Guys, we hit 10K reads. I seriously have no words. I can't believe it. I'm so happy so many people seem to be enjoying my take on TWD, Daryl and of course my creation of Jo. Thank you so much for everyone who continues to read and support this story. I am so grateful! 

I also want to take this moment to thank @DixonLover2724 for nominating Last One Standing and me for TWD Fanfiction Awards! 

So, I genuinely hope you enjoy this update. I promise to have the next one out very soon. Please keep that in mind

Comment/Vote!!!!

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Daryl

It was mid afternoon before I got back to the house empty handed. I was tired and feeling grimy. I would never admit it to anyone, especially Carol, but I was looking forward to a hot shower.

I opened the front door and was surprised to hear music playing. I followed the sound into the kitchen and stopped in the doorway. There was a small CD player sitting on the counter and Jo was putting away dishes and dancing.

She had changed and was wearing a tight black t-shirt that showed off a few inches of the smooth skin at the small of her back. I sucked in a breath as she rolled her hips in time to the music. I closed my eyes and took a steadying breath as I remembered back to that morning when Carl interrupted us.

When I opened my eyes her back was still to me and she had picked up a kitchen knife. She was twirling it through her fingers in a way that reminded me of a gunslinger from the old west. She rolled it effortlessly and flipped her grip while continuing to put away dishes.

I watched as she moved with the music and when the song changed her arm snapped out. The blade embedded itself in a small target across the kitchen. The blade struck home and she didn't bother to check to see if she hit her target. Another song came on. This one was a sultry blues singer and her hips slowed to a languid pace and she sang softly along. My breath caught in my throat.

She picked up a second knife, this one a large kitchen blade and was playing with it idly.

I was startled by a rap at the backdoor. Jo looked up sharply. She tightened her grip on the knife for a moment before she let it clatter into the sink. She put on a smile and unlocked the french doors.

"Spencer," I didn't like how warmly she said his name. I stepped back deeper into the hall in case she invited him in.

I didn't hear what he said but she laughed warmly. "Yeah, I'll get it," she said and she stepped back into the kitchen.

Spencer followed and stood just inside the door. He watched her closely as she went to the fridge and bent over to get something from the bottom shelf. I watched him stare at her ass, tilting his head to the side so he could get a better look.

I took an aggressive step forward and clenched my fist. I jumped when a hand closed over my arm. I turned around convinced Jo had somehow snuck up on me.

Carol was standing beside me looking on in disapproval, her basket from the pantry still in her arms. I let out a sigh and followed silently behind her as she pulled me back out the door and across the yard to the house next door. She didn't release me until we were on the porch.

"What do you think you're doing?" she demanded, whisper yelling at me.

I shook my head, not meeting her gaze. "Just got home."

Her brows shot up at my words and I shook my head as I realized what I had said. I had called Alexandria home.

"So you were spying on Jo?" She asked hotly, dropping her basket at our feet.

"No," I snapped, "Just walked into that." I said motioning over my shoulder with a vague gesture. I felt like an idiot for being caught by Carol.

Carol exhaled sharply and nodded. She looked out across the street then back at me. "You need to drop this jealousy bullshit. She doesn't take him seriously."

"What?" I snapped. My voice came out harsher than I meant and she shook her head at me.

"Spencer," she said in a patient tone. "Jo doesn't take Spencer or Aidan, for that matter, seriously and neither should you."

I wouldn't look at her then. Carol made a noise in the back of her throat. "You know exactly how Jo feels about you..."

The thing was, I wasn't sure. We hadn't really had a chance. And now I was just another asshole. She was beautiful and strong and intelligent and now she had choices. Probably choices that were better than me.

When I didn't respond she turned away. She let out a mirthless chuckle. "What is wrong with you?" She pointed over towards the other house. "That woman has been waiting for you for god knows how long! Since the beginning!" Carol railed. "Since the...CDC, maybe even before that! You love her!" Carol cleared her throat and forced herself to calm down. "Now get inside and take a shower," she ordered. "We are all going to Deanna's party. You will come and be charming and sweet, just like I know you can, and like Jo deserves!"

I took half a step away from Carol's intense expression. Carol arched a brow meaningfully, scooped up her basket and marched back towards our house, leaving me staring after her speechless. 

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Jo

"Hello," Carol called from the doorway.

"Hey," I called back.

"How's it going?" she asked. She flashed me a bright smile as she moved into the kitchen.

