Summary: When circumstances change, so do people. The group has grown closer, but when strangers threaten and bonds are broken. Will this group make or break?
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except for my three characters :)
When they first entered Woodbury, it had been awkward. Those remaining in the small town had to get over the animosity brain washed into them, and take in the prison group that had saved them all. There was an immediate difference between the Woodbury community and the prison community. The prison group was covered in thick layers of dirt and blood, their expressions feral and their weapons close by.
The Woodbury group stared on in surprise, their clean washed faces regarding the group with shocked looks. Although the Woodbury community lacked weaponry skills or any basic survivor skills, what surprised the prison group the most is that they had showers.
Andrea's reunion with Michonne had been bitter sweet. The pair obviously upset over Rivers passing, they had talked out their differences and resolved the guilt between the pair. Stone had even warmed up to Andrea, hugging her briefly when Andrea apologised for her lost.
Because of the loss of lives, there was more accommodation in Woodbury. Rick, Carl and Judith took the Governor's old apartment. Carol, Beth and Hershel decided to share an apartment right next to Rick's new house. Michonne moved in with Andrea. Maggie and Glen grabbed an apartment across the street.
Daryl had taken any room with Stone, both deciding they needed to sleep and adjust to this new place.
They had been at Woodbury for a week now. Woodbury had finally brought back all the fallen men and women, even bringing Merle back for Daryl, except Martinez, Shumpert and the Governor. They had cremated them all and spread their ashes out at a farm they had found. Stone had requested they bring back Oliver and bury him as well. The prison group had slowly gotten use to the small town, slowly transitioning back into the feeling of normality. It was good for them, to finally start feeling human again.
Stone had taken to the streets, her paranoia forcing her to scope out the area. The streets of Woodbury had eventually led her to a little cabin on the outskirts of town, one that was all too familiar to her.
On the outside, it was a brown cabin with a quaint little hedge and letterbox at the front of it. There were bars on the window, but flowers sprouting out of a small box hanging outside the windows. There was a welcome mat outside the door.
Stone brushed her feet on the mat and opened the door. When she stepped inside, she was surprised to find nothing odd about the place. It looked as if nothing had happened in the cabin, she let go of a breath she didn't know she was holding. She stepped in further and closed the door, taking a deep breath.
She took her time exploring the house, even seeing her own captive room. She was surprised to find that her blood on the floor had been cleaned, the bed was neatly made. She tilted her head to the side and neared the bed, realising that there were arm and leg restraints hanging off the bed frame. She scoffed at her gullibility, believing that Oliver was trying to take her in.
She slammed the door shut, rechecked that the weaponry room was stocked and walked back to the front door.
She stopped when she passed the living room, finding that Oliver's drawings were still plastered over the wall. She strolled into the room, her eyes finally noticing the fireplace at the far end of the wall. There were tiles surrounding the fireplace, and one was severely cracked. Stone put two and two together, realising that Oliver's wife must of hit her head on the edge.
She faltered in her step, goosebumps rushing through her body at the thought of sinister acts in this house. She turned back to the front door, only to spot a small picture frame on top of the rushed over to it, snatching it up and slipping the picture out of it. She stared down at the picture, a crack of a smile stretching her lips.
In the picture, was Rivers, her little brother Julian, her mother and Stone herself.
She folded up the picture, hugging it tightly to her chest and closing her eyes. She pressed it into her back pocket and backed towards the door, she quickly left the cabin and shuddered involuntarily. She picked a flower and crept around the cabin, wondering if there was anything left.
She eventually found Oliver's grave in the cabin's backyard. He had a small wooden cross, accompanied by another cross beside his. Stone loomed over it, frowning deeply while she flicked the flower down onto his grave. She willed down any anger boiling in her stomach, she took a deep breath and composed herself.
"I forgive you" She said through gritted teeth. "Only because anger can cripple you"
She looked over at Sharon's grave and shook her head, apologising for her brother's mistakes in her head. She outstretched her hand, patting Oliver's grave gently and feeling an overwhelming weight lift from her chest and shoulders.
She felt the anger lift up through her and fly away, taking away the darkness that had surrounded her all week.
