Another stretch of rocky road ahead... hang in there:) And also, I am seriously scared of tonights episode! I'm not scared for Daryl, but for everybody else and what it might do to Daryl. Damn me for reading spoilers:( Now enjoy!

##### ############ ######### ########### ############ ########

Chapter 12

Teddy stared at the letter for what felt like an hour. She read it about five times before she grabbed her cell phone and called her brother.

"Billy, you are not gonna believe this!"

"You're pregnant and eloping?" Billy deadpanned, making Teddy scoff.

"Far from it. No, I just got a letter from our lovely father, telling me that I've been dismissed from the practice for poor performance. Effective immediately."

"WHAAAAAT?" Billy's voice was weirdly high-pitched and Teddy cringed a little at his outburst. "He can't do that! That's illegal."

"I know! What in the world is he thinking?"

"I tell you what he's thinking. He thinks if he makes you choose between Daryl and your job, that you're gonna choose your job. That's all this is. He's forcing you to make a decision."

"Well, I ain't making no decision, that's for damn sure!" Teddy grumbled and started frowning when Billy laughed out loud.

"Shit, Teddy. Already picked up Dixon-talk, did you? Man, I'd love to see the look on Mom's face when she hears you talk like that."

"Won't happen. Especially not now."

"What are you gonna do?"

"I will go home to my wonderful boyfriend and have a nice weekend with him and on Monday I will get myself a lawyer to represent me in my wrongful termination lawsuit against my own father." Teddy explained her plans casually, like she was talking about the weather.

"Teddy, come on. Really? You wanna sue? We're still family, there's gotta be another way to resolve this." Billy tried to reason with her, but Teddy had made up her mind.

"Billy, he started this. He is firing me for dating Daryl. That's discrimination and it's illegal. He shot first and I won't stand here and take it just like that, only because he is family. He doesn't care about me being family. Mom doesn't care about me being family the moment she opens her mouth and talks shit about me to strangers. They want war? They got one."

"Man that's gonna be one fucked up Easter this year." Billy groaned.

"That's all you can think about right now? For real? Well okay, I gotta get going, just wanted to let you know what's going on. Have a nice weekend." Teddy hung up, now pissed at her parents AND at her brother. He always put on a tough guy act, much like Daryl, but he was always striving for harmony. In this case it just wasn't possible though. Teddy stuffed the letter into her purse and finished up for the day... or possibly forever, and went home. She was confused when she found Daryl sitting on the floor in front of her apartment.

"Babe? What are you doing? Why aren't you using your key?" she asked with a frown while she walked up to him.

"Left it in there." he motioned to the door with his head and got up from the floor. "Hey." he greeted her with a little kiss when she was in front of him.

"Hey. Why did we have a key made if you forget to take it with you? You're gonna put it on your keyring right the fuck now!" it came out harsher than she had meant to say it and it didn't go unnoticed.

"The hell crawled up yer ass and died? Bad day at work, huh?" he studied her while she unlocked the door.

"More like my last day at work." she muttered and opened the door and stepped inside.

"What?" Daryl wasn't sure he heard right. "Whaddaya mean last day?" he asked while he followed her into the kitchen where she dumped her purse on the kitchen counter and dug out a letter, handing it to him before she got herself a glass and a bottle of wine. Daryl unfolded the letter, his eyes widening while he read.

"He fucking fired ya? Ain't no way he's allowed ta do that. Poor performance... bullshit."

"You think?" she spat, immediately feeling sorry for it. She did not want to make him feel like he was to blame for this. "Geez, I'm in bitch mode. Sorry, baby."

"Nah. Yer right to bitch at me. This one's all on me. He fired ya because'a me." Daryl's face expressed so much guilt that Teddy wanted to cry.

"Don't you dare go there, Daryl. He is firing me because he is a major jackass. Poor performance,... maybe if his lovely wife had kept her mouth shut, I wouldn't have lost any patients or not all that much. Asshole." Teddy muttered and took a big gulp of red wine.

