Oh boy, did I agonize over this chapter. I hope I did these two justice. I hope you enjoy Daryl and Katie's reunion.

NOW

Standing outside the cells at Hilltop, Daryl's heart drummed violently inside his chest. He paced in circles, his fists flexing over and over again, as he sorted through his emotions.

He was angry. Furious over Alpha's actions.

He was scared. Unsure of what he would find in the cell.

He was hopeful. Anxious to see her face.

He was sad. Broken over the loss of his family.

Everything was all tied up in knots, making him sick to his stomach. He stilled and stared at the barred basement window just above the earth. When it all went to shit he'd spent days searching for her, going anywhere he imagined she could possibly be. And now she was just on the other side of those bars. Isn't this what he had wanted all those years ago? To find her? He should feel lucky. Finding your loved ones wasn't the way the world worked anymore. So why did he feel so conflicted?

In his peripheral vision, he caught movement. Connie approached with a bundle in her hands.

She offered it to him, and when he took it she held up a note that read: Take her this.

He unwrapped the beige satchel to find a small meal of bread, jam, and apples. He nodded. "Yeah, good idea."

She gave him a friendly touch on the elbow and a smile that he found comforting. He watched as she flipped a fresh page in her notebook. Going to tell her about Lydia?

He shook his head. "No. Not yet."

She nodded, understanding. You got this.

He sure as shit hoped she was right. It didn't feel like it. What it felt like was that he would self-destruct any second now. He mumbled a quiet, "thanks."

With one last pat on his elbow, Connie retreated. Dog's ears perked up and he followed her. Of course he would. Even his own dog didn't want to be around Daryl's angsty energy.

Finally, he threw open the cellar doors, the hinges groaning under the force. He took a few steps, stopping midway to let his eyes adjust to the darkness.

Katie's breath hitched when she saw the beat up boots on the stairs. There was no doubt that was Daryl's stomp. She swallowed quickly, willing away the lump that had suddenly formed in her throat. Slowly standing on wobbly knees and fighting the butterflies in her stomach, she moved closer to the cell bars.

When his feet hit the dirt floor, he froze. His familiar blue eyes roamed over her for what seemed like an eternity. He was searching for something, and getting his first good look at what she had become. She had no idea what he saw. It had been years since she looked in a mirror. She knew she was dirty, mangled, aged and nothing like the girl he had met in the bar 12 years ago.

"Katie."

His voice was low and gravelly, just how she remembered it. It had been so long since she had heard her name spoken aloud that tears immediately pricked her eyes. They threatened to spill and she quickly blinked them away. Afraid that speaking would cause the damn to burst, she nodded as an answer.

He closed his eyes and took in a shaky breath. He was silent for so long, Katie didn't know what to do. She kept quiet, allowing him to gather his thoughts. Without another word, he pushed off his toe and turned to the exit. Katie watched his angel wings as he retreated, biting her bottom lip so hard she was scared it would bleed. She held back her tears, willing them away until he was gone.

Then, surprising her, he pivoted and stomped back. He stopped just short of the cell bars.

"Did you know?" He spit out.

She recoiled at his anger, backing up into the corner of the cell. "Know what?" Her voice shook.

Hearing her voice tormented Daryl's emotions and he studied her with those piercing blue eyes. This wasn't his Katie. His Katie always stood toe to toe with him, she never flinched when he was angry. He dropped his voice, trying to curb the anger. "What she was planning?"

"Alpha?"

"Yeah. Alpha. Who else?" Despite his best efforts, he couldn't keep the bite out of his tone.

She quickly searched the fog of her brain for whatever answer he was looking for. "I- I don't know…"

"She put my friends' heads on fucking pikes." He spat at her. "Protecting her damn borders."

Her eyes closed and she dropped her head back against the wall. No. No. No. This couldn't possibly get worse. When she opened her eyes, he was staring at her, waiting for an answer.

"Please, you gotta believe me. I didn't have anything to do with that," she whispered. "I didn't know."