She inhaled and straightened herself up, before turning her back on her brother for the last time and briskly walking back to the streets. She kept her eyes transfixed on the roads, unaware of the presence racing behind her.
"Lola!"
Stone turned immediately, spotting Daryl running up to her. He grabbed her hand and smiled at her, she cocked her head to the side curiously, finding herself mirroring Daryl's smile. Her first smile that week.
"Ah 'ave a surprise fer ye" He said, a brief excitement to his tone.
He didn't wait for her response, instead he pulled her down the road he had just come from. He led her to the east of Woodbury, not far from the prison group's houses. He turned back to her, taking the red bandana from his back pocket and covering her eyes with it.
"Daryl, what are you doing?" She asked, sniggering slightly.
"Jus' wait" He said and Stone knew he was smiling.
He led her more slowly down the road, before her feet hit the curb of the street and he helped her up onto the pavement. He removed the bandana slowly, letting her eyes adjust to the gleaming afternoon sun and letting a pale blue cottage come into sight.
Her eyes widened with surprise when she saw it. The cottage had vines tangled around it, an apple tree at the front of it and a trimmed hedge. There was even a gnome with a welcome sign at the front door. The pavement up the front was framed with rose bushes of different colours, the front porch had a white railing around it and two chairs stationed outside.
There was a small wooden canopy outside with vines curling around the pillars. Daryl's motorbike was parked beneath it.
Stone looked at Daryl, and he gave her a shy smile. He took her hand in his and led her down the pavement, even picking a rose and handing her it. She felt her stomach flutter, and she bowed her head bashfully.
He stopped her once they reached the front door, turning her to face him.
"So wha' ye thank?" He asked, his eyes not quite meeting hers.
"It's beautiful Daryl. Never seen a cuter house like this before" She remarked softly, her hand traced a pattern over the door and she smiled at him.
"Ah found it when we first got 'ere, thought I'd do it up fer us" Daryl said, "Well thats if ye wan' ta live wit me" He said shyly, he glanced up at her before his eyes fell back to the ground. He cleared his throat awkwardly and she stared at him.
When she was silent, he sighed heavily and rubbed the back of his neck.
"Ah knew ye wouldn't wan' ta-" He started, not realising that Stone's stomach was filled with butterflies and she was grinning madly.
"Daryl stop!" She said quickly, she grabbed his arm and he felt it tingle. "Of course I want to live with you" She said, knowing this was Daryl's way of making it official between the pair. She felt her stomach flutter again and she smiled even wider.
He looked up at her and smiled shyly when he saw her grin. He turned to the door and opened it, and Stone went to step through it but he stopped her abruptly. She frowned at him as he closed the space between him, she felt one of his hands on her back and the other sliding down her leg.
She almost yelped in surprise when Daryl lifted her up and carried her through the door bridal style. She collapsed into a fit of laughter, and he started to snigger as he dropped her.
"You're so corny" She snickered.
Daryl rolled his eyes and closed the front door behind them. He started to show her around and Stone immediately knew Daryl lived here, he had taken the liberty of adding Dixon items to the house. His collection of walker ears were hanging off the wall, there was a few squirrel skulls on the kitchen counter and a bunch of animal skin in the corner, being prepared to make a blanket.
He showed her their bedroom, grinning smugly when he told her he had stolen someones double bed and replaced it with the small single bed that was in the cottage. She spotted his poncho thrown carelessly onto the bed. She checked the drawers and found extra clothing left over.
"Beth 'n Maggie tried ta do it up their style, buh ah thought ye'd like it tis way" Daryl said as he led her back to the living room.
"I love it" She laughed, realising that he had weapons all over the place.
Daryl stepped towards her, stroking her cheek gently and she leaned into it. "It's nice ta see ye happy" He said brazenly, he felt his heart jolt and he felt as if he was a teenager again. The same jolt surged through Stone and she found herself smiling again.
"It's gonna take a while to move on, but I'm happy with you" Stone admitted.
