Always || Daryl Dixon

Eight

The sound of horse hooves was the first this to catch my attention this morning, throughout the night there had been a few walkers, most would stumble straight past without noticing us hauled up in the small car, others would make their way over resulting in a knife to the head.

Not risking anything I began to shake Sophia.
"Sophia, come on baby we gotta get out." I whispered as she opened her eyes looking up at me.

"Okay." She nodded as I helped her out and we quietly snuck just behind the tree line.

"Someone was 'ere" Came a faint voice from the road. Merle?

"Are you sure it was them? Anyone could've taken some supplies then moved on." Another voice said. Glenn?

"It's gotta be one of 'em." Came a third voice. Daryl?

"Is that them?" Sophia whispered as she lightly rugged on my arm.

"I think so, just hold on one second." I whispered back wanting to see whether it was just them.

"Guys, isn't this Lylas?" Glenn asked, looking down I realised I'd forgotten my jacket in the car.

"Where the hell is she? I ain't losin' 'er too." Daryl mumbled.

"Whatsa matter lil brother? Got a thing for Dear Lyla?" Merles obnoxious voice laughed.

Alright guess enough is enough I thought to myself as I held Sophia's hand and slowly came out from the trees.

"Shuddup man." Daryl grumbled just as we came into view.

"Lose something?" I asked with a laugh as they spun around to face us.

"Hey! Look who it is Darylina, Dear ol' Lyla." Merle laughed as he swung an arm around my shoulder giving me a slight hug.

"Why do you call her that?" Glenn asked after we pulled away from our short hug. "I'm so glad your safe by the way, and you little lady." He finished as he bent down to give Sophia a hug too.

"It's like that nursery rhyme, there's a hole in my bucket dear Lyla, dear Lyla." Merle began singing, badly.

"You know that's Dear Liza, right?" Glenn asked causing me and Sophia to start laughing.

"Shuddup Chinaman." He mumbled in response as he wondered off.

"I'm Korean!" Glenn yelled after him as he and Sophia followed.

Turning to face Daryl I could see the faintness of a smile etched on his face.

"Miss me?" I asked with a small smile. Suddenly he pulled me into a hug wrapping his arms around my neck as mine went around his waist.

"Ya okay?" He mumbled looking down at me as he pulled away.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Where's everyone else?" I asked looking up at him as his face changed to a more somber expression.

"Ya hear that shot yesterday?" He asked.

"Uh, yeah, it was just after I'd found Sophia." I nodded thinking back.

"It was Carl, he got shot in an acciden' took him to a farm, they fixed 'im up." He said as he loaded the two bags from the car onto the horse.

"What about everyone else? They okay?" I asked.

"Yeah, their good." He nodded.

"We better head back, tell them the good news." Glenn said walking up to us.

Placing Sophia on the horse in front of Glenn I patted her leg and stood between the two Dixon brothers who were already saddled up.

"Gotta choice lil lady." Merle grinned down at me with a wink.