Guys, I am absolutely blown away. Yesterday we reached 9K reads, 600 likes and had the greatest number of reads to date. I don't know what to say other than thank you! You are all amazing readers and I appreciate the time you take to read and comment and vote so much!!! So here's the next update. I don't have another one ready just yet so we won't be celebrating that way, but this is an extra long update so I hope you enjoy it!

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Jo

I was up at dawn the next morning. Both Rick and Daryl were already up and gone. Everyone else was asleep. I stood silently, trying not to wake anyone. Daryl's pallet was still rumpled so I folded both his and mine up into a neat pile. I carried them and all my stuff upstairs and went into what I had already started to think of as my bedroom.

I pulled the tunic back on over my tank top and freshened up in the bathroom. I really wanted to take another shower, but I hadn't heard what the water reserves were like here and it seemed like a selfish waste. I did my hair and added some makeup. I didn't look half bad considering we were in the middle of the apocalypse. Not that it really mattered to me, but it was important to keep up appearances. I flashed a bright, cheery smile at myself in the mirror. My mask was flawless.

There was a good chance I would be meeting more residents of Alexandria today and I wanted to make a good impression. I returned to my room and slid the kukri between the mattress and the box spring. I probably wouldn't ever carry that in the open here, but Olivia said I could stop by the pantry and pick out new clothes. There was a chance I would be able to find something that would allow me to hide maybe another small knife or two.

Once I was satisfied I jogged down the stairs. From the kitchen I could see Daryl and Rick out on the porch. Behind me I heard movement in the living room. Everyone was getting up. Judith cooed and was sitting up in her pack-and-play. I went over and scooped her up in my arms. Carl smiled at me. He yawned and stretched and started folding away his bed.

I stepped out of the house with Judith on my hip. Daryl was sitting on the porch. He glanced once at me and then quickly looked away, studying the road.

Rick stepped up next to me and held out his hands to take Judith. I handed her off and leaned against the side of the house.

"Did either one of you sleep?" I asked in a low tone. Neither responded. That was all the answer I needed.

"Look, if you think we need someone on watch then let's set it up so there's a rotation..."

I knew my words were falling on deaf ears. Neither one of them would have been able to sleep while they felt the group was threatened. As much as we liked to pretend human beings weren't animals, we were at heart and Rick and Daryl were alpha males who considered it their responsibility to protect our pack...or troop. I frowned as I tried to remember what a group of large primates would be called. I believe it was a troop...I let the subject drop then, because there was no point in arguing with either one of them.

A short time later Carol stuck her head out of the house. "Breakfast," she called. We frowned and went inside to find hash browns and pancakes. I raised an eyebrow at her and she just winked at me as she dished up food for everyone. We didn't all fit around the big farm house table so people spread out into the living room. I ate standing up behind the island. When I was done I started in on the dishes. I filled the sink with soapy water and dumped the pile inside.

There was a light rap on the front door. I sank my hand into the soapy water all the way to the bottom. Abraham was the closest to the door. He stood, his hand resting casually on his knife at his waist and swaggered to the door. He pulled it open to show Aaron on the other side. I immediately released the knife I had been holding beneath the suds and resumed washing.

"Morning," Aaron greeted.

"Morn'in," Abraham said stepping back and letting Aaron in. I found it so interesting that in just that short time out there together we had all started to see Aaron as one of us and not one of them. He wasn't perceived as a threat by any of us.

"I hope you all slept well, I just wanted to check up on you and let you know that everyone has been told to give you some space and let you have time to adjust. Please feel free to go out exploring and meet people as you feel up to it, we just don't want them all pounding down your door," he flashed us a reassuring smile. "You should also all stop by the pantry. Get some more clothes, supplies...it sounds like Carol and Jo will be in charge of keeping your food stocked."

I swallowed, my act may have been a little too good, and now Deanna really was convinced I was some master house wife . She certainly expected that I knew my way around the kitchen. God help us all. I glanced meekly over at Rick and he was glowering at me and Carol. Clearly he remembered some of my early attempts at cooking for the group.

Aaron seemed oblivious to the silent exchange that was going on. "If you want to go outside the wall just check out your weapons from Olivia and she will give you more ammo if you need it," he finished with a smile. "I told Rick, but I am three houses down, the blue one. If you need anything please feel free to stop by."

