Epilouge

Present Day

6 Months Later

Daryl was leaning over the bathtub, hands tied behind his back and a gag in his mouth. He had just watched four people he didn't know get slaughtered like pigs in front of him. It was really going to fucking suck for it to end like this after everything they had been through. He wasn't sure what the worst thing had been, watching the Governor chop Shane's head off in front of the prison, or having his brother ditch him and take off with the only woman he had ever loved. Losing Beth had been pretty bad too, but at least she might still be alive somewhere. He closed his eyes and thought about RickyJo and the time they went to Mexico together. How soft her skin was and the soft sweet noises she had made when he was inside her.

When he opened his eyes, he thought he really must be losing his damn mind. Or maybe he was already dead because she was standing in front of him, holding a baby that looked to big to be MJ, but must be him since he had the same crazy red hair. She was talking to that man that had come in to ask Rick about where he buried that bag.

"They can wait a minute," she said, casually gesturing to the men tied up in front on the tub, "You have got to see this." Gareth laughed and told her alright, to go ahead and show him. She set the baby down next to the tub, so he could grip the edge to steady himself. Then she backed up and squatted down to start calling him. Everyone was looking at the baby so she finally made eye contact with Daryl, holding up her finger to her mouth to warn him to be quiet and pretend he didn't know her. Then she called to the baby, "Come on Emmie, come here to momma." The little guy looked reluctant at first so she clapped her hands to encourage him. He let go of the tub and closed the few steps between them, then squealed in delight as he was swept up into his mother's arms She was kissing him and telling him what a good baby he was. Enjoying all the attention, he started clapping his hands. Gareth came over and held his arms out for the baby. Of course MJ wasn't going to him, he gripped his mother tightly. Gareth laughed.

"He knows who he likes, doesn't he?," Gareth asked.

"You know he let your mom hold him yesterday for a whole thirty seconds before he started screaming," she told him with a laugh. Daryl thought her laugh sounded funny. She was faking it with these people. Maybe stalling to try and help him. RickyJo turned and looked at the men tied up in front of the tub, being careful not to let her real emotions show.

"None of them wanted to join up huh?," she asked Gareth.

"No," he said, " these are the ones that got Alex killed. RickyJo tried not to think about how Alex was dead on the table behind them. It was all just absolutely fucking sickening. She put her hand on her hip, cocking it out.

"That is one damn sad sorry shame," she said. Gareth laughed.

"See something you like honey?," he asked her.

"Yeah," she said, "look how cute that one is." She pointed at Daryl. RickyJo would kill everyone in here and beat Gareth's head into a bloody pulp with one of those bats before she even let him think about touching Daryl, but if she could do things this way, it would be easier. Easier and safer. But she knew Merle was outside the room with a very large gun in case this didn't work. She turned to Gareth and stuck out her bottom lip, making a little pouty face.

"I thought I told you no more pets," he reminded her. While the group had rules against rape, he sometimes let RickyJo have a particular man or woman that she wanted. None of them had ever complained about whatever it was that she did to them. And when she got bored with them, most had been more than happy to join their camp as productive members. What he didn't know was she never did anything sexual to any of them, instead she talked them into joining her. She was building her own army within the group and when she had enough people, they were going to take over and kill these cannibal freaks.

"You know it is my birthday next week," she said. He laughed some more. She had tried that same line on him last time. Really, he would be happy to give her the man, but he was worried these men might be dangerous. Merle would have his ass if anything happened to her. She walked over and poked at Daryl's arms. "You know he is going to be all gamey anyway," she said, "look how muscular he is." She looked over at Gareth. He was smiling and shaking his head at her. Then he tossed his hands up in the air.

"Okay okay," he said, "have him. If your husband gets mad about this I had nothing to do with it, you hear me RickyJo." She ran over and kissed him on the cheek.

"Thank you Gareth," she said in a flity little sing song voice. Then she walked around the tub and told one of the guys back there to drag Daryl back away from it. The man gripped him by the ties that were around his legs and yanked hard. "Don't damage the merchandise," she told the man, shooing him away. Then she sat down in front of him on the edge of the tub, crossing her long legs and setting the baby on her lap. Rick was calling her name through the gag. If he gave away that he knew her, he was going to get them all killed, the fucking idiot. "Shut your fucking mouth right now," she told him. Hopefully he got the hint. Then she turned her attention back to Daryl. She would like to hurry up and untie him, but she needed to make this look good.

"So this is how this is going to work," she said, leaning forward and pulling his gag down. "I am going to untie you and take you back to my room. And if you behave nicely, then you don't have to die today. But if you try anything, I am going to make whats happening here look like a pleasant dream to you. You understand me?" Daryl nodded.

