"Jesus Christ y' all making me feel like I'm daddy driving my kid to the damn high school prom, the two of you sitting back there like that."

"Shut up Merle!" They said in unison from the backseat.

Danni lay stretched out on the seat of the car Merle had hotwired to get them to Woodbury. The trip back to prison had been silent except for Merle's bellyaching. Her head was on Daryl's lap as Merle drove. He was stroking her hair softly. She was exhausted, sore, embarrassed and feeling guilty. What Daryl had said about loving her broke her heart and filled it at the same time. The guilt ravaged her and she tried to shake it from her head. She'd gotten herself kidnapped like a weak, stupid damsel in distress what she fought so hard not to be.

"I'm sorry, sorry for all of this. I screwed up. I'm sorry."

His soft caressing of her hair moved to her temples and he started massaging them, putting her into a relaxed state.

"Strawberry lip gloss."

"What?"

"Our first kiss. Told you I remember."

Danni's stomach flipped and her eyes widened. "Bonnie Bell Lip Smacker. Strawberry Creme."

"I told you to wait."

"What?

"You asked me what to do and I told you to wait for me. But I don't think you heard me."

"I didn't."

"But you found me again."

Soon she closed her eyes and the gravelled hum of the road under the tires, helped her to drift off.

"Well, Danni you made quite a holy show of things."

"You're here to say I told you so aren't you Nan."

"Aye I am at that. Now get that puss off." Nan scolded her. "You aren't thick, you're just too much of a chancer love."

"I know I messed up, but now I'll do all I can to make him happy. I'll stay quiet, lay low, take the best care of him and the babies I can. I'll leave all the heroics to him. I'll never put him through anything like that again."

"Will you now? So your gonna just sit around, like. Quiet and meek as a dormouse?"

"Nan, he wants me to be careful, I'll be careful. He wants me safe and not to take risks. That's what I'll do. I won't even go outside the gate to get plants. I'll have him do it. "

"I see what you're after trying to do here, but being so mild might make you a bit resentful and angry after too long. Its gonna get you in trouble lass. Would you jump in a river if he told you to?"

"Look, if I have to change, I'll change. My god you heard what he said...those beautiful words….I can change and be what he wants."

"You are what he wants! It's not about changing, it's about being smart. Jaysus. Now a man wants to be the icing on your cake, not the whole cake itself! Too much pressure and too much cake. They can't handle it. What you're doing now? Giving that man way too much cake. He is still gping to need you to step up like."

"But I have to hold back. It's what I have to do,"

"Don't give me your guff now. You can't shut down and wallow in guilt. You don't have that luxury. You waited a long time for each other. What did I always say?"

"A watched pot never boils?"

"Aye, but What else?"

Danni looked blankly at her Nana.

"When you argued with me and said you'd never love any man, never find a fella."

"There is a lid for every pot." Danni murmured, remembering.

"Right. Have I told you about soulmates? Because that's what the two of you are."

"I know we are...I feel it. I recall things."

"Yes it's a wonderful thing but it's not all lemon cake and meade. It's a responsibility. The thing about soul mates is they are a mirror. One that reflects your true self, every horrid detail and beautiful dream. Now if both people are not ready to really look at themselves, they may attack and abandon a soulmate because they cannot step up. The cobra striking at its own reflection. Don't be leaving your fella to all this with a lick and promise like. Hear me? You two are a team. Danni find your way, it's in the middle. Don't get lost in the black and white."

Danni awoke with a start. Daryl was holding her shoulders.

"I am so sorry. So sorry." She whispered again, not knowing what else to say, looking up at his face in the shadows.

He was glad she'd said something. She'd been silent since he laid it all out. He hoped she wasn't pissed at him but if she was she was. Seemed he had nothing to worry about as she squeezed his hand and said she loved him.

.. ... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .

Danni was grateful to hear Ryder screaming his little lungs out when they the entered the prison. Not that she wanted anything to be wrong with him, but it gave her the excuse to race through the cell block and upstairs without having to talk to or face anyone. She didn't have to explain the cut on her cheek or the split lip, bruises and torn T-shirt. She didn't want to deal with any of it just now. She saw Rick looking concerned but ignored him. Tomorrow was soon enough for explanations. Her boy needed her.

"Hey. What's wrong little man, hey, hey, hey I'm here." She took him from Beth and started walking him in long strides humming against his cheek. It's okay, it's okay momma is here."

He choked and hiccupped his face red and cheeks chapped. The sharp staccato cries continued mixed with wrenching wails.

"He's been crying for hours...I tried everything...is he okay?" Beth apologized, feeling helpless.

