Note: I loved the ending of last night's episode with Daryl holding the baby. What did you all think?

I also want to thank each and every one of you that have Reviewed, Followed and Favorited. 76 of you wonderful people have followed this story and 36 have favorited. And WooHoo...55 Reviews. I love hearing from you.

Warning: Smut Alert...so read at your own risk.

Chapter 7: Say The Word

'Oh God!' Lane groaned and tried to move her arms. But every muscle in her body screamed for her remain still. Regardless, She tried to roll over to get more comfortable, but it was too painful.

Why was she so sore, her brain screamed at the intrusive bombardment of questions. Consciousness slowly returned in flashes. Death. So many deaths. Lori, Carol and T-Dog dead. And the Baby!

"The Baby! Where's the baby!" she sat straight up, instinctively reaching for her. But there was no baby beside her...just this empty void.

Lane felt a visceral panic as her heart started beating so fast she couldn't breathe.

"Where is she?" she ran screaming into the kitchenette, moving from panic to all out terror. She even checked to see if the baby fell off the bed. But she was just gone!

"The fuck?" Daryl jerked up from his position on the couch, angry at the sudden yelling.

"The baby? She's gone!" Lane wailed, grabbing her weapons to go find her!

"Oh," Daryl began relaxing and lying back down. "Maggie came and got her a little bit ago." and Daryl went back to sleep

"And ya didn't think this was something to tell me!" she screamed at him, tears spilling down her cheeks showing him just how furious she was at his lack of concern about this. Really it was more relief and raw emotion, but Daryl made a better target.

Daryl's answer was to roll over and get more comfortable.

"Ahhhh " Lane screamed at his back. In her mind she called him every foul name she could think of. With loud dramatic stomps of her feet, she huffed and slammed the RV door shut on her way out.

"Hey Lanie!" Maggie greeted her cheerily with a smile, appearing remarkably recovered from yesterday's horrific events. And on her chest was the baby, eagerly sucking on her bottle while Carl looked proudly over her.

"She smells good," Carl exclaimed when he was given his sister to hold. Most kids would have been apprehensive to hold something so tiny, but Carl held her with an uncanny strength and confidence.

"We can thank Lane for that," Maggie acknowledged, with an appreciative nod.

Lane watched over Carl, amazed at the boy's strength. Also, now she was sure the baby was fine, it helped Lane calm down after her initial panic at not being able to find her.

"I'm gonna go check on my aunts," Lane nodded to Maggie, cousin code for, 'I need to see how Rick is doing'. Maggie nodded, understanding completely.

"How is he?" Lane sat beside aunt Miriam and hugged her. She tried to be quiet because Ethel was still asleep on the other gurney. She should have known they'd never leave each other, but really it comforted her.

"He woke up, but started getting really 'agitated'. Started screaming for Lori, so Hershel had to give him another injection. Truth Lanie...I'm really worried about him!" Miriam leaned her head against Lane's.

Lane sighed deeply as she absorbed this news, placing her hand over Miriam's and prayed they were both wrong.

"So how was your first night taking care of a baby?" Miriam asked, hoping to hear some brighter news.

"Ohhh, Aunt Miriam. She's so cute...and perfect...and pretty. Lori should be here with her! I only had her for the night but I fed her and washed her," Lane couldn't understand her strong emotional reaction to the baby.

"By yourself?" Miriam slyly queried.

"For the most part," Lane answered. "But Daryl helped me change her."

"You've gotta be kidding me?" Miriam couldn't hold back her laughter.

"It gets worse! I started crying...I don't know why but I couldn't stop? And so Daryl ended up changing her," Lane admitted.

"Do you wanna tell me why your still so sad?" Miriam intuited.

"Daryl and I...we almost ...but then, I dunno...I wanted to, I think he did too but then so much happened and we didn't. And now Carol's dead!" Lane stammered and blathered. "Last night he blamed me...for Carol's death!"

"He didn't!" Miriam couldn't believe it. Daryl was too smart. Or was he? On some things the hunter was unmatched. But matters such as these? Emotions. He was stunted. Like an child in a man's body.

"Yeah, he did!" Lane admitted, refusing to acknowledge how much it had hurt.

"Lanie, what's worthwhile isn't always easy?" Mirian offered, not wanting Lane to give up, but caring for someone like Daryl would never be simple.

"Yeah? That's what ya said when I joined Weight Watchers for the 5th time!" Lane jokingly reminded her aunt, who she knew was only trying to help...

"Well I like that young man...a lot. But I don't think he's had a whole lotta love and affection in his life," Miriam observed. "I don't think he's ever been taught how to give or receive love. And so he protects! It's what he knows he's good at."

"And when he can't protect everyone?" Lane continued Miriam's analysis.

"Like Carol," Miriam specified. "or her daughter?"

"You know, he almost died trying to find Carol's little girl. Lori told me he refused to give up, even after almost dying hinself," Miriam explained.