"Ya lost patients? The fuck...? You didn't tell me that!" Daryl's mind was spinning. He really did ruin everything he touched. He was a Dixon through and through. He was ruining Teddy's life, her reputation, her career, all because he had selfishly allowed himself happiness by getting to know her and developing feelings for her. "That's why ya been home early some days."

"Yeah. Idiots, they're all fucking stuck-up idiots. And my mother telling those people that Seattle's grunge folk have screwed up my mind certainly didn't help matters."

"I ain't helpin' matters neither."

"Stop, Daryl. Just don't go there, okay? That's why I didn't tell you about losing patients, because I knew you would blame yourself and I don't want that. I don't care about them. They are stupid, stupid people if they think I can't treat them right just because I date a wonderful guy with a fucked up family. They are just judgmental assholes, I don't care about them. Good riddance."

"It ain't just them, though. It's yer whole fucking career."

"So? I'll find another job, Daryl. And just so you know, I care way more about you than about working for my father, alright? He is trying to blackmail me by doing this, but he's got another thing coming. You are the best thing that happened to me in a long, long time. Maybe even the best thing that EVER happened to me. Don't think I'll let you go just because he forces me to look for another job. So please stop looking at me like a puppy dog that just shredded my favorite pair of heels, because this is not on you. Got it?" She had crossed the space between them and kissed him hard. Daryl wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned into her. He was conflicted. On the one hand he was so goddamn happy about what she had said and on the other hand he felt guilty and like he didn't deserve what she had said. The best thing to maybe ever happen to her? She must have had the mother of shitty lives then, because all he was doing was wrecking everything. He knew that was exactly what he was doing, even though she didn't see it that way.

"What now?" He asked after a moment of silently holding each other.

"I'll contact a lawyer on Monday and I guess for the time being I'll have to look for another job."

"Where?"

"Guess I'll drive over to the Piedmont hospital and ask if they have any openings and if they don't I'll have to find something else. Cashier at Walmart or the gas station. Maybe I'll do some babysitting, like a little daycare or something. Uh, school nurse at the high school maybe."

"And have all those teenage boys droolin' over ya, huh? Poor guys won't be able ta walk without their books in front of their dicks."

"Eeeeeew, Daryl! Those are children!"

"Nah, teenagers. Trust me on that one, girl."

"Well, not much of a difference whether they see me in my old office or in an office at school. Who cares, I don't know what's gonna happen anyway. Can we just forget this shit for two days?"

"Think that's gonna work?" Daryl doubted that they would be able to forget about her own father firing her over her dating choices.

"Sure, this will help." She smiled and waved the bottle of wine around.

"Fixin' ta get lit, are ya? Think you'll find the answer to all this shit at the bottom of that bottle?" Daryl kind of understood that she wanted to get drunk and forget, but that didn't mean he was happy about it. Ever since she told him about how she used to get drunk damn near every day as a teen, seeing her have more than one drink worried him. He knew how easy it was for somebody to slip into making it a daily habit.

"Not the answer, no. Just a nice way to space out for a couple of hours. Why? What's that look for?"

"Nothin'." Daryl shrugged nonchalantly, but his eyes told a different story when he started chewing his lip.

"Good. Here, you're gonna get wasted with me." she said while she handed him a glass, but Daryl didn't take it.

"No. I won't. I turn into a major bastard when I'm drunk. Like him." he said referring to his old man. That sobered Teddy back up a little and she put both glasses down.

"Sorry. You're right. Getting drunk won't help. It'll just make me feel like shit in the morning."

"Exactly. And ya need ta get to that hospital. Better do it tomorrow instead of Monday. This thing won't pay for itself." Daryl muttered while he waved his arms around, referring to her apartment.

"Shit. I didn't even think about that."

