Fight, Love, Live.

XXIV

"What?" Daryl squeaked, and I couldn't help but laugh a little. 

"I heard you, yelling about your buttons. Do you need help undoing them?" Daryl stared at me for a minute before slowly nodding, so I took a step forward, and carefully moved my hands up to the top of his flannel, and began to carefully undo the buttons, and tried to ignore Daryl's eyes that were boring into my forehead. 

I was halfway down when Daryl finally seemed to relax and moved forward a few inches, making it easier for me to reach them. After another few long seconds, I was finished, and I looked back up at Daryl, who was still staring at me, and he looked a little dazed. 

"Can you do the rest?" I asked softly, gesturing to everything else he was wearing, and he nodded at me, almost robotically, so I gave him a smile and moved to leave him alone. But before I could turn all the way around, Daryl had grabbed my elbow, gave it a tug, and when I turned back to look at him, I was only allowed a glimpse of his ocean blue eyes before his lips were on mine and my eyes shut automatically. 

I fell into it without even thinking about it, moving closer so I was pressed up against his shirtless chest, my hands pressed up against his stomach, and his tangled in my hair and around my waist, pulling me so close into him that it seemed like he would absorb me into him. 

His lips moved frantically against mine, and when his tongue tried to gain access to my mouth I denied it, finally realizing what was happening. 

This wasn't because he has feelings for me. 

This isn't because he cares about me at all. 

This is because he is drunk. And I'm the one who is here and was taking care of him. This isn't him. It's the alcohol. 

I yanked away. 

"No. No. Stop." I whimpered, jerking my head away from him, and pushing on his chest. 

I was sober almost instantly. Of course she didn't want this. Didn't want me. I'm such an idiot. 

"Stop." She whimpered again, and I finally dropped my arms, allowing her to stumble away, and I caught her by her elbow almost instinctually. 

"I'm sorry." I whispered, not knowing what to do in this situation. I had never done this before. Ever. 

"It's not your fault. It's just because you're drunk. I know you didn't mean to do this. Please... just... get in the shower." I nodded, not really hearing a thing she said, just absorbing her words, and I turned, walked into the bathroom, and shut the door. 

After painstakingly removing all my clothes I got in the shower, used the little bottles of shampoo and soap to wash off, and then got out, and began to dry off, and it was only then that I realized what she had said. She wasn't angry that I had kissed her. She was upset because she thought I had only done it because I was drunk. But that was stupid. Why would she think that? She is beautiful, and  kind, and caring... she's everything anyone could ever want. 

Fuck. 

I yanked the door open and saw Riley sitting on the pull-out, with her head in her hands, and when I glanced around the room I saw that Merle wasn't back yet and I was endlessly grateful. 

"Riley." I said, trying my best to sound confident. When she looked up, I almost lost my nerve, but the sadness in her eyes steeled me, and I continued.

"It wasn't just because I was drunk. I did it because I was drunk. But the feelings behind it are mine. I don't really know what they are yet... I've never felt them before... but I know that they were there before. And I know that I have been wanting to do that for awhile." I stopped, not knowing what else to say, and just then realizing I was only in a towel when her eyes trailed down my chest and rested on my waistline where the towel sat. 

Before I could begin to feel uncomfortable, she was looking back up at me, and there was something in her eyes that I hadn't seen before, but I knew that she wasn't sad anymore. 

"Lock the door." I didn't say anything, and moved the few feet to the door and flipped the lock, and when I turned around, she was standing, staring at me, at where my back had just been visible to her eyesight. 

"Daryl..." She began, the sadness in her eyes returning, and I moved up to her, stroking under her eyes so she wouldn't let the tears building there, fall. 

"I'll tell you about it later." I whispered, looking between her eyes as the fire that was in them came back. And then, before I could do anything, her hand was in my hair, yanking me down, attaching my lips to hers, and her other hand, that had been resting on my chest, moved swiftly down towards my towel. 

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When I woke up, it was late, very late, and there was a very loud, obnoxious banging on the door to our room. I glanced down and saw Riley's hair splayed across my chest, and she was moving, obviously having just been woken up as well. 

"What is that?" She whispered hoarsely, turning her face more into my chest, gripping my right hand tighter with her left. 

"I don't know. I'll take care of it. Hold on." I grumbled, moving a little so she would get the hint, which she did quickly, rolling over so she was facing away from me and the door. I groaned as I got out of bed, picked up the towel that had been discarded a few hours ago, wrapped it around myself again, and moved to open the door. 

Shane. Of course. 

"What?" I growled out, closing the door so the only thing he would be able to see would be me. So he wouldn't be able to see Riley's naked back in our bed. 

"Is Riley in here?" 

"Yes." I answered shortly, knowing I was going to say no to whatever he wanted anyway. 

"Can I see her?" Shane asked sassily, growing annoyed, but I really didn't give a damn. 

"No. She's sleeping." Shane's eyes narrowed even more, and I couldn't even be bothered. 

"Bullshit. She slept the whole way here. Why would she be in bed already?" Before i could answer that in a way that would probably get me punched in the face, Riley interrupted. 

"Baby? Come back to bed." I couldn't control my smirk as Shane's eyes because very, very wide, and then turned to me with a look that would kill. 

"Well... gotta go. Have a nice night." I said, smirk still intact, before closing the door in his face, and turning around to see Riley propped up on her elbow, hair a mess, and the sheet falling down so her chest was clearly visible, and I was so glad that I hadn't let Shane in. 

"Who was it?" She mumbled sleepily, as I removed the towel and climbed back into bed. 

"Just Shane." 

"Ugh. Not worth you getting out of bed." She mumbled, curling back up into my chest. I let out a chuckle and kissed the top of her head, finally happy with where I was. 

"Don't worry. I won't leave again." 

A/N: AHHHHH!!!!! Well, it only took 24 chapters...