A/N: This is a work of fan fiction. No infringement intended.

The Country Singer

By Leah Pensotti

Chapter 35

Melanie sat at the kitchen table in Carol's house, gripping a cup of hot tea in her hands. A plate with a helping of Carol's casserole sat on the table in front of her, but her stomach was so filled with dread she couldn't manage a bite.

Negan knew who she was. Negan wanted her. God knows what he would do to make her go with him. Melanie couldn't think clearly and she could barely look at Daryl. She couldn't imagine all the awful things that man said to him, and all the things she had asked him to not act on.

She knew Daryl wanted to murder him, more than likely with his bare hands.

Rick was talking about what they could do...hide Melanie or just come out swinging the next time the men stopped for their "offering."

She looked at her reflection in the tea and felt like drowning in misery, "I think we need to call this what it is, by it's rightful name. I'm a liability to the town. To all of you."

No one talked. The silence just stretched out for immeasurable moments. Maggie shook her head, "No. You're not a liability. You're one of us. We will figure this out."

Rick nodded in agreement, his hands resting on his hips in a familiar stance, "Maggie's right. There's always a way. We always find it."

Melanie sat up straight and looked to Daryl, who was sitting solemnly beside her. He looked completely deflated. Jesus, who had eaten all of he casserole he was given, spoke up, "Maybe that way is Hilltop. We have almost two hundred people there. We can ally together...Mellie could stay with us for awhile. It might be easier to keep a low profile there."

Rick shrugged, "I guess now is as a good a time as any to make the trip there. Check it out. Negan won't be back for a month...unless he shows up unexpectedly. Everybody go home, get rest. Meet first thing in the morning and then we will make plans for a trip."

Melanie nodded and pulled her backpack up with her as she stood. Maggie gave her a reassuring hug as Melanie followed Daryl out of the door and to their home. Neither of them talked, they just trudged home in silence. When they finally got there, Melanie stripped off her coat and hat and walked to the kitchen table and started unloading what she had scavenged that day; the sweater, the books, the gun, the ammo, the bourbon, the rum and six packages of the cherry cigarillos.

Daryl walked in behind her, and Melanie looked up, "Let's get drunk. I can't stand what I am feeling right now. Dread. Let's live in oblivion for one more night."

He looked at her, a fleeting worried glance washed over his face, and then shrugged, "Alright."

"Maybe I'll just shave my head."

They'd been drinking for awhile, Melanie was bundled up in a blanket on the back porch. They passed the rum between them, saving the bourbon for a good day. Melanie had found these weird cherry flavored cigarettes with a plastic filter...cigarillos. Daryl hated to admit that they weren't half bad, but girly as hell...but they'd do.

He looked at Melanie in the dark, her messy red bob in her face, "I mean ya could try."

Melanie let a cigarillo dangle lazily from her lips and she shook her head, "Daryl...I should go. I can't endanger this town more than it already is. I found an apartment in the little coffee shop today. I can clear it and stay there. I won't be far."

Daryl shook his head, "You ain't goin' nowhere, Red. Definitely not alone. He ain't gonna touch you again."

She sighed, "I'm more worried about our friends. They shouldn't suffer for me."

"Then I'll go with ya."

Melanie flicked away the dying ashes of the cigarillo and scooted close to him, resting her forehead against his, "We have to think clearly on this. We have to think what's best for everyone. This town needs you. Rick and Michonne need you. They're your people."

He felt the anger for Negan boil in his belly, "Yer my people, too. Red..."

"I love you, too."

She said it so firmly, without question. He didn't even have to say it, she knew. He cupped her face in his hands, and she felt so delicate...so breakable. She was the only person that knew almost all of him, the only one who didn't push or take. He'd be damned if Negan was going to go after her, just for what she was or used to be before the world went to hell.

Because now, in this world, she was his.

"Red...the things he said about ya today. I wanted to kill 'em. Gut 'em with my bare hands."

She nodded, "I know. I want to, also. But we need to figure him out. His operation, structure, rules...weaknesses. Then we can fight him. Maybe Jesus is right? Start an alliance, build an army of sorts. Maybe I can stay at Hilltop..."

Daryl shook his head, "Ya go to Hilltop, I'm comin' with you. Ain't no way I'm not."

Melanie smiled and kissed him, "I won't argue with you. I just know you're needed here."

He pulled her to him and covered her in rough kisses; on her lips and neck. Before he knew it, they stumbled back inside where their clothes came off in seconds. Soon, her back was against the cushions of the small couch and he hovered over her. Her pale, freckled skin and her hills and valleys of softness. He couldn't help thinking mine over and over as she met his hips with every thrust.

Besides his crossbow and his scars...Melanie was truly the only thing that had ever been his.

Even after all they had said and done together...he still couldn't believe that she loved him. She loved him so much she wrote a song for him.

He'd traverse the earth if she asked him to.

Melanie laid her head on his chest, cuddling closer to him on the little couch. She had never gone from elated to worried so quickly. Their lovemaking had been passionate and full of need, and it was a welcome respite from what she had been feeling prior.

"Tell me some more about yer Mama, Red."

She laughed gently, "They're nothing special, those stories."

"They're nice...normal. I don't think yer Mama would've minded me hangin' around, doin' dirty things with you."