"What happened?" Lane knew Carol wasn't her biggest fan, but still she hurt for the woman's loss.

"They found the girl. It seems Hershel initially thought a cure would come along so he kept his friends and neighbors in his barn after they turned. She was in the barn the whole time." Miriam finished.

"Dear Lord! I can't even fathom how Carol must have felt," tears pricked Lane's eyes.

"Lori said it hit Daryl really hard too. He moved away from the group and pulled away." Miriam told her the rest as it had been told to her. "Even Carol too."

"Then this is going to hit him even harder," Lane realized and Miriam nodded in agreement.

"Funerals. Three funerals today," was all Lane could say after thinking through everything. And realized just what a really long day this was going to be.

Daryl pretended to roll over and go back to sleep when Lane stomped out, but instead he ended up just lying there wide awake for another hour.

What the fuck am I doing? He thought, his ideas jumbled. He remembered how badly he wanted her last night. And not just for that. He just...wanted to be with her. To talk to her, to smell her hair while he slept. To pretend not to care when she threaded her legs between his.

But Carol was dead today because his first thought when he got outta that fenced run was to get to Lane. Hell, it had never even been a decision. It had been just pure instinct. But that didn't make any sense at all.

And so he pushed her away Accused her of Carol's death essentially when it was his fault. No, that wasn't true. It was these strange feelings he had for her. But he remembered what Merle always said, "Ya can bang 'em, but then ya always forget 'em!". Daryl already knew he wasn't going to forget her, so where did that leave him.

"It leaves ya buryin' three people is what," he answered himself and reluctantly sat up, dreading the day that was ahead of him. 'Rick, ya really need ta get yer shit together and soon cause I ain't cut out fer this shit.'

"Daryl, what should we do first?" Glenn sidled up to him as soon as he entered the cell block, pressing him immediately for answers.

"We need to bury everyone. How's Rick?" Daryl prayed for good news.

"Not good. Lane and her aunts are still with him, but every time he opened his eyes he went berserk." Glenn relayed what he'd been told. "and Hershel would have to medicate him again!"

"I don't think we can wait fer Rick to come back to us to bury Lori," Daryl wiped his face with his hands, hating to be the one making these decisions.

"Maybe it is best if we go ahead and take care of it," Glenn agreed, mirroring Daryl's fears and worries for Rick. Glenn was pretty sure he'd lose it too if it had been Maggie, so held nothing against Rick.

"And the baby?" Daryl knew they were going to have to deal with this.

"Maggie thinks we might make it another day with formula...a little longer if we ration," Glenn looked down, hating to be the bearer of more bad news.

"We ain't rationing the damn baby food!" Daryl's voice was now loud and firm as he insisted. He'd go on a run today before he let that baby starve.

It was a long, hard depressing day. Oscar, Glenn and Daryl spent the morning digging three graves. And then they had to go back and get the bodies.

Glenn and Maggie went back for Lori, wrapping her in a white sheet. Getting T-Dog and Carol was a bit more difficult. The walkers had so much time with their bodies there was very little left...just remnants of clothing.

Oscar helped Daryl shovel remaining body parts into two separate sheets, putting Carol's scarf with 'her' such as it was, and the remains of T-Dogs shirt with 'him'. And Daryl went numb.

Oscar agreed to watch over Rick so everyone else could go to the service. Hershel did most of the talking and the others were too grief stricken or just plain numb to cry anymore...including Carl who just stood their stoically.

As they meandered back to the Yard, the baby began fussing again. Maggie held her, confidently patting the baby but her eyes revealed her genuine worry. Unless someone around here started lactating, they were in a world of hurt.

"There's only a coupla cans left," she admitted to the group.

"She won't last if we don't get more," Hershel admitted the hard truth. Lane knew she couldn't let this baby starve and the others were in complete agreement.

"Ok...I'll go on a run." Daryl began mentally preparing. "Make a list of what she needs. I'll leave as soon as I get my stuff," He started to head back inside and get his stuff.

"I'm going with you. For back up," Lane shouted at his back. He jerked around to look at her so fast she was sure he was going to protest. For a while he just stared at her.

"Go get yer stuff and meet me back here," Daryl said simply and kept going.

Lane had never ridden a motorcycle before but here she was, holding on for dear life. She was scared, but did her best not to let it show, though she doubted she fooled her aunts.

They had to find something close by, a grocery store, a Walgreens, maybe even one of those bigger gas stations might have some formula and diapers. Going house to house was the option of last resort.

They'd been on the road about an hour, sticking to the back roads that they had become so accustomed to last winter and spring, when they saw a sign. Zebulon 8 miles. Lane prayed there was something in the metropolis of Zebulon.

They were getting closer, but still nothing. Sure...they'd passed some businesses. But those consisted of a BBQ joint, a dive bar and a tractor dealer but nothing that might have anything for the baby.

