WOW guys thanks so much for the reviews! You guys are awesome! Please keep'em coming! Oh and to answer some messages I got...
1. Raven's nickname is Ra as in RAY of light Not Ra like the opening of Lady Gaga's Bad Romance (Do not stop reading this cause I know the name of a Lady Gaga song. Norman Reedus was in Judas after all.
2. Um...if I were to cast Raven on the show the actress that comes to mind is Megan Fox but I HATE Megan Fox cause she's SUCH a bad actress but I do think she is gorgeous. (Pretty sure she's had some work though cause last time I saw her she looked a lil Mickey Rourke like)
3. I use music cause it's what I get inspired by a majority of the time. When I'm writting I'm usually listening to my ipod.
I think that was it if I missed questions let me know.
Again I do not own any characters from the Walking Dead I only own Ra. If ya wanna use her please ask first. I would like to know who I talk to to OWN Norman Reedus.
There's a new wind blowin' like I've never known
I'm breathin' deeper than I've ever done
And it sure feels right to finally feel that way I do
Now, I wanna love somebody
Love somebody like you.
An' I'm lettin go of all my lonely yesterdays
I've forgiven myself for the mistakes I've made
Now there's just one thing, the only thing I wanna do
I wanna love somebody
Love someday like you.
...Keith Urban ~Somebody Like You~
Chapter 3
Daryl rummaged through the clothes on his floor and hamper. The look on his face determining the degree of cleanliness. He had wished he had gotten off work early enough to attempt to do laundry. Must be how chicks feel he thought with a laugh. He looked up at the clock. Fifteen more minutes and she would be there. He looked around trailer. Probably not in the best condition. It was small, but provided everything he needed, bedroom, bathroom, small kitchen. That was only if you could see and get to any of it. Beer cans, empty dishes, dirty clothes and all of his hunting gear layered the tables, counter tops and floor. He grabbed a garbage bag and began shoving random things into it by the arm full, not really caring what it was just as long as it was out of sight. There was a small knock at the door.
"Shit" Daryl whispered.
He grabbed the last of it and threw it into the bag, tossing it into the bathroom and slamming the door shut. Taking hold of the door knob, Daryl took a deep breath before turning it. Ra spun around to face him, she looked just as perfect as he remembered. Hair pulled into a messy bun with a few strands left down framing her face. She wore jean shorts and dark brown tank with matching fringe boots. Attire that made him feel overdressed in his blue button down shirt and black slacks. Judging by the look on Ra's face he was certain he was.
"Well, Well. Well. Don't you clean up nice" She said with a smile.
"Ya never said where we were gonna go and I jus' couldn't find a thing to wear" He said sarcastically "Ya know I'm also not lettin' ya take me out. Wouldn't be proper for a woman to pay on a date."
Ra put her hands on her hips. "Well first off, I'm not the kinda girl that needs a man to pay for her. And second, who said we have to pay for anything. I'm taking YOU out so you have to comply with everything. I have a truck with gas and a six pack of Bud."
"Wha'cha have in mind?" Daryl asked,stretching up to grab the top of the door frame and leaning his body out towards Ra. She blushed slightly, still able to see his arm muscles under his shirt.
"Well I heard from a little birdie that you like to hunt. So grab your weapon of choice mister hunter and meet me in the truck."
He watched her walk back to her truck wondering if she was strutting for his benefit. He went back into the trailer and grabbed the case with his crossbow in it. Beer and Hunting? Daryl debated on following through with their date or just marrying her that night.
They drove for about a half hour, making small talk about their work day or whatever song happened to come on the radio. He could tell that despite her tough exterior, she was just as nervous as he was. It was obvious by the way she bit her lower lip whenever it got quiet for to long. Finally, pulling off the dirt road, Ra stopped in the middle of a beautiful field right outside the woods.
"We're here." she sang and grabbed the beer and small black rolled up bag from the bed. Daryl grabbed his bow and slid out of the truck, stopping to take in the scenery.
"What is this place?"
