"Where's Sam?" Daryl asked, opening the fridge and putting several bottles of water in his backpack.
"Upstairs in his room," Carol replied, looking up from the book she was reading at the kitchen table. "He knows you're leaving in the morning. You know how he gets.."
Daryl sighed. Yeah, he knew exactly how Sam felt, because he felt the same way himself. But he had a job to do and it couldn't be helped. "I'll go talk to him," He said, setting down the bag he was packing and placing a kiss on Carol's cheek.
"Tell him we're both gonna be late for school if he doesn't get down here," Carol called after him.
Daryl jogged up the steps, taking them two at a time. Carol's job had changed from what it was when they first arrived. She was now helping to teach the kids who lived in the community. It hadn't been an easy switch. In fact, nothing about the past year had been easy at all. It was filled with heartache, sadness and despair. But there was one good thing that emerged from the rubble and he was currently sitting on his bed throwing a tennis ball against the wall. "Hey Kiddo," Daryl said gently.
"I don't want you to go," were the first words out of his mouth. "You just got back. Why do you have to go again?"
Truth was, Daryl had been back for a week and a half, but it certainly didn't feel that long at all. Daryl took a seat on the bed beside the boy and reached out to catch the tennis ball as it flew back towards them. He gave Sam a smile and threw it again for him to catch. "You know I have to go Bud, it's my job," Daryl said, as they continued to alternate catching and throwing the ball.
"Then take me with you," Sam said, stopping the game and looking at him. His young eyes were pleading so hard, begging Daryl to listen, to agree. "I've been on the bike with you before and ma… uh, I mean Carol, she taught me how to shoot, how to kill walkers with my knife…" Sam looked so excited, it was going to kill Daryl to say no. He caught Sam's slip, calling Carol 'ma.' She wasn't ready for that yet, even if she was 100% the definition of the word to Sam. She would get there, Daryl knew she would. She'd come so far. They all had.
"You know I can't…" Daryl started, his heart aching at the instant sadness in Sam's eyes. Suddenly he had an idea. "Listen, Carol sent me up here to get your butt in gear for school… but… I have a better idea." Daryl reached out and ruffled his hair affectionately, "How about you and me spend the day together? I'll take you out huntin'. Show ya how to track. And I'll get Carol to bake a huge batch of cookies and when we get back we'll eat them all."
Sam narrowed his eyes, "Do I get to shoot the crossbow?"
Daryl chuckled. "Sure Kid. I'll bring a rifle."
By the time they walked into the kitchen Sam had a huge smile on his face and was talking excitedly about the huge Deer he was going to kill. "How are you planning on killing a deer from class?" Carol asked, eying them both suspiciously.
"I'm not going to class today," Sam said, beaming at Carol. "Daryl is taking me hunting."
"Oh he is, huh?" Carol replied, crossing her arms and giving them a stare.
"Please?" Sam said, realizing he wasn't going anywhere without her approval.
"Please," Daryl echoed, giving her his best puppy eyes.
A smile spread slowly across her face. "Fine, but I'm bringing your homework and you're doing it before bed," Carol warned, trying to sound stern, though Daryl saw right through her.
"Thank you," Sam said, flying at Carol and wrapping her in a tight hug. Daryl could see how much the kid meant to her by the way she looked at him and stroked his hair, pulling him against her almost protectively.
"Have fun," Carol added, kissing Sam on the top of the head.
"Go," Daryl shooed him. "Meet me at the bike. Get the cover off, 'kay?" With a nod Sam took off out the door. "Thank you," he said, stepping closer and pulling Carol into his arms. He kissed her softly on the lips. It started innocent, but like it always did the kiss ended up deep and passionate, leaving them breathless when he finally pulled away.
"Be careful out there," Carol said, looking into his eyes.
"You know I always am," Daryl replied, tucking a cute little curl behind her ear. Carol's hair was still fairly short, but as it grew longer there were little wispy curls popping up everywhere. She was so beautiful. She always had been. And she always would be. "I love you, you know that right?"
"I know that," Carol replied, with a perfect smile. "I've know it way longer than you have," she added, giving him a quick peck. "Go," she said releasing him. "Sam's gonna be trying to start up your bike if you make him wait any longer."
Daryl started for the door, "Oh, I forgot. I promised him cookies."
"Hmph," Carol huffed as if she was annoyed, though the look on her face told a different story. "Hey Daryl," she called out, just as he opened the door. "I love you too." He never got tired of hearing her say those words. They stayed with him every time he left on a run and gave him something to come home to. It was so different leaving when you had a reason to come back.
"I thought you would never get here," Sam said, as Daryl walked into the garage that held his bike. He'd stopped on the way and signed out a rifle and some ammo.
"Looks like you got everything ready," Daryl replied, taking his crossbow off his shoulder and placing it on the holder he'd rigged up for it on the back of the bike. He kept the rifle strapped across his body and slipped a leg over the seat. "Helmet?" he said, looking back at Sam.
"How come I have to wear one but you don't?" he whined.
"Oh fine," Daryl grumbled reaching for the helmet he seldom wore. "There, happy?" he asked, strapping it on.
"Yep," Sam grinned, scrambling onto the back. Daryl still couldn't believe how comforting it was to have the kids arms holding him tightly. He could feel how much Sam trusted and admired him and it felt really good. "Faster," he yelled once they were outside the gates.
Daryl kicked it up another gear, but still drove a safe speed. He was always careful when he took Sam out. They drove about 5 miles out to the spot Daryl liked to park when he went on a hunt. He killed the engine and climbed off, giving Sam a hand as well. "You sure you can even lift this thing?" Daryl teased, handing Sam the crossbow.
