KEZZ 1: Your wish is my command.

RaphaeltheCowboy: Thank you for the compliment, and I'm sorry this chapter took so long to get done. I normally like to get a chapter out every day or two, but it was a bit of a difficult week. To answer your questions, a lot of Ani's personality and background is similar to mine. We both have very similar reactions given the situations we are in, seeing as I'm basing her ADHD and autism on my own. I had a rough upbringing, though no where near as bad as Ani's. I wasn't physically abused very often; it was mostly neglect and emotional and mental. I am not a master survivalist, but I do have a basic knowledge in field dressing an injury as well as enough knowledge of herbs to make it work for the story...lol...I am not a forensic psychologist, but that was the degree I was pursuing ultimately before I burned out in college and quit. I do, however, have my Bachelor's in behavioral psychology. That's part of why my writing is compelling, I like to think. I don't just write what I see, but what I see the characters feel and the way they see things, because I can understand it from their point of view, even if they are just fictional characters on a screen. So, yeah, I'd be lying if Ani wasn't as much a part of me as Daryl is a part of Norman Reedus, but we are also very, very, very different. I'm probably what you'd get if Rosita and Eugene had a baby...XD roflmao! I've seen up to 'Find Me' in season 10 and have to wait for season 11 to hit a free streaming network, like Netflix...Might begin to diverge from storyline a bit after season 10, though...I know how the story ends, it's just getting it there...

The next day found Daryl and Ani standing in Aaron's garage, the door wide open as Daryl began looking through all the parts, sorting them into piles for what he needed for the bike as Ani watched on, "T'ink ya can fix up t'e four wheela, too?"

"What? Don't wanna ride with me anymore?" Daryl asked a little petulantly.

"D, I'm always gonna be ya ride and die. Always," she told him, going around the table he was working at and wrapping her arms around his waist. "Was jus' t'inkin' t'at lata on, might be nice ta have somet'in' t'e twins can ride on too."

"Ania, they can run pretty damn fast, 'bout as fast as a person on a ten speed can go," Daryl informed her, turning around, wrapping his arms over hers and leaning back against the table with her between his legs.

"Well, it can haul stuff too," she pointed out.

"S'pose. Not workin' on it first, though."

"Didn' ask ya ta. Not ready ta not be ridin' wit' ya anyway," Ani said as she leaned up on her tip toes to give him a soft and sweet kiss before she pulled back and looked up at him, all the love and wonder she felt towards him shining through her eyes.

"Am I interrupting?" Deanna's voice sounded from outside of the garage, making Ani stiffen in Daryl's arms and Daryl turn to give the woman a scowl. "I was coming to say I'm sorry. I had just gone over the tapes and was coming to talk to you when everything happened the other day."

"If ya were sorry, ya would a killed 'em 'stead a sendin' t'em away," Ani told her. "Or at least held 'em 'til I was good 'nough ta pass a judgment and tell everyone t'e trut' 'stead a lettin' Pete spread a bunch a lies 'bout me."

"I understand that they were some very bad people, but we do not kill inside these walls," Deanna tried to emphasize. "I am sorry for what Pete has been saying and I am trying to quell the rumors-"

"But ya can', 'cause people don' like different and I'm as different as t'ey come. Ya will have ta kill, Deanna. One day, ya'll be forced ta. T'is place, ta keep it safe, ya gonna have ta make t'e tough calls li'e t'at. Ya gonna find out t'e hard way, ya kill or ya be killed in t'is world."

"That's not how it works here," Deanna insisted. "Look, I know I promised you would be safe here only for you to be attacked not two days later, but I need you to listen to me. We are not killing people here."

"What happens when someone walks up ta ya gate and starts firin'? Or wha' happens when someone climbs t'em supports right up t'e walls and starts killin' t'e people ya tryin' ta protect? T'e people who don' know a damn t'ing 'bout how ta protect 'emselves? What are ya gonna do t'en, Deanna? Wha' are ya doin' now ta protect 'em?"

