Hello fellow fanfiction writers and readers, here is another chapter of this story that I hope you guys will enjoy. As usual I own nothing except new characters and ideas, I make no money from writing, and all rights go to the rightful owners. Thanks for reading, please leave a review!

Maybe at one point in my life, before the outbreak, having a guy like Daryl around would have gotten me in deep tar with my family. But getting to know him meant the world. he and I would have been good friends if not more, but this was the outbreak those days are long gone.

I still sobbed even as he set me on my bed, "Hey now, what's got you cryin?" his tone was worried but confused.

I sobbed, "He was like my father." his hand touched my face, brushing hair from my tear drenched cheeks.

He looked torn even has his hand was braced against my face. "I will deny it if you mention it. But I am scared most days that Rick, Michonne, Glenn, Maggie, Carol, Carl, or little ass kicker will not make it. They have been my friends, my family, my reason no to go bad for so long. Together we have seen real evil, we have faced so much since the very beginning." I listen hearing the worry, the hurt in every word he spoke, I moved to a sitting position grasping his hand in mine.

"I am leaving the safe-zone, I just need to get to Alabama and see." taking another deep shaky breath. "See if any of my brothers made it." our farm was massive, the crops could help any survive but that doesn't mean they did, if it was over run I prayed they fled to the hills and somehow made it.

He stood looking at me like I had gone crazy, "You can't survive on your own, if this is something you need to do I will go with you, better we do it now. Carl and Tara can care for your garden and shit. We leave at sunrise, get some sleep." he left just like that, but I heard the front door shut.

I did fall asleep but in the blink of an eye I was being shook awake by Tara who was wearing bright pink glasses and a smile. "Hey, Daryl is getting two packs and said to wake you up."

I felt stupid, if he or I got hurt it would be all my fault. I moved from the bed when she touched my shoulder. "I wish you luck, I would be doing the same thing. But most of us watched as our families died. Here." in her hand was bright green sunglasses, I took them with a smile.

I hugged her, "Wish you could go, Tara. But you know how to tend to the garden and chicks."

She tossed an old tee at me as I pulled it on it was her ACDC knotted tee, my old tattered jeans are next, my lace up boots last. I took a hairband for when my hair needed it, my brush was in my back pocket. We walked from the room together. Carl was sitting with Judith at the bar, she was giggling at her brother who was making cute odd faces when we walked in. Daryl was bagging up some extra food before he was tossing me an apple. "We are leaving, here is your bag."

I walked to a controller that looked like an everyday television remote, I trusted them as I entered a code. The room was silent until the wall moved, then voices and gasps are heard as I spoke. "For the survival of Alexandria I have been doing much more than any know. This does not leave the room."

Entering I took two rifles and a single box of ammo, handing them both to Daryl who walked in behind me. "Impressive."

"This isn't the only one."

Deanna and Rick are outside, she looks as if she had been crying but when she spoke her voice was clear. "You hurry back now."

Hugging was not a sign of weakness. "I will, I need to do this. I am thankful Daryl offered to go with me." but I was worried all my faults would get him killed in the end.

Rick clapped Daryl's back. "You bring this girl home safe now, it's near ten hours to her family farm. Michonne is sleeping but she mapped it out for you, so we know you will be back in three days' time." he was giving us leeway which was good.

I hugged Rick, his words whispered in my ear. "You watch out for him, Cam." he cared so much for Daryl, I would watch out for him, but I was the one who would do something dumb and get us killed. I climbed on the back of his bike putting on the bright green glasses as it came to life, not at all loud. Glenn and Maggie wished us the best, she hugged me tight, Glenn kissed my forehead.

Then we took off out of the gates taking to the back roads of Virginia, my arms wrapped tight around his waist, he said there was not stopping unless we have too, we could be there by five at night if we just drove and with luck no large packs of walkers roamed. I watched things pass us by, so much destruction and death all around us. Cars broken down with the dead resting inside, lone walkers roamed the woods, the streets. My head was resting on his back even being scared shitless I was enjoying myself, but than his bike broke down midday, but he said we are close enough to walk. I was so glad he took my hand leading me into the woods because I was shaking, he dropped it as we moved. The forest was dense as we moved through the brush as hard as it was I did it all without complaint.

His arm stopped me, "A group of walkers, doubt we can sneak around them since we need to get to that bridge." I knew that bridge, we are so close.

"That is Naples bridge." I whispered, he was right we had to go through them to reach it, I was not ready, but our lives depended on doing this together.

He gave me a look, "You got this, I am going to get their attention you get to that bridge." I gave a nod.

