For a chapter where nothing happens, I really struggled getting anything onto the page for this one!
It's a 6 week time jump and is meant to act as a kind of scene setter to give you a feel for where they're at.
Chapter 55 - The power of sunshine
SIX WEEKS LATER:
"Ok, I think we're about done here!" Rick announced to Tahlia as he wiped his hands on the back of his jeans. "Just gonna go and let Carl know we're off."
Tahlia finished up brushing Winnie's mane, then gave her a little scratch before trailing after Rick across the grass. "See you in a few!"
On her way to the vehicle bay, Tahlia paused for a moment to prop her hands on her hips and gaze around at her surroundings, a contented smile on her face.
The days had rolled by and gathered up into weeks, sweeping them into the oppressive dog days of summer. But despite the heat and the sweat and the bugs, life at the prison had been tracking smoothly. The crops were flourishing, there were two new baby goats, the walkers along the fence line were under control, and the community had really banded together. Hunting had been good, and a month ago, they'd taken a team back to the Big Spot which hadn't been looted and managed to bring back plenty of food and general supplies which meant that they'd been living relatively comfortably.
For the first time in a long time, people seemed to be genuinely happy.
Tahlia knew that she certainly was.
Since the day that she'd spilled her feelings to Daryl in the clearing, she'd half-expected the fire she felt for him to abate a little, cool off, but it hadn't. It seemed like as time went on and they got to know each other better, more intimately, things had only deepened between them. They had a confidence in their relationship now, an easy flow, and goddamn they still couldn't get enough of one another – it almost made Tahlia blush just thinking about it. It didn't matter that Daryl hadn't voiced any reciprocated feelings for her. He didn't need to. She felt it from him every day, and that was more than enough.
Up ahead, Michonne was sitting in the cab of the pickup, her legs hanging out the open door, and raised a hand in greeting to Tahlia as she approached.
"Michy!" Tahlia enthused. "What a beautiful morning for a road trip!"
"Tone it down, chirpy pants!" ribbed Daryl as he came up behind Tahlia, and, with one hand flicked open the clasp of her bra through her t-shirt.
"Daryl! I am going to fucking kill you if you keep doing that!" exclaimed Tahlia, her arms flying to her chest as Daryl sauntered past with a smug smirk.
Since that first time in the car when he'd had some difficulty undoing her bra, he'd been true to his word and practiced until he quickly became adept at it, and now, to Tahlia's irritation, took great enjoyment in undoing her bra at the most inappropriate of times.
"That's it. I'm not riding with you. I'm going in the truck." Tahlia declared as she refastened her bra.
"You ain't." replied Daryl easily as he threw his gear into the back of the Land Rover.
"Am so." Tahlia said stubbornly as she started over towards a still-laughing Michonne who was endlessly amused by the banter between the two of them.
Intercepting Tahlia, Daryl wrapped his arms around her waist and dragged her to the Land Rover. "Get in here, girl."
Struggling half-heartedly, Tahlia soon relaxed back into Daryl, who hadn't loosened his grip on her, as Rick arrived.
"Here comes the straggler!" stated Michonne. "Ready to go?"
"I'm here!" grinned Rick. "Yep, good to go."
"Shit. Need the battery packs for the tools." Daryl suddenly remembered and released Tahlia. "Back in a sec."
Tahlia gestured to the truck. "You guys head off, if you like. We'll catch up."
"You sure?"
"Definitely. Means that if there's any trouble out there you can deal with it and we'll just sail through behind you!" grinned Tahlia, and Michonne jokingly flipped her off before shutting the door of the cab.
"See you there!"
By the time Daryl returned, a cloud of dust in the truck's wake was hazing the road through the woods. First throwing the battery packs into the trunk, he then launched himself in the passenger window to slap a wet kiss on Tahlia's cheek before moving around to jump into the driver's seat.
Tahlia grinned at him as she settled back in her seat. "Let's blow this hotdog stand!"
Their destination was a property that had cultivated olives for small-time oil production. Daryl and a few others from the group had combed over this place months back, but today they were specifically after the solar panels that powered two of the smaller dwellings there in the hope that they could use them to start generating a little bit of power at the prison.
"Tell me why this place again?"
"Already told ya." said Daryl as he drove out of the gates. "Solar panel system at this place is off-grid. Most of the other ones we seen 'round these parts were originally connected to the grid to tap into as back-up power, and that ain't gonna work for us since there ain't no grid no more." He gave her a nudge. "You're gonna like it there. Real pretty."
Tahlia just smiled and squeezed his thigh, then reached for the CD wallet on the floor to find some music to play.
They drove for a long while, the empty road an ashen ribbon curling out ahead of them, and Daryl couldn't help but let out a full-bodied sigh.
Shit. Life was good.
