#merle dixon one shot

[vilentia]

Surviving Together

Merle Dixon x reader

In the soft light of the fire's glow, the flickering flames danced across the rough contours of Merle's face, casting shadows that seemed to echo the hidden scars on his soul. It had been a long day of scavenging, the world outside still a battleground of chaos and decay, but for now, the two of you were cocooned in a fragile sanctuary you'd built together.

As you huddled close, Merle's calloused fingers traced a delicate path along your cheek, his touch more tender than anyone would have expected from the man who'd once been nothing more than a hot-tempered survivor. You leaned into his warmth, taking solace in the fierce protectiveness that had become the foundation of your love. In the silence, unspoken words hung heavy in the air. Merle had his demons, and you had yours. Your pasts were intertwined with mistakes, regrets, and a haunting sense of loss. But together, you found solace, and there was a shared understanding that transcended words.

The night whispered secrets only the stars bore witness to, and in that moment, it felt like you were the only two souls left in this broken world. As the embers crackled and popped, you saw in Merle's eyes the reflection of a man who had faced his demons head-on, a man who had walked through the fires of his own making and emerged, if not unscathed, then at least redeemed.

With a sigh, Merle pulled you closer, his lips grazing your forehead in a tender kiss. The sensation sent a shiver down your spine, as if he were trying to mend the invisible fractures in your heart. In his embrace, you felt safe, cherished, and, against all odds, loved.

This was your way of saving each other. In a world where death lurked around every corner, where humanity's worst instincts clawed at the edges of your sanity, you and Merle had found a lifeline in each other's arms. It was a love forged in the crucible of hardship and despair, a love that whispered hope even when the world seemed to have forgotten the word.

As the night wore on, you clung to each other, a lifeline in the darkness. Your love wasn't perfect, but it was real, and it was enough to keep both your fractured souls from falling apart completely. In each other, you'd found redemption and a reason to keep going, to keep fighting, and to keep saving each other, one day at a time.

And Merle, as he held you close, thought back to that day on the rooftop, when you'd saved him not only from the walkers but also from himself. You'd stopped the bleeding from his severed hand, bound his wounds, and refused to let him give up. In that moment, he'd realized that he wasn't alone in this world, that there was someone who saw the good in him, even when he couldn't see it himself. You'd given him a second chance at life, and he was determined to make the most of it, for you and for the love that had become his salvation.

#merle dixon #merle dixon x reader #merle dixon x you #merle dixon x y/n #merle dixon imagine #merle dixon fanfiction #merle dixon fic #merle dixon fanfic #merle dixon fluff #merle dixon x fem!reader #merle dixon x femaler reader #merle dixon oneshot #merle dixon one shot #twd merle #the walking dead merle #merle twd #merle dixon the walking dead

[graceloveswolves]

Dating Daryl Dixon Would Include…

- knowing him for awhile before you started dating

- and nothing was official, you just one day became his and only his, which was accepted both ways

- everyone saw it coming a mile away before you two and they already assumed you guys were a thing

- gearing up for morning hunts before the sun rose

- being his hunting buddy ALWAYS he likes to be able to keep his eye on you

- you guys sneaking out together to just sit and enjoy nature when you had time

- everyone always assumed y’all were doing something else tho ;) sometimes you did

- he is extremely loyal to you, like 1000%

- everything was very open between you two, no secrets, you were each other’s best friend

- you two not minding being each other’s only company for days

- him taking it personally if he found out you were keeping something from him/not coming to him first about something

- him shooting walkers near you 24/7

- “I had that Daryl.”

- “mhm, I did too.”

- seriously, if you date him you can say goodbye to privacy he’s glued to you

- you guys have a lot of little talks about the group and occurring problems within the group

- usually seeing eye to eye on everything

- if you aren’t, he will usually just move on and accept it

- but you will still be doing things his way

- fun little competitions when you guys are bored

- him making sure you know EVERYTHING he knows about hunting/survival

- I’m not kidding he will drill it into you until you remember or until you beat him to it

- making sure you always have food whether it be tiny as a squirrel or a snake

- he will force you to eat if he notices your not

- you take it and eat anyways even if you are full because you are pretty sure it’s a coping mechanism from him never having any food at home

- he will give you lots of tiny gifts like a heart shaped rock or a four leaf clover

- at first, he might have a few outbursts out of insecurity, but overtime they dissolve entirely

- he is such a softie and wouldn’t ever belittle you or make you feel threatened

- but sometimes he gives you tough love and will tell you the truth even if you don’t want to hear it

- but will always be on your side and have your back against anyone

- speaking of, he would practically kill anyone who threatened you (Jody and the frying pan)

- Rick and Carol would have to pry him off whoever dared to try you

-overall he’s 10000/10 protective

- sometimes you guys fight about him wanting you to stay back on risky runs

- he looses most of the time and will just have to have the comfort of knowing at least he’s with you on the run

- you’re the only person he’ll take a shower for or let touch his hair

- he actually secretly loves it when you touch his hair

- especially when you brush it out of his face

- it’s a small gesture yet his heart melts every time you do it

- late night cuddles

- he loves it most when you lay on his chest

- or when you are hugging/holding him

- he sleeps the best when he’s with you

- when he’s out on a run and it’s a rare occasion that you’re not with him he practically runs off no sleep

- even after everything you guys been through he still managed to keep a Polaroid of you two from the farm when you both were chilling in his orange tent after being shot by Andrea

- he keeps it on him wherever he goes

- and when you’re away from him he will stare at it for awhile thinking about how different everything was then and the people that were still alive

- which makes him hug you extra long when he comes home

- you are his #1 priority

- Merle always being jealous of him that he snagged such a looker

- Rick always trying his best to keep you two together on missions

- “I know you two don’t like being separated but please brother, I need you on this.”

- Maggie or Carol being the one you go to if you are fighting with him

- Daryl really gets annoyed when you are mad at him

- because you are his best friend and he doesn’t socialize with anyone else really

- he will do a little routine that starts off with giving you space, then leaving little gifts around for you, then coming around with dinner or telling you he needs help with something, even if he makes something up just to associate with you

- sometimes he’ll cut the bs and just start apologizing and hope you can forgive him and just move on

- being able to talk to each other just using your eyes

- it’s a literal talent

- group members find it funny how you guys can read each other so well

- swapping old funny stories of your lives before the walkers

- people referring you two as each other’s wife & husband

- though Daryl never got you a ring, to him his love for you didn’t need to be shown through a ring

- but if you wanted one he’d see what he could find

- either way, it was obvious that you were his and he was yours so you never had problems with people trying to get with either one of you

- best couple ever

#twd imagines #twd daryl #twd fanfiction #twd #daryl dixon imagines #daryl dixon fluff #daryl dixon angst #daryl dixon x reader fluff #daryl dixon x reader #daryl dixon #daryl dixon preferences #daryl dixon oneshot #dating Daryl dixon would include #Rick grimes #glenn rhee #maggie rhee #merle dixon x reader #twd preferences #the walking dead x reader #the walking dead one shots #the walking dead imagines #the walking dead #the walking dead daryl #negan smith #Carl grimes

[smutinlove]

carl grimes x y/n smut

Y/N moaned at Carl's touch. “Please, faster!” She begged. Carl tilted his head, “Beg for it, you whore.” “Please, Carl, fuck me till I can't walk! PLEASE!” She was struggling. She wanted him to pound into her restlessly. He smirked, "Not so loud, Y/N. We wouldn't want anyone else to hear what a filthy little slut you are, would we?" he whispered into her ear, his hot breath sending shivers down her spine. She could feel him getting harder inside her, and the thought of being caught only added to the excitement. "Yes, Carl, I want everyone to know how much of a dirty whore I am for you," she gasped, her words punctuated by the sound of their bodies slapping together. Carl grinned, knowing he had her right where he wanted her. He picked up the pace, driving into her with abandon until they both reached their climax, their cries of pleasure muffled by the sound of their bodies entwined. As they lay there, panting and spent, Carl couldn't resist a sly smile. "I'll make sure everyone knows just how much of a dirty little slut you are," he said, and Y/N couldn't help but grin back, knowing that she was his willing plaything.

I have betrayed my immigrant parents by writing this. 💀

#the walking dead #carl grimes one shot #carl #chandler riggs #carl grimes x you #carl grimes x y/n #carl grimes smut #twd #carl twd #carl grimes #carl grimes x reader #Smutty smut #Smut #Romance #Carl grimes x reader smut #michonne #twd negan #merle dixon #rick grimes #Rick grimes x you #Carl x you #Carl grimes smut #Carl grimes fluff #Angst #female reader smut #Female reader #Y/n smut #Carl x y/n

[justanoasisimagines]

I don’t want to sleep alone - Preference-Set A

Warnings; Mentions of anxiety and past trauma, typical canon violence. Requests are open! Guidlines are pinned at the top of my page A/N; Part two will be up in a few days! So if you don't see your favourite character here, they might be in Part 2 Credit to @cafekitsune for the divider and banner

Rick Grimes; The two of you nearly died after an encounter with the Saviours. Both of you are dragging your feet, both physically and mentally exhausted. When you turn to head towards your bed for the night, Rick stops you. He te;;s you he nearly lost you today and he doesn't want to sleep without you. Taking hold of his hand, you ask him which bedroom. He leads you toward his room because in Rick's opinion, your bed is like sleeping on concrete.

Abraham Ford; Ever since the two of you started getting serious, Abraham began to fear losing you. It comes from losing his wife and children. One thing is for certain he refuses to let that happen. This leads to Abraham asking you if you want to stay the night or insisting you two sleep close to each other for safety. Abraham wants to hold you close to reaffirm your there. It does begin to ease his anxiety when you agree.

Shane Walsh; It's you who tells Shane you don't want to sleep without him. The new world is ferocious, unpredictable, and deadly. Shane has adapted to the new world quickly, without question. So it makes sense for the two of you to share a space. Shane accepts because he doesn't like the idea of you being so far away from him when anything could happen.

Father Gabriel Stokes; Before the dead rose, Gabriel couldn't imagine sleeping with anyone whom he hadn't married. It was a sin in his eyes. The realization death is around the corner for anyone forces Gabriel to realise he doesn't want to miss out on these experiences with you. Gabriel eventually picks up the courage and expresses his feelings, you made sure he's adamant before agreeing.

Merle Dixon; Merle doesn't want to sleep without you. For a couple of reasons; one he doesn't like waking up alone. He wants to wake up with your bodies pressed together. Secondly, if Merle was being completely honest with himself, he doesn't trust anyone in Woodbury, There's no way in hell someone's going to hurt you while he's around. He'd gladly die trying to protect you.

Luke; Luke doesn't want to sleep without you. He feels like it's the next natural stage within your relationship. Living together, sharing a bed etc. Luke is grateful the two of you have found each other. It's only natural he wants to progress your relationship as normal as possible. For Luke, sharing a bed feels like the next step.

Siddiq; Siddiq is shaken from his encounter with the Whisperers. He's never been more terrified of dying before. He's struggling to adapt back to real life, constantly dealing with nightmares When you make the suggestion, Siddiq agrees. He'd thought he'd never see you again. He considers your warm embrace will help him sleep through the night again

Eugene Porter; Eugene is taken aback when you tell him you don't to sleep without him. He can't fathom why you would want to share a bed with him. His reaction is adamant, of course, he does. The entire interaction is awkward, soft and endearing as you both decide who's bed to share.

Benjamin; Benjamin never expected to fall in love. Never expected to find someone in the apocalypse, but he has. He's lying in bed one night, tossing and turning, struggling to sleep. His feet instinctively head him in the direction of your room. When he knocks, you are half asleep. He blurts out he doesn't want to sleep alone. You reply by opening the door wider and allowing him in

Beta; Beta insists you don't sleep alone. Living outside with the Whisperers is dangerous, there's danger at every turn. Beta hasn't cared in the past. When you two get together. things change. Suddenly, he's scared to lose someone. There is someone in his life that he wants to protect. So he insists you two sleep side by side.

Theodore "T-Dog" Douglas; When everyone's sorting out sleeping accommodations in the prison. You surprise him when you tell him you don't want to sleep alone. T-Dog immediately goes in search of a comfortable place for you to sleep. It's nice at the end of the end of the day, to know he's going to fall asleep with you in his arms.

Alden; You and Alden are sitting together reading, your eyes drooping, struggling to stay awake. Alden makes the suggestion you go to bed. However, you refuse telling Alden you don't want to sleep without him. Alden smiles, he truly adores it when you're sleepy and completely honest. Alden replies with you don't have to. Alden leads you up to his room.

Justin; Justin doesn't want to sleep without you through jealousy. He doesn't like the way Daryl's been staring at you. He wants to remind everyone, especially Daryl who you come back to after your day has finished. Who keeps you warm on those cold nights

Noah; Things are always tense in the hospital. There's always some politics going around. Noah's favourite part of the hospital is you. You two are hanging out, when Noah brings it up. He doesn't want to sleep alone, because its time he could have spent with you. The sentiment is sweet and when you agree, Noah asks you which side you prefer.

Jerry; You come to Jerry in the middle of the night, tears running down your face, pain-stricken. Immediately Jerry opens up his arms, embracing you. Jerry sets into consoling you. The world is harsh and cruel and even the strongest people break. When you tell Jerry, you don't want to sleep without him, he tells you you don't have to because he's right here.

Axel; Axel struggles to get accustomed to the harsh reality of the world. You are the best thing to come out of it. Companionship, patience, love. So when you come into his cell asking to sleep with him, he scoots to the side, pulling back the blanket. He tells you, you don't have to ask. He'll protect you from the nightmares.

Gareth; Axel struggles to get accustomed to the harsh reality of the world. You are the best thing to come out of it. Companionship, patience, love. So when you come into his cell asking to sleep with him, he scoots to the side, pulling back the blanket. He tells you, you don't have to ask. He'll protect you from the nightmares.

Micheal Mercer; Micheal is always busy. He takes the job seriously because it's important. However, sometimes he can feel like he's not spending enough time with you. It's why one night, he decides to ask you, to stay. He tells you, he doesn't want to go to bed alone anymore. Not when he can fall and wake up to something beautiful

Negan; Negan smirks when you tell him you don't want to sleep alone. He's been waiting for you to come to him. He didn't want to put any pressure on you, but he's been wanting to share a bed with you for a while. In Negan's mind, it's another way to be close to you. An excuse to feel your body against his.

#The Walking Dead imagine #The Walking Dead imagines #The Walking Dead one shot #The Walking Dead oneshot #Rick Grimes imagines #Rick Grimes imagine #Abraham Ford imagine #Abraham Ford imagines #Shane Walsh imagine #Shane Walsh imagines #Father Gabriel stokes imagine #Father Gabriel imagines #Merle Dixon imagine #Merle Dixon imagines #Luke twd imagines #Luke twd imagine #Siddiq imagines #Siddiq imagine #Eugene Porter imagines #Eugene Porter imagine #Benjamin twd imagines #Benjamin twd imagine #Beta twd imagines #Beta twd imagine #Theodore “T-Dog” Douglas imagine #Theodore “T-Dog” Douglas imagines #Alden imagines #Alden imagine #Justin twd imagines #Justin twd imagine

[bigblackbbnny]

To be a Dixon

✁- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ╰──➢  ✧;── table of contents ──; ✧ ╭       ⁞ ❏.Characters ⟶ .·. Daryl Dixon, Merle Dixon (mentioned), Will Dixon (mentioned), Daryl and Merle's mom (also only mentioned). ┊       ⁞ ❏.Warnings  ⟶ .·. Implied/Referenced Child Abuse, Angst, mentions of Violence. ┊       ⁞ ❏.Notes ⟶ .·. So, basically I started watching The Walking Dead for the first time around a month ago, maybe a bit more, and finished at season 10 because i'm going to wait for season 11 to come to Netflix I guess. I loved it, and i've been stuck with the usual Art Block so it's kinda refreshing to be able to write about one of my favorite characters (and being able to write at all in the first place). Also published in AO3~ ┊     ⁞ ❏.Summary ⟶ .·. Daryl thinks about stuff, sad stuff. He doesn't cry though, Dixons don't cry. He's a tough boy.

Daryl lays down on the grass with a plop, he knows he'll go back home slightly wet and covered in dirt and he hopes his Pa will not be there to see it (a nagging thought at the back of his head whispers he shouldn’t give a damn). The wind makes his clothes flutter gently and the greenery around him seems to engulf his small figure, hidden from anyone or anything that could be searching for him. He knows nobody is looking for him though, at least not with good intentions.

His eyes look at the sky, there's not many stars over there so near the city, but if he pays enough attention he can almost recognize the soft glint of a couple more hiding around. The wind whispers against his skin again, the ground cradles his body. It's rough but the grass makes it bearable, like a light cushion.

He silently wonders if that's how being in his mother's arms felt like. Or maybe his father's. He shudders at the last thought.

It's not like he wouldn't like a loving father, he does. He looks at other kids that come from decent looking houses, at their cheerful and caring parents, he watches them hug, bump into each other playfully, being taught by them, riding their father's shoulders and seeming like the lords of the town.

He doesn't envy them, he's not jealous, Daryl tells himself as he looks away. He doesn't need one.

Maybe he does, but it's too late for one.

Will Dixon is a son of a bitch and would never be a proper parent, forever tainted his hopes of a caring parental figure.

His bruised cheek burns as a reminder.

Daryl's left hand brushes against some wild flower, he feels the delicate petals under his fingers. He caresses it carefully trying not to thug at them too much.

His thoughts drift to his older brother, would Merle be okay? Daryl closed his eyes for a second with a snarl. Of course that tough dickhead would be okay. He probably went to get arrested again, or just straight to find someone to beat up -or get beaten up- as if he was doing so with their Pa. Merle was always the strongest of the two, probably because he was the oldest too. He would always scowl at him saying he should 'toughen up' while brushing blood off his face after taking their old man's beating in his stead. Nowadays Merle wasn't home as much as when he was younger, so he couldn't save his ass all the time.

Daryl wouldn't say he missed him but he appreciated the effort he'd done taking care of him, nasty harmless words and scowls included. Nobody else ever did as much as him. Well, Mrs. Gretchen down the street did give him a bandaid once after some guy pushed him and called him a boot-licker for helping the old lady pick up some apples that fell from her broken plastic bag. She even helped him clean the small bleeding wound on his knee and would sometimes give him an apple when he walked by her house.

Merle heard of it, told him he was 'too much of a damn softie'. He paid no attention to his words. He was right though. He didn't feel it was okay to bully nice ladies, and if some kid's balloon got stuck in a tree he might have the thought of helping them reach for it.

He wouldn't, not everyone was nice and welcoming of help. Most were not.

His glassy eyes blinked a couple of times. The petals felt so good against the calloused skin of his fingers, rough from years of survival and still not enough to prevent the string of his crossbow from cutting when he wasn't being careful. He had no idea what the name of the wild flower was, barely being able to notice it had a yellow-ish color.

The texture reminded him of some baby blanket he used to have, now but a tattered rag discarded in the wild of their garden after some of his father's rage bursts. He liked that one, probably one of the last remnants of his mother. She wasn't a good mother, well, she didn't care about them enough to be a mother at all. Probably beaten out of her, too busy filling her lungs with smoke and drowning in alcohol to look at them twice from the corner of her eyes. But maybe she had cared for a couple of minutes. Maybe when he was still a newborn baby she might have held him within the soft baby blanket. He didn't know for sure. He never asked Merle and honestly he didn't want to know the truth at all.

A sigh left his lips.

