So so very sorry for the long time between updates...Tis the season for chaos. Now let's go enjoy lots of sexual tension and frustration together.

Riki returned from her bedroom dressed in a pair of shorts and an Atlanta Braves T-shirt. She had braided her hair so it fell to the side and Damn if she didn't smell incredible again. Daryl wasn't sure what it was about her, but she always seemed to smell like a piece of heaven. He was gonna have to ask her what perfume she wore, but then he re-thought the idea because men don't ask women questions like that.

"Do you think you can help me get dinner out of the oven?" She asked him.

"Ain't a problem." He said following her to the kitchen. She handed him some oven mitts and he began to pull out the food she had prepared.

"Just put it on the counter. We can each fix a plate and maybe watch the sunset out on the balcony? Does that sound OK to you?" She asked, a bit hesitant.

"I can do that." He said.

"You're pretty agreeable tonight Daryl…that's just how I like my men…easy." She said letting out a giggle.

"Yeah Yeah, you got a mouth on ya don't ya girl?" Daryl responded back. He sounded calm and cool, but she had no idea what she was doing to him with her tongue and cheek comments.

Daryl couldn't get over how much food she had prepared for the both of them. She had made balsamic glazed chicken breasts, steamed green beans in a lemon butter sauce, squash casserole, mashed potatoes so creamy they melted in your mouth, and then for the kicker, she had made a raspberry cream pie with a dark chocolate crust.

"Damn woman, that might be the best food I ever ate in my entire life." He said as he was shoveling food into his mouth like it was his last meal. Daryl couldn't help himself from giving Riki praise. She just smiled graciously at Daryl's compliment.

"Why thank you Mr. Dixon. Cooking is one of my passions, it's one of the few things I'm good at." She told him.

"How come you ain't married? You're a fine looking woman, smart, and you've got some good house keeping skills. I ain't figured out yet why you ain't got some rich stock broker or lawyer for a husband and why you are single, providing shelter to a low life like me." Daryl said to her, curious to find out what she had to say.

"Why Daryl? Have you been married before?" She quipped back at him.

"Fuck no, Dixon's ain't marrying types…Hell, I ain't never even had a steady girlfriend." He told her, surprised he had volunteered the information so freely.

"Then why the fuck are you judging me for not being married?" Riki asked defensively. Daryl discovered this was a touchy subject with her.

"I ain't judging you, just curious is all." Daryl said, raising his hands in mock defense.

"Sorry…I didn't mean to over react. So you haven't ever had a steady relationship? I find that hard to believe. You are quite easy on the eyes Daryl." She told him, trying to ease the tension.

Daryl grunted and blushed. "Apparently not that easy. Ain't never had no one in my life but Merle. He kinda saw to that." Daryl told her sadly.

"Huh. That's interesting. So are you the fuck em and leave em type?" She asked, a bit of coldness in her voice.

"Is that what you think of me?" He now responded in a pissed off tone.

"Well, I figure a manly guy like yourself must have a lot of sexual desires, and if you ain't had a steady girlfriend, then that would mean you pretty much would take a woman, and then leave her by the wayside." She told him.

"You don't know nothing about me. I was always too busy taking care of Merle to even remotely think about a woman. I respect women enough to keep them out of my life. No one needs a fucked up Dixon making things worse for them." Daryl replied angrily.

"I'm sorry Daryl…you are right about the fact I don't know anything about you, but that doesn't mean I don't want too. I was wrong to assume you were some sort of man whore." She told him in a sincere voice.

"I didn't mean to upset ya either, I just figured women like you were snapped up for marriage pretty quick. I gotta say this though you got an independent streak in ya that scares the fuck out of me. Should have known no man could tame ya." Daryl replied, offering up a verbal olive branch.

"Ha Ha Ha…I can be tamed…to an extent. I just don't want to end up like my mother. I love her dearly, but she has spent her entire marriage with my father being walked over. No man is ever going to treat me like that. I had one that I thought was "the one" but he turned out to be a douche bag that not only cheated on me, but also used my money to do so. Now he won't go away…wants me back blah blah blah. I won't go through that again. That's why I am so careful about who I let in." She confessed to him.

"Then why am I here? I know I look like a two-bit criminal, and I'll admit I've done things I'm not proud of." He told her.

"We've all done things were not proud of Daryl. Apparently you didn't follow the Atlanta Social magazines ten years ago. I put the Kardashian's to shame back then." She admitted.

"What made ya change?" He asked her.

"I woke up one morning with someone I didn't recognize…knew I made a terrible mistake, and after the awkward departure, I just stepped away from that life. Don't get me wrong, I love having money, but I've decided to do something better with it than just being a socialite. I want to help people, and I realized that your station in life has nothing to do with what type of person you can be. I like real people…that's why you are here." She told him as she reached out and placed her hand on his upper arm.

"So Daryl, what made you change?" She asked.

