♤

"We couldn't just leave him behind. He would've bled out, if he lived that long." Rick announced to the group as I stood in the doorway, Charlie sat playing on the porch with Daryl.

Glenn starred off into the distance, "It's gotten bad in town.."

"What do we do with him?" Andrea asked the group.

Hershel wandered in, wiping his hands. "I've repaired his calf muscle best I can, but he'll probably have nerve damage, won't be on his face for at least a week"

"When he is, we give him a canteen, take him out to the main road and send him on his way" Rick explained, as if he'd finalized the plan in his head already.

Andrea sighed, "Isn't that the same as leaving him for the walkers?"

I nodded in agreement, "We saved his life, saved his leg for us to what? Watching him get chewed to pieces 3 miles down the road"

"He'll have a fighting chance"

As the conversation continued, the door opened quietly and Daryl wandered in behind me, staying beside me.

"--He's not a threat" Rick snapped as I joined back in the conversation.

Shane scoffed, "Not a threat, how many of them were there? You killed three of their men, took one of em hostage, you think they ain't gonna come looking?"

"They left him for dead, no one is looking!" Rick snarled as the group grumbled.

T joined in, "We should still post a guard"

"He's out cold right now, will be for hours" Hershel explained.

Shane shook his head in disagreement, "I'm gonna go get him some flowers and candy" He chuntered as he began leaving the room, "Look at this folks, we're back in fantasy land!" He scoffed.

"You know, we haven't even dealt with what you did at my barn yet. Let me make this perfectly clear, once and for all-- this is my farm. Now I wanted you gone. Rick talked me out of it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. So do us both a favor-- keep your mouth shut." Hershel shouted.

Shane said nothing as he stormed out, slamming the door as he left.

Everyone slowly began leaving and I wandered onto the porch and sat beside Charlie who was playing with his new action figures again. "Hey sweetie, wanna take a walk?" I asked as people followed behind me.

He nodded slowly as we headed for a walk around the farm.

The sun was duller today, the wind was harsher. Blades of grass twirled in the wind as we walked around the dirt track which lead us around the farm. Leaves fell from their tree branches quickly, tearing themselves away.

The plan was to send Randall out alone next week, when he was up to full strength and I had a feeling that this week would be a stressful one as our safety was threatened.

♤

Dale and I sat atop the RV, awaiting the return of Shane and Rick who had gone to take Randall away from the farm. Charlie was sat outside the tent with Carol.

A week had passed since they brought him onto the farm.

"Have you seen much of Daryl?" Dale asked as we sat, sipping our water.

My brows hitched at his question. "Um, no not really, not a lot of us have, he's off in the woods more and more again"

Dale nodded, "Carol says he shouted at her, that night Lori went missing, said he lost his temper"

"He cared about Sophia, whether we all realised it or not, he cares about the group" I explained.

"And he cares about you and Charlie, a lot more than I think you realise" Dale smiled as we sat in the sun.

I sighed, "Dale, we've been through this before--"

"I know, I know, but you can't just keep ignoring it" Dale chuckled, "Maybe you go out hunting with him, find some way of telling him when he's alone and his guard's down"

I shook my head, "Did you see the state I came back in last time?"

We laughed. "You came back didn't you?"

"Yeah," I nodded, "Thanks to him" I gestured towards Daryl who was heading back, strolling across the field, nodding at us as he got close enough.

"He cares enough to make sure he got you back here with an arrow in his side, isn't that someone's way of telling you how much they care about you these days?" Dale joked.

Shrugging, I laughed, "You tell me Dale, you seem to be better at this than me"

"I'm just an old man who see's some things"

We sat for a few minutes as I thought about what Dale said, "What would I even say? What if he doesn't even feel the same?"

Dale smirked, "I think you already know that he does after the night's events"

"We were drunk"

"You think it wouldn't have happened if you were sober?" He asked with a light laugh.

I shrugged, "Maybe.."

Again, silence fell upon us and we were sat in the heat until I decided to leave, heading towards Carol to help with some washing.

We made small talk for a while as we hung clothes up on the washing line we had made when we first got here. "I heard Daryl was quite angry the other week" I muttered.

Carol nodded at me, "He was hurting"

"Yeah, he was.."

"He's good with Charlie" She smiled, "He cares about him"

We both looked at Charlie who was sat reading a book, not listening to our conversation. "He is, Merle was too, guess it' just something about the Dixon brothers" I chuckled.

Carol let out a small chuckle, "Who would've thought"

"If you'd have told a year ago that a man called Daryl Dixon would be like a father to my son, I would've laughed in your face but now look at us.." I smiled as Daryl wandered over, his crossbow on his back as always.

We all smiled as he came over, suddenly, I had the urge to find out what that drunken night was, what it meant..Dale was clearly getting in my head but curiosity was swirling.

"Hey, can we talk?" I asked quietly causing him to nod gently.

We walked away, moving somewhere no one could hear us. "The other week, when we were drunk and...you know...If you were sober, would it have still happened?"

He seemed caught off guard and his eyes melted to the floor as he shrugged, "I don't know, maybe"

I nodded, slightly disappointed with his answer, but then again, what was I expecting?

"I was also thinking maybe you and I could take Charlie for a picnic? He enjoys being out of camp and this is the safest way for me to take him" I asked, my voice now quiet from embarrassment, "I think he'd enjoy having you there..."

"I..I got some stuff to do, maybe I'll join you later.." He grumbled before fleeing.

Internally, I cursed. If this hadn't made our relationship weird, I didn't know what would.

♤

We sat on the blanket, having our second picnic in the space of only a few week which wasn't unusual, when things were as they used to be, we would have one every week in the local park.

The weather was definitely changing and it was easy to tell. The sun was shyer and the wind harsher.

We sat together for a while before we spotted Daryl strolling over with a hand behind his back, "Hope I'm not too late" He smiled, looking at me but getting a response from Charlie.

Before Daryl sat down, he leaned over and passed me a flower, it was only a simple daisy but it was hand picked, "Saw it while I was doing somethin', thought you'd like it.." He muttered, sitting beside me.

I grinned as I twirled it around between my thumbs. "It's lovely, thank you" We sat, smiling for a few seconds before I looked at him, "I'm sorry about earlier, somethings are better left unspoken"

He shook his head as I continued, "I have no regrets, that's all"

We watched Charlie for a few minutes before Daryl looked at me, "Me either"

Smiling at each other, we spent the rest of the day laughing and playing with Charlie, it almost seemed as if we were a family..

A/N

Just want to say a big thank you to anyone supporting this book!
I'm currently on chapter 55 so you know I'm serious about this book, lmao

Just a reminder to vote and comment to support your favourite writers, not just this story, it helps massively and really boosts the confidence of the writer.

Again, a massive thank you to everyone who supports me constantly, heres a bonus chapter to end the week on!

Love you all! X