A/N: this story uses the characters from my "The Country Singer" fic, but in an AU setting, if you haven't read that fic, you can still read this one without missing anything. However, if you'd like to read it, it is complete! I only own Melanie and her band...the rest belongs to AMC and Robert Kirkman. No infringement intended.
The Redhead and The Redneck
By Leah Pensotti
Daryl didn't have the words for what had just happened. He had never encountered or expected anything like that...ever. He felt something for Melanie; something that pulled in his chest and made his stomach bottom out. She had left him breathless.
Now they laid in bed, her lips at his forehead and her hand ruffling his hair affectionately. One of his hands was on her right breast and they were recovering from their activities. They didn't talk, and he didn't really feel like he had to. It was something he liked about being around her. He could just be.
What sex he had encountered in his life paled in comparison with what had occurred with Melanie. He hadn't felt broken or worthless; she made him feel...he didnt know where to begin to describe how she had made him feel.
Out of every man she could have; every better looking, rich or famous man in the world...and she had chosen him.
Melanie's hand stroked his cheek, "Are you hungry?"
Daryl shrugged, "A little. Could definitely use a drink and a smoke."
She sat up and reached for her t-shirt, slipping it on over her naked back, she turned to him and smiled, "I'm going to order some desert. If you want to go on out to the balcony, I'll bring you a drink."
Melanie's red hair was a mess and her cheeks were pink; she was the damn near prettiest thing he had ever touched. Daryl nodded and watched as her bare ass lifted from the bed and she reached for her panties. He groaned softly and got up out of the bed himself, dressing hastily. He really didn't want her to go anywhere; just stay in that bed beside him.
He went outside on the balcony and lit up a cigarette, looking out over the lights of downtown Dallas. Daryl was crazy about Melanie, but he doubted himself at every turn. He would still not work out a scenario where someone like him was any good for someone like her.
Even though he wanted her more than anything.
Soon, the balcony door slid open and Melanie walked out carrying two tumblers of bourbon, her legs were still bare. She handed one glass to him and leaned against the balcony railing.
"Room service will be up soon. I basically ordered a bunch of chocolate. Tonight has my emotional eating kicking in."
Daryl took a pull from the glass of amber-colored liquid and turned to look at her, "Ya gonna tell me about Juliet?"
Melanie sighed and shrugged, "If I can have a drag of that cigarette. You can't expect me to have sex like that and not indulge."
He looked down at the cigarette and took another puff before handing it to her, "Alright...but just one..."
Melanie flashed him that sly smile and took a long, lingering drag from the cigarette and exhaled in relief. She handed it back to him and sighed, "Evidently Juliet has gotten offered her own recording contract by the same label I'm on. I guess she wanted to make a few waves, drum up some interest. It's a shame. We sounded really good together. That was probably what she was doing in Nashville when she was M.I. A...meeting with A&R people. She's just going to be one of those cutesy singers that other people write songs for. She's never written anything and most certainly doesn't play anything."
Daryl took a sip of the bourbon and shrugged, "At least ya won't have ta tour with her anymore, right?"
Melanie nodded sadly, "Yeah. But her little stage show is going to bring a lot of press sniffing around and I don't want it to get in our way. Especially not now."
He saw the look on her face and realized she was talking about the press running him off. After what had just happened, he was pretty well hooked. Daryl stubbed out the cigarette butt on the railing and shook his head; this is where his words would fail him. He wanted to tell her how much she meant, how she was closer than anyone had been...how he felt like he connected to her emotionally and physically and those were both really big deals when it came to him.
"Red...I ain't good at sayin' how I feel. But I need ya to know that...this...I'm not goin' anywhere. The press can try, but they ain't gonna run me off."
Her hazel eyes softened and smiled, "Really?"
"Really."
She pulled him down to her and kissed him firmly on the lips, "I'm gonna do my best to keep you out of the press, okay? I don't want you to be uncomfortable...you didn't ask for all of this."
He found himself shrugging and thinking out loud, "I guess it's what happens when yer girl is famous."
Melanie's eyes went wide, "I'm your girl?"
Daryl's shyness crept in and he couldn't look at her, instead he looked down at his bare feet, "I mean, yeah...if ya'd have me."
