A/N This was meant to be a short epilogue but it kind of got away from me. I'm not 100% happy with it so it may get edited, depending on what feedback I get.

Once again huge thanks to those who reviewed, followed or favourited.

Enjoy and thanks for sticking with it.

Epilogue

Daryl stretched his legs out, burrowing deeper under the thick blankets. Even after the best part of a year in the trailer park community he still couldn't get used to comfortable beds and good food. Reluctantly he sat up, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, reaching for his clothes. It had taken months before he felt secure enough not to sleep fully dressed, with his boots on, ready for a quick getaway. It had taken a while for all of them to get used to the concept of having a change of clothes, never mind clothes just for sleeping in.

Quickly he changed, pulling on his angel wing vest, trying to be as quiet as possible as he prepared himself for the run with Rick and Brett. He glanced at the tangled blankets and the slim figure sleeping there, still finding it hard to accept that she was his and, if he was totally honest with himself, he was hers.

It had taken weeks for him to fully recover from the damage caused by Lawson and his men and he knew he'd been a real pain in the ass during that time. He'd been unable to hunt or go on runs, instead stuck behind the fences going slowly crazy. His hand was still stiff and the broken fingers hadn't healed one hundred percent correctly. He could still use his crossbow but found he wasn't as fast or accurate with it anymore, something that had taken a long time to come to terms with.

They had found a safe haven in the small community, accepted by the people already there and treated as part of the group right from the start. They had their own homes but ate in the communal eating area, taking part in the daily meetings to discuss day to day survival.

Maggie and Glenn had been active in going outside, searching for supplies until her announcement that they were expecting their first child. At once she was wrapped in cotton wool and banned from anything more dangerous than laundry or cooking duty. It was her turn to go stir crazy and Daryl sympathised.

Carol and Doctor Thompson were now officially together, sharing a small trailer near the hospital. At first Daryl had been unsure how he felt about their relationship but even he could see that Carol was happier than she been in a very long time and he was pleased for her.

Rick had finally noticed Michonne's interest and the two of them were gradually growing closer, still taking things slowly but the mutual attraction was obvious, much to Carls delight. Judith was now an inquisitive 2 year old, into everything as she toddled around, adored and protected by everyone.

His friends knew him well enough to ignore his bad temper and black moods while he was recovering but the people of the town avoided him, scared by his surliness, the large knife at his hip and the crossbow that was never far from his side. Jemma was one of the few that didn't put up with his attitude, publicly putting him in his place on more than one occasion, much to everyone's amusement. Grudgingly he found he respected her for her that and the fact that she was very easy on the eye didn't go un-noticed either.

They danced around each other for months, neither wanting to make the first move, both scared of possible rejection from the other. This meant the rest of the group entertained themselves by pushing them together at every opportunity. Brett put them on watch duty together in the towers as often as he could get away with it, Glenn made sure they were always sent on the same runs and Rick sent them to patrol the surrounding areas several times a week. They both knew what was going on but chose to ignore it.

It was on one of these patrols when it all went wrong.

It had started out as normal, the two of them leaving the community and moving into the forest. This time they had a newcomer with them, a collage graduate called Giles. He'd been found injured on the side of the road; hurt fleeing from the walkers that had destroyed his previous camp. It didn't take Daryl long to decide he was an "arrogant little shit" as he put it much to Jemma's amusement.

Her amusement quickly turned to annoyance when, despite being at least a decade younger, he continually flirted with her, paying little attention to the surrounding area, almost getting bitten when a walker came from nowhere, latching onto his arm. Reluctantly Daryl stepped in and took the walker down.

Shaken by the close call Giles shut up and kept his mind on the job. Finally they came to the derelict house that marked the edge of their patrol area.

"Front doors open, weren't before" Daryl noted, raising his crossbow as he cautiously approached the run down property.

"We'd best check it out" Jemma was close behind him as they made their way inside. The two of them made their way from room to room, Giles standing guard by the entrance. Once they were sure downstairs was clear it was decided to check upstairs.

"Could be a person or group here, we have to make sure there's no threat" Jemma explained to Giles as she studied the wooden staircase before glancing up at the hole in the ceiling above.

