And now...the moment you've all been waiting for.
Rhiannon shivered and wrapped her arms around herself even tighter. She stared down at the empty road ahead of her as her foot tapped against the snow covered pavement impatiently. She longed to see the car Rick and Daryl had taken coming back down the highway. They had left to scavenge out a potential place to stay.
Rhiannon didn't care what they would find, anything would be better than sleeping in the cars like they'd done the night before.
"Hey, Tiny, you're gonna freeze out here." T-Dog called out to her from her car where everyone was crammed in for warmth.
Rhiannon sent him a glare at his nickname for her before turning her attention back to the road for one last look as she walked backwards to the car.
"They're fine, ain't even been gone an hour."
Rhiannon sighed. "I know, just seems stupid that only the two of them went."
"They can handle it." T-Dog told her. He suddenly smirked and nudged her with his shoulder gently. "Your knight in shining armour will return."
Rhiannon sent him another withering glare which only made him laugh. "What is it with you people?" She was getting annoyed that everyone teased the two of them.
"Aint' like there's tv's around, what else are we supposed to do?" He gave her a cheeky smile which managed to turn her glare into a small smile. "Get in here before you freeze."
Rhiannon complied and squished herself in the backseat next to Lori who had a sleeping Carl cradled against her. He'd been too nervous to fall asleep last night. It was the first time since their first night on the road that they hadn't had walls around them and roof above their heads, it had everyone on edge.
"You doing ok?" Rhiannon asked quietly, her eyes moving downwards toward the small bump that was barely visible.
"As good as I can be out here." Lori said vaguely as she ran her fingers through her son's hair.
"We'll get through this. Rick will find somewhere safe for us, somewhere you can have the baby."
Lori nodded solemnly and Rhiannon could practically feel her guilt.
"You guys ok?" She asked the mother. Everyone had seen them fighting and the tension between them was palpable. Even Carl knew what was going on between his parents.
Lori shook her head. "He can't stand me."
"Lori-"
"No, it's true. I'm not his biggest fan either right now." She said bitterly. "Things have been bad between us since the farm, since Shane."
Rhiannon stiffened and felt her throat go dry. Lori's eyes widened and her head snapped up towards the young woman. Her mouth opened and closed as she tried to think of some way out of the hole she'd just put herself in.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't...that was insensitive." Lori stuttered.
Rhiannon shook her head. "Don't worry about it." She whispered. Shane was practically family to the Grimes and she knew her problems hurt just much as the emotional trauma they were going through.
The two women were left in a tense silence. Lori didn't know what to say, she felt like everyone she talked to had a vendetta against her. It was clear that Rhiannon and Rick had a strong friendship and Lori hadn't been the nicest person toward her, considering how bitter the mother was that Carl wanted to do everything she was doing, he'd even asked Rick to find him a sword. That was enough for Lori to worry that she'd been a bitch to the poor girl.
"I'm sorry, I haven't been acting very mature lately." Lori said quietly, giving her a sheepish smile.
"I don't blame you, you got a lot on your mind." Rhiannon shrugged and turned her attention to the scene outside the window.
Lori just sighed and leaned back in her seat. She doubted she'd get a better answer from the young woman and now wasn't the best time to go into a deep and meaningful conversation so she decided to just let it be, no matter how much it irritated her knowing Rhiannon was just saying whatever she could to make her feel better and that she didn't really mean it.
"I wonder what they're gonna find." Carol spoke up, trying to clear the awkward air that had invaded the car. She hadn't meant to eavesdrop on them, she was just curious.
The two women both meant a lot of to her and she didn't want any more animosity in the group than there already was. The tension between Rick and Lori was about all she could handle.
"Anything's better than that house we stayed in last week. I feel like I still have spiders all over me." Maggie said with a groan.
Rhiannon huffed out a laugh. "You'd prefer walkers over spiders?"
Maggie sent her sister a playful glare and nudged the back of her seat with her knee.
"Girls." Hershel warned with an authoritative voice before Rhiannon could retaliate.
"They're back." Glenn said excitedly. Rhiannon perked up and immediately threw the door open as everyone began to climb out of the stuffy car.
Rhiannon felt herself relax as Daryl stepped out of the car after Rick. He moved to stand next to her and she instantly felt warmer in the cold air as his body pressed against hers.
"You good?" He asked quietly.
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?"
Daryl sent her a smirk. "Don't gotta worry 'bout me."
Rhiannon just rolled her eyes at him and the two of the turned their attention to the group.
"So, you found a place?"
Rick shared a look with Daryl and nodded. "A storage unit. It's got fences around it."
There was a collective sigh in relief that went around the whole group. Maybe they could actually stay there for more than a night. The past few places they've found they had to leave because of a herd that had strolled in. With fences, they actually stood a chance at being just a little bit safe.
