Always (A Daryl Dixon/ The Walking Dead Fanfiction)

Chapter 50 - Forget

I run my fingers through my hair as I look at myself in the mirror. I'm wearing a dress, the first time in God knows how long. It goes to just above my knees and has thick straps with a low back. I've slipped on a black cardigan to go with it, my hair hanging in loose waves down my back. I got it cut today by a woman named Jessie, the woman who happened to do Rick's hair. She really sweet, she has two sons and her husband is the town doctor.

There's a knock at my door and I turn towards it, "Yeah?"

It opens up and I see Rick step into the room wearing a button up shirt, "You ready to go?"

I turn back and glance at the mirror before nodding my head, "Yeah, let's go."

I turn and make my way after him down the stairs where Carol, Michonne, Carl and Judith wait. Carol has a plate of cookies that I've smelt all afternoon and I give her a warm smile, "They smell incredible."

She smiles sweetly at me, "Thank you."

"Let's go get the others and make our way over." Rick says and we nod, following him out the door.

As we reach the road, the house next door opens up and the rest of our group comes out and joins us. Once we are all together we begin to make our way towards Deanna's house that's situated in the middle of town.

"You look nice." Tara comments and I smile, "Thank you, so do you."

She rolls her eyes and I shake my head as we round the corner. As we are walking, I can't help but notice that Daryl isn't here. When I was on watch, he, Rick and Carol left early this morning and only Rick and Carol returned. They assured me that he went out hunting, however I didn't need it.

I already knew that's where he would be. He's in his element when he is out there, where he is most comfortable. I haven't seen. I have of him at all, the both of us avoiding each other as much as possible. Every time I see him so many memories come rushing back that I can't help but feel the pain that I've been pushing away.

I shake out of the the tonight's as we begin to climb the steps at the front of Deanna's house. Carol leads the way and opens the door, with everyone following in after them. Carol and Rick begin to talk to her while the rest of us split off into our own groups.

"You wanna get a drink?" I ask Tara and Noah and they nod, following me over to the drinks table.

I grab the bottle of whiskey and pour it into the glass, while the other two grab a beer. I feel someone place a hand on my back and I turn to see Maggie smiling at me as Glenn talks with Tara and Noah, "Can you believe all of this?" She asks, looking around.

I take in all the people, laughing and drinking as if the world never ended and I shake my head, "I never thought I'd see anything like this ever again." I state.

"Me neither. I guess things have changed so much that we never thought things could go back to how they were before. At least a little bit." She says.

I nod my head and take a sip of my drink, "Yeah..." I trail off.

She looks at me for a moment before she speaks, "How're you doing Bree? I know things must be tough with Daryl-" She begins but I cut her off, "I'm fine Maggie, really. You don't have to worry about me."

"Of course I do. You're family." She says with a smile.

I look at her for a long moment before stepping forward and giving her a tight hug, which she returns generously. We stay like that for a moment before I pull back and smile at her, "Want a drink?" I ask.

She nods her head, "Yeah, I'd like that."

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