Daryl's Angel (Book One in the Apocalypse Angel Trilogy)

Chapter 73: Happily

Daryl's POV

I wake up before her. The early morning sunlight just manages to creep through the grimy windows, casting rays of warmth across her face. She stays so close to me, her breaths even. I feel my heart flutter as I look at her, and I kiss her forehead.

"Daryl..." she mumbles in her sleep.

I smile. I love how my name stays in her mind even when she isn't awake. Just her little sleep-talking habit in general is cute, even when the words don't make sense.

I hold her close to me for a while, my hand tracing her jaw and arms carefully, memorizing the pattern of her breathing, the way her face changes slightly as she wiggles her nose or curls her toes, her soft pink lips. Her arm drapes across my chest, the warmth of her skin radiating off of her towards me.

Damn...she's just perfect.

I can't take my eyes off of her. I just keep admiring the way she's sprawled across the bedsheets with her hair askew on the pillow, her lips parted slightly as she sleeps.

She stirs suddenly, and her eyes flutter open. She blinks sleepily a few times before her eyes fall on me. Her cheeks flush a delightful shade of pink, and my heart flutters again.

"Mornin' angel," I say softly, brushing a few of her curls from her face.

"Hey." She smiles.

Hope's POV

"Was it worth the wait?" he asks.

"Hm?"

He chuckles a little. "Stayin' a virgin till marriage."

I breathe deeply, trailing my hand along his sturdy chest. "Yeah, it was." I laugh a little. "Of course, if I had known it was this good it would've been way harder to accomplish."

He laughs, pulling me into a long, heated kiss. I further it, his hands grasping my hips. He breaks away first, his thumb brushing my cheek as he gazes at me.

"We need to get back to the others. Don't want to keep them waitin'," he says, his tone sad.

"Terminus is waiting for us." I try not to sound disappointed. "They already gave us one night."

He runs his hand down my arm, his eyes downcast. "If I could, I'd stay here with you the whole day and then some." He leans over and nuzzles his face in my neck. "Hell, if I could, I'd be takin' you to Hawaii or somethin'."

I smile lightly and press a kiss to his cheek. "It's alright, Daryl. All I need is you."

He smiles. "Come on. Time's a'wastin'."

He climbs out of bed, stretching a little. I bite my lip, failing to keep my eyes from wandering all over his well built form.

He's like a redneck god, and I'm married to him.

You, Hope, are one lucky girl, I think, smiling.

I crawl over the mattress and jump off the end of the bed. I retrieve my clothes and dress. By the time I'm done, Daryl is already waiting at the door, our bags by his feet and his crossbow back on his shoulder. He keeps his arms crossed over his chest as he waits.

"Have I ever told you how good you look like that?" I ask.

"Like what?" He smirks, one eyebrow raised.

"The angel wings vest, and the crossbow, and...you in general. I love it," I say, scooping up my bag as I move to his side.

He smiles, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me into a passionate kiss. We leave the house, his arm remaining around me as we walk. We move through the trees, the foliage crunching beneath our feet rhythmically. Birds chirp above us as the sun shoots rays of light through the leaves. I rest my head on Daryl's shoulder, twisting my ring around my finger.

"You don't have a wedding ring," I comment.

"I don't need one," he says, shrugging.

"Why would I need one then?"

"The emerald makes me think of you, and I want you to be able to think of me when you see it."

I look down at the ring again, sighing a little. "It's funny how badly I wanted one of these when I was younger. Now, I just feel like objects have no meaning in this world," I say softly. I look up at him, a smile falling across my face. "But...I'm still glad that I have it."

We find the road again, where we see Rick, Michonne, and Carl waiting, their bags ready.

Rick smiles when he sees us. "Have fun?"

"Yeah. How was your r&r?" Daryl asks.

"Relaxing," Michonne answers.

"Let's head to the train tracks again. We might get to Terminus by tomorrow if we make good time," Rick says.

We walk through the little stretch of forest until our feet hit the metal and wood of the tracks.

More walking. We walk, we die, but even in death, we keep walking.

The tracks stretch for miles, and the end can not be seen. The horizon is our only cut off.

We make small talk, sharing our favourite stories from before or during the outbreak.

Our boots and sneakers make a rhythmic sound on the wood slats, and the only sounds,other than our talking, is wind blowing through the trees and birds chirping.

"We haven't had much trouble with walkers lately..." Carl says. He picks up a small stone and chucks it into the woods. "Well, except for that one group in the forest."

"Yeah. I noticed that too," I say.

"Maybe we've just been lucky," Michonne suggests.

"Or it's just so normal we aren't fazed anymore," Rick says.

We fall back into silence.

"Anyone want some music?" I ask.

"You gonna sing some more?" Daryl asks, a small smile playing on his lips.

"I've got an idea." I smirk.

"Go ahead," Rick says.

"I set out on a narrow way, many years ago.
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road.
I got lost a time or two.
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through.
I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you.

Every long lost dream led me to where you are.
Others who broke my heart, they were like northern stars.
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms.
This much I know is true.
That God blessed the broken road, that led me straight to you."

Rick and Carl's heads sway in time to the music, and Michonne smiles her beautiful smile, enjoying the sound. Daryl closes his eyes, smiling. I keep singing, more songs coming to my mind with each second.

It's moments like these that make me forget about everything that's wrong. Right now, I'm happy.