Hey everyone! Sorry for the delay! Hopefully you'll love this chapter enough to forgive my delay. Warning: Anna and Merle get it on
Anna looked at the door to Deanna's home. It was early in the morning and she was meeting Deanna at her house, as promised, to discuss her new responsibilities. Anna still didn't know what to think of Alexandria yet, on the surface it was pretty, and it looked like barely anything had changed over the last couple years and that made it seem like a paradise in the middle of the desert but what concerned Anna was what the community was underneath its pretty exterior.
During the journey from the town they had bunked at with Aaron and Eric; Abraham, Glenn and Daryl had alternately recounted their encounter with the residents of a community called Terminus. Afterwards, Noah told them about the hospital he'd lived in up until he'd met first Beth, Maggie's now deceased sister, and then how he had met Daryl and Carol. Those stories mixed with Anna's own personal experiences, made her worried about what these people were really like.
With a sigh, Anna finally mounted the steps then knocked on the door. She was slightly surprised when man, slightly younger than she, opened the door.
"Oh…sorry." Anna said looking at the house, "I must have gotten turned around."
"No, you're in the right place." The man said then stuck out his hand for her to shake. "I'm Spencer. Deanna is my mother."
Anna shook his hand and smiled as she studied the man. He was handsome, with short dirty blonde hair and beautiful eyes that sat in a face with a well portioned face with a striking jaw line. Anna had to admit, she found him attractive.
"Hi, I'm Anna Ford." Anna greeted.
"I know. My mother is waiting inside." Spencer said then stepped back and waved her inside
Anna stepped inside then followed Spencer as he led her to where Deanna waited, in a well appointed office. When the two of them walked through the door, Deanna smiled.
"Good morning, miss Ford." Deanna greeted. "How was your sleep?"
"Better then I've had in many months." Anna said trying to sound pleasant.
Merle was as against this place as ever but was willing to put up with it as long as she did. The others, while still uncertain of the place, were willing to give the place a chance; including Daryl and Abraham. All of the others had been given jobs and most had gone off to do them today. Abraham had been put on a construction crew, which Anna thought was a good choice. While Abe was an excellent tactician and soldier, he was also very good at building things. In the years since he'd left the Army, Abe had started his own construction company and was renovating people's homes before everything went pear shaped.
On top of his abilities, Abe's hot-headed nature would clash with these mild-mannered people when out in the wild collecting things. Anna didn't think they could handle him, if things got out of hand in a tense situation like Rick had. While Anna was also short tempered, she was able to control her temper when needed and could take orders.
"I'm glad to hear that." Deanna said. "Now to business. My son here, is in charge of protecting our walls. I would like you to join his service. I thought that you and your dog, Juno, would be a good addition and hoped that maybe you could find some vulnerabilities so that we might fix them before we have any trouble."
"Yes ma'am, we'll do our best." Anna said nodding her head slightly.
"Good. If you come up with any ideas, bring them to me or Reg, my husband." Deanna said smiling. "Now, why don't the two of you go relieve Hope from guard duty. Spencer can fill you in on our protocols on the way."
111
The next morning Anna sat in the corner of the front porch working out the tangles and pulling out the ticks in Juno's fur when Daryl exited the house, carrying his crossbow. He was about to continue down the steps but paused and looked back at Anna.
"You don't really seem the type to be into my brother." Daryl said, shocking Anna slightly with his bluntness.
Anna chuckled as she stopped what she was doing and looked up at Daryl. "Who says I'm into your brother?"
"Merle." Daryl answered suddenly looking uncertain and a little uncomfortable.
"And Merle never blows hot air?"
"So you ain't?" Daryl asked suddenly sounding frustrated.
"I didn't say that either." Anna said smirking.
"Whatever." Daryl growled as he turned and started away.
