Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Twilight and the Walking Dead. Those rights are reserved for Stephanie Myer and Robert Kirkman. I do own the original characters created for this storyline. Please support the official release.

Writer's Notes: Thank you everyone for your reviews! I love adding backstory. There will be a lot of that throughout the story. Hope everyone is having a great Thursday. There will be multiple updates today so hang on tight! As always I appreciate all of you! Don't forget to follow favorite and review!

[Virginia]

The group was tired. They were walking on foot now. Hours of driving left them with no gas to continue further. There were no cars it seemed. So they walked. Bella took the baby from Rick. They had named her Judith. A sweet name. She positioned her in the baby carrier and Judith fell asleep as they walked.

It was hot in Virginia but it wasn't as hot as Georgia.

Bella hadn't spoken since her nightmare back in South Carolina. She just nodded and went along with whatever Rick decided as a group.

Daryl was worried about her. But he didn't want to pressure her. She would talk when she was ready. It was clear that she was working through PTSD or something.

There were out of water too now which was a big concern.

After walking for an hour, Judith stirred and was hungry so Beth took her and fed her a bottle while they rested.

Bella looked around, taking to the woods to look for a stream. They needed water. She heard Daryl's footsteps behind her but she didn't turn to say anything. They spotted a barn up ahead. Thunder sounded in the sky and Bella froze.

Daryl frowned and looked at her, the look of terror on her face. "Bella? What's wrong?

"We have to get everyone inside soon. That storm doesn't look friendly." Bella tried to shake the panic feeling in her chest. The anxiety that came with the memory of her son, Gage.

Daryl nodded. "Alright. But you're spooked. Something is going on."

"I just need to get the kids in the barn. They have to be safe Dixon. Get them in the barn. The barn." Bella felt the panic set in and she tried to catch her breath.

Daryl tried calming her. His hands gentle on her arms but she was gone now. Her mind playing tricks on her. She pushed away from him. Her bow drawn her chest heaving with sobs. Daryl put his hands up. "Bella. It's just me. It's Daryl. Daryl Dixon."

Bella sobbed some more fighting her blurry tears. Her hands shook but she blinked the tears away. She saw Daryl standing in front of her. She saw the walker coming in close and she shifted her aim a little to the right and shot the walker.

Daryl didn't even flinch. He heard the walker behind him but he knew he had time. He went to Bella taking the bow from her hands. Thunder sounded overhead again and Bella flinched again. "It's the thunder." He murmured. That is what triggered her. "Bella you're not in a warzone. You're here in Virginia with me."

Bella knew where she was she shook through the terror that had gripped her and took in some deeper breaths. "I know. I know where I am." She said shutting her eyes mostly to stop any tears from escaping.

Daryl walked towards her, his hands finding her arms and he ran his hands over her arms to calm her. "Its okay. We're okay. Let's get the others in the barn. Together."

Bella opened her eyes and looked back at Daryl. His kind blue eyes stared back at her. "Okay."

Daryl studied her moment, fighting himself to kiss Bella. He nodded and then he picked up his crossbow and they headed back to the others.

Rick didn't like the way the clouds looked. It reminded him of tornadoes back in Georgia. He looked up at Daryl and Bella when they walked back up out of the woods.

"There's a barn. We can get everyone inside to shelter from the storm. " Daryl said and the thunder clapped again. He reached a hand out to put on Bella's arm to remind her that she wasn't wherever the thunder took her.

Rick nodded and whistled. "We're moving to the barn Bella and Daryl found." He announced. Everyone started moving, following Daryl and Bella into the woods and to the barn. They walked in right as the rain started pouring.

Thunder shook the barn as lightning stuck something nearby.

Bella closed her eyes and flinched. Merle took notice and went to her, standing in front of her now. "Not a fan of storms?"

Bella opened her eyes and looked up at Merle. She just nodded and then looked around the barn. Everyone was settling in as the rain fell. She moved away from Merle going to check on the kids. Her nervousness wasn't because of war. She needed to make sure the kids were okay.

Daryl studied her, seeing how timid she had become. Her entire demeanor changed since South Carolina. Like she was a shell right now. That nightmare really did something to her and now with the thunder. He didn't know what happened to her in the past but he knew that it deeply affected her.

Rick walked over, standing next to Daryl. "Something is wrong with her. Isn't there." He said lowly, and nodded in Bella's direction.

Daryl shook his head. "I don't know. Why do you think I know?"

Rick raised a brow. "Aren't you two a thing?"

Daryl swallowed and looked back at Bella. "No. We're not. We hunt together. I noticed the thunder scares her is all."

Rick frowned. "You mean this whole time I've been thinking you two are…"

Daryl sighed. "We're not anything Rick. We're just friends. Or whatever. She's fine." He lied. He knew she wasn't okay.

