My arms were still wrapped around Daryl's body and my brain was still trying to wrap around the fact that he was here. "I thought you said you weren't coming back. Not with him at least..." My voice cracked and I could feel the tears coming.

"I realized my home is here. And the only person that will ever care for me is right here. Not out there with him." His voice was horse and the feeling of his breath against my neck sent shivers down my spine. He gently set me down on the ground and we all filled inside the prison. There was talk about us leaving or about whether or not we should stay.

"We are not leaving." Rick said as we loaded up on more ammo.

"We can't stay here." Hershel said, trying to convince us to leave.

"What if there's another sniper? A wood pallet wont stop one of those rounds." Maggie said as she reloaded all of her hand guns.

"We can't even go outside." Beth said while holding Judith.

"Not in the daylight." Carol said and I was starting to get fed up with everyone and their doubts. "Rick, says we're not running. We're not running. That's just how it goes. We fought hard for this place and we aren't going to let some pick fence title holding bitch kick us out of what we earned." I said leaning over the rain next to Daryl.

"No, better to live like rats." Merle said from behind a gate. We had locked him in there when we entered the prison. I mean he wasn't even supposed to be in here and here we are.

"You've got a better idea?" Rick asked him and honestly I couldn't tell if he was being serious or sarcastic.

"Yeah, we should have slid out of here last night and lived to fight another day. But we lost that window, didn't we? I'm sure he's got scouts on every road out of this place by now." Merle said and I leaned over to Daryl.

"I hate your brother." I whispered to him and he nodded moving over closer to the area Merle was in.

"We ain't scared of that prick." Daryl told his brother and this just made Merle smirk and I could see it from where I was.

"Y'all should be.That truck through the fence thing, that's just him ringing the doorbell. We might have some thick walls to hide behind,but he's got the guns and the numbers. And if he take the high ground around this place, shoot, he could just starve us out if he wanted to." I could tell what Merle said was probably true. He did work right along side the Governor so he dose know all his tactics but, that didn't change the fact that he is the fuck worst human left on earth.

"Let's put him in the other cell block." Maggie said, looking at Rick.

"No, He's got a point. We used the same tactics in the Marines." I said walking over to stand next to Daryl which was right in front of Maggie.

"This is all you. You started this." Maggie yelled at Merle which she wasn't wrong he did kind of start all of this.

"What difference whose fault it is? What do we do?" Beth said with a fear filling her voice.

"I said, we should leave. Now Axel's dead. We can't just sit here." Hershel said and Rick just started to walk away and this angered Hershel. He jumped up and yelled at Rick.

"Get back here!" Rick stopped dead in his tracks and Hershel made his way over to him.

"You're slipping, Rick. We've all seen it. We understand why. But now is not the time. You once said this isn't a democracy. Now you have to own up to that. I put my family's life in your hands. So get your head clear and do something." Hershel said and his words cut into Rick, I could tell by the way his facial expressions changed and when he looked up at me for one second. It was pain, in his once brilliant blue eyes there was nothing but dull sadness and pain that took away that blue turning then to a dull gray. Rick grabbed a gun and just left.

I was taking inventory of our food supply when I noticed a shadow leaning against the doorway. "You like what you see?" I said already knowing who it was. That shadow I had gotten so used to seeing.

"Cut it out." Daryl's rough voice rang through the small room. I let out a small laugh and got up facing him.

"I'm glad you came back." My feet guided themselves to stand closer to Daryl.

"Me too." He said letting his arms fall to his side. I gently placed my hand on the side of his face and I could feel him tense up but he let himself relax after a moment.

"You really had me thinking I wasn't ever going to see you again." My voice was quiet like I was talking to a scared animal and I didn't want to be too loud in fear he might run off.

"I didn't think I was, but I realized something. Being out there with him, doing things the way we used to. It felt wrong, but not as wrong as being out there without you. Without knowing you were safe. When we heard the gunshots I felt a pit in my stomach and I had to make sure you were okay." Daryl kept his eyes closed and my heart was beating out of my chest.

