Promises

The ring sat in my palm, small and worn, yet heavier than anything I’d ever held. Not because of the weight of the metal, but because of what it meant. 

Daryl watched me, his breath unsteady, like he was waiting for me to come to my senses and change my mind.

I looked up at him, at this stubborn, courageous, beautiful man who loved me, who had just promised himself to me in the only way he knew how.

I handed the ring back to him, eyes not leaving his, and offered him my left hand.

His hands trembled as he slipped his family heirloom onto my ring finger. It fit perfectly.

“Where’s yours?” I asked.

He pulled his Grandfather’s ring from his pocket and handed it to me. I slipped it onto his finger just as he’d done to me moments before, smiling like an idiot the whole time.

He stared at me in disbelief for a moment, before his lips were drawn to mine as if they were magnetized. My knees went weak as he dipped his tongue into my mouth, I gripped his arms tight to keep myself stable, as he slid his hands from my hair to my hips.

“Well, damn, Dixon,” I teased when we pulled apart, “Time to get planning a big white wedding. I want doves.”

Daryl’s face did something complicated. A twitch of his lip, a shift in his eyes. I knew him too well not to notice the flicker of hesitation beneath the mask.

“If that’s what ya want...” he muttered, scratching at the back of his neck.

I barked a laugh, stepping into his space, tilting my head at him. “Daryl, if I put you in a tux and made you stand in front of a crowd, you’d chew your own arm off. Besides, I couldn’t think of anything worse.”

He huffed, looking relieved but trying not to show it. “I mean, I’d do it if-”

I pressed my fingers to his lips, shaking my head. “I don’t want all that. I just want you. Just us.” I pulled his hand into mine, running my thumb over his rough knuckles.

He exhaled slowly, like he’d been holding his breath. Then, with a nod, he lifted my hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to the ring. “We have got a preacher...” he said. “If ya want?”

I couldn’t wipe the grin from my face as we walked back to the church together, his fingers laced through mine.

Inside, the air was cooler, dimmer, the late afternoon sun barely breaking through the stained glass. The others hadn’t returned yet, only Hershel, Beth, Carl and Judith sat in the pews. We smiled as we passed them, knowing they had no idea what we were about to do.

Gabriel was in his office, hunched over his desk, flipping through a Bible that looked older than the world itself. He glanced up when we entered, blinking at the sight of us.

Daryl cleared his throat. “Uh. We need ya to marry us.”

Gabriel’s eyebrows shot up. “Excuse me?”

I smiled, stepping forward. “We’ve done the ring part already,” I explained, flashing my hand at him. “We just thought we’d make it official – seeing as you’re here.”

Gabriel looked between us, clearly startled. “I… I see.” He hesitated, gaze flicking to Daryl. “You’re certain?”

Daryl tightened his grip on my hand. “Ain’t never been more sure of nothin’.”

Something softened in Gabriel’s face. He nodded. “Alright.” He gestured to the small space, a desk lamp flickering beside him. “Shall we?”

There were no grand gestures, no spectators, no music. Just the three of us in that small room, the scent of old paper and candle wax heavy in the air. Gabriel stood before us, his voice quiet but steady as he spoke words that had united people for centuries.

“Marriage is not just a bond, but a promise,” he began. “A promise to stand by each other, to endure, to love, even when it is not easy. In a world that has taken so much, you have found something rare. A home in one another.”

I swallowed hard, blinking back the emotion tightening my throat. Daryl’s thumb traced slow circles over the back of my hand.

“Daryl,” Gabriel said, turning to him. “Do you take Athena to be your wife? To stand with her, to protect her, to cherish her, for as long as you both shall live?”

Daryl smiled shyly, his fingers squeezing mine. He nodded once, then found his voice. “Yeah. I do.”

Hearing him say those words didn’t feel real.

Gabriel turned to me. “Athena, do you take Daryl to be your husband? To stand with him, to support him, to love him, for as long as you both shall live?”

