That night, the time confirmed by a quick check with my new guard dog, we decided to venture out of my rooms. Why put off tomorrow, what you can do today, right? My newest accessory, who kindly introduced himself as Marcus, no Mark, maybe it was Matt? Anyway, he would accompany us to our little errands. Daryl looked more comfortable now that he was redressed in his own, freshly laundered clothes, and I'd even celebrated the occasion by putting on jeans and a comfortable t-shirt.

Look at us, I wanted to tease, clothes on and out of the room. Of course I abstained. The "M" guard wouldn't understand the joke and Daryl already looked like he was chewing and swallowing sharp glass. Yep, fun for days.

I realized that I would have to play the part of the lady of the house-factory-shithole. Whatever. I had my internal script.

"Mr. Dixon, I'm going to show you the armory and-" shit, "M" speak up so I don't look as stupid as I feel.

"Mateo." He regifted me his name. Well, shit, that wasn't even on my list of possibles. Yeah, I was advising Negan to get name tags.

"Mateo," I continued, "is going to make sure you don't do anything you'll regret while I get in some practice." Daryl was smirking where only I could see. "Then we'll head to the kitchen and stockrooms. When you become a fully fledged Savior," I nearly choked and snorted the likelihood, "you'll have points that act as credits for supplies and food that you want or need. Negan is a benevolent master." Gag, puke, did. "So he also gives his people special rewards, regularly. Mateo, what was the last gift Negan gave you all."

"Fresh vegetables for everyone, just yesterday." He gave an adoring smile and I had to clench my jaw. "No points needed."

I rolled my eyes. Yay no points for fresh food, what a dick. "See, so thoughtful." I gritted my teeth. "I don't have a point system, as his Queen, you understand. I'm sure you can look through the sign out sheet to get a better understanding." Of his ranks, and the numbers.

"Tomorrow, if the relief guard wakes me," I looked over my shoulder at Mateo and got a nod. Make sure they knock and loudly, I thought. "I'll bring you down for breakfast." For a larger head count. "You'll see how the point system works first hand. For now, you're in my care, so all that you need is through me." Forever and Always.

I could tell Daryl was taking stock of the building as I led us around the longest route. Noticing no doubt where guards were positioned and where there weren't any. We finally arrived at the armory and I felt Mateo move in closer to Daryl. "Mr. Dixon doesn't need to be held down, Mateo. He's just observing." Move before he breaks you in two, you idiot. I moved to the room that held the weapons and picked up my bow. It was always ignored, not just because it was mine, but because the morons he kept bringing in preferred guns. Grabbing my full quiver I reentered the target room. I looked over to where Mateo was hovering too close to Daryl. "Mateo, back off, please." I motioned for Daryl to move toward me and held up a hand when I deemed him close enough. "You can watch from there, and Mateo can watch you from his spot."

I turned my back to them both and was happy to see that someone had reset the hand drawn paper targets before they all left. Good, I didn't feel like doing it myself. Rolling my shoulders and neck, I pulled my bow taunt to check the draw strength. While no one touched the damn thing, somehow it would regularly get readjusted. Finding it perfect I smiled. Well, wasn't everything coming up roses tonight?

Drawing an arrow from the quiver, I fitted it into place and drew back, lining up my mark with the target's head. Deep breath and release. Perfectly dead center. I did it repeatedly, until all the paper targets were pincushions. I didn't just focus on the head, since the danger wasn't always the dead. I hit the heart, I hit the kidney, I hit both arms. Feeling proud that I wasn't rusty yet, I turned to see Daryl's eyes watching me intently. Pupils blown wide and I bet he was thankful he was wearing more restrictive jeans, instead of those loose fitting sweat pants.

"Mateo?" I called, watching him snap to attention. Bored at watching archery, what a damn shame. "Could you reset the targets? And put my bow back after collecting those arrows, please?" I could see that he wanted to argue that it wasn't his job, but then watched as he remembered who I was. He walked over and took my bow carefully from me and the quiver. Then walked toward the targets as I moved back to Daryl. "Feeling ok, baby?" I whispered.

"Jesus, girl." His lips were barely moving, but I could hear him. "That was fuckin' hot."

I licked my lips and smiled at him. "Want to skip the kitchens?" I raised an eyebrow, wanting to see how perfect his self control could be.

"Better not." He said. "The ankle biter there will get suspicious, and I doubt I'd be able to keep the fact that I was tearing your clothes off as soon as the door shut all that quiet." We both chuckled. "But when we leave here? For good? That's gonna be all I do after a practice like that."

I felt myself tingle at the thought. Shit, I want to be there already. "Something to look forward to." Mateo was finishing with the arrows and now he went around removing the torn targets and replacing them with fresh. "Anything you NEED to see? That I'm not already showing you?"

He considered, watching Mateo as well. "Think we can go all the way outside? Had a dark hood over my damn head when I got here. Want an idea of what the outside looks like, just in case." Good he was thinking straight.

"Yeah," I answered. "I usually take the kids out for a few storytimes during the week. We can fit it in the day after tomorrow." He nodded. "Anything else?"

He smirked and I knew it was coming. "Oh I have a few ideas, but they're things I want to see in private." I forced myself not to giggle.

"You're incorrigible." I smirked back, as Mateo rejoined us. "Good, that's done, now let's go to gather up my supplies."

AN HOUR AFTER WE STARTED

"Thank you, Mateo." I said, closing the door behind us and locking it. Daryl's body wrapped around me from behind before I could turn. "Aren't you feeling frisky?" I whispered, tilting back against him.

"Told ya," he whispered against my neck. "That was fuckin' hot, baby, and I plan on takin' care of both of us, right now."

I grinned as I turned in his arms and kissed him. "Sounds like the best fucking offer I've ever gotten."