They were waiting for Riley to join them with their shopping list. Daryl stood next to the loadspace of their pick-up truck and Murphy was sitting on top of it, while Connor had placed himself in front of Daryl. Their knees touching briefly. Murphy was chewing on the tip of his thumb and looked at the three of them. The twins were wearing blue jeans and blue peacoats, while Daryl was wearing black jeans and a black peacoat. Their boots were matching and they were all wearing the same black shirt. Daryl was wearing the rosary around his neck which didn't sit well with Murphy. It belonged to Connor. He knew Connor never took it back after Daryl got shot in the woods but still. Connor needed it more. He shyly looked at Daryl and then asked in his head: "Dar'? Can yeh give him the rosary back? I feel better when he is wearin' it."
"Of Course."
Daryl took the rosary off and played with the little balls on it. Than looked at Connor who was watching him. Daryl pushed it over Connor's head. "We feel saver when you wear it."
Connor nodded and smiled even so it felt like Daryl was giving him everything back like they were breaking up or something. "But now yer not safe."
"Nah. Never needed those to be safe. Won't need it now. I have you two lucky charms", Daryl replied. Murphy snorted. "Yer never goin' to stop givin' us nicknames, don't yeh?"
"Not ever, lil' Leprechaun."
"Fuckhead."
"Asshole."
"Stop it yeh two apes."
"Who is the ape?", Murphy asked his brother.
"The two of yeh. Can't yeh behave? Always with the fightin'."
"Yesterday we behaved just fine. We had a good time and since when do yeh have somethin' against little tiffs between brothers?"
"Yer not brothers Murph'. We are. Don't yeh dare forget tha'."
"Woah. Woah. Both of you slow down. What is going on? Since when do you both fight over me?" Daryl felt a bit hurt about Connor saying that he isn't their brother. Even so it was him coming up with that in the first place. "We don't fight", the dark haired twin answered.
"I am just clearin' things", Connor added.
"So to make this one clear: I am sick of what is going on between the two of you lately. I am no ones property and just because we are a couple Connor, doesn't mean you can tell me who I like, who I claim as my brother and who I touch. Murph' is your twin and you asked me to watch after him, which I do, gladly because I love that stupid fucker. He is like a brother to me. So is Rick. And you can't just decide to take that away from me. Or him. I don't know why you are doing it. I am yours. Through and through. What could you possibly want more?" Daryl raised his voice at the last words and locked eyes with his boyfriend.
Connor shook his head. "Nothin' it's just..." He moved his head to observe his brothers face, which was frozen.
"What?"
"Nothin'. Yer righ'." Connor knew it wouldn't be fair to tell Murphy's secret. Daryl was right. Connor had everything. He had Daryl. Not Murphy. Daryl was his and he would make sure it stayed that way. The only time Murphy would be able to be together with Daryl was if he dies. And that is not going to happen.
"Nothing, huh? Then stop the bitching and wipe away that frown from your face. I miss the cute little smile you had two days ago. At the movies."
"Yeah." Connor tried to smile and gave Daryl a peck on his lips. Just when Riley came closer and coughed. "Uhm, aren't you brothers?"
"Wow. Didn't yeh listen yesterday? Daryl is not our brother. We don't have the same blood."
"Yeah. So you are a couple?"
"Aye. Problem with tha'?"
"No. Not at all. Just wasn't expecting it. Here is the list. Lambert told me to give it to one of you in case I die."
Murphy chuckled. "Well, he has a point there."
Connor took the list and looked over it.
"Okay, we need to find a grocery store, a pharmacy and.. What the fuck? Is this a joke?"
He looked to Riley. "Sadly not."
"What is it?", Daryl wanted to know.
"Girls clothes and underwear."
All four looked at each other and Murphy snickered. "Seemed like they found the right four guys to do that."
"What is that supposed to mean, lil' brother?"
"Three gays and a kid."
