Ava

It's been two weeks since Jesus showed up and introduced us to The Hilltop and another week since Rick led his group towards the saviors outpost and committed mass genocide to our enemies. Luckily I was able to sit that one out because I don't think I could stomach that much murder at one time.

"If anyone objects to us doing this speak your mind now."

I glance over at Daryl who keeps his eyes on Rick. He won't go against him - he knows this is the only way to preserve what we have here - and I won't go against Daryl so I sit quietly in the pew thinking about how ironic it is to be in a church discussing murder.

I glance out the window wondering what time it is. Murder is not my strong suit and I'm supposed to meet Denise to go over what I've learned from the pharmaceutical book she let me borrow. After Morgan says his peace - which falls on deaf ears the meeting is adjourned and we file out of the church like it's noon on Sunday.

Daryl grabs my arm as I pass him; headed to the infirmary. "Hey." I force a smile - looking up at him with blue eyes. "Hey."

"It's them or us. This is the way it's gotta be."

I keep my smile and nod. "I know." I assure placing my hand on his chest. "I've got to meet Denise. I'll see you in a little bit, ok?"

Daryl watches me closely trying to decide if I'm really ok with their plan. After a minute he leans down and kisses me like it's the last time he'll ever kiss me before turning back towards the church where Rick is waiting with details of their murderous plans.

X

I look up from the medical book slowly as Daryl walks into the infirmary and I'm on my feet; wrapping my arms around him tightly as he buries his face in the bend of my neck.

"Is everyone ok?" I whisper as he kisses the exposed part of my shoulder; tightening his grip around me. "Are you ok?" I pull away from him enough to search his tired eyes and he nods. "Maybe one day we won't have to keep killing people to survive."

I place my palm on his face; "You'll always do what's best for your family. There's nothing wrong with that." I assure him

"Those assholes had my bike… those people I tried to help in the burnt woods must be a part of the saviors. They've still got my bow."

"You'll get it back." I say with a smile before sitting back down in front of the thick medical book on the table. Daryl grunts a response and takes the seat beside me; looking over my shoulder. "How's this coming along?"

"Slowly. I barely made it out of high school I don't know why Denise thinks I'll ever figure it out."

"I've got faith in ya." Daryl assures quietly as I close the book and turn to face him; my smile bringing his own. "You're definitely the only person who ever has."

"You done here?" His deep voice vibrates his chest as he speaks; whispering the words against my ear. Definitely not done - I want to learn what medicines we need to bring back from our supply run if we get that lucky but the way Daryl is watching me now makes up my mind for me. His gaze is primal and locked onto my lips.

"Yeah. I'm done."

In one quick move his chair rakes across the floor and he's lifting me up in his arms; carrying me out of the infirmary like a bride on her wedding night - barely stopping to greet Abe and Sasha in the yard as he makes his way up the front steps. I bury my face in his shoulder with a laugh as he grunts a greeting to Rick and Michonne and goes up the inside stairs quickly.

He kicks the bedroom door closed like some kind of barbarian and swiftly tosses me on the bed. I scramble to my knees with a grin 0 and try to brace myself as he comes towards me like the apex predator he is. Picking up a discarded pillow I hold out my hand; lost in a fit of giggles as he grins. "You think that'll stop me?"

"I was pillow fighting champion of the world in 2006." I lie - tightening my grip on the pillow as he stalks towards me. Once he's in range I swing - connecting with his side but he swats the weapon away easily and climbs on the bed - running both hands into my hair as he pulls me to his chest roughly and crashes his lips to mine. There's a desperation in his kiss that sends a thrill through me as I use my momentum to push him backwards until he's laying on his back and I'm straddling his hips - barely breaking our connection.

Daryl runs his hands up my thighs and over my ass; tightening his grip to hold me against him as his tongue brushes against mine and a groan escapes my throat. A moment later I have to pull away for air - searching his serious eyes with my own. I manage a smile but the look on his face tells me he's thinking the worst of something.

"Marry me."

