The moment shatters when the curtain opens abruptly. Sam barely has time to pull away from you before Rick embraces you. He sighs into your shoulder and the tension leaves his body. Sam gives you one last glance before he leaves. You know you aren't done talking to him, but right now your father is the priority. The hug feels so much like those of your childhood. You miss this, you miss being your father's little princess.

Reclutanly, he steps away from you. "Are you feeling better, darling?" You can hear the sweetness in his voice. Your heart melts.

"Yes, dad, I'm ok now." You never wanted to make him feel bad, but there it is, the worry in his eyes. It's so easy for your father to forget himself, to fall into an abyss of despair. You've seen it after your mother's death. It'd only be worse if he were to lose you, Carl, or Judith. "I'm here," you murmur.

And just like that, he knows you know. It's so complex; the moment when a parent realizes their child understands their pain. He knows that you're a grown-up and can take care of yourself. He has seen you get rid of dozens of walkers, and yet, it's then that for the first time, Rick knows that you understand his burden.

He stares at you for a few seconds and then speaks. "I'm glad. Daryl arrived shortly after you passed out. I- I wasn't here yet," he looks apologetic, "Hershel treated you promptly. Apparently, you spent too much energy helping the sick and disposing of the walkers because you slept too long." You know there's a sermon coming your way, "you did good." Or not. Well, that was a nice surprise. "However," ah, there it is, "you were very reckless. Maggie told me he had to kill a walker that almost bit you." He looks expectancy at you.

"Mmm... I'll have to thank Maggie later." You know that's not what he wanted to hear, yet he doesn't scold you.

"Hershel told me you sent the Winchesters to the northern pharmacy too."

"Yeah," were you not supposed to? "They wanted to help, and I figured Daryl might not find all the supplies needed. Why? Did they not find anything?"

"No reason," he replies, "They brought useful things. Daryl's party didn't have medicine for everyone, so sending out the Winchesters was a good call." You're relieved to hear that.

"Great... Then why are you looking at me like that?" The strange glance your father is giving you shifts ever so slightly.

"I've talked with the youngest brother." Oh, no. "I'm not sure what's going on between the two of you, but I wanted to be clear with him."

You groan, "Dad, I'm not 16 anymore. What did you tell him?"

"Don't worry, just that you're my daughter and that I take care of you no matter your age." You sigh. You're surprised Sam didn't say anything about it. He probably didn't want you to feel weird.

As much as you want to say something to your dad, you don't have the energy to fight him. Besides, it's not the first time that he has done it. He had the same conversation with Mike back at the Greene's farm. Times like these are when you wish your mother were still alive. She would've said something to Rick about being overprotective. Nevertheless, she would've been proud of Carl stepping out for his big sister. More importantly, you wonder what she would've thought about Sam. She probably would've liked him, tell you that he's handsome and sweet. Yeah, you'd want to think she would've approved.

"Alright," you sit up in your bed. For a moment the world spins and you almost fall back.

"Woah! Hey, take it easy." Your dad stabilizes you with his hands on your shoulders. Then, he tries to push you back into the mattress, but you fight it.

"I'm fine. I need food."

"I'll bring you..."

You don't let him finish, "no, I need to wake up my limbs. I've been in this bed for a day, I'm going to the kitchen."

Rick doesn't look very convinced, yet he knows that if he doesn't help you, you'll just do it on your own. "C'mon then, I'll walk you." He helps you up the bed and out of the cell.

Luckily, the kitchen is not so far from your room, so you make it there fast. Dean is sitting at one of the tables with Daryl at his side. They're eating something that you guess is a squirrel.

"Rise and shine, sleeping beauty." Dean greets.

He appears to be in a better mood compared to when you last saw him. "Hey, sunshine," you mock, "had your morning coffee yet?" Dean glares at you, meanwhile Daryl snickers by his side. "Daryl, I heard the medicine you brought saved my ass, thank you." Your father huffs at your word choice. Daryl merely shrugs.

From the corner of your eye, you see Maggie approach as you sit down. "Here, eat it while it's still hot" she gives you an oatmeal serving. That's by far not your favorite food, but your stomach grumbles in hunger. Picking up the spoon, you dig in.

"Thanks, how's Glenn?" you ask Maggie. She sits beside you. You see your dad lingering awkwardly by the door, before Maggie can answer he sits with your group.

"He's fine," Maggie utters, "he's still asleep, but dad said he'll be ok."

"That's good, I'll go see him later." You don't remember the last time you saw Glenn back at the quarantined block. Judging by the fact that he hasn't woken up yet, he might've been worse than you.