My heart pounded. “I do.”

Gabriel smiled gently. “Then by the authority given to me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” His voice was warm with something that felt like true blessing. “You may kiss your wife.”

Daryl didn’t hesitate. His hands found my face, calloused fingers tilting my chin as he leaned in. His lips met mine, soft and reverent at first, as if he was memorizing the moment. Then, he kissed me deeper, pouring everything into it - his love, his promise, his unspoken vows.

I melted into him, arms wrapping around his neck, feeling the steady thud of his heart against mine. He kissed me like I was his, like I’d always be his, like nothing in the world could take me from him. And he was right.

When we finally broke apart, his forehead rested against mine, his breath warm against my lips. “You’re mine,” he murmured, voice raw.

I smiled, brushing my thumb over his cheek. “And you’re mine.”

Gabriel cleared his throat softly, shuffling uncomfortably - we may have forgotten he was standing there as we were swept up in our first kiss and husband and wife.

“Congratulations, you two.”

Daryl pulled me in again, holding me so tight it felt like he was trying to fuse us together. Maybe, in a way, he was.

No matter what came next, we were bound. Husband and wife.

It took every ounce of self control I had not to tell Gabriel to get out of his own office so that Daryl and I could re-enact our drunken antics on his desk. I somehow resisted.

I’ve never been traditional - but I wanted our first time together as a married couple to be more special than a quickie on an table.

We were both beaming as we left the office – as was Gabriel. Hershel, Beth and Carl eyed us suspiciously as Judith wriggled in her brother's lap.

Daryl and I both held our hands up at the same time to show off our rings – bursting out laughing at the shocked expressions on their faces.

Beth moved first. For such a little thing, she almost took me out with how hard she lunged for me. “Oh my God, guys! As if!” She squeezed me tighter, before moving on to Daryl.

Hershel grabbed Daryl’s hand and shook it vigorously, a knowing smile covering his whole face. He abandoned, the handshake and pulling Daryl into a hug. It warmed my heart to see Daryl hug him back.

“Well done, son.” He told him, before wrapping his arms around me. “Congratulations.”

“My dad’s gonna be so surprised!” Carl exclaimed when he had his chance to hug us both.

I huffed a laugh. “Yeah.”

When the others had left this morning - Daryl and I weren’t even on speaking terms. They’d be coming back to us having wed. It was sure to be an entertaining announcement.

I sat cradled in my new husband's lap on the church steps as we watched the sun go down.

How was this real? How – in a world so cruel – was I sitting here with my new husband – the man I adored more than anybody I’d ever met, witnessing the most beautiful sunset I’d ever seen?

The moment felt so magical. So unreal.

“Maybe we could sneak off somewhere when we’ve reached D.C.” I started. “Just for a night. Consummate our marriage?” I winked at him.

“Sounds good to me.” He replied, kissing the top of my head. “Surprised you didn’t kick Gabriel straight outta his office.”

“I was thinking about it.” I laughed. “But I want it to be more than that – our first time banging as husband and wife.”

A surprised, booming laugh erupted from Daryl, scaring away an owl perched in a nearby tree.

“I thought ya were gonna make it sound all sentimental... ‘n’ then... ‘bangin’.” He chuckled again.

God, that laugh. I’d never heard it like that before. He seemed lighter, more free.

I cackled loudly too. “Hey. I may be your wife now, but I’m still dirty-minded me.”

Daryl’s eyes filled with something I couldn’t quite name. “You’re my wife.” He whispered, stroking my face.

“Yup. No getting rid of me now Dixon.”

He smiled shyly before biting his thumbnail for a second. “You’re a Dixon now, too, if ya wanna be... ya don’t have to. Ya can stay Hunter. It doesn’t matter.”

“Maybe you should take my name... Hunter would be pretty apt for you.”

“Yeah.” He shrugged half-heartedly.

