Hey! Super long chapter for you lovely readers today. Not to mention some risky business, if you know what I mean ;). Anyways, thank you for reading and giving this story a chance (and your time). Please please please review. I hope I wrote well, but I was a bit outside my comfort zone, so I have no idea. ENJOY GIANT SUPER CHAPTER!

29: Tick Tock

No one noticed the spring in my step; I liked that. I had a secret. I actually had several secrets, and all of them both protected and empowered me. One of the positives to being on my own, or having that in my future, meant that I was a wildcard. And being the wildcard, unpredictable and unattached, meant I could do whatever I felt like. The group, minus Carl, was starting to plan their exodus when I entered the dining room, and any other day this might have hurt me. New Annie didn't have time for that. New Annie wasn't even bothered by it in the least. I knew what was happening, and I'd come to terms like a real grown adult. I sat down right by Daryl, leaning my head on his shoulder with a calm smile on my face only to have his arm wrap around me in reflex. No one protested my presence; after all I was keeping to myself. I just sat there listening to everyone.

"We should go north," Rick was rationalizing. It was almost funny how he tried to be so in control. The world now, especially when you were traveling, didn't allow for that. I knew that better than anyone, and he surely figured that out by now. Life was even more unpredictable than it was before all of this. Throwing specific plans, like he was beginning to do right now, just made things messy. It allowed for disappointment, it allowed for chaos. I sat with them for a while. They had one of my maps out and were pointing at various things, but all I could focus on for the longest time was Daryl. I had liked having him around. Hell, I had even admitted to myself that I loved the guy. I wondered what it would've been like if we had met before all of this; he probably wouldn't have noticed me, but I'd have noticed him. I am glad for now, even if I wasn't entirely sure how he felt. Whatever this was, I only got two more weeks of it. I took a few mental pictures and decided it was about time to see what Carl was up to. I stood up and went looking for him. Not in the kitchen. Not in the living room.

"There you are," I sat down beside him on the couch in the den, the fire warmed my feet.

"Hi, Annie," he smiled at me.

"Hey buddy, how've you been?" I rocked my head back-and-forth to whatever beat was running through my head at the time.

"Alright I guess."

"You guess?" He nodded and I noticed the sullen look on his face. "What's got you down?"

"It's almost March."

"That's true." I looked over at the fire; the heat hit my face as I leaned back into the worn leather of the couch.

"I don't think I'm ready."

"Why do you say that?" I glanced at him from the corner of my eye, before turning back to the blaze.

"Remember when you said that by the time I left here I would be able to make it on my own?"

"I do."

"I don't think I can."

"You're crazy then," I pulled my knee to my chest and faced him, "If anyone can make it out there, no matter who they were with, even alone, it'd be you." He shook his head, "Hey. You'll survive. You just gotta be tough, like me." I smiled at him.

"What if I can't?"

"What if dinosaurs come back and kill us all!" I laughed, "What if's won't do you any good, but I'll tell you what can," I continued to smile, "Just follow these three rules. Save yourself. Save anyone else you can. And follow your gut. That's the big one. Trust your gut, or your conscience, or your heart. However you want to put it, just trust yourself. Really, as long as you do that you'll be fine."

"I'll still see you in a year?"

"Like I'd forget about you." He still seemed worried, "I know something that will cheer you up," I paused; flashing the most mischievous smile I could muster.

"What?"

"I put together a little gift for you, for when y'all leave."

"Really," he laughed.

"I wasn't gonna let you leave empty handed, now was I?" He kept laughing, "What's so funny, bud?"

"It's just," he kept on laughing. I tried to remember this sound. Hysterical laughter. Happiness.

"What?"

"It's just, I made you a gift too."

-o0o-

Though my conversation with Carl was short, it did add another thing to look forward to in the weeks ahead so I couldn't be that mad. When the time came I helped Lori and Carol with dinner, they even let me cook the main part of the meal. I was glad to get to try my hand at it again; I mean, I was going to have to do it all by myself again really soon, so why not? They were fun to cook with, especially today. With Carol's jokes and Lori's snarky remarks about being pregnant it would have been hard not to have a good time. Occasionally I'd give them a direction, and they'd question me. My response was always, 'if it doesn't taste good, then just blame me.' That seemed to suffice, as by the time the meal was done it was just as I'd pictured it. My new cheery mood sustained as the table filled and people began to eat.

"You ladies really outdid yourselves tonight," T-Dog said as he shoveled the food into him mouth. I smiled in-between bites at the praise.

