DISCLAIMER: I have nothing to do with Walking Dead Universe, or it's characters. I own nothing but 50% of a restaurant in BFE... damnitall.
A/N - I am a business owner now... which means writing must take a back seat. I am, however, loving the follows, reviews, and messages. Don't give up on this story... it's going somewhere. I promise!
Twenty Minutes Prior:
"Does it look like we're invitin' you in for coffee, Merle?" Carol smiled in spite of herself. She kept Daryl's gun steady as the men accompanying his older brother laid down their weapons and raised their hands above their heads.
Merle chuckled, and holstered his gun. "Darlin', I don't see this goin' any other way that's gonna result in a happy ending for any of us at this point."
"We don't have no coffee, Merle," she held her ground. She knew that showing throat to the elder Dixon brother now would be a grave mistake. Merle and his men might have put their weapons down, but she wasn't about to trust them not to take them up again.
"Well now, ain't it lucky for ya'll that Martinez over there just happens to have a stash of Columbian in his vest pocket?" Merle motioned to the Latino man who had been covering T-Dog. "Martinez! Toss me that liquid gold ya got hiddin' away. We got some peace talks to attend to."
The dark haired man grimaced, but quickly obeyed, tossing a small foil pouch at the one-handed man who was obviously running their show.
Merle grinned at Carol, holding out the coffee with his good hand. He raised his other arm above his head in surrender. She wasn't the least bit placated, noting the wicked looking edge on the knife attached to the contraption that now comprised his other hand.
"How's about you remove that knife first, as a show of good faith?" she nodded her head up towards the blade.
For the second time, Carol watched a fleeting look of surprise flicker across Merle's features, but then it was gone as he lowered his arm and with a flick of his wrist, the blade released and fell to the ground at his feet.
It was Glenn who let out a low whistle of appreciation, having collected the gun of the man who had held him at point until Maggie and Carl had turned the tables.
"Ya like that, China Man?" Merle gloated.
"He's Korean, Merle," Carol asserted, walking up and yanking the coffee out of his waiting hand.
"Whatever ya say, sugar tits," he muttered, moving to follow her towards the fire.
"You know they came back for you," Carol said quietly. The older Dixon hadn't taken his sharp eyes off of her since relinquishing his blade. Now, he watched as she pulled the percolator off of the fire and poured hot coffee into waiting mugs.
"They abandoned me, is what they did," Merle replied. "Had ta cut off my own hand on account of the Biters tryin' to break out on ta the roof."
"They came back for you, Merle," Carol repeated. "Daryl was with them."
She handed him the first cup of coffee, meeting his eyes directly, no holds barred. She wasn't the same person he'd met months ago in the quarry. She was no longer the timid, abused housewife kept under the thumb of a monster. She refused to look away as she spoke again.
"Daryl's a good man. He stepped up. He's a valued member of this group, and he's my friend," she spoke slowly, letting the meaning of her words sink in. "You abandoned him, Merle. Not the other way around."
"Sister, ya better watch what ya say to ol' Merle," Merle blew on his cup of coffee and flashed her a dark look.
It was at that moment that Daryl's shout echoed into camp, startling everyone.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP, MERLE!"
Carol blanched. She hadn't realized that Daryl was that close to camp, let alone within earshot.
"What, baby bro? I can't thank yer little woman here for this fine cup o'coffee?" Merle's expression changed from hostile to mischievous in a nanosecond. He smirked, winking at his little brother from his seat next to Carol.
Despite herself, she blushed and turned away, but not before noting the look of shock and disbelief on Daryl's face. Something told her that he hadn't heard a word of what had passed between her and Merle, and she was both relieved and disappointed at the same time.