2. Never Tear Us Apart

-laid in blood-

They soon returned to the prison, instantly following Rick into the main cell block, where everyone gathered.

"I met this Governor today..." Rick began as everyone looked at him. "He wants the prison, and he wants us dead; we are going to war," Rick said sternly.

The others looked around, worried but ready; they had to be. They finally found a place that was becoming home, and they couldn't lose that now.

"Meet me in the guard tower in 5", Theo whispered to Daryl, who continued walking past and straight to the tower.

She sat there waiting, where she always sat, legs over the edge, looking out into the woods ahead—a cigarette between her lips.

Footsteps soon came up behind her, and Daryl finally sat beside her.

They silently sat there for a few seconds before Theo looked at Daryl.

"You care about me, and I care about you; my dad told me how you told him what you were going to do was a lie, and I understand why you did it", Theo began. "I also overheard you talking to Merle a few days ago."

"Th-" Daryl tried to input but was cut off.

"Let me finish."

Daryl nodded, indicating that she would carry on.

"But I can't lie when I say that what you said didn't hurt; it fucking burned. But I get it. I'm still not ready to take on our relationship again, and I need you to understand this. I care about you a lot; I would kill for you and take a bullet for you. No matter what, I can't make those feelings disappear, but I have to work on myself because, believe it or not, just because the world ends doesn't mean mental health goes away. So what I need for you is for you to give me time to work on myself and heal from everything, not just me, but everyone. Yes, you can come to me in the middle of the night, but it doesn't mean you spend the night. I'll protect you, like I know you'll protect me, but for me to call you my boyfriend again will take time. Do you understand that?" Theo explained, unsure if it truly made sense, but it was off her chest now, and that's all that mattered to her.

"I understand." Daryl nodded; he wasn't upset; he knew the chances of her ever talking to him were slim, so if she was willing to take time and rethink the relationship, that's what he wanted

"Thank you", Theo smiled, kissing Daryl's cheek before standing up and walking away.

The next day, Rick pulled Daryl and his daughter aside with Herschel.

"I need to tell you something," he began. The Governor offered me a counteroffer to hand over Michonne, and he will leave us be," Rick explained.

"No, no way," Theo immediately answered.

"She's one of us now, man" Daryl continued

"Not to mention he might come and kill us still", Theo pointed out.

"You mean to tell me you're thinking about doing this?" Daryl answered

"Yeah, I need Merle, too" Rick nodded

"I want nothing to do with it", Theo explained

"Theo..." Rick began

"She is part of this group now; she's proved that", Theo continued. "So if you are seriously doing this, keep me out," Theo said. "How can you do this?" She snapped, looking back at her father. "You know he'll kill her, right? Then come here and kill us anyway?" Theo shook her head in disbelief, unable to stand there any longer, deciding that walking away and back to the prison was a better bet than her losing her lid at her father.