He felt Melanie's graceful hand on his face and he looked up. She had a gentle smile on her full lips and she nodded, "Of course. You should know by now I'm crazy about you, Daryl Dixon. I even put it in a song."
Daryl felt like grinning, full out cheesy grinning. He pulled Melanie to him by her ass, her breasts pushing up and into his chest. Right before he could claim her lips with his own, there was a knock on the door. Melanie smiled, "That's the room service...I'll be right back."
He felt brave and swatted her famous ass playfully, "Make sure ya put some pants on, Red."
She giggled and went inside the hotel room and shimmied back into her yoga pants. Daryl felt that hitch in his chest again, in awe that someone like her was okay with being his girl.
Melanie had ordered chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream, chocolate chip cookies and a bottle of champagne. She felt like she had reason to celebrate. She had had sex for the first time in over two years...and it was honestly the best sex of her life...and Daryl had called her his girl, which she found to be incredibly sweet.
She liked the idea of being his girl, more than words can say.
Almost immediately, she wanted to write a new song.
After the room service came, they sat in bed eating and watching a movie on television. It was about a small town waitress who baked pies and found herself pregnant with her abusive husband's baby. She ends up having an affair with her obstetrician. It made Melanie think of her Mama a little. Chayla McCall had never been lucky in love. She had been a waitress, too. She had even worn one of the powder-blue uniforms like the actress in the movie, but she couldn't cook or bake a pie to save her life.
Daryl stood up and used the buck knife he carried to open the top of the bottle of champagne and she heard him grumble, "Fuckin' asshole beatin' on a woman. I hope she gets that kid outta there..."
Once the champagne was open Melanie looked at him, wondering if the subject matter hit a little too close to home. He handed her the bottle and she took a swig straight from it, ignoring the crystal flutes on the room service tray.
"We don't have to watch this...hell, we don't have to watch anything at all."
Daryl sat back down beside her and he shrugged, "Girly as shit, but it ain't too bad. I'd beat the tar outta her husband, though."
She passed the bottle back to him and he took a pull. Melanie nodded, "It is pretty girly. But I'm a girl, so I guess it makes sense. My Mama used to wear waitress uniforms like that."
He nodded, "When I was younger there was a diner in town where the waitresses looked like that. My Daddy went on a bender with one of 'em when I was a kid. Same week I got lost in the woods for nine days."
Melanie raised her eyebrow, "Nobody came looking for you? Not even your brother?"
He shook his head, "Nah, my Mama had already died and Merle was in Juvy. I got home eventually...did just fine on my own, I guess."
She wanted to ask more questions...about his parents, about his scars. But she reminded herself it needed to be on his terms. That all she needed to do was be there if he needed her.
Melanie switched off the television with the remote and rested her head on his shoulder. She felt strongly that she was going to be the person to show him his worth. There was a lot of good things about him and she could list them all off if need be. Daryl kissed the top of her head and asked into her hair, "Ya worried what might be on the Internet tomorrow?"
She sighed, she was. Her skin had gotten a lot thicker since she first got started in the business, but speculation and assholes overstepping their boundaries wasn't something she was particularly fond of, "Yeah. I'm sure the press will turn it into some sort of cat fight...over the mystery man; not that Juliet and I could just have professional distaste for each other or anything. They gotta make it sound like two bimbos wrestling in a baby pool full of Jell-O. It's sexist and stupid."
"Ya ain't worried they might find stuff out about me that will make ya look bad?"
Melanie shook her head, "Nah. Like I said. I don't care about any of that. Your family doesn't define you. I know who you are. That's what matters."
He tipped her head up with a gentle finger beneath her chin. Melanie felt herself want to blush, the strangest things made her feel vulnerable.
"I still can't believe this is real. I don't know what I did ta get this lucky."
Melanie did blush; for someone who claimed not to be able to express himself very well, he certainly had a way with words.
After they finished off the cake, the cookies and the champagne; Daryl decided to go back to his shared room with Bubba, but promised to see her the next day. She kissed him goodnight, not really wanting him to go.