That was not what I was expecting him to say. I open my mouth to protest - married in the apocalypse? That sounds like the stupidest shit I've ever hear of. We need to focus our energy on staying alive not ancient customs that mean nothing. Daryl just stares at me; his unruly hair covering half his face and I'm still trying to find the words to answer him. My brain is laughing it's ass off but my heart is twisted in a painful realization that of course I would marry this man. I would do anything he asked of me.

"Okay."

My answer is so whisper quiet I'm afraid he didn't hear me but the smile that spreads across his face assures me he did. I lean my body down again and place my lips to his. "Really?" He asks and I nod; my smile spreading wide. "I love you, Daryl. If you want to get married we'll get married… but how?"

"Gabriel. I already asked him if he would."

My face is beginning to hurt from the ridiculous smile I can't seem to lose and I bury my face in the bend of his neck as he wraps his arms around my back tightly.

"When?" I whisper against his ear. "Sunday. After his sermon."

"Okay." I whisper and he holds me even tighter. In three days I'll be Mrs. Daryl Dixon. What a ridiculous concept. Married in the zombie apocalypse. I giggle against his neck but keep that thought to myself. I meant what I said - I love this man and I'd he wants to marry me so be it. I'll be the best damn apocalyptic wife anyones ever had.

X

Daryl

"It's alright if you want to stay behind. You're important here. No one will think any less of you for staying."

I watch Ava as she tries to talk Denise out of going on the supply run to the pharmacy but I can see the determination in her eyes - she's going and she keeps talking about some kinda orange pop. It's almost as bad as the woman and the pasta maker - God rest her soul.

Ava forces a smile but I can tell she's nervous. She doesn't want Denise - the only somewhat doctor in Alexandria to risk her life but the girls ready to leave these walls who are we to stop her.

"We're burnin' daylight." I mutter as the girls reluctantly follow me out of the infirmary and towards the truck we're taking. Rosita shows up halfway there assuring us she needs to get out of these walls for the day so she'll join us. Great - just another girls day out. We pile into the worn out truck and I throw my hand up in a wave as some of the community members see us off.

We should make it home by sundown. I glance over at Ava who's nearly sitting on my lap in the tight space looking out the window; she catches me staring and grins placing her hand on my knee. Denise is not impressed with my manual driving skills but I press the clutch in deliberately and grind into second gear as we hit the open road.

X

"Wow. This is amazing."

"If you want to sit the bottles up here I can tell you what they're for."

Ava hoists herself into the pharmacy window and opens her backpack; dumping drugs in quickly. "Nah. We'll take it all." I assure her - following Ava's lead as we empty the pharmacy quickly.

"Hey! They never had my name before." Ava says - pulling a keychain from a trinket stand quickly. "I don't see any of your names." She hands me the keychain that simply reads "Ava" and smiles. "Keep that forever." She demands before going back to work.

X

"Hold on." Denise calls as we make our way back to the truck. We keep walking a few feet as she turns - headed to an abandoned car.

"We need to get back."

I watch Ava close the space between herself and the makeshift doctor. "I'm not a child. I can handle one walker!" Denise snaps as she opens the car door and pulls out a blue cooler.

"This one's dead already anyway." She assures; turning her back to the inanimate zombie slumped over in the passengers seat of the abandoned car as she opens the cooler and gasps. Rosita and I turn towards them; curious as to what's in the cooler. Denise smiles wide and pulls out a six pack of orange soda. "It's Tara's lucky day!" She says excitedly just as the walker beside her begins to move - reaching out and grabbing her arm suddenly. We can only watch in horror as the walker digs it's nails into her arm - her screams ringing out into the trees as it sinks its teeth into her arm. Ava pulls her knife to kill the zombie only to have another one round the backside of the vehicle and grab Denise from behind - sinking it's teeth into her shoulder. Rosita shoots the second walker as Denise falls to the ground in agony pleading with Ava to help her.

Her fear and screams will cause more walkers to come and we'll quickly be out numbered.

