The next morning was absolutely hectic. All the survivors were quickly packing up their belongings for the long trip ahead of them, careful not to leave anything behind. As unsure about their destination as they were, the group knew they needed to move on and leave the area.

Lily tried to wipe the sleepiness out of her eyes. She could barely sleep at all last night between the soft crying going on all around camp and the nightmares of her parents' deaths plaguing her mind every time she dozed off. If she could see her appearance in a mirror, she's sure her eyes would be red. She'd spent all morning trying to help people pack up their things, but they all politely told her they were fine. Lily knew not to think too much on the subject. She knew people still needed time to think and to spend with their families. She tried not to dwell on the loneliness that started to swell up in her heart at the thought of it.

Sighing, she headed over to her fellow camp members and distributed the laundry she'd been folding. She eventually went over to the Grimes' family, eager to see how Carl was holding up after last night. Lori smiled and took the clothes out of her hands. Going over to Carl, Lily bent down slightly and flicked his nose with the tip of her finger, causing him to scrunch up his face while she let out a laugh. Rick came over to the pair.

"I sure do appreciate you grabbin' all our stuff over there," Rick told her. Lily smiled softly.

"Oh, it's no problem at all, Rick, really. I just wish I could be more help around here, after everything your group has done for me. Do you know when we'll be heading out today?" Lily subconsciously touched her side, reminding herself to take the stitches out soon.

"You've done enough, young lady. That's for sure. 'Specially with looking after Carl and all," he looked at his son for a moment. "I'd like for us to head out as soon as we can. The quicker we get there, the better shape we'll be in."

"Oh, why don't I fix up something quick then! I'm sure traveling would be a lot smoother if everyone had a little something to eat. There isn't much though…." She trailed off quietly.

Rick sighed, distress written all over his face. "I know. We'll figure something out. We gotta." Lily nodded to Rick and smiled at Carl quickly before heading over to their makeshift kitchen area.

She gathered everything she'd need to make the meal for the group and laid it on the ground before her. Lily tried not to let her worried thoughts show as she began to heat up the stew from last night. She knew the stew and the two cans of beans she was going to heat up was the last of their food, and she knew by the look on his face that Rick knew it too. If they got to the CDC and there wasn't any help, she wouldn't know what to do. Despite not being with them for long, Lily refused to let this group suffer. They were her saviors, after all, and she vowed herself that she'd try her best to help the group survive.

Lily shoveled out a good amount of stew into each bowl before handing them out to the group as they approached her. Everyone seemed to be relaxing a little bit with the food, even Andrea, and that brought a little smile to Lily's face. Jacquie said even Jim managed to get some of it down. As she turned to grab her own bowl, she frowned slightly. Someone didn't come get their food and she knew exactly who it had been. She quickly grabbed both bowls before going over to the parked cars. As she approached, she saw Daryl with a wrench in his hand and his head stuck under the hood of his truck.

"Daryl?" she called out softly. He pulled himself from his truck before wiping the sweat from his forehead. She looked at his sweaty and grease covered face, thinking he still looked wonderful covered in gunk. He stuck the wrench in his back pocket before grabbing the bowl from her hand. He nodded at her, and she smiled back. They both ate their food in silence.


Rick gathered the group before departure, running everyone through basic protocol. Lily was too tired to pay attention. She figured someone would let her hitch a ride, even if it was Shane. She stared at the ground, her mind wandering, until Morales spoke up.
"We're not going."

Everyone was shocked. Rick and Shane tried to explain how no one would cover them if they went out on their own, but Morales explained they had family in Birmingham that they wanted to try to find. Everyone upset about seeing them go, the group quickly said their good-byes as Rick handed them a gun and some ammo. Lily heard Daryl mutter from the back "They'll be dead 'fore they git ta use up that ammo. Damn shame." Lily frowned but quickly brushed it off to wave goodbye to the family.

Once everyone knew the caravan order and the radio station to stay on, they began piling into vehicles. Lily turned towards the Winnebago and was about to head up the steps before she was yanked by her arm and fell head first into someone's chest. She steadied herself and looked up at her captor only to see a beautiful pair of blue eyes. Daryl started dragging her over to his truck.

"Ya can ride with me. Prolly all filled up in the RV anyway with all that cryin' and sick in there." Lily was shocked but nodded her head. She let Daryl lead her to his truck until she heard a little voice call out to her a couple of cars ahead.

"Oh! I'll be right back!" she told Daryl as she sprinted over to Carol's Cherokee. She looked over to where she heard the little voice and spotted Sophia in the back seat.