He clapped his hands and smiled at Rick nodding. "Well, I'll let you get to your day then," and he slipped out the front door.

Daryl followed him out, closing the door behind them. I frowned after him.

"Hey," Rick called to us. "You can do like he says, but no one goes alone today. Understand?"

Everyone agreed and immediately began talking amongst themselves, making plans for the day. Almost all of us had jobs that we would need to check in with at some time today. I wouldn't start teaching for a few days, but Carol and I were supposed to report to the pantry to get our groups rations. It would be a couple hours before Carols and I needed to meet there however and I wanted to get the lay of the land. 

"Hey," Tara said, coming up to me. "Noah said he doesn't think his leg is up to a long walk. You wanna go take a look around with me?"

I normally didn't spend a ton of time with Tara, she was a little too enthusiastic and bubbly for me. But she also came across as nonthreatening and she was exactly what I needed now. She would be great cover and make keeping the lie even easier. 

"Yeah," I said smiling at her. "That would be great."

Tara and I finished the dishes together and we stepped out on the porch to find Rick there, speaking with Daryl. Carl had Judith in a stroller and was already pushing her up the street while the others went their separate ways. I watched Carl, surprised Rick was willing to let him go off on his own with his sister when he didn't have a gun to protect her. 

"They said explore," Rick told Daryl. "Let's explore."

"Naw," Daryl's voice rasped. He didn't even bother looking up at Rick, his whole focus was on his crossbow in his hands. "I'll stay."

"All right," Rick said a little uneasily as he looked at Daryl. He glanced back at Tara and I but I just shrugged. I didn't think I was going to be the one to convince Daryl to leave. Rick nodded and cleared his throat. "You know Lori and me, we used to drive through neighborhoods like this thinking, one day..."

"Well," Daryl said uncomfortably. He looked up at Rick then, his eyes narrowed angrily. "Here we are." He was sitting on the porch with his knees up and his crossbow sitting beside him. I have never seen him looking so out of sorts.

I nodded to him and walked down the steps with Tara.

"Where ya going?" He called after me harshly.

"Excuse me?" I swung back around to face him, my eyes narrowed. He did not get to talk to me like that. "For a walk. Got a problem with that?"

He grunted and I could see in his eyes he knew he had screwed up by copping that tone with me but he didn't back down. "Just don't go wander' in off and gett'in yourself lost," he snapped back.

The man could never just admit when he was in the wrong. I snapped at him so he had to snap back. You backed him into a corner and he came out swinging. I sighed and shook my head heading down the walk. 

We were just out of earshot when Tara spoke. "What climbed up his ass?"

I gave her a sideways glance and looked around at this perfect suburban street. I motioned around us. "All of this." I replied honestly. "It'll take him a while before he settles in." 

Tara nodded, "he does kind of look like a cat who fell in a bath tub."

I snorted at her words. I glanced back at Daryl and found I had to agree with her.

"You think he'll ever settle into something like this?" She asked glancing around curiously. I followed her gaze and found I wasn't certain. She did have a point. The perfectly groomed lawns and rocking chairs on front porches were so out of place. "It's a little Stepford-y." Tara said shaking her head. 

I nodded in agreement. 

We had only gone a block or so when I heard footsteps behind us. I coiled my muscles, preparing in case we were attacked. I forced myself to continue to walk casually while Tara chatted away. "-so then she told me that I would be on the run crew."

"Hi," someone called behind us.

Tara flinched, she hadn't heard them approaching. I turned around to find Aidan, Nicholas and another good looking man. He looked similar to Aidan and I remembered someone had said Aidan was Deanna's youngest son. This must be Aidan's older brother.

"Hi," Tara greeted brightly.

I swallowed and forced a smile on my face. "Hi"

The new guy stopped for a moment and was staring at me. I glanced over at Tara and then back to him. I was decent looking but nothing that was going to have someone stop and stare, especially not wearing this ridiculous outfit. He startled as though he just realized he was staring. "Sorry," he said flashing a charming smile. "I'm Spencer." He slapped Aidan on the shoulder. "I hear you've already met my goofy little brother Aidan and Nicholas was on gate duty when you came in."

