This is one of my favorite chapters out of any story I have ever written. I'm proud of Merle in this chapter and hopefully it will make you guys laugh because I know I did while I was writing it. Thank you all for reading and reviewing. I have much love for every one of you!
One more thing before you get on with this chapter. My darlin' pal HaloHunter89, who is an avid Caryl reader and has probably supported many of you, has jumped head first into the role of writer. So, look her up and show her love! It's going to be a great read and this is what us Caryler's do. We support each other =)
The Birds and the Bees
Daryl pulled back the curtain and frowned at the sheeting rain that pelted the glass. Dinner was over and everyone was gone, including Rick and Lori. They went back to their place to pack up more of their things. They left Carl but no one minded. Especially the boy. Almost everything that belonged to him was already at the farmhouse and he was settled. Carol had set him up in what had once been a sewing room. It wasn't very big but Carl was happy with it. Anything beat the cells that they had all occupied at the prison.
Since Rick and Lori were back at their place Penny was downstairs, enjoying her freedom for the night. Carol had already told the kids that she would make the three of them some popcorn and let them stay up late to watch a movie. So far it was just Daryl and Penny in the living room. He kept watching her out of the corner of his eye.
"Sophia doesn't call you dad," she stated out of the blue. He turned his head to look at her full on but she never looked up from the picture she had been drawing.
"Cause I ain't her dad," he said gruffly as his eyes went back to the window.
"You act like it."
"No I don't," he snorted and shook his head.
"Are you and Carol married?" She asked after a few blessedly silent minutes.
He stepped away from the window and dropped into an overstuffed chair. "Nope." Damn, why did this kid have so many questions?
"You love Carol." It was a statement, not a question.
"No shit," he grumbled under his breath but she must have heard him because she looked up then, a small smile on her face.
"You love Sophia too. I guess that's why I thought you were her dad."
"Well, I ain't." Where in the hell was everyone else? He glanced around, hoping that someone would come in and relieve him from Penny duty. He swung one leg over the arm of the chair and started picking at a hangnail.
"Do you wish she belonged to you?"
He looked up sharply but she was looking down again, concentrating so hard on her pencil drawing that there was a frown between her eyebrows. Did he wish that Sophia belonged to him? It was something he thought about from time to time but never in a million years would he have admitted it to anyone. He cared about her a lot. He wanted the best for her and he'd die to protect her. But he didn't mind that she didn't belong to him. That was one of the lessons he had learned at the prison. Blood didn't make people family and Carol and Sophia were his. She was probably the closest thing to a daughter that he would ever have and he was okay with that.
"Well, do you?" She asked again, finally looking up from her picture.
"You ask a lot of questions, ya know that?" He grouched.
"How else am I suppose to figure anything out. It's not like you're gonna tell me anything otherwise. I'm only asking cause this family is confusing. Like, I heard Mrs. Grimes in the hallway when they were heading to their room and she was telling Mr. Grimes that Carl and Sophia were brother and sister now..."
"So. There's a lot you don't know about kid. Them two have been through a lot."
"But that very same night I was almost asleep and I heard Sophia and Carl arguing about whether or not to have the ba..."
"Penny!" Carol called from the kitchen.
Daryl was too stunned to say anything at all as she jumped up from her spot on the couch and hurried to the kitchen. What the hell had she been about to say? His stomach twisted into a painful knot when he replayed her words in his mind. It didn't make sense no matter what words he put at the end of that last sentence. What were Sophia and Carl arguing about? Not having the bake sale? Not having the baseball game? Not having the ba... No other word made sense. No other word but one.
He launched himself out of the chair, his throat going dry and his hands shaking with a toxic combination of stark fear and blinding rage. That couldn't be what they had been arguing about. That was physically impossible. They were twelve year old kids...
He didn't dare go to the kitchen. He couldn't go in there at the moment. He took the stairs two at a time, making a hell of a lot of noise and not giving a shit about it. He hurried to Merle's room and without so much as a knock he barged in.
