Kate's heart was racing as she stood with her back to Daryl, the smell of his jacket seemed to rekindle every memory of last summer as if it had all happened yesterday. She'd spent the last few months thinking he'd simply chosen never to return her calls and even if that wasn't the case it was still hard to let go of all the anger that had built up over the last few months. Right now it was easier to try and keep everything bottled up until she could think more clearly, although just looking at Daryl was making her head spin.

She poked her head into the living room to see Bax and Lauren standing together, she was already wearing her hat and coat as she forced his coat onto his arms before plonking his scarf around his neck.

"I'm guessing you want some time alone?" Lauren smiled softly. Kate looked over her shoulder to where Daryl was staring at the coatrack of handbags by the front door, he batted one to make them all dance before his eyes locked with hers. Alone time with Daryl, from the way her palms were sweating and her butterflies were doing their crazy dance she thought it was probably not the best idea if she wanted to keep a level head. Her gaze drifted along his body before returning to Lauren. Who the hell cared about a level head anyway?

"Thank you for cleaning up the broken plates," Kate said.

"Don't worry about it," Lauren insisted, tugging at Bax's sleeve to bring him along.

"I could stay," Bax offered under his breath as his eyes trained on Daryl.

Kate shook her head, but he didn't notice her movement, "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Whatever you want, Chum." Bax kissed her cheek, his lips lingering for longer than was required before he held her. "Call me if you change your mind and want some more civilised company."

"Bax."

"I'll see you at work," he held a copy of her manuscript in his hand, "and I'll start reading through this in the meantime."

"Thank you."

When the door slammed shut Kate's heart found its way into her throat and her pulse was thundering around her body so erratically that when the doorbell rang she actually jumped, letting out a ridiculous squeal at the same time.

Daryl's lips curved into an almost non existent smile and she felt her cheeks reddening in the way that her cheeks always seemed to find cause to glow when he was around. Already he was turning her into girlish mush. . She cursed herself as she squeezed past him to answer the door.

The delivery man stood with the bag of forgotten about Chinese takeout. She paid him and shut the door. "Are you hungry?" Kate didn't wait for Daryl's answer as she hurried into her kitchen sitting the bag of food on the wooden counter. "Tea? Water? Something stronger?"

She didn't wait, she grabbed two tumblers and poured them both a glass of Christmas Brandy which was all that remained from her alcohol fuelled Christmas with Isy. It had consisted of watching every Christmas film known to man, drinking very merrily, pulling a whole box of ridiculously priced Christmas crackers from John Lewis (none of which had a plastic frog as a prize, very disappointing) and cooking a beautifully plump, corn fed, free range turkey that had the delightful combination of being burnt on the outside and raw in the middle.

"Cheers." She downed the measure, trying to avoid the way Daryl was watching her even if it was impossible to ignore his intense blue eyes that followed her every move. It was making her lose all resolve. Part of her wanted to stay mad at him for never calling her back even if he hadn't known about her messages. The other part of her didn't want to waste another second fighting him. If leaving had taught her one thing it was how much she'd wanted to stay. More than once she had looked up flight times or started a letter that never got sent. Stubbornness, pride, heartache, all three had stopped her doing what she wanted.

He set his glass on the side, untouched, "are ya okay?"

"No." Of course Daryl was more at ease than she was, he'd had time to prepare for this and she was still in a state of shock

"Ya want me to go?"

"No."

"Ya know I didn't come 'ere for a vacation right?"

"You didn't?" she asked despite knowing the truth of it.

"No. I came for you." Their eyes locked. "Only you."

In three long strides Daryl was standing directly in front of her and her heart was beating like a hummingbird's wings. He was so near. She leaned back against the kitchen counter but he only gained more space. His body not quite touching hers, just close enough so she could feel the heat of him. Her skin prickled in anticipation of being intimately touched, her breathing deepened.

Kate's gaze lingered on his lips and she knew if she kissed him now then it would be all over. She would give into whatever he wanted. The tips of her fingers pressed against his chest with an idea to push him away, "you know smashing your phone to pieces was a pretty stupid thing to do."

"Yes ma'am." His fingers brushed her wrist, her heart tripped over its quick little beats.

"And turning up here without even calling? It's impulsive… ridiculously so."

He gripped her wrists moving her hands from where they pressed against his chest, settling them on his sides to allow him entry to edge even closer, "sometimes so are you."

"Well that's not the point."

His nose brushed along her jawline before his lips grazed her ear, "And yer stubborn, uppity, a pain in the ass," he whispered the insults like sweet nothings and her whole body shuddered at the way his lips tickled against her ear with each word. "Ya turned me into a goddamn crazy man."

"I did nothing of the sort. And if you find me so difficult then perhaps you should have save yourself the trouble of this trip Daryl Dixon!"

Daryl snorted, "I never said I didn't like it." His hand buried in her hair giving it the gentlest tug so she was looking at him, "do I get to kiss ya now or do I have to beg on my knees woman?"