All looked at him. "Three?", Daryl asked surprised.
"Aye."
"I am not gay.", Riley told them.
"No, yer the kid fucker", the twin explained.
"Can we go now?", Connor asked.
"Yeah. Let's go. It is getting weird", the hunter admitted. So they all stepped into the car. Daryl was driving them to the grocery store he saw when they drove to the camp some days ago. He was thinking about Murphy's words. Of Course him and Connor were somehow gay but Murphy? Murphy had talked about kids and a wife with him. What did change his mind? Or who? He threw a short gaze at Murphy next to him. Connor was talking to Riley about yesterday so he was a bit distracted. Which was good. Or else he would have seen the way Murphy looked at his man now and then. Murphy shrieked when he heard Daryl in his head. "Gay? Murphy you never told me."
"I did. Yeh just were to dump to listen."
"But...who?"
"It's a secret. I won't talk about it. So please concentrate on drivin'."
Murphy thought it was better not to say anything more. He had already done and said enough. Someday Daryl would figure it out or know it. Just not yet. And Murphy, deep down, still hoped that his feelings were wrong, that they are projections. And that the person from his dreams wasn't Daryl. Daryl stopped the car in front of the store and told them to go in and grab the stuff while he was keeping watch. Murphy went in first, then Connor and then Riley. The hunter was glad to have a second on his own. He tried to figure out what Murphy had done and told him in the past. Especially the last days. And the only real explanation was, that Murphy was in love with him. Or maybe Rick? He had said it wasn't Connor but maybe that was a lie. Daryl was getting a headache from all the secrets and riddles.
He looked around and saw a little store next to the grocery store. It had been a jewellery store and he smirked. Somehow he felt a bit sappy doing what he was about to do but it seemed that his new self was a little bit romantic. He went inside and the store wasn't in the same condition than the others in town. it looked like no one cares about it anymore. It was robbed and smashed. Daryl made his way to the counter to look after the rings in there and searched for two silver rings. he tried one on and it fit and then searched a slightly different one for Connor. He was chuckling all by himself. He found one that looked like his but with a very slight golden ring in the middle. He pushed them into the inside pocket of his peacoat and then grabbed after a leather bracelet with two charms on it for Murphy. Holy Hell, what am I doing? Daryl laughed at himself. Probably the same feeling Murphy had when he chose the whiskey lube for him and Connor. It was all a bit too ridiculous.
When he was back outside the others were still in the store and he opened the door.
"Everything alright in there?"
"Aye. We're comin'", Murphy answered.
They came out and loaded all the stuff on the loadspace of the car and they drove a bit further into town to search a pharmacy. When they found one it was Riley they let keep watch. "Shout if yer seein' somethin' and shoot. Don't yeh dare pull the same shit as yesterday", Murphy warned the guy.
"Yes, Sir."
Murphy laughed. "Yeh hear tha' Conn' he called me Sir."
"Aye. Come on brother, we all kno' yer not a Sir. Yer a freak."
"I am in good company then."
They entered the pharmacy and while Connor and Murphy grabbed stuff from the list, Daryl found himself in front of the lube. He scanned all the labels and chose strawberry. He turned his head to look where the other two were at and then back to the shelf. But then decided that one bottle was enough. They still had enough. Now he just needed something romantic to propose. What, propose? No Connor already did that. But he wanted to do something romantic. He tried to reach Murphy. "Murph, did Connor ever tell you what he thinks is romantic to him?"
"Yeah. 'Course. We watched movies and he always liked the ones where the couple watched the moon and the stars at the hood of a car or lieying in the grass. Connor always loved the nightsky."
"Okay. Easy. So now does he like chocolate?"
"Yeah. His favorite is white crispy. Yeh need help settin' up a romantic date?"
"Yeah. We only talked about goin' to the movies or have a picnic when I take him out on my bike."
"But yeh don't have yer bike anymore. And picnic is a bit hard these days."
