Author's Note: Hey everyone! If you really like my story check out @thefanfictionawards and nominate if you feel it's worthy enough!
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Theme Song: "Bloodstream" - Stateless

I got my sickles out quietly and he was already armed with the crossbow and a finger to his lips. He shoved the door open with the toe of his shoe and upon entering immediately fired an arrow to a walker making its way towards us from the back hallway.

When it fell, Daryl got another arrow ready and I stalked behind him, flanking like a soldier would. I carefully combed the aisles before peeking my head up to see Daryl coming back from the hallway that led to the restrooms. "Clear." He muttered and I pulled the backpack from my back, sheathed my weapons and started to scavenge the aisles.

We were both silent for a moment and I watched as Daryl started to fill up with anything that would be of use to the group. I stopped short as I saw a crushed box of Ding Dong's and my green eyes widened with joy. Ding Dong's. Sweet, delicious chocolate-y mounds of goodness.

I grabbed the box and tore it open and Daryl walked around from a different aisle to see what I was doing. I wiggled my brows at him, waving the box for a moment to show him what I'd found. He raised his eyebrows in surprise. I looked at the box and the expiration date with relief. They were two months away from expiring! We were in luck!

My eyes were alight with excitement and I tossed him a Ding Dong that he caught skillfully. "Hell ya', never thought I'd see one of these again." He muttered unwrapping it and shoving at least half of it into his mouth. Crumbs fell to the floor and I snickered as I unwrapped my own and started to bite into it.

I knew I looked ridiculous, closing my eyes and reveling in the sweetness, but this was the time when little things counted. Moments like these mattered. At least to me.

"These were my favorite as a kid." I mused as he finished his and licked his fingers. My eyes held fast to his fingers in his mouth for a beat too long. In that short time I took in his thin lips, his slightly dirty hands, and the stubble that graced his face. Not to mention the look of contentment that washed over his face was endearing as he licked away excess chocolate.

There was a brief moment that I caught a glimpse of the boy he used to be a long time ago...before he grew into a man. Before he could notice I had already looked away and continued to lick my fingers as the chocolate melted quickly.

I could feel his eyes upon me and I turned to look back at him, my thumb still in my mouth. I knew I was blushing a pink hue. He smiled a rare Daryl Dixon smile and when he caught sight of my thumb he smirked before saying, "Everyone always liked Twinkies...to hell with 'em. This is where it was at."

He paused and I slowly released my thumb from my mouth and curved my lips into a sultry grin. Oh what the hell? He was staring at me and I always got a laugh out of making him antsy or uncomfortable.

His blue eyes held fast to my face, anywhere but my thumb that lingered around my lip. Daryl's posture changed and he tensed briefly, but I kept my doe green eyes to his blue ones. There was a hot flush of blood flowing in my veins and something primal had taken over me as I came to the startling realization that I was insanely attracted to Daryl Dixon.

So much for making him uncomfortable..now I was shifting awkwardly.

I couldn't help but notice the curious way he looked to me..almost as if he were trying to figure me out. Or figure out how he felt about me. His head tilted slightly and I swallowed thickly. The heat of his gaze had given me cotton mouth.

I blinked in surprise and regained my composure as I cocked my head to the side playfully, "What?" My question surprised him and he cleared his throat, furrowing his brows at me, "Nuttin'." His voice was rougher than normal and I could've sworn I saw him blush as he looked back towards the aisle absentmindedly.

He didn't turn his head my way again, but his eyes glanced towards me and muttered, "Missed a spot." It was then I reached up and felt some crumbs on the side of my face and I brushed them away quickly. The pinks in my cheeks turning to a deep crimson by now.

I laughed it off lightly and shoved the box in my backpack. "This is comin' with us!" He smirked, "I like yer' thinkin' Red." His deep country twang only made me smile wider. The moment was over and we continued to comb the aisles for essentials. I found half a box of unused pedialyte and I put it in the bag. This stuff was gold, not just for babies, but also people. It might come in handy later, you never know. Daryl grabbed a handful of canned goods and put them in my bag.

