A/N Wanted to do something lighter before last few chapters, not sure how well it worked. Almost at the end now.

Thanks for reading.

xxxx

Chapter 44

Daryl was confused, since she'd gone on the run without him Eleanor had been secretive and evasive. She didn't want to come hunting with him and was happy for him to go on runs without her. She's been back for several days and he'd hardly seen her. He'd seen her talking to various people but the conversations always stopped when he approached and sometimes she just walked away before he could speak to her. He tried to talk to her about it when they were alone at night and she told him he was imagining it before finding ways to distract him.

One morning Rick insisted they went out on a run to a nearby town they had hit several times before. He pointed out that there was nothing worth having there but Rick was determined they went. He wasn't in the best of moods when they returned empty handed several hours later. He stomped into the kitchen area, stopping dead in his tracks as he saw everyone was gathered there, all staring at him with stupid grins on their faces.

"Happy birthday" they all yelled, causing him to flinch. A panicked look crossed his face as he realised he was the centre of attention. Eleanor stepped out of the crowd and linked her arm in his, pulling him forward.

"Come see" she lead him to the back of the room. A table was laid out with all sorts of food and treats, in the middle was a large birthday cake, Happy Birthday, written on in in shaky icing writing.

"We figured you needed a birthday party, being as you never had one before so we guessed a date" she informed him. He didn't know what to say so he stayed quiet.

"We found the stuff to make a cake and Carol made it. I decorated it" she told him proudly.

Finally he found his voice.

"You're all crazy" he told them "All this effort and time" His voice faltered.

Rick came to his rescue "Time for presents" he called. Glenn and Maggie stepped forward with a bag full of wrapped gifts. Embarrassed he sat and opened them. There was all sorts of things, many of them home made. He was overwhelmed that so many people had made so much effort for him. His own family had never bothered and yet people he barely knew were finding the time to make gifts for him. After presents it was time for cake. Everyone was having a great time. He caught hold of Eleanor as she rushed past him, sharing out the cake.

"This your idea?" he asked, she nodded suddenly unsure she'd done the right thing.

"My idea but everyone helped out. Do you like it?" She asked nervously.

He grinned up at her "It's the best thing anyone's ever done for me" he told her as he pulled her down into his lap and kissed her, getting a cheer from everyone watching. Once the food was eaten Eleanor took his hand and pulled him to his feet.

"One more present from me" she told him as she lead him from the room, everyone following. She took him to a room nearby.

"You go in first" she told him as she pushed the door open. The room was lit by several battery operated lanterns and in the middle was a sight he thought he'd never see again.

"What the hell" he exclaimed "Is that….. How did you…." He couldn't get the words out as he stared at Merle's motorbike, the one he'd had to leave behind at the prison. It was gleaming, the chrome shining and the paintwork immaculate. A big red bow was tied on the handlebars.

He approached it slowly, running his hands over the handlebars and saddle.

"You fixed her up?" he questioned.

"I did the best I could, I usually worked on the cars so you might wanna to check her over yourself" she told him. It suddenly occurred to him how she'd got it back.

"You went back to the prison?" He tried not to get angry at the risk she'd taken. "That's why you couldn't tell me"

She knew he was trying to stay calm.

"We didn't take any chances" she told him "We watched it for hours before we went in and set up a car with the radio on real loud outside to draw out as many walkers as we could. It weren't that bad"

Rick stepped forward, "You gonna take her out for a run then?" he asked "She's got a full tank"

Daryl didn't need telling twice. He pulled the bow off and climbed on, starting the engine. He coasted toward the door and guided the bike outside. He looked at Eleanor and held out his hand, with a smile.

"You commin?" She grinned and jumped on behind him. Carl opened the gate and they roared off down the road. He opened the throttle and they flew along, eating up the miles. After a while he turned off the road and they bounced along a track. Once they were away from the road he stopped and climbed off the bike, turning to face Eleanor.

"Can't believe you went back there, just to get this." He rested his forehead against hers.

"Why'd you take a risk like that for me? I aint worth it"

She slipped her arms round his waist "I happen to think you are" she told him "I wanted you to know how important you are to the group, to me. Wanted you to know I'd do anything for you" Her lips found his. They pulled apart and she saw him looking at her, a smirk on his face.

"What?" she asked

"You remember the day we met" he grinned "You said you had a boyfriend had a bike like this, bought back some happy memories for you"

She smiled slowly, knowing where he was going. "You asked how you could make out on a bike, if I recall right"

"You offered to show me " He leant into her.

"You didn't 'want me too at the time" she reminded him.

"Maybe I changed my mind" His hand slipped under her shirt to her waist "and it is my birthday"

She grabbed his shirt and pulled him close.

"Happy Birthday" she breathed huskily into his neck as she showed him what he wanted to know.