Say It Again

Athena

The church felt too quiet.

Everyone was relieved we were home, I could see that on their faces. Even Merle, despite his history with some of the group, seemed to settle into the rhythm of things.

But me? I just felt... disconnected.

Like I was on the outside looking in.

Hershel had been reunited with his daughters, and, unbelievably, It was revealed that Noah was Sasha and Tyreese's goddamn cousin. They'd presumed him dead long ago.

What were the odds..?

It also turned out that Abraham's group had waited for us, after all.

Daryl had barely spoken to me the whole trip back. The comfortable silence we usually shared had turned into a wall. A heavy silence that settled between us, suffocating me with each passing hour. Now we were here, he'd already gone hunting - probably only to try and escape the tension between us.

He was carrying too much, battling with himself. But it didn't make me feel any less abandoned.

I sat down in one of the pews, trying to keep busy, to focus on anything but the ache in my chest. It felt like he was slipping away from me - and I hated it. The way he was retreating back into himself - it fucking hurt.

The longer I stayed inside the church, trying to join in with the jovial atmosphere, the more the frustration ate at me. I couldn't sit still with it - and I knew people noticed. I needed to breathe, to clear my head. So, I grabbed my jacket and stepped outside, sitting on the church's steps with my head in my hands.

It was quiet out here, just the chirping of birds and the rustling of the trees. Still, it wasn't enough to silence the thoughts that kept crashing through my mind. Every time I pictured Daryl, all I saw was a man who couldn't believe in the love I was offering him. It made me want to scream.

I was so lost in my thoughts, I didn't even hear Merle until he was standing beside me, leaning casually against the church's doorframe with a cigarette dangling from his lips.

"Well, well, well," he said with that all-too-familiar cocky smirk, "Look at ya. Always lookin' for a way outta church, huh?"

I shot him a look, crossing my arms over my chest. "I'm not in the mood, Merle."

"Don't get all feisty on me now. I just came to talk." He took a long drag from his cigarette. "You and my baby brother seem like yur in a real mess."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

"I see the way he looks at ya," he said, flicking ash from his cigarette. "He's got it bad, but he ain't showin' it right now."

"Yup." I sighed.

He plonked himself down beside me. "I know ya saw the shack. How we used to live."

I shrugged, trying not to show too much of the emotion his words stirred up in me. "Yeah."

He leaned in, his voice dropping lower. "He's ashamed."

"He shouldn't be..."

"He doesn't see it like that," He paused, scratching at his stump. "He doesn't think he deserves ya."

I bit my lip, looking down at the ground. "But he does. I'm not going anywhere... He doesn't get that."

"Hell no, he doesn't," Merle agreed with a sharp laugh. "Ya got the patience of a saint, Xena. But he needs to snap outta it before he pushes ya so far away ya don't wanna come back..."

I clenched my jaw, turning away from him. "It's not that simple."

Merle just chuckled darkly, as if he knew the weight of the situation better than anyone. "It never is. But he's a good man, my brother. And he loves ya."

I sighed heavily, running a hand through my hair. "He thinks he needs fixing."

He cocked his head to the side, the cigarette between his fingers momentarily forgotten as he looked at me more seriously now. "Yup. That's the thing with baby bro - never thinks he's worth nothin'."

"Then why the hell won't he let me show him he is? Things were so good. Now it's like we've gone back in time."

Merle let out a long exhale. "He's scared ya look at him the way he looks at himself - like he ain't good enough for no-one, least of all someone like you."

"Someone like me?" I glared at him, my chest tightening with every word. "You know the things I've done... I'm not going anywhere. I love him."

Merle grinned, as cocky as ever. "You're a hell of a woman, Xena. Kinda wish I'd snapped ya up first."

I shoved him sideways, and he laughed heartily. "Would never have happened, Stumpy."

He laughed again. "I know. Ya ain't my type anyway... but I do want you lovebirds to work it out. Yur a good woman. He'd be an idiot to lose ya. I told him just that earlier."

"You talked to him about it?" I asked nervously.

"Yeah. When we first got back."

"And how did that go?"

"He said that ya shouldn't love him. Ya shoulda run when ya saw where he came from." He leaned closer. "But he did say he didn't wanna lose ya."

