Sorry for the delay. Hopefully I haven't lost too many of you. Thanks for reading and reviewing.

I don't own the walking dead or its characters, OC and non canon storylines are mine.

ENJOY!

"Why ya gotta go all the way into the city for a damn dress?" Daryl grumbled with a furrowed brow and downturned lips. Jameson chuckled at his boyish scowl and explained, "I don't but Sasha and Beth want to do a girl's weekend thing. Ty gave Sash her first weekend off in like forever. Beth has been dying to go to some girly girly clothing place in the square. I'm getting dragged along because apparently I'm not allowed to wear and I quote Sash here, 'a filthy fucking band shirt and shitkicker Levi's to my wedding."

Daryl barked out a laugh as she ranted further about the fact that she was apparently a winter and needed to go towards a more ivory than a true white to keep from looking like a vampire on her big day.

Jameson huffed out an irritated breath but smiled softly, "I can't wait to marry you."

Daryl neck flushed and he ducked his head looking completely embarrassed by her declaration.

"Just sayin that 'cause ya don't wanna go shopping."

Smirking she shook her head, "Nah. Well a little bit but truthfully... I just wanna refer to you as my better half."

Daryl scrunched up his nose and grumbled, "Shuddup."

Jameson wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his nose making him playfully bristle. A knock on the apartment door signaled Jameson's ride had arrived. Daryl pulled away from her soft lips and headed to the living room while Jameson finished packing her overnight bag. The girls were staying the evening in the city and heading back the following afternoon. Beth's sister, Maggie, lived in the city and was meeting them at a club much to Jameson's dismay but she was going to live a little. Or so Sasha said.

"C'mon James. Stop hidin' from me and ya better have somethin' to wear out tonight or I swear t'god." Sasha's voiced carried to the bedroom. Jameson could heard Daryl grumble about taking his woman clubbing.

"I got a couple things, now shut up and let me say goodbye to my fiancé." She snarked with a grin. Daryl looked embarrassed at her teasing but pulled her into a tight hug mumbling, "Gonna miss ya darlin'."

"Ugh you guys are so gross." Sasha complained, taking Jameson bag, "I'll meet you outside."

Jameson smirked waiting for her friend to walk out before attacking Daryl's hot mouth. They kissed while Daryl backed Jameson into the front door, his tongue delving as deep as he could. She moaned wantonly as his teeth pulled her lip into his hot mouth.

"Fuck Daryl. Don't wanna go." Jameson mumbled as his mouth trailed along her jaw only to end up sucking on her earlobe. The keening moan escaping her had Daryl grinding into her, his hand fisting her hair and squeezing her ass.

"Motherfucker." He groaned as her hand slid down to cup his groin tightly. Jameson smirked as his head was thrown back and he panted. After a few firm strokes Jameson pulled away and bit her lip, her eyes anything but innocent.

"Gotta go Dare." She quipped, her tiny frame sliding out from under his arm. The man groaned loudly and scrubbed his face roughly, "Cock tease."

Jameson laughed loudly and grabbed her purse, her hand gripping the doorknob, "Sorry sweetheart. I'll make it up to you."

Daryl kissed her on the forehead and grunted, "Be safe. Text me when ya get there."

"I will. Love you."

"Love ya darlin'."

Jameson rode in the front seat while Beth sat the back only to lean forward, her voice belting out some song from the radio. Rolling her eyes at the other pairs antics Jameson smirked and laughed as Sasha chimed in, her voice far from perfect.

"Jesus. You two aren't even drunk yet and are doin' karaoke."

"Ooooh!" Beth shouted, "Good idea. Does the club Maggie's meeting us at have that?"

"I think so." Sasha replied slyly seeing Jameson's frown. "And you're singing. I know you have a damn good voice and you're full of shit if you deny it."

"Fuck off. I know I can, that's not why I won't sing and you know it."

"Yeah yeah, nerves, anxiety. I get it but seriously girl you gotta sing."

"Maybe." She huffed crossing her arms and muttering, "But when I barf on your favorite heels you can't be mad."

