Same Love

64: Supersto

Everything moved in slow motion. Negan pulled away Lucille as a tiger mauled a nearby saviour and Maggie appeared, barrelling through the trees with the hilltop support and Ezekiel with the kingdom support. An all out battle ensued, shots, gunfire. Sam stood, trying to pull Daryl up to his feet but the man was unresponsive.

"That wife is alive!" Negan yelled upon seeing Maggie, he ordered a quick retreat and smoke bombs were released by the scavengers.

Once the smoke cleared silence settled. Sam gripped Daryl in an embrace, tears streaming down both of their faces and Reese and Molly who didn't run away, watched. Molly cried at the happy scene, Reese's mouth tilted up in a sad smile, wondering If he would ever get that.Daryl's heart was hammering in his chest, still trying to comprehend what had happened. The two men knelt, amidst a war ground of the dead, hugging eachother. Daryl shook, Sam felt the man's tears soak through his shirt as they took everything in.

They heard nothing. When Sam finally pulled away to stare into Daryl's eyes Daryl began to shake more violently.

"I-I....Ya were gonna die" Daryl almost wailed. Months ago this would have been Sam wailing but Daryl had fallen so deeply in love with Sam that he wouldn't be able to live if Sam died. Seeing his love so close to leaving him he was the most scared he had ever been. Sam sniffed and shushed him.Eventually, with wobbling legs, the two stood and joined the others inside the walls. It seemed that Rick was ok with the two scavengers joining them but was cautious, as were they. Daryl did not leave Sam's side all day, his heart never once calmed, he kept repeating that moment over and over in his head. Sam almost died, Sam would have died.

Later that evening, not phased by the prospect of the full blown war that was to come, Sam sat on a chair while Daryl sat between his legs, resting his head on Sam's knees. The rest were there too after the funerals had taken place. the silence was staggering but it wasn't unhappy, sure they had lost people but they had won. Daryl snapped out of his daze to feel Sam's hands lightly stroking through his hair, leaning into his touch. Sam knew it wouldn't bring them much but upon hearing Molly humming a small tune from the side-lines he beckoned her over along with Reese.She took in the sight before her. By this point she had guessed Sam's relationship with Daryl by the way they simply looked at each other, the way their muscles were relaxed and their eyes filled with contentment.

"What do you want?" She asked, not having met Daryl yet. Sam smiled at her and told her to sit.

"That song, I know it"

"You like music?" She asked, shifting under the gaze Reese was giving her. He still didn't trust the group completely, just knew this would hold him back from finding his family.

"Want to hear another?" Sam asked, feeling Daryl squeeze his hand

Love of mine

Someday you will die

But I'll be close behind

I'll follow you into the dark

No blinding light

Or tunnels, to gates of white

Just our hands clasped so tight

Waiting for the hint of a spark

If Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied

Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks

Then I'll follow you into the dark

Catholic school,

as vicious as Roman rule

I got my knuckles bruised

by a lady in black

I held my tongue as she told me,

sonFear is the heart of love,

so I never went back

You and me have seen everything to see

From Bangkok to Calgary

The soles of your shoes are all worn down

The time for sleep is now

It's nothing to cry about

Cause we'll hold each other soon

The blackest of rooms

If Heaven and Hell decide that they both are satisfied

Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs

If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks

Then I'll follow you into the dark

Molly was crying. Reese had never seen the girl cry before. He watched from the side as he noticed Daryl squeeze Sam's hand. The couple said goodnight after a while, disappearing into a house and Molly and Reese were offered a place in Sasha's old house for the time being. Rick also put someone on watch outside the house, just to be safe. A few weeks ago he would have killed them without hesitation but now he seemed to be more trusting, needing the support.Daryl and Sam were silent, lay in bed together that night. Sam stroked Daryl's long-ish hair again, fingertips tingling and Daryl felt this would get them nowhere.

"I thought ya were gonna die today" Daryl felt tears prick at his eyes again.

"So did I, my life flashed before my eyes..."

"Ya don't have to tell me anything ya don't wanna" Daryl said, though he was curious.

"I've just realised something"

"What?"Sam paused, took in a breath. He wanted to get married to Daryl soon, so he could have one moment of happiness before his lover was ripped away from him, or he departed this world. He stared at his lover, leaned up to kiss him passionately. Like their first kiss It wasn't one of those moments where everything stops, the world still went on around them, war, death and grief but in that moment, just in that moment, There was just each other.

"You are the most important thing that's ever happened to me" Sam's tears fell like rain, spattering against the sheets below and Daryl kissed them away, winding his arms around the man's slender waist.

"I love you"

"I love you too"