Four Years Old

"H-A-T, 'at" the little girl said, spelling the word before trying to pronounce it.

Daryl Dixon shook his head, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You have to pronounce the H Clove, Ha-Ha-Hat."

"Ha-Ha-'at" Clove copied, her little eyebrows drawn down. "Ha-Ha-'at. Ha-Ha-Hat! I did it Rayl, Ha-Ha-Hat! See, I can do it!"

"Good job, high five, Chip!" Daryl grinned, holding up his hand for the four year old to hit.

Daryl watched as she went back to her little spelling book, spelling out more words before saying them. When she got them wrong, he corrected her. Once she pronounced the word correctly, she would give him a large smile, one of her front teeth missing.

Sitting with a four year old, helping her learn her words, it wasn't strange for him. He'd known the girl since her birth, their fathers being drinking buddies. Being just ten years old, he didn't like the small baby and refused to have any contact with her. He only saw her once or twice after that, until she was three and her mother died. At thirteen, Daryl had to step in and help look after the kid, it was either him taking care of her or the little girl dying; her father didn't care. When he wasn't in Juvie, Daryl's older brother, Merle, would help look after the little girl as well.

Though the two Dixon brothers were known for being the tough bullies in the small town, they acted completely different around Clove. She was a child, innocent against all the things going on around her. They knew about her daddy too, he would drink and hit at her, not caring that she was only a little toddler. It was just like what they had to go through.

Sitting in a small clearing in the middle of the forest, with a four year old who was learning her words, was the usual thing for the fourteen year old boy.

Eight Years Old

"Daryl! Daryl! Open up! Please, Daryl!" Daryl opened his eyes, hearing Clove's words and the pounding of her fist on the door.

"Clove?!" he got up quickly, nearly running to reach the door and pull it open.

And there she stood, her face covered in tears and her lips trembling. Her body shook but it wasn't from the cold, it was a warm Georgian night. Then he saw it, peaking over the shoulders of her light blue shirt. Blood.

He opened the door wider, stepping to the side to let her in. As she stepped passed, he caught a glimpse of her back. Angry lines of blood ripped across the light blue fabric, standing out and screaming for attention. It explained why she was shaking, why she had tears streaming down her face and why she had came to his house.

His house was the only safe place for her to go. As soon as he had turned eighteen, Daryl had brought his own little trailer. It was safe, only for him and her, if needed. None of their dads could come in and hurt them, this was their safe haven.

He had a small little room at the back of the trailer and had made it up for her, when he first moved in. Daryl had wanted her to stay with him but her daddy went mad, threatened to have Daryl arrested for kidnapping. He had to let her go.

She came around often, sleeping there at least once a week. It was the only time she could sleep, knowing she was safe and no one was going to burst into her room and attack her; like what had obviously happened tonight.

Daryl guided her to the small couch, sitting her down and telling her to wait for him. He went into the bathroom which had barely enough room for a toilet, shower and a small sink. Above the sink was a cabinet filled with the wipes he would need to clean her back. He grabbed a box along with bandages and medical tape. Before going back to her, he grabbed a clean top from her supply in her bedroom and a pair of scissors from a draw near the kitchen.

He set everything down on the floor beside the couch, taking a seat behind her. Taking a deep breath, knowing what horror was about to be before him, he carefully put the scissors to the middle of the top and started cutting. Putting the scissors down, he gently pulled the piece of clothing from her skin; it still hurt her though and she gave a small whimper.

He took a deep breath, staring at Clove's back. There were cuts all over it, blood dripping from the wounds. It was obvious that she had been beaten with her father's leather belt. When Daryl was beaten by his father, his wounds also looked like this.

"Stay still, Chip" he said to her, dabbing carefully at the skin using a wipe.

"It hurts" Clove cried, squirming again.
"I know but it'll hurt even more with you jiggling about" he told her. "Trust me."

She let out a large sigh, fighting to hold still while he cleaned her back. "Is it really bad?"

