It was him. I knew it was. I could tell by that walk, it was Daryl Dixon. I felt a tidal wave of emotions as they got closer, and every part of me wanted to run and jump into his arms. Except I couldn't. I was angry, I was so angry. I hadn't had time to really process him being gone, and then... There he was. Strolling up the gravel driveway back home, Merle at his side.

And I couldn't deal. I couldn't deal because I was still so angry. Every fiber of my being was hurting still from his absence. His presence only intensified the anger, because now, he was right there in front of me. I could face him, instead of having Rick hold me back. Because Daryl couldn't handle me being his responsibility. Well, I was my own responsibility. Don't need no one, especially not you. It was a lie, but I forced myself to believe it.

"Spencer.." Daryl walked over to me, grabbing my arm. Before he could pull me close, I hit him in the chest with my palms, knocking him back a step.

"Don't...touch me." I snarled, turning and walking away. I felt my heart breaking all over again, and I wanted to turn around and just feel his hands on me... But I was angry.. And I couldn't.

"Whoaa, there. Look what ya done did, pissed her off!" I could hear Merle chuckle as I continued walking up toward the prison door.

"Shuttup, Merle." Daryl growled, and I could hear the footsteps of the group coming up toward the prison. Never looking back, I bounded up the steps, and opened the door. Stepping in the doorway, I walked inside and found my empty cell.

Usually I slept on the perch with Daryl, but that wasn't my place right now. I didn't even go grab my bag. The cell had a bed, pillow, blanket... I was tired and I just needed to sleep. Ignoring the voices of the others, ignoring every little sound, I relaxed. Rolling over to face the wall, I closed my eyes and tried to wish the day away.

The sound of footsteps pulled me from my sleep. It was dark, and I figured it must have been night. The footsteps were growing closer, and I knew who it was. Who else would be coming to my room in the middle of the night? He stopped at my doorway, and everything was quiet once again. I could hear crickets chirping from outside, and I forced my eyes to stay shut.

Then he was walking away. I heard the footsteps growing softer as he reached the perch. Letting out a breath I didn't realize I was holding, I opened my eyes, looking at the wall. I knew I wasn't going back to sleep, but I wasn't getting up either. I laid on the prison bed until I could see the dim blue of morning beginning to light up the prison. Soon, the others began to stir, for I could hear noises all around me.

I got out of bed with the sun, walking quietly over to the perch stairs. Maggie and Glenn walked over to stand beside me. Carl made his way over, his face full of concern. I rested my hand on his shoulder, and he looked up at me. He opened his mouth to say something, but stopped, and just looked away. Giving his shoulder a shake, he looked back up at me. I tilted my head, furrowing my brow in question.

"You shouldn't stay mad at Daryl." Carl whispered, and I looked up to see Dixon standing on the perch. He looked at me, then at the floor, his eyes hard to read. "I was angry at Mom...look how that turned out."

"Your mom loved you very much... You're a smart boy." I wrapped my arm around his shoulder, and gave him a squeeze. "But I don't know how to forgive him yet."

"That's okay." Carl nodded. "You'll figure it out. Just... Don't force yourself to be mad at him." I was near tears, so I forced a smile and nodded, before resting my chin on the top of his head.

"We're not leavin'." Rick was firm.

"We can't stay here." Hershel argued.

"What if there's another sniper, a wood pallet won't stop one of those rounds." Maggie spoke up.

"We can't even go outside." Beth agreed, her face full of worry.

"...in the daylight." I only caught the end of what Carol was saying, because I was caught between listening to the group and trying not to look up at Daryl.

"Look, R-Rick... Rick says we're not running, we're not running." Glenn said surely, nodding at Rick.

"No," Merle spoke up from the cell Rick had ushered him into the night before. "Better to live like rats."

"You gotta better idea?" Rick asked him, his face showing he wasn't in the mood for bullshit.

"Yea, we should have slid outta here last night and lived to fight another day." Merle said, looking at Rick. "And we lost that window, didn't we? Yea, I'm sure he's got scouts on every road outta this place by now."