"Good, Spencer came by and picked up the appetizer," I said, wiping down the counter. "Said his mom wanted it there early."

Carol nodded. "Good. I'm going to quick make some cookies, then we should all get ready to head over."

"Get ready?" I asked frowning.

Carol dropped her eyes to my clothes. I looked down at myself and frowned. "What's wrong with this?"

Carol's lips pressed into a firm line and she reached into the basket. She pulled out a folded piece of clothing and handed it to me. "I found this at the pantry and thought it would be nice."

I unfolded it to find a short, dark green wrap dress. I held it up to myself and looked down at it. "It looks a little small," I said frowning.

"It'll look great," Carol promised.

I scowled at her. "I'm starting to get the feeling you're trying to marry me off or something..."

She laughed a little too loudly and waved me off. "Of course not, just a little distraction. I mean...unless you're already spoken for?" She asked raising an eyebrow.

"Not really a lot of speaking going on..." I muttered, turning away.

"Really?" she asked, raising her eyebrows suggestively. "But there are other things going on?"

I frowned. "Well...no...Not what you're thinking." I shook my head and stared down at the dress in my hands. It was lovely. Before the turn it would have been something I would have worn out to a nice dinner with Tommy.

"Well then," Carol said brightly. "There absolutely nothing stopping you from going to this party and having a great time."

I sighed. She was up to something, but to be honest I was too exhausted to worry about it.

"I guess I'm going to go take a shower and make myself presentable. Gotta keep up appearances after all," I playfully mocked her words from earlier.

She smirked at me. "That's a girl."

I showered upstairs since my stuff was in my room. By the time I did my hair and applied make up Carol, Rick, Judith and Carl had already headed over to Deanna's. When I came down the stairs Michonne was sitting on the counter, wearing a short knit dress herself and I felt better about being so dressed up.

When she saw me she hopped down. "Ready?" she asked.

I nodded.

"Abraham and Rosita are waiting for us next door."

"Cool," I said, sliding my feet into the ballet flats I had left sitting by the backdoor.

We walked in silence over to the other house. Abraham and Rosita must have been watching for us because they met us on the sidewalk.

"You look nice," I said smiling at Rosita. She had found a black cocktail dress somewhere and was wearing a cardigan over the top.

"Thanks," she said with a tight smile, looking nervous. "You too."

I looked down at myself and nodded.

Abraham was staring at me, frowning. "You packing steel little sister?"

I glanced at him and arched a brow. "Yeah...why?"

He smirked. "Shit hits the fan, I like to know who's armed and who will be standing there with their thumb up their ass. Always knew I could count on you."

I glanced over at the other women and they both shook their heads. I was assuming they were not armed. They were clearly adapting to life here better than I was. It would be a long time before I was ready to face a room full of these people without a weapon of some kind. Hell, I had been in Woodbury for a few weeks before things turned south.

Reg opened the door for us. "Welcome, welcome," he greeted smiling at each of us. "We're so glad you were able to come tonight." He ushered us into the room and then wandered off immediately, taking Michonne with him under the pretense of introducing her to someone.

"I don't know about this," Abraham grumbled under his breath.

Rosita looked to the refreshments table, motioning towards the neat rows of bottles. "They have beer."

"Imma give it a try," Abraham said gruffly stepping towards the table with renewed enthusiasm.

Rosita and I shared an amused look before she left me to follow him.

I took a deep breath. There had to be almost forty people crammed into the main floor of the Monroe household. I instantly felt overwhelmed and terribly exposed wearing this stupid dress. I wanted my knives and leather jacket. I smoothed the skirt resisting the urge to pull it down. It fell a few inches above my knees but I wished it was longer. I caught my necklace, running my fingers over the key to steady my nerves.

"Jo!" Deanna cried from across the room. A bunch of people looked over at me and I suddenly wished the floor would open up and swallow me whole. She came over and pulled me into a tight hug. "You look fantastic!" she enthused. "It's so wonderful to have you here. Have you found a drink?"

"Um-" I started to say but someone stepped up beside me. Their body was close enough I could feel their warmth. My mind went instantly to Daryl, but I knew it wasn't him. I glanced over and saw Aidan standing there holding a cup out to me.

"Jo," he greeted with a warm smile. "You look ravishing."

I resisted the urge to scowl at him. Punching him in the face also sounded like a solid second option. "Thank you," I replied instead, accepting the drink and taking a measured step back from him. I looked down into the cup and glanced back at him questioningly.

