Dragon age - The camp and the tents

 "Who left the tents outside?!"

Cassandra's angry and frustrated voice filled the entire camp. Neasa looked up curiously at the cause of the noise, prepared dinner, with Solas sitting by the fire, reading one of his books, just raised his gaze for a moment, then continued reading.

She knew that the man always pay attention. He was always frighteningly aware of what was going on around him, even when he seemed not to pay attention. She already recognized the man's minor actions, and body language quite well, and their meaning. She smiled, then turned her attention to Cassandra.

"Why, what's wrong with the tents?"

"They are completely soaked, when we were at the Ruins yesterday night! Two became completely unusable, we will be forced to share the remaining two."

"Eww, I'm definitely not sleeping with the Egghead!" Sera grimaced spectacularly, and Solas don’t even glance at her, just responding with a cold smile.

"At least we agree on something, Sera." The two elves hated each other, the girl constantly provoke him and make fun of almost anything to do with Solas. Most of the time, Solas simply ignored her, refusing to get involved in such childish things. Cassandra's voice muffled Sera's next outburst.

"In your place, I would remain silent, you forgot to cover our tents properly the night before."

"Maybe. It doesn't change the fact that I'm not going to share a tent with him." Neasa grinned quietly at Sera’s comments, while the older elf just sighed. Yeah, it was an unfortunate pairing to bring Solas and Sera on the same mission. She will be smarter next time. She continued to chop the vegetables as she spoke.

"Solas and I will share a tent, and you with Cassandra. I hope it suits everyone, and now I want to finish cooking without further quarrel. If you've left it to me again..." She grimaced and Sera laughed.

"Because you can cook." Lavellan was a mage, but she was also a good hunter. And usually, what she hunted down, she could cook it. Sera laughed again. "Solas must be glad there is finally a woman who is willing to sleep with him. Of course, just sleep."

"Sera!" The tip of Neasa's ear turned pretty slowly red, and she threw one of the spoons towards the girl, uselessly, of course, her companion was an excellent archer with precise reflexes. "Solas is a smart and attractive man, I have no problem sharing our tent. You are too childish, Sera."

"Eww." Sera's response was expressive, but Neasa was now redder than before, barely looking at the elf sitting next to her. Solas smiled in surprised, then put down the book next to him, and while their companions were preparing their tents, he leaned over to Lavellan's ear.

"I also like to share a tent with such an attractive and smart woman." Neasa didn't dare look up, staring constantly forward into the fire, so she couldn't see Sola’s satisfied smile and face. Standing up, he left the woman there and went to set up their own tent.

Neasa’s face got hot, and she was sure it wasn't from the campfire.

TWD - I won't leaving you 3

 The weeks passed the same, the two of them take watches, and Merle's arm healed pretty well, it was not bandaged up anymore, but now people stared at it. It was not a nice view, but Merle doesn't give a shit, they can stare, nobody dared to say anything. After a couple of weeks, everyone learned not to piss off Dixon.

Some respected him, and his skills, while others don't liked him that much. Amelia was another story. She was much more approachable, less intimidating, but she was hot-headed, and her closeness with Merle don't help. She liked Martinez, and however odd it was, she liked Milton too. He was a little odd, a scientist, he was close to the Governor, but he was oke.

Merle teased her about it, but she just ignored it. She wanted to settle in, making more effort than back at the camp in Atlanta. In the beginning, it was not noticeable, but after a while, it started annoying Merle. She was always busy, or too tired, and spent her time in her room, or with that Milton kid, if she was not on watch. He was frustrated, Amelia was his friend, and recently the only person he can trust. Before she never minded his company. He scoffed, while kicking a pole in the street, and startled some people passing by. Great, now he acted like a stupid kid. He calmed down, and decided to wait for her in her room, and just simply aks her whats going on. 

He waited for her, and when Amelia opened her door, she not noticed him immediately, just after she closed the door, and turned around.

"Hey, I didn't know ya going to be here."

"Well, nowadays I need to sneak into yer room if I wanna talk with you. Ya avoiding me, or sometin'?" He looked right into her eyes, and Amelia was taken aback a little.

"Why I would avoiding ya?" 

"Dunno, that's why I'm 'ere. Ya always busy with that Milton kid."

"Oh, I thought ya don't going to notice it." She was nervous, but then she got excited, and an unpleasant feeling settled in Merle's stomach. She clapped her hand together. "I was really busy, but now it's done, so I can show ya."

"'m a little confused here, so ya not screwing around with that scientist?" 

"What? With Milton? No."

"Then what kept ya so busy?" He would be first dead before he admit, that he was a little relieved. In the past, it never bothered him when she stayed the night with some dudes, because it was never serious, and it never occurred to him that one day maybe it going to be more serious. And she going to spend less time with him and Daryl, but now that it was just the two of them, he don't wanted to lose her in any way.

"I show ya." She turned around, and went to the kitchen area, then came back, holding something in her hand, wrapped in a brown rag.  She sat down next to him, her eyes excited, and held it to him to take it. "C'mon, ya going to love it."

He eyed her for a moment, then took off the rag and he was silent. It was a prosthetic with leather straps. He traced his fingers on the cool metal, then on the straps.

"You don't say, but I know yer hand has been bothering you. So I started thinking, and came up with a couple of ideas. Milton helped me, he's good with stuff like this, but I did most of the work and the design. Wanna try it on?" He looked up at her, and just nodded.

"Yeah." She helped him put it on, tying the straps, and she grinned the whole time.

"And that's not even the best part." She reached to the knife holster on her waist and took out a bayonet, then attached it to the end of the prosthetic. "Ya can attach a knife on the end, so it becomes a weapon. Pretty cool. I chose a bayonet, I know ya like that type of weapon, but you can pick sometin' else."

"So ya were busy with this the whole time?"

"Yup." He holds his hand up at eye height, trying out how it feels. It was strange, cool on his skin, and it had a little weight. Amelia really took the time to plan this, just for him. "Yer quiet, if you don't like it..."

"Of course I like it! Damn, sugah', ya spent weeks working on this, are you?" She nodded, biting her lips, and playing with the dog tags on her neck. Nobody has done anything for Merle, nothing like this. "C'mere.

He pulled her closer and hugged her, and he was certain that Amelia smiled. He was careful with his new attachment still on. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. I can't wait when we can try it out in action." She pulled back, a grin on her face, and Merle smirked back. 

"I like yer thinking."

"'m sorry if ya felt I was avoiding you."

"Nah."

"Admit it, ya missed me." She teased him, and he just snorted, but smiled nonetheless. 

"I ain't missed ya."

"You were, ass." She said fondly, and he just rolled his eyes. She can believe what she wants. 

"What ya sayin', you wanna go to the gate, and try this thing out?"

"Hell yeah, let's go." She was relieved that Merle liked the prosthetic, in her opinion, it was really cool. But she was surprised about how Merle thought she avoiding him. He was a little cute, sitting on her couch like that, but it was nice to know he could miss her company. 

When they were at the gate, she waved to Matinez and Crowley.

"Yo, guys, open the gate for us."

"Why you two wanna go outside?" Martinez asked, and Merle showed off his new arm, a smirk on his face.

"I have a new toy, we wanna try it out." Both men looked at his arm with wide eyes, not quite believing what they saw. Crowley was the first who started grinning.

"Man, that's really a knife? Where do you get that thing?"

"Amelia made it. She's talented in many ways, right sugah'?" He was a little too smug, but he enjoyed teasing Martinez with his double-meaning words. He was too comfortable with Amelia, and Merle don't liked how he looked at her. 

"Oh, I have magic hands." She smirked, and played along with Merle's teasing. The look on Martinez's face was priceless. "No, but seriously, I made it. We wanna try it on the biters."

"You guys are crazy, but suits yourself." They opened the gate, and Amelia distracted the first walker, grabbing its neck. 

"C'mon, Dixon!" Merle lunged forward with the bayonet, and it went right into the walker's head. 

"Yeah, baby!" Merle was excited, and he killed the next one alone. Martinez and Crowley exchanged a glance with each other, then looked back at the duo. They enjoyed a little too much killing the walkers. Martinez liked Amelia, she was cool, but in moments like this, she was a little crazy. He hated the walkers too, but Dixon and Amelia made a sport about who killed the most. The idea alone that she made a weapon like that for Dixon was crazy, but it worked pretty well, he had to admit that, but now Dixon going to walk around with a knife on his hand.  

"Yer hand now literally a weapon. I'm a little jealous."

"We don't going to cut yer hand off." Merle snorted, then wrapped his good hand on her waist. Martinez frowned a little, he didn't like how close Dixon was to Amelia, even if she said they were not together. "You can have my hunting knife, ya know, the one you kept begging me to give it to ya."

"Really? Thanks!" She gave a kiss on his cheek, and Merle just smirked amused.

"Sometimes yer act like a six year old." He chuckled, and Amelia stuck her tongue out. 

"Ass. I think we had enough fun today, wanna head back?"

