Totally didn't spell check this y'all!
I plan on posting a character archive soon. So you can see what I do my best to describe and if you ever want to look back on the new characters or you need to catch up it will be there. I'll put it before chapter one and set a warning up top about spoilers. The archive will always be updated to the most recent chapter so there will be plenty of new info as the story goes on.
Annie watched the dynamics of the group quietly. She was surprised they had so many together, no that was wrong.. she was surprised that Daryl would stay with a group like this.
Annie was surprised to see that Rick's wife, was someone she knew had met before. Lori was tall and super thin. Annie knew it wasn't just because of the apocalypse, it was just her body type, Annie silently promised herself that she would get Lori some more weight on those bones. She would need it for winter. But when the woman had been called out by Rick, she had frozen in her steps seeing Annie. Then she had launched her skinny butt passed her husband, wrapping her arms tightly around Annie.
"I can't believe it.." the shocked woman gasped. Annie pat her back with one hand, Paisley was squashed between them.
"Tell me about it," Annie chuckled into Lori's long hair.
Lori pulled back, holding Annie's shoulders as she looked her up and down. "You look good."
Annie laughed, "thanks. Wish I could say the same, did you lose weight?"
Lori blushes and looks away. Taking a few steps back.
Annie takes in their confused husbands, Daryl didn't give anything away, but Rick.. Annie bit her lip to not laugh at the man. He had one hand on his hip, leaning to the side, and his head was tipped. His expression pure bewilderment, eyebrows drawn in, mouth gaping. He looked like he wanted to ask, but couldn't form the words.
"We met a few weeks ago." Annie supplies with a nod towards Lori, "gave her some supplies back then."
"Carl!" Lori calls, looking back and waving over the young boy.
"This is my son Carl." Lori smiles, pulling Carl to her chest and resting her hands on his shoulders.
Annie smiles, "it's nice to meet you bud. I heard some pretty cool things about you."
Carl looks between the two women, "you're the one who gave Mom the gun right?" He asks, causing some of the adults to chuckle.
"Yeah," Annie nods, "yeah I am."
"Can I have one?" Carl's face lights up and he takes a step forward before Lori pulls him back.
"No Carl," she all by sighs, "you are not getting a gun right now."
"Maybe soon buddy," Annie smiles, "we'll have to wait and see." She pulls Dakota up a step, "Lori, you met Dakota. And this is Paisley."
Lori just about melted, "she's beautiful."
"Thank you." Annie smiles, nudging Dakota. The girl nods at Carl, and the two introduce themselves.
Next was a little girl, her name is Sofia. She was cute, a little older than Dakota but not as mature in some ways. Sofia's mother, Carol, was older and had a deep pain her eyes that Annie recognized as oppression and fear. Annie didn't stare long into the older woman's eyes, she would've felt the need to hug her if the stare continued. Then there was Andrea and Dale. The old man was kind and nosy and he just couldn't believe Annie and her girls had made it so long by themselves, to which Shane had snorted a few feet away, muttering something like, 'm sure they did jus' fine. Andrea looked her up and down and glanced over Paisley in her arms and Dakota at her side. The older girl had been staring down at her feet all throughout introductions after she had talked briefly to Carl. Annie didn't feel anything or think anything about Andrea, even as after she mumbled her name, and silently judged Annie's family. Annie just didn't care. Then there was Jacqui, T-Dog and Glenn. She took one glance at the twitching Korean and sighed.
"You were the one who let my dogs out weren't you?" She huffed. His eyes widened.
"I-I... yeah. I'm so sorry!" He rushes, his hands extended as he took a step towards them.
Annie had to put a hand on Dakota's shoulder to keep the girl at her side.
That sent Glenn into another round of apologies.
"It's all good man." Annie replies, annoyed by his franticness. "Chill."
Jacqui introduced herself with a smile and Annie thought she seemed sweet enough but she could see the disbelief in the other woman's eyes. Jacqui obviously was wondering how trustworthy Annie was, and Annie didn't blame her. T didn't say anything more than his name and how cool he thought it was that Annie could take care of herself. He backed away quick after that, pulling Glenn with him.
