Sorry its been a whole week since my last update, but here it is now! Hopefully you'll enjoy it, I think I've got some treats in store for you in the next few chapters…

If any of you guys are on twitter, please do follow me, I always follow back and tend to say when I'm about to update my stories - /#!/gubler_

Enjoy and don't forget to review!

Chapter Twelve

Images of her family home filled the forefront of her mind, she should have felt safe, she should have felt loved. She didn't. All that surrounded her was pressure – the pressure to be perfect, well behaved and respected. The thought had never occurred to her parents that maybe she didn't want to be so perfect; maybe she needed the danger that rebelling against them offered her. Maybe she needed it to feel alive.

Her eyes shot open and she found herself sat on top of Dale's RV, the radio sat at her feet – as silent as it had been the entire day. Dusk was descending over the farm and she stood abruptly at the sound of arguing. Lila glanced over to where the voices were coming from and found herself looking towards the main campsite, Rick was arguing with Daryl, Shane was arguing with them both and Lori, Carol and Andrea were looking on at them.

"You all woke me from a darn fine dream, what's going on?" Lila joked, as she reached the group. Daryl immediately looked at her, the softness of his eyes was gone and instead he scowled at her.

"You shouldn't be here," Daryl stated, the tone in his voice struck her instantly and she took a step back.
"Tough, what's going on?" Lila asked again, her eyes moved from Daryl, to Rick, to Shane…but none of them moved to answer her.

"We were tryin' to decide what to do with the boy," Shane stated.

Instantly Lila's stomach dropped and she could almost feel the blood drain from her face. She had been surprised by how easy it had been to forget Randall was even still on the farm, being reminded of his presence was devastating.

"If you cant find someone to kill him, I'll do it," Lila said suddenly, her eyes glazed over and she folded her arms around herself.
"Lila," Daryl said from beside her, but she turned to shoot him a glance heavy with threat.

"No," Lila scoffed, "If none of you are man enough to do it, I will."
"You couldn't kill him," Shane stated and Lila found herself turning around to face him.

"What?"
"I just mean, he ain't your responsibility. You couldn't hurt a fly if you tried," Shane added.

"Excuse me, I'd just like to point out that when Sheriff over here was goin' to leave you behind in favour of barn boy over there, I was the one that saved your ass," Lila said angrily, her voice raising slightly, "And for your information, I could kill anything if that anything had raped and tortured me for however many goddamned weeks I was trapped there. You have no right to tell me what I can and cannot do. One more word and I'll put you down." Lila's eyes met with Shane's in a cold grip before she felt Daryl's hand wrap around her arm.

"Come on," Daryl pulled her back from Shane, "Come on LB," He repeated when she was reluctant to move.

"I can't believe them!" Lila hissed as her and Daryl walked away from the group.

"Hey," Daryl turned Lila around to face him and stared down at her.

"I guess now comes the point when we have to talk about what happened earlier," Lila shuffled awkwardly as Daryl shrugged.

"What do we have to talk about?" He asked, his hand moving a strand of hair from her face.

"You kissed me," Lila smirked, her eyes meeting with Daryl's.
"So?" He scoffed.

"So you like me," Lila mocked with a grin, moving a step closer to him.

"Shut up."

"Why? Mocking you is taking away from all the pain and trauma that's flooding back to me, help a girl out and take it," She smiled sarcastically, but it was cut short when Daryl's lips pressed against hers, slowly this time, he moved his rough hand around the back of her neck. She reached up, wrapping her arms around his shoulders as she stood on her tip toes to reach him. The kiss was slow and hot, the feeling of warmth and calm took over Lila as she fell against him, her stomach a mess with butterflies.

Daryl pulled away far too quickly for her liking and she stumbled a little.

"They act like I'm some useless tag along…" Lila continued, "I could help them if they'd just let me. This big deal with Randall, I could fix it in a few minutes. Nobody wants to kill him, I get it, but I could do it and feel nothing." The sudden realisation of her words set in and she frowned at herself, her eyes meeting with Daryl's after a few seconds.

"You don't mean that," He started, "You'd feel somethin', I know you. You're too sweet not to mourn for a life, even if that life is as worthless as Randall's. If you killed him, Lila, you'd regret it for the rest of your life."

"I'd never regret taking his life when he destroyed mine," She replied quietly.

