Dead Days

Chapter Eleven

Strength

Dark themes ahead.

Dubcon

Physical Abuse

Sexual Abuse

Attempted abuse of a minor

There are many triggering points in this chapter and if you'd like to skip them then please don't read past Jackson taking the children away for breakfast.

Even though this chapter gets heavy I promise at the end there is some fluff that helps soften everything that I've thrown at you in this.

"I will not falter though
I'll hold on 'til your home
Safely back where you belong
See how our love has grown"

-You're not alone by Astraea

Amber eyes awoke, a pulsing headache pounded inside her head, and her mouth felt like cotton, as she groaned into the pillow her face was smooshed against. She felt terrible, like she had downed a whole bottle of tequila, not listening to the warnings her body sent her way. She was lying flat on her stomach, a rare sight, as she usually preferred curling in on herself as she slept. Both of her hands were caught up in something, fingers intertwined around each of her own, as a smaller hand seemed to be buried in her hair, and if she focused, she could make out a body laying above her, Maisie, and another one cuddled against her legs, Landon. She was completely surrounded.

Shifting, she tried to free herself, moving slowly to avoid irritating her pounding head and to not wake those she found had cocooned her in. Confusion took hold of Remi as she turned her head to either side, spotting a still-sleeping Daryl and Shane. How had they come to be in her tent? They were both curled around her, protective, and it nagged at the back of her mind.

"Yah awake?" asked a gruff voice, lowered so it wouldn't disturb those that weren't. Blinking Remington pushed herself up, glancing over her shoulder, and noticing Merle for the first time. She had wondered where he was.

"Yeah," she yawned, wincing when the action caused her head to hurt more. It felt like she had spent the whole night crying. Her eyes were crusty, and she felt dehydrated. As she turned to sit properly Shane began to mutter in his sleep, she had moved him when she turned, and his eyes fluttered open softly before closing again. His hands reached out blindly, wrapping around her waist, as he began to drag her closer to him.

"Don' worry," he yawned, his voice full of sleep. "I'm here. Just a bad dream." His words grew softer toward the end of his sentence as his hands rubbed soothingly at her side. Blinking in confusion Remington tried to remember why that would be his response when the night before flooded back to her. She remembered the dream, her body slowly stiffening, and the hysteria after she had woken before the guilt ate away at her for how she had treated them.

Through all of that, they had stayed, protecting her from her own head, and hadn't left her behind even though she knew they must not have gotten much sleep that night.

Tears began to build in her eyes as she moved to hug Shane's sleeping form. He wrapped his arms around her in turn, as if his subconscious were still looking out for her. Her hand came up to brush her fingers through his hair as a terrible thought suddenly gripped her. The tears that had been building bubbled over as Remi suddenly turned her head toward Merle who was still watching her. He seemed to have been waiting for a reaction, and upon seeing her tears, he motioned for her to come over to him.

She carefully extracted herself from Shane, still not wanting to wake him, before quickly and quietly clearing the distance between her and Merle. He opened his arms, allowing her to slip into them, before holding her close. She tried to hold the sobs in, to quiet them down to sniffles, but she wasn't sure how well she had succeeded in that. Her head was buried in Merle's chest and that seemed to muffle any sounds that managed to slip out.

"Did they see anything?" she asked, gulping down the hiccups as she tried getting out what she needed to know. "Maisie and Landon?"

"Naw," he said, dragging her into his lap, as he began to cuddle her close. Trying to calm her down. "Don' worry 'bout it. Sent 'em off with Jackson. They didn' see a lot." He didn't want her to worry. Maisie may have been a bit afraid, and Landon had seen more than her, but neither child had managed to be there when she woke. That had been when things really got out of hand. Merle was thankful for Maisie's quick thinking and Jackson coming to help.

The others around them began to stir, first the two sleeping adults, before Remington could make out the children beginning to roll over, Maisie's head peeking out from the bundle of blankets.

She quickly began to rub her eyes, not wanting to cause the children any concern, as she shifted in Merle's hold, so she was sitting next to him.

"Momma," Maisie whined, as she blinked and glanced around the tent searching for her. Her eyes fell on her momma with Merle and her gaze brightened.

"Good morning," Remi greeted, trying to twist her lips into a smile, as she hoped her eyes weren't too red. "How did you sleep, little bug?"

"Good," she said. Yawning, she glanced around, a happy expression falling onto her face, as she moved to cuddle up next to Shane who was slowly becoming conscious. He looked really confused, and definitely didn't get a lot of sleep last night, it made Remi feel bad, as he patted the top of Maisie's head. "Can we do this every night?"

"What yah mean?" Shane asked as he struggled to sit up.

Daryl was already sitting up, looking a little worse for wear, but hiding it a lot better than Shane was. Landon was still lying down, seemingly pretending that he wasn't awake so that he didn't have to get up yet. It would be a losing battle Remi knew but wasn't feeling up to pushing them to get up and ready for breakfast like normal.

