Disclaimer: I don't own the Walking Dead, or the song, Don't Walk Away by Nick Carter.
Chapter 9
Daryl POV
Last few days I know I had been just short of being an ass to Beth. I'm not good with feelings, and what I'm feeling for that girl has me terrified. Every night we went to bed with space between us, but every morning I woke up with her in my arms. Don't know which one of us closes the distance between us each night. I can't bring my self to pretend that I don't enjoy it, anymore.
Telling her that she was right is probably the hardest thing I've ever had to say, next to saying how hard it was to losing her, that it was worse than Merle, somehow. My heart was racing when I told her that I was hers, so long as she wanted me. I though my heart might explode. The smile she gave me was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.
"'Bout time you stopped fightin' this," She said as her smile got bigger.
"Sassy girl," I said, smiling back, "c'mon, we gotta get up," She groaned, and I chuckled, fighting the temptation to stay put. I started to get up and she pulled me back down for a kiss. "Ya ain't makin' this easy,"
I got up and quickly made my way over to the main portion of our camp, I could hear a small chuckle behind me. I shook my head, fighting the smirk. I looked around the camp, noting who was on guard duty. Joe was sitting next to the remains of the campfire. I sat next to him, silently. I stared off into the distance.
"What's on your mind, son?" Joe asked after a few minutes.
"We need ta find some sorta semi permanent shelter. 's almost winter. We ain't gonna survive on tha road," I explained, I pulled my crossbow off my shoulder, and took out an arrow to start cleaning it.
"Been thinking the same thing. Find and follow the road today, see what we can find,"
"Find a farm," I suggested, "Open space, see herds comin'. Already got some fencin' up. Maybe some crops with stood not bein' tended ta."
"Good idea. We'll head to the next town and see about some vehicles. Send couple of guys out to scout for a place." He said, watching me clean my arrows. I heard soft footsteps behind us. I didn't need to look to know the footsteps belonged to Beth.
I lifted my head up towards her, and she smiled at me.
"Mornin', Little Angel," Joe said, with a smile as Beth sat down between us.
"Mornin', Joe," She responded as she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.
"We were just discussing finding a place to hole up for the winter,"
"What're you guys thinkin'?" She asked, pulling her knees up to her chest, and wrapping her arms around her legs. I noticed goose bumps on her bare arms. I finished cleaning my arrow and put it back into place on my crossbow. I scooted a little closer to Beth and put my arm around her shoulders, pulling her into my side. She leaned her head into my chest.
"Daryl suggested finding a farm," Joe answered. I worried for a second that Beth would be upset about my suggestion, having lost her family's farm.
"'S a good idea," She agreed, and I released a breath that I hadn't realized I was holding.
"Well, let's get these lazy bones up and get started on the day. Gotta find a place to stay, don't we?" Joe asked with a grin. He stood up and went to the nearest sleeping form. He gently toed each of the men till they stirred and murmured for them to wake up. Everyone quickly got out a can of some sort of food and ate it, then packed their meager belongings. Within' an hour we were back on the road.
I stayed towards the back of the group as we walked, keeping an eye out for walkers. We found the road within two hours of leaving our campsite. We stayed on the road, until we came to a pile up of cars. We looted what we could from some of them. We continued on, after getting all that we could carry. None of the cars were worth taking. Beth stayed next to me, as we walked, humming quietly.
"Why don't cha sing whatever it is yer hummin', darlin'?" I suggested. Her big blue eyes lit up in only the way that they do when she's singing or playing the piano. Just like she did at the funeral home, with me lying in the coffin. Some day, I'll make sure she has a piano to play whenever she wants to.
"Yesterday a child came out to wander
Caught a dragonfly inside a jar
Fearful when the sky was full of thunder
And tearful at the falling of a star
And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return, we can only look behind from where we came
And go round and round and round in the circle game
Then the child moved ten times round the seasons
Skated over ten clear frozen streams
Words like, "When you're older", must appease him
And promises of someday make his dreams
And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return, we can only look behind from where we came
Sixteen springs and sixteen summers gone now
Cartwheels turn to car wheels through the town
And they tell him, "Take your time, it won't be long now
Till you drag your feet to slow the circles down"
And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return, we can only look behind from where we came
And go round and round and round in the circle game
So the years spin by and now the boy is twenty
Though his dreams have lost some grandeur coming true
There'll be new dreams, maybe better dreams and plenty
Before the last revolving year is through
And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return, we can only look behind from where we came
And go round and round and round in the circle game
And go round and round and round in the circle game"
I noticed the silence around us, not an unnatural silence that happens when the dead are near, but a silence of companionship, and reverie. Our pace had slowed matching the atmosphere the song gave.
"Knew there was a reason why I call you Little Angel," Joe commented from ahead of us, "Beautiful song, Angel." A couple of the guys murmured their agreement.
"Thank you," She said, sweetly. "I use to sing for the prison group, and before that in the church choir,"
"Maybe you'll sing for us, every now and then?" Jayne asked, slowing to walk closer to us.
"Sure," She replied, her blue eyes sparkling.
"Look," I said, pointing at the sign looming ahead of us.
JASPER, 5 MI
"Well, lets eat some lunch, then head on to Jasper. Find a place for the night," Joe announced.
A/N: The song is called Circle Game, by Joni Mitchell.
Things are going to start getting a little more exciting, I hope. Let me know what you guys think!
