"I don't get how people in books and movies can just lay there after that in all their sweat and bodily fluids..."

Daryl chuckles into my hair, as we lay in my bed. The sun is just starting to come up, but we both haven't felt much like sleeping. I sit next to him, my head on his chest.

"And they fall asleep in each other's arms..."

"I think you're over tired," he says.

"I'm used to staying up all night. Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," he says.

"The other day when we were decorating the tree you mentioned about your family and..."

"You're curious.... Merle and I didn't have it good growing up. Merle is a dick because we were raised by one. Our mother did nothing about it either. In fact she ...."

"Was like my mother?"

He nods.

"She burned our house down, killing herself from a lit cigarette. My father, he was a drunk."

"Did you hurt you?" I whisper.

Daryl nods his head against my hair. I twist my body so that I can look up at him. He presses his forehead against mine and closes his eyes and sighs.

"I'm sorry," I whisper.

"Not your fault my parents were assholes," he half laughs.

"I know. No one should have to grow up with asshole parents. It's why I'm trying to get Liam out of here," I say.

"You're doing a good thing Chloe."

"You think so?"

"I do. Liam's a good kid. He needs someone to look up to."

"I'm not sure I'm the best person for him. Sometimes I think would he be better off if CPS took him," I say.

"Nah. I think you are more than qualified. You do everything now anyway."

"He likes you..."

"Liam?"

"Yeah," I whisper. "I'm just afraid that he's getting too attached. I know you're leaving in..."

"I think I want to stay. I mean maybe not here, but I wouldn't mind getting my own place and doing my own thing."

"You mean that?" I sit up to get a better look at him. He smiles sincerely and nods. "Is that really what you want to do? Or are you saying that to make me feel better?"

"I mean it. I've been tired of following around Merle like I'm a lost puppy. I want to do my own thing, or try to at least," he tells me.

"Where would you go?"

"Here, I want to stay here."

"What made you change your mind? You know about me?" I ask.

He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, his hand lingers and I shiver. I close my eyes loving the feel of his hands close to my skin.

"I'm not really sure, I've never really wanted to be with anyone before. This is all so new for me. You scare me Chloe Pierce."

"Scare you? I think you've had your fair share of things to be scared of, I don't think I'm one of them," I half laugh.

"You make me feel things."

"I'm glad I'm not alone," I say just above a whisper.

It gets quiet for some time. I don't think he's sleeping, and I'm definitely not sleeping. His breathing is slow, and my eyes feel heavy.

"Hey Chloe?"

"Yeah?" I ask clutching some fabric of his shirt in my hand.

"What are your plans for today?"

"It's Christmas eve, so finishing up wrapping Liam's gifts, then nothing. Usually I work for most of the day, but since I don't have a job I'm here. Why?"

"Just ask'n," he mumbles.

"Hey Daryl?"

"Yeah?"

"Have you ever celebrated Christmas?" I ask.

He shakes his head, "Well if you want to count my father bringing home a bike from the junk yard the year I turned six, than I guess kind of..."

"Would you want to celebrate it with Liam and I?" I ask.

He doesn't say anything at first, and that makes me nervous. I fear that maybe I've gone too far. Maybe he doesn't expect a lot from this relationship. It's new and I get it, I pushed him too far.

"Hey. I can see the steam coming from your ears, stop thinking so hard. Of course I'll celebrate with you. I actually have something for Liam..." he pauses. "And you too..."

"Daryl I didn't..."

"Hey. It was totally a last minute thing before I raced over to Katelyn's house last night. I wasn't even sure we'd end up like this..."

"I ..."

"Nope, no feeling bad. So what exactly is it like celebrating Christmas with you and Liam?"

"Well we eat my homemade baked mac and cheese, and usually have brownies or sugar cookies for desert, then and watch cheesy Christmas movies until we pass out. On Christmas the morning we open gifts and eat left overs all day," I say.

