I do not own the Walking Dead.

Previously:

"Awesome, the grid gets cut, can you help Daryl, now? He already got shot with an arrow and hurt his head and then you shot him!" Faye said, hoping to sound grown up.

Rick gave the unconscious Daryl another look before speaking. "Let's do that."

Rick and Shane had taken Daryl to the farmer, Hershel, and Rick then assured Faye he had been taken care of. The man had then pulled out a map and asked her to show where she had been, hoping to narrow down their search for Sophia even further.

Faye was fine with helping them, but thought the whole mistaking her for Sophia was starting to get on her nerves. This short-haired woman had run up to the group and Faye could see the huge disappointment that it was her and not their little girl. Faye was important too! Why did they have to ignore her just because she wasn't the right person?

As Rick showed her where the creek was, Shane wandered over too.

"That's the creek there, think you can tell us where you've been?" He gave her a small smile and waited patiently.

Putting her finger on the paper, she trailed it east a little way. "The group stayed here, near the Cedar Grove Park. When I left camp, I stayed around that area for a little while, then I came out here." The finger moved along a main road for a little while before following a small road up to a house. "Got bored of the road, so I went up there to see where the little one went. Turned out to be a house, so I stayed there for the night."

"You got bored, so you followed a random road that lead into a forest?" Shane raised an eyebrow.

"Yep." She ignored the sarcasm. "The next day, I went into the woods. Then I found Daryl, and I told you what happened then." Faye ignored the look she was given as Rick asked her if she'd seen anyone. "No. Daryl was the first."

"Thank you. That doesn't cut down much of the area, but at least we know." He rolled up the map and walked off, telling the girl he would see her later.

Was that all he really wanted to know?

Apparently, Shane noticed her confusion. "Daryl told us 'bout the camp and your family. Sorry ya had to go through that."

Surprisingly, Faye didn't feel angry about Daryl telling them this. She wouldn't have to say it herself, at least. To Shane, she shrugged.

"I'm surprised you went with him at all. Hiding behind him like that, I'd a thought a little girl would run from a crazy guy with ears hanging from his neck."

Faye immediately scowled. "I went with him because he was a guy with a doll searching for a lost girl. I hid behind him because you guys were aiming weapons at us. What do you think a little girl would do then?"

Faye turned on her heels and walked away.

There's only so much exploring you can do before you get bored.

Faye pretty much met that limit.

The only place she hadn't been was the barn, which she'd been turned away from by Maggie. She didn't mind all that much though, apparently all that was in there was a cow. Cows were boring, anyway. She'd asked Maggie if they had any sheep instead. Unfortunately, the woman had said no.

(She'd also asked why Shane had his top undone, but Maggie had just laughed at her.)

She wasn't allowed to talk to Daryl, who was resting, and the other kid Carl was still in bed. They had both been shot.

So, Faye was bored.

Feeling slightly defeated, Faye sat against a tree, knees brought against her chest. The sun had nearly gone down too, so there wasn't much she could do anyway.

Looking up, she saw the old man from before sat on the RV. She guessed he was on watch. Faye decided she liked his hat, her dad wore a similar one when he went fishing once. He wasn't all that-

"Hi there. I don't think we've been introduced." The man interrupted Faye's thoughts, but she didn't mind. He wanted to meet her and not talk about Sophia!

"I'm Faye."

"I'm Dale. Nice to meet you." He gave her a smile. "Have you met everyone yet?"

"I've seen everyone."

"Alright. Well, that lady over there is Carol, for a start." Faye looked to where Dale was pointing and looked around the tree trunk.

Oh. It was that lady, the one who didn't like her. The woman gave her a little wave and Faye smiled a little in response. Whether she liked the woman or not, she didn't want to be rude. "She's Sophia's Mom." Dale added quietly.

Ooh. That made sense now. Faye felt a little mean for her previous thoughts, but the annoyance stayed in her mind.

Dale went on to point out all the other group members, or simply name them if they weren't close enough.

When they were done, Faye questioned Dale. "Can I ask something?"

"Sure."

"Why is Shane's top open?"

Dale immediately chuckled at her question. "Of all the things you could've asked, that's what you pick?"

"Well, I thought it was kinda important. Maggie didn't know either."

As Dale continued to chuckle, Glenn walked by. "What's funny?"

"Faye over here asked Maggie why Shane's top was undone."

Glenn gave a laugh as he continued on his way, and Faye frowned in confusion. "What, does no one know?"