"Wait." Anna said getting to her feet. "Sorry, I can be an evasive little shit sometimes. It drives Abe crazy too." Daryl stopped and looked back at her not quite glaring but not looking very impressed either. "Yes, Merle and I have a thing. I don't know what to call it yet, but it is a thing."
"Why him? He's an ass, very few people ever actually like him." Daryl asked.
Anna laughed. "Merle is an ass but he's trying to change." Anna looked around them then went up to Daryl. "Don't tell him I said this but he's trying to be more like you."
Daryl looked at her like she was crazy. "Like me? Why?"
Anna smiled at him kindly. "Because you've managed to make close connections among strangers and have earned their respect and trust. Things aren't like before, its next to impossible to survive out there on your own, so his reasoning might be a bit of a selfish one, but it's good for him."
Daryl looked off into distance. "Huh." Was all he said before continuing down the steps and down the street.
Anna returned to tending to Juno who hadn't even awakened from her nap when Anna had gotten to her feet. After half an hour, Merle slowly walked up the steps and looked down at the pair as Anna leaned back against the corner post and Juno laid with her head in her lap.
"Where have you been?" Anna asked as he finally took a seat beside her and pulled a cigarette out his pocket.
"Just checkin' the place out, both in and around the place. Apparently, Deanna don't know what to do with me. Said that if I'd had both my hands, she'd have set me up with the construction crew but she don't think I can handle it with one hand."
"Did you tell her she's probably wrong?" Anna asked smiling.
"Sure did, then suggested I help scavenge but she don't think I'd get on all that well with their current runners."
Anna laughed. "You don't get on with most people, they just need to be more adaptable. Even when things were good, there was always that one person nobody liked but you had to learn to get along with."
Merle opened his mouth to make a response but a shout and some commotion, distracted all three of them. They all got up and walked over to where a crowd had gathered. When they broke through the crowd, a young man that looked strikingly like Spencer was up in Glenn's face. Juno burst forward and latched onto the man's ankle and pulled his ass to the ground before Anna could even react.
"Juno!" Anna exclaimed firmly, over the man's girlish screams. "Release!" Juno instantly unlatched from the man's leg but kept an eagles on him. "Juno, down!"
"Your dog is psychotic!" The man complained as he clutched his now bleeding ankle.
"If she was psychotic, she'd have gone for the jugular while you were screaming on the ground like a little girl and wouldn't have disengaged when I ordered her too. She's a war dog, dip shit, who has been in warzones. You were acting aggressively to a person she's labelled at as a packmate and I have been relying on her to react first to save my life."
"You people shouldn't be in here!" The man growled. "You're just going to endanger us."
"Aiden!" Deanna's voice came as she approached with Rick. "What's going on?"
"That psycho dog attacked me for no reason." Aiden complained.
"Actually, he was acting aggressively to Glenn and Juno responded before I could stop her." Anna explained calmly. "She let go the second I called her off. She did her job, end of story."
"Why did you let these people in?" Aiden complained.
"Because we know what we're doing out there." Glenn retorted coolly.
Apparently, Aiden wasn't as injured as he was trying to appear, because he lunged to his feet and attempted to cheap shot Glenn, but Glenn dodged it easily and knocked him flat on his ass with his own punch. Juno got to her feet and started barking like crazy at Aiden, making biting actions towards him but not actually biting Aiden. At the same time Daryl ran forward and tackled the man who'd been guarding the gate the first day they'd arrived, as he moved to attack Glenn as well. Merle marched forward and glared down at the man as Daryl held her forearm to the man's wind pipe.
"Stay down, son. You can't handle one Dixon, let alone two." Merle growled down at the man.
Rick suddenly appeared, shoved Merle back and convince Daryl to get off the new guy as Juno made sure that Aiden stayed down. Daryl passed like a caged animal, obviously pissed but Anna doubted he knew what was happening since he'd arrived just after them, but obviously didn't like Glenn getting attacked.
