Author's Note: So yay! Finally :) So sorry for the long wait, as I said in my other update I'd gotten a new job and it cut into my writing time alot. Then I just hit a stumbling block. Not a block, just had to do a rewrite, then another, and another till I got here. Thank you for the lovely reviews, alerts, and favorites! Glad you all enjoyed the last chapter! Here we are picking up the next morning, and into their day together. More at the end!
Thank you for the lovely reviews, alerts, and favorites! Glad you all enjoyed the last chapter! Here we are picking up the next morning, and into their day together. More at the end!
Disclaimer: I don't own the Walking Dead, just taking the characters out to play for a bit, No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 10 – Right Where I Wanna Be
Sunday Morning – Afternoon Day 10
Daryl was the first one up not surprising though because he usually needed very little sleep. Sophia hadn't even stirred when he'd carried her into his house at two am. He had Carol open the doors and cut on the lights. Not that he'd needed them, it was for her sake. She didn't know the layout of his house yet. The moon had lit some of it up, and he'd just followed behind Harley as she trotted ahead of him to his bedroom.
He'd put them in the guest room across from his as that one was already made up and had fresh sheets. He'd shown Carol where she could put her stuff earlier before they had gone to Joel's for the BBQ. Then had left their door a crack after he'd kissed Carol goodnight and told her if she needed him he'd leave his door open.
Daryl made his way into the kitchen looking with blurry eyes at the coffee pot; he'd only gotten about four hours of sleep. But he would be okay after he had his morning coffee. After he'd made his coffee, he made his way back upstairs to change into running shorts and a tank top. He had to get his run in with the amount of food he'd eaten yesterday.
He went back into the kitchen and wrote a quick note for Carol so that she didn't wake up and not know where he was. He'd planned on just jogging on the trails around his property and not even going out of the gates. He pocketed his iPhone and locked up the house behind himself, putting his key in the hidden compartment in his running shorts.
It was a beautiful morning for Georgia they'd gotten a slight break in the heat, and the dew point was down, so it didn't feel like he was running underwater with no way to breath. He'd run five miles in a little over twenty-seven minutes pushed himself to a little under a six-minute mile. He was coated in sweat when he made it back up to the house. Harley had come trotting back behind him a bit, running up with a rabbit in her mouth.
Daryl let out a wheezed chuckle and praised her. "I guess you hungry." Harley tilted her head looking up at him with curious eyes. He'd let her enjoy her rabbit. At least she wasn't attacking the chickens. She occasionally caught a rabbit; she knew how to survive on her own. Daryl let her into the backyard "I may be a hunter, but no way in hell you are bringing that in." He told the dog when she almost entered his house. "There are ladies here." Daryl patted Harley's head, and she was content on laying on the deck and eating her rabbit. He wasn't worried about her; she was fed the raw diet after all.
As he entered the kitchen, he walked across the room to the cabinet and got a glass opened the fridge and got some water. He'd been thirsty enough to drink out of the pond on his property. He had checked on Harley before he went down to the gym in his basement. He'd changed the note that he was down there. The Doc had said he had to rest a few days. It'd been a few days, so his shoulder and side were healing nicely since he's not been over doing it. He lifted light today, not wanting to hurt his shoulder or side. Even with lifting light, he felt it in his shoulder. He cleaned up and then made his way back upstairs, he let Harley in now that she was done with her rabbit. He discarded what she didn't eat out in the compost in the garden making a mental note to dump it, so it didn't stink. He just didn't want to run it out and get rid of it.
Daryl whipped his sweaty shirt over his head as he entered the kitchen. It was still early, and neither Carol or Sophia were up yet. He'd gone up and looked, both asleep. He threw his shirt and shorts in the laundry shoot in his room after closing his door. Then and only then he stepped out of his boxer briefs and walked across his room to the bathroom, he didn't want to scare neither of the ladies if he'd walk around bare-assed. Usually, he'd just walk around like that. He turned on the water and stepped under the water. Flinching as the water was still cold, against his heated body.
But it woke him up further, after that he wrapped the towel around his hips, and made his way across the room to his dresser. He threw the damp towel across the room and pulled on a fresh pair of boxer briefs and a pair of faded black jeans. Then pulled out one of his old rock band t-shirts it was soft with wear, as he'd had it for nearly ten years. But he'd be damned if he was going to throw that one away.
He'd gotten it with an old friend from the academy; they'd gone to the concert, and he's liked the band, so he paid out twenty-five dollars for a band shirt. The band was still around that many years later. The shirt ten years ago fit him loosely, but now it was snug through his upper body. Not that he was fat, he'd just bulked up since then. He'd had to pull it up over his biceps, where it was tight on his gunshot. But other than that it was comfortable.
Daryl quickly combed his hair, getting it out of his eyes and made his way down to the kitchen again. He was famished, so he pulled out the bacon, eggs and hash browns. He could cook, he just didn't always like to. But he'd thought that Carol probably always has to have breakfast ready. So he was going to surprise her, and he sent up a thought to JC, so he didn't burn everything.
