Hello wonderful readers! I really hope you like this chapter, and please let me know what you think! One of my favorite things is hearing what everyone thinks. I like where I'm going with this, its fun to write, I hope it's just as much fun to read.

Chapter Twelve

Eli…

Her mouth tasted of stale cigarettes and booze. Eli reached up, stretching and groaning at the same time, the early morning sun waking her rudely. She rolled back on to her side, catching that same root in her side as she did the previous evening in her back.

Daryl was still sleeping, snoring quietly as his chest rose and fell. Eli tucked her arm underneath her head as she watched him, extending her hand out and touching the side of his face with her fingertips. He needed to shave, bad. His eyes shot open suddenly and she squeezed hers shut, pretending to sleep, embarrassed by her intrusion on his slumber. She could feel him shuffle around carefully, trying not to wake her, putting the mason jar in his pack and making sure the fire was completely out. "Eli?" He whispered, putting the cold palm of his hand against her cheek. "Eli… come on… it's time to get up."

She opened her eyes and sat up, noting that he had the same shy look on his face as she felt was painted on hers. Last night was a blurred memory, but a memory just the same. They'd talked about more than they ever really had their whole lives, actually touched the subject of them being together. It may have been with a ten foot pole, but they had touched on it… and now it was sitting between them and ignoring it was going to be even more difficult than before. "What time is it?" Her voice was hoarse.

"It's 7:30… so yer pop's is already home I guess." He looked back toward Eli's still in the distance and she felt intense dread in her stomach. Her father would be furious upon arriving at home and Eli not being in her bed.

"Fuckin' great."

"Forget about it, k? Just… spend the day with me today. We'll go to my place if Dad ain't there, we'll go to Merle's if he is." Daryl put a reassuring hand on her shoulder, and all at once Eli felt her muscles relax. Who cares if they had crossed a line with their words last night? He was still Daryl, and he was there for her no matter what. "We'll rent a scary movie, smoke a joint and laugh at all the fake gore… it's better than you goin' home, aint it?"

She knew she was pushing it, and she didn't know if it was because there was still booze floating around her system or if she just felt particularly brave and protective of her relationship with Daryl at the moment… but she continued on despite the slight hesitation in her mind. "That sounds good, as long as we can watch it on the TV in yer room… yer dad hardly ever checks on you in there. Plus, yer bed is more comfortable than the couch."

Daryl's face turned a deep scarlet as Eli locked eyes with him. "Ya sure that's what ya want to do?"

Eli ran her fingers through her hair, trying to shake off the doubt that always kept her from getting anything she wanted. "Yeah, I'm sure. Take me home Daryl, I just want to lay down with you. Is that okay?"

His face turned an even deeper shade of red as he stuttered, "Yeah of course… it's just I'm a little… surprised? Is that the word?" He looked over at her again. "What is it ya want Eli?"

She smiled at him. "I want my best friend to take me into his bedroom and lay down with me, cuz that's what all best friends do, right?"

He laughed as he stood, reaching out for her hand and pulling her up. She stumbled a little and he put her hands on her waist to steady her. "Only the lucky ones I guess."

Eli looked up toward Daryl and grinned… but stopped when he saw the look in his eye. Why was he watching her like that?

Daryl bent down faster than she thought possible, pressing his warm, dry lips against hers… oh… that's why. Eli's eyes fluttered closed as she felt his hands keep a strong hold around her middle. She felt herself involuntarily reach up and lock her arms around the back of his neck, opening her mouth to his kiss, taking in his smell. His hands pressed against her back, one reaching up and lightly grabbing ahold of her hair. Daryl softly pushed his tongue into her mouth and she heard herself whimper, not meaning to, but liking it just the same. He responded quickly, pulling her body closer to his, pressing himself against her.

This had happened to her twice before, both times with Brett, and once she knew how far it would go if she didn't stop right then she always pressed her hand against his chest and pushed him away. Her whole body would seize up at the thought of what came after all that kissing… but not with Daryl. Her muscles felt like jelly, her mind was swimming with him. She stood up on her tiptoes, pressing into him even more as she lightly brushed her lips against his own… his hardness was just below her belly button, and Daryl moved his head away from hers and pushed out a hurried breath, holding her at arms-length.

Neither of them said anything for a minute or so as they caught their breath, until he looked up at her with question in his eyes. "Do ya still want to go to my house?"

Eli pulled his hands around her middle again and pressed their lips together once more, keeping her eyes open, willing him to do the same. "Yes."

The memory was an intense one, causing the heat in her belly to rise up and flush her face. She had pulled on a light gray tank top of Maggie's along with a pair of dark black shorts. Her hair was flowing down to the middle of her back… she could almost pass for pretty in these clean clothes.

