Triggers: Miscarriage, mentions of rape, self-harm, and suicide. Heavy emotional confessions. Smut.

"Don't argue, Dixon. I was on my way to being a lawyer." I hear Abby laugh as I slowly become aware of her presence in the doorway.

"Lord. You and Murph will cause my hair to go white before I turn fifty." Daryl snorts as he stands leaning against the doorframe. He wants to resist, but yields and rolls his eyes.

"Joshua and I are gonna pick up the trail today, John and Joanne are gonna look over Carol. You need to rest and I need my best friend to rest too." Abby places her hand on Daryl's arm and gives him a smile, her voice showing concern for us both. "Look, I know it's hard to not get up and get gone, but you won't be good to anyone if you don't heal."

I don't have to be fully awake, nor even open my eyes to see that Daryl is scowling a bit at Abby. I can tell by the way she laughs. He mutters at her as she closes the door behind her. I can hear him sigh heavily, rubbing a hand over his scruff. He wasn't used to people caring and wanting him to take care of himself, and the only way he knows how to cope with it is to scowl at it. My eyes don't open until I hear him mutter as he walks towards the window.

He stands looking through the part in the lace curtains, still dressed in just his khaki pants., crossing his arms over her chest as he leans against the wall next to the window. He's conflicted I can see. This is new for him, just as it is for me.

"Who's thinking loud now?" I ask as I sit up. My hair is a bit tangled, a few strands falling from the messy bun I have them up in. I'm still dressed in my shorts and tank top. I rub my eyes, the bruises showing signs of fading.

"Can't do much else." He huffs as he looks over towards me as I push the blankets off my legs.

"Hmmm, you could come back to bed with me? Or I can join your brooding window session." I joke.

"Ain't brooding." He snorts and glances out the window once more.

I can't blame him. It's kind of like putting a wild animal in captivity. One thing I have learned about Daryl is he's wild. He's not meant to be still. I understand in a way.

Pushing off the bed, I walk over and slide my arms around his waist as I stand behind him. A rough hand comes down to rest over mine. I press a kiss to his shoulder which has him sighing to himself. We stand in silence, his callous fingers trailing over the back of my hand. My forehead rests against his back. I can feel he's tense and know some of it is due to his fall.

My lips brush the scars on his back and over the demons tattooed on his right shoulder blade. He exhales but doesn't flinch when my lips press to the scars. I remember him telling me about his abusive father, so maybe in a way, I am subconsciously trying to take the pain away. He breathes slowly and like he did for me, I keep my hold loose, just in case he wants to pull away.

"I feel lazy. I should be up and out, not layin' round." He huffs, one arm hanging by his side and the other hand still resting on mine that rests on his stomach. "Them scars. Dad took a belt and anything else he could find to hit me with when he told me how worthless I am. Ain't never gonna be nothing."

"You deserve to rest and heal, Daryl. You've done so much. No one is going to think badly of you. We all understand. You could have died out there today and none of us want that." Resting my forehead against the middle of his back. Anger flares in my eyes, the way he protected me, I want to do the same for him. "Your dad was a bastard. You aren't worthless. You're someone to me and our group."

My words are whispered against his skin, his own breath hitching as if he wants to say something and doesn't quite know how.

"I ain't nothing special. Them burns on my arm… cigarette burns when I'd talk back and tell him I was gonna be something. But over time what I learned from them is that I ain't nothing special when it boils down to it. I ain't no cop like Rick and Shane. No doctor like you and Joshua or a lawyer like Abby was gonna be. I'm just Daryl." He murmurs with his head down and curls into himself a bit. His voice conveys the feelings going in inside him and how this is a struggle. How he would love nothing more than go off into the woods and handle everything by himself, just like he is used to doing.

His words hit me because I have said the same about myself. Daryl is a product of his environment and people who never realized the person he is. Never took the time to know him. I release my hold on him, moving to stand in front of him. Careful of his side, I slide my arms back around him and press my forehead to his. My breath ghosts over his lips as his hands find their way to my hips.

"You're someone to me. Your dad was the worthless one. You never deserved any of what was done to you. No one does. Being a cop, a doctor, or a lawyer doesn't make anyone special. It's your heart that makes you special. I've seen it. Last night when you stood here and told me it wasn't my fault. You deserve so much more than what life has given you." Smiling softly as my nose brushes his.

It's funny how we can tell each other that the shitty things in life weren't our fault. We can hold each other and listen to the other bare their soul, then when it comes to ourselves, that's tricky. It may not make sense, but I don't feel it needs to.

"You've given so much to finding Sophia. You were the first person to offer to search. You hunted for us back at camp and even now. You're loyal and honest. You're Daryl fucking Dixon." I playfully growl at him and bear my teeth at him.

"Crazy woman." He manages a laugh, lifting his head and looking down at me as he squeezes my hips.

"Your crazy woman." I beam.

"Mine and only mine." He presses his lips to my head and growls softly.