"I want everyone to hear me, okay?" Deanna said, speaking up. "Rick and his people are apart of this community now. In all ways equal! Understood?" She turned her head to glare at her son.
Aiden shrugged like it was all a big joke. "Understood."
Deanna turned back to where Glenn, Tara and Noah stood. "All of you, turn in your weapons. Then you two come talk to me." She continued pointing to Nicholas and Aiden.
When everyone but those who'd shown up from their group, had dispersed, Deanna turned to Rick. "I told you I had a job for you." She said as she looked at Rick. "I want you to be our constable, that's what you were. That's what you are." She then looked at Michonne. "You too." She said to Michonne, bringing a look of surprise on her face. "Will you accept?"
Rick thought about it for a moment. "Yes."
"Yeah, I do too." Michonne added.
Daryl scoffed, apparently annoyed with Rick and Michonne, before turning and walking off. Finally, Deanna turned to Anna. "Do I have to be concerned about your dog?"
Anna looked down at Juno as she sat calmly, panting as she gazed up at Anna waiting for her next order. "No, she just needs a refresher. Just like us, she's been out there too long. I'll work with her and it'll never happen again."
Deanna nodded. "Good." She said then walked off.
"So what was that about?" Anna asked, looking at the three as they stared in the direction that Aiden and Nicholas had disappeared in.
"Those two have no idea what they're doing!" Tara grumbled.
"They nearly got Tara killed then got mad at Glenn when he helped her out." Noah added.
"That guy seemed to be on a bit of a power trip." Anna commented as Glenn knelt down and gave Juno a hearty scratch.
"Hopefully Deanna will hear the bullshit in her son's story and not send him again." Glenn said as he stood up, obviously irritated but keeping his emotions under control.
111
Anna sat on a bench in the small park that sat at the center of Alexandria, staring absently at the large pond, when Merle plunked himself down beside her and threw his one arm around her shoulders. Anna smiled as she looked over at him.
"Kiss you once and you think we're goin' steady." Anna said.
Merle grinned. "Don't think I've ever had a serious relationship in my life."
"Is that what you think this is? A serious relationship?" Anna asked as she raised her eyebrows.
"Considering I don't generally see a girl for more than a couple weeks and I've known you for several months now, I'd say it is." Merle said then kissed her on the cheek.
"You didn't like me much at the beginning, so we could hardly call that dating, and we haven't even screwed yet." Anna said, smiling at him mischievously.
"Well, I've had plenty of girlfriends that I liked in the beginning and quickly didn't like. So maybe the fact that I didn't like you in the beginning is a good thing, since I like you now." Merle said casually then turned towards her and leaned in. "As for the second part, well we can fix that right now."
Anna grinned as she leaned forward and kissed Merle passionately. When they'd both ran out of breath, Anna stood up and grabbed Merle's stump as he pressed himself against her backside as he wrapped his other arm around her waist and shoved his hand down the front of her pants as she sauntered into the trees. Once out of sight Merle immediately started working on pants as he kissed her neck as he pushed her up to a tree. Anna shoved Merle back as she turned and laughed, then shoved his flannel shirt off his shoulders then grabbed the hem of Merle's shirt and pulled it over his head.
Merle grinned cockily as she ran her hands over his bare chest. "Like what you see?"
Anna grinned also. "It's alright, but its what's down here that I'm interested in." Anna said as she undid his belt buckle, unbuttoned his jeans and shoved them down.
"Gettin' a little head of yourself." Merle said as he kicked off his boots then jeans. "I ain't seen no tits or flesh from you yet. So, until I get to see somethin' you ain't touchin' nor seein' my balls."
Anna chuckled as she reached down, grabbed the edge of her shirt and pulled it over her head. Merle let out a whistle a he reached out and grabbed her breast as Anna reached behind her and unclasped her bra. Merle grabbed the offending brassiere that was impeding his ability to touch her bare breast and threw it aside.
"Pants, next girl!" Merle demanded as he fondled her bare breast rubbed her back with the stub of his other arm.