He did too, a set of fireworks went off, watching as the walkers saw him, heard him they all made their way to him. He was taking them out as I ran to the bridge, I stopped trying to find him, but he was not superman, there are too many. I change my mind. I would never leave him behind, with that thought I was hauling my chubby ass to him, seeing a walker nearly on him as I plunged the blade deep into it's skull before pulling it out; the walker dropped like a ragdoll.

Daryl gave me a look, "I told you get to the bridge."

I snapped, "Not without you, never."

He could say nothing back as the walkers came but together and with the training they gave me, we are able to take enough out. My knife was covered in brain matter but now we are both safe as the dark came, my hands freezing as he dumped water on the blades, the water tinting red with blood.

"You did great, thank you."

"For what?"

"Not leaving me." the way he said it was embarrassed even.

I blushed, "I couldn't, you and I are in this together. So, if you're with me and have my back you will get all of me."

Now it was very dark as he thought we should set up camp, I was helping start a fire when a gun was put to my head, "No southern hospitably." I sighed but the look, the rage that had transformed Daryl's face scared me more than the gun.

Daryl stood tall, "You get that fuckin gun away from her."

"Get up grab your things and follow me." Daryl had no choice as another man came from the darkness with another gun, I walked with my arms forced behind my back as we're being marched through a worn-out path in the woods.

"We have no intention to take your things, but we don't like people close to our compound. After we release you, don't come back."

I snapped, "You ain't my daddy, asshole."

Daryl put his arm around me his bow was across his chest as we walked, "Just stay close to me."

I did, like glue his body leaned in front of mine to protect me as we entered a gate, looks as if they took the trees and built a well-insulated gate, firm and unmovable. It was the farm, not all of it but a substantial amount, I was scared but as we are taken into the main house. I nearly faint seeing my old home, pictures in frames, my brothers sitting together with me dressed in pink nestled in hay between them. I moved faster than I thought possible, the gun went off but hit the banister, my knife at his neck as Daryl took the other with ease.

"Where is the family who owned this house?" I was seldom angry, but this was my home, they took my home.

"Cami?" I heard when I glanced up at that name the sound of a tired voice I knew so long ago, my eyes locked with the green eyes of my older brother Frank.

I dropped the guy, like a missile I rushed my brother, his arms wrapped around me as we cried, "Frank!" I was sobbing as he just stroked my hair, his hands moving to my face, it was dirty, but he was smiling.

"Daryl, this is my brother Frank."

Frank shook his hand, "Thank you for keeping her safe, Cami why are you here?"

Daryl spoke up for me. "She had to know if her family was alive, and I was not about to let her go at it alone. We have a day before we have to leave back to Alexandria." she gave me a nod.

Frank looked like he wanted to say something, but instead he grinned, "Come on."

"Come on, Daryl." Frank lead us out of the house before he was giving the loudest wolf whistle I had ever heard, but when others heard that they stopped. In the dark with only candle light I could see five people running fast. Daryl and I stood together as Frank let another one rip, I just shrugged.

Once close enough Frank yelled, "Baby girl is home." then I was in a six-way hug, all my brothers are alive, all are alive. I sobbed hugging any one I could. It seemed the hug was short, but it could have been an hour and still too short.

Kyle spoke first, "Cami, my god. We couldn't find you, you look perfect. God, we missed you, we have sent scouts to find you, but none ever did."

Brice chimed in, "But you're home again, you hungry?"

"You're dirty, you hurt at all?" that was Ricky he was a worrier if I ever seen one.

"Now, now guys give her a chance to answer." I gave a grateful look to Bobby as Mark punched his arm.

"It has been too long baby girl." Mark smiled hugging me once again.

I smiled standing once again by Daryl. "I am so happy, happy and blessed to see you all alive and doing as best you can. I am in Virginia, a place called Alexandria a safe-zone that is doing well. I am fine not hurt at all thanks to Daryl, when I made the choice to come find you here he wouldn't let me go alone. But boys I am heading back to Alexandria, that is my home for now, but knowing you're here means I can come and see you." they each looked worried and hurt I wouldn't be staying here with them.

I smiled, "I can give you a map so that if you need us or just me you can locate us." I noticed Kyle was looking at the man at my side.

"Daryl Dixon, these are my brothers; this is Kyle, this one Ricky, Brice and Bobby the twins, here is Mark, and you met Frank." in turn they each shook hands judgment being placed on both sides.

Kyle spoke, "Thank you for bringing her home. Cami, you need rest go up to your room and have some sleep."

"Come on Daryl, I am not leaving you to this rabid pack that some call my brothers." my eyes narrowed, you think after the outbreak they would calm down on who I could be around.

