"What the hell do you mean he murdered, he probably got drunk had a heart attack or suttin" Daryl says feeling Connor grab his hands, rubbing the palm of his hand with his thumb.
"It was a ritualized murder" the Sheriff says.
"What exactly does that mean?" Daryl asks.
"Well the FBI has seen this before, all over the country, he was um shot in the back of the head by two different guns, he was laid out his hands crossed over his chest….and um pennies in his eyes." The Sheriff tells Daryl.
"What the hell I don't understand." Daryl says, Connor couldn't tell if Daryl was sad or mad ….he hated that about Daryl.
"The FBI will be comin in….a um Smecker he has been the lead on this case since it started years back" Daryl looked over at Connor who nodded his head, answering the question that he could see on Daryl's face.
"We apologize, we will leave and let your family get back to dinner…..we apologize" The Sheriff says turning to go to his car.
"Sorry Dar" Shane says, before looking over at Connor with a knowing look on his face, he nodded to Connor in agreement and acceptance.
"Thanks Shane" Daryl, pats him on the shoulder before Shane goes out to the car.
"Come on babe, let's get back in the house, so Charlie doesn't start to worry" Connor says Daryl's hand still in his. They go back into the house "are you okay baby?" Connor asks as they sit on the couch.
"Yeah I mean I aint seen him since Merle moved me into his house, so it's not like I'm missing anything's" Daryl shrugs.
"I love you" Connor says kissing him.
"I love you too." Daryl smiles.
"Please remember that" Connor mumbles as he gets up from the couch to go check on Charlie.
"Hey daddy's girl whatcha doin?' Connor asks as he walks back into the kitchen.
"Eatin" she answers.
"Okay well when you're done, you need to take a bath, and then I am gonna fix your hair….then we can call uncle Murphy"
"Yeah okay, can we call uncle Murphy and Aunt Theresa now?"
"Nope but after your bath and you let me fix your hair without crying and fighting we will call him" Connor says.
"Otay" Charlie was up and heading to the bathroom, Connor on her heels, he gets her bath ready and goes back down to Daryl. "Oh you're doing your challenge huh?" Daryl laughs pulling Connor onto his lap, Connor straddling him.
"Well I figured since, I moved in and everybody wants us to get married, I should learn how to do her hair." Connor kisses him. "Darlin are you sure you're okay?" Connor asks running his fingers through his hair that had gotten long.
"Sweetheart I'm fine, to be honest if I ever met the man that done it I would shake his hand and buy him a beer" Daryl says.
"How about your dad, you never talk about him?" Daryl asks.
"Oh we was strict when he was around, he was bit of a religious fanatic, when we wasn't around he was in prison, only he and God knew why but he was put in prison when me and Murphy were teenagers again after Smecker got him out the first time and he's been there since." Daryl says.
"Does he know you're gay?" Daryl's asks.
"Yeah Smecker told him, but he never said anything to me about it when I would visit him in prison" Connor shrugs.
"Hmmm I would like to meet him one day and your ma" Daryl smiles.
"Oh my ma would love you…..wouldn't keep her hands off of ya" Connor laughs.
"Daddy I'm done" they hear Charlie scream from her bedroom.
"That's you daddy" Daryl smiles slapping Connors ass "Good luck" Daryl smiles.
Connor goes upstairs, and heads to Charlies room….Daryl standing in the door way watching as Connor does her hair, not one word spoken from Charlie.
"Damn I think I'll keep ya" Daryl laughs.
"Good, it would be hard to get rid of me now"
"Can we call him now?" Charlie asks.
"Who we calling?" Daryl asks.
"Uncle Murphy" Charlie answers.
"Oh…I get it you bribed her" Daryl laughs.
"Oh comin from the man that ask my brother to move in with him so he could do her hair" Connor laughs getting his phone out of his pocket calling Murphy's number putting it on speaker phone.
"Hey Conn how are ya?"
"I'm good I got a pretty girl here that wants to talk to you" Connor smiles handing Charlie the phone.
"Hi uncle Murphy"
"Hi there pretty girl how are you?"