"Lily, can you ride with me? Please? I don't like long car rides," Sophia told her with big eyes. Lily practically melted on the spot.

"Sophia, I'm gonna ride with Mr. Daryl, okay? There won't be room for my big butt in the back!" she laughed. She gave Sophia a quick hug.

"Be good for your momma, okay? I don't like long car rides either, but if she says you were good, I'll braid your hair for you when we get all settled in, okay?"
Sophia agreed and gave her once last hug.

Lily rushed back to Daryl's truck and hoisted herself up in the passenger's seat.

"The fuck took ya so long, girl?" Daryl growled. Lily blushed a bit.

"Sorry. I had to promise Sophia that I'd braid her hair so she'd have something to look forward to after the long car ride." Daryl didn't say anything for a while.

"S'nice of ya. Ya don't need to be lookin' after anyone's kid," she heard him say.

"I just really like doing it. I've always loved being around kids, I guess." She heard Daryl grunt in return before pulling off the roadside. This is gonna be a long ride.


Lily stared out the window as the caravan rolled on, trying not the have a heart attack over the current situation. She wasn't afraid of Daryl at all, but he certainly made her nervous like no man has ever done. He was one intimidating man to look at. Standing a foot taller than her with his muscular frame and brownish, messy hair, Daryl Dixon definitely wasn't an eyesore. In fact, she knew she analyzed him more than anyone else. He was rough, dirty, and definitely an asshole sometimes, and yet lately he seemed to be the one to get her out of sticky situations. Although she'd probably never admit it to anyone, Lily knew a part of her was glad that he shot her and brought her back to his camp with all these wonderful people. When Daryl spoke suddenly, she couldn't help but jump a little in her seat.

"I uh, well. I never really said nothin' 'bout shootin' ya and all," he muttered.

Lily was startled. "Oh! I mean, you didn't mean to, right? And I didn't die or anything…."Daryl scowled at her briefly before putting his eyes back on the road.

"S'not the point, girl. Point is I shot ya, and I don't even bother takin' care of ya? S'not right by me. Don't matter if ya alive now and annoyin' as ever. " Lily rolled her eyes a bit at that.

"I really do forgive you, Daryl," she said sincerely. "I know you wouldn't harm me on purpose. You even brought me back to camp. You've done right by me." Daryl wasn't taking any of that.

"Don't care if ya think it's right. Ya don't harm a woman, accident or not. 'S why Ed had it comin' to 'im." Lily briefly thought back to Carol and mentally shuddered at the slight bruises she used to see on her arms.

"Daryl…" he cut her off.

"Shut up. S' not right. I gotta take care a ya now like I shouldda before."

Lily was stunned into silence. The hell just came out of his mouth? She had no idea how to respond, so she just relaxed a little in the seat of his truck and stared out the window. She didn't know how to feel. Sure, she couldn't doubt that she felt butterflies in her stomach at the promise given by the handsome man next to her, but deep down she couldn't help but doubt that he cared for her in any way. He's not my family, and I'm certainly not his. He's just too nice deep down to get rid of me. Lily tried not to let tears streak down her face. Instead, she turned her head and gazed at the flowers that littered the fields the caravan passed. It was the first beautiful sight she'd seen in a long time.

"Look at all those flowers,"she whispered softly. Daryl glanced out her window briefly before going back to the road. He grunted.

"What 'bout 'em?" Lily turned to him and smiled.

"It's funny, isn't it? The world around them is completely destroyed, and yet these little plants just go on as if nothing happened. " She looked up to see the corner of his mouth turned slightly upwards.

"We got no idea what's waitin' for us, we're just 'bout outta food, we got a fuckin' sick guy in the RV, and ya are starin' out the window pickin' daisies in ya head? Geez, lil girl," he joked with her lightly and she giggled.

"I guess you are right, Mr. Dixon, but as far as I'm concerned, flowers will always be on my mind, even if it's for a second. If there's one thing I miss, it's helping my momma plant roses in our garden at home." She gave a sad smile at the distant memory.

Daryl scoffed. "Well, git ya mind outta the flower patch for a bit, girl. I know ya didn't git no sleep last night. Try now, so I can focus on the road and not ya mouth always runnin'."

Lily scrunched her face for a second before nodding her head. She knew he was right, and truth be told, she was exhausted. She let her head rest against the seat as she drifted off to sleep.


