There was quiet a bit of thought as to how this chapter should ultimately go. I really went out on a limb later in the chapter so hopefully you folks will enjoy . New OC coming in hot hot hot!
Chapter 25
The gate started to roll open as Aaron helped Eric over. There was a squeel to our left, a trash can tipping over. All of us jumped, pointing our weapons at the noise. It was a possum, Daryl sending an arrow through it. There was another guy at the gate with Aaron and Eric, just giving Daryl the most incredulous look.
"We brought dinner." Daryl grabbed the possum holding it aloft by its tail. The other resident didn't look so reassured by this pack of wild people, or if he was too keen on eating possum. Believe me dude, it's better than dog.
"It's okay." Aaron assured him, then he looked back at us, all of us still just standing there hesitantly, "Come on in, guys." Rick led us through the gate, the guard sliding it shut behind us.
"Before we take this any further, I need you all to turn over your weapons." The guard said. The group just looked at him, unmoving, "Stay, you hand them over." My hand rested on the pommel of my gun, not sure if I was ready to give it up yet.
"We don't know if we want to stay." Rick responded, most likely feeling similarly about being unarmed in an unknown place.
"It's fine, Nicholas." Aaron assured him again, probably realizing trying to convince us to hand them over right away was more trouble than it was worth.
"If we were gonna use them, we would have started already." Mm not sure that helps though, Rick. Well maybe it was better they knew off the bat that we were very dangerous people if threatened.
"Let them talk to Deanna first." Aaron told the guard, pleading with his eyes to just drop it.
"Who's Deanna?" Abraham asked.
"She knows everything you'd want to know about this place." Aaron explained, "Rick why don't you start?" Rick looked back at us, seeing something outside the gate.
"Sasha." Rick said. She turned and fired, killing the walker coming this way past the RV. The guard slid the covered fence into place, "It's a good thing we're here." He added, following after Aaron.
We were to each submit to an interview with the leader Deana. Rick went first. When he emerged with Deanna, a woman in her early fifties with medium length red hair, behind him, I knew that he had been convinced enough. He was the first to remove his gun belt, setting it in the cart. The others followed suit. I had a hard time setting my holster in the cart. I just looked at it as it was buried by the others' weapons. My anxiety was starting to rise, not feeling it against my leg. At least they were letting us keep our knives, just no guns inside the walls.
"They're still your guns. You can check them out whenever you go beyond the wall," Deanna reassured us, "But inside here, we store them for safety." She turned to Aaron as the woman who ran the armory rolled our guns away, "Can you please take Rick to those empties down your street?" Aaron nodded, gesturing for our leader to follow him. Rick took Carl and Judith with him.
Michonne and Daryl went next for interviews, and then I was up. My eyes were roving around the street outside of Deanna's place, still on high alert, even in this place. The sound of Daryl's boots on the porch granted me a small relief. I craned my head back to look at him.
"How'd it go?" he shrugged, walking down the steps, "See ya at the house." Pouting, I watched him walk down the street. Was he mad at me now? He had to know I was hiding something by now, didn't he? Great.
"Gwen?" I turned to see the older woman at the door. Standing, I shook her outstretched hand and followed her inside to her office space.
"I like to video tape these, are you okay with that?" She asked as I looked around at her books. I hesitated, looking back at her. Seeing this she put up her hands, "I'm aware that you are a rather... special woman. In the spirit of total transparency, these can be shared with others in the event that we have to use it as testimony. Not many people have ever or will ever see the initial interview tapes." If we were going to make this place work maybe it would be best if i told her the whole truth. I took a deep breath, steeling my nerves.
"Okay. But I warn you, I might scare you once you know who and what I am." She just grinned at me and motioned to the chair in front of the camera.
"Have a seat." I sat in the overstuffed chair, letting out a sigh. This was the softest seat I had been in for some time, and I took a moment to let my weary muscles relax. Deanna turned on the camera before sitting across from me on a sofa.
"Please state your name, and age." She began.
"Gweneth McLaughlin. 29."
"It's not Dixon?" She asked and the idea of having Daryl's last name made me blush.
"No...i still have my maiden name...well legally it was never my last name. I was just Gweneth…" I trailed off a bit before I focused my attention back on her, "Sorry."
"No need to apologize. I was under the impression that you and Daryl were married." Rubbing the back of my neck, I stared down at my shoes.
"Together not married." Which sounded far better than Knocked up not Married. She inclined her head, pressing on.
"Before or after?"
"Kinda both. But to really know what that means i would have to tell you about what happened in India."
"We'll come back to that then. Aaron briefed me a bit before we started the interviews on what he already knew about your group, and about you in particular," Deanna moved forward with the interview, "You were a foster child to two Doctors without Borders. When and why were you placed in their care?"
"I never knew my parents, only that my mother died when I was born. I was in and out of orphanages and foster homes, until I was thirteen. That's when I decided being homeless was better than being beaten. Turns out it wasn't. I was taken in by a sleaze who got me strung out on heroin. I was his good little thief for two years, taking care of all the other homeless children he 'took in'. That part was easy, watching over those kids."
"A real Oliver Twist situation, is it not?"
"Yeah, you could say that. Then one of the kids got caught and gave him up. The rest of us were hauled in. Everyone was all under the age of ten but I was already fifteen. They locked me up in juvie, then I had a seizure from withdrawal. That's where Joel, my foster father found me. They had just lost their adult son to drug overdose. He always told me that it was a sign from God that they had a second chance to save a young person from drugs before it was too late."
"That is especially noble of them. That is an uncanny coincidence." I was shaking my head, "No you don't think so?"
"When you have lived the life I have, you learn that there is no such thing. Everything happens for a reason, like pieces of a giant puzzle, falling into place just when they are meant to." I told her of my time in rehab including my drug induced near death experience. How my parents helped me grow up a seemingly normal teenager.
"They sent you to Asia as a graduation gift?" She scoffed, "How amazing!"
"And the first two years were life changing, in a good way. I learned so much from the people of these countries, in rural and in urban areas. I wanted to go to Asia, because it was like I could hear it calling for me. I dreamt of ancient temples in the jungle for months before they told me they wanted to send me on a trip. At first they weren;t going to agree, thinking I'd want to spend a few years in Europe. My mother finally convinced my dad to let me go."
