~I do not own the Walking Dead~
Archer POV
Everyone was stunned when they realized that Merle and I knew each other. I walked up to him and hugged him tight.
"You have no idea how happy I am to see you." I told him.
"I'd say the same but it's been nice not having you lecturing my ass all the time." Merle chuckled as he hugged back.
"Wait, you and Daryl have a sister?" T-Dog asked.
"Not exactly blood related. I'm married to Daryl." I explained.
"You're Archer? The wife that went missing when all this happened?" Andrea questioned.
"Yeah? What you expecting someone else?" I asked.
"Actually I was. I just thought well…"
"Spit it out. I know you ain't shy with words."
"She expected that you were some ugly ass redneck hick, not this babe with a body." Merle explained. "I know it's hard to believe that Daryl could get someone like you and not a gorgeous catch like me."
"Well everyone should know that you're the catch that we toss back into the waters." I teased.
"I'd be a lot nicer to me if I were you. I've been keeping those kids of yours safe."
I rolled my eyes and watched as he started shooting off rounds again.
"Man, your wasting bullets we ain't even got! And you're bringing even more of them down on our ass! Man, just chill." T-Dog yelled.
"Hey! Bad enough I've got this taco-bender on my ass all day. Now I'm gonna take orders from you? I don't think so, bro. That'll be the day." Merle yelled back.
""That'll be the day"? You got something you want to tell me?"
"Both of you drop it. T-Dog let it go. And Merle shut your damn mouth and put the gun away." I ordered.
"Today will not be the day that I take orders from a nigger or even a woman for that matter." Merle yelled.
T-Dog was fuming and started to fight with Merle. We all were trying to break them apart. I went behind Merle to get him off T-Dog and push him far away but when I did that he turned and slapped me hard enough that I fell to the ground. Rick had enough and punches Merle hard enough to make him fall. He then drags him to the pipe and handcuffs him.
"Who the hell are you man?!" Merle screams in rage. Rick lectures him while Morales gives me a hand off the ground.
"You alright sweetie?" Jacqui asks as she looks at my face.
"I'm fine." I responded. "Should have known better than to be caught in his rage but I didn't want him killing anyone."
"You brave girl."
Things calmed down and they were trying to get ahold of their group and figure out how to escape. I sat down with Merle while everyone but T-Dog went inside the building.
"Why don't you get Officer Friendly to uncuff me?" Merle asked.
"I think you need to learn how to behave yourself." I told him.
"You all sour because I slapped you?"
"No but I think your brother will be. You can't be stupid Merle. Everyone gets their Karma and you my friend got it."
"Anybody out there? Hello? Anybody read? I'm hoping to hear somebody's voice 'cause I'm getting sick and tired of hearing mine." T-Dog tried reaching the group again.
"Yeah, well, that makes two of us. Why don't you knock that crap off? You're giving me a headache, boy." Merle whined.
"Why don't you pull your head out of your ass? Maybe your headache will go away." I chuckle at T-dogs response. "Try some positivity for a change. Damn."
Merle glared at him.
Kenny POV
Majority of the group left camp. I went to sit on the RV and look out for Madi and the other kids. I also enjoyed the peace of being able to think.
"How you doing Kenny?"
I looked over to see Dale coming up. I nodded at him. "Nothing really."
"You thinking about your mom again?"
"Yeah…"
"What was she like?"
I hesitated. "Dixons don't open up."
"Including your mom?"
"Nah." I smirked. "My mom would pour her feelings and make it clear whether my dad wanted to hear it or not."
"Seems like your mother is a free spirit."
"Very much. She does what she wants when she wants. One minute se could be the kindest soul you ever met then the next she could be your ass down if you crossed her wrong."
"I hope that one day I meet her."
I looked at him and his eyes showed hope. "I hope you do too."
Archer POV
Rick and Glen were coming back with the truck so T-Dog and I were running up to go get Merle.
"Merle your ass better be ready to high tail it out of here!" I yelled as I was close to him. His face was eager and then it dropped. I looked behind me to see that T tripped and dropped the key in the drain.
"What did you do?!" I shouted.
"Son of a bitch! You did that on purpose!" Merle raged.
"I didn't mean to!" T-dog apologized.
""You lie! You did it on purpose!"
"It was an accident! I'm sorry! Archer we have to go!"
"I can't just leave him here!" I yelled.
"What about your family?!"
"Merle is part of that family!"
I went to Merle's side trying to pull the handcuffs off him. While he screamed at T-dog not to leave us. I looked up and saw that he shut the door and chained it.
I can't believe we just got left behind. I curled up so my knees were held against my chest and just kept getting lost in thought. I ignored the walkers banging and clawing at the door. I was pretty sure they couldn't get to us. The one thing T was kind enough to do before he fled.
Merle was bitching and whining.
"Will you shut up!" I barked at him.
"Don't begin giving me orders! You let this happen to me!" He yelled.
"You idiot you did this to yourself. You were the one that just had to pick a fight with someone and act reckless."
"Oh so your siding with Officer Friendly."
"Shut up. If I hadn't of found me I wouldn't be close to finding Daryl, Kenny, and Madi."
"And look where you are. Stuck on the top of a building to rot!"
