CHAPTER ONE

Rick and Daryl found the women while they were out. They hadn't been at the prison that long, they were still getting their bearings so the two men were out on a supply run. When they brought the women back with them, they left her in one of the empty cell's for Hershel to watch after her.

"I'm telling you, she looks familiar," Beth told Maggie as they stood outside the cell.

"Familiar how?"

"Like I've seen her before."

Hershel was checking the women's pulse half-listening to his girls when the women woke. "Where…where am I?" She slowly sat up.

"You're safe," Hershel assured her. "Do you know your name?"

"Telling me I'm safe doesn't exactly tell me where I am. And yes, I know my name." Looking around the cell.

"You're in a prison. Two of our men found you unconscious when they were out and brought you back." Hershel answered.

Taking everything in. "Guess the good thing is I'm not dead."

"So are you going to tell us your name?" Maggie impatiently asked.

"Velma."

Beth gasped. "I knew you looked familiar. You're that supermodel."

"Much that can do for me now."

"Why don't you get some rest. You need it." Hershel told her as he stood.

"Velma?! Where's the rest of the Scooby gang?" Daryl jabbed.

Rick played with his beard as he thought for a second. "Well right now she's safe. But we have some work to do. This place still needs to be secured." He told the group.

Velma was given a tour of the prison by Beth the next day. "So you guys all live here, in a prison, in cells?" Velma was in somewhat disbelief as they stepped outside.

"It's safe here. We're protected."

"This is so not how I pictured my life"

"None of us did."

Rick approached the two. "We need to talk. Now." That was Beth's cue to leave. "Why were you unconscious by the road?"

"It was a mix of exhaustion and injury. I had been running for a few days straight. The group I was with was attacked by the dead. So after some time, I climbed a tree to see if I had any dead near me. I lost my footing before I could get a good look."

Looking at her like he wasn't sure to believe her or kicker to the curb. "What happened to the rest of your group?"

"I'm not sure. I went to the bathroom and came back running when I heard people screaming. There was nothing I could have done. So I ran."

"How many walkers have you killed?"

Shrugging as she thought. "I've lost count."

"How many humans?"

"Zero and I'd like to keep it that number."

"Good." There was a long pause. "I'm sorry about your group." As they stood their awkwardly Rick spoke again. "Beth is convinced you were some supermodel before all this happened."

"It won't affect me in doing what needs to be done in staying alive. I've lasted this long and have no intention of dying anytime soon."

Giving her a nod he agreed. "Good. Now rest up, we need you at your best."

Velma loitered all over the place, getting a feel for the prison. Most everyone was nice but kept to themselves. She wasn't surprised by it. After everything everyone has been through, its a wonderful feeling to have you time that isn't swarmed by walkers.

Stepping out of her cell early, Velma began to stretch her arms and legs. "What are you doing?" Beth approached.

"Going for a run. Always good to exercise, keeps the endorphins up. Keeps one happy."

"Can I run with you?"

"Sure you can."

Beth lasted longer than Velma thought. She made sure to let the young girl know that she needs to just build-up to it. And before she would know it she'll be able to run the entire run with her. Which by the end of the week Beth was running it with Velma.

After her run, Velma freshened up as best she could before heading outside. It was her's and another person in the groups turn to be on the fence stabbing walkers through the fence.

Today she was working with Carol. "It's nice you and Beth run every morning."

"It's nothing really. I find something like running or some exercises fun way to get away from all the chaos. Release some of the stress from everything."

"Beth could use some of that."

Stabbing a walker in the head. "We all could use some escape from this mess."

Both their heads turned to see Daryl arrive, the gates were being pulled open as he drove through on his motorcycle. "Wonder if he caught anything good," Carol said.

"Does he always go off alone to do whatever it is you guys have him do?"

Watching him. "Daryl is a nice guy. But he works better alone."

"So do serial killers." Sticking the pole she had to kill walkers within the ground. "Seems wise to have more go with. Safety in numbers." Velma headed back to the prison.

That night everyone was sitting in the main room just relaxing as much as they could. Some were cleaning their weapons, making sure they were in good condition. The few that had a significant other still alive were in the shadows not doing much talking. While others found random things to do. But all were listening to Beth sing the baby to sleep.

Velma was sitting up on the walkway looking down at everyone. She was just watching and listening to everything that was going on. After some time she got up to go to bed.

It was late and she, of course, couldn't sleep. Getting up off the cot Velma took a walk, hoping that would help her sudden insomnia. She found her way up to the roof which was currently occupied. "Oh, sorry." Seeing Daryl sitting on the ledge. "I didn't realize that someone was up here." Daryl looked over at her, then returned to where he was looking. "Can I ask you something?"

"If you don't mind asking a serial killer."

"That was only a reference to you doing things alone and my ignorance of not knowing you."

