Night Owl

A/N: I'm always in the mood to write, let's get this straight. But my problem, with all fics I do, I re-read them and realize like 100 problems and I just lose all will because I screwed up so bad already. So I'm going to try my hardest, my absolute hardest, not to make stupid mistakes. I'm rusty, for fic writing, but I'll try. BTW, if you ever have any one-shot prompts, I'd totally be okay with gathering some for y'all and writing them when I can. :) Just PM me.~

This is set in Alexandria, a bit AUish, though. I'm thinking no tower collapse, you know, actual happiess. For now anyway.

McBrideReedusLover.~

"I like being up there."

"Even with all them outside?"

"You can see everything. Even inside."

She thought back to that conversation as she stood, stationed at the makeshift watch tower, if you could call it that. More like a tall stand, really. Her eyes scanned the beyond, the thick bush beyond the road. It was hard to see anything, however, with how dark it was. The only light beyond the fences was that of the moon, which was full tonight.

A sigh passed her lips, visible as the nights had grown colder. The mist dissipated almost as soon as it left her body and ventured into the night air. He still wasn't back. They, she should say, weren't back. Selfishly, the widow was more worried about the gentle hunter than she was the others. However, she wished them a safe return as well. And Glenn, wherever he may be. That boy was a smart one, quick on his feet. She had no doubt he was still alive out there... Somewhere.

Truth be told, Carol didn't know what was between her and Daryl. Since the quarry, there was something between them, that only grew the passing weeks. It wasn't until she was cast away that what they had, the deep emotional connection, had been cut off. He was distant, different. She had the idea that it had to do with the youngest Greene girl, god rest her soul. It was a loss for them all, but hit Daryl, and Maggie of course, the hardest. Since then, Daryl grew distant, refusing to speak to anyone really.

Then they found this place. A place she was still having trouble accepting. False security is how she viewed it. There were weak points, beginning with the people. No one knew how to protect themselves, and sure, they were learning, but would they be able to perform in the events of an attack? Another one, she should say. So many people had been lost, because no one knew defense. Carol broke her role to save these people, even if she couldn't save them all.

Olivia was the only woman left from the little housewife clique. Carol had been too late to save the other women, and it left even more marks deep inside. She honestly didn't know how much more she could take before she broke.

Bringing the binoculars back to her eyes, she scanned the area again. Aside from the roamers, there was nothing. No sign of the group, or the people they'd lost. She swallowed hard, and looked to the sky.

"Right there." The archer pointed to the sky, to a star brighter than the rest. "That's the North Star." The small smile on his face gave her butterflies. The way he lit up as he talked about the different constellations. She had no idea that Daryl Dixon knew so much about the sky and space.

"So... It's part of the little dipper?" Carol tilted her head, staring up at the aligned stars. She would've never known that had he not told her.

"Yep." Daryl nodded his head, glancing over at her. "Look to it, and y'can just... Feel somethin', y'know? Like, it's a guide. Whenever I'd get lost, I'd look to it and find my way back. If y'ever lost, follow it."

"Wow..." Her smile grew as she continued to stare. "It's beautiful." Her eyes went to him. The star wasn't the only thing that was beautiful. Though if she ever spoke such a word about him, he'd have a fit. Men didn't take kindly to being called beautiful, after all. It was a 'girly' term, after all.

"Yeah... Don't forget about it. It'll get you where you need to go. And lead you to what you seek."

As she stared at that bright North Star, she almost could swear she felt him near. Like he was looking at it too, wherever he was. She could feel his presence, and it brought a comfort to her. The corners of her lip turned up in a smile. He was definitely watching that star, following it, hopefully back to her.

The somewhat unstable stand began to shake, and she tore her gaze from the star, to see the only remaining Greene step up the ladder. The poor girl looked so tired. She could see the rims of her eyes were red. She felt for the brunette. They only just got a sense of normalcy, when it all went to hell. Her love was gone, and no one knew where he was. If he was okay.

"Hey." Carol greeted her in a soft tone.

"Hey..." Maggie looked towards the road, ignoring the groans of the walkers at the fence. "Any signs?" Carol could tell by her tone, she knew the answer to that question already.

"No, unfortunately..." Carol murmured, taking the binoculars and passing them to the young woman. "I'm sure they'll turn up eventually... The ones left are one of our strongest. Daryl, Abe and Sasha, they're fighters. They can do it. And Glenn, you know he's smart."