"Sleep like this," she said innocently. "I like having us all together. It makes me feel safe."

Remington blinked, surprised, and not sure what to say. She too, especially after last night, preferred being able to all sleep in the same tent, but she was hesitant to say anything about it. Would they be okay with it? They hadn't minded back at the CDC, but Remington took that as them just being protective. This farm was relatively safe. There was no reason for them to be worried. Her shoulders suddenly drooped, worried about what to say, and scared that one of them would make up an excuse for it to not happen.

She didn't realize Merle had moved when his arm suddenly hooked around her waist, to bring her closer, as he spoke.

"Then we'll jus' have ta move into Shane's tent," he announced without hesitation. "It's ta biggest and would fit us all more comfortably."

Maisie blinked, she looked confused by the easy acceptance before excitement took over.

"Really?!"

"'Course, Mango. All yah gotta do is ask."

"Is Shane okay with this?" Remington asked, not able to keep the words from falling out. She wasn't sure why she was trying to pick at this. Merle tended to take control of things, but he wouldn't have offered if the other two weren't comfortable with it.

"Don't worry," Shane said. "Having everyone bunk in my tent isn't gonna upset me any. I'm starting to prefer things that way myself." He winked at Maisie as he bumped her lightly with his arm.

Landon was still lying down, cuddled into the blanket, but even he nodded in his agreement of preferring it like this.

"Better to keep an eye on everyone," Daryl muttered in agreement.

Remington felt the need to cry again. These three had done so much for her already, and here they were, comforting her children, making arrangements so they felt safer. Remington felt the sudden well of tears prick at her eyes as she quickly ducked her head and turned it, so she leaned a bit into Merle. She missed the frown of concern that crossed his face at her action.

"Is Remi, okay?" Landon asked, being in the perfect position to see her. He sounded full of concern, and Remington silently scolded herself for not hiding her emotions better.

She just still felt so vulnerable.

It was always hard to regain back control after a night like last night. If she had still been with Eli, it would have been worse this morning. There would have been no comfort, no one there to make her feel better, to help ease the issue. In a way that had been easier, the way she had expected the cold shoulder, the no help, as she bottled it all so far down, it could hardly touch her. This, the comfort, the kind words, was all new, and hurt so much more as she knew it always should have been like this. If she had picked a better partner in life.

Remi shook her head, knowing thoughts of him would only make things worse, as she tried to bottle up everything to deal with later.

This was not the right moment to break down.

Except her mind didn't seem to get the memo because she was beginning to feel those emotions build and push against her walls. She couldn't help the way one hand came up to cover her mouth, and the other dug into Merle's arm. Her eyes closed tightly, still turned away from the children, as she hid her face in the crook of his arm.

Around her, she could feel a shift in the air, the way she suddenly just knew that someone else had joined them, and when the zipper to the tent was tugged, she realized how true that was. Merle stiffened. His arms around her pulled her closer as he began to shift them, so he was between the others, and whoever was coming in.

"Ta hell," he grumped, only relaxing a bit when he noticed that it was Jackson.

"Just me," Jackson called. "Do I hear the rumbling of my favorite niece and nephew's stomachs?"

Maisie giggled, and Landon, still feeling unsure about the man, shifted himself until he was sitting.

"We're your only niece and nephew," Maisie laughed, falling into her role easily, as she knew exactly what he was expecting her to say.

"Oh?" Jackson shook his head as if he truly had forgotten, as he shrugged. "In my old age, I forget. Why don't we have breakfast? We should let your mom rest. She looks tired don't you think?"

Remington forced herself to keep the sob in. Her shoulders wanted to shake but she kept herself completely still. The only sign of her struggle was the deep breaths she gulped down. She tried to make it seem as if she had just fallen asleep. There was no way she could turn to Maisie and Landon right now and look put together. They would see and Landon was already worried.

"Yeah, momma didn't sleep well," Maisie said. This caused another round of tears to fall from her eyes as she squeezed them tightly shut.

"These three will take care of her," Jackson responded, almost sounding like an order. Jackson caught her gaze around Merle's arm, a flash of concern covered his features before he sent her that familiar comforting smile. The one he always gave her when his lessons wouldn't work, and all that there was left to do was comfort with actions. "We'll let her sleep and we'll show Landon why I'd be the favorite uncle even if there was someone to go up against me."

"Yeah!" Maisie yelled out. She knew this meant that it would be a day full of fun. In the past, she remembered him taking her out to do fun things when back at home got uncomfortable. That was before they had moved away. Her memories of it were hazy but she knew Landon would enjoy it. Reaching out she grabbed his hand, dragged him to his feet, and stopped at her mom. Here she leaned over, kissed the back of her head, and whispered that she loved her. Landon quickly did the same, his 'I love you's' replaced with 'sleep well', before Maisie was dragging him from the tent, following excitedly at Jacksons' feet. It made the man happy as she had been ignoring him in favor of a Dixon or Shane.