My heart leapt at those last few words. It was the reassurance I desperately needed right now. I just didn't expect to be hearing it from Merle...

"Ughhh." I groaned. "I wish we had more wine. I could use a drink right now."

"You 'n' me both." Merle chuckled, before his expression became suddenly serious.

"You ain't gonna give up on him, are ya?"

I shook my head.

Merle clapped me on the back, his cocky grin back in place. "That's the spirit."

"Thanks." I expressed genuinely. "We've come a long way since fighting in parking lots, hey?"

"We sure have."

"Can you finally tell me why you keep calling me Xena now?"

"Nope."

"It would help cheer me up." I batted my eyelashes at him, hoping it might work like it sometimes did on his brother.

He groaned. "Xena. Like the hot warrior princess chick..."

"Right..?"

"Baby brother was spoutin' some shit about ya been a warrior to Carol. I overheard. Took me back to those long nights I spent thinkin' about Xena as a kid. And it kinda rhymes with Athena."

"I see."

"Hey man. I had to think fast. You threatened to murder me if I kept callin' ya Sweetcheeks."

~

The last two days had felt like a damn eternity. Daryl had kept himself in the woods, hunting, hiding. I wanted to be angry, but the truth was, I just missed him. Missed the way he used to look at me, the way he held me, kissed me.

It wasn't easy - being in the church, in the space where everything was supposed to feel like home, but it didn't.

I'd tried to keep busy, to push the frustration down, but it was always there - lingering, eating away at me. I wasn't used to feeling like this. So damn helpless.

Others had tried to talk to me about the situation, despite not knowing exactly what was really going on - Carol, Maggie, even Glenn - but I hadn't opened up. I didn't have the energy.

I was standing at the doorway of the church, staring out at the woods. I knew Daryl was in them somewhere.

"You look like shit." Rick said plainly, joining me in the doorway.

"Thanks..."

He chuckled. "You doin' okay?"

"Yup." I told him sarcastically.

He gave me a sympathetic look. "What happened?"

I shook my head. I didn't have the energy to talk about it again, nor did I want to.

"Whatever it is. You two will work it out."

"I hope so." I mumbled quietly.

"Abraham wants to talk to everyone. I wanted him to wait for Daryl to come back, but I don't know when that'll be, and he's getting impatient."

"Okay." I sighed, following him back inside.

The group sat around the main room of the church, some on the pews, others on the floor. Sunlight slanted through the stained-glass windows, casting red and blue streaks across the dusty wooden beams. The air was thick with the scent of old books, wax, and lingering sweat - too many bodies holed up in a place never meant for long stays.

Abraham stood near the altar, arms crossed over his broad chest, his expression tight with impatience. "I don't know how else to say this, folks, but sittin' here with our thumbs up our asses ain't gettin' us to D.C. We got the wheels, we got the plan, and most importantly, we got the damn mission."

Rick, leaning against a pillar with his arms folded, sighed. "We're goin'. Just not today."

Abraham huffed. "Not today. Not yesterday. Hell, not even the day before. How long we plannin' on turnin' this place into a goddamn retirement home?"

Glenn, crouched near a pile of supplies, ran a hand over his face. "We just need more food, more water. Couple more weapons wouldn't hurt either. We barely made it out of Terminus with what we've got."

"We did make it out," Abraham shot back. "And we'll make it the rest of the way if we move. Christ. We already spent weeks waiting on these guys to get back from their damn wild goose chase."

"Successful wild goose chase." Hershel told him sternly. "My daughter is back with us, as is Merle. Noah was also reunited with Sasha and Tyreese. Don't discredit what they did out there. It's a darn miracle."

Maggie nodded, her voice calm but firm. "We're with you, Abraham. We want to go. But it's stupid runnin' off before we can gather more supplies.

Sasha, leaning against a pew, smirked. "I think what she's saying is - quit your bitchin'."

Abraham scoffed, but his lips twitched. "Oh, I hear exactly what she's saying, and I respectfully disagree."

Merle, sitting near the back, let out a gruff snort. "Ain't much to disagree on. We go now, we're goin' hungry. We go later, we got a shot." He shrugged, picking at his fingernails. "Ain't complicated."

Abraham let out a sharp breath, pacing a few steps before turning back to the group. "You're all killin' me here, y'know that?" He ran a hand over his close-shaved head. "We gathered all the supplies once already - all the food. Then we damn used it all up waiting for the heroes to return."

