Disclaimer: Not mine. Serious Bummer.
Notes: This is a Serious M Chapter for Content; For Serious; M get me? Good. XD
It's also a very LONG chapter…because there was nowhere to break it up really that flowed well.
This might be more the 'reunion' peeps were expecting in 17... ; P
Chapter Eighteen
(Fin's POV)
The air is sticky, oppressive—heavy and too warm against my damp skin.
I move trying to escape the covers over my legs feel them yanked down from my waist by the force of my kick. The rush of slightly cooler air washes over me, but it's not enough.
I'm still half asleep; too hot, almost nauseous with it. I jerk the tie at my waist, wiggle my hips and shove the sweat damp annoyingly clinging material down my legs, pulling away from the arm under my ribs to yank them off my legs and tossing them over the side of the bed before stretching back out. Feeling the gloriously cooler air move over my overheated skin. I close my eyes again focus on the breeze in the window. The soft ruffle of curtains. The door is shut even in the darkness I can see it's white rectangle shape blaringly brighter against the darker painted walls in the moonlight filtered through the window. That can't be helping the air flow. Daryl must have shut it when he came in out of habit; safety from Walkers and prying eyes. But it's not like there's anybody here to see us.
I slip out from under Daryl's arm surprised he barely stirs. He really was exhausted. I pad on silent bare feet over the carpet barely avoiding banging my foot on his crossbow sitting abandoned on the floor. I frown down at it sliding it to the side with my foot.
One day I'm going to trip over that thing and kill myself.
Used to be people had to worry about tripping over shoes in the middle of the night; but not now—not me. No I have to worry about tripping over a crossbow.
I move down the short hallway and end up standing in the darkened living room for a moment trying to understand what I'm seeing when I realize the backdoor is wide open.
I pause for a heart pounding moment—gathering finally that there's no one here. I cross the room slowly the cold smooth floor of the kitchen feels good under my bare feet while I move to shut the door, clicking the lock in place. He must have left it open which is very unlike him—then I remember a snippet of my nightmare which I'm certain he woke me from and it makes perfect sense.
I move back down the hall, pausing in the bathroom to empty my bladder and go back to bed. Daryl stirs when I lay back down, mumbling something about not wandering off and throwing an arm back around my waist hauling me back to his chest.
I close my eyes, listening to the breeze outside—an owl hooting in one of the trees outside. Calling out a few times—not hunting obviously; looking for its mate. The breeze moves more steadily through the room now with the door open to draw it in—pull it up the hall and out the front windows I cracked open hours ago trying to air out the stale stuffy oppression that filled the house with a cloying deadness.
After a few moments I realize my skin feels almost too cool now. I sigh pulling away from Daryl again. This time he does react jerking awake and grabbing my wrist in the dark.
"Where are you going?" His voice is still thick, groggy with sleep even if his tone is alarmed.
"Nowhere, I just got cold." I grab the sheet and comforter for emphasis pulling them both back up to my waist covering my bare legs.
"I thought you were hot." He mumbles it against the back of my neck snuggling closer to me arms wrapping around me, shifting me closer telling me he was at least partially awake when I moved the first time.
"I was; I can't get comfortable." I shift again bumping into him drawing a muffled groan from where his face is pressed to my skin. His lips brush my neck, fingers pulling the collar of my scrub top off my shoulder; pulling the too-wide neck halfway down my arm while I struggle to control my breathing. I sigh—gasp feeling his teeth; his fingers slipping under the sheets gripping my hips he lifts his head staring down at me in the low light voice amused.
"Why don't I remember taking off your pants?"
I could almost laugh at his suspicious tone. I grin twisting my chin up to feel the rough scratch of his cheek over my skin as he leans into me again. "Because you didn't take off my pants; I got too hot."
He grunts in approval. "We should move someplace tropical." His breath tickles my ear with him leaning closer. I arch my neck draw my hand up and back to run my fingers through his hair; brushing it back from where it's fallen against my skin tickling my neck.
"I thought you wanted to sleep…"
"That was before you weren't wearing any pants…aint no Damn Saint." He presses his body flush against mine, grinding against my lower back and I have to bite my lip, flooded instantly with heat all the way to my toes.
"You're going to make me hot again…" I whisper in mock protest.