I nodded feigning a small amount of shyness. I would never be able to keep up a bubbly personality like Tara's all the time, it would exhaust me.

"Yeah," Tara responded instantly, looking unimpressed. "When we first got here."

"Oh yeah," Aidan said stepping forward towards me and Tara. "We go way back," he stepped up and put his arm around my shoulder. "We're old friends," he said giving me what I was sure was supposed to be a playful squeeze but made me want to punch him. 

I stiffened under his touch. Spencer seemed to notice and stepped forward offering me his arm in a comically chivalrous gesture. "Well then it's my turn to get to know the lovely Ms. Schroeder." He continued to hold out his arm, giving me an out from his brother. I slipped out from under Aidan's arm and took Spencer's offered arm like it was a life line. I rested my hand gently on his forearm.

"Have you had the tour yet?" Spencer asked brightly looking down at me. I had to crane my neck to look up at him. Wearing these stupid ballet flats he was nearly a foot taller than me. Yet somehow he didn't seem imposing. He wasn't a fighter and he wore his height awkwardly. I glanced back at his brother, despite being over-dramatic about appearing tough, he seemed more comfortable in his skin. If the fighting started he would be the one we would have to worry about, there was a good chance someone like Spencer would freeze up. 

"Ah-no," I said distracted. "We were just about to look around."

"Well, let us give you both the grand tour than," Spencer said with a laugh.

He was different than his brother. There was something more playful and carefree about Spencer. He didn't make me feel as uncomfortable as Aidan did. It felt like he didn't have as much of an agenda, or maybe he was just better at hiding it. They led us around the community, naming off the people who lived in each house as though that would help us get to know the place better. While Spencer chattered cheerfully I studied the fence, and worked to memorize the layout. I paid attention to which houses had fences of their own and which ones were empty. 

"How many people do you have here?" I asked looking around at all the houses curiously. I kept my arm tucked in his because it would keep him at ease and he would keep chatting if he thought he had a chance. 

"Over fifty," he said, flashing me a flirty smile.

I nodded and he pointed out a few more points of interest. He took my by the garage that was used for a school. The doors were open and from here I could see five children not yet teenagers sitting at tables and listening to a woman standing at the front of the makeshift classroom. 

"My mom said you were a teacher?" Spencer asked. 

"Ah no," I said chuckling. "I was a student, working on getting my PhD...I just taught some undergrad courses while in grad school." 

He nodded as though that were super interesting but didn't ask anything more about it. Guess we weren't too interested in my personal life. Wonder what he was interested in? He obviously had a motivation for leading Tara and I around the compound.  

After he showed me the house that was used for a hospital. He told me they had a very skilled surgeon. I shook my head unable to believe the dumb damn luck of these people. I stopped and he stopped with me. I raised one hand so I could block the sun and get a good look at the tower. Seemed like a perfect position to put a sharpshooter like Sasha.

"Is that where the person on watch is?" I asked a little tentatively.

Spencer followed my gaze and he looked down and flashed me a confident smile. "Yeah, that's where I spend most of my time. I'm in charge of being on look out."

I forced myself to look impressed. "Are there others?" I asked. "I mean, keeping watch over us while we're in here to keep us safe from those monsters."

Behind me I heard Tara snort and then fight to cover it with a cough. I ignored her, instantly regretting bringing her. Yes, she was non-threatening, but I couldn't imagine she was very good at subterfuge. 

Spencer looked down at me. "Don't worry, you're safe here." He said with a reassuring smile. "We always have someone armed and on watch at the front gate."

I nodded as though his words soothed me. One in the tower and one at the front gate.

I frowned suddenly as though a new thought had just entered my pretty little head. "But what if there's some kind of mass attack?" I asked, letting my voice come out breathy. "Like a herd? There are more people with weapons right?"

Spencer cleared his throat, "well, all our weapons are stored in the pantry. It's important to know where that is." He said and he turned us and gently guided me in the direction of one of the town homes.

I followed demurely, my hand still resting lightly against his forearm as he showed me where everything was. I tried to think of other ways of asking my questions. Ways of getting the answers that I wanted without raising suspicion. I glanced over my shoulder at Aidan. He was following behind us, looking a bit like he was pouting. His stance was rigid. Nicholas beside him just looked bored.

I glanced up at Spencer. "My husband was in the military," I said quietly. 

