What if the zombie outbreak happened four years later? What if Lori and Rick got divorced? What if Rick met Daryl before? What if Merle had a reason to not to go on the run to Atlanta? Would Merle still lose his hand and join the Governor? Would Carl still have gotten shot? Would Sophia still have died? Would Shane still have gone a little batty and tried to kill Rick?

Prompt Fill: In Terminus, Gareth tells Rick that, as ringleader, he must pick one of the group in the train car to be sacrificed, but Rick refuses. Gareth attempts to convince Rick to choose by using Daryl, who has obviously already been beaten. To them it's about enjoyment of causing people pain, both physical and mental, not about just getting food.

"You know you have found love when you can't find your way back." This is AU. Being young and surrounded by feuding families can't stop the way you feel. The heart wants what the heart wants even when you know there will be consequences. [Caryl]

Our most basic instinct is not for survival but for family. Most of us would give our own life for the survival of a family member. [ZA AU]

AU. Seventeen year old Merle Dixon comes home long enough to rescue his fifteen year old brother from the hands of their mother. With little more than nothing they take off for Atlanta to start a new life. This is a Caryl fic so you have been warned just in case that isn't your thing.

Fill for prompt on LJ: There's an explosion, details on how this comes about are up to anon. Maybe a few members are mildly injured or maybe they're all just fine, except for Daryl, whose really bad off.

Carol finds herself volunteered to go on a supply run with Daryl and Rick, only problem is-Merle's coming too. What could go wrong? Set originally at Season 3:11 (I ain't a Judas), and now currently at S4. Rated M for language and adult situations. Slow burn Marol.

Thanksgiving is just a few days away, Daryl is acting distant and walled off, and Rick is conflicted when he finds himself seeking more than just Daryl's companionship. It's considerably the worst possible time for a town, outfitted with people and guns, to butt heads with them. Dark themes, torture, angst abound, and ridiculous amounts of fluff constitute this very long slowbuild

The bills keep piling up and if Daryl Dixon has any hope of improving his life, he and his brother are going to have to find someone to fill their spare room to help cover expenses. The problem is that while Daryl can't stand his new roommate, he finds himself falling for his roommate's girlfriend. Pre-ZA AU.

Mac/OC/Daryl Sometimes the very thing you're scared of doing is the very thing that will set you free. Very M. AU ZA

Carol meets Daryl and a week they'll never forget or get over transpires leaving them both changed. Life turns into a rollercoaster as they figure everything out together. [Caryl] NO ZA AU I own nothing of the walking dead.

After Terminus the group finds a small reprieve and Merle decides to intervene in Daryl's personal life in true Merle fashion. It's pretty AU because Merle is alive and he was the one with Carol while the group was separated instead of Tyreese. Just something a little humorous that I never thought I would post. Like everything else. Caryl short story.

Who the hell did this Rick Grimes think he was? Everybody who was anybody knew that this was his Carol. He didn't share. Not happening. No. Fucking. Way. And if this Rick Grimes didn't know this, well then he would very soon because Daryl Dixon might have been a pussy, but he damn sure wasn't going down without a fight. Cop or not. CARYL ONESHOT / RATED M

When Rick Grimes walks into the station with the report of having a Dixon in custody, he expects to see his town's most infamous criminal, Merle Dixon. So it's a shock when he hears it's Merle's kid brother, Daryl, waiting in the next room. (An AU Rickyl fanfiction).

S3 AU: Daryl didn't know how long ago it was-he only counted time in seasons, nowadays. But it was a long time ago. The people he was with found a prison. He thought he'd make it a home. But it didn't work out. He left when he found Merle-and he didn't come back. They went out into the woods, alone. They stayed there some twenty years, before Daryl found a reason to leave, again.

During the winter months, Rick and Daryl's relationship starts to change as they get closer to each other. But dangers all around them put their budding relationship on rocky grounds. If they can survive the dead walking then why not the pitfalls of a relationship?

After Grady the group moves on. No one is sure where they are going or what they will find when they get there but it turns into one hell of a journey. Revelations lead to rivalry within the group and when another tragedy strikes they have to find a way to pick up the pieces and keep going. That's easier said than done for some. Caryl

Following the events of my story Fiend. One shot that follows them after the way things ended. [m/m] [au no za]

After the first camp is overrun, the group spends the night hiding away on the highway. Daryl endures his first night of the apocalypse without Merle, convinced he's utterly alone. Lucky for him Dale's the observant type. [not slash]

They've finally made it to Alexandria, but Daryl has never felt more isolated from his family. Rick can't watch him suffer for long. But it's a far stretch to convince Daryl Dixon he belongs with here, when words never meant much to him anyways.

