Author's note: I know I've taken some time now, sorry, but it's extra long and it has a little surprise 0;).

Special thanks to my reviewers: Scarlet Nyx and my guest reviewer.

Ok I seriously hope you guys like this... if not please let me know why not... If you do PLEASE let me know so I can continue with peace of mind.

Thanks for reading, hope you enjoy.

Chapter 39

Daryl's POV

The town turned out to be a lot bigger than first sight had suggested. The church, we had been able to see above the rooftops, turned out to in a whole other part of the town, behind an alignment of trees to be precise.

"Where are all the cars?" Zayn asked with a strong voice, one that didn't belong to the kid. John looked up at him and narrowed his eyes slightly, probably wondering what the kid was doing with us. He didn't ask any questions though, instead he answered.

"We dragged them off the streets, deciding we would be better off not using them." Zayn nodded as he listened to the answer and I had to admit it was pretty obvious now that I thought about it. It was true that I hadn't noticed any car around, but I'd believed that most of them had been taken while the original inhabitants fled. Guess not. I snorted softly, thinking of how the earth just needed a good old apocalypse to make people use less cars.

"The previous owners of the houses, farms and shops left everything like it is now." John explained further as we followed him through the streets. "Some of them left their cars, but most of them took them with them, and so it wasn't much work to clean the streets."

"Why did they suddenly leave?" Dale asked, looking around in interest.

"We don't know," John admitted honestly. "We think it's because they knew they weren't safe here in the woods."

This news made me narrow my eyes, "Then why do you believe you're safe now?" I asked.

He looked around over his shoulder, chuckling lightly, which slightly agitated me. "We have the best of the best when it comes to weapons. There was an armor shop in town, so we even have enough ammo. There's no way a deado like them will get very far."

He sounded so sure of himself and I almost believed him, but there was always a weakness in a defense, however strong the defense might be. It was just a matter of time these people were helped out of their dream.

"You been attacked before?" Shane asked, not really seeming interested in the town in itself, rather what answers it could bring.

"Yes," John answered softly. "Yes we have. Several times." He said louder this time. "We were able to shoot them down before they hurt anyone though."

"But you've lost people." It wasn't a question, more of a statement. Dale saw the crosses in the ground, lined with flowers. They were obviously graves of loved ones.

John nodded with a grave look on his face. "We have. They broke the rules, that didn't go too well for'em."

"What rules?" T-Dog asked next, the same thing I was wondering.

John looked at him this time, "Don't leave town on your own." He simply said.

But wasn't that exactly what Robert did every time he came here, and went back? Or was he an exception just because he didn't live in this town? I wasn't sure, and not interested enough to ask either. No one else seemed to notice the contradictory statement, I guess I was the only one then.

"Ah, here it is." John suddenly said, looking up at a shop on our right. It was a flower shop and truth was that I wondered what the hell we were doing here at first. Robert seemed to be satisfied with what he saw however, and so I guess we were at the right place after all.

We entered, the bell above the door jingling several times. There was a man behind the counter, who looked up with a welcoming smile as he heard us enter, much like normally would've happened.

"John!" The man said with a grin, "How good to see you. What can I help you with today?"

John smiled at the man, "Not me this time Ed, these gentlemen need help." He gestured towards us and the man's eyes shifted from one face to another.

"Hello there," he greeted with a polite nod. "Tell me what I can do."

Shane was the one to step forward, which wasn't something I minded much. I've learned that staying silent was a lot better than talking, most of the time at least. If it's not to keep the noise down, then it is to stay focused. When you're talking your focus lies somewhere else than what is happening around you, and focus was everything if you wanted to stay alive. Even in a flower shop.

"I'm afraid we have lost a part of our group. They're with about..." he paused a second, counting in his head. "five people, including two children."

The man's eyes widened and I knew instantly that the guy knew something. Shane hadn't noticed though, he was still talking, asking the guy if he could possibly help them, in any way.

Ed scanned Shane's appearance with narrowed eyes, his eyes darting to the rest of the group huddled together in the small shop.

