Solitary: The Walking Dead

Chapter Sixty-four.

Take your pick.

They sit down at the table, Eric and Daryl on one side and Aaron and Iris on the other, Iris and Daryl start shovelling the pasta into their mouths, neither of them speaking, too focused on the food in front of them. "Thanks." Daryl says, laying his fork on the empty plate before picking up his glass of wine.

"Mmm, when you're out there, if you happen to be in a store or something, Mrs. Neudermyer is really looking for a pasta maker. And we're all really trying to get her to shut up about it. I mean, we have crates of dried pasta in here, but she wants to make her own or something. I really think she just wants something to talk about, so... if you see one out on your travels, it would go a long way to..." Eric says, stopping when Aaron gives him a look.

Iris finishes her food and picks up her glass of wine, taking a big sip of it, "I thought it was done. You didn't ask him already?" Eric asks Aaron, Daryl puts his glass down and looks at the two men, "Ask me what?" he asks, Aaron leads Iris and Daryl to the garage, opening the door and turning the light on,

Iris looks around the room to see bike parts and a bike sat under a sheet, "When I got the place, there was that frame and some parts and equipment. Whoever lived here built them." Aaron explains, Iris and Daryl walk further into the room and start looking at all the parts, "It's a lot of parts for one bike." Daryl says

"Whenever I came across any parts out there, I brought them back. I didn't know what I'd need. I always thought I'd learn how to do it, but I get the feeling you already know what to do with it. And the thing is, you're going to need a bike." he rambles.

"Why?" Daryl asks, looking at the man, "I told Deanna not to give you a job because I think I have one for you. I'd like you to be Alexandria's other recruiter. I don't want Eric risking his life anymore." Aaron explains "You want me risking mine, right?" Daryl asks

"Yeah, because you know what you're doing. You're good out there. But you don't belong out there. I know it's hard getting used to people getting used to you. And I understand right now you need to be out there sometimes. So do I. But the main reason why I want you to help me recruit is because you do know the difference between a good person and a bad person." Aaron explains.

They go silent and Daryl thinks for a moment "I got nothing else to do. Thanks." he says, "Yeah." "I'll get you some rabbits." Daryl adds, Aaron laughs "Great." he says, and they go back to the diner table. After a while of drinking and talking Daryl and Iris take their leave, "thanks for the food" Iris says, standing in front of the front door, "thank you for accepting the invitation" Aaron says, standing in the doorway, "night" Iris says, grabbing Daryl's hand and walking away.

They walk down the street, hand in hand, in a comfortable silence, they walk up the porch steps and sit down next to each other, Iris watches the man as he looks out into the dark neighbourhood, he turns to look at her, the tips of his ears going slightly red and he is grateful she can't see it because it’s too dark.

“What?” he asks her, “nothin’” she says, shrugging her shoulders, they both look at each other and Daryl gently pulls her body into his and they look out at the stars, Iris leans her head on his chest.

“When I saw the walkers on the horse… All I could think about was that night Bear got attacked. And then when it started to cry all i could hear was him” Iris says quietly, “i know” Daryl says, tightening his arms around the woman, “I like Aaron and Eric” she says, looking up at him with her head still on his chest, “mhm me too” he says, looking down at her.

…….

Rick, Daryl, Iris and Carol meet up at the same spot the next morning standing around and making sure no one is near. “Take your pick.” Carol says, pulling out two handguns from her bag, “Look, I've been thinking. Do we really need these? I mean, things go bad, yeah, sure. We do what we gotta do, but it's like you said. We don't need these for that.” Daryl says.

“Right now we don't.” Carol says, “You wanted me to try, right? I'm good.” Daryl says Rick reaches for one of the guns but freezes for a minute to think, but he takes one of the guns, tucking it into the back of his waistband and walking back to Alexandria.

Iris follows quickly after him, “Rick. Can we talk?” she questions as the gate closes behind them, “what’s up?” Rick asks, slowing and turning to her, when she catches up to him they start walking again, “you really sure about this place?” she asks, “i think we should keep our guards up” Rick explains, and they walk together in silence.

“Are you gonna stay?” Rick asks, breaking the silence, Iris thinks for a minute “for now” she says “hey Rick!” a woman says from over the road, Iris watches the woman and her husband,  the man not looking over at them only reaching his hand out and ushering his wife away, Iris slows to a stop, rick doing the same, she eyes the man suspiciously, she looks at Rick and he looks at her, both understanding that they feel the same.