One Shot. Daryl and Beth find Rick and Carl in that white house and they have Lil Asskicker with them. Together they make a new family somewhere safe. Daryl/Rick and eventually Carl/Beth. Mature content. If slash is not your thing move on. Ignoring most of this half of the season.
Daryl sighed as he and Beth spotted a row of white house on an abandoned street. Daryl had been tracking foot steps leading from the prison hoping to find someone else from there group. He knew Beth wanted to find Maggie but she also talked about finding Carl too. Daryl just wanted to find anyone alive. They had found Lil Asskicker in her bloody car seat before they left and was just in time to save her. Beth had been good about not complaining about having to carry her so Daryl could fight off the walkers as they went. At first Daryl didn't think anyone else was alive but Beth made him look, made him keep going and they had a bond now. She was like his little sister and he'd make sure her and Judith stayed alive even if they didn't find anyone else.
But he secretly hoped to find Rick though. The one person in the prison he trusted and wanted to be around more than anyone. Ass Kickers father and he deserved to know she was alive and safe. That Daryl kept her safe, for him. He could hear his brother's voice calling him a fag but Daryl had learned to shut him out now. Daryl never had any attraction to men before and he still really didn't; only Rick but he kept that to himself.
"Well, check out this first house here. Stay for the night. I think we both need to rest somewhere other than the woods." Daryl told Beth who sighed in relief and nodded. She was so grateful to Daryl for not leaving her behind to die at the prison and hoped he didn't think of her as too much of a burden.
Walking up the porch steps they went around back and Daryl was able to use his knife to get the door open. He could tell someone had been there but he wasn't sure how long ago.
Motioning for Beth to stay silent she nodded and held Judith to her chest tighter as they tip toed up the stairs. He looked into one of the rooms he came to first and didn't see anything. When he passed by another door and peeked inside he gasp.
"Carl." He whispered and Carl's heard snapped up from where he had been sitting on a kid's bed reading and gave him a large smile before jumping off the bed.
"I can't believe you found us. Thank god." Carl said and shocked the hell out of Daryl as he hugged the man tightly for a moment before pulling back and looking up at him under that damn hat.
"Have you seen anyone else?" Carl whispered and Daryl nodded and pointed into the hallway. Carl poked his head out he gasp when he saw Beth and Judith there. Beth had a beautiful smile on her face when she saw Carl and ran up and hugged him, pressing the baby between them.
"I was so worried. I'm so glad you're ok." Beth told Carl who blushed bright red and flip Daryl off for chuckling at him. Carl took Judith from Beth and held his sister close.
"We saw the car seat. We thought she was dead." Carl told them and Daryl nodded.
"Where's your dad?" Daryl ask and Carl frowned in worry.
"Downstairs on that couch by the front door. He won't wake up Daryl. I don't know what to do." Carl told him and Daryl nodded and ran back down the stairs with the kids behind him. He never looked in the living room before going upstairs so he never saw Rick there.
He saw Rick laying on that couch and it damn near brought tears to his eyes. He looked dead if it wasn't for his chest rising and falling with unsteady breaths Daryl would have thought he was dead.
"Did ya find any first aid kit or something?" Daryl ask Carl as he set the crossbow down and kneel down next to Rick and checked his pulse. It was there and steady which was at least a plus. Nodding Carl ran over to a bag full of things and used his free hand not holding Judith to drag it over.
"I went out this morning and raided the house next door. Ate a big ass can of pudding and lost my shoe to a walker but I was able to find some stuff. I haven't checked the other houses yet I didn't want to leave him alone for too long." Carl told Daryl who nodded and patted him on the shoulder. Carl really has grown up a lot since he met him.
Shifting through the bag Daryl started setting things out and pointed to Beth.
"Can you get me water, Carl I need you to make sure no one can get in that back door that we came in?" Daryl said and both kids ran to do what he told. Daryl ripped open Rick's shirt and cut it from his body before carefully undoing his pants, ignoring the way his body reacted to Rick almost naked and slide them down his legs so he could see the bullet wound.
When Beth came back with the water Daryl handed her Rick's pants and tossed his bloody shirt on the floor.
