Hello my lovelies and happy December! Are you all still in shock over the Fall Finale? I'm going into withdrawals after not having an episode to watch last night!

Here is another chapter for you all- hope you enjoy! As always, I would love to hear your thoughts! :)


Standing on the shore, Daryl felt his patience completely run out as he waited, guarding the women. Knowing that there were two naked, attractive women in the water right behind him was a strange enough thought to grasp, but they were taking their sweet time, their voices and laughter gently drifting back to him over the water. He shifted his weight from side to side, growing antsy. Finally he turned around and yelled. "Are you having a tea party or getting clean?" His eyes zeroed in on Kinley, just her pale shoulders visible above the water, her collarbones sharply jutted through her skin, the water droplets glistened in the sun, and her long hair was floating out around her.

"Sorry Daryl, turn around and we'll get out." Lori called back to him and he hastily turned his back to the women as they emerged from the water and quickly dressed behind him. "Alright, we're decent." He turned around and silently waited for the women as they tried to ring out the water from Kinley's hair and they let Lena run around without her clothes on.

"I know I can't let her run around naked, but I don't want to put these dirty clothes back on her. I know my own are awful, but it would be nice to at least keep her as clean as possible."

"We can wash them up right now, and they'll dry quickly in this heat." Lori took the bar of soap and began washing Lena's clothing with gusto. "If there are any extra clothes, like a t-shirt, she could use something like that as a dress too. I'm not sure what we'll do come winter time, we left any warm clothing we had back at the prison."

Kinley quickly glanced over at Daryl when Lori mentioned the prison and she saw a muscle tick in his jaw and his shoulders stiffen. "Thanks for waiting for us Daryl, I'm sorry we took so long." She smiled over at him.

"Whatever." He shrugged and wandered far enough away from them they he wouldn't be included in a conversation.

"Don't take any of Daryl's mood swings personally. He'll catch himself being nice, getting attached or caring and he'll try to abruptly pull away for a little bit." Lori spoke softly.

"That's fine. I understand how it's dangerous to get attached to people during times like this." Kinley sat back down on the ground as her feet began to throb and she watched Lena, smiling as she ran around the beach laughing and singing, the happiest and cleanest Kinley had seen her in some time.

"Auntie Kinny?"

"Yes sweetie?"

"Daddy here?"

Kinley dropped the rock she had been admiring and froze looking up at Lena. "No, Daddy isn't here."

"Mama?"

"No sweetie, she's not here either."

The smile dropped from Lena's face and she continued with her game of throwing rocks into the water, the joyful expression gone from her face. Kinley swallowed the lump in her throat and rapidly blinked her eyes, coming out of the shock of hearing the question from Lena. They had been traveling for months, and Lena had not once asked where her parents were, or cried for them, perhaps sensing Kinley's fear and the need for silence as they traveled. Kinley jumped when Daryl suddenly sat down beside her.

"Could you be any quieter? You scared me half to death."

Daryl simply glanced over at her and then turned his attention back to the little girl. They sat in silence as Lena played and Lori scrubbed the clothes clean.

"Well these are as clean as I'll get them. Should we head back? Kinley you and Lena both seem like you need a rest and another large drink."

"I'm fine Lori, I'd really like to start helping out in any way possible."

"Your body is exhausted, you're still half starved and very dehydrated. You're not going to be of any help if you pass out or get sick. How are your stitches?"

"Good, and now very clean. Hershel did an amazing job." Kinley began to limp towards Lena to pick her up when strong arms lifted her off the ground. She bit back a shriek and clung to her carrier frantically. "Daryl! Stop scaring me and put me down!"

"Quit your fussing." Daryl waited for Lori to pick up Lena and the four of them made the walk back to the camp. Carol begged Kinley for playtime with Lena and Daryl carried Kinley back into the RV despite her protests.

"Daryl, I'm not tired, I don't need a rest." Kinley crossed her arms and glared at him as they stood inside the RV.

"Drink." He held a water bottle out to her and made her drink all of it before he was satisfied. "Now lie down and rest. If I see you even trying to sneak out of here I'll just drag you right back and lock you in." He smirked as she glared up at him, eyes flashing.

"You don't get to boss me around."

"I'll watch her Daryl, I'm going to lie down in here for a bit too." Lori stepped into the RV and Daryl nodded and quickly left, slamming the door behind him. "Please rest Kinley. You had a fever yesterday and have a long way to go before you're fully healthy. Besides, I'll sleep better if you're in here with me, and it gives me an excuse to rest as the others will think I'm keeping an eye on you without really knowing why I need a nap."

"Do you need anything?" Kinley pushed her own stubbornness aside and glanced down at Lori's still flat stomach.

"Just some rest and a break from the sun. Come on, we can both fit on this bed."


Another chapter down! Here's a preview for Chapter 5:

"I know there's lots of room in that tent."

"Whose tent is that?"

"Mine." Kinley turned as Daryl spoke behind her.