"Nah, its fine" he lied, even though he worried over the blood. "Ya gonna have scars though..."

"That's what daddy wanted" she whispered. "He said I was getting too pretty, like mama used to be. He said the scars would scare the boys away and I'll be able to stay with him forever."

Daryl didn't say anything, just shook his head and sighed.

"I don't wanna stay there forever Daryl" Clove told him, turning to look at his face. "You and Merle have to take me away. We could go live in a castle, I can be a princess and you and Merle can be the knights who look after me."

"I'll get you out of there one day, Clover, I will, I promise" he told her. "But I can't yet. I could get in a lot of trouble, be taken away for a long time."

She sighed, turning back around to let him carry on treating her back. "I wish you and Merle could take me away. I don't like daddy."

Eleven Years Old

"Come on, you're eleven now" Merle said, leading the way into the woods. "Time to grow a pair and stop whining."

"But I can't grow a pair, Merle, I'm a girl" she smiled back at him.

"Shut up" he snapped at her, giving her a glare which she only laughed at.

"I don't wanna learn how to shoot the crossbow" Clove told him, kicking at the forest ground. "I don't want to be like Daryl."

"What's wrong with being like me?!" Daryl asked, offended as he looked down at her.

"Your bossy, and annoying" she replied, turning back to Merle. "I wanna do something cool, like you. I wanna throw knives too!"

Merle wasn't looking at Clover though, but was instead looking over the top of her head. He gave Daryl a smirk, raising an eyebrow at him. Merle had taken over as Clove's favourite person, officially. Over the past two weeks, she had been following him around and trying to copy him, only paying a minimal amount of attention to Daryl.

Daryl glared back at his older brother, jealous that he had been knocked down a place on her list of favourite people. He was used to having all her attention, having her look up to him. He used to be the one that Clove wanted to be like.

"Merle" Clove tugged on his hand, gaining his attention again. "I wanna learn how to throw knives."

"Sure thing, sweetheart" he smiled at her.

Fourteen Years Old

Clove laid on Daryl's bed, flipping a knife in her hand. She stared up at the ceiling, thinking about throwing a knife into it. Daryl would get mad though and take her knives away...again. She'd had her knives taken more than three times over the past couple of years, by both Daryl and Merle.

"Luke Turner tried to kiss me today" Clove said casually, turning the knife over.

"What?!" Daryl asked, moving the towel away from his head in order to be able to look over at her properly.

"Yeah, in the playground" she told him. "In front of everyone."

"Did you kiss him back?" Daryl inquired, turning to face her properly. "You're too young to have a boyfriend."

"Are you deaf?! I said he tried" she rolled her eyes. "I hit him."

Sixteen Years old

"Do I look okay?" Clove asked, fiddling with her hair.

"You look fine" Daryl grumbled back, not even turning to look at her.

Merle rolled him eyes, smirking at him brother before turning to Clove. "You look great, sweetheart."

"Daryl? What do you think?" Clove's voice shook slightly, her nerves showing. "And look at me this time, you haven't got eyes in the back of your head."

Sighing, Daryl turned his head to look at her. His jaw clenched as he took in her appearance. Her brown hair hang over her chest, straight as a ruler. Her grey eyes were clear and framed with long, dark lashes with winged eye liner. She wore a tight, long sleeved blue dress which fell to mid-thigh, showing off her long legs; a black bow belt around her waist. Her black heels added to help make her legs longer. In her hand was a small, black, clutch bag.

Daryl throat got dryer, she looked beautiful. "You look good. Don't get why you're dressing up for him though."
"Its a date Daryl, girls are meant to dress up" Merle laughed.

"Okay, well, I've got to go. I said I'll meet him at the end of the road" she turned for the door. "See you guys later."
"Tell David we said hi!" Merle called after her.

Seventeen Years Old

Daryl held Clove against him, feeling helpless and unsure as she cried into his shoulder. This was the most physical contact he had engaged in...ever. When she was little, she would hold Daryl's hand but that stopped when she turned ten. They would hug when they saw each other, that stopped not long after her fifteenth birthday. Their contact had become less and less, and now this was strange for him.

"It was all just some stupid joke!" she cried. "He was dared to go out with me. I caught him being given the money and he just told me that our relationship wasn't real. That I was ugly and white trash, no one would want me."

Daryl's arms tightened around her, his blood pulsing in anger. How could someone say that to her?! She was perfect. She was beautiful, smart...She wasn't trash at all.

"He's right. No one will ever love me" she cried.

He didn't say anything, just held her close. He stroked her hair, trying to calm her down some. It wasn't long until Merle walked in, having left when Clove had first told them what happened. "Where have ya been?"

Merle shrugged. "Sorted him out.

Eighteen Years Old

Clove rushed into the trailer, the biggest smile on her face. Her eyes shone with happiness and pride. Her hair, tied in a messy plait, bobbed against her chest ad she breathed heavily. Daryl sat on his couch, waiting for her to get her breath back as he flicked through the channels on the TV.

"You...or Merle..." Clove gasped.

"Merle's gone back to the cage" Daryl told her, taking a sip of lukewarm beer. "Went this morning."

"What?" the smile fell from her face, her voice tinged with sadness.

"Sorry, Chip" he sighed. He was quiet for another few minutes. "What got you so excited?"

"I...I won some prom tickets and vouchers" she told him. "I can afford a dress now, a pair of shoes too. I... I was going to ask if you or Merle would take me to prom."

"I ain't going to no lame dance" his voice was hard and disgusted at the suggestion.

Clove sighed, walking over to sit on the couch besides him. She dropped the envelope onto the small coffee table, leaning back against the plush cushions. She knew he would say no, she knew Merle would say no if he were here. With Merle though, she could easily just persuade him, Daryl was a little more difficult.

"That's what I thought you would say" Clove grumbled. "This is my one chance at going to a school dance and you won't even take me. Its not fair, Merle would have."
"I don't care what Merle would have done, he's not here" Daryl snapped. "Quit ya whining. Its just a stupid dance. Go with one of your friends."
"You and Merle are my only friends..." her voice was low with embarrassment, realising how pathetic that sounded.

"Go by yourself then" he shrugged. "I ain't taking ya to no dance."

Eighteen Years Old

Clove looked beautiful, no one at the prom could deny that. She wore a strapless cream dress, the waist upwards decorated with sparkling glitter. The glitter went down in an ombre effect through the flowing dress, which was floor length; it was a big puffy one but it still still flowed well. Her silver gem encrusted heels added to her hight but were invisible under the long skirt of the dress. Her long brown hair fell in loose curls over her chest; she had never looked beautiful in her life.

Though everyone agreed about her appearance, no one asked her to dance. She was the weird girl. She lived in a trailer with one her of best-friends, who was a guy, and her other best-friend was a druggie who liked to beat anyone who hurt her up. And so she sat a little round table, alone, watching as her classmates laughed and danced.

Maybe she shouldn't have gone to the dance, maybe it was a mistake. It was obvious that she would either sit at the little table all night or dance alone. She didn't really want to do either. She wanted to go home. She stood up, turning to the entrance of the dance hall and froze.

Clove watched as Daryl walked in, shocked. He wore a suit, something she had never seen in her life. His bow tie was a little wonky but it was to be expected from him. By the expression on his face, Clove could tell he was both nervous and annoyed and she couldn't help but smile.

His eyes scanned the room, stopping when they rested on her. They widened, seeing her in her prom dress for the first time. She was a woman now, a breathtaking woman. He let a small smile show as he walked towards her, one hand in his pants pocket as he fiddled with something.

"You came" Clove said, pure joy lacing her words.

"Couldn't leave you to the sharks" Daryl told her, glancing around before looking back at her. "You don't look too bad, Chip."

