The sun had set beneath the trees, and Rick had decided that we would pack our things in the morning. We would be moving on upon Hershel's word that I was safe to travel. I looked better than I had in days. According to Hershel, I had been in bed for a week. I wasn't much for keeping up with time. If I had ever needed to know what day it was in the past, I had just asked Dale.

I sat on the bed that had been my trap for the last few days. Still feeling a little weak, and a lot tired, I leaned back against the pillows. My mind tried to seep into the memories of the days before, but it was all just a haze. I remembered a lot of Daryl, the nightmares, and Cheyenne. She was the one thing I could not forget. A constant ache in my heart that stabbed at me everyday, reminding me that she was gone. Forever.

Did I even grieve? Yea, guess so. Not fully. Not enough. I miss her so much. Bein' strong for her was the hardest thing I ever did. Couldn't let her see me cry. Couldn't scare her. She was dyin', but she was okay with that. I ain't okay with it! I need her back. Nothin', I got nothin', without that baby... Patricia, Dale... Sophia.. Take care of my baby... Please.

"Got dinner..." Daryl stopped in the doorway, staring at me as I tried to wipe away my tears. Forcing a smile, I turned my head toward him as I sat up.

"Thanks." I said quietly. Neither of us said anything as we ate. I didn't realize how much I had missed food, it was the best plate of beans I had ever eaten. When I started to get up, Daryl grabbed my hand and pulled me back onto the bed. He took my plate and set it on the floor on top of his. Turning to look at me, he shook his head.

"Stop tryin' to be so strong. If you need to cry, cry." Daryl growled. I shook my head, tears coming to my eyes.

"You know, I never cried this much before... Growin' up, tried to avoid cryin' 'til I was alone. Cryin' in front of him showed weakness. Didn't wanna give him or her that satisfaction... This world don't want satisfaction. It wants to take and take and take. Break you down, 'til there ain't nothin' left to hold onto... World could've froze... Could've burned... But this? This's just cruel." I looked away, tears spilling down my cheeks. I felt Daryl move toward me, but he didn't touch me. I turned to him, wrapping my arms around his neck. Burying my head into his shoulder, I cried. "I miss her, Daryl! I miss her so much..."

He said nothing, only tightened his grip around me. I felt the weight of the world being lifted off of my shoulders as his hand grasped the back of my neck, pulling me into him. And that's when I realized what Daryl did for me. What he had always done for me. For the group. He took that burden and carried it for himself. Comforted me, to take away my pain for himself. Only, he couldn't take away this, we shared it together. We both hurt, we both missed Cheyenne.

Repositioning myself, I wrapped my arms under his, my hands gripping his shoulders. I rested my face against the side of his neck, taking a shaky breath. Can we just stay like this forever? I asked myself, never wanting to move from that spot. Holding onto his shoulders tighter, I planted a small kiss on his neck. It hurt knowing that he could help me so easily, but I felt as if I was too weak to help him through his own pain.

"Tell me thing's are gonna get better." I mumbled against his skin.

"Thing's are gonna get better." Daryl said quietly. His hand pressed harder against my back, pulling me even closer to him.

"We gotta leave tomorrow." I sighed against him. He was quiet. "Leave her.."

"Gotta map from Rick. Figured out the area while you were sick. Can bring ya back here.. If we ever get the chance."

"Really?" I asked, moving my head from his neck. I kept my grip on his shoulders, and the way my arms were wrapped under his kept us close. Our noses were only inches apart as I looked up at his face.

"Really." He mumbled softly, staring back at me. Studying his face, I tried to read what he was feeling, thinking. Before I could say anything, his eyes darted to my lips, then back to my eyes. "Need sleep. Long day 'head of us."

"Stay with me?" I asked, not letting go of him. Daryl looked at the door, then back at my face. I must have looked convincing, because he allowed me to pull him down onto the bed with me. Face to face, I put my hand against his cheek. "Thank you. For bringin' me back... From wherever I was."

"Should've done it sooner." Daryl said, his voice harsh. He was upset with himself.

"Point is, ya did." I whispered, kissing the tip of his chin. He pulled me against him, and I relaxed at the warmth his body heat radiated over me. Feeling sleepy, I snuggled my face against his neck, my lips close to his ear. "Don't ever leave me. I need you."

