Chapter 24 – Daryl

We were finally all back under one roof. It had been a helluva long day. I think Lauren and I were on my bike for like ten hours total. Even my ass aches from sitting that long on, I can imagine how sore she is. I think I'll stay sittin' on this soft sofa for a bit yet.

I look around and see that everyone is settling in. Lauren is getting the keys to the other cabin for the people staying there and they are slowly heading out. That is except Michonne and Tara who bolted out of here first. Guess they have some place to be. Lauren looks over at me and gives me a wink. She's my girl. Never thought that would happen, then again who ever thought dead people would roam the earth. Shows how fucked up everything is…Daryl Dixon gets a classy lady.

I turn my head and see Rick and Carl are heading up the stairs to their room. I catch Rick's eye and he gives me one of our trademark nods. He approves of me and Lauren and I'm glad. His approval means a lot to me, he's the brother I needed, but never had, until now. Merle sucked as a brother, hell he sucked as a human being.

"Hey Rick," I holler out.

He turns when he hits the top step, "Yeah?"

"The clothes in the dresser by the door, don't take them all. Save some for me. I'll get some later." I can't have him and Carl taking all the good stuff. I can't look like crap all the time anymore, in fact I don't want to, so I need more than one wore out pants and shirt.

"Thanks for letting me know where the good stuff is bro, I appreciate it." Rick walks off laughing.

"Suma bitch!" I yell at him and I hear him laughing back at me. I get up to go get those clothes that Lauren gave me, but I change my mind when she walks over to me.

"Let's go checkout our new room," she says.

"We ain't using the room from last night?" I wonder why we're changing rooms. It seemed perfectly good to me. "Why change?"

Lauren wraps her arms around my neck. "Cause it's bigger and there are two of us. My room was smaller so it's fine for Carol. And this one had a king size bed too."

That's all I needed to hear. I grabbed her hand and we ran up the stairs.