AN: Thank you all for your favorites, follows and reviews! I apologize for the lag in posting, as compared to my previous speed. I have started a few new jobs, been travelling, etc. To reward your patience, let's continue with an extra-long chapter!

Onwards and upwards!

Daryl and Rylynn didn't cross paths for several more days. Runs had her occupied beyond the walls, and Daryl spent several full days on the floor of Aaron and Eric's garage. On the fifth straight day, he had been so close to finishing the motorbike at sundown that he asked Aaron if it was possible to get some source of artificial light, even for an hour. Aaron and Eric had obliged him by holding flashlights for him while sitting on the garage floor, occasionally chatting about old times. Daryl had even joined in at one point, laughing at Eric's story about his high school mischief and volunteering a story about Merle hiding drugs in the locker of the student body president. While he was pretty sure that his story telling left something to be desired, the conclusion had Eric rolling on the ground in laughter and Aaron held both flashlights and shook his head at his partner.

True to his word, Daryl finished the bike within the hour, and Aaron and Eric cheered him on as he took it for a test run around the sleepy town. Pulling back into his friends' garage, he couldn't help but smile at his work. It felt good to fix something and have it be under his control to keep it that way. Aaron clapped him on the back in congratulations.

"This is fantastic," he said happily. "We can double our search efforts now! And if we can get Rylynn to come along, we can have pairs make contact and still have a backup!" Aaron turned to Eric and gestured to his injured foot. "When you're all healed, we can even have two teams!"

He turned back to the newcomer. "Daryl, how do you feel about going out on a two day search tomorrow morning? I know you guys only got here a little over a week ago, but I really want to re-establish the search grid I had going before."

Daryl nodded. "Sure, man, 'morrow works jus' fine."

Aaron let out an excited breath. "Wonderful! Thank you, so much, Daryl, for doing all this work."

"'s no problem."

"Alright! I am completely amped now, but let's call it a night and meet here tomorrow at sunup to get some provisions and try to be on the road within the hour. I'll run over to Rylynn's and let her know the plan."

Before he could stop the words from jumping out of his mouth, Daryl heard himself say, "I'll tell 'er. Her house's on the way."

Aaron tried to contain his knowing smile but failed spectacularly. "Well, alright. Thanks!"

Daryl nodded a goodnight to the two as they headed back into their house and then set off down the dark street. He kicked absentmindedly at the pavement as he thought about what to say when he showed up at Rylynn's door.

I came over with a message from Aaron 'bout a search tomorrow that he wants ya on. Ya in? Oh and I'm goin' too.

I got the bike fixed so Aaron and me gonna go on a search m'orrow and we wanted ya to go to. If ya want. Ya don't have to.

Hey, I came by to say that Aaron and I are gonna go out on a search tomorrow, so ya wanna come along and sit in a car with us for two days and drive in th' woods? Only I'll be on the bike. Cuz I fixed it.

The more he tried, the worse he sounded in his own mind. Before he could find a, well, less awkward, way to communicate the information, he found himself at her front door. He nervously adjusted his vest and then knocked.

He heard a few footsteps, metallic clinking, and then the bolt lock sliding right before the door cracked open.

Rylynn peered through and then saw the hunter. She smiled broadly and swung the door open wider.

"Daryl! Hi!" she greeted, smiling. "I didn't expect to see you out after dark." She stepped back and gestured for him to come in, and he obliged.

"Was over at Aaron and Eric's, fixin' th' bike," he explained. He was trying very hard not to notice that she was casually dressed in raggedy grey sweatpants that loosely cut off at her calves but clung to the curves of her hips and behind. Her top consisted of the same black t-shirt he had seen the night before, and her hair was thrown into a sloppy, lopsided ponytail.

In your dream, the voice mocked.

She led him into the kitchen, where she had been cleaning her knives. "How did that go?"

He shook his head to clear his thoughts and said, "What?"

"How did fixing the bike go?" she reiterated.

"Oh, fine. Got it done."

"Nice!" She grinned. "Not that I had any doubts, of course."

He shifted back and forth on the balls of his feet, uncomfortable with her open praise and confidence in him. "Aaron said…I mean, he sent me…well, I was comin' by yer house anyhow…"

He looked up at her, silently begging her to give him an out. That knowing smile appeared on her face, but she settled against the counter and watched him instead of answering his unspoken plea.

"Ah…" he tried again. "Aaron and I are goin' out on a run for a few days, an' he wanted ya to come, too." He inwardly flinched, realizing that he had said Aaron, not we.

