"Holy fucking shit," Charlotte breathed out as she collapsed on top of Daryl.

"Christ girl," he grumbled, wrapping his hand around her hair and lifting her head to kiss her as they lay in a sweaty heap on the forest floor.

Humming, she pulled her face away before smiling down at him, "We should probably go hunting now."

Rolling her under him he ground up into her already semi-hard again, "Not yet," he muttered before latching his mouth onto one of her breasts eliciting a moan from her.

After a very physical second round they once again collapsed on the forest floor together. This time Daryl slid off of her to lay by her side, "How much longer 'fore I need to find condoms?" he questioned.

Still breathing heavily, she opened her eyes to look at him, "Like another two weeks," she answered, "I've been keeping track," she assured him. Nodding, he buttoned his shirt before reaching for his pants.

"I find it ironic that the moment I'm finally having mind blowing sex I can't get my birth control shots," she commented, "Karma's a bitch," she said, reaching for her panties.

"Mind blowing, huh?"

Glancing at him as they dressed, she shrugged, "Well, I know we've only been sleeping together for like two weeks but so far I haven't had to fake anything with you. It just sucks the world had to end for me to finally find a guy who knows what he's doing."

"Do ya have a filter?" he questioned, grabbing up his crossbow.

"No, not really," she replied, shouldering her own bow and quiver while giving him a cheeky grin.

Moving through the forest the two began to hunt which was their excuse for being out together. Several hours later they walked back into camp carrying a dozen squirrels, "You want me to help with them?" she asked, setting her string of squirrels down by their campfire.

"I'll have Merle help," he told her, heading for his brother's tent.

Dropping her bow and quiver, Charlotte headed down to the RV to find Amy who was watching Annabelle for her while she'd been hunting. Knocking on the door she opened it to find the two, inside coloring, "Hey, you two," she greeted.

"Coco!" Annabelle squealed, hopping down from the table and throwing her little arms around Charlotte's neck.

"Hi, Belly Girl," she laughed, picking her up into her arms and hugging her close, "Did you have a good time with Miss Amy?"

"I miss you," the little girl replied as she nodded, "An Darie," she said with a pout.

"Well, we missed you too, but we had to go hunting," Charlotte reminded her.

"We colored a bunch of pictures for you," Amy told her, picking up the coloring book and coming out of the RV behind Charlotte.

"Really? Can you show me them?" she asked Annabelle as she settled in one of the camping chairs outside of the RV with her on her lap.

Sitting down next to Charlotte, Amy handed over the coloring book, "So, how was hunting today? Amy asked innocently as Annabelle opened the coloring book.

Smiling, Charlotte looked at the girl next to her, "Hit the mark twice in a row again," she answered.

Sighing, Amy clutched her chest, "You're so lucky. I'm gonna die a virgin," the seventeen-year-old declared as Charlotte laughed.


"So, how long you been letting Princess ride your dick?" Merle questioned from beside Daryl as they prepared the squirrels he and Charlotte had caught.

Glaring over at his brother as his knife slipped, almost cutting his thumb, Daryl hissed, "What?"

"You and Princess over there," Merle said, using his knife to point across the camp where Charlotte was laughing with one of the blonde sisters with Annabella on her lap, "She been riding your dick," he repeated, "Why else you out in the woods with her?"

Narrowing his eyes, Daryl went back to the squirrel in his hands, "Girl wanted to learn how to hunt," he replied simply, "Sides ain't like your ass be out there helping."

"That what you into? Threesomes?

"Shut the fuck up, Merle."

"I'm just sayin ya got her an Pea stayin in your tent and now you're sleepin wit her. She got ya takin care of her an you and I both know if the world ain't what it is now she would've never looked twice at ya," Merle told him, "At least your gettin ass out of the deal," he said with a shrug.

"You don't know nuthin," Daryl muttered.

Snorting, Merle rolled his eyes, "What, you think you two have sumthin?" he questioned, "She's using ya. The moment sumthin better comes along she'll kick your dirty ass to the curb. Sides don't get too comfy with Princess. We're just biding our time 'fore we rob them blind and bolt. Ya can't rely on any of them 'cept me," he reminded his little brother.

Shaking his head, Daryl glanced across the camp to where Charlotte and Annabelle were. Charlotte had moved to the ground with Belle and her nephew, Carl, and was running toy cars through the dirt with the two kids.

"Been here about two months. Maybe we don't gotta rob them. We could just stay," Daryl suggested, "Thinkin stayin with people might be good."

Scoffing, Merle shook his head, "When ya become a people person? These people livin in a dreamland. Just a matter of time 'fore those freaks find us up here. Nah, best to move on," he told him, "Couple days they puttin together a run into the city. Chinaman's looking for volunteers to go, figured after that we take what we can get and go."

