A/N Thanks everyone for the lovely comments and messages, the faves and the follows. This is a long one, but we need to see how Daryl does with baby duty – it can't be rushed!
He didn't know why the hell she stuck with him, oh he knew she loved him, but he just couldn't figure out why.
He was always fuckin' up, either sayin' the wrong thing, doin' the wrong thing, or gettin' her hurt.
It's not like he meant to, he was just a general fuck up, plain and simple.
Like that time…
He knew she was particular about meat, in fact when they first got together she was a vegetarian. She said she was afraid of meat, fish and poultry, that came from a store. She said the meat was probably full of hormones and antibiotics, and the fish probably had mercury.
He didn't get it because for him, if you weren't havin' some meat, you weren't eatin'.
But she would eat the game he bagged. She said it was all natural. She liked the venison, the rabbits, why even the squirrel and the wild boar. And fish, if he went fishing she'd eat the fish. Just nothing all wrapped up in a package from the grocery store.
So that was why he didn't think a thing about it when he killed that possum and brought it home. He pulled his knife from the sheath and had just made the cut when he called to her, "I brought dinner home baby." He was gutting it, and there was blood and guts all over him, and all over the porch. She opened the screen door, took a step out, looked down at the carnage and puked.
Course he jumped up to go to her, but she put a hand up, "Oh no Daryl please, you're covered in that things blood. Is that a giant rat?"
Well like a dumbass he laughed at that and said, "No baby, it's a possum, thought I'd grill it up for supper." And damn if she didn't puke again.
That's when he finally got a clue. "'m sorry baby, why don't you go on in and lay down, I'll get this all cleaned up out here. I promise you ain't gonna see this thing again, okay?"
She whispered, "Thank you Daryl," and made a beeline for the bathroom.
After he cleaned up the blood, the guts and the puke, he'd taken the thing over to Merle, who thought that was the funniest story goin' cuz Merle is a dumbass. They grilled it up and it was damn good. Merle just laughed and said, "Your pretty little blond doesn't know what she's missin'. These giant rats are mighty tasty."
And then there was the time…
She wanted him to teach her to track, and she wanted to try shooting his crossbow. He was pretty puffed up about that. "Damn, she's impressed with my skills," he thought to himself.
So they went out early on Saturday morning. She did real good with the signs, he thought she was a natural. And she managed to hold that crossbow up steady and straight. Maybe all that yoga and pilates shit was payin' off. Anyway, he spotted that rabbit, asked her if she wanted to try and shoot it, surprisingly she said she did, and he was proud, well for a minute anyway. He told her to ease closer to it, she did and fuck if she didn't step in a leg hold trap. He ran over and got it off her ankle, but damn, he knew that had to hurt like a son of a bitch. Daryl didn't use leg hold traps, too cruel, so at least it wasn't one of his, but still he felt guilty, he should have seen the damn thing. Shouldn't have let her get hurt.
On the way to the emergency room she kept telling him it wasn't his fault, he didn't knowingly send her into the jaws of some stupid trap. But that didn't ease his guilt. He wished it was him that stepped in it, not her.
Thank gawd her leg wasn't broke, but she had to wear one a them big ol' boot things for a month.
And then there was the time…
It was a beautiful spring late afternoon and Merle showed up with a case of beer and a bottle of Jack, plus a couple of four packs of wine coolers for Beth.
Daryl and Merle got some wood goin' in the firepit, and Merle plopped himself down in the chaise and commenced to drinkin' shots of Jack and cans of beer. Daryl had a couple of shots, but other than that, stuck to the beers. Beth was sipping on her wine coolers, she was gettin' mellow, but not really drunk. He loved it when she got like that.
After a couple of hours Merle passed out. Daryl couldn't wake him up for nuthin', so he went in, got an old blanket and covered the dumbass up.
He was feelin' a little frisky and he wanted to get his sweet, mellow Beth into the sack. He decided to get all romantic and just scoop her right up in his arms. She was giggling and he was anticipatin' when boom! He caught the toe of his boot on the threshold and they both went flyin'. He couldn't believe that the noise they made when they landed didn't wake up Merle.
Beth was cryin', she took the brunt of the spill. "I'm so sorry baby, ya okay, ya think anything's broke." Damn, he was an idiot.
But Beth just said, "I'm okay Daryl, I think it scared me more than anything. It started off being pretty fun and sexy, I sure didn't expect this," and damn if she didn't giggle.
"Beth baby, please forgive me. I'm a jerk," he didn't know what the fuck to say.
And she was so damn sweet, she just said, "There's nothing for you to apologize for, I could tell what you had in mind when you picked me up, and it sure wasn't throwing us both to the floor. I was looking forward to the other too," and she smiled at him.