She picked up on his phrasing, too, but decided to let it slide. "Sure thing! I'd love to come out with both of you."

Coward, the voice hissed. She has no problem including you, what's yer problem?!

"I assume you'll be on the bike?" she asked, pulling him back to the present. He nodded.

"Great! We should have enough room in the back of the Outback for my bike, then," she called as she walked with purpose into the hallway that led to the garage. Daryl took a step after her, then faltered, wondering if he was meant to come with her.

His reverie was answered when Rylynn's voice echoed through the house. "Daryl! Come help me with this, will you?"

He made his way through the hallway and found her kneeling in front of a bike, the chain dirtying up her hands as she slipped it over a gear.

"Pick up that back tire and spin it, please," she requested. He crossed the garage where she was, and did as she had asked. The chain popped into place and Rylynn smiled, satisfied.

"Thanks," she said, gesturing for him to put it back down. He gently set the tire back on the floor, and when he straightened up, he found her smiling at him, her eyes fixed on his face. The corner of her lower lip disappeared as she pulled it between her teeth.

"What?" he asked, perplexed by her expression. She seemed to realize what she was doing, teeth releasing her lip, and she shook her head slightly, as if to clear it. A few loose strands of her ponytail fell across the back of her beck and in front of her nose.

"Nothing, Daryl," she reassured him as she moved back into the house, Daryl hot on her heels.

"Oh," she called back to him as they re-entered the living room void of furniture. "Rick stopped by this morning."

Daryl halted to a stop at this news. He had suggested the visit out of anger, not seriousness. He hadn't expected Rick to actually do it.

Rylynn turned to see Daryl literally stunned. She let out a laugh. "What? It wasn't your idea?"

"He kept pryin' into business that ain't his," Daryl snapped defensively. Rylynn raised her hands.

"Woah, Daryl, calm down. It's not that big of a deal. He's your brother, and your leader. I get his need to be up to date on things that involve his family."

"He didn't trust my call," Daryl grumbled under his breath. Rylynn could see that, under the apparent anger, the man actually was hurt that Rick hadn't taken his word on the matter. She took a step closer to him and carefully set her hand on his shoulder.

"Don't be ridiculous, Daryl. It's not you he distrusts, it's me, and with every reason. I'm a stranger in a very unstable time and in an unreliable place. He did the right thing."

Daryl lifted his eyes to meet hers. "What did ya tell him?"

Rylynn thought back to the morning's conversation. "He was curious about why no one in Alexandria knows anything about me, and asked how he was supposed to trust me. I told him he couldn't, not until I proved it to him in an important moment, so until then, he would have to take me at my word."

Daryl was impressed. "What did he say to that?"

Rylynn tried to recall the strange, seemingly out-of-space questions Rick had asked her. "He asked me how many walkers I had killed. I told him I didn't keep track. Then he asked me how many people I killed. I told him 6. He asked me why. I told him that my mother, father and brother all turned on the same night at the first camp we were in, early on. I shot all of them. Echo went a few months later, and I put her out, too, to keep her from turning. The last two were two men who tried to force their way into Alexandria about two months ago, when Deanna had turned them out for crimes they committed."

Daryl immediately recognized the set of questions. "What did Rick say after that?" he nervously asked.

Rylynn looked confused. "I'm not sure. He kind of just nodded and then said to be ready to go if hell broke loose."

Before she knew what was happened, she was being engulfed in leather and jean material as Daryl wrapped his arms around her and lifted her partially off the ground. She partially yelped, partially laughed at the unexpected gesture and wrapped her arms around his neck in return.

"What are you doing?" she laughed as he set her feet back on the floor.

"You're in," he said, glee in his eyes. "Those questions're what we ask before someone joins. You passed 'em."

She stared at him in disbelief. "That's it? Just three questions?"

"Well, that an' my and Rick's ok."

"I mean, that's a little better, but I wish I'd known that when he was asking!"

He grinned openly at her. "Don't matter. You're one of us now."

She blushed at that statement. "It's an honor, really. Thank you, Daryl."

He was stunned suddenly by how close her face was to his; he could feel her small breaths under his chin, and the warmth radiating from those eyes was making his limbs go numb. His arms were still around her waist and shoulders, he realized, but they felt weighted and difficult to move.

"Welcome," he whispered in reply. He felt her fingers move in slow, tiny circles on his shoulder and neck. His eyes involuntarily flickered down to her lips, and then back up to her eyes, searching for reassurance.

No way she wants this, the voice mocked him. No way she wants a bumblin', redneck idiot like ya.