"What would you have me do? Arm people within the gate? Hand out weapons to children to learn how to fight? We are trying to build something here-"

"T'at can' be kept if ya keep t'inkin' t'e world works like it used ta," Ani cut her off in a passive tone. "T'is? T'is is more t'e Wild West t'an 20-, what is it now? 2011? 2012? Eit'a way, t'is is t'e world a bandits, wolves, and t'ieves. T'e good people, t'e people tryin' ta build t'ings like t'is, t'ey have ta be like t'e people from t'e Wild West, armed and ready ta fight 24/7/365 for what t'ey want ta keep. Deanna, I'm tellin' ya for ya own good, here and now. Anyone hurts me family, I'm gonna kill 'em. Anyone hurts t'e people a Alexandria, I'm gonna kill 'em. We're stayin', which means t'e 'community' ya want ta build falls unda t'at same protection a bein' family. I ain' gonna suffa abusa's ta stay. And t'e ones already here? T'ey ain' gonna wanna leave if t'ey make t'emselves known and ya try ta exile 'em. So no, Deanna. Ya can' be buildin' somet'in' like t'is and expectin' ta keep ya hands from bein' bloodied."

"Like yours?" Deanna inquired, having learned through the interviews that Ani had the title of 'Lady Death' in their group long before she had needed it. "I've heard all about what you've done. How much blood is on your hands?"

"If ya lucky, ya'll neva have as much blood on ya hands as I do, nor for the reasons why. Me hands will neva be clean."

"Care to elaborate?"

"I've done what I've had ta, whateva I've had ta, ta savive, me whole life, Deanna. Ya t'ink t'is is t'e first time t'ey marked me up and took somet'in' from me?!" Ani told her, motioning towards her airing stitches and finally moving away from Daryl as the anger exploded inside her. "Here, take a good damn look!" she said, throwing her vest off and her shirt over her head, exposing her skin.

Deanna gasped as she took in the marred flesh of the woman in front of her. Long, thin lines criss-crossed her entire stomach and back, up and across her upper chest. She could even see ones that reached down into the comfort bra she was wearing. Thicker, even longer scarred lines of flesh covered her back, TECP carved into the base of her spine as Ani turned to show the full extent of what she suffered just from the knives and whips and belts. Several more thin lines littered her arms and shoulders, two thick scars running along her clavicle, one on top and one below, while the bruises she'd received from the beating almost made the scars stand out worse. Daryl came to her and picked her shirt up as she began breathing heavily as the memories set in. He could tell they were by how badly her fists were shaking at her sides. Helping her back into her shirt while blocking Deanna's view, he only then noticed how Aaron was staring at the marred flesh himself.

"Get a good enough look?" Daryl growled at both of them.

"I-I'm sorry," Aaron said guiltily, making Ani jump in Daryl's arms. "I was just coming to see if you wanted something to drink."

"It's okay," Ani whispered as Daryl held onto her.

"You're family did all that?" Deanna asked weakly.

"Some people, t'ey don' deserve ta be called family," Ani croaked out. "People like t'em, t'ey ain' eva gonna change, Deanna. Abusas don' change."

"Are you sure of that?" she asked, thinking about her suspicions of Pete.

"T'ere's a reason t'ey call it abuse," Ani deadpanned. "When a person is treated with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly, it's abuse. Abusa's don' stop."

"What if one did?"

"One wrong move, t'ey'll start back up again."

"And what do you suggest we do? I refuse to kill."

"Ya don' have ta, Deanna. But someone will. And if I find who ya talkin' 'bout, ya best pray t'at someone ain' me, 'cause I won' fuckin' hesitate."

"Even if there were children involved?" Deanna asked, wondering just how far this woman would go to protect others.

Ani blanched at that thought, turning her face back into Daryl's chest, "Nah, nah if t'ere were children t'ere. T'ough, if I see t'ose kids gettin' hurt, I hold no responsibilities for me actions. I won' sit back and watch a child go t'rough what I did."

"You have strong morals, even when they conflict."

"T'ey don' conflict. Jus', well, no child should have ta watch t'eir parent die," Ani said, looking back at her. "I may be a monsta, but not ta children. Neva ta children."

"You call yourself a monster," Deanna said. "Why?"

"Ya asked how much blood I have on me hands? I've had ta kill since I was twelve, once or twice a year 'til I was seventeen and tried ta kill me daddy 'cause t'ey drugged me in an attempt ta sell me off yet again. If I hadn' a missed, we wouldn' be havin' t'is convasation and I certainly wouldn' be missin' a chunk a me hair! I got ninety deaths on me hands, Deanna, ninety, and I rememba every single one."

"Including your sisters?"

Ani balked at that, having completely forgotten that she had been the one to end Chrystal's life, "Nah. Not countin' 'er. Won' count 'er. Want ta forget she eva existed, at least t'e best I can. Can neva truly forget wit' all me scars."