He had always felt indifferent before. Drifting around wondering what the goddamned point of it all was. He knew now, though. Knew what the point of his life was. He'd just never expected it to be another person. This girl who was in such laser-sharp focus that it made the rest of his world go a little blurry. He was struck, as he still so often was, by the sheer magnitude of blood-fizzing, belly-sparking feeling she elicited from him, endless and immense. The intensity of which still rendered him completely incapable of telling her in any combination of words how he felt about her. But he told her every day in any other wordless way that he could, and she always smiled at him like she knew.
He snuck a glance over at her as she changed the CD, slouched in her seat with her legs hanging out the open window, hand tapping and feet kicking to the opening riff of Pink Floyd's Money, a contented expression on her face, and things just felt so perfect that he suddenly wondered if any of it were real at all.
Slamming on the brakes, he brought the car to an abrupt stop in the middle of the highway, causing Tahlia to slip in her seat. She sat up in a hurry, eyes wide and worried as she stared at him.
"What's wrong?"
Daryl's gaze was all heat and intensity.
"Nothin'." he told her huskily as he undid their seatbelts, leaning in closer. "Nothin' at all."
"Did I miss something?" she asked, still confused.
His response was to pull her to him, kissing her hungrily, one hand tangling in her hair at the base of her neck.
She was breathless when he released her.
"Ok, I think we're on the same page now." Grabbing his wrist, she dragged him back towards her.
"Get in the back." she breathed into his mouth, and he didn't need to be asked twice.
Tripping through the seats gracelessly, Daryl hauled Tahlia through after him, pulling her straight down on top of him as he sought her lips out once again.
The backseats had already been laid flat in preparation for the run, and although it wasn't as comfortable without a mattress on top, at least they had enough room to lie down. After weeks of practice, Daryl had undressing Tahlia down to a fine art, and only moments later, her panties were the only thing keeping her from complete nakedness, and they didn't stand a chance against Daryl's eager hands.
Tahlia wasn't sure what was driving Daryl's desperation for her that morning, but he was devouring her with frantic need, leaving her skin flaming from his touch like he was painting a picture on her, the marks of where he'd been forever imprinted on her body.
Somehow Daryl had managed to remove his own clothes without taking his mouth from her skin, and, as always, it amazed Tahlia how skilled he was at multi-tasking. Daryl considered slowing it down a little, but then he paused to lift his head for a lingering moment and look at her, her lips and cheeks flushed, a heady look in her eyes, and his own gaze darkened with fervent need, all thoughts of a leisurely pace disappearing like a grain of salt in hot water.
Tahlia had enough experience with him when he was like this - dominant and determined - to be quivering with anticipation already because she knew he only had one thing in mind, and he'd have her hurtling there hard and fast without even leaving her room to reciprocate the foreplay.
And she was right, because then, with a forcible thrust, he was in her, one hand scooped under her lower back, controlling the angle, and Tahlia found herself slipping away already.
"Jesus Christ, I-" she started breathlessly, but Daryl cut her off by crashing his lips to hers, still moving in her, never letting up.
Helpless to do anything but swear and cling desperately to him as he took her over and tossed her heavenward, in a flare of heat and light, Tahlia burst open for him, an almost sob tearing out of her at the sheer intensity of it.
She had barely collected herself together again when an unwelcome snarling noise surrounded them, and they both looked up to the back window to see decaying hands slapping and scratching at the car as rotting faces of walkers pressed up against the glass.
"Oh fuck!" Daryl exclaimed, staring at the undead, losing his rhythm completely.
But in the next moment, Tahlia had rolled him onto his back, clenching the walls of her core tightly around him, refocusing him, rehardening him, as she held his face in her hands.
"Don't look at them. Look at me." she commanded before dropping her face to his, kissing him hard, bruising, then dragging his lower lip through her teeth as she started rocking her hips purposefully against his.
With a long, low moan, Daryl clamped his hands over her hips, guiding her movements faster and harder over him as Tahlia leaned forward, hanging her breasts across his face as he licked and sucked at the flesh within reach. She was all around him now, all that there was, and he lost himself in her, cresting the wave until it suddenly broke and drowned him as he came forcefully with a strangled curse.
Dropping his head back and panting heavily, Daryl tried to pull Tahlia to him, wanting to tangle himself in her, but she was already pushing up and rolling away, a giggle escaping her lips.
"Shit, Daryl, we've got to go!"
More walkers were at the sides of the car now, with one even half-hanging in the front passenger window that Tahlia had left wide open, teeth clacking wildly.
"Goddammit!" cursed Daryl, grabbing his boxers and quickly dragging them back on.
Locating his pants, he only managed to yank them halfway up before deciding that wasn't the priority anymore, and, reaching for his knife, he launched forward to drive the blade through the skull of the walker in the front, shoving it back out the window before tumbling into the driver's seat.
