tell me why I log in after like idk how long and find out my master list isn’t connected to anything anymore?!? What is going on I can’t find it anywhere 😭
I don't know if I'm the only one but I love levi modern au fanfics and headcanons. It just heals me and the aot world sounds too stressful for me.. I just wanna read about me n my man chilling in our apartment maybe with some bitches tryna steal him from me.. Yes this is the kinda shit I wanna read for comfort.
Series Warnings: canon-typical violence, character deaths (canon), guns, blood/injuries, explicit language, sexual content. (Individual chapters will have warnings as well)
Summary: When a dangerous new community attacks, life in Alexandria gets turned upside down. In an attempt to protect your people, you volunteer to meet the bizarre demands of the new community's eccentric leader, including becoming his wife. But along the way, you meet an old community legend, who has fallen down a dark path. Will you be able to save him, your people, and yourself, or will you be lost in the struggle?
A/N: This series follows the events of Seasons 7 and 8, but there are some adjustments in the timing of events for pacing purposes.
And something you need to know about me as a twd fan? I'm a Lori Grimes apologist. My girl did nothing wrong. I was defending her back in the day and I still am.
If Lori Grimes doesn't have anyone defending her, that means I'm dead.
I saw a very blunt Instagram comment today that told a writer, "AI is going to steal your job soon. You may want to choose something else." It was so nonchalant and casual, like what was just said wasn't heartbreaking to hear.
Can we writers just make a pact just to... not quit? Can we not give in so easily? Can we actually fight to keep our professions and continue to share our own original work? I will never expect writing to be my main source of income, but that does not mean I'm so willing to give it up for the sake of some robot.
Warnings: Typical TWD violence and gore; mentions of past child abuse; mentions of suggested abortion; blood and injury
Summary: Fresh into Alexandria, Daryl meets his match in a two year little girl and slowly loses his heart to her mother. You.
A/N: Based on the request/headcanon from @louifaith
Just a couple of things. The child is described as in hair and eye color. Nothing is mentioned of reader so these traits could come from her father. There is also the mention of an “Eskimo kiss.” I grew up using that term but I’m not sure if it is offensive or PC nowadays. please feel free to send me a message if I need to change it. It is not my intention to be offensive to anyone! Also, sorry if anyone likes Spencer. He's always my go to asshole.
Daryl felt the opossum sway in his grip, looking down with a scowl firmly plastered at the bright eyes returning his gaze, brimming with curiosity. She was a toddler, maybe two years old? Christ, someone had a toddler in this mess. “Dinner.” He grunted, pulling the dead animal out of her reach. He found out quickly that the curious little creature would not be deterred so easily. Standing on her tip-toes, she made a grab for the marsupial. “Knock it off.” He huffed and took a step back, bumping into Carol.
“Daryl, she’s a child. Don’t be such a grump.”
“Ain’t you got a mama—family to get back to?” He snapped, ignoring his best friend. The little girl’s eyes brightened.
“Mama! Mama!” She clapped. Daryl rolled his eyes at her enthusiasm.
“Yeah, go get ‘er.” There was an intense sigh of relief when the little human went running (waddling?) out of sight. “They got kids here.”
“Yes, Daryl. That’s what that was.” Carol nudged him playfully. “The people seem to think they’re safe here. It gives me the creeps.” He nodded but didn’t comment. “They obviously don’t know what’s going on out there, not like we do. I think we need to be cautious here. Find a way to fit in but keep our guard up, you know?”
Daryl snorted. “Yeah, good luck with that. Ain’t got no intention of tryin’ to fit in with these folks. Livin’ in a fuckin’ fairytale here. Ain’t gonna last.”
“You’re such a ray of sunshine.” Sasha clapped him on the shoulder as she passed, earning yet another grunt.
“Mama, here!”
Oh dear god, no. “S’back.” The hunter stated flatly.
“Oh, and she brought a friend.” Sure enough, the little girl was dragging you along, tugging incessantly at your hand as if the child had found the world’s most priceless treasure. “You did tell her to ‘go get her.’”
“Nadia, slow down!”
And slow down, she did. Right in front of a scowl-wearing redneck with a bleeding opossum in his grasp.
“Mama, dinner! Dorl dinner.”
Dorl?!? Daryl looked helplessly over to where Carl was carrying Judith, the little light of his life. Would this be what she was like as she grew up? She already knew him, loved him despite how broken and hopeless he was. She would laugh at him if he was ranting about something and hold out those chubby little hands and he was done for, whatever had irritated him was forgotten.
But this child? This wasn’t his lil’ asskicker.
Daryl liked kids but he liked them from a distance. He had no business being around them, save for Carl and Judith. I wish I could have known Sophia. He wouldn’t bother getting to know anyone in this place. It’d burn like every other home they had anyway.
“Dorl, huh?” You smiled.
“Daryl.” He replied flatly, his lip curling.
“I’m Y/N. I assume Aaron found your group?”
He didn’t answer, too occupied with trying to continuously move away from the small child clumsily reaching for his knife sheath. “Stop that.” He barked, expecting the kid to balk. She did quite the opposite and wrapped her tiny arms around his leg, just below his knee. What the fuck was he supposed to do now? Shake her off? Of course not. She might get hurt. While he really didn’t want to be touched, he couldn’t help but feel like it was somehow his job to make sure this kid wasn’t hurt. “Can ya—would ya—?” Shoulders slumped, he didn’t even gesture. You know what he was asking.
Chuckling, you reached down and gently pried the little girl loose. “Nadia, you’re supposed to ask before hugs, remember?”
“Hug Dorl.” The dark-headed child pouted.
That was his cue to step away, as quickly as possible, without running. He absolutely did not run.
When you looked up, he was already gone, lost in the middle of his group as they headed in to surrender weapons and be interviewed by Deanna.
Daryl sat on the now red-stained porch, prepping his kill for cooking later. Carol had scolded him and made him promise to use the backyard going forward, but he doubted they would be there long enough for him to need the area. It was just the way the world was. Nice places like this could never last.
“Dorl dinner!”
Jesus take the wheel. “Ya need a bell.” He grunted, looking around for you. “An’ apparently a leash.” Maybe if he ignored her, she would go find you. But what if she wandered off alone and somehow made it out of the gates? Shit. “Sit down, gremlin.”
She giggled and patted her chunky hands against her chest. “Nada.”
Daryl stopped moving and stared for a moment. Wasn’t that Spanish? Maybe? Wait. You had called her Nadia. Maybe that’s what she was trying to say. “Nadia?” Blue eyes squinted in wait.
Nadia bounced and nodded and then pointed at him. “Dorl! Dorl, Nada!”
He released his knife and leaned his elbow against his knee, the heel of his hand pressing into his forehead. “Dare-ul.” He tried.
“Dooorl.”
“Oh, for fucksake.” The archer gave up, picking up his knife and continuing with his task. Nadia didn’t even seem to notice what he was doing but leaned in closely with the most serious look he’d ever seen. He needed to lean back once she made it much too far into his personal space.
“Fucksy.” She said, maintaining eye contact as if she were challenging him.
“No! Don’t say that. Can’t be teachin’ ya sh—stuff like that!” He panicked, opossum forgotten. Daryl threw back his head with a groan. “Can’tcha please just go to your mama?”
Nadia’s little face lit up and off she went with a chorus of mama mama mama. Watching her go, Daryl wondered where the little one’s father was, but soon banished the thought. It was none of his business. What was his business was to make sure the annoying curtain-climber made it home safely. Abandoning his dinner—no time to cover it if he was going to catch up—he walked briskly until he caught sight of her. Little legs can fuckin’ move. We’re fucked when Jude learns to walk.
He stayed close, but far back enough to not catch her attention. She seemed to know exactly where she was going. Rounding the curb to the end of the street, he caught sight of the small house. Quaint compared to the other homes. The front door was open but he dared not go closer. Boots firmly planted on the sidewalk, he observed the struggle of a tiny human tackling front porch steps. Nadia was determined though. Had he chosen to help, he was certain she would give him that serious look again and yell at him in baby-speak.
“Nadia Avery, how do you keep getting out the door!”
Maybe cause you leave it open? He suppressed the urge to roll his eyes.
Regardless, there you were, swooping down to gather the bundle into your arms with a couple of sobs and more than a few sniffles. “Baby, you have to stop doing that! You scare mommy.” Nadia was nuzzling your jaw but then suddenly pointed right at him.
“Dorl got Nada.”
When your eyes found his own, Daryl froze. His arms were out to his sides, his eyes wide. He looked nothing short of a deer caught in the sights of his crossbow when it realized it’s about to be shot. “I—uh, kid found me.” Forcing himself to relax a fraction, he rubbed at the back of his neck. “Didn’t want ‘er wand’rin’ ‘round by herself.”
Your face softened into a grateful smile. “Thank you for making sure she got home.” He nodded curtly and you turned away, only to turn back in the same motion. “Would you like to come inside? I have some stew that I’m heating. Plenty for the three of us.”
A part of him that he didn’t know existed wanted to immediately accept the offer but the part of him that had kept him alive this long spoke louder. “Nah, got my own dinner I need to take care’a. Thanks, though.”
You nodded, the smile never faltering. “Think of it as a standing invitation. Nadia seems to like you. She’s a good judge of character.”
He snorted. “Alright.”
“Goodnight, Daryl.”
“Night.” He took two steps.
“Nigh’ nigh’, Dorl!”
He heard the sound of a kiss being blown his way, but didn’t turn around. Maybe if he ignored her, she’d go away.
It had been three days since he had last seen you or Nadia. He found that it unsettled him but not enough to go looking. Aaron had gifted him a work area and parts to build himself a bike. It was the best thing anyone could have offered him at that point. He felt like he still wasn’t fitting in, and while that was the idea at first, now it just felt…lonely.
Carol was always gone when he got up and not home yet when we retired to bed. Rick and Michonne couldn’t stay out of the bedroom for more than five minutes unless something ‘coppy’ needed to be handled. Carl was always outside with Jude in the nice weather.
Daryl was alone. Though he usually preferred it that way, he couldn’t seem to shake the negativity it seemed to bring to the surface.
Spending time around something familiar from the old world came to be a comfort. When the posh little community with its “good morning” while walking the dog and laughter over coffee at the gazebo became too much for Daryl, he disappeared into Aaron’s garage. Aaron and his husband seemed okay in the archer’s book. They never once stared at him like he was going to rob them blind or beat them to a pulp. They showed him kindness even if his only attempts at conversation consisted of nods and grunts.
“You going to this party tonight?” Aaron asked from the doorway the led into the house from the garage.
“Nah.” Daryl picked up a wrench and continued his work, not giving the question a proper thought.
“You really should make an effort to get to know more people here.”
“They don’t like me. Shouldn’t, really.” The archer shrugged.
“They just don’t know you. Maybe you should give them a chance.” Aaron kept his persuasion in the doorway. He had gifted Daryl that space and was unwilling to step into it without an invitation he was unlikely to receive without asking.
“Better they don’t know me.”
There was a sigh that made Daryl curl his lip. “Just think about it, okay?” The shuffle of feet and the door opening signaled the other man’s exit.
Why should Daryl go? He had little interest in fitting in, even when his own group was making such an effort. Carol and Rick were wary and had whatever it was they had but Carol would tell him if she felt it necessary. Daryl was just plain wary, utterly uninterested. Most of them would likely be dead soon and he didn’t need anyone else to mourn.
So why he found himself showered and in a fresh set of clothing that was his own form of presentable was absolutely beyond him. It had nothing to do with the fact that on his walk home, he thought maybe you’d be at the party. Nope, nothing like that.
He had made it at least to the yard outside, watching the festivities through the window. Everyone he knew seemed so at ease in there. Dressed up, laughing and drinking. Mingling like they belonged there. He didn’t belong there.
“Nah.” He said softly before turning away. He was passing by Aaron’s house when a call of his name from that familiar voice had him stopping with a sigh. “Yeah?”
