Bit of a warning there is one...maybe two chapters left in this. I've not had as much time to write and it's a bit of a injustice to leave it setting unfinished. I also don't want to deal with the fall of the prison or the aftermath right now. I might start something at a later date for something like that but not right now.

Désirée set in their cell stretched out on the bed letting her battered body rest up before she went down to see what was for dinner. Daryl hadn't made it back in yet from taking off with her father and though she would have been worried about that in another time, she felt content with how it was. She knew her father needed to square things with Daryl for him to feel like he wasn't losing his child.

"Désirée." Carol's soft voice called up the steps.

She sighed hoping she wasn't needed to anything right now. Daryl had done a number on her on the run and she was tired. More than tired she was plain wore the fuck out. Raising herself up just as Carol stepped through the door the woman smiled at her warmly, "What can I do for you?"

Carol smiled waving her words away, "Nothing I was going to let you know the food was ready."

Désirée dropped back on the bed and nodded her head, "I'll be down in a bit."

Carol stepped to the door, "Daryl and your dad are already down there."

She swung her legs around and winced at the action as her jeans moved against her sensitive flesh. Carol raised an eyebrow at her and stepped back into the room, "Honey are you okay?"

Désirée stood up and nodded at her, "Just fine."

Carol eyed her and then her eyes fell to her throat and then her smirk turned devious before she turned walking out the door a soft chuckle left behind. Désirée trailed after her and Carol waited on her at the bottom step, "Thing about beards they always leave you with a little something don't they."

Désirée looked over at her and then rubbed her throat a small smile teasing her lips, "Yeah they do."

"You're good for him you know." Carol supplied.

"He's good for me."

She didn't wait for Carol's reply as she stepped through the door and her eyes sought out Daryl. He was setting by his brother her father in front of him. She knew that he'd already seen the harsh bite mark she'd left behind and honestly she was beyond caring. Before she would have been mortified of such things like this but now, now she just didn't care. Things with Daryl were different. Everything just fell into place and felt natural for them. It felt right.

Getting her food she set down between the brothers listening to them talk about plans for upcoming stuff. Michonne set down at the table closer to Daryl and he raised an eyebrow at her. She had an air about her like a weight had been lifted and Désirée found herself wondering why she had set next to Daryl when she generally was with Rick.

She shifted commanding his attention, "Need to talk to you."

He nodded his head and shot a look to Merle and both brothers stood fluidly. Daryl's hand ran across her back stirring her hair as he went and she smiled at the small gesture catching Arvin's attention. He looked her over a small smile in his eyes as he looked at her.

"Have fun dragging him off as soon as we got back?" Désirée grinned at him.

He nodded his head his eyes becoming pensive as looked off to where the brother's disappeared. "He loves you."

She smiled at his words already knowing as much for herself but it made her chest tighten hearing it from her father. She licked her lips trying to gather moisture in her mouth as she thought about the youngest Dixon.

"Hold on to him." Arvin locked eyes with her saying more with just a look than he ever would with words. She smiled at him and nodded her head at him rubbing her throat feeling the rawness against her fingers.

"I plan too."

Daryl strode back into the room with a slight smile gracing his features making him look years younger. She found herself smiling back at him for no other reason than he was. He set down and started eating again his eyes shooting around the room like always but there was a hardness gone from them that she had seen when they had first been found.

Merle dropped down next to him the same air about him. Arvin looked at them both and a smile split his face, "She found him?"

"Yeah, took her a bit to get back but she found him." Daryl grinned.

Merle tapped his spoon heavily on the bowl for a second before speaking, "You know she didn't end it fast."

Daryl snarled slightly, "He didn't deserve fast brother."

Merle nodded sucking his teeth, "Aint sayin' he did. Believe me I know the monster that was that man."

"Are either of you gonna let me know what's going on or keep talking circles around me." She looked at her father but he just kept eating. There was a time when she could turn those eyes on him and get him to talk right then. But now he just looked over to Daryl waiting for him to take the lead. It was a silent acknowledgement between the men, an understanding.

Daryl looked at her, "The bastard governor I told you about."

Désirée nodded her head letting out a breath, "He's dead?"

Daryl's eyes looked to Michonne who was setting with Rick, "Yeah. He's gone."

Désirée followed his eyes and looked back at him. She wanted to ask him if he was mad that he wasn't there to help her to have her back but she was figured as long as the woman came back he was fine. He'd settle on it. His eyes met hers and she seen relief in them as he looked her over.

"Do you think the men that were with him will try anything?" Arvin questioned.

"Nah. Martinez aint so much a bad guy as a fuckin' dumbass." Merle smiled, "He aint for hurting women and children and we got that in spades." Merle sighed, "He's set up somewhere probably away from here. He aint gon' want to cross us after the shit they kicked up."

Daryl snorted under his breath and she remembered him talking about the way him and Merle had been thrown into a ring to fight against each other. It made her sick to think about him like that but she found comfort in the fact that a man as sick as Phillip had been was gone. It was a relief. She could understand the look in his eyes.

Arvin shot her a look and then stood up leaning forward kissing her on the forehead. His eyes went to Daryl and he nodded to him before striding off and out of sight. Merle leaned up and around her, "He mad at you for knocking the bottom out of his daughter?"

Daryl growled under his breath and for once Désirée wasn't worried about slapping Merle for his nasty shit. She was just as curious about what happened between them but knew he wasn't going to talk in front of his brother. He flipped the man the bird and stood up looking down at her seeing if she was done.

She nodded and stood up with him watching as some of the Woodbury women watched as Daryl waited on her. He wasn't looking at them as she walked his way but she seen him flipping his brother off again and Merle cackled. Daryl walked behind her as she made her way outside to let the cool night air wash over her heated skin.

They set in silence for a while both comfortable as they leaned back against the brick of the building. They were away from anywhere anyone would stumble on them and she was happy for the quiet and the cool of the night.

"He threaten you again?"

Daryl snorted and shook his head as he ran his knife under his nails absently. It always amused her that the man wasn't bothered by some of the nasty shit he managed to get on him, yet his nails were always clean. Always.

"Nah. He aint threaten me again." There was a smile in his voice.

Désirée let her head drop to his shoulder as the soft snick of his knife was accompanied by the sounds of the wind in the trees. She stretched her legs out and groaned slightly feeling the tension leaving her body. Daryl swept her legs into his lap and his hand started kneading the muscle there making her groan again.

"Are you two okay though?" She murmured.

"We never weren't okay Des." His voice dropped lower his southern drawl coating her like a thick blanket and warming her. "What was it you said to me...just him being a father."

She looked up at him, "I wanna go to bed Daryl."

He pulled her standing his mouth claiming hers before he left her just as quickly and lead her back the way they had come. She marveled at the fact that he still had ahold of her hand as they made their way through the common area in front of everyone. It was something new between them for him to be touching her like that where people could see but she couldn't help but to smile. Whatever they had talked about had clearly made Daryl more comfortable about it.

She wasn't going to questions for fear of spoiling the moment. No she was going to follow his lead. He turned and looked at her as they stepped in the room and she watched as he dropped his shirt and started getting ready for bed. She watched as his pants fell loose around his hips all the way down to where he was kicking his boots off, he was perfect for her.

She watched his skin flush and chase the blush on him, "What're you doin?"

She met his eyes and smiled, "I love you."

Daryl tilted his head at her as he set down on the bed and looked up, "Love you to Des." His voice was husky and she sucked a breath not sure she had heard him right but the glint in his eyes promised she had.