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: Happy Friday everyone! Thanks for all the reviews. I know there are some sad moments. Bella is growing as a person in this story. I hope everyone is enjoying so far. There's some crazy things happening soon. So hold on tight! As always I appreciate all of you! Don't forget to follow, favorite, and review!
Bella woke and shifted her legs, feeling legs against hers. She opened her eyes and looked over at Daryl. He was on his side faced away from her. The blanket was draped at his waist and she could see his back. There were terrible scars on his back and it made her frown. His body looked like it had been through some sort of abuse. She reached out and lightly brushed her fingers over a large scar, tracing it gently.
Daryl woke at her touch. The gentle caress of her fingers was barely felt because his back had lost sensation from repeated abuse but he felt her touch lightly. He turned, looking at her sad expression. "You okay?" he asked, his voice a little raspy from sleep.
Bella's dark eyes met his. "Your back.."
Daryl didn't like talking about it. But Bella had shared a dark history with him. He felt comfortable to talk to her about his. "My dad was an asshole."
Bella shifted in, getting closer, snuggling against his chest. His arms enveloped her and she felt his radiating warmth. She felt sorrow for the little boy Daryl used to be. She was quiet as she battled with the feelings inside her. She cared a lot about Daryl. She didn't know why she was forming this attachment. But she was and it scared her deeply.
"Merle got it worse. He tried to protect me too many times. My dad was a lousy father but he was also a drunk. My mom split when we were kids. Couldn't stand to be around the bastard anymore. But that was then. I don't let it affect me now." Daryl said and kissed the top of her head.
It still made Bella sad. She kissed Daryl's chest lightly before she tilted her head up to kiss him softly at first. It was supposed to be simple but it stirred them both. Her hands moved over his waist to his hardening cock and she stroked him.
Daryl smiled and turned with her, getting her on her back before he kissed her throat. His lips tickled her collarbone and then her breast before his mouth pulled one of her nipples into his mouth. She sighed pleasantly her hands tangling in his hair as he did so. His hands moved over her skin gently before one hand settled between her legs, his fingers delving into her like they had in the shower. Her hips moved against his hand and she moaned softly. His thumb worked tight circles over her clit fast. His mouth left her breast to travel lower, placing tender kisses along the way until his mouth replaced his thumb, his tongue flicking over her wet mound making her gasp.
This was another first for Bella as he pleasured her thoroughly. Getting her to rise until she was shuddering in the sheets, vibrating from an orgasm. Daryl drank her in before he slid back up, his hard, throbbing cock dripping with anticipation. He slid inside her and was instantly wrapped in her warmth, squeezing him from all sides. He thrust inside her deep, the tip of his cock hitting her core and she moaned a little, arching against him as she rode the pleasure, he delivered to her. Daryl laced his fingers with hers and pinned her arms above her head as he thrust, rocking into her deep and fast.
Bella felt like she was climbing the clouds as her body soaked in all the tingling pleasure.
Daryl pushed faster, racing himself to his own finish line. He kissed her, their tongues tangling together as he continued. Her legs came up around his waist, drawing him in deeper and he moaned against her lips. He felt his cock fill up, swelling tighter inside before he was erupting. He sank his hips against hers deep and she gasped and moaned. Daryl watched her face seeing the beautiful relaxation roll over her from another orgasm.
Daryl put his forehead against hers as he caught his breath some. His heart thudded in his chest, heavy from the emotion he was feeling right now. This was the moment he knew for sure that he loved her.
After a few moments he pulled out of her, sitting up. Bella got a full view of him now and she smiled up at him. She felt pure bliss. She was radiating from the pleasure and she didn't know why she denied herself this feeling for so long. Thoughts of Caius entered her head and the reason for her denial was clear. Her stepbrother made sex feel like a deed rather than an emotional experience. She never formed connections to people, at least romantically because of it. She's slept with plenty of men. None have ever made her orgasm and none ever made her feel like she was feeling right now.
"Little sister. This is how we're supposed to play. Pretend. I'm the daddy. You're the mommy. We can be a family. " Caius icy voice sounded in her head.
Bella was 17. She knew better. She wasn't a child anymore. She knew the difference. She wasn't so naïve like she was when she was twelve. "Caius. I'm not 12 anymore. Those games aren't games. It's your sick perversion."