"You look great!" Maggie said enthusiastically, smiling from ear to ear. "You look like you even put blush on your cheeks… that damn fair skin. Wish I had that."

"No you don't, trust me." Eli sighed as she leaned in a little closer to the mirror. "I'll die from melanoma before one of those walkers gets me. I've gotten so many sunburns in my life that I'm convinced that will be the end of me."

Maggie shook her head. "You worry too much."

"Yeah, I know that, heard it before." Eli put her hands on her hips and looked at herself from every angle, finally nodding into the mirror. She turned and smiled at Maggie, truly grateful for her help. "Thank you for helping me out and not being too… nosy."

"I can tell yer not the type to offer too much up at first. It's cool, I'm not pushy. We ain't got nothin' but time on our hands now-a-days anyway."

Everyone was starting to file into the kitchen to either devour the soup Carol was making or help her clean up. Daryl and all of the other men sat at the far end of the table with the kids, eating quickly and hungrily. When Eli walked into the room Daryl glanced up at her, his eyes quickly taking in her clean clothes and freed hair. His smile was slight as he nodded at her, she grinned and nodded back. Eli caught Merle in her sights too, but he didn't notice her. He was too busy staring at his brother in a really mean way that she couldn't explain.

"Can I help Carol?" Eli walked up next to the woman and started to put dirty dishes in the water without her permission. Carol looked up at her, amused. "Sorry, I wanna help and I usually don't wait for answers before I just… do what I want."

"It's okay hun, thoughtful of you actually." She reached down and grabbed ahold of the large pot that she had made their noodle and broth in. "If you're going to do anything could you please wash this out? It's so deep that by five minutes into it my shoulder starts to really hurt."

Eli nodded at her and quietly answered, "Of course, that's easy."

"Auntie, come over here and eat first! You still ain't eaten since yesterday mornin', it's been over 24 hours." Sarah stood up and made her away around the table, grabbing at Eli's arm before she could protest. Not much she could say though, the kid was right. "You told me 'fore that if you went that long to make you eat. So eat already!"

"Okay kid, god, I'll eat." She took a seat between Sarah and Maggie, across from the Dixon brothers and Rick. Michonne was off in her own corner, refusing to eat with the redneck that almost killed her within arms-reach. Glenn didn't seem to be a fan either, his eyes darkening every time he looked in Merle's direction. And true to Merle Dixon fashion, he pretended like he didn't notice a thing and kept on eating greedily.

"Here, for you." Rick plopped down a Styrofoam bowl filled with the warm concoction in front of her, a little sloshing over the sides. He reached across the table with his bandana, cursing under his breath. "Shit, sorry."

"It's okay." Eli reached out and held on to his hand, taking the bandana from him gingerly. "Really, it's fine. Thank you for the soup." She turned back to Carol after releasing Rick's hand and smiled. "I'll be back to help you as soon as I'm done."

Carol nodded warmly at her and continued tidying up around the large sink. Eli picked up the bowl with both hands and brought it to her lips, looking over the lid of the bowl at Daryl. He shook his head and smiled. "Ya never could eat soup like a normal person."

Sarah's head shot up at this, as she had her bowl in her hands, doing exactly as Eli did. "What's wrong with this? This makes us weird?"

Daryl glanced over at her. "Nah it don't. Just different." Daryl stood up with his empty bowl and set it in the trash can, patting Carol on the shoulder as he slipped by. "It's a good thing, don't worry about it kid." He bent down in between the two girls and put his hands on the table. "So I'll see you in a couple hours?" He spoke quietly to Eli.

She could feel the steel blue eyes on her face as Daryl spoke to her, the eyes that Merle could use to persuade women to sleep with him, same that could cut glass. She turned to look away from Daryl and caught those blue globes with her green ones. "Something wrong Merle?"

"Nah, just wonderin' if yer' as much of a cocktease now as ya were back then…" Merle stood quickly, banging the metal table with his thighs. "Ya know, for my brother's sake."

"Shut up Merle!" Daryl spit at him.

"Watch yer' language around the kids." Carol hissed in his direction, shaking her head.

Eli just continued to stare at him as she spoke slowly. "Nothing I do is any of your business." She stood, moving past Daryl quickly so she stood only inches from Merle's face… or rather, his chest… the man was tall. "Don't ever talk to me like that in front of my niece again… or otherwise for that matter. But your sweet comment does remind me, how are those STD's going? Are you still as much of a whore as you were back then?" Her smirk was mean, her words dripping with acid… she loved it.

"Eli…" Carol's tone was exuding disapproval.

"Sorry Carol." She turned back to Merle, not wanting to give her attention to anyone else at the moment. Her attention would be heated and cruel and he deserved every god damn bit of it. She needed to do this. "Why don't you and I step outside for a minute, we got some things we need to discuss."

