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"𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐤."

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.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Another night passed in Alexandria, and still, no sign of Daryl showering. Sunny sat on the porch, leaning against the wooden banister, her eyes drifting to the man beside her. Daryl was hunched over, focused on his crossbow like it was the only thing holding him together.

No matter how many days went by, it was clear Daryl wasn't settling in. Alexandria was picture-perfect—neatly trimmed lawns, freshly painted houses, kids playing in the streets. It looked like something straight out of a magazine from the old world, but none of it seemed to matter to him. 

It was as if the idea of fitting into this place didn't sit right with him at all. Fancy neighborhoods and "normal" people were as foreign to Daryl Dixon as luxury cars or country club memberships.

Sunny glanced at him, biting the inside of her cheek. She'd heard enough stories to know that Daryl's childhood was the opposite of easy. While her life hadn't been wealthy either, they had enough. There was love. They were happy, back when everything made sense. But Daryl... Daryl came from nothing but hardship.

Alexandria was so far removed from everything they'd been through—almost like they didn't belong. She wasn't sure if she did either. But for Daryl, this wasn't just foreign—it was impossible.

"You gonna keep fixin' that thing forever?" she teased, hoping to pull him from whatever storm of thoughts was clouding his head.

Daryl barely looked up, grunting in response, but his hands slowed. Sunny sighed, folding her arms across her chest.

Sunny's gaze drifted over the neighborhood, eyes tracing the perfect lawns and clean-cut houses. People walked by, sending polite smiles their way like they were living in some sort of utopia. It was surreal. Even though a part of her liked it here—the safety, the quiet—she didn't want to get too comfortable. She couldn't.

The day before, seeing kids her age playing video games, sipping lemonade like the world hadn't gone to hell... she didn't want that. She didn't want to be one of those kids. It felt wrong somehow, like slipping into a life that didn't belong to her anymore.

She had learned to survive in the world as it was now—rough, brutal, and unforgiving. It was all she knew. And if she let herself get lost in this place, with all its comforts, she feared she'd forget that. She'd grow soft. The luxury of choosing what food to eat, of taking hot showers whenever she wanted, or flipping on a TV to pass the time—it all felt like a trap. Like the world outside didn't exist anymore. But it did. She knew better.

Sunny's thoughts wandered as she looked out at the houses, imagining what life would have been like if she and the group had been here since the start. If they had found Alexandria before everything went to hell, maybe none of them would be who they were now. Maybe they wouldn't be so hardened, so scarred by the things they'd had to do.

She wondered how she would be. How Daryl would be.

It was strange—whenever she thought about a different life, a life that didn't involve the apocalypse, her mind didn't go to her mom and dad like it used to. It went to Daryl. She imagined him there, in some weird, peaceful version of this world. Maybe still a little rough around the edges, but... not like this. Not haunted by the things he's seen or done. Maybe he would've had a shot at something better. Maybe they both would've.

But that wasn't their reality.

Sunny sighed, her eyes moving back to Daryl as he fiddled with his crossbow. She couldn't picture a world without him in it. He wasn't just a part of her life now; he was her life. The idea of having anyone else look out for her the way he did, or even just being here without him, didn't make sense.

Sunny's thoughts were abruptly interrupted as the front door swung open. She turned to see Carol step outside—or rather, some version of Carol that looked like she'd been transformed into a suburban housewife. The woman wore a bizarre combination of a crisp white shirt, a blue cardigan, and brown jeans. She looked like someone's grandmother from a retro magazine ad.

"Time to punch the clock and make some casseroles!" Carol chirped, adjusting her cardigan like she'd been doing it for years.

"What?" Daryl let out, scoffing in disbelief, clearly mirroring Sunny's confusion.

"Make dinner for the older folks, moms who need a break, people who can't cook. You meet a lot of neighbors that way," Carol explained as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

Daryl's scoff grew louder, but Sunny couldn't get over the outfit. "The hell are you wearin'?" she blurted out, her nose wrinkling in bewilderment.