"We didn't see any Walkers in the lot but we don't know 'bout inside. We're thinkin' we all drive down and a group of us will go in and clear the space if it's manageable. If not, we find somewhere else."
They all nodded in agreement, although Hershel was a little hesitant, he knew at least two of his daughters were going to be on the front lines.
"Daryl, T-Dog, Rhiannon, Glenn, Maggie, and I go in. The rest of you keep watch."
Rhiannon tried to stifle her smile as she looked up at Daryl with a raised eyebrow. He just looked down at her questioningly. "I'm surprised you let that happen." She said sarcastically.
"Knew I'd get my ass kicked if I didn't let you go."
Rhiannon snickered. At least he finally knew keeping her from doing what she set her mind to was a bad move for everyone involved.
"Fast learner." She mumbled making Daryl nudge her playfully with his shoulder.
Only minutes later they were off. Rhiannon sat behind Daryl on his motorcycle, her grip tighter than usual due to the snow. She had told him it was stupid of him to ride his bike in the winter but he wasn't giving it up.
The drive wasn't long, they'd gotten to the storage units in half an hour. Rhiannon looked at it in awe. The fences were a welcoming sight. It was a godsend, she never thought she'd be so happy to see them.
She grabbed her sword from the trunk of her car that Glenn had drove and placed the sheath over her shoulder.
"Be careful and watch your back." Hershel told her, placing his hand on her shoulder.
"I'll be fine." She reassured him and placed a quick kiss on her father's cheek. "I'll be back before you know it."
Hershel resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Just that morning, Daryl had been gone barely an hour and Rhiannon was worried sick, now she was telling him it was no big deal that she was walking into possible danger.
He sighed and pulled her into a tight hug. "Be safe." He whispered.
"Always am." She whispered, tightening her grip on him before pulling away so he could give the same speech to Maggie.
Rhiannon noticed Rick talking to Carl, no doubt explaining why he wasn't letting him come inside to clear out the space. She inwardly cringed, she was just glad that she didn't have to deal with disciplining the kid. He was just as stubborn as she was, she didn't think she'd be able to handle it.
"You ready?" Daryl asked her as he loaded his crossbow.
"You really have to ask?"
Daryl sent her a smirk that suddenly faded as his face turned serious. "You think this place'll be safe?"
Rhiannon shrugged. "Is anywhere safe?" She tried not to sound like a skeptic, but it was getting harder and harder to keep hope alive as the days passed.
"Whatevers happens, we'll handle it."
Rhiannon smiled softly and nodded. "I know we will."
Daryl's lips quirked up softly, the look he was sending her made butterflies erupt in her stomach. It always did everytime he looked at her that way, like he was so content and relaxed around her. It made her feel special that she'd been able to make him feel that way, considering how different he'd been that first day on the farm.
"Everyone ready?" Rick asked.
Rhiannon nodded and sent a wave back to Beth who stayed wrapped in their father's arms with a nervous look on her face. She hated that both her sisters were always picked to do these things. She hated having that dread of losing them over her practically every day. But she also knew her sisters were the strongest women she'd ever seen, she had nothing to worry about.
The group made their way across the fenced in lot and waited patiently as Rick broke the padlock on the side door. He poked his head in first and slowly crept into the dark building. The rest followed quietly, their weapons raised as they readied themselves for an attack.
"Alright, Glenn, Maggie and T, you take the left rows. Daryl, Rhiannon, you're with me." Rick told them, making sure to give Daryl a pointed look. He knew the hunter had been angry with him for separating the two of them that horrible day at the store and he wasn't about to make that mistake twice, not unless he wanted a beating from an angry and overprotective redneck.
Daryl nodded firmly, trying to ignore the overwhelming relief he felt at the leader's words. He also couldn't help but feel the slightest bit embarrassed that Rick knew just how much it meant to him to have Rhiannon by his side. The public knowledge was something he had to get used to.
Rhiannon sent a reassuring smile to her sister who was less than thrilled to be separated from her, especially after what had happened the last time they'd scouted a building, but after seeing the way Daryl had nudged her forward in between him and Rick, Maggie knew she wouldn't have to worry about her sister's safety with the hunter around.
The three of them made their way down the first row of storage lockers. Rhiannon sighed in annoyance, her shoulders deflating as she noticed the number of rooms they'd have to clear. It would be a lot of work but if this worked out, it would make all the difference.
She held her sword tightly and waited with bated breath as Rick leaned down and opened the latch to the first locker. She sighed in relief when the door rolled up and all they found was a pile of dusty, old furniture.
Rick looked back at them with a smile, feeling more hopeful than before. Rhiannon gave him a smile. "Don't get cocky yet, officer." She whispered.