Sometimes he could remember things, small moments of peace at their house when she was still alive. There were scarce days where they could act like a family, a normal one. Although it all went to hell after she died. He wondered if Merle ever had good times with them when he hadn't been born yet. Sometimes, he would even wonder if it was his fault they were all so broken. Or perhaps it had always been like that, and it would always have been no matter if he was there or not. Dixon blood and stuff.

Will never stopped blaming Merle about what happened, never cared about beating them over any excuse he could find. And even if there was no excuse. Daryl would have to run away days long sometimes, hunt his own food, camp in the woods if he was lucky enough to grab his equipment before rushing out, or sleep in trees if he was not. More often than not.

Daryl looked at people with cozy houses and warm families from afar, people who could sleep with a feeling of safety and weren't bathed in bruises and scars.

He frowned at them, the weaklings. He didn't envy them. He didn't need it, he growled to himself.

(He did, secretly.)

#the walking dead #twd #daryl dixon #twd daryl #daryl dixon fanfiction #one shot #short one shot #young daryl dixon #canonical child abuse #mentioned domestic violence #angst is my comfort #angst and feels #merle dixon #will dixon #twd fic #english is not my first language #no beta we die like walkers

[optimist-pine]

Eloquence

Pairing: Daryl Dixon x Reader

Warnings: implied injury, implied past emotional abuse

Summary: A short one shot/drabble.

Era: Season 2, the Farm

Daryl has never had much of a thing for words. His whole life he'd toed the line; two steps away from saying the wrong ones and paying the price. Words shine a light upon thoughts (which he preferred to keep to himself), and feelings (which almost always got out of hand.) They had perhaps been the worst weapons of his past, like hammers demolishing and striking down relentlessly instead of building up. Intentional or not.

After Merle left, blessedly taking his limited vocabulary with him, a rather peaceful silence emerged. It wasn't long before the absence grew to become it's own annoyance though, and that's when he found himself drawn to new words - yours. He'd never found words beautiful until he really heard you speak. As skillful and precise as a master practicing their craft, each word a genuine and perfect combination of head and heart. For the first time Daryl was intrigued enough to truly listen.

That didn't change how he was wired though. His frustration only grew each time he proceeded to act on his own impulsiveness and snap at someone, or when he reacted in the way he despised most. It felt as though his admiration for you in that regard was pushing all of his own shortcomings to the surface.

Regardless of his own insecurities, you must've at least found him to be a tolerable conversationalist. With increasing frequency he'd suddenly find himself the object of your attention, inquiring about his opinion on whatever the group had been discussing, or even just asking about him on a more personal level.

Most often though, you'd ask him to explain some aspect of hunting, tracking, or other obscure wilderness knowledge. Every time he immediately felt like an idiot, your patience and attentiveness making him nervous enough to stumble over some words and forget others. 

"See how tha' one got cut off all sharp an' attan angle?" He asked, gesturing with the toe of his boot at a stem eaten off a few inches from the ground. "An', there ain't any leaves left."

You crouched down to get a better look at what was left of the little twig. "Rabbit?" You guessed, squinting up at Daryl's face.

A quick nod. "Yup." He replied.

"Yes!" You stood, pumping your fist in mock victory with a laugh. "You're a good teacher, Daryl." You smiled at him and his heart did a tiny summersault.

Truthfully you were quite intuitive. He'd barely had to teach you much of anything, and definitely nothing worthy of being praised for. "Naw." He grunted, turning to continue on your trek trough the woods. "Best get a move on."

"Hey." You huffed, jogging a bit to catch up with his quick strides. "I really do appreciate you taking the time." You grabbed his arm, pulling him to a stop. You didn't start speaking again until he met your eyes. "You do make a good teacher. Unless you think I'm a liar." Your eyes were as unwavering as your grip on his arm and it made him feel like some unfortunate raccoon caught in headlights.

Your sudden firmness caught him off guard. Where your fingers wrapped around his bicep his skin practically burned, the heavy Georgian heat weighing down on him. He swallowed and then managed to scrape together a, "Course I don'."

Immediately the corner of your mouth quirked up. With a hum of satisfaction you released him, continuing your search for Sophia.

---

The next evening Daryl was more than relieved to hear your voice. Earlier that day the two of you had split up on your search in order to cover more ground, and after barely making it back in one piece himself he couldn't help but worry until your return. 

Breathless, you called out his name, peeking into the bedroom that had become a sort of infirmary, your face twisted up with... worry? "Oh, thank God." You gasped. 

He was pleased to see that you looked no worse for wear, but still he didn't like you being so upset for no reason. It agitated something within him to be anyone's burden. "What're y'all worked up about, woman?" He asked.

You hurried to his side, trying to slow your breathing. "Carol said you'd been shot in the head. I just- I..." You panted, eyes darting around, inspecting all of him enough to make him feel self conscious.

"Ya what?" It came out more gruffly than he'd intended.

You shook your head. He couldn't recall ever really seeing you at a loss for words. "I was afraid that you..." Your hand started to stretch towards him before you pulled away. "You're okay?" You asked, eyes wide.

He almost wished you hadn't pulled away so soon. Just to see if your touch still burned like it had before. "Yeah." He said quietly.

You hovered over him, apparently in no hurry to leave. He realized he didn't actually want you to leave, in fact, he desperately wanted you to stay, to have your company instead of being confined to this perfectly quiet room alone. Selfishness began to bloom inside him and he longed to hear you, to have your attention all to himself. He was certain your voice would soothe and heal more powerfully than any medicine or even time itself. Was it wrong to want that from you? 

"Could ya read ta me?" He asked before he'd even decided to let the words out.

The red on your cheeks from the summer sun began to darken. "What?" You asked, slightly taken aback. Your eyebrows were drawn together as they always were when you were thinking. 

He hadn't meant to say that aloud; sounding like some sort of small, scared kid asking for a bedtime story. Hell, he'd never had any of those even when he was a kid. "Sorry, nevermind." He muttered, pulling the covers up and turning his back to you.

"No, no. I can." You blurted, maybe a little too loudly. "That sounds nice. Haven't had the time to read, what with the end of the world and all." You laughed dryly. Had he made you uncomfortable? You sounded nervous the way you were rambling - he could hear your boots shifting on the hardwood floor. 

The bed creaked as he rolled back over, but there you were, a small smile unhindered by the grime and dirt sprinkled across the rest of your skin. "Any uh... any requests?" You asked.

"Whatever ya like." He replied, then added, "Nothin' trashy."

And as you sat on the bed beside him, the soft candlelight flickering gently across your features in the darkness, his heart slowed and an unexpected warmth filled him. It was as if every kindness he'd ever experienced was multiplied, each one crammed inside of him until he was practically bursting and then the feeling flooded over him bringing the warmth to every part that he thought was doomed to stay cold forever. 

He listened to the melody of your words, watched the way your eyes were losing the struggle to stay open, felt the heat from your side pressed ever so slightly against his. He felt like a child again, the overwhelming desire to be protected that had never been fulfilled when he was young. In this moment he felt more love than he had his whole life. 

As sleep finally claimed you he quietly set the book aside, pulling you down into the comfort of the bed. He hesitated to blow out the candle, secretly relishing the peaceful look on your face. As the red glow of the wick faded away, he promised himself that someday he would have the words to tell you everything.

#twd #the walking dead #daryl dixon #daryl dixon x reader #twd season 2 #optimist pine

[cultofdixon]

Falling for you…wasn’t meant to hurt

Daryl Dixon • She/Her Pronouns • The two of you grew close because the universe thought you were meant to be. But Daryl agreeing to let you help him find Carol’s daughter, he didn’t expect anything bad to happen • ANGST/SFW • TW: Impalement / Injuries / Anxiety / Restlessness

Requested by: Anon

“If you’re gonna go search for the kid, don’t go alone.”

“Fine” Daryl made his way toward the camp outside the farm house as Rick gave him a confused look.

“Who are yea takin’?”

“Y/N” He states without a second thought in mind as Rick quickly grabs his shoulder stopping him.

“You sure that’s your best option?”

“I trust her more than you, Rick. She’s more than the best choice” Daryl retracts from the man continuing his way over to the tent city they have going on as Y/N’s was on the side closest to Daryl’s.

________

“Who’s that?” Merle elbows his brother to look at the woman seated on top of the RV.

Daryl looked over trying to get a good look at her face but when he couldn’t. He gave up and told Merle not to go there knowing damn well his brother was going to holler at her.

Then later in the night, Daryl went over to the camp fire they always have going when dinner was made from whatever he and Merle caught. He went to get him and his brother some dinner only for the woman from the roof of the RV to hand him two prepared plates before he could ask somebody to.

“It’s Y/N by the way”

“What?”

“My name. I’m the “who’s that” from the other day” Y/N gave him a small short lived smile before looking down at the book laid in her lap.

Daryl stood there a bit awkward while holding the plates as he cleared his throat to get her beautiful E/C eyes to look up at him.

“Daryl”

Her smile shot back instantly making his heart beat quicken.

“Don’t be a stranger, Daryl”

________

“Do you trust Rick?” Y/N asks Daryl as he was getting one of the Greene’s horses strapped with a saddle.

“Don’t know yet, more than Shane if it came to that though”

“Ugh. In those terms I agree…I just. Don’t understand how he’s so blind to their nonsense” Y/N frowns looking over to the camp while Daryl did his thing but his attention seemed to always fixate on her when she didn’t seem alright.

“Ready. Least I think I got this shit on right”

“You ride a horse before?”

“Uh. No, shouldn’t be too hard”

“If we had the resources like the old world, I’d tell yea to wear boots. So your feet wouldn’t slip from the stirup” Y/N stared watching Daryl get on with ease extending his hand for her as he kept his cool when her smile practically shot him. “Don’t do anything too crazy, cowboy”

“Wouldn’t dream of it” Daryl chuckles lightly as his mind was running miles at everything she did, even if it was the smallest thing of wrapping her arms around his waist. “Alright, let’s get”

God I really hate horses Y/N thought as she held onto Daryl for dear life wishing they went on foot.

I can’t focus On the other hand, Daryl’s mind raced having her this close.

But a good thing can’t last forever in the end of the world.

________

Daryl cared, but he also didn’t. In the moment he didn’t care about anybody else except her when he returned from Atlanta to find out a herd was crashing through.

Not that she needed any help given every walker that came toward her, met the short end of the stick.

Once the horror show came to an end and many were mourning, Y/N dropped her axe before falling to her knees and trying to wrap her head over all the happened. Her mind was flooded until she felt hands carefully take a hold of her face. Her eyes instantly locked onto his piercing blues.

“Are yea bit?” Daryl frowns waiting for her to answer as she shook her head, bringing a whole wave of relief. “Alright, c’mon. Let’s get yea cleaned up”

________

They can handle anything

Daryl jolts awake in a bit of a haze feeling the pain in his side realizing he was impaled by his own arrow. But given the racing situation at hand, it didn’t remain in his side as he quickly pulled it out while scrambling to get his crossbow in order to shoot the walker getting dangerously to Y/N’s unconscious form.

The second he landed the shot, Daryl dropped his crossbow rushing the best he could over to Y/N and rolling her onto her back noticing the branch embedded in her side.

“Fuck” Daryl frowns removing his shirt wincing when he agitated his injury and wrapping it around her middle to secure the branch. “Wake up, wake up, WAKE UP” he didn’t meant to shout so loud at the last part but it got her to jolt awake wincing in pain immediately. “Sorry. I’m sorry”

“W-…What a way….t-to wake a dying p-p…person” Y/N scoffs wincing more feeling the branch move when she took a breath.

“Y-Yea ain’t dyin’”

“H-Hurts…though” Y/N finally got a deep breath in, exhaling slowly feeling his fingers press against the pulse point on her neck. “Mm still here…”

“Yea better be by the time we get back”

Y/N couldn’t even wrap her head around that thought. Of making it back alive. She thought she was going to die there or on the way back, but given how hard Daryl was trying and the anxiety laced in his voice. Even with how much he’s talking…she’s not going to feed into the seeds of doubt and let him try, hell…she’s still trying.

“Can’t move yea too much…gonna have to go the long way”

“H…How’d we even…?”

“Stupid goddamn h-horse” Daryl winced to his pain when he tried to get up so he could help her up. Y/N carefully pressed her hand to his injured side getting another wince out of him and when she removed her hand she saw the blood.

“You can’t die for me” The first clear thing she’s said since the fall and Daryl didn’t know what to say. The anger that always laid dormant in him at times, started to peak out when his mind raced to the conclusion that he’s not going to listen to her if she starts talking about leaving her behind.

“F-Find something”

“What?”

“F-…Find ah…” Y/N laid back again in the dirt looking around locking onto the walker he had killed to keep her from getting bitten. “S-Stop the bleeding. T…Ta…Take his s-shirt”

He would listen to her direction but find himself yelling at every moment she closed her eyes. They were both weak, but he’s the only one capable of getting them out of there.

Daryl took the shirt and secured it to stop the bleeding on his side. Then he decided to take the dead’s pants thinking if he could climb up from where they fell while Y/N was wrapped to his back, then they could follow the same tracks that got them there instead of trying a whole new route. But that meant having to cut the branch shorter and warning her was the easy part.

Feeling her nails dig into his arm as he used his knife to shorten the branch on either side…listening to her scream in agony and the blood continued to seep through his shirt that was supposedly secured around her. He was in hell.

Y/N tiredly watches the creek disappear as Daryl carries her on his back taking his sweet ass time climbing.

“Gonna get Hershel, to check on yea.”

“You…”

“Me? Me what? Me too? Yeah no shit. None of’em out there are gonna let me walk around bleedin’”

“…s-someone needs to care”

Daryl was reaching the last stretch in climbing when she said that. He was confused on what she meant but when he finally got onto the main path pulling the rest of her up and beside him. Y/N had gone unconscious again. She wasn’t finished and he wasn’t happy seeing her eyes closed.

“Come on” Daryl shakes her at first, trying to keep the yelling at a minimum because the only thing it’s going to do is draw more sickos toward them. But he wasn’t getting anything immediately. “Y/N?” His fear started to get him as he gently brushes the hair out of the way of her face shaking her head carefully. “Please. Please. I can’t lose you. I can’t.” His voice cracked, his tears were threatening to spill over.

It took a second but she tiredly opened her eyes reaching forward and grabbing a fist full of his tank top.

“Tired…” She sighs feeling his hands rest on her face. “Sorry”

“You’re not allowed to die, alright? I’ll kill yea if you do”

Even in a weak state she couldn’t help but laugh to such.

Soon they were on their feet, Y/N’s arm draped over Daryl’s shoulders as he kept her up the best he could while they made their way back.

“Walkers!” Andrea yells catching everyone who was outside’s attention.

As Rick, Shane, Glenn, and T-Dog grabbed their guns and made their way to the walkers given there was only two. But Andrea decided to take the hunting rifle and get ready to take at least one of them out.

“Andrea don’t”

“Shut up Dale”

Y/N groaned touching her side to see the fresh blood coming out as she gave Daryl a worried look while he kept a stern one. He wasn’t stopping. Then her anxiety got the best of her right when the four approached them aiming their gun.

“That’s the second time you aimed that thing at me” Daryl huffed.

“Oh my god Y/N” Glenn frowns noticing her injury then they all were startled by both Y/N shoving Daryl off and her falling back when the shot rang through. “Holy FUCK!”

The group that rushed over surrounded Y/N as Daryl weakly looks up from his fallen position noticing her unmoving form. He couldn’t quite pick out what they were saying as he tried to get himself off the ground. Eventually T-Dog approached him with an extended hand.

“C’mon man. We gotta get you checked out”

“Is she—-“

“She’s still breathing” T-Dog reassures him as he got Dixon back on his feet bringing his arm around his shoulders. “The hell happen?”

“Goddamn horse” he scoffs feeling his anger bubble inside himself when watching Shane carry Y/N sprinting toward the house.

Daryl found himself at the dining room table letting Maggie do his stitches while the room that once had Carl, now had Y/N being worked on by Hershel with help from Patricia. He anxiously waited and winced every now and then when Maggie pulled a bit too tight on her stitches. She’d apologized immediately.

“Yer dad is good right?”

“Yes. For someone who originally only worked on animals” Maggie states applying the bandage as Daryl immediately got up leaving the house and approaching the camp.

“Who the fuck fired?”

Everyone grew tense with the tone he took as it was obvious given her avoidance to eye contact when he brought it up.

“Who. Shot. Their. Gun.”

“Andrea” Glenn blurted as Dale smacked him in the arm. The guy was nervous. He wasn’t about to lie for her.

“I’m sorry Daryl! You two looked awful and from afar—like walkers. I had to protect—-“

“FOUR OF YALL CAME TOWARD US. WE DIDNT NEED SOME TRIGGER HAPPY BITCH TAKE CARE OF IT” Daryl snaps as Rick stepped between them pushing him back gently keeping mind of his own injuries.

“Look. You’re upset. We all are. We’re worried about—-“

“Nah. She wouldn’t have gotten hurt if you had just trusted me to take care of business by myself. I shouldn’t have taken the one person I care about in this goddamn apocalypse” Daryl clenched his jaw moving his gaze to the floor. “I’m leavin’ if I lose her” he whispered.

“Daryl”

The two quickly turned to Maggie as she kept a relaxed expression but the tension in her shoulders struck Daryl’s anxiety.

“We need you”

Daryl quickly ran toward the house and barging into the room noticing the branch was still in Y/N’s side.

“Why the fuck haven’t—-“

“I stabilized it but she woke up, screamed at us wondering where you were—-“

He didn’t say anything all he did was instantly to go to her side noticing the color that left her face from the blood loss, and the bullet graze on the side of her face.

“D-Daryl. It h-hurts” She whined with tears streaming down her face as Daryl held her hand trying not to fall apart.

“He’s gotta take it out and access yea, sunshine”

“P-Please. Don’t leave”

“Wouldn’t dream of it” Daryl states giving Hershel a look for him to get started as he watches the doc move the bandaging showing the branch that still needed to be pulled out. His heart was pounding in his chest holding Y/N’s hand knowing in a split second he’s going to have to hold her shoulders.

Which happened to be now. Hershel started to pull the branch out and Y/N tried to fight Hershel wanting him to stop but he kept repeating “almost there”. Daryl brought his hands to her shoulders pinning her down as Patricia held her legs down to keep the movement at a minimum. She clawed at Daryl’s arms crying in pain as he knew he would be hearing her screams whenever something went wrong in the future.

Once the branch was removed, the blood poured in new places that weren’t where the clamps were. Leading Hershel to apply pressure immediately while Patricia scrambled to get what they needed. Daryl relaxed but tensed instantly when Y/N’s breathing slowed…slower than normal.

“Goddamn it” Daryl frowns holding Y/N’s face shaking her slightly. “Come on come on come on!” He shouted startling everyone as Hershel took notice and quickly checked her pulse while Patricia kept the pressure.

“Son, you know CPR?!”

“What?! Nah. No she don’t need it. She’s just—-“

“You need to do it or she’ll die”

Then the sound went out in his head. Daryl instantly started to do CPR and tried his best not to instantly break her ribcage with the pressure he was building up to. His shoulder was grabbed when Hershel finished his work and checked her pulse. He did good. Daryl did good.

“She’s gonna be unconscious for a while” Hershel states, about a few hours later as it was now the evening. Daryl hasn’t left her side and he mainly said that in hopes he’d get up to walk around a bit. But he didn’t want to face anybody. “She lost a lot of blood and it’ll take a while—-“

“Use mine”

“Pardon?”

