Surviving Hearts
Chapter 28
Hello my lovely readers (: here's another chapter for you all this will more than likely be the second to last chapter of this story but I will see if I want to use my own ideas on season 3 or not, please enjoy this chapter :D
Layla hadn't slept all night only sat in her's and Daryl's cot with her knees pulled up towards her chest sobbing quietly while Daryl slept beside her. She didn't blame him for shooting Dale she was thankful he had stepped up to put the lovely old man out of his misery. The sun had come up an hour ago but Layla had barely noticed she was too consumed in her sobs to care whether Daryl would be waking up soon.
Layla had thick grey rims under her eyes which were accompanied by red blood shot eyes. Clearly showing that the tears had not stopped during this sleepless night, she had wanted to cuddle into Daryl but she did not want to wake him from his slumber just so he could comfort her. Layla watched as Daryl began to stir beside her and she knew he would be waking up soon so she dried her face with the sleeve of his shirt that she was still wearing and waited for him to wake.
She waited for a few minutes before Daryl's eyes opened and he smirked up at her.
''how long have you been waiting for me to wake up?'' he asked rubbing his eyes whilst smirking up at her
''all night, I haven't slept'' Layla answered honestly
Daryl glared up at her ''what ya mean ya haven't slept woman?'' Daryl snapped lifting himself up
''I couldn't, every time I closed my eyes I just kept seeing Dales face and then I would start crying again'' Layla admitted
Daryl frowned at her ''ya should of woken me Layla'' Daryl said wrapping his arms around her
''I didn't want too you went through a lot yesterday too'' she said into his shoulder
''I did that because Dale was in pain, I didn't want to shoot him and I don't care if I'm asleep wake me up next time'' Daryl said
''I know and I honour you for that'' Layla said
Daryl leant back and placed a kiss on Layla's lips before he got out of their cot and began to get himself dressed while Layla pulled on her boots.
''Let's go say goodbye to Dale'' Daryl said
/
Everyone was gathered around the ever increasing graves that lay at the farm. Layla had her arms wrapped around Carl as he let sobs fall down his face and Layla did the same. She saw from the corner of her eye Daryl stood further away from the group keeping an eye on Carol and Layla felt a ping of jealousy towards this as she watched the man she loved watch another woman.
''Dale could - could get under your skin. He sure got under mine, because he wasn't afraid to say what he thought, how he felt. That kind of honest is rare and brave. Whenever I'd make a decision, I'd look at Dale. He'd be looking back at me with that look he had. We've all seen it one time or another. I couldn't always read him, but he could read us. He saw people for who they were. He knew things about us - the truth who we really are. In the end, he was talking about losing our humanity. He said this group was broken. The best way to honour him is to unbreak it. Set aside our differences and pull together, stop feeling sorry for ourselves and take control of our lives... our safety... our future. We're not broken. We're gonna prove him wrong. From now on... we're gonna do it his way. That is how we honour Dale'' Rick spoke as the rest of the group were silent listening to his kind words towards their dead friend.
/
The group were now moving their stuff into the farmhouse since Hershel decided it would be best for the upcoming winter. Layla carried both her's and Daryl's bags up to the house while Daryl carried their bed things and weapons. They walked into the house and picked a corner in the living room where they could have some kind of privacy in a house filled a lot of people.
''this will do, you wanna set up the bed I've gotta go secure the shed to keep Randall and ya brother out'' Daryl said looking at Layla
''yeah sure I'll come and help you when I'm done'' Layla said smiling at Daryl who placed a rough kiss on her forehead before leaving the house.
Layla proceeded to unravel all of the bedding her and Daryl had gathered up over the past couple of weeks that they had been sharing the same tent. Once she was finished she laid both their bags on top of the bed and put their weapons with the rest of the group. She smiled at her work and then left the house and made her way towards the shed where she knew her man would be working.
Once she made it there and climbed up the ladder to see Daryl hammering nails into a board.
''hey hot stuff'' Layla said
Daryl turned around and smirked ''hey little lady'' he said
''whatcha need help with?'' she asked
''hold the boards down while I hammer them in'' he said
Layla did as he said and held the boards down while he hammered them in. Layla watched him as he did and the look of concentration on his face made him look sexy. Layla watched also as Daryl's muscles became tense when he hammered the nails into the wooden board, this was turning Layla on and she knew it. Once Daryl was done the two of them came down off the shed roof and Layla walked behind Daryl and ran past him squeezing his bum as she went past him. She turned around to see that Daryl had a wicked smirk on his face. He then charged towards her and pushed her down to the floor.
