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ACT TWO
(parting glass)

     VERONÍCA COMBED through Rory's hair while she listened to the group around her talk. "—Now if we can dig a canal under the fence, we'll have plenty of fresh water."

"This soil is good. We could plant some seed, grow some tomatoes, cucumbers, soybeans." Hershel added, looking down at the dirt in his hands.

Veroníca tapped Rory's shoulder, signaling him she was done brushing his hair. The brunette immediately hopped up, rushing to sit by Carl.

Glenn then handed Veroníca some food, seeing as she hadn't got to get any yet. She smiled at him which was returned as he looked downwards at his own meal.

"That's his third time around. If there was any part of it compromised, he'd have found it by now."

"This'll be a good place to have the baby." Beth smiled at Lori, continuing. "Safe."

Veroníca glanced at Carol as she snuck away, adding on to Beth's words. "Yeah, have you decided on a name.. Or a Godmother?"

The woman then not-so-subtly pointed at herself making Lori smile. "We haven't picked a name yet."

"You could always name it Theodore." T-dog insisted.

"If it's a girl?"

At Lori's question, T-dog paused before an idea clicked. "Theodora."

The group lightly laughed at the encounter, a silence washing over them for just a moment before Hershel changed the topic. "Bethy, sing Paddy Reilly for me. I haven't heard that since your mother was alive."

"Daddy, not that one, please."

Hershel glanced at Maggie before suggesting another song. "The Parting Glass?" Beth denied at first, insisting no one wanted to hear.

Yet when Hershel insisted once more, she agreed and began singing aloud.

Of all the money.
E'er I had. I spent it in
good company.

And all i've done. For want
of wit. To memory now I can't
recall. So fill to me.

Though Veroníca didn't know the song, that didn't stop the woman from lightly swaying side to side. As she did so, Glenn stared at her with a large smile plastered over his face.

The parting glass.
Good night and joy be with you all.

Rory had now began mirroring his mother, making Carl giggle beside him as his friend dramatically did an upbeat dance to the slow-song.

"There he go." T-dog joked watching the young boy doing the robot as the girls sang.

That I should rise and
you should not. I'll gently rise.
Goodnight and joy be with you all.
Goodnight and joy be with you all.

Just as the song had ended, Rick immediately spoke up. "We should all turn in. I'll take watch over there. Got a big day tomorrow."

"What do you mean?" Daryl questioned, standing behind Veroníca as he stood beside Carol.

"I know we're all exhausted. This was a great win. We've got to push just a little bit more.. Most of the walkers are dressed as guards and prisoners."

When the group responded with silence, Rick continued. "That could mean the supplies may be intact. They'd have an infirmary, a commissary."

"An armory?"

"That would be outside the prison itself, but not too far away. Warden's offices would have info on the location. Weapons, food, medicine. This place could be a gold mine."

"We're dangerously low on ammo. We'd run out before we'd make a dent."

"That's why we have to go in there.. Hand to hand." Rick earned a few nervous looks from the group. "After all we've been through, we can handle it. I know it."

"He's right. These dead-dicks don't stand a chance." Veroníca agreed, causing Rick to nod. As soon as nodded he stood up, making his way away from the now-silent group.

Lori followed close behind her husband while Veroníca looked over at Glenn. "Are you excited for tomorrow?"

"I'm over the moon." Glenn said sarcastically, smiling when Veroníca laughed. "I'm gonna go.. set up my sleeping bag."

As Glenn stood up, the woman looked upwards at him. "Goodnight, Glenn."

"Night, Ronnie." Glenn replied, pulling his sleeping bag out of his backpack immediately afterwards

     Veroníca stabbed a few walkers through the gate. While Daryl, Glenn, T-dog, Maggie and Rick were in the prison's courtyard. Veroníca opted to not join them.

While they did ask her to come, since Aiden's death the amount of offers the woman accepted had significantly declined.

After all, she knew that if one of those offers went south. Her son would be left with no one. So it wasn't a shock to anyone that she had turned down joining them.

What was a shock was when the walkers had unfortunately stopped coming towards the fence. Leaving the group along the fence watching as the ones in the courtyard continued killing.

After what felt like forever. As soon as the dead were all on the ground, the five members had grouped up. While Rick had talked to them, Glenn glanced over at Veroníca who was staring at them in confusion.

The meeting was short, and though Glenn offered to go tell the group, or more importantly Veroníca, what their next move was. When Rick declined he nodded and followed him further into the prison.

As the group inside the prison was out of eyesight, Veroníca turned to Lori. "What are they doing?"

"Who knows.." Lori trailed off, dropping her hands to her side.

Aiden high-fived Michonne as the walker dropped to the ground, blood spilling out of it's head.

Michonne then swung her katana outwards, getting a few drops of blood off of it before putting it back into the canister. "You remind me of someone."

"Who would that be?" Michonne questioned looking at the man beside her.

"My sister."

"Does your sister have a name?"

"Veroníca.. You're just like her but more mature." Aiden insisted, rushing towards their current place to open the door for Michonne.

"Is that so?" Michonne teased, dropping the topic as she walked into their building.

As soon as she did she passed her walkers, Aiden close on her tail. The duo walked into their disgusting sleeping area, and were shocked to see Andrea was no where in sight.

"Andrea?" Aiden called while Michonne pulled out her sword.

The two then rounded the corner, relieved to see the blonde laying against a nearby wall. "What are you doing out here?"

"I needed some light." Andrea replied, still laying with her eyes closed.

Michonne then bent down, pulling the woman into a sitting position while pulling out her water bottle. "Drink."

Andrea complied, drinking as the water was shoved into her face.

When the blonde stopped drinking, Michonne had moved the water onto the woman's forehead. She hoped it'd lower the rising temperature, but deep down knew it was no use.

"How is it out there?"

"We should go in a few days." Michonne admitted, removing the water bottle from her friend's head.

Aiden watched the pair a moment longer before speaking up. "If we find a clinic—one that's not overrun. It would have everything we need."

"That's a big if."

"It's possible."

It was now Andrea's turn to watch the two interact. "You should both go. I'll hold you guys back."

"No." Michonne denied while Aiden shook his head.

"I can take care of myself. I saved your asses all winter, didn't I?" Andrea didn't receive a response, seeing as she began coughing immediately after her sentence.

While Michonne rushed to give the woman another sip of the water, Andrea smacked it out of her hand. "I won't have you two dying for me. Good soldiers won't leave their posts. Screw you both."

Aiden watched the water spill out of the water bottle as he shook his head. "We're not leaving you, Andrea. Sooner you accept that and stop throwing these fits, the sooner you get better."

After his sentence he picked the now empty water bottle up. He then threw it away from the trio while Michonne spoke. "We'll go in a few days."

"If we stay.. I'll die here." Andrea said, her eyes pleading with the woman.

Aiden wasn't sure why Michonne caved. Yet when she opened the garage door, he didn't bother objecting. After all, if there was one thing he knew about people who acted like his sister. They were all stubborn.

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