"Aright….I miss you and Aunt Theresa"
"Well we are gonna be coming down in a few days, so I will get to see you" Murphy says.
"Really are you gonna stay all night with me?"
"Sure am if it's okay with your daddies"
"You know its fine Murphy" Daryl answers.
"Okay well pretty girl keep my bed warm and I'll see ya in a few days." Murphy says.
"Okay I lo'e you" Charlie says.
"I love you guys too" Murphy says. Charlie hands the phone up to Connor. "I didn't know he was comin in" Daryl says looking over at Connor.
"Me either" Connor says shaking his head. "He's probably comin to tell us Theresa is pregnant" Daryl laughs.
"Probably" Connor says wondering himself why his brother was coming in. "Okay princess, its bed time, it looks like we need to go grocery shopping after school tomorrow, so we can cook for Uncle Murphy and Aunt Theresa." Daryl tells Charlie tucking her in bed.
"Lo'e you daddies to the moon" she says.
"We love you to the stars and back" Daryl says kissing her cheek followed by Connor. They go to their bedroom and get ready for bed. "I hope nothing is wrong with Murphy comin, I hope nothing happened" Daryl says wrapping Connor up in his arms.
"Me too….I just think he misses me, we spent every day of our lives together and even after I started school we still lived together….it's hard to be away from him not seeing him every day" Connor sighs.
"I'm sorry sweetheart, you know that anytime you wanna go out there, we can go, if you can get off work we can go I don't want to keep you away from your brother and I would like meet Doc, and see Smecker again." Daryl says kissing the top of his head.
"I know maybe next break we can go up there and visit show you where I spent most of my life…where I spent my time sluttin around as Doc would call it" Connor laughed against Daryl's chest.
"I would love to see where ya slutted around" Daryl laughs, feeling Connor laugh even harder.
The next morning Connor and Charlie was going to school, Daryl heading to the garage, Connor pulled into the parking lot getting Charlies backpack and his bag and they headed into the school. Connor and Charlie go into the class room waiting for the rest of the students. "Let me have your folder Charlie" Connor says. "Here ya go daddy….I mean Mr. MacManus" Charlie corrected her self handing him the folder.
Connor was surprised to see, a note from Daryl they hadn't exchanged notes in a while. Connor, couldn't describe how happy he was as he took the note out of the folder. As the other students came into the room, he stuck his note into his pocket to read during lunch.
The day was super slow he was excited about the note, but he was so nervous about Murphy coming in, he wanted to talk to Daryl about this alone…..but it looks like it was gonna take both Saints to talk to Daryl about it. Finally, it was lunch time, and he had time to read his note:
Conn, baby just wanted to tell you how much I love you and tell you that you are a great daddy, and I'm so happy that we moved in together. I couldn't be any happier, so hurry teach our daughter math and stuff…..and come home to daddy…Ps: bring pizza from Ricks, love you.
Connor laughed so hard at the daddy line, Connor folded up the note and stuck it in his pocket, before writing one back to Daryl:
Daryl my love I love you too, and the only reason I'm a good daddy is because I learned from you, I have never been this happy in my life and you are the best man I have ever met and I love you with all my heart. I have to go teach our daughter math and stuff now…..PS: never call yourself daddy to me ….EVER, or you will never get any ever again love you too.
Connor laughed folding the note and putting it in Charlie's folder, just in time for the kids to fill the classroom. The rest of the day went by super slow, he wanted to get home. Finally it was time to leave he and Charlie got in his car stopped by Ricks and got the pizza that he called and ordered. "Daddy can we get ice cream?" Charlie asks.
"Yep, what kind do you want baby girl?" Connor smiles he loves hearing her call him daddy, this was his place in the world, this is was what he was meant to do meant to be Charlies daddy and Daryl's boyfriend maybe one day husband. He gets the ice cream and heads home, pulling into the driveway, noticing a car in his spot…..it must be Murphy….he was early. He grabs the pizza and the ice cream and heads into the house.
"Hey baby we got company" Daryl says, the look on his face was worry….that worried Connor. "Yeah I seen the car Murphy and Theresa here?" Connor asks. "Well um Murphy is here, Theresa couldn't make it" Daryl says. Before Connor could say anything he heard him.