"Yeah, ya ain't low-maintenance, Doc. This apartment, yer car, all yer pretty shoes and dresses... all that beauty shit ya don't even need. Ya spend money on getting yer nails done, hell woman, we got those at birth for fuckin' free. Don't know why the fuck ya can't paint them yourself. Other chicks do, too. Just cause ya got money ya gotta pay somebody ta do it for ya? It's goddamn stupid. Waste of money, but of course ya ain't never had ta worry about not bein' able ta make rent. Well, ya have ta now. How's it feel?" Daryl started talking himself into a rage out of nowhere, startling Teddy and even himself a little. He was aware of his insecurities where their jobs and their vastly different incomes were concerned, he just hadn't been aware of much it was actually bothering him. The more he thought about it, the more he found himself to be relieved about the prospect of her having to take a job that would pay less. It was fucked up of him to think that way, but he couldn't help it. It was like it was coded into his male genes. He was the man, he wanted to be the provider, but in this scenario he would never be with Teddy's salary being much higher than his. It made him feel inadequate and no man likes feeling like that.

"Wow." Teddy looked at him wide-eyed, her mouth hanging open a little in shock. "Pile on, why don't cha? You know what? Guess I'll need this after all." She told him, picking the wine bottle back up and walking into the living room.

"Jackass. Goddamn jackass, gonna ruin everything." Daryl muttered to himself while he rubbed his hands over his face. He took a moment to collect himself before he followed her into the other room. He felt even more like shit when he saw her hastily wipe a tear from her cheek when he entered. She was huddled into "her" corner of the couch, her knees up against her chest, the blanket from the back of the couch covering her legs, her face cuddled into the throw pillows that she had propped up against the back of the couch and the wall, seeking comfort from the inanimate objects since Daryl wasn't the one to give it to her right now.

Daryl sat next to her, he looked at her, but didn't know what to say. Teddy felt him stare at her, but she didn't turn her head to look at him. She took a sip of wine directly from the bottle, then she held it out towards him. Daryl accepted the offer of alcohol this time and took a long swig from the bottle. Teddy took it back from him and took another big sip.

"So..." she started quietly, "not so deep down you still think of me as some kind of rich bitch, yeah?"

"C'mon, Doc. Ya know I didn't mean it."

"Don't call me that. I actually hate it, especially in bed. Works like a cold shower every time." Teddy said softly, but it still sounded very harsh to Daryl's ears.

"Yeah right. Got claw marks on ma back and arms that tell a different story, DOC."

"God, just shut the fuck up. I don't wanna hear another word out of you. You hurt me enough for one day." Teddy had to blink to keep the fresh set of tears from falling.

"I ain't the one who fired ya."

"No, but you're the one who called me names after I told you that you are more important to me than everything I've worked hard for to achieve. After I told you that I'd gladly throw away my family and all my years of school and training if it meant I'd get to stay with you,... Looks like we have completely different ideas about what this thing between us is."

"Never called ya names."

"Maybe not literally, but it was in there. Loud and clear." Teddy let out a bitter laugh. "And this time you didn't even say you were sorry, so to me that means that you did mean it. Every word. Shit, you can't even call me by my name, Daryl. I have to ask myself here, what am I to you? One of your fuck buddies? Just a nice, warm hole for you to bury your cock in? A distraction to keep you company until you get your brother back? Huh? What?"

"Ya ain't in yer right mind, woman. I'm outta here. I ain't dealin' with all this bullshit of yers. Call me when ya find yer brain." Daryl switched on the anger full-force. He had to or else he would be crying right along with her, because he was hurting too damn much on the inside. He had to let her got, he'd been selfish by being with her and it destroyed her life. He was used to things being shitty, but she didn't deserve that. He had to make sure she would go back to her old life and be happy. It wasn't too late for her, she'd just have to go to her Daddy and tell him they'd broken things off and everything would be back to normal for her.

Teddy jumped up from the couch, following him to the door, lunging past him to keep him from opening it. "No, Daryl. Please, don't. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, please don't leave. Don't do this." she wrapped her arms around him tightly and buried her face in his chest, begging him to stay. "This is exactly what they want, Daryl. They want to break us apart, we can't let them win. I don't want to loose you. I can't loose you. Please don't do this."

