THEN

Daryl felt like a world class piece of shit. The look on Katie's face when she walked out of Jake's was enough to tear his heart in two. His dumb ass had hurt her when he'd only been trying to protect her.

Sliding into his old truck, he slammed the door shut. He had stopped drinking after she walked out. Self inflicted punishment. Booze would have numbed him, but he made himself feel every emotion his shit for brains stupid self had. He deserved the pain. He deserved her anger.

"Fuck!" He yelled into the darkness and his fist landed hard on the dash. "Fuck!"

Something on the passenger seat caught his eye. A neatly wrapped package. Shit. She'd left him a birthday gift. Not even Merle had acknowledged his birthday. The smell of leather hit him as soon as he lifted the top of the box. A card sat on top.

Thanks for being my guardian angel and always saving my ass. XO, Katie

He pushed the crinkling tissue paper away, and held the leather vest up. The light provided by nearby street lights illuminated the white of the wings on the back. It was easily the most badass thing he had ever owned. She must have spent a fortune on it.

A sudden pounding on his passenger window made him jump.

"Dammit! Merle!"

Merle laughed, fumbling to open the door. Quickly, Daryl shoved the gift under his seat. The weight of Merle's body rocked the truck cab as his drunk brother climbed in.

"Take me home, baby brother."

Daryl sighed. "Ain't going home."

Merle laughed. "Ya got somewhere else ta be?"

"Yeah. Yeah I do."

His brother snorted and waved him off. "Yeah. Whatever. Take me home."

"Thought ya was leaving with Liz."

"Don't feel up for all the bitch drama that comes with the pussy."

Dary clenched his jaw and turned over the ignition. The truck sputtered to life and a sudden blast of music came through the radio.

Merle groaned. "What is this country music shit?"

Daryl discreetly rolled his eyes and pulled out of the parking lot. It was Katie's music- lately his radio never left the country station.

The truck bumped over the potholes, jostling Merle who was too drunk to hold himself upright. "Damn." He muttered.

Pushing Merle off his lap, Daryl turned the truck in the opposite direction of Katie's and took his brother home.

"He home?" Merle's words slurred as he stared at the dark trailer.

Daryl shook his head. "Naw. Ain't been in a few days. Out at the cabin with Buck and Jesse."

Merle nodded. "Good. Sleep this off and be out before he strolls his sorry ass back in." He rolled out of the truck, stumbling as he made his way to the door. When he noticed that Daryl wasn't behind him, he stopped. "Ya comin'?"

"Naw, told ya. Got somewhere ta be."

Merle was quiet for a minute until realization dawned on his face and he let out a loud guffaw. "This is about that sweet piece of ass, ain't it? What was her name? Cassie?" He rubbed his face and shook his head. "No. Katherine?"

"Door's unlocked." Daryl hollered, before peeling out of the drive and leaving his laughing brother behind.

Katie had just dozed off when ringing jolted her awake. She reached into the dark, fumbling along her floor until her hand hit the vibrating phone.

"Hello."

"Hey," Daryl's gruff voice greeted her.

She looked at the time and moaned. "What the hell, Dare? I've got to work in the morning."

"I'm outside. Can I come in?"

She sighed and sat up, rubbing her eyes. "Why?"

"Got your gift."

"Yeah, that doesn't answer my question."

He growled. "Dammit, Katie. I wanna talk."

Hoisting herself out of bed, Katie made her way through the dark and towards the door. "Fine. Hang on." She hung up.

"Hey." He stepped inside when she opened the door. His fingers twitched at his sides, aching to touch her. But she moved into the living room and sat down on the side of the couch furthest from him. He took the hint and sat down opposite her.

Hunching into himself, Daryl looked at his boots. He had it all planned out on the way over. But now he was suddenly unsure of what to say.

Katie watched him for a beat before bursting. "What the hell was all that tonight?"

Dropping his head, Daryl shrugged.

"Really?! I thought you wanted to talk?"

