A/N Sorry everyone. I know it's been a long time since I've updated this. Life got extremely busy both at work and at home. Either way, I am back with a big chapter, I hope you enjoy! I'm going to try to keep updates much, much more regular!

May 27, 2010

The expression on Daryl and Rick's faces as they whirled around left Glenn stunned. There was murder in their eyes. He was immediately on guard as he peered at the gray-haired man. If Rick and Daryl reacted like this, then he was a threat even though he'd never seen him before-or after. He kept a close eye on him as Rick stepped forward with a hard look on his face.

Rick nodded toward the shop office. "Owner in there said it was for sale, you sayin' he was wrong?"

Gray-hair just shook his head. "Ain't sayin' he's wrong exactly, just that he might not have understood completely."

Glenn's eyes shifted as the old man walked out of the office. "Problem here?" he asked.

Gray-hair held his hands in the air. "Nah, no problem Bert."

Rick stepped forward. "Yes. There IS a problem. This man said this bike is already claimed." He turned his hard look onto the owner. "That right? This already sold and you're trying to sell it again?"

Bert sputtered, "No! I'd never do that. He turned to gray-hair. "Joe! You've been sayin' you were gonna buy that bike for months now but never came up with the money. I told ya I wouldn't hold it for you. If they have a legit offer then I'm gonna take it!"

Joe folded his arms grumpily, caught out in his lie.

"Now get back to work and stop harassing the customers!" Bert added.

Joe gave them an angry look but stalked back into the shop.

"Sorry about that. I let Joe live above the garage when his wife kicked him out about six months ago and he's gotten into the habit of thinking everything here is his. I'll disabuse him of the idea immediately. What do you think of the bike, ya want it?"

Rick nods. "Yeah. We want it. We'll take it now as long as it starts and passes Daryl's inspection."

"I'll get the title. Ya'll are responsible for your own registration and such, this is a personal sale, not a commercial one."

"Fine with us," Rick affirmed.

Soon, Daryl had inspected and approved the bike, Rick had paid cash to Bert and pocketed the title and much to Glenn's relief they were back on the road shortly. Not before Glenn had a word with Rick about the risk of talking so much. And then swallowed hard once he found out who Joe was. The claimers. He'd heard the stories but never seen what he looked like.

Rick just shrugged. "We'll take care of Joe soon. He's a threat for sure and it's better we find him now than later. It was an accident, he wasn't supposed to be there. The old man may dream and remember what happened before, but he's no threat to us. He won't even know it's because of us he's dreaming. He'll think he's crazy or he won't but I just don't see him as a risk. Worst case, he'll do some prep before it all."

Glenn had to accept that and he trusted Rick and Daryl to take care of the problem. After all, he had to hurry home to his wedding. If he was late, Maggie'd kill him before the dead even started walking.

/\/\/\/\/\

Carol was nervous, wiping her palms on her fancy dress as she milled about with everyone else waiting for the wedding. She shook her head at herself. Silly to be nervous. It was done now and he'd either like it or… she wrenched her mind away from that train of thought. Better not to think of any downsides. She nodded to herself. Positive thinking and they'd dilly dallied around more than long enough. It was time for action and she'd taken the most definitive action she could. Right or wrong, she'd know where she stood tonight one way or another.

Dismissing that subject for now, she glanced around at the others, her family. Sophia was hanging with Carl and Duane over near the entrance arbor. There was a twin arbor at the front where Annette still fussed with the decorations. She'd gone all out for Maggie's wedding, transforming Maggie's favorite outdoor spot on the farm into an oasis. The weather was perfect and the sun was just starting to head to the horizon.

She glanced over to see Hershel sitting with the Rhee family along with Michonne and Jacqui. Jacqui had volunteered to pick them up at the airport in Atlanta so Glenn could have his secretive bachelor party this morning. Speaking of which, she gazed around, she still didn't see that group here and ready. Sandi walked up to her just then with a relieved look on her face, grabbing Carol's arm.

"They're back."

"Thank goodness," Carol clutched Sandi's arm back. "I was afraid Glenn was going to miss his own wedding! And then we might be conducting a funeral instead." She smirked at Sandi who laughed right back at her.

"It was a distinct possibility. Good thing we grabbed everyone's outfits and brought them over. I have them all in the closest cabins, showering and dressing. They'll be here on time and Maggie will never know."

Carol nodded in agreement. In a silent accord, all the women had agreed not to let Maggie in on the fact her groom was still MIA. No need to get her all worked up for no reason.

Lori joined them then, overhearing the conversation. "Did they say why they were late and how much skin did you peel off of them when they showed up and you gave them the scolding of their life?"

Sandi grinned. "No skin lost this time. No time, had to hustle them all into the shower. There was a new motorcycle driven home by a certain Dixon though. Almost an exact match for Merle's."