"Argh, they're looking at me!" laughed Tahlia as she tried to gather up her strewn clothes.
"Can ya blame 'em?" smirked Daryl, quirking a brow at her before firing up the engine and slamming the car into gear, only just managing to get the vehicle moving before they were completely swarmed.
As they sped down the road, Tahlia eventually managed to get dressed and rejoined him in the front.
"That was... damn. Unexpected, to say the least." A little shiver of pleasure ran through her at the still-fresh memory. "And I'm really enjoying having a half-naked driver." she added, running her hand over his muscular arm appreciatively, biting her bottom lip in reignited desire.
"Hey. Settle down." he chuckled, recognising that look in her eye. "That's your lot for the day."
Tahlia slapped her own cheek lightly. "You're right, you're right. Rick and Michy will be wondering where we are. No more pit stops. But that means I'll have to keep my focus firmly fixed over this way." She grinned and made a point of staring out her window, as Daryl caught her hand in his and brushed his lips over her knuckles before holding it lightly on his thigh.
Eventually they spotted the wooden sign announcing "The Grove" hanging limply in the breezeless morning, and Daryl turned into the willow-lined driveway, following the gently winding road up to the dwellings on the hill.
"This is beautiful." Tahlia murmured as she gazed around at the property.
The main farmhouse was weathered and tired, but Daryl already knew from his previous visit that it had once been a bustling, happy home, as evidenced by the family photos lining the walls and the very lived-in, cosy vibe. Flanking the farmhouse on either side were two shipping containers that had been converted into tiny homes, and it was the solar panels on the roofs of these that they were after.
"Better put my shirt back on." Daryl mumbled as he parked up next to the truck, quickly pulling his shirt over his head before jumping out of the car after Tahlia.
"The hell took you so long? Did something happen?" asked Michonne, picking her way towards them through a handful of freshly slaughtered walkers.
Shrugging in what he hoped was a nonchalant manner, Daryl schooled his face into a blank expression.
"Nothin' we couldn't finish off." he managed evenly.
Tahlia couldn't help her loud snort of laughter at that, and Michonne stared at them for a moment, then made a face.
"Ugh! My God." she muttered. "What is it with you two and that car?!"
"What about the car?" Rick asked, arriving next to her.
Michonne shook her head. "Trust me. You don't want to know." Then she turned and waved a hand towards the dwellings. "We've cleared all three – nothing going on inside any of them, looks like they haven't been touched since last time we were here. Just a few dead ones wandering around outside."
"Just got to head down to the big barn, make sure there's no surprises there, then we can get started." added Rick as he gestured for them to follow him beyond the farmhouse.
Behind the house, a gravel track led down the slope towards a large barn, and beyond that stretched the olive grove to the right, and a small plantation of peach trees to the left.
Pausing at the closed double doors of the barn, Daryl pointed at the scratches and bloody streaks on the wood.
"Looks like walkers been tryna get in here at some point." He pulled on a handle. "Here goes."
Once inside, Rick pushed the other door open wide as well, but even so, it took a while for their eyes to adjust to the gloom of the barn after the bright sunlight.
Tilting his head up a little, Daryl sniffed the air, then motioned for Tahlia to stay close. "Smell that?"
She did. The unmistakable stench of the undead.
Cautiously moving further in, Daryl was startled by a loud rasp as a walker launched herself at him from behind the tractor, her stringy hair swinging around her decaying face as she snapped at his arm.
With a loud curse, Daryl swung the butt of his crossbow into her head to knock her back, then as she stumbled away from him, quick as lightning he took a shot and put her down.
He pointed at the body as his heartrate returned to normal. "Got a chunk outta her shoulder. She got bit."
Tahlia nodded, then paused. "I hear another one."
With his knife at the ready, Rick inched further in, peering around various pieces of machinery, the others close behind.
Suddenly a small hand reached out from under a trailer and clasped Rick's ankle, and he immediately kicked free as a walker dragged itself out, gnashing its jaws. A fast strike of his blade into the back of its soft skull soon quietened its groans, and Tahlia's eyebrows shot up when she caught sight of the body.
"Oh shit. Michy, don't-"
But before she could finish her warning, Michonne was already next to her, her mouth frozen around unspoken words.
The walker was just a kid. A little boy about the same age as Andre, and even looked a hell of a lot like him too.
Rick glanced at her. "Everything ok?"
"I'm just gonna get some air." Michonne muttered before quickly whirling and heading back outside.
Confused, Rick and Daryl both looked to Tahlia for answers.
"Let's just give her a minute. Finish up in here."
Then Daryl cocked his head to the side. "Listen."
A quiet, higher-pitched rasping sounded from somewhere deeper in the barn, and Rick headed to the right, while Daryl carefully weaved his way around objects on the left until he came to a stack of crates, then stopped abruptly, heaving a pained sigh.
