Hi all, I had issues trying to upload the chapters. This means I lost a few days from my finish date, so I'm going to extend it a bit and hopefully finish it in the next two weeks.

Cheers.

From the Jeep, I glance at the RV's window, seeing a silhouette grabbing a jacket. Rick shifts beside me, tightening his grip on the steering wheel as he leans forward. "What's happening in there?" he mutters to himself.

The RV door swings open, and Amy steps into view. "I'm not going far! Just right here. I can't breathe in there."

"Amy," Beth calls after her. "Stay inside."

I see Amy hesitate, her hand gripping the edge of the doorframe. She glances back, lips pinched and runs a hand through her hair before stepping down onto the frost-covered ground. "I need a minute." She takes a few tentative steps away from the RV, her boots crunching softly against the frozen grass. The cold wind tugs at her hair, and for a brief moment, she looks calmer, tilting her face toward the pale sun.

"Amy?" Beth comes to stand at the door, visible through the rearview mirror.

Amy doesn't respond. Her head tilts, her shoulders stiffen, and her breath is visible in the icy air. My heart sinks as a figure emerges from the grass—a walker, frost clinging to its decaying limbs, its movements slow but deliberate. Its milky eyes lock onto Amy, and my stomach drops.

"Amy!" I shout, my voice sharp as I fling the door open, but it's too late. She stumbles back, her boots skidding on the frozen ground as the walker lunges, its jagged teeth sinking into her shoulder. Her scream rips through the air, freezing me in place for a split second.

"Lauren, stay in the Jeep!" Rick snaps, reaching for his gun and scrambling out the door. I don't listen. I can't. My feet hit the ground, and everything feels too slow, too far away.

Daryl's crossbow fires first, the bolt slicing through the air and striking the walker square in the skull. It collapses instantly, but the damage is done. Amy crumples to her knees, her hand clutching her shoulder as blood seeps between her fingers.I reach her as Beth rushes out of the RV, her cries piercing the cold.

Amy looks up at me, her face pale and streaked with tears. "Lozzie," she chokes out, her voice trembling. "I'm sorry."

I drop to my knees beside her, my hands shaking as I try to assess the wound. But I know. There's no coming back from this.

Beth reaches us first, her sobs breaking the frozen silence as she collapses beside Amy. "No, no, no," she cries, shaking her head as she grabs Amy's free hand, clutching it tightly. "You're gonna be fine. We'll—we'll fix it. We'll find a way."

Amy's breathing is shallow, her wide eyes darting between Beth and me. "It hurts," she whispers, her voice thin, trembling. "Lozzie… I didn't mean to…"

"It's okay," I say quickly, my hands hovering uselessly over her shoulder. "We're here."

Behind us, Rick is shouting orders, voice clipped and sharp. "Daryl, Michonne—clear the area. Make sure there's no more out there." His tone is calm, but his expression is anything but when I glance up at him. His jaw is tight, his eyes narrow, and they glint sharply.

Carol appears next, rushing from the RV with a blanket. Her face is pale, her movements frantic as she kneels beside me. "We need to stop the bleeding," her voice wavers. She presses the blanket against Amy's shoulder, her hands shaking slightly. "We—we need to stop it."

"She's bitten, Carol," Rick says, his voice hard as he steps closer. His shadow looms over us, "There's no stopping it."

Beth looks up at him, her tear-streaked face contorts. "Don't you dare say that!" she snaps, her voice rising. "Don't you give up on her! She's not gone—she's not gone!"

"She's not gone yet," Rick says evenly, though the lines on his face deepen as he speaks. "But we can't pretend this ends any other way."

I feel my throat tighten, my gaze shifting back to Amy. She's trembling now, her lips tinged blue as the cold and shock set in. Her fingers clutch weakly at Beth's hand, her breathing shallow and uneven. "I don't want to go."

"You're not going anywhere," Beth insists, her voice breaking. She leans closer, her forehead touching Amy's. "I've got you, okay? I'm right here."

My hands feel useless as I wonder what I should have said to stop her. "Amy, I…" My voice cracks, and I can't finish. I glance at Rick, watching me grimly. "Why didn't I stop her?" I whisper.

Rick crouches beside me, his hand gripping my shoulder firmly. "This isn't on you, Lauren. You hear me? It's not on you."

Daryl and Michonne return, their weapons lowered but their expressions grim. "Area's clear," Daryl says, his eyes flicking to Amy. His usual stoic demeanour falters momentarily. "What now?"

Rick stands up, his hand slipping from my shoulder as he surveys the surroundings. "We give her time," he says, his voice steady but low.

The words hang in the air, heavy and suffocating. I glance back at Amy, her tears glistening in the weak sunlight. Her grip on Beth's hand loosens slightly, and she looks up at me again. "I just wanted fresh air…" she starts, but her voice fades before she can finish.

