When the dead roam - (Daryl Dixon)

Chapter 96 - Oceanside

It had been years since louise had felt the sand on her feet. The familiar sensation of sun worn, slightly damp powder ignited a warmth in her heart that she hadn't felt since long before the apocalypse. For once, she felt the slightest bit relaxed - even given the fact that they were about to take every single weapon from an unknown group and leave them defenceless.

She stood with her feet in the water, smiling down at her toes as the white foam of sea horses tickled her skin. It was the first real smile that Daryl had ever seen on her face. The raven haired beauty didn't know he was standing behind her, or rather, she didn't care that he was there. She was too engrossed in the view rather than the fact that the rest of their team were slowly making their way down on to the beach.

"Hey, time to go" Daryl said, running a hand down her arm and offering her a small smile. She nodded her head and let him guide her back up to the tree line, glancing back over her shoulder one last time.

They had stopped a mile out of Oceanside in the hopes they could keep the element of surprise. Tara had insisted the amount of weapons they held were enough to pay off Ann's group and help them take down the Saviours - ammunition included. On paper, the plan was bound to work...it was the execution that seemed a little elusive.

Rick had crouched down on the sand and drawn a very inarticulate map in the fine grains, with the help of Tara who watched over his shoulder.

"Alright, Michonne, I want you to go as far inland as you can and as high as you can but remember, your safety comes first. Tara, you know these people. Find their leader, see if you can get them to help. Daryl, I want you to lead the rest of the group, set off some warning bombs, once we get the signal, we'll move in" he turned and locked eyes with Louise. "You're with me"

Lou nodded. The old Rick would've ensured she had been paired with him to keep his group safe, the constant nagging feeling in his stomach that she wasn't to be trusted but now, he insisted on their partnership because he knew that if something went wrong, she'd be the first one to save his ass.

"See on you on the other side" Daryl said to Louise, who looked up just in time to see him grab his gun.

"Hey" she shouted after him, exhaling deeply as he turned towards her, walking backwards carefully. "Be safe"

He nodded. "You too"

Rick patted her on the back, handed her a shot gun and gestured for her to follow him into the bushes. She obliged, treading carefully on the uneven terrain and ducking underneath fallen trees that lay at all angles, forming a pretty decent barrier against the brain-dead 'walkers' that undoubtedly wondered around.

"You sure you're okay with this?" He asked in hushed tones. "You weren't exactly thrilled when we took over the Saviours outpost"

"That was before they took everything from me" she stated, climbing over a large bolder. "If you think this is the right thing, then I'm with you"

Rick watched her, as if for the first time in their friendship, he was actually seeing her. "You've changed, y'know. In the best way. I know if I need someone, I can count on you"

"Careful Rick. Your soft side is showing" she said with a smirk, causing him to roll his eyes.

"And just like that, you ruined it"

"That's what I'm here for"

"I'm serious"

"Me too"

"Louise-"

"Okay, I'm sorry" she said, wiping the smirk of her face and nudging him with her shoulder. "Thank you. I know I can count on you too"