Before they got too far away Remington had opened her eyes, peaking over Merle, and caught the meaningful glance Jackson sent her way before scooping the children up and walking away. They didn't need to communicate with words. Remington knew what that look had said. He expected her to talk with them. To tell them the truth. He knew what last night had been about.

Remington began to shake lightly as Merle turned to zip the tent back up and give them a sense of privacy.

There was no way Jackson would allow anyone to come over here in the meantime. They would have some privacy to talk.

The mere thought of it caused a crack in her armor. Or more like, that crack that had already been there, grew to bigger proportions, and now there was no stopping what was about to be released.

First, her body began to shake, epically, as she jerked uncontrollably.

Then, the sobs slipped free, loud, and gut-wrenching.

The support she had gained from Merle was the only thing keeping her from falling over, and completely losing it. The touch kept her grounded, at the moment, as she barely held on to that small piece of sanity that kept her mentally there, and not drifting away in the memories.

"Remi," cooed Shane. She could feel that same tone slipping into his voice from last night. She was pressed into Merle, but she felt as the other two shifted closer. "What's wrong, darling? Talk to us."

Remington tried hiding away, turning her face so that it was buried back in Merle's shoulder, as she ignored the way the thin material of his wife beater was soaked through, and scratchy on her skin. She didn't think she could speak even if she wanted to, not with the way she shook, and the tears threatening to drown her. It was hard enough gulping down enough air to keep from passing out.

There was no desire, nor wish, to continue this conversation, to bear her soul and bear witness to the rejection she could plainly see inside her mind's eye. Eli was right. She was damaged goods. It was sickening to even think about what had happened to her, let alone to relive it, and for someone else to be able to stomach it. They had an inkling of knowledge of what had happened to her, Remi was certain they had produced something at this point, but the horrors that truly lived inside her mind, of what had happened, were far worse than what people suspected.

When she had gone to the lawyer, asking for immediate emergency custody of her daughter, to keep Eli from being able to stop her from leaving, and getting a divorce, had required her to explain what had gone on in their marriage. It hadn't been the full story, but Remi had seen the horror on that woman's face, and the way she had leaped into action, told her everything she needed to know about an outsider's point of view.

For her to bear her soul to these three, to ever have a chance with one of them, let alone all three, Remi was certain she would lose any chance if she opened her mouth right now. She could picture the pity, that look of sadness, and horror before it gave way to disgust. It might take a little while before their brain completely connects that it was her that those things happened to, but once it did it caused changes in the way people treated her.

It didn't matter if it were in the form of disgust, or pity, it would break Remi either way. She didn't want their relationship to change. Not at all.

She stiffened when suddenly Merle gently pulled her away from him. Lost in her own mind she hadn't responded to Shane's question and Remington worried it had begun to irritate the man. She had to push back the childish reaction to grip tightly onto him. To not let him go. His fingers carded through her hair, trying to soothe her, as he felt the way she stiffened in his hold, before suddenly new arms wrapped around her waist.

As if she weighed nothing Daryl lifted her from Merle's arms and drew her close. Where once he may have stiffened at the contact there was only comfort. Pulling her into his lap, he guided her into a position that was comfortable for both of them before one arm wrapped around her waist and kept her facing everyone.

Remington's fingernails dug into the palm of her hands.

"Come on sweetheart," Merle coaxed. "There's omething' goin' on. Let us help yah."

"Share that burden with us," Shane agreed. "Nothing gets easier when you bottle it all up."

"I don't know if I can," Remi murmured. Her fingers dug in deeper as the anxiety washed over her. "What if you look at me differently?"

"We wouldn't look at yah any differently," Daryl said softly into her ear, just loud enough for everyone to hear. Remington shivered at the feel of his breath on her ear, bringing back the memory of her dream-turned-nightmare.

"Yah not getting' rid of us that easily," Merle scoffed.

"What would I say?" The fear that sparked through her, of not knowing what to say, or where to start, gripped her throat tight, almost making it impossible to speak.

"I'll help guide you," Shane offered. "Would that help?"

Remington focused her attention on him as the sudden urge not to have to go through this on her own, to figure it out, caused the first amount of relief to enter her body. She very much wanted that. She began to nod.

"We need ta hear yah say it," Merle said, not wanting to push her into anything, but knowing this conversation was needed.

"Yes. It would make me feel better."

"Start with who's made you feel this way," Shane led. "It's always easier when a name's been placed."

"Eli, my ex." Flashes of her nightmare, the way his hands had grabbed, even fake, she knew exactly how it would feel. She had experienced it before. There were carefully concealed glances from the men to one another as they waited for her to continue. "I feel I need to say this, to make sure it's understood, that what the end of our relationship had become, that's not how it started."