Carol grinned, giving a little twirl to show off her look. "Not a fan? It's in style here," she said cheerily, as if Sunny had complimented her. Sunny, however, remained baffled. "Have you showered yet?" Carol suddenly asked, turning her attention to Daryl.

Daryl nodded, mumbling a half-hearted 'mm-hmm', which made Sunny immediately scoff.

"He's a big, fat liar," Sunny said, giving Daryl a teasing glare. "He ain't showered, can't ya smell him?"

Daryl gave her a light shove in response, but Carol was unfazed. "Take a shower," she instructed him, "I'm washing that vest too. We need to keep up appearances, even you."

"Hey, I ain't startin' now," Daryl grumbled.

Carol started down the porch steps, and Sunny tilted her head, curious. "Where are you goin'?" she asked.

"I told you, I'm making food for the neighbors. Lincoln and Carl are over at that boy's house, you're going too," Carol called over her shoulder, walking down the street.

Sunny's face scrunched up in distaste. Sure, she liked Jessie, but hanging out with Mikey and Ron? She wasn't exactly in the mood for small talk or awkward pleasantries.

"You look ridiculous!" Daryl called out after Carol, who just waved him off without missing a beat.

As Carol disappeared from view, Sunny leaned back against the railing, shaking her head slightly. Alexandria was strange, that was for sure—filled with clean clothes, fake smiles, and, apparently, casseroles for the neighbors. It was hard to picture people like Carol and Daryl fitting in here. Hell, it was hard to picture herself fitting in.

She stayed quiet, that was until Daryl spoke. "Why you still here?" Daryl grunted, not even looking up from his crossbow as he tightened the strings.

Sunny blinked, confused by his question. "What do you mean?"

Daryl finally looked over at her, raising an eyebrow. "Carol said you gotta go to that boy's house with Carl and Lincoln."

"Oh," she muttered, caught off guard. Sunny shifted her weight, looking down at the ground as she awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck. She hadn't really been planning on going. She'd already bailed on them once, slipping out of the room without saying a word, but now... well, it seemed like she didn't have much of a choice.

Daryl gave her a long look, then huffed, returning to his crossbow. "Ain't like ya to sit around, kid."

Sunny frowned, glancing at the street beyond the porch. He was right, but that didn't mean she was ready to be around a bunch of kids pretending like the world hadn't fallen apart. The image of Ron's room, filled with posters, video games, and all the comforts of a world long gone, still made her uneasy.

"They don't get it," she said softly, mostly to herself.

Daryl's hands paused for a second before he resumed his work. "They ain't had to. Not yet." His voice was gruff, but there was an edge of understanding in it.

Sunny sighed. "Just feels... wrong, y'know? Like, they're out there livin' normal lives. Makes you forget what's really going on outside those walls."

"Yeah, well, that's their problem." Daryl gave her a sideways glance. "But you? You ain't gotta forget. Just gotta play along for now. If it goes south, you know what to do."

Sunny nodded, appreciating his blunt honesty. Maybe she didn't have to fit in here, not entirely. But if playing along meant keeping her place in this new world, maybe she could at least try.

"Fine," she finally said, pushing off the railing. "Guess I'll go hang out with the video game kids."

Daryl smirked. "Atta girl."

She rolled her eyes, but a small smile crept onto her face. With one last glance at him, she made her way down the porch steps, heading towards the street. As she walked away, she could hear Daryl muttering to himself behind her.

"Still don't know what the hell Carol's wearin'."

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Sunny had no real intention of heading to the Anderson's house. It wasn't that she didn't like them—Jessie was nice enough—but something about settling in just didn't sit right with her. She wasn't ready to forget what lay beyond those towering walls.

Sure, Alexandria seemed safe, and she trusted the people enough for now. But becoming like them? That terrified her more than the walkers outside. These people didn't have a clue what the world was really like, not like she did. She had seen the worst of it, lived through it, and she didn't want to lose that edge.

Instead of heading to Ron's, Sunny wandered the streets, her eyes darting around to avoid Carol or Daryl. Mostly Carol, since Sunny was pretty sure Daryl hadn't moved from the porch since they arrived.

