𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍
𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐔𝐏, 𝐆𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐍
︶꒦꒷★꒷꒦︶

Roman wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, putting his truck in park and swinging the door open and jumping out. It had been about a week and a half since Hershel's accident, the man now doing much better and healing up better than expected. And they had fallen into a routine; who did what, when and how. It was nice to have a plan and schedule for the first time since the farm—things had started to feel relatively normal again.

Carol jumped from one of the trucks, falling into step with the younger man as Rick gave off orders. "After that, we need to load up these corpses so we can burn 'em."

Roman placed his hands on his hips as he stopped by Rick, looking out at the field of dead walkers, "Gonna be a long ass day."

"Where's Glenn and Maggie? We could use some help." Carol spoke, Daryl pointing past Roman at the tower, "Up in the guard tower."

"The guard tower?" Rick questioned, Roman looking back and squinting up at the building, "They were just up there last night."

"Glenn! Maggie!" Daryl shouted, Roman cracking an amused smile as Glenn emerged from the tower, shirtless and buckling his jeans back up, "Hey, what's up guys?"

Roman laughed, "You guys comin'?" He shouted up at his friend, Glenn furrowing his brows, "What?"

"You comin'?" Roman reiterated, Glenn looking back at Maggie in confusion. "Come on, we could use a hand!" Daryl shouted with a roll of his eyes, Roman laughing and wiping his hands on his jeans. "God, they go at it like rabbits, I swear."

They turned around, Carol nudging Romans arm with a giggle.

"Hey, Rick."

They paused, smile dropping from their faces at the sight of the two prisoners, Axel and Oscar in the courtyard. "Come with me." He mumbled to Daryl, T-Dog and Roman.

They followed after Rick, the man coming to a stop when they reached them, "We had a deal."

"But you gotta understand—we can't live in that place another minute. You follow me? All the bodies—people we knew. Blood, brains everywhere. There's ghosts."

"Why don't you move the bodies out?" Daryl huffed, Roman placing his hands on his hips, fingers grazing the gun there, "You should be burning them." T-Dog mumbled, Axel shaking his head, "We tried. We did."

"The fence is down on the far side of the prison. Every time we drag a body out, those things just line up. Dropping the body and just running back inside."

"Look—" Axel stepped forward, Roman subtly removing his gun from his hip to rest at his side, "We had nothing to do with Thomas and Andrew—nothing. You trying to prove a point? You proved it, bro. We'll do whatever it takes to be part of your group. Just please. Please..."
Axel begged frantically, obviously distressed, "Don't make us live in that place."

"Our deal is not negotiable." Rick spat, "You either live in your cell block, or you leave."

"I told you this was a waste of time," Oscar grumbled, "They ain't no different than the pricks who shot up our boys." Roman rolled his eyes, sticking his tongue against the side of his cheek at the man's attempt at manipulation.

Claire inhaled the fresh outdoor air as she stepped out, running a hand through her now clean hair while she stretched her arms above her head.

She caught Romans eyes for a second, her smile faltering at the sight of the two prisoners standing in front of him, Rick, Daryl and T-Dog. She yanked her gun from her pocket, Roman shaking his head and putting out a subtle hand to her.

She nodded, slipping her gun back into her waistband as she made her way over to where Maggie and Glenn stood. Before she could arrive, Rick and Daryl were guiding the prisoners—Axel and Oscar—over to the gates. She frowned in confusion, following behind Maggie as Daryl locked them inside the ID check section of the fencing.

She slowed her steps, stopping beside Roman as Daryl came back to the group. "I think we should give them a chance." T-Dog spoke up, Claire crossed her arms over her chest with a raised brow. "Are you serious?" Rick questioned, "You want them living in a cell next to you? They'll just be waiting for a chance to grab our weapons. You—you wanna go back to sleeping with one eye open?"

T-Dog looked over at Rick with a stoic expression, "I never stopped. Bring them into the fold. If we send the off packing, we might as well execute them ourselves."

Glenn shifted on his feet and shook his head. "I-I don't know, Axel seems a little unstable." Claire raised a finger towards the prison, "And also, I hate to make assumptions, but we don't know them, and they're criminals. We have women, Carl—a new baby on the way. We can't trust them."

T-Dog sighed and looked over at the girl, Claire raising her brows, seeing as he couldn't really combat her argument. "They have their own cell block, we made a deal, and if they don't like it they can hit the road." Roman shrugged, placing his hands on his hips.

"After all we've been through?" Carol piped up with a shrug, "We fought so hard for all of this, what if they decide to take it?"

