Disclaimer #1: I do not own any characters from "The Walking Dead." They are the property of Robert Kirkman, Glenn Mazzera and AMC. No money is changing hands in the writing, reading or distribution of this story.

Disclaimer #2: Any similarities to any specific persons, living or dead, is unintended.

Warning: This chapter contains sexual descriptions.

Badass and Beauty

Total Words in Chapter:

Chapter 50

"You ain't gotta eat it now," Daryl said, watching yet another stand-off between Grecia and her food, "I know you don't wanna eat nothin' with someone else around, makin' ya all nervous about it," Daryl paused, then his hand closed over the door lever and Grecia's stomach clenched, knowing what he was thinking. "I'll leave, you want me to. Let y'eat and just come back in a few."

"No!" Grecia replied immediately and boldly, taking one hand off of her bowl and staying the one of Daryl's that threatened to open the driver's side door. They sat in his old, blue pickup truck, a salad bowl filled with a biscuit, some green beans and collard greens and whatever the meat was that Grecia had smelled cooking while she sat out on the front porch. Carol had no doubt packed it up for her; Daryl wasn't the type to think about a main course, two sides and bread that also managed to be nicely balanced into one protein two vegetables and a starch. No, had Daryl been who grabbed up some food for her, Grecia would have been looking down into a big dish of nothing but meat right now, and Daryl wouldn't have thought anything of it.

But now came the hard part…eating it. Daryl was right, Grecia didn't want anyone to see her eat…but she was hungry, so hungry, that sandwich this morning, a whole sandwich, seemed like all it did was trip her hungry alarm more than it did shut it off…Grecia wanted to eat again…but she also wanted to be with Daryl…she was starting to feel like she knew too much what with Lori's reaction to Andrea's "I own Shane" kind of defense of him…Grecia wanted to be with her man and forget about Shane, Andrea and Lori for a little while, but if she gave in and ate, the she would be sacrificing her sparse alone time with Daryl…Greacia shouldn't have been as torn as she was, but she was.

Daryl chuckled some as he watched her, her eyes moving from the dish of food to him and then back to the other again and again. "It's okay, Greesh," he told her. "I'll do whatever I gotta do so's you can get some food in you. You want me to just turn my head away so you can eat?"

Grecia shook her head, giving him a strange look. "That would be too weird and silly," she said, and it would have been…her eating, with Daryl in the truck, while Daryl tried not to look at her. "I mean, it's only dinner…not like I'm changing my underwear or something."

At that Daryl looked over at her, one eyebrow arched. "That'd be harder to turn my head away from, honestly."

For some reason, Grecia hadn't been expecting that comment; it made her skin blush and she felt hot all over, started giggling like some idiot school girl…flashed a closed lip grin back at Daryl, her eyes alive with how much she kind of liked it when he talked like that…and she did…but at the same time, it kind of made her feel shaky and nervous…in a good way. She knew that Daryl wanted to do more than just hold her and kiss her, she'd felt his body ready to go further than either of them were more than a few times…but to hear him actually say something like that? Wow…oh God…that was…hmm…wow, oh God, sorta summed it up! Maybe she wasn't quite as hungry, for food, as Grecia thought…she set the bowl down on the dashboard, let it slide up against the windshield, thinking back to this morning, up against the wall on the porch…but realized she had no idea what she was going to say…the situation called for something sexy…but that had never been something Grecia could pull off unless she had on some barely there outfit and half a dozen photographers and other coach types telling her to look this way or do that. Hmm…what were the chances that she made it through whatever it was she was about to attempt right now with Daryl without looking foolish?

"What if I'm not wearing any underwear?" She wasn't sure if that was funny, or sexy…or maybe both…if something could be both…could something be both? Funny and sexy just seemed like two things that should cancel each other out somehow. So, what had she done just now with what she'd said? It was almost like a grenade…toss out the words, and wait for Daryl's reaction. Would he laugh? Or would he—suddenly Grecia's back was against the ripped vinyl of the passenger side seat of the truck, Daryl on her and around her in a shot, his mouth colliding down on hers in a hurry, but this time, he knew where he was going, his slightly parted lips matching up on hers almost perfectly, kissing her hard…really hard…so much momentum that his forehead knocked into Grecia's with enough force to make a cracking sound.

