Daryl walked up onto the back porch feeling late afternoon sun on his back; only cicada and crickets cut the silence as the grass waved gently in the breeze. He was about to open the screen door, when he stopped to watch them. Danni was sitting at the kitchen table, teaching their boy his letters. She wanted him to read and write. It was like an obsession, but a good one. She leaned over him, pointing to and sounding out the words. They didn't have too many books, so Danni wrote out all those stories her Nan had told her, making her own book. Daryl knew the tales of Fionn and his son Oisin by heart himself from all of her reciting. As the child focused intently, she occasionally moved the dark brown hair out of his eyes. Kid's hair was almost down to his shoulders. Daryl wanted to cut it, but she'd have none of it. As he gazed at them, he felt like he'd done something right. She was an excellent mother. Better than good, she was born to be a mother. Daryl remembered how afraid Danni had been not having her own and that she wouldn't know what to do, but so far she'd done everything right. When she wasn't telling stories, she was singing. She sang all the time.
She figured out how to cook a few things and had a small vegetable garden on the side of the house. She even made a rain barrel to catch their water. All the stuff she'd always said she couldn't do the whole time they'd been together she slowly figured out. She did what she had to do for her family. She did it fine. Just like eating the squirrel when he'd first met her, five years ago now? He still remembered the first time he noticed her. That thing with Ed. He figured he probably fell in love with her then. She never backed down from anything. Then or now.
Daryl felt the tug of tiny fingers on his shirt tail. He turned, looked down and patted her head.
"What are doin' out here by yourself?"
"Looking for you, da."
Her hair was as black as her mother's; her eyes as piercing cobalt blue as her fathers, framed by long bangs.
She always followed him around, wanted to know what he was doing. At four, she was all arms and legs, lanky as a foal or baby deer.
"How come you ain't in there doing lessons?"
"Don't like it." She was a stubborn little thing.
"What do you wanna do then?"
"Shoot arrows."
Daryl awoke not knowing where he was for a minute. "What the fuck..." He said aloud opening his eyes flooded with a surreal sense he'd been somewhere else. It was a dream like the ones she had. The house, their son. But a girl? A little girl? Danni never mentioned a girl in her dreams. He'd only had that dream because he always heard about hers. That's all. She's the one that saw the future. Not him.
He looked over to see Danni awake beside him, sitting up writing.
"Hey." He got her attention. "Troublemaker's a he right?"
"Yeah, all the dreams tell me that. Plus, I just know."
"Ever have any dreams that say he might be a she?"
"No."
"Ever think...there might be a girl in there too?"
"What?" She laughed."Twins? Oh god, we could name them Sid and Nancy."
"Bonnie and Clyde." He corrected her.
"Where did that come from?" The thought still amused her.
"Nothing, never mind."
She read a quote in her journal, The woods creak, and ache, and the day forgets itself. Sylvia Plath. She knew what it meant now.
He pulled himself to a sitting position then leaned over and kissed her neck. She stopped him pushing him away gently.
"There's something I have to say. It killed me. Seeing you with her."
This again "I told you, she ..."
"I know, and I believe it." She spoke softly, her voice low, knowing. "Part of you liked it."
"No."
"I'm not stupid. Don't make me feel like I am. You kissed her back and you got lost for a second and let it happen. I know you did, I saw you."
He looked away and repeated himself. "No."
Daryl felt that familiar burn of failure, of letting her down. He used the ammunition he had.
"You and Shane. I forgave you."
"Different. We weren't together when that happened. It was a mistake but technically I was free to do it."
He shook his head.
"I forgive you. It's over okay? What I'm saying is you can't ever do that to me again. Ever. Now, that I've told you, no excuses. No next time. She's gonna be around."
"Not gonna happen."
"Good."
"I'm sorry." He had never said those words to her before. "You know I don't want anybody else."
She nodded. "I'm just telling you how it has to be for me. No one, not even you, is ever going to treat me like dirt again." She paused and added. "If anything like that happens it's over. Baby or not. Doesn't matter. I can't forgive you a second time."
She made him feel ashamed but also sparked admiration for her. This was the Danni he'd sat across from in the back of the truck going to find Merle. This was the Danni who jumped on him in the alley after Glenn was taken; this was the woman who threw the severed hand in Miguel's lap and got them out of the CDC. He laid back down, taking her words to heart.
