Adult-FanFiction.org : Television / Streaming

Safe Haven in the Chaos	By : IdrilsSecret Category: S through Z > The Walking Dead Views: 6517 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the walking dead or any of the characters. No money is being made from the writing of these stories

Chapter List
- 72
- 73
- 74
Chapter 74 Welcome Home

When the group left the Sanctuary, it had only been spitting flurries. By the time they reached Alpha’s Northern border, they were in the middle of a heavy downfall. There was already a couple inches on the ground. It was thicker here than on the road because there was no asphalt to melt it quicker, and there was no sign of it letting up anytime soon.

Aaron came to a halt beside Daryl. They stood at the edge of the border, the wooden posts still erect, ten of them to be exact.

“Is this where it happened?” Aaron asked, though he already knew the answer.

Daryl said each name of the deceased, nodding at each post as he spoke. When he got to Henry’s name, he saw Carol standing by the pole, still stained with months old blood of her adopted son. Both men approached her and laid hands on her shoulders.

“You all right?” Daryl asked in a whisper, and Carol nodded.

Aaron squeezed her shoulder affectionately. “I know how difficult this is for you, but–”

“That bitch is gonna get hers,” Carol interrupted. She spoke so low, they almost didn’t hear her, but the hatred in her eyes was clear.

Daryl caught movement out of the corner of his eye, and looked up to see Lydia standing off to the side. The grief on her face was prominent, but as Carol stared at her, Lydia seemed to cower. Daryl noticed that Carol’s face hadn’t changed, and that’s what the girl was flinching from. He couldn’t help wonder if Carol’s revenge had anything to do with Lydia. It was understandable, eye for an eye and all that, but he was Lydia’s protector. He wouldn’t, couldn’t let anything happen to her, even if he had to fight off Carol to keep her safe. Hopefully it wouldn’t come to that.

The group moved forward, past the markers, and disappeared into the heavy falling snow. Visibility was deteriorating quickly so the guards and the stronger fighters took up positions along the outside of the group. And then, from out of nowhere, there were figures standing before them, slowly becoming visible like ghosts materializing from a fog of white. Michonne, Daryl and Aaron stopped, and the rest followed suit. Those who saw the figures gasped. Were they walkers? Were they Whisperers? Daryl brought his crossbow up and waited to see what they would do. He wouldn’t wait long though. Michonne squint her eyes and glared through the snowfall. They weren’t moving, whoever they were, and stood still as statues. Slowly, Michonne approached.

“They’re frozen solid,” she announced as she brought her katana up and slashed forward, severing the head of one of the walkers.

Aaron gazed on with amazement. “I knew they slowed in the winter, but I’ve never seen anything like this.”

“It’s not a good sign,” Daryl warned. “Means the temps are falling faster than we thought. We got to get these people to the Hilltop or they’re going to die.”

Michonne decapitated the rest of the frozen walkers and the group moved on until finally they came to the edge of the river. Some breathed a sigh of relief. It meant they didn’t have much further to go.

Daryl went to the river and stepped out onto the ice. Aaron watched with caution, but the water was frozen, at least at the edge. “I think we’re good,” Daryl called. He glanced to the place where he left Lydia to check the river, but she wasn’t there. “Hey, where’s Lydia?” he said, and started toward the empty space.

“I’ll go find her,” Carol offered, and she went off before Daryl could protest. He watched her go, slightly worried after witnessing Carol’s disdain toward the girl. He couldn’t go. He had to stay and help the rest cross the solidified river. Just as he was about to call them forward, something moved beneath the snow, and a walker was grabbing at his ankles.

Michonne saw it too, and yelled out to him in warning, only to watch as more dead emerged. The people started to panic, and she feared they would all run for the river at the same time. “Daryl, Yumiko, Magna, you’re with me. Ezekiel, Aaron, grab some of the others and start helping people across the ice.”

Ezekiel and Aaron recruited Jerry and Alden. They organized the group quickly so that they would cross single file. They couldn’t have too much weight on the ice, for fear of it collapsing. As Aaron helped people move forward and step onto the ice, he glanced toward Daryl, finding him taking on walkers that were emerging from a nearby tree line.

Aaron wanted to go to him, to help him with the fight, but if he left his position, people would start to crowd the edge of the river. As it was, they were trying to push forward. “Not so many at a time,” he continuously warned.

Daryl now fought with his knife, saving his arrows for when he needed them. It was a lot more difficult than usual to stab them in the head. Though they weren’t frozen solid, they were still hardened to a degree, making it a challenge to get the knife in and slide it back out effectively. He got most of them, but there was another one approaching him. He got his knife ready and moved forward, but just as he was about to kill it, the snow beneath his feet shifted, and a walker grabbed his leg. The one walking toward him was still at a slight distance. He dropped his crossbow and used all his strength to kill the one at his feet, but when he looked up, the advancing walker was almost on top of him. He reached for his bow, but the walker kicked it and it went flying across the snow. The walker fell on top of him, and Daryl struggled to keep it back. Its teeth were snapping way too close to his face and shoulder, and he couldn’t get his arm up to stab it. He was trapped.

While waiting for the next person to cross the ice, Aaron looked over to where he’d last seen Daryl, but he was gone. Frantically, his eyes scanned the area until he saw him fighting off a couple walkers. He watched as Daryl killed the one on the ground, but became trapped by the second one. All he saw was the walker fall on top of Daryl, and then his view was obstructed by a snowbank. “Shit,” he mumbled to himself.

“Tom Sawyer,” someone called to him. Aaron recognized the elderly man right away. It was the man from the fair who had been selling charms made from wire.

“Huckleberry Finn,” Aaron answered, remembering the story about the man’s favorite childhood book. “You couldn’t have come at a better time.”

“You look worried,” the man observed.

“Someone … my … friend, he needs my help. Will you stay here and see that these people cross safely?” he asked with desperation.

“I’d be glad to,” said the man. He must have sensed Aaron’s urgency because he added, “I’ve got this. You go take care of your man.”

Aaron smiled and clasped the man’s shoulder before he left. “Thank you. Oh, and make sure they don’t cross more than two at a time.”