"It's a cocktail Nicholas and I came up with," he said with what I am sure was a charming smile. It did little to charm me. "We're a little limited I'm afraid, but if you like it, it's in the blue pitcher."

I nodded and took a preoccupied sip. Deanna was watching the two of us with an entirely too satisfied smile on her face. I took another sip. It was good, strong but good. It tasted a little like a long island iced tea, but with a hint of cherry maybe.

"Jo, you must allow me to introduce you to Holly when she comes. She is the teacher here now, and I would love for the two of you to be able to collaborate on the curriculum. Educating the next generation is so important, don't you think?"

I nodded pleasantly taking another big drink of my cocktail. She didn't really seem to need my input in the conversation she was having with me, so I simply nodded in agreement and looked around for someone who would save me. I caught Carol's eye but she only grinned and winked at me. I sighed and shot a scowl her way, but she had already looked away.

"Have you gotten any food?" Deanna was suddenly asking me. That question did require my input.

I looked at her and shook my head. "I haven't."

"Well you must, and I have to say the dip you made is just phenomenal. I would have never thought I would enjoy something curry based but it is great. Did you do much traveling before? I'm afraid the interviews had to stick to business and there was so much else I wanted to discuss with you. You are a fascinating woman."

And there went my chance to escape to the food table. I took another sip from my cocktail. "Yes, a little." I replied. I could already feel the alcohol in my system. "I spent a little time in Thailand and then Tibet."

"Oh!" Deanna exclaimed. "Spencer would LOVE to talk to you about Thailand. He and Reg spent two weeks there after Spencer graduated from Columbia. Political Science," she gushed. She looked away from both Aidan and I, searching the room. "Spencer!" she called, waving to him. Spencer nodded to his mother and began to excuse himself from the conversation he was in. Deanna looked back at us. "Aidan here chose to go to Cabo," she said slightly dismissively. "He went to Brown though and studied marketing," her voice trailed off and it was clear to me in which son she placed higher value.

I took another sip of my drink and looked at Aidan over the rim. He was shifting his weight uncomfortably. His mothers words clearly upset him, and the tension rose even further when Spencer appeared at his mothers side.

"Spencer," Deanna gushed. "Jo here traveled to Thailand!" she said excitedly, as though we were destined to be the best of friends because of one shared life experience. I felt a little like she was sizing me up for a wedding dress.

Across the room Carol and Rick were standing close together chatting. I turned to Deanna and the boys. "I'm sorry, could you excuse me for a moment."

"Of course," Deanna said with a smile.

I flashed them each a smile and slipped away. When I approached Carol was just muttering to Rick. "Look she's here, which means it's empty, so..." I followed their gaze to where Olivia was coming though the front door.

"I'll go with you," Rick offered.

Carol looked at him reproachfully. "No, remember..."

"You're invisible," he muttered, shaking his head and grinning.

"I could come," I offered.

Carol looked at me with a smirk. "I think your new friends are looking for you."

I looked up and sure enough Spencer and Aidan were headed back across the room towards me. I sighed and slipped away to the drinks table. I poured myself another cocktail out of the pitcher  and stepped discretely between Rosita and Abraham.

"You hiding from someone in particular little sister?" Abraham asked chuckling down at me.

I took a long swig from my glass and shifted my weight so I was tucked in between the two of them. There were certainly some advantages to being small. I glanced out the window and froze as I saw Daryl walking down the road away from the house. I frowned, wondering what he was doing out so late.

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Daryl

I stood outside in the dark. I could see her inside, in the light. She looked gorgeous tonight. She was laughing and talking with these strangers, looking perfectly at ease. I couldn't do it. I couldn't go in there. I didn't belong. She did though, she belonged in a life like this.

I was walking by myself down the dark street when a porch light flicked on and the front door opened.

"Daryl," Aaron called. "Hey."

I squinted up at him and then motioned back towards Deanna's house. "I thought you were going to that party over there."

He followed my motion and then looked back at me. "Oh, I was never going to go, cause of Eric's ankle, thank god."

I squinted up at him. "Why the hell did you tell me to go then?"

"I said try, you did. It's a thought that counts thing," he said with a chuckle.

"All right," I said with a nod and turned to keep walking.

"Hey, come in," he said. "Have some dinner."

I hesitated.

"Come on man, it's some pretty serious spaghetti."

