Barely Alive // TWD // Daryl Dixon

Chapter 18 -- True Love

"I know you have baggage, I know you're going to be a pain in my ass,

but I love you more that I ever dreamed possible."

– J.M. Madden, Embattled Hearts

– Present Day

Two more weeks had passed and things were finally starting to fall into place once again. The fence was standing and for the time being it was strong. Michonne had been truth to her word and hadn't left the prison to go look for the Governor, not even once, she hadn't even mentioned it and I was glad and relieved she was finally staying with us.

Rick had gone back to the crops but since the virus spread, he had had his gun all the time, thing he had refused to do for months, but when things cool off again he took the gun from Carl, thing Carl didn't like that much.

Now that there were no pigs or no animals to care for, except for a horse, which we had to brush and feed, Carl and I had been helping Rick with the crops. It wasn't fun but at least it didn't involve animals' poo.

Things between Daryl and I had also improve a lot, we had gotten closer and I'm even more thankful to have him in my life. Daryl and I still don't show a lot of affection in public but lately he has been putting his arms around me or holds my hand, intertwining our fingers even when people are around and sometimes he even steals one kiss or two when people aren't looking, and if they catch us he just doesn't care.

I had also been spending more time with Mika and Lizzie. They needed me as much as I needed them, except I didn't know that until now. They reminded me so much of my sister and for some weird reason, instead of saddening me, it made feel happiness and joy. Even Daryl had joined us a few times as we played, it was comical to see Daryl with them, he has always been good with kids, though. It's me the one that sometimes feels awkward and unsure around them, especially babies.

The only thing that did change and we can't fix is the situation with my mother, even if Rick forgives her and Tyreese doesn't go crazy on her when he finds out it was her who killed his girlfriend, we have no idea where she is but truth is that she got rid of her pride, came here to tell Rick about Sean, even if she didn't know I was in that house and made them go looking for me, if Sean hadn't agreed to bring me here, at least I knew they would have eventually found me, thanks to my mum.

A big part of me wants her to come back. I want to go out there and look for her until I find her, especially now that our relationship was so strong and good, it was better than it had ever been but it seems like destiny or whatever has another plans and just wants us apart.

Currently, I was looking at four photographs, the only ones I had. The first was the one Rick took months ago when Daryl and I were sleeping together, personally, I loved that picture, it was Daryl's favourite.

The second picture was a group picture, it was of Glenn, Maggie, Beth, Daryl, Carl and I. In the picture I was in between Carl and Beth, Maggie was hugging her sister from behind, just as Daryl was doing with me, wrapping his arms around my waist, while I had my own hand on Carl's shoulder and was pecking his cheek while Glenn was attempting to do the same on his other cheek but Michonne, who refused to be part of the picture and instead volunteered to take it, took the picture a bit too soon, so only I was kissing Carl's cheek.

The third picture was a selfie. It took me almost an hour to convince Daryl to pose with me, kind of. He looked serious at the camera while I had my tongue out and winked my left eye, I tried to get Daryl to do something funny as well but that didn't work. And actually in the back of the picture you can spot Carl, who was trying to ruin our picture but got to us just a second too late.

The last picture was personally my favourite one. Daryl and I were in the middle of the courtyard, we were both laughing at something, but I can't remember what. It was almost sunset so the colour in the picture was just perfect, giving it an orangeish shade and warm tone; the wind was blowing our hair and there were three birds flying in the sky behind us, the picture was just perfect and it was none other than Carl who took it.