Over the next day Darryl didn't leave Emily's side once. He sat stagnant watching her for any signs of consciousness. When no one was in the cell with him he held her hand stroking his thumb over her fingers. He hated that he didn't feel comfortable enough to show physical intimacy with her more often. Now that he thought about all the times that she had slipped her hand into his only for him to pull away he felt guilty.

"Darryl why don't you go get some air?"

He looked up as Rick walked back into the cell.

"I ain't leavin her."

Rick sighed.

"You need some rest. You haven't slept…done nothing. If she wakes I'll tell her where you are."

Darryl shook his head. He didn't care if he was being stubborn or not. Rick shook his head looking back to his daughter whose finger moved momentarily as she sighed.

"She'll probably wake up soon. Come get me when she does."

Darryl nodded not saying another word.

An hour or so Emily slowly opened her eyes. She yawned feeling groggier than she had in a long time. The memories of what had happened the past few days made her feel ill. However, realizing where she was Emily felt more relieved. She smiled seeing Darryl standing with his back to her as he looked out the cells door.

She stood on shaking legs as she walked to him. Darryl turned looking at her with wide eyes.

"What are you doin out of bed?! How long have you been awake?!"

Darryl quickly scooped her effortlessly into his arms and laid her back in bed.

"I just woke up. Darryl I don't want to go back to bed."

"Well you aint in no shape to be walkin all over the place either. After everything you went through you need to relax a bit."

Emily frowned.

"You saved me?"

Darryl nodded.

"Why did you go out of those gates?"

He wished he could have come up with some witty romantic comment to say at that particular moment but he couldn't help but feel the anger boiling. Emily was clearly thinking about her answer. In some ways, most of her memories of the past day or so was blurry.

"I don't really remember why. I remember we were fighting but after that it's all fuzzy."

Darryl sighed as Rick and Carl came running into the room relieved to see that Emily was awake. He stepped back as Rick quickly wrapped his arms around his daughter holding her tightly. Darryl stood quietly watching as Emily interacted with her family briefly before turning and walking from the cell.

Emily didn't put up a fight to stay in bed for a few days. Darryl hadn't said much during that time but the expression on his face clearly told Emily that there was something going on in there. After she had woken up he spent time with her but it wasn't what she was hoping.

Getting out of bed she walked out into the yard where Darryl stood keeping watch. He turned looking at her.

"What are you doin out of bed?"

Emily blinked.

"Herschel said I was fine to get up now. Besides that mattress was killing my back. You good?"

"I'm fine"

Emily walked to him touching his back but Darryl shrugged her off. She looked down sadly letting her right hand grip her left forearm.

"Am I dirty now?"

Darryl turned.

"What?"

His face was dark as he looked at his girlfriend.

"After what he did... Do you think I'm dirty now? Is that why you won't let me touch you?"

Darryl looked mad now.

"The hell you come up with that?! I haven't left your damn side! If I thought you were dirty I wouldn't be near you!"

Emily was losing too. This was just like before! He wouldn't even be sane enough to hear her out.

"Then what the fuck is your problem?! Since you came back you don't give a damn about me!"

Darryl's mouth dropped.

"That what you think?"

Emily nodded.

"That's what I know...now."

Darryl shook his head.

"Well your damn wrong. If I didn't give a damn about you I would have never went back to Woodbury to get you. All of this...what that creep did to you...it's my fault. If I had just told ya everything Merle said was bull shit you would have never ran outside the gates. He would have never touched you. Merle was just tryin to fuck us up. It wasn't you darlin. It never was you."

Emily shook her head.

"Then WHY can't you tell me this?! It's like I'm married to a robot!"

Emily stopped herself when she said the word "married." Darryl was looking a little uncomfortable at that too. They stood in silence for a moment before Darryl looked back at her. Neither had really discussed the topic of marriage.

"That what you want?"

"Well yes. I don't want to lose you again. Every time you get around Merle you turn into the way you used to be. I can hardly get you to talk to me. I'm just afraid you are going to go off again and never come back."

Darryl was looking down and almost reminded Emily of a child being reprimanded.

"I'm just gettin my hopes up. If all this ends you're just gonna leave me. Arguin over me leavin is pointless."

Emily could see the angry tears in his eyes as he turned away. She stood motionless for a moment before quickly walking to him wrapping her arms around him from behind.

"That's not true. Darryl I love you. No matter what the outcome of the future is I want this...us forever I' sorry I went outside of the gates. What happened wasn't your fault. It was mine. I didn't listen to you when you said to not go outside the gates alone. Don't be takin the blame for something that wasn't caused by you. You don't have to do that with me. You know this."

Darryl turned gently lifting her into his arms so Emily was on her tiptoes stretched up the length of his body. He lowered his lips to hers. Emily eagerly kissed him back tangling her fingers in his shaggy hair.

