Hush Baby Im here

Chapter 24

The season finale. Was....Crap. I hated it, it was shitty writing, and it just proved there was no point to Beth's character, her arch. There was no point to Tireese. I was so disappointed.

But its okay, Beth will live through us. She belongs to us now.

My head perked up when I heard the all to familiar high pitched whistle.

My group jogged along the dark ally way towards the sound. There was a little shop, dimly lit with candle light, where Daryl was standing in the door way with his crossbow pulled back.

Something like relief flooded his face, and in two quick strides he crossed over and hugged me. I instantly relaxed at his gentle touch, leaning into him, letting his pine and cigarette smell fill my lungs.

Carl had run to Rick, and I could truly see how happy both of them were to have each other. Daryl backed away, not saying anything to me, just scanning over every inch of my face. Maggie was next to give me a hug.

"Where is he?" Aaron asked, his lips an elliptic white. Daryl just nodded his head towards the door and Aaron took off running again.

"Alex?" Noah asked stepping out if the shop and into the street.

I shake my head, a dreary feeling takes over the group once again. Even though none of them really knew Alex that well. He was still a person, and all life was valuable.

I didn't want to tell them the truth about him, how he was going to kill me. They didn't need to know, now Alex died in honor and was a good guy. They would only think good thoughts about him, and that's what I wanted.

We all shuffled inside, Rick shutting the door behind me. When Aaron entered the room soundlessly, he thanked the group for keeping Eric safe. Who I later learned was his fiance and the other person who had accompanied him on the trip to find us. 

Rick nodded, "but your sleeping over there." He pointed towards the far corner.

"The only way you'll keep him from me is if you shoot me in the head." Aaron quickly defended, I could see tears gloss over his eyes, Eric was too important to not fight for.

Rick stared for a bit, but Aaron held his ground, glaring right back.

Soon the gaze broke, but no words were exchanged, and everyone laid down to get comfortable after the long night. I was exhausted, so when Daryl sat beside me, I mindlessly let my head fall into his lap.

When I opened my eyes just a crack to see his reaction, I saw his head laid back against the wall peacefully. As if all was well.

...

I wasn't the first to wake up this morning, in fact I was one of the last. No dreams haunted me last night, it was a heavy deep sleep. I peeled my eyes open to reveal Daryl's scroungy face hovering above me. A giggle escaped my lips before I could contain it. 

"Hm?" He sort of asked.

"Your leg must be dead from me laying on it all night." I said, but yet I remained in place not wanting to leave.

He shrugged his shoulders and grinned a bit, "I can't feel the slightest thing." His remark sends me laughing. I know the reason I'm in a good mood is because we're going somewhere new, we were all going to be safe soon.

Maggie and Glenn were hugging while she cried, and I made a mental note to ask them about it later. She didn't look devastated, but obviously something was going on.

Aaron and Eric,  were asleep laying next to each other. Carl held Judith and Rick was absent from the group. Nothing else seemed to be out of order. I sat up then, grinning at Daryl and stretching.

"You a doctor Beth?" He asked.

"No.." The word drags on as I try to figure out where he's going with this.

"That's to bad, my leg needs some fixing." He wiggles his foot. I roll my eyes, but smirk. Who new Daryl Dixon was such a strange kid at heart.

My hand comes down in a flash on his knee cap. His leg twitched reflexively, and a look of great surprise forms on his face for barely a second, I burst out in laughter again.

"There." I manage between breaths, "fixed it." He chuckles a bit before standing up and starting to pack up. We all do the same, in a bit everyone is up and ready to leave. I can't hide the enormous grin on my face as we start heading towards the vehicles. Rick shoves my head playfully when he sees my face. I turn around and shoulder check him, which confuses me a bit.

Since when did me and Rick Grimes playfully hurt each other like friends?

It was a bit odd, but I figured I'd need more friends anyway, not family I'd give my life for, so anyone walking with me at this moment. But friends, someone I could tell about girly things to and laugh about them with. 

Like the fact that I had the biggest crush on Daryl Dixon, and I felt like actually making some sort of move.

I was ready.