"My mama used to bring me here when I was little. It's just a stretch of woods with a small lake but it used to be magical to me. I learned a lot here. I guess coming here still makes me feel closer to her."
"Take all your dates here?" He asked with a smile.
"Take dates here? Hell, my daddy doesn't even know about this place."
Daryl couldn't help but feel special to be let into her sanctuary. Thankful still when they crossed the threshold into the woods. He listened as they walked in farther and Ra pointed out all the places of interest. Where she camped out for the first time, where she had fallen and had to get stitches in her lip, the cracked and moldy wood of what was the remnants of her first tree house. The place held a lot of memories for her. They finally came to a stop at a clearing in the woods with a small lake. Ra bent down and grabbed two beers and tossed one to Daryl.
"So" he said, cracking off the top and taking a drink "Ya got me out here..now what?"
Ra took the bag out from underneath her arms and placed it on the ground. She unfolded it slowly to reveal slender silver knives. Daryl took a step back.
"Whoa! is that why ya don't bring alotta people here? Cause ya don' want'em to find the bodies?"
Ra laughed outright and slid one of the knives from it's slots.
"I just wanted to see if you were better with a weapon than you were with a pool cue."
Before he could defend himself, Ra stood up quickly and with a flick of her wrist sent the blade spinning into the tree across from them, landing with a hollow thud directly in the center. Daryl whistled, walking over to pull the blade out from the tree.
"Damn girl, how'd ya do that?"
"A ton of training and practice." she smirked.
"Well hell don' let Merle see that. He'd hurt himself tryin' to out do ya."
"Yeah cause he's so shy around me now."
Daryl's smile faded and he turned back to get his crossbow. She couldn't tell if he was offended or avoiding any conversation that had to do with his brother.
"I understand he's your brother and all, but how is it you're so different?"
"We ain't so differ'n as all that. My dad was never around when I was a kid, so Merle kinda became like a dad to me. But that was only WHEN Merle was around. I'd fend for myself most of the time."
Daryl raised up his crossbow and aimed it at the same tree that had the puncture from Ra's knife. He took a deep breath and squeezed the trigger gently. There was a loud click and the bolt sliced through the air, landing just above the cut in the bark and catching a unfortunate caterpillar underneath it. Ra's eye's grew a bit wider.
"Impressive. So did you teach yourself then?"
"Naw, Merle still taught me useful things, Huntin, fishin, fightin, all the things he learned in the army."
"Chasing women?" Ra smirked as she took a drink of her beer.
"That was always Merle's thing. I was never interested in that."
"Oh" a look of shock and disappointment crossed Ra's face while she looked around uncomfortably.
"Oh naw, I ain't gay or nothin'. I just wasn't interested in chasin' tail like him."
He could see her body relax and her chest move with a sigh of relief.
"So why are you out here with me then?"
Daryl blushed and walked over to pull the bolt from the tree. "Cause you're not like most of the girls out here. You're different. You're the best kinda different."
Ra blushed too. A small smile playing on her lips.
"Well thank you"
Daryl nodded and tossed his empty beer bottle into the bag.
"So who taught ya knife throwin?"
"My mama. When she felt I was old enough she had me out here everyday teachin' me how to throw. She said it was better then teachin' me how to shoot. She hated guns. Hated my daddy had them in the house. She said the knives would teach me better discipline and focus."
"And did it?"
Ra turned quickly again, releasing another blade from her hand. This time it shot passed Daryl's head and nearly missed his ear.
"I don't know. You tell me"
He felt that warm sensation again in the pit of his stomach. He didn't like cocky women, but she pulled it off to where he actually found it sexy.
"Alright darlin. What are we doing out here?"
"How are your tracking skills"
"Better than my pool skills." He said mockingly, giving her a wink.
"So say I were to get lost in the woods? You could find me?"
"In the dark, in the light, on a foggy day. No problem."
Ra stood up and brushed off her shorts, tossing her empty beer into the bag and shoving a knife into her boot. She raised her arms above her head and stretched out tall before smacking her hands together.
