Dead Days

Chapter Nine

What's Life Without a Few Bumps in the Road

Hi guys! Back with another chapter. So, Remington is going to go through a bit of a tough time believing that her feelings are okay and that they would be reciprocated. It's pretty brief but fundamental for her to go through because of what she went through in her past relationship. So, just a heads up cause I know some people find that annoying to read.

IMPORTANT PLEASE READ

Sexual Content Ahead.

Non-con but it is not done by Merle, Daryl, Or Shane.

These are only for a small part of the story and are in the italicized part of the story only. So, if you want to avoid it then just skip to where it does back to normal, or the words "Remington screeched".

Hope you all enjoy!

A silhouette is following

just waiting to break me down

-Skeleton by Set it Off

In the end, Remington hadn't managed to go find Merle and let off some steam. Amy had come to find her saying the kids were waiting on her for their lessons and that she wanted to join in on them if Remi hadn't minded. This didn't bother Remington at all. She welcomed Amy with open arms and mentally thought to ask the other adults. She was still working Carol into allowing her to train Sophia and knew the woman was about to crack at any point. Morgan had eyed Duane a time or two, but he still hadn't offered it up and Remington was worried to overstep their precarious situation and ruin any friendship they had tentatively formed. It wasn't much but it was there. She was willing to withhold weapons training for anyone who felt skittish about it, there were many other ways to protect yourself, and survive, but Remington truly thought it should be mandatory in the future. People shouldn't rely on someone else to keep themselves safe. It only fed into the problem and put others at stake.

As she had Maisie practicing with the BB gun, not overly loud, but Remington was certain it wouldn't carry across the field into the trees where Walkers could be lurking. Not this close to the house. So, she set up a paper marker on the post and set her at hitting the bullseye. She was getting better. More often than not she hit the paper and had been making more hits toward the center of the target. Remington was glowing with pride and some of her anxiety began to ease at the thought that Maisie would one day be able to properly protect herself.

Landon was working with his machete. He did well with the BB gun but had explained to her he preferred to find a different weapon that wasn't a gun. Remington respected that and had spoken to Daryl about finding the boy a hunting bow or a crossbow that he could handle. Daryl had agreed to keep an eye out for the bow. All she could do from now on was wait and see.

Amy was waiting her turn with the BB gun, explaining how she hadn't had much practice with guns at all and was currently sitting behind Maisie reading a book Remington had handed her. It was full of which plants were safe to use, which ones weren't, and those you couldn't eat, but could use for medicinal purposes. Remington had explained this was what she instructed the children to do as well, and that she wouldn't let Amy skip out on the learnings.

As she watched the three's progress Remington heard heavy footsteps come up behind her, loud on purpose, she noted, as usual.

"Hershel clear you then?" she asked, not turning to look at him as she kept her eyes glued onto Maisie. Remington had been strict on Maisie, not even touching the gun unless an adult was watching closely. Remi did not need the child to lose an eye because of carelessness.

"Fuckin' finally," Merle grumped, as he swung his arm over her shoulder, and tucked her into his side. Remington blinked in surprise, automatically adjusting herself so she fit more comfortably, and didn't notice the smug and happy look that crossed over his gaze. "Was just 'bout ta go crazy."

"You would have managed," she said, trying to ignore the fact that her heart had begun to beat outrageously against her chest.

"Ta kid grew bored enough ta ditch meh."

"She's a kid they do that." Remington peeked up to smile at him before refocusing herself. "Maisie it's Amy's turn to shoot." Instead of walking over to grab the target, Remington felt herself melt further into Merle's touch as she waited for Maisie to do it herself. The little girl grew excited over being given more responsibilities and freedom and snatched up any moment she could. Even small tasks like this one. Amy took her own paper and used the nails that were there to pin it before making sure Maisie was clear out of the danger zone.

Turning around to make sure it was okay with Remington, Amy couldn't help the slight widening of her eyes, at the picture the two other adults made. She bit her lip, trying not to smile, just knowing it would cause the picture in front of her to break, and Amy liked the happiness that shined on Remi's face at that moment. She was staring up at Merle, chiding him over something, tucked into his side, as Merle stood there smirking, looking proud.