Lie.

"It enabled him to keep us safe."

Lie, Tommy was clever and that was what kept us safe more than anything.

"Is there anyone here with a military background?" I asked in a soft voice, looking at the ground. I glanced up at Spencer from beneath my hair. He opened his mouth to respond but Aidan stepped forward before he could.

"I was in the ROTC," he said confidently, tucking his thumbs into his belt. I wanted to roll my eyes and at the same time knock him on his ass like he clearly needed. Somehow I managed to resist. 

Spencer turned and shot his brother a dark look.

"It gives you an edge," Aidan continued as though he hadn't noticed his brother. "In times like this."

Aidan certainly seemed as though he liked to play the part of hardened survivor, but I wasn't buying it. There was something in his eyes, but it wasn't the same look as the other survivors I had met. His was all show. 

"I'm sorry to hear about your husband," Spencer said gently, patting my hand on his arm with his other hand. He stopped us outside of one of the town houses. "This is the pantry. Olivia runs it-"

"You met Olivia yesterday with me," Aidan called importantly from behind us.

Spencer glanced at his brother for only a second before continuing. "This is where your weapons are if you decide to go beyond the gate."

I chuckled gently at his words. "I don't think that would be very likely."

Spencer frowned down at me. "Well, if you need it, you can check it out from Olivia at any time and she will give you more ammo if you run out."

"Oh, that's not very likely either. I've never actually shot that gun before," I confessed, acting a little embarrassed.

Truth. I'd never shot it because I had never needed to.

Spencer continued to stroll down the street. Behind me I could hear Tara trying to engage Aidan in friendly conversation but he didn't seem too interested in talking to her.

Spencer glanced down at me. "You know how to use a gun right?" he asked with genuine concern in his voice.

"Oh yeah," I replied. Then thinking better of it I continued. "I mean..." I looked down sheepishly. "I know how it works, I'm not a very good shot or anything, but I understand how to use one." I assured him. "I just...don't like guns."

Truth. I successfully resisted the urge to smirk. I preferred knives.

He still looked concerned. Spencer glanced back over his shoulder at his brother. "Aidan and I will take you out sometime and teach you. It really is important. It can save your life."

Tara coughed again, this time I looked over at her, my eyes wide and innocent. She looked at me like I was insane but didn't say anything to screw up what I was doing here.

"Well, here we are," Spencer said with a smile. He had led us in a circle back to our house.

"What's the deal with that guy?" Aidan asked, his voice not masking the disgust he felt.

I glanced up to see Daryl standing on the porch. He met my eyes and then stiffed and stood up straighter, his hands balling into fists at his sides. It was only then I realized my hand was still looped through Spencer's arm. I immediately took it back and took a measured step away from Spencer.

Spencer turned to glare at Aidan but didn't say anything.

Aidan shifted uncomfortably. "Well I gotta go," he said, puffing his chest up importantly. "I'm going on a run in an hour. Take your people for a test drive. Tara, I'll see you later."

Tara nodded, her mouth pinched and her eyes making it clear she was not looking forward to that. I wouldn't want to go beyond the walls with him either. There was absolutely no way I would trust that man at my back. 

I cleared my throat uncomfortably. "Well, thank you so much for the tour."

Spencer nodded. "It was really nice to meet you Jo, Tara," he said giving Tara a smile and acknowledging her presence for maybe the first time.

"Thanks for the tour, it was great talking to you," Tara said sardonically and started walking towards the house.

I gave Spencer one last friendly smile and followed Tara. Once Spencer walked away, following after his brother I turned back to the house and started up the walk. Daryl watched and as soon as Spencer was gone he turned and stomped back into the house.

I sighed loudly.

Tara turned around and faced me. "What the hell was that?" she asked.

I looked at her, letting the stupid mask drop. I narrowed my eyes and flexed my jaw. It took a lot of effort to keep such control over my expressions. This was exhausting. "Just getting to know the neighbors," I replied and walked back into the house after Daryl.

"But-" Tara called after me. I ignored her and kept walking.