She put her book away and lay beside him. He was deep in thought so she tapped his shoulder.
"What do you want?" he asked turning to her. She roughly kissed him.
"What do you think?'" She whispered into his mouth.
He nodded and moved on top of her determined to make her see she was the only one. This would be for her. He knew where he could take her. He used to be so afraid of...of this, being with a woman. She was the one who showed him he could do it, that he was good at it. Danni brought it out of him because he didn't feel threatened by her at all. This is where he belonged.
She pulled her shirt off and lay back for him. He began to move down her body, kissing the hollow of her throat and licking his way down to her breasts, lingering, sucking first on one of her nipples and then on the other. He chewed lightly, nipping them. They were overly sensitive, almost painful, but seemed to need the stimulation. Her eyes were closed and she was panting slightly, her chest began to rise and fall as he continued to suck and lick at her breasts. He gave each nipple one last kiss and then traced a line of kisses down to her stomach, roughly tugging her leggings down as he went, tonguing her navel and kissing the scarred sparrow gently.
He licked the rest of the way to her thighs. He looked up. Her hips were shaking slightly in anticipation He tongued the outside of her sex, going all the way around, making sure he missed her clit. He'd never do this for any other woman. Never. She'd taught him how and it would only ever be for her.
She started to squirm so he planted his hands on her thighs to stop her, then continued to lick all the way around her pussy again, tormenting her, teasing her.
"You bastard," She gasped. "What? Do you want me to beg you to do it?"
He thought about it for a second and then decided against it. That was for later. He gently opened her and sucked on her clit for all he was worth. She let out a low, breathy sigh.
Danni began emitting small groans of pleasure, trying to writhe against his firm grip on her hips. She caressed her breasts and her stomach as he licked at her most tender part.
She fought unsuccessfully to thrust her hips up into his face.
"Come on, baby, please let me ...almost there." She whimpered and gripped his head with both hands to push as he pulled. Suddenly she snapped and started to shudder uncontrollably. As she did he let her go; let her buck her hips. Her grip on his head began to loosen and the movement of her pelvis slowed to a gentle rock, she was sighing contentedly, swallowing fast, her chest rising and falling with each intake of breath.
"Oh shit," she laughed shakily. She grasped his hair and pulled him to her. He slid his hand up the side of her face and cupped the back of her head, never once taking his eyes from hers. Then he pressed his lips against hers and moaned slightly into her mouth, moving his body on hers, rocking against it gently.
He began to rub against her opening, the sensation making him want her more than he'd wanted anything in his entire life. Her body fit his perfectly with intimate familiarity, their limbs knew instinctively where to go. She was his first and he never wanted another.
"I can't take it," she said, breaking the kiss and looking into his eyes, "I need you in me now, please, please fuck me."
He loved when she talked.
He brought a hand up, brushed her bangs out of her eyes and stared down at her. He kissed her lightly on the lips and then brought his hand down, to take himself and move against her ache, but not enter.
"Don't make me wait," she whispered into his ear. "Why do you always make me wait?"
He began to shake as he pushed into her opening and he trembled as the tip slipped in, he rocked back and forth slightly, and then pushed more of it into her. They were both moaning out loud, he began to inch in, wanting to sustain the arousal. Her legs suddenly wrapped around his waist, her arms around his neck, and using them as leverage she pulled him all the way inside her, to her depths.
"Shit, that's good." He groaned softly. He laid on her, completely inside. She sighed gently into his ear resting underneath him patiently, allowing him to savor the moment.
"God I need you," she whispered.
"Need you too."
"Good, then how about you show your need and start fucking me right now, this second, 'cause if I don't get fucked I might just go crazy."
"Can't have that."
"No, so you better just do it then."
He shook his head and sighed as if the task before him was going to be one of great inconvenience.
"Things I do for you." He said.
They both smiled a little, then he pulled out of her until just the tip was embedded and thrust it all the way back in. He did as he was told; he fucked her. He began at a gentle pace, but Danni couldn't take it anymore.
"Harder," she groaned. "Do it harder." It was the only way he could hit her perfect spot inside.
Their sighs of passion grew louder as he obliged her, the slapping of their flesh accelerating. All of a sudden it hit him that he was fucking his best friend, the mother of his son, the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen. How did this happen? How did Daryl get here? The reality of what he had hit him like a freight train. She was gripping him even tighter with her legs and she pulled his face down to hers, pressing her mouth against his and moaning as she slid her tongue in and kissed him. It was feverish and intense, a kiss of need and want, and he was straining. Somehow he managed to hold on, barely.
