Authors note- Guess who got another charger? Moi. I waited like it was Christmas so I could get these chapters out to you guys. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your nice reviews. I think it's the most I've ever received. Oh and thank you to everyone that is now following and favouriting...you guys rock!

I know this might not be everyone's thing but I had an account on Quizilla called xXxLittle-LeighxXx that was full of stories if anyones interested in that.

You're not alone

As her tongue flicked out to the split on her lip she almost cringed at the taste of copper in her mouth. He had taken her down with a swift smack, unseeingly angry he had pushed her away and left her completely vulnerable on the floor. Amelia had understood almost instantly that Daryl was having a little episode when he took out his anger and vulnerability out on her. There was no hatred in her, no anger that he had hurt her. No Amelia had seen something in him that wasn't your typical 'woman beater', no Daryl Dixon was broken, afraid and he was falling for her. He had only ever been rejected...she had rejected him without meaning too.

"I-I-" he stuttered, his eye's wide with terror as he took a stumbled step towards her.

Amelia brought her hand to her lip and wiped away the blood quickly "It's all good" she lied "I know it wasn't meant for me" and she held out her hand for him to help her up. This was the ultimate forgiveness, if he was to grab her hand then they would both forgive eachother in that moment. There was no saying 'sorry' about it or being cute. These too where born fighters, unsure of what affection really was and they were still learning.

Daryl seemed uncertain but he timidly grabbed her hand and pulled her up. Amelia had other plans and wrapped her arms around his stiff body. Pulling him close, even though he didn't want to be she quickly pecked his rough check and stepped away; blushing. As their arms awkwardly hung at their sides neither one of them knew what to say.

"I ain't never meant to hit you...you just got close and I-"

"It's fine. I get it. I'm not going to kill you in your sleep if that's what you're worried about" she joked, gently shoving him. Daryl couldn't laugh though, he was too busy glaring down at the cut ruining her perfectly plump lips.

He didn't say much after that, deciding to pick up his bow and get ready to head back. In the mist of their angst they had totally forgotten about wiping this place clean for the group to return. Amelia just followed, eyeing him suspiciously but decided not to push him anymore. It was obvious he was in a really tricky place right now.

It didn't take them long to head back. Amelia deciding to get the awkward ride done as soon as possible, leaving the mess for Rick to clean up. The drive went by quickly but Amelia couldn't help but go over in her head what had happened when he kissed her and what she had done wrong. Did he feel rejected? She was just worried about what was happening and needed air, surely it had been obvious.

Daryl however was trying his hardest not to stop the roaring bike in between his legs, throwing it down and running off into the woods. Life had been simple before, granted that he was in a world full of drooling freaks wanting to kill him but he was surviving, day by day. Now he was surviving just with thoughts in his head of her, clouding his judgement. Life had been simple when he didn't need or want no body. Nothing but his bow and bike mattered to him.

It wasn't long until they saw the gas station and Amelia almost jumped for joy. They had barely said a word on the ride and she was sure that as soon as they stopped he would go back to ignoring her again. Amelia didn't want to think about it.

Rick and Glenn where the first to greet them, their eye's scanning nervously over their bodies hoping for good news.

Amelia was the first to speak "It's safe" and Amelia saw the relief burst through Rick and found herself suddenly smiling "It wasn't to bad. About twenty or so outside and one inside but we-"

"One?" Glenn asked, his eye's widening and sweat dripping down his dirty face.

"We took care of it" Daryl sneered, pushing past them both. The two men chose to ignore Daryl's bad turn in the conversation and focused solely on Amelia.

"It was a stray. Daryl took care of it" she breathed, suddenly wanting to walk away too.

Rick walked up to Amelia and suddenly grabbed her chin and lifted her head up to inspect the now forming bruise around her new cut.

"What happened?"

Amelia shrugged him off "Got elbowed by a walker" she lied "There was a group of em' this one really wanted me" and she faked a grimace. Rick clearly didn't buy it, probably to aware from his days of being a police officer but she knew he wouldn't push it. It wasn't his business.

"It's safe?" Called Hershel, wobbling out of the little worn down station.

"Sure is! Lets go. We've got a home to go to" Glenn called happily down to him, practically skipping down the little path to tell everyone the good news.

"I can't ever repay you for this" Rick told her, looking deep into her eyes.

"You can start by hauling ass. We need to get back before dark" and she started to follow Glenn until Rick's strong arm stopped her and pulled her her back.

"You okay?" he asked, dipping his head to take a closer of her. The way his eye's scanned her made every inch of her shake, he was looking into her and then through her. He was good at that and she didn't like it.

"Nothing but a misunderstanding Rick" she breathed, her eye's dropping to the floor. It was all but a second when she felt Rick's calm hand soothingly move her hair away from her eyes.

"I know Daryl ain't got a mean bone in his body against a woman but you gotta give him a chance" but the way Rick was looking at her spoke another story, another option that she could possibly take. Removing herself from him she turned away, refusing to accept the situation she was in.

