Chapter 2

Carl was waiting for them in the gift shop of the gym when they finally emerged, Carl merely rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"What? Hey I never know when my last day on this hell we now call Earth will be, so forgive me if I want to make every moment count." Charlotte said.

Carl and Daryl said nothing, but they did exchange a look, and it wasn't missed by Charlotte.

"Look … I'm sorry to be a Debby Downer, but it's just a fact, hell even when the world was right, tomorrow wasn't ever a given." She said, Carl opened his mouth to retort, but what could he say? She was right.

"Well, I say we poke around here and see what we can find." Carl interjected in an effort to change the graveness of the subject.

"Sounds like a plan." Charlotte said as she grabbed her radio. "Everyone get on channel three in case anyone runs into trouble."

Charlotte couldn't believe their luck, the store looked like it hadn't so much been touched since everything began! She prowled the shoe department, the hiking boots she took from the mansion were finally starting to fall apart, after almost a year of faithful service.

She settled on a nice pair of Nike running shoes that would have set her back hundreds of dollars back in the day, too bad this whole mess had happened during summer, because she would have loved a pair of winter boots, too.

She browsed the clothing section and peeled off her old, worn clothes in favor of some new getup that consisted of a pair of knee length Under Armor jogging leggings and a trendy tank top. She picked up another two outfits and another pair of sneakers.

When they all met back at the front of the store, Charlotte saw the boys had also opted for new clothes. Charlotte grinned to herself as Daryl's intense blue eyes traveled the length of her body, clearly he approved of her new outfit.

"Damn, Charlotte … you look … hot!" Carl said as he joined them.

Charlotte laughed heartily at the horrified, indignant look that Daryl shot towards Carl.

"Why thank you, Carl, I am glad you approve … both of you." She said, her gaze stopping on Daryl as she gave him a playful wink, causing him to blush in spite of himself.

"Well, sun's up, what do ya'll say we check out the other stores? I know there is a bass pro, maybe they still have some winter stuff. We are going to need to stock up again, since all you damn kids keep fucking growing and shit. Especially you Carl, shit if the world hadn't ended, you might have been one hell of a basketball player. I think I also saw a maternity store on the way, we can get some clothes for Maggie while we're at it." Charlotte said as she let the way out into the mall.


"You know they aren't going to be back for several days, yet, they told us that." Rick said, joining Maggie as she watched the road beyond the front gate.

"I know I just … I feel terrible! I've such a bitch to Daryl and Charlotte since … "Maggie trailed off as tears welled up in her eyes, Rick put his arm around her.

"You lost someone close to you! It affects everyone differently, and you don't get to decide how. Remember when Lori died, how I was for a while? I mean, I was talking to dead people on the phone! Andrea became suicidal, and Michonne became a bad, ass kicking bitch." Rick said, and Maggie chuckled through her tears.

"If anything, you should be proud of Glenn's bravery, Maggie. He saw how devastated Daryl was when he thought he had watched Charlotte die the first time, and how it almost destroyed him, we all did. The difference was that he was the only one brave enough to do anything about it, the rest of us just … stood there, me included." Rick said as his face fell.

"That was Glenn, always trying to do the right thing, no matter what the cost." Maggie replied through her tears.

"Glenn was one of my closest and most trusted friends, and this is not how he would want you to live, full of spite and hate towards people who haven't earned it."

"You're right … you're right! Oh god! What have I been doing!" Maggie said as she sobbed into her hands.

"You have been grieving, and you are pregnant, and trust me, Charlotte will understand, she's cool like that." Rick said as he offered her a reassuring smile. He knew Charlotte would forgive and forget, she was very much a 'water under the bridge' type of person, it was Daryl he wasn't so sure would let it go so easily, but he chose to keep that to himself.


"Charlotte! I think you got enough! Any more and we ain't gonna be able to carry it!" Daryl said as he yanked the bag away from her and slung it over his shoulder with a grunt.

"I think we should go, we've been here to long already." Carl said.

"Finally someone's makin' sense round here!" Daryl replied.

"Okay … okay … we'll go! I just have to make one more stop, first." She said with a wink as she took off down the walkway of the mall with the boys in hot pursuit.

"Awww shit! Shoulda known." Daryl said as they came to a skidding stop in front of the bath and body works store.

"It's a woman thing; just …bear with me, okay?" Charlotte said as she broke the rusted lock on the security gate and pulled it up. Luckily, there were no walkers inside this store, strangely enough, maybe their employees had been smart enough to get out before shit got really bad.

Charlotte wasted no time and started piling body wash, perfume spray, and as many candles as she could into the other bag she brought.

"Okay, now we can go." She said with a wink.

There were a few walkers around their car, but nothing they couldn't handle, but they noticed a large herd heading their way as they exited the underground garage.

