[A/N: Thanks again for reading, following, favoriting, reviewing, kudoing, etc! Your responses have been energizing. You rock. The interest in Dasha has been especially motivating. I'm mostly a diehard Richonne shipper with a little Dixonne to keep it interesting, but Dasha is really starting to tug at me. Your enthusiasm has been fantastic! Here's the first of the "couple's only" chapters I warned you about. I hope it works for you, cuz it's working for me even though this was way longer than I expected! Lol Your feedback is always appreciated, so feel free to let me know what you think. I try to respond to reviews, so don't be surprised if you receive a message from me soon. Richonne is in the next one… The countdown to October 12th continues… Have a safe and fun Labor Day weekend!]

Declarations

Part 3: Greetings

Sasha maintained a ready grip on the stick and wished again for more ammo. The loud squealing and grunting of the boar as it protested its capture put her on edge. Why walkers hadn't pounced was beyond her. She noticed the frown wrinkling Daryl's brow as they followed Lorenzo into the thicket. The veins in Daryl's hand bulged with his tight hold on his crossbow. Whenever she tried to move closer, he shook his head and blocked her. She wasn't sure what happened after the prison went to hell, but she couldn't remember him ever being this protective before. Maybe of baby Judith or of Carl, but not anyone else. Not even Carol.

They reached the trap and found Clay struggling with the wiggling beast. Sasha wouldn't say the boar was huge, but dinner would be good that night. Lorenzo moved in, but the animal's snapping snout made him rear back.

"For fuck's sake," Daryl muttered. He tugged his knife free of his belt and charged the boar. Blood squirted from the animal's slit throat. Daryl wiped the knife clean on his pants and returned it to his belt.

"I was gonna do it," Clay said.

"When?" Daryl asked. "Before or after the walkers come. The squealing's enough to draw 'em."

"But—"

"C'mon on, Clay," Lorenzo said. "He's right. No use whining like a girl. 'Scuse me, Sasha."

She shrugged. "No harm."

Lorenzo untied the rope from around his waist and knelt beside the boar. He and Clay removed the animal from the trap and began trussing the legs. While they worked, Lorenzo spoke to Daryl.

"You ever butcher one of these?"

"Sure," Daryl said. "Ain't nothin' to it."

"Up for helping with this one?" Lorenzo asked.

Daryl glanced at Sasha. She nodded. If he declined food and their offer of shelter, she'd hurt him. Later, she would have a word about his need for ownership. For the time being, she was all for them checking this group out and seeing what they had to offer.

"No problem," Daryl said.

Lorenzo nodded his approval. Clay grunted. Sasha had a feeling he wasn't as excited about their addition as his companion, but she didn't care. The two men lifted the boar and headed out. This time, Daryl slowed his steps to walk beside her. The two remained in their sight, but not close enough to hear their conversation.

"What?" she asked.

"Don't be so eager," Daryl said.

"I'm not being eager," she snapped. "I'm hungry. Aren't you starving?"

"I can get ya somethin' to eat," he countered. "We ain't gotta go with 'em."

"They have shelter. There's safety in numbers."

"We don't know nothin' about 'em. Stay close to me."

"Daryl."

"What?" he asked.

"About this…I'm yours business…what the hell is that?"

He had been glancing at her while they chatted, but now he kept his gaze on the path ahead. Red colored his cheeks and it was a shade darker than the burn left by the sun. He mumbled something and Sasha strained to make out the words. She couldn't so she grabbed his arm.

"Say what?"

"Clay ain't lookin' at ya right," Daryl said.

"I can protect myself," she said.

"Against how many?"

Sasha frowned. She hadn't considered that. Lorenzo mentioned two more men, but what if there were more. Would allowing them to believe that she was Daryl's be enough to keep a group of men off her?

"Huh, Sasha?"

"I didn't say anything," she said quietly.

The men led them to two parked RV's and a pond. The camp had a simple fence of barbed wire and empty cans stretched around the perimeter. A teen boy with dark brown curls sat on the back of a flatbed truck. He was busy with something. Upon their approach, he yelled, "Mama, they're back!"

A young brown-skinned woman with two thick shoulder-length braids stepped from the second RV. "Your dad?"

"No," the boy said, as he slid from the truck. "Uncle and Clay."

He ran to meet the men carrying the boar, but stopped short when he noticed Sasha and Daryl. He moved close to Lorenzo and his rough whisper carried as he asked, "Who's that?"

"Daryl and Sasha, c'mere and meet my nephew," Lorenzo said. "That pretty woman over there is his mama, Dawn. I was telling you about her. Daryl, where's the best place to do this?"

"Close to the lake," Daryl said.

Lorenzo and Clay set the boar down a few feet from the water's edge. By then, Dawn had moved closer. She carried an ax in her right hand. A handgun was nestled snug in the waistband of her khaki pants.

"Lorenzo?" she asked. Her gaze danced between the two small groups.