Daryl patted her hand to get her attention, pointing to a sign that said Fred's. Lane had never heard of Fred's but prayed this was a real store and not hardware or taxidermy or something equally useless.

"Oh thank god," Lane sighed when Daryl pulled into the parking lot. A grocery store. Granted it wasn't one of those superstores but it should have the basics.

"OK. Stay behind me. We'll go in here!" Daryl pointed. "If it looks clear, grab a cart, and some bags too. We ain't gonna have time to bag this shit, so bag as ya go!" Daryl's voice was terse and clipped making Lane frown. But now was not the time to get into their 'stuff', so she just nodded and grabbed hold of the long machete, also checking her newly loaded handgun.

Daryl knew he'd been acting like an ass, but with everything that he'd done and still had left to do, he didn't know how to stop.

The store was rancid and the stench was overwhelming. Lane had to raise her t-shirt up over her nose to not gag and vomit. If she started barfing, she wasn't sure she'd be able to stop.

There were a few walkers stumbling around...it looked like a security guard and maybe a stockboy or two and a few cashiers. They must have been starving, because they were surprisingly sluggish, slow and emaciated. Daryl took out all the walkers but two, which Lane handled efficiently and silently.

Without speaking she grabbed a buggy and a bunch of those reusable bags they sell at checkout. She looked up at the signs searching frantically for baby items. "Aisle 8!" she yelled and raced the cart over.

Daryl followed Lane closely, covering her just in case there were more walkers they'd missed.

"I'm so glad they put this stuff all in one area!" Lane threw can after can as well as the powdered formula into the bags, only then adding other items like bottles, binkies, teething rings, infant meds, and diaper rash ointment. Then they got to the diapers.

"We aren't gonna have room," Lane pointed to the bags that were stuffed to the brim.

"How about these cloth ones? Go it old school?" Lane suggested as she grabbed the soft fabric packs,

"Ughh! Good thing laundry is women's work!" Daryl groaned, remembering how disgusting that last diaper had been.

"Don't see much choice. Later we can come back with a car...for the luxuries." Daryl agreed...there just was no way they could bring the diapers. At that Lane snorted. Only a man would consider disposable diapers a luxury. Nonetheless she grabbed the cloth diapers, that ironically were now sold as burp cloths, and packs of those big, giant pins.

"I hope someone knows how to fold a cloth diaper?" Lane muttered under her breath. Neither of her aunts ever had kids, so unless they learned by babysitting, they would all be winging it. But that wasn't any different really.

"Mind if we run by the canned meats? See if there's anything left?" Lane suggested as she crammed the formula into her backpack. Daryl had really missed eating meat lately, not really liking that TVP that was so plentiful at the prison, so he didn't argue. If anything he pushed the cart faster.

Miraculously the shelves were still well stocked. Daryl was frustrated they couldn't take more, but satisfied himself with a few dozen of those shrinkwrap bags of chicken and tuna. Lane grabbed a few bags of the yellow rice stacked haphazardly below.

"Rice?" Daryl questionned her choice.

"Are you kidding? Chicken and Yellow Rice!" and with that she stalked off.

"This place is a gold mine Daryl. We have to come back!" Lane's eyes began to glow with hope and promise again. They could just maybe do this.

They were loaded down tight, every bag overflowing to the point it made it hard for Lane to stay balanced. Lane figured Daryl picked up on her difficulty because he eventually slowed down. But then he stopped completely.

"What is it..?" But Lane's question was cut off by the loud rat-a-tat-tat cacophany of multiple automatic weapons. Lane's eyes grew wide and if not for Daryl, she'd have stood there, frozen.

"Move it Lane! NOW!" Daryl commanded as he ran the bike into the nearby forest. He could already hear vehicles rumbling, and did not want them to hear the distinctive rumble of his bike. He swore to himself to fix that when he got back.

"Shhhhh," He pulled her close as they hid behind his bike. Daryl tried to ignore the effect that Lane's trembling had on him. Instead, he bit his lip to try and distract himself as he held her in his arms.

Less than five minutes later a vehicle caravan came rushing by, followed by two military trucks. But none of these guys looked to be military.

"What are we going to do now?" Lane was getting more terrified. Again, more terrified of the living not the dead.

Daryl knew they needed to get this food back to the baby, but something about this just wasn't sitting right with him.

"Stay here!" Daryl ordered, as he began marching towards the gunshots.

"Bullshit!" Lane ran after him and jerked him back around to look at her.

"You aren't leaving me stranded like this. I can't even drive a motorcycle. And all those shots iust called every walker within 5 miles." Lane yelled, forgetting to even breathe, she was so mad...and scared.

"Fine. We'll drive by quickly, see if there's anything but then we move!" Daryl turned and stomped back to the bike. He wasn't angry at her. He was angry that she was right and he hadn't been the one to consider it.

"This was a massacre!" Lane stared at the dozen or so dead servicemen that littered the ground.

