AN: Hello again! Thank you to Sorcelle Dragonmoon, mrskaz453 Amber, VampWolf92, nana, MyHairHurts, x XRoweenaJAugustineX and HarlowEmeraude for their reviews. I'm really sorry about the delay once again. I've started college and I just haven't had time to write what so ever. My friend has been giving me hell about it. So instead of writing my other two papers, here is this charming chapter. It's not much, meetings and such, but I already have next chapter and be prepared for an angry Daryl. I've been a freak too because of the premiere of SEASON FOUR. Norman looked hot didn't he? xD Thank you to everyone else that favorited or followed. If you wanna see anything in this story, let me know and I'll see what I can do. it can be characters of your own, certain plot things, anything. So onward!

I own nothing but Eliza, Josie and whatever characters you don't know. I would love to have Daryl all to myself though...

Enjoy!

Chapter Six

Eliza looked up at Maggie. "Thank you."

"Of course. Some hell of a panic attack," she said, her eyes showing concern for the mother. Eliza had a few of them while she was at the farm house. Usually Patricia or Maggie were the ones around when she freaked out. She sat down next to Eliza, sighing loudly, looking at wound on her leg. "This is never gonna heal."

"Not at this rate." Eliza looked down at her leg and she could see some red spotting on the bandage. It really was never going to heal. She glanced up at Maggie. "Go steal me some bandages and sutures? I can clean it up myself."

Maggie stood but looked unsure. "Could you possibly, maybe walk me through it? So I could learn? I'm sure were all gonna need to know how to do this now."

"Sure Maggie," Eliza agreed smiling at her friend. She was happy with the thought of teaching her about stitches.

She looked around and saw Sofia standing off to the side of the room, unsure. The young girl had barely been with them for long and wasn't sure where she should go. There were tears trailing down her face; Eliza had probably scared the crap out the girl. Eliza beckoned her over to her and Sofia came to sit next to her.

"Are you okay?" Sofia gushed, hugging the woman who had made her feel welcomed and loved the past few days.

"Yeah," Eliza reassured her, smoothing Sofia's hand down with her free hand. "Someone pushed me and it triggered a panic attack. That's all."

"Okay. I wouldn't wanna lose you just after I lost my mother," Sofia told her. Eliza thought she might cry when she heard the young girl speak. "You've been the nicest here to me."

"I'll be here for you whenever you need me to be," Eliza said hugging to the girl to her side.

"Me too!" Josie piped in and Sofia smiled brightly at the young girl.

Her heartfelt moment with Sofia passed as Maggie came back, medical supplies in hand, followed by Shane. The man looked upset but he held himself strong. He reminded her of Gabe a bit; tall, broad and hid his feelings well. His brown eyes fell on Eliza, traveled down to the child on her lap then to the child next to her. Eliza watched as his eyes widened.

"Mr. Shane!" Sofia squealed, jumping off the sofa and running to hug the man around the waist.

The man looked dumbfounded, placing a shaky hand on her shoulder. "S-Sofia… you're alive!"

Sofia pulled back, looking sad. "Did you think I was dead? Does my mom think I'm dead?"

"No, no," he reassured her, kneeling down to her height. "I had my doubts. I've seen grown men get pulled down by the walkers. We were all so worried, especially your mother. That's where we were when Carl got shot, looking for you."

"Carl…got shot?" Eliza heard the sadness and fear riddled in her voice. "Because you were looking for me?"

"It's not your fault," Shane told her. "It was a complete accident."

She sniffled. "Can I see him?"

"Maybe later. The old man is cleaning him up," he answered her. "I'm just glad you're alive, Sofia."

"Me too."

Shane turned to Eliza then. She watched as his eyes traveled over her slowly before coming up to meet her eyes. She resisted the urge to shiver, feeling disgusted. "I'm sorry that I pushed you. It's just that Carl is like a son to me."

Eliza nodded, accepting his apology, but not wishing to talk to him. She turned her attention back to Maggie who sat down on the table in front of her. She scooted Josie off her lap so they could re-stitch her leg.

"Did I do that?" Shane asked, as she unwrapped the bandage around her leg, reveling the ugly gash.

"No, the fall ripped some stitches out," Maggie answered. Eliza threw her a thankful glance.