"That's Daryl and Sasha," he said. "Nik back, yet?"

She frowned. "No."

"They're okay," Lorenzo said. "Daryl's gonna help with the boar. You and Sasha can get acquainted. Maybe help her set up their spot."

Daryl nodded once at Sasha and they parted. He joined the men to butcher the boar. She moved closer to Dawn. Sasha recognized the wariness in Dawn's expression and didn't begrudge the other woman for it. She had every right to be concerned. Sasha would in her place.

"Dominik!" Dawn called.

"I'm going with Uncle," he half-whined.

"No, you're finishing your task. Then you can go with him."

The irritated sigh was the boy's only protest. He walked past Sasha and climbed onto the back of the truck. Dawn extended her hand to Sasha.

"Hi. Welcome to our camp."

"Thanks," Sasha said.

They fell into step together. The small gathering reminded Sasha of the groups that she and Tyrese had met along the way. Eventually, they were all lost. Now she didn't know if her brother was alive or dead. She pushed the thought away. Facing that now was too soon. With strength of will, she forced herself to listen to Dawn's explanation of the camp's setup.

"That one," she said, pointing to the RV closest to the pond, "is Clay and Nash's. My family stays in the other one. The truck is Lorenzo's. Nik, my husband, took our Explorer on a run for supplies. He and Nash should return soon."

Sasha nodded, pretending not to hear the quiver of uncertainty in the other woman's voice at the mention of her husband's return.

"Daryl and I were really just passing through—"

"You have a camp nearby?"

Sasha looked at the ground and shook her head.

"We won't run you off," Dawn said. "Lorenzo wouldn't have let you come if he thought you weren't right. He's good at reading people. I am, too."

"Have y'all been here long?"

"What's long?" Dawn asked, shrugging. "I can't even remember anymore. I suppose it's been a few weeks. We were with a larger group, but a herd came through… We found the RVs along the way. Met up with Clay and Nash around the same time."

"Are they okay?"

"Your man may have to have a word with 'em," Dawn said.

"My ma—Yeah, Daryl is…um…" Sasha paused at the door to Dawn's RV. "Why? With both of them?"

"You see them and think they're not into us, right? We're black women. We wouldn't be what two good ol' boys are looking for even with the world going to shit," Dawn said, "but looks are deceiving. Clay likes to look, but I'm not sure about Nash."

"Why are you staying with them?"

"Safety in numbers. At night, they go their way and we go ours."

"Maybe it would be better if Daryl and I cut out now," Sasha mumbled to herself.

"I didn't say any of that to scare you." Dawn touched Sasha's shoulder. "Your man looks as protective as mine."

"How can you tell?"

"He's been watching us as much as he's been working on that boar," Dawn said with a smile. "Reminds me of Nik. Greedy eyes."

Sasha looked past Dawn to find Daryl's stare locked on her. From this distance, she couldn't get a clear read of his face, but knowing that he cared enough to keep her in his sights set her at ease.

$%^&

Daryl found Lorenzo to be an attentive student, but Clay was easily distracted. It wasn't hard to figure that Clay was beside himself watching the two women. Daryl sensed that Lorenzo wasn't oblivious to the other man's interest so Daryl decided to play cool, too. Still, he was prepared. His crossbow was within reach as was his knife.

He taught them how to skin and gut the boar. The boy appeared at his uncle's side. His bony elbow rested on the older man's shoulder. The affection between the two was apparent. Daryl can't remember ever having a moment like that in his life.

"You finish?" Lorenzo asked.

"Yes, sir," Dominick said. "Report's done. I hope Mama grades this one."

Lorenzo chuckled. "Nik wants you to get it right."

"Yeah…can I help?"

"You good where ya are," Daryl said. "If you got a pit dug, we can roast 'em over it."

Lorenzo nudged his nephew. "Let's get to it. What else?"

"A branch to drive through 'em."

Lorenzo looked at Clay. "Can you get that?"

"Who made you boss man?" Clay griped.

"Man, c'mon." Lorenzo waited for Clay to start his search. "Get started, Dom. I'll be there in a sec."

Daryl busied himself burying the non-edible parts of the boar. He sensed Lorenzo had something on his mind. Now, that the hard work was done, Daryl wondered if the offer of camp would be taken back. Just as he was starting to get riled at the thought, Lorenzo spoke.

"He could be harmless, but we don't ever leave Dawn alone with either of them. Dominick's young, but he's fast with a gun and confident with a blade."

Daryl stood to face Lorenzo. "I ain't gon' try nothin'. If you think that, Sasha and me'll leave now."

"Not you," Lorenzo said. "I'm talking about Clay and Nash. They haven't tried anything, but you know how men can be when there're only one or two women around. Nik would kill them if they touched Dawn. I would, too. I'd be quick. Nik wouldn't."

"Nik's your brother?"

Lorenzo nodded. "Yeah."