He made another pot of coffee as the bacon began to fry. Then rummaged thru the pantry to see if he had any hot cocoa that he could make for Sophia. He remembered her telling him that she liked that for breakfast. He'd found some. And set that out. No sooner had he done that, that Carol came into the kitchen. Holding her arm across her face, looking for all the world like she was dragging until she smelled the coffee and her eyes lit up.
She walked over to him after she poured her mug, and wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head between his shoulder blades. Now a move like that from anyone else would have them being thrown over his shoulder. But with Carol it was soothing. "Good morning Hon, you smell good." She sniffed his back, as he chuckled, and turned in his arms.
He leaned down and kissed her even though she was protesting that she had morning breath. He just smirked and shook his head. "You taste like coffee," he murmured against her lips.
"So do you." She smothered a giggle, as this wasn't the time to laugh. Even though her nerves had other plans. "Mhmm this shirt is so soft; I could sleep on it." She rubbed her cheek against it.
It felt nice, and he rubbed her back. "It's broken in of ten years of wear." He told her while pressing his lips to her ear and nuzzling her neck. He kissed her neck and reluctantly pulled away. "Don' wanna burn the bacon." He kissed her nose and spun around to flip it, and turn down the burner.
"Thought you said you didn't cook," Carol said from behind him. She was lightly tracing her fingers across his back, causing his skin to break into goose bumps.
He turned around and grinned, and wrapped his arms around her and held her loosely. She laid her cheek against his chest. "Thought I'd cook for you." He placed one hand on her hip and the other on her chin to raise her face to his so he could see her reaction. She had tears pooling in her eyes.
"Your sweet, I don't think I've had a man cook for me."
"Well don't call me sweet until ya taste it" he wrinkled his nose, as his eyes crinkled.
"Don't sell yourself short; you do a mean BBQ." She patted his chest with a smile. He leaned down and kissed her lips, in a silent thank you.
Daryl sat down on the sofa, with the mug of coffee Carol had made. All three of their bellies were full of the omelet's and in Sophia's case, scrambled eggs he'd done for her. Currently, Sophia had come out to the living room her hair still a mess from sleep. She'd finished her breakfast. Daryl had found some kiddy cartoons on cable for her. So that was playing softly on the 72-inch TV in his theater room that they are sitting in.
Sophia gave her Mama hugs and kisses, then without Daryl even asking for the same she crawled up into his lap and wrapped her thin arms around his neck. She kissed his cheek, then rubbed her chin "your cheek is prickling me." Daryl chuckled he hadn't shaved yet. He squeezed Sophia against his chest when she laid her cheek against his shirt, and rubbed it over his heart. "I love you, Daryl." She squeezed him with all her might.
Carol put a hand over her mouth to hold back the sudden sob that threatened to come out. She looked to Daryl and for his part in the 'L' word admission from Sophia he was doing fairly well.
Daryl's heart got stuck in his throat for a moment. He just held that little girl as tightly as he dared as his breath caught in his chest. He dipped his head down while trying to blink back the tears in his eyes. He kissed the top of Sophia's head. "Love ya too baby girl" Daryl murmured thickly.
He looked up and met Carol's eyes; she had tears streaming done her cheeks. She looked nervous about her daughter's admission, so he winked letting her know all was good. Then he had to close his eyes again and lean his head down because he did love that little girl. These two ladies had become the most important part of his life. He did love them both.
Sophia had squeezed him impossibly tighter when he'd said it back. Right now Daryl's emotions were nearly getting the better of him. He was sort of wishing for his ray bans he couldn't quite blink fast enough as the tears pooled in his eyes. But he sniffed, and once again kissed the top of that little one's head.
Sophia bless her heart shifted up to look up at him. He just gave her a watery smile letting her know he was ok. When she looked a little alarmed from his tears. "Are you crying?" She pressed her hand to his cheek in comfort.
Daryl had to chuckle; he shook his head slightly. "Our little secret" he whispered. Then squeezed her again.
Sophia giggled, content with that answer. She knew any emotion was because he was happy. For Daryl, that was almost one hundred percent true. Mainly for his part, the only one that had ever told him they loved him was his own Momma. She'd at least shown it where he could remember. He had to hold back a wave of emotion.
Soon he'd be full out bawling if he kept on those line of thoughts. But using his almost twenty years of schooling his emotions to his advantage it worked. To an extent he still wanted to feel this moment, so he couldn't quite get a grip on that. But he was able to fight back those tears that were betraying him.
Carol brought Sophia back up to get her showered and lay out her clothing for the day. Daryl went out and tossed the Frisbee for Harley for a little bit; he jumped when he felt arms go around his waist. "Sorry," She kissed his back between his shoulder blades.
Daryl turned in her arms and kissed the top of her head, holding her tightly. "Are you ok?" Carol asked him.