"Yeah. So any ideas.?"
"Aye. I will get the things for yeh. Most of the stuff they have here."
"Thanks."
Daryl grabbed the chocolate from the counter and grabbed some different stuff too for the group. Connor and Daryl were waiting for Murphy at the door. "Wha' is takin' him tha' long?"
"Don't know."
The hunter smirked and let his fingers brush over Connor's hand.
When Murphy came back they drove on to a store for clothes.
"Now the fun part", Riley said. "Yer not comin' in. Let the adults handle that", Connor voiced.
"Did you ever see boobs? You are gay. How do you even know what you have to look for?"
"Well...I wasn't always gay and I have more experience than yeh. We all have."
Murphy went in chuckling. "That poor boy is a mess when we are done with him."
"Indeed", Daryl agreed.
Daryl and Connor went to the underwear section, while Murphy went to the male section to grab something for Daryl.
"Murph' what the hell are yeh doin'. There are no male things on the paper", Connor asked.
"Aye. Just lookin' for a new pair of boxerbriefs for me."
"Hurry up."
Daryl looked at all the Bra's. How were they going to know which to take? But Connor, as always had a plan. "Okay, so we need different sizes and we will take a white and a black one in every size. So they can change. We don't take colored ones or whatsoever. It is not a fuckin' fashion parade."
Connor was already grabbing the stuff and Daryl grabbed the matching pants. They were putting it into bags and then searched for shirts and jeans. After some minutes Murphy joined them, winking at Daryl. "What did you do?", latter asked in his head.
"Found something nice for you to wear."
"Am I not hot enough?", he joked.
"Sure yer very handsome. But this is a special occasion. Can't let yeh wear jeans and a shirt and plaid boxers."
"Why do you care?"
"I just do."
Murphy smirked because he knew what Connor liked. Connor had made him compliments sometimes when he had new clothes or Connor chose clothes for him when they were teenagers and started meeting girls.
On their way back they talked about the camp and asked Riley some questions. The only one who was quiet all the time was Murphy. He was staring at the street. The day was nearly over, another day Connor survived. He didn't tell them that he had the same dream last night. When they were near the camp he felt a hand on his knee. "You okay?", the hunter asked.
"Aye. Just tired."
"Didn't you sleep?"
"I just had bad dreams. That's all."
Daryl gave him a brief look. "Again?"
Murphy nodded. "Aye.", he whispered so Connor wouldn't hear him.
Daryl started comforting Murphy in his head. Telling him he will be okay and that they take care of Connor.
"You do me another favor? When I go out with him tonight will you stay awake? Just in case something is up so I can call you for help?"
"Aye. Wouldn't be able to sleep anyways. Knowin' the both of yeh are outside."
When they arrived Daryl hurried inside and made sure the others were following. They brought everything to Lambert who ordered people to carry the stuff to the right places and bring the clothes to the right people.
As soon as they were back at their room Daryl put the lube in the little nightstand and then told Connor that he had to go and see Murphy.
He hurried over to the twins room and Murphy was already waiting. He had managed to pack all stuff for the picnic into his backpack and gave Daryl the underwear he had chosen. Black briefs.
"And I think yeh should wear this." He held up a simple black shirt and a black tie with darkgrey ornaments.
"Why? My clothes don't matter."
"I kno' but Conn' loves ties and rope. So yeh at least have one thing which he can use to tie yer hands up."
Murphy smirked. "I am a bit nervous."
"Don't. I will go to Conn' now while yeh change yer clothes." Ten minutes later he came back in, just when Daryl was trying to fix the tie. The older one started to smile. "Come 'ere. Let me help yeh." Murphy walked over to Daryl and started fixing his tie. Well aware that he was very close, so close he could feel how nervous Daryl was. This was just a date. Not a fuckin' wedding..OH MY GOD!
"Are yeh proposin'?", he asked shocked.
