Once everyone was healed, we left that house. It wasn't nearly big enough for all of us anyway. I don't know what kind of place they were looking for? Did they want a home with just us or a community with new people? I don't think I want to be around anymore people than the ones we have now. We're all enough.
We found a new place. It was a house that was sort of on the side of the road. There was a big sign in the yard that said, Butler House. I guess it was a place that could be rented. You know, before all this? There was also a golf course near it and a big pond.
Some of us checked inside to make sure it was clear, while the others stayed outside. It was okay, so we all went in.
The place was actually pretty nice. There was plenty of rooms for everyone. Some people would have to share, but still, everyone got to sleep in a bed.
There was a room upstairs that had two beds, Daryl and I took that one.
"It's late." Rick said to everyone. "We should all turn in. I think we could stay here, at least for a while, so we're gonna need more supplies. And we'll have to secure this place. So, we got a lot work to do tomorrow. But for right now, let's just try to get some rest."
"Someone needs to keep watch." Michonne said.
"I will." Rick volunteered.
"That won't be necessary." Abraham said. "We got it." He looked to Rosita, she nodded.
"Well, I appreciate it." Rick said.
"We all do." Daryl said. He put his hands on my shoulders and guided me upstairs. We went into the bedroom we were supposed to stay in. Daryl threw his bag down on one of the beds and took a lantern out of it. He turned it on and sat it on the table.
I put my hands on my hips. "Ya know…just cuz you was here first don't mean ya get first pick 'a the beds."
"Sorry." He put his hands up. "Which one do ya want?"
"Hmm." I put my finger on my chin while trying to think. I looked from one bed to the other.
"Leann, it ain't a life choice." Daryl said roughly. "Just pick one."
"It is a life choice! We don't know how long we'll be here. I have to decide whether I want to live on that side of the room or this side."
"We could always just switch, ya know?" He gave me an annoyed look.
"Ya just don't get it." I glared at him.
"Oh, fer the love of…" He took his vest off and threw it on the rocking chair in the corner.
"I want…this one." I picked the one that was closest to the door. I sat on it and it was so soft I practically sunk down in it. I grimaced. "They too soft." I bounced a little on it.
Daryl let out a little laugh. "Yer gonna complain about a bed bein' too soft?"
"No! It's just…weird is all. It feels like puddin'."
Daryl chuckled. "Well, get in yer puddin' bed and get to sleep."
I kicked my boots off and laid back on the bed. It may be too soft but it sure as hell beats the hard ground.
I watched Daryl turn the lantern off and get into bed. "It's dark." I said.
"Yeah."
"And quiet."
"Ya ain't gonna be scared now, are ya?"
"No." I was a little, though.
"Well, ya don't have to be. I'm right here."
"I'm not." I said again.
"Good."
It was silent for a while. I glanced over at Daryl's side of the room. It was barely lit from the moonlight. I couldn't tell if he was still awake or not. I looked at the rocking chair in the corner.
"Daryl?"
"Hm?"
"…what if ya woke up at some point in the night and there was an old lady sittin' in that rockin' cheer?"
"Shut up."
"What if there was a ghost?"
"Le."
"What? Ya scared?" I mocked him.
"I ain't scared 'a nothin'. But you are. Yer just gonna end up scarin' yerself."
"And I have you to protect me." I smiled to myself.
"I don't know how useful I'd be to a ghost."
"What do ya mean? One look at you and she'd be gone."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Yer scarier than the ghost."
I heard my brother chuckle. I relaxed a little and put my hands behind my head.
"Hey, Le? You ever gonna tell me 'bout that…thang…you said the other day?"
"What thang?" I turned to face him. He was turned my way, too.
"Remember ya said you was scared I was gonna do somethin' else to ya? Ya said dad did it."
I instantly got a sick feeling in my belly. "Oh, that thang." I felt nervous and there was a long pause before either of us said anything.
"Well? Ya gonna tell me?" Daryl finally spoke.
"Mm mmm." I shook my head.
"Why?"
I thought for a minute. I really wanted to tell him, but I didn't know how. I was scared. "I cain't." I slowly rolled over on my other side and faced the wall. I pulled my legs up to my chest without thinking.
"Why cain't ya?" I heard him say quietly after some time. I didn't answer. I pretended to be asleep. After a while, I fell asleep for real.
