First Dance

Daryl took a last walk around the yard just to make sure that everything was as good as it could be. The peonies and roses had kicked in to add some color now that it was the middle of May. He had cut the grass this morning. Carol had cleaned the house yesterday and then had gone back to Alexandria. Some kinda hen party the women were having for her.

He remembered the first time he sat foot on this place. Cold and snowy. Just another abandoned farmhouse, but something about the house made him stop and look twice. He could see Carol in that yard or waiting for him on that porch. He looked again and saw the house not as it was but how it could be. A home for the living and not for the dead. The place called to him and he had come back again and again. Finally had brought Carol here and she had fought the calling that day but she had promised to marry him before night came.

He stepped up onto the wooden deck that he and his friends had built yesterday. Long and wide and made of some kinda expensive stuff that would last forever. The wedding ceremony would be here and then they were eating a pot luck dinner. Everyone bringing something and he and Carol were providing the wine and cider from their cellars.

Then everything would be cleared away and there would be dancing. There were long strings of solar lights to chase away the night and Sela was going to provide the music. He had never danced in public, but Carol had told him that the two of them couldn't be together until he could dance. He remembered her words exactly, " How about I keep talking to Dulcie and sorting out why I left Alexandria? How about you start talking to Dulcie? How about we start really talking to each other. I want a you and me. I love you, but we can't be together until you can dance."

He had been mad as hell when she said that, because that's what he did. Get mad when he was hurt. Took him awhile to figure out that she loved him but they had shit to figure out. She did and he did. The dancing thing was about letting yourself feel happy and letting go of things that held you back. Sorrows and mistakes and things that you can't undo.

He had talked to Dulcie a lot and she had helped him. Then when Carol said that she'd marry him he had gone to Dulcie to ask that she teach him how to dance. The bride and groom were supposed to have the first dance together with everyone watching. The old Daryl would have refused. Carol would have understood, but he wanted to dance with her this evening even if it scared him.

Dulcie hadn't settled for teaching him a waltz. She'd pushed him until he could do a few simple dances though he intended to stay in the middle of the dance floor. He could do it but it wasn't pretty.

It was time to get ready. Almost everyone was coming by the school bus. Rick and Christie were moving just down the hill in another month. Rosita and Eugene had picked out a place closer to the main road. Maggie and Glenn were moving here after her baby was born. Their farm was just over the ridge. The remnants of Team Family had clustered together. Morgan and his new wife would be at the wedding. Rick was gonna talk to them about settling down here.

Michonne and James had sent word that they would be back soon. She was pregnant and they were giving up living on a boat. He wished that she could be here today. Michonne used to ride his ass about Carol being chased around the prison by other men. "Better get your ass in gear, Dixon, she's going to stop running one of these days."

He looked around one more time and let the ghost of Merle visit.

"Got yourself all hog-tied up to that woman. Got the house and the snot-lickers too. You'll have to work yourself to the bone keeping all this up. Keeping the woman happy. Keeping those damn kids outa trouble. Gonna take days to get that hay up. Not too late. You can take that truck and get your ass out of all these obligations." Merle smirked at him, "Run, Daryl, run."

"Don't wanta run. Got it all here, but I wish you were here today. Giving me hell and harassing the women. Never told you that I love you. Never thanked you for going after the Governor like you did. Be happy for me. The life I have today I owe to you. I love you but I gotta go get cleaned up for my wedding." Daryl wiped his tears away. He missed Carol. Even one day without her was unacceptable.

He showered, shaved and combed his hair. It was shorter now and easier to keep out of his eyes. Carol had chosen his clothes. No tie cause that wasn't him, but a pair of beige khakis and a light blue shirt. Shoes not boots. He dumped his dirty clothes in a hamper and headed downstairs.

Gabriel and Dulcie were the first to arrive. She kissed his cheek, "You clean up pretty. How are you doing?"

"I'm good. Carol is going to come in the back door and out through the porch. She won't let me see her until the ceremony."

Gabriel hugged him, "Love you, Brother. I remember sitting on that rock in Georgia and watching you put yourself between Carol and anything that might harm her that you loved her. You just keep that up and you'll be fine."

Daryl hugged him back because that is what dancers do. They ain't afraid to touch people when they move.

That was the last quiet moment for a while. The school bus arrived with most of the guests and Rick's suv with Carol and his family. Metal chairs were set in rows on the deck and scattered in the yard. Plastic tables were set under the trees for later.

Dulcie played some music on the portable keyboard and then it was time for the ceremony. Gabriel took his place in front of him. The guests rattled the metal chairs and they stood for the bride. Daryl craned his neck so that he could see Carol walk out of the house and across the porch onto the walkway that led to the deck.

She smiled at him and he wiped away more tears. He silver hair glinted in the sun and she was wearing a blue dress the same color as his shirt. Her eyes were brimming with tears as she came closer.