The idea of Daryl on his knees at her feet had its merits. She bit back her smile but she couldn't stop the way the thought lit up her eyes that were locked with his. "You don't have to beg me."

"Then tell me what to do."

"Kiss me," she breathed out her voice sounding so husky with desire that she could hardly believe it belonged to her.

Daryl's hands found a home on the small of her waist, pulling her body into his. His lips pressed to hers, softly tasting her. His tongue stroking across her bottom lip.

She couldn't fight him anymore. She'd come home to England to be with the part of her heart that was buried with Harry and in doing so she had left behind a life she had inadvertently created in Georgia and the part of her heart that would always belong to Daryl.

Kate pulled away from his soft slow kisses, "I'm sorry for leaving like I did. You were right, I was wrong."

His hands squeezed her waist and he laughed quietly, "I'm gonna need to savour those words, don't reckon I'll hear them again."

Kate rolled her eyes, "I don't suppose you will Mr Dixon."

Daryl's smile fell away and his face grew more serious, "I still love ya Kate, just as much as I always did an always will."

She felt her heart dance. The past months had been physically painful, being lovesick seemed to be a thing invented by lovestruck young girls or fairytales but she knew it was true. "Me too."

Daryl gave her a pointed look, his fingers tickling her side.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on the tips of her toes, her lips brushing against his, "I love you Daryl."

He kissed her again, harder, his tongue pushing through her lips, his hands exploring from her waist to cup her bottom. Then he pulled away, his eyes dark and seductive as he looked at her before nodding to the bag of takeaway food, "ya hungry?"

Kate's body was tingling with so much need that she could hardly comprehend the question. "Not anymore."

Daryl cleared his throat but his voice was still hoarse as he almost demanded, "ya wanna talk some more?"

"No."

"Good," he pushed his jacket off her shoulders and their kissing resumed, up the stairs and into her bedroom where they fell onto the bed, Daryl's kisses falling from her lips to her neck. "It killed me when I thought ya might be with another man."

"God help me woman, yer a hellcat but you're mine," he pulled off her sweater, kissing her breasts through the lace of her bra, "all mine." his hand reached around to removed her bra, his rough calloused fingers sending tingles along her spine. He pushed her back to the mattress sucking her nipple so hard she yelped, "tell me."

The dark look in his eye, made her heart pick up speed, she probably shouldn't have enjoyed being claimed by a possessive caveman half as much as she was but she couldn't deny that she didn't like it, "I'm yours."

His grin grew wide as he stood at the end of the bed, pulling off his shirt and dropping it to the floor. Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of his body. It wasn't just his biceps that had benefited from day after day of manual work on the farm. Her eyes drank in every inch of him before resting on the rose tattoo. A flurry of butterflies erupted before she noticed him watching the way she was staring at him like a child in a sweetie shop and her cheeks filled pink.

"Yer gonna let me take ya home. No arguin'." It wasn't exactly a question.

"Daryl I-"

"I said no arguin."

Kate bit her lip. Go home with him? Living with Daryl in Georgia was exactly what she had refused to do seven months ago. She nodded. Yes, of course she would go home with him.

"I'm gonna need ya to say it," his fingers hooked into her tights and tugged them off her body.

"Were you always this bloody bossy?"

A lazy smile slipped across his face, "yer just the woman to bring out a man's bossy side, now tell me, I wanna hear the words."

"I'll move to Georgia." then she did her best southern accent, "no arguin'."

He pulled off her skirt and knickers so she was completely bare, "into my farm?"

She was going to tease him and say she would find a place of her own, get herself a roommate but she bit back the words. The way Daryl's eyes drank in her body made waiting for his touch impossible, she sat up and tugged at his belt buckle, "yes. Your farm."

"Good girl," he grinned.

Kate's fingers fell from his jeans with a scowl that only made his devilish grin widen.

Daryl pushed her down and pinned her wrists to the mattress. His mouth took control of her, hot kisses travelling ever lower, setting her body on fire with sensation. She hadn't been touched like this since he had last touched her and she craved it like a starved woman.

He sucked hard at the inside of her thigh and she gasped. "Did you just give me a love bite?"

"All mine," she had no time to protest, his tongue found the point between her thighs that cared of nothing but needing more. Daryl knew exactly what to do to push her to the edge, she strained desperately for release with every flick of movement.

"Oh god Daryl, don't stop," Kate pleaded, the lightening bolts of pleasure were shooting all over her, building relentlessly as her hips bucked begging for more. Her head fell back, her legs trembled and her body shattered with a powerful release.

He remained between her thighs, stroking her lightly as she came down from the aftershocks and her eyes met with his, the flush of heat on her cheeks.

"God ya so damn beautiful," his gravelly voice promised as he stood up and finally kicked off his jeans and reminded her how impressive he was.

She licked her lips, she wanted to make him feel as good as he had made her. She edged off the bed, her hands sweeping along his thighs, feeling the muscle as she settled onto her knees. One hand held his thigh and the other wrapped around his shaft, pumping lightly before her tongue slowly licked the end. His breath hitched and the muscles in his thighs clenched.

