The throbbing pain hammering at my leg woke me. I sucked in a sharp breath through gritted teeth, my hands flying to hold it. The pain made me feel woozy, my stomach churning and a cold chill running through my body.

"Fuck," I groaned while I fell back down onto the mattress. "Goddammit!" I heard the screen door creak open, followed by frantic footsteps. I let out a whimper while a stray tear tumbled down my cheek. Someone came up the ladder with a first aid kit, sliding it across the carpet.

"What's wrong," Daryl asked me, kneeling by my side. He looked me up and down to see if he could figure out what was happening.

"Where's Carol?" I eyed him nervously.

"She'll be back in a bit," he promised me.

"I can wait," I muttered, turning my head away from him. Another sharp pain plagued my cut. I winced.

"If I don't do somethin' now, it'll get worse," Daryl said in annoyance. I laid there on the mattress, staring at the wall in silence. I didn't wanna talk to him, but he was right.

"Fine," I growled. Daryl's fingers went to work on my bandage, slowly unwrapping it all while making sure to be gentle. I stared up at the ceiling, holding my breath nervously that more pain would come my way. I could hear him open up the first aid kit and fish through it to try and find the right thing. He unscrewed the cap from a bottle and dumped the liquid inside it onto a cloth.

"This is gonna hurt," Daryl told me as he folded up the cloth so my wound could get as much of the liquid as possible. I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing myself for the pain. I felt the cloth lay on my cut, the liquid immediately igniting the flame. I yelled out in pain while gripping at the mattress. It was almost as if someone had thrown acid on my skin. He took it off after a few moments then rewrapped my leg with a new bandage. I took a few deep breaths while he put everything away, a time later just sitting there in silence not sure what to do or say. "I saw 'im," he suddenly blurted out. I shifted my eyes to his which were already locked with mine.

"When?" My voice was quiet and my face softened.

"Last night, outside, when you were sleepin'," Daryl responded. I propped myself up on my elbows, my eyes flickering to Daryl's hand that lightly rested on my leg. I immediately knew it was there for a reason. He shifted nervously in his spot moments before changing the subject. "Dunno how to say this, but you make me nervous."

"Nervous? Really," I asked, biting my lip. My eyebrows were raised somewhat flirtatiously, but in reality I was surprised. I knew he was telling the truth; I could always sense his body movements and mannerisms when he was anxious, especially around me. I never thought I'd hear him actually admit it, however. He wasn't the kind of person who'd expose all his feelings to someone they liked. He was the kind of person that would dodge the fact, hide it for as long as he could before he was pushed to his limits to tell the truth. He grunted, nodding.

"It's 'cause..." It was quiet for a few beats while his thoughts whirled around in his head. "I—I think..." Daryl took another moment of silence to look me over in all of my natural glory, making me blush like he usually had no problem doing. I could tell he's never felt this way before, the feelings of true affection new for him. "I think you're beautiful; you're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen," I immediately smiled but shielded it and stared down at the ground. I could feel his gaze lingering on me, small beads of sweat on my skin underneath the pads of his fingers. "That's what I mean," Daryl muttered, mesmerized by me. "And yesterday when we... I-I've never felt anything like that before."

"Me neither," I tucked my hair behind my ear. "I'd definitely do it again," I smirked. Daryl smirked back, blushing. The both of us laughed quietly, basking in each other's presence. "It was probably the most comfortable I've ever felt in my whole life," I admitted. "You make me feel safe, safer than anyone else has made me feel."

"You're somethin' else." Daryl rubbed his thumb over my skin, giving me butterflies. "Ya know that?" I bit my lip, smirking. He really flustered me to no end and I wouldn't change it for anything. I felt as if I could spend my whole life with Daryl and I'd never complain again. Like Carol said, he'd protect me for the rest of his life.

Was I falling in love with Daryl Dixon? The guy who I despised when I first got here? The guy who used to be straight up rude as fuck to me? Have I been waiting for someone like him? I didn't wanna believe it. I've never been in love with anyone before and I didn't wanna fuck anything up, 'cause lord knows I will.

"I've never met anyone like you, Dixon," I whispered, staring at him while my heart raced. Daryl slowly began to crawl over to me, being careful not to bump my leg. I lifted my head up just in time for our lips to meet. I melted into him, putting down my arms and relaxing back on the mattress as he deepened the kiss. His hand rested on my hip, his fingers lightly fluttering over the fabric of my t-shirt and lifting it up a bit to expose my left breast. I giggled as I continued to kiss him, reaching down to grab his waistband.

The screen door creaked open, Carol sighing as she entered the cabin.

"I know you're up there," she suddenly yelled up to us. Daryl pulled away from me, growling at the interruption. I quickly pulled back down my shirt. "I hope you guys aren't doing something you shouldn't be with another person in the room..."

"You interrupted, woman," Daryl hollered before hiding his head in the crook of my neck in embarrassment and sexual frustration. I quietly laughed, running my fingers through his hair as I felt him press his lips against my neck.