"Ya right."

"She's cute, I didn't see her this childish before." Crowley said, glancing at Martinez. "Dude, you always staring at her, why don't you make a move on her? Because of Dixon?"

"They not together."

"Then what? She seems the kind of woman who can handle a little flirting, I mean, she and Dixon always joking with stuff like that." Martinez scoffed.

"You heard Amelia, right? She curses and makes just as bad jokes as Dixon."

"And you still like her. I mean, apart from her taste, she seems cool." Their conversation ended, when the duo came back, blood splattered on their face and clothes from the walkers. Martinez waved toward her face.

"You have something on you. I think it's walker gut." He said ironically, and Amelia just shrugged her shoulder. 

"Yer almost as sexy, sugah', as you always after a hunt."

"Oh, yeah?" She had a sly smile on her face, throwing her hair back. It was Merle's specialty to make her feel sexy, even when she was bloody and dirty. "We weren't on a hunt since we came here. Can we go this week? I kinda miss it, but it going to be strange without Daryl."

"Sure." He nodded, while thinking about Daryl. They not often talked about his brother. His thoughts stopped when Martinez spoke. 

"You two wanna go outside hunting, when we have enough supply right now?"

"We always did, it's kinda good to be away from people for a while, but Merle's arm needed to heal."

"Now it's good as new." He hold his arm up, and Amelia just giggled, patting his shoulder. 

"C'mon, I need a shower." She waved goodbye to the boys, and they went this time to Merle's room. She had a few things there, but she asked for a shirt from him.

"Ya always stealin' my shirts."

"Because they are comfy." He just shook his head amused, but gave her a button-up shirt anyway. While Merle went to shower, Amelia curled up on the couch, and fell asleep. He rubbed his face, then put the prosthetic on the table while looking for some beer. 

"Hey, ya wanna..." Merle wanted to ask if she wanna drink a beer, but looking at her, he just smiled. He grabbed a beer, and then put a blanket over her. "Pussy, can't even stay awake."

He went to his bed, with his back against the headboard while drinking his beer. He was not tired, quite the opposite, so he let his mind wander, but his thoughts went back to Amelia and the prosthetic she made. He looked at his stump. In weeks, for the first time, it has not bothered him that much. She can't give his hand back, but she gave him a weapon. He can't wait to use it on their next hunt. 

-

They were both in a heightened spirit, away from the others in the forest hunting, just like how they planned it the other day. 

"Oh man, it's good to be outside. I hate sitting on my ass all day, even if we take watch and other things..."

"I knew what ya' mean sugah'." Merle was just as relieved to begin outside, no walls, no rules. The Governor was not too happy with them going out for no real reason, but didn't stop them either. I was strange without his brother, but he knew Daryl was not someone who could die easily. He was tough. He looked to the side when he felt Amelia's hand on his shoulder.

"You thinking about Daryl, are ya'?"

"Yeah. But he is tough, my brother."

"If he were here, he would say we bickering too much." Amelia chuckled, and Merle let out a deep laugh. They were both nostalgic and kept talking about Daryl, until they noticed a rabbit. Amelia smile widened, and with a clean shoot, the rabbit was dead. A few hours later she had two more on her shoulder, and Merle had a buck. 

It was late afternoon when they returned, Martinez and a woman, Sheila, standing guard today, their eyes wide as they opened the gate for the two hunters. 

"Your eyes will fall out, Martinez, if ya keep staring."

"You two weren't kidding about the hunting." Oh well, Merle enjoyed the look on his face, this Martinez guy was shocked, that was for sure, and Amelia just grinned.

"Yup." The duo kept walking, drawing quite a bit of attention to themselves. Merle was pleased that his strength was like back then when he still had his other hand too, and he can managed lifting the heavy buck on his shoulder and bringing it back to Woodbury. Amelia only helped him, when he lifted the animal up, but that was it. 

There was a quiet spot a little further away from the houses, where they often hung out just to smoke, or when they grew tired of being inside the house for too long. It was just like back in the camp, Merle brought two camping chairs here a few weeks ago, and it was their spot behind the houses, but it was Amelia's idea to turn this place into their after-hunt spot. Merle had also set up a long table, and Amelia loved that Dixon could do so many things, he was handy.

"You know, it was good to be out there, this Philip guy is too bossy to my taste. Who is he to tell us what he can do in our free time?"

Merle put the buck down on the ground, and he agreed with Amelia. Philip was too controlling and either of them liked this, but there was little what they can do about it. He gave them a place to stay, and Woodbury was a good place. 

"Yeah, we can't let our guard down in this town, even if we think it's safe. I trust no one, only ya and my brothe'." Merle's heavy southern accent was way more noticeable than Amelia's, but everyone in Georgia has a southern accent. She slowly grinned at Merle.

"The same goes for me too. I only trust you right now."

How strange, Merle thought, this woman was not his blood, and yet they trusted like they were. He had to admit, even if Amelia liked him how he was, he behaved way better when she was around. Maybe because she drew a line sooner on some things than Merle and he didn't wanted to piss her off. 

They started working on the animals, and prep them, they had enough for right now, but Amelia wanted something fresh, and Merle can't agree more. So it going to be bunny stew, and the buck meat will be preserved, dried meat is good for a long time, especially if they have to go outside Woodbury. It was almost dark when the stew was ready and the smells, oh god. Amelia was excited when Merle handed her a plate, and the two of them sat down and began to eat in silence, sometimes humming because it was much better than the canned food.

"I miss my brothers. I try not to think about them, but... sometimes I wonder if they are alive or not. There is always a chance, I mean... I'm alive too." Her voice was quiet, and Merle glanced at her. He knew her older brother, Caleb, they met a couple of times, he was a good lad and he can understand how Amelia felt. 

"I don't know sugah', but if any of yer siblings are alive I bet on Caleb. Maybe ya can find him, maybe not. Ya right, it's not good to dwell on the past but... I can't stop thinking about Daryl, so... I'm not the best person to say how ya can feel or not."

"I know, but thanks, for listening to me." She had a sad, but honest smile on her face, and Merle felt good about it. He was always lost when it came to comforting someone so it was a little win in his opinion.

"Anytime, Am."

They both needed a day like this, just the two of them, a little nostalgic but fun day. Everything else can wait until tomorrow.

Hazel Dixon

"Get your guns out of my face." I said in an irritated, but calm voice. The man in front of me lowered his rifle, and nodded the others to do the same. 

"She's just a girl." Someone said, it was a woman with long, brown hair, a boy behind her back. This is just great, the quarry was full of people. A whole camp. I lowered my gun too, but didn't put it away yet. "You on your own?"

"Yeah. My old man and I used to camp here, the place has a lake, the forest is good for hunting so I thought of coming here. Guess it's not just my place any longer." 

"You can stay, if you want, I'm Shane Walsh. She is Lori." The guy with the rifle introduced himself, and the woman with the little boy. 

"Hazel." A put away my gun, and the boy came a little forward. 

"Hi, I'm Carl." I just nodded, and went after the others toward their camp. Soon more people come and introduce themself. The first was Dale, an older man with a hat, he seemed nice, then a young asian guy, Glenn, and a black man, named T-dog. I scoffed a little, what name is T-dog anyway? 

There was two blond girl, they were sisters, Andrea the older, and Amy the younger. She seemed to in my age, or close enough. She was who asked how old I am.

"Sixteen in this year. You?"

"Twenty-three. I thought you are older, carrying that gun and knives." She grinned, and I tapped my gun on my waist.

"It's a beauty, my dad gave it to me for my twelve birthday." For that, everyone went quiet. I looked around, raising my eyebrow. "What?"

"Your dad gave you a gun when you were twelve?" Lori asked, concern in her voice. 

"Well, it comes in handy nowadays, does it?" 

"You said you and your dad come here often to camp?" Dale asked while we all sat down around the campfire, the heat felt nice on my skin. A lifted my gaze from the fire toward Dale. 

"Yeah, we came here for hunting every now and then. We were separated when this shit happened, so I thought it was not a bad idea to come here, maybe run into my family. What about ya guys? Ya all came from Atlanta?"

"Most of us yes, or on the road when they bombed the city." Lori said, and I nodded. 

"I was in the forest, but I saw the bombing too. It scared away my game." I huffed, still annoyed with the memory. Some smiled at my statement, and my lip twitched upward a little too. 

"What about your mum?" Carl asked, and his mother hissed.

"Carl, it's rude to ask something like that."

"Nah, it's cool." I shrugged my shoulder. "My mom left me when I was born, my dad raised me. When I was older, I went to see her, but she had a husband and new kids, and says she doesn't want anything to do with me. My old man can be an asshole sometimes, but he has a soft spot for those he loves."

"So it was just the two of you?" Amy asked, and I smiled.

"My uncle helped my dad a lot, he's more like a brother to me." Amy leaned closer to Andrea, resting her head on her sister's shoulder, and I felt a pang of sadness. 