"You'd have to ask Shane himself, and I don't think that would be a good idea."

Faye concluded that Shane's shirt was a mystery.

Silence then fell as Faye watched the sun go down, but from the corner of her eye, she could see Carol watching her. The girl couldn't tell if the look she was receiving was angry, sad, or something else.

Either way, it irritated her.

When Carol said nothing, Faye turned her head and spoke, her tone slightly more harsh than usual. "What do you want?"

The woman blinked in surprise before responding. "Oh, it's nothing. I should go, erm, help finish dinner."

"Carol." Faye turned to see Dale call over the woman. Reluctantly, she went over to him as Dale climbed off the RV.

Watching the two talk, Faye could tell it was about her. She stood up, deciding she didn't want to hear more about the whole Sophia deal. However, about to walk off, Faye couldn't help but hear them.

"I'd started to accept it, you know. That we weren't going to find her. But then Daryl comes back, and he's got a doll, and he has a girl! I thought my little girl was back, all muddied up but alive. But then it's not her and it's started over again, hoping she will come back."

"Well, I'm sorry I disappointed you so much," Faye snapped, startling the two adults. "But you don't have to act like I'm a mistake! Like Daryl just picked up the wrong person! I'm Faye! Not Sophia! I'm just as important!"

"Now, I'm sure Ca-"

Faye didn't listen to him. "I don't care. Just because you lost a little girl doesn't mean you can act like I'm not good enough."

Apparently, Faye's voice had been loud enough for Shane and Andrea to hear, as they both came to see what was going on as the girl continued. "I lost people too, you know! At least Sophia could still be out there! My Dad isn't coming back, my brother isn't coming back, I know for sure because I'm the one who killed them! You should be happy!"

Shane finally spoke while Dale and Carol simply stared at the little girl in shock. "Hey, hey, now, let's calm down and see what set this off."

"Let's not." She grabbed her backpack and slung it on her shoulder. "I'm not the little girl you want, anyway. I might as well leave." Faye snapped.

"Who said anything like that?" Shane continued.

"Didn't need to say it." Faye spun round and sped off in the other direction.

Dale stopped Shane when he made a move to follow the girl.

"We can't just let her run off, she won't make it out there!" Andrea said.

"I'll go. This is just a little girl who doesn't want to be ignored." Dale reasoned. "She just found a group after days of being alone and probably just want to talk."

Shane rubbed his head in annoyance while Dale walked off to find Faye.

Carol quickly dismissed herself to finish dinner. Maybe food would cheer everyone up.

Faye hadn't actually left the farm. She was smart enough to know that if she left now, she could be caught unaware by a walker in the dark. If she was going to leave, it would be in the morning, as early as possible.

So, in the meantime, Faye had run around the house and climbed a tree, hoping the group would leave her alone.

"I see you've made a nest up there."

Darn. She hadn't climbed high enough.

"I'm not a bird." Faye replied, not looking at the man.

"Don't have to be a bird to make a nest."

Faye glared at him. "What do you want?"

In return, he smiled. "I'd like to have a chat."

"What's the point? I'm going in the morning. I can take care of myself, you can't stop me."

"Who said I was trying to stop you?"

Faye's eyes narrowed. "Then go away!"

"I don't think I'll do that either."

"You're really annoying." Faye crossed her arms.

His smiling continued. "So I've been told." Neither spoke for a few moments, then Dale continued. "So, about that chat." When the girl didn't protest, he spoke. "Why don't we start with why you want to leave so much."

"Because I'm not wanted."

"What makes you think that? Daryl brought you back, didn't he?"

Faye rolled her eyes. "You know the first thing he said to me? You ain't Sophia. You ain't Sophia!? No, I'm not Sophia! Daryl probably just brought me back because he would feel bad if he left a child alone in a forest."

"So, what bothers you is that you think we want you to be Sophia?" Faye nodded. "I see. How about you look at it from Carol's point of view?"

"How am I supposed to do that? I'm not someone's Mom and I never had a Mom in the first place." Faye scowled.

"Alright." He nodded, raising a hand as if to apologise. "What if it was one of your family?" He paused, looking to see if he could go on. When her scowl didn't worsen, he continued. "What if it was your brother? And Daryl had gone searching for him, but brought back a different boy? Would it make you feel better?"

Looking at the older man, Faye considered it. No, it wouldn't. Not really. She'd want Andy back - and she still did, still hoped it had been a nightmare. She looked down, not wanting to admit he was right. Dale seemed to notice anyway.

