* Please Review. Powerful chapter, be warned *

By late afternoon the four of them started their trip back to the camp. Jillian and Daryl knew Rick and Shane wouldn't be looking for them around that area. No one but Jillian, Daryl, and Sophia knew where the farmhouse was. The group was walking slowly so that by the time they reached the camp site, it would be late in the night. That way everyone would be sleeping. Jillian hadn't said anything to Sophia about her leaving with Daryl. All Sophia knew was that Jillian was going to sneak into camp, pack up Daryl's things then sneak back into woods. Sophia then thought she would go into camp while Jillian said goodbye to Daryl. She thought Jillian would be following behind her.

They reached the camp around midnight and crouched down behind some bushes. Merle's and Daryl's eyes were searching around the camp to make sure no one was up and about. When they decided it was clear, Jillian started towards their tent. She stayed low to the ground and moved quickly. Daryl was nervous sending her into the field alone. He held his breath for as long as he could, making sure he was paying extra attention to the sounds around the woods and field, on guard for any walkers that might be creeping up on her.

When Jillian reached their tent she quickly went inside. It was hard to see in the dark but she knew where everything was. They never took anything out their bags. She sat on Daryl's cot and wrote her mom a note. Her heart was breaking and she wanted to cry but she knew she would feel worst if she let Daryl go. She needed Sophia and Carol to understand what she was doing and why.

Mom,

I'm sorry I left without telling you. I know how worried you must have been. Daryl and I are going to try and slip away from Merle. Please don't send Rick or Shane out to look for us. It will only make Merle mad and we are working on staying on his good side. He is treating me well so don't worry about that. Please make Sophia knows how much I love her and why I had to lie to her. There was no other way.

I couldn't just stand by and let Daryl walk out of my life. He is the most amazing thing to have ever happen to me. I know how it sounds, trust me I do, but I really feel like he and I were meant to be together. I believe if the world hadn't ended we would have found each other. He is my match. Since I was a teen you always told me that one day I would meet a man who was my soul mate and that I would feel it was him deep inside me. I used to think that was stupid until I meant him. The first time I saw his eyes, in Dale's RV when he saved me, I have been drawn to him. Every time I looked at him I had this strange feeling inside me and now I know what that was. He is my soul mate so I hope you can understand why I left with him. It wasn't his choice. He wanted me to stay with you and tried his best to convince me not to go through with this but I just couldn't do it. The thought of being without him or something happening to him makes my heart hurt and I feel like I can't breath.

I love you and Sophia so much, you will never know. You saved my life as a teen and showed me what a real mother is supposed to be. You give me everything I ever wanted the day you asked if you could adopt me. Thank you for fighting for me and giving me a real change at life.

Jillian

As she shouldered their bags and moved through the field, she was crying softly. She was forcing herself to take deep breaths and hoped the cover of the night would shield her face from Sophia. She didn't want Sophia to be upset or scared. When she reached their group, Daryl was staring at her. He knew she had been crying. He tighten his mouth and swallowed hard. He knew what it meant for her to be leaving. Jillian dropped their bags but wouldn't meet Daryl's eyes. She took Sophia by the shoulders and pulled her away slightly.

" I love you, Sophia." She said. The 12 year old nodded as she looked at her big sister.

" I love you, Jilly." She said in her tiny voice. Jillian took a shaky breath then looked up at the Dixon brothers. Both men were staring at her. She closed her eyes then squeezed her sister's shoulders. She pulled her against her and hugged her tightly. " What's wrong?" Sophia asked as Jillian kissed the top of her head. Sophia pulled away to look at her. Jillian wiped her cheeks and shook her head.

" Nothing." She barely got out.

" Why are you crying?" Sophia asked.

" It's time to go now, okay? You go first. I'm going to just say my goodbyes to Daryl then I will be right behind you. But I don't want you to stop or turn around. Don't make a sound. If anyone is on watch you don't want them to think you are a walker." Jillian said.