"I lost my dad too, he was a cop and get shot before this. So it's just my mum, me, and Sahne now." Carl must see the sadness on my face, and I hated to be this vulnerable. 

"My dad is alive, the toughest son of a bitch I know." Carl's smile faded a little, but I don't care. I needed the believe that my family is still alive. After that, everyone started talking about something else, and I left to do my tent. The others seemed nice, but I liked to be on my own, but still, having people to watch my back doesn't sound too bad. 

-

In the morning, I was up a little later than usual, maybe because I don't have to look behind my shoulders all the time for walkers. 

"Hey, you up? Wanna come with us to the lake? We doing laundry." Amy asked, nodding toward the other women in camp. I grimaced, patting my gun."

"Nah, I'm going hunting, see if I can catch something."

"All alone?" Lori asked, and I just smirked.

"Doing laundry it's not my thing, ladies." I laughed seeing their faces, and I went on my own, toward the forest. 

It was late afternoon when I came back, five squirrels on my shoulder, and three rabbits on the other. The others were around the fire, so I joined them, sitting down on a log which was a little further than the others. I started gutting and skinning the first rabbit.

"Well, she was not kidding, when she said she can hunt." Glenn said, and I looked up, a little smirk on my face.

"I was not bullshitting." I wiped the back of my hand on my jeans and keep continuing. The smell of grilled rabbit filled the air, and my stomach started to growl. "Man, I can't wait to eat something."

"We offered to you can eat some canned food, but you said you rather starve."

"It was worth the waiting, look at that, all fresh and tasty." Soon I was munching on my rabbit, the other two still roasting. I offered it to the others, Amy just grimaced, her loss, but Glenn and Dale have taken the opportunity to eat something that is not canned bean or god knows what else. 

"You know, there are another two hunters in the camp, they went hunting before you showed up." I looked up at Glenn curiously. 

"Yeah? Cool, it would be good to go hunting with someone else, not just myself."

"They are assholes. Two rednecks, always keeping their distance from us." My heart stopped for a moment when I looked at Shane. Could it be...?

"Oh yeah, you best keep away from them, the Dixons are assholes." T-Dog kept talking, but my mind was on his last words. Dixons... 

"You oke? You paled for a moment." Amy asked with a little concern, and I nodded. Jesus, Hazel, pull yourself together. 

"Yeah, I'm just tired, that's all. Good nigh'." I went into my tent, holding my hunting knife in my hand and tracing my finger on the monogram on the knife. H.D. Hazel Dixon. It has to be them. That night I fell asleep with my dad and uncle in my mind. 

-

Two more days went by, and I started to settle in the camp, but my eyes was always on the forest. 

"Hey, you are quieter than usual." It was Glenn, and I shrugged my shoulder.  

"I'm like be alone."

"Not always, you can be really loud, always telling some stories by the fire." I chuckled a little at Glenn's words. 

"Yeah, well, my dad never can shut up, guess I took after him a little." I wiped my hands on my jeans, it was already bloody, so who care. 

"You are different, I mean, you are close to Amy in age, but you're... tougher. You can hunt, you don't mind being dirty or bloody, like you were built for this new world."

"Maybe, maybe not. I just grow up like this, we were sometimes low on money, and well... my dad is not a saint. But we were there for each other, and maybe I don't grow up in some fancy house like Amy or Andrea, but I has a good childhood. And I can fend for myself, because my pa taught me how."

"I don't mean as an offense! It's cool, I mean, you are cool, Hazel." Glenn was sometimes so awkward and shy, but he was sweet, so I grinned, patting his shoulder.

"Take a breath, chinaman, I know what ya mean."

"I'm Korean, but you know this."

"Yup."

"You can be so annoying."

"I know." Glenn just shake his head, and I laughed. I loved messing with him, or with the others. Lori came over to me, so I looked at her waiting for what she wants.  

"You don't want to join the other kids? Jacqui and me teaching them."

"Sorry to disappoint, but I almost finished high school, 'm a little old for stuff like that, Lori." I said with an amused smile and Lori just sighed.

"I know, but you are always on your own, I'm just worried."

"I was on my own before, you don't need to worr..." We were interrupted by Shane.

"Great, the Dixons are back." He said sarcastically, and I needed to bit my lip before I say something I shouldn't. When I heard an all too familiar voice, I know it was him. He just get back, but he was already arguing with someone, I think with T-Dog.

My heart beat very fast and I closed my eyes for a moment, then open them and spun around. There it was, my dad and uncle, both of them carrying a deer on their own. 

"Dad!" I shouted, and everyone looked at me, including my dad. 

"Son of a bitch, Hazel?" My dad's eyes widened, and my uncle looked in my direction too. I started running, almost tipping my dad when I hugged him. He immediately hugged me back, stroking my hair.

"Dad...." A sob escaped my throat, and my chuckled.

"C'mon, baby girl, don't get all soft on me." I know he was not serious, he always said this to me when I was crying. He hugged me tighter, kissing my head, then I pulled back a little, and looked at my uncle.

"Daryl."

"C'mere." I let go of my dad, just to be hugged by Daryl. He hated hugging, but he never hated to hug me. "Jesus, we looked for ya everywhere, Haze!"

"I looked for you guys too." Daryl let go of me, then dad took my hands, eyeing the blood on them. 

"It's yer blood?" I shake my head. 

"Nah, I skinned a rabbit earlier." At that, my dad started grinning, ruffling my hair.  

"That's ma' girl."

"I missed ya and Daryl." I hugged him again, burying my face into his chest. I felt like a little girl, but I don't felt this safe in weeks, like right now with my dad.

"I missed ya too, Haze."

"You are a Dixon? No way." I glanced at Glenn, but I didn't pull away completely from my dad. The others were dumbfounded, and my pa was the first who spoke in a rather irritated tone. 

"She's ma' girl, Chinaman, ya have a problem with that?"

"No!" I started laughing. My dad can be rather intimidating, but also my uncle, or me if I have to be, or when I lost my shit. Maybe it's in the Dixon bloodline.   

"You not exactly a father type, Dixon." Andrea said, and I glared at her. That woman was annoying, so classy... pff. At least her sister Amy was more likable. I liked her, on my first day here she said she loved mermaids and stuff like that. I told her I love things like that too, especially dragons. My dad always mocked me about it, but he always brought dragon figures to me, or things like that when he found something. Even if we were low on money. 

"None of yer business, sugartits." I snorted hearing the nickname what my dad picked for Andrea. He turned back to me, still grinning seeing I was amused rather than upset. 

"C'mon, lil sister, ya can help us with the deers, and tell us what happened with ya."

"Yeah, we were looking for ya at the school, and our hunting spots, but you were nowhere."

"We started coming back from that stupid school trip earlier, but some kid was infected. It was a mess, but my knife was with me, so I managed to go back home, but nobody was there. The truck was gone, and yer bike too. That was how I knew you and Daryl were alive. I took some clothes, my gun, some ammo, and go further from the city. I saw the bombing, so I kept low, staying in the forest. A couple of days ago my old camping spot was overrun by a herd and I thought maybe the quarry was still oke, good place to stay a little. Guess I was not the only one." 

" 'm sorry, baby girl." Dad said, and Daryl put a hand on my shoulder, smirking. 

"Yer dad was a mess, almost crashed his bike trying to get to the school faster to find you." 

"Yeah? Who's getting soft now, dad?" I said while grinning, and he just scoffed. 

"Shut up ya two. I ain't gettin' soft."

"Of course not, I love ya to." He rolled his eyes, then he lift up one of the deer, and went toward their tent. Daryl and I followed him, and we started working on the deers they brought. We discussed what happened to us in the past few weeks. It was nice. A couple of hours later I started to take down my tent, I wanted the move it closer to my dad and uncle's tent. 

"Why are you taking down your tent?" I glanced at Lori.

"I'm moving it closer to my dad's tent."

"Everyone was shocked that Merle is your dad. You never said you are a Dixon too, and we said rude things about them..." I just shake my head.

"It's oke, Lori. I know how my dad can be sometimes. But he's not a bad father, so stop worrying. He's not Ed. My grandfather was a drunk bastard, beat his wife and sons." We all know that Carol's husband, Ed beat his wife, and I know it was easy to assume the same about my dad. I looked away. "My dad can be an asshole, but he never put a hand on a woman."

"I didn't know." Lori don't said anything else, and my dad showed up, and take my tent from me.

"I have this. Go and get your other stuff."

"Thanks. Hey, I didn't find my crossbow at home, ya take it with you?" 

"Yeah, I thought ya want it, so we brought it." He said with an amused grin, and a happy squeak left my mouth. I kissed his cheek.

"Thanks dad!" I saw the corner of my eyes Lori smiling, and went on her own business, leaving us alone. Dad helped to put up my tent again next to theirs, but I grabbed his wrist. "Hey, dad? Can I sleep with ya and Daryl tonight?"

"Yeah. I ain't going nowhere, baby girl."

