Chapter 25

A few days had past and both Merle and Gwen were getting around with a little more ease. The rest was providing the recuperation both their bodies needed, especially without the stress of walkers and sheer survival. Gwen still walked with a limp but having her boots support her ankle helped her still get around easily. The marks that had originally drawn blood on Merle's back had fully scabbed over and were no longer at risk of being easily disturbed. He had even moved up to sleeping on his back again which allowed him a better night's sleep, although his incessant increase in snoring didn't do wonders for Gwen. Most of the time she was able to adjust and ignore it but there had been a night or two that he had kept her awake for longer periods than others.

Merle seemed to graduate out of his grumpy mood and slowly began filling in Gwen on all the "rules" of the town. He even went over the punishments for each that he discussed, all of which Gwen thought were overdone and some even somewhat inhumane. The Governor had invited them both for a special dinner at the old fellowship hall in the town's church basement. The Governor didn't have these dinners very often but every once in awhile he would to make special announcements and the like and wanted to make sure all the townsfolk were there.

"What do you think it's about this time? Maybe a new rule or warped punishment he has in mind for everyone?" Gwen yelled at Merle through the bathroom door as she got ready for her shower.

"How the hell should I know...been spendin' all my time with you..." Merle remarked back sarcastically.

"I'm just asking...you've got to have some idea or something...you've been here when he did it before right?" Gwen shouted as she stepped into the shower.

"I don't know...he does it sometimes when there's new people and stuff...guess it's his way of tryin' to impress or somethin'."

"WHAT?" Gwen shouted, unable to hear Merle's response from the shower running.

Merle repeated himself but again was met with a yelling Gwen, still unable to hear him.

Frustrated Merle marched himself into the bathroom and flung back the shower curtain, startling Gwen as she quickly turned her back to him and crossed her arms across her chest. Looking over her shoulder she yelled at him again.

"MERLE WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOIN'?" She stated angrily.

"I SAID SOMETIMES HE DOES IT TO IMPRESS NEW PEOPLE...you're the one yellin' at me through that damn door and when you can't hear me from the fuckin' water runnin', what did ya expect?...besides...ain't like I ain't seen it all before." Merle barked back at her.

Merle's eyes wandered up and down her body as he watched the water wash off the suds of soap down her back and ass from the shampoo. He suddenly felt a surge of warmth in his groin and bit the inside of his cheek in attempt to suppress the physical reaction in his body.

"Dammit Merle..." Gwen snatched the shower curtain from his grasp and flung it closed..."Point taken now get out!"

Merle laughed as he headed back into the room. Gwen could feel her cheeks get flushed from the embarrassment. She could feel Merle's eyes hot on her and it didn't take a genius to figure out what he had been thinking at that moment. Gwen continued to shower but soon her mind began to wander in the same direction. She imagined Merle stepping into the shower, pinning her against the cold tile wall as his mouth dove onto her body...Wait...What am I thinking? I've been cooped up in this room with him too long...but I did catch a glimpse of what that mouth is capable of...if that was just the start I can only imagine what else he's capable of doing...STOP! Stop this at once...there's nothing between you and Merle and there isn't going to be...he's not exactly the romantic type, you're being silly and stupid...he's not your type anyways and neither you his...I'm just being stupid... Gwen snapped herself out of it and cut off the water. She towel dried herself off and wrapped the towel around her as she looked for her clothes. Dammit...I left them in the room...crap... Gwen didn't want to go out draped only in a towel with Merle still out there but she didn't have much of a choice. As soon as she opened the door, she heard someone else's voice.

Nancy was standing in the doorway with a men's dress shirt and pair of slacks on a hanger. "I was tryin' to convince Merle he should wear my husband's old clothes instead of his usual attire but he seems fairly resistant."

"Is everyone dressing up? Is it that kind of dinner?" Gwen asked surprised. She hadn't given much thought to what she would be wearing since there wasn't much to choose from in the first place.

"People wear whatever is the nicest thing they still have when The Governor holds these...just out of respect..." Nancy informed her.

"Out of respect huh?" Gwen found the comment kind of amusing considering all the things she had listened to from Merle about rules and punishment. Seemed like the only true respect in the town with the Governor was a one way street. But the truth of the matter was, these people all seemed to respect him and not question anything...everyone including a resistant Merle in some ways. "Well what's the harm Merle?...it's just for a few hours."

"That green dress Beatrice gave you was actually one that belonged to her daughter...I think you would look just lovely in it." Nancy remarked.