By the time Aaron reached the top of the snowbank, he could see Daryl on his back and a walker on top of him. “Daryl!” he yelled, and he started to run toward him. He was running on the frozen water, sliding as he went. He didn’t consider that his actions might make the ice crack or break. In his mind, the only thing that mattered was helping Daryl.

Daryl heard Aaron call to him, but he couldn’t respond. He couldn’t do anything but keep the walker from biting him. Just the sound of Aaron’s voice gave him a boost. He was done with this dead fucker. Taking a moment to look around him, he realized that he was laying beneath the edge of the broken bridge, the last place he had seen Rick before the explosion. He saw broken concrete and rebar sticking out, but there was no way he could detach any of it from the bridge. And then he saw the long glittering icicles reaching down toward him. The walker’s weight pushed him down, but he stretched his arm up, fingertips just grazing one of the icicles. He pushed himself up several times, while keeping a snapping jaw at bay, and finally broke off one of the icy cylinders. He juggled it in his hand until he held it at the right angle and stabbed the walker through its eye socket. The unmoving corpse collapsed on top of him, but he didn’t have the strength to push it off. Just then, Aaron was there, and rolled the corpse away, dropped to his knees, and scanned Daryl for injuries.

“Oh my God, are you okay? Are you hurt? Are you all right?” Aaron’s words rushed together in desperation.

Daryl sat up on his elbows and looked up into Aaron’s concerned face. “I’m good,” he nodded.

“I saw you from the river. I saw you fighting them, saw you fall, saw this one follow you down, and I … I–”
As Aaron stammered out of breath with fear and concern for Daryl’s safety, Daryl reached up with a hand behind Aaron’s head, and pulled him down for a kiss. It was solid and laced with desperation, a kiss for relief that he was still alive, and that Aaron had come to his aid. Aaron kissed him back awkwardly, caught off guard from the suddenness of it, but before he could correct himself, Daryl had released him and pushed him back gently.

“I’m … I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me,” Daryl apologized.

Aaron helped Daryl up by offering him a hand and pulling him to his feet. “You don’t have to apologi–”

“We need to get back,” Daryl cut him off abruptly. He picked up his crossbow and continued walking back to the rest of the group, leaving Aaron confused by the exchange. Daryl was still hiding from himself, from Aaron, and from his feelings.

Aaron stayed behind and watched him leave. Now wasn’t the time, but soon they would need to talk things out. They had kissed twice now, once initiated by Aaron, and this time by Daryl. And both times, Daryl walked away first. What did any of this mean? He needed to know what was going on in Daryl’s mind, and whether or not there was anything left between them.

As it was, everyone made it safely across the river. The group traveled along as best they could, trudging through the thickening snow. Those keeping guard paid special attention to make sure no one fell behind. The weather was getting really bad when a wall emerged slowly through the heavily falling snow.

Voices carried in the closed in atmosphere, everyone saying the same thing. “We made it. We made it.” Hilltop came into view. They heard the gates open before they saw them move, and rushed inside.

The people of Hilltop had been waiting for them to come. Fires were burning, and food was ready and waiting for them. Warm beverages passed around until everyone had something in their hands. They gathered inside the great house and breathed a sigh of relief. Siddiq and Alex made their way around to everyone, checking them over for signs of injuries or frostbite. Remarkably, everyone was in good shape, outside of the occasional scrape or bruise.

Daryl made his rounds, still unsure about his duty to the Hilltop community. He’d seen Rick do something similar a thousand times, and thought it would be a good idea to do the same. The people seemed grateful for it, so he must have done the right thing. Eventually he made his way to the sitting room where families with small children had gathered. The fireplace in that room was bigger than the others throughout the house, and the room was extra big. Seeing that the fire was getting a little low, he went over and threw another log onto the fire. It crackled and popped as the wood caught fire. The sound made him remember a time when he and Aaron used to escape to the cabin. So many nights they had spent on the rug in front of the fireplace, trading stories, or confessing feelings. There was something about the sound of the wood popping that made his heart jump in his chest.

He glanced over his shoulder, and found Aaron sitting with Jerry and his family. Aaron was playing games with the children, giving Jerry and his wife a moment to pay attention to each other. The relief on their faces was recognizable. A lot of people shared the same expressions.

The fire continued to crackle, and a loud snap brought Aaron’s attention his way. They made eye contact, and Daryl wondered what he was thinking. Had he remembered the past as Daryl was right now? Aaron gave him a crooked smile and a nod. Daryl nodded back, and felt himself swoon at the sparkle in Aaron’s blue eyes. And then Jerry’s youngest son grabbed Aaron’s attention away from him, just the escape he’d needed. Daryl took the opportunity to walk over to the window and see what the weather was doing outside. Lydia was there too. It was a good time to check in on her.

“How you doing?” Daryl asked.

“Fine,” she answered tersely.

“You need to get some food and rest. We’re heading out for Alexandria in the morning,” he told her.

She seemed relieved by this. Daryl knew she didn’t much care for Hilltop. He’d been thinking long and hard about leaving her there. Daryl was going just to make sure the others made it safely, and then he would need to return to Hilltop. With all the new Kingdom people here, he’d need to organize it, make sure everyone had a place to stay and a job to do. That’s what Tara would have done, he thought to himself.

“I liked it there … when we went there after you found me and Henry,” she admitted. Daryl got the feeling she was hinting around.

He decided to talk to her about it, and see what she thought about living there. “Michonne offered to let you stay there. You can if you want to.”

Lydia gave a protected smile, the first sign of happiness she’d shown in a long time. It faded as she spoke to him. “What about you?”

“I’m going along just to see everyone there safely, but I’ve got a lot to do here,” he told her.

What little joy she exhibited disappeared quickly. After a silent stent, she asked, “Why did you leave Alexandria in the first place?”

Daryl’s ears snatched up the sound of Aaron’s cheerful voice, and he glanced over to see him playing with the children. “That’s a story for another time,” he said protectively before tearing his sight away from Aaron. “Don’t stay up late,” he said to her, and he left the room to take his own advice to heart.

>>------->

The snow had stopped sometime during the night. The morning was beautiful, sun shining bright and not a cloud in the sky. The ground was covered, but not as thick as Daryl feared it might be. If they stuck to traveling on the roads, it wouldn’t be too difficult of a journey.

