It had been a long, but nearly perfect three weeks. The few loud arguments that were ever heard in the inn were between Daryl and Lucy. Both adults seemed to take pleasure in their arguments, which they tried to keep down. It was clear that neither would hurt the other physically. It almost seemed like foreplay between the two.
Still, Lori couldn't help but complain about them. She didn't like arguments. Luckily, her relationship with Rick had gotten stronger. It helped her that he had little to no reason to leave the inn. Natalie, the new girl, and Glenn were also in a new and interesting relationship. Both were shy about expressing their feelings in front of everyone.
Natalie had been able to form bonds with everyone, including Lilli. Although it was clear to everyone that she was still nervous around Lilli. If the young woman was troubled by Natalie's behavior she didn't show it.
Lilli and Shane were a different matter. After their semi-successful date the two decided to official say they were dating. Of course, they argued from time to time. Lilli was like Rick in the fact that she thought ahead. She wanted to make sure that they were absolutely safe and still had options just in case they weren't. And it was clear that she was getting antsy being stuck in the inn all the time.
It was one of their most recent arguments. She wanted to go out and explore other areas just in case. He didn't understand why she wanted to risk her life when they had everything they needed. Even without power the inn was habitable.
Sara had taken a strong liking to Shane and he liked the little girl. She was just as shy Sophia, but she and Carl liked to play pranks on everyone. Shane loved helping the two with their mischief. It was his specialty. And both children like the ideas that he had. Lori, on the other hand, didn't like them. Still, it helped lighten the mood from time to time.
"And that'll be $2000," Natalie said rather calmly.
"Little help?" Lilli asked Shane who leaned back in his chair.
"What will you give me in return?" he teased.
"I'll give you Atlantic Avenue," she said.
Shane shook his head. "Sorry, Lils. Gonna have to give me something much more tasty," he winked at her.
Lilli snorted as she shook her head. "What has this world come to when a boyfriend doesn't help his girlfriend? And I'm done," she said as she pushed all the cards and money that she had at the young woman.
Natalie giggled maniacally as she took the money and cards.
"Not going to stay to watch me win?" Shane asked Lilli as she stood up.
"I think I'm going to check on the kids," she replied as she lifted her nose in the air.
Lori chuckled as she rolled the dice and clapped with excitement as Shane groaned.
It was Georgia's idea to start the game of Monopoly. They had decided to make it into a tournament. Two weeks prior, Rick, Shane, Lilli, Daryl and Glenn went out to get nonessential items for the group. Everyone agreed that they felt relatively safe and that it would do them good to have items to entertain themselves.
"Lilli!" Sara hissed as she beaconed for her guardian to get into one of the rooms.
Lilli narrowed her eyes as she walked into the room. She heard the sound of running water. Rick sat in the bathroom with Carl and Sophia, filling up two water guns. He looked at her and smiled. "Time to get the winners," he whispered.
Sara snickered as she grabbed her water gun. Lilli grabbed one and walked to the front door. "I'll tell you when they come out."
Rick gave his son one of the last water guns and filled his up. The three children did their best to stifle their giggles.
"Tell me when they get out," Glenn whispered. It was Glenn's room that they were in. He had another water gun in hand and set down a bucket filled with water balloons.
Lilli nodded in agreement as she waited by the door. She casually leaned against the doorframe as if she was up to nothing.
"Victory!" Natalie shouted from the room.
"God dammit!" Shane said as he walked out of the room, shaking his head.
Lori laughed as she shook her head and joined Shane. He spotted Lilli and gave her his best smile. She didn't wait to give him a reason to suspect something was up. She jumped into the hallway and blasted him with water. Lori shrieked as she jumped behind Shane to get away from the water. Shane yelled in surprise as he put his hands in front of him, trying to stop the water from hitting him. Finally, she ran out of water.
Lilli laughed as he stared at her. "Now you done it," he snarled as he rushed at her. She screamed in surprise and ran toward the stairs.
Lori laughed as she shook her head, until Rick walked out. "Lori," Rick said with a simple nod of his head.
"Don't you dare!" she commanded, shaking her head and pointing at him.
Suddenly, Carl jumped out and shot his mother. The woman screamed in surprise as she ran away with the two hot on her heels. Glenn, Sara and Sophia ran out of their room and spotted Natalie who was trying to get away.
"Natalie!" Glenn cooed.
"No way!" the young woman shouted as she ran.
The three quickly followed after her and Glenn shot the water just as he turned the corner. "Oh shit," he whispered in surprise as she stopped. The two little girls didn't notice as they screamed in delight and fired.
Daryl stood soaking wet and stared at them. Lucy hid behind him and giggled. "You find this funny?" he asked her.
She nodded her head and screamed as he grabbed her. "Git' 'er," he commanded. The children were happy to oblige.
Lucy struggled and screamed as she tried to stop the water with her hands. Daryl laughed.
"An' where do ya think you're going?" he snapped at Glenn who tried to run after Natalie.
Glenn backed up unsure of how to react. "Ummm," he said. "After Natalie?"