“I’m kidding.” I giggled. “Of course I want your name. It’s part of you.”

He smiled, biting his lip. “Athena Dixon.”

“Athena Dixon.” I repeated, kissing his hand. “I can't wait to see Merle’s face. Did he even know you found his necklace?”

“Nope. Finder’s keepers. He ain’t gettin’ married anytime soon.”

Daryl froze at his last sentence. “Shit... I can’t believe I got married.”

“I know.” I raised my eyebrows.

“I didn’t even know I ever wanted it until I met ya.” He all but whispered, as he pulled me into a kiss that made my toes curl in delight.

I sighed. Not wanting to burst the bubble of our newlywed bliss, but I was growing concerned that it was dark now and the others still hadn’t returned.

“You think they’re okay?”

“I hope so.” Daryl released his own sigh. “Rick did say they weren’t coming back until they had everythin'. That it would be a long 'un. Maybe another couple hours ‘n’ we could head out, see if we can track ‘em?”

“I’m sure they’ll be back. Abraham isn’t going to let anything stop us setting off for D.C. in the morning. But yeah. Another couple of hours.”

We were just about to head inside when the distant growl of engines sent a ripple of tension through my spine. I felt Daryl stiffen beside me, his hand instinctively reaching for his crossbow.

Something was wrong. We could feel it.

The vehicles screeched to a halt outside the church, kicking up dust. Before we could take a step forward, Abraham threw open the door and stormed out, his face a mask of barely restrained fury. Behind him, Eugene stumbled from another car, dried blood staining the side of his face, and a nasty gash on his forehead.

Tara climbed out, her expression grim as she caught my eye and shook her head. She mouthed, “You won’t believe it.”

The pit in my stomach deepened.

A passenger door opened, and Sasha stepped out, her face solemn. Noah looked gutted beside her. His shoulders were slumped, his eyes red-rimmed.

A cold dread washed over me.

Rick emerged, his expression tight, jaw clenched.

One by one, the others filtered past us, heading inside, shoulders heavy with exhaustion and what I assumed was grief...

Tyreese was nowhere to be seen.

Once the last person had disappeared, Rick turned to us. He didn’t say a word, just gestured for us to follow him to one of the vehicles.

Daryl and I exchanged a glance before moving toward the car. My pulse pounded in my ears. The way everyone looked, the silence, the sheer weight of loss hanging in the air - I knew before I saw him.

Rick pulled back a blanket, revealing Tyreese’s body.

A wave of cold shock rolled over me. I swallowed hard, but the lump in my throat wouldn’t budge.

“What happened?” My voice barely made it past my lips.

Rick sighed, running a hand over his beard. “He got bit. We amputated his arm, tried to save him...” His voice was hoarse, raw with regret.

“Fuck.” Daryl breathed.

“And we’re not going to D.C.” Rick said flatly. “Eugene’s a damn fraud.”

The words hit like a punch. My head snapped up from Tyreese’s body to look at Rick. “What?”

Daryl tensed beside me, his breath slow and measured. “The hell does that mean?”

Rick ran a hand over his beard. “Means the son of a bitch has been lying to us. There isn’t a cure. Isn’t any mission. He made it up.”

I stared at Rick, barely able to process what he’d said. All that hope, all the planning, the excitement tinged with fear - for nothing.

“Jesus Christ,” Daryl muttered.

“Yeah,” Rick said darkly. “That about sums it up.”

None of us spoke for a long moment, the weight of it settling over us.

Daryl reached for my hand, his fingers brushing against mine briefly before retreating. Just a small touch, but it steadied me.

I knew what he was thinking. We weren’t telling anyone about our marriage yet. Not now. Not with everything falling apart around us.

We’d hold on to that for ourselves, just a little while longer.

“She, uh, wantin’ a service? Sasha?” Daryl asked Rick.

He shook his head. “Just wants it done.”

“Better get diggin’.”