"Of course," Shane said, nodding a bit, as he reached out to lightly tuck a stray piece of her hair away. Remington welcomed the touch, wishing for more, as she worried, they would soon be shying away from her. Whether it be from disgust, of what happened to her, or worry, second-guessing what once came so easily to them, Remington wasn't ready for either.

"When I first met him, we were young. I was seventeen, and he was eighteen. He was so kind, and gentle, treated me like a princess, and I fell for it. After I graduated, he asked me to marry him, and I believed it would continue but I began to notice a change. Slowly at first. I thought I was going crazy whenever he would snap or blame me for something. I was certain in the beginning it was exactly how he said it was. I tried to do better, to not make mistakes, but it seemed the harder I'd try the more mistakes I made."

Remington could feel the memories swirling inside her head as she told them.

Remington's hands shook as she glanced up at the clock on the wall. Today had not gone well at all. She had been running behind from the moment she woke up. Her alarm clock hadn't gone off, she had arrived late for her first class of the day and had been given extra work because of it. She had been let off easy, and Remington knew it.

The rest of her school day had gone smoothly enough until she had gotten home. With the extra work plus the thesis she had been working on Remington had forgotten her surroundings and the time.

That's how she had found herself scurrying to put dinner together before Eli got home and shaking as she meticulously kept from messing anything up. She bounced between the food and the other chores, sweeping hurriedly, picking up the table she had cluttered with her work, and mopping.

A tired sort of feeling settled over her as she heard the car in the driveway, before a door opened, and slammed close.

He was already not in a good mood.

This wasn't good.

She forced a smile onto her face as she walked out of the kitchen, to greet him as he opened the door. She reached forward to take his jacket, and he shrugged out of it immediately, as he smelled the air.

"Smells good," he commented, before glancing over toward where the dining room was, the table empty. "Not ready?" It had been stated as a question, but his voice had deepened, darkened, as warning bells went off inside her head.

"Almost," she said, trying to smooth his temper before it could rise. "I got busy with my thesis and completely lost track of time. Why don't you go sit down and I'll have it out soon."

She made to turn around and do exactly what she had said when his hand reached out, snatching at her arm, as he yanked her back. Remington felt as her body fell back, the balance she once had disappearing, only for him to yank her back up before she could hit the floor. A hiss escaped her lips as the hold on her arm was bruising. Panic began to nag at the back of her mind. This had never happened before. She had been expecting the crushing words that would fall from his lips as disappointment and anger burned in his tone.

This, whatever it was, was entirely new.

"I go to work every day, busting my ass off, to give you this lavish lifestyle, and all I ask is to come home to a meal prepared, and a wife to greet me. I just wanted to settle down, watch a good movie, relax with the woman I love, and instead, I'm instantly pissed as soon as I step through that door? How is that fair to me, Rem?"

He dragged her forward, coming nose to nose with her, as she trembled under his touch.

"I'm sorry," she forced out between clenched teeth. Her mouth didn't want to open. She was worried about saying something that would irritate him more. Her instincts told her to go and hide, but there was nowhere to go. "I've just been busy with school."

"School that I put you through." He shook his head in disgust as he glared down at her. "Is this how you're going to repay me?"

"If you would just give me-," Remington's words were cut off as a hand suddenly came into contact with her cheek.

"I don't want to hear whatever pathetic excuse you might come up with. God, Remington, it's like lately you don't even care. It's caused me a lot of stress."

Tears built up in her eyes as she stared up at him in shock. Her hand twitched at her side, wishing to raise, to cover the mark that he had left on her, but something kept her from moving. He glared down at her, his brown eyes empty, as he stared emotionless. There was no apology swimming within those depths.

It terrified her.

"Go clean yourself up," he sighed, huffing as if this were all a mere inconvenience to him. "Then finish dinner." Remington turned to move away, wishing to escape back into the kitchen, to center herself, before he suddenly stopped her once again. His touch was gentler this time. "Tsk, tsk, where's my kiss?"

She blinked, staring up at him in confusion when he turned his head, showing her his cheek, the exact place she always greeted him when he came home from work. Remington forced her body to move, to reach up, to kiss his cheek, while she wanted nothing more than to escape the sight of him.

Remington had pretended that it never happened. They ate dinner together, and watched a movie, before retiring to bed, where he coaxed her into doing more than sleeping. Her stomach had rolled the entire night but all she wanted to do was get back to how it had been before.

Only she didn't realize this was only the beginning of something far worse.

"It wasn't long before the mental abuse was joined with the physical." Remington's voice shook as she recounted the memory, opening up, as she explained the easier dealings of what she had gone through. It had been so tame compared to what he would begin to do.

