It's been a while since I could say that I wasn't addicted.

And it's been a while since I could say I love myself as well.

And it's been a while since I've gone and fucked things up just like I always do.

And it's been a while, but all that shit seams to disappear when I'm with you. – It's Been a While- by Stained

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They rode the few miles back to his house and it was much like the ride to the store. Molly was holding onto him with both arms around his waist and occasionally rubbing his back when they stopped at traffic lights and slowed down enough.

She reached her hands under his jacket to touch him like she had been doing it for years. It felt so good.

He had a sissy bar and they both knew she didn't actually have to hold on to him. She could hold the back of the bar if she wanted to.

It was the intimacy of It though, that took his breath away. He hadn't had a woman on the back of his bike in a long time. His last girlfriend had refused to ride.

A few went on it to make him happy, he knew that. But they didn't like it.

Molly liked it. He could tell because when they slowed down enough and she wasn't touching him she would hold her hands up in the air like she was flying.

She had been on a bike before. Often too, and he wished he could see her face when her hands were up like that. In the rear view mirror he couldn't see all of her.

Girls like her were rare indeed.

When Molly had said yes to going on the bike and then acted like a biker girl with the boots and the backpack, he knew she wasn't like other girls.

He was blown away once again by her. As if the night before hadn't already blown him away and made him want to be her slave.

And again he thought. 'I could love her. I really could.' And he didn't think he would ever be able to love anyone.

He was broken. By the drugs and prison, convinced he was destined to walk the earth alone.

His mother had made him feel unlovable when she left and that feeling followed him his whole life and through every relationship he had ever had.

Somehow now he had hope for healing. Of course she was a healer.

Daryl stopped at the stop sign to the street he lived on and reached back to rub the side of her leg. She reached her hand up to his thigh and he closed his eyes for a minute just enjoying her touch.

He leaned back against her and just let her hug him from behind.

It felt like they knew each other for much longer than they did. There had been something simmering under the surface between them when she was Jake's nurse. He knew that, even if he didn't want to admit it then.

He fought it successfully because he thought she was married.

But she wasn't.

He pulled into the parking lot and kicked the kickstand down. Molly watched him as he took off his helmet and she took off hers.

It all boiled over the night before and somehow she wasn't even scared like she usually was. She had a past and in it was a man who scared her.

He hadn't ruined the joy of being on a bike though, even though he was the person she rode with after her father died.

Getting on the bike with Daryl was a test for her, to see if the bad memories had ruined it. Either it hadn't or this man was special.

There was some kind of fire between them. When she looked at him and he met her eyes it burned there.

They were kindred souls. She was sure of it. He was so frank with her about his past, honest and open. She had been looking for someone like that her whole life. An honest man.

He knew he had dodged a bullet with the drugs. The bullet that hit her sister and he would always understand her because of that. He wouldn't use either because she couldn't be around that, for a lot of reasons.

Her ex used drugs and that was why she was giving Daryl the third degree over his past. She had to know, because she would have ended it right there. She didn't need some crack addict jeopardizing her career or using her for a punching bag.

Charlie hit her once, she hit him back and then she left. That was the other reason she came to live with Tara and Alisha.

"Ok, lets drop that off and take off for the lake, sound good?" Daryl asked as they were walking towards his building.

"Groovy." She replied taking his hand.

"Groovy, huh?"

"Yup." She said nodding her head as they walked towards the building.

"Dinner later?"

"Absolutely." She said as they got to the door of his apartment.

"You like barbeque, my buddies Tyreese and T-dog run the best in town."

"Tara took me there, and yes, yes yes to that." She said as he opened the door and tossed the book onto the couch.

"I'm not inviting you in because we won't ever leave the house if we go inside now."

"Right, cause I'm a sure thing?" She said laughing.

"So am I, for once I'm on the same page as somebody, its fucking great." He said shutting the door and taking her hand to lead her down the stairs to the bike.

/

They rode around town for part of the day on the bike together and then they went to the quarry. It was as beautiful as he had told her.

Like two teenagers on their first date they sat together under a tree looking out at the crystal blue water holding hands and talking. She told him more about Claudia and about Charlie, her ex, who was a doctor that wrote prescriptions to himself.

