AN: Just an FYI, my computer like spazzed out...so that's making it difficult to type this...

They used what little daylight they had left to prepare Lily's house for the night. Lily would be sleeping in her room, with Daryl and Emily, Mason would be sharing Liam's room with Beth, and everyone else would have the living room

Lily somehow convinced Emily to sleep in the bath tub, she wanted to be alone with Daryl, since every time they got a moment to themselves, someone interrupted. They laid in her bed, with her head resting upon his chest. The sun had long since dipped so low in the sky, it was no longer visible, and nobody could be heard throughout the house. But, she knew that Rick sat awake on watch, and somebody else was bound to be awake. Daryl intertwined his fingers with her's, it just seemed so natural and so right.

"Y'know I love ya, right?" Daryl asked, as he kissed her forehead.

"Yeah, but I love to hear it," Lily grinned.

"Good, 'cause I love ta say it."

"So...what did you and Mason talk about?" she asked, it'd be bothering her. Mason was always kind of the wild card...nobody ever knew what he might do.

"Yew."

"Me? What about me?"

"He thinks ya migh' be pregnant," Daryl said. "Are yew?"

Lily froze up. How did he know? she wondered. Just as she was about to apologize, and tell him everything, light shone through the closed navy blue, curtained window, illuminating the dark, utterly unlit room.

"What was that?" she sat up quickly, and freed herself from Daryl's grasp, before moving to the window. She peaked through the boards, and saw a car with its headlights still on. After grabbing her bow, Lily hurried to the living room, then crept out the front door. Daryl was hot on her trail, he'd protect her at all costs. "Who's out there?" she called.

"Lily?" a female voice called back. "It's me...Maggie."

Maggie stepped out of the darkness, and Lily was able to see the young woman with chin-length brown hair. Without hesitation, Lily ran and hugged her lost friend.

"I thought we lost you back at the prison!" she smiled happily.

"I'm just glad we found y'all," Maggie said, relieved to be back within the group.

"We? Is Hershel with you?" Lily could hope, couldn't she? If Hershel was here, her pregnancy would go much more smoothly.

"He wasn't fast enough," tears moistened Maggie's eyes. "He was so close...but they got him..." Lily hugged the crying woman, feeling the guilt course though her. She felt bad for bringing up Hershel, she shouldn't have, it was inconsiderate. More footsteps were heard, two figures were making their way into the light. Lily lifted her head for Maggie's shoulder as Maggie continued to cry.

"Welcome, y'all. So glad you made it," Lily smiled happily when she saw Michonne and Glenn. "Why don't we all get back inside, hm?"

The three agreed, and they set up in the house too. Daryl and Lily returned to their bed and actually slept. They both seemed to forget about Daryl's earlier question.

OoO

The now larger group ate canned food as breakfast, as Lily was thinking of what the smartest plan would be as far as gaining fuel. She and a small group would be the ones to find it. The problem was, who stays and who goes. Somehow, she realized, she'd taken Rick's place as leader. Which, was a job she didn't want to begin with...but now she had it so she'd try her best.

"I'm goin' out there," Daryl said. He knew he wasn't letting her go out there without his protection.

"If you go so does your brother," Lily pointed out. Daryl just shrugged, which she grinned at. "I was gonna take you two anyway," she kissed his cheek and continued to think. After a few more minutes of silence, she broke it. "Okay y'all. I need two other people to go with Daryl, Merle and I. Anyone who stays here, get anything that we might need, and be ready for when we come back. Got it?"

"So I don' git a choice 'n rather I stay 'er I go?" Merle asked, making his way over to Lily and Daryl as they stood at the counter.

"You're a good shot," Lily shrugged.

"Righ'..." Merle said, unconvinced.

"Look, it's not my fault," she sighed. "I trust you, but I can't leave you here..."

"Alrigh'."

'I want to go too,' Rose signed as she made her way over.

"What's she say?" Merle asked.

"She wants to go..."

"We'll keep 'er safe," he promised.

Lily inwardly smiled and looked back to her cousin. 'Okay. Why don't we go get dressed in my room?'

'Okay,' Rose smiled.

"Rick," Lily went up the the scruffy faced man. "Keep the group safe. We should be back before sun down."

"You be careful out there."

"We will. Make sure everyone's ready to go when we get back."

"I wanna go," Carl came up to Lily. She shot a look to Rick, before addressing Carl.

"I think you should stay here. I don't want to take all the good shooters. Plus, I want you to keep Emily safe, please. For me..."

"You got it," Carl tipped his sheriff's hat.

"You're so grown up," she smiled at him.

OoO

The car ride down to the highway was creepily quiet. Daryl drove the car, with Lily riding next to him, their hands were tangled together, Rose and Merle sat in the back seat not speaking a word.

"It should be right up here," Lily gestured to a small turn in the road, which Daryl followed and just as Lily had said, he ended up on the highway. There was a mass of cars to their left. "This highway leads to Charleston," she explained.

Daryl brought the car to a stop and they all piled out.

"So whut? We jus' siphon gas?" Merle asked.

"Yeah. Everybody take a can. Try to fill them up," Lily replied, grabbing one for herself. She kept the can under he arm, and her bow ready as she walked down the highway. Everyone else followed her lead.

Just as Lily had put her lips to the hose, she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"I don' think that's the bes' idea," Merle said. "Yew coul' hurt the baby. Let me do it."

"I can handle it," she replied and started back on her task.

"If yew ain't gonna tell ma brother, so's he can help ya, ya gotta let me."

"I said I got it," Lily didn't want to be a useless member of the group. She had to help.

"Fin' yew go tell 'em, then see whut he has ta say." Lily sighed and stood up from her place. "Jus' stand guard."

Lily did as Merle said. She still didn't want Daryl to know, there was just too much going on.

AN: Yay! Done with this chapter. I love, love, love all of your reviews. Let me know your thoughts. Ideas are welcomed too.