They moved onto the next locker and rolled up the door. Rhiannon smiled widely when she noticed a big, plush couch in the middle of the room.
"Called it." She said, sending Rick a wicked grin as he glared at her. He was hoping he'd get to sleep on the comfy couch. It would certainly be an upgrade from the trunk he'd slept in the night before.
Daryl just rolled his eyes at the two of them, trying to hide his amusement. "Come on." He whispered and they moved to the next one.
"This is gonna take forever, there's probably hundreds of these things. We should split up." Rhiannon said causing the two men to tense up.
"No." Daryl said through gritted teeth, immediately shooting down her idea.
"We can't make the rest of them stay outside in the cold for hours." She argued.
"Daryl go with her, take the next row." Rick said, trying to mediate before things between the not-so-secret couple got out of hand. Daryl hadn't lashed out in awhile but he wasn't taking his chances.
Rhiannon frowned, suddenly feeling guilty that her suggestion meant leaving Rick without backup. She would've been fine going off on her own, but she knew they would never let that happen.
"Are you sure you wanna be alone?"
Rick gave her a soft smile, feeling touched at the concern she showed for him. It was something he hadn't been used to in the past few weeks. "I'll be fine."
Rhiannon nodded slowly, still unconvinced that leaving him alone was the best idea but she followed Daryl nonetheless. The pair was quiet as they moved across the darkened hallways, the only light coming from the small flashlight Daryl held.
A low growling was heard at the end of the hall causing them to stiffen. Daryl gave her a stern look, silently telling her to stay put as he walked forward slowly. A lone walker sat against the wall, it's body slowly decaying, it looked like it hadn't had any food since the outbreak started.
It's sunken eyes locked onto Daryl as he got closer and a low groan left its mouth as its arms slowly stretched out to him. An arrow pierced the skull, silencing the walker for good.
Daryl scoped the area in front of him, only letting his bow arm relax when he was satisfied that there were no other walkers.
The loud noise of the rolled doors opening startled him and he spun on his heel. Rhiannon had taken the liberty of continuing their sweep.
Daryl clenched his jaw and stomped over to her with heavy footsteps. "The hell you think your doin'? What if there were walkers in there?" He spat angrily.
Rhiannon just snorted in amusement, his anger not seeming to bother her. "I got a sword, I would've been fine." She shrugged casually and stepped passed him to get to the next storage unit.
Daryl was left to watch her, frozen in place with his mouth agape. He'd expected her to snap back at him, to yell at him for being an asshole and letting his short temper get the best of him.
He definitely wasn't expecting that. He didn't know whether to be offended or grateful that she had found his outburst so amusing.
Rhiannon opened the next door and stumbled back, almost tripping on her own feet as rotting arms reached out for her.
"Shit!" She yelled in surprise and quickly swung her weapon. The loud growling ceased as the body fell to her feet.
Rhiannon quickly scanned the small unit, making sure there had only been one walker hiding in there.
Daryl clenched his fists and placed it over his mouth as he breathed deeply. His heart continued to race wildly despite the sight of the dead walker that should have instantly calmed him. He was just glad she'd acted so quickly, she'd taken it out before he'd even gotten his crossbow aimed.
She's fine, she took care of it. She's not hurt.
"Don't do that." Daryl growled as he walked toward her purposefully.
Rhiannon smiled sheepishly, feeling bad that she had put him on edge. She knew she'd be ready to slap him if the roles had been reversed.
"Sorry." She muttered.
Daryl frowned and reached for her hand, giving it a quick squeeze of reassurance. "Come on." He said and the two of them kept walking down the dark hallway, their hands intertwined.
Daryl looked down at their hands and smiled softly. It felt like those days on the farm when she was asking him all those questions. She told him she wanted to get to know him and that small action had been the turning point for him.
It was the moment he realized she was something special and what was between them was real. She made his head spin from day one and the feeling he got in his chest as the walked together made him doubt it would ever go away.
Rhiannon heaved a bag over her shoulder as she helped carry in all their supplies, no matter how limited it may be.
"I can't wait to actually sleep on something soft tonight." Beth sighed happily. "Which one is ours?"
"She's with me tonight." Daryl said from behind the two of them before she could reply. Rhiannon turned and raised an eyebrow at him in surprise. This was like the front seat thing again, though he didn't sound as confident as he did that day. Daryl looked at her shyly, like he'd been running the idea in his head and working up the courage all day.
"That ok with you?" Rhiannon asked Beth, feeling like a child asking permission from her mother.
Beth stifled her wide smile and nodded. "Yeah, it's no problem." She said and winced at her high pitched voice that didn't sound casual like she had tried to be.
