++++++ Please enjoy this chapter. I do not own any rights to the Walking Dead even though I wish I did. Thought I'd get into the swing of things and start this up again for the Walking Dead to start back. Who's excited? ME! I want to know how they escape Terminus! ++++++

Sixty-Seven

Sophia had just finished putting her gun back together when Ollie sat up, wagging his tail a little. Spirit trotted through the bushes and sat down beside his brother before leaning back to lick his balls.

I rolled my eyes and stood up, Judith in my arms as Carol and Myka came back from their scout. "Find anything useful? Like a fully stocked bar with ice? I miss ice. And bourbon. And my vibrator."

Carol shook her head with a laugh. "No, nothing like that. We did find a house near a pecan grove. I thought we'd all stay there a couple days. It's got running water but it's cold."

I shrugged. "No drama. We'll boil some water for the girls to wash up in. Cold suits me just fine. Judith needs a bath more than anything. Sophia, grab your shit, we're leaving."

Tyreese took Judith off me, letting me strap myself back up. "I can take her if you want," he offered.

"Better off," I nodded.

"PJ has the better eyesight," Carol agreed. "Being a sniper and all. We marked the trees to show where we're going." She grabbed the blanket off Sophia and handed it to Myka to carry. "Don't mind being at the back?" she asked me.

I shook my head. "Nope." I drew an arrow and notched it, waiting with Spirit as Carol led the way. It would be nice to sleep in a bed or even on a lounge for a couple days. Plus, I love a good pecan nut.

It didn't take long for the small group to make it to the little house that Carol and Myka had found. Reminding me of something out of Little House on the Prairie, Carol and I went inside to make sure that there were no hidden walkers or perhaps someone inside the house.

Satisfied that we had indeed found nothing, Carol went back to fetch the small group whilst I had a look for something to eat.

There were mostly jars of preserves in the cupboards, peaches, strawberries, berries of some kind and other things I couldn't make sense of. I pulled them out and searched through the pantry, the flour inside was old and out of date but unopened, as was most of the food in there.

"Jackpot," I grinned, finding a bottle of what suspiciously smelt like moonshine.

"I don't think so," Tyreese cut in, snatching it off me. "You're pregnant. And our best shot."

"Bastard," I growled with a grin. "Maybe Carol can make something out of all this food. I'll go boil some water of Judith."

Leaving the kitchen, I went back outside and poured some water out of the rain water tank into a bucket, lugging it back inside.

Sophia had found a metal tub that would probably only just fit Lizzie in it, setting it in the unused laundry. "PJ?" she questioned.

"Yeah hun?" I smiled back.

"Can we stay here?" she asked.

I shrugged. "I don't know, Sophia. Probably not a good idea. Not so soon after the prison. I want to go to Terminus. Rick's there. Or he will be. He's gotta be. They've all gotta be there. I'm just scared for Ebony and the baby. Being on the road."

"I miss Matt," Sophia sighed.

I rubbed her shoulder and tested the water, it was still a little cool. "So do I. These days, we should probably be used to it by now."

Spirit yawned and buried his head in his paws as he and Ollie watched us.

"Go outside and grab me some water," I told her.

Sophia grabbed another bucket and went to get the water.

I glanced out the window, seeing the smoke in the distance. We probably shouldn't get too attached to this pace in case walkers find us or more importantly, that fire finds us.

"Worried about the fire?" Carol asked me, holding a grubby, nude child in her hands.

I nodded. "Yeah. I've seen wildfire rip through a place, add walkers and it's more dangerous." I looked up and took the water off Sophia, pouring it in the tub before adding the hot water. I added more of the second bucket before taking Judith off Carol and putting her in the water.

Judith made a gurbling sound and smashed her hands against the surface of the water with a giggle. I smiled and cupped some of the water in my hands, dumping it over her head to get an even louder squeal.

"You're going to be a great mum," Carol smiled.

I snorted. "I could die, sooner or later I could die. Or go the way of Lori whilst giving birth."

"Take the compliment," Carol told me.

"I found some soap," Myka spoke up, holding an obvious bar of soap in her hand.

I smiled and took the soap off her. "Wanna help?" I asked her.

Myka nodded eagerly. She eagerly dove in and sleaned Judith gently, splashing water on her playfully. I watched and couldn't help but think that Myka was far too innocent for this world-like Sophia had when we first found her. Then again, she was Lizzie who definitely had something wrong with her.

"I'll take over here and you go have yourself a nap," Carol told me. "You're tired and need all the sleep you can get. Rest as much as you can whilst we stay here."

"No point on arguing with you, is there?" I asked her. Carol shook her head and I got up. "Come on Spirit."

The dog jumped up and followed me to the smell bedroom out the back where I stripped off my weapons and sat down on the bed. I stared at the ring on my finger and pulled it off with a smile.

Verum apud te.

Be true to yourself.

I grabbed Rick's hand. "I love you," I whispered.

"I love you," he responded.

I slumped back on the bed and put the ring back on my finger. "Be alive," I whispered. "Please be alive. I need you to be alive."