FanFicGirl10- Awww, I hate breaking hearts. An ocean can't keep them apart!
Piratejessieswaby-Daryl's an awesome hunter. You think he'll break a promise?
To all my fans: I've had a great time writing this, and it's my sincere hope you have had a great time reading it. I know it's taken me a bit longer than I thought it would to get it completed, but I'm happy with the results. I'm probably going to take a break from WD until the season resumes. I'm not worried about Daryl, cause god forbid they kill him off; they'll lose 90% of their viewership. I have a feeling if it came down to it, Daryl will be the "Bringer of Rain" and do what he must to survive...(did you like my little plug for one of my other fave shows? It comes back later this month!)I appreciate all your reads, your reviews, your follows, your faves, your kind words have been what has fueled me to continue. It shows me that you like what I write and that's what matters most.
And now here is Ch 14 of Savin' Me
A year later….
Caitlin had never seen something so perfect as the little face swaddled in the blanket lying in the crib she was leaning over. It had been a hard trip over from America to Ireland. While Caitlin had the luxury of a private bedroom, she was never left alone for long. The only time people left her alone was when she was sleeping, which happened to be most of the trip. If Caitlin wasn't sleeping, she was usually lying in bed curled around Daryl's pillow, memories flooding her mind. But now even those memories were fading, growing cold in their absence. She could feel the heavy weight of the diamond ring against her chest as she walked out of the nursery. Caitlin went downstairs out to the garden, finding Beth knelt down planting carrots.
"You ok? You haven't said much today." Caitlin knelt down next to the young woman, taking her hands in her own. Beth looked up, her eyes meeting Caitlin's. A soft brogue escaped her lips; Beth had taken to Ireland well. "I miss Rory. I miss my family. I know there was nothing that could be done about it. But of all the people I knew, I really thought Rory and Daryl would make it out. It's been almost a year since we left, and they haven't came for us. I wonder if they are trapped and can't get out or if they are dead. Rory is never far from my thoughts. We should be married now if things were different. I would be going to the Marine Corps Ball with him. He'd be in his uniform looking handsome, and I'd be in a dress, smiling on his arm. I'd be pregnant and waiting for him to come home from deployment if things were different. Now, I'm here with his family, which I'm grateful for, don't get me wrong, in another country, feeling like I'm in limbo. Don't you feel the same with Daryl?"
Caitlin took a deep breath, looking out across the pasture, over the heads of the cattle and sheep. "If things were different, Daryl would be waiting for me to come home from deployment. He'd be dolled up in a suit or tux of sorts and going to the Navy Ball with me. Could you see him in a suit or a tux? We would be married; maybe I would be out of the Navy and working in hospital somewhere. You just don't know, and we can't give up hope that they will find their way home. Daryl's a man of his word, and he knows I will hold him to it."
Beth giggled at the thought of Daryl in a suit or a tux at a military function with Caitlin, she just really couldn't see him doing it, but he would for Caitlin, because he loved her so much. Those weeks with Caitlin had changed him from an emotionless, wreck less, against the world on his own, man to someone who could feel, could care for others and could love others. Beth had grown to like him even more after he met Caitlin.
Beth had fallen in love with Caitlin's brisk, rough tough Marine of a brother, Rory. But under it all, behind closed doors, for Beth alone; he was tender, caring and considerate. He had brought Beth back from the brink, and made her stronger than she ever thought she could be. When she thought she could never love again after losing her family, Rory taught her what love was.
Caitlin left Beth to go back in the house. As she stepped in the door she heard the baby crying upstairs. Caitlin crept into the nursery, reaching into the crib and pulling the baby out.
"Ach, wee laddie are ye hungry? A wet diaper eh? Mommy will take care of you, don't you worry." Caitlin cooed over her son, who looked up at her with the same deep blue eyes his father used to look at her with. Caitlin's heart caught in her throat, Daryl was never far from her thoughts. Caitlin changed the boy's diaper, putting him back into the crib as she tidied up. Caitlin hummed a little to herself as she picked up her son, setting down in the rocking chair with him in the nursery. Caitlin carefully uncovered herself as the baby rooted for her nipple. "Easy son, you're eating for Ireland! Mommy's still a bit sore!" Caitlin continued to hum as she rocked in the chair, feeding her miracle.
The pregnancy hadn't been without issue, she had been on bed rest for the last quarter as Caitlin had started to spot. The doctors had told her due to her stabbing injury to her abdomen that getting pregnant, much less carrying it to term would be a miracle in itself and not without hardship. Caitlin had endured it all, for this perfect little man in her arms. Caitlin heard the light footsteps in the hall, but she wasn't worried about reaching for a weapon. Ireland was safe, Ireland wasn't infected.
