Sorry for the long awaited continuation. College is going great, doing fantastic in math and having a blast in Animation and TV class! Trying hard in Photography, because the camera my dad owns is old and at times stops working, might get a newer one sometime soon when my grant money comes in. As an update for my mom, she's doing great with her blood pressure and no longer drinking beer (she had a alcohol problem) so she's in better moods and in better company. Thanks for the support and patience!

I also am becoming disinterested in how the show is turning out. With Rick gone, I have no means and I don't favor how Daryl's character is so distant from everyone. I'm mostly invested in Negan right now. I don't know where this will take the story to season 9, but we'll see.

"You tried to rape my sister, you scarred my face, and left thousands of innocent people to die while you still live on! Why should I trust you!?" She screamed, feeling her throat grow sore from yelling. "Just tell me where Merle is! He's my family! My brother! Nolan is dead!"

There was dead silence after her long ranting scream into the rafters above her head. She exhaled heavily, feeling her cheeks sting of hot tears streaking down them. Angela awaited for a response, when none came she reached her feet to look around the room. Was he somewhere else, looking for her like a hunted down prey?

Angela wiped her eyes and took a deep breath, moving to continue her search for Merle. "You better not be dead, damnit." She muttered, reaching the end of clothing and finding the pantry isle.

Her eyes kept reached up seeing the lights that had been used against her. He had electricity, which meant he had a generator building it up somewhere or solar powered panels. She had to get rid of them to kill Roy's advantage. Thankfully, by the time she reached the cold section the loud humming sound entered her ears. Was that the fans in the back freezer or a generator? Two double doors were coming to her next right, she peeked around and glanced inside, finding the humming to grow louder in the back room. Roy was still in no sight or heard over the PA system. He must be looking for her somewhere in the store.

Forgetting her injured arm healing, Angela winced entered the room. Letting out a small shudder as she transitioned from the warm building to a colder small back room. The generator was the true answer to the loud humming, finding it in the far corner that powered the entire store. She approached it, looking for a power button or switch, but found it was removed. Roy wanted to make sure no possible way of this shutting down happened, huh?

"Beating the shit out of it might work, but Roy might hear." Worth the risk? The sight of a crowbar on the far floor gave her the answer.

Silently walking over and reaching down for it, she lifted the heavy iron weapon in her hand. Angela strode by back the generator, raising the blunt object high with a tight clench and striking the machine as hard as possible. Repeating the process, the metal dented and the echoes clanking the abuse given to the gutting machine. Despite she put her energy into the damn thing, it showed no sign of stopping.

"What the hell?" She gasped, looking around at the thing frantically. Fuel line, it runs on gasoline!

Figuring it out finally, Angela hooked the end of the crowbar at every hose and yanked every single one off, not knowing which was the fuel. By the fifth one, a thick black tube she ripped from the machine in haste and heard the machine start to sputter as the gas spluttered everywhere and onto her clothing. With a grotesque groan at the smell, she stepped back watching it smoke and grind to try and keep going. Soon the lights started to flicker as the machine sputtered and died down with the lights and everything else powering the store. The fans in the freezer soon shut down, giving the room absolute dead silence.

With the lights dead, Angela waited to adjust to the darkness before moving. She moved around the room, feeling her feet hit a box- Crate more like. Her fingers skimmed the large wooden crate, feeling the lid unmovable.

Well, how lucky to have a crowbar!

Merle rubbed his arm to try and gain warmth after becoming free at last from the chair. He swore some frostbite would be in his toes and arms after flopping about on the freezing cement. Thankfully, he was correct of the duct tape not being waterproof.

"Where is that bastard?" He questioned himself, looking around in short breaths to find a weapon. Son of a bitch cleaned him good of his guns and knives, now he had to improvise.

After venturing around the freezer, he found nothing worthy of killing Roy with. Just meats hanging on hooks, the idea of taking the hooks came to mind but the struggle would be too much with one hand. A sound of a loud bang, the door opening- Roy was back. He hid behind a hanging pig seeing Roy enter the room, his breathing in rapid seething.

Merle, assuming he was pissed of his escape, grinned stupidly at the Ginger. "Ya really thought ya could hold a Dixon?" He called.

Roy ignored him, teeth clenched under his mustache. "Why?" Merle was about to respond, but a clink of something from Roy's hand made contact with the floor. From Merle's spot, he saw it was a pitch fork. "Why is she demandin' 'ta see you, 'n not her brother?"

