So this is the Walker AU spin-off of 'Explosions'. It's still in working progress, and the updates might not be very regular because I'm still trying to work through things, and there's still things I might change yet but I just wanted some feedback.

A few things: The Walkers happened around Chapter 7 of Explosions, but an Alternative chapter 7. So if you haven't read 'Explosions', I'd suggest reading Chapters 1-7. Although I'm adding flashbacks so hopefully it will make sense without having to read through 'Explosions!'

I'm starting this around season 4. I wanted to jump straight into the Walker-apocalypse so I'm using flash-backs so you can all see what happened before that(as mentioned above). I know flash-backs can get boring but I suggest giving them a chance because they do explain a lot!

Anyway, I think that's everything! I hope you like!

In the beginning

She gazed upon the night sky through the swaying tree branches above her. Stars shone brightly, beautifully, and there wasn't a cloud in sight. She wished she could take a picture of it. It was funny really; you would've thought you would have time to do things like star gaze when the end of the world happened – not like there was much else to do – but you'd be wrong.

Not because you were too busy, or because there was always stuff that needed doing. No, it was because in the mist of survival, simple things – like star gazing – which made life worth living, was easily forgotten.

Taking a lung full of fresh air, she pulled her jacket tighter around her. Not because it was cold, just because she wanted the comfort. In fact, the night air was mostly warm, except for the odd breeze, and it was a rather calming feeling; a nice contrast to what they usually felt outside of the safety of their protective walls.

"-Yeah, man. Nice one." a deep voice spoke mid-sentence, a man she recognized as Daniels. He was an extremely good-looking guy with soft, brown eyes and dark brown hair. He was well built, from his previous occupation, and he was also the reason she was alive today. "What'd you think, Darcy?"

She blinked before turning her gaze away from the sky, and only realizing in the moment how much her neck ached from being in that position for so long. She reached a hand up and rubbed at it, hoping to relieve some of the soreness. "Uh," she started, remembering his question but not knowing what he meant by it. She shrugged sheepishly. "Sure, I guess."

The ex-solider rolled his eyes and heaved a heavy sigh as he rolled up an old map he'd previously had out in front of him. "You didn't listen to a word I said, huh?" he looked annoyed but his eyes held amusement.

She couldn't help but smile and she shook her head apologetically. "Sorry, honey."

"Oh, you'll be sorry." his voice was playful and his eyes held mischief. "Just you wait 'til I get my hands on you." It wasn't a threat; it was a promise which made her squeeze her legs shut, trying to contain some of her excitement.

"Looking forward to it." she replied swiftly with a small smirk.

"Oh, will you two stop flirting in front of me." their banter was interrupted by Jacob, who was also an ex-solider, and one of Daniels' long term friends. "I swear, I end up with a constant hard-on around you guys." he muttered, shaking his head and using his knife to shave the bark from a stick. Unlike Daniels, Jacobs hair was long, and blonde, and pulled up into a ponytail with sat at the base of his neck, and his eyes were green. He was also twenty-five, the same age as Darcy whereas Daniels was twenty-nine.

Daniels choked on a laugh; unfortunately, he was in the middle of drinking some water out of the bottle when his friend spoke, and now he was busy trying not to choke on the liquid. "Fuck, man." he coughed, covering his mouth with his fingerless-gloved hand. He leaned over and shoved his buddy. "Don't do that again."

Jacob only smirked and nudged him back before turning his attention to Darcy. "You know, Darcy-girl," she rolled her eyes at the nickname. "You've been with us for how long now?"

Daniels glanced between them, a confused frown on his face as he wondered where his friend was heading. "'Bout nine months now." he answered for her.

"Around that," she agreed, rearranging her back against the tree behind her and trying to get more comfortable. Well, as comfortable as you could against a freaking tree anyway. "Why?"

Jacob shrugged one-shoulder. "Just realized that you've never told us what you were doin' that day," he gestured around him with the knife and stick he was carving. "You know, when the world went to shit."

