Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or storylines of The Walking Dead. Whatever you may find in this story is a product of my imagination.

Author's note: This will take place in Season 6 chapter 14, but for the purpose of this story, Daryl, Rosita and Denise didn't came across the Saviors so nobody died or got taken that day. More than that, for this story let's just pretend Dwight and Sherry didn't go back to The Sanctuary and are somewhere around with Daryl's bike and crossbow. That's why it's called The Butterfly Effect, because one little change affected the whole thing and thus no war with The Saviors for now. I'll just have these two take another path, I wouldn't say a happily ever after but at least a different outcome than the one the show gave us. With no Negan they can be more laid back even though not so much, just less angry. But then they may find new challenges down the road that will change all that too, we'll see. Also, I rated this M for later chapters. Other than that I'll just say that English isn't my main language so I apologize if there are mistakes.

The Butterfly Effect

'Wake up and face your fears'

With her arms firmly crossed over her chest and her lips set in a pout that could be perceived as petulant, the woman known as Rosita Espinosa looked out through the windshield of the beat up truck she was riding with her two companions, and as her eyes settled to an undefined spot along the scenery, those words kept dancing inside her head.

'Wake up… and face your fears…'

For reasons she couldn't quite comprehend, the words kept bouncing inside her skull, repeating themselves over and over again like a broken disc she couldn't stop. It was kind of weird, because of all the things Denise told them back in the tracks, of all the things that had some truth to them, that she was too afraid to face her own shit was the one she wouldn't agree with. That she was alone? Yes. That she was stupid? Most definitely; but afraid… nah, she didn't think so. And yet, those words were the ones that wouldn't go away.

'Wake up…'

For the longest time that was all she did, think about what she was told and sit in the middle of Daryl and Denise as they made their way back to Alexandria, bumping shoulders with the two of them as the truck jerked with each change of gear. It was rather annoying, but no one commented on it, in fact the ride was made without any of them exchanging a word. Even Denise who was usually in a chatty mood was contributing to the ongoing silence.

It wasn't until they reached Alexandria and Daryl killed the engine right outside the gates that said silence was broken. It was of course, Denise the one who did it. "Well since you won't say it I'll do it, I'll say this was a productive day. We did good." Instead of making reference of the medicine they brought back she lifted the damn can of Soda she almost died for and flashed an awkward smile. Rosita just stared at her, not even sure if she should reply to that. "Yeah and I'm going now." And without saying no more she climbed out of the truck and headed into the community.

Shaking her head as if to clear it of any kind of thought, Rosita blew out a breath and leaned forward to reach for her backpack. It was resting between her boots and once she reached it, she opened it and took out the bag of booze she found earlier on. "I'll call it productive too."

Daryl, who much like her was still sitting inside the cabin of the truck moved a hand her way to take the bag, but before he could reach it Rosita pulled it back to her chest. "Uh-uh. Finders keeper, I can share though." After saying that she climbed out and walked to the back of the car, her intentions to hop onto the cargo bed and just sit there. She wasn't in the mood of seeing anyone inside and since there was no threat of walkers nearby, she was staying out.

Once settled, she opened the bag and started rummaging. Daryl joined her soon after and without saying anything, he took a bottle of his own. By the time she opened her first one and took a gulp Daryl was already ahead and lighting a cigarette.

Grimacing at the way the fiery liquor burned a path from her throat to her stomach, Rosita looked at the label of what she just tasted. It was rum, and because she wasn't much for drinking straight liquor she shivered. But then without thinking it too much, she took another gulp. This one went down easier.

It didn't take long for her to finish the first small bottle, and even though she could already feel the effects of the alcohol running throughout her entire body she opened a second one and inspected the label. This one was vodka.

"The medicine was a good find." She said absentmindedly, thinking that when Denise first suggested they should go out and find it, she thought it was the worse idea ever. First because she couldn't see the three of them working together and second, because she has been so sure that Daryl was going to say no to the request and she was going to end up babysitting Denise by herself. But now that the mission was accomplished and they managed to get both the medicine and the Doctor back, safe and in one piece, she was glad they did it.

She wouldn't know how to put it into words, but in a way she has been part of something that contributed for a common cause and that made her feel good, it made her feel as if she was doing something that mattered. True, she got her ass chewed by Denise at the end but that didn't matter anymore.

Now, going out the way she did has never crossed her mind before, but now she could see how doing it gave her a purpose, one that couldn't be fulfilled taking shifts, teaching people how to use a machete or just sitting by waiting for time to keep moving forward. No, the more she thought about it the more sure she was that she wasn't made for life in Alexandria, at least not at this point in her life. She didn't want to go on dinners with Spencer and play pretend that they could be something more than a regrettable one night stand and she most definitely wasn't made for turning a blind eye to Sasha and Abraham.