"Now, now. Don't take that tone with me Dixon or you'll never get laid." Anna said as she removed his hand from her chest.
Merle bent forward and kissed her passionately. After he'd kissed her breathless, he pulled back ever so slightly. "Please." He breathed.
"Better." Anna panted kissed Merle one more time then shoved him back and finished unbuttoning her pants.
When they were around her ankles, Merle pushed her firmly against the tree and start grinding against her as he continued to kiss her; first on the lips then on the neck. Although Merle was being aggressive, Anna was loving every second of it. From what Merle had told her previously, it had been at least a year, possibly longer since he'd gotten laid and considering the man was used to a very active sexual life, that was an eternity for him.
By the time they were done, Anna's back had been rubbed raw by the trees bark but at the moment, she didn't really care. As Anna bent over to pick her pants off the ground, Merle's hand ran over the raw spot on her back.
"Sorry, got a little outta hand. You okay?" Merle asked with a surprising amount of softness.
Anna scoffed. "I'm fine. If you were getting to be too much, I'd have stopped you."
"So is this old bull still good 'nough for you? There certainly is better options out there." Merle said as he zipped up his jeans.
Anna chuckled. "I'm not really all that shallow Merle." Anna said then turned him to face her and draped her arms on his shoulders. "So long as you treat me right, you got nothin' to worry about."
"And what's treatin' you right?" Merle asked rubbing her still bare side.
"Showin' me respect, bein' gentle with me when its just the two of us, not gettin' mad when I try to get to know you." Anna replied then grinned. "Buyin' me an airplane and beautiful mansion would be nice too."
Merle scoffed as he smacked her ass. "Keep dreamin' princess. No way I'd get you a mansion or a plane, even before all this shit." Merle said grinning as picked up his muscle shirt.
"Well, you know, there a whole bunch of abandon mansions just waitin' to be lived in once more." Anna said making a pouty face as she touched her still bare chest.
Merle chuckled as he groped one of her breasts. "Well ain't you high maintenance. I'll see what I can do."
111
Anna smirked as she leaned against the wall by the main gate, rubbing her back slightly, reliving the night before in her head; the lusty love making and the walk back to the house. The whole way the made joking demands of the other, telling them that they needed this or that to make their relationship work. On top of the mansion and airplane, Anna demanded that Merle get her jacked up pick up truck, which he found very sexy, and a ring with a diamond the size of a golf ball. Merle demanded that she get him a brand new custom chopper with black pearl paint and charcoal flames and black leather seat, a new hand to better fondle her with, and a very detailed description of a set of lingerie he wanted her to find so he could see her in it. Merle had laughed loudly the whole way down the street as they walked either ignoring the glares from the people in their windows or giving them the finger.
Juno suddenly got her feet and waged her tail vigorously as someone approached. When Anna looked up, she saw Daryl walking over with his crossbow over his shoulder and Merle reluctantly in tow. Juno trotted forward a few feet, her whole butt waggling as she greeted first Daryl then Merle.
"You ain't vicious at all." Daryl said smirking slightly as he scratched her cheeks vigorously. "You just don't like assholes, ain't that right?"
Anna laughed as Merle snickered. "Guess that makes you an asshole." Anna said to Merle as she laughed.
"Ain't never denied it. Can't be that bad no more, she actually likes me these days." Merle said as he came to lean against the wall next to her.
"She used to growl at you?" Daryl asked, although he didn't sound all that surprised.
"Tried to chomp off his remaining hand a couple of times." Anna said chuckling. "Although, to be fair, we'd been travelling on our own for several month and had nothing, but bad things happen. I didn't trust him then so neither did she."
"So this jack ass has both of you fooled." Daryl said then got thumped hard in the shoulder by Merle.
Anna jerked Merle back by collar, earning a glare from Merle and a smirk from Daryl but neither said anything. "So, where you boys headin'?" Anna asked as she wrapped her arm around Merle's arm, his stump once again armed with its knife.
