It was late in the morning when you woke up in Daryl’s tent. To be honest, you had never slept so well since the epidemic broke out. You got dressed quickly so as not to catch a cold and went out of the tent. Like every morning, Daryl was not there. You couldn’t go back out to look for the others because you didn’t have the right equipment, so you decided to search for something useful in the house. You went up the wide wooden staircase. The corridor was quite light because of the large windows from which the light was filtered. You walked quietly, ignoring anything and looked at the pictures hanging on the walls. They portrayed an older couple, carefree and smiling, holding hands. It was probably their house where they wanted to spend the rest of their days without worries. You went into the different rooms and was amazed to find everything in perfect order. Strange… How was it possible that someone had not noticed this house? The clothes were carefully placed in the drawers, the beds not devastated, the ornaments slightly dusty as the numerous photos above the dresser. It seemed as if time had stopped. You looked around helplessly and then opened one of the many closets in the bedroom. You started to look at the different clothes and were looking for something you could have worn. Your eyes fell on a brand new black leather vest. You brought her out very carefully, almost with the fear of ruining her. On the back were two huge white wings, similar to those of an angel, sewn. Just like Daryl. He was your angel. Twice he saved your life. You held her up, smiling, laying her on the bed and leaving the room. There was a great deal of medicine and supplies in this house… After the epidemic it was very difficult to find a house that was not looted and not damaged by plunderers. This was the exception. A bad idea stuck in your mind, but vanished when you heard Daryl’s voice. Enthusiastic bass sounds, like a child waiting for someone who has not seen it for a long time.

“Where have you been Y/N? I started to worry!”

“Sorry, I decided to look around the house.”

“Okay…” He looked at you perplexed and crossed his arms.

“It’s full of supplies and medicines!”

“Are you fucking kidding me?”

“No, come with me and look at it!” You grabbed his wrist and dragged him into the kitchen. “Do you see?”

He was visibly surprised, even he couldn’t explain it all. You went to the pantry and peered inside, curious as to what it contained. You stood on tiptoe to see better, put one hand on the sink and spread the other. You were about to grab something when you felt two hands gripping your body and pulling you away. You turned amazed and almost annoyed.

“What are you-…” Your mouth was blocked by a kiss. You wouldn’t have expected this. Normally, Daryl waited for the night to open up and to talk, almost intent on hiding some things he would never have shown in daylight. But now it was different. Maybe he also felt something grow inside him, a strong feeling he had never felt before. Daryl picked you up and sat you on the table, still fiddling with your lips, nibbling and kissing. You noticed your emotions and the fear that someone might see you both. But why? You were finally alone… This intimate moment was soon interrupted when you heard the sound of a car approaching. You looked at Daryl, visibly worried and scared, he shut your mouth to keep you from talking. He was smart and he had thought to hide the car in the trees of the forest, almost as if he had expected it. The only problem were the curtains. You had left your things in the living room… Daryl took you with him, knocked you down and told you not to talk or breathe too loud. You heard the voices of two men coming from outside. They also knew this place. Everything was clear now. Where you spent the night, Daryl and you, was probably a warehouse. This also explains the numerous supplies and medicines.

“Fuck!”, Daryl cursed. What would you expect now? You heard the two strangers enter and they came closer and closer to the kitchen. Daryl got up and held the crossbow toward the door. You sat in complete silence behind the counter and were scared… Until then, Daryl had given you the strength to continue without ever looking back at the past.

“Calm down, take the crossbow away or-…”

Your heart has almost stopped beating because of this sentence.

“Merle?”

“Daryl?”

What? Who was Merle? You looked up and saw that Daryl reached out his hand to you. You squeezed her and got up.

“Damn, who is that pretty girl?”

You hid behind Daryl and didn’t want to be looked at. Not with those mischievous eyes.

“Hey little brother, are not you showing me this doll? I could make a deal…”

“Merle you bastard, shut the hell up!”

Little brother? What did he say? You just didn’t understand anything anymore. The man burst into laughter with enthusiasm. You moved your head to see who that damn Merle was. He was a big man, almost like Daryl. But your eyes fell on his hand. It had been replaced by a metal stub, from which projected a long, sharp blade.

“That’s Y/N.”, Daryl said in a firm, strong voice.

“My darling sweetheart, I am Merle Dixon, the better looking brother of this damn asshole.”

Did he joke? Was that really Daryl’s brother? You couldn’t say a word, so you agreed with a nod.

“Oh, that’s (M/N), I met him after his escape from Atlanta!”

Daryl shook hands with the man leaning against the fridge. He was very tall, maybe taller than Daryl. His body was well built so that his shirt was visibly tight and short. On his huge shoulder he had tattooed a Baphomet with two blood-red eyes. His face showed a scar on the right side of his forehead. He reached out and stared hard at you. Slowly you approached him with your hand, he grimly grabbed you and took you a few steps ahead. He kept you going, though you resisted him. And Daryl who noticed all this, pointed instantly his crossbow at him. The man looked at him for a few moments, with a look of no intimidation at all, leaning his eyes on you and releasing your hand. You approached Daryl, who welcomed you in his arms.

“Little brother, what are you doing here?”, Merle asked to break the tense atmosphere. Daryl told him everything that had happened before and after he had met you. He told him about Rick, Glenn, Carol and Sophia, Lori and T-Dog…

“Ah, that shitty bastard! I have another excellent report for him!”

As he said this sentence, Merle lifted the hook on his hand to the sky and shook it skillfully. You listened carefully to what they were saying, trying to understand some details that were not yet clear to you. You were embarrassed and constantly watched by the man who had almost broken your hand recently. You tried not to break away from Daryl for fear of being grabbed by (M/N) and taken away.

“…-and we escaped, we slept here tonight, and in a few days we’ll be back on the road to look for the others.”, Daryl concluded.

“We joined a group of people who started a small town called Woodbury, so you can come with us if you want.” Merle urged his brother to join them, but you read on Daryl’s face that he wasn’t completely convinced of the idea. You didn’t really understand what held him back. He looked down at you, looking for an answer and after a few moments he smiled at you. How nice it was when he smiled. He almost never did it.

“Fine, but first let’s pack the things together.”

(M/N) grinned, turned around and left us three alone. You shuddered… Merle helped Daryl sort out your things and load them in the green van. (M/N) sat in his car with the door wide open, listening to the music of a terrible CD. An idea came to my mind. You grabbed a backpack and ran upstairs to the bedroom. The vest was still there and were almost waiting for you. You carefully folded it and put it in the backpack.

“Y/N, we have to go!”, Daryl shouted. And you already heard how the engine of the car started.

“Where the hell were you?”

You put the backpack on the back seats, only smiled and wrapped your arms around his neck. He hugged you to his chest as he had done the night before.

“I’m glad.”, he whispered softly.

“Because you found your brother again?” You looked at him with slightly reddened cheeks.

“No.”

“And why then?”

“Because you’re here with me.”