"It's okay Beth you did fine, he-"

"Just needed his momma." Daryl said loudly, firmly from behind them. "He missed her and needs her."

Danni looked back at him. She loved him, but somehow the way he just said it made he feel he was chastising her. If he was well, she deserved after what she'd just put him through.

"Beth sensed some tension and immediately left them.

"I'm here, I'm here…" she murmured to the hysterical infant. She began singing softly, Ye Auld Triangle. Her voice was rich and hoarse; sweet and soothing all at once, as always.

A hungry feeling came o'er me stealing

And the mice, were squealing in my prison cell

And that auld triangle went jingle-jangle

All along the banks of the Royal Canal

The screw was peeping and the lag was sleeping

As he lay weeping for his girl Sal

And that auld triangle, went jingle jangle

All along the banks of the Royal Canal...

Singing and walking finally settled her little man. She turned to Daryl.

"I'm still kind of pissed at you." He said leaning back against the railing, his eyes holding her still. He wanted to be honest. She'd scared him to death.

"I know." She paused "But you love me." Then, with a hint of a mischievous smile she added in a parody of his deep rasp "You fucking love me."

He shook his head and looked down, his cheeks flushing a little at the memory of the extreme emotion he'd shown earlier and at her silly impression of his voice.

"You're gonna pay for that." He said squinting up at her.

"Good, when?"

"When they're asleep."

She smiled, then pursed her lips. 'What you said...back there. I...it was the most beautiful thing anyone's ever said to me. The most important. I wish I could make you feel what I felt inside when you said those words. Like you broke my heart but fixed it at the same time. Doesn't make sense, huh?"

Daryl looked at Danni standing a few feet away holding their son in her arms hardly able to believe how far they'd come. He saw her face that night in his tent, the first time they'd made love. He remembered how frightened he'd been. He was fighting with himself, not believeing he deserved her. That's why he left her that night. He was so far from frightened now that he accepted it, all of it.

"It does. To me."

"What you said ...you make me feel like a heroine from one of my favorite books." She looked down. "You asked me to stop, I'll stop. I can't live without you either. Daryl, you are right about me about not showing you I love you enough."

"I was pissed I didn't mean-"

"Yes you did and you were right to say it. Things only work when we are a team. It was stupid of me to go off without you. I know that now. My responsibility is to you and to them. To be here for us. It's not about me. It's about us, the four of us."

"That's all I'm trying to say. I live for you and for them. Everything I do, think about, it's to make our life work." He paused, " My kids ain't never gonna be afraid of me."

"There you go again, I'm gonna cry. Daryl, it's gonna be better now, I mean it."

"He sleeping yet?" Daryl asked in that low, slow voice, eyes heavy-lidded.

"Yeah." She couldn't wait for him to hold and heal her again. She put Ryder in his little bin and looked over at Kiera still asleep. Danni asked her silently to stay asleep for at least another hour. Please, little girl.

Danni lowered herself to the mattress where Daryl sat waiting. She pushed him down, immediately ripping open his shirt. Her hands moved over his chest, feeling every solid muscle under his hot, smooth, slightly sweaty skin. His pecs were as well defined as the muscles of his shoulders. As her hands passed over them, kneading slightly, she found herself focusing on the texture and feel of his skin and the tone of his muscles. They got more defined all the time it seemed. All the while, her face held a hungry countenance. She buried her nose into his hot chest, smelling his sweet musky scent. She was practically groping him, loving the satisfied noises he was making as her hands slid down over the taut muscles of his abdomen. She licked the sweat as it travelled from his neck slowly down his broad chest to his tight stomach then disappeared under his waistband. She could see the bulge in his pants waiting to be set free.

She had to erase the picture of her day. "Inside me now, I-"

"Hey-"

She felt frustration and desire curling in the bottom of her stomach. "I'll say please."

"Shit," he breathed into her neck. He was lost in her hands. God she felt so good stroking him running her hands over his skin.

He looked at her eyes. Behind the glazed lust, he could see something else...sadness. It occurred to him that she might not have told him everything. He pushed her away and sat up.

"Danni, he didn't? Did he? Did that prick do-" fearing the worst of the Governor.

"No. No. But he would have. If Merle hadn't come in when he did. It makes me feel so sick, so dirty. It makes me feel so …."

He knew it was his duty to ease her pain as always. "Hey, you're mine. I know that. You know that. C'mere. No one's ever gonna fuck you but me."

She looked at him, biting her lip. She quickly wriggled out of her skirt and had her shirt off in the next second exposing her black bra and panties. She deftly unhooked the bra and threw it at him.