"Well, ya want me ta try and pick ya up again, and we'll go see if we can't make each other feel better?" he smiled that little half smile.
She grinned, "How about we just walk to the bedroom and do what we both want to do. We'll heal up from these bruises before we try the carry again, okay?" She laughed softly.
And then damn, if they didn't make love half the night. He was the luckiest man in the world, he knew for sure.
Oh he could go on, thinking about the 50 other stupid things he'd done to her, but then he thought about the task at hand.
He'd asked her to quit workin' at the bar after she first moved in. It just didn't sit right with him. She'd accepted that. She did manage to get a few jobs teaching piano, guitar and singing, so that kept her busy and got her out of the house. It wasn't like they needed money, everything Daryl had was paid for, and he made great money.
But after D.J. was born she couldn't really do that anymore, and she was getting' a little stir crazy.
She, Maggie and their Ma had cooked up a plan to go to Atlanta Saturday, shop, have lunch and get their nails done, the whole nine yards. That oughta be fun for her. They was gonna leave real early and spend the whole day, probably not gettin' home until supper time. He was thinking he'd go huntin', but then she told him she wanted him to take care of D.J. while they were gone. "What?" He'd asked, "Ya don't wanna take him with ya?"
"Daryl, what kind of a ladies day out would it be if we had D.J. with us? You're his Daddy for gosh sake, you'll do just fine with him. I'm going to show you everything you need to know. It's not like you haven't been around him the past three months, same as me," she gave him that smile.
"Yeah, alright, I got this Beth. But shit, I can't very well breast feed him, what's he gonna eat?"
She just smiled, "Daryl I'll pump my breast milk out, it will be in individual plastic bags, all you have to do is pour one bag in a bottle and feed him. I'll tell you what times to do that, in fact I'll write it down, okay?"
"Well if he's anything like me, I'm sure he'd rather get it straight from you. Can I watch when you pump it," he was grinning now.
"Yes you can Daryl, but I think you're going to be very disappointed," she couldn't help but chuckle.
And by the way, she was right about that. This breast pumping thing was not even a little bit sexy.
Then she went over the burping thing with him. If he didn't get D.J. burped, the baby would have a bad stomachache and Daryl would regret it. The burping didn't seem hard at all.
"And I'm going to show you how to clean him up after he goes potty, and how to put his diaper on, okay?" she smiled. He panicked.
"Wait, I have to change diapers? That don't sound good."
"Daryl, in this day and age most Daddies' change just as many diapers as the Mommy does. I've gone easy on you because well, I know you can get a little tense about certain things, but you'll do just fine."
Oh yeah? Well he wasn't so sure, but he wasn't gonna say nuthin', she deserved a day out. He had this.
No problem.
She had everything perfectly organized for him, plus all kinds of notes and instructions. A stack of diapers and wiping things, a stack of clean onsies and gowns, little blankets, a clean sheet if it was needed, burping cloths. Shit, how could the kid need so much stuff just for one day?
Maggie and Beth's Mama were there at 6:30 a.m. sharp. They had a ways ta drive. He felt himself panic just a little, okay a lot, as he watched the car pull away.
"Okay D.J., it's just you and me big guy, k?" And the baby spit up all over Daryl and himself.
Daryl cleaned them both up, and he calmed himself with the idea that the spitting up was out of the way for the day.
He'd been walking the floor for an hour when Merle showed up. He was pretty sure his brother had come by just hoping to see him suffering. And he got his wish.
"Where's the coffee little brother?"
"Shit Merle, I ain't had time ta make coffee, I been takin' care of a baby!" Daryl was a little rattled.
"Well Beth always has the coffee made, and the baby taken care of," Merle just grinned that big ol' nasty grin.
"Fuck you Merle, you want coffee, make some and make me some too, I'm fuckin' pooped," Daryl was definitely feeling the pressure, and he still had a long day to go.
"Now Daryl, Beth said she don't want you droppin' no F Bombs around Junior here, am I gonna have to report you to the boss?" Now the dumbass was cackling.
Daryl felt the steam comin' out of his ears. "Just make the damn coffee Merle," Daryl sighed in defeat.
"Sure thing baby brother, I can see ya need a cup," and he was grinnin' again. "How 'bout some breakfast? I can make us some bacon and eggs," Merle was startin' ta feel sorry for the boy.
"Thanks Merle."
And there was peace, at least temporarily.
Merle did know how to cook breakfast and make a pot of coffee. The brothers had their meal together while Daryl held D.J. on his lap, because every time Daryl tried to put the little guy down, he started to howl like he was being stabbed by a hot poker. It seemed easier just to hold him.
