Connor was awoken by his alarm clock going off, waking him up from a great, great dream that he hated to leave. He rubs his eyes cursing his alarm clock, gets out of bed, heading to the bathroom. Today was Friday, it was going to be a great day. He would be seeing Daryl twice in one day plus he would be getting a note. He couldn't believe he was acting like this. He gets dressed, filling his travel coffee mug….wondering if Daryl also drank coffee...odd thing to wonder. He gets his bag and heads out of the house, deciding to take his car, he needed to take this bike to Shane's.

He gets to the school earlier than usual hurrying in, taking his bag in to come back out to meet his students off the bus. He watches for his students…..also for the truck, finally seeing the truck pull into the parking lot. He watches as Daryl and Charlie sit and talk in the truck, Daryl shaking his head and smiling. Finally getting out of the truck making their way to him.

"Hi Charlie, Good morning" Connor says smiling at them both getting a smile in return from both.

Connor smiles as, Charlie says bye to her dad, "See you after school Daryl" Connor says smiling back at Daryl as he turns follow Charlie into the school.

"My daddy loves you…he smiles at you like he smiles at me" Charlie explains looking up at him with a smile on her face. Connor's face turning red, as he turns back looking at Daryl, not really knowing what to say…..or do but watch Daryl get in his truck and leave the parking lot.

"Um Charlie…I don't think he loves me I just think that he's happy that you like me that's all" Connor says trying to keep his voice from shaking.

"Yeah that's what he says, but he doesn't smile at uncle Mer like he smiles at you" Charlie replies before running of to her friend leaving Connor standing wondering what Daryl had said to make Charlie think that he loved him. Connor laughs at himself, shaking his head, chalking this incident up to a 7 year olds mind running wild.

He goes to his class and collects the folders…..excited and nervous about the note …now after the conversation that he and Charlie had just had. His day was super slow, he just wanted the kids to go to lunch so he could read the note. Finally it was lunch time, he pulls Charlie's folder to him taking the note out.

The note said that he loved the gift, and telling him he was sorry that Braxton acted like that and that he didn't deserve that. He told him that he had noticed that, that was his bike and it was a very nice bike that he loved to ride his bike. " Well Connor I may have to start stopping at Rick's on Thursday" that line he read out loud, that line got him….maybe Charlie knew something neither of them knew. He folds the note up pulling it in his pocket, writing one back to him.

Connor smiles to himself, taking the note out of his pocket rereading it …..folding it back up wishing their relationship/friendship would soon go beyond just writing notes back and forth. Connor puts their homework in their folders, and puts them back on their desks.

The rest of the day was good, he enjoyed teaching, he liked being around the kids.

"Okay kids it's time for the busses, let's get our backpacks" Connor says. He walks out with his students, he and Charlie make their way to their bench.

"Me and daddy are going to my mommy's brothers house morrow" Charlie says.

"Oh yeah, are you excited to go?" Connor asks.

"Yeah I'm meeting my cousins, they are my cousins like Sophia is my cousin." Charlie tells him.

"Yeah, cousins are fun?" Connor says smiling at her.

"Mr. MacManus…do you love my daddy?" She asks.

"Um…..um I like your daddy, he's nice, he's…..um he's a good daddy but no Charlie I don't love him. Why do you ask?" Connor says.

"You smile at him like he smiles at you" Charlie explains.

"Oh well, that's just what people do when they are happy. They smile, that's all…. You know like when you are playing with your friends you smile." Connor says.

"Otay…..it's okay if you wanna play with my daddy" Charlie tells him.

"Um okay thank you Charlie" Connor smiles, remembering to keep his thoughts in check.

"My Aunt Carols here" Charlie says looking towards the parking lot.

"Yep, there she is, come on I'll walk you over" Connor mumbles a bit down hearted that Daryl was not there to pick her up.

"Where's daddy?" Charlie asks as they get closer.

"He had to work late" Carol says smiling at her.

"Otay….see ya Monday Mr. MacManus" Charlie says getting into the car.

"See ya Monday Charlie" Connor replies.

"You have a nice night Mr. MacManus" Carol says.

"Please call me Connor" he says.

"Only if you call me Carol" Carol says.

"Alrighty well you have a good night Carol" Connor tells her.

"Ah I'm going home to a Dixon. It's always a good night" Carol winks at him, making him laugh. "You have a good night as well Connor" Carol adds getting into her car.

Connor liked her, he laughs to himself, wondering how well of a night he and Daryl could have …if they ever got to "play" together.

Connor goes back into the school getting his stuff and heads home stopping at Ricks to get dinner. He liked stopping there, the owner of the place had become somewhat of a friend of his, helped him learn the area.

"Hey Rick how has your day been?" Connor asks coming into the restaurant.

"Pretty good, want your usual?" Rick smiles.

"Yep, thanks" Connor says as he finds him a booth, Rick coming from behind the counter joining him.

"How has your day been Connor? Rick asks.

"Pretty good, I got a question though?"

"Shoot" Rick says.

"Okay…..um do you know Daryl Dixon" Connor asks.

"Yeah went to high school together. We have been friends since we were little. Why, did something happen?" Rick asks.

"Oh no….no nothing is wrong ….oh lord okay um is he …..oh shit, into men?" Connor stumbles over his words.

"Oh Lord" Rick laughs.

"I know its stupid he has a kid, I shouldn't have even thought that" Connor says before taking a bite of his food.

"No…no actually I remember one summer him and Michonne broke up and he actually did hang out with a guy for a while. I don't think anything sexual happened but….yeah he has mentioned when we were younger he also liked men" Rick tells him.

"Really?" Connor squeaks his heart very happy about hearing about this.

"Yeah, but I don't think he has been with anybody since Mich passed, man or woman" Rick replies.

"I didn't know his wife had passed" Connor says.

"Yeah she passed after giving birth to Charlie. I'm not exactly sure what happened but yeah he's been alone since then" Rick tells him.

"Oh that's not good" Connor says.

"I know Merle had been on him about finding someone…..I think that's what that date was all about. I don't know though he seems content with it just being him and Charlie" Rick says before one of the cooks asked for him from the back.

"Yeah…..well thanks for the talk Rick" Connor mumbles.

He finishes his food, going up and paying for his food, saying goodbye to Rick. "See ya Thursday?" Rick asks.

"Yep see ya Thursday" Connor says going out getting into his car.