Shane had come forward after that, holding out his hand, and saying his name. Annie shook his hand with a firm grasp. He laughed and said any woman who can hit like that is fine in my books.
And that was that, everyone had done their own things from there, until Rick called out that they should get in the road.
"Come on Dakota," Annie had mumbled, the girl had her arms wrapped around her mother and was letting Annie drag her back to the truck. Annie followed Dale's RV, Daryl quietly fell in line right behind her and she shook her head as she adjusted her rear view mirror.
Paisley sang toddler songs the whole trip, and Dakota had her elbow on the door, her head against her open palm, her eyes were shut. Her breathing was level but Annie knew she wasn't sleeping.
They ended up stopping on the road just before dark. Rick, Shane, Daryl and T Dog started moving cars so that everyone could pull closer. The abandoned vehicles were pushed away, so no stray walker could just quietly walk through the gapes. But the guys left enough space in both directions to leave in a hurry, but also enough for some walkers to rush in. Annie figured that with people on watch there wouldn't be a chance of that happening, but it was scary to think about being pinned down again.
"Dakota, you wanna sit alone for a bit?" Annie asked softly. Running her hand over her daughters dirty blonde hair. "Or you gonna come out with us?"
"Come on Bambi." Paisley said from the back, the little girl had herself free from her straps, and was standing up, leaning on the folded front middle seat. "Get up.."
Annie's smile took a sweeter turn as Dakota sniffed and sat up. She swiped a hand across her cheeks and shuffled her boots.
"Alright, come on." Dakota pushed open the door and Paisley jumped into the front.
"Hey." Daryl appeared in the open door suddenly and Annie had her gun pointing at his forehead in no time. The girls froze, Paisley wide eyed and lost, and Dakota in fear. The young girl had thought he was a walker too. Annie lowered her weapon, looking down as she fixed her rapid breathing.
"Sorry." Daryl half muttered, leaning against the door. "Figured y'all woulda heard me comin'." He shrugged.
Annie waved a hand, "it's all good. Sorry for.." she waved the gun before bolstering the weapon. "You just startled us. We unpacking here for the night?" She asked, effectively changing the subject, and giving Dakota time to control herself.
Daryl nods, "yeah. Don't unpack anything you won't need." He caught her single raised eyebrow and rolled his eyes, "I know you know, I'm jus sayin'." He turns to look to where the others are pulling out tents and sleeping bags. "Y'all got a tent?"
"No, never needed one." Annie shakes her head, slinging her door open and hopping out. She quickly made her way to his side after shutting the door.
"Winters comin'." He looked down at her, "my tent can turn into a double."
Annie nods, "okay. Sounds good." She eyed him for a moment, "where you goin'?"
"Huntin'" he grunts, "didn't find anything much when I found you earlier."
Annie nods again, "Wanna go Bambi?"
Dakota nods enthusiastically, hopping out and grabbing her quiver and filling it with arrows, she put her bow on her shoulder.
Annie rolls her eyes, "just like your daddy." She chuckles, patting Daryl's arm as she reached in to pull Paisley out of the truck.
Daryl had a smug, proud look on his face as he backed up. "Be back in a bit."
"Alright, I'll have the tent up." Annie says to his back. She pulls out her own crossbow, tossing it on her shoulder and sticking a few arrows in her quiver. "Take care of my baby!" She calls loudly as they hit the tree line, Annie didn't have to look to know he tossed a wave over his shoulder and was probably rolling his eyes. Annie's body wanted so badly to just be over filled with the joy of finding her husband. But she knew now wasn't the time. She could be happy later. Besides, neither her nor Daryl were big on making scenes, they did their best to avoid them. Annie had a feeling that if she even let a bit of her joy out of its box, tears would follow. And that's not a good first impression anyways.
"Well Pais, it's up to us now." Annie sighs, "they always get the fun stuff."