"Yup." That was Daryl's short reply and she didn't try to add more to it. She just sat and drank from the new bottle, each swallow making her think that yes, she should start going on runs. There was so much she could find out there, so much she could do.

"I think I want to stay out here. Go on runs, scavenge… I can even make a map of what's nearby and see how it could benefit us."

"That what you want or is the booze making your head feel funny?" Daryl asked without taking a look at her, he was apparently too busy inspecting his cigarette.

Sending a sideway glance his way, she snorted. She did feel a bit funny but not enough to say she was talking nonsense. Her mind was clear. "That's what I want, I guess. I just know I don't want to be back in." Once that was said, she reached for his cigarette, took it and put it between her lips so she could draw a smoke.

Doing that didn't make her cough like the first time she tried it, but she still didn't like the feeling of it so she quickly gave it back. The whole thing didn't felt right so she washed the taste of it with vodka. "I still don't understand why you guys like that so much."

Shrugging, Daryl took the cigarette back and after a couple of more pulls he threw it away. "Keep mixing your booze like that and you'll regret it in the morning."

As if in defiance, she drank a bit more. Didn't he know that she didn't need alcohol to regret the things she did? Smiling to herself she shook her head no. Of course he didn't know, he didn't know her like at all: she didn't even know him that well either and if it wasn't because Denise thought it was a good idea the two of them should be her chaperones for her little adventure, they wouldn't be out there drinking together.

She couldn't remember the two of them doing anything by themselves before and the brief interactions they had were definitely not enough to consider him more than a travel companion; sure, an important integrant of their group but not someone she was close with. She did like him though, as far as she could tell he was an okay guy even though he came a little bit as an asshole sometimes.

"You know what we should do? We should go out and look for your things. You look weird without your crossbow and let's face it, driving stick isn't your strongest point. You need your bike back."

"Well look at that, you didn't strike me as a happy drunk but here you are." The corners of his lips twisted the slightest bit as he said that and she did nothing but stare; it was the first time she saw him do something like that and she almost did a double take. Did she react like that because she was drunk? Not quite, but she was perhaps a little tipsy and her tongue did feel a little heavy as she talked.

Not that she was going to tell him that she wasn't yet past her drinking comfort zone, experience told her that if a man thought you were drunk you should play along, so in case he tried something he wouldn't count on you being alert. Not that she believed he was going to try something, he didn't seem like that kind of guy but still, there were things that stuck with you even after the world went to shit.

But back to the man sitting by her side, if anything, he seemed more like the mysterious kind of guy, the type one could never figure out and for some reason that made her feel curious. Her mind just began to wonder and probably because her judgement was starting to became a bit impaired she decided that she wanted a sneak peak of what was Daryl Dixon like.

"And what kind of drunk are you?"

"The asshole kind, not quite there yet though."

Rosita looked down at the empty bottles by his side. There were three and then there was the one in his hand; she was still on her number two so he definitely held his drinking better than her. "Rumor has it you are an asshole when sober, you can't be the same when both drunk and sober."

Shrugging, he tilted his face towards her and their eyes met. From up close and with the sun still shining bright, she could see that his eyes were a pretty shade of blue and for some reason that took her aback. She hadn't noticed those eyes until that moment and she was going to assume that it was because she hasn't been so close to him before, at least not looking directly to his face. Whenever they were in the same place at the same time it was always from certain distance and well, it was hard to see his face from afar when it was always hidden behind his hair; but from up close, it was hard not to get entranced by his stare. "From what I've heard you ain't no ray of light either."

Dragged back to reality, she arched an eyebrow and nodded her appreciation to that comeback. "Touché, I'll drink to that." Finishing the vodka and reaching for another small bottle, she went on. "But still, I don't know if I'm ready to see you turn into a full asshole drunk. It will take momentum from my place as a happy drunk and I'm not ready."

"You won't, ain't even halfway there." But even as he said that, he took another bottle and gulped it down. He did it without flinching, but when he made no attempt of grabbing more alcohol she knew that he was done for the day. "You know, I do want my shit back and a one on one with the asshole who took it, but that track is long cold. He has my bike and advantage so for all I know he's all the way to New York right now."

"We can make it as far as Canada if we want to." And wouldn't that be something?

"Never been to New York. Place must be full of walkers now."

Clearing her throat, she moved her head away and settled her eyes up to the skies. Being out there doing anything sounded better than whatever she could do in Alexandria. As for going with Daryl… well they did good earlier that day so they could become a good team. Maybe she could even snatch him from Aaron so they could do their own runs. She knew they would probably not make it as far as New York, not with the roads blocked and infested with walkers, but they could be out and about looking for things.

