Part 3

The one thing that Sasha hated about driving to Tyreese's cabin at night was the complete darkness. Without taillights in front of her and headlights in the rearview mirror, she felt as if she was in space. Just a single being adrift in the outer limits of the universe. If she hadn't felt alone before, this drive certainly reinforced that feeling.

She turned on the radio and Bruno Mars seemed determined to energize her with his version of neo-funk. Despite her attempts otherwise, she hummed along and sung what she thought were the lyrics of the chorus. Just as she was getting into it, the truck began to stall. The dashboard revealed little clues that she could understand. She grabbed her phone and hoped he would answer.

"Hey," Daryl said, "Sasha. What's up?"

"Hi, Daryl. I hate to bother you—"

"You're no bother. C'mon. You know that. You okay?"

"My truck is tripping. I'm headed to the cabin and the damn thing—Oh shit. It just stopped. I don't know what's wrong with it. I'm at least twenty-five miles out. Look, I'll call Tyreese—"

"Hold on!" Daryl said. "I'm headed that way. Just chill. I'll be there in about thirty. You okay out there? Turn your flashers on."

"I'm the only one out here."

"Doesn't matter," he said. "Just be safe 'til I get there."

"Yessir, Mr. Dixon."

He laughed. "You know I hate when you call me that."

"I know."

"Um…so you're coming this year," Daryl said. "I bet Tyreese is glad to hear it."

"He turned Abraham against me."

"He did what?" he asked. "What happened at the station?"

"I still have a job."

"Good. For a minute there, I thought he'd gotten you fired or some shit."

"My brother ain't crazy," Sasha said. "All hell would break loose if he did that. Besides, Abraham likes me."

"Does he?" There was a bite to his question. "I didn't know it was like that."

"Like what?"

"Nothin'," Daryl mumbled.

"The schedule's set in advance but this morning, I'm suddenly free for the next five days," she said. "If I didn't like my house, I'd put in a transfer."

"Don't do that. You got friends there, right?"

"Yeah, but I don't like Tyreese meddling. He and Abraham have been tight since forever. If I had known he'd come over to my station, I would have… Maybe I would have taken that job in King's County."

Sasha remembered when the offer came through. It had been soon after Bob's unexpected death, which had occurred just two weeks before their wedding date. She would never forget Rick coming to the station to tell her the outcome of Bob trying to intervene at a domestic violence call. Bob had been one of those EMTs who were born to help.

"Sasha?"

"Hmm…?"

"Said I'm glad you didn't move away," Daryl said quietly. "It wouldn't have been the same if you left."

She smiled. His gentle admission didn't come easily, so she appreciated him saying the words aloud. Back when she was thinking about buying a motorcycle, Daryl was her first choice for advice. Their relationship had evolved slowly in the beginning. When her brother met Carol, Daryl seemed to be part of the package. Carol and the Dixon brothers had been in the same foster home for about a year when they were kids. While Merle was a hardcase for most, Carol and Daryl stayed tight. Sasha was convinced that if Tyreese hadn't passed Daryl's test, her brother never would have married the love of his life.

Sasha's conversation with Daryl continued, but in the back of her mind, she thought about the history of their relationship. How she was loud while he was quiet, but that never seemed to deter him whenever she had a request or wanted to rant about her brother's overprotectiveness. She couldn't count the number of times she had called him and he came without question. Nor had she questioned why she had called him first instead of other friends or family. After Bob's death, Daryl sat with her for hours. He didn't say a word. He just sat there. When the tears finally came, he held her close and rocked her slow.

She pressed her balled fist to her mouth as her breathing quickened. His arms had felt so perfect around her. As if he knew the correct way to hold her, had been born knowing. Then other thoughts jumbled in. She remembered how she had always admired the way he moved with smooth, measured confidence. At first glance, his shyness could be off putting, but beneath the surface, there was so much more. She wondered why she hadn't noticed before.