"She can stay with me and Lori." Carol spoke up, putting a hand on Beth's shoulder.
Rhiannon nodded and blushed at the looks the two of them were giving her. She turned her attention to Daryl and smiled softly at the way he ducked his head to avoid the other girls' gazes.
Rhiannon felt herself beginning to laugh and grabbed his head, dragging him down the hallway.
"Have fun!" Carol called out causing Daryl's shoulders to tense in embarrassment and Rhiannon to turn her head and give her a pleading look.
"It's about time. I was wondering how long it would take them to finally get together."
"So you approve of him for your big sister?" Carol asked with a smirk.
Beth nodded, a soft smile on her face. "As long as I don't have to have her feet digging into my back at night, I'm happy." She laughed.
Rhiannon squeezed Daryl's hand in hers. "Sorry about them. I'm hoping our novelty wears off soon."
Daryl's lips quirked upwards and he shrugged, still reeling from the intense tightening in his chest at what Carol had insinuated.
"Where are we going?" She asked, noticing he was leading her to one of the hallways were no one had taken a room. "I was looking forward to that couch." She pouted.
Daryl smirked, "Found somethin' better," and he began to guide her down the hall. He stopped at one of the rooms they'd cleared and opened the door.
Rhiannon's eyes widened at the sight in front of her, a large smile taking over her features. The couch they'd seen, while she thought it wasn't as good as the previous one she'd found, had been a pullout couch which Daryl had put blankets on to make a bed.
"Oh my god." She muttered in surprise and without hesitation she jumped onto the bed. The mattress was lumpy and not that soft, but it was better than anything they'd had in the past few weeks. "This is amazing." She mumbled, closing her eyes as she laid spread out like a starfish, not unusual to how she slept which she hoped Daryl wouldn't mind.
Daryl smiled shyly, happy that he was able to do this for her. She'd been down since being on the road, and even since the farm with all the Shane drama going on and he wanted to do something for her to make her smile.
He knew she wasn't enjoying their time on the road, especially after the night they'd spent in the cars. Daryl had seen her running at her back that had been sore from sleeping in the passenger seat of her car.
To him, she deserved everything good in the world, and nowadays he couldn't tell what that meant, so a pullout couch was the best he could come up with. And the relaxed smile she had on her face was worth everything.
Daryl sat on the edge of the bed, causing Rhiannon to open her eyes and sit up. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and planted a firm kiss on his cheek.
"Thank you."
Daryl nodded softly and brought his arm around her waist.
"Rick is gonna be pissed." She laughed. He'd pouted when she called that couch, she didn't know how he would react if he found out she had a bed and he didn't.
Daryl scoffed. "I found it."
Rhiannon smiled. She knew he was being sarcastic, Daryl was never one to bask in the riches. He always let everyone have the first pick at food, even if he was the one that had hunted it.
It was one of the things she admired about him. He was so selfless and just so good, and he had absolutely no idea.
She wanted to show him but she didn't know how. How do you make someone realize they're a good person when all their life they'd been knocked down and told they were nothing?
Rhiannon knew it wouldn't be easy, Daryl still had a long way to go, but he had already come so far. He'd opened up to her, had been there for her time and time again. He was even coming around to the rest of the group.
She was proud of him but she didn't know how to make him see it. He was still so shy and hesitant, even around her about certain things.
Rhiannon leaned forward and pressed her lips to his lightly. She was always a little hesitant to be the one to initiate any sort of affection. She'd scared him off before and she didn't want to do it again.
But ever since their moment at the doctor's office all those weeks ago, Daryl had been more accepting of her touch and since then he'd surprised both of them and had been the one to kiss her first. And even though she'd caught him off guard now, he was more than eager to respond.
He felt as though he'd been starved of her. They hardly ever had time to themselves anymore, except on watches, but it wasn't like they could do a lot then. Daryl wasn't someone who could ignore the group's safety for his own pleasure.
Their kiss became heated and rushed as weeks of longing poured out of them. Rhiannon held onto him tighter and pulled him in closer, throwing her leg over his so it rested across his thighs.
She would have loved to keep going forever but all too soon, Daryl regretfully pulled away with a heavy sigh.
"I told Rick I'd go hunting."
Rhiannon nodded. Getting food was more important than what they were doing. She was worried that if they kept going she'd start to change her mind.
"Wanna come with me?"
Rhiannon groaned and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Rick asked me to take first watch."
Daryl nodded and bit his lip, trying to ignore the disappointment he felt and trying not to get annoyed at Rick who kept unintentionally keeping them apart. It wasn't a big deal, they could handle a few hours away from each other. But the way she was splayed over him made him question his will to leave her.
