Hi there. It's been a while… I'm still here, finding myself trying to find ways to clear my mind these days. What better way than to write this? I hope everyone is staying safe, and staying healthy.

Chapter 14 Storm

Daryl could hear thunder in the distance as he closed the patio door. He squinted into the sun and stared up into the blue skies, it was a good clip off he reckoned so he didn't have to worry too much about his ladies. He scratched his chest, and wiped his forehead. It was turning into a steamer for the day once again. He looked over his shoulder and saw Carol was watching him so he set off towards the stables watching where he was going so he didn't step in a hole and sprain his ankle or something stupid like that, or step in Harley's dog shit something equally stupid. He snorted to himself. Who was he to impress? He shook himself thoughts like those just got himself into a bad way so he put those thoughts out of his head and thought better of himself because he was better than that. His old man didn't have to rule the roost no more. In fact, he could rot in hell for all he cared, or rot in prison if he had anything to say about it.

He reached for the handle on the door, and the door creaked as it opened, he'd have to remind himself to get some oil and oil that shit. It wasn't just Hershel that was standing around Nelly when he stood there for a few moments to let his eyes adjust to the darkness. He was surprised then that his Papa was there as well.

"What's wrong with Nelly?" Daryl asked as he came closer to Nelly's stall.

"Maggie and Beth took them out riding, and she got bit by a rattler. Got the anti-venom to her right quick, but she's struggling." His Papa told him. Hershel looked over at him but didn't say anything. He was busy showing Maggie what to do with the Horse, Beth was also there crying in the corner. He refrained from rolling his eyes..was just a young girl she didn't need him all up on her case for not being careful out there with the horse he was sure that Hershel has already spoken to her about being careless with the horse' and besides it wasn't his place/ He didn't get that many rattlers on his property but they were out there.

"Did y' take care of it?" Hershel looked up from what he was doing with Maggie and nodded. While clearing his throat.

"'Tis in the trap son. I wasn't sure what you wanted me to do."

"Gonna take care of it then." He nodded while turning back towards the door.

"Now hold up there son," His Papa explained, I came out to talk to ya son, then got wrangled up in helping Hershel." He nodded at Hershel, and then he stepped forward taking Daryl by his shoulder and walking him towards the stable door.

Daryl stepped out the door, and waited for his Papa to step outside and then he closed them, "A'right wanna take a walk first and take care of the rattler, we can talk while we walk."

His Papa was quiet though which was making Daryl a little unsettled. He decided to just let it go as they made their way to the four-wheeler on the property. He knew it would be a hike for his Papa. From what Hershel had described it was back in the back corner of his property. He didn't want his Papa to walk all that way. They could talk on their way out there. But his Papa was still mute.

"You came out here to talk? So what's on yer' mind?"

His Papa only shook his head and patted his shoulder. "Those girls son, they could have been in alot of trouble had they not acted fast is what I'm thinking right now"

He knew a good lie when he was told one so he just let it be for now. He needed to take care of the damn snake. "Mag is smart, but yer' right. Beth is young… don' think she'd know what to do…" He frowned.

It took twenty minutes to reach their destination. They had to find another way back across the early spring had caused some flooding, and where it was easy for the horses to cross in some areas it wasn't as easy for the four-wheeler to get through.

Daryl took care of the snake. It was a mama, so it was only looking out for its young. "It's home isn't on your property?" Daryl shook his head no.

"Nah, we'll take her out a bit further, grab up the young, and release it. I ain't gonna kill it." He shook his head.

So with that done, he had a good relationship with his neighbors. They made their way back across the neighbors way. Making sure that it wasn't on any of their lands and it couldn't reach them easily.

"Would have made a good dinner." His Papa chuckled.

"Not with feeding the babies." He frowned, and he turned towards the fourwheeler. "Now do you wanna tell me why you's come all this way to help Hershel with Nelly?" He asked while taking a seat on the fourwheeler "and quote with the distracting I know good ones too when I don't wanna tell ya what's on my mind." He smirked.

His Papa sighed and rubbed his jaw. He could tell Daryl was upset, But trying hard not to show it. "Is Gramma ok?" He searched his grandfathers eyes as he stood and walked a few paces away from him..

"Dorothy is fine son," He patted Daryl's shoulder. "It's your father; he passed away son."

