I can't even begin to apologize for my lateness in this update. Just know I am thankful for all of you following this story and hope you don't hate me too much. This chapter isn't super long, I know, but its something and I owe you guys this much.


Marcine stared up at the sky as she sunbathed at the edge of the cliffs above the quarry. She was watching the kids while they swam, Glenn was doen by the water, she was mostly taking Dale's shift to make sure no one came through without anyone knowing.

"Its nice...isn't it?"

Marcine jumped and scrambled to her elbows before realizing it was Lori. The older woman smiled and tucked a wild strand of hair back from the wind, sinking to the grass beside Marcine. They both stared down at the clear water, at the kids splashing around and trying to talk Glenn into joining them.

"Yeah," Marcine muttered. "It is pretty nice...for the moment."

Lori sighed, picking at the grass. "Marcine..."

"Don't start a lecture," Marcine warned. "You and I both know this," she gestured to everything around her. "Won't last long," she settled back into the grass and closed her eyes. "I'm sorry you can't see that when I can. I'm done talking about it."

Lori sighed again then noticed the small hand gun strapped to her thigh. "You have a gun now?"

Marcine peeked through one open eye then closed it again. "Yerp," she muttered. "Daryl gave it to me - I can actually shoot it."

Lori furrowed her brow. "You couldn't shoot?"

Marcine sighed. "Do you even listen to me?"

"Eh, I fade in and out," Marcine chuckled. "So, they actually helped you?"

Marcine grunted and pulled herself up, looking over at Lori with a blank expression. "Yeah," she let her head roll back. "Did you know Merle was in the Army? I mean, not for long obviously but he has gun training."

"So does Shane..."

Marcine scrunched up her nose. "And he hates me."

Lori shook her head. "No, he doesn't hate you he just...okay, he might hate you, but I really wish you too would make up."

Marcine rolled her eyes and looked over at Lork. "Look, I know you want us to get along but its not gonna happen. And I'm sorry, for you. He can go fuck himself," Lori sighed. "Now," Marcine pushed herself to her feet, dusting off the backs of her jeans. "Lets go play with the kids, I also think Glenn would appreciate us saving him."


"You ever think of doing something else?"

He hummed for a moment, trying to concentrate but failing with her around. "Ain't nothin' left to do," he murmured. She sighed, rolling onto her back; the grass was so soft, the sky was so dark. It was the first sleep she had, had in weeks. "Guess you're right..."

He snorted. "I know I am."


It had been too long since Marcine had really laughed.

Since the Outbreak, she had been mostly alone. And scared. Before the Outbreak, she had been alone solidly, when she wasn't taking care of her bi-polar momma; she wondered where her sister was, then shook her head. Sherri could take care of herself, she didn't need Marcine. But still, she hoped Sherri wasn't with their mother. She wouldn't be safe with that woman, not when Marcine knew she didn't have access to her medication.

She was probably full blown crazy now.

A crackle brought Marcine out of her reverie and she followed Daryl's curving form as he stood; his arms twitched as he stretched them above his head, muscles rolling against each other. Hot damn. Merle was leering at her. Marcine tucked her face away and Daryl trailed off to do whatever he was going to do while Merle leaned to her side.

"Like what ya see," he leered.

"Shut up, Merle," she mumbled, but it was only half-heartedly.

Merle chuckled and leaned forward, shuffling around the hot coals in front of them. "Jus' sayin, ya better get on it before that house wife tries him on for size."

Carol.

Marcine tucked her chin against her right shoulder and peered back at the fire on the other side of camp. Carol was seated with her daughter on a long log, stiff as a board but her daughter was relatively oblivious. Ed was reclined in a foldout chair, sipping languidly at something in his hand; Marcine watched his eyes shift to his daughter and she saw red with the way his beady little eyes rolled over her.

Marcine stood, hands shaking and on a mission; Merle didn't notice her departure, he was too concerned with the glass pipe he was prepping. Marcine kepg her teeth grit as she stomped towards Ed, her nails breaking skin in her palm. No one noticed her until she landed a rather heavy-handed punch to Ed's skull. Carol squeaked and latched onto her daughter, pulling her away as everyone jumped to their feet.

"You sick son of a bitch," adrenaline pushed her as she kicked him in the side of the head, keeping him on the ground. "Lookin' at your own daughter like that!"

When she pulled her knife, Shane finally spoke up; when she looked at him, he saw rage. "Put the knife down," he muttered.