"I can't believe your pretty little wife cooks you bacon and eggs every day Daryl, I mean considerin' she won't eat bacon. You must be doin' sumthin' right boy, although I can't imagine what that would be," and he chuckled.
Damn, Merle was half nice to him for a minute there.
About 15 minutes later, D.J. projectile vomited and Merle just laughed and said, "That right there is my cue ta leave. Good luck baby brother."
"F U Merle," was all he could say. It just didn't provide the satisfaction of a real fuck you.
Beth's phone beeped, the message was from Merle, "Okay little sister, I got him coffee and fed him. He's still alive but he looks a little stressed LOL, you owe me fried rabbit. Merle"
Beth smiled; at least he'd eaten and had some coffee. She texted Merle back, "Next Saturday, fried rabbit, hush puppies and corn on the cob, be at the cabin NLT 5. Beth"
Daryl got D.J. cleaned up again, and himself cleaned up again and it was time to feed the baby. That seemed weird, I mean why keep feeding a guy who's barfing, but Beth had given him strict instructions, and she knew more about this shit than he did. So he fed the baby. He couldn't resist dipping a finger in the milk and having a little taste, not too bad. Beer's better, but whatever, D.J. seemed to like it.
He gave the baby the bottle, and then he thought, cool all I gotta do is burp him, no problem. But damn, he didn't seem to wanna burp. Daryl started talking to him, "C'mon big guy, ya gotta burp. Your Mama says yer gonna get a bellyache if ya don't. That hurts, ya don't want that so c'mon make a burp." Well the little guy did burp, and he also spit up all over Daryl and himself – again. Daryl just looked at the baby, shook his head and said, "Ya hate me don't ya?" And the baby smiled.
While he had all the baby's clothes off he thought, well I might as well change his diaper, yep, it seemed wet. He'd just gotten the thing off when D.J. decided to pee, straight up in the air and right in Daryl's face. Oh, that's right, Beth had warned him about that. "You ain't gettin' nuthin' from me for Christmas D.J. That there iced it." And the baby smiled at him again. "Quit tryin' ta soften me up boy, I'm a little perturbed with ya right now." Daryl couldn't help but laugh. What else could the kid possibly do to him? He'd find out.
He cleaned them both up again. Daryl couldn't recall ever having changed his shirt so many times in one day. Well okay, before Beth he'd sometimes wear the same shirt all week. She didn't care for that, so now he changed it every day. Seemed like kind of a waste, but if it made her happy, what the hell?
"Now listen here D.J., it says right here on yer Mom's note that yer supposed to wanna take a nap right about now, so let's do that, k?"
But D.J. had other ideas, he wanted Daryl to walk him around the room three hundred and fifty-five thousand times. So Daryl did, cuz he didn't know what the fuck else ta do.
He decided to take a chance, go out on the porch and sit in one of the rocking chairs, maybe the little guy will fall asleep. And he did, and so did Daryl. Even the sound of the car didn't wake him up.
When Hershel pulled in the driveway he had to smile. There sat Daryl sound asleep in the rocking chair with D.J. lying on his chest, also sound asleep. Poor guy must be having a rough time, Hershel smiled to himself. He just went up on the porch and sat in the other rocking chair and waited for one of them to wake up. Well, he did take that photo with his phone, and he did text it to Beth, but other than that, he just sat there and watched them sleep. And smiled, remembering those days.
Beth's phone beeped, there was a photo of Daryl sound asleep in the rocker, with D.J. on his chest, it made her tear up. There was a note, "Both are still alive, just waiting for one of them to wake up. You owe me a banana cream pie, Daddy."
Beth texted back, "I'll be over with it Tuesday, thanks Daddy xoxo"
About 40 minutes later D.J. began to stir, Daryl's eyes instantly flew open and his grip on the baby tightened. "Shhhh big guy, Daddy's here." Then he noticed Hershel sitting next to him.
"Hey Hershel, what brings you by," Daryl could be such an innocent.
"Had to go to town, thought I'd stop and say 'Hi' to my son and grandson," Hershel smiled.
"Well nice of you ta come by, me and my man D.J. are just hangin' out. We had a long mornin' and we was a little worn out."
"Hey Hershel, would you mind holdin' the baby so I could go take a piss, sorry, I mean pee, I ain't had a chance ta go all day," Daryl asked.
"Sure son, you go, me and D.J. will be just fine," Hershel had to admire his son in law, he knew the man had never been around babies and kids, yet he seemed to be doing just fine, maybe a little sleepy, but that was to be expected.
Hershel stayed about another 30 minutes. He always had a lot of questions for Daryl. He was fascinated by the work his son in law did. Daryl suggested that Hershel come by the factory about 3:00 Wednesday afternoon and he'd take him on a little tour. That got Hershel all wound up, "That would be great, thanks son!"