When Maisie stopped in front of her, showing the target, pride overtaking her stance, Amy thought that it made a cute picture. She only thought there were a few missing pieces. Shaking those types of thoughts clear from her head Amy focused back on the task in front of her. She needed to get this right.

Remington had a struggle forming inside her mind. She thought it would be best to remove herself from Merle's touch, beating herself up with thoughts over it just being friendly, as her heartbeat for something more, but she was too weak to do such a thing. Instead, she stayed there, enjoying the warmth, and the way it made her stomach flip as she praised Maisie, and taught her tips on how to do better next time.

Just another few moments and then she would remove herself.

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The day slipped into the early afternoon before the first group came back. Or, she should say most of the group came back. Remington panicked before Jackson calmed her down and explained how Glenn had asked to stay on the highway with the other group when they returned. Mentally she told herself to enforce a rule of always coming back with the group you left with unless something prevented you from doing so. That way no one got the wrong idea when someone was a person short, and mistakes weren't assumed.

Remi let it slide for now and instead spoke to Jackson about his report. They hadn't come across anything he had thought would make a good long-term shelter for them, but they had managed to fill a couple of bags with food. That was enough in Remington's books to make the trip worth it as she happily asked him to set them aside so Carol could add them to the inventory list. The woman had asked to take up that job along with the cooking. She knew how to make most things edible, even when there wasn't much to work with, and so Remington felt no need to deny her.

Happy to have her brother back safely, Remington gave him a hug before letting him go off to wind down. It felt good to finally have her brother back, and their relationship like it was before. It eased her mind and allowed her to focus on what mattered. She turned toward Daryl who had been loitering, biting his cheek, but not speaking. Remington's expression brightened as she turned to him. She rocked back on her heels, trying to put a lid on her emotions, as all she wanted to do was hug him as well. He seemed to have grown used to her touches, but Remi was still afraid to overstep boundaries, and in her head, her mind whispered how she didn't deserve to be wanting all three of them.

"The two of yah seem better," Daryl said, forcing words out of his mouth, as he didn't want to leave her side just yet. He eyed her body, noticing the way she seemed to be holding herself back, and found himself confused over why. Was he giving off some kind of vibe that told her to stay away? He was fairly confident he wasn't but decided to try to fix that.

"Yeah, we've been talking. We've finally come to an understanding, and it eased the strain on our relationship." Some of the anxiety swirling inside of her calmed down at that reminder. "It's nice."

Daryl nodded, his eyes darting toward the woods, before landing back on her.

"Was gonna go huntin'," he began, deciding he wanted to show her he wanted her around, even if he wasn't good with words. Remington didn't give him time to continue as she spoke up suddenly, in her anxiety, and tried to back away. His eyes narrowed a bit at her as she continued to speak.

"Oh, yeah, go ahead and do that!" Remington couldn't stop the words from tumbling out. She wasn't sure why she was feeling this way. As if such a small sentence should be able to make her feel like crap. She wondered why, out of nowhere, she was feeling this way. "I'm sorry for keeping you waiting, thanks for letting me know, but you should get out there while there's still daylight left. I'd like you back before it gets dark. For safety reasons, yah know." She silently cursed herself for the babbling as she tried to back away. Her anxiety was getting the best of her today and she needed to chill out before she made a bigger fool of herself. It was two for two now. All she needed was for Shane to get back and go screw up with him too.

Daryl leaned forward, grabbing at her arm, as he kept her from going anywhere. His touch was gentle but full of frustration.

"Yah didn't let me finish, woman," he grumbled, causing her to sheepishly shuffle in place. Her skin tingled where he held onto her. "Wanna go out with me? Could teach yah a few things. Be a good day for it. We're not hurtin' on food."

Relief soothed her at his words while something else hotter bubbled up. She found herself quickly nodding, without thinking about it, as all she wanted to do was spend time with him. He was asking her. Not the other way around. She also couldn't help the blush that formed on her cheeks at the way he had phrased it. This was not a date. This was not the time from before. He had not meant it in the way her head wanted it to be.

