Author's note: Hey people, sorry for the delay in updating. I'm working hard on the next chapters but I can't promise I'll be updating every day I'm afraid.

Scarlet Nyx - Thanx for the review! I hope you get better soon! And that you can convince the hospital to get wifi ;). I'm glad you're still reading, at least I know I'm doing something good then haha.

I really hope you like this chapter! Please review and let me know :)

Chapter 36

Daryl's POV

"They're not here yet." Andrea's eyebrows furrowed as she said it, worry evident in her voice.

I felt like rolling my eyes at the obvious statement, but stopped myself. I wasn't exactly the kind of person to do those kind of things, at least not normally. Again, Kaitlinn could be an exception in that area.

Goddamnit, I thought, hating myself for thinking of Kaitlinn once again. She'd been creeping into my thoughts at the strangest of moments, getting close to driving me crazy to be honest.

I shook my head and focused on the view in front of me instead. It was getting closer to evening, the sun coloring the sky a dark orange. The concrete of the interstate was as orange as the sky, making it look ominous. There was something going to happen. That 'something' would not be that suddenly the rest of the group would appear, it was quite the opposite.

Rick wasn't here with his people and so I thought it safe to say they wouldn't be coming anymore either.

Shane had a frown on his face as he scanned the cars and the RV, the realization making his mouth set in a tight line. He was worried, I could see, thinking the same thing I was. The only difference between us was that he couldn't make himself believe it to be true, whereas I already had.

"Maybe they got caught up in some things." Lisbeth offered, trying to get the frown off of our faces like a concerned mother would. She and her husband had driven us here in their truck, as a thank you for bringing Robert home. He hadn't been all too keen on it himself, still not fully trusting us I guessed. I couldn't blame him for that though, they were with two and we were with 8. If I would've been him, I'd outright refused to bring us, even just to protect my wife.

Wife!

I almost laughed at the thought, but I was stopped by Kaitlinn's face entering my mind. Now that went too fucking far.

I shook my head and paid attention to the couple again instead, remembering how Lisbeth had tried to convince her husband to bring us and didn't stop before he would. She really was like a worried mother, wanting to see us all of safely. For what I was seeing now though, the empty highway, that might not be working out all too well.

I noticed Kaitlinn shooting the woman a sad look in response to her offer, shaking her head slowly and pulling the kids closer to her in an attempt to protect them from something that wasn't even there.

Ever since the kids had been reunited she didn't let them out of her sight, which I couldn't hold against her. She'd lost two of them already and I guessed she didn't want to go through that again, nor did I want her to. I'd caught myself shooting glances at the kids too, to make sure they were safe, just so that I'd never see her as vulnerable as I'd seen her yesterday again.

The fact I didn't want that sounded stupid in my ears, considering I should be angry at her. Actually, I was angry. And still I couldn't help myself.

I sighed, focusing back on the road and seeing my truck where I'd left it, the motorcycle still in the back. I walked up to it absentmindedly, rather finding something to keep me busy than letting my mind wander. I'd have some time to spend until Shane and the others would realize waiting was futile. Maybe Kaitlinn-

No, don't think about her.

Instead I thought about what could've happened to the rest of the group, led by Rick. Rick was smart, he knew how to stay out of trouble. If he wasn't here, something bad must've happened, and I wondered what it was.

I traced the paint of my truck, it felt good to see something familiar. Not that I was that attached to my car, but I'd had it for some time already and it reminded me of better times. As I walked past the windshield I noticed a piece of paper sticking out from under the windshield wipers. I picked it up with a frown, like I used to do when I knew it was a pamphlet for something I didn't need. I never liked the idea of others touching my car.

This wasn't a pamphlet though, it was a letter. I guessed it had been written by Rick, but I didn't know his handwriting that well so I couldn't be sure. I read it quickly, a frown evident on my face that I couldn't help. They'd been planning to leave. Even if this letter had been written so that we would wait, if we hadn't been here they would've left, at least that's what it said. However, they had come looking for us. Why?