Daryl rubbed his face. "What do you want me ta say?"

"Ooookay…. I'll talk then. 'Cause I've got a lot to say."

"I'm sure ya do." He mumbled.

Katie ignored him and trudged on. "Dare, if you wanted to hang out with your brother I would have been cool with that. A simple text to let me know would have been sufficient. Even YOU are capable of that. But no! You had to leave me hanging while I was here planning a damn good birthday surprise. And then you were a giant dick to me when I got to Jake's."

Daryl's anger flared at her scolding tone. "So, what? Ya had to go and get all cozy with Merle? Let him grind up on ya? For what? Payback?"

"Yeah, Daryl. Payback for being an asshole!"

His icy blue eyes glared at her.

She sighed. "Whatever. I'm really tired and not interested in fighting. I get it. Merle's more important than me."

"Merle's my brother!"

"A brother who's treated you like shit your whole life."

"Don't matter. I did what I had to." His tone was sharp.

"What? What does that even mean?"

Katie watched his jaw clench and unclench. "If you had just left when I told ya we wouldn't be having this conversation."

"No," she pointed at him. "If you hadn't ignored me we wouldn't be having this conversation."

"Dammit, Katie. Don't you get it?! Merle ain't a nice guy! He's a giant piece of shit most the time."

"So, what? You think I can't handle myself around assholes? I do just fine around you."

Daryl snorted. "It's Merle I don't trust. You saw him. Wasted no time trying to get his hands on ya."

Katie digested his words while chewing on her bottom lip. It made sense now, in his own way Daryl had been trying to protect her from his brother. He just had a bass ackwards way of doing it.

"He's a mess," Daryl continued. "And me and him? We ain't so different. My Uncle Jess? He's always told me 'You and Merle cause shit wherever you go.'"

She digested his words and looked him dead in the eye. "He's wrong. You're wrong. You and him might be brothers, but you're very different."

"Naw. I ain't. You're expecting me ta be something I ain't."

"Well, guess what? Yeah, you're a little rough around the edges, but you're a good man. A really good man. I wouldn't be here if I thought otherwise." She crawled across the couch until her knees touched his thigh and took his face into her hands forcing him to look at her. "I've had my fair share of bad dudes. Ones that abandoned me. Ones that hit me. They were not real men. And you are NOTHING like them."

A sudden lump formed in Daryl's throat and he swallowed it down.

"Did you tell me to leave tonight because you didn't want Merle around me?"

He nodded. "Yeah."

"See? That's what a good man does. Protects the ones he loves."

They sat silent for a beat, searching the others eyes, and both lost in their own thoughts. That word hung between them. Love. Did they love each other?

Daryl broke the silence with a raw confession. "Don't ever want to do anything to hurt ya. And I hurt ya tonight."

"I wasn't my best either." She leaned forward and captured his lips in a soft kiss. "Forgive me?"

"Yeah, of course."

Their kisses were gentle, until Daryl pulled away to ask. "How'd ya know it was my birthday?"

Katie smiled. "Took a peek at your license."

Daryl snorted soft laughter. "Nice."

"Where's Merle?"

"Home. Sleeping it off."

"Are you hungry? I made a feast. I can heat something up."

"Starving."

In the kitchen, Katie felt warm hands on her shoulders as she punched start on the microwave. "You did all this for me?"

"Of course I did."

He rubbed gently before dropping his hands. "Don't deserve this."

She shrugged and set a pair of forks on the counter. "Maybe not. But, I couldn't help myself."

While his food heated, she turned around and took her first good look at him. Redwing boots, worn jeans, and the vest over a faded red flannel. "It looks good on ya."

Daryl pulled at the vest and gave his shoulders a tiny shrug. "Yeah? I love it."

Katie reached out and gave it a slight tug. "I might have to borrow it sometime."

The microwave beeped and Daryl good naturedly shoved her away. "Get the fuck outta here."

A suggestive smile creeped over her face. "Really? You don't want me to model it for you?"

