Haven (A Walking Dead fanfiction)

Chapter 7

I rest my hand gently against his cheek before pulling him into me, our lips meeting half way. In this moment nothing else matters. Shane, the others, everything falls away leaving just the two of us. His lips against mine, the way his hands caress my body, the safety and comfort I feel close to him. How could something that feels this good be so wrong?

"Hailey! Hailey please! Come back!" Maggie yells from beyond the tree line, so faint that I can hardly hear her. I groan as Daryl pulls away, wanting nothing more than to stay in this moment with him. He rests his forehead against mine, chuckling at my dismay. He rubs his thumb along my jaw, kissing my nose.

"We should go back." He says quietly. I nod with a sigh.

"But do we have to?" I ask with a laugh. I don't mean it of course. I can't imagine the worry I've caused the people that I love most. They must be worried sick. He laughs with me, taking my hand.

"Come on." He chuckles. We walk hand in hand back toward the farm.

"Hailey!" Maggie calls to me the second I'm in her range of sight. Daryl lets go of my hand, distancing himself as she tackles me in a huge hug. "God Hailey, you scared the hell out me!" She laughs, releived to see me.

"I know, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking clearly." She pulls away, beaming from ear to ear.

"You're here now, that's all that matters. Come on, let's go home. Everyone's worried sick." She wraps her arm around my shoulder and we head toward the house. I look back after a few steps to see if Daryl was following, but he was no where to be found. I turn back around, furrowed with confusion. I can't help but wonder where he'd gone, why he didn't follow.

"Everything okay?" Maggie asks. I force a smile.

"Yeah, of course." She nods and starts talking about Glenn, but my mind is distant. I worry about facing Shane again, about the walkers trapped in the barn, about what that means for all of us. My stomach knots as we get closer and closer to the others. I've been so wrapped up in the drama between Daryl and my brother I haven't been any help finding a solution to keep the peace between us all. I feel selfish, and stupid for worrying about such trivial things when the entire future of our big family lies in the balance. I'm snapped from my thoughts as Beth runs to me, engulfing me in a hug.

"I'm so glad you're home!" She chirps happily. I smile at the word. Home. Hershel lays a hand on my shoulder.

"We all are." I smile at them, so grateful to have such incredible people in my life. I never should have doubted my place here.

"Oh god Hailey!" Lori cries as her and Rick come running out out of the house. I wrap my arms around her the second she reaches me, her warm tears soaking into my shirt.

"I'm sorry Lori, I'm so sorry." She runs her hand over my hair, then pulls back to look at me.

"Don't be sorry love, none of this was your fault." She smiles weakily, wiping her tears away. "Come to me next time you're upset, okay?" Rick hugs me next.

"Never...ever feel like you need to leave. You're our family Hails, we have your back, always." I nod as he pulls away, wiping away the tears that were threatening to spill.

"I know, I'm sorry. I promise I'll never leave again. I just thought...i don't know..." I want to explain my train of thought but that would include telling them about Andrew and I can't handle facing that. Not yet anyways. T-dog shoves me playfully.

"We missed you kid." I shove him back.

"Come on big man toughen up, I wasn't gone for that long." I tease. He laughs pulling me into his side. I step back, frozen with fear as Shane approaches. Maggie loops her arm around mine, noticing how tense I got.

"You're back." He says, obviously. I nod. Unsure what to say to him. "Are you okay?" I nod again.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine." I answer. He nods.

"I'm glad you're back." He says quietly. I just stare at him, still not sure how to handle him. Then without another word he walks away, breaking the terrible awkard tension between us.

"You okay?" Maggie asks sweetly the second he's gone.

"That was probably the most uncomfortable conversation i've ever had." I laugh brightening the heavy atmosphere. She laughs a little.

"Patircia made food, are you hungry?" Hershel asks.

"Starving." I joke. They laugh and we head inside. The warmth of the house comforts my chilled body. I'm honestly so glad that I don't have to face the night out in the cold darkness alone. I sit down at the table to eat, surrounded by my family and for the first time in forever I feel truly loved and cheerished. I look around at them all, my heart swelling with love and thankfulness. Back in those woods with Andrew at the start of all this I never thought I'd be able to feel anything like this ever again. I truly am home.