Chapter 10

Rick lowered his gun as took a moment to stare at the body. Everyone was thinking the same thing.

How did it happen like this?

Ayce could hear Carol sobbing off to the side, bringing her back to reality. She stayed sitting in her spot on the ground, but turned her head to watch Daryl lift the older woman up. She fought him, shoving and slapping his hands away, and eventually, he let go. She left of her own accord.

Ayce turned back to the body of the little girl, but she didn't see Sophia there. She saw light skin and dark brown curls.

I couldn't save you...

Her breathing quickened, and she felt a sting in her eyes.

Who was that making those gasping sounds?

She felt a hand come down on her shoulder, making her jump. Before she could look, she was lifted onto her own two feet. She was then encased in a pair of arms. She squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to let her tears fall. She had to be strong. She didn't fall apart with Lilith's death, and she sure as hell wasn't going to do it now. Her arms came up to grip whomever was holding her. She latched onto broad shoulders as if hanging on for dear life and buried her face in their chest. She breathed in the scent of sweat and motor oil and smiled in spite of everything.

Daryl...

Ayce gave him a pat and detached herself. She rubbed the offending tears from her eyes and gave him a small smile, one which he did not return. He gave her knowing look, studying her carefully, an action she ignored.

As she walked away from him, she came to notice the sounds of more crying, coming from Beth. The young girl fought her way through everyone, wanting only to make it to the pile of bodies. She knelt beside one and shoved a dead walker off another. As she did this, it became apparent that this one wasn't dead. It reared up, snarling and growling, attempting to take a chunk of Beth. It was a mad scramble to get Beth away from it. T-Dog stomped on its face, but it kept coming. It didn't stop until Andrea put a blade through its head.

Ayce took this moment to look over to Annalyn. The younger girl still clutched the shotgun, her knuckles turning white. It looked far too big to be in her small hands. Her eyes were wide and tearful. She had been crying freely, but from what she could tell, Ayce determined she was going to be okay.

The older sibling made her way over to the other and gently took the gun from her hands, replacing it with one of her own. She squeezed slightly, earning her the girl's attention. She sniffed and nodded her head in the direction of Sophia.

"You saw it too?" she whispered. "Lilith...?" She voiced this question as if asking for confirmation. Asking that she wasn't crazy.

Ayce pulled the girl to her on a one-armed hug. She was too smart.

"Yeah."

They broke apart as Andrea walked over. Ayce looked at her with distrust and Annalyn fidgeted. The look on her face made Ayce think twice about hitting the blonde bimbo. "I'll just leave you two alone. I'll be right over there." Her last sentence was punctuated with a meaningful stare at Andrea. Meaning she would be within shooting distance.

Everyone began making their way towards the house. They were all furious. They had all be searching for her. For Sophia. Daryl took an arrow and a bullet for her, and Ayce herself had almost died trying to find her. And she had been there under their noses the whole time.

Ayce couldn't bring herself to follow. She hung back, watching as Annalyn made her way with Andrea.

Ayce blinked, did a double take, then grinned. They were holding hands...

It wasn't long before Andrea came back without Annalyn, carrying a grey and red blanket. As she covered Sophia with it, Ayce made her decision. Andrea stood as Ayce made her way over to the other woman.

"I just want to make things very clear," said Ayce, her tone implying that she was not to be interrupted. "You know that I don't like you. But that really doesn't matter. What matters is that Annalyn does. So, if you do anything stupid, like sleep with Shane again, or anything of the sort to make her cry, I will not hesitate in putting a bullet through your annoying ass skull. We clear?"

The whole time, Andrea stayed quiet. She didn't flinch, didn't try to speak, she simply listened. And she surprised Ayce further by nodding her head. "Okay."

And they left it at that.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

They decided on a service for Sophia, Annette, and Shawn, but the other would be burned. Ayce didn't go, and she didn't help move bodies. She just couldn't. Every single one of them had Lilith's face. Her dull green eyes and blue lips.

Instead, Ayce found herself on the dock by the pond. It was nice spot, overgrown with greenery. Insects' buzzing filled her ears as she strummed softly on the strings of the guitar. She had grabbed it on her way, wanting some form of comfort. She didn't dare ask anyone. It was embarrassing enough that she had practically fell into Daryl's arms.