He breathed her in; she smelled of lavender and vanilla. "Ya smell good, sweetheart." Then he leaned in and kissed her lips. "M'fine… Lil' Bit is a sweetheart." He murmured as he leaned back and grinned his cute lopsided grin that she loved so much.
"No I mean, that wasn't too much?"
Daryl pressed her back to arm's length and frowned. "Why would it be too much?" His tone hardened, even though he really wasn't upset with her.
"I'm sorry" She looked down at her feet. But Daryl brought his fingers to her chin.
"Nothing to be sorry for." He whispered, "You and Soph, are the best part of my life, Carol. I do love her." His voice cracked, and he cleared it. "I." His voice broke, and he chuckled. Then leaned down pressing his forehead to hers. "You both are the most important parts of my life." His voice thickened, as tears pooled in his eyes.
Daryl had been about to tell Carol that he loved her too. But he backtracked only because he was scared that it might be too soon for her to hear it if she was worried if her daughter saying those words were too much for him. But they weren't. And he felt the same for both her and her little girl, but those feelings were much much different. Yes, he loved them both, but for obvious reasons they were different kinds of love. He'd wrapped his arms around Carol and pulled her close leaning his cheek down on the top of her head. He had to reach up and wipe his eye at one point as a tear tried to make its way out of his closed lids.
It was new for him to be this vulnerable. It was a hard thing putting his heart out there because he never had. And in all his life he'd never felt this way before. And it was literally cutting into his composure. He blinked some more clearing his eyes and then squeezed her once more. Yeah, he'd wait to tell her he loved her. But God was he falling hard for this woman in his arms. She'd stolen his heart. He just hoped he could do the same with her.
When Sophia was dressed in ready, they packed up for the day. Daryl had a big day planned for them. They were going to go to Six Flags, as Carol had told Daryl that it was Sophia's birthday, and she had never had a birthday before. Ed never made that possible. Sure Carol was able to get her discount bin toys and bake her a cake. So Daryl made sure to ask Sophia what she wanted to do today since this was her birthday.
She wanted to go to six flags because she'd never been able to go before. Then she wanted to go fishing. So Daryl called Joel and told him that they were stopping at Jack's first to pick up stuff for fishing. They were going to go fishing in the afternoon. Then he was going to show them some caves out on the water as well.
Jack's was owned by Jack Mason he was a local that Daryl went to school with, and the store had been in the family for as long as he could remember. It was an older store as were most the stores in this part of town. Sweet Water was a tourist town because it hadn't grown up like most of the towns around here. It was small, one stoplight town, maybe of 1200 people. It had a hospital, police/fire station a locally owned grocery store, as well as department stores, bars, and the newest store was a Piggly Wiggly. But Daryl had yet to be in that store; he shopped locally owned shops whenever he could. Because it was where he grew up, and some of those locals especially the older generations still held grudges on his family, but for the Mason's didn't. For Daryl's part in the Dixon family, he was well respected. The people around here knew that he was a cop, or knew that he moved on to bigger places than Sweet Water, GA.
Daryl pulled into the parking space and turned off the truck. Jack's was one of the shops that opened for the fishing crowd. So that's why he pulled in there at 7:30 that morning. "Alright, so we'll pick up the fishing supplies here."
"Really!" Sophia said from beside him she was bouncing in her seat. Daryl had to grin at her excitement.
"Yes! Really!" He said and chuckled as she squealed. Daryl shot a look over at Carol who was also smiling at the excitement from her daughter. They got out of the truck and made their way to the store. Daryl had explained that it was a small town and that anywhere they may go people are going to look. Because he was a Dixon, and he normally wasn't walking around with a lady and a young daughter.
"What do you mean by that?" Carol asked, and Sophia was looking back in forth between them.
Daryl smiled sadly for a moment and rested his hand on top of her head. "Well." He cleared his throat and ran a hand at the back of it. "My old man and my brother have reputations in these parts. The name Dixon tends to be frowned on." He shrugged.
"But why to take it out on you?" Sophia asked she'd moved closer, and her head was resting on his shoulder in comfort.
Daryl chuckled, but it wasn't in humor. "It's a small town darling" He cleared his throat, "So kinda like all your dirty laundry is out there for everybody to see." Sophia's eyes widened, and Daryl realized his mistake. "No, Darling I don't mean dirty clothes." His eyes were crinkling in humor.
So Daryl explained it kid age appropriate as best that he could. He didn't want to make Sophia feel sad. He'd already explained to Carol earlier what the town was like. But he felt bad when Sophia's eyes were watering, but he didn't get to say anything because suddenly she was putting her arms around his neck comforting him. "I'm sorry Daryl." Daryl rubbed her back and looked over her shoulder at Carol. Sophia was such a little sweetheart.
