Chapter Six

Fifteen months later

"Come on, Andre, it's time to get up," Michonne told her son. He'd been sleeping with her since they got here, and his room was about to be remodeled. She couldn't wait. She loved her son, but when he slept, he flopped around. It wasn't unusual to be hit several times at night.

"Tired," he groaned.

"What you get for stayin' up late," Daryl grumbled sleepily from the other side of the bed. Daryl had ended up staying in what she'd considered her room when they arrived. And they'd found a few more people that remembered. "You're Uncle Merle's up. He might be takin' bites outta your pancakes."

She laughed when Andre sat up with wide eyes. "Go in the bathroom and wash your face and brush your teeth. You have school today," she told her son. He was scooting down to the end of the bed and out of it before she could finish. "I'm listening."

"Two minutes," he muttered.

They'd gotten up here and Jason was the first to greet them. And tell her they wouldn't find anything in a six-town radius in three months, as she was expecting friends. She and Daryl were both in shock. The woman had rolled her eyes.

"It's good dental hygiene," she said to him.

"Mm hm."

They'd taken fifteen hundred acres. When Jason told her to learn from her mistakes and take that much right out of the gate, Michonne almost fainted. Fifteen hundred acres? Yes, learn from her mistakes. It'd taken them three months, morning to night, to get the fencing up before they went to find Merle. It was good there weren't a lot of walkers up here.

"Mommy, I'm done," Andre announced as he stood by her side of the bed.

"Open," she requested. He did. His breath smelled minty fresh. "Okay. You can go."

Andre ran and opened the door while yelling "Uncle Merle! Don't take bites outta my cakes!" before the door slammed.

"Did you want to get in the shower?"

"Nah, go ahead, 'Chonne," he answered sleepily.

'Chonne. Another development. When they first got up here Daryl slept in the same bed as her and Andre. For protection he said. The B & B had four rooms. Then Jason showed up. Then Freddy, Redhorse, Wilson, Blackthorne and Hawkins. So, they slept in the same bed with Andre. After Merle and the people with him moved here, they had people sleeping everywhere, so Daryl stayed with her and Andre. A year later all their people were settled and now they were going to remodel this place.

She and Daryl were running the place and hadn't that been a shocker. Everyone thought both were running the place, anyway, including Merle. After a while Daryl gave up and answered questions if anyone had them instead of sending the person to her, which had been huge, in her opinion. Michonne had expected Daryl to leave like he'd done before.

Hot water running down her back was always refreshing. They'd done some incredible things here. Thanks to everyone. She wondered why she and the people in her nightmares hadn't done any of them.

They didn't talk about the first time anymore. Jason and Freddy had told her the history of their tenure and she'd told them of the things that had happened to her and her group. It hadn't been all sunshine and roses. They'd lost a few people and gained more. And they'd worked their asses off for this place.

She dried off and put on her clothes. When she came out of the bathroom, she saw Daryl was still in bed. "Hey, did you want to sleep in or are you getting up? It doesn't matter to me," she said as she sat in the chair and put on her socks.

"Her name was Leah. And she had brown hair," Daryl responded. He sat up against the hideous headboard.

She raised her eyebrows. "You remember. When?" Michonne felt a little slighted. He didn't have to tell her everything but that was kind of a big thing.

"I remembered everything about two weeks ago."

"Why didn't you tell me?" She thought they were better friends than in her nightmares.

"You were right. I didn't wanna remember. Negan? He fucked me up. And it got worse." He paused. "I didn't tell ya because I wanted to make sure I remembered it all. Not because I didn't trust you."

Ah.

"I took her fish."

"Nothing says 'I love you' from Daryl Dixon like fish," she grinned and put on her boots.

"Is that what you want? Fish?"

"What?"

"Is that what you want, 'Chonne? Fish?"

She froze.

"Even when I stopped goin' out with you to find The Governor I still went out. I'd get on my bike and ride around. It's how I found the Big Spot. Or I'd walk. I might find food or might not. Hell, I left Alexandria practically the day we got there. I hated it there. But ever since we been here, I haven't left except to go hunting or on runs. Days when we didn't have much goin' on I stayed inside. And listened to you 'Chatty Cathy'. Played games with little man. Read books or watched movies."

Michonne thought back to everything they'd gone through since he'd called her back. They'd started this place. They'd found a lot of people. They'd built homes, a school, and a clinic. They'd set up farms and livestock areas. Daryl'd done runs and had gone hunting. He'd taught their people along with Merle, Redhorse and Wilson. He was patient with Andre, always listening to his baby talk when he was younger and playing games with him now.

