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Loveorpain

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Chapter Three.

15 Hours Later.

My first thought as I woke up was 'God it`s hot in here' but then the pain registered in my upper face, I groaned as I rolled onto my back with my eyes closed.

Minutes slowly pass as I ease myself up as I carefully pulled my duffle-bag full of clothes closer as I dress for the day.

I slip out of my disgusting blood stained shirt as I wrinkle my nose as the god awful smell reached my nose. I swap my bra for a clean red and white poka-dot one with matching undies, I pull on my comfy navy blue short shorts over the top before finding a clean white t-shirt with "You Know Nothing Jon Snow" written on the front.

(Gotta love Game of Thrones)

Grabbing a clean pair of socks I pick up my boots and exit the tent.

Bright sun-light pierced my cornea`s, "Oh god" I groan out in pain as I quickly cover my eyes with my free hand. After a minute or two to adjusts I open my eyes to reveal a smirking Merle.

(Great, not the first person I`d wish to see in the morning)

"You look like shit princess"

I roll my eyes, "You`re not all that pretty either Merle" I answer back as I sat down in my spot while I put my socks and my cute pair of black ankle boots.

Merle laughs at me, "Someone rolled out of the wrong side of the tent. Where you off too?"

I`m standing now, "Bathroom" I tilt my head to the side towards the RV.

He shakes his head, "Girls, why ya just can`t go behind a tree like I do I`ll never understand!"

I walk away as I call out over my shoulder, "Never in a million years Merle"

As I walked the forty odd meters between my tent and the RV I swayed slightly as dizziness took over; "Please don`t trip or pass out" I begged myself as the last thing I needed was another head injury.

"Annalise, are you alright?" A concerned Dale called out as he scared me half to death.

I use my hand to shade my eyes from the sun, "All good Dale, just gonna use the bathroom"

Dale was always so concerned about everybody, especially Andrea, Amy and myself. He really was a sweet old man - almost like a grandfather.

"How`s the head?" He asks as he peers over the edge.

"Like its been split in half," I groan out 'all this talking isn`t really helping it' I think to myself.

The RV door slams open as Andrea emerges while carrying a full laundry basket, "Gosh Dale let the girl use the bathroom in peace." Andrea teased the old man.

She turned her kind eyes towards me, "Hun you need anything washed?"

I shook my head slowly to avoid getting dizzy, "Na, I`ll do mine tomorrow when this headache is gone. I`m gonna get some food, water and a couple of pain-killers before going for another nap."

Andrea nodded, "Feel free to use our bed in the RV as we`ll all be down at the quarry for a few hours yet so it`ll be nice and quiet for you." She offered me but I turned it down, "I`d rather be in my own bed, thanks though"

I moved to enter the RV when Andrea grasps my arm gently, "I know your fighting with Lori, it`s just I hope you don`t think your only option is to bunk with the Dixon brothers! You can stay with us, you know that right?"

For some reason the thought of what she was suggesting rubbed me the wrong way, "Daryl saved my life yesterday and while Merle isn`t the greatest person out there I know he`ll never hurt or force me to do anything. I feel safe with them." I defended them.

I removed her hand from mine, "Can you tell Amy to come find me later or tomorrow might be better and we`ll talk then."

I entered the RV with a sigh as I closed the bathroom door and quickly relieved myself. Reaching down under the small sink I pulled out the small toiletries bag I stuffed in their the other day and went to work in cleaning myself up.

I brushed my teeth and washed my neck, arms, chest and underarms all while never looking into the small bathroom mirror until all that was left was my face. I gasped at my appearance; while Daryl had done an okay job of cleaning off the dirt and blood there was still plenty caked on my once pale face. Delicately I used a soft face washer with luke-warm water to cleanse my face free of dirt and grime before I really looked at my forehead.