"Momma needs a band aid!" Josie exclaimed, looking horrified at the cut on her mother's leg. Her baby had never seen it before. "Momma, you always gets me a band aid when I gots a boo boo!"

Eliza smiled at her daughter silliness but it was Maggie who answered. "You know, I think I have some colorful ones upstairs in the bathroom. Maybe you Sofia could go and look."

"I'll get them!" Josie said and with a determined face, she grabbed Sofia's hand and they set off up the stairs.

"Okay so how do I do this?" Maggie asked looking at the needle before at Eliza's leg.

It was only after the Carl's surgery did Eliza and Patricia learn that Otis was dead. The older woman collapsed into tears against her. Eliza did her best to comfort her, knowing exactly what it was like to lose the man you loved. At least Patricia had closure on her loved one. Shane had saw Otis die. Gabe could still be out wondering the woods, hopefully as a human.

After putting Josie and Sofia to bed, she had laid on the couch, knowing she would be getting up often to check on Carl. She checked on Patricia throughout the night as well. Eventually, the woman had cried herself into a sleep around one. Lori and Rick slept next to Carl. Glenn, T-dog and Shane slept outside in tents which Eliza was thankful for. They had all been thankful to see Sofia alive and well; Rick had dissolved into tears. Maggie had felt so stupid for not telling the group when she had ridden out to grab Lori that the young girl was alive. She apologized profusely to Sofia because she didn't bring her mother to her.

It was morning now. Everyone stood outside on the porch when the other half of Rick's group drove up to the farm house. Sofia bounced next to Eliza, holding her hand. Eliza smiled at her knowing she was excited to see her mother again. The group took their time exiting the cars. They were tired and on the verge of defeat. They moved slowly toward Eliza and the rest of the inhabitants of the farm. There was only four of them; two men and two women.

It was the man on the motorcycle was the first to notice Sofia. His movements stilled to a stop as he hopped off his motorcycle, his eyes coming to rest on the little girl. An older woman exited from the car next to him, her face looking toward the ground. The man quickly nudged her and pointed to where Sofia stood.

Eliza watched as Carol's eyes fell upon her daughter. She heard her choke a sob as she fell to her knees, completely stunned that her daughter as standing just a few feet away from her, alive. Sofia ran to her mother yelling "Momma!" and they reunited in a hug. The motorcycle man placed a hand on Sofia's head ruffling her hair.

Eliza picked Josie up and held her on her hip. She kissed her forehead. Eliza never wanted to go through what Carol had did. Her daughter was safe in her arms and she really hoped it stayed that way.

"She was here?" an older man asked, his voice wavering.

"A man named Otis, and Jimmy here, had found her running from walkers. He brought her here and Hershel and his people had been looking after her," Rick explained to them.

"They are wonderful men," Carol said, still not done holding her daughter. "God sent."

"Otis is, unfortunately, dead. He died while getting the supplies needed to save Carl's life," Rick informed them. Eliza noticed that Patricia stiffen and her face waver at the mention of Otis' death. Hershel reached over and put a comforting hand on her shoulder and it seemed to steady Patricia. "He saved two children within his last days. He's a true hero."

"How is he?" the man with the hat asked, referring to Carl.

"He will pull through, thanks to Hershel and his people," Lori added.

Eliza could feel eyes drag across her and the rest of the group. The feeling of judgment filled her and she turned her attention to her daughter's dirty hands. She had been helping Maggie in the chicken coop beforehand. Her daughter needed a good bath it seemed.

Hugs were then exchanged. There was no more need for sad talk now. Carl was going to live and Sofia was alive. Eliza was going to escape from the large group when Rick's voice rang out. "I think we should introduce everyone, if you don't mind Hershel?"

"Once your boy is better Rick, you and your group will be gone. Better not give names for attachment sake," Hershel said. Eliza could tell he wasn't happy about all these people on his land. Of course she knew beforehand but to see his coldness now, she was glad he had deemed her worthy of staying.

"And we don't know when he's gonna get better. I just feel like my group would feel better knowing who's around them," Rick argued back.

Hershel took a deep breath. "Fine. I'm Hershel Greene and this here is my farm. These are my daughters Maggie and Beth. That's Jimmy and this is Patricia. And we also have Eliza and Josephine with us."

