Too Far Gone // D. Dixon

chapter sixteen

The group had suspiciously been given two houses; right next to each other. It had seemed so excessive. It seemed so generous, too kind to be real. The group was still weary, not fully trusting the situation.

"They're right next to each other but..." Carol spoke, as the small group stood between the two houses. Maren looked back, seeing Daryl and a newly-shaved Rick.

Mared smiled at Rick, shock evident in her voice, "I didn't recognize you there for a second, Rick. It's pretty fucking weird to see you without a beard." Maren laughed, hitting his arm in a playful manner.

"Can't say I recognize myself either." Rick joked back, happy to see Maren in a good mood. It was becoming a more common thing, as time went on. He knew that when it had come to light that she'd been running from the Claimers, it all had made sense. He knew why she'd been so distant and jumpy with them at first, he knew for a fact that those men had not been kind to her. He could only imagine what they'd done to her, knowing what one of them had attempted to do to Carl. Rick was hoping that her cheeriness had meant she was finally getting better, moving on and healing from the trauma that had been so rudely bestowed upon her by those monsters.

"They took our weapons and now they're splitting us up." Rick stated, looking wearily at Carol, Maren and Daryl. Everyone nodded, feeling an odd sense of homesickness. Nobody was ready to be separated just yet. Not after all that time they had spent in such close proximity to one another.

"We're sure as shit not splitting up now," Maren said, crossing her arms in front of her chest. Daryl quickly nodded at the girl, knowing that he wouldn't leave her side for a second.

Rick nodded, looking at Maren's defensive stance, "We'll all be staying in the same house tonight."

- TOO FAR GONE -

The group settled in that night. With everyone scattered around the living room floor, they all stayed close. Just like they always had.

When Maren had entered the living room with her blanket and pillow in tow, she glanced around the room. She subconsciously searched the room for Daryl, knowing that she'd want to sleep next to him, just like she had been doing for weeks now.

"Lookin' for me?" Daryl spoke from beside the girl, making her turn to look at him in shock. Maren let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding in.

"How'd you know?" Maren asked him with a playful smile, as she looked at his tired expression.

"I dunno, call it a sixth sense or somethin'..." Daryl said with a slight smile, taking her things gently and carefully placing them beside his spot on the floor. She smiled and followed him, sitting down beside of him. God, she thought, why does he make her feel like this? So annoyingly happy.

When Deanna came by, the whole group was a bit shocked, "Listen, I don't mean to interrupt, I just wanted to stop by and see how you were all settling in-"

When she looked around, she saw the whole group sitting scattered on the living room floor. They all had blankets, pillows, and the like. The sight was not so shocking, she had expected this from them. After all, they'd been a family.

"Staying together...smart." Deanna smiled, looking back at Rick. He still held the door open, watching her every move.

"No one said we couldn't." Rick stated, still watching the woman.

"You said you're a family," Deanna smiled, "That's what you said. It's absolutely amazing to me how people with completely different backgrounds and nothing in common can become that. Don't you think?"