I got the inspiration for this after taking a much needed pointless drive and wound up driving past a small little graveyard on the edge of town. Funny how I always seem to find a muse when I barely have enough time for the stories I am currently working on...oh well.

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The road is long,
And I am tired,
But with you on my horizon,
I will drive until it all breaks down

- All Time Low: "The Edge of Tonight"

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He leaned back against the marble, half sitting on the headstone behind him as he pulls out his rumpled pack of cigarettes and brings one to his lips. He flicks on his lighter and lights it up, inhaling a deep breath and letting it out in a stream of smoke that drifts off into the wind. He slaps his hand against the cool stone next to his leg, a silent sentence spoken as he takes another drag.

This one is for you, brother.

He wonders what Merle would say to him now, if he was currently standing next to him and not buried six feet under the dirt beneath his feet. He'd probably punch him, call him some stupid pussy for coming out to this grave once a month and the thought almost makes Daryl smile.

Sure, his brother was an asshole but he was working on it before he bit the dust. Cut back on his drinking - not by much but it was enough for even Rick to notice - and he had been clean from the drugs for almost two months before his old dealer caught up to him - because even if he wasn't buying currently, he had before and he had debts to pay.

Apparently a bullet in the chest was deemed even.

Daryl sighs now, shaking his head. He didn't want to go back there, back to that night where he was woken up by the blare of his cellphone, Rick's name lighting up on the screen. He is almost grateful when he catches a spot of color in his peripheral vision.

He looks up and sees her walking toward the caramel colored grave marker right next to the vibrant colored rose bush. She's wearing a yellow sundress this time, a pair of faded brown cowboy boots covering her feet and her long blonde hair is pulled back into a low twist at her neck, a few loose strands dancing across her face with the wind. He keeps his head down, makes it look like he's not staring when he clearly is, taking one last drag of his cigarette before he tosses it away.

He remembers the first time he saw her almost six months ago, damn near thought he was seeing a ghost when he saw her walking around with her pale skin and long blonde hair, a white sundress billowing in the breeze. He had never seen her before and this town was small, he knew everyone, especially with working at the only garage within a fifty mile radius. He couldn't help but stare as she stopped in front of a headstone, dropping into a crouch to place a bouquet of flowers at the grass at her feet before she stood up again, lingering for only a moment - long enough to run her small hand across the top of the grave marker - and then she was turning, walking away.

Daryl was half convinced he had imagined the whole thing until the following month, when he was once again smoking a cigarette, leaning against the grave marker bearing his brother's name and he looked up to see her walking toward that same stone next to the rose bush. She did the same thing she had done the previous visit, only staying long enough to place a new bouquet of flowers and run her hand along the top of the grave marker before she once again turned to leave and with the graceful way she walked, disappearing down the sidewalk, Daryl still found himself wondering if she was just a ghost.

That time he had gotten up though, keeping his gaze on her vanishing form as she continued down the road and with one last smack against Merle's headstone he had made his way over to the caramel colored one next to the rose bush. He had glanced down at it, reading the script with surprise.

Annette Greene

Loving Wife and Mother

He had cocked his head, images of a white haired man wearing overalls coming to mind. He knew who Hershel Greene was - kind of hard not to with him being so friendly with Rick - but as far as he knew, Hershel only had two kids, and neither of them were the pale skinned blonde who had been here moments before. He had shrugged it off then, deciding it was none of his business and he had left the cemetery, leaving thoughts of the mysterious blonde locked within the gates, among the other ghosts.

It wasn't until the third time he saw her that she seemed to notice him as well. He had been just getting ready to leave when she came in, feet squishing in the soft dirt from the storm the night before and going right towards that caramel colored headstone. She had placed her own flowers down, right with routine, and he watched as she then walked over to the rose bush, pulling out a few scattered sticks that had gotten lodged within the vines when she suddenly looked up, looking right at him.

