AN: As far as everyone that didn't make it to Lily's house being dead...I don't know ;). You'll have to read and find out.
The group was about an hour from their destination, and had just crossed the Georgia/South Carolina border. Lily was taking her turn driving, and Daryl sat with Emily asleep on his lap, he wasn't able to sleep like everyone else. Plus, he figured he could keep Lily company.
"When we git ta this island, will ya grow yer hair out again?" Daryl asked.
"Maybe. Why?" Lily kept her eyes on the road.
"'Cause I liked it long," he took a strand of short blonde hair between his fingers.
"I did too," she agreed. "So I was thinkin' when we get to my house, we can get movies and-"
"Movies?"
"Yeah. There's TVs and all kinds of other stuff there. We can live how we used to," she smiled at the thought that her child wouldn't have to worry about being attacked by the dead.
"I bet Emie'll lik' that."
"Me too. And Olivia."
"Lil?" the two heard Mason's groggy voice in the back seat.
"Yeah?" Lily replied.
"Are we almost there?"
"Yep, about another hour."
"Should we wake everyone?"
"Eh, yeah. So, they'll be alert."
OoO
Mason, Rick, and Carl got out of the car at Mason's house, and they'd be taking his car to meet Lily and her group at her house with the boat.
Lily made the drive to her two bedroom townhouse. In the driveway sat an older blue jeep, with the door to it's gas tank open. She guessed that somebody had already syphoned any gas that it had. She parked the SUV on the street outside.
"Beth, I'm counting on you to keep the kids safe," Lily said.
"I will, don't worry," the younger girl said.
"Yell if you need us. We should be able to hear you."
"No problem," Beth nodded. She had a hand gun next to her, just in case.
"Emie. I wan' yew ta take this," Daryl held out a small revolver to the young raven haired girl. "Don't shoot it 'less yew absolutly have to."
"Got it," Emily nodded.
"Be careful kiddo," Lily ruffled the girl's hair and took lead of the group, followed by Daryl, Rose, then Merle taking up the rear. "When we get in there, Merle, you and Rose take the left side of the house. Daryl and I will take the right. Just to clear it out, then we all meet back by the door, before getting what we need."
"Okay," Merle.
They made their way to the front door, Daryl and Lily kept their bows ready, as Lily turned the door handle. Locked. She picked up the mat, and found the spare key, before unlocking it. As she had said, her and Daryl took the right side, which included the kitchen and her room. The kitchen was easliy seen, but they opened the cabinets to be sure. The food was still fully stocked.
"This way," Lily led the way to her bedroom. The bed was still unmade, and her clothes littered the floor. It looked just as it had the last time she was in there. Next, they walked into her bathroom, which was themed with butterflies. Daryl snickered behind her. "Don't hate on the butterflies," she warned.
"Jus' not what I 'pected."
"Good," she grinned and started to walk back out of the room, Daryl caught her arm before she could, and pressed a hard kiss on her lips, which rapidly turned into something more. His hand worked its way up her shirt, as his lips moved to her neck. She leaned up against the solid white sink.
"Woah there, lil' brother," Merle said when he stepped into the bathroom. Both Daryl and Lily froze, Daryl quickly pulled away, and Lily fixed her shirt.
"I thought I said we'd meet up in the livingroom," Lily said.
"Yeah. Ya did. But y'all was takin' forever."
She sighed, realizing her and Daryl's mistake. They did have business to take care of.
"Okay, yeah. Let's get started then." The trio made their way back to he livingroom, where Rose was waiting paciently, rocking on her heels. "I'll get the maps, there's trash bags in the kitchen, find anything of use. There's men's clothes in Liam's room over there, and all my clothes are in my room."
Lily quickly turned and made her way out the back door. She walked across the over grown green grass to a garden covered with weeds, and began to use her hands to dig, until she felt the wooden box. She pulled it out, and made sure it had everything. This was her keep safe box. It contained maps to the island, an old photo album, and her mother's locket. Lily smiled as she walked back into the house. Daryl was in the kitchen gathering food, and she assumed Merle and Rose were getting clothes.
"Whatcha got there?" Daryl asked when he saw the shoe box sized wooden box.
"My special box," she replied as she set it on the counter. Daryl noticed the infinity sign on the top and guessed that it had to be something that once belonged to her parents. Lily took out the locket, that also had her father's wedding ring on the chain. "Would you mind clasping this?" he nodded and as she held up her hair, he linked the chain back to itself.
"What else's in ther?" Daryl asked.
"Maps, and a photo album. This was where I kept anything I wanted to be safe," she explained. Daryl nodded, in understanding. "I'm gonna go help get clothes. You got this here?"
"Done, actually," he was able to fill one garbage bag with canned and dried food. "Merle an' Rose whent ta Liam's room."
"Then you can help me in mine," she grinned, before grabbing two more trash bags and handing one to him.
"Gee, thanks."
"You're welcome," Lily grabbed her box and walked to her bedroom. Daryl followed behind her.