Merle frowned, her brother? The redneck moved behind some other hanging meets and animals, a few even seen as bucks. Just as he moved behind another pig, the lights and fans shut down and darkness enveloped them both in the room. Merle's eyes went wide and blinked to try and adjust to the dark, feeling no more cold air enter the room.

"What!? What, no!" Roy yelled into the dark, the wooden chair heard clattering about. "'Dis ain't supposed 'ta happen!"

Another clank onto the cement, Merle glanced around, the clinking echoed about. He was at a huge disadvantage now, Roy probably had the room memorized while Merle was lost in there. The redneck just kept trying to avoid bumping to the hanged dead animals, the chains the hooks were attached to clinked together. He would give himself away if he wasn't careful, but the need to escape and find Angela was pushing into his adrenaline.

"Ya makin' 'dis too easy." Growled Roy, somewhere in the dark toward Merle's right.

The redneck turned and trekked the opposite direction. Walls, he needed to find walls and following along toward the door. He collided into something, though with the sounds of the chains above him jingling, it was not a wall.

"There ya are!"

Merle felt a whoosh of air just as he fell over, avoiding from the pitchfork piercing his skull. It impeded into the flesh of the pig he knocked into it, Roy curses as he struggled to free the weapon. Merle took the advantage, managing to find Roy's shirt collar, throwing a fist right into his face. He felt his knuckled make contact with his nose, the satisfying sound of a crack. Expecting the thin man to back down, Merle was greeted with a kick to his knee, having no choice but to hit the ground grunting in pain.

"Ya need 'ta adjust 'ta dis room, ya hick." Roy spat, giving another kick into Merle's chest and up his chin. Merle gasp and spat out blood as he land onto his back trying to regain the air kicked from his lungs.

Roy straddled onto his chest, throw more punched across his face left and right, continuously. "I'll kill ya, chop ya in'ta bits, 'n feed ya 'ta 'dem ghouls."

He sent two more punches and gripped Merle's shirt and get a look at him in the dark. The raspy gasping was enough to make the mad redhead grin.

"'Den I'll take Angel, far away. Shame what happened 'ta KayKay, but I know Angel will be just as good 'ta have in my arms." He sneered.

Merle growled, bloody teeth gritted as he glared up at the man. He could make out that damn face of his. The older Dixon spat blood into his face, enough to make Roy recoil and rub it away. "Hot Head," He coughed, "will kill ya good and dead." he swore.

Roy simple chuckled, letting him go as Merle fell back onto the cold cement, feeling his face grow sore as the bruises started to grow. Roy stood, removing the pitchfork from the pig's slowly rotting corpse. With a boot over Merle's chest, Roy held the pitchfork high above him. Merle coughed, gripping the book with his remaining fingers, in attempt to lift it off him.

"Ya wanna beg now, while ya can?" Roy offered, adjusting his tight grip on the tool.

Merle scoffed, "I don't beg." he rasped.

Roy shrugged, reeling his arms high ready to plunge it right into his skull. Merle closed his eyes, awaiting the death to arrive. The only words entering his mind, was an apology towards Kaylee, and Angela.

His apology was cut short when the sudden sound of a gunshot rung out in the slowly warming room. Roy froze, the sound of gasping was heard but it didn't come from Merle's lips. Another gun fire was shot, soon the pitchfork clatter onto the floor right beside Merle's head. A light shined into the room, Merle sat up seeing blood growing on Roy's shirt and coat in his right lower right and upper right chest. Despite the dark, someone got good shots into the maniac. Roy turned, stumbling off of Merle, the redneck's sight following as the men found Angela holding a gun aimed right at Roy, the light found from a flashlight held in her other hand. Merle scanned her body in the light he could see, her head was wrapped just as he said, her arm wrapped as well.

"A-Angel…" Roy coughed, her hand resting on the gun wound at his upper hip.

Ignoring him, Angela simply raised her boot and kicked him in the stomach to knock him down. She resting the flashlight down, the light raised at the ceiling bathing the area in light. Merle's attention was caught off guard when she knelt down, helping him up best she could. Was he seeing things, maybe the concussion was sinking in- Merle saw her smiling at him.

"Glad to see your breathing." She told, taking him arm the heave him in a sitting position.

Once he was sitting up, he raised a hand to her shoulder. Gasping made the two look toward the bleeding Roy, trying to stop his own wounds as he coughed up blood. Angela's smile turned to a stone cold glare once her sights shifted toward the Ginger. She got to her feet, checking the magazine in the gun she held.

