Chapter One

"Love, like death, changes everything."

Rick, Shane, Glenn and Daryl had set off from the farm and headed into town to stock up on more ammo for their guns. They had left around mid day, trying to make it back before dark.

As they began to stake out the town for any signs of Walkers, it appeared to be clear until they heard shrills of screams. The men made their way behind a building to check it out and saw a small group being surrounded by 15 or so Walkers. Rick grasped his gun from his belt and held it up against him as he tried to think what to do.
"We can't just leave them!" Glenn's yell interrupted his thoughts as Shane gestured for them to just ignore the group and go on. Rick turned back to the group, who were falling helpless by the second.
His best friend Shane shook his head and knew instantly what Rick was thinking
"They're not our people Rick! Not our problem!"
Rick looked to Glenn and Daryl, both waiting for their leaders answer "They're not our people, but they're still PEOPLE!"
He nodded at the others who prepared themselves to fight - Daryl grabbed a few arrows for his cross bow, pointing it out in front of him while Glenn held out a knife and then the three of them took off towards the attack. Shane swore to himself, and reluctantly ran after them.

As Daryl took out a few Walkers with his cross bow, he saw a few metres away from him, two Walkers take down a civilian. He paused but realised it was too late, he couldn't do anything and turned the other way, continuing to shoot his cross bow when something caught his eye.
A girl with long wavy blonde hair ran into an alley way and was trapped with a Walker chasing after her.
Daryl instinctively bolted in the direction of the alley way, checking his arrow supply as he he got into the alley way, the girl was on the ground, backed into the corner by the walker. He had no arrows left so he quickly got out his handgun and fired. Tt only took one bullet to the back of the head to kill it. Daryl then he made his way over ran to the strangers side, checking behind him as he spoke.
"Get up" he yelled as he reloaded his gun "You can't sit here, we gotta move!"
When Daryl hadn't gotten a reply, he looked down at the girl who was staring at the Walker dead at her feet – obviously in shock and he knelt down to her level.
"C'mon, you've gotta move" he said with a more sympathetic tone. When the girl finally snapped out of her trance both of their eyes met. She wasn't a girl, she was a woman in her mid twenties.
Her deep emerald green eyes had shown fear but changed when she looked into the soft light blue eyes of Daryl's. For a split second, Daryl's defence was down as they stared into eachother's eyes.

This girl was beautiful, even with her hair all knotty and with numerous bruises and dirt all over her body. Her long wavy blonde hair was all over the place, while her plump lips pursed together as Daryl noticed her lightly tanned skin. She was utterly gorgeous, and was one of those girls who would never ever in her whole life talk to someone likes of Daryl Dixon.
But for some strange reason... he knew her from somewhere... as he tried to think back to where he had seen her before, Shane called out.
"We gotta move Daryll!"

Daryl grabbed the blonde girls wrist, whisking her up on her feet behind him as they ran back towards the others. Shane took one look at her, and grabbed her wrist from Daryl's grasp.
"There's too many of em" Daryl said as Shane shot a Walker who was running towards them.
Rick and Glenn were busy killing a few walkers who were feeding on a fallen victim when the blonde girl suddenly squealed in horror, making Shane drop her wrist in shock.
"MUM!" the blonde girl called off into the distance as a woman in her late 40's with short light brown hair was surrounded by 4 Walkers. Without hesitation, the blonde girl leapt forward, trying to save her mother but was stopped by Shane before she move a step closer.
"It's too late! She's gone!" Shane wrestled with her, as she continued to scream out towards her Mum who was now on the ground.
"RUN! RUN!" her mother managed to say yell as Walkers bit into her flesh. Rick yelled over the top of the screaming and moans for his men to fall back. Daryl looked back at the blonde girl who was still struggling to wriggle out of Shanes arms.

