Chapter 026

      Nobody ever warns you that once you're a parent, you see the world different — before and after the fall of civilization. Nobody warns you how scared you'll be every waking moment as you sit and watch your children. I was terrified all of those months ago when Sophia and I had been on our own, when I had taken her under my care for the very first time. It had been just us, mindlessly roaming through the woods in hopes to reunite with our people.

      I had been injured during that time, healing from the inside out with the little medical supplies we had found. Sophia had been scared of her own shadow at that time, only to grow into someone who would kill a walker without so much of a single thought. She kicked down doors, shot or stabbed walkers with ease — not even a tremble in her step if we encountered someone from the living. It had been me who helped her evolve into the young woman she has become and once she became officially mine, I made sure that she knew how to survive.

      Because one day, Daryl and I won't be here — it'll just be her, Carl, Thalia and Judith.

Once I had became her mother, it became clear to me just how dangerous the world truly is. It isn't just the walkers we have to worry about, it's people too and the sicknesses that we no longer have vaccines for. And now that I have a newborn, it makes me want to hide both of them away — shelter them from the horrid reality that we live in everyday. We don't have a home that has two-stories and a white picket fence around it, a backyard for them to play in without so much of a worry.

We no longer live in a world that only had a few worries; bills, work, childcare and groceries. We live in a world where the basic necessities are a luxury, where finding a place to stay for a single night is pure luck. Where we don't know if we'll have food for that night or if we'll even survive long enough to see the sun rise the following day. And that, that scares the shit out of me as a mother and as a wife.

As a wife, it scares me every single time Daryl leaves the safety of these prison walls. While I know he is capable of taking care of himself; looting, tracking, killing and all around survive — I know that it just takes one single moment for something to go wrong. And now that he has three people to come back home to, I'm scared that it'll blind him from making sure he is safe and secure while out there. Especially today as he is entering hostile territory that we know absolutely nothing about.

Neither of us knew a damn thing about this so-called-town she calls Woodbury. All we know is that a man called himself Governor and there are seventy-five residents within the town, one of whom kidnapped Glenn and Maggie. While they did kidnap our people, we don't know if Michonne is apart of their plan to kidnap and kill the rest of us. And I just hope Rick and Daryl covers all of their basis to bring themselves and everyone back home.

Letting out a shaky breath, I glance down at Thalia who rests in her makeshift bed. She sleeps peacefully, not knowing all the wrongs or rights of the world we currently live in. Rubbing her soft hair gently, I place a small kiss on her forehead before I walk out of the cell. Walking down the steps, I am greeted by Beth who cradles Judith, a bottle in hand.

"Need any help?" I sign, stopping in front of her as she attempts to give Judith her bottle. Judith continues to cry in Beth's arms, flailing her arms about as she kicks her legs. Beth nods before she carefully leans to hand the baby to me, causing me to scoop her up carefully. Placing Judith in an upright position, I carefully begin to pat her back in hopes she'll burp.

Judith begins to calm as she burps, causing me to lay her in my arms. Her bright blue eyes stare up at me, curiosity pooling in them. Freckles are beginning to line her creeks, resembling the ones Carl has as well. They must get that from Lori, considering they have different father's in which they'll never know about unless Rick comes clean about it.

"Lean the bottle up a bit when you feed her," I inform while carefully handing Judith back to Beth, who gives me an appreciative nod. Taking the bottle from her hands, I show her what I mean. "It keeps air from getting between the formula and nipple. Which can cause gassiness and fussiness."

      "Okay."

      Offering a small smile to the teen girl, I walk toward the common area of the cell block only to see the doors is shut. Raising a brow at Carl, who stands near the door, Sophia standing next to him with her arms crossed — they only tilt their head, motioning for me to see for myself. Stepping forward, my eyes grow wide at the sight of five people, one being dead. "Who the fuck are they?" I ask, turning to look at Carl and Sophia.

      "We found them deeper in the prison, there are walls down toward the front." Carl replies, keeping his eyes trained on the newcomers. Glancing at them myself, I notice they are near the dead woman who seemed to have been bitten — a wound on her head. "Okay, but who are they?" I ask as I turn back to face the teenagers. I raise a brow, tilting my head in the direction of the people. "Their names. What are their names?"

      "That is Tyreese, next to him is his sister Sasha," Sophia cuts in, pointing to each of the people as she states their names. Tyreese, a man who seems like he has enough muscles to have been a first responder or apart of the military. His sister Sasha is a skinny woman, one who has the looks of someone who had served for this country. "That is Allen and his son Ben,  the dead woman is Donna; Allen's wife and Ben's mother. They didn't want to leave her behind, they want to bury her."

      "Okay, okay. Let me in to talk to them, you two stay here with Beth and the babies." I order before motioning Hershel to come with me. The older man nods, before placing his crutches under his arms, walking over toward me. Carl unlocks the door swiftly, causing the newcomers to snap their heads in our direction. Grabbing a shovel that had been by the gated door, I walk into the common area. The man, Tyreese steps forward indicating that he was their leader.

