"Maggie, couldn't you find anything…well, anything that fits a little better?" Carol asked.

"That fits just fine," Maggie answered, zipping Sadie into her dress.

Most of the women of the community had crowded into the upstairs of Glenn and Maggie's house. Some were trying on dresses with Maggie, some were being sized with Beth, and others were trying on dresses that had already been resized.

Michonne sat to the side, entertaining Hope and Judith who marveled at the dresses and tried to get the attention of the various women. It had been a week since Maggie and Mark announced at breakfast that they were planning their big soiree, and it was one week until the event was supposed to take place. Each evening, after dinner, the women had gone to try on various dresses, pick out the ones they wanted, try them on for sizing, and try them on again after they'd been worked on. Some of them were already done, like Michonne, while others still had a lot of work to go through before they were ready. Mark reported that the men had been much easier to get ready, and mostly all that was left to be done for them were haircuts and shaves.

"Maggie, I look like a prostitute," Carol protested.

"Why, Carol? Because the skirt doesn't go to your ankles?" Maggie asked. She turned away from Sadie then and looked at Carol. Michonne thought the whole thing was humorous. Most of them were pretty easy to please. The dress that Maggie found for her was perfect, in her opinion, since it was tight just under her breasts and loose and flowing everywhere else. Even if she decided to expand some in the upcoming week, the most it would do would raise the skirt a little. Carol wasn't pleased, however with the dress that Maggie had chosen for her, even though it was actually a very nice black cocktail dress.

"You look good in it, leave it alone," Michonne said.

"It needs to come in some more," Maggie said.

"You want it too tight and too short?" Carol said.

"It's not too short," Michonne said. "And I don't think it needs to come in. I think we just need to force Carol to eat double her normal rations for the next week. It'll be good for her, good for the dress, and good for Tyreese."

Carol shot her a look and she simply responded with the sweetest smile that she could muster up.

"I'm with Michonne," Maggie said. "It's operation fatten you up for the rest of the week."

Maggie turned then to some of the others. She and Beth had finished their dresses early so as to not have to worry about them. Now they were focusing on everyone else.

"How am I supposed to go getting dinner ready for everyone dressed in this thing anyway," Carol said.

"Give it up, Carol. You're wearing the dress and you're going to fill it out if we have to get someone to hold you down while you're force fed. You're not serving dinner. Stella here has graciously offered to accompany Mark and help him both with dinner as well as with the children, should you want them to watch them," Maggie said. She had moved on and was checking over Beth's shoulder as she pinned some seams for Chelsea's dress.

"What?" Carol asked, walking over so that Michonne could unzip her. "You should be having fun at the gathering!"

Stella smiled.

"Don't worry, I'll be having fun," Stella said. "Besides, it's more of a couple's thing and since Dominique, I guess I just don't really feel like looking for that anymore. Mark's a lot of fun, and he doesn't have anyone to go with either, so we're going together. I asked him four days ago."

Stella smiled, but it was clear in her face that she still had not gotten over Dominique's death. These days it was typical to accept death, and accept it quickly, but everyone tucked it away, folded it up and put it neatly in their pockets, and they carried it with them to take it out and deal with it little by little as they felt that they could or as they felt they had time to. It was evident that Stella wasn't done dealing with the loss of her companion.

Carol smiled and nodded slightly.

"Well then thank you for the vacation," she said. "I hope you two still find the time to have a little fun."

"We will," Stella said. "We'll be busy talking about everyone else."

"How about you, Chelsea," Michonne spoke up, "who did you decide to invite to the soiree?"

Chelsea turned a little, ignoring Beth's protests that she hold still or risk being poked by pins.

"I asked Jimmy. We're just going as friends, though. I mean I don't think that he's really ready to start talking to anyone else. It wasn't easy on him, losing Sasha, but at least we can go together so that we're not just getting dressed up to go alone," she replied. "I guess it's about like going to the prom with your cousin, isn't it?"

"You didn't ask Beau?" Maggie asked.

"I did," Chelsea said, "but he said he had other plans, so I guess that was his way of saying he didn't want to go with me."

"That's because he's waiting on Sadie to ask him," Carol said. Sadie, who was busy changing back into her clothes, satisfied with her dress, wasn't paying them any attention. Carol tapped her on the shoulder and she turned, still fumbling with the buttons on her shirt. "You still haven't asked anyone yet?"

"No," Sadie responded. "I'm not asking anyone."

"Beau wouldn't go with Chelsea because he was waiting on you to ask someone so he'd know if you were going to ask him or not," Carol said.