"You goin into town?" Daryl questioned, skeptically.

"Got things to find," Merle replied, avoiding his brother's eyes.

"Yeah, I'm sure you do," Daryl muttered, glaring at his older brother knowing he was only going to look for more drugs.

"Darie!"

Looking up at Annabelle running across the camp waving something in her small hand Daryl set his knife and squirrel to the side, "Whatcha got there?" he asked the little girl as she stopped in front of him.

"Coco foun a worm," she stated triumphantly, swinging the worm back and forth. Glancing up at Charlotte, who was walking towards them with a bucket in her hands, Daryl turned back to the little girl, "Things as big as your arm," he commented, making the girl giggle.

Grabbing up her bow, Charlotte smiled as Annabelle ran over to show Merle her worm. "Where ya goin wit that?" Daryl asked, nodding his head towards the bucket.

"I told Amy about those blackberry bushes we found so we're gonna go pick some," she replied, "Soon as she gets Andrea's okay to leave the camp," she muttered, looking over to the two blondes who were clearly arguing.

"Ya want me to watch her?" he asked, nodding towards Annabelle.

"No, I'm gonna take her with, but thank you for the offer," she answered as Amy came running towards them.

"Sorry," she apologized, "Let's go before she changes her mind," Amy said, glancing back at her older sister.

Smiling, Charlotte handed the bucket to her, "You hold this so my hands are free," she told her before calling Annabelle over, "How about we leave your worm here?" Charlotte suggested, "He needs to get back to his mommy and daddy," she continued when the little girl's face crumpled into a pout.

"Bet they're looking for him," Daryl added as Annabelle hesitated.

"Otay," she finally gave in, setting the worm down so Amy could take her hand.

"We'll be back," Charlotte told the brothers before heading off towards the woods.

Watching them go, Daryl sighed before he picked his knife and squirrel back up to continue preparing the meat, "'Fore we go I'm gonna hunt. Get enough to last them a couple days."

"They ain't your responsibility, Little Brother."

"Don't care. I ain't leavin them to starve so if ya want to go fine but I do that first or I ain't goin," Daryl argued.

"Whatcha think, if ya stay here you and Princess gonna be sumthin?" he questioned again, "Maybe eventually that girl calls ya daddy or sumthin? They ain't yours and never will be."

"You're goin into the city for some shit ya don't need. I'll go then. I ain't leavin them to starve," he repeated, glaring at Merle.

"Waste of ya time," Merle muttered as the two brothers went back to working in silence.


"Are you sure you don't want my help?" Charlotte questioned a few days later as Daryl was preparing to leave the camp overnight to hunt. He was hoping he'd have more success if he went farther out away from camp.

"Nah, need ya here when Merle gets back from the city."

"You think I have a prayer of keeping your brother out of trouble?"

"Not you. Belle," he responded, jutting his chin towards the little girl playing in the dirt with Sophia.

"That's low sic'ing a three-year-old on him," she laughed.

"If it works," he replied, with a shrug.

Drumming her fingers against her leg, Charlotte gave him a hesitant smile, "So, you'd probably be opposed to me, like, kissing you goodbye in front of everyone and telling you to be careful and all that, right?"

"Ain't going to war," he muttered as his face flamed red.

"I mean ya kinda are," she responded, "But I'll refrain from throwing myself at ya. Just know if ya don't come back I'm gonna be beyond pissed."

Clearing his throat, he nodded, "Just stay in camp till I get back. Don't be wonderin off."

"Where am I gonna go, shopping?" she questioned, waving her hand around towards the surrounding woods.

"Ya never know with you," he replied, picking up his crossbow and slinging it over his shoulder.

"Wait, ya gotta at least say bye to Belle," she told him, "Please," she added, seeing the hesitant look cross his face.

Sighing, he nodded as she called the little girl over, "Daryl's gonna be gone overnight tonight so we won't see him till tomorrow," she explained, crouching down next to Annabelle.

Looking up at him, Annabelle's lower lip began to tremble, "You come back like Mr Merle too?"

Nodding, Daryl ran his hand over the little girl's blonde curls, "Mr. Merle will be back later today, and I'll be back tomorrow," he told her.

"My mama said she be back," Annabelle whispered as a few tears slid down her face.

Glancing at Charlotte when she choked out a breath and stood up with her hand over her mouth, Daryl picked Annabelle up, "Hey now. I'm comin back," he promised, "And when I do take ya to pick those berries ya like."

Wrapping her little arms around his neck she squeezed tight before smacking her lips on his cheek, "Love you," she announced before wiggling out of his arms and taking off across the camp back to Sophia.