Early the next morning, Adam stumbled into their room along with Will. The latter looked a bit stressed and Melanie could only imagine what kind of phone calls he had gotten since the show the night before.
Room service brought up coffee and breakfast and the three of them sat together, hashing out what was left of the tour and going forward.
Will was like the nerdy older brother of the group. He sipped his coffee and explained, "The videos of the cover have gone extremely viral, Melanie. People have called me to comment on Juliet and I'm sure she will be commenting herself soon. Our good news is, Emily is available for the rest of the tour and is flying out to meet us in Denver...also, the label is releasing your single to radio next Thursday. It's expected to chart really well. They want to shoot a video for it. Probably when we hit L.A. Have you...talked to Daryl about what may come his way?"
Melanie sighed, "He's well aware. Has his name gotten out yet?"
Will shook his head, "Not as of yet...but with Juliet it might just be a matter of time. They've set her up with some serious songwriters in Nashville. I can't believe I didn't catch wind of it beforehand."
She felt angry and blindsided. For some reason, when they had auditioned back-up singers before the tour, Melanie liked the way Juliet sounded...saw something in her and hired her...she had no experience, nothing.
And this was the thanks she got. It was like a cut-rate version of "Days of Our Lives."
Before Will left to take care of more press, Melanie asked him if in the last of the hotels if he could get her and Adam adjoining rooms from now on. She still wanted to stay with him, but this way she wouldn't have to kick him out if she and Daryl were spending time together.
Will nodded and said his goodbyes. Adam looked at Melanie, a half smile painted facetiously on his lips, "You got laid didn't you?"
Melanie looked down at her hands, she should have been used to his directness by now. She just shrugged and smiled and Adam squeezed her hand, "He's an extremely lucky man, Mels."
Daryl saw Melanie getting on the tour bus as the traveling show was heading to Denver. They met eyes furtively, and immediately he was transported to the night before and the things they had done to one another.
She was an absolute angel and he couldn't believe Melanie let him touch her like that, and that she wanted to touch him the way she did.
And then his thoughts lead him to doing it all again.
He had gotten a text from Mack, wondering if he knew what had happened at the Dallas show, that he had watched the video and thought Juliet was out of line. Mack openly asked him if the incident had anything to do with the picture of Melanie and Daryl.
"I mean, it didn't take no rocket scientist to see that little blond wanted to jump your bones, Dixon. "
He sat in his bunk in on the crew's bus and laughed lightly. If he only knew...if he could only tell someone in the proper terms exactly how much he was feeling right now...
Suddenly, another text popped up on the phone screen. He had listed her number under "Red."
"Will is getting adjoining rooms for me and Jughead. See you tonight?"
Jesus Christ. He couldn't think of anything he could possibly want more. Not a fancy house, not for his brother to straighten up, not even millions of dollars. Daryl was still new to texting, but he liked being able to talk to her while he was on the bus.
"Fucking A."
She replied with only a little smiley face blowing a kiss.
Even her texts thrilled him.
Once they got to Denver, they were not loading in until the next day. Bubba was going to take them out for a group dinner and then they had the night off before reconvening in the morning. Daryl was excited by the prospect of seeing Melanie again after the monumental events of the night prior.
He wondered what it would be like to share a bed with her for a full night, waking up to the freckles and the red hair every morning? Daryl even allowed himself to think further down the road to the time that he finally might have to be straight with Bubba about sleeping in her room; because it was getting harder and harder to make himself get up and go back to the room with Bubba snoring instead of having Melanie's warm little body next to him.
They made it to their destination in good time, just a little over eleven hours. Daryl saw her in the gas station on a pit stop, buying Red Vines and Archie comics while signing autographs and taking pictures with a few fans. She met eyes with him, and he had the distinct feeling that she was thinking the same thing he was.
I can't wait to get my hands on you.
When they pulled into the hotel, there were photographers waiting. Daryl immediately didn't like the situation...for him or his girl. If one of those assholes even looked at her the wrong way, then there would be hell to pay.
No one paid him any mind when he stepped off the crew's bus and got his bags. He hung back a minute, watching Will, Adam and Rob doing their best to keep the vultures at bay. They were screaming at Melanie and asking really irritating questions like, "Have you spoken to Juliet Norwood since two days ago?" and "Ms. McCall...is this uproar over a man? Has there been a love triangle?"
