Can we have a serious moment here for a second? I am beyond grateful for all the reads, comments, and votes I have gotten on this story. Over 40,000 reads, over 1,000 votes, and over 400 comments! That is amazing!! What isn't amazing is the hate mail I got this past weekend.

I am very disappointed in the people that sent me private messages that said things like "It's been a week. Why haven't you updated?" "I'm getting impatient would you update already?" "What's taking so long?" etc etc. On top of that I got some not so very nice messages about how my characters are stupid and lame etc.

Guys I find it very rude that you sent me messages about how mad you were because I haven't updated. (To my readers who haven't done such a thing I am sorry that you have to read this and I love you guys!!) I have a life outside of fanfics.

I am a senior in high school who is trying to finish by November. I own my own business and sometimes there are days when I just don't have to time or I don't feel like writing. It's also summer time! I was on vacation this past weekend and I kept getting emails from people wanting me to update.

If I get any more of these I will not hesitate to block you so you can no longer message me, write on my wall, or leave comments on my story. It was very uncalled for. It takes me at least three days to write and edit a new chapter.

To everyone else who has been very nice and kind when it comes to my updates and is very friendly in my comment section and when messaging me this chapter is dedicated to you! I love you all!

The winner of the cover contest is @SirensCall!! The cover will be now the cover that she made! And I will be tagging her to make sure she sees it!! But this chapter is dedicated to all my nice lovely readers out there!! Love you all and thank you for all the kind words, votes, messages, and reads!!!

Reedus kisses for everyone!! Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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"You always do this! You always run when you're scared!" I screamed at him. I could see the rage in those Georgia blue eyes. "I'm not fucking scared you're just being a bitch!" he growled. I felt the metaphorical knife in my heart twist deeper hearing him say that.

"Yes, you are! All because Merle gets in your head!" I screamed back at him. I watched his eyes become darker which meant he was getting even madder. I watched his fist clench and I felt myself taking a slight step back. "That's right baby brother. Show her who's boss," I heard Merle taunt from the doorway. We both looked over at Merle and glared at him.

"Shut up, Merle," Daryl growled. I crossed my arms and rolled my eyes at the two. "You," Daryl said pointing at me. I arched an eyebrow at him. "Get the fuck out of my house," my back was against a wall, literally at this point. I really didn't know how I felt at this point.

"This isn't my fucking fault! You're pissed at me for something I didn't even do!" I yelled while throwing my hands up. I had now made myself comfortable against the wall not making an effort to move. "Oh ho, she's a feisty one ain't she baby bro," Merle interrupted us again.

I groaned and pulled at my hair in frustration. "Shut the fuck up, Merle!" Daryl pointed a finger at me. "Don't you fucking talk to him like that!" Daryl screamed at me. I groaned and threw my hands in the air. "You just did!" I yelled at him. Daryl didn't say anything because he knew I was right.

I sighed and covered my face with my hands. "I don't need this," I mumbled. It fell silent between us. "I don't need this either," I heard Merle say. I looked up at him. "Shut up, Merle," Daryl and I both growled at him. We both looked at each other at the same time after that.

His eyes mirrored mine, sadness. He didn't want to fight just as much as I didn't. I sighed again dropped my head. I couldn't even look at him. I heard footsteps and I noticed Merle had left the room. I looked back up to see Daryl leaning against the wall opposite of me.

"What are we doing?" he whispered. I pushed myself off the wall and paced the room. "I don't know, but I can't handle this anymore," I whispered back. I felt a hand on my shoulder stopping me. "What are you saying?" he asked. I leaned up and kissed his cheek. "I'm sorry."

Scared. That was a way to describe me standing in front of Daryl now. Scared. His sandy colored hair was now getting darker and longer. His icy stare made me nervous and I wanted to squirm. Glenn had stepped protectively in front of me but that didn't stop Daryl and me from staring at each other.

"You think we can make this work?" Rick asked while lowering his gun. I was shocked to see him trying to make an effort. I guess if it was just Merle things would be different but Daryl was here and I knew Rick needed Daryl whether he would admit it or not.

"I think we can do that," Merle said. I was surprised at how cooperated and soft his voice sounded. This wasn't really the Merle Dixon I knew. "Officer Friendly and his family can have the bedroom down the hall. Girlie and Phia can have the one next to them."

I felt my eyebrow raise at the nicknames he gave for Sophia and I. "I'll take first watch," I heard Dale say. "I'll join you," Daryl said. That also shocked me. It wasn't like Daryl just to volunteer to do things. Especially with Dale. Everyone nodded and we went off in different directions

~~ 

*Daryl's POV*

It was quiet between Dale and I as we stood on the lipped out roof on top of the cabin. We barely spoke. Dale kept watch with binoculars while I had my crossbow ready to take anything that got to close. My mind kept filtering to Emery. She was alive.

That's all that mattered to me was that she was alive. I sighed a little and peered through my scope on my crossbow trying to see if I could catch anything moving, but I found nothing. "She never stopped thinking or talking about you," I heard Dale whisper.

I turned to face him. "I don't know what the hell you're talking about," I said. I could see Dale's smile, even in the darkness. "Yes you do. You're just too stubborn to admit it to someone like me," he said. That was pretty truthful. I was pretty stubborn.

"How would you know?" I asked him now curious. Dale chuckled. "She talks to me about everything, Daryl. She misses you, but she's like you. She's too stubborn to admit it. I bet if you talked to her though she'd come around," he said. I snorted and rolled my eyes.

"She hates me now. I don't want anything to do with her. Just like she doesn't want anything to do with me," I said. Dale sighed. "That's not true. You and I both know that," Dale said. It fell silent between us after that. I felt myself sighing again playing his words through my head.