He glared at her, but obliged. She audibly laughed when he made his way around her so he stood in front. Always had to have the lead. She could feel Daryl following her, so she turned at stopped him. "No… I have to talk to him alone Daryl. Okay?"

He sighed, defeated. "Fine, just… try not to kill him or anything."

She smiled at him, feeling the electricity from earlier flow between them again. Every time he was near she was at risk of this foolishness. She had to step away. "I'll do my best."

Merle was leaned up against the fence, waiting for her. "What the fuck you want girl, huh? What do you want?"

"I want you to stop making life even worse for everyone in there, me in particular. Got it?" She pointed her finger at him, poking him in the chest. It looked like it was taking everything he had not to knock her on her ass. "And you know, yer god damn lucky I don't tell yer brother what you did… how you just left me there to die."

He flinched then, eyes shifting quickly and then squeezing shut, like he was trying to press away a memory and lock it there forever.

"Whatever yer thinkin' right now Merle… I'm the one that lived it. I've lived it more than once, lived through it more than once. So if you are really going to waste your energy trying to turn Daryl against me, or attempting to make me feel like less than what I am… it's just so unfortunate." A part of her felt for him. How lonely he must be. "Because knowing how this world works, we're all on borrowed time. I'd hate to watch you flounder it trying to destroy something that isn't even there to break yet."

"If yer talkin' about you and Daryl that shit was already broken. Long time ago. I didn't have nothin' to do with that one, you two fucked it up all on yer own."

"Yer right Merle, you are completely right." She looked down at the ground and sighed. "I don't plan on doing that again. If you want Daryl to be happy just… just leave me be. And I'll never tell him that you didn't help me or Sarah when we were held captive. I'll never fill him in on how you tried to just make me shut up so the monster you reported to would stop hitting me or wouldn't want to rape me. I'll keep yer' dirty secret Merle, as long as you leave us alone." She hit his chest again, a little harder this time. "You promise me right now. Or I'll even tell him that you were alone in the room with me for an entire ten minutes, you could have cut me loose when I was almost dying of fucking blood loss, but you didn't. Is that what you want me to do? Promise me Merle!"

She'd never seen him so shaken. The color drained from his face, and although she could tell he was attempting to hide it, the thought of Daryl not forgiving him hurt more than he'd ever admit. And if Daryl knew… well… he wouldn't forgive him. "Fine… I promise. I won't say nothin' against ya, or bad about ya…" His voice trailed off, but that was good enough for Eli.

"Fine, great, fantastic." Her voice was agitated as she turned back to the cell block. "I'm holdin' ya to that at least."

Suddenly his hand gripped her upper arm, pulling her back toward him. She stumbled a bit on her feet, still adjusting to the ache in her leg that made it hard to move, and he held her by her other arm. Steadying her. Seemed like these damn people were practiced at it.

"What are you doing?" She snapped at him, pulling her arms from his grasp.

"I just need to tell ya somethin', that's all." He looked at her, waiting for her to answer. When she didn't he continued. "It wasn't somethin' I wanted to do…"

"What? What wasn't?" She shook her head, annoyed with his evasiveness.

"Let him… let him hurt ya." His shoulders dropped as he turned away from her. His back was burnt and blistered, scars were hidden under his shirt, just like the ones that were littered over Daryl's skin. Eli had never seen them but she knew in her gut that they were there. "I ain't like that. I wouldn't hurt a girl. I wouldn't hurt ya on purpose… like he did." Merle turned again, leaning back against the fence and covering his red face with one hand. "I know I'm a prick, I know I'm rotten and… most people don't want nothin' to do with me… and I know why. It's my fault. But… I ain't like that. I ain't. I wouldn't ever touch ya like he did, I wouldn't ever make ya do somethin' ya didn't want to do… and I feel like ya don't know that. I feel like I just… like…"

"Guilty?"

His eyes shot up, bloodshot and tired. "Yeah… I feel guiltier than a whore in church."

Eli felt a soft smile creep on to her face. "Yer sweatin' like one too ya know."

Merle looked upward, swiping his forehead with the back of his hand. "Damn Georgia heat."

"Yeah well… I know all that shit Merle, I do know ya wouldn't hurt me like that... but that don't mean yer anything better than a coward that let a little girl and a woman he'd known since she was eight get beaten and abused in front of him. I won't tell Daryl… but that doesn't mean for one minute I'll ever forget that fact."

He nodded. "I understand… and I'm sorry."

Daryl…

Dusk was settling over the prison as he stepped up the encased stairway to relieve Rick from his watch duties. He entered the top of the tower, giving the sheriff a friendly slap on the back. "Yer time's up. Go get some sleep."

Rick nodded, but didn't move. "Got a question for ya Daryl, if that's alright with you."

"Sure."