He wanted to. He wanted to just blindly believe everything coming out of her mouth. It surprised him, but the power she'd always had over him hadn't seemed to fade. Seeing her was almost like no time had passed at all. But he couldn't let his guard down. Not yet.

"Your group took a lot of good people from us." Daryl ground out. "People who were my family."

This reunion was nothing like she had hoped it would be. Unable to hold back the tears, they began to flow freely. "I'm so sorry."

Not wanting to see her cry, Daryl's eyes dropped to the floor and he toed the dirt.

"Sorry." She quickly swept the hot tears away.

"'S okay."

Katie took in a deep, ragged breath. She'd had so much time to think while she waited for him, and now everything she had planned to say had disappeared. His face flicked back up and he studied her under hooded eyes. Under his gaze, she shivered.

"Oh," he said, suddenly remembering the bundle in his hands. "Here."

He thrust it through the bars, their hands brushing when she took it. She was happy to find it packed with food. "Thank you," she bit into the apple. "I'm starving."

The offer of food changed the air between them.

"They feeding ya?"

She nodded while taking a seat on the ground and spreading the food in front of her. "Yeah, a bit."

Even though there was so much to say Daryl didn't know where to start. So he remained silent and watched as she picked at her bread. Her hands were filthy and fingernails ragged. He wasn't a stranger to being dirty, but Katie had him trumped. She needed fresh clothes and a bath. They'd given that kindness to Lydia when she had arrived, Katie deserved the same treatment. Yeah, he'd get her cleaned up and then they would sit down and have a nice long talk. He didn't want to talk with these bars between them.

"'Ey. Ya wanna get cleaned up?"

She nodded and swallowed her bite. "Do you have a stream close by?"

He shook his head. "Nah. A real bath. Some clean clothes."

She smiled wide. "Really?"

Oh shit. That smile. He cleared his throat. "Yeah."

She looked like she might start crying again. "Thank you."

"I'll find some clothes for ya." He pushed off the cell bars and made his way to the steps. Before heading up he glanced back and his eyes caught hers. "See ya in a bit."

Katie sunk into the outdoor tub of lukewarm water, stretching out her limbs, she closed her eyes and sighed. Outside the privacy fence, Daryl stood guard. She was sure it was more to keep her in rather than keeping others out. It was okay, she understood why he was being cautious towards her. He hadn't changed too much if she still had to earn his trust.

"Ya good in there?" Daryl's voice floated over the partition.

"Mmm. Never better." The air outside was chilly and she sank further down into the water seeking warmth. Along with clean clothes he had brought a bar of homemade soap with flecks of dried lavender inside. It almost made her cry with joy. She took her time, scrubbing every inch of her skin, until the water turned cold.

Shivering, she quickly toweled off and grabbed for the clothes Daryl had brought. Someone must have helped him find the clothing because the jeans she slid over her legs were almost a perfect fit. There was a sports bra, undershirt and lastly a large, warm flannel. She shrugged into it, buttoning it up and then running her fingers through her hair to release the knots.

When she stepped out from behind the privacy fence, Daryl visibly swallowed as his eyes raked over her.

There she was. With all the dirt gone he could see the woman he never stopped loving. "Feel better?"

She nodded, continuing to finger comb through her hair. "You have no idea. Thank you."

He gave her a slight nod. "Listen. I need ya to be honest with me. Can I trust ya?"

Her hands stilled and eyebrows raised. "What do you mean?"

He shifted on his feet. "If I let ya stay out." He gestured back towards the cells. "Can I trust ya?"

She reached for his wrist, encircling it with her hand. At her touch he froze, but looked her in the eyes. "Yes. You have to believe me. I'm not here to hurt your people, Dare."

The energy that sparked and sizzled between their skin felt like it would catch him on fire. Daryl quickly reclaimed his wrist. "Okay. C'mon."

He whistled for Dog, and the three of them headed into the Barrington House. Katie felt everyone's stares as Daryl led her to the huge house. Her arms wrapped around her stomach and she kept her head down as she followed him.