*&+%$^

The drive to the lakeside cabin was quiet. Daryl found himself out of words after being on the phone with Sasha his entire drive. At least that's what he told himself at first, but the closer they got to the cabin, he made himself admit that the way she was looking at him made him warm. It was all he could do to hook her truck to the tow properly. Sitting with her in the cabin smelling all sweet and spicy was damn near driving him nuts. She hadn't dressed for the party, but she still looked damned fine in her tight jeans and black v-neck sweater that teased him with hints of her cleavage. He clutched the steering wheel and fumbled with the radio dial to distract himself from saying or doing something stupid.

"Were you planning to go the party?" she asked.

"I hadn't decided, yet," he murmured. "Going to sleepover like I'm twelve…wasn't sure about it, you know?"

"Could be fun," Sasha said. "I hate that you're driving me all the way there. You could have just taken me back to Atlanta."

"You were headed to the party," Daryl said. "That's where I'm taking you."

"But it's out of your way."

"Who says it is?"

"I just thought…"

He glanced at her and gave her a faint smile. "Anyone ever tell you that you think too much? I'm good, Sasha. It's cool."

"I hate that I could be messing up your night. It's New Year's Eve."

"You're not," he told her. "My New Year's Eve is just fine."

The cabin driveway was less crowded than he expected. If he hadn't been to the cabin several times, he would have thought the address was wrong. Streamers and shit hung on the gate. Lights flickered all around. But the lack of cars concerned him. Daryl pulled close to the garage and parked. Both he and Sasha exited the tow truck and headed to the front door. There they found a note addressed to Sasha taped to the door handle. Daryl peeled it off and gave it to her. He unlocked the door with his key.

"What the hell?" he murmured under his breath.

Unlit white candles covered every flat surface. Logs waited in the fireplace. Champagne sat in a bucket of ice. Roses were strewn everywhere. Daryl cursed Carol for her meddling and headed to the fireplace. He set to lighting the fire and hoping that Sasha wouldn't hate him when she figured out the scene.

"I'm scared to read the note," she said. "What is all this?"

"Don't know." Daryl had never taken this long with a fire before in his life. If he could, he would take all night. He dreaded facing her. He told Carol that Sasha wasn't ready. Hell, maybe he wasn't either.

"I should just read it," she said, half to herself. "When you finish, could you come here? I have a feeling that I shouldn't read this alone."

"It was your name on it," he said. "Probably something personal in it."

"Please."

The single word got to him. Not only that, but the way she say it. Sasha never begged or pleaded for anything. She was a rock even when she needed to let go. He lit the fire, wiped his hands on his jeans, and went to her. She had left room for him on the sofa so he joined her there. His breathing came hard and uneven. His unease matched the wary expression on her pretty face. He extended his hand palm up.

"I'll read it if you want."

She shoved the note into his hand. "Thanks."

He opened the letter and read Carol's flowery handwriting.

'Dear Sasha and Daryl,

Due to unforeseen events, Abraham is hosting the party at his cabin. Oops. Sorry we weren't able to reach you in time. Enjoy the cabin. Enjoy yourselves.

Love,

Carol and Tyreese'

Daryl stared at the floor several seconds before he mustered the nerve to look at Sasha. Her expression was unreadable.

"I'm so sorry, Daryl. I had no idea they'd do something like this and if Tyreese did something to my truck…"

"It's okay." He folded the note and set it on the end table. "It's cool."

"No, it isn't. You weren't even planning to come. I don't know what gets into their heads. Meddling in my life is bad enough, but now they're interfering with you," she said. "I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you—"

"Well," Daryl cut in, "you could start by stop apologizing."

He didn't know how he felt about the set up or the note, but he was certain that he hated Sasha's guilt. She hadn't done a damn thing wrong. If anything, he was at fault for trusting Carol with his secret. He had told her that Sasha wasn't ready. Hell, maybe all he'd ever be to her was friend. If that was so, then so be it.

