Hey good-lookin' country gal
Hey pretty mama, let the good times roll
'Cause this ole bird dog's rarin' to go
Now when it comes to farmin', a-foolin' around
Let's strike a match and burn the barn down

The four of them came back with big grins. Carl had actually had the biggest kill of the day. Deer was still rare enough to be a good change from squirrel and rabbit, so they were excited to show him how to clean the kill; Carl couldn't wait to get home and tell everyone.

"I like that we have a place to call home," he told Macyn as he walked beside her.

"Yeah?" she returned. "Well, I like that you guys are part of my home."

"I always wanted a sister. Guess I kind of have one now."

With that, he ran ahead to the house. Daryl just chuckled, and Rick looked slightly mortified.

"Does that make you kind of like my dad?" Macyn teased Rick.

"I guess so," Rick finally laughed.

Carl reach the house first. His yells from up ahead changed their jovial mood; it put the three adults on immediate alert. They ran ahead, dropping the deer meat on the porch.

What they saw was a bloody mess just at the door of the shelter. Three zombies were sprawled across the floor, their skulls bashed in and their bodies entirely lifeless. Not far away, Dale was on the floor, the entire contents of his abdomen spilled out onto the floor. His eyes conveyed fear but stared out into nothingness. Macyn stepped forward from behind Daryl and Rick to see T-Dawg on the steps, blood pouring from his neck.

"Tried to save him, but they caught us off guard," T-Dawg told her as he reached out for her hand. "Wasn't ready fast enough. Guess I deserve what I got for that."

Macyn shook her head and tried not to cry too hard. "I'm sure you did what you could."

Everyone gathered around T-Dawg, doing their best to make him comfortable; death was inevitable. Even with a trained surgeon around, it was too late. There was no way Macyn could save him.

When the walkers were burned, and T-Dawg and Dale were safely buried behind the house, they all sat down at the table. No one was in the mood to eat; even Merle seemed to be affected by the deaths in their little family.

"What happened?" Macyn finally asked.

"Dale was going out to get some fresh air. T-Dawg realized he didn't have a gun or anything, so he picked one up and went after Dale. They must have come into the house because we heard Dale screaming almost as soon as the door opened," Carol informed them.

"Andrea and I killed the walkers, but they had already gutted Dale and bit T-Dawg," Glenn added.

Macyn wiped a quiet tear. "It isn't fair. I just got a good family. Ain't right to have some of 'em taken away already."

Lori put an arm around the younger girl. "We all feel that way. It's been a long day, and we should get some rest."

Andrea and Carol cleared the table and cleaned up the kitchen while the Grimes family retreated to their room. Merle was even somber and quiet and disappeared without saying much of anything.

"I'm going to keep a watch tonight," Macyn announced, changing into a fresh shirt and jeans. "Somebody should, especially after today."

Daryl shook his head. "No. Rick said we all stay in tonight – we need to just have some downtime."

"And what," Macyn snapped back. "Open the door tomorrow to a house full of walkers? Let someone else get killed? Not while I'm around. Rick isn't in charge here."

"He hasn't steered us wrong yet. He's sure as hell looked out for you."

Macyn closed the bedroom door and leaned her forehead against it. "I'm sad, Daryl. I'm not used to being able to feel sad without being punished for it."

Daryl pressed his lips into a thin line and quietly approached her. He took her hand and turned her to face him; Macyn's back was against the door. Daryl reached up and wiped the tears from her cheeks and pushed her hair behind her ear.

"You don't have to hide that from me," he promised her. "Don't ever have to hide anything from me." He leaned down and kissed her softly, almost hesitantly. "I'll never hurt you for feeling the way you feel. I promise."

"I know," she whispered, working her fingers into his hair and kissing him again. "I promise I'll never leave you."

Daryl gave a slight nod before slipping his hands down her sides. He got a good hold on her legs and lifted her off the ground; Macyn wrapped her legs around his middle and tugged slightly on his hair.

"We don't have to do this," Daryl told her, thinking of what Willy had put her through just weeks before.

"Daryl, don't ruin this. Just let it happen."

