Disclaimer: Not mine. Poo.

Notes: Thank you to everyone following this story, reading and reviewing! :)

Chapter Twenty-Three

(Fin's POV)

I snuggle closer to Daryl's chest his skin warm where it's pressed to my cheek. My fingers continuing to trace over the outlined patches of sunlight decorating his skin in an ever shifting patchwork quilt of light.

"S' not so bad," he announces.

So he is awake. I thought so. Considering he spent several minutes last night grumbling about falling out of the hammock in the middle of the night and killing himself I'll take his quiet admission as a victory.

"Beats sleeping on the ground," I agree. Though, honestly, even I had trouble falling asleep last night—for completely different reasons of course. Even with our makeshift warning system and reaching out several times trying to check the area for Walkers I found it difficult to fall asleep. The ever pressing fear that Walkers would wander closer while we slept; or worse that I might have a nightmare in the dead of night and draw them closer with my panic getting Daryl injured or worse had me wide awake for hours after Daryl was already asleep.

I didn't get my usual brand of nightmares—thank god; thrashing around like that would have certainly dumped both our asses onto the ground…but my dreams weren't exactly peaceful—not by a long shot. I'm still dreading what might happen when we get back to the warehouse despite Daryl's reassurances.

Daryl's arm tightens around my back shifting me tighter against his side. I hike my leg higher across his thighs the loose cotton skirt of my dress tangled around my legs bunches higher with my movement—moved higher yet again with the warm palm now skating up my leg.

My fingers stop tracing patches of light across his skin to slide lower with a definite purpose to the buckle of his belt. Deft finger skills make quick work of the clasp on Daryl's jeans, sliding the silver metallic buckle free in mere moments before popping the top button loose. Meanwhile Daryl's hand is still moving over my skin, traces up and over the edge of my thigh sliding higher with no barriers to stop him. Daryl's wrist and forearm continually gathers the soft thin material as he moves; hiking it higher. His movements slowly pushing the soft floral skirt up so it's no longer offering me any modesty; not that I'm worried about that in the slightest once his palm presses to my lower back and his fingertip is tracing shiver-inducing spiraling circles up the line of my spine.

I return the favor pulling the soft well-worn sides of his jeans open forcing the zipper down with the same motion before tracing my fingertips over the firm skin newly exposed to my exploration.

I shift, sitting up and sliding the leg that was already draped over his thighs to the other side of his waist. The hammock swings gently when I move. Daryl's fingertips encircle my waist, grasping the pale blue cotton skirt gathered around my waist—pinning it against my skin keeping it out of our way and securing me to his lap so I don't tip out onto the forest floor with the continued swaying motion of our makeshift bed. I slide one hand up his length watching him react drawing in a sharp breath hissing breath. When I brush the pad of my thumb over his tip circling the satiny soft edge of skin his eyes darken and his jaw clench in response. He sucks in a ragged breath watching me and holding very still. His fingers tighten against my waist when I rise over him oriented my hips to align our positions.

He waits beneath me oddly hesitant while I move; maybe afraid to pitch us both onto the floor if he joins in. The only discernable movement for a moment his thumbs drawing tiny circles against my sides where the cotton no longer separates him from my skin. One of his hands comes up to brace my shoulder when I have to lean my arm against his chest for support my other hand occupied drawing his heavy twitching length against my folds.

My fingers dig into his shoulder pressed tight to the tensing muscle under my hand as I slowly sink down over him taking him in one breath-halting, heat clenching movement. I glide over him without resistance, loving the aching burn as he stretches me. My center tingling and seizing around his intrusion as I take him all the way past my folds; bury his pulsing length as deep as he can go.

I have to pause for a brief moment to catch my breath lost in the delicious deep burn of his presence. My eyes slip shut so I can focus on breathing through the already intense waves of desire tickling through my belly threatening the slim grip on my control. My brain already half-lost warring with the intoxicating sensations licking up my spine, the delicious burn of tightly stretched muscles locked around his pulsing girth—that somehow seems to expand even further with him buried inside me, filling me impossibly; almost to the point of pain.

I don't even know how I'm going to move without shattering instantly; tumbling right over the edge into blissful release when just him throbbing and pulsing with every heartbeat has me gasping in reaction clenching impossibly tighter and tighter in my own rhythmically fluttering dance of pleasure. It helps that my movements need to be slow; careful and controlled. I groan; teeth dragged over my lower lip fighting to hold out at least a few brief moments, when I move over him finally. My grip tightens anchoring my position while I draw myself against him with languid deep and steady strokes, burying him to the hilt with each press of my hips with damn near exaggerated slowness causing us both to groan ever mindful I don't tip too far rocking myself right over the shallow edge of our make-shift bed.

Daryl's grip tightens almost painfully against my skin, one hand sliding around my lower back hauling me down so each new glide of my hips builds a delicious friction in the perfect place.

