You looked at the trees as Daryl drove along the half-deserted street in the van. The closer you approached Woodbury, the less you could see Walkers. Maybe Daryl and you could finally live happily after so many obstacles? A smile slipped from your face. You could already imagine yourself. A good housewife who paid attention to cleaning the house while you waited for your lovely ‘husband’ to return from his job. Nonsense… Daryl and Y/N? You were not like that, you couldn’t even imagine that. Never. Maybe the epidemic had something positive. Somehow… Or at least you tried to find something good in what had destroyed your life. If all that had not happened, you would never have known Daryl. You were one of those good girls, you studied, brought home good grades, you were the pure happiness of your parents, you had best friends and you spent the weekend in a quiet way with no parties. Many boys wanted something from you, but you did not always reject them, they were just so superficial. Everyone who saw you could think that you were a quiet girl who didn’t miss anything. But Daryl? You would have been much too different for your past life. But currently so damn matching in the present. Your thoughts faded as you felt Daryl’s hand on your thigh. Each of his movements brought your blood to a boil and melted you to it. You approached him and clung to his body.

“Daryl?”

“Yes?”

“Do you think we can still find the others?”, you whispered melancholy.

“Yes… They will surely have survived it.”, he smiled. It was late afternoon when Merle’s car slowed down near a big gate. You got up to see it better. From above, a man with Puerto Rican features emerged, pointing his rifle first to Merle’s car and then to yours. (M/N) leaned out of the window and waved his hand to open the gate. You took your bow for safety ever in your hands. Daryl parked the car a little further near the gate and told you to stay in the car. You obeyed. Merle approached a tall, thin man and patted his shoulder. He was probably the one who led the place. You looked around and were fascinated. It was a real city with houses and shops… You saw the children running behind an balloon, people walking carelessly across the sidewalks, watching the windows, on a street corner stood a man dressed all in white selling ice cream to a small family. You didn’t have the words. You jumped up when you heard a knock on the car window and saw a woman with a familiar face. Andrea… You got out of the car and almost hugged her with tears in your eyes. But then the rest of the group had to be here too! After Daryl realized you had gotten out of the car, he ran to see if you were okay.

“Andrea, what are you doing here?”

“Hey Daryl, as you can see, I’m fine!”

“And the others, are they here too, are they alright?”

Her face suddenly became serious. “No… I haven’t seen them since the farm, and you, where you disappeared, we’ve been out to look for you, but we haven’t found you anywhere, Shane has also disappeared.” You turned around to hear nothing. You didn’t want to hear that damn name anymore.

“I’ll explain, but what happened to the farm?”

“The Walkers managed to come in and attacked the house, and after that evening we split up, and in the woods, while escaping some Walkers, I met a woman, Michonne, who brought me here.”

“Andrea, I see you have already met our new guests!” You turned around, curious to know who owned that deep and cold voice.

“Governor, don’t worry, these are my old acquaintances.”

Did she really said Governor?

“I’m Philip Blake, but please call me Governor. Welcome to Woodbury.” He almost seemed nice, but his face had something that didn’t convince you.

“I’m Daryl, Brother of Merle Dixon, we’ll just stay here for a few days, just enough time to find the right gear to get back on the road.” As always, you stayed silent to avoid saying something stupid.

“And you sweetie, who are you?”, the man asked.

“I am Y/N.”

“The pleasure is entirely on my side.”, he smiled at you. Daryl took your hand. Almost as if he wanted to say that you’re his girl. At least you were hoping for that.

“Okay guys, if you want to follow me, I’ll show you where to spend the night.”

So you followed him with the bags on your shoulders, ignoring the hostile looks of other citizens, if they could have been so defined. You arrived in front of a yellow and white painted building with flowers on the windowsills. You noticed a feeling of vomiting and disgust… Who was the architect of this house? Did they want to hide the terror that lived and rampant outside the walls? To deny reality? That the cruel world still going on behind these walls?

“I hope you like it.”, the Governor said almost ironically. You silently entered the house and laid your backpacks on the floor. A room for two hearts. A bed, a table, two wardrobes, a dresser and a bathroom. It was very inviting despite its simplicity. Daryl looked at you and you looked back at him.

“Watch out… If I catch you Y/N, it’s over.”, Daryl grinned. You laughed and ran into the room, trying to fight back, but somewhere you wanted to be deliberately caught by him. You slowed, got hold of his hands and threw yourself on the bed. You looked at him silently from below and enjoyed these moments.

“Now it’s your turn!”, he laughed.

“Come on, stop it! Wait!” You suddenly got up and remembered the vest.

“What’s wrong?” Daryl sat down, scratching his head and looking visibly confused. You took the backpack and jumped on the bed to him.

“I want to show you something.” You took out the vest and held it in front of his eyes. Daryl took her in his hands and looked at her seriously. Didn’t he like it?

“Y/N, thanks… no one ever gave me a present.”What? Nobody? “Seriously? Are you kidding?”

“No.”

“But I don’t understand…”

“My father didn’t have a good family when he was a kid, and my father went from one prison to the next for drugs and numerous robberies, no one ever brought me to him, my mother was never home for work, and she was drunk every time she came back. Merle was the only one who took care of me and pulled me up with a smile and insolence. There was no time at the Dixon House to think about birthdays. I’ve never celebrated one. They barely remembered the day…” He looked at the vest, his eyes filled with tears. Your heart contracted at the sight and you tenderly stroked his face and kissed him. Suddenly you stopped and looked at Daryl in surprise. His face was filled with tears and hidden from shame.

“Sorry.”, he stifled. “I never cried, especially not in front of other people.” You didn’t say a word and preferred to stay calm.

“You give me those feelings… In such a short time you have managed to turn my life upside down…”He put his hands on your back and hugged me.

“Just don’t leave me.”, you whispered softly. He looked at you in surprise. “I don’t want to tell you that you will be by my side forever and ever, it wouldn’t make sense, especially if you die, Daryl…”He kept looking at you, curious as to what you meant to say. “But stay with me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, until death separates us and memories connect us…” You put your arms around his chest and now you were standing there. Without saying anything.

“Y/N… I…” You looked at him and waited for him to finish this most obvious sentence.

“I…”

Then he kissed you. It was easier for him to put his lips on yours than to say those three words. But you did not care. You already knew he felt exactly the same. That was enough for you to know what he really wanted to say. The long journey had destroyed him and not five minutes later he collapsed in your arms and fell asleep. You spent more than an hour watching him and gently stroking his head and face, giving him all the affection he’d never received in his life. The night was dark and quiet in Woodbury, while some naïve man in his sick mind, his evil ideas for the time being brought to rest…