walk with me

Chapter eleven

"You will sleep with me for now, Erin." Hershel said to me.

"Good, I'm tired of sleeping in a table." I responded. I had been in this damn table for almost a week. Daryl had slept in the cafeteria with me, never leaving.

"Nah, she's sleeping with me." Daryl told Hershel. "Want help?"

He grabbed my bag and pillow as I carefully stood up. It still hurt but at least I could move.

Strange thing was Daryl was being nice to me. Maybe a little too much. I had no idea how I felt about him. I knew I had said I loved him but now that I think about about it, maybe it's not true.

"What ye' doin'?" Daryl asked furiously.

"I don't know, walking? Breathing?" I said irritated.

He shook his head and carried me to his room bride style.

"You okay?" He asked me.

"No I-" I was interrupted by Daryl who smashed his lips against mine. I pulled away for a second and began o say something but he quickly kissed me again and our tongues met. Someone cleared their throat and made us both jump.

"Umm... Daryl, Rick wants to talk to you." Beth said awkwardly. Daryl nodded, grabbed his crossbow and left.

"Oh my God! You and Daryl?" Beth said smiling.

"Shut up, Beth." I said looking at the ground.

"But... How?" She asked.

"Well, we were already a "thing" before this shit happened."

"Oh my. Daryl Dixon? DAR-"

"Yeah so?" Daryl snapped. How long had he been there?

Beth blushed and apologized. She quickly left the room.

"You didn't have to be so rude." I was pissed already.

Daryl chuckled and tried to hug me but I pushed him away. It was a complete fail because I somehow ended up on the ground. He helped me get up and sighed.

"What did Rick want?" I totally wanted to change topic.

Daryl shrugged. "Nothing really. Just reminding me of something."

"He's an awful leader." I blurt out.

"Rick's alright by me." Daryl said looking down. Maybe Daryl was rude and sometimes made people want to shoot him but he had a nice side.

"Can you look away? I want to change my shirt."

"Come on, I've seen you in less." He smirked.

"Please." I insisted and then he looked away.

I started unbuttoning my shirt but took for ever. Daryl came to me and helped me. He took my shirt off and we both stared at what once was my arm.

"Thanks." I said after a while.

"You don't remember right?" He began, " What I told you..."

I raised my eyebrows. "What?"

Daryl refused to explain and we went to bed.

____________________________________________________

I woke up with Daryl by my side. I still wasn't sure if what I felt for him was gone, or if it was just hiding somewhere.

"Daryl?" I said. His respond was a slight snore.

"Was it a dream Daryl, or you do love me?" I asked.

I had dreamt with Daryl. I was dying and he was by my side. He came closer to me and apologized for everything. He had said he loved me. Was this a dream? Had this really happened? Was this what Daryl was talking about yesterday?

I couldn't get back to sleep so I dressed up and headed to the cafeteria were I spent at least thirty minutes alone until Daryl woke up.

He said nothing, just stared at me.

"I have to ask you something." I said. "I dreamt something, I was dying and you were by my side."

"That's not a question." He smirked. I'm glad I amused him.

"Let me get there." I snapped at him. "You said you loved me, in the dream. I'm not sure if it happened or if it was just a dream and I know I screwed things up when I said that I loved you but.... Do you love me?"

Chocking on my last words I looked down afraid of his answer. I hoped it was a yes, I truly did.

Daryl came closer to me and kissed me.

"Yes." He said and began kissing me again. As we kissed each other I realized that I did love him. He carried me back to his room bride style and, once we had some privacy, pressed me against the wall and took off his shirt.

"I love you." He whispered in my ear and then kissed my neck. A small moan escaped my lips.

Somehow I slipped and landed on by butt. We both chuckled and Daryl bent down to see if I was alright.

We looked at each others eyes for a moment. I remember the first time I saw him, how I had melted over those beautiful eyes of his.

Daryl turned around to reach for his bag. I didn't have to ask what he looking for because I knew. As he reached his bag I noticed some scars on his back.

"What happened?" I asked and he stopped moving and stiffened a bit.

"I don't want to talk about it." He snapped.

"Daryl..."

"I said I don't want to talk about it!"

We were both quiet for a while. Damn I sure knew how to ruin a moment.

Daryl sighed and turned around to face me. He kissed me gently before he talked.

"My old man used to beat the crap out me and Merle for no reason at all." He said.

"I'm so-"

"Don't."

Silence took over again.

"My mom killed herself." I began. "She had cheated on dad and couldn't handle the guilt. She said she deserved to rot in hell..."

Daryl kissed me on the forehead and hugged me. I breathed in deeply, smelling his scent. Honestly, he smelled like sweat and dirt but I didn't care a bit. It wasn't like I smelled terrific either.

After Daryl had put on his shirt we went down for breakfast. Almost everybody was already eating and, not caring who was watching, Daryl took my hand and squeezed it. Everybody stared at us but he never let go. We weren't hungry so we just sat there holding hands.

Beth was sitting next to Carl on a table nearby and both of them were staring at us, smiling.

I could feel Carol staring at us furiously. I was almost sure she had feelings for Daryl too.

Screams were heard in the distance and everybody ran outside to see what the hell was going on.

When Daryl and I saw what happened we couldn't believe it; Maggie and Glenn were being torn apart by walkers.