Michonne shot him a dirty look.

"One more day." Abraham relented. "But after that, I expect to see asses in seats and engines running."

Rick gave a small nod. "One more day."

Abraham sighed dramatically, rolling his eyes. "Y'all are like a buncha teenagers stalling on a school project. But alright. We do it your way."

Carol smirked. "We always do it our way."

Abraham pointed at her. "And that is why I have gray hairs, sweetheart."

Sasha, sitting on the steps leading up to the altar, raised a brow. "You had those when we met you."

Abraham clutched at his chest. "Damn. Cold."

The group chuckled, the tension easing just slightly.

Abraham shook his head and sighed. "One more day," he repeated, mostly to himself. Then, with a resigned grunt, he muttered, "Y'all better make it count."

~

The late afternoon sun slanted through the trees, stretching long shadows across the overgrown grass of the churchyard.

Most of the group had ventured out in search of the final supplies for our trip. I didn't volunteer to join them like I usually would. I felt completely drained.

I sat on the edge of a broken stone marker, my fingers absently tracing the rough surface while Carol stood beside me, arms crossed, watching me closely.

"He'll be back soon," she said, her voice steady but gentle.

I swallowed against the lump in my throat, keeping my eyes on the ground. "I hope so. People must be hella sick of me moping around."

"It's not as if you do it often, Athena. We're all allowed our off days."

I gave her a small, appreciative smile.

She let out a quiet sigh. "He's stubborn as hell, but he loves you. He just needs time to-"

A rustle from the treeline cut her off.

I turned sharply, my knife raised, my breath catching when I saw him.

Daryl.

He stepped out of the woods like a shadow slipping into the light, his eyes locked onto mine. He looked rougher than usual - his hair messier, his skin dirt-streaked - but his expression was what made my chest tighten. There was something raw in it. Something determined.

Before I could speak, he was in front of me.

His fingers wrapped around my wrist, firm but careful. He didn't say a word. Didn't look at Carol. He just pulled me forward, leading me away from the churchyard, from those who'd stayed behind, from everything.

I just had time to glance back at Carol, catching her raising eyebrows in an 'I told you so' kind of way.

I let him take me.

We walked in silence, deeper into the woods where the trees grew thick, their branches curling overhead like clasped hands. The scent of damp earth and pine filled my lungs, my boots cracking twigs beneath me.

Daryl didn't slow. Didn't loosen his grip. If anything, he held on tighter, like he was afraid I'd disappear.

Then suddenly, he turned.

In one swift movement, he backed me against a tree, his hands coming up on either side of me, caging me in. His breath was rough, uneven. His body so close I could feel his warmth, his heartbeat hammering just as wildly as my own.

His stormy eyes burned into mine, fighting for words, for something deeper than silence.

And then he kissed me.

Not gentle. Not hesitant.

Desperate. Consuming.

Like he needed me to breathe.

I gasped against his lips, my fingers curling into his vest, gripping the worn leather like it was the only thing keeping me standing. He kissed me hungrily, like a man starved, and I kissed him back just as fiercely.

Days of silence, of longing, of missing him all poured into that kiss. My hands slid into his hair, tangling in the unruly strands as his hands gripped my waist, pulling me close - closer - like he couldn't stand even an inch of space between us.

It felt like he kissed me for a second and forever all at once.

When he finally broke away, his forehead pressed to mine, his breath shuddering against my lips.

"I love ya, Ath. Fuck, I love ya. M'sorry-"

I was back on his mouth before he'd even finished speaking. I needed more of him. It had been too long since I'd felt his touch. He kissed me back, just as hard, his fingers digging into my waist like he never wanted to let go.

"I ain't good enough for ya," he muttered against my lips.

My heart clenched. "Daryl-"

He shook his head, his hands gripping my waist, his fingers flexing. "But I wanna be." His voice was hoarse, low, full of something fierce. "I will be."

I swallowed hard, staring up at him. "Baby, you already are."

"I don't wanna lose ya," he went on, his voice quiet but determined. "I can't."

I lifted my hands to his face, my thumbs brushing over his jaw. "You won't."

His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard. "I ain't good with words," he admitted, voice raw. "Ain't good at sayin' it. But I need ya, Ath." His grip on me tightened. "I love ya."

