Chapter 25

"I thought you were taking a shower" I said to Daryl as he walked down the steps a few minutes after the water was cut off.

"Decided not to" He said and I sighed deeply. If people were going to warm up to him, he needed to at least look somewhat like a normal person instead of a jungle man.

"Well, do you want something to eat then?" I asked as he was just standing there awkwardly.

"Nah" He mumbled

"Too domestic?" I asked and he looked over at me while biting his bottom lip and I nodded at my own question. "Well if you wanted to just go to sleep, you can take the couch or the bed upstairs" I told him.

"Where do you sleep?" He asked and I motioned to the couch. "Fine on the floor" He said and I shook my head, not arguing the thoughts coming to my mind as he slid his ass against the wall and moved one of his legs up so his elbow could rest against it.

"Right" I said as I tossed him over a pillow and then laid down on my side with my arm under my head.

"What were you and Rick talkin' about?" He asked

"Nothing important" I said as I closed my eyes "Good night Daryl."

"Night" He mumbled in annoyance because he clearly didn't get what he wanted.

I woke up the next morning before him and I watched him from the kitchen as he slept on the floor by the door and wall.

After tossing two pieces of toast into the toaster, I started on the eggs and that's when he started wake up when he heard the pans moving around. I didn't care if it was domestic or not, he needed to eat food that wasn't killed by his crossbow for once. He walked in scratching the back of his head and he walked by me and grabbed some water.

"I ain't eatin' that" He said and I rolled my eyes.

"Yes you are" I told him as I flipped his egg over onto a plate and then pulled the toast out and slid the plate over to him on the island in the middle of the kitchen. "Sit down and eat" I said as I put my food on my plate and shut the stove off and hopped up on the stool to eat after grabbing a glass of cold water.

"You're bossy" He mumbled as he took a large bite on his toast.

"You love it" I said with a smirk as I started to eat my breakfast. He watched me eat after he vacuumed down his food and I grabbed his plate once he was done and tossed them into the sink. "I'm pretty sure you're staring at my ass right now" I said as I washed the dishes and he didn't make a sound so I had an inkling that I was right.

"Your mood is freakin' me out" He said and I turned my head and looked at him.

"Why? Because I'm in a good mood?" I asked and he shrugged

"Haven't seen it in a long time, it's different" He said as he stood up from the Island and went over to the washer and started to pull his leather vest and button down off so he could at least clean those. I was pulled from my hazy thoughts when the warm water splashed on my shirt from the nozzle and I cursed as I quickly shut it off.

"God damn thing" I muttered as I grabbed the dish towel and patted my shirt off. "I'm gonna go change…" I mumbled as I walked away from him and walked up the steps and into my bedroom. I pulled my t-shirt off and searched through the pile of clothes and pulled a tank top from the pile and then looked up at Daryl who was standing in the doorway. His blue eyes were on my body but they weren't looking at me in want; they were looking at me distantly. It was as if he was looking right into my fucking soul and I hated when he used to do that and I hated it just a much now. "Stop" I mumbled as I pulled the tank top over my head. I ignored him and pulled the tank top over my thin frame.

He came into the room then "That mark" He said "I've seen it before."

"You found my necklace, those guys who killed all of those people in Richmond, they did it" I said as I pulled the hem at my chest higher so the mark wasn't showing.

"They fuckin' branded you?" He mumbled as he pulled the shirt up and I pulled away from him.

"Stop, and yes, okay they branded me and I never thought it was going to stop, happy now?" I asked and I watched from the corner of my eye as his fists clenched.

"How'd you get away from them?" He asked "How many were there?"

"Three" I said as I ran my fingers back through my hair in frustration. I didn't want to think about it anymore, let alone talk about it. "And their leader killed them, wait that's not true; he let me kill one of them"

"He killed them?" I nodded

"Apparently they didn't get the memo that they weren't supposed to rape a girl" I said defeated as I sat on the edge of the bed. "He killed the first, told the other two to go out of the house and he made them kneel down. He killed the first and then let me at the second… he actually was the one that told me about this place"

"He told you 'bout this place?" He asked "Why would he do that?"