"Thanks, darlin' I'm ok. Most of the town is kind." He rubbed her back and leaned back. "Just saying that there might be people looking at you both, but that's just because they are curious who I got with me." He ruffled Sophia's hair, and she stuck her tongue out at him. He ducked his head and held back a snort.
There was an older lady that Carol noticed that gave Daryl the stink eye as he passed by her when they entered. Daryl leaned down and pressed his lips to her ear "That's Mrs. Mason, Ms. Martha. I fell in her flowers when I was ten; she's held against me since then." He gave the older woman a nod as they passed and the older woman grumbled something. Carol looked over her shoulder at the woman, and she quickly looked away from her.
"Seriously?" Carol huffed, and Daryl chuckled.
He squeezed her shoulder and gave her a wink. "It's nothing."
Daryl pulled up short when an elderly couple approached them. "Daryl!" The wrinkled gray woman came over and hugged him tightly. Daryl hugged the small woman gently. Then shook the older gentleman's hand. "Now who are your friends, darling boy." The woman asked looking at them.
Daryl turned and nodded to Carol first, and then Sophia. "Ms. Mabel, meet Carol, and Sophia." He said with a grin, then blushed when the older lady turned and squeezed his cheeks. Daryl dipped his head and rubbed his neck.
Then Ms. Mabel came over and held Carol's hand. "It's very nice to meet you dear; you are stunning." She gushed over her. Carol felt her face flush, and she smiled at the older woman. She watched as Daryl was biting his lip. She shook Sophia's hand and then they made they were on their merry way. Carol never caught the older man's name.
"That was Mr. and Mrs. Theoador Wilson."
"She's a peach," Carol told him, and he chuckled.
"That she is, she's you gotta take her with a grain of salt, she's a sweet old lady, but can be very outspoken."
"What does the grain of salt mean?" Sophia asked looking at both of them.
"Oh, sweetheart, just taking it lightly," Carol explained.
They'd been in the store for about twenty minutes, and Daryl had been right. Carol had moved closer to him because people were watching him. He seemed to take it all in stride and ignore the people for the most part. Except for ones that came up onto his space and greeted them. Carol was learning who she was going to call the pushy nosy ones. But most people were kind. Some gave him a wide berth, or gave him the stink eye, though, or like him just outright ignored him.
"Hey, Jack!" Daryl called the owner over since he had been watching Daryl with Sophia and Carol moving around the store. Carol kept herself close to him; he could tell that Jack was making her nervous.
"I want that one" Sophia pointed while pulling Daryl forward by the hand. Daryl chuckled despite himself. He was whipped as he knew his brother woulda told him. He narrowed his eyes at Jack just daring him to open his mouth with any remark. Although Daryl would never say anything in front of Sophia.
Daryl leaned in and pressed his lips to her ear, "He's only looking because you're beautiful."
Carol blushed, and turned her head to whisper in his ear, "You're my biggest cheerleader you know that."
"I ain't lying, it's the truth" he grinned,
"If you're going to be sweet I'm gonna need a hug again."
Daryl squeezed her hand, "I'll put that on the to-do list."
She squeezed his hand back. That's when Jack came over to pull the fishing lure out of the glass case. They were handmade, so he kept them under lock and key. Daryl got Sophia five or six of what she couldn't choose between they were all purple, though.
Next, they walked over to the camping gear. He didn't have a whole lot for a family camping stuff, so that's what he was picking up. He explained what they would need, and then ended up getting a lot of camping gear. Because Carol had told Daryl that Sophia had never been camping before, and he couldn't have that so he picked up a larger tent, and more sleeping bags, might as well go for broke, he decided as he kept piling things in his cart.
"You don't have to buy all of this." Carol put her hand on his shoulder.
Daryl just shrugged his shoulders, "Just buying it, so I have it on hand if we go camping." He squeezed her shoulder.
Daryl made sure both ladies were wearing life jackets. Before he took them out on the water. He was showing them some caves this afternoon, and doing some exploring and then as promised fishing.
After they had left Jacks, they went to a Costco a town over. So it was maybe straight shot up the interstate from Daryl's place. Since their earlier discussion about living arrangements came up. Carol having thought Daryl would have argued her on living with him. But he didn't thought it was the perfect plan. Giving that Hershel was near if he wasn't around and his place was behind walls, and secure. He liked that idea a whole lot more giving that Tess could check in on her as well.
So as they were walking around Costco, Sophia with her hand in his. Carol walked a step or two back from them blinking back the moisture in her eyes. He'd quickly became the center of Sophia's world. It touched her that Daryl didn't shy away from letting Sophia hold his hand she'd never had that before and was just quickly soaking that up. She was currently telling him about what she did in school. He was chuckling at the story.
Daryl had bought both of them an entire new wardrobe. Carol had trouble accepting that. It cut into her composure. "Daryl how can I ever repay you, no we can't accept all this."