He was anxious to get back to Alexandria to retrieve his bike and get Dog, but he didn’t want to stay any longer than necessary. He needed to get back to Hilltop. One night in Alexandria, and he would turn for home the next morning.

As Daryl made his rounds, his mind kept wandering back to the broken bridge, the close call he had with the walker, and Aaron coming to his rescue. He couldn’t stop thinking about the kiss he initiated, of how good Aaron’s lips felt upon his, and of how much more he wished he could do to him. It had been an intense scene, close to death one moment and full of life and love the next. Daryl acted without any thought as to what he was doing. All he felt was a sudden need to have Aaron in his life again. He didn’t want to be alone, to die alone. And when Aaron arrived, he realized that he didn’t have to be. Aaron would always be there for him, no matter what. It was something he’d known all along, and information he’d always managed to misplace. Maybe it was time to talk. He’d speak with Aaron when they got to Alexandria. First, there was something he needed to do, amends to make, permission to seek.

On his way to see how preparations were going for departing to Alexandria, Daryl took a different path and found himself nearing the cemetary. He felt he owed it to Jesus to pay him a visit and talk to him, wherever he might be. As he walked along the side of the great house, he thought about the ghosts that used to visit him, and wondered if Paul had done the same for Aaron. Did Aaron dream about him? Did he see apparitions in dark places? Had Paul ever come to him in the late hours of the night?

As he was about to turn the corner, Daryl heard a voice talking low, almost whispering. He stopped and peeked around the edge of the house until he saw Aaron standing over Jesus’ grave, having a conversation. He started to leave, but Aaron’s voice caught him like quicksand, and he steadied his feet to eavesdrop, though he knew he shouldn’t. Daryl caught his words mid-sentence.

“. . . was thrown off by the kiss. But he left, and that’s why I didn’t go after him. I don’t know, Paul.” Aaron sighed. “I miss you. You shouldn’t be here. You should still be alive. And I can’t help but wonder if you … and I would have been–”

Daryl turned and left before he heard anything more. The last thing he wanted to know about was Aaron’s longing for the man who ‘should still be alive’. It was just as he thought. Aaron still wasn’t over losing Jesus. He must have loved him deeply. What had he wondered? If they would have moved in together? Married? Jesus proposed just before he met his fate. Maybe Aaron was still torn up about not saying yes sooner. It was obvious that they were in a serious relationship, but now Daryl thought he had underestimated just how serious it had been. When Daryl and Aaron were together, marriage had never came up in any conversation. Why would it have? They had something too intense, too risky. One minute they were inseparable, and the next they despised one another. Whatever Aaron and Jesus had seemed more solid, more … normal.

He left without visiting the grave, without Aaron knowing he’d been listening. It was a good thing he overheard Aaron or he might have made a fool of himself. Daryl couldn’t believe he was actually contemplating staying in Alexandria, and giving it another try with Aaron. From what little he heard, there was still too much standing in the way of that. Aaron wasn’t over Jesus, and maybe he never would be. So, Daryl would help see everyone to Alexandria safely, and then he would return to Hilltop where he was needed. Now, to figure out what he would do with Lydia. Either she stayed with him, and stayed miserable in Hilltop, or she stayed in Alexandria. She would be happier there, but he wouldn’t be around to protect her. The Whisperers were still out there, and there was no telling what would happen once winter went away.

Daryl entered the great house, and found it abuzz with people making final preparations to leave. Daryl stopped to talk with some of the Hilltop people, giving orders about what needed to be done while he was away. He was answering their questions about how long he would be gone when he saw Carol coming down the stairs with her bags slung over her shoulder. She was alone, Ezekiel nowhere in sight. Daryl excused himself, and went to her.

“What are you doing?” he asked. He noticed she had several things, more than she would need for an overnight trip to Alexandria and back.

“I’m going with you,” she said, and pushed past him.

“You don’t need to do that,” he said rushing to catch up to her as she left the great house, and walked out into the yard. “We’ve got plenty to go along for protection.”

“I meant, I’m going back to Alexandria … to live there,” she said matter-of-factly, as she hurried to the waiting horses at the gate. Daryl rushed behind her.

“What are you talking about?” said Daryl, confused. “You belong here with your people, with Ezekiel.”

“Yeah, about that,” she said softly, finally coming to a stop. “We had a long talk last night.” Carol moved close to Daryl and whispered into his shoulder. “This is something I need to do right now. I love Ezekiel, I really do, but I can’t stay here. I can’t stay with him, not now at least. I need some time away from all the … memories. I … I need to go home and be with my family.”

Daryl thought about Ezekiel’s pleas for him to give Carol space, and allow the couple to deal with their grief without complication. Daryl never thought of himself as a distraction before, especially when it came to Carol, his best friend. “Carol, I think you should know about something Ezekiel asked me to do.”

“He told you to step off. I know,” she said. There was a saddled horse with no rider nearby. She greeted the horse and attached her bags to the saddle. Then she turned back to Daryl. “That’s not the reason I’m leaving.” Her face softened as she started to be honest with him, and herself too. “I’ve been happy these past years. Very happy. I don’t regret a single moment. As a matter of fact, I thought that was how my life was going to be for a lot longer than it had been. But … I’m breaking again. I can feel it in every fiber of my being, and staying here is causing me to crumble and deteriorate at an accelerated rate. It’s not Ezekiel’s fault. It’s not mine either. And it’s definitely got nothing to do with you or our friendship. Actually, it’s out friendship, and being around Michonne and Aaron and … and the few of us that are left from that original bond that’s keeping me from completely losing myself.” She paused to let a tear slip down her cheek. She wiped it away with the sleeve of her coat. “You know, I saw Judith at the fair for the first time since she was just a toddler. I couldn’t believe how much she’d grown, and I thought, why did I allow myself to be distant from you all … my family? I want to be a part of that again.” Carol clutched onto Daryl around the waist, burying her face in his chest. It took Daryl a moment before he responded by surrounding her with his arms. He was facing the great house, and glanced up at the top windows. He could just make out Ezekiel watching from the master’s bedroom. After only a few seconds, he was gone.

“You always have been a part of it,” Daryl reassured her while wondering if Ezekiel blamed him for losing her.

Carol gave a sort of laugh/cry reaction, and mouthed the words thank you.

“Let’s go home,” he said, and helped her mount the horse.