"How the fuck am I supposed to know. To be honest I didn't even think it was here until Eric found me in the woods" I wrapped my arms under my bust and looked away from him. "I'm done talking about it okay? I didn't want you to see it."

"Everyone's got scars" He mumbled

"From accidents or from injuries, all of my scars are from men who thought they could take advantage of me. I was safe when you left me in Georgia, I was so fucking lucky that I was safe and then I fell asleep in an over-run town and then they came in and fucking…" I lost it then, my voice rose and rose until it finally cracked and I put my hands over my face. "I'm so sick of people taking advantage of me, Daryl" He crouched down in front of me and carefully put his hands down on my knees and I pulled my hands away to look at him.

"I'm sorry for leavin' you" He whispered and in a way it felt good to finally get an apology but it didn't change the fact that it still happened and it tore me apart.

"I know you are, I guess I pictured a different life for you and me. Back at the prison we had so much freedom for so many months and it was the only time were we could be just us together, alone or otherwise" I dried my hands against my sweatpants before I slid them onto the back of his. "I didn't think I could feel this way about another person after what happened but it somehow happened and I told you that I loved you as sort of a plea for you to come with me that day and when you weren't there in the morning I was broken again."

"If I left those guys that mornin' they'd know somethin' was up, they'd be huntin' us Aurora" I nodded "I couldn't fuckin' risk your life over a what if, I wanted to be there that mornin' but I couldn't" He moved his hand up and brushed a few lose tears from my cheek and then slid his fingers into my hair and pulled me down onto the floor with him and his arm wrapped around the back of my neck to hold onto me. "I wanted to be there" He whispered into my hair again. I nodded against his shoulder and wrapped my arms around his midsection. "I'm not gonna leave you again, got it?" I nodded again and he loosened his grip on the back of my neck and I pulled back and pressed my forehead against his gently.

"I can't survive a next time" I whispered and his hands brushed against my cheeks again and then his fingers softly gripped the sides of my neck to keep me in place.

"You won't have to" He breathed as he pressed his forehead against mine with more pressure for a second.

"I'm serious Daryl, I love you too much"

"I'm serious too" He said before his lips crashed against mine. As my lips firmly pressed against his after a moment of hesitation, my hands gripped the sides of his unbuttoned shirt and then they moved to his stomach and slowly up his chest. I felt him shiver under my fingertips once I reached his collarbones and then his lips left mine to trail down the side of my scarred neck.

His hands moved down to grip my waist and then he stood up and picked me up along with him, and then tossed me back on the large bed. He didn't give me a second to breathe as he climbed onto his knees over me and his lips were on mine again.

"Bet you never thought we'd have a house and a bed" I breathed out as his lips nipped at my collarbone.

"I thought 'bout it" He mumbled while he tugged my tank top up.

"You did?" He nodded

"A guy can dream, right?" He asked and I just looked up at him with adorning eyes.

I pulled his sleeveless button-down off and tossed it over his right shoulder and then pants were being pulled off and I laid under him completely bare. This wasn't my first time being naked in front of him but it was the first time for him. In the prison we could have been called upon at any given second so he always had on an article of clothing.

I knew a few minutes later when he was inside of me and when we were connected fully; that he probably wasn't ever going to tell me that he loved me through his words but I knew how he felt through his actions. He loved me and we were safe for the time being and that's all that mattered.

"Come back" He groaned as I rolled away from him to get downstairs because someone had been down there knocking for the past minute.

"I'll be back" I giggled as I leaned over and kissed him quickly and then picked up my sweats from the floor and pulled those on and tugged on a random t-shirt from the floor and walked down the steps and got to the door as I tried to tame my wild hair.

"Oh hi" I said as I held onto a chunk of my hair.

"Daryl here?" Rick asked and I nodded slowly.

"Um, do you need him?" I asked and he shook his head.

"Let him know I'm going out on a run, left something out in the woods" I narrowed my eyes at him in confusion "Gun" He whispered and I understood now.

"Got it, I'll be sure to tell him" He looked me over quickly and shook his head with a grin.