''well hello there'' Layla said wrapping her arms around her mans neck
''hello there beautiful'' Daryl said suddenly
Layla felt a blush creep onto her cheeks as she smiled up at her man ''you think I'm beautiful?'' she asked nervously
''course I do woman! Ya wouldn't be mine if I dint think you were beautiful'' Daryl said placing his arms on either side of her face
Layla felt her blush become deeper and she lifted her head up and kissed Daryl hard her tongue instantly darting into her mans mouth. Their tongs battled with one another in a hot passionate kiss. They pulled away from one another breathless and Layla looked into Daryl's beautiful blue eyes and took in a large intake of breath.
''Daryl'' she said causing him to look at her with a frown ''I love you'' she breathed
Daryl looked at her for a moment but then lifted himself up off the girl ''I gotta go on patrol with ya dad I'll be back later'' he said walking away from her leaving her heart broken.
Layla felt tears beginning to build in the corners of her eyes as she walked up towards the house storming past Daryl who was shouldering his crossbow beside her father. Layla saw Jimmy and Beth bordering she snatched a hammer off the side and began helping them boarder up the windows. She smacked the hammer as hard as she could take out her frustration on the wooden boards rather than on a living person. Her hand began to shake and the hammer dropped out of her hands and Layla broke down into tears causing her mother to run over to her and take her inside.
''Layla baby what's wrong?'' she asked
Layla breathed in and then out hard ''I...I told Daryl I loved him and he froze and went off on patrol with dad'' Layla chocked out
''oh baby'' Lori said taking her daughter in her arms and holding her tight
''I thought he loved me too... obviously not'' Layla said through sobs
''oh baby I'm sure he does... he was just shocked to hear the words'' Lori said trying to comfort her daughter
''oh who am I kidding mum... Daryl could never love me... sure he called me his but he could never love me'' Layla said into her mother's shoulder
''baby... how can he not love you? Come on stop getting yourself worked up shush now shush'' Lori said beginning to rock her daughter in her arms.
''oh mum'' Layla breathed gripping onto her mother's waist letting the tears fall.
They sat there for a while as Layla clung to her mother crying. The men had returned but Lori made sure that Daryl didn't come near Layla for the time being since she was a mess. Then all hell broke loose and the group found out that Randall was no longer in the shed and everyone left the house heading straight for the shed but when Daryl saw Layla running down behind everyone else he ran towards her and pushed her back a few feet.
Layla looked up at him ''please Daryl I don't want to cry anymore'' she admitted
Daryl looked down at her ''when I was out on patrol all I could think about was what you said... no one had ever said that... that they loved me before'' Daryl sighed ''man I don't even know what love is but... Layla'' he said placing both his hands on either side of her face ''what I have with ya well it can't be anything but love can it? Dammit Layla I wouldn't be surprised if I've been in love with ya since the first moment I laid eyes on ya at the camp in Atlanta... Layla I love you too'' Daryl said stroking Layla's face as small tears began to fall down her face ''you are everything I've always wanted Layla... no one has never loved me and you a beautiful woman the daughter of a cop for fuck sake has managed to let me love her and along with that fall in love with me'' Daryl said smiling softly at her the whole time.
Layla brought her forehead up to his and let out a long breath ''you're my world Daryl Dixon ya hear me... you're my world... I love you and I ain't letting you go'' she breathed out and then Daryl's lips became connected with her in a hard passionate kiss.
Daryl let go of her and they ran towards the rest of the group who were trying to figure out how Randall had gotten out of the shed. But then their answer came storming out of the woods.
''RICK! RICK!'' shouted Shane
''what happened?'' Rick asked
''he's armed, he's got my gun'' Shane shouted
''you okay?'' Carl asked him
''I'm fine little man, just snuck up on me and clocked me in the face'' Shane shouted again
''alright Hershel, T-dog get everyone back in the house, Glenn, Daryl come with us'' Shane said and Daryl left Layla's side and walked over towards Glenn
''T, I'm gonna need that gun'' Shane said as he reached the group and T-dog handed it to him willingly
''that was the plan wasn't it let him go'' Carol voiced
''the plan was to let him loose far away from here, not on out front step with a gun'' Rick snapped
''you don't even know what happened'' Carol shot back
''everybody back to the house, close the doors and STAY PUT!'' Rick demanded
Layla walked over to Daryl quickly and kissed him quickly ''be safe'' she said causing Daryl to nod at her as she ran up to the house behind the rest of the group.
