DINNER PARTY, OFFICERS, AND MOTORCYCLES-055
That morning, Lee, Maggie, Michonne sat at the kitchen table with Deanna. Rick was standing behind his son. The teen had expressed that he didn't want to go to school and wanted to work.
"You protect and serve. You patrol, walk the wall, watch out for the kids. If there's a conflict, you solve it. And people will listen to you." Deanna said.
"Because we're wearing windbreakers?" Michonne deadpanned.
"Because they believe in this," Deanna replied. "Because I'm telling them to. A police officer used to live here. Go we had these jackets and I wanted to make it official. So it's official. There's gonna be ao government here one day. That's why I want Maggie and Lee to work with me. There's gonna be a police force. That's why I want you two to start it. I see a vibrant community here with industry, commerce, civilization. Real lives. It might be houses and mills, but—what?"
Lee glanced back at his father, who looked unsure.
"Does that sound like pie in the sky?" Deanna says.
"No," Maggie said making the woman nod. Deanna looked at Michonne and Lee who replied with a 'no'.
Deanna looked up at Rick. "No. Can we talk security?"
They walked down the street to the solar panels as Rick spoke. "We need a constant patrol along the walls. Not just looking for damage, but signs that anyone climbed in from outside. You can move right up the supports. That's what I'd do. People are the real threat now."
"Rick, I know you think that we should all be armed within the walls. I—I can't do that." Deanna said.
Rick nodded. "That's fine. You make these changes, we won't need to."
Sasha walked up and spoke. "Excuse me. I want to volunteer to be one of the lookouts in the clock tower."
"There are no lookouts in the clock tower."
Rick looked at Deanna in disbelief. "What?"
"We saw someone up there earlier," Michonne added.
"That was an empty rifle my son Spencer put up there. He mans it sometimes, but not often. Look, there hasn't been the need."
"We need a lookout in that tower, right now, 24/7." Rick spat.
"It's the only way we'll be able to see if someone's coming at us," Lee says, standing next to Maggie.
"Okay, okay. We'll make shifts." Deanna finally agreed.
"I'll take those shifts as many as possible." Sasha volunteered.
Deanna looked at Sasha. "Why?"
"Sasha's one of our best shots. She can do it." Maggie spoke up. Deanna glanced at her then back to Sasha.
"I'm gonna put Spencer up there today. I'll consider you being our primary lookout, but I want something in return. Tonight I'm hosting a welcome for all of you at my home. I want you to be there."
"Why?" Sasha asked.
"Come tonight. Then we'll talk about it."
****
"What's your name?"
"Rosewood Faith Jackson."
"Are you any relation Kelly and Violet Jackson?"
"Yes. Kelly and Violet are my half-sisters."
Deanna nodded and scanned the young red head. "Have you ever meet them, prior to the start?"
"No. Our papa Henry told me about them, but never let me visit." Rosie spoke.
"Mm-hmm. And what about your mother?"
"She died 3 years into the apocalypse."
"And you were left alone?"
"No, I had my older brother, Eddie. But he died almost a month ago. And his girlfriend Luna who I think survived. We were looking for a place to stay and food when a group tried kidnapping us, they got her. I think they called themselves 'The Saviors'. I ran from them, I didn't trust them."
"I'm sorry," Deanna says. "Tell more about yourself, Rosewood."
"Just call me Rosie. I'm fifteen. My mom's name is Chloe Miller, I got her red hair and green eyes. I'm from Atlanta. I have an older brother named Eddie and two half-sisters named Kelly and Violet. I like video games and 80s music."
"Thank you, Rosie. It was very nice to speak with you." Deanna said, standing up. "And there is one more thing, I talked with Kelly. They said you can live with her."
Rosie nodded. "Thanks, ma'am"
***
Matilda got ready for the party with Max, who was playing with his baby aunt. Max was in a red polio shirt with black slacks and a pair of white sneakers. She had dressed Judith in a pink sundress with flowers.
She came out of the bathroom in a black cocktail dress, very light makeup Jessie had provided and her dark hair slicked behind her ears.
"Tilly, Max! It's time to go." Her father's voice called.
"Coming!" She called back. "Come on, Max."
Max picked up Judith, setting her on his hip as he watched his mom slip on black heels. She stumbled a bit before taking her baby sister from her son and headed down the stairs.
Her father had on a white polo shirt with black slacks, Lee was matching their father while Carl had on a nary blue button-up shirt with black slacks.