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Jo

An hour of dodging Aidan and Spencer later I stepped out onto the back patio to get some air. I took a long drink and looked down into my cup. It was empty again and I didn't fully remember finishing a third glass.

There was a small sword in the bottom holding two cherries. I pulled it out and ate the cherries off it, staring down at the tiny sword.

"You packing different steel these days?" Abraham asked coming out the back door to check on me.

I turned to face him and smiled. "Yeah," I responded with a grin and dropped the cocktail sword back into my cup. "Haven't you heard?"

He snorted and stepped up next to me, leaning against the pillar. His face suddenly turned serious as he stared out into the night. "You live by it, you die by it, and eat potato puffs by it."

I chuckled.

"You pray to god you don't have to use it again, you pray to god you don't get used to not using it again." he said sagely. "It's on your back, even when it's off your back."

His hand reached down and touched my low back where one of my knives was concealed. "Guess yours is still on your back, aye little sister?"

I snorted and shook my head. I was impressed he found one of my knives. Thinking back on it I had brushed against him when I was trying to avoid the boys. He must have felt it then. "How much have you had to drink?"

He grinned at me. "I am a large man. And I have had many beers to make up for that. And you know what? By that brave act I have-I have come to realize things have worked out pretty damn well for me." He chuckled.

I nodded, he was right. Things had worked out, for all of us. Now we just had to figure out how to let them. After fighting for so long it was nearly impossible to force myself to stop fighting. 

"How about you? What have you done to make things work out for you?" He challenged.

I looked down at myself. "I put on this dress."

"Try again," he demanded, staring into my eyes. "Daryl was here wasn't he?" his words slurred a little as he jerked his chin in the direction I had seen Daryl earlier.

I looked out into the night, my brows pulled down. Daryl. 

"I think I need to go," I said quickly.

Abraham nodded wisely. "I think you do too."

I downed the rest of my drink and left the cup sitting on the railing.

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Daryl

I finished my plate of spaghetti, slurping up the rest of the sauce and swiping across my mouth with my sleeve. "Thanks," I grunted.

Eric leaned towards me with a smile. "Oh, when you're out there if you happen to be in a store or something, Mrs. Neudermyer is really looking for a pasta maker. And we're all really trying to get her to shut up about it-"

I lifted my wine glass, draining half of it with a swig.

"I mean, we have crates of dried pasta in here, but she wants to make her own or something. I really think she just wants something to talk about, so...if you see one out on your travels. It would go a long way to..."

There was a weird tension all of a sudden and I drained the rest of my wine. Aaron was looking at Eric with his eyebrows raised. I reached out and poured myself another glass and quickly took another swallow. The wine was good and I started to feel more relaxed as the alcohol did its job.

"...I thought it was done." Eric said uncomfortably. "You didn't ask him already?"

"Ask me what?" I asked over the top of my wine glass.

Aaron excused us from the table while Eric started clearing the dishes. Aaron led me into his garage and clicked on the light.

I looked in to see piles of motorcycle parts and a bike under a tarp. "When I got the place, there was that frame and some parts and equipment. Whoever lived here built them."

I sifted through the parts curiously. "There's a lot of parts for one bike."

"Whenever I came across any parts out there I brought them back. I didn't know what I'd need. I always thought I'd learn how to do it, but I get the feeling you already know what to do with it."

I went over to the bike and lifted the edge of the tarp.

"And the thing is, you're going to need a bike."

It didn't look like it would take too much to get the bike running again. I glanced around the garage taking note of the parts I could see. A couple hours at the most. 

I stopped and frowned at him. "Why?"

"I told Deanna not to give you a job because I think I have on for you. I'd like you to be Alexandria's other recruiter."

I chewed on my lip as I thought about his words.

"I don't want Eric risking his life anymore."

I shook my head and turned away. He thought I was expendable. Hell they all did. "Ya want me risking mine right?"

"Yeah," he agreed. "Because you know what you're doing. You're good out there, but you don't belong out there. I know it's hard getting used to people getting used to you," he pressed his lips into a hard line. "Jo..." he started to say. 

I looked up at him sharply and he swallowed nervously but he continued. 

"I remember you guys out there. I remember her. But she seems like she has settled in." 

I nodded, chewing on my lip. "Yeah, she's doing alright I guess." 

Aaron nodded. "She's giving a solid effort, changing, settling in...it seems pretty easy for her. That's not always the case, and that's okay. I understand right now you need to be out there sometimes. So do I."

