So before anyone gets confused let me make it clear that this is a Daryl/Aaron fic. The first chapter is a little shorter than usual because I'm still trying to get a feel for it. This is m/m slash so make no mistake. I would love to hear your thoughts if you read Because this one has been nagging at me! Thanks guys!

...

"Are you sure you know what you're doing?"

Daryl sighed and slowed his pace, crossbow swinging against his back as he turned to face Carol. "No, I'm not. I'm just playin' along like everyone else. Ain't that what Rick said?" His voice came out grumpier than intended and he immediately felt bad for it. It wasn't Carol's fault that he was in a bad mood lately. It was nobody's fault but his own.

Carol didn't seem upset by his tone though she did look away from him. "You're right," she replied. "We need to try and fit in, but I just don't want you to get sucked in like everyone else seems to be doing." Her expression changed to one of concern.

Daryl almost brushed his hand over her arm, but he stopped himself. It wasn't that he didn't want to touch Carol, he just didn't want anyone getting the wrong idea. He loved Carol as much as someone could love another person, but he wasn't in love with her. He wanted to be, but it wasn't something that could be forced and it wouldn't be fair to either of them if he did. It didn't mean that he didn't care deeply for her though and the last thing he would ever do would be to hurt her.

"Out of all the people in this Godforsaken place, I'm pretty sure these two are the most harmless. I can handle myself and it gives me somethin' to do besides sitting on that damn porch all day."

Carol smiled and lightly touched his arm. He let her do it, one of the few people that he allowed that right. She released a long drawn out breath and nodded before dropping her hand back down to her side.

"You're right. You need something to do of course. It's the perfect job for you." She frowned as she said the last words and he watched her stare off into the distance, her brain working overtime.

"You gonna be alright? I can stay here with you a while if you need me..."

She immediately shook her head no and began walking back the way they had come, smiling at him. "No, I'm fine. I've got some cookies to bake and I need to see about getting some more chocolate if I can. Go on and try to relax a little," she urged.

He snorted. "Alright, then."

He reached his destination a lot quicker than expected and climbed the porch steps a little hesitantly. He paused at the top and began to second guess his decision.

"Relax...right," he muttered under his breath repeating Carol's words. He couldn't remember the last time he had relaxed. Maybe at the prison? That was about as close as he could remember to being relaxed and even then he was still guarded and cautious. Always cautious. He remembered the other night when he had been over here having dinner with Eric and Aaron. He had been more relaxed then than any other night that he could remember in a long time. That had surprised him. Eric and Aaron had surprised him.

Raising his hand to knock, he raised a brow in surprise when the door was opened and Eric stood there blinking back at him. Daryl realized his hand was hanging mid-air and he slowly withdrew it, running his fingers through his beard.

"Uh..." Daryl stood there awkwardly.

Eric simply waited for a minute until figuring out that Daryl wasn't going to say much more than the one little word he had uttered. He turned to call over his shoulder, "Aaron! We've got company."

Minutes later Aaron appeared over Eric's shoulder, pulling the door open widely as he stared at Daryl. A slow smile spread over his face. "You came," he stated.

Daryl nodded once and shifted his feet, wondering if they were going to let him inside or if they were just going to stand on the porch all day. Eric glanced between them with raised brows and then stepped out onto the porch, hobbling just a bit on his weak ankle. Daryl instinctively made a grab for him at the same time that Aaron did, but Eric brushed both of their offers of help off.

"I'm okay. I've got to get used to it. I can't stay in the house forever Aaron," he said.

Aaron nodded, a smile upon his face as he leaned in the doorway and crossed his arms. "Yes, I know. We've already had this conversation once this morning."

Eric laughed, "Yes, well, a little refresher never hurt anyone. I know how you are sometimes. I'll be back in a bit." Daryl watched as Eric placed a kiss to Aaron's cheek and nodded at him. "Good to see you again, Daryl."

Daryl watched him maneuver the porch steps and frowned as the man wobbled on each step. He moved to help or at the very least get closer in case the guy fell, but a hand on his shoulder stopped his movements.

"Don't do it. He's liable to try and take your hand off for offering to help." Aaron's voice whispered near his ear.

Daryl snorted softly, "Yeah, okay." He glanced at Eric again, sizing the little guy up and thinking it wouldn't take much to take him out.

To his surprise, Aaron chuckled softly. "You're right." He sighed resolutely. "He's not that strong. It's a constant worry of mine that he's going to get himself seriously hurt at some point."

Daryl nodded. He could see that about Eric, but then again he could see that about a lot of the people in this community. Except Aaron. He was still figuring him out, but he didn't get a bad vibe from him. He just couldn't get a good read on the guy. Or maybe it was just because he naturally didn't trust anyone to begin with.

"So, ready to get started on the bike?"

"Yeah. Let's do it," Daryl replied.

...

Daryl couldn't remember the last time he had found himself working on a bike or any machine for that matter. It had been entirely too long and it all felt surreal to be inside of a garage while doing it. And having electricity on top of that. He still couldn't quite get used to that. It worried him a little how quickly he was adapting to it, but instead of questioning it further he ignored it and continued to work.

"You gonna stand there and watch me all day?"

Aaron blinked in surprise and then slowly strolled inside of the garage. "I didn't want to interrupt. You knew I was here the whole time?"

Daryl snorted, "Could hear you breathin' a mile away."

Aaron smiled and walked around the bike to crouch down near Daryl's outstretched legs. There were several moments of quiet and Daryl was thankful that he wasn't bombarding him with questions. However, the silence was beginning to get to him so he pondered for something to fill it with.

"There's somethin' so calming about workin' on bikes," Daryl said.

"Yeah, if you know what you're doing...which you so clearly do," Aaron stated. "I had a feeling you would."

Daryl paused in the process of turning a wrench and glanced over at him. "Why's that?"

He shrugged, "You seem like the type."

"Hmph. What type is that? Dumb redneck?" He could feel his defenses rising and he was struggling to hold back biting words.

"You're putting words in my mouth now and that's not what I meant. It's just that I watched you with your group on the road there for a while. You're good with your hands." Aaron's face flushed red and he stood up quickly while clearing his throat. "You hungry?"

Daryl was still contemplating his words and he shrugged. "I could eat." He paused, "As long as it ain't any beans. Had enough of those to last me a lifetime."

"It's not beans. I promise. I'll be right back."

Daryl watched him leave the room, feeling a weird sort of sensation in his stomach that he was pretty sure wasn't from hunger. Strangely it almost felt as though he was spending the afternoon hanging out with with a friend while shooting the shit. As much as his senses told him that he should proceed with caution, he just couldn't seem to back away from it. The bike called to him on so many levels. It called to him, memories from his former life mixed with an overwhelming taste of freedom. If he had the bike and could get back onto the open road traveling on his own, then maybe he could pull himself out of this funk he seemed to have settled into. As the sounds drifted through the open doorway, Daryl tried to keep his thoughts focused on the bike and not on the man currently in the kitchen fixing him some lunch.