"Slow down." Daryl murmured, amused. She laid down on her back and waited as he pulled off his pants. After tossing them aside, he leaned forward resting over her on his elbows. He kissed her softly and took her tongue deeply into his mouth.

There was a burning need in between her legs so she raised them up to cross behind his back, bringing her pelvis up to his. Daryl groaned as she rolled her hips against his, sending an even stronger tingling through her body. Suddenly he broke away, sitting and pulling her up with him. "Hey, we can go slow."

She kissed him briefly and turned around pressing her back against his chest. "Or fast." Danni countered bending down on all fours, arching her back, and peeking seductively over her shoulder.

She closed her eyes shivering as Daryl slid his hands over her waist, gripping her hips firmly. One of them came up and gathered a fistful of her hair for a split second before sliding back down to finger the elastic on her panties.

"This is what you want?" Daryl rasped softly, grinding his pelvis into her ass.

"Mmm hmm." She arched her back even higher like a cat and purred.

"A gentle little fuck?" he asked, grinding a little harder. His voice made her shudder and answer, "It doesn't need to be gentle."

With that Daryl quickly flipped her over so they were face-to-face again. "Naw, it does, its gonna be like this, so I can see my girl's beautiful face." He kissed her throat entwining his fingers in her hair. She didn't know what to say, so she closed her eyes and tipped her head back, opening her neck for him. "Look at me Danni." Daryl whispered hoarsely.

She opened her eyes. And he put his fingers on her lips then moved them to trace the knife wound that trailed across her cheek, making her feel a little flustered, but she fingered the one across his neck. What had she said to him? 'You won another battle.' Maybe hers was more of a lesson.

"C'mon," Danni pulled is face closer.

"Slow down girl." He ordered again.

She shrugged. "What does it matter? It's just us." She drew him down to kiss, but he stayed put and said "It matters cause you're beautiful and you're mine and I'm gonna show you how much I love you. Real slow." His words made her gasp.

She expelled another harsh breath as Daryl tugged her panties gently down her legs, tossing them on the floor. A whine escaped her as his hands slid to her knees, gently pulling them wider apart to position himself between her thighs. They made eye contact, and though her eyes flickered his remained constant as he slowly slid himself inside her. She winced at first as always adjusting to him filling her then the warmth and her wetness overtook her and she opened her mouth in a silent gasp. She was actually lost for words when Daryl growled and pulled her up, gripping her lower back.

"Feel so good...you feel so fucking good" she moaned when she could finally speak again. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her face into his smooth solid bicep as he ran his fingers through her hair, tugging and pulling the ends a little, just between her shoulder blades.

Danni turned her head and closed her mouth over his lower lip, sucking gently. He moved his hips in a subtle way that somehow sent lightning bolts through her center. The aching sensation grew, and she lost herself, pushing Daryl back onto the bed, moving her waist in circles. Her fingers trailed down his chest and he found them entwined in his. They moved like that for some time, but it only felt like seconds.

Daryl sat up sliding his arms around her, pressing them together laying her beneath him, moving his hips to hers, kissing her everywhere. His hands gripped the edge of the mattress behind her head, and he buried his face into her neck, pushing into her. She moaned in rhythm with each thrust. The pleasure was amplified by their love as it always was. It was never lost on either of them. Danni savored the feeling she'd never been with anyone who made her feel like she belonged as much as Daryl did.

"Faster. Please." She whispered, feeling her body go over the edge. Daryl pulsed into her and holding himself there she felt his warmth as he let go. She writhed against him several times climaxing. Then finally, they fell into each other, breathing hard.

A tear slid down from the outer corner of her eye, and she laughed, embarrassed. Daryl lifted his head and kissed it away, and she closed her eyes, overwhelmed with feelings. She teased her fingers through Daryl's shaggy hair, and between breaths, he whispered "You deserve this every time." She kissed him, another tear fell.

"Sleep, baby." She said softly. "Get some rest because we're doing that again as soon as we wake up. I love you." Then the wails in unison started from the babies.

She sighed. "I was waiting for my little Scout to start up. She was way too good tonight. Ready daddy?" Danni asked over the screaming infants, pulling on her clothes.

He nodded. "Ready momma?" He kissed her before they got up.

"Shit, we forgot the condom again!" She said as she picked up Scout.

"I know. I hate them things though." Daryl answered. "Can't feel you enough. 'Sides we're married."

"Then why do I feel like an irresponsible teenager? You just do that to me."

"Any dreams about.."

"No."

"We're good."

She shook her head amused at how sure he was and settled the babies to her for their feeding.