Daryl Pov

I may be quiet and 'sweet' but, I'm just like Merle. Maybe not in the pushy, persuasive way. But the way we think is almost identical. Yeah, I know I'm smarter than him, and don't do drugs n' shit. But, we both looked at that fuckin' girl the same way. We both have these monsters inside of us. He just lets his show more. I feel so fuckin' shitty when I have those thoughts. That girl is just a kid. Just a broken kid.

I'm sitting in the kitchen, looking through the fridge that is full of food. Like actual vegetables and fruits. Fuck, are those eggs? I pull open the freezer and it is packed full of frozen meat. This girl really prepared. I walk over to the back sliding door and stand outside on the porch. Fuck. Over to the right she has an actual garden and a chicken coop fenced in right beside that. There is a small barn like structure and as I walk inside there are about six cows. I hear some hummin' coming from the last stall on the right. I peak over the wall and see the girl on 'er knees milking a fuckin' cow.

She hasn't heard me yet, so I take a moment to just watch her. She is not like any seventeen-year-old I've ever met. She acts fuckin' crazy sometimes when she just listens to something in 'er head. She likes to butcher walkers, and garden. She is a fuckin' Suzie homemaker if I ever saw one. And she ain't scared of nothing. She should be. The world is endin' and almost everyone is dead. But she sings and dances and giggles all the fuckin' time. It's aggravatin' actually.

I break the silence bluntly. "Why, ain't you scared of nothin' girl?"

She don't even look at me before she starts talkin, "I have nothing to be afraid of. I will live," she answers simply.

I blink a couple times, just tryin' to understand what the fuck she is talking about. She still hasn't looked at me. It's like she knew I was here all along. There is somethin' wrong with this girl. She's too calm.

"You don't know that girl. People droppin' like flies now a' days," I say dryly.

She finally looks at me and just smiles. Her teeth are perfect and white, making her smile too damn bright. Her eyes have a slight sparkle in them, like she is almost laughin' at me.

"Are you sure?" She says.

What the fuck does that mean? She's so confusin'. She talks in riddles and never give straight answers. I don't know what to say to her now. She pisses me off to no end. All I want to do it yell at her and then push her up against the wall. Take her, make her mine. Wait, no stop. You were just thinkin' she was crazy and now you wanna fuck her. Dixon, you are one messed up man.


Addie Pov

Daryl doesn't answer me, he just stares or kinda glares at me. I wonder what is going through that thick head of his. He is always quiet, well unless he is yelling. At least that is what I have observed so far. So why is he talking to me now? Maybe he is like me, calculating and watchful. I wonder why I need him, and I intend to find out.

Daryl, give me a hand please?" I reach my right hand up asking him to help me stand. He flinches for a second and looks at my hand like it might burn him.

He finally grips my hand and yanks me up. He drops my hand before I can even register that I am on my feet. I sway for a second and then reach down and grab the fresh milk jug. I place it in the fridge in the backroom area of the barn. Daryl is still standing there when I return. Again he says nothing, I will have to initiate the conversation he obviously wants to have.

"Come Daryl, take a walk with me." I say as I lace my arm around his. He stiffens. That confirms my suspicion of past trauma. He doesn't like to be touched and he is very wary of being near people. Someone must have hurt him in his life. He had not had a kind path. I audibly sigh and he openly looks at me. Perhaps I am meant to help him overcome this fear of being cared for. Because that is what I am supposed to do right? Care for him? Ugh common Fate, aren't you supposed to nudge me in the right direction? Fine, I guess I'll just do what ever I want.

I drag him along to walk around the fence with me. His face still look like he is slightly uncomfortable. But as we walk in the silence he slowly relaxes. He must realize he can't get away and must walk with me. He keeps up his facade of annoyance. I can see through it though, he is curious. That much is clear, otherwise he would have pushed me away already.

We walked all the way back to the front of the house and sat on the front porch where Merle was sitting in a chair, smoking a cigarette. I let go of Daryl and sit on the swinging bench. Daryl chooses another chair between Merle's and my bench. The sun is almost setting and it is peaceful with a slight warm breeze. Daryl is looking at me without any shame. Both men and calm now, probably because the have been feed and cleaned.

Daryl quietly clears his throat, "Who told ya who we were? Why'd ya ask us to come with ya?

I close my eyes and contemplate my answer. "It doesn't matter how I know who you are, I just do. And I asked you both here because I need you. Yeah, you guys are kinda rough around the edges, but if you were real bad you would have tried to hurt me already. I am looking for people who belong here. Who deserve a chance to live here with me. And I think you guys can help me make this place better. Safer. Isn't that what you were looking for? A place to 'kick it,' eat, laugh, live."

My last statement caused Merle to look at me, and narrow his eyes. Ah, I think I struck another cord. Sometime I think I can tell what they are thinking. Not outright, but I can feel what they want. They share a look and silently come to a conclusion. Daryl isn't much of a negotiator, so I look to Merle for the verdict. He begins to walk closer to me.

"Ya sure are one strange little lady. I like it here, so I think we are gonna stay for some time and ya gonna have to listen to me from now on. Cause I know whats best, baby. Ya gonna give us some more answer soon, or else. And if ya do anything funny will take this place right out from underneath ya," Merle says as his voice drops and his glare turns menacing.

I look at him in disbelief and then giggle. His face turns softer and cocks his head in confusion, Daryl is somewhere in the background slowly backing away. Which makes laugh again. Before I know it I am having a laughing attack that bends me over and strains my abs, causing tears to leak from my eyes. When I gain composure I find that both men had backend up a little and look somewhat concern. I suppress my last giggle and turn back to my mischievous, conniving self. 'Calm yourself Adeline. You can show them you are a leader without brutality.' I Ignore her words. When I lift my gaze towards them, both men can see how serious I have become. I am still lowered in a crouch and my right hand in reaching back to grab the small blade in my boot. I pounce on Merle, forcing him to the ground with an unearthly force. I have a knee on his chest and the blade to his throat. He is visibly stunned and confused on how a one hundred and fifteen pound girl just threw him to the ground. He looks frightened and whispers something about my eyes. I cut him off.

"You seem to be mistaken, you are a guest in my house. If you want my food, my water, my beds, my sanctuary, then you need to follow my orders. Be careful what you say. You do not want to bite the hand that feeds you, silly man." I say icily, my odd accent becoming thicker with each word.

I lift myself off of him. And once again turn my back and go inside my home, leaving them to mediate my words.

'That isn't actually how I would have done it.' Then it's a good thing you aren't me. Anyways, I didn't really hurt him, there is just no room for delicacy anymore. Especially if you want to get your point across.


Thanks for all the reviews so far! I liked this chapter, It was kind of just a filler while I figure out where I want this to go next.