For a moment, calm normality surrounds the prison's kitchen. Daryl and Dean -mostly Dean- tell you about the squirrels that they're eating. Apparently, Daryl took Dean hunting. You have to suppress a laugh when Daryl mentions that Dean wasn't very good at it. The animal-hunter grading the monster-hunter, what an irony.

"He thought we were gonna shoot 'em" Daryl explains, and you have to admit that's pretty odd even for Dean. Yet, considering that he doesn't use the crossbow much, you aren't surprised when Daryl mentions his off-aim.

The most fun part is that Dean has to suppress a few comments about his hunting ability. You know for sure that Dean would beat Daryl monster-hunting, but animals are another entirely different thing. Finally, when Daryl mentions that Dean fell into a puddle chasing a squirrel, you can't contain your laughter any longer. Maggie and your dad join shortly after. Dean's face goes slightly red, and he seems annoyed, but you know him long enough to know that he's not really mad. In fact, he appears to be getting along with Daryl. That makes you glad, not only because it means the brothers will stick around, but also because they deserve to make some friends. From what they've told you, they've been alone too long. Ever since Bobby's death at the start of the apocalypse and the posterior disappearance of the angel Castiel. Like you, they deserve some normality amid the chaos.

Chaos... is chaos what your life has become now? Probably. You know that's the reason why you nor the Winchester have told anyone about the monsters that lurk at night. They've enough on their plates with the walkers, they don't need to know about Lucifer or the werewolf that was living among them for months. Not that they'd believe you without proof, anyway. Well, Glenn might, but just because he trusts you too much. But, would he be able to deal with it? You hope to never find out.

"I'm gonna go check on Glenn," Maggie declares. By now, all of you have finished your meals.

"Yeah," you acknowledge, "I'll go visit later." She simply nods and leaves.

With shaky legs, you stand and say your goodbyes to the men. You have all the intention to find Sam and finish the conversation you started. Slowly, you exit the cell block and run into Hershel and Michonne. They are getting ready to leave.

"Where are you off to?" It seems that they weren't expecting your arrival because they're startled by your voice.

"Look who's up and running again." Hershel smiles.

"Hey," Michonne whispers. "You good?"

"Yeah, better, thanks."

The answer doesn't satisfy her, "you should go back to bed, you just woke up."

"Yeah, and you didn't come to see me." You fake being hurt.

The ruse cracks a smirk on her face. "I was going after checking the perimeter, Hershel's coming with me." Well, at least that explains why they're going out.

"Want me to come with?"

"Nah, we're good."

Or maybe they can see that you are just getting your strength back. "Alright, but you'll tell me all I've missed since passing out when you come back." Then you turn to Hershel, "thanks for keeping me alive."

"I was just doing the right thing," he responds. After that, you wave them goodbye as they leave.

While you walk through the Prison's yard, you notice that there are fewer people than before. You didn't ask anyone, but you can tell that the disease took a lot of your community. You try not to dwell on it. In the distance, you spot Sam's messy hair. It's not a surprise when your heart skips a beat. Sweaty hands, you approach him. He is talking to Mrs. Lynn, a sweet old woman. He appears to be listening intently to what she says. Nevertheless, when your eyes meet his, he loses interest in the woman. His gaze burns into your soul, and you feel a smile blooming. He reciprocates. Mrs. Lynn has to tug his sleeve to gain back his attention.

"My grandson is as handsome as you are," the woman is saying. Sam just nods. "I know he's still out there, you see, he's a big fan of guns..."

Sam interrupts her, "Mrs. Lynn, would you excuse me for a moment?" He doesn't wait for her to reply, "ok, thank you." He smiles and leaves her. Mrs. Lynn looks puzzled by his sudden departure, but when she sees you waiting for him, she smirks at you knowingly.

"Hey! How are you feeling? Have you eaten?" He greets, meanwhile you stare at Mrs. Lynn retreating figure.

"Hi, yes, I was just in the kitchen."

There's a small awkward silence. "Umm, would you like to take a walk? Maybe... stretch your legs." He snickers, "you've been sleeping for a day, after all."