Velma walked over to him on the ledge. "What do you want?" He grumbled.

"A tiara and some Mac and cheese. But until then, why do you always travel alone? Wouldn't it be better to have a person or two with you when you leave? Especially if it's getting food."

"No."

Pursing her lips. "Ahh, you are one of those people."

"What's that suppose to mean?" Daryl went on the defensive.

"Chill, you don't have to get so pissy. You are just a man of few words. That is all I meant." Daryl looked over at the women next to him, sizing the blonde up. "I'm sorry if I came off mean. It wasn't my intention, I swear."

A long pause fell between the two. "A model?!"

"It's a supermodel. And I'm just as surprised as you are I'm still alive." Velma smiled at him. "What has you up here at this hour?" Daryl didn't answer her but shrugged instead. "Not one for sharing either I see. Mind if I do?"

"Why?"

"Couldn't we all use more friends in a time like this?"

Confused at her confession. "Friends?"

"Well, you and Rick did save my life by bringing me back here. I've got to repay you somehow. And all I have is my friendship unless you want sex. Then I guess we could work something out if that's the case." Daryl wasn't sure how to respond to that. It's been quite a while since he's been around someone so forward. And trying to survive in this world for this long, he wasn't too sure exactly what to do about it. "However this ends whether we survive and the walkers go away, or we all die. You will have a friend in me." Getting up off the ledge. "The supermodel."

"Tiara and Mac and cheese?" He called after her.

"If I'm going to take over the world I need a full stomach and a Tiara, they look better on my head than a crown does." Velma disappeared back into the prison.

Beth and Velma were sitting outside the next day as Velma did Beth's hair. She was braiding it into something fancy for her. Rick walked over, tossing a sack at Velma. "You're riding out with Daryl for a food run."

"Seriously?" Looking up at him.

"He's leaving now. You better hurry."

Catching up with Daryl by the front gate. "So the Lone Ranger finally needed Tanto?"

"Need to see if the supermodel can hold her own."

Climbing on the back of the bike. "Of course you do."

They drove to the nearest town for their looting. "Keep an eye out," Daryl told her once the engine was cut.

"If we're to be quiet the motorcycle had killed any chance of it before we even got here." He glared at her before walking into the store across the street.

After making sure the building was clear. "Find some food."

Watching him walk towards the front door. "Where are you going?"

"Other supplies."

"Be safe," Velma called out as she went in search of food.

Almost an hour later Daryl got what he needed and went to get Velma. When he couldn't find her he went in flight mode as he searched for her. He was going to enter a building when he saw Velma exit a building four doors down. "What the hell are you doing? You were supposed to be getting food."

"I did. I found a ton and needed a bigger sack, I was able to fill two duffle bags."

"What were you doing in there?" Nodding to the building she came out of.

"I filled the sack Rick gave me with fruits and vegetable seeds. Figured we could set up a garden at the prison."

The anger he had for her disappearance had vanished a little. "Next time get me." Heading back to the motorcycle which he saw two full duffles waiting for them.

"Afraid you'll miss me?"

Getting on his bike. "Beth will and she's been through enough already."

"Don't lie, you'll miss me too." Climbing on behind him.

"Like a hole in the head." Starting engine.

The sun was beginning to set as the two pulled into the prison. Velma found Beth in her cell. "You're back!" She smiled sitting up.

"And bearing gifts." Tossing her a sack.

"What is it?"

Sitting at the end of her cot. "It's nothing much. Thought you could use a few."

Beth pulled out a few new shirts. "These are so pretty. Thank you so much." Beth leaned over to hug her.

"Every girl deserves to feel pretty here and there. Even in this hell now."

"It's the end of the world. Who do I have to look pretty for?"

"You were that horribly shy girl before all this happened, weren't you?" Beth's cheeks flushed a light pink. "Not only are you adorable, but I also have a trick that is a guarantee pretty. And it doesn't involve looks."

Looking up from her new shirts. "How is that possible?"

"Because it's confidence. Not that cocky confidence because that is ugly on both men and women. But that confidence that you can take on the world. Like no matter what, you got this."

"Seriously?"

"Didn't become a supermodel without it. Also helped I exercised to have a nice body instead of becoming an alcoholic crack head."

"Why exercise now?"

Uncrossing her legs Velma threw them over the ledge of the bed. "Because no matter how hard we try, we can't ignore or run from the horror and all this death. With exercising it helps with your endorphins. And with every little bit that helps us be happy, even for a brief moment or however long it lasts. You take it. We're in a world of survival now and we need anything to keep us sane and in shape to stay away from the walkers."

"What happened when that stops working?"

Getting off the cot. "Find something new. But until that happens, hold on to whatever makes you happy like it's going out of style."

