I'm unsure how long this will be. I've got an idea and decided to just go with it before I forgot it or lost interest. This is AU.


Daryl watched her with eyes of a hawk. All he was in the end was a man. He really couldn't help himself. Everything about her radiated just complete warmth and happiness. It was so foreign to him. How did someone stay so warm in a world meant to break you?

It was to cold for her here but she didn't seem to notice. He did though. He wanted to grab her and protect her. And another whole other primal part wanted to throw her down and claim her. Run his fingers along her waist as he finally got a taste.

He wanted everything with a woman he'd never even met. Never even spoke to. It was a wild dream really. He'd seen her his entire life but never spoke to her. She couldn't be from the same reality as him and that was it. She wasn't. She was from a good respectable family that loved their kids. His life was a far cry from hers. He was already working just to keep nothing for himself. Of course Merle was too but their parents were pure shit. Love wasn't a word used in their house.

Maybe that was why he loved coming to this diner. She worked here and he knew she didn't have too. What it'd be like to have the world in your hands the way she did, he didn't know what he'd do. He dreamed of her though, not having the world.

She skated by them laughing as she delivered a different tables order. He knew Merle was talking but not a word was registering as her bell like laugh rippled through the hair chiming in his ears. Demanding his attention be on her. Of course it always would be. He was gone for this girl.

A knock on the top of their table had his eyes snapping forward. Merle was already ordering and Daryl just sighed. It was a different waitress. He always made sure to sit in a different section than her because while he might know what he wants he knows he'll never have it.

Daryl ordered a burger and went back to his pitiful pining. At Least Merle hadn't figured his bullshit out yet. He'd be horrible and embarrass him. No it'd be best to keep this to himself.

In the end he ate his burger in silence and kept his head down. It was in these moments that Merle watched his baby brother. He never caught Merle's curious eyes for fear that he'd be found out. Because every time her breathy voice or laugh rang out he felt his heart rate pick up. Felt his body react. It was like he drugged for just her.

"You ready to go baby brother." Merle questioned.

Daryl stood. He'd barely been out of school for thirty minutes and it was time for work. Merle got him a job working with him at the local mechanics and he honestly could say he loved it. It kept his hands and mind busy. Still though when she skated by and narrowly missed him he about passed out. She'd spun on the skates all the waitress wore and waved sorry to him with a wide smile cutting across her perfect face. Her strawberry blonde hair waving curls into her face. She was perfect and so far out of his league it was laughable, he was a Dixon after all.

He just nodded and sped up to get away. He picked at the wholes in his sweater and trailed after his brother. He'd always been on the outside and that's how he preferred it now. It gave him perspective on how crappy people truly were to each other. It itched at his mind though because he'd never seen her fake with other people. No one had a bad thing to say about Carol.


He just had a few more days and he'd be graduating. He'd yet to tell Merle he was going to enlist or his parents for that matter. He didn't care what his parents thought and he was sure they wouldn't care about his enlistment either. Merle though would take it personally if Daryl didn't speak up soon.

"Merle." Daryl's voice was low. He was down on his knees changing out brakes. "Can we talk."

Merle stopped. They were the last two in the shop this late. They always were. No one could say the Dixon brothers were hard workers. Merle stopped at his side, his boots crowing Daryl's own work. Daryl felt his nerves get higher and sucked in a breath.

"I'm enlisting." Daryl ripped the bandaid off.

Merle was quiet for a long time and leaned against the wall. Daryl kept working on the breaks and started to sweat. Would Merle take it as he was abandoning him to their parents? Merle stayed for him he wasn't stupid. Daryl escaped often with his older brother just to avoid being home.

"This is what you want?" Merle finally asked. "You've talked to a recruiter?"

Daryl exhaled harshly. Merle was more like a father than a brother. That was why his words always carried more weight for him.

"Yes." Daryl finally looked up. "I'll leave two days after graduation."

Merle sighed and nodded. "I want to be pissed that you're doing this but I know why you are."

Daryl stared at his brother and knew that it was okay. Everything would be okay. In the end it would be. Merle didn't need anyone to make it. He never did but he made a point to stick it out for his brother. He knew if he didn't stay Daryl would have a fighting chance in that house.

He dusted his hands off and stood after finishing the brakes. "It won't be like I wont get leave."

Merle laughed boisterously. "My baby brother going off to be a soldier." He slapped Daryl on the back, "You watch your ass out there."