Ava seems to read my mind and I can only watch in horror as she pulls her gun from her back and points it at a dying Denise - shooting her in the head to put her out of her misery. Once the doctor is silent and unmoving Ava turns to me with wide tear filled eyes; dropping her gun to the ground.

I go to her and pull her to my chest; wrapping my arms around her thin frame as a sob escapes her. "I… I didn't know… didn't know what else to do…." She whispers against my neck; holding me tightly as she cries. "It's alright. You did the right thing. We gotta get outta here before more come."

I push Ava back to search her face; silent sobs escaping her as she stares at me hopelessly. "It's gonna be alright." I say again as she nods; panic and sorrow causing her to nearly hyperventilate. "Ava. Listen to me. You did what you had to do. She was suffering."

She nods again; her dark hair falling around her face as she takes a deep breath and tries to steady herself - dark blue eyes rimmed in tears staring at me helplessly.

"This is my fault. She should have never…"

My whole body jerks as an narrow suddenly protrudes through Ava's eye and she gasps, mumbling her last words as she slumps into my arms. "…came… with… us."

"No…." My voice is not my own. It's desperate and hollow and everything is silent as I fall to my knees with her lifeless body in my arms. Ava is gone - just like that and I feel my insides trembling as the silence suffocates me.

"Get up!"

I can't move. I can't breath. I can only stare down at this girl that came into my life and changed everything - changed me and now she's gone. She can't be gone. She can't be.

"Get the fuck up!"

"Daryl!"

Rosita desperately yelling my name from somewhere behind me brings me back from my silent prison but I can't look away. If I look away there's no bringing her back and I said I would crawl down into hell to keep her with me.

"Wake up. Ava. Please… wake up." The silence is replaced with noise - loud unhinged screaming from somewhere and I hope Rosita is okay but I am trapped in anguish - staring down at Ava's lifeless body in my arms.

Whoever's screaming needs to stop before more walkers show up.

The blunt end of my crossbow comes at me suddenly; knocking me in the face as the silence returns. That's when I realize I was the one screaming - pleading with a dead girl to wake up. I reach for Ava as I look up into the fucked up face of the man who killed her - the prick from the burnt woods who is now pointing the cross bow at me.

"I said. Get the fuck up - now."

"Daryl; please. He's going to kill you." Rosita cries and I finally look away from Ava noticing several saviors surrounding us with guns pointed. Eugene is before them on his knees with tears in his eyes. I stand up slowly never letting my eyes fall from Dwight's. The look on my face must be murderous because he lowers the crossbow suddenly.

"Not that it matters much now but I wasn't even aiming for her. This thing kicks like a bitch."

"I should have done it."

"What?"

"I should have killed you before."

Dwight smirks; glancing down at Ava then back to me. "Yeah. You probably should have."

X

"Daryl, please stop and talk to me." I continue to ignore Carol's plea's - shoveling dirt like it's my life's meaning until there's an Ava size hole in the ground six foot deep. "Daryl."

"What?!" I finally snap - glaring at her. Why the fuck won't she just let me do this in peace? Carol opens her mouth and closes it again; a deep frown forming on her face. "I'm sor…"

"Don't. Don't fucking say it." I growl; picking up Ava's lifeless body for the last time. I'll never feel her in my arms or hear her sweet laugh again. I'll never marry her or convince her to have kids with me. She's gone because of that piece of shit Dwight. When I'm done here I'm gonna hunt him down like the dog he is and kill him - slowly. I'm gonna put whoever fucked his face up to shame.

"You have to keep your head, Daryl. Ava wouldn't want you getting killed over this."

I lower Ava into the hole gently; finally looking at Carol once I'm done. "I'm going and when I find Dwight I'm gonna kill him and anyone else who gets in my way." Carol frowns - her new sense of remorse for killing annoying me. The one time I am fueled by enough rage to murder everything in my path the groups second deadliest person is conflicted with a sudden conscious.

Fuck 'em. I don't need anyones help.