"I know." And just like before when we were camping, dad started telling stories, and Daryl always corrected him, because dad liked to exaggerate. When he started to snore, we looked at each other at Daryl, and burst out laughing, trying to muffle our voices, but then his face went serious. 

"We missed ya, Haze. You make him a better man, a better brother."

"He's not a bad man, neither are you. We are a family, Dare, we need to stuck together, and keep an eye on each other." I glanced at my dad, and grinned." Well, maybe he needs a little more supervising than us."

"Oh, I wanna watch when ya say that to his face."

"Ya wish. Good nigh', Dare."

"Night', Haze."

TWD - I won't leaving you 2

They tried, really tried. But they were low on ammo, and it was useless anyway, it could just draw more walkers. Amelia got themselves some rats, yeah... rats. But food is food, and rat meat is better, than nothing. Days went on, but without medicine Merle's state gotten worse. 

He sometimes blacked out for a couple of minutes, probably got a fever because of the very bad infection on his hand.  Merle was not used to being weak. He was always capable take care of himself, always too proud and independent. His and Daryl's father was a drunken, abusive piece of shit. Merle learned at a very young age not to expect help or kindness from anyone. And it just got worse, when their mother died. She was always quiet, submissive when it come to their father. She smoked a loot and one day fell asleep with a cigarette in her hand, and the whole house burned down with their mother. He tried to protect his little brother, but one day he needed to leave that fucking house, or else he would have killed their father.  He always had felt guilty leaving Daryl alone with their father. His little brother was different than Merle, he was always the sweetest one. More caring. 

Daryl... he wondered if his brother think he was dead? Went back looking for them, or not? He missed his little brother. Was he oke? Merle doesn't know. 

He tried to hold himself together for Amelia. Fuck, the girl hunted for both of them, protected both of them. She was scared, he saw that clearly. Scared for their lives, scared for left alone if his infection gets worse. He was a burden, and it annoyed the hell out of him. 

"Look at you, doll, you're the boss right now, huh?" He tried joking weakly, and Amelia grinned back.

"Yeah, whos vote for me?" She said, reflecting on Merle's earlier vote back on the roof. Merle laughed, but his voice was raspy, a little hoarse, but then went serious. 

"I fucked up."

"I know." Amelia sighed. She knows he probably meant sorry on his own way. Merle never apologized for anything, he was always so damn proud, but Amelia could read between the lines. She lifted her gaze back at Melre, but something was off. His eyes were closed, and his breathing was ragged and heavy. Amelia panicked. "No, no, no... wake up, asshole! C'mon... "

She can't lose him too. Not him. But what she's going to do? Everything felt hopeless. She was tired, and an angry sob escaped her throat.

"Fuck you, Dixon!"

<center>-</center>

<i>Today was hot as fuck, and that damn truck just died under him, well... he forgot to fill the tank. Daryl going to tease him because of it, that little bastard. 

His wifebeater was sweat-stained, so he took it off, and hang it on his shoulder. He loosed his job because he had a little problem with the boss. Hell, the man was a prick. Now he was broke, again, and that damn truck had to die too, just so his day gets even shittier.  He then heard a bike, he can recognize that sound anywhere, that smooth sound which only a motor can make.

"Hey, Dixon, working on your tan, or do ya need a ride?" His lips turned into a wide grin. He looked at the woman on the bike. 

"Nah, 'm just enjoying the Georgia heat." He said, his tone full of sarcasm.

"Get your ugly ass here, and cut the whining."

"I ain't whining, I ain't no pussy." He scoffed, and Amelia snorted. 

"Ya always whining about something."

"I ain't."

"Damn, ya want a ride, or not?" He mumbled some curses under his nose, but eventually got behind Amelia on the bike. 

"Like 'm some damsel in distress." He warped his hand around her waist, and even if he don't see, he know that Amelia was grinning.

"Ya wish it could be the other way around, picking up some chick, bring 'er home, huh?"

"Ya know me too well, sugah'." 

"Yup." And with that, they were on the road, the wind felt nice on his hot skin. Well... holding the woman in front of him felt nice too, but this was Amelia, not some random chick. They were friends for years, they both served in the army. 

They arrived at his house, and Amelia turned the engine off. He lived with his brother, the place was shitty, but it was affordable and had a big garage where he can tinker his bike. 

"Wanna come in? I have cold beer."

"I like your way of thinking, Merle." She smirked and went after him into the house. She knows her way around, spent most of her free time hanging around here. She hopped on the couch, and catch the beer from Merle's hand when he sat down too. The couch was not too big, so she kicked her boots off and put her legs on Merle's lap. He just patted her legs, but said nothing,  if somebody else had done that, he would kick that person in the face, but it was Amelia. It kinda felt nice to have someone who was this comfortable around him besides his baby brother. 

"So, what happened? Ya were low on fuel? I thought ya were working today."

"Got fired. Had some ugly business with the boss and on way home that damn truck just died."

"Well, shit. Ya liked that job, do you? Working on bikes and stuff like that."

"Yeah, I think. Whatever." He drank his beer instead of more speaking. Amelia frowned, she hated when Merle become this quiet. He was always fun, so she sit up.

"C'mon, big boy, drop the brooding and c'mere and turn around. "He raised his eyebrow, but did what she asked. He was curious, then he felt his hands on his shoulder. Oh, so this was what she planned. When her fingers found a sore spot, he groaned. "Ya always so tensed up."

"Dunno, maybe ya right." He always did physical work and stuff like that won't exactly relaxing. He closed his eyes and lean into her touch. It felt too good, he don't even know when was the last time someone touched him this gently. Hell, not even during sex. 

When her hands went lower on his back, a moan escaped his throat. Damn, it going to be a little embarrassing to explain the bulge in his pants. He heard Amelia giggling. 

" 'm not going to massage ya down there, Dixon."

"Fuck off, I can't help it, ya have magic hands, sugah'."

"I know." She smirked and continued the massage a little longer. When she finished, Merle sighed, and turned around. Oh, well, he was definitely still aroused.  "Don't look at me. Go and jerk off in the bathroom or something, and grab a beer, I need another one."

"Ya sure you don't wanna help?" He wriggled his eyebrows up and down while grinning. She laughed, and throw pillow at him, but he dodged it.  

"Nah." 

"Ya hurting my feelings, woman." 

"Ya such a drama queen sometimes."

They always teased like this, both of them have a quite vulgar sense of humor. Merle went to the bathroom, and Amelia just laid on her back on the couch, relaxing. She has no clue why they never hooked up, Merle loved sex and always bring home some chick from time to time, but with her, it was just never the case. They were comrades first, then buddies. Over the years they become friends, and Merle respected Amelia. But a little teasing here and there was fun. Oh, she enjoyed it too. 

When Merle comes back, he brought beer too. She sit up grinningly, and puts her legs on his lap again, and Merle started massaging her feet while turning on some bad action movie on tv.   

Daryl chose this moment to come in, the scene in front of him was too familiar. He snorted.

"At this point, ya spend more time here, than in your own place. Ya sure you're not Merle's woman?"

"Ya jealous, baby brother?" 

"Fuck off, both of ya." She said, then the three of them burst into laughing. Daryl grabbed a beer too, and went to the other end of the couch, and made room himself. He pulled Amelia's head into his lap and focused on his beer and the movie on the tv. He liked her, like a sister who he never had. Amelia was lucky to have these two idiots in her life.</i>

<center>-</center>

Merle woke up with a throbbing pain in his right arm, his eyes immediately looking for danger. When he realizes he is in a room, his first thought is Amelia. 

The first thing he notices was the clean bandage on his stump. So wherever he was, they treated his injuries. Well, he felt like shit, but when not nowadays... The second thing was the chair next to him and the brunette who was curled up on it, with her head on her knees, sleeping.  He instantly relaxed, didn't even notice that he was so tense because he didn't know where Amelia was.

"Ah, you awake. Your friend practically lived on that chair the past three days when you were out. You had a pretty bad infection because of your arm, but we give you some antibiotics." His eyes turned to the black woman, she must be some kind of doctor or nurse, then back to Amelia.

"She's alright?"

"She's fine, she was just dehydrated when you two got here." His gaze turned cautious. 

"Where exactly we are?"

"Woodbury, but it's not my place to tell you this."

"Then who's fucking place is to tell?" The woman was a little taken aback from Merle's angry outburst. 

"Shut the fuck up, Dixon..." Amelia murmured under her nose, still sleepy, then in the next second she was on her feet, a bright smile on her face. "Ya awake! Ya scared the shit out of me, asshole!"

She hugged him tightly, and Merle just chuckled, but put her stump arm on her back.

"Don't go all soft on me, sugah'."

"Ya scared me. I was alone and don't know how to help ya." She pulled back, but stayed on the edge of his bed. "I went on another run, trying to find some meds, when a group come.  They noticed me, and ask if I was alone, so I lied at first. But then some walkers came, so I killed a couple of them, and they the rest. This guy, Philip, he some kind of authority figure here, offered me to come with them to Woodbury, said he needs people like me who can fight. So I told him I come, if he can treat your wound. That was a few days ago."