Carol's eyebrow went up. "Really? They went motorcycle shopping on Glenn and Maggie's wedding day?"

Sandi shook her head. "No idea, but I don't think that's all that happened."

Carol looked at Sandi more closely and saw-worry? Yes, worry and concern. She exchanged a look with Lori and just then the men walked in. And-they looked dashing in their wedding finery. She choked suddenly when Daryl walked out from behind Rick, sleeveless. He was wearing the tux like they'd asked him to, but no jacket and he'd ripped the sleeves off his white shirt and just wore the vest over top. After her second of shock, she chuckled. Of course Daryl was going to make his own interpretation of what wearing a tux meant.

"That shirt was intact just ten minutes ago, I swear it was," Sandi exclaimed. Then she laughed. "Well, at least he didn't rip the tux jacket's sleeves off."

Carol met Daryl's eyes as he stared back at her with a look she couldn't interpret as he approached. He stopped in front of the three of them as Rick stepped forward, put his arm around Sandi's back and pulled her up against him. His face relaxed as she leaned into him. Carol looked back at Daryl and saw that same stressed look Rick's face had just held.

"What's wrong?" she asked, as the others shifted away from them. Rick with Sandi and Shane murmuring to Lori.

Daryl shook his head. "Ain't nothin' wrong. Ya look beautiful. What could be wrong?"

Carol's breath caught in her throat. That was…unexpected. She pushed it aside. "You look ridiculous, ripping the arms off that shirt." She huffed. She wasn't going to be distracted. "But there's something, something happened." She gazed at him harder. "Tell me."

A small smile formed on his lips. "Yer a perceptive woman Carol Peletier. Let it go for now. Just a slight complication, but Rick an' I have a plan to take care of it. I'll tell ya later, let's jus' enjoy our family and the wedding for now."

She wasn't quite convinced, but was unable to press for more information as Merle stalked up. "Whatcha doin' jawin'? Get a move on, I'm an usher and yer supposed ta be in yer seats! Move everyone, sit down!"

Carol choked back a laugh. "Merle, ushers generally show people to their seats, not yell at them to sit down.

Merle stomped over to a row of chairs. "See those?" he gestured. "Those're yer seats. I done shown ya, now sit in 'em. Weddin's bout to start."

Carol nodded while rubbing her hand over her mouth to hide her wide smile. Daryl put his hand on her back and led her over to their seats with Rick, Sandi, Lori and Shane following.

"Not sure that's exactly how an usher does it," Shane shook his head at Merle.

He got a glare in return. "It's how THIS usher does it, so get butts in seats already."

Shane held his hands up in the air in surrender and walked down the row of seats to sit next to Lori.

Daryl paused letting Rick and Sandi move past them to their seats as Beth walked by, touching her on the arm. "Ya ready?"

Beth smiled widely at them. "Absolutely. And Maggie is more than ready and that's what counts."

Daryl nodded. "Break a leg kid, we'll be here waiting for ya'll. Don't trip."

Beth mock glared at him. "As if. And don't you be jinxin' me!" She rushed off outside the arbor to join her sister.

Beth was Maggie's only bridesmaid and Shawn was Glenn's only groomsman. Originally they had a long list, but it basically ended up with all of them that had survived together up front with them and very few in the audience. In the end Annette had convinced them to just keep it simple, have them all considered a part of the wedding party-hence the tux's and matching dresses-and just have 2 up there with them, one for each. Everyone was happy with this arrangement. Carol certainly was. The last thing she needed to be was a bridesmaid at her age.

They took their seats finally as Merle stood glaring at them. He was taking his job seriously. Maggie and he had a long talk and in the end she forgave him and gave him this job. He wasn't going to screw it up. Everyone would be seated properly before she made her entrance if he had to push them down into the seats himself.

Glenn and Shawn took their places up front. The wedding music started. Carol nodded, Canon in D, she recognized this. She was a bit surprised they were going so traditional. She knew them well after all. She turned with the rest of the audience to look at the back arbor.

Soon Carl and Duane, the ring bearers, were trotting down the aisle while trying to go slowly. She could hear others chuckling under their breath with her. Those two could never slow down no matter how many demonstrations they'd given them.

Then came Sophia and Kira as flower girls. They held the perfect pace, they had practiced over and over. They spread petals as they walked. Carol beamed, Sophia looked so serious but yet so happy.

Beth stepped out from under the arbor, gracefully waking in rhythm down the aisle. She made a face at Daryl as she passed that made Carol grin.

