Hi Guys! Thank you all for following and reviewing, it means so much! The idea for this one-shot came to me at work, when I was watching my colleagues:) It's supposed to be lighter and hopefully a bit funny as well:) Don't hate me, second part is coming shortly after this one!
Although the word 'normal' had irreversibly changed its meaning, their life was as normal as it possibly could be in given conditions. People from Woodbury had adapted quite well to the life in prison and together with Rick's group worked hard to improve their living conditions. They'd even accepted a few new people they'd came across on the runs.
Rick remained an unspoken leader, Daryl was still the leading hunter, Glenn was the one to organize the runs and Carol had the final say over the kitchen and supplies, but there were more people to help now, which had taken off some weight.
Suddenly there was time for other things then just a sheer survival. The gates and fences had been reinforced, watch tower repaired, more people were taking watches and the inner field was alive with children's shouting and laughter. People were tending their growing garden and sitting together after dinner, chatting, telling stories and playing games.
"If you told me two years ago that we would have our own little community, I wouldn't have believed you," Carol smiled, handing Rick small snack, "everything seemed so desperate back then."
They were standing outside, watching Judith crawling in the grass.
"Yeah, it's nice to belong somewhere, to have a home. I almost gave up a hope," Rick nodded.
Carol watched him from the corner of her eye. He seemed relaxed and lately she thought she could see the glints of old Rick in this troubled man. Old Rick she used to know before his child was shot and before his son had shot another kid in cold blood. Man, he used to be when he'd embraced his son and wife at the quarry, before he'd had to kill his best friend and bury his wife. Her stomach knotted when she was watching people in the prison yard. They had all lost so much and had gone through such hell that sometimes she was wondering how they still managed to act human.
Suddenly Rick chuckled and nodded his head toward quickly approaching Daryl.
"Tell him how you love our little community, I'm sure he'll appreciate it."
Carol couldn't hide a smile. Daryl had always been a loner and getting used to the greater number of people had been probably tougher for him than for anybody else from their original group. He tried to keep his privacy and personal space but didn't want to stay outside the group either and was desperately balancing between these two contradictory feelings.
She tried not to stare at him when he was marching toward them in his furious pace, his long wispy hair flying around his head, his shoulders tense under the sleeveless shirt. They had grown close after her daughter's death and even more after Daryl had found his brother turned and had to put him down. She cared a lot about quiet but impulsive hunter and she would lie if she said she wasn't glad that due to his tough demeanor, new women hadn't tried to hit on him yet .
She knew Daryl liked her too and felt somehow honored that it was either her or Rick, who could approach Daryl even if he was enraged, without getting their asses kicked. There was a time when she'd thought they could have become more than good friends, but she had decided not to push him and when Woodbury people had joined them, with all sudden hustle and bustle, the right time had been gone.
He looked up and tiny smile tugged at his lips when he saw her looking at him. He was glad to see her happy and contented. She smiled more, slept longer and ate better and he was going to put up with a bunch of newcomers if it was what made her happy.
"What pissed you off this time?" Rick welcomed his friend with a broad smile and Daryl quickly remembered why he was heading toward the prison.
"Someone should fuckin' explain those kids playin' outside that walkers behind the fence ain't some freakin' toy!" he grumbled, "lil' gal over there thought it was fuckin' funny to poke the bastard through the fence."
He was talking to Rick but saw Carol's eyes widening in fear and turned to her quickly.
"She's fine, ain't no reason to worry, I put the fucker down," he reassured her before turning to Rick again, "I thought somebody was gonna be there all the time watchin' the kids when they're outside!"
Rick frowned, trying to remember whose turn it was to watch the children and sighed when he remembered Katie and Joe, young couple who had obviously better things to do than keep an eye on the kids.
Daryl wanted to add something, when he felt tiny fingers gripping his pants. His face softened immediately, when he saw Judith standing on her wobbly legs, clutching the fistful of his pants for balance and giving him wide toothy grin.
He scooped her up, tickling her belly. He was rewarded with bubbly toddler's giggling and tiny fist punched his nose.
"There ya go Lil' Asskicker, gotta protect yerself!"
Daryl couldn't help not to return Judith's grin.