"And if you had killed your parents? Would you count them?"

"Nah, I wouldn'. And no one could blame me. T'ey've been dead ta me for years and years. Ain' gonna count what I don' wanna care 'bout."

"It doesn't bother you at all?"

"I neva said it didn' or doesn' bot'a me. But I do me damnedest ta forget it and move on wit' me life. 'Cause what t'e fuck else can I do?! I killed me fuckin' sista 'cause she tried ta kill me! I didn' do it 'cause I wanted ta, I don' wanna kill me parents. But I will ta keep meself safe. Ta keep me family safe. 'Cause t'at's what's gotta be done."

"Is that how you truly feel? That you have to kill your parents to keep us safe?" Deanna asked, realizing just how seriously Ani took the entire situation.

"Yeah, I truly do."

"What if...what if I were to tell you I suspected someone of abuse, what would you do?"

"Talk ta t'e ones t'at are bein' hurt. Make sure t'e suspicions are founded. T'en, I dunno. I'd definitely teach 'em a lesson, if I didn' jus' kill 'em."

Deanna took a deep breath in before choosing her next words very carefully, "You were a forensic psychologist, right?"

"T'at's right."

"Watch around. See what you can see. Talk to the kids. Some of them need your services more than others."

"Who specifically, Deanna?" Ani demanded, making the Representative start at how serious she was taking the request.

"Knowing you would probably storm over, I can't tell you that. I won't be privy to what you do when and if you find out, but you're right that we can't just stand around and watch it happen," Deanna said respectfully before she walked away.

Daryl and Ani shared a look, Ani's face going dark, "How much ya wanna bet she's talkin' 'bout Pete?"

~x~

"Ani?" Beth asked as she came into the garage where the woman was handing Daryl tools as he worked. "Can I talk to you for a moment? Alone?"

"Sure, sweetie," Ani said, handing Daryl the socket wrench in her hand before leaning down and kissing his temple. "I'll be back."

"You better," he warned. "Ain't back in an hour, I'm comin' after you."

Chuckling, she simply told him that was fine before holding her hand out to Beth and leading the young girl away. There was a beautiful pond and gazebo in the center of town that was regularly left empty that would make a perfect place for a heart to heart sit down. Ani wasn't sure what was bothering Beth, but the attraction she'd had to Noah had started to burn out and it was noticeable to the whole group, even as Noah started talking to another girl. They were still good friends, but whatever flirting had taken place at first had now become pretty much just friendly and well-natured over the course of the last week. Ani wasn't sure if it was because there were more options or if they were just always meant to fizzle out and be friends.

"What's wrong, girly?" Ani asked, cringing and making the same face Beth was making at her saying that. "Yeah, sorry, nope. Ain' pure blooded Dixon and t'at jus' sounded weird as fuck comin' from me mout'."

"That's for damn sure," Beth said with a laugh. "Can I ask you somethin' and that you keep it a secret?"

"I can' promise t'at. Ya know I can'."

"Even if," Beth drew out, almost as if she was thinking. "If I was askin' somethin' based on you bein' a psychologist? Not a friend or a leader?"

"Oh, damn, serious matta, eh?"

"Yeah, I don't...I don't want the others to know," she replied with a slight break in her voice.

"Alright. I'll give ya t'e docta/patient confidentiality deal."

"Thanks, Ani. How's your head, by the way?"

"Nuh-uh, no subject changes, sweetie. Ya tell me what ya asked me out 'ere for."

"Not even gonna ease into it?"

"Nope. Tear t'e band-aid off as it were."

"Are you gonna start talkin' normal any time soon?"

"Been trying ta, honestly. T'ink I might a hit me head a liddle harda t'an I t'ought. Might take longa ta talk completely normal. Got most a it back."

"True," Beth said before getting quiet and looking at the water, fidgeting and waving her knees back and forth. "When...when you were twelve? What...what really happened?"

Ani was taken aback, not at all expecting a question like that to come from the youngest adult in their group, "Where's this comin' from, Beth? What happened ta ya?"

"Nothin'," Beth said quickly. "Well...It...it wasn't nothin'. Back at Grady? There...there was a man...Gorman? He, uh...he was rapin' this girl and he...he, uh...he..."

"He wanted ta do it ta ya," Ani guessed.

