AN: Chapter 10 already? Season 2 has started? I'm asking questions like a lunatic? This has a little smut in it, but it's not that bad. This chapter is long, like 8 page worthy. So please Enjoy. I own Nothing!

Chapter 10: Desolation Row

Diana woke up in Daryl's arms inside the truck. He was without a shirt, but that wasn't a surprise to Diana. They did have a night together. Daryl did talk about how he felt wrong about his feelings for her.

"I don't want anyone thinking I'm forcing you to do this. Last thing I need is to get in trouble."

"It's the end of the world. No one will care if we have sex together."

"That all this is to you?" Daryl looked a little upset.

"Of coarse not. It's just everyone seems to be pairing up. And I think it's clear that we are together. So it's inevitable for us to get physical."

This still didn't sit well with Daryl, "I don't know-"

"If it makes you feel any better, you can always tell them I came on to you. I forced you or whatever."

She did come on to him first. Daryl smirked and Diana leaned in to kiss him. It then got heated enough to where they became clothes less as Diana was straddling him. His hands were holding her back as she would ride him up and down feeling him enter and leave her.

Diana put on a shirt over her tank top and some shorts. She put on some flip flops and hopped out of the hot truck. Diana had to check on Violet. Dale asked for her to sleep in the RV last night in hopes she would get Andrea to smile or some reaction. But the six year old didn't have much luck.

"Mommy!" Violet ran up to Diana with her arms up. Diana bent down and picked her up. It's been two weeks since the CDC incident. It's been a couple weeks of decisions, scavenging, preparing to get out of here.

"How's my girl doing? Sleep okay in the RV?" Violet nodded really fast. Daryl walked over to Rick so they could talk about a plan. Diana set down Violet so she can go play with Carl and Sophia.

"What's for breakfast?" she said in a sarcastic way as she reached Carol.

"Well, if we can get a fire started, I was hoping to cook some of these canned beans with some of that weird bacon from the CDC."

"You managed to smuggle some bacon?"

"Yep. Now T-Dog needs to hurry up with gathering that wood."

Diana looked over to see from a distance T-Dog with a crap load of wood in his hands. She thought it best that she should lend a hand out to him.

"Need some help there?" she said once she approached him.

"Hell yeah," T-Dog gave her a little less than half of the wood, "Ready for bacon and beans?"

"Yeah, Carol is actually a good cook. So I know it's gonna taste wonderful."

She smiled as she readjusted her grip, "You got yo'self a looker," T-Dog nodded his head toward Daryl who was staring at Diana. He smirked after he checked her out making her blush into all forms of colors. She tried to hide it, but failed miserably.

"What chu got going on with Mr. Redneck over there?" he teased.

"I'll tell you if you tell me what's up with you and Carol," she fired back.

"Aww we playing that game now?" Diana noticed how close those two were getting.

Diana looked back over at Daryl who would glance at her from time to time. She didn't know what drew her to him. Maybe it was the way he looked out for her or that she felt safe when he was near. Almost as if nothing terrible would happen to her as long as he was right there. Even when Diana wasn't looking he still kept a close eye on her wherever she went.

She wants to go play with the kids, he's on it. She wants to go to the RV, he made sure she was there. She had to take a piss, he was behind a tree making sure she gets back safely, he wouldn't look at her pee, that's just gross. Regardless, he knew where she was at all times of the day and she didn't mind it.

Violet on the other hand was always watched by both of them. It wasn't that hard to keep track of her when she was almost ten yards away if not less. It was the most odd family, the three of them. You got Daryl, who's the rough redneck always keeping everyone in check. Diana the young mother that was sweet but could be just as sour to any threat. Then Violet that just brings life to anything she touches.

They weren't blood at all, but they didn't need it to love each other. Diana lit the fire wood so Carol could get started on breakfast. Everyone was getting hungry real fast.

"Is it almost ready? I'm starving," Carl said as he sat next to Diana. She turned and ruffled his hair, "Don't start eating brains, just yet. She's almost done."

Carl tried to fix his hair again, "You should be fine cause you have no brains."

Diana looked at him, "Oh is that what you think?" She started to tickle his sides causing him to giggle, "Stop!"

"I don't know how. I have no brains remember?" Diana continued, "Okay you do! You do!" Diana stopped and pulled him into a side hug. Carol gave the two there breakfast and ate. Everyone was just about done with theirs when Rick walked up to the center of everyone with his hands on his hips, "Can I get everyone's attention for a moment?"

Everyone in the camp looked over to Rick to see what he had to say.