Sasha laughed loudly while pulling the car off the freeway and into the heart of the city. The trio drove to their hotel to check in, get lunch and do some light shopping.

By nightfall they were downtown at the club. Sasha had forced her into a draping black shirt that she bought that afternoon, the fabric hung loosely on one shoulder and exposed her narrow neck. The gray skinny jeans were matched with a pair of boots with too high heels. She felt more than a little out of sorts being more of a t-shirts and tennis shoes type girl. Jameson adjusted the low neck once again while grumble under her breath about looking like a hooker. Sasha chuckled and grabbed her hand, "Just relax. You look beautiful."

Feeling her cheeks blush she chuckled, "Shuddup."

The place was packed to the gills with people making Jameson feel like a tightly wound coil ready to snap. She hadn't ever liked crowds and preferred the laid back atmosphere of the now closed Dale's than the rowdiness of the trendy city place. Maggie was waving from a booth along the wall, which made Jameson feel some comfort. The location was tucked away from the bar and the dance floor, which meant it was less crowded. Maggie sat with her boyfriend, Glenn, who she recently moved in with. Beth hugged her sister and Glenn who seemed thrown off by her enthusiasm.

"Don't mind Beth, she got into the mini bar at the hotel." Sasha informed with a grin.

"Beth?!" Maggie exclaimed while laughing at her sister pouring into the booth, all loose limbs and giggles. Jameson rolled her eyes and informed, "Guess who egged her on?"

Sasha laughed manically and pointed, "You didn't discourage her."

Beth got situated and then waved over a waitress. They ordered drinks and some finger foods while chatting about the shopping they got done. Jameson let her eyes take in the crowd, the majority of faces in their twenties. She rolled her eyes at the posturing males and over made up women. The scene was the furthest thing from hers as possible.

"Did you find a dress?" Maggie asked Jameson while sipping her drink. Jameson shook her head and sighed loudly, "Not yet. Tomorrow we are hitting up one more place. Hopefully I find something or I'm wearing jeans. I don't give a shit."

"You can't." Sasha slurred with a wide grin, "Besides, I wanna see if Daryl will actually smile when he sees you in a dress."

Jameson laughed, "He smiles all the time."

"Maybe to you. I always get the grumpy ass frown." She replied with an eye roll. Beth snorted and added, "That's because you're always trying to get Jameson into trouble."

"Bullshit. I just want her to have more fun. All she does is work now."

"Maybe I like working." Jameson replied with a cocked eyebrow finding the statement completely true. Beth chimed in, "Yeah plus Jameson is the bestieist baker I know."

"Jesus, Beth. Drunk much?" Maggie teased while turning her head as someone climbed on stage to sing karaoke. The announcer introduced them and told everyone they still had spots to fill. Beth climbed over Maggie and Glenn to get to the sign up sheet while Sasha waited to be let out of the booth. Jameson hollered, "Don't you dare Sasha!"

"You'll thank me later." The woman shouted back with a devious grin. Glenn furrowed his brow and asked, "What's that about?"

"She wants me to sing despite my stage fright and fear of crowds." Jameson spoke with a sigh as she watched Beth and Sasha returning with giant grins. A few terrible singers had gone by when Beth was called to the stage. She picked a Taylor Swift song that had the crowd actually cheering. Sasha was bouncing in her seat as they announced Jameson's name and song. Growling under her breath she shook her head but was eventually pushed out of the booth and towards the stage. Moving slowly, much to the announcers irritation, she climbed the steps and griped the microphone tightly. Her heart was racing and she could feel sweat dripping down her back as the music started up.

"Lay where you're laying

Don't make a sound

I know they're watching

They're watching"

The crowded whistle and a few cheers for the popular song. Jameson kept her eyes from focusing on the crowd, her gaze hooded as her head bobbed with the music. As the song progressed the looser she was, the sway of her hips caused a few catcalls.

"You… Your sex is on fire"

The chorus had more whistles and Jameson heard Sasha cheering her on. Rolling her eyes she continued the song, her voice becoming stronger and more assured. At one point she noticed Beth filming it with her phone and cringed inwardly at the idea of anyone ever seeing it.

