Chapter 47: Insomnia and Bacon

Carol covered her face with her hands, panting as Daryl crawled up from where he'd been settled between her legs. He pulled her hands back and kissed her, letting her taste herself on his lips.

"Where'd that come from?" Carol panted between kisses.

"You couldn't sleep. Thought I'd tire you out," he smirked. She grinned against his lips, and he moved his hand between her legs, stroking her soaking core. He crawled over her then, and he was about to slip inside when she gently pushed on his shoulder. "S'wrong?"

"My back," she panted. Daryl chuckled then, burying his face against her hair. "I had a twinge earlier, and it still hurts."

"You ok? The baby?"

"Yeah, baby's fine," she panted. "Just…here." She shifted then, rolling onto her side with her back to Daryl. He recalled back when Carol was heavily pregnant with Luke, this was the easiest position for her aside from being on top.

"Good?" he asked.

"Mmm," she murmured, biting her lip as Daryl pressed up against her. He reached around and between her legs, stroking her clit as he lined up and pushed inside. She gasped, and he buried a groan against the back of her neck, pumping his hips slowly as Carol's arm snaked around and curled back so she could thread her fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck.

His other hand gently grasped her breast, and she moaned as he rolled the nipple between his thumb and forefinger.

He pressed soft, lazy kisses down the length of her neck, and closed his eyes as her walls tightened around him. He took his time, caressing her sensitive skin, teasing her in all the places he knew she was particularly sensitive. And when she finally came, he gripped her hips and picked up the pace a little until he was spent.

When he pulled out of her, she rolled onto her back and turned her face toward his. Her face was perfectly pink, and he loved that sometimes she still blushed after sex.

"I wonder what time it is?" she asked with a sleepy smile.

"Probably midnight or a little after. I couldn't sleep either."

"Sleepy now?" Carol asked, running her hand up his chest and over his shoulder.

"Gettin' there," he laughed. He reached between them and placed his hand on her belly. "You sure the baby's ok?"

"Yeah," she sighed. "I think I just overdid it in the stress department." Her little smile did nothing to ease Daryl's worries.

"Maybe we shouldn't have just…"

"It's just a back ache. I'm fine. Baby's fine. I promise you." She leaned in to kiss him, and when she pulled away, she laughed. "This is gonna be a long night."

"Could read you one of Luke's bedtime stories," he joked.

"I think we've had enough bedtime stories for a while," Carol pointed out.

"Yeah," he murmured. "We gonna ground him or…?"

"He misses his dad. And his mom. I mean, we have to be careful how we punish him."

"Scared the shit outta me. Can't imagine what was goin' through your head," Daryl murmured, pressing the heels of his hands into his eyes. He groaned and turned his face to look at her, rubbing his tired eyes before reaching out to stroke her cheek. "You ok?"

"I told you…"

"I don't mean that," he said quietly. Carol flinched at the insinuation, and she slowly relaxed. With a nod, she gave him a sad smile.

"It brought up a lot of memories. It was like being out on that highway all over again." Daryl reached for her hand, curling his fingers around hers. "I know he's not mine, but I helped bring him into the world. I held him before either of his parents. I helped take care of him. And now I'm looking after him, and he feels like mine. Today, I felt like I did the day Sophia went into those woods, and I never want to feel that again."

"You won't," Daryl promised. "Hey. Look at me." Carol took a deep, shaking breath, and she blinked back tears. "Hey."

"Hey," she sniffled.

"We're ok. Everybody's ok."

"I know," she sniffled.

"C'mere." He curled his arm around her shoulders, and she snuggled up against him, resting her hand against his chest. "It's ok." She took another shaking breath, and then she fell apart. She shook with muffled sobs and buried her face against his neck, and for the first time in a very long time, she cried herself to sleep.

...

Glenn felt like he'd slept for a week when he woke the next morning. The sun was up, and the laughter of children fluttered through the open bedroom window. It was a much better wakeup call than the snarling of walkers or the sounds of gunfire.

