Burnin' in My Bones

Daryl's POV

Ain't nothin' about this felt right. Not the sky. Not the air. Not the way the woods went quiet like they knew somethin' bad was comin'.

We moved beneath the trees, that pale-ass sunrise bleedin' gold through the branches, slickin' every leaf like it was tryna soften the world before it broke. But it couldn't. Couldn't touch the rot in the air. Couldn't touch the fire crawlin' up my spine.

Michonne led up front - quiet, deliberate, hands easy but ready. Carol beside her, jaw clenched so tight I could hear her grindin' teeth. Eric and Carl were just behind, mutterin' real low, their words like insects buzzin' in the back of my head.

I was walkin'. But my mind was screamin'. Couldn't stop it. Every step forward, I was losin' ground in my head. Burnin' alive inside my own damn skull.

I told Ath after that shit with Nicholas - plain and simple - I'd kill anyone who ever tried takin' her from me. Ain't ever meant nothin' more in my whole life.

Alpha? That bitch tried to do that.

'N' s'been driving me goddamn crazy that I can't just put an end to her - I wanna do that so bad I dream 'bout it at night,. But I know... I know I can't, not without startin' a war we ain't ready to fight. Not yet.

When we are, though? I'll kill her. Make her pay for what she did to my wife, to Henry, to Carol... all of us.

She might as well've carved Ath's name into one of them fuckin' pikes. If anythin' had gone a little different - if that day'd tilted even one inch sideways - her head would've been sittin' there - starin' at me with dead eyes beside Henry. Beside Frankie, Tammy-Rose. Beside all the others we couldn't save.

And I don't give a shit what kind of twisted story Alpha tells herself - she's the one who fuckin' started this. All of it. The followin' us around. The fear. The damn Covenant findin' Ath in those woods. If it weren't for her, Ath never woulda been taken. Wouldn't'a spent two goddamn months locked in hell while I searched the dirt with bloody hands hopin' to find a sign. Anything.

I ain't never been totally the same since.

I remember lyin' on my back one night while me 'n' Carl were searchin', starin' up at the sky so long I thought my heart'd stop. Pressin' my palms into the earth like I could ground myself, like I could make the world stop spinnin' without her in it.

And it ain't just me she almost took her from.

Ath's their momma. Briar 'n' Sawyer are still so young, still learnin' what the world is. Their hands are small, sticky with honey 'n' dirt. Their voices full of questions I ain't got no answers for. If Alpha had gotten her way, if she'd won... they'd'a grown up without their mom.

'N' I know what that does to a kid.

I lived it.

I was jus' a boy when my mom died, 'n' it made everythin' even more fucked up than it was before.

Merle gave even less of a shit 'bout everythin'. My Dad turned into a damn ghost. Stopped talkin'. Started drinkin' more than ever. Came home every night soaked in whiskey and poison, fists 'n' belt doin' all the talkin'.

I spent years swearin' I'd never be like him. Years wonderin' if I already was.

But losin' Ath? There's a part of me - deep 'n' ugly - that wonders if I'd survive it. If I'd just break open and fall in like he did. Become who he was.

Ain't never told no one that. Not even her.

But then I hear Briar laughin' or Sawyer snore curled up on the couch, arms around that ratty old dinosaur - 'n' hell, I know I wouldn't give up. I couldn't. I'd bleed out fightin' to be the man they need.

We reached the border.

Laid down our weapons like we were supposed to, but it felt wrong. Felt like strippin' my skin off, handin' over my claws to the same folks who'd ripped our hearts out once already.

And then she showed up.

Alpha.

That pale-skulled skank stepped outta the woods like a nightmare crawlin' into the daylight. Bald head gleamin', face like carved stone, dead-ass eyes sweepin' over us like we were nothin' but ants beneath her boot. Her assholes followed, movin' like mist.

Somethin' inside me cracked as soon as I saw her. My whole body went hot. Hands itchin'. Jaw grindin'. Rage spillin' over like it'd been waitin' too damn long.