"He found me in Dawn's office," Beth said, tears pouring down her cheeks as she remembered it all. "I fought him off, but...but...he...when he caught me in there, he had me trapped between him and her desk. And he just leaned in and...and...just smelled me. I couldn't do nothin' and then he turned me 'round and practically pinned me to him. He...he...he stuck his hand up my shirt and he...I fought him off, but he still..."

"Hey, hey, it's gonna be okay," Ani said, bringing the girl to her shoulder where she began sobbing openly, tears pricking Ani's own eyes. "Ya fought 'im off. Yeah, he copped a feel, and it's gonna take a long time ta feel clean again afta t'at. I know. What happened when I was twelve? Only reason I was able ta get t'e ledda opena was 'cause 'e was distracted by puddin' 'is hand down me pants. Daryl...Daryl don' know t'at. Don' even t'ink Merle knows, least I hope 'e don'. Bastard knows 'nough 'bout me past ta make me uncomfortable 'bout what 'e tells Daryl. But t'e point is, we savived wit' our dignity intact. We savived, sweetie. And no madda how long it takes, ya gonna feel clean again. And ya gonna find someone who loves ya for everyt'in' t'ey have."

"How? How do you get clean after somethin' like that?"

"Time. Ya heal. Ya accept it happened. Ya move on. Ya forget, or at least try ta."

"I don't think I like men," Beth admitted. "I mean, the ones from our group, it ain't so bad, you know? But bein' around other guys, it makes my skin crawl. It feels like I'm always bein' watched, always waitin' to be pounced on."

"T'at's normal, love. It really is. Ya suffa'd a traumatic experience. It's gonna take some time ta feel bedda. Ta feel safe 'round people who remind ya a ya experience. But look at ya! Ya haven' given up! Ya been keepin' out t'ere minglin' and canoodlin'. Ya damn strong, kid, damn fuckin' strong."

"I don't feel strong. I feel weak," Beth admitted, looking down even as she kept her head on Ani's shoulder.

"Sweetie, I mean t'is wit' all t'e love in me heart," Ani said before moving so she could look at Beth in the eye. "Ya've always felt weaka t'an ya are. Always are gonna. 'Cause ya don' know ya own strength. I'm plannin' on trainin' Rose in MMA. I want ya ta train too."

"You said I wasn't ready for it."

"Ya know how I built me self-esteem up?" Ani asked the young woman who shook her head in reply. "I took self-defense classes and learned MMA, lata focusin' more on Judo and Muay Thai ova Brazilian Juijitsu, t'ough, t'at's also a part a MMA fightin'. I t'ink, like me, Muay Thai would be perfect for ya. It's good for smalla people since ya can attack t'e vital points easya. So, if ya feelin' weak, let's train ya up. If ya don' t'ink ya strong, let's make ya strong. Ya fought off Gorman and Jeffries with minimal trainin', Beth. Ya ain' as weak as ya t'ink."

Beth nodded her head, "I think I'd like that. Learnin' to fight like you do. I don't ever want to feel weak like that again."

"Train with me, and ya'll neva have ta again."

~x~

"Let me walk you back, Tiny," Abraham said, seeing Ani walking alone after Beth had gone to find her sister. "Headin' back to Daryl, right?"

"Yeah."

"You doin' alright?"

"T'ink ya can do me a fava?"

"Depends, is this a favor as a leader or a favor as a friend?"

"Wouldn' call it a fava if I was askin' as a leada. It'd jus' be an orda," she admitted with a chuckle, earning a smile back from Red. "I jus', can ya and Merle talk ta t'e men? Jus' chit chat, get a general feel a t'ings. Maybe bring up if any a t'em know a any problems in t'e community?"

"What's goin' on?"

"Deanna all but told me t'ere's an abusa in Alexandria. Ya know I can' be havin' t'at, but I need ta know more 'bout t'e town, 'bout t'e situation. I need ta know how far t'ese people are willin' ta go ta keep t'eir people safe. Will t'ey abandon t'em when t'e goin' gets tough? Or will t'ey prove jus' how tough t'ey are t'emselves and defend each ot'a? I don' wanna take ova if I don' have ta, 'cause I t'ink Deanna is startin' ta come 'round. She actually told me she jus' don' wanna be privy ta what I do if I find t'e abusa, but she won' outright tell me who it is, eit'a. T'ink it's a test ta see jus' what I'll do ta keep t'is town safe."