"Daryl, you know I wouldn't go down unless I was screaming and fighting." Daryl sighed and nodded.

"Yeah, I know." I stepped closer to him and got on my toes. My lips hovered over his. I could feel his breath against my face, but it was stopped by the feeling of his lips against mine. He lifted his hand and placed them on my hips and he pulled me closer. A smile formed on my lips as I wrapped my arms around his neck and tangled my hand in his dirty mane. This man had me wrapped around his finger and I knew deep down I was totally okay with that. The military badass had fallen for a dirty, greasy haired redneck and I couldn't be happier. What Rick and I had was something that would have been great if he had chosen me in the first place but he didn't. I lived with that fact.

Now I have found someone who keeps me from thinking of him or even of Johnny. He makes all my worries melt away; at the same time he causes me to worry more than ever. Everything about him made me want to be a better person. Trust me when I say this never in a million years would I have even thought about falling for Daryl. He just honestly wasn't my type but, the world ended and I knew I didn't want to die alone or without being able to love someone; like deeply love someone. Daryl came into my life all hard headed and bad boy and I let my heart fall for him. Maybe it fell too hard or too fast but, in these times you don't have time to wait. And I knew I didn't want to wait to be with him.

Rick had gathered everyone as we got ready for this war that was bound to start soon. Daryl and I were sitting together cleaning our guns and planning out an attack and escape route just in case we needed them. That's when Rick came up to us.

"Raven, you're gonna take a look out on the same tower. Eye's open head down." He said handing me more ammo for my sniper and I nodded in response.

"Field's filled with walkers. Didn't see any snipers out there, but we'll keep Maggie and Raven on watch." Rick added that's when Daryl spoke up.

"I'll get up in the guard tower, with Raven. Take out half of them, walkers give these guys a chance to fix the fence." He suggested.

"Or use some of the cars to put the bus in place." Michonne said as we walked over to her and Hershel.

"We can't access the field without burning through our bullets." Hershel added stating a truth we all knew but didn't want to accept.

"So we're trapped in here. There's barely any food or ammo." Glenn said as he walked up by my side. I mean he was right. We were low on food, had almost no ammo and we were in a way stuck.

"We've been here before." I said with a large sigh.

"We'll be alright." Daryl said from next to me while he was chewing on his thumb.

"That's when it was just us. Before there was a snake in the nest." Glenn basically yelled at Daryl and he was ready to fight that fucking Korean right then and there.

"Man, we're gonna go through this again?" Daryl asked after a short pause he continued getting in Glenns face.

"Look, Merle's staying here. He's with us now. Get used to it." Daryl finished and I looked over to see Merle smiling through the other side of the bars.

"Hey." Rick tried to calm Daryl down but he quickly said 'All y'all.' Before walking away and up the stairs.

"I'll go talk to him before I head out." She said walking away from the group.

"Daryl." I said running up the stairs and after him.

"Not now." He huffed back at me giving me the cold shoulder. I turned to walk away as Carol walked past me heading into the cell Daryl was hiding in. Of course he would want to talk to her and not me. It didn't matter how many times Daryl told me or tried to tell me. They had something more than just friendship going on between them. I didn't know if it was built up sexual tension or what but, I didn't really want any part of it. I made my way outside and into the guard tower and scooped out the tree line looking for any sign that someone was out there watching us. I just wanted to have my new family safe, especially from all of this disaster. We had been through so much in such a small period of time we didn't need this. The rest of the day was pretty quiet except for the few walkers that was till I noticed something at the front gates.

"What the fuck. No fucking way." I looked through my scoop see none other than Andrea at our gates with a walker on a fucking stick. I waved over to Maggie and Carl. Once they were looking at me I pointed over to the field. I watched Maggie look through her scope and then Carl ran off to get Rick and the others I assumed. I looked back over to where I had spotted Andrea. How could she just show up here like she thinks she can. I kept my eyes on her as she made it here through all the walkers. I heard the door open and I watched everyone come out guns ready.

"Are you alone?!" Rick yelled and I could hear her from the tower.