"Huntin'." Merle answered as he leaned against the wall again. "Neither of us got somethin' to do."
"Then why do you look like Daryl's dragging you along?" Anna asked smirking.
Daryl gave Merle a look that seemed to be daring Merle to tell the truth. Merle sighed as he looked away.
"I got bored, so I went to the infirmary…to find some drugs." Merle said then looked at her challengingly.
"Merle! Why would you do that? You've been clean for how long?" Anna asked now frowning. She know he hadn't gotten clean because he wanted to but because drugs were hard to find.
"This wouldn't have been the first time he's been clean and fallen off the band wagon." Daryl grumbled as he glared at his brother.
"Apparently my pain in the ass little brother thinks he needs to baby sit me and caught me in the act. Then told me if I was bored then we should go huntin', so here I am." Merle said holding his hands up and smiling like it was all a joke.
"Merle, I know things ain't great right now, but you can't do shit like that? What if these people turn out to actually be like those cannibals Daryl told us about in Terminus and you're too high to defend yourself?" Anna asked stepping back and putting her hand on her hips.
"She got a point, Merle." Daryl agreed, looking pleased to be watching his brother get scolded by his sort of girlfriend.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm a dumb ass can we move on." Merle growled.
Anna reached for the dead bolt that held the gate shut and pulled it open then both gates open. "Be careful boys, don't get eaten."
Daryl walked through almost immediately but Merle paused and looked down at her. "Don't have any fun without me." He said then surprised Anna by pecking her on the lips before turning and following his brother. Apparently, he wasn't annoyed with her scolding him.
Anna felt a little foolish flushing as she pushed the gate shut again, she'd had boyfriends before. Hell, it hadn't even been a year since she'd been in a relationship…even if she hadn't been given a choice on whether or not she wanted to be in the relationship. Juno suddenly let out a low growl.
"Seriously, you and that old guy?" Spencer asked walking over to her.
Anna cocked an eyebrow. "How old do you think I am?"
Spencer looked at her like she'd set a trap for him. "I don't know, late twenties early thirties?"
"Flattering but try adding a decade." Anna said crossing her arms over her rifle. "I mean yeah, there's an age gap but not that big of an age gap. I'm probably closer to Daryl in age then Merle but I don't know why that matters."
"No…no that's fine. He just doesn't seem your type, you know a little too redneck." Spencer said, flushing slightly.
"You do realize I'm from Texas, right?" Anna asked, cocking an eyebrow. "Red necks are a normal thing, down south."
Spencer cleared his throat. "Right. Anyways, are you coming to the party tonight?"
Anna frowned. "What party?"
"My mom, she's throwing this welcome party for you and your friends. Nobody told you about it?" Spencer asked, slightly surprised.
Anna shrugged. "I guess everyone assumed someone told me."
"So? Will you come?" Spencer asked grinning. "There will be alcohol, beer mostly and a lot of it."
Anna laughed. "Sure."
"Maybe leave Merle at home. He seems like he'd get disruptive." Spencer said wincing.
"You know, Merle can play nice when he wants too." Anna said crossing her arms over her chest. "But when he gets nothing but a 'we don't want him here' vibe, its hard for him to want to. He don't feel welcome, neither him nor Daryl do, and I don't blame them." Anna said. "Ya'll think that since they're redneck, they're bad people and they ruin the image of your perfect little suburbia neighborhood. Those Dixon boys are your best hope at survival. Just one of those two boys know more 'bout survivn' than your whole community put together!"
"And who says we want to survive the way they do." Spencer asked.
Anna shook her head. "You still don't get it. The whole 'don't judge book by its cover', never applied more than it does these days. They ain't so morally screwed up as you think."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to overhear your conversation, but I want the Dixon brothers to feel comfortable here." Deanna said as Spencer stepped to the side so that both of them could see her. "You seem to know them well. How do we make them feel more welcome?"