"Ow!" She couldn't help saying, even though she didn't want to mess up the kiss she was still trying to be in with Daryl…but Grecia couldn't help it, more shocked by the impact than she was hurt, but still…damn it…was she ever going to be good at this kissing stuff? She was always in the wrong place…no matter that she was sitting, standing or laying down…something was always in Daryl's way.

And Daryl was retreating now…which sucked…a lot…and he sighed heavily. "Jesus," he groaned, sitting up and pulling Grecia up with him. "I ain't believin' this keeps happenin!" He put his hands on either side of her face, twisting her head from side to side as he surveyed the latest damage. "God damn dead people walkin' 'round all over the place eatin' everythin' in sight, and for you and me, the protection we gotta worry 'bout the most is kissin' helmets!"

Daryl was serious…so serious that Grecia couldn't help laughing. "I'm okay," she insisted as he still looked her over, reaching out to turn the ignition just enough to get the interior light to come on so he could get a better look at her, but Daryl turned it off again quick before anyone could have noticed, apparently satisfied that she really was okay. Hmm…maybe what she had said was sexy after all? Daryl hadn't been laughing when he'd jumped on her…and Grecia was already thinking of how to get him to do it again…with some appropriate safety rules that she'd thought they'd agreed on previously paid attention to next time. "I thought someone was supposed to say 'go?'" She asked, and casually ran her fingers over her forehead on the pretext of brushing her hair out of her face…but really she was feeling for any lumps…and there weren't any, she was pretty sure, anyway. "I didn't say 'go,' did I?" Grecia asked, now afraid that their most recent collision could have been her fault, replaying her words in her head…oh no…it kind of was her fault! Her eyes went wide, "I said 'underwear!'" She half squealed; her hand flying to her mouth now...she'd maybe been a little too sexy and got Daryl rowed up?

But if that had been the case, Daryl was laughing now, rubbing at his own forehead some and it was at least good to see him not blaming himself any longer. He took a deep breath, seemed to be settling down again like he really did want to talk to her about something. "How 'bout your tea? Think you can drink somethin' around me? Or's that just as scary as eatin'?"

Her tea? Oh yeah! Grecia was so distracted…and pleasantly so, about thoughts of Daryl jumping on her…and underwear…that she'd completely forgotten that Daryl had brought food to her in the first place. She reached down and picked up the little plastic bottle that had formerly held some store bought spring water, but was now full of rich, dark, caramel colored sweet tea…flavored up with that artificial lemon juice stuff that Carol knew she liked…and also full of sugar…sugar…first peanut butter…now sugar…did she dare drink tea with that much sugar in it…in front of Daryl? She wouldn't have to risk looking like some lip-smacking slop-highness if she just took a sip of tea…it wasn't like eating exactly…but it was full of sugar…sugar that was the number one cause of obesity…back when that particular kind of thing was considered an epidemic…wow, how the world had changed now! Hmm…the world had changed…and so had Grecia…and she was with Daryl, who understood…who took her word for things…because she was a Dixon…Grecia smiled, looked down at the bottle of tea and started to untwist the cap, Daryl watching her and then turning his whole body around, his back to her as he looked out of the driver's side window.

"It's okay," Grecia told him, but as soon as she'd said those words she started to feel kind of apprehensive…was it okay? She was going to take a drink of sugar laden tea, with Daryl looking on? Well…she was trying to get over her food issues, and being seen while eating was part of that…and really, tea, with Daryl, couldn't have been a better starting place for that…even if the thought of it did make her nervous. "Daryl, you don't have to look away," Grecia said again, hoping he didn't notice how much her voice quivered. "I mean…yeah, it's kind of…scary, but it's also kind of okay, because it's you; I wouldn't even be considering doing this if it were anyone other than you…so, turn around…I'll be okay…eventually."