She scowled at the memory. She wasn't some helpless damsel that needed saving, so why had she acted like it. Another thing that bothered her was the fact that she was embarrassed. She did not generally care what people thought, so why did she know?

A twinge in her side drew her attention. She lifted her shirt to take a look at the bandages there. It had only been a week or so since her accident in the woods. Already the wound was scabbed and turning pink. It was also a reminder that it hadn't been that long since her sisters drug her to the caravan and they began this new chapter in the apocalypse.

Not that long at all, and it felt like Annalyn and she already belonged.

She let go of the shirt quickly and scowled again, picking the guitar back up. She strummed it a few times before she finally found a song she wanted to play.

She didn't sing. She couldn't carry a tune in a barrel. But melody spoke to her before lyrics did. Melody sets the feel, the emotion of a song. And this one spoke of nature and hope. Something wistful.

She paused for a moment, holding the strums and wiping her eyes. Tears had escaped her without her consent, and it angered her. After a moment, played the strings again.

"I didn't know ya played."

Ayce halted her music and twisted around, already knowing who it was.

He gave her a pitying look, reminding Ayce that she had been crying. She quickly stood, wiping her eyes again and began to walk off the dock.

"Yeah, um, my dad, before he died, taught me to play. Taught me a lot of things… I really should go help them with the bodies..."

As she passed by him, she was halted. He grabbed her arm, preventing her from leaving. She looked at the offending hand, then up at him, her expression saying everything. She tested his grip, wiggling to get out of his grasp.

What the hell do you think you're doing?

"Let me go."

"No."

"Now..."

"Not gonna happen, Ayce."

"Let go, damnit!"

He waited a minute before speaking, his eye conveying all his stubbornness.

"Ayce, I've been sittin' here for the last few days watching you take one blow after the other. And ya never react. Ya know, it ain't healthy to bottle all of that up. You gotta stop beatin'' yourself up over it all. Lilith's death wasn't yer fault, and neither was Sophia's."

Ayce struggled against his hold, stating that she was fine. All he did was tug her back. They struggled a few more seconds before he had had enough. With an irritated huff, he tugged harder, sending her crashing into his chest. She was vaguely aware of the guitar crashing against the ground as she brought her hands up to push away. She found that she wasn't quick enough as his arms wrapped around her once again.

She wondered briefly how she always ends up in these situations.

"I don't know what it is you want. Some kind of big breakdown? This big show of emotion and then everything is fine? Its not going to happen. I am fine, and life dosn't work that way."

"I don't believe you. It obvious to everyone and to me. Yer holdin' it in and beating yourself up over it."

He sighed and held her at arm's length and looked her right in the eyes.

"It wasn't yer fault. It wasn't anyone's fault," he said softly. She almost believed him.

It was that moment that they both seemed to notice exactly how close they were. In both their heads, the moment back at the CDC flashed before their eyes. The smallest pressure of his thumb at her waist was her only indication of what he was thinking.

It was like a fog came over her, and once again, it was just the two of them. Ayce lifted a hand and placed it on his cheek, running her thumb over his cheekbone.

"You have… really pretty eyes…" she mumbled, continuing to lose herself in the moment. This was fine. She could ignore it all and stay here. But again, life doesn't work that way.

Ayce allowed this to continue for a few more moments before her mind cleared from its lust induced haze. She shook her head and stepped back, breaking them apart. She didn't meet his gaze as she stooped to pick up the fallen guitar, then turned and all but ran, leaving a very confused Daryl alone by the pond.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Arriving in the house, Ayce finally caught her breath. However, she was met with another problem.

"What's wrong with Beth?"

Everyone stared. Annalyn pulled her aside and whispered. "She collapsed. We think she's in shock, and Hershel's gone missing. Rick and Glenn left to go find him." Ayce nodded and brushed a stray curl behind her ear.

She immersed herself in caring for the girl and making her comfortable. Anything to distract her.

After a while, Lori came up to Ayce, asking her a favor. "Ayce, do you mind finding Daryl for me? I need to ask him something, but he's nowhere. And he listens to you."

Ayce froze in her tracks and slowly turned to look at the woman. She hoped her face didn't give anything away. "I'm sorry Lori, but I can't. I have...that thing...to go do...yea..." And then Ayce made herself scarce.