Remi had tilted her head down, away from their eyes, so she didn't have to see what was displayed on their faces. The tears had dried up as the words flowed from her mouth. The salty tracks dried against her skin as her hair put a curtain between her and them.

The arm wrapped around her waist had tightened, not uncomfortably but almost as if Daryl were trying to give her an extra layer of comfort. Remington was certain this was only in her head. She couldn't believe that they would still want anything to do with her, especially with what was about to come out next. Now that she had started it was like a waterfall, rushing forward, forced to keep moving, as there was nothing to stop it.

They let her continue, knowing she needed to speak without being interrupted, as Merle forced himself not to reach out and snatch her from Daryl's grip, and Shane wanted nothing more than to tell her it was okay, that she didn't have to continue, but he didn't.

"It stayed like that for a while. I grew used to the occasional slap. They were easy to ignore, to pretend as if it didn't happen, to convince myself that it was my fault anyway. All I needed to do was be better. To make fewer mistakes. I began to feel like I was constantly walking on eggshells. It was only growing. The abuse. I was just fooling myself."

Remington felt the fear turn her gut as she stared up at the man above her. This was no longer her husband, the man she had fallen in love with, and as the days went by Remington began to wonder if he ever existed. How could someone change this much?

She was leaning on the floor. He had shoved her down. Her knee throbbed where it hit the ground, but she refused to show it. He didn't like it when she showed pain. It annoyed him. Except sometimes it was hard, and he'd only punish her more for it.

Remi didn't want this to end up being one of those times.

"Why do you always have to irritate me," he sighed, rubbing at his face, as he didn't even glance in her direction. "You push me to do this. I don't enjoy this."

Remi simply listened and didn't try to speak up for herself, as she was certain that she had done nothing this time to deserve such treatment. She was worried about what would happen if she tried opening her mouth and standing up for herself.

At one point in her life, she would have done just that. Fought for herself. Except Eli had beat that out of her. She was just an empty shell now. Wishing to make it past this mistake. To move forward and bury her head in fantasy. It was so much easier to deal with than this reality.

"Answer me!" he snarled when she didn't speak up. This time he had meant for her to respond back. It caused her head to spin when she thought about it.

"I-I'm sorry," she sobbed out, trying to keep the tears from sounding in her voice. Only say what you need to so you can get through this. A hand struck out with no notice, forcing her head to the side, as she lost her balance, only regaining it at the last second. Her hands pressed against the cool wood of the floor. "I'll do b-better next time."

"I wish you meant that," Eli said softly, as he leaned down next to her. She flinched away from the hand as it moved toward her cheek. He froze, his eyes darkening, as he was suddenly on his feet, towering above her. "Perhaps I've been too liberal with you." He clicked his tongue as he shook his head. "I'm going to have to punish you. Maybe then you'll remember for next time."

"Please," she begged, but his hands were suddenly in her hair, dragging her forward. She struggled against his hold, trying to tug herself free before he suddenly dragged her to her feet.

"Don't beg," he chided. "It's beneath you. Take your punishment and show me that you can follow simple orders." She shook, but Remington forced her hands to drop to her side, to not block, or try to fight as he suddenly struck out, causing her to double over, as vomit sprung from her mouth. "Clean this shit up."

Her body had stopped shaking. She was feeling hollow and the only thing keeping her grounded at the moment was the arm that was still wrapped around her. Fingers had begun to rub against her arm. It was soothing. Except she wasn't connecting to it.

"It didn't stop there." Remington hadn't wanted to continue, but now that she was, it was hard to stop. An all-engulfing desire urged her forward, wanting them to know everything, to be told those demons she hid within herself, and to finally have her answer on how they would react. "The worst was yet to come. I lived with it for years. I didn't fight any of this, I was far too tired, and scared to free myself."

Remington felt herself jerk from sleep, her heart racing, as she glanced around the dark room. She couldn't see what had abruptly woken her, but she could hear it, and as her mind awakened Remi could feel it. Her skin tingled, and her stomach felt like it was drenched in acid, as fingers trailed up her leg as a tongue followed in their path. Her breathing had deepened, not in pleasure, but in fear. Her body felt heavy, her mind tired, as Remi prepared herself for what was to come.

"I'm tired," she tried. The words were flat. No emotion was held within its depths. She wasn't sure if she could manage something with fire, or true effort.

"Hm," he hummed, as he dug his fingers lightly into the skin of her thigh and nipped suggestively.

"I have a busy day in the morning. I have to wake up early."

"Then we'll just be fast."

Remington felt her gut clench. The urge to vomit took a strong hold over her.

"Eli."

His nails dug harshly into her skin in a warning. Her mouth closed as she suddenly lost any fight that had appeared. He yanked her down, dragging her toward the end of the bed, and she let him. Sleep tugged at her mind but there was no way she would be able to sleep through this. There was no way that he would let her. It would be better if she just accepted this, hoping that it ended quickly so that she could go back to sleep.

