"They took Maggie." Glenn said, shaking uncontrollably.

"Merle-."

"He is not coming back!" Presley shouted, turning and looking at Daryl with blazing eyes. She had been quiet while everybody had explained their problems from the attack. Everybody looked at her with wide eyes and surprise. While they weren't not used to her explosions, this one had been unexpected. "You know what happened!"

"It wasn't him! He didn't do it!" Daryl protested angrily. This only fueled her rage.

"He led up to it! It's his fault!" She yelled. She lowered her voice to the next part, looking at him and crossing her arms over her chest, "If he comes I'm leaving."

"Presley-." Rick tried to intervene, but the two continued going at it.

"You selfish bitch!" Daryl growled. "Ye think I give a damn whether or not you stay? Go, for all I care. It'll make our lives a hell of a lot easier without your emotional mood swings!"

She stood and crossed over to Daryl, using two hands to shove him back. "That's sure not what you told me earlier, asshole." She hissed. She moved to exit the area and go back to her cell, but Daryl followed. The council watched the two yelling people leave, resuming their discussions about their own problems.

"Don't keep walking away from me!"

"Why? You just told me to like two seconds ago!" She said, spinning around and facing him with blazing eyes.

"I-." He cut himelf short, shaking his head and raking a hand through his hair. No matter what he said, she had a comeback for it. "I didn't mean it."

"Than why did you say it?" She whispered. It was only now that he saw how scared she was. Her shoulders shook and fear reflected in those pretty little eyes. He couldn't help but soften up. She didn't want Merle here because she was scared something like that would happen again.

"I won't let 'im hurt you." He insisted, mentally slapping himself for how cheesy that sounded. She closed her eyes, shaking her head fiercely.

"I already relive what happened to me every night. He is the last thing I need." She muttered.

"You are not leaving!" Daryl shouted, grabbing her shoulders and slamming her into the wall of the cell. The force wasn't enough to hurt her, only to shock her and make her listen. "Ye can't keep running from your problems like a scared little girl, Presley!" His grip tightened on her. She remained silent.

"I told you I wouldn't let him hurt ye, and I won't." He whispered. She continued to shake beneath his hold, but she didn't argue any further. She just continued looking at him with a sad, scared expression. "He's my brother. Ye can't make me choose between you two." He said. She was surprised when she noticed his voice was almost tender. She was used to a rude attitude with everything he said towards her, but now he actually seemed... Soft.

Her mind was screaming for her to push him away, knowing that she couldn't let him fall for her even more, but her heart said otherwise. She realized just then, that her feelings for Daryl Dixon were shared. She wrapped her arms around his neck and burried her face into his shoulder, trying to find comfort with the elder boy.

And surprisingly, the boy did comfort her. When she pulled away, all he wanted to do was pull her right back into his arms. It seemed like everytime she touched him, even if it was just brushing past him in the hall, his feelings escalated for her. The mere sight of her gave him a rush, anymore. He loved the fire that existed in her eyes and soul, and he loved that she wasn't just moving along life for the ride. She was here to survive, as stupid as some of the decisions were that she made, she was still here. Alive and well.

Her head hung, and she shook it. "I-I can't." She stuttered. She was actually allowing him to see her weak knees and mind. "I don't trust him, Dare."

"Trust me." He said, instinctivly cupping her cheek with his large hand. She looked up at him, blue eyes round and beautiful. She was beautiful, everything about her... But she was a different kind of beaty.

It took him a moment to realize that she was beginning to stand on her toes, moving in towards his lips. He had just begun lowering his head when a voice interupted them, sending Daryl stumbling backwards. A frown creased her face, but she said nothing when Rick came in.

"Merle's here. At the fence." He said, his face grim. Fear sparked through Presley's face when Dary looked at her. Daryl shook his head, leaving the room. She felt like she had just been stabbed in the heart. She looked at Rick, who looked worried.

She grabbed a bag from underneath her bunk, dropping it onto the desk and dropping everything into there. She dropped in her weapons and articles of clothing, trying to ignore the stinging in her heart. He chose Merle. She couldn't say that she had expected him to choose her, but that didn't mean it didn't sting.

"You can't just leave." Rick said quietly. "The council probably won't allow him to stay here, anyways."

"Probably isn't good enough, Rick." She said over her shoulder. She whistled, commanding Zeva to follow her. Rick stood in her way at the doorway.

"Presley-." He stopped when she turned to him.

"Rick." She replied. Hesitantly, he moved to the side.

He swallowed, looking at her with a sad gaze. "He kept your arrow."

"What?" She asked, confused.

"The one you shot the deer with, the first day you met. He said you were in a big hurry and forgot to take it."

Her heart was pounding against her chest. Had he really done that? Her jaw tightened and she shook her head.