She needed to stop.

Remi should say no before her head got any more ideas, but Remington was already planning on seeking out Merle and Jackson to make sure the camp, and the kids, were covered while she was gone.

Remington didn't want to waste this opportunity, regardless of how much it'll hurt later when she's forced to face reality. She didn't mind living in a fantasy world for a little bit longer.

"Yes, I'd love to," she coughed, reprimanding herself, and mildly telling herself to get a grip. "I mean yeah, just let me go to talk to Merle and Jackson. I gotta make sure the camp and kids will be covered."

"'Course," Daryl nodded as satisfaction over her acceptance settled over him. He liked the fact that she had seemed so eager to join him and looked happy that he had been the one to offer. It caused contentment at the fact that he had made her feel that way wash over him.

As Remington left him to wait, she silently began to chide herself over her actions. This little crush on the three men was becoming outrageous. She hadn't come to the realization that the crush had begun to grow into something much more.

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They walked quietly through the woods. Neither spoke. Daryl focused on the woods around them, and Remington followed his lead. Every now and then he would raise his crossbow to shoot at a creature, and Remington would catch herself staring at his arms, getting lost in her thoughts at the sight of them. She remembered how they felt carrying her from the ridge and back to the cabin. At one point he had caught her staring causing Remington to quickly look away and internally die from embarrassment.

She caught the confused look on his face and could only thank God that he hadn't seemed to pick up on what was going through her head.

If she slipped too far into her own mind Remington would forget where she was, her footsteps would grow louder, and she'd have to break herself from the images swirling around inside her head. All of which could be connected back to those damn arms. Them wrapped around her from behind. Which would lead to her picturing his lips caressing the skin on her neck. Those hands traveling downward.

A small moan slipped from her lips, jerking her from her thoughts, and causing her to trip over her own feet, as she let out a horrified whimper upon realizing it hadn't just been in her head, but aloud. Daryl spun on his heel, swift on his feet, as his instincts had him reaching out to catch her before she could continue her descent toward the ground. Remington's cheeks were heating up, as a babble of apologies escaped her lips, all while she berated herself for getting lost in her own thoughts.

That was not appropriate!

What if he realized what she had been imagining? Would he grow uncomfortable under the knowledge and start to avoid her? Another whimper escaped from her lips at the thought of him avoiding her.

Had it been so long since she last had sex that her mind was plagued by it?

"Yah all right?" he asked in worry. His hands gripped her elbows, helping to keep her up, but one had let go as he began to kneel in front of her, reaching toward her ankle. His hand slid down her leg, lifting it, so he could get a closer look at her ankle. It had Remington burning, both glad and disappointed that she was wearing jeans and couldn't feel his touch directly on her skin. She wasn't sure she would have been able to hold back another sound and pull herself from the very dirty thoughts that had decided to take over her better judgment.

As it was Remington was having a hard time not melting into his touch as one hand steadied her, and the other cupped her leg, massaging up to her knee, before falling back toward the ankle, asking her if something hurt along the way. She stared down at him through hooded eyes, following the path his fingers worked on, before blinking as she realized he had begun to repeat himself, growing more concerned with each question, not receiving a response.

It hadn't been that long since the last time she had gotten laid. It wasn't a memory she liked to look back on, Remi hadn't felt this way about sex in a long time, and definitely hadn't ever responded like this over a simple touch.

Her hands raised, covering her face, feeling mortified, as she pulled her leg out from his grip.

"I just tripped," she groaned, willing the red to leave her face, as she wished she could go back in time and erase that from ever happening. Daryl frowned, reaching back out, as he made to gently guide her leg back toward him.

