Author's Note: Thank you Lila-Renee, jedi-stark, bigtimerushlover101, guest, and Mischa for the reviews. *gives you Walking Dead t-shirts* Haa, if I could, I really would. You guys are awesome, thank you. Thank you to anyone new who has added this story to their favorites and/or follows. Okay, okay, this is where we meet Rick's new love interest (So to answer your question Mischa, no more TaylorxRick. Sadface. They will still be very good friends though!). And I should probably warn you now that the end has Daryl being very fluffyyyy :3
Sorry it took so long to get this chapter up, I have been having major writers block and no motivation :|
ENJOY! xoxo

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE.
IT WILL RAIN.

Taylor sat up in a sudden shot, the nightmare slowly melting around her. She felt the bed next to her. It was still empty. Her horrible dream of being eaten by a walker was just that- a dream- but Jackson was still gone. She let out a few strangled breaths, the memory of seeing him dying in Rick's arms flooding back to her. The room was a dusky orange and pink, it was just before sunrise and the milky, distorted color was coming in through the small halfway underground windows. She sniffled and closed her eyes, taking a large gulp of air. Taylor suppressed the tears for as long as possible until she crawled out of bed, slipping on a pair of jean shorts and a plain gray t-shirt. She pulled on one of Maggie's borrowed red and black plaid quarter-sleeve flannels and crept up the stairs as the buttoned it up.

She tip-toed through the kitchen, hallway, living room, until she was on the porch. The air around her was slightly cold, the trees shaking in the wind, she thought it was going to storm, but that didn't stop her on her mission. As she walked by the camp she was careful to be mindful of her steps, not wanting to wake anybody up. She knew the only other person that was probably awake was her uncle, but she was also sure that he was probably out back feeding the animals.

This was her first time out in weeks, it had been a month since Jackson's death and she had used up all that time sitting in the basement. Taylor either slept or just stared blankly at a wall, she couldn't bare to come out and take the same steps that the small little boy who had depended on her did. She let him down and she would never forgive herself for it; but at the very least she could come out and finally pay her respects, if anything she was ready for that.

On her way to his burial site she stopped when something bright, yellow, and gorgeous caught her eye. She titled her head to the side slightly, examining it from afar, she did not remember ever seeing that type of flower around here before. The vibrancy coming off the flower was intense, something she'd never noticed a flower having before. She carefully plucked it and rolled the stem between her fingers, its tangy fragrance reaching up and hitting her, causing a small smile to form on her lips. It was the first smile since he left.

"Hey Jackson," Taylor smiled faintly, the wooden cross someone had made for him with his beautiful name carved into it made her heart lurch. She stepped to the side, not wanting to walk on top of where he laid beneath the ground, and ran her fingers across the wood. A chill ran through her, causing her hand to jerk back. She reclaimed her previous position, standing awkwardly in front of his tiny grave. "I'm so, so sorry." The tears welled up and started to fall in slow, deliberate paths down her flushed cheeks. "I know you'll never forgive me, but I... I..." she let the flower go at the foot of the semi-grown grass and fell to her knees, weeping into her hands. "I'll never forgive me either." She continued to cry into the palm of her hands until she felt a presence next to her. His hand sat on her shoulder softly, a silent show of support and sharing of the sadness. She kept her eyes closed and lowered her hands, the tears never stopping.

"Shhh," she turned and faced him, knowing who it was just by their touch and calming voice. He held her face in his hands, sitting in muted air, no talking was necessary. Taylor leaned into Daryl's arms letting the sorrow overtake her entire being, knowing that he wasn't going to judge her or be angry with the crying; he would just let her let it out.

"It's okay Tay, he's okay now."

"Ya sure yer gonna be okay? I don't hafta go..." Daryl eyed her cautiously, he couldn't be sure if she was lying or not. It was a good sign that she had left the house the day before, the first time he could recall since Jackson's death, but he didn't know if he could leave her alone. With all the guilt she was still feeling over it, feeling like it should have been her, he didn't know if he was going to regret letting her stay without his watchful eyes.

"I'm fine, really." Taylor pulled her hair up into a ponytail, trying to act as normal as possible, though Daryl could sense she was doing just that- acting.

"I'm staying, I'll be here if she needs anything." Rick walked up the steps behind them, smiling between the two. He put a reassuring hand on Daryl's shoulder, "she'll be okay."

Daryl nodded and shifted from foot to foot uneasily, unsure of how to say goodbye. He knew she would be even more upset if he did his usual head nod, but he wasn't certain what he should do. His eyes darted around nervously before he leaned down to her level, kissing her on the top of the head.