"And wet." His low growl brushes my ear and dear god yes, I'm already there…
"Daryl…" and that's no good—It's a soft moan; not the tone I was aiming for at all—though I'm starting to forget what exactly my protest was for when his fingers tighten over my hip holding me captive while he rolls his hips; grinds his always impressive cock against my back still trapped behind too many clothes.
His hand leaves my side I miss the feel; the weight of his fingertips against my skin instantly. He's moving behind me shifts his hips keeping me from turning around to face him with his other arm—the one he wound under my side when I laid back down, it's now keeping me captive with a warm distracting palm slipping under my shirt.
When he moves against me again his erection throbs and twitches uncovered against my lower back; bare skin on bare skin making me gasp press back against the feel of him, the heat and throbbing hardness flooding my center with another rush of wet heat, clenching my innermost muscles in anticipation.
He rolls his hips against me lips moving over my shoulder hot open mouthed kisses raising my temperature, driving me to burn making me gasp and shiver grinding against his length drawing a heavy groan from him. I squirm trying to crawl up the bed the few inches I need to draw him closer. The heavy weight of him against my skin so close to where I need him to be driving me half-mad with the desire to lose myself in the delicious friction I can only achieve with him moving inside me. I need to feel him marking his claim even under my skin.
My core flutters and twitches every time he moves against me; need burns up my spine ignites my nerves and humming through my veins 'til even my toes curl and my fingers tingle clenching tight fists in the sheets at my waist.
I twist my neck press my face to the pillow breath coming in frantic pants that sound like a chant of his name when his hand drops down my abdomen presses to the junction of my thighs where I burn, tingling and spasming every thought, every nerve in my body focused on two rough calloused fingers and the most perfect friction and pressure.
I jerk cursing gasp tilting my hips into his touch body begging, shaking for more.
He rubs his erection against me grinds into my skin as he circles me with teasing digits; slips his hand farther back groaning approval against my neck gasping my name when his fingers encounter the slick heat I already know is waiting between my folds.
I jerk twisting, cursing when he stops me with his other arm from moving; His forearm locked around my waist in a vice grip. I groan in frustration, then curse and hiss moaning his name feeling his fingers slide deeper; curling against my walls while I shudder and clench tight against his invasion.
His breath is hot against my skin, ragged open mouthed pants while he fights for control, face pressed tight to my shoulder blade at my back cursing feeling my muscles lock around his fingers. His cock leaps against my back in response making me tremble reach behind me; between us taking him in my hand.
He grunts sounding strained his fingers still and his breathing grows even more harsh—his arm tightens around my waist shifting me up the bed, his hand leaves me feeling empty, bereft without his touch but I don't complain because his hand locks over mine against his skin.
He shifts us both and I practically claw my way up the bed to help him; roll and arch my body towards him parting my thighs gasping and biting my lip and somehow feeling very naughty in this position. The sensation makes me feel even hotter, clenches my womb, flutters under my superheated skin sending warm tingles to dance and spiral out through my limbs all the way to my toes.
I feel his head slide against my slick entrance coating himself in my heat drawing more down his shaft as he rubs against me with his full length groaning against my back as my body responds with another wave of trembles; I don't think I've ever been this wet; this ready and desperate with need. The primal need of my body centered in my core achingly ready for him; his continued resistance; absence from my folds damn near painful.
I shift again so I can move my hand to the space between my thighs feel him jerk and curse when I touch him; press him to the right spot and ohGod!
I jerk, twist. My whole body reacts to his thrust. My spine twisting around itself until I'm pressed facedown nose buried against the mattress fists gathering up the sheets between my fingers even while my hips rock farther back against his body driving him deeper, my walls locking impossibly tight around his cock in a velvet fist of perfect heat and friction driving us both mad.
I gasp, twisting the sheets against my palms both hands clawing at them trying to ground myself with the fire burning through my core—the hard throbbing pressure of him stretching my walls, it's all friction and heat and pleasure; white hot, searing up my core to explode behind my eyes with each surge of his hips pounding his body into mine.
