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Chapter 24-

"You sure you're okay, Daryl?" Rick asked, his gun out as they walked in the run down, very small jewelry store they had found. Daryl hadn't told Rick why they were there, not yet, he was finding it very hard to find the right words. How was he supposed to tell Rick that he planned on marrying Ariel in the middle of the apocalypse? Christ, it's not like they were Glenn and Maggie, slept with each other practically the first time they met, admitted their love a day later. No, Daryl and Ariel took time with each other, everything they said was important, even when they fought. This marriage, even though it wasn't official, at least not by the government, it was important.

"M'fine."

"Do you plan on telling me why we're here?" he was looking everywhere except at the wedding rings. Daryl didn't think whether or not it would hurt him, seeing those things, especially when he still wore his.

"Maybe." he mumbled, fingering his crossbow. He frowned and clicked his tongue. "Think I did something stupid." he looked back at Rick, who was a few paces behind.

"Like what?"

"I proposed." he shrugged. "Kinda."

"Well good for you." Rick hit their elbows together, smiling kindly at him. Daryl let out a long breath, if Rick doesn't think it's stupid, then it can't be, right?

"Thanks." he mumbled.

Rick nodded. "So, we're here to pick out rings?" he looked down finally, Daryl watching him carefully, waiting to see if he would break. "Might not want something to big, in case the diamonds come off or something." he pointed to simple gold bands.

"Those are like yours." Daryl murmured.

"Yeah, it's convenient, considering," he waved his hand around. "You know, this world." he broke the glass with his gun and took them out, handing the two golden bands to Daryl. "But that's just one man's opinion."

"Only opinion I want." Daryl said quietly, but of course, Rick heard him.

"Look," he handed it to him. "Looks about her size, and if it's not we can find some tools to make it smaller or bigger or something..." he stared at him. "Try yours on."

Daryl slipped it on his finger, looking at it. It definitely looked weird on him, a golden wedding band. Or maybe it looked weird because Rick was giving it to him. Or maybe Daryl just found it hard to believe that he would ever get married. Well, the old Daryl wouldn't, it was easy for him to stay loyal to people, of course, but the idea of marriage never crossed his mind.

"Fits?" Rick said.

"Yeah." he nodded, taking it off and taking the other ring to slip it in his pocket. "Listen, before we leave, there's somethin' I gotta ask you."

"Go ahead."

"Neither one of us can decide who gets you." he said quickly.

Rick chuckled. "Am I being adopted?"

"No," Daryl grinned. "Look, I wanted you as my best man or whatever, but she wanted you as her best man...woman, whatever." he felt his cheeks lighting up. "So we were wonderin' if you could walk her down the aisle and then give the ceremony."

"I am no priest."

"I know, but...she loves you, and you're...you." Daryl sighed. "I had friends when I was a kid, but never had one like you."

Rick smiled and clapped Daryl's shoulder. "If that's what you two want, then I will gladly do it."

Daryl sighed in relief. "Okay, thanks."

"No, thank you," he said. "It's an honor."

Daryl smiled, dipping his head low. "Honest Rick, she'll love it."

"Well after everything you've both done for me, it's the only thing I can think to do to repay you."

"You've done more for me than I've done for you." Rick said seriously. "For my baby...you've done more for my own baby than I have." he shook his head, Daryl not sure what to say, but he didn't have a chance to say anything anyway. Some walkers had appeared at the door and so their conversation had been cut short.

"For the last time, you don't need a dress." Maggie said softly, combing her hair. "You'll look beautiful in whatever you wear."

"But it's a wedding."

"No, it's a marriage." she reminded her, squeezing her shoulders. "Daryl is the last person on earth to care about what you're going to wear."

"But shouldn't I care? Aren't these the things we are supposed to care about?"

"Maybe in the past." Maggie picked out Ariel's cleanest clothes for her and laid them out. "But it's different now, and none of the rest matters. Daryl's gone to get the rings and besides that I don't see how you need a dress to make it special."

"I don't know, I just mean, it's something every girl talked about. I had a vision, I just didn't think it would bother me so much not to have it."

"You have parts of it," Maggie said, taking her hands and raising her up. "You have your family there to watch you marry the love of your life."

Ariel smiled and hugged Maggie. "You're my sister, Maggie."