"Oh." uttered Tahlia in dismay as she arrived at his side.
A little baby was lying on a blood-stained blanket, threads of intestine stringing from its torn belly, its toothless mouth opening and closing as it looked at them hungrily.
"Guessin' that momma and her kids came to hide out in here from the walkers, but she was already bit, so..." Daryl trailed off because it was pretty clear what had happened after that. He gave Tahlia a nudge. "Go. I'll do it."
Tahlia didn't reply, but dropped to her knees and allowed the undead infant to clasp its tiny fist around her index finger as it weakly tried to pull her hand to its mouth.
"Poor little darling." she cooed sadly as she raised her knife with her other hand. "Fly free, angel."
As she stood, Daryl caught her with one arm and drew her against him, pressing a kiss to her temple.
"Go check on Mich. I'ma bring these bodies out. Bury 'em under the peach trees."
Outside, Michonne was sitting against the wall, watching Rick who had already started digging.
Tahlia sank down next to her and slipped an arm around her, giving her a squeeze.
"How you doing?"
Dropping her head onto Tahlia's shoulder, Michonne gave a level hum.
"Just gave me a bit of a shock seeing... but I think I'm ok, actually."
"You know it's ok not to be."
"Yeah, I know." Michonne nodded against Tahlia before sitting upright. "But I feel like I've done a lot of healing these past couple of months, and it still hurts, but just not in such a full-bodied, devastating way anymore. I'm ok, promise."
Tahlia nodded and helped Michonne to her feet, then hugged her tightly before going to find another spade.
After they'd buried the bodies, they made their way back up the hill ready to start on the task they'd come here for, their mood contemplative but not sombre.
Setting up a ladder he'd brought up from the barn, Daryl climbed onto the roof of the first container home. "Right, let's get onto these panels."
Together they worked on the task of unscrewing and disconnecting all of the solar panels, then Michonne and Tahlia loaded them onto the back of the truck while Daryl and Rick took care of the internal wiring.
"Do you guys actually have any idea what you're doing?" asked Michonne mildly from behind Daryl as he unscrewed the inverter from the wall while Rick removed the battery.
"More or less." said Rick at the same time that Daryl said, "Learnin' on the fly."
Daryl handed Michonne an armful of components. "Stick them in the Landie." Then he cast a glance over to Tahlia. "Tahls, need to unbolt them rails on the roof now."
"Yessir." replied Tahlia cheerily as she climbed back up onto the roof, but within minutes they could hear her swearing and complaining. "These damn things are fastened so tight! And it's so hot up here!"
Heading out onto the grass and shielding his eyes as he looked up at a clearly vexed Tahlia, Daryl couldn't help but wind her up a little.
"Hush your bellyachin' and get on with it! What's takin' ya so long?"
"It's too hard!" she grumbled, wiping at her brow.
"Whatcha usin' a spanner for?! Ya need the impact driver!"
Tahlia glared down at him. "What the fuck is an impact driver?!"
Chuckling and shaking his head, Daryl finally climbed up next to her, Rick not far behind.
"Hop down, we'll get this."
"I can fucking do it!" insisted Tahlia stubbornly. "Just don't use technical terms for stuff that I don't understand!"
"What else am I meant to call it? That's its damn name!" asserted Daryl as he held up the power tool. "Off ya go. You're all hot and bothered now, ain't ya?"
"I'll give you hot and bothered." muttered Tahlia, and Rick couldn't help but laugh at their playful bickering.
Daryl knew that Tahlia was never really grumpy, so he pinched her butt as she edged past him, and she shot him a little smile and a wink before climbing down the ladder.
Daryl turned to Rick. "Wanna push on and get the other panels done today?"
"I don't think so." Rick replied. "We planned for an overnight and it seems to be pretty clear here, so let's set up over at the other house – it's got power, after all, then finish the job in the morning."
As the men finished removing the rails, Michonne watched Tahlia hoist up a bucket of water from the well.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm all sweaty." replied Tahlia. "Gonna have a wash."
"Right." Michonne said, suppressing a smile.
She waited until Tahlia had set the bucket on the ground, removed her t-shirt and splashed the first handful of icy water on her body.
"Holy motherfucker that is freezing!" gasped Tahlia, reluctantly dipping her hand back in the bucket for another scoop.
Michonne thought she'd better not hold it in any longer. "You know why we're here, don't you?"
"What?" Tahlia glanced up at Michonne. "What do you mean?"
"Why we came to this place?"
"For the solar panels?"
"Yeah."
"Yeah..." Tahlia was no less enlightened as to Michonne's meaning.
"They're still attached to that home." Michonne pointed to the other container home.
"Yeah...?"
"So, dumbass!" Michonne picked up a rock and aimed it into the bucket, splashing Tahlia. "There's power in there! A shower. Hot water."