"Rains got in, the woods rotten. We'll have to take care" she commented.

"I'll go" Before they could stop him Giles bounded up the rickety stairs, no regard for any possible danger.

"Giles!" Jemma hissed as she instinctively followed him. He had just reached the landing when the walker lunged into him, sinking its teeth into his shoulder. With a scream he tried to pull free, instead losing his footing and tumbling backwards down the stairs pulling the walker with him. Daryl could do nothing as they crashed into Jemma and the three of them plunged downwards. The impact of the falling bodies was too much for the crumbling staircase and floor it was standing on. The floor beams gave way and they crashed into the basement below.

Daryl threw himself forward, dropping to his knees at the edge of the hole. He saw Giles feebly trying to pull himself away from the walker. With one of its legs twisted at an impossible angle and its left arm hanging uselessly the walker was dragging itself along the floor, trying to reach an unconscious Jemma. Daryl aimed and fired, the bolt hitting its shoulder, not slowing it in its attempt to reach the motionless woman.

Uttering several obscene curses aimed at Lawson and his group for damaging his hand so badly Daryl dropped the eight feet or so into the basement. The walker had just grabbed Jemma's ankle when his knife sunk into its skull and it slumped forward. He dragged it away and knelt by her side, checking quickly for bites. Lifting her head carefully he saw the huge lump where she'd struck it during the fall.

With another curse he moved to scoop her up. A whimper behind him made him turn. Giles was half sitting against the wall clutching at his bloodied neck.

"Help me" he snivelled "You've got to get me back to Doctor Thompson"

"Aint nothin' he can do for you now" Daryl turned back to Jemma, scooping her gently into his arms.

"You shoulda listened to her then neither of you'd be in this mess" Daryl headed for the basement door, ignoring the pitiful cries behind him as he made his way out of the house.

He felt no remorse for leaving the young man to die and turn, as far as he was concerned he'd bought it on himself by being such a cocky little ass. His priority was getting Jemma back as soon as possible.

She was a slight woman but his arms and legs were burning by the time he stumbled back to the gates of the trailer park. He'd started at a brisk walk, hoping she would come round by herself but the longer she was out the more concerned he became. Soon he was running, crashing through the undergrowth with no regard for the noise. It was a good five miles and took him what felt like hours. She stayed limp and silent in his arms, even when he'd stumbled and fallen to his knees, almost losing his grip on her. Finally the gates had come into sight and he'd screamed for them to be opened. Hands had taken her from him and he'd collapsed to the ground, fighting to regain his breath and control his pounding heart.

Carl bought him water but he shrugged it off as he forced himself up again and headed for the hospital. He barged inside to see Ron examining her, a look of concern on his face.

"How long has she been out?" He demanded.

"Hour and a half, maybe two" Daryl told him "She aint made a sound since it happened. She gonna be okay?"

"I don't know yet" Ron turned his back, effectively dismissing Daryl.

The door burst open and Brett rushed in.

"The hell happened?" he yelled, getting into Daryl's face. Daryl pushed him back carefully, understanding exactly how he felt.

Brett paced the room as Daryl explained what had happened, turning to him when he'd finished.

"Thank you for getting her back so quick" he said quietly. He ran his fingers through his hair as he stared at his sister, pale and still on the bed.

"You know she's waiting for you to make a move" he faced Daryl, "She gets through this you better do what she wants, else we're gonna have a problem" He resisted the smirk at the look of panic on the normally stoic hunters face.

"You tellin' me you want me chasin' after your kid sister?" Daryl was incredulous; normally brothers warned him off.

Brett gave him a small grin, "Won't be much of a chase" he moved away, sitting at her bedside, clasping her clammy hand as they waited for her to wake up.

It was several hours before she stirred, a groan followed by a curse making the three men aware she was awake. Brett leaned closer.

"Sounds like you've been spending too much time with Dixon, picking up some bad habits" he scolded her, hiding his relief behind big brother banter.

Jemma managed a tired smile, her hand coming up and grasping his tightly.