Daryl walked quietly through the house; he had seen Beth run for Rory and him. Rory limped as quickly as he could, Beth taking him down to the ground. Paddy had come outside to see what the noise was all about, finding Rory and Daryl standing in the front yard. Paddy walked right up to Daryl, shaking his head. "Damn glad to see you son. Caitie will be tickled to see you as well. She's upstairs, be quiet and surprise her." Paddy clapped Daryl on the back as Daryl headed into the house.
Daryl passed each door in the house, peeking in each room as he went along. The bedrooms were upstairs; Daryl crept up the stairs, peeking in the doors. His curiosity got the best of him when he heard gentle humming from the far bedroom on the left. Daryl's breath caught in his throat when he saw Caitlin feeding a baby wrapped up in her arms. Rage boiled in him, why the hell was his mate feeding a baby? Thoughts swirled in his mind, of killing the man that had touched his mate. He leaned against the doorjamb, watching the smile on Caitlin's face as the baby suckled at her.
Caitlin looked up, seeing Daryl staring at her. She blinked in confusion, and shook her head. "Are you real or am I dreaming?" her voice barely a whisper in the thick silence of the room. "You're awake darlin'. I promised you I would find you didn't I? Now I'm home to spend the rest of my life with you." Daryl crossed the room, standing in front of Caitlin. He reached out to stroke her cheek, as Caitlin turned her face into his hand, her tears falling between his fingers. "I never gave up hope you'd find your way back to me Daryl. I love you so much." "I know darlin'." Caitlin covered herself carefully, getting out of the rocking chair. Daryl stepped back, as Caitlin held the baby out to him.
Daryl gingerly took the bundle from her, as the baby's eyes opened. It was as if he was looking into his own eyes. "What's his name?" Daryl questioned carefully. "Sean, his name is Sean and he's your son Daryl." Caitlin could see the recognition in Daryl's eyes, "My son? Ya mean ya left Virginia pregnant? I thought ya couldn't because of your wound?" "Yes your son and you gave me this miracle. Thank you for giving me, us, this life." Daryl pulled Caitlin into his chest, "How did you get here? Did Rory come with you? Where's Rick and Carl?" Daryl sat down in the rocker with Sean cuddled into his chest.
"Rory is here, he's downstairs with Beth. Carl got took down by walkers. Rick flipped out and yelled at us to move on, to leave him, that he'd cover us. Rory and I took off. We made it out to the pier; I saw your truck and your note. I took your phone and we jumped in a boat together, me and Rory. We ran out of fuel somewhere between here and the US. Got picked up by a British Navy ship. Rory had enough sense to grab all the ID and stuff he had, talked our way through it. Told them I was his brother in law, that I was married to ya and we were trying to get home from the US. They brought us over, put us in quarantine until they checked our story and checked us over for infection. We were in London for ten months before they turned us loose. We been walking and hitching rides since then to make our way home to Beth and ya. I'm just glad I'm home here with you. All that's behind us now, I just want to rest and start over with you. Caitlin I love ya."
Caitlin stood up, leaning over Daryl, kissing him on the mouth tenderly. "Once he goes back to sleep, lay him in the crib and come to bed Daryl. I'll be there waiting for you."
Daryl watched his wife leave the room, his eyes never leaving her body. After three weeks in a brig on a British Navy ship, and almost a year in an observation cell in a London research facility, Daryl was more than ready to be a husband to his wife. It had somehow worked out that papers had surfaced in the system in Ireland that he was indeed married to Caitlin and had dual Irish/American citizenship with a permanent Irish address. Daryl thanked God for small favors, on the magic papers.
Daryl kissed Sean's cheek gently before setting him into the crib, "You're a damned miracle little man. I love you and your momma more than life itself. And it's damned good to be home. Sleep tight."
Daryl laid the nursery door shut as he followed the floral scent across the hallway into his bedroom, finding his wife laying under the blanket, pulled up to cover her bare chest. Daryl stripped out of his clothes, sliding in bed with Caitlin. He kissed her full and deep on the mouth, his need for her pressing into her thigh. "Baby I ain't going nowhere till ya make me." He grinned against her mouth.
"You are never leaving this bed Daryl Dixon."Caitlin's eyes burned like emeralds, as Daryl shivered.
"Yes ma'am Mrs. Dixon."