Her hips were one with his and she was grunting into his mouth, their tongues still tangled. He pulled his head away from hers and looked down at her, she just stared back and smiled shakily as he continued to thrust into her. He began to tremble as she brought a hand up to his face, touching him lovingly.
And then he lost it. Her touch was what had done it to him, watching her smile at him like that while she caressed his face.
"Aww... fuck!" he groaned, shuddering as he erupted inside her sooner than he'd meant to. He didn't stop thrusting; he wanted to get her off too, so he continued to shove in and out.
"Don't stop," she warned, pressing her lips to his ear. "Don't you dare think about stopping, okay? Don't pull out, not even to tease me. I'm so close. So close it hurts."
A moment later she clamped her teeth down on his shoulder as she went over the edge and had her second orgasm shuddering violently beneath him. She jerked her head back and lost vision. "Oh my god, Daryl...Daryl..." she repeated his name again and again.
He collapsed on top of her. She was still shaking beneath him, wracked with jolts and tremors, the aftermath of a powerful orgasm. She lay expelling uneven shallow breaths looking at him. He figured that he was giving her pretty much the same look. Their bodies were warm and slightly slick with sweat. Her legs disentangled themselves from around his middle and dropped into the sleeping bag, but he didn't pull out of her just yet; he didn't think he had the energy. The world could crash around him and he wouldn't care.
Her hand continued to stroke the side of his face as she pressed her mouth against his with a slow kiss, gentle stabs of the tongue and soft whimpers.
Finally, he climbed off her and instantly missed being inside her, connected so deeply. He laid down and propped himself up on his right arm, gazing down at her. Danni wanted him, wanted his body, loved him. He knew she did and he believed her, but it still had a touch of unreality to it.
He'd almost lost her, lost this life he'd finally found. At that moment, he made a commitment more to himself than to her. He'd never be unfaithful. She could kill him if he ever were.
Her post-sex look was always incredible to him. Her face and neck were slick with sweat, her long raven hair disheveled and her sometimes brown sometimes green eyes were expressive, hiding nothing. They told a story of mysteries you could spend a lifetime getting to know and learn. They also conveyed an air of melancholy, just enough to make her seem wise and beyond her age.
She was entirely comfortable laying there in full view, and she had that irresistible I-just-got-fucked-and-loved-it smile on her face. She was glowing, she was beautiful.
"I think we were pretty loud." She said covering her eyes and laughing. "I was."
"Yeah, so? We're in the middle of nowhere. No one's gonna hear anything. Be as loud as you want. That's the reason I brought us up here in the first place."
"Should have figured."
What they didn't know was that Truly had heard it all. She's been outside the tent, in the dark wanting to be near Daryl. That should be me in there. She was more determined than ever to get Danni out of the way.
... ... ... ...
Danni felt Christmas, birthday, and summer vacation happy. She had not had a single moment of nausea in over twenty-four hours. This morning she didn't wake up tired. She felt like herself again. Albeit she was starting to see a little bump above her waistband. She was probably the only one who noticed it yet. She touched it gently feeling deep love and connection. You're here. You're really here.
The timing was crucial. Having to see and deal with Truly on a daily basis would be no problem now. Danni was back.
"Are we goin' down there?" He asked.
"Yeah, why wouldn't we?"
Daryl shrugged and winced a little.
"We won't hide from her."
He nodded. His expression lightened, hesitantly and he said. "I got something for you." He pulled a small plastic capsule from his pocket and handed it to her. He stepped back, looking at her sideways watching as she opened it. He almost seemed nervous, hoping for approval.
She found one of those souvenir rings from an arcade gumball machine. "Daryl, this is so cool. Lucky Seven."
She smiled up at him. "And the horseshoe. All the luck in the world."
"Superstitious girl like you, figure you could use it."
She handed it back to him. He looked confused until she held out her left hand.
"Serious?" Yesterday was hard enough.
"We didn't do this yesterday. You have to." She stared, left eyebrow raised
"I ain't gettin' down on my knee."
She continued to stare until he began to kneel.
"I'm kidding. Don't." She grabbed his shoulder.