I helped Daryl dig Tyreese’s grave in silence. We didn’t know what to say. An hour ago the world felt lighter. But now it had come crashing down again. Another friend gone, another plan scuppered.

“I’m gonna double check Sasha and Noah don’t want to come out here.” I told Daryl, venturing inside.

“Hey.” I whispered softly to Sasha, who laid across a pew, crying silently, and to Noah, who sat beside her, numb. “I just wanted to check you definitely didn’t want to come outside, before...”

Sasha cried harder. Noah didn’t move.

“You don’t have to.” I told her, taking her hand and holding it tightly. “I just wanted to give you the choice.”

“I don’t know.” She sobbed, fingers clenching around mine.

“We can wait.” I reassured her. “Take some time.”

She looked lost in thought for a moment. “Okay.” She sat up, wiping her eyes. She turned to Noah. “You coming?”

He nodded.

The three of us walked toward the doors, everyone’s eyes falling on us as we moved. We’d just reached the exit when Noah stopped, turning back toward the rest of the group. “If anybody wants to pay their respects. You can.”

One by one, our group members stood. Everyone but Eugene, Abraham and Rosita – who were AWOL – separately I hoped, for Eugene’s sake.

Carl checked on Judith in her box that served as a bassinet, before joining the rest of us outside.

Daryl smiled at me wryly as he saw the crowd gathering for Tyreese. I knew he hadn’t liked the idea of him not having a proper goodbye either.

The service was short, lit by the moonlight that hovered in the sky. Gabriel spoke, followed by Rick – who expressed his eternal gratitude to Tyreese for saving Judith.

Sasha and Noah stayed silent.

After, we all settled inside, the atmosphere thick with sadness. I huddled against Daryl on the floor in the corner of the church, a threadbare blanket covering us.

“Is it awful...” I whispered. “If I say this was still the best day of my life?”

Daryl looked at me with a reserved smile. “Nah. It’s still the best day of mine.” He bit his thumbnail. “I don’t think Tyreese would want us to think no different.”

“Yeah.” I breathed, pressing a kiss to his chest.

I watched as Carol sauntered over – a knowing look in her eyes. She crouched in front of us, her voice low.

“A little birdie told me some exciting news.”

“Carl?” I asked, already knowing who was tone-deaf enough to blab.

She nodded. “I told him not to tell anybody else yet. So it’s true?”

Daryl smirked, his ears blushing. “Yeah.” He whispered, looking at me proudly. “This is my wife.”

Carol grabbed his hand, then mine, holding them both in the absence of being able to hug us without drawing attention.

“I can’t believe it.” She beamed, her voice still quiet. “I’m so happy for you both.”

“Thank you.” I expressed, squeezing her hand, before she drifted back to her pew. The others none the wiser.

~

We had no plan. No idea what was happening now that Eugene’s D.C. ruse had been revealed. That should have been the first thing on my mind when I woke, but it wasn’t.

Instead, it was the fact that the drop-dead gorgeous redneck stirring next to me was now my goddamn husband.

It still didn’t feel real.

“Good mornin’ dear.” He rasped with a mischievous grin, rubbing his eyes.

I produced the loudest snort of my life. Glenn looked at me wide eyed.

“Dear?” I giggled, shoving Daryl’s arm playfully.

“Ain’t that what married people say?” he teased.

“Please never say that again.”

“Ain’t plannin’ on it.” He chuckled. “Just wanted to see ya laugh.”

When everyone had woken up properly, Rick called a meeting.

The air inside the church was thick with tension. The group gathered in a rough circle, some seated on pews, others leaning against the walls. The weight of losing Tyreese and of yesterday’s revelation hung over everyone like a storm cloud ready to burst.

I leaned against the edge of a pew, Daryl beside me, his arms resting on his knees, quiet but watchful.