Paisley nods, wiggling out of her hands and moving towards the bed of the truck. Annie watched her out of the corner of her eye, as she got the stuff from inside the cab first. Annie easily weeded out half of the stuff they would really need, all while watching Paisley make her way up the back tire and over the side of the truck, falling in with a thud. Annie shook her head at that, she sure had some tough girls that was for sure.
"Don't make a mess Paisley." Annie said as she shut the door and slung a duffle bag with clothes for them for the night over her shoulder.
"Yes ma'am." Paisley called, grunting and huffing as she moved the bags to find something.
Annie set the bag down and leaned against her tall truck, watching Paisley rifle through each bag. She was obviously searching for something, but Annie was enjoying just watching her baby, so she didn't help. Instead she let Kasey out and told him to stay close, so she could watch Paisley. After a few minutes, Annie hopped into the bed and started grabbing other things they'd need for the night; flashlights, sleeping bags, their pillows and some more ammo. Can't go wrong with more ammo.
By that time Paisley had found what she wanted and jumped with joy, shouting "ah ha!" Into the air and holding two stuffed animals up in victory.
"You done?" Annie raises a brow, straddling the side of the truck. Paisley nods enthusiastically stepping over bags to get to Annie. "Good, we got to get that tent set up still."
Annie slides out and reaches for Paisley, pulling her out and setting her on the ground. She put a collar on Kasey and gave Paisley the leash to hold. She grabbed the tent from Daryl's truck before making her way towards where everyone else was setting up.
"Hey Annie." Lori calls, waving the woman over. "Set up over here."
"Alright." Annie smiles, giving some space before dropping the tent bag and opening it up. "Sit tight Paisley."
The little girl nods, wrapping her small arms around Kasey and leaning on the muscular dog.
It didn't take long for Annie to get the tent up and the sleeping bags out. Annie pulled out two cots, that she had for the girls and set them up beside each other. Paisley would probably sleep better snuggled up to Dakota anyways.
"Come on Paisley, Kasey." Annie held open the tent door, letting the two climb in. Paisley jumped on the cot and Kasey sat in front of it while Annie finished putting her and Daryl's sleeping bags out. She set out the right clothes on the right side and sat for a moment beside Paisley, who leaned into her side. Kasey set his big head on her knee, his big eyes staring up at her. Annie was thankful for the moment of peace but as it went on she started getting restless and the pain in her shoulder was easier to focus on. She knew she had to get up.
"Let's go make some friends." Annie smiles, stepping out of the tent. She held up a hand for Kasey to stay in the tent and she smirks as she took a few steps out.
Annie took in everyone doing their own thing, Carol and Lori were unpacking a few cans and emptying them in a pot. Beside them Carl and Sophia were setting up a fire. Well Carl was, Sophia was sitting there with her stuffed animal in hand, her wide eyes looking everywhere.
Andrea, Jacqui and Dale were rustling around in the RV. Annie could hear a few loud bangs and Dale laughing loudly.
Rick and Shane were huddled together over a map with Glenn and T Dog, they were speaking in agitated tones and Annie decided going anywhere near them wouldn't be a good idea. So she settled next to Lori and Carol. Both women looked up, Lori smiled widely.
"Hey there Annie," the women said, "you all set up for the night?"
Annie nods, pulling Paisley down beside her, then grabbing for a can and pulling out a knife. "Yeah, we are. We didn't have a tent so we stole Dixon's." She joked. "Our secret."
They snort, Carol shook her head. "I'm sure he'll be pleased to see that." The woman empties another can.
Annie stabs another can, cutting a big enough hole to get the contents out.
Lori shrugs, "Daryl's pretty rough around the edges but I think he has a soft side in there... somewhere." Her expression told Annie that she meant deep, deep inside.
"Yeah. He does," Annie nods, looking at the other brunette, "it's just hard to bring out... and when it does come out, it's not how you'd expect."
Both women stared for a moment and in the end all three of them bursts into laughter, eliciting the gazes of the men.
