A Fresh Start

Chapter 2

We had gone a month without a glitch. This place was not seen as a prison anymore but as a real home. And to the people we brought in, a safe haven. Even though we still called it a prison, we knew that home was what was meant. We actually had a place to call home. After everything, that was something that most of us couldn't fully grasp yet. I started to regain consciousness from sleep. I wrapped my arms around Daryl's neck while he tightened his grip around my waist.

"Mornin'," he whispered.

I slowly opened my eyes and looked up at him.

"Morning," I said with a big smile.

I reached up and kissed him. His lips always took my breath away.

"How long you been up?" I asked.

"A few minutes," he replied.

"Why didn't you wake me?" I asked.

He shrugged his shoulders then leaned in for another kiss.

"We really should get out of bed, huh?" I said lazily.

"Rick's already out there," he said.

"Damn. He's got us beat doesn't he?" I said.

"Yeah. You awake enough?" he asked.

"Yeah. Come on. Time to start a new day," I said as the both of us got out from the bottom bunk.

We both got dressed. I quickly fastened my hair and made my way out. Daryl following close behind me. I hooked my Raphael key chain to one of the belt hoops of my jeans. I found myself doing this more often. A reminder of what I was living for. I touched my pendant along with the two wedding bands beside it before Daryl and I were outside. I could see Rick out in the field digging. His beard had gotten fuller. Michonne joked about his face losing the war. Said that she was in desperate search of a razor to give to him. Carl had really taken a liking to her. The best of friends those two were and I was glad. Carl had just started heading over to Rick. We had found some pigs near an abandoned farm a few weeks back. We were now keeping them fed until they were big enough to feed everyone. Carol was grilling some deer meat Daryl had managed to get us yesterday. Daryl slung his arm on my shoulder and we made our way to her. He had become very popular with the others.

"Morning, Daryl. Amelia," Dr. S said.

"What's up, Dr. S?" Daryl replied.

"Morning, Doc," I said waving at him.

More people greeted him and watching his reaction made me chuckle. He wasn't all that sure what to do with all that attention.

"Smells good," he told Carol once we reached her.

He removed his arm from my shoulder and reached for a bowl then placed some pieces of meat in it.

"Sure does," I said reaching for my own.

Daryl stopped me and pointed to his bowl. We'd share.

"Just so you know, we liked you first," Carol responded.

I started laughing then.

"Stop," he said nudging my arm and taking a bite out of some meat.

"You know, Rick brought in a lot of them, too," Daryl continued.

"Not recently. Give the stranger sanctuary, keeping people fed, you're gonna have to learn to live with the love," she replied.

"Yeah, Daryl," I said.

"Right," he said kissing my cheek.

"I need you two to see something. Patrick, you want to take over?" Carol said handing over the reins to the young man.

He had recently joined the group. Maybe a few weeks back. He was a good kid. Kind and well mannered.

"Yes, ma'am," Patrick replied.

The three of us were just about to leave when Patrick stopped us.

"Uh, Mr. Dixon, I just wanted to thank you for bringing that deer back yesterday. It was a real treat, sir. And I'd be honored to shake your hand," Patrick said reaching his hand out to Daryl.

How sweet of him. Daryl looked at Patrick's hand. I was hoping that he'd shake it. But typical Daryl, he placed three of his fingers in his mouth, licking them, before taking Patrick's hand. Patrick didn't seem to mind.

"Forgive him, Patrick. He isn't as well-mannered as you are," I said nudging Daryl's elbow.

"It's perfectly all right ma'am. So long as I was able to express my gratitude, that's enough for me," Patrick replied with a smile.

"Well, I've been meaning to teach this one some manners," I said looking at Daryl and nudging him once more.

He looked at me and shrugged his shoulders. I rolled my eyes and followed Carol's lead. Daryl quickly followed behind me. He offered me some meat and I took a piece. Delicious. He then went over and grabbed his vest off his bike. I held the bowl of meat while he put it on. I loved that vest of his. Really looked good on him. We followed Carol further.

"About today, I don't know if we're gonna be able to spare a lot of people for the run," Carol said.

Daryl told me that he and a group of others had found a Big Spot a few miles away that could be worth scavenging. He was going to go on a run in a few hours. Wanted me to come along but I wanted to stay behind to take out as many walkers that had gathered by the fence. And there were a lot of them recently.

"That place is good to go. We're gonna move on it," Daryl said.

"Yeah. The thing is, we had a pretty big buildup overnight. Dozens more towards tower three. It's getting as bad as last month. They don't spread out anymore," Carol said once we reached the end of the gate that over looked the field.

"I can get started taking out as many as I can down that way," I said.

"With more of us sitting here, we're drawing more of them out. You get enough of those damn fence-clingers, they start to herd up," Daryl said.

"Yeah. We should spread out our people further to keep the walkers from herding up like that," I said looking at the herd that had formed at one side of the fence.

"Pushing against the fences again. It's manageable but unless we get ahead of it, not for long. Sorry, pookie," Carol said.

I smiled at that last remark. Daryl scoffed and nudged her elbow.

"Go get ready for the run," I said.

"You good?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'll start getting the walkers to head further that way," I replied.

"You watch yourself," he said.

"You too. Watch your ass. Cause I really like that ass," I said.

He scoffed and looked away. Before he left, he leaned in and kissed me. He turned and headed to the cars. I watched him leave, thankful to have someone like him in my life.

"I better get going," I told Carol.

"Have I told you two how cute you look together?" she asked.

"Stop it," I said.

She chuckled as she put her hand on my shoulder and headed back to the grill. I watched the walkers. If they kept pushing against the fence like that, it was going to buckle. We'd have the very first major problem in the entire month.