Reviews:

DarylDixon'sLover: So I separated them because I'm a horrible person… No… I need them to each have their own sort of heartbreak before they get reunited and all lovey dovey beautiful stuff that will be happening. Also it gives me time to further develop Joelle's relationships with Merle and Lucas, who are both going to be big players in helping keep Joelle's sanity. Thanks for the review! XXX

ThaliaJoelle: Yeah I really enjoyed writing this chapter it came easily and was a lot of fun! Thank you so much! Thank you for reviewing! XXX

A/N: Hello my Lovelies! This is an early extra chapter for the month because I got excited so.. :) Ahh the separation! Dun dun duuunnn! Well this chapter's a little longer than usual and again is a very important part on our journey through the Zombie Apocalypse. We have some Joelle, a little Daryl and Lucas thrown in as well – in POV's of course… tell me if you like how I do the POV it is in third person just centered around that person and their thoughts more than anyone else… I don't know they kind of end up mixed.. Anyway I hope you enjoy! R&R XX

Chapter 22

Joelle's POV

Minutes past, then hours as the three of them spent the time quietly, almost silently, telling each other their story on the prison attack. There had been a harsh banging on the back door a while ago but it cut off so whoever it was, whatever it was, had left.

Artemis had fallen asleep some time ago as Merle rocked her, his usual smirk plastered on his lips as he aimed it at Lucas, as he was the one holding her and not Lucas. God they were so competitive when it came to her, you'd think that seeing as Lucas also had Judith as a baby niece he would spend more time with her but no. Maybe it was because Lucas had already spent time with Carl so he felt like Joelle's kid needed some Lucas wisdom or some shit.

Joelle snorted at her thoughts and Lucas and Merle looked at her, both with amused expressions, "What little firecracker?" Merle asked seemingly genuinely curious.

"Nothing just amusing myself, you too are ridiculous by the way fighting over her like she's a bloody prize. The sad thing is though she doesn't seem to mind it all that much."

"That's because we're awesome and she knows it!" Lucas exclaimed quietly seeing as there were still quite a few stragglers from the herd that had made its way through the town.

"Yeah whatever you say brother dearest," Jo smirked at him before turning to Artemis who was slowly starting to fuss.

Joelle gingerly took her out of Merle's arm and looked down at her perfect little face. She had grown so much since she was born; she was bigger now but still tiny, her hair which had only been a few wispy dark tuffs had now lightened to Jo's own chestnut colour, only a little lighter than before. Joelle faltered when she so his eyes, because that's exactly who's eyes they were, they were his, Daryl's. Staring straight at her innocently and beautifully. Tears welled in her own silver eyes. Of course she would have his eyes, which were likely to haunt her until they found each other again… if they found each other again.

"Come on little hunter let's get you changed and fed, huh and then you can get back to being the sleepy little Cherub you are, come my beautiful."

She walked into the other room Artemis' bag of things at her side. Lucas and Merle shared a look they had seen her tears and knew instantly why, both Merle and Lucas had noticed that Artemis shared Daryl's eyes and Joelle had only just seemed to become aware of that. She had already lost him once and the effects had nearly killed her, looking at her with Artemis they both hoped that wherever Daryl was, he would find her quickly or he just might end up being a single parent.

Daryl's POV

He'd gotten Beth out of the prison when he ran, and that's what they both did. Run, from the encroaching hoard of walkers that were closing in on them, closing in on the once unshakable prison, the prison that had been their haven, their home.

When dark came he lit a fire, to keep him and Beth warm, she was his responsibility now, maybe subconsciously he was trying to alert the others through the fire. Someone from their shattered group but no one came. It was only when he sat staring into the bright, flickering flames that the enormity of what had happened hit him.

He had lost them. He had just lost his wife and child. He had lost his guardian Angel and Little Hunter. They were gone.

He remembered that just before he left he had glanced towards cell block C and noticed it was unreachable through the walls of the walking dead. There was no way he could have gotten in, no way she could have gotten out.

"We should do something," Beth's soft voice broke him from his derailing thoughts, "We should do something!" Her voice got louder.

He didn't say anything, just kept staring into the bright flames, what could he say? Nothing would bring her back to him.

"We aren't the only survivors, we can't be. Rick, Michonne, Merle they could be out here," she said desperately, "Maggie and Glenn could have made it out of A block, they could of! And so could have Jo and Arty!"

He flinched at their names but said nothing, did nothing else, he didn't even look at her. Beth looked around a bit before realization seemed to dawn on her, "you're a tracker, you can track… come on! The sun will be up soon if we head out now we can…"

He remained motionless not even acknowledging she had said anything, he didn't even acknowledge that she was there, nothing.

"Fine! If you won't track I will!" She grabbed her knife and stalked off into the dark, away from the fire, away from him.

Maybe he was afraid of losing anyone else, maybe it was because he felt responsible for looking after her or maybe it was because he was afraid of being left alone in this world but he stood, kicked out the fire and followed after her.