"Kate..." Daryl's voice was strained with desire and she knew what he wanted. She took him in her mouth as far as she could and his hips rocked gently in time with the rhythm, his hand bunching in her hair but not controlling her as she sucked along his shaft.

"Oh fuck," Daryl groaned becoming more and more out of control before he jerked away, his body shuddering. "I need to be inside ya."

He pulled her up to kiss his lips and the taste of her pleasure that still lingered on them. Already her body was desperate for more, one high hadn't been enough. He pushed her onto the bed, falling between her thighs, his teeth nipping at her neck before he teased her nipples, sucking and kissing.

"Please," Kate purred. Daryl growled in response, spreading her legs wider before he sunk into her in one toe curling thrust. Her body quivered with pleasure at being so entirely filled and joined with Daryl.

He pulled out in slow torture, his hand cupping her breast, his thumb brushing her nipple, "I love ya," he pledged tenderly with one last soft kiss before soft and tender was replaced by frenzied passion that she begged for with every moan of pleasure. Daryl had little restraint as he fucked her, angling her hips so his thumb could brush her higher and higher to the edge.

Her hands glided over the layer of sweat that was settling on his chest before her fingers dug into his shoulders, holding on tight as she lost control and another orgasm tore her apart. He growled her name as his body stiffened, his release pumping hot spurts into her before he settled down, still inside her, his cheek resting next to hers. Kate stroked her fingertips down his spine relishing the way their bodies were connected.

/

Daryl had never felt so much relief in his life. Having Kate in his arms, making love to her, knowing he was going to be keeping her. Everything he'd been dreaming about since he had first laid eyes on Kate was going to happen. He could hardly believe it. She'd been right about the farm all those months ago when he had offered to move with her to England. There was no way he could give it up. Especially after he'd poured his whole soul into bringing it back to life. Things were finally starting to settle into place on the Dixon Farm. There had only been one thing missing and he was holding tight to that missing piece right now.

"So yer sure ya gonna come back with me?" he almost kicked himself for saying it and sounding so desperate.

"Yes."

Yes. Daryl held his breath giving her what must have been an odd look, "I just can't believe yer stubborn ass is gonna give me what I want. I thought I was gonna have to fight ya for it for the rest of the damn week."

Kate let out a small laugh, "when I got on that plane I knew it wasn't right. I love my job, my house, my friends and I thought they would be enough. I thought I could be happy with those things," she tilted her head to look at him, her big brown eyes wide and beautiful, "nothing comes close to the way I feel when I'm with you."

Daryl felt his body fill with a flood of warmth. It was hard to imagine that he would make her feel like that, he couldn't even comprehend the possibility that she would love him quite as much as he loved her. "I should've come sooner. Should've booked tickets when my passport first arrived."

"You're here now," she sat up, her fingers inspecting his chest, then his face before they brushed through his hair. He loved the way she was looking at him, "I just can't believe you're really here. How long are you staying for?"

"Ten days."

Kate's face fell and she let out a heavy sigh.

"What is it? Ya ain't changing yer mind?" he jabbed her tummy with his finger and a lopsided smile.

"I won't be able to move to Georgia until my classes are finished in a few months."

He rolled on top of her, "months? Yer gonna goddamn kill me."

"I can't just leave mid term, it would be unprofessional. And I have to sell my house, my car, there's Jessica to think about, applying for another visa-"

Daryl kissed her, interrupting her list of practicalities, "can't ya just drop everythin' an' smuggle yerself in my bag?"

"I don't think you could squeeze me into an overhead locker on the plane."

He grunted, months, he wanted to start their life together right now and everyday afterwards. Part of him was scared that if he didn't bring her home with him then she'd find cause to change her mind. On the other hand it would give him chance to prepare things back home. He'd spent most of his time, energy and money on fixing up life for the horses and planting the fields. The house had been left behind, least of all it needed a lick of paint. He glanced around Kate's bedroom, like the rest of the house it was beautiful. He'd have to make the farmhouse a little more suitable for her to be happy with until she picked out colours and shit like that. The idea of her decorating his house with all her things filled him with warm fuzzy feelings. "Suppose we'll have to make the most of the next ten days then. Where ya gonna take me?"

"Where do you want to go?"

"Anywhere… but first," his lips brushed along her neck before nipping her lightly, "I wanna make the most of this bed." He cupped her breasts kissing them, "again," he kissed her navel, "and again," he kissed the inside of her thigh, "and again."

There was a screeching outside the bedroom door that almost sounded like the wail of a baby. He lifted his head to inspect her face as she half smiled and rolled out of the bed. Her ass looked so perfect as she walked completely nude to open her bedroom door. In scampered a long haired tabby cat, weaving between her legs and crying for attention before she fussed over it picking it up and holding it close to her chest.

"This is Mr Darcy."

A fucking cat, Lady was going to eat the damn thing in one slobbery bite.