I hummed to myself while taking a bath. I always liked bathing, the warm water made parts of me feel better. I heard footsteps and froze. They stopped right outside the bathroom door. I got real scared. The door quickly opened. Shit! I forgot to lock it! There stood my daddy, beer in hand. He took a big sip then smiled evilly at me. "There's ma girl." He said. My tummy felt sick. He sat his beer down on the sink then came over to me. I looked up at him with fear in my eyes. Before I could even react, he grabbed my arm and hauled me up. Dragging me out of the tub, he took me over to the toilet and slammed my head down on the back. I was so scared, I breathed heavily waiting for him to do the thing that I hated. I started crying as soon as I felt it. It hurt.
"Daddy, stop it hurts!" I cried.
"Shhh, darlin'."
"Daddy, please! Stop! Please, daddy!"
"Shut up!" He hit me in the back of the head. I cried harder. Please stop. Please stop. Please stop. I said over and over again.
Suddenly I jolted awake. Panting and sweating, I looked around and realized where I was. It was just a dream. But it wasn't just a dream. It was a memory. I was shaking from fright. I looked over at Daryl and he was still asleep.
I slowly got out of bed and climbed into his bed with him. I snuggled up close to my brother and put my arm on him. I was still a little scared from my nightmare, but it helped being there with my big brother. I eventually drifted off to sleep.
When I woke up next it was morning. Daryl wasn't next to me. I got up and put my boots on. Then I looked myself over in the mirror, I smoothed my hair so it didn't look as ratty. I figured that was good enough. I sighed.
Some of the others were sitting at the dining room table eating breakfast. It looked like pancakes, but how? I didn't see my brother.
"Hey, Le." Glenn greeted me first. "Want some breakfast?"
"Carol found some pancake mix in one of the cabinets and made them for everyone." Tara said excitedly.
"I'm good fer right now." I said. "Anyone seen Daryl?"
"I think he's outside." Rosita said.
I walked away and out the door. I saw my brother leaning against the railing smoking a cigarette on the porch. He looked at me as I made my way over to him. "Why didn't ya wake me up?"
"Figured I'd let ya sleep."
I leaned up against the railing and copied his stance.
"Did ya eat?"
"No."
"Why not?" He threw his cigarette in the yard and looked at me.
"I ain't hungry." I looked at the ground.
"What's wrong? Yer belly hurt?"
"No. Well, maybe a little but I ain't sick." I stared out at the wide open golf course. I don't think I ever golfed before. It didn't seem entertaining to me, but now I was curious. Maybe I'll take a walk later.
"Ya have a nightmare last night?"
I swallowed hard then looked up at him. "How'd ya know?"
"Cuz I woke up and you was wrapped around me like ivy."
I sat down on a bench and put my head down. Daryl sat next to me.
"Are ya okay?"
I just nodded.
"…what was it about?"
I got a sick feeling in my stomach again. "I don't wanna talk about it."
"That bad, huh?" He put his arm around me. "At least it wasn't a ghost in a rockin' cheer."
I remembered our conversation from last night and giggled. He smirked at me. "I thought that might make ya laugh." He gave me a kiss on my temple. "So, how 'bout you and I go on a run in a little bit?"
I perked up and looked at him excitedly. "Really? Ya mean it?"
"Yup…on one condition…"
I waited to hear what he was going to say.
"Ya eat somethin' first."
My shoulders slumped. "But I ain't hungry, though."
"Well then, I can just get Rick or Glenn to come with me then."
I huffed.
"No breakfast, no run…fer you."
"Fine." I gave in. "I'll eat a damn pancake."
Daryl let out a small laugh. "We'll leave when yer done."
I stood up. Daryl swatted me as I walked away.
Down the road from the Butler House was a little restaurant. Daryl and I checked it out. It was clear of humans, but we had to kill a few walkers that were inside. We checked around for any food we could find. I found a few cans and Daryl found a bunch of soda and stuff locked in a pantry. "It smells like shit it in here." I said. My brother laughed.
"Wow, we should be good fer weeks." I smiled at all the food. "It was smart to come here."
"Yeah." Daryl sat a box of food on the counter. "Sure was."
I picked up a jar of something and examined it. "Except this. I don't know what that is." I grimaced and put it back. Daryl chuckled and grabbed me. He gave me a tight hug then he did something kind of strange. He kissed me a bunch of times on the cheek. He's never done that before in my life. Not even when I was little. I wonder what's up?
"What'd ya do that for?"
"Cuz yer just so darn cute." He pinched my cheek.
"Okay?" I gave him a weird look. "How are we gonna get all this food home?"