"You know I can," he said, taking it and slinging it over his shoulder, just like Daryl did himself. It was amusing to see the way the kid imitated him. But it was also very flattering and made Daryl feel a pride he'd never known before.
They headed out into the woods with Sam hot on his heels. "Do you ever shut up?" Daryl asked 20 minutes later after Sam had talked constantly.
"I don't like it quiet," he replied.
Daryl laughed. He couldn't help it. "Your chances of getting a deer are pretty damn slim then."
"Well I guess I can try, for a while," Sam replied. A while turned out to be approximately 2 minutes before Sam started asking about various plants and berries, which led to other food and ended up at how he couldn't wait to get home and eat cookies.
"Maybe we should just try a little target practice," Daryl suggested, realizing that hunting was not going to happen. He'd taken Sam out a few times to shoot the crossbow, leaving the gun and knife training to Carol. "Hit that tree, right there, with the V."
He watched proudly as Sam loaded a bolt, took aim and hit the exact tree Daryl had pointed at. "Nice," he exclaimed. "I'm gonna have to start making this harder for you." Daryl had no doubt the kid could drop a deer, probably even a rabbit and maybe even something as small as a squirrel, if only he could stay quiet long enough to let one approach.
Something caught Daryl's eye and he held up a finger to his lip and gestured to his left. There was a rabbit and he was within range. Sam's eyes were huge and Daryl nodded at him. He watched Sam raise the crossbow and aim. He could see his hands shaking as he reached for the tigger. Daryl thought back to his first kill and knew he'd been exactly the same. Sam squeezed and Daryl watched the bolt fly right through the middle of the bunny.
"Oh my God," Sam squealed, almost dropping the weapon in his excitement. "I hit it… Daryl, look, I hit it." Daryl's heart swelled with pride, like he'd never felt before. This wasn't just any kid - Sam was his kid. Somehow the fucked up world had brought him this amazing gift and Daryl was so thankful. It hadn't started out that way, but now… Daryl believed it was meant to be.
They never saw another thing all day, but it didn't matter. Sam was riding high from his first kill and he was on cloud nine. If Daryl thought the talking was bad before, it only got worse with Sam so excited. But it wasn't annoying at all. Daryl enjoyed it - more than he would ever admit.
"Okay, time to head back in," Daryl said, as the sun started to set.
"Can't wait to show Carol my rabbit," Sam gushed on the way back to the bike. "Do you think she'll cook it tonight? Make a stew or a casserole or…"
"Deep breath kiddo," Daryl chuckled. "We're gonna go eat cookies and then you're gonna do your homework while I clean this thing."
"I wanna do it," Sam insisted. "It's mine. I should clean it. Will you show me?"
"Hell yeah," Daryl replied, feeling that sense of pride swell in his chest once again.
The rest of the evening flew by. They ate cookies until their stomachs ached. Cleaned the rabbit. Sam did his homework, only protesting slightly. And Carol cooked a stew they would warm up in the morning with the rabbit meat.
Daryl went to say goodnight and tuck Sam in, promising to wake him in the morning before he left. "Daryl, will you read to me tonight?" he asked as Carol came to say her goodnights.
"Uh, don't you want Carol to do it?" he asked. It had been their thing every night.
"Can you? Just this once?" Sam replied.
Carol came over and kissed the boy on the forehead and handed Daryl the book she was holding. "Chapter 7," she announced, giving him an amused smile.
She had already read him Tom Sawyer and Daryl opened to chapter 7 of Huckleberry Finn. He knew he wasn't getting out of it. Carol trailed her fingers through his hair lovingly on her way by. "Don't worry," she whispered. "He'll be asleep in a couple pages."
Carol was right, he wasn't even halfway through the second page and Sam was out. Daryl closed the book and stood. He looked down at the little man, sleeping so peacefully and followed Carol's lead, placing a kiss on Sam's forehead. "Sweet dreams," Daryl said softly.
Carol was waiting for him when Daryl entered their bedroom. He knew she would be. With him coming and going all the time they took every opportunity they could to be intimate. She was lying naked in the middle of the bed and Daryl stripped off his own clothes, dropping them on the floor as he walked towards her.
They didn't speak. They let their bodies say everything they needed each other to hear. By that point they had become very familiar and Daryl did everything he knew she liked. He started with his head between her legs, licking her folds and driving her over the edge with his tongue. He would gladly go down on her every time if she let him, but Carol preferred it to be something he did on 'special occasions.' She said it made it more exciting that way. After she came Carol surprised him. She dropped to her knees and took his dick in her mouth. It was then that Daryl realized what she meant about keeping it special. She didn't give him blow jobs all that often but when she did, holy fuck, it was incredible.
The way she was sucking on him, moving up and down his cock, taking a break every once in a while to swirl her tongue around the tip or lick his balls… it was magical. He finally had to stop her or risk emptying his load in the back of her throat, instead of buried deep inside her.
Daryl pulled her to her feet and eased her back onto the bed. He pushed into her smoothly, immediately overcome with euphoria feeling her wet, warm and tight on his cock. Carol was the one. He knew it the first time their lips met, so many months ago. But he suspected it long before that.
They slept tangled up in each other until the alarm sounded - a rude awakening as always. They both climbed out of bed and started to prepare for the day.
Daryl's life had completely changed in the course of a year. He was a different man. He was a happier man. He was a fulfilled man. But most of all… he truly felt like a man, for the first time in his life. And it was because of the woman and the boy who were standing at the gate, waving goodbye, like they did every time he left on a run.
With a wave back and a smile Daryl took off, Aaron was following behind in an SUV they had brought back on the last run. He had a long drive ahead of him and with the wind blowing in his face Daryl's mind started to wander. He thought about the year that had passed. How it had all started… and how his world began to change…