"Yah sounded hurt." She tried pulling back, that embarrassment only growing, as he confirmed her thoughts on him hearing her moan. Her only saving grace was he had suspected it for all the wrong reasons. It didn't help calm her racing pulse or the way it began to pound away inside her ears, as he touched her again, this time firmer. "Let me see if you did anything to it." She wasn't going to be able to hold back if he continued. Remi was feeling very weak. She did not want to make this awkward. Her leg jerked back automatically causing him to curse. "Dammit, woman." He overcorrected her, causing her upper body to be thrown off balance, and instead of falling backward like she had begun to, Remington threw herself forward, her arms reaching out to Daryl to catch herself. Only he had yanked her toward him at the sight of her falling and she ended up tumbling toward him more aggressively than planned.

Daryl was knocked back, the breath leaving his lungs, as he ended up sprawled out on his back. Remington managed to catch herself, her hands pushed against his chest, as she half leaned on him, and half crouched over him.

Her knee pulsed with pain as it hit the ground underneath them. She hissed in discomfort as she shifted, unknowingly moving to straddle him, as she searched to ease the pain.

Daryl grunted at the pressure, his hands automatically moving to her hips, to lift her up as he cursed softly as he tried to ease the sensation that would quickly drive him crazy if he let it. This was not at all what Merle had in mind when they all talked the night before. He glanced up at her, seeing the way her eyes had turned wild, her cheeks bloomed, and dawning realization flooded what was left.

"I'm sorry!" she squeaked, the words sounding tiny and anxious. She scrambled off of him, and away, as she pulled herself to stand, and began to twitch as every muscle screamed at her to run away. To hide. "My ankle is fine, I wasn't hurt, I promise." She began to shake as her body fought between the yearning between her legs and the fear that flooded her mind. "Oh god."

He eyed her carefully as he pushed off from the ground, grabbing at his crossbow, as he stood up. He swung it back onto his back as he observed her. She didn't look like she was hurt. Embarrassment poured from her body language, and he was concerned with how skittish she had seemingly become.

"Don' worry about it." He didn't take a step forward. Daryl could see that it might cause her to flee, and he was worried she would get lost on her way back to the farm. He had been keeping track mentally of how to get back, but he was uncertain if she knew how to do that in unfamiliar surroundings. She had never reacted this way toward him before. He wasn't sure if they had ever been that close outside from the night, he had slept next to her, but that hadn't been anywhere as intimate as this moment. Daryl wondered if that was what had her scared. "Yah all right? I didn't hurt yah?"

"No." She shook her head as she tried calming her racing mind. It wasn't his fault. She didn't want him to think that way. She had been the one to cause this. God, she needed to get a grip.

'Don't know why you're looking at him like that. No one's going to want you once they realize how ruined you are. Your mine. Always will be.'

Her ex's voice ghosted over her consciousness causing her to flinch as she took another step away from Daryl.

She hated hearing his voice. It horrified and scared her how easily her mind could conjure up such things. It scared her how easily she fell into line and accepted them as truth. Even after the last few months, being away from his control, he still held a tiny bit over her. She couldn't escape years of conditioning. She believed in it.

Wasn't she stronger than this?

Daryl noticed the way she faded into herself. Growing concerned but unsure of what to do to help he decided it was better if he let Merle or Shane tiptoe through fixing this. He worried it had been his actions that caused her to react this way and he didn't want to push her further away.

"It's not your fault." Her voice broke him out of his thundering thoughts, almost like she had been listening in, but she wasn't even looking at him. "My head is just muddled, and I stumbled. I'm having a hard time thinking right now. We should head back." He nodded in agreement moving to follow after her and make sure she didn't have any more accidents, but that didn't stop the worry that badgered away at him. "Really, it's not your fault." She glanced at him over her shoulder. "I'm just having an off day."

He was forced to believe her, hoping that's all it was, and not that he had somehow accidentally pushed her. That those demons she tried to hide had come back.

Remington drifted back, until she was walking next to him, but kept a healthy distance between them.

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Merle stared at the tent Maisie, and Shane had led him to. The tent he was supposedly sharing with his brother, not a problem, but not where he had expected it. He eyed the two tents on either side of the one Maisie had pointed out to be hers. That's where he had expected his tent to be.

"Who's sleepin' there?"