Everyone saddled up, and Michonne nodded to her people. She paused as she saw Carol with the group, and smiled at her. “Good to have you with us again.”

“It’s good to be here,” Carol said, sitting tall and confident upon her horse.

As they rode out of Hilltop, Aaron moved his horse up next to hers. Daryl came up on the other side. Carol looked from one man to the other and smiled. “Just like old times.”

Daryl glanced across to Aaron, who was smiling at Carol. It might have felt like old times to her, but sadly, Daryl thought those times were gone forever. Still, he didn’t have the heart to remind either one of them that he was coming back to Hilltop after seeing everyone safely to Alexandria.

>>------->

Daryl and Aaron read the sign as they passed through the gates. Welcome to Alexandria, it said. They were finally home.

“Someone painted the sign,” Daryl noticed. It no longer promised mercy or vengeance. Now it was a simple welcome sign.

“New sign, new community,” Aaron said with a smile.

Everyone got down from their rides, and followed Michonne to the gate as it slid open to let them inside. The first ones to pass through with Michonne were Daryl, Aaron, Carol and Lydia. They were shocked by the sight laid before them. The entire town was covered by a couple feet of snow. It seemed that Alexandria got the worst part of the storm.

Judith called for her mother and ran to her. Michonne’s face lit up with such joy as Daryl hadn’t seen in a long time. She caught Judith in her arms and hugged her tight. Daryl could see the girl’s nose and cheeks glowing red, and not just from playing outside in the cold. He recognized the signs of exposure to extreme cold, and wondered what had happened here. Michonne noticed too, and questioned Judith about it, but the girl shrugged her shoulders and blamed it on the current cold.

Aaron came up next to Daryl and stood by his side, as they watched Michonne’s little boy, R.J., peek over a mound of snow. She went to him, picked him up and twirled him around, Judith giggling at her side. It was such a rare but sweet moment.

“Daddy!” exclaimed Gracie when she saw Aaron. She had been playing with R.J. and Judith while they waited for their parents to return.

“Hey sweetie,” Aaron called back. He got on one knee, as Gracie ran full speed toward him. He held out one arm, caught her, stood and twirled her around. “I missed you so, so, so, sooooo much,” he sang.

Daryl realized this was the first time he had ever witnessed Aaron and Gracie’s relationship. Daryl had never been around to see any of it. Jesus had been there for a time. His mind conjured up a scene with both men hugging their little girl and each other. Was that how it had been for them?

As Aaron hugged his daughter, the little girl noticed Daryl standing off to the side, and Lydia not far from him. “Who is that, Daddy?” Gracie asked innocently.

Aaron turned and smiled. “That’s Daryl, and that’s Lydia,” he told her, and then to Daryl. “Hey, don’t be strangers. Come here.”

Daryl and Lydia glanced at each other and came forward. There were times when they behaved so similarly, one would think they were related.

Gracie smiled up to Daryl. “I know who you are. Daddy talks about you all the time.”

“Does he now?” said Daryl with a glance at Aaron. A red tinge colored his cheeks. “Well, it’s nice to finally meet you. Your daddy talks about you all the time too.”

“I’m gonna go see if anyone needs any help unloading stuff,” said Lydia from where she stood.

Aaron got to his feet and went towards her. “Of course you’re not. Come on. Don’t be shy. This is Alexandria where all are welcomed. And since this is going to be your new home–”

“We’re not going back to Hilltop?” Lydia interrupted, addressing Daryl.

“Yeah, about that . . .”

“Oh, I see. You’re gonna go back and leave me here,” she started to argue, sounding a bit scared that she was getting left behind.

Daryl sighed and gave Aaron a stern look. It hadn’t been discussed where Lydia was going to stay. “You know how it is at the Hilltop,” said Daryl, shifting his sight to Lydia. “But here you won’t be judged, not like there.”

“Then why don’t you stay here too,” she countered.

Daryl felt Aaron’s eyes burning into the back of his neck. He’d been trying to get him to stay in Alexandria for a while. He had seriously been considering it until he overheard Aaron at the cemetary. “I gotta get things in order there. With the Kingdom moving in, it’ll be chaos at first.”

“Why don’t we talk about this later? It’s been a long trip, and I’m sure we can all use a little downtime before we start trying to think about the next phase,” Aaron suggested.

Daryl heard barking in the distance. “Dog!” he exclaimed and whistled loudly.

Dog came running up to Daryl, circling around his legs, jumping up and whimpering with joy. “I missed you too,” Daryl said as he roughed up the dog’s hair. “Good dog.”

Dog saw Lydia and went to her next, wagging his tail and jumping on her too. She smiled and got down on her knee to pet him. Then she looked up at Daryl. “You taking him with you too?”

“Sure.”

“So you’ll take your dog but not me. Thanks,” she said with an attitude.

“Look,” he said, anger on the rise. “You knew how it was gonna be. Don’t start with that–”

Daryl was interrupted by a punch in the back of the arm by a snowball. He turned to see who it was, and found Judith laughing, hands full of snow already being shaped into another ball. More snow whizzed past him, hitting Judith in the leg. Gracie started laughing, and Aaron was smiling next to her. One by one, people started to relax and forget about plans and chores, and what happened next. Michonne, Judith and R.J. were having their own battle. Carol joined in helping Michonne duel against her children. Gracie fired another snowball, hitting Aaron in the chest. He pretended it almost knocked him over, and scooped up a handful of snow, throwing it back at his daughter.

Daryl looked to Lydia and found her smiling as she watched the friendly battle heat up all around her. It was so good to see her smile, to see her act like a teenager and not having to defend herself. She looked at him too, and the smile started to fade. Then she was hit with snow, finding Aaron had been responsible for the attack. Gracie copied her father, and Judith joined in. The kids started their own battle between them, laughing and having a good time. Lydia put aside her disdain for Daryl at the moment and joined in the fun.

While there was a lull in the action, Daryl glanced to Aaron, who had a snowball in his hand. Daryl narrowed his eyes at him and shook his head slowly back and forth. Aaron smiled and dropped his snowy artillery, lifting his hands in the air as a sign of surrender. For a brief moment, they locked eyes on one another. How long had it been since either one had let their guard down around the other? Daryl couldn’t remember, but he embraced the memories of their past, at the cabin, just the two of them free to be themselves.

