-Nine-

"My ass is fallin' asleep." Merle decided to inform them as they drove. Lake shifted in her seat to dull the ache in her back and ass.

Daryl drove silently down some back road as they made their way to Florida. After their encounter with Rick, Daryl was adamant on leaving the cabin and trying their luck elsewhere.

"How much longer til I can stick these feet in the sand?" Merle continued from the passenger seat. Daryl huffed but remained silent.

"I won't be able to stomach the smell of your feet Merle." Lake was now extremely sensitive to smells and most foods.

"What'ya talkin' about?" Merle made the motion to take off his boot but Lake grabbed his arm.

"Seriously," She squeezed his flesh tightly. "I will puke on you."

"If you two don't stop fightin' I'ma put ya in the back." Daryl warned. Lake let go of Merle and sat back into her seat.

"I blame you." She threw at Daryl. "You got me pregnant."

"She's gotta point baby brother." Merle agreed.

Daryl looked over at them out of the corner of his eye, "Why don'tya form a 'It's Daryl's fault' fan club." Lake laughed and shot her hand into the air.

"I call president." Merle shoved her with his shoulder when she called dibs first. Daryl just shook his head and leaned against his door. Feeling sorry for her gruff boyfriend, Lake leaned over and gave him a sloppy kiss on the cheek.

"Hmph." She tickled his ribs at the brunt noise. He jumped and shot a glare her way. "I'm tryin' to drive."

Lake sighed and leaned her head against Daryl's shoulder. "Fine." She closed her eyes.

"I'm hungry." Merle complained. It was going to be a long drive.


"Wake up." Lake was nudged awake. Slowly, she sat up to see Daryl looking down at her. When she looked around, she couldn't contain her excitement.

"We're here!" A breeze blew her hair through the open window. She bounced up and down and squeezed Daryl's hand.

"Squeeze away, that arm's dead anyways." He muttered as he rotated the shoulder she slept on. Lake knew he was tired, so she ignored his grumpy mood.

Climbing out of the truck, she turned and smiled when Daryl reclined in his seat and threw an arm over his face. She'd let him sleep, it was better for everyone. As she walked over the wooden walkway, she shielded her eyes against the sun's rays. Waves crashed against the shore and the smell of saltwater created a serene moment that Lake relished in.

When her shoes sank into the sand, she sat on the last step and unlaced her boots. Pushing her toes into the sand, she sighed as the heat soaked into her skin. Ahead, Merle jogged out of the water. When he was close, he shook his body sending water all over her.

She threw up her hands, "Hey!" Her laughs betrayed any anger in her tone. She squinted up at Merle, "Is it cold?".

Merle dropped into the sand near her feet before propping up on an elbow. "Nah, feels great." He looked back towards the truck. "Daryl crash?" Merle stood and held out his hand for Lake when she nodded. "Come on then, guess it'll be my responsibility not ta get ya eaten by sharks."

Lake scoffed, "Sharks are the least of my worries." She took Merle's hand as he pulled her to her feet. It was then that she noticed Merle had taken off his contraption that was usually placed on his stump.

Catching her gaze, Merle shrugged. "Don't wanna rust."

"I'm sorry Merle." His eyes bore into her. "You may be an ass but you didn't deserve to be left on a roof."

Merle turned to the ocean and took a deep breath. "I deserved it." He eyed her over his shoulder. "Well, come on."

Lake followed Merle but she couldn't get his words out of her head. She loved Daryl and she knew the kind of childhood he had to suffer through. It had never occurred to her that Merle suffered the same abuse. He fought his own demons just as everyone else and just because he dealt with the pain differently didn't make him a lost cause.

The waves lapped at her ankles, the foam stinging the small cuts on her skin. Merle pulled off his clinging shirt and tossed it up on the dry sand. "Feel free ta get naked." He grinned before diving in. Lake strained to locate him until Merle's head bobbed up and down in the water. When he was a few yards out he waved his arm for Lake to join him.

She glanced back to where Daryl slept before wading in; ignoring the heavy weight of her clothes as they clung to her body. Diving beneath the water, Lake held her breath and swam against the current.

Surfacing near Merle, she laughed out loud and splashed at the green seaweed that floated around her.

"It's kind of gross." She told Merle who pretended to eat the green goop. Shaking her head, Lake froze when a dark figure trudged down the embankment. Tapping Merle's shoulder, she pointed, "Is that Daryl?" She asked already moving towards shore.

Merle grabbed her and pulled her to a stop, "I'll go." His tone left no room for argument. Lake nodded and watched Merle swim to shore and fight to stay standing as the waves crashed against his back. When he started running, Lake tore through the waves as fast as she could; concerned only with Daryl's safety.

"Daryl!" She screamed as she fell to her knees when a wave hit her. Trying to regain her footing, Lake fell again before finally reaching the sand. Her legs burned and she kicked sand up as she ran. "Merle!" She watched him tackled the figure and stab it in the face with something.

Falling to her knees, Lake fought to gain her breath. Beneath Merle laid a walker, Merle's arm sword sticking out of its forehead.

"What the hell ya screaming about?" Daryl's voice sent tears streaming down Lake's cheeks. Jumping to her feet, she threw herself into his arms.

"I was so…I thought you…" Daryl shh'd her as he wiped her sticky hair from her face.

"Ain't nothing the matter with me." Daryl looked to Merle who stood and wiped the walker's blood from his face. "You okay?" He asked his brother.

"No fuckin' peace." Merle growled. He started towards the water mumbling to himself.

Daryl sat in the sand and pulled Lake down to sit between his legs. Wrapping his arms around her from behind, he set his head on her shoulder. "Got scared did ya?" He whispered.

Lake turned in his arms to face him. "Of course." She turned back around and began scooping sand between her fingers. "You were asleep in the truck...a sitting duck."

Daryl laughed. "I don't sleep heavy. You know that." Lake shrugged as Daryl squeezed her in a hug. They watched Merle swim until Daryl decided they should join him.


Sun drying lounged in the sand, Lake ran her fingertips over the tattoo on Daryl's back. She could tell he got it to cover a particularly bad scar but she said nothing. Daryl's heavy, steady breathing confirmed that he was asleep; on his stomach with his face propped on his folded arms.

"You love'em don'tcha?" Merle's voice sounded vulnerable. Lake turned to see him watching her interaction with his brother.

She nodded before lying down and resting her head on the small of Daryl's back. Clouds slid slowly across a baby blue sky and if Lake closed her eyes, even for just a second - she could almost convince herself that they were in a different world; a world without the undead and complete devastation.

She opened her eyes and her dream disappeared. Despite that Lake knew one thing; she knew they would be alright. Daryl and his brother had become her family and together they'd survive this world. Things would be okay.