-Two-

Lake spit dirt from her mouth as she struggled against the weight bearing down on her. She sucked in a deep breath as the weight was lifted and replace with a tall shadow.

Rolling over onto her back, Lake shielded her eyes against the sun as the dirty redneck stared down at her with a smirk.

"What was that ya were sayin' about us rednecks?" Never had Lake wanted to punch someone more in her life. Groaning, she pulled herself to her feet and began dusting off what she could from her clothes.

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the man watching her. Gone was the threatening and questioning; only curiosity remained. He cleared his throat.

Lake threw up her arms, "Okay fine! Thanks for saving my ass." She scowled as he nodded but waited for her to continue. "No. I won't apologize for my redneck comment. I don't know you. For all I know, you are just as worthless as the men I grew up knowing. You saving my neck isn't going to change anything."

He didn't say a word as he walked over and pulled his arrow from the dead walker's forehead. He swung his crossbow over his shoulder and began walking in the direction of the prison.

Lake didn't know what to do. This guy already knew that she existed, what if he turned her in. She couldn't risk it.

"Hey!" She shouted. "Wait." Surprisingly, the man stopped but kept looking straight ahead. When she stood at his side, she looked up, "What now?" She asked, afraid of what the answer would be.

He looked down and shrugged. "You don't owe me nothin'. Do what ya wanna." He started to walk again but stopped when Lake grabbed his bicep. He watched her hand as if it was infected so she pulled back.

"You aren't going to tell them are you? I mean no harm, I swear."

"And your word su'pose to mean anythin' to me? I don't know ya. Could be some crazy axe murderin' bitch for all I know." His eyes were light, but his tone was as serious as the rest of him. Hard, cold, and dangerous.

Lake sighed and reached out a hand. "I'm Lakely Owens but everyone, and I mean everyone, calls me Lake. Understood?"

He never took her hand, he just watched her eyes searching. Confident that he had found what he was looking for, he started walking again.

Lake gave an exasperated sigh before heading off in the opposite direction. She couldn't risk going back to the prison without knowing whether or not she'd be safe. She sometimes wished she kept her damn mouth closed before burning every bridge possible in less than thirty minutes. She passed the walker which had apparently snuck up on her during her altercation with Redneck Magee. The guy was a killer shot. Lake reached down and turned the walker's head to see that the guy had hit it straight between the eyes.

"Daryl." Lake jumped back, throwing a hand to her heart.

"Jesus! You scared the shit out of me." She looked down at the walker and stiffly laughed at the thought of it surviving that shot.

"I ain't no Mexican. My name, it's Daryl Dixon." Lake frowned until she saw that Daryl was only joking.

"Har har. You must not be a religious fellow either?" She said lightly.

Daryl's eyes darkened. "When you've lived a life like mine, you ain't got time for no God." He turned and again started to walk.

Lake felt a pang of remorse. "I understand that." She muttered.

Daryl stopped and threw over his shoulder, "You comin'?"

Lake's mind swarmed with alarm and indecision. She has always been on her own. She worked best that way. Letting people into her life now would be a mistake but she needed companionship and security. The group seems decent and fair. She looked up to see Daryl waiting patiently. Something about the way he stood watching made her blood turn to ice. She recognized something in him that existed inside herself. It was so apparent now their likeliness. Their souls were the same. It was apparent that she stays away from him at all costs but she couldn't leave just yet. Instead, she walked past him towards the prison.

They broke through the clearing, just as the man she knew to be their leader walked out with a young boy. When they were in the safety of the fencing, the man held a hand up.

"Who are you?" He asked.

Lake shifted nervously before looking to Daryl. He stood leaned against the fence. His eyes danced with amusement as he waited to see what she would say.

Angered, Lake swung around causing the sheriff to jump. "Chill." She rolled her eyes. "I'm not a threat. I've been following your group for weeks now. If I had wanted to harm anyone, I'd have done so many times before." She took a step forward and extended a hand. "I'm Lake Owens."

"Lakely." Daryl coughed from behind. She fought the rising anger, telling herself that she had brought that one upon herself. The sheriff looked back to Daryl before nodding.

"I'm Rick and this is my boy, Carl." Yet again he didn't take her hand.

Lake looked down at her dirt covered hand before self consciously returning them to her waist.

Carl snickered at his father's side. Lake smiled, unable to resist the boy's charm.

"What is she doing here Daryl? You know the rules." Daryl pushed off the chain link to respond but Lake wasn't having it.

"Look, I'm standing right here. You can state the rules and if I can't be an exception then I'll be on my way." She looked to Carl who nudged his father.

Rick looked down to his son, who motioned for him to lend an ear. "She…trust…protection…" Lake glared at Daryl when he cleared his throat from her side.

"Ya a nosey thang ain't ya?" The retort on Lake's tongue slid back down her throat as Rick nodded and ruffled his son's hair.

"My son seems to see something in you that is worth our trust. This is his decision but you are to be Daryl's responsibility until you have proven yourself to the group." Rick silenced both protests with a hand. "That is if you still choose to stay. We will not give you any trouble if you decide to leave."

Lake understood what Rick was implying. It was Daryl or leaving; so much for her plan of avoiding him at all costs.

Exhausted with the day's events, Lake sighed dramatically. "Fine. I'll deal with the overbearing redneck from hell."

Rick sent Daryl a look as he covered his smile with the back of a hand.

"Ah shit, I'm glad I got a choice in this matter" Daryl mumbled as he pushed past Lake. She grinned as she stuck a foot out and sent Daryl stumbling. He swung around and Lake flinched.

Daryl froze. Lake mentally cursed at her slip. She read the struggle in Daryl's face. He knew. Of course he did. They came from the same past. She'd bet everything she had on it, more so now than ever.

Rick and Carl were laughing historically. Before they could realize what had transpired, the moment was gone. Hidden like the scars they both hid so well.

Daryl flicked them off as he strode away, head hung low. Rick patted Lake on the shoulder before nodding towards Daryl. "He isn't so bad. He hasn't had the best life, but he has a good heart. We can tell." Lake remained silent as Rick watched Carl walking in front of them. "I suppose I should thank you too."

Lake looked to Rick to find him somewhere else; the past most likely. "Why would you thank me?" She asked curious.

"Carl rarely laughs anymore. As a parent you notice those little things. It is probably what I miss most. My child's laughter." He smiled faintly. "Even if it was at the expense of my best man, thank you."

Lake nodded. It was all she could really do. In a world as dark as this, laughter was gold.

They walked into the prison, both hoping for a better future.