"Oh...the dress...yeah...I've never been much for wearing dresses." Gwen replied.

"What's the harm Gwenny? It's just for a few hours..." Merle smirked.

Gwen glared at Merle as she walked over to the closet and pulled it out from the hanger. "Fine...if you will I will then..."

"Don't put it on just yet, come downstairs with me with it and I'll press it...it will look real nice...come on..." Nancy told her.

"Ok...uh...well let me put something on..." Gwen stated.

"Everyone else has already left for the hall...no one will see you just come on..." Nancy informed her.

Gwen hesitantly grabbed her undergarments from the bag in the closet and followed her out in just her towel, carrying her dress. . About halfway at the door Merle spoke up.

"Gwenny I'll just meet ya there...Governor wants to talk ta me before so I'll see ya there?" Merle remarked.

"Alright...but you better be wearin' those clothes..." Gwen shot him an "or else" look.

"Yes boss..." He replied.

.

"Merle...glad you're here...where's Gwen..." The Governor asked.

"She's comin'...ya know women when it comes to gettin' ready..." Merle remarked. He laughed to himself mainly because he knew if Gwen heard him say that she would've slugged him.

"Even better...come on, let's take a quick walk..." The Governor motion down the hallway for Merle.

They walked to another section of the basement of the church where there was no one else in ear shot.

"So...I see you and Gwen are recovering nicely...both of you seem to be getting around more easily." He remarked.

"Yeah...Gwen still limps but overall I think we're healin' just fine." Merle remarked.

"Good...do you feel able to return to your full duties?" The Governor asked.

"Hell yeah I am...'bout to get cabin fever stuffed up in that room..." Merle eagerly remarked.

The Governor looked at him strangely. "Really Merle?...I figured you might want a few more days alone together seeing that you're just now feeling better...you know...to more formally get reacquainted with your lost...love?"

Merle could almost feel all the color drain from his face...he had screwed up with his choice of words and seeming too eager to get away from Gwen. It wasn't what he meant but he hadn't even given it much thought when he spoke. The Governor almost never asked a question innocently and Merle knew that but he walked right into that without thinking. "Well...ya know how it is...they always want to talk or cuddle after and I ain't much inta that...giving me some time away will just make her want me more...and make her do less talkin' if ya get my drift..."

The Governor remained quiet and studied Merle's face. Merle had the best poker face of anybody but The Governor was putting it to the test. He took a deep breath before speaking again.

"Good...then that works out well for both of us then...I'd like to spend tomorrow with Gwen anyways...get a chance to know her better...go over a few things and see where she'd best fit in..." The Governor remarked. "Now come on...let's go get ready to eat."

Merle followed the Governor back to the dining hall. There was a table at the end of the hall set slightly away from the others and the Governor informed him he and Gwen would join him there. Merle followed the Governor as he stopped and stood at the head of the table. Also at the table was Beatrice, a tall thin man with glasses that he didn't recognize, Lincoln, Andrew, Darlene and three additional vacant seats. Merle could only assume for himself, Gwen and he guessed Nancy.

"What the hell is she doin' here?" Merle remarked as he gestured to Darlene who gave him a coy little wave.

"She supplied the alcohol...I thought it only fair." The Governor smiled at Darlene and waved back.

Merle grunted in disgust...he could only imagine how "interesting" the night would be.

Anxiously he awaited for Gwen to arrive...he wanted to get the evening over with as quickly as possible. Slowly everyone from the town wandered in a took their seats. Merle saw Nancy enter with another woman but didn't pay any mind to her at first until he did a double take and realized she was wearing a green dress. Merle's jaw dropped and he stood there next to the table, wide eyed with his mouth open.

"My goodness Gwen...I hardly recognized you..." The Governor remarked as he welcomed her to the table.

Gwen stepped up next to Merle and smiled as she brushed her hand down the side of her freshly cut hair. Her hair was cut just at her chin and parted off to the side, framing her face and well hiding the scar that ran down the one side. Nancy had even given her a little make up to wear. She couldn't help but blush slightly at the look on Merle's face.

"Catchin' flies Merle?" Gwen whispered as she giggled slightly to herself.

"Your hair...it...it don't look like shit..." Merle remarked. He closed his mouth and cleared his throat as his eyes searched around the table at everyone staring.

Gwen's smile quickly changed to a look of irritation and The Governor laughed.

"Well Merle has always had a way of talking to the ladies in town...Gwen you look radiant..." The Governor added.

"Thank you..." Gwen replied as she took a seat.