He blushed at the thought, picking up his fork and reaching for his plate of food as a distraction from the image of her naked wearing just his vest. "No, I wanna eat."

"Suit yourself." Katie plopped down on the couch with her own plate of food. "It is your birthday, you get to call the shots, I guess."

Daryl spread out on her couch, feeling damn lucky. Good grub and a beautiful girl who made a point to celebrate his birthday, even after he was a dick. No one had done that since his mom died.

"So," Katie said between bites. "I've now had the pleasure of feeling both Dixon dicks."

"Jesus. Shut up."

"I mean I only felt it through multiple layers of fabric…"

"Katie." He growled. She loved that growl. It sounded like he wanted to fight with her and tear her clothes off at the same time

She grinned. "Just so you know, yours is better."

"Oh my God. Stop."

"Just saying."

"Change the subject," Daryl said around his mouthful of macaroni and cheese.

She grinned. "Okay, I have one more birthday treat in mind."

Gesturing to his food and vest with his fork Daryl frowned. "What? This ain't enough?"

Her grin turned wicked and she shook her head. "Don't plan on getting any sleep tonight, Dixon."

An interested eyebrow quirked up. "Thought ya had work in the morning."

"I do, but this will be worth the exhaustion."

Catching her innuendo, Daryl's cock started to pulse. Dear God, this girl was going to be the death of him.

Her final birthday treat was most definitely the icing on the cake. When she was done with him there wasn't an inch of his skin that her lips hadn't touched. She'd made him cum with her mouth, and then barely gave him a chance to recover before he was coming a second time inside her.

Afterwards he lay spread eagle on her bed barely able to keep his eyes open. "Damn, Peach."

Her naked body curled into his side and she soaked in his warmth.

"Happy birthday, Daryl." She whispered against his skin before falling asleep.

When her breathing steadied out and Daryl was sure she was asleep, he let himself relax. The word from earlier that night came back as his eyes closed. Love. Was he even capable of it? It damn sure didn't seem possible. Yet, here he was absolutely wrecked and unable to let go of the girl beside him.

NOW

Hilltop loomed in front of her and somehow it looked bigger than just a few days ago. Nervous butterflies took flight in her stomach as she inched out of the protection of the tree line. During her journey, she'd only been focused on getting there and hadn't thought through what to do once she arrived. She was almost in full view now, one more step out and they'd see her.

"Whisperer!" She heard warning shouts and within seconds she was surrounded by the Hilltop army.

With weapons aimed at her from all around, Katie slowly lifted her mask off and threw it a few feet away. Immediately, she returned her hands above her head. "I'm unarmed and alone!"

"What do you want?" A voice called. In the watch tower above her, a busty brunette looked down with a hard gaze.

Her heartbeat was roaring in her ears, Katie drew in a steadying breath. "Daryl." She squeaked out. "I came to see Daryl."

"Alpha sent you." The brunette answered.

She shook her head. "No. I came on my own."

The men beside her held steady spears to her body while the group above whispered among themselves. She held still, but her eyes roamed, taking in the details around her. Another valuable skill learned from Daryl. Never get caught by surprise.

The leaders were taking too long to decide what to do. Katie needed to show all her cards, she inhaled before announcing. "Henry! I can help you get your friend back! I can take you to him."

The group above her shifted their eyes down.

"It's a trap," one of them murmured.

The brunette eyed her suspiciously and Katie didn't break eye contact, she needed to earn the woman's trust. And fast.

"How do you know Daryl?" She finally asked.

"From before." Katie's answer was quiet. "He was my best friend."

The suspicion didn't cease, but Katie saw her eyebrow quirk in interest.

"Please," she continued. "Just let him know I'm here. He will tell you."

"What do you want me to do, Tara?" One of the soldiers holding a spear to her throat asked.

Tara sighed. "Put her in the cells."

Katie grunted as they tied ropes around her wrists from behind and led her inside Hilltops gate.