"Ya think those two friends of yer's are gonna stay? She said she wanted to leave just a few days back. Think they'll stay, or they'll go?" Rick stared out at the tops of the trees, breathing in deep through his nose.

Daryl shrugged, not knowing how to answer. Mostly because he couldn't predict Eli's mind any better than the next guy. Too bad… he used to be so good at it. "I can't really say Rick… but I'll tell ya that I hope they will. More than I'd wish on most things."

The two men stood there for a few moments longer, silence hanging in the air between them. Daryl had never had a friend like Rick before. Eli was the only person he'd ever accepted where silence was okay, welcome, common. Now Rick had taken that place as a person he could stand with, not sayin' a damn word, and everything was alright. Nothing went unsaid despite the fact that everything literally went unsaid.

"Alright well I'll leave ya to it then. Enjoy yer shift." Rick nodded to him and swiftly left the tower. Daryl stared out at the prison yard for a few more moments, letting the warm air settle in his lungs. Even when the world wasn't shit, this was still the best time of the whole day. The sun hadn't quite set, lighting the tops of the trees the nicest shade of orange. He and Eli used to perch themselves up on top of the tree with the rope swing on the river. She'd hold his hand while both their legs dangled from the thick branches. They both smiled on that river when the sun was setting. It was impossible not to.

Daryl leaned his head back against the cement wall, knowing that Eli had no real sense of time. She'd be there when she got there, and he'd already told Glenn to give him an extra half hour anyway. His mind was already wandering before he even began his shift…

"Are ya serious right now?" Daryl shouted at her, his face and chest covered in dark mud. It smelled of stale water and hot summer days. She was in hysterics, crying she was laughing so hard, standing in the deep mud herself. "Ya had to cover me in the shit?" His hands were up the air, and although he wanted to make her feel bad, he could feel the smile on his face as plain as day.

"You wanted to go swimmin', Mr. Dixon." She winked at him, shaking off her hands into the river bed.

"Yeah, in water," Daryl spit on to the shore. "You suck"

"Alright, well the tides out, I don't control the weather Daryl." She put her dirty hands on her hips and nodded out to the other side of the bank. "Let's cross, there's that cove on the side where the water sits, doesn't get gross or nothin', we can rinse off in there." She shrugged in his direction again. "I was just fine with goin' to yer house, yer the one that wanted to come here, so ya get mud in the face. Just the way it is." She nodded firmly. "New rule."

He did his best to smile at her, knowing she was trying to joke with him, but it wasn't working out too well. See… Daryl pulled her down into the woods and toward the river because he noticed something she didn't. Eli had this fun little habit of walking backward when they were on the road between their homes. She liked to not know what she'd be bumping into. He didn't understand it until the day she made her way down that road without hitting one rock or pothole or nothin'… and she just smiled at his amazed eyes and said "Muscle memory… it's important… especially around where ya live." Eli, always trying to figure out new ways to protect herself.

That day her talent served them both especially well, he figured. She'd turned onto his road first of course, but wasn't looking ahead, she was looking at him and smiling, making some joke… and he saw it. He saw the cop car, Connor Walsh's vehicle, Kate's old truck, his own old man's pickup, all sitting along the side of the road leading up to his driveway. They'd been gone too long. They'd been gone too long and all these people were looking for them.

Well, they were really looking for her. He knew it more in moment that he eyed Brett's old Mercedes out of place among the other beaters than he'd ever known anything in his life. They wanted to know why she had gone missing with him. It had been over twenty four hours now, and people were looking.

Daryl and Eli, the trouble makers, causing everyone to get out of bed early on a Sunday morning.

He'd grabbed her hand then, dragging her down to the river, giving her some sort of excuse on how it was just too hot and they needed to rinse themselves down. He didn't know how much time it would buy them, but he needed to try. Then she started slinging mud at him, doing her best to be playful… that was thing about her. Everything in this dire state around him, all of it starting to fall apart, but she wanted to run around in the mud. So they ran around in the mud. And he laughed and felt alive, and it was okay.

They floated in the still water on the other side of the river, Eli leaning over and kissing his lips not once, but twice, and all was quiet and right with the world. It hurt him physically when he had to push her away. He felt his heart drop and his stomach turn at the blue lights shining through the thick trees. Daryl wondered in the moment before Eli would turn and understand why they were at that river at all, how many more times he would get to see her in his life. He wondered as his hands gripped hers in fear, if they'd ever get to be friends again. He wanted to know what she felt like in his bed again. Not sleeping with her, but just sleeping with her. Daryl wanted to know what her lips felt like one last time. He reached over, pulling her tear soaked cheeks toward his face, and smashed his lips into hers. She held his face with her wet palms, kissing him back feverishly. She finally pushed him away and choked on a sob.

"Don't let me fall into the pit Daryl." She begged. "Don't let them take me."