"By pros too. Headshots...all of 'em," Daryl walked around solemnly, confident none of these men would turn now. Lane watched him squat down and carefully examine the tire tracks of what appeared to be the only car to have driven in the area. In contrast to the four he'd seen drive away. This had been planned also.

With a last look at the dead man's dogtags, he whispered, "Sorry brother, wish we could bury you.". But there was no more for them to do here.

"Let's get moving!" Daryl said solemnly. With one last look at the carnage behind her, Lane turned away and mounted the bike behind Daryl.

"Oh Jeezus, No!" Lane saw the herd. Just as she'd predicted, the gunshots had called them. Daryl spun the bike around and headed in the other direction. Lane held on tight, trying not to worry about the circuitous route that took them further from the prison.

They took more back roads. They even took back roads to the back roads, but it was fast getting dark and they'd have to decide soon whether to hole up or try and tough it out and drive in the dark.

Lane's back was aching and she was worrying more and more Daryl was going to try and grit it out to get back tonight. Until she felt the rumble beneath her slow.

The house wasn't easy to make out, but as they got closer she made out a newer style ranch house stuck way out in the middle of nowhere. But like many of the older farms that were subdivided, it still had all it's old fences up. But still the newer style house looked strangely out of place as they approached... more Atlanta suburb than rural Georgia farm.

Daryl drove behind the house, parking his bike on a lovely stone patio that ran the entire rear of the house. There was a pool too, but it had long since become it's own putrid, anaerobic ecosystem, likely full of snakes and God-only-knew what else.

"Shush," Daryl reminded her, but that only earned him a dramatic roll of the eyes.

"Got yer flashlight?" he asked, figuring it would be best to drop the attitude. His question this time, earned him temporary blindness as she shone the MagLight right in his eyes.

"Any more stupid questions, or are we going to take this place?" Lane snapped. She realized her blood sugar must be dropping...she just didn't snap at people!

"Fine. Behind me!" Daryl insisted, this time turning before he caught the eye roll. The house was completely dark, but unfortunately not empty. There was a family here. What looked to be a mother and father still stumbled around, but the three children were mutilated beyond recognition.

The adults were easy to take care of, but the children...? Two boys maybe 3 and 5. Lane forced herself to put her machete in their brain, but it was the baby that was too much for her.

She was in pieces, but the remnants of her head still snapped. With a gasp, she covered her mouth, and before Daryl got to her, she ended the infant.

"We need to drag 'em outside. It helps keeps other walkers away," Daryl explained in a dead monotone. And like a robot Lane complied, numbly carrying child after child outside.

Daryl then drove his bike inside, parking it grandly in the formal dining room. Easier than unpacking everything. But all Lane could think of was washing her hands.

Out of habit she turned the kitchen tap on. "Jeezus Daryl! We got water!" she yelled excitedly. Daryl came running to see what the ruckus was. He found a smiling Lane luxuriating in the running water.

"We should try the stove. If that fires up, they might be on gas too," Daryl's eyes glowed in the dim light, as the evening showed signs of improving.

She ran over to the stove, her hopes rising at the site of a gas stove.

"Hell yeah!" She yelled at the pale blue flames that hissed under the burners. Lane felt like shouting for joy, but Daryl made her turn it off.

"Come on. We gotta check out the rest of this place. They had a baby... So maybe they stocked up on supplies?" Daryl had to force himself to not rejoice with her, instead acting like a dick again.

"You're right!" Lane's eyes shadowed, and she quickly turned the burner off to pick her flashlight back up and follow him. They'd cleared the four upstairs bedrooms already but they hadn't known about the basement.

"Ready?" Daryl checked and Lane gave a pat to his back confirming she was. They scaled the stairs slowly, but amazingly there was no stench down here. Apparantly this well-to-do family died from the virus and never made it to the basement.

It was actually quite nice down there. A slate pool table took up a large corner while a large screen TV dominated the other. A home office, a bedroom and a home theater occupied the other rooms.

"Mary, Mother of God!" Lane yelled out, speechless at the sight before her.

"What the hell?" Daryl was immediately at her side. But when he saw what she was talking about, even he had to laugh.

"Would you look at all this?" Lane shouted in excitement and entered the gigantic pantry her flashlight shining wildly all around. This was bigger than a bedroom, so the term 'pantry' didn't really do it justice.

"Look! That has to be a years worth of formula and diapers." Lane couldn't help laughing.

"We got formula! Looka here!" Daryl held up a bottle of Gentleman Jack, pulling it from the entire case of Jack Daniels, completely ignoring all the bottles of wine neatly arranged along the wall.

"We've gotta find a way to get all of this back," Lane insisted as they both stood there thinking. "Come on!" she pulled his hand and raced back upstairs, making a few wrong turns until she found it.

"If we can find the keys and get some gas!" Lane shined her flashlight on the two cars sitting in the large garage. Daryl opened the door to the large Sequoia SUV, shining his flashlight on the dash.