Daryl stared at him for a full minute and then swallowed. "Alright," Daryl couldn't find it in himself to feel much of anything, but relief. But he let out a heavy sigh because he knew this saddened his Papa. "When?'

"This morning, Hershel said you were out with Carol and Sophia, I didn't want to dampen the day."

Daryl nodded then and let out a slow breath through his teeth, "How're ya holding up?"

His granddaddy frowned, "Was going to ask you that, son."

Daryl shrugged and shook his head, his arms crossing over his chest. "bout all I feel is relief." His voice caught a little, but that was because he felt bad that he couldn't feel bad for his granddaddy.

His granddaddy brought his hand up and patted his cheek gently. "I know that he never did you right son, and for that, I am sorry."

Daryl's eyes began to water, and he looked down at his boots. His grandfather pulled him into a hug. "Let go of those feelings that are nagging at yer gut; he don' deserve them. There ain't nothin' that man was good for, 'cept helping in bringing you in this world, it's a better world with you in it." His granddaddy rubbed his back.

Daryl's breath caught, and his eyes burned, but then he blinked and brought his arms up to embrace his Papa. He cleared his throat and pushed back once he knew his eyes were dry. "Ain't nothin' that I'm holding onto with the bastard, was just worryin' bout you Papa."

His granddaddy smiled then. "Good. Good, I'll be happy when that son of a bitch is six foot under. He was a monster, but your grandmother and I got you outta the whole bad deal."

Daryl felt his face burn and he rubbed his chin, and kicked at a rock. "How's she holding up?" He whispered.

"Like you son, relieved. She wants to meet yer girl, and her little one. Think you can bring em up tomorrow night?"

"Of course, uh, Merle's coming home tomorrow night." Daryl scratched the back of his neck as a bug bit him, then he looked at his hand to make sure it wasn't a bee, then he just brushed it off on his jeans. "Was gonna call ya, but…" he waved his hand.

"He gave us a holler, sounded cut up." His granddaddy's brows wrinkled in concern. "Not much puts fear in that boy."

Daryl shook his head, "Nah, he is pretty rattled up about all this sickness going 'round, and the planes going down. We're not sure what to make of it."

His granddaddy ran a hand through his long hair. "Dorothy thinks it's Revelations."

Daryl rubbed his chin, and a shiver went up his back. "Seen 'em up close." He gave an involuntary shudder as the thought of the dead rising and eating them. "Can't rule it out, man." His voice came out hoarse. A good amount of fear was running up his spine causing him to break out in goose pimples all over his arms. "Ain't s'posed ta talk about it, but we're calling it the 'bath salt' thing, y'know that drug that came up a few months back where the neighbor down South ate his neighbor in a drug-induced rage." Daryl eyed his granddaddy.

He had paled. "Shit And back in my day, I thought LSD was scary shit, with people jumping outta buildings, and lifting cars and shit." He cleared his throat, "But nah, they create a drug where they turn into actual monsters and eat each other." He shook his head, biting his lip.

"Damn straight, shit. It's fucked up." Daryl shook his head.

"Now don't let your Grandmother hear you talking like that. She'd bring out the dish soap like she used to do with Merle, and don't shake that off she did that when he was forty." His granddaddy said when he snorted.

Daryl smirked, "Yeah." He cleared his throat, the thought of dish soap in his mouth wasn't pleasant. "I'll be on my best behavior." He winced.

"Woman will bust ya balls if you ain't." His Papa chuckled, and Daryl rolled his eyes.

Then he sobered, "About the old man." He cleared his throat, "We planning a funeral? Or, just burying him?" He asked as he rested against a tree.

His Papa sighed and did the same. "What do you want to do son?"

Daryl scowled, "Pfft. Just put him in the ground." He scoffed, and put his hands on his hips looking down. "There ain't no one gonna come to the funeral anyhow." He growled, then ran a hand through his hair and he paced forward. "Dunno, how mama would feel bout that, though." He chewed his lip as he turned back calmly.

His grandfather put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed. "Laurel would be so proud of you son, what you've become. So, don't let any of that get you down boy, a daddy is s'posed to earn their kids' respect. I wish I could have been more in you boy's life," He blinked back the moisture in his eyes.

Daryl sighed, "Papa, you were more of a father in my life, ya did all you could after my mama died." Daryl stepped close and patted his grandfather's cheek. "I know what he did." Daryl looked away for a moment, trying to keep control of his anger, but it wasn't easy. His father had told him in one of his drunken fits ranting to him on the phone on how he was a bastard of a son, and that even his grandparents didn't love him enough to look after him.