"So what happened in India?" She prompted, time for the real juicy story. I took a deep breath and began my story.
"It started the day that the Elephant Headed God Ganesha warned me of my impending death." She was inraptured as I told her of my plight and my human death. Every once and a while she would ask a question about the mechanics of my condition and I would answer to the best of my ability.
"Every piece of research on Project Ganesha was destroyed when my mother rescued me from the lab and blew it sky high. Which brings me to where Mr. Dixon enters my tale." I told her of the group of guards my mother and father hired and how Daryl had been among them. Why they picked him, and that to this day he was still protecting me.
"So you've been with them since the beginning? Rick and Daryl?"
"Give or take about a month at the very start. I was within a mile of them the whole time. It was Daryl and his brother who found me, brought me to the camp." Remembering that day, when Merle came crashing into my camp, that first time I saw Daryl, crossbow in hand. She was chuckling.
"My...this whole story is starting to really convince me that you may be right, that everything happens for a reason. Your father is at a mechanic shop where Daryl happens to work. He's there on a day where he sees this young man save someone, for no personal gain, while he is actively looking for a team of men to escort his kidnapped daughter home. You just happen to be on a month-long camping trip when the world ends, just across a quarry from where that same man was camped."
"Well the camping trip was my last trip before school started again. And I was feeling antsy in the city, my animal instincts were already alarming as the death spread."
"Nonetheless, that same man who was found by chance and his brother found your camp. Did he already know you when he found you?" Chuckling, I shook my head.
"I think the eyes threw him off. That had been the only thing he had seen of me when they were transporting me. They had strict instructions not to try and open my crate. He started to put the pieces together that first night I stayed at the camp. According to him I was making a sound in my sleep that I had been making when they transported me. Then it was when I finally came clean to Rick, Glen and him coming back from a run to Atlanta, that he put all the pieces together."
"And they took it alright? You being more than human?"
"I had yet to give them a reason to fear that I would hurt them, or that I would lose control. It was only those three that knew until we went to the CDC and my jet black blood was seen by them."
"I bet being in another lab again was an experience for you."
"I have never been so happy to see a building blow up. Crazy doctor tried to trap us inside so we could die in his grand suicied. We managed to escape but one of us stayed behind, seeing no way forward in this chaos." She was silent for a moment thinking about how many people died when the world changed just because they had no hope and ended it themselves. She let out a sigh then looked up.
"I have one more question if you would be so kind, then an offer to put on the table." She waited for me to acknowledge that I was fine with that. I had already bared my soul to her, "Rick is obviously your leader, and after talking to Michonne and Daryl they are both akin to lieutenants. It seems to me that you are one as well. Is that correct?"
"The hierarchy of our group is convoluted. Rick is our leader that's for sure. There was a time where he stepped down from the position. Daryl and I were both on the ruling council at our last place. Michonne wasn't but she was doing other important work that kept her away. Daryl is truly Rick's second. I have always believed that behind a good leader was a woman who helped point out the finer details. That is how it is with Daryl and I. Michonne and Rick aren't together but she has his ear. Rick does value my opinion directly though, given that I can smell when someone is lying. Also the fact that I have helped get him out of numerous scraps since we met." She took some more notes in her notebook, then looked back up at me.
"Everyone here gets a job. And from your extensive training and natural gifts, I'd like you to be the lead hunter. There are four others who help with hunts, and they could use some...training, to say the least."
"Wouldn't Daryl be better suited to do that job? He's been hunting all his life."
"Daryl is a lone wolf, who would rather only hunt with his mate or his pack. No offense, but he does not do so well with strangers.`` I snorted.
"Yer right that's for sure, though, none of us do well with strangers. You think I'm going to be any better?"
"Leagues better. Plus they are all women and I think that learning from another woman will be easier on them. You said that people often fear you instinctually, is it men mostly?" She inquired.
"Yes, but women as well."
"Honestly I don't think it's the wolf they fear necessarily but your strength. As your potential ally I do not fear that you would ever lose control and hurt me or the people here. I would fear you, however if i was your enemy." In the end I agreed to teach these women to hunt on the condition that if Daryl wished it, he could accompany us. Once she agreed she closed her notebook and let me ask any questions I may have.
"The walls?" I had been pretty blown away to see them in person, even after seeing the photo of the walls beforehand. She grinned, obviously expecting this question.
"What most people ask. My husband, he's an engineer, and the mastermind behind them. There was a super mall under construction not far from here. That's where the materials came from." She answered, waiting for me to ask another. I thought for several seconds but my mind kept looping back to how exhausted I was.
"I know I'll probably have more questions later, but I really need some sleep." She nodded, clicking off the camera.
"Come find me when you are ready to start." She stood and shook my hand, "We're glad you're here. Really, I think so far, Aaron did a good job with you " I nodded, hoping she understood how appreciative I was and left the house.
I was initially blown away by the sheer size of the houses, as I walked down the streets, following Daryl's scent. Like little mansions, houses that would have been over a million dollars, now home to a pack of wanders. Daryl had come to the house but he had left again. I saw him a little wayz from me, inspecting the walls. I went inside, smelling that Rick and Carl had both been here.
Rick was sitting in the kitchen, a pretty blonde woman cutting his hair. He had shaved and easily looked ten years younger. They looked up at me when I entered, freezing in my tracks when I saw them. I hadn't yet ran into anyone from the community. Deanna had given them orders to give us space.
"Uuuh." I said awkwardly, not really sure what to think about this scene I had stumbled upon. Rick looked at me with amusement on his face. Hmm, I had almost forgotten what that looked like. It had been some time since Rick had smiled.
"This is Jessie. Jessie, this is Gwen." Rick introduced the woman to me. She waved, albeit a little awkwardly.
"You have gorgeous hair.'' Jessie said, then blushed in embarrassment, "Sorry, I used to be a hairdresser. If you want, I can cut and maybe thin it out for you?" She offered, almost not sure if I even wanted my hair cut.
"Well, I heard there is hot water here, so I'm about to go take an hour-long shower to wash all this dirt off. I'll find you later because I really could use a hair cut." She smiled in relief.