"Can you try to wash these some and hang them to dry?" Daryl ask her and she nodded gratefully to be able to help. Carl showed her where the down stairs bathroom was as he came back with Judith and sat near the couch to watch.
"I don't think his ribs are broken, maybe fractured so I'll rap them." Daryl told Carl who nodded and watched as the hunter carefully wrapped his father's ribs before working to clean off his face and hands, disinfecting the cuts and checking for anymore fractures.
"How do you know how to do all this?" Carl ask him as he handed Beth back his sister to feed. Daryl looked over at the young man and squinted as he decided what to tell him. Finally he figured the truth.
"My old man was a dick. Use to get drunk and beat on me and Merle. Merle use to patch us up until he left for the army and then it was just me. I learned to patch myself up real quick like." Daryl told him and Carl and Beth shared a sad look but didn't say anything. They didn't know Daryl had been abused.
When Daryl was done with everything but his leg he laid his head on Rick's chest of a moment to listen.
"Sounds ok. I think he can breathe better now that his ribs are supported. Now his leg." Daryl said and took out his flashlight and examined his leg.
"I can see the bullet; it's just there I need to get it out though or he may get infected and lose this leg." Daryl said sighing and Carl nodded.
Daryl tied his leg off above the wound and told Beth to take Judith upstairs for a while. Carl sat on the couch and held his dad's leg down hard. Daryl sterilized his knife and Rick's leg before nodding to Carl.
Rick screamed in pain as Daryl dug the bullet out of his leg. He did it quickly and was thankful Rick passed out soon after he started.
"Got it." Daryl said and threw it down in disgust as he stitched the wound closed and wrapped it up.
"Ya can get Beth now." Daryl told Carl and he nodded and ran up stairs and brought the blonde back with him. Daryl dug into the bag that Carl had and was able to find some Motrin and an expired antibiotic that he'd used before. Sitting them on the table next to Rick for him to take when he woke up Daryl grabbed the blanket off the back of the couch and wrapped Rick up nice and tight to keep him warm before standing and looking around.
The house wasn't bad but it was too exposed and he knew they'd have to move as soon as Rick could, but first he needed to check the other houses for anything they could use and hopefully one of the garages would have a car. He did think Rick would be able to walk long on that leg anytime soon.
"Ok, we got a few hours before it gets dark. We won't be able to stay in this house for too long so we need to check the rest of the houses and bring everything we can use back here. We'll, all sleep in this room to be safe. Carl you come with me, and will get your shoe back and search the houses. Beth stay here with Rick and Ass Kicker. He should stay asleep but keep an eye on him. If anything happens run outside and yell for me. Start working on finding all the blankets and pillows in this house you can and piled them in here. Carl and me will bring mattress down when we get back." Daryl said and they both nodded. Carl handed Beth his dad's knife and gun just in case and he and Daryl headed out to the house Carl raided first to get his shoe back and finish checking the house.
They spent 2 hours going from house to house, collecting everything they could and piling it into several bags. Daryl even found an suv in one of the garages that was full of gas and was able to get another gas can full with more gas from a few of the smaller cars still in garages. They hadn't heard anything from Beth so once they finished the last house and piled everything into the back of the SUV they drove it to the house they were staying in and parked it where they could get to it fast.
Taking a few things inside they would need for now Daryl and Carl made sure to board up every door, and window in the house for safety leaving only the livingroom door as an exit that was already safe from being tied up and they moved a few of the smaller mattress into the livingroom for everyone to sleep on.
Beth and Carl slept peacefully that night with Judith between them on one mattress and Daryl slid his smaller one next to the couch to keep his eyes and ears on Rick. He slept off and on all night and by the time the sun rose he heard Rick finally stirring.
Both Beth and Carl snapped awake when Rick groaned and they all waited for him to open his eyes and look around. When he did and saw Daryl's smirking ass face he gasp.
"Holy shit." Rick said and reached forward to touch Daryl to make sure he was real. When he looked around and saw Carl smiling at him from the foot of the couch he sighed in relief.
"You found us?" Rick ask Daryl who nodded biting his thumb.