"Doc said ya kinda lived here the past three days. Never thought ya become so clingy when ya think I'm dying." He smirked mockingly, and Amelia gave him a look that said "shut up". 

"Ass."

"I know ya love me." He grinned, but then went more serious." So what ya think of this place?"

"Well, it has walls, guards. The city itself is pretty big, or at least what I saw, and people are living here."

"So they have the manpower to hold this place together. They have a system."

"Yeah, this man, Philip, or the Governor, that's how they call him wanna speak with us when ya get better." Merle gave her a look, and she laughed. "I know, my reaction was the same when I heard how they call him, so I just stuck with Philip."

"I don't know, sugah'. I wanna see for myself this Governor."

"Fine by me, we can decide afterward what we wanna do." A little grin appeared on her face while looking at Merle, then she started searching for something on the desk next to the bed. He heard paper rustling, and there she was, holding a bag of chips like it was the most precious thing in the world.

"Ya are what, five?" Merle laughed, but patted the bed. "C'mere."

"Scoot over." Merle moved over a little so that she could sit next to him. It was almost like before this shit, sitting on Merle's couch and eating junk food. "It's the end of the world, so nowadays a bag of chips is like gold."

"A pack of cigarettes is still better. Or a beer."

"Or sex. But they have whiskey. I can really use a little buze and just chill."

"Sex with whiskey? Ya have good taste sugah'." Merle smirked, but he could agree with her. They both need a little time off before they can go back to that shit show what the world become.

"Well that's a plan, we speak with Philip, then get some good buze," She then leaned closer to Merle, a sly smile on her lips. "I know I have good taste."

A little later Merle drifted off, at least he closed his eyes. He was tired and felt like shit, but then the Doc's voice caught his interest.

"So, you two seem pretty close. He's your husband?" Merle's eyes almost opened up in surprise. He suspected that Amelia was just as shocked by the question. There was a little pause, and now he was curious about her answer.  

"No, but he's family. We stuck together." 

"That's good, you need people nowadays more than ever." He felt strangely warm, but not from the heat. Nobody called him family besides Daryl. The Dixon brothers were always alone, nobody gives a shit about them, especially not with Merle. So why her? He doesn't understand her reasons, but it felt good to have someone who gives a shit about him.

<center>-</center>

Some days later Merle was off of the antibiotics, and he was just grumpy. He hated being inside for so long, and doing nothing. 

"C'mon, Dixon, one more day inside with you here and I might kill someone, or you if you going to be this annoying."

"I know ya, sugah', you hate sitting on your ass all day too."

"True, but at least I ain't whining about it."

"Oh, sure hell ya do." He grinned at her, and she make a grimace.

"Really? Well, ya are right, though... I was never the type who sits all day. I need to do things." 

"Yeah, same here." They were heading to Philip's office, but Merle caught her hand. She looked at him curiously. He hesitated, not knowing what to say, but finally swallow his pride. "Thanks, Am. Ya know why."

"I know." She squeezes his hand for a moment.

"I don't know when we going to find Daryl, but until then ya stuck with me, sugah'."

"Like always. If we going to find them, I gonna punch Officer Friendly in the face, and not just once."

"Good, I hold him down for ya." They smirked at each other, but Amelia was truly angry with them. Yes, Merle fucked up, but... they left behind Amelia too. She liked Glenn, almost liked Andrea. They were not so close, but she was part of their group and did nothing against them besides begin Merle's friend. In moments like this, she realized again and again that she doesn't fit anywhere. She was smart and skilled, but she was not generally kind like Lori or Amy. She liked her own space. Sometimes she was a little childish, and liked joking around with Merle.  Merle... he just gets her. No need to think about what she said or does, she just do it and Merle doesn't judge her. It went both ways, she never minded Merle's humor, or the thing he said when his temper gets the best of him. He was not a kind man, but with his childhood, she was not surprised, but he was good enough for Amelia. It was hard to earn Merle Dixon trust, but when you had it, he was a loyal friend. 

In the office, Merle had not expected the Governor to be this... simple. He was wearing a suit,  his hair neatly combed back, and his smile too charming. Now he understood why Amelia don't trust him.

"Ah, you both finally good enough to discuss a few things. Have a seat." They glanced at each other for a moment before they sat down. "Amelia earlier said you two know each other before."

"Yeah, we served in the army together, been friends for years." Merle was who answered, and the Governor leaned closer over his desk, he seemed interested now, but his eyes glanced at Merle's stump.

"What about your hand? You can still handle yourself?" Merle just smirked, and in the next moment, a knife was in the wall, mere inches from Philip's head.

"I'm still better with one hand, than most of your man." Amelia just smiled proudly, Merle was Merle, he can adapt to having just one hand. Philip looked at the knife, and pulled it out of the wall. He hold it for a moment, then looking at Merle. 

"Here is my offer. You two follow the rules, take watch, and when I see you are ready, I send you two on raids. I give you rooms, nothing fancy."

"If it has a bed and a shower, it's the fanciest we going to have in months." Amelia said hopingly.

"It has, but we are short on hot water."

"He said hot water. The last time I had a bath it was after that hunt, at the lake." Seeing her this happy about a simple shower, Merle smirked at her.

"I can help ya out of those clothes, sugah'." She grinned back.

"Ya wish. You stink, Dixon."

"Yeah?" He stood up, and hold her head against his armpit. She coughed and laughed at the same time.

"Gods, fuck off, Merle!" They have almost forgotten about the Governor, but froze immediately when he cleared his throat. Merle took back his knife, and with Amelia, they headed to their new rooms. A woman, named Emma showed the way and give them their keys. 

"Your rooms are next to each other."

"Aw, so we not going to be roomies? I hoped I can see ya naked." At Merle's remark, Emma's face got red, glancing at Amelia, but she just smirked. 

"I don't wanna see your ugly ass, Merle. And besides, I have already seen your dick, when you were stoned. Ya tried to imitate Tarzan from that movie."

"I remember that! You have taken a good look at me, don't try to deny it, sugah'."

"I never said I don't." She winked at him, and Emma just stood there awkwardly. This man was so vulgar, but what was more surprising, the woman, Amelia was just as bad. How she can stand his sexist joke, it was a mystery, Emma always hated this kind of man. 

"Well, if you need anything, you know where you find me." And with that, she left them alone. They looked at each other, and burst out laughing. 

"It's her loss if she can't handle a little joking."

"All people are too damn sensitive." Merle clicked with his tongue, then glanced at Amelia, who was now too quiet. 

"Can we stay together? Just a couple of days, until we settle in."

"Ah, so we going to be roomies!" Amelia giggled at his answer, but she was relieved at the same time. He understood that she needs a little time, and honestly? He going to be more calm knowing she's with him.

An hour later the bathroom opened, and she was clean. It felt so weird. Her hair was still wet, and she grinned like an idiot.

"Man, this was almost as good as sex. I think I washed my hair six times, just because it felt good." She was in a black pantie, and an oversized t-shirt, not even bothered by the fact that Merle going to see her. They were over that a long time ago.

"Ya looks at least two shades lighter without the dirt, sugah'."

"I know! Now go, it's your turn." She patted his shoulder, and Merle just laughed, but went into the bathroom. He don't stayed as long as Amelia, but he can understand her. It felt damn good. He just wear a boxer, and joined Amelia on the couch. He looked at his stump, a frown on his face. 

"Ya think I going to be as good as I was?" He doesn't need to say more, Amelia knows what he means. She traced her fingers on his injured arm. 

"I think you are the toughest person I know. So, yeah. And if not, ya just need to learn it again. But you going to be fine, Merle." She saw him smiling, but she said nothing, just leaned her head on his shoulder. She sniffed his skin, and smiled. "Ya smell good. Even before, when we were outside, you somehow smelled good. Sweat, wood, and smoke."

"Yeah? In the office, ya said I stink."

"You were! But I liked it. Nowadays we don't always have the chance to take a shower like this, and we were fighting for our lives. We stink, but we live." 

"Thats our new motto?" He asked amused.

"Yup." He snorted, and started laughing.

"Ya' are so ridiculous sometimes." She just hummed in response, and Merle pulled her closer. She smelled good too.

<center>-</center>

A couple of days later, they were on their first watch, well, it was Amelia's first watch with some guy, and Merle just tagged along, he itched to do something. 

"Hey there, chicka. I'm Martinez." 

"Great, another taco-bender..." Amelia elbowed him in the chest, and Merle just rolled his eyes, but don't said anything else. 

"Amelia Argent, he's Merle Dixon." She waved toward Merle, and he just nodded his head. 

"Your friend not speak too much, huh?"

"Or I just don't like your face, amigo." Oh, now he was pissed, but Amelia just sighed.

"Play nice, Dixon, this is my watch, not yours."

"Ya owe me big time, sugah'."

"Because you don't be an ass for once? Ya are so cute." She patted his face, then put a cigarette in his mouth and light it.

"I ain't cute, woman."