"Sure!" She began gathering her things, "Bye Rick." She gave him a smile that could probably melt Antarctica, then exited the house. Damn, he shaves off his mountain man beard and the women flock immediately.
"You clean up nice Sheriff." I told him, giving him a couple of finger guns, before I ran up the stairs to the shower. I heard him chuckling from where he sat, which brightened my mood. Grabbing some cleaner clothes first from my bag, I trapsed to the bathroom. I peeled my dirty jeans and holey tank top off, tossing the shirt in the trash and my jeans aside to be washed. I was so ready for sweat pants and a t-shirt.
I turned on the water, chuckling at the sight of working indoor plumbing. I never thought I would be able to take advantage of something so pedestrian again. As I soaked, I brushed my teeth at least ten times and it took three washes to get all my hair. Oh yeah, definitely having Jessie cut my hair later. Lathering the conditioner through my hair, I went to work on my body. The loofa probably was scared after cleaning the ingrained dirt from my skin. My skin was red and stung a little when I was done but I knew I was clean. I rinsed off, surprised that I only took forty five minutes. Drying off, I wrapped my hair in a towel turban and pulled my clothes on.
What nearly took me an hour, was brushing all that hair out. I let it hang down, shaking my head to try and wick off the extra moisture. I snagged a pair of flip flops that were in the house, stowed my other clothing in my bag and headed down stairs. Maggie and Glenn had arrived and were sitting in the dining area. Rick held Judith out on the front porch. Daryl, Carl and Carol were also out there. I joined them. Daryl was gutting the possum on the stairs. He looked up at me when I came out. It was hard to miss the look in his eyes. This was probably the best I had looked in months. His mouth twitched slightly, the ghost of a grin, maybe he wasn't mad at me? I don't know.
Carl was looking over at the other house that was given to us, curiosity all over his face. Rick, noticing this chuckled.
"You can look, just be quick." Rick let his kid go explore, Carol following behind the teen. Rick lifted Judith up, offering the baby to me. I took her gladly. He gestured to Daryl
"We're going to scope it out a little closer." He was referring to the perimeter.
"We'll be here." I told the Sheriff. He and Daryl left the porch to check it out. I started down the stairs when Carol came out on the balcony of the other house. Rick and Daryl had finished their scope and were coming up the center, between the houses.
"They're right next to each other, but-" Carol shook her head, clearly not trusting the too good to be true factor of this place. I could sense how on edge she was.
"They took our weapons and now they're splitting us up?" Rick pointed out. These two weren't any better.
"Yup." Daryl agreed. He linked his finger in my belt loop, tugging me closer to him. Obviously two feet from him was too far. Rick was looking at Judith, his eyes clouded.
"Yeah… We will all be staying in the same house tonight."
"That's probably the best decision. It will be easier to sleep here knowing we are all in one spot." Being separated from the others would just make my anxiety worse. Rick's look said he probably wouldn't sleep regardless.
Once all the interviews were concluded, the others gathered in the living room. I was zoning in and out, sitting on the bench by Judith's crib, leaning against Daryl's back. People were talking softly as they prepared for bed, a slight scent of anxiety over our group, but much of the tension had dissolved during the daylight hours.
"How long was I in there?" Michonne asked, coming out the bathroom toothbrush in hand. She was grinning as she wiped toothpaste from her mouth.
"Twenty minutes." Rick answered.
"I could not stop brushing." She looked up at him, shell shock written all over her face, "Huh. I've never-" she grinned, "I've never seen your face like that." He rolled his eyes at her as he walked by.
"That's what I felt before and after." As he walked by her, Michonne touched his wrist, lowering her voice so that only my sensitive ears could pick up the conversion.
"Hey I get why we are playing it safe-We should. But I have a good feeling about this place." He met her gaze, uncertainty still there, but i knew he wanted this as much as the rest of us.
"Well, I hope you're right."
"Yeah, me, too." There was a knock at the front door, the group looking at Rick. Rick crossed the room and opened the door, revealing Deanna.
"Rick I-" She started but then she saw his face, "Wow." he just groaned, but he still had that earlier amusement on his face. Deanna just kept going, "I didn't know what was under there. Listen, I don't mean to interrupt. I just want to stop by and see how you were all settling." He let her in and once inside she stopped to look around at all of us, "Oh my. Staying together. Smart."
"No one said we couldn't." Rick defended. Deanna just looked up at him in wonder, like she hadn't met someone quite like him.
"You said you're a family. That's what you said." She looked back at us, "Absolutely amazing to me how people with completely different backgrounds and nothing in common can become that. Don't you think?" No one answered, knowing that she was right. It was amazing.
"Everybody said you gave them jobs." Rick responded.
"Mm-hmm. Yeah. Part of this place. Looks like the communists won after all." She chuckled.
"Well you didn't give me one." The man pointed out. She inclined her head.
"I have. I just haven't told you yet." She looked behind Rick, "Same with Michonne. I'm closing in on something for Sasha. And I'm just trying to figure Mr. Dixon out, but I will." Daryl scoffed looking out the darkened window. He still hadn't talked to me since we got here. I could feel his unease, like a feral cat in someone's house for that first time. At least it wasn't me keeping him clammed up...
"Yeah when you do that, can you tell us, we still haven't figured him out." I teased my partner. The others chuckled but Daryl just continued to look out the window. My face fell, trying not to let his general attitude eat at me.
"You look good." She turned back to Rick, then she made her exit.
Daryl had carved us out a little piece of floor space to sleep. Everyone was here on the main floor for tonight, so it was a little tight. Nothing I wasn't used to already. Still, the knowledge that there were fluffy beds just above us was a little irritating, my road wasted muscles screaming for fluff.
"Daryl?" I whispered after the lights had been turned off and I could hear the soft breathing of the others.
"Hmm?" He was on his side facing away from me. He didn't turn when I spoke.
"Is this what you want? To be here?" He sighed.
"Deanna asked me the same thing."
"So what was the answer?"
"Judith and Carl, they deserve to have a roof over their head."
"Do you think you don't deserve that?" He didn't answer, so I propped myself up on my elbow pulling his shoulder so he would look at me, "If anyone deserves one, it's you Daryl. Don't ever think that what you have done to get here makes you unworthy of happiness." Pushing his bangs back, looking in his eyes, "We all deserve this…" He chewed the inside of his lip thinking about what I had just said. I kissed him quickly before he turned away. I leaned back, closing my eyes still actively trying to ignore the irritation in my chest.
