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The group of survivors followed behind Jenner down a hall as he spoke, "Most of the facility is powered down, including housing so you'll have to make do here. The couches are comfortable, but there are cots in storage if you would like." Jenner came to a stop and turned to look at the two kids, "There's a Rec Room down the hall that you kids might enjoy. Just don't plug in any of the video games, okay?" Both kids nodded in understanding and Jenner looked up at the adults again as he continued, "The same applies, if you shower, go easy on the hot water." Emmalyn's eyes lit up at those words, she noticed T-Dog and Glenn share a happy look. "Hot water?" Glenn questioned him. "That's what the man said," T-Dog replied to him before the two scurried off.

A hand grabbing Emmalyn's wrist stopped her from moving forward with the rest, she turned her head to Daryl and raised a brow in his direction. "Wanna share with me?" Daryl offered his best friend, she nodded with a smile allowing him to lead her into one of the unoccupied rooms. She dropped her bag on the fold-out couch and sighed with her eyes closed, it would be nice to sleep somewhere where she didn't have to worry about Geeks breaking down the door to maul her in her sleep. "Ye okay?" Daryl asked as he put his bag down on the bed. "Uh, yeah... just feels nice to be able to sleep without feeling like something will sneak in and eat me," Emmalyn expressed to him truthfully.

"I wouldn't let ya get hurt, Em, you know that right?" Daryl asked as he stepped closer to her, the ginger smile up at him with a nod. "Of course, I know that. Just like I wouldn't let you get hurt either," Emmalyn promised him. "Then I'd say that we are both as safe as can be," Daryl told her as they stared into each others eyes, Emmalyn felt her heart racing at the gentle way Daryl was looking at her; something she had only seen directed at her. Daryl's own mind was in a battle as he looked down at his best friend since childhood, he had always found her beautiful inside and out but had never been brave enough to make a move; he was scared that he would be too damaged for her -- that he wouldn't be enough.

"You can shower first," Daryl offered her, he stepped back from her and focused on his bag as she realised they had leaned in before he pulled back. She nodded her head and grabbed her bag heading into the bathroom connecting to their room, she closed the door behind her and leaned back against it to settle her racing heart rate. Not wanting to take up too much time in the bathroom, Emmalyn stripped herself out of the jeans and shirt she had admittedly been wearing for a couple of days and tossed them into a separate plastic bag. She removed the bandage from her thigh and smiled satisfied by the closed and settled wound, she wouldn't have to wrap it again. However, her smile faded as she removed the wrap around the scratch on her arm, the skin around it seemed to have turned a murky grey.

Emmalyn reached into her bag and pulled out some antibiotic cream and placed it on the sink with her toiletries before she stepped into the shower taking full advantage of the warm water to wash away the blood, mud and death from her body. Emmalyn closed her eyes and tipped her head back allowing the water to just wash over her once she had scrubbed her body with the loafer from her bag, she hadn't felt so clean since before the beginning of the apocalypse. Emmalyn allowed the water to wash away -- not just the body wash -- but the memories of what had happened over the past few weeks, she let them go knowing that holding on to that pain could only hold her back from what may come next.

Once she was finished in the shower, Emmalyn dried herself off with the fluffy towel and pulled on a sports bra before slipping on a Slipknot tank top and some woollen shorts she had taken during their time in Atlanta. She brushed through her hair debating whether she should cut it shorter or leave it long, deciding that could be tomorrows troubles, she packed up the rest of her things and headed out of the bathroom. Daryl was distracted sorting through his things, throwing away what wasn't needed and restocking what was important. He heard the door open and Emmalyn's light steps heading back into the room, he turned around and was struck instantly with the sight of her. Her damp hair rested down her shoulders, her legs were almost endless in his eyes and he struggled to focus.

"Bathroom is all yours," Emmalyn told him as she dropped her bag and boots by the end of the bed they would be sharing. Daryl cleared his throat and nodded before grabbing his own bag and walking past her, she watched him until the door closed softly. Emmalyn shook it off and focused on fixing up the bed while Daryl was trying his best to push away the inappropriate thoughts he had swarming his head about his best friend; he resorted to having a cold shower. "I'll be back," Emmalyn called out to Daryl before heading out of the room and towards the Rec room where Carol and Lori were watching over Carl and Sophia who had been looking around at the books and toys within the room.

"Emma!" Carl cheered before running over to her, his hair was damp which meant that he had showered already. "Come play?" Sophia asked her, the older woman happily agreed and went over to sit with the kids to play. After a while, Carol called Sophia to bed and the two wished everyone goodnight, Emma giving the two a hug before focusing back on Carl. "Em, could you please put Carl to bed? I'm gonna browse a little bit," Lori requested and Emmalyn happily agreed to it, she hugged Lori before grabbing Carl's hand and leading him to the room the Grimes family was staying in. Emmalyn tucked Carl under the blankets, she kissed the top of his head as he smiled up at her. "Good night, Carl," Emmalyn spoke up softly.