"I know things have been hard on everyone lately, but we need to pull ourselves together. We will be heading out to go to Fort Benning today. So everyone needs to get ready to go. We should leave as soon as we can."

Everyone just nodded and got ready to go. Daryl's truck wouldn't start up. Diana was standing on the outside of his door.

"What's wrong?"

"Damn thing won't start! I'm outta gas."

She frowned, "Looks like we're bunking in the RV then."

"Nah, you and Violet got ahead, I'll ride Merle's bike."

She looked over at the tarp that was on the truck bed. Daryl got out and pulled it back to show the black motorcycle.

"Have fun."

Diana looked out from the RV at Daryl riding his bike. He was off in his own world driving down the Atlanta highway. She just smirked at him from her seat at the table by the window. Violet was sitting across from her coloring. Diana dressed her up in her purple dress before they left. Andrea was sitting next to her observing what she was making, Dale driving, Glenn looking at a map for directions, T-Dog was in the back of the RV, and Shane was just sitting on the counter on the "kitchen".

Diana glanced over in his direction when she felt his stares, "There a problem?" Shane just shook his head, "Nope, no problem."

"Sorry if this goes against "the law", but there's not a lot of room for you to talk," Diana winced her eyes at him and turned her head to Violet who picked up a black crayon.

"What is she drawing?" she asked Andrea. Andrea tilted her head, "I think it's a-," Violet covered up the paper, "Don't tell her!"

"I think it's a surprise," Andrea assured Diana. Violet set down the crayon down as she finished her final touches. She held it up to show, "Look! I drew Daddy!"

Diana took the picture and saw the blue stick figured Daryl riding the all black motorcycle. There was a lot of green to show grass and purple for… the road? She gave it back to Violet with a smile, "It looks really nice."

Violet grinned and started another drawing. Diana got up and went to get her bag that had the book of all Violet's drawings. There was so much in this album now. Diana flipped through to look at some of the ones that had Daryl in it. They were of him either with a squirrel or he was with Diana and Violet.

Diana suddenly felt they were no longer moving. She closed the book and got up to see what was happening. Everyone was looking out the window to see an entire highway blocked off by so many cars. Cars that were abandoned during the outbreak. Diana remembered how crowded the streets were.

"Any way we can go around it?" she asked.

"No, everything is backed up for miles," Dale answered.

"Maybe we should just go back," Glenn looked at the map.

"We can't spare the fuel."

While Dale tried to pull in to the small spaces, Violet gently yanked on Diana's shirt.

"Yeah?"

"What's wrong?" Diana frowned, "We're kinda stuck right now but everything will be fine." She looked back out the window to look at dead road. There were memories on this place. Bad ones. Diana wouldn't be surprised if it was haunted.

Suddenly, under the RV's hood smoke spewed out with a bursting hiss. Everyone pulled over and got out of their vehicles.

"I said it! Didn't I say it a thousand times?" Dale complained, "Dead in the water."

"Problem Dale?" Shane asked. "Did you not see what happened?"

"Well, if it's a small matter of being stuck in the middle of no where with no hope of-," Dale stopped as soon as he saw Daryl grab something in the back of one of the many abandoned cars. Everyone soon realized what a gold mine they landed on, "Okay that was dumb," he said.

"Can't find a radiator hose here," Shane pointed out the obvious

"Bunch of stuff you can find," Daryl drawled. T-Dog walked over to another car, "We can fuel out of these cars for a start."

"Some water."

"Food."

"This place is a graveyard," Lori said. Violet clutched up next to Diana. She looked down rubbed the frightened girl's shoulder. Everyone looked over at Lori. It was silent because, well, it was true.

"I don't know how I feel about this," as if she said nothing important, the group split up and went gather what ever they could use. Diana went back in the RV and got her bow and quiver. She got her knife holster and put it on her side. Violet was piggyback riding on Daryl's back. He didn't mind it at all.

"Gonna look around?" he asked. She nodded, "Yeah I'm gonna stick with Lori and Carol. Might as well look after them just in case."

He set down Violet next to him, "Don't need to worry 'bout ya do I?" he had his finger curled under Diana's chin. She smiled, "No, I'm covered remember?" just as she once did she held up the knife he gave her.

He smirked at her and leaned down to give her a soft kiss on the lips. They departed away and walked over to catch up with Lori, Carol, and the kids. They walked past a lot of cars, some that had dead people in it. Violet was lucky she could barely see over the window.

Diana opened up a car and found a coloring book on the seat. She grabbed it and gave it to Violet to hold, "Now you can color something else."