Merle was lying in bed with a book in his hands. He tried to shove it under the pillow before Daryl saw it but he was too late. "What the fuck do ya think your doin' tearin' in here without knockin' like this whole goddamn house belongs to ya? Asshole!" Merle yelled.
Daryl shut the door behind him and paced in front of the bed for a few moments while Merle sat up and watched him.
"What's gotcha actin' like a caged mongrel, little brother?" He asked, managing to sound mocking and concerned at the same time.
"You and Sophia spent all day together, right?" Daryl asked once he actually found his voice. It sounded strained even to his own ears.
Merle frowned. "I reckon."
Daryl ran a hand through his hair and then over his face. His heart was pounding hard and fast. "What did y'all talk about? Did she... did she tell ya anything about... anything?"
Merle's eyes flicked to the door nervously and then back to Daryl. That nervous look was only there for a few seconds but Daryl had saw it. "We just talked about normal shit, bro. Ya know. The weather. The house. The walkers. She ain't too bad, really. I couldn't stand her at first but she's got the tumor affect goin' for her. She kinda grows on ya whether ya want her to or not." He chuckled at his own joke.
Daryl stopped pacing and took two long strides towards Merle. "You're lyin'. If she said anything to you about..." He watched Merle's eyes closely at his next words, "Do you know anything about her and Carl... messin' around? Did she say she was worried about anything or did she act like her and Carl were havin'... problems?" He watched but the only look that came over Merle's face was a bit of surprise and then disgust. He sat down on the side of Merle's bed and ran his hand over his face. Did he really just have to ask his brother something like that?
"What the hell's goin' on?" Merle asked as he swung his legs around and scooted down until he was sitting next to Daryl. "Is she in some sort of trouble or somethin'?"
Daryl didn't say anything for a long while. He just sat there and continued to run different b words through his head, trying to make any other word make sense but nothing came to him. "Merle, how old do ya gotta be before you can... ya know. Start havin' babies and shit?"
"Shit, I don't know. I spose if a..." He paused mid sentence and shot up off the bed.
Daryl looked up at Merle then but Merle was just frowning and shaking his head. "Nah, that can't be. Well, that's about the biggest load of shit I ever heard come outta your mouth!" He sounded offended on Sophia's behalf.
"Well... how old were you when you started havin'... Well..." Daryl couldn't even say the word. Just thinking about it when it came to the little girl had his stomach swirling with nausea.
For a split second a devious smile split Merle's lips but then it fell away and the color drained from his face. He was out the door before Daryl could even get up. It wasn't surprising to Daryl that apparently Merle was either twelve or younger when he started messing around with girls.
He followed him down the hall, passing the main staircase and going straight for the service stairs. Once they made it to the kitchen four sets of eyes landed on them. Carol was putting away dishes and the three kids were at the table, bowls of ice cream in front of them. Penny watched the men curiously as they made their way to the table.
"Daryl? Is everything okay?" Carol asked.
"Don't know yet but I'll be lettin' ya know as soon as I do," he said in a low voice, his eyes zeroed in on Carl who just looked confused.
Merle was a little more forceful than Daryl thought he would be. He went straight to the table and grabbed both Sophia and Carl up by the back of their shirts, hauling them up and herding them to the doorway to the stairs.
"Merle!" Carol yelled but Merle kept walking, his face an angry mask.
Daryl went to her quickly. "Five minutes, alright. We need to talk to them for five minutes and then I'll tell ya everything."
She stared at him with wide eyes but didn't say anything.
"Do you trust me?"
With no hesitation she nodded, stirring something in his chest.
"Five minutes," he said again, kissing her quickly before rushing after Merle. He wasn't completely sure that Merle wouldn't toss Carl out the window and then have a talk with Sophia himself. He found them in Penny and Sophia's room. They were both sitting on the bed with Merle standing in front of them, arms crossed over his chest, glaring at them.
"What the heck did we do?" Carl asked. Daryl watched him scoot a little closer to Sophia. He clenched his teeth and went to stand next to Merle.
"You tell us," Merle said in a hard voice.
"That's right," Daryl said, his own voice filled with venom. "You two got somethin' you wanna tell us?"