I groan his name writhing; thrashing helplessly lost in the sensations searing through me with each almost brutal upwards twist of his hips. I release the sheets with one hand grasping one of his where he's holding me captive; covering his skin encouraging him to squeeze even tighter where his fingertips are pressed already bruising tight almost painfully to my skin. Everything about his touch tonight feels wickedly sinful, right on the edge of losing control and so hot I need more. His tight grip pulls my body back into each welcome invasion of his hard length, claiming me with each drive of his hips into my waiting liquid heat. I shudder, thrash again barely able to whimper his name digging my fingers into his wrist locking him to me when I feel the threat of spiraling away growing very near.
"Too much?" He slows for a moment and I groan shoving my hips back against him in desperation, shaking my head; eyes clenched tight.
"No, God….not enough; harder." I barely recognize the croaking plea as my own voice, the vixen that's taken up residence under my skin making me gasp and rock back almost violently against him feeling something primal building in my chest so intense it almost frightens me even while I beg him to fuck me.
He likes that, curses telling me he's going to do just that, and that I'm going to beg him for it in such a rough growl that has me shuddering and nodding desperately, reaching back to tangle my fingers in his hair pleading in a voice I don't recognize and then his arm is around my waist once more; yanking me back roughly; pinning me flush to his chest, heated skin to skin where clothing has shifted; ridden up with each movement. His hand slips over my breast fingers teasing over them while I gasp and moan and beg him to make it faster, harder… because I can feel it, so close I can almost grasp it and God
yes…
There's nothing but white noise in my ears and pleasure slamming through me with each violent thrust of his hips his ragged breathing against my neck now punctuated by a wild animalistic snarl that ends with his body plunging so deep it's like he's trying to imprint himself under my very skin; drive himself so far we'll never come undone again and then his teeth slide against the sensitive skin over my pulse almost sending me shattering all over again before I'm even done while I shake and keen and thrash begging him almost sobbing to get me there again because it's so intense; so close…
He bites down over my skin hard enough to leave a mark and I explode all around him my neck twisting to press my face against the sheets screaming. My consciousness flies apart in the darkness; my walls locking and clenching over him seizing around his still thrusting cock he groans and curses, forehead pressed to my shoulder feeling me tightening and seizing around him; the waves of my release pulling a low possessive growl of my name from his lips.
I buck and twist whimper his name trying to remember how to breathe around the onslaught of sensation pulling me down; shattering me in a million directions a billion nerves and sparks focused on driving me out of my mind.
I jerk and curse him, gasping when he pulls his body from me completely before I'm finished. My walls close over his absence in protest with my next shuddering wave feeling empty; robbed of his friction and weight...needing his heavy girth to heighten the sensations still crashing through me in waves that make all other thought impossible.
I smack my palm into his shoulder with more coordination then I should have right now, rallied with my frustration hissing my complaint while my muscles shake uncontrollably through my whole frame I smack him again even as he turns me, chuckling darkly at my second half-hearted hiss of "Bastard!" against his skin.
He all but throws my legs apart pressing my back to the sheets and parting my thighs further with his hips. And that's more like it. I squirm, trying to wiggle myself closer even as he's aligning himself with one hand barking a sharp "Quit" that has my stomach flipping and my insides quivering at the intensity of his command. Some deep part of me recognizing and thrilling secretly at the blaze of power in his eyes before sending electric currents dancing across my skin in answer; heat trickles up my spine adding to the flush already coloring my skin because commanding Daryl is one I rarely get to see and God, it's a rush…and then without further warning he presses forward driving deep in one single hard thrust.
I arch, sob feeling him buried so deep, dig my nails against this spine positive I'm leaving marks; and uncaring because in four sharp thrusts I'm riding a second cresting wave under him trembling and gasping; channel locking around him with another flush of heat and need and I can't breathe, can't even remember my own name…or when it's ever been this intense…
There's just sensation. And even that defies logic; overwhelms me to the point where pleasure blends into pain.
Heat sears through me like a wildfire in my veins; burning me white hot and too bright and it's almost agony as I arch and roll my hips with his hands locked around me; holding him above me, keeping me grounded so I can't fly apart; holding me prisoner at the same time he drives me closer to the freedom of my release catapulting me over the edge of the abyss into spinning darkness filled with a million sparkling dancing lights.