Carol was stiff at my side, her breath all short and sharp like glass in her lungs. She was barely holdin' on. And I couldn't blame her. Henry was still with her, every day. I seen the way she moves lately. Shaky. Like she ain't sleepin'. Poppin' pills. Thinkin' nobody's noticed.

Alpha stepped forward. "There was one rule between our people. One law - stay where you are. Yet you disobey."

It took every damn ounce'a self control I had not to put a bolt in her right there 'n' then. The only thing stoppin' me was knowin' that if we started a war, my family would get caught in the crossfire.

'That fire would've destroyed yur land.' I snapped. My mouth as dry as ash.

She didn't blink. "Fire's nature to burn. We have no conflict with nature."

"It could've wiped out one of our communities." Michonne tried to reason. "We weren't going to sit back and let that happen. You can understand that... We crossed one time."

"Three times." Alpha corrected her. "During the fire, you walked my land. And during the winter storm, you walked my land. Along the river, you walked my land. That's three times. We are always watching."

She kept spoutin' her shit, but I couldn't even hear it no more. All I could hear was my heart poundin' in my ears. I wanted her dead. I wanted to make her feel every goddamn second of it.

Then, through the whirlwind happenin' inside my head,I heard somethin' 'bout her wantin' more land, 'n' I couldn't rein it in no more. My fists curled even tighter. Felt my voice rip outta me before I could stop it.

"Ain't ya done enough!?" I barked, steppin' forward.

Carl grabbed my arm. "Daryl - don't."

Carol cut through it all like a blade. "We don't need to listen to this..."

"We're done." I said, knowin' she couldn't stand to be there no more, 'n' neither could I. "S'go."

"We're not," Alpha said, eerily calm. "Not until this one lowers her eyes to my feet." She stared at Carol. "You should fear me.."

Carol raised her chin. "I don't. I look at you and I feel nothing at all."

It was a lie. We all knew it.

Alpha's lip curled. "That right? The blonde boy... He screamed your name just before we took his head.."

I lost it. So did Carol.

I tried to lunge, hands ready to tear her apart, but Michonne 'n' Carl got ahold'a me. Carol raised a revolver she'd been concealin' 'n' fired. Eric was just fast enough to knock her hand, sent the bullet wide. Whisperers bristled, weapons raised like they'd been waitin' for the excuse.

Michonne's voice came hard 'n' final. "I apologize for my friends. We haven't slept. And you know what they've been through."

Don't know what got said next. Didn't care. I was already walkin' away, Carol right behind me. It was the only way I'd be able to not put Alpha in the ground - 'n' I wasn't riskin' not makin' it home to my family because of her.

We walked quiet the whole way back, after the others caught up to us. Nobody talkin'. Just the shuffle of boots and the creak of worn leather. Sun was lower now, stretchin' shadows long across the path like fingers reachin' for us.

When we crested the last rise before Alexandria, I lifted my eyes to the tower just behind the gates.

Ath was standin' up there beside Merle, framed in the glow of the sinkin' sun like a goddamn vision. Her silhouette sharp and familiar - strong, stubborn, still. She was leanin' forward a little, hands on the rail, eyes scannin' the woods like she could will us back just by lookin'.

Her long, dark hair was blowin' back in the breeze, sunlight catchin' the ends like copper set on fire.

Like a signal fire, burnin' just for me.

She'd felt like home to me ever since I first met her. Even before I had the guts to admit it. All that time spent wantin' her but stayin' back, scared of what it meant. Scared of what I was. What I might do to somethin' that good.

Soon as she saw us - saw me - she started movin'. Fast. Scramblin' down that ladder like nothin' else mattered. Like her bones wouldn't rest 'til she was close enough to touch me. I know how scared she'll have been while I was gone - but I was doin' it for her... Her 'n' our kids.

The gate clanged open, and before it even finished swingin', she was already runnin'. I barely had time to drop my crossbow - she crashed into me like a wave I'd been waitin' on all my life - arms flung around my neck, buryin' her face in the crook of my shoulder like she was tryna disappear inside me. Like if she could just get close enough, she could undo all the bad shit we'd lived through.

