"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday dear Carl. Happy birthday to you," Charlotte sang watching as her nephew took a huge breath in and blew out his candles. Cheering as the last candle went out, she kissed his cheek.

"Aunt Coco," the newly minted twelve year old whined.

Laughing, she ruffled his hair, "I know you're too cool for your Aunt Coco," she teased as the others laughed.

"He's too cool for everyone," Lori chimed in as she began to cut the birthday cake.

"Charlotte, I need to speak with you," Rick announced motioning for her to follow him from the dining room.

Glancing at Lori and Shane, who both shrugged, Charlotte followed her brother from the room. Entering his small office Rick waited for her to enter the room before shutting the door.

"Gosh, Dad, could you be any more cryptic?" she questioned turning to face her older brother. Stumbling back at the bloody face and dead eyes of her brother she cried out, "Rick!"

"You left me there, Charlotte. You left me to die. Now it's your turn."

Shrieking as he lunged at her, Charlotte's eyes shot open as she gasped for air, "Fuck," she hissed upon realizing it was a dream.

"Language."

Looking at her sister in law in the front seat of Shane's jeep Charlotte rolled her eyes, "Yeah because my language is what we should be worrying about," she retorted, glancing at the still sleeping figure of her nephew next to her, "Have we moved at all?" she asked.

Sighing, Lori turned to look at her as she shook her head, "We haven't moved in hours. Shane walked ahead to see if he could find out what was going on."

"Well, as much as I would love to get into Atlanta and hopefully get to my apartment tonight, I don't think it's happening," Charlotte stated, glancing at her watch that read close to midnight.

"Shane's not sure that the city is really gonna be safe," Lori told her.

"I was trying to get a hold of Cammie before I fell asleep, but she hasn't picked up. Have we seen any of those freaks out here on the highway?" Charlotte questioned.

"No. Thank God. I just hate not knowing what's happening, and Carl is so upset. I don't know how to help him," Lori responded.

Feeling her chest tighten at the thought of Rick back in the hospital Charlotte reached for the door handle, "I need some air."

"You have Rick's gun?"

Feeling one of the handguns she'd gotten from Rick's safe tucked into her waistband she nodded before pushing the door open. Shutting the door quietly so as to not wake Carl she debated which way to go. Knowing Shane was in front she decided to walk the highway behind her.

Smiling at a few of the people still awake and standing outside of their cars she weaved her way through the cars stuck on the highway with them. Walking past a pickup truck with a motorcycle in the back she stopped at the smell of nicotine. Following the scent, she rounded the back of the truck to find two men sitting on the tailgate.

Eyeing them she noticed the shotgun laying across the lap of the older one while the younger one had a crossbow sitting next to him. The youngest had a cigarette hanging out of his mouth while it looked like the older one was drinking a beer.

"Can I have one?" she questioned indicating the cigarette the youngest held.

Narrowing his eyes, he opened his mouth to answer her but was cut off by the older man next to him, "I don't know, Darlin', whatcha gonna do for ole Merle?" he slurred.

"Well, assuming ole Merle is you, I guess when you fall flat on your face after passing out, I could finish off that beer for you," she retorted, hearing the one next to him snort.

"You gotta smart mouth," Merle sneered at her.

"Yes, sir I do," she responded with a smile before focusing on the other man, "Well?" she questioned.

"I don't share," was the response she got.

Scoffing, she rolled her eyes, "It's a fucking cigarette not a kidney," she muttered before walking back the way she came. Not ready to go back to the cramped jeep she climbed over the guardrail and leaned back against it as she stared off into the dark woods.

Rubbing her tired eyes, she thought about all that had happened since making it out of the hospital. Shane had gotten them back to Rick's where Lori was waiting with Carl. She'd told them the tv had blasted the announcement that they had set up a refugee camp in Atlanta.

Residents were advised to either head there or take immediate shelter inside.

After attempting to get a hold of Cammie, they decided to take their chances with Atlanta and try to get to Charlotte's apartment inside the city. Shane had immediately begun loading some of the camping gear from the garage into the jeep going into survival mode.

Lori had run off to gather clothes while Carl got pillows and blankets. Charlotte had headed for Rick's safe where she knew he had a few guns handed down by their father and grandfather. She was pleasantly surprised when she opened the safe and found he still had her old bow and arrows locked inside with his guns.

Within ten minutes they had everything shoved into Shane's jeep and they were on their way into the city. It wasn't until the adrenaline had worn off during the ride that everything had finally set in for Carl and he had eventually cried himself to sleep while Charlotte held him in the backseat.

A few miles outside of the city they'd hit the traffic they were now currently stuck in. They'd been stuck for hours with no communication coming out of the city.

Hearing a shuffling behind her Charlotte pulled her gun and whirled around aiming at the person coming up behind her, "Fuck! Don't sneak up on people," she hissed, tucking the gun back into her waistband.

"Don't point that shit at people," was the response she got as he held a cigarette out to her.

Studying the man in front of her she took the cigarette, "Thanks. You gotta light?"

"You want me to fucking smoke it for you too?" he replied before pulling out a lighter from his pocket.