When Lori came back and gathered her things, Ayce was the only one who noticed. She pulled the woman aside and spoke in a low whisper. "Just what are you doing?"

Lori looked at her with wide eyes. "Daryl won't go for me. I'm going to get them myself."

Ayce shook her head, grabbing her arm when she tried to leave. "Lori, you can't. You're pregnant."

"I have to. It's my husband we're talking about."

Ayce hesitated a moment, then spoke. "I'm going with you then."

Lori tried to protest, but in the end, she lost. Ayce grabbed her bow without being noticed and slipped into the car with Lori. On the way, the brunette tried to make conversation. "So, Daryl moved his things. He's out in the field, over by the lone tree. Know why?"

Ayce stared out the side window and shook her head. "No," she said, shortly. Lori didn't talk any more.

As Lori took out a map, she took her eyes off the road. She didn't see the walker stumble out onto the road.

"Lori, watch out!"

Lori's head snapped up. She gasped an 'Oh shit!' and tried to swerve, but they had no such luck. The walker crashed into the front window, Shattering it in the process. Lori drove onto the dirt and hit a large dump, sending the car in the air and crashing down the road.

The last thing Ayce saw was the world go upside down before it went black.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

The world was so full of shit. Even before the dead walked around with the munchies. You had corrupt law enforcement, politicians were a species on their own, lawyers who were no better than the people they put away. Then you had murderers, rapists, thieves, abusers.

In Ayce's honest opinion, the zombie apocalypse was for the better. Yea, you had to fight harder for life, but at least you weren't surrounded by bullshit in what people tried to make out as a perfect world. Now you knew that it was going to hell.

Every now and again, she would think back to the good days, when Annalyn's smile held that secret twinkle, back when she was truly happy. She saw more of that now ever since they found the caravan. Ayce suspects it's because of Andrea.

Her memories brought her back to a random day. The sky was slightly cloudy, but the heat was still unbearable. There was no breeze to speak of. Ayce sighed and sat on the grass, wiping her forehead.

"I don't understand how you do this..."

At her sister's comment, Annalyn raised her head and set down her little shovel. She shook her head and laughed, sitting back with Ayce. She brushed the grass off her calves and reached for a bottled water.

"And I don't understand why you can't. Ayce, it's giving something life. Helping it grow. Almost like having a kid, but without the pain and all the crying."

Ayce grimaced at the thought of having a kid. "Yeah, but it's too hot."

"You whine too much."

"No, I'm spoiled by air conditioning." She stood and brushed her shorts off. "You have fun melting out here."

"Wait," said Annalyn, grabbing the other's wrist. "You have to plant at least one." As she said this, she held out a few tiny seeds. If Ayce had dropped them then, they would never have been found again. Hell, even a bird wouldn't want them, they were so small.

With a sigh, Ayce took the seeds and dropped them in the dirt and covered them. When her sister gave her a 'go on' look, she took the water and poured it over the spot. "There. Happy?"

Over the years, Ayce took care of that little plant. Water it, feed it, keep the weeds away. And every year, when Annalyn would plant new flowers, Ayce would put at least one in the ground and help it grow.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

A hand roughly shook Ayce, and she watched as her memory faded into black. She felt as if she was going to cry.

"Ayce, wake up. Please Ayce, we need to go."

Her eyes fluttered open, realizing now that the pain in her neck from leaning for too long. The car was sideways. A walker was trying to to get in through a hole in the window. Its flesh had been peeled away by the glass. a screwdriver was shoved through its eye.

When Ayce untangled herself from the seatbelt and maneuvered herself from the car, she found another with a bullet through its head. Lori was shaking and holding a gun. "Oh, Lori..." She put an arm around the woman's shoulders. "I'm sorry hun. I wish I had gotten up sooner."

Lori shook her head, "It's fine." She took Ayce's face in her hands and looked her over. "You've got blood on you. I think you bumped your head."

Ayce waved away her hands. "I'm okay. Are you though?" she asked, her eyes glancing at the woman's stomach for a brief moment. Her question was answered with a nod.

"Alright," said Ayce, looking around. She then noticed it was dark. "Well then. So, what now...?"

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Annalyn helped the other women prepare dinner. She didn't have her whole heart in it though. She was worried. She hadn't seen Ayce all day, and was worried that she was taking Sophia's death too hard. Like Ayce would talk to anyone about it though.