"Yea, we ain't scared of that prick." Daryl's voice was thick with anger, as he walked along the balcony of the upper cells.

"Y'all should be." Merle said quietly, and I looked at him. "That truck through the fence thing? That's just him ringin' the doorbell. We might have some thick walls to hide behind, but he's got the guns and the numbers. And if he takes the high ground 'round this place..shoot, he could just starve us out if he wanted to."

"Let's put him in the other cell block." Maggie complained, and I shook my head. Everyone kills me a little.

"No," Daryl said gruffly, "he's gotta point."

"This is all you! You started this!" Maggie yelled at Merle.

"What's the difference who's fault it is?" Beth came charging toward the stairs. "What do we do?"

"I said we should leave." Hershel advised again, looking at Rick. "Now Axel's dead. We can't just sit here!" Rick started to walk away, and Hershel stood up from the stairs. "GET BACK HERE!" He yelled at Rick, who stopped. "You're slippin', Rick. We've all seen it, we understand why. But now is not the time. You once said this isn't a democracy. Now you have to own up to that. I put my family's life in your hands, so get your head clear. And do something." Rick nodded, and walked away.

Carl left my side and walked after him. Not sure of what to do or say, I left, trudging up the perch stairs. Walking back to a cell upstairs, I sat on the bed, resting my head in my hands. I wasn't sure what was going to happen. We can't just leave, though... Judith... Carl... This place's gotta be it. We can't run forever, we can't keep chancin' the road... This prison is a strong hold. We gotta fight for it. I just needed peace.

I could hear them below me, arguing. About the walkers in the yard, about Merle. Daryl's voice was firm and upset when he told them that Merle was staying and that they were just going to have to deal with it. Maggie and Glenn were bothered by Merle being with us now, but I felt like he wouldn't do anything stupid as long as Daryl had anything to do with it.

"Spencer." Daryl's gruff voice hit my ears, and I stood from the bed, trying to push past him. Reaching out, he grabbed me, pulling me close. "Please hear me out."

"Let me go!" I tried to sound mean, but it came out more as a plead.

"Didn't want you to get hurt." Daryl whispered, holding onto me tight.

"So you just leave me? Let. Me. Go." I said through gritted teeth.

"Never again." He mumbled against the side of my face. He pulled back, looking me in the eye. "I'm sorry. Made a bad call, I know it. Knew it before I walked away. Can't be away from you, don't you know? I... Kept wonderin' if you were all right, what you were doin'... Couldn't stop thinkin' how empty I felt..." His hand grabbed my chin. My lip quivered, and I tried not to blink, afraid the tears in my eyes would fall. "Don't cry, girl. Don't cry, 'cause I ain't never doin' that again. I swear. You believe me?"

"Daryl..." I managed to squeak out his name.

"You believe me?" He asked again, leaning down. His lips met mine, and he kissed me roughly. Hungrily. Not able to fight his touch, I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer to me.

"I..believe...you." I said against his lips as we kissed. Suddenly, he broke away, walking from the cell. I wasn't sure what happened, but my heart was pounding and I figured that was the best apology I had ever gotten. From anyone. Then you walk away again... I shook my head and sighed, sitting back down on the bed.

Footsteps caught my attention, coming closer to my cell. Daryl appeared, blanket in his hand. Curious, I watched as he grabbed the edges and fanned it out. He pushed the door out a little, throwing the blanket over the door. Pulling it down enough to cover the cell door, he shut it and turned toward me. Stepping toward me, he sat down beside me on the bed. He was looking at the floor, and I glanced over at him, wanting to hit him for making it so easy to let him back in.

It was dim in the cell, but I could see his face clearly. That troubled look, like he wanted to say something but wasn't sure what to say. I wanted to scream, yell. Tell him how much it hurt to lose him. Tell him that what he did was unfair, wrong. My heart had been broken when he walked away, yet, here he was. Like always.

"Never thought I'd be here.." Daryl looked over at me, his eyes soft. "You changed everything."

"You left me." I said blankly. "Like I didn't matter."

"You do." He said quietly, and he turned toward me, his hand sliding across my cheek to cradle my face. "Want you to know that."