"Neither do you" she smirked. "Merle's?"

Daryl looked down at the suit he was wearing. "Yeah, he has a few for court. Thought I would take one for the night." his hand came out of his pocket, a small box twiddled in fingers, "I got ya something."

Clove grinned when she saw the little box, "Show me!"

He lifted it up so she could see it properly before opening it. On a plush black cushion sat a beautiful necklace. A silver heart hung from a matching, thin, silver chain. The heart was see through and hollow, yet the view was stopped by the swirls going across the middle of it.

Clover couldn't believe her eyes, it was breathtaking. She had never seen a piece of jewellery before, never mind something as perfect and beautiful as the necklace before her. Her mouth hanging open, she looked at Daryl in shock.

"Do you like it?" He asked, nerves clouding his voice. "I can take it back if you don't, get ya something different if ya want."

Clove threw her arms around his neck, pressing herself against him in a tight hug. "I love it!"

Daryl sighed, "Good. Ya had me worried for a second."

She let go and turned her back to him, moving her hair out of the way. "Put it on for me?"

Daryl carefully removed the necklace from its holder, dropping the empty box onto the table. He looped it around her neck, letting the heart drop down onto her chest. He clasped it and put it down to rest, his fingers ghosting over her soft skin.

Clove turned back to face him, fingers touching the necklace gently. "Thank you, Daryl." She said before pressing a quick kiss to his cheek.

Daryl dropped his gaze, his face beginning to heat with embarrassment. "Yeah, whatever."

Nineteen Years Old

"Hey, Chip, do you-" Daryl cut off, his mouth dropping open. "What the hell!"

"Daryl!" Clove shrieked.

"Dude, get out!" the other bloke snapped.

Daryl quickly left the room, moving to his own instead. He should have knocked, should have thought. But he wasn't used to knocking though, he usually just walked in the room when he wanted to talk to her. And, normally, she was reading or doing some school work...not that!

Daryl's eyes burned. He couldn't get the image of Clove naked from his mind. Her pale skin glowed in the faint bedroom light. She was skinny and short in height, yet her body was one a man would drool over. Her breasts were full and plump, her ass round and firm.

He didn't expect to walk into her room and find her standing in front of some guy, completely undressed. He didn't expect to walk in right as they were about to have sex! And she still had the necklace on, the one he had brought her a few months ago for prom. She was going to have sex with some stranger while wearing something he had brought her?! Ew, gross!

The image of Clove's body entered his mind again and he could feel his trousers becoming tighter. Oh god, this was bad, so fucking bad! He had known her through the whole of her life. Helped look after her when she was young. They were best-friends, he couldn't think about her in that way.

There was a knock on the door but he just ignored it, keeping his eyes closed as he laid back on the bed. He heard the door click open before shutting again and he opened his eyes. Clove stood just in front of the closed door, her head down and she was fully dressed.

"What?" he snapped, his voice harder than he meant it to be.

"You should have knocked" Clove told him.

"Its my damn house, I shouldn't have to knock. Besides, how was I supposed to know you were whoring yourself out" he said.

She flinched. "I'm not a whore Daryl. He would have been the second guy, you've slept with loads of other women. And you should knock, that was my room you barged into."

"Yeah, and you just walked into mine without permission" he pointed out. "Now get out of here, you're fucking disgusting."

"Daryl..." Clove's voice broke, shaking with sadness.

"Go!" he shouted at her.

She rushed out of the room, closing his bedroom door behind her. A few seconds later, he heard the front door slam shut as she left the little trailer...

Twenty-three Years Old

"Where's Chip?" Merle asked, settling himself onto the couch with a cool beer.

"Not 'ere" Daryl shrugged.

"Typical. Just get out after a five year sentence and she decides to go partying" Merle shook his head. "When she gonna be back."

"Don't know, she don't live here any more" the younger Dixon told him. "Moved out a couple of years ago, haven't spoken to her since."

"What?!" Merle asked in disbelief, looking at his younger brother.

