Ready for some more fluff? Can you handle it? Better check your blood sugar first.
TWD belongs to Robert Kirkman… for the time being. ;-)
Recommended Song: "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith
A rectangle of light appeared in the distance as the backdoor opened. A figure emerged, carrying small orb of light that wove through the darkness, making its way to where Daryl sat. He watched the orb approach, his face impassive as the figure began to take shape.
"Hey," Andrea called softly.
Daryl gave a nod of greeting as she came into the light of his own lantern. She turned off her flashlight as she sat on the ground across from him. "How is she?"
"She's good. It's over."
A second nod was accompanied by a noncommental grunt. "How's Maddy?"
Andrea frowned. "Who?"
"Madeline. How is she?"
For a moment, Andrea was too stunned to speak. "She's fine, too. How'd you know it was a girl? All this time-"
Daryl chuckled. "Jus' did."
Andrea shook her head. "All that shit you gave her about a boy... You should have seen the look on her face when Hershel said it was a girl."
"What'd she say?"
"'I'll kill 'im,'" Andrea quoted with a laugh.
Daryl smiled as he laid his head back against the woodpile. A little girl... God help them all, he had a little girl.
"Oh, hey! Brought you somethin'!" Andrea began rummaging through the canvas bag on her shoulder. "Glenn and Maggie found some stale cigars they're gonna hand out when you get back, but Rick found you something we thought you might like a little better."
Daryl lifted his head with interest. From the bag, Andrea produced a single Mason jar filled with clear liquid. She grinned as Daryl's eyes widened. "Holy shit... That what I think it is?"
Andrea's grin broadened. "Some of Tennessee's finest bootlegged moonshine," she said with a wink.
"Son of a bitch," he breathed, reaching for the jar. "Didn' think I'd ever see any'a this again."
Daryl gave the jar a good shake and watched as the large bubbles quickly formed and vanished. He twisted the lid off the jar and sniffed the contents, then lifted it to his lips to sample it. His eyebrows lifted in approval as he handed the jar back to Andrea, who was still smiling at him. "Here's to the newest Dixon," she said, raising the jar. "May God help us all."
Daryl scoffed as Andrea took a sip from the jar. "Gonna need a helluva lot more than this. The hell m'I gonna do with a kid?"
Andrea handed the jar back. "Diapers and bottles are the least of your worries," she said, causing his eyebrows to disappear behind his hair. "I'd be more worried about Sam."
"Glenn's Sam? Lil' bastard can't hardly walk."
"Yeah, but someday, that 'lil' bastard' is gonna be 16 when your daughter is 15-"
Daryl nearly dropped the jar. "Shit," he muttered, then paused in thought. "Y'reckon they'd mind if I went ahead an' castrated 'im?"
Andrea burst out laughing. "I'm pretty sure Maggie would have something to say about it."
Daryl frowned. "Shouldn' be no boys up in Montana."
"You're awful!" Andrea laughed as she got to her feet. "C'mon, you gonna go meet your daughter or what?"
"Nah... gotta put this wood in the shed. Place ought've cleared out time m'done."
Andrea nodded as she started back towards the house. Daryl watched her go, but made no move to start relocating the firewood. He'd give them half an hour to clear out before he'd head back.
xoxoxo
He expected to find Carol asleep when he returned, so he was surprised to see a lantern burning on the bedside table when he opened the bedroom door. She didn't stir as he quietly shut the door behind him and took a tentative step towards the bed. "There's daddy," she said softly.
Carol turned her head to smile at him as he approached the bedside. She was laying on her side wearing one of his flannel shirts that still had its sleeves intact. She looked exhausted, but her eyes were dancing. Daryl knelt beside her. "Hey..."
"Hey yourself," she said, her smile broadening. "Somebody wants to meet you."
She pulled back the quilt to reveal a tiny head with dark hair, nursing happily from between the front folds of the shirt. Maddy's skin was bright pink, almost red in places. Her little fingers against Carol's breast were so delicate, no more than matchsticks. It was a wonder such little things could move without breaking.
Carol's hand rested lightly on his arm. "It's okay... you won't hurt her."
Daryl looked at her uncertainly. "She's so lil'."
"Trust me, she's been through worse."
Daryl folded his arms on the bed beside the newborn, leaning close to study her. Once the shock of her size began to wear off, he could begin to see familiar little pieces of himself. She had his ears, smaller than butterfly wings beneath her fluff of hair. Her nose was undoubtedly his own, even pressed against her mother's breast.
Slowly, he extended a finger to touch her. He first traced the shape of her ear, impossibly soft and thin, then slowly let his finger trail down her neck to her shoulder. She was so delicate and soft, a single touch away from being broken like a china doll.
He glanced up to see Carol beaming at him before she turned to face Madeline. "Hey... your daddy wants to take a look at you," she said, reaching down to reposition the infant.
Maddy gave a little grunt as her dinner was taken away, kicking her legs in protest. Daryl watched her, fascinated as this little person-their daughter-seemed to come to life as she moved her arms and head, looking for her lost meal.
"You wanna hold her?"
Daryl's eyes snapped towards Carol. "Wha'?"
Carol propped herself up on one elbow. "You can hold her. It's okay, you won't hurt her."
Daryl leaned away from the bed. "Nah... M'filthy..."
"Darlin', you cleaned up before you even came in here. I can't remember the last time I saw your hands this clean."
A long silence filled the room as Daryl watched Maddy stretch beside Carol, her little fingers finding their way to her mouth as she began to make more grunting sounds. Carol giggled. "She even grunts like you!"
One side of Daryl's mouth twitched. "I'd be mad too... takin' my food away like that," he said as he leaned forward again. "So... uh… how d'I...?"
Carol sat up on the bed beside their daughter. "One hand under her head, the other under her bottom."
Tentatively, he reached forward to scoop her up. He became aware of every callous and every rough edge on his hand as he slowly lifted her from the bed. Daryl glanced between Madeline and Carol, looking for reassurance.
"Mmmmm nnnnnn nnnnnn..."
Daryl's eyes snapped back to Maddy, who's face began to scrunch. He looked back to Carol, trying not to let his panic show. "S'wrong with her?"
"It's okay. She's just fussing. She's not used to being so exposed and independent yet. Just hold her close."
Hold her close... He was afraid to move her from the safety net of the bed, let alone the thousand mile journey to his chest. Sensing his discomfort, Carol leaned forward and helped him shift the baby in his arms so he could cradle her against his old flannel shirt. Maddy immediately quietened, drawing her legs close to her body as she snuggled against the warm material.
Once again, Daryl looked to his wife. "A'ight... now what?"
Carol smile softened. "Now you hold her. Let her get to know you."
His eyes drifted back to Maddy, still unnerved by just how he barely noticed her weight in the crook of his arm. He could see her entire face now, perfectly round and healthy. She smacked her lips at him, miniature versions of her mother's. Daryl smirked. At least she'd managed to luck out there. The poor kid looked too much like him as it was.
And then Madeline opened her eyes.
"Holy shit!" he breathed.
Carol looked alarmed. "What is it?"
Daryl's eyes were transfixed by the beautiful dark blue ones staring up at him. "She's got her eyes... Kid's got her sister's eyes."
SQUEE! Sorry, this was written before S3E05 and Daryl turned out to be the freaking Baby Whisperer. Seriously, I didn't see that one coming at all. But that scene was fun to write. I also love writing scenes between him and Andrea. ^_^ They're like siblings or something.
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