It was her turn to shrug. "Same as everyone else, I guess."

"Jacob, just leave it, man." Daniels told him, shaking his head disapprovingly. "S'rude to just ask shit like that."

"It's ok," Darcy smiled at him softly, reassuring him. "I just...woke up that morning. Heard a few things about it on the radio. Didn't think nothing of it, you know?" they both nodded, listening to her story. Daniels looked kind of hesitant, as if he wasn't sure about her talking - he knew her past was a sore subject - whereas Jacob looked very interested. He always was the nosey one. With a sigh, she leaned forward and grabbed a stick off the ground to fiddle with. "Then I had to go to work." She left out the fact that her 'work' wasn't probably what they thought it was. No way in hell would she tell them she used to work as a phone sex operator. "Heard more people talking about it. Saying it was getting worse." that was true. "I was driving back from work that night." A lie; she was driving to Sandy's strip club for her cover-shift. "When suddenly it all went to shit. Cars crashed. People died; children. There was blood everyone."

It was silent for a few moments, and Darcy repressed the urge to roll her eyes. Don't ask a question if you aren't gonna reply to the answer. She couldn't stand it any longer and mumbled to them, "I'm gonna get some sleep." before shifting herself into a laying position and pulling her jacket even tighter around her.

"Think I'll join ya." Daniels told her, and she heard him stand up before walking the few feet to where she laid. There was the sound of leafs scuffling before she felt his arm tucking itself underneath her head, letting her use it as a make-shift pillow.

"Night." she heard Jacob mumble to them, and then it was silence once again other than the noise of nature and the sound of the fire cracking.

"The Governorment has yet to answer any questions about the mysterious rabies-type virus," A ladies voice sounded through the radio while Darcy watched Jasmine fry their eggs. It was morning, and Darcy had barely been out of bed for half hour. Blinking sleepily, she rested her head on the counter in front of her and let out a yawn. "Which leads us to ask: What on earth in going on?"

Jasmine rolled her eyes and reached over to the radio, switching the station to something more cheerful. "They always try to make a big deal out of everything," she muttered, taking the eggs off the stove and using the spatula to move them onto the bread which laid open on the two plates next to her. "Bird flu, swine flu..." she listed, grabbing a bottle of ketchup and squirting the contents onto the food. "They turned out to be nothing worse than the common cold, and look how much attention and worry that got." turning around, she walked over to Darcy and placed the plates down. "I think they like making people panic. Want them to believe it's the end of the world so they go out and buy a load of crap."

"Mm," Darcy hummed sleepily, lifting her head up. She wasn't really paying attention to her Mother's rant; she felt like crap. Last night, sleep didn't come easy. She had this stupid idea to call Daryl, on her personal cell, and she couldn't decide whether or not she wanted to go through with it. Hence, the no sleep and feeling like shit. She knew her hair was messier than Fey's coat after she'd rolled in mud, and her mouth was drier than old lady Martha's panties, and all she wanted to do was crawl back into bed and catch up on the sleep she'd missed.

"Smart move really," Jasmine continued, leaning forward against the counter and picking up her egg toasted sandwich. "If ya think you're gonna die, you're gonna wanna do, and buy, things you never got a chance to, huh?" she leaned forward and took a bite.

"Uh huh." Darcy half-heartedly agreed, picking up her own sandwich and mirroring her Mother's actions. She wasn't really that hungry. Never was first thing in the morning but if she didn't eat now, she would have to cook later, something her tired body didn't want her doing. So it was easier to just say 'yes' when Jasmine offered to cook for her.

"Wonder what I would do," Jasmine spoke thoughtfully. "I've always wanted to go to Paris. City of love." she smiled wishfully and spoke questioningly, "I wonder if Alec would take me..."

"'M sure he will, Ma." Darcy assured her with a yawn before taking a bite of her breakfast. She wondered what Daryl would do if he got a phone call off of her. Would he be mad? Or maybe, which she hoped, would he be happy?

