Chapter 014

Morning soon came as the sun peaked over the trees, allowing the cool breeze to become slightly warm. Fog loomed over the fields as we all gathered by a tree, just east of the barn. Four graves laid in front of us, one being the most recent as we finally laid Dale to rest. One for a man named Otis, one for a woman named Annette, and another for a young man named Shaun - Hershel's family.

Then there lies Dale, a man full of wisdom and opinions that could torment the living for all the right reasons. His lifeless body and grown cold before we buried him beneath the ground, covering his body with layers of dirt and a mound of rocks. Andrea had cried the most during the service as Hershel read from the Bible, followed by an eulogy from Rick. I hadn't paid attention, as my hazel eyes stayed glued to the rocks that make up his grave.

I did all of my crying last night after Daryl had led Sophia and I to our tent, comforting us until we both fell asleep. He had helped T-Dog move Dale's body closer to the barn, before they both dug a hold deep enough for the man. Rick and Hershel covered him in a sheet before they had lowered him into the ground, before helping Daryl and T-Dog bury him. Maggie and Lori had gone around collecting rocks to form a mound, which I continued to stare at.

We all had placed a single rock on the dirt, bidding our farewell before turning back toward the camp. Nobody uttered a word, nobody spared a glance at another - we just walked. Sophia walked beside me, her hands wrapped around a rope which held Millie close. In the time that I've known her, her hair had become a darker shade of blonde, almost a light shade of brown.

She kept it brushed up in a ponytail, now that it surpassed her shoulders enough, a few strains of hair framing her face perfectly. Her freckles became more prominent as the days go on as her skin was losing the tan that summer brought. She continued forward, walking in the direction of our makeshift tent. She hasn't spoken to Carol since the woman disowned her, keeping close to me or Daryl when she wasn't with everyone else.

In fact, she treats Carol as if she doesn't exist - completely ignoring her presence wherever she turns.

"Hey wait up," Daryl signs after he gains my attention by placing a hand on my shoulder. Sparing a glance toward Sophia as she has came to a stop, I motion for her to head back toward our camp with Millie. "Are you okay? I know you were close to Dale." Looking down for a moment at the mention of the man I came to see as a father, I let out a sigh. Am I really okay?

"I don't know," I admit truthfully, not sure how to really feel about the loss of someone else. It seems like all of our lives we've been handed loss after loss and it still doesn't get any better. "I never got to tell him about the baby. He would have been happy for us despite the circumstances," Dale would have loved to know that I was expecting. He would have been one of the ones who supported Daryl and I and gave us words of encouragement. "He was happy to see that we got together, made it official. Dale is who I envisioned a father being, warm, loving, kind yet harsh if needed."

"He was the exact opposite of Samuel and William. He didn't deserve to die like that, at the hands of one of them things. He didn't deserve to die at all," I continue as a few tears slipped from my eyes, rolling down my cheeks as if they were racing. "The only comfort I have in this, is knowing he's with his wife again. He loved her so much."

Daryl wraps his arms around my shoulders and pulls me into a hug, allowing me to bury my face into his chest. Wrapping my arms around his torso, I held him close as I allow myself to break again. I never thought I'd cry like this over anyone but my mom and Merle, two out of three of the most important people in my life - until Dale became one of them. Oh, I sure hope he gets to meet my mom wherever he ended up, she would have loved him.

At least he doesn't have to suffer in this world anymore.

><><><>< "It'll be tight, sixteen people in one house."

Rick had been the first to voice how crowded the home will be with all of us inside. After Dale's funeral, we had all packed up our camps and decided we'd move closer to the house or into the barn. But Hershel had stopped us and offered his home to all of us, claiming it'd be more safe compared to the barn or sleeping outside. "Don't worry about that," Hershel states as Rick grabs a box from the bed of the truck. "With the swamp hardening, the creek drying up...."

"With fifty heads of cattle on the property, we might as well be ringing the damn dinner bell." Maggie cuts in as she walks around Hershel to grab a box herself. Lori stood on the porch as she had been forbidden to help bring stuff inside due to her pregnancy. "She's right," Hershel says as he subs his chin a bit, stubbles beginning to appear on his aging face. "We should have moved you in a while ago."

"We should move the vehicles toward each exit, facing the road in case we need to leave in a hurry," I inform as I place a box toward the end of the bed of the truck, gaining Rick and Hershel's attention. In my time of fending for myself and Sophia, I learned that we could never be too safe from walkers or people. "Maybe build a lookout on the loft of the barn or the windmill, somewhere high up with good visibility. We don't know if Randall's people are looking for him and I'd feel comfortable knowing someone could spot them if they were to show up, warn us and stuff."

"I know everyone else would feel safer that way."

"We'll build a lookout in the windmill for sure, and the barn's loft," Rick states as he points in either direction, his eyes scanning the land. It's better to be safe than sorry these days. "That should give us sight lines on both sides of the property." Nodding at his words as everyone starts gathering around us, having put most of our things inside, I felt Daryl place an arm over my shoulder. He pulls me closer to him protectively as Rick continues. "T-Dog, you take the perimeter around the house. Keep track of everyone coming and going."

