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It was time to leave the Quarry behind, Emmalyn had packed up everything and tossed it into the back of Daryl's truck. She was saddened to hear that Morales and his family would not be going with them on their travels, she approached the man with a small smile on her face. "You look after yourself, Emmalyn," Morales told her, she hugged him. "You're forgiven," Emmalyn told him softly, he chuckled at the sound of her voice before giving her a quick squeeze. "I wish you all the best," Morales said as he pulled away, she nodded her head to him before hugging his wife and children. It sucked that they were leaving but she understood his own decision.

After ensuring they had everything, Emmalyn got into the passenger seat of Daryl's truck. She sighed as she closed the door and leaned back against the seat, she turned her head to Daryl as he got in and settled into the driver's seat. "Ye ready to go?" Daryl asked her. "Yeah, I'm ready," Emmalyn told him softly, it wasn't as loud as the night before but it was louder than a whisper and that was enough for Daryl. Rick stepped up next to the passenger window, "Hey, just keep up with us but if anything goes wrong, keep going to the CDC." Daryl nodded as Rick squeezed Emmalyn's shoulder in reassurance before going to the Peletier car he was driving.

Daryl and Emmalyn were driving in silence for around an hour when a car horn alerted them they were coming to a stop, they all pulled over and got out of their cars. Emmalyn spotted Dale's RV smoking and made her way over with a small smile directed at the older man as he turned to Rick. "I told you this hose wasn't gonna last long," Dale told Rick. Emmalyn opened the hood of the RV allowing the smoke from the engine to escape, she tied her hair back into a messy bun before accepting the tool box from Glenn, focusing her attention on the radiator hose within the RV's engine.

Meanwhile, everyone else was discussing Jim's worsening condition and what the next step for the man would be. Emmalyn reached for the flat head screwdriver, tightening the screws holding the clips around the radiator hose, she applied a new layer of duct tape over the worn pieces in hopes to cover whatever leaks she could. "Impressive," Daryl spoke up from next to her, he watched as she did her best on the RV. Emmalyn turned to Daryl with a smile before putting the tool back into the tool box and throwing the duct tape in with it. She closed them over and nodded to Dale who thanked her before starting up the RV successfully, she winked at him before turning to see Jim sitting against the tree.

"You gonna say bye?" Daryl asked her. "Yeah," Emmalyn replied softly before she made her way over to Jim nodding to Jacqui as she passed her. Jim opened his eyes to look up at Emmalyn, he smiled softly at her, "Thank you, Emma. For being there. For giving me someone to obsess over Die Hard with. You look after yourself." Emmalyn let a tear fall as she placed her hand on the side of his face, "Go be with your wife and kids, Jim." He smiled at her with watery eyes, letting out a quiet gasp. Emmalyn leaned in and kissed the top of Jim's head, "Just close your eyes." She turned and made her way to Daryl's truck, she climbed into the passenger seat and closed her eyes, resting her head back against the seat.

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One week ago...

Emmalyn was sitting by the Quarry when footsteps caught her attention, she turned to see Merle walk up with his signature smirk. He knelt down beside her and looked out to the water, "I wanted te discuss somethin' with ya." Emmalyn nodded as he sat down properly before speaking up, "In case we get bit, gotta make a pact." She turned to him with an alerted expression making him sigh as he told her, "We gotta be prepared for anything, Ginger." Emmalyn swallowed nervously before turning to the water, "If... If I ever get bit - kill me the moment it happens, don't hesitate." She had spoken so sternly ensuring he had no room for negotiation, he hadn't expected that.

Emmalyn turned her head to him, his gaze already locked on her with a rarely seen pained expression. "Emmalyn..." She shook her head as a tear fell, "I'd do the same for you, Merle. Leave it at that." He sighed before moving to put his arm around her shoulders, tears fell from her eyes as she spoke her next words. "I don't want to lose you or Daryl, ever." He laughed to himself before shrugging, "You don't have to worry about that. But honestly, you'll probably grow tired of us eventually and kill us yourself." She rolled her eyes before wiping the tears away, he chuckled before realising that it wasn't the time for his joke.

He turned her face to him, "You'd never lose me, Emmalyn, I'd be in ye memories and ya heart always." She smiled at Merles' walls that cracked ever so slightly reminding her that there was more than the tough racist, sexist redneck. She rested her head on his shoulder as he kissed her temple, "This world was made to try and bring us down, but it ain't gonna, too tough for that." Emmalyn laughed before watching the sunset with Merle by her side, feeling content since this nightmare began. "There you two are," Daryl called out as he walked down to them, "Been lookin' for ya around the camp." Emmalyn smiled as he sat down next to her, "Just talkin' away from the chaos." Daryl nodded before they all sat in comfortable silence.

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The sun was setting by the time they had reached the CDC, the place was littered in bodies both dead and undead. They all stepped out of their vehicles and did their best to ignore the rotting smell that filled the air around them, Emmalyn guessed they'd be getting used to the stench fairly quickly. The outside shutters were closed around the building with no signs of life anywhere, the sight uneased Emmalyn greatly and she stuck close to Daryl with her gun in hand ready for whatever may show up. Rick began banging on the shutters in hope to catch someone's attention and as he planned, it caught attention, just not the attention they had wanted.

Rick and Shane argued as the others moved forward to fight off the Geeks protecting Lori, Carl, Carol, Sophia, Dale, Andrea and Jacqui from the dead. The shutters opening had startled Emmalyn initially but then she was distracted by a Geek sneaking up on a distracted Daryl, she moved forward and pulled her blade free to drive it into the dead's head. She hissed lightly at the feeling of something sharp pushing through her arm, she pulled back and looked down to see an open wound clearly caused by a scratch. She ignored it and finished off another Geek before Daryl grabbed her and dragged her into the building to join the others.