Caius smiled. "Then they're not games. Little sister. We can just have fun."
Daryl saw her stuck in her thoughts so he reached down cupping her cheek. "Hey. You're disappearing on me."
Bella looked up at Daryl, his grey-blue eyes were soft, concerned… loving. Her chest constricted, a feeling of anxiety. How did it get this far? She sat up, drawing the sheets up to cover herself. "Um. I'm okay. We should get moving this morning. I've got to check on the boy and then our hunt."
Daryl watched her demeanor changed again. Her thoughts sent her into a different headspace. He nodded, sliding out of bed. He retrieved his clothes, pulling his pants on.
Bella got out of bed too, pulling pants on and her sports bra before they heard shouting outside. Daryl and Bella moved fast. Daryl had just pulled his shirt on but didn't button it and Bella didn't have a chance to put her shirt on.
They ran outside to a raging Pete and Rick trying to calm him down. Jessie was hugging her arms around her body. A bruise on her cheek and her lip cut. Her light auburn l brown hair was clipped back with a clip.
"She's a bitch. The whore should be allowed allowed within these walls." Pete spewed.
Bella appeared, Daryl too to confront Pete. "Look who's awake."
People were coming from their houses to see the commotion.
Abraham was shirtless as he emerged from the house, his dog tags clinking together as he stormed up to Pete and reached over Rick and nailed him in the face, busting his nose.
Pete fell to the ground howling in pain and Bella grabbed Abraham by the shoulder and pulled him back.
"You need to settle the fuck down!" Abraham bellowed at Pete ignoring Bella's hand on his arm.
"You broke my nose!"
"I'm about to break my foot in your ass. You don't get to talk about Bella that way." Abraham yelled back.
"Abe. It's fine." Bella said, her voice calm. When Abe continued she snapped. "Sergeant. Fall back. That's a fucking order." Her voice boomed with authority.
Abraham stopped and moved back as he was ordered. He was still steaming.
Bella looked up at Deanna and her son Aiden as they rushed up. Aiden was a pretty boy know it all. His dark hair matched his dark eyes and he was cleanly shaven.
"What the hell is going on?" Aiden said before his mother could speak.
"These people are barbarians. You should never have brought them in." Pete whined from the ground.
Jessie was silent but tears streamed down her face. Her husband was drunk. She knew that everyone else could see it.
Rick held a hand up. "This is a misunderstanding."
"He fucking broke my nose protecting that cunt." Pete cursed towards Abraham and Bella.
Daryl couldn't hold it in. "Say it one more fucking time and I'll break something else on your face." he said as he stepped forward but Rick stopped him.
"See! Barbaric!"
Aiden looked around the group. "This is how you treat people? With violence? This is our home. We opened our gates and-"
"Aiden. Shut up." Deanna said, cutting her son off. Sam came running up just then.
"Bella the boy is awake!"
Bella moved towards Sam and Aiden grabbed her arm and she looked at him. "You have five seconds to let go of my arm or you're going to regret touching me."
Deanna looked at Aiden. "Let her go." She said sternly and Aiden growled a little and let her go.
Bella followed Sam to the clinic house to check on the boy, leaving Rick to deal with Pete.
Carlisle was in the clinic with Maggie when Bella walked in. "Good. The boy is awake but he doesn't speak English. I don't know what he's speaking."
Bella nodded and moved into the room. The boy was sitting on the exam table. A defeated look on his face. She was surprised to see him sitting up. "Hey." She said softly. "I'm Bella I fixed your side." She said and motioned to his bandaged side.
"Kayf wasalat alaa huna?" (How did I get here?)
Bella blinked. "Earabi? Asmiun hu Bella." (Arabic? My name is Bella. )
The boy nodded. "I know. I speak English."
Bella blew out a breath. "Sam, he brought you here." She said and motioned to Sam.
The boy looked at Sam and then back to Bella. He just nodded.
"You're not Arabic though. Where did you learn the language?"
"My dad. He was in the Army." The boy said.
Bella nodded. "I was too." She said and took her dog tags off and handed them to the boy. The boy took them and looked at them. The boy had dark hair but his eyes were a light honey color. The 'w' on his head was bandaged but Bella knew it was there. He was slightly tanned but he had more asian features. "How old are you?"
"Eight. I think. My birthday hadn't happened yet before the dead started walking around." He said and handed Bella the dog tags.
