See, I promised I wouldn't make you wait too long. I hope you are enjoying. Please comment/vote!

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Jo

"Hey," Daryl's voice was husky as it pulled me from my thoughts. He reached out and glided his thumb across my temple. "What's going on up there?"

I lifted my eyes to meet his and was surprised to find him only inches away. My thoughts scattered and I suddenly wasn't certain now was the best time to do this. The alcohol in my system made me braver than normal, but it also made my thoughts sluggish.

"Jo?" Daryl asked, his brow furrowed. He reached out and his fingers lightly touched my low back under his jacket. I could feel his warm hand through the thin material of my dress like a brand.

His hand stilled when he touched the one knife hidden there. He looked down at me, smiling lightly. "That's my  girl," he said with a low chuckle. He moved his fingers, teasing them along the edges of the knife. "One of your new toys?" he asked. He snorted and leaned in so his lips were nearly touching her ear. "I'd love to see their faces when they see ya in action. They think you're beautiful now..." he said smirking.

I let out a single chuckle and looked away, a blush climbing it's way up my neck. I wasn't sure what to say now. Daryl was surprising me tonight. When I still didn't respond he pulled back a step and frowned down at me. I could see a hint of uncertainty in his gaze.

I took a deep steadying breath as I thought about his words. I squinted at him, wondering what could have changed that he would suddenly be so forward and open. It couldn't just be the wine.

I turned away from him and looked up at the moon where it was reflected down into the pond. The wind blew again, tossing the trees and the leaves rustled. It was nice, not having to wonder if the peacefully rustling leaves was concealing the noise of an approaching walker. Nice, though it would take me a long time to get used to it. I don't know that I ever wanted to get used to it.

I glanced over my shoulder at Daryl. "It is beautiful here, in a peaceful, slightly boring suburban way," I added with a smile.

He nodded, though he didn't take his eyes off my face. "Yeah, it is."

I took another deep breath and turned to face him once more. Even in the dim light I could make out every feature. These days I knew his face better than I knew my own. His dark hair was tangled around his face, falling into his eyes. I wanted to reach out and brush it back. My hand itched to push it out of his eyes so I could see them better. He had perfected using it as a shield against other people, but he never seemed to do so with me. He hid his gorgeous blue eyes and kept his expression guarded and everyone stayed away. When we were alone though, he let himself show his emotions. His eyes were studying my face now like I was the only person in the world. He had cleaned up, but he hadn't shaved and his cheeks were still covered in scruff that hadn't quite grown enough to be a beard. It effectively hid the mole above his lip that I found irresistibly sexy. I bit my own lip as my eyes fixed on his lips.

I had fought for everything I had in this world. I looked around at the houses of Alexandria. These people had fought for nothing, they didn't know how to fight. I didn't want to be like that. I took a breath and reminded myself this was just a mask I wore, I wasn't this person. That Jo had died in the cell in Woodbury, she was dead and buried. I was using her, using her mannerisms, her thoughts, but I wasn't her, not anymore. And as I stared at Daryl I realized with absolute certainty I didn't want to be her. She would have never survived what I had and she wasn't the one Daryl trusted at his back.

I frowned and took a step away from him, so I could think clearly. I wasn't really sure how to begin, but I needed to make him understand. "I lied to Deanna," I said simply.

Daryl didn't respond, only nodded. This was nothing new.

"I mean," I said with a chuckle. "I lied to her about a lot of things...but during my interview she asked me if I was with someone in the group."

I was watching Daryl's face, trying to determine his reaction. He kept his expression perfectly neutral as he watched me curiously. Most of the time Daryl and I were on the same page, but I didn't think he knew where I was going with this.

I cleared my throat nervously. "I told her I wasn't with anyone...I lied."

Still no reaction, his expression that was normally open with me was slowly and carefully becoming guarded.

"And it didn't bother me before. What we...do...have..." I stammered, "is no one's business but ours," I said looking down at my hands. "But it bothered me tonight. Deanna spent the better part of the evening pushing her son...sons...both of them, at me because she thinks..." I shook my hand, my fingers finding my necklace. I worried the small bits of metal against one another. "And...and I realized that it bothered me...that I lied about that," I finished lamely.