"No. Conn' did tha' already. Kind of. He said he wants to marry me after we find a cure. Just givin' him a ring", Daryl mumbled a bit embarrassed which made the other man smirk. "Can I see them?"
Daryl reached into his jeans, where he had put them before Murphy came back in. Murphy was holding them in his hand. They were simple and yet it made him sad that he would never have that. He looked into those blue eyes in front of him. Eyes that lately looked more like his own. He felt his eyes getting wet. "Murph'?"
"They are nice. But promise yeh won't run off into the sunset and marry secretly."
"Don't be stupid. No way I am going to marry Connor without his twin. Somehow it is like I am in a relationship with the both of you."
Murphy gave him the rings back and then sat down on his bed. His shoulders hanging down and looking like crap. Daryl sat down next to him. "When I ask you something, will you answer honestly?"
"Aye."
"Are you in love with me?". Fuck! Murphy considered telling the truth but it wasn't right. No. It really wasn't.
"No."
"Really?"
"Yeah. I am not in love with yeh. Why?"
"Just trying to figure out how to make you happy. But in the meantime...Close your eyes."
Daryl pulls out the simple leather bracelet with two charms on it. A gun and a wing. He grabs Murphy's arm and put the bracelet around his wrist. It didn't look gay. Gladly. Somehow it looked good on the other guy. Murphy opened his eyes and looked at the present. His eyes immediately filled with tears again. For Daryl this was just a present for a brother. For Murphy it meant so much more and he couldn't say it, express it. A wing and a gun. He looked at Daryl and tried to smile but failed miserable. Daryl took his hand in his. "Murphy, I know this is weird but you are my best friend and my brother. You are a lot to me and I am so glad I have you. You know, it would be weird knowing you are in love with me but even if you were I would be proud. Because being loved by you and your brother is making up for all the years of feeling unloved. Both of you are great and you know I am not good with words and emotions. I care about you, just like I care about your twin. I know you are upset and you are still having those dreams, which makes all of us sad. We will never know how much time is left. That's why I want my turn with your brother. Connor is my other half. My Mr. Right." Daryl chuckled and then went on. "I love him and I have never loved anyone like this. Murphy, I am asking you, will you allow me to somewhat propose to your brother? Make him my unofficial fianc ?"
"Are yeh askin' me for his hand?", Murphy answered. He was unable to say more.
"Yes."
"Of Course. Yeh fuckin' moron. Yeh two belong together. I want yeh to be happy. Both of yeh. I love yeh Daryl, as if I have known yeh all my life. And maybe I did. Maybe we all did. If someone makes my twin happy it makes me happy too and I won't ever stop loving yeh for doing so. Connor needs yeh and yeh need him. Go now, propose again. Tell him how much yeh love him. Yes Daryl Dixon, I want yeh to be my brother in law."
Both of them hugged and Daryl gave Murphy a kiss on his forehead, cheek and lips. "Thank you."
"Now hurry. Go. Before I change my mind." What he wanted. Murphy wanted to scream and rip his heart out and throw it out the window but he didn't. Because he WAS happy and he was glad to have a man like Daryl love his twin. Connor deserved the best and Daryl was the best.
When Daryl entered his room Connor was sitting on the bed, reading. He was wearing a very tight white V-neck shirt and blue Jeans. His hair was slicked back and both looked at each other for a moment before Connor stood up and looked at Daryl's outfit. "Darling yer lookin' handsome. Why did my brother tell me to change clothes and why are yeh lookin' like tha'?"
"You are nosy! You look good too and it is a surprise."
"I hate surprises."
"No you don't. Come on. Grab your Jacket."
