A/N: Geesh, I know it's been awhile... I have been super SUPER busy. This chpt is shorter, but I hope you enjoy.

-Fourteen-

Lake laid her head against Daryl's back. The deep rumble of the motorcycle's engine almost soothed her as she looked off into the fields that passed. They stayed at the plantation home for only a couple more days before hitting the road. In that short time, Mason became a completely different kid. His personality shone as he made sure to make himself as useful as possible. Lake knew Daryl had a soft spot for the boy whether he admitted it or not.

Today, they had been riding in Texas for hours since daybreak. Merle, who rode with Mason on the back of his bike, motioned a hand signal to Daryl-who nodded curtly.

The bikes pulled off onto the side of road and everyone climbed off and began stretching their sore limbs.

"It's hotter than a possum's ass out here." Mason wiped the perspiration from his forehead.

"Ain't that the damn truth," Merle strained his back before heading off into the tall grass. "Gonna take a piss." He called back.

Mason jogged after him as Lake turned to Daryl. He nodded before he too started off after his brother.

Lake walked to the opposite side of the road and wandered into the brush. The baby, who was growing fast, loved to use her bladder as a moon bounce. She stifled off a moan at the sensation of relieving the ache from her bladder.

She was pulling up her pants when an explosion boomed in the distance. Lake jumped and turned to see a large black mushroom cloud form in the sky. Jumping through the grass, she made her way back over the road and stopped short when she saw the guys rushing towards her.

Daryl didn't stop as her grabbed her arm and pulled her with him to the bike. "We need to go."

"What was that?" She looked back to the smoke.

"Ain't somethin' we need to wait around to check out." He climbed on and started the engine. Lake climbed on after him and held tight.

The bikes sped down the road with Daryl periodically looking over at where the explosion's smoke disbanded. Merle and Mason were a bit of a ways ahead. Lake screamed as she watched them swerve off the road and slid sideways in the grass. Mason rolled away from the bike just as it came to a stop.

Daryl skidded to a stop and jumped from his bike, "Merle?" He hollered as his brother waved his hand through the air. When Daryl reached Mason's side, the boy was sitting up and smacking his knee.

"Wowee!" He looked to Merle. "Nice save, could've ate asphalt on that one." Merle got to his feet and lifted his bike, his face dark.

"What the hell?" Daryl started at his brother but Merle turned to look off ahead. Daryl paused and followed his brother's gaze before cursing. "Fuckin' shit!" He started running and Lake's eyes went wide.

"Daryl…" Ahead, walkers made their way from every direction. Hundreds. Lake slowly shook her head in disbelief, Daryl's shouts fading from her ears. He grabbed her and gave her a sharp jerk.

"Get on the bike!" Lake met his eyes and saw fear. She nodded and hurried to climb on as he steadied the bike. They started back the way they came but soon the bike slowed.

"Why are you stopping?" She shouted as she looked around Daryl. Her answers slowly drug themselves from the field opposite the explosion.

Merle stopped next to them, his face pale. The brothers exchanged a look.

"What?" Her voice shook. "What was that look for?"

Daryl swung a leg over his bike but held it still. He leaned in for a quick kiss before calling to Mason. "You take care of her." His voice was calm and it frightened her. Mason took Daryl's seat but remained silent.

"What are you talking about!" Lake swung around to see knowing looks on each guys face. It dawned then that they had an understanding about something. She pounded her fists into Daryl's chest until he held her wrists. Tears streamed down her cheeks, "Why are you doing this to us?" Her voice weak and broken.

He bent down to her, "I am doing this for us. Fer our kid." They didn't move as Mason started Daryl's bike. "Remember the first day I found ya in the woods?" Lake choked as he spoke into her ear. "When I looked down at the skinny, dirty, little thing you were, I thought 'there's no way this chick's gonna make it'." He laughed to himself. "I was wrong." His hands cupped her face. "I was so goddamn wrong Lake, you have more fight in ya than anyone I've ever met. You were meant to survive."

