Daryl stepped out of the room while Carol cleaned herself up. He wasn't able to fight his shirt from her yet and he scowled. The sounds of people talking lead him to the kitchen along with the smell of food. He felt like he could eat a horse right now and swallowed thickly. He was fucking starving.
Stepping into the kitchen all eyes turned to him and smiles broke out. Danielle was there suddenly and he flinched back when her hand came at his face. Thoughts of what he'd just done to her daughter flashed into his mind and he knew she was going to slap him. When she came at he panicked and tried to step back. Danielle frowned at him and shook her head.
"Are you still feeling bad?"
Daryl shook his head and crossed his arms over his chest. "No."
Danielle stepped towards him again and he was cornered. Will and Jess were ignoring him and eating so he was on his own. Danielle checked his temperature and smiled brightly at him before pulling her hand away. He let out a breath and looked over his shoulder when Carol stumbled into the hall. He arched a brow at her and then his eyes went to his shirt in her hand. She held it out to him and he huffed. Carol made a point to not walk and then he snorted. Turning and walking to her she handed him his shirt.
Her eyes shot to her mother waiting on them. Carol smiled at her weakly and then coughed. "I think you got me sick."
Daryl looked her over and frowned. She did look paler than usual. Good thing though that it was just a twentyfour hour bug.
He smiled suddenly and lowered his voice, "Want me to get your mom?" He made a show of teasing her like she'd been doing him.
Carol caught his wrist and let her nails dig in, "Don't think I won't maim you Daryl Dixon."
"Carol Ann!"
Carol looked over and Daryl turned. Carol moved with him using him as leverage as she stepped. It was clumsy but her mother didn't comment.
"He was sick all night and I believe threatening to maim him isn't very nice." Her mother scowled, "Be nice, I raised you better."
Carol scowled at her right back and then waved her arms at Daryl. "He's acting like his brothers."
Her mother smiled suddenly, "He's a Dixon sweetheart get use to it. They're all that way."
Daryl scowled at her mother when they both suddenly started ganging up on him. Carol laughed in triumph and he stepped out of her reach. She was using him as balance since she wasn't walking so good. He stretched and grinned at her where her mom couldn't see.
"Don't blame her Danielle." Daryl made a show of being nice, "She thinks she caught what I had."
Danielle was next to her instantly and Daryl moved away from her. Carol gave him a threatening look but he escaped outside slapping at his pockets. He needed to breathe. Fuck eating he couldn't set in there and he didn't feel like dealing with anyone at the moment. He wasn't in a bad mood, far from it but he needed to be alone regardless. He could hear Carol talking to her mom but tuned it out. He lit a cigarette and let his head tip back. The sun was up and heating his skin as he rocked on the swing.
"You eating?"
Opening his eyes he shook his head, "Nah."
Jess nodded and took his cigarette before breaking and flipping it away. Daryl scowled but Jess glared. "Bad habit."
"Not my worst."
Jess laughed at that and nodded, "I guess we've all got a few of those." Daryl grinned and then Jess flounced down by him. "So is she actually sick or were you being a dick? Because that woman has been worried sick. I've been keeping her from barging in there all morning. It's all she needs to see is your naked ass."
Daryl's face flushed but he didn't react otherwise. He was use to his family being lewd bastards. "She's sick. Whatever I had think she caught it."
Jess hummed and then elbowed him roughly. He stood and then tossed a set of keys down into his lap. "Merle drove his bike here since I asked him to take the dodge to the shop for me." Daryl thumbed over the keys and then looked at his uncle. "You should ride the bike or don't but you reek of sex."
Daryl huffed but stood just as the doors opened. He gave his son a knowing look then was down the steps. Daryl let the keyring swing around his fingers as the door slammed open. Ellie stepped out and Daryl almost wanted to grimace. He knew she was going to throw a temper tantrum. He loved her but sometimes he wanted to scream at her. She whined like Merle.
"You can't leave!"
Daryl rolled his shoulders as Danielle came out with a plate. "Eat, you need to since you were sick."
Daryl didn't argue figuring it would be easier. Taking huge bites he watched as Danielle scowled at him. She was holding the fork out to him but he grinned. He made a point to snatch the hashbrown up with his fingers and take sloppy bites. Her eyes crinkled at the edges and then she nodded at him causing Jess to snort.
"Well played. Finish eating and go see what Carol wants. She's demanding you come in there." Danielle sighed at her over dramatic daughter.
Jess was walking behind her and made a nasty gesture and waggled his eyebrows. How was he not Merle's father? Fucking hell. His uncle barked a laugh and scared Danielle causing her to spin and stab at him with a fork. He scuttled down the steps.
Daryl finished eating and walked inside. Ellie shadowed him and caught his hand. "Why are you leaving?"
Daryl picked her up and met her eyes holding her out from him. Ellie's face was sad but he really couldn't stay. Well he could but he didn't really feel like it. He knew his brothers wouldn't be home and Will had to catch up on work. He wasn't sure what Carol's mom was doing but he planned on secluding himself in his room away from everyone. Carol was welcome but everyone else could choke on a dick.
