Author's Note:

Smut here! And I mean SMUT! Like really smutty. Watch out! It starts right after the 9th dividing line-back from the Halloween party. Remember, all my smut is consensual.

There is also a little bit of smut with Merle, but not much.

Chapter 25-Madison, GA

The Next Morning

Daryl stayed longer in the shower while Olivia left to prepare breakfast. After their second round earlier today they headed upstairs and jumped in the shower together. He had always showered by himself, not seeing a need to have a woman with him. And never mind about his back; he would have rather died first than let anyone see it. But he trusted her. And the experience with Olivia left him eager for the next time.

It wasn't just about fucking or getting off. He just felt….closer. Like it was another way to be connected. And he couldn't deny how hot it was to soap up her body for her, his hands slipping and sliding on her wet skin. Daryl knew he moaned out loud when it was her turn and Olivia rubbed the soap all over his chest and back. It just felt so goddamn good.

While the hot water poured over his head, he thought back to the idea that had been simmering in his brain for the last week or so. Something about Olivia made him WANT to do things. To be more. Daryl wanted to go back to school to get his diploma. It was true that he wanted her to be proud of him, but he wanted to be proud of himself too. He had no fucking idea when all these thoughts started exactly, but he imagined they were there, under the surface for a little while. He enjoyed taking charge of the garage when Dale was out. Subconsciously, his self-confidence grew more and more each day as he took on the extra duties and challenges. For most of his life, Will Dixon cruelly taunted him, making sure Daryl knew exactly what he thought of him. Stupid and useless. Daryl just realized his father was wrong.

I'll ask her 'bout it t'day, he promised.

At breakfast, Daryl was quiet, much quieter than usual, as he thought of a way to bring up his idea.

Olivia could tell by the expression on his face that he had something on his mind. Patiently, she waited for him to be ready. Sometimes he needed to process things in his head before he spoke and that was perfectly fine with her. It was one of the qualities about him that she loved so much.

Aww, Hell, Daryl thought to himself. Jus' spit it out.

"I been thinkin'," Daryl started, "'bout getting' ma diploma. Goin' back ta school." He peeked through his shaggy bangs at her, anxious about her reaction.

A huge grin spread from corner to corner of her mouth as Olivia heard what Daryl was saying. "Daryl! I love it. It's a great idea! You'll do great."

"What made you decide to do it?" she asked curiously.

Daryl's gaze dropped down and he shrugged.

Olivia waited once more, smiling in encouragement.

"I jus' wanna do somethin' tha'd make ya proud." He added, "I wanna make maself proud too."

Olivia beamed at him, her smile so radiant that it rivaled the sun. "I'm already so proud of you, Daryl, but I'm happy that you want to do this for yourself. Whatever you need, we'll do."

They sat there, lost in each other's eyes, as Olivia reached out and grasped his large, warm hand. A tiny smile flitted across his face.

Later that Day

Daryl had just stepped outside to the back porch with Merle when Olivia heard a knock on the front door. Godiva, who was upstairs at the time, came racing down the stairs to see what was going on, her furry brown tail whipping back and forth in a frenzy, while her cold, wet nose sniffed towards the door.

The young woman opened the front door and was surprised to find a sheriff's deputy on the other side of the screen. The man, who was in his crisp and neat brown uniform, stood with his hands propped up on either side of his hip.

"Deputy Walsh," she greeted with a smile. "How can I help you?"

"Mornin' there, Miss Walker," he answered in his slow, Southern drawl. "I's was just here out 'a concern for yer well-being 'n safety."

"Oh?"

"Now, Imma all 'bout helpin' out the good people 'a Madison, but I hear ya not only have Daryl Dixon workin' for ya, but also a Merle Dixon too? 'N I hear they're both livin' here on yer property?"

Olivia stood there, flabbergasted, her mouth opening and closing like a hyperventilating guppy. Huh….news travels fast. "Oh, I, well, yes…." She shook her head. "Excuse me, Deputy Walsh, but I'm so confused. What exactly is your point here?"

"Ma point is," he spoke slowly, as if she were stupid and needed extra time to think about his words, "that these here men are dangerous 'n unruly types. Merle Dixon has been in 'n outta jail fer years, in many parts 'a the county. Are ya sure ya want these types 'a men 'round ya 'n on yer property?"

Unbelievable, she thought. "I appreciate your concern for my well-being, Deputy Walsh, but I don't see why my friends and the company I choose to keep would be a concern to the Sheriff's Department. The Dixons are a valued member of my household. Merle happens to be a friend of mine. And Daryl is my boyfriend. The past is of no consequence to me. It's the present and the future that we should be looking towards."

Shane Walsh gritted his teeth. He had no idea why this woman was being so stubborn. But then again, he should have known. He had warned her grandmother about Daryl and she didn't listen either. And now look…..there was one more Dixon to add to the mix and the foolish girl had up and gotten herself attached to the younger brother. It was only a matter of time before the police had to come out here after the filthy redneck started beating on her. He shook his head in disgust.

