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Jo

The other's returned to the house just after dusk. They brought sleeping bags, bedding and pillows from the other house and they all made up beds on the floor. They shoved the furniture aside so we were all able to sleep in the main room together. It reminded me of a big slumber party like when I was a kid. Only this slumber party wasn't for a birthday party but because we were all paranoid. 

I went upstairs and found one of the rooms still unclaimed. Rick had taken the master with his family, and Carol and Michonne had picked out the other rooms on this floor. This was the smallest of the upstairs rooms but that didn't matter to me. It was bigger than my cell had been. It had a double bed in it and over looked the back fence. I pulled the pillows and comforter off the bed. I carried them downstairs and paused in the doorway.

Someone had closed the blinds on the main floor, but Sasha, Abraham and Daryl were each positioned in front of different windows keeping watch. Daryl sat at the back of the room, his knife naked in his hand. He was sitting on the window seat, his crossbow leaning against the window beside him.

I went over and dropped the bedding on the floor in front of the window seat below him. He glanced over his shoulder at me, but his eyes were unreadable. His shoulders were tense and the hand gripping the knife was white knuckled. Someone had brought over a pack-and-play for Judith and it was set up only a few feet from where Daryl sat. I folded the comforter in half and made myself a bed. I tossed one of the pillows playfully at Daryl. He caught it, and jerked his chin in thanks before setting it beside him.

"I'll grab you a blanket," I said heading back upstairs. Daryl's stuff wasn't in any of the other rooms, so I opened the linen closet and pulled out a large duvet. I brought it back downstairs and set it beside Daryl. It was then I noticed his bag at his feet. He clearly wasn't ready to call this place home just yet. 

I knelt down next to his bag and opened it. He glanced at me but didn't say anything when I dug my kukri out and slid it beneath my pillow. I kept my hand there for a moment, the handle gripped tightly in my fist. It felt stupid but just having it in my hand made me feel like I could breathe easy again. It made me feel more like myself. I drew in a breath and left the blade beneath my pillow. I had collected my hunting knife from the counter earlier and it was now on the table nearby. I didn't think it was likely but if we were attacked, I would be ready. Everyone here seemed sincere and I wasn't getting  feeling like we were being set up, but I wasn't ready to let my guard down either. 

There was a knock on the front door and everyone tensed. My hand dropped to the small knife at my waist. Daryl was already on his feet beside me, his knife still in hand. He stepped forward so his shoulder was in front of mine. Sometimes I wasn't sure if he even realized when he did stuff like that.

Rick glanced back at the rest of us and held up his hand as though to steady us. He nodded, once he was sure none of us were going to overreact and he pulled the door open.

"Rick I-" Deanna started stepping in the doorway. She froze when she looked up at Rick and saw him cleaned up for the first time. "Wow," she said. "I-I didn't know what was under there."

Rick groaned but nodded, looking slightly embarrassed he ran a hand over his smooth cheeks. He stepped back, giving her more space to step into the foyer.

"Listen," she said, getting back to the point of her visit now that she was over her initial shock. "I don't mean to interrupt, I just wanted to stop by and see how you were all settling-" she stopped mid-sentence when she looked into the room and saw us all spread out across the floor. "Oh my," she said in shock, she leaned in so she could see the other part of the living room, confirming we were all there. "Staying together. Smart."

Daryl sighed and turned back to the window, dropping down to sit on the window seat. I briefly wondered if she realized how patronizing she sounded when she said stuff like that. I lifted my hand from my waist to fiddle with my necklace so it wouldn't look like I was going for a weapon. I ran my thumb over the edge of the key. From here I could see she was alone. Sasha and Abraham hadn't moved from their places at the windows so we would know if anyone else was coming.

"No one said we couldn't," was Rick's guarded response.

"You said you were a family. That's what you said." Deanna gave Rick a warm smile before she turned her sparkling eyes back to the rest of us. She met each and every one of our gazes before she spoke again. "It's absolutely amazing to me how people with completely different backgrounds and nothing in common can become that. Don't you think?"

Deanna may have believed she was good at reading people, but she wasn't any good at hiding her own emotions or motivations. She clearly wanted her community to have the bond our group had. From what I had seen of her group so far I didn't think that was very likely. The smartest thing she had done so far was bring us in to protect and guide them.

Rick cleared his throat, drawing Deanna's attention back to her. "Everybody said you gave them jobs..."

"Yeah, it's part of this place. Looks like the communists won after all." Deanna laughed and I had a feeling it was an old joke. Rick chuckled politely but his heart wasn't in it.

I felt Daryl's eyes on me and knew he was curious what Deanna had given me for a job. I was surprised he hadn't mentioned his assignment to me. Though I was clearly just as guilty, I hadn't told him she wanted me to teach. 

"Well, you didn't give me one," Rick said his voice carefully neutral.