"That wasn't even the worst of it," she said, biting her lip, as she felt the tears slowly build back up. She surged forward, wanting to finish, to get it over with. Whatever emotional block that had been tightening around her wasn't able to keep this memory at bay, and the feelings that came with it.

Remington was exhausted. Her car had broken down on the way home from college. It had taken her longer than normal to find someone to help as her phone had died during her last class. She was hours late. The sun was down, and as the kind man who had offered her a ride pulled up to her house, all Remi could do was silently stare at Eli's car.

He was home.

The way the curtains fluttered told Remington that he had been watching and waiting. He knew she was home and would see that she had not only arrived home with a man, but with a stranger.

For a moment she struggled with the idea of turning to the man at her side, to tell him she had gotten the address wrong, to give him something random, and have him drive off. She would apologize and pretend it had been an old address, that she had recently moved, and in her tired state, she had given the wrong one. She pretended that she had the strength, the ability to do so, as for one single, happy moment, she pictured getting away.

Of being free.

That was shattered when she watched the way the front door had opened, and Eli stood there. Tall, dark, and imposing.

"Are you okay?" the stranger had asked. "Is something wrong?"

"No." That fantasy from before faded away as Remington grabbed her bag. "Nothing is wrong." There was no escaping from this nightmare she found herself in. She slid from the car, thanking him one last time, before closing the door on what could have potentially been her saving grace. Remington trailed slowly up to the house. She could see the tension in his body, the anger, even as he simply stood there, face blank.

"Where have you been?" His voice was calm. Threateningly so.

"My car broke down. My phone died. I got a ride."

Eli turned to watch the car that drove away.

"Your car broke down, and you allowed your phone to die?" His gaze landed back on her. Disappointment shined through, but something far more sinister burned in that stare.

"Yes."

"Always such a disappointment." He took a step back, to the side, as he motioned for her to come inside. "I cannot adequately express my anger in your actions." Remington obeyed, taking a step in before the door slammed behind them. Her bag was tugged from her shoulders and flung to the ground. "Why would you embarrass me like this? Turning up to our house with some man. What did he ask of you in return, huh?"

"Nothing," she responded defensively. "He just dropped me off."

"You're such a liar, Rem." Eli took a step to stand in front of her, shoving her down onto the floor, causing her legs to collapse, as she fell to the floor. He yanked her chin up. "Did he make you pay him back like this?" She felt her body shaking as she watched him begin to unbuckle his belt.

"N-no. Nothing l-like that!"

His pants were pulled down, freeing him from the confines of the fabric, as his fingers twisted into her hair, yanking her forward.

"Show me what you did for him."

"I didn't do anything!"

"Use that dirty, lying, mouth of yours and show me."

Then she was gagging, trying to adjust to the newness of the situation, as tears built behind her eyes.

Daryl's grip suddenly tightened, digging into her side, painful, before the touch was removed, faster than she could flinch. Remington let out a shuddering breath, worried over the reaction, and as she made to move off his lap, Daryl had abruptly twisted her around, careful, hands gentle, as she came to settle so that she was now facing him. For the first time since she had started with her stories, Remi found herself staring up into the eyes of one of her men. One of those that could crush her so easily with a few words. His eyes were full of horror, of sadness, understanding, and something so soft that it took her breath away.

He looked as if he was trying to find words for what he wanted to say but then Shane was there, at her side, his hand reaching out, gripping both her shoulder and Daryl's.

"Darling." His voice came out controlled, soft, calm shining through, but Remington had dealt with someone who easily withheld his emotions and recognized the signs of someone who was hiding what they truly felt. "I hate to ask, you've already said so much, but what caused you to leave? After everything you went through, what you told us, what gave you that strength?"

"Strength?" she asked in confusion. Remington wasn't certain it was strength that had caused her to move. It had been a deep seeded fear, for her daughter, for herself, that had caused her to flee that house in the dead of the night. "There was never any strength. Just fear."

No one tried to get her to move. She didn't want to see how they reacted to that news. Hated that she could see Daryl's face so clearly but had averted her gaze as soon as she began to talk, to avoid revealing to herself the disgust and disappointment she thought she would find there. Daryl's hand on her hips urged her not to leave when she had tried to turn back around to face the others, and that was fine with her. Remington wasn't certain she could look at either of them. She didn't really think she could look at Daryl, but when she moved forward, to lean her head on his shoulder, and he let her, she felt her body relax into the last memory.

The last memory of dozens that she had revealed to them this morning.

The night had gone well enough. Dinner passed by in a safe manner. Maisie had happily eaten her meal, not fussing at all, and Eli had looked pleased with his family's mood and the spread in front of him. Remington had brought out dessert, Eli's favorite, but something Maisie didn't like, and so Remi had made something separate for her.

