Chapter 21

Daryl's headaches continued, but they were never as bad as the day he came home from the infirmary. They were lessening in intensity and he ready for them to just be gone. It was now about two weeks later and he was at a complete loss on what to do with himself. His vision hadn't returned and he was still living in a world of total darkness. Since there wasn't anything he could really do, he was quickly bored out of his mind.

He had learned to find his way around the house without too many disasters. Carol and Dayna had quickly moved any breakable items off of the tables to save them the trouble of cleaning up the breakage. They just didn't tell him that they did that.

Daryl did have bruised shins and a couple of jammed fingers, but he finally figured out where everything was. However, he hated leaving the house. The only time he would go beyond the front porch was with Dayna. Each evening she would make him walk with her along the quiet Alexandrian streets to get him outside. The man that used to live to be outdoors and wanted to be involved in everything was becoming a hermit. And he hated it, but not more than having people stare and feel sorry for him. The people that used to be scared of him, he felt pitied him.

And he didn't want anyone's pity.

Dayna felt he was withdrawing from her and she was doing everything she could think of to bring him back. Every day that his vision didn't return, she felt him retreating from everyone he knew including herself. He was short with her and argued whenever he could. The only time he was his old self was when they made love every night and then they would fall asleep on their sides with his hand on her belly.

It was now just about a month before Dayna was due to deliver. Every morning she would get up before Daryl did and head over to the infirmary. Before his accident, Daryl was always up first and typically that was around sunrise, now he waited until he knew Dayna was gone before he got up.

This one morning was no different. Dayna tried to get him to get up with her and even suggested he join her in the shower, but he turned her down. He would never have done that in the past. He just kept his eyes closed and told her he was going back to sleep. Only after she showered, dressed and he heard the front door close, did he stir.

Daryl rolled on his back. He dreaded this time of day. Every morning before he would open his eyes for the first time in the morning, he prayed that he would be able to see again, but he never did. This just wasn't disappointing to him, but it was destroying him a little bit every day.

He moved so that he was now sitting on the edge of the bed with his eyes still tightly closed. He gripped the sheet firmly in his hands and slowly counted to three. One…two…three and he opened his eyes. Daryl was instantly disappointed again and dropped his head feeling like a complete failure.

"What the fuck?" he suddenly said to himself. He looked up and down again, then over to his left. While everything was still gray, it was a different gray he realized especially when he looked to his left. Nothing was as dark as it used to be, but when he turned to his left it was definitely brighter. He still couldn't make out shapes, but this was an improvement. Not a huge one, but it was a start.

It was the window that made the biggest difference. The sun coming in was actually making a change in his gray world. Daryl felt his heart start to race as he realized that there really may be a chance his vision was coming back. He wanted to tell Dayna, but what if this was all that happened? He didn't want to get her hopes up yet. She was being so patient with him and he was nothing short of a dick to her. That needed to stop right now. No matter what, she had his back throughout everything and her love and loyalty to him meant more than she could ever know.

Suddenly he wanted to go outside and see what happened there. Would it be better? Could he see anything? Dozens of possibilities raced through his mind. He needed to get outside now.

Daryl quickly used the bathroom, before heading to the closet to find his clothes. Once he was sure that everything was properly zipped up, buttoned and closed, he had already made that embarrassing mistake once, he made his way downstairs and out the door faster and more confident than he usually did.

When he reached the front porch and had the railing securely under his hands, he knew that there was a definite difference today. Everything was brighter when he was outside. He still couldn't see, but he knew this was progress, so that's where he stayed all day sitting on the porch floor smoking an occasional cigarette. He needed to be in the brighter light…it gave him hope.

Daryl had been sitting outside for almost three hours when he heard Carol walk out of the house. He had figured out everyone's footsteps and knew that Carol was standing there most likely staring at him with her arms crossed. Typical Carol.

"What?"

"You've been out here awful long today," she told him.

"Yeah? So what?"

Carol knew he was having a very hard time accepting his blindness. It broke her heart to see him this way. He had withdrawn from her, Rick and from most everyone. Since her room was next to his and Dayna's, she didn't miss the loud voices she now heard coming from it. Dayna was doing a great job putting up with him. Carol wasn't sure that she would have been able to.

She had been coming out of the pantry when she saw him walk through the house and out the door. For a moment she wondered if he had gotten his sight back as his steps were solid and confident. Talking to him now, she could tell that he hadn't.

"Nothing, just that you haven't eaten yet. I can make you something and bring it out here. It is a beautiful day."

"I ain't hungry and I'll have to take your word on the day," he said sharply. Unfortunately, his stomach growled loudly right them and Carol just laughed at him.

"I'm fixing you something to eat, so don't tell me you're not hungry. You are. And there is no need to be cranky with me. I know you can't see the damn day, but you can feel the air and that the humidity is gone, at least for today. This poor me attitude you have going doesn't suit you. You're better than that." Carol didn't give Daryl the time to answer her as she immediately went back inside and he clearly heard the door slam behind her.