"Go look in his room, then. On the desk." Rick said, walking away. It was his feeble attempt to try and get her to stay, and it was working so far. Presley left her bag of stuff and shuffled to Daryl's room. She had never been in there, but Carol had pointed out that he didn't want to be 'caged like an animal'.

- - -

It felt so wrong going into his room without him or his permission.

But she couldn't help her curiousity. She had barely believed him when he had mentioned feelings for her. Maybe he hadn't been lying.

She twisted the doorknob, stepping in. It was a small room, with matresses piled up off to the side and a few random pieces of furniture. His scent was all she could focus on as she looked around the room. She knew that this was wrong, and yet, she couldn't bring herself to turn around.

It only took a moment to find her arrow. It was one of the only things on his desk. It looked good as new. She picked it up tenderly in her hands, a certain fondness coming over her towards Daryl.

That fondness was quickly interupted when the door swung open behind her. She didn't even have time to hide if she wanted to. She spun, facing the man before her with a worried expression. His surprise quickly turned to anger, which softened when he saw what she was holding.

"Why did you keep this?" She demanded. He scoffed and crossed his arms.

"Yer the one snoopin', and yer askin' me questions?"

"Don't avoid the question!"

He frowned at her, looking down at the arrow in her hand. "I could always use another arrow."

"Than why didn't you ever shoot it?" She didn't know whether or not that was true, but it was easy to assume that it was.

"I forgot about it." He shrugged. She shook her head, dropping the arrow back onto the desk.

"You are a horrible liar, Daryl Dixon." She said, moving to leave, but he continued to stand in the doorway.

"Don't leave." He said. his voice was soft. This mood swings were giving her whiplash. She shook her head again, lowering it from his eyes. "Please."

"I can't stay here with Merle, Daryl." She whispered. "I know you don't understand... But I won't make you choose. I'll just go."

She moved to squeeze past him, but he grabbed her arm, more carefully than usual. He seemed to hesitate when he turned her towards him, before lowering his lips onto her own.

She'd been kissed before, but never like this. Never with such meaning behind everything, never with that sort of passion. He moved carefully and slowly, waiting for her to recoil and smack him, but she didn't. In fact, she kissed back.

At least for a moment.

Finally, she pulled away, dropping her head down. He reached to cup her cheek, but she leaned away, closing her eyes.

"Goodbye, Daryl." She said quietly, turning and walking away.

- - -

She threw her bag into the jeep, raking her hands through her hair. She didn't want to go, but she couldn't stay. She looked scornfully over across the field, where Merle stood. Daryl eventually appeared, standing beside her brother. The girl ducked her head and looked away before he could notice her.

She hopped into the driver's side. Somebody was already ready to open the gate for her. She revved the engine, but didn't get the chance to go. Stefan hopped into the passenger's side.

"What are you doing?" She asked, scowling.

"I only came here because of you, Pres." He said, smiling. Couldn't he see she wanted to be alone? She saw Daryl approaching the Jeep in her rearview mirror, so she decided it probably wasn't the best time to argue with Stefan.

"Whatever." She hissed, pressing down on the gas and racing out of the safety of the prison walls. Her heart hurt, knowing that she was leaving Daryl behind. Blood before everything. She understood the rule, but that didn't mean she particularly liked it. She had hoped to be alone, just in case her emotions got ahead of her... But she was too upset to try and reason with Stefan.

"Maybe you should slow down." Stefan said suddenly. She looked down at the speedometer, seeing that she was going almost eight-five down a dirt road. This didn't stop her. She wanted to put as much distance between her and Daryl as possible, and as much as possible. Her iron grip on the steering wheel made her knuckles go snow white.

She only slowed down for her turn onto the interstate, and then she nearly floored it. This side of the road was mostly empty. She'd never been a bad driver, but she wasn't particularly the best, either. Such as right now. She was letting her emotions take over, allowing herself to be blind sided by her own rage. She drove like this for a good twenty minutes, ignoring Stefan's occasional plea to slow down.

She didn't care. She just wanted away.

- - -

"Damnit!" Daryl shouted, fisting his hair angrily. Rick approached him and put a hand on his shoulder, but he wrenched himself away from his grip. She was leaving him, she was leaving the safety of the prison. He spun in a circle, longing to go after her. She was driving fast, but he could catch up on his bike. He moved to go and get it, but Rick stopped him, giving him a subtle shake of his head.

"She'll come back."

"No she fucking won't, Rick!" He shouted, continuing to fist his own dark hair fiercely. Rick grabbed Daryl by the shoulders to get his attention, and then pointed off to the side with an accusing finge. Daryl looked, watching as the black dog approached the gate where her owner had just left.

"She'll be back." He said again. And this time, Daryl actually believed him.

- - -

Feedback would be appreciated. c: