This has a very rocky start because I wasn't feeling this chapter when I started writing it a few days ago, but it has gradually gotten better and I've come to like it. I hope you all enjoy!
Rick had never been so relieved in that moment when he found out that Carl was allowed to stay. Tears glistened in his eyes and he wrapped his son in his arms, much to Carl's annoyance.
The doors opened and the council filed out. Hershel, Glenn and Sasha walked by the two Grimes men, but Carol and Daryl stopped in front of them. Daryl had his arms cross over his chest and glared at them both.
"Your boy got lucky, Rick. Carol fought for him in there. Sounds like you'll have some major ass kissn' to do."
Rick looked over at Carl for confirmation and the boy nodded. Rick swallowed and looked directly at Carol, whose face was neutral.
"Carol, do you think you'll ever be able to...forgive me?"
Daryl snorted at his words and Carol elbowed him gently. "I think what we need right now is time, Rick," she said. "You have Carl to talk with. I'm not going to lie, though; it's going to take me a long time for me to ever trust you again."
Rick's eyes went to his feet. "I know."
They fell into silence and Daryl gently nudged Carol to ask if she was ready to go. She gave him a smile and told him to go on. Daryl hesitated, not wanting to leave her alone with Rick, but she gave him a look and soon, he was walking down the hallway.
Carol had no doubt that he would stand just around the corner to wait.
"Rick," she finally said and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I know all of this is hard for you and I just want to say I'm sorry for making you think it was me. I just... I just didn't want you to know it was Carl. I knew it would destroy you."
Rick covered her hand with his and gently squeezed. "I shouldn't have just kicked you out. I don't even know why that was the first thing that came to mind, Carol. All those things I said before I drove off, well, I didn't mean them. I'm-"
"Just dealing with a lot. I know." Carol understood. "I think we just need a little space away from one another and then, things will start to get better."
Rick nodded. "All right."
"But, you know, you really do have a lot of ass kissing to do. So, I'm thinking lots of foot massages." Sliding her hand from his shoulder, Carol winked and walked down the hallway to where Daryl would be waiting.
Three Months After Carol's Return
Rick had woken up just as the sunning was peeking over the horizon. Early mornings weren't rare for him, since he would use the time to check on the crops. No one would be up and about, yet, and Rick enjoyed the quiet.
Walking outside, he found Daryl standing by the gate that led to the rest of the yard. His crossbow hung across his back. "Hey," he greeted. "Want to go huntin' with me?"
Rick was shocked. Daryl had spoken only a handful of words to him since he had banished Carol and most of them hadn't been friendly. Now, not only was he talking to him, but he was asking him to go hunting, which was something he rarely did. Daryl liked to hunt alone and even Carol had only gone with him a few times.
When Rick didn't answer right away, Daryl shifted his feet in impatience. "I ain't askin' so I can take you out there to kill you."
Rick couldn't help but smile. "Well, that's a relief. Sure, I'll go with you." Things felt like old times, but Rick knew not to hope that all was forgiven.
Daryl began to walk to the gate and called over his shoulder. "Scare any of the game away and you'll get an arrow in the ass!"
It was quiet between the two men as they walked silently through the woods. So far, they hadn't found any meat. Rick kept a hand hovering over his pistol, just in case a walker surprised them.
"So," Rick said. "Tell me the real reason why you wanted me to come with." Rick knew there had to be a reason behind Daryl's invitation.
"You got me." Daryl's focus never left the woods around him. He was constantly on alert. "Carol wanted me to finally talk to you."
"Did she threaten to cut you off?" Rick didn't know where that had come from, but it was too late to take it back now.
Daryl snorted. "Hell no. 'Sides, she knows if threatens that, then she'll suffer, too."
Rick blanched, totally not expecting that to come out if Daryl's mouth. He and Carol kept their sex life to themselves and unlike Glenn and Maggie's relationship, there were some people in the prison who still weren't exactly sure Daryl and Carol were together.
"Listen," Daryl suddenly stopped and Rick nearly ran into his back. "It's been three months since that...whole thing with Carl and Carol. I'm still pissed at you, but I think it's about time I start to let it go. Things ain't goin' to be like they were before, though."
Nodding gravely, Rick spoke, "I understand, Daryl." He had always known that the brother relationship he and Daryl had would forever be broken. He was glad, though, that Daryl had found someone to take his place in Tyreese.
"I'm probably goin' to still snap at you and treat you like shit, sometimes, but jus' know that I don't hate you, okay?"
All Rick could do was nod. When he had woken up that morning, he hadn't expected this and it made him feel good. The last few months had been hard with Carl and everything else that was going on. Thankfully, Carl seemed better now. His gun had been given to him a month ago, but he didn't constantly carry it around. He also liked to hang around with Tyreese and sometimes, Daryl.
Rick was starting to think that he finally had his son back and this time, he would be back permanently.
"Well, now that's all clear up. Let's get us a deer and get our asses back to the prison."
Daryl had done a lot of thinking the past three months and most of it had been about Rick. While that sounded wrong to admit in his head, he knew it to be true. The first month after Carol's banishment he constantly thought about punching Rick every time he saw him, but gradually that anger for his former best friend went away.
What Rick had done was a horrible thing and to Daryl the man had suffered enough the past several weeks, with everything concerning Carl, that Daryl decided that maybe it was time he forgave him. Carol had suggested they go out hunting so they could talk and Daryl had agreed to the idea.
Daryl wasn't much for deep talks or talks that involved speaking about some kind of emotional shit and was glad that Rick didn't need much to understand everything Daryl was saying.
He knew that things wouldn't be like they were before, concerning their friendship, but he was forgiven and things could finally go back to normal.
Daryl had even confided in Tyreese about the whole thing with Rick, something he wasn't use to. Tyreese had laughed and punched him in the shoulder. "You aren't going to drop me like yesterday's news once you talk to him, right?"
"Shut up," Daryl had growled, but secretly, he enjoyed the easy camaraderie he had with the large man. Carol had told him one night that Tyreese's friendship was good for him. Daryl had respected Rick and trusted the man, but Rick had always been so serious all the time. Daryl couldn't blame him, though. He had been their leader. But with Tyreese, Daryl was allowed to let himself go a little and after living a life of just following Merle around and having no real friends, it felt go. Real good.
That afternoon, he and Rick returned back to the prison with a doe in tow. Carol had praised their work and set off to prepare the deer for their meal. Rick went to find Carl and Daryl followed Carol to the kitchen.
"How did it go?" She asked with her back to him. He had been silent when she entered the kitchen, but she had known he was there.
"Fine," he answered and joined her side.
"Doesn't it feel good?" Carol looked up at him, face serious. "To finally let go of all that anger?"
"Yeah, it does."
"Told you," she smiled and bumped his hip lightly with hers. "Now, why don't you grab a knife and help me with supper."
Leaning down, Daryl gave her a quick kiss and moved to do what she had ordered.
So, I'm thinking that there might just be one more chapter after this and then, I'll call it complete! :)
Thanks for reading!