Melanie smiled, "She'd probably would encourage it. She was always telling me to stop being so serious. Stop being so uptight. Besides, she always had a thing for the bad boys."

Daryl guffawed, "I ain't no bad boy."

She sat up and rested her chin on her hand, meeting his eyes, "You're like the textbook definition of a bad boy."

"I'd like ta think Merle was the bad boy. Messin' with women and gettin' in fights."

Melanie laughed, "From what you've told me, Merle went straight to criminal and skipped bad boy."

Daryl smoothed the hair away from her face, "I guess that's pretty true."

Melanie thought for a minute about stories to tell him about her Mama and finally settled on one, "When I was seven, Mama was about twenty-two. I was that little girl obsessed with horses. Of course we couldn't afford horses, lessons or anything of the like. There was this guy that frequented the club Mama worked, and he was pretty sweet on her. He wasn't old and creepy...kinda slow and harmless. He worked on a horse farm, and told Mama that she could bring me up for a day. I got to feed them apples and sugar cubes, he even led me and Mama around on this big gray horse. I wish I could remember the horse's name. It wasn't even my birthday, but it meant a lot. I've always loved horses. When I finally had some money coming in, I thought about buying a farm outside of Nashville...maybe have some horses. Mama would've loved that...It makes me feel weird to say this...but I'm thankful she passed when she did. I'm glad she was spared all of this...Granny too."

Melanie felt wrong saying it, she would have given anything to have her Mama and Granny with her under normal circumstances. But not here...not in this world. It broke her heart to think that her two lives could never coexist. If the outbreak had never happened, she would be on the road...recording music with her friends, but she would not have Daryl. She didn't know which life made her happier. The one with the music and the fame and Adam; or the one with death and fear and Daryl.

Maybe she didn't have to choose between them. She would never be able to make a case for loving music more than Daryl and vice versa.

Daryl ran his fingertips up and down along her side, making the hair on her arms stand on end, "I don't think that's weird. If I had a family like yers, I'd feel the same way. My Mama and Daddy we're awful. Ya probably figured that out by now."

Melanie nodded sadly and continued to look him in the eyes. She doubted they would have ever gotten this far if he never made eye contact with her, "Yeah. I gathered. It makes me mad that anyone ever treated you that way...and you still managed to turn out to be such a sweet soul. It's their loss, baby."

Daryl looked away briefly, "I still don't get it, Red. What ya see in me."

She felt a small smile creep across her lips, "I can tell you. If you want."

He looked unsure, but still have a little nod and she brushed the unruly hair from his eyes, "Well, you're loyal as can be...and you've got a soft side you don't want people to see. You're handsome and strong and forthright...but above all else, you're a really good man. A good friend. You keep promises. You take care of your people. That's admirable. You're a hero, and I am glad to know you...and love you."

Daryl looked at Melanie when told him all the things she saw on him, and saw the look in her hazel eyes. They had glassed over, and her lower lip trembled a bit, like she was trying not to cry. He touched her cheek gently and pulled her close to him.

Nothing in this world, or whatever comes after, was going to keep him away from her.

Melanie snuggled against him and whispered, "I know you're always carrying what happened with your family with you...but I want to tell you...I can be your family. I can be your home. I'll take good care of you, I promise. We can make our own memories...stories...and wipe out the bad."

"Red...I can't think of nothin' I'd like more. But we've gotta get through this, first. Maybe someday we will be able to make a life and memories...but we've gotta fight first. We've gotta get rid of Negan. Most of all, we gotta keep ya safe. Tomorrow, we'll see what this Hilltop has to offer. Ya seem to trust Jesus."

She giggled lightly, "You sound like a preacher when you say that. But his real name, Paul, just doesn't sound right. But yes, I do trust him."

Daryl smiled and gently kissed her forehead, "Then that's that. We'll go tomorrow. And Red?"

She answered quietly, "Yeah."

"Yer already my home."

A/N: hello loves! What makes the holidays more fun? The flu! That is what has befell me this week! I hope you enjoyed this belated chappie! Up next: The trip to Hilltop, a plan is made and more lovin'.

I'm always so grateful to see the stats on this story. All the follows and favorites are so appreciated! Thank you guys so much for the love! Please drop me a line to let me know how I'm doing and what you think!

Super Special Shout Outs to: Natalie Laukas (Yes, Negan will try his best to be a problem. I think he wants Melanie more as a trophy than one of his "wives." Plus it would get to Daryl...make him be rattled. Thanks for the review, love!), TheFaceOfAlison ( I've been working on what the song would say...mind you I'm not a songwriter, though I love music. I think Mellie and Daryl are going to stick together unless of dire circumstances. We will have to see what hilltop holds. thank you for your review :), Jean F (Daryl knows he would never be able to leave her or make her go without him, but Mellie would leave if it meant keeping him safe. She knows he is important to the Alexandrians. Hope you enjoyed the protective Daryl!) and my lovely Angie B (Negan is so terrible yet so fun to write. It's so no filter, lol. Daryl might take a bolt to his ass...at some point! More Rick and Anna soon. I'm sorry I'm so behind! But I've literally slept to Netflix all week and it's killed me not to write!)

Love and Thanks,

Leah P!

xoxo