Mary's Song | A Daryl Dixon AU

Chapter Three

Well, I was sixteen when suddenly
I wasn't that little girl you used to see
But your eyes still shined, like pretty lights
And our daddies used to joke about the two of us
They never believed we'd really fall in love
And our mamas smiled, and rolled their eyes
And said, "Oh, my, my, my"

2012

Over the years, Daryl's home life had gotten rough. His mom had passed away a year ago. She'd fallen asleep smoking a cigarette and their house had burnt down. Hallie and her family helped Daryl and his dad rebuild. But it had only gotten worse from there.

Reeling from the loss of his wife, Daryl's father had started beating him. He never told a soul; not even Hallie.

Hallie was sixteen now. Starting her junior year of high school, while Daryl was working at an automotive shop in town. He'd dropped out shortly after his mom passed.

While Daryl was more of a loner, Hallie was outgoing and had a lot of friends. But she never once put anyone before Daryl. He was her best friend and it would always be that way. Most of her friends didn't like him, but she didn't care.

One night, Hallie was studying for a test the next day when she heard a rock hit her window. She got up from her desk and walked over to it, seeing Daryl standing outside. She tilted her head in confusion and he motioned for her to come down.

She glanced at her clock. It was nearly midnight. She didn't think her mama and daddy would be too happy with her just walking out the front door, so she opened her window, climbing down the trellis like she'd done many times before with Daryl.

As her bare feet hit the grass, she looked up at her best friend. The smile on her face instantly fell.

Daryl had a blue and purple bruise around his left eye, which was swollen shut. His lip was busted and dried blood was on the skin below his nose. The collar of his shirt was torn, revealing more bruises and scars across his torso.

"Daryl..." She whispered, tears filling her eyes. She instantly knew it was his father. Her eyes raked across his exposed torso, seeing old and new cuts, scars, and bruises. "How long?" She choked out, the tears now streaming down her cheeks.

"Ever since mama died." Daryl said, keeping his eyes on the green grass below their feet.

She stepped up closer to him, placing one of her hands gently on his chin and moving his head up to look her in the eyes. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Didn't wanna worry ya." He said softly, looking down at his best friend. He turned away from her, tears burning in his own eyes. He didn't want to look weak in front of her. He was her protector. The closest thing she'd ever had to a big brother. He couldn't go soft.

"Dare, stop. C'mere." She said, reaching for his arm.

He jerked it out of her grasp, unable to stop the sob that escaped from his lips. The dam finally broke for the first time in a year and he fell to his knees, shoulders shaking as he sobbed.

Hallie rushed over to him, sitting down in the damp grass and pulling him into her arms.

With his face buried in her chest, he sobbed for what felt like hours, until Hallie's mama and daddy came out to see what was going on.

They'd always had a soft spot for Daryl. They immediately took action, having Daryl's daddy arrested for what'd he'd been doing to his son. Since Daryl was eighteen, he was allowed to stay in his own home. He worked now and could support himself.

A few months later, Hallie and Daryl were sitting in their favorite spot by the creek behind their houses. Daryl had surprised her with a picnic. He'd gotten her favorite food from the diner in town, along with her mama's chocolate pie for dessert.

In the few months after he'd finally told Hallie about his dad, he'd been paying more attention to her. She wasn't that little girl he grew up with anymore. She was older now. Beautiful, mature, smart, funny. He found himself falling for her more and more everyday. He was afraid she'd always see him like a big brother. He tried hard to push the feelings away, but one day, he was talking to her mama, and she'd told him to go for it. Ever since they joked about the two of them falling in love, Hallie's mama had always hoped it would happen. Daryl was good to her daughter.

Hallie was digging into the chocolate pie after finishing her dinner. It had gotten quiet, so she looked up at Daryl. But he was already looking at her. "What?" She asked, holding her hand to her lips. "Do I have somethin' on my face?"

Daryl shook his head, a small smile on his lips. "Hallie, I need to tell you somethin'."

"Okay." She said, a little worriedly. She turned her body to face him, sitting cross-legged on the blanket. "What is it, Dare?"

He took a few deep breaths and his eyes focused back on the creek. She could tell he was nervous.

"Hey. You can tell me anythin', you know that." She reassured him.

"I'm in love with ya, Hallie." He blurted out quickly.

Hallie froze, her lips parting in shock. She'd never expected that he felt that way about her. The past few years suddenly rushed through her mind as if it was a tape playing out their whole lives. He'd always been there for her. Taking care of her, standing up for her, protecting her. She realized that deep down, she was in love with him, too.

But he must've taken her silence as disgust, as he stood straight up and started making his way back to his house.

She snapped out of the shock, jumping to her feet and racing after him. "Daryl!"

His long strides were hard to keep up with as he'd nearly reached his house.

"Daryl, stop!" She cried, running towards him.

He turned around so suddenly, she crashed into him, sending the two of them flying to the ground.

She'd landed on his chest, her forehead slamming into his chin. She groaned, holding her head. "Damnit, Daryl!" She cried out.

But Daryl's embarrassment only grew further. "Would you get off of me?!" He yelled, trying to push her back.

Hallie sat up quickly, straddling him on the ground. Her hands moved to his and she held him down, narrowing her eyes at him. "No! I told you to stop! Now shut up and listen to me!"

He immediately stopped fighting her grasp and he looked up at her, his face still twisted in anger.

She let go of his hands, sitting back up, still on top of him. "Remember when I dared ya to kiss me when we were little? Ya never did." She said, a small smirk appearing on her lips.

Daryl's face and tense body visibly loosened up. "I seem to remember you runnin' from me when I tried." He replied, a smile stretching across his face.

"Well I'm not runnin' now."