Rick rattled off his thanks and introduced his group. The man in the hat and the tropical shirt was Dale, who was the owner of the RV. The blonde was Andrea. The gruff motorcycle man was Daryl. Eliza had figured out the woman holding Sofia was Carol. Eliza wasn't sure if the last two were together or not.

Glenn and T-Dog had arrived last night. Eliza had shied away from both of the men, feeling bad because one looked really hurt. She just couldn't bring herself to get close enough to them. T-Dog was big and built. Glenn wasn't as intimidating but still, her heart started racing in fear.

Josephine wandered off from Beth. She was supposed to be watching her while her mother was being checked over by Hershel but she was too busy flirting with Jimmy to pay attention to the little girl like she usually did.

Josie was not one who typically wondered off but she was bored. Sofia was with her mother and her own mother couldn't play with her. She couldn't find Maggie so she wondered off. She walked down passed the barns, hearing the noises from the animals inside, watched the chickens for a bit before she came across a shiny machine sitting near one of the tents. It was big, towering over her. It looked like a bike that her father had bought her but only this one was scary and wasn't pink. It was black. Everything seemed to be black on it except the handlebars. Josie touched it and it was cold under her fingertips.

Daryl watched the girl as she walked about. When would mothers learn not to let their kid wonder off without someone? She was the blonde child that had been held by the young red-headed woman. Her hair wasn't quite blonde Daryl noticed, the red in it lit up while she walked about under the sun. She was small, way younger than Sofia or Carl. He kept his eye on her and she came closer to him, stopping to look at his motorcycle.

Daryl didn't know what he should do. Should he let her look at it? Yell at her to run away? Surely she couldn't cause any damage to the big machine. It might hurt her though he though. And little kids had a way to break anything. His mind was made up when she dragged her fingers across the black surface. He got up from his spot at his tent and stepped over to the kid.

"What da hell do ya think ya doin' kid?" he asked as he approached her, his voice gruff but not mean.

She turned around and took in one of the new men from the policeman group. His hair was unkempt. His face and clothes were covered in dirt. He looked scary, glaring down at her with bright blue eyes. And those eyes allowed her to not be scared of him. It was the only part of him that wasn't dark or dirty or messy.

"What's this?" she asked, ignoring his question, fascinated with that the big thing was.

"Motorcycle," Daryl grunted. "Now get out of here!"

"Who are you?" she asked him.

"Daryl," he told her.

"What's it do?" Josie asked, returning to the bike.

Daryl glared a bit at the kid for not leaving and asking even more questions. She reminded him why he didn't like kids so much. He wanted the little brat to be gone before her little fingers cause some sort of damage to his brother's bike. "It's like a car."

She looked back the motorcycle. "Goes fast?"

"Yeah, real fast," Daryl said. She reached out to touch it again and he knocked her fingers out of the way. "Don't touch!"

The little girl tensed and looked back at him. Her blue eyes challenged his. "Why not?"

"Because I told ya so," he said, amused at the child's spunk.

Josie looked back at the bike and asked another question. "Do you ride it?"

Daryl was dumbfounded. What the hell was with this half pint? Why did she feel the need to keep asking him questions instead of leaving him and his bike alone? "Shouldn't you be running back to your sister, kid?"

"Don't got no sister," she said, looking back up at him with the blue eyes.

"Who's that wom—" his question was cut short when a loud voice yelled out "JOSEPHNIE!"

Both Daryl and Josephine looked to where Eliza was standing on the porch. The worry in her voice stood out as she called out again. Daryl watched as the red head spotted the little girl next to him and tried to run off the porch but ended up hobbling.

"Josephine Val Harlow, get over here right now!" she yelled to her daughter as she made her way over to them.

"Bye, Mr. Daryl!" Josie said as she sped off toward her mother who had stopped a bit away from them.

Daryl watched as the young woman swung the girl up into her arms and hugged her close. Josephine said she wasn't her sister. He had no idea how they were related. She could have been her mother, aunt, cousin. They may have not been related and the woman had rescued her in this apocalypse. She looked exhausted however. Her eyes met his over Josephine's shoulder. He wasn't sure what they were saying. Maybe thank you, maybe stay the hell away from her little girl. He only knew they were as green as the leaves on the trees and that he couldn't look away until she turned her freckled face away, taking Josephine inside the old farm house.