A/N- The first half, in italics, is Murphy's dream. Non italic is present day. Shall we?
Night had fallen and I stand in the hallway outside my bedroom door, peeking through the cracked door. Daryl lays on the bed, in only a pair of pajama pants. Aurora lays on top of him, her head under his chin resting on his chest, with his arm around her. In the other hand Daryl holds a book, I couldn't see the title of the book, but I hear Daryl reading softly as Aurora look to be struggling to keep her eyes open. Abby had called, Aurora had started complaining about her stomach hurting and wanted to come home to her daddy. Daryl wasted no time heading to Shane and Abby's to get her. After giving her some medicine and taking her temperature, she had crawled in bed with her daddy, asking for him to read her a story. I had to smirk, Daryl was right, she was a daddy's girl. She had the big bad redneck hunter wrapped around her little finger. I stand and laugh as Daryl reads, putting emphasis on certain words getting a sleepy laugh from Aurora. I guess Daryl heard my laughter because he glances towards the door.
"Come in, mommy." He says.
I laugh a bit and push the door open, making my way inside. My hair was in a messy ponytail, my black and red pajama pants were riding low on my hips and the red tank I had on barely covered my belly, but Daryl smirks, the way he looked at me made me feel beautiful. His eyes travel long my body until his eyes meet mine. I slowly climb into bed, rolling over on my side to face Daryl and Aurora. Aurora gives me a sleepy look as Daryl leans over and kisses my forehead. I smile, reaching out to feel Aurora's forehead. She didn't have a fever, so I was hoping something just didn't agree with her.
"How are you feeling, baby?" I ask softly.
"Better, daddy kissed my tummy better." She says softly.
"Aw, he's good at kissing things better." I laugh a bit and look at Daryl. "You big bad redneck hunter." I tease.
"I can't help it, woman, I'm a push over for my girls." He says.
"Course ya are." I laugh a bit.
I move a bit, laying my head against the pillow next to Daryl's. He gently rubs Aurora's back as he continues with the story, which was titled The Lorax. I smile as Aurora reaches out and places her hand on my belly as Daryl reads. This was nice, if this was my life, I really had nothing to complain about. I had two beautiful children with one more on the way, I had a amazing husband, life couldn't get any better. "Mommy" someone says from the doorway. I lift my head to see little Daryl standing there holding a teddy bear. I sit up, motioning for him to come towards the bed. He crawls up and gets situated between Daryl and I, his head resting on my arm. Daryl and Aurora both look at him as he sniffles.
"What's wrong, baby?" I ask.
"Bad dream. Monsters." He says softly.
"Aw, baby, you know monsters aren't real. They're just pretend." I assure him.
"Daddy would shoot em with his arrow!" Aurora pipes in.
"Exactly." Daryl adds as he looks down at our son.
"Daddy will always protect us, it's his job." I say kissing little Daryl's forehead.
"Of course I will, you guys are the most important part of my life. Nothin's ever gonna change that." Daryl say softly.
We let time pass, all cuddled into bed, listening to Daryl finish reading the book. Soon, both kids were sound asleep and Daryl was sitting the book aside. Things were quiet, it was new to me. I never remembered feeling such peace.
"What's gotcha thinkin' so hard?" Daryl asks softly.
"Nothing, just enjoying the peace and quiet." I answer. "You're such a good dad, ya know that, Dixon?" I add.
"I don' want them growin up like I did. Don' want them to ever think their not loved or wanted. You and them, you guys are my world and nothin's ever gonna change that." Daryl says softly.
"Just like you're ours, Dixon. Nothing will ever change that." I say softly.
"Thanks..." Daryl says softly.
"For what?" I ask, sensing there was more.
"Givin' me everything I never thought I deserved. Hell, I didn' think I'd even make it past eighteen. Was always told I wasn' good enough, wasn' worth nothin'." Daryl says softly as he looks at little Daryl. "I'll be damned if my kids even known a fifth of what I went through."
"You're a good man Daryl, you make them proud. I can see it in their eyes. You're their hero, their monster chaser and most importantly their daddy. You're my hero Dixon, my heart and soul. We're proving all the people who said we were nothing, wrong." I say reaching over brushing a few hairs from Daryl's forehead.
Daryl maneuvers himself a bit, gently pressing his lips against mine. He gently caresses my cheek for a moment before we break apart. I lay there looking at Daryl, I still wondered if this was a dream, I didn't want to get too happy, I was afraid I would wake up to nothing.