"We interrupt this station for some breaking news," came over the radio, making Jasmine roll her eyes as she ate her sandwich. "Reports of this virus are on the rise. Within the last half hour, the total casualties have risen by-"

"So, tell me, sweetie," Jasmine spoke up once she had finished her mouthful. "How's everything with you and this Daryl guy?" she questioned casually.

"S'good." Darcy told her, holding her sandwich in one hand while using the back of her other hand to rub the sleep out of her right eye. Jeez, she really needed to wake up. Her work line would be open in about half hour and she couldn't be talking to them like a brainless moron.

"Just...good?" Jasmine pushed, wanting more details. Honestly, she was worried that this guy was trying to take her little girl for a ride, so she wanted to be 'in' on as much details as she could get. It was the only way she could try and stop her girls heart from being broke.

Darcy took one last bite before placing the crust back on her plate. She never ate the crust; had hated it since she was a child. She was the same with any other foods which was chewier than usual, and drier. Suppressing a yawn, she repeated. "Just good." before standing up, leaning over the counter, giving her Mom a kiss on the forehead and heading towards the stairs.

She knew what her Mom was trying to do, and she wasn't going to fall for it. Plus, she really needed to get ready for work. She had a long day ahead of her.

Her dream stayed with her as they walked to the designated town the next morning. It had been a few months since she had thought of him – Daryl – and it left her feeling emotional and shaky. She assumed that he was dead, like everyone else she cared about, and she tried her hardest not to think about the phone calls they shared.

It was easier that way; she didn't cry as much that way.

Her companions noticed her mood but didn't question her on it. She got like this every once in a while and they knew from experience that they should just leave her alone and let her work through her thoughts.

In her mind though, she just wished that she could have met him. Had the chance to know him better; see what he looked like. Although she doubted that it would make much difference. She couldn't remember what half the people she used to know looked like nowadays; it had been that long.

She didn't know if it would be easier on her, or harder, but something she desperately wished was that she remembered what he sounded like. His voice always made her feel safe, and in the beginning of this thing, she would often try to remember what it sounded like just to comfort her.

But as time went on, it was like his voice faded more and more whenever she tried to think of it until she was left with this dull tone in her head which sounded nothing like him.

"Darcy." Daniels whispered in her direction, making her turn to him, hand on her AK-45 which hung from the strap on her shoulder. Before the world went to shit, she had never even handled a weapon. The only way she survived for the first year and a half was because of stealth and her Mom's kitchen knife. It wasn't until she met Daniels, and he taught her how to use one, that she first touched a gun.

She quickly examined the street, making sure there was no threats. The town was small, and the roads were clear other than broken glass and old garbage. "Yeah?" she replied back quietly, turning her gaze to him.

"You know the drill," he told her, lifting his hand which didn't hold his gun and pointing towards a dusty corner shop. "In and out in five minutes; no more, no less."

Flashing him a small smirk, she purposely purred, "Yes, sir." before heading into the direction he pointed. She knew what shop he meant; it was the only shop over there which didn't look like it had been raided completely.

"Darcy..." he growled warningly behind her, making her laugh silently as she continued her path, making sure to keep her eyes on any alleys, or hidden areas where the dead could pop out of no where.

She peeked through the window when she reached it, searching for any movement but coming up with nothing. Glancing behind her one more time, she saw that her team-mates had headed into their own stores and she nodded to herself before glancing down and setting the timer on her watch.

05:00.

Pulling open the door, she immediately began searching the shelves at the front of the store but found them all empty other than a few packs of cough sweets. Ah well, she thought while shoving them into her ruck-sack, you never know.

By the time she finished with the front of the shop, a minute had passed, and she realized that she would most likely be finished before the five-minutes was up. So she decided to be extra thorough and headed towards the back corner of the store where three shelves laid slanted against a fourth shelf which rested flat against the wall.

