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

The Country Singer

By Leah Pensotti

Chapter 45

Once he and Michonne had made it back to Alexandria, Daryl found Carol immediately and briefed her on everything that had happened. She was happy to see both him and Michonne, as the community had been laying in wait for something bad to happen. She made them mugs of hot tea as Michonne went up to the tower to keep watch.

"I take it Mellie is at Hilltop. Is Maggie there, too?"

Daryl nodded solemnly, he wished Melanie was with him. He didn't like the threat Negan had made so publically against her. In fact, it made Daryl want to kill Negan with his bare hands.

They sat on Carol's front porch, keeping watch for anyone or anything that might show up unexpectedly.

"Negan wants Mellie bad. I can't have her here. Hilltop is larger, more places to hide and blend in. Maggie has her reasons to be there...I can't say I blame her."

He had been thinking a lot about the conversation that he and Melanie had about marriage, and the more he thought about it...the more he wanted it. He wanted her...for the rest of his life. He knew that marriage didn't mean anything in the larger scheme of things, in this new world. But he realized it meant something to him. He never thought it would mean something to him, but he figured it was because of Melanie. She made it different.

Leaving her that morning had been the hardest thing he had ever done. Walking away from her had hurt like hell.

Carol put her hand on Daryl's arm, "You have got to be clear headed...all of this...we need to put an end to it. It's what Mellie would want you to do."

Daryl agreed with that. Once Negan was out of the way, they could breathe easier. Make plans for the town, growing food...at least until the next big bad showed up. There always seemed to be someone worse on deck, wearing the black hat.

He said goodnight to Carol and walked to the house that he and Melanie had shared. It was like they had never left. He expected to see her sitting in the living room, fiddling with her guitar with bare feet.

Daryl built a fire and sat on the little couch, thinking about the nights that he and Mellie had spent there. First as total strangers, drinking buddies, friends, lovers and now...what they had surpassed all of that. He didn't have the words to describe how he felt about her. He took out the ziplock bag from his vest pocket and took out the lyrics to the song she wrote just for him and the braided bit of hair.

Maggie was right. He had turned into a total sap.


Two days after mangling her own hands beating the shit out of Gregory, Melanie was helping Dr. Carson and Maggie load up a van with food, medical supplies and some knives that Earl Sutton managed to make in the short span of time. They were going back to Alexandria, but they didn't know what to expect once they got there.

Gregory had said it was a bloodbath. Melanie was praying for the opposite...maybe it was exaggeration or histrionics on that weasel's part. She packed her backpack with the pictures of her mother and Adam and took the paperback of Wuthering Heights that Jesus had loaned her.

She holstered her gun on her hip, the machete on the opposite one and tucked her newly sharpened hunting knife in her boot. Melanie had broken her middle and index fingers on her right hand, and any sort of fight would prove to be difficult.

But she didn't care.

Dr. Carson had taped her fingers together, but did not have the materials for a cast. She would do what she would have to, to keep her family safe.

Gregory was locked in a room at the mansion, two guards were at his door around the clock. Maggie had stepped up, preparing the people at Hilltop for what was coming. Placing more men and women on the walls, having Earl working overtime making what weapons he could over the course of a few days and to continue while they were gone.

Melanie was impressed with her friend. Gone were the days of wanting to hide. Now she wanted to mobilize...and the people where behind her. She had taken the lead almost seamlessly.

Gregory, while indignant, told them everything that had happened at the Sanctuary. How Negan's stronghold fell. Melanie was angered by how Negan had called Daryl out, trying to get under his skin.

She was even more angry that he had referred to her "ginger pussy" and how much she was going to like Negan fucking her.

She thought not.

Melanie wanted to kill Negan. To rid the new world of his ugliness. She could only imagine how Daryl had felt in that moment, knowing that no one was going to talk about his girl that way.

And she was his, and no one else's. That would never be fogotten, blurred or confused.

Melanie, Maggie, and ten others all loaded up and started the journey to Alexandria. Melanie was excited to come home...but was worried what she would find.