"But it's not forever

But it's just tonight

Oh we're still the greatest

The greatest

The greatest."

"You… Your sex is on fire"

The song ended and the bar was rowdy, most clapping and a few sharp whistles. Jameson felt her cheeks blush at the attention as she wove her way through the crowd and back to her table. Maggie was bouncing in her seat, her arms wrapping around her as she sat down. Sasha squeezed her waist, smacking her lips on her cheek as she bragged, "See. You did amazing."

Covering her face with embarrassment she saw Beth texting on her phone, a sly grin on her face.

"What're you doin'?" she asked leaning forward to see her phone. Beth yanked it away and her eyes light up, "Nothing!"

A waitress showed up with a round of shots making them all look confused. "They're from the table over there." She explained while setting the tiny glasses down. Jameson peeked over and saw a table of guys all toasting to them. Sasha shrieked out a laugh and waved with a flirty grin. Jameson sighed as she watched two of them head over.

"Ohmygod Sasha seriously don't do this." Jameson begged fearing the woman's next scheme.

"Hi boys." Sasha purred a smirk curling her lips. "Thanks for the drinks."

Beth threw the shot back and grinned, "Yeah thanks."

Maggie stopped the girl from taking another scolding, "Beth slow down."

Jameson pushed her shot over to Glenn who looked three sheets to the wind also. Meanwhile the two men were chatting with Sasha while eyeing her. Sliding her phone out she checked for any messages and the time. She was reaching her limit of crowded bar exposure.

"Don't you think about it James." Sasha threatened, pausing her conversation with the men. "You are not leaving early."

"Yeah you can't leave yet." The man with a black vest over his band t-shirt said. "You gotta sing again. That was amazing."

Jameson swallowed nervously, "Thanks. Look Sasha I'm tired. I kinda wanna head back."

"No way." the other woman ordered, "I swear you'll have fun, stay a little while longer."

Rolling her eyes at her friends pouting lips she conceded figuring she could sit back and pretend to listen. Near closing time Beth announced, "I want pancakes. We gotta go get some."

Jameson chuckled and looked at Maggie who shrugged, "I could destroy some breakfast food."

Daryl was sitting in the Grimes's backyard with Rick drinking a beer. They had grilled earlier in the evening and were now chatting about cars. Lori had been on Rick about finding a new family car and had been pushing for a mini van. Rick was struggling with the idea of becoming a mini van driver.

"Jesus man I never thought I'd turn my man card in and drive one of them." He drawled with a long sigh, "But truthfully, they haul ass."

Daryl chuckled dryly before sipping his beer. He relaxed back in the folding chair, his legs propped up on the fire pit. "That's just sad man."

Huffing Rick rasped, "Don't judge me." He grinned slowly and drawled, "They got plenty of backseat room too."

"Jesus Grimes." Daryl snorted, "I don't need to hear that shit."

The men relaxed both shaking their heads at the other. The night was quiet, the only sound being the insects and the occasional owl. Rick's phone buzzed in his pocket making the man jump with a laugh. Opening it up he furrowed his brow and mumbled, "What the hell is Beth texting me for?"

Daryl peeked at the screen to see an attached file to the text message that read, 'Tonights headliner.'

Rick downloaded the file and then opened it to reveal a video. The video was shaky at first as the person recording it got closer to what looked like a stage. As the image stabilized Daryl could see Jameson on stage her hands gripping the microphone tightly. She was in a sexy ass shirt and tight jeans. Her hair was down, the auburn waves curling over her shoulders. His eyes widened comically and he bent over closer to the cell phone's screen. Rick peered around his head and muttered, "I didn't know she sang."

"She don't really. Catch her singing along in the car or at the bakery when she's listening' to the radio."

Her voice carried out of the tiny speaker, the rich and sultry sound giving him chills.

"Holy shit she's got some voice brother." Rick drawled as the song completed, the crowded cheering and clapping in the background.

"No shit." Daryl muttered thinking about how sexy Jameson looked up on the stage. He felt a strange tightness in his chest that he couldn't pinpoint. Chewing on his lip, Daryl drummed nervous fingers on the chains arm. Rick cocked an eyebrow and rasped, "I know that look. Listen, ya don't got anything to worry about."