Clearing his throat, he turned to find Charlotte crying quietly, "Don't do that."

"I try not to," she replied, wiping her eyes, "Sometimes it slips out."

Nodding, he sighed, "Be back tomorrow. We'll go for berries," he told her before turning and disappearing into the woods.

"Such an awkward man," she muttered with a shake of her head.


"Charlotte, Dale said we need more wood for the fires," Amy said, walking towards where Charlotte sat with Annabelle coloring, "Andrea said I wasn't allowed in the woods alone," she said, stopping next to Daryl's empty camp chair.

Grumbling, Charlotte got to her feet, "Let me get my bow."

After leaving Annabelle with Lori, the two headed into the woods to collect wood, "Do you think my sister will be okay?"

Picking up a fallen branch, Charlotte looked over to the young blonde girl, "I'm sure she'll be fine. She's with Glenn and he knows how to get in and out of the city pretty well."

Nodding, Amy bit her lip, "It's just, last time a big group went we lost two, so," she trailed off.

"We didn't know what we were doing then. Every time Glenn goes down there, he understands more about how to handle things. I'm sure they're gonna be fine, and they'll be back probably by midday."

Sighing, Amy picked up another branch, "So, how come ya didn't go with Daryl?"

"He wanted me to stay here and try to keep Merle out of trouble when he comes back."

Snorting, Amy laughed, "A priest couldn't keep Merle out of trouble."

Laughing, Charlotte agreed, "Daryl thinks Belle will do the trick."

"Possibly. She does seem to have them both wrapped around her little finger," Amy commented.

"I know. She told Daryl she loved him today before he left. Most adorable thing ever."

"He doesn't seem like the type that's used to the L word. How'd he take it?"

"Well, I got a little teary because it still just hits me, everything with Rick and Cammie. So, he said 'don't cry, be back tomorrow, and we'll go berry picking.' Then he took off into the woods."

Nodding, Amy picked up another branch, "I feel that's progress. I mean, when we first met him, he'd probably just leave ya there to cry. He, at least, made some effort in comforting you."

"When I first met the man, he wouldn't even give me a cigarette. So, yeah, I'd say that's progress."

"He's like a wounded animal. Ya just gotta let him sniff ya for a while till he warms up to ya."

"Been letting him do more than sniff me the last few weeks."

Humming, Amy smiled, "Oh, yes. The sex. You always seem satisfied when you return from your 'hunts'," she air quoted, "I imagine he knows what he's doing there."

Reaching the edge of camp, Charlotte glanced at the girl, "He's pretty good at throwing me against a tree," she remarked with a wink before the two continued across the camp with their arms full of small branches.

As Amy went ahead to the campfire, they did most of their cooking around, Charlotte dropped some of her wood between some of the other smaller fires, including her own. She'd just dropped the last few pieces next to her campfire when she heard the crackling from Shane's C.B. radio and a muffled voice.

Turning, she saw Amy trying desperately to reach whoever it was at the other end. Jogging down the small hill she'd just reached it as Shane took over, "Hello, hello. Is the person who called still on the air? This is officer Shane Walsh broadcasting to person unknown. Please respond," he said into the walkie, "He's gone," he told the small crowd that had gathered after several moments of silence.

"There are others. It's not just us," Lori spoke up.

"We knew there would be, right? That's why we left the C.B. on," he responded, looking up at her.

"A lot of good it's been doing," she retorted, "I've been saying for a week we ought to put signs up on 85 to warn people away from the city."

"Folks got no idea what they're getting into," Amy added, agreeing with Lori.

"Well, we haven't had time," Shane responded.

"Maybe we should make time," Charlotte said, "Hell, I've got time right now," she said with a shrug.

"Ya ain't goin by yourself."

"I'll go with her. Give us a vehicle," Lori stated.

Sighing, Shane shook his head, "Ain't happening. Ain't sending the two of ya out there."

"I've been out of camp before, Shane."

"With Dixon," he responded, glaring at Charlotte.

"So?"

"So, there's a difference, Coco," he retorted, snidely.

"What because we're two women? I can shoot my bow just as well as Daryl and shoot a gun just as well as you."

"It ain't happenin. Go back to coloring with Annabelle."

Gearing up for an argument, Charlotte opened her mouth, only to be stopped by Lori, "Just let it go, Charlie," she said, glaring at Shane before turning and stomping off.

"No, no," Shane said to Carl when he went to follow his mom, "Stay with Coco. I'll talk to her," he said, following after Lori.

"Yeah, I bet you will," Charlotte muttered watching him walk away after her sister-in-law.