WARNING: A LITTLE SMUTTY/STEAMY.

I AM NOT GOOD AT SMUT, SO I APOLOGISE IF IT CRASHES. 

JUST TRYING SOMETHING OUT:)

Also, there are mentions of rape in this chapter, but stars will appear beforehand (things are about to kick off with Rick and Daryl)

It was getting harder and harder for Theo and Daryl to keep sneaking around. 

They didn't want people to know they were intimate, so they had to get creative when Glenn and Maggie took the watch in the guard tower, probably doing the same thing as Theo and Daryl. 

She slipped a note under Daryl's pillow and headed to the meeting point. 

Not even 5 minutes later, he arrived. 

She waited for him under the cold water, making sure they took the shower right at the end. It had the highest walls and was far from the entrance.

Daryl stripped his clothes off, grabbing his and hers and throwing them under the sink in case someone walked in. 

She had her back to him as he walked in, the dirt and sweat from the day leaving his skin as the cold water hit him. 

He took her waist in his hands, kissing her shoulder, and she relaxed into him, closing her eyes as the water dripped down her body. 

He left marks he risked people seeing, but he didn't care. 

His hands roamed her body as he kept her close to his body. 

She bit her lip, trying to hold in her moans as she touched all the right places. 

She turned to face him, quickly attaching her lips to his. 

Daryl gently pushed her against the cold tiles, causing her to gasp out in shock and making them both chuckle. 

She tightly wrapped her legs around his waist, his hands under her thighs, keeping her as tightly as he could to his body and the wall. 

He began to pick up a rhythm, sending them both into another world; the most challenging part was staying quiet. 

"Theo?" Her name was called out from the other side of the room. 

Her eyes widened as she recognised that voice. 

"Yeah..." she called out. Daryl looked at her mischievously, unsure why she covered his mouth with her hand as he continued to do the exact same thing.

"Are you alright?" her father called out, not walking any closer, keeping a large distance between them. 

"Yeah, everything okay?" She answered, her nails digging into Daryl's shoulders. He didn't stop; he just slowed down.

"Have you seen Daryl?" He asked

Yeah, he's right here having shower sex with your daughter.

 Theo internally thought.

Daryl pushed the limit and went even deeper, making her gasp out of surprise. He then placed his hand over her mouth and smirked at her through her hand. 

"Theo?" Rick called out again, Daryl releasing her mouth as she placed her hands back on his shoulders, Daryl biting and sucking on her neck. 

"No? Have you checked on Glenn and Maggie? He might be up there with them," she suggested. Hopefully, he would leave to interrupt someone else who was trying to have some alone time.

"Alright, thanks," He said before his footsteps departed. 

"What the hell?" She looked down at him. He laughed up at her quietly, making sure no one else heard them.

"You liked it..." Daryl smirked before continuing, cutting off her thoughts entirely.

Things were going according to plan. They were sneaking around, making people think there wasn't much between them.

They even staged an argument to get people off their backs.

It worked a treat. 

"Theo" Her father walked beside her. 

"Hi," She smiled. 

"I wanted to talk to you about something that makes me...uncomfortable, but I have to ask," Rick began. 

"Okay..." 

"Are you and Daryl together? I know there had been hand-holding and hugs...But are you with one another?" Rick placed his hands on his hips. 

"No, we aren't. We are close friends, but that's it. We shared the same tent over the last few months, but that was it. I know how it looks, but it's not how it looks." She lied through her teeth. 

"Alright. Because... I wouldn't say I like it. If it was to happen..." Rick shrugged. 

"Right. Why's that exactly?" She asked carefully, trying not to sound offended. 

"He's much older than you, T. And after everything that's gone on. I don't think you two are a couple that would work. He likes being out there. This isn't his thing. He wouldn't be able to treat you properly." Rick rambled. 

"Okay? And so...because he is older than me..."

"It's wrong." He snapped. 

Theo was completely offended but decided to nod. 

"Okay. I understand. Now, I have to go and be on watch for the night. Let's never talk about relationships again," Theo sarcastically smiled, and Rick nodded in agreement. 