"We couldn't stay through the night and so we decided it would be best to leave that behind for you." Shane's voice suddenly sounded. I hadn't noticed him coming up to me and so I narrowed my eyes at him as I looked up. I'd rather just have him leave me alone, but maybe he could give me the answer I was looking for. He looked away from me, "I hadn't thought you to still be alive to be honest." He looked ashamed as he said it, but that didn't make it any better. Not that I cared about what he thought about me, even if he thought I was dead, but his thoughts could've gotten us stuck here and that was something that pissed me off.

"What made you change your mind?" I asked a bit skeptically and with a certain menacing tone in my voice.

He shifted his weight and then looked back at Kaitlinn over his shoulder. "Something Lori said," He muttered as he turned back around. "About how I owed it to Kate."

So that was the whole reason they stayed? Shane felt guilty towards Kate and so he decided that we were worth looking for? What did the rest of the group think? Did they even care about leaving us behind or not? Like they left my brother?

I snorted, "Good thing to know you're on our side." I said with a hostile edge, the same I'd used for Kaitlinn that morning. Now though I didn't feel hurt or betrayed, which was how I'd felt before. No, now I just felt pissed.

Shane seemed to want to protest but as I crumpled the paper into a ball and threw it over my shoulder, giving him the evil eye, he seemed to understand it was better to leave me be. I wished he'd understand that he would do better leaving me alone all the time, but that went too far I guess.

I looked at the piece of paper, now on the concrete, and thought of how I used to always do that with those stupid pamphlets as well. I remembered one time, when a young woman saw me throw it on the ground, being asked if I didn't care about the environment. I'd stared at the woman with slight amusement and when I saw her getting uncomfortable I just shrugged, getting in my car and driving off without even glancing at her a second time.

If you ask me, the environment was fucked up even before all this happened. There's no saving a world that's slowly dying. Me throwing a piece of paper on the ground wasn't going to speed up that process. Not that there was a process to speed up anymore, walkers got that done at least.

It must've been after an hour or so. I wasn't sure how long we had waited exactly, but it was damn near long enough. I'd known however that if I was the one to say something about it, the only thing I would achieve is getting glared at. That's the reason I'd been waiting for someone else to bring it up, not realizing how long that would take. Now though, everyone's attention was directed at Andrea, who'd asked the main question running through my, and everyone else's, mind.

"How long are we gonna wait?"

There had been a silence before, lingering over us and giving off the same ominous feeling as the orange light from the sun had. As Andrea spoke and broke that silence the faces turned into looks of surprise.

Shane, sitting on top of a car that had been abandoned, looked at her sideways. He had his knees spread and his elbows resting on them. It was obvious he didn't know how to answer the question, as he remained silent and rubbed his temple in an attempt to think I guessed.

"We can't wait forever." Dale continued instead of Andrea. He came out of the RV, where he'd been rummaging through for something to do while we had been waiting. His face looked dark, regretting and at the same time determined. "We have to get out of here before it gets dark."

Shane closed his eyes as Dale gestured at the sun, which was getting closer to disappearing with every second. He sighed but still didn't answer, making me want to curse Rick for giving him the title 'leader', because, even though I didn't like it, that was what he was. While he had that title, he would be the one deciding what happened, except of course if all of us decide otherwise. Guess democracy isn't that bad.

"We should be plannin' what we're gonna do if they don't show up." I said when I noticed Shane's hesitant posture. I was sitting in the back of my truck, having been inspecting my crossbow for some time now. I hadn't used it since it fell to the floor and I was trying to see if there was anything wrong with it. I didn't want to have to use it and then find out it wasn't working anymore.

"They're gonna show up!" Shane snapped, raising his head and glaring at me with full force. "We just have to be patient." He continued a bit calmer. He didn't sound convincing though, and he seemed to notice that as well.

"Shane," Kaitlinn said softly, trying to get his attention. She had been sitting with the kids on top of another car, telling them a story I had guessed. Her focus had shifted from them to Shane the moment we started talking about what to do, a slight frown on her face since we started.

When Shane looked up at her reluctantly she sighed. "You can't just assume they're gonna show up." She said. "That would be a mistake and you know it." Shane's jaw set and he closed his eyes for a moment. "Daryl's right," Kaitlinn continued. "We should be planning ahead, in case they don't show up."