“You went. Good for you. Did you have a good time?” Aaron asked from the porch. Daryl shrugged. The man’s eyes narrowed and suddenly the archer was nervous, feeling judged. “You didn’t go in, did you?”
Daryl shook his head. “Just ain’t my thing.”
“Hey, you tried.”
“Why didn’t you go?” That wasn’t supposed to sound so accusatory but Daryl was tired and had simply had his fill of the day and that place.
“Eric’s ankle is still giving him trouble. We just thought it best to skip out on this one.”
This one? Christ. That insinuated there would be more. With an inward groan, he answered outwardly with a grunt.
“We’ve got dinner ready. More than can feed us. Can we tempt you?” The offer was sincere and Daryl was hungry, but his battery was running on fumes. He glanced toward his own home and then back at Aaron. “Eric makes a mean spaghetti, man. Come on, you’re already out.”
Daryl sighed. “Fine.” He was grateful for the invitation, he just sucked at showing it, as with almost every other emotion. Aaron held open the door and with a nod, the archer entered, still ill at ease being inside someone else’s home when his own still felt less than comfortable.
“Dorl.”
Before he could prepare himself, Nadia was latching onto his lower legs. Arms out awkwardly, he glared at Aaron. “Didn’t say she was here.”
The man just shrugged a shoulder. “Didn’t say she wasn’t either.”
“Hi, Daryl!” You came around the corner from the dining room, no doubt to gather your spawn but he couldn’t seem to form a thought around the smile you were giving him.
“Mama! Dorl!”
“I can see that, baby. You think you can let go so that he can walk?” Nadia shook her head with a vicious pout.
“Dorl up?”
“What?” He looked down at the toddler and back up at you, silently hoping you’d act as translator for the little gremlin.
“She wants you to pick her up. You don’t—”
For reasons unbeknownst to even him, he bent down and placed his hands beneath Nadia’s arms, lifting her onto his hip. It felt no different than holding Judith. Nadia was heavier of course.
“Dorl!” Chubby arms wrapped around his neck, her little cheek rubbing against his stubbled one. “Tickle.” She giggled like it was the funniest thing in the world and repeated the action.
You were still smiling but much more softly. “She really likes you.” Daryl grunted. “You don’t say much, do you?”
“Ain’t gotta lot to say.” He shrugged the shoulder Nadia’s chin was resting on, sending her into another fit of giggles. She pulled back suddenly, very in his space and then pressed her face against his cheek. He flinched but otherwise didn’t move. There was the smallest flutter that tickled his skin before she reared back again, smiling proudly. “What—”
“Butterfly kisses.” You informed, arms crossed but your smile hidden behind your hand.
“What the fu—heck’s that?”
“Oh come on, you never gave your mom butterfly kisses?” You chuckled.
Daryl felt nauseous at the mention of his mother. The only thing he’d shared with her were bruises and a few after-beating hugs. But you didn’t know him. He took the anger and locked it down, but it must have spilled into his expression.
“I’m sorry.” Your smile was gone, but to his surprise (and relief), there was no pity in your eyes. Only understanding. Still, it wasn’t a subject he cared to let linger.
He turned his attention to the child, who had developed a sudden interest in the hair over his ears. “Ya ever gave a Eskimo kiss?” He almost laughed out loud when Nadia’s eyes flew wide with wonder. She didn’t confirm or deny but the fact that she hadn’t moved was answer enough. “S’simple.” Daryl brought a hand up to the back of her head and gently urged her forward, rubbing the tip of his nose over hers. “There. Eskimo kiss.”
She kept those wide eyes as her little mouth began to spread open into one of the biggest smiles he’d ever seen on a kid, granted he hadn’t spent much time around any.
“Again!” She squealed, grabbing his cheeks and pulling him forward. He expected to have a bloody nose from the force with which she came at him, but her movements became deliberate and gentle, as if getting it right was the most important thing in the world.
Nadia was incredibly pleased with herself, her little hands patting against Daryl’s chest before she wiggled out her request for freedom and sprinted toward the dining room with this newfound information to share with Eric and Aaron.
“Careful.” You said, though there was no hint of anything unkind in your tone. When he looked away from the other room, he found your expression to be one he couldn’t seem to identify. It was soft yet guarded. He didn’t move away when you reached a single hand out to adjust his vest. “You’re smiling.” And you walked away, leaving him there to realize that he was indeed wearing a small, lopsided grin.
He shook it off with a groan, absolutely regretting his decision to come in for dinner.
“Dorl!” Came the loud shout from the table. “Dorl, sketti!”
This was not going to end well.
It had been two weeks since the spaghetti dinner, which in fact had ended rather pleasantly. Aside from your giggles when he realized he was eating his meal with the same gusto and manners as the toddler next to him, Aaron had offered him a job that let him go outside the walls. He’d accepted almost immediately.
Little Nadia had been determined to take him home with them, so he walked you there with her tiny hand in his. Halfway, she had begun to tire and fuss, instinct had kicked in and he scooped her up in the same manner he would Judith. The child was asleep on his shoulder almost instantly.
He had zero intention of entering your home and was thankful the kid was out cold so that she couldn’t initiate the suggestion. He had passed her off to you and started to leave.
“Daryl.” You had called quietly. He still wasn’t sure why he had turned back to you so quickly. “That invitation is still open.” You smiled, he grunted. “Thanks for being so sweet with her. Goodnight.”
There had been a heavy feeling in his chest but he had nodded. “G’night.”
Now, you and little Nadia were almost a constant presence when he wasn’t beyond the wall. A presence that he found no longer really irritated him.
He would sit on the porch with the kid, working on his crossbow while Nadia colored or played with toys. He had to find her some of her own to have there because it seemed she and Judith were at odds about Daryl’s attention. He had made the mistake of lifting lil’ asskicker out of her playpen while Nadia was on his heels and the latter had begun to wail.
He had quickly passed Jude off to an equally concerned Michonne and scooped up the kid. “S’wrong? Hey.” Little arms wrapped around his neck and, though he didn’t see the angry pout directed at the other baby, Michonne did. He turned at her chuckle, eyes wide and confused.
Before she could explain, those little arms squeezed harder. “My Dorl.”
From that moment on, he saved time with Judith for emergencies (there were none) and for after Nadia had gone home with you.
“Don’t touch that, Dia.” Daryl huffed, catching her little hand reaching for the knife he had on the porch table. He had spent the morning skinning a few squirrels for Carol to use in a stew but was at that point, working on the tension on his bow.
And babysitting.
You had some inventory to do at the infirmary with Pete. The doctor gave him bad vibes so when you had asked, he’d accepted all too quickly. Even offered to tag along and keep an eye on the kid there. In the end, after you had politely declined, he had reasoned that you were a grown woman and could handle yourself.
“Babysitting, again, hmm?”
Daryl glanced up from his crossbow toward Carol on the top step, Nadia already beaming up at her from the hug around her waist. It lasted all of three seconds before the kid was back to her toys beside Daryl’s boot.
“Mhm.” Was the only answer he offered, one that was mimicked from the little person below him. He didn’t smile but Carol didn’t miss the way his eyes left the weapon to regard Nadia for a moment before returning to the task.
“Where’s Y/N?” She asked, plopping down onto the other chair. She grabbed a toy that had rolled away and handed it back to the child.
“Some inventory shit at the infirmary.” Daryl shrugged, rotating the bow to check his work. Carol made a noise that gave him pause, one he didn’t like. “What?”
“No one’s at the infirmary. I was just there for Mr. Henderson’s blood pressure medication.”
He could feel his heartrate picking up, a sense of foreboding so strong that he could barely think straight. “Pete weren’t there?”
Carol shook her head. “No one.” She sat up straight when Daryl stood, sheathing his knife and placing his crossbow on the railing. “Daryl?”
“Dia, I’m gonna be right back. You’re gonna stay with Carol for a few minutes. Tell me the rules.”
Nadia’s wide eyes narrowed into seriousness. “No bow. No move. Be good. No shit.” It took her a moment to babble through the small list but Daryl ruffled her hair with the smallest of half smiles.
“No shit, Daryl?”
He was already stepping off the porch. “Her mama hears ‘er sayin’ that an’ m’a dead man.”
Carol laughed and shook her head, turning her attention to the little human that was already working up to a cry as Daryl walked out of sight. “Do you like cookies, Nadia?”
He checked the infirmary first. He didn’t doubt Carol, but maybe she had missed a room or something. It was, as Carol had said, empty. “Fuck.” The next most logical place would be your home. He ran the entire way. He’d feel like an absolute fool if you were fine, but he’d cross that bridge later. The door was open, he could see that from the moment he rounded the curb. You had a habit of doing that and he hated it, but who was he to tell you what to do?
“Y/N?” He took your steps two at a time and stopped on the threshold. “Y/N? Are ya here?” No answer. He felt like shit the moment his boot touched the floor inside. He’d never taken you up on an invitation for the dinner you continuously offered him, much less any offer to simply come inside. Now here he was tearing room to room, in your safe space. There were covered pots on the stove and the oven was on, but where were you? “Y/N!” He placed a booted foot on the bottom stair before your voice stunned him frozen.
“Daryl?”
He nearly collapsed in relief.
“What’s wrong? Where’s Nadia? Daryl?”
“She’s fine. She’s with Carol.” He rasped, sheathing his knife when he saw you staring at it. Your hair was wet, your clothes damp. You must have been in the shower. “M’sorry. Carol said ya weren’t at the—just got worried. M’sorry.” His eyes had lowered to the stairs below you but then your bare feet were padding down them to stop directly in front of him. “I’ll, uh—lemme go get ‘er.” He had barely moved before your hand was on his shoulder. To his shock, he didn’t flinch; didn’t even have the urge.
“Are you okay?” You asked, ducking your head to seek out his gaze. He continued to expertly dodge.
“M’fine. Just—I’ll go get Dia.” He stepped away and out of the loose grip you had on him, immediately missing the warmth of your hand. What the hell was wrong with him?
“I was making us dinner.” The words rushed out of you, like you were trying to get them out before he could leave. Daryl looked over his shoulder from the doorway, an eyebrow arched. “Us. Me, Nadia, and—well, you.”
“Me? Why?” He hadn’t meant to sound so unkind, ungrateful, but that was just who he was down deep, wasn’t it? Still, you seemed unbothered, your nervousness born of something else entirely.
“Because Nadia likes you. I like you. We’d like to spend time with you that doesn’t involve me asking for favors or the entire community leering and making assumptions.”
He still hadn’t fully turned, but narrowed his eyes. “Think they ain’t gonna make assumptions when ya have me in your house?”
“Fair point.” You nodded, chuckling. “Honestly, I don’t give a fuck what they think but I worry that you do.” Head tilted, Daryl turned but remained in the doorway. “You seem so private, quiet. I don’t want to do anything that makes you uncomfortable.” Your bottom lip disappeared between your teeth for a moment. “So, will you come? Please?”
As much as he tried, he couldn’t sense a single ounce of dishonesty or ill intent in you. It was certainly there, wasn’t it? No one outside of the group that had grown to like him over months of death and sorrow wanted anything to do with him. So, why you? Why Nadia? “Alright, I’ll go get ‘er an’ be back.” He turned and took a step before you called out again.
“Don’t worry about changing or anything. Just bring you, okay?”
He nodded around the very foreign flutter in his chest, clearing his throat and leaving the house before he could overthink things right there in front of you. He’d be able to do that in abundance on the way to grab the kid.
To say he was confused was the largest of understatements. You were a beautiful woman. Where was Nadia’s father? In that world, the absence usually meant he was either dead or had willingly left, which he couldn’t fathom either. Was the kid the reason all the single men weren’t knocking down your door? That couldn’t be it. Nadia was amazing, all bright smiles and such an innocence that was refreshing in a world as dark it was.
Even if you did have suitors, why were you taking the time to get to know him? He was damn sure nothing special and had nothing to offer you. Daryl growled at himself. He was jumping the gun. You hadn’t expressed any real interest in him. You wanted to have dinner. Aaron and Eric had him over for dinner all the time. It was what friends did. He was your friend after all. He had to be for you to trust him with Nadia. He snorted. Maybe that was all the brat’s doing and you were just along for the ride.