"You spoke!" Carl cheered with bright eyes and a beaming smile. "Get some sleep," Emmalyn told him with a smile of her own, she ran her fingers through his hair before getting up and leaving the boy to sleep. She left the room and closed the door, she turned to walk back to her own room when she bumped into Shane. "Don't you look tasty," Shane slurred out giving Emmalyn all she needed to understand that the man was drunk. She backed away from him and moved to walk around him when he grabbed her wrist harshly, "What's wrong? You could use a little fun." Emmalyn shivered uncomfortably as she pushed him away and forced him to let go of her wrist, "Not with you!" Shane smirked, "Oh, she can talk!?"

Emmalyn spotted the scratch marks on his neck, she looked towards the Rec room and put the pieces together, immediately glaring at the man. "You touched her?" Emmalyn asked with a dark tone. "What's it matter to you?" Shane slurred out as he leaned down to kiss her. Emmalyn shoved him against the wall holding her pocket knife to his throat, "If you ever put your hands on me, Lori and any woman without consent again, Shane, I will make you beg for mercy as the dead rip you limb from limb alive, you understand me?" Shane was silent at the deadly look in Emmalyn's eyes, her own pain fighting to the surface but she pushed it back down and stepped back from the man. 

He stood there watching as she quickly turned and punched him across the face before turning around and checking on Lori. She rushed into the room and found the woman standing by the pool table with tears streaming down her face, Emmalyn was cautious in her approach and once Lori knew it was her she fell into the ginger's arms. "I've got you, Lori," Emmalyn whispered into Lori's ear, she gently held her and rubbed her back as Lori cried. Emmalyn knew that Shane was bound to go completely downhill from here and she would keep her eyes on him, the moment he became a real danger to the group, she'd put him down; damned the consequences. Emmalyn walked Lori back to her room once the woman calmed down, they shared one more hug before heading into their respective rooms.

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Emmalyn opened the door and saw Daryl sitting on the edge of the bed with a bottle of Whiskey in his hand. She closed the door behind her and leaned against it, Daryl looked up at her and noticed the slight shake of anger. "You a'right?" Daryl asked as he stood up and walked over to her, she opened her eyes and smiled slightly. "Yeah, nothing I can't handle. You good?" Emmalyn asked him motioning to the bottle in his hand. "Ye, just enjoyin' the free drinks," Daryl replied to her making Emmalyn laugh and nod. The two made their way over to the bed and sat down, Daryl placed the half full bottle of Whiskey onto the side table as they leaned back against the back of the couch-bed.

"Em?" Daryl spoke in a softer tone, she turned her head him and hummed. "I'm glad you're talking again," Daryl told her, she smiled at that. "It's nice to talk again, especially to you," Emmalyn told him bringing a small smile onto his face. "You know, I missed you while I was away... leaving that night knowing that you or Merle would knock on the that door to find me gone... it tore me apart inside..." Emmalyn expressed softly as she turned her head away from him and closed her eyes. "We wanted ya ta leave, Em. You had somethin' worth showin' the world," Daryl told her, no matter how much it had hurt to know she left, he was glad that she had; her talent wasn't made to be hidden in the depths of a small redneck town.

Emmalyn chewed her bottom lip as she turned to Daryl, their eyes were locked as they stayed silent. "Daryl..." Emmalyn breathed out softly. "Yeah?" Daryl replied. "May I... kiss you?" Emmalyn asked bravely. Daryl had been stunned for a moment before speaking, "Yeah." Emmalyn moved forward and pressed her lips against his and Daryl didn't hesitate to kiss her back as years of feelings came crashing down on them. Daryl was inexperienced compared to Emmalyn but it felt like Heaven to Emmalyn rather than the Hell she felt with her ex-boyfriend, Dylan. Daryl cupped Emmalyn's face as he deepened the kiss, his heart racing as his mind ran wild over kissing the only woman he has ever felt anything for.

The two pulled apart after a few more seconds, oxygen greedily entering their lungs but a smile rested on both faces. "That was... everything I imagined and more," Emmalyn whispered to Daryl who chuckled at that. Daryl bravely moved forward to kiss her again, the confidence had definitely boosted by her kissing him first and the alcohol he had consumed during the night. Emmalyn leaned further into Daryl, he leaned back against the bed with Emmalyn over him as the kiss continued. When they pulled away again, Emmalyn moved to nestle her head in the crook of his neck, his arms rested around her protectively and comfortably; both falling asleep with happy feelings of content and no labels on their relationship -- that was enough.

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Rosemary Speaks

I know what some may say "Why are they moving so fast?" or "Daryl's character wouldn't be like that!" well, my justification is simply this; Emma and Daryl have been friends since they were teenagers, the feelings began then during an influential time of their lives. And honestly, it is my story and my decision. Read it or leave <3

Also, they are not officially together yet, hence the "no labels" part.
It's more so testing the waters at this time.

Anyway, thoughts, suggestions or questions?

See you in the next chapter!