"Agreed" 

They both went their separate ways, Theo heading up to the watch tower, where Daryl was already waiting for her. 

"What took you so long?" He greeted her with a smile, placing his hands on her hips before leaning down to kiss her softly. 

"Just had a catch-up with Dad" She sighed, not wanting to tell Daryl. 

"Okay," He nodded before joining his lips back on hers. 

Daryl deepened the kiss more. Theo's hands got tangled in his hair, sliding down his body before reaching his belt. 

Daryl removed his lips from hers, taking off her top with ease before attacking her neck.

"Theo!" 

She turned around to see her father looking furious. 

Daryl pushed her behind him due to instinct. 

"Rick..." Daryl began but quickly became quiet when a fist came to his face. 

"Dad!" Theo called out angrily. 

"You lied to me, Theodora!" Rick yelled as she grabbed her shirt and placed it back on her body. 

"Why do you think I lied!" She yelled as she ran over to Daryl.

"Oh no, you don't. I'm not finished." Rick pushed Theo backwards, causing her to land on the floor. 

"Hey!" Daryl yelled, getting back up and shoving Rick aggressively into the wall behind him. 

Theo knew she wouldn't be able to break up the fight between Daryl and her father, so she ran to the balcony. 

"Glenn!" She screamed to her best friend, who just left the prison to walk outside. 

As soon as he heard his name, he sprinted up to the watch tower and watched Daryl and Rick fight with fists. 

"Enough!" Glenn got in the middle, pushing them both back.

"This is over. Whatever the hell this is between you and my daughter, it's done!" he snapped, pointing at Daryl angrily. 

"Enough!" Theo stepped in between the two, standing closest to Daryl.

"You do not get to decide who I can and can't be with. This is none of your fucking business. You were so blinded by rage you didn't even see the fact you fucking hurt me!" She snapped. 

Rick's face turned soft as he saw the cuts on Theo's hands. 

"Theo-" 

"No. I didn't say anything because I knew you would react like this. I knew you would hate it. But for one second, did you think that I am in a relationship for the first time in my life? I am with a person who listens to me, protects me, and, most importantly, asks me for my consent!"  Theo snapped, making her eyes instantly water and the room fall silent. 

"You have had no idea..." Her voice broke. "I had no idea what it was like," she cried. "You were a police officer and his best friend!" she yelled. 

"Theo..." Rick tried to talk to her, but she had enough. 

"Remember when I disappeared for a year? You thought I went missing...Well, that's when I had his fucking child" She was red with anger as she took an aggressive step forwards. 

"And when I got home, he was there!" she screamed angrily, pointing at her father. 

"You had no idea. I get it. It's not something I ever wanted you to know about. But do you know the person I told who helped me? Daryl. The person who gave me the courage to tell you and Mom about the baby...Daryl. The person I have had this entire time while I grieve my mother...Daryl!" Her voice croaked as she cried. 

Rick's head dropped in disappointment with himself.

"You didn't believe me. Good for you, Dad. Now you found out in a way which to anyone would look wrong. But what do you think this is here? Something that happened on a whim? No. No, and fuck you for what you said earlier because Daryl has never made me feel worthless. Not like you've just done. He's protected and cared for me, and I am so happy. Do not take this from me when I finally feel happy after 21 years of my life." She cried as she backed into Daryl, who immediately grabbed her hand.

"Theo, I am sorry." Rick took a hesitant step forward, making her back up into Daryl even more. 

"I think you should leave. " Theo looked to the ground as tears fell from her eyes. 

"Please. Hear what I have to say." Rick stepped back as Glenn backed off, staying in case. "I don't like this because of what you've been through. I am in no way saying Daryl is anything like Shane. Not at all. But Daryl is older than you by a lot, hunny. You have a problem." 

Theo snapped her head up in anger, as did Daryl. 

"What?" Theo practically whispered. 