What he didn't know was that she wasn't mad at him, but she just wanted her old Daryl back. Maybe a little push would help him. They all had been too easy on him, while he was nothing short of a pain in the ass to everyone. He had a good reason, but enough was enough.

Carol watched him for a little bit, but she couldn't get a read on him. Just as she was about to walk back to the kitchen to make him something to eat, she heard him say, "Thought you were making me lunch. Ain't gonna happen if you just stand there and stare at my sorry face."

She laughed out loud. He may not be able to see anything, but he sure was attuned to what was going on around him. Carol shook her head as she headed back to the kitchen, she still couldn't put one over on him. Somehow he knew she was standing there keeping trying to figure him out.

Since there was no one to bring in fresh meat anymore, they were all eating concoctions she made out of the canned goods and anything else she could find. Her meals weren't great, but they were filling. Carol filled a bowl with last night's leftovers, grabbed a spoon and headed back to the porch.

Daryl knew that Carol only had his best interest at heart. Sure she was nosy, but she had stood by him and supported him for years…even when he was acting like an ass, like he was now. He heard her footsteps headed towards him and knew she deserved an apology.

"Put your hands out," she instructed him.

He felt the bowl placed in them. "Smells good."

Carol cocked an eyebrow as he typically never commented on his food. "There's a spoon by your right hand. Just give me a shout if you want more."

"Carol?"

"Yes?" she replied. She knew he hadn't eaten anything yet, so she wondered what was up.

"Umm...thanks. 'ppreciate you getting this for me. Sorry, I was a dick."

She stood there with her mouth hanging open. In all the years she had known Daryl, she rarely heard him apologize about anything. It just wasn't his way and she had learned to accept it. And this was something minor for him to apologize for, so was actually huge to her. "Thank you." Carol knew that anything else but a simple thank you to him would embarrass him so she let it go at that.

"Just let me know if you want more," she told him before heading back inside.

"Yep," he answered as he found the utensil and started to eat.

After he was done, he put the bowl next to him before he let the back of his head rest against the vertical wooden boards of the railing and closed his eyes. They were getting tired. He had his knees bent up with his hands resting on them. He picked at the frayed edges of the holes his pants had in both knees. Maybe he should have Dayna look for another pair of pants for him.

Thinking about her and how she took care of him, both before and after the accident had him once again wondering how they happened. How the fuck did he end up with her? He didn't deserve Dayna. No fucking way. Why she put up with his shit, he didn't understand at all. He had been so damn stupid about her in the beginning. Sure he wanted her, who wouldn't? She was smart, beautiful and had a body that made his dick get hard right from the start. He was the dumbass that kept pulling back from her because she scared him. He had been afraid that once she realized what a low life he was, she would kick his ass to the curb and that would absolutely crush him.

Yeah, he had been so wrong about her. She stood by him through absolutely everything, except that one time he had pushed her too far. He wasn't going to do that again. Dayna knew everything about him. She knew stuff that no one else here knew, not Carol or even Rick. He had told her about his life prior to when everything went to shit and she still stayed with him. Told him it didn't matter what he did or was like back then, it only mattered who he was now. Daryl knew he had changed and was a better man now than he had been. He just had to stop being such an ass to everyone.

Dayna had also saved his life on more than one occasion and for that, he could never repay her. Now, she was putting up with him being a complete dick to her. He was frustrated and angry and took it out on her. Daryl chuckled to himself as Dayna didn't stand there and take it from him; no she yelled right back and called him on it. And damn, didn't that turn him on every single fucking time.

Those nights ended up with the best sex. And she never walked away from him again.

Daryl took a deep breath. There was a chance that his vision may be getting better, but he knew it was too soon to tell. Any change was a step in the right direction, but none of this was Dayna's fault and he had to stop being such a jerk. She didn't need it and the baby didn't need her getting all riled up. No fucking way.

He sat up straighter but still kept his hands on his knees. It was time to change his attitude. This feeling sorry for himself was bullshit. It was time to man up and deal with whatever the outcome was going to be.

The one thing he had noticed was that his hearing was picking up on things he hadn't before. As he was making the decision to be the man he should be, he heard distant footsteps approaching the house. It could be anyone walking past the house or to the house, he had no idea, but he kept paying attention to the steps that were getting closer and closer.

Where he was sitting, no one could see him unless they came up the steps from the street or out the door. The bushes in the front of the house blocked him from everyone walking by. Daryl preferred sitting on the floor of the porch, rather than the chair that was there. This was his spot.

The steps got closer and closer until they stopped at the base of the front steps. The person took a breath before heading up them and he knew it was Dayna. It was earlier than usual for her to be returning, but then again he did tell her to cut back her hours at the infirmary. He hoped there wasn't anything wrong.