"Shit, girl..." Daryl muttered, his own tears stinging his eyes, but he refused to let them fall. He was exhausted, he'd never gone through so many different emotions within this short amount of time. Well, yes he had, when all these feelings for her had rushed through him that one Sunday morning, but this was different. This was the mother of all emotional rollercoasters. He slowly wrapped his strong arms around her and hugged her to him as hard as he could. His anger and his resolve to leave her dissipating with the crying and begging Teddy in his arms. He was such a major dick, he didn't even need alcohol to be one.

They stood there hugging the hell out of each other for what seemed like an eternity. Teddy's silent tears were wetting his shirt, but he could care less. They were comforting each other and slowly rebuilt their sanity and strength through their physical contact. Daryl kissed the top of her head and buried his nose in her hair.

"Ya really hate when I call ya Doc?" he eventually asked quietly to test the waters. He was relieved beyond belief when he felt her chuckle reverberate against his hands on her back even before the sound hit his ears.

"I do. It's not very sexy to hear. How would you feel if I'd call you Mechanic all the time?"

"Yeah, 'kay. Ya got a point. Why didn't ya say something sooner?"

"Don't know. Never the right time?"

"Next time, just fucking say it. Hey, and ya ain't no distraction or a warm hole or nothin'. Ya know that, right?"

"I don't know,... I just hope I'm not." she mumbled into his chest, not daring to look up at him.

"Ya ain't. Never was, never will be."

"What about the rich girl thing?" she tensed when she heard and felt him inhale deeply and her heart sank a little. "You meant it."

"Let's sit, c'mon." Daryl pulled out of their embrace and led her back to the living room and to the couch. Before he sat down with her, he grabbed the bottle of wine and took it to the kitchen and poured it in the sink. No more alcohol-fueled arguments today.

"It's weird for me." he started when he was back by her side. "You making more money than me, I mean."

"I understand that. I know men don't like that kind of thing. But you should know by now that I'm not... I don't know,... rubbing it in your face or anything."

"I was being a dick. I didn't mean ta hurt ya, but I did. You're right, ya don't rub it in ma face or nothin', ya don't act like yer better than me, ya don't act like a rich girl. What I said was uncalled for, I'm sorry. It's tough fer me, though, I can't deny that. Maybe it's that alpha male in me,... that's what ya call it, right? I said I was gonna take care of ya, I can do that in most aspects, but I ain't never gon' be able ta take care of ya where money is concerned and that fucking sucks fer me."

"I get it. I do, but this is just the way it is, Daryl. I don't know what's going to happen with my job, but if I get reinstated or get a job at the hospital or in another practice in another town around here, then it's something you will have to learn to deal with. It's just a job, it's just money, Daryl, it doesn't reflect on who's boss in this relationship. It's not like I'm gonna push a hundred dollar bill into your hand and tell you to go and buy yourself something pretty. I won't ever try to emasculate you and that's all I can really say about it, the rest is up to you. It's just money. Just a number on a paycheck, not defining in any way." Teddy's voice sounded extremely tired by the end. When she had woken up this morning next to Daryl, all happy and warm and fuzzy, she hadn't expected for the day to take such a sharp turn. She had never been more tired in her entire life, not even after working two days straight.

"Imma head home, clear ma head." Daryl sighed. His thoughts were too clustered to sort anything out right now. It was like a rocking chair, moving, but not going anywhere.

"You're gonna come back, right? This is just a break for you to think not a break up? Right?" Teddy was a little panicked by the fact that he was still intent on leaving.

"Yeah, jus' ta think." he leaned over slowly, giving her enough time to pull away in case she didn't want to kiss him, but Teddy put her hands on his face and pulled him closer, their lips meeting gently. Teddy had to keep herself from crying and begging again, she felt so needy right now that she hated herself. She didn't want him to go, she wanted to curl up in his arms, watch some bad TV and fall asleep. "I'll be back tomorrow. I promise." he whispered against her lips and kissed her again.