Daryl stopped her in the middle of the aisle his eyes following Sophia who had run ahead to look at the big screen TV playing some cartoon. She was only about five feet away. Daryl could grab her quickly if he'd had to. "Sweetheart, you need clothing warm clothing for the season's change. As far as paying me back there's-"
"Daryl,"
He squeezed her shoulders and gave her a look, "let me finish," he sighed, "wasn't gonna say ya didn't hafta, you will be, cooking, being out in the garden, or just staying safe is good enough for me." His voice thickened, and his eyes started to water.
There he went being sweet again and finding the right way to make her feel better. It wasn't the same as paying him back, but it was something she could do without having any money. The program he'd placed her in did pay for everything she'd need. "That alright?" Daryl asked frowning because she was battling tears.
"Yes," she nodded and wiped at the corner of her eye.
"I ain't mad, sorry to make ya cry," Daryl murmured, and his eyes were so sad she thought he'd cry right there.
So she grabbed his hands. "Not sad tears hon, your just...so dang sweet and cute." She patted his shirt front feeling the strong muscles twitch under his t-shirt. Daryl blushed, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
They got what they needed at Costco, made a quick stop back at his place to drop off everything that they had bought. He knew they were going to be getting stuff at the amusement park as well. So he wanted a room in the truck for that.
They made it to Six Flags at about ten thirty that morning, having to drive back up from Sweet Water as that was an hour from his house. Joel, Tess, and their two daughters met them there. They had plans to meet with Rick, Lori, and Carl, but Rick got called into work. There apparently had been an armed robbery that had happened. A few counties had been called in. Daryl was surprised that he and Joel weren't called in either, but it was just as well. They both needed the time off since the next week was going to be busy yet again with meeting with the FBI. But it was distracting enough that he pulled Joel aside for a moment. "Got a text from Rick, he said that they got called into a bank robbery. They've been chasing the car for a few counties now."
Joel raised an eyebrow. "Few counties?"
"Yeah, happened over in Jefferson, and they robbed a bank there, then one in King County and they've been chasing them for the last two hours."
"Excitement for King County." Joel rolled his eyes and then frowned. "Were they ok?"
Daryl crossed his arms and nodded, "Last I heard. Rick said they were taking a backroad, and pushing ahead to see if they could take them out with the metal strip."
"Well the way he drives, he'll get ahead of them…long as the suspects stay on the straight and narrow, think they'll do that, though?"
"How the hell should I know?" Daryl scoffed.
Joel chuckled and rolled his neck. "They'll get them," Joel smirked, and Daryl punched him in the shoulder.
"Why is it so hard to have a perfectly normal conversation with you." Daryl walked away shaking his head.
Joel caught his shoulder. "If you're worried about them we can meet them off on the pass, and scare the shit out of all of them."
"I ain't worried bout them." Daryl frowned, "Just don't like it."
"Bad feeling?" Joel asked, and Daryl nodded.
"Just an itch I can't shake."
"This is a fun time with the family Daryl, come on." He patted his shoulder, and they moved to find the women.
Daryl shook the itch to the back of his head. He probably just was worried about Rick and Shane was all. Armed robberies like that just irritated the hell out of him. He just worried for his friend's safety. But he knew that Rick was smart, it was sometimes Shane that got in the way of his safety, though. So that was something he'd gnaw on for a little while. Guy needed to get his head out of his ass and grow up. Before he got, anyone killed. Rick had told him they'd had a few close calls because Shane was not paying attention, or just goofing off when he should be working, or checking out the ladies when he should be working. Usually, it happened, and Shane was the one that got hurt. But there'd been a time when if Rick hadn't been wearing his vest he would be six-feet under.
Daryl paid for them to get into the theme park; it was a full day pass. But that just meant that they could ride all the rides including the water park. They'd packed for that as well. Daryl figured he'd take them there at the end of the day sort of adventure. They could relax on a lazy river, just to see how they handled a boat. It'd be different on the water, though.
"Can I go on that?!" Sophia bounced on her toes and pulled on Daryl's hand, his eyes crinkled as he looked down towards her and at Carol. She looked like she was turning green.
Daryl chuckled and patted Carol's shoulder. "I don't know if Mama is up for it." Daryl just smirked when Carol punched his shoulder.
"Mama never liked rides." Sophia pleaded with him her big blue eyes only getting bluer.
Joel chuckled from beside Daryl who was chewing on his lower lip. He had no problem with rides; he just didn't want to leave Carol alone. But Joel seeming to read his mind patted Daryl's shoulder. "I'm here as is Tess, Ally won't go on the ride but Ellie might, go ahead and take them, Tess and I will stay with Carol."
Daryl's eyes met Carols "You ok sweetheart?"
She stepped forward "Sophia's never been able to do this so please hon, I'm ok." She tiptoed up, and I front of Sophia pressed her lips to his. Sophia whooped and hugged them tightly. Though Daryl wasn't sure if it was for the kiss or because he was going to take her on the rollercoaster. She was tall enough as was Ellie.