"Well I'm not," Sadie said.

"So you're just going alone?" Carol asked.

"No, I'm taking Paul," Sadie said.

Carol rolled her eyes.

"Alright, I agree with Mark now, you're just a tease. You've got two people hanging on the line and you won't make a move either way," Carol said.

Rachel, who was listening to the whole thing and admiring herself in the mirror that Sadie had abandoned to change her clothes, spoke up then.

"It's not like they're really going anywhere anyway, I mean why not have a little fun with them?" She said.

"I don't feel sorry for Rick," Carol said, heaving Judith up on her hip, "don't get me wrong there, but I do feel sorry for Beau. The poor boy just won't give up hope."

"Is that my fault?" Sadie asked. She made a face at Carol.

"It's not your fault, no, not really, but I do feel sorry for him, just the same," Carol responded. She turned to Michonne. "Are you ready to go? The boys are going to be expecting us. Maggie, we'll send Glenn home in a little while."

Michonne gathered up Hope and the two of them bid goodnight to those that were still hanging out, enjoying the preparations for the party.

11111111111111111111111111111111111111111

"What I don't understand, Rick," Daryl said, holding up one of the boards that Tyreese instructed him to hold while he hammered, "is why ya just don't ask her if she's got a mind to invite ya instead of walkin' 'round here watchin' every move she makes like she's in heat an' ya wonderin' if she's gonna get close enough to get some tail."

Rick dropped the boards he was bringing over near Daryl's feet.

"Watch out! Ya 'bout dropped them damn things on my feet!" Daryl said.

"I'm not watching her like she's a dog," Rick said. He chuckled. He knew that Daryl and Tyreese, now secure in their own relationships were just giving him a hard time because he was the only single one of them left. Some of the younger boys were single, that much was true, but he was the only one in their circle not tied up with anyone, and it just so happened that the one that he'd set his sights on wasn't exactly playing easy. "Besides, you two got it easy."

Daryl scoffed.

"You reckon Sadie's a bigger handful than 'Chonne is?" He asked.

"Well tell me, Daryl, how much effort did you put into getting Michonne's attention exactly?" Rick asked. Daryl chewed his lip but didn't respond.

"You see, that's what I thought, Daryl. Michonne wasn't making you chase her. And Tyreese, you've got Carol. She's nice to everyone," Rick argued.

"Hey now!" Tyreese said. "I want credit for my conquests. Carol didn't exactly come running after me. I had to sneak up on her, earn her trust. I supposed that's just about as hard as doing a little chasing."

"Fine then, what do you propose I do?" Rick asked. As much as he hated to ask the two smirking smartasses in front of him for advice, he wasn't really sure what to do about Sadie. She spoke to him, she smiled at him, and she'd have a conversation with him just about any time he wanted to have one, but as of yet he didn't feel that they'd progressed any further than friends, despite his efforts to ask her about herself, her family, her interests before all this, anything that might show he was interested.

"Maybe you oughta make a little show for her, you know, some kind of mating dance," Daryl said. He snickered. "Works for most animals."

"Thank you, Daryl, for that absolutely useless input," Rick said.

"Man, how the fuck did'ja get Lori, then? You know more about this shit than I do, 'Chonne's the first woman I ever really had," Daryl said.

"That was a long time ago, Daryl, and a lot different. Lori came after me more than I went after her," Rick said.

"Try being charming," Tyreese said. He smiled. "You know, turn on the charm a little bit and you'll have her eating right out of your hand in no time."

"I see," Carol called, coming up and surprising all the three of the men. She was bringing a water bucket and grinning at them when they all turned. "And is that what you did, Tyreese? Turned on the charm so I would eat right out of your hand?"

Tyreese stood there quietly and it was evident that he was carefully considering how to answer that question or even if he should actually answer it. When he didn't respond, Carol offered the bucket to the three of them. They all dropped what they were doing and took a moment to get a drink.

"You always talk about women gossiping," Carol said while they were drinking, "yet every time I come out here to check on you all, that's just what you're doing. I'm surprised you're getting any work done."

"We gettin' plenty of work done," Daryl protested. "We gonna have this barn ready long 'fore we have to."

"Maybe so," Carol said. "What amazes me is that you've all got the balls to talk about Sadie when she's just inside."

"Can't hear us," Daryl said.

"Still, she might catch you," Carol said. She turned her attention to Rick. "Sadie's not going to just eat out of your hand, Rick. She doesn't need you. Sorry if that hurts your ego, but it's true. She's not going to come to you either."

Rick gulped another cup of water and smiled at Carol.

"Any suggestions then?" He asked. If Carol was willing to give advice, he was willing to listen to it.

"She's not going to ask you to the party. She has no intention of asking anyone. I know it's lady's choice, but why don't you ask her about it? Offer to escort her, not as a date, but as a friend. The worst that happens is she tells you no, but she may be waiting to find out that you're sure about what you're feeling," Carol said. She turned her eyes at Tyreese for a moment and then went back to talking to Rick. "Just make sure you want what you're asking for, Rick, before you do it. Beau knows he wants her, and I think his intentions are pretty noble. If you run that option off for her completely, don't be an ass about it."

Carol didn't wait for Rick to respond. As soon as Daryl had dropped his cup back into the bucket she heaved it up and stepped through the hole where they'd been building the door frame for the barn to offer Sadie, who was working inside, some water.

"And Prince Charming," Carol said, turning back toward Tyreese, "I need you to take a quick trip to the rabbit pens when you get a chance. The wiring has gotten torn loose on one side and I'm not sure how long my patching is going to hold."

"Yes ma'am," Tyreese said, grinning at her.

11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111

Rick caught up with Sadie as they were both headed back to headquarters to get bathing water before dinner. Sadie turned when she felt him tug on her shoulder. She slowed her pace and allowed him to catch up.

"You're doing a really amazing job down at the barn," Rick said.

Sadie smiled at him. She felt disgusting. She was soaking wet with sweat and she could smell herself. She could feel sweat dripping down the back of her neck, and she knew she was disgusting because every inch of her arms was caked with dirt and dust and splinters from the work she'd been doing. The attempt to convert the house into a suitable barn like structure was taking shape, but it wasn't easy work, and it wasn't clean work by any means.

Yet for as filthy as she felt, she found it a little flattering that Rick was still attempting to flirt with her.

"Thank you," she said. "You're doing good too. You guys will have the doors on before you know it."

She smiled at him, and he returned the smile.

"Listen," Rick said, catching her by the shoulder again and forcibly pulling her to a stop in the middle of the pat that she was treading. He grabbed her shoulders and squared her in front of him so that she was facing him. "I know that you haven't asked anyone to escort you to the party, and I know that it's lady's choice, but I wanted to let you know that I'd like to go with you if you're not thinking of asking anyone else."

Sadie regarded Rick for a moment. He was sweaty and he had what had once been dirt but was now mud swiped across his face and forehead. He was looking intensely at her like he'd just asked her one of the most serious questions. She knew that men had sensitive egos, and she knew that she had to tread easy, especially with a man like Rick. She wasn't sure that he'd entirely moved on from his wife, but for whatever reason he seemed to think that she would be good for him.

Sadie smiled.

"I don't think you know what you want yet," Sadie said. "I don't think you really want to be with me, Rick, I think you just don't want to be alone."

A look of confusion or disappointment one crossed Rick's face. Sadie wasn't positive which. He could be difficult to read at times.

"Sadie, are you trying to tell me what I want, or are you trying to tell me what you don't want?" Rick asked finally. "Because if it's about you, then don't put that on me. We've all got enough feelings to sort out these days without carrying around ones that have been put on us."

Sadie smiled.

"Fine," she said. "You can take me to the party, but we'll go as friends. You know where I live. You might not recognize me without all this crap on my face. I'll be the clean one in purple."

Rick was still looking at her for a moment, his hands holding firm to each of her shoulders, but then his expression softened and finally turned into a smile. He nodded his head and chuckled a little.

"OK then," he said.

"OK?" Sadie asked.

He nodded again, smiling.

"OK, it's a date then," he said.

"As friends," Sadie corrected, pointing her finger at him and lowering her eyebrows. He smiled.

"As friends. It's a date as friends," Rick corrected.

He continued to stand there a moment, holding her shoulders and smiling. Sadie smiled back at him.

"Can I go get a bath now?" She asked finally.

Rick let go of her shoulders.

"Of course," he said. He didn't say anything else to her, but he did keep in step with her until they got to headquarters where Mark was busy handing out buckets of heated water to anyone who wanted them. Sadie accepted her bucket and waited a moment while Rick took his. She allowed him to walk her to her house and bid him goodbye until dinner time. She slipped inside, grateful that she could finally wash off the crud that was caked on her skin, smiling to herself at how surprised Rick had looked that she agreed to have dinner with him at the soiree.

111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111

"What's your dress look like, 'Chonne?" Daryl asked.

Michonne sat on the edge of the bed and finished rubbing lotion on the parts of her body that she could reach. She tossed the bottle backward at Daryl and smiled because moments later she felt his hands coating her back. She never had to ask him anymore. She just offered him the bottle and he gladly rubbed her back for her.