She saw him withdrawing into his head, the hurt and distant look on his face becoming more and more familiar.

"Daryl," she whispered quietly, looking earnestly at his face.

Stupid, low-life, dirty piece of shit. Look at her, she's fuckin' perfect, too good fer you.

"Daryl," he heard her again.

She's gonna' tell ya' to let go, ya creep.

"Daryl, Angel."

Ya just dreamin' some deluded fantasty.

"Daryl, I want this."

She probably jus' takin' pity on ya, yer pathetic!

"Daryl!" She was getting louder.

Yer just a way to get into the group. The voice was getting quieter.

"Angel, look at me, please," she called.

She just gonna leave, walk out like everyone else. It whispered viciously. She just gonna use…

The voice dropped out of existence as Daryl felt soft, warm skin push against his chin, his cheek, the corner of his lips. He refocused his eyes and found Rylynn searching his eyes imploringly.

"Angel, are you ok?" she asked quietly. He weakly nodded, wondering if the sensation he had just felt had been her lips or her hands, which were now cupping the back of his head.

"What happens when you go into your mind like that?" she inquired gently.

"Nothin', just…" he trailed off, disoriented and unsure of whether or not to bring the truth out into the open. He flexed his hands, feeling her waist and shoulders still under his fingertips. Her nails were softly raking through his long hair, and he was suddenly aware of how safe he felt, here in her arms, with her in his. He hadn't felt that way since losing the prison, since the dead began to rise, hell, maybe ever in his life.

Her statement from a few days ago came to him. Each moment I spend running, meeting people, talking to you…they're moments I could very well have spent as a walker, or dead. I don't see life as something to cling to- I see it as a gift.

This moment was a gift, and if he didn't take advantage of it, he was going to prove the voice in his head right about being a coward. And for the first time in his life, he didn't believe in the voice. He believed in the woman in his arms.

He started again. "I…I hear a voice, in my head."

"What does it say?" she queried.

"Talks shit," he continued. "Says I'm worthless, piece of shit, no one trusts me…"

She put her hand up to stop him before he got caught up in recalling. "Ok. It's ok."

"Sometimes it sounds like Merle, or my old man," he stuttered. "Sometimes…sometime it sounds like me."

She nodded, understanding why he looked hurt now. She tightened her grip around him and moved closer, sliding one arm down to his waist and pulling him close. He stepped into her willingly, lowering his head to her shoulder and deeply breathing.

"How can I help?" she asked in his ear.

"Ya already do," he mumbled into her shoulder. He lifted his head to look into her eyes. "Ya make it go away."

She looked relieved and surprised, and modestly looked down at the carpet.

Being wrapped up in Rylynn, he felt like he had become engulfed in everything she was, too. His usual fear had been replaced by bravery, his awkwardness driven out by confidence. He had never felt this sure, this safe, or this steady before in his life, and he felt both intoxicated and clarified by it.

Before he could lose those newfound emotions, he dipped his head below hers and captured her lips in an off-centered but gentle kiss. Her eyes momentarily flew open in shock, but she quickly closed them and leaned into his lips, tightening her grip around him and flattening her chest into his. Daryl tightened his hold around her as well, and had to hold back a moan as he felt her lips move eagerly against his.

He pulled away slowly, his eyes still closed. She immediately opened hers, to gage his reaction. She let out a small laugh when his eyes remained shut. She tapped him on the back.

"Daryl, helloooo," she teased. His eyes slowly opened, and a shy smile that he was clearly trying to hold back broke through.

"Sorry," he muttered.

"You have nothing to be sorry for," she smiled widely. She leaned in and pressed a more chaste kiss to his lips, and pulled back before they both got lost again.

"So," she looked around at her space. "Since I'm part of the family now, should I move into one of your two houses?"

He shrugged. "I dunno. 's pretty cramped as is. We're used to it, but might be nice to have yer own space."

She nodded. "That's very true. Might as well enjoy it while it lasts."

"Kinda nice to have somewhere t' be away from all th' drama."

She looked at him, and noticed the bags under his eyes, scraps and grease caked onto his jeans, and dirt all over his hands. "Angel, I'm so sorry. I totally forgot you've been working all day! Do you want to head home?"

Daryl was taken aback. They had just kissed, and she wanted him gone already?

She immediately caught onto the hurt expression that bolted across his face, and hurriedly explained. "I don't want you to leave, Daryl," she admittedly fondly. "But you're covered in engine grease and dirt, and I thought you might be tired after all the work I know you've been doing on the bike. Plus we have an early start tomorrow."

