YEARNING - Daryl Dixon

FIVE.

BONNIE was sat against the cell wall against the bed with Frankie resting into her side asleep. The girl could feel sleep trying to consume her, but she fought against it, not yet trusting all the people around them Frankie and herself.

She felt her eyes closing and sleep begin to claw her away from the ugly world, before footsteps woke her up again "Hey Bonnie," she looked up and seen Maggie, who froze when she seen the little girl asleep and Bonnie following suit.

"Sorry." She whispered as Bonnie sat up, carefully prying Frankie from her side and laying her down, pulling the covers up onto her shoulders. The women walked out of the cell and sat down at the table with some of the others.

"Bonnie I wanted you to meet some people," Bonnie became slightly anxious and nodded as she sat beside Maggie, her eyes looking over the familiar faces in front of her "That's Beth," Bonnie could finally put a name to the blonde girl with the kind smile and sent her a smile "Glenn, Carl and Michonne."

Bonnie nodded at the rest "Nice to meet you all." They all sent the girl either a nod or smile, she went to speak again before being cut off by a voice she had not heard before.

"You ain't from 'round here are you?" Her eyes met the ones of the man who had left the bottle of water earlier beside her pack, Bonnie shrugged "I thought the accent made it obvious."

"What is it? British?" Carl asked and Bonnie chuckled "Australian." Some eyes widened and others nodded "So you're very far from home huh." Rick asked as he sat down beside Bonnie.

Bonnie shook her head "Not quite, my family are all here." "Where?" Her eyes met the ones of the same man as Maggie looked over at him "Daryl." She warned causing Bonnie to shuffle in her seat "They are all dead."

The room fell silent at her words "I- Bonnie we're sorry." Maggie mumbled sadly and Bonnie shook her head "You weren't there, don't apologise." They all nodded before the sound of little footsteps alarmed Bonnie, causing her to spin in her seat to see Frankie.

"Hey sleepyhead." Frankie walked over and Bonnie pulled her to sit in her lap, noticing Rick look away shamefully. "When are we going back out there? We didn't finish our lesson!" Frankie asked causing the group to let out chuckles.

"Do you remember today's lesson?" Bonnie asked with a smirk as Frankie was silent for a few minutes before sighing "No." Bonnie chuckled "We'll go back out there when you are better, alright?" Frankie nodded before observing the people around her.

"Hi." She smiled at the group and most of them smiled back "I'm Frankie, who are you guys?" Bonnie smiled at her words as the group all reintroduced themselves to the little girl.

"You're pretty badass for a little girl." Daryl mumbled from his spot and the little girl looked at him "Watch your language mister! I know I'm a badass, you don't need to tell me twice." The group let out laughs as Bonnie chuckled along.

"And very sassy at that." Carol giggled and Frankie smiled triumphantly before she wiggled off her Aunt's lap and walked over to Daryl with wondering eyes. Bonnie watched her carefully as she reached the quiet man, his eyes resting on her small figure as she sat beside him on the table.

The group watched carefully at the pair, curious about their interaction "What's your name?" She asked and watched him clean his crossbow "Daryl." he grunted and Bonnie watched as Frankie nodded her head "Can I help?"

The group looked on in shock as the man nodded "Sure." Bonnie looked around at the groups faces "What, does he not do that kind of thing?" Maggie shook her head "Nope, he usually keeps to himself and is always out huntin'." Bonnie nodded slowly before Rick began speaking.

"Bonnie, I- we were wondering if you wanted to stay with us? Join our group?" Rick asked and Bonnie ran a hand through her hair, processing the offer as she looked around at the group.

"I don't know Rick, we don't want to be a burden. We'd only be more mouths to feed." Bonnie spoke, looking over to Daryl and Frankie for a few seconds before looking back to the group.

"You certainly wouldn't be a burden Bonnie, Rick told us you can fight and we need more people like you to help run this place." Carol replied as Bonnie shook her head quickly.

"Darlin'," she heard and looked up to Hershel with a broken gaze "when was the last time you slept?" Bonnie cleared her throat as she thought "Nearly three days." Hershel nodded "How about you get some sleep, then we can talk more about it another time ok?"

Bonnie nodded a few times and stood up slowly "Y-Yeah sleep does sound great right about now." She sent Hershel a tight lipped smile before she walked over to Frankie and Daryl.

"Frank," the little girl followed her Aunt's body as she squatted down beside her, Daryl stopped polishing the stock of the bow "I'm going to lay down for a little bit, ok? You need anything you come wa-" Bonnie was cut off by Daryl "You come an' see me, alright?"

Bonnie looked up and made eye contact with the man and she nodded a thanks at him "I'll be fine Aunty Bonnie, go and get some sleep." Bonnie smiled and leaned up, pecking the girl on the cheek softly before turning and walking back to her cell with her head down.

She slipped her shoes off and layed down, finally resting her body and mind.

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