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. Just a fyi, Rick's people have been in Alexandria for six -seven months in case any think things have moved fast. The time line will be explained in chapter 9, thank you.

"Okay, how about ya'll leave my house. Even though your bond is inspiring, and you have kind words, you have seen too much and have to go." I started to shoo them from the house, all they did was laugh and crack jokes. I was blushing badly, the heat from my cheeks and tips of my ears are tale, tale signs of this.

"Fine, I need to go have a talk with Morgan anyways." But Rick was smiling, I liked Morgan he was damaged and the values he held now would never last, he would break. But for now, his ideals would cause issues, if we had to take out people for the good of not only us but the remaining good people still out there then I would be okay with such things.

I was not upset they walked in after we had not answered, it was just embarrassment that they caught us in a compromising situation. He was topless, and I was making small mewls of pleasure, after tonight looking them in the face was going to be rough. Daryl just locked the door before returning to his room where I was waiting, he looked just as flustered and nervous as me.

I lay back just thinking while he tries on the boots and sets his new things away, to most Daryl is both a physically and emotionally strong man. He is often volatile, but he is still significantly more level-headed and rational than most people after the outbreak. Though he is usually distant, Daryl has often shown to us all to be caring and selfless. All on his own, he risks his life in an attempt to save Carols daughter, she once regaled the tale to me her own heart break clear as day. Daryl has also proven to be an incredibly honest individual and hardly ever lies that we have seen, a characteristic he shares with his close friend, Rick, thus making him a very respected and trusted right-hand man to Rick from what I could see. Daryl is just as aggressive and agile and can hold his own against the dead and the living, holding certain emotions in at the same time.

In addition, Daryl has a keen sense of intuition, especially when it comes to meeting new people. Like his likeminded friend Michonne and now myself, Daryl can tell almost immediately who can be trusted and who cannot. I know I think of him a little too much, but he was dark and mysterious until he let me in and closed the wall behind us, we talked about Merle, his father Will, his half-Uncle Jess while I spoke of my brothers, college, and being a Professor. Maggie and Carol agreed he let me in and I was his since then, I just laughed at them, but it hit me they, especially Carol, have known Daryl from the beginning.

His voice broke me from my thoughts, "They fit perfect, thanks."

"No problem."

He pulled me up once again, he was taller by maybe five inches so, around 5'7, he isn't the tallest or most muscular of the men, but he is sinewy and strong. He had bluish-green eyes that could be warm or cold depends on you and his temper, but he is fully capable of surviving on his own. He can kick your ass seven ways to Sunday or shoot an apple off your head with a crossbow from a mile away. In other words, he is deadly accurate with a weapon and knows how to street fight like a bulldog.

He looks unsure of his movements. "No thank you, not just for the things but for you." his forehead was pressed into mine as he closed his eyes taking in his own words and actions.

I pull him down to his bed placing myself across his chest his arms come around me when he spoke again. "This is new for me, I may be a failure and disappointment, but I will try."

"That goes double for me." he didn't believe that at all, but this was so new, I liked it though that was my last thought as I closed my eyes falling to sleep with ease.

I felt him move a few times, but I couldn't wake up so when the sun shone through the blinds, all I can do is blink in rapid motion to shield my waking eyes from the brightness. Daryl was awake but just laid there while I slept, creepy but maybe he just woke too.

"Morning."

"Good morning, let me change clothes and I can whip us up something to eat. We both have a full day."

I hurried ripping off dirty clothes dropping them into the basket to be washed, leaving my jeans on after using the bathroom, a light brown knitted sweater that showed a small portion of my belly, I was not skinny so in a world long gone I would have been made fun of for this. But now no one mutters a damn word, because I grow the food they eat.

I just pull my hair into a messy ponytail, and lace up my boots before heading downstairs not seeing him, the eggs in a bowl as I take the cheese Holly made out, it was excellent. But we're running out of milk, wet and dry that would be an issue in due time, I was deep in thought as I mixed the eggs together blending them with pepper and salt before dropping half into the skillet.

The butter meeting the eggs cracked, I ground some chicken sausage into his omelet before adding the cheese, it smelled great. Mine was next, just some parsley, pepper, and salt; last was the cheese before the rest was wrapped up and back in the fridge for another day. I could hear his steps coming from the stairs, so his plate was in his normal spot since we both had much to do before the sun set today. So, we just ate quick, he washed the dishes as I grabbed a few baskets heading to the door he was holding open for me. My house was best, the backyard was massive which enabled me to fence it in and start a mini farm for crops, behind us was more unused land.

I yawned, "Going to go grab Enid, Carl, and Judith. If you lot find a cow, turkey, a piggy while out just bring it on home."

"Why don't you get those two other boys to help too? And will do."

Sighing in such an annoyed way. "They are brats and do no work, I can't stand them. Being too sheltered is not always a good thing. Carl and Enid have such an amazing work ethic for being young, they help." we walked through the gate closing it before the chicks could run free.

Daryl grasped my hand as we walked, Abraham smiled as he and Sasha walked by us "Very nice," she seemed to be doing well here recovering from losing not only her man but her big brother.

I saw Spencer flirting with a newly single Rosita; Eugene, and a few others watching as we walked closer to Rick, but Daryl's mood went south real fast. "HAVEN'T YA'LL SEEN A FUCKING COUPLE WALKING BY?!" he was fuming mad by now, but I just held his hand, in the end he would calm down.