"He threatened Gramma." Daryl chewed his lip as his eyes started to water, his voice thickened as he spoke. "Why didn't ya ever tell me that?" Daryl met his eyes.

Norman gasped, and stared at him. "How do you…"

Daryl cleared his throat, "Don't matter how I know Papa, just matters what he done to her."

His grandfather nodded, and blinked and squinted into the sun. "Your grandmother didn't want to worry you, son."

Daryl huffed out a sharp breath and looked away when a lump filled his throat. "Worry me?" His voice broke, and he bit his lip shaking his head. "I woulda killed the bastard!" He choked out, "I ALMOST drove there and did!" He shouted, and he turned and paced away, and stopped. He was panting, as he looked down at the ground trying to reign in the anger, desperation, and sadness.

"Now son," His granddad started brokenly, and Daryl turned around, paced back and pulled his grandfather into his arms startling him. He held him tight. He felt his granddaddy's breath hitch in his chest, and he wrapped his arms tightly around him too. "That's why Daryl."

Daryl just shook his head, "Did he hurt her?" He stepped back sniffing and ran a hand over his face. He wasn't bawling, but he was angry enough that tears had come to his eyes.

"Not like that son, I put a stop to it." He replied thickly. "Beat his ass up right good."

Daryl pulled in a shaky breath. "m'sorry I lost my temper." He replied sadly now that his temper had died out.

"Boy, there ain't no reason for you to be sorry. We both loved you like you were our son. So, you don't worry about your bastard of a father no more. He can't hurt no one where he's goin'" He reached up and wiped his eyes. "M'sorry too, we shoulda taken you into our home, son."

Daryl's eyes pooled with tears, "It all worked out the way it was s'posed ta," He answered back with a sniffle, "so don't you worry 'bout that Papa, I did okay enough" Daryl sucked in a ragged breath, and patted his shoulder in comfort. "You've put up with more shit than I ever could." Daryl shook his head. "Jus' wish ya woulda told me." He cleared his throat, "I woulda thrown his ass in prison."

"Happened before that son." He patted his shoulder.

Daryl nodded and let out a slow breath. His hands on his hips. "Still woulda." His voice came out husky.

"I know that Daryl, and we tried, but he had some powerful friends, you know that."

Daryl looked away and reached up to wipe the corner of his eye. "Yeah I know." He kept his eyes downcast.

His granddaddy turned him and then wrapped his arms around him. Daryl's emotions were getting the better of him. How could his bastard father hurt his Grandma? He hadn't known for sure, he'd thought the old bastard had just been drunk, but fuck if he could he'd bring him back to life to kill him slowly. That bothered him something awful as he brought his arms up and squeezed his granddaddy tight. "We'd best be gettin' on back " He patted his granddaddy's back. "Ya staying for dinner?" he whispered as he stood back.

"Dorothy and I were goin' to eat at Hershel's, but I can call her and have Annette bring her here."

Daryl nodded and blew out a breath. "You go on son, and go on and get comfort on how only a lady can." He patted his cheek. "Run along; I'll be alright."

Daryl nodded, "Why don' ya let me know when yer leavin' so Miss. Annette don' gotta be out after dark." Daryl frowned at himself; his accent was thick today. Suppose it was talking to granddaddy that did it.

"Otis can bring her over son." Daryl looked at his feet and nodded.

"Feel better that way not to have Annette out; I'm sure Hershel would feel the same." He swallowed and started to turn for the inside.

"I'll just let Hershel know."

Daryl nodded again and jogged up the walkway towards his house. He entered the kitchen from the back porch and could smell the cake baking. Daryl turned and closed the patio door, with a heavy sigh.

Carol was out in the kitchen busying herself with tidying things up. She looked up and smiled at him. Then frowned when she saw that his head was bowed and he had a lot of tension in his shoulders.

She made her way over to him and stood in front of him. He'd come in and then just leaned back against the door letting a heavy sigh out he hadn't seen Carol when he came in. "Are you alright Hon?"

Daryl jumped, and Carol frowned. Then he'd just gathered her close, and buried his face in the side of her neck, drawing in a steadying breath. Realizing that something must have happened with maybe Nelly, but she didn't think Daryl would be quite this upset over a horse. "Daryl?"

