Later that morning they had a "meeting" of sorts.
Rick assigned two-person watches for their camp: Dale/Jim, Rick/Sarah, and John/Lori would take shifts on top of the RV, while Daryl/Christy, Shane/Glenn, and T-Dog/Morales would walk the perimeter. Andrea was spared watch for now along with Carol...mostly because Ed Pelletier refused to take watch, insisting that he could protect his family all on his own and "didn't need the hassle of trying to protect what wasn't his." He reminded Sarah so much of Shane...
After lunch, Lori, Christy and Sarah took the kids to the field on one side of the camp to play while the women were picking wild flowers for Amy's grave that was dug earlier. Daryl and Rick kept watch over them, eyeing the woods and talking amongst themselves.
"How you doing?" Christy asked Sarah as they arranged some flowers together.
"Better," she replied. "It's all out of my system."
"Rick has a way of doing that for you...making things better."
Sarah blushed. "Yeah...he does," she said as she looked over at him. He looked serious about whatever he and Daryl were talking about. "He's a great friend."
Christy scoffed. "He's way more than that and you both know it. It's just a matter of time before you admit it and move on."
"Easier said than done!" Sarah replied. "With all this going on around us...plus Shane is here - "
"And what does Shane have to do with anything?" Christy interrupted, putting her hands on her hips.
"You and I both know that he would flip out if he even thought about me being with Rick! I don't want any trouble. He - "
"Stop letting Shane run your life!" she nearly screamed. "Who cares about he thinks?! You got rid of that asshole three years ago...now it's time to move on to bigger and MUCH better things!"
"He's not running my life - "
"Sarah! Do you hear yourself? You're pushing Rick into the friend zone - when you and I and everyone else here know that it's much deeper than that - because you're afraid of what Shane might think or feel?!"
"Or DO, Christy! I have to protect Rick and myself." She shuddered inside thinking about what Shane was capable of.
Christy shook her head. "He won't do anything. He's afraid of Rick - Shane doesn't have it in him to hurt him and he'd never get a chance to hurt you again - Rick would take him out with his bare hands! So…next excuse?" Christy smirked.
Sarah knew her friend was right...she was out of excuses.
Sarah let out a deep breath. "I really hate you."
Christy smirked. "You love me and you know it."
After Amy's burial service, the group gathered around the main fire to eat dinner. Dale and Jim stood on top of the camper and Sarah took them plates of fish to eat while T-Dog and Morales roamed the perimeter.
As Sarah stepped off the RV, Rick walked up to her. "Hey," he said softly and smiled at her.
"Hey, yourself," she replied putting her arms around his waist in a hug. He pulled her tightly to him, his arms around her shoulders resting his head on hers. They stood still for a moment, her head tucked under his chin, neither one saying a word. She felt so safe and protected in his arms.
"Long day," she said, reluctantly pulling back from him.
"The longest," he replied with a sigh, resting his forearms on her shoulders and looking into her eyes. She nodded. "How are you? The kids?" She rested her hands on his waist, gathering his shirt in her fists.
"I'm better," she replied, giving him a small smile. "The kids seem to be ok. Noah has been awful quiet. Liv isn't doing much laughing today, despite Carl's best efforts..." Rick flashed her a sad smile. "We just have to take it a day at a time, right?"
He smiled full on, his eyes crinkling. "One day at a time," he repeated. "Our motto." She laughed softly. "Worked three years ago and certainly applies now..." He pulled her closer. "I'm glad to hear your laugh. It's certainly a welcome sound."
"Well you always manage to make me laugh no matter the circumstance, Officer."
"What can I say? It's a talent." She giggled. "See?" he asked, his blue eyes bright.
"Mama?" Liv called from her chair at the fire.
Rick leaned in and kissed her forehead. "Let's go eat," he said, dropping his arms from her shoulders and grabbing her hand, leading her over to her daughter.
After the kids went to sleep, John and Lori were keeping watch on the RV, and Shane and Glenn walked the perimeter. Sarah, Rick, Daryl, and Christy sat outside the tent by the dying fire, Sarah sitting with her legs folded underneath her Indian style on the ground close to the opening of her tent, not wanting to be far from Liv and Noah. Rick took the spot next to her.
"How's Andrea?" Daryl asked.
"She's okay. Dale is with her in the RV. She seems to be hanging in there..." Rick answered. "She didn't eat much, but that's to be expected."
