A/N Hey guys-

This is way overdue. I haven't been able to post due to the fact I have had some personal and family issues over the past three months. Don't worry, everything is fine now. I hope you all can forgive me and have some fun reading. Make sure to comment, favorite and follow! :)

Nikki

The snow had melted long ago. The sun was still icy cool, but she no longer had to wear those clunky snow boots. She had shed her winter clothes for a simple black zip up hoodie, deep blue jeans, and a pair of climbing boots. Desiree and Roland had been traveling most of the winter, staying in old abandoned houses, barns, and even caves. Their trusty packhorse had been attacked and killed back in Virginia, but they kept their heads up. In three months, they had made it to Nevada. Roland had found an old Ford pickup that they had been riding in since the Carolinas.

"It's going to be hotter than hell here." Roland said absently.

"Even in May?" Desi sighed, looking out the dusty window.

"Nevada is extremely hot. Yeah." Roland's grip on the car was extremely tight.

"You okay?" She whispered, looking into his clear grey eyes.

Desi did admit she had some feelings for the war vet, but he didn't seem to give any back. He reminded her somewhat of her brother. Roland refused to show any weakness, and hid behind insults and acidic tones. He didn't respond to her question, obviously meaning he wasn't okay. She returned to staring out the window, the flat landscape boring her. Desi wished she had brought her Ipod with her, or at least charged it before leaving that fateful night.

She looked down into her lap, her bloodstained palms resting on the jeans she had looted awhile back. It seemed that one part of her body was always coated in blood or guts. Roland had cut open his leg awhile back on a pole he landed on, and Desi had to play nurse for a month. She had no idea how to treat even the most basic of cuts, let alone the gash he had created. They had come across two women who used to work at a hospital. They had graciously helped her keep the wound clean and even helped her stitch the wound together. Desi had to knock him out with chloroform.

"So what's the plan once we get in Vegas?" Desi broke the silence.

"I don't even know if we'll make it that far. It's going to be a clusterfuck in the city."

Desi sighed, agreeing silently.

The engagement ring hung around her neck, attached to a gold chain. It was a constant reminder of the ultimatum Nick's ex wife had given her. Desi didn't know her quite that well until she had showed up in her apartment with a bite wound. Her name was Tiffany, and she looked like a Victoria's Secret model. Long, flowing blonde hair and warm blue eyes. Her skin was golden brown from fake tan, and her face was coated in makeup she didn't need.

The ring was probably the most expensive thing Nick had ever blown a stack on, and Tiffany didn't want it to go to waste. As she was turning, her shaky hands had placed the ring in Desi's hands and told her to give it back to Nick. She knew that Nick was going to find another girl to get in arguments with and abuse. She wanted Desi to protect that girl. It was her dying wish, and Desi couldn't say no. Tiffany was even beautiful as an infected.

"Desi?" Roland had pulled over, and his whole body had turned in her direction.

"Oh, sorry. Daydreaming." She whispered, clutching the chain.

"Do you need a moment?"

"No. I'm fine."

"Well, it's getting dark. I thought we could just sleep tonight instead of driving." Roland smiled softly.

"There aren't any infected around here, right?" Desi asked.

"Nope. We can sleep out in the flatbed."

Desi nodded before opening the door of the truck, the heat blasting her. She was panting by the time they made it to the back of the truck, her hoodie and boots thrown out in the desert. She wouldn't need them anymore. As Roland was opening their backpacks to make dinner, Desi was cutting her jeans into shorts with a switchblade. She accidentally stabbed herself a few times, but it was better than roasting to death in the desert.

"So, were you engaged?" Roland started, handing her a water bottle.

"Oh, no. This was Nick's." Desi took a swig, her eyes dry.

"It's a nice ring, really." He muttered, before chewing on beef jerky.

Desi fell asleep with her hands clasped around the ring.

"Jose, get up. We gotta move." Nathan prodded the Australian slightly.

She softly snorted, her face lax. Nathan noted that when she slept, she didn't have a scowl on her face like when she was awake. She was probably dreaming about home, when she wasn't stuck with a now sixteen year old child. Nathan had predicted it was around May or early June. His birthday was May 27th. Josie's eyes blinked open slowly, wet from sleep. Nathan smiled softly before getting up, surveying the area. They had decided to take refuge in a small camp outside of San Diego. It used to be a bustling city, but now the walkers owned it. The camp they had been living in for the past week was running dry. It wasn't looted when the duo had found it, but the supplies quickly ran out. The people who resided normally must of taken everything before vacating.

"What time do you reckon it is?" Josie yawned.

Nathan looked out the window, the sun just peeping out behind the trees. "Eh, maybe like six or seven, possibly eight."

Josie groaned, "Why up so fucking early?"

"Because it's moving day. We gotta start moving north." Nathan laughed.

Before their Zone had fallen, Josie and Nathan had heard of news that a chopper going from Nevada had crashed. Josie was certain Ellis was on that flight. Nathan was hesitant, but there was nowhere better to go. They had decided on traveling the West coast, all the way up to Canada if Josie wanted to.

"Well, better get a move on then?" Josie got up, putting her backpack on.

Nathan clicked the safety off of his Colt, a smile spreading on his lips. He had gotten somewhat bloodthirsty since leaving the Zone, the cracking of a gun soothing his already quite mind. He wasn't thinking of much, other than killing anything that tried to kill him. That, and the one that got away.