"Son" Connor hears the accent the voice that taught him right from wrong. Connor almost drops what was in his hand, his eyes wide looking at Daryl.
"Da?" Connor's voice was a bit shaky as he turns to see his dad, the stern look on his face, the grey hair, that it seemed like he always had been gray he couldn't remember a time when it wasn't grey, those brown eyes that could be the scariest thing you have ever seen on the softest.
"Daryl we need to speak" Noah says. "Um okay I'll let you guys alone" Daryl says turning to leave the room.
"No…no me and you son" Noah's voice reminded Daryl of Connors.
"Da please can we talk first" Connor pleads.
"Connor go sit down, Daryl kitchen please" Daryl takes the ice cream and pizza from Connor, as he watches in amazement as Connor hung his head and went to the couch sitting down as he was told.
"Princess please go to your room" Daryl tells Charlie. "Otay daddy" she smiles heading up the stairs.
Daryl goes to the kitchen where Murphy was sitting. "Murphy put that in the freezer then go in there with your brah'der." Daryl watches as Murphy jumps to doing what his dad told him to do.
"Is this because I'm dating your son?" Daryl asks.
"No son no I'm very happy for you both, this is about your father sit down please." Noah's face was stern, Connor looked like him, he would use the same face when he got after Charlie.
"What about him?" Daryl asks, as he sit down.
"Your father threatened you, threatened your daughter, threatened my son, I can't have that Daryl."
"You don't have to worry about that, he's dead now"
Noah, shifted in his seat, pulling something out of his pocket, throwing two pennies towards Daryl "yes Daryl I know."
"Did you do that?" Daryl asks, picking up the pennies from the table. "Yes me and Murphy, is that gonna be issue for you?" Noah asks.
Daryl gets up from the table, "Murphy" he yells as he goes to the fridge, looking back seeing Murphy and Connor coming into the kitchen, Connor smiles as he sees Daryl come back to the table with two beers. "Thank you" Daryl says handing them the beers, sticking his hand out to shake their hands.
Connor shook his head remembering what Daryl had told him. Daryl sit down beside Connor "Thank you babe" Daryl kissing him. "The scars you have are they from this kinda stuff?" Daryl asks.
"Yeah, do you remember a few years back, the Saints the one's that was killing them mob members?" Connor asks. "That you three?" Daryl asks. "Just me and Connor" Murphy says.
"You're a teacher" Daryl says a bit confused.
"Not always, Da, taught us right from wrong, we would get rid of bad people, mob members mostly, drug dealer, rapist…..murders…child abusers" Connor could see Daryl's body stiffen at the last part. "But Da, decided it was time to hang up our Rosaries, Smecker brought our guns to Shane, I ….finished school" Connor informs him.
"Daddy I'm hungry" they hear.
"Ah shit, sorry baby girl come on let's get some food" Connor says getting up from the table, getting Charlie a plate of pizza.
"You look like my daddy" Charlie says looking over at Noah.
"Um baby girl, he's my daddy" Connor tells her both Murphy and Daryl chuckles.
"Otay, my other daddy doesn't have a daddy" Charlie tells him.
"Me either" Noah smiles looking at Charlie. Daryl swore Charlie could smile at the devil himself and he would fall to his knees and do anything she wanted him too.
"Do you want pisa?" Charlie asks Noah.
"Uh…..yeah sure Charlie" Connor and Murphy sit in awe as their bad ass, murdering, ex-con of a dad sit and smiles at this wonderful little girl that she was the mother Mary. "Daddy your daddy wants pisa" Charlie turn telling Connor.
"Yeah….um okay" Connor gets up throwing Murphy a look before getting his dad a piece of pizza. "Here da" Connor places the plate in front of his dad, before getting everyone else a piece as well.