Diana had told Daryl to use Jesus' old room while he was at Hilltop. It felt strange walking into his dead friend's room- a fucking time capsule. He wouldn't sleep here. He couldn't. But, it was a good place to take Katie. Somewhere that eavesdropping ears wouldn't be able to hear.

Dog trotted into the room first, immediately making himself at home on the bed. Daryl settled into the corner chair, leaning forward, his elbows propped on his knees. Katie gently scratched Dog between the ears and took a seat on the floor at the foot of the bed. Her eyes darted around, taking in her surroundings.

"This is your place?"

He shook his head. "No. It was a friend's."

She looked at him, confused. But he wasn't ready to divulge any more information. He chewed his thumb and although there were a million words on the tip of her tongue that wanted to tumble out, she waited for him to speak.

Finally he whispered. "How the hell did you wind up with them?"

Katie closed her eyes and took in a shaky breath. "I was alone, hungry and half dead when they found me. I was out of options." Her eyes unexpectedly began to well up at the memories. "Alpha offered safety and this twisted sense of family. I'd be dead if it wasn't for her."

"So you're loyal to her?"

She quickly shook her head. "No. She might have saved me, but I saw her for what she was. I'd rather stay locked in that cell for the rest of my life than go back."

Daryl swallowed and wished he had a cigarette. "I'm sorry."

Katie shrugged. "The things that happened to me….." her words trailed off and she took in a shaky breath. "It is what it is in this fucked up world."

"What'd she do to ya?"

Katie's tears began to roll again and she shook her head. She couldn't tell him, didn't want him to know how damaged she had become.

"What'd the bitch do, Katie?" He pressed.

"You don't want to know." Her answer was quiet, tired.

Daryl remembered Lydia's switch marks. "Lemme see yer arm."

"Why?"

"Lemme see it!"

Again, Katie flinched at his anger and took in a shaky breath. When she lifted her sleeve there was a mess of scars. Daryl hissed.

"It was supposed to make us stronger. Alpha… she had her ways of forcing our loyalty."

"She know you're gone?" He asked as she unrolled the flannel and covered her arm back up.

Katie shook her head. "I don't think so. The guardians attacked and I hightailed it out. For all she knows I was torn to shreds. No one is going to miss me."

Understanding dawned, she had been there when he and Connie had rescued Henry. "How'd ya know I was here?"

"I saw you, the day we came to trade for Lydia and you talked to Alpha. It was like seeing a ghost. I wanted so badly to run to you. She would have killed me on the spot."

He nodded.

"Your hair is so long." She said. "It was the vest. That's how I knew."

Instinctually, he ran his fingertips over the familiar leather.

She gave him a soft smile. "I knew you'd make it. I went looking for you at the hunting cabin. I was too late."

Daryl's eyes stayed on her face while she talked.

"I thought I needed you to survive this mess."

"Ya didn't."

"Look at me." She held her arm out again, revealing the scars. "I did need you. I've barely survived."

Daryl's head hung. "Ya did what ya needed to. That's what we all did. Survived."

Katie nodded.

"After I left the cabin, I thought I would try to go to Washington. Get to my mom, ya know?" She let out a sad laugh. "I was stupid. I thought I could drive across the country."

"Ya ain't stupid."

"I should have looked harder for you."

"Lots of should have's back then. Can't change it."

She nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, I guess. I dunno…. I wasn't sure you'd want me to find you."

Those blue eyes stared at her, sending shivers down her spine. "You think I didn't look for ya?"

Katie shrugged. "We weren't exactly on good terms."

"Looked all over the damn place, Katie." He whispered.

They stared at each other. Katie felt herself transported back to being 22 and totally in love with Daryl Dixon. Nothing had changed. Her eyes flicked to his lips and she could almost taste him again. Testosterone and cheap cigarettes.

Daryl shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. He still felt guilty for what had happened. Memories that he had long ago tried to bury began to float to the surface. With his palms he rubbed his eyes, but he couldn't stop the memories.

AN- Whew! In the next few chapters were going back to see how they were seperated. And they didn't leave each other on great terms? Hmmm... stay tuned. ;)