"Full Fuckin' tank!" even Daryl was getting excited. Lane ran over to the sedan to check.

"Same here!" Lane's voice bubbled over. "Daryl? What if we put your bike in the back and load up both vehicles. Is that too greedy?" Lane suddenly felt worried. This much good couldn't rightfully come after what happened yesterday.

"I think that's the perfect amount of greed." Daryl ran to open up the back, mentally calculating how much they could fit in it.

"Shall we start loading?" she urged, and they spent the next few hours loading up both vehicles.

"Here ya go," Lane offered Daryl a heaping helping of her chicken with yellow rice.

"Chicken and yellow rice, with truffle oil." She giggled at the reminder of her glee at finding such an exquisite ingredient. She sucked down another gulp from the bottle of Argentinian Malbec, which she was close to half-completing.

Lane collapsed on the basement sofa next to Daryl, eagerly anticipating her first bite of her favorite dish.

She waited to savor it, but her attention was snatched away by the image of Daryl shoveling the food into his mouth so fast it took her breath away.

"Hey Daryl? No one's gonna take it away from you, you know, " Lane shoved his shoulder, attempting to tease.

"S'just it's really good," Daryl groaned. "It's been so long since I ate anything this fricken good," he kept shoveling in the rice dish.

"Thanks," Lane started eating also, doing her best not to moan at the deliciousness.

Daryl was embarrassed at how quickly he scarfed down the meal, but he noticed it strangely seemed to please Lane, so he ate unabashedly until he was beyond full. But then he was lost, not knowing how to talk to her. They were enveloped in deafening silence so he took another swig of whiskey.

"I think I'm gonna go take a shower," Lane broke the awkward moment. She hated the way it felt to be so uncomfortable around him, when they'd been so intimate before. She'd told him things she'd never told anyone. Frustrated, she tossed her half eaten bowl on the coffee table.

But with one last glance over her shoulder, she couldn't keep from smirking when Daryl started eating her leftovers.

Daryl watched her wobble and sway towards the back bathroom. He moved to go help her, but held back when she steadied herself. He admitted he was disappointed, and that he wanted to go to her...to be with her, but still he held back.

Lane was beyond tipsy. Truth be told she was drunk, but tipsy sounded better, so she decided to go with that. The hot water was a luxury, one she wished Daryl was sharing with her. But he wasn't and so here she was, washing her hair alone, luxuriating in the lather of the chamomile bodywash.

"Yer turn," Lane exited and walked towards Daryl, her wet hair slicking down her back.

Daryl stared at her and paused. Then with a huff he stormed past her and slammed the door. He was drunk, he was frustrated and that made him pissed. He couldn't even really enjoy the hot shower, just quickly and perfunctorily washing himself, ignoring his raging hard-on.

Daryl pulled on a clean pair of sweats he had borrowed from upstairs, and returned to where Lane was sitting.

He found her crunched up on the love seat, her feet tucked up beneath her and a book in her hand.

"Hey," she mumbled, all the moisture leaving her mouth when he padded out in just some loose sweatpants, his towel slung loosely over his shoulders. She couldn't even look at him without wanting him, so she forced her attention to the pages.

"Watcha reading?" Daryl pointed to the hardback book.

"Vanishing Act," she held it up, still avoiding looking up.

"Is it any good?" Daryl asked.

"Yeah. So far anyway. The blurb sounds exciting. I've really missed reading," Lane admitted guiltily, remembering how thrilled she'd been when she found such a large selection of books. "I know its a luxury, but I threw some books in the car.". She hoped he wouldn't make her take them out.

"Daryl? Are we ever gonna talk about Carol?" Lane threw her question at him, sharply and fast much as he would shoot an arrow.

"There's nuthin ta talk about. People die! S'just the way it is," but Daryl tossed down another hefty swig of whisky. And then another.

"Bullshit!" Lane snapped back and grabbed the bottle away outta of his hand, taking her own healthy swig.

"I mean sure... Yeah. We're all gonna die. But that's nothing new. The only new thing is the dead are rising. But the end result's the same?" Lane continued.

"If I get pneumonia and die, would you feel responsible?" Lane slurred, yet she still continued.

"That's different!" Daryl muttered, lifting his thumb up to bite his cuticle.

"How?" Lane asked quietly, no longer challenging him. Tired of it in fact.

"Cause! I lied to her. Then I kept on lying to her. I told Carol I'd find her daughter, I told her she'd be safe." Daryl turned, snatching to bottle of whisky back and taking multiple gulps.

"I met Carol. Granted, I didn't know her like you did, but she wasn't a stupid woman. Nor did she seem terribly fanciful?" Lane pushed back at him, emboldened by the alcohol.

"I was supposed to take care of her Dammit!" Daryl slammed the bottle down and spun around to face her, eyes ablaze.

