Disclaimer: I do not own the Walking Dead or any of its characters. If a character has the same name or likeness, it is purely coincidental. If you want to know what characters look like, feel free to message me or go to historyofmyself . weebly . com. There are pictures and descriptions of things in the chapters.

Chapter 3:

"DARYL!" Cried Sophia as she leapt into his arms.

Esmeralda just had to stand there and watch with a smile on her face. The little girl who had hid in her hayloft and slept with the horses had found part of her family. The laughing sobs that came from her tiny frame perfectly described the situation. Daryl simply wrapped his arms around the little girl and held her to him while Sophia had her face buried in his neck. The tension and anger that seemed to fuel Daryl was gone, his shoulders relaxed and he didn't look like he was willing to put an arrow or hunting knife into anyone's skull. Daryl finally set Sophia back on the ground.

"What the hell happened? You were supposed ta go right back to the road. Your mother is a wreck." Daryl seemed to take on a worried fatherly role with the girl, quickly chastising the girl while still inspecting her to make sure she wasn't hurt or bit.

"I heard something. It scared me, and then there was a dog or a wolf in front of me. It snarled, so I ran. I ran and ran. I tried to running in the water to hide my scent so it wouldn't follow me. I tripped and lost my dolly. I stayed there for a bit, I didn't hear the dog for a long time, but I heard cows and horses. Cows and horses mean a barn. And here I am. And here you are!"

"Here you are. And here your momma ain't that's fer damn sure."

Sophia looked around with wild eyes.

"Where's my mommy? Is she here with you?"

"Down the mountain a bit. We'll go in the morning. Not safe at night cause o' the geeks."

Sophia sadly nodded.

"Hey you two," Esmeralda interjected "I've got to feed the horses for the night. You're welcome to come with me or head to the house."

Daryl and Sophia looked at her almost as if they had forgotten she even existed.

"Tomorrow we will tack up a few horses, and go to Hershel's farm. Get you two back to your people."

Daryl gave a bark of a laugh.

"Sophia's people, her family. Ain't mine. Pretty sure that old bastard is gonna to kick us off that land as soon as Sophia and I get back."

"Hershel is a man who likes people to listen to his rules and leave well enough alone. Something I'm sure you and your group don't do well." Esmeralda said glaring at him.

Esmeralda turned on her heel and walked into the barn to start feeding the horses. In the feed room Esmeralda started to fill the horses' buckets with the grain needed for each horse and then making a special bucket for Kermit the Donkey. Bringing each feed pail to the designated horse she let herself into their stalls with their dinner, scooping hay and slime out of the tops of the water buckets, turning on the water spout to fill what each horse had drank. Cleaning up the barn to help prevent mice and waste some time before putting most of the horses in the paddock right beside the house and putting Nelly into the indoor arena with Kermit. 10 horses and a donkey could keep Esmeralda busy for hours on end. Making sure the 2 stallions are separate from the mares and each other, putting 2 geldings with the stallions and 2 geldings with the mares, letting Kermit go where he pleased. Esmeralda stood at the gate to the indoor arena where Kermit and Nelly were munching on hay when she heard someone clear their throat behind her.

"What do you want Nugent?"

Daryl chuckled.

"Now that reference I get. Leave the Nuge alone would ya, he ain't never hurt ya."

Esmeralda laughed quietly.

"I highly doubt you are an activist against obesity. Nor do I picture you being a 'Surviving Nugent' show kind of guy. I don't think you want city folk stomping through the woods with you. Or playing some shitty music."

"Fuckin' right. Wait...he had a TV show?"

Esmeralda just stared at him.

"Did you own a TV before the world turned Romero on us?"

"Nope."

A shocked look made up her face.

"So, Larry the Cable Guy, what did you do before 'Night of the Living Dead' turned into 'Life of the Living Dead'?"

Daryl hung his head and looked at the ground.

"My brother an' I were left a mechanic's and junk yard. So we worked there"

"You seem embarrassed about it."

Daryl just rubbed the back of his neck.

"People think I'm a dumb hick, an' their right."

"I'm calling bullshit on that right now, because people could say the same about me. I've lived my whole life on this mountain, on this ranch. Training horses, herding cattle, working the fields."

"Don't mean nothin'."

"Nice retort. How we live and how we were raised don't make us who we are. It's how we let it control us that shapes us and makes us who we are."

Daryl looked at her for a minute.

"How'd you get so philosophic?"

Esmeralda laughed.

"It's what us gypsies do." She teased as she nudged him.

"C'mon, horses are done, time to lock up in the house for the night. I'm sure Sophia wants you to tell her everything she's missed. Let you and Sophia grab showers too. It's nice to get some human contact before you both go."

Daryl looked at her out the corner of his eye.