He rose from the sofa and headed to the kitchen. In there, the sound of sleet hitting the roof was rhythmic and hypnotic. The last few miles to the cabin were over a curvy hill. Driving back now in pitch darkness was suicide. If he was on his bike, he'd take the risk, but not in the tow truck.

His stomach rumbled as the smell of strawberries assaulted his senses. He washed his hands in the sink. When he finished, he heard a click and then music came over the speakers. "All of Me" was the John Legend song that always made him think of Sasha. He sighed and rubbed his hands over his face. Those meddling matchmakers had thought of everything.

"Daryl?"

He hadn't heard her approach, but she stood right behind him. "Yeah?" This time he could read the uncertainty in her brown eyes. "What is it?"

"Wanna dance?"

"Umm…" He looked at the slender hand she extended toward him. Before he could think twice, his hand held hers and they were on the vacant floor space. "I'm not a dancer."

"Just put your hands here." She placed them at her waist. "I'll put mine here." She set hers on his shoulders. "Just like this."

'And I'm so dizzy,

don't know what hit me,

but I'll be alright…'

"I love this song," Daryl said.

"Me too." She smiled. Her brown eyes were bright and clear as she stared at him. "It's beautiful."

"Doesn't compare to you," he said, feeling a sudden burst of courage.

"You're sweet—"

"No, I ain't," he said. "I… I know why Carol did this and I'm sorry if it makes you feel weird. It's my fault. They did this 'cause of me."

"What do you mean?"

They stopped dancing as another song started playing, but neither noticed the music or the lyrics. Both were too attuned to each other. Daryl wished he could turn back, but he didn't want to start another year with this secret hanging between them.

"I care about you, Sasha. Probably more than I should. I've been waiting, but I guess Carol decided my time was up."

"You should have told me," she said.

He bit his lip as he shook his head. "You weren't ready."

She nodded. "You're right. I wasn't."

He stepped away from her. "I'm sorry about," he waved his hands, "all this. I'd leave, but it's sleeting."

"You don't have to go." She took his hands. "I wasn't ready before, but I think I'm ready now."

"You don't have to say that."

"I'm not. I wouldn't." She smiled. "You know I wouldn't."

An alarm clock beeped. Daryl noticed that the ten-second countdown for the New Year had begun. They looked at each other and counted. To his surprise, she puckered and leaned forward. As if compelled, he bent down and took her mouth in a gentle, thorough first kiss of the New Year.

"Yeah?" he asked after he raised his head.

"Yeah."

Then, he cupped her face and drew her to him again. In the back of his mind, he registered that her fingers dug into his shoulders. The tips of her breasts pushed against his chest. He kissed her, long and deep, as his tongue tasted the sweetness of her mouth. Low moans emitted from the back of her throat. The sounds vibrated through Daryl. He used to imagine this, but his fantasies had never been as good as this. Her wanting him as much as he wanted her were all his wishes coming true at the stroke of midnight.

Later after hours of sitting together on the sofa—hours of talking, drinking champagne, and more kissing—their phones vibrated with text messages. They both looked at the same attached photo and laughed.

"We're not the only ones beginning a new day with someone special," Sasha said.

"It's about time Rick and Michonne came clean," Daryl replied. "I had my suspicions about them a while ago. They ain't as slick as they think they are."

"I had a feeling about them, too," Sasha agreed.

"Wonder if folks'll be saying the same about us?" he asked, drawing circles in the palm of her hand.

She leaned against him, her legs resting casually across his thighs. "Everybody will."

Daryl smiled. He didn't care what the others thought or how many "I knew it's" were tossed in their direction. All that mattered was Sasha greeted the New Year with a smile on her face and so did he.

The End

[A/N: Thanks for reading! The story is a little late for New Year's but the characters wouldn't leave me alone! So, here it is. Feedback is appreciated. :-) ]