A/N: I originally wrote this chapter from Daryl's POV, and it featured zero interaction with Lily, just made references to her. And once I was finished I decided I hated it and so rewrote it completely. Much happier with this version (Lily's POV as normal). It's mostly dialogue and fluff, but it covers a lot of necessary stuff and gives more insight into her character. Let me know what you think, I love to read your reviews :)
Thanks Calcifer179, best beta out! Check out his stuff, it's pretty darn awesome.

7.

Awakening the next day I am suddenly aware of two things; first of all, every part of my body feels bruised, it's been a long time since I have slept on the ground and clearly my body isn't acclimatised to it anymore. Secondly the light shining through the plastic-like material of my tent is strong and bright, meaning I have slept late and most likely missed breakfast. My stomach grumbles in affirmation and ignoring my hunger pains and overall stiffness, I set about straightening up my sleeping space and preparing my morning routine. I slip out of my pyjama shorts and t-shirt and into tight fitting black leggings and a plain sports bra, quickly brush my hair and pull it back into a high ponytail and take a few sips from the water bottle that is sitting beside my sleeping bag.
Grabbing my yoga mat, I step outside, shielding my eyes from the already blazing sun. It's going to be another lovely day in Paradise.
I start with a few basic warm up stretches and poses, tentatively putting pressure on my injured palms. I had done the best I could to bandage them the night before, but hadn't been able to find scissors to cut the cloths into strips of suitable lengths, so had been forced to wrap the remainder half way up my arms. I must have looked a little like someone in the process of mummification, with the white bandages swaddled over my hands and forearms. They feel a little tender, but bearable and I pull my body up into a practiced handstand, feeling my muscles tighten and strain with effort.
Everyone is thin during the zombie apocalypse, and I had always been slender, but despite being skinnier than ever, I had managed to maintain a reasonable amount of muscle tone through daily yoga and took pride in my core body strength and flexibility. The end of the world is no reason to let yourself go.
I flip back, landing lightly on the balls of my feet and suddenly I get the feeling I am being watched. Pausing to look around me, I only see a few Woodbury folk going about their daily business, none of whom are paying any attention to me. Obviously, there are also a few Biters nearby, but we are separated by two high fences and several yards of overgrown grass.
Ignoring it, I finish off my yoga session and before doing my cool down stretches; decide a little tumbling is in order. The grass feels cool underneath my feet and fingers as I cartwheel twice and then finish with a basic front aerial, feeling exhilarated as I am briefly airborne. It's a little shaky, but I manage to stick the landing and can't hold back a loud giggle, amazed at how my muscles still remember what to do after all this time.


