Flash as2 RPG Game Help. Picking up weapon

When my char picks up a weapon, how do I attach the weapon_mc to the char? Since I can get the weapon_mc to attach to the char starting position, but since the char has animation using the up, down, left, right keys, the weapon_mc will not follow the position of the animation. Does this make sense? Trying to explain the best I can.

Example: Moving Right - when the right key is pressed, char will move right. There are 5 frames that make up the walk cycle moving right. When I pickup a weapon(weapon_mc), I can only get the weapon_mc to attach to frame 1 of the walk cycle. How do I keep the weapon in the same spot while he is walking right?