"Okay prove it."
"Huh?"
"You heard me. You're a tracker and a hunter. Hunt me. Give me 20 seconds and come find me."
Daryl cocked his head to the side and smiled "Are you serious?"
"As a heart attack"
She walked up to him slowly till they were face to face. Daryl looked down at her lips then back to her eyes. She brought a hand up to his face and used her fingertips to gently close his eyelids. Once closed, he could still feel her presence in front of him, unmoving. He could feel her move just close enough for her breasts to come in contact with the lower half of his chest, shuddering slightly at the warm breath against his ear, tickling his neck.
"Count to 20 and come find me."
Daryl felt her move away. He became aware of all the noises around him. The birds, the cracking of sticks below his feet, which way the wind was blowing the leafs. Sure 20 seconds had passed, he opened his eyes. Ra was gone like she had never been there. The only things that remained was the beer and the rolled up case of knives. Then he noticed one small detail that he was sure she had put there on purpose. It was a small footprint, about a size seven he would guess, pointed in the direction she must have gone into the woods. Daryl got down on one knee, running his fingers over the print. He heard the snap of a twig in the distance and smirked.
"Challenge accepted" He whispered.
He unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it to the side. He was more comfortable in the white "wife beater" underneath. He tossed the crossbow over his shoulder and took off into the woods. Raising his face to the sky, Daryl took a deep breath of the sweet Georgia summer air. He could smell the musky scent coming from the river, the large oak trees and pines filling his nostrils with the overpowering odor of rosemary and sandlewood and then the faint smell of gardenia and vanilla. Ra's scent. He looked down at the ground, the moisture in the grass causing just the slightest bit of pressure to bend the long blades out of place. He jogged through the woods dodging trees and small shrubs. Stopping once again, he closed his eyes and listened to the woods once more. Birds, leafs rattling against each other, small animals, scraping claws against bark. Then he heard something that sounded like the slow whine of a tree branch having weight applied to it.
She's in the trees He smiled. She must have known he had heard her because the noise stopped suddenly. His boots tread silently against the damp ground, eye's darting from side to side. There was a loud whistle and before Ra could jump down, Daryl reached up and grabbed her ankle, gently pulling her down from the tree and lowered her to the ground so he was resting on top of her. He smiled down at her, pushing a few loose strands of hair from her face.
"Well, I guess you caught me didn't you?" She laughed "What do you usually do after you catch your prey?"
"Mount it"
Daryl blushed once again realizing the double entendre that just so blatantly fell from his mouth. Ra laughed.
"Would you settle for a kiss?"
The smile on his face faded, looking at her with disbelief. She brought her hand up to capture the back of his head, pulling him down till their lips touched gently. Daryl didn't know if it was the kiss or the feeling of her below him, but he almost felt light headed. Intoxicated by her taste. He deepened the kiss, running his tongue along her bottom lip, waiting for her to grant him access. She complied. Her own tongue sliding out to meet his. The next few minutes where a blur of exploring tongues and roaming hands. Each second they were both becoming more brave. Daryl waited till every cell in his body was screaming for air before he broke the kiss. He pulled away slightly, one arm was slid under Ra's head while the other rested on her stomach. They both fought to catch their breath, panting loudly. He finally leaned back down and put his hand on her cheek. Ra chuckled breathlessly and covered her forehead with her hand.
"What's so funny?" Daryl asked, sounding mildly hurt "was it not good?"
"No, She pulled him down for another quick kiss "The kiss was great. I was just wondering if you did that with everything you hunted."
"Daryl's laugh echoed loudly through the woods as he bent down to kiss her again.
Present Day
The look of shock on everyone's face back at the camp was almost humorous. They looked Raven up and down like she was some rare specimen that needed to be studied. She shifted the weight of her backpack uncomfortably at the stares and open mouths.
"What? Is it that hard to believe? Is she supposed to be barefoot and pregnant? Missing teeth and overweight? That's a redneck's wife right?" Daryl spat, tossing his crossbow onto the picnic table.