"Got something else for ya." He said and moved to the side where Beth was standing and Rick looked over and started crying. His little girl was safe and alive in Beth's arms. Daryl had found her, kept her safe and brought her back to him. Had bandaged him up and kept his kids safe while he wasn't able to. Rick knew he'd never be able to thank the man that meant so much to him.
Daryl helped Rick sit up so he could hold Judith and check over his injuries. Rick took the meds Daryl gave him and just couldn't keep the smile off his face as he looked around. Even if they never found anyone else Rick had all he needed in that room.
They stayed in that house, everyone sleeping in the same room for another 3 days so Rick could rest and start moving around. By the 3rd day Rick was so much better. He still hurt but he felt like he could move around now on his own without Daryl or Carl's help.
Rick was so glad that Daryl was there and helping them. It took a load off of Rick's shoulders to have to be in charge all the time anymore. He knew he needed Daryl and it seemed Daryl was content to stay at his side. It amazed him that a man like Daryl could trust him after everything he's done, including him losing his only blood family he had left twice.
Rick was sitting at the table feeding Judith listening to Carl and Beth laughing upstairs as they worked on packing all the books from the room upstairs both wanting something to do after they left. Daryl had found a baby's room in one of the houses and stocked Judith up on anything she may need for a while. Everything they had was now loaded into the back of the SUV that was parked out front. Daryl was standing guard at the window as he watched Beth and Carl run loads of things out to the Suv while Rick finished eating and finding Judith.
"Daryl, I wanted to thank you." Rick said and Daryl turned at frowned at Rick.
"For what?" Daryl ask and Rick smiled at him some, Daryl was never good with compliments.
"For everything. For finding us, finding Judith and Beth, keeping them safe. For the smile that's on my son's face right now. For sticking with me even if you didn't have to. For not hating me for being the reason you lost Merle. Just for everything. I'd be dead several times if it wasn't for you." Rick said and Daryl chewed his thumb in a nervous gesture not use to people thanking him like that.
"It wasn't nothing Rick. And I don't blame you for Merle. Merle was bad for me, he was my brother but he never thought of anyone but himself. I'm better without him." Daryl said and they looked at each other for a moment and Rick nodded.
"I should have listened to you. Should have gone after the governor long before he came to us. We lost everything because I made bad leadership decisions and we may never find the others again." Rick said and Daryl frowned as he glanced out the window again to see Carl and Beth were done and coming back inside.
"All that blaming yourself is fucking useless Rick. You made the best choices you could at the time anit nobody got a right to blame you for nothing. And we may or may not find the others. Beth knows she may never find Maggie again but Maggie wasn't too damn concerned for Beth when she left her at the prison and got on the bus with Glenn so I recon we done better by her then her own sister did. All we got to worry about now is these kids and staying alive and safe. What's important to me is right here and you shouldn't worry about anything but that either. Were in this together now Rick and I promise you will make it." Daryl told him and Rick sat there stunned at what he said and nodded.
"Daryl's right Rick." Beth said from the doorway. She and Carl had heard what Daryl said.
"As nice as it would be to see Maggie again I don't know if I can forgive her for looking me dead in the eye and leaving without me. She chose Glenn over me when Daryl stayed there and made sure me and Judith got out when he didn't even have to. He could have made it to the bus, they were waiting on him but he stayed and then we found you two. I'm sorry about everyone else but Daryl's right we need to stick together and keep each other safe." Beth said and Carl nodded quickly blushing when she smiled over at him for agreeing with her. Rick looked around at his little new family and nodded. They were right, they had to stick together.
They left that house as soon as everyone was ready and just in time too. Walking down the street was a group of men that looked like trouble. When they saw Beth sitting in the back with Carl Daryl saw the look in their eyes. They would have had to fight these men to get away and Daryl was glad to press on the gas harder and leave them behind, ignoring their yells and curses. He shared a look with Rick and knew Rick agreed. They couldn't trust any new people anymore. It was the 5 of them now and anyone new posed a threat.
When they reached the train tracks and saw the signs for Terminus Daryl stopped and they stared at the sign.
"What do you think?" Beth ask.
"The others will go there if they saw any of these signs." Carl said with a shrug.
