AN: To all my reviewers/favers/followers I LOVE Y'ALL SOOOOO MUCH! I've never ever gotten this many reviews for a story. I'm so proud of myself. It made my day to check my email and see that I had so many new reviews! Some day I hope I have one of those stories with like 500 reviews...that'd be so great. Maybe I'll do that with this story! So here it is, I hope you like it. Leave me a review and tell me what you thought!
Lilian woke from her tent two days after Daryl's accident. Judging by the sun, she guessed it to be around seven. The only thing she heard was the soft crackle of a fire. No shuffle of feet, no voices, and no birds. It was strange, which only added to the eerie feeling Lilian felt. She looked over to see the seven year old she'd found the day before.
Emily's hair was more black than a raven's feathers, and more beautiful than Niagara Falls. It was surprising it'd stayed so wonderful given that when she was found Emily was on the brink of starvation, now she was looking healthier, and she was able to walk again. unfortunately, she hadn't taken to anyone except Lilian at camp. Carol was alright but they weren't close. That's why she and Lilian move to a tent of their own.
"Lily?" Emily said, rubbing her eyes. She had so creatively nicknamed Lilian 'Lily'.
"Yeah baby doll?"
"Do I have to get up now?" her eyes more green than emeralds were filled with sleep.
"No Emie, why don't you go back to sleep, and I'll have Carol check in on you."
"Why can't you?"
"I need to go hunt more food for the group."
"Hurry back," she pleaded. Her biggest fear was loosing another mother-which was how she already was thinking of Lily. She was nice and took care of her. It was nice to have a mom again.
"'Course."
Emily laid back down, and Lilian got up and put her boots on. She kissed the small girl's head before leaving the tent. When she stepped out she saw the small embers of the fire burning, and Carol was cooking over it.
"Morning Lilian," she said quietly.
"Good morning Carol. Would you like some help before I head out?"
"No thank you. Maybe you should check on Daryl? He's been kinda...off lately. More than usual."
"...Sure..." she only hesitated because things with Daryl had been...off also. She was so confused. He kissed her, he made her a bow, and they seemed to get along...but then he suddenly distanced himself again.
The walk to Daryl's tent seemed to get two steps farther away with every step she took. Everything around her seemed to move in slow motion, suddenly in the pit of her stomach knots formed. Lilian didn't understand what the hell was wrong with her, normally she was not a nervous person. Damn you Daryl, she thought to herself.
Daryl woke when he heard footsteps getting closer to his tent. From his many nights in the woods, he'd come to be a light sleeper. He didn't even have time to put his jeans back on, so Daryl grabbed his cross-bow and stepped out.
"Don't shoot, it's just me," Lilian said with her hands up in a surrender. Daryl noticed her long, blonde hair was in a braid over her right shoulder today. Her beauty still bothered him, never in his life had he had a woman look at him the way she did. Lilian had a certain compassion, bravery, fire that he couldn't really described.
"What the hell yew want, Princess."
"Hm, had you plagued as a briefs kinda guy," she said in an attempt to lighten the mood. Daryl grunted in the way that showed he didn't think it was funny before putting his pants on. "Damn Daryl, don't get them pretty panties in a twist, I'm just joking with you."
"Why don't ya go back ta the res' a the group? An', leav' me the hell alone."
"Because Mr. Grumpy I wanted to see if you were up for a hunting trip. I know you've got to be dying to get outa this place for a while."
It was true. He was sick of all these people, especially Carol. She didn't know how to leave a man alone.
"Fine, give me a few ta get ready."
"God, and I thought I was the girl," she teased. "Afraid you're gonna scare off the bunnies if you're hair isn't perfect?" he gave a small smirk, liking that she wasn't afraid to tease him. That was something people here had a problem with. They were scared of Daryl, but he understood where they were coming from after Merle. "Well, it's okay if you scare those bunnies 'cause we're gonna shoot them. But by all means take your time."
He just shood his head. Without another word, Lilian trotted off towards camp. Daryl couldn't help himself from admiring the view.
OoO
Daryl and Lilian ended up staying to eat a quick breakfast before they left. He noticed she wasn't really eating, she just kinda pushed the food around her plate. The small dark haired girl sat next to the blonde on a log quietly eating her meal.
"Here Sweet Pea, finish mine. I'm not really hungry," Lilian said with a smile when she noticed how Emily wolfed down her food.
Emily's eyes grew wide, with shock, then delight when she began eating the older woman's food. "Thank you so much."
"Anything for you," Lilian kissed the raven haired girl's head. Everything else was silent.
"Um guys," Glenn started, everyone looked up at him. "The barn's full a walkers..."
There was only one word to describe the next few minutes. Chaos. The group ran to the old wooden barn that sat at the edge of the property. Sure enough, there were moans and groans coming from the inside.
"You cannot tell me you're all right with this?" Shane shouted at Rick.
"No, I'm not, but we're guests here. This isn't our land," Rick replied. Lilian agreed with both sides.
"God, this is our lives!" Shane said, just shy of shouting it.
"Lower your voice," Glenn warned.
"We can't just sweep this under the rug," Andrea interjected.
"Then let's go! Let's just fucking go!" Shane exclaimed.
"We can't go," Rick replied.
"Why, Rick? Why?"
"Because my daughter is still out there," Carol said meekly.
"Okay," Shane sighed. "Okay, I think it's time that we all start to just consider the other possibility."
"I'm close to finding this girl," Daryl added. "I just found her damn doll two days ago."
"You found her doll, Daryl. That's what you did. You found a doll," Shane said as he rolled his eyes.