"Your shirts on backwards" He said and my jaw dropped "Go on, let him know; I'll be back in a couple hours" I nodded and pushed at his shoulder as he chuckled and left. I shut the door and locked it and then put my back against it with embarrassment.

I walked into the kitchen after composing myself and grabbed two glasses of water and walked up the steps while drinking mine. He was still lying where I left him and he pushed himself up so his back was against the headboard and the sheet moved down to his hips. After handing him the water, I sat down on the bed.

"Rick wanted you to know that he's going on a run for something he left in the woods and that he should be back in a couple hours" He nodded

"Shirts on backwards" He said and I rolled my eyes.

"I know, Rick pointed that out too" I tugged the t-shirt off, feeling more liberated without it on anyways. He placed the glass on the side table and rolled onto his side and then I did the same. "What do you think the W stands for?" I asked him once his fingers reached out to absently trace over the marking just off center between my breasts.

"No clue" He mumbled as he kept his blue eyes on it and then traced the jagged line up the side of my breast and to the smooth line at my throat. "How long was it?" He asked as his eyes looked at mine now.

"How long was what?" I asked as I took his hand from my neck to hold it in mine on the bed between us.

"How long did they have you?" He whispered

"It felt like a really long time but it couldn't have been more than an hour" I told him honestly "I was afraid to tell Deanna about the mark because I have a feeling she knows who these people are" He nodded "And I don't think they like this place very much."

"But he told you to come here" I nodded

"He did, that's why none of this makes sense in my head… has she given you a job yet?" He shook his head and rolled over onto his back.

"She will, or I'll make her" I said and I saw the small glint of a smile come to the corner of his lips.

"Don't need a job" He mumbled and I nodded

"Yes you do or you'll go stir crazy and I don't need my boyfriend to go stir crazy when we're trying to figure these people out" He turned his head.

"Boyfriend?"

"You know you are, don't deny it now" I said "Or I'll kick your ass."

I leaned over a bit and kissed him quickly before nuzzling my face against his chest. "Don't think I've ever been anyone's boyfriend before"

"Well then, how does it feel?" I asked

"Nothin' different" He said and I nodded

"Exactly" I whispered back and then kissed the cursive tattoo above his peck. "We should probably get up" I mumbled after a few peaceful minutes.

"Why? Gotta be somewhere?" He asked and I nodded

"Actually I do, told Jessie I'd have Sam's photos printed out today" I looked up at him and he looked utterly confused "Sam's her son" He then nodded and I pulled away from him after giving him one last kiss.

I found a blue t-shirt with a breast pocket and then pulled my black jeans on as he was pulling his clothes on as well. He leaned over and kissed the side of my head and then left the room to head downstairs as I finished getting ready. I pulled my hair up into a high ponytail at the back of my head and walked down the steps after a few minutes. "You should really let me cut your hair" He shook his head

"You ain't comin' near me with scissors" My jaw dropped at the insult

"I cut Rick's hair and that came out fine, was cutting Maggie's back at the prison too" He shook his head

"Don't like it?" He asked as he moved his fingers over his messed up shaggy brown hair.

"It's not that I don't like it, I just feel you'd be able to actually see things better without all of the hair in your face" He shrugged "Think about it, I'm not forcing you."

He picked his crossbow up from the wall after putting his dirty boots back on his feet and I walked over to the computer and plugged in the camera and started on putting the new ink cartridges into the printer. "Why'd they give you this job?" He asked

"It's a good way of getting to know people, plus I'm the only one around here that actually knows how to work one of these things" I tapped the camera as it uploaded the photos of the children quickly and I looked back over at him.

"Right" He mumbled "I'mma head out" I nodded and kissed his cheek gently.

"Don't do anything stupid"

"Me?" He asked with a grin and I could only roll my eyes as he unlocked my front door and left and I sat down at the desk to print out the selected photographs.

As I was dropping the photos off with the various families, I heard the commotion starting by the front gate and I watched from the corner of my eye as Daryl picked Nicolas up and then dropped him down onto the pavement and I was already jogging over while Rick grabbed him to pull him away so he wouldn't get into some deep shit. Rick briefly looked at me and I wrapped my hand around Daryl's wrist and he looked to the side to see me.