He looked down when he slipped the ring on her finger. "If I ever...I won't, but if I did...you can kill me I mean it."
"Wow, um, yes, I guess?"
He stood. "You know what I mean."
interesting proposal.
"How should I kill you? Fast and efficiently or slowly and painfully."
"Slowly a 'course."
"So what are you doing tonight? Say around midnight?"
"You are feeling better, huh? You haven't stopped yapping since you opened your eyes. Why don't you go on and tell me what I'm doing."
"Making us official. If you still..."
"Jesus, stop asking or I will change my mind."
"It's the way my Nan wanted it for me," Danni told him and explained the handfasting ritual as they headed to the main camp. He'd do it anyway she wanted. As long as she'd be his.
... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .
The campfire crackled and spit underneath the large pan on which Carol was heating up breakfast. She doled out plates as the portions were ready. She watched Danni approach, Daryl at her side, relieved not only to see them together but also to see that Danni looked well. Her complexion was pale as usual, but it had lost its sallowness. She saw a healthy pink glow on her cheekbones and her eyes had their sparkle back. She had reached her second trimester. Carol was more sure of it when she noticed Danni pour herself a small cup of coffee before sitting beside Daryl on Dale's camp chairs. She wasn't averse to coffee anymore, but she only had a little bit which made Carol smile again. That girl was going to be a good mother. No question.
No sign of Truly yet.
Carol continued to watch them, deep in conversation. Well, Danni speaking softly, Daryl listening to her intently as if they were the only two people on earth.
Truly did finally strut through the area drawling, "Hey Daryl, got some squirrel, let's do 'em up!"
She glanced at him holding up her string of kill; he never looked away from Danni's face, never left their conversation.
Truly kicked his foot.
He continued to ignore her; She kicked it harder. "I said..."
He stood quickly, pissed off that she'd kicked him again.
"I heard what you said the first time."
"Well, you didn't answer me."
"Yeah, I didn't. He glared at her and sat back down. It was Danni's turn to sit and smile.
"Don't be like that. I'm just wishing for a little company while I work is all." Truly said pouting.
"Spit in one hand and wish in the other and see which one fills up faster." He growled.
Truly stood back, seemingly unfazed; it was all a game to her.
"Keep talking to me like that boy and you're gonna catch nine shades of hell." She shook her hair and smiled at everyone then sashayed her way back to her own tent behind the RV.
"Good boy." Danni teased and ruffled Daryl's hair.
"Hey," he looked around making sure no one saw her, making his cheeks redden a little.
Carol knew they'd be okay.
... ... .. .. .. .. . .. .
"Danni, can I talk to you?" Andrea stopped her as she was heading to talk to Maggie at the house. Daryl had left for a hunt. Alone.
Danni looked suspicious.
"I know you and I don't have much use for each other."
"No we don't."
"You don't like me ."
"You shot Daryl."
"C'mon Danni, It was an accident. Besides we've all wanted to shoot Daryl at on time or another."
Danni considered that. "Yeah, I wanted to shoot him the other day."
The two women smiled a little indicating a tentative truce.
"Look, I've seen Truly around your campsite a few times. She was looking through your stuff and I saw her take something from Daryl's saddle bag. "
"What?" When?"
"Yesterday and before that too. A couple of times. I think you need to watch her. I haven't trusted her from day one, not that anyone around here listens to me. Just be careful."
"Thanks Andrea. You know, things got messed up with Shane and ...I know you blame me for that too..."
"I think Truly needs to go. Maybe we can work together on that." Andrea summed up not needing to say any more.
... ... ... ... ... . . . . . . ...
Maggie and Glenn sat at the heavy oak table in the Greene's dining room playing cards.
"Danni I found some ribbon you might be able to use." Maggie looked up.
Danni had asked earlier for any kind of hair or gift wrap ribbon.
Maggie held out long blue and long red hair ribbons.
"Perfect." Danni smiled. They were all she needed as she had a white one of her own.
"Danni you keep up with the date right?" Glenn asked knowing she did. "Maggie and I have a bet going. Today is Halloween isn't it?"
"Yes, it's the 31st. "
"I won." Glenn gave Maggie a look that told Danni she owed him more than a couple of bucks.
"It's so weird to know that it's Halloween but it's not. Everything changed." Maggie commented.
Danni looked at the two of them. "Change is good Maggie." She caught the girl's eye, thinking of the tarot reading.