He wasn't on the main floor and I paused at the stairs debating. I went downstairs. I don't know why that felt right but it did. When I got down there the rec room was empty but one of the other doors was open. I stepped up and saw it was another bedroom. Daryl was pacing the length, his bag and crossbow were thrown carelessly on the bed. Guess I knew where he was sleeping. It sort of surprised me he would pick a room that was so far away from the others, that was normally my M.O.

"What's your problem?" I asked, leaning against the doorway.

Daryl spun around to face me, he hadn't heard me approach. I could tell immediately that upset up him even more. He hated it when people had the upper hand, and someone seeing him with his emotions this out of control was a rare thing.

"What's my problem?" he snarled, glaring at me.

I glanced over my shoulder and stepped into the room and closed the door behind me. I didn't think there was anyone else in the house but we were going to have the fight I thought we were going to have I didn't want any witnesses.

"Yeah, what's going on with you?" I demanded. I had a pretty good idea, but I wasn't going to coddle him. If we were every going to be something more he needed to get better at this. He was a big boy and he could learn to communicate with me instead of just getting mad. 

"Nothing," he snapped angrily. 

"Nothing?" I replied sardonically, knowing it was going to make him even more mad. I guess I wasn't feeling very diplomatic anymore. 

"That's what I said," he was growling at me now and stomping back and forth as he paced.

I sighed. There was never any point to fighting with Daryl. When he was like this it was usually just better to leave him alone. "Fine," I said, shaking my head I turned back to the door.

"What the hell were you doing out there anyway?" he asked.

I looked back over my shoulder at him. "The same thing we discussed Daryl, I was gathering information and getting to know everyone in a non-threatening way." I ran my eyes up and down his body purposefully. He did not look non-threatening, sort of the opposite really. Of course I appreciated the view. He was lean and strong looking. The muscles in his arms stood out even more with the tension from his anger. But, he also still looked like he had just come in off the road. He would look dangerous to the people here. I bit my lip as my thoughts wandered. There was no contest between him and someone like Spencer. 

"That's not what it looked like," he continued to rage, completely oblivious to my train of thought. 

"And what did it look like?" I growled back, I was getting tired of being snapped at. 

He just shook his head and looked away.

I sighed loud enough for him to hear me so he would know how ridiculous he was being. He whirled back to face me, Daryl was ready for a fight. I was suddenly glad he had shown enough control to steer clear of Aidan and Spencer.

"Spencer is in charge of keeping watch in the tower and there is someone at the front gate, always armed. They are the only ones in this place that have permission to have guns."

Daryl frowned at me in confusion.

I shook my head, my temper was flaring but losing it wouldn't help either of us. "There's over fifty people here as well, the only one with a military background is Deanna's son Aidan. ROTC. It's a joke, he can't think past his own ego to use the training they gave him."

"That the one ya were holding hands with?" Daryl snapped.

I stared him hard in the face, pinching my lips together I couldn't believe the stupidity that was coming out of his mouth. Why was he this upset? I was literally doing exactly what we had discussed, and it was working. 

"No," I responded. "And I wasn't holding hands with anyone," I growled. I had been playing demure and soft for two days now and I wasn't going to let Daryl think it meant he could push me around.

There was a knock at the door.

"What?" we both yelled at the same time though we didn't break eye contact.

Carol stepped in and looked from Daryl to me. "Everything okay in here?" she asked even though it was obvious we were fighting. 

"Yeah," Daryl growled. "I was just leaving," and he stalked out of the room, brushing past both of us.

I let out a loud sigh and glanced back at Carol and just shook my head. 

"Well," she said thoughtfully. "Seems you two are doing well...wanna talk about it?" 

I just shook my head and flopped my hands up. "There's nothing to say." 

Carol nodded. "He'll come around, it's just..." 

I gave her a severe look, scowling. I said I didn't want to talk about it and I didn't. 

She cleared her throat uncomfortably and nodded her lips pressed into a line as she fought back a smile. I knew what she was thinking, that Daryl and I were exactly a like sometimes. Probably that we deserved each other. 

She cleared her throat. "Come on then, it's nearly ten. You and I need to head over to the pantry. Time to get to work."

I let out a sigh and nodded. I reached up to rub my eyes but then remembered I was wearing make up and dropped my hands to my sides in defeat. Nothing felt right here.

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Holy cats that was a long one. I could have broken it up I suppose but why? I hope you enjoyed it! Please remember to Comment/Vote!