Daryl slung his crossbow over his shoulder, walking along the meadow, feeling the grass against his jeans and the dirt under his shoe. He breathed in deep, feeling the crisp clean air fill his lungs, the air of the outside. There was nothing like it. There was absolutely nothing like the feeling of being outside, surrounded by the sounds of the remaining nature, the blaring light of the sun and his senses and his crossbow, the two things he could rely on most in this world.

"Daryl, you coming?" He heard Aaron call to him and Daryl seem to snap back into the reality of his surroundings. He looked ahead of him to see their once prisoner, now ally gesture for him to follow. He obliged and made his way to Aaron's side. Daryl hasn't been inside of the walls for a while. It's been a week since they came to Alexandria and on the second day, he was back outside hunting for no particular reason. If he was honest with himself, he knew there was a reason and it wasn't for bodily function or necessity. He technically didn't need to hunt anymore now that they were in the 'safe haven' of Alexandria, as Aaron so kindly liked to remind him. But he went anyway, he still felt compelled to go outside and catch his own food as he's been doing the majority of his life - before and after the turn - rather than have it served to him on a silver platter. He bet the people at Alexandria had silver platters too, somewhere in there. He knew they did. But that wasn't the only reason he went outside and the joy of being outside in the musk surely wasn't the only reason why he agreed to recruit alongside Aaron. That damned city girl. She was the main if not the only reason. He didn't want to see her. The better or more truthful answer was he couldn't see her, not after all the hurtful things he said to her.

Aaron and Daryl had been out for a few days, finding those who they deemed fit and good to join Alexandria. It was the end of Daryl's first week at Alexandria and he had barely step foot in the town. He didn't regret it, not for the most part. If he wasn't with Aaron recruiting, he was out hunting. He knew he wasn't supposed to be, but fuck it. He needed it and the Alexandrians didn't seem to care. The walls of Alexandria were like a cage, trapping him and confining him to that one area. That wasn't how he rolled. He needed space; he needed the outside. The two continued to walk for a few hours in completely silence, as they normally did for the past few days. That is, until Aaron began to talk to try and get to know Daryl more, as he normally did.

"So, how'd you get good with that thing?" Aaron asked and gestured to Daryl's crossbow that was protectively in his grasp, his finger on the trigger. Daryl shrugged. When he went to hunt on the second day, he thought about going back to the armory and stealing his crossbow back. He thought about it, and then decided against it because it would ruin the chances for the others possibly. He couldn't do that to them. He could hunt without it, anything could be a weapon if properly manipulated. He learned that the hard way.. That, and he managed to sneak a hunter's knife in his jacket, right under Deanna's nose. He was quite proud of it. They seemed so attentive to everything Daryl was doing, watching his every move. And yet he managed to sneak a knife past their noses easily. They suspected him of being what exactly? Dangerous? No, he was cautious, extremely cautious, There was a difference. But, when he came back from hunting (a tiny rabbit and squirrel) he saw Aaron with his crossbow and a proposition he couldn't possibly turn down.

"Ya pick up a few things, livin' in the middle of nowhere," Daryl muttered. Aaron nodded and the two continued to walk, reaching the wooded area beyond the meadow where they were sure some people had been living for a few days.

"I heard Maggie is with Glenn," Aaron said with a slight smile on his face.

"They're married," Daryl stated, suddenly growing disinterested in the conversation. He hated gossip. That was only for obnoxious, self centered and bitchy women who have nothing better to do with their time. If that's what Aaron wanted, then he may as well turn back.

"Are you with anyone in the group?" Daryl shook his head. If Aaron wasn't with Eric, he would have stopped Aaron right there, and not give him an answer. Not because he was homophobic, he didn't particularly care that he was gay. He accepted it, Daryl was impressed that Aaron would admit it and show his affection for his partner in public. He was just uncomfortable with sharing his personal life, which was nothing new. He didn't want to be flirted with, either. But Aaron didn't seem like the type, anyway. In the days that they've been together on the recruit trips, the two have been silent but grew close. So, Daryl didn't feel particularly offended or uncomfortable with Aaron.

"Nah."