Daryl shook his head as he started for the young man. Glenn didn't know what to do but look scared.
"Hey, Daryl," Lucy shouted. He turned and looked at him. She threw a water balloon that hit him on the chest.
"That," he said slowly. "Was a mistake."
Lucy didn't wait for him to start toward her as she ran.
Sara perked when she heard Lilli shriek.
"Let me go," Lilli giggled and commanded. Shane walked through the hall with her on his shoulder. He ignored her commands as he opened the doors to the pool. "No!" Lilli said then screamed as he threw her in.
"Hey!" Sara said as she fired the remaining contents of her water gun at Shane. He didn't give her time to run as he turned and grabbed her. She screamed in surprise as he threw her into the water.
"Shane," Lilli said in her most seductive voice as she neared the pool edge. She beaconed him to come closer with her finger.
He approached her but stopped just short of her being able to touch him. "Think I'd fall for that?" he teased.
She swam back and he teased her by moving forward. He gave her a half smile as he shook his head. "Mess with me and…" he yelled in surprise as someone pushed him from behind. When he surfaced he realized that Rick had been the one to push him.
Rick laughed then grabbed Lori as she tried to push him in. She screamed as he threw her in as well. Carl soon followed as he tried to push in his father. "I do believe I win this little battle," Rick stated as he placed his hands on his hips. He laughed before he jumped into the pool. Carl swam over to him and tried to dunk him in the water.
He easily grabbed his son and pushed him into the water instead.
"No. Hijo de puta. No me tires," Lucy shrieked as Daryl carried her toward the pool.
Daryl threw her in and she screamed.
"Now you know not to mess with Daryl Dixon," he said as soon as she surfaced.
"Someone's going to be sleeping alone tonight," she snapped.
He shrugged. "Ain't like I've never slept alone before."
Lucy stuck her tongue at him as the three grown women made their way out of the pool. Shane and Rick stayed behind to play with the three children.
"Almost seemed like a normal day," Lori commented as she sat down next to Lilli. "Thank you."
Lilli looked at her in surprise. "For what?" she asked.
"For being there when Shane and I told Rick about us," Lori responded. "We shouldn't be keepin' secrets from each other. Not in this world. We have enough trying to eat at us."
Lilli's eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn't say anything.
"Come back in," Rick shouted to his wife as he beaconed to her.
Lori shook her head. "No way," she responded.
"Lilli, help!" Sara shouted as she jumped on Shane's back.
A large smiled crossed Lilli's face as she got up and entered the pool again. Soon the five of the six ganged up on Shane, pushing him into the water. Pure laughter echoed through the room.
Lori leaned back in her chair and smiled. It was a perfect day.
He had been to the house first. Her father, his best friend, had immediately called him up, begging him to check on Lilli. Apparently, she hadn't answered any of his calls and he was worried. When he had gotten there he was met with the bloody remains of a human male. The ID on him pegged him as Mark, Jessica's husband. It was a gruesome murder. Whoever killed him must have gotten caught by the girls. They didn't properly finish the job.
After a quick search of the house he saw no sign of either woman. He hoped that they were alright. He quickly got into his helicopter and took off. Both women were runners and he estimated that they would follow one path and go straight north. At least, he hoped that's what they would do.
His gamble had paid off and he spotted the two as they entered a clearing and headed toward the freeway. He didn't care that there were cars in the road and quickly landed his chopper.
Lilli and Jess looked at him with relief as he jumped out and ran to them. The cars on the freeway honked at him for blocking their path. He didn't give a damn.
Jess's skin was grey, cold, and sweaty. It looked like Lilli was practically dragging her sister.
"Jesus!" he shouted.
"We've been running for a while," Lilli said.
He nodded. "I'll get us to the nearest hospital," he yelled.
"No!" Lilli said, shaking her head. "Take us to my dad."
He shook head. "I don't know where he is," he yelled as he helped put Jess in the back of the chopper. The hairs in the back of his neck stood up. There was something wrong with her.
It wasn't long before he took off and started flying. "Take us to Frankfort," Lilli said in the headset.
"Why?" he asked.
"Father was near Frankfort," she replied.
"That's almost 800 miles away," he said in concern. "Your sister looks bad. I'm going to have to stop to refuel before…"
"Take us there, Michael!" Lilli commanded. She wrapped her arm around her sister and held her close.
Michael wanted to argue, but he couldn't. It took them a little over six hours to get to Frankfort, Kentucky. Michael got permission to land on the hospital roof and didn't hesitate. There was already a medical team waiting for them.
"My sister!" Lilli shouted as soon as the team opened the door. "Please, save her." They pulled her out then started to examine her sister.
Michael got out and Lilli ran into his arms, burying her head in his chest as she sobbed. "It'll be okay," he whispered.
A scream caught the two of them by surprise. The doctor fell back and landed on the ground. The skin on his lower jaw had been completely ripped off. Jess stood in the helicopter, chewing on his flesh.
"What the fuck?" Michael shouted.