"We can't run." I whispered. "So tired of runnin'."

"Don't." Daryl kissed the side of my head. "Worry 'bout that later." He looked at me for a moment, before kissing me on the mouth again. Something about the kiss was soft, loving. Nothing like the Daryl I had met so long ago.

I welcomed it, as much as I wanted to fight it. I couldn't. There was no escaping his love when I wanted it over everything. The kiss grew heavier, rougher, and I pulled him closer. Laying me back on the cot, he was over me, his tongue sliding over mine. I could feel his hand snaking its way up my shirt, around to my back. Lifting me up a bit, he unhooked my bra, before gently peeling my shirt off.

When was the last time... It had been so long. We'd been on the move, on the go for so long, that we hadn't had the chance to really show that affection. That physical affection that I knew we both craved from one another. I just wanted him, every part of me wanted every part of him. And yet, that fear wasn't going away. That fear that he'd leave me again one day. I felt the tears in my eyes again. When did cryin' become so easy?

"Don't cry, girl." Daryl stopped, looking down at me, as I lay underneath him. "Ain't goin' nowhere. Not ever again." I nodded, pulling him back down to me. His lips hit mine, and I could feel the heat from him searing my skin. His stubble prickling my face as we kissed. It was everything I had missed, and I couldn't lose that.

His movements were gentle, yet fluid. Pulling my jeans off seemed to be an easy task, and I grabbed the bottom of his shirt, pulling it up over his head. My hand went instinctively to his chest, tracing the scars that I had seen before. Touched before, that one night so long ago. I leaned up, kissing his chest, feeling his heart beating beneath my lips. My hands slid down his waist, fumbling a bit with the button on his jeans.

Daryl shoved them off, tossing them with the rest of our clothes. I knew it was stupid, maybe even foolish. At a time like this. We could be under attack again at any moment, and I wondered why he had come at me like this. Half of me was still angry. Disappointed. Maybe even... Scared. Afraid to really believe that he was telling me the truth, afraid to believe that he really wouldn't leave again.

His finger slid under my chin, lifting my head up to face him. His blue eyes were still hard, but there was something soft swirling around in them. All of those fears seemed to melt away at that look, at his touch. I didn't want to fall back in so easily, but it was too late to go back now. As his hand slid down my side and over my thigh, I gasped against his lips. Yea, too late to go back now...

Daryl's leg was between mine, and his finger moved in slow, teasing circles. My back arched, pushing my body further into his, as his lips tickled my neck. It was like I couldn't breathe, I couldn't think. Everything was just him, his hand, his kisses... His hand moved faster, and I whimpered at the feeling it gave me. That feeling like I was on the biggest roller coaster in the world, approaching the top.

Then, he stopped. Breathing heavy, I looked up at him, trying to regain my composure. He just stared at me, with an expression I couldn't quite read. Leaning down, Daryl kissed me again. This time, the kiss was long. Lingering, slow, as his tongue touched mine gently. He positioned himself over me, and I leaned my head back into the pillow. Kissing me roughly, he entered me, thrusting against me hard. I kissed him back, crying out softly against his lips.

Daryl moved against me, his body warm against mine. I welcomed each thrust, and his kisses against the side of my face, his stubble prickling my cheek. Kissing my jaw, and then the spot just under my earlobe, he whispered against my ear. "I love you."

Everything inside of me froze, and I wondered if I had heard him correctly. His lips were on mine again, and he kissed me hard, his movements slowing. I returned the kiss, holding onto him tight, pulling him closer. My legs were shaking, and I felt his hand grab my left leg, holding to his side as he moved against me slowly. Moaning quietly against his lips, I felt something vibrating gently off of his body. Letting go of him, I put both hands on his face, looking into his eyes. He stopped, his body still against mine, but I could still feel it, and now... See it.

"You're tremblin'.." I whispered hoarsely, trying to catch my breath. Without giving me a moment to blink, Daryl's lips were on mine. He was kissing me hungrily, roughly. Want, need. He thrust against me hard, but it made me whimper against his lips in pleasure.

