Hey guys! So, I have been trying to think about Daryl's reaction and I can't think of the perfect reaction. So I'm doing another time hop. I know that seems weird, but if dialog or situations don't come naturally to me, I don't want to force it. Just like I knew I wanted the governor executed but didn't want Katie to see it. And I didn't know how to naturally write it. Anyway, I started writing this a little earlier than I planned because I got like six more favorites! I hope you enjoy. Oh I know I might make people mad with two notes, but I write this as I go. So I start off with one idea and then when I reach the end of the chapter the idea my have changed. Anyway, reviews are lovely! ;)

Chapter 9

It had been two weeks since the kiss and we had yet to discuss it. When I went to go talk to Sasha I had learned she went on the run as well. So, I waited patiently for them to come back, it took two days. Unfortunately, it wasn't the time or place to talk about it, they lost someone on the run. I didn't know who it was, one of the Woodbury residents. Everyone was solemn after that. It had been awhile since we lost anyone and it was the first for me. Then Daryl went hunting and was gone for three days. He came back with three squirrels and two big rabbits. After that he kinda avoided me.

I'm outside playing with Gracie and watching some of the guys rigging up the system that would allow us to have running water, Daryl was helping. I was trying to teach Gracie hopscotch, but it was freezing. The only reason I was out here was because I wanted to see Daryl, but I was soon going to have to take Gracie in. Her cheeks were turning red.

I picked her up and headed inside. On our way in Kenny, another Woodbury resident, cut me off. He came here about a week ago and always finds ways to talk to me. Kenny was tall and skinny. He had a mop of brown hair and brown eyes and a healthy share of freckles. He was cute in his own sense and close to my age, but he wasn't my type. What am I talking about, I don't have a type. Unless Daryl is a type.

"Hey Katie," he says in his deep baritone voice. That voice does not seem like it should come out of that body, it always freaked me out. "Are you going inside already?"

"Yes, Gracie's cold. And I need to help Carol with lunch. Then after we eat Gracie needs a nap," I say. He looks a little disappointed but smiles.

"Well maybe when Gracie is asleep, we can hang out," he says hopefully.

"Uh, I usually sleep with her. Its my nap time as much as hers," I say. Its not entirely true. I do lay down with her, but I don't sleep. I usually read or dwell on my thought, go through all the what ifs in life. His smile falls a little, but he nods.

"Ok, maybe next time," he says. I smile.

"Defiantly," I say. All of a sudden I feel someone behind me. I turn around and Daryl is standing there. He looks between me and Kenny. Then stares at me.

"Katie, I forgot to tell you I'm free to give you some more fighting lessons today, after lunch," he says. I open my mouth to reply.

"She can't, it's Gracie's nap time," Kenny says staring at Daryl. Daryl raises his eyebrow at him.

"I don't think I was asking ya. I was talking to Katie and she can let Beth watch Gracie during her nap," Daryl says looking at Kenny. I notice Kenny starting to turn red.

"She wants to take a nap too," Kenny says. Daryl turns his head to look at me.

"Since when," he says. I blush.

"I think I can skip the nap today. I need to learn how to defend myself. That's more important than a nap," I say. Kenny looks between us.

"Well, maybe I could help. I'm pretty good. I used to get in fights at school all the time. I never lost," he says. I feel like that's more for Daryl's benefit than mine. Daryl snorts.

"Playground fights? With teachers to break it up and no weapons? That's a completely different thing than what I'm showing her. No I don't need any help. Thanks," Daryl says and to me that thanks sounded an awful lot like 'fuck off' but it might just be me being optimistic. Kenny glares than turns to me.

"Next time," he says And walks away. I look back at Daryl and he's glaring in the direction Kenny left. He looks at me.

"After Gracie falls asleep come find me in the generator room. It'll be warm down there and no one will bother us," he says then turns back where he was helping with the shower setup.

I watch him walk back to the other men. Rick is shaking his head and says something to Daryl. Daryl just shrugs then glances over his shoulder at me and smiles slightly. I shake my head to clear it and glance up at the guard tower. I see Sasha standing up there and she's looking at me with a smile. I know I'm going to have to tell her everything tonight. I turn around and go inside.

Beth watches Gracie as I help Carol with making lunch for thirty people. My mind isn't in it though. I keep thinking about what happened outside. Everyone heads inside to eat their lunch and I help hand out plates to everybody. I always make sure Gracie gets one of the first plates. Kenny comes through my line, but doesn't really look at me. The last one to come through my line is Daryl. He doesn't say anything either, but he looks at me dead in the eye before he takes his plate.

After we get done eating I go to take Gracie up to our cell to sleep, but Beth says that she'll take her as she already has to put Judith down. Gracie agrees, she loves Beth and Judith. I head on down to the generator room. When I get there Daryl is already there. His faithful crossbow lying on one of the tables, never far from reach.

"Didn't take long to get Gracie to sleep," he says.

"Beth volunteered to take her," I say eyeing him. Were we going to talk about what happened in the woods, or even what happened outside? Or were we really going to fight?