“I’m fucking universal. Take some of mine to help her”

________

“He seriously did that?” Y/N questions Daryl as the two were sitting alone in the room they were sharing at the CDC.

“Got a lot of money out of it”

“But that’s not safe. Taking three pints? How did you not go into shock?”

“Who said I didn’t?”

“Daryl, I’ll fucking kill you if you ever gave me your blood”

“Huh?” Daryl was confused on what she meant and Y/N was getting at, if the situation asked for it. She wouldn’t want him to bleed himself just for her to live. “You ain’t gonna lose a fuckton of blood. Won’t let it happen”

________

Three pints. Fucking moron.

But Hershel only took one a day and gave it to Y/N, letting Daryl take the couch in the living room to recuperate after each transfusion. He had to be a human blood bag, Hershel couldn’t calculate a pint so he had a cut off period. Meaning 3 pints could’ve been less than what was taken.

Daryl didn’t have to give anymore and found himself back in the chair beside the bed staring blankly at the window seeing the group take advantage of the luxury of the Greene farm. Part of him knew it wasn’t going to last. Something in him was leaning toward that, but he wasn’t going to lose her if something bad were to happen.

He flinched to feeling something as he brought himself to cross his arms turning toward her thinking it was just a breeze. But when he noticed her open eyes and extended hand, it was her.

“Holy shit. Holy SH—“ Daryl cut himself off when Y/N brought her finger to her lips to shush him as he leaped out of the chair dropping to his knees directly beside the bed dropping his head onto the bed. She instantly wrapped her arm around his shoulders as her other hand carefully reached over to run her fingers through his hair. “Thank god. Thank fucking god”

“Dar…your arm is bruised”

“Don’t…don’t worry about it, sunshine. I had to do what I had to do”

A sigh escaped her lips making him turn his face toward her as she gently caresses his face watching him relax to her touch.

“I’m always going to worry about you”

“Y/N…you almost died” His voice cracked as her expression saddened gripping the back of his shirt tugging at him. Daryl got the idea as he pulled himself up letting Y/N wrap her arms around him as they both kept in mind their injuries.

“I’m not going anywhere…has to take a lot to take me away from you”

“I love you…I loved yea since I first met you…”

Y/N held onto him with the strength she had feeling Daryl hide his face in the crook of her neck.

“Falling for you, wasn’t meant to be literal” She giggles feeling him pull away so he could get a good look at that smile of hers that he missed so much. “I love you Daryl”

The tears came back when he brought his lips to hers feeling her gently wipe away his tears not breaking the kiss they shared. She returned her arms around his shoulders parting from him to bring him close once again.

“I ain’t letting go, sunshine”

“Good…”

#cultofdixon #the walking dead #daryl dixon #daryl dixon x reader #daryl dixon fanfiction

[starshipsofstarlord]

Cuddle Bunny

summary - all you can do is reflect on the past as you sit by a tired and bedridden daryl, hellbent on not leaving his side. It seems he doesn’t want you to leave either, as you are the only person that sees him for who he is, in every light (1.3k)

warnings - daryl getting shot, mentions of violence, parental abuse (mental and physical) and death, slight angst, fluff, cuddly daryl, sophia being missing

daryl dixon + norman reedus works main masterlist

You had never experienced the fear that was currently combusting your entire being - Andrea had shot Daryl in the head. Sure, it was ‘just a scrape’, however you were furious, and ovulating a circus of panic within your veins.

Hershel was allowing the archer to rest, insisting that it was necessary in order to regain his strength, despite the veterinarian being displeased with him borrowing one of his horses without permission.

And you sat beside him, watching over him on a chair that you had pulled from the corner of the room. He seemed exhausted, and with a shaky hand, you reached across his forehead and brushed his hair out of his face.

He was beautiful, and you wished that he would acknowledge it more, rather than feeling insecure within the ranks of your group, always being made to feel by the others that he wasn’t good enough - that he was just like his brother.

To them, as his frugal search for the lost little girl had made such as Shane think further, he was a tragic liability, that was reckless, risking their uphold of temporary residency on the farmland. But he was the only one willing to venture out into the wild where the dead walked to find Sophia, having to believe deep down that despite being out there by her lonesome that she had to be alive.

Daryl had made it his mission, using himself as a pawn in the process, taking an arrow in the side and a bullet across the outside layering of skin at his temple all to strive on, and undermine the cruel evil that the world had evolved into.

You envied his loyal pursuit, neither of you owed these people anything, but nevertheless he found a role in which he could be responsible for, other than being the hand that kept them fed. The two of you were more like outsiders to the tight knit group, they all had varying opinions of you both, assuming the events in your pasts considering your closeness with Merle prior to him disappearing from the rooftop, abandoning his right hand on his untimely escape.

They knew nothing of importance when it concerned you and Daryl, you weren’t the proudest when it came to your past, but you weren’t ashamed either. There was nothing that they could perceive that was undoubtedly true, you remembered everything, both the good and bad that you had gone through before the world had gone to shit.

But none of it was as terrifying as seeing Daryl bedridden with stitches in his head, whilst you were trapped in a reality where everything wanted to kill you. If you could go back and just live in the memories that you had with him, you would, without a second thought. You and he were far away from any threats that would separate you in life, concocted in a mundane and happily bland routine.

You had a little house, on the outskirts of a rocky and small town in Georgia, and it wasn’t perfect but it was the roof that you and Daryl called your home. And all you needed to get by was each other, and whilst thing seemed perfect you still hadn’t got by without judgement. Merle and Daryl’s father was an obsolete rival to your relationship, he resented that his son had found happiness, brewing with cryptic resentment at the fact he had no physical control over his life.

But the mental aspect still remained, he was scorned within his brain from the impact that William Dixon had plagued into every scar that he invisibly wore, and you could see it on his face within the very moment he winced as he readjusted his head against the pillow beneath. Pain, it ran through his nerves, decaying him as though it was just another walker that Andrea had unloaded her misaimed shell towards.

She deserved your rationalised anger imploded upon her, and she’d be a sitting duck for the meanwhile, Daryl’s health was far more important than your yet to be unleashed rage. If you allowed all hell to be let loose, then you would never stop seeing the vivid colour of red, and there was no time to waste on yet to be salvaged conflict just yet, she could wait for the vengeance that she had earned to suffer from. Tending to the emotional instability that Daryl was floundering in was upmost priority, and that was one thing that hadn’t changed from before the constantly spreading apocalypse.

“Why ya starin’ at me, it’s gettin’ creepy?” His gravelly, smoke worn voice enquired, his eyes fluttered drowsily in your direction, the tight corners of his mouth uplifting at the sight of you. You felt exhausted as well, overwhelmed with emotions of despair and from the lack of much needed sleep due to your addictive worry.

“You say somethin’ similar every time you wake up.” You glowed as you spoke to the man that you loved, the raging sun illuminating your silhouette through the drawn curtains, brightening the focus in which Daryl had of you. Reaching across, you braced your adoring palm against the cusp of his cheek, brushing your thumb across his supple skin, relishing in the very touch of his flesh. Something so simple felt so intimate with him, everything did. After existing in a life felt as though it had no meaning, Daryl was the only constant, and the purpose for which you remained. And nothing had changed, and you knew that it wouldn’t for as long as you lived.

“Usually yer in the sleeping’ bag next ter me, a bed ain’t gonna make a difference.” He quirked his brow, wincing and allowing himself to be vulnerable as it stretched the tautness of his wound. His face creased in momentary pain, and you felt unbelievably lucky that the bullet wasn’t a millimetre to the right, as there was a chance that he wouldn’t be here, attempting to seduce you in an innocent and lustre fashion.

“Is that you inviting me to lay beside you Mr Dixon?” You corresponded with his portrayal of your early routine, unable to remember a morning to which he wasn’t a part of. He was a staple, a permanency that rendered you into a bathing of peace, and you both felt desired when sharing any type of company. Daryl meaninglessly rolled his oceanic eyes, tugging at your hand that was upon him to pull you closer, and beside him.

And his efforts became successful as you needed no convincing, and you rested atop of the mattress that was indeed much more comfortable than the makeshift bed, however your head in fact ended up laying on his chest, listening to his calm and steady heartbeat. “This is better than the meds the farmer gave me.” His words enforced you to laugh into his chest, addicted to the cheesy platter of jokes that he would share with you, and you alone.

Nobody saw this side of him, he was himself. And the world had turned into a massacring mess, the brutality shattering every ounce of soul that a person had. But you and Daryl never changed, you were adjoined to surviving the trauma that had tainted you both from birth, and nothing would change with the infected having the thirst to rip you apart.

“Well,” you dragged your word out, looking up at his face which was filled with adoration and surprisingly comfortability, “at least there’s no limit on the dosage you can take.” You leaned up, pressing your lips that had become chapped from the staring hue in the sky that was beating down on you in the passing daytimes upon his own. His arms tugged around the circumference of your waist, pulling you closer, him having the intention of using his time to rest to lay with you within his very grip.

#daryl dixon x reader #daryl dixon imagine #daryl dixon smut #daryl dixon oneshot #daryl dixon x y/n #daryl dixon x you #daryl dixon fanfiction #daryl dixon x female reader #daryl dixon fluff #norman reedus x reader #norman reedus imagine

[xoxo-sarah]

Can't Come Back From This

↝pairing: Daryl Dixon x medic!Reader

↝warning: death, blood, apocalypse, zombies, crying, angst, not proof read

|| Disclaimer: I do not own Daryl Dixon, or any character from The Walking Dead. I only own y/n and any characters I create with my own brain. ||

↝⎙ 2.17.24

Divider by @saradika-graphics

You stumbled past the door, practically falling down the steps. The only thing stopping you from falling onto the pavement was the railing on the stairs.

It was as if everything was going in slow-motion.

Red. Dead. Blood.

The same 3 words kept repeating in your head. A nagging voice that wasn't your own repeating the words that would surely drive you insane.

The crimson liquid ran down your arms and hands, splattering onto the ground, weaving into the cracks of the concrete. Red liquid. Blood.

"Y/n?" Daryl slowed from his absentminded walk down the street, stopping across from you on the other side of the road. His eyes followed yours as they drifted to your hands. His body moved before his brain could process what was happening, or what had happened for your hands to be covered in blood and your expression as if you had seen a ghost. "What happened?" Daryl held your hands, asking the only question that seemed to come out, out of all the questions swimming around in his head.

"Bit."

His head shot up, looking at every inch of your face. Your face, that kept the same distant expression. He went into panic-mode. His eyes went from your face to your body, checking your arms, legs, everything. As far as his eyes could see, your hands were the only thing bleeding.

Your head shook, "Sammy."

Daryl felt his stomach drop. Any relief he felt when he relieved you weren't bleeding turned to dread.

Sammy. Sammy was a young boy, probably around 17, 18. He was a good kid, as far as Daryl knew. The kid was always offering to help in any way he could. He would go on runs and come back with more than needed. He kept the small kids of Alexandria entertained. Sammy would help teach the kids and others how to use weapons correctly. He could make a mean rabbit stew. But you could probably thank Carol for that. She taught the kid so much since he showed up. And he listened to every word.

Sammy was learning from Siddiq the same time you were. He was always one step ahead of you in asking questions. You didn't blame him. He was a smart learner, and willing to teach if you didn't understand something the way Siddiq explained it. "Want to learn how to save someone's life in the apocalypse." Sammy had told you, with a goofy grin. The same goofy grin he wore all the time.

You two were close, like brother and sister.

Losing him had to feel like what losing Merle felt like. Maybe even worse.

"Hey," Your dull eyes met his. Your eyes had never lacked this amount of emotion before, not even with what you have all been through this far. Your body fell forwards just as he touched your elbows. You laid limp in his arms. He couldn't care less about the blood soaking into his top as you clung to it. "Yer okay."

His attention was brought to the ajar door. A clattering inside seemed to only faze him. "I-" You hiccuped, "I couldn't do it. I couldn't, Daryl."

He had been rushed in late last night, bleeding so much, you were unable to find the wound at first. He was gargling on his own blood, trying to reach for his neck as you frantically cleaned him.

When you had finally found the wound under all the blood, you tried to save him. Tried to cut his leg off Before the infection traveled. But it was too late. His body went limp. You stayed by his side the rest of the night, staring at his peaceful expression, aside from all the grime.

The world was cruel, you had already known that. Way before the apocalypse. But this was a new level of cruel. One that one person couldn't come back from on their own.

The groaning continued, following the sound of your voice. The old body of Sammy growled and groaned, clawing at the door as you laid in the arms of the man you felt comfort in in other ways most nights.

Daryl moved back, holding you at arms length. "Gotta take care of it. Sit down." He helped you sit and lean against the steps.

He was quick with it. Almost as soon as he opened the door and walked in, he was walking out.

"Yer alright." He knew you wouldn't be the same again. You probably wouldn't laugh or make fun of him for a while. Hell, you might even quite working in the infirmary. He wouldn't blame you.

You had dealt with plenty of deaths before. There's just some you can't come back from.

•2021-2024 by xoxo-sarah on Tumblr•

•My work is not to be translated, copied, modified, and/or reposted on any other site without my permission. [I don't give permission!]

#🐿️ #daryl #daryl dixon #daryl angst #twd daryl #daryl x reader #daryl x y/n #daryl x you #daryl x female reader #daryl imagine #daryl fanfic #daryl dixon oneshot #daryl dixon x reader #daryl dixon fanfiction #daryl dixion imagine #daryl dixion x reader #daryl dixon x y/n #daryl dixon x you #twd imagine #twd imagines #twd angst #xoxo-sarah 🩷

[wannabespacesmuggler]

D.D. | Shane’s Girl

Part One | Masterlist | Buy me a coffee | Check out the playlist

Summary: Daryl Dixon knows he shouldn’t be thinking about you when he’s alone at night in his tent. Hell, he shouldn’t even be looking at you throughout the day. You’re not his. You’re Shane’s girl. But Daryl doesn’t like the way Shane treats you. And he certainly doesn’t like how you're forced to play ‘loving girlfriend’ to a man with eyes for another woman at the camp.

Pairing: Daryl Dixon x Reader

Warnings: Merle Dixon being Merle Dixon, Shane Walsh isn’t great either tbh

Word Count: 1K

Author’s Note: This has been sitting in my google docs just collecting ~metaphorical~ dust. I was going to put all the parts into one very long one shot, but instead, decided against it because I really, really like what I’ve written so far and feel that some feedback can help cure the writer’s block plaguing me. Let me know what you guys think.

Extras: Playlist

Daryl Dixon didn’t think much of you and Shane when he first joined the ragtag team of survivors at the quarry, but he’s an observant man and Shane is anything but subtle.

It all started a few weeks after the world ended. Everyone was still recoiling from what they had seen and heard on their way to Atlanta, but they were trying to continue living. Shane was attempting to establish order in the makeshift camp. The women were charged with cooking, cleaning the laundry, and looking after the kids while the men were sent out to scavenge and hunt -- except for Dale, who spent most of his days working on his bucket of rust, and Shane, who has taken a liking to his newfound leadership and decided to become the watchful protector of the camp. Daryl thinks it’s a pretty backward way of thinking -- it’s the end of the world and we’re still worried about maintaining gender norms -- but who is he to argue?

It was one of the rare days Daryl wasn’t off on a hunting trip when you first piqued his interest. He was skinning the last of the squirrels he’d brought back from his latest hunting trip and Merle just had to open his mouth when you walked by.

“Hey,” Merle’s voice cut through the quiet conversations being had. Everyone’s eyes turned to him, including yours. “Why don’t you keep old Merle here company?”

Your eyes shift quickly to Daryl, who was trying to make himself look busy with the squirrel in his lap, before returning to Merle. You put your hands on your hips defiantly before answering.

“Looks like you’ve already got yourself some company, Merle.”

You motion toward Daryl while speaking. Daryl has to fight the grin that’s pulling his lips. He was expecting you to be like Lori -- quiet and submissive when the men are talking. But here you are, prepared to take on Merle Dixon all by yourself. He supposes he’s gotta respect that, even though he knows your answer is just going to rile Merle up more. Still, you’re here, standing up for yourself, which is more than he’s seen from others in the group. 

“What, you mean Daryl? C’mon sweetheart, he’s not much fun to talk to or look at.”

It’s the end of his sentence that has you turning to look toward Shane, who is once again sitting on top of the RV, a rifle in one hand and a canteen in the other. You’re hoping that Shane will look over and come to your aid. You certainly don’t need rescuing, but the support of your boyfriend would be nice right now. However, you’re met with nothing as Shane’s eyes never meet yours. You roll your eyes and turn back to Merle. 

Daryl watches you, squirrel in his hands forgotten for the moment. He can see the frustration on your face as you turn around, obviously not pleased with the fact that Shane is not paying attention to you in the slightest. However, despite your frustration, you don’t back down.

“I’d rather look at him than you any day.”

He knows you’re just saying that to get to Merle, but Daryl still ducks his head to hide the blush that spread across his cheeks due to your words. He quickly brushes the thought of there being even the slightest possibility that your eyes have wandered over to him during the past few weeks aside when Merle stands up. Daryl knows his brother and based on the look on his face, you’ve pissed Merle right off. This is bad news for everyone. 

Daryl stands as well, a hand already reaching out to stop Merle from advancing toward you. Merle swats Daryl’s hand away roughly. The action makes Daryl take an immediate step back, head ducking down again. 

“Don’t touch me!”

Merle’s raised voice seems to have finally gotten Shane’s attention.

“Woah, woah, woah. What’s going on here?”

Daryl lifts his head in time to see Shane make his way to your side. He places a hand on your shoulder as you continue your seething staring match with Merle. You’re about to brush off the encounter and tell Shane not to worry about it, when Merle opens his mouth again. 

“You better muzzle your bitch.”

And that’s when all hell broke loose. Shane launches toward Merle, yelling unintelligibly. You are quick to grab Shane off of Merle and Daryl follows your lead, pulling Merle back. Eventually, you and Daryl are able to wrangle Merle and Shane away from one another. You still have both your hands on Shane’s chest when he begins shouting again.

“You stay away from my girl. You hear me? You don't talk to her. If I see you even look at her, she won’t be able to stop me. Both of you.”

Shane’s eyes move from Merle to Daryl and the look in his eyes is ice cold, it damn near almost sends a shiver down Daryl’s spine. Daryl nods as Merle continues to struggle against him. Seemingly content with the response, Shane wraps an arm around your shoulders and begins moving you away from them. You spare Daryl a brief, apologetic glance before allowing Shane to drag you toward the RV.

Daryl pushes down the knot developing in his stomach as he watches Shane manhandle you. His hold is less protective and more possessive. It seems much less like he came to defend you from some unwanted attention and much more like he came over just to take back what’s his.

He shakes his head -- physically trying to rid himself of the thoughts ricocheting in his head. It’s not like he can do anything anyway. Shane made it crystal clear that you are off-limits -- and who is he to argue?

#twd #The Walking Dead #walking dead #daryl dixon #twd daryl #daryl dixon imagine #daryl dixon x reader #daryl x reader #Rick Grimes #shane walsh #merle dixon #glenn rhee #lori grimes #the walking dead imagine #walking dead imagine #Norman Reedus #norman reedus imagine #norman reedus x reader

[dixons-sunshine]

hiiii, i was wondering if u could do more with daryl x ex popstar reader ? it’s ok if not but take ur time <333 i love ur work 🫶

Daryl Dixon x Former!Celebrity!Fem!Reader Headcannons

Word count: 573.

A/n: Headcannons based on this fic I wrote. I didn't have any ideas on how to write a part two, so I made headcannons instead. I hope you like it!

