As the sunlight filters into the jeep, I can't ignore the new day which has begun. I adjust my position, no longer using Rick as a pillow, and gently interlace my fingers behind my head. Yes, the world may have ended, with the dead still closing in on us, and the need to keep moving pressing upon us. But in this moment, gazing at the roof of the Cherokee, hearing the rhythmic breaths of Rick and Carl on either side of me, it feels... right.

A lazy smile spreads across my lips as Carl stirs, emitting groans and grunts of protest as he, too, succumbs to the sunlight. "Morning, Carl."

The boy responds with a low moan.

"Use your words, Son," Rick chuckles, his voice heavy with sleep.

"Mmmhhmmmmm," Carl mumbles.

"Tired?" I shift slightly, brushing some of his hair away from his face.

"Yeah," he mutters, turning to snuggle closer to me. "Five more minutes."

"Sure."

"We're not going anywhere yet," Rick adds.

Eventually, Carl rouses himself from his morning stupor and positions himself near the door. "See you out there," he says quietly.

"We won't be too long," Rick assures him with a nod as Carl slips out. I snuggle closer to Rick, wrapping my arms around him and resting my head on his chest. He responds with a gentle kiss on the top of my head.

Suppressing a yawn, "Morning."

"Good morning," Rick replies, running his hand through my hair. "We should probably make a move, talk to everyone about our next move and start packing up."

I shift so I'm propped up on his torso, "I've done a bit of... let's call it recon, while I was pretending, I hadn't been avoiding you." I offer a sheepish grin. "Most are willing to head North, to see how the cold affects the dead."

"Is that a good idea?"

"Why not? Where else can we go? And the cold could slow them down significantly."

"Besides it being north, do we have an actual destination in mind? I don't want us wandering aimlessly," Rick presses, his brow furrowing with worry. "It would be ideal if the cold rendered them sluggish or immobile, but we need to ensure we're heading towards safety."

"My family has a cabin on the outskirts of Black Lake, in Saskatchewan," I explain, feeling Rick's fingers tracing soothing patterns on my back. "It's secluded enough we shouldn't have to worry about hordes of the dead, and it's close to Stony Rapids, giving us more options for scavenging supplies we might not be able to grow ourselves."

Rick's expression darkens slightly as he considers this. "It's a long journey," he remarks, his voice tinged with concern.

I nod in agreement, letting out a weary sigh as I lay my head back on his chest. "I know, which is why we need to present it to the group officially. Even if we only go far enough to test the effects of the cold on the dead, having a plan is better than nothing."

"Okay," Rick concedes, planting another kiss on the top of my head. "We'll let them know today, give them time to come up with their own suggestions, and then we'll make a collective decision."

I press my lips against his, savoring the moment as his hand cradles the back of my head, deepening the kiss. Right now, we're a normal couple lost in the passion, oblivious to the world around us. I relish the sensation of his hand sliding down my back, his lips melding with mine, and the warmth of his body beneath mine.

Suddenly, there's a loud double bang on the car window, jolting us apart. My wide eyes meet the grin of the man standing outside – T-Dog. "If we can't get any, neither can you," he cackles before moving on.

I groan in embarrassment, curling up and squeezing my eyes shut as my face flushes with heat. "Jesus Christ,"

Rick chuckles and pats my hip. "Let's go, Darling," he says, climbing out of the vehicle. "We have a day to start."

I huff at his teasing, retrieving my glasses from their spot and theatrically struggling to exit the jeep. "You're so mean," I pout.

He smirks, pulling me back and looming over me. "I'll make it up to you," he promises.

Leaning against him, I trail my hand up his chest suggestively. "We could take control of the RV today and make up for the last few days?" I suggest with a playful glint in my eye.

He hesitates, his gaze flickering between me and the RV, then back to me. "We shouldn't, we have responsibilities," he responds, his tone firm.

I can't help but smile, planting a kiss on his lips and then his cheek. "Shame, I was going to rock your world as we rocked the RV."

To my surprise, the chaos and opposition I had anticipated upon proposing our journey North fails doesn't occur. I can't help but wonder if my persistent discussions over the past weeks have contributed to this acceptance, or if it's simply the fact we finally have a destination—a tangible goal to strive for.

Lori, predictably, raises objections. "We don't have the supplies or resources for such a long journey. It's too far, and for what? Some remote cabin in the woods?"

I grit my teeth, forcing myself to maintain eye contact with her instead of rolling my eyes. I don't want to escalate the situation into an argument, but I can't help but wonder if her opposition stems from genuine concerns or simply because it's my idea.

"You're only against this because Lozzie suggested it," Amy interjects, her tone sharp. "If it were anyone else, you'd at least consider it. We all know you don't like her. I think the plan has potential."

Hershel sighs wearily. "We don't have any other viable plans. No one else has proposed an alternative. We cannot stay here indefinitely."

Rick intervenes before Lori can continue her objections. "We don't need to make a decision right now," he asserts. "This is merely a suggestion. We still have to pack and prepare. If anyone can offer a better idea, we'll have a vote, and the majority will decide."

I lock eyes with Lori. "I'm suggesting heading North mainly to observe how the dead react to the cold. We don't necessarily need to trek all the way to Canada, but if we witness a favorable effect, it could give us a destination to aim for."

"What's in Canada?" Carol inquires.

I turn to address her directly. "My family has a property there, large enough to establish a permanent home for us. There's a lot of land we can use to become self-sufficient."

"We have plenty of fuel to start, and there are gas stations off the main highways we can explore," T-Dog chimes in.

"Resources won't be scarce; vehicles always have something, and with careful planning, like we did at the quarry, we can scavenge for supplies in towns along the way and find warmer clothing," Maggie adds, her expression hopeful.

Rick surveys the group. While most wear optimistic smiles, Lori's face resembles someone who tasted a sour lemon. She shoots me a glare before storming off. "Let's start packing. Gather whatever supplies we can salvage from our surroundings. Think of any last-minute locations we could investigate. Otherwise, we're setting our sights on Canada in a few days," he instructs.

"Don't dawdle too much. Them walkers been poppin' up more'n usual lately." Daryl warns from his perch atop the RV, his crossbow slung over his shoulder.