"Let's rewind a bit here. I'm not handcuffed to a pipe so I can get up and wales right out of here."
"You wouldn't even know where to go."
"I can track." I muttered and got up and started heading to the door on the other side of the roof.
"Don't leave me!" Merle yelled. "Don't make me beg! I won't"
I rolled my eyes and went back to him while grabbing the hand saw. "I'm not an asshole like you. I'm going to get you out of this, you're going to lead us to the camp, and your going to apologize to the group!"
"Fuck no!"
"Fine then you can stay here and wait until Daryl comes to get you, that's if he wants to." He glared at me. "My patience is wearing thin."
"Fine."
Madi POV
I was playing with the girls majority of the day when I decided to go spend some time with Kenny. He came down from the RV and we both sat by a tree to talk. We would clean our weapons but we promised dad we would only do that when he is around. Even though the group was comfortable with us, they didn't like the idea of a 14 year old and a 9 year old carrying.
We were deep into our conversation when we started hearing a car alarm going off in the woods.
Kenny jumped to his feet and I was by his side knowing he was being protective and alert.
When it got closer we realized it was only Glenn with a pretty cool looking car. Of course then everyone was jumping him with questions left and right until the familiar white van came into view.
Slowly everyone was being reunited and Kenny and I were confused as to why Merle wasn't around. We walked up to the group who was too busy with their own affairs.
"Where's my Uncle Merle?" I asked.
Everyone looked at me guilty and then at each other not saying anything. Did he get left behind? Is he dead? I started to tear up a little. Kenny pulled me into a side hug as he glared at everyone.
"How'd y'all get out of there anyway?" Shane asked.
"New guy. He got us out." Glenn answered.
"New guy?"
"Yeah, crazy vato just got into town. Hey, helicopter boy! Come ay hello." Morales called out. "The guy's a cop like you."
We look to see a guy in an officer uniform walking forward. Shane looked shocked and then I started to hear Carl screaming in joy as he ran to hug the guy who turned out to be his dad. I watched their happy reunion and started to cry harder.
"Hey it's ok…" Kenny tries to soothe.
"It's not ok! We lost Merle and Mommy and he gets his dead father back! It's not fair! I yelled and pushed Kenny away as I run away from the group and to our tent.
"Madi!" Kenny called out but I ignored him.
I was pissed that something happened to Merle. Daddy is going to be so pissed when he comes back tomorrow.
I was also really sad because I miss my mom so much. It isn't fair. Carl can be a brat sometimes. He always goes off to do what he wants and since his mom doesn't watch him, Kenny has to step up and make sure he doesn't wander being the good person that he is.
I try so hard to be so good. I do everything the adults tell me and I have never ever been out of line with my daddy or Merle. I just thought that if I did well some greater force would bring my mommy to me. But they haven't. Not only did I lose her but I also lost my Uncle.
Daryl POV
It was getting late and I tracked animals left and right and had enough squirrels to feed our group but there was no sign that Archer.
I found a small area and made a fire to stay the night.
I felt like such a failure that I lost my appetite. I put the fire out and climbed into a tree to go to sleep.
Our Honeymoon was out in the woods. We couldn't afford anything fancy and I was grateful that my new wife wasn't too superficial and was fine with it. Luckily we could be alone since her father agreed to watch the kids.
We camped close to the river and after we ate, we sat on a boulder next to each other looking out at the stars.
Archer was curled up into my side looking very content with herself. I looked at her in amazement.
It's still hard for me to believe someone like her would be with someone like me.
She must have noticed how deep in thought I was because I jolted away from her when she touched my face.
"Daryl are you alright?" She asked as she sat up.
"Peachy." I muttered.
"What's on your mind?"
I hesitated. I started to bite the skin on my thumb and she just watched and waited patiently for me to respond. "Do you regret getting married?"
She smirked. "We got married 12 hours ago. I think it takes a few years before we realized we made a mistake and are getting annoyed."
"Seriously?"
"Relax. No I don't. I'm actually really happy."
"Why?"
"Because I love you stupid."
"I just…I don't know." I sighed frustrated.
"Is it still so hard for you to believe someone other than your brother can love you? I married you. You have a son who admires you and you have a daughter who is obsessed with her daddy."
I smiled at the thought. "I guess."
"This is real Daryl. No matter what you and I went through, we always found a way back to each other. As kids we looked out for each other and you're the reason I finally got away from my mother. We stopped talking for 4 years but look how much we accomplished after that. No matter what obstacle we face, we will always find our way back to each other. Always."
I pulled her into a rough kiss and she eagerly kissed back. "You always know how to break me down."
She smirked. "Even the big bad Dixon has his kryptonite."
"I promise with every ounce of my red neck being, I will protect you and be by your side every chance I get. Think of me as your guardian angel."
"My dumb red neck guardian angel." She smiled and kissed me again.
I startled myself awake and saw the sun beginning to rise. We always did find our way back to each other. I want to believe it especially for my kids sake but the dead are roaming everywhere I turn. Anyone could die any day, even someone as tough and cautious as Archer.
~I hope you guys like it. Please review! Good or Bad! I just really want to know if you like it and what comments you have!