"No. Daryl that's not it at all." Lori said, holding her hands up "it's just…." She looked over at Rick hoping he would help her find the right words to not agitate him farther.
"It's just of all the times we've talked, you've never mentioned a wife." Rick finished.
"Yeah well ya never told me 'bout your first pet, or first car, or your first BJ, and ya know why? Cause they don't matter no more."
Ra winced. That one hurt. She knew he was going out of his way to push her buttons. There was an awkward silence that became almost unbearable.
"Well Rick found me and Carl in the middle of nowhere when we thought he was dead. It just shows that miracles can happen." Lori smiled.
Daryl laughed. "Yeah, but he was lookin for ya. I was getting away from her."
There it was again. This time she felt the burn of tears in her eyes, but managed to blink them back. Hard to believe that the man she once worshiped and once worshiped her would say such things.
"The next miracle will be if we find Merle." Daryl said.
MERLE. The very mention of his name made her skin crawl and left a bad taste in her mouth. It wasn't even till he had said his name did she even realize Merle wasn't a part of the group. She looked from face to face realizing why he probably wasn't. A cop, an Asian, a black guy, and women with guns. Gee…wonder why Merle didn't make it long with all of them she thought sarcastically. She didn't care. He was the reason Daryl was acting like this. He was the reason they were broken.
"Where is that asshole brother of yours? To good to come out?"
Everyone grew silent and turned to look at Daryl who had his back to everyone. His hands opened and closed at a weak attempt to hold back anger.
"He's missin'. That's all."
"Missing or dead?"
Daryl whipped around and grabbed her hard by the arm. He bent down till his mouth was right by her ear.
"He ain't dead. I'm gonna find him." He smirked wickedly "Thought that would make you happy."
Ra pulled away from him roughly, anger burning in her eyes. She shook her head at him and tried to argue back, but couldn't with the lump building up in her throat. She turned from the group quickly and stomped off towards the woods.
"What the hell is that all about?" Rick asked.
Daryl watched her walk off, trying to suppress the mixed emotions he couldn't identify.
Rick pulled his gun from the holster and checked the ammo. "She can't go off alone."
"Yeah I'm go get'er" Daryl said, grabbing his crossbow and wiping off his forehead.
"And you BOTH better come back Daryl" Rick warned.
Daryl quickened his pace behind her.
"Ra! Raven! Get your ass back'er."
"NO!" she shouted over her shoulder "You think you're the only one that lost people? You think just cause you're angry at yourself you can take it out on me? I'm just tryin to survive like everyone else! I wasn't put here to be your emotional punching bag Dixon!"
"Look" he yelled back "I don' like this anymore than you do, but ya can't go out alone!"
She stopped and turned around so quickly he nearly ran into her. He could now see her puffy red eyes as she wiped away the new tears that threatened to spill over. After everything, she refused to let him see her cry.
"You don't like this anymore than I do? How do you know I don't like this? The happiest I have been since this whole damn thing started was when I saw you. Alive. I thought despite everything that has happened you would have felt the same."
Daryl looked down at the ground, kicking the toe of his boot against an ant hill.
"This didn't change nothin' Ra. I didn't forget and trust me I wanted to. I loved you."
The last words were barely audible.
"And you don't anymore?"
He said nothing, just continued to kick his boot harder into the crumbling mound. Ra bit her bottom lip.
"Well Dixon it's hard to forget something that never happened."
Daryl chuckled "Still singin' that song? Ya can't tell me it never happened when I saw it with my own eyes girl!"
"You don't even know what you saw Daryl. You just went along with Merle the way you always did. The way he trained you to since you were lit…."
"YA FUCKED MY BROTHER!"
He yelled so loudly that she was pretty sure if the camp had been wondering what the tension between them was about, they knew now. She sighed and wrapped her arms around herself.
"Keep trying to convince yourself of that Daryl. Even though in your heart you know it's not true. Whatever makes you feel less guilty for leaving me."
Daryl looked back up only to find her walking back towards the camp.
