The next morning, everyone was standing around the dock, hugging their loved ones that would be leaving. Glenn had joined the group of the departing, putting them up to four. Lily had pulled Daryl into a tight hug, he still didn't like to be like that in front of everyone, but he got over it quickly, because in the back of his mind he feared he would never return.

"I love you," Lily said against his shoulder.

"An' I love yew," he replied as he pressed a kiss to her cheek.

"Be safe out there…I'm not gonna be there to watch your ass," she grinned.

"Tha' means I can't watch yer cute lil' ass an' git distracted." Lily giggled and pressed a ghost of a kiss against his lips. "C'mon now, Princess. That ain't no real kiss."

Daryl cupped her jaw with both hands and pressed a hard kiss against her lips.

"Dary, make sure you come back safely," Emily said.

"I will," Dary promised as he bent down to the young girl's level and hugged her.

"You better. I love you."

"I love yew too," he kissed her forehead and turned his attention to Lily's stomach. "An' yew," he kissed the small bump and Lily smiled softly.

"Why'd you kiss Lily's tummy?" Emily asked, confused.

"Well," Lily too bent down to the girl's level. "I'm gonna have a baby."

"You're gonna be a mommy!?"

"Yeah," Lily replied.

"And you're gonna be a daddy!?" she looked to Daryl, who nodded.

"Yer gonna be a big sister, if ya wanna be."

"I can be a sister!?"

"Of course," Lily grinned.

"Can you two be my mommy and daddy too?" Emily batted her long dark eye lashes. The couple looked to each other.

"Only if that's whut yew wan'," Daryl replied and the young girl nodded eagerly.

"That settles it then," the blonde of the group smiled and stood, because honestly it was beginning to hurt her legs.

"Can I call you 'Mommy' and you 'Daddy'?" Emily asked shyly.

"You can call us whatever you want," Lily smiled cheerfully.

"I love you guys!" Emily hugged them both tightly. For a moment, they were one happy family, but that moment was over far too quickly. Rick called Daryl onto the boat, and Mason made his way over to his sister.

"Be careful out there," she told him.

"I will. Take care of Beth for me…please," Mason looked more pale, and scared than usual.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine Lily. Just make sure she stays safe, and take care of Livy."

"Livy?"

"Sorry…Beth got me callin' her that."

Lily chuckled softly and hugged her big brother tightly.

"Do me a favor?"

"What?"

"Keep Daryl safe for me, please."

"You got it."

"I love you."

"Love you too, sis."

OoO

"They'll be back," Lily tried to comfort Beth, who was sitting on the porch steps pouting.

"I told him," was all she replied.

"Told him you love him?" Beth nodded. "And what did he say?" If he didn't say it back, even with the whole Taylor thing, Lily would have to kill her own brother. Seeing this poor girl weep over him wasn't something she could deal with, especially in her hormonal pregnant state.

"He said he loves me too."

"Then why are you so upset?"

"I feel like I forced him into it. Maybe he wasn't ready, y'know? Maybe he doesn't really love me, but just doesn't wanna hurt my feelings."

"Beth," Lily sighed. "Mason loves you. Trust me. I can see it. And when Mason loves someone, he won't let anybody or anything hurt him. My God, he was a wreck when Olivia was born. Taylor was screaming and he was going crazy," realizing this wasn't what would help. "Oh, and when I went through my divorce, he was there for me and wanted to kill Phil just for breaking my heart. When he gets back, you two will be just grand."

"If he gets back," he said bitterly.

"He will," Lily said, as she patted the younger girl's knee and stood to walk into the house.

OoO

It was the third day of the boys being gone, and Lily was starting to get worried as she woke from her bed. Emily was by her side because she too was worried about Daryl. Lily rose from the bed in only one of Daryl's sleeveless shirts. She'd even been sleeping on his side of the bed for the past few nights. It was crazy how far away and vulnerable she felt from everyone and everything without Daryl by her side. She just wanted him to come back to her and Emily.

She walked over to the clear, glass, double doors, only covered by curtains that led to her balcony. She opened the door quietly in attempt not to wake Emily. When she stepped outside she saw the ocean and much of the island surrounded her to be covered by a blanket of fog. The sun had yet to fully rise and the sky was only a light gray color rather than a deep navy blue. Even with the waves, she could hear the constant crash of the waves hitting the shore. It would've been such a beautiful sight if she wasn't so worried for everyone.

In the distance she could make out a figure, there was a dark outline of something, but she wasn't sure what. Although, there weren't many things that could float in the middle of the ocean, so she decided it had to be a boat. Because there was only one boat that knew the location of the island she knew it had to be them. She ran back into the room, down the stairs, out the front door, and across the sandy beach, until she came upon the dock, all while still wearing Daryl's shirt.

The boat drew near, and she could hardly take the anticipation. The sooner she was in Daryl's arms, safe and protected, the sooner she'd be her happy self. The boat finally pulled into the dock, and dropped anchor. Because of the fog, Lily was guessing mostly everything, she couldn't see any details, only the shapes of everything. The men stepped off the boat, and onto the dock. Three figures made their way toward her. Three.

AN: Who's missing? (Incase you didn't catch on to the only three thing. I'll tell you right now, somebody is missing from the boys' group. Who do you think it is?