It shouldn't have been a big deal.

Remi forgot how easily things could fall apart after so long without an incident. She had grown complacent. Eli had been a dream since the moment they moved away from her family. Even feeling as if, maybe, Eli had turned over a new leaf. He had been such a doting father and husband. Perhaps with the stress of her family, of Jackson, being gone, he felt lighter. Remington should have known that it never went that way.

"Why are you feeding her something different?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, as his voice stayed inquisitive. Remington recognized it for what it was. "Are we going to bend to her every will now?"

"I just didn't think I should force her to eat something she doesn't like," Remi said carefully. "It wasn't an issue to make her this." Remington froze in her action of setting down the plate of fruited gelatin. Maisie stared hesitantly around, looking uncomfortable, as she fidgeted in her seat.

"Why can't you learn?" He stood from his seat, walking around the table, before coming to a stop in front of the two of them. "She should eat whatever is given to her. I'm not raising her to be a spoiled brat." He yanked the bowl away from Remington, tossing it onto the table, specks of jello flying out, before grabbing a piece of the strawberry rhubarb and thrusting it toward the small child. "Eat it."

Maisie turned her head away, wrinkling her nose, as her face scrunched up.

"It's icky."

Remington tensed at her words, hovering behind Eli, and watching what was unfolding in front of her.

"Don't be a brat. Eat it."

Everything had been going so well. Eli never took a hand with Maisie's punishments, only ever telling Remi how he wanted it dealt with, before walking away. Remi began to wait for that only it was looking less and less likely.

"Nuh-uh. It's yucky. I don't wanna!"

Remington took a step forward, anxiety coursing through her, as she tried to place herself between Eli and Maisie.

Whatever was to come would be directed at her. Not Maisie. Remi wouldn't allow it.

Eli turned to Remington, a frown shifting to a scowl, as he shoved her aside, causing Remington to fall onto the table. Reaching forward he yanked Maisie out of her seat, causing the girl to stumble out of the chair, and barely manage to catch herself before Eli is dragging her from the room. Maisie begins to cry, trying to yank her arm free, as she tells him it hurts.

Remington is immediately back on her feet, rushing after, as she calls out for Eli to be gentler.

"I'm sick and tired of this," Eli snapped. "If she disobeys then she gets punished. How have you been raising her Remington?" Coming to a stop near the living room Eli grabs a chair, shoving it in the corner before he rounds back on Maisie. "If you won't raise her, then I will." His hand comes up, rising to strike at Maisie when suddenly Remington is there.

Her heart stopped beating. She saw the moment that Eli had decided to bend and use force on her daughter. Not his daughter. Remi's daughter. She couldn't watch on in horror as she was hit, or worse. Remington couldn't do it.

Her legs acted on pure instinct alone.

She was suddenly in the direct route of Eli's oncoming hand. The smack hit her arm with enough force to knock Remington off balance as she grabbed at Maisie. She barely managed to stay upright before Maisie was in her arms and Remi was running.

Her mind wasn't properly working.

All she knew was that he was going to hit Maisie with the kind of force he reserved for her.

Remi's mind refused to imagine the kind of pain, and what type of condition Maisie would have been left in.

Tears had begun to build up in her eyes as she listened to her daughter sob and holler.

Remington could only feel as her feet kept moving and listened to the sudden onslaught of anger that ripped from Eli's lips as he chased after them. His hand came out, gripping the ends of her hair, wishing to yank her back, but Remi slipped around the corner. She gripped the wall as she heard Eli stumble forward. Pushing herself toward the door, and away from him, Remi desperately yanked at the front door, swinging it open, as she darted off into the night.

Remington hadn't looked back. Her feet had carried her further and further away until she had ended up a couple of blocks away and had knocked on a random person's door for help. Eli had been out there searching for them. She had known that and did everything she could to avoid being found.

She pulled herself away from Daryl's shoulder, still refusing to look at anyone, as she waited to see what they had to say.

"Yah may not see that as bein' strong sweetheart, but yah were," Merle began once she was done. "A weaker woman would have let whatever happen, happen."

"If I had been strong, I would have never let it get to that point," Remington argued, hanging her head, as she tucked her chin toward her chest.

"It takes great courage for someone to do what you did," Shane said. "To leave like that and not just stay. Your strong Remington."

Remington couldn't accept it. Those words they said. She didn't feel like that applied to her at all. At least not to the person she used to be. She should have left the first moment there had been signs of abuse. She began to shake her head without realizing it.

Daryl reached out, the palm of his hand cupping at her cheek, as he pulled her face up to look at him. She closed her eyes not bearing to see any of them as the words fell from her lips. She needed them to understand. To either accept her as she is, or deny her, but she had to know now.

