Age 25:

I had just finished curling my hair slightly, and spraying just a tad bit of hairspray on the ends. I lined my bright blue eyes with black eyeliner, and a bit of a smokey eye before spraying on a splash of perfume and walking out of the bathroom. "Bout time princess, I gotta use the John" Merle said before pushing his way past me and closing the door behind him. I shook my head before heading down to my room and finishing getting ready for work. 

I changed out of my sweats and into some pleather leggings and a loose white top, my black boots over top and my leather jacket. My bedroom was like the total opposite of Merle and Daryl's, mainly in the fact that you could see the floor. My bed was always made, laundry always put away and it didn't smell like sweat and dirt like theirs did. I shut off my light, grabbed my keys and a pack of cigarettes and headed out. Daryl was in the living room watching some random show on tv, and sipping on a beer. "See you later Dare" I called over my shoulder as I headed for the front door. Daryl looked over and smiled before waving me off. 

I left the house quickly before Daryl could see the blush on my cheeks. Still after all these years i felt myself drawn to him, even though I know I shouldn't feel this way I just couldn't help it. I just felt this electric attraction to him every time he was near me. The way his dirty blonde hair fell in front of his bright blue eyes could make my heart stop. His large arm muscles that were always visible since he hated sleeves. I have had these feeling for him for almost ten years, and no matter how hard I tried to make them go away, they only got stronger. A simple smile that was so rare from him was enough to send me over the edge. And times like that I had to hold back from jumping on top of him right there.

I sighed starting my car and pulled carefully out of the driveway, driving the short distance into town to Smitty's the local bar that I have worked at for years. I parked my Ford Focus in the back before locking the doors and heading inside through the back. My manager Tom was in the back office working on payroll and waved to me as I passed by him to the front of the bar. Smitty's wasn't anything spectacular, but it was pretty large and had a few pool tables and karaoke on Thursday nights, thankfully I never worked Thursday nights....our town didn't have the best singers.

There were many people in here tonight, a middle aged couple playing pool, and maybe four people sitting at the bar watching the game. "Hey girl" Kristy, my co-worker said as i hung up my coat and joined her at the bar. I smiled at her and refilled one of the patrons beer and headed to the center of the bar. "Not too busy tonight" I said as I didn't really have anything to do at the moment, all the men at the bar were busy yelling at the football game that was on.

"Hasn't been busy all day" She said with a sigh, and leaned back against the freezer. Kristy was a bit shorter than me, with shoulder length blonde hair and whiskey colored eyes. She was really pretty and always was cracking jokes. Merle had been trying to get into her pants for years, and gave up once she said she had a "Fiance", he doesn't exist and Kristy wore a fake ring on her left hand to prove him otherwise. 

I looked over at the tip jar to see maybe only twenty bucks inside, which sucked because Kristy had been here since this morning when we opened. Kristy was working a double tonight, so hopefully we would be able to make a good amount of money throughout the night. I opened a bottle of water and took a couple of sips before slipping it under the counter for myself....

The night was continuously slow, maybe only a few more customers were were sitting at the tables eating nachos and watching the game. Game nights were pretty much hit and miss, you would get those people who would sit and drink the same beer throughout the night which didn't earn much money, or you would get a group of them were would get shit faced drunk and tip ridiculously high. Tonight it seemed like was a night of the former. 

I heard the bell above the door ding, and then loud voices follow suit. I didn't see who they were as I was busy washing some of the glasses behind the bar. It sounded like quite a few people had stumbled into the bar, and I was happy maybe we would have a good turn out tonight. I walked around the bar to go take some of their orders when a hand slapped across my ass making me turn swiftly around. My eyes widened when I saw who it was that slapped me....It was Daryl's father, the oldest Dixon man.

I was confused as I had heard that he had moved out of town, none of us had seen or heard of him in around two years. David Dixon was looking down at me his eyes full of recognition and lust. "Don't touch me" i said through clenched teeth pointing my finger in his direction. "Oh darlin, that any way to greet an old family friend" He said with that Dixon smirk. I shook my head and walked away in hopes of avoiding him, but that was wishful thinking. I couldn't have him thrown out since he wasn't misbehaving , I could only hope it would stay that way......

