A/N All characters belong to the writers and creators of The Walking Dead. Except those that arose from my own twisted imagination.

Hey everyone! I have not uploaded a chapter in YEARS! Lots of things have happened...moved, got married, got a new job, had a baby...it's all been a blur! I want to finish this story (and my others) it will just take some time.

Chapter 52-Reunited

Dani could not believe how big Jesse had gotten. She counted his fingers and his toes and marveled over how much longer his hair looked. Only a week. She had only lost a week and it felt like a lifetime. She was so focused on her son that she didn't even notice Daryl had put his arm around her and had given Jesse his finger to hold. She looked at Daryl and smiled. His serious blue eyes met hers.

"We're never gonna lose him again. Never." His eyes searched hers, looking for a sign that they were alright, that they were back where they were before. Dani leaned over and kissed him softly, stroking his cheek.

"We're a family again." His face lit up at those words and a smile played on his lips.

"So does that mean if we get to Terminus and it's like the prison that we can have another one?" Dani giggled and nodded.

"Of course we can." He kissed her again and smiled as Jesse laughed. Tyreese joined them and knelt down by Dani.

"How's my buddy?" Without a word, Dani handed Jesse to Daryl and embraced Ty.

"Thank you for my baby Tyreese," She kissed his cheek. "Thank you so much." She sat back and wiped her eyes. "I know we're not doin' a christening or anything like that but I want you to be Jesse's godfather." Tyreese looked startled.

"No, I can't. I mean, y'all have known Rick longer than me." Dani shrugged.

"So? I want you to be Jesse's godfather. That's it. Now are you gonna say yes or what?" She raised her eyebrow and Daryl finally saw that the old Dani, the one that he had fallen in love with, had returned. Tyreese put his hand Jesse's head and nodded, tears in his eyes.

"Yeah, I'd be honored." Dani clasped his hand in hers.

"We can never repay you for saving our boy." Tyreese patted her hand.

"Seeing y'all together and happy is all the payment I need." Tyreese got to his feet as Michonne walked over. "I should go with Abraham to check on things before nightfall." Daryl looked up at Michonne and smiled. She couldn't help but laugh.

"He's definitely your boy Daryl. Tough survivor there for sure." She nodded to Dani. "You were right. He wasn't gone." She knelt down and took Jesse from Daryl. "Good lord Jesse you're getting big." The baby smiled and laughed. Michonne laughed too, her eyes wet.

"I've missed hearing that sound." Daryl looked confused but Dani nodded, understanding.

"Yeah, me too." The three adults sat watching the innocent baby as he smiled and laughed, blocking out for the moment the dead world that lay outside their small shelter.

Later that night after Dylan and the babies were asleep, Rick gathered the adults and Carl to discuss Terminus.

"I don't feel comfortable," he said jerking his chin towards the sleeping children "Taking the kids in there without knowing who they are." He looked to Daryl and Michonne first. "You know what I'm thinkin' right?" Daryl nodded first.

"Yeah. Someone needs to stay with the kids while we check it out." He looked at Dani and she nodded.

"I'm not leavin' Jessie at all. I can stay with the kids." Andrea cleared her throat.

"Not by yourself you're not." She crossed her arms and smiled at Dani. "I'm staying with Dylan. He's already lost his family once. I won't leave him alone." Abraham frowned.

"Just you two with three kids? Two of them are just babies." Dani nodded.

"Abraham, you know me and Andrea can take care of ourselves." Abraham snorted.

"That ain't the point." He turned to Rick and Daryl. "Don't you think someone else needs to stay?" Rick frowned.

"I already hate that I won't have Dani and Andrea with us. We don't know what the situation's gonna be in Terminus. We can't afford to be shorthanded. If Dani and Andrea say they can handle it, I trust them." Abraham was not convinced.

"At the very least leave Carl…"

"I'm not leavin' my dad." The boy's voice was firm. Abraham looked from Rick, who was smiling at Carl, to Michonne, Tyreese and Daryl. None of the other adults looked concerned that a boy who was barely a teenager would be joining them as equals. Seeing he was beat, he threw up his hands.

"Fine. Whatever." He turned to Andrea and Dani who were struggling to hide their amusement at his frustration. "Look, it's not that I don't think you'll be able to protect the kids and yourselves. I just don't feel right leaving y'all all the way back here."

"They won't be back here," Rick interrupted. "We'll find a place that's closer, where we can get to them easily if we need to." Dani nodded.

"And where we can get to you." Andrea nodded.

"If we hear trouble or you don't come back, we're going in after you. Even if we have to strap the babies on our backs to do it." Daryl opened his mouth to protest and Andrea held up her hand to silence him. "Don't bother Daryl. Your wife and I talked about it earlier. I know you want her to take Jessie and run but that won't happen. We're not splitting up again. If something happens we're coming in to save your asses." Rick smiled, as did Michonne. Andrea looked to her old friend and remembered that first winter when Michonne had saved her from walkers and from the flu.

"We'll be there for you Rick. We're family, always."