Melanie, not to be deterred by such nonsense, went past the cameras and to an area where a few young female fans had congregated so she could say hello and meet them. Daryl liked how she treated her fans, she always did her best to make time and make them feel important.
As she was signing autographs and taking pictures with Adam nearby, Will did his best to keep the creeps from the press at bay by answering questions or just saying, "No comment."
One gentleman in particular broke away from where Will was, moving to where Melanie was talking to a few teen girls and signing posters and taking pictures. He shoved his camera in her face and Melanie asked him to move back.
"Come on, man. Let these girls have their moment."
Daryl found himself inching closer, leaving his bag on the bellhop's cart. Adam met his eyes and as Melanie ignored the camera man; the asshole caught her by the wrist.
"Come on, Melanie. Just give us something. Some little sound bite about Juliet being a blond bimbo or something. You know she is going to talk about you."
Before he could even really register what he was doing, Daryl ran over just as Adam had gently pushed the man away from Melanie. Before Adam could say anything, Daryl had pushed the camera man up against the glass side of the hotel; his forearm on his chest and near his throat. Daryl was nose to nose with him, rage boiling in his blood.
"Ya gotta lotta nerve thinkin' ya can just touch her like that."
The guy looked terrified and rightfully so, "W-who are you?"
"Somebody who don't care for yer way of harassin' a lady when she's tryna be nice ta her fans...mostly young girls. Takes a real man ta do work like that, huh? Gettin' yer jollies tryna shake this bunch down?"
Daryl felt a hand at his shoulder and heard a familiar voice, "Hey man, let's let this parasite go. He isn't worth it."
Adam pulled him back a bit and Daryl relented, watching the man slink back to where the other members of the press were.
It was then he realized...everyone was looking at him.
Melanie met his eyes with her hazel ones; she looked surprised and shaken...but not mad. Daryl heard the cameras snapping and he knew that people would soon know his name. He had always been hot-headed; especially about people he cared for. Melanie was no exception.
As they all retreated to the lobby, Will patted his shoulder, "We might need to make you her body guard if Bubba will spare you."
Melanie had been shaken by the incident outside, but seeing Daryl take the man to task warmed her greatly. Even Adam was impressed.
It was another evening of room service and practicing the cover for the next show. She didn't like the claustrophobic feeling she had. Melanie missed being able to just walk into a bar or go shopping somewhere without being swarmed on. At the same time, it was the price of her fame...the price of her dream come true.
And when it came down to it, she was more than willing to pay it.
However, she worried about what it might do to her burgeoning relationship with Daryl.
Will wanted to get her a bodyguard, but she didn't know why it was necessary if she had Adam...or Daryl.
She and Adam sat in the shared common room of their suite. They each had a bedroom and in the middle was the couch, television and a small kitchen. She didn't want to talk about the photographers, but it was inevitable once the room service came.
"You know Daryl's cover is blown, right? They'll figure out that he is the guy from the picture and then start digging. Do you think he can handle it?"
Melanie took a bite of her fancy grilled cheese sandwich (four cheeses, avocado, spinach and tomato), and shrugged, "I don't know. He seems really protective of me."
Adam laughed out loud over his ravioli, "Ya think? Jesus, Mel. I thought that guy's face was gonna get ripped off."
"Dolly Parton's husband is really private. They've made it for decades. And she's the queen."
Her best friend smiled, "True. I guess you're really serious about him since you broke up our room assignments."
Melanie knew that Adam would give her shit over it, but she hoped he didn't feel hurt. She most definitely didn't want that, "You're not upset about it, are you?"
"Please. It's just like being at home now. Your room, my room...you don't have to put on pants if you don't want to and I don't have to see it. It's basically a win/win."
Melanie just smiled and remembered the look on Daryl's face when he had finally crossed the point of no return with her just the night before...and then the look on his face when he held that scummy gossip site cameraman against the wall. He was dangerous and protective; didn't like seeing anyone over step boundaries with her.
It made the fire in her burn brighter, knowing that she brought that out in him.
