Alex woke the next morning with a blanket she didn't recognize as her own draped across her body. Her eyes adjusted to the morning light, as she took a look around the tent, she knew from the bag on the floor and pile of cut off flannels that she was in Daryl's tent still naked from the night before.

'Oh god,' she thought it all had been just a crazy, crazy good, dream. She looked down at her naked body, seeing the bruises on her hips she knew it was definitely not a dream. She got up to support herself on her elbow looking down at the floor she saw her clothes in somewhat of a pile near the cot, she got to her feet still sore from last night, blanket still covering herself and pulled on her jeans. She stood there in her sports bra trying to flip her shirt right side out when Daryl came into the tent. He chewed his lips awkwardly as he noticed that she was awake, getting dressed. He noticed how badly she was marked up on her hips and neck. She stood there examining Daryl herself, he was wearing a long sleeve button up with a black vest around it, nothing out of the ordinary, except the collars of his shirt was pulled close to his neck, hiding the marks on his neck. She recognized the flannel shirt of hers in his hands; he must have gone to her tent to get it for her so she didn't have to do the walk of shame back to camp.

"Uh, my shirt," she pointed at his hand. He nodded and tossed it over to her and looked away as she pulled it over herself, and made sure the collars were as close to her neck as possible and pulled her hair to both sides of her shoulder in attempt to hide the bite marks on her neck.

She looked up at Daryl, hoping he'd confirm that she covered them up to the best of her ability. He nodded in approval, "Camps not up yet, 'cept Dale on the RV. He didn't notice me, should be good."

"Yeah, I'll go slip in before they do," she grabbed her Army shirt and stuffed a part of it into the back of her pocket and sat down to tie up her boots.

She started to walk towards the door of the tent when Daryl grabbed her arm. He didn't know what the hell to say to the woman who gave him one of the best nights of his life, he chewed on his bottom lip even more nervously, "See you soon." And he let her go back to the camp before any of the others were awake, her smile escaping her lips on her way.

She came up to the camp, luckily Dale was not in sight. She quickened her pace trying to get into her tent without being detected; she turned the corner of the RV and ran straight into Dale. She didn't think she could even smack the grin off his face, it was so wide.

"And where have you been Miss Alex?" He said smugly.

"I had to pee, jeez."

"It took you all night to go pee and an outfit change?" he had her, he knew it; the smile on his face would never leave.

"I—I,"

"Hey, ol' timer. Why don't you go and wake everyone up? We gotta go get Rick and Glenn," Daryl shouted a few feet away walking over to them.

'My knight in shining plaid,' Alex chuckled to herself.

While Daryl had Dale's attention, Alex snuck away and ran into her tent. She was so embarrassed that Dale of all people knew that she spent the night in Daryl's tent. She knew she couldn't avoid him, she just prayed he wouldn't go off and tell anyone. She heard the others get up and figured it was safe now. Once she stepped outside she instantly wanted to throw her hair up from the heat, but cursed Daryl in her mind for all the marks forcing her to leave her hair down.

T-Dog, Daryl, Andrea and Shane were all packing up the car to head off in search of Rick, then stopped to see Hershel's truck coming up the drive way. 'Thank god they're back,' as she ran up with the others to meet them at the house. Everyone hugged the returning survivors as Lori explained that she go into car accident , in the same breath Hershel yelled to Patricia to prepare the shed for surgery.

"Who the hell is that?" T-Dog pointed to the back of the truck.

There was a boy with a blindfold looking as if he was about to pass out, "That's Randall," Glenn answered. Everyone wondered closer to get a better look at the stranger. Rick called them inside to discuss last night's events.

Once everyone found their place in the dining room, Rick began explaining why Randall was there. Glenn, Hershel and Rick were all in a shoot off with some other survivors they met in town. Randall jumped from a roof, his leg got impaled on a fence, his friends left and Rick saved his life.

"He would've bled out, if he lived that long."

"It's gotten bad in town," Glenn explained, they were surrounded by walkers.

"What do we do with him?" Andrea asked.

Rick was about to answer when Hershel came into the room, "I repaired his calf muscle as best I can, but he'll probably have nerve damage. Won't be on his feet for a least a week."

"When he is, we give him a canteen, take him out to the main road, send him on his way," Rick answered Andrea's question.

"Isn't that the same as leaving him for the walkers?" Andrea asked. Alex heard the door screen creak knowing Daryl had come in to join in the conversation. 'He really is a part of this group since Sophia,' her head dropped when she remembered everyone's loss.

Rick answered, "He'll have a fighting chance." Alex couldn't help but notice Carol looking at Daryl, who had found his place near Alex. She snapped herself out of the odd jealously rolling over her to pay attention to the more important things happening around her.

"Just gonna let him go? He knows where we are," Shane spat out.

"He was blindfolded the whole way here. He's not a threat."

Shane scoffed, "Not a threat. How many of them were there? You killed three of their men, you took one of the hostage, but they just ain't gonna come looking?"

"They left him for dead. No one is looking."

"We should still post a guard," Alex offered.

"He's out cold right now, will be for hours," Hershel chimed in.

"You know what? I'm gonna go get him some flowers and candy," Shane scoffed and walked away, "look at this folks—we back in Fantsyland!" Alex fought the urge to spit in Shane's face.

"You know, we haven't even dealt with what you did at my barn yet," Hershel walked towards Shane, "Let me make this perfectly clear, once and for all, this is my farm. Now I wanted you gone. Rick talked me out of it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. So do us both a favor—keep your mouth shut."

