NOW

Sleep was alluding Daryl. He stared up at the dark, night sky trying to distract his thoughts by searching for constellations. But, it was no use. Katie was living in his head rent free and he was powerless to fix it. From his makeshift bed on the ground, he shifted up onto one elbow for a better view of Hilltop's cells. He hadn't liked it, but after their conversation inside the Barrington house, he'd had to lock her back up. The Hilltop residents were clearly uncomfortable with her not being secure. Katie had understood, but the look on her face when he closed the cell door had gutted him. So much so that he had considered just sleeping there on the other side of the bars.

Hilltop had no interest in welcoming her permanently. Daryl didn't fault them for that. This was just a pit stop for him to decide the next move. She needed a permanent place to live. His campsite on the outskirts of Alexandria wasn't suitable. They needed walls, and a roof over their heads. They needed protection from the winter that was quickly approaching.

And, of course, there was Lydia too. Somehow he had found himself in charge of two outcast Whisperers.

Knowing that sleep would never come, he rubbed his eyes and with a soft groan he stood up, his joints popping as he stretched to his full height. Quietly, he made his way towards the cells with Dog at his heels. He intended to only sit outside the window, but his feet carried him into the entrance. He picked up the lantern beside the door and flicked it on before heading underground.

Katie was asleep on the cot inside the cell, wrapped tightly in a blanket that Connie had found for her. Dimming the light so he didn't wake her, he set it on the floor and took the opportunity to study her a little more closely.

His eyes landed on her lips and it was almost impossible to ignore the memory of how they used to feel on his skin. An ache formed in his chest and he let out a deep sigh. The ache was familiar. The pain of missing her had been physical just as much as it had been emotional. It didn't matter what had happened over the last decade, it was clear that his love for her hadn't died. Seeing her was only a catalyst to intensified feelings. He rubbed at his chest, willing the ache to go away.

She must have felt him watching her. Her eyes fluttered open and landed on him. He expected her to startle, but instead she gave him a soft smile. Her voice was husky with sleep when she asked, "You still don't sleep?"

His eyes dropped down to the ground, feeling guilty that he had been caught watching her. He shook his head. "Barely."

Sitting up, she pulled the blanket around her shoulders and tucked her legs into her body indian style. When he looked back up, their eyes met. Something happened in the depths of their stare- like a tether formed and connected them across time. All doubts that Daryl had previously had fell away. Katie wasn't here to harm him or anyone else. She wasn't some secret spy for Alpha. She was just Katie. His Katie.

He heard Katie inhale a deep, steadying breath and he took one of his own. Then, unable to ignore the need to be close to her, he fished the keys out of his back pocket and let himself into the cell.

"Welcome to my humble abode." Katie tried to joke as Dog ran to her, tail wagging in greeting.

Daryl hummed and slid down to the ground, his back pressed into the wall across from her.

"You can sit up here," Katie genstered to her cot. "The ground is cold."

He wanted to, but gave a small shake of his head. Getting close enough to touch her skin in the dark was the worst possible idea right now.

"Still as stubborn as always." Katie chided.

"Yeah. Guess some things don't change." Daryl's husky voice gave Katie a shiver. "Brought ya something."

Her eyes lit up when he produced two hand rolled cigarettes from his pocket. "No way."

"Been savin' 'em." He explained.

"For what?"

He shrugged with a smirk. "A special occasion?"

She took the cigarette he offered and placed it between her lips. When he lifted the lit match to light the end, his knuckles accidentally grazed her chin. The gesture felt intimate and familiar.

They smoked in silence for a moment, each one enjoying the small luxury of nicotine and the comfort of each other's presence. It took Daryl back to all the nights they had sat outside together sharing a smoke and a beer, and shooting the shit. He began to feel himself relax.

Katie was the one to break the silence. "I wish I could know everything that happened to you."

"What ya mean?"

"I mean everything. Each little detail of what you've done since shit went down."

Daryl coughed out a laugh at the impossible request. "I got some stories."

Katie exhaled smoke through her nose and gave him a soft smile. "Tell me one."

His eyes studied her face while he thought and watched her lips as they pursed around the cigarette and inhaled. He figured he'd just start at the beginning. "I came back for you. Merle and I left the cabin and I went straight to your apartment. You was gone. I looked everywhere for you. Morning Glory- it was overrun. I couldn't get in. Prayed like hell you weren't stuck in there and turned."

Katie sighed. "I guess that's when I went to the cabin."

"Shitty luck." Daryl muttered, while staring at the glowing tip of the cigarette. "Merle and I ended up with a group, we camped outside Atlanta at a quarry for awhile."

"Merle." Katie whispered.

Daryl frowned. "He's been gone awhile."

"I'm really sorry." She and Merle had their differences, but she was sincere.

Biting his lower lip, he nodded his thanks. "Got caught up with the wrong people, made stupid decisions, and it bit him in the ass. Typical Merle."

Katie couldn't help but give him a sad smile. "Sounds about right."

Daryl took the last drag of his smoke and ground it into the dirt floor. "I was with a big group for a while. We really made something of ourselves. But, I've been on my own for a while."

Katie's head tilted. "You don't live here?"

"Nah. I got people here, but I got a campsite a few miles out." He needed to tread carefully here. Katie said she wanted to know everything, but he wasn't ready to divulge everything. There were so many parts of his life that needed to be kept close to his chest, at least until the time was right. "There was a guy- became a brother. Stepped into shoes that Merle never filled. I lost him a while back too. Been looking for him out there."

"You will. You're good at finding things."