My shirt his ridden up past my ribs with my frantic movements and his. I can feel the sweat of his skin and mine as he slides against me; muscles bunching and rolling in a fascinating primal dance only he could master so brilliantly. I drag my hand down his abdomen feel his muscles tense and ripple with each roll of his hips crashing into me shoving us both slowly up the bed so that I have to smack the pillows out of my way; knocking them to the floor before I'm buried underneath them. I wrap my legs around his hips and just ride it out eyes slipping shut feeling it build one more time biting my lip to hold in the scream because this man is a God…
I'm going to die right here bursting into flames.
"Look at me." It's dark but I do it anyway; can barely make out the dark captivating cobalt of his eyes in the moonlight from the open window and the dark shadows cast across his face. His dark heavy bangs hang around his face deepening the shadows.
I raise my hand run my fingers through his hair feel him slow at my hesitant touch, each movement an achingly slow but still powerful roll of his hips grinding down into me now; changing the pressure; no less pleasurable; somehow infinitely more sweet. And it's no longer a scream building in my throat; it's become a breathless sigh pouring through my chest a delicate ache humming beneath my skin still building under his bright blue eyes.
"Tell me you love me."
Oh god.
I roll my hips unconsciously against his next thrust when my insides clench and lock around his cock with his request, and I feel and hear him hiss driving into me harder in reaction. The hum becomes a whirling storm under my skin again.
I gasp, back arching, "I love you."
I do.
I brush my palm over his rough cheek, feeling it overwhelming every corner of my soul burning through me melting every last resistance I tried to put up to protect my broken heart these last few weeks. I bite my lip at the sensations still building, swirling impossibly tight inside me; not just around him—but deep inside my chest overlapping my racing heart. It feels like parts of me that have been ice cold for weeks are finally melting.
"Say it again." He moves against me, dropping closer; chest to chest still rolling his hips; grinding into me with each glide of his body through my heat. I hike my leg further over his back dragging him deeper while he presses his nose to my skin, voice in my ear shaking in perfect counterpart to his trembling hands suddenly cradling the side of my face; his other hand moving out finding me so that his fingers lace through mine against the sheets; holding me down; anchoring me with his touch in the darkness.
"I love you Daryl."
Every part of him trembles when I whisper it to him again in the dark this close, this quiet, all the weight of the world pressed into those simple words; the tension rolls through him muscles locking around me, against me; I recognize instantly his climax deep inside me the gasping whimpered sigh it pulls from his lips pushes me over the edge once more. And I'm torn between knowing whether it's the way his teeth nip at my earlobe, dragging his teeth over sensitive skin before sucking the sting away with his hot mouth or if it's his gentle reverent words push me into the center of the storm with him one last time.
"I love you too"
Three words I never thought I'd hear him say out loud.
I sigh against his chest waves of pleasure rippling out from my center, hand clasped tight around his back as he says it again, presses the words to my ear, unmistakable even with his low guttural whisper while he's still rocking against me; buried inside me so deep he's got to be piercing my womb, every nerve in my body centered on feeling my release spasm and tighten milking every last pleasurable wave of his release pulling him deeper inside me still because even my body cresting on a wave of climax can't get enough of him.
A lifetime of loving this man will never be enough…
We lay perfectly still, breathing against one another for a brief moment; until my hip starts to protest the prolonged stretch and I have to drop my calf from his hips straighten my leg out on the mattress shifting beneath him.
"Did I hurt you?"
He always asks…I can't help but find his continued concern even after all this time infinitely sweet and endearing.
I shake my head against his neck; breathing him in, realizing how much I missed the even the scent of his skin; the wild scent of male and the ever present subtle hint of leather and earth…I tighten my arm around his shoulders. His scent reminds me of the gentle blend of life the smell of the earth and trees in the deep woods right after a summer rain when the ozone of life hangs in the air so thick you can almost taste it on your tongue. He smells green the way a leaf does when you fold it in half breaking it's skin…he smells like life itself.
"No, I'll be sore tomorrow…but you didn't hurt me."
I feel him frown against my skin. I slide my fingers down his spine catching in the creases of the sleeveless shirt he still has on twisting the material into a bunched knot in my hand against his lower back. "I'm okay, it's just…it's been a while."
"Should have taken it a little slower…" He presses a kiss to my collarbone, hair falling forward to tickle my skin.