"We'll make a couple trips. Maybe get one of the others to come back with us."
I shrugged. Sounds good to me. I started walking towards the other room.
"So, while it's just us here…there anythang ya wanna talk about?"
I turned to face him and gave him a puzzled look. "No."
"You sure? Nothin' ya wanna…get off yer chest? Might make a feel better."
I gave him an annoyed look. "I know what yer tryin' to do. You want me to talk about the…"thang."
He sighed. "I just don't understand why ya cain't tell me, baby. I wanna know so I can help ya."
"You cain't help me. No one can." I said sadly.
"Ya know how that makes me feel?" He said roughly. He bent down to my level. "I care about you more than anythang and I hate hearin' ya say stuff like that."
I walked over to a window and put my head down. My eyes welled up with tears and I just let myself cry.
"Hey." Daryl came over to me. "I'm sorry. Don't cry."
I sniffled and tried to calm down.
"Don't cry." Daryl hugged me. I buried my face in his chest and he laid his head on top of mine. "I want ya to tell me, but if you really don't wanna then I'll leave ya be. But can ya promise one thang?" He made me look at him. "Will ya tell me one day?"
I thought about what he just asked me. I wanted to tell him. I want him to know…at some point. I nodded then a sob escaped. He nodded back then hugged me again. "Shh." He soothed me and held me for another minute. "We should get back." I let go of him and nodded. I wiped the remaining tears from my face. He put his hand on my head as he walked by me.
I hate keeping things from him, but I just can't…
As we were walking back, I noticed a playground at the back of the building. It had a swing set. I always liked swings. It would be fun to swing for a little but we really had to get this stuff back so I didn't think Daryl would go for it. I got an idea just then. "Hey, Daryl?" I looked up at him. "When we get the stuff back to the house, can we go down there?" I pointed.
My brother looked where I pointed. "Why ya wanna go down 'nere for?" He kind of squinted at me.
"Swang." I smiled shyly.
My brother smirked. "Sure, baby." He was probably just glad that I wanted to do something that kids do. He is always calling me a kid after all.
Once we got all the food back to the house, Daryl and I went down to the playground like I wanted. "Only fer a few minutes, kay, sweetie pie?" My brother said. I nodded. I went right over to the swings after that. I sat on one and started out slow, then I got really high. It was fun but the seat hurt my bottom.
I glanced behind me at Daryl and saw him looking over a map of the area that was in the playground. He never has any fun either. I thought. That suddenly gave me an idea. And it will help me out too.
I dragged my feet on the ground stopping the swing, then I hopped off and ran over to my brother. "Daryl." I said. He looked down at me. "Will you swang with me?" I smiled sweetly.
"What do ya mean with you?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Like you get on the swang and I can sit on yer lap." I stated. I knew he wouldn't say no.
"Why?"
"Cuz the seat hurts my butt."
"Oh, so you want it to hurt my butt." He raised both of his eyebrows.
"Yeah." I smiled innocently at him.
He smirked and shook his head. "Alright. Hope we don't break the damn thang." We started walking over to the swings. "Come're." Daryl went to lift me onto his lap, but then stopped. "Wait ya got dirt on yer ass." I felt him brushing the dirt off the back of me and giggled. "You laugh at everythang, don't ya?" He teased me. "I bet if this thang came down with us on it, you'd laugh." I giggled again. "Alright." He lifted me onto his lap.
It felt funny, at first, being on that swing with him like that, but it was kind of nice. "How do we do this?" I asked. "So, we don't fall off?"
"I ain't gonna fall off." Daryl said. "Who ya thank I am?"
I didn't answer him, I just leaned back against him, then my brother kissed my temple. "Go higher." I said.
We swung for a while. It was weird but I felt safe like that. It made me feel like the world wasn't how it was for a few minutes. I giggled just then. Daryl kissed my temple again.
"Yer right." My brother said. "This thang does hurt yer ass."
I giggled. "We don't have to stay long. I had my few minutes of fun."
"Alright." Daryl stopped us, then lifted me off of him then he got off himself. "We should get back." He started walking and I caught up with him.
"Thanks, Daryl." I smiled at him. He returned it, then he grabbed me and gave me a few kisses down my cheek. There that was again. I decided not to react that time.
We all ate some of the food that Daryl and I found for dinner. Despite the nightmare I had last night and my meltdown at the restaurant, it was one of those better days.
