I might be the world's worst fanfic author- going months between updates is awful of me. But real life calls and having three kids ain't no joke. Hopefully, there are still people interested in reading this! I can't seem to get the story of Katie and Daryl out of mead, so even though updates are sporadic, I promise that I am slowly plugging away at it! Writing pre- TWD Daryl has been so challenging. He's so different than seasons 9/10/11 Daryl. But, I am enjoying it and hope I'm doing him justice. Thanks for taking the time to read. If you are enjoying this story take a minute to drop a review and let me know! -CJ

THEN

Daryl had barely gotten through the doorway of the cabin when Katie came pushing in behind him.

"What the hell, Dixon?" She yelled to his back.

He whipped around and gave her an exasperated growl. "Cain't do this."

She raised an eyebrow. If he was trying to scare her off it wasn't working. "Yeah, you said that already."

Blue eyes flashing with anger, Daryl took a large purposeful stride towards her. His flushed face stared down into hers, "Don't you get it? I ain't never stuck around for no one."

Understanding started to dawn on Katie and she reached out for him, but he jerked away just before her fingers could touch him. She frowned and opened her mouth to assure him that whatever had him tied up in knots they could figure out together.

"Don't." He warned, then retrieved his keys from his pocket and forcefully shoved them into her palm. "Take the truck. Drive yourself home."

With that, he stomped back outside, the door slamming behind him. Katie stared down at the keys in her hand. He couldn't possibly be serious. What had happened outside wasn't just her. She knew she hadn't imagined how perfectly their bodies fit together or how amazing his lips felt on hers. She ran a hand down her face and groaned. Why did that man always have to be so angry and damn stubborn?

She weighed her options. Listen to Daryl and leave or listen to her heart and stay?

The answer was obvious.

When she found him outside beside the fire, the sky was dimming and smoke was curling out of his nostrils. He didn't acknowledge her, but she caught his quick side glance in her direction.

She stared at him, willing him with her mind to look at her, but it wasn't working. The longer he ignored her the understanding she'd had in the cabin turned to anger.

Finally, she ground out. "I'm not leaving."

He snorted and took a deep drag of the cigarette hanging from his fingers.

"You don't get to tell me what to do, Daryl."

He was obviously annoyed. "Get the fuck outta here."

"You can't get rid of me, Dare!" Katie growled. Without thinking, she wound up and blindly threw the keys into the woods. There was a faint thud as they landed somewhere in the brush.

He jumped up. "The actual fuck, girl!? You gonna go find those?"

She plopped down in a chair and crossed her arms. "Nope. Not until you tell me why you're pushing me away."

The look he threw at her was ice cold. With a string of curses he stomped off in the direction she threw his keys.

Fine. She'd wait.

Cracking a beer, she watched him methodically looking through the brush. His face was hard and lips thin as he hunted for their only way out.

"You're a real bitch, ya know that?" He yelled her way.

She raised the beer in a mock toast. "Makes two of us."

"Fuck." She heard him swear.

"Put some goddamn pants on and come help me!"

In all the commotion, she had forgotten that she still wasn't wearing any pants.

"I'm good." Her answer only angered him more and he stalked further into the woods, way past where she had thrown the keys.

She knew what he was doing and she was determined to wait until he had blown off enough steam to come back and talk. She was serious about this, she wasn't going anywhere. The two of them were going to figure this out.

As Daryl stalked further into the woods, he mumbled to himself. "Stupid bitch."

The words felt awful on his lips. He wanted Katie. He wanted her more than any other girl who'd crossed his path. He hadn't told Katie the whole truth about Erica at the bonfire. The two of them had messed around a few times, and she'd wanted more. Something steady she had told him. But, to Daryl it had all felt empty. He hadn't realized at the time how empty it was, just figured that's how it was supposed to be. That's what he had grown up watching Merle and his friends do- use girls and leave them when they got bored. But now, with Katie, he felt how different it could be. It scared the ever loving shit out of him.

Kissing her and hearing her say she wanted him had felt right, but it triggered him. He knew what always happened after hooking up- no one ever hung around long enough for breakfast. There was no way in hell he was going to let that pattern continue with her. He was embarrassed by his freak out, and had done the only thing he knew how to do- push her away. But, that damn girl, she didn't let him scare her. She dug in and didn't give up. That damn, crazy, gorgeous girl. She had his heart all tied up in knots.

Moving further into the woods had given him the space he needed to clear his head. He couldn't think straight with her sitting there, pantless and watching him.

With a sigh, he turned back toward the cabin. Couldn't stay out there all night, even though he wanted to. They were going to have to face each other eventually. Might as well get it over with.

XXX

Katie had finished her beer and started another when he came out of the woods. Empty handed. But his face looked softer, and his shoulders more relaxed.

"Need a flashlight," he informed her, stalking past towards the cabin.

She held up an unopened beer to him as a peace offering. "Dare. Sit down. We can find them later."

"Losing daylight."

She shrugged. "So we wait till morning. I don't have anywhere else to be."

He scoffed and she waved the beer in the air, trying to entice him to join her. She wanted to clear the air and maybe pick back up where they left off. No, definitely pick that back up. She had tasted him. Now she was hooked. That man was her drug.

He looked up at the rising moon and visibly sighed before settling down in the camp chair next to her. Wordlessly, she handed him the drink and he cracked it open.

He was a few sips in before she decided it was okay to talk. This time, she spoke gently. "I'm not like other girls."

"Exactly. Now we're seeing eye to eye." He mumbled, exasperated.

"You think that if we … you know….I'll be done with you?"

He shrugged and stared into the campfire.

"I'm not like that."

"It's what I know," he crushed his empty can and tossed it into the fire before lighting a cigarette.

"Is it so hard to believe that maybe I'm different?"

