Kieran stripped her clothing off as she stormed through the streets of Alexandria. She no longer cared who in this wretched trap cared what she truly was. She was leaving. Gone. Never returning. Humans could not be trusted. She knew that, and couldn't remember why she was trying to convince herself otherwise.

She threw the large gates open. The two guards looking on in shock at her naked form. With a deep breath she transformed into the majestic mare she preferred being and ran from the community.

**************************************************

Three days. I had taken Daryl three days but there she was. Even if part of him was able to entertain the idea there were other horses in the area, he knew in his heart the black mare sunning itself in the field before him was Kieran.

Slowly he stepped forward from the woods. Desperate not to startle her and have to watch her run off again.

'It's alright, Daryl. I won't run this time.'

Daryl sighed as the words played through his mind. He hadn't even realized he'd been holding his breath. With a renewed confidence he strode through the high grass toward the beautiful fae laying among it before him. When he reached her he took her head in his hands, kissed her between the eyes and rested his forehead against hers.

"Can I talk to ya as my girl?" He said, never moving.
'Am I not your girl in this form too?' She asked.
"Ya are. Course ya are. And this is fine." He replied, sitting down next to her front legs and leaning back into her strong shoulders.
"I know why ya left. An' I don't blame ya. But I'll talk to Rick and Carol. Hell, Rick already said he wasn't gonna tell anyone else. What's it gonna take to get ya to come back?" He asked.
'I'm not going back, Daryl. And everyone saw me turn at the gate. They know anyway.' She replied.
"I can't be without ya, Kieran." Daryl said.
'Then stay with me. Out here.' She replied.
"I can't leave ma family neither." He answered. "Please don' make me choose. I thought ya were seeing they are good people. Everyone beens nothin' but nice to ya."
'They thought I was just a girl. That's going to change now they know I'm more. They'll want to use me. Humans always want to use the fae to their advantage. They'll use you too, if they ever find out.' Kieran said.
"I already told Rick." Was all Daryl had to say in response.

**************************************************

"How long are you going to let him stay out there with some shape shifting horse-woman?" Carol asked and as she walked up behind Rick in the garden.
"As long as he wants." Rick replied. "You and I both know Daryl can take care of himself out there. And he obviously cares about her. He's probably trying to convince her to come back."
"I'm not sure I want her back. I mean, if she hid something this big from us, what else is she hiding?" Carol asked.
"Everyone here has their secrets, Carol. I'm sure a few would be just as appalled by some of yours." Rick answered.

**************************************************

Daryl sat on a rocky outcrop watching the sunset paint the sky gold over the valley below him. He had been trying for nearly two weeks now to convince Kieran to come back to Alexandria. That is wasn't a bad place. It wasn't someplace she needed to fear. It was, in fact, the first (and until recently only) place he ever felt home. The recent second being anywhere he was near Kieran.

She had further explained the Anam Cara to him. Telling him, the more time they spent together the more they would never truly be apart. They would be able to feel each other for vast distances. He smiled softly at her rightness, turning to look behind him at the foot hills she was currently running wild through. He knew she was several miles away, but he could still every thrum of her muscle as though she were right next to him. Could feel the joy in her energy as though he were moving in her instead of her moving though the trees.

He looked back over the valley. Kieran had been slowly pushing the pair further toward the mountains and away from the remnants of civilization, but Daryl could still barely make out the Alexandria settlement. He knew everyone there likely either thought he was dead or never coming back. He knew neither were true. He just wasn't coming back unless it was with Kieran.

**************************************************

Kieran stood in the trees watching Daryl's back, his form backlit by the fire he was tending. She had been pushing them into the mountains for over a month now. As far from human's as she could get. Her goal had always been to enter the Sídhe. It still was. But she recently discovered a new reason to go home to the realm of the Fae. Her hand wandered to her belly with the thought, a smile growing on her face as she sensed the change in her energy.

"Know yur there." Daryl said, without moving.
"I know." She said, stepping from the trees. "I just wanted to watch you for a moment."

She sat on the ground between his knees, leaning back to rest against his chest. Daryl instinctively wrapping his arms around her.