"Ya look tired." Daryl says softly.
"Maybe I am, Dixon." I say.
Daryl moves, turning off the bedside lamp. I move over, gently pulling little Daryl with me. Daryl rolls over, placing Aurora next to little Daryl, but letting her head rest on his arm. He looks at me before reaching down, for only a second, pulling the blankets on the bed up over us. Daryl takes my hand, lacing our fingers together.
"Get some sleep, Dixon." He says softly.
I go to speak but was cut off by a yawn. I decided to take Daryl's advice. I snuggle down into the blankets with my husband and children and let sleep claim me.
I shoot up in bed and look around, I was in mine and Daryl's tent. I was stark naked, clutching the blankets to my body. I was a bit dazed, I admit. Of course reality slapped me when a sharp pain went through my body, causing me to fall back. My body was still bruised, my head still hurt and I was back in hell. I look towards Daryl's side of the makeshift bed, he was gone. I sigh softly, pushing back the tears that wanted to spring from my eyes. Everything seemed so real, so vivid. I lay there, looking at the ceiling of the tent.
I should of known better, should of known that it was all a fantasy. How could I be so stupid? I lay there for a few more minutes, I guess it was time to get dressed, incase you know a fucking walker wanted to tear me apart. I groan as I get up, my face and body were bruised, I felt like I had been hit by a car. I rummage and find a pair of jean shorts and a black tank top. I get dressed and stuff my feet into my boots. I sigh softly, still wanting to cry, but what was the use? The imagine of Aurora and little Daryl were burned into my brain. I look down and rub my flat stomach, I bite my lip gently before grabbing my gun holster and slipping it up, over my shoulders. I holster my eagles and make my way out of the tent.
I admit, I was grumpy. For a moment I thought I was out of this fucking hell hole, but I was wrong. I make my way towards the group, they were debating on what to about some kid named Randal. Daryl glances towards me and nods, I nod back as I join his side. I just stand and listen, blocking most of it out. My mind was still miles away, back in a place where I was Mrs. Daryl Dixon and we had two beautiful kids. Subconsciously I rub my stomach as I lean against the car. I cross my arms and stare at my feet, right now I was lost in the background of the latest drama and that was fine by me.
"Murph?" I hear someone say. I look up to see Carol standing there. I sigh softly, looking around as I speak.
"Yeah?" I ask softly.
"What's wrong?" She asks
"Nothing, I just don't feel good." I answer.
"Maybe you should go lay down." She suggests.
"No, I'm fine. Just exhausted from everything." I say softly.
"Even more reason for ya to lay down." She says.
"Carol, I said I'm fine." I say once more.
"I'm just sayin', you don't look too great." She says as she goes to touch my face.
"I'M FINE!" I snap and push Carol's hand away.
Before she can say anything else, I walk by her, away from everyone and back towards Daryl's camp. I was in a terrible mood, I didn't want to deal with anyone, I just wanted to go far far away. I would apologize later, but for right now, I just wanted away. I plop down on the rock wall and sigh. I kind of felt bad for snapping at Carol, but I was still reeling from reality smacking me in the face. I sigh, propping my elbows up on my knee and bury my face in my hands. At least I knew in some universe I lived happily every after.
I sigh and look up as I hear footsteps. I tense up for a bit before I see Daryl walking towards me, bow over his shoulder. I put my head back in my hands and sigh as he squats down in front of me.
"Don' know if ya wanna talk, but if ya do, I'm here." He says resting his forearms on his knees.
"It's not that." I say softly, looking down at the ground. "Just grouchy, slept to heavy or something." I say.
"You did sleep long than usual this mornin'. I figured ya needed it so I wasn' gonna wake ya up." He says.
"Yeah..." I say looking up at him. "Just, my dream knocked me for a loop." I add.
"Dream?" He asked curiously.
"Yeah, I had this dream and it's just weighing heavy on my mind." I say softly.
"What was it about?" He asks as he stares at me.
"Promise not to laugh?" I ask softly.
"Of course, have I ever laughed?" He says.
"Well, no...ok fine." I say, finally looking up at him. "I dreamt we weren't all stuck in this hell hole. That we all had a normal life." I add.
"And that was a bad thing?" He inquired.
"No, the dream wasn't bad. It just made waking up to this kind of depressing." I sigh.
"How so?" He asks.
