Beth's voice filled the cell block echoing off the walls. Andrea had left hours ago and the gravity of our situation settled in. We were at war and at a disadvantage. We could lose everything.

My eyes flickered over to Merle and Dakota. They were both looking at each other with a softness that reminded me of a time long gone. It wasn't like before, or it didn't feel like it. There was a certain kind of longing between them.

Perhaps for what they had or what they could've had. Losing that baby drove them away as quickly as it brought them closer all that time ago. She left her family for him and now they can't even speak to each other.

As she looked away from him, I could see how much it still hurt her to be in the same room as him. In a way, the only thing stopping her from being with him again is her family. I don't think she can handle losing us again. Not after losing her own little family.

Ryan was beside her though his eyes were set on Beth singing. He had sacrificed himself for our family, too. After seeing what Dakota's love did to her, he never did attempt anything with Beth. His sole focus was on this group and our family.

And just like that, I looked at Daryl from across the room. He seemed to be discussing something with Hershel and Rick who was carrying Judith. An unsettling feeling formed in my stomach at the thoughts in my head.

Every member of my family gave up on romantic attachments so that we'd survive first and foremost. Yet here I was, being the selfish sister, and I indulged in a feeling that probably won't last. Dakota and Merle didn't.

They've given up so much for us and for our vow. Family comes first. How can I honor that if I constantly worry about Daryl and his safety? I almost got separated from them at the farm because my heart thought of him. I can't let that happen again, no matter how much it hurts.

My eyes locked with Daryl's and I motioned at the door with my head. He nodded and we left the cell block. Several heads turned at our exit but none followed us. I fumbled with my fingers as we finally got out of earshot.

"Do you remember the night the farm was overrun and we were all separated?"

"Yeah?"

"I looked for you. My family was in danger and I still looked for you. I put my family at risk because I cared for you and I... I can't do that again. Especially not now."

His eyebrows furrowed as he leaned against a wall. I released a shaky breath waiting for his reaction. He cleared his throat before looking at the ground.

"What are you saying, Josephine?"

I shifted uncomfortably as my heart started racing. It was beating a hundred miles per hour and yet it felt like it broke as soon as I started speaking.

I wanted nothing more than to reach out and hold his hand, apologize for what I was doing.

"I'm saying that family comes first. And I can't care for them, and you, at the same time. My heart can't take it, because one day I might have to choose. I can't choose anyone over my family. Not even you."

The realization of what I said sunk in for him. For my first real breakup, I thought I did good. Until his entire body tensed and he looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here.

His eyes, which once looked at me with such gentleness, had become cold and distant. Like all of the walls that I brought down had come up again. His jaw clenched as he nodded though still not saying anything.

"I am so sorry, Daryl. I never wanted to hurt you. It's why I didn't want anything official, because I knew that I could never be what you needed me to be-"

"Don't start that bullshit."

He looked like he wanted to start an argument with me, but didn't. A scoff left his lips as he looked anywhere but my face.

My eyes started to sting and I dug my nails into my hands to prevent tears. I can do this, I'm strong enough for this.

"Just don't."

He pulled himself up and I stopped breathing until he got inside the prison. Once he did, I let myself relax and grab a wall for support. It was like my body was crumbling and I couldn't stop it.

I put my hand over my mouth before letting out a muffled cry. There was no holding back the tears any longer. The urge to call after him was unbearable. My chest felt as if though it was on fire, like smoke was blocking air from coming into my lungs.

I slid down onto the ground as my face twisted in agony. Choosing my family never felt more difficult.

I was on the brink of happiness, so close to achieving what felt impossible. And then I ripped it apart because of one simple sentence.

Family comes first.

------

"Well, ain't this cozy. And utterly empty."

Rick kicked one of the empty gun containers. His hands tugged at the hair at the back of his head. It was frustrating to find the police station empty. We needed guns and ammo if we were going to win this war.

"You got any other police stations in town?" Michonne asked.

"I was the police here. Me and a few other guys. It ain't a big town." Rick replied.

"There could be other places to check though, right? This can't be the only place with guns." I said.

If only the police had guns, there would have been a lot less problems in the world. No, there has to be dead people who had guns and now have no use for them. We only need to figure out who those people are.

"Could be. May not have as many guns as were in here, but-"

"We need as many guns as were in here. Ammo, too."

Rick stilled for a moment, briefly annoyed by the interruption. I don't know why, it was his idea to bring her here to test our her loyalties. Honestly, I forgot she was even still with us at the prison.