At the end of one road, her gaze fell upon the wall that loomed high above her. She had overheard Deanna talking about how her husband and the others built it. It really was something—strong, unyielding. But as Sunny's eyes scanned the top, she caught sight of someone else.

Enid.

The girl from yesterday. She was perched at the top, then, just like that, she slipped over the edge and disappeared outside.

Sunny hesitated for a moment, her curiosity piqued. What was she doing?

Before she knew it, Sunny's feet were already moving. Maybe she didn't want to settle here, but part of her still craved some normalcy—something familiar. And outside the walls, that's what felt normal. It was what she knew.

Without thinking too much about it, she started climbing, her fingers gripping the cold metal of the wall as she hoisted herself up. If Enid could get over, so could she. The closer she got to the top, the more her heart raced, but in a good way. The thrill, the uncertainty—it was something she missed.

As she swung a leg over the wall, Sunny paused for a second, staring out at the wild beyond. This—this felt real. It was dangerous, unpredictable, but it made her feel right. This is what she was used to.

She climbed down carefully, her boots hitting the ground with a soft thud. Instinctively, her hand reached for the knife at her side, the familiar weight of it comforting her. Her bat hung loosely from her other hand, ready if she needed it. Out here, she was never really unarmed—and never really relaxed. But that was how she liked it. That was how it should feel.

Sunny took a deep breath, the air out here felt different. Fresher, somehow. She stepped through the greenery, her senses sharp as she walked farther from Alexandria. It was quiet, save for the occasional rustling in the bushes or distant bird calls. This—this was what she knew. Out here, there was no pretending. No fake smiles, no forced normalcy. Just survival.

As she moved deeper into the woods, her mind wandered. Just like earlier, she wondered how different life would have been if they had been somewhere like this from the start.

She paused for a moment, gripping the bat tighter. A life with Daryl, but in a place like this... it just didn't fit. Not for him, not for her. They weren't like these people. They didn't belong inside safe walls, living behind closed doors.

The girl had killed five, living people. She knew they deserved it, but still, these people probably hadn't even killed a walker. But they'd killed people. They didn't fit in.

Shaking off the thought, she continued walking, keeping her eyes peeled for Enid. Maybe the girl was just like her, maybe she also needed to escape the illusion of safety for a little while.

As she walked further into the woods, she spotted a wooden house, chipped white paint covering it. Outside it, laid a lot of junk. Sunny walked over, kicking the junk to see if there was anything of use. Obviously, there wasn't.

Distant footsteps were heard, Sunny didn't hesitate to cower behind one of the walls, slightly peaking out. It was Rick and Carl. Though it was just her family, she didn't make a move. Rick would not be happy if he found out she'd snuck out without telling anyone.

Rick began to rummage through the junk, too, but his jaw clenched when he opened some kind of pot as if he was disappointed. She didn't understand why.

Before she could think too much about it, a sound broke the stillness of the woods—the unmistakable groan of walkers.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively gripped her bat tighter. She peered around the corner, spotting movement through the trees. Walkers, at least half a dozen, their ragged forms staggering toward Rick and Carl.

Rick reacted instantly, raising his hand to Carl, signaling him to get ready. Without a word, Carl pulled out his gun, his eyes narrowing with focus.

They moved like they had done this a thousand times before—because they had. Rick swung his knife with precision, cleaving the nearest walker through the skull. Carl wasn't far behind. He stepped forward, plunging his knife into the skull of another walker, his face set in concentration. 

After a little bit, the father and son quickly took the threat out. Carl slammed a metal rod into the final walker as Rick watched him, his expression matching something of admiration. The two gave each other a small nod, then began to walk away.

Sunny couldn't help but smirk a little, she had managed to not be caught.

But, that smirk was quick to vanish from her face as she heard a snarl right next to her. She turned, face to face with a walker, it's decaying mouth inches from snapping into her. A gasp escaped her lips as she stumbled back.