"Are you sure you want to pass it?"

"I'm sure I ain' 'bout ta let someone go t'rough what I did, what Carol did, Phia, ya brotha. I ain' leddin' it happen unda me watch. Whet'a or not I kill t'e son a bitch who's doin' it, I ain' gonna fuckin' let it happen." They walked in silence for a few, Ani noticing the looks she was receiving while Abraham walked steadily beside her. "I wanted ta t'ank ya."

"For what?"

"For helpin' wit' me daddy. For gettin' 'im off me. Didn' know I'd gotten so far away from Daryl and I was terrified."

"For a minute there, I was back in my own dad's house, the first time I was big enough to stand up for Will. I'll keep an eye out, ask around. If there's a shit stain within fifty miles of here, I'll root 'em out."

"T'anks," Ani said, spotting Daryl coming out Aaron's garage, wiping his hands on his rag and looking around. "Gotta go."

"Yeah, wouldn't want your 'Daddy D' to be worryin' about you," Abraham teased with a smirk.

"Gods, ya jus' 'bout as bad as fuckin' Merle, Shortcake!"

"At least I ain't a Shrimp."

"Ratha be a shrimp than turn inta a lobsta."

"Hey, I happen to have a glorious tan."

"If by glorious tan ya mean 'burnt crispiness,' t'en, yeah, s'pose so."

"You know, I have been in a dessert and not been nearly as burned as you'd think."

"Do I get bonus points for actin' like I care?"

"Ooo, you're gonna get it one of these days."

"Ha! Love ta see ya try, Red. Love ta see ya try," she said, walking away from him as he chuckled and walked along, quickly moving to Daryl as he caught sight of her. "All done for t'e day or jus' takin' a break?"

"Been an hour," he told her.

"And 'ere I am," she smiled up at him as he leaned down and kissed her.

~x~

"Hey, Sasha," Ani said, sitting next to the woman who was sitting on her own on the porch.

"Hey," was her response. "How are you?"

"I'm geddin' bedda every day."

"Still doing that thing with your talking, I see."

"Yeah. Been four days and I still can' get it right. Been able ta start talkin' like normal for t'e most part, but some words are easya t'an ot'as."

"You'll get there."

"So will ya," Ani told her. "I know ya still havin' problems dealin' wit' Bob and Tyreese."

Sasha scoffed, "You know what the worst part about it all? I got drunk at Deanna's party because I couldn't handle it. The people, the noise, the nonsense that they were talking about. Wanting to know my favorite meal like it's something important!" Her emotions kept revving up as she spoke, "And I got drunk. I slept with Abraham. How could I do that? After Bob? After Tyreese? How could I just..."

"Hunny, ya listen ta me. Ya and Abe, might a been a mistake it happened how it happened, but the man's been lookin' afta ya since ya lost Tyreese. Ya gotta know that."

"Yeah, I know."

"Pretty sure he'd be gunnin' for ya given some time anyway. I t'ink Bob would be okay wit' ya movin' on, ya know? I t'ink 'e opened ya heart up, and I t'ink Abe could help it heal if ya let 'im and let it. Ain' godda be right now, ain' godda jump inta not'in'. Jus', t'ink 'bout it and know I'm 'ere if ya need anyone ta talk ta."

"I know, Ani. I'm just, I'm trying."

"I know. Ya lost right now. Nothin' wrong wit' bein' lost. Jus' know, ya got people willin' ta help ya find ya way back."

"Thanks, Ani."

"I'm t'e one who should be sayin' t'at. Ya got t'at bitch off'n me," Ani said before she chuckled. "Ya damn near choked t'e bitch out!"

"She was hurting you," Sasha said in exasperation, as if she couldn't understand why it meant so much to Ani. "None of us were going to sit back and watch that happen. And your head. There was so much blood. Abe and Merle went back to clean it and ended up digging up some dirt while they were there. Daryl gave you a transfusion."

"Yeah, I heard 'bout t'at. But ya don' get it, Sash. No one, no one, has eva stood up for me. Not directly. Me papa, he dealt wit' 'em when t'ey were on 'is propaty, but not when it was happenin'. What ya did, what Abe and Daryl did. I've neva once had t'at happen 'fore. And t'en, for t'e first time, I actually was taken ta a docta, even if 'e was an asshole, ta be patched up. T'at's neva happened 'fore eit'a. T'ese t'ings might not seem like a big deal ta ya, but ta me, t'ey mean everyt'in'. T'e fact t'at ya stood up for me, t'at is literally everyt'in' ta me. Everyt'in' I eva wanted as a kid. Everyt'in' I eva wanted me family ta do for me. Ya came to me aide even t'ough ya didn' have ta. I don' t'ink I'll eva be able ta convey how much t'at means ta me, not really. And I'll neva be able ta make up for it. What ya did for me, it really means t'e world ta me."