"Yeah, we do. But right now, I only got a line on a couple. There's a few places out in the main street, bars, a liquor store. Owners had a gun or two behind the counter that people didn't know about. I did, I signed the permits. They might still be there."

A smirk formed on my lips as he glanced at me. Listening to his old cop stories was a treat like no other. It gave me plenty of excuses to tease him. Not that I needed them before.

"Ranger Rick to the rescue." I said.

He gave me a stern look, but I could see a ghost of a smile on his face. Rookie Rick never felt as good as Ranger Rick. There was something magical about it.

"For future notice, I was a sheriff."

"Same thing, different packaging."

He scoffed as I shrugged. I knew he wasn't a ranger, but it didn't stop me before. Him thinking that it's going to stop me now is delusional. Michonne paid no attention to us and seemed to disapprove of our plan.

"Do you have a problem with our approach?" Rick asked.

"No, Rick. I don't have a problem." Michonne replied.

I raised my eyebrows not understanding their little exchange. She handed him a bullet that she found on the ground. He took it without saying anything and we all made our way outside.

Walking the streets of Rick's and Carl's former home felt odd. It was a piece of the old world and therefore it was now foreign. We noticed a giant pile of burnt bodies in one of the yards. Someone must've stayed in town to do that.

As we turned to the next street, we were welcomed by an unusual sight. There seemed to be traps laid out in the street, specifically for walkers. Wooden poles, pigeons in cages and warning signs.

"It looks like somebody's already made this theirs." Michonne said.

I hummed in agreement, looking around the street. A distraction was what I was looking for and I seemed to have found it. I pushed down any and every thought of Daryl as I tried to focus.

"They must've cleaned out the majority of the town by now." I spoke up.

"Doesn't mean they found what we're looking for. Couple of the places are just up ahead. Let's get in and get the hell out of here." Rick replied.

I followed him as Michonne and Carl trailed behind us. Rick pointed at a shop that used to belong to a man called Tyrell Debbs. Apparently he had a shotgun and two handguns before the world ended.

Carl tugged at my elbow and I turned back to see what was going on. A walker was limping towards us and I stopped Rick from going further. Michonne was going to be kill it, but Rick claimed it would get caught.

As the walker stumbled towards a wire, a bullet went through its head. My head snapped towards the source of the shot and I saw a man on top of the roof. Whoever he was, he didn't look friendly.

"Hands! Now you drop what you got and you go. Your guns, your shoes and that sword. All of it. Ten seconds!" The man yelled.

Rick's eyes found mine as he nodded at me. He mumbled to Carl to run for the car while Michonne said we needed that rifle. I gripped my gun and Rick glanced me. Ready when he is.

"Carl, go." Rick said.

As Carl ran, Rick and I raised our guns and started shooting at the man. Michonne ran for the roof wanting to catch him off guard and maybe acquire that rifle. I crouched down using a car for protection as the man fired at us.

I checked my ammo and cursed under my breath. We didn't have enough bullets to stop him, let alone the Governor. I reloaded my gun with what I had which wasn't much and waited for the shooting to stop.

Once it did, I pointed my gun at the roof but he was gone. Michonne climbed up but couldn't find him there either. It was then that he started shooting at us from down the street. I ran to Rick's side as he shot back at him.

Rick hid behind a barrel as I waited for the man to move in front of me. If he didn't see me, I can catch him off guard and end him before he ends us. He shot at Rick and my opportunity emerged. I stepped closer and accidentally hit a can.

The man abruptly turned at the noise and aimed the gun at me. Before I got the chance to shoot him, he was already down on the ground with Carl standing behind him. He had shot the man before he could shoot me.

I looked at him mildly impressed by his actions while Rick looked concerned. He asked Carl if he was okay to which he replied with a simple yeah. Nobody asked me if I was okay, but fine.

"I told you to run for the car. I didn't want you to have to do that." Rick stated.

"I had to." Carl argued.

Michonne and I exchanged an impressed look. I furrowed my eyebrows as I realized that I was interacting with her as if though she wasn't a stranger. A bad move on my part since she could be a threat.

"He's wearing body armor. He's alive." Rick said.

"Do we care?" Michonne asked.

"I'm on her side, Ranger Rick. Do we really care if the man that was trying to kill us is alive?" I said.

Rick didn't say anything as he crouched down and removed the man's mask. His face was unfamiliar to me and yet a flash of surprise appeared in Rick's eyes. He knew who this man was.

"Yeah."