"When was the last time ya saw someone?"

"About 3 months ago" Esmeralda answered quietly.

"Not many people know this place exists. Last person up here was Maggie, Hershel's oldest daughter. I gave her some vegetables and away she went."

Esmeralda pushed herself away from the fence and started to head back to the house, oblivious to the shy yet appreciative look over her body that Daryl gave.

As the sun set, the fire place illuminated the cozy living room, Sophia was curled up on a blanket on the floor doing a puzzle, Esmeralda was curled up with a blanket on the couch reading.

Daryl sat at the other end of the couch taking it all in. Being safe, being able to relax and take some joy in simple things again. Like reading a book or taking a shower. The fact he was going to sleep in a bed again tonight was an orgasmic thought. He definitely enjoyed the view that Esmeralda gave. Curled up on the couch wrapped in a white fuzzy blanket, a contrast to her dark hair, relishing the contents of her book, while looking up to check on Sophia once in a while and to catch eyes with Daryl. He found himself shocked by the enjoyment he felt in having her look at him.

"It would be really cool if we could stay here with you Essie. Bring my mommy and Carl and everyone up here." Said Sophia, breaking the pleasant silence.

Esmeralda sat there shocked; it wasn't something she had thought of. It wasn't something that crossed her mind at all. There were 3 or 4 bunk houses used for guests and ranch hands. It was greatly possible that they could come and stay here, depending on how many of them there were, she could easily keep them for the winter. She looked up at Daryl, almost hoping he would give her an answer, hoping he would ask her. She felt like he was someone she could trust, someone who could protect her and help her. His face didn't give away any indication as to what he thought.

"We will see Sophia. I'll have to think about it, and so will the people you are with."

Sophia looked a little sad.

"Okay."

"Come on, let's get you into bed. It's about that time anyway. You get to sleep in a bed tonight, not my dusty hay loft. We will get you to your mom tomorrow morning."

Sophia's face lit up. Whether it was about a bed or about seeing her mom, Esmeralda didn't know. It didn't really matter either way, the girl was happy.

"Up the stairs, first door on the right. That'll be your room for the night."

Sophia had a grin that lit up the room before turning and running up the stairs to go to bed.

Esmeralda looked into the hearth, watching the flames dance and lick around the embers and logs. The snaps and crackling of the fire filling the room. The hairs on the back of Esmeralda's stood up, a feeling of eyes on her. She smiled a little.

"What do you think?" Esmeralda turned her head to look at Daryl.

"Why does my opinion matter? I don' mean nothin' to you or them."

"Then why are you with them?"

"'Cause they need me."

"So you have the heart to care for them, even though you don't think you matter."

"Tryin' to psychoanalyse me country bumpkin?"

Esmeralda laughed.

"That's a big word for a hick. Let me try one. Hmmm...camshaft."

Daryl couldn't help but to give a smile and a chuckle.

"So you know engines?"

"Not anymore than you know about psychology. Now seriously...about what Sophia said you and the group coming here to stay? What do you think? You know them, I don't."

Daryl sat there and stared off for a bit, thinking, before he finally answered her.

"It would be good fer us. Keep us alive fer the winter. But what about you? How in the hell would it benefit ya? Eat yer food. Use yer supplies. Drain you dry."

"Is that what you think would happen? Is that what you think helping survivors is? Draining myself dry?"

Daryl looked down and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Tell me Daryl. For some reason I trust you and respect you. I know I want you to stay, Sophia to stay. I've helped you, why shouldn't I help others?"

"I ain't got an answer fer ya. Yer home, yer supplies, yer decision. Not mine."

At this, Esmeralda took it to be the end of the discussion. She knew Daryl was right. It was her home, her food and supplies, her safety. Thus making it her decision. She sighed. It wasn't a decision to make lightly or impulsively. There was most likely a leader of their rag tag group. Perhaps she could sit down and talk to him. Esmeralda tried her best to stifle a yawn, but it didn't work.

"Go on. Go to bed. I'll keep watch tonight."

Esmeralda was shocked for a second.

"Umm, thanks Daryl. You don't need to stay up and keep watch though. The fences around here are electric and solid. Nothing has been up here yet."

"Don't matter. They will come eventually. And this house ain't fortified fer when they do."

"Fine, I'll work on that. But please, just go to bed. You need sleep too."

"I will. Soon. Go. It'll be jus' fine."

Esmeralda unwrapped herself and stood up. Walking to Daryl's side, she rested her hand on his shoulder, noting the way he flinched away from her.

"Thank you Daryl. Just make sure you get some sleep."

She paused, wanting to give him a kiss on his cheek, but she saw how he flinched when she simply put her hand on his shoulder. He wasn't even looking at her. She gave his shoulder a quick squeeze before heading to her room to sleep.