*I was reading through some of my older stories and decided that I didn't feel like this one got a complete ending. This little blip may eventually turn into an alternate sequel to this story but since I have so many unfinished WIP already posted that I'm still working on I'm not making any promises. This story is rated M for mature.*

After The End

Part One

One month later

"Are you sure you don't want to leave your hair down," Jessica asked, "it's so shiny and soft like this with the curls."

RickyJo pressed her hands against her pink cheeks, then started fanning her face with them. She still felt like she was overheating and they had already turned the air conditioning on for her and Deanna had brought a little clip on fan in from the greenhouse and set it in front of her. She tugged at the front of her robe, which was already most of the way open. With a huff of frustration, she yanked the robe off and let it fall down against the seat of her chair, no longer caring that the bra she had on was sheer white lace and didn't offer much coverage.

"I don't know Jess, I'm already sweating. I think you better pin it up," RickyJo told her.

Jessica nodded and began to weave RickyJo's long hair into a loose braid that she could pin on top of her head. Since she knew she would be busy helping everyone else, Jessica had gotten up early and taken care of her own hair first. Her wild curls had been tamed and straightened. She had her hair tucked behind her ears so it would hang long and sleek down her back. Figuring out how she was going to take care of everyone else in a timely manner had been a source of stress for her. When Jessie showed up with a basket of hot tools and hairpins Jessica had been ready to marry her instead of Morgan.

Carl and Sammie were the first of the group to announce their engagement. Since they would have been barely old enough for high school in the old world order, letting them get married was a subject of much debate and gossip. And that was before everyone found out that the young couple was already expecting a baby. Deanna was secretly grateful that people seemed to be focused on Rick's son. Because that meant that less gossip was centered around her own son and his fiance, who was also too young to be married by most people's standards. Including hers. Deanna smiled at Cassie as she helped her future daughter in law adjust the flowers that were nestled in her dark curly hair. While her age was a subject of debate, there was no denying her beauty. She had her mother's straight even features and bright green eyes. They stood out against her dark skin, the contrast making them look even brighter.

Deanna had been alternating between her relief that unlike most of the other brides to be Cassie was not pregnant yet, and secretly longing for a grandchild. Deanna's younger son died when the wolves attacked Alexandria. She was still feeling the loss and hoping for something to fill that void in her heart. The prospect of a new baby was even more exciting since Cassie was coming to live with Spencer at her house instead of him going to live with her family. Spencer had only spent the night at Cassie's house once. And apparently once was more than enough. He hadn't spoken badly about the noisy chaotic household, he had just come home and immediately started searching the kitchen cupboards for migraine medicine.

A loud knock on the front door caught the attention of all the women.

"If that's Merle again I'm going to fucking fight him for real this time," Michonne cursed as she headed for the door.

"I'll help!," Jessica hollered.

RickyJo was making a solid attempt to control herself so she wouldn't muss her hair but she was fighting a losing battle. She finally leaned forward, her hands braced against her knees as her body shook with hysterical laughter. All the other men had not come into Deanna's house in the first place. Or had been content to leave when Jessica shooed them out. Except Merle. After RickyJo had been kidnapped by the leader of the wolves, he and Daryl had been hovering over her like two overbearing mother hens. At least one of them was with her all the time. She had to lock the bathroom door to get any privacy. And the fact that all the wolves had been dead now for several weeks had not served to lessen their vigilance. The sight of a table full of beauty products had been enough to send Daryl packing. But it had taken all the girls screaming at him plus Jessica physically backing him out the door to get rid of Merle. After that, Beth ran to fetch Michonne so the woman could act as their security guard.

"It's just us," Carol called out when Michonne finally cracked the door open.

Sighs of relief turned into murmurs of grateful excitement when Carol and Maggie entered the room with platters of small snacks and treats. When Maggie moved to set her tray down Carol motioned to Beth, giving her a thumbs up behind the other woman's back. After her suicide attempt, Maggie had made no indication that she might try again to end her life. Instead she had become obsessed with her pregnancy. But Beth was worried that watching everyone get married might have a negative impact on her sister. The man Maggie wanted to share this celebration with was now dead and buried. She and Glenn would never get to have this moment. Beth even considered not getting married herself because she thought it might upset Maggie too much. But in the end, Beth's love for Rick and her desire to be his wife won out over her concerns. She was grateful to Carol for agreeing to keep an eye on Maggie. It really eased her mind so she was able to focus on enjoying her special day.

