Broken in the Apocalypse

A Single Shot

Lauren's POV

I look back at Glenn and he shrugs his shoulders. I'm sure he got an earful and I really don't want to get mine. But I know I have to face him sometime and I really missed him. So I move to the front door and make my way upstairs to our room. When I open the door he's in there laying on the bed holding Ethan.

"Well look who decided to show up." He says but he doesn't sound angry

"About that..." I start

"Save it. Glenn told me you saw something and you wanted to check it out for the safety of the group. But, you should've waited for me. You shouldn't go out alone and you know better. We have rules here for a reason Lauren. It's so we can keep people alive. And I don't know about you but I want to keep you alive and safe for as long as I possibly can."

"I know... I'm sorry." That's all I have to say right now because I know he's right.

"Don't do it again. Now come over here and hug me." He smirks

I go and hug him then we lay down on the bed with Ethan between us. It's  our own little family and I'm loving every second of it.

*a month later*

Lori told everyone she's pregnant. Maggie and Glenn are together and they've become inseparable. Our house got over run and we've now moved into a prison.

I know a prison for a home isn't ideal but it's actually not bad. We cleared the place out in two days. There's fences so it's safe. We have our own little cell block and we can lock the doors because we found the keys. We can get outside to the court yard and there's plenty of space to keep animals and grow our own food.

Life is going good and nothing bad has happened since we got here. Everyone's got a cell to stay in and a bed to sleep on. Me Daryl, and Ethan share a cell. Top floor very last cell. It's the biggest, and the most private. No one really stays on the top floor because everyone wanted to share cells and stay closer together.

Everyone's got their own job to do and I think that helps make things feel kind of normal.

"Good morning." Daryl says as he walks through the curtain of our cell.

"Morning." I say still laying in bed

"Sleep good?" He asks, he sits on the edge of the bed

"Very good. Thanks for letting me sleep in."

"Well you looked like you needed it. But I'm gonna go help Rick outside, you can get ready and go help Lori in the main area."

"Sounds like a plan." I smile up at him

He kisses my forehead, tells me he loves me, to take it easy, and he'll see me later and then leaves.

I get out of bed and put on a clean T-shirt, Jean shorts, and tennis shoes. I throw my hair up in a bun and walk down stairs.

"Good morning everyone!" I call.

I get the usual chorus of good morning's back, and continue on my way to find Lori. I see her sitting at a table by herself so I go over and sit beside her.

"Morning Lori."

"Good morning, you look like you slept well." She observes with a smile.

"I did indeed." We both chuckle a little

"So what's the run down for today?" I ask because she usually knows

"Rick, Daryl, Glenn, and Shane are all fixing fences and starting to plan where we're gonna grow crops. Me, Carol, Andrea, and Maggie are in charge of going through all the supplies and writing it down and making a list of what we need. Hershel is going through all of our medical supplies taking note of what we have and writing down things to look for. And Beth is keeping an eye on Alex, Carl, Sophia, and Ethan." She takes a long breath after finishing.

"So what should I do?"

"Just find something to do, everything is pretty much covered.... Oh maybe you could assign watch shifts and runs. But ask Rick first."

"Alright, I'll be leaving then." I get up and had outside to talk to Rick

When I open the doors the sun stings my eyes and I have to wait for them to readjust to the brightness. I scan the yard in search for the boys and I see them out by the main entrance. They work together like a machine, each doing their part and helping another of he needs it.

I make my way down to them slowly because it's nice to sit and observe how well they're getting along. Usually by now Shane would've started a fight with someone. But as I get closer I hear them laughing. Daryl must hear me being close because he stops working and turns around.

"Hey, what are you doing out here?" He walks towards me.

"Need to talk to Rick." I say as he hugs me

At the mention of his name Rick looks to me and walks over.

"What do you need Lauren?" He asks nicely

"I've got nothing to do so Lori suggested that I make run schedules and watch duties?"

He just nods his head in agreement and goes back to working. Daryl kisses me on the forehead and I walk back to the prison. Rick and Lori aren't getting along so the mention of her name to him probably upset him. I wasn't even thinking about it.

I make my way through the door back into the main part of our cell block. I get around everyone and I go back to my cell so I can start planning.

It only takes me a couple hours because I have to think about who works best together and who can get the most done quickest. I take my papers and find Rick to hand them over.

*that night*

I'm sitting outside in the yard just staring at the sky. I haven't gotten a chance to just sit outside in peace. My thoughts drift all over the place. The past and present thoughts are my friends tonight.

I think about Daryl the most.  would've thought an apocalypse would bring us back together. All the times I wanted to call him, the letters I started writing to him. I should've tried sooner and then maybe things would be different.

I lay myself back all the way even though my legs will itch from the grass. It smells like fresh air and the sky is so clear. The only light I have is the moon and I'm loving this. I hear someone coming so I turn my head and it's Beth.

"Hey Lauren."

"Hey Beth, how you liking it here in prison?" That makes us both giggle

"It's better than being out there I guess." She sits down next to me and we both look up at the stars

"Do you think this will ever be over?" She asks quietly

"I honestly don't know. But I hope so because I don't want Ethan to grow up like this, and I don't want any of the kids to have this be their future."

"I understand. I wish things were normal again. I just realize how much I took for granted." She paused

"Me and Jimmy, we were gonna get married. We were gonna live on his farm and have a big family. I was gonna have you and mags co-"

She's cut off mid sentence by the sound of a gun shot.

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