"Annie did most of the cooking tonight, so thank her," Lori winked at me from her seat next to Rick.

"Well, shit girl. Why haven't you been cooking this entire time?" I laughed with him, and everyone joined in. "How many months of first class cooking did we miss out on? Five? Six?" It was almost odd to be laughing with everyone, even Rick. This really was turning into the best day I've had since… Since I don't even know when. I'd have to remember this.

"A doctor and a chef all in one," I think those were the first words Glen had ever said to me that weren't a direction of some kind. "Damn Daryl, of all the girls left you get her. Lucky son of a bitch."

"Watch your mouth, Chinaman," Daryl pointed his knife at him jokingly.

"How many times do I have to tell you I'm Korean," Glen sighed, and I noticed Maggie's hand on his shoulder.

"And she can work a field, too. You did hit the jackpot with her," Maggie smiled at me, and I felt myself blush. For one I wasn't sure if anyone knew about us. I mean, yeah we were around each other quite a bit, but that didn't really mean anything. It wasn't like we kissed in front of everyone like how Glen and Maggie did. Besides, I didn't think they thought so highly of me.

"You're telling me," I felt his arm wrap around my waist, and I couldn't stop the ridiculous smile that was forming on my face. It was like my mouth couldn't stop itself from turning up at the corners, it was just a puppet on some string. I had never really felt like I had a place with them, but now. This is what belonging felt like, right? This is what it felt like to have people like me.

"Can I talk to you for a minute, Daryl?" I could tell by the look on Rick's face that somehow I'd done something wrong, but I for the life of me couldn't care less. I did, however, feel a bit uneasy when Daryl got up and followed Rick out of the dining room. This couldn't be good. I had been flying too close to the sun all day; maybe karma was going to push me down a few rungs.

"So where'd you learn to cook?" Beth asked from across the table.

"Here actually. Mostly by myself, but Lori was kind enough to teach me a few things," I smiled and took another bite.

"If I'd have known you were this good, I'd have had ya teach me a thing or two instead," Lori laughed. I shook my head at Lori. She had made good meals; I really didn't know what all the hubbub was about.

"Do you think you could teach me a few things before we leave?"

"Of course, that'll be fun." Through the house came muffled, yet noticeably raised voices. They must be arguing. But they never argue?

"So Annie," Lori spoke obviously to cover up the noise, "You came all this way from Louisiana, right?" I nodded, "You must've met some interesting people on your way up here."

"Nope. I actually didn't know anyone else was alive until Daryl showed up," I laughed.

"So you were alone this whole time and you still survived?" Glen looked shocked.

"I guess I've been playing things a lot more close to the chest than I thought I was," I scooped the last bite into my mouth. "Yeah, I've been alone."

"I can't imagine…"

"It was hard at first, but it got easy quick." I smiled, "I'll admit, most of the time it was useful, at least before I found this place. I'm sure you all know how difficult it is to stay clean on the road, and it was better no one was around to smell me. It was disgusting," I laughed.

When Rick and Daryl came back into the dining room they both had an air of anger about them. Neither of them said a word as they sat down in their respective places and finished their food. Hershel started talking to Glen about something mundane, and the good mood the table had been experiencing had vanished.

Daryl was the first to get up and put his plate in the kitchen. When he returned he just said, "If anyone needs me, I'll be sleeping."

Wait. Already? The sun had only just set half of an hour ago. I got up and quickly went to wash my plate, still remembering the last thing on my 'To Do' list. There was no way I was letting this slide again. I swiftly made my way up the stairs and to my room. "Hey," he was already lying down, "Are you alright?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"It just sounded like you two were arguing," I sat on my side of the bed.

"So?" he rolled over to face me.

"I don't know," I almost asked him if he wanted to talk about it, but I already knew the answer. A resounding no. "So, are you really tired, or were you just saying that?"

"Why?" His smirk was more than enough to set me off.

"Because," I slinked down and gave him a soft kiss on his lips. When I moved my attention to his neck I was a bulldozer; a force to be reckoned with. My lips moved feverishly between the occasional bites. I couldn't wait anymore, and I was sure he knew it too.

"What do you think you're doing?" his hand pushed me away.

"Tick tock, tick tock." I took the opportunity to pull my shirt off, "Two more weeks. And I'm sorry, but I'm done waiting." I leaned towards him, but he scooted back. There was something in his eyes, he wanted this too, I could tell, but something was holding him back. No. No. This is happening tonight. I leaned in once more, and he pulled back again. "At least let me kiss you."

"What's the point? I'll be gone soon anyway."