"Sure Hershel, thanks for visiting."
Hershel gave D.J. a little kiss, shook Daryl's hand and walked to his car thinking, Banana Cream Pie AND a factory tour. Checking in on Daryl was the best little job he ever had.
After Hershel left he thought it best to take the baby back inside for a bit, it was going to be time for him to eat pretty quick and Beth had Daryl scared to death to veer from the schedule.
He'd just walked in the kitchen when all hell broke loose. There was a loud noise that came from the baby, like a volcanic eruption, and suddenly there was baby shit everywhere. It was comin' outta the leg openings on both sides of D.J.s onsie, and Daryl could feel the squishy mess climbing up D.J.s back. The smell was kinda rancid. "Why do ya hate me boy? I been nice to ya all day."
Daryl stood there for a minute not sure what to do. There was baby shit all over D.J., and there was baby shit all over him. How can someone who doesn't even eat solid food shit so much?
He decided his best bet was to head in the bathroom. With his free hand he grabbed a bath towel and spread it on the floor, he lay the baby down and carefully started removing the clothes and diaper, but really? It didn't matter how careful he was, this was a mess of epic proportions.
"Ya know kid, in a way I'm kinda proud of ya. This is more shit than I woulda ever thought a little guy like you could produce. I got half a mind ta take ya out in the yard and just hose ya down, but if yer Mom ever found out I done that, she'd kill my ass. That's the only thing savin' ya son." And the baby was just smiling and cooing.
Daryl used the whole towel to wipe the baby down, he figured he would take that out in the yard and hose it down. He set the baby's little tub in the bathtub and got it filled with warm water, and he gave him a bath. It was a first for Daryl, and he was a little nervous, D.J. was mighty slippery. But it got the job done. He used Beth's nice clean towel to dry the baby off. Then he took him in his room and put a fresh diaper and clean onsie on him, plus a little gown cuz he didn't want him to be cold after his bath. Then he went in his room and changed his own shirt.
He was just fixin' D.J.'s bottle when a car pulled up. It was Amy. She looked through the screen door and said, "Knock, knock."
Daryl called over his shoulder, "Yeah, hey Amy, c'mon in, I'm just getting' ready ta feed D.J."
"Isn't Beth home?" She asked.
"Nah she's gone to Atlanta shopping with her Ma and Sis. She won't be back 'til probably 6 or 7."
"Oh darn, well can I at least feed the baby?" She asked.
"Yeah sure I guess, um I got a little mess I guess I'll ta take care of," he tried to smile.
"Oh yeah, go ahead, we'll let you know if there's trouble," she smiled.
Daryl did the best he could cleaning up the mess. After he washed off the towel outside he put all the towels and all the baby clothes in the washer and fired it up. He was startin' to worry D.J. wouldn't have enough clean clothes to last him the rest of the day.
He washed his hands and went back in the living room. "I better take the baby now, I gotta make sure he finishes his bottle and burps, but thanks for helping," Daryl was feeling like he didn't want anyone else holdin' his baby.
"Oh, okay, well tell Beth I stopped by," Amy smiled.
"Yeah, sure thing, thanks for stoppin'," and he gave her a small smile.
Shortly after Beth got a text, "Your house smells like pee, poop and barf, but the baby was sparkling clean and smelled great, Daryl looked rested, and he didn't seem to want to share the baby. He's stingy. You owe me egg salad."
Beth smiled and texted back, "Thanks Amy, come by Wednesday for lunch."
When Beth got home from the big city Daryl was sitting in his big overstuffed chair, D.J. was tucked in the crook of his arm, and they were watching a hunting show on T.V. "Hey baby, did ya have a nice time?" he gave her a big smile.
"I did, thank you so much for tending D.J. all day. I know it was a long one," she smiled, but she was a little hurt the baby didn't seem to want her to take him.
"Nah, it was mostly good, me and the big guy, we did just fine. Anytime you wanna go somewhere I'm happy ta take care of him. And I'ma start helping ya with him more around here too," Daryl said very matter-of-fact.
The next day Daryl said he had to run to town and pick up a couple of things.
While he was gone Beth started preparing a special Sunday dinner for him, all of his favorites, chicken fried venison steak, mashed potatoes with country gravy, cream corn and homemade biscuits. She figured it was the least he deserved, she could tell by the amount of laundry he'd done it had been a messy day.
When Daryl got home he had a bouquet of fresh flowers and a box of her favorite candy. He figured it was the least she deserved.
A/N I hope you enjoyed it, looks like Daryl and D.J. developed a pretty tight bond during their day together. Thanks for reading, please review. xo