"I don't like it." Daryl said and Rick nodded.
"Probably another Woodbury. Can't be trusted. We've lost to much as it is." Rick said turning and looking at them. Daryl nodded and looked in the back where the tree kids were. Beth and Carl shared a look and nodded.
"Too risky. There on their own this time." Beth said and Daryl put the Suv in drive and drove over the tracks heading north, forgetting all about the signs.
Beth was sad that she may never see her sister and that her father was dead. But she was happy to find people that cared enough to not leave her behind so she did what her father always said. Move forward, not back.
Daryl drove like he knew where he was going. And Rick sat in the seat beside him and watched him smoke and drive. When Daryl felt him looking he glanced over at the sheriff.
"What?" Daryl ask around the Marlboro in his mouth. Rick chuckled and shook his head.
"Nothing. You just look like you know where your going is all." Rick commented and Daryl snorted before blowing smoke out of his mouth.
"I do." Daryl said and Rick cocked his head to the side in question.
"I got an idea I guess. Heading north, away from that town back there. Merle and me when we first saw that Atlanta was a bust and met up with the group at the Quarry our intention was to steal everything and leave in the middle of the night. Well, that was Merle's idea anyways and I was just along for the ride. It never happened because I kept stalling him, it just did sit right with me to do that. Then he got left behind and I didn't have to worry about it anymore. Anyways, the plan was to head to an old hunting cabin we use to use when we wanted to hunt for a long period of time. It's in the mountains and if no one's taken it yet it would be fucking perfect. It's a damn tree house man. Up off the ground and fenced in but you got to know where to look. I never said anything cause it anit big enough for the whole group plus whatin no one listening to me back then anyways. I figured that'd be a good place to hunker down." Daryl said flicking his smoke out the window. Rick stared at Daryl in awe and nodded.
"Just for the record I'm always listening to you Daryl." Rick said and Daryl gave a nod before focusing back onto the road a light blush covering his cheeks at the way Rick was looking at him. Rick couldn't believe it. Daryl actually knew a place that would be safe for them. His kids could have a life without constant fear. Daryl was a god send to him.
"Anyone else in our group know about this tree house?" Rick ask a while later and Daryl nodded.
"Nope. Just me and Merle. I did tell Michonne we use to hunt up north a lot but not about the house." Daryl said making a right turn and swerving to avoid the Walkers in the road.
"Good." Rick commented and Daryl nodded back to him.
When the sun started to set and they were getting low on gas Daryl pulled off when he saw a small abandoned store and parked in the back so no one could see.
"Well, stay here tonight. Got to fill back up and well be there my lunch tomorrow." Daryl said taking out his bow and getting out. Rick and Daryl swept the store quickly and didn't see anyone or anything inside since it had already been ransacked. There was a small storage room in the back that they could stay in, so they brought in some blankets and food and Daryl pulled the suv right up to the door that lead out of the storage room behind the building.
Carl fed the baby while Beth laid pillows and Blankets down with a smirk on her face. Daryl looked at her and then to the blankets and snorted, drawing Rick's attention.
"Looks like we're getting real cozy tonight." Daryl said and Rick laughed. The room was barley big enough for them to lay down so they had to all lay together. Carl up against the wall with Beth next to him. Judith was beside her and then Rick because he wanted to be close to the baby. Daryl took the outside on Rick's other side so if anything popped off he'd be the first up.
Besides the tight sleeping arrangements they all slept soundly together and when Beth and Carol woke up the next morning to see Daryl was spooned behind Rick with his arm around his waist Carl and Beth shared a look before pretending to go back to sleep. They had been talking in secret about trying to get Daryl and Rick together and it looked like they were on their way on their own.
When Daryl and Rick woke a few minutes later and saw there position Rick smirked when Daryl jumped away blushing.
"Damn, man I'm sorry." Daryl stammered before getting up and walking out the back door to get the car ready. Rick shook his head and smiled. He knew Daryl was cuddled up behind him. He'd felt it the moment it happened and it was nice. He now knew maybe Daryl was feeling the same things he was about him and planned to find out.