"Whatever you want lady," he said, "just get me out of here." Now Daryl was worried about his friends. It was obvious to him that RickyJo was going to help him, but he wasn't sure if she meant to help them too, or let them die here. RickyJo motioned to the man that had yanked at Daryl's legs a moment before. The man stepped forward again and cut him loose from his restraints. Daryl stood up, rubbing at his wrists. RickyJo leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.

"Merle's right outside so just play it cool," she whispered into his ear. Then she took his hand and led him out of the room, swinging the door shut behind them. He could hear some of the men laughing and whistling from inside. Then his brother was grabbing him up into a rough hug. RickyJo had tears in her eyes and then she was hugging him, squishing the baby between them. Merle could tell RickyJo was ready to loose it. She had been ready to loose it since they got to this terrible place and seeing Daryl almost get made into hamburger might be enough to send her over the edge.

"You were smooth in there baby," he told her, "just pull it together for a little longer because we are getting out of here today." She nodded and sucked up her tears, wiping at her nose. He handed her the carrier she used for MJ and she strapped him to the front of her. Then Merle handed Daryl his crossbow.

"RickyJo found your bow downstairs," he said, "thats how we knew you were here."

"Rick and Glen and Bob are still in there," Daryl hissed. He did not like the thought of his friends tied up in there.

"Just wait," Merle cautioned him, "they aren't going to do anything while Gareth is in there talking to them." Daryl turned with his bow when he saw two men hurrying towards them, but RickyJo put her hand on his arm to let him know they were friends. Merle put his finger up to his mouth, signalling for everyone to be quiet. Then he motioned for everyone to get back against the wall behind him. Daryl loaded an aroow into his bow, and RickyJo pulled a handgun out of the back of her pants and handed it to him. Then she tightened up the baby carrier and took her gun out its holster, turning the safety off. Merle could hear whatever conversation was going on in there was finishing up. Then Gareth came out. He saw the small group of people standing outside the door, looking at them with shock. Before he could even guess at what was going on Merle smashed him in the face with a gun and then used his arm sleeve to beat his head into a bloody mess. RickyJo had to grab him to make him stop hitting the man.

"Hes dead," she hissed, "enough." Daryl watched and wondered what that man had done to his brother. That was obviously personal. Suddenly there was a huge crash from outside. The building shook. Then a lot of screaming could be heard. Merle walked into the slaughter room.

"Holy shit," he said to the two men, "have you seen whats going on outside?" Both men turned towards the window and he shot them both right throught their heads in quick succession. Then Daryl and one of the men that had been hiding outside the room with them rushed over and cut everyone free. RickyJo went to the window and looked out.

"Which one were you in," she asked Daryl. He came over and pointed out the train car to her. There were walkers everywhere, and people shooting at them, not shooting very well either, Daryl noticed. Guess they were only good at killing live people around here. RickyJo pulled a set of keys out of her pocket and handed them to Daryl. "Lets go get them." Merle reached into a bag he was carrying and handed guns to Glen and Rick. Bob he wasn't so sure about.

"Hes with us," Daryl told his brother. Merle nodded and handed the man a gun. Then he tossed the rest of the bag to Rick for him to carry. Shooting was hard enough with only one hand, he didn't need to schlep the heavy gun bag too. He checked to make sure everyone was ready.

"You stay close, and stay behind me," he told RickyJo. She nodded. Then Merle headed out in the lead with everyone else following. He seemed to know where he was going, and led them to the door that was closest to where everyone else was still locked up in the train car. They ran quickly and quietly across the lot, taking out the walkers that were in their way. Then Daryl unlocked the car, yelling to everyone inside that it was him so he wouldn't get his eye stabbed out with a sharp stick.

Once they were out, they all headed towards the fence. The scariest part for RickyJo was having to hand MJ over the fence to Daryl before she climbed over. She quickly snatched him back and tucked him away in her carrier. Then they went for the buried gun bag. RickyJo watched as the compound was destroyed by the walkers. A large section was also on fire, and she guessed an explosion was what had caused the noise they heard upstairs. She hugged Sammie to her as tightly as she could while the guys dug up the bag and handed out weapons. Sammie grinned when she got her bow back, making RickyJo wish hers had not been left behind inside. And Sammie looked so grown up, almost like a real woman now. She also saw Carl was standing protectively close to the girl, which made RickyJo happy.

With the guns distributed, they started out to get as much distance as possible between them and Terminus. As they walked, Daryl noticed RickyJo beside him. She took his hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. For the first time in a long time, he felt himself smiling. She smiled back, the scars on her face much less noticeable than the last time he saw her. Then she turned to look at Merle, who was walking on the other side of her. They were in the woods, running from cannibals and undead flesh eating monsters. They had no supplies, very little ammo and no water. But a serene and contented feeling washed over her all the same. She didn't know how she knew but she just knew. Now that they were all together again, everything was going to be alright.

** Thanks to everyone for reading and for the reviews. **