"Okay." she had no choice but to relent. She'd promised him that she would always give him his space and so she would do just that. One more long kiss and he was gone, leaving Teddy to feel incredibly sad and empty.

###### ######## ####### ####### ####### ########

Despite being extremely tired Teddy hadn't slept at all. At six in the morning she dragged herself off the couch and into the bathroom to undress and take a shower. Afterward she made herself a coffee and went to her home office, turning on her computer and updating her resume before printing it out. She did it all on auto-pilot, not really thinking about anything but Daryl. She was scared that he'd call or just text and say that he wouldn't be able to deal with everything and that they should call it quits. The thought alone of that happening made her feel like she was dying a slow and painful death. Teddy had never gotten this attached to anyone in this short amount of time, just another sign to her, that he really was her other half. If he decided that she wasn't his other half he'd been missing all his life, she'd just crumble to the floor and stay there until it was all over. She knew it. She had barely survived losing her son and although it had been years ago, it was a wound that would never ever heal completely. They both meant so damn much to her. Losing Daryl, too would tear that wound open wider and wider until there was absolutely no chance left to ever repair it. Yes, she was in one hell of a dark place that morning and if it wouldn't be unethical she'd prescribe herself a dose of happy pills to get through the day, but unfortunately coffee and sheer willpower would have to do.

Of course the hospital wasn't hiring right now, they were understaffed but budget cuts didn't allow for them to take on anyone new, so Teddy would have to look elsewhere. So she decided to take the 45 minute drive to Marietta, but the hospital there was only hiring registered nurses and physical therapists. After that she drove another half hour to Atlanta and spent hours driving from clinic to clinic and talking to their administrators, but her efforts were in vain. The only good thing that happened was that Daryl called her around 3 pm, asking where the heck she was. He'd been waiting at her apartment for almost two hours. She told him about her unsuccessful job hunt and that she had one last stop to make and that she'd be there in about an hour. They hung up a moment later and Teddy got out of her car and walked up to her last destination before she headed home to Daryl.

Her father was smirking from where he stood on the porch in front of the door. "Theodora. I was wondering when you'd show up."

"We gotta talk." Teddy said with a stony expression on her face.

"Yes, I think you are right. Come on in." He led her into his study and let her sit in front of his desk before he took his seat in his big leather chair behind his huge desk. The polished dark smoked pine wood was glinting almost dangerously in the dim light of the desk lamp. The skies had darkened considerably with the rainstorm that had started brewing and thunder started clapping outside.

'How fitting...' Teddy thought before her father spoke up.

"I assume you are here in regards to my letter?"

"Yup. You do know that what you're doing is illegal, right?"

"I am aware of that, but it's not like we are going to trial. This just served as a wake-up-call for you, Teddy."

"I figured as much."

"And it obviously worked. I'm sure that little digression was fun and exciting for you, but I think you will agree with me that you and that boy never would have had a future together. You are from two different worlds. Completely different. These things just never work out." Gerald Robertson was smiling broadly, very content that his plan had worked. He knew his daughter and he knew threatening her career would steer her back on the right path.

"Ooooh, so you think your dirty little trick worked? No actually it didn't. Not at all. Daryl isn't a fun little digression. It's the real deal."

"Teddy, please. How old are you? 13 again? This is a little crush at most. Don't take it so seriously. You've known that boy how long?" Gerald waved her off, treating her like a dumb little girl.

"You always told us about how you met Mom. How you saw her and just knew that she was the one for you. That in that moment the earth stood still, your heart stopped beating and you stopped breathing when she looked into your eyes and smiled at you for the first time? That you felt like she made your heart explode? I always thought it was a load of sappy bullshit, to be honest. But do you remember the moment you came into my hospital room the day I gave birth? How you and Mom started crying as soon as you stepped foot in that door, just from seeing the little bundle in my arms? How your face hurt from smiling so big when you held him in your arms for the first time, because you were so happy? That is exactly how Daryl makes me feel every single time I see him and I am not about to give that up. For nothing. If that complicates your life and ruins your reputation I am very sorry about that. If you have to fire me to keep your business up and running then you have every right to do so. But do it the right way and don't play childish games. My contract states that you have to give me one week notice for every month you employed me in my first year, so I am entitled to two more weeks of employment and pay. If you really want me out and you want to look for a new doctor who will be able to help you better with the workload, I won't put up a fight and I'll leave after those two weeks, no questions asked. If you wish to continue playing your games, though, I will be contacting a lawyer on Monday and we will go to court and since you have no case here you will be forced to either reinstate me or compensate me for my losses, so not exactly a win/win situation for you."

