So this story below is a total deviation from the plot of AMC's The Walking Dead, which I adore as is by the way. I'm itching for Daryl to have a love interest – female or male (as I know there are some rumors out there about that). I figure the show will get there eventually, but in the meantime, I've decided to create my own little plot line with a new character – simply for entertainment and enjoyment. I own nothing. Set starting right after Aaron convinced Daryl to be the other recruiter for Alexandria.

In the show:

Daryl: "Okay, I've got nothing else do to anyways," he says and pauses. I'll get you some rabbits."

Aaron smiles. "Okay."

My story…

"Well, I should be getting back," says Daryl.

"No rush," said Aaron. "No way the party is over yet. Your family is probably still there. Why don't you stay for some coffee? Do you like coffee?"

"Yeah, okay. Guess I could do that," Daryl responds.

"Great," Aaron says and walks over to hand him a key. "This key will get you into that door over there," he says pointing to the back of the garage. "You are welcome here any time – here in the garage or inside, okay?" Daryl takes the key and just nods his head. He's not used to such kindness, and though there's still a slight tinge of skepticism somewhere in the back of his mind, he can tell Aaron is just a genuinely nice, stand-up guy.

The pair makes their way back into the living room where Eric is sitting in a chair reading a book with his leg propped up. Daryl joins him sitting on the couch while Aaron heads to the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee.

"You must have said yes if you are staying," Eric says grinning. Daryl can't help but give him a slight smile.

"You okay with me taking your job," Daryl asked quietly.

"Yes," Eric responds. "I won't be really back on my feet for weeks, and to be honest I'm not really the right partner for Aaron out there. He worries too much about me, and it clouds his judgment. I'll honestly better about his safety with you than with me."

"Thanks, man," Daryl responds. He's again uncomfortable with how nice both these men are, but he knows it's not being fake. They are just nice.

"Do you want cream or sugar?" Aaron calls from the kitchen.

"No, black is fine," Daryl responds. A few minutes later Aaron comes into the room carrying a tray with three mugs of coffee. He hands Eric a cup that almost looks like milk. "Eric likes his cream with a splash of coffee," Aaron says laughing. "Hey," Eric says with fake hurt. "Don't make fun. Not much to enjoy in this world – can't a man have his coffee the way he likes it." "I'm kidding," Aaron replies gently passing Daryl one of the two black cups of coffee left on the tray. He takes the other for himself and sits down in a chair near Eric.

Daryl surprises himself by being the first one to talk, but he's curious to know more about his new role. "So, how does being a recruiter work?" he asks taking a sip of and savoring the hot coffee. He hasn't had coffee in more than a year before being here.

"Well, we typically go out every few weeks or so," Aaron replies. "Sometimes the other community members who patrol or go on food runs will see folks and we might go check it out, but mostly we sort of drive around and just see what we can find," Aaron continues. "In the past, Eric and I have recruited people maybe every three to four times. The other times, we either don't find anyone or we don't find the right people. We also look for supplies while we are out. We are usually gone for four to five days a time. You're family is the largest groups we've ever recruited. And we watched you for several weeks. It was a first for us. Most of the other people we bring in are alone, in pairs, or a family."

"How many people live here," Daryl asks.

Eric answers him. "About fifty now with your group. We think we could reasonably support up to a hundred though."

Daryl is getting ready to ask more when he hears the front door open. He immediately tenses, but Aaron quickly says, "Don't worry, it's just Eric's sister Abby. She was at the party. She lives here with us." Daryl relaxes and looks over the back of the couch just in time to see a bouncing long brown ponytail breeze past them down the hallway to the kitchen. He can see she's carrying several large trays in her hands. "Hi Abby," Eric calls out. "How was the party?"

"Great," the woman replies from the kitchen as she launches into a long description without letting anyone else get a word in edgewise. He can hear that she's unloading whatever she had in her hands into the fridge and onto the counter. "I brought home some leftover for you guys. Mrs. Norris made a chocolate cake that is to die for. Most of the newbies were there." Aaron glances uncomfortably at both Eric and Daryl as she says this. He knows that Abby speaks her mind without filters, and she's not aware at this point Daryl is there. Before he can interrupt her though she continues.