"I'll see you soon." She said, sensing his hesitation to go. She knew if she didn't just bite the bullet and be the first one to go they'd never get anything done. She pressed her lips to his softly, reveling in the soft kiss that she wished could keep going.
Daryl hummed in contentment and placed his hand on the back of her head, keeping her lips on his. He deepened the kiss, turning it into something a lot more passionate that Rhiannon had intended. He parted with a heavy breath and felt his cheeks heat up at the dazed look in her brown eyes.
"See you soon." He said and he finally allowed himself to pull away from her embrace and get off the bed. He grabbed his bow and swung it over his shoulder. He turned and couldn't help but smirk at the way Rhiannon watched him with a giddy smile.
He ducked his head shyly and made his exit. He still couldn't believe that he was the one making her smile like that and making her feel just as overwhelmed with desire as she made him feel.
Rhiannon bit at her thumb nail, trying to hide her wide smile. She felt like a teenager with her first boyfriend. Daryl wasn't her first but he was the most important. Right from the start she had known how different he was from anyone she'd ever met and that made him so special to her.
She shook her head and tried to keep her smile in check as she walked past the rest of the group to get to the roof to take watch. She was just hoping she could clear her mind of him long enough to actually pay attention to keeping watch.
The night had everyone is good spirits. Daryl had found a few squirrels despite the cold weather and while it wasn't a lot, fresh meat was enough to have everyone in a better mood.
Rhiannon sat next to Daryl with Beth on her other side. Everyone was in their own conversations and it was even starting to feel like a regular night with friends. T-Dog was asking her about New York and if it really was as interesting as people made it out to be.
Rhiannon was hesitant to talk about it, it felt like New York wasn't apart of her life anymore. She loathed the person she was while she lived there, the person that ignored her family. And she knew it was one of the reasons that intimidated Daryl, it made him feel like she was slumming it with him, a redneck who had never left the state.
"I wish I could've gone." Beth said. She'd been too young to remember when the whole family had gone to see Rhiannon perform and she never got another chance to see the big city.
"I'm sure you would've had a better time than Maggie."
"What does that mean?" Glenn asked, his eyes moving back and forth between Rhiannon who had a sly smirk on her face and Maggie who looked nervous.
"She came to visit me for her 21st birthday-"
"Don't you dare." Maggie warned, glaring at her sister. Her father was sitting just feet away and this wasn't something he'd want to know.
"Oh, come on." Glenn pleaded. By now the whole group was interested.
"I took her to some fancy club where a lot of celebrities hang out and she met this actor from some show she used to like, who was it again?"
Maggie huffed and placed her hand over her face. "Chace Crawford." She mumbled.
"Right." Rhiannon smiled wickedly. "So, they were talking for awhile, really hitting it off. He was ready to take her home but she had a little too much to drink and threw up on his shoes."
Glenn tried to hide his laughter to avoid getting an angry glare from his girlfriend, but the rest of the group had no trouble bursting out laughing at Maggie's misfortune.
"Thank you for telling that story in front of Dad." Maggie said, giving Rhiannon her best bitch face, though she doubted it had any weight, Rhiannon had taught her that glare.
Hershel shook his head. "Not much you girls do surprises me anymore. I know more than you think."
Rhiannon paused and turned to her father with trepidation. She did a lot of bad things in her high school days.
"Like what?" She asked quietly. She heard a snicker from beside her causing her to look over her shoulder and send a playful glare to Daryl who looked back at her with a barely restrained smile.
He so badly wanted to hear what she got up to. He found it hilarious that such a small and sweet girl could cause so much trouble.
"I know that the one time I sent you money for groceries you spent it on tickets to see Metallica." Hershel told her confidently and smiled widely at the way her eyes widened in horror.
"Maggie!" Rhiannon yelled. She knew that was the only way her father had found out about that.
"I didn't know it was a big secret." Maggie defended herself. "Definitely not as big a secret as that time you were in Paris and told your instructors you were sick but really you had just gone to Amsterdam for a week."
"That is not true." Rhiannon said pointedly. Her eyes followed her dad as he laughed and shook his head, getting up to take his empty plate away. She waited until he was far enough away so he wouldn't hear her. "It was actually three weeks." She whispered, smiling triumphantly.
As the rest of the group laughed, Daryl found his smile slowly disappearing. It was bad enough thinking about her glamorous life in New York, but Paris and Amsterdam, those were places he never even dreamed of going, it was just too far fetched for someone like him to even consider it.
"You've been to Paris?" Lori asked with interest.
"Yeah, I spent a year at the Paris Opera Ballet." Rhiannon said with a shy smile and blush on her cheeks that deepened at the shock and appraisal on everyone's faces.