➳༻❀✿❀༺➳

★ Daryl saw you around the quarry long before he actually met you.

★ He could see how everyone bestowed privileges on you, giving you extra food, extra water, etc. However, he didn't have the faintest clue why they did that. And he didn't ask why, either.

★ He didn't emerse himself in pop culture, so he had no idea who you were.

★ Merle definitely tried to shoot his shot with you multiple times, seeing as you were one of the many women's who's magazine photos he used to, ahem, do things to.

★ Surprise, surprise, you rejected him each time.

★ After Daryl officially met you and Merle revealed to him that you were famous before the outbreak, he tried to distance himself from you.

★ However, you were dead set on befriending him, and in the end, he couldn't resist anymore.

★ The first time Daryl ever realized that he had romantic feelings for you was when you were in the CDC.

★ You and your daughter shared a room with him that night, and both of you insisted he play a game of Uno with you after you found a pack of Uno cards.

★ The two of you continued playing the game long after your daughter eventually went to bed, and made the game more interesting by adding alcohol to the mix—everytime somebody had to pick up due to a +2 or +4, they had to drink as well.

★ Daryl had never felt that relaxed in his life, and while the alcohol was slowly fogging up his mind, he thought to himself that you were the most perfect woman he's ever met.

★ That thought had sobered him up, and he realized that he saw you in a way that friends shouldn't.

★ The first time the two of you ever shared a kiss was at the prison.

★ He had just returned from the woods with Merle and you were rightfully pissed at him.

★ During an argument, you had unexpectedly grabbed him by the front of his vest and pulled him into a kiss, effectively ending the argument.

★ The two of you never officially established your relationship. The two of you just simply were together after that.

★ Your daughter absolutely adores Daryl.

★ Her and Daryl have an unbreakable bond.

★ He teaches her everything he knows, and she absorbs everything he says.

★ Because of him, she was able to help find food during those eight months on the road after the farm fell.

★ The first time she ever called him "dad" was when the two of you reunited with him after Terminus.

★ The two of you had managed to get out with Tyreese, and you had been with him and Carol when the others were trapped in Terminus.

★ While Rick and Carol ran to Judith, and Sasha ran to Tyreese, Daryl had dropped his crossbow and ran straight for you and Nicolette.

★ It was nearly impossible to tear the three of you from each other's arms. You all clung to each other for dear life, shedding tears of happiness and relief.

★ Without really thinking about it, she had accidentally called him dad.

★ “I missed you, Dad.”

★ Daryl was stunned, but he had shared a small smile with you, happiness overtaking his being.

★ “I missed ya too, Nic.”

#krys writes .ೃ࿐ #daryl dixon #daryl dixon x reader #twd daryl #daryl x reader #daryl dixon x female reader #daryl dixon imagine #daryl dixon the walking dead #daryl #the walking dead daryl #daryl fanfiction #daryl x y/n #daryl x female reader #daryl x you #daryl dixon fanfiction #daryl dixon fanfic #daryl dixon x y/n #daryl dixon x you #the walking dead #norman reedus #norman reedus x reader

[bananafire11]

Oh, Tents

A sequel to my previous one-shot, Squirrels, Squirrels, and More Squirrels Summary: Reader's having tent problems and ends up sharing Daryl's tent. TW: none!

Today was really not your day. Of course, living in a zombie apocalypse wasn’t really ideal all things considered, and while things were scary and new to you, but you'd held your chin high and tried to deal with it. Keep going forward, and stay alive.

Today, though, was a mess. First, you’d woken up with a splitting headache, then you’d slipped right into the chilly creek nearby, and had to withstand the embarrassment of Carol getting both you and your clothes dry. The icing on the cake to finish the day was you tripping over a stone and falling onto your tent, collapsing upon it and ripping a ginormous gap in the fabric. So yeah, your day was going great.

________________________________________ You put off what to do about your predicament until after dinner. The least you could do was cook alongside Carol, who unknowingly calms your nerves enough to keep you from exploding half the time. Her easy-going mood mingled with your jumbled nerves, smothering the fire in your mind to ashes. Your cooking didn’t turn out to be a complete disaster, at least. After all, the amount of dead squirrels hadn’t exactly decreased. Daryl still left them for you and you used the meat to cook up something good for the group. It was routine now. The arrangement didn’t particularly mean you saw him much. He was mostly glued to his older brother's side or off on a few-days long hunt. It was pretty obvious he didn’t care much for human interaction, only smarting off to those who approached him or avoiding the spotlight of topics. This left a lot to be desired, which frustrated you to no end. You glanced up from your spot on your selected log around the smoldering fire pit and scanned the surrounding faces, finding yourself subconsciously looking for a certain head of ashy-blond hair and blue eyes. You knew a good chunk of the campers had gone on the supply run into Atlanta, but he hadn’t been one of them. It didn’t surprise you that he hadn't shown up for dinner though. You’d saved a bowl of food for him regardless. After you finished your helping, you slipped off into the darkness with his bowl and away from any onlookers wondering where you were headed. Daryl’s tent was set up farthest from the fire, shrouded by darkness and instead illuminated by moonlight. Merle’s tent was a few feet away, thankfully vacant. Your converses crunched through the fallen leaves and you knew if Daryl was in his tent, he’d definitely heard you by now. You paused in front of the entrance, staring at the glimmering zipper. The meat in your stomach seemed to come alive again with nerves, throat closing up. You gulped, breathing in once and then twice before calling out, “hey, uh. Daryl?” You listened over the faint sound of the group at the firepit laughing about some unheard joke and the everlong blaring of insects and critters in the surrounding trees. Sure enough, the light rustling of fabric could be heard inside and the zipper pulled toward the sky, revealing the mussed profile of the hunter. His hair stuck to one side of his face, flattened against his cheek. He’d most definitely been asleep and you’d woken him up. You pushed the thought that the image was cute because, what the fuck, this was Daryl Dixon, and glanced down at the steaming bowl in your hands. “I, uh. Well, I brought you your dinner, but I see you’re..busy sleeping so…,” you shuffled a step away before he blinked at you and held a hand up as if to tell you to stop, so you did. “Gimme,” he grumbled. You stared at him before processing what he’d said and quickly came closer, handing the bowl off to him, fingers brushing his in a fleeting moment. Daryl shuffled back on his knees and you scrambled for words. “Wait–” you choked out, watching as he paused and peered up at you from underneath his lashes. Here goes nothing, “my tent, well, it’s got a big hole in it and I don’t have anywhere else to go.” His eyebrows furrowed, but you pushed the idea that that was just his thinking face to the front of your mind and watched him chew his lip. “Can’ crash wit’ anyone else?” came the low mutter and you weren’t sure if your heart did a flip for his sweet morning voice or the possibility of rejection. You swallowed, chewing the interior of your cheek, “I don’t think anyone else has room,” you glanced back at the fire where most of the residents had gone to their respective shelters. “Otherwise I’d ask.” Daryl huffed, “Alrigh’, c’mon, ‘fore I change mah mind,” and he retreated back into his lair, food still in hand. Your mind raced because, underneath all your hoping you really hadn’t believed he’d cave and let you in.

You crawled in beside him, the space just big enough for the both of you. The smell, which you’d describe as deep forest and woodland, was all entirely Daryl. The man sat back against the sheets, legs crossed underneath him as he set the bowl down onto his lap. You scooched over to sit beside him with a good foot separating you two. You sat there as he downed the food you’d made and took in the off white walls and the dark covers you both sat upon, cushioning you surprisingly well. Your eyes roamed over to the prone weapon that was his crossbow set in a pile of bolts in the corner.

The scraping of the metal fork hitting the bottom of the empty bowl brought you out of your head and you looked over at the man, watching him wipe his mouth with the back of his hand. He hummed, and your chest filled with warmth that he must have enjoyed your cooking.

He leaned forward and set the bowl down beside his crossbow, the utensil clinking against the rim. Daryl shifted back, lifting his hips to pull the covers out from underneath him and you fumbled to do the same. Fuck, could you stop being so damn jittery.

He lay back and you did the same, the two of you staring up at the tent ceiling, gazing at the shadows of the trees overhead, casting you both in a soft light. You glanced over at the man beside you to find his eyes drooping, and you raced out a, “thank you,” before they shut completely. He turned his head toward you, cheek pressing against the old, cigarette-burned pillow in a way you found endearing.

You held eye contact with him for a long few seconds, taking in the smokey blue of his eyes. He grunted, “yer welcome.”

You allowed a small smile to cross your features and his eyes flickered down to your lips for a brief moment before he looked back up at you, eyelids looking oh so heavy again. You pulled your gaze away and turned onto your side, facing him. You pulled your limbs in, knee nudging his hip for a moment.

You stole small glimpses of his face as he drifted off, one hand over his belly and breath evening out into deeper inhales and exhales.

Maybe today wasn’t so bad after all.

#daryl dixon #daryl twd #twd #the walking dead #daryl dixon fanfiction #twd daryl #daryl x reader #daryl x y/n #daryl dixon x reader

[daenysx]

my first daryl shot and i really wanna know what you think, please share your opinions with me!! this takes place in the CDC. hope you like it, requests are open!!

my masterlist

blame the alcohol

daryl dixon tries not to fall for you but you are there to wreck his plans with an empty wine glass in your hand.

he wants to save the image in front of him and stare at it for hours.

you are standing there, unaware of his presence. you are only wearing a shirt which is extra big for you and a pair of socks reaching your knees. your slightly wet hair frames your pretty face and you are holding a book in your hand, there is a wine glass on the table next to you.

daryl dixon loves watching you.

he is standing by the doorframe with a bottle in his hand. he is supposed to be resting but it feels impossible. there are things that keep his mind alive and the alcohol he consumes is not enough to shut it off.

here you are, looking clean and relaxed. you use the same shampoo and soaps with everyone, your little survival team that finally makes it to CDC, but he thinks you smell different. your scent is different and he is not dreaming about it, right? he wants to take a deep breath to fill his senses with you and it's perfectly real.

you are reading a book, he doesn't know if you like it. he is sure even if you don't like the context you like the act of reading. you told him that in his tent, the days feel like ages now but truly it wasn't that long ago. you have a passion for reading. you'd read anything you find, that he's sure about.

your wine glass is empty. he should approach you and offer you more wine, right? that's what he wants but he isn't sure if you want his company. actually there isn't a reason for him to think otherwise, he knows you enjoy spending time with him but he can't help his thoughts. this life isn't made for love stories and a man like daryl dixon can't afford to let himself fall for you.

then you turn to his side, finally noticing him as if you've felt his desperation. there is that smile again. your eyes sparkle and he can see it perfectly clear on your clean face. he doesn't even want to admit it to himself but he loves seeing you smile. it's like watching the sunrise, shiny and mesmerising.

"why are you standing there, dixon? come closer."

why does his last name sound so beautiful when it comes out of your lips? he comes closer to you with slow steps.

"are you drunk already? unbelievable, you surprise me."

he smiles. "nah, i ain't drunk."

you leave the book back to its place, take your empty glass and go to the couch across the wall. you point the bottle in his hand, "can i have some of that?"

he nods quickly, fills your glass, and sits next to you on the couch. you two share a few minutes of silence, sipping your drinks and staring at the wall. he wants to hear your voice, anything you tell him even if you think they are stupid, he wants to hear it. there are little moments between you and him. when it gets too much in his head, he finds a release with them.

"c'mon, tell me somethin'."

you raise an eyebrow. "like what?"

he shrugs, takes a sip of wine. "anythin'."

you curve your lips slightly, think of an answer. it feels like the right time for a deep conversation with the opportunity to blame it on alcohol if you say something you regret later. not to deep but you feel like you need to be the brave one.

"this apocalypse...sometimes i feel like-like i'm happy it happened you know? not happy, happy is not the right word to say but- just glad. for one reason."

he has a look on his face, questioning and curious. you have to explain what you mean. you have to start somewhere.

"we'd never know each other if it weren't for the apocalypse."

he doesn't know what to say. after he lost merle, he planned to be alone and alive in this new life and now you are here, wrecking all his plans with your sweet confessions and smiles. he shouldn't get attached for his own sake but then you look at him with big, teary eyes and he is gone.

"you ain't gonna cry for this sunshine."

you try to smile. "i'm not crying but- the possibility of never knowing you is terrible and- i feel like an awful person for saying that i'm grateful for the zombies somehow."

he chuckles softly. then he puts the bottle on the ground and brings his hand to your face. his movements aren't the most confident ones, he is hesitant but that doesn't stop him from brushing that one teardrop away from your face.

"ya can't ever be an awful person. i know what ya mean, okay? you're right. ya shouldn't ever cry for- fucks sake ya shouldn't cry for anythin'. you're too pretty for that."

he never fails to put a smile on your face. he smiles too, when he sees the little wrinkles on the corners of your mouth. he doesn't regret saying too much, if it's necessary to talk too much to make you smile for him, daryl dixon would turn into a fucking chatterbox.

"thank you, daryl. for everything. i know i'm not really suited for this kind of life but i'm trying...i really do."

his eyes are about to turn into little hearts with sparkles. fuck it. you can't possibly be that sweet, he thinks. he can't even believe himself for using the word sweet for someone but there you are, his sweet girl.

"you're a fast learner. you're fine and 'm with you."

you press a soft kiss to his cheek and put your head on his shoulder. he wishes to keep that promise until the end of everything. he doesn't even know if he'll be alive tomorrow but he can blame the alcohol for the bravery and your beautiful face for the romantic feelings, right? right.

#daryl dixon #the walking dead imagine #the walking dead #daryl dixon x you #twd daryl #daryl dixon x female reader #daryl dixon x reader #daryl dixon fanfiction #daryl dixon imagine

[twdeadfanfic]

No need for jealousy

Daryl Dixon x Reader

This was a requesto for season 2 Daryl with a crush on reader, jealous of her friendship with Rick, and it turned into a ver long one-shot. Season 1 and 2, Daryl being insecure and jealous, fluff.

Daryl glanced up from his arrows and towards you at the distant sound of laughter.

You were talking with Glenn, Andrea, and Amy, joking it seemed, while some stew brew over the campfire for dinner. He scoffed, wondering what you all could even have to joke about, and he looked back down at his arrows before you could catch him staring…it was bad enough that you did the day before.

His eyes, though, were stubborn and seemed to have power over his thoughts, because soon, they were darting to you again. This time, you looked at him before he could look down, and when you noticed it, you smiled at him, so Daryl quickly averted his eyes from you.

Soon enough, though, he heard steps approaching, and he looked up enough to check that it was you, walking towards his and his brother’s tents, a bowl of stew in each of your hands.

“Hey,” you greeted, but he didn’t say anything, eyes on his fingers, which were fidgeting with his arrows. “I bring some dinner.”

“Can cook my own,” he said, glancing at you just enough to see your smile faltering for a second before it was back as you shrugged.

“I know…but you already caught the rabbit that’s in this stew, so…” When he didn’t say anything, you lowered down enough to place the bowl of stew in front of him.

“Thanks.” The word slipped past his lips as a low rasp, even if Daryl hadn’t meant to speak, and his eyes once again looked from his arrows to you in time to see your smile. His lip twitch up at it into the smallest of the smiles, just a second, without him being able to stop it. Your smile went bigger at that and Daryl’s stomach did something weird, and he averted his eyes again.

You leaned to pass the other bowl to his brother, this time without a word or a smile, and Daryl braced himself. You and Merle didn’t get along, and he was hoping neither of you would snap…he knew he’d side with his brother, no questions asked, whether that made you angry at him too or not, but he usually felt like shit after it.

You didn’t say anything, it was usually Merle the one to start, but this time, he didn’t say anything. He had a mocking smirk and Daryl didn’t like the way he looked at you as he took the bowl, but at least he wasn’t saying a word and he was not upsetting you.

Turning around, you walked back to the main campfire and the others.

Daryl heard his brother chuckling but he ignored him as he began to eat the stew.

“Yer gonna have to do somethin’ better to get in her pants,” Merle said. “Somethin’ at all.”

“I don’t wanna get on no one’s pants,” Daryl snapped and he hoped that the heat he felt on his cheeks didn’t mean that he was blushing.

“Sure ya don't, lil’ bro.”

He didn’t…it was odd, though, and unwelcomed, how thoughts of you seemed to randomly pop in his head or how his eyes would sometimes look for you around the camp.

He wondered if it might be because he’d found you and brought you to the camp, so now maybe his brain had decided that he ought to check on you, like that time he found a hurt, stray dog and felt like he had to take care of him, hidden, until his father found out.

You had been wandering the woods, coming from the road after, as you explained later, your car stopped working when you rammed a bunch of walkers on your way. You had been looking rather lost, a dirty and crumpled map in your hand, as your scared and anxious eyes scanned the woods.

Daryl had been hunting when he spotted you. At first, he stayed hidden, crossbow ready, but soon he realized you were not a threat. You were alone, lost, scared, dirty, and unarmed…later, Daryl’d wondered how the hell hadn’t you become walker’s food already, traveling like that, and some nights he still wondered if you’d have died, maybe that same day, if he hadn’t found you, and the idea always sent an unpleasant feeling to his stomach.

He had never considered letting you wander on your own, he never harbored the thought, Daryl didn’t have to think it before he was already stepping out of his hiding spot and towards you, without a plan, pretty much just out of instinct.

Your anxious eyes had widened when you saw him and you seemed even more scared. You’d raised your hands and began to walk backward, as if you’d wanted to run away but didn’t dare to turn your back to him.

You were scared of him, Daryl’d realized, but could he blame you? He probably didn’t want to know all the things you had been fearing he might do to you…he knew what people thought of the Dixons…he couldn’t say they were wrong in thinking that way almost half of the time.

He hadn’t wanted you to run away and straight into a walker, though.

“I ain’t gonna hurt ya,” he’d rushed to say. “I was huntin’ dinner when I saw ya.” He had pointed at the rabbit hanging from his belt but you hadn’t said anything, just looked at him, seeming bewildered at finding someone and scared still. “I, uh…I’m with more people, we got a camp, I can take ya,” Daryl had explained.

You were still frozen and even though he couldn’t blame you for not trusting him and being scared, it still stung a little. He’d considered if he could go to the camp, bring someone else, some of the women perhaps, and come back, if you wouldn’t be eaten in the meantime, or if you’d wait or not…

What did he care, though, if you went to the camp or not, he should just leave you to fend for yourself…but that was a residual thought, barely audible in his brain, and so he’d spoken again.

“I, uh…if ya wait here, I’ll bring someone else…if ya don’t wanna come with me…but, uh…”

You had spoken, then, when he hadn’t really known what to say. “You…you’d take me to a camp?”

Daryl still didn’t know what made you trust him, he wouldn’t have trusted himself, but you had done it, and he couldn’t help how good it made him feel, even if he felt ridiculous for feeling that way.

He had nodded and then your scared eyes had showed relief and what seemed almost like awe, your lips curling up into a smile that soon was a grin as you looked at him as if you couldn’t believe he was real, as if he was saving your life…Daryl guessed that he was doing that, but still, he didn’t think anyone had ever looked at him like that, and it had made him feel…he didn’t know how, but good.

“Thank you"

“Ain’t nothin’...come on.”

When you both had walked into the camp, you had seemed a bit confused, and Daryl wondered if you had been expecting one of those refugee camps the radio had been talking about before going silent…he wondered if those had ever been real.