"Thank you for your time, Deputy," she smiled, effectively ending the conversation.

With that, Deputy Walsh stiffly tipped his hat and turned to leave.

When Olivia shut the door, she jumped to see that Daryl and Merle were hovering nearby.

"Well, lookee here, liddol brother," Merle cackled, "she sure put tha' shithead in his place."

"How much of that did you guys hear?"

"Enough," Daryl answered, his face still bearing the scowl he had when he saw who was at the door.

"Don't pay him any attention. He's just narrow-minded," Olivia suggested.

Daryl grunted in answer.

Smiling, Olivia changed the subject, asking, "Did you guys talk about doing some hunting with your Uncle Jess? I think you mentioned planning on doing a spring or summer trip."

"Oh, yeah, girlie. Me 'n liddol brother here haven't been out wit' him in a little while," Merle answered.

"Well, maybe sometime before that you can have him here and do some hunting with him in these woods," Olivia offered, her heart warmed by the bond they seemed to have with their uncle. Part of her was angry that their uncle did nothing to intervene when they were young and defenseless, but Olivia did not know of all the circumstances so to be fair, she really couldn't judge the man. The brothers accepted their uncle, so she would as well.

Daryl nodded, "Sounds good."

A Few Days Later

"Happy birthday, Beth!" everyone shouted, with Maggie and Olivia being the loudest.

The youngest Greene girl nearly jumped out of her brown cowboy boots, not expecting so many people to pop out from behind the furniture and doorways. Maggie and Jimmy planned the surprise for her 21st birthday, wanting to make it more special.

Once she got over her fright, her face split into the biggest grin as she took in the people around her. Besides her family and boyfriend, she saw Olivia and Daryl, and a few friends from school. "You guys are just too much!" she gushed, as her eyes wandered around the room.

Pink streamers dangled from the ceiling and decorations that said '21' sat as centerpieces. Brightly colored balloons were placed all over the room and Annette presented her baby girl with a dozen pink roses. Jimmy leaned over and gave her a chaste kiss, ever mindful of Hershel's vigilant eye. Otis and Patricia, who were considered to be "Greenes" themselves, having known the family for so long, also kissed Beth's cheek and gave her a warm hug.

A small table against the wall held birthday presents, some of which were in boxes and wrapped up in brightly colored paper with charming little bows or placed in pretty gift bags with pink or white tissue sticking out of them.

Olivia smiled, thinking about how Beth would love the white cardigan sweater she picked out for her. It was so soft and warm, but not too thick; perfect for autumn.

Olivia grinned at her young blonde friend, loving how the girl looked so happy. Earlier today, Beth's best friend, Sasha, took her out for her birthday while everyone else stayed at the farmhouse to set up for the party. People carpooled and parked in the back so Beth would have no clue. Jimmy, Glenn, and Daryl hung the decorations while Maggie was in charge of the machine that blew up the balloons. Every once in a while, there was a loud pop! that caused Olivia's heart to race. How she hated the sound of popping balloons.

Merle was also invited, but he politely declined, or so Olivia conveyed back to Maggie. Merle told Daryl he wasn't interested in a kid's party. Either way, it was nice of Maggie to extend the invitation and she thanked her for it.

Annette and Hershel had quite a generous spread on the dining table. In addition to the birthday cake she made, there were many of Beth's favorite foods: pizza, ice cream, lasagna, and fried chicken. Beth absolutely loved her mama's cooking and most of her friends were also lucky enough to have sampled it at one time or another in their lives.

Daryl stood towards the back and watched, nibbling on his thumbnail. Olivia had stayed by his side, reluctant to leave him alone, but he insisted on having her go chat with her friends, knowing how social she was. His eyes stayed on her as she moved about the room, spending time with one group of guests and wandering over to speak with another. She made her way back over to him, her eyes dancing with joy and a big grin on her face as she spied him in the corner.

Looking around the room, Daryl noticed the party guests had their attention elsewhere and bravely, he grabbed her hand and squeezed it quickly before letting go, blushing as he did so.

Olivia knew that Daryl was not into PDA, so she was slightly startled. Her eyes stared up at him and those dark green orbs twinkled in amusement. Daryl Dixon was full of surprises. He was just so cute, standing there with pink coloring his cheeks.

After everyone sang "Happy Birthday" to Beth, the pink-frosted cake was sliced and served. The cake itself was four layers tall with luscious pink buttercream frosting spread in-between each layer and with a generous amount swirled on top. Annette even added a few roses in varying shades of pink in the center. Olivia closed her eyes and moaned softly when she placed a forkful of the tender vanilla cake into her mouth. Nothing compared with the taste and freshness of a homemade cake. She glanced over at Daryl, who was enjoying his own slice, his cheeks puffed out from the humongous piece he had in his mouth. Softly, she giggled to herself. He looked like a chipmunk with those puffy cheeks.