"Two bullets out of six, let's fix that." She snarled, raising the gun aimed at him. Angela pulled the trigger two times, one bullet into his left shoulder and the other straight into his chest. Surely puncturing a lung when he coughed and gasped desperately.

"A-Angel…" he sputtered, lifting his bloody hand at her. "I-I… He wouldn't… wa-want 'dis…"

Baring her teeth like a lion, she fired another shot into his leg. Roy screamed, dropping is blood covered hand to the whole in the thigh. "How dare you say what Nolan would want." Merle watched as she knelt down beside Roy, tapping the gun in her grip against her knee.

Roy spat out blood, swaying as he struggling to stay sitting up. His coat growing more red by the minute. If Angela wanted to, she could just let him bleed to death and suffer. "..Ang-"

Without a second thought, another bullet was lodged right into other thigh. Roy screamed out once more, throwing himself backwards against the ground. "That's four, want two more?"

"What do ya want!?" Roy barked at her, pain enveloping throughout his body. "I'm dyin'! What more could ya want?!"

Angela swallowed, moving closer to his head as she stared him down, the barrel of her hand gun lined with him eye. "I want you to suffer."

"I-I-" Roy coughed as more blood stained his teeth, pooling around his legs. "I didn't kill 'lil KayKay."

"But you killed all those innocent people. Kids, babies, the elderly, men, women, mothers, fathers- So many people now roam around back in Savannah now the undead." She told, her eyes never leaving his dulling ones. He was fading, she knew this.

"I atone-"

"Like hell you atone for shit!" Roy flinched in fear of a bullet firing into his skull. "You kidnapped me and Merle," Angela glanced to the now standing redneck, seeing the beating he got. "Do that to him!"

"I saved ya… Both from 'dem monsters…" Roy coughed again, wincing as he moved to lean back on his elbows. Blood dry from the punch Merle gave at his nose, but now fresh red dripping from his mouth down his chin. "Brought ya here…"

"Tortured my brother, and had me handcuffed to a bed." She spat at him, surprising both men by the term she used.

"Yer brother ain't here…" He admitted. "I lied, ya saw right through me."

Angela stood, sighing as she shook her head. "I meant Merle."

The older Dixon hadn't expect that between the two of them. All the yelling, all the name calling, the loathing and blame for her Kaylee's death. Now, here she was saving his life from a maniac and calling her- Her brother.

Roy grinned in a sickly manner, he managed to wheeze out a pained laugh. "Brother? 'Dis… lowlife hick? Ya rather have 'dis… white trash den yer own... flesh 'n blood? Him over Nolan?"

Angela looked to Merle, almost like she was contemplating his words over her claim. "Yeah, he's a redneck, racist, jackass. Sure, he does more harm than good at times." Angela smiled at Merle, nodding to him. "But he's family, the only one I got left in this Hell."

Merle swallowed, nodding with his stoic features. He stepped beside her hearing Roy wheezing out more laughter. It got weaker as he fell back to the ground, stared down by the two above him.

"Nolan… He lives… Just… Not here…" He winced, letting a bloody smile be seen. "Angel… I'll be seein' her… I'll be with her…"

"No." Angel snarled, raising the gun at his head. "You'll be in Hell, with her killer."

Before another response was made, the trigger was pulled twice pelting his skull with the two final bullets. Angela made sure each one plunged into his eyes, killing him instantly as the blood poured from his open sockets.

The demon haunting Angela's life had been ended, she and Merle escaped his tormented freezer, leaving the body behind. The two discovered it was day time, though unknown how much time had passed since they awoke in the place. All the two knew was they wanted out of the place.

Merle ignored his injuries and got to looking over Roy's truck parked outside the back of the building. Angela emerged, her head no longer wrapped though she wore cleaner clothing of a baby blue sweater and fresh pair of jeans. She managed to find a nice dark brown leather jacket with wool in the inside keeping her warm. Merle himself got a black sweater and his button up bowling shirt found outside the freezer with a dark thick leather jacket Angela found him when changing clothes.

Angela approached Merle, seeing him checking the engine of the old Ford truck. "How's the ride for us?" She asked, peeking under the hood.

Merle grunted at her, not really answering

Angela looked the truck over, "1978, I'd guess. Shame we lost the car before." She mused with a shrug. "But, it will hold the food and the weapons from the store-"

"Might not start." He muttered, she looked to him. Merle sighed and pushed off the bumper. "Oil is out and the engine is as old as dirt. It'd take us a few miles at least, if it was working."