Anna sighed. "Stop prejudging them, to start. They have been harshly judged their whole lives, so they just assume people don't like them. Show 'em kindness but don't smoother them. Show a bit of trust. But no matter what you do, it'll still take time for them to adjust."
"Aaron asked that Daryl join him as a recruiter. He thinks that Daryl has a good sense of people." Deanna said. "I have agreed to it yet, but I'm seriously considering it. I'm trying to think of a job for Merle but between his personality and him being short a hand…"
Anna shook her head. "Don't let either one of those get in the way. Merle will adapt to the people he's with and they need a little color in their lives. They may find him annoying but he's trying to play nice with others. As for him being short a hand, well he still does things better than most people with just one hand. He was in the military once, not all that long but he picked up some key things. He operates with military efficiency, he can be very disciplined when he has the drive and you'll never find someone more loyal than either one of those Dixon's. It's about the only good thing they learned from their father."
"Do you think he could join the construction crew?" Deanna asked. "That was my first thought."
"Sure, he could do that." Anna said nodding her head. "Abe could probably manage him, but he'd be better at scavenging, Merle has a very…unique set of knowledge."
"He won't be a danger to the others?" Deanna asked.
Anna shook her head angrily. "No. If anything, he'll keep them safe. Did he tell you about his days with the people of Woodbury?"
"Yes. Most of it unsavory but he did mention being in charge of the town's defense and doing supply runs." Deanna said. "But I'm worried that he'll bring some of that violent behavior with him."
Anna laughed mirthlessly. "Trust me, that violence will be needed. Merle is cool and collected in high stress situations, he keeps his head. He has bush medical knowledge, can hunt game and forage for edible plants, can start a fire in almost any situation, the list goes on. You need him out there."
"A little protective of your boyfriend, huh?" Spencer asked snidely.
"I just don't like judgemental people." Anna said glaring at him.
"I understand how you feel but you have to understand that I have to protect my people." Deanna said also crossing her arms over her chest.
Anna sighed as she leaned against the gate. "You're right, you do have to protect your people but one of these days you'll have to trust us…all of us."
Deanna nodded her head. "You're right. I'll have another talk with Merle tomorrow, then we'll see where things go from there."
Anna nodded her head. "He'll appreciate having something to do, he'll more likely stay out of trouble if he's being kept occupied."
Deanna nodded her head again. "Noted."
111
Half an hour later, Anna opened the gate as Carol and Rick walked up. Anna frowned, she hadn't let them out so the previous guard must have. She had only been at the gate for about ten minutes when Daryl and Merle rolled up, so they must have left before that.
"Hey, did you hear 'bout Deanna's party?" Anna asked them as she closed the gate.
Rick frowned. "No, what party?"
"A welcoming party." Rick and Carol looked at each other, in a way that made Anna suspicious. "What?"
Rick shook his head. "It's nothing." Rick said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Will you be there?"
"Party in the suburbs isn't exactly my thing, but I said I would. I'm sure Abe will drag me there, no matter what." Anna said with a shrug.
"Good, we need as many of us there as we can. I doubt Daryl or Merle will be there, but maybe that's to our benefit." Carol said. "Daryl especially wouldn't do good in a crowd like that."
"I better get going. Michonne and I need to do our job." Rick said walking forward.
"So should I." Carol said following after him.
Anna frowned at them as they retreated, they were hiding something. After another twenty minutes, another bang came at the gate. When she opened the gate, Sasha stood there waiting. At first, Anna smiled at her, but it quickly faded when she took in Sasha's empty look.
"Hey." Anna said as she rolled the gate open. "Are you okay?"
Sasha glared at her as she walked through the gate. "I'm fine."
Anna knew she was about to step on a land mine, but she had to say it. "You should really talk with someone. I know you lost your boyfriend and brother in a short span of time. It will help."