The bruise was a deep purpley-black colour with splotches of red mixed through out, however it wasn`t the colour but the size of the bruise that scared me, it covered my entire left side of my forehead, my left eye and half way down my cheek. I was real lucky I didn`t fracture or break the bones in my face or suffer brain damage. I stared at my clean battered appearance for a little while longer before leaving the RV.

I had barely stepped outside when my little brother cries out;

"Sissy" and sprints towards me, I brace myself as he slams into to me forcing me back into the RV`s wall.

"Careful Carl, I`m still really sore" I tell him as I kiss his head.

Carl and I have always been close, especially after the last year or so when dad and Lori`s fighting took a turn for the worse.

"Mom said you`ll have a real bad headache for a while, like Dad did when the tree-house roof collapsed on his head. Remember?" Carl laughs at the memory.

I giggled as well, "Of course I remember, I broke my arm climbing that blasted tree so I could fix the roof for daddy. Remember how angry he was, momma too as they took me to the hospital."

To this day I still have the scar on my right arm from the bloody tree.

Carl and I shared a smile over the funny memory, "Come on mom left you some breakfast, although its more like late brunch. You slept for ages." Carl laughed.

Dread was all I felt at the prospect of having to see Lori this soon after but Carl reassured me;

"Mom said your fighting and that`s why you`re staying with the Dixon's. Shane said that the Dixon`s are trouble and that we`re suppose to stay away from them?" Carl questioned as he looked at me in worry.

"Shane isn`t the boss Carl, he doesn`t tell us to do anything. Besides the Dixon`s have been nothing but helpful, they hunt to give us meat - which they don`t have to do. Did mom say why we`re fighting?" I didn`t want Carl to let Shane take over as 'Father role' when he doesn`t deserve the roll nor do I welcome it.

Carl shrugged his shoulders as he handed me a bowl of peaches and a slice of bread, "She just said that it was a girl problem and I wouldn`t understand." He sat down beside me as I ate my small breakfast.

"Listen Carl, nothing has changed between us - we will still read at night, play during the day" I drifted off.

Carl beamed, "I missed reading with you last night - mom offered to read it with me but I refused her."

"I know I`m sorry." I stand up feeling less nausea and dizzy but still plagued with a pounding headache, "I`m gonna go lay down for a nap, why don`t you come over an hour or so before tea and we`ll read then okay?" I offered.

"Okay, I`m gonna go down to the water and play with Sophia." Carl grinned as he ran off.

I immediately headed towards Daryl`s tent, Merle had disappeared so I shrugged and entered the tent and removed my boots, shorts and bra before I drifted off to sleep.

Three Hours Later

Waking up for the second time I felt a hundred times better, I kicked off the sleeping bag as I stretched out. It was quite a humid day that I had left the tent door open as the slight breeze drifted in as I wiped my sweaty forehead (Being mindful of my band-aid).

I ran my fingers through my blonde hair and immediately grimace as the greasy feeling 'I really need to shower or go for a swim down in the Quarry later' not realizing I had an audience.

"Huh!" Daryl startled me as I jolted into a sitting position

My voice vanished as I watched as Daryl eyes drifted down to my bare legs as I silently thanked Amy for convincing me to shave them the other day. Feeling my cheeks redden as I realized that I was only in my knickers, singlet top - oh god this is embarrassing. Seconds tick pass as his stare becomes intense that butterflies erupt from my belly - I blush as I take in his appearance, now normally he wouldn`t be the type of guy that I`d crush on but now it hit me that I was developing a serious crush on him.

Daryl`s was dirty. His sleeve-less shirt had dried animal blood on it, his muscular arms were covered in sweat and dirt but to me he was hot, I blushed and averted my eyes as I cleared my throat;

"Daryl!" I spluttered out

He jerked back as he realized that he`d been staring at me.

"Did you need something?" I asked him

Daryl looked down at his feet, "Na, forgot ya were in here." He growled and stormed out like a bull.

Shaking myself out of the moment I redressed and exited the tent as I looked at my father`s old watch: it read 12:15pm.