Gracie’s playfully loud cry of laughter drew Aaron’s attention away. Daryl kept watching him. That smile was something he only ever used to have for Daryl, but now Gracie was the recipient of that love and caring. And that’s how it should be, Daryl thought to himself.

Feeling rather playful, Daryl took advantage of the moment while Aaron’s attention was diverted, gathered a handful of snow, shaped it into a ball, and threw it at Aaron’s back. Aaron spun around and found Daryl standing there, guilty look on his face, and snow on his gloved hands. Daryl shrugged his shoulders. Aaron smiled deviously and quickly started gathering snow. Daryl did the same and suddenly they were in the midst of their own snowball battle. When Gracie and Lydia saw them, they joined in, Daryl and Lydia against Aaron and Gracie.

And for that short moment in time, no one had any worries. Everyone was home. Everyone was safe. Everyone was happy. Everyone had a place.

>>------->

It was getting late. Aaron was upstairs putting Gracie to bed while Daryl stayed downstairs. Earlier, he had asked Michonne to take Lydia to her house. He sent Dog with her as a peace offering, but Lydia was still mad at him for going back to Hilltop without her. That was nothing new. She was always mad at him it seemed. Maybe one day she would understand.

He slowly walked around the house, noticing little trinkets that he’d forgotten about. A lot of it was still there, like the wall of license plates. Daryl was standing in front of them, memories flooding back into his mind. He remembered the first time he came to this house, when it was Aaron and Eric living here. Aaron had stopped him outside and invited him in for dinner. It seemed like a thousand years ago, and remembering everything that happened between then and now seemed like a thousand more.

“If you’re hungry there’s some chicken in the fridge,” Aaron said from the hallway.

“No, I’m good,” Daryl replied, and Aaron came to join him. “I’m surprised you kept it,” he said, gesturing to the wall.

“I couldn’t bring myself to take them down. I guess in some small way they’re a part of me, my history.”

“Not much has changed,” Daryl pointed out, as he glanced around the living room.

“Yeah, that surprised me too. I didn’t live here for a while. After the war with Negan I moved into the townhomes for a bit. And when the damage was finally fixed, there were two families living here. They didn’t change anything either. Eventually those people left and gave me my house back, mainly because of Gracie.”

“That was nice of them,” Daryl said. He moved to a chair in the living room and took a seat. He felt awkward being here. It was different now. It felt different. Aaron was a father. There was a child sleeping in the upstairs spare room. Probably the biggest difference was the fact that Daryl and Aaron were friends and nothing more, but the house was steeped in memories of their past.

“Why won’t you stay?” Aaron said out of nowhere.

“I’m staying here tonight,” Daryl countered.

“You know what I mean,” Aaron said as he took a seat on the couch. “Doesn’t it feel like you belong in Alexandria? Carol is staying. Michonne is here. Eugene, Rosita, Gabriel. They’re your family. This is your home.”

“I’ve got too much to do at the Hilltop. You know I do. Who’s gonna run that place? Everyone’s still trying to cope with the loss. No one has even come forward to lead at this point.”

“What about Ezekiel? Half the people there are his. He can take over,” Aaron suggested.

“He just lost his son and now his wife.” Daryl paused as he thought about Carol leaving Ezekiel behind. “He’s not in the right frame of mind to lead right now.”

Aaron threw his hands up. “All right. I won’t harp on it anymore. You know my thoughts on the subject.”

“Why do you want me to stay anyway? You’ve got enough going on. You’re raising a little girl. You’re on the council, and I’m sure that takes up a lot of your time.”

“I miss having you around,” Aaron admitted quickly. “There. I said it. I miss you. I miss hanging out with you, and seeing you every day. I was hoping–”

“You’ll see me again. I promise to come around more often after things settle at Hilltop,” Daryl interrupted. He was afraid of where the conversation was going.

“Didn’t you feel anything?” Aaron said. “At the Kingdom. At the bridge. Didn’t you feel anything when we kissed?”

He did feel something, but he couldn’t admit it, not now, not after overhearing Aaron speaking over Jesus’ grave. “I don’t want to ruin what we have right now. It took us a long time to get back to this point. To go any further … I just don’t want to chance it.”

“We used to take chances all the time,” Aaron said with sadness.

“Yeah, and look where that got us.” Daryl spoke before he realized how it sounded. Glancing at Aaron, he could see the hurt in his eyes. “I didn’t mean that as it sounds.” He stood and moved to the couch where Aaron was sitting. He gave a hefty sigh and began. “I felt something. At the Kingdom, at the bridge, I felt it, but I’m scared. I screwed up so bad in the past that I talked myself out of ever being truly happy again. I took a nose dive into the darkness and swam around in it for so long I didn’t think I could ever come back from it. If I hadn’t pushed you away, I would have taken you with me, and I couldn’t stand the thought of ruining you too. So, by releasing you, I thought I saved you, and look where you landed. You’re a dad. You’re an important part of this community.” Daryl turned away before he said the next thing. “You found love, and you had something meaningful. That’s why I can’t come back here.”

“This is about Paul isn’t it?” Aaron said. He reached out as if to touch Daryl’s hand, but stopped.

“I heard you at the grave. I didn’t mean to intrude. I was going there to pay my respects and you were already there. I heard you talking to him. I know you love him and you miss him.”

“I do … I did, but–”

“So,” Daryl continued after interrupting. “This wouldn’t be an issue if Jesus was still alive. You wouldn’t ask me to come back here. You’d be with him, a happy little family.”

“You don’t know that for sure. You don’t know what was happening at that time.”

“I know you miss him, and you wish he was still here. I know you wonder what your life would be like if he hadn’t died. Admit it, Aaron. If Jesus was still alive you wouldn’t care if I came back to Alexandria or not. You’d probably be married to him by now, and living the perfect family life with the man that could give you everything that I couldn’t.”

The room became silent. Daryl stood and went to the wall of plates. He shouldn’t be here. It was too much. He wanted to leave and never look back, but his feet wouldn’t carry him any further. “I’m afraid that you’re still mourning him, and that I’m just someone … someone who happens to be here.”