He smiled, pulled her away from the door and walked them carefully over to the bed. He set her on the edge of the bed and kissed her forehead, her nose, her cheeks, and finally her lips. Macyn's hands came up to his face, keeping his lips at hers.

"Promise me that you'll stay safe, for me. And for Merle," she added. "I don't think either of us know how to live without you."

"Merle'd be the one I would worry about," Daryl said, sitting beside her. "You lived a long time without me, and you'd live a long time after me. Merle though – he'd really lose it."

Macyn shook her head. "I wouldn't let him."

Daryl's heart surged. She cared about Merle because he cared about Merle, despite everything Merle had done to her, and that meant the world to him. He kissed her again, pushing her back against the bed. She quickly undid the buttons on his shirt and pushed it off of his shoulders. He stood long enough for the both of them to kick off their socks and boots, then crawled back over her on the bed.

Daryl helped Macyn pull her shirt over her head. Scars from years of beatings and abuse immediately came into view. Daryl slowly ran his hand over each one, from her shoulders, over her ribs, across her abdomen, and final rested on the scar just between her hips – the one that was too precisely straight to have come from some type of injury. He had a good idea where it came from, but he didn't know what to say.

Macyn's hand floated down to cover his. "Not too long after Willy and I started dating, I found out I was pregnant. I was six months along when we got engaged. Then, he flipped. He wasn't the same guy I fell in love with and was looking forward to having a family with. I was not quite eight months along when he beat me so bad, it sent me into early labor. They ended up having to take the baby by c-section, but it was stillborn."

His eyes met her tearful ones, and he left the scar alone to wipe away the tears. "I'm sorry, Macyn."

She shook her head and wiped her tears. "It doesn't matter anymore. As much as I wanted that baby, even after Willy flipped, I would never put a child through the life that I had. No baby deserves that."

Daryl lowered himself down to his elbows, pushed her hair away from her face and kissed both of her cheeks before kissing her lips. "I promise to always be good to you."

"I know."

With that, she claimed his lips again, sitting up just enough so she could reach around and unclasp the hook on her bra. The garment fell away, and Daryl took in the sight before carefully massaging one breast and then the other. Macyn's body arched underneath him, and her breath came in quick gasps – none so sharp as when he moved his mouth to her breasts.

Overcome with amazing sensations, Macyn pushed him up and against the nearby wall. She kissed him passionately, undoing the button and fly on his pants before pushing her hand into them and seeking out his most intimate place. Her hand stroked at him, and Daryl could barely contain himself.

He picked her up and carried her back to the bed, shoving his pants away from his legs. He quickly pulled hers away, and finally she was there, naked in front of him. He kissed her sweetly before leaving her mouth to kiss along her jaw, down her through, between her breasts and over her abdomen, until his mouth began to play between her thighs.

Macyn tried to keep herself quiet, but what Daryl was doing was something that made silence nearly impossible. She begged him not to tease her any longer, and he obliged her. Carefully and slowly, Daryl pushed himself into Macyn.

She wrapped her arms and legs around him, and Daryl held her as close as he could. He warned her that this wouldn't last long, but Macyn didn't mind. She was already on the edge of ecstasy.

It took just a few more minutes; they finished within seconds of each other. When it was over, Macyn rolled over searching for her clothes.

"Hey," Daryl beckoned, pulled her naked body against his. "What are you doing?"

Macyn shrugged. "Guess I'm used to just getting it done with and having that be that."

"Not with me," Daryl smiled. "We'll stay close until you're ready to turn away."

"What if I'm never ready?"

"Then I guess we'll just stay here forever."

.&.

Macyn woke the next morning to a pounding on the bedroom door. She quickly clothed herself before tossing Daryl his clothes. She cracked the door to see an angry Merle on the other side.

"What is it, Merle?"

"I'm here to see my brother."

"He'll be out in a minute, he's getting dressed."

"Ain't got nothin' I haven't seen before," Merle mumbled before pushing his way past her and into the room. Macyn glared but slipped out to join the others for breakfast.

"Thought the two of you were on good terms," Daryl mentioned as he quickly pulled his pants on to his legs and fastened the button.

Merle shook his head. "We're not safe here, brother."