"Don't worry, I won't say it to anyone." She just smirked, and Merle just scoffed, but accept the smoke, it was her way of saying thanks. He can play nice, for once. 

"So, I heard you two were in the army? It's handy since the world went shit." Matinez said to Amelia, and just tried ignoring Merle.

"Yeah, you can say that. But my dad was who taught me how to shoot, so..."

"Same here, but her pa was not an asshole." Martinez glanced at Merle, then back to Amelia. The man, Dixon was a loud and rude redneck, but they seemed close. Argent was an odd woman. A very beautiful woman. 

"Ah, looks like we have some visitors." Amelia grinned, then shoot two walkers. She then looked at Merle, and her grin widened. She handed the rifle to him. "Have fun."

"Ya know how to make a man happy." He smirked, but in all honestly, he was a little nervous. Since the rooftop, he doesn't hold a gun or a rifle. He aimed the gun at a walker, and shot. Right in the head. He shot five more, and he felt like when he was high. Amelia leaned closer to him.

"Ya still have it, I told ya."

"Yeah, ya told." He looked at her, and he know she was happy for him. It felt good, knowing he was still capable of handle a gun. And she not going to pity him. Amelia never pitied him, but damn, he was a proud man. Merle wanted her to rely on him like she always does. That he was still capable of watching her back. 

"Damn, if you are this good shoot with one hand, I don't wanna know how good you were with both hands." 

"Ya don't wanna be on my bad side." Merle said, and Martinez just looked at them while Dixon started speaking with Amelia. That man was not just all talk, he was dangerous, the girl too. No wonder why the Governor wanted both of them. 

"What ya say, sugah'? I found a bottle of whiskey, if ya not going to be too tired in the morning, we can drink it."

"I'm in, ya know I never say no to a good booze."

"I know, have fun, Am." 

"Oh, I will. Killing some geeks is always fun."

"That's mah' girl." She grinned at his comment, and then he left, leaving her with Martinez who was very quiet. 

"Sorry 'bout Merle, he just... Merle."

"Nah, it's oke. You know him for a long time, and nowadays that's rare. We all lost someone."

"Yeah. Ya know, we were in Atlanta, on a supply run. Some things happened, Merle pissed off the team, and some new guy, an ex-cop handcuffed him on the roof. Shit happened, geeks everywhere and we were left behind. That's how he loosed his hand. I helped him cut it off. Days later Philip and your buddies found us and now we are here."

"Damn, that's rough. You were not pissed that they left you behind because of him?"

"No, he was an ass, but we were in that shit because of that cop. He started shooting at the streets, but someone from my team helped him, but we were trapped in a building. "She shot another walker and continued. "So no, I was not angry at him, besides, I would never have just left him there."

"You two are together?"

"No, but the Doc asked the same thing. I lost my dad, my brother, and we were separated from Merle's brother too. I have no one, except him."

"Sorry, just you two were flirting and joking around and I assumed..." Amelia just laughed.

"It's oke. What about ya? What you were doing before this?"

"I worked as a coach. Had a wife, kids. Now I haven't. After that I found Woodbury, and joined."

"Sorry 'bout your family." She then started grinning." So, ya were a coach. Sometimes it's just funny how meaningless our past life becomes. Now it's them, or us. The dead and the living, and the stronger win."

"Yeah, something like that. But you are pretty strong yourself, chika." She returned Martinez smile, and the rest of the evening was much the same, they talked, and shot the walkers when they come too close to the gate.

In the morning, Merle waited for her in her room, two glasses on the table, and a bottle of whiskey. Her heart warmed a little seeing him like that, waiting for her. 

"Ya good, or you wanna sleep?"

"Nah, 'm good. I can sleep later, but that whiskey looks too good."

"I bet ya going to sleep better after we finish this bottle." He poured the whiskey, and hold out a glass for Amelia when she sat down next to him. They sat there in silence, enjoying the whiskey, and each other's company.

"So, what about that guy, Martinez?"

"He was oke, we talked a little about our life, before and after this shit."

"Ya wanna bumping uglies with him?" Amelia choked on her drink, and Merle just smirked.

"Heck no, I just meet him."

"Good, ya can found better than him."

"What's the problem with him? He looks good, and I don't care his skin color."

"Nah, he's too soft for ya."

"Let's find out his first name first. Ya are the one who has to fuck someone. Ya always horny." He just grunted.

"Don't even mention it."

"Aw, poor Dixon..." She patted Merle's shoulder, and if looks could kill, Amelia would be dead. But it was true, since the outbreak, Merle don't have any women, especially not in their old group, and Amelia loved teasing him about it. "Looks like your famous Dixon charm doesn't working." 

"Fuck off, in the camp all woman was uptight, or has their own man."

"What about Andrea? Oh, right, ya called her a rug-muncher."She was still amused about that one. Most of the women can't handle Merle's blunt approach, but it worked just fine for him. He once said this way he can tell if someone was interested in him, or not. She laughed. "Ya always so blunt."

"But ya like it, or else we wouldn't be friends." He said smugly.

"Of course I like it, ya never lie, just said what's on your mind. I'm the same too, but ya know it."

"Yeah, I know." Merle was quiet for a moment, looking at Amelia. "Why we never hooked up?"

"Dunno. Yer hot, I'm hot, but we were friends for so long." She was now curious. "Ya thinked about it?"

"Sometimes. You?" Over the years, he sometimes think about it, she was hot, sexy but it always stopped there. The women he usually slept with were drunk, or stoned, or they simply have low standards, growing up like Merle. Amelia was different, she grow up in a good family, she was smart, independent, way out of Dixon league, but she don't need to know that, so he joked. "But I liked our friendship more than yer nice ass."

"Aww, ya so kind, Dixon." She grinned, then drank from her glass, before answering the question. "But yeah, occasionally. Doc and Martinez thought we are together."

"Oh?" She smacked him on his shoulder seeing his smug face, but he just laughed it off. Merle knows about the Doc, but that Martinez guy surprised him. 

"Don't be so smug."

" 'm just having a little fun. Ya remember, when I was in jail, and ya always come to visit me? And after a while, the boys in there started asking if ya are my woman."

"Yeah, it was funny, and they started teasing ya, so one day I just said to them that I'm your girl. The looks on their face, it was hilarious!"

"Can't blame them, an old redneck like me, having a girl like ya? But yeah, it was damn funny." He laughed, while drinking his whiskey.

"Ya not even that old. Ya what, forty-five?"

"Forty-six." He grimaced, Amelia had turned thirty this year, so there were almost fifteen years between her and Merle, she was much closer in age to Daryl.

"Never thought it bothers ya." She raised her eyebrow.

"It's not, but 'm older compared to ya."

"And yet ya are so damn childish sometimes." She smirked, and Merle just snorted, but smiled too.

"Wonderin' about your taste, ya befriended me of all people."

"Maybe I'm just as worse as you." She said, and Merle smirked.

"Oh, you are! Ya have a big mouth, and yer temper just as bad as mine."

"True. But my temper can't compare to the Dixon's temper. Your's way much worse."

"Ya can blame my Pa for it. The one good thing taught me that bastard was how to use a gun, and how to hunt." Merle never talked about his family or childhood, but Amelia knows. Once when she saw his back, he told her about his father being an abusive, drunken piece of shit. Sometimes Merle wondered if he was any better than his old man. At least he never hit a woman. And as if Amelia could read his mind, she smiled at him.

"You better than your father, Merle Dixon."

"Pff, yeah, 'm not hitting women." He said, his voice sarcastic. She sighed, then poured more whiskey into their glasses.

"Well, you are. Ya good enough for me, at least, yer blunt, funny, and loyal." He was quiet for a moment, and looked away, scoffing.

"When yer drunk, ya always become all softy."

"I'm not drunk!" She said, but with the sudden movement, she needed to hold onto his arm. "Well, maybe I am. But in my defense, I don't eat anything before my watch, and I'm tired."

"Go to sleep, Amelia. I'll get ya something to eat when you get up."

"Thanks." She stood up, but leaned closer to Merle, and put a playful kiss on his cheek. He just shook his head, but smiled while finishing his drink. He heard her cursing, probably kicked her foot into the bed. He stayed a little, still thinking at her words, and scoffed lowly, murmuring under his nose.

"You gettin' soft, Dixon." But still, her words felt good, he couldn't help it. 

Reunions

 Months. She, and her daughter have been on their own since the outbreak. Her husband went on a hunting trip with his brother, and she went to visit her own sister with their daughter when the world went shit. 

Then her sister died. A horde came, and everything happened so fast, and her sister was gone. Grieving? There was no time for grieving, even when all what she wanted to do was crying. Bonnie was a tough woman, so she pulled herself together. Her daughter was still alive, and they needed each other more than ever now. 

Her husband taught her to hunt years ago. Oh, at first she always begged him to let her go with them, when they went hunting for a weekend and after a while, her husband gave in. Over the years, Bonnie kept getting better, and now she was thankful for what she had learned. It meant she and her daughter don't starve. But every now and then they needed other supplies. That's how they ended up in this mess, with a guy in a tank, in the middle of Atlanta. 