Daryl had stiffened, hoping she wouldn't notice the way he had once again been staring - he couldn't help it, the girl was just too enthralling to not watch - and she had stared at him for what felt like hours, though it couldn't have been more than seconds, before she gave him a small nod and Daryl, having figured out how to move again, had given her one in return. She had turned then, running her hand along the stone as she passed and walked toward the gates, depositing the wayward sticks at the fence before she walked through the gate and disappeared down the sidewalk.

The fourth time, she had looked over at him right away when she walked into the cemetery, pulling her hair behind her ear as she saw him standing there and she nodded again, him doing the same, before she began her routine. She had brought lilacs this time, Daryl only noticing because of the way the dark purple had stood out against her white blouse. He had left before her that time and the following month, the fifth time he saw her, neither of them mentioned the single wilted lilac that had been resting on his brother's grave.

She looked up at him now, one hand holding a bouquet of lilies while the other held her yellow sundress down against her long legs - it was windy out today, another storm brewing - and this time, he was the one to nod his head at her first. They were too far away from each other for him to see her clearly but Daryl was certain that when she gave her own nod in return, there was just a hint of a smile. He thought about smoking another cigarette but when he pulled out his pack and only saw one remaining he stood straight and then crouched down, pulling that last cigarette out and tucking it between the grass next to the headstone before he stood up again and turned to leave, wondering if he imagined the way he could feel her eyes on him the entire time.

That was the sixth time he saw her and he sure as hell wasn't expecting it the seventh time he saw her. Sure as hell didn't expected the door to the garage to burst open, slamming against the wall and causing him to look up from where he had been preparing to mount his bike - going home for the day - and he definitely didn't expect her to storm out of it. He could have said breezed though, because even clearly pissed off, she moved with a grace that almost seemed inhuman, and he wondered if it was only because this was the first time he hadn't seen her surrounded by the markers of the dead that he didn't hide the way he was staring, didn't make it seem like he was watching the ground instead of her.

She had only managed to stomp a few feet across the pavement before the door opened again, not slapping against the wall this time, and he watched curiously as one of his coworkers, Shawn Greene - Hershel's oldest and who knew cars almost as well as Daryl - broke into a slight jog to catch up to the blonde haired girl.

"Beth!" he yelled and Daryl tilted his head slightly, not sure how he felt about now having a name for the mysterious girl.

She was wearing jeans and a loose blue tank top today, her hair flying behind her with the wind and her cowboy boots clicking angrily against the blacktop.

"Beth!" Shawn said again, finally catching up to her but she made no move to stop. "C'mon Beth, ya know she doesn't mean anything by it."

This caused the girl to whip around, a scoff escaping her lips. "That's bullshit and you know it!" she exclaimed, her voice soft like Daryl had imagined but holding a fierceness that surprised him.

"Beth," Shawn had tried with a sigh but she was shaking her head.

"Just forget it, Shawn," she said and began to walk away again but then she turned back around, clenching her fist. "Ya know, when I agreed to come back here, it was because Daddy asked me to, to help out at the clinic and on the farm, not to have every move I make questioned." she steeled her shoulders and Daryl noticed the way her hands flexed, showing her discomfort at the conversation.

"I am not that sixteen year old girl anymore." she said then, her voice lowering but still loud enough for Daryl to hear where he stood a few feet away.

"I know, but Beth," Shawn began but she quickly turned then, once again hurrying away.

"Beth," Shawn yelled, annoyance and exhaustion creeping into his tone and when he chased after her again, grabbing her arm and yanking her to a stop, Daryl felt himself take a step forward, his jaw clenching.

He could tell immediately that this grab was something different though - not like the way his old man used to grab his Ma before his fist went flying - but he felt this weird feeling at seeing Shawn's hand on the girl like that. It subdued slightly when he saw the girl step toward him this time, her arms wrapping around him as his held her to him, pulling her closer and he could tell with the way he saw Shawn's lips moving that he was speaking to her but this time it was too quiet for him to hear.