Angela nodded, "I'll pack the-" but Merle left toward the store.

"Ya rest, I'll pack us up and we'll move out." He called, entering through the back.

With a sigh, the scarred woman reached into her pocket to pull out a small thin box. After calming down from her killing deed, Angela had a deep feeling in the pit of her stomach, a question she needed answering. With the pregnancy test in hand, she walked behind the truck to give it a go while Merle packed up inside.

Inside, Merle packed the two backpacks with food, water, and as much ammo for their guns as they could carry. They retrieved their handguns and a rifle from the crate she found outside the freezer. They were lucky supermarkets sold guns, the North was surely screwed on that fact. He got a handgun along with their knives and all the ammo packing up in the bags. He found about 10 boxes of ammo for the handguns and 4 for the rifle. Not much, but worth it than having none. Merle also packed away flashlights, matches, and blankets in each one. The cold weather was growing harsher and they needed warmth for the night. Shame they couldn't take the truck, they'd be able to take more food, weapons, and equipment.

The older Dixon glanced to the freezer door now and again as he packed, soon throwing his bag onto his back and heaving up Angela's. It felt fairly heavy, but she could handle it well. He thought back to their drive as he made his exit out the store. Merle was wrong, with how Angela was doing physically she couldn't be pregnant. Maybe he was just imagining it, thinking he'd be stuck with his brother's woman and a bun in the oven to add to it.

Leaving the building, Merle walked up to Angela who sat on the flatbed of the truck. Seeing him return, she slid off and took the backpack he offered to her. With a heave she lifted it over her shoulder and onto her back, adjusting the straps.

Without another word, the two left the parking lot and down the street, to who knows where to next.

"Did you mean it?" Merle asked, after they walked a few miles.

Angela glanced up, trailing a bit behind him. "Mean what?"

Merle took a breath, spitting into the dirt. He hadn't had his injured checked, his face still hurt like hell and he was sure the bruises were ugly looking. But he had no fractures or broken bones, so he deemed himself alive and alright.

"'Bout, me." He shrugged, rubbing the tip of his nose anxiously. "Being your brother and that shit."

Angela jogged a bit to walk beside him, looking to him. "Yeah. I did," she told looking forward to the road ahead of them. "I lost my sister, Nolan has been gone, my parents too, and we don't know if anyone survived from the prison."

Merle wanted to argue, but kept his mouth shut for once.

"All I have is you left, and.. I'm sorry." Merle paused when she stopped walking. He turned back to her as she looked to him. "I blamed you for Kaylee's death for so long, more than I ever should. I know you didn't directly kill her."

Merle looked away, hands rested on his hips as she continued.

Angela took a step towards him, sighing. "You really are a brother to me, and it took me until Roy almost killed us to realize this."

A scoff escaped him throat. "I would've lived."

A brow was raised at him amusingly. "He had a damn pitchfork, Merle."

"Only a Dixon can kill a Dixon, Girlie." He grinned at her.

Angela gave a soft smile, of course he'd never admit being close to death. His lips fell giving a soft cough into his fist when she turned to continue walking.

"Princess," Merle spoke, making Angela pause. "She followed after when I let her and Michonne go. The Governor, he had me pinned, ready to shoot me dead. Prin-Kaylee jumped him, thinking she could kill him."

Angela turned, seeing him glaring down at the pavement. His eyes burned, they reached up. In his sights he could see her, Kaylee standing right beside Angela. She smiled encouragingly at him, he swallowed thickly before he continued.

"The bastard, killed her, stabbed her with her own knife. Left her to die, I tried to- to stop it. She was stupid- stupid as hell!" He barked, eyes shifting up at the gray cold sky. Eyes stung as he felt the wind blow by, blaming the cold for feeling tears prick the corners of his eyes.

Angela stepped forward, standing before him.

"She bled out, stupid, stupid…" Fist clenched at his side, Merle blinked the hot tears away, turning from Angela. "She said… she was glad I was alive."

Merle wished he could punch something, a tree, Roy's corpse, a walker, anything! He ran his hand down his face in anger and sorrow, it was all hitting him finally, and he let it all out.

"Merle…" Angela muttered, her voice soft.

He shook his head, taking a step back from her. "Ya were right back then, what ya said." She frowned when he finally looked to her, his blue eyes like glass piercing into her green ones. "It should've been me."

Closing the gap between the two, Angela wrapped her arms around his middle and hugged him tight. He winced, but she continued to hold him close to her, pressing her cheek into his chest. Angela looked up, tears streaking her cheeks, biting her lip to keep a sob from escaping.