"Open the gate!" She said as walkers slowly started to come up to her but she took them out before they could get close. "Are you alone?!" Rick yelled at her again.

"Rick!" Andrea yelled at him. Everyone scrambled to open the gate and let her in. Once she was inside Rick yelled at her.

"Hands up! Turn around!" She dropped her weapons and Rick pushed her against the fence and I looked at the tree line seeing if there was anyone.

"Raven! See anything?" Rick asked me from the ground.

"No. We're clear." I said and he nodded and motioned for me to follow them inside as someone else took my place.

We all went into the prison. Rick led the way with Andrea behind him and me behind her. Andrea saw Carol first and they immediately embraced each other.

"After you saved me, we thought you were dead." Carol said to her as I walked past the two of them sitting on a table across the room. That's when she noticed Hershel's leg. Well I guess the fact that he was missing a leg.

"Hershel, my god." She said letting go of Carol.

"I can't believe this." Andreas voice was filled with surprise as she looked around the room. I knew who she was looking for and I knew he wasn't here.

"Where's Shane?" She asked, finally looking at Rick who looked right at me and I shook my head.

"And Lori?" She asked again and I watched as Rick' s eyes glossed over like two pools.

"She had a girl. Lori didn't survive." Hershel told her as she looked at Rick sadness embedded in her face.

"Neither did T-dog." Maggie added before she could ask where he was.

"I'm so sorry. Carl." Was all she could say as she looked at the broken boy's eyes. Carl was strong but I knew the pain he was hiding.

"Rick...I...You all live here." She asked as she looked around. I didn't want to be here to hear whatever bullshit she had to spit out of her mouth.

"Here and the cell block." Glenn said from the other side of the room.

"There? Well, can I go in?" Andrea said as she pointed to the open gate. I got up and stood behind Rick in front of the gate. As a silent no you sure the fuck can not traitor bitch.

"I won't allow that." Rick said, stepping towards her.

"I'm not an enemy, Rick." She was almost irritated with his actions.

"We had that field and courtyard until your boyfriend tore down the fence with a truck and shot us up." Rick explained to her and she looked shocked to say the least.

"He said you fired first." She sounded confused and I laughed.

"He lied. Right to your face." I said from behind Rick and she looked at me with almost hate or resentment.

"He killed an inmate who survived here." Hershel told her and I could see the disbelief on her face.

"We liked him. He was one of us." Daryl said and Andrea looked right at him.

"I didn't know anything about that. As soon as I found out, I came. I didn't even know you were in Woodbury until after the shoot-out." Andrea tried to explain herself and I rolled my eyes taking my seat back on the table behind Daryl. Unknowingly I started to gently run my nails across his back that no one could see. I heard a slight hum come from him and a small smile appeared on my lips.

"That was days ago." Glenn spoke and he seemed pissed at her.

"I told you, I came as soon as I could." Andrea kept trying to explain herself but none of us were having her bullshit.

"What have you told them?" Andrea said as she turned to Michonne angry.

"Nothing." She said back very calmly.

"I don't get it. I left Atlanta with you people and now I'm the odd man out?" Andrea's voice was slightly raised like she was mad at all of us but she had no right to be. We weren't sleeping with the enemy. I started to wish she had died back at the farm.

"He almost killed Michonne and he would have killed us." Glenn tried explaining to Andrea but she was quick to point the finger in someone else's direction.

"With his finger on the trigger. Isn't he the one who kidnapped you? Who beat you?" Andrea pointed over at Merle who was just hanging out at this point. Andrea sighed and ran her hands down her face.

"Look, I cannot excuse or explain what Philip has done. But I'm here trying to bring us together. We have to work this out." Rick jumped up finally tired of listening to her bitch.

"There's nothing to work out. We're gonna kill him. I don't know how or when but we will." Rick had it out for the Governor and he wasn't one to stand down.

"We can settle this. There is room at Woodbury for all of you." Andrea was there trying to make a bargain that was clear enough to see.

"You know better than that." Merle said to her with a laugh.

"What makes you think this man wants to negotiate? Did he say that?" Hershel asked her the honestly only sense-able one out of all of us.