Sasha's glare went from hollow to venomous. "You don't know nothing!" She snarled.
"But I do. I thought my brother and his family was dead for almost two years, turns out I was three quarters right. On top of that, I lost an entire community, just like you. Most of those people I've known and served with for years!" Anna said seriously. "I maybe haven't been in your exact situation, but I understand grief really well."
Sasha's body's language suddenly softened. "Abraham had a family?"
Anna also softened as the emotions she'd kept tightly under control, came rearing up. "He had a wife, Ellen and two kids, A.J. and Becca. Damn, I loved those kids. A.J. was growing up to be just like his dad. Abe retired earlier than he was supposed to, just so he could be with his family, so that his kids didn't grow up like we did."
"I…I didn't know." Sasha said softly.
"From what Abe has said, nobody does. Not even Eugene or Rosita. In the military, no matter what service you're in, you learn to compartmentalize your emotions. Shove your grief into a compart and lock it up so it doesn't mess with your ability to operate, otherwise it could kill you. But eventually, you have to face that grief, and I'm sure, one day soon, it'll catch up with Abe. It's not healthy shove your grief in a box, you need to face it."
Sasha raised her chin. "I'm not a crying sort of woman, I just move on."
Anna looked at her sympathetically. "I don't normally like to cry either, but sometimes you need to just have that one good cry. Sometimes you just need to pour out all your feelings to that one person, any person, then try to move on."
Sasha stared at her for a moment then nodded her head. "I'll consider what you said." She said then moved off.
After another twenty minutes, Juno started barking at the gate, not viciously but excitedly. When Anna rolled in the interior gate open, she saw Merle and Daryl coaxing a beautiful black horse, towards the gate as Aaron walked in front of them. Anna looked down at Juno, her barking was likely upsetting the horse.
"Juno, down!" Anna ordered, pointing the grass beside the road.
Juno trotted over to the grass and laid down, ears and eyes intensely focused on the road but no longer barking. Anna slid the second gate open as they got closer, then stood by Juno and made sure she behaved. Most other animals didn't faze Juno but for whatever reason, she loved horses and got very excited when she saw them. Anna had gotten to be able to listen to commands while she could see or hear them but that had been the largest challenge in training Juno.
Merle and Daryl finally managed to get the horse within the gate and Aaron closed it for her as she cautiously approached the animal, giving Juno the hand gesture to stay.
"I thought you boys had gone hunting?" Anna asked as she came over.
"We did and we found him." Daryl said, smirking ever so slightly.
"And I caught him!" Merle said proudly. "Before them walkers showed up!"
Anna cocked an eyebrow. "Since when were you a horse person?"
"I ain't but I learned a few things in Woodbury." Merle said smiling proudly.
"Oh, my god!" Maggie exclaimed happily as she ran full tilt towards. "You found a horse?"
She threw her arms around Daryl and gave him a tight hug, then slowly turned to the horse as it reared. She grabbed the rope from Merle and shooed him away.
"Leave her be." Daryl said. "She's raised horses, she knows what she's doin'."
Daryl turned and walked off as Spencer came over to them. "Wow, you finally got it!" Spencer said to Aaron.
"Actually, it was all Daryl and Merle, I just watched." Aaron said. "I'm going to go check on Eric, do you have this Maggie?"
Maggie now had her cheek on the horse's neck. "She's good girl, she just needs a little love."
Anna laughed. "I think someone is in love."
Merle just grunted as he put hand on her hip while Spencer stepped towards Anna. "I'm taking over watch. You go get cleaned up for the party."
"Shit. You're not going to that are you?" Merle asked, sounding slightly annoyed.
Anna sighed. "Just for a bit."
"I'll join you shortly." Maggie said as she stroked the horse's cheek. "Glenn won't appreciate it if I ditch him."
So? Was it worth the wait? I'll try to be more on the ball and add more interaction with the others.
-Shockra