I wrapped her up tight - real tight. My arms locked around her like instinct, breath caught halfway in my throat. I could feel her heart hammerin' against my chest. She was shakin'.

"S'okay," I whispered into her hair, not loosening my grip. "Everythin's alright. M'here."

She pulled back a little, lookin' exhausted with worry. Her lips moved like she was gonna speak, but she didn't, instead, she kissed me - hard. No words, no warning, no soft build-up. Just need. Raw, hungry, desperate. A promise made in skin and breath instead of language. I kissed her right back. Like I'd been walkin' through hell and finally made it to the river. Remindin' myself yet again that she was still here - they hadn't taken her from me.

Everyone else kept walkin'. Heads down, quiet voices carryin' back on the wind. But me 'n' Ath didn't move. Didn't care. Didn't need to.

I rested my forehead against hers, fingers slidin' into the back of her hair like I could anchor myself there forever. Her hands clutched at my shirt like she wasn't never lettin' go.

Eventually, we started walkin'. Slow. Together. We walked through them gates side by side, hand in hand, still holdin' on like the world might try to tear us apart again 'n' we weren't gonna let it.

~

Folks round here say they wanna protect each other. Say we're stronger together. Say we're family... but the second fear shows up knockin'? Some of 'em turn.

We'd only been back from meetin' with Alpha a couple days, 'n' already some Alexandrians were actin' like damn fools. Whisperers are back, yeah - we seen 'em, we heard their threats. But that ain't no excuse for what they've been doin' to Lydia. She's just a kid. A kid who's done nothin' but try 'n' do right since the second she got here.

It started as whispers. Glares. Turned backs and doors shut just a little too fast. Then came the paint - someone splashed it all over the porch steps of the house she stays in. Yellow, drippin' down like they wanted to mark her. Like she was somethin' dirty that needed warnin' about. She tried to clean it up herself, didn't even ask for help.

I saw her fingers raw from scrubbin'.

Tonight, I heard somethin' while I was on the porch smokin' 'n' went to investigate. Found her near the gardens. Lip busted; eye swollen; arm hangin' wrong. Said it was a group of kids that took off runnin' when they heard me comin' - but she wouldn't tell me who.

I brought her home. Sat her down at our kitchen table. Ath came in 'n' didn't say nothin' at first, just looked at her with those kind eyes 'n' grabbed the antiseptic 'n' got to work, gentle as ever.

Lydia just sat there. Still as stone. It was like she wasn't even in there.

"I'm so sorry this happened to you." Ath told her gently as she finished up, moving to the sink to wash her hands.

Lydia didn't even seem to register it.

"Lydia." I tried.

Nothin'.

But then, after a lil while, her voice came, quiet. "He was so sweaty... never liked deodorant."

My brow furrowed. So did Ath's. We looked at each other, wonderin' if maybe she had some sorta concussion.

"Said it made his armpits itchy." Lydia continued. Her voice was hollow. Distant. "I miss him."

"Who's that?" I asked cautiously.

"My dad." Her eyes stared somewhere past me, somewhere far away. "My dad would've protected me."

I sighed slow 'n' moved toward her, sat down by her side and just... put my arm around her. Didn't say nothin'. Didn't have to.

We'd talked 'bout her Dad some back when we first met. He'd sounded like a good man. Nothin' like her mom.

She blinked, surprised maybe. But she leaned into it. Just a little.

Ath was watchin' from by the sink. Gave me this small, proud look like she knew exactly why I did it. Even though I ain't totally sure myself - ain't exactly my style... but I guess Lydia 'n' me - we're cut from the same jagged cloth. Childhoods filled with bruises and silence. Grew up learnin' fear before we ever learned trust. I know what it's like to sleep with one eye open. To flinch at footsteps. To think bein' locked in a cell's safer than bein' out in the world.

'N' that's exactly where we found her later. Down in Alexandria's cell.

I'd walked her home when she said she was tired 'n' wanted to sleep, watched her go inside, but she obviously hadn't stayed there long. Carol came by not an hour later 'n' told me 'n' Ath she'd heard her leave 'n' not come back.