Alia and Kiernan followed her. Alia's dress was made of the same material as Carol's and Kiernan's shirt was a copy of his. They sat down together holding hands.

Gabriel smiled at the two of them and said some nice things that Daryl would never remember. He would remember their vows though because he meant everything he promised.

In the name of God, I Daryl take you, Carol to be my wife,

to have and to hold from this day forward,

for better or worse, for richer or poorer,

in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish,

until we are parted by death.

This is my solemn vow.

Carol squeezed his hand and made the same promises to him. She would keep them he knew because she was a woman who kept her promises. Her hands were cool in his sweaty ones. The ring he put on her hand slid on easily and he bent to kiss it. She pushed his ring on and kissed it.

Gabriel pronounced them married. Said a prayer and they kissed.

There guests threw rose petals at them as they walked out. Simple enough.

The dinner was fun. Kids played in the yard and most everyone ate too much. Carol had made wedding cookies with blue icing and entwined gold rings on them. Looked pretty and tasted good.

Rick had given the toast. He held his glass of wine up and saluted them. "I wish you a long and happy life. You have earned it and it is only right that you have this beautiful day to remember as your wedding day. This day will soon be over and I wish for you to be as happy every day of your life together." Every one drank and Daryl let the cool wine slide down his parched throat and smiled at his bride.

Rick kept the kids out of the wine and cider. Then the women cleaned up all the dishes while the men carried the tables to Gabriel's truck and the chairs were moved to the yard. The rose petals were swept up and Sela warmed up.

Carol leaned on him before their dance, "You good with this?"

He had kept his dancing lesson with Dulcie secret. Just in case he couldn't do it, "I got this. Just don't step on my feet."

Sela smiled at them, "The bride and groom are going to start off the dancing. Now come on out here." They moved to the middle of the dance floor and Sela began to sing "Stand by Me".

When the night has come

And the land is dark

And the moon is the only light we'll see

No I won't be afraid, no I won't be afraid

Just as long as you stand, stand by me

So darlin', darlin', stand by me, oh stand by me

Oh stand by me, stand by me

If the sky that we look upon

Should tumble and fall

Or the mountains should crumble to the sea

I won't cry, I won't cry, no I won't shed a tear

Just as long as you stand, stand by me

And darlin', darlin', stand by me, oh stand by me

Oh stand now by me, stand by me, stand by me-e, yeah

And darlin', darlin', stand by me, oh stand by me

Oh, stand now by me, stand by me, stand by me-e, yeah

Whenever you're in trouble won't you stand by me, oh now now stand by me

Oh stand by me, stand by me

Oh stand by me, stand by me

Daryl put his arms out, "Let's go, sweetheart."

She moved into his embrace and they began to dance. He didn't look at anyone but Carol. Her blue eyes danced with joy. "You have been holding out on me."

He nodded, "Dulcie's been giving me lessons."

Later the dance floor was crowded and some of the younger ones moved to the porch. The hills seemed to move with the vibrations of the music. Like the trees were holding up their arms to celebrate the day. He and Carol wound up at the front on the electric slide and he found himself laughing as they moved with the others. Dancing was fun.

Christie got Carol's bouquet and Rick got the garter. Mostly because he and Carol cheated to make sure they did.

The bus pulled out after dark and everyone still there help put the place back in order. Alia and Kiernan were staying with Dulcie and Gabriel for a couple of days. Not long after that it was just Carol and Daryl sitting on the porch swing.

Daryl could see the shine of their new rings in the faint light. He wasn't used to wearing a ring and he wasn't going to wear it when he was working on machinery.

"Well, you survived the wedding. Didn't run off and leave me at the altar." Carol teased him.

"Naw, I wouldn't do that. Need you to help with the garden tomorrow."

She laughed and he wondered how he had lived so long without her. "Now that's romantic. Planting a garden together."

"Ever seed we put in the ground is an act of love. Something that we do on faith. That we will be here for the harvest and have food for the long cold winter that we spend together. So it's kinda romantic." He looked at her, "We're getting chickens next week. I have to finish the chicken house. Gonna need your help."

"We have to walk the fence line. Morgan is bringing the cow we traded for in a couple of days." Carol put her head on his shoulder. Cuddled in close. "Let's go to bed. I missed you last night."

"Not as much as I missed you. This old house was too quiet without you and the kids. I always liked that song that Sela sang. Not all syrupy sweet but that's how I feel. Like I can make it if you're with me. So let's go to bed together and wake up together. Spend our days together." He nuzzled her ear and she kissed his ring hand again.

She stood up and he followed her into their house. They locked the doors together and walked up the stairs to their bedroom. Together. He liked the sound of that.

AN

The song Sela sang was Stand by Me. I wanted a song that wasn't too romantic, but sort of was about a couple that would withstand hard and perilous times together.

The next chapter will the last one and I'm going to have a time jump. I want a proper finish to this story and I know how it will end. Not sad. Happy. Who needs more sad? Not me.

Review?