Maggie swallowed hard, focusing on the long stretch of road ahead. "I know he is... But he would've made it back by now. Wouldn't he? It's been a few days now, he has to have found his way back. He has to..."

"Maggie, don't give up hope. He would never leave you." Carol offered a smile, and placed her hand on the girls arm. "He loves you. And I can feel it, he's out there trying to get back to you. He can't exactly get in here safely, with all of them surrounding us, you know? Maybe he's just waiting it out..."

The younger girl chose to stay silent, not wanting to talk any further about the possibilities of where her husband may be. "You don't have to stay up here, Carol. You can go now, I'll take over..."

Carol knew she couldn't stay up here all night, no matter how much she wanted to. "You're probably right... I'll leave you to it then, I guess. Just... If they come back..."

"I'll be sure to let you know." The brunette offered a tired smile. Everyone knew of Carol's feelings towards the hunter. But no one knew where Daryl stood. Hell, Daryl probably didn't even know where he stood on the matter. "Now go on."

Giving a nod, Carol descended down the ladder. She hoped Daryl was okay out there. As she made her way to the house she shared with the Grimes and Michonne, she looked back to the star. She could still feel him when she saw it.

"Come home." Her words were soft, quiet, barely audible to even her own ears. With one final sigh, she headed into the house to hopefully get some sleep.

~Night Owl~

The hunter closed his eyes, swearing that he could hear her voice. When he looked to that star, he felt her. Somehow he knew the two of them were staring at it. Almost a way of communication. But they were stuck in this god forsaken city. The dead surrounded the perimeter, and they had no means of escape. Two days now they've been waiting them out, but they just wouldn't disperse. They stayed huddled, hungry groans filling the night air.

Pushing away from the window, he went to the back of the room, to the couch that he chose to occupy as his bed. They needed to get out of here. Somehow. Sneak into a vehicle, get back to them. Back to her. It took being away from her like this, to realize his true feelings. The moments he was away from her were the hardest, and the longest moments of his life. The pain he felt was far worse than anything he had experienced before.

He laid back, arms going behind his head. He stared at the ceiling, thinking of her, thinking of the two of them together. Different times they spent together.

He knew he'd grown distant. Too caught up in his own grief to be around her, be with her. He was selfish, for acting the way he had. Clearly, she was hurting far worse than he was. Her eyes told it all. No matter how hard Carol tried to hide it, he could see that crippling pain in her gaze.

But instead of being there for her, he ran. Like he always did. He always ran away from his problems, like a fucking coward. He vowed, when he got back to her, he would be there for her. Daryl Dixon would no longer run away from her. No. He was going to be there, and help her get over the pain she felt. He would be her rock. Feeling satisfied with this new conclusion, he drifted off into sleep.

Her gasps filled the room, shattering the silence. Her breaths were shaky, deep with each move he made. Her nails were like claws, breaking the skin, but in a way that he welcomed. Her legs were shaking as they got tighter around his hips, like she was trying to pull him deeper than he already was. Her soft lips left small kisses on his shoulder, before they pressed to his ear.

"I love you, Daryl..." Her words were sweet, and everything he dreamed to hear. "I love you..." He whimpered when she spoke it again. "Come on..." She coaxed him. "Come on... Come on..."

"Come on, Daryl!" A rough kick to his foot roused him from his slumber. He narrowed his eyes, the light damn near blinding him. It took a moment to focus on the red haired male before him. Clearly, he seemed pissed.

"The fuck you want?" Daryl growled, a little pissed off himself that he'd been taken out of such a dream. He had those dreams a lot lately. Always the same scenario.

"The walkers wandered down a ways. If you would get you ass in gear, we could take this chance and get the hell out and back home!" Abraham seemed to growl right back. That was a man who was even worse than Daryl when it came to temper. He would go head to heat with Daryl and have no fear whatsoever.

A huff left him as he sat up, running a hand through his hair. He grabbed his bow, slinging it over his shoulder. "Well then lets go!" He pushed past the taller man, heading for the main room where Sasha was waiting for the two of them. Finally, they would be able to get home.

Finally, he could get back to her.

A/N: Well, chapter 1! Hope you guys enjoyed it. Chapter 2 soon. (Possibly right after this one idk yet we shall see)

McBrideReedusLover.~