When everyone was up and ready to go Daryl drove them north again and ignored the smirk that was firmly planted on Rick's face. Daryl was embarrassed because he didn't know what Rick would think but it seemed that Rick didn't think it was anything bad since he wouldn't stop fucking smirking at him.
When they hit the mountains Daryl felt alittle more at ease. He always loved this area and had planned to live here one day if he could have ever gotten away from Merle long enough to do anything. Looks like it took the end of the world for that to happen.
Rick watched as they pulled off on a very small dirt road. Well, it was hard to tell it was even a road. Daryl had to unlock a gate a few miles down and Carl drove the suv through. When they passed through the heavily wooded and hidden gate and looked up Beth gasp. It was a beautiful tree house and no walkers in sight.
Chaining the gate back good Daryl motioned for everyone to stay in the suv, Rick included. Huffing Rick nodded and agreed and they waited as Daryl pulled down a hidden ladder and climbed up and swept the house. Rick almost wept when he was finally able to go inside and look around. It was perfect.
"Wow." Rick said in awe as he saw the view from the tree house. You could see anyone coming for miles, there was a lake down below and a river that fed into it. Mountains and woods everywhere.
The place had two bedroom and Daryl blushed red when he had to mention that. Smirking Rick nodded and looked around.
"Well, the kids can share one room and you and I can take the other." Rick said with a nod before walking over and staring to open cabinets to see what was in the tree house. Daryl stared at the back of his head like he was nuts. How could he say that and be ok with it. He mentioned it like it was normal to share a room with Daryl. Carl and Beth chuckled off to the side and Daryl narrowed his eyes at them.
"Don't think for on moment I anit watching ya. These walls are thin and if you two think of trying any hanky panky I'll bust ya boy." Daryl said and Carl and Beth both blushed red and started sputtering. Daryl smirked satisfied now and went to drop the hatch on the loading area and lower it to the ground so they could bring everything up.
Once everything was unloaded and Daryl hid the Suv behind the shed Beth started unloading the kitchen stuff. They had found a lot of canned veggys at one of the houses they raided on the way and Beth hummed as she cooked. The stove was and old wood burning one so as long as they had wood they'd have heat and a stove to cook on. The water wasn't hot but it wasn't cold either and ran off a well that pumped into the house and it was stocked with enough candles and lanterns that would keep them for a while.
When everything was done for the day and the kids had settled into bed for the night Daryl shuffled awkwardly into the room he was now sharing with Rick and it only had one king size bed. Daryl was nervous as hell.
"This place is perfect Daryl. There's even enough trees around that if we ever did find the others they could build their own houses." Rick said as he toweled off from his cool shower. Daryl nodded shifting his eyes off Rick's exposed chest as he was only in a pair of shorts.
"Imma take a shower now." Daryl mumbled and Rick nodded smirking. Daryl took a quick shower not wanting to use up all the water and toweled off and slipped into some shorts. He left his shirt off not caring anymore about his scars. At least where Rick and the kids were concerned, he trusted them not to judge him because of them.
When he walked back into the room Rick was standing in front of the window drinking some water and gazing out at the view.
"When the governor came for us and I thought I was going to die I never thought I'd get to live to see if my daughter made it. Then you showed up again, like a angel in leather and saved me and my kids and Beth. I owe you everything Daryl. You've been there for me when no one else was." Rick said with his back turned toward Daryl. Emotions like he'd never felt ran though Daryl as he listened. No one had ever said anything like that to him. No one ever made him feel wanted like Rick did.
Turning Rick put his water down on the table and walked towards Daryl and pushed him against the wall. Daryl's breath hitched as Rick ran his hands over Daryl arms and Daryl noticed his wedding ring was missing.
"Your ring." Daryl said and Rick shook his head.
"I'm not married anymore. Hadn't really been in my heart for longer than before she died. She was never there for me the way you've been. I love you Daryl. I've never been with a man before but I want you." Rick told him and Daryl swallowed the lump in this throat as he shoved Rick off him and onto the bed.
"I never have either." He admitted before covering Rick's body with his own and claiming his mouth with his.
