Wow, the response to this story is amazing! Love to all of my wonderful readers and reviewers, to all who have favorited and followed! You are all awesome! I may be needing your opinion on some ideas I have, keep an eye out for my questions lol.

I take no credit on anything Walking Dead related.

The day of their departure dawned bright and sunny. Hannah had been awake since before dawn, packing and re-packing their canvas rucksacks. They had to be sure they had everything they needed for the expedition, and she was determined to leave nothing useful behind. She had to resort to stealing a few things, which she felt kind of guilty about, but hey, whatever they needed to stay alive.

Merle had left just after the sun was up to go speak to the Governor one last time. Hannah knew that the leader wasn't too happy with Merle leaving him. Merle was a valuable member of the Woodbury Protection Squad (as she'd named the Governor's group of henchmen), and him leaving was going to put a big hole in the team. She'd overheard the Governor and Merle arguing more than a few times about it. Somehow, Merle had managed to come out on top. They were leaving, and although he wasn't thrilled, the Governor was apparently not going to stop them.

She finished packing their sacks for about the three hundredth time, throwing one on her back and carrying one in hand. She doubled checked to make sure she had both her hatchet and her new pistol strapped securely to her belt. She honestly hadn't been thrilled about receiving the gun, but Merle had insisted. If she lost her hatchet or needed a quick emergency kill, the gun would cover her, he'd said. He'd made her practice with it for a few days, having her shoot cans off the defense walls. She was an alright shot, but she still preferred her hatchet.

Once she was satisfied she had everything, she made her way down towards the town hall. Hopefully Merle's chat with the Governor wouldn't take long, she wanted to get on the road before the sun got too high and hot. She walked briskly, ignoring the townsfolk casting odd glances at her. A tiny redhead carrying two packs, a gun and an axe wasn't a sight they were used to seeing. Well, just wait till she had a big hulking redneck with a prosthetic sword hand joining her. They wouldn't even know what to do with that picture. She smirked at the thought.

"So today's the day huh?"

Hannah turned her head to see Andrea walking beside her. She gave the blonde a nod. Andrea wasn't all that bad. A little naïve maybe, and sometimes a bit stubborn, but mostly alright. She'd helped Merle teach Hannah how to shoot, so they'd spent a little time together. It hadn't been as awkward as Hannah had thought it would be.

"You guys are lucky you're going in the spring," Andrea continued talking. "If it was winter, you'd have to cuddle up with that big bastard to stay warm." She smirked at the redhead.

Hannah rolled her eyes.

"Oh come on, you know you've thought about it," Andrea chuckled. "Merle obviously has some weird thing for you, he treats you differently then I've ever see him treat anyone. I'm betting you have some weird thing for him back."

Hannah stopped and gave the blonde her best "Are you freaking kidding me" look. No, she did not have a thing for Merle. As she thought before, being with him in that way made her shudder. And she was positive Merle did not think of her in that way either. First, Merle Dixon seemed like a man built for meaningless sex, not love. Second, he'd never even showed the slightest iota of interest in her or her body. Third, he was pretty much old enough to be her father. Damn, why couldn't people accept her status of "weird little pet" and be done with it?

"Fine, don't believe me," Andrea threw up her hands in defeat. "But I bet you that shiny new gun of yours that you're gonna see I'm right by the end of this excursion. You better go though, I can see Merle waiting for you on the steps."

Hannah had seen him too, and sped off before Andrea could make any other ludicrous statements about her and Merle.

"Bout time ya got here," Merle grumped at Hannah as she skidded to a stop in front of him. "We're killing daylight, woman, give me that pack so we can git a move on."

Hannah handed him the rucksack, watching him struggle to get it on with one hand. She hated to see him like this, unable to do even the easiest of tasks. Sometimes, in the privacy of their little house, he'd permit her to help him. But out here, with the Governor standing right beside them, she knew offering to help would be a disastrous idea.

"I really wish you'd reconsider this Merle," the Governor sighed, a look of displeasure on his face. "You're risking your life for something that you may never even find."

"He's my kin," Merle said almost wearily, as if he had had this conversation many times before, and was getting tired of it. "I gotta try, don't I?"

The Governor looked like he very much wanted to dispute that, but instead he said "I guess you do." He turned away. "Now, shall we go let you out of the gates?"

They tramped down the stairs and over to the only gate in Woodbury. Hannah noticed many of the townspeople had stopped their daily activities to watch them leave. There was no cheering or smiling and waving. They all stood silent and somber, like they were watching a funeral procession. Maybe they were. It had definitely occurred to Hannah that she could die on this trip. She hadn't been in the outside world in a long time, it could have gotten a lot worse since her interment in Woodbury. Was she ready to accept the fact that she might soon join her long dead family in the afterlife? Was she really, truly okay with that? It was a question she didn't know the answer to. Sometimes, she felt that dying would be okay. All the horror, pain and suffering of this world would be over, and she would only feel peace. But then she would look at Merle, and the thought of leaving him alone made her heart hurt. Of course, he'd probably be just fine without her, but she liked to think that her death would cause him at least a little grief.

The only person waiting for them at the gates was, surprise surprise, Andrea. Hannah assumed she wanted to wish Merle good luck, because although it seemed she didn't like him too much, she gave off the impression she had somewhat liked his brother. The blonde smiled at all of them, her gaze lingering a tad longer on the Governor. This did not go unnoticed by Hannah.

"Well well well," Merle smirked. "Looks like our dear friend Blondie here has come to say goodbye. You gonna miss me, sugar?"

Andrea rolled her eyes. "You wish, Merle. Just figured someone ought to see you crazy kids off." She turned to Hannah. "Don't let this idiot get you into too much trouble. Keep your head up and be alert. This is a crazy thing you're doing, but I know you can come out of it on top. Don't ever just lay down and give up, okay?"

Hannah nodded, slightly taken aback by Andrea's words. They were full of a kindness she wasn't used to. She suddenly wished she'd had a little more time with the blonde. Perhaps they could have even become friends.

"Alright, time to open the gates," The Governor announced, reaching over to unbolt the last thing that lay between them and the unknown. They swung open slowly, almost in protest, as if they didn't want anybody to be going beyond them. It made Hannah nervous.

So quick she almost didn't feel it, she felt something fleetingly warm on her arm. She looked down abruptly, but nothing was there. Still, she knew that a hand had briefly been laid on her. Someone had sensed her nervousness, and had let her know subtly that it would be alright. It wasn't the Governor, he was by the gates and would never do such a thing. Andrea was almost next to him, too far away to reach her. That left…

Merle. Merle had read her feelings, and had let her know she was not alone. That brief pressure of his remaining hand had told her that he was there, and they would face this together. She sucked in a breath, suddenly overwhelmed by all the feelings rushing through her. She looked at Merle, but he was staring straight ahead, eyes focused on the dead horizon. She could have sworn she saw the corner of his mouth twitch.

And in that moment, Hannah's question was answered. She wasn't going to die if she could help it. She wasn't ready to accept that fate. Like Andrea had said, she was never going to give up.

And with that, she strode out into the emptiness, Merle following close behind her.

I promise there will be more exciting stuff in the chapters to come! Thanks for reading!