Jess jumped on a nurse. The woman screamed in surprise and pain as the flesh on her neck was torn off.
"Hey!" A man shouted.
"No!" Lilli screamed as she put herself in-between her sister and the security guard.
Jess seemed to hesitate as she tilted her head to one side. Then she screamed as she ran. A shot rang out and Lilli gasped in surprise. She collapsed onto the ground and so did Jess. The two had been shot. The bullet had gone in Lilli's shoulder and out into Jess's chest.
"Fuck!" Michael yelled as he grabbed Lilli. "We need help now!"
The memory had come unbidden to Michael's recollection. He couldn't help but wonder. If he hadn't been called to check on Lilli, would he have been able to save his family? Or maybe if he had dropped the two in the nearest hospital. Then again, if he had done that he still would have stayed with Lilli. His conversation with Alex, Lilli's father, had been cut short that day. And he hadn't been able to call his best friend back.
Michael snorted. Some best friend Alex turned out to be. Michael was there for Alex's kids and yet Alex wasn't there for Michael's. He knew it was wrong, taking out his anger and frustration on Lilli. All she had done was try to keep her family alive.
At least she still had family alive. Little Sara, Michael thought as he shook his head. He still didn't understand why Lilli insisted that no one know about her relationship with the little girl. Maybe it was because she was afraid of what would happen when everyone found out that she helped spread the plague. Lilli had known that something was wrong with her sister, and instead of trying to contain her sister she took her out into the world.
Michael shook his head. The cool night breeze brought a slight chill to his body. He had found an abandoned hunting tree fort. He was going to stay in his car, but he decided that it would be safer to be up higher. Geeks didn't look up, unless their head was angled that way, or if they had seen him.
Either way, he felt safer up here. He had lied to everyone. He wasn't going to go to South Carolina. He wasn't exactly sure why he lied. Maybe it was because he didn't want people to argue or try to convince him to stay. Or maybe it was because he didn't want to see the worry in Lilli's face. He couldn't completely hate her. He had been basically an uncle to her, and if he were in her shoes he would have done the same. It was just easier to blame her. She looked so much like her father.
Michael let out a sigh. His goal was to return home. He was quite sure that his entire family was dead or undead. There was no point in thinking that they were alive. His wife didn't watch TV and would have waited for him to return home. And his two little girls wouldn't have left their mother. No, they were probably already undead and wandering inside of their home.
Michael sighed as he rolled onto his side. He would end his life in his home, whether his family was there or not. If they weren't, then he would be able to hope that they were alive. But at the same time, he had given up on life. He just wanted to be on familiar grounds when he finally took his own life.
A chill ran through his spine. He felt as if something or someone was watching him. Cautiously, Michael looked out and around him. It was dark and nearly impossible to clearly see anything. Then he spotted something. It was hard not to see her. Her long blonde hair and white dress seemed to make her a beacon in the darkness. She stood a little ways away and was looking up. From the distance, he couldn't see her face. But she was looking up at him.
"Hey!" he shouted down at her. "Get up here. Fucking geeks can get you retard!"
The woman swayed then started walking away.
"Shit," he said to himself as he scurried his way down the tree. He didn't know what had possessed him to make sure that the woman was safe. Maybe it was because there were so few survivors around and especially women. He would take her back to Rick and their group if needed.
"Wait!" he shouted as he ran in the direction that the woman had walked. It didn't take him that long to find her. She stood with her back to him and seemed to stare out into space. "Hey," he said softly as he reached his hand out to her.
She turned faster than he expected.
Immediately, he paled. "Impossible," he whispered in surprise.
She grabbed him and bit his neck, tearing the skin. He screamed in pain and pushed her away. She stumbled and fell back onto the ground. He quickly turned and ran away from her; his hand pressed against his bleeding neck.
It all came together and he finally understood. He understood everything.
A/N: Sorry it took forever for me to update. I couldn't figure out what to write after the water fight. That and I spent my free time this past week playing Skyrim. Anyway, got that game out of my system now, lol. Hope you enjoy this chapter. I decided to still make it a little light for Lilli. Next three or four chapters are going to be much more tense for her and Shane. Thanks for the reviews/alerts/favs. I promise the next update will be sooner rather than later.
liz-04 – I still like him this season. I'm trying to figure out why and it's hard to explain. He has so many emotions bubbling inside of him. I love how he keeps me guessing. I don't know what he's going to do next. You know, he risked his life to save Carl, but then maimed Otis so he could get away from the zombies. I think he just needs a little cuddling.
shippolove844 – I get all embarrassed when I put real pictures of actors on my desktop. People tend to use my computer and laptop and I don't know why, but it embarrasses me. Like, I don't mind saying that I like certain actors but for some reason it freaks me out when I have pictures of them on my computer.
Padme4000 – Hope this chapter made you laugh too, at least the beginning. I do my best to make sure that the chapters I post are well written. I spend hours contemplating what's going to happen to the characters and surfing the web making sure that what I have them do isn't too far-fetched.