To say that she surprised me by saying I was right, was an understatement. It shouldn't have however. If there was someone who could separate her personal problems from her survival instincts, it was Kaitlinn and she knew, as well as everyone else, something had to be done right now.

"Uhmm…" Lisbeth started, asking for our attention. Shane and Kaitlinn stared each other down a few seconds, before turning to Lisbeth. She smiled warmly, "If you need a place to stay for a few nights, we wouldn't mind to have you around the house." She offered.

Her husband looked less than willing to take us in, but she didn't back away. She obviously wanted to take care of us, she'd even waited for us when Shane had told them they could leave if they wanted to. I guess she understood that the chance that the group would return was slim, and she wanted to be able to help us if they didn't come, like she was now doing.

"That's too much to ask for Lisbeth," Andrea protested, Kaitlinn nodding in agreement. "It really is."

"No it isn't." Lisbeth quickly said. "We have several spare rooms, and it would be good to have some company around the house other than just my grumpy husband." She said it with a joking edge, but she really did seem to not mind our company. "Plus," she continued. "I could use the help around the house, if you wouldn't mind helping me."

Andrea and Kaitlinn shared an uncertain glance, while Dale took a step forward.

"Are you sure?" he asked carefully, not wanting to pressurize her.

Lisbeth smiled brightly, "I am." She answered. "You can make plans at our place."

I watched the both of them, seeing that her husband didn't really like the idea of strangers hanging around the house all that much, but he kept his mouth shut and so the decision was soon made. Shane didn't openly agree or disagree, but he knew that he couldn't say no. Even if he felt obliged to wait for the people he cared for, he couldn't leave 'his' group behind to go on alone.

I pushed myself out of the back of my truck and headed over to the passenger door. I knew I'd put a handgun in the glove compartment and decided now was the time to take it with me. The chances I would use it were small, but I'd have something to use in case my crossbow really didn't work. I hadn't been able to find any faults, I just didn't want to take any chances.

As I opened the glove compartment I saw Kaitlinn's picture in it, on top of the hand gun. I had completely forgotten about that and for a moment I hesitated. Should I take it with me? But why would I? We would be coming back here right? Or would we? I wasn't so sure, and so I shoved it in my pocket as a precaution. I didn't know why, but I knew I didn't want to lose it.

Truth was I wanted to ask if I could take my truck, or my motorcycle, with me as well. Just in case we needed a vehicle to get away in. Asking that wasn't an option though, as everyone believed we'd come back here someday soon, to continue our journey. I hoped I was wrong to doubt, but I could live without those vehicles if necessary. My truck would make too much noise anyway, and my motorcycle even more.

Robert's truck's engine had been adjusted in such a way that it made a lot less noise. He'd told me that, rather proudly, when I said that taking the truck wasn't smart because of the walkers it would attract. I had to admit that the truck had surprised me, being as silent as it was, but not in a bad way.

I followed the rest towards Robert's truck, getting into the back with them. Lisbeth and Robert were in the front, discussing about us I guessed as I saw Robert's uncertain and suspicious expression.

I sat next to Andrea and T-dog, across from Shane and Kaitlinn who were sitting next to each other. Shane had a deep frown on his face, confliction evident in his eyes. I respected the loyalty he felt towards Rick, but it didn't make me like him more, or make me feel sorry for him. Especially not considering the conflict suddenly disappeared when Kaitlinn whispered something in his ear. They locked eyes for longer than I thought necessary and I quickly looked away from them, clenching my fists and jaw to stop from doing anything stupid.

I shouldn't be jealous of her, I just shouldn't. I'd established she didn't want me in that way, so why did I still want her? And why, if she really didn't 'like' me, had I caught her glancing at me several times in the past hour? And why did she quickly look away whenever I did?

Fuck she was confusing me again.

I sighed, taking in my surroundings carefully and making sure there weren't any walkers around that could attack us. That was able to distract me for a second, but soon my thoughts started wondering again. This time I directed my thoughts at one specific thing, so Kaitlinn wouldn't be part of it anymore. The only question that I could think of right now was that 'thing'.

What the hell are we going to do now?

Kaitlinn's POV

"Are they sleeping?" A soft voice to my left asked, startling me. I'd been watching the kids for some time now and hadn't even noticed that she had entered the room. I looked up at Lisbeth and smiled, nodding in answer to her question as my heart started calming down again. That scared me a lot more than it should've.