"For always." Humming softly and closing my eyes for a moment.

We stand still for a few moments, soaking in the moment. We're both exposed and this is new for us. Trust is something neither of us gives freely, but we have found a common ground.

When I tilt my chin a bit his lips find mine and his hands come to cup my cheeks. Slowly his lips move with mine, his tongue sliding over mine. It shocks me for a moment before I give myself over to his kisses. My hands slide up to curl fingers around his wrists as he slowly backs me toward the bed. When the kiss breaks my mismatched gaze meets his blue. He licks his lips slowly as I fall into a seated position on the bed, knees parted and him standing between them. The way he looks down at me is possessive, wild, and completely Daryl. Like he wants to eat me alive, but his gaze is also questioning. We are both vulnerable, but at the same time, both are willing to connect more deeply. The look in his eyes has me exhaling softly.

"I'm yours." I murmur, leaning forward and curling my fingers around the waist of his pants and pressing gentle kisses to the scars that rest there.

His hand comes up, pulling the hair band from my hair and tossing it on the bedside table. Cupping my chin, he tilts it up to meet my gaze. He's searching, asking for permission, knowing that I have been hurt and I have never been given a choice. It makes me want him even more. My heart hurts but in a good way. The way he looks at me, it's new to him. Something telling me he has only had meaningless flings. Which, the way he speaks and his actions confirm it for me.

"It's okay." I smile up at him. "I want this, only if you want it too."

"I do." He murmurs in a gruff tone.

Slowly undoing his pants, my lips find their way across his hips and nip his skin. His hand buries itself in my hair, leaning down to catch my lips as I lean back on the bed. Bringing his hand out he presses it to the bed beside my head as his hips press to mine. His want and desire overrode the slight discomfort in his side. He is a man on a mission. Moaning his name against his lips, I buck my hips up against his to create friction.

"Needy little kitten." He chuckles, breaking the kiss to stand up.

A blush paints my cheeks as he slowly shucks his pants and boxers down and kicks them aside. I make quick work of my tank top, tossing it to the end of the bed and letting my shorts and panties follow.

My back is pressed to the bed once more as Daryl leans over me, one hand pressed to the bed beside my head, the other hand trailing fingers over my side, appreciating the curves as they descend. He watches me as my hips buck up once more, one hand curling around his forearm and the other coming up to tangle in his hair.

It's new to us both. The slow pace, the silent asking, and consenting to this were wanted. He trusts me and I trust him. Perhaps I trusted him long before I realized it. His blue eyes make it hard to pull away so I am left staring into them until I feel his fingers part my folds and the tip of his index finger starts to tease my clit. That's what makes me look away and whimper for him. Ducking his head, he presses his lips to my neck, against my sensitive skin as he teases me.

Turning my head, I capture his lips in a needy kiss as two of his fingers press into me, rubbing my walls as his thumb teases my clit. Nothing matters at this moment but him and I. The way his fingers work me over. His movements are slow, and the slide of his tongue over mine is damn near sinful. Fuck.

When the kiss breaks I tug his hair, and press my forehead against his, lips inches from his. He chuckles low, knowing exactly what he's doing. The pace of his fingers quickened, bringing me close to my release.

"You gonna cum for me, kitten?" He asks in a lustful tone.

"Yes… don't stop, please."

That's all I can manage as my body trembles, eyes closing and forehead pressing to his as I cum for him. His fingers continue their pace and wring every moan they can from me, desire coating his fingers as I slowly come down.

"Good girl." He murmurs.

I watch him push up, bringing his hand to his lips and licking my desire from his fingers. The grin tells me he knows how to play the game. Plus, it's fucking hot to see your partner lick their fingers after they've been buried in your cunt.

"My turn." I purr out, tugging his hand and guiding him to lay back against the bed.

Once he settles back, he's looking at me with dark blue eyes as if he could devour me. My own eyes are dark with lust. We are just Daryl and Murphy at this moment and both have blocked out the rest of the world and all the bullshit that's happening outside our door.

Careful of his side, I press my knee to the bed and settle the other on the opposite side of his hip. His hands find my hips, fingers pressing into my skin and giving a squeeze.

As I look down at him a few strands of hair fall to frame my face. He's slightly unsure of his movements, confident in some, and insecure in others. Reaching up, his hand finds my hair, and his fingers tangle around my dark locks as I lean down to press my lips to his. It's slow but passionate and full of the promise of saying "I trust you. I won't hurt you."

My hands plant themselves on either side of his head while I lift my hips. His free hand comes down, stroking his cock a few times before guiding himself to the waiting warmth between my legs. With a moan of his name, I slide down his cock, feeling my inner walls stretch to accommodate him. My name is moaned in return as my hips lift and my actions are repeated.

Placing my hands on his chest, I sit up and look down at him. The look in his eyes that wants to devour me is still there. He has me feeling confident as I lift my hips and give him the view of how his desire-glistened cock slides into me. I like to tease. He watches, a low growl emitting from his lips in appreciation.