"Loveya," he mumbled so fast Taylor almost didn't catch what he'd said, almost. He trotted off quickly, embarrassed with the words that slipped out of his mouth, even more flustered that he'd said it in front of another person. The blondes mouth hung agape in shock, sinking back into her seat with a dumbfounded look. Rick watched Daryl, Glenn, and Shane leave to go on a supply run and waited until they had completely left the property to say anything.

"Umm..." he sat down in the white rocking chair next to her, his face just as astonished as hers. "Whoa." He nodded his head approvingly, grinning over at her. "You got Daryl Dixon to say I love you?"

"He didn't say I love you," she finally sputtered out, her mouth finally working again. She furrowed her eyebrows, a little upset with him that he caught her so off guard.

"It was very close," Rick's eyes lit up when he looked at her, amused with the whole situation, watching her face burn bright red making his grin grow further. "What? You didn't like it?"

"No! I never said that." She pinched herself, looking over at him with a little smile. "Just checking to see if I'm dreaming."

"I don't think so." Rick laughed, relieved to see she was back to normal. Everyone had been worried that Jackson's death would tear her apart, make her a different person. For awhile it had, but apparently she had time to grieve, and was starting to bounce back. Rick knew she would never forget or forgive herself for the loss, but that maybe she could still be the same old Taylor.

"That is going to take some serious processing," she brushed her bangs out of her face, glancing up to see a pair of gray eyes on them. Before Rick could respond she nodded lightly in the direction of the woman watching them. "That's Claire, right?"

"Mhm," Rick smiled at her when she waved to him, her long black hair in a braid like it usually was. "She was their neighbor."

"Yeah, Maggie told me a little bit about her, but I guess I haven't really met her yet." She had been silently referring to her own lock up in the basement for the past four weeks. Rick knew what she had meant and turned to her with a lopsided smile that he couldn't seem to force away.

"You should meet her, she's great." There was such pure happiness in his tone that Taylor couldn't help but smile along with him.

"Ohhh..." she mused aloud, giggling at the revelation. "You like her?"

"Well, we're kinda... uh..." he rubbed the back of his neck, his typical sign of nervousness that she had grown to know so well. Her mind temporarily flashed back to all of their good times together, making her smile even more. She was very pleased that he was genuinely content, and luckily it had nothing to do with Cassidy.

"She's really pretty." Taylor added when she noticed him stuttering in an attempt to figure out what to call them. She wasn't lying either, Claire had olive skin and gray eyes, long black shiny hair, and looked like she used to be an athlete of some sort.

"Yeah..." He let out a small, blissful breath.

"So you two are dating?" She rose a strategic eyebrow, a smirk gracing her lips.

"I don't know if you can really use that term these days." Rick stated simply, not completely sure how to describe himself and Claire.

"Is she with anyone else?" Taylor was leaning as far back in the chair as possible, trying to get comfortable but failing miserably. She scooted to the front of it, staring at him with hard eyes.

"No."

"Are you?" She kept her tone calm, not accusing, knowing that wouldn't be fair to bring up Cassidy. He told her they were done and she believed him, not to mention he seemed to be entirely smitten by Claire, not taking his eyes off of her for the majority of the conversation.

"No!" Rick shouted a little louder than planned, he reeled himself back in and whispered, "no."

"Then I would say you're dating." She smugly grinned at him, triumphant with her victory.

"What are you and Daryl doing?" Rick turned the tables on her and straight away could tell she wasn't happy about it. But hey, it was only fair, right?

"I don't want to talk about us." She stated simply, playing with the ends of her hair anxiously, she never liked discussing what they were 'supposed' to be. It always led to a fight and usually a temporary falling out with him.

"You never want to, Taylor."

"Because it will never not be complicated. I think I've just come to accept that." She realized she hadn't meant to actually say it out loud to him, she was only musing internally but somehow it had escaped through her lips. Word vomit and Rick always went hand in hand, for him as well. They just seemed to like each others company and confiding in each other, which was fine with her, she did truly want to stay friends with him after their break up; and she knew the feeling was mutual. He didn't have to say it.

"Well... whenever you actually want to talk about it, you know I'm here, right?" Rick touched her hand softly, only meant as a friendly gesture. The corners of her lips twitched up into the ghost of a smile and she nodded, as much as she wanted to, she knew she would never go to him to talk about Daryl. She would never go to anyone to talk about it.

"Yeah, thanks Rick, you really are a great friend." He chuckled and shrugged his shoulders lightly.

"Just how my momma raised me." Taylor laughed along with him.

"She did a great job." She looked out into the campground and saw Claire peer up from her yard work. She knew the ravenette was trying not to stare, or get caught anyway, and looked back down at the garden. "I think you so go talk to your girl now."

"I told Daryl I'd stay with you," he knitted his eyebrows together, giving her a stern look. He knew what Daryl was afraid would happen, and he had to admit, even though he thought Taylor was a strong girl, he was afraid of it too.

