I wait outside the room. This place is huge and I'm in awe of all of these people working together the way they do. Apparently Daryl says they have several small towns and they all work together, and that it was a work in progress and it took them a very long time to get to this. I never had this post walkers, my life was me on the run, but I was used to running and I was used to losing people.

I hear their voices from the other side of the door, Maggie's voice is a little loud. Carol comes in from the huge front doors and when she sees me sitting by myself she comes over and sits with me.

"Maggie's fierce," I say.

"Don't let her scare you," she says.

"I'm not scared, I've seen worse."

At that statement Carol raises a brow, like she's suspicious of me. Her lips press into a straight line as her eyes rake over my entire body like she's trying to read me better - like a worried mom protecting her only son. Maybe that's what Daryl is for her and I most certainly don't want to cause any drama. If I can't stay, I'll just go back out there on my own, I've done it before and I can handle it again.

"What are your intentions?"

Carol's blunt, and that's okay, I get it. They can't trust me anymore than I can trust them. In this new world finding people to trust is harder than when life was normal.

"I just want to find a place where I belong," I tell her. "I've been on my own since I was a kid." Rehashing the past was something I was prepared for, these people mean business and they don't just let anyone in without interrogation. "Sure I had my mom, stepdad and my brother, but my mom changed the minute she met my step dad. She was a zombie before there even were zombies. She'd be hauled up in her room high on something while my stepdad sold drugs and made really shady deals with people. I had to protect my brother from both of them. I knew I didn't belong there and when my brother was taken away I had to move on and find somewhere else. Even being with my best friend didn't help me feel like I belonged," I say. "I don't want to hurt any of you, I just want to survive."

It was a lot to get out, and I'm not sure if she wanted to hear my entire life story, but I want to be straight with her. I don't want to keep any secrets from these people, I need to earn their trust. I'm happy that I found Daryl again and that even after all of these years we still connect the way we do and if I want to keep him in my life for good this time I can't hide things.

Carol ponders this for a long minute. A loud noise like someone punched something in the other room startles me, but Carol doesn't seem phased.

She completely ignores it and turns her attention back to me, so you're a hard worker then," she says. "We need people who can keep up with things around here. We battle enemies on a constant basis, and still in the midst of all the battles we have to continue to make this place run, and we just want to make sure that you can handle it," she says.

I nod, "I get that, and I'm willing to do anything to help out. I've been through a lot of different groups the past few years including some stints of being on my own, but a little stability would be nice."

She nods and purses her lips, "I'm honestly surprised Daryl was so quick to sweep you up into his arms."

My cheeks warm. Carol sure knows how to make things feel awkward. Thinking about everything, I'm surprised and not at the same time. He was the one who made moves on me first. I'd always known my relationship with Daryl was strong, but to be honest when I first saw him in the woods I never imagined how quickly things would fall back into place between us.

"There's a group of us that have been together since the beginning and we've become like family. Daryl being one of them. We just need to be sure that we can trust you. Daryl is highly liked around here."

I nod, Daryl comes off as scary but honestly once you get to know the guy you definitely want him on your side.

"You think Maggie will allow it?" I ask.

"Yeah, Daryl is quite a convincing guy," she says.

There are a few beats of awkward silence, as I take in the huge room that we are in. I've never stayed in a place like this, it's been sleeping under the stars or invading someones two bedroom home just to survive.

"So what happened?" she asks, breaking the silence. 

I look over at her with a questioning look.

"With what?"

She swallows hard, "you and Daryl? He's never mentioned you before..."

I try not to be offended by him never mentioning me, hell I've never mentioned him to anyone either. The only person who ever asked was my brother. God I miss him. I opened my mouth to say something, but the door to the room Daryl and Maggie were in burst open. Daryl comes out and heads straight to me like he's on a mission. His arms are tight at his side and his hands balled up in fists. At first it seems he's angry.