"Meeting you I guess. I've never had an opportunity like the one you have offered me. Not many people will take a chance on a high school drop out without any formal education. I appreciate you giving me a chance Riki." He said, holding eye contact with her.

"I tell you what, tonight we are going to go out and enjoy ourselves and get shit faced drunk. I'll call a car service so that neither of us has to worry about driving, and we will relax and have a fucking good time. What do ya think about that?" She asked.

"I won't complain…but first round is on me." He told her.

"You're on Dixon. After that though…you are going to enjoy nothing but top shelf liquor…whatever you want…and that's on me." She said, letting out a laugh.

…

Daryl had insisted on cleaning up the kitchen after dinner and had instructed Riki to sit and simply direct him as to where everything went. He realized that tonight's dinner with Riki might have been the first time in his entire life that he actually ate from a matching set of dishes and glasses. His and Merle's kitchen cabinets consisted of plastic cups from various fast food restaurants and mismatched plates that had somehow managed to survive their childhood and still traveled with them.

Riki watched Daryl intently. He was rough, there was no denying that, but there was also a kindness to him that he tried to hide. She sensed he had a hard life growing up, and she sensed he also had a sense of loneliness to him as well. Instead of seeking out others to fill that void he simply built a wall around himself and accepted his fate. Merle probably had a lot to do with that. She knew he was somewhere around forty years old, but he had let it slip that he had never had any type of romantic relationship. That saddened her. She had admitted to him that she lived a lonely life as well, but that was solely by her choice because she found it hard to trust people, but she did have a family and friends. Daryl really had no one other that Merle, and Merle was far from someone that anyone could rely on.

There were certain physical traits that Daryl possessed that drove Riki down a path she hadn't gone down in a long time…sexual attraction. She would never act on that attraction with someone as closed off as Daryl was, but if he wanted to pursue something, she didn't see herself telling him 'no' either. He had incredibly broad shoulders and muscular arms that were absolutely perfect. She had yet to see him with his shirt off, but she could tell he had a nice chest that worked its way down to some great abs. The best thing about it was it was all natural…Daryl didn't strike her as a gym rat. He looked the way he did because of hard physical work. That was something that many men she had come in contact with couldn't even fathom.

"What's got you thinking so much girl?" Daryl said bringing her out of her lustful thoughts. Just the gruffness in his voice sent sensations through her body. This was dangerous for Riki knowing he was now living under her roof at her request.

"Um…I'm thinking I wanna go sit on the porch and enjoy a mojito and a cigarette. Can I make you one?" She asked him.

"What the fuck is a mojito?" He asked.

"Tell ya what, give me ten minutes and I will let you try one." She told him.

"Mmmm? I don't know it sounds a little girly." Daryl said, concerned that he would seem feminine if he tried the drink.

"Its not…Spanish conquistadors brought it to this country many many years ago (she wasn't really sure if that was the truth, but it made it sound somewhat manly) and it's good stuff." She said.

"Fine, I'll try it. Might as well start drinking now so I can enjoy the night. It's been a long time since I've been able to drink without worrying about Merle. This might be a fun night after all." Daryl confessed.

"Of course it will be…if there is one thing I know how to do it's how to have fun. If you hang around me long enough I will prove it to you." She said giving him a smirk.

"Yeah fun is fine for a while, but real life ain't always a party. My fucking brother never got that concept." He said to her in a matter of fact tone.

"Hey, lighten up Dixon and let's just enjoy the night." She told him.

Daryl grunted and then walked out to the back porch, not feeling very secure in himself at the moment. Riki was a girl who had lived so completely different than he had, yet they shared a lot of the same pain that life had dealt. He didn't know the details, but had picked up that she had come from a fucked up family, and if he had to guess, he would say she most likely had Daddy issues she was dealing with. He would have to admit he had some himself. It seemed no matter how old he got, the pain from his past would never quite leave. And then there was Merle. Daryl felt guilty for abandoning his brother, but for once in his life he just wanted a chance to live life out from under Merle's thumb. Maybe if Daryl could get his shit together he could finally afford to be able to help Merle for real. Merle needed real down to earth medical and psychiatric treatment, but without health insurance there was little Daryl could do to help him. So instead, he had spent his life sacrificing his happiness to keep Merle out of as much trouble as possible. It hadn't been perfect, but without Daryl it would have been a whole lot worse.

Daryl flopped down on a chair on the condo's balcony and lit up a cigarette. He let out a sigh trying to calm his anxiety. He was soon joined by Riki carrying a tray with a pitcher and two glasses.

"Here you go country boy…your first mojito." She said handing him the drink. He looked at the drink, then at Riki and just shrugged his shoulders and took a swig.