He'd listened when she talked about this place and what she wanted to do. He had his own opinions on what they should do. He'd helped her reel in Jason when she wanted to do stupid shit. Exceedingly rare, but it had happened a few times. He was friends with Freddy. She never kicked him out of their room even when she could have. She…

Shit. When did she fall in love with Daryl Dixon?

"What's your last name?" he asked.

She let out a breath. "Hawthorne," she said quietly.

"What's Andre's last name?"

"Dixon?" she whispered hopefully.

He smiled at her. A Daryl smile but a smile. He'd smiled at her. A lot, she just realized.

"Come here," he told her.

She walked over to the bed. Daryl was sitting on the edge, and he moved her to his lap. Then he kissed her.

"Morning breath," she whispered when they stopped.

"Get used to it," he told her then kissed her again. "Let me tell you what I want. I want a door right there," he pointed to the wall between the door and the bed. "That leads out to a private deck. With our own hot tub. And I can't believe you put a deposit on a hot tub," he muttered.

She chuckled. "I had priorities."

He snorted.

"Will you help me pick out appliances?" They were going to remodel the B & B. They had solar panels, enough to run the entire house.

"Yeah. I like the steel stuff you like."

"Morning breath," she said after they stopped kissing. Again.

"Get used to it, toothpaste stealer," he said. "I want a queen bed."

"I want lighted cabinets," she returned.

"Then we'll get lighted cabinets."

"Rick and Carol?" she softly asked.


Daryl looked at 'Chonne. He didn't know when he fell in love with her, and he'da never admitted he loved someone before they came up here, but he did love her. And Andre.

He'd followed her to the hotel when they'd left IHOP. She'd changed from her car to a truck. Smart. She'd pulled over when she'd realized he was following her and asked what the hell he was doing. Quietly. Scarily. He'd said he'd help her and little man get their fences up and then go to where Merle was.

Daryl had hoped Merle left and it seemed Merle did wanna go on vacation. When he'd called Daryl, he'd told him the place was closed. Michonne told him to tell Merle to break in. Shit was gettin' weird and dead people were coming back to life. Hit 'em in the head to put 'em down.

He'd stayed in the same room as her and Andre for protection and never left, though he could've. They'd done runs together, he'd taught her to hunt, offered to teach little man. Daryl listened when 'Chonne talked about what she wanted to do. She listened to him when he gave his ideas. They built this place from the ground up. She'd never treated him like a stupid hillbilly. He didn't mind spendin' time with her or Andre. He didn't mind sharin' a room, a bed or a bathroom with her or little man. He didn't mind stayin' inside and sittin' on his ass, playin' a game or readin' a book or watchin' a movie, once they got electricity and time. He didn't mind everyone thought him and 'Chonne ran the place together because they did.

"We know what it's like to lose a place, 'Chonne. Tomorrow, I'm takin' Freddy with me and we're gonna leave 'em a note. If they lose the prison, we'll help 'em as much as we can, but they can't stay here."

She smiled at him again. He got used to it. There was a lot to smile about here, even with walkers.

He kissed her again and moved her off his lap. "Gonna shower. Wanna to get some shit done before we leave tomorrow." He turned in the bathroom doorway to see her still standing there with a smile. "Can you try and make sure Merle's not an asshole and drinks all the coffee?"

Michonne rolled her eyes. "I'll try."

"And we gotta teach Andre to stop takin' bites out of people's food," he sighed.

"He got that from Merle," she pointed out.

"Yeah, he did that shit when I was a kid. Thought it was funny," he sighed again.

She laughed. "I'll see what I can do. About the coffee."

After he showered, he headed out to do what he wanted to do before leaving. The next morning, he headed upstairs to Freddy and Jason's room and knocked on the door. He was glad when the man answered.

"What's up, Daryl?"

Freddy was his friend. More than Rick ever was.

"I remembered," he stated.

Freddy stared at him. "When are you leaving?" he finally asked.

"We're leavin'."

"We're leaving. And where are we going?"

"We're goin' to find my old group." He paused. "Me and 'Chonne know what it's like to lose a place with nowhere to go. We're gonna find them and leave 'em a note. If they lose their place we'll help 'em as much as we can, but they can't stay here."