"Thank fucking god for you Carol," RickyJo exclaimed she shoved a second cookie into her mouth. MJ had grown bored of the toys Deanna had attempted to distract the boy with and was back in RickyJo's lap pulling at her bra.

"Don't you think you should start watching your mouth around the kids?," Carol asked with a laugh.

Rickyjo raised her eyebrows at the other woman. "You realize he lives with Merle right?," she asked.

The carpet of profanity that man wove when Jessica kicked him out of Deanna's house was so foul it was probably still lingering above them in the living room like a cloud of filth. Carol laughed as she lowered herself onto the floor to play cars with Judith. RickyJo had a point. They were lucky the poor kid's first word wasn't the F word at this point.

Despite the limited supplies and resources, the church was decorated and a celebration dinner for the whole town was being prepared for after the ceremony, complete with even a white wedding cake for dessert. Reg supervised the men to ensure that all the chairs and benches were placed according to Deanna's specifications. This hadn't taken very long since most of the decorating had been done the day before. Now the grooms to be were relaxing in lawn chairs outside the back of the church passing around a bottle of scotch and giving Carl lots of unsolicited advice on how to be a good husband. A subject Carl was fairly sure none of them, except maybe Morgan, had any business handing out advice on in the first place.

The residents of Alexandria filled the church and were eagerly waiting for the ceremony to start. After the turn and the more recent attack on the town, having an occasion to celebrate was uplifting for everyone. Even those not directly related or close to any of the engaged couples were excited. Much gossip had been spread, most of it centered around either Carl and Sammie who some people thought were too young to get married. Or of course about the largest scandal of all which was RickyJo having multiple fiances. No one wanted to miss her wedding, which was sure to fuel further gossip for months to come.

"It's time," Reg announced from the doorway at the back of the small church.

Daryl stood up, running his hands over his freshly cut hair before he smoothed down the front of his white dress shirt. His black suit jacket was hanging over the back of his chair. He snagged it and pulled it on. For what felt like the hundredth time that day, he felt for the ring box to ensure the ring was still in his pocket. The scotch he drank helped to calm his nerves but it hadn't been completely effective. He rubbed his damp palms against the thighs of his pants as he followed Merle into the church.

Judith and MJ appeared first, shooed out into the beginning of the aisle by Carol. MJ had been wrangled into a white shirt and neatly pressed khaki pants. Judith was dressed in a fluffy white dress with a pink bow in her hair. She had a small basket of flower petals in her hands which she quickly turned upside down and dumped in a pile on the floor. MJ clapped his hands, excited for the naughty mess she made. Then the little boy turned back the way he had come, undoubtedly looking for RickyJo, the object of his every affection. Before he could run off Merle crouched down and called to his son, encouraging the boy to come down the aisle like they had practiced several times a day for the last week.

Seeing his second most favorite person, MJ took off at a full charge down the aisle with Judith chasing behind him. Merle grabbed the boy and stood him between himself and Daryl. Judith ran towards Carl first. But then she spotted Maggie in the first row and ran for her instead, climbing into the woman's lap. MJ sat down on the ground and started taking his shoes and socks off.

Since father Gabriel had declined to perform a few of the ceremonies and strongly objected to one in particular, Deanna was acting as the officiant. She leaned back to avoid being hit in the head with one of MJ's shoes. Then the music started. Jessica came out first. As she was the only bride who wasn't either a teenager or involved in a polyamourous relationship, Deanna decided it would be best to have her go first.

Jessica was wearing a long white flowy dress. She had a smile so big on her face that Daryl couldn't help but smile back. But he knew she didn't even see him there. Her eyes were focused only on Morgan.

Deanna kept the ceremonies short and to the point. They had five couples, or six depending on how you counted the threesome, to get through and the church was already getting warm with the amount of people sitting inside. Jessica and Morgan repeated their vows, exchanged rings, kissed, and moved to the empty side of the stage to make room for the next couple.