Just then the music changed. It puzzled Carol for a moment until she placed the tune. Then she grinned widely just as Maggie showed up at the back arbor on Hershel's arm. Trust Glenn and Maggie to merge Canon in D with a superhero theme. That was much more their style. Carol's smile got bigger as Daryl leaned closer to her with his hand on her shoulder as Maggie made her way down the aisle escorted by her father. She was absolutely gorgeous in her classic dress. She'd insisted on something simple and she was right in this. The dress just emphasized her natural beauty. Carol had never seen her happier and she'd been there at the first wedding. Admittedly a lot less formal at the time with the borrowed ring and jeans, grime and all. But for all that, it had just as much meaning to them as this wedding did. She was so happy for her friends as they took their place in front of the main arbor.

Herschel stepped in front of them under the arbor. He'd gotten his officiant license as fast as he could after Glenn and Maggie had asked him to marry them. He beamed at the crowd.

The words began to blur as Carol watched her friends marry with tears in her eyes. Soon Hershel declared them husband and wife just as the last of the sunlight sank beyond the horizon and everyone cheered.

With Merle in charge of clearing the area, the chairs were put away in record time and the dancing floor laid out. The twinkling lights all around came on, lighting their way. The first dance was lovely, the happiness beaming from both the bride and groom's faces. Soon the father-daughter and mother-son dances were happening. She could see Glenn chattering excitedly away to his mom and then pulling Maggie over to introduce her. Then Glenn's dad was there spinning Maggie away into a dance.

Soon everyone was entering the dance floor. Merle even danced by with Andrea in tow. Those two had been circling each other like cats the last few months. Everyone was debating on whether it would blow up in all their faces or not to have two of the most volatile people they knew get involved. The next thing Carol knew she felt a tug on her arm pulling her onto the dance floor. Muscled arms came around her and she stared at Daryl in shock.

"What're you doing?"

Daryl scoffed. "Dancin' whatta ya think?"

Carol shook her head in confusion. "I didn't know you danced."

"Well, now ya know," he stated and then spun her around making her dizzy so she just grabbed on to him, let go of everything else and danced.

/\/\/\/\/\

Much, much later after they'd all danced till their feet hurt, had refreshments and then danced some more; they had thrown birdseed at the lovebirds. Glenn and Maggie had run laughing through the birdseed to the carriage Hershel was driving the short distance to their cabin for their honeymoon.

It was after all this that Rick squeezed Sandi's arm and looked into her eyes.

"You have something to do," she stated.

He nodded. "I'll tell ya all about it later, but it's a bit urgent. I need to grab Daryl and go."

Sandi nodded. "I trust you. Just make sure whatever it is, it's done. We can talk later, I'll hold down the fort."

He kissed her hard on the lips and turned to find Daryl. Luckily he spotted him quickly, over by the refreshments. He came up beside him and gave him a look. Daryl nodded back and as one they turned and headed toward the cabins they'd changed in, quickly exchanging clothing.

Daryl left his motorcycle behind as it was too loud. As they approached the garage, Rick circled the place a couple times as they looked for anyone still up. It was past midnight at this point and all was quiet. Rick drove past again and around, easing down a dirt road behind the property. As they got out, he noticed there was a deep gully not far away. Probably why nobody'd built there. As was normal in Georgia, the plants were everywhere and lush, covering everything. It'd take a while to find anything out here.

Rick went to the back seat and pulled out a few things. When he held out the latex gloves Daryl scoffed.

"Don't need 'em" Daryl whispered, so low Rick could hardly hear him.

"World hasn't ended yet. Can't leave prints behind," Rick said softly.

Daryl rolled his eyes, but took them and pulled them on while Rick did the same with his.

Silently they crept up on the back door to the garage. Daryl reached out and opened the door which swung wide. Rick gazed on in shock that the door was unlocked until he saw Daryl reach into the door latch space and pull out a piece of cardboard. Daryl must have placed that while Rick was paying for the bike. Slowly Rick followed Daryl into the dark interior making sure the door didn't make any noise as it shut.

They climbed the single set of stairs to what presumably was the upstairs apartment. Silently they entered but leaving was a bit louder after they'd pierced Joe's brain with a single thrust of a knife.

"Careful, I 'bout lost him there," Rick whispered louder than he'd have liked it to be. "Slow down until I can catch up!" Going slower with Daryl in front with the heels and him behind and above with the shoulders, they finally made their way out of the garage, worked through the dense foliage to the edge of the gully and heaved him over. He disappeared-with a thud at the bottom the only thing to show he'd existed. They gathered up his belongings in the apartment and tossed them after him into the gully in tribute-that was the best funeral the asshole was going to get. They left the garage door unlocked when they left. That just seemed like something dick Joe would do when he left since Bert pissed him off and sold the motorcycle he'd wanted. Now they just had to hope no one found him for a couple of months until the dead started walking. Not that there was anything to trace back to them. Bert hadn't even asked for an address for the bike sale, just the cash. They stopped halfway home on a bridge and tossed their gloves and the knife used in the river. Even with the drive, it only took an hour to end a very bad man's existence.