A holler echoes across the grounds to me and I jump at the sudden disturbance. Daryl and Rick are approaching me at a slow jog and I cross my arms over my exposed stomach, wishing that I was dressed in something less revealing.
"Wow Lily, that was incredible!" Rick praises, now only a few paces from me. Daryl stands behind him, looking me over shamelessly and I blush furiously at the memory of my performance last night. Great, so first I have wept in front of him and now I am standing here practically topless, bet he thinks really highly of you right now.
"Seriously, where did you learn to do that?" asks Rick, obviously impressed by my gymnastics.
"I'm, well I guess I was a cheerleader at University of Alabama. And I did dance and stuff before then. Guess it's all pretty much a dead art form now," I joke, receiving a laugh from Rick and a slight smile from Daryl, which surprises me.
"May come in handy one day," the sheriff says, still chuckling, "But I'm afraid we have some more serious matters to discuss."
"Yeah I figured you weren't just coming down here for the show," my attempt at humour lamely masking my discomfort.
"Unfortunately not. The sooner we get talking and you tell us all you know the better. It'll have to wait until later today though; we have a cell block to clear out first. Speaking of, you think you're up for it? You seemed to be able to put your weight on your hands okay, think you can still hold a gun?"
Rick stares pointedly at my bandaged limbs and it takes me a few seconds to process his questions.
"Wait…you want me to help you take out some Biters in another cell block?"
"Is that a problem?" Daryl asks, speaking for the first time and noticeably gripping his crossbow a fraction tighter.
"Uh…Hell yeah that's a problem. Listen guys, I don't know what you've been told about me, but I'm not a fighter. I'm a virgin." There is an awkward pause before I register the implications of what I have just said. "No, not like that," I blush again, "I mean…I haven't ever killed a Biter before."
Rick stands still for a moment, before taking a step closer to me, a strange look twisting his handsome features;
"How is that possible?"
I shrug, "Just hasn't come up yet. I mean, we were on the road before Woodbury, obviously, but there was always someone there to protect me. Even if I wanted to help you out in this particular way, Rick, I simply wouldn't know how. I'd just slow you down."
Daryl chokes out a laugh and rolls his blue eyes skywards.
"Well ain't that fuckin' typical. You really are useless huh?"
"…In this respect? Yeah, pretty much," I raise my hands apologetically and turn back to Rick, "I'm sorry, really I am."
"If you're going to stick around here you will have to learn how to fight, but that's a problem for another day. Sounds like The Governor really did shelter you from all this, didn't he?" Rick's tone is almost sympathetic and I find myself feeling gratitude toward him.
I nod dumbly.
"Listen, if you both don't mind I'm going to get started with my day. I'll help out in any way I can…just not that particular way. And if you need to…interrogate me later, well that's fine too. Not that I have much information for you."
"Just tell us what you can, anything is helpful," Rick touches my naked shoulder briefly before pivoting and returning back to the prison, signalling a figure that appears to be Glenn to reopen the inner gate for him.
Daryl has lingered and is glaring at me hotly, not even attempting to disguise his emotions.
"You want to say something Dixon? Because I'd really like to get some clothes on and go find my friends."
My comment seems to have drawn attention to my body and he stares at my hips and stomach for a moment, a small flush tracing its way across his cheeks.
"Did you know Merle well?"
His question is totally out the blue and I gape at him briefly before choosing my words carefully.
"Well he was in our group from almost the start of this. We found him passed out in a van on the side of the highway, his wound was starting to get infected and he wasn't doing too good. But we fixed him up and he stayed with us. We were only just establishing Woodbury at that point, hadn't even built the walls yet. I bet you can guess what Merle thought of me…and how he treated me, but yeah. We knew each other pretty well. Michonne mentioned it was Philip who killed him; let him turn into a Biter. I'm sorry about that, I may not have liked the guy, but I would never have wished that on him."
Daryl processes my words quietly, chewing his thumb absentmindedly.
"Walkers," he grunts after a moment.
"What?"
"We call them Walkers here. Not Biters."
"That's what you're taking from everything I just said?" I smile, slightly amused.
He shrugs,
"Ya seem pretty desperate to fit in, sucking up to Rick and playing nice with the locals. Thought ya might like to know the lingo 'round here."
"I'm not 'desperate to fit in'," I gasp, "To be honest, most of you lot have treated me much better than I ever expected."
"'Guessing that 'lot' don't include me."
"I understand your hostility. You have no reason to like or trust me. Not to mention I haven't really maintained my composure around you," I say, referring to the confrontation the night before and wincing at the memory of my humiliation.
"Didn't really shock me Princess, knew ya weren't the strong, silent type," there is a trace of humour in his voice and I smile beguilingly.
"Not like you," the flirtation in my voice surprising me and apparently Daryl just as much as he stands slack jawed, unsure of what to say in response. He clears his throat and looks hesitantly back to the collection of buildings behind us.
"I've got work to do. Catch ya around." He is retreating before I can say goodbye and I assume that my crack at forming a connection with him has failed and merely created more animosity between us.
Sighing heavily and pushing all thoughts of a certain redneck aside, I wrap up my yoga mat and chuck it back into my tent, grabbing a singlet from the top of one of my open bags and sliding it over my head. Sports bras are ideal for exercise, but probably not so appropriate for day to day wear. I pull my socks and boots on, which look like genuine motorcycle boots, but are actually designer and cost an arm and a leg. Still, they are somewhat sensible for this new life and I am pleased I bought them before everything happened. I doubt my wedges or ballet flats would have gotten me this far.
Part of me wants to spend all day laying in my tent and pretending none of this has happened. I was up all night thinking about what Michonne had said. My poor, sweet Penny hadn't been gunned down and laid to rest peacefully. She had come back…returned as a Biter to be kept hidden away by Philip. How had he managed to keep all of this from me? Why would he even bother? He knew better than anyone that Biters were as far from human as possible, less than animals. Keeping her chained up was just…sick. The thought actually makes me feel nauseous and more than ever I was aware that the Philip I had known and loved is really gone.