Author's note: So, I decided to continue this. Hope you enjoy the story! Oh an to the reader who said my ending sucked…yeah it totally did…sometimes I like to think I'm French…get it? Because their endings sometimes suck leaving everything open?

Chapter 18

Daryl.

White light. Silence. Tastes of sunshine. Feels like feathers. The smell of wood and grass.

A deer was frozen, watching, listening, feeling the atmosphere of the woods. It took a cautious step. Then another. He lowered his head. So close to touch.

A twig snapped. Aaron spun around.

"Daryl," he said again in a whisper.

Daryl's eyes snapped open. He sat up and fired his gun. No, Carol's gun. The walker went down and the world returned to silence.

Daryl panicked. The gun he held was shaking in his hands.

"Daryl," Aaron said his name again.

Daryl turned this time to Aaron. A ghost? He reached out. Warm skin. He was alive. He was here. Aaron was alive.

"Aaron," he whispered.

Aaron released a breath he had been holding and rushed into Daryl.

Daryl dropped the gun and wrapped his arms around Aaron's body. For the first time in what felt like a long time, they breathed together. Warm breath tickled Aaron's neck. Aaron's hand reached up to Daryl's neck and caressed his hair.

"You're here," Daryl breathed.

"I'm here," Aaron confirmed. "You're alive."

Aaron felt Daryl nod against him.

"What happened?" Daryl asked, looking over his shoulder.

"I saw you pointing a gun to your own head. The walkers had finished with Negan's body and you were the next target. Rick came in started killing the walkers. Michonne knocked you out before you pulled the trigger on yourself and she grabbed me and snapped me back in to reality. She told me to take you and run. So I carried you out here, into the woods. I waited silently, protecting us through the night. There were still gun shots this morning. I've been too afraid to go and check on them. Didn't want to leave you."

"Thank you," Daryl whispered, hugging Aaron a little tighter.

"Do you…" Aaron asked hesitantly. "Do you still want to kill yourself?"

"God no! I just want to hold you and never let go!"

Aaron chuckled against Daryl. Daryl pulled away first. He still grasped Aaron by his shoulders and sat back on his heels and took the sight of him in. He had managed to find an oversized coat. His chest was exposed. He carefully grasped Aaron's face and planted a light kiss on his lips. He did not want to hurt him and he knew they would have to take it easy. Daryl knew Aaron had been abused and he did not want him to experience any memories of bad emotions while they were together. He hoped they would eventually talk about it, but now was not the time.

"We need to keep moving. It's not safe here," Aaron whispered.

Daryl nodded. He grasped Aaron's forearms and helped him up.

"Hilltop, that's where we need to go," Daryl said.

"Hilltop?" Aaron questioned.

Daryl nodded. "It's a community west of here. They were controlled by Negan's group, but they decided to join Rick. We should head there, maybe someone will pick us up on the way. If not, at least we can meet someone there," Daryl said.

Aaron nodded.

Daryl's eyebrows furrowed. He was concerned Aaron was still distant. "Are you going to be alright?" Daryl asked with great concern.

Aaron's hand reached up and cupped Daryl's face. "I will be, as long as I'm with you," he said.

Daryl's heart fluttered in his chest, his feelings of concern dissipated. A few words from Aaron pumped Daryl's blood faster.

"Let's move," Daryl said.

He took Aaron's hand and they made their way out of the woods. He saw Alexandria down the road. Smoke was rising from several of the houses. Their homes were destroyed. There was no going back. He took a moment to reminisce. He remembered how hesitant he was to trust Aaron in the beginning. Their group had been through some shit, shit that he didn't think Aaron could handle. But Aaron stood strong in his beliefs. If it hadn't been for Aaron, none of this would have happened. He had found someone to love and protect in this cookie cutter of a city. They protected each other. Even though their home was destroyed, they still had each other, a philosophy Rick's group was accustomed to. Cherish the important things. Cherish each other.

Daryl felt Aaron's hand give his a light squeeze. Daryl looked to him and smiled. He leaned in and gave Aaron a soft kiss on the corner of his lips. He pulled away and saw Aaron smiling back at him. He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against Aaron's, taking a moment to breath. They kissed one more time, then began down the road, heading west.

ooo

Daryl felt the strap from his crossbow digging into his shoulder. He winced and readjusted it. He couldn't remember it feeling so heavy. He continued to hold Aaron's hand as they walked down the road together. He felt Aaron dragging his feet. They were both exhausted and the sun was setting. He spotted a billboard and led Aaron off the road to the base of the advertising board. The walkers wouldn't be able to climb the ladder, so they could at least be safe from them. Aaron climbed up first and Daryl followed after.

Daryl removed his crossbow and placed it next to him.

"Will we be safe here?" Aaron asked quietly.

"At least from walkers we will be," Daryl said.

"Here," Aaron took Daryl's hands in his. "To keep warm for the night."

Daryl smiled at Aaron. "Sleep. I'll wake you in a couple hours. You can take second watch."

