Dead or alive, I love you

2.1 what lies ahead

Genny sits next Glenn in the rv as she was forced to leave her car behind. The rv stops and the group in it gets out. "Broken down again?" She asks.

"Lets look around for a bit," Daryl says nudging his head.

She follows him until they reach a truck. They search the truck and she smiles as she finds a knife. "You should keep it," he smiles looking at her in the front.

"Don't you want it?" She asks looking up.

"Nah, everyone needs a knife, now," he says putting it on her belt.

She looks at him as he takes it out the knife. "It's a good one, you could hold onto this for years," he smiles trying different stab positions.

"You think I got that long?" She asks with tears in her eyes.

He looks at her and nods. "I hope so, still gotta make you mine," he smiles before walking off again.

She looks at him sighing before walking after him. They search a car until Daryl walks over to her and taps her shoulders holding his knife out.

She turns around with a gasp and he puts his hand over her mouth. They hold eye contact as he nods at her. She nods as he takes his hand off.

"Walkers?" She asks.

He nods, "come on." He says helping her in a trunk.

He lays in front of her and closes the trunk. He looks at her as she grabs his hand. "Ssh, don't make a sound," he whispers as she whimpers softly hearing the walkers bump into the car.

She closes her eyes putting her hand in front of her mouth. It doesn't help with her fear and he looks at her. He puts his hand on her cheek before kissing her passionately.

Her fear slowly goes away shock taking its place. He pulls away and looks at her, "never be scared if I'm with you. I'll keep you safe. No matter what." He whispers.

"I think they're gone," she whispers.

He nods before grabbing his knife and leans over her to open the trunk. He peaks through the small open space before he gets out. He puts his hand up telling her to stay in the trunk.

She looks at him as he shoots a walker. He helps her out both of them laughing as she almost falls. "You okay?" He asks as they walk back to the group.

"Yeah, you?" She asks squinting her eyes because of the sun.

He nods thinking she just doesn't want to talk about the kiss in the trunk a few minutes ago. They go back to the group and Rick runs up to the group.

"Where is she? Where is my girl?" Carol asks running over to him.

Genny frowns looking around the people and realizes that Sophia is indeed missing. "She isn't back yet?" Rick asks.

"Would she be asking if she was?" Lori snaps at him.

Daryl leaves with Rick, Shane and Glenn to look for Sophia while Genny gathers all their supplies with the others. "Carl, you did your homework yet?" Lori asks.

Genny rolls her eyes as Carl sighs before retreating into the rv. "You got a problem with my parenting?" Lori asks.

Genny turns to Lori, "you don't hear me asking Glenn if he has done his homework. It's useless to teach kids stuff like that. They need to learn how to survive out here not how to survive math problems." Genny says as Daryl and Rick walk back up to them.

Lori looks at Rick who just goes to carol. "What was that about?" Daryl asks Genny climbing over the rails.

"Nothing important," she sighs before walking to the rv to Carl.

"Thanks," he mumbles as she grabs a book.

She looks at him smiling, "don't worry about it, buddy. I got your back." She says bumping his fist.

That night she lays in an empty car. Daryl knocks on the car which she opens for him. "You wanna sleep in the rv?" He asks with raised eyebrows.

She shakes her head with a soft smile. "Can I sleep with you in this car then?" He asks a little nervous.

She looks at him and questions if she trusts him enough. "Sure, but you sleep on your own side," she says making him nod.

Half an hour later he lays in his sleeping bag as her back is turned towards him. "Gen?" He asks in a whisper.

She turns to him with a soft smile, "yeah." She's also whispering as he lays on his side.

"Why are you so distant to me?" He asks with a frown.

She looks up into his eyes and lets out a deep breath. "Because I'm not ready to fully open up to you," she says softly.

He holds out his hand and she doubts for a minute before taking it. "I won't hurt you. Never forget that," he smiles softly.

She smiles closing her eyes as he takes his free hand and carefully moves a strand of wavy hair from her cheek.

The next morning Genny wakes up with the trunk open as Daryl sits on it smoking a cigarette. She groans sitting up and crawling out of her sleeping bag.

She sits next him smiling as he looks at her. "Morning," he says softly.

She smiles drinking some water from her bottle. "You sleep okay?" He asks squinting his eyes against the sun.

She nods and he smiles at her. "Daryl! Genny! You guys coming?" Rick shouts at them.

"Yes," Daryl shouts back getting up.

"Hey, I'm gonna stay here. Help Dale and T-dog look through the cars," she says staying put.

He looks at her and nods, "don't get yourself killed." He smiles kissing her.

"Me? Never. You? Probably one day," she jokes.

He rolls his eyes kissing her softly before walking off. She looks at him as he leaves the highway with the group.