"You can trust him, Ed." Robert said. "Just tell us what you know."

After sharing a quick glance with the man Ed nodded, facing Shane again.

"I've heard about a fairly large group. They had two kids with them." He said then.

Shane nodded, "That must be them." He said, trying his hardest to contain his enthusiasm but failing miserably. "Do you know where we can find them?"

Ed suddenly looked down at the counter, a frown on his face as he was thinking of what to say I guessed. Something had happened, obviously, the question was: what?

"I'm afraid there was an accident." Ed started slowly. It stayed silent, Shane staring at him with a face set in stone.

"What?"

"One of the kids," Ed said as he looked up again. "He got shot."

Carl. That was the only male kid that was with the other group. I heard a small gasp from my right as I wasn't the only one who realized this, Zayn's eyes were wide and he looked worried. I knew Carl had been his friend and I felt bad for the kid. On the other hand, something like this could've been expected. It sure as hell explained why Rick hadn't shown up at the highway.

"Is he-?" Dale asked, not able to finish his sentence.

The man behind the counter shook his head, "No, but he's not awake either. The brought him over to Hershel's farm."

I noticed John and Robert exchange a glance and wondered what it meant, I didn't get a chance to ask as Ed answered the unspoken question that hung in the air.

"He's a veterinarian," the man quickly explained as he saw our puzzled looks. "Closest that comes to a doctor around here."

Now that sounded promising, I thought sarcastically. Except maybe for the fact that a 'vet' wasn't exactly what I would call a doctor.

Shit

"We have to get the hell moving!" Shane said in an urgent manner as we stood on the edge of town again. He was shifting his weight from one foot to another in frustration. I understood why he was frustrated. Apart from telling us the general direction Hershel's farm was in, which Robert said he'd point out again later, Ed told us nothing. He said that he had no idea in what condition Carl was, and that made Shane even more anxious to get there.

"Where to?" I asked him, eyebrows raised. I knew what the answer would probably be, but I needed to be sure.

Shane looked up at me, "What?" He asked incredulously. "You can't be fucking serious. We have to get the hell to that farm, of course!" He shouted, gesturing towards the woods.

"Shane, calm the hell down, man." T-Dog ushered but it was no use. Shane wasn't thinking straight anymore. I understood how he was feeling, I really did, I'd felt the same way with my brother, but this time it was different. We couldn't just go after them right now, we had to stay together and head back first. We were split up and we first had to retrieve the rest of the group.

"Why the fuck should I calm down?" He practically growled. "We know where to look for god's sake! We have to hurry!"

"That will make no difference for Carl's well-being, Shane." Dale started, trying to sound reasonable. "We have to get back to Andrea, Kaitlinn and the kids first."

"But it'll be dark by then!" He protested.

"Which means we'll go in the mornin'," I said irritated. I couldn't help myself, it was Shane, and even if I understood what he felt like I couldn't really make myself care for what he wanted.

He glared at me and then let his gaze trail over all our faces. Robert was looking rather sorry, Dale as well. Zayn had a frown on his face, the same he'd had ever since hearing about Carl. T-Dog was looking at Shane as if he was crazy for wanting to go now. John had left us to decide what we were going to do a few minutes ago, wishing us the best of luck with our onward journey.

"So, what? Y'all want to go back and head over there in the morning?" He asked, having calmed down more. His eyes were still shooting fire though, mostly my way.

"That's all we can do." Dale said. "We have to stick together from now on. Otherwise you see what happens."

Shane narrowed his eyes at those words. Robert sighed deeply and grabbed a bag of his, filled with food. He started walking back towards his house, probably realizing that if no action was taken now we would be standing here till nightfall. T-Dog also grabbed a bag as he followed after him, same as Dale. Shane just stood there, staring at them, and as I walked past him I couldn't help but send a quick glare of my own.

"Do you now understand what Kaitlinn must've felt like with Zayn missin'?" I shot at him, seeing his eyes widen at my words. I felt a certain satisfaction come over me as I followed the rest, hearing Shane's hesitant footsteps behind me.