Once they got to Deanna's house, they meet up with half of the group. When they entered, Lee and Carl headed towards their friends. Violet stand next to Enid with her arms crossed over her chest, wearing a purple dress that her sister picked at for her.
"Oh, my. Welcome." Deanna said, walking over to the group. "You all look lovely tonight."
"Hello, Deanna." Matilda greeted, politely.
"It's so good to see you. Thank you for coming." Deanna shook Rick and Tilly's hands. "You know, I didn't get a chance to interview her. I envy her."
"Why?" Rick and Matilda questioned.
"She'll get to see what this place will become," Deanna said before waving over an unfamiliar man.
"You're Rick and these are your daughters." The unfamiliar man spoke.
"Rick, Matilda, this is my husband Reg." Deanna introduced.
"You're a pretty remarkable guy." Reg states.
"How's that?" Rick questioned.
"I watched the tapes. All of them. The things those people said about you. The things you did for them, both of you."
Rick shifted uncomfortably. "Didn't you build that wall out there?"
Reg smiled. "Yeah, I did, with help. A lot of it. And it's a damned incredible achievement. But it's a wall."
The father and daughter chuckled awkwardly as Reg spoke. "You beat me. You and your daughter kept that many people in this world."
"Well, we're standing behind that wall right now, dear." Deanna declare. "So let's call it a tie."
Rick chuckled as Judith cooed in her her sister's arms.
"I'm glad you're here. Now, let's take a glass." Reg smiled.
"Welcome to you all."
***
An hour later, Matilda stepped outside, taking off her heels and started to walk down the sidewalk. A figure standing by a tree made her stop and squinted her eyes before seeing it was her husband.
She walked through the glass and stopped behind him."Why are you staring at the house like a stalker?"
Daryl jumped slowly and turned around to see his wife. He looked her up and down, she looked beautiful.
"It ain't my thing," He muttered.
She stepped towards him and grabbed his hand. "Yeah, it's suffocating. Let's go for a walk"
Daryl didn't say anything before he let his wife pull him down the street. They walked down the street, passing their house and in fount of Aaron's.
They walked in silence, just enjoying each other company as the door of Aaron's house opened and stepped out the said man.
"Daryl. Hey." Aaron greeted. "Hello, Matilda. You look lovely."
"Thank you, Aaron," Matilda replied.
"Thought you were going to that party over there," Daryl asks, looking at the man.
"Oh, I was never going to go 'cause of Eric's ankle, thank god."
"Why the hell did you tell me to go, then?" Daryl questioned.
"I said try. You did. It's a thought that counts thing." Aaron says before Daryl and Tilly went to walk away. "Hey, come in. Have some dinner. It's some pretty serious spaghetti."
Daryl seemed hesitant, his wife didn't want to force him to go, but she thought back to her promise to Hershel. That they will have spaghetti on Wednesdays.
"Matilda can come too," Aaron says.
They all seat at the table, Daryl was next to Eric and Matilda next to Aaron. They watched as Daryl slurped up the spaghetti, getting a little bit on his chin.
"Thanks," The redneck grunted, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. Matilda gave Eric a smile in thanks, which he returned.
"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 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 of your travels, it would go a long way to. . ." Eric glanced over at Aaron as Daryl took a sip of his wine.
"I thought it was done. You didn't ask him already?" Eric continued as Aaron shook his head no.
Daryl looked at Aaron. "Ask me what?"
Aaron stood up. "Just follow me."
Daryl walked in the garage with Aaron and Matilda followed her husband. The redneck looked around at all the machine parts.
"When I got the place, there was that frame and some parts and equipment. Whoever lived here built them."
"It's a lot of parts for one bike," Daryl muttered.
"When I came across any parts out there, I brought them back," Aaron explained. "I didn't know what I'd need. I always thought I'd learn how to do it, but I got the feeling you already know what to do with it. And the thing is, you're going to need a bike."
Daryl went over the bike and checked it out.
"Why?"
"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."
"Then you're going to risk Daryl's?" Matilda asked, furrowing her brows.
"That's not at all what I'm doing, Matilda. Your husband knows what he's doing. He's good out there like you are." Aaron said, looking at the woman before looking back at Daryl. "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."
Daryl lifted up the sheet before pulling it off.
"But the main reason why I want you to help me recruit is that you know the difference between a good person and a bad person." He continued.
Matilda saw her husband hesitate.
"Dare, I think you should take it."
Daryl stared at his wife before answering. "Alright, I got nothing else to do. Thanks."
"Yeah."
"I'll get you some rabbits." Daryl offered making his wife and Aaron laugh.
"Great." Aaron smiled.