"What?" Daryl asked with a confused expression. Rolling his eyes Rick explained matter-of-factly, "You saw her all dolled up and looking sexy, don't give me that look," he added when Daryl narrowed his eyes at the man's remarks on Jameson's sexiness. It was true but Daryl didn't need another man to point out he was looking at his woman.

"You saw her there and you're feelin jealous. Maybe paranoid about her being out in some bar."

"Well fuck Grimes I wasn't til ya said so." Daryl grumbled, standing up to get his smokes from the picnic table. He cupped the flames, inhaling so deeply the cigarette was half way gone.

"Just sayin', ya got nothin' to worry about. That girl loves you somethin' fierce."

Daryl felt heat rush up his neck, he turned his face away and shrugged off the man's claims. He couldn't imagine Jameson loving him even half as much as he loved her. She was everything to him and he knew deep down he didn't deserve such a amazing girl.

"It's true. Me and Lori think you two are made for each other."

"Why ya'll talkin' about us?" he asked, grounding out his smoke only to light up another. Rick cocked an eyebrow at his chain smoking but didn't mention it. "Because we've known Jameson a long time and now that she's got you, she's like a different person. She used to be so closed off, barely spoke let alone got close to anyone. The girl was broken."

"Weren't broke." Daryl spoke roughly, "She was just… holdin' on."

"Well either way, it wasn't until you two got together that she started livin' again and now you two are getting' married. We're just happy for ya both."

Daryl ducked his head slightly, feeling overwhelmed by the man's assertions. He'd never been one to ever get compliments or had people in his life who gave a shit about his well being but now that he did, Daryl felt happy. Rick was wrong in Daryl's mind, Jameson wasn't the broken one when they met, he was. Daryl hadn't been living when he met Jameson. He was a redneck asshole with an even bigger redneck asshole for a brother and he just drifted with Merle, doing whatever he said they were going to be doing that day. It wasn't a life he enjoyed nor was proud of but now? Now he had the fiery redhead who smelled like baked goods and apparently sang like a goddamn angel. How could he live up to that?

"Stop doubtin' it man." Rick instructed, scratching his beard roughly, "you think too poorly of yourself. Jameson thinks the world of you and as you know she's a smart girl."

Daryl couldn't argue and chose instead to tip his chin to the cellphone, "play it again."

Jameson got stuck sitting in the backseat with all the shopping bags and luggage. They had gone to the last store in the afternoon, all the of girls nursing terrible hangovers. They spent the early morning hours eating pancakes and bacon at a greasy spoon near the bar. Jameson was exhausted and the desire to just go home had her arguing with Sasha in the morning about doing just that. Giving in they head to the last store on their route.

She tried on a dozen different dresses from formal to casual and nothing seemed to work for her. Sasha was sad about not finding 'the dress' but conceded it was up to Jameson and it needed to be something she adored. Jameson was just happy to be going home. She began to remember why she hated the city, too many people and too much noise. All she needed was her tiny home with Daryl in a quiet town. The city was just not her.

The radio was on low since the girls still felt the evening before and Beth was napping in the passenger seat. Jameson relaxed back her head resting against the pile of luggage. She had just nodded off when the sound of squealing tires and Sasha frantic cursing woke her up with start.

Daryl felt his heart beating so hard his ribs began to feel bruised. The thumping so loud in his head he couldn't concentrate on those around him. He heard the words three car pile up and two fatalities and began to fade from the room. Rick grabbed his shoulder, his voice rising high enough to break into Daryl's panicked stupor. "Daryl. You don't know that it's her ok." He spoke loud and clear, "Don't lose it yet brother."

He swallowed past the knot in his throat and nodded dumbly but couldn't help but think this was it. This was when he lost the best thing in his life. This was when being a Dixon caught up with him and everything he'd ever wanted was ripped away like the flesh from his bones. He was finally getting what he deserved.

Uh ohs. Sorry for the cliffy. Thanks for reading and reviewing.

Lyrics by Kings of Leon, Sex on Fire