"What'd you get up to in Amsterdam?" T-Dog asked smugly, knowing that it definitely wasn't something she was going to talk about now that Hershel was sitting back in the circle.
"This conversation is over." Rhiannon stated, shaking her head at T as he laughed loudly.
They all stayed in their circle talking about nothing important. It felt nice to actually have a conversation that didn't revolve around watch schedules or what to pick up on a run. Rhiannon felt lighter, like she didn't have any worries, it was a freeing feeling and it amazed her that something so simple could make her feel like this.
It also helped that she had a certain someone beside her. Rhiannon turned her head and immediately frowned at the look on Daryl's face. He wasn't smiling like he had been before, he didn't have that look on his face that told her how relaxed he was.
He sat there brooding with a blank look on his face, like he had a million thoughts running through his head.
Rhiannon racked her brain, trying to figure out what could've been said to make his mood change so drastically.
Soon enough, everyone was heading off to their rooms to sleep. They was eager to finally get some real sleep with some much needed privacy. Rhiannon had been so eager to finally get some privacy with Daryl, especially after how playful and relaxed he'd been just hours before, but now, she was more than a little hesitant to find out what had soured his mood.
Rhiannon hugged her father and sisters goodnight and ignored the teasing look Maggie was giving her.
She closed to door to their storage locker and leaned against it, her questioning eyes locked on Daryl as he sat on the edge of the bed untying his boots.
"You ok?" She finally asked.
Daryl just shrugged and kept his gaze away from her. Rhiannon sighed and, kicking off her shoes, she walked to him and sat next to him on the bed.
"Was it something I said, or someone else said?" She couldn't imagine he was mad at T-Dog. The two of them had become good friends but Rhiannon doubted that was enough to make Daryl mad. He'd realized how ridiculous it was after he'd been jealous that one time the man had given her a piggyback ride.
Daryl tensed as her hands ran up his arm soothingly. He let out a ragged breath, feeling goosebumps rise at her touch.
"Did you really live in Paris?" He said gruffly. He felt stupid for even bringing it up but he knew she wouldn't let it go.
Rhiannon furrowed her brows. "Is that really what this is about?"
"Just don't get it."
Rhiannon stiffened and pulled away from him slightly. "Don't get what?" She asked with hesitation. She didn't think she wanted to know the answer.
"This." Daryl said simply, finally raising his head to look her in the eye. The conflict and worry she saw in his blue eyes made her chest tighten.
It hurt her knowing he'd never had the kind of affection she gave him, that he didn't know how to process it.
"Do you regret this? Do you not wanna be with me?"
"No! That's not what I- fuck." He sighed, putting his head in his hands.
"Then what don't you get?"
"I don't get why you want me!" Daryl blurted out loudly.
Rhiannon felt like her heart had just cracked. She'd never heard him so vulnerable before, not even when he had told her about his scars.
"Daryl, I don't know how many times I have to tell you this and I don't care how many times I have to to make you realize that I'm crazy about you." Rhiannon began and immediately she could see the doubt that flashed across his face.
"I know we've had different lives. But everything I've done, everywhere I've been, it led me straight to you and that is all I give a shit about."
The sincerity of her voice sent a jolt through his body, like he'd been shocked. His eyes met hers and he was surprised to see hers glistening.
"You think you don't deserve me because I traveled, because I had this life that you think is out of your league? None of that matters anymore. I couldn't care less what you did before all this. I don't give a shit if you've lived in one hick town your whole life, all I care about is the fact that you're here with me right now."
Daryl watched her with fascination as she spoke and a warmth spread through his whole body, like she was cracking that final layer that had kept him so cold.
"Just don't want you to settle." He said quietly.
Rhiannon sighed and got to her feet so she was standing in front of him. She grabbed his cheeks to make him look up at her.
"Daryl Dixon, there is no one else I'd rather be with."
The blush that spread on his cheeks sent a wave of pride through her, hoping she had finally made him understand.
"And you shouldn't feel disheartened that I lived in Paris, it isn't that great."
Daryl raised his eyebrow and sent her an 'are you shitting me?' look that she was all too familiar with from him.
"Honestly, the city smells like piss and the people are assholes."
Daryl snorted and leaned his head on her stomach. Her ability to make him laugh left him feeling a thousand times lighter.
Rhiannon threaded her fingers through his growing hair which made him look back up at her.
"I know you don't see yourself the way I do, but I hope you know…" she paused, taking in a deep breath. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me." She said quietly.
Daryl was stunned into silence and he was sure if they were in any other situation, Rhiannon would've laughed at the bewildered look on his face.
He put her hands on her hips and pulled her closer to him. "Me too." He said softly. "I mean, not me, I-"
"I know." Rhiannon laughed, cutting him off before he could start rambling nervously. She leaned her forehead against his and kissed him lightly.