The sunlight didn`t hurt my eyes as much now thankfully as I moved out towards camp when a grunt from Merle took my attention;

Merle was skinning a rabbit, I watched him as he made precise cuts into the dead animal before he gripped the fur and in one swift move he ripped the fur off in one piece. It was a disturbing sight but one I needed to learn and get use to as meat doesn`t come pre-packed from supermarket any more.

I wander over to him, "Good hunting trip?"

Merle grunted at me "Good enough" as he chucked the freshly clean rabbit into a bucket before starting on a newly deceased rabbit.

I looked into the bucket to see seven skinned rabbits all ready for cooking, "That`s good, no-one will go hungry tonight." I murmured as I simply watched the man work.

Daryl eventually came back with a bucket of squirrels as he too sat down to skin his catch as he pointedly ignored me.

"Can you teach me how to do that?" I asked out of no-where.

Both Dixon men looked at me funny as Merle asked me "Why you wanna learn this princess, this isn`t for the faint heart-ed - gutting and skinning little animals"

"To survive" was a simply enough answer.

Daryl looked at me like he was trying to solve a complex puzzle before he nodded to his brother, "Alright princess we`ll start tomorrow." Merle said before he dismissed me.

I smiled as I fiddled with daddy`s watch 'Be proud of me daddy, I`ll get stronger and protect our family.'

_THEWALKINGDEAD_

Several hours later and an afternoon swim with Amy.

Carl was resting his head against my belly as I read from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azakaban. I paused to rest the book against Carl`s head while I leaned up to take a sip of water;

I read out-loud, "Where`s Wood?" said Harry, suddenly realizing he wasn`t there.

"Still in the showers," said Fred, "We think he`s trying to drown himself."

Carl giggled as I continued to read to him as I ran my fingers through his hair in a sleepy manner as it grew dark outside.

We decided to take a swim earlier instead of reading which is why we`re reading now after dinner instead of before. An hour passed before my eyes grew to tired and strained from the lack of light so I placed our bookmark in and closed the book:

"Who`s your favorite so far?" I asked him.

He moved so his chin rested against my chest, "I like Lupin as he`s really nice to Harry unlike to idiot Lockheart from the last book, otherwise the twins are the best."

I agreed with him on both fronts, "Same here, however I love Hermione the most."

Carl laughed as he poked me in my side, "Only because she loves books almost as much as you do" he teased me.

I poked him back as we started a mini tickling war that had us laughing our heads off. Moments like these were heavenly, just like we did before the world ended. I had put off going to collage because I refused to lose our sibling bond. I know it must sound crazy but Carl was my rock - I may be eight years his senior but I needed him more than he needed me. (Annalise is 20/Carl is 12)

"Sissy, I don`t wanna go back to moms tent" he muttered into my side.

I tapped his head so he`ll look up at me, "How come? Is mom snoring again!" I teased him

"No, it`s weird without you - I miss our cuddles" he confessed before covering my mouth with his hand, "Don`t tell anyone I said that okay?" He pleaded

I smiled as I nodded, "How about we ask Mom if you can sleep here with me tomorrow night huh? Because I miss our cuddles too." Even as I say this I realize that Shane and Lori will most likely seize the moment and sleep together again but at this moment my little brothers comfort comes first.

"Awesome, oh man I wish we`d had thought of that earlier." Carl brightened up drastically.

'God this boy makes me so happy. Carl saved my life once after I`d fallen into a deep depression a few years ago and I totally believe that he is saving me now from the demons that still haunt me to this day' I think to myself as I absentmindedly rub the raised scar of my left wrist that is usually hidden by a black leather cuff.

"Carl!" Moms voice drags me back to the present

"In here Momma" Carl called out as mom unzipped the tent door and walked in.

Mom smiled down at us, "Come on sweety its bed time."

A deep part of me wanted to wrap my arms around her as she kisses my forehead while promising me that everything will be okay. I stomp down on this impulse however I know sooner or later I`ll forgive her but I`ll never forget.

