Without a Net

Carol had not answered Daryl that night. She was still trying to process Daryl's claim that he had been in witness protection because Merle had snitched on a cell mate. That the Daryl she had loved had become Mark Reynolds. Did Daryl-Mark love her? Or was it some attempt to hold on to some remnant of his old life? She was pregnant with his baby. So how much was love and how much was guilt? Loving and trusting are not the same thing but love was a trapeze act. It just doesn't work unless you have the courage to turn loose of your swing and jump toward the waiting hands of your partner. And there isn't really a net. If you fall? It's going to hurt. She decided to trust that Daryl would catch her before she fell.

Carol talked with Sophia Wednesday evening. Sophia had listened to the whole story without asking a single question or making a comment. Sophia waited until her mother finished before saying, "That is the biggest pile of bull shit I ever heard. I think it's more likely that Daryl left Atlanta because his house would sell for more money, probably lost the money from the house, and is now back trying to get in your good graces so that you sell this house and he swindles that money away from you."

"Sophia, it isn't that easy to build a new identity. He's telling the truth."

Her daughter gave her a cool reproving look, "You want to believe this story because you love him."

Carol was torn between wanting to reprove her daughter for her language and admiring her for her calm assessment of the situation. She hated that her daughter was so cynical, but she knew Sophia was trying to protect her. "Sophia, listen to me. You have to keep this secret. This isn't anything you can talk about with your friends. It's too dangerous for all of us. You understand that?"

Sophia nodded, "Okay, I'll go along with this story. Now here is the deal. If we move to Virginia and I have to change schools again? You have to buy a farm and this time I get a horse of my own."

Damn, she really is smart. About three steps ahead of me. She'll probably grown up to be a con artist. "We're going to Virginia this weekend after my doctor's appointment. I'm making no deals involving horses, Mark and Merle are living in a rented house and there is no place for a horse right now."

Sophia scowled, "I'm still not trusting this situation. I am keeping an eye on both Mark and Michael Reynolds."

"Go take Muffin for a walk. I am going to go tell Mark that we are going to Virginia this weekend. He is upstairs finishing the floor tile."

Mark who used to be Daryl was setting the tiles on the bathroom floor. "As soon as I finish this, I'll get a shower and we can go out and get a pizza. Sophia is taking Muffin for a walk? He just bolted out of here when she called."

"I just talked to Sophia and told her where you have been. She's trying to con me into buying her a horse."

Mark rolled his eyes, "I predict that Sophia and Big Mike will get along. So will the two of you come to Virginia with me?"

"Yes, we're going. That is when my little manipulator began to negotiate for a horse. I checked my bank statement this afternoon. You made a seven thousand dollar deposit this morning?"

"Next month I will make another deposit. Keeping it well below ten thousand. Now is there an estimated date for you to trust me enough to have sex with me? Not trying to push you into anything you don't want to do, but just letting you know that anytime really soon would be really good for me."

The thing that I really love about this man he lets me decide when I'm ready.

"Oh, you are giving me money and now you want sex. I feel so cheap."

"Seven thousand dollars takes you way out of the cheap range. I wanted sex way before I gave you the money. Why don't you start using those computer skills for looking up farms reasonably close to Lost River? I fully intend to buy Sophia's love too."

Carol leaned on the doorway, "My body isn't the same as it was. I'm wearing loose clothing for a reason. I'm super-sized now and still growing."

"Your boobs are bigger. Big disappointment there."

She threw a glob of quikset at him, "Smart ass. I just don't want you to go shrieking out of the room crying, "My eyes, my eyes".

"Sweetheart, I can guarantee that won't happen. Maybe you could come down tonight to my bed. I'll leave the light off if you want. Trust me, I'll show you that I am prepared to love super-sized Carol as much as I loved skinny Carol."

"The tile in the shower looks good." Time to change the subject.

"I like the bead board too. It gives the room some depth."

The pizza outing was fun. Mark sent Big Mike a photo of the three of them at the restaurant with the message, "The three of us will be in Lost River on Friday afternoon."