He cleared his throat, "Just need a moment Peach." He murmured, his voice was husky with emotion. So, Carol just held him and rubbed light circles on his back in comfort. After a long moment, she felt him let out a shaky breath and then lean back and kiss her on the forehead. Then he just stood there a moment with his eyes closed. He finally opened them, and she saw that he looked a little better.

"What happened Hon, is Nelly ok?" She soothed rubbing her hand over his chest.

He bit his lip. "Nelly's jus' fine, she got bit by a rattler Hershel caught it in time. That's not what he needed me for, though." Daryl swallowed as his voice thickened. "Papa is here helping Hershel. He came to tell me that my father passed away this morning." Carol rubbed his chest, and he reached down and took her hand in his, and kissed her fingers, just because he could now. "M'fine 'bout that." He swallowed, "Papa, just told me somethin' I didn't know for sure and it's hitting me in a bad way." He let out a slow breath as a lump started to form in his throat. He shook his head, blinking hard as he met her eyes.

Seeing how hard that Daryl was trying to keep the emotion back Carol tiptoed up and kissed him soundly on the lips, her hands going into long hair at the nape of his neck. Daryl made a sound in the back of his throat and she felt his tongue run along her bottom lip seeking entrance, they kept it tame considering that Sophia could come into the kitchen at any time. Daryl was the first to break the kiss. He tucked Carol close and rested her head against his chest in comfort. God, he loved this woman, she knew what he needed.

"What was that for?" He whispered into her hair, his voice was still thick with emotion but it was less so now.

Carol leaned back her hand coming up to trace his bottom lip, "I thought you could use one."

He smiled sadly, and kissed her. "Always Peach," He swallowed past the lump in his throat now it was there all for a new reason, because he was touched that she could care so much about him. "There ya go on that composure thing again." He lowered his forehead to hers, his eyes searching hers, at that proximity they were breathtaking.

"Sorry," She giggled.

"I can tell yer very sorry." He grinned, , as he leaned back his thumbs tracing her collarbones "I invited Papa, and Gramma to dinner, I hope that's alright? I know I shoulda asked ya first." He met her eyes,

"Hon, you know this is your house, and that is perfectly fine with me." She rubbed light circles on his chest in comfort.

He scoffed at that, "Baby, you know my house is your house." He whispered. "I don' wanna assume that things are alright, you have a say in everything." His hands had dropped to her hips, as he tugged her closer to him, his fingers tracing that inch of bare skin he got when her arms went around his neck.

Tears came to her eyes, and she smiled at him. "Well thank you for thinking about my feelings Hon, but that's ok. Now, what has made you so upset?" She played with the hairs at the back of his neck causing him to break out in goose flesh on his arms.

He didn't know how she could read him so well. He thought as he let out a steadying breath. His throat tightened, and he just shook his head sadly. "That bastard of an old man threatened her before I was a cop, he claimed he hit her, though I couldn't get that outta papa." His voice caught, and he leaned his head back, and it hit the wall. "If he weren't dead I'd kill him!" He hissed, feeling that old anger fill him. Carol did the only thing she could at that moment, and that was wrap him up in a tight loving embrace, and it worked. He'd stiffened a moment, and then just relaxed into her embrace.

After a long moment, Daryl sighed, and she felt him swallow. "We're just gonna put him in the ground. The bastard that he was don' deserve no funeral." She tightened her arms around him at that.

She held him for a long moment. Just letting him hold her. When he kissed her neck and loosened his hold, and gave her a sad smile.

Carol leaned back and rubbed his chest, and he looked down at her, "I'd like to say that if Ed were to die that I'd do the same, but are you sure about that Hon, you seem conflicted."

Daryl let out a faint huff and rolled his eyes. "I am conflicted, dunno what my mama would think." He reached out and took her hand playing with her fingers. His eyes met hers and a thin layer of tears coated them, "I know ya can't answer for me Peach, but am I doin' the right thing here?" Daryl had to stop a moment as a lump filled his throat, which he couldn't swallow. He drew in an unsteady breath "I wanna make her proud-" His voice hitched, and he slammed his eyes shut.

Daryl was visibly shaking under the palms of her hands. She could see the tears glistening at the corners of his tightly closed eyelids and it suddenly just broke her.

"Oh, Hon" Was all she said as she dropped his hand and her arms went around his neck, and she pulled him close.