He was pleasantly surprised at how the drink tasted. It was light, with a citrus flavor mixed with mint. Slightly sweet, but not overly so. "This is pretty damn good, but I can't drink this shit all night. I'll puke my guts out. Most folks don't realize it's the mixers that make you sick, not so much the booze. What booze is in this?" Daryl asked, curious.

"White Rum…Bacardi to be more specific." She answered.

"Fuck. I don't normally drink rum, but it is good." He told her while taking another swallow.

"I've got some Gentlemen Jack and some Crown Royal if you want. I tend to gravitate towards Tequila and Vodka. My old Friends Patron and Belvedere." She said laughing.

"Girly shit. I don't touch Tequila, it makes ya crazy." He told her.

She lit up a cigarette and relaxed on the balcony. The two continued to chat and watched the sunset over downtown Atlanta. It was close to nine o'clock before they realized it and Riki finally stood up and told him she needed to get ready. "The car will be here at ten and I need about an hour to get going. Your free to sit here or if you wanna get ready go ahead." She said.

Daryl gave her a nod "I'll take a shower too…wanna make a good impression on you co-workers, though I'm not sure what they are gonna think of these bruises on my face and hands. I could tell Bob didn't buy the bullshit you gave him, but he was cool about it."

"Trust me Daryl, we've seen a lot worse come through the center. No one will hardly notice." She assured him. He stood up and followed her back into the house.

…

Riki had just got into the hot shower when she felt the water pressure drop slightly and realized Daryl was also showering. She placed her hand against the shower wall; knowing just mere inches separated her from a naked Daryl. "Stop it Riki…you are gonna lead yourself down a path that will only lead to heartache." She told herself. She was fighting the urge to touch herself in inappropriate ways knowing that the ruggedly handsome man was possibly soaping himself up at this very moment. The unmistakable sound of soap dropping to the floor of the shower next to her caused her to giggle "Don't drop the soap Daryl." She yelled through the wall.

…

Daryl was lathering himself in soap when the bar slipped out of his hands and hit the shower floor with a loud "thud" and then he heard Riki yell through the wall "Don't drop the soap Daryl." He was startled to hear her, then laughed out loud when he realized she was showering on the other side of the wall. Shit, all he could focus on now were those perfect breasts being slathered in warm soapy suds. "Don't let yourself go there Daryl…ain't nothing gonna come out of this." He told himself. As the water poured down his body he took a few deep breaths and got his body (which was beginning to have a mind of it's own) under control.

…

Daryl opted to wear the new black polo shirt he had purchased. It was not his usual look, but he wanted to make a decent impression on his new co-workers. If he was going to make a change in his life, he needed to start with himself and his attitude. He pulled on his jeans and a pair of black motorcycle boots to finish off his look. Daryl even made an effort to trim up his out of control hair and beard and when he was done, he then spritzed on some of the cologne he had purchased. He couldn't recall the last time he put this much effort into his appearance, but for some reason this night seemed to matter.

He walked out of his room into the main part of the house, fixed himself a shot of Gentlemen Jack to help him relax, and then flopped down on the couch to wait for Riki. He reached for the remote control and turned the television on and realized it was the first time he had ever watched TV on a high definition LED unit. The brightness and clarity was amazing and had him mesmerized the first moment he saw the picture come to life. Growing up, the best he and Merle could manage was an old second-hand TV they picked up at a thrift store.

Daryl began watching the news and enjoying his liquor when a news story of interest caught his attention. He heard Riki's name mentioned and he called for her to come and watch the news story. She rushed out dressed only in a tiny pink towel with her long wet hair cascading down her back. Daryl tried to not notice she was next to naked…again, but the ample amount of cleavage and bare thighs just a few feet from him made it difficult.

"A local man from the community of Alexandria, Carter Griswald is leading a planned protest Monday morning at the 'Rebuilding Hope Mission' in Northern Atlanta. The mission is owned and operated by local socialite Erika Thornton and has been prone to controversy. Last year an Atlanta teen was murdered outside of the front entrance of the center as a result of gang violence. The protesters feel that having the Mission in the area of Alexandria attracts dangers to the area.

Griswald stated "Though we appreciate what the hard work that the mission does for those less fortunate, it attracts a violent and undesirable group to the area. Alexandria is a community of serenity, and by having the Rebuilding Hope Mission just outside our walls increases the dangers for those who live inside the community. Most of the inhabitants of Alexandria have paid a lot of money to live in this self-serving neighborhood and it would benefit those of us who pay taxes and work hard to have the threat of danger removed."

News reporter: "But Mr. Griswald there is a large group of people who would state that you have an elitist attitude. They also fear that eliminating the center would put those who need it for assistance with rebuilding there lives back in the situations they were in before turning to the center for help."

Griswald: "Look we support the good work they do, but we can't risk the violence so close to our homes. It would be to everyone's advantage if the center were relocated to an area away from Alexandria. We will never clean up Atlanta with places so close to decent neighborhoods."

