Alicia Smith

11) One Night

Alicia sat at the table as the children cleared away the dishes. She was full and a hell of a lot more tired than she had been recently.

"So what will you do now that you have lost your mule?" Lou asked them.

"He is not lost." Laurent countered her. "He is eating apples."

The adults laughed, amused by his child like attitude. "Come on. I show you something fun." One of the children pulled Laurent from the table.

"You know where we can find another one?" Daryl asked, referring to the Mule.

"La tarasque." One of the boys spoke.

"La tarasque is a lizard."

"Like a dragon from old stories." Alicia explained as Daryl furrowed his brows.

Lou shook her head. "No this one is not a... not a story. He's a real man." She chuckled. "Still a monster but he live in a castle near to here."

Daryl shrugged. "Does he got a mule?"

"Horses." She answered. "He used them to take everything from the village. Food, fuel... from every house, every shop. Once we um... we tried a raid to get supplies but..."

"Can you show me where this castle is?" Daryl asked.

"No." She said immediately. "It's too dangerous we won't go there again."

Alicia sighed. They couldn't get Laurent to the nest without a horse. They just couldn't. "There could be medicine there." She spoke. "To save your teacher."

Daryl nodded. "If this guy raided all the drug stores he's got all the medicine. I mean you could pray all you like but she's gonna die without that."

"I go to." One of the boys that had stuck around said.

"No." He tried to protest but Lou shook her head. "You heard me. Please." He scoffed, standing up and walking away.

"Who say you're the boss?"

"Moof, I-" she didn't finish her sentence, sighing as he left the room. "In the morning, we go together."

"All right." Daryl agreed as she to left the room. He looked over to Alicia offering her a small smile. "I'll get him where he needs to go."

She nodded. "I know you will."

They stood following the sound of children conversing into a smaller room. Inside they were all gathered around a small television powered by bicycles.

One of the children motion for Daryl and Alicia to sit down next to him. "What is this?" Daryl asked.

"You'll see, you'll see." The kid said happily.

The TV started and the kids all chanted "nanu-nanu" with Robin Williams.

Alicia and Daryl looked at each, grinning from ear to ear. "No way." He laughed.

Alicia watched the show, smiling and laughing with the kids. She could remember so vividly sitting in her grandparents house on the floor, her dog Sam in her lap watching this show.

It was something she missed greatly.
—————

Later that night Lou showed them to their rooms. She made it very clear that she only had two rooms available and that they would have to share.

"Laurent and I can sleep together." Isabell offered. "Alicia and Daryl will take the other." She smirked at Alicia, a knowing look in her eyes.

Daryl didn't say anything, walking into the room and plopping down onto the bed. Alicia didn't speak either, standing in front of the mirror and taking her hair out of its ponytail.

She sighed, walking over to the bed and sitting down at the end, next to Daryl feet. "I can sleep on the floor."

She shook her head. "The bed is big enough." She said quickly. "It's fine."

"All right." He nodded, scooting over so she could lay down. She didn't face him, staring at the wall.

It was quite for a moment before she spoke softly. "I used to love that show. I would watch it at my grandparents house every Sunday after church."

Daryl shifted in the bed beside her. "Me and Merle... we used to watch it too. It made everything a little bit better, you know?"

She nodded. Daryl hadn't talked much about Merle since he died. Alicia hadn't actually heard him say his name since that day at Alexandria.

"I wish I could've known your brother. He would've... he would've loved Jordan."

"He was an asshole but he was my brother." Daryl nodded. "I miss him."

Alicia sighed, rolling over so he could look at him. "It's ok to miss him."

He turned his head, scanning her face. "I miss a lot of people. Merle, Glenn, Rick, Carol... hell I even miss Gabriel."

Alicia laughed. "I miss those people too." She agreed. "And Abraham, Rosita, Dale, Carl, Maggie... Jordan." She scooted closer, almost touching him. "Do you know who I miss the most?"

"Hmm?" He mumbled, cocking an eyebrow.

"Shane."

She almost said it with a straight face before she and Daryl both broke out into laughter. "You're fucking insane." Daryl said through laughs.

"Oh come on, he had his moments." She giggled. "Like when... when he um... I'm sure he did something good."

"Bullshit." Daryl laughed.

Alicia shook her head, the laughter dying down. "No... I miss you."

He stared at her, searching for what to say. "Then come home."

She smiled softly, resting her head against his chest. He reacted instantly, wrapping his arms around her. "I am home."

He sighed, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "I love you."

She smiled, snuggling closer into his side. "I know."

They both knew that in the morning it would be the same. They would be old friends who would part ways in a couple of days.

But for know they were happy. They were together again even if it was only for one night. Why ruin it?