The creatures outstretched arm reached for her, fingers gnarled and desiccated. She quickly shoved it back, gripping her bat as she raised it, then slammed it into the side of the walkers skull. The impact knocked it onto the ground, but it was still alive.

She then brought the bat down, again and again. Not stopping till the walker was just brain matter on the ground. She took many deep breaths, she was okay. The walker was dealt with. She turned around, her eyes widening.

Rick was staring at her, his expression worried, yet disappointed. She was in deep shit.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

The three walked back to Alexandria in silence, Sunny was worried though, she knew as soon as they got back, she would get a firm telling off from either Rick or Daryl. She hoped it'd be Rick, he was way less scary. 

They reached the gates and they were ever so slightly ajar, they stepped inside and were instantly met with chaos. There was a small gathering of people, and all Sunny saw was Daryl tackle Nicholas to the ground, beginning to strangle him.

She had no context whatsoever, but she knew Nicholas deserved it. He was an asshole.

Rick was quick to sprint towards the scene, Sunny and Carl a few steps behind. The man grabbed onto Daryl, trying to pull him off of Nicholas. "Whoa! Whoa! Hey hey, hey!" He yelled, but Daryl didn't release the man. "Let's not do this now," Rick told him, reluctantly, Daryl released Nicholas as he began to pace.

Daryl was raging, his eyes landed on Sunny, and somehow, he got even angrier. Oh shit, he already knew.

"I want everyone to hear me, okay?!" Deanna announced, looking around at the gathering of people. "Rick and his people are part of this community now in all ways as equals! Understood?!"

"Understood," a man with brown hair and a grey shirt spoke, his expression smug. Sunny didn't know him, and she didn't have any plan on it either. He seemed like a jerk.

"All of you, turn in your weapons!" Deanna ordered, she then turned to the jerk and Nicholas, pointing her finger at them. "Then you two, come talk to me!"

Everyone began to disperse, only Sunny, Michonne, Glenn, Maggie, Rick and Daryl staying. The girl still had no idea what was happening, but she didn't want to leave and miss out.

"I told you I had a job for you. I'd like you to be our constable," Deanna then said to Rick. "That's what you were, that's what you are." She then turned to Michonne, "and you, too. Will you both accept?"

"Okay," Rick replied, his eyebrows slightly raised.

Michonne looked pleasantly surprised by the offer, slightly nodding her head with a subtle smile. "Yeah, I'm in."

Daryl released a loud scoff at the two getting a job offer, then, bent down to pick up his crossbow. Just as it looked like he was leaving, he gripped Sunny's arm, pulling him along with her. He was mad, real mad.

Daryl didn't say a word, but his grip on Sunny's arm was firm as he dragged her along. His face was set in a hard scowl, eyes focused straight ahead. She could feel the tension radiating from him, and she knew better than to say anything right now. Any attempt to explain herself would only make it worse.

Daryl's pace was relentless, and Sunny could barely keep up with his long strides. The people they passed didn't seem to notice—or maybe they just didn't want to. Either way, Sunny was glad no one stopped them.

When they reached 'their' house, Daryl threw open the door and pulled her inside. The second they were through the threshold, he let go of her arm and slammed the door shut behind them, the sound echoing through the quiet space. His silence was gone in an instant.

"Where the hell did ya go?" he barked, his voice low and gravelly. "I thought you were headin' to Ron's. You just... disappeared!"

Sunny took a step back, feeling the weight of his gaze, a mixture of worry and irritation. "I just wanted to—"

"Wanted to what? Get yourself killed?" Daryl interrupted, his fists clenching at his sides. "You know how dangerous it is out there! You can't just wander off like that, Sunny!"

The words stung, but she kept her composure, forcing herself to hold his gaze. "I wasn't in any danger. I saw Rick and Carl, and I—"

"Doesn't matter!" he cut her off again, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "You could've been surrounded by walkers, and I wouldn't have known! Hell, you could've gotten hurt!"

She stood there, fidgeting with her hands, feeling like a kid again under his intense glare. She hadn't seen him this angry in a long time. "I wasn't trying to cause trouble. I just—"

"You weren't tryin'?" Daryl growled, his voice rising even more. "You coulda gotten yourself killed out there! Walkers? You didn't think about that?"