The pace is slow, my hips grinding down against his when they meet. Releasing my hair, he trails calloused fingers along my sides, over the curves and creases of skin. Pulling back to look at him, biting my lip when his fingers find the long, raised scar across my lower back. His eyes search mine, almost as if he is silently trying to will the pain away.

I want to take away his pain as well. Take away all the bad things that have ever happened to him, even though I know I can't, I can make damn sure I won't let anyone else hurt him again. My fingers trail over the scars on his chest and lean down to kiss the mark on his shoulder.

I kept the pace slow, not wanting to hurt him, but he had other ideas. Daryl rolls us over without breaking our connection. My hands cup his cheeks, my knees lifting to allow him deeper. He's hitting all the right spots and in a fleeting thought think about how this is only the second time I've had this experience. Consenting, passionate (dare I say) lovemaking. He's not holding me down, he's not spewing vile things at me or telling me I deserve this. I don't feel broken or lost. I don't want to push him away and run.

His actions, and the way he looks down at me convey his feelings. He told me about the random hookups, the lack of affection, and the emotions. The look in his eyes is filled with both. He looks at me like I'm the best thing in the world. Like maybe I can heal his scars, just like he promised to heal mine.

"You're so damn beautiful, Kitten." He praises.

The name makes me blush. One hand slips behind his neck and the other stays cupping his cheek.

"You're mine," I murmur as his hips meet mine.

While I'm careful of his side, he doesn't seem to be concerned with it. Then again, I don't think either of us is concerned with much outside of the current moment. My fingers dig into his hair as he grips the sheets under us. Our breaths ghost over the other's lips, mingling and seeming as if we are breathing as one.

Not counting the drunken night at the CDC, this is the first time either of us has let our guard down and trusted another person. It's exciting, to be honest. Dropping my hand from his cheek, he buries his face in the crook of my neck as his thrusts jolt my body a bit. One hand stays tightly wrapped in his hair, the other finds his shoulder blade. Fingers press into his skin, head back as I beg for him. I beg him not to stop. Whimpering and whined as the pleasure built in me and how close I am to the edge. He chuckles against my shoulder, proud of what he is doing to me.

"Tell me what you need, Kitten." Comes his gravelly voice as his lips brush my ear.

"You." Sighing. "I want to cum for you."

His movements indicated that he was close too. He needs the release just as much as I do. Turning my head, I trail my nails over his back as he growls against my shoulder.

"Cum with me. Please. Please." I murmur.

I can feel his release, mine following. His thrusts are deep, claiming me inside and out. My body trembles under him as he pants my name. Lifting his head, he presses his lips to mine. His kiss tells me he's mine as I'm his. That together we can do this. This is our safe place. We can exist at this moment and nothing else matters. I want to hold on to the feeling for as long as I can.

His thrusts slowed as we ride out the waves of pleasure. The gentle weight on top of me makes me feel secure. The way he buries his face in my neck tells me the slide of my arms around him makes him feel the same. We lay joined, basking in the afterglow. The first real peaceful moment we've had where we didn't have to worry about anything.

"Hey, you." He murmurs, pulling back to look at me.

"Hey yourself." I chuckle, leaning up to kiss his nose.

We both grin, after a moment Daryl moves to lie on his back and holds his arm out for me. Shifting a bit, moving to lay my head on his shoulder, tilting my chin up to look at him.

"You come here often?" I tease.

"Once or twice." He chuckles. "Crazy woman."

"How's the side?" I ask, resting my hand on his chest, over his heart. I know the recent activities are not ideal for someone who just received stitches.

"Tender, but I ain't sorry." Turning his head to kiss his brow. "I ain't ever gonna be sorry for being with you."

Biting my lip, my gaze drops from his for a moment. I bury my face against his shoulder as his words sink in. He doesn't think I'm broken, he doesn't want to push me away. I tell myself how wrong Toby was, how Daryl could never be so cruel.

"I'll always want you, Murph. Ain't nothing going to change that."

His voice is soft, his fingers trailing down my arm. Finally, I lift my head, looking at him with a faint smile.

"I'll always want you too, Daryl." I assure.

His eyes speak to me. I know from our talks that no one has ever said those words to him. He has told me as much. Hell, no one even cared enough to know where he was when he was younger. Sometimes when I look into his eyes I can see the lost boy still looking for his place. Like me, I can tell he doesn't quite know where to fit in yet.

"You should rest." I murmur and cup my hand against the side of his neck, thumb brushing his jaw.

"As long as you plan on doing the same." He murmurs.

"I do. Just like this. I just want this day of peace." Pulling away for only a moment to pull the blanket over us before settling back against him.

My body still tingles and feels lighter than it has been. Daryl exhales softly beside me, resting his chin lightly on top of my head.

"Then that's what we do. We ain't gotta worry about nothing outside this room." He promises.

My eyes feel heavy and I give him a hum in response. At least for today we can pretend the end of the world isn't right outside the window.