Daryl let her, he just tucked his face in the crook of her neck and let out a ragged broken breath. She pressed her lips to his ear, "You just thinking about that makes your mama proud. I can tell you that right now. Because if I was in her shoes, and Sophia did that for me I would be so proud of her." Her voice broke, "So she is looking down and smiling that you care about what she would think about that." She swallowed over a sob.

He nodded against the side of her neck and blew out a warm uneven breath, "Thank you, Peach." His voice broke, and he pulled in a quick, ragged breath. "'m gonna go take a moment if you don' mind." He breathed out slowly, and loosened his grip on her, and gave her hip a gentle pat while letting out a slowly hitched breath.

"You go do that Hon; I love you." She tiptoed up and kissed him, he returned it and rested his forehead against hers, his eyes closed.

"Love you too, Peach." His voice hitched at that, and he left quickly up the stairs that he didn't use that much. She knew it was to avoid Sophia in the other room. He was much too emotional for that. She wiped her eyes and went back to finish up what she was doing before Daryl had come back in.

She hoped that them having tacos would be alright with having his grandparents there. But it was what Sophia wanted so she'd just make them extra special. She started first by thawing out the hamburger that she found, and then went about slicing up ingredients to cook with.

As she was gathering up the ingredients to make tacos there was a knock at the back patio door. She glanced over seeing an older man that she didn't immediately recognize but then as she came closer she did. He had the same kind eyes as Daryl did, he was a much older version of him. "You must be Mr. Norman." She said by way of greeting.

He gave her a shy grin just like Daryl's. "Yes, Ma'am. And you must be the one my grandson is sweet on." He grinned, and Carol blushed. "Carol, he told me."

"Yes sir, that's me." She gave him a shy smile.

"I didn't want to interrupt, and my shoes are filthy, didn't wanna track mud all over the place, would it be too much of a bother if you got Daryl for me?" He asked politely.

Seeing her hesitation, he held up a hand. "How is he?"

Carol blinked back the moisture that was trying to fill her eyes. "He needed a moment, so for now unless it's an emergency maybe give him a moment?" She looked up at Daryl's Papa with watering eyes.

"Aww, sweetheart, you're gonna make an old man get all misty. I'm happy that he found someone like you." He gave her a smile. "Yes, you're right. I was just going to tell him that Nelly was doing fine and that Hershel had given her a shot of Morphine for the pain." He cleared his throat, "Daryl told you that my wife and I were coming to dinner right?"

Carol nodded and wiped the corner of her eye with a shy grin. "Yes, he did. And that's perfectly fine, and it's my daughter's birthday, so we're having taco's is that alright?"

Norman chuckled and gave her a wide grin. "I love tacos, and so does Dorothy." He grinned.

"Oh good. I'll be sure to tell Daryl everything you just said."

"Alright thank you, sweetheart."

So he left her then and told her that they'd be back in an hour or so and that Hershel was still out in the stables with Maggie now. He told her he was going back out and helped Hershel with the horse. That Otis was bringing Dorothy.

Carol went back to working on making the tacos. She decided to pull out two pounds of ground beef because she wasn't sure how much that Daryl and his grandfather would eat. She knew that Sophia loved tacos and could stuff down plenty of them.

She dug in Daryl's pantry and found that he had several kinds of flour, so she'd be able to make flour tortillas from scratch as well as corn. She liked to do that as opposed to the store bought kind. She didn't see that he had any of those, and she didn't want to disturb him as he was pretty upset. And regardless if he hated his old man or not that was something he needed to grieve or release on his own. When her father died she'd cried, well sobbed all night long, and it wasn't that she loved him, he was a monster of a man to her mother and herself. It was that she finally had freedom from him. She'd been thirty when her father died. So she knew that he was in pain. She could see it battling in his eyes as he was talking to her right before he made for the stairs.

Good as Daryl was at giving and receiving comfort she knew that he needed to have some space, and she wasn't going to push herself into that space. She was sure that he was probably calling Merle and telling him if he could reach him, given that he was coming home from overseas. She was excited as well as nervous to meet him. The little that Daryl had told her about Merle, she found that they didn't have a very close relationship. Especially with him saying that today was the first time that he'd heard Merle tell him he loved him. She could only hope that Merle would get home safely now.

A/N 2

I do have more written so no promises, but I'm hoping I will get more out to you as soon as I can. Love to everyone and stay healthy and safe :))