I reluctantly eased my way into the house. Maggie welcomed me with a smile, knowing my reason. I saw Rick finishing his talk with Hershel. As he stepped away to me, I handed over his pistol. "How is he?" I spoke quietly. "He's awake..." He paused, shifting his weight over. I started to turn out. "He asked about you..." I stopped in my tracks and turned around. "What?" Rick nodded towards the bedroom on the right. "Hes in there and he asked about you, said he had to tell you something" My mind was racing, part of me wanted to slap him for how he treated me, the other wanted another moment of bliss. I wasn't sure what to expect. I peeked my head through the door "Daryl?"

The sight of her made his blood run hot,after what he had just been through,he realized not only did he want her...he needed was goin to tell her how he felt and start new. The words he got from Merle back in the woods even though he knew it wasn't real hit him hard. He needed to find a new direction and she was it.

He winced a bit sitting up against the head board. "Hey Short stuff." I was so lost and confused at this sudden change again. I sat down in the chair next to the bed. I looked down at my shoes not really knowing what to say, I wanted to yell at him for treating me like shit, to ask him why he went Jekyll and Hyde on me. Instead I sat silently. "Alright, time for me to grow a pair I reckon." He sighed " 'Bout last night. It wasn't you, truth is you scare the shit out of me..." looked up at him interested in what he had to say. "I ain't good at explainin' my feelings an shit,so bear with me. I'm a Dixon, we've never had uh...happiness. Not used to emotions, you suck up your soft fuzzy feelin's and you push 'em aside...Includin' anyone who causes them. Not good at relationships and such either. Your not like any other girl. What girl...I mean...woman puts their feelings out for a backwoods redneck with baggage?" He paused looking me in my eyes. "What I need to say is, I really care 'bout ya, Don't want to ever see you hurt. It killed me sayin' that stuff to ya, I had to say somethin' quick to stop myself and a bit of my brother showed through..." He tried to sit up towards me,but shot back gripping his side. "Don't push yourself." I jumped up quickly softly sitting next to him. I set an extra pillow behind him so he could recline back easier. I examined the cleaned wound on his temple. Daryl took my hand."I'm sorry, be patient with me?" I smiled softly nodding. "You got it, day by day we'll take it by the horns. No expectations just, push threw the motions." He chuckled. "I like that plan." He pulled me against him and kissed my forehead. "I got your back,babe" with him saying that my stomach fluttered.

When she laid her head on his chest he felt wanted...possibly loved. He quickly dismissed that word out of his head,not believing he had even thought it was the heavy pain medication Hershel had him on,that was his story and he was sticking to it.

We sat there a few moments taking in the feeling of his arm around me, I could hear his heart beat as my head was on his chest. "By the way..." he opened his eyes from the relaxed state he was in, "hm?" and looked at me. " You're not a redneck with baggage, You have trophy scars to prove what you've lived through. I admire that." He pulled me in tighter and nuzzled my neck,sending chills all over me. He grunted a bit, trying to get comfortable. "Alright, Dixon time for you to rest." I got up and helped him lay down. "You leavin'?" He lightly took my hand. "Nah, I'm right here,as long as you need me. Now get some rest so you can teach me to aim the bow again." "You bet." He relaxed fading to a deep sleep. I leaned in and gently kissed the corner of his mouth before settling in to a recliner in the corner of the room.

I was up before him, I needed to change my clothes. "How's lover boy?" Shane was standing outside of the tent while I dressed. "He's gonna be fine,thanks for asking." Not even Shane was going to kill my mood today. "yea...sure." I walked back towards the house. Glenn waved me over while he and Maggie was leading two horses out. I jogged over to see what they needed. "we're going on a run,do you need anything?" I leaned into Maggie's ear and whispered something, she answered with a smile . "Got you." Glenn could you get me a bottle of whiskey? If you could find one,if not something strong. he tipped his ball cap. I quickly made my way back into the house, I heard Daryl pissing and moaning about having to stay put to Hershel "Dammit I'm alright! I need to get out of this bed!" He was trying to push himself up as I entered the room. "Please try to talk some sense into this boy." Hershel half whispered to me as he left. I went over to him and put my hand on his shoulder, "You'll be up and out of here soon enough, just relax a bit please?" he almost snapped in anger but realized who was talking to him. "I'm sick of this god damned room." Throwing his pillow down and running his hand back through his hair. "I know,Don't worry it'll pass soon enough." I rested my hand on the side of his face, he grabbed it and kissed my palm. "I need to be Looking for Sophia..." I sat next to him and rubbed his back. "Rick is out scouting as we speak, for now you need to heal." Daryl let out a heavy sigh. "Fine, but I'm not taking anymore of those fuckin' loopy meds!" he said loud enough so Hershel could hear.

I helped him get comfortable. Sitting next to him, I pulled out a worn out notebook and began to write. Daryl tried to lean over my shoulder so he could see the contents of the page. I leaned it away "You're being nosy..." he shook his head. "Just curious, you writin' in your Diary?" "Nope, Documenting all of the hell I've gone through so maybe if this shit ever gets better someone will find it long after we're gone and it will be a part of history." "Then why can't I see it?" I shrugged "Because I'm not done...and you have to earn it." "Alright" He leaned up and brushed his lips against mine "Like this?" and kissed me sliding his tongue into my mouth wrapping it around mine. I could feel my body getting hot. He slid his hand down my arm slyly trying to take the book, I broke away quickly and tapped his hand. "Nice try,slick" He smiled and shrugged. I kissed him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, I'll let you read it soon." "I'd rather hear YOU read it, not into reading much." I nodded "Deal." We heard a knock at the door, Maggie peeked in and waved me out to her. I raised up and kissed Daryl's cheek "Be back." He nodded his head. I walked up to Maggie as she handed me a paper bag of my requests, I peeked in and told her that it was perfect. "This was all we could find." She gave me a bottle of Southern Comfort. I hugged her "Thank you, and Thank Glenn for me?" Maggie smiled turning to take everyone their supplies. I rushed off to my tent shoving the items into my bag. I looked over at Carol, she was hanging some more laundry on the line. "Hey Carol." she gave me a soft smile, "Hey How is Daryl?" I helped he hand a sheet on the line and shrugged "Bein' Daryl, tired of sitting in bed. He wants to get up and search some more." I didn't say Sophia's name in case it upset her. "I appreciate what he's doing for Sophia, and I'm happy you are there for him. He seems to shut everyone else out,somehow you have pushed through. He must really care about you." I blushed, "I don't know what I did but I have the best of intentions when it comes to him, and I wanted to thank you for comforting me yesterday. You have no idea how much that meant." "It was no problem,I'm sure you would have done the same if I needed it." I set my hand on hers "I would in a heart beat, I'm here if you need me."