Chapter 33 – Lauren

It's the crack of dawn and Daryl already has me up getting ready to search for this farm he found. I was really hoping for a little more sleep. It sucks that he's such an early riser. I slowly search for my clothes as I just don't want to get going right now. Daryl's never needed a lot of sleep to get by, but when we go to bed at night, there's very little sleeping going on. It's starting to catch up with me.

I drag on a pair of jeans, a long sleeve t-shirt and finally my boots. Stretching out all of the kinks I have helps my tired body. I quickly pull my hair into a ponytail and grab my pack and jacket before heading downstairs. In case anything happens, I need to be prepared so I carry extra clothes, water food and some basic medical supplies. Once again my gun is strapped to my right thigh and I have my knife on my belt. The everyday attire for when the world turns upside down.

Since most everyone is still sleeping, I head quietly down the stairs. I find Daryl and Carol drinking coffee in the kitchen. I've never really been a coffee person. "I have hot water ready for your tea," Carol tells me.

I give her a sleepy smile." Awesome… thank you." I quickly put together a mug of plain tea. I let it steep for a moment and take a few sips. It's already helping me wake up." What's it like outside today?"

I notice Carol has opened most of the shutters to let in the natural light. "Cooler than it had been lately, but it should warm up fine today," Daryl tells me. "You almost ready to go?"

"Just give me a few minutes, I wanna grab something to eat first and restock my pack. The sun's barely up," I tell him more abruptly than I needed. This is the first time I've been kinda grouchy with Daryl since we got together. If I head out tired, then I make mistakes and if you make a mistake in this world…you die. I wasn't ready to die yet.

Carol hands me a bowl of oatmeal with honey drizzled on it. God bless her! I start to eat as Daryl says, "Don't take too long, we're wasting daylight."

Numerous foul names pop into my head that I would love to call Daryl, but I bite my tongue. I look at him over the top of my mug of tea and notice a smile in his eyes. I can't help the small smirk that comes across my face as I try to ignore him while I slowly finish my tea and oatmeal. Carol places my pack on the counter. "I added some bottled waters, protein bars and some canned hash."

"Thanks Carol. I didn't even see you take the pack. I appreciate it since Mr. Wasting Daylight is in such a hurry to leave." I turn to Daryl, "Let me just clean these up and we can go."

Carol offers to do it for me. "No house rules are if I use it I clean it. You've already done enough, Carol. This will take just a few minutes." It doesn't take me long to get everything washed up and put away. I grab my jacket and pack and look at Daryl who's leaning up against the back of one of the sofas.

"Okay, we outta here…finally," he says.

"Be careful," Carol calls out. "And Lauren…"

"What?"

"Don't kill him."

"Can't make you any promises Carol. Sorry, just can't." She just burst out laughing while waving goodbye from the door.

Daryl and I both scout out the yard before heading down the stairs off the porch. "What's got you in such a bad mood today?" he asks me.

"I'm tired and getting up this early didn't help," I tell him.

"We went to bed early last night."

"Yeah we did, but we didn't go to sleep for a longtime and when we did someone horny woke me up." I was going for a major guilt trip on him.

Daryl gave me one of his sly sexy smiles and wrapped me in his arms. "I didn't hear you complaining last night or the one before that." Guess it didn't work.

"And you never will, but seriously I need to get some sleep tonight. You've always been able to exist on just a few hours' sleep, l but I can't...and did we really have to start the trip this early?" I whined.

"Yeah, we do. You know the unexpected always comes up and I don't wanna be caught out after dark. It's better that if all goes to plan, we get back early." He tilts my chin up so I'm looking up directly at him. "I'm sorry that you're tired. I'll take all the blame for that, but I just can't keep my hands off of you and that is your all fault."

I smile up at him. "Why is that my fault?"

"Cause your so fuckin' hot. That's why." Daryl leans in and gives me a deep kiss. I just tingle all the way down to my toes. We're standing in the middle of yard making out, but before I can start to laugh he pull apart. "Let's go, were wasting …"

"DAYLIGHT!" we both say at the same time. I'm in a much better mood as we head into the woods. I'm glad I'm getting to spend today with him, even though it means a really long hike to this farm and back. Just being with him makes everything seem like it's going to be okay.