"Oh my God!" Tahlia stood up now, her hands on her cheeks. "Oh my God."
Michonne was openly laughing now. "I considered waiting 'til you'd finished before telling you, but... don't say I'm never nice to you."
Shaking her head at her stupidity, Tahlia flicked a handful of water at Michonne. "Ooh, you're lucky you didn't wait! Shit. I think my brain must have completely melted! What an idiot."
"Go sort yourself out, dumbass." said Michonne fondly as Tahlia, still shaking her head, started off towards the dwelling.
After she'd showered and changed into clean clothes Tahlia emerged to see Rick heading to the truck to fetch his pack, while Michonne and Daryl were out on the small wooden deck outside the double glass sliding doors of the tiny home.
"Luxury!" declared Tahlia. "That was amazing!"
"Better have left some hot water for me." Michonne said as she got up to go and shower next.
"Not a chance. I used the whole lot up out of spite." joked Tahlia as she made her way over to Daryl, who was crouching next to the fire pit, roasting some meat, and she draped her wet hair over his neck. "See how clean I am?!"
"Get away!" he shoved at her, then stood up and grabbed hold of her tightly. "See how sweaty I am?"
"Argh, no, yuck!" protested Tahlia as she quickly struggled free. "You're next in that shower."
Daryl chuckled. "Nah. I smell awesome just the way I am."
Tahlia wrinkled her nose, but really, she loved the way he smelled, even when he was all sweaty, it still stirred something primal deep inside her.
"Where'd you get that?" She pointed to the meat on the fire.
"Couple chickens scratchin' down by the trees. That's one of 'em." He caught the look on her face and shot her a knowing smile. "Don't worry, girl, Henrietta had a happy life."
Tahlia let out a delighted laugh and threw her arms around his neck. "You named her!"
"And I'll deny it if y'ever try to tell anyone." Daryl murmured in her ear before catching her mouth with his.
"Don't mind me!" stated Rick as he approached, still ever amused by this affectionate side of Daryl that was on full beam for Tahlia.
"Sorry!" grinned Tahlia as she unwound herself from Daryl. "Couldn't help it. Dixon was just being a sweetheart."
"Tahly!" Daryl groaned and quickly turned his flushed cheeks to the roasting meat.
She laughed again and nudged him with her foot. "I'm gonna go pick some peaches. And don't say you'll come with me. I'll be fine."
Daryl bit his lip because the urge to keep her close at all times was very real, but he managed a terse nod. "Don't be long."
A while later as the sun was slowly sliding its track beyond the horizon, everyone was clean and fed, the sweet peaches from the orchard a nice finish to their meal. A small fire was still burning in the pit, Rick and Michonne were sitting on fold-out outdoor chairs on one side of the deck, while Daryl lounged in a large beanbag with one arm wrapped around Tahlia who was mostly sitting in his lap.
"I could almost believe that everything is normal." mused Michonne, gazing into the flames. "And that we're just up here for a weekend getaway or something. Back to work on Monday. Back to the rat race. Bills to pay and all that."
"Shit, that don't sound excitin' at all." said Daryl wryly. "Gimme this world any day."
"It does kind of feel like that though, it's so peaceful up here." breathed Tahlia, looking out over top of the grove, the trees bathing in the last orange hues of the day. "I could see me living somewhere like this."
"Ain't safe enough." replied Daryl, following her gaze.
"But it's high here, you can see all the way to the orchard and to the road."
"Can't see shit over the other way." stated Daryl resolutely. "Ain't fenced in, got all them trees for walkers or people to hide in. Got nowhere to go if ya get overrun."
"The prison is still the safest place for us." agreed Rick. "Double fences, guard tower, solid walls."
They were quiet for a moment until Michonne spoke up again. "I wonder what the rest of the world looks like?"
"Much the same, would be my guess." said Rick. "We know it was spreading everywhere at the beginning, so it's probably all like this."
"But maybe it's not so... disjointed everywhere." shrugged Tahlia. "Maybe there's other places out there where people aren't fighting all the time, like bigger communities and people working together to trade and create a new society, and-"
"Tahly." Daryl interrupted. "Ya seen yourself what kinda people are out there. What it looks like. There's a reason we're livin' behind them big razor-wired fences."
"But not everyone is bad!" Tahlia insisted. "There must be other good people who've banded together in bigger groups. It can't just be little groups scattered all over the place, living in fear. There must be some... harmony out there."
"Harmony?! Damn, ya still got your head in the clouds, don't ya? Always so goddamn hopeful." Daryl felt Tahlia sigh as her gaze dropped to her hands. "Don't mean it as a bad thing. Y'know I don't." he told her gently as he kissed her shoulder. "Just... gotta keep our guard up, y'know?"
"Don't think Tahly has a guard." said Michonne drily, to lighten Tahlia back up again.