Violet was smiling as she looked through all the pages. Diana looked back in and saw something on the car floor. It was a woven leather bracelet. She reached down and grabbed it.

"Some forgot their bracelet," she said to Violet, but the girl wasn't listening. Violet was too busy examining her book. Diana put the lost object around her wrist and shut the door. They continued their walk.

Carol was holding a shirt against herself trying to see if it fit, "Looks nice," Diana said when she approached them. Lori looked back to see. Carol started to fold up the shirt, "Ed never let me wear nice things like this."

Diana frowned when she said that, "At least that asshole isn't here now."

Carol grabbed the bag, "We're gonna need clothes," Carl was with Sophia drifting off.

"Carl," Lori pointed to her eyes, "Always within my sight, alright?"

"You too, Sophia," they both nodded. Diana looked over at the moms, "Don't worry, I'm watching them like a hawk."

Lori smiled at her. Watching over Carl was a habit you can't shake to Diana. She walked past to him and ruffled his hair, "You're not leaving my sight. Neither of you," she pointed at Sophia.

It was starting to get hot. Diana set down her quiver and bow so she could put her hair in a pony tail. Carl looked at it, "You're lucky you get to carry around a weapon."

"Lucky or sad? World shouldn't be so dangerous to where it's part of survival to carry a weapon."

Carl picked up the bow and felt the string, "I still say lucky." Rick ran by, "Get down now!" he whispered. Her and Carl started to panic. Diana turned over to see what was wrong and saw the entire road was cover with walkers heading their way.

"Oh shit!" She started to motion to Carl to get under the car. Violet was getting scared, "What's wrong?"

Diana held her finger to Violet, "Shh!" she whispered, "Just get under this car and don't move! I'll be right there."

Diana turned around and looked for Sophia, the girl had her back turned. Diana looked back and saw the walkers getting closer. Adrenaline washed right through her causing her to dart over to Sophia, "Get down!" Diana dropped to her knees and brought Sophia with her.

They were under the car as Diana protected Sophia. Both laying side by side looking out. The twelve year old was clutching on to her arms. Diana looked under one of the car's and Violet was alone.

Her face was scared as she didn't know what to do, "Mommy," was whimpered. Diana put her finger to her mouth again. Violet's eyes were huge as the walkers were passing by.

"Be quiet Violet, just stay there."

Violet let out a tear. Diana had to clutch her own mouth from making any noise. She was hating leaving Violet under there alone. Sophia grabbed tighter onto her. When the walkers were now passing them.

Diana slowly reached down to grab her knife just in case, but felt that it was missing. Her eyes got huge and she was looking around for it. Her knife fell off a couple cars down as she looked to where she placed her other weapons.

"Nice one, moron! You have no weapon with you!"

Finally, it seemed the herd was now gone. Everyone was looking at one another to see if it was safe to get out. Violet looked too Diana shaking. She was started to get out from under the car so she can run back to her "mommy" and never leave her side. Violet was almost all the way out when a hissing groan came from above.

Violet started let out cries. Diana looked over and saw the walker was trying to crawl under.

"No!" She tried to get out but Sophia was holding her in place. For a little girl, she had quite a grip. Diana's breathing increased when it was getting close to Violet.

Violet then backed all the way out and got out from under the car and started to run down the hill off the road as two walkers chased her. Rick then got out from his car and followed after them. Diana broke free of Sophia's grasp and got out. She was running over to the edge where Violet and Rick took off.

"There's two walkers after Violet!" she cupped her hands to her mouth as Lori was holding her there. "Let me go! I'm going after them!"

"No!"

Diana started to cry in fear of not knowing what will happen. Daryl ran beside, "What happened?"

Diana was having a hard time breathing, "Walkers. Are chasing. Violet." Daryl took her in his arms, "Rick followed after her," Lori told him. He nodded and held Diana there as she sobbed.

"We got to go help him," Glenn said and started to walk down with Shane following. Daryl nodded and let go of Diana, "Take her," he said to Lori.

"No! I'm going with you!"

Daryl shook his head, "Stay here in case she comes back. She'll need ya," with that he left to go look for Violet

Diana was pacing back and forth waiting for them to come out. She saw Glenn and Shane come out from the woods only to grow angry when they didn't have Violet with them.

"You gave up!"

"Daryl and Rick on her trail. They wanted us to come back to tell you," Glenn said. Her heart was racing so she just fell on the ground. Shane put his hand on his hips, "While they're doin' that we need to clear the road so we can get out. Once they find her we'll be outta here."