"You're the one keeps putting us on the towers" she countered. Ron checked her vitals declaring her out of danger, just in need of rest.

They all turned at the sound of the door closing, Brett shaking his head with a rueful smile.

Daryl headed away from the hospital; he'd waited until he knew she was going to be okay before leaving now he didn't need to be there anymore. He wandered around for a while, not sure what he wanted to do, finally deciding to go and see Rick and the kids.

Judith gave a squeal of delight when she saw him at the door and threw herself into his arms. Michonne watched with a smile.

"You know, the only time I see you smile is when you got Judith hanging off you" she told him.

"Aint got much reason to grin nowadays" he countered, glancing up from under his hair.

"I'm sure if you tried really hard you could think of something, or someone maybe" Michonne teased, laughing when he turned away with a barely restrained growl.

It was three days since the incident and Daryl hadn't seen Jemma since leaving her at the hospital. He knew she was up and about because Maggie had made a point of telling him. He'd had a long day out hunting, managing to bring down the first deer they'd had in months. He still found it hard to accept praise and gratitude and decided not to join the others in the communal area. He knew Carol or Carl would bring him something to eat, they understood his need for solitude.

His stomach was rumbling in anticipation when there was a light tap on his door. Opening it he found Jemma leaning on the door frame.

"Carol asked me to bring you this" she held out a covered plate, smiling when he snatched it from her hands and stepped back. When she didn't move away he glared at her.

"You want somethin?" he demanded

"Just waiting for you to ask me in" As he grudgingly stepped back she slipped inside, closing the door behind her.

He sat at the small table and devoured the food, enjoying the first venison for a while. Jemma leaned against the wall, watching him.

"Everyone wanted to thank you for bringing in the deer" she told him.

"Don't want no fuss, just did what was needed" he spoke between mouthfuls.

Jemma moved closer, sitting opposite him at the table.

"I wanted to thank you for saving me. Doc tells me if you hadn't got me back so quickly it would have been too late for him to do the procedure that relieved the pressure in my head. Another hour or so and I'd probably have died"

He gave her a brief nod.

"Would've done the same for anyone" he told her as he pushed the now empty plate away.

"I know" she replied "But that doesn't mean I'm not grateful" With that she rose and closed the space between them. Leaning down she went to place a kiss on his cheek.

To this day he doesn't know what made him do it, where he suddenly got the balls from but as she leaned in he turned his head. The kiss aimed for his cheek caught him on the mouth. Surprised Jemma tried to pull away but his hand caught the back of her neck and kept her close. Slowly he stood, looking down at her. She reached up and brushed the hair from his eyes, her hand lingering on his face.

"What took you so long?" she questioned as they moved closer, lips meeting again.

After that first awkward kiss one thing lead to another and he soon found himself as one half of a couple, something he'd never experienced before. Waking each morning with her by his side was something he thought he would never get tired of.

"You off soon?" her voice bought him back to the present, glancing round he saw her, sleepy eyed and tangle haired as she sat up. He noticed she was wearing one of his sleeveless shirts again and giving him a look that made him wonder how late he could be meeting Rick and Brett.

Knowing what he was thinking Jemma laughed, slipping from the bed and wrapping her arms around his waist.

"You have to go now, but I'll be here when you get back" she told him with a wink "Just don't be too late"

Reluctantly, with a final kiss, he left. As he walked toward the rendezvous point he gave a low whistle. A skinny German shepherd dog slinked out from under the porch. He'd found it, exhausted and half-starved while on a run and bought it back. He'd nursed it back to health and now it went everywhere with Daryl, already earning it's keep as an early warning system for approaching walkers.

Rick and Brett were already waiting by the car they were to use, ribbing him good naturedly about distractions making him late. Brett feigned indignation when Daryl reminded him it was his sister they were talking about.

As the car pulled away Daryl took a last look at the small community before the gate slid shut. It was the safest and happiest they had been since the outbreak began.

It was home.

END

I hope you enjoyed it, I wanted a happy ending but I think I might have just made it too soppy. Let me know what you think.

Thanks for reading.

Mistyeye

xxxx