"What about standing guard?" T-Dog questions after he nodded at Rick's command. Resting my arms against my belly gently, basically hugging myself, I look back toward our leader. The man never signed up to be the leader of 15 people. He just wanted to find his family and in turn found a group of people who were tired of Shane's bullshit.

"I need you and Daryl on double duty."

"Gotcha."

Watching as Daryl and T-Dog walk off to tend to the duties they were assigned, I look toward Hershel as he pushes himself off of the truck. He was tired after spending the night helping with Dale's unplanned departure. I don't blame him one bit, as we've had a lot of deaths happening lately. "I'll stock the basement with food and water," Hershel explains as he looks at Rick, almost asking for approval. "Enough that we can survive down there if need be."

"What about patrols?" Lori questions as she moves to stand next to me, her eyes lingering on her husband's face for a second before she looks toward Hershel. We all had questions, we all have our concerns, but right now I just want to rest. "Let's get this area locked down first," Rick answers tiredly as he looks at his wife. He was just as tired as the rest of us. "After that, Shane'll assign shifts while me and Daryl take Randall off site and cut him loose."

Catching Shane's reaction to Rick's words, I grab the final box in the trunk of the truck and begin walking toward the house. I'd rather not have to deal with another outburst from Shane. I doubt anyone else would want to deal with it either. Walking into the house, I found the corner into the living area before placing the box off to the side. Plopping down on the couch, I prop my feet up on the coffee table in hopes to relieve the ache in them.

So far this pregnancy hasn't been treating me all that well with the morning sickness, the extreme fatigue and the slight swelling of my ankles. I know eventually I'll need to tell Hershel about the pregnancy, but I'm not sure if I'm ready for the commotion it'll bring from everyone else. Everyone already dotes on Lori, helps her with everything, I don't think I'd want that. I don't think I'm ready for that.

Noticing someone walking into the room, I tilt my head in their direction to see it is Lori. She looks worn compared to everyone else, maybe it's the stress and worry she has for Carl and her husband. Or maybe it's the stress of bringing a baby into this world that could easily take both of them out. She gives a faint smile as she sits down next to me, her eyes never leaving my face as she makes herself comfortable.

"Are you pregnant?" Lori signs suddenly as her eyes held a sincere amount of concern. My body stills at the question, my heart racing at the mere thought of answering such a question. Is it that noticeable? Am I showing already? Have I gained weight?

"I've just noticed some new things lately," Lori explains as she noticed the stillness of my body. The sudden wide eyes and heavily breathing most definitely gave it away as I had been racking my mind with words to say. "You're normally stand-off-ish, lately you've stuck close to someone. You always have your hand near your belly, almost as if you're trying to protect yourself and someone else."

"You always seem to be more tired and queasy too. And I know all about that, I was that way with Carl," She continues as a small smile forms on her face at the slight thought of her little boy. She always seemed to be all about the boy, doting on him and making sure he is fine. "If you are, your secret is safe with me. But I do recommend telling everyone, that way we can make sure you get enough to fuel your body and the baby."

Tears fill my eyes at the mere thought of the baby, my baby as anxiety begins to flood through my body. Lori quickly realizes my reaction and wraps her arms around me, allowing me to rest my head on her shoulders as I begin to cry. I needed to tell everyone, I need to make sure my baby is safe even when I'm gone. But how can I assure that they'll be fine in this world?

How can I make sure they are well fed? How can I make sure they are safe from walkers and humans alike How can I make sure they are loved? How can I make sure that they beat this world?

><><><><

Looking at Daryl as he places a bag in the back of Hershel's Volkswagen, as he prepares to leave with Rick to take Randall somewhere, he looks back at me. I had voiced my anxieties to him about the journey, voicing my fears just as much. Normally I had no doubt he'd make it out alive, but just like everything else, this pregnancy seems to heighten my anxiety. He walks over to me with ease, wrapping an arm around my shoulders as he pulls me in for a hug.

Wrapping my arms around his torso, I lean my head into his chest as I breathe in his scent. Cigarettes and fire, a scent that seemed to just match who he is as a person. Allowing myself to relax in his arms, I tilt my head a bit as I notice T-Dog rushing up toward us with a look of panic. Pulling away from Daryl as I look toward T-Dog with confusion, he stares directly at Rick.

"Randall's missing."

What the fuck do you mean, "Randall is missing"?

____Word Count: 2,151

How did you like Chapter 014?

I know this chapter isn't the best and it's more of a filler than anything else. But I wanted most, if not all of the action to be in one chapter so the feels can be all I've the place. Which in turn makes this chapter kinda suck.

But Lori now knows about the pregnancy, having found out on her own due the symptoms and actions Katherine has done. Who do you think will find out next, whether it be on their own or being told?

I hope this chapter is halfway decent for everyone. The next chapter will definitely be better!

Lots of love, Crimson Rose