He is right, so you nod your head and I start leading the way. At first, you don't know what to say, it's as if all you want it to tell Sam has evaporated from your mind. All of your cravings, desires, wishes, secrets, and even fears. It's true that most of yourselves is already out in the open, but it has been a few months since the last time you tried to have a relationship. And it's been even longer since the last time... No, you've never felt like this before with anyone. Obviously not with Ray, and your relationship with Amy and Mike was just getting started. You were just getting to know them. Not to mention the girlfriend you had before right before the start of the apocalypse, whom you lost and mourned. No, this is about your previous lovers, this is about the current one; Sam Winchester. A man you craved from the moment you met, even if you didn't admit it back then. A man that became your friend first and then your lover. Is he your lover yet? Perhaps not, but you'll be damn if you let this story end the way the previous ones have.

You've never been scared of your feelings, nor were you opposed to share them. So it's a no-brainer to pour out your emotions into a conversation with Sam. You don't acknowledge your feelings head-on, instead, you fall into a casual conversation about his and his brother's trip to the pharmacy. Yet, you feel it, you feel a change in your interactions. You feel the tenderness as your eyes meet his. Your hand brushes against his until your fingers interlock. It is so easy to feel like you belong there, like you were always meant to be beside Sam Winchester. When his smile stretches and his dimples poop, you know that you've never seen anything so beautiful. Oh boy, you've fallen deep.

You're so into whatever is coming out of his mouth, that you don't even realize you've come to a stop right at the southeast yard. There are no people in the vicinity. You wonder if Sam did it on purpose. You think he did, considering the way he's staring at you right now. Your hand remains caged in his, but there's no pressure on it, you could let go if you wanted to. Not that you do. His eyes observe up and down your face. There's a look in his eyes that you don't quite know how to place, yet it sends shivers down your spine. Then he focuses on your lips, and you know this is it. You've been expecting this ever since he drove off in the Impala three years ago. He leans in and you step in your tiptoes to meet him halfway.

Is a kiss supposed to feel this amazing? Because you're sure you've never experienced this before. His lips mold with yours like the perfect puzzle pieces. It's everything you've ever desired, and everything you will ever fear to lose. Right then, at that moment, you know that even if things with Sam don't end up well, there will be no one like him. It's a thrilling yet scary realization. Slowly, his mouth starts moving against yours. The dance is sensual and inviting. Your lips follow his, and your hands crawl up his chest into the back of his neck. With a light tug to his hair, his mouth opens in a silent moan that allows you to slither your tongue inside his mouth. He welcomes the intrusion by pulling you closer with his hand around your waist. His other hand finds its way into your cheek.

Suddenly, you feel hot and heavy, and you don't mind pulling him into a dirty corner on the back of the prison to let him do whatever he wants with you. To your hazy brain, right now that seems like a good idea. Luckily for you -or not- Sam notices that you are still too weak to do anything more. Your knees feel heavy and your mind spins, and you know it's not only because of the contact.

Slowly, the heated kiss deescalates into a soft caress and then pecks. As much as you want him, you know that now is not the moment. Once his lips part from yours, you remain tangled up. He opens his mouth to speak, but no words come out, instead, he decides to give you another short kiss. It's very brief and when it's over you pull away from him reluctantly.

"I've wanted to do that since you opened your door in your bunny slippers." You give him a questioning glance. He shrugs, "You looked cute."

Footsteps come near, a few seconds later Tyreese shows in your line of vision. He regards yours and Sam's closeness but decides not to comment on it. Instead, he addresses Sam, "hey man, you think you can help me in the fence? Walkers are starting to pile up."

You look back at Sam and notice that he seems reluctant, so you murmur, "it's ok, go. We'll meet later, ok?"

He stares back at you and smile, "yeah, go back inside, please? You've had enough exercise for now."

His comment it's not an order, more like a plea, so you comply. "Ok, I'll go look for Judith. I haven't seen her in a while." With one last peck on the lips, he follows after Tyreese.

You find your sister shortly after. She is in Beth's care. However, when she sees you approach, she gives you a light hug and hands her over to you. Judith is ecstatic to see you. She starts babbling half-words in an incoherent monologue. You cannot understand anything, considering that she's only six or seven months old, but you nod and pretend. You've missed your little sister. Not long after, Carl joins the sibling party. He grumbles something about Rick not wanting him to help. Then he happily proceeds to tell you about the way he helped your dad when the walkers broke in. You're proud of him, and you tell him so. He becomes shy by your praise, yet you see the appreciation when he looks at you.

While you are in your room with your siblings, you can almost taste happiness. You are an odd family indeed, considering the big age differences among you. You calculate to be about 22 years yourself, Carl is probably 15, and Judith is just a baby. Laughter fills your cell effortlessly. Nevertheless, all good things end fast, and when your father comes inside to tell you that The Governor is here, your joy shatters.