Michael messaged back almost immediately, "Your woman is hot. Maybe you and the kid should stay in NC. Carol can come alone. I'll show her what a real man can do".

Mark glanced at the message and sent one of his own, "Fuck you."

Christie's message flashed in, "Michael and I are looking forward to meeting Carol and Sophia. We're making dinner for you Friday night. PS Gotta let Mike be Mike sometimes."

Mark-Daryl smiled at Carol, "Big Mike and his girlfriend Christie are cooking dinner for us Friday night. You'll like her and will learn to tolerate him. I did, course it took me decades."

Carol had heartburn that night. She decided to go downstairs and stir up an old fashioned remedy, baking soda and water. She drank it slowly and then found herself heading toward Daryl's room. His bedroom door was open and he was lying in bed reading a book.

He looked up and smirked, "Okay, if you insist. I'll have sex with you."

"No chance of that, sailor. I've got heartburn."

"Come on in and talk to me. Talking is good too."

He scooted over on the bed and she sat down on the bed. "College dorm rules. One of us had to have their feet on the floor."

Mark-Daryl grinned, "Who ever made up that rule didn't have a lot of imagination because where there is a will there is a way." He waggled his eyebrows at her which made her laugh. "Get your feet off that cold floor."

She eased back on the bed and he arranged her pillows, "What are you reading?"

He flushed a little but held up the book. The title said it all, "What Expectant Fathers Need to Know and Are Afraid to Ask".

Carol took the book and leafed through it. Most of the information could have been in any book on pregnancy but the emphasis in this one was to educate fathers in how to understand the changes that the mother was going through. She laughed when she saw the diagrams of different positions for sex. Poor Daryl, after looking at that he must want to run for the hills. Can't blame him. They should show that to horny teenage boys. The pregnancy rate will drop like a stone.

Mark-Daryl took the book back, "You know all this stuff, but I don't. Men aren't born knowing this shit. I don't want to fuck this up."

They looked through the book together. Daryl asked questions and Carol answered as best as she could. She yawned, "I'm falling asleep. I better go upstairs." She eased out of their warm bed and looked at Daryl, "I have a bigger bed. Nothing but sleep right now. You decide." Say yes. I miss you next to me.

"I'll grab my stuff and be up in a few minutes."

Daryl was in bed with Carol in five minutes. She fell asleep while he was talking to her.

Thursday evening everyone packed. Sophia packed for herself and the dog. Daryl lit a fire in the fireplace and they talked as they drank hot chocolate. Even Sophia was excited about the trip and kept mentioning that Virginia was famous for its horses. Mark and Sophia looked at the on-line advertisements for farms while Carol watched them with a smile on her face. Sophia is beginning to warm up to Mark. I think I am more than ready to warm up to Mark who is always going to be Daryl to me no matter what I call him.

Sophia and Mark took Muffin for a final walk. Sophia came in and kissed her good night. She and the dog scampered upstairs.

Carol and Mark watched the fire turn to ashes as they held hands and talked, "Did you and Sophia agree on a farm?"

He nibbled her neck, "She likes the one with a horse barn and I like the one with the most acreage. Which one did you like?"

"I want to actually see them before I make up my mind. I appreciate that you are trying to mend fences with Sophia."

Mark pulled back from her and met her eyes, "I always liked her, but I kinda always thought of her as your little girl. Not mine. Then when I was away I started to think about that. I don't know how to be a father, but you had a loving father. Maybe the reason why you were able to love me after your shitting marriage was because you had a good dad. Maybe Sophia needs me to step up. I promised myself if I ever got a chance to be her dad then I would be. I want to adopt her after we're married. She's not just your little girl, she's a whole separate person that's growing up faster than I want her to. The baby you're carrying isn't real to me. Sophia is. She's quirky as hell but I love her. "

Carol kissed him. He loves Sophia. I want to go upstairs and end the cold war. Détente sex. Sounds good to me.

She yawned, "I'm getting sleepy. Let's go to bed." If anything is going to happen it has to be soon or I am going to sleep through the event.