"Because in the dream, we...we were married and had two kids with one more on the way." I admit, blushing. "Abby and Shane were married with a baby on the way to, Abby and I always joked about being pregnant together and stuff." I say wiping away a few stray tears. "You...you were my Aurora's daddy and we had little Daryl. We named the baby on the way Leighann. The dream, it felt so real, I held our children, I swear I could feel them, I was almost convinced it was all real." I sigh, looking back down.
Daryl watches me for a moment, I know he a bit lost or curious, but he continued to listen while gently rubbing my knee.
"For a split second I thought I dreamt this hell hole up, hell, in my dream you said the doctors told me my medication would give me weird dreams. I hoped that maybe, just maybe, for a second my life was normal, that I was worthy enough to have a loving husband, amazing kids and a normal fuckin' life." I sigh looking down.
"I'm sorry, Murph. Wish I could make it better for ya, but ya know I can't. But it does sound like a good dream, much better than reality. Would be nice to have that sorta dream." He says as he lifts my chin, brushing my tears away with his thumb.
"What do you dream about, Dixon?" I ask softly.
"Nothin' really, don' remember half the time." He says softly.
"I know, it's sily to be crying over a dream. But if you would of seen my...our Aurora and little Daryl. They looked like the both of us, Aurora was a total daddies girl, little Daryl had your eyes. The dream started with you cooking breakfast and us sitting at the table. It ended with you and I cuddled in bed with our kids. It was...it was just so beautiful." I say letting tears fall again. "There was no Toby, no scars. Toby...he never raped me...you, you and Merle, you told me you handled him." I say looking at the ground.
"Murph..." He says softly, rising to his feet, pulling me with him. "I'm sorry, but yer right, Merle and I, we would of handled that son of a bitch. Would of thought twice bout his actions." He added.
Daryl looked me over, I could still feel the anger he had as he looked over my bruised skin, my tired eyes and busted lip. His blue eyes seemed to grow rather stormy as he places both hands on my cheeks.
"If not for you askin' me not to, I would of ended his sorry ass the moment he stepped into the camp. Merle taught me that much, protect what's yers at all cost." He said as his thumbs run gently over my bruised cheeks.
"Thanks..." I say looking up at him.
"No need to thank me." He says.
I wrap my arms around Daryl, resting my head under his chin. I knew he didn't hug much, but I needed to hug him, even if he didn't hug me back. I needed to make sure he was real, make sure this wasn't all a dream as well. The moment I feel him put his arms around me and rest his chin atop my head, I sigh softly. A few more tears escaped my eyes, but Daryl seemed to sooth them away when he told me it would all be ok. I don't know how long we stood there, but I lift my head to look at Daryl after a little while.
"What did I say about cryin?" He asked, trying to get a smile from me.
"Not to." I say, managing a small smile. "But if you could of seen." I whisper.
"I know, but no reason why we can't make reality almost as good. Not like I'm going no where and I'm not lettin' nobody try and take ya from me." He says, a bit of possessiveness shining in his voice.
"I know, I love ya , Dixon." I say softly.
"Love ya too, O'Connor." He says back, gently kissing my bruised lips.
"So um, what's going on with that kid?" I ask, wanting to change the subject.
"Rick brought him back from in town, said his buddies left him, I don't trust him. Course everyone is in an uproar, personally I think it was stupid brinin' him back here, but no use worryin' bout the what if's." He says.
"I agree, maybe not a clever thing, but Rick has to have a plan." I say.
"Yeah, for now, Rick and them ain't my concern, you are." He says brushing a few hairs from my face.
"I'll be fine." I say softly.
"Yeah, ya will be. I'm gonna make sure of it." He says softly.
"No use arguin'?" I ask softly.
"What do you think?" He says.
"Fine. What are ya suggestiing, Dixon?" I ask sweetly.
"What ever ya want, I'm sure they won' miss us for a few hours." He assures me.
"Could teach me how to use your bow?" I say, winking at him.
"Sure, teach ya how to use a top notch weapon, you got it." He says smugly.
I manage to laugh a bit, he did always know how to make me feel better. Yeah, I would never have the life in my dream, but this life wasn't too bad, especially when I had Daryl by my side in this life too. Daryl kisses my forehead before he and I head into the woods, something told me this was just what I needed.
A/N- Sorry for making you guys wait so long. I alternate between my Boondock Saints fiction and this. I write and post a chapter for that then write and post a chapter for this, then that, then this. It's my little plan to not have things get stale. :) Thanks for everything guys!