I awoke to a tickling on my cheek. Opening my eyes, I squinted in the morning light, glancing down. Daryl's face was pressed to mine, his blinking causing his eyelashes to brush my cheek softly. Taking a small breath, I let out a tiny sigh, before squirming over closer to him. As if we could get any closer. His arm slipped over my waist, hand pressing against my lower back as he pulled me to him.
"Mornin'." Daryl's voice was thick with sleep, and I smiled against him.
"Mornin'." I managed to croak out, only partially awake. Raising my head slightly, I pressed my lips to his scratchy cheek. Giving him a lingering kiss, I could feel Daryl lean into me a little, and my lips tugged upward against his face. "Sleep good?" I asked, my face still pressed against his.
"Yea, you?" He countered, holding me tight.
"Mmhm." I mumbled, moving upward, causing him to loosen his grip. Leaning over him, I looked down at his face, hoping he'd always be this way with me.
"What?"
"Just... Best mornin' view I've ever seen." I replied, trying not to grin. He snorted quietly, and I could tell his lips were fighting a smile.
"Think you're the best thing I've ever woken up to." Daryl smirked instead, and I ducked my head laughing, resting it on his chest.
"That's comforting!" I teased. His hand ran up my shoulder, his fingers snaking up my neck and into my hair.
"You're so beautiful." He said, and there was something almost soft in his tone.
"Thank you." I whispered against his chest, kissing his bare skin, before turning my head back toward his face. My chin was still resting on his chest and he raised an eyebrow, watching me. "Do you think we're good here?"
"Think so. Long as everyone keeps on their toes, don't let our guard down... Think we'll be fine."
"What about them? Woodbury's people?" I asked.
"They seem..all right.. Think they're fittin' in." Daryl replied. "Don't you?"
"Yea, I think they are.. Are you gonna be goin' out again?" I questioned, worried.
"I dunno.. I don't think he's around here or anywhere close by. Sam and I damn near searched every inch of the area surroundin' this place. Didn't see shit. No prints, no signs of anything. No signs of Philip." Daryl assured, and I let out a breath.
"Please don't go out anymore." I pleaded, watching his eyes.
"Spencer, I gotta be sure.." Dixon argued softly. "We need to be ready if he decides to come back."
"That'd be a mistake." I murmured and Daryl smirked again.
"That's my girl."
"When are you goin' out again?" Rick asked Daryl, as we walked down the stairs from the perch.
"Dunno, few days maybe." Daryl answered gruffly, watching the sheriff.
"Good... Good." Rick nodded. "I need to get back out to the field, everything good here?"
"Yea." Daryl slapped him on the shoulder. "We're good."
"Okay, then." He glanced at me, before calling out for Carl. The boy followed behind, and I thought Rick was acting strange.
"I think Hershel talked to him." I muttered, and Daryl glanced up at them exiting, before looking back to me.
"What'dya mean?" He asked, and I shrugged.
"I dunno, after the whole incident with Carl in the woods, Rick's been draggin' him to do chores. I think... I dunno." I shook my head. "I know everyone wants this all to be done and over with, but we need to be..careful." I tried to choose my words carefully.
"Think Rick ain't?" Dixon asked curiously.
"No, just... I'm not exactly sure after all that's happened, I'd be out playin' farmer.. But, maybe it's just me bein' paranoid with you leavin' like you do." I said before I could stop myself.
"I gotta." He growled, and I grabbed his arm.
"Hey, I know that." There was slight anger in my voice, as we stood face to face. "I do, I get it, okay? But it don't make it any easier on me, all right? I know you gotta go out and look for him, finish him off for all I care. But, don't expect me to sit at home feelin' dandy, 'cause that's impossible for me when it comes to you."
"You wanna come, then?" Daryl asked, and his words took me by complete surprise.
"Wh-what? Really?" I managed to ask, trying not to show my utter shock.
"Sure, why not? You can handle yourself, right?"
"You know the answer to that." I growled playfully, and he huffed.
"But you follow my lead, yea?" His eyes were burning into mine, as he took a step toward me.
"Yea, of course." I swallowed hard, trying to keep myself from jumping on him. It was hard not to, with him looking at me like that.
"All right then. 'Til then, we need to go out on a supply run." He instructed, and I nodded.
"Sam and Shay will be up for it, I'm sure." I offered.
"Wanna get 'em while I put together a bag?" Daryl asked.
"Sure thing." I said quietly, stepping from the room. Back up the perch stairs, I stopped walking when I heard hushed voices talking. It sounded as if it were coming from Shay's cell.
"Shay?" I called out, before reaching her room.
"In here!" She called back, as I stepped into view. "Hey, you."
"Hey.." I smirked when I saw Sam sitting beside her on the bed. "You two busy?"
"No." Sam glared at me playfully and glanced at Shay, who shook her head.
"Daryl and I are gonna go out on a quick supply run. Wonderin' if you two could tag along?" I asked, hoping they'd be up for it.
"Sure." Shay shrugged. "Sounds good to me. When?"
"Close to, uh, now." I replied. "Daryl's down gettin' everything together."