Carol smiled at the sight in front of her, wondering about the quirk of fate. Although Rick had never questioned his fatherhood, it was more and more obvious by each day that Judith was not Rick's biological daughter. Her baby skin was one shade darker than Rick's or Lori's and she'd undoubtedly inherited her deep brown eyes from Shane. And although Daryl and Shane had been constantly getting on each other's nerve and Daryl hadn't been especially fond of Lori either, he adored their offspring and Judith returned his affection.
Daryl felt Carol and Rick watching him and he blushed with shame, handing Judith over to Carol quickly. Little girl gave out a discontented sound and Carol laughed.
"Come on Jude, I know you are stuck with old Carol all the time, but we don't want to compromise Daryl, do we?"
Daryl knew he should have kept going to prison or anywhere else but the only thing he could do, was stand there and stare at Carol like idiot. He couldn't help it. She was rocking the baby, light smile playing on her lips and setting sun created around her a glowing aureole in which she looked like an angel. She raised her hand to wave to one of the men tending the garden and theman returned the gesture. Daryl frowned and followed her gaze.
So far he'd been successful in scaring other guys away from her. Usually well aimed meaningful stare and tap on his crossbow did the work. He had no idea whether she suspected why no one had tried to hit on her with all that wild coupling, which was going on in the prison, but he didn't care. The guy who waved back was an old man and Daryl turned back unconcerned.
Daryl had never dreamt that it would be women not men, he would have to deal with, when it came to Carol.
It was late after dinner and most of the residents were already in their cells, minding their own business, when Daryl went to the dining area to get some water. He froze in his tracks when women's laughter filled the air.
"Selection is getting narrow, girls," high pitched voice exclaimed, "you'd better start working your charm if you don't want to stay alone."
This gave Daryl goose bumps, he hated this overall endeavor to find somebody to share a cell and bed with. He'd been on his own for the most of his life and didn't mind to carry on like this. Besides, there were not many people able and willing to put up with his temper.
"There will Ms. Johnson's birthday party on Saturday. Carol wants to organize something bigger for her and everybody will be there…," another voice trailed off meaningfully.
Daryl wasn't thirsty anymore but for some reason stayed glued to the spot. He didn't have to see them, but he knew these six women. Most of them were women from Woodbury in late twenties and thirties and Daryl didn't like them. They were loud, eccentric and far too self-confident for his taste. They probably had a reason to be, because most of men couldn't tear their eyes off them, but Daryl valued survival more than getting laid and couldn't bring himself to return their flirty attempts.
"Watch your competition ladies," distinctive voice recommended seriously. Daryl knew the name of this one, Joan, queen bee.
"Katie and Sasha?" somebody suggested.
"Katie is dating Joe and Sasha has a soft spot for Matt, it will not take long."
"Greene sisters?"
"Maggie has Glenn and Beth…yeah, Beth is sweet, she could be a bit of a problem. But her father keeps a tight rein on her."
Daryl scowled when they started talking about his original group, about his family. No matter how hard he'd been denying it, they'd grown really close and everything affecting them was affecting him as well.
"What about Carol?" one woman asked, going through the list of still single women.
The nipping laughter filled the room again.
"You can't be serious dear! Poor old thing is happy to stick with her cooking and babysitting!"
Daryl stiffened and the wave of rage rushed through his body. He gritted his teeth and grabbed the handle again.
"But she's really nice and people like her a lot…," girlish voice objected.
"Yeah, and this is what it is, dear, she is 'nice'. You don't have to worry about her, just look at her. She wears the same baggy clothes, runs around the kitchen all the time and her hair…come on! I admit she's nice and takes care of kitchen really well, but I can't imagine any guy here would want her. Have you seen anybody inviting her for a date?"
Daryl was fuming. Now the bitch was offending him as well. He had always considered Carol beautiful. Her quiet, graceful beauty had been partially hidden under her insecurity and the hardship she'd gone through, but damn she was beautiful!
On top of that she was one for the kindest and strongest people he'd ever met and she deserved an extra credit for constantly tolerating and soothing a dork like him. The only reason why nobody was hitting on Carol was Daryl's quiet assurance of an arrow in every ass, which would dare to sniff around her.
He couldn't stand listening to the conversation anymore. He fought the urge to storm into the room and yell at them but somehow forced himself to walk off. He went directly to Carol's cell. He knew it was late but he didn't care. He knew he needed to do something, but he had no idea what. But there was still time till Saturday and he would make sure none of the bitches would pick at her.