"I forgive you."

Never had he felt such a relief wash over him, forgiveness was something he never thought to want now. He never cared nor did he even want to admit to anyone what happened. Deep inside, he feared to be looked at as the monster that truly killed Kaylee, and he started to believe that himself. His blue eyes looked up over Angela's head, no longer did he see the apparition of her sister. He looked around, finding no sign, but a weight lifted off his shoulders. Merle glanced down at Angela, he wrapped his good arm around her, curling his fingers around her shoulder and held her tightly against him.

They stood there, ignoring the world around them for a moment until Angela pulled away, wiping her eyes. Merle cleared his throat, wiping a hand down his face for any traces of tears on his down cheeks.

"Call that a miracle of accepting a hug from Merle Dixon." She teased, smiling up at him.

Merle scoffed, gently shoving her shoulder. "Consider yourself lucky, then." He walked past her, patting her shoulder ready to continue their walk. "Stick by me, Hot Head. We'll be alright!"

"So, I can count on you to protect us?" She inquired, hands folded behind her back.

Merle nodded, he frowned and stopped turning back to her. She gave a nervous smile, she pressed a hand to her stomach to give him her answer. His smile fell into a shocked expression, eyes kept jumping from her face to down her stomach.

"I checked a new test, I am pregnant." She confirmed, swallowing thickly. "And I am scared."

Merle walked back over, pressed a firm grip onto her shoulder. He nodded, his features showing reassurance. "It'll be okay, Angela." He told, first time saying her actual name. "I'll keep you and the little Dixon safe. I swear."

Angela smiled, believing him. "I trust you, brother."

She walked up beside him, though Merle turned her shoulder to direct her off the road toward the woods. Angela looked to him questioningly, he pointed at the sky to their right where black smoke was clouding into the sky. How had she not noticed that?

"That fire, probably catching every biters' attention. Why we haven't seen any down the road yet." He shrugged as he lead her into the woods.

The two entered through the dense woods, Angela sighed feeling the weight of the backpack slow her down. Merle noticed and stopped, realizing he may have over weighted her bag. Ah, she was pregnant, he can't just rely on her to carry heavy stuff for too long.

"Bag too heavy?" He asked, "Can lighten the load, if ya need." Merle offered.

Angela chuckled, "I'm fine, Merle." she assured. "Just hope we don't have to live off of the chips and pastries we got from that store."

Taking the rifle off from his back over the bag, Merle checked the ammo in it. "Well, better start hunting again, eh?"

Out in some dense woods further out, Carol and the little blond girl Mica were out on their own hunt for their small group. It consisted of Mica's sister Lizzie, Tyreese, and baby Judith. Tyreese had been lucky to find Carol when he and the girls escaped the prison. They now were taking refuge at an old abandoned house in the center of a pecan grove. They've so far relied on the pecans, Carol making many meals out of them the best she could with whatever they had in their stock.

Carol was informed of what happened of the prison, assuming all were dead or missing. She was glad the girls and Judith made it, though she was sure Rick and Carl must think the worst of the little baby. She hoped everyone else was alright, though the concern of the girls, the baby, and Tyreese ever finding out of Carol's secret from the prison was heavy on her mind.

The group did have a goal, Terminus. It was a few days away, judging by the last map they saw down the railroad. But after Mica's suggestion to make it their home, it made Tyreese and Carol wonder if they should stay.

Well, if they were gonna stay, they'd need to eat something more filling than just pecans. So, that's why Carol decided to take Mica out for a hunt, that and after the whole ordeal with killer the walker Lizzie was playing with got Carol concerned to talk to her sister.

"The fire's burning." Mica pointed out, awkwardly holding the rifle in her small arms the best she could.

Carol followed her gaze up at the dark smoke they spotted beforehand. Made her worry and wonder what had caused it. "It could have gone out." She suggested.

Mica shook her head, "Nope, smoke's black." she informed. "If it was white, the fire wouldn't be burning anymore." Carol was impressed by that knowledge, very smart for a girl her age. "I miss science class. Except for when we had to do stuff like, cut up planaria worms."

Carol shrugged, twisting the dead weed stem in her fingers. "You've got to do worse than that nowadays, Mica."

The little blonde glanced up at her. "I don't gotta." She argued.

"You do." The older survivor insisted, pausing in their walking. "Lizzie's bigger than you and in some ways she's stronger." Carol explained. "But you're smarter, and you understand these… Things."