Daryl nodded, and grinned like a maniac and walked hand in hand with the girls to something called "Demon" they only had to be 42 in, with an adult and both Sophia and Ellie were over four feet. With Ellie slightly over five feet. So they were tall enough.
"Are you scared uncle Daryl?" Ellie asked as she threw her arm around his middle.
He dropped her hand and pulled his arm around her shoulders "Nah." He shook his head pausing their walk after another minute or so. "Ya sure you girls wanna ride it, though? It goes upside down." He let them know as they were getting to the front.
"Uh-huh, when we went here for a school trip I wanted to go on it like the other kids, but Ed wouldn't let me." Sophia's eyes started to water.
Daryl brought her close then stooped down to her level. "'Member when I said ya don' gotta be afraid ta voice your mind?"
Sophia nodded wiping her eyes "That means anytime ya gotta darling, I ain't gonna get mad or not let ya do something ya never did, k?"
Sophia nodded and put her arms around his neck. Ellie was close; he felt her hand rest on his shoulder for a second when she was bumped. He reached behind himself and brought her around in front of him. "Stay close." Daryl met Ellie's eyes and she nodded.
Sophia kissed Daryl's cheek surprising him. "Thank you." She whispered, and Daryl nodded.
"Alright then, let's get back in line," Daryl grinned, he took both Ellie and Sophia's hands. Ellie didn't fight him on it, even though she was a teenager it was still not safe to be skipping ahead in a crowd.
They had to wait for their ride but at least got the front. Both girls were excited to do so. Daryl climbed in the middle of them. Both girls were gripping his hands tightly as the ride began. Daryl gave each of their hands a squeeze. "Now you scared uncle Daryl?!" Ellie squealed.
"Nah-huh, not one bit." He grinned, this one was wide, and he knew it, but he felt that adrenaline rush, and maybe just maybe that was a bit of excited fear, but he squelched it. He'd never been afraid of heights or much of anything. But he couldn't dismiss the adrenaline. He chuckled and shook his head.
"Ya READY!" He shouted and held the girl's hands up as they dropped, both screaming as they went down the first drop slamming their backs into the seats. It was pure excitement, and it was a rush. Daryl thought he was an adrenaline junkie. "Boo-yah!" He shouted, and they were all grinning at the end.
Both of them wanted to go again, and again. Daryl took them three times after texting Joel to let them know they were going again. He said all was clear. Tess and Carol were talking and enjoying their selves window shopping. Daryl knew Carol was safe with Tess. She had the same training as he and Joel did.
In the end, Daryl bought the girls each picture of their reactions and each of them wanted a pic of him. With his hair plastered to his face in one, and the other with it off his face showing his excitement for the ride. Then Sophia wanted two more to give Her momma. Saying she'd like it. Daryl smiled at that and paid the forty dollars because he too wanted pictures of the girls.
And the three of them together. Then he went back because he knew that Joel and Tess would want pictures.
After they had got back, Joel took Ellie on the ride as well so she could have sometime with her daddy. Daryl walked over and bought them all corn dogs, as they waited for Joel to get off the roller coaster with Ellie.
Sophia tugged on Daryl's shirt. "Can you take me into the haunted house?" She begged. Daryl turned to look at Sophia with his eyebrow raised, then the corner of his mouth raised up into a smirk.
"We'd better ask ya mama bout that one." Daryl chuckled and ruffled her hair. "Those are kinda spooky but if ya mama says it's fine I'll take ya in there." He said as they walked hand in hand back over to where Carol was standing with Tess and Ally.
"Mama?" Carol turned, and smiled at them both. Daryl was handing out the corndogs.
"Yes, sweetheart?"
"Can Daryl take me into the haunted house?" Carol's eyes met his, and he gave her a nod that he'd be all right with it if she were. Again he'd be leaving Carol alone with Joel and Tess, but Carol seemed to be just fine with not going on rides. But she surprised him this time.
"Yes, but why don't all three of us go." She said with a smile.
Daryl nodded, and Sophia was ecstatic. That Carol was coming to.
Joel came up with Ellie, and they told them that they were going to go into the Haunted House. Joel went with Ellie because he knew that she would want to go into there as well. Tess again stayed with Ally, as she didn't want to go into the spooky house. She in years she was only about two years younger than Sophia, who turned Eleven today. But emotionally she was quite a bit younger than her eight years old.
"You ever been in one of these things?" Daryl asked Carol as they were making their way to the front door of the haunted house.
"Yes, my daddy took me into one when I was 12. Then went with some high school friends after we graduated. The boys were trying to scare us. So that means at least 24 years ago I was in one." Carol laughed and moved closer to Daryl.
Daryl gave her fingers a squeeze. Daryl hadn't ever been in one of these before. He just hoped that he wouldn't knock someone out. He didn't want to scare the girls at all as they made their way down the darkened hallways. It would just be a knee-jerk reaction to his point.
