The Start Of The End (Daryl Dixon fan fiction)

Chapter 6 - Happy Lie

Weeks had passed by and the ground was covered by a mat of leaves. Carl had recovered from his gun wound and Hershel was asking us to leave his farm now that the boy was up and walking. Rick was trying to compromise with the man to let us stay. He argued that winter was arriving and without a place to stay, it would be hard to survive. We had a good stash of food in the farm, and out there we wouldn't even have animals to hunt down. Maggie, who was officially together with Glenn now, tried to convince her father to let our group stay. With a whole deal of arguments and discussions we managed to change his mind and let us live here until spring arrived.

Carl was a very curious and brave boy with good instincts. He wanted to be like his father and was now wearing his sheriff hat. Lori had to keep a good eye on him due to his big interest in walkers and firearms. Carl protested that he had the right to learn how to use a gun but Lori was doubtful and thought he should wait until spring. Rick, on the other hand, thought that it was important that the boy had knowledge about guns. Carl would get classes from his father but wouldn't get to carry a gun until spring as Lori had said.

Andrea had become one of my best friends since she confronted Shane. We looked out for each other. She had told me about how her sister Amy died and how she tried to deal with the hopelessness and helplessness she felt. My heart broke for her, but I knew that we all dealt with those feelings to some degree. I noticed that she had a very close bond with Dale, almost like father and daughter. He was a good listener and Andrea needed someone to talk to. Someone wise like Dale.

Maggie and Carol were also special to me. Maggie was like the sister I never had and Carol had such a big heart. She was always looking out for people and making sure everybody's stomach was full even though food was precious these days.

I had almost cut of all contact with Shane and avoided him as much as I could. Sometimes, I spent the evenings by Daryl's camp fire just to get away from him. I would eat there with Daryl until it was time to sleep. Andrea was away some nights on watch so I would have the tent for myself most of the nights.

I wandered around camp when I saw Carol wave me down to her.

"I was thinking about making a special dinner tonight to thank the Greene family for their hospitality." Carol said. "I have already talked to Rick and he said that it was a good idea. We have enough food to get through winter so no need to worry about that." She continued. "Lori has already agreed to help me out and even Maggie wants to give us a hand."

"That's a great idea! I'd love to help if you need more people." I said.

"Good, because that was exactly what I came to ask you." She said as we headend towards the kitchen.

"What are we going to cook?" I asked.

"I was thinking about cooking the potatoes that they have harvested. The most exiting part is that Daryl captured a deer yesterday. He followed its trail for a long time and finally he got it."

"This is going to be better than Christmas Eve." I said in excitement.

"At least something else than canned food and squirrel." She said. "And also, Beth and Carl went apple picking with Glenn. So I was thinking about having some dessert with apples."

"I think I haven't had something like this to eat since it all began." I said thinking back to my previous life.

Lori was already working on peeling the potatoes. I got to work as fast as I got into the room. Everybody in the kitchen was so excited for dinner that they were even singing and humming. It had been such a long time since I saw people happy. Glenn arrived with a basket full of apples that Beth and Carl started to peel them immediately. The deer was already cooking so it would be tender for dinner. As the food was getting ready we started to set the table and we even lit some candles.