The next morning Harley woke up early, unable to fall back asleep. She felt a lot better than she has been and her leg didn't hurt as bad. She moved the sheet and looked at the wound. The swelling appeared to be going down and there wasn't as much fluid coming out. "So I might live after all," she joked to herself, slowly getting out of bed.

She limped into the kitchen, looking around at what was left in the house. She assumed all the good food was already taken, but there had to be something leftover that no one would want to haul around. There were spices knocked around on a shelf. She looked through the cabinets, finding half empty bags of sugar and flour, salt and ingredients that aren't useful. She peered up at the top shelf, unable to see what was in it. She grabbed a chair and brought it over to the cabinet. She stood up on it, almost falling off but held onto the frame of the cabinet.

She looked inside and it was pretty empty except for a box on it's side. She almost didn't bother looking at it but didn't want to leave it there without at least reading what it was. She grabbed it and looked at the front. "Well I'll be damned," she smiled. It was a box of instant pancake mix. All she needed was water and a fire.

She placed the box on the counter and thought for a moment. She looked at the stove. It was an electric stove and used oil to flame up, but during emergencies you didn't need your electricity on in order for the stove to work; just oil and a fire source, which might be the problem. She began to look in all the drawers for a lighter or matches. She dug through a junk drawer, finding nothing. "Dammit," she said. She then remembered that she had a lighter hidden in her backpack. She went and grabbed her bag and opened it up. There was a small secret pocket inside and she put a lighter in it. There was barely any fluid left in it, but she still wanted to try.

She walked back to the kitchen, grabbing a bowl and utensils to mix. She used the water that Rick found and added some cinnamon. She made sure to spare some water. She walked over to the stove, "come on, baby," she said as she clicked the knob and got a flame on her lighter. Luckily, the flame took and the stove flared up. She carefully lowered the flame in excitement and grabbed a pan that was lying on the ground, wiping it off and placing it over the flame.

She found a spatula amongst other cooking utensils and a plate to put the finished pancakes on. She poured batter onto the heated pan and allowed the edges to bubble before flipping it over to do the same on the opposite side. Before she knew it, both Rick and Carl were awake and following the smell of cinnamon in the air.

The two entered the kitchen with confusion, wondering if this were real or if it were just a dream.

"I'm sure it's been a while since you've had pancakes. I know it's been too long for me," Harley smiled as she flipped the last pancake on the pan. "I found this box high up in one of the cabinets. The one thing no one took, so I hope you're both hungry because as much as I'd enjoy stuffing these all into my stomach, I have a heart and want to share."

She turned the stove off and placed the last pancake atop a stack of them, picking the plate up and holding it out to the two, "this is the apocalypse, who needs plates or eating utensils?" she grabbed one and took a bite, nearly crying because of how deprived her taste buds have been since this all started.

Carl grabbed one and joined her, soon following, Rick. They left not a crumb on the plate.

"That was so good," Carl said with a smile as they walked into the living room.

"I miss food," Harley frowned and then laughed. Even Rick had a small smile on his face, "thank you."

There was a knock on the door, causing them all to perk up and prepare for the worst. Rick inched closer to the door with Harley and Carl close behind. He looked out of the small hole in the door.

Rick turned with a grin on his face, laughing and falling over onto the couch, "what?" Carl whispered. He looked up, grin big, "it's for you." Carl's face looked confused as he walked over to the hole to get a look for himself. When he looked, he shook his head with a smile matching his father's. He ran out of the other door, leaving Harley feeling awkward by Rick, being the only one who wasn't in on this.

Waiting shortly, Carl entered the house again, a woman behind him. Harley looked, examining her. She had dark skin, with big, braided hair and wore a sleeveless top with tight pants. What intrigued Harley most was the Katana on her back.

She came in and Rick greeted her with a hug. Towards her he was warm and friendly, unlike what she has seen these past couple of days. The woman looked towards Harley, and she stuck her hand out, "Harley." The woman looked to Carl and Rick, Carl speaking up, "she's good."

She reached her hand out to meet hers, shaking slightly, "Michonne." Harley let out a small smile, already feeling the tense vibe in the air.

"Why don't you get settled?" Rick spoke to Michonne. She nodded in agreement and gave herself a tour of the house. Carl went his ways, sitting at the table in the dining room, leaving Rick and Harley alone again.

"My leg is healed enough, I'm gonna hit the road," Harley said, breaking the silence. Rick looked at her like she had ten heads, "you can still barely walk."

"I can walk good enough to get to where I need to go. I told you I would leave as soon as I'm healed. I tend to keep my word, Rick. I'm gonna say goodbye to Carl," she looked into the dining room where him and Michonne were smiling and talking.

"You can't," Rick said, "I may not have wanted you here in the beginning, but Carl did and I haven't seen him laugh or smile in," he shook his head, "I don't even know how long."

"He won't miss me, Rick. I haven't even known him for a week." She has grown to like the kid and found it hurt her to think that she would probably never see him again if she left. What she said was more for herself than anyone else, trying to deny that she has gotten attached to something after all she's been through.

"You don't really believe that," Rick said. She furrowed her eyebrows and looked at him, "how do you know what I think?" a small attitude growing in her voice.

"I don't, I'm just guessing by the way you're looking."

"What are you, some kind of lie detecting genius?" she spoke sarcastically.

"No, but I've had my share of figuring people out."

Harley sighed, looking back in the dining room, noticing Carl wasn't there anymore. "Maybe I will stay for a few more days, until I can walk better." Rick let out a breathy laugh, leaving her to go into the kitchen.

She walked back into the room she's been sleeping in. She sat on the bed and wondered what it was going to be like from here on out.

Ahh! I'm sorry I took so long to get a new chapter out. I haven't been home in about two weeks. Sleeping over my boyfriend's house and working. I was doing a bunch of other things when I actually did stop home. How about last week's episode of The Walking Dead though? What did you all think of it?

Other than that, thank you all for the lovely reviews and for those who followed and favorite'd! I love it! Keep it up (: