Chapter 8

-Loverboy? I think not.-

Even with first shift on watch, the kitchen was full at dinnertime. It was the only meal of the day where they tried to come together as a community. In the warmer months tables were set outside in the parade square, but the first snowfall of the season had forced them inside. Archer was sitting in her spot at the end of the table with Joel and Michael. It was a tight squeeze these days with the newcomers expanding the crowd.

Sheila, standing by the door, banged a wooden spoon on a small copper pot. This was the customary way to get everyone's attention. "Ladies and gentlemen, the small council has some announcements."

The small council was the group that organized the operation of the fort. Most importantly, they were the ones in charge of assigning chores and maintaining the supplies.

Sheila smiled. "As you know, we had a big harvest this year. I am happy to say that we're just about done with all the preserving this season." A cheer went up through the crowd. Everyone was sick of taking turns at the jarring station.

"This means that we'll be having our Thanksgiving celebration on Saturday. Any volunteers to help with the cooking and planning can come see me after dinner tonight." Another cheer went out. Thanksgiving always marked the end of the break-neck pace of work from the harvest. It also meant that fewer scouts would have to go out alone now that the manpower wasn't needed for the kitchens.

"Now I understand the Big Council has an announcement as well?" Sheila looked at Cap, who used a napkin to wipe his mouth before standing up.

"This Thanksgiving will be an extra special one here. We have new friends and family to be thankful for. I am happy to say that Rick and his people have accepted our offer to stay on with us permanently."

Another cheer went up from the table, hands were slapped on tables and backs. Rick's people had fit in well with the group and Emma knew the Big Council had hoped that they would stay.

Emma looked at the corner table by the door where Daryl sat with Costas and Michonne. She was quite glad they were staying. As if sensing her eyes, Daryl looked over at her. She smiled at him. He gave her a slight nod, before turning back to his plate.

"Daryl's a bit cagey. Don't you think?" Joel asked no one in particular.

"If that's what you want to call it." Michael answered.

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The day after the announcement that they were staying, Rick's group had been given new accommodations throughout the fort. With the size of their group expanding, it was decided that the barracks would be turned into their new dining hall. A couple of the fort guys had set up an impromptu band stand in the corner and had re-located the fort's upright piano into the room.

Following their Thanksgiving feast, the fort's musicians played a random assortment of whatever songs they could remember, while the rest of their community sang or danced along. The party was going strong long after the sun disappeared from the sky.

She'd noticed Daryl had been sitting in a corner of the room playing wallflower. She'd seen him refuse a few ladies who asked for a dance. There were more men than women, so those that wanted to dance easily found other partners.

Joel loved to dance and he was good too. Archer's brother had dragged her to dance lessons when he wanted to surprise his fiancée. Since Emma could keep up with him, Joel always chose her as his partner. Many of the fort's residence enjoyed watching and cheering them on. Being the ham that he was, Joel fed into it. He'd swing Emma around, dip her, and generally make her very dizzy.

There was only so much fun that she could take before she was positively exhausted. When she had a chance, she pawned Joel off on Maggie and retreated outside.

She was surprised to see that Daryl had followed her outside. "You're breaking hearts tonight, Mr. Dixon." She teased, pulling off her ballet flats. She'd worn a knee length jersey dress to dinner, knowing full well that Joel was going to give her a workout on the dance floor.

"What?" Daryl sounded puzzled.

"You didn't dance. I take it you're not a dancer?"

"Just wasn't feelin' it."

She leaned against the stone wall of the fort and wiggled her toes on the cold floor. "Well, maybe next time."

"You 'n Joel danced a lot."

"Yes. He's merciless." She stretched her arms over her head.

"Loverboy don' t mind sharing?" Daryl said a bit too casually.

"You mean Michael? He can't really dance much but he doesn't want to spoil Joel's fun. He usually just plays with the band or sings with everyone else." The cold air on her sweaty skin caused her to shiver.

"Here." Daryl shucked off his leather jacket and held it out for her.

She waved him off apologetically. "It's okay, I don't want to get sweat all over it."

"S'arright." His voice was soft as he placed the jacket on her shoulders, gently dragging his fingers across her collarbone as he did so. "Nothin' wrong w'a sweaty woman… so long as she enjoys herself."

She blushed and looked away. "Thanks."

"Walk a bit?" He asked.

"Just let me pop my shoes on." She dropped her flats onto the ground and slipped into them.

"No boots today." Daryl commented as they started walking around the edge of the square.

"Boots are for work. These are for dancing."

"You got shoes for all occasions?" Daryl crossed his arms and looked at her from under his fringe.

"Hey, I'm a woman. Women like their shoes." She chuckled a bit, looking up at the sky. "I used to be much worse. I had all kinds of shoes before, really silly ones too."

"Silly?"

"Oh yes, the higher the heel the better. Limo shoes, we used to call them."

"Ride in a lot o' limos?"

"No. It's just what my friends and I called shoes that were really only good for getting in and out of cars. The high and dainty types you couldn't walk in for a long time." She sighed. "No place for those now."

"But those are?" He pointed to her flats.

"Well, I can run in them, so yeah." She shrugged. "Can't live in riding boots all the time."

They walked for a little while in silence, Archer led them past the gatehouse to the lower fort. There was a good view of the river on the south side. They stopped to admire the moonlight on the water. She pulled Daryl's coat closer around her shoulder in an effort to shelter herself from the breeze off the water.

Daryl broke the silence. "You really never used a gun?"

She cast him a sideways glance. "Do I need one right now?"

"Out there." He nodded his head towards the gates. "You just have a knife on ya."

"I told you, I'm horrible."

"What about loverboy? He a good shot?"

"You mean Michael? Yeah, he's fair."

"So gimpy has skills afterall."

"Don't call him that." She scowled. "You don't know Michael. He worked hard to learn to shoot. It's not easy for him, being trapped in the walls all the time."

"Sorry, didn't mean ta diss your boyfriend." Daryl muttered.

"Wait a second," Archer looked over at Daryl. "do you actually think that Michael and I have a thing?"

Daryl didn't turn back. She looked back at the river and chuckled. "You really haven't noticed, have you."

"Noticed enough."

"We're not like that, Daryl. Michael and I are friends. That's all."

"Sure. You 'n loverboy 'r friends."

She laughed out loud at that. "I don't call him loverboy. That's what Joel calls him." She could tell that Daryl was looking at her out of the corner of his eye.

"So?"

"Still don't get it, do you."

"Get what?"

" THINK about it, Daryl. Michael and Joel. " She glanced at Daryl, she could see the wheels turning.

"They're gay?" Daryl shook his head. "Naw."

"Yes." She sighed "Look, Michael's parents were very traditional. They would never have supported him, so he kept that side of himself pretty closeted. Even though the world's gone crazy, he has a hard time showing affection in public. He's very private about it."

"Shiiit."

"What? You have some kind of issue with that?"

"Naw, I just…" Daryl shook his head. ".. the way he's always lookin' out for you. He's always got his arm 'round you … didn't look gay t'me."

"We're close. Michael and I have been through a lot together. "

"That a part o' the long story?"

"Yeah. Pretty much." She turned around and headed back to the upper fort. "Like I said, take me out for coffee one day and I'll tell you about it."

Daryl turned to look at her, but he didn't follow. "Yeah, we'll stop at Starbucks."

She laughed.