Daryl's shoulder sagged in relief, and he retracted his hand. "Good" He said gruffly. He looked over at the kitchen and wrinkled his nose, "Ah dun really know how ta use one" He said, gesturing towards it.
"Neither. We can make a bonfire out back" Stone suggested.
Daryl moved over to his animal skins, and Stone decided to take another tour around the cottage. She was glad to find there was only a bedroom, a bathroom, a living room and kitchen. She wasn't exactly neat and neither was Daryl, so it meant less cleaning for the both of them.
She had a quick look into the bathroom and immediately wanted to have the first shower. She rushed back into her bedroom, gathering her clothes and grinning when she realised her walker scalps were hanging off the mirror in the bathroom. She turned the taps quickly, still surprised as a rush of water sprayed through the shower head and splattered over the shower.
She lost her clothing quickly, discarding them in a heap. She stepped into the shower, closing her eyes in bliss when the water hit her chest and then her face. She felt the warm water run over her head and down her body, taking away the days dirt and sweat.
She wasn't startled when she heard a rustling behind her, she waited until a pair of strong arms enveloped her in an embrace. The embrace ended as soon as it came, instead she re-opened her eyes to find Daryl beneath the reign of water.
He was facing her while he soaped his body up, her hand automatically stretched out and brushed across his chest, covering the scars there. He eyed her from his place with a confused expression.
"We match" She murmured, she turned and showed him her scars as promised.
Daryl's jaw clenched in anger, not because of his scars but because of hers. His eyes studied her back, finding small scars littering between her shoulder blades and a large one running down her thigh. How had he not seen it before.
"No point in getting angry Daryl, whats done is done" Stone reassured.
They regarded one another with saddened eyes. They were both hurt, pained by the outcome of the war. They had lost the last pieces of their old life, their hearts empty with the grief of losing something that was worth so much.
Daryl allowed it to slip, he also allowed Stone to step forward and wrap her arms around his waist. They both were awkward in the hug, neither one of them accustomed to affection like this.
"Dun git use ta this, ah ain't a lovey dovey man" He admitted, his fingers brushed over her shoulders and he tightened his hold.
"I wouldn't want you any other way Daryl" She whispered.
It was true.
Stone cherished Daryl. She adored his manly ways, the inner guardian angel that attracted her more and more. She accepted his traits, his heart and everything that formed him. She didn't care about his past, just his future. Stone accepted every positive and negative aspect of Daryl Dixon.
She pulled back from his hold, stretching up to capture his lips softly before he pressed more into it. He fully pressed him self against her, and she felt the warmth of both his and her hearts beating as one. She ran her fingers through his hair, caressing the wet strands of his hair and rested against the back of his neck. His fingers ran down her collarbones, rising the tiny invisible hairs on her body.
His lips left hers, and instead danced down her neck until it rested on her shoulder. He gave it a soft bite and she squirmed beneath him, laughing lightly at the ticklish sensation that ran through her. She felt safe against him, it felt incredibly right and comfortable. She kissed his jaw, and he gently pushed her back into the shower wall, raising her body off the ground and wrapping her legs around his waist.
She stared into his eyes, finding the steely blue orbs melting with warmth and love. She was sure that hers matched his, an exact mirror of Daryl's love for her. She felt like she was swimming in desire and serenity as Daryl moved his arms around her in a firm bear hug.
Bare flesh met bare flesh, and Daryl moved up into her. Stone gasped and Daryl froze, his eyes closing with pleasure. He nipped her earlobe, before he pulled back and thrust back into her. She clenched around him and he gave an ecstatic groan and redoubled his efforts.
Hanging on for dear life and thrilled by the ride, she arched her back and jerked, shuddering against the heat of him. Trembling and moaning, she melted back against the wall, her legs still locked around his hips. Her head roll to the side, and she gasped for air.
"Ah love ya" Daryl grunted against her neck, pulling back momentarily to gaze at her face.
Looking into his eyes now, she realised that they might not have another year together. It pained her to see the truth, but as her hands brushed against his chest and he closed his eyes in her embrace, she didn't mind that their future was unknown. Because for what it was worth, she loved Daryl Dixon and he loved her too.
Only one more chapter left folks!