They all seemed to protest but I just stared them down taking this man to my room, which was just as I left it. Daryl was looking around touching the solar system I made my senior year, it won too it was very intricate, so much glitter covered the house that weekend. He looked at my metal band posters, I sit on my day bed holding a framed picture of my entire family, Pa and Mama alive and smiling as their children surround them.

"You were kind of a nerd," he stated as I just rolled my eyes.

I retorted, "I was and nothing wrong with that, you would have been the boy ditching class and doing criminal activity. You might have bullied me, but that is not who we are now, well I am still a nerd." I took my backpack that was hidden in the corner, using old shirts to wrap my photos, a few books too when a knock was heard.

I yelled out, "COME IN." I held another picture book in my hand when Kyle walked in with two plates of food a woman at his side with drinks. It was Abby from down the road, she was a friend from school even though she was a grade ahead of me, I smiled jumping up.

"Abby, I am so glad to see you."

"Not as much as I am glad to see you." yeah, guess my brothers can be unbearable at times.

"Here is some food for you and your man." I paled.

"Thank you." Daryl winked, he was messing with my oldest brother, this was not safe to do but guess he liked to live on the wild side. We ate as Kyle talked telling us everything that had happened so far, Daryl told their groups story so I could eat. Then I told mine, he was impressed I listened all those years to him, the boys, and pa.

Kyle kissed my head. "Get sleep, we have tomorrow." and we did. I pulled out the trundle from under my bed but he didn't cover up with the lavender ruffled bedding, he just lay on top of it. I stuck the quilt mama made before she passed into my extra bag.

I woke not seeing him, my hand was on his chest last night when I passed out but now he was gone. I just wore the same clothes, no need to change. I walked out of my room seeing nothing, the house was silent as I made my way through the open-door way. Outside was another subject; people milled around helping with water, supplies, the harvest. Cows, sheep, lambs, piggy's, and chicks roamed around. Abby and three other women are churning, and some are doing the wash by hand like mama used to.

Abby smiled, "Hey Cameron, your brothers and your man are in the barn."

"You left Daryl with those rabid pack animals?" all she did was laugh, even as I made my way to the barn seeing them and many other men all talking. Daryl was talking as I came up to his side.

"Rick will not bow down if we are attacked, we have come across some people that have done some vile shit. Cannibals, men who tried to rape a teenage boy, others who were hell bent on killing us and taking what was ours." I just stood listening seeing many familiar faces, one I was not too happy to see was Jack; an old flame who was rejected.

Mark was sitting on a hay bale, "Is she safe?"

"I am safe, Mark. But our communities need to come together if anything was to happen. I know Alexandria will come to your aid, my question is will you come to ours?"

Ricky faked hurt, "You question our loyalty baby girl?"

"No, just your sanity, but that has been on going from my birth."

"But yes, I am, will you?"

Kyle took my hand, "You come calling and we will be there."

I just listened after that, they survived by no recruiting it was not safe to do as such. They killed any who came into the compound, that night we could have died if it had not been my family. I helped them as did Daryl in fact as twilight came I was helping roast a large pig, not my favorite thing, I hated killing animals, but it was a matter of surviving.

I was alone with Abby chatting as we turned it over the open pit when Jack walked up to me with a sly smile, "You look good, Cam. Lost some weight too."

"As charming as ever, now go away." my tone was flat, if looks could kill he would be six feet under.

But he never took a hint. "Come on now, I think you should stay here on the farm." his fingers dug into my skin as Abby made her get away, I knew she was heading for my brothers.

I snarled. "Move your damn hands, jackass." seething with hate as I looked into his cold near black eyes.

He acted like it was nothing. "You will stay."

"No, she is coming home with me. Now get your hands off her."

I watched as Jack listened and Daryl moved me behind him, his body dead set in front of mine even as Jack pulled a gun on us. "Cameron is staying on the farm like her brothers want her too. She and I can work things out."

"I would rather die than be with you." I tried to bypass Daryl but he wouldn't budge, his own gun pointing at Jack.

My brothers arrived and with a single swing of the bat, Jack was dead and Bobby was breathing heavy as Daryl took his knife to Jacks head, I was being held by Abby who gave Kyle a look. "I told you this afternoon he was going to cause issues."

I was in my room an hour later, getting our bags ready to go tomorrow morning, it was late when he walked in he just laid on the bed watching me "Do you want to stay?"

I gave him a look, "No, I like Alexandria, it is home I will miss my brothers, but I can always come and see them and they can come see me. If I stayed it would be an issue. They would be so worried about me they would get nothing done, we leave as soon as possible."

He just continued to watch me as we settle in for the night, my hand draped over the bed as I stared off into the darkness when his voice broke the silence "I will protect you." it was like he was speaking to himself like a vow.

"I will do my best to protect you." my hand was on his chest as I closed my eyes.