All though it was a hard floor, I slept the deepest I had in a month. I could hear soft talking as the others started to wake up. I had to blink a couple times before I realized where I was. Judith, whose crib we had slept next to last night, was standing up looking at me, blubbering. Daryl had already left, which just made me huff as I stood, stretching the sleep from my limbs.
"What kid? Don't know how to ask the others for breakfast?" She cooed chewing on the side of the crib, "yeah I thought not." She had grown quite attached to me in the last weeks. I picked her up out of the crib and crossed to the kitchen. Jessie had brought us over some things yesterday when she had come to cut Rick's hair. There were a couple jars of homemade baby food.
"Mmm carrots, peas, squash? Whatcha thinkin' kid?" I held her over the jars and let her pick. She slapped a puggy hand on the top of a jar, "Squash it is. Should have known." I sat in one of the bar stools at the island and sat her in front of me on the counter. I flipped open the jar, spooning some into the baby's already open mouth. I snorted as she smacked her lips as she ate. Carl wandered over to us, rubbing sleep out of his eyes.
"Thanks for doin' that." he said, petting the soft hair on his sister's head. She reached out to him, grabbing a chunk of his hair in her hand.
"She was giving me hungry eyes as soon as I woke up. It's not a problem. Something I'm gonna have to get use-" I clapped my mouth shut, but the damage had been done, Carl was a quick one. He furrowed his brow, maybe deciding if I meant what he thought.
"Gwen are you-" I put my hand over his mouth, the others starting to wake, and look over at us.
"Conversation for another time okay?" I whispered as I took my hand away. He nodded slowly, giving me a stink eye.
"Imma hold you to that." Well of all the people to find out, Carl was probably the riskiest. Ment I was going to have to tell Rick, soon, before Carl did, which he was guaranteed to if i didn't.. Which meant I had to tell Daryl. Carl took over Judith's breakfast, and I casually excused myself, wanting to bury my head in the dirt.
I had washed my jeans last night and the few shirts I had, that were still in decent shape. Locked in the bathroom to change, I popped back my vitamins, cupping water in my hand from the sink to wash them down. My reflection in the mirror was not one I could recognize. I gripped the counter, trying to push down my rising emotions. I was barely a month into this and I was panicking. My heart was starting to pound, my breath catching, the beginnings of a panic attack forming. Now I was feeling caged, trapped. It took me several minutes to get a hold of myself. How the heck was I going to tell him? We just kept going from one difficult situation to the next, and the ideal moment had yet to present itself to me.
Our people were going to take today to poke around, see the neighborhood. My plan was to go find Jessie and have her cut my hair for me. That was where I was going to start. I started to feel a little calmer now that I at least had my first few hours planned out. Dressed, I exited the bathroom running straight into Maggie, my bottle of vitamins falling to the ground. She picked them up, pausing to look at the bottle, then to me, her expression unreadable.
"Daryl doesn't know yet." I let out in a rush, then let out a sigh, realizing that now one more person knew before the most important person, "I found out the day Beth died." the second part was hushed.
"Am I the only one who knows?" She asked me. I shook my head, which made her relax, a little less of the burden off her.
"I told Carol, Michonne figured it out on the road, and I'm about ninety percent sure Carl figured it out while I was feeding Judith."
"Are you going to tell the others? Daryl?" I felt tears leaking down my face as I leaned against the door jam. I was a little surprised when she put her arms around me, letting me quietly cry for a few minutes. Pulling away, I wiped my face.
"Seems like I'm gonna have to now. Since the cat has shredded the bag to pieces and is yowling for the whole world to see." I answered her initial question. She smiled then, the expression soft, and emotional.
"I'm happy for you, both of you. Do you know how long?"
"A little over a month now." She pulled me to her again.
"It's gonna be okay. We're safe now." I nodded wrapping an arm around her.
First order of business was that haircut. Then I would talk to Daryl.
He was sitting on the porch, his back to the rail, when I came outside to leave. I felt my gut twist as I looked at him
"Hey." I greeted hunter was still covered in dirt. His eyes darted up at me for a moment.
"Hey." The others were trickling out of the house, ready to explore the neighborhood. Rick came out then and turned to us.
"They said explore. Let's explore."
"Nah I'll stay." Daryl looked out over the street, not moving from his seat.
"Alright." Rick said walking to the end of the porch, stopping his gaze far away, "Lori and me, we used to drive through neighborhoods like this. Thinking, 'One day…'."
"Well, here we are." Daryl told him. The men looked at each other for a moment.
"We'll be back." he walked off the porch
I walked over and touched Daryl's head.
"I'll be back in a bit. One of the women said she'd help me out with this." I held up the end of my hair.
"Just don't shave it off, yeah?" The slight humor in his voice caught me off guard, making me snort.
"I suppose I won't do that." I followed after Rick, a few paces behind him. He didn't get far until he went into full panic mode, taking off down the street. I ran after him, not sure what had spooked him. He turned a couple corners and I found him just in time to watch him take out a metal sculpture.
"Rick?" Jessie emerged from the garage, "Are you okay?"
"Carl and Judith, did you see them walk by? They were ahead of me…" The panic was now understood. I walked over to them.
"I think I know where they are." She said, and led us back around the corner. I put my hand on Rick's shoulder.
"It's okay Rick." He nodded, but he didn't relax till he saw his kids on another porch with an elderly couple. They were gushing over Judith.
"That's Natalie and Bob Miller, "Jessie told him, "They had five kids and twelve grand kids. It's been a long time since anyone around here has seen a baby. She's gonna have to put up with some pinched cheeks."
"Thanks. I just, um-" Rick tried to explain.
"It's okay. I get it." He gave me a look. He wanted to talk to her alone. Pfft I would have to go back to the house not to hear that conversation. I walked a comfortable distance away watching Carl and Judith being fussed over on the porch.
I turned back around when I heard Rick walking towards me.
"Hey Rick," Jessie called, "Is it okay if Carl comes over now?" Rick turned to look at her, "Ron really wants to meet him." He nodded then turned back to me.
