Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This

Chapter 9

First of all, WOW thank you for all the love and support and all the reviews! Second of all, I caught an age mistake on my part. I'm horrible at math (Yet they let me handle money for deposits at work, sometimes I wonder why.) Summer's 15, Jewel had her at 15 that would make Jewel 30, close to 31 and not 35. No one caught it (you all must love my writing not to do math! And I thank you for it!) so from this point forward, Jewel's 30 (may slip right over to 31) Daryl is 34 and Merle is 44. I changed it on the front page in the description and when I get time I'll go back and change it. I just need Jewel to have been 15 when she had her (and I did mention that she was 15 several times) for Jewel's motivation to work to get out of the spot she was in. Now, back to the good part! Review

You come to love not finding the perfect person, but seeing the imperfect person perfectly. Elma Fondales Silva.

Jewel jumped up on the cart Daryl was sitting on, as she watched everyone eat and drink. She sipped the root beer in her hand.

Shane looked at her. "Oh come on we're celebrating, a glass of wine won't hurt," he told the woman.

Daryl glanced at Shane. "Back off," he warned.

Jewel patted his knee. "Easy big brother. I gave up drinkin' a long time ago."

"Didn't like it?" Carl asked.

"Oh I liked it, a little to much. I'm a recoverin' alcoholic, haven't had a drink since Summer was 3," she told the group. "This doesn't bother me, trust me. It's fun to watch other people get drunk and do stupid stuff."

"You weren't even of an age to drink when Summer was 3," Lori said a little bit disgusted.

"Lori," Rick warned.

Jewel smiled. "I did a lot of things before I was supposed to do them, just to get them out of the way. Not something I recommend," she told her daughter as she kicked her seat a little.

Rick tried to hide a grin from behind his glass and looked at her from across the table.

"You're not tempted to have one?" Carol asked. "None of us would let anything' happen to you," she assured the other woman.

Jewel smiled. "Appreciate the sentiment Carol, but it wouldn't end at one," she told her.

"Can I try a sip?" Carl asked.

"Absolutely not," Lori told the boy.

Dale laughed. "You know in France and Italy, children have a glass of wine with dinner," he told her.

"Well when Carl is in France or Italy, he can have a drink," Lori told him.

Rick looked at Lori. "Come on, one sip what is it going to hurt, Lori?" Rick asked as he poured Carl a bit.

"Fine," Lori said it being obvious that she was annoyed. "What about Summer? She is older."

Summer looked at Lori. "I've already had wine, beer…" she said as she stopped and looked at her Uncle and mom.

"Excuse me?" Jewel asked.

"Merle," Daryl and her both said

"Don't worry, it was only once," Summer said as she grabbed more chocolate. "I'm more of a chocolate girl."

Rick laughed as he glanced at Jewel, the look did not go unnoticed from Shane who looked between the pair. "So go on, Carl, before your mother changes her mind."

Carl took a sip and made a face causing the others to laugh. Lori reached over and poured the rest of his glass into hers. "That's my boy," she said.

Shane laughed. "You better stick to grape juice buddy," Shane told the young boy as Rick glanced over at his friend.

Daryl poured Glenn another glass. "No not you, I want to see how red your face can get," he told the younger man as everyone laughed.

"That's just mean," Jewel told him. "I hope you have a lot of Tylenol, Ibuprofen, anything' like that hangin' around Doctor, this group is going to need it."

Jenner gave a small smile. "I'll gather some up for you, you may want to make sure they get it before they go to bed."

"Appreciate it. I will dispense it, but I'll laugh while I'm doin' it," she said with a grin.

"Now that's just mean," Rick told her as he laughed.

"Hey, just because I'm stayin' sober doesn't mean I can't have a little fun at the rest of your expenses," she said with a grin.

Summer glanced over her shoulder at her uncle as he grabbed another bottle of Whiskey. "You got something' to say girl?"

Summer turned around in her chair. "Remember when I was six, and you heard that I punched out Joey London at school, and you made me apologize because I was in the wrong. You took my hand and marched me up on the bus and made me say sorry. The last thing I wanted to do was apologize, I wanted to hit him again."

Shane looked at the Dixon's. "You made her apologize? You?"

Daryl glared at him. "I've seen you correct Carl, so you can just shut your mouth," he said as he looked at Summer. "What are you getting' at?"

Jewel got up and grabbed food trying not to laugh. She knew exactly where her daughter was going with this. "What she is sayin' is Daryl, and the rest of you, owe Rick an apology," she told them.

"Do I have to take your hand and march you over to him?" Summer asked as she crossed her arms.

Daryl looked at his niece then at Jewel. "I hate it when they liste' and throw it back in your face," he grumbled. "Rick, I'm sorry, I should have had trusted in your judgment, even if you did handcuff my brother to the roof."

Summer crossed her arms and gave her strictest Dixon look. "You call that an apology?" the five foot two blond asked. Everyone around the table started laughing.

Jewel glanced at Daryl. "What? It surprises you that she's stubborn? She's a Dixon."

"I'm sorry," Daryl said as he took the whiskey bottle and took another drink. Others said the same thing.

"It's alright, I thought I was wrong too," Rick said as he stood up as he banged his silverware on his glass. "We did not thank your host properly," he started to say.

"He's more then our host, he's our savior," T Dog told the group.

"BOOYA!" Daryl said as he raised the bottle. "Cheers Doc."

Jewel nodded at the Doctor as the rest of them thanked him.

Shane looked at the Doctor. "So what are you going to tell us what happened here Doc? All the other researchers who were supposed to be 'ere discovering what this thing is? Working on a cure? Where are they?"

Jewel glanced at Rick. "Shane, let's not do this now, please," she said.

"She's right, Shane. We're enjoying ourselves, relaxing. Don't ruin it," Rick warned.

Shane held up his hand. "I thought that's why we came, that's what you said right Rick? To get answers to all our questions? Well here we are, and all we find is him a guy alone. Why?" Shane questioned.

The blond doctor looked up at them. "When it all started, a lot of people wanted to get back to there families. A lot of people couldn't face it, they opted out…" he said as he looked at the group.

"But you're here, you stayed," Andrea said. "Why?"

"I continued my research, hoping to find a cure, something," Jenner told them.

"Man you're a mood killer," Glenn told him.

"I could think of a few other words," Summer mumbled.

"I think it's time to get the younger ones to bed," Carol said as she stood.

"I agree," Lori told her.

Jewel couldn't help but notice Shane took Lori's hand and she didn't try to pull it back. She glanced at Rick who only shrugged.

Jenner stood up and led the group. "The housing areas are shut down to save power. The rooms have sofas, we also have cots in supply closets. There's a rec room down the hall you kids might enjoy, but don't plug in anything that uses power. You can take showers, just don't use all the hot water," he told them.

Glenn stopped and turned back. "Did he say hot water?"

"That's what the man said!" T Dog said as he grinned.

"Mom I'll take the boys, but can I stay in a room without you?" Summer asked.

"Now why do you think I'd let my 15 year old daughter sleep in a room by herself?" Jewel asked.

"Because you and I always competed for 'ot water before this, and the two of us in the same room, now. I'm younger and I'd beat you to it, and probably would use it all," Summer said with a grin.

Daryl laughed. "She got you there," he told his sister. "I'll get cots, one of the boys can stay in my 'oom. I'll check on her," he assured his sister.

"Says the man who has two whiskey bottles in his hand," Jewel said with a laugh. "Alright alright! But I'm checkin' on all of you before I turn in," she said with a laugh as she noticed Shane and Lori going into a room together as Rick was talking with Carl. "Now I'm going to take my shower!"