It isn't the first thing Daryl does that leaves Paul slightly breathless, and it certainly won't be the last. Still, it seems like the hunter was never out of surprises and won't ever settle for what he was readen as, always showing a different side of himself that nobody would've expected otherwise.

Always adding one more factor to the giant crush Jesus has on him.

Like right now, as they came back from a run with Tara and Eugene only to have Rick waiting for them with Judith in arms, the little lady babbling and moving around as soon as she spots Daryl who picks her up without hesitation, rocking her and speaking in such a soft voice that it warms Paul's heart in an instant. The thing that gets him though is how it simply seems natural to him, and the love Paul can see in his eyes. God, he was a goner.

Does Daryl always do this after every run? Play with the little girl like she was his own, forgetting his own exhaustion, relaxing the instant he picks her up because she's there safe with him?

Was he making cooing noises just now?!

"This is so unfair," Paul mutters to no one in particular, almost startling when Rick asks him what he means. "He has a motorcycle, is all dark and mysterious with a crossbow and his stupid sleeveless shirts, and now he's also good with children? What is he not good at?"

His answer makes both Tara and Rick laugh, though he has Eugene nodding along.

"I know! So unfair indeed, my friend," he adds, "but chicks dig it. The ladies love a guy who's good with kids."

"Oh believe me, not just them."

He's too distracted looking at Daryl play with the toddler to notice the look both Tara and Rick share, or to hear Eugene's surprised little "oh", because in that exact moment the man calls Judith 'Lil' Asskicker' and drop a light kiss on the top of her head and something inside of Paul just melts. He was never much of a kids person but damn if seeing Daryl with a baby didn't give him ideas. What's happening to him? This was all Daryl's fault.

Paul barely pays attention to the short debrief given to them, busy watching as Daryl slowly rocked the toddler in his strong and exposed arms, all he knows at the end of it is that there is a hot meal expecting them in one of the Alexandrian houses and that 'Dawyl' was good at avoiding curious little fingers going up his nose. Dawyl. It's only when Rick calls him to talk in a corner that his - admittedly creepy - stare is broken.

Thankfully Daryl didn't seem to have noticed it, even if he's the only one.

"Hey, Jesus, you know Daryl isn't…" Rick starts awkwardly, hand on his neck as a tick showing just how uncomfortable the talk was making him. "That he, uh… Well, he's my brother, you see."

Paul just stares at him amused, waiting for the man to get to the point.

"What are you saying, Rick?"

A sigh. "Just be careful."

"Hey, Paul!" Daryl's voice makes both of them turn. "You coming?"

Hopefully with you soon, he thinks but is smart enough to keep it to himself knowing the hunter enough to know such a bold comment wouldn't be appreciated and probably would end up with him getting punched again.

"Yeah, I'm going, wait for me," Paul tells him, before looking at the former sheriff again. "Don't worry, Rick, I know what I'm doing." Even if I'm acting like a teenager with his first crush. "You can just shoot me if I hurt him one day, which I promise I won't by the way and he likely would shoot me himself if I did. That's what you were trying to say, no?" he jokes, winking at Tara and taking off after Daryl. "Thanks for the shovel talk."

"What—but!"

"Let him go, Rick. You heard the man," Tara says with a knowing smile on her face. "He knows what he's doing. Daryl wouldn't be happy to know you're sticking your nose on this."

"... Since when does he call him 'Paul'?"