His shoulders were slumped, feet dragging by the time he made it back to his house, already opening his arms in expectation of the bundle of Nadia that would be leaping into them any moment.
“Dorl!”
“She was about to strap on your crossbow and come find you herself.” Carol teased from the doorway.
“I was barely gone twenty minutes, kid.” He nodded to Carol and turned back to take Nadia home. “Your mama’s at home makin’ something for supper. Ya hungry?”
“Mmmmhmmmm!” Little legs were swinging while bright eyes watched the street in front of them, her arms loosely around his neck, trusting him to not let her fall. And he would never. Daryl craned his head to look at her, all dark hair and big blue eyes. She could pass as his own kid to anyone who didn’t know better.
Whoa. That train of that was roughly derailed.
Easily done when the top of her head leaned against his temple and she began to hum some tune he didn’t know. It calmed his anxiety enough to not eat him from the inside out before he made it back to your house. Nadia was wiggling to be lowered before he could even get her to the steps. Much to her annoyance (if her little growl and pout were anything to go by), he didn’t place her on her feet until they were on the porch.
The door was still open and, man, he really wanted you to stop doing that.
“Mama!” Nadia squealed, running right into your arms.
“Hi, baby! Did you have fun with Daryl today?” You hefted her onto your hip, your face turned toward hers even though your smile was aimed at the archer.
“We always have fun.” He was close enough to ruffle the kid’s hair without invading your space.
“No shit!” Nadia proclaimed with her arms in the air. You were smiling but your eyebrows shot up toward your hairline. Daryl cleared his throat.
“M’a tell Carol to watch ‘er mouth.”
“Carol. Right.” You chuckled. You started to reach for his arm but must have thought better of it and motioned toward the dining room instead. He found he was disappointed. “Go ahead and sit down wherever. There’s some wine and water already there.”
Daryl liked wine. He’d partake when at Aaron and Eric’s for dinner but here? He wasn’t sure that was such a good idea. The table could seat six but there were three places set, the middle chair holding a booster seat. He didn’t sit, wouldn’t until you did. Instead he noticed how close the glasses of wine were sitting to Nadia’s place and took the liberty of moving each of them to the other side. Not that the kid would bother them but it just felt—right?
“Alright, kiddo. You get to eat first.” You weren’t carrying Nadia anymore but she was right behind you, looking up at the bowl of pasta like a pup that was about to get its kibble. Daryl was already lifting the kid into her seat when you turned from placing the bowl on the table. “Thank you.” You did touch his arm then. “Go ahead and sit. I’ll be right back.”
Nadia had apparently chosen his spot for him, patting the back of the chair to her left. Chewing on the side of his thumb, he glanced toward the kitchen. Wasn’t he supposed to pull your chair out for you or something? Aaron had.
“No, no, Dorl.” Nadia pulled at his elbow, earning a halfhearted scowl before he realized she was trying to get him to stop the anxious habit.
“Sorry.” He mumbled, not sure why he was apologizing when she just went back to dancing and eating once he had dropped his hand. He watched her for a moment, just being a kid, innocent and oblivious to the dangers and heartache that lay in wait just outside of Alexandria’s protective walls. She and you—just two more people for him to mourn in the end. What was he doing there? He had no business being in your lives. If he didn’t lose the two of you, then you would lose him. It was inevitable. It was fate. It was the way the world worked now, tirelessly snuffing out any semblance of light that could give someone like him hope.
And goddamnit, he’d be devastated. He adored your kid and though he couldn’t quite decipher what it was that he felt for you, he knew that if anything happened to you, he’d shatter.
“Daryl?”
“What?” He snapped out of reflex, not fully out of his head before he had realized you were speaking. You flinched, the pasta in the two bowls you were holding bounced but didn’t spill. “M’sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it. Are you okay?” The bowls were placed on the table and a basket of fresh bread that he hadn’t noticed you had already brought out. How long had he been standing there?
“Yeah, uh—yeah, m’fine.” He shifted his weight from foot to foot, suddenly feeling very trapped in the small room. It wasn’t really that small, was it? “M’just—” He didn’t finish before he all but ran to the door, closing it behind him like he really wished you would start doing. He had a cigarette lit within seconds, trembling fingers bringing it to his lips for a long drag.
Pale light from inside cascaded around him as the door opened. You didn’t move any closer, obviously staying near Nadia while the little girl ate. “You okay?”
“Mhm.” Lie.
“Come back inside?” You requested after glancing toward Nadia, finding her eating her pasta elegantly with her fingers. Daryl said nothing, wasn’t even sure he could, but he flicked his cigarette toward the sidewalk and stood, walking past you with but a beat of hesitance.
Despite Nadia’s excitement at his return, he remained quiet, but offered the kid a ghost of a smile when she offered a bite of her own food. Disgruntled at his refusal, she wore her own version of a scowl and continued to eat. You had taken your seat, giving the bread basket a tiny shove toward the archer.
“Thanks.” He mumbled. He wasn’t sure how to act around you anymore. Staring at his food, he questioned whether the way he usually ate might disgust you. It was never something he actively thought about. He grew up in a home where he snatched what he could get and ate it quickly before someone could take it or reprimand him for it. It was nearly the same now that the world had ended. Thankful for any scrap of food, but quick to make sure it was gone before someone came ready to fight for it.
“If you think any louder, I might be able to hear it.”
Daryl glanced up, unable to meet your eyes. You were swirling the wine around in the glass with your gaze settled on him. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be. It’s just dinner, Daryl.”
With a barely there nod, he picked up his fork and began to eat, slowly and carefully, not noticing the way you watched him with a quizzical expression.
Nadia was having a hard time keeping her head up by the time dinner was finished, her little eyes closing before snapping open with a jerk of her head.
“Time for bed.” You announced, attempting to wipe her face around languid movements of annoyance. “Come on, baby.” Lifting her from the chair, you tilted your head when she leaned her upper body back toward Daryl, reaching out with lazy, grabby hands.
“Dorl night night.”
Halfway out of his seat, he froze. “Think ya should, uh—your mama should handle this’un, Dia.” She didn’t seem to have it in her to argue, flopping onto your shoulder. You managed to hold up a finger, asking him to wait while you put Nadia to bed. He did, but busied himself gathering the dishes, taking them to the sink, and rinsing them out as Carol had trained him to do. “Wow, my very own human dishwasher. Can I keep you?”
Daryl felt the heat rise in his face, traveling down to his chest and up to the tips of his ears. “Stop.” God, you were just as bad as Carol.
“Daryl.”
Oh, boy. Your tone had gone from playful to serious in two seconds flat. His stomach was in knots but he dared not turn around and rinsed the same bowl at least three times. “Hmm?”
“I’d like to see, uh—I’d like it if you'd come around more often. Tonight was—it was nice.”
And there it was. The one thing that had caused him so much inner turmoil now confirmed. You were interested and, for the life of him, he couldn’t understand why. When he finally managed to get his tongue to work, the words that spilled out were nothing like the ones running through his head and he regretted them immediately. “Where’s Dia’s daddy?” Christ, Dixon. “M’sorry.” He tried to backpedal, finally turning toward you and leaning back against the sink with a white-knuckled grip against the edge of the countertop. “Ain’t my business.”
“Gone. I don’t really give a fuck where.” You shrugged, so nonchalantly that he had to look at you. “He didn’t want her. Nearly got himself killed finding pills for me to take. I refused, he left. But I have her and I hope he’s a walker.” Your gaze was fond but serious, and he found not a single trace of annoyance or anger. “She’s never really liked men. Even Aaron and Eric had to coax her inside for dinner with a stale candybar.” You laughed at the memory, and Daryl realized he could listen to that sound for the rest of his life. “But then you. She wasn’t afraid, not for a single second.”
“It was the ‘possum.” He shrugged, shyly ducking his head for only a moment but looking back up through his fringe when you laughed again.
“Okay, we can go with that.” You lifted yourself up onto the island, kicking your legs, reminding him of Nadia. “Doesn’t really explain why she stuck to you like glue every moment since then, though. Dorl this and Dorl that. I’m not complaining. You’re good for her.” Daryl scoffed, ducking his head once more. “You are, Daryl. And I think she might be good for you too.”
“She’s a kid. Don’t know no better.” He shrugged, the urge to run becoming more and more prevalent. He didn’t belong there. It wasn’t his family. Nadia wasn’t his kid and you weren’t his. God, he wished you were.
You hummed, holding back something. “I had fun tonight, but when you come back, don't worry so much about what I think, okay?” The way he tried to eat more slowly?
“Yeah, okay. Was nice. Thanks, uh—thanks for havin’ me.” The archer made the choice to pass you and head for the door. Your bare feet hit the floor just behind him. “I’ll see ya ‘round. Lemme know if ya need someone to watch Dia.” Why the hell did he offer that?
“I will. Thank you.” The smile you gave him was almost sad. Maybe disappointed? “Goodnight, Daryl.”
“Yeah. Night.” He crossed the threshold but turned back, keeping his head low. “Keep your door shut.” There was no time for you to answer before he was jogging down your steps, barely slowing his stride all the way home. All the lights were off when he arrived and he couldn’t be more grateful to slip in and down to his room to berate himself properly until he was finally able to fall asleep.
Logically, he should have avoided you since that night, but Daryl never claimed to be the brightest crayon in the box. He absolutely did not look for reasons to go to your house, satisfied to find the door closed each and every time. If he saw you carrying something, he’d jog over to take it from you, no matter how big or small. He responded by meeting Nadia in the middle each time she called for him, even if he was covered in dark blood and brain matter.
“Dorl smell ick.” She would say.
He was down bad and though he would deny it until his last breath with the age old line of we’re just friends, Carol was smarter than that.
“Daryl, you and I are friends. You’re sweet on that girl and you can fight me if you try to claim any different.” She stirred at the brownie batter, intermittently swatting away his hand when he tried to sneak a taste. “You should just tell her how you feel.”
“Stop actin’ like ya know ev’rythin’.” He snapped with no real heat.
“Okay, fine. I know nothing.” She stated coolly, spreading the mixture into a baking pan. “Except that Spencer has been spending an awful lot of time around her and Nadia.”
Well, that had his attention. “What? When?” He hopped off the countertop and was quickly standing just beside Carol, moving accordingly so that she could continue her baking.
“Usually when you’re out. I think you intimidate him.”
“Damn well better intimidate him.”
“Why? You’re ‘just friends,’ remember?” Daryl curled his lip at her air quotes, turning on a heel to head toward the door.
“Shuddup.”
He hadn’t been focused, lingering on what Carol had told him that morning. Worrying that Spencer was putting the moves on you that very moment he wasn’t there to do anything about it. What if he’d missed his chance? He growled, trying to take more of his own weight off of Aaron but his leg burned and ached.
“Ain’t that bad.” He tried to brush it off, but it was, in fact, that bad. He hadn’t seen the damn trap, the walker backing him right onto it. He was lucky the dead bastard didn’t take a chunk of him when he went down, but Aaron was quick. Had Daryl been alone, he’d likely be snarling and growling on the ground with his calf still locked within that metal.
“Keep telling yourself that and maybe your stubbornness will keep you on your feet until we can make it back.” The other man huffed. “First Eric, now you. I swear, I’m cursed.” Daryl groaned but couldn’t disagree.
Christ. The archer’s head was fucked. He couldn’t focus with images of you running rampant at the forefront of his mind. The way you would smile when you saw him; how you’d laugh when he’d huff at Dia for calling him Dorl; you’d have him for dinner a few times a week and it was less and less awkward.
He was so fucked.
“Open the gate!” Aaron called urgently. Daryl hadn’t even been paying attention but maybe zoning out was what brought him that far with such an injury. The toe of his boot was dragging, his leg both numb and throbbing in a way he couldn’t seem to understand was even possible. Sasha was yelling, but he couldn’t understand what she was saying. He was too busy trying to look over his shoulder at the steady crimson trail that followed them. Would walkers follow it right to the gates? “Jesus, okay. I’m going to get help to carry you to the infirmary.”