"Daryl…" Merle shifted as he looked around them at the walkers closing in.

"Yeah, I got it." Daryl shot back before turning back to Lake. "Fuck," He ran a hand through his hair. "I ain't no good with words." With a shaking hand, Lake grabbed Daryl's shirt and pulled him to her. Their lips met and the world was forgotten. Tears streamed down their cheeks as they frantically kissed one another.

She laid her forehead against his as she brought his hands to her stomach. "Come back to me. I don't care how you do it, you just fucking come back." Daryl choked before pushing away from her and pulling his crossbow.

Lake held to Mason as she watched Daryl study her. Merle grabbed his brother's shoulder before walking to his bike. With one last glance, Daryl turned and sat on the bike as Merle climbed behind him. He pulled the strings of his bow back and set an arrow before the bike sped ahead. Mason followed closely behind, as the first gunshot sounded from Merle's gun.

Walkers dropped as he made each shot count. Mason pulled a gun and aimed at the nearest walker. Lake's eyes never left Daryl as he shot an arrow through the skull of a female walker. Tossing his crossbow, he drew a pistol and opened fire-paving a path for Mason and Lake to pass.

She thought for a moment that they would both make it out until Merle and Daryl's bike crashed into a group of walkers throwing them both from their seats.

Lake screamed as she watched walkers surround the man she loved. He grew small until he disappeared from view. Burying her face in Mason's shirt, Lake's heart broke.

Three months later

"You okay?" Mason asked as he handed her a can of peaches. Lake turned from where she watched the sun set and took the can from his hand.

Mason sat next to her and nudged her with his shoulder. She smiled, "Yeah," She rubbed her huge, swollen stomach. "The kid is kicking up a storm."

Mason placed a hand on her stomach and grinned as the baby moved against his palm. "Ain't that somethin'?" Lake poured another mouthful of peaches before nodding.

"He is strong." She stopped knowing Mason would understand. She couldn't talk much about the baby without thinking about its father. It had been three months since they left Daryl and Merle and still Lake expected to see him break through the trees-crossbow over his shoulder; a string of squirrels at his hip.

For weeks, she walked in a state of shock. Thankfully, Mason watched her like a hawk and took care of her more than she deserved.

From where it rested on her stomach, Lake took hold of the teenager's hand and squeezed it. He gave her a knowing squeeze in return as she leaned her head on his shoulder.

The baby was due in the next few months and Lake was reminded of it anytime she moved. After a week's travel, they arrived in New Mexico where Mason insisted they stay for as long as they could. She wasn't stupid, she knew the reason. Part of her wanted to be furious with Daryl for going behind her back and setting up a plan of action in case they got into any trouble, but most of her just missed the hell out of him.

Mason ended up finding a place equipped with a generator. They didn't have a lot of gas, so they only used it when they needed to bathe or run the air conditioner-which wasn't often.

He stood, letting go of Lake's hand. "I have ta make a run. We need food and gas." His words matching her thoughts. Mason only ran trips at night unlike most sane people. He said, he worked best at night. True to his words, he always came back successful in some way so Lake never objected.

He helped her stand. "Okay, let me help." Lake offered but frowned when Mason shook his head. "Why not?" His eyes fell to her stomach sarcastically. "I am still useful Mason Keats." She argued.

"I ain't sayin' you ain't, it's just," He looked away. "You know why."

Lake rolled her eyes. "He isn't here is he?" She shouted as she threw up her hands. "Any stupid promise you made him doesn't count when he is dead!" She wasn't surprised when the tears came.

Mason walked away, used to her outbursts when it came to Daryl. Frustrated, Lake stomped her foot in the dirt and stormed into the house-slamming the door behind her.

Laying in the bed, she rubbed her belly and spoke soothing words to her unborn child. Her mind wandered to memories at a lake and Daryl's hands on her as he kissed her. She cried herself to sleep.