"I've seen it happen to lots of girls who are victims. They end up searching for someone older because of the trauma they go through. They think they will only find happiness from older people because they feel protected. But it isn't right," Rick sighed as Daryl gently moved Theo towards Glenn before punching Rick's nose again, knocking him to the ground. 

Theo practically fell into Glenn, who held her tightly. 

"Say that again." Daryl looked down at Rick.

"Are you using my daughter because you can't get anyone your goddamn age!" Rick snapped up as Theo cried. 

"You are acting out because you lost your wife. But what you are doing to Theo right now is so wrong. She is your daughter, man, and you're accusing her of having daddy issues because your so-called best friend raped her." Daryl looked down at Rick, disgusted. 

"You are fucking delusional. The both of you are," Rick snapped. 

"You think I am delusional. Have you looked in a fucking mirror? You...you can't even see how wrong you are. I care about Theo more than you seem to. Do you think I wanted to fall for someone nine years younger? No. But Theo is the most human person I have ever met. She doesn't look at me like I am a waste of space" Daryl looked at Theo, who was in tears in Glenn's arms. 

Rick looked between Daryl and Theo, and that's when he saw it. 

He noticed how wrong he was. 

Theo stood next to Daryl as Rick got up off of the floor. 

"Dad. I am sorry that you never got to find real love. And that you were forced to stay with my mom because you got her pregnant at 17. But that wasn't my fault. And now you've lost her, and you don't know what the fuck you are doing. But you seem to be doing great and being a shitty dad. Come near me again like this. Ever. You'll see me walk away with Daryl and never come back" She dragged Daryl behind her as they both left the watch tower. Heading to Daryl's room.

"I'm sorry", Theo cried as she sat on the bed. 

Daryl dropped to his knees, taking her hands in his. 

"Theo, there is nothing to be sorry for. I am with you" She leaned her head on his, letting out all her tears until she couldn't physically cry anymore. 

"What the fuck was that" Glenn snapped at Rick 

Rick angrily looked at Glenn before his face turned soft. 

"I don't know", He cried, dropping to the floor. "I just want to protect her." 

"There is a difference between protecting her and shaming her. Daryl would never hurt Theo." Glenn snapped. "He is a good guy, and he makes Theo happy. That is all you should care about" 

"I don't want them together, that's that. She is my daughter. My child. And Daryl is old enough to know better!" 

"Rick...Listen to yourself. She is a grown-ass woman, and he is a grown-ass man. She isn't a child. And you are barely treating her like your daughter. Making it you, that needs to grow up," Glenn snapped before walking away. 

-A Week Later-

Theo had a stomach bug.

 Due to everything happening with her father, however, she had no choice but to take control and help those around the prison as her father was going insane. 

Carol had been found a few days ago and was better after rehydrating, and everyone else was getting used to their being a baby around.

Theo had managed to hold her sister, and having some time with her was helping.

She looked so much like Lori in Theo's eyes. 

"You sure you're okay with going on this run today?" Daryl asked her as she finished throwing up her breakfast in the toilet, moving the hair out of her face, some sticking to the sweat on her forehead. They had been avoiding everyone since the events at the watch tower. Glenn kept it to himself, and Rick was out in prison all day, keeping his distance from everyone. 

"I need to get out; I haven't been out of this prison since we arrived." She wiped her face and looked at her partner.

"I need to ask you something", Daryl began, playing with his hands. 

She looked up at him, drinking water and waiting for him to talk.

"I wanna make it official, like if we meet someone new and they ask who you are, I wanna say, that's my girlfriend, my girl, so can you, can we?...." Daryl struggled to explain

Theo smiled. After the events of the last few days, she was desperate for some news—good news. 

Being Daryl's official girlfriend would put her mind at peace about what to call them.

"Yes, Daryl, without question" She smiled as he walked over to kiss her, but she dodged, holding her hands up to his lips.

"I have puke mouth", she stopped, cringing at the thought of him kissing her with her sick lips.

"Girl, I kiss you after I eat raw squirrel," he announced, making her scrunch her nose in disgust. However, this only made Daryl smile as he grabbed her chin and kissed her; despite her effort to avoid it, she kissed him back.