Daryl shook his head. "Didn't find you. I've lost a lot of good people. Family. Never had one come back until now."

Hot tears pricked at Katie's eyes and she quickly swept them away. "I never thought I'd see you again."

"Please don't cry." He begged her quietly.

She hung her head to hide the tears from him. "I'm sorry. Missing you… it was so painful. Everything hurt. It took years for the ache in my chest to go away."

"Me too," Daryl whispered. "Ain't sure it ever did go away."

At his confession, Katie's watery eyes flicked to his face. "Dare." She whispered.

It was too much. Daryl pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes, trying to stop the flow of emotions. He heard movement and felt the warmth of Katie's body settle next to him. She lifted a hesitant hand and gently set it on his knee.

He ignored the ache in his chest and resisted the urge to move closer to her. Instead, leaning away while his body protested at not getting the satisfaction of touching her bare skin. Her soft hand on his knee reminded him of how she used to touch his body. He groaned softly.

Katie's hand whipped away. "Sorry."

He lowered his hands and blew out a breath. "It's fine."

Slowly, Katie curled into herself. "This is a lot."

"Yeah." Daryl agreed. That was an understatement. And it was about to be more. "There's something I gotta tell ya."

Daryl met her eyes, and she cocked her head, listening. "What?"

"Lydia." He paused, so she could catch on. "She's still with us."

Katie's eyes grew wide. "She's with YOU?"

He nodded.

"She's not with Alpha?"

"No. Our communities granted her asylum."

"Does she know I am here?"

Daryl gave a gentle nod. "Yeah, she knows."

Katie took in a deep, shaky breath. "Oh my god. What else have I missed being locked up in here?"

"A lot." Daryl took his own deep breath and began filling in the gaps for her. "Connie and I rescued Henry. That night your camp was overrun? Lydia came with- made her choice." He took his time filling Katie in. He explained everything from being tracked by the whispers, to pushing Beta down an elevator shaft and his survival, the Kingdom's fair, Alpha's horde and finally Alpha's infiltration ending with his friends' heads on spikes.

When he was done, tears were streaming down her cheeks. "This is awful."

Daryl ached to comfort her, but there was still more bad news to deliver. "Yeah. There's more. Hilltop? They don't want you here. Your group killed their people. Their leaders. They ain't feeling very welcoming."

"So, where do I go?"

"I have an idea."

She nodded, trusting him.

"And it might not work. But it's worth a shot."

"So, you want me around?" She asked timidly.

He paused, chewing on his bottom lip. It might be a decision that he would later regret, but there was no way he could tell this girl no. He couldn't turn his back on her if his life depended on it. "Yeah. Of course I do."

Relief washed over her face. "I wasn't sure."

"Me neither. Not at first."

Katie spoke softly. "Thank you."

Daryl gave a quick nod of his head. "The Kingdom. We're gonna go there."

"They'll welcome us?"

"Maybe. They let Lydia stay. Gonna see, I guess."

Their eyes met and Katie gave him a hopeful look. "I trust you."

He reached over, laying a large hand on her knee and squeezed. "You're stuck with me, Peach."

Her stomach tightened at the sound of her old nickname. "Is that a promise?"

"Yeah. It is. We'll leave at first light."

Katie curled her small, cold hand into his large one. Her skin warmed instantly and she gave him a smile. "Thank you."

The next morning, Daryl met Alden in the garage to get a bike for their journey to the Kingdom.

"Appreciate this, man." He said while wheeling the bike out from the lean to shed. Having a motorcycle was going to make the trip back to the Kingdom a hundred times easier. They'd get there fast, and be able to avoid any threats more easily. "This thing all tuned up?"

Alden crossed his arms and frowned at him. "Yeah. It's good. Man, are you sure this is a good idea? How do you know this isn't some type of trap?"

Trying to reassure his hurting friend, Daryl clapped his shoulder. "She ain't bullshitting me."

Alden wasn't going to be an easy sell. Daryl's past with Katie meant nothing to him. The wound from losing Enid and Tara was too fresh and still bleeding. "C'mon man. Look at what her people did!"

"She ain't your problem, no more." Daryl answered. "I'm getting her outta your hair."

"And what? Putting the Kingdom in danger? TWO Whisperers there?"

"They don't know Katie's here. They think she's dead."

"Yeah. That's what she told you." Alden's voice hissed.

Daryl tried not to be frustrated. "Look man. I'll handle it. Take her out on my own if I have to. I ain't gonna let anyone else get hurt."

Alden studied him with hard eyes. "Better not."

From her spot at a picnic table, Katie took the opportunity to study Daryl as he checked over the motorcycle. This new Daryl moved with an ease in his body that old Daryl had never possessed. She could tell he was more comfortable in his own skin. She watched as he talked, how he was in control of his words and confident when he spoke. The maturity looked good on him.

She couldn't help the small smile that creeped onto her lips. Despite all the shit, she was happy.

He parked the motorcycle and strode towards her. "Here." He shoved a bandana at her. "Tie this on."

He knew by the way her eyebrows furrowed that she was getting ready to ask why. Damn girl. Never could just follow directions. Always had to know why.

"In case your people are watching." He explained before she could ask and gestured to her mouth. "Hide your face."

Her eyes lit up with understanding and she nodded before tying the fabric around the bottom half of her face.

"Ya ready?" He asked.

Katie nodded. "Of course."

Daryl tilted his in the direction of the bike. Just like old times, she swung behind him, pressed into his back and wrapped her arms around his waist. Their bodies still fit together perfectly.