They spent the rest of the night and morning following tracks, he was gruff and mean and he knew it was wrong but he couldn't help it. The tracks they had found weren't the ones he wanted to see. He wanted to see a sign on her, her boots, her tracks but he saw nothing. That was the thing he was afraid of most, even though it was likely she hadn't made it out of the cell block it was Elle, his Elle. He knew she could survive that she could make it but how long could she last on her own this time along with caring for a baby. Last time they had been separated had nearly killed her, this time he might be too late. But the lack of signs were worrying, there was nothing of hers. All he needed was one small sign she was alive. One small trace anything and it would be okay.

They found walkers and whatever hope Beth had died when she saw the half eaten bodies. She cried and Daryl didn't know what to do. When Elle cried it seemed instinctive to hold her but this, this he didn't know how to deal with.

They ran through the forests away from the large herd that they had seen while in a small town. They had tried to get into one of the two story brick houses but the doors had been blocked the windows covered and the noise they had caused through banging on the back door was dangerous. So instead of risking anything else they ran through the woods until they found a road and an abandoned car.

So there they were stuck in the boot of a car as the herd stumbled past. He kept his eye on the small slit of air that kept him and Beth breathing, his finger on the trigger just in case. The car was like a sauna and by the time the herd was long gone they were booth sweating buckets. They hadn't heard any sounds for a long while, keeping that thought in mind Daryl slowly untied the rag holding the trunk closed.

It opened blinding them with the suns harsh rays, they climbed out and then began searching the half destroyed vehicle, taking anything that could be of use to them, anything they could use to survive.

They made their way further in to the woods before Daryl stopped, knowing he'd found the best place to camp for tonight. He left Beth to set it up hoping that she wouldn't bloody get herself killed, even though he had thoroughly searched the area for walkers. He tracked a squirrel but missed, his head wasn't in the game, which wasn't surprising but still, it was a damn shame. The bolt was broken, another thing gone wrong. He came across a rattler and killed it, lunch.

Beth sat their picking at her food, while Daryl seemed to eat like he had no care in the world, which was the opposite as he was nearly out of his mind with stress and worry.

"I need a drink," Beth said suddenly, interrupting the silence, he threw her the bottle of water.

"No I mean a real drink." He didn't say anything, "as in alcohol," Beth continued hoping to get a reaction out of him.

Daryl continued to eat not even acknowledging that she'd spoken, "I've never had one, cause of my dad but… he's not exactly around anymore so…. I thought that we could go find some." Daryl, once again, said nothing, he just continued eating, the alcohol was a bad idea. He knew exactly how bad, especially if she was grieving. That and he didn't want the temptation either, the temptation to forget who wasn't by his side, the temptation for everything to feel okay when it wasn't.

"Okay… enjoy your snake jerky," she stalked off without a backwards glance at Daryl and he had to resist punching something, the stupid bitch was making it really hard for him to keep her safe, and all this shit was for a damn drink.

He decided to finish his meal before going out and chasing her down, which he would do just as soon as he was finished getting his fill. Damn he wished Elle was here; she'd be able to help, be able to keep him calm, hell if she were here things would be a damn picnic.

Daryl tracked her but stayed back seeing if she could handle the walkers he could already hear coming, he would save her if he had too but until then, he'd leave her be.

She did well enough throwing a rock to get them away from her, he made a sound alerting her that her was there. He lead her back to the camp while she mumbled on about them going the wrong way to look for booze, she was right, he had to give her that but it didn't mean shit. Beth's feet tangled in the sound trap that she had made earlier.

"What the hell! You brought me back! I'm not staying in this suck ass camp!" She snarled at him, much to his surprise, she gave him the bird, another surprise, before turning to leave. Daryl quickly grabbed onto her arm.

"Hey!" he yelled, "you had your fun."

"What the hell is wrong with you? Do you feel anything? Yeah you thing everything screwed, I guess that's a feeling, so you wanna spend the rest of our lives staring into a fire and eating mud snakes? Screw that!" she looked at him doe eyes wide, practically pleading with him. "We might as well do something! I can take care of myself and I'm gonna get a damn drink!" She stalked off again.

Daryl stood there for a moment, looking at the shitty camp, Beth was right and he knew it so he turned around and followed Beth's tracks once again.

Joelle's POV

It took the most of the day for the herd to pass so Merle and Lucas decided it'd be best for them to stay the night. They went out scavenging once they were sure the walkers were gone, well she didn't she stayed with Artemis, she was still tired and sore, after all it'd only been just over two weeks since the birth, her body wasn't ready for the extra effort.

That and her head was off with the fairies, her heart was with Daryl wherever he was, she had to believe he was alive, that she would find him or she knew she'd go insane, she nearly had last time. She had nearly died last time, but this time she had something to live for, someone to live for and she wasn't alone, she had her brothers. Joelle knew without a doubt that they would give their lives for her even if she begged them not to they still would, because she was their blood, Artemis was their blood.

Nothing can kill a Dixon but a Dixon the phrase looped around in her head, a constant reminder to stay strong to be safe, a reminder that he was okay despite not being by her side.