Sophia and Carl shared a look and then Sophia was looking him right in the eye. "No. We don't."
Merle looked at Daryl and then gestured towards the two kids, "Go ahead. Tell'em what Penny overheard."
"Oh God," Carl breathed and then shifted away from Sophia.
"Oh God? Boy, you're gonna need more than God after I get done kicking your..."
"Merle," Daryl put his arm out, stopping his brother from getting any closer to the boy. His heart sank. Something was definitely wrong here.
Merle's nostrils flared angrily but he took a step back, nodding to Daryl to go on.
"She said she overheard the two of you arguin' over whether or not to have the..." Daryl couldn't even spit the word out.
"The baby?" Sophia confirmed.
"Oh God," Carl muttered, looking a little green around the gills, making his complexion a strange hue since he was also red faced. Sophia was turning a little red in the face as well.
Daryl felt Merle stiffen next to him. He felt like he was going to be sick. His legs felt weak, he was a little dizzy and he was sure that he was about to puke all over Merle's boots. How could this happen? They were kids. Fuck, Carl looked like he was eight years old. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, not knowing how in the hell he was suppose to proceed with this. This, this was beyond him. This was one of the sickest situations he had ever been in in all his life. Right before he could open his mouth to say a word Merle lost what little bit of cool he had left. Daryl had to admit that he was a little bit impressed. It was obvious now that Merle cared more than he had ever let on.
"Oh God? Is that all you got to say for yourself you little... you little... you pervert! Oh, you'll need God. You best start prayin' now, Carl!" Merle barked, causing even Daryl to flinch.
Sophia shot up off the bed, putting herself between Merle, who was actually undoing his belt, and Carl who looked like he was about to piss himself. "Merle stop! You don't understand!"
Daryl opened his mouth to say something to her but Merle, once again, beat him to it.
"Little girl, if you give me any shit about how in love y'all are or somethin' crazy like that I'm gonna beat your ass next! How goddamn stupid are you two, huh?" He waved is hands around frantically, reminding Daryl of himself, "You... you two don't even look like you've even glimpsed puberty for fuck's sake! How could the two of you... do whatcha did!"
"Oh God," Carl choked out again.
"Shut up, Carl!" Sophia hissed over her shoulder. "Merle! Are you out of your mind!" She shrieked. Daryl could have sworn that he could feel the heat coming off of her face. At least she was embarrassed. "You have to listen to me, okay. Please? Just calm down!"
Merle pointed at her angrily, "Don't you tell me to calm down, Sophia! The last mother fuckin' thing I need to do is calm down right now!"
Her eyes went to Daryl's, "Daryl, please! You know that I wouldn't ever... I mean... not right now! I'm only twelve years old! I'm not... I don't even know..." She made a frustrated sound in the back of her throat and then turned and kicked the side of the bed angrily. She looked down at Carl who was holding his head in his hands. "Would you help me out here, please? You idiot!"
Carl looked up, his eyes the size of saucers and avoided Merle altogether. "Daryl, we haven't... I..."
"Spit it out you sex crazed little bastard!" Merle roared.
"Merle!" Sophia and Daryl yelled in unison and Daryl was sure that if he had a mirror his face would be a crimson reflection of the kid's faces.
Carl swiped a hand across his face, reminding Daryl of Rick. "I don't know anything about se... that. We didn't do anything like that."
Merle and Daryl shared another look before looking down at Sophia. "Then what the hell was Penny talkin' about?" Daryl asked, unable to let himself feel hope quite yet.
Sophia sat back down on the bed and looked from Daryl to Merle. She looked miserable. "My dreams weren't like your dreams, okay? Where you guys saw just certain things, I saw more than that. I saw everything. I saw what was and what could have been."
Merle relaxed a little bit but he was still staring holes into Carl's face. Carl stared down at his feet. Daryl's eyes never wavered from the girl in front of him. He nodded, letting her know that he was going to keep his mouth shut and let her finish. She swallowed hard and looked down.
"Would you hurry up and tell them before this psycho chokes me or something," Carl said in a strained voice.