Pretty soon, though, you had seemed more than happy and very much relieved to find welcoming people, to have a safe place, food…You had thanked everyone, smiled at everyone, and although Daryl had tried to sneak away from all the fussing people who he knew didn’t like him, your eyes had searched for him, finding him and giving him that nice smile, and though he’d walked away, he’d found himself looking at you through the evening, just to find you looking at him too more often than not, always ready to offer him a smile.

You still did. Whenever you bumped into each other around camp, you’d smile at him, and it’d make him feel all weird and look down, avoiding your eyes and that stupidly nice smile. What did anyone even have to smile about now…you smiled at everyone, though, always ready to offer that nice smile to everyone in the camp, but it still made Daryl feel all weird when you smiled at him, and he called himself a fool.

He liked it, though, to see you smiling around camp, even if he felt like an idiot…he was an idiot. He liked your smile, even if he’d not admit it even to himself, and if it was directed to him, then…he didn’t want to think about it. He was a fool.

Sometimes, you randomly walked to him, tried to start a conversation, or just brought him a meal or asked if there was something you could help with. He usually brushed you off, he didn’t know how to act around you, and so you did it less and less…he hated it, and he felt foolish for hating it. His brother was right, he was an idiot.

But yeah…maybe you were nice. Maybe he did want to make sure you were alright. Maybe he did kind of like it to see you smile, even more if it was at him. Maybe he liked that, even if everyone else disliked him, you didn’t seem to do so, you always had a nice word and a smile for him, even when he didn’t deserve it, even when you were angry at his brother…even if sometimes he was a dick, he knew he was, and you were upset, making him fear that you’d hate him now, eventually, you were back to smile at him when you caught him looking at you.

And…yeah, Daryl liked it.

But that didn’t mean he wanted to get in your pants.

It was nothing like that.

* His world had turned upside down and Daryl didn’t know what to do…well he did know what to do. Beat the shit out of the people who had abandoned his brother on a rooftop in Atlanta, chained without a way to escape, and then take the pickup and go bring Merle back.

But it hadn’t gone too great when he had tried. Shane and that other damn cop, Rick, the one to leave his brother, had stopped him, and the shame burned almost as much as the rage…and now he couldn’t leave right away, because, for some reason, that stupid new cop and some others like T-Dog and Glenn had decided they’d go with him back to Atlanta to retrieve Merle.

It was not because they liked him or his brother, though, Daryl was well aware. They’d probably be happy if Merle’d gotten eaten, but Daryl supposed that, somehow, they felt guilty nonetheless.

Most importantly, Daryl had heard Rick telling Shane about a bag full of guns he’d left in Atlanta. He was no fool, he knew that was the real reason why the cop was going back. He didn’t give a shit for his brother. Once he had Merle back, Daryl was claiming some of those guns for himself and his brother, no matter if he had to beat Rick for it, the cop could try fighting him without Shane backing him that time…

Daryl sat down on the ground, elbows resting on his knees, his back to the camp so he wouldn’t see the others and so he wouldn’t give in to the urge of trying to kick some ass again. His eyes burned and he buried the heels of his hands in them, embarrassed.

He heard footsteps approaching but he didn’t turn, whoever was coming was getting a fist to the face if they didn’t leave him alone, he didn’t have the patience to deal with any of those stupid assholes now…

“Daryl…”

Your voice…you were not getting a fist to the face, but neither a nice word nor a smile like the ones you used to freely offer around.

“What,” he snapped without looking at you.

“Are you…do you…uh…” You stammered as if you weren’t sure of what to say. “Do you need something?” You asked, sounding small and unsure, but Daryl was not in the mood to be patient or to deal with anyone, not even you.

He scoffed, looking at you over his shoulder.  “Yeah, I need my brother back and I need to be away from this shit camp of useless assholes,” he snapped and when he saw you flinch at his words, something stabbed at his stomach, but it was quickly muffled by the thought of his brother.

You looked down and swallowed hard, speaking again with your eyes still on the ground. “I could, maybe, go to Atlanta and help?”

Daryl just scoffed again. “I don’t need no help,” he barked. “And I got no time to babysit ya so ya don't get yerself killed while I get my brother back.”

Shit, he was a dick, why was he speaking to you like that…he buried those feelings deep inside the back of his head, where he could ignore them, he didn’t need them, he was just saying the truth. Hell, he knew you’d probably be as glad as everyone else if Merle didn’t come back.

You didn’t say anything, but Daryl saw the hurt in your eyes, and he ignored the stab in his gut at it. You turned around and walked away, leaving him alone as he wanted.

Daryl wondered if this time he had driven you away from real…there wouldn’t be more smiles or nice words from you to him anymore…Daryl ignored the awful feeling in his belly at it, the foolish feeling. It didn’t matter anyway, as soon as he got his brother, Merle and him were leaving the camp, and therefore, you…and if the idea sent a dart to his heart, Daryl was quick to ignore it.

* Daryl and the others came back to a camp drowning in chaos and terror. He’d expected, hoped, to find his brother back and creating havoc around the camp after what they did to him, but he’d not been expecting this, to come back to this carnage as a group of walkers seemed to have wandered into the camp and were killing anyone they found who could not protect themselves.

He could hear some gunshots, but he knew there were barely any weapons. Rick was running and shooting at the same time, carrying the bag of guns they had retrieved from Atlanta, stopping just to toss guns to anyone he came across, whether they knew how to shoot or not.

Daryl bashed his crossbow into the head of the closer walkers while his eyes scanned the chaos, looking for you. He hadn’t meant what he told you and he was not about to let you get eaten…hell, what if you were dead already. It seemed like he had lost his brother and now he might also find your corpse.

Then, his eyes found you. You were still alive, trying to fight walkers with what seemed a big stick, while pushing Carl behind you. You weren’t doing a bad job at keeping walkers away, but Daryl felt his heart jump up his throat in fear anyway, sure that you were about to get bitten and ripped to shreds by walkers in a second.

He went to recharge his crossbow but then a gunshot put down one of the walkers closer to you, and Daryl saw Rick running to you and Carl, shooting at the walkers surrounding you both until they were all dead, taking his kid’s hand when he reached you and urging you both towards Shane, who was also shooting at the walkers threatening to close on Rick, Lori behind him.

You looked around and saw him, your eyes locking with with Daryl’s for a second, before you were rushing with Rick, and Daryl began shooting at the nearest walkers.

Later, once every walker had been put down,  the camp was a mess of dead bodies, both from walkers and the people they had killed, and of mourning people…not that Daryl cared for any of them, and yet…yet his eyes scanned the camp for you.

You were looking from all the bodies to the woods around the camp, still holding that big stick on a shaky hand, and Daryl didn’t know why, but his legs carried him to you. You looked at him, eyes wet and scared, but didn’t say anything, and Daryl looked down, silent too for a few seconds, before he spoke.

“Ya can, uh…ya gotta hit them in the head,” he said as he gestured to the stick, but still looking at the ground.

“I know,” you said. “But I wasn’t sure if I could hit with enough force to break the skull and I was afraid the stick would break.”

Daryl nodded…valid points. Then something came to mind. “Can I, uh…” he gestured to the stick again. “I’ll give it back.”

“Sure…” You seemed confused but handed him the stick.

Daryl dropped down to the ground, taking his hunting knife, and he began sharpening the end of the stick. It wasn’t easy and it took him a while to finish, while you sat down next to him, looking at him working in silence.

“Here.” Daryl handed you the stick back once he’d given him a sharp, pointed end. “I ain’t sure ya can stab through the skull, but point at the eye socket or the temple, ya’ll stab the brain.”

“Okay…” You took the stick, giving it an unsure look, before you glanced at Daryl, a small, weak, and sad smile tugging at your lips, and Daryl made sure to ignore the way it made him feel. “Thanks,” you said and Daryl just shrugged. “Daryl…what…what happened to Merle?”

Your question felt like a stab to the gut, all Daryl’s pain, grief, and guilt taking over him, overwhelmingly so.

“He cut his own hand to escape the roof and left, I don’t know where he is, and it’s these people's fault,” he snapped, getting up and walking away from you.

* There were no more smiles from you to him, nor more nice words…not with him speaking his mind about how those assholes who left his brother to die had what had happened coming, with no patience for those who could not see how the people killed by walkers needed to be put down as soon as possible.

What the hell was he even still doing there with those people…but his brother was gone, and he was left alone again, like so many times, and he didn’t know what to do…he could stick around, maybe heading for the CDC wouldn’t be so bad…and his eyes stubbornly kept looking for you at the camp.

Whenever you found him looking at you, though, this time you wouldn’t smile, you looked hurt, your eyes reproachful when you looked at him, upset…it was like a stab to the gut, a stab that Daryl made sure to ignore, because it made him feel like a fool…what did he care if you hated him now…

Yet he did.

* The CDC was probably not what any of them had been expecting…but Daryl wasn’t going to complain. It was underground, protected from those flesh-eating freaks, there was plenty of food and booze, and Daryl was making good use of it.

Drinking straight from the bottle, Daryl realized he might be getting drunk, because the people on the table, laughing and joking, were starting to seem…well, not that bad.

You were sat down a couple of seats away from him, between Andrea and Rick, and for once, Daryl didn’t feel like a fool when he leaned over the table to look at you…he’d blame him on the alcohol. When you saw him looking, he gave you a smile, a real one, like a fool…he couldn’t help himself. He’d blame it on the alcohol too.

Then, he remembered that you were mad at him, that you hated him now, that you weren’t smiling at him anymore…but you did.

You looked at him for a second and then your lips were curling up into a smile, which turned into a full grin, as you shook your head, chuckling. “Dixon, you’re drunk already…look at you…”

Daryl didn’t fight it when you reached and playfully took the bottle of booze from his hand, slumping back against his chair, away from your line of sight, because…shit.

Whatever had he felt when you grinned at him that way, when you looked at him like that…well, that was something he’d better bury deep down, those twirls in his belly and that flutter in his chest was something he knew he should better ignore and forget, even if the booze didn’t seem to help.

* Later, almost everyone had gone to sleep, but Daryl was wandering around the place, a new bottle of booze in his hand, checking this and that…he was not looking for you, or stalking you, or anything like that. Not at all.

Yet he wondered where you were, you had not gone to your room, he hadn’t seen you, neither were you at the library or any other place he’d been checking, trying to make sense of the strange place. Whatever, it wasn’t like you could get lost in there.

Suddenly, he heard your laugh, and as he followed it, Daryl was puzzled to find you sat down on the floor of one of the corridors, leaning against the wall, with Rick, of all people, sat down next to you, an empty bottle of alcohol next to him, and another half emptied on his hand, that he passed to you while you both laughed, seeming thoroughly amused at Daryl didn’t know what. Daryl could tell that you were pretty drunk, and Rick was way worse.

“Daryl!”

You called his name when you spotted him, grinning with bright eyes, and any other moment it’d have made something flutter in Daryl’s belly, but this time, he just felt confused and wary at seeing you with Rick. What the hell were you two doing drinking together, joking, and laughing? Were you friends now? You had barely met the cop…yet you seemed to be having the time of your life.

“What are you doing still drinking?” You waved to the bottle in his hand. “I told you that you were already drunk!” You laughed as if you were amused with yourself…Daryl didn’t allow himself to think that it was cute and endearing, no, it was just ridiculous.

“Look who’s talkin’,” he scoffed.

“Yeah…yeah, I’m getting a bit drunk too…” You giggled and Rick snickered like an idiot. “It’s Rick’s fault, you see.”

“My fault?! It’s you who brought this bottle!” Rick slurred, nudging you with the half-emptied bottle of booze.

“Because you drank that bottle by yourself!” You said as you wiggled your hands. “And there’s no way we’re gonna speak of all the shit that’s going on without a drink.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Rick said, uncoordinatedly bringing the bottle to his mouth.

Daryl didn’t feel like dealing with two drunk idiots or trying to guess why suddenly Rick and you seemed to be best friends out of the blue, neither he felt like dealing with whatever was making him feel so irked, he just wanted to leave.

Turning around and walking away, he heard your voice calling for him.

“Daryl?! Where are you going? Wait, come sit with us…”

He looked over his shoulder and saw you struggling to get to your feet, which seemed to amuse Rick, and he tugged at your arm to make you lose your balance again, giggling. Yeah, Daryl was done with you both.

“Daryl! Wait…” You were making your way to him on wobbly legs. “Come on…you, you don’t even have to speak, just come drink with us.”

“I’ve got enough,” he scoffed, pushing his bottle into your hand, and he walked away, leaving you to have all the drunk fun that you wanted with Rick.

* Daryl should have known that good things didn’t last, but still, he hadn’t expected that he’d have to run out of what seemed a safe place, the CDC, after a mad scientist almost blew them up…well, he was still on time to blow them up, the countdown to the explosion kept tickling down, they had to left and put enough distance from them to the building if they wanted to survive the explosion.

As it had become a habit lately, Daryl looked around, searching for you, just to panic when he saw you were turning around instead of running to the door…what the hell were you doing?! Before he could do anything, Rick had realized it too and he had grabbed your arm, pushing you without any gentleness toward Lori and Carl.

“I think we left people behind!” You were saying.

“They don’t want to come!” Lori said, tugging at your hand so you almost fell out the broken door that the grenade had managed to open, making you walk out of the building too. There were walkers around and so Lori let go of your hand so she could hold Carl to her while everyone rushed to the vehicles.

Daryl didn’t think you’d be crazy enough to try and go back inside the CDC and you were eyeing the RV as if you were considering taking refuge inside, but Daryl’s free hand reached out for you anyway, grabbing your arm and tugging you with him towards his pick-up, making you run in front of him. You seemed a bit surprised but didn’t resist, keeping up Daryl’s pace. Once at the pick-up, you opened the door and Daryl pushed you inside unceremoniously.

“Down!”

You crawled into the space under the seats and Daryl rushed to get inside too, covering his body with yours, his forehead almost nudging the back of your shoulder as you both flattened yourselves against the floor of the car, bracing for the explosion.

It was even louder than Daryl expected, rattling the pick-up, and Daryl felt you flinching under him. Once his ears stopped ringing, he heard you panting, your body still shaking. He realized how his body was pressed against your back and he forced himself to pull back from you, flustered enough to not notice that he was shaking and breathing hard too.

“Ya okay?” He rasped and you nodded while you turned around to face him, looking as scared as the first time he saw you, alone and unarmed in the woods, or even more scared.

“Yeah…you?”

“The hell were ya doin’ tryin’ to go back?!” Daryl snapped instead of answering.

“I…don’t know…I thought we were leaving people behind, and I imagined, what if it was me, what if I couldn’t run or I tripped or something, and nobody waited for me and helped me, what if everyone left me…”

Daryl couldn’t get himself to snap at you again, even if he thought you were a reckless idiot, even if he was scared that you could have died…he got what you were saying…

He wouldn’t have left you, though, he knew that, but he guessed you didn’t know it and he didn’t know how to tell you, or if he even wanted to tell you, because it made him feel like a fool.

You looked at him, he wasn’t on top of you anymore but he was close enough that he could feel your body heat.

“Thank you,” you said softly and Daryl wasn’t very sure of what you were thanking him for, or if maybe somehow you knew he wouldn’t be able to leave you behind…foolish or not, he hoped that you knew.

Being so close to you, your eyes on his, was making him feel all flustered and awkward, but also, it might be the shock, but, did he want to kiss you? Daryl rushed to pull away from you completely, moving up from the floor to sit on the driver seat, and offering you a hand to help you up too.

While you moved to sit up on the passenger seat, Daryl let out a snort of disbelief as he looked out of the window, a smile tugging at his lips…you were going to like this.

“Look.”

You followed his gaze and gasped when you saw Andrea and Dale crawling out from behind some rubble, shaken but alive.

“They made it out!” You exclaimed. “But…Jacquie…”

Daryl didn’t say anything, giving you a size glance…judging by your face, you knew that Jacquie had died in the explosion. “We gotta leave,” he said. “The explosion’s bringin’ walkers.”

He could see a group of them already approaching, while Rick gestured from his car for everyone to get going…to where, Daryl didn’t know, but from now he’d follow Rick's car until they were away from walkers.

“I, uh…I can go to the RV…” You said but Daryl ignored you, fishing the keys out of his pocket and turning on the engine of the pickup.

You didn’t say anything either, but neither did you leave, leaning back against your seat and buckling up the seatbelt as Dary began to drive.

* The sea of vehicles was impossible to cross with the cars, much less the RV, and Daryl knew he might even have trouble with his bike. He knew he could pull through, though, but he didn’t really feel like leaving everyone else behind anymore.

He’d left his pickup behind, along with most of the cars, in order to save gas, and although he’d hated it at first, he knew the bike was more convenient to navigate places like this.

Daryl looked around, looking for you even if he told himself he was not. Since ditching the pickup, you’d been going on the RV. Daryl had been wondering sometimes about asking you if you wanted him to take you on his bike…he didn’t know why, though, he’d be more comfortable riding by himself, and you would say no anyway, so he quickly shut that annoying voice in his head.

His eyes found you hanging with Rick, as you always seemed to do lately, and Daryl didn’t get why he felt so annoyed by it, but he hated it and he felt ridiculous for it. You both were talking, Daryl didn’t know about what, and you were smiling…what you had to smile about in that graveyard…but there you were, smiling at Rick, nudging his arm as you both went back and forth about Daryl didn’t know what, but something bitter gripped at his gut.

Then, your eyes found him too, and you turned to smile at him…it was stupid, that you were smiling, given the situation, but yet, as always, your smile seemed to send those silly, stupid twirls to his belly, and his legs seemed to carry him by themselves to you, dragging his bike with him.

“If we don’t start movin’ cars we ain’t gonna leave before it gets dark,” he complained, had you all forgotten what you had to do…maybe he should really just ride away and leave you all there to fend for yourselves…but he couldn’t and he knew he wouldn’t.

“Yeah, I was just about to check the cars with Lori and some others, see if we find something useful,” you said, waving to Lori, who nodded along with Rick.

It was needed, Daryl knew it, you all better find some supplies because you had pretty much nothing left, or at the very least, not enough to reach Fort Benning as it was the plan. As soon as the road was free and you all found an area more secluded, Daryl should go hunting.

“Let’s get to it…we also need more fuel if we don’t want to leave more cars behind,” Rick said.

“Better hope no, I don’t think even more people can fit inside that RV,” you sighed, but you also were smiling as if you were joking or not really annoyed. “At this point, I think the one who’s more comfortable is Daryl on that bike.” You smiled at him again and Daryl looked down.

“Doubt it,” Rick snorted and Daryl glared at him even if he knew he was joking…his brother’s bike was great and he loved riding, so whatever.

“Well…maybe you can give me a ride someday and then I can judge,” you told Daryl…did you mean it? Or were you just joking…

“That seems really unsafe,” Lori said and Daryl scoffed.

“If you say so.” You rolled your eyes. “It seems to me Daryl has managed it just fine for now…so, yeah, would you take me on the bike one day? Just for a bit?” You asked and Daryl just shrugged, unable to say anything, eyes down.

“Anyway…come on, let’s check the car,” Rick said, starting to walk, and you nodded, smiling at Daryl again before you began inspecting the closest car.

*

Daryl didn’t know how he’d been so slow to realize how a big group of walkers was approaching, he didn’t notice it until it was too late and the freaks were on them, and he cursed at himself. Then again, there were more people and he was not the one on watch, but it seemed that yet again, they didn’t know how to do nothing by themselves.

He was couched down, hiding behind a car, knife on the ready, while his eyes frantically looked for you.

When he found you, ahead of him, you had tried to hide too, but it seemed a walker could hear you or smell you, and he’d gone straight for you.