Daryl held her tighter and tugged at her hips, bringing her down onto his lap. Rhiannon gasped in surprise but smiled at his boldness and wrapped her arms around his neck. She had hoped this meant he had finally gotten it through his thick head that he deserved her, that he was all she wanted.
Daryl tried to keep his mind quiet but her words still ran through his head. For once, he wasn't questioning her feelings for him, he wasn't wondering if she could do better. The way her tongue tangled with his and her fingers scratched at his scalp made him sure that they were both right where they were supposed to be.
Rhiannon hands trailed down his chest and she pulled at the buttons of his shirt. She could feel his body tense underneath her and she pulled away, her eyes locking onto his. Daryl stared back at her, his heart pounding in his chest. He swallowed thickly and unbuttoned his shirt, keeping his gaze on her.
Rhiannon smiled down at him. She loved that he felt comfortable enough to do this with her, to be exposed in front of her. She groaned as he leaned up and caught her lips again, kissing her hungrily.
Daryl's grip on her tightened and he turned them over so she was laying on her back, making her gasp in surprise. He shrugged off his shirt and threw it across the room, crawling over her. Rhiannon hooked her leg around his hip and his hands trailed up her thigh and to the hem of her shirt.
His hands were trembling and his confidence started to dwindle as he touched the bare skin at her hip, suddenly worried that he wouldn't be good enough for her.
"It's ok." She whispered, bringing his head towards her so she could press her lips to his softly. "I want you to touch me." She took the initiative and pulled her shirt off.
Daryl's eyes widened and he smirked as he noticed more tattoos. His fingers traced the artwork of the bird on the side of her ribs and the music notes that trailed just under her bra. Rhiannon shivered at his feather light touch which made him smile, snapping him out of his daze.
He leaned down, kissing her roughly. His hands trailed over every inch of soft skin he could find. This was what he had been wanting for weeks, what he'd thought of at night when she was only inches from him but he was unable to do anything. It was even better than he expected.
Daryl broke the kiss when she arched forward. He felt his breathing stutter when he noticed her hands moving behind her and he realized what she was doing.
Rhiannon swallowed thickly, feeling just as nervous as he was as she exposed her bare chest. Daryl groaned and leaned his forehead on her shoulder.
"You gotta be kiddin' me." He muttered. A nipple piercing, of course she had a nipple piercing. Rhiannon laughed lightly, her nerves dissipating at his response.
Daryl pushed his insecurities to the back of his mind as he placed a kiss to the little sun tattoo between her breasts.
Rhiannon let out a small moan which made his head spin. He looked up and the desire in her eyes drove him crazy, she was just as needy as he was.
Their movements were rapid and jerky as they tore and tugged at their remaining clothes, their lips staying locked in a fierce and fiery kiss.
Rhiannon was about to take off the final layer of clothing that kept her from being completely exposed to him. She sighed, her fingers playing with the hem. "Don't laugh." She muttered.
Daryl narrowed his eyes in confusion. Why the fuck would she think I'd laugh at her?, he thought to himself. She pulled her panties down and Daryl had to bite his lip to keep from smiling.
Rhiannon sent him a playful glare. The small dragon tattoo she had on her hip was one of the drunken mistakes she regretted the most.
"I was in vegas." She muttered, which was as much of an explanation as she was willing to give.
Daryl laughed lightly, the sound causing butterflies to erupt in her stomach. The sound was so rare and so beautiful. The smile on her face faltered and she bit her lip as her skin tingled where his thumb trailed over it.
"I like it." He mumbled and before she could say anything, he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to the ink on her hip, dangerously close to where she really wanted him.
Her body tensed in surprise and goosebumps rose on her skin. Daryl moved his body so he hovered over her and crashed his lips to hers again. Rhiannon curled her leg around his waist and arched her hips upwards, grinding against him, causing Daryl to moan against her lips as he practically fell forward on top of her at the feeling.
The sound he made drove her crazy and she began to pant with need. She pushed him off her to lay on his back, smirking at the wide eyed and bewildered look on his face as she straddled him.
He swallowed thickly, his chest rising and falling rapidly at the intoxicating sight in front of him. She tugged at his boxers and he kicked them off, trying not to feel embarrassed as her eyes roamed over him.
"Wait," He panted, before she could move over him. "I don't have any…"
"It's ok, I have the bar."
Daryl's brows furrowed. "The bar?"
Rhiannon sighed in frustration. "You really want me to explain this now?"
Daryl shook his head forcefully, a smirk on his face. She always found a way to calm him down when he was close to losing his grip.
Rhiannon felt like her heart was about to beat out of her chest. Her hand trailed down and she gripped his length. Daryl's whole body tensed and his eyes squeezed shut. He panted harshly and he hoped he would last long enough to please her.
