Ding ding ding! angellic dragon: you were right on the hand pun – that's exactly what I was going for! Just couldn't resist that. It was lingering in my mind for a while and I'm glad I was finally able to write it in there.

Anyway, I feel like the story's a drag so I needed to add some excitement and even though I didn't write Merle as an antagonist, I started to annoy myself with my little Notebook storyline and needed some more involved.

I appreciate the reviews and occasional alerts/favorites (which is awesome - didn't expect much!) So thank you guys a bunch!

Keep reviewing please! Even though I don't get suggestions, the reviews alone help me stick to keeping this story alive.

Chapter 7

Coming to the realization that his hallucination days ended at that day at the creek, Daryl kept a hold of Lorena's hand as he defensively turned around, waiting for the man to strike. Lorena turned around as well to confirm the identity of another man she never thought she'd reunite with.

She instantly spotted Merle in the distance, and without question, freed herself from Daryl's grip and ran towards him. Daryl kept alert as he observed the situation intently. He knew his brother was a ticking time bomb since this madness started and he wasn't going to put it past him, especially after what happened in Atlanta.

Surprisingly to Daryl, Merle instantly accepted Lorena's heartfelt embrace as she wrapped her arms around his neck, sobbing yet again. "Shoulda known you were gonna make it out alive, lil' one," Merle said proudly, slipping an arm around her waist while trying to mentally deny the fact he was automatically beginning to feel whole again.

Still defensive, uneasy, and completely overwhelmed to begin with, Daryl slowly started to approach them.

Watching Daryl as him and Lorena broke the embrace, Merle exclaimed, "The fuck is wrong with you, man? Ain't seen your big brother in how long and you approach me like I'm some kinda stranger? Look at you, walkin' up to me like a scared puppy. I haven't even been gone a whole year. Your balls still on that roof with my hand or what?"

Ashamed, Daryl approached quicker and shifted his weight, fumbling with the bottom of his shirt. He knew Merle was who he was, but Daryl wanted to smack himself for mistrusting him. He never did once, despite their rough past. Why start now?

He faced Merle and looked him in the eye. "We didn't exactly leave things off where normal families would, bro. Can't blame me for being unsure. And as for that last statement, my balls are intact and I took yer hand with me. Found it the next day. Threw it at some Mexican lookin' kid as a threat."

"Well ain't you a sick fuck?" Merle joked.

He continued, "And Atlanta? You had shit to do with it. I could break 'Officer Friendly' in half for tryna discipline me with that police brutality shit, but I watched T-Dog drop that damn key down the drain. That shit wasn't even intentional. Even if they wanted to change their minds 'bout settin' me free, they couldn't have. They did what they had to do. I'm a bastard. I fuckin' deserved it. C'mere." He said, grabbing the back of his little brother's neck with his good hand and pulling him close.

Midst embrace, Daryl asked, "You been usin'?" He couldn't remember the last time he was even high fived by his older brother, let alone hugged.

Merle snickered. "Clean for a while now. Ain't by choice, but I reckon it's a start. Does it sound like I'm fuckin' high? I just preached about a group tryna do good things for the world and shit. And I'm all cuddly with yer dumbass."

Still hesitant to give away their new residence so quickly, Daryl inquired about his brother first. "Where you been this whole time?"

Merle took a few steps toward the base of the mountain and sat down next to Lorena on a nearby log.

"Here and there," he began. "Fuckin' truck ran out of fuel quicker than I expected so I've been movin' around by foot past few weeks. Stayed in abandoned sheds and shit. A lot of farm land around here, wherever the hell this is. You know how hard it is to fight those son'bitches with one hand? Surprised I ain't dead yet."

Daryl laughed and added, "And with that shitty aim, you must be starvin'. C'mon, let's hunt."

Lorena scooped an arm under Merle's and rested her head on his shoulder. The absence of walkers was consistent at this point in the woods and Lorena decided this would be a good time to let her boys catch up.

She knew Daryl was struggling in the trust department and she wanted to tear herself away from him in order for him to focus on Merle and getting a feel of the situation of bringing him back. With that, she stood up and said, "Hey, you guys go ahead. I feel like exploring. Well, silently roaming at least."

She saw this one coming. Daryl stepped towards her angrily. "I told you I was never lettin' you out of my sight again and I meant it. You crazy? This isn't the environment to 'roam' in!"

Merle was about to plead her case for her when she put a hand up. Merle stood up and began to head towards the woods further, stopping behind Daryl.

Lorena continued. "You're talking to the same person who survived on her own for months without significant resources or an accessible farm a few miles away. Now I have both. Could you give me some credit for that? Besides the fact, I was either gonna stay in this vicinity or head back to Hershel's anyway."

Merle flashed her a thumbs up from behind Daryl and she quickly raised both eyebrows, giving him a look that advised him not to butt in.

It was just like old times. Lorena and Daryl would have a minor disagreement and Merle would silently congratulate her for sticking up for herself – something Daryl's previous lovers never did.

Daryl grunted in frustration. "You go right back to the farm. You hear me? None of this explorin' the woods shit. You ain't got Dixon blood."

Lorena smiled as she approached him, gently placing her hands on his chest. "You may be right about that. It's your last name I want, not your blood."

He planted a quick, but worry filled kiss on her forehead and pointed a finger at her nose. "I ain't kiddin'. Straight to the farm. We won't be long. I got a date with Sophia anyway," he smirked.

Lorena turned on her heel and flashed two fingers at the Dixon brothers. "Scout's honor. See you soon."

Daryl looked over his shoulder and gave his woman a last glance before heading out with Merle.

Lorena already began to feel guilty as she casually strolled, kicking leaves around her. She wasn't lying when she promised she was going right back to the farm, but she decided on taking a different route. Not to go against Daryl, but just for a quick change of scenery.

The world was over, but with no walkers in sight, the world was beautiful.

Ironically, she found herself enjoying her surroundings more now than she ever did. Living in the city tends to take the beauty out of the simple things, things that are overlooked easily.

She admired the way the trees delicately swayed and how the powerful Georgia sun beamed down, enhancing everything she looked at.

She was so lost in her admiration for nature that she didn't notice the gaping dip until she was already descending into it.