A/N: I don't think you guys understand how much I love you. Sometimes, you're the only thing keeping me going and I know that's sad but it's true. I consider you all friends.

Chapter 11

The rain had let up by the time we got back to the cave. Addie was growing heavier and heavier as exhaustion was setting in further with every step. I had insisted on carrying her after she had stumbled down the last of the trail from the Three Marys.

Daniel had taken the Sorrows back to their camp without a word. Scouts had said they saw the White Legs retreating from the valley.

The events of the night were hitting my body hard as I took slow, calculated steps towards my cot. Once reaching it finally, I laid Addie down gently and took off my vest. It was incredibly uncomfortable sleeping in kevlar.

I must have fallen asleep before my head hit the pillow since the next thing I know, I'm waking up to Addie's leg wrapped around my waist. The light shown through the cracks in the cave and cast the walls in pale sunlight.

I breathed in deeply and smelled her skin. She shifted with a breathy moan as she wrapped her arm around my shoulders. It wasn't until now that I had noticed she had taken her clothing off sometime during the night. Our clothes were drenched from the rain.

My head felt light as the blood rushed quickly to somewhere else. I adjusted to keep her from unknowingly touching me. As if she had read my thoughts, her hand trailed down my torso and down to that area.

Her lips pressing to my neck gave the hint that she was awake. "Good morning, Joshua," she whispered, hand gently rubbing my length.

"At this rate, it is a very good morning."

She giggled and kissed my jaw. The pants constricting me were beginning to feel painful. I winced at the sharp pain. It didn't help when she straddled my hips and sat on top of me, but I wasn't complaining.

"You handled last night pretty well. I think you deserve a little something," she moaned as she ground her hips against mine ever so slightly.

"I don't want you to feel like you have to-"

She pressed a finger to my lips and looked at me under thick lashes. "I want to."

She unbuttoned my pants slowly and the restriction felt like a weight was removed from my body. She leaned down and slipped a finger under the bandages covering my jaw. The contact stung with a mix of pleasure. My hands moved of the own accord, one tangled in her hair and the other wrapped around her waist.

"Who are you for?" My own voice rumbled in my chest.

"I am yours," she purred.

Her lips brushed my cheek. The feeling urged me to take off the gauze completely, but I was smarter than that. She must have noticed my hesitation, sitting up straight and waiting for me to continue.

"You alright?" She asked with concern.

"Yes," I paused. "Just over thinking. Don't worry about me."

She frowned deeply and slid off. She sat next to me and pulled her legs to her chest, staring at the cave wall ahead.

"Did I say something wrong?" I asked, sitting up next to her.

She shook her head slightly and laid back down, rolling on her side to face away from me.

"Well, it sure seems like I said something. What's wrong?"

She glanced over her shoulder. "Nothing. You should get some more rest."

I sighed and laid back down beside her. She didn't move away when I wrapped my arms around her. In fact, she scooted closer. At least she isn't mad enough to ignore me. I nuzzled her hair, kissing her neck gently.

"When are we leaving to find her?" She asked quietly.

"Is that what you were concerned about? As soon as you want."

She nodded. "When do you think would be best to leave?"

I pressed my forehead to the back of her neck and held her tighter. "We can leave today if you are ready. If you aren't, we can supply today and leave tomorrow morning fully prepared."

"Don't worry about caps and stims. I have plenty. I just need more ammunition, food, and to repair my stuff."

"We don't have to focus on water. Just use empty bottles around camp sites and use the water from the river. As for food, there was plenty left from the campers and the valley flourishes with fruit. Ammunition shouldn't be too hard to find. I have plenty for my .45s."

She rolled back over to face me. "I have to ask you something, Joshua."

Her statement made my heart rush. That sort of thing has always made me nervous. I waited for her to continue.

Her eyes bore into mine. "What will happen if we find my daughter? Are you just going to come back here, assuming we do find her?"

I had thought about that before, but never truly came up with an answer I fully agreed with. Staying with her and her daughter would mean I was taking up the role as the father, a responsibility I had never thought appealing. Leaving her after we find the child would be dishonorable and selfish, but I had never signed up for commitment.

Her face grew more wearisome as my train of thought continued on. She was hopeful before, now she looked somewhat betrayed. She turned her back towards me and put quite some distance between us. "Never mind. I don't know why I just expected you to stay."

The tremble in her voice gave me the hint of her hiding her obvious let down. I had to do something, and after thinking for a few more moments, I had the answer.

"Give me one good reason why I would leave you." I said sternly.

She sniffed once before speaking. "You're already doing me a big favor by agreeing to look for her with me. I feel like you staying would be me asking too much. I don't want you to feel like you're being forced into this."

"You are not forcing me to do anything. This is the most responsible I have ever had to be. It was just overwhelming thinking about it. I assume the father is no longer in the picture if you ask me to stay?"

She fell silent again. "No. He isn't."

The hardness in her voice enforced my belief of "don't ask, they will tell you when they are ready". I made a noise of acknowledgment.

"Her name is Amelia. I read that name in a book a long time ago and I thought it was really pretty."

"Are you starting to remember things?" I asked with genuine interest.

"Yeah. I think she has brown, curly hair. Just like her father. And a cute little nose that turns upward, like my mother's." She was silent for a moment. Her shoulders shook slightly with quiet sobs. "She looks just like Serenity."

"Who is that?"

She wiped her face. "I think she was my sister."