"Yeah? Where do you sign up for that?" Lane was full out drunk now and took another swig from his whiskey for fortification. "Because, in a zombie apacolypse I'd sure as hell like to sign on for this kinda guaranteed protection that you offer!" her words dripped with sarcasm.

"Ain't like that," Daryl turned and mumbled, hating the way she so nimbly dissected his thoughts...his motives!

"Then please, Daryl! Explain it to me! Tell me what it is like?" Lane crossed the room to stand in front of him, arms across her chest.

"She was good...ta me. When everyone else saw me as just a copy of my brother, Carol didn't. She treated me like I was no different than Rick or ..." he didn't mention Shane as tears threatened. Lane reached out to him, ignoring her reservations.

"Carol was a very smart woman!" Lane insisted, grabbing his forearms as she spoke.

"And now she's dead!" he spun away, unwilling to let her see his shame. "She's dead because I ran to you and not her!" Lane felt the pain wash over her at his words.

"And so?" Lane finally whispered. "Do ya blame T-Dogg as well? Or was he your responsibility too,and not an active member of the group? Tell me, was it the entire group, or just Carol you were responsible for?" Lane continued, frustrated by his silence.

"Yer twisting everything up. I cain't even think straight," he chugged more whisky.

"Well I'm so sorry for confusing you!" she replied sarcastically, grabbing his whiskey and chugging. Then she continued

"But you're confusing me too! I asked you! I made sure, cause I thought I was losin' my damn mind. And you told me I wasn't imagining things...the things we did! Now you blame me! I just thought you and I were...?" but she couldn't continue.

She turned away, too ashamed to let him see her cry, and left to grab her blanket and pillow. Miserable, she decided to go to the guest room and sleep.

Daryl was left standing alone. 'What's wrong with me? Why can't I ever say anything right?' He continued staring off into nothing, running his fingers through his shaggy hair. How had he messed things up so bad?

Just then he heard the door slam back open! Lane came storming out. She never looked him in the eyes. Instead she grabbed her book and then on her way back she snatched his whiskey bottle.

Lane just made it to the door, when she felt him grab her from behind, jerking her around grabbing her hand that held the whiskey.

"Really Daryl? There's an entire case waiting over there for ya!" she snapped at him as he held her wrist. Instead of letting go, he gripped harder.

"Stop it Daryl, please! Yer hurting me?" Lane pleaded, worried at the blankness in his eyes.

"I'm sorry!" Daryl snapped out of it and he let her go as he collapsed against her. Lane felt Daryl's release, like some sort of emotional dam breaking.

"Shhh, she loved you. You loved her. She knew that. I promise you, she knew it," Lane stroked his head as they sat crumpled in the hallway. She felt him shudder at her words but then calm in her arms.

"Yeah?" Daryl asked, but hoping it was true.

"I guarantee she did. Carol told my aunts how you looked for her daughter." Lane stroked his head. "How much it meant to her."

"Daryl. I am not yer responsibility. Whatever happens to me ... happens." Lane felt the need to state her ground.

Daryl jerked his face up to look at her, eyes blurry from whiskey.

"You don't get it," Daryl wanted to explain that he couldn't handle her getting bit. Instead he grabbed her shoulders, pulling her closer.

Lane felt him tense and realized she'd pushed him way too far. "Maybe we should discuss this in the morning?" Lane brushed the hair outta his eyes and turned to go.

But Daryl couldn't let her go. He reached for her and pulled her back, this time taking the lead and threading his fingers through her still damp hair.

"Don't go," Daryl pleaded, forcing her to meet his eyes. What she saw in those silvery blue depths curled her toes and tumbled her stomach.

"Kiss me," Lane gripped his shoulders tentatively, but also prepared herself for possible rejection.

Thunder pounded in Daryl's ears as realization hit him. Lane still wanted him. Even after everything.

He attacked her mouth, thrusting his tongue inside, feeling fire rush through his veins when she tangled her tongue with his.

Need drove him and he forced her to the floor. Like a man crazed he held her wrists over her head and settled between her thighs.

"I want you," Lane whispered in his ear. With a guttural groan, Daryl released her hands. He half-expected her to use her new found freedom to push him away. Instead she snaked her hands around him and began raking her nails down his back.

Lane felt like she was on fire, heat and desire urging her on. Her inhibitions were now non-existent, thanks to the alcohol, and she writhed helplessly under him.

"You feel so good!" she moaned, nipping his lobe as she breathed her words into his ear. Lane felt Daryl's hands creep up her ribcage, even as he shuddered atop her. She panted her frustration but he seemed intent on moving slow.

"No bra?" Daryl smiled a teasing smile, reminding them both of their last encounter.

"Well, ya weren't that impressed the last time," she reminded saucily.

"I ain't never been a fan of unnecessary obstructions," Daryl bent down to lick her rib cage.

"It's not intended to be an obstruction. More of an enhancement!" she ran her tongue along his lower lip, thrilled when he trembled beneath her.