–

Daryl was furious as he stared out of the gas station window towards Amelia and Rick. The way Rick easily touched her sent a fire down to every one of his fingers. Never in his entire life had he felt an intense jealousy against another person in his life. He just wanted to run out of the little building and ram his fist right into Rick's face. Rick had fucked his life up enough, he wasn't taking Amelia. He had his chance. However he said all that in his head it didn't help him go out there and tell Rick. No, instead he watched as they got closer and closer, feeling sick with every second passing.

"You did good today Daryl" Carol said from behind.

"What?!" he snapped, his eye's still on Amelia...she was blushing. Rejection flooding back to his brain, clouding his eyes. Amelia hadn't wanted him because she wanted Rick? No it couldn't be. Rick had been so good to him, Daryl saw him as a brother and Amelia...well things had happened.

He was sure they had. But then again his brain was polluting with poison, threatening his resolve.

"What's wrong?" Carol asked, clearly hurt.

"Just piss off woman and finish up getting shit together. We aint' got all day" he snapped before grabbing his boww off the till side and heading outside.

–

Everyone was happy to be back except for one. Daryl was angry and alone, just the way he liked it. He hadn't said anything when he stormed out of the building with a few supplies and headed on a hunt. He simply couldn't be around people. He needed to alone with nature, his real home and just let everything go. It wasn't going to be as simple as that.

–

Amelia had spent all night silently worrying about Daryl. Finally, she had admitted to herself that there was a special room in her heart for the redneck. He had been a friend to her, not that he would ever admit it but he had looked out for her, she wanted to look out for him. However he had gone and she was worried that he wasn't coming back.

As everyone celebrated she got stuck into work, clearing up the dead walkers in the yards and taking them out into the woods to burn them. Glenn had decided to come help, feeling guilty that he hadn't contributed much to the group lately. He could tell she wasn't in the mood to talk but that didn't stop him.

"Maggie is real happy to be back here. It's nice to have somewhere safe...I'm just, well I'm worried that it'll be short lived again" he said as they watched the fire beginning to burn. Ignoring the smell.

"I'll keep it safe" she hissed out.

Glenn sighed "I know you will but there's only so much you can do" and he nervously wiped his hands down his trousers.

Amelia began to put her hair up, not wanting it to smell of rotting dead bodies before she answered him "Don't worry Glenn okay? I got this" and she began to walk towards the truck.

Glenn wouldn't leave the situation alone though "Rick is making you do so much, well you've done so much for us. Hell you even nearly died for us...it's not a balance"

"Fuck Glenn. This aint a world for being fair? If I can keep you guys protected I'll put myself on the line for you all. It's my job"

"It ain't your job. You don't owe us anything!" and he slammed his fist down onto the trucks front.

Amelia eye'd him, working out what he was really trying to say "I know you're worried, scared that another person will let you down but I got this. If we all stick together we can survive this. We're a team"

Glenn took his hat off in some sort of protest and began rubbing his eyes "You're a good person Amelia. I guess I'm just not use to those types of people anymore" and he tried to smile.

Amelia scoffed as she climbed into the truck "You don't know about half the stuff I had to do before we all got dropped in the shit"

Glenn instantly gulped..."I don't want to know"

Amelia laugh could be heard echoing all the way through the woods, sending birds fleeing from their nests.

–

Carl eye'd Beth warily as she cradled his baby sister. He couldn't understand how she managed to look so peaceful holding a wriggling baby that demanded her attention all the time. In real awe of her he wanted to pick her brain and see how she ticked but just having simple conversations with her seemed almost non existent given his nervousness towards her.

"Ya'll just going to sit there staring or are you going to help me feed Judith?" Beth grinned as she bounced a happy baby upon her knee. Carl shook his head, trying to stop the blood rushing up towards his cheeks.

"Want me to hold her?" he asked, reaching out for his sister. Judith was happy to see Carl, blowing snot bubbles towards him.

"Please" and she was quickly passed to Carl who had to sit down. Almost instantly, like a professional Beth began to feed the baby her last meal for the day. "It's great being back in our home isn't it? Daryl and Amelia pulled through"

Carl nodded eagerly, ready to please her. "Amelia is real good at getting us where we need to be" he said, grabbing Judiths hand.

"You're daddy too" she added in.

Carl grimaced a little "Yeah but since Mom...well he hasn't been the same leader he was"

Beth scorned him with just one look and he wanted to return to his corner and play hidden.

"Your daddy is a good man Carl. You need to appreciate everything he's done for you..and us all"

From the outside anyone would have noticed the first seeing of real love blossoming. It was in the moment that Carl really respected Beth as a person, she had her own opinions and wasn't scared to voice them. It was an attraction that he couldn't deny. In that very moment Carl had quickly grown into an adult. As his mother said, look for the good and don't stop until you find it...Carl had just done that.

He smiled at her, bright and huge, no longer nervous "You're right"

A/N- Ya'll know what to do to get more of Daryl.