"You see?" Reluctantly, she nodded. "You said you could take care of yourself, you want to be treated like an adult?" Again, Faye nodded. "Then I'm going to treat you like one and ask you to forgive Carol, Daryl, and the rest of us for expecting you to be someone else."

Faye thought for a minute longer, before quietly speaking. "Okay."

"Good! Now then, why don't you come down and we carry this conversation over to the RV. It's comfier there."

"Huh?"

"What? I said I wanted a chat, not to try and keep you here."

The girl blinked at him before crossing her arms and huffing. "I said I'd forgive you, not that I'd stay!"

Faye was planning to stay, but was determined not to give in to his argument that easily. Dad had always said she was stubborn.

"Where would you go? You're safe with us, no matter how dysfunctional this group is."

"Dysfunctional?"

"Doesn't work properly."

"The group doesn't work properly?"

"Never mind!" Dale flicked his hands about to dismiss the subject. "Come on, down you get."

After a few more minutes of protest, Faye clumsily dropped down from the tree and walked with Dale to the RV. As he promised, they'd had a chat. Deciding that she liked Dale, she told him about the camp, Michael, and eventually Andy and her Dad.

Surprisingly, Faye didn't cry. Dale questioned her about it, but she had simply shrugged and said crying was a waste of energy.

When Carol returned with news of dinner, however, Faye decided to stay on the RV.

"I can't leave you out here. Don't you want any dinner?"

"I can have left overs. If I go in now, I'll have to say sorry in front of everyone and that's embarrassing!" Faye crossed her legs, staying where she was. "Besides, you need someone on watch, right? You said you'd treat me like an adult."

Dale sighed. "Fine. But if you see anything, you have to run and get us immediately. Promise?"

"Promise!" Faye chirped, happy to be given a job.

"And you have to apologise to Carol later, promise?"

"Promise!"

And so, Faye was left alone. Starting to get a little cold, Faye picked up her backpack and took out the pale green hoodie. As she untangled it, the Glock fell into her lap, surprising the girl slightly. After safely putting it back in the bag - double checking the safety was on - Faye slipped the large jumper over her head and curled up on the seat.

It was quite peaceful to sit there, with the stars out. Faye wasn't sure how long she was sat there before someone came to see her, but she could smell the food when they did.

"I brought you something."

Faye was surprised to hear that it was in fact Carol who had brought her the plate. The woman placed the food on the roof before climbing up to hand it over herself.

"Erm, thank you." Faye said quietly. Carol nodded at her, and was about to turn away when Faye continued, guiltily brushing her fringe behind her ear and looking down. "I'm really sorry I shouted at you. I do want you to find Sophia and I'm sorry I was kinda mean about her. It's just, you know, I got upset."

"It's alright." Carol gave the young girl a warm smile. "I'm sorry too."

Faye blinked, but smiled back. That had been easier than she thought. Carol continued as she moved next to the chair Faye was sat on. "It's good that you're here, it gives me hope. If you survived by yourself, then Sophia might be able to as well."

"Yeah, 'course she could." Faye paused. "Is Daryl okay?" Faye asked.

The woman nodded. "He's fine, just needs some rest. You can see him tomorrow, if you like."

The young girl smiled. "Good! He was a bit messed up when I first saw him."

"Daryl's tough, you don't need to worry about him." Carol patted the girl's head lightly before speaking in a slightly sterner voice. "Now, eat your dinner before it gets cold. When you're done, we can set you up a bed in my tent."

"In your tent?"

"Sure. You look tired, you need a good night's rest."

Faye decided to eat inside the RV, it was warmer there. The RV was a bit old fashioned, but the sign that said 'How about a nice cup of shut the hell up' made Faye smile a little.

Before she went to bed, Faye told Dale how she had apologised to Carol and he praised her before directing her to the woman's tent. As they rolled a sleeping bag out, Faye spoke.

"Where's the other kid? Is he still really injured?"

"Who, Carl?" Faye nodded. "His wound was quite bad, but he should be up and about by tomorrow, I think. You can meet him then."

"Cool, I haven't seen other kids in ages."

Faye propped up her backpack near her head and lay down, looking towards the sky. Staying here wouldn't be so bad after all, she decided.

Turning on her side, Faye drifted to sleep.

Author's Note:

Hope you enjoyed chapter three. Thank you for the follows, favourites and the reviewers!

Chapter four will be out on Saturday, so I'll see you then.

Please review, I love to hear your thoughts and advice.

Thanks.

Cobalt Flame.