Don't Fear The Reaper (R. Grimes & D. Dixon)

38

A curly-haired man standing at the gate eyed the dead possum in Daryl's hand. "we brought dinner," Daryl said as the rest of them stood in silence. 

"it's ok. come on in guys." Aaron waved them in as he handed Eric off to another person to help him get to the infirmary; the gate squeaked closed once they all stepped inside.

"Before we take this further, I need you all to turn over your weapons. Stay, you hand them over." the curly man said. Kit's eyes narrowed. She didn't care for his attitude.

"no," she said "we don't know if we want to stay," rick added

"It's fine, Nicholas," Aaron said, exhausted

"if we were gonna use them, we would have started already." rick said to the man. If he was trying to reassure the man or threaten him, kit couldn't tell. They all probably looked like rabid animals right now.

"Let them talk to Deanna first." Aaron told Nicholas,

"whos, Deanna?" Abe asked

"she knows everything you'd want to know about this place. rick, kitten, why don't one of you start?"

"I will," kit said, crossing her arms; Aaron nodded. rick looked behind them, hearing a walker

"Sasha," kit didn't bother looking. She was watching Aaron and Nicholas. a single silenced shot leaving Sasha's gun, both men's eyes showing disbelief as the privacy fence was closed. "it's a good thing we're here." rick said, clearly feeling cocky. Kit snorted, walking forward, nodding to Aaron to lead the way.

Kit looked around the living room, feeling slightly claustrophobic with the clutter. Her fingers gliding over books, CDs, and more books, she stopped in front of the bay window to fiddle with an old-school microscope.

"Hello," a woman said behind her; kit looked over, still hunched over at the older woman. "I'm Deanna Monroe" kit stood up to face her.

"Kitten Adams, but everyone just calls me Kit."

"you mind if I film this?" Deanna asked

kit snorted, "as long as we keep it PG."

Deanna chuckled as the camera binged as it turned on "we do this for all members; it's better to be transparent, don't you think." kit hummed in agreement as she moved to sit in the accent chair across from the couch and camera.

"how long have you been out there?" Deanna asked, moving to sit on the couch

"since the beginning."

"How did you all find each other? did you know each other before?"

"rick and I knew each other, grew up together. I was chosen to be Carl's godmother when he was born."

"so your not-"

"no, she died giving birth to Judith, and I adopted Jody."

"Forgive me, Aaron had suspected you, Rick, and Daryl were together."

"We are. Unconventional for the world before, but now we walk among the dead. Why not give the heart what it wants, right?"

"do you hope to settle down with them, start a life?" Deanna asked. Kit furrowed her eyebrows. "I never really had a chance to think about it."

Deanna nodded, studying her. "I was a congressperson. Ohio, 15th district. you?"

"surgeon. is it imperative to ask everyone that?"

"I believe it is. it helps determine jobs and if people will fit here."

"well, you aren't going to tell Daryl that. It took me a lot of work and patience to help him get where he is now."