He heard Aaron slide from the couch and approach. He stood behind, but Daryl wouldn’t turn and face him. Aaron spoke anyways. “What is that supposed to mean?” he said out of anger, surprising Daryl by his tone. “You think I’m only asking you to come back because I’m alone? Because Paul is dead? Is that really what you think?”

Daryl looked over his shoulder as he spoke. “You don’t expect me to believe you would have left him for me, do you?” He turned the rest of the way and faced Aaron full on. “I heard you at his grave, a grave that’s still fresh, by the way. And here you are already asking me to move in. What am I supposed to think?”

“You son of a bitch,” Aaron seethed.

Daryl didn’t see it coming. Or maybe he did and decided to allow it to play out. Aaron’s fist came up from his side, swung out, and dug into Daryl’s cheekbone, making him fall back against the wall. A couple of the license plates fell to the floor before Daryl steadied himself. He supposed he deserved that for instigating it. There was a time when Daryl would have swung back, but not this time. He reached up and touched his cheek. The real pain hadn’t come through yet. He wasn’t surprised by the punch, but by how hard of a hit it had been.

Aaron took a couple steps backwards, and now Daryl could see him favoring his knuckles. Finally, Daryl felt like they were having the real conversation that they needed. He blinked and shook it off. “Good punch for a one armed man,” Daryl pointed out, trying to lighten the tension in the room.

“I don’t want to do this anymore,” Aaron responded, ignoring Daryl’s comment.

“Neither do I.”

“Then what do you want?” said Aaron with frustration.

“I … I just want honesty. I don’t want something between us, some unspoken mystery where we constantly guess what the other is thinking or feeling.”

Aaron stared at him a moment, and his shoulders slumped submissively. “All right then. Let’s get this all out. Honesty. Okay.” He took a deep breath and began. “Paul and I were friends at first, and then it developed into something more. And yes, I did love him. I loved him as best I could because he loved me too. It was nice, and Paul was so good with Gracie when he was around. I always thought we would have made a nice little family with a house and a yard, a daughter to raise together, a simple quiet life. And then one day he asked me to marry him, and suddenly the thought of all those nice, wonderful things just wasn’t enough. It wasn’t enough because it wasn’t happening with you.

Something happened the other day. It was the end of the day, and I realized that I hadn’t thought of Paul, not once the entire day. But then I thought back on all the times that I was with him, and not a day passed that my heart didn’t beat at least once for you. Not a week went by that you didn’t enter my thoughts a hundred times. That’s the honest truth. That’s how I feel about you. That’s why I kissed you at the Kingdom. That’s why I was elated when you kissed me at the bridge. That’s what I was telling Paul at the grave, but you didn’t stay long enough to hear. And that’s why I’m asking you to stay in Alexandria. But I’ll understand if you can’t. I know have Hilltop to manage right now, and that’s of higher importance. Now you know how I feel, honestly, nothing less.”

Slowly, Daryl nodded. “Thank you.” He reached down and picked up the fallen plates, handing them to Aaron.

Aaron took them, gazed down at their embossed letters and numbers. “You’re still going, aren’t you?”

Again, Daryl took his time and gave a nod in answer. “I have to finish what I started.”

“And after that?” Aaron sounded hopeful.

“After that, I’ll come back and we’ll see what happens then.”

Aaron reached up to cup Daryl’s face, but he winced. “Sorry about that,” Aaron apologized.

Daryl looked up through his long hair, eyes penetrating Aaron’s. “Can I kiss you once more before I leave?”

Aaron closed the distance and smiled. “You never have to ask me that.”

They came together and kissed patiently, as though they were testing one another. It was a sweet moment, and a hopeful start to something more. When they separated, Daryl told him goodnight and went to his room, the office had been converted into a guest room. He closed the door behind him and stood there a moment. A deep sigh seemed to regulate his rapid heartbeat.

>>------->

Daryl tossed and turned for an hour or so. He couldn’t sleep and he couldn’t think straight. He kept rolling Aaron’s words over and over in his mind. Not a day . . . not a week . . . Daryl had to be honest with himself. He’d had the same feelings and thoughts over the years. Even when he was at his lowest, he would think of Aaron and remember what joy felt like, though it would only last like a flash of lightening. But those dark days were behind him, and Aaron was right here, right now. Why was he still afraid? Why couldn’t he give himself back to the only man he’d ever loved? For one, it wasn’t just about the two of them anymore. Aaron had Gracie to raise and protect. And Daryl had Lydia, who he was still trying to figure out. They would complicate things, but it could work.

Earlier in the day, Daryl had forgotten about all the fear and worries, all the concerns and threats, and he let go, lived in the moment, and it had felt so good. He had seen the same thing for Lydia. As she joined the snowball fight, she was smiling from top to bottom, true happiness that he’d never seen on her before, not once. No one judged her. They all welcomed her as though she’d been a part of this group for a long time. It was all he had wanted for her. Truth be told, it’s all Daryl had wanted for himself, and exactly what he received when he was here … in Alexandria … home.

That’s what Aaron had always represented … home. It was almost like things were coming full circle. Being back in this community, in this house where it all started, it felt right. Hilltop never felt that way. It hadn’t been unpleasant, but it wasn’t familiar. It didn’t wrap around him and comfort him. Hilltop was just a job. It was his duty, something everyone else expected of him, to lead and help move things forward. He also knew they needed him right now. Tara would have wanted him to be there. She had always had confidence in him as a leader. She would also have wanted to see him happy, and this was the only place where he found that. Maybe Aaron was right about letting Ezekiel take over. He was a good leader, an honest man, and he had the respect of his people.

It was a lot to think about, but as Daryl tried to sort things out, his mind kept wandering back to Aaron. It hadn’t slipped past his notice how much more handsome he’d become over the years. Becoming a father had changed him in a way Daryl couldn’t explain. It wasn’t that he’d matured or lost some kind of boyish charm. Aaron had always behaved like a grown man with responsibilities. Perhaps it was because he’d been charged with a new set of responsibilities. It was the way his eyes lit up when he saw Gracie racing to him, and the way he’d gotten down on one knee to scoop her up. It was the way he never let his handicap label him or rule over him. It was the way he took up leadership in the community as a member of the council, and how strong his voice was when he contributed to any decisions. He was still Aaron, but stronger, sexier, more alive than ever before, and Daryl realized he wanted to know all those new qualities on a much more personal level. He wanted to see Aaron in his new element, and absorb this increased confidence that emitted from him. He wanted all of it. He wanted Aaron.