We both finished scoping the aisles before Daryl came upon one of the racks of jewelry, glasses and odd objects on the stand alones that turned around and around. It was laying on its side the contents were scattered everywhere. Most everything was already looted. I noticed he kneeled down to rummage through it all.

I started looking towards the back hallway and wanted to see what was down there. Maybe it was because I wanted to get some distance between us. However, Daryl's voice made me turn around. Speak of the Devil...

"Catch!" He said as he tossed me something. I caught it and it was cool against my hands. I cautiously flipped over the trinket. It was a silver chained necklace, but the charm on it was an elephant and I quirked a brow at him. There was a rush of emotions that overcame me in that very moment and my breath caught.

The elephant represented the circus. Which was something that I missed terribly and Daryl knew that without me ever having to tell him. It was still in my hand and he walked up to me, taking the moment to catch me off guard as I looked from him to the necklace. He was right in front of me now and he shouldered his bow before murmuring lowly, "Turn 'round girl."

He took the necklace from my hand before I turned around. He reached around with rough hands to lock it into place around my neck. I could feel his hands as they were close to my skin and it made the hairs on my arms stand up and then goosebumps appeared trailing down my arms. The cool charm sent warm tendrils down my chest and to my belly. I realized quickly it wasn't the necklace. This was what in the real world girls called butterflies.

My insides were doing flip flops like a damn gymnast. He pulled my auburn hair out from behind the chain, carefully fluffing it out behind me. He turned me around slowly and my lips parted as I looked down at the elephant, at a lost for words. What were the odds that he had found such an item?

We stood there for a moment, and I snuck a glance up to to his blue eyes. He smiled ruefully at me and his eyes looked down to the elephant.

He still had his hands lingering awkwardly by my shoulders, barely touching me, but sending my skin alight with fire from the mere brush of his fingertips. It was then I swallowed and said lowly while looking down at the elephant, lost in in my thoughts, "This is..perfect. Thanks Daryl."

I was thinking not only of Daryl and his gesture of kindness, but of my past. He knew how much I had loved what I did and it brought up a lot great memories.

It was odd, but I felt this was Daryl's way of telling me he wasn't mad at me for saving him. Almost like an apology, but he didn't have to say it aloud. He never seemed to be a man that was good at apologies. I looked up to him and he was staring at me intently, but with hesitation...and maybe even a little shyness.

He chewed on the inside of his cheek and nodded his head, "Don't say I never gave you nuthin'." I smiled brightly at him now, the pink hue fading from my cheeks as he stepped away from me.

"Definitely fits me." I murmured to myself, but aloud. "I'll be back.." I added. I turned on my heel to check down the hallway and see what the back area of the store provided.

"Where ya' goin?" He asked, not caring to turn around to the front of the store, he just followed me.

I went down the hallway and past the restrooms and saw the backdoor sign and followed it. I turned to the right and Daryl followed me. I briefly wondered if he would follow me anywhere.

"Just wanna see what is out ba-" I started, but didn't even get to finish my sentence. As I pushed open the back door there was a horde of walkers standing around, moaning terribly, and they were all coming from the dense woods behind our store.

Daryl pulled the door closed quickly and scrambled back with me. He clung tight to my arm and pulled me back against his chest with a thud.

"C'mon, we gotta' get outta' here." I followed him and turned back one last time to see the door moving now as the walkers started to bang up against it. It was only when we rounded the corner to the front part of the store did my heart drop to my stomach.

"Oh god, Daryl." My heart hammered in my stomach and my limbs trembled with paralyzed fear. He stood there frozen.

Another part of the horde was already mashing up against the windows and the front door of the store. We were shit up a creek.
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End Note: I literally played Bloodstream on repeat and thought of Vickyl.(Vicki x Daryl) All the lingering gazes they give each other..ahhh they are so adorable.