A man stood on the staircase with a rifle in his hand, "What do you want?" Rick stepped forward, "A chance." Emmalyn stood close to Daryl, the man wrapping her arm having spotted the wound. "That's an awful lot to ask for these days," The man replied to Rick, though he did lower his gun before speaking again, "You all submit to a blood test, that's the price of admission." Rick agreed immediately, Emmalyn was uncertain about the man but agreed anyway. With a time limit, the group had rushed out to collect their things from their vehicles. Daryl had brought Emmalyn's bag back to the building for her, she thanked him before everyone followed the man into an elevator.

Once they reached the floor, the man who had introduced himself as Edwin Jenner, lead them into another space where they had lined up for the blood test he required. Emmalyn was the last one to go in, Rick and Daryl stood at the door as she sat down resting her uninjured arm out for the doctor. "You seem fine with needles," Jenner spoke as he looked up at her, she simply shrugged at him. "What's you name?" Jenner asked causing Rick to speak up, "It's Emma, but she doesn't talk--" Daryl cut him off, "--Only to those she feels completely comfortable with." Emmalyn smiled up at Daryl appreciatively, he nodded his head while Jenner hummed in understanding. "All done," Jenner told her as he put the needle aside.

Emmalyn stood up and stumbled slightly causing Daryl to quickly steady her, Rick watching her in concern. "You okay?" Jenner asked cautiously. "She's fine, she hasn't eaten in a while. None of us have," Lori informed him with a frown. Jenner tilted his head at Emmalyn, his eyes momentarily focused on the wrapped wound on her arm before Daryl pulled the ginger away and out of the small room. "You don't like him?" Daryl questioned Emmalyn, they may have been apart for a long time but they were friends longer; he knew when she felt uncomfortable around someone. "It's just a feeling," Emmalyn replied with a shrug, "But maybe its exhaustion." He stared at her for a moment longer before sighing and leaving it be for now.

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The group of survivors were seated around the table, everyone was smiling and laughing with each other as they enjoyed the meal that Jenner had provided them -- along with alcohol. Both kids, Sophia and Carl were happily enjoyed the large plate of food they had been given along with the soda pop. Jacqui and T-Dog were laughing together about something while Dale and Glenn shared stories with one another about their lives prior to the dead rising. Lori and Carol were talking with Rick and Shane while Emmalyn and Daryl watched everyone from their seats enjoying their own food. Soon enough, the conversation transitioned to allowing Carl a chance to try some wine that Dale had been drinking.

"You know, in Italy and France, children have a little bit of wine with dinner," Dale said to Lori who was holding her hand over Carl's empty glass. "Well, when Carl is in Italy or France, he can have some then," Lori replied to Dale with a pointed look before taking a sip of her own wine making Emmalyn laugh to herself. "What's it gonna hurt, come on," Rick told his wife with a smile on his face, she sighed in defeat and moved her hand out of the way. Dale poured a small amount into Carl's glass, everyone watched as he looked at Emmalyn who nodded with a wink, she was intrigued to see how he would react. He lifted the glass to his mouth and took a sip, he pulled the glass away and scrunched up his face, "Eww."

The adults laughed at his response as Lori picked it up and poured it into her own glass. Dale held the bottle towards Emmalyn who shook her head. "You don't drink wine?" Dale asked and she shook her head again before pointing out the Jack Daniels shirt she was currently wearing with her denim jeans. "A Whiskey girl?" Dale questioned with a laugh, she grinned and sent him finger guns. "But you don't want a drink, huh?" T-Dog asked next, Emmalyn pointed at him prompting Dale to understand. "Not you, Glenn," Daryl spoke up with a wide grin on his face. "What?" Glenn questioned him confused. "Keep drinking, little man. I wanna see how red yer face can get," Daryl answered him making the others laugh.

Rick stood up clinking his glass for everyone's attention, "It seems to me we haven't thanked our host properly." They all raised their drinks to Jenner as T-Dog spoke up, "He is more than just our host!" Emmalyn chuckled at his words as Daryl sat down next to her. "Booyah!" Daryl shouted out making Emmalyn laugh more as Rick lifted his glass towards his mouth, "Thank you." They were all smiling and enjoying this and Emmalyn felt happy for the first time in a long time, she knew these moments would become more memories but she was determined to enjoy them as much as she could as proven in the past, things can change quickly.

"So when are you gonna tell us what the hell happened here, Doc?" Shane said interrupting the cheers and causing everyone to go quiet. Emmalyn sighed and leaned back in her chair annoyed as he continued, "All the -- other doctors. That were supposed to be figuring out what happened. Why are they?" Rick stopped him, "We're celebrating Shane. Don't need to do this now." Shane scoffed at Rick, his hostility towards the man was clear to everyone in the room as he spoke, "Whoa, wait a second. This is why we're here, right?" Everyone stayed quiet and looked between Rick and Shane, glancing at Jenner as well. Shane continued in a harsh yet mocking tone, "This was your move - supposed to find all the answers. Instead - we found him."

Emmalyn glared at Shane as Jenner spoke up, "When things got bad, a lot of people just left. Went off to be with their families. And when things got worse, when the military cordon got overrun, the rest bolted." No one really needed to say anything about the information that Jenner had told them except for Shane, "Every last one?" Shane questioned sounding annoyed, Emmalyn didn't want anything to do with the conversation. She turned to finish her food zoning out of the conversation until Glenn's voice bought her back in, "Dude. you are such a buzzkill, man." She looked at Shane before shaking her head as everyone got up from their seats ignoring Shane's presence.

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Rosemary Speaks

Would love an actual response to this,
Are you all enjoying the rewritten version?

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See you in the next chapter!