"You miss them?" She said more than asked.
"Only family I ever had 'til you." He said, kissing her hair.
"Daryl. Do you know why I've been pushing us into the mountains?" She asked after a moment.
"I figured to get away from humans." He responded.
"Well, yes. But not just because I don't like them." She responded. "I took off from Alexandria because I don't like them. But I would have happily lived in the surrounding area so you could stay with me and them. There's another reason we're all they way out here."

She paused, waiting to see if Daryl had any questions. But he remained silent. Just held her and stared at the fire waiting for her to continue.

"I want to go home to the Fae realm." She finally said.

Daryl stiffened with her words, and took in a sharp breath.

"I thought I couldn' go there?" He asked.
"You can't." She replied. "But my father works for the King of the Fae. I going to go to him and make a case for you to be allowed to enter. You are full Fae. It's your right, Daryl."
"What if he says no?" Daryl asked.
"Then I'm prepared to give up my magic and live the rest of my life here with you." Kieran answered. "That being said. I've recently realized there is another reason I need to go home."
"Wha's that?" He asked.
"As willing as I am to give up my magic for you. I'm not willing to make that decision for another Fae." She said, taking his hands and moving them down to rest over her abdomen. "Daryl, tell me what you feel?"
"You. Yur skin." He answered, confused.
"The energy, Daryl. Read the energy, like I've taught you." She encouraged.
"Still you. And maybe, Me? It's different though." He answered.
"Remember when I told you the Fae must be born in the Sídhe in order to inherit their birthright?" She asked.
"Yeah." He responded, still confused.
"Well. I still want to go home to make a case for you to be allowed to enter. But I need to go home to allow this one it's birthright." She answered, moving her hands to cover his and press them gently into her skin.
"You're . . ." He said, the rest of his question falling off.
"I'm having a baby." She answered.

Daryl was on top of her, pressing her into the leaves, before she could even process his movements.

**************************************************

Daryl was roasting a rabbit he caught and watching Kieran sleep. It was nearly noon by the position of the sun, and normally she'd be awake by now. But Daryl had kept her up until dawn showing her exactly how excited he was about the news she had given him.

He smiled as she stretched, the sleep falling from her body.

"Mornin'" He said when she opened her eyes.
"No. It was morning when you finally let me sleep." She answered, getting up and walking over to him.
"Ya know. As happy as I am. I need ta know what this means for you" He said, accepting her good morning kiss.
"It means I go home and spend my pregnancy making a case for you to be allowed in. Then when the baby is here, we both come back here with news of whether or not your allowed in the Sídhe." She answered.
"We'll be apart the whole time?" He said more than asked.
"Yes. But we will still be able to feel each other. Just like we can now when I go running." She answered.
"We will?" He asked.
"We will." She answered.
"So, how long will ya be gone?" Daryl asked as Kieran shifted into horse to go running.
'Time moves, differently there. You'll be able to feel that as well. I will be gone nearly a year from my end. To you it will be about six months.' She answered, leaning her head down to bump him with her nose before taking off into the trees.
"We're talking more when ya get back." He shouted at her vanishing form.

**************************************************

During the last six months Rick had helped Daryl clear a nearby field. Putting a safe wall around it, and building a small house. The other man was the only one he had told about Kieran being pregnant. When he did, Rick had grabbed him up in a bear hug and told him he'd be great father.

Daryl was currently sat on the front step of said small house. He knew Kieran was out of the Fae realm and was nearly back to him. They had decided before she left that she could tolerate living outside of Alexandria. Somewhere he could still be close to his adoptive family, but far enough away she didn't have to interact with any of them if she didn't want to. He had insisted on introducing the baby to them all. He didn't want his child growing up without knowing the world which raised him anymore than Kieran wanted it to grow up without knowing hers. She had eventually consented, knowing Daryl would never let any harm come to their child.

The gate squeaked, pulling Daryl from his thoughts. He looked up to see his girl, smiling and holding a naked babbling newborn. He ran to her. Scooping them both up his arms.

"Meet your son, Daddy." Kieran said when he finally put them down.
"What's 'is name?" Daryl asked, taking the small infant from her arms.
"Weylyn." She answered. "It means son of the wolf."
"'ts perfect." Daryl answered, kissing them both on the forehead.