Rick moaned as Daryl dominated the kiss, his hands everywhere they could reach and Rick was giving back as much as he got. Daryl had dreamed about this for longer than he wanted to admit. He'd never been with a man but there was something about Rick.
Daryl took his time after they were both naked and prepared Rick as much as he could. He didn't want to hurt him. So he stretched him out as he gave Rick the best blow job he ever had in his life and just before he was about to cum Daryl stopped and kissed up his panting and sweaty body.
"Ready?" Daryl ask him as he kissed his neck. Nodding Rick grabbed onto Daryl's hair with one hand and pulled his lips back to he's as Daryl slowly slid inside him for the first time.
"Damn." Daryl hissed. Rick was tight as shit. Rick groaned as the burn and pain hit but it wasn't as bad as he thought and once Daryl was all in Rick begged him to move.
Daryl pulled back and slammed back in and hit Rick's prostate dead on and Rick damn near screamed if Daryl hadn't kissed him to quite him down.
"Fuck. So good." Daryl hissed into Rick's ear as he moved faster and harder and Rick nodded meeting him thrust for thrust. This was by far the best either of them had ever had in their life.
"Daryl." Rick gasp when he felt the signs of his climax coming and Daryl knew it too. He could feel Rick getting tighter and fluttering around him.
"Yeah, that's it. Gonna cum for me Rick?" Daryl growled into his ear and Rick arched off the bed and moaned as he came all over them. Daryl roared his completion into Rick's neck as he couldn't take the tightness anymore and they both collapsed into the bed. Sated and happy for the first time in as long as they could remember.
Life in the tree house was blissful and safe. For months they lived for no issues and off the stuff they had stocked up. Daryl would hunt everyday and bring back meat and Beth would cook it. She kept the house clean, clothes washed and Judith take care of. Carl would help her a lot and Daryl and Rick could both see Beth and Carl getting closer as he got older.
Rick, Carl and Daryl would gather firewood and Rick had started a small garden within the fence while Daryl and Carl started building a new tree house next to them just in case they found any of the others one day. If not they'd use it for storage.
About 6 months after Daryl had saved them Daryl and Rick ran across some of these people on a run. Maggie, Glenn, Michonne and Bob.
"We went to Terminus. Met up with Carol and Tyreese along the way. Maggie left notes for me to follow so I did. I had picked up a few others with me as well. When we got there is wasn't the sanctuary they said it was. It was worse than Woodbury. They were cannibals. Surviving by capturing and eating groups that came in. We lost everyone but us. We were the only ones to make it out alive and we decided to head north and get as far away from them as possible." Glenn told Daryl and Rick. Rick and Daryl shared a look between them and nodded.
"We got a safe place. But you need to know something's first." Rick told them and we to explain about the tree house and how they had built an extra that they would have to share as the one they lived in was taken. Daryl told Maggie about Beth being alive and not to happy with her sister at the moment and then they told them about Daryl and Rick being together now.
"If you can't accept everything then you can keep moving north." Daryl said firmly and they nodded and agreed to do whatever they had to. They just wanted their family back.
Turn to their word Beth was pissed. She hugged Maggie quickly and told her she was glad she was alive but that Maggie made it known who was more important to her and Beth had a new family now to take care of. And with that she stomped back into their tree house with Carol hot on her heels.
Maggie knew it may take a long time to get her little sister back if she ever did. Maggie had messed up when she left Beth to die at the prison and leaving with Glenn. At the time she thought it was right but she knew she was wrong. Her daddy would be so mad at her for not keeping her sister safe like Rick and Daryl had done and she just hoped one day they could be close again.
When Carl turned 17 Daryl and Rick smirked as they caught them together sharing a bed in there room and knew Carl finally got his Beth. Daryl just smirked and tossed condoms on their bed and told them to be safe until they were ready for a baby. They blushed but nodded, glad they're family was ok with them being together.
"Guess well have grandkids one day." Daryl joked one night as they laid in bed and Rick laughed. Grandkids. He never thought he'd live to see the day but it looked like, thanks to Daryl he's fallen angel he just might.
The walkers still walked the earth and bad groups still turned up but no one ever found there little slice of safety in the trees and they lived as happy as you can at the end of the world.