Daryl didn't want to think about Merle so he focused on the matter at hand. "Reckon Sasha and me staying is a good idea?"

"I don't see why not," Lorenzo said. "Clay and Nash pretend to be great outdoorsmen, but it's clear they don't know shit. My brother and I grew up in the city. We went camping, but nothing prepared us for this. We're good at fish. Setting the trap today was luck. We figured we'd gut the boar same as the fish. Good thing you came along."

Daryl agreed. He helped them ready the pit. He noticed how Lorenzo was patient with his nephew and the boy hung on his every word. Losing the prison, his family there, and then Beth had made Daryl feel as if the walls were closing in again. Sasha's arrival helped him breathe. Talking with Lorenzo brought thoughts of Rick to mind, and Dominick and Carl were around the same age. He walked to the edge of the lake and dipped his hands in. Everything had happened so fast, but he didn't want to believe that Rick and Carl were dead. He would rather not think about them at all.

"Hey." Sasha knelt beside him. "Dawn's got us set up with digs for tonight."

"Yeah?"

"In her family's SUV when her husband returns. It won't be much, but at least we'll be covered."

"Sounds good," he said. "Those clouds promise hell later. I don't want us in it."

"Me either," she said. "Daryl…you okay?"

He nodded.

"This big enough?" Clay asked, appearing suddenly to wave a branch in front of them.

Daryl rose fast and moved even faster to stand between the man and Sasha. "See if it's longer than the boar."

Clay smiled at Sasha. "We having meat tonight. When's the last time you had meat?"

Sasha closed her hands around Daryl's arm. "Last night. It was delicious."

Clay's smile faltered. His mouth drew into a tight, thin line. He left them to tend to the boar.

Daryl closed his hand over Sasha's. "You better go back to the RV."

"I'm not scared of—"

"Just do it."

Her insinuation made Daryl uneasy. After his musings about her tongue and mouth, he felt like a hypocrite. He killed a squirrel for their dinner. She made it sound as if he'd given her something else. Daryl rubbed his chin. This could get out of control real fast if Sasha caught wind of his daydreaming. She'd think he was no better than Clay and his damn drooling like a fool. Daryl was on the verge of cursing himself when a Ford Explorer rolled in.

Lorenzo and his family crowded the driver's door. The dark haired man who exited pulled Dawn into a hug and then the boy. Lorenzo came after. Clay stopped fumbling with the branch and the boar to greet the other man. Daryl turned away from the homecoming to prep the animal for the pit.

The branch worked through the boar with little difficulty. Daryl saw that Lorenzo and Dominick had done a good job of prepping the pit. He set the boar in place and dusted his hands off on his jeans. He headed toward the group, relieved when Sasha joined him. Lorenzo made introductions.

"This is my brother Nik," Lorenzo said. "That's Nash. Meet Daryl and Sasha."

"Hello." Nik extended his hand to both of them.

Nash stood beside Clay and didn't say anything.

"My son says you prepared the boar. Thanks. We're good with fish, but that's about it."

"Hey, we caught the sumbitch," Clay muttered. "That trap worked."

Nik nodded. "When we all work together, it all works out."

"They're gonna sleep in the SUV tonight," Dawn told Nik. "Did you find everything?"

Nik smiled at her and took her hand. "Let's see."

Daryl and Sasha hung back. Daryl still felt uneasy. Sleeping in the SUV would keep the rain off them, but she would be so close. Maybe he'd take the front seat and she'd get the back. That could work.

"He seems cool like Lorenzo," Sasha said.

"We'll see."

"His wife and kid like him," she said.

Daryl nodded. "Yeah."

She released a loud sigh and shook her head. "Is there no pleasing you?"

"It ain't him I'm worried about."

"Maybe you're worried over nothing," she said. "We'll have food and somewhere to sleep. Can't that be good enough?"

"I don't remember ya bein' this optimistic before."

"Who says I'm being optimistic?" Sasha countered. "Maybe I'm being realistic."

Daryl regarded the scuffmarks on his boots. The grass under his shoes was a pretty shade of green. The smell of roasting meat made his mouth water and his stomach grumble. None of those observations were enough to make him unaware of the fuming woman at his side.

"Sometimes, I don't get you."

"What's to get?" he muttered.

"Nothing, I guess."

"Sasha!" Dawn beckoned.

The rear tailgate of the SUV was open. A few items spilled out, but the haul was nothing like the goods Daryl and his teams used to grab for the prison. He remained quiet as he sauntered behind Sasha's stalking form. Although her rear wasn't nearly as shapely as Michonne's, it was more than a handful. Even angry, she walked with purpose and moved her body with precision. That was one of the reasons he didn't mind going on runs with her. Sasha didn't waste movement. Nor did she waste words. Daryl knew that sooner or later, she'd give him an earful. He hoped when the time arrived, he'd have the right answers for her. Or maybe a good lie.