After a moment the girl stepped out of the embrace, wiping at her eyes quickly before she nodded her head.

"I get off in a half hour if ya wanna wait," Shawn spoke then, his voice back to a normal level.

She shook her head though, biting her lip. "I just need some air, 'fore I go back there."

Shawn nodded but sighed, clearly not liking her response. "You at least got your phone on ya?" he asked and when she patted her side pocket he nodded again. "A'right. Just call me if ya need a ride or anything."

"I will," she said and then turned and Daryl didn't turn away when her eyes landed on him with her movement, her eyes widening in recognition before she quickly looked away and began to walk toward the sidewalk, leaving the garage property.

He turned his attention back onto his bike, noticing that Shawn stared after her until she disappeared around the corner before he shook his head and made his way back toward the garage, heading back to work. Daryl swung his leg over and started the bike and lit a cigarette before he eased out of the parking space. He stopped at the edge of the drive. If he took a left, it would bring him toward his cabin; If he went right, it would bring him closer to town, toward the direction she had been heading.

He found himself turning right.

It wasn't long before he spotted her but he had to admit, for such a small thing she moved quick and he wasn't even thinking when he pulled over to the curb, just a little ways ahead of where she was walking. He placed his feet on the ground, tossing his cigarette away as he looked over his shoulder, already seeing her coming toward him. She paused next to him, still standing on the sidewalk as the engine roared between them.

When he had first noticed her, he had thought she was younger, a kid still. Looking at her now, the closest they have ever been to each other since that first time he saw her in the cemetery, he now realized that she was older. He still wasn't sure how old, her small frame and slight features hindering his observations but he was certain that she wasn't the girl he referred to her as. She was definitely a woman, a woman who looked like she had already been through too much in her years.

Her eyes were blue, reminding him of the sky, and he wasn't sure how he managed to find his voice but that was definitely him that he was hearing speak.

"Wan' a lift?" he asked gruffly, trying to figure out just what the hell he was doing.

She narrowed her eyes, tilting her head slightly, obviously wondering the same thing he was. They didn't know each other. He had no business offering her rides or even speaking to her. They were just two people who happened to go to the cemetery around the same time at the same day, every month.

Just two people chasing ghosts.

"You work with my brother?" she asked, her voice softer and calmer than it had been back in the parking lot.

He lowered his chin in a nod, resisting the urge to bring his thumb toward his lips. He wasn't sure why he was so nervous, why he suddenly found himself hoping she would take him up on his offer. Why now, after months of watching from afar he suddenly found himself not wanting to be anywhere else other than next to her. He knew it didn't make sense, he didn't know her, didn't even know her name until only moments ago but he realized that it didn't matter.

He felt a connection with her. They were just people who both lost someone, both felt a need to go visit the resting place of those people. She didn't know him, didn't know his story. Hell, she didn't even know his name - but that didn't stop her from placing a flower at his brother's grave.

That didn't stop her from stepping forward and placing her hands on his shoulders, bracing herself as she swung her leg over and settled in behind him on the bike, wrapping her slim arms around his waist.

"Got a place in mind?" he questioned over his shoulder, starting to drift away from the curb once he knew she was secure behind him.

He felt her shake her head against his back.

"Just ride." she whispered in his ear and he felt the edge of his lips curve upward as he merged back onto the road, squeezing the throttle as they soared down the pavement.

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I'm hoping to update Fighter tomorrow (for those who are wondering and follow that story as well) and then on Tuesday, I will be leaving for a week long trip and will have no computer access during that time, meaning, no updates from me on any stories for at least a week. My apologies but it cannot be helped! :(

Also, in case you were curious, these are the works I am currently focusing on:

- Fighter

- While I'm Dreaming (a part two/conclusion)

- And also this story, if people are interested...

As always, thank you for reading and please review!