The Georgia sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm, golden hue over the forest's canopy. Y/N trudged along the worn path, her heart pounding in rhythm with the crunch of leaves beneath her feet. She had always looked up to Daryl Dixon, even before the world had turned upside down

It had been a year since the world had crumbled, and the group had been struggling to survive, to find some semblance of normalcy. Y/N was far younger than Daryl, but age had never been an obstacle in her heart

One evening, as the camp settled for the night, Y/N found herself sitting by the fire, lost in thought. The others had turned in, and only the crackling of the flames filled the silence. Daryl approached

"Can't sleep?" he asked gruffly, not looking at her.

She shook her head, her eyes flickering to his face. "Just... thinking."

"’Bout what?" His tone was softer now, almost curious.

"Everything. The way things were... the way things are now." She hesitated, then added, "You."

Daryl's brow furrowed, and he turned to face her, his expression unreadable. "Me?"

She took a deep breath, her heart racing. "I've always admired you, Daryl. Even before all this," she gestured vaguely to the dark forest around them, "happened. You're strong, and you keep us safe. You've got a good heart, even if you don't always show it."

Daryl looked away, the firelight casting shadows across his face. "Ain't nothin' special 'bout me."

"You’re wrong," Y/N whispered, daring to place her hand on his arm. "You're more special than you think."

For a long moment, they sat in silence. Then, Daryl finally met her gaze, and she saw a flicker of something in his eyes—perhaps uncertainty

"Y/N, you're young. You deserve better than an old man like me."

"But I don’t want better," she insisted, her voice trembling with emotion. "I want you."

Daryl’s expression softened, and he reached out to gently touch her cheek. "Maybe we can make this work," he murmured, his voice low. "We'll take it slow. See where it goes “