A/N: This is a work of fan fiction. No infringement intended.
The Country Singer
By Leah Pensotti
Chapter 29
The Thanksgiving dinner had gone well, even Daryl had to admit it. The people of Alexandria were damn near jolly. He sat with Rick and Aaron and watched Melanie choose music as people danced in Deanna Monroe's living room. She looked happy...at home.
He took a sip of red wine and Aaron questioned happily, "So...how are things with you and Mellie?"
Daryl shrugged, he didn't much like talking about their relationship with other people, not even his close friends. It wasn't because he was embarrassed...he just liked keeping that sort of thing private, "Uh, good. We're good."
Aaron chuckled, "More than good, I think. Have you all...you know, made any sort of proclamations yet?"
Rick chuckled into the palm of his hand and Daryl shrugged, "I guess I don't follow?"
"I think Aaron is asking if you love her."
Daryl nearly spit out the wine...love? Is that the word he had been searching for? He'd never loved anyone...or readily admitted to it. He cared about her deeply. He only wanted Melanie, and he wanted her for the rest of his life. But love? He didn't even know if that was real. No one had ever loved him. Not even the people who were supposed to.
He shook his head, "I ain't said nothin' like that. But she's my girl. She knows that."
Aaron smiled facetiously, "Comeon, Daryl. We see how you two look at each other. It's like everything around you could burn to the ground, but as long as the two of you were together..."
There was truth to that. Nothing meant much if she wasn't around, "I ain't never said that word to nobody. I'm not sure if it exists."
Rick gave him a pained smile, "Has Mellie said it?"
Daryl shook his head, "No. Nothin' like that. But she says nice stuff to me all the time."
He had heard from time to time that actions spoke louder than words. He and Melanie didn't need to talk. They showed each other how the felt constantly. Daryl turned his eyes to her and saw that she was two-stepping with Abraham, and she had thrown her head back in laughter. Melanie McCall was the most beautiful woman in Alexandria...if not in all that was left in the world.
Daryl turned back to his friends and shrugged yet again, "I'm total shit at romantic stuff. Sometimes I think I'd like to tell her somethin' and it sounds clumsy and dumb coming from me. Like she's gonna laugh me right outta the room."
Aaron smiled, "Daryl...Mellie likes you...a lot...clearly. I think she accepts all of you. She wouldn't laugh at you if you were being sincere."
"Everythin' just sounds so stupid comin' from me. She's famous and good with words and I'm just a dirty-ass redneck from the ass crack of Georgia."
Rick smiled, "You have your own way with words, Daryl."
Soon there was the sound of clinking glass and they all looked up to see Deanna hitting the side of her wine goblet with a spoon, "May I have everyone's attention? We are in for very special treat. Melanie McCall will be gracing us with a special performance...with none other than my son, Spencer. Please welcome them."
A smattering of applause was heard and Daryl saw Melanie with her guitar, sit on a stool next to Spencer...who looked terrified. He watched as Melanie smiled and patted his knee, an action that was meant for reassurance and shouldn't have sent Daryl into the throes of mild jealousy, but still did. Spencer took a deep breath and spoke for everyone to hear, "This is for my dad, Reg...and my brother Aiden."
Deanna gasped and her hand covered her mouth. Melanie counted them in quietly and the guitars began the swirling, melancholy song. Aaron sang along, and Daryl couldn't take his eyes off Melanie, who had that blissed out look on her face that she got when she sang with someone else. She was more than beautiful...she was angelic, and Daryl felt fairly sure that he would sound idiotic if he told her that.
By the time they'd hit the final lines of the song, Deanna Monroe was a hot mess. Her face was red and streaked with tears. Melanie noted that Spencer had choked back a ragged sob as they were singing. His father and brother must've had some meaning to this song that she didn't know.
Deanna stumbled over to Spencer and embraced him hard, the two of them lingering there in the living room as the rest of the residents clapped and then went about their ways of getting more wine and desserts.