Daryl sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. His feet rested on the wood floor, toes wiggling as he decided whether or not he was going to do this. He looked down at his body, eyes tracing the lines of the scars that hadn’t been there the last time he was with Aaron. There were quite a few, and each one felt as though it marked his path back. They represented the trials he had to endure in order to find himself back where he knew he belonged.

He stood and looked around the room, the bookshelves still filled with books, and each one had been touched by Aaron’s hands. Then his eyes traced a line to the door. Open it and go, his mind shouted. Go get him. Tell him all the things you’ve always wanted to say. Don’t waste another moment. It wasn’t the first time he’d had this conversation with himself, but this time his purpose was greater.

His feet carried him to the door, and his hand reached for the knob. Slowly his fingers curled around it, then a twist of his wrist and it opened.

“Oh. Hey,” Aaron said. He was standing just outside the door, his hand reaching out as though to open it. “I was, uh … I was just–”

Daryl didn’t wait to hear his reason. He grabbed Aaron by the waist and pulled him in. Aaron obeyed like a yoyo on a string. They were eye to eye, breath heavy, hearts beating rapidly but in sync.

“What were you doing outside my door?” Daryl asked, voice low and sultry.

“Well, I had a dozen excuses, but now I can’t think of a single one,” Aaron answered. “What were you doing opening your door.”

“I don’t have any excuses. I was coming to see you,” he admitted with dark eyes boring deep into Aaron’s.

“About what?” Aaron asked.

“About this.” Daryl captured Aaron’s lips quick and rough. Their bodies pressed together as Daryl’s arms clenched Aaron’s waist. He felt Aaron’s growing eagerness pushing against his own, and released his lips to ravage his neck. Aaron submitted willingly, exciting Daryl even more.

“Are you sure about this?” Aaron panted between kisses.

Daryl released him and moved back to look into his eyes. “I’ve had plenty of doubts in my lifetime, but not about this. I don’t just want you. I want you back in my life. Nothing stands between us anymore. A fresh start, and this time we’ll do it right.”

Aaron’s eyes brightened as he smiled. “I didn’t think we were all that wrong the first time around.”

Daryl took Aaron’s face in his hands. “No. No we weren’t.” When he kissed Aaron this time, it was slower with more love for the man he knew he could never quit completely. “What do you say. Will you stay with me tonight?”

Aaron looked past Daryl’s shoulder to the small bed. “I’m not sure that cot will support us.”

“Then we’ll throw the mattress on the floor,” Daryl said desperately. “I need you. Please.”

Aaron slowly shook his head from side to side. “You said you want to do it right. So, you’ll come to bed … our bed.” He rolled his eyes up, gesturing to the second floor where their room was.

Daryl’s brows creased. “What about Gracie?”

“She’s in her own room down the hall, fast asleep.”

“Don’t you think that’s kind of … close?” Daryl questioned.

Aaron laughed quietly. “Well, unless you plan on screaming my name or a bunch of obscenities–”

“Of course not. I’ve always been the one who could control himself. You on the other hand . . .”

Aaron grabbed the back of Daryl’s neck and pulled him in for a wanton kiss. “This is what I’ve missed. Ah, Daryl, it’s been so long, but now it’s like we’ve never been apart.”

Daryl ran his fingers through Aaron’s hair. “Then I’ll be the first to say it. Aaron … I love you. I’ve always loved you. That’s one thing that never changed, and it never will.” They kissed again, and this time, Daryl’s hands roamed around, clenching Aaron’s ass. He ended it with a slap when they separated. “Lead the way.”

They headed straight up the stairs and to their room. Aaron followed Daryl, but he stopped in the doorway. “I’m just going to check on her real quick, and I’ll be back.” He closed the door behind him.

Daryl stood in the center of the bedroom, and so many feelings and memories came flooding back. This had always been their room where they had spent so much time together. Those had been better days. Daryl hoped the bad times were behind him, but with the world the way it was, bad days were to be expected. This time around, he would deal with them differently, and hopefully with Aaron by his side. But what did this mean for Hilltop? Could he fall back on his promise and let them fend for themselves? Should he go back as he planned, and push the council to elect a leader? Was he ready to move back to Alexandria? All he knew was that he was ready to push everything away and focus on starting over again with Aaron. Maybe that was all he needed right now. There were very few other things that mattered.

The door opened, and Aaron came in. He slowly closed it behind him, and locked it. “She’s out like a drunk after a bender,” Aaron joked. “But I’ll still try to control my loud and amorous ways.” He noticed that Daryl seemed a little preoccupied. “Everything all right?”

“Yeah, I was just thinking.”

“Don’t do too much of that,” Aaron warned playfully. “But really, what’s going on in the beautiful head of yours.”

Daryl smiled. “I’ve just come to some decisions quickly, which isn’t what I normally do.”

“And how does it feel?” Aaron asked, padding slowly toward him.

“It feels … like home.”

“That’s how it should feel. I love you too, Daryl Dixon.” Aaron closed the distance and captured Daryl’s lips. Their kisses heated more with every second that passed. Daryl’s hands roamed over Aaron’s body, fumbling with the buttons on his shirt. He started to push the shirt from his shoulders, but Aaron stopped him.

“Hold on. Things work a little differently now.” Aaron glanced at his metal arm. “I have to take this off first.” He seemed slightly embarrassed by the interruption.

Daryl realized he hadn’t seen Aaron’s vulnerability since the day he lost his arm. “Show me how it works,” he said to ease Aaron’s awkwardness.

Aaron showed him the belts and buckles that held the prosthetic on. Daryl helped him remove it. The arm ended a few inches below the elbow, and it was wrapped in cloth bandages. Daryl unwrapped it with great care, as though the wound was still fresh. He felt Aaron’s eyes on him, watching each movement. He heard his heavy breathing in anticipation of what they were about to embark upon. And when he had the arm exposed, Daryl placed soft kisses along the length of it, from the end to the shoulder, laying extra kisses in the crook of the elbow. He turned Aaron away from him and gently pulled his shirt off, letting it drop to the floor. His lips traced a line from shoulder to shoulder, and he could feel the goosebumps raise on Aaron’s smooth skin. When he turned Aaron back around to face him, his eyes were closed and his lips parted. Daryl smiled with smug satisfaction for knowing he had produced such a reaction. The tenting of Aaron’s pants proved the success of his ministrations. Daryl allowed a grunt to escape from him, and Aaron opened his eyes.