"That's mine," Shane muttered, already catching onto what he was thinking, and just glad it wasn't his tent. He knew as soon as Jackson had set claim to the spot that the Dixons wouldn't be happy.

"That one's Uncle Jack!" Maisie said. "It's nice to have him back. I like having him close. The whole families here now."

She smiled widely up at them.

Merle had accepted Maggie's words of being her dad, and he hadn't told her not to say I love you again, so, maybe, Shane thought the same way. Maisie was a little worried about coming right out and asking, but she figured if he was okay with calling her family, then he'd be okay with becoming her dad as well.

She wanted him to understand what she was trying to get at. Maybe all she needed was a little bit of courage. And to be straightforward. Hadn't that been something her momma said?

Tugging at his shirt she made hand motions for Shane to pick her up. He raised an eyebrow at the way she still sometimes refused to use her words but with Remington not around he indulged her. He swept her up into his arms and gazed at her in amusement. Her hands reached out, squeezing his cheeks, forcing his lips to pucker up, as she twisted her face into her best imitation of seriousness. Shane almost couldn't take the cuteness that was being bestowed upon him as he tried to keep a serious face, imitating her.

He was waiting for something to fall from her lips, maybe something cute, or silly, as he had come to expect that from her, but was floored by the words she actually spoke.

"I love you." Her eyes burned into his own. Her voice was soft but stern as if she were drilling it into his head. "Momma said family is important, and that you should let them know."

She allowed the words of dad, or otherwise to stay locked up inside of her. It was hard to erase the image of her father growing angry at the mere mention of her stating her love for her uncle. She remembered the way he had yelled, accusing her of not loving him, and feeling more for a man that hadn't had a part in making her. Her father wasn't around but that fear still held her back from acknowledging aloud how she felt about him. What if she said it and was told it was wrong? What if she was only allowed to have one dad in her lifetime? Was she forever stuck with a man that Maisie felt guilty about disliking?

Merle may have not corrected Maggie in what she said, but that didn't mean she wouldn't be punished for putting it into words. What if her father came back and found out? There was time to make her feelings known later. For now, she wanted to sit back and watch how he reacted to just being her family. She'd grow the courage to find out what would happen in the future.

Maisie would learn that Shane, nor the other two, would ever disappoint her.

Shane saw the flicker of uncertainty rise in those baby blues before they were drowned out by the determination of her own decision. He carefully dislodged her hands from his face, holding them between his one, as he evenly met her gaze. Shane wanted her to understand, to never feel fearful of telling him something like that.

"Baby girl," he uttered softly matching her tone. "Never feel as if you have to hide that from me. I'm honored you consider me as part of your family. You've become quite important to me too. Hell, I don't know what I'd do without yah in my life anymore. Why I'd have a Maisie size hole in my heart if you ever decided to up and leave."

Maisie giggled at that, wiggling in his hold, as she leaned forward to swoosh her nose against his own in an Eskimo kiss.

Merle let the moment pass. He watched it with fondness growing in his heart, and the reassurance that what they wanted from Remington wouldn't affect the kids negatively. Maisie was already noticing the dynamic shifting and had come to her own conclusions in her heart. They would have the girl's acceptance.

Once she was placed back down and Merle knew the moment had passed, he turned to settle his disappointed gaze on the ex-cop.

"Now, I know yah were here when he set tat thing up," Merle grumped. "Yah couldn' tell him ta fuck off, tat it was already takin'. He could'a had this spot."

Shane snorted as he shook his head, not believing that Merle Dixon was whining about his spot being taken.

"You try telling the big brother that he can't have a spot next to his little sister, and why exactly that is. Something tells me a protective person like that wouldn't have taken it sitting down. I'm trying to form a relationship with Remington pissing off her beloved brother seems to me to be counterproductive."

"Don' get smart with meh boy." He narrowed his eyes a bit at Shane. Merle wasn't going to admit that his reasoning was wise. It didn't make him feel any better about the situation. He was going to have to rectify this, and soon.