"Won't." Daryl said, sleep thick in his voice. "Need you, too." His words melted me, and I felt sleep taking me over when his fingers moved against the back of my neck. Up, down. Up, down. The feel of his finger nails drizzling over my skin sent me straight to sleep.

Packing the last of my things into my duffel bag, I zipped it shut and walked to the front door. Walking outside, I headed to Rick's vehicle to throw my bag in the back. I left the hatchback open for everyone else to finish packing their bags. Instead of walking back into the house, I crept around the side to the back yard. Cheyenne's grave came into view and I stopped.

Taking a moment to regain my composure, I started forward again. When I reached her grave, I knelt down, touching the smooth wooden cross. Touching the words carved into the wood, I felt a tear in my eye. Despite feeling as if I were saying goodbye again, I smiled. I smiled because I knew that she knew she was loved.

Kissing my hand, I touched her name gently, before standing up. Walking back toward the side of the house, I heard footsteps. I turned to see Daryl, walking down the back stairs. He walked over to Cheyenne's grave and knelt down. I watched as he reached out and touched the wooden cross. Realizing that he was right, we didn't have to do this alone, I walked toward him. He didn't turn around, and I stood behind him, resting my hand on his shoulder.

We were silent, and his hand came up to touch mine. He stood on his feet, placed his hand on the nape of my neck and gave me a gentle squeeze. His eyes said everything, as he turned and we walked around the side of the house. Looking back, I stopped and whispered to my baby girl. "Bye, Cheyenne." Daryl had stopped, watching me. I looked back at him. "Let's go."

He nodded and waited for me to walk the two step gap between us. I felt his hand on my lower back, and that comforted me. As it had done many times before. I felt like that was his way of pushing me on. Pushing me forward. Keeping me grounded when I felt like the weight of everything would just sweep me away.

He was the only thing I had left. I hadn't realized it before, but Dixon was something I would fight for. Lay down my life for. He had become everything to me, saved me on numerous occasions. Kept me sane through the insane moments. Like Rick, Daryl tried so hard. And if no one else could see that, I surely could. Maybe that was what had pushed us together. Maybe I had known all along.

I walked toward the motorcycle, the group's eyes on me. Waiting for some sort of broken reaction. Not today, folks. Today's time to be strong. Move on. I told myself with sadness. I didn't want to leave my baby cousin that had become like my own child. Taking in a deep breath, I watched Daryl walk around me and straddle his motorcycle. Following his lead, I slid on behind him. Glancing back over my shoulder, I looked at the now empty house.

Take care of my baby. Dale, Patricia, Sophia... Amy. Yea, you get to see Amy... The roar of the motorcycle snapped my attention back to the road ahead. Daryl pulled out of the yard and I watched as we drove out onto the road. Turning slightly, I gave the house one last glance. As it started to disappear from my view, I turned my head back forward. Time to move on... No lookin' back.

Grabbing the sides of his vest jacket, I held onto him as we rode down the highway. I realized that I had left a part of me back at that house. A part of me had died with Cheyenne. A part of me that I would never get back. It was all in my hands now. Up to me to keep going. When the outbreak first happened, I had no time to do anything rational. No time to think. I only had time to go.

Cheyenne and Shay were my only two concerns in the world. Until we got to that damn road block. Then everything changed and I gained a family like I'd never had before. I spent all of my time trying to protect the people I loved. But you can't save everyone. Especially not in a world like this one. I wanted so badly to keep everyone alive, and when I realized that I couldn't, I just focused on Cheyenne and Shay.

And now they were both gone. I had lost everything. It felt that way, at least. Despite my pain, I knew that I had one more thing to fight for. Dixon. I would die before I let anything happen to him. Losing someone else I loved was not an option anymore. I wasn't going to let this world beat me. I was going to beat it.

If that meant blowing every walker to hell, I welcomed the challenge.

I apologize deeply for the long ass update wait. I have had no internet. So happy I have it now ! I am so so so so sorry ! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, it's about time Spencer snapped the hell out of it ! The READERS/REVIEWERS are FREAKIN AWESOME ! Thanks so much for the patience, guys. You all are amazing. Reviews are greatly appreciated as always.

~Kaila