Rick stood at the center, his hands on his hips, eyes scanning each face in the room. Eugene sat near the back, hunched over, his hands clasped together, looking at the floor. His normally talkative nature was completely absent.

Rick exhaled, rubbing his beard before speaking. “Alright. We all know now that Eugene lied. There ain’t no cure. No safe haven waiting for us in D.C.”

Eugene shrank further into himself.

“We need to decide what happens next.” Rick continued.

A murmur ran through the group. Glenn shook his head, arms crossed tightly over his chest. Abraham, standing stiffly with his fists clenched at his sides, looked like he was still processing the betrayal. Rosita was by his side, her expression incredulous.

Michonne spoke up, her gaze steady. “I still think we should go. D.C. might not have a cure, but it’s a city. There could be supplies, shelters, people. We don’t have a plan, and we need one.”

Abraham let out a sharp breath, shaking his head. “No. That mission’s dead. I dragged us halfway across the country for nothing.”

“It wasn’t for nothing,” Michonne countered, folding her arms. “We survived. We kept each other alive.” She paused briefly, realising her words and offering Sasha and Noah a sympathetic glance.

“If we don’t go,” she continued. “What’s the alternative? Keep moving until we run out of food? Wait for another place to find us? We need to act, not just react.”

Silence followed her words. Rick glanced around the room, watching as the group processed her argument.

Maggie sat beside Glenn, her fingers intertwined with his. “What about somewhere else? Maybe not D.C., but somewhere we can settle? We can’t keep running forever.”

Gabriel, who had been quiet until now, cleared his throat. “We could stay here. This church has been a sanctuary.”

Rick shook his head almost immediately. "It’s not safe enough. We’ve already picked the area clean for supplies. We’re counting more walkers by the day. If we stay, we’ll starve - or worse."

I glanced at Gabriel, whose shoulders slumped slightly in defeat. He knew Rick was right. Walkers would eventually overwhelm us, it wasn’t secure enough, despite our fortification.

Daryl shifted beside me. "She’s got a point. We ain't got nowhere else lined up. At least D.C. gives us somethin’ to aim for."

Sasha, her face still drawn with grief, looked up. "I don’t care where we go. I just don’t want to keep losing people."

Rick let out a slow breath, nodding. "Alright. We think about it tonight. Everyone gets a say. Tomorrow, we vote. We move forward together. No more blind trust. No more chasing things that ain't real."

Eugene finally spoke, his voice almost a whisper. "I know I don’t deserve to say anything... but I’m sorry.”

No one responded. The damage was done.

Rick glanced around at us - his family. I looked at Daryl, his face scowling, but his presence beside me grounding. No matter what we decided, I knew one thing: we couldn’t afford another mistake.

“What ya thinkin’?” Daryl asked me after the meeting had ended, as we walked through the woods in search of something for dinner.”

“I think D.C. could still be an option.” I offered, agreeing with his earlier comments. “I don’t really care - as long as I’m with you.”

He stopped, turning to me with a smile. “Ya’ll always be with me. You’re my wife now.”

The proud look in his eyes when he said the word ‘wife’ made my heart swell.

“Wanna make out?” I asked him, already knowing his answer.

He slung his crossbow over his shoulder with a grin. His hands grasping my hair as he began kissing me. I smiled into his mouth, moving mine against it slowly, cherishing every moment.

“Still can’t believe it.” He breathed against my lips. “Athena Dixon.”

“I know.” I giggled into him, “It’s wild!”

We kissed for a while, our hands growing hungrier and our breathing becoming heavier.

“Can I take back what I said about waiting?” I panted. “Married couples can fuck in the woods, right?”

He snorted, but stared deep into my eyes as he backed me against a tree, biting his lip. His kisses found their way to my jaw, then my neck, as I gripped his arms, tingling at the sensation.

My hand had just reached his belt when something sounded nearby.

Moans. Lots of them. And not the good kind.

Daryl pulled back, his face red and his breathing staggered. He raised his crossbow, eyes scanning the direction the sound had come from.