Melanie snuck out the back door for air, knowing that Daryl would more than likely join her. Somewhere inside, seeing Deanna's grief had made her own grief, not only for Adam, but her mother stir. She had missed her mother all day long, remembering the things they used to do on Thanksgiving. Melanie looked up at the stars on the cold November night, and immediately felt small. She wondered what her Mama was up to right then and there. Was there a big dinner? What were angels thankful for?
It was a silly thought, she knew it. But she liked the idea of her Mama and Granny whole and happy on the other side. Hopefully partying up a storm and living in some sort of mansion.
Soon, as predicted, the door opened behind her and that familiar, quiet presence could be felt. Melanie turned around to see Daryl standing there, just looking at her.
"What?"
He shrugged and watched as she stepped closer to him, toe to toe, "I just...Red..."
She felt concern wash over her face and she reached out to him, "What is it?"
Melanie noticed he couldn't look directly at her, and that made her scared...he was leaving...he didn't want this anymore. She continued to look up at him, and finally he said, "Yer so goddamn beautiful, Mel."
For a moment, Melanie waited for a "but," thinking he was softening the blow...and then it hit her...he had never called her beautiful before. Relief washed over her and she felt like laughing, but she didn't. He was showing vulnerability, and she knew it wasn't easy for him. Instead she smiled brightly, "Thank you, sweetheart."
He finally looked directly at her, a small and satisfied smile on his face, "Ya sounded real good. All that practicin' paid off."
It had, even though Spencer had been wracked with nerves. He told her he took two shots of whiskey before they started to play. And once they started to play, Melanie felt that Adam-shaped hole in her chest. She should have been singing with him.
He should still be there.
"So what about you, Daryl? Has it been a good Thanksgiving?"
Daryl put his hands on her hips and nodded, "First real one ever. It's been nice."
Melanie let her arms snake their way to his neck and she smiled, "You deserve this. Family and warmth and love."
She let that massive four letter word hang in between them for a moment. It was like trying it on for size. Daryl looked down and away for a moment, and Melanie knew he didn't know how to feel about it, and why would he? Anyone who was supposed to have loved him ended up hurting him...scarring him.
But this was different. She cupped his unshaven face in her hands, "Daryl...hey..."
Before she could utter another word, a loud crack was heard.
It sounded like something slamming into the gates.
Melanie and Daryl instantly pulled apart. She felt for the gun on her hip and he motioned for her to be quiet. Soon they were joined by Rick, Carol and Michonne. All of their eyes were wild, attempting to assess the threat.
Running steps could be heard in the streets, more than one person had been able to breach the gates. Daryl signaled to Rick, what she wasn't sure, and soon they moved out from Deanna's backyard and into the streets.
Melanie panicked, there was a house full of their people who were sitting ducks and mostly unarmed. Melanie decided to forego following them, and instead went back into the house to tell Maggie and Tara.
"What should we do...stay or move out into the streets?"
Melanie didn't have an answer. She was total shit at strategy, "Whatever anyone decides, they need to be armed and ready. If these are the Wolves, they won't hesitate to kill all of us."
Tara nodded, "I'm telling Abraham and Glenn, they should probably be out there."
Melanie watched out the small window of the door as a handful of wild, dirty folks she didn't recognize practically skipped and ran through the town streets. Soon, Abraham, Glenn and Spencer appeared beside her.
"Anybody got a plan?"
Abraham took a deep breath, "Kill 'Em all?"
Melanie looked to Glenn and Spencer and shrugged, "It works for me. Rick, Daryl, Michonne and Carol are already out there. I don't hear any shots..."
Glenn agreed, "They must not have guns."
Abraham grunted, "Then knife up. No use in wasting ammo."
Glenn lead them from Deanna's house quietly, the partygoers were left with horrified, scared looks at the direction the holiday had gone. Melanie looked to Tara and Maggie, who were both armed and ready to protect those who couldn't protect themselves.
Once outside, Melanie realized just how cold and silent it was. She wished she had her machete and not just her knife and gun. As the four of them made their way to the gates, they saw a wrecked van steaming and spilling fluids. Someone had tried to knock down the the gates unsuccessfully...so they must have used the roof of the van to help scale the barrier.
