Secret Love In The Apocalypse

Chapter 1: The meeting

The sun shining bright through my windows I pulled my fluffy blanket over my head and sighed. Another day I wake up alone in this tiny fenced in heaven in this world of hell. I've been in Alexandria since around the beginning of the Apocalypse. Boy am I glad because I wouldn't have made it another week on the other side of these gates after I had lost everything. Finally getting up I slowly walked into the bathroom turning on the shower and climbing in and washing myself. I got out and dried off. Getting dressed I heard commotion coming from the gates I knew it wasn't anything that could harm us. It was probably just Aaron coming back with someone. I hurriedly ran out to the gates as my job was to greet new comers and make sure they get settled in. When I finally made it there I was shocked to see a whole group come in behind Aaron. I ran up and hugged him, glad that he got back safe looking over his shoulder I studied the group the leader had a huge beard and curly hair. The all were so dirty. I thought about mentioning the showers and hot water to break the ice. "Wow... I can't imagine what y'all have been through, my name is Natalie and welcome to Alexandria." They all looked around. I noticed the young boy, probably about 17, just a couple years younger than me. A baby girl in his arms, most likely his sister. a red head man who was probably in the army from the looks Of what he was wearing. A short haired woman, along with a couple. Then I noticed him, with the cross bow. He looked dirtier than the rest long hair that slightly covered his face. He showed no emotion. Just looking around. "Hi, my name is Rick, Rick Grimes... These are my children Carl and Judith. This is michonne." He said pointing to the woman with dreads. "I'm Glenn and this is my wife Maggie." The Asian man smiled and his wife waved. Rick smiled. " and that's Carol and Daryl." I smiled over at Daryl and he just grunted. "Well I'll show you to your houses and let you shower and get cleaned up and everything." They all perked up at the word 'shower' I turned on my heels and led them to two houses.

"Wow these are huge." The boy, Carl said. "Yeah they're pretty nice." I smiled at him. His father and Daryl stepped inside, checking the house for anything out of the ordinary. Everyone followed behind into the same house and I looked at them confused. "I think we'll all stay here." Rick explained. I nodded. "Well that house is still yours... When you're ready." I turned and walked back home.

A couple hours later I walked back over to the new groups house to see Daryl sitting on the front porch, as if he was keeping watch. "You know we have guards right. Up on all the towers." I showed him pointing to the people on the fence. Once again all I earned was a grunt. "You don't want to shower or anything? Maybe shave?" He just stared at me and I suddenly felt insecure. Carl opened the front door. "Hey Natalie!" He grinned at me. "Want to come in?" "Sure" I smiled. Walking past Daryl I stepped inside. Everyone was searching around the house just exploring. They had Judith in the middle of the room in a play pen. She smiled at me. I'm glad we could bring safety to this little girl. "Hey so there's a couple of boys that live down the street from you if you wanted to meet them later Carl." "Okay." Everyone came into the living room. "How's everyone liking it here?" A few of them smiled. "Seems to good to be true." I heard a husky southern accent say from behind me. I turned around to meet eyes with Daryl's blue daggers. " I thought the same when I made it here, but I promise you. You're safe now." He just grunted and went back outside. What was that mans problem? "Deana would like to throw a welcoming party in your honor tonight at her house. Y'all look like you could use some relaxation and fun." "Thank you." Rick smiled.

•A few weeks later•

The group had all settled in nicely, all but Daryl. I was watching Judith and hanging out with Carl while Rick was on patrol Deana had given him and Michonne jobs as our law officers since he had been a sheriff before all of this. Maggie got to be Diana's right hand so I spent a lot of time with her. Glenn went on runs with Noah. Daryl was yet to be given a job being as no one really got to know him. All he did was sit in the porch of the house they all stayed in and keep watch. He still hadn't showered. "Natalie..?" Carl said nudging me. I looked up from the comic book that was in my lap and nodded at him. "I'm gonna go hang out with Ron, are you okay with her? " he pointed to his sister. "Yeah go ahead kiddo." He laughed. "You aren't that much older than me." He snatched the comic book from me laughing and headed to the door. " Can you send Daryl over here for me?" He gave me a confused look but then shrugged and nodded. "I'll tell him you need help with Judy." Then he left. I sighed fixing my hair the best I could.

A little while later I had Judith asleep and I was in the middle of drawing her when there was a loud pounding on my door. Quickly getting up I opened it and was met with a cross bow pointing at my head. Daryl pushed passed me and searched frantically though my house. I followed behind him all the way up to my room. He looked over Judy who was passed out in the middle of my bed to make sure she was okay. Then he turned to me. "Can I help you?" "Carl said you needed help with lil ass kicker." He lowered his bow and threw it over his shoulder. I had totally forgotten I asked Carl to send him over. "Oh, right. Still you needed need to burst into my house like that." He grunted and carefully picked up Judith. "What are you doing?" "Taking her back home." He said walking towards the door. " um, no. Rick left me in charge of her. You can't just take her." He raises an eyebrow at me and just stands there. "Watch me." I grabbed his arm and he flinched at my touch. "She's sleeping leave her be." He snatched his arm from me and then set her on the bed tucking her in. "I'm staying on the porch." Herb said bluntly and then left the room.

I peeked through the blinds to see him still sitting there. I pulled on a hoodie and slowly opened the door trying to be quiet. He slightly turned his head but didn't fully look at me. I handed him a bottle of water and he snatched it from me and took a sip. Slowly sitting next to him I also handed him a sandwich. He looked at the plate then shook his head. I had been watching him all day and he hadn't eaten or anything. Carl had come back and fell asleep on the couch. I figured Rick would be on his way shorty to come say hi to the kids on his break. "You eat it." Daryl said quietly and slid the plate to me. " I already ate when I made food for Judith and Carl. I slid the plate back. He stared out into the distance and I watched him. Studying his face, his arms, his back, his breathing. Something about him made me want to know him, he seemed so interesting and mysterious. It was honestly so attractive. He was probably old enough to be my father but I didn't care. I imagined him pulling me into him and doing that grunt in my ear. Wow. I need to chill. He's closed off, you'll never get that close. My mind told me. I pushed those thoughts to the back of my head and blinked a few times shaking my head. "It's cold out Daryl why don't you come in?" I stood up dusting my ass off. He shook his head. "My door is open if you change your mind." With that I turned on my heels and went inside and headed to bed. But not before tossing a blanket out to the porch.