News reporter: "You are aware that this center is operated and owned by Erika Thornton, and she has a powerful attorney to fight against your cause."

Griswald: "While we support Ms. Thornton's generosity and dedication, this isn't the place for her to run her center. If it's a fight she wants, then it's a fight she will get. We have attorney's as well and have been told that we have a strong case against her."

News Reporter: "So there you have it…it looks like there is going to be an ugly battle between the neighborhood of Alexandria and the philanthropic cause supported by Erika Thornton. Stay tuned to see what happens."

Riki jumped up and almost lost her towel in the process. "Stupid Mother Fuckers. They have no idea how hard it is to operate a center like mine, and the damn media is making it out like it is just a simple hobby for me. Damnit…they don't understand how much those people mean to me and how much the center can do to help those willing to help themselves."

Daryl looked at her and quietly stated "We'll get through it Riki…you don't strike me as the type of girl who likes losing and if this is a cause you are passionate for, then I think they don't stand a chance. Whatever you need me to do, let me know…I'm there for ya."

Riki looked at him, tears threatening to leave her eyes. The sincerity in Daryl's voice touched her deeper than she had known anyone could. All she could manage to squeak out was a soft "Thank you."

"Don't mention it." He told her. Seeing the softness and vulnerability on her face did something to him inside. He could feel the walls around his heart start to crumble and he wasn't sure how he felt about that. He knew Riki was beautiful, but on top of everything else, she was a genuinely a good and kind person and he felt deep down he could trust her.

"You aren't mad at me for not telling you about what happened last year?" She asked.

"Nah…there has been a violent episode or two in the trailer park we live in. It was unfortunate, but not unexpected. Gotta be honest though, I've never really dealt with gang violence, but plenty of violence because of cheating old ladies and drug debts." He confided in her.

"Thanks for keeping an open mind Daryl. This wasn't how I wanted your first day at work to go." She said.

"Been through worse." He admitted. "Now please go put some clothes on woman and lets get this party started." He said trying to change the subject.

"Daryl, does me being nearly naked bother you? It's just a body, everyone has one." She told him.

Yeah, but not one like you have, he thought to himself. "It's just not fitting for you to walk around like that with me here. Don't want people getting the wrong idea. It also makes me feel like a perv." He admitted to her.

"Why Mr. Dixon? Do you see something you like?" She teased.

"Put your damn clothes on woman…and wear something comfortable so you can move…I don't like to lose at bowling." He said changing the subject.

…

The trip to the Lucky Strike bowling alley was nothing like Daryl had ever experienced. By now he and Riki both had a good buzz going. The Patron and Gentlemen Jack were working nicely to relax the duo.

Daryl thought he was going to faint when he saw Riki after she had got dressed. She wore very fitted black jeans that she explained to him were stretchy and would not effect her ability to move, and paired the jeans with a pair of converse and a white T-shirt that clung to her curves. Around her neck she had on a black choker with a pair of angel wings, and it reminded him of his motorcycle vest. She had long silver earrings that dropped down and elongated her neck. And instead of her normally long straight hair, her chocolate locks were now in waves that cascaded down her back and shoulders. Her make-up was minimal and Daryl didn't think she could be more beautiful. She was fortunate, because she possessed natural beauty, and didn't need to have it painted on like so many of the woman that graced the Atlanta social circles. And as usual, she smelled good enough to eat.

When they got to the limo that picked them up, Riki poured them each a high ball and then flopped down in the back seat. "Gotta admit Mr. Dixon, you clean up very nicely…and God you smell amazing. I like this look you are sporting."

Daryl just grunted a response before speaking "Do you always say what is on your mind?"

"Yep…there isn't any need to play games and have people guess what you're thinking. I mean, I wouldn't say anything to purposely hurt anyone's feelings, but if I like something, I want you to know." She said.

Honesty…It was a nice thing.

Riki had the driver blast the stereo in the back of the limo as they listened to the Allman Brothers on their way to the alley. At one point Riki opened the sunroof and popped her head out, enjoying the feeling of the wind rushing against her face. "Come on up Daryl, it's a great feeling." She said reaching down a hand to him so he would pop his head out with her. He was apprehensive at first, but it didn't take much for Riki to encourage him to enjoy the ride. He even yelled out a quite forceful "Booyah" when they drove past the cut off that led to Merle's trailer

He had to admit, driving through downtown Atlanta, halfway looped, with a beautiful woman and no Merle to worry about was quite liberating. That was when he realized he was doing something he hadn't done in a long time…he was smiling and laughing. It felt good.

…

When they arrived at the bowling alley neither Riki nor Daryl was feeling any pain. Daryl was still quiet as a church mouse, but Riki was in full party mode. She introduced Daryl to Beth, Maggie, Glenn, Tyreese, Sasha, and of course, he already had met Bob. It may have been the first time he ever had been in the company of a mixed race social group. Merle was an admitted racist, and for the most part Daryl had just followed around not willing to stir the waters with his brother, but he had never shared his brother's beliefs. All Daryl cared about was a person's true character. Unfortunately when Merle Dixon is your older brother, you aren't exposed to a lot of people who had good character.