"I bet they were exhausted." She continued, taking a step closer. I nodded again, looking back at Kirra, Zayn and Nico, huddled together in a real bed. Maybe that was part of the reason they'd fallen asleep so easily, seeing a real bed after such a long time makes you want to sleep instantly. Adding the stress of missing each other, and the relief of finding each other, it would've surprised me if they hadn't been exhausted.

"Yeah," I whispered softly, watching the kids' even breaths as they lay there with their eyes closed.

"You must've missed them." She said softly, "A mother can never do long without her children."

I chuckled softly and shook my head, "I'm not their mother Lisbeth, I'm just taking care of them until we find their mother."

She nodded thoughtfully, as if her suspicions had been proven right. "I have to admit," She started with a chuckle, "I thought you were a little young for three kids."

That made me smile at her, shaking my head slightly in amazement. We stayed silent for a minute, just watching the three children. All kinds of thoughts were now running through my mind, about Sarah, the rest of the group and Jacksonville. I sure hoped everything would work out, but of course you could never be too sure about these things.

I sighed, looking up at Lisbeth and forcing a smile. "We'd better get downstairs again, before they start worrying." I joked. She laughed, leading the way out of the room. I followed her, looking back once more at the smiles on the kids' sleeping faces, hoping their dreams were a lot better than real life was.

As I reached the hallway my attention was pulled towards the wall immediately. It was infested with pictures, just like the table in front of the wall was. Actually, now that I thought about it, the whole house seemed to be filled with photographs. I remember that there had been at least a dozen downstairs, several with the couple in their younger years, but also a few of a young man. The same young man that was in the picture right in front of me now, smiling proudly into the camera.

"Is this your son?" I asked Lisbeth, taking one of the pictures in my hand and inspecting the young man's face. He was handsome, the same green eyes as Lisbeth and a smile that looked a lot like Robert's. I couldn't help but smile at the happy looking guy, glancing up at Lisbeth while awaiting an answer. When I caught her sad smile I bit the inside of my lip, furrowing my brows at my question. Maybe I should've thought before suddenly asking things about family members. I cursed myself, and was about to apologize when the sad smile made place for one that showed pride and love.

"Yes it is." She said. "His name was Robert Junior."

I couldn't help but be curious, and so the next question was out of my mouth before I could stop it. Cursed curiosity.

"What happened to him?" I cringed at the question, "If you don't mind me asking." I quickly added. Obviously he was dead, if not for the sad look that had been in her eyes before, it would've been obvious by the amount of pictures of him around this place. You never have much pictures of those who are still alive, at least I never did. Then again, I didn't even have a picture of my family anymore.

She shook her head, "Of course I don't mind. I love talking about my boy."

I nodded, waiting patiently for her to start. She seemed to be thinking about how she should begin, but soon she was telling the story with such a proud and caring voice that I wished I could've met her son before he died.

"He always wanted to join the army," She started with a distant look in her eyes, "ever since he was 6, which was when he got his first miniature soldiers." She laughed at the memory.

"Such a sweet kid he was, always helping everyone out and never feeling like he'd done enough. When he was finally old enough to join the army, I can't start describing how happy he was. He came home grinning, nearly jumping up and down in excitement, when he passed his physical."

She fell silent a moment, starting to fidget with her hands. "He got deployed a few months after joining." She said. The silence that followed was heavy and she blinked away several tears that started to form. "And he never came back." She whispered as she reached up to the heart shaped necklace around her neck and a tear finally escaped her eye. I instantly felt bad for her and reached out to comfort her.

"I'm sorry for your loss," I whispered, not knowing what else to say. There wasn't much to say really.

The woman smiled gratefully, "At least he died while doing something he loved," She said. "Which can't be said a lot."

She was right. Dying while doing something you love only happened to those who dared to do the things they wanted, no matter the dangers. It would have been rare in the past, now, when it happened, it could be called exceptional. There weren't much people who would 'love' running from, or fighting, zombies. At least not that I know of.

"Come on," Lisbeth suddenly said, her smile back in place again. "Let's go down."

