Daryl stayed over that night. He didn't mean to, but we both fell asleep in each other's arms. We stayed up talking about things I thought I never would hear from Daryl. He quickly learned to open up to me. And I appreciated him for that, because I know how hard it is for him. I laid mostly on top of him, as the couch wasn't big enough for both of us lay next to each other. He didn't mind though. His arms engulfed around me.
"You're not telling me something." He commented.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"About your past, you aren't telling me something. I know you were separated but you know something." He answered.
"You know when you said about gut feeling? A few months ago, when we first became friends?" I asked him. He nodded, remembering the conversation like it was yesterday. "I think my family is alive." I told him. "In fact, I know my dad is alive. There's no way he can't be. He's strong. Before he sold cars, he was in the military. He was smart. Knew navigation, how to hand any type of weapon. My brother too. He taught me and my brother well. If anything, I'm surprised I'm the one alive." I told him.
"Don't say your surprised. You have every right to be alive. And the amount of survivors. If you think your family is alive, then I believe you too. Maybe they aren't too far." Daryl agreed with me. Recently, I don't know why, but I'm determined to know my family is alive.
It has been a few months since our Daryl and Aaron told us about the group he found. What if my family was there? As evil as the group sounded, I could only hold out hope.
Rick and Deanna agreed that it was safe to let runs happen again. She held off on scouting but runs close by were allowed. Glenn, Rick, Spencer, Noah, and Sasha went on the first run together. I told Daryl to go if he wanted, but he wanted to stay back with me. I appreciated that.
Rick's group has been here for six months, meaning I have been here for a little over a year. This is home now. And now that I have found Daryl, I didn't want to leave Alexandria, not ever.
_____
Daryl was holding my hand. We were walking down the street. He was holding my hand in public. I stopped walking and used my other free hand to grab onto his elbow to stop him from walking as well. "Daryl? People are going to talk. They see us holding hands." It's been a few weeks since Daryl and I kissed first. And so far, we've kept it a secret.
"Let them. You're my girl. If you want to be." He said sincerely. I smiled up at him and leaned in to kiss him, in front of everyone.
"Of course I do." That was it then, Daryl Dixon and I were officially a couple.