The guards on the gate said she hadn't left Alexandria, so a few of us split up 'n' started searchin' within the walls. She had to be here somewhere, 'n' it weren't exactly safe for her to be wonderin' around alone at night right now.

Wasn't long before Ath's voice came across the dark.

"Daryl," she called softly. "She's okay."

Relief cracked through my chest, but I still felt that edge of panic hummin' under my skin as I made my way over to her. "Where is she?"

"She's in the cell Morgan built. Aaron found her. Says she won't come out."

I let out a long breath. "S'go see her," I muttered, already movin'.

We made our way down the stairs into that old concrete cellar, walls cold and damp. Place hadn't been used for holdin' anyone in a while, but it still smelled like old fear and rust. I hated that Lydia thought she belonged down there.

But there she was, curled up on the bench, knees hugged tight to her chest, her arms wrapped 'round like they were the only things holdin' her together. Her hoodie was pulled over her head, shadows tuckin' her away from the world. She didn't even look up when she heard us enter.

Ath spoke first, voice soft but sure. "Come on. This isn't where you belong."

Lydia didn't move. Didn't even flinch. She just stared down at her hands like she couldn't face us. Then after a long beat, her voice broke the silence - quiet 'n' hoarse.

"This is where they want me."

My jaw tightened. My fingers curled into fists at my sides - pissed at the fuckin' assholes that don't care she's just a kid.

"Don't matter what they want," I said, steppin' closer.

Lydia finally lifted her head. Her eyes were rimmed red, but dry. She looked tired - bone-deep, soul-sick tired.

"You know, for a long time," she said. "I blamed myself for what happened last year. Kept thinking, what if I just stayed in that cell at Hilltop? If I never let myself be taken alive by you people in the first place? Never went off with Henry? Never said what I said to my mother?"

Athena moved up beside me. "Lydia, you're not responsible for what your mother did."

"I tried to fit in," she said, almost like she was talkin' to herself. "But every time I step outside now, I feel people watching me. Like I'm a mistake that never should've made it out of the woods." She glanced around the cell. "I'm better in here. I feel safe."

"This place ain't safety, kid." I told her. "It's a cage. And I know the world feels dangerous, but hidin' ain't the answer. "

Ath looked at me, eyes soft, 'n' I knew she was thinkin' the same thing I was. I gave her a nod 'n' she opened the cell door, walkin' in 'n' crouchin' down in front of Lydia, her tone like a hand on the shoulder. Warm 'n' real.

"You told me once you felt safe with Daryl," she said. "Do you still?"

Lydia hesitated. Then gave a small nod. "Yeah."

That was it. That was all either of us needed to hear.

Ath reached out, brushed some hair outta her eyes. "Then come stay with us. As long as you need. We want you to."

Lydia blinked, almost like she didn't believe it. "Really?"

"Really," Ath said with a soft smile. "As long as you don't mind the couch."

That cracked a small smile from her. "I used to sleep outside. A couch is basically luxury."

I let out a snort. "Yeah, well... let's see if you still think that when Sawyer jumps on your head at six in the damn mornin', askin' where frogs go when it rains."

That got her to smile for real.

But then her eyes shifted between the both of us, and her face went serious again.

"Do you really want me in your house?" she asked quietly. "After what my mom did to you guys?"

"Weren't your fault," I told her, steady and sure. "Ain't on you."

Lydia stared at me like she was waitin' for me to take it back, but I didn't. I just held her gaze, let her see the truth of it. And after a long moment, she nodded.

~

That night, Ath curled up beside me in bed, one leg slung lazy over mine, her fingers tracing slow shapes on my chest like she was sketchin' comfort into my skin.

The room was dark, quiet, just the hush of night outside the windows 'n' the steady rhythm of our breathin'.

"I love how you are with her," she said softly. "With Lydia. It's like you know exactly what she needs sometimes."

"Mhmh." I mumbled.

She hesitated, then quietly, "I guess... she just needs someone who... gets her."

I felt a stab of pain in my gut I was far too used to. "Yeah."