"Course I do!" she replied brightly. "It's you guys!"
Daryl didn't say anything to that but tightened his hold around her and rested his cheek against her shoulder.
"Sun's almost down." observed Rick as red streaked the sky.
"Better set up watch."
"Just do it from here."
"Nah, see that oak?" Daryl pointed to a large oak tree in front of the farmhouse. "There's a platform in it. Like a half-assed kids' tree hut. Gonna sit up there. Better view in all directions. You guys can sleep inside and lock up."
"Come and switch with me in a couple of hours." instructed Rick.
"If I need to." replied Daryl, then he tapped Tahlia's thigh. "Up ya get."
She pushed herself up and stretched. "I'm coming with you. Just gonna go get my jacket from the car."
Daryl didn't bother to argue because he knew her mind was made up, and anyway, he wanted her with him.
"'Kay. I'll get a couple pillows and a blanket from the other house."
Rick doused the fire, then, still kneeling, watched as Tahlia met Daryl at the base of the tree. She took one of the pillows from him and attempted to throw it up onto the platform, but it hit the edge and dropped back down onto her face. Daryl was laughing as he easily tossed the other pillows in his arms up onto the platform, followed by the blanket, then the pillow Tahlia was holding, then, as Tahlia gave him an exaggerated eyeroll, he hoisted her into his arms and with a big heave, tossed her into the air as well. Her squeal carried across the lawn as he easily caught her again, then cradling her close, he leaned in to kiss her, long and slow.
"You ever think you'd see him like this?" Michonne asked as she stood up and started collecting their things to move inside.
Rick raised his brows and shook his head. "Honestly? No. Never. I had no idea that this side of him even existed. I don't think he did either. I think it's just Tahly, though. Just her being her has brought it out of him."
Michonne nodded. "Yep, Tahly does that. I did warn him, that day we found her. I warned him that she'd get to him." She smiled. "I just didn't know she'd get to him quite this much! But it goes the other way too. She's completely head over heels."
"It's a good thing. A really good thing." Rick said, his happiness for his friends plainly evident. "An unexpected pairing that turned out to be the perfect match." He then turned to Michonne and fixed her with a lingering look that she couldn't quite decipher, and then broke it with a small smile as he spoke up again. "Come on, let's go inside and shut this place down for the night."
The square platform nestled in the tree branches was approximately 5x5ft, and Tahlia immediately flopped down on her back, her feet dangling off the edge and her head on a pillow as she gazed happily up at the crown of the tree.
"That you doin' watch? Starin' up at the leaves?" Daryl asked with a wry smile as he sat next to her, sticking a cigarette in his mouth.
"Yep. I'll watch out for bad guys from above."
Lighting his cigarette, Daryl then gently slid Tahlia's t-shirt all the way up over her bra and she flicked her eyes to him, raising a questioning brow.
"And... what might you be doing?"
Daryl twirled his marker pen in one hand. "Just lookin' at my beautiful blank canvas and thinkin' 'bout what I'm gonna draw 'fore I lose the light."
With one long drag on his smoke, he then handed it to Tahlia and, with his index finger, began to trace an imaginary picture on her midriff, starting under the side of her right breast and swirling lines across her skin all the way down to her left hip, Tahlia's stomach reflexively sucking in at his tender touch.
"Yeah, I got it." he murmured to himself as he flicked the buttons of her jeans open and carefully tugged them down over her ass.
"Don't get any ideas, now." drawled Daryl with a glint in his eye, tapping his fingertips on her bare left thigh. "Just need more space to draw."
Then he leaned down and pressed a kiss just below the waistband of her panties, barely lifting his mouth from her as he coaxed her legs open a little and trailed his lips lower for another leisurely, hot kiss, his scruff rough through the thin lace.
Breathless and trembling already, Tahlia smacked him across the head. "Well, don't do that! Because that is giving me some very specific ideas."
Daryl chuckled and sat back up, his hand lingering over her for a long moment, then he clenched his jaw as he settled next to her and started drawing lightly high on her right side.
Resting one hand on his knee and turning her head the other way to look out over the orchard, at first Tahlia struggled not to giggle as he decorated her ticklish spots, but the sensation soon became more soothing than anything, because his hands on her always just felt so goddamned good.
She was almost disappointed when she felt his hands leave her body as he sat back to inspect his work.
"Yeah. Done." he said assuredly, and Tahlia propped herself up on her elbows to look down at what he'd drawn.
A picture diagonal across her: on her thigh, a boy stretching one arm high to hold on to the ankle of a beaming girl who was clutching the strings of a bunch of balloons that were drifting into the clouds clustered over Tahlia's right ribs, tiny fairies dotted around the balloons.
Daryl gave her a satisfied grin as he laid a finger on the girl. "That's you, your head in the clouds, gettin' carried away." Then he tapped the boy. "And that's me, holdin' on to ya. Keepin' ya grounded. Keepin' ya from floatin' away with the fairies."