"It's just been us for so long," Maggie sighed, "They're strangers. I don't—it feels weird all of a sudden to have these other people around." Claire nodded in agreement, but T-Dog glared over at Maggie, "You brought us in."

"Yeah, but you turned up with a shot boy in your arms. Didn't give us a choice."

"They can't even kill walkers." Glenn whispered, Carol shooting back at T-Dog, "They're convicts, bottom line." Claire felt bad for the men, yes. They were in for petty crimes, but those were just the crimes they were caught for. Who knows what else goes on in their minds.

"Those two might actually have less blood on their hands than we do." T-Dog argued, Daryl tilting his head in agreement, "I get guys like this. Hell, I grew up with them. They're degenerates, but they ain't psychos. I could've been in there with them just as easy as I'm out here with you guys."

T-Dog nodded at the support, "So are you with me?" Daryl scoffed, "Hell, no. Claire's right—we can't trust them. Let 'em take their chances out on the road just like we did."

"What I'm saying, Daryl-"

"When I was a rookie, I arrested this kid—" Rick interjected, Claire sighing in discomfort at the sun beating down on her exposed shoulders, "19 years old, wanted for stabbing his girlfriend. The kid blubbered like a baby during the interrogation, during the trial—suckered the jury. He was acquitted due to insufficient evidence. And then, two weeks later—shot another girl." Claire sucked in a heavy breath, dropping her eyes to her beat up boots. "We've been through too much. Our deal with them stands."

Rick walked past T-Dog—Daryl, Roman and Glenn each following after him. Claire sighed, "Sorry, T." She nodded at him, following the others with Carol on her tail.

★

"Move the cars to the upper yard. Point 'em facing out." Daryl tossed a set of keys at Glenn, who ran over to the gate, "They'll be out of the way but ready to go if we ever need to bail."

Claire huffed as she walked the rough downhill terrain, swinging a set of keys around her finger as she hopped in one of the cars, eyeing the two prisoners standing off to the side.

The engine roared to life, Claire quickly putting it into drive and taking off slowly in the direction of the upper courtyard.

When she got there, T-Dog was hopping out of the SUV to guide her back as close as needed. Once there, she put the car in park and exited the car. Before she could make her way back to the others, Hershel, Carl, Beth, Kira, Marcus and Lori emerged from the prison—Hershel walking quite well with his new set of crutches.

Claire laughed, cupping a hand around her mouth, "I think you're ready for track season, Hersh!" The older man laughed, looking over at the girl, "It's too hot."

Claire giggled, looking over at the fences, where Rick, Daryl, Glenn and Roman were climbing back in through the hole in the gate carrying firewood.

Roman smiled, adjusting the wood in his hands as Claire gestured at Hershel with a dramatic point. Maggie stepped beside Claire with a giggle, smiling at her father waking on his crutches.

"Walkers! Look out!"

Claire's head shot back over to Carl, the young boy pointing to a herd emerging from the prison. Claire pulled her gun, gunshots echoing around the courtyard as Rick shouted for them, the man rushing through the fence to get to them.

Claire shot as many walkers as she could, eyes widening as the weapon clicked with emptiness. "Shit." She gasped, putting it in her waistline and yanking her knife out.

As she did, a walker grasped her shoulders. Claire shrieked, struggling against it and pushing it back, bringing her knife into its skull with a sickening squelch.

"Lori! Claire! In here!"

The blonde looked over at Maggie, who was ushering Lori and Carl into their cell block. Claire swallowed thickly, rushing towards them with a glance back at Roman, who was running full speed through the gates with Rick.

When she got to the stairs, she slid against the concrete, kicking a walker back and slamming the gate closed. She heaved, looking across from them where Beth, Hershel, Kira and Marcus had taken refuge.

"C'mon, sweetie." Lori grabbed Claire's arm, pulling the girl into the cell block with them. Claire closed the door behind her, keeping her knife drawn as they rushed through the cell block.

Another herd of walkers emerged from their cells, Maggie sliding to a stop and spinning around to usher them in another direction.

Maggie yanked the gate closed behind them, Claire keeping a hand on Loris back as Maggie and Carl kept their weapons drawn. Claire jumped in surprise as an alarm began blaring, small red lights in the corners of the hallways flashing.

As they turned a corner, Lori dropped from Claire's grasp and leaned against the wall with a grunt. Her eyes widened, watching as Lori grasped her stomach, "Lori?" Claire panicked, Lori shaking her head, "Somethings not right."

Carls worried voice broke the air, "Are you bit?"

"No, no, no. I think the baby's coming." Claire's eyes widened, shaking her head vigorously, "No, no, no, mama. We can't do this now."