I paused and waited for him to respond. "You lied..." he said cautiously.

I nodded slowly.

He swallowed, pinching his lips together thoughtfully as he stared at the ground. "It bugs me that I lied too," he confessed in a husky voice. Then he slowly lifted his gaze to meet mine. His expression was open and honest. I don't think I had ever seen Daryl look so vulnerable.

I reached out and laced my fingers with his. "I am lying about a lot of things," I said in a gentle voice. "And I'm fine with most of it, it makes sense, and is safer for now. But..." I took a deep breath to steady myself. "Daryl, I don't want to lie about this."

He frowned down at me and I stumbled over the next words. "I'm saying this all wrong," I said shaking my head, but I just kept going because that's what I did. I tripped over my words as they came out faster and faster. "I feel like I have been holding myself back for so long I hardly know how to do anything else. We said we wanted to start living, and...and I know a lot has happened since then but...We are far from settled and I know that this is no guarantee, but why not try? This place is great, but what's the point if we don't let ourselves be..." I was babbling now, from here it was only going to go downhill. I ran the pad of my thumb along the rough edge of the key.

He reached up and stilled my hand, wrapping his warm fingers around my own. "Jo," he said in a husky rasp. "Stop," he said seriously. 

He wrapped a hand around my waist and pulled me roughly against his chest. His hands were firm but urgent as he angled his head down and kissed me. I could feel his strong fingers on my low back through the thin material of the dress while his other hand cupped my cheek tenderly. He deepened the kiss, running his tongue along mine. I shivered in his arms and it had nothing to do with the cold anymore.

I wound my hands around his neck, pulling him closer. The motion shifted his jacket off my shoulders and it fell, leaving me in nothing but the small dress. He backed us up a step and my back pressed against the cool wood post of the gazebo. He had me effectively trapped. I smirked against his lips, ever the hunter.  He nipped at my lower lip, drawing my focus back to what we were doing. He let go of my face and glided his fingers down my side. Heat spread through my stomach and I moaned, rubbing my tongue against his. His clever fingers traveled over my hip and teased their way down the outside of my thigh. He dragged his lips along my jawline. I shuddered when his lips found the sensitive skin below my ear. He answering chuckle was low and husky and it tightened things low in my stomach.

He nipped at my ear playfully. "Found a second one," his breath was hot against my skin and his fingers teased the edge of the second knife strapped to my thigh under the dress.

I let my hands travel down his chest and across his stomach. He made a noise low in his throat and I smirked loving how sexy he made me feel. I teased along the edge of his belt and now he was the one shuddering beneath my fingers. No one else mattered but him and this moment.

Somewhere down the block footsteps sounded. Daryl kept his hands on me but his head snapped in the direction of the sound. We both tensed. I dropped my hand to the knife on my thigh, it was the most accessible. There was loud, drunken laughter and we both caught sight of Abraham, Rosita, Tara and Noah stumbling home.

The tension leaked out of Daryl and he grinned, shaking his head. He seemed so relaxed  now, a boyish grin on his face. I moved my hand from the knife and I chuckled, feeling giddy. I leaned my head back against the post of the gazebo. My heart was still racing, and I felt flushed. I reached up and touched my lips where they were tender and swollen.

Daryl watched the members of our group until they were safely back in their house before he turned back to me. He grinned down at me, his expression was open and if I wasn't mistaken, happy. I dropped my hand from my lips to the necklace.

"We should head home," he said, jerking his chin towards our house.

I leaned back a little and stared at him. He smirked and reached down, he picked up his jacket and laid it back across my shoulders, then laced his fingers with mine. As we walked, more people came out on the streets, leaving Deanna's party. Daryl slowed, his body tensing and he seemed to position himself between them and me. I wondered if it was on purpose. Another thought went over me, he was shielding me so they wouldn't see me walking beside him in the dark.