They walked out to the front gate, where Maggie and Glenn were waiting, holding hands.

"Ready?" Glenn smiled as Maggie got in the car.

"Be safe?" Daryl told Theo.

"I will just look after Carl and ass-kicker for me", she asked, wanting to kiss him goodbye, but knowing he wouldn't in front of Glenn and Maggie, she refused.

"Of course," he smiled, pulling her towards him with the hand he was already holding. He placed a kiss on her lips, surprising not only Maggie and Glenn but Theo, too.

"See you later" He winked before heading off. 

Theo smiled, getting in the car and heading out.

"You two seem good" Maggie smiled.

"He asked me to be his girlfriend" Theo couldn't contain her smile, looking at the bracelet on her wrist.

"Oh my god, finally", Glenn sighed in relief as his best friend was finally happy. "But your dad..."

"We are happy for you", Maggie smiled, cutting Glenn off, knowing it was a touchy subject. 

"As for my father, he needs to deal with it. I wasn't joking when I said I would turn around and never look back," Theo told them both confidently, making them look at each other worried. The rest of the journey was quiet, and both Glenn and Maggie worried silently. 

After driving for an hour, they finally came to a small town where the shops looked like they held some goodies inside. 

"I'll wait here. Keep watch, you two head in," Theo told the couple. They nodded and headed in to collect baby supplies and anything else they could find. 

She lit a cigarette, her addiction becoming worse since the death of her mother. The group managed to find a lot of contraband when searching the prison, several boxes of cigarettes being found, and the people on the run would pick them up for both Daryl and Theo. 

They knew it wasn't good, but anything to help her cope at the moment was better than her blowing up.

She minded her own business, keeping a watchful eye out, but the moment she looked down at her feet, the sound of a gun being cocked behind her made her eyes widen.

She tensed.

"Well, not who I was looking for, but a nice surprise." The accent was so familiar that Theo knew precisely who it was before even having to turn.

"Merle", she rolled her eyes, slowly turning, her eyes meeting his

"Baby bird, what are you doing all alone?" He asked, his smile revealing his rotten teeth

"Could ask you the same thing", she sarcastically said as Glenn and Maggie exited the nursery.

"Asian boy, is that you! Holy shit, this is something!" Merle smiled. His accent was so deep and thick compared to Daryl's, but she knew that would change with age.

"Merle", Glenn's reaction matched Theo's.

"Get in the car", he said, still pointing his gun at Theo.

"We aren't taking you anywhere", Theo snapped, raising a brow at him

"Oh, you are; you're coming home with me", he smiled. "Drop that shit and get in", he repeated, pointing at the baby supplies.

"No" Theo crossed her arms. 

"Stubborn baby bird. Damn. No wonder my brother used to fancy you" Merle looked Theo up and down, licking his lips.

"We aren't going anywhere with you." Theo put it again, slowly grabbing her gun.

"Alright. If this doesn't scare you, maybe this will" Merle pointed the gun at Maggie. 

"Drop it" Merle looked at Glenn, who had a gun. "Or I will shoot", Merle smiled, finger on the trigger.

Theo took a sharp breath.

"There are three of us and one of you. You think you are going to win this?" Theo asked.

"Well, even if one of you do shoot me, I will get at least one of you before I go down, and that one person is gonna be little miss bob overhear, so let me tell you again, drop the fucking weapons or miss cowgirl over here is gonna end up being put down" Merle threatened. 

Glenn angrily threw his gun down. 

"Dammit," Theo snapped.

Having no choice, Glenn got in the driver's seat, Maggie in the passenger's seat, and Merle and Theo in the back.

"You know, I want to know how my brother is," Merle asked, relaxing back into his seat. His gun was constantly on Maggie.

"Who?" Maggie asked, confused after having no idea who Merle was

"Daryl is fine", Theo said, making eye contact, making sure she didn't break it. 

She wasn't afraid of Merle. She wasn't scared of anyone at this point.