Connor walks to the bed and grabs his jacket and when he is back at Daryl's side, latter grabbed his hand and walked him down the hallway. Connor was excited and a bit nervous. Daryl dragged him outside to the pickup and told him to sit inside. He started driving and only stopped when he found a parkdeck. He didn't want to go too far and into the woods even if he wanted to. But they could see the stars from here and the moon. And it was high enough so walkers wouldn't come up there too easy. His crossbow was on the loadspace of the truck. He parked the car and told the other one to wait. He started unfolding the red-plaid blanket that Murphy had pushed into the bag and then placed the bottle of whiskey, the chocolate and peanuts onto it. Murphy had even found little candles and had put his own lighter into the bag. Daryl shook his head. Murphy was good at this. It was no proper food but they wouldn't eat much anyway. Daryl walked over to his friend and opened the door, tangling their hands together and waited for Connor to move out of the car. He walked him over and Connor smiled at him. "Is this a moonlight picnic?"
"Kind of. Minus proper food."
"Don't need no food. I have yeh." Connor turned around to kiss his cute boyfriend. Daryl lifted him up and sat him on the truck. "Stop or I will rip this clothes off of you and that is not what I came here for."
"What did we came here for?" Connor asked playfully.
"Stargazing."
Daryl smirked and climbed on the car, sitting down cross-legged. He opened the bottle and drank a big gulp of it. Connor joined him. Sitting next to him and drinking from the bottle. Daryl opened the chocolate. White crisp. He broke it into pieces and held a piece in front of Connor's mouth. The Irish took it from him, his lips brushing over Daryl's fingers.
Fuck it. He couldn't hold himself back. He was never patient.
"Connor, I want to ask you something."
"Okay. Wha' is it?"
Daryl rubbed his hands nervously and blushed a bit. "You know I love you and I want to spent the rest my life with you. Connor MacManus, would you please marry me, as soon as we can?"
Connor's face lighted up and Daryl had never seen such a beautiful thing than seeing his man glow like this. "Yes. Yes Daryl, I want to be your man. But yeh knew tha' already."
"Yeah. Just wanted to make it unofficially official."
Daryl kissed Connor to distract him while he was fishing the rings out of his pocket. He put on his one and than played with Connor's fingers to push his ring onto his finger and when he was done he stopped kissing the other man. Connor looked down on their hands, then back to Daryl, then to his hand. Connor shook his head. "Darling, yer crazy. And I am crazy in love with yeh. Under normal circumstances I wouldn't even think this but now I have to say it: That is fuckin' romantic and I love them. They are simple and yet so wonderful. Why is mine with gold?"
"Because your like the ring Baby. Hard like steel on the outside but your heart is pure gold."
"Yours should be completely golden than."
"Nah. I love you Connor. You are my everything. My Life, my heart, my soulmate."
"I love you. too."
"DARYL? CONNOR?", they heard a voice in their heads. A very alarming voice.
"YES?", they both answered promptly.
"I am sorry to interrupt but yeh need to come back as soon as possible. The other group was attacked by walkers. two got bit and one escaped but they failed to lead them into the basement. Hurry. We need everyone. It's a huge herd."
"We are comin'". Connor answered.
Daryl was already packing their stuff together and jumped into the car. "Why did we hear him this far away?"
"Because Murphy screamed. His volume was normal in our heads but he was screaming. And again walkers ruin our romantic night."
"Well, we will have a lot more of these."
An hour later
The whole camp was outside fighting. Even Carol and Beth had grabbed their weapons and followed them out. Maggie kept watch after Judith and Carl was with her. Rick, Carol and Beth were fighting back to back with the twins and Daryl. Connor's white shirt soon covered in blood. Connor was running to the right to kill a zombie that was sneaking up to Beth and then turned round to stab one that was trying to bite him from behind. He saw Daryl shooting arrows, then stab them until he could pull his arrows out of the dead skulls. Murphy was stabbing them with his two knives. Connor looked around and saw another herd coming closer. He started running towards them and started killing them. But he didn't realize that this were actually two herds. One coming from the left and one from the right. He didn't see that there were walkers behind his back.