"You're serious?" Gerald wasn't quite able to believe what he was hearing and he wasn't sure if maybe Teddy wasn't the one playing games now.

"Yes. I agree, I have lost patients, I am no longer of as much help to you as I used to be pre-Daryl. It has never been my intention to put your reputation or your business at risk, so if that's what my relationship with Daryl is causing, you are right to let me go. All I ask of you is to go about it the correct way. As your daughter I think you owe me as much. After that, I will be out of your business and your life."

"And all that for that boy? You really choose him over your job? Your life? Us?"

"Yes. He is a better man than you will ever be. He has his flaws and faults, but nobody is perfect. In the end he is the better man. He wins. By a landslide. So the thing you have to be aware of here is that you won't be losing me just as a doctor in your practice, but that you will also be losing me as your daughter. If your reputation at the country club is more important than that, then God bless and good riddance." Teddy stared her father straight in the eyes, not leaving a single doubt in Gerald's mind that she meant every word she said.

"It is your intention to cut all ties with us if we decide to not support you dating that boy?"

"Stop calling him 'that boy'. His name is Daryl, he is 35 years old, he has a steady job, the same job your son has, by the way. He is not much of a talker, but he is smart as a whip and fiercely loyal. He has had a horrible family life, but he has chosen not to step into his father's or brother's footsteps. He doesn't take drugs, he only drinks socially, just like you and me and he's been cooking for me every single day in the past week to make sure that I have something nice to eat instead of stuffing my face with that horrible crap that I make or fast food. He is struggling to make ends meet, he doesn't have a closet full of nice clothes, his truck is falling apart, his apartment is tiny and has rusty pipes, but you wanna know why? Because he is always cleaning up his brother's messes. Yes, he looks wild and unkempt, he has kinda random tattoos, but he is beautiful. He has dreams, wonderful dreams of living in the woods in his own house, but he can't make them come true, because every time he puts money away his brother fucks up again or he steals it to buy drugs and it's all gone and he Daryl is back to square one. He is honest and hard-working, he has a lot going for him, but he is cursed by his stupid last name. That is all people see. It's all they wanna see, because it is so much easier just to judge than to put in the effort to get to know that person, to break through his walls he built to protect himself from mean gossip and hurtful comments. He has a kind and gentle soul. He is shy. He is giving and selfless, but he considers himself to be a nobody because of people like you. He doesn't deserve that. If you can't support your daughter being with a wonderful man who makes her unbelievably happy, then yes, I will cut all ties with you and Mom. No calls, no visits, no parties, no holidays and if I pass you on the street, I'll look the other way."

"I see." Gerald was no longer smiling. He knew now that Teddy was indeed completely serious.

"You have until tomorrow night to decide and let me know what you want to do. We can go to court and have this end very ugly or you do right by me and terminate my employment as agreed upon in my contract or you reconsider and give Daryl a chance and actually try to get to know him before you pass any judgment on him. Ball is in your court." Teddy said and got up. She had said everything she had wanted to say. Now it was up to her father to make up his mind.

"Alright. I will let you know by tomorrow night." he agreed and got up as well. He wanted to walk her to her car, but Teddy was already halfway out of the house before he had even left his study. He watched with a heavy heart as she drove off. He missed talking to her. He felt a hand on his shoulder and reached up to put his on top of it. "Did you hear what she said?" he asked his wife. He had asked her to give him and Teddy privacy when he'd seen her car pull up, but he knew she had stayed within earshot, probably right outside of the door that he hadn't closed.