"I don't need a babysitter!" She giggled and folded her arms across her chest, rolling her eyes at her own actions. "Okay, sometimes I act like a child... but I still don't need babysat. Go see Claire, she really wants to talk to you."

"How can you tell?" He stood up, unable to refuse to advice she was giving him.

"I'm a girl, I know that look." She waved her hand at him again, "just go."

"You'll be okay?" Rick apprehensively hovered by the top of the stairs, still worried about his decision to leave.

"I'll be one hundred percent fine." Taylor's face lit up in a smile, a fake one, but Rick wasn't sure if it was real or not so he shrugged it off. He made a mental note to keep an eye on the porch while he was out with Claire.

"Okay... don't leave though." He waggled a finger at her the way she pictured he would warn Carl.

"Scout's honor." She held three fingers up, curving her pinky down to touch her inward thumb, the girl scout hand sign. He shook his head at her and suppressed an eye roll at how silly she could be at times. He jogged over to Claire and stood in front of her, his hands on his hips as he watched her work on the flowers. Taylor watched from her seat, Claire rose and her red lips spread into an eager smile, she wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on her tip toes to plant a soft kiss on his lips.

Taylor snickered to herself when she saw Rick look around tentatively to make sure no one was watching them before returning the kiss. She found herself smiling at the pair, so proud that he made the decision to avoid Cassidy and finally found someone good for him. She was glad he'd moved on from her as well, and she knew that both Rick and herself knew that she'd never really get over Daryl; which would have only meant Rick being hurt in the process.

Claire and Rick exchanged a few quick pecks before their kisses started to linger and their hands started to shift. She heard Claire's giggle float through the air, and even she had to admit it was adorable. She felt a slight pang of jealousy at the thought but it was quickly replaced by the same happiness for him as earlier. Taylor rolled her eyes with a little smile and whispered, "get a room, " before standing up and making her way into the house.

She sat staring at the sheet music and the guitar in her lap. She hadn't touched it since her uncle had first told her about it and she promised herself she would try to learn how to play. She never really got around to it, but now she was bored and by herself so she decided to try. After flipping through a few pages of the "Starters Guide to Guitars" and many, many misplayed notes she gave up. She threw the guitar at the foot of the bed and grabbed one of the sheets of paper. She stood up and paced the room reading the lyrics and smiling to herself, she had loved this song when it came out, and now she had a face to put the words with.

Taylor leaned herself against the pool table, setting the sheet down beside her, already having memorized the lyrics. She had known most of them anyway. Her eyes closed as she envisioned the music playing in her head.

"If you ever leave me baby, leave some morphine at my door.
'Cause it would take a whole lot of medication,
To realize what we used to have, and don't have it anymore.
There's no religion that could save me.
No matter how long my knees are on the floor. Oooohh..."

Daryl walked down the stairs slowly, hearing her singing floating up to him in an angelic tone. He had heard her sing before, but now that he wasn't hopped up on morphine pills he noticed how truly beautiful her singing voice was. She had told him a million times it was the only thing she was proud of, and although he disagreed that it was the only thing she was good for, he could see why she thought that.

"So keep in mind all the sacrifices I'm making.
To keep you by my side, and keep you from walking out the door."

She stopped immediately when she saw him picking up the guitar, she hadn't even noticed him walk into the room.

"What are you doing?" She whispered, ashamed that she'd been caught. He gave her a quick smile and held the guitar up in his hand, picking up the sheet music from beside her.

"This the song ya were singin'?" She nodded shyly, and he sat on the edge of the bed, scanning through until he found where she had left off with the lyrics. He started to play the chords and she pursed her lips, unsure if she wanted to sing now that he was sitting here. He looked up at her with raised eyebrows, restarting the chords again. She inhaled deeply and began to sing again as he played the notes perfectly.

"Cause they'll be no sunlight, if I lose you baby.
They'll no clear skies, if I lose you baby.
Just like the clouds my eyes will do the same.
If you walk away, everyday it'll rain, rain, ra-aaiin.
Oooohhh, ooohhhh.
I'll never be your mothers favorite,
Your daddy can't even look me in the eye."

Daryl smirked at her and her lips quivered into a smile while she continued on, but he surprised her by joining in. She felt her knees go weak as he sang with her.

"Ooooohhh, if I was in their shoes, I'd be doing the same thing.
Saying there goes my little girl, walking with that troublesome guy.
But their just afraid of something they can't understand.
Oooohh, well little darlin' watch me change their minds."

She shook her head and stifled a laugh at how much he was surprising her, a bright smile was all that showed.

"Yeah for you, I'll try, I'll try, I'll try, I'll tryyyy.
I'd pick up these broken pieces 'til I'm bleeding,
If that'll make you mine."