"Ok," Aaron said yawning instantly.

Daryl felt Aaron's body relax against his and his breathing becoming steady. His eyes roamed the ground. It had gotten very dark very fast. The area was quiet, but Daryl could still hear a distant walker growl. He was grateful for the body heat from Aaron, neither of them would survive the night alone.

He sighed and leaned his head back against the board. He didn't know how long Aaron had been asleep, but he saw two flickering lights coming from the east along with the familiar sound of a car hum. Daryl reached for his crossbow and readied a bolt, prepared to shoot anyone unfriendly. The car drew closer. Daryl couldn't make out the car in the dark. His heart beat faster not knowing who was coming their way. If they were paying attention, they would certainly see Daryl and Aaron sitting on the billboard, so Daryl roused Aaron.

"Aaron," he said shaking him slightly. Aaron's eyes blinked slowly open, then he looked up at Daryl.

"Someone is coming," Daryl said.

Aaron's eyes widened as he registered what Daryl was saying. He sat up straighter and glanced down the road. The car was almost to them. The lights were shining brighter.

Daryl and Aaron went very still as the car approached. It came to a slow rolling stop at the billboard. Daryl held his breath still uncertain who was in the car.

"Daryl! Aaron! Thank god!" they heard Rick's voice call out to them.

Daryl closed his eyes and let out the breath he had been holding. He was so grateful that Rick was in the car.

They descended the ladder and made their way over to the car. The back door opened and Daryl climbed inside and turned to help Aaron in next. They shared a seat and Daryl wrapped his arm around Aaron.

"Good to see you Rick," Daryl said.

Rick turned from the passenger seat and smiled at them. Daryl saw the silhouette of Carl sitting on Rick's lap. Wasn't the boy a little old to be sitting with his father?

"You too Daryl," Rick commented.

Michonne eased the car forward and they began down the road.

Daryl glanced into the car seat next to them. Judith was sleeping soundly. Car rides usually put babies to sleep so he wasn't surprised.

"How are you guys?" Rick asked.

"Tired," Aaron offered.

Daryl nodded in agreement next to him.

"We all are," he heard Rick respond. "We'll be at Hilltop soon. Everyone else is coming soon. They are not far behind us."

Daryl rested his head against Aaron's and drifted off to sleep.

ooo

Daryl was alive. Aaron was alive. Aaron wondered how that was even possible. Not too long ago he was a mindless sex toy who had forgotten his friends. His whole body ached and he wanted nothing more than a hot shower and a bed. Hilltop was very different than Alexandria. Their homes were shacks and trailers. Aaron doubted he could get a hot bath, and he grew sad when they told him they didn't use any water at night to conserve. Daryl didn't care about their rules and Aaron felt his heart swell at the care he was receiving from Daryl. He gathered a bucket and followed Rick to the place where they would stay. Rick ushered Daryl and Aaron into his trailer.

"You two take the bed in the back. Carl, Judith, Michonne and I will be up here," Rick said.

Aaron felt relief was over him as Daryl guided him to the back of the trailer. He placed the bucket of water at the edge of the bed. Aaron watched as Daryl began to peel away his clothing. Aaron watched him in the darkness of the room. The lights from outside were their only source of light at the moment. Aaron was suddenly grateful that Daryl would not get a very good look at his broken body unless the lights were on inside the room. Daryl's chest was now exposed. He left his jeans on and turned to Aaron.

Aaron felt the warmth from his body as Daryl snaked his hands inside of Aaron's coat. He shrugged it off his shoulders. Aaron almost bent down to retrieve the coat to cover himself up again, but willed himself to stop. This was Daryl, the man he loved. He silently endured the shaming battle raging inside him.

"Let me wash you," Daryl whispered into his ear.

Aaron's body trembled.

"I know it's not hot water, but I figured you would want to be clean before falling asleep," Daryl said taking a small step back, but still holding Aaron around his waist.

Aaron nodded silently. He wanted very much to be clean.

Daryl dropped down and dipped a towel into the water. He rung out the excess water, then rose to stand in front of Aaron.

Aaron grasped his hands together in front of his manhood. Daryl ignored the movement and started cleaning Aaron's head. He slowly wiped away dirt from Aaron's face. He moved the towel down his neck and over his chest.

Daryl turned away to ring out the towel. Aaron breathed. There was nothing sexual about this. He felt loved and cared for. Aaron couldn't help the tears that began falling from his eyes. He should be stronger than this. Daryl smiled and wiped them away, then started on cleaning his arms. They continued this until Aaron was as clean as possible, Daryl wiping gently around his sensitive areas.

Aaron collapsed from exhaustion onto the bed. He heard Daryl unbuckle his pants and heard them hit the floor with a soft thud. He felt the bed shift as Daryl climbed in next to him. Daryl fit perfectly behind him and Aaron fell into a deep sleep with a loving warmth surrounding him. They were safe for now. They had each other. That's all that mattered to Aaron.