"Yes, I heard. We'll think about it. Come on, coffee is ready." Bernadette removed her hand from his shoulder and went into their living room, Gerald following after he had closed the front door.

####### ####### ###### ###### ####### ######

When Teddy entered her apartment only a couple of minutes later, she was greeted by a cloud of smoke and the sound of something sizzling in her frying pan. It made her smile. If he was cooking then things couldn't be that bad. She followed the smoke into the kitchen and her stomach clenched hard when she saw him standing in front of the stove in his tight, form-fitting black t-shirt with the sleeves so short that the devil tattoo on the inside of his arm was visible. She walked up to him and wrapped her arms around him from behind, kissing the back of his neck sweetly.

"Hi."

"Hey." he replied and squeezed her hands that were resting on his stomach with one of his much bigger hands, while giving her a little smile over his shoulder.

"What's that?"

"It's about to be seared venison."

"Venison? Never had that."

"First time for everything." he shrugged, not giving Teddy a single hint about what kind of mood he was in. Suddenly he cleared his throat and shot her a little look over his shoulder. "It ain't a good name like Punishment Pancakes, but it's s'pposed ta be Apology Venison."

"That is one hell of a suck-ass name!" Teddy laughed and finally got a kiss when he lifted his arm and tugged her into his side.

"Yeah, but your pancakes taste like ass and this won't so it kinda works out." he smirked.

"Guess it does." she smiled and stroked her hand along his spine.

"Can ya set the table? This is almost done."

"Yeah sure." Teddy went ahead and did what he'd asked and five minutes later she had her first taste of venison. Daryl almost laughed out loud, when he saw her face scrunch up.

"Ya just don't know what's good, woman!"

"Is it supposed to be this bitter?"

"Yeah. Don't like it then, huh?"

"It's okay. It won't be my favorite, but it's still in the okay-category." The taste was unusual to her taste buds and even though not the best she ever had, it wasn't entirely unpleasant.

"Good, cause we're gonna have this a lot once I shoot ma next deer." he smiled and reached out, fork still in his hand, but the prongs facing down towards the table, to wipe a bit of sauce from the corner of her mouth with his thumb.

"Awesome." she mock shuddered, but on the inside she was insanely comforted by his touches.

"Saves money."

"Speaking of... were you able to clear your head? Think some more about last night?"

"Yeah. I was a dick. I'm sorry bout what I said. Look, I ain't gon' lie about it. I am kinda macho about this, I reckon, it is weird ta me that ya make more dough than me, but ya were right bout what ya said. It don't change nothin' between us. Ain't gonna like ya less because of it. Just don't start up any shit when I wanna take ya out, 'kay? I won't go broke by paying for dinner. Jus' let me do that stuff, alright? It's all I ask."

"Okay. No problem. So we're good?"

"Yeah, all good. You accept ma apology?" when she nodded he got up from his chair and leaned over the table to plant a big kiss on her, making her giggle happily. "No luck on the job hunt then?"

"Nope,... but I went to see my father." she saw his eyes snap up at her, then narrow suspiciously.

"Why?"

"Just to talk. Making sure that he knows what he's doing and what consequences there would be. I kind of gave him an ultimatum. He either fire me the right way with two weeks notice if me working there really hurts his business or he will hear from my lawyer. He'll let me know by tomorrow night."

"Think he'll do it the right way?"

"Would be stupid of him to let this go to court since he knows what he's doing is illegal. Well, we'll have to wait and see."

"Hate waiting." he muttered around a mouthful of venison.

"Me, too, but I think we'll find a way or two to pass the time." she winked with a giggle, making Daryl shovel his food into his mouth a lot faster.

###### ######## ############ ####### ########

Thank you so much for reading! Thank you, thank you, thank you to all the followers and favoriters out there. And you lovely reviewers, you really make my day and fuel my passion to write this. Don't ever stop!

Dear snowbird and guest, thank you so much for your kind words. I hope everybody else got their PMs:)