Guests gradually trickled out and eventually it was just the Greenes, Olivia and Daryl, and Glenn. The older family members were in the kitchen cleaning up while the group of friends were taking down the decorations in the living room.

"Man, that was a kick-ass cake," Glenn complimented out loud as he rubbed his stomach. The young man already had a second slice, as did Daryl.

Daryl nodded, replying, "Was good."

"I heard that Livy is quite a great baker too. The cakes she made for the church bake sale sold fast. For about $25 or $30 each, I think, to the highest bidder."

The older man's eyebrows lifted up slightly. He didn't think people really would pay that much money for a cake…then again, he had tasted Olivia's cakes before.

The young Asian man glanced at him. Glenn was kind of used to Daryl already. He and Maggie had been to the house for supper on occasion; sometimes with Beth and Jimmy too, and he discovered that Daryl was a man of very few words. Initially, the gruff redneck made him uneasy, but during the first time he was at the house, he saw just how much Olivia loved him and Daryl's own feelings about the woman were evident as well, based on his actions. After spending some time with the unusual couple, Glenn saw for himself just how well-suited they were for each other. And he also noted that Daryl Dixon was not a bad guy, like some people in the town thought.

Once or twice, Daryl's older brother Merle was also there for supper. At his first meeting with him, Glenn didn't know what to make of the older Dixon. He appeared to be as rough around the edges as Daryl, but he was more talkative. And loud. He knew Maggie was concerned about Merle working and living there, but the more time they spent with him, the more they realized that he was not a bad man. Just someone who made many bad choices in life.

While Glenn was with Daryl, Olivia and the girls chatted excitedly about tomorrow's costume contest at Ricky's.

"I can't wait to see ya in your costume," Maggie gushed to Olivia. "We finally found one for ya!"

Beth nodded. "I just know it's going to look so good."

Olivia blushed lightly. "Thank you. Your costume is going to be great, Beth. I can't believe you were able to make a Shepherd's crook to go with it. It'll be so cute!"

Once the room was cleaned up, Olivia and Daryl announced their intention to leave, with Olivia hugging Maggie and saving the biggest hug of all for the birthday girl. Daryl nodded once to the whole group and followed Olivia out to her car. Eagerly, he took out the car keys from his pocket, since he drove on the way to the Greenes. The lever was pulled to allow the roof to fold up and the couple enjoyed a beautiful starlit sky on the way home.

"I'm so glad you came with me," Olivia smiled.

Daryl grunted. "They're good people."

Meanwhile, Merle sat on a barstool at Ricky's, casually sipping his first beer. Shit. Even drinkin' don't excite me no more, he thought, his mood growing darker, as he stared at the nearly full bottle. He didn't know why, but he felt odd. Dissatisfied. Maybe jus' need some pussy, tha's all. He polished off the rest of his Buffalo wings, leaving the beer alone for now.

He was surprised that farmer's daughter invited him to her kid sister's birthday party. At the house, she and the Chinese kid had come over for supper and Merle happened to be there too. It wasn't like they were best friends…secretly, Merle was pleased, but he would never admit it. Anyway, it sounded like it would have been boring. A party fer Blondie who jus' turned 21.

Korean. He's Korean, the thought suddenly popped into his head, hearing Olivia's voice correcting him. Merle grunted to himself.

"Heeey, Baby!" A woman's voice broke him out of his thoughts.

Merle glanced to his right, feeling a warm hand rub his back. Crystal. From what Merle remembered, she was a great fuck. Maybe that's what he needed. Tina didn't seem to do the trick anymore. And neither did Brittany.

Merle turned to her, giving her his typical smug grin. "How's 'bout we get on outta here?" he suggested.

The redheaded woman smiled, her white teeth gleaming from red painted lips. She was just as eager as he was.

While spread out on the sofa, Merle roamed his hands all over the woman's chest. "Show me them tits 'a yers," he demanded.

Smirking, Crystal stood up and removed her low-cut blouse, and then the purple bra, letting her breasts flop free from their confines.

Merle grabbed one ample breast and then the other while he kissed the woman.

Frowning, Merle stopped in mid-squeeze and stepped away from her. He sighed. He didn't know what was wrong with him. He felt horny. Kind of. But for some reason, he just wasn't feeling it like before. At first, he thought it was because he was getting tired of Tina and he decided to cut her loose. He went back to Brittany, but again, he wasn't quite feeling it either and ended it.

Merle sat on the sofa and stared straight ahead, confused as fuck. Maybe Imma gettin' sick….

"Baby, what's the matter?" Crystal asked, her voice tinny and grating. Annoyin' as fuck, Merle thought to himself in irritation. How'd I never heard it 'fore?

