Teehee, new chapter! I'm trying to write it a little slower, and I have college coming up next week as well as countless places to go, so the chapters won't be up as quickly as they are at the moment. I'm hoping to get Chapter 3 up by Monday at the latest, and then chapters will be up every 2 days or so :) I hope you enjoy this chapter, I wanted to show Daryl and Callie's start of their relationship but make it a little questionable, so I hope that's how it comes across. Got some good idea's for the next chapter though, can't wait to start writing it tomorrow!

Lydabug35: Teehee, I'm glad you love it! Oh god, tell me about it, waiting for the walking dead to come on is torture! I'm happy though, got myself a 'Keep Calm and Hide Behind Daryl Dixon' phone case today :D I shall never stop writing my spring chicken, I'm so glad you like my stories!

I hope you are all well, and I love you all lots!

Elly xxx

Callie walked back to her house, aware that Merle and Daryl were walking behind her and she could hear Daryl telling Merle to stop. Callie sighed and watched as her sister ran back into the house. "Callie, please can you help your father set the table?" her mother asked, and walked up to her. "And for goodness sake put something else on" she hissed into her ear, and Callie rolled her eyes as she got the cutlery out of the drawers. Her mother had wasted no time getting everything out and putting it all away in the right drawers and cupboards.

Callie wiped down the cutlery with her mothers polishing cloth, which she was made to use whenever new people came over for dinner. "Whats on?" Callie heard her father ask, and she looked over at the television on the window sill. "Some nut head ate someone. Disgusting" Callie said, not paying attention to her mother's hisses at her. Callie put the knives and forks down on the table, making sure she chose a seat that would be far away from Merle as she could possibly be.

Her father and sister were standing with the family, Merle not paying any attention as he looked around the room, sprawled out on the sofa, and Daryl standing awkwardly next to him, his hands shoved in his pockets. Callie looked at her little sister and suddenly shot up the stairs, remembering she hadn't changed. She didn't know what to wear - she didn't want Merle thinking she had made an effort on his part or anything, so she shoved on her skinny jeans, a white vest and her flannel shirt, tucked into the trousers.

She walked back down the stairs and scowled at the tabled - the only seat was the one next to Merle. She stomped over to the seat and sat down with a huff, catching eyes with Daryl who was sitting across from her. Her mother dished out her favourite dinner to cook - Roast turkey, with mashed potatoes and vegetables, smothered in her homemade gravy. Callie's tummy grumbled hungrily at the sight of the food, and she waited patiently for her mother to dish up.

As usual, she dished out the guests food first, and then Callie's sister. Usually Callie would be next, but her mother dished hers out last, even after she had put her own plate down on the placemat. Callie caught eyes with Merle who was smirking and she subtly stomped on his foot under the table as her mother handed over her plate. Callie watched in slight fear as Merle's face suddenly turned angry, but she kept her emotions hidden, a stern look on her face as she glared back at Merle.

Callie ate her food quickly and waited for everyone else to finish, trying not to pay attention to Merle who was still angrily glaring at her. As soon as her mother picked up the plates, everyone left the table and Merle left with his brother, pulling him along with him and out the door. Callie sighed and picked up her bow and arrows that her father had bought for her that day. She had some experience but wanted to practice, so she headed out the door, looking around in case Merle was hiding in the bushes.

When she saw it was all safe, she headed out into the dark backyard and towards a tree, where she found a spot as a target. She walked back and picked up her bow, clipping an arrow on and taking a deep breath in as she held it up and drew the string back. She let out a slow breath and let go of the string, hitting the target on the dot. She grinned to herself and went to retrieve it, leaving her bow and the other arrows where they were.

As she pulled the arrow out of the tree trunk, she heard a voice she recognised angrily talking to someone else, who was trying to deter them from what they were going to do. "I thought you were tough baby brother" Callie heard Merle say, and she pushed her back up against the tree. "I am. Just don't want you makin' no shit between them an' us" she heard Daryl answer, his voice sending unexpected shivers down her spine. "I aint gonna make no shit, I'm just gonna teach her a lesson" she heard Merle say, and she gasped and darted into the woods.