He definitely knew how to handle himself out there and since she wasn't so bad herself, they could do whatever they wanted to. Maybe by the time they came back Abraham and Sasha were over and she wouldn't have to see them doing pretty eyes at each other all the time.

"I think we should do it now. We should go and just do it. Go as far as we can go, maybe we'll get lucky and find your things." Yes, she wanted to leave now, that way she wouldn't have to face Spencer either and well… maybe after all she was afraid to face her own shit like Denise said. Who would have known?

"Right now?"

"You got anything better to do?" Her face turned back towards his and for some reason she smiled.

He didn't return the smile but as if considering it, he chewed on the inside of his lips. "Ain't got shit to do. Let me go get a couple of things." Jumping out and getting down to the ground, he walked to the gate and made it inside.

It took Rosita more than normal to get out of the back of the truck to climb into the cabin and she started to wonder if she was drunk and in denial. She probably was, Daryl too because otherwise they wouldn't even consider what they were about to do. But because she didn't want to waste time thinking she hurried as much as she could.

As for getting a few things of her own? In her wobbly legs she knew she wouldn't make it inside without making a show so she would have to do with what she brought for the initial run. She could do okay with it, she has packed the essentials to be out for at least a couple of days and she was going to trust Daryl to get them some provisions. Whatever she could need later on would have to be found on the road.

Daryl didn't take too long to come back and she didn't even check what he got, but when he threw her way a bag of pretzels snacks and a bottle of water she reached for them.

"If we gonna do this you gotta eat that. Can't have you shit-faced, it makes you slow and stupid and ain't having that."

Rolling her eyes, she glanced at him as he started the car. "Don't be an asshole, I'm fine.'

"Eat it." He said almost in a growl, then in a matter of nothing they were driving away.

For a while they rode it in silence, she eating in small bites and sipping water while he focused on the road ahead, but when she noticed that the truck no longer jerked whenever he changed gears she snickered. "So all you needed to drive this thing right was a little of alcohol in your system."

"Shut up." There was no harshness on his tone and because he used his free hand to reach for a couple of salty pretzels, she was going to say none was intended.

Humming, she slid closer to the window and rolled it down, letting the breeze swept around her and her face almost out. She wasn't sure for how long she just did that, but she did know that by the time dusk started to creep in, she was starting to need a bathroom break.

"So that old boyfriend of yours the reason you don't want back in Alexandria?"

Turning to him, she saw that he was looking at her curiously. It was for a few seconds only, then he was back at paying attention to the road ahead.

Now she wasn't going to lie, the question caught her by surprise and she didn't know what to answer as she didn't even know herself.

"Is that what you think?"

"I don't know, that's why I asked."

Pursing her lips, she crossed her arms to her chest. "I know everybody thinks I'm salty because he dumped me for Sasha… maybe I am, but not because I wanted to keep him. Abraham is an asshole and I guess we were not going to last long anyway."

And they weren't, their fallout started way before Sasha and they just stuck together anyway. Maybe it was a way to combat loneliness or whatever, but it wasn't because they were head over heels for each other. Yes, she has loved him in a way and she still cared for him, but that didn't take from the fact that she knew they were domed almost from the beginning.

"I think it's more like my ego is bruised. I mean nobody wants the person you are in a relationship with tell you he only got with you because there was nobody else available."

"Shut up, he told you that?"

Wondering why she was telling him all that, she licked her lips. They were not even friends and in the first and longest conversation they ever had she was already telling him things she has told nobody else. But it was what it was and be it because of the alcohol or because she needed some kind of closure, she went on.

"Yes he did." Sure, those weren't exactly the words he used but it was what he meant.

"Ain't that a bitch."

"It doesn't matter now. I'm done with love and hooking up and all that shit. Got more important things to worry about... like not turning into a walker." Let Sasha keep Abraham, let her realize on her own how much of an asshole he really was. As for her ridiculous fling with Spencer, she wouldn't even worry about that anymore.

"You know what the problem is with you guys, all of you? You wanna shit were you eat and then when things go south you make a fuss of it."

Allowing her eyes to scan his face, she bit down on her lips. He was focused on driving, but every once in a while he would turn to her and their eyes would met. "Well Daryl, there are not many places to eat these days so what else is there to do?"

He said nothing to that, but his eyes lingered longer this time before returning where they were supposed to be.

"So I'll take you don't want to bother with cutesy little things like dating and all that."

"Nah, I'll leave that mess to you, ain't got no time for that kind of drama.'