"Wow Annie." Lori sighs happily, "that was deep."
"Oh hush." Annie chuckles.
"That should be enough ladies," Carol smiles softly. Standing and searching for a lid. Once she had it, she covered the pot and held a hand out for Sophia. "Let's go clean up."
Once they were alone, Lori leaned closer and whispered, "how are you? How have you been?"
Annie took a moment to think, before nodding slowly, "good. It's been hard," she shrugs, "but nothing too much to handle you know? Very taxing both mentally and physically." She paused seeing Lori's softened gaze. Then she laughed, "I'm just glad I don't have to stay up all night again. Sleep's hard to come by these days."
Lori nods, "I know. And they don't even let me take watch."
"Us women have it hard, just as hard if not harder." Annie sighs, pulling hers sunglasses off the front of her shirt and covering her eyes with them.
"Don't we always?" Lori groaned, stretching out her legs and rolling her shoulders.
All of a sudden Paisley screams, jumping into Annie's lap. This startles the women, but once they saw Carl on his back laughing they glared at the boy.
"All yours Lor." Annie sighs, standing and helping Paisley up. She clung to Annie's pants, eyeing he boy warily.
"Hey Annie," Rick calls, waving her over.
She jogged over quickly, hopping onto the hood of Daryl's truck where they were looking over the map still. "'Sup boss?" She said pulling a leg up and hooking it under her other one.
Rick raised a brow, "Daryl said you know the area? Real well."
Annie nods, bending over to grab Paisley's flailing hands and pull her up into her lap. "Yeah, I have a lotta family and friends who own land all 'round here." She circles a few spots on the map.
Rick nods and Shane's eyebrows raise, and he lets out a low whistle.
"We plan on going here," Rick points, watching her as she leans closer to get a look.
"Centers for Disease and Control Center..." Annie nods, "okay. Y'all know how to get there?"
Rick nods, seeming pleased about something she didn't catch. "Yeah, well enough. We're hoping they're still there, and have some kind of hold up there."
Annie shifts Paisley, inwardly debating telling him that any and all big facilities would be overrun, every school, college, hospital, big management buildings... if there were lots of humans then, there would be lots of walkers now. She opted on just keeping it to herself, she'd help where she could and gain more trust. She wouldn't butt in where she wasn't needed. "And if all is well, we just stay there right?" She asks slowly.
Shane taps the hood, before nodding his goodbye and walking off.
Rick nods, watching Shane go, "that's the plan." He nods again, he chuckled, "what a thought huh? Safety... security.. it sure would be nice."
Annie hums in agreement, "yeah it would. I was just talking with Lori about a how good it feels to have a night off."
Rick smiles, his eyes roaming to find his wife and son. "Thank you.." he said.
Shocked, Annie looked at him with a raised brow.
"For saving her." He tips his head towards Lori. "I don't know what I'd do without her."
Annie smiles, "well I could say the same. Daryl's not the easier person to get on with." She snorts. "And if Merle was here.. surprised y'all survived."
Rick's gaze hardened at that. "You have a way to call him back to camp?"
"'Course I do." She smiles, her eyes crinkling. She moves Paisley off her lap and sits up straighter, pulling in a deep breath, and whistling long, and shrilly. She held each whistle for five seconds and did it three times. By the end of it, Kasey was sticking his head out of the open flap of the tent, and if Annie squinted she could see the other two shifting around in the truck.
Rick's eyes were wide, and he was grinning clumsily, "wow." He laughs, sticking a finger in his ear. He steps back, shaking his head. "That sure was something."
Annie laughs too, "yeah. They'll be back soon." She smiles, hopping down and pulling Paisley into her arms. "Anything else you need Sheriff? Or am I free to go?"
Rick waved her off with a laugh.
Annie went back to the tent and set Paisley up with some coloring stuff. She left Kasey in the door and went to wait by the guard rails for her family to get back.