She turned around and walked down the stairs, her saddened expression already miles away. I looked at the picture of the young man again and smiled. At least he hadn't had to die in a world like this, that at least was something positive wasn't it?

I tried to convince myself of that as I headed down the stairs as well, following after Lisbeth and feeling a certain respect towards her for having lived through all this and still being able to smile so genuinely.

"Anyone in for some tea?" I heard her ask as I reached the floor. I saw her clapping her hands together in a motherly fashion as she looked around the group.

"I'd love some honey." Robert said with a grateful smile, looking up from something that lay spread out on the coffee table in front of him. Shane and T-Dog, who were sitting across from him, looked up as well, nodding once before returning to discussing what they'd been discussing before.

Andrea nodded next, a warm smile on her face. Daryl was the only one who didn't acknowledge the question. He'd been quiet ever since we returned, which wasn't that weird for him, but I still couldn't say I liked it.

After we had returned everyone had been led straight to the living room. Not a second went by without Shane and T-Dog trying to come up with ideas of what we could do. Dale had joined them, as did Robert. Andrea and I'd stayed on the background a bit, like Lisbeth and the kids. Daryl had been sitting in such a way that he could hear what was being said, but he didn't have to openly participate. He was thinking of a solution himself, I could see.

We hadn't come very far however, none of us had. The only thing we had decided was that tonight we would stay here, and after that we would see. Shane, of course, didn't like the plan much, but considering he had no ideas either we had no choice.

I'd gone upstairs before, bringing the kids to bed. It was late, almost midnight, and so it was definitely bed time for them. Lisbeth noticed them yawning and told them they could get some sleep in one of the rooms on the second floor if they wanted to. They'd looked relieved at the offer and I took them up, to the first room on the right which Lisbeth had pointed out.

The room had looked like a boy's room, now I knew who it had belonged to. There were still a few posters on the walls, from the army, and little plastic soldiers and cars on the shelves. The kids didn't mind all the stuff though, actually I thought Nico and Zayn actually liked it. They stared at the toys and I had to stop them from touching anything, instructing them to get into bed instead. I tucked them in quickly and told them a short story, during which they all fell asleep.

I'd stayed up there for at least half an hour, hoping that when I got down again the plan would be settled, guess that wasn't the case, considering the frowns that were evident on their faces.

I followed Lisbeth into the kitchen instead of watching the rest, deciding I might as well help her make some tea.

"Thank you for letting them sleep in there." I said to her with a smile.

She looked up at me and smiled back, "It's nothing, dear." She said, taking out the tea cups and handing them to me. I nodded, taking them from her and waiting for her to finish so that we could bring everything to the living room. She grinned at me when she was finished with the tea, trying to get me to smile genuinely I guessed.

"Now come on and let's sit down together, we have some planning to do. And even though men say we can't plan, I still remember planning my wedding." She winked as she brought the tea pot with her to the living room, me following behind her with a soft chuckle leaving my lips at her statement.

Robert was sitting in a leather chair, across from the couch where Shane, T-dog and Andrea were on, just like before. Daryl sat on a wooden chair, half listening to what Shane was saying I guessed. Andrea wasn't as interested and looked relieved when I arrived, probably glad she'd have someone to talk to.

I set the tea cups down on the coffee table and took the wooden chair I'd been sitting on earlier, putting it next to the couch. I faced the others, who were hovering over the coffee table with a piece of paper in front of them, as Lisbeth sat down next to her husband in another leather chair. She put the tea pot on the side of the table that wasn't occupied and started pouring everyone a cup.

"So is there a plan yet?" She asked in a soft and friendly tone when she'd handed everyone a cup of tea.

Shane glanced up, looking rather annoyed at the sudden intrusion of their conversation. I glared at him, not liking his look, but he didn't notice. Lisbeth also didn't notice, as her husband was shaking his head in regret, his eyes narrowed at the paper in front of them.

"No, there isn't." He said with the same note of regret. I wondered if the regret was because he hated not being able to help us, or rather that he hated that we would be staying here until we did have a plan. I didn't ask though, and Lisbeth didn't seem to be bothered by the regretful note in his voice.

"Well," Lisbeth said, clapping her hands together once again and looking determined.

"Time to change that."