I thought to how Shane had actually wanted to leave the rest behind as we would just go look for Rick and the others. That probably was the worst and most selfish plan he had ever come up with. Not that I would've agreed to that if the rest had, never. I would've gone back by myself if necessary, there was absolutely no chance that I was going to leave Kaitlinn behind. Even if she didn't want me around anymore.

That was the moment I truly realized that I had to apologize to her. Because even if she was mad at me, wanted nothing to do with me or hated me, I could never do the same. I didn't want her to ignore me, or glare at me. I wanted it to be normal again between us, one way or the other.

I know it sounded pathetic. It sounded weak and sentimental. Daryl Dixon shouldn't care about some random girl like this. But that was exactly it. Kaitlinn wasn't some random girl, she was much more than that, and I didn't want to lose her because of some stupid kiss.

With that resolution I headed back to the house, back to where Kaitlinn was, back home.

Kaitlinn's POV

Doing the laundry was something that I had always liked to do. It might be the fabrics that pass through your fingers, all with a different feel to it, or maybe it was the silence that accompanied it. A silence where you could think and dream about things because the routine of folding didn't need your constant attention.

That last 'maybe' wasn't as comforting now as it normally was though, quite the opposite. The silence made my ears ring painfully and I wished for some kind of radio or CD player I could use. There was none however, so I had no choice but to stand in silence.

I sighed deeply, folding one of Robert's shirts, which Lisbeth had delivered to me about half an hour ago. She had lingered a bit, trying to get me to tell her what was wrong.

It was amazing how she was able to see there was something off with me, or maybe I wasn't hiding it as well as I liked to think, I wasn't completely sure.

I told her I was fine but the only thing I got in return was a raised eyebrow and a disapproving look my way.

"Don't lie to me." She had said sternly, as if she were a mother who had caught her teenage daughter lying about where she was going at night.

"What's wrong?" She had asked again.

I had sighed, putting the basket of dry clothes away and turning around to face her. "It's-" I started but she stopped me before I could finish.

"It's not nothing." She countered.

It was as if she could read minds and for a moment I was baffled. She sighed and looked me in the eye. "My dear, it's obvious something is bothering you. You can tell me what it is, I might even be able to help."

Her eyes seemed to pierce straight through my soul, they were caring, like a mother's. In that moment I saw that she wasn't going to leave until I told her the truth, or at least something that sounded like the truth. I wasn't in the mood to lie though, too tired, and so I soon found myself spilling the beans over what had happened between Daryl and me.

It had been bothering ever since it happened, and as I told her she nodded exactly at the right moments. It felt good to be able to confide in someone, someone who wouldn't immediately judge me, or Daryl.

As I finished she had a small frown on her face, indicating she was deep in thought. Eventually she smiled slightly, "Men are strange creatures," She eventually said. "You shouldn't hold that against them."

That had utterly confused me, and made me stare at her. I couldn't stop a chuckle from escaping though and soon understood that had been what she was aiming for. Her smile widened a little at my chuckle but soon her face returned to a serious look.

"You should ask him about what exactly happened for him to be mad." She started. "and if he believes you did something wrong, you should apologize."

I stared at her again, opening my mouth and closing it again. Eventually I was able to ask. "But," I started to protest. "What did I do?"

She seemed to understand my frustration and put a hand on my arm. "I don't know, dear. And maybe he doesn't know either. I only know that the both of you are obviously hurting under the current conditions, and you shouldn't be." She smiled. "Talk to him and try to work things out."

After those words she had turned around and left me alone again, not sure what to think. He was hurting as well? I thought. But, why?

After that I'd turned back to work again, missing the loud laughter coming from Kirra and Nico, who had previously been helping Andrea out with the washing. Some time ago she had come up to me, asking if it was ok to bring the both of them to bed for an afternoon nap. I'd told her it was fine and left her to the task. Now I wished I'd told her no, however selfish it was of me.

I folded the last pair of pants and put them back into the first empty basket, together with the rest of the neatly folded clothes. My mom had taught me how to fold, preparing me for when I would be living alone. She would make me help her every time she did the laundry, but I had never really mind. She always sang along to the radio as she ironed carefully and handed me the clothes to fold. I loved to listen to my singing mom. Not because she was good, she wasn't in the least bit, but because of the feeling of safety it gave me, the feeling of home. God, what I wouldn't give to hear her voice now, singing along to some stupid song I hated.

I sighed again, taking a new basket with recently washed clothes and starting the folding process all over again.

I was standing in a small room, the washing room to be precise. The cabinets were filled with detergent, brooms, rubber gloves, buckets and even cat food. I hadn't seen a cat around though and wasn't really in the mood to ask about it either.

When I say a 'small' room I mean really small. From one wall to the other couldn't be more than three feet, six feet in length. There was a washer and a dryer in front of me, which I was using as a table at the moment, but they hadn't been used in quite some time if I were to guess from the looks of them.

To my left was an old broken down refrigerator and behind me was a bicycle. Don't ask me how it got in here, I didn't know, and truthfully, I didn't care either.

What I did know however was that the steering wheel of the bicycle had poked me in the back several times now, and I was getting quite annoyed by it.

When Lisbeth had led me to the separate, small, building next to the house, I'd been curious. Now that I was working inside of it, I was annoyed. Add the fact the silence was driving me insane because my thoughts could wander, and you understand how agitated I was feeling right about now.

It was a sudden sound behind me, not loud and it didn't sound anything like the gurgling of a walker, but still it made me freeze mid-action.

I've watched several horror movies in my life, before all this, and I always cursed those people who called out 'hello?' when they heard something. Now though, I had the sudden urge to do the same. I was able to keep myself from doing so though, finishing folding the t-shirt I was holding slowly and straining to hear any other sounds. There were none.

Had I just imagined the sound then? I wondered, but I'd been damn sure I'd heard-

A louder noise this time made me spin around, throwing the shirt at whatever it was as an instinctive response. Not that it would've helped much if I was in any serious danger, but I left my weapon inside, thinking I wouldn't need it.

"So we're throwin' clothes at each other now?" Daryl asked with a cocked eyebrow looking just slightly amused as he took the shirt that I'd thrown over him in his hand.

Well I'd rather tear'em off...

I flushed at the thought and quickly turned around so he wouldn't see it.

"You scared me," I muttered quickly, taking a new piece of clothing and deciding that folding that was a lot better than turning around and facing him right now.

"Kaitlinn..." he started, sounding slightly frustrated with himself. I didn't turn around though, instead I tried to focus on getting the clothes neatly folded, which was hard considering he was standing so close in the small space.

Yes, I had decided to talk to him, and Lisbeth had told me I should, but she never specified when, or where or how. And right now wasn't the right time, ok?

God I'm a coward, I thought, squeezing my eyes shut and leaning forward on the washing machine with my hands, trying to muster the fearless Kaitlinn that was able to fight walkers off.

"Kaitlinn" Daryl said again, wanting my attention. My name, coming from his mouth, sent a shiver down my spine that I couldn't control. To make sure he didn't notice though I decided to turn around and face him.

"What?" I asked, sounding more annoyed than I wanted to sound. I wasn't actually annoyed with him, just with myself for being so damn pathetic and scared.

"I think we need to talk." He said calmly, taking a step forward, which put him right in front of me, without breaking eye contact.

I wondered what the hell he was doing, taking that step forward, and was about to ask as his face was getting closer to mine. He stayed close like that a second before pulling back, the shirt now lying next to me on the washing machine.

I swallowed, trying to stop the butterflies and the blush that was slowly, but surely, creeping up on me. God I had wanted him to do something other than put away that damn shirt. It took me a while before I was sure I could look at him without immediately turning red.

"About what?" I choked out, my thoughts scrambled and out of order in such a way that it took me some time to get the words to leave my dry mouth.

He seemed to hesitate for a split second before his calm face returned. "About what happened." He then said, face set in stone and not just calm, but emotionless.