“Fuck Pete. Gimme Y/N or just take me home.” Daryl slurred, his head falling back against the metal just inside the gates. He was fading, tired and smothered by a dark cloud that was creeping into the edges of his vision and mind. He knew he wouldn’t die from this, but damn, did it still suck.
“Dorl! Mama, Dorl boo-boo!”
Tiny, warm hands were on his face. He was cold, didn’t even realize it. Big blue eyes were hovering right in front of his face, a little mouth between chubby cheeks speaking with an urgency that made him want to scoop her up and soothe the worry. “Dia.” He breathed, his mind finally catching up, though he wasn’t sure for how long.
“Nada kiss boo-boo.”
Daryl chuckled breathlessly but pulled the little girl against his chest. “Nah, baby girl, don’t kiss that boo-boo. S’gross.” Big crocodile tears were forming and falling, and his heart ached. His little girl was never supposed to cry, never supposed to even be sad. “M’okay. Your mama’s gonna make it all better, you’ll see.”
“Mama, Dorl got big boo-boo.”
“I see that, baby. Can you move so mommy can take a look?” You were there, your voice a balm to the pain that was slowly fading.
“She’s alright.” Daryl shifted Nadia to his side, letting her hold on with her head on his filthy chest. You’d have to give her a bath later and somehow, he had the energy to feel bad about that.
“Jesus, Daryl, what did you do?” You were cutting the lower part of his pant leg, right there on the street, but he didn’t have it in him to see who might be watching. He muttered bear trap but didn’t really recall it being his voice. Was it even him?
The child holding to him made a noise when the wound was revealed, jagged punctures that still steadily bled and she shouldn’t be seeing that. Why wasn’t someone taking her away? “Ssh. S’okay, Dia. Just look at me—can ya hum that song ya always do when we take ya home?” A tiny sniffle but then a little tune in his ear.
“What happened? He okay?” Rick.
“Daryl!” Ah, Carol. Good.
“Hey, take her, would ya? Don’t need to be here.” He was gentle if not weak when he tried to hand off Nadia, kissing one of her little hands when he finally peeled them away from his neck. “M’a be okay, Dia.” She cried. Even as Carol promised her cookies and brownies, she cried and his heart ached more than his leg. He barely caught the word disinfect before the hellfire in his leg struck him like a hammer to the head and he knew no more.
“S’not that big’a deal. I can take care’a myself at home.” Daryl grimaced and watched you moving things around in your living room. You disappeared and returned several moments later with pillows and blankets.
“I know you can, but I also know you’re stubborn as a mule and you’ll try to go out of those gates behind Aaron within a day.” He barely opened his mouth before you held up an authoritative finger. “Don’t lie to me, Daryl Dixon. And don’t pretend I don’t know at least a little by now.”
“Dorl!”
Before he could process her voice, the archer had a lapful of toddler. It was hazy but he could remember how he felt at the gate, the protective instinct, the absolute knowledge that Nadia was his no matter how untrue it was. He couldn’t seem to shake it.
“Hey, Dia.”
“Be careful of his boo-boo, sweetie.” You admonished in the most gentle tone while propping Daryl’s leg up on a pillow. “He’s going to stay with us for a few days so I can keep an eye on him.”
“Why?” Came the innocent reply.
“Because Daryl is naughty and doesn’t like to listen when he’s told he can’t do something. Like you with Miss Carol’s cookies.”
Nadia gasped dramatically and turned those big blues to Daryl. “Dorl takes cookies.”
Glancing at you, expression bland, he nodded. “Yeah, I take the cookies.”
“So he has to stay right here on this couch unless mommy is helping him, okay? Can you be my junior nurse and make sure he stays put?”
“That ain’t fair.” Daryl objected with an indignant pout.
“Why? Because you know it’ll work?”
Daryl grunted and crossed his arms. He was in for a long few days.
A week later, the stitches were out but there was residual swelling that was hindering healing. Nothing to worry about, you had told him.
“Why ain’t Ken wearin’ no clothes?” Daryl was concerned to be ‘playing Barbies’ when Barbie wore a bathing suit and Ken was naked as the day he was—assembled? So far he’d been able to avoid dialogue and just bounce the doll around with facial expressions that kept the toddler occupied. “Seems a lil’ fucked up.”
“You try finding doll clothes nowadays.” There was laughter in your voice and tenderness in your touch while you cleaned the wound and changed the dressings. Only a couple more days of that.
“Maybe I will.” The archer mused, standing the doll on top of Nadia’s head, keeping it there with his finger on the top. Her little arms could only reach the legs, facing reddening and scrunching with giggles.
“Time to pick up your toys. Daryl needs to rest and you, missy, need to get to bed.”
“Noooooo.”
“Don’t sass your mama.” Daryl dropped the doll in favor of patting the kid on the head. “G’on now.” The archer dropped an arm outward, fully expecting the hug that was incoming. “Night, kid.”
“Nigh’ night’, dada.”
It was at that moment Daryl Dixon completely forgot how to breathe. His eyes were already on yours before the kid decided to drop that bomb and skip away to brush her teeth like she hadn’t just turned his world upside down.
“M’sorry. M’so sorry. I don’t—she didn’t—”
“I’m just—” you interrupted, backing toward the doorway, “I need to put her to bed.” You stumbled out of the room as if he were chasing you.
He wasn’t sure he could move if he tried. His heart was in his nose, his stomach in his ass, and his lungs were plaited around his spine. Why would the kid call him dada? It made no sense. A couple of months wasn’t long enough for anything like that. Right? Fuck, he needed to talk to Carol. His brain was malfunctioning. He couldn’t process this.
Throwing off the blankets, Daryl sat up, levering to his feet. He still had a limp but it was easier now. Shuffling to the exit, he stopped, staring at the handle of the closed door. You’d been doing that now, hadn’t you? He said something once and you had listened.
“So you’re just gonna run away after that, is that it?”
The archer spun so fast that he lost his balance, righting himself with a hand on the wall. “It ain’t—I was—just needed to talk to Carol.” He admitted. His shirt was damp and he was certain he would vomit.
“She didn’t mean anything by it, Daryl. I’ll talk to her.” You were wringing your hands, your chin wobbling.
Don’t cry. Please don’t cry. He had the sudden desire to hug you but didn’t dare move. Aside from casual touches, bumping shoulders in jest, and of course the occasional wound treatment, the two of you had never physically interacted. Not that he hadn’t thought about it. Wow, had he thought about it. “I know she didn’t mean nothin’.” Ouch. Somehow that revelation was worse.
“She loves you, Daryl. I’ll talk to her, I promise. Please don’t walk out on her. On—on me.”
He likely looked like an idiot hobbling half the distance to where you stood. “Ain’t goin’ nowhere.” When you nodded and dropped your head, he dared another unsteady step. “M’a stay as long as ya want me here. You an’ Dia.” With one hand, he touched your shoulder and left the decision up to you. You needed no further prompting to step into his arms. For a moment, nothing else mattered. But then you were stepping back.
“Okay.” You nodded, turning your head to wipe away a tear you thought he didn’t already notice. “I like having you here.” He returned the nod silently.
Nothing else was said. Daryl went back to the couch, you went to get ready for bed. The night went on with both you and Daryl feeling more alone than ever.
“She really called you dada?” Carol asked in an excited whisper, the wide grin on her face in direct contrast to Daryl’s frown. “That’s a good thing, right?”
“No!” He shot back immediately, looking over his shoulder at the little girl playing on the living room floor. They had somehow even managed to get her to sit next to Judith’s playpen, so long as Daryl didn’t touch Lil’ Asskicker, peace remained. “I mean, yeah. Fuck, I dunno what I mean, Carol.”
“Daryl.” The seriousness in her tone brought his gaze to hers, flinching when he found her leaning on her elbows much closer than she had been just a moment ago. “I’m gonna ask you a question and I want you to answer me honestly.”
“Ain’t never lied to ya.”
“Okay.” Her eyes, just as blue as his own, narrowed. “Do you love that little girl?”
“Yeah. Yeah, I do.” It was true. It was so different from how he loved Judith but yet completely the same. He would give anything for her to have been his, to have been there while you carried her. He wanted to spit on the man that tried to force you to end it. He couldn’t imagine a world without you and little Nadia anymore. It was as if the two of you were the missing pieces that could give him a chance to be whole.
“And Y/N?”
“What?”
“Do you love Y/N?” Carol leaned back a little, her gaze no less intense.
“S’a lil’ more—I, uh—”
“I said STOP!”
Daryl was on his feet instantly at the sound of your voice, running outside. His limp was less profound and didn’t hinder him from descending the steps to see you across the street with your arm in Spencer’s grasp. You were likely on your way to collect Nadia.
“Come on, Y/N. You’re beautiful, and I’ve seen the way you look at me.” Spencer pulled you toward him.
“You’re delusional!”
“Stop being such a prude. You’ve got a kid. You think you got any other options out there?”
“Yeah! She does!” Daryl’s fist had already connected before the other man had even realized he was approaching. The archer stepped in front of you and stayed there, coiled to attack but holding steady until he was given a reason.
“You?” Spencer spat, literally, a glob of blood and saliva landing next to Daryl’s boot. “The dirty redneck everyone’s afraid of? That’s laughable.”
Daryl started to move until he felt the smallest tug on his jeans. Nadia was looking up at him, equal parts curious and afraid.
“Dada mad?”
Your arms encircled his stomach with whispers of he’s not worth it repeated over his shoulder. “Get the fuck outta here an’ don’t come near my girls again.” The archer waited, arching a brow when Spencer hesitated.
“You heard him.” Rick stepped up to Daryl’s left, Michonne and Carol on this right. “Best be going now.” Spitting again, the man curled his lip and scrambled to his feet, stomping off toward his mother’s home. “Well, that’s gonna be a problem.”
“I’ll go talk to Deanna.” Maggie offered, nodding at Rick but stopping to squeeze Daryl’s arm on her way by. What the fuck? Had everyone noticed?
“We should make ourselves scarce.” Michonne suggested with a knowing grin.
Once they were all out of sight, Daryl deflated, one hand falling to the top of Nadia’s head. “Ain’t angry, Dia.” She sniffled and seemed to only hug his leg tighter. When it was clear he couldn’t turn with the added weight to his injured leg, you stepped around in front of him.
“Your girls?” You asked, expression so terrifyingly unreadable.
“I just—he needed to leave an’ I didn’t want him to think he could come back ‘round.” His bottom lip was instantly being gnawed between his teeth. “Needed to make sure ya were okay.”
“So, we’re not your girls?” There was definitely disappointment there. You were wringing your hands again before reaching toward Nadia.
“I mean, if ya—yeah.” Daryl swallowed hard. “Yeah, you’re my girls. Have been for a while. M’just a idiot an’ I was—I’m scared. Don’t wanna be like my old man.”
You hummed, stepping into him to brush back the fringe across his eyes. “You haven’t told me anything about your parents, but I’m willing to listen. I wanna know everything about you.”
“Me too—’bout you, I mean. ‘Bout Dia.” He was reaching for your face, leaning in just as you did. His lips barely brushed yours before there came another tug at his jeans again.
“Home, dada.”
You laughed while Daryl just looked stricken and confused. “You heard her, Daryl. Let’s go home and figure this out.”
One Year Later
“Daddy! Lookit picture!!”
Daryl looked up from the mess of rabbits he was skinning on the porch, blowing upward to move some of the hair from his eyes. The almost four year old was sprinting down the street from the Grimes’ house, a piece of paper waving in her grip above her head. He waved to Michonne who had been watching Nadia make it back safely. “Whatcha got there, Dia?” She was grinning from ear to ear when she presented it to him, holding it out in front of her because ew no when he reached for it with bloody fingers.
There were three stick figures. One was obviously him if the crazy hair and scribbled attempt at a crossbow were anything to go by. A small figure was at his side, dark hair and a big smile: Nadia. And then there was you. Daryl snorted. You were a stick figure with a circle drawn around the middle.
