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" I don't want to take your knife." Harmony whispered as he unstrapped his knife and it's holding from his waist.

" I ain't lettin you go off without sumthin. If he's legit, he's fucked up and he ain't got a weapon. He can't protect you. If he's lyin..." Daryl's words trailed off as they locked eyes.

" He will see it." She whispered. Daryl's hands came to her waist. He looped the holding and the strap around her carefully, clicking the clasp into place.

" You gonna wear one of my shirts. You're a lot smaller than me so it'll cover up the knife." Daryl said softly. He tighten the strap then looped them through her belt loops. He worked quickly and quietly.

" I don't think I can kill him if he attacks me." Harmony whispered. Daryl frowned as he looked at her. He gathered up her hands in his. Her hands were quickly dwarfed by his.

" It is comes down to your life or his, you gonna find the strength. You need to...for me. You gotta tell me you find the strength." He said.

He was dead serious and she found herself nodding. Some tense melted away from his shoulders. He pulled away and moved towards his clothes. He snatched up one of his shirts and brought it to her. He draped it over her shoulders like she couldn't dress herself. As she slipped her arms into the sleeves, he started to button it up from the bottom.

" It smells like you." Harmony whispered. He glanced up at her face from his work then looked back to the buttons but not before she saw the quick ghost of a smile.

" Yeah?" He asked, forcing his frown to slam into place.

" Yeah. You always smell like the woods. I love it." She admitted slowly. She was blushing and so was he as he finished up.

They moved into each other at the same time. His arms went around her shoulders while hers went around his waist. His chin came to rest against the top of her head while hers went against his chin. She closed her eyes and took comfort in his strength, his smell, and the feel of him against her. His chin started to rub against her head. As it always seemed to go between them, no words were needed. Both just seemed to understand what the other was not saying but feeling.

XXXXXX

Daryl woke with the start from the dream/memory of the when he sent her away from him. He was laying on his back and looked down his body. Harmony was curled up against him with her head resting on his stomach. Her left hand was tucked between her and his side. She was clutching his shirt. Her other arm was around his waist and her right leg was hooked over top of his. He sighed, scrubbed his hand over his face and stared at the ceiling.

After she had woke, almost an hour after he had, and after they had brushed their teeth and showered, Daryl was following her back into their room. They were going to get dress, eat then start the task of burying everyone. Daryl didn't want her to help, she could tell but it was going to be a big job and she couldn't let him do it alone. Plus, she hadn't injured Eric's brain and was nervous he was going to find his way back to them as a walker.

Daryl had his back to Harmony as he shut then locked their bedroom door. All doors were locked when they were in a room. It was the safest thing to do, Daryl felt. When he turned back around, Harmony was standing by the bed with a small smile. She opened her towel then let it drop to the floor. His eyes followed the movement before they started back up her body.

" What are you doin?" He croaked out. Harmony turned and climbed onto their bed.

" Well, I just thought you might want to relief some tension." She said. She laid down in the center of their bed. " I can't think of a better way to relief pressure and tension, can you?" She asked. Daryl swallowed hard but started towards her.

He pulled his towel away a second before he mounted her. She spread her legs wide as he took a hold of himself with his right hand. His left hand came to rest on the bed beside her head. They had locked eyes again only she was smiling up at him. Again, there was so much he wanted to say but the words refused to come out. She brought her hands to his chest. They moved up his pecs to his neck.

" Merle was right." He finally said quietly.

" About what?" She asked, her smile fading slightly when she saw how completely serious he was.

" Bout what he said bout what I want." Daryl said.

" And what is it you want?" Harmony asked.

" A family." Daryl admitted. " Like one I ain't ever had. The right kind of one. The one where the Daddy ain't a drunk and the Mama ain't crying and banged up all the time. The kind were we take care of each other and say nice things and shit. I want you to ..." He frowned and shook his head.

" Just say it." Harmony said. " Whatever it is, say it, don't hold back."

" I want you to carry my babies and be proud of it." He rushed to say. She touched his face then raised her head up. She tilted it and brushed her lips against his.

" And I will be." She whispered across his lips.

XXXXXX

Daryl and Harmony worked well together as they dug the graves. They were fast, quiet, and both dripping with sweat. There were smudges of dirt that littered her cheeks and forehead as well as his. He kept glancing at her, in shock of the promises they had made each other while he took her in the bed. Promises he didn't doubt she'd live up too. He knew he'd live up to his, he already had been. He already protected her, he already loved her. It took him a while to understand it and accept it but he did. And in a year, as long as they managed to stay safe, she had said she wanted him get her pregnant. She just wanted to sure they could maintain a level of safety first. They would raise a family of their own. They would take care of the farm and grow crops. She would give birth in bed, just like his mama had done with him, Merle, and the other baby his Daddy had drown. Only Daryl wouldn't drown any of their babies. He would keep them safe, he would keep them all safe.

" Daryl." He looked up from the grave to her. Harmony was staring at the road and pointing. He turned to see a line of cars coming towards them. He dropped the shovel, climbed out of the hole then grabbed her and pulled her out.

" Ain't no one stayin here!" He snapped. He put himself in between Harmony and the new arrivals as they pulled up to the house.

" It's them!" She explained when the door to the first car opened.

" You're alive." Rick said. Slowly, the doors to all the cars opened. Harmony took off running when she spotted the women. Daryl started forward at the same time Harmony wrapped her arms around Lori. Rick was all smiles. When the men reached each other, they clasped hands. " Good to see you."

" Good to see you." Daryl said.

" Did you have some trouble?" Rick asked, spotting the graves.

" Little." Daryl said as he nodded.

" Do you need some help?" T-Dog asked as he came around the cars. Daryl nodded.

Daryl, T-Dog, Hershel, and Glenn dragged all the bodies towards the graves and tossed them in. Even Merle. Daryl thought he'd feel overwhelmed or upset at burying his brother but he felt nothing. As the men around him helped bury the dead and the women embranced and talked, Daryl knew who his real family was. While the others covered the men, Daryl began to cover Merle alone. He wanted it that way and had said as much. Afterwards, the women had joined them. Hershel shook Daryl's hand.

" I can't thank you enough for taking care of the place. I wasn't sure what kind of condition it would be in but it looks mighty fine." He said with a smile. Daryl nodded, dropped his hand then wipe the sweat from his forehead. " I suppose you and Harmony moved into two of the bedrooms and I'd like you to keep them."

" Actually," Harmony said as she came forward. " We are only using one bedroom." Daryl looked down at her as she put her arms around his waist. She smiled up at him so he put his right arm around her neck. The group stared at them in surprise.

" Oh, well, I guess that leaves three other bedrooms everyone can choose from." Hershel said.

" I put all your guys stuff upstairs. Come on, I'll make you guys something to eat while you settle back in." She squeezed Daryl before she pulled away. The women, Glenn, and Hershel followed Harmony toward the house.

" So you and Harmony are..." Rick let his question hang in the air.

" She's mine now." Daryl said as he stared after his woman. " She's my woman." He said, feeling a sense of pride wash over him as he announced it. Rick smiled and clapped his hand down on Daryl's shoulder.

" Good for you, man." He said.

The end