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Chapter 8:

"We'll keep going for another mile or two". Charlie explained as he and the group were walking along an old train track.

"What the hell are you two doing?. He asked, turning back and seeing Cedar and Miguel balancing on opposite sides of the track.

"Winning a bet". Cedar replied in an even tone, obviously concentrating on her task at hand.

"In your damn dreams". Miguel taunted playfully. "I'm still balanced".

Cedar laughed as her uncle almost lost his balance. "Spoke too soon huh old man?".

"I'd like to find shelter before dark, can we hurry up please?". Charlie asked with a hint of a smirk on his face.

"You're right... we shouldn't be messing around!". Cedar yelped the last bit as she lost her balance, tumbling into the grass on the side of the track.

Miguel smirked victoriously, helping Cedar off the ground before holding out his palm. "Come on, cough it up".

Cedar rolled her eyes, digging into her pack and handing over the last packet of peanut butter M&M's she had saved. "You won, fair and square".

Miguel tore open the brightly colored wrapped and poured half of the candies into his hand before passing the other half to his niece. "We always share, you know that".

Cedar happily snacked on the candies while Charlie kept leading the way to wherever they were headed to next.

The group thankfully came across an old barn just as dusk was starting to settle over the landscape.

Charlie and Benji drew their gun's out and slid the heavy doors open, coming face to face with a dark haired woman wearing a soldier's uniform.

"Lacy?". Benji asked in confusion/shock, letting his pistol drift to his side at once.

The woman called Lacy started smiling as she seemingly started to recognize him, throwing her arms round him in a tight hug.

"You crazy son of a bitch, you're still alive?". She asked with a laugh before looking over at Cedar and her family. "Who are they?".

"Obviously you know Charlie.. who's kinda my boyfriend now, and that's Miguel Baker plus his niece Cedar and nephew Luca". Benji introduced everyone casually.

"Boyfriend huh? took you both long enough". Lacy said teasingly.

"You guys all know each other then?". Cedar asked, looking between the trio.

"Yeah, I was around back when Benji was running this community back in Canada". Lacy explained.

"Yeah we know all about Canada, and David Nigel". Luca brought up with an uncomfortable grimace.

"Right". Lacy said after an awkward silence. "Where are you headed then?".

"Nevada, hopefully we can avoid more Resurrection members from there". Charlie cut in.

"I can go with you guys". Lacy suggested. "I know the current settlements and their routes".

Benji looked over at Charlie, who nodded his permission. "Fine with me, power in numbers right?".

Lacy nodded as everyone settled down for the night. "What happened to David if you don't mind me asking?".

"Shot himself in the head". Benji answered quietly.

"Thought the fucker would never die". Lacy replied with a smirk. "Glad you both made it out".

"What happened to you? We haven't seen you since 2034". Charlie asked in a slightly icy tone.

"That son of a bitch was going to kill me, I had to get out". Lacy snapped.

"What about Benji and I? We were your best friends". Charlie argued, making it clear that he, Benji and Lacy had a history.

"If I had the time to get you both out I would have, but I had to act quick". The dark haired woman shot back.

"Whatever". Charlie said, rolling his eyes as he turned away from the other's to get some sleep.

"Are you sensing some tension between these two?". Cedar mumbled, looking at Luca.

"Maybe a little". The young man replied quietly with a small frown.

The group got up early the next morning and Charlie wasted no time in laying out his plan for Lacy. "You're welcome to tag along but as soon as we hit Nevada we're done, got it?".

Lacy just nodded as Cedar smirked to herself, remembering what had happened the last time Charlie had threatened someone with abandonment...

Author Note: Lacy Is Portrayed By Elyse Levesque.