It took a few attempts but she managed to stand them up, and saw a few forgotten bottles on the floor, most likely where they had fallen off from whoever moved the shelves. She recognized two of the bottles as Xanax and painkillers. Shoving them into her bag, she made a move to leave the store when something caught her eye.

A door was barely visible behind where the fourth shelf stood against – what she thought had been – the wall. With a small frown, she hiked her bag onto her shoulders before moving back to it and gripping the metal with her hands.

It screeched along the floor, making her wince, and say, "Shh." as if it would listen to her. Of course, it didn't, and she knew that there was a Walker behind the door from the weak pounding which started, most likely triggered by all the noise she was making.

Once she had managed to pull it out of the way, the pounding was louder, and she glanced down at her watch once more.

02:45

She would have to be quick, she decided while pulling her knife out of the holster attached to her thigh. Holding it ready above her head, she moved towards the door and stood in front of it. Counting to three, she pushed the door open with force, knocking the Walker behind it over.

The Walker stumbled - luckily it was only the one – and she grabbed hold of the green shirt it wore before yanking it up and forcing the blade of her weapon into it's right eye socket with a squelch. It's weight grew heavy as whatever life it had disappeared and she let it fall to the ground.

Wiping her blade on the top of her shorts, she cleaned all the blood away before placing it back into her holster and glancing at her watch once again.

02:28

Licking her lips, she turned her attention to the hidden room she stood in and pivoted, searching for anything which could be of use. It was an office, compete with a computer, desk and chair. Oh, and a plant, but that was pretty much it.

Blowing a breath between her lips, she muttered, "Awesome." before heading towards the desk. As much as she wanted to leave it, she knew from experience that you found unexpected things in unusual places, and she couldn't not look just in case.

The first two draws were useless – nothing but paper work - but in the third, she found a mutli-pack of tissues, chewing gum and half a bottle of antibiotics. "Least we have something to wipe our asses with." she mumbled with a shrug and pulled her bag off her back once more so she could place the stuff she found in it.

She went to leave when she noticed something on the ground under the desk; it was a small strip of paper and she knelt down to pick it up, feeling curious.

The white paper was scrunched up and she smoothed it out with her thumb, making her realize what it was; it was one of those things you found inside a fortune cookie. She read what it said with a small laugh. "Something wonderful is about to happen."

Rolling her eyes, she placed the paper on the desk before turning and leaving the room. "Think I'd rather have the damn cookie." And she didn't even like the taste of them that much, but nowadays, food was food.

She was just about to exit the store when shouting appeared from down the street, soon followed by men she didn't recognize walking out of a shop with a gun pointed to Jacob's head. She ducked behind the front display, her heart pounding in her chest. "Where the hell is Jack?" she whispered quietly to herself. Jack was Daniels' first name; Daniels' being his surname, the name he preferred to go by.

"Got anoth'r one 'ere!" drawled one of the unfamiliar men as he exited another one of the shops. He had something that looked like a crossbow pointed to Daniels' head as he walked him towards the others.

"Oh fuck." she breathed out, her eyes widening when she realized that she was the only one who could get them out of this situation. "Fuck, fuck, fuck..."

"Ya'll got anyone else you ain't tellin' us about, huh?" The man with the crossbow drawled angrily, shoving the weapon in Daniels face.

"No." Daniels replied roughly, his hands on his head.

"Don't trust 'em, Rick." he drawled again, shaking his head while not once losing eye contact. "Bay-watch here said the same damn thing."

"Hey." Jacobs frowned, offended at the nickname. His hair wasn't that long and blonde.

"Shut up." Both Daniels and the crossbow guy snapped at him.

The man – presumably Rick – nodded and ran a hand down his face before turning to the third guy next to him. "Glenn, lets go and check it out," he turned back to the crossbow guy. "Can you handle 'em?"

Crossbow nodded. "No way am I getting' taken down by these two pansies."

Darcy bit her lip. Hard. She couldn't she let them come looking. They would find her then they would have no chance getting out of this situation. Suddenly, an idea came to her and she clumsily pulled her walkie-talkie off her belt and brought it up to her mouth.