After about an hour I knew it was a mistake by not keeping a closer eye on the oldest Dixon. He was completely wasted and making many people in the bar completely uncomfortable, me included. Kristy had gotten off about ten minutes ago so it was just me dealing with all of this. "Hey princess" I heard across the bar and I looked up and smiled seeing Merle and Daryl standing there before plopping down on the two empty bar stools. I already knew their usual and quickly slid over two beers into their greedy hands. 

"Guys, don't make a scene....but your dad's here" I said as quiet as I could over the rowdy men in the bar. Daryl and Merle looked at each other before both of them held their beers even tighter in their hands. They both wore this identical look of hate, with an underlying look of fear in their identical blue eyes. "Ill be right back" I said patting the bar in front of them and walking around to help a customer that was waving me over. I didn't even need to turn around to know that Daryl and Merle were watching me as I walked away.

"I wasn't done talking to you" Someone growled behind me as I grabbed an empty beer glass. I turned around to see David Dixon once more swaying behind me, only this time he was only inches from my face. I could smell bourbon on his breath mixed with vodka, and I gagged as it only reminded me of my own father, he smelled the same exact way. "If you don't sit down, I'll call the police. Don't tempt me" I told him still trying to walk around him, he only ended up cornering me against the wall beside a dart board. 

"Your a firecracker, I see why my boys always took a liking to ya" He said with an awkward laugh. I tried pushing him off of me, but he wasn't a small man and ended up only coming closer. I soon felt the wight of him yanked off of me, and wasn't very surprised to see it was Daryl who had ripped his father off of me and had pushed him into the wall beside me. "Don't you ever touch her!" Daryl seethed into his father's face. Merle looked equally pissed on his little brother's other side. 

"You ruined my life, Ill be damned if you ever hurt the one good thing that came out of it" Daryl said only inches from his father before landing a punch in his face. Tom, my manager started to run over to intervene but I just held my hand up and shook my head...This Dixon's had this coming for a long time. Besides Daryl wouldn't listen to anyone but me anyway...

Daryl's father didn't even fight back, just laid there on the ground while his youngest son beat him senseless. I sighed and looked over to Merle who was glaring at anyone who even came close to us. Merle looked over to me and i nodded telling him now was the time for him to get Daryl up, which he nodded in response and grabbed Daryl's arms and pulled him off their bleeding father. "Come on baby brother" Merle said pulling Daryl away as he fought against his older brother. 

"We close soon, just get them home ok" Tom said after walking over to us. I thanked him and followed Merle through the back to my car since the both of them were drinking. Merle put Daryl in the backseat before climbing in after him. I started my car and pulled out of the parking lot and onto the main road, driving the ten minutes to our house in complete silence, the only random sound being from Daryl as he grunted in pain from his bleeding knuckles.

I pulled up in our driveway, and the second my car stopped Daryl jumped out of the car and ran inside. I sighed and got out of the car and locked it once Merle had shut the back passenger door. "He'll be ok princess" Merle said as we closed the front door behind us. I locked it and tossed my jacket over the back of the couch. I knew Daryl would be ok, he always but he shouldn't always have to be. I went into the bathroom and grabbed some bandages and peroxide before heading to Daryl's room already knowing that was where he would be.

I found Daryl sitting in his bed with hi back leaned against the wall, clutching his right hand with his left. I shut his door behind me and climbed into the bed beside him. Daryl didn't say anything, just handed his hand over to me once he saw what I brought in. I gently cleaned up his knuckles before wrapping the bandages gently around his hand. "Get some sleep Dare" I said softly before going to leave him to himself. Daryl had always turned to me when things got rough just like I did for him, but times like this I knew he liked to be alone and think about things.

I was shocked when Daryl pulled me back onto his bed and laid me down beside him. I smiled slightly and just let him drape his arm around my waist while his face snuggled into my long dark hair. Daryl was asleep quickly, his soft snores sounding in my ear....And I wasn't too far behind him.