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Shane watched in concern as Remington herded the kids and dogs toward the tent. The light from the sun had barely disappeared over the horizon. Usually, they hung out for a bit more, talking to those around the fire, and were one of the first to leave once people started to break away. Tonight, she looked tired, stressed, and hadn't participated much. He caught the glances Daryl sent her way, noticing how she had seemed at odds after arriving back on the farm, and the way he followed closely behind while purposefully keeping space between them.

It set him on edge, but she held an air about her, a warning of getting close, and the three of them decided to let her deal with whatever was wrong, before trying to butt in.

He hoped they were making the right decision.

His instincts split him in two, and all he could do was sit and wait.

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Remington could feel hands ghosting over her sides. They bunched up the material of her shirt and dragged lazily across her skin, drawing a roadmap of fire that melted away at her insides. A moan escaped her lips, as they drifted ever higher, cupping over her breast. She melted back into the strong arms of her lover as they trailed kisses across her shoulder, nipping, and biting their way up her neck, to suck on that sensitive spot behind her ear. She shivered, her body jerking, as waves of pleasure devoured her senses.

"Woman," his voice growled into her ear. "Yah keep soundin' like that and you'll drive me to finish before we even start." Her hips spasmed against his own as her breathing elevated as his teeth pressed down against her shoulder dragging them across her skin.

"Please," she whimpered, her mind feeling as if it was drugged and not sure what exactly she was asking about. She felt desperate for the need to chase that pleasure and drown out all else.

"Tell me what yah need." She tried to turn, wanting to feel his lips on her own, to see the face behind the voice, but her body refused to cooperate. A tongue swirled against her skin as soft words whispered after it.

"I-."

The body behind her shifted, changing, taller, leaning over her as new lips brushed against her ear.

"Or do you need me, darling?" Hands, bigger than before, caressed her stomach, dipping lower, hesitating over the top of her jeans, as they moved to grip her hips. His fingers dug tantalizingly into her skin, teasing, as he jerked her back against him. Her back fit snuggly against a hard-muscled stomach and chest. A gasp drifted from her lips ending on a whimper as he bucked against her. "All you've gotta do is say it."

Remington felt as if she was on fire, her skin burned under his touch, as his name drifted from the depths of her haze-filled mind only to disappear as quickly as it surfaced. She needed, wanted, to see his face, to confirm that strange sensation, but his hands were brushing back her hair, and his lips were leaving a blazing trail of heat across her skin that made it hard to think. Her eyes closed instinctively as she rocked against him, that pressure building up inside of her. His hands dipped lower, under the fabric, but halted as his fingers drew circles close to where she wanted it but not quite where she needed it.

"I need-." The words were clipped short as fingers searched further, brushing across that bundle of nerves, causing a whimpering moan to leave instead.

The figure behind her shifted once more, broader now, shorter, presence domineering. An arm wrapped around her body, pulling her snug back, warping her to his form, as the other hand continued where the last left off. A head buried itself into her neck. She could hear him hum in satisfaction.

"We know what yah need sweetheart," the voice crooned into her neck. "Yah gotta let go. Let us in."

"I c-can't-."

She tried to jerk forward, shuddering in pleasure, but his grip was strong, holding her up, against him, as her knees felt as if they would collapse from underneath her at a moment's notice. She had nowhere to go but that didn't bring on anxiety or fear, just that heat, and excitement at what was to come next.

"Yah can. Yah doin' it now. Let us take care of yah girl." Her heart sped up, his fingers dipped past the last barrier, and she could feel the warmth from his skin sink into her flesh, burning her alive, as he pressed against that spot that had her seeing stars. "Just let go."

She felt the moment she came undone. The scream caught on her lips as her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she collapsed back against him, only something was wrong. The person had shifted once again, but there was no one left that her heart belonged to. There should have been no one after the last.

He was taller than any of the others, leaner, but just as strong, as the bare muscle rippled across her back. His hold was possessive, dominant, and mean, not the care and gentleness from before. His palm splayed across the skin of her breast in a bruising way causing her to cry out in fear. The hand that had lovingly brought her to her end was now replaced with one relentless, brushing against her, using more force than necessary as all he wanted was to get her ready, there was no emotion other than need and greed.