Rick just nodded and looked towards the door of the barn when the lightning flashed in the sky. It was darker outside now, the storm was swallowing them up. So it made it hard to see outside but when the lightning flashed again it illuminated a herd of walkers coming their direction.

Bella saw it right when Rick did and they both moved fast going to the opening and pulled the doors shut just in time as the herd slammed into the doors. Rick and Bella pushed against it with everything they had. The others started piling against the door now too, holding it while the walkers slammed into the door going only in one direction.

Bella turned, her back against the door as she pressed. Daryl was pressed against her now when she turned she turned into him. His hands were pushing the door above her head. They looked at each other, the thunder sounding made Bella flinch again forcing her to shut her eyes.

Memories of Gage dying filled her. It replayed in her head, Edward shooting Gage in the head and his little body falling to the ground.

"Bella." Daryl said her name lowly. He saw her slipping back into her own headspace.

Bella opened her eyes and looked at Daryl when he said her name. The door bounced a little as the walkers continued to come. The rain came down harder and the barn shook. "Daryl…"

The most horrible noise sounded. It was like a train running towards them. This was it. This is how they all died, Bella thought to herself. A tornado. Not a walker. A tornado.

After a few moments of horrifying sounds outside, a mixture of the walkers and the snapping of trees around them it stopped.

The wind, the rain, the walkers. Everyone was quiet as they moved away from the door. Bella stayed as she was and so did Daryl. They were panting from exertion with holding the door. Daryl didn't take his eyes from hers. They watched each other in a shared relief that a tornado didn't take them all out.

"The storm is moving on. Get rest." Rick said and then patted Daryl's back, breaking him out of his trance with Bella.

Bella felt shaky still and wasn't ready to move from the door. She didn't trust her legs right now.

Daryl moved one hand off the door and moved it to her face. His hand trembled a little as he caressed her face. "Its okay." He murmured. "Its me."

Bella knew that Daryl thought that she disappeared every time the thunder came and she knew that he thought it was PTSD from her being in the middle east. She nodded. "I know Dixon." She said and he dropped his hand. He leaned away from her giving her some breathing room. He turned and walked away. He had to or he would have kissed her.

Bella steadied herself before she pushed away from the door. She found a section in the barn that had a door that opened. This was an old horse barn so it was a tack room. She shut herself inside and she cried. Her shoulders shook as she did. The pain in her chest wasn't going away. She felt nauseated and she found a feed bucket and she threw up. She cried more wiping her mouth.

Everyone was settling down trying to rest. Abraham was poking around the barn since he couldn't sleep and he found the tack room Bella had gone into. He frowned when he heard soft crying. He opened the door to look inside, seeing Bella. He walked inside, closing the door behind him. "Bella?"

Bella wiped her face and looked up at Abraham. "Oh. Um. Sorry. I just."

"Its been a long day. You're tired." Abraham said. "I was just looking around the barn. Seeing if there was something we could use on the road."

Bella got to her feet. "Um. Yeah. That's a good idea. I didn't think about that." She said and looked around the small room.

Abraham put his hand on her shoulder. "If you need more time…."

Bella looked at Abraham. His eyes were a light blue color. He seemed concerned. She didn't know him that well but he was pretty strong and in the time they traveled together and learned that he had a temper sometimes. She could relate. "No. I had a moment. I'm good Sergeant." She said with a nod.

Abraham smiled a little. "Rodger that Master Sergeant." He said and they paused, looking at each other briefly.

Bella didn't know who moved first but they were kissing each other and quickly pulling at their pants. She felt his cock slide into her fast and hard. She clung to him tight so she wouldn't lose her balance. She was significantly shorter than he was. They were quiet so they wouldn't disturb the others. Abraham thrusted faster and faster as he neared a quick end. That was the point of this. For it to be fast. Abraham only groaned slightly as he slid from her, his cock erupting its hot liquid. He waited a moment before he let her down on the ground.

They quietly pulled their pants on. Abraham looked over at her as she smoothed her hair back. "You're, okay?"

Bella nodded. "Yeah. I'm good." She said and then moved past Abraham before leaving the tack room. She had to pull herself together. The storm was over. She needed to rest. She found a spot, taking her pack and using it as a pillow, she lay down in the hay. She closed her eyes and sleep found her.

"This is your fault." Edwards voice rang in her head, haunting her with the last words she heard him say before her son fell before her eyes.

Gage appeared then. "Mommy. I'm scared."

"Gage, honey, it's okay. Mommy is here." Bella sniffed, reaching for her son. He was yanked back, the grip of Edward pulling him back.

"Nooooo! Let him go he's just a boy!" Bella sobbed.

Edwards menacing green stare was void of emotion as he raised the gun to Gage's head. The cool metal of the muzzle pressed into his temple. "This is your fault." He said and pulled the trigger, unflinchingly.

Bella cried out again her body unable to move.