Bella nodded. "What's your name?"
"Gabe. Short for Gabriel. Gabriel Hale." Gabe said.
Bella and Sam looked at each other before looking at Gabe. She saw it then. The resemblance. The picture she saw of him was when he was little. Just a toddler. But she saw it now. "Your dad is Jasper Hale?"
Gabe frowned. "You know my dad?"
Bella nodded. "Yes, I do. We were in the army rangers together."
"3rd Ranger Battalion?" Gabe asked.
Bella nodded and motioned to Sam. "Sam was too. We know your dad. Do you know where he is?"
Gabe nodded and tears came to his eyes. "They took him and Auntie Rose."
"Who took them?" Sam asked.
"They call themselves the Wolves." Gabe said and sniffed, choking on his tears a little.
Bella moved, reaching for Gabe and he went to her. She wrapped her arms around him. "Shhh. Hey. We're going to get your daddy back. And Auntie Rose. I promise okay. You can trust me and Sam. We will go find him. We'll bring him back."
Gabe cried as Bella held him. He clung to her feeling safe for the first time in a long time.
Deanna came to the clinic after settling Pete down. Rick and Daryl were with her. She wanted to see the boy and to talk to Bella.
Carlisle looked up as the three entered. "Hey, he's sleeping again. Bella got him to sleep."
Bella came down the stairs. She put him in a bed upstairs so he could rest easier. "He's okay. No fever. No internal bleeding. His name is Gabriel Felix Hale. He's 8. His dad is Sergeant Major Jasper Hale. I served in the 3rd Ranger Battalion with him. He's my friend I was coming to DC for." She explained to Rick and Daryl.
Deanna nodded. "What happened to him?"
"This group called the Wolves took him and his dad and aunt from DC. This group says they're saving people from the wrath of Satan or some bullshit like that. Gabe said that they shot him when he tried to escape to help his dad. They kept the kids separate from the others. He knows his dad is being kept somewhere near a big building. They're turning people into walkers and trapping them inside semi trailers."
Deanna covered her mouth. "That's horrible."
Bella nodded. "Yeah. The big building he's talking about looks like the back of a large grocery store or maybe a large retail."
"Martins." Deanna said. "It's a big grocery store nearby. Probably about three miles west. How did he get this far out?"
"He said the van they were in crashed in the forest. He managed to get out of the van and he started running. He said he saw water and followed the flow of the stream. He said his dad told him that following the water can lead you to help somewhere. He said he felt dizzy and lightheaded. But he kept going. He heard hammers and talking so he tried to go close but he passed out." Bella explained further.
Sam crossed his arms. "Jasper was our platoon commander. I'm going with Bella to get him back."
Rick spoke up now. "We'll organize a small group. We will go together."
Bella wanted to argue but Rick shot her a look. So she nodded and looked at Deanna. "Have Carlisle check on Pete's nose. I want Abraham with us and Tyrese." She said to Deanna and to Rick.
"I'll go too." Daryl said, wanting to help protect Bella.
Bella nodded. "Believe it or not Deanna. We're not the barbarians or the bad guys. The bruise on Jessie's face and Pete's behavior. He's the villain here. He's lucky all Abraham did was break his nose. We only retaliate. We do not start something. So either you understand that or you don't."
Deanna nodded. "I know. Safe travels." She said and she left.
Sam spoke. "Pete has been beating on Jessie for a long time. Everyone excuses it. Even I did. There are other monsters in the world I kept sayinbut… I should have stepped in. Protected Jessie. But he was also the only doctor. Which isn't an excuse but it is."
"He's not the only doctor anymore." Carlisle spoke. "I'll go reset his nose and have Olivia sit with Gabe." He said and left.
Bella looked at Rick. "This is going to be dangerous."
"So was Terminus but we got Merle and the others out. We'll go in with strategy." Rick said with a nod. "Lets go tell the others what's happening. Leave before we lose too much light since it's still early."
Bella agreed. They did get in and out of Terminus. She knew they could achieve many things working together. So she agreed for now.
Daryl was uneasy about it. Bella got shot at Terminus. Something worse could happen. But he stayed quiet. He knew what she was upset this morning. He thought everything was okay. But she disappeared into her head and came out scared of something. He was falling in love with her and he wanted to stop himself. But he also wanted to be happy for once in his life and she made him happy.