We stayed silent for a while, then-

"Daryl," Ath chewed on her lip for a second - I knew she was doin' it even though she hadn't lifted her head off my chest. "All that stuff...We've never talked about it -not really."

"Ain't nothin' to talk 'bout." I said a lil too quickly.

I knew what she meant - she meant someone who'd been through the same shit growin' up.

'N' though I knew I could trust Ath with anythin' - I always had been able to - all that shit from before, I'd never told no one 'bout it. I was ashamed of it. Still am.

"Okay," She whispered softly, fingers still movin' across my skin. "You know you've never had to tell me anything," She paused. "But you can, y'know? If you ever want to... I'll be here."

I didn't say nothin' right away. Just stared up at the ceiling, eyes catchin' on shadows like maybe the words I needed were hidden up there somewhere. She didn't rush me - Ath never does. She just waited, her hand never leavin' my chest.

This woman had loved me through everythin' - the ass I was when we first knew each other; the way I kept pullin' away from her after we finally couldn't deny what we felt for each other no more; the mess I was in after the Sanctuary. I knew in my heart that nothin' I told her would change us - how she was with me - but the thought'a talkin' bout it, tellin' her the dark shit I'd buried my whole life? It made me feel like throwin' up. Even after she'd spent years seein' the physical scars, even after she'd seen that fuckin' book at the shack.

But then I thought 'bout Lydia asleep downstairs on the couch, 'n' how much I hated the thought of her feelin' like she had to keep it all pushed down, lettin' it eat her from the inside out same as I always have.

That kid ain't got nothin' to be ashamed of. She didn't deserve how her mom treat her... 'n' maybe she was helpin' me finally realise that I didn't need to be ashamed of what my old man did to me, neither...

I finally swallowed hard, voice scratchin' low outta my throat. "He was always an ass."

Ath stilled for a few seconds - prob'ly shocked that after all these years together, all these years bein' married, I was finally gonna open up 'bout the shit she'd always wondered.

"Always drinkin', messin' 'round on my mom, disappearin' for days at a time," I continued. "Never seemed too interested in Merle 'n' me, neither."

Her fingers started movin' again - soft lil circles - tellin' me without words that she was listenin'. Encouragin' me.

I sighed, heavy 'n' deep. My throat felt like it had razorblades in it.

"When my mom- After... he was jus' drunk all the time. Kept startin' on Merle, throwin 'im 'round. S'why he left. Took the first chance he got to get outta there..."

I took a breath as Ath pressed a gentle kiss to my chest.

That simple gesture made it easier for me to continue.

"...then he jus' took everythin' out on me instead."

I let out a shaky breath. Ath pulled up a little now. She didn't look straight at me, she knew that'd make it harder for me to get the words out - she rested her head on my shoulder, nuzzlin' into my neck like she'd needed to be closer, one hand reachin' across to cradle my face, her thumb brushin' my temple slow.

"Started small... Smack across the head sometimes, usin' his belt, whippin' with Birch switches from out back... but then-" I tried to swallow, my throat was closin' up again. "He-"

I couldn't get the words out. Fuck. This is why I didn't talk 'bout this stuff... Hurt too much to remember.

"Hey." Ath whispered softly, tiltin' to kiss my cheek. "You're doing so good... You're okay. I've got you."

That gave me the strength I needed. She'd always been able to do that - make me feel safe without havin' to do much.

I had to take a few more seconds.

"Started puttin' cigarettes out on me when he was real pissed off, draggin 'em across my skin. Same few places every time so they never got chance to heal," I forced out, knowin' she'd be picturin' the jagged crosses on my back 'n' chest. "Used to cry at first, but after a while I got good at bitin' down on my lip... thought if I didn't show weakness..."

Those words hung heavy between us. Not loud, but sharp. I waited for Ath to flinch or cry or say somethin' gentle, but she didn't. Just stayed close. Solid. Real.

She knew that was what I needed.