Beth came out next. She lifted the bottom of her long lace dress when she stepped over the pile of flower petals at the end of the aisle. Daryl knew he also watched RickyJo's niece Cassie and little Sammie get married to their fiances after Beth and Rick were done. But he couldn't have said for sure what order they went in. Everything was a blur. All he knew was that after all the other couples exchanged rings and moved off to the other side of the platform, he and his brother were still standing there.

"Yer not gonna hurl are ya?," Merle whispered.

Daryl shook his head. But he didn't answer. Because he was in fact afraid he was going to hurl up all the scotch he drank to calm his nerves.

In a rare show of selflessness, Merle had offered to sit out and not be part of the ceremony. Technically, he and RickyJo already got married once before. At Terminus. But RickyJo decided that was a memory she would rather replace. She also said some stuff about how she didn't think the three of them had anything to be ashamed of. Daryl had not said a word at the time. But he had secretly been a little disappointed by her decision. Mostly because he wanted this moment with her for himself. But now that the moment had come. And Daryl was standing up in front of the entire community with his palms sweating as he fought back the urge to vomit. He had never been so grateful to have his brother next to him.

The processional music started playing for the fifth and final time. Daryl felt hot and uncomfortable in his suit. He lifted his hand to his mouth and chewed at the skin on the side of his thumb. But the moment he saw her come around the corner his hand dropped. Every trace of nervousness left his body. His mouth dropped open and he could hear Merle cursing under his breath next to him.

Daryl had always believed that he would marry RickyJo someday. There had never been anyone else for him. Only her. He hadn't pictured exactly what she would be wearing when this happened but he guessed he had expected her to show up looking like a cupcake in a big white dress. Sort of like a princess in a cartoon movie. Except prettier. Daryl blinked a few times. She did not look like a cupcake or a princess that was certain. She looked like a walking wet dream.

Her dress was white. That part he had gotten right. But it wasn't long or poofy. It was short and tight and all of her tattoos were showing. The neckline dipped down, showing a hint of cleavage. And the back was completely open all the way down to just above the cleft of her firm backside. She was tan from working outside in the gardens. And her long sun bleached hair was piled on top of her head in a mound of braided curls. Daryl had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life.

"MOMMY!"

MJ screamed the moment he spotted her. He had succeeded in removing every offending article of his clothing except for his shirt and darted down the aisle of the church barefoot with the tail of the shirt flapping up to reveal his naked buttcheeks. RickyJo quickly handed her bouquet off to the closest person so she had both hands free to sweep the little half naked imp into her arms. She covered his face with lipstick kisses as he squealed in delight.

Rick snagged the boy's cloth diaper from the floor near his feet and took off down the side aisle of the church. RickyJo thanked the man profusely as she handed her small son over to him. When she took her bouquet back from the elderly woman that had been kind enough to hold it for her, she realized she already had tears in her eyes.

RickyJo was wearing heels for the first time since before the turn. And it made her long tan legs look even longer. They seemed to go on for miles. Now that she was close to him, Daryl could see that her red lipstick was slightly smudged from kissing MJ and from kissing Merle after the two of them said their vows. Daryl couldn't wait for this whole thing to be over so he could smudge the rest off in all the best ways possible.

"Say I DO you fuckin' tard," Merle hissed at him as he poked Daryl in the ribs with his elbow.

"Huh?," Daryl huffed, suddenly realizing that he was not alone with RickyJo. They were in a church full of people. And he had been staring at her and not paying a fucking lick of attention to one single word that Deanna was saying. And he had a boner. A big one.

Since Merle's quiet voice was only about a shade lower than his loud voice, most of the first three rows of wedding guests broke out in laughter. RickyJo laughed right along with them. Daryl had her hands in his but she quickly closed the small distance between them and threw her arms around him. And then she was kissing him. Daryl pulled her body tight against his, kissing her back even harder.

With smeared red lipstick on both their faces now, they turned to Deanna so she could get the ceremony back on track.

"Do you Daryl, take RickyJo to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, for as long as you both shall live?," Deanna asked.

This time Daryl was ready.

"I do," he announced loudly and with absolute certainty.

Now that his I do was over, Daryl moved forward, ready to pull his new wife back into his arms and kiss her again. Merle yanked him back by the jacket.

"Give her the fucking ring first," he instructed, not even attempting to keep his voice down this time.