The next day after they went for a run Beth went to watch the baby as Velma went to help set up for the garden. Beth eventually joined them out in the yard. She had come out in one of the shirts Velma had picked up for her.

"Someone is looking a sexy chica." Velma smiled motioning for her to do a spin.

Doing so. "Do you guys need help with anything?"

"The day no one needs help with something is the day aliens shack upon this planet."

Taking the hoe that was handed to her. "I'm going to take that as a yes."

"Damn skippy."

It was another sleepless night as Velma found herself up on the roof. This time it was empty. After finding a good seat Velma looked at the stars just in time to see a shooting star across the night sky.

Closing her eyes Velma made a wish. When she opened them Daryl was sitting next to her. "Not what I wanted, but I'll take it." She smiled at him.

"What'd you wish for?"

"Bad luck to tell."

"What more bad luck can we have?"

Adjusting her seating position some. "For those who still have hope in wishing on a star. I'm not telling."

"Why? Seems like a waste of time, like believing in the Easter Bunny or Santa."

"Awe, you had shitty Easters and Christmas' didn't you? Probably birthdays as well." Seeing he gotten uncomfortable. "Sorry, my mom always said that I sometimes forget to use my filter."

The two got silent, they could hear a few walkers in the distance. "I bet you are missing your cushy lifestyle right now."

"I'm missing the life that my looks got me."

"Not getting enough attention from the guys?" Sensing her sarcasm and throwing it back at her. He smirked slightly when she rolled her eyes at him.

Throwing a rock she was playing with. "You want to know what I was doing before this?" She gave a pause and when he didn't say a word she continued. "I was wrapping up production to the sequel to the Mario Brothers movie that was made in the '90s." Daryl looked over at her skeptically. "I know right? It wasn't amazing. But in the modeling world, I'm old even though in the normal world I'm still considered young. Guess being in your 30's isn't great."

"Who were you playing?"

"Daisy."

Daryl looked over at her. "Who?"

"Well in the movie Daisy is Peach's sister. But she is actually a princess from another kingdom that Mario has to go save. She's got brown hair that is just as puffy as Peach's. But it doesn't have that Farrah Fawcett flow to it like Peach, it's actually up. And she has this annoying 'hi I'm Daisy' thing she says all the time in Mario Kart."

"You look more like Peach. But what do I know, none of what you said makes any sense."

"Neither did the first movie. But this was hopefully my gateway into movies." Daryl began to laugh. "What's so funny?"

"Were in the middle of the end of the world with walkers everywhere and no sign of it ending. And I'm the roof of a prison with a so-called supermodel, talking to her about the movie she was in before all this started."

Velma lightly shoved him. "I worked hard to be a so-called supermodel."

"You're a model, you get paid to walk. How is that hard work? Let alone work at all."

"Have you ever had a job? Like an actual decent-paying, 9 to 5 job?" Daryl didn't say anything. "Thought so, but in all hindsight, we aren't so different. So you can stop giving me shit on my career choices."

"What's going on now does not make us the same."

Velma turned to Daryl, crossing her legs. "My dad is trailer trash. Lived in a trailer most of his life. My mom is a big-time redneck. Like the no indoor plumbing, I bathe in the river and have a few cousins who are married redneck. But they got pregnant with me so dad worked and went to college so he could take care of his family. My mom worked hard too to help take care of me. See we aren't that different, I just smell better." She joked.

"Bullshit."

"Your crossbow is a Stryker strykezone 380. I didn't care for it but my dad did when he tried to get me into hunting."

"I may have been mistaken." Arching his eyebrow.

Nudging him. "May have been?! You were completely and utterly wrong about me. Just because I am a pretty face, does not mean I'm not an average Joe. I just happened to be a closeted average Joe."

"You sold out the moment you became a model."

"Is this how you get all the girls? By belittling their life choices?"

Finally looking over at her. "Only with you."

"At least we're on the same page now." Getting up. "Well, I'm sick of your ugly mug. I'm going to bed. Night."

Daryl was up in the tower with Carol as lookouts. "Velma seems like a very sweet girl. Beth has really taken to her." Carol brought up as she saw the two in the garden. Daryl just gave an mmhm as he searched for anything not right. "Are you two sleeping together?"

"What?" His head snapped at her.

"I've seen you two come back from wherever you sneak off to late at night. At least a few times a night, since she's arrived."

"Were not."

Leaning against the wall. "It's ok. She's very pretty and you two are adults." Daryl turned his back on Carol. Moving next to him. "Just because she's a model doesn't mean you are any less deserving of her. You are a good guy Daryl."

Daryl was not wanting to listen to the subject anymore he left the building. He slowly walked around the balcony. There he could keep a lookout in peace away from Carol.

A/N: This is my first Walking Dead fic. Please leave a review or constructive criticism.