smile my thanks and hurried back outside, grabbing my rifle as I went.

"What did Herschel want?" Ebony asked me, ambushing me as soon as I came out of the house.

"He asked us to stay," I told her. Seeing Ebony's face I said it again. "Herschel asked us to stay. Said my tracking and hunting skills would come in handy. He wants us to stay."

"And you said?" Ebony frowned.

"I said yes," I smiled.

Ebony screamed in delight and threw her arms around me with a grin on her face. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" she laughed. "Oh my god, thank you PJ! I don't think I had it in me to pack Jade up again."

"Herschel said that we can start moving into the house ASAP," I told her. "He also wants us to go to the funeral. I don't think much will be said but I agreed to that to."

"Look at you being all domesticated," Ebony teased as the two of us headed towards our tent. "Thank you, PJ. Thank you."

I shrugged. "It's nothing overly dramatic hun. Now go do whatever you were doing, I gotta talk to Rick."

Ebony rubbed my shoulder as I headed off to find Rick. I found the fearless leader finishing up an aggressive conversation with Lori, Andrea, Dale and T-Dog. I cleared my throat to catch Rick's attention. "Mind if we talk?" I asked him. "Herschel asked for me and Eb's to stay."

Rick sighed. "Sure." He headed off towards the barn and I followed. "What did you want to talk to me?" he asked me, once we were away from prying eyes.

"Well first of all I think we need to talk about how I kissed you," I sighed. "That's all that's on the agenda but we need to talk about it."

"What's there to talk about?" Rick frowned. "It was a mistake."

"Lori's pregnant so yeah we should forget it," I agreed. "I'd like to start again-sans attacking you and making out with you." I offered him my hand. "PJ Lucas."

"Rick Grimes," he smiled.

We shook hands.

"See?" I smiled. "Much better. And congratulations on bub-it sucks that Herschel is kicking you out. Maybe I can manage-"

Rick shook his head. "No. Don't push your luck-we'll manage."

I nodded. "Ok. Thank you. Better go back before baby mama thinks I'm doing something dubious."

We headed back to help the others with the bodies.

I could have kissed him again, bloody hell I wanted to but I couldn't be that person who jumps in between a marriage no matter how bad it really was.