He nodded, accepting her rational but not feeling particularly compelled by it.

"Everyone else'll be home by now," he noted. "Gets kind crazy in the evenings."

"I've never been, like, completely in your houses," she noted, walking closer to him. "What's it like?"

"Just like Julie's," he explained. "We all change where we sleep mostly, between th' two places. I usually sleep in th' first one. Sometimes Carl or Abraham sleeps there, too."

She recognized what he was alluding to. "Just because you're all family, doesn't mean you don't need a break from each other," she laughed. "I remember sharing a tent with Skye and our parents at the beginning of the outbreak. By the third week, all I wanted to do was have my own room with a lock on the door."

Her eyes floated upstairs. "I have extra bedrooms, I think. Upstairs. They might even have furniture in them, I never checked."

His brow crinkled. Was she really…?

"You can stay here, if you need a break. I have a shower and a bunch of extra clothes in that closet."

She is.

He shrugged in acceptance of her offer, and made his way to the closet before heading up the stairs.

Rylynn watched him go, and grinning, bit her lip in attempt to keep an excited squeal from escaping.

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The duo reconvened in the kitchen fifteen minutes later, Daryl dressed in a baggy pair of black sweatpants and a grey t-shirt, his hair wet from the shower and skin free of grease marks. Rylynn had whipped up a quick meal of toast, ground beef and tomatoes, and the two munched through stories of stupid things their groups had done to keep entertained. The conversation carried them all the way through the meal and cleaning the dishes, finding them sprawled out on Rylynn's mattress, the woman giggling madly as Daryl described the many uses for dominos they had invented in the prison.

"It was not!" she laughed, poking him in the side to get her point across.

"It was!" he protested. "Swear t' God, it was three feet tall and damn kids'd build a bridge cross the hallways and wait for us to run into em! Started leavin' em in the tombs, too, an' scared the shit outta us when we knocked em over!"

She shook her head in disbelief but laughter kept erupting from her lips. She looked so carefree and beautiful, her hair spread out under her head and face flush from all of their amusement. She rolled her eyes at him and he responded by dipping down and pressing a kiss to her lips. She kissed back running her tongue across his bottom lip and sending shivers straight to his spine. He pulled back and thickly swallowed, then propped himself up on his elbows and laid down next to her.

"You don't know it, but you're actually pretty smooth, Angel," she teased. He blushed and deflected the compliment.

"My name ain't Angel," he reminded her begrudgingly.

"And mine isn't Rylynn," she playfully whispered back. He turned to look at her face.

"Wind," he guessed. He had shared the clue to her name with Aaron and Eric, and the three had been brainstorming for several days. He had a list ready.

She shook her head. "Nope!"

"Lyra," he fired off immediately. Her giggles filled the room.

"What, do you have a list? No, not Lyra."

"Luna."

"Nope!"

"Cyan."

"Not even close!"

"Hope."

"Uh uh."

"Rose."

"That's my middle name."

"Serious? That counts!"

"It does not! Keep trying!"

He glared at her, determined to win. "Sage."

"Nada."

"Rain."

"Nope again."

He dropped his face down to the mattress, frustrated. She laughed quietly at his reaction.

Suddenly, her head was in his hand, and his left arm was snaking its way around her waist. She barely had a chance to gasp before his lips engulfed hers, passion pouring out of him. It wasn't the physical force or the warmth of the kiss that pushed all the air from her lungs and all the thoughts from her mind; it was the emotions that flooded between them, the alternating current of stability, attraction, trust and comfort electrifying what little space was between them.

The need for oxygen dragged them apart, his forehead resting on top of hers as they raggedly sucked in air.

He drew one shaking hand up to her forehead and traced his way down to her neck.

"Tell me," he whispered.

"Are you trying to coerce me?" she rasped back. "Because keep it up, it might work."

"I wanna know," he pressed on. "I wanna know who you are. Different from everyone else."

His simple declaration felt like it shattered her heart into a million wonderful pieces. She reached up and softly held his face in her hand, and then pulled herself up to kiss him again. Letting her head fall back to the mattress, she looked straight into his eyes.

"Daryl Dixon, you're stuck being Angel, whether or not you like it.

She took a visibly deep breath.

"But you certainly deserve to know the truth, because you are different to me than anyone else. So…my name is Star Rose Laudine."

I greatly appreciate your patience! I will try my best to get back on a regular schedule of updating, but until then, please leave a review telling me what you think of Rylynn/Star, her name, and the progress between her and Daryl!