"We'll head out first thing in the morning."

Annalyn's head popped up. "What?" she asked.

Andrea smiled softly. "Rick, honey. Him and Glenn left earlier to find Hershel. They aren't back yet."

"Oh, okay."

"Lori, dinner."

"She's not in there."

Silence.

Shane broke the silence. "Carl, when was the last time you saw your mom?"

"This afternoon."

Annalyn grew even more worried. "I haven't seen Ayce all day."

That was all it took.

Everyone jumped up to look for the two. Carol made her way to Daryl's new place of rest to tell him the news. He was messing with the fire when she reached the campsite.

"We can't find Lori. And the others aren't back yet either."

He didn't look her way as he spoke. "That dumb bitch musta gone off lookin fer 'em."

"What?"

"Yea, she asked me to go. I told her I was done being an errand boy."

Carol looked appalled. "And you didn't say anything?"

She got no response. Carol turned to leave, getting fed up with him. Then she stopped and walked back a few steps.

"You know, Ayce went with her."

Daryl stiffened and looked up at the older woman. "What?"

Carol nodded. "She must have. She's missing too, along with her weapons." When he didn't answer yet again, she went to leave. "Just thought you should know."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

As Shane went to leave, he was flagged down. He waited in the car for the person yanked open the passenger door.

"I'm comin'' with ya."

Shane shook his head and glared at the temperamental redneck. "Now, why in the hell would I let you do that? You let her leave."

Daryl glared back. "I'm not going fer Lori. I'm bringin' Ayce back."

After a moment's thought, Shane put the car in drive and took off down the road.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

They opted for walking the rest of the way. Neither one felt the need to talk. They were both kind of out of it. At one point, Ayce tripped on the road. On the open road. Almost as bad as tripping up stairs.

"Are you okay?"

Ayce shook her head, grimacing at her blurry vision. "I can keep going. I'll just need to see if Hershel has anything for a concussion."

They walked on for another 20 minutes before the sound of a car reached their ears. It was approaching from behind. Out of the dark came a silver vehicle. It was so close, Ayce didn't know how she never heard it before. The headlights were bright, causing Ayce to shield her eyes. Two doors opened.

"Are you alright?"

It was Shane.

"I'm fine..."

"You're not fine. We saw the wreck."

"Really, I am. She has a concussion, I think, that's what she said anyway."

A split second later, there was another blinding light being shined in her eyes. She flinched away. "Ow. Hey..."

"Yeah, she hit her head pretty good. Grab her, put her in the back."

Someone put an arm around her waist and lead her to the car. She could see clearly now that she wasn't staring at the headlights. Lori and Shane sat up front, leaving her to discover who her savior was when they slid in next to her.

Oh, God hates me, doesn't he?

Though she was too tired to really care that it was Daryl. Her eyes closed, and she breathed in the scent that he carried, which had come to be comforting to her. She then laid her head on his shoulder and drifted off.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Arriving back, Ayce took her time to get out of the car. She had to steady herself as she stumbled a little, but was fine otherwise. Daryl kept waking her on the ride back. She wasn't overly rested. Something about not sleeping with bumps to the head and 'aren't you a doctor? You're supposed to know this stuff'.

"Ayce!"

The blonde in question closed her eyes as a body rammed into her own. "Why the hell didn't you tell me you were leaving!? I was worried sick!"

She felt Annalyn's hands wrap around her in a hug, as if she were scared her older sister was going to disappear before her eyes. "Don't you ever do that again..."

"I'm sorry, Anna..."

A gruff voice interrupted their reunion. "Do ya mind goin' and grabbin' me a rag? I need ta get this blood off her..." Anna left her, taking with her the support she was using. She swayed on her feet. She wasn't given long before another voice broke through the silence and denied her rest.

"I don't know what the hell you thought you were doing." the voice growled, causing her to open her eyes. She was faced with a very pissed off Shane. Lori had been taken inside, so now it was him and her. And Daryl.

"Hey man, she's hurt give her some time ta-"

"Ah, shut up Dixon," he said with a dismissive tone. "You listen here. You shouldn't have gone with her. You shouldn't have let her go at all. She could have been killed. I don't need some dumb bitch comin' up in this group and getting the people I care about killed."