Now everyone was laughing. And some people were laughing and crying at the same time. Even Deanna was barely hanging on to her self control. Daryl yanked the ring box from his pocket with so much force that it flew into the air above them. RickyJo jumped up, snagging the box in midair before handing it back to him. Merle buried his face in his only remaining good hand. This is why he went first. So that all Daryl would have to do is repeat what he just saw. Now the dumbass was covered in lipstick and there were rings flying everywhere. Merle's only consolation was that RickyJo still had a huge smile on her face. Which in the end was all that really mattered to him.

Daryl got his slim silver band out of the box. He looked to Deanna for direction. She was fighting back her own laughter and losing the battle. The last bit of her decorum had flown out the window when RickyJo leaped in the air like a basketball player to grab the ring box, landing as soundlessly as a cat despite the high heel shoes on her feet.

"Just put it on her," Deanna told him, "and then you can kiss."

Daryl pushed the ring onto her finger. Not the right finger. Or even the right hand. But RickyJo had the ring on when he lifted her up into his arms and kissed her like crazy. He heard Deanna pronounce them as man and wife. But with all their friends and family screaming and cheering like wild banshees, Daryl wasn't sure if anyone else heard her. Not that it mattered. He kissed RickyJo until the screaming died down and then set her carefully back onto her feet. Merle grabbed for her, pulling her against his chest in a tight hug. Love you babygirl. Then he pulled a handkerchief out of his back pocket and handed it to RickyJo so she could wipe up her tears with it.

Merle was dressed in solid black from head to toe. And with RickyJo next to him in her short white beaded dress they cut quite the striking image together. Even Daryl smiled a little when he saw how good they looked. Not like bride and groom but more like an old world gangster and his showgirl arm candy.

Once the ceremony was done, the reception began. There was food. And laughing. And dancing. And cake. And more dancing. MJ ran around pulling all the tablecloths off the tables, sending people's food and drinks flying into their laps or onto the ground. When she got tired if chasing him around, Judith climbed on top of an empty table and fell asleep.

When the reception started, RickyJo was eager for it to be over so she could leave and have some alone time with her husbands. Especially Daryl, who she hadn't seen dressed up in a suit since the night she lost her virginity to him. But once the party started, she quickly found herself feeling differently. Her face hurt from smiling so much. Everything was perfect. And instead of wishing the end of the world never happened, she found herself realizing that it was the end of the world that had made this day possible. She had Daryl's suit jacket on and her small son was finally asleep in her lap. Jessica was sitting next to her, nursing the last bit of wine in her glass. Most of the guys had gathered around another table to play a noisy game of cards. RickyJo wished she could freeze time and live in this beautiful moment for the rest of her life. But like all moments, this one had to end so the rest of her night could begin.

"No peeking," Daryl told her.

RickyJo giggled and kept the hand Daryl wasn't using to drag her down the hall to cover her eyes. She knew some construction had been going on in the bedrooms at the end of the hall. Cassie was moving out to live with Spencer so she had given up her room and its adjoining bathroom. The other room was Daryl's. RickyJo knew that the two rooms were being combined to make one larger room. Which was for the best since sleeping three adults, a toddler, and a soon a new baby in one average sized bedroom was going to be nearly impossible. But she had been absolutely forbidden to enter or even look into the new larger room until it was complete.

"Okay, open your eyes!"

RickyJo slowly pulled her hand down from her eyes. A crib and a toddler bed were arranged over in one corner. Next to them there was a plush rocker recliner that she knew would be comfortable to sit in when she was nursing her baby to sleep. There were two dressers and a large armoire on the other wall. But the real surprise was the bed.

Two standard size queen mattresses were connected with a deep wooden frame that held them tightly together and a connector ran down the middle that would keep her from feeling like she was sleeping on the crack. RickyJo wiped at her eyes. The worst part of her day was when she had to choose who's room she was sleeping in. She felt overjoyed that she no longer had to worry about it. And the bed was so big that she was sure she could squeeze MJ and another baby into it without anyone feeling like they were being crowded out onto the sofa.