Rick, Jesus, Ezekiel and their men and women had returned to Alexandria a day after the attack on the outposts. They had taken one successfully, but not without losses. Eric had been killed and Aaron was angry and inconsolable. He brought Eric's body back home for a proper burial. The whole of Ezekiel's team was wiped out, including the mighty Shiva.

Rick gathered everyone in Gabriel's church, and talked about the danger that was coming, that there was little doubt that Negan would turn his eye to Alexandria. They had to be ready, they all had to fight.

As Rick finished the word "fight," the church was rocked by the impact of an explosion. Then another...and another.

Rick told Carol to keep everyone calm, that they were going to the gate. Michonne drew her sword, Jesus ran ahead and Daryl felt his heart racing as he readied a bolt for his bow. Negan and his men stood at the gate, calling for Rick to show his face.

They had grenades, and were throwing them over the walls like they were lobbing softballs. Houses had holes in them and there was fire. Rick looked to Daryl and his eyes were wide, "Go back to the church. Alert everyone. We need to get them out...Away. Make sure Carl and Judith are okay."

Daryl nodded and turned to run, his heart beating in his ears and his adrenaline kicking in. Once he got to the church, Carol took Judith and everyone made a run for the back of the town, where the construction crew had been attempting to fortify a wall.

Grenades were raining down on them, one finally hitting close enough to wipe them out. Daryl's head hit hard on the concrete. He heard someone yelling Rick's name. It wasn't Negan...but sounded familiar.

He felt someone take his hand, and Carol appeared in his periphery. The smoke from the explosion hurt his eyes, he felt limp and useless. Carol disappeared and he could hear her saying "Thank God."

Daryl thought he was dead when he saw a familiar red head, "Daryl? Baby...you got to stay awake until Dr. Carson comes. We have a lot of injured."

His head was swimming and he thought he had died, all he could do was reach for her and said, "Angel?"


Melanie saw the smoke rising in the distance as they approached Alexandria. They were there. Negan and his men were there.

There wasn't too many of them, so when they saw the caravan coming, they high tailed it out of town. Melanie wanted to chase after them and scream obscenities, like how this ginger pussy was going to be the one doing the fucking.

But the smoke and holes in the houses of Alexandria dissuaded her from that. As soon as they got close Enid recognized Melanie and Maggie and opened the gates for them to come in. Dr. Carson started calling for Rick, while Maggie and Melanie ran the streets, trying to find their people.

Carol saw them first, and hugged Melanie and said, "Thank God."

Maggie attended to Carl and Judith, while Carol lead Melanie to Daryl. He had been stunned by an explosion, and he was more than likely concussed. This being said, she had never been happier to see him. She knelt beside him and cradled his head in her hands.

"Daryl? Baby...you got to stay awake until Dr. Carson comes. We have a lot of injured."

Daryl's eyes rolled around wildly, he was clearly seeing stars. he reached his hand out to Melanie and whispered, "Angel?"

Melanie nearly laughed and shook her head, "Oh no, you're not dead...and I'm no angel. I am far from it. Hold on, Daryl."

Jesus and Morgan came by and carried Daryl back to their house. The clinic had been damaged, about seventy-five percent of the houses...as well as the solar panels. The electricity was out and Eugene didn't know if it could be mended, but he was going to try.

Their house became a bit of a triage unit, Daryl on the big couch and Rick on the little one. Carl was exhausted and Melanie got him set up in the extra bedroom while Dr. Carson tended to Rick and Daryl.

They had lost many, Denise Cloyd among the causalties. Melanie volunteered to take a shift with Judith after everyone went to sleep. She was far from tired, and holding Judith while she slept was actually very comforting. Melanie hummed songs for her as Judith played sleepily with the gold chain around her neck.

They had started a fire in the fireplace and Melanie sat beside the big couch with Judith, hoping that Daryl would wake up soon. Hours passed and he didn't.