"Shut your big stupid mouth!" Lilian yelled at him. "We're gonna find Sophia and show you how stupid you are!"
"I'm stupid? You're chasin' the pipe dream a findin' kid that's long dead!"
"Fuck you!"
"Say that to my face, you smart mouthed bitch!"
Lilian wasn't backing down. She was going to put this big mouthed ex-cop, in his place.
"Fuck you! Stop trying to be a badass," she leaned in closer so only he and the nearest people could hear. "That doesn't compensate for your non-existant dick."
That sent Shane into a boiling rage, which only further proved Lilian's point.
"You listen here, you're just som' little bitch with a bow, that needs to watch your mouth!"
"And you're just a dickless asshole with a shotgun," she fired back. Shane was done, he shoved her onto the dirt ground with all of his strength-which was a lot. But, she sat back up a moment later ready to stand up and sock him in the jaw, unfortunately she was too late. Shane was on the ground too, already being punched in the face. She had expected the two men beating the hell out of him to be Mason and Liam, but it was Liam and Daryl. Mason gave her an apologetic look for not stepping in as he held Olive close. She didn't blame him for what he didn't do.
"He's had enough boys," Rick said. Seeing his best friend get beat up was kind of hard but he deserved it. His grandma Jean would've taking a switch to his ass a couple of times. Daryl walked away, but not before a swift kick in the leg. He held out his hand to Lilian. She took it gratefully.
"Thank you," she said to him. Liam walked over, he was raging too at this point. "And thank you. I kinda wanted the pleasure of doin' myself but whatever."
"Are you okay?" Liam asked.
"Yeah. I've survived worse. My ass hurts pretty bad though..."
"Maybe you should go lie down..."
"Nah, we got a huntin' trip to make, don't we Daryl."
"Ya."
"Can I-" Liam started but Lilian held her hand up to him.
"We have bows, you have a gun. It wouldn't be wise. Keep camp safe, and make sure if that dumb bitch-Andrea is on watch, that we don't get shot."
"Okay," Liam said defeated.
OoO
All in all they'd caught two rabbits, ten squirrels, and a racoon. They were walking back to camp in silence.
"Daryl," Lilian said suddenly making him stop dead in his tracks.
"What?"
"Why don't you like to talk to me anymore."
"I ain't good fer ya. Yew deserve someone better. Like that pretty boy," the last words he spat like most people would a curse word.
"That's not true, and you know it."
"Is true and yew know it. Imma Dixon, worthless, useless, piece a trash."
"Do you really believe that?"
"Said it didn't I?"
"If you do then you're an idiot. You're only one of those things."
"An' what's that, Princess?"
"A Dixon. Other than that, you're a kind, caring, handsome, man. I will tell you who is worthless. Shane."
"He won't hurt yew again, promise."
"If he does, I'm sure he'll regret the day he entered this world."
"Yup."
"So here's an idea, why don't we use our lips for something other than talking..."
"Like what?"
"Dammit Dixon, just kiss me."
"Geez, demanding women."
His lips attacked her's for the second time.
OoO
They walked back to camp a little later, knowing making out in the woods wasn't the best of ideas. They headed back to see everyone-save Shane, Rick, Hershel, and Jimmy, lolly gagging around porch of the house.
"What the hell people? Ain't nobody takin' this seriously!? We got us a damn trail."
"Rick and I were suppose to go out a few hours ago," Andrea said.
"Ptf. 'Course. You got a damn gun and a fucking knife, go out your damn self!" Lilian shouted at her.
"What is your problem with me?"
"Everything!"
"Oh, here we go," Daryl said when Shane walked back with a bag full of guns. Wordlessly he passed them out to every able member.
"Oh, shit," T-Dog said. Coming from the woods with two walkers on leashes was Rick, Hershel, and Jimmy. The group ran to them, they all met outside the barn.
"What the hell are you doing?" Shane asked.
"Shane, just back off," Rick commanded.
"Why do your people have guns?" Hershel asked.
"Are you kidding me? You see what they're holding onto?"
"I see who I'm holding onto."
"No, man, you don't."
They argued back and fourth. Lilian grabbed Emily and pulled her close, before walking over by Carol, she had a feeling something big was about to happen. Shane shot seven rounds into a female walkers chest.
"Shane! Enough!" Rick exclaimed.
"You're right it is enough," he shot her in the head. "Enough risking our lives for a little girl who's gone! Enough living next to a barn full of things that are trying to kill us. Enough. Rick, it ain't like it was before! Now if y'all want to live, if you want to survive, you gotta fight for it. I'm talking about fighting right here, right now!" Shane ran and opened the barn doors.
Shots rang out, Lilian covered Emily's ears with her hands, seeing as Emily's were occupied with her eyes. The sight in front of them was unbelievable. At least a dozen walkers came from the barn, it could've been a whole lot of hell if they got out.
Once all of the bodies were on the ground, everyone shared an uneasy look. They knew they were likely to be kicked out-especially Shane. Suddenly, another set of moans was heard. Feet shuffled from inside the barn before coming to the doors. The small from of a sandy blonde haired little girl stood before them. It was Sophia-as a walker.
Carol screamed in horror, and started to run to her, but luckily Daryl caught her. Tears set sail from Lilian's eyes. The saltines burned her cheeks as the streamed down. Rick, being the brave, honorable man he was, stepped forward with his gun.
Bang...
AN: I thought about making this two chapters but I didn't think there was a good break in it, so I kept it like this. Tell me your thoughts. And if you have ideas, I'm bound to get writer's block soon, feel free to PM me, or leave it as a review! Thanks for reading!