Slowly, Daryl turned his broad shoulders, pivoting at his narrow waist and once more facing Grecia. "You sure?"

She nodded, took a deep breath, lifted the bottle of tea…and sugar…a lot of sugar…up closer to her mouth. "Just…" but Grecia was so anxious now she had no idea what she had been about to say or even meant to communicate by it. "I don't know…but, yeah…"

Daryl nodded like he somehow understood anyway, looking as anxious as Grecia felt, his hands once again trying to find a place to be that wasn't on her, but sort of at the ready incase she needed, like, a spotter or something…and if Grecia wasn't so amped up over the sip of tea…and sugar…she was about to take, she'd have laughed at the idea of a sweet tea spotter…sounded like a potentially wet job. But the silliness of it was enough to settle her down just enough to raise the bottle higher to her mouth, then higher, then higher…Daryl's eyes moving like lights on an upwards turned stereo volume control as he watched the bottle tipping more and more towards her lips…and then, plastic rested gently against Grecia's mouth, and a cool, tangy, sweet, perfume-y deluge of tea filled her mouth…sugar…a big mouthful of sugar now sliding down her throat…Grecia for a moment so close to just halting mid swallow and scrambling to open the passenger side window behind her and spitting it all out…sugar…so much sugar…but somehow her eyes sought out the steely blue of Daryl's…and when they met, she just swallowed what was in her mouth…down and gone…done.

She gasped as thought that little bit of tea had drowned her, her eyes still on Daryl's and his still on hers as she replaced the plastic cap on the bottle again, and now a new fear gripped her…she didn't want a celebration…no applause…it was only some stupid sweet tea…and sugar…a lot of attention paid to this and Grecia was going to feel worse, not better. But Daryl…wonderful, incredible Daryl…Grecia's heart about exploded with love for him…Dixon's didn't make over hardly nothin' at all, and this weren't no damn exception. Daryl just let the corner of his mouth turn up into that smug, smirky grin that was all his and shook his head at her some, like he would have bet against her almost, but was so happy to have been proven wrong.

"C'mere!" He half growled at her, a good growl, coming from deep in that broad, muscled chest, his strong arms already grabbing her up and tangling her to him, but he didn't hoot or holler or even kiss her like crazy. He just hugged her to him tightly, and pressed a little kiss to her temple. But that was it…no fanfare, not even a "good job" as if she were a puppy who'd finally learned to piddle outside. Daryl just held her, wrapped those big, powerful, striated arms around her and held her…letting all his physical strength mix with the strength Grecia was finding in herself, and it was quiet for a little while…the two of them becoming closer in that silence, a brand new sense of how they'd always be there for one another growing between them…no matter that one day they were going to go to kiss each other and knock each other unconscious.

"So, what's in my dinner dish?" Grecia asked, contently nestled in Daryl's arms and feeling brave enough to at least discuss food, even if she wasn't ready to put anything in her mouth and chew it up in front of anyone yet. "It smelled kind of good…is it…that vermin stuff?"

"Vermin? Why you wanna be eatin' vermin for?" Daryl asked and chuckled again, not taking his arms off of her one bit. But then he sighed and kind of laughed. "Look, I realize you ain't got the whole jist 'a food and eatin' it yet, and yeah, there's been tough times when I had to eat a nutria, or even a proper rat or two, but let's not get ta' eatin' vermin unless we gotta, okay?"

Grecia laughed, shifted a bit so she could lay her head on his strong shoulder a little better…really wanting to worm her hand inside his shirt…Daryl said once that she could rip his shirt off…did that still apply? "I meant deer meat," she clarified with a sigh. "What's it called? It starts with a 'V' doesn't it?"