Season three one shot prompt. Daryl was never with the quarry group. Unlikely circumstances and chance bring him and the group together. [Caryl/Slash] More information inside.

"Now they were fucked. Everything was fucked. And it was all his fault." CARYL, rated T. I own nothing from The Walking Dead

After the fall of the prison, Rick is all alone and broken...he doesn't know where his kids are, his family and friends...he's done for and he's staring at the ground as it rushes up to meet him. He wakes to cool hands and a soothing touch that is so hauntingly familiar. Rated T. Written for VickiH. I own nothing from The Walking Dead

A missing scene from "This Sorrowful Life." Daryl returns to the prison after seeing his brother for the last time. A continuation of "That First Night," but don't need to read to understand.

Rick tensed wanting to stop and turn and drag Daryl behind him away from these people. He heard the inflection in the mans voice who was calling the shots. Rick walked up the steps knowing that if he stopped it could get him killed, could get Michonne killed, and his son. [Prompt] [Rickyl]

They say you don't know what you got until it's gone...for Merle Dixon, no truer words were ever spoken. Rated T. Written for the Fear Writing Challenge submitted by myself. I own nothing from TWD.

AU [ONE SHOT] Daryl's chest heaved from running so hard trying to burn his thoughts away. Trying to banish them from him and the way he was feeling. He needed to get his head straight before he done something he couldn't take back.

Carol could hear them as she ran her vision blurring from the near constant stream of tears that were escaping. Heart pounding as hard as her feet along the concrete she ran for everything she was worth weaving in and around the corridors of the prison. It was like a labyrinth set up to tangle and confuse her - trapping her.

Daryl goes on a run with Carol and Merle. On the way back they encounter something straight out of a bad horror movie, that trumps the walkers they've grown to know and loath. Set in season 3. Was going to be an entry to a challenge but I went way over the word limit. Rated M for Merle mouth and... Merle humor.

Daryl visits Carol's empty grave before going to look for her body - or her walker - in the Tombs. Written for the Carylers Secret Santa as a gift for ghostofjen on Tumblr.

A bit of Christmas fluff featuring our favorite redneck. It's my reimagining of Dickens' A Christmas Carol with Daryl in the role of Scrooge. Mild language. I hope you like it and I live for reviews and feedback. Thanks and Happy Holidays.

Watching his brother crash to the ground and hearing the shredding of his shirt was nothing that he hadn't seen before. Hell he'd been seeing Daryl bust his ass for years since he was nothing more than a kid but he'd never felt so sick to his stomach in those moments as he did now. [ONE SHOT]

Daryl had a gift and all he had to do was find her. Rated T for language.

Set just after the boom that was Terminus, 5:01.

Not everyone knew the extent of Carol and Daryl's relationship, but they sure got a feel for it outside the burning remains of Terminus. Told from the POVs of multiple characters. Major Caryl, slight Richonne and Glaggie.

Season two one shot based around a picture I seen. Seeing a man take a hit puts things in perspective for you and some times it scares you into focus. A clarity comes with that fear and you grab what you'd once been dancing around.

Shit hits the fan when the newest recruited member of their group turns out to be Daryl's father.

Daryl comes back from a run injured and Rick makes him rest. When he returns, he finds Daryl and sick Judith sleeping snuggled up next to each other.

Rick and Carl are reunited with Judith and Daryl is reminded he's a part of their family.

Overwhelmed by guilt, RIck attempts to comfort Daryl after Merle's death. Rick/Daryl slash, one-shot

They'd been in more desperate times before this. (Can be read as a gen. friendship story, or pre-slash)

When things on a run go south and hard decisions are made Daryl sets out to fix things. ONE SHOT [Caryl]

Daryl is basically the Grimes' kids' second Dad.

Daryl Dixon doesn't cry, except for those times he does.

[AU No ZA prompt. Mac/OC/Daryl] Holly can't help the things she is thinking despite where she is in her life. She can't help the things she does that lead her straight to where she is. She knew that no matter what they'd end up here anyways.

Set after the events of Season five. Auish Caryl ZA

A found baby and two unsuspecting surrogates. Merle and Daryl Dixon had no idea what they were getting themselves into when they searched out that noise. Will they be able to keep it alive, or will they die in the process? Sorry for the terrible summary. AU, if anywhere, it would take place before they joined the Atlanta Survival Camp.