Her legs carried her far, and she could hear them coming up behind them. "Her tracks lead over there" she heard Daryl say. "Shit" she whispered, and looked wildly around her. She climbed up the nearest tree and lay flat on the branch, leaning her head slightly over the edge of it so she could see. "Where is she then, huh?" Merle asked, and Callie held her breath. "Dunno, her tracks stop here" Daryl said, and Merle looked over his shoulder, looking around the trees near him.

Callie looked down and her eyes caught with Daryls. She started to clamber up, wondering where to go as her heart raced. Before she could move anywhere Daryl shook his head and put a finger to his lips. "All this searchin' makin' me tired. Imma go back and see if that waitress girl wants a good time" Merle said. Callie stayed where she was, hoping Daryl didn't say anything. "I'll keep looking for her" Daryl said, a tone to his voice that put fear into Callie's heart. "You gettin' tougher man. Show her what you can do" Merle said, and crashed back through the trees.

Callie stayed where she was until Daryl looked back up at her again, and beckoned her to come down. Callie didn't want to, but realised he could be the kind of person who would camp out until she came down, so she carefully climbed back down the tree. She couldn't find anywhere to put her feet as she got nearer to the bottom, and stayed there for a while, wondering how to get down. She gasped a little as she felt arms around her sides, and she was lifted off the tree and put back on the floor.

Callie turned around, her back pressed against the tree as she stared at Daryl. "Thanks" she managed after a while, and Daryl nodded back at her. He started to walk off and Callie caught her breath before heading out after him. "Why did you do that?" she asked, and Daryl turned around. "Guess I just didn't want Merle to hurt himself" he shrugged, and Callie sighed. "Daryl, I aint stupid. Why did you really do it, you could have just told him where I was" she said, and Daryl looked down at the ground.

"I dunno... Something about you just... I don't believe in beating up women. Besides, you just had us over and he would have been put in another prison for assault" Daryl said, softly at the beginning then bluntly towards the end. Callie frowned at his words, none of them making sense to her. "You any good?" Daryl asked after a while of awkward silence, nodding towards the arrow Callie hadn't realised she was clutching.

"I'm alright. Been practicing for a while" she said, loosening her tight grip on the arrow. "Maybe I can give you a few tips, help you out?" Daryl said, and Callie smiled in the dark. "Yeah, okay" she answered, and Daryl looked down at the ground awkwardly. "So, um, meet here tomorrow, say 6 am?" Daryl said, and Callie nearly choked on air. "That early?" she asked, shock in her voice. "Yeah... Gives us more time... Plus, Merle won't be up so he don't know 'bout it" Daryl said, and Callie nodded.

"Okay" she said, and Daryl nodded once more before heading off towards his house. Callie took a good look at him in the dark, at his muscles as they flexed in his arms while they swung and the muscles building on his shoulders. She shook herself out of it and ran home, straight up to her room. She didn't bother with unpacking, she could do that after her morning activity with Daryl. She ripped her clothes off and pulled on her pyjamas, hopping into bed and pulling the covers up to her shoulders.

They were the same ones from home, she hadn't changed them. She smiled as she smelt them, and cuddled into the duvet, setting her alarm for 5:30 the next morning. She closed her eyes as she snuggled deeper into the duvet, and drifted off to sleep. The next morning, Callie shot out of bed at the sound of her alarm. She tiredly looked at her clock, wondering why she set it for so early, and realised when she saw her bow and arrows in the corner.

She shot out of bed and tiptoed to the bathroom, having a quick shower before shoving on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. She grabbed her bow and arrows and headed out of the door, jogging to where she was the night before. She wondered if Daryl was really going to be there, or whether he was joking, but sure enough he was there, leaning against a tree. Callie walked over to him and he stood up fully, and she realised how tall he was.

She thought she was tall, but as she walked closer to him her head started to slowly tilt up slightly as she looked up at him. She wasn't short, only a few inches shorter than he was, but it still made her feel small. "Ready?" he asked, and Callie nodded, watching as his eyes looked her over quickly. She smiled to herself and followed - it would be a good day.