She the need to have Mica survive was growing stronger than the chances of Lizzie recently. Naming walkers, playing with them, after that fit Lizzie had over killing 'Griselda', Carol couldn't imagine what was running through that little girl's head anymore.

Her eyes drifted down after they scanned over the area towards the house. "You've got to look out for her. You have to-"

Carol froze, pausing Mica in their trailing when she spotted a lone deer in the open small meadow. What a chance this was! She glanced to Mica, who offered the rifle to her.

"No, go ahead." Carol encouraged her. "You do it." If Mica was going to survive in this world, hunting whatever food you can get was a lesson in itself. "Just like I showed you at the prison. Go ahead."

Mica gave uncomfortable glances up at Carol, but soon raised her gun and aimed it the best she could at the beautiful creature. Her aim wavered, Carol watched intently waiting for the trigger to be pulled. But soon, Mica lowered her aim and looked to Carol with regret as the deer started to meander into the woods.

"I can't." She told her, though the look of disappointment was not unseen by her on Carol's features. "We have peaches." She shrugged, thinking that alone would be enough for them.

The little blonde turned, started her way back with Carol following. She glanced around walking behind, but the sound of a gun fire froze the two. Their heads whipped about, trying to find the source. A second gun fire made Carol rip the rifle out of her hands and shove Mica behind her.

"Get behind me, and don't leave my side." She demanded, aiming her gun in the woods where the deer had wandered off. Were their survivors or hunters near? It could be anyone from the prison but also any threat to them as well.

"You missed!" Barked a voice, Mica jumped and gripped Carol's shirt.

"Ain't my fault!" Rasped another, proving to me Southern male.

"Wait…" Carol muttered, stepping closer toward the voices. She knew them from somewhere.

"Carol-" Mica tugged her shirt, fearful of finding the people.

Carol shushed her, waiting to hear them talk more. She had to indicate those people.

"You can't blame me for sneezing- I held it in!" Snapped the first voice, female Carol was sure.

The male voice scoffed, some twigs snapped- They were walking towards them! "It still heard ya. How did my baby brother not teach ya a thing 'bout hunting?"

The female grumbled, "Never really found the time between hunting for a sicko and getting sick right after." she answered.

"Excuses." Argued the male.

Soon, the branches and leaves crunched and snapped when two figures emerged from the forest. Their eyes met, the three freezing as they scrutinized one another. Carol couldn't believe it, she was so shocked, her hands trembled lowering the gun in her arms. Before her and Mica stood Merle and Angela. Seeing the once was extremely ill woman now standing looking healthy- In fact looked to be glowing right now before her next to the bruised and beat up older Dixon. She never imagined to see them again after hearing what happened at the prison, if she did Carol hoped it wouldn't be as walkers or a corpse on the side of the road.

"Angela…" Carol muttered, her eyes watering as the emotions hit her.

Same rushed through Angela, tears immediately stinging her eyes as she ran over. "Carol!" She enveloped her into a tight hug, Carol dropped the gun and wrapped her arms around her just as tightly. "You're alive!" She cried into her shoulder.

Carol just rubbed her back, assuring her it was okay. Mica stood by, her eyes falling toward Merle who gingerly sauntered over to the females.

"The mouse lives." Merle grinned, tucking a thumb into his belt as he rested the rifle against his shoulder. "No hug for big 'ol Merle?" He offered, his arm out for a hug.

The women pulled back, wiping their cheeks as they sheepishly grinned at the redneck. "Good to see you too, Merle." Carol greeted, though didn't give the satisfaction of hugging him.

Angela kept rubbing her wet eyes. "I just can't believe you're-" Her focus shifted to the little blonde, her eyes wide recognizing her. "Mica?!"

She nodded, sticking close to Carol but smiling at the sight of a survivor from the prison. Angela knelt down and slowly hugged Mica in a way not to spook her. "I'm glad you made it."

"How'd you two get out?" Carol asked Merle, who gave up getting a hug from the gray haired woman. "Were you out in the woods the entire time?" What if the two had been close all this time?

"It's an extremely long story." Angela told, getting to her feet.

Merle sniffed, "Got a camp nearby? We just got into these woods, tracking that deer down for food." he explained.

Carol nodded, tugging Angela's arm to loop it with her. "Of course! We found a house, it's close by." She lead the two past the open trees, grinning like a cat as she kept close to Angela.