Sucking in an incredulous breath, Tahlia studied the picture for a long moment before looking up at him, her eyes a little misty. "I love everything you draw, but I think this is my absolute favourite." she told him elatedly. "But I don't want it to ever come off, so I suppose I'm just going to have to lie here like this forever."
"Guess I'll just come visit every month or so." shrugged Daryl as he took the cigarette from her and propped a couple of pillows against the wide spread of the trunk, settling himself onto them. "Least then I'd get that big bed back at the prison all to myself."
"You'd be lonely as hell in that bed without me."
"Sure I could find a way to keep myself busy." smirked Daryl, then he nudged her with his foot. "C'mere. Gettin' dark."
"I'm fine right where I am." Tahlia remarked airily.
"Like hell y'are. Get over here."
Tahlia laughed as she sat up and took one last look at his drawing before re-clothing herself and throwing her pillow between his legs so she could snuggle up against his chest.
Daryl pulled the blanket up over them then tucked his arms around her as they watched the night creep in around them.
"You happy at the prison, Tahly?" he asked eventually in a low tone.
Tahlia tilted her head back a little so that she could see his face.
"Deliriously!" she declared, then more seriously, "Why?"
He shrugged. "Just coz of what you were sayin' before 'bout what else is out there. Like maybe y'ain't settled."
Tahlia opened her mouth to make a joke but decided against it and opted for the simple truth. "Couldn't give a shit where I am as long as I'm with you."
Her candor took him by surprise, and he could only manage a small nod.
Tahlia grinned. "But, I mean, if you wanted to whisk me away to some little love shack somewhere beautiful, I wouldn't be complaining, of course."
In all seriousness, Daryl nodded again. "I would. If that's what ya wanted. Just want ya to be happy."
"Well, all you've got to do is stick with me and I will be!"
Finally, Daryl lightened and smiled. "Shit, that's a big ask. Stickin' 'round such a giant pain in the ass. Dunno if I can promise that."
But he did know. He could promise that.
Then he hugged her tight, and kissed her soft, and the blanket of night covered them as she fell asleep right there tucked up against her happy place.
When Tahlia woke, she was still in the same position, warm against Daryl's chest. Blinking in the moonlight, she figured it must only be the wee hours even though she felt rested. Daryl felt her stirring and stroked her arm.
"Y'alright, beautiful?" he asked, his voice a low rumble in the inky silence. "Cold? Wanna go inside?"
She looked up at him and shook her head.
"Back to sleep, then."
She shook her head again, and gently eased herself away from him. "Switch."
"Naw, I'm good."
Tahlia straddled his lap and brushed her lips across his, then over his jaw line and to his ear.
"Switch, or I'm gonna distract the living hell out of you."
With a growl, Daryl gripped her hips tightly in want, then gave her a little push. "That ain't fair."
"It's not fair that you do watch all night. I want you to rest."
With a sigh, Daryl nodded and they swapped positions so that Tahlia was propped against the trunk, and she laid a cushion on her lap for him to lay his head on.
He got comfortable then gazed up at her. "Y'know I find it hard to switch off when we're in places like this."
"I know." she said softly, rubbing his chest. "But you still need to rest. Even if you don't sleep. So, I'm taking over."
Daryl continued to stare at her even after she rolled her eyes and tapped him on the cheek and settled her gaze out into the darkness.
He wondered if he would ever get used to the knowledge that he had a person who put him first, who was always thinking of him, who cared about him more than herself. Without looking down, Tahlia pulled the blanket up over him, not that he needed it.
That knowledge had him plenty warm as it was.
The first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was her, a serene look on her face as she kept watch. The second thing he saw was the slatey dawn sky leaning over him, and he realised in surprise that he had slept.
Together they watched the sun rise and the world wake, then Tahlia headed down to a little spot beyond the tree for a quick yoga stretch while Daryl started on the task of removing the second set of solar panels.
The curtains of the container home were still drawn and there hadn't been any sign of Michonne or Rick yet, but Daryl didn't care if he was disturbing them by clattering about on the roof. They were both normally early risers, and it's not like they were the ones who'd only caught a couple hours of sleep in a tree hut.
It wasn't long before Rick soon surfaced and joined Daryl on the roof to give him a hand.
"Morning." Rick yawned as he began unscrewing a panel. "You didn't wake me for watch."
"Nah." replied Daryl. "Me and Tahly had it covered."
Rick nodded. "Well, thanks for that. I have to say, it was a real comfortable bed in there. Anyway, now we know what we're doing up here, should have this done in no time."
"Hi! Want a hand?" Tahlia called up from next to the ladder.
"Think we're good." smiled Rick. "Why don't you and Michonne go and pick up anything else we might want from around the property and load it up?"