Meat…Grecia was wanting some meat…the meat under Daryl's shirt…he had a beautiful chest…nice broad shoulders…his upper body did things to her that nothing ever did to her before…Grecia could never remember being so hopped up to take a man's shirt off and cover his chest and shoulder with kisses…then take her own top off and rub her nipples against his…oh…what was that? Some new little twinge, almost like a mild electric shock that ran up her thigh and danced right into a part of herself Grecia used to try hard not acknowledge she even had…but she had it…boy, did she have it…and it was letting her know she did right now...one little thought about rubbing her nipples against Daryl's and there was an almost swelling kind of sensation within…within…hmm…within! And there was a very pleasant wetness too…something she'd often heard about, but hadn't experienced herself much without a tube of artificial lubricant…but that wetness really was something…like that was key to things feeling good…that part of her seemed to have ripened into something that Grecia was wanting Daryl to pick…but it wasn't like those thoughts were coming from her mind…or like they were thoughts at all…

She was beginning to wonder what Daryl was doing to her…she'd never felt any of this with anyone else…so it must have been something specific to him…some kind of backwoods know how when it came to greasing a woman up or something…greasing a woman up? Had she really just thought that? Wow…and even further than wow was that it wasn't at all repulsive! She looked up at Daryl, let her eyes find his and just stare into them until it was hard to tell what was steely blue and what was the world around her. Somehow she found his hand in that darkness and pressed her palm to his, so suddenly aware of how much bigger Daryl's hand was than hers, how much longer and thicker his fingers were than hers, realizing how soft her own skin was when compared to the roughness and toughness of his own hands that had chopped wood, fixed engines, field dressed and skinned out game…rough, strong hands…that would feel so good pressing deep between her thighs into swelling, wet flesh that for the first time ever was begging to be touched.

There was something alive in the truck with them, between them, something hypnotic that hadn't just cast its spell on Grecia alone; Daryl's hand slid from hers, but never broke contact with her skin, his fingers gently skimming from her palm, down the belly of her forearm, the sensation tickling pleasurably, until his hand came to rest on her waist, pulling her more upright and shifting her around until Grecia was on her knees, but astride him, between him and the steering wheel, her eyes still on his.

It was quiet, but not really, her heart pounding slowly and steady, but hard, in her ears, each beat like a slow blink of her eye, seeming to block out just enough of what she did to make Grecia have to rely more on what she felt than what she saw to tell her what it was she was doing. She felt fabric beneath her hands, then hot skin and rigid muscle like bent steel beams…her hands gripping Daryl's shoulders as his own softly and slowly moved down from her waist to her hips, both of them looking at one another with some sort of resignation, each excusing the other from all the modest and awkward things that ever kept them from touching one another like they did now, permission being given to go further.

One of Daryl's hands sank gradually past her hip, gripping her hard, but not as hard as what he had that morning, maybe remembering how that had made them both feel, but that feeling was gone now, replaced by a new and voracious need to be near one another, a fire lit and consuming the fuel that was every touch, demanding more. Grecia closed her eyes, felt a pulse brand new to her body, a throbbing that radiated out from the part of her that never seemed to feel anything, but was quickly taking control, twisting something inside her tighter and tighter, drawing Daryl's fingers down her thigh…and they froze there, stopped, didn't move another inch despite how Grecia felt Daryl's hand shake with the want to continue on its journey. Why had he stopped? What had she done to make him think he had to stop?

"I gotta know somethin'," Daryl's voice was so hushed it was almost like a raspy breath and not a voice at all; Grecia could feel it against her neck and without realizing it, she leaned into it, her skin hungry for whatever contact she could get from him, but Daryl fought to stay focused on what he was trying to say, giving her a little bit of a shake to make her do the same. "Ain't the smartest thing probably, but I still wanna know," he told her, voice still a breathy whisper, both his hands at her waist now, like he was trying to hold them apart and put some distance between them long enough to talk…and with the way things were feeling…maybe he had to.

"What?" Grecia asked, realizing her eyes were still half hooded, her entire being reluctant to wake from this fantastic force that drew her to him...but Daryl's hands squeezed hard, further bringing her into the here and now.

But he wasn't so totally awakened from this spell himself, looking up at her with smoky blue eyes. "You alright with…you know, havin' my last name and all?"

Grecia's eyes popped open and she looked down at him almost fully alert, but still trapped just under the entrancing surface of what simmered between them. "Y'ar to me" once again echoed in her head…she'd been wondering so many times about that…and now Daryl had gone and called it what it was…he'd given her his last name…and he was asking now if she wanted it. "You mean like…" what was she asking? Why was she even asking anything? But that momentary pause did nothing to dissuade her breathy babbling…he couldn't mean…he was Daryl, he didn't want them to be…but there was only one way to find out for sure, but getting there made Grecia start to tremble and shake. "Like we're…like I'm your—"

Daryl's arms pulled sudden and tight around her so forceful and hard that he could have possibly broken her back if Grecia didn't have his chest to crash into for support, and Daryl held her to him with crushing force, but his eyes never left hers, burning like two smoldering blue coals. "You afraid to say it?" He asked her, his voice a little louder and deeper and meaner, but in a Dixon way that had more to do with fierceness than it did anger or hatred. "Carol says we oughta slow down some, get what we are figured out…I give her my word we would, and I'm tryin' like two hells ta' keep it too…but when I'm with ya, I know what we are, damn it! And I ain't never been knowed for thinkin' on shit too long. When I know somethin' I know it! And I know I want you, Greesh." He softened some, his hands and arms trying to wrap around her even more, like trying to tie her up in himself so she couldn't get away, despite that Grecia wasn't trying to, and didn't want to. "I know you love me," he told her, staring at her through this new haze of longing and desire, his voice demanding but his eyes revealing how vulnerable his heart truly was, like he'd cracked open his chest and laid it bear and beating right before her and it moved Grecia near to tears.

"Daryl," she couldn't help but breathe, her hands holding tight to his muscled shoulders, feeling tremors coming through his skin, something passionate just under its surface, something beyond either of their control, and she watched his smoky blue eyes close at the sound of his name on her voice like he were savoring it in some part of him that so rarely got to take it in and he groaned as it hit him…the sound reverberating against Grecia's ribs she was held so tight against him, the tiny shock waves further toying with all the new sensations sprawling beneath her ever dampening panties, overtaking her, her body gaining more and more leverage over her mind.

Daryl breathed in suddenly, his mouth half open like sucking at the air between them, like he could taste her scent on it, and he growled again, every muscle taut as he looked up at her and pulled her down to him. "Take my name; take it and let's get it straight what it means that you did." His hold on her tightened again, Grecia surprised that it was possible for it to, Daryl's words making her feel faint, the hardness of his strong body all that held her upright…was this truly happening? Grecia was stunned to near senselessness, hung on his every word, ready to agree to whatever it was he said, wanted to just melt into him and never be separated from him again, the energy boiling off of Daryl scalding her, scarring her as his even before he spoke, his hands getting rougher with her as something built inside him, poised to blow like pulled trigger.

"I wanna have ya, I wanna have ya right here, in this God damn truck, I wanna fuck you so hard the only man you'll ever remember touchin' you'ill be me, and I wanna feel that you're mine…my wife," he told her, voice strong with so many things that went beyond ordinary, testosterone driven maleness; he was all Dixon now, out of breath, not to messed with, and running hot. "And I ain't askin' ya…I'm tellin' ya!"

Wife…Grecia remembered shuddering, felt something break free within her that obliterated everything that still whispered demandingly at her to ignore this, to not notice that a man touched her, that he wanted to fuck her, something so much larger and stronger than any need for detachment shattering what she thought had been a need to hold back. Something felt like it exploded in the truck, making it feel almost as it if the vehicle itself had flipped over and was rolling down a hill, but it was only that she'd been flung onto her back again, Daryl above her quickly, but not just above her…mounting her, though clothing still separated them, something harder and much much larger than was his belt buckle shoving itself brazenly into the swelled, wet place still beneath her clothing that Grecia could feel contracting, readying for the big, huge, hard, thick cock as if it were pressed to her slick entrance.