"It's perfect," she said. Her voice was shaky with emotion and she was happy when she felt herself being hugged by both brothers at the same time. She felt safe and well loved in their arms. Merle began pulling her towards the bed but RickyJo pulled back, leading them both towards the bathroom. The bottoms of her feet were dirty from running around without her shoes on. She was sweaty. And all of them were sticky from smashing cake on each other during the reception.

Jessica left a few scented glass candles on the top shelf for her. RickyJo pulled them down onto the counter and used a match to light them. Then she flicked the bathroom light off. By the time she leaned into the shower to turn the water on, the small room was already filling with the warm smell of vanilla.

RickyJo gripped the hidden zipper on the side of her dress and tugged it down. As her dress pooled up on the floor at her feet, she realized that she had not hesitated before she removed the garment. The moment of panic she always had when she was about to undress was finally gone. Her trauma would never completely disappear but like the scars on her face, slowly it was becoming a part of her that she didn't notice anymore.

The shower was spacious. It was the type that had a glass door that you opened instead of pulling back a curtain to get in. But even the large space was not meant to fit three people comfortably without them being pressed together. The warm water sluiced down over her body. Daryl's mouth pressed down on hers, finally picking up where he left off back inside the church. RickyJo eagerly parted her lips to accept his probing tongue. Getting lost in his kiss had always been easy. It was their feelings for each other that had been harder to navigate.

RickyJo moaned softly into Daryl's mouth. Merle was kissing down the back of her neck, letting his teeth graze over her sensitive skin. His mouth kept moving down until he was kneeling behind her. She broke off her kiss just long enough to spin her body around. Now she could feel Daryl's hard length pressing into her backside. She tilted her head back, leaning slightly to the side so that he could get his mouth back on hers. His arms were around her and his hands were gently massaging her breasts. Merle lifted her leg so that her thigh was resting on his shoulder. When he flicked his tongue across her clit she swore black spots started dancing around in front of her eyes.

RickyJo pulled her mouth away. She was leaning back against Daryl's chest gasping for air. Her nipples were being softly pulled and pinched. Her clit was being sucked and licked. And there was what felt like someone's thumb moving in and out of her ass. She closed her eyes, unable to focus on any one sensation. Her cries echoed off the glass walls of the shower as wave after wave of her orgasm rolled over her.

Everything went fuzzy and out of focus for a few moments. The next thing RickyJo knew she was wrapped in a towel and being gently lowered onto the foot of their new giant bed.

"I swear if ya start looking like yer going to faint again, yer gettin' a hard swat on the ass," Merle teased.

RickyJo reached for him, pulling the man down so she could kiss him hard on the lips. Even though they had been in the shower, she could still taste a bit of herself on him. The slight salty tang made her even wetter between her legs. When he broke their kiss and leaned back she closed her eyes and flopped back on the bed, trying not to giggle and completely ruin her pretend swooning faint. True to his word, Merle grabbed her by the hip and flipped her over roughly onto her stomach. He yanked up her towel and delivered a hard stinging slap to the taunt curve of her ass. RickyJo squealed and Daryl jumped at the loud cracking noise.

"Hey, don't be doing that shit to 'er," Daryl grumbled.

Not only did Daryl not like seeing anyone smack RickyJo. Merle hit her way too hard for his liking. There was a red mark on her ass cheek. And even if the two lunatics in his bed regularly enjoyed beating on each other, this was not the time for roughhousing. It was their wedding night for chrissakes. This was supposed to be romantic.

Daryl gathered RickyJo into his arms, holding her protectively in his lap. He tried not to notice that both she and Merle were laughing.

"M'sorry," Merle told him once he regained control over himself.

To Daryl's surprise his brother sounded sincere in his apology. He expected an argument from the man.

"I'm sorry too baby," RickyJo whispered into his ear.

Daryl wasn't sure why RickyJo was apologizing. She was the one that had been smacked. But since she was kissing him up and down the length of his neck he decided he had better things to do than argue about it. Their light kisses quickly deepened. When she pulled back for air, RickyJo stood up and dropped her damp towel on the floor.

Her hair was still pinned up on top of her head. A few damps strands had come loose from the braid and were hanging down the back of her neck. She had tan lines from her bathing suit. And in the area that her bottom covered, the little matching star tattoos on her hips stood out dark against her pale skin. Her stomach wasn't round yet. But it was becoming more obvious that she was pregnant. There was a small hard swell between her hips. The same one he remembered being there when she was at the beginning stages of her previous pregnancy.