The Lucky Strike was a combination bar and bowling alley. That meant that besides the normal beer that was available at the normal bowling alleys, this place also offered liquor and cocktails. There was even an upstairs dance floor and Karaoke bar. Riki mentioned it was a common hang out for the staff on weekends and Daryl wondered if he would be spending a lot of time here. So far it didn't seem so bad.

The first person to make an attempt to ingratiate Daryl into the group was Beth. She was an absolutely adorable little blonde with huge blue eyes. Daryl was drawn to her softness and her smile, but she was a bit too young for his liking. He was damn near forty and she was probably just barely legal. "Hi I'm Beth, Bob told us you are going to be the new maintenance manager at the mission…don't let anything they said about Axle get to you. He's harmless, and beneath all of his awkwardness he is a really nice guy."

"Good to know." Daryl said quietly, awkward himself with social conversations. If he hadn't already drank himself some courage he probably would have given his customary nod or grunt. But tonight he would try. For one, he didn't want to make Riki look bad, and for another reason, he really wanted these people to accept him. They didn't know about his past and his pain in the ass brother, and therefore they couldn't judge him based on his name or family members.

They separated into four teams, Maggie and Beth, Glenn and Tyreese, Riki and Daryl, and Bob and Sasha. Daryl had to admit he could see why Bob was so taken with Sasha, she was beautiful and tough. Sasha was the perfect combination for a woman. She was a straight shooter like Riki and Daryl could see why she had hired these people to work with her. They needed to be tough to deal with the broken people that came into the shelter on a daily basis. He wondered what Riki had seen in him to be so willing to give him a chance without hardly even knowing him.

"All right everyone…are you ready to get beat?" The large man Tyreese challenged.

Glenn leaned over to Daryl "Just so you know…Riki sucks at bowling…if you want to change up partners no one would blame ya."

"Nah, I'm good. I like a challenge." He said, trying to defend Riki. She herself had warned him how bad she was.

Bob then shouted "Let's take bets as to whether Riki breaks fifty or not tonight." The entire group started laughing and Riki placed her hand over her heart in a fake display of hurt. She knew how bad she was, and it didn't bother her one bit.

Daryl leaned in and whispered in Riki's ear "You'll beat fifty tonight, I promise."

"Woo Hoo!" She shouted in her best country girl voice. It took Daryl by surprise. "Hold on Y'all, I'm gonna pick out some tunes on the juke box to get this party rolling." She shouted as she headed towards the jukebox in the corner. She made her selections and then made her way back to Daryl just as "Sympathy for the Devil" by the Rolling Stones started to play.

"Decent song." Daryl said to her.

" I love this song...so who goes first?" She asked as she began to sing loudly and off key, while dancing around.

"You take the first frame, I wanna watch what you are doing so I can see what you do wrong." Daryl said to her.

"Oh, you wanna watch now do ya?" She teased him. Her words were beginning to slur and Daryl could tell she was well on her way to a major hangover in the morning. Might as well let her enjoy her drinking tonight since she'll be hating life in the morning. He had to admit, he was feeling a decent buzz as well, but Riki was a good two shots of liquor ahead of him.

"Hush and take your damn turn." Daryl warned her. Riki was singing and dancing as she stepped up to the line and threw her ball down the lane. Other than her lack of attention, her form was decent (and a bit distracting to Daryl as well) but Daryl realized immediately what she had done wrong when the ball shot into the gutter half way down the lane.

"Woo! I don't disappoint do I?" Riki exclaimed after showing off her horrific bowling skills.

"Maybe if you concentrated more and didn't flit around so much you might do a little better. Your form is good, but you twist your wrist at the last second, which is why the ball goes left. Let me help you through your release on the next ball." Daryl said making his way over to her. Riki thought to herself 'man I would love to have you help me with my release' but she kept it to herself, realizing she had embarrassed Daryl enough for one night.

This time Daryl assisted her as she walked up to the line and wrapped his arms around her showing her how to hold her arms and wrists when she released the ball. He had to take a few deep breaths and think about anything but how close he was to her at the moment. "These arrows on the lane are good to help you line up where you want the ball to go. Once you learn how to get the ball to go where you want it too I can show you some tricks so you can curve your shot." He told her.

"Here goes nothing," Riki said as she stepped up and took her shot. She did as Daryl had showed her, and surprisingly not only did the ball stay out of the gutter, but she actually knocked down eight pins.

"Holy Shit, Riki got pins down on her first frame, has that ever happened before?" Sasha yelled. Everyone burst out laughing, but Daryl could tell Riki was proud of her shot, whether she would admit it or not.