Using half a sheet, Dani made a wrap for Jesse to strap him to her chest. He was secure and comfortable and immediately went to sleep which was good. If he was asleep, it would be easier to travel without attracting walkers. She made sure his face wasn't covered and pulled part of the sheet over the back of his head to keep the sun off of him. Andrea strapped Judith to her back with the other half of the sheet. With the babies secured, they helped the rest of the group pack up.

They'd left shortly after sun rise and an hour later it was hot. The Georgia sun reflected back off the ground in heatwaves on horizon. Rick was having trouble distinguishing the heat mirage from walkers. His ribs were throbbing and his discomfort was quickly noticed by Michonne.

"You need to stop?" Rick shook his head.

"No. We can make it to Terminus by this afternoon if we push through." Michonne frowned.

"If we have to fight and you're hurting..." Rick cut her off.

"I'm fine. We need to get there so we can scope it out before we make ourselves known." Two hours later, Jesse started fussing. Dani fell back to feed him, hoping she'd still be able to nurse. Daryl followed her, watching for walkers. Dani settle down by a tree with Daryl standing watch. The rest of the group stood watch a short distance away, taking the opportunity to feed both Judith and Dylan. Jesse latched on quickly and Dani sighed in relief.

"At least I can still feed him." Daryl nodded but frowned.

"We gotta get you some real food soon or you won't be able to." He looked over at the group. "I hope Terminus isn't another dead end." Dani started to speak as Michonne walked over.

"We're close. Abraham scouted ahead and can see the fence line off the tracks. We're cutting through the woods here so we can find some place to safely hide the kids." Dani frowned.

"Where are we? Do you know?" Michonne shook her head.

"I'm all turned around. Abraham said it's some old factory or train yard but it looks like it's been shut down for years, probably long before all this. He said there are heavy duty fences and barbed wire up to keep people out. So it might be as secure as the prison..." she trailed off and Dani could hear her unspoken words: "or it's a giant trap."

"Anyone scope out a place that's secure for me, Andrea and the kids? Jesse and Judith have been quiet for the most part but you know if he gets uncomfortable or hungry..." Daryl looked down at her.

"Soon as you finish feedin' Jesse I'll head out with Abraham and find someplace safe for y'all." Dani waved him away.

"Go ahead and head out. Michonne'll keep watch. The sooner we find a place the sooner y'all can get to Terminus." Daryl touched the top of Jesse's head and kissed Danielle.

"This isn't too bad a place," Andrea remarked as they walked into the cabin. "It's clean." Dani opened a cabinet.

"There's fresh food in here too," she pulled out a can of green beans. "No dust. Someone lives here." Abraham shook his head.

"Daryl and I scoped this place out good. No one's here. No fresh tire tracks of footprints. Maybe they had to leave." Daryl put the large weapons bag they'd taken from Joe's group on the floor.

"We'll leave this here. Don't want to take the chance of losing this and then y'all will have plenty of firepower if needed." He kissed Jesse and locked eyes with Dani. She shook her head.

"I'm not saying it." Daryl frowned.

"Sayin' what?" Michonne stepped in and took Jesse.

"You guys need some privacy to talk. There's a room in the back." Dani took Daryl's hand and led him to the back room.

"I'm not sayin' what I said in the prison. I'm not sayin' 'Promise me you'll come back' because I don't know if you will." Daryl frowned.

"I'm comin' back." Dani shook her head.

"Don't say it. I was being childish and selfish at the prison because we were safe. I can't do that anymore because we're not safe," she sighed. "So just tell me you love me and we'll go from there. No promises, no goodbyes. Just tell me you still love me and go with Rick." Dani's coldness took him by surprise until he understood what she was doing: she was preparing herself for going on for Jesse's sake if Daryl died. She was already saying goodbye forever to prepare herself for that moment. She couldn't afford to breakdown like she did when she lost Abigail and Jesse.

"I love you Dani. And I'm comin' back," she shook her head and he pulled her into his arms. "No, I'm comin' back. I promise."

"Daryl, please...don't..." Dani's voice cracked as she struggled to hold back her emotions.

"No. You are my family. Jesse is my family. And no matter what, no matter where you are, I will always find you both." Dani nodded against his chest.

"I love you Mountain Man." She pulled back and cupped his face. "I love you so much." Daryl kissed her and pressed his forehead to hers.

"I love you too Dani." She looked him in his eyes and smiled.

"Now go on." Daryl nodded and tried to smile but his eyes were sad.

"You and Jesse...you're everything to me." He turned and left the room.

"C'mon let's go," he said as he walked past Rick and Abraham out the front door. Michonne turned to Dani who locked eyes with her. The unspoken words passed and Michonne nodded in agreement. She followed Daryl out the door with Rick, Abraham, Tyreese and Carl right behind her.

A/N I haven't updated this story in YEARS for many reasons. The main is new job, new husband and new child. But I've always kept my AU in my mind and it's time for them to come back and finish properly. If you're still reading, thank you.