Part 1: Oh Your Sweet Disposition

"Ya know one day ye're finally gonna realize what ye're missing, Sugar Tits."

Daryl looked over and rolled his eyes at his brothers' pathetic attempts to hit on the bartender, trying to focus on the drink in his hand instead.

"Merle, we both know that it's never going to happen. However, that blonde over there has been making eyes at you all night. Have fun, Sugar Tits." she winked at him as Merle turned to look over at the woman she was talking about.

Daryl let out a snort when he looked over, "Well she sure does look like your type." he mumbled into his beer bottle.

The bartender behind him finished his thought, "Oh yeah, rode hard and hung up wet. Make sure you use protection, Merle."

Daryl threw his head back and let out a chuckle as Merle growled at them and took off in that exact direction. Daryl finally turned on his stool to face the bartender.

Her name was Alba Finch, she had long, curly dark auburn hair that hung down her back, and the brightest green eyes that he'd ever seen. She was hands down the prettiest girl in the entire town, but she didn't act like it.

"Want another beer, hun?" she asked as she was tossing some empties into the trash bin below the bar. Daryl just nodded his head and she stretched into the cooler, popped the top from another bottle and slid it down to him.

He just nodded his head at her and she smiled before walking down to the other end to wait on other customers.

Daryl watched her go, he'd always had a crush on her growing up. At one time they lived side by side, that was until her parents died and her Aunt moved her across town. Slowly he turned back around to watch his brother make more bad decisions that he would have to clean up later. He always had to clean up his brothers messes.

After like an hour of shooting pool, Merle took off out the door with the old blonde, waving at Daryl as he went by. Daryl just shook his head and let out a deep sigh, he didn't want to go home tonight.

When the bar started to close, he laid money down on the bar and waved towards Alba. She dipped her head at him, and smiled. "See ya tomorrow, Dixon!"

He couldn't help but smile to himself as he slung his leather jacket on before heading out the door.

"Ain't you Merles brother?" a tall man said as he stopped leaning against a black truck and walking towards him.

"Who's askin?"

"Well, you see he owes us some money. A lot of it, actually, and we ain't been able to find him." the man said as a few other men came from the shadows surrounding him.

"Well, I assure ya, he's still around. You must not be looking hard enough is all I'm saying." he said while sticking his hands out to his side in a nonchalant shrug.

The man laughed in response, "Boys, send him home with a message to Merle."

At that the men surrounding him jumped in and started swinging, Daryl was able to get in a couple swings before they got him to the ground and started kicking.

That's when the gunshot rang out and everyone stopped, Daryl uncovered his face to look and see where the shot came from and his breath caught in his throat.

There stood Alba pointing a pistol grip shotgun at the men, the look on her face was absolutely deadly.

"You have to the count of three to get the hell off my property before I start taking out your knees." she growled at the men before racking it back again to reload.

The tall man threw his hands up in the air, "Now, sweetheart, there's no need-"

"One."

"-whoa whoa, why don't you-"

"Two."

The man took a step towards her, that's when the second gunshot rang out, peppering the side of the man's truck.

"Goddamnit! You crazy bitch, we're leaving!" the men scattering like roaches when the light turns on.

She stayed with her gun trained on them until all of their vehicles were gone from the parking lot.

"Damnit, Dixon, are you ok?" she said as she rushed to his side, laying the gun down.

Daryl sat up and wiped the blood from his mouth and spit to the side. "I'm fine."

"No, come inside and let me take a look at you." she stood and reached a hand out to help him up.

"I said I'm fine, Finch." he grumbled pushing himself up off the ground, his ribs protesting.

"Listen here you stubborn son of a bitch, get your ass in this bar or I'll start shooting at you next." she turned and started back towards the door leaving him no other option but to follow.

The lights were already on, she went behind the bar and pulled out a clean dish rag and wet it under the sink and came back around to the stool he had plopped down on.