Dayna was happy to be home. Rosita had kicked her out of the infirmary telling her not to return unless she sent word that she was needed and Rosita meant for now on. There was no reason for Dayna to be there every day and Rosita had put her foot down and Dayna was actually relieved. She was constantly tired, uncomfortable and felt like she had swallowed a beach ball. It seemed like her stomach was growing every day. She was so ready to give birth, but even though she still had almost four weeks left to go, she felt she may go early. Or maybe that was just wishful thinking on her part.

So as she slowly put one foot after the other up the stairs, she was looking forward to a nice long nap. And with any luck, Daryl would be in a decent mood for a change. She understood where his frustration was coming from and she didn't blame him at all, but she was getting tired of bearing the brunt of it.

Dayna reached the top step and held on to the rail with one hand, while the other went to her back. She was getting ready to head inside when she heard a quiet, "Hey."

She looked over to the right and there was Daryl sitting in his favorite spot. The funny thing was he looked relaxed and she hadn't seen that in days. "Hey to you too. Nice to see you out here."

Daryl stood up and reached his hand out so she would take it. When she did, he pulled her close into him, but the baby, kept them further apart than he expected. "Keep forgetting that he's there," Daryl laughed.

"I don't! If you could see how big…" Dayna started to say and stopped. She hadn't meant it to come out that way and she probably ruined his good mood.

He put his hands on her belly and felt every inch of her. The smile on his face never changed. "I bet you look pretty big. You feel like you have a big ball growing out of ya."

"I do and Daryl…I'm sorry I said that."

His hand found her face and he cupped her chin. He couldn't see her, but he knew she felt bad about what she said. He knew she didn't mean anything bad by it, it was just one of those of those things that people say accidently. "I know. It's okay. I'm good, but why are you home? You okay?"

"Rosita told me that I wasn't allowed there anymore unless we had something that she couldn't handle. I'm tired, so I didn't argue with her."

"That means you're gonna be around every day now?" he asked her.

"I guess so. Is that okay?"

Daryl pulled her in as close as he could for a hug. "That's better than okay."

Dayna wondered what had happened today for this change in him. This morning he was cranky and short with her, but now he was happy and loving. She kissed his scruffy cheek. "C'mon, let's go in. I'm in need of a nap. You want to join me?"

"Definitely," he told her. He wasn't tired at all, but any time he could hold her close he would.

Together they walked in the house and once inside the privacy of their bedroom, Dayna started to undress. "Are you getting' naked?" Daryl asked.

Dayna look up and saw the sexy smirk on his face. The man did have a one track mind. "I'm getting comfortable. You're going to have to save any friskiness until after my nap." She heard him mumble 'Fuck' under his breath. "Nap first, fucking second…okay?"

"Guess I don't have a choice," he whined.

She laughed to herself. Never had she ever heard him use that whining tone before. It was adorable with his naturally gruff voice. "Oh, my poor baby. No sex for you until Mommy gets a nap first. Then we can play."

Daryl smiled at what he thought was her general direction. He made his way over to the bed and sat down as he took his boots off. Dayna may not be getting naked, but there was no reason he couldn't be. He took everything off and stood up with his clothes ion his arms. "Umm…can you take these from me?"

Dayna had been concentrating on getting her clothes off and a slipping into an oversized t-shirt that still pulled across her big belly. She looked over to Daryl and smiled. Seeing him naked, almost had her changing her mind, but the yawn that came next reminded her she realty needed that nap.

"Sure, I'm coming to get them now." She took his clothes from him, but just before she turned to put them away, she took his semi-hard shaft into her hand. Dayna watched as his eyes got big, as he was not expecting her to do that. She pumped him a few times, before letting go. "Preview," was all she said as she dumped his clothes into the laundry basket.

"Look what you've gone and done now," he groaned.

She giggled when she saw he was completely hard now. "Well it's a nap first mister, so get into bed. I need the bathroom side."

Daryl was grumbling under his breath about cock teasers as Dayna slide under the covers next to him shaking her head. "Stop your whining. It was your fault for getting completely naked instead of just comfortable for a nap you horny bastard."

He chuckled at her. God how he loved this woman. When he felt her butt snuggled into his lap since they always slept spooning, he pulled her tight against him. He knew she felt the erection she had given him pressing up against her butt. Then instead of putting a hand on her belly like he normally did, he tweaked one of her nipples, before palming the breast.

"That's how you are going to sleep now holding my boob?"

"Yep."

"Okay then, this may be a short nap," she laughed.

"Thank fucking God," he murmured into her hair.

"Love you," Dayna whispered as she started to doze off.

"Love you too." They both drifted off to sleep content to lie in each other's arms. They had their love for each other to help pull them through whatever crises next stood in their path. Tonight…tomorrow anything could happen, but for now this was all that mattered…being together.