"Yeah, as it turns out me neither." Shifting on her seat, she turned back to the window and peered outside. By now Daryl was slowing down because the road was thinning out. Cars were in the way, left in the middle and where there were so many vehicles there were always walkers. " I need to go to the bathroom."

"Yup, it's getting kind of late, we should probably find somewhere to stay the night." Throwing his arm back and letting it rest along the back of the seat, he turned so he could take a look behind. While doing so his face was directly pointing towards hers and as he put the car on reverse, Rosita just watched him.

Daryl, truth was that she has never put much attention to him, at least not in a way that she could really appreciate him. But now that her mind was not in the right place, she decided that in another time he would definitely be someone she wouldn't mind hooking up with. He didn't look half bad, he had pretty eyes, nice lips and when he wasn't an asshole he wasn't that awful to be around.

But because she was done with the opposite sex for now, she shrugged it off, took off her gloves and just started looking into her bag to find what she needed to empty her bladder. It wasn't much, she just got paper and sanitizer and when Daryl finally parked in a place that felt safe enough, she rushed to find somewhere private to relieve herself. Daryl went too, only that he did it a couple of feet from the truck and that was it.

It was the luck of being a man.

Once finished, she walked back. By then the effects of the alcohol were not as strong as they were back when they were parked in front of Alexandria so there was no problem with her legs. She did however feel a little light headed and not fully on her element so she decided not to push it.

"Come on." Daryl motioned her to follow him once she made it to him and taking her backpack and grabbing for her machete, she did.

They only encountered a handful of walkers on their way, nothing they couldn't handle even while slightly drunk, and when they found a good enough place to hang their boots for the night they cleared it too.

It was a two story house, small but comfortable enough under the circumstances. It even had an attic, and standing right underneath the open hatch that lead towards it she wondered why there was no ladder.

"Do you think there could be something up there worth checking?"

Squinting his eyes, Daryl stood in front of her and looked up. "A little storage maybe. Could be the walkers we cleared fell from there."

"Help me up." She said, decided to go and check. Wasn't that the point of their little trip, to find things to take back to Alexandria? Maybe the people who lived in the house stocked up the attic, maybe there was nothing but it wouldn't hurt to check.

Daryl hummed as if considering it, then he bent down a little and motioned her to use his thigh as a level. "If you die up there it will be on you."

"Yeah yeah." Stepping on his tight and getting impulse, she reached for the entrance. He had to help her get there as she struggled a little to get in, but once up she just had to smile. "Well… not bad. There are a few things we could use."

And there were, it wasn't like a huge find but it was a decent one. A few boxes of canned meat, some MRE's, water, a first aid kit, candles, blankets… there was a even cash. That last one she didn't even touch, but the rest she handed it down to Daryl.

When it was time for her to get down she looked through the hatch and snorted. "Okay…" Now, it wasn't like it was a huge drop but let's face it, she was in no condition of making the jump without hurting herself.

"Come on, I gotcha."

"Okay." Sitting down and letting her legs hang loose, she started to ease her way down, she did it carefully but when she felt him grab her legs and then her thighs, she got too confident and basically let herself drop.

"Wait."

The motion made her gasp and as a way to get a grip, she grabbed his shoulders, but much as he said, he got her. Then, once it was certain she wasn't going to fall over he let her slip all the way to the floor. In the process of putting her down, his arm remained on her and as she slowly slid against his body he ended up circling her waist and holding her close.

Rosita lifted her gaze up, her eyes glued to his as he stared back at her. Yes, she was definitely still drunk, she knew because she couldn't take her eyes away from his and as he held her to him she couldn't help but to feel a tingling sensation forming in the pit of her stomach.

It was weird… having him press against her with one arm stubbornly wrapped around her waist as her hands remained over his shoulders…

Add to that the alcohol in her system and voila, catastrophe presented itself in the form of a kiss.

She didn't know who started it, in her state it wouldn't surprise her if it was her but it could have been him all the same; the only thing that she knew for sure was that now her lips were lightly brushing against his.

It was crazy, for a few seconds time stood still and even though they were not taking things any further, her heart was pounding very hard inside her chest and her head was clouded, she didn't even know what she was doing. But then, as quickly as it began Daryl pulled away as if her lips were burning his. He even took a few steps back away from her.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?"

On her part, Rosita lifted a hand up in the air and pressed her fingers to her temples, the implications of the situation finally registering in her brain. She just kissed Daryl. It has been her and she didn't even know why!

"I'm sorry, I don't know what I was thinking." She said, clearing her throat and closing her eyes. "I'm fucking drunk."

"Well you better sleep that off before you keep doing stupid shit. I'll take first watch." And with that said he left, leaving her behind and wondering how bad she screwed up.

TBC