It didn't take long for the two to emerge, both had a sling of squirrels, no surprise there. Dakota had in her hands a dead duck by the feet, causing Annie to snort. It was such an odd scene to others to see the young girl with dead animals, or big ol' weapons. They just didn't know how to handle it. Girls her age liked boys and barbies and all things pink. Annie sure was glad Dakota took after her daddy. Both of them had smug looks on their faces, though to others it would probably seem like atypical serious Daryl and a slightly upset Dakota. But Annie could see the mirth in their eyes, something had the two of them laughing not five minutes ago. Annie wondered what it was as Dakota got closer.
"How was it?" She asked, wrapping an arm around Dakota's shoulders.
"Good." The girl nods holding up her duck. "Got this, first bolt. Didn't even make it to the tree line." She smirks victoriously.
Annie cheered, "awesome! Good work." She catches Daryl's eyes above their babies head. She smiles at him and he rolls his eyes. He tips his head the other way saying he was going now.
Daryl took the game from Dakota, popping in to say hi to Paisley before going off a distance to skin and gut the animals.
Annie enjoyed some peace with her girls until dinner was done. It turned out to be plenty of fun, they all gathered around the small fire and ate. They told stories and cracked jokes. Annie sat next to Lori, who had Carl then Rick on her other side. Paisley was sat right in front of Annie, and Annie let Kasey come out and lay beside the toddler. Dakota was next to Sophia, and Carol, Daryl on their other side. The others were close too.
"Alright," Andrea finally throws her hands up, after Rick had made a joke at Glenn's expense. "Everyone wants to know so I'm just going to ask. Just what are you two?"
The others burst into laughter, but they were all genuinely curious too.
Lori bumps her elbow against Annie's causing her to laugh too.
Without looking at each other, Daryl and Annie each tugged the chain hidden under their shirts. At the end of each chain was a wedding band, shocking them into silence. The laughter was literally gone in point two seconds.
"Well holy crud!" Shane hollered finally sending everyone into a frenzy.
"Didn't see that coming." Andrea grumbled almost in disbelief, she had no doubt been expecting something bad or mischievous.
"How long have you two been married?" Dale questioned with a huge smile on his face. He leaned forward in excitement.
Annie says as she stuck the ring back in her shirt, "about twenty years." She looked over at Daryl for confirmation but he was looking down at his food.
"Twenty one." Daryl grunts, "always forgetting that aren't you?"
"At least I remember birthdays." Annie shoots back, a playful gleam in her eyes.
"Yeah whatever." Daryl looks her way, "at least I don't work on birthdays." He says, setting his plate.
Annie's jaw dropped.
"Oooo..." Dakota whispered, "low blow." Her eyes flicked back and forth between them.
Suddenly Annie laughs, "at least I'm not petty." Then all of a sudden it was a competition between the two. The others watched the exchange, cracking up through it. They'd probably never seen Daryl talk that much.
"At least I'm not a spoiled brat." He crosses his arms, getting comfortable.
"Am not!" The tips of Annie's ears lit up at that because she was slightly spoiled growing up.
"Are to and ya know if." Daryl looked smug, obviously thinking he won but the couples around the fire knew the women always won. Even if no one else got to see the final blow.
"Okay, Dixon. I'll let you off this time." Annie smirks, rolling her eyes.
Lori leaned against her again, tears of laughter in her eyes. "You two are.. are something else."
"Why were you always working on birthdays?" Glenn asks, resting his elbows on his knees.
"I'm a surgeon." Annie sighs, "so often times there were emergency surgeries and I wouldn't get done in time." She shrugs, wincing slightly, she had to fix that shoulder when they dismissed for the night.
"More like cause she forgot about it and didn't remember a present." Daryl adds, gaining more laughter.
"Can you go be stupid somewhere that's away from me?" Annie huffs, running her hand through her long hair. She caught Daryl's eyes and saw something she hadn't seen in awhile. He wasn't one to show his affection and definitely not in public but she could see how happy he was even in this situation he had some hope left. It was reassuring for her, and it filled her with a sense of contentment inside. Soon everyone started dispersing, and that's when Daryl grunted,
"When you gonna let me take a look at your arm?" He asked as he moved back towards her after putting a sleeping Paisley and Kasey in the tent.