"Got lost once," I said, still starin' up at the ceiling like it held the whole damn past. "Ran off into the woods after he'd really lost it 'n' couldn't find my way back... Was gone nine days. Thought I'd die out there. Wanted to. But kept thinkin' I needed to find a way or there'd be no one to roll 'im on his side when he got blackout, make sure he didn't die, too. So I kept tryin', finally made it back, an' he hadn't even noticed I'd been gone. Too busy out drinkin' the whole time."

Her breath caught then, just a fraction. Barely there, but I felt it. Like her heart cracked open just enough for mine to bleed into it.

I dragged in a breath. My chest was tight, like it didn't know how to hold this much truth. But now I'd started talkin', it felt like it was all rollin' outta me, all the stuff that I couldn't hold in no longer.

"Thought he was actually gonna kill me one time." My throat closed up again. "After my mom... he got rid'a all her stuff - everythin' - like she never existed. I'd managed to stash one thing of hers - a lil' stuffed bear my Grandma gave her when she was a kid. I kept it under the floorboards in my room next to the one photo I still had of her - but a couple years after, he found the damn bear somehow - said he was gonna burn it. I yelled at 'im, begged 'im not to. That ratty little thing meant more to me then anythin' in the world... Stupid."

Ath's fingers dug into my skin a little. Maybe that was her tellin' me without words that it weren't stupid - it was okay that a damn teddy bear meant so fuckin' much to me. I still think 'bout the damn thing. S'probably the one thing I wish I'd been able to go back for when the world went to shit. Woulda given it to my kids. A lil piece of my mom that they could have.

"We tustled," I continued. "He got me to the ground 'n' wouldn't stop hittin'. I passed out 'n' when I woke up, he was gone - but he must'a known he'd gone too far that time, cos he'd left that bear there on the floor beside me like a damn apology.

Ath sniffed quietly 'n' I knew like she was tryin' her best to hold her emotion, let me keep goin'. I finally turned my head to look at her. Let her see all of it.

"Always wondered if I'd turn out like him. Thought maybe it was in my blood... Like some kinda curse..." My eyes started burnin'. I blinked hard to hold it back. "Ath, when ya were gone, I worried if I never found ya - losin' ya would finally release that side'a me."

Ath pushed up on one elbow then, her face inches from mine. Her eyes were dark with grief and fire.

"No," she said, firm and clear. "It wouldn't. You're not him and you never will be. No matter what." She sighed, running her fingers across my cheek. "Baby, you still don't see it, do you? What an incredible, beautiful, brave man you really are."

I looked at her. Really looked.

Her face was flushed, her mouth tight with conviction. But her eyes - God, her eyes - they held me like they'd never let me fall.

"M'only man I am now 'cause of you," I whispered, voice thick, quiet as anythin'. "Before ya, I weren't nothin'."

"Daryl. You were never nothing. Ever. From the first moment I met you - I knew you were a good man. Angry, with questionable social skills..." She chuckled softly at herself before becoming serious again. "But a good man - that's why I fell in love with you."

I didn't know what to say. So I didn't try. I jus' finally wrapped my arms around her and pulled her in close. Buried my face in her hair and held on tight.

I'd done it. Finally let her see that last hidden part of me that I buried for so long.

She squeezed me tighter, her lips brushing my skin like a prayer.

"Thank you," she whispered. "For telling me. I know it wasn't easy."

I kissed the crown of her head. "Was prob'ly 'bout time."

"Yeah," She said plainly, a hint of teasing creeping into her voice to lighten the mood. "I only waited one year to tell you my deep dark secrets. So you definitely win."

I shook my head with a small smile, then squeezed her even tighter. We laid there in the dark for a long time - wound around each other, no walls between us. Just skin, breath, and years of pain that finally had a place to land. The room stayed quiet. That heavy, warm kinda quiet that only comes after somethin' real's been said and there ain't no need to fill the air with nothin' else.

Then, jus' as I finally felt my eyes growin' heavy, Ath shifted beside me, still curled close, but now with somethin' stirrin' behind her eyes.

"I think it's time I showed you something."

I turned my head toward her, brows drawin' in. "Huh?"

She didn't answer. Just slipped outta bed, barefoot and ghost-quiet, disappearin' into the dark like a wisp of smoke.