"Is there anything you need honey?" She asks me hesitantly as she looks around my new home.

I shook my head, "No, I`m okay. Can Carl sleep here tomorrow?"

Mom smiles, "Of course he can, he missed you last night."

Awkward silence followed after that before Mom grimaces, "Well good night sweetie, we`ll see you in the morning." She took Carl`s hand and helped him up.

"Night lil man" I ruffled his hair before calling out "Night mom"

Lori flashed me a smile before quickly zipping up my tent and I collapsed onto my back as I threw my arm over my eyes. However after sleeping so much today I knew sleep would be hard to come by tonight. I checked my watch and groaned as it read "8.20pm" it was way too early for sleep even though most of the camp had turned down for the night. I stripped out of my shorts and pulled on a pair of thick trackie pants as the nights tend to get a little chilly and pulled on a hoodie and slipped on my boots before heading outside to visit Amy.

With a flash light guiding my way to the RV I look up to see who was on guard duty but with the clouds covering the moon it was impossible to tell who it was. Approaching the RV door I paused when laughter erupted from within, I removed my hand from the door when I realized that I didn`t want to interrupt them having a good time when all I wanted was a quiet conversation.

"You going in?" A deep voice from above scarred the crap out of me, I gasped as my hand quickly covered my mouth to smother the sound.

"Holy shit Daryl don`t do that." I call up to him having recognized his voice.

Not being able to see his face yet knowing the man was smirking at me he repeated, "Well don`t just stand there."

Suddenly I grinned to myself, "Okay" I quickly moved around to the back of the RV and swiftly climbed the ladder as quietly as I could. I could tell I surprised him when my head popped up as he snarled at me; "What the hell are you doing?"

I ignored his attitude, "Nothing, I just figured that you could start my training early seeing as we`re both doing nothing" I shrugged at him.

He eased himself back into the fold-out chair with his cross-bow resting on his lap. Not caring I simply sat down next to him and waited for him to talk.

After about ten minutes of pure silence I laid down with my arm fold under my head as I looked up at the clear beautiful starry sky.

Daryl awkwardly cleared his throat, "Merle would be better to learn from!"

I turned my head slightly so I could see him better, only to see him chewing on his thumb-nail and looking in another direction.

"To be honest I`d prefer if it was you who taught me. It`s just that I already have professional training in gun control and what I`d really like to learn is tracking, hunting and maybe one day getting my own bow. Besides I feel more comfortable around you then Merle, he sometimes..." I trailed off because it dawned on me that I shouldn`t be telling the man about how weird his brother makes me feel.

"What? Merle sometimes what?" Daryl growled at me.

I shifted as I fiddled with my bracelet, "He looks at me weirdly sometimes, not all the time like today was fine - it was mostly the day we met - I dunno I can`t explain it"

He sat in silence for a long time before he murmured, "It`s the drugs"

'What did he just say?' I thought, "What?"

"Merle, he`s only like that when he`s taken drugs" Daryl informs me.

I let out an "Oh" before silence rained around us, 'what does one say after that' I thought as I looked up at the heavens. We sat or laid down in my case in an easy company for hours before T-Dog came to relieve Daryl. T-Dog wiggled an eyebrow at me but thankfully kept his option to himself as Daryl let me descend down the ladder first.

He silently walked me back to his tent, I paused at the tent door;

"Good night Daryl" I said quietly as I unzipped the door.

"I`ll train ya, if ya still want me too?" Daryl surprised me

I turned and smiled at him, "I`d really like that, thank you. I`ll try not to disappoint you."

"We`ll start tomorrow arvo after I go hunting, don`t eat lunch otherwise you`ll just chuck it back up - no matter what Merle says the first time you skin something you always throw-up" Daryl informed me.

"Alright good-night" I smiled at him

Daryl watched me as I stepped into the tent and waved to him as I zipped it up.

So I never heard him murmur; "Good night princess."

The End

The quote from the Harry Potter book is J. and not mine.

I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I do when writing it.