You guys make ME impatient! I've been trying to hold off for as long as I can but I figured since it's there, I'll post it. I can also do a little work on Chapter 6 & 7 since that is the part where I start to improvise. I don't know how much longer I'll continue it and I was going to end it at the reunion but there was at least ONE more reunion I wanted. ;) ;) ;)

Anyway, this chapter is short (I think). The key is to read it on your cellphones so it seems longer. That's what I do with other fanfics LOL. Besides, the screen resolution is a lot less harsh on the eyes to me.

Now that I've given a health lesson instead of an introduction to the next chapter, Enjoy!

Oh, P.S. BebeFlow: I mentioned in the beginning of Chapter 1: "This takes place after Sophia got lost. Let's just pretend everyone was already settled at Hershel's farm before Sophia got away."

I was aware that the group made it to the farm after Carl was shot and Sophia was lost before that –I was already finished with the chapter when I realized I went a completely different route (hence I didn't even get Carl shot for this, which was very nice of me considering the kid pissed me off all season).

I just made them all settled at the farm prior to this so it would make the story easier for me to flow with.

Chapter 4

Lorena's POV

Everyone welcomed Lorena with open arms. She wasn't sure if it was because they all knew how alone she's been, or because they were just genuine people. Either way, she finally felt secure. She told them a lot about her; she even opened up about losing her fiancé and her never ending journey to make it back to Atlanta to say goodbye to their former homes.

The entire group remained quiet as she mentioned the love of her life, Daryl Dixon, and one of her best friends, his brother, Merle. No one said a word as she described the man Daryl was, while adding "I actually found my prince charming." She told them the story of his proposal, and noticed a shift in the crowd, as if they were surprised to hear that those kind of proposals existed in the old world.

They continued to stay quiet while Dale and Andrea put comforting hands on her back, as Lorena bowed her head and began to silently cry to herself.

Not wanting her to have a terrible first night at the farm, Rick quickly changed the topic while Shane rose from his seat and headed for the cupboard. Rick looked up at Shane and said, "Tonight's a special occasion enough, don't ya think? Why don't we crack open the Jack?" Shane chuckled. "Way ahead of ya. The hell you think I'm headin' to the cupboard for?" Lori rolled her eyes and let out a little snicker. "Could you two be more in tune with each other's thoughts?" Both Shane and Rick joined in laughter and Rick answered, "I guess it's just a 'bromance' thing, honey." He said, playfully cupping her chin. Shane handed out small glasses to the adults in the room, and began to pour the whiskey. Carl scrunched his nose when he caught a whiff of it. "That stuff smells worse than that wine tasted back at that other place!" He complained as the adults chuckled.

Immediately after having her glass filled, Lorena took her first sip of whiskey in months, and smiled as she instantly thought back to pleasant memories of her nights with Daryl and Jack Daniels. She tried to keep her sadness at bay and enjoy the blessing of her new companions surrounding her.

Daryl's POV

The walk back to the farm took longer than usual. Sophia had to keep taking quick breaks due to a sudden recurring pain in her right ankle. Her adrenaline finally wore off and she was able to feel the physical effects of her traumatic experience. There was no breakage, but Carol would definitely have Hershel check it out later. The poor girl must have done a fair amount of running and probably twisted it along the line.

Daryl scooped her up and she clung to his neck while humming a tune. Despite the little girl's pain, she never failed to keep her sense of contentment, and Daryl truly admired that about children. He felt himself smile; something he didn't even know he was capable of doing anymore. Carol noticed this and flashed him a smile herself. "Don't be usin' that crap against me, lady." Daryl said, trying to keep his tough exterior alive.

Carol snapped, "Watch your mouth!" Sophia laughed and playfully said, "Lighten up mom, it's just 'crap'." Shocked at the fact her daughter was maturing pretty fast in this apocalyptic world, she smiled at Sophia and responded, "You're lucky I'm just grateful to have you back, because you'd be punished otherwise, young lady."

The three of them finally reached the steps of the farmhouse. Reluctant to let her down on her feet, he double checked with Sophia's state. "You okay to get down?" Showing her strength yet again, she flashed him a smile and let herself down. She kept most of her balance on her good ankle and hopped inside, smiling and mentally preparing herself for the plethora of hugs and tear-filled kisses from the group. The reunion began and Daryl and Carol happily looked on as she was reunited with Carl and the rest of the people she called family.

Daryl's spirits were suddenly lifted at the sight of this and felt obliged to thank the woman responsible for bringing Sophia back. "A'right, so where's the hero of the day?" Daryl quickly glanced over to where the new girl was standing.

She had her back turned and had one comforting hand on Sophia's back and a glass of whiskey in the other. His eyes automatically fixated at the hand that held the whiskey and felt more waves of memories flash back of him and his fiancé sharing whiskey together on Fridays.

Lorena shouted, "That would be me!" As she turned around, she continued, "and you must be.."

The group slowly stopped kept their talking to a minimum to witness yet another reunion; a reunion they've been waiting to see since Lorena told her story. They all kept permanent grins on their faces. Daryl was about to finish her sentence and introduce himself as Lorena completely turned around to face the man she never in a million years thought she would be facing.

Daryl froze in his tracks. This life has been so unfair to the both of them in the past few months that there was no possible way the woman he was looking at was really Lorena. All the years of abuse from his father and struggle had finally caught up to him.

He was convinced he was beginning to hallucinate visions of her. It was bad enough he spoke to her spirit through a goddamn notepad, now he has to deal with hallucinating her entire existence? He mentally slapped himself.

Lorena noticed the confusion expressed on Daryl's face and opened her mouth, struggling to get a word out. She tried to say anything to assure him that it's her, that this is really happening, but she wasn't even certain if she was seeing straight herself.

They both stood there, frozen, anticipating the other to say something, do something, anything that would confirm that this moment was real. Then Daryl realized. He knew he was stronger than that; he knew he would never hallucinate anything that was never there. The Merle hallucinations were different, Daryl thought to himself. He was completely incoherent and severely wounded when he saw Merle. He was completely aware, mentally and physically now. His mind was powerful.

With that, he accepted that the woman he thought died on the way home was standing right in front of him, and he began to uncontrollably let every emotion surface. He kept a straight face, but tears began to rapidly form in his eyes as his fiancé lunged at him. They both gently fell to their knees and both of their sobs were synchronized at this point. Daryl kept his more inconspicuous, of course.

Lorena and Daryl were still latched on to each other. "Lena…" was all Daryl could say as he kept his tight grip on her, one hand behind her head, gripping her hair possessively and the other completely wrapped around her waist. The group watched on and at this point, there was not a dry eye in the room; even the guys let the guards down for a moment. Rick thought back to the way he felt when he reunited with Lori and grabbed a hold of his wife's hand as they watched on.

The group was completely astonished at the amount of love and vulnerability Daryl Dixon kept hidden for so long, and although they all respected him before this moment, they all mentally reminded themselves to appreciate the man more and stop doubting his sense of humanity.

Lorena and Daryl continued to hold on to each other as their heart rates began to go back to semi-normal, and Daryl softly whispered to her, "You ain't leaving my sight ever again, you hear me, girl? Never lettin' you go. Ever." Lorena looked up at him and took his face in her hands, the face she may have never been able to see again.

Daryl returned the gesture and rested a hand on her cheek as they united for a kiss that brought them right back to their happy place; a place that existed before the madness. Lorena broke the kiss, looked down at the ring on her finger that still managed to glisten, and stood up. She turned to Hershel, "You mentioned you were a registered minister before all of this, right?"