A/N Hey everyone! So sorry for the lateness of the update this week, was visiting with family and didnt have internet until now. I'm hoping the chapters get even better from here on out. Thanks for the reviews. Much loves 3 Enjoy this one.

"There's a lot of variables here." Rick points out "How do you know you'll be able to find us again, if you even decide to come back."

"Rick, please," Sam says "I know, it's probably not the smartest idea ever. But I can't go through the rest of my life not knowing. Imagine if you had never found Lori and Carl."

He closes his eyes and sighs, "I know. I just don't like the idea of splitting us up, after everything we've been through."

"Well, Rick, it's really not your decision." Sam says, tired of arguing this "I would love to leave on a good note, maybe with a way to find you guys again if I get back down here. But regardless, I am going. Now I just want to know if I'll have people to come back to?"

"We'll have to work out a concrete plan," he says finally "but yeah, you'll have people to come back to."

"Thank you Rick, really.

"I just need to work out a plan with Rick, then I'm all set to go." Sam says, approaching Daryl.

"I?" he questions.

"Yeah?" Sam looks confused.

"No."

"What the hell? I thought we talked about this. I'm going back up to Boston. I have to try and find the."

"You're not goin on your own." he clarifies "I'm comin with you."

"We talked about that too, you're Rick's second in command now, I can't take you away from that." she looks at the group "They need you here."

"You said it before, you can't make it on your own out there."

Sam interrupts "What are you saying?"

"Either I'm coming with you, or you ain't goin." he says bluntly.

"You can't do that" Sam whines "You can't force me to be in charge of your safety like that"

"You're not. We've got each others backs. But I'm not letting you do this alone."

She sighs in defeat, knowing there's no arguing him out of this "Alright, let's go figure out how we're gonna meet up with them again."

"We could leave a trail or something, so y'all can follow it when you get back." Maggie suggests.

Daryl shakes his head "It's gotta be more than that. I don't wanna spend a month goin in circles lookin for scraps of cloth on a tree. We need something a little better."

"What if" Sam suggests "you give us, say six months, then mark a new town on the map for every month after that you'll stay in, or near. You can leave us something on the 'Welcome to whatever' town sign, so we know where you are."

Rick considers it. "Yeah, that's a pretty good plan."

"Course we'll have to go by the moon cycle, not the actual says, since I don't think any of us know the date anymore." Sam points out "But since last night was a full moon, it works out well."

Everyone nods in agreement. Sam pulls out the crinkled map she's had since the beginning and a pen, and hands them to Rick. "You guys have a map too, right?"

Maggie leaves and returns with a map for them and starts marking the towns with numbers like Rick is.

"Rick, one more thing." Daryl says, folding the map up. "We're gonna need a ride to the highway. I don't wanna take one of your rides and leave you without one. An it would be stupid to take the bike in the winter."

"Glen and I can run you back to the highway, or a nearby town, so you can find a suitable ride." Glen nods in agreement.

"You better take care of my brother's bike while I'm gone. I don't wanna come back and find out it's a wreck. Leave it somewhere safe if you gotta."

"Thank you guys, I appreciate it." Sam says, tucking the map safely away and hugging them. "I'll just say bye to everyone else, then we can leave."

Maggie hugs her tight "Be careful. I hope you get some answers."

"Me too." Sam squeezes her beck before slinging her pack over her shoulder.

Rick stops the car before they get to the heavily congested part of the highway. "Do you want us to help you gather fuel before we head back?"

"Only if you want, you don't have to." Sam offers them a way out.

"How bout we find a car first?" Daryl suggests.

"We're gonna need something that can go offroad and won't have a problem with snow." Sam states, scanning the cars around. "Jeep or truck is out best bet."

"We can always switch too, if the first one doesn't work out." Daryl points out.

"Guys," Glen calls to them "what about this?"

Sam smiles when her eyes come to rest of the lifted Jeep that Glen found. The old wrangler has seen better days, but luckily the previous owner left the soft top on and most of the wear is just from sitting for months. All four tires are good, and lucky for them, the keys are even in the ignition. She looks at Daryl with a huge smile on her face.

"We'll freeze our asses off in that thing. That top aint gonna keep the cold out." he says.

"Daryl, come on. It's perfect, plus it's still kinda warm, during the day anyway." she tries to reason "I've always wanted one. Plus you said yourself we can switch to something else later on."

"You'll need a whole lot of extra gas." Glen states.

"Shut up." Sam whines "Come on, it will be so much fun."

Daryl glances around, not really finding any suitable alternatives "Alright, let's fill her up."

Sam squeals with excitement and starts loading their stuff into the back of the Jeep.

"You wanna check the gas while you're in there?" Daryl asks her, opening the gas tank on a nearby car. He turns to Rick "I'm gonna be kickin myself later, ain't I?"

Rick smiles "Probably, but this trip is going to be hard on her, just let her enjoy the little things."

Daryl nods and starts filling the metal gas can.

"Little under half a tank." Sam yells over to them "Want me and Glen to find more gas cans for you guys?"

With the Jeep full and a few extra cans in the back, they bid goodbye to Rick and Glen.

"See you in a few months." Rick says with a wave "Stay safe."

Daryl drives the Jeep down the median, avoiding the cars on either side for as long as he can. Sam rolls down the window and enjoys the feel of the wind whipping through her hair.

"Should we stick to the highway? Or try as many back roads as we can?" Sam yells over the wind.

"Back roads will take longer, but it might be safer."

Sam looks at the map and the criss-crossing streets. "They're all so confusing."

"Relax. I can probably get us close to South Carolina before night, I know those roads. We'll map out some more when we stop." he reassures her.

She folds the map again and tucks it safely into her bag. They drive through winding dirt roads, the unpaved paths jostling them around the cab, more than once Sam glances back, making sure all of their stuff is still there. They stop for the night at a little state forest, Sam makes a meager dinner of roasted squirrel and canned green beans.

"We'll need more meat soon, we have maybe enough left to last us another few days." Sam says, smothering her cooking fire.

"I'll see what I can do. I'll go huntin in the morning before we leave."

Sam packs up the rest of their stuff and after some careful maneuvering, manages to lay the front seats almost flat against the back, making a half decent bed.

"Just don't go kickin the horn in yer sleep, the last thing we need is to ring the dinner bell for every walker in a thirty mile radius." Daryl jokes as Sam stretches out on the drivers seat.

She smiles and moves closer to him, resting her head against his neck. He places a soft kiss on the top of her head.