The eerie sounds were raising the hairs on the back of his neck. It was dark, and it made him more alert to his surroundings, he could see movement before it happened, with being hyper aware. He kept the girls close, and tried to relax his mind enough for this to be just entertainment, but that didn't help any. He was just hyper-aware of everything that jumped out and had to fight himself each time from knocking the goblin out.
Daryl had to fight his natural instincts not to spin and slam one of the workers dressed like a monster down. It would be in his best interest not to do that even as a cop that would get him into some trouble. But seeing his ladies shriek and jump was giving him a lot of trouble. At one point Sophia jumped into his arms climbing him like he was a tree, and wrapping her arms and legs around him. He shifted her so he could see and kept his hand in Carol's. He could feel the fine tremors running through her fingers.
"You alright sweetheart?" Daryl asked pressing his lips to Carol's ear.
She shifted closer to him, and he dropped her hand and pulled his arm around her shoulder while still holding Sophia to his other side. Carol nodded while rubbing her cheek against his chest. He wished he could pull her up into his arms as well.
Some of the monsters were good they caused him to jump once, but it was more instinct to reach for his gun, then he chuckled a bit. "How can you laugh?" Carol asked him trying to move closer to him.
Daryl dipped his head and pressed his lips to her ear. "It's either laugh or pull my gun."
"Oh!" Carol widened her eyes at him.
"It's instinct." He rubbed her shoulder.
They followed the hallway a little while longer, and something jumped right in front of them snarling. Daryl jumped them back two feet, pulling Carol behind him slightly. Then pushing the monster out of the way a little roughly with his free arm. He could feel Carol's hand on his low back calming him from knocking the poor teenager making barely more than minimum wage out.
Daryl refrained from knocking the kid out he was pretty sure he scared the kid more than the kid scared them. It had him wondering how many black eyes that kid had received on the job. Daryl had never been in a haunted house like this before with fake ghosts and monsters, but he was fairly sure he'd been in a real haunted house before on the job. That had scared the lot of them. But he was confident he'd read the rules before going in that they don't touch you, least ways the workers cannot touch you like that kid just did him.
"Sorry," The teenager goblin mumbled, and Daryl rolled his eyes pushing the girls around the kid that was leaning into the wall like he was drunk. Maybe he was Daryl decided.
"Be thankful that move didn't give ya blackeye" He told the kid as he passed him under his breath.
The remainder of the haunted house went quickly with sounds of things crashing and eerie noises. But no one else jumped out at them or touched them. Which was fortunate for them Daryl wasn't sure he'd stop himself from punching them in the throat for a second time.
The sun was blinding when they stepped back out into it. Daryl pulled his sunglasses on with his free hand. Sophia was still holding onto him for dear life. "It's alright now sweetheart, were safe" Daryl patted her back, but she only squeezed harder nearly cutting out his air supply. "Lil bit, y'know I will never let anything to hurt you." Daryl squeezed her gently. "Y'know that was all just ahhh..." he shifted her back a little dipping his forehead down and met her eyes as his shades slid down his nose a little. "it was just like your rides." He murmured.
Sophia nodded her head and sniffed "yeah I know" she whimpered. And dropped her head down on his chest again rubbing her cheek on his shirt much like her mama did.
Carol was blinking hard to keep the tears back as she was witnessing her daughter and Daryl she had stepped up to help him with her thinking that maybe this would start to be too domestic for him. But he surprised her yet again by stepping up and taking the lead with her. Helping her through her fear as any daddy should. It touched her deeply and then there was another check in the positive. She was falling hard for him. She had wanted to tell him she loved him this morning, and although the word was scary for her given she'd really never had that in her life. She's certain that she never said it to Ed, and he never said that to her. But she knew that that was what she was feeling right now as she watched Daryl with her daughter.
He'd actually got her to the ground and on her feet, he was stooped down to her level with his sunglasses pushed into his hair, and they were chatting excitedly or rather, Sophia was. Daryl was just listening with an amused expression on his face.
"How bout then we get us some cheese curds does that sound yummy?" Daryl asked
"Uh-huh," Sophia nodded her head excitedly.
Daryl craned his head to look at her, "How bout you, mama?" His grin was wide, and Carol couldn't help but return it as she held out her hand to help him to his feet.
With a grunt, he took her hand and jumped to his feet. He pulled her close after and kissed her cheek. "You ok sweetheart?"
He was ever the sensitive one she figured he'd seen her blinking tears back. "You're so sweet with her."
Daryl's cheeks reddened, and he shook his head, "Lil' bits sweet." He kissed her lips as he dipped his forehead. "Now how bout them cheese curds" he grinned
"Can't miss those." She nodded and Daryl took both their hands leading them to the cheese curds. They had their cheese curds and then made their way towards where the water park was.
Daryl had told them that there were slides there. So Sophia and Ellie were excited to go to the water park. Ally just stayed close to Tess. Tess went with Carol, Sophia into the locker room at the entrance to the water park. Daryl and Joel headed into the men's locker room. They just ended up throwing all their belongings together.