She told him about Charlie slapping her for flushing his OxyContin down the toilet the day she left. He accused her of trying to kill him with withdrawal. He accused her of a lot of things that last year they were together and she knew he would take her right down to hell with him if she didn't leave.

"But you don't die from that." Daryl said. "Unless its alcohol or benzos, it sucks a lot, but you don't die. You were trying to help."

"It was a year or so after Claudia, he knew what drugs did to her and he did it anyway." Molly whispered.

"Cause that's what we do Molly, he was probably using way before that, hiding it from you. That wasn't your fault, we're good liars when we wanna be." He said.

"I know. Believe me I know." She replied.

The air was suddenly too thick for him to breathe. He was honest, always, that was how he had to live life now. But he had just said a mouthful.

Even if he thought about it before he said it he would have still said the same thing because it was the truth. Drug addicts were liars, it was the truth and she knew it was.

"Molly?" He turned to her. "With all your history, your sister and this guy Charlie, why are you taking a chance on me?"

She turned and faced him, making sure they were face to face.

He looked at her green, beautiful eyes hoping he hadn't brought her to her senses because he was in deep already.

She climbed over onto his lap so she was facing him. "I can't not take a chance on you."

She leaned over and kissed him wrapping her arms around him and he wrapped his arms around her.

"You won't be sorry, neither one of us is gonna be sorry about this."

"I know that." She replied.

"I'm sorry you've been so hurt."

She shook her head. "I'm fine, I'm sorry…"

He shook his head. "No, no sorrys right? I'm fine too, and I don't mean Fucked up, insecure, neurotic and emotional either."

She smiled a bright smile at him. She knew that saying for fine, and it made her realize just how connected they were, on so many levels.

"Although, this Charlie guy, he deserves a beat down for touching you."

"Oh, I hit him back."

"That's my girl." He pulled her close to him and they sat there that way for a long time that day.

/

Tyreese and T's place was crowded when they arrived and Molly laughed because Tara's car was in the parking lot. There were outdoor tables set up outside and they could see Tara, Alisha and Eugene sitting there at one of the picnic style tables.

She led him over and they were spotted before they got to the table. Tara scooted over so they could sit down and soon Milton was back and sitting down on the other side next to Alisha and Eugene. Daryl knew Eugene and Milton from high school too so the introductions were quick. Molly knew everyone already, including the owner of the restaurant and his wife Karen.

"We've got two double orders coming and a shitload of onion rings." Tara said.

"I'm gonna go add to it, be right back." Daryl said and kissed Molly quickly. "You like shrimp?"

She nodded and he was off to order more food. Tara elbowed her in her ribs and Molly elbowed her back.

"Hey, knock it off." Molly said. "Eugene has she been doing this to you too?'

Eugene rolled his eyes. "All day Molly."

"She's a little punchy from lack of sleep." Alisha said. "She got called in last night after you left, they were short in the ER."

"I think it's great." Tara replied. "I really do, it's good to see you smile."

"Thanks." She grinned because she couldn't help it.

"It is good to see you smile Molly, I mean you smiled before but it goes right to your eyes now."

"Well, good." Molly replied taking a sip of Alisha's soda. "And you?"

"She said he's a good guy, bumpy road, but a good guy." Eugene said.

"Tara likes him, I like him." Alisha said, taking her soda back from Molly.

"I know all about that." Molly replied.

"So you know he was in Jail?" Milton asked. "I'm not judging."

"Yes, I know and I also know it was ten years ago and that he's clean. But thanks sweetie."

She kissed Milton on the cheek and then turned and kissed Eugene on the cheek. Daryl returned with the food for every one and they dug in.

Tyreese and his wife Karen stopped by to say hello like they did to all their customers to make sure everyone liked their food.

"Our best to T, he outdid himself." Milton said in between bites and Eugene nodded vigorously in agreement his mouth too full to chew.

"Just like always." Alisha said.

"You are all too kind." Karen said. "Let us know if you need anything ok."

They all nodded and kept eating because it was food to die for.

Molly was sitting opposite Daryl and watching him eat, every few bites he would suck the barbeque sauce off of his fingers and then he noticed her watching. So he decided to give her a little show, when he licked his fingers the next time he locked eyes with her and did it really slowly. He grinned when he saw he squirming in her seat, mission accomplished.