Little did he know, but she'd do the same for him.
They practiced the cover of the Heart song "These Dreams" for the show the next night, and then went ahead and started on "Heart of Gold" by Neil Young for Albuquerque. Before long, Adam was going to meet up with Rob and see if they could check out one of Denver's legal marijuana dispensaries. Adam was curious and Rob was a connoisseur.
Melanie preferred alcohol and plain old cigarettes.
When Adam said goodbye, Melanie worked on a new song. She had a few ideas, but had a hard time coming up with melodies on her own. She had something of a chorus an hour later, and her phone went off with a text from Daryl that just said "Room?"
She sent him the room number and went to the bathroom to look in the mirror. Melanie looked tired...drawn. She'd be lying to say the events of the past few days didn't stress her out. Because it had.
Melanie was far from squeaky clean. She had a checkered past. But she wasn't fond of scandals or the dirt rag press that just wanted to create drama and lies for money and sales.
She ran a brush through her thick, red hair that she had just taken down from a messy knot, complete with a pencil tucked in it. A knock came on the front door and she peeked out the peep hole, relieved that it was in fact the one person she'd wanted to see all day.
Melanie opened the door and she smiled, "Well, if it isn't my knight in shining armor."
He shook his head, his heavy-lidded eyes focused on on her, "Shit, Red. I don't know about all that."
When he walked in and she shut the door, it took only seconds before he pressed her against the wall and kissed her with so much want, he stole the breath from her lungs. Melanie smiled and Daryl's hand went to her cheek, "Ain't nobody gonna touch you like that and not hear about it from me."
She felt herself flush lightly, he disarmed her every time. Usually she was really great with words. Instead, she started undressing him...clothes falling to the floor as they made their way to her bedroom. Once they were both naked as the day they were born, Melanie straddled him on her bed, his rough hands at her breasts, driving her wild.
Just before she made the move to guide him into her, he looked up and stopped her with a gentle touch on her lips, "Red?"
"Yeah?" She asked breathlessly.
"I thought about this last night when we were watchin' that damn movie. Should we be usin' rubbers or anything?"
Melanie shook her head, almost wanting to laugh, and instead guided his hand to the inside of her upper arm, "I've got a birth control implant...and I haven't been with anyone for a long time...you?"
He touched the skin where the thin, small implant was, "Rubbers. I learned not ta be Merle. He liked ta get the clap."
"Alright. We good?"
Daryl nodded and switched their positions, and pushed inside of her with one, swift pump making her gasp in surprise.
A/N: hi my loves! I'm still struggling with writing a bit, but thank you all for sticking with me :). Up next: moving a bit forward in time and on the tour. Emily joins. Someone surprising speaks up to get Melanie's attention.
Thank you all so much for the feedback, reviews and kind words! You all are the best. Please drop me a line and let me know how I am doing. If you are also so inclined please check out my other TWD fics "Redemption" (Rick/OC) and its ongoing AU version "Simple Twists of Fate" or "The Country Singer" (Daryl/OC) and of course "Wallflower" my OC/Daryl/Rick triangle.
I have also posted the first chapter of my Male OC story called "Times Like These" featuring my new friend, Cooper the Beach Bum! I'd appreciate it if you checked it out :)
Super special shout outs to: clduncan (aw! I'm so glad you liked this! Much more to come! Melanie and Daryl have a lot of chemistry glad it translates!), Celia Azul (Aw! Thanks love!), CLTex (Just wait til Juliet's album comes out, lol ;), gillyflower34 (Aw, just similarities in name and singing. Emily is dark haired, green-eyed and tall :), Jean F (I'm so glad you liked it. Juliet is going to loom large and become a diva...even more so. She's gonna spill beans. Lol, I think Mel will charm the pants off Merle, but take none of his bs. I know! I love writing for Adam so much. I'm glad this is a zombie free story :), Katarzyna88gb (Hi lovely! I'm so glad to see you! Everything good?) and EvilPipeDreamer (bitches all around lol. I cannot confirm or deny that Juliet will get punched, but it sounds like a viable option! Thanks for the love! ;)
Thanks and love!
Leah P!
xoxo