It felt good…even between all the layers of clothing Grecia felt herself dissolving into pure want of the near to aching sweetness being released throughout her. But…was this really going to happen this way? All rushed and spur of the moment? She felt herself moving against Daryl, her hips fighting to get open more and shove into his as he did the same above her, both of them fighting for the most exquisite friction as they kissed, lips, and tongues working furiously and flawlessly, sucking hard at whatever they met, devouring one another with no cares of safety or control. It was amazing and dangerous; the two of them tearing into one another like they shared their very own ravenous infection, starving for a taste of one another that may never get enough to be satisfied. She wanted Daryl, she wanted him to fuck her, she wanted him to make her cum, she wanted…wanted…she wanted more time than what they had, she wanted more space…a bed, a candle or two flickering in the darkness…she wanted time to look at his beautiful, strong body and let him see hers…she wanted exploration and a slowly burning build up to the moment they'd be one…but…here they were, a crazed mass of appetites too long deprived.

She heard fabric stretch and then quickly tear, the sound of a ricocheting button whistling faintly as it dinged off the floorboards, but Grecia wasn't sure if it had been her who had yanked Daryl's shirt open, or him…she just knew he was bare chested now, all the lavish muscle and skin naked above her, her hands and mouth anxious to claim it, but Daryl's own hunger and his amazing strength keeping her pinned beneath him as he grabbed at the hem of her shirt, about to give it a tug fiercely up and over her head, one of his hand already clutching her breast beneath her shirt, squeezing it hard, his thumb playing at her stiffening nipple through her bra…Grecia all of a sudden knowing what it was to lose her mind and want a man…and want to be his wife…

But their carnal chaos was abruptly demolished, their bodies hot and twisted around one another's, seeking the only union left to find, were pulled apart by a sharp tapping…a knocking sound on the driver's side window…and a light was shined partially into the cab of the truck. What the hell? Who could be out there? And what did they want?

Daryl sat up in a flash, "fuck!" he yelled all the desire in him going immediately to rage, panting and punching at the steering wheel before he could even look to see who it was knocking on the window or why, while Grecia did her best to get herself righted. Her body was so confused, once so frigid when it came to sex, and then only moments ago so miraculously needing it, needing Daryl's big, huge, hard, thick cock…needing Daryl…and then at it the peak of wanting Daryl to…wanting Daryl to fuck her, it had all been blown apart by the rapping of a flashlight on the window…leaving her so…discontented…embarrassed…and a kinda pissed off, too! She sat up, pulling her shirt down, trying to forget what she'd almost done with Daryl, but only because she could no longer take the shock and disappointment that it hadn't gotten the chance to happen…even if she had wanted it to happen differently from how it almost had happened…but her body was still in gear for it too, like an engine primed but not gunned.

"God damn it," Daryl was still muttering, but seemed to be settling at least a little…by Dixon standards, anyway. He was still breathing kind of heavy, as she glanced over at her, frustration coloring his face, but his steely blue eyes looked more like he missed her, obviously not ready to have been pulled away from her, and it wasn't all for physical reasons…Grecia realizing the same about herself…she wanted to be close to Daryl…he saw them as married, he'd meant to…consummate that…and even though they hadn't it was already the most incredible sexual experience of Grecia's life…the pleasure it promised her hinting at just how close to her man…her husband…she could feel; she wanted that most of all.

"You okay?" She half whispered to Daryl, and then wasn't sure if that was a stupid question or not…but, was he? Grecia didn't know what it did to a man to have to just shut down like that…particularly when he was as hard as she'd been able to feel Daryl was.