"Gotta." Ellie's eyes watered and Daryl scowled at her. She made her lip quiver and he shook his head, "Stop Ellie." He knew the look she was giving. It was the same one she gave everyone to get what she wanted. It worked to on everyone, but him.
She huffed at him then was on the ground, "Well." and trotted away.
He smirked watching her walk away. Yeah she was as dramatic as his brothers. Before he could turn he was jerked sideways and Carol shut the door. She glared at him and then he smiled.
"You ready?"
"Yes."
Daryl turned to the door but she caught his arm. She held on to him tightly but he didn't say anything. He felt bad, he really did but he knew and she knew that she was going to be hurt. He wasn't even rough with her. There was only so much he could do though and now his guilt was eating at him.
"Stop" Carol whispered, "I'm fine Daryl."
"Yeah you're walking like you're fine." He whispered back.
Carol stopped him when they got on the porch. He showed her the keys and made a point to look to his brothers bike. "I can't ride that Daryl."
"I know." Daryl sighed, "Merle needs me to drive it back."
Carol shook her head and then took the keys from him. She marched as much as she could. Which was forcibly to Will who was reclined against the truck. HIs keys were in his hand. He smiled at her when she looked up and she smiled sweetly. Grabbing his hand he let her and she took his keys. He stared at her and she dropped Merle's in his hand.
"I'm sick."
"And? You need my keys for that why?"
Carol made a show of waving her arm around and the weather. "It's cold. I'm sick. I'm not riding that bike back, not today."
Will smiled at her and Daryl looked away at the glint in his eyes. He knew his dad wouldn't say anything to her but he wasn't safe. His dad didn't often say things to embarrass him but when he did he laid it on thick.
"So ride back with me and your mom."
Carol threw the keys over her shoulder and it pegged Daryl in the throat. Grunting he swiped and caught them. Danielle was watching wide eyes as her daugher squared off with Will. She looked to Daryl and then the pair again.
Carol sighed and then batted her eyes up at his dad. He wanted to be mad but it was just too good to watch. His dad's iron will was cracking under Carol's simpering sweet act. If him and his brothers tried this they'd get slapped in the back of the head.
She sighed heavily and then grabbed for the back door, "Fine." Her voice cracked and Will flinched.
He caught Carol's wrist but she kept her eyes down. "Daryl I'll drive Merle's bike back. I need to stop and check on the shop for Jess anyways. I can make sure he didn't wreck that truck while I do it."
Daryl shot him an incredulous look but Will was already walking away. Carol grinned at him and he scowled. "Satan." He whispered.
Jess followed his dad and Danielle walked around. "You should lay down on the way home Carol."
"I will."
Her mom stared at them for a minute. Her eyes discreetly went to his dad and he smiled. She rubbed her arms trying to rub warmth in. The chill was bad but it wouldn't be bad at all in the truck. Danielle sighed and then smiled at them. Her eyes were off but he ignored it. He shrugged out of his leather jacket and handed it to her. Danielle raised a brow and he thrust it into her hands.
"It'll be cold on the bike."
"I'm no-"
"But you want to." Daryl pointed out. She stared at him as if trying to read his mind. He could see worry there. Maybe she was worried how him and Carol would react to it but honestly he didn't care. Maybe that made him weird but then his entire family was weird. "When was the last time you rode a bike? Or even with him?"
Her face flushed and she slid her arms into the jacket. "Long time."
Daryl didn't say anything before pulling Carol in front of him. He made a point to block her as they got in the truck. He basically picked her up and set her in. He didn't wait on his dad or Danielle. He also wasn't giving her a chance to back out. Grinning like a lunatic he threw Will's truck in reverse roughly and backed out quickly. He knew if Will was close enough he'd be choking him but Daryl only laughed. The sound echoed out of the window and Will scowled raising his hand flipping him off. Worth it.
Carol sprawled out in the front seat her face in his lap. Her breath brushed his stomach and she pushed her hand under his shirt to his skin. She let out a breath. He ignored his body's reaction. Letting his hand drop he pushed her hair back from her face and she smiled up at him.
"What was that with my mom?"
Daryl chewed his lip and then shrugged. "Don't tell you don't see the eyes those two make at each other."
"That doesn't bother you?"
Daryl looked down at her before looking back at the road. "Why should it? Yeah she's your mom but what they do now don't change they still had a past together."
Carol hummed and rubbed his stomach again, "You have a point. I think this is the happiest I've ever seen her that I can remember." She yawned and rolled over, "Maybe time will wash away that pain and they can be happy."
"Maybe."
"Do you think Merle and Mac would be mad?"
"Think they have a bet on it, honestly."
Carol huffed, "They didn't let us in? Assholes."
Daryl snorted at her but stayed quiet. He wanted her to sleep. She was sick. It'd be over soon but it didn't change the fact. He grinned knowing Will was going to strangle him. Danielle pressed up against this back was going to torture for him. Carol wasn't in on the bet but he was. He was planning on winning.
