Too Far Gone // D. Dixon

chapter fourteen

The group had followed Aaron, through Route 16, despite their initial retaliation against that idea.

It took a while, running through the woods and back onto the hard pavement. But, they did eventually stumble into a little town. After hearing an all-too-familiar whistle, the small group exchanged glances. Looking closer, it was Daryl.

"Daryl!" Maren spoke towards him, speeding up her pace at the sight of him, "I'm glad you're okay." Daryl was shocked at first, not knowing where that familiar voice was coming from. After spotting Maren, he let himself smile for a second. He was beyond grateful that they were no longer split up.

They had been reunited with the other portion of the group, just nestled into an alleyway. Everyone was glad to be back together again, especially after being mixed in with a new guy. The good thing was they had all made it.

"Everyone..." Aaron spoke aloud, "Thank you, you saved Eric. I owe you, all of you, and I will make sure that debt is paid in full when we get to our community. When we get to Alexandria. Now I'm not sure about you all, but I'd rather not do any more driving tonight...maybe we can hit the road tomorrow morning."

"That sounds fine...but if we're staying for the night, you're sleeping over there." Rick said, pointing his finger to a corner on the opposite side of the room. Aaron smiled, clearly not taking it to heart.

"Do you really think we gotta do that?" Maggie spoke up for the man, looking at Rick. If he wanted to kill them, he could have. But he hasn't. At least not yet.

"It's the safe play. We don't know you." Rick stated, in a matter-of-fact tone.

"The only way you're going to stop me from being with him right now is by shooting me." Aaron spoke, just as firm as Rick had. This was the one thing that Aaron had actually stood his ground on. Aaron moved to go past, but Rick was quick to prevent that from happening.

"Woah," Glenn stopped Rick, "He told us where the camp is...and he really was only traveling with one other person. They're both unarmed, one of them's got a broken ankle. I want us to be safe, too. I can't give up everything else."

"All right."

- TOO FAR GONE -

As the night settled in, the group found their places to rest.

Daryl and Maren were assigned to keep watch together, their shared duty stretching into the dark hours. Daryl's tension was palpable, his mind clearly preoccupied with something that troubled him deeply.

Maren couldn't ignore the weight of his unease any longer. She turned her gaze to him, concern etching lines on her forehead, "Is something wrong, Daryl?" she asked softly, breaking the silence that enveloped them.

Daryl merely mumbled incoherently, his thoughts elsewhere, lost in a labyrinth of his own making.

"Daryl, there's something clearly going on in that head of yours," Maren pressed gently, her voice filled with genuine care, "You know you can talk to me, right?" Daryl let out a weary sigh, torn between avoiding the conversation and finding solace in sharing his burden.

"I can't do that to ya, Maren," he explained, his frustration evident, "You've been through too much shit already. I ain't gonna put this on ya too." Guilt washed over him, a heavy burden he didn't want to burden her with.

Maren's smile softened, her eyes full of warmth, "Whatever it is, Daryl," she reassured him, "I promise you, I can handle it. You know I can." Her words were meant to ease his stress, but they didn't. Maren's worry grew, her own concern mirroring his.

Daryl took a deep breath, realizing he couldn't keep this from her any longer. He admitted, "I care about ya, Maren. More than I thought I could care about anyone." His voice was vulnerable, the admission raw and unfiltered.

Maren's smile widened, a soft glow radiating from within her, "I know, Daryl. I care about you too," she said, her own feelings now laid bare.

Daryl shook his head, struggling to articulate the depth of his emotions, "No, I mean..." he stumbled over his words, his voice laced with a mix of frustration and determination, "Damn it, Maren. I really care about ya. I don't want nothin' or nobody to hurt ya. I don't know what that means, but..."

Maren's heart skipped a beat, her eyes locked with his. She had secretly hoped for this moment, but hearing him utter those words stirred something profound within her.

Interrupting his thoughts, she spoke with a gentle resolve, "If I ask you something, will you be completely honest with me?" Daryl nodded, his gaze unwavering. With a hint of vulnerability, Maren asked, "Do you love me?"

Daryl paused, quite unsure of himself as the sheer weight of the question was left hanging in the air. Love? In this world? What did that even mean?

He met her eyes, his voice steady, "...I know that I would fight for ya, kill for ya, and if it came down to it...I'd die for ya."

Maren was taken aback, her breath caught in her throat. Daryl's words spoke volumes, bypassing the need for a single word. It was love in its purest, rawest form. A smile tugged at Maren's lips, her heart swelling with a newfound sense of belonging.

Doing something she never thought she'd be able to do, she reached out, firmly holding his hand in hers, "I love you too, Daryl Dixon," she whispered, her voice carrying the weight of their shared emotions.

In that moment, as they sat together in the darkness, their hands entwined. For the first time since being captured, Maren felt a small weight lifted from her shoulders.