Ayce narrowed her eyes, not liking him being up in her face. "So, is that why you killed Otis? Because you were looking out for these people?" He went to answer, but just as he did to Daryl, she cut him off. "No, don't talk. I went with her to keep her safe. There was no stopping her, so it was better that way. What does it say about you if she didn't go to you for help in the first place? And she's alive, isn't she? Isn't that something... I was able to keep her alive without killing someone else."

She paused a second. "Not that she needed it. Shes a tough woman. Took out both walkers while I was passed out. She saved me. Give her more credit."

Shane looked ready to explode. He pointed a single finger in her face. "You watch your back." And then he left.

Annalyn came racing down the stairs as Shane went up them. She passed a damp cloth to Daryl. "I've got this. Ya go on and help the others. I'm gonna keep an eye on her tonight."

Her bow was taken from her, most likely by Annalyn. Just as she closed her eyes again, she felt Daryl's arm brace against her back. "Wha-?" The other arm behind her knees and next thing she knew, she was being carried.

"Daryl, damn it! I'm not a damn princess! I can walk!"

However, they could both hear the lack of conviction in her words.

"Shut up..."

And she did.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Sitting by the little fire, Ayce got herself cleaned up. She wanted to do it herself, but Daryl insisted. She sat there with her hands in her lap, feeling like a fool. She didn't know what to say to him. Ayce, who always knew some quirky thing to spit out and was always quick on her feet with words, was once again, speechless. But then again, what do you say in this situation?

Hey sorry for running off, almost getting killed, and then forcing you to come after me and take care of my wounds?

Yea, because that sounded so wonderful in her head.

"You moved."

She wanted to take back her words so as she said them. You moved? Real brilliant...

He stopped wiping at the face for a moment, then chuckled, finishing his job. "Real observant, Blondie. Yer nickname suits ya."

A blush crossed her cheeks as she stared into the fire.

She ignored his teasing. "Why?"

He sighed and tossed the blood-soaked rag aside and took a seat next to her. "It just...felt right, I guess. Sophia's dead. None of their drama is my bullshit anymore. Never was to begin with..."

Ayce nodded her head. "I know what you mean... I'd do the same, but Annalyn would want to stay close to everyone. And I can't leave her alone, even if it is only moving away from the campsite."

She was surprised at herself and at how easy it was to talk to him. She expected awkward silences.

Might as well get it over with...

"Listen, about this morning..."

He waved a hand, cutting her off. "Save it. Ya need ta rest." He pointed to the tent behind them. "Go ta sleep, and in the mornin' ya can badger me with awkward talk about feelings and shit."

Ayce hesitated for a moment, then grinned. "Alright. Where will you sleep?"

A sly grin crossed his face. "Oh, I'll be in there in a bit. I'm gonna make sure the fire goes down okay..."

Another light pink blush dusted her cheeks, but she smiled anyway. "Okay..." A thought crossed her mind, but after a moment's hesitation, she leaned across, lightly bumping her forehead on the top of his.

"Thanks for coming after us."

The she hurried inside. She burrowed into the blankets he had, instantly finding herself warm and comfortable. She couldn't evade sleep.

What seemed like hours was really only a few minutes. At some point in the night, she heard the tent open again, heard some shuffling around, then felt a solid back touch hers. She listened to his heartbeat, and they both drifted off to sleep, back to back.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Ayce woke up to an empty tent. It wasn't that she was disappointed that he wasn't there...Nah, she was totally disappointed. She had entertained the idea of waking up and finding the man beside her. Like normal people. Like the world was normal. Course, that was too much to ask.

As she thought this, the sound of the tent zipping alerted her of a person. A small smile stretched over her face. "There you are..."

Daryl raised a brow. "Ya were lookin' fer me?"

His answer was a nod. "Sorry... Thought we had ta go look fer Rick, but he showed back up as we were 'bout ta leave." He dropped the crossbow he had been holding off in a corner before dropping to the ground next to her, supporting his weight on his elbow.

"So-"

"Don't run off like that again," he interrupted. "There are people here who care about you. Anna would be lost without you."

She studied the ground, nodding slowly. "I know. It was stupid. I just didn't want Lori to go alone."

"You cant try and protect and save everyone. You'll wear yourself thin."

"I can try."

A/N: Song referenced here is Wilderlove by John Mark McMillan