I squeeze her other hand, fighting the burning in my chest as I whisper, "It's okay, Amy. It's okay."

But it's not.

Rick kneels beside Amy, his face drawn tight as he glances back at the RV. "We can't leave her out here," he says quietly. "Get her inside. She doesn't need to be in the cold."

Daryl steps forward, his eyes flicking between Rick and Amy before landing on Merle. "Help me," he says, already moving to lift Amy as carefully as he can.

Merle snorts softly, shaking his head as he grabs Amy's legs to help Daryl carry her. His voice is low, enough for the rest of us to hear, but not Amy. "Y'all realize you'll have to drag her back out here when it's over, right? Ain't no way to sugarcoat it."

Beth whirls on him, her voice trembling with anger. "Could you not? Could you not say things like that right now?"

Merle shrugs. "Ain't tryin' to be mean, kid. Just sayin' it like it is. You think I like it any more than you do?"

"Then keep it to yourself," I snap, stepping between him and Beth as I glare at him. "She doesn't need to hear it. None of us do."

Merle's jaw tightens, and I think he might argue, but he mutters, "Fine. Whatever," and focuses on carrying Amy toward the RV.

Daryl casts a warning glance at him but remains silent while they place Amy inside the RV. The air inside is slightly warmer, yet it still feels oppressively hot. Carol tidies a spot on one of the makeshift beds, laying out blankets as Daryl and Merle carefully lower Amy. She trembles; her breaths are shallow, but a faint glimmer is visible in her eyes as she surveys the surroundings.

Rick crouches beside her, his hand resting lightly on her arm. "You're fine now," he says softly, though his eyes flicker with something darker. "You're with us."

Beth kneels at Amy's side, stroking her hair gently as tears spill down her cheeks. "I'm right here," she whispers, her voice cracking. "You're not alone, Amy. You're not alone."

I step back, pressing myself against the RV wall. Merle lingers near the door, his arms crossed, but his expression is unreadable. Daryl gives him a shove toward the corner. "Shut your mouth and stay outta the way," he mutters.

The RV feels stifling. I kneel beside Amy, my hands resting lightly on the blanket covering her legs. Her skin is pale, her breaths shallow, and every time she winces, a knife twists in my chest. Beth sits on the other side of her, her hand stroking Amy's hair as she whispers soft reassurances. The words are meant for Amy, but I think they're more for Beth herself.

Sophia and Carl huddle together in the corner, their wide eyes darting toward Amy before quickly looking away. Carl shifts like he wants to say something, but Sophia squeezes his hand tightly. I catch the slight tremble in his chin as he leans back against the wall, and my heart aches for both of them.

Lori sits nearby, arms wrapped around herself as if keeping warm. Her guarded expression softens briefly when she looks at Amy. "She's so young," she murmurs, her voice trembling. "It's not supposed to be like this."

"No one should," Carol replies from her spot near Amy's feet, adjusting the blanket to cover her better. Her tone is calm, but her hands shake slightly as she smooths the fabric. "But here we are."

Behind me, T-Dog leans against the doorframe, his arms crossed. "This world doesn't give anyone a choice," he mutters, his voice heavy.

Herschel sits at the table, head bowed, hands clasped as if in prayer. Since Amy arrived, he hasn't spoken much. His red-rimmed eyes linger unfocused, glistening with tears. I glance at Glenn and Maggie at the far end of the RV. They stand close, Maggie gripping Glenn's hand tightly. She blinks rapidly, lips pressed into a thin line, while Glenn's gaze shifts between her and Beth.D sits cross-legged against the wall, elbows on her knees, not pulling away as Michonne crouches beside her, touches her shoulder. D leans in, bowing her head slightly with closed eyes.

Amy shifts, drawing my attention back to her. "I'm scared." The words come out faint.

I reach for her hand, gripping it perhaps harder than I should. "We're here. You're not alone." I blink rapidly, trying to clear the tears.

Beth chokes back a sob, her forehead leaning against Amy's. "I'm right here," she murmurs, her voice cracking. "I'm not leaving you."

Amy's fingers twitch weakly against mine, her eyes flickering closed momentarily before reopening, glassy with tears. "I don't want to go," she whispers, her voice shaking.

"You're not going anywhere right now," I tell her, though the lump in my throat makes it hard to speak. I force the words out anyway. What else can I do? "Stay with us. It's all you have to do."

Daryl and Merle take positions outside, their silhouettes visible through the RV windows as they scan the empty road and frost-covered fields. They've switched from their usual banter to a tense silence, their focus sharp as they watch for anything which might wander too close.

