Wasn't Expecting That

Hey guys! So this is my new fanfic I'm trying out. It's a Daryl/OC that will take place in an AU of sorts in Alexandria. Basically, I'm not planning on writing in the Negan storyline, its just going to be a fun, fairly lighthearted romance taking place in Alexandria. So if that's your thing, hopefully you'll enjoy this story

Chapter 1.

Past and Present

Hoofbeats on asphalt is such a calming sound, I thought to myself as I made my way down the empty highway on my horse Sandy. It would have been more relaxing if I didn't have to be on high alert for zombies all the time. But, hey, that's just my life now.

However, I'm damn good at surviving this shitty card I've been dealt. If I do say so myself

And it was true. When the walkers, as I now called, first started rising, I was 26 and fresh out veterinary school. The only thing I was worried about was trying to find a job. I assumed the weird stories I kept hearing on the news were just more cases of drugs gone bad. Until I got the call that made me realize they weren't.

I can still remember it, clear as day. My mom called me, and I could barely hear what she was saying because of commotion in the background "Liz. I need you to listen to me. You need to get away from the cities right now. Something's not right. Go to our old cabin out in the woods and don't go near any people. We'll try and find you as soon as we can." Before I could say anything, I heard my dad on the phone. "Liz, listen to your mother. Do you hear me? Did you understand what we said?" I was silent for a minute, trying to process what I was being told. "Elizabeth. I need you to answer. Did you hear what we said?" Finally, I managed to respond. "yes dad, I hear you. What's going on? How do I get there? Are you guys ok..." I started to ramble as I felt panic start to take hold. My dad quickly cut me off. "Honey, I can't answer all these questions because we don't know what's going on. But you need to get the hell out of dodge as fast as you can. Stay off the roads if possible. And take a gun. Your mother and I will do our best to make our way back to you." Suddenly a large bang sounded over the phone and the screaming I could hear faintly got louder, along with what sounded like growls. "Shit…sweetheart me and your mother have to go. We love you. So much." My mom's voice came back over the speaker. "I love you baby. Stay safe" With tears streaming down my cheeks, I croaked out an I love you before I heard a click.

That was the last thing I heard from my parents

I followed their advice as best I could, quickly shoving clothes into a small bag and grabbing both my handgun and my shotgun, along with all the ammunition I saw. Running outside, I started towards my car, but then my dad's Stay off the roads if possible rang through my head. I stopped, thinking about what I should do. Looking around, I suddenly saw my horse standing at the gate to the barn. The original off-road vehicle I thought as I headed to the barn. 10 minutes later, I was headed into the woods behind my house on Sandy. With one last look back at the house I grew up in, I headed into the trees.

I made it to our family cabin after a few hours. And I stayed there for a few weeks, as there was quite a store of food there. Eventually when my parents didn't show up, I decided to make my way out to see if I could find them. As I got close to our home, I saw some movement through the trees. Thinking it might be my parents, I smiled and urged Sandy on faster. But what I saw once I exited the tree line will haunt me till the day I die

It was my parents, but not really. It was just what was left of their bodies. The only reason I could tell it was them was by the cloths left on their rotting bodies. No, these weren't my parents anymore. Just empty shells. Both creatures turned towards me as I moved towards them. I jumped off Sandy, grabbing my gun as I did. Both started towards me, growling and snarling. I told them to stop, but no response. Backing away, I reached down and grabbed a rock and threw it one of them. Didn't even slow them down. Running out of options, I raised my gun to what was left of my mother, tears running down my face, and fired a shot into her chest. She fell to the ground in a heap. I turned to my father and repeated the process. As soon as my dad hit the ground, I fell to my knees, sobbing into the grass.

But it wasn't over. I heard the snarling start up again and I slowly raised my head in disbelief. Both creatures were back up and headed towards me again. Quickly grabbing my gun, I stood and did the only thing I could do. I fired a shot into each of their heads. And this time, they didn't get up.

A few hours later, after I buried what was left of my parents, I headed back into the woods to my new home. And that's where I stayed for the most part up until about 6 months ago. I occasionally ventured into town after a few months, but it was barren by the time I worked up the nerve to go there. The only thing I found was a compound bow, which I taught myself to shoot in all the free time I had out in the woods.

