Love and Death (The Walking Dead - TWD)

No Place Like Home

The winter we spent fighting off the cold and scavenging for food, drink and warm clothes. We kept travelling by day and camped on the roadside at night while Daryl, Rick, Glenn and I took turns in taking watch over the group with swords and knives in case of any walkers. Shifts were usually quiet with the odd grunt or snore from sleeping group members, some nights it would just be one person keeping watch other nights all four of us would stay up whispering around the campfire about our day or where we were heading, it was peaceful, there were never many walkers, one or two... Three at most which were disposed of quickly.

Rick and Lori had hardly been talking since we learned how Shane had died, Carl seemed to be keeping his distance too. Ashlyn seemed to be fitting in with the group, becoming mainly Beth's friend since they were close in age. Glenn and Maggie were getting closer and closer by the day which Hershel didn't mind. Carol had nightmares frequently often stirring in her sleep and mumbling Sophia's name then waking up crying, yet she insisted on going to sleep every night saying she liked to see her little girl even if it ended badly. T-Dog drove the RV day after day never complaining and staying as calm as possible through everything.

As the days and weeks passed by and the more shifts Daryl and I took together the closer we became.

----------- Present Day ------------

Sparks flew off of the campfire spiralling into the midnight sky. Everyone was sleeping with steady breathing and soft snores filling the air. Only Daryl and I were awake keeping a look out for any dangers that might be lurking nearby.

"Do you think we'll find this safe place Rick keeps talking about?" I asked Daryl in a hushed voice

"I dunno, just gotta keep moving til we find some place good enough I spose" he replied looking into the trees "wake up Rick and Glenn were going for a walk" he told me

Confused I woke up Glenn and Rick "were going hunting, we'll be back soon" I lied and followed Daryl

"Where are we going?" I asked

"I grew up in these woods, there's a shack not far from here might have some food" he told me as he walked through the woods. We walked up a woodland pathway leading to a small shack in a large clearing. Daryl raised his crossbow and kicked the door down he walked inside scanning the bedrooms and kitchen for walkers while I searched the cupboards for food. I opened a pantry door and a walker flew out on top of me screaming I tried to shove it off when an arrow flew through its head.

"Shit Ruby" Daryl yelled "you could have gotten yerself killed"

"I I'm sorry" I stuttered still shaky from the experience

"Are you okay?" Daryl asked more sympathetically this time

"I think so, I didn't get bit" I told him

"Good, I thought I lost you for a moment" he mumbled looking at the ground

"I'm sorry, I didn't realise the pantry was big enough for a person" I said making him look at me

"Don't do that again" he whispered moving closer to me, he brushed the hair out of my face making my heart flutter a little "I'll protect you" he told me before kissing me gently. Our lips met and moved together gently, butterflies started going wild in my stomach as we pulled away. His face slowly returned back to the expressionless one I knew before as he looked at the walker on the ground.

"Did you know him?" I asked and Daryl nodded in response "I'm so sorry" I said

"Don't be he's an asshole" he replied

"Who is he?" I asked slowly not wanting to sound rude

"My father" he told me before walking out of the house and leaving the subject there.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Firstly Daryl and Ruby!!!! Awww!

Secondly sorry the kiss took so long but if you watch the walking dead you will understand that Daryl isn't the type to show his feelings. I felt like it would have to take a near death experience to make him show something!

Anyway as always thank you for reading! :D

Don't forget to vote and comment!

Chloe xx