"Lemmie take a look at that face." she easily gripped his chin and turned it up into the light for her to see.

Daryl couldn't help but stare at the dusting of freckles that went across her nose, the wrinkle she got between her eyebrows when she was concentrating hard on something, and her bright green eyes with the hazel specks.

Easily she started prodding around his eye, and then his busted lip with the rag. "It doesn't look like anything is broken or needs stitches, how's the ribs? Let me see them."

He winced as he pulled his shirt up, and then tried not to keep wincing when she started pushing around on them. "You're going to be as bruised as a bad apple, but I think you'll live."

She turned and went back around the bar, grabbing a bottle of Jack from the shelf and returning with two glasses. "When are you going to stop letting your brother get you in so much trouble?"

"I don't know what you mean." he mumbled as she filled the two glasses and slid one over to him.

"Oh please, he's been getting you into trouble since we were kids." she tossed her shot back and sat the glass down.

Daryl followed behind, wincing as the alcohol burned the cut on his lip.

"You deserve better than what Merle has to offer, ya know that right?" she asked as she filled their glasses again.

"Family sticks together."

Alba rolled her eyes, "Merle would trade you in for a gram of coke and you know it."

He abruptly stood while throwing the shot back and sliding the glass back at her, "Thanks for the help." then turned to leave.

"They slit your tires, let me give you a ride home."

"I'll walk."

"Just shut the hell up and get in the damn truck." she fussed as she stormed by him out the door.

Shuffling his feet for a second, he finally gave in and walked out behind her. She shut the door behind him and made sure it was locked before heading over to her beat up red 89 Dodge Ram.

They didn't speak the ride over to his house, but when she pulled up and put the truck in park she looked over at him. Daryl was too busy staring at the house that was full of people partying, probably tearing all of his shit up. He ran a hand over his face, dreading going inside.

"Want to go grab a bite to eat? I haven't ate all day and I'm starving, plus I could use the company."

Daryl stared at her for a minute, "Sure, doesn't look like I'll be getting any sleep in there anyway."

Alba turned the truck back towards town, swinging through the only open fast food restaurant and then taking the truck and parking it in an abandoned parking lot. She then jumped out and walked around, laying the tailgate down and hopping up onto it before digging into her food. He slowly walked over and joined her, trying to act tough and not let her see how bad his ribs hurt.

When he couldn't stand the silence anymore, he spoke up, "How much longer until you're a bonafide doctor?"

She chuckled and wiped her mouth with a napkin, "A couple years still, sadly."

"Gonna move to the city?" he watched her out of the side of his eye.

"I don't know, haven't really thought about it yet. I got to keep the bar running, it's the only thing paying for my school and keeping my lights on. Plus, I hate Atlanta."

"I hear that." he took another bite of the burger.

"What're your plans, Dixon?" it was her turn to eye him suspiciously.

"Ya mean besides working for my brother?" he laughed sarcastically.

"Can't do odd jobs forever."

He just shrugged at her and finished the burger off, tossing the trash back into the bag and wiping his hands on his already dirty jeans.

"Do you remember when we were kids, you always said you were going to get out of this town, but here you are. Still cleaning up after Merle."

Daryl felt his cheeks get a little hot, "Listen, just cause you decided to go off and be some hot shot doctor, don't mean the rest of us has to."

She looked down at her swinging feet, "I didn't mean it like that, ya know? I just mean…well I guess I don't know what I mean. Listen, why don't you come spend the night at my place? I have a nice comfy couch, then I'll drive you where ever to get your tires fixed in the morning. At least you'll get some sleep."

Daryl really wanted to tell her no, mainly because of the thuds his heart did when she asked. However, he knew he wasn't going to get any sleep whatsoever at his house. After a minute he finally nodded his head, "Yeah sure."

He also tried to ignore the way his breath hitched in his throat when she smiled at him and jumped from the truck. "Well lets go, I'm cold."