"Let them go." she ordered, hearing the faint sound of her voice in the distance. It was that moment her watch began to vibrate and she glanced down at it. 00:00.

Rick seemed to freeze at that and shared a look between his men before reaching towards Jacob and grabbing the walkie-talkie off his belt. "Someone there?" Rick spoke, his voice low and threatening.

"More than one." she lied, hoping she didn't sound as shaky as she felt. "Got a sniper aimin' at everyone of your guys heads." They all seemed to stiffen at that and she held in her smile. Gotcha.

He didn't speak into the radio this time, instead he spoke to the crossbow guy. "You think she's tellin' the truth?"

Crossbow shrugged. "Ain't no way'a tellin'." he replied. "But we can't take the risk."

"Your man with the crossbow is a smart one." she said, mostly just wanting to scare them, and from the glances they gave each other, it succeeded. "Want'chu to let my men go, or I'll order 'em to shoot."

Suddenly, the guy with a crossbow glanced around, an expression on his face she couldn't read from this distance, and then he grabbed Rick and stepped close to him, whispering something in his ear. Rick nodded once before placing the walkie-talkie in front of his mouth. "We don't want anyone to get hurt," he told her, his voice softer than before. "You step out of your hiding place and we'll do what you want."

She frowned, not liking the sound of that but knowing she didn't have much choice. "You try anything funny..."

"They'll shoot. Understood." he spoke one last time before lowering the walkie-talkie and glancing around.

She took a deep breath before standing up, gun raised. They didn't spot her at first, and she managed to step out the door just before crossbow noticed her and jerked his head in her direction. He didn't move his weapon away from Daniels or Jacob but his eyes were on her.

Rick didn't raise his own weapon. Instead he held up his hands in a calming manner as she approached. "I was hoping we could do this peacefully." he hinted, glancing at her gun.

She knew that he wanted her to lower her weapon but... "It ain't happening." she told him, stopping a few feet away. "You gonna let 'em go, or what?"

"Uh, yeah-" he went to speak but interrupted himself by taking a quick step forward and grabbing the front of her gun, pushing the barrel away from their direction.

It caused her to accidentally fire, making them all wince at the sound, and she tried tugging the gun away from him with a shout of "Hey!" but then she realized that she had fallen straight into their trap; Rick was only the distraction.

Arms appeared from behind her, one pining her arms to her body while the other covered her mouth, knowing she was gonna scream at the suddenly movement, and she did, but the sound was muffled. In the background, she heard Daniels and Jacob shouting, and she noticed that Crossbow was no longer pointing his weapon at them; the man Rick had called 'Glenn' was, which meant that Crossbow was the one behind her.

She tried to tell him to get off of her but it was stopped by his hand. She thrashed against him, hearing him grunt as he tried to keep hold of her.

"Easy, ya liddol spit-fire." he drawled, his voice strained as his arms tightened. "Ain't no need ta hurt ya if ya be good, now."

She didn't listen and opened her mouth so she could sink her teeth into his hand. Hard. It distracted him long enough to remove his hand, and now that she was less restricted, she slammed her head back against his nose, hearing him curse loudly and stumble back.

She could taste his blood in her mouth, dripping down her lip and she wiped it away before reaching for her gun again, only to find Rick pointing it in her face. For a moment, she just frowned, wondering how the hell he got it off of her but then she noticed the broken strap dangling down by his hands; it must have broken in the struggle.

Defeated and breathing heavily, she held up her hands and gave him a sheepish smile. "Uh...sorry?" was the only thing she could think of saying.

So you can probably see that Darcy and Daniels have some sort of romantic thing going on. I promise that it all just adds to the drama, and Darcy and Daryl will still end up together. It just means we get to see alot of jealous and possessive Daryl when they find out exactly who each other are ;). Trust me on this, it's going to be good!

Thanks for reading!