I stepped up next to him and took his hand firmly, dragging him towards the middle of the street. He hesitated in protest. I looked up at him. "Daryl," I said firmly. "We aren't in danger here. No one here can take us..." then in the interest of being honest I hesitated. "Maybe Michonne and Rick..." I allowed.

He frowned down at me. "And I don't care if they see me with you. I told you. I'm done lying about this."

I knew this would be the difficult part of it for him, he had never been okay with being overly public with our feelings. And we were being watched curiously by at least a handful of people heading back to their homes. I wasn't sure if it was because we were together or if it was because they were all still wary of him in particular.

"But-" he started to say, scowling all of a sudden. He leaned in so we wouldn't be overheard. "Your...plan...I don't think-"

I cut him off turning to face him and pressed my finger against his lips. His eyes widened in surprise and he froze beneath my hand. "Daryl, it doesn't matter. I would have always been attracted to you. Before the turn or after. You're sweet and strong and hot. Now shut up and let's go home."

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Daryl

My whole world view had shifted. I followed silently behind Jo as she marched us towards our house, her cool fingers gripping my hand tighter than normal. I don't know exactly what changed for her tonight, but everything had changed for us now. She walked confidently down the street, not caring that the people from the party were watching us. I didn't like it, not because I didn't want Jo. I absolutely did. But I couldn't decide if it made her more of a target or if it protected her. Until I figured that out I was going to be on edge.

Jo glanced up at me, seeing my tension and sighed, shaking her head. I could tell the change in attitude was bugging her. When we got back to the house Carol and Rick were sitting in the living room. Carol glanced up at us and her eyes dropped to where our hands were clasped together. I lifted my chin and glared at her when she smirked knowingly at me. She looked pretty damn proud of herself.

"I was thinking you boys should take us out shooting again tomorrow," Carol said carefully.

Jo tensed beside me and I knew it meant that Carol must have either been successful getting the guns or there had been a complication we needed to talk about. I nodded, fidgeting with my hand that wasn't holding Jo's.

"What time?" Jo asked, as she tried to hold back a yawn.

"Eleven," Carol said decisively.

We both nodded and turned to go to bed. I expected Jo to drop my hand and head upstairs but instead she tugged me towards the basement. My breath caught as I tried not to get ahead of myself. Things had changed between us, but I wasn't jumping the gun. I wasn't going to rush her. Aaron was right, she was doing better and she was trying, but it didn't mean she was over some of what she had faced in her past.

She didn't turn on any lights and moved easily through the dark into what had become my room. She dropped my hand and moved over to the nightstand where she clicked on the lamp. I paused, standing awkwardly in the doorway, watching her. She pulled off my jacket and hung it in the closet. Then she pulled one of my old shirts out of the closet. She glanced at me over her shoulder, a small smirk playing at the corners of her mouth.

"I won't bite Dixon," she said teasingly. And then her smirk deepened and I knew exactly what she was thinking.

I looked away. I turned around and closed the door behind me. When I turned back she had untied her dress and let it slip to the floor, her back still to me. My mind went completely blank seeing her standing there in nothing but her black bra and underwear. She quickly removed the two knives and set them on the bedside table. I sucked in a breath as she slipped on my shirt. It covered about the same as the dress but she looked even better in it. It marked her even more as mine.

Trying to take control of my thoughts I exhaled. "So...how exactly were you planning on getting at those knives?" I asked.

She looked back at me and she smiled at my obvious discomfort. "Desperate times," she said with a wry smile. Then her grin slowly faded. "This is okay right?" she asked, suddenly looking uncertain as she glanced around my room. "I can-" she started to say, her eyes flickering to the door.

My forehead creased and I stepped up to her. I was being an ass again and not meaning to. She had laid it all out for me, telling me her feelings and I hadn't given her much of anything back. She stood in the middle of my room, wearing nothing but my shirt and suddenly looked terribly vulnerable.

I let out a sigh, pinching my lips together. I strode across the room, wrapped my arms around her and hugged her to my chest. She let out a sigh of relief and I felt even more like an ass.

"Wouldn't have it any other way darl'in," I whispered into her hair. I felt her mouth, where it touched my skin, pull into a grin and then she yawned. 