"Ani, all of us would have done that. We all stood between them and kept them from following Daryl and Merle with you. Glenn was ready to kill them both, which is honestly saying something. We all fought Deanna on that decision, just letting them walk. No one wanted them to."

"I know. Tara told me when she came ta check on me yestaday," Ani said. "T'at reminds me, I need ta find t'at Denise lady. Godda give 'er a propa t'ank ya. Should a done 'fore now."

"Yeah, that was pretty thoughtful, saving your hair like that. What are you going to do?"

"'Bout me hair?" Ani asked, looking at the woman who nodded. "Only t'ing I can do now, 'specially since t'at scar ain' gonna be growin' hair. Might as well leave it how it is. Ain' eva gonna be t'e same now," she said sadly.

"Well, I think it looks badass. You said you're half Irish, right? Could probably be a real Viking woman now. Just need a few more braids and a couple dreads in that mane of yours and you'd look the part."

"Maybe I'll have ya help me wit' it," Ani laughed, though she knew she'd probably only add a few more braids and feathers to it herself.

"We both know that ain't happening," Sasha laughed, knowing Ani probably wasn't going to let anyone touch her hair again for a while, except Daryl. "Come on, I'll take you to Denise."

"Let me go tell D."

"So, back to being attached at the hip, huh?"

"What?"

"You're acting like you did at the prison before he left and you became Ms. Drill Sergeant."

"Oh, well, can ya blame us?" Ani asked, hoping they weren't really that bad and trying to defend why she wanted to be with him all the time right now, let alone where she was. "Separated for a week, not knowin' if t'e ot'a was alive, t'en almost dyin' in Atlanta only ta get inta a fight ova me recovary and almost break. Finally fix t'ings and I get attacked. I jus', I'm not ready ta be alone," Ani said, tears in her eyes as she looked down. "I'm terrified, Sash. I'm so scared t'ey're gonna come back and it won' be me t'ey hurt t'is time. T'ey'll go straight afta Daryl for what 'e did, how 'e took me away. T'ey're gonna hurt 'im, Sash. T'ey're not gonna take 'im takin' me from 'em lyin' down. I'm terrified a what t'ey're gonna do."

"You've got all of us, Ani. We aren't going to let anything happen to you. Or Daryl," Sasha tried to assure her. "Why don't you go find Daryl and I'll take you to Denise? Should have that looked at anyway, though it looks like it's healing pretty well."

"T'anks, Sash. If we go ova ta Aaron's, Daryl's workin' on t'e bike wit' Merle. Is it bad t'at I'm okay wit' havin' a 'guard' wit' me when I'm walkin'?"

"After what happened a few days ago, I don't blame you for wanting to be a little extra precautious. Honestly, I think most of us have agreed to keep an eye out for you, even if we didn't mean to."

Ani laughed at that as they walked up to Aaron's house, Merle leaning against the table Ani usually sat on chatting away about one of the women he was flirting up. Apparently, Francine from the construction crew was one hearty woman with quite the finger, even if it was just to flip the bird. Ani was just happy he had his own room to mess up with the woman, or the woman's own house, instead of something she and Daryl shared with him. Even if there were a few drawbacks to living in the community, at least there was one thing she could look forward to.

"Hey, little miss Ani," Merle said with a jovial smile on his face. "If you're lookin' for Phia, good luck. She's stuck all over that Mikey kid. Gonna have to scare him away just to get her head back on right."

"Aw, is Pops jealous a Phia's first outed crush?"

"Ain't jealous. She's just gonna go soft if she keeps hangin' with that bean pole. And what you mean 'outed?'"

"She'll be alright," Ani said, smiling softly as Daryl stood up and accepted her into his arms as hers folded around him. "Bet ya a pound a meat it ain' gonna go anywhere anyway. Ya see how she looks at Enid when she and Carl are tagetha? Bet ya anot'a pound t'ey'll end up tagetha in t'e end," she told him befor turning to look at Daryl. "Goin' ta find t'at Denise lady. Godda tell 'er t'anks."