"I was planning on going over there anyway so she can help with this crows nest." I would make sure he was okay. We watched as Rick walked to his children.
"You want to head over now?" She smiled.
"Sure." I breathed, following after her.
It was a nice place she had with her husband and two boys, they also had a girl of no relation staying with them as well.
"Ron is my oldest, Sam's his little brother. Enid is the young lady staying with us. Quiet girl, Ron seems to be totally smitten with her." She sat me at her island and put a bib around my shoulders. It was so normal I couldn't help but giggle.
"You sure this place isn't a dream?" I asked as she started to spray down my hair. She chuckled.
"Nope, it's real." She went to work cutting my hair, "How long have you been growing this for? It comes well past your butt."
"This is two months of growth." The scissors stopped.
"Shut up." She said in disbelief.
"Truth. Nails are the same way." They were still filed to claws, so I just kept them beneath the bib.
"That's incredible. It's pretty healthy considering. How short do you want me to do it?"
"Like right below my shoulder blades. Daryl forbade me from cutting it all off, even though it would be back in no time."
"Is that your husband?" I shifted uncomfortably at the question.
"No, but we're together. He gave me a spoon if that counts.`` I chuckled.
"A spoon?" Still laughing I pulled the ring off and set it on the counter for her to see, "Oh!" She giggled, "I was confused for a moment. A spoon ring. Hmm, like a promise ring?" I shrugged.
"We promised to be together so, yeah. A promise ring." I put the spoon back on my finger.
"Yeah." She chuckled, "Daryl's the one with the crossbow?"
"He is indeed." She continued to clip.
"So has Deanna given you a job yet?" She asked.
"Yeah, I'm supposed to lead this all female hunting group, teach them what I know."
"Really? You're the hunter she was referring to? Well I guess that makes sense."
"Are you in the group?" I asked her.
"No, my husband won't allow it." Our conversation coming to a halt, the mood growing a bit tense. My instincts were telling me that her happy marriage was anything but.
I felt the weight on my neck lift as the last of the hair came off. When she was done she handed me a mirror.
"Mmm, yes, thank you!" If i hadn't recognized myself after a shower, i sure as hell didn't recognize myself after a haircut. She smiled, taking back the mirror when I was done.
Carl was arriving to hang out with Ron as I was getting up from the chair.
"Wow Gwen! It looks good!" he said before following after Ron. Well I wouldn't be here with him, but I knew he'd be safe.
"Thanks again Jessie." I thanked her as I left the house, heading back home. Hmmm home…
Daryl was sitting on the railing.
"Ya should have seen Carol." He scoffed as he saw me walking up, then his mouth fell open a little before he shut it again. Obviously he hadn't really seen me yet either. "Who are ya and what have ya done with my werewolf?" He crossed his arms, squinting at me.
"Sorry, human Gwen at yer service.'' I did a little curtsy, eliciting a snort from the hunter. I started to walk off again, abandoning my original intention of talking to him after my cut.
"Wait, where ya goin' now?" He called after me.
"To Deanna's, I'm going to be teaching some women to hunt." He huffed and went back to fussing with his crossbow.
Deanna was out on the porch when I got here.
"Gwen! Nice cut," She held me at arms length looking at my face, "how does it feel?"
"Much lighter. I was curious about maybe meeting these women?" She grinned.
"Come with me."
The four women were all currently gathered at the Pantry, talking to the woman who ran it, Olivia was her name. Three were my age and the other closer to Deanna's.
"Gwen, this is Helene, Miya, Zoe, and Kari." The first three were triplets, each with different hair. Helene had blonde hair, Miya had copper, and Zoe with jet black, but they were almost identical. Kari had long silver hair braided in one long plat down the middle of her head.
"Hello, it's a pleasure that my daughters and I can be under your tutelage." Kari, shook my hand, vigorously.
"I have debriefed them on certain details of your condition but it is up to you whether or not you would like to dive deeper." Deanna explained softly.
"You could be a unicorn and as long as you taught us to hunt, the rest doesn't particularly matter." Miya told me. I had a hard time looking away from her, something about this woman causing butterflies in my stomach. I was pretty sure I was blushing too. What the heck, get it together Gwen!
"How many times have you been out there?" I asked them, Deanna took her leave letting us talk.
"Three, four times. We haven't been able to catch much, and what we do catch often gets taken by rotters." Zoe answered, "We want to alleviate some of the strain put on the scavenging group."
"Well hunting right now, with the walkers as a prominent obstacle, you have to be smart about getting to your kills. Can you identify a walker by sound?" they shook their heads.
"Tomorrow, meet here at dawn. Bring your preferred weapons, and if it isn't a gun, we'll need to make sure you have a handgun for back-up. We'll be gone until evening." They nodded in understanding, "If you listen to everything I say, I can keep you safe, and teach you some things in the process. I have a lot of experience, from before the world went to hell, please trust in that."
"We understand, right girls?" Kari asked her daughters. They nodded in tandem, "Good, see you here at dawn." I turned to leave getting about a yard away before I heard one of them running after.
"Wait up Gwen!" She pulled up next to me, "Sorry, but i couldn't let you just walk away without telling you how absolutely beautiful you are." The way she blushed and the timbre of her voice told me that it might not just be a woman to woman kind of complement, which in turn made me blush. She was incredibly beautiful herself. All four of my charges were, "Can I walk you home?"
"Sure." We didn't speak for several minutes, Miya finally breaking the ice.
"So is there some beau out there that has your heart?" I snorted, my suspicions confirmed.
"A grumpy alley cat more like. Yes, Daryl." her face fell.
"You're husband?" I shook my head.
"So you're single?" Her face brightened once more. I was laughing now, highly amused by this girl I just met.
"No, I may not have his name, but we are together. He loves me. I love him." I absentmindedly set my hand on my stomach, andher eyes got wide.
"Oh!" I stopped suddenly.
"Shhh!" I put my hand on her mouth and she gave me a good lick, "Ugh…" I whipped my hand off glaring at her.
"Mm no wonder you're taken. That look would drive me bananas."
"Don't tell anyone okay? Already too many people know and I haven't told him yet."
"Oh my is that him?" She asked as we came up on the house. He was exactly where I left him, in addition to a young woman standing below him talking up to him, "And whose that?" I could smell her pheromones from here.