I pulled back just enough to look down into her shinning green eyes. I touched her cheek with gentle fingers and wondered what I had ever done in my life to be so lucky. "Let's get some sleep."

I stepped away from her long enough to strip down to my boxers. I felt her eyes on me, but I didn't feel self conscious about it anymore. She had made it more than clear how she felt about me scars and all. I kept my back turned away but it was more out of habit than anything.

I clicked off the lamp and laid down on my bed. I held the covers up, inviting her to climb in next to me. She tucked herself in, spooning against my chest. We had slept together before, one night back at the prison, in the city, again on the road, but it wasn't like this. It hadn't felt anything like this. She was warm in my arms and I held her tightly running my hands soothingly through her hair. Her smooth bare legs tangled with mine and I felt all the tension run out of her body. I let out a contented sigh.

"Goodnight Dare," she whispered in the dark.

I brushed my lips across her forehead. "Good night darl'in."

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Jo

I woke slowly, the nightmare was a familiar one. One I had had more times than I could count. Every time I had it, it took me a minute to realize I was no longer there. My tired brain was disoriented and I didn't recognize the room I was in or the feel of the mattress beneath me. I tried to jerk up but there was something holding me. My muscles tensed so I was ready to fight.

"Sshh," a husky voice reassured me. "You're safe Darl'in," he promised me in a voice thick with sleep.

Daryl.

I exhaled as I realized it was his arms looped around me. He tugged me gently back down into the warm circle of his arms. "It's still early," he whispered into my hair. When I snuggled back into him he made a contented sound low in his throat.

As comfortable as I was, I knew I wasn't going to fall back asleep. I wasn't willing to risk having that nightmare again. So instead I lay in the warm circle of his arms and idly traced patterns along his forearms.

"Jo..." he growled playfully in my ear. "I can hear you thinking."

I snorted and rolled over so I was half laying across his chest and looking down at him. His eyes were still closed but a grin was tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"I should get up," I said, but he tightened his grip. Sorry," I said in a quiet voice and I nuzzled into his neck. I needed to get up and get my workout done before we needed to meet with Carol and Rick. I wasn't willing to let myself become complacent here, no matter how difficult it was to get out of bed.

His chest shook with a silent chuckle and he peaked an eye at me. "No ya ain't," he said wryly.

I pinched my lips together. "But am I'm sorry I'm not sorry."

He laughed out loud this time. "That I do believe."

My necklace hung between us and I caught it in my fingers intending to toss it over my shoulder so it was out of the way.

He reached up and stopped the motion, frowning down at our fingers . "What's that you're always playing with on your necklace," he asked.

I looked down at it in my fingers and back up at him. "The necklace was Kate's," I said quietly, surprised it didn't seem to hurt so much to talk about my sister. "My parents got it for her, she loved horses. Merle brought it to me after..." I felt him stiffen beneath me, but he didn't comment. "The wedding ring...well...that ones obvious," I said. He looked to where my fingers sifted aside the bits of metal and he reached up, touching the key. He ran his fingers over it and then looked into my eyes disbelief evident.

"I suppose that one's a little obvious too," I said, feeling a blush creep up my neck.

"Ya would have had to get that one..."

"From your cell, back in the prison," I said softly.

"So even then...?" he asked not taking his eyes off the key as he ran his fingers over it.

I made a noise in the back of my throat in disbelief. The man could be so thick sometimes I just wanted to shake him. I reached down and clasped his face between my hands, squeezing his cheeks in frustration. "Always," I said. I leaned down and smashed my lips against his in a brief but intense kiss. I pulled back and moved to stand. He swung an arm out to snag me and drag me back into bed but I jumped back out of his reach. I gave him a teasing grin. He flopped back against the mattress and pouted at me.

I laughed out loud and shook my head. "I need to go get some clothes, I'll be back down in a little bit," I promised him. Daryl's shirt covered just as much as the dress and I didn't see how it would be any better trying to sneak up to my room wearing what I had been wearing last night.

"You're a heartless woman Jo!" he called after me, smiling.