Phoenix.

She had visited him in his dreams almost every night, some good and some nightmares. He couldn't count the times he had witnessed her demise, along with times he had sex with her. He hadn't seen her recently, and that was scaring him. He sighed and mentally slapped himself, focusing on shooting and reloading. There weren't many zombies around the area, but the ones that were hadn't eaten in months. They were savages, and tried to eat anything that moved.

"Hunter!" Josie trilled, pointing her Assault Rifle at a hooded body.

Nathan put a small amount of pressure on the trigger, a bullet ripping into the Hunter's jacket. He screamed, leaping at Nathan. He shot at the body three more times before it slumped to the ground with a sigh. Nathan smirked softly before trekking over the body, beginning to jog into the forest. Josie kept pace with him, the woods creepily quiet. They didn't see a single infected since the Hunter.

"This is creepy." Josie lisped, her eyes narrowing.

"Too." Nathan agreed. They had stopped at a stream to get a drink.

"You think they're all in the city?" Josie asked in between a gulp of water.

"Most likely. Keep your gun ready though."

"I'm not an idiot, child." Josie snapped.

Josie and Nathan argued a lot nowadays. They disagreed on the most basic of procedures, including where to sleep and what to eat. Josie was almost always right, but Nathan was headstrong and refused to give up on what he thought was right. He contemplated this as they continued to jog. He wondered if they would ever find the others again.

The group was nearly at thirty people now. Thirty people who had survived hell and somehow still knew how to have a good time. Scarlett sat on a giant piece of driftwood, holding a cold beer in her palms. A bonfire roared in the center, a few of the people roasting marshmallows on sticks. Rick and Marcy were standing guard, which meant sitting on top of the giant Greyhound bus Trixie had found in town. Rick held a Sniper Rifle, while Marcy totted a shotgun. Nick was sitting next to her, a smile on his lips. Phoenix was talking with a few girls her age, along with Tucker. Scar had noticed Tucker was getting a lot closer to Phoenix than she would like. Scar knew that Phoenix needed to grow up on her own, and Scarlett needed to stop interfering in her life.

"This is nice." Scarlett sighed, leaning on Nick.

"Extremely. I'm still in shock that I have you next to me." Nick muttered in her ear.

It had been two months since Nick had rescued her. The group had welcomed her with open arms, as if it was second nature. She went on hunting trips with men, washed laundry with the housewives, and even babysat the two kids of the group. It was the first time Scarlett actually felt welcomed in a social situation. Everyone seemed to like her. Even Serenity cooled her jets for a while. Tucker had also swooned about Serenity.

"So, what plans do we have for tonight?" Nick's growl had brought her back into reality.

Scarlett and Nick were having sex almost every night. Nick had come home from a raid with boxes of condoms, and Scarlett didn't mind. She was just afraid of the reliability of old condoms. It wasn't uncommon to hear a few moans or a squeal from one of the numerous couples at night. Scar and Nick slept in a tent as well, but tended to go out in wild places to have sex. One time they even did it with numerous infected in the area.

"I'm actually kind of tired." Scarlett faked a yawn, taking a swig of her beer.

"Bullshit." Nick's arm slinked around her waist, instantly making her insides quiver.

Scarlett sighed, watching the kids play around the bonfire. Tucker and Serenity were dancing next to an old boom box playing Weezer. Phoenix was braiding a girl named Payton's hair. Everything seemed normal.

"WALKERS!" Rick boomed.

Everyone froze.

It wasn't common to have walkers around, especially at night. Infected seemed to hate water. The music was instantly turned off, the bonfire was put out by a stream of water. Scarlett dropped her beer in the sand and grabbed the two kids, Adrian and Katelyn. Nick was picking up an Assault Rifle, while Ellis was cocking his shotgun. The ones that were in the south, like Scar, were usually the ones to go out and exterminate the walkers. Scarlett's job was to hide the children before going out and kicking zombie ass.

"Okay guys, you know what to do. We're playing hide and seek, and you guys are hiding. Make sure to be as quiet as possible so I don't find you." Scar cooed as she shoved them into the first available tent.

The one's who couldn't fight or unable to hid in the tents. Rick forbade anyone under 16 to fight. Phoenix was batshit livid, but Rick was firm. He was the leader of the group, and was about at scary as a tank. Scarlett sprinted back to the burning embers of the fire, grabbing her AK. It was usually propped up against one of the cars or back at her tent. She jumped over what looked to be a five series, pulling her gun into position.

A female infected lunged at her, her inhuman strength yanking Scar to the ground. She let out a yell, slamming the butt of her gun into the zombie's skull. It was stunned, which gave Scarlett enough time to roll out of the thing's grip and land a bullet in its skull. The girl slumped to the ground without a noise.

"You okay?" One of the boys, Scar recognized him as a man named Erick, called.

"Damn near fine." Scarlett breathed as she started to open fire.

Bodies littered the ground. She saw Nick out of the corner of her eye shooting out into the distance. Scarlett cursed loudly. Specials were starting to find them too. She picked out a jockey and downed it, hearing the screaming of even more. No amount of infected had ever shown up at the camp.

"What the hell is this?" Scarlett whipped her head around, surrounded by hundreds.

She felt a hand grasp hers, her ring pushing into the palm of her hand.