Layla sat down on hers and Daryl's cot taking in all that had happened.
''hey baby'' she heard someone say Layla looked up to see Carol and her mother coming towards her.
''hey mum, hey Carol'' Layla said smiling
''saw you with Daryl. Got some good news for ya mum?'' Lori asked her daughter
''he said he loves me too'' Layla said blushing
''oh my baby'' Lori said grabbing her daughter into a hug ''I gotta go find your brother but I'm happy for you Layla I really am'' Lori said smiling at her
Layla looked at Carol who stud in front of her ''you can sit down if you want Carol'' Layla said smiling up at her
''thank you'' Carol said sitting down beside her
''I'm so sorry about Carl yesterday. I was not expecting him to say those things I would of stopped him otherwise'' Layla explained
''still doesn't mean he should of spoken to me that way. So Daryl loves you huh? Interesting'' Carol said dryly
''yes he does why is that interesting?'' Layla asked
''doesn't seem like the kind of man to fall in love with a teenager'' Carol said
''I'm eighteen not thirteen he's only eight years older than me'' Layla said shrugging her shoulders
''eight years to many if you ask me. Look at you Layla sharing a bed, sleeping with a man who is nearly a decade older than you'' Carol said
''age doesn't really matter anymore. My mum's accepted it and my dad is on his way too even Carl likes him, why are you so bothered about me and him?'' Layla asked
Carol sighed ''let's just say I watch you two when you are together just seems like you two are just using each other for one thing. It's not love, ya may think it is Layla but all Daryl cares about is getting a little something off you every night, he don't love you he just loves sleeping with you!'' Carol snapped
Layla looked at the older woman with wide eyes ''and what would you know Carol? Just by watching me and Daryl doesn't mean you know everything about our relationship! What the hell is wrong with you!'' Layla snapped back at her
''what's wrong with me? I'm trying to help you get out of a relationship where sex is only the main priority!'' Carol said trying to defend herself
''well thank you Carol but I don't need advice that I know isn't true!'' Layla said getting off her cot
''how do you know it isn't true? Come on you've seen Daryl going after MY little girl leaving you in the day and then coming back and taking you to his tent so you can have sex, he don't care about you!'' Carol snapped
''wow you really are something aren't you! Acting like the innocent victim of wife beating and going through the loss of your little girl but you really are a cold bitch!'' Layla snapped at the older woman
''cold bitch? I've lost more than you! Why can't I have some comfort! I have nobody and look at you! You have your whole family and have a relationship with a man that you think is love'' Carol said
''we are in love Carol! Why are you being so cold towards that?'' Layla asked through gritted teeth
Carol ducked her head ''because he deserves someone so much better than you'' Carol said quietly
''excuse me? What was that Carol?'' Layla asked clenching her fists
''he needs someone better than you, not a careless teenager who brings nothing to this group!'' Carol snapped
Layla lost it then and punched the wall beside her ''I BRING NOTHING TO THIS GROUP! LAST TIME I CHECKED I SHOT THE WALKERS WHO INVADED THE CAMP IN ATLANTA! HELPED LOOK FOR YOUR DAUGHTER! WENT AFTER MY DAD AND NEARLY GOT MYSELF KILLED! ALL YOU HAVE DONE IS MOPE AROUND AND DONE FUCKING LAUNDRY! YOUR THE USELESS ONE HERES AN IDEA CAROL WATCH WHAT YOU SAY WHEN IT CLEARLY ISNT TRUE!'' Layla screamed at her causing the whole house to come around them.
''Layla what the hell are you screaming at!'' Lori asked her daughter
''ask that jealous bitch!'' Layla snapped pointing to Carol and she stormed away from the group.
Layla knew it now. Carol had feelings for her man and she wasn't letting her get anywhere near him. Layla sat on the couch in the living room and took a deep breath knowing that a storm was about to come her way.
Well there you go my lovely readers (: I hope you liked this jam packed chapter (: because I really did enjoy writing this. With the moment with Daryl and Layla I thought that was the best way for it to happen so I hope you enjoyed that part. The stuff with Carol I thought would be quite true to her character because she must have a lot of anger built up inside her from Ed and everything and her watching Daryl's and Layla's relationship I thought would make her snap :') yes a storm is coming and I have that all planned on four pieces of paper for you all :D thank you so much for your fantastic reviews they really do mean a lot so keep them coming :D
Review! Review! Review!
Much, much love Vmk-xx