"I have," Deanna said nodding. "I just haven't told you yet. Same with Michonne. I'm closing in on something for Sasha. And I'm just trying to figure Mr. Dixon out, but I will," she assured Rick.

I snorted at her words and looked up at Daryl who hadn't taken his eyes off the window, his knife was naked in his hand, it's spine pressed against the length of his forearm. Maybe if she figured him out she could clue me in, because I had been trying to figure Daryl out for the better part of a year.

"You look good," Deanna told Rick, then she turned back to us. "Goodnight everyone," she said with a small wave and she left us alone again.

Rick closed the door behind her and came back into the room. The whole group seemed to let out a collective sigh and the tension level dropped once more. They all went back to reading or chatting or whatever else they were doing to pass the time. 

Rick set up a bed on the other side of Judith's pack-and-play from me. He bent down to check on her but she was already asleep. He straightened and met my gaze, running his eyes from me to Judith and back again. I gave him a subtle in response and glanced over my shoulder at Daryl as well. He didn't notice. When I looked back at Rick he seemed to relax a little knowing we were staying close to Judith.

Everyone stayed up for a few hours more. I found a book on one of the shelves I hadn't read and laid down on my pallet and opened it. I couldn't remember the last time I was able to just lay back and read for pleasure. I used to love reading, it was one of my favorite hobbies before the turn. I held the book in one hand and flipped the small knife through my fingers with the other. I rolled it across my knuckles, reversing my grip over and over again as I read.

Daryl shifted and I looked over my head behind me to find him watching me. The knife stilled in my hand. Neither of us said anything, we just stared into each others eyes for a few long minutes. I found my mind wandering back to this afternoon when I was in the shower. I felt my cheeks flush but I didn't look away. My heart started to pound despite the fact that we were in a room filled with twelve other people. Staring into Daryl's blue eyes it didn't feel like there was anyone else in the world much less the same room.

"I'm gonna turn the lights out guys," Rick's voice startled me from away from Daryl and the knife clattered to the ground. I snatched it up sheepishly but the only one who noticed was Daryl. I looked up to see Rick standing at the light switch. Everyone nodded. 

I sat up and laid my book and knife beside me on the floor. I pulled the tunic top over my head and set it aside, leaving me in my black leggings and white tank top. I could feel Daryl's eyes on me as I moved. I lifted the edge of my comforter and snuggled myself beneath it. Judith cooed in her sleep and a small smile stretched across my face. I rolled over onto my side, brushing my shoulder against Daryl's legs. I felt him stiffen for only a second, but I didn't move away. I slid on hand beneath my pillow and closed my hand around my kukri handle. As much as I hated to admit it, this already felt more like a home than anything had since the prison. I sighed in contentment, closed my eyes and fell asleep.

Sometime in the middle of the night I startled awake. I had been dreaming we were back on that dirt road in the middle of the night with The Claimers. Only this time Daryl never came. I blinked back the tears that were burning my eyes and stared at the ceiling until my heart slowed. I looked over my head to the window seat to reassure myself that he was alive, but it was empty. 

I glanced to my right and saw Daryl was asleep on the floor beside me with his back to me. He was close enough I could have reached out and touched him. He had taken off his vest and dropped it over his pack, but he was still wearing his shirt from earlier. He lay on top of the duvet but he had kicked the rest of it off himself so he had no covers. 

I heard a noise in the dark and I lifted my head to see Rick padding silently into the kitchen.

He stopped next to the magnetic knife rack on the wall. I heard him lift one down and he moved across the floor to take watch out one of the front windows. His movements were tight and from here I could see his shoulders heaving with the effort to keep himself calm. I understood the stress. A moment later Michonne got up and went to stand with him.

I turned away, not wanting to interrupt a quiet moment between them. I rolled back towards Daryl. I reached out and lay my fingers on the floor between us, close enough that I could feel the warmth from his back. It wasn't what I wanted. I wanted to roll over and snuggle up next to him, but he clearly wasn't ready for that just yet. This was fine, and for now it was enough to soothe me back to sleep.

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Daryl

When I woke up it was still dark. I rolled onto my back to see Jo, sleeping peacefully beside me. She was facing me, a small frown creasing her forehead and one of her hands was stretched out towards me. I reached out to lay my hand over hers but stopped myself. I didn't want to wake her up. I was wide awake. I glanced around but everyone else that I could see was still sleeping. I lay on my back for a moment before I climbed to my feet and moved silently back to the window.

I glanced out it but I couldn't shake the feeling that the walls were closing in on me. I snatched up my crossbow and moved silently to the front door. I opened it. Jo stirred in her sleep but rolled over and settled once more. Once I was sure I didn't wake her I slipped out and closed the door behind me. I dropped down to sit on the deck dragging in a few deep breaths of cool night air. It made me feel better but even from here I could see the high fence. It made this place safe for the others but it didn't make me feel safe. We hadn't been here a full day and I felt caged in already.