Rhiannon felt herself smile at his reaction to her touch and she slowly lowered herself onto him. Her lips parted with a heavy gasp and she closed her eyes at he feeling of him finally inside of her.
Daryl let out a loud sigh as she moved. "Wait, just...hold on." He spoke through gritted teeth, his hands holding onto her hips tightly, stilling her movements. Rhiannon nodded and leaned down to kiss him softly as he tried to calm himself down.
His hands moved from her hips and up the soft skin of her back. He finally caught his breath and bucked his hips up to meet hers.
Rhiannon moaned, her fingers digging into his shoulders. "Daryl." She breathed out in surprise.
She began to move on him slowly, their breaths hitching at every movement. She bit her lip, not wanting to make too much noise as he moved beneath her. His hips moved upwards causing him to hit a spot inside her that made her feel dizzy.
She let out a shuddering breath and moaned. "Oh, fuck, Daryl."
The look of pleasure on her face and the sound of his name leaving her lips sent a shiver down his spine and he grabbed at her waist to move her faster on top of him. He needed more. He was as close to her as possible but it still wasn't enough.
Breathless moans left his lips that he wasn't even aware of. The way she moved and tightened herself around him made his brain melt with unbearable pleasure. Rhiannon was sure she'd have bruises on her hips from his grip and love bites on her neck and collarbone as he sucked and bit at the skin there.
"Jesus...fuck!" Daryl moaned loudly, crushing her to his chest as she began to grind and roll her hips faster.
Rhiannon breathed heavily, soft moans leaving her lips as she moved. She felt his hands tangle and tug at her hair, making her hips move faster. She always figured he liked it when she pulled at his hair, turns out he like it better pulling at hers.
"Oh, Daryl." She moaned breathily, her nails digging into the skin of his shoulders and dragging down his back making him groan and clutch onto her tighter.
"Fuck." He whispered against her skin, placing sloppy kisses to her neck that was red and bitten from his eager mouth.
Rhiannon felt her toes curl and her body begin to tense as she felt a tightening that started in her core. She didn't want it to be over but she knew Daryl wasn't going to last much longer either. The way he panted loudly against her skin and gripped her tightly were clear signs.
She moved her hips faster and faster until she could barely catch her breath. She heard his breathing hitch and his hips snapped upwards erratically.
Daryl's mind was spinning, he couldn't believe what she was doing to him, how incredible she was making him feel. He wanted to go forever but all too soon, he felt himself twitch inside of her and his body went rigid.
"Oh fuck, Rhiannon." Daryl groaned loudly, dragging out each syllable of her name as he felt himself beginning to let go. He tugged roughly at her long locks, not even realizing or else he would've been worried that it had hurt her.
A breathless gasping moan left him and Rhiannon tightened even more around him as he reached ecstasy. He squeezed his eyes shut, his head falling back against the couch. His whole body shuddered and shook, he couldn't believe what he was feeling.
He forced his eyes open, he wanted to watch her.
Rhiannon threw her head back and squeezed her eyes shut, her mouth falling open in a silent scream that she so badly wanted to let out.
Her body shuddered against his as she reached her high and she buried her face in his shoulder, biting at his skin to keep her moans quiet. Her body fell slack against his and she was sure she would've lost her balance if Daryl wasn't holding her like he was. There was no space left in between their sweat slicked skin.
"Holy fuck." She said, still panting from exertion. She blinked the white spots out of her eyes, and waited for her heartbeat to calm down.
Their bodies trembled as the last shocks of pleasure dissipated.
Rhiannon lifted her head and met his blue eyes that were wide with something she'd never seen before. He looked just as wrecked as she felt. He stared at her lovingly and with surprise, like he couldn't believe what had just happened, like it had all been a dream.
Daryl finally untangled his fingers from her messy hair and pushed a stray stand that had fallen in her face. His thumb caressed her cheek as he looked at her in fascination.
Rhiannon smiled and leaned her forehead against his, pressing a feather light kiss to his lips before moving off him. Both of them let out small sighs as she did, and she laid next to him, pulling the blankets over their still shivering bodies, even though it hadn't been from the cold.
"Now do you believe me?" She whispered, that mischievous smile that he loved so much plastered on her face.
Daryl felt himself smiling widely, every insecurity and self deprecating thought gone from him mind like they'd never even been there. He moved his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into him to rest her head on his chest.
"Yeah." He whispered and planted a kiss to the top of her head as they both felt their bodies finally recover.
They stayed silent and eventually drifted off to sleep, Rhiannon's head perched onto his chest, his arm around her protectively and their legs tangled, just how it should be.
I'm going to faint
ENJOY! xx