Daryl was not about to look at you get torn to shreds without doing nothing, but before he could rush to you, you had already gotten up, the stick to which he’d carved a sharp end on your hands, and you stabbed it under the jaw of the monster, pushing it up towards the brain, and Daryl felt like cheering you, which he knew was utterly stupid.

The monster was still struggling, though, even though it was just managing to get more impaled in your stick, so it seemed you hadn’t reached the brain, and you were having trouble maneuvering like that, so Daryl ran to you, quickly stabbing the skull of the walker with his hunting knife, killing it and pushing it away from you, sliding it off your stick.

“Thanks,” you breathed out, panting, and Daryl didn’t say anything, scanning your surroundings to check the approaching walkers and to try and find a place to hide, while his hand quickly reached to hold your wrist.

Some people were hiding under cars, it seemed the quicker, safer option given the circumstances, and so Daryl ran to the closest one with enough space under it, pulling you with him.

“Down,” he whispered to you, and you didn’t lose time, crawling under the car, Daryl right behind you.

You had been under the car for less than a minute when Daryl heard you gasp and your hand squeezed his arm. He followed your gaze and saw T-Dog stumbling, his arm heavily bleeding as if he had cut it, while a couple of walkers headed to him…shit…

Daryl knew that if he got out from under the car, he might very well end like walker’s dinner himself too, and T-Dog was nothing to him, he left Merle to die, he hated him too, and yet…

“Stay here,” Daryl told you hushedly before he crawled from under the car, knife on the ready again as he ran to help T-Dog.

* Daryl knew that things could always get worse, but he wished that, for once, he’d been wrong.

Now Sophia was missing, lost in the woods, alone with nobody to help her from walkers, and Daryl had done his best to track her but he couldn’t find her.

He felt like a failure, looking at Carol felt like a punch to the gut, but the sun was going down and there was not much else he could do for now. He’d start looking for the little girl with the first light, though, and he’d find her.

Rick had been trying to help him, and even if Daryl was still very wary of the cop, he had to admit he hadn’t done bad, and he’d heard Lori saying that Rick had run right behind Sophia the moment she ran away without caring if a walker got him.

Carol, though, didn’t seem to think it was enough, but Daryl couldn’t blame her, considering that her daughter was lost in the woods at night. She blamed Rick for leaving her alone, for having gotten her lost.

Lori said that Rick had done the best he could, and you too spoke up for him, Daryl noticed it. When Carol reproached Rick again, before rushing to the RV, crying, and some people gave Rick looks too, you approached him, leaning closer to him, squeezing his arm, and saying something that Daryl couldn’t catch.

Something twisted in Daryl’s belly…yes, Rick didn’t deserve that treatment, he’d done what he could, and he’d tried helping him track…but Daryl didn’t see anyone saying thank you to him, not that he needed it, he wanted to find Sophia and he didn’t care what those people thought

But still…still, he was feeling pretty defeated and useless at that moment, so maybe, just maybe, part of him longed for you to comfort him too, to be nice and reassuring like you were being to Rick…

But no. He didn’t want that and he very much did not wish for it. It was a foolish thought, stupid, it was weakness.

He was going to find that little girl and he didn’t need no help, no thanks, or no nice words.

Turning around, Daryl went back into the woods, ignoring the darkness settling in and your voice calling for him as he walked away.

Not even an hour later, Daryl came back, empty-handed…what was he expecting, trying to track in the dark? At least he had checked that there weren’t walkers around, just one, so Sophia was probably hidden and safe.

He felt ridiculous for whatever you’d made him feel, for allowing you to make him feel upset enough that he left to try and track in the darkness, why was he even upset, whatever you made him feel was stupid, weakness…and yet, once again, his eyes looked for you, wondering if you were asleep.

He found you leaning against a car, talking with Rick…Daryl wasn’t surprised but for some reason he was annoyed anyway. He chose to ignore it. At least you two weren’t laughing now.

When you saw him, you told something to Rick. He placed a hand on your shoulder and you squeezed his hand, and something twisted in Daryl’s belly. Then, you made your way to him, and Daryl had to fight the ridiculous urge that made him want to retreat from you.

“Nothing?” You asked, and Daryl almost didn’t manage to stop himself from snapping at you, hating the way in which you made him feel. He just shook his head and you let out a sigh. “You’re trying, thank you for that,” you told him, taking him by surprise, and those stupid twirls stubbornly danced in his belly.

You were reaching to squeeze his hand, and even though he’d wanted you to do that, as you did to Rick, it still made him move his hand away from you harshly as if you had burned him.

“Can’t see shit,” he grumbled. “I’ll find her in the morning.”

You nodded at that, and you gave him a weak and tired smile…did you really mean it? Did you really think that he’d find Sophia? Some of the others didn’t seem too hopeful, even if they didn’t say anything in front of Carol. Maybe you were just being nice? It was foolish, it was weakness, but Daryl wanted to believe that you meant it, that you really thought he’d find the little girl in the morning…

“I’m gonna take watch,” he said, heading to the RV, Dale was on top but Daryl rather trusted himself.

“Hey, wait.” You followed him. “Somebody else will, we’ll take turns, you’ve been looking for Sophia and you said you’ll go again at sunrise, you’re the only one who can track her, so get some sleep, okay?” You told him and you kept going before Daryl could tell you to shut it. “I got a sleeping bag ready for you on the RV’s floor…it’s not too comfortable and it’s a tight fit, but there’s not much space left…”

Daryl looked up from the ground and at you at that, frowning. You had saved him a spot to sleep, while everyone was claiming car seats and any other space, and he just had his bike? You had even gotten him the sleeping bag ready for when he came back? Daryl tried his best to smother the feelings that the idea gave him.

“Uh…thanks…” He mumbled, looking down shyly, making the mistake to glance at you just in time to see your tired smile growing, making him feel all weird again, before you quietly ushered him into the RV.

*

Somehow, things just kept getting worse.

Sophia was still lost, he couldn’t find her no matter he went out everyday, people were starting to lose hope, and the other kid, Carl, had been shot in a hunting accident.

In a much-needed strike of luck, there was a farm owned by a veterinarian close, and Carl had been taken in and patched up, so he’d pulled through and in a little more than a couple of days he was already up, but it had been a close call.

Rick’d been a mess about it, pushing Sophia’s search to the side, but Daryl couldn’t blame him, not when his kid almost died, he got it. Rick had you by his side, though, Daryl could see you talking to him every day with comforting touches and words, hugging him, and Daryl felt like an asshole and like an idiot for the bitter way in which it made his gut twitch.

You were there for him too, though, always kind and supportive in his search for Sophia, despite it being a failure, and Daryl couldn’t help but shy away from you, even if he felt like an idiot.

Right now, he was coming back to the farm, empty-handed yet again, feeling like shit, a failure…

Approaching the area, he noticed that you and Rick were at the treeline near the woods, slightly hidden from view and away from the buildings and tents. You both were talking close to each other, your hands on his shoulders, and then Rick was leaning closer, hiding his face on your neck while you wrapped your arms around him, holding him to you.

The bitterness that clenched Daryl’s stomach was stronger than ever, an arrow seemed to twist in his heart, and he had to resist the stupid urge to go and shove Rick away from you.

He’d been thinking for a while now that you liked Rick, and he'd been trying to ignore how it made him feel as much as he tried to ignore the way in which you made him feel…Now there he had it, even clearer. Were you two sneaking to the woods to sleep together like Lori and Shane used to do? As if they needed more drama.

Daryl had thought that even if you liked Rick, you wouldn’t go after him because he was married, but it seemed you didn’t care, and Rick didn’t look like he cared about cheating either.

Whatever…Daryl didn’t have time for that nor for the feelings that were twisting his stomach…He should have left this group, he shouldn’t have agreed to follow Rick to Fort Benning…

He should have never cared for you…he didn’t, he didn’t feel anything for you, or for nobody, he needed nobody, he didn’t need your smile, or your touch, or your kindness, you could go and fuck Rick as much as you wanted, it was not his business…

So why did he feel like that, why did he feel that stab in his heart, why did he feel like crying…he was a weak fool…If Merle were there, he’d shake some sense into him…he’d be embarrassing his brother as much as he was embarrassing himself.

When you pulled back from Rick’s embrace, you said something to each other, before Rick began walking towards the buildings. You didn’t follow him, and Daryl bitterly wondered if you both didn’t want the others to see you walking back together after sneaking into the woods.

Then, though, he realized that it might be because you had seen him, you were looking straight at him, for some reason smiling, but your smile now just felt like a punch. You half-walked, half-jogged to him, but Daryl ignored you, walking away.

You followed him, though, calling for him. “Daryl! Hey, wait!”

What, did you want to ask him not to tell everyone that you were messing around with Rick in the woods? Daryl turned around, resisting every urge that asked him to yell at you, though he didn’t know why he didn’t do it, you’d probably leave him alone if he did.

His glare seemed to take you aback, and you stopped in your tracks, looking at him with a frown, but you spoke nonetheless, your voice soft. “Nothing again?” No, he didn’t find Sophia or any tracks, and it just irked him even more.

“Like ya care,” Daryl snapped, turning his back to you as he began to walk again.

“What…Daryl…” You rushed behind him until you could walk around and stop in front of him, and Daryl almost, almost felt like pushing you so he could keep walking away, but he wouldn’t lie a hand on you in that way, no matter when he was angry. “Why do you say that? You know I care…”

You looked hurt and it made Daryl feel like shit, which somehow just irked him more.

“Yeah…yeah, ya all care so much, yet I’m the only one lookin’ for Sophia,” Daryl snapped.

Truth be told, you had offered to help, but he’d dismissed you, he didn’t want you getting lost too, or cornered by walkers when you still didn’t fight them good enough...he had rudely pointed all that at you, and regretted how harsh his words had been.

“We care, Rick, he said-” You tried to say something, but the mention of Rick just vexed Daryl more.

“Yeah, Rick said he’d organize groups, ya said ya’d help, but ya both are too busy fuckin’ on the woods,” he snapped, glaring at you.

You looked at him, opening and closing your mouth without a sound, seeming dumbfounded…were you hoping he hadn’t noticed it? Daryl scoffed and began to walk again.

“What…what the hell are you talking about!” You called after him and when Daryl didn’t stop, he felt your hand grabbing his wrist, so he pulled his arm away, turning to glare at you. “Rick and I…we’re not sleeping together!”

“Sure…don’t worry, I ain’t gonna tell anyone, we ain’t needin’ more drama,” Daryl scoffed, trying to sound mocking instead of hurt.

“We’re not sleeping together! Why do you say that?!” You insisted. “Christ, Daryl, we were just hugging, Rick’s a married man! He’s not going to cheat on his wife! And do you think I’d do that to Lori?!”

No, he hadn’t thought so, but it was clear that he didn’t fucking know you. Daryl was still too upset to admit that he might be wrong about Rick and you…if maybe you weren’t fucking him yet because he was married, that didn’t mean you didn’t want to do it.

“Lori’s fuckin’ Shane so ask her and maybe she won’t mind that you shag her husband instead,” Daryl snapped it in his anger and cursed at himself right away…he should keep his mouth shut about that, he didn’t want to get dragged into that mess…but he’d leave as soon as he found Sophia anyway.

You gaped at him at that. “Are you…are you kidding me right now? How do you know…do you have any proof or you just saw them hugging too?” You looked at him warily, your words and look only serving to annoy Daryl more.

“Walked into them on the woods at the quarry a couple of times, they didn’t notice, could have been a walker for all they cared,” Daryl scoffed.

“Daryl…I need...I’m not sleeping with Rick, okay? But listen to me, please?” You asked and Daryl wanted to snap again and rush away from you, but there was something on your face, serious and urgent, that stopped him from doing so. “Are you serious? Did you really see them?” You asked and Daryl nodded. “Shit…when was the last time you saw them?”

“Couple of days before my brother went to Atlanta, before I went out huntin’,” Daryl told you, he didn’t know what that had to do with anything. “Why?”

“Shit…” You muttered, closing your eyes tight.

“What the hell’s goin’ on?” Daryl didn’t know if he was more annoyed or more confused.

“I…I shouldn’t…I’m not supposed to say…” You murmured, seeming torn, and Daryl was running low on patience. “Do you think I should tell Rick about Lori?”

Daryl scoffed, rolling his eyes. “The fuck do I know or care?” He snapped. “But it doesn’t mean he’ll dump Lori for ya.” Daryl realized how bitter he sounded, but he couldn’t care.

“Damn, Daryl, I told you I don’t want to sleep with Rick!” You snapped back. “It’s just…shit…I…I’m not supposed to say but…just…promise me you won’t say anything…but…Lori’s pregnant,” you finally blurted out.

Daryl stared at you, dumbfounded, while you fidgeted as you looked down, seeming worried, and guilty that you had told him what seemed Rick and Lori’s secret…Pregnant in this world, having a baby surrounded by flesh-eating monsters, and while also sleeping with Shane…

“Shit…”

“Yeah…yeah, shit.” You nodded, brows furrowing. “That’s…that’s why Rick was worried and that’s why we were hugging, not…not for whatever you thought.” You shook your head, rolling your eyes, and Daryl couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed. “Lori, she’s scared, she wanted to get rid of it but she changed her mind…Rick really, really wants it, but that doesn’t mean he’s not scared…”

Yeah, no shit, Daryl got it…he wondered how he’d feel if he were in Rick’s place, what he’d do…it was overwhelming…

“Daryl…” You looked at him, still fidgeting. “Do you think…do you think the baby could be…Shane’s?” You whispered.

“Yeah.” Daryl nodded. “Big chance.” The mess that those three were was just going to get bigger…he couldn’t help but be glad and relieved that you were not part of it as he’d thought, but he tried to ignore it.

“Shit…” You cursed again and Daryl shared the sentiment enough to nod. “I…Rick should know, right? But…it’s not my place…or is it? I’m his friend…shit, what do I do? Should I tell him?”

Daryl didn’t have answers for you, and he shrugged. “Dunno…yeah, I suppose he should know but…what good is that gonna do? Dunno…this is a big fuckin’ mess…” And the last damn thing they needed, given the situation. “This group is worse than a soap opera,” he complained.

“Yeah,” you agreed, letting out a nervous chuckle. “Maybe Lori will tell him, maybe she already did and that’s why Rick was so upset…” You suggested and Daryl had no clue “I’m not…not judging Lori, really, it was not cheating, not really, she thought Rick was dead, and she and Shane were close and lonely…so…yeah? I don’t know…”

Daryl had nothing to tell you about that, and he just shrugged, trying to quiet or at least control the thousand thoughts in his mind.

“I’d be more worried ‘bout what Shane’s gonna do when he finds ‘bout the baby,” Daryl muttered.

He’d never been friends with Shane, hadn’t even really liked him, but he’d respected his efforts to keep the group safe and going, but for a while now, something about Shane felt off and Daryl had some dark suspicious about him that he hadn’t shared with anyone…you seemed worried enough, so he wouldn’t tell you for now either.

“No, I’d be more worried about the baby,” you sighed, and…okay, fair point. “Like…look at us, look at the world? How’s Lori going to be healthy during the pregnancy? And the baby? How are they going to be healthy, safe? This is a nightmare…”

Daryl hated to see you upset and worried, it clenched his heart in a different way than seeing you with Rick did…he wished to make you feel better.

“We’re in this farm now, it’s safe with the fences, we can grow crops and we got cattle, I can hunt in the woods, Hershel’s like a doctor,” he listed all the good things you all had now, omitting all the bad…but honestly, it was kind of better than how he’d grown up, just with different kind of monsters. “Everyone’s gonna pitch in to help with the baby.” Daryl may not see eye to eye with most of the group, he may not get along with most, but he still had no doubt that they’d help. “Lori and the baby are gonna be okay.”

He was surprised to realize that he almost believed his own words…it was stupid and naive, he should know better, you always had to expect the worst and be ready, he’d seen it time after time…but he couldn’t help it.

“That if Hershel doesn’t kick us out…” You sighed, looking down, but then you looked at him and gave him a small, weak smile. “But, yeah, you’re right, it could be worse.” The smile disappeared and you went serious again. “You can’t tell anyone, please…I wasn’t supposed to say it…”

“I won’t…” Daryl assured you…he was in no rush to speed up the drama that was coming.

“Thanks…All we can do is worry, I hate it, it feels like a bomb about to go off…” You complained with another sigh and Daryl nodded, he understood the feeling. “But our focus now should be on looking for Sophia.”

Daryl nodded, he agreed with that too…but he just kept being a failure and finding nothing. He expected you to call him out on it, but you didn’t, you just gave him a soft smile.

Your eyes looked over his dirt-stained face after a day of tracking in the woods, and Daryl couldn’t help but feel self-conscious. “You must be tired…I saved you some dinner, come on, I’ll heat it while you clean up a bit.”

You gestured at him to follow you as you began to walk towards the house, but Daryl could just look at you for a few seconds, wondering if that warmth that spread through his chest no matter that he tried to stop it was just gratitude, or also something more, something that he’d been trying to ignore and smother for a while now…

* Daryl tried to stay conscious but couldn’t, he could feel himself slipping in and out of it, the pain muffled now even if it was very much still there, but he felt so tired…

He couldn’t believe he’d been careless enough to not only let the stupid horse throw him, but also to fall onto his own arrow, pass out, and almost become some dead asshole’s dinner… He remembered Merle, but barely recalled how he’d managed to make it back to the farm…and then Andrea had shot him…fucking hell…

Everything was a blur after that…he was pretty sure Rick and Shane had dragged him to the house, Hershel had been patching him up, he remembered the pain and how annoyed the vet had seemed, and you had been there too…

Daryl forced himself to open his eyes, everything was blurry but the room was empty now, except for you, who was sitting down on the bed near him, leaning to look at him with worry, your hand hovering over the wound at the side of his head, but your touch was so soft that Daryl couldn’t even feel it.

“Hey…” You whispered when you saw him opening his eyes, and Daryl wanted to say something, he had to say something, there were things to do, Sophia…

Before he could try to say a word, though, he was falling unconscious again…

He didn’t know how much time was he out, but Daryl woke up to the pleasant feeling of your fingers softly caressing his face and hair. He almost hummed out loud, and he found himself wanting to feel that touch for the whole evening. He couldn’t will his eyes to open, he still ached everywhere and he was exhausted, but also he was afraid that if you knew he was awake, you might stop…

Soon, though, he remembered everything that he was supposed to be doing, and he forced his eyes to open, blinking blearily as he groaned.

“Hey…” You said softly as he tried to look at you and make your image focus. You were not caressing his face anymore, but your fingers were still on his cheek. “How are you? Does it hurt? You can’t take more painkillers until a couple of hours, I’m sorry…”

You seemed anxious and scared…were you really that worried for him? The thought was warm and soft, and overwhelming…

“I’m fine…” Daryl mumbled even if everything ached and his eyes wanted to close again. You pulled your hand away and Daryl had to muffle the sound of complaint that he almost let out at that. “Sophia…I, uh…”

“You found her doll, you brought it back,” you finished for him when his foggy brain didn’t seem to want to give him words. “Did you see Sophia? Is she…”

“She wasn’t there,” Daryl said before you could say what you were fearing. “But…the doll…Sophia, she can’t be far, and there was this cabin, someone was living there, someone small…” Everything was slowly coming back to his mind. “I…” He tried to sit up and groaned at how it hurt.

“Daryl, no,” you said firmly, but the hand that you placed on his chest to make him lay down again was gentle. “You’re very hurt, you could have died, Hershel said…you have to rest.”