Maggie squeezed her. "You and Daryl are amazing together. A dress wouldn't change that." she pulled back and put her hands on Ariel's shoulders. "Change, yeah?"

Ariel nodded, Maggie facing the wall while she changed. Given the situation, Maggie had actually managed to pick out the closest thing resembling their version of a wedding dress. She had found a white long sleeved shirt, light pants and of course, Ariel would wear her boots. Granted, it was no dress, but it was mostly white, which was good enough for her, even though she wasn't a virgin; but that was something else altogether.

"Hey, Mag, are you okay?" she asked carefully, changing her top. "I mean, after, everything?"

Maggie paused for only a moment. "Yeah, I'm good. It's Glenn who needs to get over things, I'm not a little girl, you know?"

"He loves you."

"He's reckless." she said tiredly. "Trying to undermine Rick the way he did, it wasn't right."

"Don't worry Maggie, honestly," Ariel struggled to fit into Maggie's slim pants. "Glenn will realise that Rick is the guy we need and that it's you who needs his leadership, not the rest of us."

"That's a little insulting." Maggie chuckled.

"Sorry, I didn't mean it that way." she zipped the pants and sat on the bed to put on the boots. "I just mean that Glenn is all about revenge, Rick understands strategy."

"You're preaching to the choir." Maggie turned around and crossed her arms. "He'll get over it, he has no choice."

"Fight the power." Ariel pumped her fist.

Maggie laughed and sat by Ariel. "Today is not about me." she patted her knee. "It's about you. So, come on. Stand up tall, look your husband in the eye, say your vows in front of the people who will torment you endlessly about it, and kiss him hard."

"I plan to."

She didn't look any different to Daryl, but she did. She was walking down in the courtyard, their family standing in bunches around them, trying their best not to look like they were in the apocalypse. Everyone was showered and groomed, the men standing on one side and the women on the other. Daryl was standing on his own a pace ahead or two of the others, looking at Rick walk with Ariel, and in her hands were Cherokee roses. That was what he saw; not anyone else, just Ariel. Then to Rick, with grateful eyes, then back to her, would he ever look at anyone else?

He didn't look any different to Ariel, but he did. He was standing in front of everyone, with his angel vest, looking at her like she was the sun. He looked once at Rick before his eyes reverted back to her. Because those were the only two people he seemed to look at. But he was standing there, in his clothes, and suddenly she didn't care what she was wearing, because there was Daryl and honestly, nothing else mattered.

Rick was walking her down, and Daryl understood now that this was where he was meant to be. Not beside him, or beside her, but with both of them.

Rick was walking her down and Ariel knew in her heart that Rick giving her to Daryl spoke volumes about them. He was not her father, but he was her compass, and sometimes, she had the honor of being his too.

"I love you." Rick told Ariel.

"I love you too." Ariel told Rick.

"Thanks, Rick." Daryl told Rick.

"She was always yours." Rick told Daryl.

"Hi." Ariel told Daryl.

"Hi." Daryl told Ariel.

"I have had the honor of knowing these two people since this unfortunate turn of events in the world. While it was not the way I would have wanted to know them, if there is one thing I do not regret about this life it is the people I have come to known, and you two, well, you have made my life a little bit easier, as easy as it can get in a place like this." Rick sighed. "You two are a shining light for all of us here. You always find a way to come back to each other. You managed to find love and hope in a world where it is so hard to find. Your love, it gives the rest of us hope. And the only thing I have to say if that I love you both. You two are family, and now you are husband and wife."

"When I met you in the woods that day, with your stupid crossbow pointing at my face I never thought I could fall for someone so rude and mean and someone who barely spoke to begin with. But with time, you kept saving me, and I kept saving you, and I found myself falling in deeper. You make my world so bright, Daryl Dixon. I am so hopelessly, and desperately in love with you. Thank you for being my angel. I love you."

"...sorry Merle's laughin'...shut up. Sorry. Okay. Well, I ain't ever been so good with words, but the only thing I can say is that I love you. I loved you from the woods, our trips in the forest, finding out your secrets, and hell, I even loved you learnin' mine. I love you, Ariel, more than I love anythin' else."

"Secrets." she smiled. "Coffee, cats, and cigarettes."

He nodded. "Coffee, cats and cigarettes."