I know, I know- I'm really slow. My life has been an absolute shit show recently- we had two people quit at work so I'm pulling more than 40 hours and my car went to shit on my way to the store (keep in mind that I live 80 miles from the nearest grocery store). I'm also gearing up for my next season in Alaska where I work in the commercial fishing industry. I leave for that at the end of April so I'm trying to pump out as many chapters as I can through my small writers block because when I'm in Alaska I have no internet and no phone and I'm gone till the end of August or October.

Sorry this is a long note and shorter chapter. I have the next chapter almost finished so it should be up soon and it's a little bit longer. Thanks guys and enjoy!

The next few days passed in a quiet haze, Lacey getting used to being around so many people again. It was strange to have so many people talking to her and she was almost used to Amy's chipper, insistent pestering, even letting the girl braid her hair after a trip to the cool quarry to bathe.

She and Merle had even reached an odd friendship of sorts. He'd say something sexist and she'd call him a name and then they'd laugh. Most people in camp were still weary of her though for her friendship with Merle but Lacey couldn't care less; Merle was one of the true threats in the group. Him and Shane and Lacey wanted nothing to do with the latter man.

Sometimes she'd catch Shane looking when he thought she wasn't paying attention, feeling his eyes grate up and down her body, and it made her sick. Lacey knew he was sleeping with Lori, it was obvious to anyone who cared to look. She would watch Shane slink after Lori into the woods and then an hour later they'd both reappear, smiling but Lori wouldn't meet his eyes.

Lacey didn't know what day it was when she awoke; hell it didn't even matter, but she wished she knew. The sky was slowly brightening and she knew that she should get up. She'd taken a watch the other night but other than that she'd spent her time mostly alone when Amy wasn't bothering her. Lacey felt restless, spending her days wondering around and finally she'd had enough of it.

She grabbed her usually weapons; knives, gun, and hatchet. Lacey had dumped her backpack out and grabbed the things she would need for trap setting and left her small tent. Glenn was on watch and waved to her from the RV. She returned the wave and made her way to the woods not far from her tent.

Lacey felt at home in the woods, away from company. She'd slept better the last few nights than she had since the dead started walking but sometimes she wondered if it was worth it. Most of those people were going to die in the next few months so did she really need to be here- and let them drag her down? She was pushing it already; she liked Glenn and Amy and Carl and Dale and hell, even Carol wasn't too bad if you could get her talking. Hopefully none of them would die.

She was setting up her third trap when she heard movement behind her. She grabbed one of her knives and swung around. There was a grunt and they both fell to the soft forest floor. Lacey dropped her knife and her eyes widened when she saw she was on top of the one and only, Daryl Dixon.

They stayed silent for a few moments, neither too comfortable with the position they were in but both secretly enjoying the feeling of someone of the opposite sex, who was alive, touching them. Suddenly she adverted her eyes from his own stunning blues and slowly got up off of him, shyly offering her hand to help him up.

"Think ya bruised my ass," Daryl grumbled, not meeting the woman who'd kept popping into his mind's eyes.

"Sorry, I'm not used to live people anymore," Lacey said, turning to look for her traps.

"You know how ta do that?"

Lacey arched an eyebrow and said, "Yeah, surprised?"

Daryl didn't say anything and an awkward silence fell on them. Finally Lacey turned and started walking away when Daryl spoke up, surprising not only her but himself as well. "Ya shouldn'ta said that to Merle the other day."

"And you shouldn't have stood there and taken it like a little bitch. I'd of beat the holy hell outta him if he'd said that about me."

Daryl grunted, "It's easier to not fight with him."

Lacey's eyes softened. She knew what it was like to know what was easier but her mouth never seemed to have a shut off when she was younger, leading her to multiple beatings. She also knew that Daryl wouldn't want to hear about her life before and instead gave him a small smile and said, "I'll see you around. Watch out for my traps would ya? Don't wanna hear you bitchin' later when you get caught."

She didn't stay to hear his mouthy response but he could hear her light laugh as he watched her leave. He stood there for a minute, chewing his lip, staring at the spot where she was once standing before suddenly breaking out in a smirk. He liked Lacey, not that he would ever admit it to anyone. She was just different to him and didn't treat him like he was a disease like some of the other survivors.

"Dinner's ready," came a meek voice making Lacey look up from her book. Carol was shyly peeking down at her, a hesitant smile playing on her lips. Lacey liked her for the most part but she knew things weren't great with Ed. Lacey knew battered wives syndrome quite well and Carol was a prime example.

"Alright I'm coming," Lacey said, marking her book and putting it back. It was an old copy of Harry Potter that she'd found in a house a while back. She stuck her boots on and grabbed a knife; you could never be too safe.

Dinner was a quiet affair for the most part. Carl talked animatedly at Lacey who nodded her head and grinned at him and every so often Lori would ask her small menial questions like how old she was and what she did before the world went to shit. Lacey answered just as vaguely as she could, sneaking glances over at the Dixon's tent.

After they all ate, Lacey cleared her throat, "I think it'd be a good idea to go on a run tomorrow. I stayed at a few places that had some great stuff."

"Absolutely not," said Shane, "You've only been here a few days and we have plenty of supplies. There's no use goin' and getting yourself hurt."

Lacey snorted, "I can take care of myself and I wasn't asking for permission. I wanted to see if anyone wanted to go with me."

Shane glared at her and she shrugged. He wasn't in charge of her and she wasn't defenseless. Everyone was looking between Lacey and Shane; no one really ever defied him and they weren't sure how he would take it. He opened his mouth to spit out a reply but his face turned to a scowl and Lacey heard soft footfalls behind her.

"I'll go with ya," came Daryl's gravelly voice. Lacey smirked at Shane and turned to face Daryl, "Need some shit for Merle," was all he said and Lacey nodded.

"I don't like this," Shane said, "I have half a mind to not let y'all take a car."

Daryl narrowed his eyes glancing at Lacey who's mouth was drawn into a thin line before saying, "I got the keys to my truck. We'll take it so you don't have to worry about yer precious cars."

Lacey felt his eyes on her and turned to see Daryl staring expectantly down at her. She stood up and grinned, "Well that settles it. You wanna leave at dawn? I don't know when we'll be back- I've got a weeks' worth of places we can go through."

Daryl just grunted and walked away. Lacey stood with an eyebrow raised, watching him walk, enjoying the view. She jumped when Amy came up beside her and said, "You so want to get it on with him." Lacey looked over at Amy and couldn't help smiling when she barked out, "Shut up."