“Nah…” Daryl grunted, trying to sit up again, but the pain in his side stopped him more than your hand on his sheet-covered chest. “Sophia can’t be far from there…” He’d lost enough days already trying to find any tracks, now he had something, he couldn’t lose more.

“Daryl, you can’t go, you’re very hurt, you’ll pass out,” you reminded him. “You can’t even leave the bed.”

Daryl tried to prove you wrong but couldn’t, he managed to sit up, but the pain on his side, where the arrow had gone through him, made him whimper and tear up, the throbbing of the wound at the side of his head seemed to reverberate through all his head, and he felt so, so tired and drained…he also felt weak and useless.

He let himself fall down on the pillow with a pained grunt, annoyed and upset. You looked at him, still seeming so worried, eyes so caring that Daryl couldn’t believe you were looking at him. You reached out as if to caress his face again, but you didn’t, and Daryl couldn’t help but wish that you had.

“I’ll go get Rick, you can tell him where you found the doll so he can go check the place for Sophia, okay?” You asked him softly…it was not okay, Rick couldn’t track, he probably wouldn’t want to go until the morning…but it was the best he could do for now, and so he nodded. “I’ll be back in a second.”

You rushed out of the room, but it didn’t take you long to come back, as if Rick had been close.

“Hey man,” the cop greeted, unfolding a map as he headed to the bed. “How are you feeling?”

“Like shit,” Daryl scoffed. Rick let out a chuckle, smirking and shaking his head, and Daryl was surprised to find that it didn’t annoy him, it didn’t feel like he was laughing at him. “Give me that map.”

Daryl pointed at best as possible to where he’d found the doll, instructed Rick on how to keep searching from there, and no matter if he was annoyed when Rick said he’d keep searching in the morning because now it'd gotten dark, the pain killers were wearing off and he felt so exhausted and in pain that Daryl knew he couldn’t go out to look for Sophia that evening.

When Rick walked out of the room, you looked at Daryl. “I’ll leave you to rest,” you told him, and Daryl knew that it was stupid, that it was weakness, but he didn’t want you to leave, he wanted you to stay there at his side, and maybe stroke his hair again.

Daryl pushed past his shyness, past his insecurities, past the voice of his brother in his head calling him weak and stupid, and everything else, to tell you that.

“Stay,” he rasped, eyeing the spot on the bed next to him where you had been sat down before he woke up.

You didn’t say anything and nerves clenched Daryl’s stomach, but when he glanced at you, keeping his head down, you were smiling softly. You sat down on the bed, smiling at him, but Daryl looked away, flustered and shy.

After a moment of silence, you spoke. “He’s impressed with you, you know, Rick…well, everyone is.”

Daryl scoffed at that. “What, that I fell down a horse and into my own damn arrow?”

“No, silly…” You sighed. “That you managed to come back like that. That you saw that small, dirty doll from afar.”

“I got eyes,” Daryl muttered, shrugging and closing his eyes tight for a second when the movement made him ache.

You let out a soft chuckle. “Observant, that’s what you said to Andrea the night that we stayed in a warehouse after the CDC, remember?” You asked and yes, he did. “There were corpses there, you said that alive people did that, not walkers, Andrea asked how you knew, and you told her it was called being observant.”

“Yeah…and she just shot me thinkin’ I was a walker.” Daryl remembered Andrea’s voice saying that, apologizing again and again while Rick and Shane dragged him to the house and he was almost unconscious. “I guess she ain’t that observant.”

“Well…you were far, and truly, you looked a bit like a walker,” you said but you were smiling as if joking, and Daryl scoffed, rolling his eyes, but he couldn’t help his weak smirk.

There was a moment of silence, and then you spoke again. “You, uh…you’re not that observant either…not for everything at least…”

“What ya mean?” Daryl frowned at you.

“Well…you thought I had a thing with Rick, for starters,” you said.

“Yeah…well…” Daryl didn’t know what to say and he shifted on the bed awkwardly, regretting it when the movement made the ache worse. He wondered about telling you what he was thinking, he wasn’t sure, but it escaped past his lips. “What if, uh…if  he wasn’t married?”

You let out a sigh that sounded almost exasperated. “It wouldn’t matter because I don’t like Rick like that, I’ve told you already.”

“Okay…” Daryl supposed he had to believe you.

There was another moment of silence before you spoke again.

“There’s something else that you didn’t see…” You said quietly.

Daryl thought you were teasing him, making conversation, but when he looked at you, you were fidgeting, seeming nervous and unsure.

“Yeah?” He whispered back.

“Mmh mmh…” You nodded without looking at him. “I don’t like Rick…but I, uh…well…I like you. That is.”

Daryl blinked at you…were you joking? Taking the piss at him? No…you didn’t look like so…but, were you for real? You liked him? It couldn’t be…why…twirls were dancing in his belly and his heart sped up. He didn’t know what to do, and if he hadn’t been so hurt, he might have bolted out of the room and hid like a coward.

You looked at him, still fidgety and nervous, but now you also looked sad. “Okay…when you wake up tomorrow, we’re going to pretend that the painkillers made you dream that I said that…please…” You seemed so flustered and embarrassed.

“Wait,” Daryl called for you, you weren’t moving but you seemed nervous and he was afraid you may try to leave. “Do you, uh…did you mean it?”

“I…” You let out a sigh, still seeming embarrassed. “Yes.”

“Why?” Daryl frowned at you, and your brow was furrowed too when you glanced at him, as if he’d taken you aback.

“Why what?”

“Why…ya know…” Daryl said vaguely, he was feeling more than shy too.

“Why I like you? What…what kind of question is that…I just do… you saved my life, remember, that first day we met?” You asked, and of course,Daryl remembered. “You are brave, and sometimes you’re harsh and rude, but you are also selfless and kind, a good person, even if you say that you aren’t, you’ve always helped us, and look at you now looking for Sophia, and…well, you’re also kind of a rather interesting and handsome guy so…”

You seemed flustered, but Daryl was way worse. “I ain’t…ain’t that, selfless, or kind, or…handsome,” he scoffed, feeling his cheeks heating up more and more.

“Well…I just proved that you are not that observant, so maybe you don’t see yourself as you are.” You shrugged without looking at him. “But…don’t take it badly but it’s kind of embarrassing that I told you all that, so, again, please, let’s pretend it was a pain-induced dream…”

Daryl knew he had a chance, but he didn’t know if he was brave enough to take it, to speak up, no matter that you had said you thought he was brave. He knew what it was that he felt for you, no matter if he’d tried to ignore it, to negate it, to smother it, thinking that it made him stupid and weak, thinking that he didn’t have a chance…

Did he really want to take the chance, though? Did he want that with you? Or did it really make him stupid and weak, as Merle had told him when he was hallucinating? He wasn’t sure…he didn’t know…

But in the end, he couldn’t stop himself from speaking up…or from trying.

“I, uh…too…” He muttered and winced at himself, he wasn’t making sense. “I mean…that I, uh…like ya…”

“Daryl…” Your soft voice saved him from his babbled embarrassment. “You don’t have to say anything, okay, you’re in pain, and you’re exhausted, I shouldn’t have told you all that at this moment…”

“But I mean it…” Daryl told you quietly, afraid that you were going to backtrack and leave him now that he’d made up his mind.

“Yeah?” You asked, sounding unsure, and Daryl forced himself to push past his shyness to look at you. You were watching him intently and he nodded.

Nerves clenched his stomach when you didn’t say anything, but you reached to touch his cheek, and Daryl couldn’t stop himself from letting out a soft, content hum, or from leaning into your touch, and you smiled softly at that.

You moved closer to him, leaning over him, and Daryl didn’t want to do it, but instinct made him flinch as you approached him, getting so close, so you stopped moving immediately, frowning, and he couldn’t help but wonder and fear if his stupid reaction may have bothered you.

“Daryl, are you sure? Are you okay?” You asked him quietly, you didn’t seem annoyed, just concerned.

“Yeah,” he rasped.

“Okay…” You were still watching him intently but you seemed to believe him. “Tell me if you want me to move away, okay? It’ll be okay, I won’t mind.” Another nod and then your fingers were back on his cheek, caressing it softly, and Daryl breathed, trying to relax. “Can I kiss you?” You whispered.

Daryl swallowed hard. Yes, you could, and he wanted you to do it, so why was he so nervous? His brother would be laughing at him, getting so nervous just for a kiss, it was ridiculous…

“Yeah,” he murmured when his nod didn’t seem to be enough.

You moved slowly, as if you were trying not to startle him again and as if you wanted to give him time to change his mind. Daryl closed his eyes, and then he felt your lips softly kissing his forehead…he wondered how just that could make him feel like melting, could make something flutter in his belly. He felt a bit ridiculous, but mostly he just felt warm and good…

“Okay?” You asked him, your hand on his cheek. When Daryl nodded, you leaned in again, and this time you kissed the cheek that your fingers had been caressing. “Still okay?” You asked and Daryl nodded again. “Then…can I…” You whispered, glancing at his lips before looking at his eyes, and Daryl nodded.

You leaned in, slowly, as if waiting for him to change his mind, but he didn’t, and you kissed his lips, making Daryl’s heart jump as he seemed to almost forgot how to breathe, but he kissed you back when you began to move away.

He opened his eyes to find you smiling at him, looking happy and beautiful, and Daryl couldn’t help his own smile. He was content, happy even…it might make him stupid, weak, but…Daryl didn’t care.

“Okay?” You asked again and Daryl nodded.

“Yeah…” Better than okay.

Your smile grew at that, and then you were kissing him again. This time, the kiss was longer, it didn’t take a second for Daryl to kiss you back, his hand going to the back of your head, holding you close.

When you pulled back, you rested your forehead on his, and it might be a small gesture, but Daryl thought he might melt. When eventually you moved back, you began to caress his face again, and Daryl closed his tired eyes, a hum of content making it past his lips.

“Daryl,” you called his name softly. “Do you want me to stay here with you tonight? Would it be okay?” Yeah…yeah, he wanted you and it’d be more than okay.

“Stay,” he told you, opening his eyes to look at you, pulling at the sheets to make space for you, in case you weren’t sure that he meant it, that he really wanted you to stay.

You smiled and lay down next to him. You reached out and, tentatively, placed an arm over him. It made Daryl feel warm and content in a way he was not used to, and he greedily soaked in the feeling, placing his hand over your arm and ever so softly wiggling closer to you, to which you moved closer to him too, curling to his side as you held him.

“Sleep,” you whispered. “You need it and you deserve it.” He was too tired to fight you on it.

Daryl closed his eyes with a content, satisfied sigh. It may make him silly, it may make him weak, but he couldn’t care, he felt warm, safe, and loved, falling asleep like that, with you holding him.

*

N/A

I’m not too happy with how this turned out, but I hope you enjoyed it. If you did, comments and reblogs mean the world.

As always, excuse my English, it’s not my first language.

#daryl dixon #daryl dixon x reader #daryl dixon/reader #daryl dixon fanfiction #daryl dixon fanfic #daryl dixon fic #daryl dixon & reader

[deansapplepie]

Till THE DEAD do us part | Chapter 1

A/N: This story will take place in all the seasons, but it’s not exactly a rewriting cause I’d have to re-watch everything to use the exactly lines of the characters, also I think it’s better if I tell a side story without changing the main facts of the story. I’m not good with synopses, so sorry about that.

This story has a Female Reader, but I don’t describe her appearance, so anyone can identify with her.

Summary: Y/N Grimes is Rick’s younger sister, when the world ended she had Lori, Carl and Shane. But did she really have them? Her brother was dead, her sister-in-law was sleeping with her brother’s best friend and her nephew was just a small kid. She had him, Daryl Dixon was no knight in a shining armor and she was no damsel in distress, but maybe they were exactly what each other needed.

*gif is not mine, credits on the gif.

Chapter 1: Vulnerable

Summary: Y/N sees something she wasn’t supposed to see, she need to vent about it but she can’t do it with Lori or Shane, because they are the main reason about it. So she goes to the woods hoping to find some peace.

Warnings: mentions of sex, swearing, kinda angsty, a little bit of fluffy, comfort, mentions of death, mentions of violence

Pairing: Daryl Dixon x Grimes!Reader

Word Count: 2,072

Extra notes: I proofread the text, but English is not my first language, so feel free to correct any mistakes, of course with a lot of love.

Chapter 2

It was again one more boiling hot day in the Quarry near Atlanta, you thought the temperature would for sure kill you, but there was another thing threatening to take your life and it wasn’t a Zombie.

Before everything, before the world ended, life wasn’t easy. You wanted it to be, but you were living one of the worst moments of your life. You had just lost your job as a vet because you couldn’t save a rich man’s cat and he demanded that you were fired. You felt bad for the poor cat, for your lost job, for your name as a professional that was now forever marked and also for your dog a female German Shepherd called Luna that had to see you not acting like your usual self.

On top of that your older brother, Rick, got shot working… he was a Sheriff’s Deputy. That’s what made you stop feeling sorry for yourself, because you couldn’t. You needed to see your brother laying on a hospital bed in comma, you had to hold things together and take care of Carl and Lori.

Lori and Carl had you, but you had no one, Carl was just a kid and Lori couldn’t even take care of herself at the moment. There was Shane, he was like a brother to you, but even with him there… it was as if you were alone. You just had Luna.

You went to their house and stayed there, you were going to stay until Rick got better, yes, he was going to get better and you would stay just a little bit more to help during his recovery, and everything was going to be fine again. But it never was. The world ended. The dead were walking as if they were alive and Rick died.

Now you lived in a Quarry with Lori, Carl, Shane and a bunch of other survivors. Most of people were pleasant and easy to live with, the exception was Ed, Carol’s husband and Merle Dixon, Daryl’s brother, but this was the apocalypse and you don’t have much choice on the people that are going to be around you.

It had been almost two months since everything happened and the camp was created, almost two months your brother had died… and today, while you were picking some wood, you saw something that felt as if someone was pulling your guts out of your stomach and squeezing your heart.

Lori and Shane. Not Lori and Shane friendly doing what they usually do, they were in the middle of the forest, fucking, and there was no other word you’d use to describe it other than fucking. There wasn’t even two months Rick died, and his best friend and wife were fucking.

You felt nauseated, you went back the same direction you came and knew you had to do something to calm down. You couldn’t afford causing an scene or any uncomfortable situation, you could not hurt Carl.

“Hey! Aunt Y/N, did you already pick all the woods?” Carl shouted to you from the spot he was, playing with Sophia and Luna, Carol watching them.

“Er… wood wasn’t good that side, I’m going to the other side see if I find anything better.” You gave a lame excuse, you just wanted to be alone, cry all this shit out, in silence cause you didn’t want anyone to know and you didn’t want to attract any walkers near the camp.

“Can you look after them a little more, Carol?” You asked the woman, you were sure she was not going to say no, she loved being with the kids and even with Luna.

“Sure, don’t worry.” She said, you nodded and then walked to the opposite side from where you came the fastest as possible, looking down so others wouldn’t see you had started to cry.

You walked until you found a place far enough so no one would find you, but not so far that you would have any trouble. You had a gun and knife, you knew how to defend yourself, but you couldn’t make it easy to the dead to kill you, you were not that dumb.

You sat behind a tree, brought your knees to your chest and hid your face crying. Your thoughts were racing and all you could think was about what you saw, your brother and how you missed him. You listened to some light leaves hustle, but You didn’t give it importance, thinking it was probably the wind, it was so light that it couldn’t be a walker. So you continued minding your own business crying what you had to cry so you could look at your sister-in-law’s face without letting her know how upset you were.

“Ya shouldn’t be out here vulnerable like that” you jumped startled by the redneck’s voice. ‘So that was him,’ you thought, ‘of course, only he could walk with light steps, he was a hunter after all.’ You wiped your tears, not that it would help they were still falling and there wasn’t anything you could do to stop them.

“I’m not vulnerable, I just needed some time alone.” You answered, he was really trying to not be too rough on you given to your situation, but his lack of tact was something he had much difficulty to overcome.

“Ya could cry in your tent, it’s safer”

“I don’t wanna Carl and Lori to see me cry. I don’t wanna have to explain myself, things would get bad if I had to. I don’t wanna upset Carl.” You sniffed, that was one of the worst parts of crying, getting a damn runny nose.

“Shane can’t help?” He asked, you didn’t know but he probably already had some idea of the reason you were crying.

“He’s part of the problem Dixon, if I could I’d punch him and kick his balls” you answered, tears still running down but a little bit calmer.

“Did ya see him and…” he didn’t finish the question, because you completed it for him.

“Lori? Yeah”

Talking about them made you remember everything you saw and how it hurt you. You were still mourning Rick, and Shane and Lori apparently were already moving on. What hurt the most is that even mad at both of them, you still loved them. Lori was like a big sister, a sister that you wish you had while growing up, and Shane? He was your brother he taught you how to defend yourself, he gave you shooting classes, he brought you home the first time you got drunk and even took care of you while you were hangover. When Rick wasn’t there, he was. At this moment you hated him as much as you loved him.

“Do you know if anyone else know about them?” You asked after a long time, you were so lost that you didn’t even noticed that Daryl walked a bit ahead and stoped with his back turned to you. He wanted to give you privacy to cry, but he also couldn’t leave you behind, it was dangerous to you staying so vulnerable at the forest. He knew you could defend yourself, but you didn’t even listened him approaching, you sure were not going to listen to a walker too.

“I don’t know. Probably not. I’m much into the woods, so I caught them a few times.” He answered at distance, not turning to look back at you. “Do ya like him?” Daryl asked and right after he just regretted having opened his mouth, why would he ask such an intimate thing to you? He should just stay there and make sure you’d go back alive to the camp.

“Ew! No! He’s like a brother to me. We grew up together.” You answered disgusted to the idea of liking Shane any other way. “It’s not that. My brother, he died. Well, you probably know. And I know Lori needs to continue living and they are adults, but there’s not even 2 months and she moved on that fast and Shane… he was his best friend. I’m still mourning him, the world still doesn’t make any sense without him here and they are already fucking. I know I’m being selfish and emotional but…” you spoke so much that you had already lost your line of thought. Daryl was probably tired of you, he wasn’t one to talk much, but here you were opening all your thoughts to him.

“It’s about yer brother. Ya have the right to feel.” He understood, he had never lost his brother and he hoped he’d not lose him anytime soon. Merle was a dick, and he made him mad most of the time, but he was his brother, so he understood you.

You wiped your tears, calmer and ready to continue. You were still mad and sad about everything, but now you didn’t feel like you were going to die anymore, you were not suffocated. You got up, shook the dirt from your pants and approached the archer.

“I was going to take some wood for fire. I don’t want to go back empty handed. Can you help me?” Now you gave a look at him, and noticed he had some rabbits and squirrels hanging from a rope. He was being essential to maintain everyone fed, he was not one to be socializing around the camp, but he was good and you could see it.

He just nodded and started walking by your side collecting the good woods he found along the way. “Thank you.” You said collecting a branch that you saw.

“For what? I didn’t even take the woods to the camp.” Did he not understand or was he faking?

“Not about the woods. Well, that too… but thank you for staying with me and talk to me, you didn’t have to” ‘but you did’, you completed in your thoughts. “Also, thank you for always bringing us food. I don’t know if I ever told you that.” He grunted, sometimes you wish you could know what he was thinking, you never knew if his grunts mean something good or bad.

“No need to thank me” he never knew how to react at moments like that. Should he say thanks back? Should he give another compliment?

Soon you returned to the camp, he helped you put the woods near the makeshift kitchen and was going to clean the rabbits and squirrels so they could be cooked.