"I...love...y.." He trailed off against my lips as we kissed. His lips drifted to my cheek, prickling me with his chin. "I..love you. I love..you."

"Daryl!" My voice was caught somewhere between a cry and a moan. The world was spinning, the room a blur, as I felt that drop. High in the air, free falling. Kissing me, drowning out my sounds, I felt his hand tangled in my hair, resting against the back of my head. He lifted my head slightly, kissing me softly as he thrust against me. Again. I whimpered against his lips as his movement ceased and we lay still.

Daryl didn't move. Everything was strangely quiet, I couldn't even hear the others buzzing around the prison. My heart beat was loud in my ears, his heart thudding hard against my chest. I felt him flinch, lifting himself up off of me just enough to kiss my forehead. Laying his head on my chest, he lay stretched out on the jail bed beside me. His body was halfway on mine, and I felt his hand rub across my stomach.

"I love you, Spencer." Daryl said quietly, as his finger traced lazy circles over my abdomen. Along my ribs. His voice had been gruff, but the soft edge in his tone showed the sincerity.

"I love you, too." I ran my fingers through his hair, fighting back the tears. I ran my fingers down the back of his neck, through his hair, and back up. His fingers gliding over my skin made me feel sleepy. "Daryl..?"

"Hm?" He mumbled against my chest.

"Scars." I said simply, sifting my fingers through his hair.

"Same as you." Daryl said, his finger still making soft circles over my skin.

"Father. I figured... How?" I asked, worrying that the question might anger him.

"Anything he could get his hands on." He replied gruffly.

"I only got two." I whispered, staring up at the ceiling. Daryl lifted himself up beside me, still drizzling his hand across my skin.

"Your chin?" He asked, nodding down.

"My chin." I said quietly, still staring up. "He pushed me, tryin' to hit Katherine. That was when I was real little and thought she loved us still... I was just tryin' to protect her. I fell wrong and smacked my chin on the coffee table. Busted clean open."

"And the other one..." Daryl trailed off, rolling me over onto my belly. I felt his fingers slithering down the scar along my back. It wasn't terribly bad, lightened white with age. It ran from just a few inches under my shoulder, running across my spine, ending just before reaching my lower back.

"Thought I was cool, you know? All the kids wearin' spiked belts, I wanted one. Saved up some birthday money and kept it hidden around my room. Katherine let me go into town with Sam, we hit up a few stores. I was just lookin' for the perfect belt.. There it was." I huffed out a chuckle, as Daryl ran his fingers down my spine, causing me to shiver. Chill bumps splayed across my skin at his touch, and the circles continued along my skin.

"Bet it looked sexy on ya." Daryl said, and I grinned.

"Only wore it once, got caught before I even made it to the front door. "What the hell are you wearin' Spencer Delynn McCailley? Take that damn thing off, now!" So, of course, I took the belt off. "You wanna act like a little whore? You little slut." And he beat me with that damn belt. Hurt like shit." I remembered the feeling, and my scar seemed to burn with the memory.

"You're too beautiful." Daryl leaned up, his body still half on mine, his lips at my ear. "Never again. You ain't ever gonna have to go through anything like that... You're safe with me."

"You ain't ever told me you loved me...til now." I said quietly, leaning my face against his.

"Didn't know how." He admitted, his voice gruff.

"Does anybody?" I asked, leaning my head back to look at him.

"You're my reason." Daryl replied, his eyes holding mine. I couldn't look away.

"What about Merle?" I looked down at the pillow.

"I"m here to stay, Spence." Daryl lifted my chin with his finger, forcing me to look at him.

"And if he leaves?" I asked, my voice firm.

"He leaves by his damn self." Daryl growled, kissing me. "Made a big mistake... But please don't be afraid to love me."

"I..." I wasn't sure what to say. He'd never said anything quite like that to me before. "I know..that I might make it without you...but don't make me. 'Cause I might not."

"I'm here to stay." His voice was promising the world, as he pulled me closer to him. Because Daryl Dixon was my world. And despite the days events, something in his eyes told me that I was home. I was safe, if just for a moment.

A jail cell had never been so good.

And all was right with the world.

~Kaila