"Faster come on you guys, if you don't speed up we will all be dead."Rick snarled as your group got everything packed and began to run. The cars had broken done miles back, blood and sweat caked your tired bodies. Daryl was the only one who looked normal, he had found all of the rivers and lakes in the area, still dirt covered but normal.

You on the other hand were still working on getting used to the apocalypse, you worked off logic, wanting to know how the apocalypse was even possible. Daryl knew you were working on it, and he was there to help you. He didn't try to owe anyone nothing but you were the exception, you saved his life near the beginning and it was the only thing he allowed you to hold over his head.

He now was your protector, your dark angel of sorts. He fed you, kept you healthy, made sure you were beside him for the most part. He loved you, but he didn't know if he could ever say it without sounding cheesy. He was usually bad ass but he wasn't the type to shove you against a tree and kiss you. You had feelings for him, but you weren't going to push it. You weren't going to hold more over him if he didn't want to. He wanted to tell you but was unsure how.

That was until the darkness fell. It was like a cloud of dust had settled over your small group, everyone made their way towards a nearby home, one they had scouted earlier and kept hidden from humans, and walkers alike. Daryl was holding your arm tightly in his hand making sure he couldn't and wouldn't loose you. Everyone sat up against door, ensuring they would be safe where they were. "What was that?" Carl asked.

"Carl shush," his mother warned. "Don't asked questions, we just need to be quiet."

Carl nodded and kept his mouth shut the looming darkness continued to threaten them. It was the undead, walkers were ragging through the field, kicking up dust in their wake. They took shifts keeping themselves safe in the dark house. Despite the little knowledge of one another they still managed to protect one another, become closer than most of their families before the apocalypse had.

You woke up early in the morning, only a few others awake, you knew the walkers had passed and wanted to find a meal for everyone. You took your sword and slipped out of the house, Daryl still asleep. As you hunted for something to eat depending on the size it would only be one kill rather than multiple. You wanted to provide for the group, when they took you, Daryl, and Myrle in it was a life savor. You searched until you founded a few deer tracks and made way towards them.

As you came to the field you saw a few bucks, you slowly crept towards them, all you needed was one. You weren't too far from the cabin you were residing in. You managed to get one down, and you began to drag it back towards them. It took a minute but you managed to get it back towards them all. You sat outside skinning it, and gutting. You began to cook, and that was when Daryl jumped outside with panic on his face, but that was when he saw you and he began to grow calm.

"You left?"

"Just to get food, I wouldn't leave you." You replied back.

He couldn't hide his smirk, you were his, and he wasn't going to let you disappear. You saw that as things died, new life began to take form. From teh deer your group would be able to survive longer. In the bodies of the dead you had seen new life such as birds nests and families of rodents take hold. You would have never met Daryl without this disaster, and you had seen women pregnant with the future.

There was life after death.

In more way than one.

Daryl sat beside you helping you cook, he wanted to make sure you knew he was there for you. The others didn't get to see this side of him. He kissed your cheek, and your face began to grow red with surprise. He hadn't ever done that before, and it was the first time he had really showed affection to anyone.

"I really do love you."

"I love you too." You said as you kissed his cheek back, he smirked and squeezed your hand in his. A new beginning was taking place.