"No, it was perfect." We drift for a few moments, still partially lost in the warm fuzzies swirling under my skin; fluttering with little aftershocks of pleasure that cause my breath to hitch against his neck.
He shifts over me; pulling his body from mine ignoring my protesting groan in favor of resting on one hip against my side, his fingertips tracing over my skin. I flinch for a moment when the trail of his finger stings over my neck staring at him wide eyed drawing my own free hand up to prod at the sore spot just at the junction of my neck.
"Did you bite me?" And even in the low light he looks smug.
"In your letter you said they don't like the way you taste; and I have to disagree; I think you taste delicious."
My brain short circuits over that thought staring at him in the dark his name barely a whisper. "Daryl…"
"If you wanted to stay, why didn't you come home?"
I bite my lip, start to shift against the sheets and stop when his fingers lock around my hip keeping my body pressed to his, his knee rising higher; pinning my thighs to the bed stopping any bid for escape I might make.
Not that I could, my muscles are still all jittery, I'm not certain whole parts of me didn't physically melt during those last few orgasms, I still feel all tingly inside…
"You said you would Stay." I swallow staring at him in the darkness, the breeze from the open window tickling over sweat damp skin. "You say you love me, and then you run."
"I was afraid." Even my voice trembles.
He pauses for a long moment, long enough that my heart is racing out of control again when he speaks. "Of me?" His tone is tight, but it's not anger…it's more raw nerves; pain I recognize because it's mirrored in me.
"I was afraid of what you would say; that you would hate me; hearing you reject me; fear me…I don't think I'd survive…" I have to bite my lip fighting back tears. "Just being away from you I wanted to die…"
He leans into me, breath warm against my cheek, arm moving; his fingers sliding up my side, slipping down my arm now rested against my side on the sheets.
"How about a little faith in the person who wants to spend the rest of their life with you?" I feel his fingertip tracing words against the sensitive pale skin below the inside of my elbow trailing down to my wrist and I sigh twisting my face to press closer to him whispering my apology and acknowledging the words he's writing down my arm.
"I'm sorry, I love you."
His hand rises to cup my cheek, keeping me pressed to him. "You are beautiful, and infuriating and impossible and I swear girl you aim to drive me outta my mind…" He pauses drawing in a slow breath. "Are you're really immune?"
I pause, stilling underneath him; feel his fingers tighten over mine still clasped over our heads with his other hand against the bed sheets. "Yeah, I guess that's what you'd call it…it doesn't scare you? What I did on the road…"
He lifts his head to stare down at me. "I love you, why would finding out that you're safe from Walkers bother me? It's the second most amazing thing I've heard in my life."
I stare at him still trying to catch my breath over hearing him say it so casually again. "What's the first?"
"That you love me."
That's the best answer I've ever heard in my life.
I pull his lips down to mine and just lose myself against his lips until he breaks off needing air. He twists us to lay almost flush on our sides, pressed to my lips for another moment before pulling back voice quiet.
"Your nightmares.—" I nod slowly feel my heart stumble, skip a beat anxiously thinking about those memories. "Are they about what happened with Carl on the highway?"
I shake my head. "No." My voice suddenly sounds too thick; rough. I swallow.
He stares at me. "I didn't think so…it sounded like someone was hurting you…" He pauses, inhales slowly before he continues hesitating on the words. "You don't have to tell me if you can't, just…just tell me who ever it was…Tell me they're dead now or tell me where they are so I can kill them myself." His tone has become venom and steel in the darkness and I love him all the more for it.
"They're dead."
"Good." He wants to ask more. I can feel the hesitancy hanging around us like a physical weight.
I bite my lip turning my head away to face the far wall. "I don't want you to hate me…"
His hands cup my face. "I could never hate you. You don't have to tell me…if it's too painful."
I close my eyes, it's easier to say it hiding in the dark. "When I get really scared, not just afraid…When someone hurts me; when I think I'm going to die…" I pause, breathing slowly not sure I can continue.
"The night on the farm, the herd…you did that when they…when they were hurting you." He stares down at me while I bite my lip heart racing in the dark loud enough to drum in my ears.
"Yes, I was trying to wait until you were out of there. I wanted to give you a chance to escape with everyone else. I gathered enough of them to tear the house down; kill them all so they couldn't hurt anyone else… I didn't think you were going to stop and look for me… I didn't mean to draw them so fast; I just…I couldn't stop it."
