It's pretty much fluff with a little angst thrown in.

Usual Dixon family warnings.

Disclaimers: The song mentioned in "Memory" is obviously not mine and belongs to the mentioned band.
TWD and its characters/storyline/plot etc. do not belong to me either.

Thank you to those who reviewed/favourited my last story!

Let me know if you hate it, love it, wanted to throw it off a cliff- feedback on what works/doesn't work in regards to Daryl or the others personalities is always useful when trying to flesh characters and backgrounds out :)

Ta!

1. Beauty
Beauty wasn't always about appearances. For Daryl it was soft hair that felt like silk against his face as he was slowly rocked to sleep, a gentle tone that soothed him when the other voices became too loud, too angry, too frightening; beauty was hands that healed all hurts, and those dull green eyes that held all the love in the world for the little boy who could still find a smile after everything. For Daryl, beauty was the vague memory of his mother, forever a vision seen through the rose tinted glasses of a child's worship.

2. Dream
Sometimes it was easier to live a life of nothingness than to dream of a better tomorrow and be disappointed with the inevitability of failure.

3. Love
Daryl often regretted bringing back that beading kit for Lil' Ass Kicker.
He'd scowl and he'd grumble as she forced him to sit beside her for hours on end as she patiently threaded the cheap plastic baubles onto mile long elastic strings, constantly holding the soon to be jewellery up against his skin and proclaiming him 'pretty'.
But honestly it was all worth it, especially when he was proudly presented with the finished product: slightly haphazard, atrociously coloured bracelets that he would unashamedly wear like love around his wrists.

4. Haunted
It was only when he grew older that he finally noticed the shadows in his fathers eyes and he would wonder how this strong man could have ended up so low.

5. Secret
When he noticed the younger man determinedly striding over to him, face set and eyes blazing, Daryl wasn't even surprised to find himself being forcibly attacked with those familiar lips which were clearly staking their claim on the amused redneck in front of the entire group, despite previous conversations agreeing to keep their new whatever-it-was to themselves.
Glenn had never really been so good at the whole 'subtlety' thing.

6. Memory
Daryl would never admit it to anyone, but sometimes when he was alone in his truck and that song came on and the roads were clear with no chance of being seen or heard, he would turn the radio up as loud as it would go and he would belt those lyrics out as if they were going out of fashion (not that Nickelback had ever been in fashion), and if he related to some of the sentiments in the song a little too well, then so be it.

7. Fragile
There is nothing more fragile than the confidence of a little boy who'd been told his whole life he wasn't good enough. Watching his little brother grow up Merle could personally attest to this.

8. Celebration
Rule 137: When living a life of constant fear brought on by the ever present possibility of becoming a light snack for a flesh eating monster, it's important to celebrate even the smallest of wins. These wins could include, but are certainly not limited to: having a fresh supply of water, literally killing two Walkers with one stone, finding an unopened bag of skittles under the shelving at an abandoned store, and not being shot in the face by a surprised Daryl who apparently hadn't expected Glenn to ambush him from behind a wall in the prison showers with wondering hands and a mischievous smirk.

9. Promise
The promises you make as a child can be just as important as those you make as an adult.
Within minutes of meeting Daryl for the first time, Merle learnt this lesson as he sat whispering promises of protection into the new born baby's ears. He just wished that at 11 he'd been physically able to keep his word to his baby brother.
But by the time strength became a non-issue it was courage that failed Merle.

10. Innocence
"Wasn' me kid. 'm completely innocent."
Carl glared at him, teeth clenched, eyes accusing.
"I'd believe you hadn't stolen my last Twinkie if there wasn't still cream smeared all over your fingers you greedy bastard."
Daryl winced.
Busted.

Well, there's my first lot of incredibly short drabbles. Thanks for reading!
And yes, I noticed the horrible grammar and sentence structure too- sorry!