She cried out and tried to pull away, but that force from before refused to let her move. She was trapped against him. She was always trapped. With nowhere to go.

"P-please," she sobbed. "Let me go."

Teeth sank harshly into the skin of her shoulder, removing the marks left from the others, and replacing them with something bitter and dark.

Acid coiled in her stomach, catching in her throat, and bringing with it a sick feeling as it threatened to spill over. Her skin crawled, pinpricks of ice instead of pleasure-filled tingles, as it engulfed her mind. She wanted to crawl out of herself, to disappear, and fade away, as Remington realized exactly who had appeared behind her.

"What have you been up to, Rem?" that sickly sweet voice whispered into her ear. The deep baritone sounded of sugar, sweeter than any candy, enough to curdle your stomach and eat away at your insides. It was the voice of a nightmare. Her own personal hell. "You get away from me, leave me worrying, sick with fear, and I find you in the arms of not one, but three men. Oh, you have been a busy girl."

He kissed the shell of her ear, lightly blowing into it, as he began to sway her gently from side to side. It would have all been quite romantic if it wasn't for the bruising grip he used as he tried to push her to another orgasm.

"S-stop!" She hated how her voice sounded. Weak. Pathetic. Always so small against his own.

"You let those fuckers use you, to touch you like this, you come undone so easily under their touch, but not my own." His hand came up, leaving her breast, to yank her head to the side as he breathed in at the apex of her neck. "When did you turn into such a whore." A finger slipped inside of her, then another, and another, far too fast, filling her before she was ready, as he curled and pumped them, causing her to yelp in pain, as she squirmed against him.

"N-no!" She made to move, to do anything, even just to use her hand, to pull him away, but she stayed just as still as before. Her breathing had begun to come out in short bursts as panic seized her throat and slammed into her body with such force it almost left her breathless. "Please, stop, leave me alone." She begged and pleaded, but he enjoyed the stream of words as she began to shake, and pulse around his fingers. He chuckled darkly into her hair. Purring out whispered words of encouragement as tears dripped down her cheeks and onto his skin.

"You're mine, Remington." He hissed the words into her skin as he began to pull down her jeans. "Not theirs. They wouldn't want you if they knew what all I've done to you." She sobbed against the desperation that filled her. That fear clutched her into the icy coldness that surrounded this man. She couldn't escape because her body was frozen. It always failed her in the end. "Let me show you how your man should take you."

Remington screeched, the sound slamming into the walls of the tent, forcing Maisie's eyes open, as blind panic seized hold of her lungs, and limbs. That was not a noise her mother had made in a long while.

Panicked and scared blue eyes searched the confines of the tent, expecting to see her father, standing there, eyes wide and crazed, but only darkness met her. Beside her Landon had begun to stir, seeking Maisie out blindly, as suffocating fear drowned the inside of the tent.

Maisie was on her feet within seconds, her body shaking, as she crawled over to shake at her mother's prone form. She whimpered, twitching, as words tumbled from her sleeping form, but no matter what Maisie did, Remington wouldn't wake. Landon lightly pushed Maisie to be behind him as he tried, but that too failed, only causing the woman to seem more frightened, as words of fear tumbled out.

"Momma." Maisie's eyes were wide as she began to crawl toward the opening. "Stay with momma, Landon." Her momma needed help. She needed someone that would make her feel safe. Her mom was always that person for her, gently waking her from nightmares that plagued her sleep, but she needed someone bigger. Her legs shook as she darted from the tent, but they stayed firm underneath her, carrying her across the way, toward the Dixon's tent.

Fingers shook as she tried gripping onto the small metal that unzipped to open the flap of the tent. From over here, Maisie could no longer hear the whimpers and cries that came from her tent. If she listened hard enough, she could hear them drift on the wind. Maybe that's why they hadn't come running. They would protect her mom. She just needed to get inside and wake them.