Maggie stands in the doorway with her arms crossed. She's assessing me, trying to read me and what my intentions are here. Daryl puts his hands out for me. I reach out taking his warm rough hand in mine as he pulls me into his chest. All eyes are on us and my cheeks heat again.

"You can stay here," he says, brushing a strand of unruly hair from my face, tucking it behind my ear. "But I need to leave, I have some things to take care of." 

I can feel the weight of Maggie and Carol's stare still on us. I swallow hard. It's weird having him in my life again and the urge to just grab him and hold on afraid he might slip away is strong. I know I'm stronger than that though, I never needed someone to hold me and tell me everything is okay, so being without him shouldn't matter at all.

"Maggie will show you everything, and I swear to you I'll be back," he says, brushing his hand over my face. 

Daryl steps aside and Maggie comes walking over. Both she and Carol have a strange look on their faces, like they've never seen Daryl act this way before, like it's completely out of character for him. Only, they don't know the Daryl that I knew back then and there were times that he did those things that I wouldn't think twice about it, but seeing their faces now lets me know that this is a side they have never seen.

"I'm sorry," she says. "I just have to make sure that you aren't going to screw us over, we've had a lot of hard times lately, so no hard feelings," she says.

I step to the side of Daryl and look her in the eye, trying to gain her trust.

"No, not at all I appreciate you allowing me to stay here," I say.

Daryl still has my hand and he squeezes it lightly.

"Okay, so once your done saying your goodbyes I can find a place for you to stay," she says.

I give her a friendly smile, "thank you so much Maggie, I won't let you down," I tell her.

This entire time her face never changes, she's still trying to read me just like Carol.

"I hope not," she says giving Daryl a sharp look before walking back towards the room.

Carol disappears too and Daryl and I walk out to his motorcycle to say goodbye. He stands next to his bike and pulls me in close, his hands lingering on my lower back.

"It seems to me that your friends in there are very curious about us," I say.

He chuckles and my body reacts to his deep laughter. I've missed him so much and having someone I know and care about back in my life means a lot. Although, I know I can't get too attached, especially in the state of the world.

"I'm not exactly known as the sweet romantic guy around here," he smirks.

I laugh, "Daryl Dixon not romantic? It's like the end of the world or something," I tease.

His smile catches again and I want so badly to take a picture and never let go of that image.

"I'll be back," he promises.

"Thank you Daryl," I say. "For everything. And about what happened that day at that warehouse..."

Daryl places his pointer finger over my dry lips. I have to glide my tongue over them a little to wet them, and it partially touches his finger. Daryl closes his eyes and shivers. I place my hands on his waistline and look up.

"It's in the past, and I should be the one apologizing that I couldn't prevent that from happening. We can look forward now," he tells me.

I give a half smile.

"Show them the Chloe that I learned to love. The bad ass Chloe who would kick someones ass in a heartbeat and defend the people she loves to the very end," he says.

Again, he pushes another strand of hair behind my ear. I can sense him stalling. He knows he has to go, but in a way he doesn't want to.

"She's still here," I say touching my heart. "I just have to find her again. I mean I did survive for this long out there, so she's there just a bit more broken than before," I say.

"We're all a little more broken than before," he says.

On my toes I reach up and press my lips to his. My heart races in my chest as he tilts his head to deepen the kiss.

"Stay safe," I tell him pulling away, but not wanting to.

"You too," he says in that rough Daryl like voice I've grown to love.

Daryl let's go and throws his leg over the bike. The engine revs and he gives me one last glance as the gates open. He revs the engine again, nods his head, lifts his foot and takes off. I stood there watching until the gates close and I can no longer see him. It's not the first time he's left and it won't be the last, but just knowing he's alive and okay and that we found each other makes me want to fight and be strong again.

A hand sets down on my shoulder, I didn't realize I'd been standing here for as long as I was.

"Let me show you where you'll be staying," Maggie says with a welcoming smile.