Alex wanted to slow clap for Hershel right then and there as Shane just walked away.

Rick walked up to Hershel, "We're not gonna do anything about it today. Let's just cool off." Everyone started to shuffle off to go about their day.

Alex walked with Dale, "Hey, Dale," he stopped to turn his attention to Alex, "I know, I know this isn't the time but about earlier—I"

"Don't worry, secret's safe with me," he said with a wink.

Alex nodded with a smile, "Thanks." They started walking back to camp again.

"So," Dale motioned his head towards Daryl, "him huh? Really?"

"Oh god, Dale," She couldn't hold back her awkward laughter, "I'm not discussing this."

He laughed along with the embarrassed woman, "Sorry."

They calmed their laughter as they neared the camp.

Alex had helped when someone needed it. Everyone was concerned about Randall, all having their own opinions on the matter. Alex didn't though. It wasn't her choice to make, whatever Rick thought had to be done was good enough for her.

Alex decided to guard the shed where Randall was held. She knew how to handle people on lockdown; after all it was her job before the end of the world. She walked down to the shed where Glenn was standing.

"Glenn!" she motioned him over away from the barn so they prisoner couldn't overhear their conversation if he was awake.

"Hey," he replied softly walking over to her.

"How've you been? We haven't really talked in a while."

"I know I'm sorry. It's just been sorta crazy around here and—,"

"And Maggie?" she cut off. He nodded his head solemnly.

"Look, I know you two have a thing and it's obvious you care about each other so what's the problem?"

Glenn sighed, "Before Rick and I went to go get Hershel, she told me she loved me."

"And that's a problem how?" she snickered.

"When we were being shot at, I froze, thought about her. I failed Hershel and Rick."

Her smile escaped her face once she realized her friend was truly distraught, "No, you didn't. You're all here, all safe. You didn't fail anyone. You know why you froze?" He shook his head, "Because you feel the same way about her. Days are kinda numbered now, I suggest you let her know."

"Yeah maybe. So how are you and Daryl?" he smirked.

Her head shot up at him thinking about her words carefully, "How—how did you know?" Glenn's smile just grew larger, "Is it that obvious?"

"No. Not really, I wasn't too sure until I saw your reaction," he simply shrugged.

She kicked the dirt underneath her feet and let out an awkward laugh, "I—I honestly don't know."

"He's probably just freaked out about everything. Does he at least know?"

She thought back to last night in his tent and couldn't control the smile leaving her lips. Their night may not have been very clear of their feelings, but Glenn knew by the smile on her face that Daryl knew.

"You guys had sex?!" he spat out.

"Shh, Jesus. Glenn! I don't want the whole damn camp to know!" she said as she cupped her hands around his mouth, "Yes okay. I, uh, stay in his tent last night." She swore his smile would never fade from his face.

"I knew it was going to happen, I had a feeling when he brought you into the group."

Her smile became more visible, "I just don't want to scare him off. He's always distant afterwards, he's probably afraid others are gonna find out so you can't say anything!"

"You've fooled around more than once?" she glared at him due to his volume, "Sorry, maybe he just doesn't know how to act, I'm sure his never been real close to anyone, especially after you know…" She thought about it while she chewed on her lips, "Plus, you're an intimidating girl, uh lady."

"How am I intimidating?"

"Come on Alex; don't act like you don't know you're the prettiest one in our group." Clearly he wasn't thinking about Maggie or Beth at that moment.

She was mortified from the compliment, "Uh, thanks. You know what? I got this, go see Maggie. She probably needs you now."

He nodded and thanked her as he walked off towards the house.

Alex was left alone in her thoughts. She thought about her friend and how happy she was that he had found somebody to comfort him. She thought about Randall, still passed out from surgery and if he was dangerous or not. But mostly, she thought Daryl. She knew he was not the type of man to have relationships, he was a love then leave him kind of guy but she wanted more from him. She needed to be his friend, someone he could trust, and someone who was there for him no matter what. She knew what she wanted from him was more than just someone to sleep with her to make her feel better, hell he could do that without putting himself inside her. She just needed him to be around her, to make her laugh, or to hold her when she cried, to protect her from harm, to love her.

She snapped back to reality when she heard footsteps coming from beside her.

"What are you doin'?" She shot up a look at man whose voice had become so familiar to her.

"Just standing guard."

"Think that's a good idea?"

"Daryl, it'll be fine."

He scoffed at her and chewed his lip nervously. How could he say that he didn't want her around this guy? They had no idea what he was capable of and that scared the shit out of him.

"Daryl, I'll be fine. I use to guard guys bigger than this who probably did a lot worse things than this one."

He nodded still unconvinced, "Why don't you make yourself useful and go find someone else to bother?" He flung his hand up motioning her to leave as he sat down next to the shed.

She knew she wasn't going to win this one no matter what she did. "You're the one who came up to me, but alright I'll leave," she got up and started walking back to the house. She would probably be wanted at the house with Beth, seeing how she was upset from the realization of what the world is since the barn incident.

As she walked she scoffed at her thoughts about Daryl only moments before, him loving her was probably the farthest thing from his mind. He was too big of an ass to actually care about someone she thought.

For the next couple days, Alex stayed away from Daryl and the shed as best she could. She had fooled herself into thinking they might actually become anything more than what they were, strangers.


AN: I am so sorry it's taken so long for an update, been extremely busy. Thank you all for reading!