"Lemme take care of yer dick fer yer," she offered, laughing as she grabbed for the zipper.

In frustration, Merle swatted her hands away from him. "Ain't in the mood no more," he grumbled.

"Suckin' ya off would help ya get in the mood," Crystal suggested as she reached for his zipper once more.

Merle stood up and grabbed his keys. "Imma goin' now," he told her.

The soft closing of the front door was the last thing Crystal heard. The redhead sat there, blinking as she tried to figure out what happened.

When Merle pulled up to the farmhouse on his bike, he noted Olivia's car parked outside. They must be back. It was only about 9 o'clock. The lights were on and he was tempted to knock and see what they were up to. Right when he was about to knock on the front door, he heard Olivia's laughter, followed by Daryl's.

His fist froze in mid-air. Daryl fucking laughed. Merle's heart clenched painfully when he tried to recall when was the last time he heard him sound so carefree. She's good fer him, he thought. He stayed outside the door for another minute, hearing some banter between them that he couldn't make out and another short laugh from Daryl. A look of wonder appeared on Merle's face. And some feeling in his gut that he couldn't quite place, not sure if it was a good feeling or not.

Merle quietly stepped away from the farmhouse and entered his own home, thinking about what had occurred today. He decided that he would go out with the guys from the bike shop tomorrow night; he had turned them down yesterday. A few of the single men wanted to hit the town for Halloween while the married ones were taking their kids out for trick-or-treating. He thought maybe he needed a change of pace to get him out of the weird funk he was in.

Halloween, the Next Night

"Ya ain't wearin' that ta Ricky's," Daryl insisted with a scowl as his eyes slowly took in her costume. When Olivia said that she was going as Little Red Riding Hood, he never expected something like this. His jaw tightened as he took another good, long look at his girl.

The full, poufy skirt was so short that her ass was nearly hanging out, allowing her long legs to be exposed, so that any asshole could stare at her. The white thigh-high stockings she had on did nothing to camouflage her shapely limbs. The corset top left Olivia's shoulders bare, revealing a glimpse of cleavage from her full tits. She wore long, elbow-length black gloves made of a stretchy satin.

"Why not?" she countered with a pout, her brows in a slight frown. Part of her was upset that Daryl would tell her what she could and could not wear, but the other part of her thought it was sweet that he was so..…possessive…..so protective. It was kind of hot. "It's just a costume. Only for one night."

"Pffft," he huffed in anger, chewing angrily on the inside of his cheek.

"I told you there was a costume contest. First prize is $200, Daryl."

The scruffy man in front of her only glared in answer.

Unfazed, Olivia continued. "And it comes with a long red cape so it covers the back completely." She somehow suspected that Daryl did not like how short the skirt was.

"I'll be covered," she pressed as she stared up at him with her wide, green eyes, opening them up even more to plead her case.

Daryl sighed in defeat. Whenever she turned those big eyes on her, he knew he didn't have a chance in Hell. He was beginning to suspect she did that on purpose. "Fine. But don't blame me if'n I need ta stomp some asshole inta the ground fer layin' hands on ya," he warned.

Olivia beamed at him, pleased there wouldn't be any further objections.

Checking her makeup once more in front of the bathroom mirror, she tossed her red satin cape over her shoulders and tied it at the neck, flipping the hood over her head. She slipped her feet into the shiny black peep-toe platforms she found at Target last year. In the peep-toe, under where the toes were, there was a bit of red, making the shoes somewhat unique. It was on clearance, being a steal at $12, and she did think they were pretty so she bought them. The shoes gave her about an extra 5 inches of height.

"Better?" she smiled at Daryl, spinning around slowly for his approval, while holding out her cape with her first three fingers.

He grunted, eyes roaming from the top of her head to her toes. His regard shifted, from approval to something more….primal. Olivia noticed the familiar glint in his eyes, feeling her lower belly flutter when his bright blue eyes swept over her again.

She had applied a bit more makeup than usual, going for a smoky-eye effect complete with two swipes of mascara, making her long lashes extend even further, framing her dark green eyes. Her lips were covered in a rich red lipstick that complemented her eyeshadow. A swipe or two of blush highlighted her cheekbones.

Goddammit, Daryl thought as he tried to shift his position. He felt himself beginning to harden.

Olivia swallowed once, feeling her belly clench as a result of the intensity of his utterly sinful gaze.

The ping of an incoming text grabbed Olivia's attention and she went to retrieve her phone.

"Maggie says they're on their way," she announced. "We should get going too, huh?"

"C'mon. We'll take ma truck."

Olivia sent a reply back to Maggie letting her know they were leaving now. On her way to the door, she grabbed her wristlet that had her ID and a few bills. It only had enough room for her phone, and maybe the house key. She picked up her basket that was lined with a red and white checkered cloth.