"He dressed quickly and passed Aaron who was standing in the bathroom with the door open, trimming the grizzly bush of a beard he'd achieved since leaving home. Glenn nodded in his direction before heading down the stairs.

The smell of honest to god bacon hit him halfway down the stairs, and his stomach growled loud enough it would've been embarrassing had anyone been around to hear it. But when he stepped foot in the foyer and turned toward the kitchen, he saw Rosita dishing out three platefuls of scrambled eggs and bacon. Glenn watched as she walked barefoot across the kitchen and tossed the frying pan into a sink of soapy water. She scratched the back of her calf with her other foot, and Glenn leaned against the door frame, grinning to himself until she realized she wasn't alone.

She turned then, smiling at him.

"Try this," she said brightly, crossing the room and grabbing a piece of bacon from the table. She continued across the room until she stood right in front of him, and she offered him a little bite. "They have real bacon, babe. Not that shelf-stable shit." Glenn avoided her offering, gently taking her wrist in his hand, and he pulled her in close, kissing her softly.

"You taste better than bacon," he grinned between kisses. She laughed, and pushed at his shoulder.

"That's because I brushed my teeth. Hint hint," she teased.

"I was getting to it. Aaron's getting his beard all over the sink. I'll brush after breakfast," he promised. Rosita made a face at him and when he leaned in to kiss her again, she popped the small piece of bacon into her mouth. "Really?"

"It's so good," she grinned, moaning as she savored the salty flavor. Glenn grabbed her by the hips and turned her around, backing her into the wall. "Ooh, someone's feisty this morning." She swallowed her bite of food and sighed when he leaned in. He gently nipped at her ear before sucking at her neck until she was panting softly. When he pulled back, a little whine escaped her lips. "Kiss me."

"Thought you didn't like my morning breath."

"I don't care," she laughed. "Kiss me." He just stared at her, a little smile playing at his lips. "Babe?"

"I love you," he said after a moment, watching the grin widen on her face.

"I love you, too," she whispered, kissing him again. Aaron's footsteps overhead broke them out of the moment, and Glenn pulled back. The two settled down at the table, and when Aaron stepped in with a trimmed beard, Glenn couldn't help but smirk.

"What?" Aaron asked.

"Better."

"Says the man that gets a five o'clock shadow once a month." He leaned down and patted Glenn's smooth cheek. "Baby face." Glenn groaned, and Rosita laughed. As they began to eat, Aaron glanced at Glenn and then at Rosita.

"So, how's this gonna go?" he asked.

"What?" Rosita asked.

"Are we just telling them everything straight out? I know what the plan was, but I think there might be a wrench in it now."

"What kind of wrench?" Glenn asked. Rosita sighed.

"For starters, the pregnant woman he was hugging when we got here last night," Rosita explained. "His wife. Carol?" She raised her eyebrows and gestured emphatically. "Look, I spent a little time here, and I know he's a family man, but he's also loyal to his friends. But she's pregnant, and there's no way he's going to leave her."

"It's not forever," Glenn insisted.

"It's the end of the world. It could be." Rosita took a forkful of egg, and Glenn looked at Aaron.

"Look, I know Daryl. He's always been the go-to guy. He was Rick's go to guy."

"Family changes a man, Glenn. You of all people know that," Aaron pointed out. "Before Gracie, I never would've risked leaving Alexandria to come all the way out here. We all left something back home. We all have something we want to get back to. It's safe there now, but for how long?" He shook his head. "Your friend owes us nothing. And he's got a family here, and it looks like this place is thriving. He's not going to leave."

Rosita wiped her mouth with the cloth by her plate, and she pushed her chair back from the table.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go talk to him. Better yet, let's talk to them."

Author's Note: Thanks again for reading, everyone. Please let me know your thoughts on the chapter! Feedback is always appreciated!