“Let me,” Aaron said, reaching out to undo the buttons of Daryl’s shirt.

“It’s okay. I can do it,” Daryl said, not wanting Aaron to struggle or become frustrated.

Aaron swatted the hand away. “I got this. How do you think I get dressed every day?”

“Well shit,” Daryl said playfully. “Don’t let me get in your way then.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll let you know when I need your help.” Aaron got busy, and though it took a little longer than it used to, he managed to get Daryl’s shirt unbuttoned and pulled it off. “See? Years of practice have paid off.” Aaron’s eyes traveled along Daryl’s torso, observing the new scars. “You gonna tell me the backstories on these?”

“Eventually. For now, let’s just say I’ve seen some shit over the years.” Daryl’s fingers curled into Aaron’s pants, and he tugged him forward. “I know you can do this yourself too, but for the sake of my sanity, let me take over from here.”

“I like how you worded that,” Aaron smirked. He lowered his hand and allowed Daryl to lead.

It was like unwrapping a present, except that he knew what was inside. Daryl unbuttoned Aaron’s pants and slowly slid the zipper down. His eyes came up, seductively gazing at Aaron, who was watching Daryl’s hands go about their business. Capturing that pouty lower lip, Daryl kissed him hard and deep. Tongues glided and swirled eagerly, and Daryl’s hand slid into Aaron’s underwear. His straining cock jumped at his touch, and Daryl wrapped his fingers around him. Aaron moaned and tilted his head back. His hand came up, fingers snaking around behind Daryl’s neck to insure the kiss didn’t end just yet. Daryl abandoned Aaron just long enough to unbuckle his belt, slip the button through the loop and unzip his pants. Aaron’s hand left Daryl’s neck and glided down his body until it reached the waistband of his underwear, before pushing them down. Neither man wanted to be clothed anymore. There would be plenty of time for foreplay another day. Right now, they needed to feel flesh upon flesh.

Both naked now, Aaron sat at the foot of the bed and scooted back. Daryl followed, crawling along with him before settling on top of him. Their bodies crushed together, and Daryl ravaged Aaron’s neck. Their cocks lined up side by side, sliding and pulsating together. Daryl started to slide off, but Aaron directed him to the correct side so that he had use of his hand. These were just a few of the things Daryl pinned in his memory for the next time. He nudged his knee between Aaron’s legs, took both cocks in his hand and started manipulating them.

“I’ve never forgotten how good you make me feel,” Aaron whispered.

“I haven’t even started to make you feel good,” Daryl growled in Aaron’s ear, biting and sucking on the delicious lobe.

“Then do it. Now. Please, Daryl. I need you so bad,” Aaron begged, rolling onto his back.

Daryl got to his knees and sat between Aaron’s legs. Aaron, who was already thinking ahead, reached into the bedside table drawer and took out a bottle, tossing it to Daryl. He squeezed some of the clear thick liquid into his hand and rubbed them together. Then he proceeded to prepare them both. Aaron bent his legs at the knees and smiled up at Daryl.

“It’s been so long since I’ve seen you like this. For years, I could only dream about it,” Daryl admitted.

“You dreamed about me?” Aaron seemed surprised for some reason.

“Every day,” Daryl responded as he got himself into position.

Aaron smiled up at him. “Come here you beautiful man. Make love to me, Daryl.”

Daryl slid into his lover, both men moaning as a result. Aaron was delightfully stretched, and Daryl was pleasantly squeezed. When they had both adjusted, Daryl started to move, small strokes at first, circling motions, and then harder and faster pumping. Aaron’s legs were locked tight around his waist. One hand anchored on Daryl’s shoulder, the other arm rested on the bed in an upward position. Daryl went deep and pumped short, fast strokes, hitting Aaron continuously in the targeted zone. Aaron never lasted long when Daryl’s cock stroked him right there.

Aaron was doing a decent job of not loudly vocalizing his state of bliss, though he was moaning deliciously and telling Daryl how good it all felt. They’d never had to tone down their cries of passion. Daryl had thought it might put a damper on the moment, but it actually made it more exciting.

“I’m close,” Aaron told him between heavy breaths.

“Me too,” Daryl answered, and he changed his position. Taking Aaron with him, he moved to his knees and lifted Aaron from the bed. He slowed his rhythm, but plunged deep. The sensations were pushing them both further to the edge.

Aaron’s eyes opened and focused on Daryl. “Feels so good,” he whispered before closing his eyes again, biting his bottom lip to keep himself from shouting.

Daryl was buried to the hilt, Aaron’s body massaging him from within, warm and welcoming. It was too much and he erupted within. “Fuck yeah!” Daryl cried, hoping it wasn’t too loud, and not caring if it was. He lowered Aaron to the bed and gripped his shoulders as he pumped twice more and stilled.

Aaron spilled between their bodies. “Oh Daryl,” he moaned in a lengthy breath.

Daryl buried his face in Aaron’s neck. “I’m sorry if I’m crushing you, but I don’t want to move.”

“I’m fine, and I don’t want you to move either. Stay like this forever. Don’t leave me just yet,” Aaron pleaded.

Daryl kissed along Aaron’s jawline to his ear and whispered. “I’m never leaving you again.”

After Daryl softened, he pulled from Aaron, and came to rest at his side. He traced a figure eight on Aaron’s chest, feather light touches that made Aaron break out in goosebumps.

Aaron smiled and laughed, and Daryl stopped. “I know it’s been a long time, but it feels like we’ve never skipped a beat,” Aaron admitted.

“I spent a lot of years angry, confused. Just trying to make it another day. And now I know what I should have known all along. I don’t want to move through this life without you.” Daryl leaned over and kissed Aaron slow and deep.

Aaron cupped the side of Daryl’s face, and looked deep into dark loving eyes. “I’m yours, Daryl. I’ve always been yours. Welcome home.”
- 72
- 73
- 74
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Safe Haven in the Chaos