Pretty much everyone went to bed by now. Rick, Daryl, Michonne and I were sitting on the deck around the fire pit. Daryl was sitting Indian style with me in his lap and his arms wrapped around me. I was a little embarrassed at first, but then I got really comfortable and soon forgot about that feeling. Neither of the others seemed to care either. I laid my head back against my brother's chest.
"It's good you guys found more food." Rick said.
"I wanted to eat it all." Michonne added. They laughed.
"I wonder who ate that nasty stuff in the jar?" I said.
"I don't know. I didn't notice."
"I got my money on Abraham." I giggled. "He just seems like the type that would eat anythang."
The others laughed.
"I'on." Daryl said. "I could see it bein' Eugene, too."
"Maybe Tara." Said Michonne.
"I think it was you." Rick pointed at me and laughed.
"No. It was too nasty lookin'." I scrunched up my nose.
They laughed again.
"I guess we'll never know." I shrugged.
A few minutes later, Rick sighed and stood up. "I think I'm about ready for bed."
"Yeah, me too." Michonne said. "You two coming?"
"We'll be in in a little bit." My brother replied.
Rick and Michonne went inside. I was starting to feel a little tired myself. I laid my head back again and Daryl planted a kiss on the top of my head. "Did ya have enough to eat?"
"Yeah, I guess." I said.
"You guess?"
I shrugged.
"Well, it just so happens that I saved a lil somethin' fer you and I."
I turned a little and stared at him. He pulled a little baggy out of his pocket. My eyes widened once I realized what it was. "Jerky?" I whispered.
"Yup."
"Where did ya find it?"
"In one of 'em cabinets. Still sealed and everythang. Ya want some?"
"Hell yeah." I said excitedly. Daryl chuckled and gave me a piece. I bit it, the taste was a little off, it was probably old but I didn't care. It was still good.
"Good?" Daryl asked me.
I nodded.
"Want another piece?"
"Yeah." I smiled. He handed me another piece. "Thanks, Daryl." I gobbled it down. "How come ya didn't give anyone else any?"
"Cuz I thought I'd save it fer my favorite person in the world."
"Really? I'm yer favorite?"
"Course."
"You like me a lot?"
"More than you'll ever know?"
"More than tacos?"
He gave me a weird look then laughed. "It's cuttin' it pretty close, but I'd say you a little more."
"Me too." I smiled at him.
He pinched my cheek real hard. "Yer just too darn cute." He lifted me off him. "Come on, goofball, let's get to bed."
"Well, I am pretty sleepy." I rubbed my eyes.
"Yeah, so come on. Up to bed."
"Will you carry me?" I asked innocently.
My brother looked down at me and smiled. "Ain't ya a little too old to be carried?"
"Mmm…I guess yer right." I didn't make it but two steps before Daryl grabbed me and lifted me.
"Com'ere." He said. I giggled. "Come on, let's get yer little ass to bed."
Daryl carried me inside and all the way up the stairs then put me on my bed. I kicked my boots off and got under the covers.
"Ya gonna be all right tonight?"
"I think so…I hope so." I widened my eyes a little.
"If ya have another nightmare, just do exactly what ya did last night and come over here with me. You can even wake me up if yer scared and wanna talk."
"Okay." I said.
"I mean it. Don't be afraid." He kissed my forehead, turned the lantern off then got into his bed. Things were quiet for a little.
"Daryl?"
"What, baby?"
"…do you like when I'm with you?"
"Course. Ya did good on the run today and—
"No, I just mean when I'm next to you?"
"What do ya mean?"
"…like when ya said I was too old to be carried but you still carried me anyway, or when ya woke up this mornin' and saw me in yer bed."
He was quiet for a minute. "Yeah…I do."
"Why?"
"Well, why do you like bein' with me?"
"I don't know." I shrugged. I guess cuz ya make me feel warm and comfortable and safe."
"Well that's the same fer me."
I blinked a few times in confusion. "How do I make you feel all those thangs?"
"…ya just do. I need you just like you need me. Actually, I might even need ya more than you do me."
My eyes widened. But how? What does he mean?
"I don't know what I'd do without ya." Daryl said. "I love ya too much."
I smiled even though I knew he couldn't see me in the dark. "I love ya too much, too."
"Ya do?"
"Yeah."
"That's good to hear." He said. "Now how 'bout you close them pretty, little eyes and get some sleep?"
"I can try."
"Okay, try." Daryl laughed.
I stayed on my side facing Daryl and got comfortable. Not long after, I drifted off to sleep. I did not have a nightmare that night.