"Mom?" Carl whimpered, Claire's eyes shooting over to the end of the hallway, where snarling walkers rounded the corner. Carl raised his gun, Maggie shaking her head, "No, there's no time! Turn back!"

Claire pushed Carl forward, before helping Maggie hold up Lori, the four turning around and rushing back the way they came. Carl led them with his gun drawn, skidding to a stop as the shadows of more walkers reflected on the wall.

They turned a different corner, Carl yanking open a large metal door, "In here!"

Claire winced as she led Lori into the room, Carl slamming the door closed behind him with struggle. Claire's heaved as Lori grasped a pipe, holding onto it for stability. "Can you like, hold it in?" Claire mumbled, wincing as Lori glared at her.

She followed Carl down the steps, doing a quick sweep of the room before making her way back to Lori, the very pregnant woman panting and heaving in pain.

"What are those alarms?" Lori grunted, stepping away from the chains she was gripping on to, "Don't worry about it." Maggie mumbled, soothingly rubbing a hand on the woman's back.

"What if it attracts them?"

The women ignored the boys worries, walking behind Lori as she moved around the electrical room. "Lori, let's lay you down."

"No—" Lori shook her head, "The baby's coming now." Claire whimpered, blinking tightly in worry. Carl huffed, "We have to get back to our cell block and have Hershel help."

"We can't risk getting caught out there, stink." Claire shook her head, "It's too risky."

"You're gonna need to give birth to this baby here." Maggie's voice was stern as she grasped Lois shoulder gently. "Great." Lori began panting heavily, grunting in between pants. "What's happening? Can she breathe?"

"She's fine. Come here—let's get your pants off." Maggie instructed, Claire holding Loris arm as Maggie shimmied her jeans down her legs. Once the material was at her ankles, Maggie and Claire laid the woman down on the concrete, pulling the pants off her legs completely.

"You're gonna need to help deliver your brother or sister. You up for it?" Maggie looked up at Carl, Claire pulling her eyes away from the grip Lori had on her hand. The boy nodded nervously, looking down at his mother.

"I'll do an exam. Let me see if you're dilated." Maggie mumbled, Claire watching nervously as Maggie inserted her hands into Lori. The woman grunted in pain, Carl panicking above them. "I can't tell."

"I gotta push. I gotta push..." Lori panted, laying her back against the concrete before standing up and doing breathing exercises. Claire placed her hands on Loris back, the woman grunting in pain as she pushed. "Somebody!" She cried out, Maggie grabbing her hand nervously. "I'm okay. I'm okay." Lori panted, Claire glancing back at Carl as he looked at them fearfully.

"You're doing great, Lori. Just keep doing it. Your body know what to do. Let it do all the work." Claire bit her lip, metallic blood seeping into her mouth. She vaguely remembered the day Eli was born—it was her and her dad in the room with her mom. She was in so much pain, crying, screaming, shouting; even with the epidural. Claire was terrified, she was 6 years old and didn't truly understand what was happening. And Claire still did not know what to do. Hershel had taught her, Carol and Maggie the basics over the past couple months but she couldn't do it without Hershel. Neither of the girls could.

Lori yelped in pain, Claire grabbing Loris hand as Maggie bent down and rubbed her lower back, "You're doing great."

Claire swallowed her nerves, moving Loris hair from her face, "Keep it up, mama. You're doing so good, just keep pushing." She soothed, Lori clamping her eyes shut as tears and sweat fell down her face with every grunt and push.

"Lori stop! Don't push—somethings wrong." Maggie panicked, Lori sucking in a loud breath before screaming from the pain. Claire eyes widened at the outburst, looking down at Maggie. The brunette looked up at Claire, the girls eyes wandering from Maggie's eyes to her hand as she pulled it from Loris legs, covered in blood.

"Okay. Okay, Lori let's lay you down, okay?" Claire mumbled, her and Maggie helping the woman to the floor as the alarms ceased its blaring. Lori closed her eyes in exhaustion, Maggie laying her head down against the concrete softly as Carl dropped beside his mother and grabbed her hand, "Mom. Mom look at me, look at me. Keep your eyes open."

Claire bent down in front of Lori, anxiety numbing her fingers at the sight of Loris bloody legs and underside. "We have to get you back to dad." Maggie worried, grabbing the woman's hand. "I'm not gonna make it." Lori whispered weakly, looking up at Maggie through hooded eyes. "Lori, with all this blood, I don't even think you're fully dilated yet. No amount of pushing is gonna help."