“Your mama’s gonna ‘preciate that, kid.”
“Appreciate what?” You stepped out with two glasses of water, placing them on the table and resting your hand on your swollen belly. Nadia proudly displayed the drawing and received a big smile and mhm, so pretty from you while Daryl snickered into his shoulder. “Go put it on the fridge, baby, and wash your hands. Supper’s nearly ready.”
“Okay, mama!” And off she went in a blur.
“Not funny, Dixon.” You dug your bare toes into his lower back until he yelped.
“S’a little funny.” He wiped his knife across his jeans.
“About as funny as you cleaning these rabbits on my front porch.” He ducked his head sheepishly when he turned to watch you lower into your chair.
“I’ll clean it up, Sunshine. Don’t get all uppity ‘bout it.” Rising from his perch, he gathered the meat onto a parchment you had given him and wrapped it, leaving the bones and fur to handle later. “Dia! C’mere!” Moving at inhuman speed, she was looking up at him from the doorway the next second. Daryl jerked his chin toward a bag on the table beside his water glass. “Broughtcha somethin’ back.”
You leaned forward with curiosity and watched your daughter pull out the contents of the bag, barely catching a glimpse of the different colors before Nadia hugged Daryl’s leg and disappeared back inside with squeals of delight echoing in her wake.
“What did you bring her?”
Daryl smirked. “Told ya I’d find clothes for them dolls.”
A/n: I'm in desperate need for some Scud Frohmeyer or Daryl requests. I have two requests that I'm working on right now but I have no idea where I want to go with them, so they're going to be on hold for now until I get the motivation to write them again. I'm so sorry, but I'm hoping that some new ideas might spark some motivation back into my mind, then I can go back to those stories and give it my all!
—
★ For Daryl Dixon, there were only three days in his entire life that meant the world to him—the day you became his, the day you told him that you were pregnant and the day your baby was born.
★ When he held his baby for the first time, he definitely teared up a little. The little being in his arms was so tiny but so perfect. He would die to protect his baby.
★ Daryl would have no problems with staying up late to take care of the baby while you slept. In fact, he would insist on it most of the time. He didn't want to be the type of guy who slept while the girl had to always take care of the baby. You and the baby were the most important people to Daryl, and if it meant offering up his sleep to ensure you both were okay and that you, the mother of his child was well rested, so be it.
★ Although Daryl took most of the night shifts with the baby, there were a lot of times when you'd refuse to go back to sleep and stubbornly stay up with him.
★ In those 3am times with the two of you taking care of your bundle of joy is when Daryl would wonder how he managed to get that lucky. Merle had told him once that people like him and Daryl weren't cut out to have families and that even if they did, it would bring them nothing but misery.
★ But there he was, holding both the love of his life and his baby, in his arms, and he was the happiest man in the world.
★ Daryl would be so affectionate with the baby that you wished that you had a video camera to record it.
★ He would tell the baby stories that he could vaguely remember Beth telling Judith back at the prison, and he would tell them in the softest voice ever. There was no doubt that he loved that baby with his whole heart.
★ He would definitely also be extremely affectionate with you. Cuddles, kisses, hugs, you name it. Mainly because he's happy with his little family, but also because he's relieved. He knew the risks of dying while giving birth were there, so to have you alive and well after the birth was a huge relief to him.
★ While the feelings of happiness and love overpower his other emotions most of the time, doubt and fear still creep up from time to time.
★ Daryl feared that something would happen to you and the baby. It was a dangerous world you lived in and anything could happen at any given moment. But Daryl swore to himself that he would die fighting to protect you and your little one.
★ Daryl also doubted sometimes if he was a good father. He never had a good example of one growing up and he feared that he would end up being like his father. But even as those thoughts plagued his mind, one look at his baby and he knew that he would never be able to be that cruel towards his little one. However, the fear still lingered, and it would probably be there forever.
★ You and the baby came first. Always. You thought Daryl was overprotective while you were pregnant? It would be nothing compared to when the baby is born. Everybody knew not to even look at you wrong or they would be good for the walkers.
★ His escapades beyond the walls would decrease significantly. He preferred to be by yours and the baby's sides as much as he could, and nobody would be able to tear him away.
★ Daryl has definitely snuck a picture of you holding the baby in your arms while the both of you were sleeping. He keeps it in his pocket at all times.
★ Daryl would definitely keep the baby in his arms at all times if you ever had to venture beyond the walls.
★ Yours and the baby's safety were his main priority, so he definitely wouldn't let you out of his sight until you're all back inside the walls again.
★ He loves you both with his whole heart, that much anyone could see.
Been thinking about Daryl who documented his life through the lens of a shitty stolen digital camera. In a typical loud, rowdy, argumentative household, Daryl learned to appreciate the quiet and peaceful moments in his life.
This will be a 3-5 part oneshot story that is in the works! Set in the beginning of season five and onward.
If you like this story please be sure to like, repost, or comment in order to tell me! I love to write these stories for you guys and it means a lot to me <3 Be sure to check out RED, my Daryl X OC story (On Wattpad and Tumblr)
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Y/N had thought she knew what fear felt like, but now she was second guessing herself. She had done a lot of scary shit as a kid that ended with her scared, but nothing like now. She had followed what she believed to be Daryl’s tracks all the way to Virginia.
Stupid Virginia.
She didn’t even know if it was Daryl who she was following. For all she knew she had been following strangers for a good while with the foolish hope of it being the one person she believed could outlive anything.
Now, all alone in a state she had never been in –and so close to D.C which undoubtedly held more walkers than Y/N thought was necessary, Y/N didn’t know what to do. She was hungry, and tired of running from the crazy men with W’s on their foreheads. On top of that, she was bleeding from a gunshot to her shoulder.
Nothing was going her way. Hell, she should have just stayed in the damn train car back at Terminus. Yes because that would be much better than whatever I’m doing now!
On the other side of D.C., so close to where Y/N was fighting for her life right now– clueless to the redneck doing the same thing– Daryl was trapped in a car with Aaron, wondering how they were going to get out of the mess they were in right now.
He pulled out a cigarette and lit it with his almost empty lighter.
He felt stupid for believing the couple of eighteen-wheelers they had found would have food in them. He should have known and now he was going to die because he didn’t continue searching for the man Aaron and him had seen.
The two sat in silence, Daryl with his cigarette between his fingers and Aaron biting his lip, a worried look on his face. Both men were too busy mulling over the next course of action to even acknowledge one another.
Daryl knew it would have to be him who went out and made a path for Aaron to get home; not only because he was more equipped to handle something like that, but because he had nothing to lose like Aaron did.
“There will be another way.” Aaron said, his eyes wide after hearing Daryl say he would fight off the herd that had formed around the vehicle.
Daryl shook his head and took one last drag of his cigarette. “Nah, there ain’t no time to wait around. These windows won’t last for long.” He frowned and tossed the butt of the cigarette into the backseat. His hand was on the door handle when Aaron grabbed his shoulder, not seeming to notice the way Daryl tensed up.
“We do it together. We go home together.” Aaron said.
Daryl chewed on his lip before nodding slowly. Unlike Rick, Daryl was beginning to trust Aaron. He was one of the good ones.
Before the two opened their doors, a stick rammed through a walker's head. Then another, and then another. Daryl jumped into action, opening his door and helping kill the rest of the herd, Aaron not far behind him.
It wasn’t long until the Alexandrian’s were faced with a stranger they hadn’t seen before. Daryl’s eyes narrowed as he watched the stranger pull his stick out of a fallen walker.
“Who the hell are you?” Despite saving them, Daryl wouldn’t put it past this man to be the same one who set up this trap.
However, despite his accusing tone, the stranger only smiled. “I’m Morgan.” There was a slight pause before Morgan spoke again, reaching into his pocket to pull out a map. “I’m looking for someone.”
Daryl took the map from him and frowned, the world suddenly feeling much smaller than it should be. His brother’s name was scribbled in Abraham’s handwriting, walker blood that wasn’t there before was splattered on the map, tainting it.
“What the hell do ya want?” Daryl spat out. He knew the name Morgan was familiar but he was so hung up on making sure his family would be safe before he said anything about them. He didn’t need this right now. He was tired and wanted to go home or do something to keep himself moving.
Morgan’s smile grew bigger. “You do know him.”
Daryl suppressed a flinch. It wasn’t common for someone to be able to read him so easily. In fact, the only person who could wasn’t here. And she never would be ever again.
Daryl shook that thought away and tried to get a read on the man in front of him. Right now he was wondering if the unnerved smile on Morgan’s face was a sign of craziness or pure stupidity.
Maybe both.
In the end, Aaron and Daryl agreed to take Morgan back to Alexandria. There was no sign of the man they were originally out to find, but Daryl had already made plans to go back out in a couple of days and look for him again. Deep down he knew it wasn’t just to help people, but to leave those suffocating walls behind him and relish in the safety of the woods.
“Was it just you out there?” Aaron asked after a few minutes of the three treading through the woods in the pitch black.
“For the most part.” Morgan said. He hesitated before continuing. “I was with someone else, back when I was in Georgia… we were helping each other, but then she decided she was better on her own.” A small, sad, chuckle left his mouth. “I don’t know where she is now.”
It was quiet until Aaron decided to continue the conversation. “What was her name?”
Morgan didn’t answer right away, almost like he was mulling over whether he should even be talking about the girl at all. Daryl couldn’t see why he would hesitate, it wasn’t like she was here to do anything about it.
“Her name was Y/N,” Daryl stopped. Every muscle in his body tensed up as he tried to figure out if he imagined hearing his girl’s name or if Morgan had truly said it. There had to have been hundreds of women out there with the name Y/N. Morgan continued, coming to a stop a few feet behind Daryl. “I didn’t know much-”
“The hell did ya just say?!” Daryl’s mind was running a million miles an hour. Who knows how long Morgan had been tracking Rick and the group, it could’ve been along the same timeline as when the prison was destroyed– when Daryl lost the one person he vowed to never leave behind.
The silence after Daryl’s question ticked him off enough for him to toss his crossbow on the ground and turn to Morgan. He moved so quickly the man didn’t seem to know what was happening.
“The hell did ya say?!” Daryl yelled in his voice. Aaron said his name, trying to get the redneck to back off, but nothing seemed to reach Daryl’s ears. He needed to know if he had heard Mogan right; he needed to know if Y/N was alive.
Daryl watched as Morgan tried to find a way out of his grip. An impatient growl left Daryl’s lips and he shoved Morgan's back further into the tree.
“Y/N.” Morgan spat out. If anyone could see the near heart attack Daryl had, they didn’t say anything. “Her name was Y/N. She said she was looking for someone, that’s all I knew of her… why? Did you know her?”
Daryl let go of Morgan as if he was burned. She was alive. She was alive and he had stopped looking for her. She had never given up, but he had. Suddenly the necklace tucked under his shirt became heavy and known. I left her.
He had broken the one promise he had even had the intention of keeping. A feeling of self-loathing so strong Daryl thought he would fall over took over his senses. He had left her. She could be anywhere, with anyone. She was alive, Daryl realized now, she was alive and she had been since he lost her. No one could kill Y/N but Y/N and he had doubted that, had assumed she had died months ago.
A strangled noise left Daryl as he turned around and stomped back toward where he left his bike. He was going to take Morgan and Aaron back to Alexandria, then he was going to fix the promise he broke. Still, in the back of his mind, Daryl feared he was too late.
<><><><><><>
Y/N wasn’t sure when she had lost consciousness or how long she had been knocked out on the harsh ground of the woods. Old habits seemed to die hard, and Y/N’s body abruptly awoke at the sound of a walker growl. She was sluggish as she stood, feeling blood ooze out of her shoulder and she pulled a knife slower than she would have liked. With a flick of her wrist, Y/N’s knife hit her target, albeit a little off center.
She felt dizzy as she walked over to the walker and pulled her knife out of its head. Then, with as much strength as she could muster, Y/N searched for a place to rest up before she passed out again.