Freddy stared for a few minutes more. "When are we leaving?" he finally asked.

"Ten minutes."

"I'll get some shit together," he said.

Daryl knew Freddy would go 'cause they were friends. If Freddy said he needed to go somewhere and asked him to go, he would.

He headed back downstairs and saw 'Chonne in the living room. He could hear Merle and Andre and Jason in the kitchen. He'd already put his crossbow and a bag with food and clothes in the car they were gonna take.

Daryl walked over to her and put his forehead on hers. "I'll try not to be gone longer than two weeks."

She smiled a little. "You only leave to go on runs or hunting," she repeated.

"Runs or hunting."

"Daryl, are you leaving?" Andre cried as he came from the kitchen. He turned and knelt when the boy got close.

"Yeah, little man. I'm goin' on a run. I'm takin' Freddy with me."

Andre looked like he was gonna cry and Daryl couldn't take that shit. "You gonna be good for your momma while I'm gone?"

"Yes."

"You gonna be good for your Uncle Merle?"

"Yes."

"You gonna be good for your Aunt Jason?"

"Yes," the boy said as Freddy was comin' down the stairs with his own bag. "Give your daddy a kiss," he told him. And he did. "I'll be back." He stood up and turned to 'Chonne and kissed her. "Runs and hunting."

"Runs and hunting," she whispered.

"Where are we going?" Freddy asked as they drove away.

"Georgia. Gotta couple places to check out."

"And if they're not there?"

"Then we come back home," Daryl said.

"Cool."


Michonne wasn't exactly keeping track of the days after Daryl left. She knew he'd be back. She missed him. They did almost everything together and it was…weird he wasn't there. Andre called him 'daddy' all the time now. Merle had muttered it was about damn time.

Eight days later, she, Andre and Jason were in the living room playing Candyland when they heard the door open. Andre was off the sofa and running to Daryl. "Daddy," he shrieked with joy.

She noticed Freddy and Jason quickly kiss and start talking in low voices.

"Were you good for your momma, Uncle Merle and Aunt Jason?" Daryl asked as he knelt and dropped his bag.

"Uh huh," he answered right away.

She wanted to cry when Daryl kissed him on the head.

"You stink, Daddy," Andre told him and wrinkled his nose.

"I stink?" he growled playfully.

"Uh huh."

"I gotta get a shower."

"Mr. and Mrs. Dixon," the brown-haired woman interrupted. "Freddy and I can take little A for the night," she smirked.

"You don't mind?" she asked her.

"What're friends for," she replied with a shrug.

Freddy smiled, his teeth very white against his darker skin. "I need a shower, too, little A. Then we'll play some Chutes and Ladders."

"I can't wait to teach him Monopoly," Jason chuckled evilly as they went up the stairs, Andre between them.

"He'll fleece everyone," Freddy protested.

"I know," she snickered.

"Come on," Daryl said as he tugged on her hand and led her to their bedroom. "I need a shower. I know, don't touch your hair. What?" he asked when she felt her mouth drop open. "I listened."

They undressed and got in the shower. "Let me," she said and took the cloth from him. He turned around and faced the wall while she washed his back.

"They were at the farm," Daryl stated. "Me and Freddy stuck around long enough to see Carl and I think, Sophia."

Michonne hummed as she washed his legs then arms. "I'm glad."

He turned to face her and started washing his hair while she washed his chest. "You know Merle told me a few months after they got here that he liked my girlfriend and don't fuck it up."

"Merle said that?" she gasped.

"Yeah," he replied when he tilted his head back to get the shampoo out. "Said he'd like another nephew or a niece." He kissed her. "Thought Hawthorne Dixon would be a good name."

She smiled. "I like it."


Daryl hugged 'Chonne closer to him. It was different bein' with her, naked and no Andre. He loved the boy, but he couldn't wait until his room was done. He flopped around like a fish at night.

"Wait here," he muttered and got out of bed. He put his boxers on and went to get his bag from the living room. When he came back, 'Chonne was sitting up, the sheet around her. "Need a new bed."

"We do," she agreed as he got in beside her.

"Here," he said and handed her a peach from his bag. "Figured we could grow 'em." Her mouth dropped open before she lunged at him and almost knocked him off the bed. Damn, he loved this woman.


And they lived happily ever after with their three children: Andre, Hawthorne, their sister Jasper, and a thriving community.


A/N: I've got an idea for a continuation. Maybe. Maybe not. Thank you for reading.