Daryl reached forward and brushed his knuckles against the small bulge. He knew it wouldn't be long before he could lay his hand on her stomach at night and feel the baby moving while she slept. Letting his eyes travel up, he took in her full breasts and her taunt pink nipples. But once he looked into her eyes he was lost in them. Her pupils were dilated. All that was left of her colored iris was a tiny ring around the black void of her desire. Daryl shoved off his own towel and pushed himself further back on the bed. RIckyJo leaned forward. Starting at the base of his dick, she licked upwards until she could suck the head of it into her mouth. But she only gave him one slow swirl of her tongue before she was climbing on top of him. Her knees rested on either side of his hips and used her hand to guide him inside of her wet slit as impaled herself on his dick.

RickyJo groaned as she felt her insides stretch to accommodate his throbbing erection. Before she could start rocking her hips, he pulled her down to kiss her. They had been kissing each other for years and it still gave her butterflies in the pit of her stomach. The feel of Merle's hand grazing down her side brought her back to reality. He cupped the curve of her ass before probing into her ass with his thumb like he had done in the shower. Except this time his thumb was covered in lubricant.

"You sure 'bout this?," he asked.

RickyJo glanced back over her shoulder at Merle and nodded. RickyJo knew the question had really been more for Daryl's benefit. She had already agreed to the act prior to the three of them being in bed together. They just hadn't exactly warned Daryl about what they had planned.

She leaned forward again, tilting her hips so that her ass was at a better angle. Daryl was gripping her arms so she leaned down and kissed him, rocking her hips against him until he moaned into her mouth. Merle was moving his thumb in and out of her tight back opening. She closed her eyes, already close to the edge of another orgasm. When he pulled his thumb out and away she whimpered. She thought she was ready. But his dick was much larger than his thumb. When his head pressed against her tight virgin rosebud she found herself clenching against the unfamiliar intrusion.

Daryl was moaning under her, his hands gripping her arms again as she squeezed down mercilessly on his dick. He had to bite down on his lip to stop himself from coming. Letting go of her arms, Daryl reached between their bodies and pulled at her nipples. When that didn't relax her grip on him, he slid his hand down further and pressed in on her clit. RickyJo cried out. The contact pushed her over the edge. Her body was spasming with pleasure. And then she felt her muscles relax.

Merle groaned as the head of his dick finally slipped past her tight ring of muscle. He had to force himself to ease the rest of the way in slowly. Though she had eagerly agreed to give him the last bit of virginity she had left, he didn't want to hurt her. He wanted her to like it so that she would let him do it again. As often as possible.

RickyJo closed her eyes like she had in the shower and just let the sensations wash over her. Her body was being stretched to its absolute limits and she was loving every moment of it. Their movements were awkward and unpractised at first. But soon the men picked up a rhythm and began fucking her in tandem. When one was pulling back, the other one was pushing into her. The first two orgasms she had felt coming. Like a slow build up. But the last one took her by surprise. She came screaming, her nails digging into Daryl's chest. She wasn't sure who came next but with the rocking spasms of her body to urge them on, it didn't take either one of them long to spill inside her.

The rest of the night came back to her later in pieces. One of them, or maybe both, carried her back into the shower to rinse off the sweat. She remembered being set carefully on her feet and quickly dried off. Then carried back to bed. When her head hit the pillow every muscle in her body went completely limp. Her men assumed she was already sleeping. But she wasn't. She never told either of them that she heard what they said about her but she remembered it for the rest of her life. Both told her they loved her and kissed her. One kiss landed on her forehead and the other on her cheek. She felt well fucked and even more well loved. Lying between the heat of their bodies made everything feel right in her world. Merle was rubbing her back with his one good hand. But he wasn't talking to her when he spoke. He was talking to Daryl.

"We'll always be brothers but having her is what makes us a family."

Daryl's hand slid across her back to meet Merle's and clasp it for just a moment. Any show of physical affection between the two of them was rare. Lavishing unlimited amounts of it on the woman they both loved had created a bond between them that hadn't been there before. Daryl's hand stroked down over her hair as he spoke his agreement to Merle's declaration.

"Without her we'd survive but we'd never really live."