"Stray bitch, that's what." Speeding up I made a beeline up the stairs and across the porch to Daryl. Without stopping till she was done speaking, I turned Daryl's face to me and pressed a kiss to his lips, not letting him go until I was satisfied. Not like he fought me at all.
My blood had started to boil seeing her there, flirting, especially since we had very little interaction since Atlanta. When I finally released him, I put up an act that I was just so surprised to see her there.
"Oh! So sorry, I didn't even see you there. My name's Gwen, and you are?" Not that I cared, maybe only so i knew the name i would be writing on a voodoo doll. Her fake smile badly masked her distaste that I existed.
"Fiona." She ground out, then turned back to Daryl, "Well see ya around Daryl." She gave him a hundred watt smile, she strutted off.
"Jesus we've been here one day, and I'm already beating thirsty women away with a stick." I grumbled.
"She just came up to me and started talking, and honestly as soon as i saw ya walking up the road it all just kinda sounded like nothin' anyway." He grabbed me around my waist pulling me against his side, "Um, ya make a friend or somethin'?" Miya was standing awkwardly at the bottom of the steps.
"Oh, yeah, this is Miya." i waved for her to come up, "It her, and two sisters and mother, that I'll be teaching. Deanna thought they might be more comfortable with a female. But she said you can come along whenever you want." He had about the same look on his face as he did last night when Deanna came to visit. I kissed his nose, trying to get his mind off of it, "Miya, this Is Daryl." She waved anxiously.
"Well, I better get back, Ma wants me to help with dinner." She turned to leave and I pulled out of Daryl's arms, grabbing her hand.
"Um, do you uh...do you smoke? Weed that is." her face said that she was shocked but pleasantly surprised.
"You have- you have weed? Like Marjauana? The Ganga?" I chuckled.
"Yes, dingus. Marajuana. So do you?" She nodded, "Okay, well, why don't you stop by after your dinner and we three can smoke one together." She squinted at me for a long time. She grinned wickedly.
"Mmmm, I'm game. Ill be back, say nine?" She squeezed my hand letting it go.
"Sure." She left then, turning to look back at us briefly from the street.
"Why do I have the feelin' that was about more than weed, Gwen?" I looked back at him, biting my lip.
"Um, well, it might have been about more…"
"And did ya think what I might think 'bout it?" He wrinkled an eyebrow.
"Well, yeah...and i was just about to ask ya. So…" He stood, his hands gripping my arms, his face inches from mine.
"Ya better roll a couple of them joints. And I'll need some liquor. But first," he kissed me gently then pulled back, "Yer beautiful, and ya look great, but ya also look like shit. Go pick out a room. Rick wants us in this house with the kids, Michonne Carol and him. Then yer gunna take a nap. Got it? Or no drugs with yer new friend." I grinned, pulling my arms from his grasp so I could hook them around his back, my hands on his shoulders, resting my face in the crook of his neck.
"Okay, since ya ordered so nicely." He snorted, kissing the top of my head, playfully slapping my ass as I walked inside. I paused at the door, "Aren't ya comin'?" He shook his head.
"Can't sleep, not while everyone is still….everywhere." He gestured to the neighborhood.
Going inside, I climbed the stairs to the second level. I left the master for RIck. Carl already laid claim to a room, so I found the next largest room and threw my bag on a chair. I flopped down on the bed face first, moaning into the mattress.
"Sweat posture pedic." I giggled. I really couldn't believe I was laying on a clean mattress. I got up and shut the door, kicking off my boots and taking off my jeans and bra. I slipped under the covers and was out as soon as my eyes closed.
It was already dark when I woke up from a dreamless sleep. I looked over at the clock. Eight thirty. It took me several minutes to will myself to get up. When I did, I redressed, then rolled a couple joints, as instructed. On my way downstairs I stopped in the bathroom to check out how I looked. I was pretty surprised with myself that I had put the offer on the table, or that i didn't wait a little longer, instead of ten minutes after I met the woman. Well, whatever. The world ended, gotta live a little.
Miya and Daryl were sitting awkwardly at the Island, and both perked up when they saw me.
"Uh sorry I'm a little early. We finished dinner early, and I was just being ansty so my mom kicked me out." She chuckled. There was the distinct sound of a cork, Daryl walking away while drinking straight from a wine bottle. He opened the door to the porch and looked back as he lowered the bottle.
"I'll be right back." He grumbled, his face already flushed.
"Has he been drinking very long?" She shook her head.
"He's a man a few words huh?" I sighed, taking his seat.
"He is, but of many facial twitches." She laughed, her shoulder bushing mine. My heart skipped suddenly. Clearing my throat, and trying to real it in a bit, I pulled the joints out to show her. Her laughered increased, as she took them. She put them against her nose taking a long whiff.
"Mmm sweet Mary Jane, how I've missed you. So are we going to smoke these outside, or…?"
"There's a big window upstairs in the room, that faces away from the street, it has a nice ledge to sit on." Miya blushed, which made my own face heat, "Um, it's the second door on the left. I'm gonna check on Daryl real quick." She took my meaning and took herself and the joints upstairs.
Daryl was leaning over the railing, cigarette in hand. I stole it from him taking a long drag before handing it back.
"Thought ya quit." he grumbled.
"I did. Daryl, if yer not comfortable joining you can always watch." He looked at me considering.
"We'll see. I still have the rest of this bottle left." He took a last drag of the cigarette, putting it out against the sole of his boot and putting it back in the pack, "C'mon, let's not keep'er waiting."
Miya was sitting in the window already, the night breeze billowing her copper hair around, the moon light on her pale skin. It had been a long time since I had felt any sort of sexual feelings towards a woman. Even had a girlfriend briefly before I left for Asia. But I was definitely feeling those feelings towards Miya. I figured this could be my reward for being patient with Daryl this past month.
Miya stood, looked at both of us, and the awkward tension began to build. Daryl huffed and walked over grabbing the high back chair and sat down propping his feet up on the window seat. She went to hand me the joints.
"Go ahead." I said sitting opposite where she had been, and gestured for her to sit. She plopped down lighting the joint and taking a few puffs her eyes shut as she exhaled. She opened her eyes as she passed it to me.
"So…." She started, "What did y'all do before the world went to shit?"