"Watch it, horny pants or I'll slap ya around before I start the chokin' part. I still ain't believin' you're innocent in all this," Merle growled.
Sophia cleared her throat. "Remember how I told you that I saw you and my mom in the prison?"
Daryl nodded, relaxing slightly until he remembered that him and Carol had actually been together in the prison. He groaned inwardly and couldn't shake the thought that maybe she had learned something from him and Carol. Sweet Jesus! His face flamed brighter.
"Anyway, that wasn't all I saw. I also saw myself alive. I didn't die in the woods. I was with you all and our lives went in a totally different direction. I was never in the woods so no one ever had to go after me. We fixed up the R.V. We kept going until we found a town. We didn't ever make it to the farm. Everything changed. We lived a lot of different lives in my head. I wish I could explain it"
Daryl frowned and looked at Merle before meeting her eyes again. "What's that got to do with the baby?" He was surprised that he was able to say it now.
"The baby," Sophia shook her head, her face growing more hot. Daryl was pretty sure they were all going to end up catching fire before they managed to finish this conversation. "In four years I end up..."
"In four years?" Daryl muttered and his narrowed eyes landed on Carl who was hiding behind his hands again. "You two... you'll be sixteen!" his voice was starting to raise again.
"Daryl please," Sophia was up again, grabbing his hand and urging him to listen to her. "We were alone..."
Merle snorted, "Well I never expected y'all to do it in front of anybody."
"Oh my God," Carl cried into his hands.
Sophia glared, "That isn't what I meant. Me and Carl were the only two left. You, Merle, my mom. Everyone was killed. Carl got me out before anything could happen to me."
"Killed? Walkers?" Daryl asked, finding it very hard to follow where she was going.
She shook her head but before she could say anything Carl said it for her. "Philip Blake killed our entire group. I was able to get Sophia out but I couldn't save..."
"You're dreamin' this shit too?" Daryl interrupted him.
Carl shook his head. "Not like her. Mine are hit and miss. I've dreamed some of it though. I dreamed about... stuff."
"He dreamed about me getting pregnant," she confirmed, looking down at her shoes again. "So did I. We found a new group and everything was okay for a while."
"You mean you... you're living that ain'tcha?" Merle asked, a strange sadness in his voice.
She nodded and then the full force of what was happening to her hit Daryl in the gut, nearly knocking the wind out of him. He crouched down in front of her and took her hands in his. "There's more. I know there is."
"There's a lot more. You... you died at the prison. You were shot by one of the Governor's men. Mom lost it. She had already lost me and when she saw you..."
"She killed herself," Carl finished. "Then that dream was over. That's what would have happened if Carol was still dreaming."
"In another one, I got lost in the woods and you were the one that found me. By then Carl had been shot by Otis so we ended up on the farm. You and my mom... well, I don't know the details but a year later I had a little brother. A herd came and killed all three of you when he was two."
"In another one it was you that saw Ed beating on Carol at the quarry. You beat him almost to death and after that you wouldn't let him anywhere near Carol. She was yours after that. Ed lived on for a while but he died eventually. So did the two of you. And then that dream was over."
"What the fuck..." Merle breathed.
"When we die... you stop dreamin' that life?" Daryl asked, fear causing his chest to tighten.
"I don't understand it but that's how it's been. All except for that last one where I get..."
"Tell them the rest, Sophia," Carl said after a long pause.
She looked at him sharply.
"Merle is always with me. In every single dream, no matter what happens or where we end up, he's there. When Merle was asleep today I came to talk to him to try to scare him into being good. I can't explain how I do it. It's just something I can do. I'm me but I'm her too. Somehow. We need Merle."
"Me?" Merle asked, disbelief written in every line on his face.
She nodded. "It isn't just that either. Remember when you found me in the woods? When I told you that you had to kill Philip Blake?"
Merle nodded, his face growing white.
"There was a man with me." She looked up at him and a slight smile graced her lips. "That man was you. You're always with me."
Daryl was so confused that his head was spinning again, his mind unable to wrap around what she was saying.