Lori closed her eyes in exhaustion, "I know what it means and I'm not losing my baby. You've gotta cut me open." Claire's head shot up, grasping the womans knees and shaking her head, "No, no Lori, we can't do that. We gotta get you to Hershel-"

"Claire." Lori cut her off, "You gotta save this baby." Maggie shook her head, "No. We can't."

"You don't have a choice." Lori insisted, Carl standing to his feet, "I'll go for help." "No!" Lori shouted, Carl pausing by the door to look back at his mom. "Look—Carols the one who practiced that. Dad only taught Claire and I the steps, Lori. If we-"

"Please." Lori begged, Claire shaking her head as tears flowed down her cheeks, "We don't have any equipment, Lori. No bandages or pain reliever. We-"

"Carl has a knife." Lori mumbled, nodding at the two girls softly. Maggie sobbed, shaking her head, "You won't survive." Claire reached a hand up and wiped the tears from her cheeks, not caring about the smudge of blood it left behind. "My baby has to survive. Please. My baby...for all of us. Please, girls. Please."

Claire sobbed, shaking her head in refusal. She couldn't lose Lori. She was like her mom, she was Aunt Lori. She was a semblance of what their lives used to be, a beacon of hope for a new world to come. She was family—Claire couldn't fathom losing more family. "Please."

Carl fell beside Lori as Maggie dropped her head, Claire lifting Loris shirt. "You see my old c-section scar?" Lori mumbled, Claire blinking her tears away to look at the pink line across Loris stomach. "I can't." Claire shook her head, placing a soft hand on Loris belly, "Yes, you can, Claire. You have to. Carl?" Lori turned her head to her son, "Baby I don't want you to be scared, okay? This is what I want. This is right." Carls cheeks flooded with tears and Claire looked over to Maggie, the older woman closing her eyes in fear. "Now you—you take care of your daddy for me, all right? And your little brother or sister. You take care-"

"You don't have to do this." Carl cried, Claire inhaling a shaky deep breath as she mentally prepared to perform the emergency c-section. "You're gonna be fine. You are gonna beat this world. I know you will. You are smart, and you are strong, and you are so brave, and I love you." Lori choked back her sobs, Maggie and Claire watching through teary eyes. "I love you too."

"You gotta do what's right, baby. You promise me, you'll always do what's right. It's so easy to do the wrong thing in this world. So don't—so if it feels wrong don't do it, all right? If it feels easy don't do it. Don't let the world spoil you." Claire held back her sob, looking away from the woman as she wiped away Carls tears, "You're so good. You're my sweet boy. You're the best thing I ever did l. And I love you." Carl dropped into his mothers embrace, sobbing into her shoulder as Lori held him, "I love you." Lori squeaked out through tears. "You're my sweet, sweet boy. I love you." The two held each other as they cried out their final goodbyes, Claire's throat closing up in reality as Lori pulled him away. "Okay-okay now. Okay." She grunted, looking down at Claire.

Lori reached out, grasping the blondes hand, "Claire you—" Claire knew what was coming, a sob escaping her, "You are so bright, and so brave. You have grown into such a beautiful and strong woman, and I am so grateful to have known you. Don't let the world stop you, baby."

Claire cried, gripping the woman's hand tighter. "I love you, sweet Claire. You watch after Carl, and you watch after this baby for me, okay?" Claire nodded, "I love you too, Lori." She choked out, smiling weakly at the woman through her tears. Lori nodded, looking between her and Maggie, "Maggie, when this is over, you're gonna have to-" Maggie shushed her and shook her head, but Lori continued, "You have to do it. It can't be Rick." Maggie sucked in a deep breath and nodded.

"All right. All right." Lori whispered under her breath, "It's alright." She soothed Carl, looking up at the ceiling as Carl handed Claire his knife. The blonde took it from the boy, the weapon feeling heavier than ever in her hand as the reality of what it was about to do fully set in.

Claire sucked in a deep breath, wiping her tears away with the back of her bloody hand and looking down at the scars. "Goodnight, love." Lori said to Carl, Maggie exhaling loudly, "I'm so sorry, Lori."

With that, Claire pressed the knife into the preexisting scar, following along it as the squelch of skin tearing open flooded her ears.  Blood began pouring out, Lori screaming in pain as Claire continued slicing. Claire held back her tears, eyes widening as the baby came into view. She could hear it's muffled crying, Claire handing the knife to Maggie as she reached in to grab the child.

"What are you doing to her!" Carl shouted in tears, Claire ignoring the boy as she attempted to pull the baby out. "Maggie, I need your hands." The woman nodded, reaching over and holding the wound open as Lori shuddered and lost consciousness. Claire grabbed the knife again, cutting through the flesh a little deeper. When she spotted more of the child, she dropped the knife.