Daryl frowned. "The hell we ain't. Safest we've been since the shit hit the fan."

"You saw what happened yesterday," Merle corrected. "Both them men were here, in this house. They still died."

"That was a fluke," Daryl told him, quickly fastening the buttons on his shirt now.

"Was it? Because if you ask me it was Willy Slater sending a message from the afterlife."

"Since when did you get all supernatural? This shelter is the most safety and resources we're ever gonna find, Merle. Ain't no place that's one hundred percent safe. Not anymore."

"Back in that town, it is." Merle stopped Daryl from leaving the room. "I know, I might be crazy to go back after what I done. Thing is, they have more security there – they got walls and a twenty-four-seven watch."

Daryl eyed his brother suspiciously. "You don't want to die. You're scared. You were scared of Macyn takin' me away, and now I see you're scared of dying. For the big tough man you claim to be, Merle Dixon, you are the most scared bastard I've ever come across."

Daryl left the room to find Macyn in the hallway. He kissed her briefly, and she caught him by the hand.

"After breakfast, I want to take you somewhere. Please."

Daryl nodded. "Yeah, okay. You all right?"

"Yeah, fine."

Daryl promised after some breakfast, they would gear up and go wherever she wanted to go.

.&.

They rode Daryl's motorcycle to a house about ten miles from the shelter. He helped Macyn off the back of the bike, then climbed off himself. Macyn stood in front of the house, her own crossbow in hand. She hadn't been here a couple of months, but it hadn't changed too much. There was nothing left for walkers to forage, and even before the epidemic, it had looked too run down to loot anything from it. Only Macyn knew the treasures left inside.

"This is where I grew up," she told him as they walked through the front door. "I need to get some things from my mother's trunk. Just wanted you to see the place. It hasn't been a pretty house since before my mother died, but … I don't know."

"I get it," Daryl nodded. "Should have told me she had a trunk. We could've brought the truck or a car. Brought the whole thing back with us."

Macyn smirked. "Yeah, I guess I don't really have to hide it here anymore. I used to wait to go on runs while Willy was passed out drunk and come get stuff, like the rosary."

"How about you give me a tour, then we'll get what you need out of the trunk?" Daryl suggested.

Macyn agreed and continued to show him the different rooms. There were mostly bad memories in each and every room. Even Robbie's room held little more than thoughts of good days long past her.

Finally, they came to the small room that had been Macyn's mother's in her last days. The trunk was a hefty piece at the foot of the bed; Daryl sat on the bare mattress while Macyn produced a key to open the trunk.

"This is her," Macyn beamed, handing him a picture that was yellowed and dog-eared. "She was about my age there, actually. Robbie was already born, but I don't think they were pregnant with me yet."

Daryl looked over the picture with a smile. "She's beautiful. You look like her."

"Thanks," Macyn smiled, taking the picture back. She went through the remnants of the trunk. There wasn't a lot left in there, but it would be better to come back with a vehicle and bring it back to the shelter sooner rather than later.

At the bottom of the trunk, was the small, black velvet box that Macyn was looking for. She quickly stuffed it into her pack before slinging it back on her shoulders and hurrying for the door.

"We should get going."

"Wait," Daryl said, catching her hand. "What's in that box?"

Macyn shook her head. "Nothing. Let's just go."

"No, now wait. I thought we weren't keepin' secrets?"

"This is something that … it's not a secret, Daryl. I just … I don't want you to think that I – or that we – I mean, I don't know how you'll … react, I guess."

Daryl gave her a pointed look. "Come on, darlin'. Show me. I promise not to flip shit or anything."

Macyn let out a deep breath and retrieved the box from her pack. She opened it up to reveal a solid gold band and, to the right of that, a perfect wedding set.

"These were my parents' wedding rings. I've always left them here because I didn't know what Willy would do with them if he got a hold of 'em, but now that he's gone, I guess it's okay to bring them to the house."

"Now that he's gone, and now that you're with me?" Daryl asked. Macyn raised her brow at him. "It's all right, Macyn. I'd marry you, if I had the chance."

She grinned and kissed him for all she was worth. There was no way he could have known how he made her heart soar.