Was that how he felt about it? Did he not care at all? Did he not think about the kiss every minute of the day like I did? Why did that even bother me?

I felt myself getting annoyed again so I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to try and calm myself. "What is there to talk about?" I asked with forced calm and my eyes still closed.

He didn't respond and as I opened my eyes again, to see if he was still there, his eyes striked me. They were angry but even though that was the most prominent thing, it wasn't what caught my attention. He looked hurt, actually pained, and I couldn't help but wonder why.

"So you really don't think anythin' of it?" He asked with the same forced calm I must've had before. "You didn't feel anythin'?"

That question caught me off guard. What? I didn't feel anything? I though he was the one who didn't-

But, considering how he was standing here now, his fists and jaw clenched and his eyes shooting fire, he seemed to have felt something. The question was what had he felt.

"What do you mean feel something?" I asked carefully, but controlled, hoping to get the answer I wanted.

He narrowed his eyes, "And then you call me an asshole, now that is a word that is not goin' to cover what you-"

"Asshole?" I asked him with a hiss, cutting him off before he could finish, my anger flared. "Asshole?" I asked again. "I haven't thought of you as an asshole for some time now, at least before," I hesitated a second and then used airquotes at the next words. "'what happened' as you call it."

I was the one standing with my fists clenched now, getting more upset with every word I uttered but not being able to stop for some reason. It was as if a dam had been broken open and the words wouldn't stop flooding until my feelings leveled out.

"I actually started believing that you could be a nice guy, a good guy, and for some fucked up reason I wanted to believe that. Then suddenly, after waking up in the middle of the night and being freaking nervous to even talk to you after what happened, you practically ooze hostility."

I was yelling now, pointing my finger at him. Somewhere in the back of my mind I registered the look of surprise crossing his face, but my mouth was working faster than my brains were.

"You were the one who started this whole affair of ignoring each other and acting like you don't care, not me. And now you dare to call me the asshole?" I growled. "Fuck you Daryl, seriously. Fuck. You."

I wanted to walk out of here, leaving while I was still the one who had the last word, but his narrowed eyes kept me in place, suddenly feeling slightly exhausted after my rant.

"What do you mean I started this?" He asked with a snide. "I wasn't the one who acted like she was 'asleep' just so she didn't have to talk to me."

What!? He had known? But-

He noticed my look of surprise and smirked evilly. "Yeah Princess," He said in the same hostile voice as before. "I noticed that little act of yours."

I stared at him for a moment, mirroring his stare, and didn't know what to say. It took me a while to find my voice back, but when I did I dared to finally ask,

"Was that the reason you were...?"

I paused a second in the middle of my whisper, not sure how to phrase it.

"Like 'that'?"

Ok, the 'that' wasn't really clear, especially not because the only thing I did was gesture at him to try and clarify. He seemed to know what I meant though, his anger fading from his face instantly as he heard my soft, and pained, voice.

He nodded once, looking a bit ashamed of the fact but that soon disappeared again.

My heart was going at it with what felt like a million miles an hour. He hadn't been hostile towards me because he hadn't wanted the kiss to have happened, he had only seen me pretend to be asleep, which gave him the wrong impression. But if that were true, then...

"So, you didn't mind 'what happened'?"

This time he was the one to be caught off guard, his eyebrows shooting up as he stared at me in disbelief.

"What?" He asked in confusion.

I blushed again, turning around and muttering a 'nothing'. Maybe I should've just kept my mouth shut, I thought. The hope had started to form and was now pressing on me, wanting to crush me.

Suddenly I felt two hands on my hips, spinning me around quickly. A second later I found myself face to face with Daryl Dixon, who's eyes were burning a bright blue color straight into my soul.

He scanned my face as if he was searching for something, obviously not finding it as his eyes narrowed.

"You tellin' me that you..." He started, eyeing me closely. He didn't finish his sentence and I couldn't help myself.