The couple entered the blue painted room, and Lily began opening draws and carelessly throwing clothes into them. Daryl, however, used the time to take in the room. He noticed several framed photos on the walls, but one on hes bed side table stood out. It was a blonde man standing with an equally blonde woman. But the blonde woman looked just like Lily. The woman was in a long white dress, and the man in a powder blue tuxedo.
"Who's this?" Daryl asked. He wondered if she'd gotten married more than once, though it didn't seem likely.
"My parents," she replied sadly.
"Yew just lik' yer mom," Daryl said.
"That's what everyone has always said," Lily smiled. "They would've loved you, y'know?"
Daryl smiled lightly. He didn't think that was really true. How could it be? he wondered. He was a Dixon after all. And, girl's parents and Dixons didn't mix. That's just how it was.
The two silently returned to their work. Daryl opened Lily's closet, and saw dresses. Dresses! He couldn't help but bust out laughing. She looked over at him, and saw what he'd found.
"The hell's this?" he said between laughs. "This Liam's closet?"
"No!" Lily laughed too. "I happen to wear dresses," it sounded odd to her now too. She was covered in dirt and blood, dresses seemed like the last thing she'd wear.
"Now this one, I'd love ta see ya wear," he pulled out a black one with thin straps and a plunging neckline. Lily laughed and put it in the trash bag.
"We'll see," she smiled and kissed his cheek.
Rose came running into the room a moment later. A happy grin spread across her face.
'He kissed me!' she signed. Lily's jaw dropped.
"Whut happened?" Daryl asked.
"Your brother kissed her..." Lily replied slowly. "And she's happy 'bout it..." she made a discusted face.
"Yo, Darylina, ya ready in there?" Merle asked, as he too made his way into the room.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?" Lily asked as she set her jaw.
"Speak."
"Alone," she pulled him by the arm back into th livingroom. "You better not hurt her," she warned.
"Whut's it ta yew?"
"She's my cousin! You treat her right, you understand me? And, don't you dare do anything unless you mean it for long term."
"Can't I jus' have a little fun?"
"No. Not unless you mean it."
"Pft," Merle turned to head back into the bedroom.
"Promise me."
"Only if yew tell ma brother yer secret," Merle said.
"Fine, I will. Once we get to the island. Deal?"
"Deal," he reluctantly agreed. The two made their way back into the bedroom to find Rose and Daryl sifting through the objects in her drawers. She walked over to Daryl, when she saw him with a small jewlery box. She'd know that box anywhere, and without opening it, she knew what it contained.
"I'd like to bring that..." she said. Unlike everyone else, she wasn't able to go through and find what to take. Like, she figured Lori must've taken old family photos, Taylor tried, but they were lost quickly.
"Whut's 'n it?"
She opened the delicate box, and showed him the contents. It was only a few peices of jewlery, but it was all she really owned.
"My wedding band, Mason used her engagement ring on Taylor, a charm bracelette Mason got me when I was younger, and a pair of earings my great grandma gave me."
"Whut 'bout this one?" he held up a ring with a large diamond on it.
"I've been meaning to throw this one out, but I was saving it in case I needed money," she took the ring and set it on the table separatly. If he had to guess, it was her's from her marriage before.
The sound of the front door opening, drew Lily, Daryl, and Merle's attention. And, since these three were on alert, Rose looked up too. Lily and Daryl held their bows up and pointed them at the bedroom door.
"Lil, don't shoot," Mason's voice came from the other side the door, before he pushed it open.
"Hey there," Lily smiled at her brother as he entered with Beth.
"We've got a problem," he said.
"What?" she asked, worried that he lost the map, or worse.
"There's not any gas around here. It's all been cleaned out..." Mason nervously ran his hand through his once blonde hair. Now, it was covered in dirt and blood, much like everything anybody else was wearing.
"So we'll go a few towns over. There'll be somethin' there," she tried to think positively.
"Maybe the highway to Charleston?"
"Maybe," she agreed. "But I don't know if I want everybody out on a highway again."
"We coul' secure this place. An' only take a few ou'," Daryl suggested.
"That could work," Mason said. "Do you still have those two by fours in the shed?"
"Oo, yeah. I should. My keys should be hangin' on the hook in the kitchen," Lily replied.
"Daryl, why don't you come help me?" Mason suggested.
"Ya," Daryl nodded and kissed Lily's cheek before following Mason outside.
"Is my sister pregant?" Mason asked. He had a hunch she was, because of her random sickness, and her over sleeping. If anybody knew, he figured it'd be Daryl.
"Nah. She tol' me she can't hav' kids."
"Hm. Forgot 'bout that...but what 'bout her throwin' up? And always being tiered?"
Mason unlocked the shed, and opened the double doors. Daryl thought about this for a moment. It did seem off. Was Lily pregnant? he wondered. What if she is?
AN: This was a long one...I kinda just got in the zone...I really like writing this one! I can't wait to write more, but I'm going to bed, since it's 11:00 as I'm writing this. (Time won't be the same for posting).