Her mind was slow and it took all she had in her to not grow hopeless. But this time she didn’t need to stop herself about questioning where Daryl was, instead, she had to stop herself from wondering if she could go on any longer. Being alone was taking a toll on her; with the people she had met from Georgia to Virginia, Y/N wasn’t sure if she would last any longer.
Despite knowing all she needed rest, Y/N let the hopelessness consume her until she was inside a house and knocked out on the floor inside the house.
AN: Just an Fyi, this is a TWD fanfiction, meaning there are a lot of TWs, including loads of violence (of all kinds)
No smut!
Please make sure to reblog, like, or whatever you wanna do! That helps me want to continue writing these kinds of stories and to figure out what people want
SUMMARY
I ran through the woods, Matthew right behind me.
My breaths came in harsh and my legs were screaming in protest. Just a bit farther. I promised myself.
Matthew stumbled out of the underbrush and doubled over, his cheeks red and mouth open as he huffed for a breath. I moved his arm around my shoulder and kept going.
I flinched as a bullet ricocheted off a tree to my left. It was too close. They were too close.
But this was only the start
Taglist is no more for this story you guys. I might bring it back but as of right now it won't be up. For oneshots the taglist will remain. This book is also on wattpad!
Chapter 19
Rossary
*Three Months Later*
My body ached as I kicked the soccer ball into the makeshift goalie. I couldn’t remember the last time I had slept through the whole night, and going out all the time in search of people to live at the prison was finally taking a toll on my body. There was no way being in my thirties made me old but I was beginning to feel like I had the bones of a ninety year old.
Then again, when you don’t take care of yourself and spend multiple nights sitting on a cement floor without any sort of comfort, it can take a toll on your body. And of course winter was finally here and the cold never did not help my body fight off any issues.
“Hell no! That’s not fair!” I yelled as Rick came over and scored a point for Matthew and Carl. The two boys snickered, Matthew mimicking my voice. I scowled and picked up the ball and threw it at my brother.
Matthew’s face fell and he grabbed the ball, ready to throw it at me before getting called over by one of the people from Woodbury. A sardonic smirk spread on my face as Matthew walked over to a girl, his cheeks pinked from the cold. My smile grew as he threw an arm over the girl’s shoulder. From here I could see Matthew’s mouth move quickly as he spoke to the girl, a smile spreading on his face as he undoubtedly made a fool of himself.
Carl shook his head, looking like he wanted to stick around but knowing his dad had other plans for them.
“Hey,” Rick called for his son. “Come on, we got pigs to catch.”
I snickered as the young boy, who had grown up so much these past few months, scowled.
“You wanna come with us?” Carl asked hopefully.
I shook my head. “Nah I’m gonna stay here to see what else will happen today.” Carl’s frown only deepened. I pat his head, giving him an apologetic smile before grabbing my weapons and getting ready to help around the prison.
The sound of a motorcycle stopped Carl from trying to convince me to go with them once more. Daryl slowed down until he was in front of us. It seemed it was just him going out today, meaning he was continuing his search for the Governor.
“I’ma head out, be back in a couple days.” Daryl said. He wasn’t looking for anyone to stop him this time. Hell we were lucky he stopped for a conversation. It had been three months with no sign of the Governor but Daryl didn’t want to quit looking. It was his way of dealing with the death of Merle and the newcomers added to the prison.
Neither Daryl or I were very fond of people and more often than not the two of us were outside the fence. Typically we were together, but recently we had been spending more time apart from one another, one of us was always doing something and too busy to go out with the other. I frowned. It had been two months since Daryl and I had been able to do something with one another without something impeding on our time together.
Rick nodded. “Be careful.”
The two men shared a meaningful look before Daryl looked away. Rick and Carl waved at Daryl and I before heading to go out into the woods in search of the pigs they spotted a day ago.
“Are you looking for him?” Daryl nodded, keeping his blue eyes on my face. I bit my lip. “How long are you gonna be gone this time?” I asked the redneck. There was an emotion in my voice that I couldn’t understand. I realized, standing here in front of Daryl, how much I missed being near him. Although, it was a nice change of pace going around the prison without someone mentioning something about the two of us. The thought of someone speaking about me sent a shiver down my spine.
It got to the point where it felt like we couldn’t be seen together. Then again, it may have just been me who felt like that, especially considering I had grown up in the spotlight and ran away from it. Now it felt like I was back in it, but this time with nowhere to go. Daryl frowned, his eyes questioning where my mind went.
I shook my thoughts away as Daryl shrugged. He looked up, squinting as he tried to block the sun out of his eyes. “A week maybe. Dunno yet.” I nodded. “Ya wanna come with?”
I bit my lip to hide the small smile threatening to show itself. “Sure I wouldn’t be interrupting your alone time?” I joked
A scowl was etched on Daryl’s face. “Ya already do.”
I hit his arm. “You and I both know you’re the one who won’t leave me alone Daryl Dixon.” His cheeks grew a deep red and he shook his head.
He looked forward. “You comin’ or not?”
I smirked and got on his bike, and wrapped my hands around his torso. If only to tease him, I pushed myself closer to Daryl, my mouth next to his ear. “We both know you’re obsessed with me, hell you even love me-”
The sound of the motorcycle cut me off and without another word Daryl took off. I was smiling so hard it hurt, a laugh leaving my throat as Daryl tried to hide his bright cheeks.
He sped through the gate before it could close, causing Rick and Carl to look over, the former with widened eyes as Daryl narrowly missed them.
The prison group was growing, and while that was good, it also meant there were less and less places to hide away from people. So, when I was able to get away I made sure to cherish every second of it.
When Daryl finally slowed down we were at the outskirts of a small town made up of small buildings scattered around. I looked around, taking note of my surroundings before hopping off the bike.
I squinted at the sky.
“Might rain,” Daryl muttered as he handed me an empty bag. I swung it over my shoulders. “Come on, We’ll check around town and grab stuff for the prison while we’re out.”
I followed behind Daryl and played with a knife in my hands. The town was barren. With the exception of a walker or two, there wasn’t hardly anything here. I frowned at the words painted on certain store.
Clear
Not here
No one gets to live
An uneasy feeling seemed to take control of my senses. I made note of every hiding spot, the easiest exit and where walkers would come from first. Daryl stopped in front of an old restaurant, a dark look in his eyes. I followed his gaze and noticed the writings on the restaurant walls. Walkers wandered about inside.
“Come on,” Daryl muttered. We walked some more until we were in front of a boutique.
Nothing was said as Daryl opened the door to the boutique and walked in. I followed after him before venturing over to the farthest side of the store while Daryl checked the front.
My hand touched the racks full of clothes as I walked toward the backrooms. I used to love going shopping before the world ended. The times when I could be in my own head for hours, looking at clothes with no thought in the world. Now the idea of wanting to be oblivious of all that was around me didn’t feel right..
I made quick work of grabbing anything useful for the prison, making sure to check every corner for anything that could be deemed remotely useful. When I finally decided there was nothing else that could be taken, I walked to the front to find Daryl. He didn’t look up as I rested against the checkout station.
My eyes watched as Daryl stuffed a few items into his bag, his hand hesitating over a small keychain before finally deciding he would take it.
“Anywhere else to check in here?” I asked as Daryl stood to his full height.
He grunted and gestured for me to follow him out the door. A few walkers had gathered in the center of the town square. I gripped my knives and followed Daryl.
Lightning lit the now dark sky, thunder following right after. I grit my teeth together and quickly made note of any place that would be safe to take cover.
“Alright c’mon we got time to look a bit more.” Daryl said. He was looking at the blackened sky, calculating when exactly it was going to rain.
Our steps were silent as we rounded the corner and went deeper into the town. My eyes watched every nook and cranny near us. The writing on the walls of the buildings grew sparse as we rounded a corner.
Daryl was a foot in front of me when he stopped, his back going rigid before he turned around and gripped my shoulders.
“Go!” He yelled. I didn’t hesitate and found my footing before breaking off into a sprint. From the corner of my eye I saw the herd we had just about walked into. My mind ran haywire and I quickly connected the dots. The walkers in the restaurant, the writings on the walls before they finally decreased. It was a trap that neither of us had noticed.
I planned to run back to the town square but that plan ended as soon as I came face to face with a walker. It was so close to my face I could see every wrinkle in its decaying skin.
“No-” Daryl’s voice was strangled as the walker growled. I fell back, tripping over my own two feet and landing on my ass. I couldn’t roll with the fall and ended up closer than the herd than I would’ve liked. Daryl was in front of me a shocked look on his face. I darted away from the herd, my feet barely underneath me as I tried to keep myself from falling face first into cement.
Something grabbed onto my arm, its grip hard and firm as it pulled me upright. I hadn’t noticed I was holding my breath until I realized the person grabbing me was living and not what would be my death. Daryl’s eyes looked as if he had seen me die. And more than likely he though he did; I could only imagine what he must’ve seen from where he was standing.
Daryl, as often as he could be right, was wrong. It was just our luck to find the infested part of the town right before it began raining. At first, it was just a drop or two but it quickly drenched our clothes, leaving us sprinting down the streets toward the crappy apartment complex. I squinted in order to try and keep water from obstructing my view.
Daryl pointed at a sign showing how to get to an apartment complex. “We’ll hole up there.” He yelled over the sound of walkers and thunder.
My knife slashed the head of a walker as we ran as fast as we could. Daryl shot one up ahead of us and I pulled his arrow out, sticking it in the back of my bag as we continued to run. Very quickly Daryl and I ran up the covered stairs leading up to the second floor of the apartments. He didn’t stop until we were on the third floor.
Daryl looked down the railing and huffed, the herd was further behind us but it was a matter of time before they made it to the apartments. He kicked down one of the apartment doors and we went inside.
I had barely closed the door behind us when Daryl grabbed onto my biceps.
“Did he get ya?!” Fear threatened to creep into Daryl’s voice as his eyes wandered over my body, seeming to take note of any possible harm. I didn’t think me meeting death face to face would’ve affected him this much.
“No, I’m okay.” I said, my voice raw with emotion. My body throbbed from the fall I took and I knew I’d be sore. Daryl stepped back as I took my leather jacket off but his eyes never left my body. A shiver went down my spine as he looked at my bare skin, searching for what wasn’t there.
“you okay?” his voice was quieter now. I threw the jacket next to Daryl’s angel wing one before nodding. Daryl swallowed before walking toward the apartment’s kitchen. I bit my lip, wondering if he was still worried about me or if something else had suddenly hit him.
While Daryl was busy in the kitchen I walked toward the bedroom. My skin prickled as I really thought about how close I was to that damn walker. I was beginning to wonder if I had a death wish.
My lip curled as I saw a dead dog at the end of the bed. It seemed the owners left it to fend for itself. What a sad death.
I pulled a sheet off the bed and covered the animal.
“What are ya doin’?” I looked over to find Daryl leaning against the door frame. He was munching on a chip, his hand still in the red bag as he awaited for an answer. I pretended not to notice how his eyes looked over my body once more.
I shook my head. “He was just left here.” Daryl nodded along, a far away look in his eyes. For the tough guy act Daryl had around others, I knew seeing an animal suffer hurt him, maybe more than it hurt me. Daryl loved animals.
He sat his chip bag down and came over to me, pulling another cover off the bed and draping it over the dog.
“There.” Daryl wiped his hands on his pants before sticking his hand out. I took it and let him help me over the clump of blankets that once separated us. My cheeks heated as we were pressed up against one another and I pulled away quickly.
I furrowed my brows and followed Daryl as he walked into the kitchen and picked up a six pack of beer back with him.
“Said we should drink after the Governor was taken care of,” Daryl said softly. “Here’s our drinks.”
I smiled, remembering my words that seemed like forever ago. I took a beer from him and sat down on the couch in the living room. “We’re going to need a lot more than this mud water.” I said, a joking smile on my face as I opened the beer and took a drink.
Daryl snorted. “Ain’t no rose wine around, princess.”
I kicked the redneck’s foot with my own, a scowl on my face. It was no secret that he knew I grew up rich, in fact over the past few months he had made it rather clear that he knew.