Angela just couldn't believe it! She had given up the thought of any survivors, but Carol of all people alive!? She kept a tight smile on her face, though the glance to Merle to her right brought back a memory he gave her. Merle told her Carol was the one who killed Karen and David, why she was banished by Rick during the sick scare. Angela didn't want to believe it, she couldn't see Carol doing it. But, asking her now was too soon. The reunion was true and she wanted this happiness to stay while it could.

Angela was about to ask who else survived but didn't want to bring any unneeded hopes of anyone else with the two. That was proven wrong, when approaching the small old house, the door opened with a familiar black man exiting the home with a little known baby girl in his arms. Angela fought back the tears when she saw the shock on Tyreese's face.

"Well shit me some nails." Merle muttered, giving a crooked grin.

"Angela?" Tyreese approached them, earning a sudden hug from the highly emotional woman. "Hey, hey." He greeted, wrapping a free arm around her. Carol took Judith so Tyreese could properly return the hug.

Angela shook her head feeling the large arms around her. "This isn't some dream right?" After what she just went through, she prayed this wasn't some fever dream or drug trip from Roy back at the store.

"I can pinch ya if that helps." Merle offered as she let Tyreese go. He greeted the large softie with a nod. "Good to see a survivor."

Tyreese nodded, "We didn't know if you guys made it out." he told.

Angela cooed at Judith, almost breaking down at the sight of the baby being alive after the attack. "What happened to you two?" Carol asked, letting Angela hold Judith.

Merle turned to her. "We were out in the field when the attack happened. We were pinned but escaped."

"Thanks to Calypso." Angela squeaked out, trying to calm her emotions best she could. She wanted to blame the hormones, but knew that wasn't true. "She got us out far and safe. Poor thing didn't make it with us, though."

"Calypso was your horse, right?" Mica asked.

Angela nodded, "Walkers got her. But without her, we wouldn't have gotten far." she explained rubbing Judith's back.

The door creaked open revealing Lizzie standing in the doorway. Angela smiled, remembering she last saw her in the cells with the sick people. "You made it, too? Glad to see you recovered."

Though the older girl just hid back inside. Angela frowned, looking to Carol with a concerned look. She sighed, "I'll explain later." Carol looked to Merle. "Do you need those bruises treated? Were you two attacked?"

Tyreese just now noticed the beaten up face Merle was carrying. He brushed it off with a wave of his hand. "Nothing I couldn't handle. Just had a run in with a psycho."

Angela swallowed, tucking some hair behind her ear as a breeze came by. "Someone from my old community."

Tyreese sighed, "So, you haven't seen anyone else?" he asked.

"No one." Merle answered as Angela shook her head.

"We'll get some water for you guys to clean up." Carol offered, nudging Angela's shoulder toward the door. "Go ahead and relax. We got pecans and peaches inside."

The green eyes of the scarred woman beamed, "Something other than salty crappy chips? Count me in!" she eagerly entered the home.

"Mica, show them where the food is?" Carol asked her, handing her the rifle. The little blonde nodded, entering the home as Carol and Tyreese turned to Merle. "Go ahead and relax, Merle."

Nodding, the redneck walked past and entered the small home without a word. He looked around finding a couch and a sofa chair in the living room with a coffee table in the middle facing a recently used fireplace. The kitchen was where he found Angela, Mica, and Judith, showing the peaches collected by the stove. A dining room was connected though ignored as a bowl pecans were on a small table in the living room. He took a handful, piling them into his mouth as he peeked down the hall. He saw what could be two or so bedrooms, he wondered if that's where they slept finding no evidence of them sleeping in the living room. Angela was doing to town on a peach, ignoring the juices drip down her chin with a wide grin. Merle sighed and tossed his bag down and dropped into the chair, allowing his weight to sink into the comfy cushions, closing his eyes. After being locked and tied in the freezer for hours, this was heavenly. He didn't see Lizzie anywhere, but he could care less where the little lunatic went to.

"Merle, catch!" He cracked his lids open, spotting Angela tossing him a peach letting it land in his lap. "Eat some so you don't get scurvy."

Merle watched her place Judith in the crib and drop her bag by the couch. She moved the pillows and groaned as she laid down, sighing at the comfort of the furniture. "So much better on my back."

Mica entered the room as Merle bit into his peach. She picked up a doll they hadn't noticed sitting at the table, she watched them with a small smile on her cute face. Mica sat down by the coffee table, playing with the red yarn haired doll. She was happy more people from the prison were alive, it meant rebuilding of a family.