I propped myself up, confused. "Where ya goin'?"

Still nothin'. Just the sound of her feet on the stairs, then the back door creakin' open 'n' the hush of night pourin' in after her.

I waited. A minute. Then two. Five.

Started to get restless then, but just as I went to throw the covers off and follow, the door creaked open again.

Soft footsteps.

Then she was back - her silhouette framed by the soft glow of a little lamp she clicked on. Her hands were filthy, covered in fresh dirt, and clutched in 'em was a dented, muddy shoebox, lookin' like it'd seen some shit.

She climbed onto the bed with this impish smirk, kneelin' in front of me like some kinda rogue deliverin' a secret.

I blinked, amused 'n' baffled. "Tha hell?"

She chuckled. "Buried treasure."

I stared at her, sittin' there grinnin' with this box like she was a kid showin' off a shiny rock. "What?"

"So, you know how the places we've lived tend to get blown up, overrun by the dead, fall into chaos, that kinda thing?"

I gave a slow nod, still not followin' where the hell this was goin'.

"Well," she smiled, "I figured a long time ago that we needed a safe place to keep our treasure. You know, the precious things. That way, if things go to hell and we have to flee, I know where to find it when it's safe again."

I squinted at her. "So... ya buried it?"

"Yup," she said, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

I huffed a laugh. "Like a pirate?"

She grinned wider. "Exactly. And don't smirk at me, Mr. Dixon. It worked. When the Saviors blew this place to hell, our home to smithereens... guess what was fine, because it was buried beside the church?"

I stared at her, lips quirkin'. "...The treasure?"

She looked like a damn cat with a canary in its mouth. "Yup."

I shook my head, a laugh spillin' out despite myself. "You really are somethin' else, Ath."

"Mmmhmm. And don't you ever forget it."

I watched her for a beat, that box sittin' there like it held secrets and time and every moment we'd somehow survived.

"Why ya showin' me it now?"

Her face changed a little then. Hardened, like she was wrestlin' with whether or not she shoulda unearthed it. "Because there's something in here I never told you I had. I took it from somewhere... I didn't know if you'd be pissed."

My stomach twisted up some, not with anger but curiosity. Dread maybe.

She peeled open the lid slow, dirt flecks fallin' as she dug through the box, then gently clasped somethin' in her hand. Looked up at me, unsure, before holdin' it out.

I looked.

And my whole body stopped still.

A tiny, ragged, old teddy bear.

My mom's.

My goddamn mom's.

I couldn't believe what I was seein'.

I reached out, slow as molasses, and took it in my hand. My fingers trembled, grippin' it like it might disappear as I stared down at it.

"When we went to your old place," Ath said gently, "I found it. And I just... I couldn't leave it. I knew it must've meant something to you, so I took it. But then I wasn't sure I should've, so..."

I didn't speak.

Couldn't.

My throat felt like someone had shoved glass down it. My eyes burned like fire, and a fuckin' tear escaped, traitorous and hot.

"Are you mad? I'm sorry-"

"Ain't mad," I rasped, shakin' my head as another tear slipped. I looked up at her through the blur. "Ath..."

Relief flooded her face as she set the box aside, shufflin' closer. Her hand rose, thumb swipin' the wetness from my cheeks like it hurt her to see it fallin'.

"Thank you," I whispered, pullin' her closer with one arm, still clingin' to that little bear with the other.

She kissed me. Soft, slow. Like nothin' else existed. Her lips were warm, gentle against mine, not hungry or desperate - just there. Steady. Real. A promise and a comfort all in one. The kind of kiss that didn't ask for more. Just gave.

After, she pressed her nose to mine 'n' we breathed the same air for a long moment. Her hands cupped my face, her fingers in my hair, and for a while there, I felt like a little kid again. But not the hurt kind.

The kind who was finally safe.

Eventually, I sniffed, clearin' my throat and my heart. "What else ya got in there?" I asked, noddin' at the box.

"Glad you asked," she whispered, smilin' before pressin' another brief kiss to my lips.