      "This is Katherine," Hershel informs as he motions toward me, causing the small group to turn their hands to look at me. I give an awkward wave, my eyes scanning each of them to try and get a good reading on who they are. "She isn't our leader, but she has good judgment and is married to the right-hand man. So she can easily talk to Rick into you staying. Now, she's deaf so speak clearly when it comes to talking to her and slowly."

      "I was informed on your names, but tell me how you guys got in." I say, cutting to the chase as I stare at the strangers in my home. Sasha steps forward a bit, only for Tyreese to place his hand in front of her protectively. I almost smile at the sight, being reminded of how protective Merle once was with Daryl and eventually myself. "There are walls down on the north side of the prison. Dead people everywhere," Tyreese answers honestly as he took Hershel's advice on speaking slowly and clearly. "It looks like some sort of explosion went off on that side."

"Well shit," I sigh as I tilt my head to look at Hershel worriedly. If the north part of the prison is blown to bits and collapsed, how in the fuck are we suppose to clear that and prevent it from piling toward us? "Thank you for your honesty. I heard you wanted to bury your dead. If you go left out that door instead of right, there is another cell block with its own courtyard. Axel can show you, that was once his."

At the sound of his name, Axel pushes himself off the wall of the common area, having been in the same room as Tyreese and his people. He walks toward us, a small smile forming as he nods in my direction, causing me to return the faint smile. "Once you get her buried, come on back and we can hold you over there. That way my people can space out better," I continue as I point toward the holding cell that ounce held Michonne. "If there is a problem, please let Hershel or myself know. We can spare some water and food while we wait for the rest of our people to return."

"Thank you, Katherine. Truly, your hospitality is very appreciated." Tyreese says as he carefully takes the shovel from my hand. I smile kindly at him, watching as Axel motions them to follow him as Allen and Ben pick up Donna. Allowing the smile to fall from my face, I turn to look at Hershel who is already staring back at me. "Rick is not going to let them stay," I state knowingly, which seems to cause Hershel to sigh a bit. "No matter how much I talk good of these people. In his current state of mind, he can't make the right calls. He won't."

"Let's just hope he is in the right state of mind to figure out what to do about the fallen walls."

Silently agreeing with the older man, I watch as he uses his crutches to help him walk back toward the cells. Sitting down at one of the tables, I rest my head in my hands as I use my thumbs to rub my temples. If we don't create some sort of barricade between us and the right half of the prison, we'll need to leave. And being out there, on our own again with no safety with two babies will be completely different and much more dangerous.

Their cries alone could attract walkers for miles.

><><><><

Bouncing my leg worriedly, I bite the dead skin around my nails as I keep my eyes trained on the picnic table. It has been four hours since Rick, Daryl and the others left to retrieve our people and they still have yet to come back. The sun had fallen not long after they had left, thinking that the dark would hide them better — but now, the sun is slowly reappearing in the sky. The morning dew covered the grass in the courtyard, as fog covered the treeline like a blanket.

I didn't sleep at all last night after Tyreese and his group emerged, their appearances and the discovery of the right half of the prison was enough to cause me fear. That night I stayed close to the kids, putting all of them in one cell so I could keep an eye on them. Axel stayed up with me, occasionally walking past the cells before venturing off toward the common area. He wanted to make sure everyone was safe, including the newcomers as he once was as well.

"What did you do to get tossed in here? You're too kind." I had asked sometime during the night, having left the cell the children were in for a moment. The two of us had been leaning against the wall between the cells and the common area, that way we had sights on everyone. "Armed robbery," Axel had replied with, a chuckle leaving his lips as he tilted his head to look at me. "It was a fake gun. Like one of them Halloween, realistic looking ones. I was the lookout guy, my brother was the one doing the stealing. I wanted no part of it, but he drug me out of my bed in a fit of panic because he needed money. It was embarrassing getting arrested in boxer briefs."

Now the man stood by the gate, waiting for the others to return so he could let them in. We had a good laugh at his reply the other night before I told him it was fine to go to sleep, which he denied. He just wanted to help after the bullshit Thomas did, he wanted to redeem himself. Carl and Sophia were walking around the grassy area of the courtyard, both holding Judith and Thalia with ease.

Hershel stayed in the cell block with the newcomers, wanting to learn more about them while also respecting Rick's leadership. Beth stood now with Axel, that way she could help him if needed — leaving me to watch over everyone despite the unsettled feeling I have brewing within. I don't know if our people are even alive out there and I can't even go searching for them, these kids need me here. And I can't ask Tyreese and his people to go looking for them because I don't even know where they went other than Woodbury.

Standing up from the picnic table, I begin to walk down the path toward Beth and Axel. Smiling and giving a small wave toward Carl and Sophia as I pass them, they return the smile and wave before continuing with their own conversation as they played with Thalia and Judith. Reaching the gate, I offer a smile toward the duo before Axel's head snaps in the direction of the dirt road. Following his gaze, I noticed the old Cherokee Volkswagen coming down the path.