Once they had found their way across the road they hid in the bushes and trees "Is everyone okay?!" Rick whispered frantically looking from Glenn to Daryl and to Shane then to the girl.
"What about her? Has she been bitten? Or scratched?"
Shane put his gun behind his back, and grabbed her arms and looked for any marks "Doesn't look like it.." he said as he continued to look when the blonde girl jerked her arms out of his hand, and backed away from them.
"It's okay, we're not going to hurt you" Rick whispered as he lowered his gun "What's your name?" he asked, but she didn't answer "Where are the rest of your group?" he tried again.
The girl looked back over to where they had just ran from "That's them" she replied with no emotion. Glenn moved closer to Rick, so she couldn't hear "We should get back to the farm now, while they're preoccupied"
Rick agreed and turned to Shane and Daryl who were watching on "We can't leave her here by herself... she's coming with us".

When the boys returned to the farm, the women greeted them when they noticed an unfamiliar face joining them.
"We ran into a pack of Walkers who were attacking a group in the town..."Rick explained to his wife whose hands were around his face.
"What about her?" Maggie asked, as she let go from hugging Glenn. All eyes fell upon the blonde girl, who was standing by herself and was taking in the scenery of the farm.
"She's only spoken a few words... she's in shock" Glenn answered his girlfriend.
Carol slowly walked over to her and lightly put her hand on her shoulder in a comforting way "What's your name sweetie?" Carol asked with a warm smile.
The blonde cautiously looked into all the eyes staring back at her, resting a few more seconds on Daryl and Shane before answering "My names Sam".

The next morning, the group had huddled together for a meeting to discuss last night's events.
"I don't get it, what's so special about her? We don't take in strangers" Andrea stated.
Rick nodded and looked up at the men who were with him the previous night "You weren't there Andrea. This group was made up of around 5 or 6 people and they got picked off one by one and Sam's Mum was one of them..."
Daryl quickly glanced at Shane, remembering back on that moment where Sam had tried to run back, but he'd stopped her.
"We couldn't leave her Andrea, she has no one." Glenn continued but Andrea didn't care and just rolled her eyes "You don't know anything about this girl!"
Andrea said but turned around when the others looked behind her. Andrea looked down at her feet, feeling a bit ashamed at what she had just said. Sam had come out from spending the night with Carol in her tent and heard everything they had just discussed.
Rick stood up and walked over to Sam
"Your welcome to stay here with our group" he said , giving Andrea a warning look then turned back with a reassuring smile. Sam nodded gratefully and turned back to the rest of the group as Rick began to introduce them...

"And that's Daryl..." he said nodding at Darryl who was on the outskirts of the group, as per usual minding his cross bow. Daryl gave a little nod and a hint of a smile as she looked at him, thinking back to how he saved her life in the alley way - but not just that, but how he certainly knew her from somewhere, but couldn't put his finger on it.
Finally, Rick turned towards Shane who was leaning up against a tree with his arms folded over his chest.
"This is Shane..." Sam moved towards him with a half smile, to which everyone was surprised because she hadn't shown any emotion towards any of others.
"Yeah I remember him..."
Shane cocked an eyebrow, taking it as a compliment "I'd hope so after I saved your life last night..." he trailed off but Sam half laughed
"Oh yeah... saved my life huh?" Sam replied sarcastically. Before anyone could see it coming, Sam slapped Shane hard across the cheek, taking them all by surprise.
"And that's for not letting me save my Mum"

Andrea smirked at the new girls courage while Carol and Lori shared worried looks. Maggie looked to Glenn for answers but he shook his head, meaning this wasn't the time to explain. As Shane moved his jaw tenderly, Sam began to walk back to the tent
"If I hadn't have held you back, you'd be dead also" Shane said as he called back after her. Sam shook her head, ignoring his comment but she did secretly know it was true. Shane rubbed his cheek as Rick put his hand on his shoulder
"Let her cool down" he said to his best friend. Daryl took one more glance at Sam before she headed back into the tent; it was killing him...where did he know her from?

Shane continued smiled to himself as rubbed his cheek, looking back at the tent as Andrea came up to him "I like her already" Andrea half laughed, looking at where Sam had slapped him. Shane nodded and agreed with Andrea – he already liked her too.

To be continued...

Authors Note - I hope you all enjoyed that and I'd love to hear feedback! especially if you all think I should continue this story. Does it have potential?

Does anyone have any ideas as to how Daryl know's Sam?
Should she have reacted the way she did with Shane?

Does anyone already want either of them with Sam? Let me know!

Please review :)