/\/\/\/\/\

Daryl nodded goodnight to Rick as they reached his cabin. Rick continued on to his home next door and Daryl walked up his front steps. He looked at the windows, puzzled. The lights were on. He never did that, waste of electricity as far as he was concerned. Even with the solar panels they'd gotten put up on all the cabins. He could find his way home in the dark easy enough, no need to leave the lights on.

He stepped through the front door and instantly knew there were alterations beyond the lights. His gaze darted around the living room cataloging the changes. There were curtains at the windows. He'd never bothered. A bright pillow sat in his recliner. There was a rug on the floor. And pictures were placed on the fireplace mantle. He moved toward the pictures to see what they were of, trying to get more information about who had invaded his home.

He got close enough to see one of them was…Sophia? He stopped in front of it and picked it up, confused. Why was there a picture of Sophia on his fireplace mantle?

He heard something move behind him and whirled, dropping the picture with a crack to the floor and pulling his knife out in almost one movement.

Carol went from laying on the couch to sitting faster than he could blink. In fact, she blinked several times, and looked at him and then at the broken frame on the floor.

"Carol?"

She blinked again and then shoved the colorful blanket off of her and stood up.

"You didn't like the picture?"

He looked around confused. He could see how these touches were all her now. He moved his gaze back to her.

"What's goin' on?"

He could see her nerves show in her eyes and he watched as she swallowed them down and looked at him with determination.

"We moved in today."

"We?"

"Sophia and I. Well, she's at the sleepover at the big house tonight, but," she hesitated looking back at him. "Well, ya didn't think you could have this big place all to yourself forever, did you?"

He remained silent just staring at her. She held her ground and stared back at him. He huffed.

"Alright."

She tilted her head. "That's all. Just alright."

He smirked at her. "Yep. That's all."

She deflated in…relief, he thought? Then she looked at the floor and rushed forward. "Sorry for the surprise, let me just clean this up."

He put his hand out and caught her. "Leave it."

She was already half crouched. "Leave it? But Daryl, somebody'll hurt themselves and…"

"Leave it," he interrupted more forcefully. "It's after one in the morning and we're the only ones here. We know it's there and we can get it in the morning. Let's get ta bed."

"Alright," she slowly stood back up and followed him down the hall toward the bedrooms. She held her breath as he walked into his room and stopped. She watched him take in the new bedspread, the dresser she'd had moved in with the vase of flowers on top, the rag rug on the wood floor in front of the bed.

His eyes came up and met hers. She shrugged and moved forward confidently, striding toward the dresser which she opened to pull out an attractive nightie.

"I put my stuff in here with you. Seemed easier." She wished she could see his eyes, see what his reaction was, but having her back to him was much safer so he couldn't see how confident she *wasn't* right now despite what she projected. Or hoped she projected.

She jumped a little as she felt hands land on her shoulders and rub. She could feel his breath in her ear as he leaned down.

"Alright."

She took a deep breath in relief. She'd worried he'd kick her right out again. She saw his hand reach over and take her nightie right out of her hand and toss it behind him.

"Don't think you'll be needin' this though," he murmured as his mouth nuzzled into her neck. Her breathing deepened for a different reason this time as he continued to nip along her neck and shoulder.

"Alright," she whispered.

A/N I hope you all enjoyed. I know I'll get questions about the wedding entrance song. And I know I'm fudging things just a bit. This is set in 2010 and this song came out in 2012 I believe, but Glenn's a big nerd that just seems like he'd be a big Avenger's fan like my family are. You can hear the song here:

/watch?v=aLCBDM-PDN0

(Links are very hard on here. Add you and tube to the begining of this. Followed by dot and then a com of course. Or just search for "What if Avengers was your wedding entrance" by AJ Rafael on there).

Also, I know some of you are probably sad I cut the ending scene. Don't get me wrong, I've written sexy scenes before and am not against them. But in this particular case with this particular couple-they're just so private ya know? I hope everyone can understand, that was just what Daryl was yelling in my head-he's not okay with voyeurs. Maybe that makes Rick an exhibitionist, I don't know, but there it is. :D

I did struggle a little bit with the wedding scenes. I wanted to get it right and there were so many moving pieces. And Glenn's family! I wanted to spend some time there as well. But, I figure we'll meet them in depth tomorrow as they dream and wake up with all kinds of questions. I have another couple that I wanted to spotlight but they're also going to have to wait for the next chapter.

I hope you enjoyed Merle! I giggled to myself madly as I wrote him executing his usher duties. As always, he does things in his own Merle way.

For those chomping at the bit for the walkers...well they are coming I just keep having such good ideas, ya know? Only a couple more things that need to happen first I promise. I'm just slow, I know. Over a year since I started this and we've yet to see a walker. Soon!(TM)

Thanks so much for reading and I'll be back with another update soon, I promise!