A Glimmer of Hope

Under New Management

Following the Governor's death, Andrea and Merle were going to start to changing things in Woodbury. They decided to make one another equals in their leadership. It had been a week since the Governor's death and Daryl was getting ready to leave to do his check in with Woodbury's progress.

Daryl couldn't believe that the two of them together would ever be a great team. He only told me so privately because he didn't want to discourage them. I didn't personally know either one of them, so I would just have to take his word for it.

"I'm tellin' ya babe, I'm gonna show up and that town's gonna be aflame," he laughed. "Merle and Andrea right in the middle of it, dukin' it out," he chuckled, pretending to punch the air, then pretending to take a hit from an invisible opponent. I don't know that I had ever heard Daryl laugh like this before, it was really amusing. He definitely never impersonated a fight. I think even though the circumstances were initially grim, he's excited to reconnect with his brother.

"Hey, maybe you'll be pleasantly surprised, who knows?" I told him.

"Pfft. I hope so, it would mean they're both finally growing up a little and realizing what's more important than not likin' one another," he said thoughtfully as he put his crossbow over his shoulder, making sure the strap was snug on his torso.  

"Seems like Merle's started to be able to tell the difference between righ' and wrong," he said. "Andrea told me after we took out the Governor that Merle immediately agreed to kill the evil sonuvabitch when she asked, no hesitation, especially after he found out what he had done to you." Daryl said with a half smile. 

He took a couple of steps over to the bed I was still laying on. It was nice to see him happy about his brother growing up and trying to do the right thing. From what he had told me before, Merle sort of seemed to treat Daryl as his sidekick throughout their lives, abusing the big brother role. It even went so far as to Merle selling Daryl's blood to strangers because he was a universal donor. It hurt to hear that he was treated that way, but it was a new world and times have changed, he was a completely different man now.

Daryl had been a drifter, following Merle around before the Fall, getting into whatever trouble they could find. Years later when the unthinkable happened, he was a leader in a group of survivors. A skilled all around survivalist and a damned good man. Who knows what Merle's become since Daryl had seen him? Kidnapping us wasn't a great first impression, but I could believe in second chances for Daryl's sake. I could forgive that Merle was the one who hand delivered me to the Governor, he didn't realize that it had happened until after the fact, but I sure as hell won't be forgetting it anytime soon.

He looked over at me, I was still waking up my brain for the day. He sat himself down on the edge of the bed next to me, and took my hand, rubbing his thumb overtop my forefingers. He smiled softly. His gaze met me with his piercing blue eyes. The way he looked at me made my heart melt like it was the first time he said my name. "Ya gonna be okay here, love?" he asked me softly.

I returned his smile. "I'll be just fine. I'm in prison for goodness' sake, how much trouble can I get in?" I teased him. He grinned, but I knew what he was really asking.

"Knowin' you, plently," he laughed. "But really though, ya gonna be okay? Want me to grab Maggie for ya?" he offered. He was so considerate. 

"No, I'm okay. I was thinking about getting downstairs to see Judith when she gets up. I really want to spend the whole day with her," I said cheerfully.

Daryl looked at me for a moment. He didn't say anything in response. Just started chewing on his damned thumbnail, just as he always did when he was nervous about telling me something. "What's up?" I asked him a little impatiently.