"Didn't mind?" I finished for him, my breath on his face like his was on mine. He nodded almost unnoticably and I couldn't help the skipping of my heart as I dared to shake my head lightly. "No," I whispered softly, feeling his body close to mine and having to swallow before I could continue. "I didn't mind one bit."

I admitted it. Not only to myself, but to Daryl! I bit my lip as I waited for him to say something, anything. Instead though his eyes were still scanning my face, searching my soul.

He had me pressed up against the washing machine, his hands still lingering on my hips. I was leaned back slightly, in quite an uncomfortable position, but didn't dare move closer.

"I'm-" he started, his breath hitching in his throat. "I'm not very good with this..." he admitted, looking rather.. ashamed?

I had to focus hard on what he was saying, instead of the feel of his body against mine. I didn't quite understand what he meant though, he had been damn good at kissing and he probably was as good at other things. I couldn't let my mind trail though, he was waiting for me to say something.

"With what?" I asked in barely a whisper, my throat closing up at the butterflies in my stomach. His lips were so close, so very close, but he was saying something, something important. Something I had to listen to.

"With dealing with.." he paused, not sure how to go on and I saw it.

I didn't think. Much like I hadn't thought in the kitchen. Right then though I had thought to have made a big mistake, now that wasn't it.

I kissed him on impulse, my heart beating twice as fast at his sudden confession. He didn't have to finish his sentence to let me know what he meant.

When I had said goodbye this morning, I had never expected this turn of events. I'd never expected he would say this and most of all I hadn't expected to ever kiss Daryl again. But I sure as hell didn't mind.

As I leaned back again after a quick kiss his eyes were wide in surprise and wonder. "What-" he started but I interrupted him.

"It'll be fine." I told him with a reassuring smile. I probably wouldn't be as certain in a few minutes, but right now I was and that was enough. "We'll work something out." I continued. "We've been surviving walkers for months, we should be able to handle each other, no?" I joked, trying to lighten the mood just a bit.

He smiled smally, reaching up with his hand and stroking my hair back tenderly, making me shiver involuntarily. "I hope you're right." He whispered, "I didn't like our.." he hesitated. "Fight, much."

I chuckled softly, knowing what he meant. For a moment our eyes locked and then he leaned in, touching his lips lightly against mine and taking my breath away in the process.

I let him part my lips with his tongue, allowing him entrance once again. We intensified the kiss, my arms moving up around his neck automatically as I wanted to pull myself up, closer to him. He locked his arms around my lower back, pulling me in as our lips molded together in a perfect rhythm.

"Kaitlinn I-" Andrea's voice suddenly sounded as she came walking in on us. Her eyes widened the moment she saw the two of us locking lips and if I could've I would've backed away from Daryl as far as possible. I was however standing against the washing machine, which I couldn't walk through and Daryl didn't seem to be planning on backing away anytime soon. He actually didn't seem fazed at all by Andrea's sudden appearance.

"I- err- I'm sorry," Andrea stammered. "I should better..." she gestured back to the house and took a step backward.

"No, that's alright Andrea. What did you want to say?" I asked her quickly as I pulled my lips from Daryl's. It wasn't easy to focus on her as Daryl's breath was still on me, but I managed.

Andrea looked a little uncomfortable but then seemed to shrug it off. "Lisbeth asked me to ask you if you'd like to help make dinner..." She then said, eyeing us both.

"Sure," I replied. "I'll be right there!"

She nodded and then turned around awkwardly, quickly making her way back to the house and leaving us behind.

I took a deep breath before turning my head back to Daryl, who was watching me intently with his blue eyes that made another shiver run down my spine.

"I better get cooking," I told him. He didn't move for some time, but eventually he took a step back and I was free to go.

Before I left him though I turned back around, needing to know something.

"We're good again right?"

He nodded, an amused smile on his facr that made me smile and sigh in relief as I made my way back to the house as well. Cooking. I never thought I'd be doing that again anytime soon.

But let's be honest, today had turned out quite differently already, so why not add one more thing, or two.

Please review 'cause I need to know if it was ok or not...