"Shit! We sure cut that close!" Carl said as he looked out the passenger window at them.

"Close only counts in the back seat of a car." Charlotte said as she turned onto the highway toward home.

"Son of a bitch, It'll be fucking dark by the time we get there." Daryl said moodily from the back seat.

"Wanna bet?" Charlotte said as she eyed him in the rear view mirror and put her foot down on the gas.


"Vehicle approaching!" Sasha said as she looked through her scope.

"It's all good, it's them!" Michonne said as she waved to the person manning the front gate.

"See? Told ya we'd make it back before dark." Charlotte said to Daryl with a wink as they all exited the car, just as the entire group gathered around.

"Now, now, no need for shovin' there's plenty for everyone, just make sure you hide this stuff when it's time for the monthly give away, if you know what I mean." Charlotte said as she started handing out clothing and supplies to everyone.

"hey, can you handle this? There's something I've got to do." Charlotte asked Sasha.

"Yeah … sure." She said as Charlotte grabbed a duffel bag and headed off towards Maggie's house.

To her surprise, Maggie opened the door for her before she even had a chance to knock.

"Please, come in." She said.

Daryl watched Charlotte disappear into Maggie's house as he waited for the women, kids and the elderly to get their supplies.

"She'll be fine, trust me, that little woman knows how to take care of herself." Rick said as he came to stand beside him.

"I know I jus' … sometimes I wish I could be like that you know? Just … up and forgive someone, but I can't. I stay sore 'bout it for a long time." Daryl said.

Rick looked at him with a slightly surprised expression. Even though he and Daryl were as close as brothers, Daryl rarely confided in him about anything, usually he would almost have to beat it out of him.

"She's one in a million, Daryl. I am sure I' am not telling you something you don't already know, but you are the luckiest man on the whole god damned planet to have ended up with her." Rick replied.

Daryl said nothing, but a line of silent understanding passed between the two men.


"Charlotte I just …. Oh god, where do I start? I've been such a huge bitch, can you ever forgive me?" Maggie said as tears welled up in her eyes.

Charlotte waved her concern off.

"Don't even worry about it! You've been through hell, too. I wallowed in self-pity for a long time after I lost my eye, and then my sister was killed. Good thing I was alone back then because I probably wasn't a very pleasant person to be around, either." She said as she handed her the duffel.

"This should hold you for a while." She said.

"I hate to think the risks you took to get all this." Maggie said as she pulled out several outfits, candles, and some body wash and perfume spray from bath and body works.

"Now you can finally throw those ratty ass pants away." She said with a smile as she let herself out.


"Everything okay?" Daryl asked her as she walked through the door of their house.

"Yep, everything's okay now." She said as she plopped down on the couch.

"It's times like this I wish there was still TV to watch, I won't lie, sometimes I really miss it." She said as she swung her feet up onto the couch and laid back against the cushy pillows.

Daryl leaned over her, his face so close that their noses were almost touching.

"TV ain't the only entertainment nowadays." He said, his voice laden with desire.

"You're are one shameless, horny bastard, you know that?" She said, a smile playing about her mouth.

"Yeah, but you like it." He said as he flashed her a wolfish grin.

"You know me so well." She replied as she grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him into a kiss.


Rick and Daryl watched as Dwight drove through the gates and pulled up to the gazebo.

"Hey Rick, Daryl." Dwight said as he exited his vehicle, a commandeered military issue hummer.

"Half of everything, just like we promised." Rick said as he pulled the tailgate down on their truck, an empathetic look crossed Dwight's face.

"I'm really sorry about this, Rick, you have to believe me, I don't like doing this anymore than you do."

"Then why keep workin' for the asshole?" Daryl spat, Rick put his hand on Daryl's shoulder and shook his head in warning.

Because, I don't have a choice, none of us do. There are some of the Saviors that like this kind of shit, but secretly, most of us don't, but it doesn't matter, once he recruits you, you're fucked. The only way you get out is if you're dead. And even if he didn't kill you, it's not like a man can make it on his own anymore." Dwight said.

Rick suddenly had an idea.

"Just how many of the Saviors don't agree with how things are?" Rick asked

"I'd have to ask around, but if I had to say about half, maybe more." Dwight said.

"Can you talk to them without being found out?" Rick asked, his tone urgent.

"I'm sure I could." Dwight replied as they loaded the last of the supplies into Dwight's hummer.

"I really hope you believe that I don't like doing this anymore than you do, Rick and I hope we can figure out a solution." Dwight said as they all shook hands.

"D 'ya really think that he can rally the Saviors?" Daryl asked as they watched his hummer disappear down the road toward the front gate.

"Let's hope so, because that's the only way we are going to take that asshole down." Rick replied.