"What's wrong with your arm?" Lori asks in worry, turning from a few steps away. Even Rick paused, Carl asleep in his arms and worry on his face.
"Nothing." Annie chuckles, rolling her eyes.
"You needin' your shoulder popped back in, ain't nothin'." Daryl growls, his glaring deepening. She shrugs and holds up her arm. Daryl holds the side of her neck and upper back with one hand, his other intwining with her outstretched palm. With a quick and fluid snap, her shoulder was back in and she was rolling it smoothly.
"He's a romantic in denial." Annie giggles, patting his hip as she passed to move towards the tent, "night y'all." She waves over her shoulder. She could feel Daryl behind her as she stepped into the lantern lit tent. She kicked off her boots and pulled her hair tie off her wrist to put up the messy hair. Paisley was already out, and Dakota's eyes were getting heavier every second. Kasey put himself between them and the door, earning a pat from Daryl as Annie pulled off her shirt, leaving her in a tank top. She folded it up and set it to the side. Daryl's hands wrapped around her waist, and squeezed softly. Annie was pulled into his chest, and she turned so she could wrap her arms around him too. Daryl all but crushed her against him, hurrying his head in her neck. She ran her fingers through his hair, pulling in a shaky breath. Her fingers caught the end of the short hair and tugged a bit. She felt like she should say I miss you, or I love you, or I'm so glad I found you... but Annie figured that was all included in the way they were holding each other. When Daryl finally pulled his head from her neck, his eyes were red, and he pressed a kiss to her lips. She was shocked by the suddenness, but quickly wound her arms tighter over his shoulders and held on tight. When he broke it off she was the only one panting, causing her to pout, her lower lip jutting out cutely. There was a rumble of laughter in Daryl's chest and he caught her lips again for another deep kiss.
"I'm glad you're here." He whispered, pressing his forehead to hers. "Now hurry up and get dressed." He ordered, pulling his own shirt off.
Annie scoffed, "oh whatever Dixon." She said, but her insides were leaping inside at the show of affection and the meaningful words.
She quickly pulled her pants off, pulling on a pair of shorts and unhooking her bra in the back and pushing her straps off, ripping it off through the front of her shirt. All of a sudden she hissed and grabbed her leg, turning to glare at Daryl who had a smug smirk on his face and his black shirt wound up in his hands. He snapped it at her menacingly.
"You're so dead Dixon!" She growled, throwing her bra at him. He ducked but she was already on him, they wrestled to the ground. And she let out a string of laughter as he poked and grabbed at her sensitive ticklish spots.
Lori grabbed Rick's hand as she heard the sound of laughter. Lori smiled wide, and Rick rolled his eyes. The two had been taking a quick walk, because of Rick's insistence, even though Dale and T Dog were on watch and Glenn and Daryl would replace them in a few hours, then Rick and Shane. They hadn't been far from their tent, which meant that they were also close to the Dixon's tent when they stopped hearing rustling. Lori started blushing when she realized what the Dixon male and female were probably doing, heck she had just been in that women's position a week ago when Rick found them. She and Rick kept walking when they heard signs that the Dixon's weren't doing what they thought, but if Lori had to bet, she'd say Daryl was tickling Annie.
"I didn't know he had it in him." Rick sighed as they made it back.
"No one did." Lori's sigh was a bit happier. "He didn't really hint to having a family at all."
Rick nods, rubbing his hands down his face. "And even so, wouldn't peg him as the soft guy with a wife and two daughters."
Lori snorts, "I'm sure neither of them are soft.. I wonder if it takes twenty years to get on his good side." Lori giggles, changing for bed. "They are cute together, I'll give them that."
Lori hugged Rick tightly. "I'm so glad you're here." She whispered. He grabbed her hand and brought it to his chest before kissing her.
"Me too." He said pulling her into bed and turning out the lantern.