Following my parents advice, I avoided people for the most part. My first run in with people happened to be the worst one. It was one of my first trips to town. I stumbled across a man and woman rummaging through an old grocery store. They seemed nice at first, but the next thing I knew, I had a gun to my head. They stole what little I had in my bag and left me high and dry. Lesson learned.

After that, I figured alone was safer. Easier. Better. And it was, for the most part. So, I kept myself isolated, with just Sandy for company. Until I didn't. Until Katie.

Nope. Shut that thought process down real quick, Liz. Knocking that train of thought out of my head, I went back to remembering how I'd gotten so lucky that Aaron had found me.

When Aaron had stumbled upon me 6 months ago in the woods and promised he had a walled in community, I was suspicious to say the least. But he seemed a good man and I was really starving for some human company, so I cautiously followed him after thoroughly making sure he was unarmed. And I wasn't disappointed. Alexandria was exactly what he had described.

Alexandria had its issues, sure. But it also had giant walls, and food, and people. Alexandria had a community, and after over a year on my own, that's what I needed. Sure, I still kept to myself for the most part and the only real friends I'd made where Aaron and his partner Eric, but it was nice to just live with people I could trust in the vicinity again.

As I rounded the final corner, the gates of my new home came into view. I let out a sigh of relief and slowed Sandy down into a walk for the final stretch as I see the guards start motioning to open the gate to the guys below.

"Hey Liz! How'd the hunt go today?" one of the guys, Erin, shouted down from the top of the fence.

I held up my decently sized string of rabbits and squirrels as an answer. "Decent. Could've been worse."

Erin threw me a quick thumbs up and then turns to get back to his lookout duties. As I moved Sandy through the gate, I turned to start untying my string of game from the saddle, glancing forward quickly just to make sure there was nothing in front of me. What I saw made me quickly pull Sandy to a stop as I tried to keep jaw from dropping open.

Probably should have brought some more meat home

A large group of strangers were standing about half a block in front of me with Deanna. They all looked road-worn and dirty, but I could tell they were on alert as the all stared curiously back at me.

Well I must admit, seeing a girl on horseback isn't the most common thing anymore. Probably wondering why I haven't eaten Sandy yet.

Shaking myself from my trance, I cautiously urged sandy forward, skirting around the edge of the group, trying to avoid eye contact with them as much as possible.

Still can't make eye contact with a crowd, I see. The apocalypse doesn't change everything I guess

Deanna smiled at me as I neared the front. "Ah, there you are Liz. Get anything good today?" I shyly held up my haul. Deanna's smile brightened considerably. "Lovely. Something to share with our new friends," she said as she turned to the group. "This is Liz. She joined us about 6 months ago, but has been a great addition so far, as you can see." I blushed under her praise as she turned back to me and gestured to the bearded man closest to me. "Liz, this is Rick and his group. They'll hopefully be joining our community." I glanced up as Rick nodded to me. I did a quick nod back as I scanned the rest of the group.

Saying it was an odd assortment of people would be an understatement. Besides Rick, there was a woman with 2 katana blades strapped to her, a woman that appeared to be a normal housewife, a man wearing a leather vest looking at me curiously, a pretty brown-haired girl about my age with a Korean man who I assumed she was with by the way they were standing, and a teenage boy, to name a few. It was what the teenage boy was holding that stopped me in my tracks again.

Is that…a baby?

Shock must have been apparent on my face because suddenly Rick spoke up for the first time. "That's my son and daughter, Carl and Judith." My eyes shot to him and back to his children quickly. I decided against saying anything and just nodded my head again.

Finished with my quick perusal of the strangers, I tried to think of something nice and charming to say to the group to welcome them, but the best I could get out was a quiet "welcome to Alexandria" before I turned Sandy and trotted off towards my home.

Welcome to Alexandria. That's all you could think of brain? Really? Hostess of the year award is coming my way obviously

Shaking my head at my lack of social skills, I switched my train of thought back to the new group. They looked like a group that had seen some shit, as most people who have been out there for extended periods do. But to me that was a welcome relief. After having been on my own for a long time, I could tell the people of Alexandria, though they had many other great qualities, were extremely unprepared for the world out there. Having a large group of people that can actually take care of themselves would be a welcome addition to the group

Trying not to get to hopeful, I swung down off Sandy as I reached my house, giving her a quick pat. Tying her to the porch, I shoved thoughts of the new group out of my head and began unsaddling my horse. One last thought filtered through my head though.

Maybe these people are just what we needed

As always, feel free to read and review!