Merle sat down next to her and she casually leaned closer towards him and whispered out of the corner of her mouth at him. "Gee thanks Merle...could you be more of an ass?"

"Well...I...I just..." Merle started to remark back but the tinkering of glass distracted him as the Governor stood back up at the end of the table.

"PLEASE...IF I COULD HAVE EVERYONE'S ATTENTION BEFORE WE BEGIN EATING...I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO WELCOME TWO NEW PEOPLE TO WOODBURY...THEY WILL HOPEFULLY BE A PERMANENT FIXTURE AND ASSET TO THIS COMMUNITY...PLEASE WELCOME GWENDOLYN AND DOCTOR STEVENS. AS SOME OF YOU KNOW GWEN PREVIOUSLY KNEW MERLE AND WE SHOULD WELCOME HER TO OUR COMMUNITY. I LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING ALL SHE IS CAPABLE OF AND THIS TOWN HAS BEEN IN NEED OF A DOCTOR FOR SOME TIME. ALTHOUGH OUR DEAR BEATRICE HAS DONE A WONDERFUL JOB, HAVING A DOCTOR WILL HELP GIVE HER A MUCH NEEDED BREAK. NOW I ASK THAT YOU ALL PLEASE RAISE YOUR GLASSES AND JOIN IN A TOAST WITH ME TO OUR NEWEST TOWNSFOLK." The Governor raised his glass and waited for everyone, including Gwen and Dr. Stevens, the thin man with glasses at the table, to join him.

Merle glanced over at Gwen and noticed a look of concern on her face but she quickly shook it off once she realized Merle was looking at her. She raised her glass and looked down the table at the doctor, who seemed to struggle at not shaking as he hesitantly rose his. Gwen turned back towards Merle and whispered to him.

"Where did he come from? I've never seen him before..." Gwen remarked.

"Don't know...me neither..." Merle whispered back.

Everyone toasted and slowly the room filled with chatter as people began to eat after the Governor sat back down. Merle's attention was quickly on his food as he ate but Gwen suddenly felt nauseous and didn't have much of an appetite. She looked around the table and noticed everyone smiling and chatting except for the doctor. He seemed nervous and on edge and shoveled his food in his mouth as if he hadn't eaten in days. Her eyes passed by Darlene who was attempting to stare a hole in her. Subtly, when she noticed Gwen was looking at her, she extended her middle finger towards her. Gwen rolled her eyes and diverted her attention back towards the Governor. The Governor caught her glance and smiled as he rose his glass to her again, still speaking with Lincoln, sitting next to him. Gwen forced a smiled and nodded her head to acknowledge his gesture but an uneasiness washed over her that she couldn't shake.

"You gonna eat that?" Merle asked as he pointed to Gwen's plate.

"I'm not really hungry...knock yourself out." Gwen replied. Merle switched his empty plate with hers and continued eating.

Afterwards as everyone was slowly exiting, the Governor walked over to Merle and Gwen just as they were about to leave. Gwen noticed Darlene hanging out by the door. She was still glaring at her. She was just about to ask Merle about her when the Governor got her attention.

"Merle...if I could steal Gwen away from you for a moment..." The Governor asked.

"Fine...I'll wait here..." He remarked.

"Please Gwen...come with me..." Gwen looked at Merle before following and he nodded his head. She walked down the hallway with him and they entered one of the smaller rooms.

.

"I thought you'd never get away from her..." Darlene remarked as she walked back up and sat beside Merle. Everyone else had already left the hall, leaving just the two of them.

"She's comin' right back...now ain't the time Darlene." Merle replied.

"Come have a drink with me at the bar...like ol' times." Darlene moved in close to Merle and ran her hand up his chest. "You know he ain't gonna be right back with her...you could come for one drink and be back and no one will no the difference."

Merle looked at her as she smiled devilishly towards him then he looked back across the room. "I told ya...she comin' right back...besides I ain't got nothin' to say to ya...it's over ya need to accept it and move on. Leave me be..."

"Ya don't mean that Merle and we both know it..." Darlene scooted her chair closer next to his. She rested her hand on his thigh and slowly ran her hand up to his groin. Merle closed his eyes and groaned as she slowly but firmly began stroking him through his pants. Darlene started to unzip his zipper when Merle grabbed her firmly by the wrist and stopped her. He took a deep breath, blowing it out hard and slowly opened his eyes. Merle shoved her hand away and stood up. He reached down and adjusted himself and walked over to the other side of the room near the doors.