I pulled out my knife as I moved next to him, searching the distance.

Slowly, walkers started to appear.

Ten of them.

Fifty of them.

At least a hundred.

A herd.

And it was heading straight toward the church.

Fuck.

“Athena Dixon...” Daryl grabbed my hand. “Run.”

We sprinted as fast as our legs could carry us, desperate to warn the others. Daryl turnedwhen the church came into view, loosing bolts into the heads of the nearest walkers effortlessly.

“Warn ‘em!” He yelled over the approaching herd’s collective groans, as he took out as many walkers as he had bolts for. He then pulled out his knife, trying to buy us more time. I threw open the doors to the church.

“HERD!” I yelled through the entrance.

I heard gasps, panic, people grabbing weapons. I was immediately back by Daryl’s side, my gun popping bullet after bullet until I ran out of ammo.

I yanked my knife from its sheath and began plunging. Others were here now, Rick, Carl and Abraham with their guns, Glenn, Maggie, Carol and Sasha driving their knives through brains, Merle and Michonne crushing skulls with crowbars.

“They just keep coming!” Rosita yelled, slamming a magazine into her pistol as she ran to join the chaos. Tara was beside her, lining up shots, but for every walker that dropped, three more surged forward.

The stench of decay caught in my throat.

“We can hold them!” Abraham barked, taking down two more in rapid succession.

“We can’t,” I countered, shoving my knife into the skull of a rotting corpse. “Not this many.”

Rick grimaced, reloading his gun. “Everyone inside! Now!”

We fell back, retreating into the church as walkers poured through the churchyard. The doors slammed shut, Abraham and Daryl shoving a pew against them just as the first hands began to claw against the wood.

“There’s too many,” Michonne said, breathless. “We need an out.”

“The vehicles,” Glenn said. “If we can get to them, we can get out of here.”

Beth, cradling Judith tightly against her chest, looked to Hershel. “We’ll start them up. Be ready to run.”

Hershel nodded, moving with Eugene and Noah toward the back exit.

The rest of us dug in, making one final push to hold off the herd. Walkers shattered the lower stained-glass windows, their arms clawing through the gaps. Carl fired into the growing swarm, Sasha and Carol cutting down the ones that made it through. Blood splattered against the pews, the once-holy space now drenched in chaos.

“The doors won’t hold!” Maggie yelled, eyes frantic.

I locked eyes with Daryl. We both knew.

“Go!” he yelled, pushing me toward the back of the church, just as the doors gave way.

One by one, the others broke away, rushing toward the back door. Abraham and Tara covered Sasha as she ran. Carol pulled Carl toward the exit, Rick keeping close behind. I fought my way back toward the open front doors – to Daryl - cutting down a walker just as a cold hand closed around my wrist.

I spun, knife plunging into its skull before ripping free. Daryl was still at the front, backing up slowly, knife glinting in the moonlight that now poured in.

“Daryl!” I yelled, taking down two more.

For a split second he looked pissed that I was still here - still in danger - before he grabbed my hand and we ran.

The moment we burst outside and around the side of the church, headlights flared in the darkness - Beth in one car, Eugene in another, Noah behind the wheel of the truck. We cut down more walkers and leapt into the last vehicle just as walkers began flooding through the back doors we'd just left through.

The engines roared to life. The church was lost.

Daryl and I had piled into the first vehicle we’d reached, not knowing there was only space for one. It didn’t matter, though, it meant I was on his lap, him holding me close as I processed the chaos.

As we sped away, I melted into him, gripping tightly. The place we had clung to for safety was gone. And we had no plan. But we were still standing. And that was all that mattered now.

A/N: I hope I did Daryl and Athena's little wedding justice. I felt like it suited their personalities better than a formal event.

I actually can't stop writing at the moment! So expect another chapter very soon!

Thank you again for your votes and comments. ❤️