Daryl opened the door of the truck for her and Olivia slid in carefully, daintily holding up her ankle-length cape with her thumb and index finger, so she wouldn't trip on it or drag it across the seat.

"Thank you," she smiled in gratefulness, as Daryl gently shut the door for her. He nodded, giving her a tiny smile. He felt important, like he actually mattered, whenever she took the time to appreciate the things he did for her. Olivia made him feel that way.

The parking lot at Ricky's was crowded, even more so than usual for a Friday night. Daryl found a free spot at the far end of the lot. The costume contest was a popular event and each year, almost everyone in town looked forward to it.

As they got closer to the door, they heard the music blasting and the noise from the enthusiastic crowd. Staff members were stationed outside to check IDs and accept the cover charge, moving the line quickly to get the paying customers inside.

Holding the door open for her, Daryl waved Olivia in. She smiled up at him, having no idea of the effect she had on him.

Olivia surveyed the scene, admiring the decorations while searching for her friends. The bar was fully decorated for Halloween; a mixture of vampires, zombies, and mummies adorned the walls. Some of the decorations were flat, while others were actual life-sized figures. Behind the bar, a full-sized skeleton wearing a plaid bow tie was reaching for a bottle of liquor. An assortment of plastic body parts, complete with blood stains, hung from the ceiling while white "cobwebs" were strewn across the lighting fixtures. A thick white fog continuously appeared, swirling around the feet of customers, and dissipated in an endless cycle over the dance floor, giving the dim room an ominous feel.

After a few minutes, she saw Maggie and Beth motioning furiously at her to get her attention. Somehow they had managed to get a table. Daryl and Olivia quickly headed over.

"I love yer costume!" Maggie shouted in order to be heard. Olivia smiled in thanks for her compliment. The two girls hugged over the table. Maggie leaned in closer towards Olivia's ear. "Daryl gonna get some 'a that later?" she winked.

Olivia rolled her eyes playfully. Oh, geez. Just as bad as Nessie. Glancing at her friend, she smiled. "You look great, Maggie!" Maggie was dressed as Snow White, complete with an apple-shaped purse and a shiny red bow in her hair. Adorable.

Beth stood up to hug Olivia, smiling and nodding in approval after she looked over her friend's Red Riding Hood costume. "Ya look fantastic, Livy!"

"Beth, you make the cutest Little Bo Peep I've ever seen!" Olivia declared with a huge grin that spread across her face. The Shepherd's crook Beth made to complete the outfit was laying against the wall, near their table. It came out perfectly. Olivia knew Beth was great at crafts.

The younger girl blushed and smiled as she took in the compliment.

Olivia was pleased to note that Beth took her advice to wear white leggings with her costume. Beth was uncomfortable with the skirt length, being much too short for her taste, but she really liked the outfit and didn't want to choose another. The leggings provided a happy solution.

All three men nodded greetings to each other. Olivia noted that both Glenn and Jimmy dressed up for the contest. Beth's boyfriend Jimmy wore a giant, fuzzy sheep costume that covered him entirely, except for his face. Whenever Olivia glanced his way, she had an overwhelming urge to just say "Awwww" and pat his head. Maggie told her Jimmy practiced baa-ing for the last two days, hoping to sound like a sheep. Glenn looked about as rugged as he would ever be in his Huntsman outfit. He didn't dare ask Daryl to borrow his crossbow, even though Olivia said she wouldn't mind asking Daryl for him, so he had brought his own costume bow and arrow set along with a fake ax.

Daryl was the only one from the group who did not wear a costume, but Olivia did not expect him to. She knew he wouldn't be comfortable with all the extra attention, so she never insisted, but she did ask Daryl, just to make sure he was included.

The other two couples already had their drinks so Daryl decided to grab something for the two of them. Olivia told him she would drive them back so that he could have a little more if he wanted. Hell yeah, Daryl wanted more tonight. He didn't need to be at the shop tomorrow and he wanted to kick back a little.

Upon his return to the table, a cocktail waitress stopped by to check on the group and to bring the hot wings that Glenn ordered. Daryl and Olivia shared a look between them before he ordered the same thing with the waitress.

Conversation at the table was slightly hindered by the music that blasted from the speakers. It sounded like "Monster Mash" was playing. A small number of people were moving to the music on the dance floor.

Daryl listened to the girls yammering away, faces bright during their conversation. He tried to make small talk with other two men. His eyes swept over Glenn. All dressed up like a hunter, he thought. He doubted if the kid had ever hunted anything in his whole life, other than in a video game. Daryl studied the Asian man. He seemed like a nice guy. The older man turned his attention to the other young guy, dressed in a sheep costume. The corner of Daryl's mouth quirked upwards as he strained to keep himself from busting a gut in laughter. Aw, Hell no. No one's gonna talk me inta tha'.