I continue to rock my hips with the same shallow rolling motions gasping with each echoing flutter of heat tickling up my spine and spiraling low in my belly—expanding their intensity while Daryl shifts beneath me. He curls his back tilting his hips towards me so my next grinding thrust sends sparks of intense light and liquid fire through my insides, the sensations flashing through me, leaping behind my eyes damn near blinding before racing in a firestorm of need down my spine to reform in the pit of my stomach, tightening my belly with spiraling washes of need all arcing out from the pearl of nerves I'm hitting perfectly in our new position with my ever strengthening thrusts.

"Careful," Daryl reminds me, fingers cupping the back of my neck when the hammock sways to the point of almost tipping me out. He winds his arm around my back pulling me tighter against his chest so I'm pressed tight to his skin trapped flush over him. Just enough space now so my hips rise and fall against him in barely retreating thrusts. I roll my hips arching my spine to grind against him in a little circular gesture following each downward thrust drawing a tight hiss of breath from his chest and a countering convulsion from his body his heavy erection still encased to the hilt in my trembling heat swells jerking in response pulling a breathless whimper from my lips barely audible with my face pressed tight against the warm skin of his neck.

Daryl's fingers slide against my hair, lift me from his skin so our breath mingles, his soft growl of pleasure while his teeth drag over my bottom lip sends another sweet rush of pleasure sweeping down my spine, swirling and fluttering in my belly dancing and tangling with too many other sensations to name.

Daryl's lips slide over mine greedily, robbing me of what little air was left in my lungs. His kisses swallowing up the low breathless moan that works its way out of my throat as the first achingly sweet waves of release break in my center. They start low in my belly spiraling out through my veins liquefying every muscle and nerve ending along their path. Each sweet wash of intoxicating ecstasy leaves me trembling and shuddering harder than the last, spasming in an erratic helpless rhythm around his thrusts.

I break the kiss to press my face to the side of his neck once more; fighting desperately to draw air into my burning lungs while his bruising tight grip my hips increases only heightening my pleasure.

Daryl takes over my frantic movements; continuing my almost lost cadence with the aid of his hands sliding me over him, grinding into me with just the right pressure. He keeps pace while I'm lost in the pleasure skittering up my spine, drowning in the slow gentle fluttering waves crashing through me. The continued heat and friction of his movements inside me prolong each surge, ensuring every expanding ripple of bliss pushes me higher and higher.

I gasp and shudder against him while his perfect length of satin smooth skin covering impossibly hard steel throbs and twitches inside me dragging each wave of orgasm out longer then should be possible. He fills me in a persistent heavenly rhythm until my chest aches with breathlessness and my fingers tremble and my toes curl and his grip tightens unable to hold back any longer.

I cry out thrashing hard, almost spilling us onto the ground as his whole body tenses. His hips jerk roughly against me nearly tipping the hammock again his last stabbing thrust into my still trembling heat bringing about his own release with a gratified low moan of my name. Daryl's fingers dig into my skin where he's clutching tightly to my back holding me close; his hot breath tickling against the side of my neck where his lips press a series of hot open mouthed kisses causing me to shudder, clenching tighter around him.

His palms glide over the muscles of my back keeping me pressed tight to his chest while he catches his breath and the last flutters of my orgasm tickle through my belly pulsing with every answering throb of his rock hard cock still pressed tight against my womb. I sigh cheek pressed against his chest once more breathing in the scent of his skin while my fingers trace the edge of his shoulder, following the line of his collar with the pad of my forefinger waiting for my heartbeat to slow and my breathing to return to normal.

I sit up slowly, palms pressed to his chest feeling his heartbeat under my palm still pounding too fast. I clench my muscles around him making him twitch and groan fingers digging into my hips in response. I slide off of him carefully, getting one not-so-sturdy leg underneath me then the other smoothing my hopelessly rumpled cotton dress down my legs as I stand.

We need to break camp while it's still early; it won't be long before the heat of the day slows our pace even with the tree cover blocking most of the hot sun.

Daryl stands behind me, keeping his pants around his hips with one hand. I twist back towards him when he says me name let my eyes slip shut when his mouth tackles mine, his fingertips capturing my chin holding me in place, one palm braced against the small of my back pinning me to his chest when my knees wobble. I sigh against his lips when he pulls back hand still keeping me pressed flush with his skin.

"Think we should go for a swim,"

I stare up at him feeling his hand glide up my back over the dresses zipper, his hand draws back down with a soft sound and then a suspicious rush of fresh air against my spine makes me shiver. Daryl's fingertips leave my chin trailing over my collarbone to catch on the thin strap of cotton laying there, shoving it down my shoulder and off my arm with one sweeping movement. His other hand trails over my skin mirroring the same action with the second strap; sending the garment to pile around my feet without their support.

