VIVIAN SAT ON HER BED, GOING THROUGH A SMALL ALBUM BOOK THAT WAS STUFFED AWAY AT THE BOTTOM OF LIAM'S DIAPER BAG,

She had a sad smile as she turned the page and spotted a family photo of Trevor, Jillian, and Liam. There was another photo of her and Glenn, arms wrapped around each other's shoulders.

It was taken at the beginning, at the quarry. Back where their only concern was the dead.

There was another photo of Lori, Carl, and Shane. When Judith is old enough, she'd show her this photo and tell her about her mom.

Rick stood in the doorway, watching for a moment, "Almost ready?"

Vivian's head shot up to meet his gaze. She quickly shut the book, not wanting him to see the photo of Shane.

Now was not the time to bring up memories.

She nodded, stuffing the book away before zipping Liam's bag up and standing, "Yeah... yeah I'm ready."

Vivian went to exit the cell but Rick grabbed her arm gently, "I want you to stay with Hershel and the kids." 

Her eyes widened, "What? Rick, you need as many-"

"I need you with them. If the Governor or any Woodbury people stumble upon them, they need someone there to protect them. Liam needs you there to protect him." Rick reasoned,

She stared up at him for a moment before nodding, "Okay."

"Thank you."

He grabbed her other bag and led her out to the cars, a hand on her lower back. They both set the bags into the back of the Hyundai before Rick went to check the oil, to make sure it was running okay if they needed a quick getaway.

Vivian went to put Liam into his car seat, securing him and giving him a toy to play with. Carl came out the cell block and Rick went to speak with him.

The younger Grimes broke out of his grip, clearly upset at his father before going to shove his bag in the trunk,

"I've never seen him this mad." Glenn commented, "Even with Lori, he just shut down."

Vivian glanced over at the boy, who was pouting by the car, "He's still a kid. As much as he doesn't want to be treated like one, it's easy to forget."

The brunette looked around at their home. After Merle freed Michonne and died giving them a chance, they all came up with a plan.

They were going to abandon the prison. Or at least, make it look like they did to fool the Governor.

Vivian, Beth, and Hershel were going to hide out in the woods with the kids. Hershel and Beth weren't fighters, and Vivian was going to keep them safe in case anybody finds them.

The others were going to hide out in the prison, setting up traps for the Woodbury fighters. Their numbers were lowered thanks to Merle, but was still a threat to the prison group.

Their only concern was Marcie and Andrea. They haven't seen or heard from them, so they didn't  know what their status was.

And Daryl couldn't lose Marcie. Not this soon after Merle.

After a quick walk through, Rick ordered them to move on with the plan. Vivian got into the driver's seat, while Hershel sat next to her. Beth sat in the back with the kids, keeping Judith quiet.

Rick handed her a radio, "Take care of them."

"Always." Vivian gave him a small smile before pulling out of the prison.

They drove into the woods. Not too far from the prison, but far enough where they shouldn't be spotted by the Governor.

Hershel and Beth stayed in the car while Carl and Vivian kept a perimeter watch.

It wasn't long until they heard the gunfire.

Vivian grew nervous, hoping they were all going to make it out alive.

Then came the alarm. She could hear it from miles away.

"I should be there." Carl grumbled.

"So should I, kid, but guess what," Vivian turned to him and pointed at the car, "They need us more, okay? If you were there, your dad would be focused on keeping you safe. But he gave you a job, and now you're gonna follow through, got it?"

Carl stared up at her, his blue eyes wide. She had never snapped at him like that, but if he didn't want to be babied anymore, then Vivian wouldn't baby him.

"You're gonna protect your little sister because that's the job your mother gave you. You may think you need to be there, but you don't. You're needed here because I can't protect them by myself."

Carl nodded, "Okay." He mumbled in a small voice,

"Good. Now stand watch." Vivian ordered before walking back towards the car, 

"That was a little harsh, don't you think?" Hershel asked her,

"It was something he needed to hear."

Vivian heard footsteps, loud footsteps quickly approaching. She was quick to raise her gun and so was Carl as a young man ran through the trees.

He stopped when he spotted them and their guns, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Don't shoot." He begged,

Vivian could see in his eyes how scared he was. Marcie had told them that the Governor was recruiting children, forcing them to fight, and Vivian assumed this kid didn't want to be there,

"Drop the weapon, kid." Vivian ordered,

His eyes jumped between Carl and Vivian and he nodded, "Sure." He lowered his gun, "Here, take it." He held it out towards Carl, hoping he would take it.

Carl pulled his trigger and Vivian flinched at the sound of the kid's body hitting the forest floor. She was quick to stuff her pistol into her waistband and turned to Carl, "Drop your gun."

"What?"

"Drop your gun, now!" Vivian demanded.

Carl set his gun on the ground and Vivian grabbed it along with the Woodbury kid's shotgun. She put them both on the hood of the car before turning to the younger Grimes, "What the hell was that!?"

"He had a gun!" Carl argued, 

"A gun he was putting down! He was scared, Carl, he was barely older than you are!" All the tension that was building inside her burst, "You just killed a kid! How does that feel, huh!?" She grabbed his hat from his head and forced him to look at her, "You're a murderer, Carl!"

"Shut up!" He yelled at her, "Just shut up! You don't get it! You're not my mom!" He snatched his hat and his gun and stomped away,

Vivian watched him go before she heard the radio crack, and Glenn let them know they could come back.

Carl sat in the back, silent, as they drove back towards the prison. Smoke was rising in the air, coming from the first guard tower by the front gate. A few vehicles were abandoned in the filed, meaning Michonne's traps worked.

Walker bodies littered the grass, with their brains and guts splattered.

Vivian parked in the courtyard and Carl was the first to jump out. She grabbed Liam and Beth held Judith in her arms as they all walked towards the cellblock.

Beth walked in first, and Rick stood to greet the younger Grimes and Greene. Carl was right behind them and the sheriff bent down to hug his son,

"Dad, I'm coming to Woodbury." Carl told him and Vivian had to force herself to be quiet,

"Carl." Rick sighed as he stood,

"Dad, I did my job out there. Just like all of you." Carl reasoned, "Took out one of the Governor's soldiers."

"One of his soldiers?" Vivian let go of Liam's hand and he went to greet Maggie, "A kid running away? He stumbled across us by accident."

"No, he drew on us." Carl argued,

Vivian clenched her jaw as Rick drew his son's attention back to him, "I'm sorry you had to do that."

"It's what I was there for." Carl stated, "I'm going with you." He walked away and they both watched him go.

Vivian and Hershel approached Rick, "That kid was scared. He was handing his gun over." She stated,

"He said he drew." Rick asserted, "Carl said it was in defense."

"We were both there, Rick. He didn't have to shoot." Hershel told him, "He had every reason not to-"

"Maybe it looked like that to you, Hershel-"

Vivian knew it was hard for him to hear, but he needed to. His child had become cold and he needed to guide him in the right direction.

"Rick!" Vivian stepped closer to him, getting his sole attention to get it into his thick skull, "I'm telling you... he gunned that kid down. No mercy. No hesitation."

She gave Rick one last look before heading into the cellblock to put her things away.