The blonde turned to Angela, seeing she had fallen asleep as quickly as she had eaten the peach earlier. She wanted to ask her a question, and found herself too nervous to ask Merle. She saw him as this angry barking Southern brute, compared to his brother, Daryl, who was more quiet and understanding.

But when her attention shifted to Merle, she was surprised to find he had fallen asleep too! His arms resting in his lap, head rolled to the side as his snores grew with his mouth opened in his slumber. Mica giggled to herself, they must be exhausted to just fall right to sleep. She remembered it took a while for Tyreese to start relaxing last night there, it was comfort.

Mica stood and checked on Judith, who was slowly cooing about but kept rubbing her eyes. She herself was ready for a nap too, Mica bet. She walked over to the kitchen, when she heard the screen door slam. Mica turned and found no one in the living room had moved.

"Lizzie?" She called down the hall, careful not to wake the two adults up. Not finding her sister in the bedrooms, she got her gun off the table in the dining room and peeked out the door. "Lizzie?" She caught her sister leaving the property, box in hand.

With a struggling sigh, Mica glanced to the sleeping trio in the living room then toward where her sister ran off to. Carol told her to watch out for her sister, so she ran out the door and chased after her who knows where.

Tyreese and Carol were extremely thankful this water pump was giving such fresh water. Carol still boiled it to make sure it was clean enough to consume. Tyreese pumped the water into the bucket, he kept shaking his head.

"I just can't believe it." He grinned at Carol who smiled back. "Angela and Merle, alive and well."

"Miracles can happen." Carol mused, folding her arms over her chest. "I'm mostly surprised to see her with Merle."

Tyreese looked up, he was confused then remembered. "Think she forgave him?"

She shrugged, "I heard the two arguing about the deer Mica and I were hunting. But, it sounded like a typical- I don't know, teasing like she and Daryl would." Carol explained.

Tyreese pumped more water, sighing as he sat down waiting for the water to drain. "I expected her to be with Daryl." Carol didn't answer, she just nodded.

There was a moment of silent before Tyreese spoke up again. "Maybe we don't need to go to Terminus." Carol frowned, stepping over curious to his notion. "I've been thinking, Mica's right." He nodded, remembering what she said the night before. About staying at the house, as their new home.

"We can stay here. We can live here. If we left, we would've missed Angela and Merle just like that." Tyreese kept his grin, he lifted a hand adjusting the beanie on his head. "Who's to say anyone else will come wandering out, alive and okay?"

"Don't know." Carol shrugged.

Tyreese leaned back, confident in his words. "I know Mica and Lizzie. I know Judith. I know Angela and Merle. I know you, I trust you." That felt like a cut in Carol's chest when those words escaped. "And I don't know if I can get that anywhere else. We can stay. We can live here."

Carol smiled, suppressing the struggling emotions hidden within her. Desperately she wanted to tell him the truth, but the fear of his anger and hatred kept it from happening. Now with Angela and Merle joining them, she found it more difficult, if they didn't know already. The thought of Angela, someone she considered deeply her sister, seeing her as a person who would kill their own members- She didn't want to even imagine the betrayal look Angela might give her.

But that feeling had to be buried back down. Angela was alive. Merle was alive. The chances of other alive were rising, for all they knew, other members could be right outside in the woods looking for other prison survivors.

By the way, have I mentioned my recent love for Supernatural? If you are a fan, tell me, would you want me to write a Castiel x OC or Dean x OC? My friends want me to do something new on Dean's personality, but I connect with Castiel better. Mostly asking because I'm seeing some Supernatural fans following and favoriting by their names. (I see you, Crowley20206!) Can you help me decide? I have a poll on my page, check it out I plan to close it May 16th when my Semester ends!

Thanks nguyenthanhtam95, Xyliee, NiaomiReed, BabyD414, JazmynB, crowley20206, elljayde, NopeItsNotMe, Skylar97, Vhall, for the follows and favorites!

Crossbow-Angel92- Thanks so much! I hope you got my PM about that incident. So sorry for you and your family to go through that. I never want me fans to feel like that when I get into television or movies.

RedVelvetPanPan- Thanks, we're doing better now. Just fighting a cold now throughout the house. Just preparing how to work my class hours, sister's work hours, and nieces' hours in babysitting until my semester ends in May. Yup, they are in a tight jam. I wanted to make sure this was well written and not overly dramatic, and well timed to check in on Daryl between times.

Kara315- Thanks! Glad you got your money back, it's a shame that I can't even think to go to a Supernatural con thats just North of my own state, but they only over over $1,000 golden tickets! Then $119 just for pictures! Disgusting!