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Jo

A couple hours later Daryl and I were walking through the woods following Carol and Rick. Olivia hadn't seemed surprised when Carol had returned and asked for her handgun again under the pretense of the boys continuing to teach us to defend ourselves. She had smiled good naturedly and commented on what a good idea it was. I had to agree with her. Someone needed to teach the people in this community how to fight.

When we got there Daryl and I stepped to different sides of the clearing, keeping our eyes on the forest. I was back to wearing the loose fitting tunic top, but had let myself wear jeans today. The jeans made it easier to hide knives and I had three on me. Carol stepped towards Rick and dug in the bag slung over her shoulder. Once we were certain it was just us she pulled out four guns.

"Take your pick," she said holding them out to Daryl first.

He pinched his lips into a hard line. "Look," he said, "I been thinking. Do we really need these?" he asked.

Both Carol and Rick exchanged a startled look. I can't say I was surprised by his sudden change. After what happened yesterday between us he seemed more settled. He had joked with me quietly on the walk out here. If I was honest, I felt more settled as well.

When Rick and Carol looked at him in disbelief he immediately backtracked. "I mean, things go bad, yeah sure. We do what we gotta do, but it's like you said. We don't need these for that."

Carol was frowning, looking at Daryl like he had somehow betrayed her. "Right now we don't," she agreed, but her implication of future trouble was obvious.

He shook his head, and tightened his jaw. Daryl was digging in his heels. "Look," he said. "You wanted me to try right?" he asked glancing from Carol to me.

I nodded, though Carol had been harassing him far more than I had to fit in.

"I'm good," he said with a shrug, adjusting the strap on his crossbow.

Rick reached out and took one of the guns from Carol. He checked it and tucked it in the back of his pants. He glanced at Daryl, his eyes accusatory, like Daryl had somehow betrayed him. I felt Daryl tense beside me and I stepped closer to him, leaning my shoulder against his so he would know I was on his side.

Carol turned to me and held the guns out to me. I snorted. "Things go sideways here, I don't need a gun," I assured her.

Rick's jaw tightened and he stalked off through the forest back towards Alexandria. Carol put the remaining guns back in her bag and followed behind him. I waited until they were gone and turned back to Daryl.

"You okay?" I asked taking a step closer to him.

He nodded, his eyes still glued on the place in the trees where they had disappeared. "Hey," I said drawing his attention back to me.

He looked down. I reached up and smoothed my thumb over the wrinkle in his forehead.

"Things are gonna be okay," I promised, amazed that I actually believed it. I wanted him to believe it as well. I didn't want him regretting the steps we had taken last night. It would be a slow process, but I could just as patient of a hunter as him. 

He nodded and pinched his lips into a line. He had something on his mind. "Aaron told me...Deanna didn't give me a job because he wants me to be another recruiter."

I pulled back in surprise. Daryl tightened his hands into fists and stepped away so he could start pacing. I watched him and the more I thought about the more I was convinced Aaron was a very intelligent man. Daryl was great out here and he was good at reading people. I snorted a little to myself realizing I would probably be in the same boat if I hadn't been lying my pants off since we got here.

"Are you going to do it?" I asked carefully. I didn't want to influence him one way or the other. Daryl needed to make this decision for himself. He needed something for himself.

His lips were pinched in a hard line when he looked at me, indecision clear on his face. I sighed and gave him a small, reassuring smile.

He licked his lips. "I would be gone a lot," he hedged. "Don't like the idea of leaving ya guys."

"We'll be alright, you know that, right?" I asked stepping close to him.

He nodded and looked down at me. "Yeah, I do," he said and I could tell he was going to do it. I just wasn't sure if he was aware of that yet. I looped my arms around his waist and hugged him because I could.

"I gotta get back," I said quietly. "There is a handful of bright, influential, young minds that need to be shaped and are in desperate need of my guidance," I finished dramatically.

He snorted. "God help 'em."

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Hope you enjoyed this update. Not a lot of scenes from the show, but a whole lot of Daryl/Jo so hopefully that made y'all happy. Please comment/vote!!!