38

Aibileen had spent a good amount of time with Selena, when she had the chance. When she wasn't getting medical lessons from Hershel, or spending some time with the other group members, or even going house hunting with Daryl, Aibileen wanted to spend her time with Selena. The two women were able to catch up with what had happened with each other before and after the outbreak occurred. It was saddening, knowing what the two women had gone through in order to survive in a world Hell-bent on trying to kill the survivors.

Selena had told Aibileen that she had witnessed her father, Aibileen's Uncle Orlando, get torn apart by, what she called, 'dead-brains'.

"Ma was able to make it out," Selena had explained, a saddened look in her eyes. "We got separated not too long ago. I tried looking for her, but I couldn't find her. Then I decided to head up to Louisiana and find you."

Selena's crystal blue eyes were filled with a kind of sadness and grief that couldn't be explained so simply. It broke Aibileen's heart to see her best friend and cousin look so down.

"What about Octavia?" Aibileen asked.

Octavia was Selena's older sister. The Giovanni sisters weren't exactly close, but they shared a mutual respect for one another and knew how and when to act civilized around each other.

"I dunno." Selena shrugged half-heartedly. "I hadn't heard from her in months, so I wouldn't know if she made it out alive or not."

"Ya seem happier."

Aibileen was out with Daryl, doing their searches for a place to stay for the night. They had noticed that the air was slowly starting to warm up, and, thankfully, it hadn't snowed during the winter. Though there was still a couple weeks left of winter, it was still a relief knowing that they didn't have to worry about snow.

There was the chance they'd have died before spring.

Aibileen glanced at the huntsman, who had his crossbow in his arms as he carefully walked, looking around with quick, calculating eyes.

"I am," she answered truthfully.

Daryl nodded.

After a while, Aibileen and Daryl started showing more affection toward one another, though they preferred to do it in private (mostly for Daryl's sake, since he would get embarrassed if the others caught him and Aibileen being affectionate. Daryl even got embarrassed if Aibileen showed a little bit of affection in front of the others). It felt nice to be able to explore a newer side of their relationship, but they didn't have any official title for their relationship.

"She seems nice," Daryl observed.

"Selena and I had a good relationship when we were younger," Aibileen said. "We were best friends up until I moved in with my Granny."

Daryl didn't say anything for a moment, just absorbing the information Aibileen had just told him.

"She was the one ya went lookin' for in Atlanta?"

Aibileen nodded. "I was hopin' she'd be alive. Rick and Glenn said there weren't any survivors in Atlanta, and I believed them." She shrugged, frowning slightly. "Kinda feel like an idiot for believin' that."

"Ya couldn't have known," Daryl said in his usual gruff-y voice. "Place was overrun with walkers."

"I suppose," she murmured.

The two kept walking in silence. Neither of them really knew what to say, and the silence was kind of putting them on edge. Normally, if they lapsed into a silence, it was peaceful and nice, but the silence between them was heavy and slightly uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry if I haven't been spendin' a lot of time with ya," Aibileen said. "It's just...I haven't seen Selena in so long and, ya know, she's my cousin..."

"I understand," Daryl murmured. He glanced at her. "She's family."

Aibileen gave him a soft smile and nodded.

"I'm still sorry," Aibileen said. "There's just too much stuff to do. I dunno if I can handle doin' any more."

"There ain't much to do."

The woman shot Daryl a pointed look.

"I fix the cars when they're actin' up; I'm gettin' lessons from Hershel; I'm spendin' so much time with Selena, it ain't even funny," Aibileen counted off. "I feel like I'm completely ignorin' ya."

Daryl grunted. "Don't need ya gettin' all upset over nothin'," he muttered. "I don't mind some alone time here and there. It's not like I'm goin' anywhere."

"Still..." Aibileen murmured, frowning slightly. "Just accept my apology so I can feel better."

The last part came off semi jokingly, and Daryl was quick to catch onto that. He gave a soft chuckle, nodding.

"I forgive ya, woman," he sighed.

"Good." Aibileen gave a single nod.

Aibileen and Daryl spent about two hours searching for a place to stay. The duo kept a firm eye out for any walkers, their weapons ready to attack anything that might jump or hobble out toward them.

They couldn't risk it.

"Ya think there's a place out there for us to live in?" Aibileen asked. Daryl glanced at her. "Ya know. Like a big ol' home—one with enough rooms for everyone, and big bathrooms, with warm water and electricity."

Daryl thought that over. Finding a home like that would be a miracle—especially if it had warm water and electricity.

Unfortunately, something like that would more than likely be a fantasy than reality.

"It'd be nice," Daryl responded.

"It ain't ever gonna happen, though," Aibileen said bitterly. "The world's gone to shit. Ain't anythin' nice ever gonna happen in this shitty world."

When the duo had gone back to the group, telling them they'd found a pretty big place to sleep for the night, the others were relieved. They'd spent too much time out, exposed. They didn't want to risk running into any walkers or dangerous people. While there was enough ammunition to make it through a few months, the group wanted to save the little bullets they had for moments when it was truly needed.

"How 'bout ya ride with me?" Daryl suggested to Aibileen.

It had been a while since Aibileen had ridden with Daryl on his motorcycle. With the weather's freezing temperatures, Aibileen felt a little more comfortable riding with Glenn and Maggie, where the inside could be heated and she could relax a little.

But she wasn't complaining when it came to Daryl Dixon.

A mischievous smile came upon Aibileen's face.

"How could I say no to you?" she smirked. "The big, sexy redneck on his motorcycle."

Daryl's face lit up red so fast Aibileen burst into a fit of giggles, ones that she tried so hard to keep in but failed to do so.

Getting on her tiptoes, Aibileen planted a quick kiss on Daryl's red cheek, his blush deepening at that, before more giggles made their way out of her mouth. She brushed some of her hair out of her face before placing her hands on her hips.

"Jesus, woman," Daryl muttered embarrassedly. "Don't need'cha gettin' all carried away. Just offered ya a ride."

"And I happily accept this ride," Aibileen said with that mischievous smirk.

When they were both seated on the motorcycle, Aibileen's arms wrapped around Daryl's waist, she rested her cheek between his shoulder blades, closing her eyes for a moment. There was a sturdiness about Daryl that Aibileen just couldn't resist. That and the fact that he was like a radiator. There was never a day where he wasn't warm.

"I don't understand how you're so warm," Aibileen commented, before Daryl started his bike. "I get cold so easily, and here ya are, warmin' up like a furnace all the time!"

The only response Aibileen got from the huntsman was a simple grunt, which she gave an airy chuckle at.

Daryl Dixon was a man of few words.

And she really liked that about him.

Author's Note:

I hope you all liked this chapter. It's a pretty late chapter, too [it's almost two in the morning where I'm at], so I hope it's at least decent, if you didn't like it that much. I tried keeping it as interesting as possible, and I am so tired.

One reason I updated so late was because I went to see the Avengers: Ultron movie. It wasn't bad, there were a few things that could've been different, but what can you do? The movie was still pretty good, and I enjoyed seeing it!

So, enough of that!

I don't own 'Walking Dead' or anything that belongs to the show. I only own Aibileen, Selena, any other characters I add to the stories, and any fillers I put in, as well.

I would love to know what you guys thought of these last couple chapters! Seeing what you guys think helps this fanfic grow. So far, I've absolutely adored the reviews I've gotten, and I thank everyone who's left a review.

My babbling's done, I'll let you guys be on with your lives.

Thank you.

Susan Strong