While Melanie sang Judith to sleep with "Little Country Songbird," Melanie felt a rough hand on her neck, and she turned around to see Daryl, his eyes half cracked open. Melanie smiled and moved slowly to stand up and sit on the edge of the couch beside him.

"Hey there."

Daryl smiled, "Did ya come to save me again?"

Melanie chuckled, "I did. I'm doing a damn fine job of it too, Princess."

He tried to sit up but Melanie stopped him, "You hit your head really hard. You need to take it easy."

Daryl saw her bandaged hand, "What the hell happened there, Red?"

Melanie shrugged lightly and Judith continued playing with her chain, "Gregory came back to Hilltop. He told us what he did while Dr. Carson was looking him over. He threatened to turn me over to Negan after I punched him a few times. I didn't like how he described me, so I punched him some more. I broke his nose and two of my fingers. "

She saw a small smile pull at Daryl's lips, "Atta girl."

"So, he's being detained. Maggie made the arrangements to bring people here."

"Maggie?"

"Yeah. She's the boss at the moment. I have to say, it suits her."

Judith babbled a bit and Melanie smoothed the hair form her eyes and comforted her. Daryl smiled again and looked surprised, "Ya look more comfortable with her."

Melanie shrugged, "Everyone was so tired. Rick is still out. I sent Carl up to bed. She's been a good distraction. I think she's comforting me as much as I'm comforting her. She's not so scary anymore."

"Red...when all this is over...there's somethin' I think we should do."

She smiled, "Daryl Dixon. I'd do anything for you."

Daryl smiled on return, "I think we should find a pair of rings. Talk to Gabriel."

Melanie's mouth dropped open. He was asking her to marry him...not a discussion like the last time. This was the real deal. She wanted to weep with joy, but thought the better of it. She wished she could tell Adam and her Mama this news.

She just nodded, "Okay. Once Negan's taken care of. It's something I'd like to do, too."


Daryl awoke the next morning, and Melanie was sitting up asleep beside the couch. Judith was passed out against her. He had to admit, he liked seeing Melanie with the baby. It was a good look for her.

He remembered the last words she said to him before falling asleep. She wanted to marry him. If everything panned out with bringing down Negan, he would have a beautiful wife. Not something he had ever allowed himself to imagine...especially not here at the end of the world.

Who knows? If all went right in the world, maybe in a few years...they'd have a baby? He didn't feel like anything was impossible anymore.

Soon, Rick had awoken and Maggie had come downstairs with Dr. Carson and Jesus They both needed to take it easy, but one thing everyone was in agreement with was that the survivors from Alexandria needed to be taken to Hilltop. It wasn't safe for them anymore and Hilltop had the room to accommodate them.

That night, his family would be together again all in the same place as they moved to Hilltop.

Despite the very real threat of war, Daryl Dixon couldn't be any happier.


A/N: hello loves! How about that premiere? Wasn't it amazing?! Up next: Back to Hilltop. Prepping for battle. More fluff.

You guys are so awesome. I have been thinking about doing the same thing with this story that I did with my Rick-fic once it's concluded. Which is write a story with Mellie and Daryl...but no zombie apocalypse. They still cross paths. She's on tour, and he's keeping his older brother out of trouble in Georgia. What do ya'll think? Drop me a line and let me know what ya think :)

Super special shout outs go to: Natalie Laukas (I like our girls bad ass. They needed a call to action, and they got one ;), galwidanatitud (Gregory is SO useless. I promise he will get his! ;), Jean F (Hell hath no fury like Mellie being called the equivalent of "ginger balls" but female. She and Maggie are ready to end this Negan Nonsense :), Angie B (Mama Bears indeed. Melanie has had quite enough lol! :), gillyflower34 (so glad you enjoyed! Here's some more nighttime reading for you :), RebelWhoIsInfactNotARebel (WH is my favorite book of all time, but I will argue it isn't a love story. It's totally a tale of obsession and destruction. But I love it lol.) and to TheFaceOfAlison (Melanie would be more than happy to break that other nose, too! More smut/fluff ahead! :)

Thanks and Love!

Leah P!

xoxo