Because Herschel had a generator Lucy was able to charge her iPod that she had carried around in her backpack only because it had a picture of her parents, but now she had Green Day and Blink 182 and that was such a good thing.

There were lights at this house and a washing machine, they ate some meals in the dining room, and it was hard to believe it was the end of the world. Herschel was a spiritual man and more than once he had said that the world wasn't over. It was just mother nature's way of righting things.

Lucy was not much for philosophical ideas, it was what it was.

It was food for thought for sure, but existing day to day was a struggle, and it would be worse if they hadn't ended up there. Rick wanted to stay, and now she understood why. A winter on the road with Lori being pregnant would not be good for her or the baby.

She and Marylee sat together on the porch swing and shared the head phones and it was almost like nothing bad had happened. Her sister had made two new friends and occupied her time with them or sometimes watching Carl and Sophia so their moms could get things done around camp.

It was what Lucy had wanted for them and although it had been a long painful road she would not have changed a thing, or maybe just one thing.

"He's an asshole you know…"

Marylee had said after "The Girl at the Rock Show," was over and Lucy nodded, she knew who her sister was talking about.

"And it's his loss."

"Thanks sweetie but I'm fine," She took off the iPod, "Takes a lot more than some dude to beat me down, you know that."

"I just never thought, I mean…" Marylee struggled to find words to what she was trying to say, "I didn't think he would…"

"Why don't you take this and see if Beth has one of those speaker thingies." Lucy handed her the iPod, I have some stuff to do."

This was Lucy's way of avoiding the conversation, Marylee knew that.

"Thanks, I don't want you listening to Jack Johnson and feeling bad anyway."

"How did you know I listen to him when I'm upset," Lucy asked.

"You've always done that for as long as I can remember, and I could hear you singing "Wasting Time," the other day when you were up making coffee, I don't want you to be sad." She looked across the field to Daryl's tent, "I'd rather you were singing something else."

"I'm fine," Lucy replied.

"You know what Dad said about fine?"

"Fucked up, insecure, neurotic and emotional," Lucy laughed, "Maybe just a little bit."

Lucy slung her arm around her sister as they swung.

"One more song?" Lucy asked and Marylee eagerly nodded, they sat out there together for a while listening to Green Day and it was a good day.

/

As soon as Glenn got back from the run to town with Maggie he ran into Lucy who was stacking wood by the firepit. Maggie had already said goodbye to him and beat it into the house like her ass was on fire. He was feeling good and bad about things with Maggie, he really liked her but she acted like she didn't like him much at all.

He considered talking to Lucy about it but didn't know what he could even say. She had gotten fucked over by Daryl and Glenn didn't want to upset her, this was news he would keep to himself for now. Lucy would be happy for him, he knew but it was bad timing.

Lucy was humming to herself one of her favorite songs, "Inside Out." Glenn had some Cheetos for her, so it was as good a time as any to give them to her.

*********I would swallow my pride

I would choke on the rinds, but the lack thereof would leave me empty inside

I would swallow my doubt, turn it inside out

Find nothing but faith in nothing

Want to put my tender

Heart in a blender

Watch it spin round to a beautiful oblivion

Rendezvous, then I'm through with you

I alone am the one you don't know you need

Take heed, feed your ego

Make me blind when your eyes close

Sink when you get close, tie me to the bedpost******

Glenn tried not to sneak up on her because he, unlike Merle knew that was a dumb idea. So he called to her way before he was near her and she turned around, "Hey Glenn how was the town." Lucy said as she walked towards him.

She stopped short and assessed him, there was nothing different and yet, there was. He reached out the bag to her but Lucy wasn't even paying attention to that.

"You got laid!" Was the first thing out of her mouth, in a whisper then she covered it with her hand and giggled.

"W..w What?" Glenn stammered but it was no use, she knew him too well and it was written all over his face anyway.

"Glenn!" Her eyes bugged out, "It's all over your face, you're beat red! Hahahahaha it's worse than when you drink!" She threw her arms around him, "I'm so happy for you!"

"She said it was just a one time thing…"

"Nah, you're a catch surely she sees that?" Lucy led him over to the steps and they sat down, "Spill your guts right now. Do you like her? She's cute."

"I like her a lot."

"Alright, do me a favor, don't play games and don't play hard to get. If you like her let her know."

