Determined to Endure: The 4th Installment in my Daryl Dixon Love Story

Chapter 3: Maybe a Friend

Daryl didn't let me sleep at all that night. Not that I was complaining, I couldn't be happier spending one-on-one time together. We head back to Alexandria early, wanting to be back behind their walls before everyone in town was awake. That day, the two of us get back to business as usual. By the end of the week, Daryl and Rick are heading out in search of supplies. I walk with him as he starts to head out when he see's Denise walking.

"Hey." He calls out to her.

"Yes?" She asks, stopping and waiting.

Daryl asks her, "this thing at the bottom right here. You're talking about the drink, right?"

She awkwardly returns, "I am, but... It's not medical. No, I drew a line between the important stuff and that. I just figured, if you saw it."

"All right." He nods, moving to put it in his pocket.

She goes on,  pointing at the list, "anything remotely medical is a priority. And food, maybe even food before medicine, and gas or batteries or books for the kids or clothes is just-- if you see it, if it just happens to, you know, be right there."

"You like it, right?" He asks her, looking at me, most likely wondering why she's acting so weird.

She replies, "no, I don't drink pop."

"What the hell's pop?" He asks back.

I chuckle and answer, "soda."

Denise explains, "oh, I'm originally from Ohio."

So he asks now, "why you want it?"

Denise answers, a red flush coming to her face, "Tara was talking about it in her sleep, I think. Either she likes it or she doesn't, but if she likes it, it'd be a really nice surprise. I'm not good with that kind of stuff, and she and Heath are going on that two-week run. I just thought it'd be a nice going-away present." She continues to ramble on, "just, uh, don't go out of your way. And if it gives you any trouble--"

"I won't." He gets out quickly so she stops talking and rambling.

She nods, semi smirking, "okay, good, 'cause it's not important. I should've said so instead of just drawing a line."

"Got it." He says with a nod and she walks off, "weird girl" He comments to me as we start walking again.

I shrug, "she's not weird, she's just nervous."

"Why?" He asks.

I smile, happy to answer him, "because it's you. You're not someone most people want to interact with." He looks at me with a titled head, wondering what I mean. I explain further, "you just wear your independence on your sleeve and people don't want to get in your way."

"Never stopped you" He smirks.

I quip back, "only because I got to know you from the start of this, I see how much you've changed over the years. They may see you being a lone wolf but I know you're a pack leader." I lean in to kiss him on the nose.

He shakes his head, "iight, enough of this"

He ends the conversation and I let him, knowing he gets uncomfortable when people tell him how important he is to the group. We reach Rick and the two nod and Rick gets into the driver side of the Cadillac, "be careful" I tell him as we lean in to hug.

"Always" He returns. When he pulls apart I quickly give him a kiss on the lips before he could turn away.

He gets in the car and right before they pull away I tell him, "love you." He looks at me and throws a wink, telling me he loves me too. I don't mind that he doesn't want to say it in front of Rick, because I know he does. I watch as Eugene opens the gate to let them out and start walking back into town. They return that night, in a new vehicle. They don't bring supplies though, instead they carry in an unconscious man, "who is that?" I ask when they come out of the room they are keeping him in.