I lifted the tarp off the bike. 

"But the main reason I want you to help me recruit is because you do know the difference between a good person and a bad person."

I shrugged and nodded. "I got nothing else to do. Thanks."

"Yeah."

"I'll get you some rabbits," I offered, hating feeling like I owed someone anything.

"Thanks," he said grinning in relief.

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Jo

I was walking down the dark streets when I heard a door close near by. I turned to see Daryl coming down the steps from Aaron's house. Even in the dim light I could see he had cleaned up. He was wearing a new shirt under his vest and jacket. He paused at the bottom of the steps and frowned, as though he sensed I was watching him. He turned and spotted me. He quirked a brow and walked over to me. 

"Thought you were at the party?" he said, jerking his chin back towards Deanna's house.

I wrapped my arms around myself and tried not to shiver as the cool night air caught up with me. "I was, but...I got tired of being alone."  The stupid dress did absolutely nothing to keep me warm. 

Daryl cocked his head and ran his eyes over me. I shivered again. He snorted and pulled his jacket off, draping it over my shoulders.

"Thought everyone was supposed to be there," he said, tucking me into his jacket.

"Not everyone," I said in a breathy voice. I bit my lip and let my eyes trail over his face and drift down to his lips.

He had kept his hands on the collar of the jacket and he frowned at me. Had I really expected anything else from him? He glided the backs of his knuckles along my jaw and I shivered at the contact. "Oh?" he asked, his voice husky. 

I nodded, but didn't trust myself to speak. I was suddenly feeling a little breathless with him standing so close. He still smelled of leather and the forest, but now I also smelled fresh soap overlaid with wine. 

"Nice dress darl'in," he said, smirking down at me.

"Thanks," I replied wryly.

"Seriously though, what are ya doing walking out here by yourself."

I frowned up at him in confusion. The alcohol was making my brain work a little slow. "I was looking for you."

He stepped back and looked me up and down. "Are you armed?" he asked.

I frowned up at him, not fully understanding his sudden change in topic. "Yesss...why?" I asked hesitantly. 

"Not always safe for a beautiful woman to be walking the streets at night alone."

I snorted indelicately.

"None of your admirers offered to walk you home?" He asked and I could hear the hard edge building in his voice. I resisted the urge to sigh. This was not the direction I wanted this to go at all. 

I frowned up at him and maybe it was the alcohol talking or maybe I was just done waiting. "Daryl-" I started to reassure him, but stopped. I needed to say this right. I pushed myself up on my toes, resting my hands against his chest and brushed my lips across his. He was so warm and tasted like wine. I pulled back before he could react. "Will you walk with me?" I asked, staring hard into his shadowed blue eyes.

He froze beneath my hands and I had a moment to wonder if I had completely blown it. If I had pushed too hard. 

He nodded. "Okay," he said cautiously. 

I nodded, feeling jittery with tension and nerves. Because I was anxious I reached down and tangled my fingers with his. His hands were large and warm and strong. They had always made me feel safe and steady and so many other wonderful things. It was strange to be nervous about him and yet taking comfort from him at the same time. It was enough to make my head spin. 

After a few moments of walking in silence Daryl glanced down at me. He ran his gaze over the dress. "Outta curiosity where exactly do ya have those knives hidden..."

I snorted, immediately feeling more at ease. "Wouldn't you like to know?" I challenged smirking up at him. His gaze intensified and I swallowed, nerves running uncontrollably through my stomach. 

I led him over to the gazebo that overlooked the pond. He followed without comment. It seemed so easy when I had been talking to Abraham. Now, standing with Daryl in the dark telling him my feelings, and confronting us seemed terrifying. I needed Daryl, I depended on Daryl, I couldn't imagine my life without him. I was ninety percent certain he felt the same way, but the small, ten percent of pure self doubt was convinced I was going to ruin everything. Would it be better to only have him as a friend, as we were in this moment, than risk pushing him away? I knew Daryl, better than anyone and I was certain if this was something he didn't want he would run for the hills and I would lose him.

I was chewing on my lip as all these thoughts raced through my head. When I didn't say anything for a few long minutes he reached out and brushed his thumb gently across my temple. "Hey, what's going on up there?" he asked softly. 

I startled out of my thoughts and realized this was it, I was going to have to decide right now, one way or the other. 

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I am SO evil!!!!