"It's pretty," she said. "I don't want to ruin it for you. It's not as nice as some of the others. We just sort of had to make due. Not too many of the women around here had formal maternity clothes. Carol's dress looks really nice, and Sadie's isn't bad. Beth's is one of the prettiest, I think."

"I bet'cha every bit as pretty as anybody else, 'Chonne. I bet'cha the prettiest one there," Daryl said.

Michonne smiled to herself.

"You're only saying that because you're trying to take advantage of me," she responded. Daryl massaged her neck and she let her head hang forward, enjoying the feeling of him squeezing at her muscles.

"I ain't tryin' to take advantage of ya," he said. "I really do think you gon' be the prettiest woman there."

"And what about you, Daryl? What can I expect to see you wearing?" Michonne asked.

"You'll see me, 'Chonne," Daryl said. "Ain't much to look at, though. I don't much like the outfit, but Mark said you was gonna like it."

"I'm sure I will, Daryl," Michonne responded. "To be honest, I'm a little excited to see you all cleaned up."

"Tell me I ain't gotta wear a tie though, 'Chonne, 'cause that ain't even fair. That thing feels like a noose an' Mark said I gotta wear it 'less ya said I didn't have to," Daryl said.

Michonne smiled. She was excited to see Daryl dressed up with a new haircut and his beard trimmed. She'd asked Mark not to shave it completely. She liked his beard, it just needed to be trimmed a little. She knew, though that asking Daryl to wear a tie might be a bit much. She wanted him fixed up, but she didn't want him uncomfortable the whole evening. That could take the fun out of it.

"OK, Daryl, I'll tell Mark that you don't have to wear a tie if you'll tell Maggie that you're fine with me not wearing any kind of heels," Michonne said. She'd argued a little with Maggie when the girl had insisted she wear a pair of low heels and she'd insisted that she had a pair of flats she'd much rather spend the evening in.

"Shoot, 'Chonne, I don't care if ya don't wear no shoes at all. I ain't gon' be lookin' at your feet," Daryl said.

"Well you just remember to tell Maggie that over breakfast and I'll make sure that Mark knows that I like my man with a few buttons undone," Michonne said.

Daryl stopped rubbing her back and she turned toward him, his lips seeking hers out immediately. She kissed him lazily, their tongues battling for ground for a moment. When they pulled apart, she smiled at him. He nuzzled her ear.

"I found a pretty dress for Hope too," Michonne said. "You're going to have to escort both of us."

"Only thing better than bein' there with the prettiest woman is bein' there with both the prettiest," Daryl said.

"And we're lucky enough to get to go with the most handsome man," Michonne said.

Daryl pushed her back on the bed and kissed her again, straddling her and turning his attention to running his hands gently over her body. He kissed her neck, sucking gently at the skin there as his hands went to her breasts.

"I also found you a pair of earrings," Michonne said. Daryl stopped kissing her a minute and smiled at her. She couldn't help but smile back. "They're not quite as flashy as the ones that you found, but they do sparkle," she said. Daryl grinned again and kissed her. "You're not hating the idea of this as much as you were before, now are you?" She asked.

"No, 'Chonne, I don't reckon I is," he said. "I am worried, though, 'bout what we gon' do when we get home from this here party."

"Are you?" She asked. Daryl went back to kissing her neck, one hand sliding down her body to tease her. She bucked underneath him.

"Yeah," he whispered in her ear. "I was thinkin' we might oughta practice, ya know, so we can get it right then."

"Practice, huh?" She asked, panting from his teasing. "Like this?" She asked, swallowing.

"Yeah, a lil' bit like this," he said. "Maybe a lil' bit more, too."

He lowered his mouth to her breast, his hand not letting up on its efforts to drive her over the edge. She closed her eyes, reaching to tangle her hand in his hair.

"Would ya like that?" He asked, raising his head from sucking at her nipple. "Ya wanna practice just a lil' bit more?"

"Mmmm hmmm," Michonne forced out. Daryl chuckled and increased his speed on her core, holding himself up over her.

"Then come on and get on about it, 'Chonne. Then I'll join ya for a 'round," he said.

Michonne let herself go, her mind spinning at the orgasm that rolled over her. As she started to come back to herself, Daryl was already changing positions, this time dropping down to lap at her and tease her with his tongue. She rolled her head back on the pillow, realizing that it was going to be a long night before they finally got any sleep, but also realizing that she didn't care in the slightest right now if they slept at all.