"Ya know, we in this mess, because you started shooting, Rambo."

"I'm sorry." Bonnie sighed, the guy seemed like he really meant it, but he was still an idiot. Well, her daughter had to think the same thing. 

"They attracted to the noise, ya don't know nothing?" Skyler was fourteen years old, with a big attitude, just like her mom and dad, but was just as skilled for this new world. Rambo wanted to say something when the radio in the tank started to beeping.

 <i>"Hey, are you guys still alive in there?"</i> They looked at each other, then Rambo grabbed the radio.

"Yes, we are alive! You can see us?"

 <i>"Yeah, I can see you. You're surrounded by walkers. That's the bad news."</i> 

"There's good news?"

 <i>"No. Oh man, you guys should see it from over here. You'd been having a major freak-out."</i> Bonnie grunted, she had enough, and take the radio.

"Listen, while you and Rambo here having a nice chit-chat, I wanna stay alive, so any advice?"

 <i>"Make a run for it. It sounds crazy, but listen. There's one geek still up on the tank, but the others climbed down and joined the feeding frenzy where the horse went down. The street on the other side of the tank is less crowded. Got ammo?"</i> 

"Me and my daughter had two guns, a crossbow, and some knives. Rambo here has a beretta with one clip."

 <i>"Jump off the right side of the tank, keep going in that direction. There's an alley up the street, maybe 50 yards, be there. Good luck."</i> 

"Well, shit." She wiped her forehead looking at Rambo and Skyler.

"We try, right, ma'?"

"Hell yeah. C'mere sweetie." Bonnie hugged her daughter, then glanced at Rambo. "What's your name?"

"Rick. Yours?"

"Bonnie, and my daughter Skyler. But I going to call ya' Rambo." For the first time, Rick smiled.

"If we can make out of here alive, you can call me whatever you want."

"Deal." And with that, they opened the tank and then run. Boonie shot the geek on the tank, and Rick with Sky the rest. They managed to reach the alley and run into an Asian guy. 

"Whoa, not dead! Come on, come on!" They followed the guy, up on the fire escape, through the building. When they were inside, a blonde woman held a gun in Rick's face.

"We are all dead, because of you!"

"Andrea, back off!" Someone of the group shouted, but she has not lowered her gun. Bonnie grabbed her hand, and took her gun.

"Hey, Blondie, next time ya' wanna hold a gun on someone, maybe take the safety off." The woman's expression turned a little embarrassed, but still angry. 

"Give it back."

"Why, you can't even know how to use it." 

"Ma', don't be an asshole." Bonnie snorted at her daughter's comment. 

"Even you know how to use a gun, and ya' just fourteen." She then glanced back at Blondie, then sighed, giving her gun back. "Here."

"Thanks." Andrea said, and Bonnie just nodded. "By the way, I'm Andrea, not Blondie."

"Sure thing, Blondie."

"She calls me Rambo." Rick chuckled, then turned to the Asian guy. "What's your name? You saved our ass outside."

"Glenn. The others are Morales, Jacqui, and T-Dog."

"I'm Rick Grimes. And she's Bonnie and her daughter Skyler."

"Yo. We were on a supply run, just like you guys, when Rambo here rang the dining bell. We're trapped in the tank, but Glenn here saved the day." That's when they hear a shot, then another from the roof. 

"Oh, no, is that Dixon?" Andrea said, and Bonnie's heart stopped for a moment, looking instantly at Sky. <i>Dixon?</i> Could be...?

"What's that maniac doing?  Come on, let's go!" Glenn said, and everyone went to the roof. 

"Dixon, are you crazy?!" Morales shouted. 

"Hey, You oughta be more polite to a man with a gun! Only common sense." She just stood there, frozen on her spot, and stared at the man she thought she would never see again.

"Holy shit... Merle?" Hearing his name caught him off guard and looking at her direction, his eyes widened, lowering his rifle.

"Bon?" She sobbed and started to run toward Merle almost tipping him, and throw her hands around his neck. He hugged her back tightly. not believing this is really happening. He started stroking her brown curls. "C'mon sugah', ya' never been a softie, don't cry."

"Shut up, asshole." She pulled away just enough to see him smirk. Bonnie always loved that smirk, and she grabbed his head and kissed him. 

"Daddy..." At their daughter's voice, they pulled back, and Merle just looked at his girl. The next moment, Sky was in his arms and he kissed the top of her head. 

"Hey there, Pumpkin." Skyler was fourteen, but right now she clunged on his dad like a six year old. Bonnie just smiled, almost forgetting they were not alone. 

"Um... can someone explain what's going on?" It was Glenn, and looking around she saw that everyone in the group stared at them, especially at Merle. 

"He's my husband."

"You're a Dixon?" Andrea's expression was dumbfounded. Nobody wanted to believe that an asshole redneck like Merle Dixon has a wife, let alone a daughter. 

"Yup. I have been Bonnie Dixon for seventeen years."

"And ya' still has the nicest ass, babe." Merle grinned, slapping her bottom, and Bonnie returned his grin.

"I know."

"And ya' guys are still gross." Skyler grimaced at her parents, but a playful smile was in the corner of her mouth. But then her expression turned into sad while looking at her dad. "Uncle Daryl?"

"He's in camp, went on hunting." Merle looked at his wife. "Your sister?"

"Tannya is dead. She died at the beginning when a bigger horde came."

" 'am sorry."

"But we're here, nothing can kill a Dixon, but a Dixon, right?" She smiled, and Merle laughed and wrapped one of his hands around her shoulders.

"Yeah." Merle was never a good man, but he was good enough for Bonnie. They lived in the same neighborhood in their entire life, so she knows all of Merle's bullshits and still loves him. They started hooking up in their teens, but never really dating, but at one point, she had enough of Merle's one-night-stand bitches. Then he man up, and started dating her. 

When years later he asked to marry him, it was not romantic at all. It was a simple day, and they just fucked - yeah, not just Merle is the only vulgar and pervert in their relationship, - and he simply asked, and Bonnie said yes. Then they had Skyler, and the little girl warped her dad around her finger, but Merle never admitted this to anyone. She was a sweet girl, but with the Dixon's short temper and her mom's attitude. 

The group then managed to get out of the building with Rick's plan, so Bonnie started respecting him a tiny bit more, but she still called him Rambo. The camp was in a quarry near a lake. When they arrived, a blonde girl ran for Andrea, looks like she was her sister, and a woman with two kids to Morales. But what surprised Bonnie the most, was when a little boy started running towards Rambo.

"Dad!"

"Carl!" He hugged his son, and then looking at a woman, probably his wife. Skyler hugged her own dad with one hand while smiling at the scene in front of them. Then a man with a rifle also came up to them, apparently a friend of Rambo or something. He seemed to be running the camp. His eyes turned to Merle, then the girl at his side, and to Bonnie.

"Who are they?"

"Fuck off, Walsh, they with me." Merle said with a scowl, putting his hand on Bonnie's waist, but this made him even more distrustful. 

" 'm Bonnie Dixon, and she's our daughter, Skyler."

"Now stop pointing a gun in our faces, dumbass." Merle chuckled at her daughter's comment. 

"That's 'mah girl." Walsh lowered his rifle, and a lot of people from the camp were stunned by the fact that Merle has a wife and a daughter. 

"Well, you're definitely a Dixon, that's for sure." He looked at Skyler, then at Bonnie. "I'm Sahne Walsh."

"Have ya' seen my brother or he's still hunting?"

"He not come back yet." Shane said.

"Daryl gonna shit himself when he sees ya' two." Merle grinned, and Bonnie laughed.

"Yeah, he's the sweet one out of the two of ya'."

"But you still married pa'." Bonnie shot a playful glare at her daughter, then kissed Merle.

"Yup. He's my asshole." Merle slapped her ass for her remark.

"C'mon Bon, ya can take your stuff in my tent." Skyler was happy seeing her parents together and went after them. 

"It's so strange... there is a woman who married Merle Dixon willingly." Said Andrea, and the others laughed, but Lori seemed worried. 

"And he has a daughter. It's really a good idea to let them sleep with him in the same tent? Who knows what Dixon is capable of?"

"Well, yeah... Dixon is a rude, sexist inbred redneck." It was T-Dog, but Rick stopped the argument. 

"He's a man who just got his family back, just like me. And Bonnie and Skyler are good people. They were in trouble because of me, but still helped me. Well, they both called me an idiot, though." Rick chuckled, then continued. "Bonnie was on her own for weeks, she can handle herself, seems she can hunt too. And her daughter is good with a gun."

"The girl is more armed than either of us." Lori said, and then Carl smiled at his dad.

"Her mom has a crossbow, just like Daryl." Rick looked at the others a little confused, so Dale answered. 