"Alright," he said, giving her a soft kiss on the forehead and making her sigh. "Be quick, though. Aaron's invited us for dinner."

"Again?"

"Yeah. You good with that?"

"Should be makin' t'em dinna wit' how many times t'ey've hosted us," she said as she stepped out of Daryl's arms and back over to Sasha.

"Hey," Daryl said, still having a hold of one of her hands, making her turn to look at him. "Love you."

Smiling softly at him, Ani couldn't help but say, "Love ya too, D."

~x~

"Sorry for the mess. I normally don't get visitors in the, uh, living area," Denise said, Ani watching as nerves set it.

"Didn' mean ta give ya a panic attack. Can go down ta t'e infirmary if ya like?"

"Oh, you didn't...I'm not..." Denis stopped her stuttering and denial when Ani just gave her a look. "Okay, yeah, I'm really nervous. Kind of funny to be a psychologist who has panic attacks."

"Not at all," Ani said, walking over and helping her pick up the piles of books and began organizing them according to author name and book title.

"You don't have to-"

"I like it," Ani told her, giving a soft smile. "Used ta have a library at home. Well, not home. What became me home, me apartment. I'd rearrange it regularly based on different systems. T'is is t'e most basic. Put ya books in piles based by autha, t'en ya go by book name, or t'e first book in t'e series if it's a series."

"Oh, well, these are mostly medical books. I went to med school, but then the panic attacks and the fear and the stress. I ended up in psychology to understand why."

"A fellow knowa a t'e mind. I'm a forensic psychologist. Got inta psychology ta undastand me own mind, autism, ADHD, anxiety, depression. Ended up takin' an internship at t'e Atlanta PD and fell in love wit' t'e criminal and law aspect a psychology t'at takes place t'ere."

"I'm just a normal psychologist," Denise told her. "Nothing special at all."

"I t'ink ya are. Ya special 'nough ta see a girl ya know not'in' 'bout get upset 'bout losin' 'er hair, a all t'ings. And 'stead a lookin' at 'er like she's a freak, or crazy, or stupid, ya washed 'er hair, made two bracelets outta it, and gave it back ta her. Ya t'e epiphany a special, Denise. Ya really don' know what t'ese bracelets mean ta me."

Denise looked at her then, really contemplating the girl who was making quick work of setting up her library before she asked, "Why did you freak out so bad? I mean, Pete normally doesn't want me down in the clinic, so when he called me down, I figured it was for something bad, not a gash on the head. And how do you not have head trauma?"

"Ya know ya can get a concussion wit'out gettin' maja head trauma, right?" Ani said with a bit of a laugh. "T'ink t'e gash made it look way worse t'an it really was. Eileen neva did have t'e strength Thomas and Chrystal had. Jus' got lucky t'ere was a jagged piece a metal t'ere ta tear inta me. Or maybe she knew it was t'ere. Who knows? Jus' know t'ey left anot'a permanent mark on me, one I can' cova up and is gonna leave a good centimeta wide and t'ree inch long scar on me skull. T'e hair ain' eva gonna grow back."

"You don't look much like Thomas or Eileen. His build, her eyes, but that's it."

"Guess I got a lot a regressive genes. A lot a her side a t'e family. Neva met 'em, don' know what t'ey look like eit'a."

"What if you were adopted?"

Ani openly laughed at that, "Yeah, I t'ought t'at too once upon a time. Got a DNA test done. No way I'm adopted, unfortunately. Couldn' a godden a more positive result 'less I tested me own DNA against itself. Even me sista's DNA was perfect for bein' me sista. Cried for a couple hours afta t'at test," Ani admitted, having done it after a particularly bloody visit when she was sixteen.

"You know, I never really did like them. Thomas was always making fun of me and Olivia for our weight. Olivia suffers from PCOS and I've just always been on the bigger side. My brother and I both were, though, bigger for him meant beefy. But he was always hounding us about it."

"Bet Eileen had a few not so nice words ta say 'bout ya, too. Ya, Aaron, and Eric."

Denise looked at her, taken aback, before asking, "How'd you know?"

"Hun, ya been checkin' out me ass t'e whole time I been 'ere. Ya 'bout as bad as Tara 'bout it, ta be honest," Ani chuckled. "'Sides, I saw ya checkin' Tara and Rosita out, too. If it was jus' me, well, I mean, I do have a damn fine ass if I may say so meself. But ya regularly check out t'e women and ignore t'e fine as hell men in our group. Not really hard ta figya out."