"Can I use the shower?" Danni asked.
"You don't have to ask." Maggie scolded her with a laugh.
...
"Cut it out, "
Fionn kitty was trying to take the ribbon out of her hand as she braided,
"Little nuisance." She kissed his head.
She weaved three ribbons together; white for purity and a clean slate, blue for fidelity and red for passion. The braid will wrap around their wrists binding his Right and her Left hand to symbolize how they compliment each other.
She remembered that Nan had always wanted this for her. Danni would complain how stupid it all was and she'd never get married and no man was worth it. None that she'd seen thanks to her mother. Danni never felt she'd ever need a man in her life. She could take care of herself just fine, thanks. Brigid always said she 'd find a good man someday. Danni dismissed her like the rebellious preteen she was.
Why she still had it she didn't know, but Danni pulled the folded paper from inside the back cover of her Tarot Stories book. In Brigid's handwriting was the handfasting and Celtic wedding vows. Usually a high priest or priestess would officiate but Danni knew that the moon would be their witness and they only needed each other. Samhain at midnight the Celtic New Year would be the right time. it is a time of new beginnings, but it's also a time of endings and a time of mourning. She believed you need both to begin again. Grieve the past but move on and embrace the future.
She read over the vows and realized how much she had. She was in love with her best friend who was the father of her son. How did get Danni here?
Tonight was once in a lifetime. She wanted it to be special she wanted to feel feminine.
It was at the bottom of her duffel. She spread the dress out on her sleeping bag. She wondered if The 1940's rayon garment would still fit. The floral design was red and light pink on a black background. Delicate lace around the flattering square neckline. The bottom of the short sleeves gave it that much more antique charm, as did the tiny rhinestone buttons, It was a slinky garment that hugged her shape and hit at her knees. She'd gotten it at Via's her favorite vintage store in Minneapolis when she'd been 18 or 19. It had called to her from the rack that snowy afternoon. The temperature was Ten below and she'd missed her bus. The next one wasn't for another hour, so she'd gone into Via's just for the warmth. The dress caught he eye and although she only occasionally wore such things this one felt different so she tried it on. The fit was perfect and the color enhanced her porcelain skin. When she boarded the city bus an hour later, the dress was folded in tissue paper inside a pink plastic shopping bag hanging of off her wrist. It became her lucky dress. She'd worn it when she met Hayes and Luke and they'd clicked immediately writing three songs during their first jam session. She'd worn it the night the band was offered their recording deal with their indie label. She wore it on the Greyhound bus from Seattle to Austin knowing it would give her a new start.
She slipped it on. It fit fine, a little tight at the middle but not that anyone would really notice. Her breasts looked better now that they filled out the top a bit more than they used to. She let her hair down. It had grown well past the middle of her back. For the first time in months, she wished he had a mirror.
... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .
"What?" She saw him looking at her quizzically squinting."Never saw a dress before?" She asked.
"Not on you."
"Well now you have."
She stood in the dress her bare legs visible above her boots, hair falling over her shoulders down her back, gleaming black and blue in the moon's silver aura.
He stepped back and nodded at her, his expression softened. "Look nice." He said quietly, not quite smiling. "So we gonna do this?"
"Yeah." She pulled on her beat up black leather motorcycle jacket against the night's chill.
She picked up the cat and let him find his place around her shoulders. Danni carried some papers and the braided ribbon she'd told Daryl about, while he shouldered his crossbow.
He liked her look. The sort of beautiful dress and then the heavy boots and jacket. She had a way of doing that sweet and tough thing, it was like her personality.
"Can't carry your knife in that get up."
She turned and flashed him her thigh where she had the knife holstered like a garter.
Should have known.
They walked side by side through the trees in the cool night air. The moon gave ample light as did the sequined stars against the sky's black velvet backdrop. Danni smelled campfires burning and freshly fallen leaves.
When they reached a small clearing in the trees that had a clear view of the moon, she stopped. Fionn Kitty hopped to the ground.
He took of her jacket, wanting to see her body hugged by the delicate dress. He dropped the crossbow and her coat to the ground. They stood and faced each other. Danni took his right hand in her left. Daryl watched her wrap the braided ribbon around their wrists three times. He just followed her lead.