"Let's go, then." Sam stood, pulling Shay to her feet. We walked away from the cell and down the perch stairs. Back down into the block, we stepped into the big room, where Daryl was finishing up packing.
"Ready?" His gruff voice asked, as I pulled out my gun. Checking the chamber, I glanced up at the others.
"Yepp." I replied, securing my gun on my waist belt. I made sure I had both of my knives, one on my belt, the other in my boot.
"Here, girl." Daryl shoved a shotgun into my arms, and I smirked.
"Thanks." I mumbled, and his lips tugged upward as he stepped over to me. I could feel his breath tickling my face as he leaned closer.
"Sexy as fuck." He muttered quietly in my ear and I about lost my shit.
"Better quit that, Dixon." I whispered back, against his face. "Get us both in trouble."
"When and where?" I saw a half smirk half grin spread onto his lips.
"Just wait 'til we get back. You're in for it." I answered teasingly, and he snorted before walking away. I could feel my heart pounding at his words, how he could make me feel so alive. How he could make me want him so badly, despite of how shitty the world was. That man gave me something to fight for, something to live for. And I wasn't sure how I'd ever repay him for that. I didn't have the slightest clue how.
"I think you two are something good in this world." Shay's voice pulled me from my thoughts as she stepped beside me.
"Huh.." I managed to say, watching Daryl grab up the bag he had prepared.
"Seriously. You guys are the photographic image of what this world needs. So are Maggie and Glenn.. It's cute as hell."
"I'm glad you're amused." I smiled at my best friend, and she giggled.
"Well, ya know." Shay shrugged, glancing over at Sam. "Your brother is pretty great, maybe we'll get where you are one day."
"What?" I whipped my head over at her.
"We talked today, and... We're going to see what happens. I mean, we've all given up so much in this world already, why give up happiness?" Her words were nothing but the truth. After everything that everyone had been through, a little light at the end of the tunnel was well deserved.
"We're gonna take the truck." Daryl informed, as we headed out of the prison. Maggie and Glenn were walking up to greet us and I gave them a friendly smile.
"You guys ready to go?" Glenn asked, as they met up with us at the truck.
"Ready as we'll ever be." I spoke, throwing my empty bag onto the floor board of the passenger seat.
"Please be careful. All of you." Maggie warned. "Are you sure we shouldn't come along?"
"Nah, we'll be fine." Sam said.
"Be better off here, we got enough people goin'. Keep an eye out." Daryl glanced at Glenn before jumping into the truck. Sitting in the passenger side, I shut my door and watched as the two jogged down to the gates. Daryl started the truck and drove through the now open gate. In the side mirror, I could see Maggie and Glenn close it quickly.
Be safe, everyone.. I thought, as we drove away from the prison. It worried me. I knew they could take care of themselves, but still... Leaving people that I considered family was hard to do. Especially with the world the way it was. With Philip out there. The fact that he could be anywhere made me nervous leaving everyone behind. It also made me nervous leaving. He could be following us right now.
But I doubted that. Daryl seemed to have that sixth sense, he would know fairly quick if we were being followed. My tracker man.. I almost smiled at the thought. Never in my life would I ever imagined being with someone like Daryl Dixon. I hadn't been worried about boys and relationships growing up, so it was all strange to me how it worked out. Go figure, the world ends and that's how I get a damn boyfriend...
But he was so much more than that. So much more. I'd never known the concept of a soul mate. It wasn't something I had ever experienced. Growing up the way I did, I trusted very few people in my life, and the ones I did had only gained my trust because they earned it. The first time I saw Daryl on that road, I had only thought of trouble. I could see what he and Merle could have been. I knew their type. And I told myself to stay away.
But it had been impossible for me to do so. It was like something driving us together, and I never saw it coming. The day we had to rescue Glenn in the city was the day I knew. The day I knew that we had something slowly forming. His hand rested on my lower back, comforting, pushing me on gently. Letting me know he had my back, that I was in good hands. I knew I was, too.
"You remember that store we saw?" Daryl asked, interrupting my thoughts.
"Yea, I do." Sam replied. "Seemed like a pretty empty area."
"Thinkin' the same thing. Hopin' it won't be completely ransacked." Daryl mumbled, as I looked out of my window. The sun had disappeared into a thick blanket of gray clouds, and I thought it might rain by the looks of it.
"Maybe not." Shay muttered from the back seat.
"We get in, we get out. Let's make this quick." Daryl slowed to a stop, throwing the truck in park. Cutting the engine, we climbed out, shutting our doors quietly as possible. Following Daryl's lead, we slipped up to the store front without a sound. He tapped the glass door with his knuckle, and we waited.
Everything was quiet. Complete silence. Something was off, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. It was too quiet, almost eerie. I didn't like it, and I wondered if Daryl could feel it, too. He glanced at me, his face lined with curiosity. No storm of walkers met us at the door, so he opened it carefully.
Cliffhanger ! Sorry for the long update wait ! I just started working full time so that's been causing delays.
I hope you guys enjoy the chapter, even though it's a bit short ! Don't forget to follow me on twitter for updates and promo pics that I've done for my stories. Kaila Murphy or my twitter handle is kailabrittFF !
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~Kaila