"Morning." Aaron smiled coming to a stop next to us, Daryl just gave a nod as I turned giving Aaron a small hug like every other morning.

Daryl dropped my hand in a jiffy, "We're leaving." it wasn't a real question towards Aaron, his mood switched so fast over something so small.

"Yeah." Aaron turned walking back down the porch steps.

I grabbed Daryl, "You should realize he is like a brother, and gay as hell."

Clarity hit him as he mumbled something close to an apology, before he captured my lips in a heated kiss.

"Oh gosh." a very female giggle echoed as we broke apart, it was Enid and Carl.

"Hello, you two, grab the baby and come help at my place."

I stashed some gum drops and more candies from the raid yesterday for them, "Sure thing."

I never noticed he walked from my side to the massive gates until I looked up and he was gone, he gave a single wave before they exited the gate. I was near passing out as Enid left my basket on the kitchen table before we had to get this checked in, we ate lunch and they had candies after to get some more energy for pulling the carrots up. With baskets filled and the garden cleaned up and seeds planted we start to load the three small wagons down. I carry Judith who is munching on a few gum drops as I pulled my wagon. Deanna as normal checked everything in as Jesse and Oliva put everything into bags and in the massive refrigerators or freezers. Things like this made me so glad I kept so much, everything was so organized if we're overrun they will know how much we have at all times.

I didn't go straight home after, we took the baby home to Rick who was talking with Michonne when we all come calling. "Rick your daughter ate all my candy, she is hoped up really good on sugar, so you can have her back." I loved her, even as I gave her to her daddy she was eating what was now mush drops she kept fisted in her tiny hand.

All of this had the group laughing, I watched Carl and Enid walk off with Father Gabriel while we all talked and laughed about Judith. Oliva took her since Rick and Michonne had to leave. It was going to be twilight soon, but I had one more stop to make, Carols.

She was in her kitchen when I walked in nearly forty minutes later, she is looking out her window as a meal is being cooked in the oven behind her. "Hey, Carol." I gave her a verbal warning that I was behind her not needing to be shot.

She didn't turn, "I really hate her, smoking on her lawn," walking up I see Megan is indeed chain smoking on her lawn when lord have mercy out of nowhere a large, dirty man attacks her with a machete. Once he knocks her to the ground he hits her in the head, likely killing her. Carol doesn't stick around to watch, instead she runs out of the kitchen… hopefully to get her gun. I move with my knife in hand making my way from the house, Carl and Enid are out there alone. But as soon as I open the door they come running into me, for now they're safe.

"We need to get you home, you need to protect your baby sister at all cost. You teens and her are our future. This is not how you can survive on your own this is how we survive together, now Enid I know it is easy to run but we're your family now." I knew how close she was to Maggie, Carl, and myself.

I left them at home as I move as fast and hidden to Deanna's who thankfully is with Maggie. "We have a damn problem."

The screams from the neighbors are heard throughout Alexandria, especially by Deanna and Maggie who are busy working on the filtration system when I find them. We get closer to the tower we call out to Richard who is keeping guard on the wall, but before he can respond he's hit with some sort of fire ball and falls to the ground. By the time Maggie gets to him, he's dead, and when we look up we catche a glimpse of someone climbing over the top of the wall.

"SPENCER TAKE ROSITA AND GET UP THERE." he was good with a gun and so was she, we are being overrun; we have blind spots that need fixing fast.

"We have to move, Maggie get a damn gun."

Deanna, this was her fear.

I moved taking any out that I could with Maggie backing me, we worked together even as it seemed we're out numbered.

I was scared as I was now alone in the commotion we got separated, I have my rifle as I come around the small park where I see Ron hiding behind a tree, a man large dirty mane gives chase to him as I fire hitting him in the leg, his body collapsed like a sack of spuds, as I walked up, "Ron, get home now. Boy get your ass home, you ungrateful snot!"

The man had a "W" on his damn head, even with my hands shaking I hold the gun up even as he begs and pleads I know he has to die, we have innocent children here.

I fire but it just clicks as Ron looks terrified now, "Oh no." the dirty man smiles in a sick twisted way.

I pulled the knife but Carl fires from behind me, "You boy never listen." I vent.

It is chaos even as the horn blaring stops, I move to find Denise now knowing Tara would be close to her. We are killing any in our path, I take my knife to the woman's head, so she will not return as a walker.

But a creepy voice echoed "YOU!"

"You live here?"

I say fuck it and run it was the man with long dark hair from the woods, but running only caused me to be surrounded by three more men with the 'W' on their heads.

"Come on little girl."

Morgan comes from behind and start's having a conversation with the guy from the woods when it broke out into a brawl. I move to my left as Carl fires and I tackle the big one my knife impaling his thick neck, Enid with baby girl in her arms unloads on any that are left, she did not flee.

I hug the teens before taking the baby, I am covered in blood but for now these men have died or fled.

"My dad will be coming."

"I pray they are all safe, because for now we're not; there is a hole in the gate, get Carter now."

I work with Deanna and Maggie, as we have to do a cleanup, but her mind and my own are so far off. Deanna breaks in. "They're both safe."

Even as I helped along side everyone else and rock Judith who was distressed, my mind was in chaos. "I can't help but worry, they should have been back by now, Maggie."

"Yeah, they should have, but I know them so don't give up hope just yet. Daryl is as mean as a bulldog and now that he has you he has something to return to."

She was right.