"Not much of anything good." Daryl answered, taking a swig of his wine.
"Daryl and his brother Merle were drifters, and I was going to art school at the time. What about you?" I prodded her leg gently with the tip of my foot, leaving it resting against her jeans.
"I was a small time actress. Mostly commercials, but I met a lot of people. Including my all time actor crush, Norman Reedus." Daryl snorted, actually laughing a bit.
"Yeah, he was fantastic in 'The Boondock Saints'." HOnestly the look in Daryl's eyes was a bit lustful.
"So that's why you have 'Norman' tattooed on your chest?" I asked through my laughter.
"Yes and no. Merle got be stupid drunk and dared me to get it. We had just seen the movie and I was drunk. Figured, why the hell not." Miya and I were dying, tears in our eyes.
"He kinda looks like him don't he?" She asked me.
"I do not. He's much sexier than I am." Daryl was definitely already intoxicated but he accepted the joint form me regardless.
"Whatever ya need to tell yerself 'Norman'." He glared playfully at me.
"So what kind of art did you study Gwen?" miya continued when she caught her breath.
"Figure Studies. I got incredibly familiar with the naked human form." I quirked my eyebrow at her.
"Ah so you're a 'paint me like one of your french girls' kinda artist." I shook my head at the terrible reference, "Have you drawn him naked?" She asked. Daryl sat up looking at me seriously.
"Yeah have ya? I wanna see."
"Um…" I had started to draw him naked but i had never finished, "It's not done yet…?"
"I knew that drawing was of me...thought ya were so slyyyy." He sat back finishing off the bottle and setting it next to him. The joint had returned to him, and I watched him for a few moments until he passed it back to Miya. She was looking at me intently as she pulled on the joint, desire in her green eyes. She beckoned me forward with her long finger, while she held in her smoke. I grinned leaning forward. She pressed her lips to mine, parting them so I could inhale her smoke. I sat back exhaling through my nose. I stole a glance at Daryl. He was watching us closely, a myriad of things flashing in his eyes. With a sudden boost of confidence, I took the joint, pulling once before passing it off to Daryl, then came forward again. I straddled Miya's lap, my hands on the back of her neck tilting it upwards, so that I could kiss her properly. She was wearing lipgloss, which tasted like cotton candy. Her hands cupped my butt as she kissed me back. I heard Daryl let out a shaky breath, the smell of his arousal hitting my nose. Miya's hands slid up my shirt expertly unhooking my bra before she pulled my shirt over my head. She hummed in approval as she looked at my naked torso.
"If I could draw, I would want to draw you." Her voice was thick with pleasure, her mouth finding my nipple, teasing it gently with her teeth. Daryl finally stood pulling off his shirt and kicking off his boots. He put one knee down on the bench behind me pulling me away from her so I was flush against his chest. He tilted my head up and back so that he could kiss me. I heard the ruffle of clothing as Miya pulled off her own shirt then, came back to my breast, her hands massaging as she nipped at my neck. Daryl's other hand was coming down my side and around to the front of my pants. He unbuckled my belt, his hand slipping into my underwear, rubbing against me. I moaned into Daryl's mouth.
I found the waistband of Miya's pants pulling her closer, before I undid her pants, surprisingly without breaking contact with Daryl. She moaned into my neck as I touched her. Daryl finally broke away, breathing heavily. He scooped me up out of Miya's clutches and carried me over to the bed. Miya didn't move for a second.
"What are ya waitin' for?" Daryl growled, "Better hurry, less yer just gonna watch." She hurried over shedding her pants. Daryl grabbed mine and pulled them off me. I grabbed her hand pulling her over, so that she was straddling my shoulders. Reaching up, I pulled her forward so that she was over my mouth. Miya slowly lowered herself down so that my tongue could reach her. As soon as it made contact she shuddered. I alternated between my tongue and sucking gently on her bud. I was gifted with an especially long tongue, which was much to Miya's delight.
Daryl growled, stuck being the one watching again. I heard his pants hit the ground. He grabbed my ankles pulling me from under Miya and to the edge of the bed.
"C'mere." he instructed her. She got off the bed, and he pulled her to him looking at me. I just nodded, and he kissed her. It was a little strange watching him kiss her, but I noticed his eyes were trained on me. It didn't last long before he turned her around nudging her forward, "Get on top of her." he ordered.
"Mmm yes sir." She looked at me, "He's bossy huh?"
"The only place he's allowed to boss me around." He just gave me a look, as Miya crawled on top of me, her hips pressed against mine. I pulled her to me so I could kiss her again, while Daryl went over to my bag, when he found the bag of condoms he chuckled. He snagged one, opening it and rolling it on. I watched as he touched himself, quivering in anticipation.
He lined up behind the two of us, sliding himself between us, teasing both us as he thrust. Miya moaned into my mouth as I teased her breast, the other hand kneading her butt. Then Daryl pulled out and into me. The feeling of him in me as I touched and kissed this beautiful woman sent me over the edge. I shuddered, making Miya chuckle.
"Damn was that all from him?" She looked back and down at him, "Holy hell." When he thrust again she fell forward again, from the momentum smashing her lips against mine. DAryl braced her with one hand and pleasured her with his other. Miya and I were breathing heavily, as Daryl worked, also panting as his ecstasy gathered. Miya pulled away from us, getting off the bed momentarily. Daryl took this time to reposition me so that I was on my hands and knees. He got on the bed kneeling on one knee. I patted the bed in front of me. Miya laid down on her back. I put my arms on either side of her legs, pulling them open. I pressed my mouth back to her clit, as Daryl entered me again. I moaned again, which vibrated against Miya, making her moan. Daryl's pace increased, his voice starting to come out. He gave my ass a solid slap.
"Ah fuck…" He breathed, listening to the pair of us moan, together. Miya, gripped the sheets ass she climaxed, shuddering intensely from the pleasure. When Daryl saw this, he Pulled back.
"No offense Miya, but she's all mine now." Miya just nodded, still unable to move. Daryl grabbed me around the front pulling me back against him, "I'm gonna man handle ya now…"I just nodded. He let me go,"Put yer hands there." He grunted, smacking my ass hard enough to push me towards the head board. Miya was just watching, one had on her breath the other on her sex. Sweet honey iced tea! I put my hands up on the middle part of the iron headboard, my knuckles turning white in anticipation. He pulled my hips back so that my top half was horizontal. I felt his tongue next between my legs, I shuddered clenching my fists harder around the iron bar. My knees started to drift apart as my back arched.