Sarah shivered, but not really from being chilly. Rick scooted closer to her and wrapped a blanket and his arm around her. Christy looked over at her and grinned. Sarah rolled her eyes at her friend, but felt grateful to Rick and thanked him.
"I jus' feel bad tha' the kids witnessed it," Daryl said, stoking the fire down to the last embers. "How they holdin' up?" he asked, looking at Sarah.
She shrugged, leaning in to Rick's side. "They're not saying much of anything at all. Noah is my quiet guy - he keeps thing in until he's ready to talk. Liv is usually my open book, but she's not saying much either." Rick tightened his arm around her. She sighed. He kissed her temple.
"I could take Noah with me in tha' woods tomorrow afternoon," Daryl offered, "start teachin' him 'bout the crossbow and huntin'. Migh' help take his mind off a things..."
"Sure. We can see if he wants to go in the morning. Thanks Daryl." Christy smiled at her.
"Well I'm going to get some sleep - we have guard duty in a few hours," Christy said. She stood up and reached a hand out to Daryl. He hesitated then took her hand, letting her help him up. She went over and kissed Sarah on the top of her head as Daryl fist bumped Rick good night.
After they left, Sarah looked at Rick who was already staring at her. They both chuckled softly. "Guess we should both turn in too, seeing as we have guard duty in a few hours," she said as she turned her body to face him, their legs touching.
He reached in and smoothed her hair back from her face, tucking it behind her ear. Her breath caught in her throat. "Yeah, we should."
But neither one of them moved.
Rick's blue eyes continued to stare into her green ones. Her heart started racing as he moved his upper body closer and his eyes searched hers for any hesitation as he gently cupped her face in his hands, gently stroking her cheeks with his thumbs. She felt a rush in her stomach as his face got closer.
Something came over her and before she could even think about the repercussions, she pressed her lips to his.
His lips were soft and gentle and hesitant - but she wanted more.
She opened her mouth to allow him access and his tongue met hers. He groaned and pulled her onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her waist as she moved her legs to straddle him and ran her fingers through his hair, grabbing handfuls in her fists. He pulled her tightly to him, her breasts pushed against his hard chest. He moved his hands up to her hair, controlling the depth of their kiss.
His tongue explored her mouth, making her yearn for more. She moaned in his mouth as she felt his excitement pop up through his jeans and she instinctively ground her center over it. He let out a deep, guttural moan and pushed himself into her. Sarah had never been more turned on her life as her heart raced and a pit formed in her stomach. She had wanted this for the longest time and it was finally happening.
Caught up in their hot kiss, it took a minute for them to hear the throat clearing beside them.
Sarah fell backwards, though Rick didn't let her go and they turned to see Lisa. Sarah's face turned bright red with embarrassment at being caught by her mother and she looked at Rick who seemed embarrassed too.
"Sorry to...uh...interrupt. But I thought I was sleeping in here with you since you had to get up early for guard duty so I could watch the kids..." she faded off, a smirk on her pretty face.
"Yeah...sorry Mom." Sarah said as she scrambled out of Rick's lap, standing then putting out a hand for Rick to stand up. He stood and nodded at Lisa, who grinned like the Cheshire Cat as she told them goodnight and climbed into the tent with the kids.
Sarah looked at the ground, not knowing what to say to Rick as she tried to get her breathing and heart rate normalized.
She heard snickering and looked up at Rick, whose blue eyes were bright with laughter as he looked at her. She started cracking up, tears of laughter coming to her eyes.
Rick walked over and stood in front of her, smoothing her hair back. "I felt like a teenager being caught making out with my girlfriend by her mom." Sarah's stomach fluttered at his words.
He put his hand on her face and stepped closer. "I guess you know...I've been wanting to do that for a very, very long time."
"Really?" she asked, putting her hands on his hips. She moved closer to him.
He put his arms around her shoulders. "You have no idea," he replied. She giggled, feeling like that teenager he was talking about. He pulled her into him and planted a sweet peck on her forehead. "Now get to bed. I'm sure Lisa is laying in there listening to every word."
"I can't really hear everything, but it's not for lack of trying!" Lisa's muffled voice came from the tent.
They both laughed and he put his forehead on the top of her head. "Goodnight, sweet girl," he whispered as he placed a light peck on her lips.
"Goodnight Officer," she whispered back, smiling.