Taking the lighter, she rolled her eyes, "Can't risk going back to the jeep to light it. Sister in laws on my ass about my language in front of my nephew she'd probably have a fucking coronary if he saw me smoking."

Taking a drag, she held the smoke before exhaling with a groan, "Oh God. That's almost as good as an orgasm," she breathed out, taking another drag looking over when she heard him clear his throat awkwardly. Noticing the look on his face she smiled, "Don't worry you'll get used to me."

"Why would I do that?" he questioned, leaning against the guardrail next to her.

"Cuz, you're my highway boyfriend now, duh," she replied.

"Ain't your boyfriend."

"Highway boyfriend. Cigarette supplier. Same difference," she responded, "So, who's Merle?"

Taking another cigarette out of his pocket he lit it before answering, "My brother."

Closing her eyes at the pain in her chest as she thought about her own brother she swallowed thickly before reopening her eyes to find him watching her, "It's good you guys got out together," she told him quietly.

"Don't know about that."

Feeling her hands starting to shake she took a long drag in an attempt to calm herself down, "My brother just died this morning. It's a good think you're together," she repeated before stubbing out the cigarette against the guardrail. Climbing back over it to the highway she gave him a small shrug, "Thanks for sharing. Maybe I'll see you in the morning, Boyfriend," she winked before turning and making her way back to the jeep.

Early the next morning after only a few hours of restless sleep Charlotte once again slipped from the car. Making her way over the guardrail she headed into the woods. Concentrating on keeping her steps quiet she listened for anything that could possibly attack her.

He moved with no sound whatsoever and rounding a rather large tree Charlotte was brought up short at the crossbow now pointing at her face, "Woah, Big Boy. I usually like my guys to buy me dinner before they point their weapons at me."

Scoffing, he rolled his eyes, lowering the crossbow, "Whatcha doin out here? Woods ain't safe."

"Yeah, well, neither is a woman with a full bladder. So, if you'll excuse me," she responded, moving around him and going deeper into the woods. Finding an adequate tree to squat behind she did her business quickly.

Hiking up her pants she wrinkled her nose, "Fucking hate nature," she muttered, "Trees and dirt can suck it," she continued her bitch fest on the way back to the highway stopping short as she realized he'd stayed in the woods with her.

"Well, now if you're gonna listen to me pee I should at least know your name."

"Didn't hear anything over your bitching," he retorted.

Noticing he didn't share his name or ask for hers Charlotte simply shrugged, "I grew up shooting guns. Got pretty good with the bow and arrows, but camping? Fuck that shit," she stated, "Whole reason I moved to the city was to get away from the mosquitos."

When he didn't say anything, she laughed, "You don't say much do you? That's okay, I can talk for the both of us," smiling wide when she heard a muttered, "can believe that."

"Anyway, you know why I was out here. What're you doin out here?" she questioned.

Swinging a rope, he had around his shoulder up, she took notice of the two dead squirrels, "Squirrel, huh? What does that taste like?" she asked.

"Chicken."

"Somehow I doubt that," she responded, "I'm pretty sure Shane threw the camping stove into the back of the jeep if ya wanna use it to fry up your squirrel chicken," she offered.

Noticing the immediate change in his demeanor Charlotte could literally see him going from open to shut down, "Ain't sharing," he told her harshly.

Furrowing her brow, she looked at him confused, "Wasn't asking," she responded.

Scoffing, he rolled his eyes, "Yeah right. City girl offers up her fancy stove outta the kindness of her heart. I ain't feeding your ass."

Blinking, she took a step back, "Wow, you've got a bit of bipolar. I was just trying to be nice."

"A girl like you bein nice usually means ya want somethin. I don't got nothin for ya," he snapped at her before moving through the trees towards the highway.

Fully annoyed Charlotte charged after him, "Hey, Douchebag," she called as they broke through the tree line leading back to the road. Stepping in front of him, she blocked his path, "I don't know what the fuck your problem is, but I seriously was just being nice. You know the last few fucking days haven't exactly been the best what with my brother dying and then having to put a bullet into one of those freaks growling at me. Not to mention being stuck in a car for fucking hours. Doesn't mean I'm gonna take my shitty month out on someone else. However, I do hope you choke on your stupid fucking squirrel now," she told him angrily before turning and stomping back to the highway, "By the way you're no longer my boyfriend, you prick," she called over her shoulder.

Making her way over the guardrail she saw Lori and Shane now standing outside of the car. Spotting her Shane charged towards her with a clear look of anger on his face, "For Godsake Charlotte you can't take off like that. Where were you?"

Rolling her eyes, she held up her hand, "Can you like not? I've already had to deal with one asshole this morning," she replied pushing past him, "I ain't about to ask permission to take a fucking piss."

"Ain't about asking permission," Shane retorted as he followed behind her, "It's about letting someone know where you are. There's fucking dead people walking around for Christ's sake."

Pursing her lips, she sighed, "Fine. I'll let someone know next time," she relented, "So, what's the plan? Are we gonna spend another day sitting on the Highway of Death?" she questioned as they reached Lori and the jeep.

"Charlotte," Lori reprimanded, looking in at a sleeping Carl.