"If you think of me any differently then please let me know now, don't try to pretend, or lie to my face. Those things that happened to me, what I let happen, I can understand if it disgusts you, or makes you uncomfortable. It's best to make a clean break. I can take care of myself, and protect those in my care, so you don't have to keep doing whatever this is." Her hands kind of flicked around them, stating the way they all drifted around her, always close, and looking after her.

She felt Daryl stiffen underneath her as the words flowed from her mouth. She wasn't certain how the other two were reacting to the news. Her heart was stuttering in her chest, pounding away, as she struggled to keep from gasping. She was certain they were going to let her down easily, pack up, and move further away from her. It would be an adjustment, the group would catch onto the change, and there would be talk, but the guys around her weren't the type to be unnecessarily rude. They would make it as easy as possible for her.

She knew that without a doubt.

It just broke her heart to think about it.

"What are you talkin' about?" Daryl asked, sounding confused, as an understanding seemed to come over him. The fingers that curled around her cheek and chin pulled her closer to him. She could feel his breath wash over her face as he became incredibly close.

Her breath stuttered as she squeezed her eyes tighter.

"I must disgust you now. Everything you know. Everything he did to me. Everything that I let happen."

"Don' you say that 'bout yourself," Merle started, sounding pissed, but in her defense, and not at her. He started to continue when suddenly Remington was drug forward, the space between her and Daryl disappearing. Merle cut off whatever he was going to say in shock before it quickly disappeared to approval.

"Don' you ever say that about yourself or assume how we'll feel 'bout you," Daryl growled, his mouth crashing down on hers. Their lips melded together, his moving against hers, chapped and dry, as Remington sat in shock. It was deep, and passionate, bearing how he felt, and what he thought about her words. The kisses slowed against her inaction. Remington's heart had begun to pound away inside of her chest, butterflies erupted in her stomach, and as he began to pull away, Remi surged forward. Her hands came up, curling into his hair, as she desperately kissed him back.

She didn't believe either of them would ever react in this way.

That they would accept her for everything.

That one of them would kiss her.

Remington felt happiness, and love flood her system, as she allowed those feelings, she had for Daryl to spill over. He pulled back, leaning his forehead against her own, as he stared into her eyes. Remi wouldn't have been able to look away even if she wanted to.

"You're not disgustin'," he said. "You're strong. I'm not going anywhere."

Remington opened her mouth to speak but was suddenly tugged away from Daryl, hands wrapping around her waist, and shoulder, as Merle pulled her back into him. Not wishing to waste time he turned her face toward him, him leaning around her, as their lips met in the middle. The kiss was just as passionate as the one with Daryl, but he dominated, leaving her gasping for air, as she struggled to follow. She chased after him, her head spinning before he was pulling back, smirking widely.

"Sweetheart, I'm all yours if yah want me. Yer past is yer past, and I don' think none less of yah for it."

"Hey!" Shane hollered out, chuckling as he took Remi's hand and began to tow her over to him. "If we're given out kisses, I've got one for yah too."

Remi was led from Merle's lap to kneel in front of Shane. His gaze was soft, full of adoration, and everything that the others had shown within their kisses. He was softer, the way he gently led her to him, causing her breath to hitch, as her skin tingled where he touched.

This kiss wasn't like the others. It wasn't hurried, nor was it full of passion, but that slow burn that built up inside her gut and flowed over. She tilted her head, pressing closer, as her hands gripped tightly at his shirt.

Her head felt light.

Like she was floating.

They wanted her. They weren't going to leave her, and if these kisses were anything to go by, then they wanted her in the same way she needed them.

"We'll do whatever yah want, darling," Shane said, pulling away from her, but sticking close. "If you want us, all of us, you can have us. If you only want one of us, the other two aren't gonna get in the way. We want what's best for you."

"Yah just gotta tell us," Merle agreed.

Daryl nodded, his eyes locked onto her form, as he watched her carefully with darkened eyes.

Remington felt the tears slide down her face. Shane quickly began to wipe them away, muttering softly to her as he did it. She couldn't believe she had found them. These men, who adored her, who could one day love her, as she loved them.

She could have them.

They were handing themselves to her.

Remi wanted that. She wanted it so bad it hurt.

All she had to do was tell them that. To tell them how her heart sang in delight every time she saw them, that she melted at their innocent touches, how she wanted them to be more. She craved them in every way. Not just one of them, but all of them, and they were willing to give that to her.

All she had to do was tell them yes.

If I managed to forget to put a warning about something, please let me know!

We've begun to move forward in the relationship and starting next chapter we're going to see some major changes in the dynamics of Remi and her men.

If you've skipped the talk about her past, it just shows what she went through, the abuse, and what finally caused her to run away with Maisie. The guys comfort her, telling her that she's strong, even when she doesn't believe it, before everyone's feelings finally come out into the open!

I cannot wait to reveal to you what I have planned for the next chapter. It's going to be great!