Carl cleared his throat. "She isn't just dreaming this at night. She sees this stuff all the time. Like memories planted in her head and she can't get away from them. There's something coming that is worse than the walkers or the Governor. Something that she can't really see yet. That's why she needs you to keep yourself out of trouble, Merle. You're the only one that's gonna keep us all from dying."
"How the hell do you figure that?" Merle barked, clearly as confused and uncomfortable as everyone else in the room was.
Sophia shrugged. "I don't really know. I just... feel it. I know that it's hard to understand but I'm telling you both the truth."
Daryl stood up again and rubbed the back of his neck, a headache starting behind his eyes. This was turning into one hell of a roller coaster ride of a night. "I believe ya. We need to talk about this later though. This shit is givin' me a headache."
Merle grabbed his arm before he could make his way to the door. "Wait a minute! We're just gonna leave it at that?" He asked.
"Merle, it's been a long fuckin' evenin', okay? I'm over all this shit for now. Let's give ourselves time to wrap our heads around this, ya know?"
"Oh I agree with that but don't you think you should have a talk with these two? That was one hell of a scare, baby brother. I thought for a minute there you were gonna be a grandpa."
"Jesus, Merle!" Daryl growled but Merle wasn't letting him go just yet.
"You need to give'em the talk," Merle said and the most shocking part was, he was dead serious. He wasn't just doing this to torment him and Daryl knew it.
He glanced down at Sophia and Carl who were looking just as miserable as he felt.
"Fine, ya pussy!" Merle spat as he let go of Daryl's arm and then faced the kids. "Alright," he cleared his throat. "You already know the difference between a guy and girl, right? Ya know, y'alls plumbin' and what not?"
"Oh my God, Merle," Sophia groaned. "Please don't try to do this."
"Hush! Now we already know where this is headin' and I won't have none of the blame on me when the time comes."
Carl cleared his throat and looked up miserably, "Merle, we don't need..."
"What you don't need is to get anything of yours near anything of hers!" Merle pointed at him with a stiff finger.
"Daryl, please make him stop," Sophia pleaded.
Daryl was embarrassed for them, and himself. What the hell was Merle doing? "Merle, I think they already..."
"Shut up," Merle muttered as he started pacing back and forth in front of the bed. "You are the one that brought me into this mess. You wanted me to get involved. Now I am, you asshole." He looked down at the kids again, his hands on his hips. "Now, there's a lot of fun to be had once ya get older. Like... maybe in your twenties or somethin', God willin' I don't kill Carl here before then."
Daryl tried once more. "Merle come on..."
"Shut up. Now, the two of ya ain't old enough to even get any fun outta doin' somethin' like that. Well, Carl probably is, but I doubt you're ready for all that, girly," he said as he glanced at Sophia who had placed a pillow firmly over her flaming face like she could suffocate herself with it to end her misery.
"Merle, maybe we should..."
"Shut up," Merle muttered as he plucked the pillow away from Sophia so she was forced to hide behind her hands now. "Now, I don't know anything about periods and the boobs growin' and all that when it comes to..."
"Daryl can't we shoot him?" Sophia wailed. "My mom already told me all of this."
Daryl ran a hand through his hair. Why the hell was he sweating? "Merle, see? Their parents already went through this shit. We should leave'em be."
"Shut up. If that was the case then Sophia here wouldn't be pregnant now would she?"
"What?"
All eyes flew to the door where Carol was standing there, white as a sheet, hand to her throat. Daryl was sure she was about to pass out.
"Oh God!" Carl groaned.
"This is not happening," Sophia cried.
"Oh fuck," Daryl muttered.
"Bout time you joined us. This is your fault," Merle said angrily.
Confusing, right? I'm really sorry about that, but it gets more clear the farther along it goes. You have to admit though, Merle giving "the talk" was kind of cute in a very disturbing kind of way. lol I'll post the next chapter soon! I would love to tell you that it is a progressive chapter that gets us somewhere, however, I can't. It turned in to a chapter full of smut and then fluff. Chapters end up going where they want at times. The next chapter wanted to go to the gutter I suppose. Hope y'all don't mind.