"I love you. I'm not afraid to admit that now."

Darryl said softly cupping Emily's face in his hands.

"I love you too. Maybe in the future before we lose our shit on each other over something your brother says let's talk it out."

Darryl actually smiled at that.

"That would be smart."

Darryl continued to hold Emily for a few silent moments. He felt better now. He didn't feel like an emotional mess like he had moments earlier.

"Will you make love to me?"

Emily asked softly. Darryl tensed a little until Emily's hand eased up the back of his shirt stroking his spine. Normally he wouldn't have let anyone touch him there but Emily was different. She was the only one that could touch him and he be comfortable with it.

"You need to heal."

Emily sighed.

"Darryl I need you to make love to me. I want any trace of that bastard gone. I need to feel you."

Darryl snuggled his face into her curls trying to ignore the reoccurring feeling of unease.

"Let's give it a few days. I'm not wanting to hurt you for nothin in the world. When Herschel says you're good I'll do anything you want."

That night Emily lay snuggled against Darryl's chest as he ran a hand through her hair. This was the first time since he had been back that they were actually alone having a romantic moment. He watched as her fingers drew lazy circles over his chest and stomach muscles. The full moon light illuminated their cell leaving Emily's body with a soft glow to her as she pressed her nude body against his.

"You happy now?"

He asked quietly. Emily nodded yawning. Neither spoke too loudly. The last thing either wanted was for whoever was keeping watch to hear their conversations.

"I was thinking."

Emily started. She had slowly lifted herself off of his chest looking down at Darryl.

"About?"

"After you left, I was looking at map with Glenn we figured out where we were at in the state. About 20 miles south my grandparent's had a weekend farm. I was thinking about maybe we could go see if my grandmother was still alive? I never mentioned it to my father but it's worth checking."

Darryl frowned.

"What if your grandparents are dead and one of them?"

Emily shrugged.

"My grandfather is dead already but if my grandmother was alive it would be wonderful to get her with us or go to her. If this shit with the Governor guy keeps going….and you know it will…that could be a safe place for us. My grandfather had a huge gun collection in the basement. Even if my grandmother was gone, we could use that."

Darryl looked thoughtful reaching up and pulling her back to him.

"We'll check it out. You're not leavin my side though I'll tell ya that. Now get back down here."

Emily smiled as she snuggled back against his chest yawning tiredly. It wasn't long before she drifted off to sleep. Darryl looked down at her before moving to his side holding her tightly against him. The thought of finding a place where he could take her to keep safe until this governor was terminated sounded promising and getting Rick to buy into that probably wouldn't be too hard of a feat to accomplish.

The other matter at hand was Merle. Darryl sighed. Part of him wanted to turn Merle away and make him leave the group. He didn't trust his brother to be within 50 feet of Emily. God only know what kind of thoughts of he would try to force on her or what he would say. Darryl didn't trust him but he couldn't turn him out. He had spent the past year trying to find him. Now he was angry and let down. If he had to constantly guard Emily from Merle, he would. He knew he could count on Glenn and Maggie to keep her from him as well too.

"Who the fuck am I kiddin he will try to destroy us again."

Darryl mumbled. Something would have to give with Merle and he would have to solve the problem quick.

When he was satisfied knowing that Emily was really asleep he slipped out of bed pulling his pants back on and slipped out of the cell and headed to find his brother. He was taking care of the problem before it got worse. Merle wasn't destroying the only real love Darryl had ever had. Darryl wouldn't let it happen.

Finding Merle proved to be easier than Darryl had planned. Merle was standing out in the yard looking out at the zombies who were wondering about the blocked off portions of the prison. He turned seeing Darryl walk out shirtless with a pissed off expression on his face.

"Well hello little brother I figured you would be in there with your little princess. I heard she was awake and about."

Darryl frowned.

"Her name is Emily and yes she's awake. She's why I'm here. I'm tellin you now to stay away from her; don't look at her, don't speak to her, nothing! All this shit that has happened to her its because of you. You can't stand to see me happy for once and you wanna ruin it for me. Well you ain't!"

Merle looked honestly shocked. Never in a million years would he have expected Darryl to be saying this shit to him.

"What has that little broad done to you? Does she keep your balls in a jar?"

Darryl stepped forward ready to attack Merle.

"She's the best thing that ever happened to me. She isn't like you. You bring out the worst in people…me especially. When Emily and I got together she showed me the person that everyone else saw when they looked at me. I didn't like what I saw and ya know what? I changed. I'm done bein like you and if you don't like it…go fuck yourself."

Darryl turned to walk back inside before he completely lost his mind. Merle who was still shocked spoke again.

"What are you gonna do when you knock her up? I guarantee that is gonna happen before long and you are will be in a whole new mess you know nothin about."

Darryl turned looking back at him with a frown.

"I'll take care of her. That's probably more than what you would ever do. Have a nice life."