" You will be behind me?" Sophia asked. Jillian could hear the fear and uncertainly in her voice. She nodded her head because if she were to speak, Jillian was scared she'd start to cry again. Sophia looked back at Daryl and gave him a small wave then started out to the field.

Daryl sighed and made his way to Jillian. She was covering her face and crying softly. When he reached her, he placed one hand on her shoulder and pulled her into him. He put his arms around her neck and rested his chin on the top of her head. He rocked them slowly as she put her arms around his chest. Her face was buried in his chest. Merle was watching them. He could just barely hear Daryl muttering to her but couldn't make out what he was saying.

" I'll bring you back to her, I promise. You gonna see them again." Daryl whispered. She nodded and pulled away to look at him. He cupped her face in his hands and swept his thumbs across her cheeks to wipe away her tears. " You sure you wanna do this?" She nodded.

" I'll be okay." She said. She looked up at him and forced a small smile. " I love you." She said. He smiled and opened his mouth to say it back when Sophia's scream ripped through the air, pulling the three's attention to the field. She was standing in the center of the field with a walker who was attached to her right shoulder and neck. " Sophia!" Jillian screamed as she yanked away from Daryl. She went sprinting away from him before he could react.

Daryl and Merle were yelling as they ran after Jillian. Sophia had managed to get out of the walker's grip but not before waking the entire camp. She put her hand to her bitten neck and shoulder. She pulled her hand away and saw her blood. She started to scream and cry louder. She was backing away from the walker who was closing in on her again. A shoot rang out through the air a second before the bullet from Merle's gun rocked the walker's head back. It dropped to the ground right away.

Daryl reached Jillian as Sophia fell backwards. Shouts, lights and calls from the camp were running towards them quickly. His arm snaked out and wrapped around Jillian's waist. He yanked her back hard and spun them around so they came to their knees. She was crying and struggling to get away from him and to her sister. He wrapped both his arms around her and squeezed her.

" Stop, stop struggling!" He said into her hair. " You don't want to see her like that, Jillian."

" Who's there?" They heard Rick and Shane calling.

" Let me go!" Jillian screamed as she cried. Daryl closed his eyes as he held her tighter. " Sophia!" She screamed.

" Shhh." Daryl was repeating as she cried out for her sister. She was fighting and struggling as hard as she could but Daryl was much stronger then her. " It's okay." He was saying as Rick and Carol dropped to Sophia's side. Shane and T-Dog had their guns up and pointed to Merle. Carol was crying and repeating Sophia's name. Daryl glanced behind him and saw Dale running up to them. He turned his head back towards Jillian. She was crouching in between his legs, his legs holding her tightly.

" Let me go, please!" She was crying. " Sophia!"

" What happen?" Dale asked when he reached them. He leaned down and struggled to take deep breaths. " Where did you guys come from?" Daryl closed his eyes and shook his head to the old man. Dale understood what to do without any words. He backed up then turned and hurried to Rick and Carol. Jillian's struggling started to lessen. She brought her hands to her face and bend her head down as she started to sob.

" It's okay." Daryl said. " It's alright." He moved one hand to her hair and started running his fingers through it. " It's okay." He continued to repeat.

He glanced behind him to see Dale take his hat off as he stared down at were Sophia had fallen. He leaned down and took a hold of Carol's arm. He pulled the hysterical woman up and to him as Rick stood up. Dale pulled Carol to him and started to back away. Rick's back was to Daryl but he could see the cop was taking his gun out. Daryl looked back at Jillian. He turned her slightly so her left ear was against his chest. He covered her right ear with his hand. He closed his eyes again a second before Rick's gun shot rang out. Jillian jumped and started to scream again. She screamed and cried her sister's name as she struggled to get out of Daryl's hold.

" It's alright, Jillian." He started repeating again. " Every thing's gonna be fine." He muttered, knowing she couldn't hear him over her screams.