I sighed, or more pouted, for a few moments while I sat up staring at the white wall. My brain was working overtime to find a way through this. "That's got to be the most bullshit excuse I'd ever heard," I looked back over to him. "And you know it." I slipped out of my pants, "Just because something's going to end doesn't mean you shouldn't even… I mean, if that's true why do anything?" I stared at him: no answer. Tick tock. I searched myself and found my confidence quickly. "I want you," I rolled over so I was sitting on top of him. I reached back and with a quick movement I had unclasped my bra, "Do you want me?" The straps slipped down my arms, causing slight Goosebumps from the contact, and I discarded the lace. His face, those beautiful eyes, said it all. He didn't need to nod then; I already knew. He looked so perfect in that moment; I didn't even restrain my smile. I don't think I could have if I tried. I felt a surge of energy run up my legs. All I could do now was lean down, run my fingers through his hair and start to kiss him. Soft at first then more and more ferocious as the moments passed. Tick tock. My heart was pounding away, too wound up to settle down, and I loved every second of it. Our lips moved in synch, as if they had it all planned out. The occasional bite only made my drive stronger. Tick tock. My skin was electrified by his fingertips. Man, he knew how to use his hands. The current seemed to spread everywhere, but it focused between my legs. I needed this.

I rolled him over so that I could lie down. It was his turn to take charge. I reached down and tugged the bottom of his shirt, and he took the hint. Then it was skin. Skin and warmth and lips and the thuds of our hearts. I could practically feel the blood rush south. I needed this, and I needed it now. When his lips found my neck my hands left their place on his back for just a moment, speedily removing the remaining lace, but when they returned they were no longer satisfied with just pulling him closer. They needed more. I needed more. I needed more and I needed it now. Tick tock. Instead my fingers pulled at his waistband. "Off," I breathed, and he obeyed.

Then it was more skin. Legs interlocking. His lips over my skin. Goosebumps, tingling, and the hammering of my heart. Then more kissing yes more kissing. There could never be enough kissing. Tick tock. I wrapped my arms and legs around him. Now. It had to be now. Now or I'd explode. "Please," I whispered in his ear.

I wasn't ready for it. But I was. I was so ready for it. The initial sting, then utter pleasure. The moving together. The way his skin tasted under my lips; salt and something else I couldn't place. His quiet grunts. My quiet moans. The softness of his hair between my fingers. The warmth inside of me, the insane satisfaction. More kissing, further muffling our noises. My skin wasn't electric, it was on fire. Sizzling slowly, but surely and I couldn't have been more happy about it. The best part was how he looked at me. It might have been love, but I didn't really care about that. That look was on another level; I had never felt more beautiful. As minutes flew by, the bliss only intensified. I couldn't tell if I was being consumed or I was doing the consuming, all I knew what that I felt amazing. I felt like a whole new me. I felt invincible. More minutes passed, slowly and yet way too fast, and then our pace quickened. Faster and faster until… Complete ecstasy.

We lied there for a while, panting, kissing, panting some more. Our hearts were beating so loudly; it was the only other thing I could hear besides the breathing. "You're," pant, "You're," pant, "Just wow," I broke the silence. He laughed before rolling over to just beside me and taking a deep breath. I did the same thing; breathe in deep and exhale. I closed my eyes, trying to calm the beating down. I felt his arm snake behind my head before pulling me towards him. It was strange to be back in my normal spot after all that. It felt oddly different. I was still cuddled against his chest, but now it was something totally new. I loved him. I loved him a lot more than I had let myself admit before, and this all just sealed it. "Daryl?"

"Yeah?"

I don't know why I was going to say what I was going to say; still riding the post-sex high, or the confidence of the day hadn't worn off, or temporary insanity. But I felt like I had to say it right then and there. I stared intently at the wall, so as to not lose my nerve, "Don't take this the wrong way, and ignore what I'm about to tell you, but I just have to say this," I squinted my eyes and braced myself for impact, "I am pretty sure I love you." Band-Aid ripped off successfully.

He pulled my chin up to face him, "I know," he smiled, but there was something morose his eyes that I could just make out in the dim light. "Goodnight," he kissed my forehead.

"Goodnight," I lightly brushed my lips over his and reclaimed my place nestled into his chest.

Dun Dun Dun Dun! Finally, right! Well, let me know how you liked the chapter, and your thoughts on the story! How do you think it will develop, what would you like to see happen before the gang leaves old Annie behind?

PS: Please tell me someone got the Star Wars reference! (Giant nerd moment for me, but it totally worked with the whole thing so yay!)