"Sure thing." Tahlia spotted Michonne emerging from the house. "Morning!"
Michonne grinned. "Morning."
Tahlia frowned. Michonne was never chirpy in the mornings, which was why Tahlia always made sure to be extra chirpy to get on her nerves.
"I was thinking of collecting some olives and peaches to take back. The olives aren't ripe but I'm sure Carol will know some kind of magic trick to make them delicious. Come help me."
"Sure thing." Michonne shouldered her katana and together they started off in the direction of the grove.
Tahlia stopped and let Michonne walk ahead.
"You coming or not?" called Michonne over her shoulder.
Walking a few more steps, Tahlia stopped again and propped her hands on her hips as she tipped her head to one side. "Something's different."
Turning to face her friend, Michonne started walking backwards. "Nothing's different! Come on!"
"It is." Tahlia narrowed her eyes, and pointed a finger, waving circles in the air. "You're... bouncing."
"What?! I'm not damn well bouncing! What are you on about?"
"And you've got that little-" She used her finger to indicate a curve of the mouth.
"A smile, you mean?" Michonne rolled her eyes. "I'm happy. Can't I just be happy?"
"You can, but you're never just happy for no reason. And you're definitely never happy in the morning." Tilting her chin up, Tahlia tapped two fingers on her lips thoughtfully and surveyed her friend a little longer. "This reminds me of something. I've seen you like this before. You were like this when-" She gave a sudden loud gasp as her hands flew to her mouth and her eyes widened. "You've been kissed!"
"Oh my God." muttered Michonne, immediately blushing and trying to suppress a grin.
"You have, haven't you?!"
The look on Michonne's face was answer enough.
Tahlia threw her head back in laughter. "Amazing!" Then she donned a serious expression. "Oh my God, it better not have been by Daryl."
Michonne screwed up her face. "Shut up, Tahly!"
"So..." said Tahlia with a conspiratorial brow raise as she tented her fingers at her chin. "Tell, me – how was the good sheriff? Was it just kissing or was it a whole lot more?"
Pressing one hand hard over her mouth, Michonne's eyes widened and she gave a little nod, then, voice muffled, squeaked out, "More. Everything."
Tahlia let out a loud squeal of excitement and bounced on her toes, making Michonne giggle and blush even deeper.
After taking a couple of deep breaths, Michonne schooled her face into a serious expression.
"Stop it! Stop it, Tahly! I am a grown ass woman, and you are not going to make me get all girly and giggly over... over..."
"Ye-esss?" Tahlia teased with wide-eyed innocence.
"Over... doing it with a... sheriff!"
At that, both of them dissolved into laughter, and it took several long gasping moments before they could compose themselves again.
"Ok, seriously though," Tahlia elbowed her, "How did this happen?"
"Well," started Michonne, "We were actually talking about you and Daryl and how you guys have ended up being perfect for one another; then we were talking about our lives and I ended up telling him all about Andre and how Judith had really helped me; then we talked a bit about loved ones and how opening yourself up after loss is difficult at first but then so refreshing, and then..." She trailed off and pressed her lips together, a sparkle in her eye.
"'And then', indeed!" laughed Tahlia. "Awesome! So... is there going to be... more?"
Michonne nodded and smiled. "Yeah. Think so. Hope so."
"You guys can take the Land Rover back if you like." Tahlia said with a nudge and a wink.
"Yuck." Michonne stuck her tongue out. "I am never setting foot inside that car again." Then she smirked and nudged Tahlia right back. "We'll get our own sex-Rover."
A short while later, Rick and Daryl had finished removing the solar panel system, and Rick was now helping Michonne to carry the last couple of items from the house to the vehicles as they prepared to leave.
Waiting until Michonne and Rick had disappeared back inside the house, Tahlia jogged over to where Daryl was tying down the load on the back of the truck and sidled up next to him furtively.
"Hey! Wanna hear some cute news?"
Daryl shot her a brief glance and made a face as he pulled on the rope. "Not really in the market for cute news, thanks though."
"Oh, come on!" she elbowed him as she leaned against the side of the truck. "So... Michonne and Rick!"
He just looked at her blankly, waiting for her to continue.
"Michonne and Rick." she repeated, firmer this time.
"Yeah, Michonne and Rick, what?" asked Daryl impatiently.
"They're... together."
Daryl glanced around as if looking for them. "Together where?"
Tahlia smacked a palm to her forehead. "Oh my God."
"What?!"
"They're..." Then, shaking her head, Tahlia held a hand up. "You know what? Never mind. Just never mind." She took a step away from him, then turned back in, standing on her tiptoes to press a kiss on his lips. "You are gorgeously oblivious."
And as she walked away, Daryl stared after her in confusion, no further clued in as to what the hell she was talking about.
"Batshit crazy." he muttered affectionately.