"Heard anything more from Rick?" Joel asked as he pulled his shirt off, and threw it in the locker with Daryl's.
"No." Daryl shook his head and locked their locker while pulling the key around his wrist. "I'm sure they're all right." He shrugged, as they made their way out of the locker room to wait for the girls. "I'm going to call them later, and check in to see if they caught the bad guys."
Joel nodded, and they spotted the girls coming out of the locker room after a few minutes.
They had a fun afternoon of going down the slides in the theme park, and playing in the wave pool. It was another unseasonably hot day. For mid-may it was in the mid ninety's that afternoon. So it was a nice refreshing ride to be able to jump in the wave pool.
"This is more fun than Joel's pool!" Sophia squealed excitedly. Daryl caught her as she came flying back on a wave at him. She knocked them both over.
He sputtered and coughed, as they came up for air. She'd come flying down on him from her six-foot wave; he was hopeless to catch her. And he couldn't move out of the way fast enough. She got him in the stomach with her foot. Fortunately, it didn't' hurt, but he was still coughing from inhaling water. "Daryl, are you ok?" Sophia asked him.
He pushed the hair back from his eyes as they had floated to the shallow part of the wave pool. He was on his back she was standing over him. "I'm good." He sat up and shook his head getting the water out of his ears. "That was cool." He chuckled and got to his feet. "Don't let Joel hear ya say that." He chuckled to himself as he got to his feet after getting taking down by a 58lb ten-year-old.
Joel had come over when he'd seen it happen to make sure that they were both ok, as Carol was helping with Ally she had to go to the bathroom. Tess was off with Ellie. Joel could see that Carol was making her way back with Ally, and they were moving through the crowd pretty fast. But that was because of Ally; she didn't like being far away from her mom and dad.
As far as theme parks go, they had had a super fun four hours of fun there. But Daryl had promised to take them fishing as well, so with at least an hour drive back from the theme park to his place they started on their way home.
Neither Daryl nor Joel had either heard from Rick yet. Daryl, as he was showering off the pool water, was deep in thought about that. But he quickly pulled the towel around his waist and pulled on his boxer briefs, and jeans. That's when he pulled out his phone to check it. Nothing. He was chewing his lip and lost in thought when Joel walked over. He was already dressed.
"You got anything?" He asked.
Daryl shook his head and frowned. "Nope." He tucked his phone back into his pocket and pulled his shirt over his head. "I don't like it; ya woulda thought we'd have heard from someone by now." Daryl rubbed his chin, and then ran a comb through his hair before dropping it back into his satchel and tying that up, and throwing it over his shoulder. "Come on; we should get back to the ladies." Daryl nodded.
Joel stopped him with a hand to his shoulder. "Why don't you let me contact the station. I'll get a hold of you if there is a problem but spend time with your ladies. It's the little one's birthday, and she don't need you distracted."
"Alright, yah your right. And thanks." He nodded.
So on their way back out to the ladies Daryl did his best to put his worries about Rick at the back of his brain. Because he really wanted to have fun with his ladies and be there with them rather than off with worry about a friend, that likely just had everything under his control and had a ton of paperwork to do. So on that note, he made sure he kept the worry off his face and made it back to his ladies.
"Alright Y'all ready to go fishing?" He grinned as he got up to them.
Sophia was bouncing on her feet, and Carol was smiling a brilliant smile. Yes. It was going to be a fun afternoon showing Sophia how to catch fish. And he couldn't help it that excitement was contagious, as he was almost bouncing on his feet.
AN2:
So! There wasn't much in the way of anything scary in this chapter unless you count the goblin jumping out and almost getting a black eye courtesy of Daryl in the haunted house. But I wanted them to just have a bit of fun, and build the relationship between Sophia and Daryl as well, as their relationship will be equally as important as his and Carol's. As you can see both Carol and Daryl want to tell each other the L word but Daryl stopped because he doesn't want to put his heart out there and get crushed, because that's been the same thing all his life, and I think if Daryl got an 'I love you' from Sophia, that it would make him a bit emotional like that. He is that redneck that wears his heart on his sleeve. We're just pushing that sooner here. As he's taken on more responsibility now.
I got a new job, so it's really, really cut into my writing time, but I have a lot of future chapters written…so I'm just filling in here.
So I need some help here. I'm wondering if anyone knows when Rick was wounded and in the hospital, as opposed to when the ZA started? As this is AU I'm not going to follow the timeline or storyline. We're still a bit out before 'Global ZA' happens. But, I'm just trying to write a storyline, around a story line here. In cannon, it follows Rick; here I'm following Daryl and Carol's story…but in the story Daryl knows Rick…so I'm trying to get a picture there of when Rick was wounded to when they will meet up again.
I should have more soon, I'm hoping to have another chapter up in less than a week. :)
Thanks for reading and leave me a review if you can!