"I had my bat and knife," Sunny spoke quietly.

Daryl's eyes narrowed at her words, but he stayed quiet for a moment, clearly wrestling with the anger he was holding back. Finally, he spoke again, this time softer but no less intense.

"I don't care what you had. You ain't out there alone, Sunny. You ain't sneakin' out when no one knows where you are," he muttered, his voice thick with something more than anger now. Worry.

She looked down, guilt gnawing at her. She hadn't thought about how it would affect Daryl—how much he would worry about her, even if he barely ever showed it.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly.

Daryl stopped pacing and stood in front of her, his expression hard but his eyes softer now. "You can't be pullin' that, not now. We're in this together, yeah? You gotta stick with me." His voice dropped, the frustration finally giving way to something else—something almost like fear. "Can't lose you, Sunny."

Her heart clenched at his words, knowing how much they meant.

"I won't do it again," she promised, her voice barely above a whisper.

Daryl just nodded, exhaling deeply as he ran a hand over his face. Then, without another word, he turned and slumped down into a chair, exhausted from the worry and anger. Sunny stayed where she was, feeling the weight of everything settle on her shoulders.

"I like this place. Just felt weird, y'know? It's different," Sunny said quietly, her gaze fixed on the ground.

Daryl sighed, nodding slowly. "I know."

"I should've told you. I'm sorry," she added, her voice barely above a whisper.

"It's alright," he replied, though the words felt heavier than they should have. It wasn't just about her sneaking outside the walls; it was about the feeling of losing her, even for a moment.

Daryl ran a hand over his face, still trying to shake off the worry that had gripped him when he found out she was missing. He had been on edge since Carl and Lincoln had returned to the house, their faces twisted with concern as they told him Sunny hadn't shown up at Ron's at all. 

Panic had hit him like a gut punch. He didn't trust this place. Alexandria was shiny and new, but it felt like a trap. Too many times, they had been fooled into thinking they were safe only to have the ground ripped out from beneath them. He had no idea what could have happened to her out there.

As he looked at Sunny, the weight of the world seemed to press down on him even harder. She was just a kid—one who had seen more horror than most adults ever would. Daryl knew he had to protect her. He couldn't let himself think about the "what ifs." What if he lost her? What if she didn't come back next time? That thought curled around his heart like a vice, squeezing tighter with each passing second.

"Listen, Sunny," he said, his voice gruff but gentle. "You gotta understand. It's not that I don't trust you. It's just..." He hesitated, searching for the right words. "This world ain't like it used to be. You can't just go out there alone. Not now, not ever. Ya mean too much to me."

Her eyes widened, and for a moment, he could see the understanding sink in. She nodded slowly, but he could tell the weight of it was still heavy on her shoulders. "I'll be more careful," she promised, her voice stronger now. "I don't want to worry you again."

Daryl forced a smile, trying to lighten the mood. "Good. Because if you keep pullin' stunts like that, I'm gonna have to keep a leash on ya."

A small smile broke through her serious demeanor, and it made his heart swell with relief. Just seeing her smile reminded him of what was worth fighting for in this messed-up world.

As they stood together in the empty house, a silence settled between them, but it was a comfortable one. Daryl could feel the warmth of her presence grounding him. He knew that if anything were to happen to her, he wouldn't know what to do.

The thought hit him like a freight train. Daryl Dixon wouldn't know what to do if he lost Sunny Smith. The realization was a chilling reminder of just how much she had come to mean to him. She was more than just a kid he was watching over; she had become a part of him, a reason to keep pushing forward, a reason to fight.

With that thought lingering in the air, Daryl made a silent vow to himself. No matter what it took, he would protect her. He would keep her close, even if it meant pulling her back from the edge time and time again. Because losing Sunny wasn't an option he was willing to consider. Not now, not ever.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞

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Bruh. The beginning of Alexandria just isn't exciting to write, I do apologize if these are super boring lol.