Daryl proved he was a damn good bowler, bowling three strikes in a row before settling on a spare on his fourth frame. It had been a long time since he had last bowled, but he managed to bowl a 230 and Riki bowled a decent 140. Their combined total barely nudged out Bob and Sasha, but it was the first time that Riki had ever been on a winning team at bowling, and she loved every minute of it.

"Hey Dixon you want another shot? We winners need to celebrate." Riki said, her words slurring as she spoke.

"Sure, but you might want to slow down before you regret it." He warned her.

"Awww you're so sweet, you are worried about me. I know my limits Dixon, and I haven't reached it yet." She said in a giddy voice.

Riki disappeared and then reappeared a few minutes later with a double shot for Daryl "You need to catch up to me Dixon."

Daryl nodded 'Thanks' and then swallowed the shot. He then heard Riki squealing "BETHY- Karaoke tonight honey…let's go sing."

Then Daryl heard Glenn let out a laugh "Oh God…"

Daryl turned to him "What now?"

"Riki loves Karaoke, but she is awful. You are in for one interesting experience." He warned. They left the bowling lanes and headed over to the Karaoke stage. Beth went first, and to Daryl's amazement, she was good. Like, really good and she knew how to work the crowd. She sang an old song from the eighties "Walking on Sunshine" and it fit her cute perky nature perfectly.

The next to go was Riki, and well…Glenn was right. She was not blessed with the gift of song. She was singing "Girls just want to have Fun" and it was so bad that Beth took pity and joined her, while Glenn slipped the guy playing the music twenty bucks to turn down Riki's microphone. Fortunately Riki was so drunk by now she didn't even notice. It was taking everything Daryl had to hold back his laughter. Riki was definitely a fun drunk and she seemed not to give a shit what anyone thought about her. She had confidence in herself, but not arrogance, and Daryl thought that was actually quite a turn on. He wished he had just one tenth of her confidence. Unfortunately, his entire life he was told he was a nobody…a nothing, and after forty years you begin to believe it.

"Hey Riki-I'm going out for a smoke. You wanna join me?" He asked her.

"Abso-fucking-lutely" She said as she stumbled towards him. Daryl caught her and helped her stand upright, then led her through the back of the bar out to an alley where they could grab a smoke.

"So are you having a good time Daryl?" Riki slurred, putting the emphasis on Daryl's name.

"It ain't bad." He replied back.

Riki lit her cigarette, handed Daryl the lighter, and then stumbled a bit back against a Dumpster in the alley. Quickly Daryl grabbed her so her ass wouldn't hit the ground. "You can't even stand up straight girl."

"Shhh…don't tell anyone." She giggled.

"I ain't gonna need too, when you walk back into the club and face plant. Then everyone will know." He informed her, hiding a small laugh.

Riki stepped towards him and lost her balance again, this time landing in Daryl's outstretched arms as he caught her. They were now face to face mere inches apart. Riki focused on Daryl's mouth as he did the same towards her. Those luscious pouty lips that he would love nothing more than to taste with his own were so damn close. Riki must of sensed what Daryl was feeling as she stepped up on her tippy toes so that Daryl could have better access to her. However, a small cry suddenly came from the Dumpster and both of them broke apart as Daryl raced over and lifted the lid to investigate the sound.

"What is it Daryl?" Riki asked, trying to keep her voice from slurring.

Daryl rummaged through the garbage and the sounds of the cries grew louder. He found a box and opened it up to find two little kittens that had been placed in it and thrown away. "Son of a bitch." Daryl exclaimed.

"Did you find it?" Riki asked.

"Yeah, someone threw away two kittens. Fucking assholes. What kind of fucker would do something like this?" He asked out loud, knowing that someone like his own father would have done it in a heartbeat.

"Daryl we can't let them stay here. They are coming home with us." Riki said emphatically. Riki was a rescuer, and these kittens were no different to her than someone who showed up at the shelter for help.

"Alright, but we can't take them back in the bar…I'll stay out here with them while you enjoy the rest of the evening." He said.

"Are you kidding me Daryl? Do you think I would leave you out here in a dirty alley to baby sit these little ones? I'll go let everyone know what is going on and then we will leave. But before I do, can I hold them?" She asked.

Daryl lowered the box so that she could pick the little fur balls up. One was a long hair gray kitten with white paws and a white splotch on its face. The other was a long hair black and white tuxedo cat. Both of them looked starved and were meowing continuously. Riki picked up the little gray one first, and it began to purr as she held it close to her chest. Of course, Daryl thought he would have to fight off purring too if he was held that close to Riki's beautiful breasts.

"They are so precious." She said as she placed the gray kitten back in the box and then cradled the little tuxedo cat to her as well. She was in love with them already.

"We can get the driver to stop by a twenty-four hour Wal-Mart and I will run in and grab some things for them." Daryl told her. Riki nodded in agreement and then ran into the bar to say goodbye to everyone. She was gone less than five minutes and then she and Daryl headed towards the limo that was awaiting them.

