"Why're you leaving again," I sighed as I held Daryl's hand. "You just got back! I wanted to spend some time with you. I haven't seen you in days!"

"Aften, I have to go," he told me, tucking my hair behind my ear. "They need me."

"Well then I'm coming with too! I'm sure y'all could use an extra hand in whatever it is you're doing," I said defiantly. "No one ever complains about extra help around here."

"Hey, what did I tell ya last time," Daryl whispered sternly, lightly squeezing my hand. "No more comin' with. It's too dangerous for you out there and I want ya to stay here so you're safe."

"Daryl, that was almost three months ago! Just let me go with you," I impatiently demanded. "I wanna be with you. I can't stand being away from you any longer. You scared the fuck outta me the last time; I thought you were never coming back."

"No, Aften, I'm sorry. I want ya to be safe and that last run took a little longer than usual; we didn't know it'd take that long. I wanna be with you too right now, but shit's gotta get done and they're countin' on me," Daryl finished, kissing my hand and then my cheek. "I love you, okay?" I sighed with disappointment.

"I love you too," I told him quietly as he left my side, climbing into the RV. Carl came up next to me with Judith in his arms once he saw Daryl leave my side. I watched the RV. as it rolled away out through the gates, sadness pinging in my stomach.

"Daryl's right: it's safer staying back here instead of going out there and risking your life, especially now with all those freaks lurking around," Carl spoke up, the fingers on his free hand brushing against mine. I noticed the gesture and drew my hand back, giving him a weird look. Didn't he just see Daryl kiss me? He blushed at my stare. "Can you help me watch Judith?"

"Sure," I agreed, following Carl back to the house as Judith reached for me half the way there. I took her into my arms, a smile on my face; I hadn't held her since the prison. Since then she'd grown so much and gotten so heavy; I forgot how heavy kids could be.

Carl and I sat on the carpeted floor of the living room across from each other with Judith sitting in the middle of us, playing with a red plastic cup. She dropped it and I picked it back up for her, setting it in her pudgy little hands. She smiled up at me, shaking it around.

"How old is she now," I asked, resting my chin on my knee as I watched her play.

"Almost a year," Carl responded. I couldn't believe it had been that long; time flew by so fast even in this world. I could remember how I felt on Penny's ninth birthday; I was in such disbelief of how old she'd became. All I could think about was images of baby Penny that rushed through my mind.

"Really? Feels like she's older than that," I admitted. It feels like forever ago since we were at the prison... since my dad had died.

"I'm just wondering when she's gonna walk."

"She'll probably learn how to run first with all this shit that's going on," I smirked. Carl laughed at my joke. Judith gazed up at me again, a smile on her face. She held the cup out to me and I took it from her. "Oh my gosh, thank you! Thank you so much," I told her in a baby voice. I tossed it around in my hands for a few minutes before giving it back to her. "Here you go, baby." Judith turned around and looked at Carl, whimpering, after she'd taken the cup. He had a solemn look on his face. "I think she can sense your sadness," I observed. Carl gave me a weak smile. I focused on the gauze over his eye. "You okay?"

"Yeah, it's just... my eye stings a little today." He scratched his head, scrunching up his face as he did so.

"Can I see it? I mean, you don't have to show me if you don't want to... I'm just being nosy, I'm sorry. Just ignore me." I nervously tucked my hair behind my ear, hoping he'd choose to show me it. I wondered what it looked like, if it still caused him immense pain even after it's somewhat healed, what life was like with only one eye; I had never dared to ask my dad. Why would I? He could rot in hell and suffer with it for all I cared.

Carl slowly lifted up his eyepatch. The skin was red, but the surrounding looked a healthy pink. I got on my knees and leaned over Judith to get a closer look; it truly was fascinating. Carl blushed at the fact that I was even that close to him. I noticed his reaction and pulled away as fast as I could, sitting back down. Judith babbled happily as she now chewed on the cup.

"I forgive you," Carl admitted, breaking the silence. His sudden statement caught me off guard.

"You... you actually heard me," I asked, whispering. He nodded in response.

"I deserved it; I made assumptions and I was jealous and I was so angry that I couldn't stop talking and... and I hurt you," Carl muttered. "Hurting someone you love is probably the worst thing you can do." His cheeks were red once again as he spoke. I opened my mouth to say something but I closed it while my mind thundered. "What," he questioned, intrigued at what I had to say.

"I-I just remembered I have to do something for Carol," I muttered a lie, rising to my feet. "She told me this morning and I completely forgot with everyone leaving and all."

"Oh, okay," Carl shifted his focus to the ground in disappointment. I hurried into the kitchen, pulled out a few random things from the cupboard and hid myself from view. He loved me? I shook the thought out of my mind. Surely it was just the type of love like I had for the whole group, right? Right? I sighed, running my fingers through my hair in distress. I ignored it; I couldn't let this shit ruminate in my mind. Daryl was my number one priority and he always will be; he's my true love.