"Wow, you are really observant."

"Yep."

Denise nervously handed her the next book for the shelf Ani was working on before asking, "Eileen, she would throw a lot of insults my way. She broke into Aaron's house once and wrecked the place, but no one could do anything about it because Tom told us she was suffering from a mental break from being out there too long. I couldn't tell the difference, so Deanna's hands were tied. I started watching them a little closer after that, but-"

"Ya couldn' get anyt'in' on 'em. Yeah, ya wouldn'. No offense since ya a psychologist, but t'ose people, t'ey're great at wearin' t'eir masks. Don' feel bad for not knowin' t'eir true colas. Twenny t'ree years and t'is is t'e first time t'ey've eva showed it ta t'e public, and it's 'cause seein' me made 'em snap," Ani said with a shrug. "Figya'd I'd be t'e one ta see t'em first, but t'ey saw me and took me by saprise since I didn' even know t'ey were here. But I didn' freeze," Ani reminded herself, Denise taking note of how the woman's eyes weren't focused on what she was doing, but looking into space. "I didn' get t'e chance ta attack 'cause t'ey got smart wit' t'e endin' a t'e world and got me head 'fore t'ey really started, but I didn' freeze. I tried ta defend meself."

"Hey," Denise said, walking over and putting her arm on Ani's shoulder, making the girl jump and turn her head, knowing she wasn't in any danger right now. "You shouldn't be so hard on yourself. Even if they were abusive, they were your parents."

Tears fell from Ani's eyes as Denise spoke, barely managing to get above a whisper as she responded, "I get t'e abuse. I get t'e cycle a violence. But why? Why couldn' t'ey love me? Why do t'ey hate me so much t'ey've always wanted ta kill me?"

"I don't know," Denise said with a sigh, watching as the woman shook her head and dried her eyes before resuming her work on the shelves. "I think some people just don't have the capacity to love."

"T'at's for damn sure," Ani said before putting the last book in place. "T'ere. All done. T'at wasn' so bad now, was it?"

"This would have taken me a week," Denise said. "You've been here for an hour."

"I'm really good at organizin' and bein' quick. And 'sides, t'is was t'e only t'ing I could do ta say t'anks for t'e bracelets. I mean it. T'ey really mean t'e world ta me and Daryl."

"It really was nothing big," Denise insisted.

"Maybe not ta ya. Also, sorry for the drama. Guess I still got t'at little girl t'at wondas why still takin' up a bit a space in me head."

"No worries. And I wouldn't call it drama, more like, being real about your trauma. Sometimes we psychologists forget that we're people, too. We're as emotional as the next person."

Ani laughed at that, asking Denise to check her stitches while she was there. She still didn't want to deal with Pete, even if she was watching him from afar now. When given the a-okay, Ani thanked the woman again before heading back out of the house and towards Aaron's. Sophia was heading that way too, looking for Merle. Carl was with Enid and the boys again and Sophia wasn't interested in sticking around playing video games or reading comic books. It seemed to be getting under the girl's skin how much time he was spending with the others.

"Why don' ya jus' talk ta him like ya did wit' me at t'e prison? See if ya can' find some time for t'e two a ya ta do somet'in, even if it's jus' ta sit and talk. I mean, he is ya best friend. Kinda hard ta feel like ya losin' t'at."

"Do you think he'll listen?" Sophia asked, worried she'd lose her friend if she voiced her jealousy.

"Hun, I t'ink he'll undastand t'at ya miss 'im and jus' want a couple hours a t'e two a ya hangin' out every few days. Ain' like ya tryin' ta take 'im from 'is new friends. Ya jus' want some time ta be t'e two a ya. Maybe do some trackin' out in t'e woods or somet'in. I can help ya if ya want."

"No, I think I should be the one to talk to him. I don't want to rely on you all the time," Sophia said, hugging Ani and thanking her for talking as the garage came into view and Ani heard the rev of the engine of a motorbike, smiling and breaking out into a sprint.

"Ya fixed it?!" she asked, coming around the corner and peering in, seeing Daryl sitting on the bike.

"Just about," he told her, looking at the excitement on her face. "Gotta fix up a few more things on the frame."

"Told ya ya were smart as hell."

"Shut it."