I rolled my neck. I needed to get it together. This was a good thing for us. They had food and shelter and that goddamn fence would keep them all safe. I scrubbed my eyes with the heels of my hands as my mind went to Jo. She had always prided herself on being able to take care of herself. Hell, the only reason I could stand her being out there was because I knew she could. But now, because of Carol and I she was marching around this new place with nothing but a pocket knife. I hated it. I hated how it made her look like an easy target even though she wasn't. And I hated how that douche bag looked at her earlier today too.

I dug in my pocket until I found a crumpled cigarette and lighter. Once I lit up I took a long drag, hoping it would help me settle down. But all I could think of was back in that interview when Deanna asked me if I was with anyone in our group. I told her no.

I took another long drag and leaned my head back, banging it lightly against the railing. Not enough to make noise, but enough I was hoping to knock some sense into my damn head. Looked like I was lying to Deanna too now.  Never had I felt like I was telling a bigger lie than when I said I was alone. Judging by Jo's reactions I had to assume she told them she was alone as well. I hated that made something in my chest feel tight. It hurt in a way I didn't want to think about.

I took another long drag. I looked down at the cigarette in my hand. Jo hated it when I smoked. She never said anything but she would always give me the look. I wondered if she even realized she was doing it. I didn't think so, it was the disapproving mom/wife look that I think was so ingrained she didn't even have to think about it. It used to irritate me, but now I loved it.

I sighed, when the hell had things gotten so goddamn complicated. My thoughts went back to seeing her in the shower today. I had almost let myself give in there, she had been teasing me and I was holding myself back like normal and suddenly I wasn't sure why I bothered. I wanted her and she had made it pretty obvious she wanted me. When I looked up at her she had become so flustered even thinking back on it now made me chuckle.

I tossed my butt over the railing and stared out into the night. I wasn't going to be able to fall asleep again tonight. I tensed as I heard footsteps on the road. I rose slowly, lifting my crossbow into my hands. I took a step back so I was completely hidden in shadow. The outline of a man was coming down the street. I watched him carefully until he turned up the front walk. It was Rick. 

He was at the front steps when I cleared my throat to let him know I was standing here. 

He flinched, his hand dropping to his knife at his waist before he recognized me. He breathed a sigh and stepped up onto the deck beside me. "Couldn't sleep?" he asked me. 

I shook my head, and dropped back down to sit on the deck with my back against the railing. "Naw, you?" 

He shook his head. "It feels..." he drug off and just shook his head again as though he couldn't find the words. 

I nodded so he would know he didn't have to explain nothing to me. I got it. 

He stepped up to the deck railing and leaned his palms against it. "Seems too good to be true," Rick muttered. 

I shook my hair back out of my eyes and looked up at him. "That's what Jo said." 

Rick glanced back at me and tensed. "She's not often wrong..."

"She also said they ain't lying." 

That seemed to reassure him. "It's not just me I'm taking this chance with," Rick scrubbed at his face with his palms. "Carl...Judith..." his eyes narrowed and he glanced back at me and I could see the worry start on his face. 

"They're fine. The whole group is in there with them and Jo is sleeping right next to Judith. Nothing's getting to her," I reassured Rick. 

"Yeah," Rick agreed nodding and a small amount of tension leaked out of him. "But this new and improved Jo..." he said arching a brow at me. We had never really asked his permission or even his opinion on this whole thing Jo and Carol were doing. We probably should have, Rick was our leader and should have had a say in us lying to our new friends. 

"You fooled like they are?" I challenged. 

Rick shook his head. "Was it Carol's idea?" 

I pinched my lips together not wanting to throw her under the bus if he was going to be mad about it. 

He snorted and nodded. "I figured," he said. "It's something Jo would be good at, but not necessarily something she would come up with. I would think she would have been more likely to arm herself to the teeth and stand shoulder to shoulder with you scowling them into submission." 

I chuckled and nodded. "Yeah, that's her all right." 

"Daryl-" he started to say and then stopped and cleared his throat uncomfortably. "When Deanna asked me about the group she asked if there were any couples in our group. The only ones I told her about were Glenn and Maggie and Rosita and Abraham." 

I shifted and was glad he couldn't see my face in the dark. "Yeah," I said, but my voice cracked. I cleared my throat. "I mean that's right." I said

Rick only nodded and turned back to the street. It was his choice to bring it up, but now he seemed as uncomfortable with the topic as I was. "Maybe this lie will be good for her," he said carefully. "It will give her a break from the fighting. Help her move beyond her past." 

I shifted my crossbow into my lap and fiddled with the string. "Maybe." I said not wanting to discuss Jo anymore. I for some reason didn't want to tell Rick that was exactly what I had been thinking and wanted for Jo. She had been fighting for so long she deserved a break. 

"Maybe this place will give us all that chance. We can start fresh." 

Rick fell silent then and the two of us sat in silence and waited for the sun to come up. 

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Hope you guys enjoyed the update. Keep the comments/votes coming! Thanks for reading!