I felt a drop of wetness against my hand and I looked up expecting to see more snow or rain falling from the sky. I felt it slide down my cheek this time and I knew what it was. I felt a couple tears slip out and I quickly wiped them away hoping Dale wouldn't see.

"Dixons don't cry. Crying's for pussies," I heard my brother's voice echoing in my head. "Daryl?" I heard Dale say. "What?" I cleared my throat from the thickness of the tears that had fallen. "What?" I asked again hearing my voice going back to normal.

It was silent between us again. "Talk to her," he said again. I looked over at him to see him looking intently at me like he was trying to get his point across. "I ain't making no promises," I said. Dale chuckled. "Talk to her in the morning. You won't regret it. She loves you as you love her."

~~

*Emery's POV*

I woke up the next morning feeling quite refreshed. I hadn't gotten sleep like that in a while. Sophia wasn't beside me when I woke up. I knew she was probably with Carl playing some sort of game. I sighed and got out of bed and got dressed. I grabbed my crossbow and walked out of the bedroom.

I found Lori sitting in the kitchen eating something canned. I quickly grabbed something for myself and walked out the back door. I saw Carl and Sophia running around while Dale watched them. Glenn was on top of the cabin keeping watch while Daryl, Merle, and Rick were talking.

It was getting way to cold and who knew if there was any fresh meat out in the woods. I was going to try though. I didn't want to stick around as long as I didn't have to. As long as I kept myself I wouldn't have to be around him. I smiled at Dale as I pulled back the string on my crossbow.

"Where are you going?" I heard Glenn ask as I loaded a bolt. I looked up at him. "I'm going to see if I can catch anything. We're gonna need some meat. I might as well see what I can get," I said. Glenn nodded and tipped his hat at me. "Just don't be gone too long," he said.

I nodded. "Yes, dad," Glenn chuckled as I turned around and started to head out towards the woods. "Hey," I cringed hearing his voice but I kept walking. I didn't want to deal with him. "Woman, don't make me run after you cause you know I will," I could hear the sadness in his voice. I was now at the edge of the woods.

I stopped and barely turned around to face him. "What?" I growled. I couldn't stand to look him in the eye because I knew I would cave. "Emery please," he whispered. That did it for me. I turned around to face him. "What Daryl? What could you possibly have to say to me?" I asked him.

Daryl sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Come on, Em. You know I'm not good at this," he said. "Good at what Daryl? Apologizing? I've known that for a while now. I don't have time for this. I have to go hunt," I said while continuing to walk through the woods.

It was a good minute before I heard him call out again. "I'm sorry, okay? Damn it, Emery. I didn't mean the things I said," I heard Daryl call out. He had followed me I knew he had. His voice was too close. I turned around to see him maybe 30 feet from me on his knees.

It looked like he had started running after me then fell. I sighed and took a few steps towards him. He slowly got to his feet as if he was afraid he was going to scare me. "I didn't mean the things I said to you a month ago," he said and I felt myself inching towards him more.

"Go on," I said while stopping in my tracks. "I shouldn't have said what I did. I know I hurt you, but you hurt me by not going with me," he said. With everything he said he took another step towards me. I sighed and crossed my arms. Daryl stopped again taking in my body language.

"You left me," I said looking at the ground. "I know," I heard him reply. I sighed again. "You left Sophia," I said. I heard the soft crunch of his footsteps under the snow. "I know," he said again. I looked up to see him standing five feet in front of me.

"You broke your promise to Carol," I said looking at the ground again. I felt Daryl's hand under my chin and his lifted it with his index finger to make me look at him. "I know," he said for the third time. I pushed his hand away lightly and took a step back.

"I'm not trying to make you feel guilty," I said. Once again I looked at the ground trying to avoid his stare. I watched as his hand reached out towards me again. His hand cupped my elbow then slowly slid down my arm until he reached my hand. He took it lightly in his.

"I know," he whispered. His voice, so raw, so pure, so many emotions flowing through it made me break. I felt the tears escape as I sniffled. Daryl lightly pulled me into him and I wrapped my arms around his waist as I buried my head in his chest.

"I'm sorry. I should have gone with you," I cried into his chest. Daryl arms encircled me as he ran a hand through my hair. "It's okay. You're okay. I'm okay. Sophia's okay. Merle's okay," Daryl said and I felt myself chuckling a little as I pulled back.

I wiped my eyes and pushed my hair out of my face. "What do you have to say for yourself? Leaving me to fend for myself with half of those crazy people," I asked nudging him playfully. I bent down to pick up my crossbow which I never noticed that I dropped.

It was quiet. I looked back up at Daryl who was staring at me intently. I cocked an eyebrow at him. "I love you. That's all I got, but it's honest and true," he said. I felt my breath catch as I slung my crossbow on my back. I watched as Daryl dug through his pocket.

"I believe this belongs to you," he said. I watched as he pulled an object out of his pocket and held it out to me. I felt myself smile as I saw his mother's ring in the palm of his hand. I slowly grabbed it and slid it back on my left ring finger. "I love you too," I whispered while looking at the ring.

Daryl leaned down and kissed me lightly before pulling back and lacing his fingers with mine. "Come on, girlie," I smirked hearing him use Merle's nickname for me. "Let's go hunt," he finished. I smiled fully and trailed along beside him. I finally felt complete again.

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So Daryl and Emery back together again! Whooooop! How do you think their relationship is gonna go now? What about Merle? How do you think the group is gonna handle the three of them back together again?

Comment, vote, fan, follow, spread the word. Don't forget to check out Living On The Edge if you haven't already! Reedus kisses for everyone! xxxxxxxxxxxx