Giving Ava's corpse one last look I pull myself up from the hole and grab the shovel; Carol can only watch with tears in her eyes as I begin shoveling dirt into the ground like I have so many times before. I try not to think of Merle or Beth or the countless others I've buried since this shit show started. None of them left me feeling quite like this - completely and utterly empty inside.

I ignore the silent tears that run down my face; digging in deep to finish the job. Once Ava is buried with the rest of the fallen Alexandrian's I throw the shovel to the side and storm off without another word to Carol.

X

"You look like shit. Dwight is this your guy?"

I keep my eyes cast down as Negan wields the bloody barbed wire bat in my face. A few feet away Abe's head is a puddle on the ground. I see Dwight come in from the left holding my crossbow now aiming it at my lowered head.

"Yeah, this is him. You want me to kill him cuz I'll do it - just say the word."

My fist tighten at my sides but I know I can't act out or someone else will get the bat and my luck it won't be me.

"Nah. You don't kill that - not before you try a little." Negan assures with a laugh - swinging the bat around his back easily. "We'll, if no one has anything to say - we'll be right back and maybe Rick will be with me and if not well just turn you people inside out."

I watch as Negan drags Rick to the RV like a dog on all fours; slinging him into the vehicle with ease. I can feel Glenn's eyes on me then past me to an ailing Maggie. "Don't." I manage to say in a low; rough voice. He looks at me again but I keep my eyes down. If any of us want to survive this we've got to keep our fucking mouths shut.

Time for revenge comes later.

X

Epilogue

We're on easy street,

And it feels so sweet.

'Cause the world is 'bout a treat -

When you're on easy street!

Hey.

I open my eyes at the sound of Ava's voice; meeting her bright blue hues in the darkness. She's knelt before me with a smile on her pretty face; reaching out to touch my cheek.

"You have to keep going. Don't let these assholes break you Daryl."

"He took you from me…" My voice is hoarse from lack of use and the cold cell and I let my eyes fall from hers. "He took everything from me."

"This isn't the end for you Daryl. Promise me you'll keep going. The groups going to need you. Rick's going to need you."

I can't look up at her. I can't make that promise because I feel like quitting - really quitting this time. With Beth I knew eventually I'd get up and kill that walker in the woods but now there's no drive to do anything but rot in this cell.

I know she's not real just my fucked up mind playing tricks on me. My subconscious trying to block out the noise from this terrible fucking song - but when she closes the space between us and climbs into my lap I can't help but wrap my arms around her.

"We were gonna get married…"

Ava rests her head in the bend of my neck; whispering softly. "We can still get married. One day. You'll be really old and worn down and I'll still be young and beautiful - I'll be weird but I'll wait for you." She laughs and fills my empty chest with sorrow.

"You have to keep going. Promise me you won't let these assholes break you. Promise me you'll take care of Judith - be her peace when Rick goes off the chain again. Promise me."

Ava lifts her head to look at me; she's smiling but her eyes are sad. She wasn't ready to go but there was no point delaying the inevitable any longer. Dwight would be along shortly to wake me up and take her from me again.

"I love you, Daryl. The past few months with you were the best months of my whole life."

"Please don't go…"

"Promise me you'll be okay?"

I search her face for a long moment and finally nod; my throat tight with grief. "I promise." I manage my voice cracking with emotion as she hugs me tightly.

Dwight bangs his fist on the cell door startling me awake - the weight of Ava in my arms dissipates as the door opens wide shining harsh light into my prison.

"Get the fuck up." Dwight yells; grabbing me by the neck of my shirt as I scramble to my feet and we head to a room a few feet away where Negan awaits.

X

"I'm gonna ask you one more time. Who are you?"

I picture Ava's sweet smile. I made a promise to her.

"I'm Daryl."

X

Yay for finished stories! I own nothing related to The Walking Dead or the wonderful song Easy Street. All the things that happened during TWD Season 6 and 7 happened except Daryl was to distraught over Ava's untimely death to fight Negan after Abe got the bat so Glenn's life is spared. Daryl keeps his promise and keeps going for Ava and maybe one day they'll be reunited. (Also who the fuck is Leah. No one. Never happened. Please review!)