"What were you before all this happened?" Aaron asked.

"Nothing. I was nobody," Daryl said nonchalantly, "It don't matter anymore." Aaron nodded and again there was silence. His reply ran through Aaron's mind for a few moments and a shiver went down his spine. It was almost exactly what Raelynn had said to him all those months ago, when she first met him. When he left her for dead, in the woods with the wrath of Bruce. ("It doesn't matter anymore. None of it matters anymore.") So, if none of the past matters anymore, why does Aaron still feel this horrible guilt in the pit of his stomach whenever that girl crossed his mind? Because he knows that the past does matter to her, because it was the decision that changed her life.

"I think I saw 'em just beyond that tree 'ere," he heard Daryl say as he pointed to a large oak tree. Daryl proceeded with caution with his crossbow close to him. He walked with soft steps, hoping not to scare them off if they were there. They'd been tracking and observing what they thought to be a small group of people for a two days now. They had first seen signs of life not far from Alexandria, a glimpse of a few people running deeper into the wilderness. With Daryl's help, the two were finally able to track them down and catch glimpses of their behavior. All that was left was to evaluate them and decide if they were okay to go to Alexandria. Aaron followed close behind with his knife in hand. Then, Daryl raised his hand, telling Aaron to stop. Aaron did and looked at Daryl, who stared up ahead with narrowing eyes. He didn't have to ask because he knew that the blue eyed man had already spotted the people they were looking for. He was watching them, eyeing them. Daryl then looked at Aaron and with a flick of his head, gestured ahead of him.

" Just three women. Go talk to 'em."

"They seem friendly?" asked Aaron.

"They seem hungry," replied Daryl simply. Aaron nodded and put away his knife. With Daryl close behind, Aaron being the more friendly looking of the two went ahead with his hands up in surrender as he approached the potential recruits.

Daryl walked behind Aaron and the three women that they had successfully recruited. He didn't bother to learn their names, it wouldn't be necessary because he would probably never see them around. He spent most of his days out of the wall anyway. They were indeed hungry, just as Daryl predicted. They've been a week without food, only surviving on the water that remained in their plastic bottles. They were skinny and helpless. For three women alone, Daryl would think they would be better adapted to the world and do what needs to be done in order to live. But they were helpless, they were fragile. Nothing like Raelynn when he, Rick and Glenn first found her - or she found them. That damned city girl. Woman or not, Daryl never thought he'd let someone point a gun at him and live. Well, there was Rick as well. Maybe he just grew close to the people who would threaten him and live to tell the tale. Daryl continued to walk close behind the three women, who remained huddled in a close knit circle. Two brunettes, one blonde yet none could compare to that ebony haired mysterious city girl. She had lived out in the wild by herself, for weeks it seemed like, and yet she wasn't starving like these women. Maybe these girls have been together for few months - maybe longer, maybe less - by themselves. But that didn't excuse their inadequacy of survival. If they were out here for months by themselves, they would have a better system of survival or at least know when a stranger came around.

Raelynn knew. She hid well in the dark and waited for the moment to strike and put that gun to Daryl's head. She was well equipped with weaponry and skills that came in handy with the walkers later at the barn. Raelynn, to Daryl, was unusual when it came to being a woman. She was unlike so many other woman he had come across, both in the apocalypse and before. Maybe it was the apocalypse that hardened her, that made her into this mysterious entity that puzzled him so much. Maybe before the turn, she was a prissy, gossip type woman who constantly spoke in a high pitched tone and wore designer clothing. He sure as hell met some women like that cross by on his travels in Georgia. But, for a city girl, she didn't give off that aura, that atmosphere of being a pompous bitch.

"Hey," he heard Aaron say to him. Daryl had been so caught up in his thoughts, he didn't realize that they were standing in front of the gate to Alexandria. That damned city girl was consuming his thoughts and he wanted it out. The gates opened slowly with a creak and squeak of the rusted metal against the ground and the women stepped in, holding onto each other. Deanna was there to greet them with a large grin. She paid no attention to the two men and preoccupied herself with the women, who seemed to be shaking with joy or fear.