"They all seem really nice. Maggie is so sweet. I talked with her a bit. And, her husband Glenn is great too. Noah is really quiet. Abraham got pretty drunk," she laughs when she says this. "I think he was hitting on just about every girl there. Noah is quiet but sweet. I didn't get a chance to talk to many of the other folks. Everyone was dying to hold Rick's baby, so he was pretty tied up all night. There was one little outburst," she continues still sorting and straightening whatever she's brought back and not looking toward them in the living room. "Jeannine was badgering Sasha about what she could cook her for a meal. I mean really – the woman's been out in the woods for who knows how long eating who knows what if anything, and she's all, well I don't want to make you something you don't' like. Sasha yelled at her that it was stupid to worry about that. Or something like that. Anyways – I don't blame her. She's clearly still shell-shocked. I heard she lost her boyfriend and brother in like two weeks times That poor girl. I felt bad for her. Jeannine's pride was hurt I think but everyone moved on quickly."

Is she really still talking, Daryl thought to himself. How can she breathe? He was listening intently as she talked about his family and pleased so far at her assessment. It quieted to the point that he deduced she had finally put all her stuff away. He heard her open a cabinet and could see her pick up the coffee pot to pour herself a cup.

"Noticeably absent from the party was Daryl Dixon," she continued and Daryl came to full attention at the sound of his name. "Abby," Aaron said quickly attempting to interrupt her and get her attention as there was no telling what she was about to say. She didn't notice though and continued as she stirred some cream into her coffee. Daryl could only see her midsection because of the way the kitchen cabinets were constructed. "Too bad," she said laughing slightly. Then in a sort of sigh she added, "What I wouldn't give to be the one to tame that wild stallion!" All three men in the living room's eyes grew wide, and Eric nearly spit out the coffee he was drinking. Daryl was stunned. Did she really just say that? And, did she just say that about him?

Abby set down the spoon and finally emerged from the kitchen to come join them in the living room. "So, what have you two been up to?" she asked as she rounded the end of the counter. Complete silence fell over the room as she finally made eye contact with them and realized that there were three people in the living room – one of whom was Daryl Dixon. She stopped in her tracks, her eyes widened and she flushed – turning red everywhere not covered by her dress. It was Aaron who broke the silence, "Abby, this is Daryl Dixon. Daryl, Eric's sister Abby," he introduced them. Daryl stood and moved toward her to shake her hand. She grasped it firmly and held his gaze. Daryl took a moment to really finally look at her. He couldn't help but notice how pretty she was. She was in her mid to late 20s and had long dark brown hair pulled back into a high ponytail. She had bright green eyes and pale skin. She was about his height but was wearing several inch heals with a light purple dress. "Would it make it better or worse if I threw up right now," she asked him smiling in embarrassment. Daryl just laughed a bit and said, "It's nice to meet you." "Sorry about that," she said as he sat back down on the couch. She sat there too, but on the other end leaving the section in the middle open. "I was not aware we had guests." Daryl could tell she was embarrassed but not at all ashamed about what she had said. He immediately liked that. She was clearly a confident girl.

"Forgive my sister," Eric chimed in. "She has absolutely no sense of tact."

"I do too," Abby retorted in a way that only brothers and sisters talk to each other. "I didn't know he was here. I was just making girl talk with you two," she jokes diverting the attention back away from her. "Anyways – let's move on shall we," she said dramatically. They all laughed and did just that continuing to chat and talk over coffee. Daryl learned quickly that Abby had been living with Aaron and Eric while in graduate school in the D.C. area. "After everything went to hell, we were just bouncing around trying to stay alive and we managed to find this place. We are so lucky," Eric said. The three of them smiled at each other, and Daryl recognized the sentiment. Family sticking together. These three had perhaps not endured the same hardships his group had overcome, but he could tell how much these people loved each other. He admired and respected that.

After he finished his coffee, Daryl stood up. "I should get going," he said. This time, Aaron didn't argue or push him to stay longer. He could tell Daryl was really trying, and he appreciated it. "I'll show you out," Aaron said also standing.

"Great to meet you, Daryl," Eric chimed in. "You are welcome here anytime."

"Ditto," said Abby smiling broadly.

Daryl simply nodded and followed Aaron to the door.

"Well," he said to Aaron. "See you later."

"Okay," Aaron said smiling warmly. "And, Daryl, really thanks for agreeing to the job. I think we are going to make a great team."

Daryl gave Aaron a slight smile and slipped out the door heading home. That night he fell asleep thinking about his new friends, especially the pretty Abby.