About one hour or so into the night, the music was stopped and the costume contest was announced. All the contestants were called up to form a line against one side of the room while the dance floor was being cleared. There were about two dozen contestants so it took a little bit of time to see everyone.

Out of their group, Beth and Jimmy were first. Olivia clapped and cheered for them, while laughing at Jimmy's antics. She could hear him baa-ing and it was so cute.

Next, Maggie and Glenn were up. He brandished his ax dramatically, as if he were protecting Snow White from the guardsmen that surrounded them. The crowd went wild for his performance.

Olivia moved out towards the dance floor when she heard her name being announced. A rude man catcalled, but she chose to ignore it. From the corner of her eye, she saw Daryl throw a glare to the man who was probably so drunk he never even noticed.

"Whoa!" The host stated to her. "You're gonna hafta be careful here, lil lady. The bar's full 'a big bad wolves who wanna eat ya'all up." He laughed hysterically at his own humor and happened to glance over at Daryl. The big redneck had his fists clenched and was scowling at him in a thinly veiled attempt at self-control.

The host wisely decided to quit while he was ahead and move on with the contest.

After the bar patrons voted and the votes were tallied, the winners were announced at the end of the night.

"Alright, everybody, we got the winners here of our 4th annual Halloween Costume Contest! In third place, we have…..Miss Olivia Walker."

Olivia walked up to the cheers and whistles from everyone to accept her prize, waving as she headed up. She smirked when she saw Daryl staring down any man who ogled her too much.

"Next up, second place goes to….Miss Arlene Foley and Mr. John Wilson!"

Olivia clapped for the couple who held hands and waved to the audience. She thought their costume was adorable. They were the zombie couple from that movie; the zombie boy who was in love with the human girl.

"And now, ladies 'n gentlemen….first place goes to…..Miss Beth Greene and Mr. Jimmy Oden! Congratulations to all the winners!"

Olivia and Maggie cheered and whooped loudly for them. Maggie was so proud of her little sister.

Beth stood in the center of the dance floor, along with Jimmy, holding onto the $200 check. Their bright smiles lit up the whole bar.

By the time they were ready to leave, Daryl had called it quits with four beers. Olivia took out the keys to the truck and brought them home, while he stared out the window during their drive back. She could tell from his eyes that he did have a little too much tonight, which is something he didn't do that often.

Godiva greeted them at the door and dashed right back into her cozy bed for the night. They had moved her dog bed to the mudroom, giving themselves some privacy in the Master bedroom.

Once Olivia shut and locked the door behind her, she tossed her basket and her wristlet onto the coffee table and removed her cape. Laying it down across the loveseat, she turned to ask Daryl if he wanted any water, but never having the chance to speak. What she saw caused her to freeze right where she stood.

Daryl was watching her, giving her a calculating stare, a predatory glint in his blue eyes, which were darkening with lust. He took a step closer to her.

Olivia automatically took one step back, studying him carefully. It was almost as if he wasn't quite there, being so focused.

She observed him, as his eyes slowly trailed from her face down the length of her body, tracing a path over her shapely legs. A low growl poured from his throat as his eyes raked over her body once more. Olivia noticed his breathing had picked up. Moving her eyes downward, her breath hitched when she saw the large bulge in the front of his pants.

Gulping nervously, Olivia licked her lips and took one more step back, noticing Daryl had moved one more step forward again, getting closer to her.

"Grandma, what big eyes you have," Olivia gasped out, when her breathing started to quicken.

"Better ta see ya wit'," he answered in a low, deep voice, as he took another step closer, his own eyes never wavered from staring into her wide, green ones.

Taking another step backwards, Olivia responded. "Grandma, what big ears you have."

"Better ta hear ya wit'." His intense blue eyes focused on hers, nearly immobilizing her. His feet strode forward once more.

Olivia felt the warmth building up in her lower belly, feeling moisture gathering in her most private area. Her breath came out in small pants as her heartbeat began to increase.

Swallowing once more, Olivia took one step behind her, noting that she was right up against the wall now and she had nowhere left to go.

"Grandma, what big teeth you have," she whispered.

"Better ta eat ya wit'," Daryl growled low and deep as he lunged forward, his prey in close quarters.

With a squeak, Olivia felt herself being hoisted up into the air and draped over Daryl's right shoulder, his collar bone right up against her lower belly and her head hanging next to his back. His warm, solid arms wrapped around her legs, the heat searing into her skin.

"Ya had yer fun, now it's ma turn," Daryl grunted out. Using his left hand, he lifted the multiple layers of her skirt to expose her panty-covered ass. With one swift movement, he turned his head and bit into her ass cheek, causing her to moan loudly as he carried her to the sofa.

Unceremoniously, he dropped her onto the surface, watching her bounce a couple of times before he covered her body with his. Daryl's lips mashed against hers, desperate for contact, while his hands wandered the length of her body, stroking the soft skin of her neck, shoulders, and thighs. The hardness of his member pressed into Olivia's center, causing another moan to leave her partially opened mouth.

