The Inevitable

Breach

Maggie sat beside me on the couch. She's been wringing her hands for almost an hour now. I set my book to the side and looked over at her.
"What's going on, Maggie?"
"Glenn's not back."
"He will be."
"But what if he isn't? What if I.."
"What is it?"
She wiped her face and looked up at me. Her eyes were bloodshot and her face was red.
"I'm pregnant."
"You serious?"
"Yeah. I look at you and I see a chance at a new life, but then I see a chance at losing you. I don't know what to do. Lori-"
"Lori was a different situation. When you are ready to have your baby I'll still be here and we can stop any complication that might happen. You deserve this, Maggie. You and Glenn."
I did my best to hug her and she cried against my shoulder.
"I want him to come home."
"He will. Glenn's determined, Maggie. Our boys will come home to us. They always will."

I walked along the walls of Alexandria looking for any sign of a breach. I stopped for a moment feeling my muscles tense.
"Allison, you okay?"
"Yeah. Just a contraction."
I looked at Eric's face and started laughing.
"It's not a real one like I'd have in labor. It's a little one that gets me ready for the real ones. Braxton-Hicks they call them."
"I thought I was going to have to deliver a baby. Shouldn't you be resting your leg?"
"Walking helps to strengthen it back up. I learned that the first time."
"What happened to it?"
I sighed and continued my walk. This time Eric walked beside me.
"A while back I was out on a run with Glenn and Maggie to get formula for Judith. We were captured by someone we knew before. He didn't know what would happen. His leader called himself the Governor. The Governor took an interest in me and things happened."
"Is that when?"
He motioned to the scars across my arms and I just nodded.
"I jumped out a window to escape and my leg got messed up. He captured me again. I didn't think I'd get out until the man that captured us came back and saved me."
"Why?"
"I'm not sure. I like to think he liked me enough to keep me alive. He died trying to stop a fight before it happened. The Governor came back for us almost seven months later and took me again with two others. He killed one of them. It's how we lost the prison and came here. I was out there alone for about two months."
I stopped and sat down on one of the benches. Eric sat beside me taking everything in.
"How do you deal with it?"
"I don't. Some nights I wake up and Daryl will just hold me until I fall back asleep. It helps, but nothing stops the voices. I still hear the Governor taunting me."
"Does Daryl know that?"
"No. He blamed himself for me getting captured. I don't want him to know the Governor still talks to me."
"I think you should tell him."
"Probably should, but I won't. Not yet."
We looked out at the community. I couldn't get over the way we were slowly bouncing back. All we had to worry about was the walkers outside the walls. For once they're outside. It was a miracle we're still alive after the attack.
Eric left to go see Aaron and I started walking back to the house. I was just in front of Deanna's when I saw the tower go down. I didn't waste anytime as I ran for the armory.
"Everyone inside! Don't make any noise! Move!"
I slammed the armory door closed and grabbed a couple clips off of the counter. I grabbed a few guns and ran out of the building. I got to the infirmary and climbed onto the roof. I laid there for a moment catching my breath. I knelt down on the flattest part I could find and fired at the walkers that were getting too close to our people. I watched them until they got inside. Aaron and Eric ran across the street and I shot one of the walkers reaching towards them.
"Move!"
I changed out the clip and looked at where Maggie was. The walkers were rocking the stand back and forth. I fired at a few of them and waited. If I shot too many too quickly they'd figure out where I am. They would attack the infirmary.
It was sundown by the time I saw anyone walk outside. It was Rick and part of our group. Jessie and her kids were with him too. They look like they're covered in walker guts.
I moved my leg out from under me and slid down the roof. I grabbed onto the side trying to catch myself. My feet hit the porch banister and I slowly got down. There goes my safe spot.
My heart was beating out of my chest as the walkers came towards me. The infirmary window opened and a gun slid through the opening. Before they got a shot off a different gun went off. I heard Rick scream and the walkers got agitated.
"Start shooting!"
I ran into the porch and started firing. Blood splattered across my face and I felt something come alive in me again. I felt myself change in that moment. I grabbed an abandoned machete and walked towards the walkers. I cleared the ones in front of the infirmary, but more stepped forward. Michonne and Rick ran past me and I kept the walkers away from the door.
Rick walked out with his axe and we moved through the walkers. In this moment I wasn't worried about my safety. If we didn't take them out now there would be no point in living. We'd die in a building. Michonne, Adrian, and Aaron ran out. Not long after Eric joined us.
"Allison! Get in formation!"
I watched as the people of Alexandria joined us. We stayed in formation and took out all the walkers we could. As we moved closer to the church Gabriel ran out with another machete.
"Allison!"
"Welcome to the party, Gabriel. Glad to see you've come around."
I kicked a walker back and he slammed his machete down into it's head. I tossed Carol a magazine and we kept moving. I smiled as Eugene joined the group. Walkers fell around us and blood pooled at our feet. We were in the final battle for Alexandria. I stopped when I heard a gun go off. Abraham made it back. I turned back and killed a walker going for Rick. Rosita was moving through the walkers faster than anyone. I looked back and cursed under my breath.
"We're getting backed into the wall, Rick!"
My back hit the metal just as a fire broke out over the water. The walkers moved towards it like moths to a porch light.
"Take them down!"
We pushed the walkers back and took back what was ours. I looked up at the fire and saw Daryl standing on a truck with a rocket launcher perched on his shoulder.

I sat on the porch with the others cleaning wounds and stitching people up. Glenn walked around handing out coffee to everyone. I bandaged Aaron's arm and walked back inside. Daryl was sitting on a table letting Denise stitch a cut on his back. I kissed him and wouldn't let go of him. Neither one of us pulled away until someone cleared their throat.
"Breathe, Mom and Pop."
I looked back at Abraham and smiled.
Daryl turned my head back to him and shook his head.
"What the hell were you thinking?"
"I had to fight, Daryl. If I didn't what's the point?"
"You could've been killed."
"That's a chance we take everyday. I'm so glad you're home."
My smile fell and I grabbed Daryl's good shoulder. I closed my eyes and cried out.
"Allison?"
"I think.. I'm in labor."