Hello everyone! I hope you all are having a wonderful day! One more week till the season 4 final of The Walking Dead, I cant believe it! I wanted to give a big thank you to everyone who is following the story and for those who have left a review! Its really kind of you and it makes me so happy to see them! I'm glad that you're all enjoying! This ones a short one, but don't worry, the action starts to pick up after this!

Like always, enjoy! :)

Chapter 11: Corinthians 13:1-8

Mae sat with Hershel in his cell, sitting in a chair as he read from his bunk. After her ordeal with Merle in the prison yard, Mae hurried up to her cell, hiding her watery eyes and flushed cheeks from everyone else. She didn't feel like talking or explaining to everyone why she was upset. She had rather hide away until she felt like coming out again, but how long that would take, she didn't know. Mae wasn't mad with Merle, only a little disappointed. She had thought they had been on good terms; that she had been right about his good nature, but witnessing him turn on her saddened her heart more than anything.

Perhaps I was in the wrong, Mae thought. I didn't think what I had said would upset him so. Why can't I keep my mouth shut?

Mae was always overthinking things and blaming herself for things that weren't her fault. She'd fault herself constantly, regretting most of the things she would say. Maybe it would be better if she just avoided Merle all together and saved herself the embarrassment. But she knew that wouldn't work. She'd regret that too if that's what she chose to do. To Mae, there was something about Merle Dixon that fascinated her. She never met a man like him before. Both of the Dixon's were a rare breed, but Merle was rarer still. The way he held himself with complete confidence and power, the strength that was encased inside his eyes, and the raw words that would either come out smoothly or harshly from his mouth, stunning her with whatever he said, grasped and held Mae's attention, and left her wanting to be in his presence all the more.

She felt like a teenager in high school all over again, hiding behind her books and fumbling over herself any time someone she admired or liked tried to talk with her. Her phase of shyness had not faded or dispelled from her personality. It wasn't that strong anymore, but faced to face with a hot headed Dixon caused her to retreat back into the days she cried when she thought someone looked at her in an unkind manner. Mae feared to be hated or disliked, especially by someone she cared for.

Hershel had found her in her cell, wiping away tears she had just gotten control over. He asked her if she'd like for him to read to her, saying he had something in mind that she might like. Mae had agreed and followed him to his cell, surprised to see what book he was reading from.

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful."

Mae smiled at Hershel as he closed his Bible.

"It's been a long time since I've heard from that book," Mae said.

"Did you practice your faith before all of this?" Hershel asked.

"Yeah, but not as well as I should have. I pray more now than I ever did back when things were normal. I guess a lot of people did that too," Mae sighed.

"Better late than never," Hershel smiled. "You're welcomed to borrow it anytime you like."

He set the Bible on his bed as Mae smiled. "I'd like that. Thank you."

Mae got to thinking about the passage Hershel had read to her. She wondered why he wanted to read her that passage in particular. Hershel was a great observer, she knew that. He probably knew more about what was going on with her than she knew herself.

"I don't think love exists anymore, Hershel," Mae said. "How can there be love in this world? Everything we love dies, and then what are we left with? Just regret and anger…Love has become something we cant handle anymore. It was too much, and now we've lost it. Everyone's heart is a little dead inside nowadays. We're all noisy gongs or clanging cymbals."

"Love doesn't go away, Mae. It's always there, even when we think it's gone or when we think we've lost the ability to love. Everyone is capable of it, even those who would like to deny such a feeling. Regret and anger are the doors that lock it away. You're the key that opens it. Most people don't realize this and are left with empty chests and lonely lives. You still love Audrey and Max, don't you?" Hershel asked.

Mae's eyes watered at their names and her breath caught in her throat.

"Of course," She said, her lip quivering.

"And you've come to love the people here, haven't you?"

"Yes," Mae said, the thought of everyone there causing her the smile from ear to ear.

"Then love still exists. Even in the most unlikely of places, it still exists. You just have to remember that."

Hershel took Mae's hands in his and patted them gently. Mae made a note to remember what Hershel told her and promised herself that she would remember. The hallway platform echoed, alerting them that someone was walking down it in their direction. In a few second, Mae and Hershel both looked over to find Merle stopping in the doorway of the cell.

"Didn't mean to interrupt nothin'," He said.

"That's alright, Merle," Hershel smiled and stood up. "How can I help you?"

"I was looking for Mae, actually. Wanted to have a word, if that's alright?" Merle asked, the tone of his voice completly different from before. It was low and mellow, and perhaps a little humbled.

Hershel looked back at Mae, both men looking at her for an answer. She nodded silently.

"I'll leave you two, then," Hershel smiled and exited his cell.

Merle waited till he heard Hershel leave completely, and entered his cell. Mae still sat in her chair, not daring to look up at him. Merle sighed as he searched for the right words to say. The fact that she didn't look at him only caused him to feel worse about what he had done.

"You… alright?" He asked.

"Yeah," Mae nodded, her eyes fixed on her hands and voice quiet.

""You, uh… your leg alright?" Merle asked, wondering if that was the reason she had been with Hershel.

"Oh no, yeah. It's fine. Hershel and I were just…" Mae paused, trying to control her voice from shaking. "Talking."

It devastated and frustrated him that this withdrawn reaction from Mae was caused by him. He knew it was. Her bright spirit had shrunken away. He would rather her look upon him with anger or disgust, he didn't care. He just wanted her to look at him.

"Listen, I… I didn't mean what I said to you back there. I was already mad about other shit, and it just all came out. I was an asshole and should have kept my mouth shut. Hell, I shouldn't have come over at all being as worked up as I was, but… I wanted to let you know that it wasn't you and I'm… sorry."

Mae tilted her head and her glittering eyes met Merle's. He gave a smile when she did, seeing that there wasn't any anger or disgust in them, only gladness. And she smiled back, affirming that she was no longer feeling upset anymore.

"Yeah, you were an asshole," She grinned, causing Merle to let out a laugh.

Mae got up, her once hooded eyes now searching his. She suddenly felt the closeness of the cell and how much smaller Merle's presence made it fell, but she didn't shy away and she didn't look down.

"But I forgive you," she smiled.

Merle had the sudden urge to reach out and tuck a piece of Mae's hair behind her ear and tell her that he was glad she forgave him, but Merle's hand laid still at his side and he said nothing.

Mae moved past him, looking back with a playful grin.

"Want to play some cards?" She asked, her voice full of liveliness.

Merle agreed, following after her.