Daryl was too busy shaking his head and forming some kind of conspiracy theory. "It's like she knows," he was mumbling. "Go and God damn cross 'Mama Dixon,' and it ain't nothin' but fuckin' blue balls…" but before Grecia could even react, or think to ask how serious 'blue balls' were, or were for that matter, Daryl sighed and began to roll down the driver's side window…and there stood Rick…a smirking Rick…holding his big, black, department issue flashlight.

"Evenin' folks," Rick began, once more in cop mode, but this time, he was just messing with them, on purpose…getting back at Daryl no doubt for how Daryl went and played out the 'domestic call' scene that morning after he and Grecia's fight. It would have been funny if Grecia hadn't been looking forward to sex for the first time ever in her life…but she didn't say anything…just looked at Rick and tried to further settle herself, wondering if he knew exactly what he'd interrupted…thinking that he couldn't have…otherwise, Rick wouldn't have…he wasn't the type to go ruining anyone else's wedding night…wedding night? Yeah, it kind of was…and Grecia didn't want her wedding night to be in some pick-up truck! There was a thing as too Dixon!

No, Rick had no idea what he'd interrupted, that was for sure! Grecia just hoped that Daryl didn't punch him out, but kind of laughed at the thought of it as Rick continued, being a total cop again. "I'm officer Grimes, of the King County Sheriff's Department. I apologize for the disturbance, but it is my duty to inform you that you are parked on private land, and we generally discourage this type of behavior in a motor vehicle." Rick paused, shined his flashlight full on in the cab of the truck, revealing the sharpest scowl that Grecia had ever seen on Daryl's face, but she knew things weren't going to get too much worse than that out of him…Daryl by now having figured out that this was Rick's idea of turning the cop tables on him for that 'domestic call.' And Rick wasn't done either, "Could I see some ID for the two of you, please?"

Daryl started nodding, something that looked like a smile, but really wasn't, pulling tight across his lips. "Sure. No problem, officer!" He about spat at Rick, then Daryl fumbled around with his hand like he was digging out a wallet, raising his hand again, empty, but with middle finger fully extended in Rick's face. "There. That do for you, officer Grimes?" He snarled, and neither Rick nor Grecia could help laughing at that point.

"I deserved that," Rick sighed, still laughing…but Daryl still scowled…Grecia thinking she should do something to try and comfort Daryl some, but she wasn't sure what that would entail, so she just gave Daryl a soft smile, not daring to say the words "I love you" with Rick present, but hoping Daryl would understand them nonetheless…and when his head gave a slight nod, his features softening a bit, she knew he did. Daryl shook off the most of the tension now and turned back to Rick.

"Yeah, you did," Daryl agreed, but then sighed himself. "Anythin' else you'd like ta' get your cuffs on and ruin for me tonight?"

"Well," Rick replied, and now he looked serious, his eyes catching both Grecia's and Daryl's. "Actually, I came out here to get you both for something valid." He paused, his eyes meeting both Daryl's and Grecia's again, but this time holding them steadily and earnestly. "I took a look at that shotgun," he said, and then sighed once more. "You're gonna want to see this."

Author's Note: Once again, I am so sorry to be skipping out early here, but today got complicated and I ended up finishing this chapter at quarter of 4am! I hate not being able to talk to you all, but you know that I will in the next chapter! No one worry about me, because I'm fine, but had a minor car accident today in the rain (not my fault) and I've been dealing with all that crap for a majority of the day…hate it! But, I did get the chapter finished! Yay! And sorry if you all hate me for ending it where it did…but come on, admit it: you want them in a bed with lots of time to "get to know" one another too, don't you?;-) Thanks again for reading and for reviewing and I will talk to you all tomorrow! I owe several of you replies to PM's and I will be catching up with you ASAP, particularly you, SIS! (You know who you are!lol) Thanks again, sorry for the short AN and I hope like hell that your Tuesday is better than my Monday was! All the very best to all of you! - Grace

Special Thanks to BEINGLOLASTAR for putting me on her author alert list! Wow! I feel like I've just made the major leagues! Thank you so much, Lola!