*Spoilers for "Remember". I will post the next chapter covering the rest of "Remember" by Friday *crosses fingers*

Chapter 14

"We brought dinner." Daryl grunted out holding the possum he'd just shot by the tail. Em snorted softly, apparently she was the only one that found him funny. The man at the gates looked at Daryl like he had two heads, Daryl glared back. Rick was still on edge and he was too, he already felt like an outsider.

Em was still sticking close to him and he was happy about that. Merle and Beth had both decided to abandon him for the moment and Em being around helped ground him. One by one they each began going in to see this Deanne person for their "interviews", he bristled at that. He'd never begged anyone for anything in his life and he wasn't going to start now. There was no way he'd change a speck of who he was to impress this woman.

When it was Em's turn she looked at him, the asshole that eyed him earlier called her again but Em didn't move. He wiped his brow with his forearm, nodding quickly and motioned for her to go ahead, he followed her into the house.

"Hello," an older woman greeted them. "I prefer to interview one on one." Her eyes shifting back and forth between Em and him. Em stepped closer and a little behind him.

"You can do us together." He growled out, he jerked his chin at Em for her to sit down. She hesitated a moment then sat in front of the camera.

"I'm Deanne Munroe." The woman kept her tone light but the smile she gave them didn't reach her eyes.

Em looked at him again, waiting to see if he was going to respond. When he didn't, she answered for them.

"I'm Meryl, but everyone calls me Em, an he's," she looked up at him again, "he's Daryl Dixon."

"You two are married?"

Daryl ignored the question, looking around the room, he'd never been in a house like this. He didn't belong in a house like this. Em answered for them again.

"No." she didn't elaborate and he liked that.

"Ok," Deanne looked up at him. "You're welcome to sit Daryl, I won't bite."

"Yeah, I'm alright." He kept looking around.

"Daryl, Do you want to be here?"

"Got a boy and a baby, they deserve a roof." he looked at Em she deserves a roof "I guess." He finished.

Deanne gave him a strange look. "How about you Em?"

"I'll go where Daryl and my friends go." The woman looked between them again, her brows scrunched up in thought.

"What did you do before Em?" Em squirmed in her seat and Daryl knew she was uncomfortable.

"What's it matter what she did? You writing a book?" he barked at the lady. Deanne didn't answer for a moment, then she took a deep breath.

"Everyone here has a job, I'd like to place you somewhere you'd be comfortable."

"I didn't do anything. I can sew, cook, crochet, and quilt. I can do things a housewife would do, I guess."

"Is that what you were? A housewife?"

Em shook her head, "I took care of my grandparents." She looked at Daryl, he was still moving around the room, refusing to settle anywhere. "I'd prefer not to be around too many people."

"Daryl what about you?"

He gave a humorless laugh. "I ain't much of a people person neither."

Deanne looked at Em like she was trying to communicate something, but Em wouldn't look at her she kept her eyes locked on Daryl. He looked back at her surprised to see how uncomfortable and nervous she was. He kept forgetting that she'd been all alone for a very long time, she'd attached herself to him and he hoped he wouldn't drag her down because of it, especially in this new clean cut community.

"Could I speak to you alone Meryl?" Deanne finally dropped the subtlety.

"Em." Daryl snapped.

"What?"

"Em, she said call her Em." He looked to his friend to see if she wanted to talk to this lady on her own.

"Sorry. Em, may I speak with you alone."

Em was looking at him a hint of panic in her eyes. "No." she finally turned to look at their interviewer.

"Only for a moment I.."

"No." Em answered again, "If Daryl's leaving then I want to leave." She stood up.
"Em, I won't bite you either." Deanne gave a small laugh, trying to ease the tension. Daryl had had enough, he grabbed Em's wrist.

"She said she didn't want ta, we done?"

Deanne nodded a false smile plastered on her face. Daryl grunted at her and led Em out of the house. "You know that bitch thinks yer beatin' the shit outta her." Merle had decided to come back. I know he grumbled back. "She thinks yer white trash and Em's stupid." His brother continued. Got a point? "Just makin' sure ya know where ya stand little brother." I know, I fuckin' know.

"Thanks." Em was almost jogging to keep up with his pace, he stopped.

"Why?"

"It was weird, I don't want to be alone with her, or anyone else, really."

"You're alone with me all the damn time."

"It's different with you, and the rest of the group too, a little bit."

He nodded, he could understand that. "She thinks I'm beatin' ya."

"What?" Em's eyes widened in shock. "Why?"

"Cause I'm a redneck and you kept lookin' at me like you was askin' permission to talk or somthin'."

"That's stupid, I didn't mean for her to think that. I'm sorry Daryl." She bit her lip. "Are you sure she thinks that?"

Daryl tore his eyes from her lips, "Yeah, Merle does too." He looked away, hoping she hadn't noticed him looking.

"I'm such a dummy, I didn't mean for that to happen. I just trust you the most is all." She rubbed her brow with her wrist.

"Eh, don't worry, she ain't the first to think tha worst of me." He started walking, he could feel the anger building up inside him again, it was like being hurled back into the past. White trash Daryl Dixon, gonna turn out just like his daddy.

"Then she's an idiot." Em fell into step beside him. He didn't answer her, truth was, he didn't know if she was an idiot, he was never around anyone long enough to find out if he was just like dear old dad. "Shit brother, if I managed never to beat a woman, you really think you got that in ya." Merle scoffed. He really hoped his brother was right, because if they stayed he'd be living with Em, he wasn't going to leave her knowing she was uncomfortable with all of these new people. "Sure Darylina, that's why." Fuck off Merle.