“Luna likes you” you said, you saw how your dog acted around him. He was a little surprised with the comment. “You can take her with you when you want, I see that you like her too.” You smiled, a beautiful one just as if you were not broken or had cried your soul an hour ago.

“She likes my food too” he joked, it was not intentional but after what he said he even got a little smile at the corner of his mouth for some seconds. You giggled before answering.

“I know, she makes the cutest puppy eyes. It’s not her fault if you can’t resist her charms.” He snorted and for some seconds, just few seconds, he thought that maybe she wasn’t the only one he couldn’t resist. As he went to clean the hunt, you went to Carol to say you got the wood and offer to take care of the kids while she started to prepare the food.

You couldn’t take that smile from your face and you didn’t were sure why, you ruffled Luna’s fur while you sat close to the kids and released the dog so she could run around a little. You hated having to let her tied, but you were too afraid of what could happen if she went too far. She ran around the camp and soon approached the archer he pet her and she made her happy tail dance to him, he looked in your direction and you smiled watching their interaction. Your day wasn’t lost, there was still good things to be grateful for, even in a world like this.

Final notes: Please tell me your thoughts. There is a long time I don’t write and publish fanfiction in English so I’d be glad to hear from you.

#the walking dead daryl #daryl dixon #the walking dead #twd #twd daryl #daryl x y/n #daryl dixion x reader #daryl fanfiction #daryl imagines #the walking dead fanfiction #daryl dixon imagine #daryl dixon fic #daryl dixon fanfic #daryl x grimes!reader #rick grimes #daryl x reader #daryl x you

[retroellie]

Dating Daryl Dixon in eras

Summary: What it would be like to date Daryl in different eras of the show

A/N: I don't really talk about my personal life on here because yall are here to get horny not sad, but I've been going through it. My girlfriend broke up with me, so I've been needing some Daryl Dixon in my life rn. This is just a bunch of ideas put together because I'm sad lol, but enjoy :)

Warnings: Normal TWD things and NSFW mentions

Word count: 4.2K

Short hair era/ Farm

-this was not his best era, he was a complete dick head to not only you but everyone else

-I wouldn’t even say that y’all were dating around this time because Daryl didn’t see you as his girlfriend, he looked at you more like a fuck buddy

-he refused to call you his girlfriend and he scolded you when you would call him your boyfriend, but y’all were weirdly together-ish?!?

-he was so up his brothers ass that he didn’t have time to have a girlfriend plus he always said he only fucked girls not dated them, “relationships are for pussies” he would tell you

-you did enjoy the sex but somewhere around that time you started to actually fall in love with Daryl Dixon

-You hated when Merle and Daryl were together and it was pretty much always

-Merle degraded you in so many ways and Daryl would turn the other cheek, it broke your heart every time.

-Daryl was a dick to you, yes, but he would never even think about going to Merle’s level. He never made you feel bad about yourself or made you uncomfortable, he was always somewhat respectful.

-He would even tell you that you were pretty sometimes… in his own way

-“god this shirt looks terrible on me…”

-“Shut up… your tits look nice in it”

-when you all assumed merle was dead that’s when Daryl got a bit nicer to you

-He started staying the night with you instead of fucking the shit out of you than leaving you all sweaty and sticky

-he would never cuddle you though, like ever. If you wanted to maybe wrap yourself around him, he’d let it but he wouldn’t be giving the same energy back

-He was bearable without Merle, you liked it actually

-When you guys got into the CDC building, Daryl was all over you… I mean literally

-He was always touching you in some way, holding onto your arm tightly or putting his hand on your thigh

-You knew it was because he was happy, for the first time in a couple of weeks he felt somewhat safe

-you guys definitely fucked in the shower… many times

-“Fuck… one thing I missed about the old world is hot water… and being able to fuck you anytime I wanted..” he moaned while literally rearranging your guts

-After the CDC Daryl started to appreciate you a little more, you all could’ve died… it opened Daryl’s eyes

-he realized that you were too good for him, like way too good yet you still chose him even after him being a dick to you

-Daryl would pick you flowers and lay them at your pillow at night, he was too scared to give them to you straight up but you always knew they were from him

-You realized you were in love with Daryl when you found yourself by his side after Andrea had shot him, he was all cut up and his head wrapped

-You saw how he did that all for a little girl, maybe he did have a mental breakdown but he still did it for her

-That’s when you knew you had fallen in love with him and hell maybe he was falling in love too

-You would read to him, he rolled his eyes and pouted when you did but he secretly loved it

-Daryl found himself in the woods by himself because of you… he wanted to be a better man for you, he wanted to find himself so maybe than he could be the man you deserved

Prison era

- I love this era so much because I know this man was a little horn dog towards you

- I mean he was quite literally inside of you at all times, sex was at its peak in this era

-He’s had so many near death experiences at this time that he learned to appreciate a woman’s body when he had it

- your cell neighbors hated you because no matter how quiet you tried to be, they always heard your muffled moans at night

- Daryl would be so protective of you too, when you went on runs (which were very rare since he wanted you to stay in the safety of the prison) he would have you stay behind him at all times

- “Daryl! It’s just two walkers!! I can handle it” you whisper screamed

-“Yea, two walkers that could rip out ya’ throat in a heartbeat! I said stay put!!”

-“Your no fun..” you said rolling your eyes

-He knew you could fend for yourself, you were tough but he couldn’t risk it. He would never admit it but you were his reason for breathing

-He never quite had a home, he lived in places but it was never a home to him. So finding you, someone who made him feel at home anywhere… he cherished that

-When the prison was in the first stages of development, Daryl noticed you only had one flimsy blanket you would cuddle up with at night… and the nights got cold.

-Daryl hunted for hours for a nice fluffy blanket for you, it took him hours to find one but he found the perfect one. When he got to the prison that night, walking into your shared cell, he saw your shivering underneath the thin blanket.

- He softly wrapped you up in the blanket, making sure every part of your body was covered with the soft material… you woke up that morning confused about the blanket but you knew who it was from

-you gave him head after that :)

-Whenever Daryl brought you gifts, you would savor them… even if it was a lingerie set, it wasn’t exactly flowers but it was something.

-Daryl wasn’t just protective… bitch he was also possessive

-You were his… nobody else could touch you or talk to you or even think about you. Especially men.

-it’s not that he didn’t trust you, he trusted you with his entire life but he didn’t trust other men

-He was a guy so he knew how they thought, he knew what a man can do to a girl like you and the thought of it made him angry

-Every guy in the prison knew you were off limits… like completely.

-When they tried to talk to you, literally just a normal conversation, Daryl would make it known that he would break their jaw if they made a move on you

-You didn’t mind though, you thought it was sweet and you felt protected plus the jealous sex was always a plus :)

-When the flu hit, you got sick…

-Daryl was terrified, he watched as you would cough your little heart out and you looked so sickly…

-He hated himself for allowing this to happen, he should’ve protected you even though he had no control of the virus

-“I’m sorry…” he said, watching your chest heave up and down weakly

-“Dar… honey, it’s not your fault…” you said weakly

-when Hershel found a way to stop the flu from spreading and help the sick, Daryl made him give it to you first… he couldn’t risk losing you without a fight

-It worked obviously and that was the day Daryl Dixon could see his entire life with you, he could see him walking up to you everyday… even when your all old and weak

-Daryl held you a little tighter at night now, kissed you more often and became softer with you when he fucked you

- he was starting to actually fall in love with someone, something he never knew he had the capacity to do

-Until the governor came along splitting everyone up including you and Daryl

-You found yourself alone and Daryl was stuck with Beth…

-Daryl assumed the worst, he knew you were too good for him and something was obviously going to take that away from him so he just figured it would be easier to mourn you

-Beth knew Daryl was depressed, she knew how much you meant to him and now you were gone…

- Daryl tried to act like it didn’t matter to him, he tried to make it seem like you were just another girl he had met along the way but Beth wasn’t stupid… she knew

-She tried to get him drunk, sing to him, make him forget that you were gone just for a minute… just so he could heal

-It never worked and as the days passed, Daryl gave up on trying to be sad and instead went numb

-You weren’t doing any better, you were all alone which made it so much worse.

-You cried yourself to sleep for days, holding on to the only thing you had left of Daryl… a black shirt that he mostly wore to sleep

-You we’re almost about to give up until there was a sign of the group still… that fueled you to go on, only caring to see if Daryl saw the same signs

-When you saw him again… it was when he carried Beth out of the hospital and suddenly you felt his pain… you weren’t happy to see him suddenly, wishing you could go back to your loneliness just so you didn’t have to see him the way he was

-He never talked about Beth to you… ever. You don’t know what happened on their trip, you don’t know if he even Thought of you but you knew right now he was hurting… hurting so bad that not even you could break his sadness

- Even if he was wallowing in his own pity, he still needed you. At night he would hold you close to him, he would hold your hand secretly while walking down the roads, he would always cover you up with his jacket at night

-His brother and Beth’s death changed him… Maybe for the better or maybe for the worst, which ever it was he learned to appreciate the little things now

Alexandria

-Daryl kinda retracted in this era I think, he had experienced so much loss that he became numb. He went back to his “being Merle’s little brother” mindset and he became a bit of a loner

- he also felt like such an outcast in Alexandria so he didn’t want to be there

-You made him feel better though, you would always try to include him in things

-you made it clear to him that you would much rather spend all your time with him than anyone else

-“don’t let me stop you from having fun… go to the party.”

-“no! I’m not going if you aren’t… besides, we’ll get the whole house to ourselves” you smirked

-His sex drive never slowed either which was nice but also wasn’t

-you had to share a house with your entire group to privacy was a luxury in such a small home

-The only way you were able to get Daryl into the shower was telling him that the shower was the only privacy YALL will be getting any time soon

-Let’s just say showers became yalls favorite thing

-Daryl warmed up to everything after a while, he actually kind of liked Alexandria especially after you guys were assigned a small little house for yourselves

- Again this era of Daryl was possessive as hell, like he made sure everyone knew you were his from day one

-You would always have hickeys on your neck or complain of your body hurting after a night with Daryl

-Daryl became a lot less touchy with you around this time though which was weird because he loved to touch you

-The only touch you received from him was through sex and maybe sometimes he would cuddle up with you at night, but mostly so he could press his dick on your ass go hint that he wanted you

-Daryl’s gifts also slowed too, it was rare to receive a gift from him around these times.

-You could tell Daryl was just trying to heal and cope so you didn’t mind much, you even spent those times focusing on yourself.

-You never let Daryl forget how much he meant to you though and honestly sometimes he needed that.

-Obviously Daryl wasn’t completely cold to you like he would be in the early seasons

-He made time to spend with you, he would always let you know he was thinking of you in some kind of way.

Post-negan Alexandria

-This was a extremely hard time for Daryl, after being captured and blaming himself for Glenn’s death… he was completely numb even after he had put himself back together again

-This point in time he was extremely needy though, like he needed you all the time because he was genuinely scared and he didn’t know what he was doing

-He couldn’t sleep without you there with him, if you weren’t there he would be overthinking and it would be almost impossible to fall asleep

- When he was held captive, tortured in so many devilish ways… Dwight used you as a threat

-He explained everything that he had in store for you, telling him that you were next on negans “girls to marry” list and Daryl was the only one who could stop it

-It was all lies though but Daryl believed them, almost giving in if it meant to keep you safe

-“I’m telling you Daryl… that sweet girl of yours isn’t going to be yours forever, especially if you don’t make this choice.”

-“you stay away from her… Lay a finger on her and I’ll kill you”

-When he got back, he was far more protective of you than he was before

-Daryl liked when you rubbed his back at night, dragging your fingers softly over the old and new scars on his back

-He would lay his head on you, cuddling up at your side while you laid on your back. He would look up at you, seeing you drift to sleep while rubbing his back

-Daryl always left a note for you that told you if he was leaving, it doesn’t matter how long he would be gone, he would always leave one

-He knew that him being taken scared you to death, carol told him that you were extremely depressed and wouldn’t get out of bed most of the time

-so he leaves a note just to tell you where he’s going, just so the memories of him being gone won’t fill your little head

- Daryl always says “I love you” to you as well, it’s such a common phrase to yall know because he wants you to know how much he cares about you

-This is the era when Daryl is at his bottom peak bitch… lemme tell you

-He is so broken down and afraid that he will let you take whatever you need from him plus give him what he wants

-He’s such a bottom, like a whiny bottom too

-He will beg for you to let him cum inside you or literally have tears streaming down his face while you go as slow as you possibly can while take his cock inside you

-“please… y/n please go faster…”

-“Don’t be an impatient baby… you can wait!”

-He will literally moan and whine so much, such a little baby and you’d tease him for it too

- It took him months to come back into himself, you felt like he was a shell of who he once was but Daryl always came back to you… always

-You made sure to always reassure him that you loved him and you weren’t going to leave him

-He suffered from nightmares, bad ones too and some nights they would wake up. The sad thing is, Daryl apologized for waking you up and that broke your heart

-You hated when you felt like he had to apologize to you all the time, he would say he’s sorry to you like a mantra

Whisperers Era

-This was like Ricks “death” era so this means mf was so fucking sad, like he could not forgive himself

-The months following ricks “death” though he was always gone

-It started with small trips out in the woods but it slowly turned into full weeks of you being without him

-You waited for him for the first few weeks, staying up until he came home so you could clean him up

- but then you just gave up with it and went to bed without a second thought

-You however did always make a second plate for him and left the living room light on just in case

-you would go out and find him sometimes when you had a feeling something had happened, he was always in a different spot but always by the river

-You would bring him food and clean clothes, he was always happy to see you of course but he always seemed so sad

-“Are you coming home?”

-“Nah… not yet honey.”

-He only came back when he found out about the whisperers, mainly so he could keep you safe

- As soon as he did come back though, Judith and RJ were giving to him… that only added onto his anxiety

-You saw Daryl get lost along the way, he was stressed… full of rage and hatred for this stupid group that he knew nothing about

-When y’all took in Lydia, you could see the pain Daryl felt for her… and that’s when he opened up to you about his childhood

-It was when you were finally able to cuddle up with each other and get some sleep, Daryl was cuddled up into your side as you brushed your hands through his hair

-You don’t know what triggered it but he just bursted into tears, he tried to muffle his cries in your chest

-You went silent, not exactly knowing what to do but you made sure Daryl knew you were listening… even if he didn’t want to talk

-He told you all the horrors that he went through in his childhood, how his father beat him so many times and his moms death… he even told you about the river he used to go to when he wanted to get away from everything

-You listened silently, tears falling down your cheeks as you held him so unbelievably close to you

-“I just look at that girl… I see me, I see the same damn scared look on her face” he whimpered out

-That night brought you two together, it patched up the rocky relationship that had arose due to his absence

- The whisperer had taken so many people from y’all, causing more hatred and anger to arise from Daryl but he tried to keep his cool but you knew

-You were with the small group that went out to find the herd but instead got stuck in a cave that alpha set up for you

-Daryl’s main priority was you, always and forever but especially right now

-He made sure you got through the herd first, he made sure you were able to get through the small areas of the cave first, he cuddled up next to you to make sure you were warm, he made sure you got out first

- you both were exhausted after everything the whisperers out you through but than they unleashed the herd

-You all knew it was coming but this sparked a deep fear from within you that you had from the very beginning

-“Daryl… What if this is our last fight?  I mean what if we lose?” You asked as Daryl sharpened his blade

-“We’ve always worked it out in the end hun, don’t start talking like that now.”

-That day you made sure Daryl remembered how much you loved him, you made sure you bore it into his skin

-You both made love like it was your last time doing so, filled with soft kisses and moans that you didn’t even try to hide

- Than you fought together, fighting off the herd along with the whisperers that hid between them… you made sure it wasn’t your last fight together

- when you all thought it was over, beta decided to take revenge and trap y’all in the hospital

-You went through the herd with Daryl, holding his hand like it was your reasoning for life and Daryl made sure you were safe

-After everything was said and done, life never went back to normal but all you needed was Daryl and you were happy with that

Commonwealth

-Okay this is probably my favorite Daryl era :)

-He turns into a little house husband and it’s so cute

-Y’all live in a shitty little apartment with Judith and RJ, which they have basically become yalls children

-He’ll get the kids ready while you are still fast asleep because work took it out of you

-He’ll get up extra early just to make you some breakfast even though I just know this mf is terrible at cooking REAL food

-He’ll let you take a shower after work while he does the house chores but most of the time he joins you in the shower

-Okay obviously y’all will have sex in the shower like it goes without saying butttt, after or even before he’ll just help you clean yourself up

-He’ll help lather your hair up and scratch your scalp with his finger nails, it feels so good and you’ll just go limp in his arms for a bit

-Daryl hates his job lowkey, like he’ll do it but having to go through all the training and then having to take orders?!? Daryl is a loner and he feels he is his own boss so having to follow rules is hard for him

-You make sure to make his job a little easier by packing his lunch, you’ll put candy and sweet in there for him as well as real food.. the cute part is that you always write a cute little letter for him

-“Have a good day at work my love <3 just make sure you come back to me in one piece!!”

-He’ll just smile down at it, not even attempting to hide his smile

-Everyone else will make fun of him, laughing at his silly little blush as he reads your note for him

-“Hey Dixon! Don’t get all soft on us now!”

-“Hey, you mind asking your girl to make me one too? Shit may be blowy as well!”

-“You really are head over heels for that stupid girl ain’t ya? She’s not all that.”

-Daryl doesn’t care, he spent so long trying to hide you or make your love secret that now he doesn’t even try

-Speaking if you work, you have a cute little job!

-Daryl always visits you when he gets days off and just wants to see you, he thinks you look so cute in your uniform

-You’ll light up when you see him, bring him into a big hug and than tell him how your so happy to see him even if you saw him that morning

-He’ll bring you lunch with him as well, sometimes he’ll bring Judith and RJ just so they can see where you work

-Y’all are such a cute little family and it gets me so fucking soft

- Daryl just becomes a bit softie for you omfg

-The sex gets softer too but Daryl still has his hard times with you, if you want it hard and rough that night… you don’t have to tell him twice

-Okay but when you are at work and he visits you on your lunch break, he would definitely drag you into the nearest bathroom or have you go to the back of the store just so he can take you right then and there

-You would both go to the little parties they have at the commonwealth together :) like Daryl doesn’t dance at all and he’ll probably just stand there all tough but he’d still like seeing you all dolled up

-I keep getting this image in my head of the commonwealth being the first time Daryl had ever seen you drunk, idk why but it’s stuck in my head

-You’ll be all loopy, trying to grope in through his jeans and kissing all over him

-Daryl loved how touchy you were but you were drunk and he doesn’t do that

-“Come onnn daryll…” you dragged out as you attempted to kiss his lips

-“Doll… I swear to you that I want to take you right here right now, I would give anything… but ya’ ain’t sober and I want you when you’re sober.” 

-You eventually vomited everywhere and than fell asleep but Daryl thought you were cute when your were drunk

-When Daryl got the record player?!? You literally bought all types of records

-Daryl would get out of the shower, towel wrapped around him to see you in the kitchen cooking up dinner in only his shirt and underwear, dancing around like a maniac

-He also likes fucking you to music now

-When you guys had to move out of the commonwealth you were pretty upset

-You hated what the people there were doing but you couldn’t help but love it there, you got a glimpse back to the old work

-As you were packing up, Daryl noticed how sad your were so he came up behind you and kissed your neck softly

-“I’m sorry you have to leave your home again..”

- “You’re my home… I don’t care where we go as long as we’re together.”

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