"These don't need no enhancement!" he practically yelled at her as he attached his mouth to one nipple, his other hand pinching her other hard tip.

"Christ, Daryl," she screamed, writhing on the floor. No way! No way was she not going to drive him just as crazy.

Lane raked her nails down his back, which she knew he liked. But it was when she creeped her left hand down to grip his ass, that she felt him thrust uncontrollably.

"Daryl," and Lane reached her right hand down his pants to grip his hard length. Fascinated, she took her time as she explored him. The skin over his member felt taut yet soft, like steel sheathed in silk.

She suckled his pulse point that throbbed so visibly, while running her fingers against his dick, then ran her nails delicately over his balls.

"Jeezus," Daryl groaned and collapsed on her neck. Frustrated yet even more turned on, he knew he wanted her to keep touching him. Unable to control himself, he reached down to grab her hand.

Lane gasped and sought his eyes, worried she had done something wrong. Instead, he grabbed her hand and guided her, taught her how to stroke him. He showed her the rhythm, and the other things he liked. How to cup his balls, then play with his tip.

Ever the good student, Lane paid astute attention to his guidance, now paying intense attention to his reaction to her motions... The way he ahhhed and thrust when she did certain things.

Daryl propped himself above her, nestling himself between her thighs. He ground his hips against her, but then he suddenly stopped.

"What?" Lane begged him not to stop, but still he stopped.

"Not here !" Daryl insisted, suddenly disgusted by himself for even considering it. Consider it? Who was he kidding? He'd more than considered it. He almost did it.

He saw the sadness and hurt on her face. He stood up and pulled her to standing and then he pulled her close, picking her up and carrying her.

"Daryl! What are you doing?" she squirmed in his arms, still surprised by his actions. To him, it made it sweeter.

"Bedroom!" Daryl insisted.

"Why?" she pleaded, wanting him now rather than later.

"Not on the damn floor!" Daryl's voice was so low and insistent, it made her quiver. She immediately stopped fighting and curled into him, nipping and sucking his neck.

She laughed and squealed when he kicked open the door and threw her on the bed. But then her laughter stopped and the air instantly sparked and sizzled with energy. She looked up at him, her eyes greedily taking in every inch of him.

Lane had had enough of the waiting. Enough of the neverending foreplay...enough of stalling and way too much frustration. She was ready for her day at the rodeo.

She slowly pulled his sweats down, tossing them to the side after Daryl stepped out of them. He responded in kind, but he had no patience and ended up nearly ripping her clothes off.

Daryl crawled on his knees over the bed to nestle himself between her thighs.

"Fuck!" Daryl suddenly yelled and reluctantly rolled off her, slamming open the nightstand drawers.

"What's wrong?" Lane groaned in frustration.

"Ain't getting ya pregnant!" he answered, angry and frustrated.

"Oh good point!" Lane replied, hating to wait but glad someone was thinking. After Lori's death in childbirth, it was that much more prescient. "They must have some around here somewhere!" Lane joined Daryl in the frantic search. Lane even ran to the bathroom when the nightstand turned up empty.

"Look here!" Lane waltzed back in holding up a strip of a dozen golden foil packages that she found in the drawer of the bath vanity.

Daryl's head spun around, and his look of desire and relief made her want to melt.

Lane had never put one of these on, unless you count that banana in the 8th grade during health class. But she ripped it open with her teeth and walked across the bed on her knees, coming face to face with him.

"Um..." Lane suddenly felt awkward and uncomfortable. She didn't want to hurt him, maybe do it wrong.

"Come here," he whispered, leaning down to kiss her neck. At the same time he grabbed her hands and guided them as he slipped the rubber on.

Daryl then looked back at her with a wicked smirk that made her belly quiver. She wound her hands up his chest and then around his neck, her fingers in his hair.

Daryl couldn't take it anymore. He pushed her back down and propped himself over her.

"Daryl?" Lane grabbed him and guided him toward her wet entrance, loving the way he jerked in her hand.

"Ya sure?" Daryl stilled.

"Really?" she raised a brow, wondering how he could possibly have any doubt. So she cupped his balls as her answer. loving the shudder that came over him.

He entered her slowly, sliding easily into her wetness. "Ohhhh God," he groaned but forced himself to go slow.

"Daryl" she gripped his head and forced him to look at her. And then she tilted her hips and grabbed his ass to thrust forcefully upward until he was deep within her.

She bit her lip to not cry out from the sharp pain. Pain she had read should subside soon.

"Lane?" Daryl groaned, completely aware of what just happened, feeling the resistance then it giving way. "Why?" he gripped her chin and refused to let her turn away from him.

"Please Daryl? Does it really matter now?" Lane pleaded with him to let it go. She pressed a tentative kiss to his open lips, and begged him to respond.

"Guess not now!" He admitted pragmatically and pulled out slowly, watching her eyes for any signs of pain.