"Sounds amazing. Looking forward to it."

I look up at him and kiss him lightly. I pull back and put my head back on his chest. My eyelids start to close as I feel myself drifting to the sound of his heart beating. I think I hear him whisper something else, but I'm so tired I'm not sure if I was dreaming it or not.

I wake up just before the afternoon sun all tangled in Daryl's arms. His eyes flutter open and he grunts softly into my ear. My body responds and I pull myself closer.

"I could get used to this," I tell him.

"Me too," he says.

"I should get up, Liam should be home soon and I've got a ton of cooking to do," I tell him.

"I'll help just have to do something first," he says placing a kiss on my forehead.

He starts to get up and I grab him by his boxers to pull him back down. He chuckles as he hovers over me. His lips linger just over mine and I stare up into his eyes. I take a breath and realize for the first time in a while I'm happy. His thumb caresses my cheek carefully as he leans down and kisses my lips. He pulls away and I groan. I watch from my bed as he gets dressed and then hops out of the window. I lay my head back on my pillow and smile. I can't remember the last time I smiled this much, I feel like a little school girl giddy over a first crush.

I get up and dressed just as Liam strolls through the door. He tells me he wants to help but has a project he needs to work on first. I tell him I'm just getting things ready and to take his time. I don't tell him about Daryl spending the day with us, I figure I'll surprise him. Voices outside the kitchen window catch my attention.

"Travis can I talk for a sec?" I hear Daryl ask.

"Sure man what's up?" Travis asks.

"Um... so I've never done something like this before," he laughs nervously.

What is he doing? I don't move from my position at the sink and listen some more.

"Chloe..." he starts. I don't know where this is going but my name has me leaning closer to the window to hear.

"I know she's not your actual daughter, but I feel like I have to ask out of respect for you and your family," he tells him.

"Okay," Travis says. I wish I could see his face right now.

"I like her... a lot actually," he says.

A lot? How much is a lot? My hand slips on the counter and a bowl crashes to the floor. Silence from outside. I duck, but know they can't see me because the windows too high.

"I've noticed..." I hear Travis say after a minute.

"Huh?" Daryl questions.

"Daryl I may be high half the fucking time, but you don't think I don't notice you looking at her? I get it man," he says.

"Are you okay with it?" he asks.

"Chloe's a grown woman she can date whoever she wants. I do appreciate you coming to me though instead of sneaking around, you've got balls," he says.

"Have you told Merle?" he asks.

"No. He can figure it out for himself," Daryl says. "Look man, I don't know what your relationship is like with Chloe, but I wanted to let you and your wife know that I'm serious about her and I think I'm going to stick around. I think I might find a job get an apartment... I haven't told Merle that yet either but I plan on it after Christmas."

"Like I said Daryl, if she wants the same then be my guest. She may not be my blood, but I do care about her and the little guy so if you break her heart you better know that I'll come after you," he says.

I nearly choke, but stay quiet. I've never heard Travis say that at all. I mean yes he tells all of the guys he hires that I'm off limits, but I didn't think it was because he cared. Maybe Travis isn't as bad as I make him out to be.

"Thanks man," Daryl says.

"No problem. You sticking around for Chloe's Mac and Cheese?" he asks.

"There's no way I'd turn down her cooking," he says.

Travis laughs, "You're telling me," he says.

I stop listening at that point and start to busy myself with getting the ingredients ready. I'm so occupied with my head in cabinet looking for the breadcrumb that when Daryl wraps his arms around me I jump. His mouth hovers over my earlobe.

"So you like me? Like a lot?" I ask.

"I had a feeling that was you making all that noise," he chuckles.

"It was, sorry," I say.

He spins me around to face him, and I look up at his face. He's smiling.

"I do Chloe Peirce, I like you a lot," he says.

"Good Daryl Dixon, because I like you a lot too," I tell him.

"Good," he says.

"Good," I say back.