"What are you going to do now?" asked Aaron. Daryl shrugged.

"Dunno, probably hunt."

"You've been hunting everyday. Get some rest," Aaron advised, "Are you going to go to the party Deanna's hosting later tonight?" The redneck shook his head.

"Nah, I ain't big on parties," Daryl explained.

"Your whole group is going," Aaron said, "It'll be good for you."

"Why do ya say that?" asked Daryl, looking at the man he had taken the time to get to know slightly. Aaron shrugged and smiled at Daryl, his white teeth shining against his sun baked skin.

"We have more in common than you think, Daryl. You and I are outsiders. But we're outsiders for different reasons," Aaron explained. He had won the redneck's curiosity and gestured for him to continue with his undivided attention, "Eric and I are still looked as outsiders because they know us, what we are. But, they're not as scared of us as they used to be, you know why? Because they know us. The more they know, the less they wonder and the less they get scared. They're scared of you, Daryl. But they have no reason to be, so show them that. You're a good person and they should know that, too. It'll be good for you."

"I got nothing to prove," Daryl countered. He didn't need to prove them anything. Let them think what they want because he knew exactly who he was and the people who cared about him knew who he was too. That was all that mattered to him, not these Alexandrians that they were frightened of him for no fucking reason other than he was a dirty redneck with a crossbow and a dirty stare. The people that mattered knew the truth.

"Don't prove it to them. Prove it to yourself," Aaron said. He paused and bit his bottom lip. He thought for a moment and just as Daryl was about to leave to go to the house he and his group was assigned to he called out to the redneck,"Hey, just be careful around Raelynn, alright?" Daryl cocked his head slightly to one side and eyed him.

"Why? You got somethin' against her or what?" Daryl didn't hear the hostility in his voice, but it was clearly noted by Aaron. But he remained silent for a moment and then looked at Daryl. He would tell him, Aaron thought to himself. He would tell Daryl all the things that were wrong about Raelynn, all the things that she did in the past that he knew of, but his conscience told him otherwise. Aaron shook her head.

"No, no. It's just...she's like a stick of dynamite. She'll go off in one second and take down whatever's in the vicinity," Aaron said and Daryl eyed him curiously, shifting his weight on his feet, "She seems sensitive so be careful how you talk to her."

"What do ya know anyway, huh? Why should I trust ya?" Again, a defensiveness in Daryl's voice.

"Do you know why I asked you to recruit with me, Daryl?" And when Daryl remained quiet, Aaron took it as a sign to continue and he did, "Because you know how to tell the good people from the bad. I doubt myself every now and then but you don't. You can tell and know for use and Raelynn," he said, "She's a good person but-"

"But what, huh? How would you know? You ain't speak to her for more than five minutes. You know somethin' I don't?" Aaron shook his head and remained quiet. He said too much and it wasn't his place to reveal anything of Raelynn's dark past with Bruce's group. But of course he knew more than Daryl. He knew exactly just how sensitive she could get when the wrong thing was said. But he couldn't tell Daryl that; he was determined to keep his promise and not be a coward. The two men shared a look, and Daryl sized him up, eyeing the other man carefully and methodically. Aaron didn't say anything and walked away, down the street to his house that he shared with Eric leaving Daryl there, in the middle of the sidewalk as people steered clear of the redneck. Daryl didn't move, he was confused and most of all, curious. He thought back to what Aaron said, every word of it. For what it was worth, Aaron was right. She was like dynamite and he lit the fuse that set her off. Everyone had a past, and regardless of it, Daryl wasn't going to be careful around her. She was no different than Rick, Michonne or any of the other members of the group. Each have their past, each have a story just as he did. Fuck what Aaron said, Daryl thought. He always seemed to be caught up with the dangers of life, anyway. It was okay if she was a stick of dynamite, lit and ready to blow up. He just wondered when the explosion would happen.

A/N: I thought it would be nice to focus on the other main character of this story, the crossbow king Daryl Dixon. I hope you're all enjoying this series! Who else can't wait until February?

P.S: I know this one was short but rest assured that the next chapter (the next few actually) are much longer. I get kinda carried away. Apologies in advance!

-A.A