"There it is." Claire mumbled, reaching further into the flesh. The feeling would've made her want to gag, but she felt so numb, so concentrated on the task at hand, the sight of blood and torn open flesh of the woman made her forget about what she was really doing. She wasn't going to lose both of them, Lori was gone, this child wasn't. When her hands grasped the child's body, she frowned, not knowing exactly what part of the baby she was holding. "God, I can't tell what I'm grabbing, Mags. If I pull it out by the wrong part I could hurt it." She cried out, Maggie shaking her head, "Claire concentrate. It'll be fine."

Claire nodded, feeling around for the baby's head. When she found it, she exhaled loudly, "I got it. I got it." She gently began removing the child from the womb, eyes widening as the baby came into sight. A girl.

Claire cradled the limp newborn in her arms, panic setting in as she didn't move. Distressed, Claire began tapping the baby's dirty chest in an attempt to get its heart beating. "Turn her around." Maggie mumbled, Claire nodded, flipping the baby around and patting its back. Within seconds, she began crying.

Claire released a relieved breath, Carl gasping with a smile as he yanked off his jacket. Maggie handed Claire the knife, the blonde taking it and cutting the umbilical cord as the baby cried in her arms.

Suddenly, Claire was 6 again, holding her baby brother in her arms for the first time, sitting in a hospital chair next to her father while he cried in her arms. Claire smiled at the child, taking Carls jacket and wrapping it around her small back. "We have to go." Maggie helped Claire stand, the blonde holding the child closely to her chest.

"We can't just leave her here—" Carl argued, standing to his feet, "She'll turn." Claire closed her eyes, the mental image of Lori turning clouding her mind. Maggie frowned, pulling the knife from her pocket. "No." Carl shook his head, Maggie sighing, "Carl..."

"She's my mom." Claire swallowed thickly, Maggie nodding and guiding Claire up the stairs slowly.

They reached the door quietly, Claire holding the child close to her chest as Maggie checked the hallway. Maggie turned back towards Claire, the two women flinching as a gunshot rattled around the room.

Tears flowed down Claire's cheeks as Carl turned the corner, stepping directly past her and Maggie without a word. "Carl..." Claire whispered in shock, lower lip shaking.

Maggie ushered Claire out with a hand on her back, the blonde staying close behind Carl as they quietly walked through the dark halls. When they arrived back at their cell block, it was empty, besides the dead walkers on the floor.

Maggie led Claire and Carl out of the cell block towards the door, sliding the metal open. Claire winced at the bright sun, the fresh air flooding her lungs as they stepped out.

When they did, the child started crying, Claire's eyes locking on everyone else, minus T-Dog and Carol, standing by the other prison entrance. Maggie opened the gate for Claire, the blonde stepping through with Carl behind her, tears flooding her eyes. Rick looked back at the three, face falling at the lack of his wife.

Maggie sobbed, Claire holding the small child closely against her chest, shaky fingers clutching her head to prevent her neck from falling back.

"Oh God—" Marcus mumbled, eyes casting past the tall man. Roman turned around, worried expression falling at the sight. Claire, covered in blood and cradling the small baby, Lori nowhere in sight. Claire's lip trembled as she attempted to find the right words, chest closing as Rick took a step towards them. Rick dropped his axe, rubbing a hand over his face and shaking his head.

Claire locked eyes with the man, opening her mouth in an attempt to speak, but no sounds coming out. Rick stumbled around, shaking his head, "Where—where is she? Where is she?"

Claire sobbed, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I couldn't- There wasn't-" Rick began to walk past her to go inside, but Maggie shook her head, grasping Ricks shoulder, "No, Rick—no!" Ricks gun slipped from his fingers, falling to the concrete with a loud rattle. The man shook his head, looking over at Carl, who was blankly staring down at the cement as silent tears fell.

Claire watched through teary eyes as Rick bent down towards Carl and sobbed, "Oh, no. No!" Rick paced as he mourned his wife, Claire shaking as she looked back at him. "No!" Glenn rushed over to Maggie, holding his crying girlfriend as she mourned.

Roman slowly stepped forward, grasping Claire by her wet and bloody cheeks. "I tried-" She stuttered, Roman nodding his head in comfort and looking down at the baby in Claire's hands. Roman softly shushed her, placing a hand on the back of her head and bringing her into his chest, careful of the child between them.

Rick sobbed behind her, falling to the ground inconsolably. The others were quiet, unsure of what to do or say, watching a man and his son mourn the loss of their wife and mother.