She turned back and started pullin' out the rest. First came a flower. Crushed, browned at the edges, but still recognisable.

A Cherokee Rose.

My eyes widened. "Is that..?"

"It was in my backpack," she said. "The one I lost at the farm. When we went back when we were looking for Merle and Beth, I found it in the tent, remember? This was still inside."

I couldn't believe she'd kept it at all. That damn rose I left in her boot to apologize for bein' a dick, back when we were still barely more than strangers with scars. When words were hard but meaning still came through. That was long before we were together, but she'd bothered to stash it away - even then - like she already knew we were meant for each other.

Next, she pulled out another flower - tiny, dried, preserved.

I smiled.

"Remember putting this in my hair?" she asked. "You said you hadn't given me one in a while."

I nodded, the memories rushin' in like a flood that didn't drown but warmed.

Then came a wine cork. I stared.

"Took it from the Church," she said. "After that drunken night. Wanted to remember you talking about marrying me even if it never happened."

A tiny pair of rolled up baby socks followed - Sawyer's. Then a rock shaped kinda like a crooked heart, I remembered the day Briar gave it to her.

"She was so proud when she found you that by the gardens," I smiled. "Told me I wasn't allowed to touch it because it would waste the love magic 'n' it was only for Mommy."

She beamed. "Yeah. It was sweet... I've got the one she gave you too."

I chuckled as she handed me another small stone. "Still don't see how it looks like a bunny... Ain't even got no ears."

Ath snorted. "She was very clear that it was an earless bunny. But I don't see it either. Though I didn't dare tell her that."

Last came two small sonogram photos - one for each of the kids from back before Hilltop's machine had finally given up.

We sat in silence a minute, lettin' it all sink in. The weight of memory. The beauty in what survived.

Then I cleared my throat and rubbed the back of my neck. "I, uh. I got treasure too."

Ath perked up. "Really?"

I reached into the drawer and pulled out a smaller box. Held it out like I was presentin' a live grenade. "Ain't much."

She took it gently, eyes wide with wonder, and grinned. "Daryl Dixon, are you secretly sentimental?"

I huffed. "Don't push your luck."

She opened the box like it was sacred, eyes dartin' to each item inside.

A tiny shell. One I'd pocketed on our 'honeymoon' trip to the beach.

A crayon drawing - stick figures of a woman, a man, and two kids. "One of Sawyer's," I muttered.

Then a small, brittle briar sprig, dried 'n' with a few leaves missin'.

"Found it stuck to my pants," I said softly. "When we got to Hilltop after she was born. S'why I remembered there been so many out there."

She looked up at me, teary-eyed now. "You kept it."

I nodded. "Couldn't not."

A photo came out next. One she'd seen before.

Faded. Crumpled around the corners. Me and Merle and our mama, back when the world was still holdin' together.

She smiled at it. "I wasn't sure where this had gone. I wondered if it had gotten lost"

"Nah." I said. "Kept it safe."

There was a bracelet Briar had made me - too small to wear but I loved it anyway. A part of a bolt I'd broken clean in half the day I asked Ath to marry me. And a scrap of cloth - part of her old shirt, the one she wore the first time we kissed back at the prison.

We held each other again after that, surrounded by pieces of the life we'd built, the love we'd fought for.

"Gotta add more," I said after a while, tuckin' the little bear back inside Ath's box. "To both of 'em. Keep fillin' 'em. Just in case. Bury 'em both."

Ath leaned into me. "Yeah. I want to put in the frame you gave me with the photo of us, a few more of the kids drawings... I love having them on display, but I just feel better knowing they're safe... if anything happens."

I sighed, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Yeah."

We didn't say it, but we both knew deep down that our battle with the Whisperers wasn't over. Something was brewing, and we needed to make sure we were ready.

A/N: 6,500 words from Daryl's POV? Thought he deserved a long chapter as his are usually much shorter. I do find him much trickier to write, so hopefully you enjoyed it.

I love how he takes Lydia under his wing in the show, so I wanted to acknowledge it.

Ready to jump into the Whisperer action? 😋