Soon a tussle was heard in the side yard of a home, Melanie sprinted to find Carol and Daryl wrestling with attackers. Carol was being overpowered by a hulking man, his eyes wild and murderous. He had her on the ground and Melanie ran behind him and stabbed him forcefully beneath the ribcage. The man yelped in pain and Carol lunged with her own knife, stabbing him right between the eyes.
As the body slid with a thud to the ground, Melanie saw Daryl dispose of his attacker with a violent, bloody blow with a tire iron. She almost smirked at his resourcefulness. Daryl stood and caught his breath, "There's not that many. Ten at the most."
Carol kicked her attacker's side, "Eight."
Daryl was covered in blood, his face, his hair and his hands. Melanie choked down the feelings of her fear and together they walked back into the streetlights of the town. They went to inspect the damage at the gates and managed to wiggle through, while Carol kept an eye out for the others.
It was a regular, white work van, no discernible marks or logos. Daryl brained the driver, who had since reanimated, as she stood closer to the road. He looked at her with his sleepy eyes, "You alright, Red?"
Melanie nodded, she was fine...but could feel the adrenaline pumping overtime through her veins. She realized she was bloody, too.
"I'm fine."
Before either of them could say another word, a red van came speeding up behind Melanie. Neither of them could register what was happening fast enough. Daryl was too far away to knock her out of the way. Instead, Melanie dove on the other side of the road and covered her head.
The van came to a halt, but the engine was still running. A man stepped out, his face was scarred on one side and he looked down at Melanie curiously, "Well what do we have here? Boss doesn't have a ginger does he?"
Melanie heard Daryl calling her name as the man with the scars pulled her up by her hair and put a hand over her mouth, "Hush, Darlin'. Let me do the talking."
He pulled her out by the hair, where Daryl could see her, "Right pretty one. It'd be a shame to mess that up."
Daryl started toward them, rage written across his face. The scarred man wiggled his finger back and forth, "Ah-ah, white knight."
He hit the hood of the van and the back door slid open to reveal five men with guns, "She will make good ransom I think. Either boss will get her or the town."
The man pulled out a ridiculously large serrated knife and held it to her belly, "Either you let us go, and we will contact you with the demands...or I gut her and kill you...and what good would that do any of us?"
Melanie felt the tip of the knife digging into her skin, and blood appearing on her sweater and jeans. She screamed in pain and the man gagged her violently, "Now, Now. None of that. Listen to me, she comes with us...you all pay up...and you'll see her again. And if she behaves while she is gone she might be in one piece."
Melanie made eye contact with Daryl, trying to plead with him not to try and stop what was happening. She couldn't watch him die. Not him.
She knew good and well these men didn't know who they were fucking with, and somehow, that comforted her.
The scarred man pushed Mellie to the sliding door, and dirty arms and hands snaked around her, pulling her in. She could hear Daryl yelling her name, but the scarred man slammed the door while saying, "You'll see her again. If you play by the rules."
A/N: Dun dun dun! So next up, the rescue mission, Melanie's time in captivity, Daryl wants to go rogue. I hope you all enjoyed this chappie! Lots of action to come!
Thank you for all the follows, Faves and reviews! I would love to hear from you all! If you are so inclined, please drop me a line :)
Super special shout outs to: Angie b (aw, I'm glad the fluff helped heal the Glenn wound. Hope this chappie didn't stress you out too much :), Natalie Laukas (I kinda love jealous Daryl too!), Celia Azul (She wants to be his place to hang his hat, no matter where they go, as long as they were together, they'd be home :), Jeanf (lots more Jealous and protective Daryl to come. I hope you enjoy! I think the "L" word may come into play soon :), Guest (thanks for your candid review! And welcome to the fold!) and TheFaceofAlison (It will be special for him, because this is a turning point. The talk with Aaron and Rick and what happens will have him evaluating his feelings and emotions :).
Thanks and Love!
Leah P!
xoxo