"Beginnings, fidelity and passion bind us." She looked in his eyes then down to the paper in her right hand. She started to read, her voice was sharp, clear and deep with emotion. Like when she sang. "We will honor and respect one another and seek to never break that honor.
These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as we promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever.
These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together we build your future. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other.
These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and tears of joy.
These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children. These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one.
These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it. And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.
The knots of this binding are not formed by this cord, but by our vows. We hold in our hands and hearts the making or breaking of this union. "
They remained silent for a few minutes, then she gently unwrapped the ribbon. Neither could speak. She looked at him earnestly. She'd never planned or expected to ever be in this place to say these words. She longed for Brigid to be here. She'd be so proud. Danni felt a tear escape, then composed herself. She held both his hands and began the Celtic wedding vows.
"Daryl,
You cannot possess me for I belong to myself
But while we both wish it, I give you that which is mine to give
You cannot command me, for I am a free person
But I shall serve you in those ways you require
and the honeycomb will taste sweeter coming from my hand.
I pledge to you that yours will be the name I cry aloud in the night
and the eyes into which I smile in the morning
I pledge to you the first bite of my meat and the first drink from my cup
I pledge to you my living and my dying, each equally in your care
I shall be a shield for your back and you for mine
I shall not slander you, nor you me
I shall honor you above all others, and when we quarrel we shall do so in private
and tell no strangers our grievances.
This is my wedding vow to you.
This is the marriage of equals.
The Gaelic came back to her. "You are my Anam Cara." Soul mate
She handed him the paper and he read the vows back to her in the sandy soft, affectionate voice he only used with her. He didn't look up until he'd finished. She kissed him but all he wanted to do was hold her. They sat in front of the nearest tree, leaning back against its solid trunk. He had his arm around her shoulders and held her tightly to him, her head on his chest. They looked at the sky, the full moon bright, stars again like little fish. He had no idea what to say. He didn't think he'd ever felt this much emotion in his life. They'd crossed another line together. No turning back now. Danni expected him to be quiet but was strangely at a loss for words herself. His right arm was holding her, so she put his left hand on her belly, over the small bump. His touch was warm and she knew the baby felt it too.
His crossbow was beside him the whole time and in the back of their minds they were waiting for Walkers that thankfully never came.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .
Danni gazed down at him, all the while continuing to rock her hips against his and moan softly. A wave of small shudders passed through her body and her breaths became ragged again while she loosened around him gently moving up and then tightened upon her natural descent. She leaned slightly forward steadying herself palms on his chest.
"I'm gonna-" he warned hardly able to get the words out
She slid her hands from his chest to his biceps, grabbing him and rolling sideways so he was once again on top. She wrapped her arms and legs around him, and with a sigh she forced him in deep.
"Then go ahead." she breathed, still in the throes of her own orgasm.
"Sure?
"You, now"
He pressed his lips to hers and kissed her, sucking her tongue into his mouth as he thrust into her body a half-dozen more times.
"Now." She encouraged.
That finished Daryl off. He pushed into her one last time, burying himself to the hilt as she grabbed the sides of his head again and pulled his mouth away from hers to catch her breath.
After, she fell into an exhausted deep, sleep, feeling like she'd finally grown up. Dawn soon made its appearance like a rude hotel maid reminding them that checkout was in fifteen minutes. Danni felt real life looming with the coming day. Last night was a respite of sorts. She felt like Cinderella at the ball. The pumpkin coach was here to return her to reality. Daryl was already getting dressed.
"Green." He said as he pulled his cargo pants on.
"What?"
He tied his boot laces.
"I eat everything. I'm like a goat."
She understood when he added "Walk the Line." Her 'twenty questions' he'd called it.
"Perfect that's our song, cause you're never gonna look at another girl ev..."
"Beer, but Pepsi if I had to." He cut her off. "How about you?"
"Blue, used to be pizza, but now roasted squirrel, too many songs. I can't pick one."
"Try."
"I'll get back to you."
He stood and finished dressing.
"You should never be allowed to wear a shirt. Specially with sleeves like that."
He couldn't tell if she was teasing him. "I gotta go. Want to get back here as soon as I can. Getting sick of all this running around."
Rick needed Daryl and Glenn to travel to a home depot type store in the next county that Maggie had told them about. He wanted a large supply of hardware, tools and general maintenance supplies; anything to make sure that they could keep up the farm and its property well into the future.
"Watch out for Glenn."