Marcine barked out a laugh, slamming her boot down on Ed's throat; he coughed and sputtered, blood trickling from his nose. "Put it down," she asked incredulously. "I'll put something down, but it won't be my knife," she twirled the blade around, pressing the sharp edge against Ed's throat. "I'll put Ed down..."

Lori shivered and turned to Carl. "Sweetie, go get in the tent," she nudged him towards it then looked at Morales and Carol. "Get them away from here," she hissed."

Morales nodded and took his children's hands, pulling them away; Sophia followed on her own, Carol was frozen in terror. Marcine could care less, she just wanted this fuck to die. Sending him away had been an option, but Carol would go too. And she'd take Sophia. Even if they stayed, Ed would come back. He needed to die, there was no other way around it.

"Whatcha waitin' for," she looked over at Merle as Ed struggled under her. "Kill 'im if you're gonna do it," was this a test?

Shane glared at Merle. "You fucking redneck bas -"

Merle leered at Shane. "C'mon, Deputy...ya know you've wanted to kill this asshole from day one," he looked back to Marcine. "So go ahead and do it."

Marcine saw Daryl approaching in curiosity, his expression unchanging as she waited for his permission. Do it. She looked down in glee as she lifted her boot and ran the blade over Ed's thick throat. His eyes bugged and blood soaked the dirt; Carol screamed somewhere around her but Marcine didnt care, she was stepping back to view her handy work. When she looked over to Merle, expecting to see Daryl too, she saw nothing. She faltered, stumbling back a step and into Merle's hands; had he even been there to begin withh?

Carol flung herself ar Ed as he bled out, begging for him to stay with her. Marcine cackled as Merle drug her away, her feet getting tangled in each other but she stayed upright thanks to Merle's strong grip.

"Dumb bitch," she spat.

And Merle covered her mouth.


He's watching them bury a body, Ed's to be exact.

He draws thickly from his cigarette, ignoring the awful looks he gets from the men hefting Ed on their shoulders; the widow, Carol, scrambles for the body but the tall brunette snatches her up. What was her name...Lori? Yeah, Lori, loyal as fuck to Marcine. Daryl snorted and shook his head, ashing his cigarette once. He had to admit, he was a bit curious as to why she cared for the stranger so much, not like they had spent oodles of time together. They barely knew each other.

Daryl watched them drop Ed's body into a shallow grave, not an ounce of sorrow on their faces. Good. He didn't deserve their grief and they knew that; Daryl knew he and Merle had done some terrible things, but they never preyed on children. That was just sick.

And that thought alone was almost comical.

Daryl flicked his cigarette away, blowing smoke from his nose as he stuffed his hands deep into his jean pockets. He shambled back towards his tent with a dazed look, plans rolling around in his head; they were running out of time.

He froze when he heard it, the shift of sheet and a subtle moan.

Anger bubbled through his chest, in his throat. It tasted like bile. His boots kicked up dirt as he stomped towards the haphazard tent claimed as Merle's. As he metephorically ripped the flap open, he went livid, seeing Merle hunched over Marcine; she craned her head back and had a leg cocked up around his hip, her lips parted. She was a sight, his btother was not.

Daryl grabbed tight to Merle's shoulders and jerked him back, sending him rolling half naked in the dirt. Marcine screamed and covered her chest, staring at Daryl with plain regret and adrenaline.

"Get some fuckin' clothes on," he spat, pulling out of the tent. "You motherfucker -" he pointed at Merle.

"Aw, c'mon lil brother," Merle grinned as he wobbled on his feet, buckling his jeans. "Can't blame a girl, specially since the son of a bitch she's sharing a tent with won't bust a nut with her like she wants."

It wasn't the right time.

Daryl looked past Merle, saw Lori standing and watching them; no one was coming to Marcine's screams. He looked back to his brother, who looked equal parts smug and hateful.

"Not like ya can't get 'er again," Merle chuckled. "She wasn' a virgin, ya know? No sense in actin like a baby over nothin'"

That wasn't the fucking point; Daryl rubbed the heels of his hands up his forehead and into his hair. His chest heaved as he glared at Merle, then Marcine. She froze like a deer in headlights when she saw his attention. Merle acted like she wasn't even there. Daryl's chest heaved one more time before he pointed at Merle again, his voice low and deadly.

"Touch 'er again," he whispered. "And I'll kill ya."