I shook my head. “Shut up.”
He shook his head, his hair now hiding his face as he snorted. “That all ya got.”
I bit my lip. Yes, it was, in fact, all I could come up with. A few beers wouldn’t nearly be enough to get drunk, but I hoped we would at least get a little bit tipsy before we had to go back to the prison.
I was on my second beer when I decided to ask Daryl a question. “Hey next time you go out, maybe you can keep an eye out for a physical therapist? Or a doctor?”
Daryl, although he could hold his own in alcohol, seemed to be slightly more drunk than I was. He smiled down at me, his cheeks rosy. I was beginning to wonder if the beer we were drinking was more than just beer from the store. He spoke, “What? The fall was that bad?”
I shrugged. “Well apparently I have the body of a seventy year old now. My back is aching and the damn beds at the prison won’t help. Hell I might as well be sleeping on rocks.”
The redneck shook his head. “Didn’t know you were so old.”
“No more older than you.” My voice was louder than I intended it to be and Daryl shook his head, an amusing look in his eyes.
He shrugged. “Why do ya gotta act like it then?”
I scowled. I was younger than him, but only by a year or so. My scowl deepened. “That doesn’t mean I’m old. I’m just matured.”
“Physically.” Daryl muttered. The smile on his face could be heard in his voice. I liked it.
“Are you calling me fat?” I hid my smile, keeping up the act.
Daryl nodded. “Nah. I ain’t cruel. I would go with plump.”
“So like you, huh?” I looked over at him, now realizing how much closer we were than before. Now we were face to face, looking at one another as we both came up with our next comeback.
It was quiet for a moment, our breaths mingled together as we figured out what to do next. My stomach flipped and I felt sick. I couldn’t explain the feelings I felt; I don’t think I had never felt this way before.
Daryl didn’t move, his eyes searching my face. I could see the cloudiness in his eyes. Daryl seemed to snap out in time and leaned forward. My breath caught and I held impossibly still.
I couldn’t remember the last time I had been kissed. William was the last person I had a relationship with, and while he wasn’t the most crappy guy I had ever been with, he did leave me with a lot of worry. But something about this felt different, or I was drunk and needed to get out.
Daryl smirked. “What was it about me likin’ ya?” his breath tickled my neck as he whispered into my ear.
My cheeks burned as I pulled back, seeing the triumphant smile on Daryl’s face. I was an absolute idiot.
Part three of I'll find you is coming along pretty slow but I promise it will come out at some point guys! One more part (Maybe two?) until the ending!
This will be a 3-5 part oneshot story that is in the works! Set in the beginning of season five and onward.
If you like this story please be sure to like, repost, or comment in order to tell me! I love to write these stories for you guys and it means a lot to me <3 Be sure to check out RED, my Daryl X OC story
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Those three words chanted through Y/N’s head as she stomped through the woods, her brows furrowed as she traced the faint tracks of a large group. She wasn’t entirely sure if it was her family, but willing to take the chance. Mogan was behind her, making enough noise to scare off any game within a mile radius.
She rolled her eyes, wishing she had never agreed to look with Morgan. Y/N knew she was better off looking for Daryl on her own instead of wasting her time helping this man who promised to help her in turn. Still, Y/N wasn’t dense.
She kept her eyes open, especially watching the man holding a stick he seemed to idolize. Y/N stared at Morgan from her peripheral vision, her jaw clenched. He was humming a tune as he followed Y/N’s lead, knowing she was more skilled in tracking than he was.
Mogan didn’t know what to think of Y/N. He didn’t know much about her, and when he tried to learn of who she was looking for, or hell, something more simple like her favorite color, she shut him off with a cold stare. Morgan wasn’t intimidated by much, but he knew not to mess with someone who had lost someone– especially when that wound seemed to be so fresh for Y/N.
“We should head for the roads. We’ll cover more ground with a car.” Morgan spoke. Y/N circled a clearing, her brows furrowed in concentration.
She shook her head. “There’s no use, whoever you’re looking for came through here.”
Morgan sighed. “We need to eat, and we need rest. We won’t get that in the woods.”
Y/N stood completely still for a moment. Her gaze never left Morgan’s as she listened for whatever was around her. Ever since being in Terminus Y/N had felt like she was being hunted, like she was the prey. Goosebumps rose on her arms and legs, and she had to suppress a shiver. Y/N had never been the prey before, she had always been the one to pursue a hunt. But now it felt as though she was defenseless anywhere she went.
She wasn’t able to save Hershel from the Governor, and before that she hadn’t been able to save Maggie from the Governor’s disgusting hands either. She had lost all of her family in one day with no one around to comfort her.
I’ll find you. I’ll find you. I swear I’m not giving up. I won’t ever give up.
The feeling slowly disappeared, leaving Y/N feeling cold inside. It was never a feeling she was fond of but it made surviving so much easier.
Y/N barely made out a squirrel climbing a tree to the left of her. She clenched her jaw.
Before Morgan could even comprehend what was happening, Y/N had pulled out her knife and thrown it at the squirrel crawling on a tree not too far away from her. Morgan was frozen in shock, his mouth trying to form words as the knife cut through the air and made its home in the squirrel’s head.
Y/N stomped over to the animal and pulled it off her knife. She scowled as she walked toward Morgan and shoved the dead animal in his hands.
“Are you still hungry now?” She growled into his face.
Morgan didn’t say anything as he clenched his stick.
Y/N looked down at his hand and scoffed. Try as she might, Y/N couldn’t see Morgan’s true intentions. She knew he meant no harm in suggesting they go toward the road– why would he? They were searching for his friend in the first place. But, she was too caught up in her feelings to realize.
Shaking her head, Y/N walked back toward the train tracks, back to where she had started. She would follow her original plan: go back to the prison and head the direction she had last seen Daryl. Or she would find something that screamed Rude Redneck in the woods. Either way, Y/N knew what she was doing when looking for the man she loved. They took precautions, making sure even if they ever got split up they would be able to find one another.
Was he even looking?
The question hit her into the gut. She didn’t know the answer; sure, Daryl wouldn’t give up hope no matter how slim that was, but Y/N knew him far better than he knew himself. And, seeing the Governor again, seeing what he had done to Hershel, the guilt Y/N felt wasn’t even half of what she knew Daryl would feel.
“I’m looking, I swear I’m looking.” Y/N said in a harsh whisper. Tears burned her eyes as she neared a fancy neighborhood. In the road was a large tub of pudding. She kicked it as she walked down the road before stopping at one house.
Ten miles away from Morgan and Y/N, Daryl walked side by side by the boy who was still thinking about his large tub of pudding.
Neither of them spoke, both too focused on following some priest back to a church to have a conversation. Still, both of them knew they were thinking of the same girl.
In Daryl’s hand he twirled the necklace he had given Y/N a long time ago. She was gone. Daryl didn’t let himself think any further than those three words. Not about promising to find her if anything ever happened, or how close they were to making their relationship go deeper than it already was, or even how he had lost the ring that matched the green stone of Y/N’s necklace. No, he couldn’t let himself realize what was the truth.
She’s gone. She’s gone. They killed her. I never should have given up. Why did it have to be her?
It was very rare for Daryl to wish he had someone to talk to about his thoughts,but right now he wanted someone to hear him speak, to tell him what to do and how to do it.
Y/N, having left Morgan in the dust, would never realize how close she was to Daryl right now. She stood next to a run down SUV, staring at a makeshift campsite and the bodies of men that littered the ground around it.
They were all in biker gear. One even had his neck bit out. Y/N’s head tilted as she looked at the group, coming to the conclusion that the scuffle that had happened was by their own doing. What stopped her from going any further though, from following the scuffed footprints into the woods and back towards Terminus, was the green arrow fletching she had become accustomed to associating with Daryl.
Green was the color she knew he loved. From the green necklace he had gifted her, to the green ring he tried his damndest to hide from her.
A smile graced Y/N’s face. The damn redneck didn’t seem to realize that hiding a ring in his jeans pocket was a stupid idea. Especially considering Y/N typically did their laundry.
Still, she had left it slide that she found the ring and waited for the day he would propose to her. After a month of waiting though, Y/N had begun to wonder if he had misplaced the damn ring again and if she should confront him or propose herself.
She shook her head and took the green fletching and stuck it into her pocket. Hope filled her whole being as she realized just how close she had been to him this whole time. There was still a chance at catching up to him. Then she could confront him about not proposing.
AN: Just an Fyi, this is a TWD fanfiction, meaning there are a lot of TWs, including loads of violence (of all kinds)
No smut!
Please make sure to reblog, like, or whatever you wanna do! That helps me want to continue writing these kinds of stories and to figure out what people want
SUMMARY
I ran through the woods, Matthew right behind me.
My breaths came in harsh and my legs were screaming in protest. Just a bit farther. I promised myself.
Matthew stumbled out of the underbrush and doubled over, his cheeks red and mouth open as he huffed for a breath. I moved his arm around my shoulder and kept going.
I flinched as a bullet ricocheted off a tree to my left. It was too close. They were too close.
But this was only the start
Taglist
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Matthew bumped my shoulder, wincing as he tried to smile at me. I frowned as I looked at the damage Merle had left. Despite Matthew’s constant reassurance that he was okay, Merle had definitely done a number on him.
It was a shock to see Matthew so beat up. The only other time I could remember Matthew even having a black eye was when we were still with William, hell even when on the run from that asshole Matthew was never someone I worried about. Now, as he lugged the group’s stuff to a car, I worried his concussion would cause him to keel over on the floor.
I walked over to the tucson and placed our packs in the back. I hugged my best friend. “If anything happens-”
“I should be saying this to you, bunny.” Matthew said. I scowled.
Daryl, Maggie, Glenn, Rick, Michonne, and I were staying behind to defend the prison against The Governor. There was no way of knowing how today was going to go, but I knew no matter what happened I would be okay. Still, even though Matthew could protect himself, it felt like it was my job to make sure he was okay.
I swallowed down my worry and offered Matthew a small smile.
Carl walked past us, ignoring everyone with an angry look on his face.
I frowned. “We’ll be okay.”
“Always are.” he tsked. Matthew pat my shoulder and walked away.
“Hey,” I turned around to find Rick. He stopped when he was in front of me. “I know what I did was wrong, and you can hate me-”
“I don’t…I get it, really. I am glad Michonne is okay though, what you were going to do…” I trailed off, not wanting to finish my sentence. Rick shifted on his feet, looking more guilty by the second. “People fuck up, some just fuck up a whole lot.”
He looked away and smirked. “Are we good?”
I nodded, “Yeah, we’re good.” I pat his shoulder as I walk off.
Daryl sat in front of his bike, tweaking a few things. I waved at him, giving him a tight-lipped smile. We didn’t have a lot of time to talk this morning before we were put to work by the group. I couldn’t get the night before out of my head, from the hug to eating next to Daryl late at night- We had done those things before, but this felt more intimate than ever before. I shook off the thought. I needed to stop thinking about it.
Daryl nodded, understanding I was trying to comfort him. I pulled him up off the ground, keeping his hand in mine.
“We should start drinking after all this.” I said, nodding my head.
Daryl snorted. “We’re gonna need a lot more than alcohol.”
…
I held the AK in my hand and stayed next to Maggie. She gripped my hand tightly. I smiled, squeezing her hand before letting go and getting in position. It felt nice to be fighting a large group again; I couldn’t explain the rush of adrenaline that bought me enjoying a fight every once in a while.
One of the Governor’s trucks drove into the spikes, the tires popping. The sound of gunshots made my ears ring as I watched the large group of men and women shoot up the prison.
They rammed through the gate, breaking one of our defenses. There were about twenty of them and each had a gun and enough ammo to wipe us out tenfold.
The group scattered across the courtyard. I watched as they took in the barren area. It looked like a ghost-town, like no one had been here in a long time. I chewed on my lip and kept an eye on Maggie and Glenn.
The cell block door opened with a loud creak. I tensed. Rick, Daryl, and Michonne were hiding in the prison.