One thing neither of them realized was that their interactions in the alley were being watched by not one, but two different individuals with entirely different intentions.

…

It was close to three in the morning when they arrived back at the condo. Daryl carried the box with the kittens, but he also helped a very intoxicated Riki as well. He was a bit drunker than he wanted to be, and he struggled greatly to appear as sober as possible when he made the quick run into Wal-Mart, but he was sure it didn't take a genius to notice he was far from sober.

When they got to the condo, Daryl helped Riki to the couch and then handed her the box with the little critters. He then fixed two bowls of food, a water bowl, and then filled up a litter box.

"They're so cuuuuute." Riki squealed.

"That they are. Are you gonna name them?" Daryl asked.

"Only if you help. Do you know if they are boys or girls?" She replied to him. She was fighting hard to remain upright.

"Both boys." Daryl told her as he reached down and took them from Riki so they could eat. Riki looked disappointed not to have the kittens in her lap until she saw how much the little guys were starving. Then she smiled.

"I want to call the gray one Oscar and the other one Lucky." She told them. Daryl gave her a confused look, but he grunted in agreement.

"Oscar…like Sesame Street, because he lived in a trash can, and Lucky because we found them at the Lucky Strike bowling alley." She explained as she began to hiccup.

"That works." Daryl said as he stumbled slightly, landing on the couch beside Riki.

"Daryl…will you please kiss me?" Riki asked in an almost begging tone.

Daryl felt his heart speed up at the unexpected request. "Nah girl…wouldn't be right. We're both drunk and you aren't making good decisions right now. You are way out of my league and I don't want you to regret anything in the morning." Daryl explained, noticing the frown on Riki's face.

"But I want you too…it's only a kiss and I promise not to regret it." She said.

Daryl let out a strained laugh. "No…ain't gonna happen. Don't need you getting pissed at me for taking advantage of you and then tossing me on the street. Plus, you're my boss now and that wouldn't be right. I ain't never kissed any of my bosses in the past, and it wouldn't be good to start now."

"Have you had female bosses before?" She asked Daryl.

"No, but it still ain't right. Look Riki, it can't happen…I'm not good for you and I don't want to let you down. We're friends, but it can't be anything more." He told her. The words seemed to burn as they left his mouth, because there was nothing more he wanted to do right now than kiss her and feel her lips against his, but he had to remain strong, and this was one of the most difficult things he had ever done. He wanted her so badly that he almost ached.

Riki nodded "OK. I wish you could see your worth, but I'm not gonna force you. I thought we had a spark, but I guess I was wrong."

"Now look, I ain't saying I'm not into you or anything, I just think it's best not to cross them lines. You ain't mad at me are ya?" He asked in a concerned voice.

"No I'm not. I appreciate your honesty and respectfulness. I can't say that anyone has ever treated me with that much concern. Thanks." She said, this time though she did lean over and give him a chaste kiss on the cheek. Daryl blushed three shades of red but didn't say anything.

Riki looked content playing with the kittens and Daryl slipped outside to have a smoke. He could still feel the burning on his cheek where she had planted her kiss, and he had to admit that it felt good. He was in way over his head right now and he knew it. He was developing feelings for Riki, which was a foreign concept to him. To make matters worse, she was showing an unexplained interest in him and that was throwing him into all sorts of mental chaos. He knew that if he had granted her wish of a kiss, then it probably would have ended up in something more, and he wasn't prepared for that. His sexual experiences were limited, and he absolutely no knowledge of how to truly pleasure a woman. The few times he had managed to get laid, it had been all about him getting off, and if the other party happened too climax, that was sheer luck. But he knew that if he had chosen to lay with Riki, he would want her to enjoy the experience and he didn't know if he was capable of providing her that joy.

Daryl then convinced himself that no matter how bad he wanted Riki, or how much she offered herself to him, that he would never let their relationship go to that level. He would stay here with her until he could get on his feet, and then once he had the money he needed, he would move out into his own place and merely have a co-worker relationship with her, the same as with Glenn and Bob. It was what was best for everyone. Riki had admitted she was lonely…and that loneliness must have left her feeling desperate for anyone's attention, even someone like Daryl.

Daryl walked back into the condo and Riki was passed out on the couch with the little critters asleep in her lap. He walked over to her and carefully removed the little kittens from her body, and then gently picked her up and carried her to her bed. He slipped off her shoes and covered her up gently and then went to retrieve Oscar and Lucky and placed them in the bed with her. Both of the kittens snuggled into her warm body and Daryl bent over and did something he had never done before, he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead and then turned off the lamp beside the bed. He left her room and took a deep breath knowing how much of a struggle it was going to be to keep the relationship platonic, but it was the best for everyone. He then made his way to his own bed, stripped down to his boxers and a white T-shirt and tucked himself in for the night.