"Daryl is Merle's brother, he's on a hunt, maybe coming back tomorrow. And I need to agree with Rick here. The girl seemed happy to be with her father." They talked a little more, then everyone went on their own until gathered around the fire at the camp. It was a rare occasion when Dixon joined them, but now with his family. He was sitting on a log, Bonnie in his lap while drinking a beer. 

Bonnie took the beer from his hand and drank it in, grinning playfully at him. He snorted softly. 

"Why are ya' always stealin' my beer, woman?"

"Because ya' let me every time."

"Cheeky." Merle kissed her neck and Bonnie smirked. She missed her husband and now was happy to be with him again. Someone cleared his throat but neither of them seemed too embarrassed by the fact they were a little too intimate. 

"How long have you two been married?" It was Dale, and while he defended Dixon earlier, he still rather looked at Bonnie. 

"Seventeen years. We grow up in the same neighborhood, went to the same school, have been friends since we were kids. But this bastard was always a cooky womanizer, so nothing happened between us for a long time before we were married."

"Ya' are just as much a perv like pa'..." Skyler mumbled under her nose.

"Don't be a smartass." Merle said, and Sky stuck her tongue at his dad. The others just looked at them, waiting for Dixon to snap at his daughter, but he just let out a deep laugh. It was still strange, seeing him like that, when he was always sexist towards the other woman at camp. What they don't know, he may say some stupid and rude thing, but Merle Dixon never holds a hand on a woman. Not after growing up with their drunken, abusive father who beat his wife and his sons. 

Slowly everyone started talking about something else, and they just sit there in silence, drinking beer, and enjoying each other's company. Soon Merle started kissing her neck again while stroking her waist. 

Bonnie closed her eyes for a moment, sighing contently. She missed this, missed his touch, his kisses on her. She then turned around to face Merle, straddled his lap, and grind against his bulge. 

Merle's smirk turned smug, he doesn't see or touched her in weeks, and now they cannot keep their hands off each other. He stood up still holding his wife, and Bonnie warped her legs around his waist. They went to their tent, Merle planned to ravish her. 

"Hey, guys, ya' have an extra tent or something where I can sleep?" Skyler said and Andrea raised her eyebrow.

"Why, you don't wanna sleep with your parents?"

"Hell no! They not going to sleep." When the others looked at her a little confused, she grunted. "God, they went fucking! I ain't sleeping in the same tent with them, and they don't seen each other in weeks. Yuck."

"Oh!" Andrea turned a little red, and Dale laughed.

"You have a sharp tongue, little miss."

" 'm used to it, my parents are always like that with each other. God, I can't wait to see my uncle, at least I can hang around with him, while my folks busy with each other."

"You close with your uncle?"

"Yeah, he's like my brother. He's quieter than my 'pa, but he's funny."

"We're still talking about the same Daryl?" Dale asked smilingly and Sky grinned. 

"Yup. My uncle is a grumpy bastard, but he's not a bad person." 

"Looks like you and your family have a temper."

"Well, we are Dixons." She said like that answers everything. Dale just smiled, Skyler was not like the other kids at the camp, she was more mature, more confident. He can see the resamples between Skyler and her father, that's for sure. But she was like her mother in appearance, had the same dark brown curls, just shorter. Her mother, Bonnie seemed a tough woman who can handle herself and a man like Merle Dixon. Dale turned his attention back to Skyler.

"You can sleep in the RV, I have a spare bed. I'm staying up anyway to keep watch."

"Thanks, Hatman." Sky smiled and went to the RV, and Dale just shake his head smiling.

<center>-</center>

In the morning the camp came to life, but Bonnie was in her own bubble. She felt his naked chest against her back, and smiled while turning around.

"Mornin'."

"Best mornin' I had in weeks." Merle said and just looking at his wife. He arched an eyebrow in question when Bonnie started laughing so hard she clasped her hand to her mouth. 

"Poor Sky."

"She's a big girl."

"I know, but still. She missed ya, and Daryl too." Her voice went a little quieter. "Me too."

"I missed my girls too." Merle pulled Bonnie closer, kissing her forehead. He had a bad temper, but loved his family fiercely. Bonnie was like a big sister to Daryl since he meet her. Her dad was almost as bad as theirs, but Bonnie's dad died when she was ten, and her ma' was always kind to the Dixon boys when they needed a place to stay when their father got too drunk. 

"Ya guys are still naked?" It was Skyler's voice outside of the tent, and Merle grunted in response. 

"Fuck off, baby girl." He heard her laughing and he smiled. Little bastard. 

"C'mon, it's almost noon, and 'm bored to death."

"Give us ten damn minutes, Sky!" Bonnie yelled annoyed and Merle started laughing too. She smacked his chest. "It's your fault, ya always spoiled her."

"Nah, she's just clingy like her momma." 

"Oh, yeah?" She asked as grinning and started hugging her husband a little too hard, but Merle was on top of her in an instant. He kissed her, then get up and started dressing. Bonnie just watched him a little, letting her gaze wander over his muscled body. 

"Like what ya see, sugah'?"

"Mhm. Ya still sexy, old man."

"If 'm old, then what are you, woman?" She just laughed then put her clothes on, and put a kiss on Merle's shoulder. They were both in their mid-forties, but they acted like two horny teenagers. When they stepped outside the tent, Skyler face lit up, and was on her dad's side in an instant. 

"Finally."

"Give a damn break for your old man, will ya?"

"Nah. I was with 'ma for weeks, if someone needs a break, it's her."

"Thanks, baby girl, ya can annoy your dad." 

"C'mon, the Dixon girls against me, and without Daryl it's not fair." He groaned, and Bonnie just laughed.

"Life isn't fair. Have fun." And with that, she left them, she wanted to speak with Rambo Rick. 

Some people from the group stared at them, but said nothing. They both ignored the stares and started talking about everything that happened to them in the past few weeks. She then said about Rick's son Carl, and a little girl Sophia, they wanted to invite Skyler to play with them but she found them too childish, too young. 

"They are so naive. They want to play around, while I wanna stay alive."

"My tough big girl, just like your 'ma." She grinned up at him, then her eyes sparkled, and took out her gun.

"Look, I still have the gun ya gave me for my birthday. I used it on some geeks." 

"Ya have ammo?" He asked.

"Just a few. I try using my knife usually." Merle reached into his cargo pants pocket, and took out a little box, full of bullets, and give it to her.

"Here."

"Thanks, dad." It was when Lori, Rick's wife came into view in front of them, holding a basket of clothes. She looked angry. 

"You giving her bullets? You are careless, dangering the camp by giving your daughter a gun, Dixon. You really are just an asshole redneck who should not be raising a child, let alone a girl." He scoffed, but said nothing knowing her daughter too well. 

"Shut the fuck up, bitch. I can handle a gun, my 'pa taught me how to use it when I was seven. "She sneered at the elder woman, who stormed away, then turned to her dad. "A bunch of pussys... 

"Look at ya, all angry and feisty." Merle grinned, a smug expression on his face. But in truth, he was touched by how her daughter defended him. Officer Friendly's woman was right, he was an asshole. 

"Well, I don't care if ya are an asshole, or somethin', you're my dad." She then giggled a little, leaning closer to Merle. "And I kind of like it that my daddy a badass. 

"C'mere, you little shit. Love ya." She clinged to her daddy, and smiled.

"Me too."

<center>-</center>

Later that day they heard Carl yelling for his parents, probably a walker, but Bonnie and Merle remained on their spot, half of the camp was already there, no need for more people to fuss around one walker. That's when they heard an all too familiar voice. 

"Merle! Get your ugly ass out here! I got us some squirrels! Let's stew 'em up." 

"A got something better than squirrels, lil' brother." Daryl turned to his brother, but he doesn't even had a chance to say something when he spotted two familiar faces behind him. 

"Uncle Daryl!" He dropped his crossbow and hugged her niece when she runned up to him, and picked her up. She don't minded he was sweaty, and dead squirrels hanging on his shoulder. 

"Dare!" He looked up, still too stunned to say a word, putting his niece down. Just one person called him Dare. The next moment Bonnie hugged him tightly.

"Bon-bon, ya really here?" She was maybe not his blood, but he loved this woman like his own sister since they were kids.

"Yeah, run into Merle and some other people in Atlanta. God, I missed ya so much."

"C'mon, Daryl, I help ya with the squirrels while ma' telling you what happened in Atlanta." 

"All right, Sky, then grab this." He handed her a couple of squirrels, while glancing at his brother. Merle just smiled, and Daryl started smiling too. Their family was together again, the Dixons against the world. 

They all sit down together, four sets of hands skinning the animals in precision, while discussing what happened in Atlanta. 

The others, especially Lori, watched them, and how comfortable the mother and daughter were while skinning the animals Dixon brought like this was the most natural thing in the world. And maybe it was. Bonnie never minded when her hands get dirty, and that's how Skyler grew up, seeing her parents and her uncle doing this a million times. 

They don't know what the future holds for them, but they face it together. After all, nobody can kill a Dixon, but a Dixon.

End. Or not..?