When Lucas and Merle came back they had food, which Joelle happily ate before once again feeding Artemis. The air was muggy and hot by the time dark fell and Joelle struggled to fall asleep. Artemis didn't have that trouble she never had, she slept better than Daryl and her combined. She was quiet too; barely ever fussing unlike Judith who seemed to cry and whine a lot. Maybe it was because Artemis knew she was safe with her uncles close by, maybe it was because she had never had anything to fear. Joelle knew in her heart that no matter what her Little Hunter would be safe, would have to be safe.

Her cheeks were wet, she had been silently crying without realizing it, it didn't take long for her to start trembling, the force of her silent sobs coming and shaking her body to the core. Merle picked up Artemis and took her to the next room without even causing her to stir while Lucas pulled her into his arms and rocked her like she were a child.

Lucas' POV

"Shhh Jo, shhh it's okay Elle, it's okay," he said soothingly, trying to calm her down. She was breaking before his very eyes; he was watching as her calm exterior cracked and splintered before him, breaking away and leaving the sheer agony in its place.

He knew what she was feeling, how could he not? His own wife and son were not by his side. For the first time since this hell and began his wife was not in his sights, his son wasn't either, he had no idea if they'd made it or not, if they were okay or walkers. Were they with the others? Were they alone? Together or separated? He didn't know and it was killing him.

When he had stepped out of the closet and seen it was Merle and Joelle he could have sobbed with relief knowing that at least some of his family was okay. Rick was strong, Carl too and he knew he'd made sure that Daniel could protect himself, he knew that Daniel could protect his mother, Roxie, his Roxie. God how he missed her, her warmth, her love, he just missed her, all of her.

He looked down at Joelle, tears still streaming from her eyes, the look he saw in them reminded him of when they'd first seen each other; when he'd saved her from those men outside the store. When he hadn't even known it was her. The look in her eyes was the same as it was now, broken and haunted. Like she knew the chances of finding him were slim, like she couldn't bare it, not knowing, like she couldn't live without him.

He remembered how she'd been after the army, so different so reserved. When he'd found out she'd been raped… he couldn't believe he hadn't known, that he hadn't put the two together, her unwillingness to be around him and his friends… only being totally comfortable with Roxie or Lori near… it was too obvious.

This world had brought out the worst in people and Jo had seemed to attract that attention now more than ever. When he saw how Daryl was around her, how she was around him, he couldn't understand. They didn't seem like they would get along but they did, both of them damaged, physically and emotionally, so much so that they were drawn to each other.

Rick had told him what Daryl had been like when they first met, how angry and closed off he was from the others but now, now he was friendly and open. Not afraid to stand up for what he believed in and always ready to jump in and help. Daryl's loyalty had impressed Lucas, his complete willingness to do whatever necessary to keep his group, his family safe.

Lucas even admired Daryl, though he was younger he seemed wise about the world, knew how to read people. Despite lacking social skills Daryl knew how people worked. Something that was imperative these days knowing who would kill you and who would kill for you. When Lucas had attacked Daryl after he'd left Joelle Lucas had expected him to fight back, to prove he was a "man". He didn't, he took the beating, proving how much of a man he really was, he took that beating for Jo. It was then that Lucas knew that Daryl was right for her, for his little sister.

It was funny Joelle and Justine had been so different growing up. Justine and Rick were as close as Lucas and Joelle, but Joelle and Justine were twins, going so far as to finish each other's sentence but they were so different. He had never really known how to handle Justine, that was Rick's Job or Jo's job but when it came to Joelle, he seemed to know exactly what was going on.

When Rick told him of Justine's death it had hurt, really hurt, that was his baby sister, but when he heard that Joelle had watched Rick put her down. It broke his heart. Nobody really understood how twins worked but they were on a different wave length to everyone else, closer than everyone else.

So he sat there holding Joelle tightly and smoothing her hair back as she silently grieved, the separation eating away at her heart, Rick had told him how she was, how they both were when separated. Lucas hoped that Daryl wasn't alone, because he knew that if Daryl was alone it would kill him, drive him mad with grief and stress. It would kill him like it was killing her. He kept whispering to her until exhaustion set in and she slept.

Careful not to disturb her, he unwound his arms and laid her down on the makeshift cot, covering her with a blanket before softly kissing her forehead.

Merle came in then still holding and sleeping Artemis, "when need to get them somewhere safe, somewhere where she can relax a little easier, this is killing her and I know my baby brother is hurting too."

"I know, she's completely exhausted and being separated from Daryl isn't helping, she needs to stay heathy for Arty," Lucas replied tiredly. "We don't have enough formula for Artemis if she becomes fully dependent on it, Joelle is the only one who can keep Arty alive without a doubt. If she doesn't produce milk… we don't know when we will find more formula."

"I agree, we'll spend the next day here, you stay with them while I get more supplies. I wouldn't usually go out alone but she needs you now more than ever," Merle said quietly and Lucas nodded in agreement. That said a quiet goodnight before falling into a light sleep.

A/N: So tell me what you think! Now I'm going to be super nice and give you a chance to help guide them back together! I've put a poll up on my profile and you can vote on when you'd like to see them reunited. I have an idea of how and when but I'm ready to mix things up a little! Thank you to the beautiful people who followed or favourited this story it means a lot and I love you! Huge thank you to those who reviewed I love you more! XXX