He sits up and looks around … he remembers staggering into the house when seeking shelter with Carl. Carl, where is he? "Carl!" His voice is barely above a whisper as he clears his throat. "Carl!"

"He's gone," Beth says as she walks over to him. "He left with Maggie and the others for some sort of sanctuary … they left you here … they left us both here."

"You should have went with them. I can take care of myself, I've done it before."

"You were alone then, you're not now." She pushes him back down. "I said, you need to rest."

Their eyes meet as he stares into hers. "I am sorry about Hershel."

She wipes her eyes. "I know you did everything you could for him." She sits beside him. "I still can't believe he's gone."

He pulls her into his arms, laying her head against his shoulder. "I know he loved you very much, both you and Maggie." He begins to gently start rocking her. "Why didn't you go with them? I know you were here when they were … I heard you."

She lifts her head to stare at him. "I made a decision, something my daddy taught me a long time ago. I left one family for another one."

"What do you mean?"

"I left my family I was born in to so I could be with the family I am meant to be with." He watches the emotions play across his face as he begins to understand what she's saying. "You're not alone anymore. We have a daughter out there, a helpless little baby, and we need to find her. We need to find out if someone took her or if she's gone."

He brushes an errant strand of hair from her face. Her face holds the determination of a woman years older than she really is, her eyes are on fire with the hope of finding Judith. He leans closer to her and kisses her gently on the lips. "I don't think your daddy would approve."

"I think he would," she whispers as she kisses him back.

He runs his hands through her hair as they deepen the kiss. A rustling sound outside causes them to break off. She lays a finger against his mouth as she rises. She motions him to stay down as she moves to a window. She looks outside, then lowers her head. She walks back to the couch quietly. "We need to move upstairs," she whispers, "there are walkers everywhere outside."

"Can you get the supplies?" he whispers as he rises from the couch.

"I've already moved them upstairs, I couldn't move you," she whispers as she puts his arm around her. "I would sit at the top of the stairs with a gun on the door every night."

"When did you sleep?" he asks, looking at her.

"When I could," she replies softly. "Take it easy, they're a bit steep."

He reaches over and takes hold of the banister and begins making his way upstairs. She follows him up backwards, keeping an eye on the door. He steps onto the top and puts his arms around her to keep her steady as she backs into him.

She points quietly to a room on the end of the hall. He moves that way as she kneels and pulls his gun from behind a small table. She eases down to the top step and sits, keeping her eye on the door without being seen. Hearing movement, she turns to see him coming back over with another gun. He sits beside her on the top step as they watch the front door.

"Can you shoot that?" he asks, indicating his gun.

"I've been learning to," she replies. "That one sticks."

He holds it down and pulls it back, chambering a round. "You didn't pull it back far enough."

She holds her hand up as she watches the door. He leans forward, seeing the shadow underneath stop then move away. They both let out a small sigh as they get up and head down to the bedroom. They go inside and close the door, pulling the nightstand over to barricade it.

"How long can we stay put?" he asks, looking at the stuff piled on the bed.

"There's enough food and water for about a week," she says. "We have enough ammo for about that long too, if we don't have to use it." She picks up a piece of paper and hands it to him. "Maggie left this for us and took Carl with her."

He takes the note and reads it then hands it back to her. "You didn't explain to me why you stayed behind. You could have went."

"I told you downstairs, you are not alone anymore and we have a daughter to find."

"We?"

"Yes we. Damn it she's my baby too." He places his hands on his hips to stare at her as she crosses her arms. "What?"

"I've never heard you quite like this before."

"Yea well, the house mouse got kicked out and had to grow up into a field rat."

He chuckles softly at her analogy. "Well, I guess the field rat just met the barn cat."

"And fell in love," she adds moving to him. Her arms snake around his neck as she kisses him. He wraps an arm around her waist as his other hand runs over her arms and down her side. Their lips part as he looks down at her. "Like I said, you're not alone anymore."

"We have a daughter to find." He lays his forehead against hers, feeling the warmth of her body pressing against his.

His kisses her again, as his hands start running over her shirt. Her hands begin caressing his chest as they continue kissing. He guides her to the side of the bed not covered by their gear. He lowers her down as he covers her body with his, running his hand over her hips and massaging her skin. Her fingers begin running over his back as he grips her hip tightly.

Soon, their clothes are discarded and forgotten on the floor as he pulls the cover back. He lowers her into the bed as they begin making love to one another. Hands roam as mouths scorch trails across their skin. He touches and explores every inch of her as she does the same for him. Their lips meet in another scorching kiss as they press closer, moving in unison until they explode together. Her audible gasps cause pleasure to scorch through him a second time as he nuzzles her neck.

"Think we can stay like this for a little while," she asks softly.

He pulls the covers around them and her into his arms. He holds her close to him. "You protected me while I slept, now let me do the same for you." She lays her head against his neck and drifts off to sleep as he wraps her in his loving embrace. "Thank you."

"For what," she murmurs.

"Saving my soul and my life," he replies as a tear wets his cheek.

She opens her eyes and looks into his. "I love you."

"I love you," he replies, sending ripples of joy through her.