"You pal's learning a thing or two about a thing or two. He's had my back out there a couple times." Daryl admitted.
They didn't need to discuss last night. She felt the shift and she knew he did too.
... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .
Danni heard something outside the tent. Daryl had left over an hour ago. She emerged to see Truly, sneaking around. She remembered what Andrea had told her.
"What are you doing here?"
"Lookin for Daryl."
"He's not here."
"Where is he?"
"I would tell you that because?"
"Well, I have something I want to say to you anyway."
Danni stood hands on her hips, thumbs hooked into here belt, shoulders back, looking into the other woman's eyes.
Truly stared back just as hard.
"I'm not giving up on Daryl. I don't lose. I'm patient and I know what a man like Daryl needs. So you may just want to make this easy on yourself and step aside, honey."
"Don't call me honey." Danni spit the words. "I don't lose either. Is fearr posta é " The Gaelic words came out of her mouth surprising her. Danni clarified. "He's a married man. Which means, I already won. Game over. If you want to play it this way."
"Y'all ain't got no church or preacher out here. So whatever little game of make-believe you think your playing at don't make a damn bit of difference to me. Honey."
"We're having a baby. How pathetic are you? You'd actually tried to steal a married man from his pregnant wife? That's disgusting."
"Pregnant, huh, that explains why your ass looks like two pigs in a gunny sack."
Danni almost hit her.
"Things are different now since this Walker business. Rules are different. It's every woman for herself. " Truly justified
"Sounds like you don't have any rules."
"Maybe I don't. They'd just get in the way of what I want. I always get what I want."
"Bet you do." Danni sounded disgusted, then her voice strengthened with the resolve of self-knowledge. "I've never been Daddy's little princess getting the world handed to me on a fucking' silver platter. I've lived with a lot of not getting what I want and I've fought hard for everything I do have. I'm not going anywhere. I don't give up either."
"Fair enough. I ain't worried about you and all your smart talk. Women have to be more beautiful than smart, 'cause men see better than they think. Since you're as ugly as three miles of mud road, I'd step aside now. You can't hang with the big dogs, honey, stay your puppy ass on the porch."
"You can say all the shit you want about me because honey, he's not interested in you."
Truly just laughed. "Believe that if ya want." As if to say, I know better.
"I am not afraid of you. I know you. Stay away from my family." Danni hissed.
Truly, spun on her heel and strode away, swinging those perfect hips, exaggerating the long strides of her legs that went on forever, her red hair swinging behind her, gleaming in the autumn sunshine.
Danni called after her, "And about my ass...at least I have one!"
Danni was starting to think this woman was actually unbalanced.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .. ... .. ..
The afternoon crawled. Danni sat with Sophia and Fionn kitty by the central campfire. Sophia was tossing a crumpled piece of paper for the cat and he was fetching and bringing it back to her.
"Can you keep a secret bug?"
"Of course I can. You know I can." Sophia looked excited.
"Daryl and I got married last night."
The girl's eyes were huge. "Finally. I told him to. He said didn't want to but I told him."
"When?"
"When you were lost in the woods. I told him to go find you and I said he should marry you because then he couldn't leave you ever again. He did it. Now he can't ever leave you."
"You should talk to Daryl all the time."
"Oh, I try to. He needs me to tell him what to do or else he'd never do anything right. Is it a secret because Daryl is so shy?"
"Exactly." Danni laughed
"Its Carl! I can't find him!" Lori jogged toward them panicking. "He's not anywhere. Not in the house or behind the barn."
"Calm down Lori, we'll find him." Dale comforted her. "He's probably right under our noses."
"I told him to stay away from the woods, if he's out there I'll... Rick's not back yet...I just..."
"Lori, it's fine we'll go look for him, right now." Danni squeezed her hand. "Sometimes he comes up to my camp. He likes to play on Daryl's bike. I'll start there. Sophia, watch Fionn."
"And I'll check the woods nearby." Dale added.
Dale noticed Truly ahead of him as he entered the woods. He was about to call out to her and let her know about Carl, when he saw her intently aiming her rifle at something. He remained silent, not wanting to disturb her hunting. As he moved closer, he was horrified to see the gun trained on Danni's head a few yards past her through the trees.
"Hey!" I see what you're doing! " He shouted startling her as she pulled the trigger.