Daryl's lips sucked and nibbled on her neck, then worked their way down to the junction between her neck and shoulder. His hand moved up to her chest, finding a breast and fondling it, causing Olivia to moan again. Not wanting the other breast to feel neglected, Daryl gave it a good squeeze.

"Ohh, Daryl," Olivia gasped out as she squirmed under him, unable to lie still.

Lifting his head, he eyed her; lips swollen, hair mussed, makeup smeared. Lowering his head once more, he kissed and nuzzled his way down her delectable body, using a hand to push up the layers of her skirt. With one forceful tug, he tore the black scraps of lace that her panty was made of, smirking when he heard her protest its destruction. After making sure Olivia was watching him, he brought the remnants of her panty up to his face and sniffed appreciatively, nostrils flaring, taking in the tantalizing scent of her arousal, her feminine scent, and then tossed the useless thing over his shoulder, not giving a shit where it landed. Daryl's only concern was the prize he uncovered; swollen, glistening, and waiting so patiently for his undivided attention.

Olivia's grievance was quickly forgotten when she felt Daryl's warm breath on her inner thighs, when she felt the scruffy goatee scrape her sensitive skin as he nibbled and hovered over her. Her back arched off the sofa when she felt warm breath over her moist, delicate folds that were quivering in anticipation.

"Unnnggh, Daryl," Olivia panted as she grabbed the pillow under head with one hand. Her other hand grasped his shaggy hair, holding on for dear life as she felt the tension building in her belly. She shut her eyes as she became lost in the amazing sensations that rippled through her body.

Daryl flicked and wiggled his tongue over her warm petals, enjoying the way Olivia squirmed under him, whimpering and gasping. Flattening his tongue, he took a long, slow lick, savoring the tangy sweetness of her, beginning at the bottom of her slit and ending at the top, near her clit. Like always, he wanted to save that sensitive nub for later, trying to prolong her pleasure. Using his tongue, he repeated his motions twice more, sampling her feminine nectar.

By the time Daryl wrapped his lips around the engorged bump, Olivia was sensitive enough to nearly spring off the sofa, taking him with her. He felt her hand fist his shaggy hair, trying to get a good grip, while he sucked and slurped, swirled and licked.

Olivia threw her head back, chin coming up, while her back arched and her hips rolled. "Oh, God, Daryl….I'm….unnggh…oh, oh, oh, oh, oh….oh, God," Olivia cried out as her strength of her release washed over her, leaving her a panting mess, while the aftershocks of her orgasm flooded her system, rendering her limbs useless.

Daryl unzipped his pants and drew out his painfully hard cock. With one fluid movement, he embedded himself into her moist folds, groaning at the same time Olivia did. Immediately, he began to thrust, pulling himself nearly all the way out before pushing in again. His large hands tightly gripped her hips, yanking her towards him.

His nose buried itself into her neck, taking in her sweet scent. Part of him remembered how the other men stared at her, making him almost march over to her and mark her right then and there as his. Growling, he nipped and sucked at her skin, anxious to leave his mark on her so that everyone would know she was his. Her soft moans incited him to continue, so he moved his lips to another spot to begin sucking again.

Olivia wrapped her legs around him and rubbed her hands over his chest and back, as her breathing picked up once more, feeling the pressure building in her lower belly again.

"Daryl," she moaned as the pressure began to feel unbearable.

He felt her velvety inner walls start to contract around his cock, clutching him relentlessly as he grunted and growled during his thrusts. Releasing his hands from her hips, he kept his balance on his left arm, slipping his right hand in-between them and massaged her clit with his thumb, causing her to cry out louder.

"Uhh, shit!" Daryl shouted when he felt Olivia's hands on his ass, squeezing the flesh there.

Olivia arched her back and rolled her hips as she approached the crest of her pleasure. With a soft cry, she shuddered as the wave broke, hearing nothing but the furious beating of her heart and the roar of a thousand waves shattering upon the rocks. She panted into Daryl's neck, clinging to him as she began to calm down, her heart still pounding in her chest.

Daryl's pace increased, his thrusts becoming more erratic as he was beginning to reach his own orgasm, his hands tightened around her hips, pulling her to him. "Fuck!" he shouted into Olivia's neck, gasping and panting, as he continued to thrust into her a few more times while he released himself deep inside her walls, and then his body began to relax, the aftershocks of his orgasm flooding him gently.

Early the next morning, Daryl was the first to awaken. His lips curled into a soft smile when he remembered the passion from the night before. At some point during the night, he must have grabbed a blanket from the downstairs bedroom to toss over them, keeping them warm.