Daryl inhaled and gave a small shrug.

"I don't want to do anything that risks losing you," Katie confessed quietly.

He silently stubbed out his cigarette and lit another that he passed to her without a word.

She couldn't help but smile. "Thanks. I'm not going anywhere, Daryl. How many times have you saved me from sticky spots? I've told you- you're my guardian angel. You're stuck with me."

He snorted in agreement. "Turn my back for a damn minute and ya get into trouble."

"Exactly. I need you. I want you. I have since the minute I saw you in that bar. And I think you feel the same way."

For a long beat, he was silent, staring into the fire and chewing his thumb. She wondered if her confession was too much. Had she spooked him? Truth was, he did feel the same way. But instead of admitting it, he snorted. "I ain't good at this shit."

She pointed to herself. "And you think I am?"

Finally, he looked at her. The reflection of the flames danced in his eyes. "Don't expect no dates or holdin' hands."

Satisfied with his answer, Katie smiled. "I would never."

The sun had officially set, and darkness had enveloped the trees around them. Above them, the stars were bright. Brighter than she had ever seen in town. "Wow."

Daryl's gaze followed hers upwards. "No light pollution."

"Gorgeous."

"Mmmhmm." He agreed, but he wasn't looking at the sky anymore.

Katie gave him a teasing smile. "So, what are we gonna do all night?"

Happy to have the awkward conversation over, Daryl smirked and held up his beer. "Get shit faced drunk and see what happens."

"I'm down for that. How about a little game?"

He quirked an eyebrow. "I ain't never needed no game to get drunk."

Katie rolled her eyes. "Truth, dare or drink?"

He laughed. "Bring it on, Peaches."

"Watch out, Dixon. You're playing with a pro. I'm not gonna go easy on you."

The night grew dark and cold as the couple settled in and the tension from earlier dissipated with each sip. Katie couldn't help the huge smile that spread across her face, she was drunk and happy. Daryl was in the same boat, he couldn't remember ever feeling so comfortable with anyone, not even Merle. Katie's presence had a way of making him relax, while everyone else brought his guard up.

The line had been crossed and there was no turning back. There was an unspoken agreement that they belonged to each other, but there just didn't need to be any labels. Soulmates didn't need labels.

XXX

NOW

Katie stumbled along, in that slow, ambling gait that had been perfected years ago. From her spot at the back of the group, she could see Lydia and Alpha whispering quietly to each other. Just ahead of them, the fair haired boy who had tracked them and tried to infiltrate their group walked beside Beta.

Katie stared at the back of his head. What a brave, dumb kid he was. He had just committed proverbial suicide.

But Katie knew she couldn't let that happen. That kid needed to live. He was her golden ticket back to Daryl.

With her toe, Katie quickly overturned a large rock and then quietly snapped a twig a few feet ahead. All those lessons Daryl had given her on hunting and fishing had been her lifeline to survival in this new world. How to mark a trail, how to track, how to move quietly, how to use a weapon- she would have been dead a long time ago without his guidance and all those hours they'd spent in the woods together.

Camp was quiet when they returned. She ducked into some overgrown brush and walked a few yards, stopping at a large tree. Falling to the ground, she sat against the trunk and lifted her hands to her face, sliding them under flesh and lifting her mask up. Sunlight pricked through the canopy of leaves and felt warm on her skin. She gulped in fresh air and lifted her face to the sun.

Finally alone, she fought back the emotions that came rushing all at once. A tiny sob escaped her throat, but she quickly bit it back. Show no weakness. It had been drilled into her since joining Alpha. Emotions equaled weakness. Be empty.

She had no time for emotions, she needed a plan. She needed to talk to the kid from Hilltop. But the act of getting to him unnoticed seemed impossible. Either Beta or someone else was constantly on guard.

Quickly, she ticked through all the options of escape in her head. The walk back to Hilltop was only a few hours, she could slip away now and easily be there by midnight.

Then what? Lay low until daylight and surrender herself in the morning? It wouldn't work. They'd kill her on the spot. Or worse, a scout from her own group would witness her escape and return her to Alpha. She'd be labeled uncommitted and slaughtered.

Her chances of not dying at Hilltops gates were better if she showed up with the boy. She needed him. But how the hell could she sneak him out of camp? It was an impossible feat. A death sentence for the both of them.

Death. Every method of escape ended in death.

She sighed and buried her head in her hands.

Think, Katie. Think.

Behind her, she heard a faint whisper. "Did you see that place?"

She froze, listening.

"Mmm." Another voice. "Walls. Crops. Livestock."

"It looked so safe."

"Certainly a better life."

Moving slowly, Katie quietly shifted her weight to peer around the tree. She could see two figures, a man and woman, huddled behind a tree to her left, but she had the vantage point and remained hidden.

The man spoke next. "You've heard Alpha. It's a fantasy life. Not made to last. We live like them now."

"They looked established. Like they've been there for years."

There was a low hum. Words Katie couldn't decipher. She thought she caught something about the boy. Straining to hear, she edged closer.

"We're all in danger with him here. She's making the wrong call."

Suddenly the voices stopped and the pair scurried away. Katie frowned when she saw Beta moved authoritatively through the woods, heading her way. She quickly leaned back against the tree, he had no reason to believe that she was out here for any other reason than to grab a few minutes of quiet. His footsteps stilled beside her. Her eyes squinted into the sun when she looked up at him.

"Get back to camp." He growled.

She remained silent and wasted no time scurrying up to her feet and back towards her group. It was obvious, he was on high alert. Slipping away wasn't an option any longer. He and Alpha were sure to have eyes everywhere and on everyone right now.

She needed another plan. It was going to take lots of patience, she had to be quiet, and very observant. Whatever it took, she was willing to do it. Her life depended on it.