Daryl briefly took his eyes off the road to look at the young woman resting in his truck. He's never had a woman in his truck before, let alone one as beautiful and pure as this one. Even in her sleep, he could see the weariness on her angelic face. He's never come across a person who seemed so concern with a group of strangers, yet no one really seemed all too concerned about her. He still couldn't believe how kind she was to Carol's little girl. Most of the adults just pass on Rick's kid and the girl to whoever will take them. But she, Lily, always seemed happy to be with them.

He was intriqued by her. He knew she was intelligent. He heard from some of the woman that she's an engineer. She was quiet, which he liked a lot. She wasn't always asking him stuff and bothering him. He knew she couldn't use a weapon, that much was clear, and he found himself getting angry at her for that. At least she could use that axe of hers to some extent, and he realized it was enough for him at the moment. She's mine ta look after now. Shouldda done it from the start. Ain't right what I did.

Daryl knew he wasn't a people person. He knew he wasn't much of a person at all. All his life he's been told he wasn't worth anything and that he should only be looking out for himself. But deep down, Daryl knew he didn't want to be like his daddy and Merle. He knew he wouldn't amount to much, but maybe he could help someone else who amounted to something. He wanted to help Lily. He wanted to protect her and shield her from the shithole around them. He knew he couldn't, but he knew he'd try anyway.

Normally he'd stay away from all these people. Hell, he shouldda left when Merle was abandoned, but he couldn't bring himself to. He had to stay for her. He's never been responsible for anyone but himself. The only times where he'd been close to taking care of someone were those nights where Merle was kicked out of the bar and had to have Daryl come and pick him up. But when he saw her passed out on the ground, all dehydrated and dirty, he knew he couldn't just forget about her. She deserved to be taken care of properly.

Sometimes when he'd sneak a few glances at her around camp, she'd remind him of a rabbit. She was fast, always moving from one activity to another, trying to help whoever needed it. She'd stare up at people with big, wide eyes that no one could resist, especially not him. He liked how soft her hair looked when it was blowing in the wind. Even though Daryl knew Merle would think he was being a pussy for thinking stuff like this, he found he couldn't help himself. He felt like a predator. He wanted to keep her all to himself. He wanted to protect her from everything, even himself.


Lily awoke from her dreamless sleep, feeling completely refreshed. She knew how much she needed the nap and was thankful for Daryl suggesting it. She glanced up at him, peering at the cigarette in his hand. He saw her stare.

"What do ya want?"

"Where'd you get that cigarette?" she asked, a curious expression on her face. He tapped the back of his hand on the side of his door near a small compartment space.

"Can I have one?"

It was silent for a moment when Daryl glanced back and forth between her and the road.

"Ya ain't needin' one."

"But I want one."

"Why?"

"Because I like the taste of menthol, and it's relaxing."

"No."

"Please, Daryl?"

"It's my stash, girl. Ya ain't getting' one." Lily frowned, but quietly went back to looking out the window. Daryl stared at her with a smirk on his face. He flicked the ashes off the cigarette before tapping her arm. She looked at him, and then at the cigarette he was offering her. She smiled lightly before grabbing it and inhaling deeply. She savored the minty taste and tried not to blush, thinking how Daryl's mouth had been on that cigarette. She handed it back to him.

Lily smiled. That nap and cigarette hit had put her in a great mood for once, and she decided she'd enjoy it while she had the time. She grabbed the manual crank on the door of the truck and rolled the window down. She leaned over slightly, tilting her face out the window and smiling into the Georgia breeze.

Daryl watched in amusement as her hair wildly started whipping around in the truck. He couldn't deny it anymore, not matter how much he tried. She looked so free and beautiful with that soft smile on her face. Even those goddamn walkers couldn't ruin this moment.

Daryl hit his cigarette again, trying not to grin. Turns out he didn't mind sharing that much.


Alright guys. I tried to do a little more character development in this character. My issue with Daryl is that I know he's a really good guy, and I want him to express that on the inside, but I want him to keep his "Season 1 hostility" on the outside. That's why he hasn't really been interacting/openly caring with the protagonist and such yet. I want to take things slow, but not like, painfully slow. SO YEAH.
I'm glad the apocalypse didn't hit, otherwise I'd never know what happened in the rest of Season 3.

Big shout out to Glen Mazzara and all of the amazing work he has done for the show! He will be missed, but I wish him the best of luck in his new projects!
I hope everyone's holidays have been wonderful. Keep reviewing and telling me junk, guys! I really do read/love all of them! :D