"Alright, we went over different ways to get out of someone's hold. Now, what if that person has a gun pointed at you," he says And holds up a gun. I immediately step back. He looks at me oddly. "You really think I would point a loaded gun on you?" He shows me it has no bullets and he still flicks the safety on.

"No, I knew that. Its just instinct I guess," I say. He raises an eyebrow, but looks away and shakes his head. He looks down and then looks back at me with a serious expression.

"Do you like that beanpole Kenny," he says. Then shakes his head. "Never mind. It doesn't matter. Not my business." He turns around only to turn back around sharply and stride over to me till he's an inch away. "Actually, it is. You've been avoiding me since that day in the woods. You don't talk to me! You don't come and find me in the guard tower like ya used ta! I want to know why! If you didn't like me kissing ya just say it! I miss ya non-stop jabbering. Just tell me now and we can get over this if that's what ya want," he says angrily. What?

"I avoided you," I say incredulously. I jab my finger in his direction. "Oh no buddy. You avoided me! Who went on a two day run right after and said we would talk when he got back? Not me. Who then went on a three day hunt and didn't come to find me when he got back? Not me. You're the one avoiding me! I liked the kiss! As a matter of fact, if it was up to me, we would have had a whole lot more of them between then and now," I say. With my finger pressed hard against his chest. Daryl looks down into my eyes.

"Good," is all he says before he's kissing me. I kiss him back wrapping my arms around his neck. He has one hand on the back of my head and the other on my back. The kiss was so much better than I remembered. His lips were a bit chapped, as I'm sure mine were too, but still just as perfect. We pull apart to breathe. He keeps his forehead pressed against mine.

I cut my eyes up to look at him. His eyes are closed and he has a slight smile on his face. We're both still breathing a little hard. He opens his eyes all of a sudden and looks at me. He pulls me a bit closer to him.

"No more avoiding each other. It was hell thinking that the reason you no longer visited me on watch was cause you didn't want anything to do with me. Then I seen that little twig talking to you and I just," he takes a breath, "I wasn't gonna lose you to him." I chuckle. He pulls back looking slightly hurt. "Hey, I'm not used to talking about this shit. Cut me some slack." He tries to pull away, but I jump him wrapping my arms more tightly around him and my legs around his waist. He has no choice, but to catch me. "What the hell woman?"

"I wasn't laughing at you exactly. I was laughing because you thought Kenny actually has a chance next to you," I pause and look at him. His face relaxes and he gets a better hold on me. "Daryl Dixon, you're pretty much the only thing I think about. Even before the kiss. You can ask Sasha if you don't believe me. I just never thought that someone like you could like me. I'm chatty and perky all the time. Sometimes I can be a bit of a diva. I'm not tough like Maggie or Sasha or even Carol. The other night I woke Carl up to kill a spider. I've only killed three walkers and one was an accident. If you hadn't found us we would have died. I have zero survival skills. You want to know what I'm good at? Reading and sleeping. And I guess I'm good with Gracie. And you, you're the exact opposite. You're quiet unless you have something of value to say. You're realistic. You were made to survive this world. You would be fine if you hadn't been with this group. And to think that you're interested in someone like me is completely insane to me," I say. His arms get tighter around me. He looks at me seriously.

"Yes you talk a lot, but I like your voice," his eyebrows pull down in a frown. " But to say you're not tough is a lie. You stayed at a daycare to take care of a kid that wasn't yours. You loved her and made sure she ate. You became somebody's mom when you didn't have to. That was the first thing that drew me to you. Then you never treated me like some white trash hick. Called me a thief a time or two, but if I'm honest I liked that too. The thing that made me realize how I felt about you though Is when you volunteered to go to Woodbury. It pissed me off that you volunteered to go somewhere we never been. What if they shot first and asked questions later? For the first time in my adult life I was scared. I wasn't scared when I learned that my brother was handcuffed to a roof. I wasn't scared when we were looking for Sofia, but watching you walk away from me on that highway. I was terrified I wouldn't see you again," he says. Sometime during his speech he rested his forehead against mine again. We were now leaning against a wall as well. I put my hand on his cheek and he opened his eyes. I smiled at him.

"I think we each need to be less harsh on ourselves," I say. He nods. I bite the inside of my lip. "So, what are we? Boyfriend and girlfriend sound so juvenile, but everything else seems too serious." He frowns thoughtfully and then shrugs.

"Your my women," he says simply. I smile. Then he looks serious again. "I don't share either so tell limp noodle to fuck off." I crack up, but he's suddenly starts kissing me again. And I forget why I was even laughing.

Authors note: please forgive me. I meant to finish this last night, but some personal stuff happened. But look look they're together now! I originally had Daryl just watching Katie and Kenny talk, but Daryl decided he wasn't standing by for that. Anyway I hope you enjoy. Review please! Omg if you guys only knew what I went though to get this up...I have been trying to post this for 12 hours. So please review.