The tent flap came undone with a loud zip as she pushed her way through, the opening was small, but so was her body. It didn't stop her. She tripped, her foot catching on the opening, she should have taken the time to widen it, but she was scared. Something was wrong with her mom. Maisie had thought her father was back. She barely noticed the oof that escaped her lips as she hit the ground hard. She heard the first sound of someone rolling over, tired questioning whispered into the dark, as she aimed for the voice. She half crawled; half ran to plow herself against the side of the man who had lifted his upper body off from the cot.

It wasn't until she was burying herself into his chest, climbing into his lap, that Maisie realized this was Daryl. He blinked back against the surprise at seeing the girl. At first, he wondered if she had had a bad dream, the tears leaking from her eyes told him it was possible, but that didn't explain why she had come to them. Remington had been right there. His body stiffened at the contact, and the realization that something more was going on. He tugged Maisie back away from him, gently lifting her chin, as he wiped away the tears that dripped down from her cheeks.

"Maisie?" he asked in confusion. He was trying to shake the sleep from his brain, but it was lingering. Hadn't he just come off from his shift on watch? How long had he been asleep? "What's goin' on kid?"

"Momma," she sobbed, tugging at his arm, falling from the cot, as she began to tug him along with her. "She needs you."

That last remains of sleep burned away as the sound of something, or someone, in pain drifted to his trained ears. It was soft, softer than what most would have been able to hear from this distance, but there was no mistaking the fear he heard within it.

He scooped Maisie up into his arms in the next moment, his hand grabbing at his pillow, as he tossed it at the heavily sleeping form of Merle.

"Merle." He hissed hurriedly. "Get up, something's wrong with Remi."

His quiet snores abruptly stopped as he pulled himself up, staring in confusion at his brother, as his brain processed what had just been told to him. His eyes locked onto the scared form of Maisie, the way she was still crying, and wiggling in Daryl's grip, telling them to hurry. Daryl didn't hesitate a moment longer, ripping through the tent opening as Merle rolled from the cot, onto his feet, and right behind him a second later.

Inside they could hear the fear in her voice, the way it saturated the air around her, as she struggled in Shane's hold, who had made it their moments before them.

"Landon," Merle barked out. "Get over here, boy." He moved to grab Maisie from Daryl, motioning for him to go help Shane, as he decided the kids didn't need to see this. He commanded the dogs silently to follow after, as they stood there, hackles raised, looking uncertain, and on edge.

They didn't need to see their mother withering and hysterical, as a nightmare took hold of her. He grabbed at the boy's hand, noticing how easily Landon gripped onto him, clinging to him, unlike during the day when he'd bare his teeth and walk away. Maisie had begun to cry into his neck as Merle led them away, meeting Jackson, who had flown from his tent, and was hurriedly clearing the distance between them. "Take 'em." He gently handed the girl over, before lightly pushing against Landon to get him to move.

Jackson automatically gripped the children, pulling Maisie into his arms, before guiding Landon to hold onto his side.

"They don' need to see this," Merle said, his eyes softening at the terrified looks that plagued their eyes. "We'll handle it." Jackson wanted to argue, to yell, and say that it was his job to protect his baby sister, but he had seen the way they were with her. They could give Remington something he couldn't. She would never forgive him if he abandoned her kids and allowed them to watch her act like that.

"C'mon," Jackson urged Landon. "Let's go to the camper." If they stayed in his tent, they would be able to hear their mother. He needed to get them further away. He silently thanked that they were a small distance away from the others. It would make it harder for her to wake anyone else up. "We'll talk later." Merle nodded before swiftly walking away after patting both children gently on the tops of their heads, trying to ease anything they were feeling, before needing to leave.

As he guided the children away, he glanced back, noticing the way Merle disappeared into the tent, and the yells broke away into sobs.

What did you guys think? We're seeing a little more into what kind of person Eli was, and what Remi went through. Two chapters from now we'll dive deeper into what Remi's past was like.

Also, the next chapter is a little shorter than what I normally write, and I've managed to finish two more chapters, so I'll be updating twice, once on Wednesday, and again on Sunday.

So, I'll see you guys again then!