When he got up off of Olivia, the blanket shifted, and he saw the reddish purple splotches that marred the creamy skin of her neck. Frowning, he gently rubbed at the marks, feeling remorseful. Then, with growing horror he noticed the black and blue marks around her hips, shaped and spaced apart like fingertips. T'fuck? Daryl stared at the damning bruises. He placed his hand on her hip, noting that his fingers fit perfectly against the marks. Shame instantly filled him, making his heart heavy. Moisture filled his eyes as he thought about what he did. I hurt her. She don't deserve this.

Blinking rapidly, Daryl thought back to the previous night. He realized that he got drunk, he only thought about getting lit and having a good time. Goddamn it….Imma dick when I get drunk.

He sat up, on the end of the sofa, thinking about how he was just like him. There was no way around it. Here, he thought he actually had a chance. To start over. To be who he wanted to be. But it was a fucking lie. Nothin' sadder than an outdoor cat who thinks he's an indoor cat, he thought.

And now when she saw him for what he really is, she would ask him to leave. He hung his head, wondering if he should leave first to save himself the humiliation of being told to get the fuck out.

Olivia stirred when she felt movement. Her eyelids fluttered open slowly. She smiled when her eyes found Daryl sitting up at the end of the sofa. Her happiness faded when she took note of his defeated posture.

"What's wrong?" she asked as she sat up, gently laying her hand on Daryl's bare shoulder. There was no response.

Olivia stood up and kneeled in front of Daryl in concern, using her fingers to lift up his chin so that she could see his face.

What she had seen took her breath away. He was broken. Her eyes searched him, seeing the remorse and the pain in his eyes.

"Daryl," she called gently. "Look at me, Honey. What's wrong?"

Releasing a deep sigh, Daryl cupped his hand on her hip and ran his thumb along the side.

She knitted her brows in confusion, and lowered her gaze.

Her hands brushed away his fingers so she could get a better look at what she thought appeared to be bruises.

Understanding finally dawned on her, while her heart clenched with emotion. He thinks he hurt me.

"Daryl, please look at me," she implored.

Slowly, Daryl raised his eyes to meet hers, bracing himself for whatever may come.

Lovingly, Olivia cupped both sides of his face, running her thumbs along his cheekbones. She stared into his cerulean blue eyes that were currently filled with shame.

"Daryl, you didn't hurt me at all." She brushed her lips against his and then gazed deeply at him once more. "You would never hurt me. If I didn't want what we did last night, I would have asked you to stop. And you would have. You're not anything like him."

"Imma dick when I get drunk. Shoulda stopped drinkin'."

Olivia smiled at him. "You don't drink that much, from what I've seen. I was driving anyway. You've worked hard. If you wanted a few extra drinks, you should have been able to indulge."

She continued. "You were fine….actually more than fine. I really liked what we did. You were….so…possessive…." Olivia explained with a shy smile, not really knowing how to describe it.

"Yeah? Ya liked it?" Daryl asked cautiously.

Olivia grinned, "Yeah. I really liked it. It was just so…hot… how you threw me over your shoulder and tore my panties." Warmth began to build in her lower belly as she remembered how he ripped the panties right off her and then he….sniffed them. That was such a dirty thing to do. And she loved it. Geez, I really am a perve, she thought.

Gazing intently into his eyes, she spoke in a low and sultry voice, "I like it when you go all caveman; claiming what's yours."

A slight blush colored Daryl's cheeks as the corner of his mouth tilted upwards. "Yer mine."

The next thing Olivia knew, she was on her hands and knees while Daryl was behind her. Oh, she flushed as she remembered this position. How I love page 34.

Author's Note:

The Halloween section and smut was one of my favorite scenes to write. I had a smile on my face every time I worked on it. I had most of it done well before the previous two chappies but couldn't publish it until now.

I love all sides of Daryl….shy, awkward, protective, etc. but geez….there's just something about possessive/animalistic Daryl….sigh, swoon.

I'm with Olivia. I absolutely hate the sound of popping balloons. And the sound that happens when you use those Pillsbury Poppin' Fresh dough tubes…you know, it's a paper tube with metal caps on the end. You peel the corner of the tube, unrolling it, and then it goes pop! when it bursts open. Ugh! Freaks me out. In the last 4 years, I've only bought and used that stuff once.

Thank you for the wonderful reviews and the new follows and favorites. It makes me happy that you take the time to write me and to read THIS story when there are so many fantastic ones out there. You have my appreciation and gratitude!

And if there are new people out there, please review and/or pm. I'd love to hear from you. Thanks!

Well….I do have news on the job front. Thank you for the kind thoughts and wishes on my job hunt. The lady who did my second interview offered me the job! Full-time. (Have to be there at 7:30 am. Groan….How the heck did I ever do that before?) I've been filling out paperwork with HR now (Geez, it's like I'm buying a car) and it might take a week for processing, so I should be a working woman on the 19th. But that kinda sucks because I won't have as much time to work on my story. Sob, sob.