The boys have never seen their dad this talkative, him and Charlie had hit it off she already had him wrapped around her little finger, just like she had every man at the table. "Okay princess it's time for bed, say goodnight and give hugs and kisses." Charlie kisses her dads, kisses her uncle Murphy, stopping and waiting for Noah to bend down so she could kiss him goodnight. Connor gave him a look, finally he took notice and leaned down so she could kiss his cheek. "Good night daddy's dad" she smiles at him. "Good night." Daryl follows her up to her bedroom tucking her in.
"Connor are you happy?" Noah asks. "Very happy" Connor answers. "He seems to really care about you, I am worried about his reaction, well lack thereof, of learning of me and your brah'der murdering his dad."
"Well he moved in with his brother when he was 13, hi dad would beat the hell out of him when he was growing up, he has scars all over him bad ones, when he found out he was dating an African American girl -mother of his daughter, he almost killed him…..he's not missing anything his words." Connor tells him, the look on his dads face, told him he understood…..the fact that Noah had killed his own dad for the same reason told Connor he understood.
"This will be the last we talk about this….understood?" Noah warns.
"Yes sir" the twin's answers in unison.
"Okay, Conn are you going to marry this man?" Noah asks. "Really you too Da?'
"I have already ask him that" Murphy laughs…..laughing even harder when Daryl comes back into the kitchen. "I don't know, you will have to ask him" Connor says looking over at Daryl.
"Ask me what?"
"Are you gonna to marry my son?" "Um…..one day yes" Daryl answers.
The boys bust out laughing when their dad says the next thing. "Well when you do you better ask my permission first" Noah says with a straight face.
"Ye….yes sir" Daryl squeaks, sitting down beside Connor.
The three men talk, swapping stores, Daryl learning more and more about Connor. "So got a question who really wrecked that bike?" Daryl smirks.
"I told you Murphy wrecked that damn bike" Connor laughs. "The fuck I did it was you trying to impress the neighbor girl" Murphy says.
"No it wasn't…..it was her brother" Connor smirks, telling on himself for wrecking the bike.
"Well son did you get the boy?" Noah asks. Connors face was red….. "no" The other men busted out laughing. "Aww don't worry babe your bike got my attention" Daryl coos kissing him.
"Well then that's all that matters" Connor laughs. "Well men I need to get to bed I have to go to work in the morning, or Shane will murder me" Daryl says.
"Shane, the little black haired boy loud as hell" Noah asks his sons. "Yeah Da that one" Connor answers. "Well Noah, you can have me and Connors bed, I put clean sheets on the bed, we will take the guest room, Murphy you know where your sleeping" Daryl laughs. "She made you a cot in the floor" Connor laughs.
"Hey better then I got from most women" Murphy laughs. Daryl and Connor, get up from the table, followed by the other two men, Connor shows his dad where he would be sleeping, Murphy found his cot, Connor and Daryl climb in the guest bed.
"Sweetheart how are you feeling, that is a shit ton of information to get about the man your sharing your bed with, a man that was around your daughter?" Connor asks.
"Well I do wish you were honest with me up front I'm not gonna lie about that." Daryl says.
"I'm sorry, I can go if you want me too" Connor says, his voice was sad. "I didn't say that Connor, I still love you, hell I love you even more for protecting our daughter, I just wish you felt comfortable enough to tell me is all" Daryl says.
"It wasn't that I didn't feel comfortable Daryl it was just…..thats some shit to hear you know." "Yeah I know…..can I tell you something" Daryl says.
"After what I just told you today…..yes babe you can tell me anything" Connor smiles. "Well I remember when that was happening, and not gonna lie I thought it was the most bad ass thing I had ever heard of, I remember telling Merle I wish you guys was down here" Daryl's face was red. "Oh really" Connor smiles.
"Yeah, thought it was kinda hot" Daryl chuckles, pulling Connor into a kiss. "Well I still have the clothes we used to wear" Connor winks.
"Really now" Daryl raises his eyes brows in a very suggestive way….. "Hmm I wonder if your dad and brother could take Charlie out tomorrow after school" Daryl winks, running his hand into Connor briefs.
"Fuck….I'll fuckin make em" Connor moans throwing his head back as Daryl starts to stroke him, until he was hard. "You do that" Daryl winks, sliding underneath the covers pulling his briefs down as he takes him in his mouth.