A series of one shots. I'll continue on with what I want to happen at the end of each episode this season starting with the epic first episode. Each new chapter will be different from the last depending on what happens on the show. Just something fun and different for me. Rated M.

Daryl is injured when the Governor attacks the prison, and in a moment of blind pain and agony, it's only Rick that can comfort him. Who do you reach for when you're at your lowest? The answer for Daryl reveals more than either man ever expected.

After shit hit the fan and the brothers found themselves at the quarry they still managed to lose their older brother. Unsure whether he's dead or alive they soldier on. The grounding force for each other they crash head first through the world that is left around them. Starts during season 1. Going to follow the time frame loosely with a new twist on the story.

The group left a violent, racist drug addict cuffed to a roof in Atlanta. The man they bring back is someone else... someone who's lived his life to its brutal end and started over. Now all he wants is to make things right. Warning: Stong Language

Christ, how bad did someone have to mess up that they forgot the god damned baby?

Daryl is having trouble dealing with his grief and anger over Merle being killed. Takes place after Merle dies, about two weeks. PWP. Promptish type one shot.

"Carol's eyes snapped open. She was jealous. This suffocating pain in her chest was jealousy! She was shocked at the strength of it – she'd never felt anything like it before. It HURT." Rating strictly for language.

Life can dish some hard lessons and sometimes you bear that weight on your own but sometimes it is easier when you have an extra set of shoulders to spread that weight over. NO ZA. AU...

Prompt [PWP SLASH] Very Mature. Warning on the inside. AU [No ZA]

The greatest ironies of life: having the right person at the wrong time, having the wrong person when the time is right, and finding out that you love someone after that person walks out of your sight. [AU] [NO ZA] Caryl

"Daryl spent his entire life getting left behind by Merle." (AKA The one where Daryl wrecks his bike, and spends the entire walk home reflecting on his past).

Set in the world of my story "Surrendering to the Wind". AU [NO ZA] This is Merle/OC. Takes place three years after the end of Surrendering to the Wind.

One shot. Season 4 takes place right as everyone is fleeing from the prison. Escape pairings are changed around. PWP. Very M.

Rick and Daryl take their bromance to the next level, cautiously and awkwardly while the prison operates around them. The Governor is on the warpath again, Carl has entered his teenage years and all that entails, and the prison slowly learns about the developments both inside and outside their walls. Will the group be able to remain strong and alive? Rickyl Slash

Daryl feels guilty after mistaking Hershel for his abusive father while being treated by him, and tries to find a way to apologize.

Daryl feels he has failed the mother of that little Girl - what is there that he can do to help her through this?

The group has escaped Terminus, but Daryl is still overcome with guilt over Beth's abduction.

Season 3 One shot. For the Brother's Grief Writing Challenge. Daryl deals with Merle's unexpected death.

AU [No ZA] Prompt. Merle/OC [pwp]

Carol and Daryl go on a run to get supplies for Judith and nothing goes as planned when they get attacked. [Reverse What If Scenario]

"Axel," Glenn started, "You've been following Carol around like a shadow. All I'm saying is that I wouldn't annoy the extremely protective guy with a crossbow permanently attached to his arm." Glenn and Carl take it upon themselves to have a friendly discussion with Axel. This story will be told from the POV of several characters, but with eventual Carol/Daryl.

Carol and Daryl navigate the minefield that is their early relationship in a series of snapshot chapters. Rating for adult themes and language.

SPOILERS through 4x10 Inmates! AU after that point, though spoilers for later episodes may exist, too. The prison group reunites. Rating upped to M for language, violence, and adult themes.

During season 2 of TWD Mac gets separated from his twin brother during the fall of the farm. Things move quickly while he sets out to find his brother and handle the problems at hand. Violence and general Mac speak. [Season 2 TWD/RC Prompt]

Daryl makes a memorial for Merle in his own fashion. But it seems everyone has an opinion of Merle they want to add.

TWD kink meme fill: Rick's been running himself ragged, not sleeping or eating. No one notices until Rick finally collapses. Daryl realizes what's been going on and takes care of him. / Warnings: LIGHT slash (Rick/Daryl) and brief strong language. One-shot.

What if Daryl hadn't regained consciousness that day, and was more injured than he originally thought? By the time the group realises that he never came back from looking for Sophia, it's already dark, and there's nothing that they can do. AU to 2x05.