"MERLE DIXON! I AIN'T BUYIN' THIS ACT YOUR SELLIN' AND I SURE AS HELL KNOW SHE DON'T MAKE YA FEEL LIKE I DO...I AIN'T GONNA LET IT REST 'TIL I FIND OUT THE TRUTH ABOUT HER! YA HEAR ME?"

Merle stepped outside and took a deep breath. The cold air felt good against his skin. I hear ya...ya stupid cow... Merle couldn't help but be irritated with Darlene. He never made any promises to her...he never told her he loved her or even admitted he really liked her...they'd meet up a few times a week...have a few drinks, fuck and that was it. If Merle had known how much trouble she'd end up being he's not sure he would've bothered in the first place. He could've just stuck with his own jerk and tug with a lot less trouble.

.

Gwen crossed her arms and waited for the Governor to finish talking. He had gone over every rule and punishment with her, even beyond what Merle had done.

"I expect you to put these to memory, periodically you'll be asked to recite them and I expect you to be able to...do you need them in written form?" The Governor asked.

"Thanks but no...I don't think I will forget them." Gwen said sharply.

"You are a spitfire Gwen...I can certainly see your appeal to Merle...however...I'm not sure I can see his appeal to you..." The Governor remarked.

"I've never been one known to go along with the grain." Gwen replied quickly.

"True...very true...that certainly would make sense...but let me make something clear...if I discover that this has been some kind of ruse between the two of you I will be very dissatisfied...and that's the last thing you want me to me...I'd hate to see your standing in this town in question because of a ridiculous lie... or Merle's..." The Governor replied.

"Don't get me wrong Governor...I understand your doubts...believe me I have them myself with Merle...I'm not stupid I know how he is...however...I also know another side of Merle that I'm sure none of you have seen and probably never will...that's the person that I love...and if you don't understand that...that's your problem." Gwen said defensively. Nervously she awaited his response. She was afraid that saying the L-word took it too far and he wouldn't believe her.

The Governor rested his hand on her shoulder and smiled. "Good...I'm glad to hear that...now...tomorrow I'd like to spend the day with you so we can get better acquainted. Meet me in the lobby at 0900 hours.

The Governor walked Gwen back out into the main hall but Gwen didn't see Merle anywhere. Darlene was sitting at the table with her arms crossed and her head down on the table. Gwen walked outside as The Governor headed over to the table towards Darlene.

"Darlene...take it things didn't go as planned?" He asked.

Darlene looked up with her eyes red and puffy. "What the fuck does it look like?" She snapped. "I don't care what he says...they're lyin'...they're both lyin'..."

The Governor sighed deeply and put his hands on his hips "Well...I guess time will tell...in the meantime...keep at it...if they have been lying I doubt Merle will be able to resist you for much longer...from the way you used to go at it like rabbits...if he isn't getting it from her, he'll need to get it from somewhere..."

.

"Merle?...What are you doing out here? It's freezing...why aren't you wearin' your coat?" Gwen asked as she walked up behind him.

"Come on...let's go..." Merle was short and she could tell something was wrong with him. She remained silent until they got back to the room. Gwen hung her coat in the closet.

"You alright?" Gwen asked Merle as he sat on the bed and removed his boots.

Merle just grunted at Gwen. She waited for him to say something but he didn't as he began to unbutton his shirt. Gwen grabbed a t-shirt from the closet and went into the bathroom to change and wash her face. She came back out a few minutes later and found Merle in the same position, but now just sitting shirtless in his boxers. Gwen climbed onto the bed and sat behind him. She examined the wounds on his back that were steadily healing.

"Looks like you are healing quickly...you're lookin' pretty good there...you know you did look handsome tonight." Gwen told him. Merle again only grunted at her. "What's the matter with you Merle?"

Merle looked over his shoulder at her then back forward. "Just got stuff on my mind is all..."

"Can I ask you something?" Gwen asked.

Merle sighed in frustration. "What?"

"Did you notice how afraid that doctor seemed of the Governor and everyone? Why haven't we seen him before now? Where has he been all this time?"

"Thought you meant one question...fuck if I know but we ain't gonna figure it out tonight. Go to sleep...we both gotta get up early."

Merle got up and cut off the light. Gwen was lying on her right side when Merle crawled into bed and curled up behind her, slipping his arm around her waist.

"Um...Merle?...What are you doing?" Gwen asked.

Merle rubbed harder against her for a moment before settling against her curves and laid still. He sighed deeply and closed his eyes. "Just shut up and go to sleep..."