A/N: 12/31/2014 WOO, we got a new year coming today, folks! Are you excited?! I hear 2015 is supposed to be a very good year in terms of money. Let's hope the 'experts' are right, eh? :D
AntoDixon: Oh, wonderful! I'm glad you loved them! I AM doing well, and you're welcome! Thanks for your review! :D
wildcow258: Thank you! Yes, Carol does seem to understand Daryl better than anyone else. And I agree, I'm sure if Rick or Hershel or any of the other would have told him his brother was bad for him, he wouldn't have reacted the same way. Your insight is always so interesting ;)
Prettyprincess45: Dawww shoot, thanks again. You make me blush (=^.^=)
WhatWhereWhen: Aww thank you so much! I'm glad you loved it! And yes, a lot of Carylers were angry about that too. Heck, even I expected something more from that episode. But it is Daryl, and Daryl doesn't 'do' feelings. I gotta say, I didn't really understand the reasons for why he acted the way he did on several points regarding Carol, but writing this has really helped me do just that. Glad you're enjoying the story, hope you like this chapter!
Poppy P: Thanks! And yes, Carol is the only one who knows how to handle Daryl Dixon. She should write a handbook! How To Train Your Daryl. lol! :D
Terp4Life: Ikr? I would be SO mad if I were in her position. At first. Then after I thought about it I'd realize that I would probably have done the same thing. Family comes first. Anyway thanks for your review! I always look forward to them :)
Reading time: 7-8 mins.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead.
Chapter fifteen: Cheeky~
A lot of things changed over the next few months.
The Governor's attack on the prison failed, Woodberry fell, and now they were swamped with over a hundred 'newcomers'. Merle was gone now, too. He'd died, turned into one of those things. It was only right that he be the one to put him out of his misery, and that's what he did. It had been the toughest decision he'd ever made, and the hardest thing he'd ever had to do. The grief had been almost unbearable, and even now it was hard to think about.
Still, with all the others they had to take care of now, and all the extra supply runs and care and caution they all had to take to stay safe, he was usually too preoccupied to think about anything else but the task at hand, and for that he was grateful. At the same time, though, that wasn't always enough to keep his mind from wandering into places that weren't good for him. Grief was a funny thing, and to say Carol and the others hadn't helped him through it would be a lie.
They'd been spending a lot more time together lately, he and Carol. Or maybe it just felt like it because she was one of the few familiar faces among the countless others they now had to look after. Either way, he couldn't help the way his chest sparked with happiness at the sight of her short hair and bright eyes. She was an amazing person, dealing with his shit and everyone else's. But maybe that just came with being a mother.
Daryl walked along the outside of the prison, sleepy-eyed and hungry as Hell.
They had a lot more amenities now, one of which was an outdoor eating area with shade and a garden. There were already over 50 people out and about, getting their breakfast handouts and finding a nice spot under the awning to eat.
He continued walking, following nothing but the mouthwatering smell filtering through his nose with every breath.
Carol was cooking.
He wasn't surprised - damn woman knew her couisine.
Squinting in the morning sun, Daryl stepped under the shade and past the occupied tables and chairs, ducking his head and dodging the countless 'good mornings' thrown his way, answering back to only one.
A lot of people seemed to like him now for some reason.
It wasn't that he didn't appreciate it - it was just that he hardly knew these people, and the last thing he wanted to do when he woke up was engage in conversation. He wanted to eat. And the grey-haired woman standing behind the makeshift wooden counter stirring the morning stew was going to help him do just that.
Daryl walked up to Carol, who was paying close attention to the amount of spice she put into the stew.
"...Smells good," he said, trying to get her attention.
She smiled to herself, but didn't look at him. "Just so you know, I liked you first."
She lifted her head to meet his gaze, and he stared at her for the most confusing of seconds before realizing what she meant and brushing it off.
"Stop."
She smirked and went back to her cooking, and he continued to stand there as he racked his brain for another topic.
"You know, it wasn't all me. Rick brought in a lot o' these folks, too."
"Not recently," she replied knowingly, another smile on her face. "When you give a stranger sanctuary, keep them fed, keep them safe, you're gonna have to learn to live with the love that comes with it."
He resisted the urge to roll his eyes, instead opting to lift his eyebrows half-heartedly and look around him at the people he'd helped save. "Right."
"Hey," she said, getting him to look back at her. "I need to show you something."
Carol wiped her hands on her pants and called someone else to oversee breakfast. "Patrick, would you mind taking over?"
'Patrick' was a scrawny teenager with thick-rimmed glasses and an unnaturally mild demeanor, but he was alright. He wasn't that great a cook, but it wasn't like the kid couldn't watch over anything for a few minutes.
The skinny teen made his way over to the cooking station, eyes lighting up at being needed for something.
Carol turned to walk away and Daryl grabbed himself a bowl of food before moving to follow her, curious as to what she wanted him to see.
"Um, mister Dixon?"
He turned to stare back at Patrick, who looked like he was about to puke from nervousness.
"Uh...I just wanted to say, thanks for that deer you caught yesterday. It was absolutely delicious, and I'd be honored if I could shake your hand."
He held out his hand, all thin wrist and long fingers, and waited for Daryl to comply.
He didn't really want to - he was obviously just trying to get on his good side and he really didn't want to bother with it - but Carol was standing there with him, watching and waiting expectantly for him to humor the kid so they could move on.
Caught between a rock and a hard place, Daryl raised his hand to his mouth and licked the stew off of each one of his fingers before taking Patrick's hand and giving it a good shake. Least he could do was gross him out a bit for putting a halt to his morning routine.
But Patrick didn't seem bothered in the least; if anything, he seemed happy.
Satisfied, Carol turned and resumed her walk, and Daryl jogged to catch up with her as Patrick went back to his breakfast duties.
Carol led him to the edge of the courtyard, overlooking the countless walkers piled just outside the perimeter fences as various volunteers on fence duty took them out one by one.
"It's managable," she said, gesturing to the walkers before crossing her arms. "But unless we can get ahead of it, not for long. So I don't think there are gonna be any supply runs today." She turned her head to look at him, pushing out her lip in a pout. "Sorry, Pookie."
Daryl barely held off the blush fighting its way up his neck and into his face at the use of his 'nickname', but nevertheless recovered from his flustered state.
He let out a sound somewhere between a chuckle and a scoff, and nudged her shoulder playfully.
She stared after him as he walked away, and he was somewhat glad that she didn't immediately follow.
He didn't know how to handle her sometimes - one minute she was joking, borderline flirting, and the next she was all business. To say it threw him for a loop was an understatement. He avoided her like Death the first time she'd used that name, and it took him about a month to get used to it after he realized she wasn't going to quit.
He liked Carol and all, but sometimes, she could just be too damned cheeky.
A/N: Up next: Strong.
I think I speak for all of us when I say I LOVED that scene. Pookie is freaking adorable, and we all know that no one else would be able to get by with calling him that ;)
The next chapter's gonna be another sad one, as Daryl and Carol will be separated, but don't worry because after that we'll have the glorious season 5 reunion ;)
See you next year!