"No, but you'd regret having his blood on your hands, tainting the rest of your days. He ain't worth it, let them argue it out, they'll make their decision."

"What if it isn't their decision to make?" Lila asked, her green eyes reached up to meet Daryl's and he stared down at her tiny frame, his fists clenched at the thought of Randall on her and he had no choice but to look away.

"Does it disgust you?" Lila questioned, "To know that they touched me?" Her voice was low and delicate. Daryl brought his eyes back to Lila's and tried to extinguish the anger flooding them.

"You're the least disgustin' thing I've seen in a long time," He stated and Lila burst out laughing.

"That supposed to be a compliment?"

"I ain't no poet girl, find someone else to bump uglies with if that's what you're after," Daryl scoffed.

Lila walked back towards the farmhouse, Daryl followed close behind her as she made her way over to the group. Dale and Glenn had joined the discussion as to whether Randall was to go or stay, but the extra listeners didn't put Lila off.

"Listen," She began, "I ain't going into detail what I went through the past few months. We've all been through shit that isn't going away, we've watched people we know and love die, seen people we trusted act out in ways we never expected…and I know I look like I need taking care of, I get it," Lila paused, swiping a piece of long blonde hair back from her face, "But I'm stronger than I look. Let me go get supplies tomorrow," She finalised, much to the shock of everyone listening. She felt Daryl's hand clamp around her arm and tug her back, his face was close to hers as he hissed in her ear.

"What the hell you doin?" He questioned, but Lila just turned back to the group.
"I can do it, gimme the list of stuff you need and I'll prove I'm not useless."

Everyone glanced between themselves, clearly unable to decide whether or not she was serious.

"I'll leave in the morning, whether there's a list or not." With that Lila turned from the group and walked back to her tent with Daryl following closely on her heel.

"So my little pep talk did nothin' to quit you bein' stupid?" Daryl stated angrily, watching as Lila sat down outside of her tent, her legs tucked up against her chest as she leant against a tree.

"I get why I cant kill Randall…I get why I'm not allowed to go moping around camp, I don't get why I cant help out. I'm physically capable, I don't have a kid to look out for like Rick and Lori do, I don't even really have friends here," She paused, her eyes looking up towards Daryl, "I need to prove I'm worth protecting. If I wanna stay here…if you want me to stay you need to let me do this." Daryl was suddenly very aware of the turn this conversation had taken and he sat himself down, his teeth bit down on his fingernails as he thought to himself for a few moments.

"What's on your mind?" Lila asked.
"You're still recoverin' from a dislocated shoulder, a concussion…you ain't as physically capable as you think, you were a mess when we found you. You go out there tomorrow, I'd count it as a miracle if you came back." His words hit Lila in the pit of her stomach and she folded her arms around herself, "You know that's where they found Randall, right? In town? What if you go back there and those guys just waitin' for you?" Daryl argued. Lila moved her eyes down to stare at the floor, unable to answer him.

"I'll come with you." His voice cut through her thoughts again and she frowned up at him.

"No you won't," She replied with a nervous laugh.

"No argument, you leave here tomorrow, it's with me. How you planning on gettin' from here to town without a vehicle anyhow?" Daryl questioned, the breeze blowing his hair back from his dirtied face.

"I have legs," Lila replied.

"Hell yeah you do, genius," Daryl smirked momentarily, "You should get to bed, it's gettin' late."

Daryl stood to leave but Lila grabbed his hand, pulling him back down to sit next to her. For a few minutes she was quiet – Daryl took the time to study her face, worry was set deep inside her young, emerald eyes and a stern expression had imprinted itself on her brow. But her cheeks still glowed beneath the light of the moon and her fingertips were so soft against his hands he could barely concentrate.

"Why'd you kiss me really?" She asked, breaking the silence.

Daryl paused for a moment before speaking, he let out a long breath of air, he just couldn't find the words to explain.

"I don't know, no reason I guess," He stated quickly, the disappointment in her eyes sent a bolt through his chest but he just couldn't figure out an answer. Was he supposed to know why? Should he have all the answers for her?

Lila's fingertips soon stopped gracing the rough skin of his hands and he suddenly felt incredibly cold.

"Sunrise tomorrow," Daryl said, standing up to leave – this time, Lila didn't look up to watch him or wave him back to her, she just let him leave, looking entirely confused and a little hurt.