Author's Note:  A little short, but it's something! Enjoy!

Theme Song: "Caught Up In You" - 38 Special

The next morning came by fast and I awoke to the muffled voices from downstairs. I wasn't much of a heavy sleeper anymore. These days I was lucky if I slept through the night without waking up. Some nights when I had first come here I would sneak out of my cell and out to the stairs.

I'd just sit there, feeling less claustrophobic there and less smothered. Some nights I was alone, other nights a certain redneck would wander his way out to the stairs and sit in silence with me, sharing whiskey. He never said it, but I didn't think he slept well either.

I got dressed this morning in a thin, flowy white tank with my black shorts. I pulled on my boots and stuffed my knife and sickles in their rightful places upon my person.

As I headed down, Maggie stopped me and grinned from ear to ear, "Heard you were learnin' to ride today." I rolled my eyes playfully and she kept grinning, "What?" I asked, slightly confused.

She shook her head, smiling still as if she knew something I didn't, "Ya' like him." It wasn't a question so much as a statement. I swallowed thickly, shrugging my shoulders as if I hadn't a clue what she was talking about.

"He's.." I started, but Maggie interrupted me, "A friend. I know. I said the same thing to daddy about Glenn, but I knew better." I stared at Maggie and couldn't help but laugh lightly. Glenn and Maggie were a world different than Daryl and I..but I understood what she was getting at.

She bumped my shoulder as she walked by, "Go have fun. Just don't go out past that stretch.. Doubt Rick would want anythin' happening to ya'll."

Involuntarily, I hugged Maggie and she hugged me back, kissing the top of my head in a sisterly gesture. I was incredibly lucky to have her in my life.

When I walked out of the quad, Daryl was straddling his motorcycle. He he nodded towards me before starting it up. I walked over and he picked up a thin black sweater from his lap. It had two little skull emblems on each side of the fabric that covered the wrist.

"Found this on tha' run with Rick the other day." I looked up to him and smiled, hiding the butterflies that swarmed around.

"I love it." I stated, a little taken back by the fact that he was thinking about me while on a run.

I pulled it on and he looked at me while I adjusted the sleeves, "Skulls and crossbones. Now I'm a real motorcycle babe."

He smirked and tried to give me a onceover with his eyes discretely, but I caught it and he looked away quickly. Michonne opened the gates, a coy smile on her face and I hopped on the back.

"We'll be back within the hour." Michonne curtly nodded, giving us a once over to make sure we had weapons on us.

I knew we had to be quick with the lesson because the sound of the motorcycle could draw some of the walkers in. We took off and I instinctively wrapped my arms around Daryl.

When we got to the stretch of road that was desolate and clear of walkers, I hopped off. Daryl wasted no time in going over every part of the bike, from one end to the other. My mind attempted to keep up with it all, but I was a little flustered.

"Got all that?" He asked as I was staring at the bike, remembering what he said. I nodded and he held the bike so I could get on. My hands were shaky, but I grinned at him with a goofy, excited grin.

"Ain't never thought I'd seen tha' day you'd be ridin' my bike." He muttered as he watched my enthusiasm.

I smirked at him, "I'm lucky I have such an adorable puppy face." He rolled his eyes and then everything turned serious because I started it up and swallowed the nervous lump in my throat.

For the better part of fifteen minutes I spent it getting comfortable balancing on two wheels. If I looked like I was about to lean it down, I stopped and would place both feet on the ground.

"Ain't gotta be afraid to give it a little gas." Daryl murmured as he watched my wide eyes. "I'm not afraid." I bit out defensively. "Ya' are." He stated simply, looking around every few minutes or so for walkers or people.

It took another fifteen minutes for me to overcome that fear and towards the end Daryl had mentioned, "Stop bein' so damn scared, Red." He was mildly annoyed and I chewed on the inside of my lip before gaining a boost of confidence. He was right. There was nothing to be afraid of and Daryl was right there with me.

In that moment, I started to idly ride and he nodded at me silently as not to break my concentration. He jogged to catch up as I rode down the stretch of road at a slow pace. I came to an abrupt stop and he caught up next to me.

He arched a brow, "Ya' learn quick when ya' ain't scared." I smiled at him, feeling a thrill of being on a motorcycle by myself.

"I was just..unsure." He made a face as if he didn't believe me and I stuck my tongue out at him. We continued to practice and I got more comfortable on his bike as the time wore on.

It wasn't something we could do for long periods of time due to walkers hearing us, but we compromised that short sporadic lessons would be doable.

After awhile I finally decided it was enough for a first lesson. I hopped off and we sat there on the dirt road after he shut the bike off. I looked around hesitantly for walkers, but saw we were in the clear. For now.

He looked over to me, "Guess ya' can mark somethin' off that list of yours." I smiled at him and nodded, "Yepp. Next on my list is drink whiskey and look at the stars tonight." He looked away, scoffing lightly at the idea.

"I never said you were invited to that one." I added with a smirk and he nudged my shoulder in a playful gesture. We sat in silence before I looked up to him with a serious gaze, "Why did you decide to teach me?"

He shrugged his shoulders, chewing on his thumbnail in silent thought, "Ain't no one else here knows how to ride."

I gave him a pointed look, "Besides that." I pushed some strands of red hair behind my ears nervously.

He continued to chew on his thumb before getting up soundlessly and brushing his dirty pants off. I got up right behind him.

He stopped awkwardly before the bike and side eyed me, looking awkward as he was thinking about what he wanted to say.

"Didn't feel right.." I quirked a brow at me and crossed my arms across my chest. "What didn't feel right?" I wanted to push his buttons, make him feel explain himself for once.

He shifted his gaze to the ground before dragging his eyes back up to me shyly, "Didn't feel right...thinkin' 'bout someone else helpin' ya with that list."

I felt a small red burn spread across my cheeks and I had to look away. When I looked back, he was offering me the smallest of smiles. Something that I rarely got to see. I knew in that moment Daryl Dixon was saying he wanted to be the one to help me complete my bucket list.

"Wha'?" He asked gently and I turned back towards him, "You should smile more often, ya know that?" He shook his head, looking away with a tinge of red on his cheeks.

"So, does that mean you're going to drink some whiskey with me tonight?" I flashed my brows up and down at him, secretly delighted in the way he shifted shyly, "Thought you said I wasn't invited?"

I shrugged casually, "I changed my mind." He stared at me with those beady blue eyes, calculating the pros and cons of my next bucket list idea.

"I'll think 'bout it." I nodded curtly, knowing that was the best answer I'd get out of him.

As we headed back, flying through the gates and coming back to our safety net, I secretly hoped he'd take me up on my offer and come hang out with me tonight.