…

The next morning Merle was sitting in his trailer watching the news. He had been sober for over twenty-four hours and that was no easy feat for him. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, his argument with Daryl had gotten to him. He already was missing his little brother, but he couldn't blame Daryl for wanting out of this hellhole of a life. Daryl had never had a chance to experience any type of happiness, and for once Merle was actually rooting for his younger brother. God knows the kid needed some sort of joy to make up for all of the abuse and heartache he had endured in the past. For now it was best that Merle give him his space.

Merle could still smell the lemony scent of the cleaning products he had used to clean up the dump of the trailer. He cleaned out the fridge and filled it with fresh food as well as scrubbed the bathrooms, washed up all his dirty clothes and bed linens, and dusted the entire place. He had thrown a clean blanket over the threadbare couch and had opened up the windows to let the place air out. For once in as long as he remembered, he was actually proud of how the place looked.

Merle had decided that he was going to try to turn himself around. The first thing he needed to do was sober up and clean out his system so he could pass a drug test and find a decent job. Even though he had a felony record, he also had military experience in his background. All he needed was an opportunity to prove himself and then he wouldn't disappoint. If Daryl was going to make an effort, then Merle could too. The good thing about Daryl was he had a clean record and wouldn't test positive for drugs. Somehow after all the years of Daryl hanging out with Merle, Daryl had managed to keep himself clean. Yeah, Daryl had experimented with things in his late teens (thanks to Merle), but he had decided it was best to leave it all alone. In that regard, Merle was both proud and jealous of his younger brother. But it also might have been why Daryl was so closed off. Daryl had no outlet to escape from all the shit in their past. Merle had his drugs, and he knew that giving them up meant he might have to face more than a few demons himself, but he was ready to do that.

Merle relaxed back into the couch and watched the rest of the morning news. One story caught his attention and he turned up the volume so he could hear the details.

"Has socialite Riki Thornton found new love? She was spotted out last night in a compromising position with a mystery man." The television then flashed with video of Riki in a close embrace with Daryl in what appeared to be an alley.

"Well fuck me little brother. Now I know where I recognize that princess from." Merle said to himself.

"It's not known who the man is that is with Ms. Thornton, but the two appeared quite close throughout the evening." Then they showed footage of Daryl with his hands on Riki's hips, as she was about to bowl a frame and then her wrapping him into a hug after she took her turn.

"Well son, there you go." Merle said, a smile crossing his face. However, the smile quickly faded when his cell phone rang and he recognized the number as someone he didn't want to deal with.

Merle took a deep breath to calm himself down "Hey Joe." He said enthusiastically.

"Morning Merle. I was calling to discuss a little unfinished business with you." Joe replied.

"Yeah, about that…I was meaning to call you to talk about that situation. See, the thing is I don't have your money right now, but I can get it." Merle said in a confident manner.

"You can huh? Three days for the first Ten grand, and another week for the second ten grand. If you can do that, then we will have no issues. But if you don't meet the deadlines Merle, then we will have a problem, or should I say, you will have a very big problem. Don't make me take a pound of flesh instead of the money. I like you Merle, but you aren't above reproach." Joe threatened.

Merle hung up the phone forcefully. He had gone and done a fool thing by taking a delivery he was making for Joe and using it for himself. He was lucky Joe didn't kill him right there and then, but Merle assured him that he would make up the difference, which was twenty grand. Right now Merle had five grand from the sale of Daryl's bike and some other illegal business ventures he had dallied in, but he was going to need five grand quick. He reckoned he had enough debts owed to him that he could collect on that and it would make up the difference, but the second ten grand was going to be an issue. Maybe if he apologized and crawled back to Daryl he might be able to weasel the balance from Daryl's new girlfriend. It was a desperate shot, but right now it was all he had.

…

Daryl was awoken from his peaceful slumber by the blood curdling screams of Riki in the next room. Though he was a bit disoriented, he grabbed his crossbow (never far from him when he slept at night) and clad only in his boxers and T-shirt he made his way to her room. A million different things were running through his mind as to what was going on in there. He just prayed that whatever it was, that Riki was safe and unharmed.

Hmmmm...what's going on with Riki? So what are your thoughts so far on this? Please leave me some reviews so I can get a gauge on where you want to see this story go. Right now Daryl and Riki are fighting off (Or more so Daryl) their attraction to each other. Do you think it will last?

Next chapter Daryl will have his first day at work and we will meet Riki's family, and her surprise relative. Also, we will also get to meet the ex-boyfriend that has been tormenting Riki. Curious if you have figured out who it is yet.

Please stay tuned and I hope to have this updated within the week, but it depends on what my work load is...I'm an accountant and it is year end so things could be crazy.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to hearing from you.

Merry belated Christmas and Happy New year-

Missy

XXOO