"The city's only like six miles. Maybe we should walk down and see what's going on," she suggested, ignoring the chastise from the older woman.

"I don't know. The broadcast system is still saying to head to the city. Maybe they had to shut things down at dark last night and things will start moving now that it's light," Shane responded.

Nodding, Charlotte pulled her cellphone out of her pocket, "Maybe I can reach Cammie today."

"Yeah, see if you can get a hold of her," Shane told her, "In the meantime we wait one more night and then we'll decide from there."

"May I make a suggestion?" questioned a voice from behind them. Turning the three were met with an older gentleman wearing a floral Hawaiian shirt and an old fishing hat, "According to my map there's a quarry just up the road. May be a good place to find some shelter with a good water source till we can figure out what's happening in the city."

Sharing a look between each other, Shane asked to see the map while Charlotte rolled her eyes, "Yeah, camping," she muttered sarcastically before opening the back of the jeep to get a cereal bar out.

Shortly after Shane walked off to discuss the quarry with the man who'd introduced himself as Dale, Carl woke up and had a slight meltdown as he remembered his father was gone. After watching Lori struggle to calm the boy down Charlotte decided to intervene.

"Hey, Bud, I've got a cereal bar for you. Let's take a walk while your mom and Shange talk with Dale."

"Charlotte," Lori began before she was interrupted.

"He needs some air, Lori," Charlotte told her firmly as she held her hand out for her nephew to take. Looking between his mother and his aunt, Carl took Charlotte's hand, "We're just gonna go for a short stroll and maybe take a breather in the grass," she told her sister-in-law before they walked off.

"Let's sit for a bit," she suggested as they climbed over the guardrail and settled themselves in the grass on the other side. Handing him the cereal bar she sighed when he shook his head, "Carl, you have to eat," she told him quietly.

Rolling his eyes, he took the offered food from her, "You better watch those eyeballs, Sweetheart. I'm not your mom I'll smack you into next Tuesday," she said, winking at him causing the little boy to smile.

"No, you wouldn't," he replied, taking a bite of the cereal bar. Humming, she shrugged, "Yeah, probably not."

"Will you tell me what happened?"

Rubbing at the pain in her chest, Charlotte concentrated on controlling her breathing, "The machine went off when Shane was trying to get him out. Shane said he wasn't breathing. I think the machine was helping him breathe so when it stopped, he stopped," she told him as he nodded, "It was chaotic there and I'm sorry for not bringing him home with me."

"Shane said you had to shoot those things in the head. Are they people alive?"

Narrowing her eyes, she pinned a look on her nephew, "How do you know Shane said that? You were sleeping when he told your mom."

Shrugging, he gave her a smile that reminded her so much of Rick it took everything in her not to start crying, "Pretending to sleep is usually when I hear the truth," he replied.

Laughing, she shook her head, "You are your father's son," she remarked.

"Dad would always say I'm my aunt's nephew when I'd get in trouble," he told her.

Smiling, she nodded, "That you are, kid," she responded, wrapping her arm around his shoulders and kissing the side of his head, "I don't know what they are. I don't think they were alive. We shot them but it wasn't until we hit the head that they finally dropped. You know your mom's gonna kill me if she finds out I'm telling you this," she mentioned.

"I won't tell," he promised, "If you show me how to shoot your bow," he continued.

"Oh my gosh, you little extortionist."

Laughing as she began tickling him, he rolled away from her as she chased after him.

"Suggest you look away, Lil Brother."

Blinking, Daryl Dixon glanced at his older brother sitting in the driver's seat of their truck smoking a cigarette, "What?" he questioned.

"Stupid don't look good on ya, son. Ain't no way ya gotta chance with Princess over there," Merle responded, jutting his head to the girl rolling around in the grass with a little boy.

"Don't know whatcha talkin 'bout," Daryl grumbled.

Laughing loudly, Merle shook his head, "Three sheets to the wind and I still saw ya talkin it up with ya moonlit goddess last night. Ya don't gotta chance. Ain't nobody gonna look at ya twice 'specially with that deputy dipshit she's travelin with."

Watching the two climb over the guardrail and head back to the jeep they'd come from, Daryl clenched his fist, "Shut up, Merle," he responded, shoving the truck door open.

"Awe don't be mad," Merle called as Daryl walked away.

He didn't know how long he sat in the grass staring at the woods with his crossbow next to him thinking about what his brother said and how he was sort of an ass to the girl earlier in the day. He knew there were genuinely nice people out there. It's just he'd never come across too many before.

Hearing her voice and the boy's again, he glanced over to find them on his side of the guardrail again. This time she held a recurve bow in her hands while the boy had a quiver of arrows. She seemed to be instructing the boy on how to use the bow.

He had to admit when she'd told him that morning that she was good with a bow he didn't exactly believe her. However, watching her take aim at a nearby tree and let an arrow fly he had to admire her skill.

Steadily watching her as she engaged with the kid, he could hear his brother's voice in his head telling him he wasn't even good enough to look at someone like her. Getting frustrated he swiped his crossbow up off the ground before heading back into the woods for the day.