Beth and Axel are quick to push the gate's door open, struggling against the gravel as they do so. Wrapping my hands through the wires, I begin to pull the gaze toward me just as the car drives through which causes me to push the gaze toward Beth and Axel. Ounce it is closed, I walk toward the vehicle just as Rick steps out following by Michonne, an unknown woman with shoulder length auburn hair, T-Dog, Glenn and Maggie. Not seeing Daryl or Oscar, I immediately look toward Rick who is already staring at me while Glenn and Maggie begin reuniting with the others.

"Is he dead?" "No." "Then where the fuck is he?"

My heart hammers in my chest as Rick remains silent, pinching the bridge of his nose a bit as he clamps his eyes shut. Questions plague my mind along with every single bad thing that could happen, causing me to clamp my hands into a fist. I'm almost thankful that Millie has been left in the cell block, having deemed it not safe for her to be out since the Walker incident. "Damnit Rick," I spat out, almost annoyed with his hesitation with answering my question regarding my husband's whereabouts. "Say something. Fuck. Jesus Christ. Where is Daryl?"

"Merle's alive."

Everything in my freezes at Rick Grimes' words, half of me thinking I misread his lips while the other half thinks I've done lost my mind. It has been months since anyone has uttered the name of Merle Dixon, who had been left for on a rooftop in Atlanta months ago. We had found his severed hand, his belt which I wore everyday, and a shit ton of blood that should have killed him. I look away from Rick for a moment, stepping back in disbelief.

"Don't...." I stumble over my words as Rick had stepped toward me, his hands falling to his side. "Don't play with my emotions, Rick. Merle.... Merle died a long time ago."

"He's very much alive Katherine," Rick states as he continues to look down at me, resting his hands on his hips. He also seems shocked by his words, still seeming unsure if he too saw Merle Dixon in front of him alive. "He has a knife for a hand. Daryl, he, uh.... he went with him. Merle isn't welcomed here because he beat Glenn to a pulp, broke his ribs and shoved a walker into the room with him. So Daryl left with Merle to help him find a place to lay low while everything cools down."

"Where did they go?" "I don't know." "Give me the car." "No."

"Give me the fucking car, Rick," I snap, my body shaking due to the anger within. I want to break and cry over the fact my brother in-law is alive yet I never got the chance to see him. I want to slap Rick for preventing Merle from being able to be here to reunite with me, to meet his niece. "I'm going after them and y'all are just gonna have to deal with Merle here. He is family, Rick. My brother in-law, Thalia's uncle. Sophia's uncle. I wouldn't ask you to abandon Carl and Judith for doing something like this!"

"Daryl said you'd do this and I promised him that I wouldn't let you go after him," Rick informs as he rests his hands on my shoulders, forcing me to look at him. I could see the stress on his face, almost making me feel bad for the guy; but I don't care at this moment. "Look, Kathy.... you just gave birth a week ago, you're not fully healed from that yet. Thalia isn't old enough to be without her mother. She and Sophia need you. We all need you here."

"Then at least tell me who that woman is."

"Vanessa Clarke," Rick answers as he tilts to look over his shoulder toward the unknown woman. She stood by the car awkwardly, her hands clasped together as she holds a conversation with Michonne. "She goes by Nessa though. She lived in Woodbury and helped us get Glenn and Maggie back. I think we started something, something bad so she and Michonne are with us for the time being."

I only nod, shrugging Rick's hands off my shoulders with enough force that causes him to step back a bit. My glare never vanishes as I walk around him as I walk toward Michonne and Vanessa. Once he is out of my sight, I allow my face to relax as I step in front of the two newcomers. "I'm Katherine, but call me Kathy or Kat," I greet, offering my hand for Vanessa to shake. "Welcome to prison."

"Vanessa, but call me Nessa."

____Word Count: 3,133date finished: 10/5/2025

Ahhhh! Welcome to the newest chapter, I hope everyone enjoys it! Yes it's a filler chapter, but I wanted to write a little more "behind the scenes" for Katherine.

So we finally meet Tyreese, Sasha, Allen and Ben. I feel bad for the encounter they'll receive from Rick (but he's a bit 😬 at the moment). However I can't wait to see Allen and Ben go, because ew.

Also, welcoming our new character Vanessa "Nessa" Clarke! I've been wanting to add her for a while now that we've reached the prison. She is basically taking the place of Carol, but in her own unique way. She will become an important member of the group, just like the others.

Here's a little background on her: - she was a school teacher before the world went to shit, studying to become a nurse. - she ended up in Woodbury a month or so before Andrea and Michonne arrived. - she hates the Governor and wishes him dead for killing her brother Luke.- she knows how they kill others for their supplies, how they kidnap and beat others, and how they kill people for escaping.

What are your thoughts on this chapter? Do you think Katherine will bond and form a friendship with Vanessa? How do you think Katherine will react upon Daryl's return?

Lots of love,Crimson Rose