I smiled as I looked up at the stars. The others were cooking some hot dogs over the fire they had going. Daryl’s arm slipped around me, pulling me out of my daze.

“Hungry?” He asked.

“Not really. I’ve been eating snacks all day. Hershel has a cabinet full of Cheezits.” I answered.

“Eat something that’ll fill ya up for a while.”

He handed me a plate that had a hot dog on it. I sighed and took it from him. I took a bite and offered it to him.

“I’m goin’ out to look for Sophia tomorrow.” He said, taking a bite of my hot dog.

“Don’t go out too far. I don’t know what lies beyond the fence.” I muttered.

“Won’t ya come with me?”

“Nah. I haven’t fought a Walker since the day I ran. I don’t wanna get out there and have it where I get killed.”

"Ya aint gonna get killed. I’ll be there with ya.”

“Maybe next time, Daryl.”

I yawned and leaned against him. He sighed and ran his hand up and down my arm.

“Finish eatin’ before ya fall asleep.” He mumbled.

I did as I was told, and I got up when I was done. Daryl took my hand and led me to his tent. We both laid down, his old mattress now replaced by a sleeping bag.

“I’ll be here when ya wake up.” He whispered, kissing my forehead. “You can sleep for as long as ya like.”

I huffed a response, a habit I earned from being with him, and buried my face in his chest. His arms wrapped around me as I fell asleep.

~

“No, no, no, no, no! This isn’t real!”

“It is real! Your ‘man’ is dead!”

“No!”

I stared at Daryl’s lifeless body, a gunshot wound present at his heart. I backed away, tears flowing down my blood-coated face. Merle laughed and walked toward me, his pistol aimed at me.

“You’re next, Bitch.” He growled.

I shot him without hesitation and watched as his body fell. I froze when Daryl started moving, knowing exactly what was going on. His once beautiful blue-green eyes were glossed over from death, and low growls escaped his lips as he tried to get up. I stood at his feet, the tears never-ending, and aimed my pistol at him.

“I’m so sorry.”

I screamed and sat up. The silence that followed after made my heart race. I looked to the side to find Daryl looking at me.

“You alright?” He asked, sitting up.

I started crying at the sight of his eyes. I threw my arms around him and hid my face.

“Megs?” He muttered, rubbing my back gently. “What’s the matter?”

“Bad…..dream….” Is all I could manage to say.

He sighed and kissed my forehead before making me lay down again. “What scared you?”

I wiped away my tears. “M-Merle.”

“What about Merle?”

“H-He killed y-you.”

“Merle aint here anymore. He can’t kill me.”

“T-That’s not what scared me.”

“Then what is?”

“Y-You came back.”

He stared at me. I hiccupped as I tried to stop crying.

“I won’t die.” He muttered, leaning down to kiss my forehead. “I won’t come back as one of them.” He kissed my nose. “And if I did, I sure as hell won’t hurt you.”

He finally kissed my lips. I moaned, and he placed his hand on my neck. He smiled lightly when he pulled away.

“I promise that I’ll protect you. No matter what happens.”

~

I woke up that morning swaddled in the sleeping bag. I yawned as I sat up, and I felt a hand touch my arm. I looked to the side to see Daryl smiling at me.

“I have to go. I’ll be back soon.” He muttered.

I nodded once and watched as he left the tent. I got to my feet and walked to the house.

“Oh! There you are, Meghan! We couldn’t find you last night, and we got worried!” Beth smiled.

“I was with Daryl. Sorry I didn’t tell you.” I mumbled.

“Are you going hunting today?” Maggie asked.

“I guess. Did ya clean my bow?”

“Yep.”

She gave me my crossbow, and I took my kill bag from the counter.

~

I stepped through the forest as quietly as I could. My crossbow was raised, and an arrow was already loaded. I had been following a deer for the past half hour. I was just about to shoot it when I heard a loud gunshot. The deer ran away, and I hurriedly ran back to the farm. I jumped over the fence and nearly ran into Glenn. He grabbed my arm and forced me to stop.

“Andrea shot Daryl by accident.” He muttered.

“She shot him?” I growled.

“By accident. She thought he was a Walker.”

I shoved his hand away and headed inside. I heard voices coming from upstairs.

“Megs!” Daryl’s voice screamed in pain.

I ran up the stairs and went to one of the rooms. Hershel was desperately trying to calm Daryl. I walked over to the side of the bed and took Daryl’s hand.

“I’m right here, Daryl.” I muttered.

“Stay…..Please?”

The pain in his eyes made my heart ache. I climbed onto the bed and laid down beside him.

“I’ll stay right here. I promise.”

~

“God dammit.”

“Sh. It’s alright. You won’t be hurting if you’d quit squirming.”

Daryl groaned as I changed the bandage on his side. He explained that he had fallen because of Nervous Nelly, Hershel’s nervous horse, and one of his arrows had impaled him in the side. He lightly grabbed my arm when I finished, and he pulled me closer.

“Where were you?” He muttered.

“Hunting.” I answered.

“Alone?”

“Yes.”

“Go with me next time. I don’t wanna risk losing ya.”

I sighed and played with his fingers. “You got hurt the last time you left me.”

“Only ‘cause of that damn horse.”

I made sure I wasn’t touching his arrow wound before I moved. He groaned when I hugged him.

“How bad does it hurt?” I asked, reaching up and touching his head wound.

He flinched and caught my wrist. I pouted, and he pulled me closer. He captured my lips with his own, and I hesitated before I placed my hand over his arrow wound. A low growl erupted from him, but he didn’t make me move. He bit my lower lip, making me gasp.

“D-Daryl?” I mumbled.

“Do me a favor and lock the door.” He mumbled.

“W-Why?”

“Don’t ask questions.”

I hesitated before I got up and walked to the door. I closed it and silently turned the lock before returning to the bed. Daryl smirked and pinned me down, holding me down by my wrists.

“Y-You shouldn’t be moving around like this. Y-You’re hurt.” I whimpered.

“I aint gonna do nothin’ that’ll hurt me.” He replied.

He crushed his lips to mine, earning a soft moan from me. I was careful when I knotted my fingers in his hair. He groaned, and one of his hands went to his side as he broke the kiss.

“If it hurts, we can wait.” I muttered.

“I’m fine. It don’t hurt that bad.” He said through clenched teeth.

I laid my hand over his, and he looked at me. I smiled softly, and he slowly removed his hand. He flinched when I touched his wound.

“Does it hurt?” I whispered, kissing his cheek.

“N-Not as much as it was.”

I applied a small amount of pressure, and he grabbed my hand.

“Don’t!”

I pulled my hand away from his and placed both on his neck. He glared at me until his blue-green bulbs softened. I smiled and kissed his nose.

“I’m trying to help.” I muttered. “I hate seeing you in pain.”

“I’m fine.” He grumbled.