Daryl heard Bella groaning in her sleep a little. Morning was here and Rick and Glenn went out with a few of the others to survey the damage outside. He went to her, going to her side and gently laying his hands on her shoulders and shaking her. "Bella." He called her name and she whimpered a little.

"Gage!" Bella suddenly gasped and she shot up.

"Easy." Daryl said his hands firm now. "It was a dream."

Bella blinked, looking at Daryl. His grey-blue eyes were concerned. She had another nightmare about Gage. Her son. "Sorry." She said and reached a hand up and wiped the tears that had ran down her face in her sleep. She looked away from Daryl and then got to her feet with his help. "Where are the others?" she asked when she noticed them gone.

"Outside. The tornado tore apart the herd that was coming through and several trees. But the barn is good." Daryl relayed.

Bella nodded. "Alright. Well it's a new day. I'll go look for water. The rain likely created a stream somewhere or there's one nearby. This is an old horse barn."

"I'll go with. " Daryl said and bent and retrieved her pack and handed it to her.

Bella wanted to tell him she rather go alone but she just nodded and she walked towards the entrance and opened the door slightly. Rick, Glenn, Michonne, Merle and Abraham were all killing the walkers that were trapped.

Rick looked up at Daryl and Bella when they walked up. "Hey. Get enough rest?"

Bella nodded. "Yeah. I'm going to go looking for that stream. Fill up some water. Maybe find food too. We still have jerky but a hot meal will do everyone some good."

Rick nodded and looked at Daryl. "Go with her. Stick together."

"Planned on going anyways." Daryl said and then patted Bella on the back and they started moving, leaving the barn area and going off.

After a few moments of silence Daryl spoke. "Was Gage in your battalion?"

Bella didn't look at Daryl. She kept walking her chest squeezing a little. She must have said his name in her sleep.

When she didn't say anything he sighed. He didn't want to push her hard but he wanted to help her confront what was haunting her. "You cared about him a lot. I don't have experience being a shrink but-"

"He wasn't in the battalion with me." Bella cut him off.

Daryl nodded but kept following her. "Someone you loved then."

Bella stopped walking and turned and looked at Daryl. "I'm fine. You don't have to do this."

"Bella you have PTSD. I just want to help and know what your triggers are so I can be better prepared." Daryl said gently.

Bella shook her head and felt the tears, she didn't stop them this time and just let them fall.

Daryl didn't mean to make her cry so he stepped towards her reaching his hand out to comfort her but she moved away.

"Stop." Bella's voice quivered.

Daryl could see how much pain she was in. "Bella… I know losing someone is painful. I've lost people. This guy, he'll always be apart of you. I want to say it gets easier with time but-"

"Gage, isn't a guy. Daryl… he was my son." Bella said the words out loud for the first time. Her son.

Daryl felt his heart sink. The pain was more than he realized and he didn't want her in pain. "Oh no. Bella…"

Bella shook her head and wiped at her face. "He was seven when he was killed."

"Walkers."

"No. Edward. He uhm. He shot him in the head when I tried to fight back." Bella said and her chest heaved a little.

Daryl went to her, his arms circling her to bring her into his embrace and this time she let him. She sobbed in his arms, her legs buckling a little but he held on to her. He let her cry. She needed this more than anything right now and he let her.

After a few moments she pulled away, wiping at her reddened eyes.

"Thanks." Bella said and turned. "Um. Don't… don't say anything to the others. I'll get better. The nightmares don't last long."

Daryl nodded and then saw the movement of some wild ducks. He raised his crossbow at the same time she raised her bow and they both shot, their arrows hitting two of the ducks that were crossing through.

They went to retrieve their kills and arrows before they went up an incline and saw the creek. It was flowing steadily and it brought relief to both of them.

They went down to the bank and started filling water containers. They would boil it back at the barn while they cooked the duck. Bella realized there were fish in the creek.

"There's fish in this creek. This creek goes to a larger body of water somewhere. A lake or large pond." Bella said and looked over at Daryl. They were close together at the creek. Their shoulders brushing one another.

Daryl looked back at her, seeing her for her. Bella was truly amazing. Her instincts, her ability to survive and she was beautiful. Probably the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He raised a hand, cupping her cheek, his thumb rubbing over her cheekbone. He leaned in, his body reacting before he could think and he kissed her. It was a soft kiss. A delicate one that created a lot of passion with just the slight brushing of their lips.

Bella felt the heat rise in her, but she leaned back, biting her lip a little, a nervous tic she's always had.

Daryl smiled a little when he saw her cheeks tint a little. He felt a different kind of feeling stir inside him but he ignored it for now. "Lets get this to the others. I'll make a net when we get back so we can scoop the fish. We can make a temporary camp in the barn until we figure out where we're going."

Bella just nodded, swallowing a little. "Yeah." She agreed and they left the creek and headed back to the barn. She was silent as she thought about the kiss with Daryl. For some reason it meant more than it should have.