The complete shock and surprise of the force of the bullet, sent Danni to the ground. It felt like being hit by a hammer driving a railroad spike into her upper arm below her left shoulder The throbbing at the wound site rapidly spread over her entire arm and left side of her body. Danni wasn't sure if she'd only been winged or if the bullet was lodged in her flesh. It had ripped right through the meat of her muscle and all she could think of was that it felt like getting whipped. Like the belt hit and never left he skin but the pain didn't take her consciousness and she saw Dale running toward her. He helped her up. She was dazed and overwhelmed with the pain.
"I'm... I... I got shot." She stammered. She pressed her bandana to the wound to compress the bleeding, but it soon became saturated and the blood streamed down her arm. No matter what anyone says, you know when you've been shot.
As Dale walked Danni out of the woods, they saw Truly, shotgun at her side.
"You best be more careful. I could have killed you."
"You did this?" Despite the pain, blood and shock, Danni lunged at Truly. Dale caught her. "You need to see Herschel, now!" He said to Danni, but glared toward Truly, wanting her to know she hadn't gotten away with attempting to kill the other woman.
"Be careful is all I'm saying." She left them.
Dale didn't want to tell Danni what he'd seen yet. She was already in shock.
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .
"What the hell happened out there." Rick confronted Truly after Dale brought Danni to Herschel.
"That girl needs to be more careful is all. Not my fault I mistook her for something for our dinner. We know she doesn't belong out in the woods. Hell she as much as admitted to me herself. She wasn't paying attention and didn't make her presence known. Simple as that. Honest mistake." She actually smiled a little as she spoke.
"She was out looking for my son." Rick stated.
"And I was out hunting for our food. Trying to contribute to the group. Now if ya'll don't mind, I got some squirrel skinning to do. She turned and flounced off in her usual way.
Dale pulled Rick aside.
"Where is Daryl?"
"Still out with Glenn. Why?"
"Because that woman shot Danni on purpose."
"Do you know what you're saying Dale?"
"Yes I do and I know what I saw. She was stalking Danni out there. She aimed for her head and the only reason Danni is alive is because I startled Truly. I made her miss. Daryl is going to be angry enough as it is. How should we handle this?"
"I'll talk to him. When he gets back. Right now I have to have a talk with Carl. "
"He's safe Rick, Lori found him." Dale reminded him.
"He can't just run off like that. Especially not after what just happened." Rick had never felt such distrust toward any member of the group before. Danni was right. Truly wasn't one of them.
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .
"I won't take any pain medication; the baby." Danni alerted Herschel.
"So, it is true. You are expecting. Well, you are a tough girl. You can do this." Herschel said gently with encouragement. The metal forceps digging into her upper arm sent a sharp, aching flash through her nerves. "You're doing just fine, it didn't go too far into your muscle. Shouldn't be any nerve damage." He said as the bullet clinked into the metal dish. She let out a deep breath. Even though the bullet was out, raw pain burned her entire upper left arm.
"You'll need to rest your arm, try not to use it too much, until it starts to feel better. " He began to clean and sterilize the wound as best he could. "When it does, you need to slowly get its strength back. It'll take about a month to completely feel better. Unfortunately, that's going to leave scarring. The scar will be there forever."
"Scars are always there forever." She said quietly.
... ... .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .
"Daryl, I need to talk to you about something and I need you stay calm." Rick approached and put his hand on Daryl's shoulder.
Daryl pulled back alarmed by Rick's words and his tone, but he kept his expression neutral.
"Its Danni, There's been an accident."
It was Merle cuffed to the roof all over again.
"Accident? What kind of accident?"Daryl's voice broke and he heard himself ask the same question as before."She dead?" The baby."
"No, she's been shot but she-"
"Shot? What the...where is she?"
"With Herschel in the house."
Daryl took off running leaving Rick to worry about what would happen when he found out Truly took the shot and if Dale were to be believed, it had been on purpose.
The door to the bedroom flew open and forcefully banged against the wall. Herschel was still bandaging Danni. He didn't turn around, just said "Daryl must be back."
Daryl walked around the bed. Herschel left them to talk.
He couldn't say anything, overcome with relief at seeing her sitting up.
"She shot me. Ruined my tattoo." She said, getting angry, "Its gonna be all scarred. And you know what? This fucking hurts Daryl."
He never loved her more than at that moment.
"Wait, you mean-"
"Truly."