"You know, lady, he never stopped talking about you, and now I know why," Merle said as he directed Glenn to a place.

"What's that?" Theo asked

"Because baby bird. You have one sexy ass. One hot face. And that mouth probably does more than talk back... Merle listed

"Enough," Glenn told him, looking at him angrily in the mirror.

"Now, Glenn, see you found a pretty lady" Merle smiled at Maggie.

"Tell me, ma brother, finally grow the balls to ask you out then?" Merle asked as Theo said nothing, causing a smile on his face as she refused to leave his stare.

They eventually arrived at a town, tyres and trucks covering the exits, men on guard, front the looks of it, 24/7.

"Where are we?" Glenn asked. 

But Merle ignored him as he looked watchfully out of the window. 

The doors opened, revealing hundreds of people living like the world hadn't ended.

"Stop the car and slowly get out," Merle told Glenn as more men approached. Two men grabbed Theo from Merle and dragged her away from the car.

"Theo!" Glenn yelled, "Maggie!"

They grabbed the three harshly and walked them to a cell each, separating the three.

"Get off them. Merle, I swear to God!" Glenn yelled, but his voice became increasingly faint as they were all taken into separate buildings.

Theo was pushed into a dark room and left without a word.

She sat there in complete darkness. She wasn't scared; she wasn't even worried. She had become numb to fear, and in a way, she felt at peace in the complete darkness alone.

She knew she wouldn't fight anyone who entered the door; she had to know what they wanted and, more importantly, why Merle was here.

It had felt like hours had passed, but no one had come by. It could have been minutes, but the lack of light made it difficult to tell.

The doors eventually opened, revealing Merle. 

He looked cleaner than normal, indicating some sort of water supply to allow them to have a shower. 

He also looked fed and well.

 Theo knew they must have a lot of supplies here.

She stood up fast as he looked her up and down before smiling. He grabbed a chair and sat in front of her. 

"Sit," He told her.

She did so, crossed her arms, and sat back in the seat. Her face was stern, and she let out no emotion.

The change in the girl took Merle aback. 

Of course, on their first meeting, her stubbornness led to Merle taking her hostage, but that didn't mean she didn't walk away from a fight. Just from looking at her face, Merle knew she would be tough to crack, and after finding out some news from Glenn, finding out who she had been hanging closely with meant she might have picked up some habits and more stubbornness from a certain someone.

"Glenn tells me you and my brother are canoodling in the corner, doing the dirty yanno, so tell me, Theo, where is he so I can see him? I want to congratulate him on snatching a woman like you." Merle laughed. His tone did not change from when they saw each other, and his weird and wacky sentences remained the same.

"Nice try Merle, I ain't telling you shit," she snapped; Merle could be a pain in the ass, but she knew he was brilliant in other ways; he had a way of getting what he wanted, and she knew that however after hanging with his brother for so long, she had picked up some of the Dixon habits. Whether Merle shared them or not, she would be even harder to crack.

"The funny thing is, darling, Glenn also told me who you are, Grimes; that's the surname of a certain cop who left me for dead, so watch your words; no girl of Daryl's is going to stop me from beating it out of ya," he threatened, standing up harshly. 

But this only caused Theo to raise an eyebrow, knowing he wouldn't touch her.

Daryl once told Theo that he wouldn't be with her if Merle were still around, but she knew that wouldn't be the case; if she could handle Daryl, she could handle Merle.

She suddenly noticed that the hand that had been left on the roof that day of Ricks, set with the group, had been replaced with a metal sleeve and a knife at least 8 inches long, sharp enough to kill a walker, sharp enough to kill her.

"Go on then, Merle. Have fun telling your brother," she breathed out, giving up.

"Damn girl, who died? I'm not going to hurt you, but I will hurt your friends; I'll kill them until you give in, so I'll be back in the morning," he smirked, standing up and walking away.

She watched him leave and sat in the corner, folding her legs up to her hands. She fiddled with the necklace around her neck; she could only wait now.