Mark checked the doors and turned off the lights while she went on upstairs. Carol was in bed. He made a dash for the bathroom to brush his teeth.

"Still awake?" He slid into bed and rubbed her shoulder looking a little hesitant.

"I'm awake, baby daddy."

"I ain't no baby daddy right now. Just me showing you how much he loves you." Let the show begin.

Carol rolled toward him and Daryl kissed her while his hands explored her baby bump. That seemed to satisfy his curiosity because he slid a hand between her legs and just rubbed gently there while his mouth did crazy good things to her breasts which showed their appreciation by standing at attention. She recognized that this encounter was a sprint and not a marathon. They were both too ready to be together to dally around. His fingers worked her core until she came and then she guided him inside her. Daryl was tentative at first as if he was afraid of hurting her but together they found the position and rhythm that brought them both pleasure and release.

They both laughed afterwards. Daryl confessing that he had been worried that she would still be so hurt about his leaving that she couldn't really respond.

Carol kissed his shoulder, "I was afraid that you would be repulsed by my pregnant body." Ed was. The abuse got worse when I got pregnant.

"Not going to happen. I even wanted you when you were frosty and bossy all the damn time." They cuddled for minute and when Daryl leaned over to kiss her goodnight he saw that she was already asleep.

Daryl got out of bed and pulled on a pair of sleep pants and a t-shirt. He padded down the stairs and went outside and looked at the stars. "Thank you, for bringing me back to them. Thank you for creating someone as forgiving as Carol and letting me be a father to Sophia and what's his name." He felt like an idiot but he had asked the Universe a hundred times for those favors and it was damn ungrateful not to give thanks. He looked up again, "I'm going to protect them as best I can but I'd appreciate if you would do the same."

He went back to bed and fell asleep quickly. It was still dark when he woke up the next morning. Carol was leaning over him. "You awake?" I can't stay awake at night but I do wake up early. And horny.

"I'm awake, baby mama". I'm not crazy about being called that but right now I want a longer version of what happened last night.

She kissed him, "So am I." Her tongue traced his lips and he put his hands on her ass and squeezed. She laughed against his mouth and their kiss deepened. "You're awake all right." He's either got a pistol in his pocket or he is glad to see me. I love morning sex.

Later that morning Mark and Sophia sat in the waiting room while Carol had her appointment. Carol had promised him that he could be in the room if the doctor did an ultrasound. She had been in the back for long enough to make him nervous and jumpy. A woman opened the door to the back and called out, "Mark Reynolds". Daryl stood up and bolted toward the door.

"Come on back, Mr. Reynolds. Carol says that you are ready to get a look at your son."

"I am". He looked back at Sophia, "Can Sophia come with us?"

She smiled at him, "I'll take you back and ask Carol if she wants her there."

Mark followed her down the hall and past several doors to a room in which Carol was lying on a narrow bed. There was a machine beside her and she smiled at him. The woman doctor began to move something over Carol's stomach and she pointed out an image on a screen. "Here he is."

Mark took Carol's hand, "He has a face and a dick."

The doctor laughed and pointed out the parts that were developing normally. Daryl just stared at the screen. His son was real. His heart was beating and he was moving. He and Carol had created this person.

Sophia joined the party. "How big is he? Is that how he is supposed to look?" She wiped away a few tears. Daryl hugged her and it was feeling more natural all the time.

Daryl bent to kiss Carol, "He's long legged and skinny like you."

Muffin was waiting for them when they got to back to the farm. The puppy sat beside Sophia and watched the road ahead as if he couldn't wait to get wherever they were headed.

Daryl looked at Carol who was looking at the ultrasound photos and smiling. Sophia and Muffin were looking at a map. His family. He turned his full attention to driving, but he couldn't stop from smiling.

AN

Daryl/Mark is confusing. Carol will continue to think of him as Daryl but from this point on I will use Mark as his name.

Next chapter will have Carol meet Big Mike and Christie. Carol and Mark make plans.

Daryl's book on what expectant fathers need to know was made up. There may be a book with that title but I have no knowledge of it.

Review?

"