"Daryl…"A deep growl rumbled through me. His face pulled away, his body taking its place, butting against my opening. He gripped the top of my ass and slid in. I moaned, loudly, which made me chuckle. He nipped the back of my shoulder in response, causing a shudder to pass through me. He wrapped his arm around me, his hand around my throat, the other hand braced against the top of the head board. He began with a steady rhythm again, then it began to quicken. He was bent over me, his breath tickling my ear.
"Gwen…" He whispered, nipping at my ear. I was so close, and by the timbre in his voice as he said my name, I knew that he was too. I also heard Miya moan, as she watched us. Miya and I came together, Daryl close behind.
I was sitting between Daryl's legs on the window seat, a blanket loosely wrapped around us. Miya was sound asleep in the bed, the blanket down far enough to expose her rosy nipples. Daryl was nuzzling my neck, giving me a little nip.
"Ow." I teased, "Thank you for obliging me." i said softly.
"Not gonna lie, that was...erotic."
"Was that yer first threesome?" he nodded. I chuckled.
"It's not yer's?" I shook my head.
"Nah, I've even been to orgies before." he deadpanned, "I'm kidding, about the orgies part that is, "I had a girlfriend once that liked group play more than one on one.'
"You had a girlfriend?" he was so taken aback.
"Yes, why does that have to be so surprising? I told you, I am very familiar with the human form, and I find them all beautiful in their own way. Plus, she piqued my interest from the moment I laid eyes on her."
"Gwen?" he asked softly after a few moments of silence, "Do ya think this place'll make us weak?"
"Is that's what's been bothering you?" he grunted, "Ya just can't let it." He sighed heavily leaning his head back against the wall, "Do you know how many people have asked or assumed we were married since we got here?" He snorted in dismissal, "I'm serious." i poked him.
"No one would ever think someone like you was married to someone like me." i turned to look at him.
"And why the hell not?'
"Well, yer...perfect, and I'm-"
"A fucking stud. Do ya not remember i had to chase a random girl away from you today?" He chuckled then grabbed my left hand looking at the spoon ring he made me. He kissed the back of my hand before he set it back down.
"Do ya want to know what your dad gave me?" His voice was low, thick with emotion.
"Yes…" My own voice came as a whisper. He reached down and grabbed his discarderded jeans grabbing the package from his back pocket. He handed i over along with a note. The bow was wooden, hand carved by Joel. I slipped open the lid and my jaw draped when i saw what was inside. There were three rings, and they were rings I knew well.
"These are my parent's wedding rings…" Joel had also made two of these, with some help from his older brother. The wedding bands were wooden, with a black steel interior. Their names and the date they were married were inscribed on the inside. Norah's engagement ring was made entirely by Joel's brother. It was black steel, the stone, a square cut onyx. On either side of the stone, were little skulls, tiny diamonds in their eyes.
"Mmhmm. Read the note." Daryl prompted.
Daryl,
Norah wanted to give these to Gwen years ago. Now I'm hastily writing this note while waiting for these tests. I knew from the moment you saved that man without hesitating, that I could entrust the only daughter I have ever known, to you. I still believe that; that through the immense grief you are feeling you can still protect her. Gwen has learned to protect herself for so long that she may not tell you something she needs to. I hope when i tell you that there is something ,right now she needs to tell you, you don't pressure her. It will take her some time to tell you. First, to not be a burden, and secondly because she is probably very scared. She will tell you when she is ready, just be patient with her. I'm sure you can.
You also have my blessing. And Norah's. Goodbye Mr. Dixon
-Joel
A few tears dripped onto the page before I could wipe them away. Daryl reached over me, grabbing Norah's rings, looking at them intently.
"Would-" He choked, "Do ya want that? To be Mrs. Dixon?" In response I slid the spoon ring off, stretching it slightly so I could fit it on my middle finger.
"I mean...you've been making me wait long enough." Teasing him, before I placed a gentle kiss to his lips, "Yes, more than I have wanted anything." He recaptured my lips, kissing me deeply. When he pulled away, he slid the engagement ring on first then the band. I took Joel's band, and slid it in turn on Daryl's finger. He held me close to him.
"I love ya Gwen Dixon." he said into my hair.
"Awe damn...that was so romantic…"Miya was propped up on her elbow looking at us. Before someone, Daryl, could make a snide remark there was a knock at the door. Miya looked at us with alarm, wondering if she needed to make herself scarce. I just shook my head and she ducked under the covers. I knew who it was.
"Come in Michonne." She poked her head around the door cautiously, before letting it open.
"Sooooo, I see I'm not invited to your hot threesomes Gwen? I thought we had a connection?" She teased us.
"Aw hell nah." Daryl said, "no offense to you Michonne, but yer like my sister." She laughed.
"Yeah that's just weird. So…."
"Uh oh!" Miya sat up pressing the sheet to her front extending her hand to Michonne. My friend took it, shaking it gently, "Miya Underwood."
"I was actually here to check on how you were feeling, Gwen, but obviously better than earlier. I'll just leave ya to it. Nice to meet you, we'll do it again, maybe with clothes." She said to Miya, who just chuckled nervously. After the samurai left Miya rose and dressed.
"I'd better go before my mom starts to worry." She kissed me, a gentle, urgent kiss. Then she pecked Daryl on the cheek, "Um thanks, for sharing that with me. It was fantastic...See you in the morning?" I nodded, and she left.
Emboldened by my dad's note, and by our interaction with Miya, I opened my mouth to tell him. Tell him that the number of Dixon's would now be three when another knock sounded at the door.
"Jesus..." Daryl complained. He got up and pulled on his pants crossing to the door. It was Rick.
"Hey, sorry to bother you so late. But I need yer help with something." Rick told him. Daryl looked back at me apologetically. I just waved for him to go.
"Lemme just get dressed and I'll meet you downstairs." And as Daryl left to go help Rick, another opportunity slipped past me.
"Fuck."
(/o/w/o/) Oh my...