(Rose)

"Are you okay, Rosie?" I look over to see Miranda standing there looking at me.

"I'm okay. Is there something you need?"

"You weren't at our funeral."

"I just needed time to think." I tell her as I stare down at my nails.

"There's something we should talk about."

"What is it?" I ask as Miranda sits down.

"We have family in Birmingham. We want to be with our people."

"You're leaving?" I ask, staring at my friend with worry.

"The group is deciding on the CDC or Fort Benning. My family decided on Birmingham. We want you and Nix to join us." I frown as I look at Nix. Despite everything that happens he's walking between Tommy and Daryl with a smile on his lips and his new bow and quiver on his back.

"I can't take Nix away from them." I whisper. "Nix never had a brother or a father in his life. I'm not saying I'm going to end up with Daryl, but they are the father and brother that Nix never got. He looks up to them, loves them. If I go with you and take him away from them then he'll never forgive me. Plus..." I look at Miranda. "It's safer in the group. I know you want to do what's right for your family, but it's dangerous out there. At least with the bigger group it'll be safer."

"I respect your decision, but this is mine. I'm sorry, but I just want you to accept my decision." I smile and chuckle slightly.

"At least it'll get you to stop mentioning Daryl." Miranda laughs with me before hugging me.

"I'm going to miss you, Rosie."

"And you too, Miranda."

"If you are staying then you better end up with Daryl."

"Miranda." I laugh.

"If we see each other again I want good memories, so you better make some." I smile as she stands up.

"Have you told the others."

"We're going to wait until the group is ready to leave before telling them. We're still discussing it anyways, but I think we are more than likely leaving." I nod as she heads off.

Whatever good feeling I got from talking to Miranda is gone as I see Shane staring at me. I swallow, but it feels like I swallowed sawdust. I stand up and begin helping people with the chores that need to be done.

It isn't long before the group comes together to discuss the final decision. "I've been, uh-" Shane says as he walks back from doing the sweep with Dale and Rick. "I've been thinking about Rick's plan. Now, look, there are no-There are no guarantees either way. I'll be the first one to admit that. I've known this man a long time. I trust his instinct. I say the most important thing here is we need to stay together." My eyes move to Miranda and her family, but she can't meet my eyes. "So those of you that agree, we leave first thing in the morning. Okay?" I frown as Nix moves to be by my side.

"Come on, let's go to bed early." I whisper to him as everyone else does the same thing.


When morning comes I quickly pack out things. I pack one bag of my clothes, another with our sleeping bags, another bag with a few key supply items, and Nix's backpack with his clothes. Nix and I take the tent down and put it in it's own bag. In the end we have five bags.

"I'm going to see if Tommy needs any help. I'll throw these into the bag of Daryl's truck." He slips his backpack on, grabs my clothes bag, and our supply bag and heads off. I sigh and grab the last two bags and start up the hill.

"You're riding with me. There's plenty of room in the jeep for you and Nix." I stop dead in my tracks as Shane stands in front of me.

"Thank you, but I'm going to ride with Daryl." My hands are shaking so much that it's hard to hold the bags.

"You and Nix are riding with me." Shane repeats himself with a cold voice. He's warning me not to fight him on his words, I can see it in his eyes. I swallow and look at him with fear casting over me like a rain shower.

"She's riding with me, Shane." I nearly jump as I hear Daryl's voice behind me.

"There's not much room in your truck-"

"Tommy and Nix are riding with Dale, he asked them too."

"I doubt-" Daryl gently grabs my arm.

"She's riding with me, Shane, just deal with it." He leads me away from Shane and towards his truck.

"You didn't have to-"

"You're shaking worst than a leaf." He says, cutting me off. He grabs my bags and throws them into the back of the truck.

"Alright, everybody listen up." Shane says as he now stands with Rick. "Those of you with C.B.s, we're gonna be on channel 40. Let's keep the chatter down, okay? Now you got a problem, don't have a C.B., can't get a signal or anything at all, you're gonna hit your horn one time. That'll stop the caravan. Any question?"

"We're, uh..." Morales speaks up. "We're not going." It's dead silent for a moment, causing Miranda to speak up.

"We have family in Birmingham. We want to be with our people." She says.

"You go on your own, you won't have anyone to watch your back." Shane warns them.

"We'll take the chance. I got to do what's best for my family."

"You sure?" Rick asks.

"We talked about it." Morales looks at his family. "We're sure."

"Alright. Shane."

"Yeah." The two open the gun bag and take a gun out.

".357?"

"Yeah." Rick hands over the gun as Shane holds out a box of ammo. "Box is half full."

Daryl scoffs, but Tommy whispers something that stops him. "Thank you all... For everything." I move and hug Miranda.

"Keep safe. I support your decision. Do what's best for your family." I whisper.

"You do the same and remember what I said." I smile and pull away, allowing the others to say goodbye to them.

"Let's go." Shane calls as Daryl and I move to his truck. He holds the door open for me and I hop in as Nix and Tommy head inside the rv.

Daryl hops into the truck and starts it up. We head down the road following the others.