I nodded once when I knew they were both okay. Maggie squeezed my hand once more before I moved away, quietly walking through a part of the prison and toward my spot. Glenn was across from Maggie, me across from them so we covered every area. My spot was more open, with less cover, but it would do.
I smiled, a bittersweet feeling falling over me as I thought about all the blind spots in the prison.
If all went south, I was meant to stay alive long enough to provide cover fire for the rest of the group. I was the best choice considering the amount of experience I had with fighting alone, besides if anything happened, I could leave the prison and lead the Governor away then meet up with everyone else.
An alarm started going off, the loud blaring deafening me. I kept my eyes focused on the cell block door and adjusted my grip on my gun.
The Governor’s group ran out and hid behind filing cabinets for cover.
I shot a few times at their feet, herding them toward Glenn and Maggie. The two shot at them as well, managing to keep the group going toward the gate. I smiled as I watched the group scurry away like rats.
I shot at one of the men who was aiming for my people and watched as he fell to the ground, his fellow comrades helping him up.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my erratic heartbeat.
The truck started and I looked up just in time to see them driving away. I sat up higher, a smile appearing on my face. Even though it was over, it didn’t feel like it should be this easy.
“We did it?” I heard Maggie scream.
“We did it.” Glenn responded. “Come on down.”
I didn’t move from my spot as I looked at our group as they all began to make their way into the courtyard, smirking. Maggie stepped in front of me and put her hand out. “We’re alive.” she laughed, a joyous smile on her face which I returned.. She pulled me into a tight hug.
“We did it. We drove them out.” Rick said once we joined them.
I bumped Daryl’s elbow with my own. The gruff redneck smiled down at me, a soft look in his eyes that was quickly shielded away.
“We should go after them.” Michonne said. Daryl agreed.
“It’s finished. Didn’t you see them hightail it out of here?” Maggie argued.
They continued to argue about what to do, everyone looking at Rick to decide. The cop looked over the field that was now filled with dead bodies. He was still greiving over Lori and it seemed like he wasn’t in the right mindset to make decisions right now.
I shook my head and took charge. “No, they’re right. We can’t live like this.”
Maggie turned to me. “So we take the fight to Woodbury. We barely made it back this time.”
Daryl scoffed. “I don’t care.”
I nodded along with Daryl. “We go and we finish this off, then we don’t ever have to worry about them again. That’s a better decision than sitting here while they get stronger.” Maggie and Glenn shared a look that showed their disagreement. I shook my head and said, “We’ll leave when everyone else is ready.”
I followed Daryl as he began to walk back torward the prison. The prison door slammed behind us.
Daryl watched me, a question in his eyes as I paced the prison cafeteria. I couldn’t stop moving, not right now. Not until it was done.
Matthew walked toward me quickly, wrapping me in his arms. I pulled away after a moment.
“I’m going to Woodbury.” I said quietly.
Matthew shook his head. “I can go instead.” But I was already shaking my head.
“No, your leg is still healing…” I looked down at my hands. “This is something I need to do…” It wasn’t just because of my own selfish reasons, but I wanted to get back at the Governor for the pain he had caused this group -the pain that Daryl had to go through.
Matthew nodded slowly. “Carl killed someone.” My eyes widened in shock. Matthew’s voice was so low no one else could hear, but it felt like I was just hit with a boulder. Carl was a kid. He continued, “He didn’t have to, but… Yeah, I’m gonna stay here, teach the kid how to play soccer or something.”
I swallowed away my shock and smiled at him, promising to join him when I got back. He walked into the cellblock with Carl behind him.
Daryl watched me with a look I couldn’t decipher. I waved awkwardly at him, a small smile on my face.
He looked away and I could have sworn his cheeks were pink.
…
Daryl put his feet on the road as he slowed down. I tightened my grip until the kickstand was down. It had taken an awful lot of convincing for me to ride on this death machine.
My nose scrunched as the smell of rotten bodies hit me. I took out my hunting knife and killed a walker. Michonne killed the other with her katana and Daryl shot another. I walked behind them, staring at the people.
Daryl flinched away when something banged on the door behind him. My gun was out in a flash and pointed at a girl in the truck.
I nodded once to Daryl and he opened the door.
Rick pat her down. When he was done I helped her up.
“He killed them all.” she said, her voice trembling in shock. It was obvious, but she was in shock and obviously didn’t know what else to say. I looked down at my hand the girl was still squeezing tightly. Slowly, I let go of her hand and rubbed my hand on my pants.
“He kept you alive?” Michonne asked.
The girl’s eyes widened. “I hid under one of their bodies until he left. He didn’t even know I was there.” I bit my lip. She wasn’t lying. Daryl met my gaze and nodded slightly.
“What’s your name?” I asked, my voice soft as I took in the girl. She definitely wasn’t a fighter.
“Karen,” she said.
…
I walked behind the group, keeping my eyes out for any surprises. There was no sign that the Governor had been here. I turned around when a glass pot shattered.
I shot at Woodbury’s walls before ducking behind a car next to Michonne and Rick.
“Tyreese!” Karen yelled. I scowled and moved to grab her but I was too late. She stood up. “It’s me! Don’t-”
Rick pulled her down. “Stay down!”
I really wasn’t enjoying this new girl.
There was a moment of silence before a man yelled. “Karen! Karen, are you okay?”
I glanced at Daryl, who had a gun pointed at the wall. I followed suit. Karen shoved away from Rick and stood up. “I’m fine!”
“Where’s The Governor?” the man asked.
“He fired on everyone. He killed them all!”
No one spoke, a tense silence suffocating us all. I could understand the feeling of being betrayed by someone who was supposed to protect you and your family all too well and found myself sympathizing with those on the wall.
“Why are you with them?” the man finally asked.
“They saved me.” Karen said. She looked over to me, a look of gratefulness on her face. I gave her a slight nod.
Rick looked at Karen then the rest of us. “We’re coming out.” he said. My eyes widened.
I clenched my teeth but stood up when Rick did. Daryl and Michonne hesitated. I looked at the two and nodded. Despite making bad choices sometimes, Rick knew what he was doing.
For the most part.
“We’re coming out.” Rick said again.
Daryl held his gun up. He looked over at me before scoffing and holding it up. Although, even I noticed how he stood in front of the rest of us, as if making himself the target.
Woodbury’s gate opened and a black man and woman stepped out. I eyed the two of them, immediately realizing they were siblings, maybe even twins. “What are you doing here?” the man asked. He was a lot bigger than any of us and if all went south he was who I would need to keep an eye on.
“We were coming here to finish this, until we saw what The Governor did.”
The man’s eyes widened. Maybe it was the girl who was more dangerous instead. “He- he killed them?”
Rick nodded solemnly. “Karen told us Andrea hopped the wall, going for the prison. She never made it…” The sibling’s eyes widened. “She might be here,” Rick continued.
Apparently that was enough to convince them. The siblings stepped out of the way and let us in.
…
“This is where he had Glenn and Maggie.” Rick told Tyreese and Sasha.
“The Governor held people here?” Tyreese asked, shocked.
Daryl nodded. “He did more than hold ‘em.”
I stared at the back of his head briefly before pointing my AK toward a door. Daryl glanced at me as a thumping continued. Rick and Michonne stood next to the door, sharing a look.
Michonne pulled out her katana. “Will you open it?” she asked Rick.
Daryl took a small step back so our shoulders were touching. I kept my eyes open and looked around, not wanting to be ambushed.
When the door opened, I could see The Governor's advisor, Milton, lying dead on the floor. I frowned.
“Andrea!” Michonne yelled.
I looked down to see the blonde on the floor. “I tried to stop them.” she said, her voice broken.
“You’re burning up.” Michonne said in a hoarse voice.
Andrea looked down. She looked broken. Andrea pulled at her shirt weakly, showing us the bite on her shoulder. I took a sharp breath in. “Judith, Carl, the rest of them-”
“Us,” Rick said. “The rest of us.”
Andrea’s voice broke. “Are they alive?”
Rick looked over to Daryl and I. “Yeah, they’re alive.”
“It’s good you found them,” Andrea said as she looked at Michonne. She turned toward me, a sad smile on her face. “And I’m glad you made your way back to them.”
I gave her a short nod. I didn’t know her, hell I had only had one conversation with her, but damn she didn’t deserve this.
“No one can make it alone now.” Andrea said to me softly.
Daryl’s hand brushed mine gently. “I never could.”
I looked away, not able to look at Andrea’s face. She looked so broken, so… lost. “I just didn’t want anyone else to die,” I thought of Merle, of everyone who had been hurt because of this. I bit my lip. “I can do it myself.” Andrea said.
“No.” Michonne was quick to respond, her eyes wide as she looked at her friend.
“I have to,” Andrea said.”While I still can.” she turned toward Rick, tears in her eyes. “I know how the safety works.”
As Rick handed Andrea his gun, Daryl and I walked out the room. I hadn’t known Andrea that well, but she didn’t deserve this.
I stood next to Daryl, my arms limp at my sides. “I tried,” I heard Andrea whisper.
Rick came out, closing the door behind him. I closed my eyes and swallowed before taking hold of Daryl’s hand. It wasn’t hard to realize it could have been any one else in that room, that Andrea sacrificed her life so we could survive even if she didn’t know.
He squeezed it once and I leaned my head against his shoulder.
I clenched my teeth when the gun went off.
…
Daryl
Rossary didn’t drop my hand. When we got Woodbury people on the buses, she stood by my side. When the people seemed scared or the kids didn’t know what happened to their parents Rossary was right there to give out hugs and reassuring smiles. She didn’t think she was good at comforting people, but the girl knew how to make people feel like they were welcome.
I knew she was rich before all this, that her parents were political figures. Hell, when she ran from home it was all the news spoke about for two weeks. The name Rossary Evans was all over, even the people Merle sold drugs to spoke about her.
I looked over at the girl that I had become so infatuated with and wondered what had caused her to cut her family off and make herself look like the bad guy, if only to leave fame behind.
She was good at taking care of others, making sure everyone was okay. She was a leader through and through.
When the people were settled and Rossary got on my bike I could feel her shaking.
I squeezed her hands before starting the bike and heading back to the prison.
Rossary leaned her cheek on my back. We would survive this. We could live. I focused on Rossary and driving. She would survive this a lot longer than anyone else. The more I thought of it, the more I knew I was right. She would be the last man standing.
Rossary
I helped the newcomers get situated, promising them clean rooms in a few days. There were some untrustworthy stares, there were some men that stayed with the elderly and children that looked like they were ready to protect them all.
My hand touched my knife, the black leather touching my rough skin.
“Hey,” Daryl touched my forearm lightly. “Come ‘ere for a second.” He led me away and back to our cell block and up to his room. It was right next to mine now, instead of on the balcony.
He walked into his room and began digging through a bag. I leaned against the wall and smiled as I watched him, my cheeks hot.
Daryl turned and scowled at me. “Stop.” he grumbled.
I let out a soft laugh as I tried to lose my smile. It only grew when he showed me a bracelet made out of leather. On the top, an angel wing sat, wrapped to the leather by a few intricate knots.
It was handmade.
“It ain’t nothing special, just somethin’ I found on a run and thought you might like it.” he said.
I snorted. It was very obvious he made it.
“Thank you, Daryl.” I pulled him into a hug, ignoring his tense muscles. He relaxed slightly and wrapped his arms around me, squeezing me gently.
I swear I didn't forget about you guys! I'm working on so many different projects at the moment that will hopefully come out within the next few weeks. I have surgery in a few days and then I'll be going on vacation so I hope to have some content in order to feed you hobos!
What I'm working on
RED- Daryl X OC
Alden X OC
I'll Find You Pt2&3
A new Daryl story that will be taking place before the apocalypse
Another Daryl X OC story taking place through S1-S8
...
I don't want to overload myself so a lot of these projects, aside from I'll Find You and RED are going to take a while but they are going to happen!
romaincrisis
jbbartram-illu
pixelskylines
kaledo-art
yousharknotpass
