Belong With Not To
It was Daryl's turn to sleep in the next morning; there had been an impromptu engagement celebration the night before. The women admired Carol's ring and the men teased Daryl about losing his freedom. Andrea asked, "When is the wedding?" Carol answered, "Next week. Daryl has it all planned out". There was a sudden complete silence in the room as the group imagined a Dixon wedding.
Rick inquired, "Who do I aim the shotgun at, you or Carol?"
"So where is the hillbilly hootenanny going to be?" Michonne asked, visualizing Daryl in all camo and Carol dressed as Daisy Duke.
"So what's on the menu, squirrel brain hor dourves and deer jerky, "demanded Maggie. Daryl just shook his head at them; they really didn't give him much credit for being a wedding planner. He airily replied, "The wedding will be at sunset up on the summit of the mountain. There is a large flat rock up there big enough for all of us to have the ceremony. Hershel can marry us, Tyreese will take photographs, and the reception will be both tasteful and beautiful. There will be no need for shotguns though Michonne and Andrea can carry swords if they want to."
A longer silence followed, Andrea moved over to Daryl, hugged him, and said sincerely, "It sounds absolutely lovely, Daryl. I can't wait to go, but what in the world will we wear?" It was a good question as every woman and most of the men contemplated their meager clothing. Maggie's eyes lit up, "Shopping run!" she squealed.
Michonne was still cautious, "Now what about the reception?" Daryl smiled confidently. "It's going to be perfect".
Canary gave a friendly bark about then and Rick opened the door to Ashton, Emma, Arya, Ariel, Jonathan, and a beaming Jo. "Jonathan just told me your news. That's so wonderful, oh please let me help with the reception," Jo begged. Daryl smiled at her, "It's in your hands, Jo, I know I can trust you to make it just right." He shot Michonne a triumphant look; they had met Jonathan and Beth on a walk and shared their good news with them before they got home. Jo hugged Daryl and then Carol. Ashton hugged Carol and then Daryl. Ashton warned Daryl, "Treat her right". Jo oohed at Carol's ring, took her first long look at Daryl who was smiling at Carol, and thought to herself, "He will treat her right, that man loves her, and I am going to throw one hell of a party for this wedding."
Daryl just let it all roll off him, the women were still trying to find the flaws in his wedding plans. Michonne asked," Is obey going to be in the vows?" "Hell no, Daryl replied, "I might be whipped but I ain't promising to obey Carol. I am writing mine, Carol will write hers. Getting married should be about celebrating that you belong with and not to someone." "Good answer, Cracker", Michonne finally hugged him after she wiped her eyes. He held Michonne close for minute, "Thanks for teaching me how to dance."
Carol enjoyed watching Daryl field all the questions. He really wanted a traditional wedding; she would have bet that his idea of a wedding was going out into the woods and jumping over a pile of squirrels to signify his commitment to her. He was full of surprises; life with Daryl would never be dull.
Joaquin asked Andrea to walk him out; they sat on the porch furniture that Michonne had set out that afternoon. They watched the moon come up enjoying the cool air and each other's company. Canary sat on Andrea's lap and went to sleep. After a while Ashton's family left and Joaquin finally pulled himself away, but not before kissing Andrea goodnight and promising to take her into town tomorrow afternoon to see the sights.
The house was already quiet when Andrea came back into the house. Her bed was already made and it wasn't long before she was fast asleep.
Carol and Daryl were enjoying the afterglow of Carol "making it up" to Daryl. He was ready to go to sleep, but she wanted to talk. "All right, Daryl, are you sure that you want to go through with a wedding? You know it's going to get more complicated, Jo is having way too much fun for it to stay simple." "Oh, that is just the party; the marriage is really just between you and me. I never was in love with anyone else, and I am never going to love anyone else like I love you. I want the ceremony to show that even no matter what shit the world has turned into, two people can still promise to love and take care of each other. I want a marriage not a relationship."
Carol was silent for a bit. "I said some vows one time, but I never had a marriage before. I feel the sudden need to make it up to you some more. How tired are you?"
"Maybe we should wait until after the wedding to be together?... Just kidding, I am thinking that I have some making up to do too. How tired are you?"
"Let's just practice some of that loving and taking care of each other for a while. "