"Tell me if I hurt ya," he ordered, while he slowly entered her again and then stilled, as if he was trying to memorize every sensation.

"It doesn't hurt," she rained kisses along his collarbone. Daryl stared at her, disbelieving and amazed. But he swore to himself he'd dissect this later, but for now he'd enjoy. More important, he wanted it to be good for her.

But he'd never made a woman have an orgasm, least not one he hadn't figured was fakin' just so he'd hurry. So he fell back on Rick's advice. To pay attention.

He felt her contract around him, as if she was trying on a pair of shoes. But he remembered her reaction from the watchtower. He bent down and took her firm nipple in his mouth, flicking his tongue back and forth while reaching his hand down between them.

"Wha...?" Lane looked up at him in surprise.

"Shhh," Daryl muttered and reached up to kiss her... To soothe and convince her to trust him.

"Ahhhhh Myyyyy " Lane exhaled into Daryl's mouth as his hand began stroking her, his thumb rhythmically pressing against her swollen bud. He wasn't sure he was doing right, so gauged and adjusted his actions by her reaction. And then he began moving.

Lane moaned in his ear at the exquisite fullness. The way he filled her...then pulled away.

"You feel so good...Ahhhhh!" Lane cried in his ear as she felt this need...this force building inside.

"What?" he thrust, feeling guilty when he yanked her thigh up higher so he could go even deeper.

"Yes?" he asked, feeling strangely confident. "This?" he thrust slowly so he could look in her eyes. And the look of complete pleasure burst through him.

"Look at me," he insisted as he kept thrusting. But she still turned her head to the side.

"Yes!" he insisted, stopping and refusing to move.

"Just don't stop!" she warned while complying with his request to look at him. To her pleasure he started thrusting again, going slow but soon pumping furiously.

And then she felt it. The warmth and tingling that urged her on, meeting him thrust for thrust.

"Oooohh Daryl," Lane cried out when she felt the explosion. Deep within she quivered around him, awed by the expansion that made her thighs spread wider and tremble. Lane gripped Daryl's back, digging her nails in as she experienced wave after wave of pleasure.

She lifted her hips and dug her heels into his ass, and felt Daryl bury his lips in her neck and continue to pump furiously into her. She felt his hot breath moan as he too reached release, deep inside her.

Daryl lay there, panting as he struggled for control. He searched her eyes as he withdrew.

"Ya OK?" he asked.

"I'm pretty OK! You?" Lane threaded her legs with his, wanting him to stay with her.

Daryl had a million worries running through his brain, but none of them seemed to matter right now.

"I feel ...pretty OK too" Daryl thrust his tongue to tangle with hers, thoroughly convincing her.

"Mornin'" Lane kissed his stubbly chin, embarrassed by her morning breath. She had a slight headache, but other than that she felt really good.

Daryl refused to allow it. Instead he rolled her over and yanked her knees up around him. He grew harder as her eyes widened.

"Wow! I didn't think it was possible for me to want anything other than coffee in the morning. But I've definitely been missing out" Lane mumbled in his ear, instinctively rubbing herself against him.

"Open the gates! It's them," Glenn yelled down to Oscar at the two cars approaching. Daryl waved his vest out the window so they'd know it was safe to open the gates. Glenn shot a stray walker or two by the entrance while Oscar opened the gate, but soon the two loaded vehicles were safely inside the gates.

"Holee Shit!" Maggie exclaimed as she helped unload the vehicles. But it was Daryl that raced forward to check on the baby.

Carl was holding her but she was angry and fussy. They'd run out of formula last night and she hadn't eaten since.

Beth quickly made up a bottle, and passed it to Daryl, who immediately started rocking the baby back and forth while feeding her, making soothing little sounds as she settled down.

Lane had to put her fist to her mouth, in an attempt to control her emotions she felt watching Daryl hold the baby, cradling her and feeding her.

"You gotta name fer her?" Daryl looked Carl in the eye as he asked.

"I don't know? Maybe Sophia?" Carl said somberly, then he listed off the names of everyone else they lost...a sad reminder.

"Or Carol, Patricia, Andrea...maybe Lori," Carl shrugged his shoulders and dejectedly walked away.

"Well you're just a 'Lil Ass Kicker? Ain't that right Little Ass Kicker?" Daryl cooed at the infant, calming her. "That's a good name, huh?" Daryl's laughter was contagious.

"Guess we found us a baby whisperer," Hershel exclaimed, continuing to be surprised by the contradictions that were Daryl Dixon.

Lane and her aunts were transfixed by the sight of this rough redneck, taking to this baby like he'd been made for this.

"Lil' Ass Kicker, it is," Lane laughed, mentally shortening it to LAK. Or Lake? Well, ok, it's not great, but they would work on something better.

They would work to make a lot if things better. And the look of newly restored hope on all their faces, made Lane almost believe it.