Diana ignored everything he said and looked out at the woods, "You going to be okay here?" he asked her. She didn't say anything, but she gave him a look. It was a mean one for sure. He then just walked off and started to help out with everyone. Glenn place a hand on her shoulder as a sort of comfort. He then got up and left.

Diana stood up after a while and walked over to Dale, "Why aren't we all looking? Wouldn't it be more faster if we did instead of moving cars?"

"We need to clear enough room so I can turn the RV around and head down a bypass Glenn found a few miles back."

Shane walked over with his shot gun, "It'll be a hell of a lot easier than going through this mess."

Diana looked over at him, "Were not going anywhere until I get my Violet back!"

"Hey, that goes with out saying," Lori told her.

"Rick and Daryl are on it. Just a matter of time," Diana might have hated Shane, but what he said made her feel a little better.

"Couldn't be any sooner for me. I'm still freaked out from that herd that passed us by or whatever you call it," Andrea offered water to Diana, but she shook her head and walked back to her spot on the edge. Carol was right next to her, "How you holding up?"

"Not good. I'm still shaking. I just want them to come back already!" Carol frowned, "So do I."

"Everything was going pretty okay for us. I mean besides the CDC."

"I know. I saw how the three of you were together."

"I just…" she stopped and took a breath in, "I just want it to back to that now."

Carol took in Diana for a hug, staying that way for a long while.

It was hitting sunset now.

Diana ran her fingers through her hair and left out a sigh. She then felt a light touch on her back. When Diana looked back to see who it was, Andrea was right there trying to give a soft smile.

Diana wanted to but, she didn't have it in her, "It's getting dark. They're still not back."

"They'll find her." She just nodded at her. Andrea walked back to the RV.

"At least Andrea is smiling now. Even under such circumstances." She squatted still looking down. She then heard rustling on the grass. She shot up to see Rick walking up the hill followed by Daryl, but no Violet.

Diana started breath heavy again on the verge of tears, "You didn't find her?"

"Her trail went cold," Rick said, "We'll pick it up again first light," assured her.

"You can't just leave her out there on her own! To spend the night alone in the woods!"

"Out in the dark is no good," Diana looked over at Daryl, "Jus' be trippin' over ourselves. More people will get lost."

Diana started to cry out, "She's six! My little girl can't be out there on her own! You didn't find anything?"

Rick was trying to calm her down, "I know this is hard, but I'm asking you not to panic. We know she was out there."

Daryl stepped up, "We tracked her for a while."

"We have to make this an organized effort. Daryl knows the woods better than anybody," Rick was telling the whole group. He looked back to Diana who was still having trouble keeping calm, "I've asked him to oversee this."

Diana was breathing steady for the moment. She looked over at Daryl. Diana looked down and saw his clothes were dirty. There were red stains all over him.

"Is that blood?" she whimpered. Daryl looked down at himself realizing this isn't helping her stay calm, "Oh God," she inhaled starting to hyperventilate and fanning herself.

"We took down a walker," Rick said.

"Oh no! A walker," tears were stinging her eyes again. Rick was trying to get in her line of vision as Diana was wobbling back and forth.

"There was no sign it was ever near Violet."

"How could you know that?" Andrea asked. Lori put a hand on Diana's shoulder to hold her place. Rick tilted his head in a skeptical way. He looked over at Daryl who then said more unsettling words.

"We cut the son of a bitch open, made sure," his eyes were on Diana. Her breath held and she suddenly collapsed on the ground. The women gasped at her fall. Diana managed to sit up and Daryl was right by her side kneeling. Everyone was quiet as Diana started to sniffle.

She finally looked up at Rick, "How could you just leave her out there to begin with?" her voice was cold, "How could you just leave her?"

Rick's voice turn devastated, "Those two walkers were on us. I had to draw them off. It was her best chance," he explained.

Shane was behind him, "Sounds like he didn't have a choice, Di."

"How was she suppose to find her way back on her own? She's just a baby. My baby!" Diana said in his face as he got down to get eye level with her, "It was my only option. The only choice I could make."

"I'm sure nobody doubts that," Shane told him.

"My little baby got left in the woods," her voice broke. Daryl wrapped his arm around her and she started to cry on him. Rick, already feeling so guilt ridden, got up. He looked down at Diana, the daughter he never had. The sobbing, young mother one last time before he walked away to go wallow in self-loathing.

AN: Violet in the woods? How will this end? Will she have the same fate as Sophia once did or will it be different with who her "Dad" is? I know the time frame between Season 1 and Season 2 is a couple of days, but I wanted to make it a couple of weeks instead. Thank you for reading. Let me know what you think please.