The cool brush of morning air against my bare skin instantly forgotten the moment I push up onto my toes giving me better leverage to wrap my arms around his neck so I can seal my lips to his. Daryl's arms wrap around my back lifting me up to drape my legs around his waist. The sound of his buckle clinking metal on metal as his pants slide down his legs without his grasp has me grinning against his lips.

Looks like we won't be making it far today after all.

:: Walking Dead ::

Hours later I'm sitting cross-legged on the blanket spread out once more beside the fire pit watching Daryl squirm across from me. He gives me a pleading look I disregard, crossing my arms firmly over my chest and shaking my head at his attempt to shirk his duty.

"You promised." I remind him. "If you don't tell him something he's going to get upset." I'm not going to tell Rick anything: Daryl lost our bet…even if the odds were completely stacked in my favor rather unfairly. He wasn't complaining at the time. And even if he hadn't lost I'd still have found a way to make sure he was the one 'phoning home' not just because I'm nervous about talking to Rick after taking Carl…I'm also interested to see what excuse he comes up with for our complete lack of progress on the home front.

Daryl raises his hand to his face, the little burst of static before he speaks asking Rick if he's there makes my stomach knot with an absurd rush of nerves.

"Yeah I'm here." Rick answers a few moments later. "You at the highway?"

I quirk my brow at him waiting for his explanation since it's now well past noon and we're still clearly at the lake, nowhere near the highway in question.

"We, uh," Daryl pauses eyeing me for a moment cheeks flushing, "…got distracted," he finishes not meeting my gaze. I can hear Rick or someone else with him snicker on the other end making me flush as well.

"After two months apart I could see that…" I swear I can hear him grinning even through the little black box. "You make it five feet today?" Rick jokes.

"Shudup." Daryl snarls back but there's no heat behind the words. "Got 'bout ten feet." He adds only half-joking and setting Rick off again laughing so riotously probably imagining our discomfort at such a public conversation that he doesn't speak for damn near a minute before responding. "Alright, alright well when you do find the highway…it's this big black stretch of tar miles long…in case you forgot. You give me a call."

Daryl grumbles something that makes Rick laugh harder and tosses the walkie down onto his pack after shutting it off while I busy myself turn the sticks holding our lunch next to the heat of the flames so that it cooks evenly. The breeze shifts suddenly sending a thick hot ember laden cloud of smoke and scent of the rabbit roast into my face. I turn my head away shielding my eyes and coughing, then lurch up to my feet just as fast feeling my stomach twist ominously behind my ribs. I'm not sure I can race to the edge of camp before I get sick; no time to move farther away or hide my reaction from him.

Daryl's right behind me when I stop his crossbow in hand on full alert misunderstanding my sudden flight. Though I imagine he figures it out pretty quick.

I choke and cough repeatedly my own stomach fighting me for all it's worth while I'm bent double eyes watering with my palm pressed against the rough bark of a tree for support. The warm weight of Daryl's palm presses against my back a moment later, remains there even after I try to wave him away with my free hand. Luckily nothing comes up; I haven't had that much to eat yet today.

"You alright?"

I gasp nodding slowly, not completely sure I won't be sick with my mouth still watering like it is and my stomach twisting. "Yeah, just got a face full of smoke." I try to reassure him straightening back up timidly.

"Sure?" He doesn't look convinced, shifts his crossbow to his shoulder by the strap holding his other hand out to me like he needs to help me walk ten feet back to the blanket. I shake my head at him, moving back on my own not wanting to feed his fears. I sit down once more grabbing the water we boiled last night before going to sleep and taking a few careful sips testing my stomach's resolve.

"You getting sick?" He persists, sounding worried. Hell he looks worried. I'm reminded suddenly of a few of the horror stories they told me from back at the prison…how quickly people got sick, how most of them died. I shake my head, waving one hand before my face slowly drinking more water.

"I'm fine. I just breathed in too much smoke." I think… I hope. I frown at the small possibility still wriggling around against my conscious in the back of my mind. I took a damn test. What the Hell is my stomach's problem lately? I can't be pregnant already, and even if I was it certainly wouldn't make me sick in two days. I'm probably just dehydrated.

Daryl's hand comes up and I watch him pull a bit of dried grass from the back of my head where it was obviously tangled up in my braid from our liaison on the bank earlier. Turns out actually doing the full deed in water, at least with Daryl's impressive size, is damn near impossible… so we got a little muddy not letting that stop us…

I raise my hand sweeping searching fingers over my head checking for anymore missed debris. "You sure you're alright?" Daryl probes again and I nod waving him back to his previous position.

"Yeah, probably a little dehydrated, low on blood sugar…" I rattle off a few more possibilities hoping to alleviate his fears.

"We eat and get out of here we can get to the highway before it gets too late, if you're getting sick I'd rather it be at home where we have medicine."

I nod it's not worth arguing when he's obviously worried over my previous display. Might as well get this over with, I guess we've both stalled long enough.

:: Walking Dead ::