His knife was stuck in the eyehole of a walker and he tried to get it out, when he felt something behind his back. Connor turned his head to look over his shoulder. Then he saw. They were surrounding him. And from the top of his lungs and in his mind he screamed for Murphy. Murphy turned around the second he heard him scream and he shook his head. "FUCK NO! DARYL!" Murphy started running but there were walkers in his way and he stabbed them and Daryl was soon helping him. His crossbow hanging on his back. They were too close to shoot them with arrows. Both of them looked to Connor who was still fighting walkers. Ripping off their heads with his hands. "Why the fuck doesn't he use his knife?", Daryl shouted.
Connor was still trying to get that stupid knife out of the skull to have something more than his bare hands to fight them off but he already knew. He had known the second he saw the scene. It is time. Time to say goodbye to this life and every other. Goodbye to his friends.
"Murphy, Daryl, listen to me. They are too many. Go and get the others and save yourself. Go! I won't survive this and we all know it. I am sorry. I am sorry you two have to go through this. I love both of you." He turned around to look at them, to get a glimpse of his heart and his soul. Of the two pieces that would forever have to live without him. He felt a tear running down his cheek, when he saw them still fighting and when he heard: "Don't yeh dare. Don't yeh fuckin' dare", from his twin and a "No. You idiot. I fuckin' need you. Hold on! We can do this. Leprechaun. I love you"; from his fianc , he started smiling. The Walkers were still trying to bite him and he was still fighting them off because part of him didn't want to go without a fight and the other part knew it was too late. It was so fucking unfair that he had to die, of course he had always known it would happen but he had hoped that he would have had more time with Daryl and more time to explore love and let it blossom a bit more. But maybe that is what his punishment was. Connor locked eyes with Murphy, who was still coming closer and there were only about 10 walkers left. He saw Rick and Beth running behind Daryl. But they were too far away and wouldn't reach them in time. Daryl was now putting arrows in the skulls of the walkers next to Connor. They looked at each other and he saw the tears in Daryl's eyes and the despair. "I love yeh Cernunnos. It was a pleasure meeting yeh and an honor to love and be loved by yeh. Keep him safe. I am sorry."
"No, Leprechaun, Baby, no. Don't you dare. Fight them. Come on. Murph' and me are close."
Connor shook his head and pushed a Walker away so he fell down, which made the other walkers a bit slower. Then he looked at Murphy, who was fighting off three walkers. Taking them out in a rush and his face covered in blood. His eyes full of anger and hate. When Connor saw him coming closer he started crying. He would never see his brother again. "Goodbye lil' brother", he whispered and was paid with a loud "fuck yeh" and a silent "goodbye brother" and a look of resignation in his twins eyes. That was the moment Connor felt the bite. He tried to fight the walkers off, but they were just too many and they were pulling at him, pulling him back until he was lying on the ground. He heard all the screams, heard the fighting noise and he heard them in his head. He felt something changing in his body and felt the pain the walkers were causing. As soon as they felt him dying, they stopped. Connor was still concious and he looked to the sky. The wonderful nightsky and the moonlight that was falling down on him. He was going home now, to be a light on the dark-blue sky.
The last thing he heard, before falling into an endless blackness was a whisper inside his head. "We will see each other at the end of an eternity. Yeh will never be forgotten my dear brother. I am sorry I wasn't able to save yeh. Goodbye. I will save him. I promise I will be strong fer him and fer yeh. I will make yeh proud."
He knew his twin would do anything he had to do now. Connor had taught him everything he ever learned and had made sure his brother was able to be strong enough for this, because one thing he knew, Daryl wouldn't recover from this. Not ever. Connor closed his eyes and whispered "lil' Robin Hood", one last time before his breathing stopped and he felt his heartbeat slowing down. It was time to go now.
Time to leave this life, this world and time to be destroyed.
I am SO SO SO sorry. It's getting worse.
Writing this was horrible. I cried like a baby.