What's Next

Chapter One 🦋

Val's POV:

"Why hello there Mr. Dixon." I giggled, as the man I loved made his way over to get his share of food. "Hey there miss Grimes." He chuckled, taking the bowl from my hand. "mmm it doesn't sound as good as what Dixon would." He added with a wink, I laughed with a wide smile on both our faces. "Alright lovebirds, there's business that needs attending to. Remember Val?" Carol piped up, jokingly.

"Oh right! Shit! Thanks Carol." I said, as my eyes widened with realisation.

"Patrick, you want to take over?"

"Yes ma'am." Patrick replied, with full enthusiasm. Which made me smile even more. "Uh Mr. Dixon I just wanted to thank you for bringing that deer back the yesterday. It was a real treat, sir." Daryl looked at me unsure with how to feel about the interaction. I giggled at little bit, smiling at him. "and I'd be honoured to shake your hand." Patrick stated, holding his hand straight out to Daryl. Daryl at first looked between Patrick's hand than to me before he licked his fingers clean, making me go red in the face. Carol began to laugh once she noticed. He shook Patrick's hand, making Patrick smile even more with delight.

**

"Just so you know I liked you first." I giggled, receiving a light nudge in the arm, hearing him chuckle at my comment.

We stayed a far distance away, standing on a hill. Looking over at the fencing, where walkers stood banging against the fence, fighting their way in. Well at least trying to. The problem was they weren't spreading along the fence. They were grouping up at separate parts of it. "I don't know if we can spare a lot of people for today's run."

"That place is good to go. We're gonna move on it."

"The thing is we had a pretty big build up overnight." I stated, pointing towards the fencing. "There's dozens more towards tower three. It's getting as bad as last month, possibly even worse. They just don't spread out anymore."

"With more of us sitting here, we're drawing more of them out."

"You get enough of them damn fence clingers, they start to herd up."

"Pushing against the fences again." I stated.

"It is manageable but only if we can get ahead of it. It won't be long until that fence comes down."

"Sorry pookie." I mocked, in a baby voice. Getting a slap on the ass in return, before being pulled straight in for a kiss. "Be careful, Rick's just over in that field." I said, pulling away a little bit. "He ain't looking." He huffed, pulling me in for another kiss, deepening it. "Don't get ahead of yourself Dixon. You know the deal." I laughed.

"yeah yeah. I just can't help myself around you." He chuckled.

"Oh I know. But you have to wait. We agreed to after the run. Rick will still be out in the field by then." I smiled.

"Alright. You just make me crazy Valentina Grimes." He laughed with a wide, goofy smile on his face, holding me around my waist. We stayed like that for a little bit, just looking at each other. I could tell he was looking over every inch of me. "Nah, that still doesn't sound right." Erupting us both into laughter.

**

It came time for Daryl to leave for the run, so I decided to go do what I always did. Go out to wish him good luck. It became our little thing ever since that day back in Atlanta when he left to look for Merle. Now it just meant something more than just some random act. It just became our new normal and it felt right. We made a deal, that I try to stay away from going on runs to handle most of what went on within the prison, while he went out there. Out on runs. Rick questioned it at first, but he soon accepted it after I explained that I knew Carl and Judith needed me here just as much as they needed their dad. I was part of the council, and it only made more sense for Rick, he didn't need to know the whole truth. Not yet anyways. It's not like I was lying to him, just I still wasn't ready to tell him about Daryl and I. Hell, Daryl is still yet to tell me he wanted things to be more serious between us. So until then what Rick doesn't know won't hurt him.

I began walking over when a pair of arms pulled me around a corner. "Hello beautiful." The southern accent greeted me, a crazy smile planted across the redneck's face. He soon began planting kisses all over my neck and collarbone making me giggle. "Okay mister, don't get too carried away yet." I smiled. He stopped, looking at me deeply, with his Georgian blue eyes. "Do have any idea how beautiful you look right now?" He complimented.

"Well with the amount of sweat I feel dripping down the side of my face, I say I look pretty crazy right now." I laughed.

"Nah, you always look beautiful." He smirked, pulling me in for a kiss. I could hear someone call for him, which just meant it was time for him to leave. "I think they're waiting on you." I giggled.

"Yeah, well they can wait just a little bit longer." He chuckled, planting another kiss on my lips.

"C'mon Daryl, the quicker you go, the quicker it'll be for you to be back in that cell." I winked, tracing circles on his chest.

"Alright, alright." He said in defeat. "I'll be waiting for you. Be safe okay?" I said, planting a kiss on his cheek.

"Always am." He smirked, as he walked away.

**