My heart swelled.

"I love ya," he repeated, like he needed me to understand, needed me to hear him. "And I'm gonna show ya. Every damn day."

"I love you." I smiled, pulling him down into another kiss, softer this time. Slower. Not desperate, but sure. We stayed there, reconnecting, for God knows how long.

When we finally tore our lips away from each other, I pressed my nose to his, our breaths mingling in the cool air as he kept his arms firmly around me.

"I've missed you so much," I whispered.

Daryl swallowed hard, his grip on me still unrelenting. I could feel how tightly wound he was, like something inside him might snap if I let go.

"Can ya forgive me?" he muttered.

I ran my fingers through his hair, nails scraping his scalp. "I already have. Can you forgive me?"

He nodded slightly. "I've been the ass. Not you. Hell, I'd have followed ya too. I was just..." he trailed off.

I held on tighter. "I'm still sorry."

"Nah." He shook his head dismissively, kissing me again, just briefly this time.

His grip finally loosened just enough for his fingers to slide over my waist, tracing slow, lazy circles. "It's you 'n' me, Ath." He murmured. "I mean it - yur mine."

I exhaled shakily. "And you're mine."

Something flickered in his eyes - something dark and needy and so full of emotion I almost drowned in it.

"Say it again," he rasped.

I smiled softly, running my hands up his arms. "You're mine, Daryl Dixon.

A shudder ran through him.

And then he was kissing me again, slow and deep, like he was memorizing the way I tasted, the way I felt beneath his hands.

"I ain't never gonna be without ya," he murmured. "Ain't never lettin' ya go."

Daryl's breath was warm against my lips when he pulled back just enough to look at me. His hands lingered on my waist, his fingers twitching..

There was something else in his eyes, something deeper.

He shifted his weight, his hands sliding to the back of my neck, rough thumbs brushing over my skin. "I, uh-" His throat bobbed. "Got sumthin' for ya."

I blinked, my pulse still racing. "What?"

He bit his lip, like he wasn't sure how to say what came next. Then, he dipped into his pocket.

He hesitated for just a second before he reached for my hand, pressing something into my palm.

I looked down.

One of the rings from Merle's necklace.

A delicate, antique band with an oval-cut stone, simple but beautiful. The metal was worn, the edges softened by time, but it was whole.

I swallowed hard, my fingers trembling as I lifted it. I looked up at him, my chest tightening.

He shifted on his feet, scowling slightly, like he was bracing himself for something. "I know it ain't the way people do it, all fancy or nothin'-" His jaw clenched slightly. "But I meant what I said that night... 'cept... I don't want it to just be if things were different..."

I couldn't speak. My heart thumped so hard it almost hurt.

He swallowed, his fingers twitching at his sides. "Ain't got no big speech. But I love ya." His eyes met mine again, fierce and raw."I love ya more than anythin'."

I sucked in a shaky breath, barely able to believe what I was hearing.

He swallowed hard, willing the words out.

"Ath... Marry me?"

His question knocked the breath from my lungs.

For a moment, the world around us narrowed to just him - to the way his lips parted slightly like he was afraid of my answer, to the way his fingers shook ever so slightly against my skin, to the sheer weight of the moment settling between us.

I stared at him, my throat thick with emotion.

He looked nervous, uncertain. "Ya don't gotta say yes. I just- I wanted ya to know I mean it."

I exhaled a breathless laugh, my chest feeling like it might explode. I looked down at the ring again, at the piece of the past he was offering me, and when I looked back up, his expression was so open, so vulnerable, it made my breath catch.

Tears pricked at my eyes. My chest aching with the weight of what he was giving me.

I threw my arms around his neck, crushing my lips to his in a kiss that was an answer in itself.

When I finally pulled away, I smiled, my hands still framing his face. "Of course, I'll marry you - Yes!"

A sound left him - half a breath, half a laugh - like relief, or maybe disbelief. Like he'd never expected me to actually say yes.

His arms locked around me, lifting me slightly off the ground as he kissed me again, this time with something deeper than desperation. This was devotion. This was love.

And it was forever.

A/N: Eeeeeek!!! 💍 I hope you enjoyed this one.

I really appreciate every single vote and comment.

Thank you so much! ❤️