He set the guitar down now gently on the bed as she continued to sing, he stood up and smiled when she closed her eyes to keep singing; too oblivious to notice that he'd stopped. Taylor was so enthralled she didn't notice him taking slow steps toward her.

"Cause they'll be no sunlight, if I lose you baby.
They'll be no clear skies, if I lose you baby.
Just like the clouds my eyes will do the same, if you walk away.
Everyday it'll rain, rain, ra-aaiiiin."

He was standing in front of her now and she could finally feel his body heat from the close proximity. She opened her eyes and looked up into his, a confused look playing in the bright blue pools of blue. He smiled down at her when she stopped singing and stunned her by speaking the next part.

"Don't just say goodbye." It suddenly made sense what he was asking, and she leaned herself back as far as the pool table would allow her. He was asking her to stay with him, something she'd never expected to come from him.

"Daryl," her voice was breathless, she knew what was coming and wasn't sure if she was entirely prepared to fall for him all over again. She didn't know if she could handle another heartbreak after their first parting, then Rick, then losing Jackson, her heart had been through too much in too short of a time; she wasn't sure she could handle anything else.

His hand touched her face gently and his breath tingled her skin where his lips were just inches from hers. Every ounce of strength she'd had immediately vanished and she felt her knees actually starting to give out. He scooped her legs up and sat her on the edge of the pool table, the cold coating of the wood against her bare skin making her gasp . He smirked and leaned forward, kissing her gently on her lips. They continued to kiss until she was leaning so far back on the table she might as well have been lying down. He pulled away and smiled at her swollen lips, she sat up and crossed her arms over her chest, which only made her cleavage more revealing.

"What are you smiling at?" She scowled at him, her mind still fuzzy and the world slightly spinning around her.

"You," he chuckled again, averting his eyes and keeping them up with hers.

"Well what is so funny about me?" He moved his hands down to her hips and quirked an eyebrow at her question.

"Ya get cuter when yer mad?" Her frown deepened at his words.

"That's not funny, Daryl."

"I'm bein' serious." He paused, unable to suppress another laugh. "I don't understand why yer gettin' mad at me for kissin' ya? And complimentin' ya?"

"Whatever," she slid forward until she was no longer sitting on the edge of the pool table and started to push past him, unsure with herself of why she was even mad, or upset, or whatever emotion she couldn't figure out. He grabbed her wrist and stopped her from leaving, and that's when it hit her, it was exactly what she was thinking earlier, she didn't want to get attached again and lose him. The more physical they got the more attached she was sure to get, she wasn't sure if that was a girl thing, or a Taylor thing, but she didn't want to risk it. He wouldn't let her walk away though, not this time.

"Taylor, stop." He pulled her back to him so she was flush against his body, crashing his lips to hers again. He knew she wouldn't be able to fight it much longer, he was done playing games and he was going to prove it. This was what she wanted, wasn't it?

He cupped his hands under her thighs and lifted her back to where they were before, giving her no time to protest, firmly planting himself in front of her. His hands slid down to the hem of her shirt, lifting it up over and throwing it onto the floor unceremoniously. Taylor bit her bottom lip and mentally scolded herself for being so easily persuaded by him, but still did nothing to stop him. He trailed soft kisses down her jaw line, neck, until his lips hovered over her collarbone, setting every inch of her on fire. To say she was temporarily stupefied by this gentle, unexpected side of Daryl was probably the understatement of the century. This was not the way she anticipated any of it to go.

One of his hands slid to the small of her back, his finger tips brushing lightly and making her skin break out in goosebumps. He leaned forward to whisper in her ear.

"Lean back again," his voice was husky and low, and the kiss that he placed by the pulse point on her neck made a small moan escape, he licked his lips and smirked devilishly. She did as he commanded, leaning back and propping herself on her elbows. But before he could do anything else to torture her so squeaked out, "you said you loved me."

He froze in place, leaning over top of her with a look of being ambushed playing in his eyes. He hadn't expected her to bring that up, he wasn't even sure she had heard him say it earlier. He contemplated ignoring her question but knew that she would bring it up again, it was something that she wasn't going to let go.

His mind spun with what he was going to say, but he decided upon the truth. He lifted his own shirt over his head and threw it on top of hers before letting his hands fall onto her hips. Her skin ached from his touch, his hands were warm, almost burning, in contrast to how cold she felt. He coasted one hand up, placing it delicately on the back of her neck, keeping the other steady on her hip. Daryl angled himself to kiss her, letting this one linger a little longer. Their blue eyes locked together and he smiled at her.

"I do love ya Taylor Marie." His hand gave her side a tender squeeze. "And I'm gonna prove it to ya."