"Got into a fight one night...Woke up the next morning to find all her stuff gone" Daryl replied. "No idea where she went."

Twenty-three Years Old

Clove sat in her little home. Everything was crammed into two rooms. One room held the contents of a bedroom, living room and a kitchen, the other room was a bathroom which was smaller than the one she used to have in the trailer. She hated it all.

Her chest ached as she thought about the date. Tomorrow would be Daryl's birthday, the fourth one she will have missed. She was a terrible friend. Leaving without a word just because of some stupid fight.

Well, this year, there would be something a little different. She would go to his trailer, leave something for him. She had made a small bracelet of leather for him, knowing he would only wear it if it was 'manly'. It lay wrapped in a small plastic bag on her lap, ready for her to leave it on his doorstep.

Clove knew that he thought she had moved far away, to another town or something. He was wrong though. She lived in the forest, a small twenty minute walk from his trailer. She had found it, abandoned, the night she had walked out on him and had claimed it as her own.

She got a little piece of paper and a black pen.

Happy Birthday Daryl,

-Chip x

Using some sticky tape, she attached it to the small package. She left her small home, walked towards his house. There was light on in the trailer and she could hear the TV. Clove put the gift on the step just outside the door before knocking. She quickly ran back to the forest, hiding behind the tree to watch and see if he came out.

Daryl opened the door and frowned as he sees no one outside. Just as he moved to go back inside, he saw the little gift. He bent down and picked it up, pulling the note from the little package. He read it, a small smile taking over his face.

"Where are ya Chip?" Clove heard him ask, looking around. She took a step back, trying to move silently away but she stepped on a twig. Daryl heard the snap and his eyes widen when they see her. "Clover!"

He jumped from the trailer, running straight for her. She didn't bother with trying to run, like she wanted to, she knew he would catch her easily. Clove kept her head down, looking at the tips of her boots as a pair of strong arms wrapped around her.

Daryl hugged Clove to his chest, holding her tight and fearing to let her go. She buried her head in his neck, linking her arms around his waist.

"I'm sorry" she whispered, just loud enough for him to hear.

"Shush, its okay now" he kissed the top of her head.

Twenty-five Years Old

"Get ya stuff, we're leaving" Merle said as he entered the trailer, Daryl just behind him.

"What?" Clove asked, turning away from the TV where she had been watching the news.

"Those things have made it to town, heck, Mrs Jane across the road was one of 'em" Daryl replied, pointing in the direction of the old woman's home. "Go get ya bag, some knives."

Clove ran to her small bedroom, already pulling her top off. She had moved back to the trailer only a few months ago, wanting to be closer to the bothers again. She supposed it was a good thing, what with this new illness going around. It had been on TV the past week or two, people eating each other. If someone got bit, they died...then came back to eat other.

She changed into a black vest top and black skinny jeans, pulling her black hunting boots on and her favourite leather jacket. She strapped a holder of three throwing knives to her left leg, putting a holder of two on her left arm. A good number more of her throwing knives were attached to her belt, along with a hunting knife. She grabbed a leather backpack and filled it with clothes. She got her other leather traveler bag, taking it to the kitchen and filling it with any tins of food or any crackers she could find.

She went to leave the trailer, seeing the Dixon's in the truck already; Merle's bike in the bed. She stopped, hand flying to her chest. When her fingers made contact with the heart necklace Daryl had brought her, she stepped out of the trailer and shut the door.

Clove dropped her bags into the back before going around to the passengers side. She climbed over Daryl's lap, moving to sit in the middle of the brothers. When she glanced down, she could see Daryl's crossbow beside his feet with at least a dozen arrows...

"Where are we going?" Clove asked, looking at Merle as he started up the truck.

"Atlanta" he replied gruffly, beginning to drive through the town.

"Atlanta?!" she groaned, that was so far away.

"Better settle down for the ride, Chip, its gonna be a long one" Daryl said, looking out of the window.