"What do you want me to do, pass her a note in homeroom?" He laughed, Lucy laughed too and bumped her shoulder against his.

"Do whatever you have to to get the girl. Alright."

"I'm going to."

Lucy grabbed his hand, "I am so happy for you!"

They sat and giggled on the porch for another few minutes, and it was almost as if they were two high school kids swapping stories and giving each other advice. Glenn and Lucy had a true friendship, he was a good thing in her life and she always encouraged him like she did sitting out there with their heads together. He did the same for her, he was a constant in her life now, the end of the world had brought many good things to her, and gave her time with her sister she wouldn't have had otherwise.

/

Daryl and Merle were down at the end of the driveway and from there he could see the two of them up on the porch. The sun was shining just right and her hair was falling all around her shoulders like a waterfall. He missed her. He missed her so goddamn much.

"Your girl kicked my ass…" Merle stated as he and Daryl unloaded some gasoline cans from the cars for Herschel's generator. Daryl at first didn't hear him because his head was down by the trunk, he couldn't look at her any more sitting there with Glenn. Then Merle was yapping so he stood up then.

"What?"

"It was my fault, she didn't see me and I touched her shoulder…"

"Who?"

"Lucy, she roundhouse kicked me right in the face, she was wired up but good." Merle laughed, "I didn't even see it coming."

"Stop calling her my girl, that's over…"

"Yeah because you're a dumbass," Merle rubbed his chin where a bruise was forming, "If I was you I'd want her on my side is all I'm saying."

Daryl grinned slightly, he couldn't help it, she kicked Merle in the face, it was funny as hell. He missed her, he missed their banter and even the fighting, now it was just nothing. She had dropped out of his life as if she had never been there. But she had been there for a short time and she had changed him profoundly.

They were in the same area and yet they never spoke, at least before they sniped at each other. Now it was just nothing. But he knew she had been there and she had left a gaping hole now that he could not get rid of.

He and Merle went about the work of filling the generator with the gas and putting the empties back in the trunk of the car.

"You're still fucked up from it though, whatever it was," Merle stated, "She's got a hold of you now."

"Not happening," Was all Daryl would say on the matter.

"If you ask me you're the one who needs the kick in the face…" Merle laughed and then he saw Marylee coming up the path with a scowl on her face a mile wide.

"Daryl?" She approached with her hands on her hips, "A word."

"Oh shit brother," Merle laughed and elbowed him as they both leaned on the car while hurricane Marylee blew into their area.

"How long is this going to go on?"

"What?" Daryl snapped as he lit a cigarette.

"When are you going to put away your ego and make up with my sister?"

"Never," Merle snarked from behind him, "Cause he's a dumb ass."

"Shut the fuck up Merle!" Daryl snapped, then turned to face her, "Marylee it's complicated…"

"What, like on Facebook "It's complicated?" She asked, "Look I don't know what happened but…"

Then they both heard Lucy's voice from down on the porch where she had been sitting with Glenn, "MARYLEE!"

"Oh fuck, look at what you did." Merle laughed at Marylee as Lucy approached them. Glenn stayed on the porch, he wanted no part of this.

"Thought you were going to hang out with Beth and Amy?" Lucy asked, trying to catch her breath from the light jog she had just done to get to where they were.

"I'm on my way now," She answered, as she took out the ear buds and put them in her ears, "Bye now."

The three of them stood there in awkward silence until Merle finally spoke up, "Think I hear Andrea looking for me…"

"Chicken Shit," Daryl murmured.

Lucy smiled at that and Merle said his goodbyes, then he was gone back down the path that led back to where they were all camping. Neither of them spoke for a while, but Lucy wasn't going to back down.

"We should talk," Daryl grumbled.

"So talk," Was all she would give him. Lucy was not about to make this easy for him, he had hurt her feelings and been unnecessarily mean to her for no reason. Now he wanted to talk, three weeks later? The audacity of him!

"I don't know where to start." He finally said after what seemed like hours to both of them.

"Then I will," She answered, "This is stupid, you don't have to be so far away from everyone. It's not good for the group to be separated like this; I can handle it."

"Maybe It's me that can't handle it…"

Well, that had never occurred to her. Lucy had assumed he just didn't want anything to do with her and had isolated himself to get away from her. That was true enough, but not because he hated her.