The air is heavy with cold and unvoiced dread. Amy drifts in and out of consciousness, her breaths shallow and skin clammy. Beth stays by her side, brushing damp hair from Amy's forehead and whispering reassurances as tears spill. When Beth falters, Carol steps in, her calm presence anchoring the moment with a familiar tune. The rest of us shuffle quietly around the RV, alternating between sitting and pacing to stave off the feeling of helplessness.

Sometimes, someone steps outside to relieve Daryl or Merle. Glenn and Maggie take turns, their faces pale. Hershel briefly joins, leaning on his cane while muttering about examining their surroundings. We know it's his way of leaving Beth alone with Amy. Rick hovers by the door, eyes darting between the group and the horizon beyond the frosted glass.

Hours crawl, marked by fading light and Amy's worsening condition. Her breathing labours, her fingers twitch weakly against Beth's hand. I stay close, my hand on her arm, trying to comfort her. Distant groans of walkers drift through the stillness, and my heart clenches, expecting them to approach, but they don't. Not yet.

With a creak, Rick opens the RV door, letting in a rush of cold air that pierces the heavy stillness. Beth grips Amy's hand tightly, her face drawn and streaked with tears. "It's time," Rick says gently, his words lingering in the air.

Beth cries, her forehead pressing against Amy's as she whispers, "I love you. You hear me? I love you."

"I love you too," Amy whispers, barely audible.

Rick clears his throat softly, his hand resting on my shoulder. "We need to do this now."

I nod stiffly as I rise. Daryl steps into the RV first, his jaw tight and eyes scanning the space with a sharp, restless energy. Glenn trails closely, shoulders squared, and fists tightly clenched around another blanket. Darylsmoothlylifts Amy's blanket-wrapped body. Beth follows them unsteadily, but Maggie intercepts her, enveloping her in a firm hug as Beth breaks down in tears.

I follow them outside, the cold biting at my face and hands as I step into the open air. The frost-covered ground crunches beneath my feet as we walk to a small clearing beyond the RV. Daryl gently lays her against a lone tree, and Glenn drapes a blanket over her.

The group forms a loose circle around her; everyone is silent except for muffled sobs. Carol kneels briefly, brushing Amy's hair back one last time. "You're safe now," she whispers. "You'll always be safe."

I step forward, my legs feeling heavy, and kneel beside her one last time. My hand finds hers, limp and cold, and I take a shaky breath. "It's not goodbye, Amy," I whisper. "You'll see Andrea again. And your parents. And Patrick. You'll be with them now. And one day, we'll be together too. I promise."

Her lips tremble softly as she whispers, "Andrea..." before her hand slips from mine. Anxiety grips my chest as I stand, momentarily faltering into Rick's steady embrace.

He steps forward, his jaw tight but his movements deliberate, and pulls his gun. The sound echoes through the cold air, final and deafening. No one speaks as the frost settles around us again. Beth crumples into Maggie's arms, her sobs the only sound. My legs feel weak; my heart is heavy.

The RV feels heavier than ever, air thick with grief. No one speaks; their faces pale, eyes downcast. Outside, Amy's body lies still, wrapped in a blanket. I can't look out the window. Rick sits beside me, one hand on my shoulder, the other on Carl's back. Carl curls against me, trembling. I hold him close, my fingers brushing through his hair. Sophia is nestled against Carol, her face in her mother's sweater. Carol hugs her tightly, gazing distantly while stroking Sophia's hair. Merle leans against the wall, arms crossed, sharply scanning the room.

Across the RV, Daryl sits with Michonne and D, their heads bowed close together. Michonne rests her arm along the back of the seat, her hand brushing D's shoulder, while Daryl leans forward, his elbows on his knees, his crossbow lying forgotten beside him. Beth is curled in the corner, Maggie's arms wrapped protectively around her. Beth's sobs quiet; her tear-streaked face still weeps despite her efforts to wipe them away.

Hershel sits at the small table, his hands clasped tightly in front of him, his expression drawn as he finally breaks the silence. "We should've buried her," he says quietly. "It's not right to leave her out there."

Beth's head jolts up, her tear-streaked face contorting with anger. "She wouldn't want that!" she snaps, her voice raw. "Amy hated the idea of being buried. She told me—she told me she didn't want to be underground. She wouldn't want to feel trapped."

"It's not about what she wanted," Hershel replies calmly. "It's about respect. About giving her some peace."

"She has peace!" Beth shouts, standing abruptly. Maggie pulls at her arm, but Beth shakes her off, her fists clenched. "You think I don't know what she wanted? Do you think I don't know her better than anyone? She hated feeling trapped, even in life."

"Enough," Rick says, his voice low but commanding. His gaze flickers to the window, and for a moment, he looks as though he's aged years in the past few hours. "This isn't the time for arguing."

Beth glares at Hershel, her shoulders trembling, before collapsing back into her seat. "She's not trapped," she whispers, her voice barely audible. "She's with them. Her family. She's free."