"Calm down" I whispered so he could only hear.

"…Rick and his people are a part of this community now, in all ways as equals. Understood?" Deanna spoke loudly for the people who were gathering could hear her clearly. She looked up at her son, Aiden who was supporting a bruised cheek and he nodded with a short "understood."

"All of you turn in your weapons. Then you two come talk to me" She motioned towards Aiden and Nicolas. Deanna looked at Rick now and I somehow knew what was coming next "I told you that I had a job for you. I'd like for you to be our constable, that's what you were, and that's what you are." She told Rick and Daryl pulled his arm from my grasp and I pulled my fingers into a small fist. "And you too Michonne, will you accept?"

"Okay" Rick said lowly and Michonne agreed quickly behind him. Daryl picked up his crossbow and walked away then and I sighed deeply. Daryl was a leader of our group and Deanna wasn't giving him that role, what was she thinking? Deanna looked over at me then.

"Can I have a word with you?" She asked and I nodded "Rick, Michonne; we'll talk later."

I waited to the side as everyone slowly dispersed and Deanna walked over and we started off in a slow walk down the sidewalk in the direction of her house. "I'm sorry about that, if I had known that-" I started to say

"No need to apologize. Aiden didn't tell me but I'm guessing that bruise on his face is from you" I nodded "Good, maybe it'll peg his ego down after getting hit by a woman" I smirked from the corner of my mouth "I wanted to ask you how you've been feeling?"

"I'm feeling fine" I said "Why?"

"Fitting in alright with the neighborhood?" She asked

"Yeah, everyone's been welcoming…" I trailed off

"Good, good" She said as she turned and started to walk up the steps of Aaron and Eric's house and I raised my eyebrows in confusion "With Eric's ankle we're down a person for recruiting and Aaron came to me with the idea that you'd be a perfect fit."

"Why me?" I asked "I like just taking photos…"

"I understand that and you can still take photographs outside of the walls" She had knocked on the door and Aaron was there a few seconds later. "Think about it, when you've come to a decision, tell me." I watched her leave and I looked back at Aaron.

"Going behind my back now?" I asked him and he shrugged

"Come on in" He pulled the door open wider and I stepped inside. "I've watched you out there, you know how to protect yourself and you're one hell of a shot" I nodded

"You told her about how the walkers don't sense me, didn't you?" He shook his head

"Didn't feel the need to share that bit, you want to keep some secrets to yourself and I get that better than anyone. I'd like for you to take Eric's place with me outside of the walls with recruiting people, I can teach you how we like to do things."

"Why me though?" I asked him as we sat down on his couch.

"Because you can read people. You can tell the difference between a good person and someone who is lying through their teeth"

"A lot of people can do that though"

"Not as good as you though, and you can't deny that" I nodded and looked down "You don't have to if you don't want to, we're not pressuring you into this but just consider it. We can go out tomorrow and see how you track"

"I'm awful at tracking; Daryl was the tracker in our group"

"Daryl, huh?" He asked and I nodded "Should we audition him for the job?"

"You want Daryl to be a recruiter?" He nodded

"Why not? It looks like he needs to be out of these walls sometimes, just like the two of us" I pressed my hands against my thighs and nodded.

"I think he'd be great at it, and it would give him something to do other than wait around for this place to be torn down from the inside out" He let out a small smile and nodded "So tomorrow?"

"Yeah, say around eight?" I stood up

"Sounds like a plan, I'm still bringing my camera though"

"Go right ahead, I wouldn't expect anything else. We'll put those tracking skills to the test too because I think you can track if you put your mind to it"

"I'm telling you, I'm the worst at it"

"I'll be the judge of that" He said as we walked to the door and he opened it up for me "I'll see you bright and early tomorrow" I stilled at the door for a moment and looked up at him.

"Thank you for considering me for this job, helping people who are in desperate need would be great" He nodded and squeezed my upper arm gently and then let me leave.