"No." She answered him.

"Then why did you come here?" Rick asked her, wanting to know the reason.

"Because he's gearing up for war. The people are terrified. They see you as killers. They're training to attack." Andrea seemed worried or angry; it was hard to tell.

"Tell you what. Next time you see Philip, you tell him I'm gonna take his other eye." Daryl said the anger in his voice told me that he was serious.

"We've taken too much shit for too long. He wants a war? He's got one." I said looking Andrea dead in the eye. We fought for this place. We didn't need some prick taking it all away now.

"Rick?" Andrea turned towards him.

"If you don't sit down and try to work this out, I don't know what's gonna happen. He has a whole town. Look at you. You've lost so much already. You can't stand alone anymore." Her voice was sad and soft at the end but we already had fought too hard for what we had and we were willing to fight all over again.

"You want to make this right, get us inside." Rick said, getting in her face. She shook her head.

"No." I got up.

"Then we got nothing to talk about." I told her as I started to head back into the cells Rick was following me.

"There are innocent people." Andrea yelled after us. Andrea headed outside with Michonne since it was her turn to take watch.

Outside Daryl, Rick, and I were just sitting trying to figure out a game plan or something when Andrea came back in as she saw Carol holding little Judith. She walked over to her..

"What are we going to do with her?" I asked as Rick came over.

"Send her on her way." I sighed and we all agreed that she needed to go back. We got a car ready for her to take and her stuff.

"Can you spare it?" She asked Rick and he nodded.

"Yeah." Andrea looked around at everyone before getting in the car and leaving. Rick told her to be careful and we opened up the gates for her to leave. Night fell and I was put on guard duty with Daryl the usual routine. Keep an eye out for walkers trying to get in and scouts in the woods.

"Do you think it was a good idea?" I asked Daryl, talking about Andrea.

"No. Do you?" He said, looking at me.

"Not one bit. We should have used her as a bargaining chip or something like that." Daryl nodded in agreement.

"Come on." Daryl said and we headed back inside the prison after making sure it was clear. We walked in and everyone was sitting around a singular lantern. Daryl leaned against a cell next to Hershel and I stood next to him until he put his arm around my waist and pulled my body against his. I smiled and Rick came down with Judith in his arms. I smiled and Beth looked over at me with a cute smile on her face. It was quiet till the sweet melody of Beth's voice filled the room.

"They hung a sign up in our town. If you live it up you won't live it down." Beth sang and she looked at me asking if I would sing with her without using words. I nodded and waited for her to continue.

"So she left Monte Rio, son. Just like a bullet leaves a gun with charcoal eyes and Monroe hips. She went and took the California trip. Well the moon was gold and her hair like wind." We sang together as the beautiful melody filled the cell block and echoed down the halls.

"Said don't look back now, Just come on, Jim. You gotta hold on, Hold on. You got to hold on." As we sang Rick walked over and stood next to the three of us. We all looked over at the sleeping angle in his arms, a smile spread across my face.

"Take my hand, I'm standing right here you got to hold on. Well, he gave her a dime-store watch and a ring made from a spoon. Everyone's looking for someone to blame. If you share my bed you share my name." Daryl looked over to the other two men.

"Some reunion, huh?" He said as Beth and I kept singing. "She's in a jam." Rick said, looking at his daughter.

"We all are. Andrea's persuasive. This fella's armed to the teeth. Bent on destruction." Hershel told him.

"So what do you want to do?" Daryl asked Rick.

"We match it. I'm going on a run." Rick handed Judith to me and I gave him a look that said no your not.

"I'll go tomorrow." Daryl said.

"No you stay here. Keep an eye on your brother. I'm really glad you're back really. If he causes a problem it's on you." Rick told Daryl as he gently pushed some of Judith's hair from her face.

"I got em." Daryl told him, reassuring him.

"I'll take Michonne." Rick said and I raised my eyebrow at him.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Daryl asked before the words could leave my lips.

"I'll find out. And Carl he's ready." Rick told us that's when I remembered that he was out taking watch.