He lets my hand go so he can use both arms to pull me closer, hands warm and firm; a comforting familiar weight against my back. "Don't ever apologize to me for something so ridiculous, you gave yourself up to those piece of shit dicks, what they did to you…there aren't words to tell you how sorry I am; that I didn't get there fast enough to stop them…I hate myself for it…" His voice falters. "Carl said they had you on the farm before…"
I nod.
"Did they…did they do that to you before? Like you told Sasha…is that…" He stops cursing arms tightening around me. "I can't even say it, Fuck. I hate this; even knowing they're dead…"
"David rescued me in the woods. I got caught by this huge group of people; all men…some kind of hunting or scavenging party. There had to be twenty or more of them…I can still remember the guys accent when he…" I shudder feel Daryl tense against me, his whole frame unerringly stone still.
"I never…God it's so stupid…I'd never even been with anyone before that…They were taking turns…and it hurt so bad I just wanted to die…I couldn't get away from them; and then there were just Walkers everywhere—they ate them all—more than that; they ripped them apart and I just… I had to lay there listening to them all dying. I couldn't even crawl away with the way they had me tied up…with what they did to me… and I didn't care that they were being eaten alive…I wanted them to die…I didn't even realize I brought the Walkers until later…and even then it was just a suspicion…I wasn't sure myself until I did it again; when Kyle and Eli…" I shudder. "I killed them, they hurt me; so I killed them all. I'm a monster…"
"You're not a monster, they were; and they deserved what they got; deserved worse. Bastards can all rot in Hell." Daryl's arms have been tightening around me with every word; it's almost hard to breathe in his grasp, it should feel restricting; binding. I should feel trapped. Instead I feel safe.
"Hold me tighter." I press my face to his chest as he does, so close I can feel his heartbeat against my cheek, can barely breath and it still doesn't feel close enough.
Daryl is silent for a long moment. "How long ago was it, when the first group found you?"
"Just a few months after everything happened; it was still summer." I practically feel Daryl wince, muscles tightening against me. I flinch unsure what brought such a reaction on. "What?"
"You said he had an accent, what was it?" His tone sounds odd, and that's an unusual question to have; of all the things I imagined him picking out of that story; that wasn't one of them.
"Northern? Jersey or New York…they definitely weren't from Georgia, or anywhere in the south, why?"
"We were on a farm that first summer, maybe fifty miles from the warehouse; closer to Atlanta. Hershel's farm; Maggie and Beth's Father… Rick and Glenn they brought this kid back; local boy that got injured. He'd been taken in by this group; all from up north. We had an awful time trying to figure out what to do with him." He hesitates for a moment swallowing, "I had to…ask him questions; he told me this story about the guys in his group…going out finding a man and his two daughters; when he told me what they did to them I knew they were the worst kind of people…Rick met two of them he had to kill them before they shot him…they had Jersey accents."
"Yeah…could be the same group..."
"Jesus." He presses his face to my shoulder. "That farm house in the woods when I was looking for Sophia; the group Rick ran into… You were right there the whole time, couldn't have been but a few miles from us the past two years and I never found you… If I could just go back, they never would have had a chance to lay a hand on you..."
I tilt my forehead against his temple, let my eyes slip closed. "You didn't know me Daryl; I didn't know you… Don't beat yourself up over what could have been…that's a long ugly road…"
"I'd know you anywhere."
And God that shouldn't make my stomach flip and heat curl through my chest. I can't speak; simply press closer to him feeling his warmth slide across my skin.
"I wish they hadn't found me, just so you'd be the only one I'd ever been with…"
"Hell you talking 'bout; I am the only one you been with; what those assholes did don't count; not for that. First time you were with me; that was real. Nearly killed me that night realizing you wanted me to touch you…that I could…" He breathes a soft curse shaking his head. "I just keep thinking I could have stopped so many terrible things from happening to you…I could have kept you safe."
"Keep me safe now."
"Shit, I'm hiding behind you from now on. You're the one with super powers." He's teasing me, like it's no big deal; like it's completely normal what I can do, and God. It's a heavy weight lifted off my chest I didn't realize I was still holding onto at least in some part.
I laugh, and God it feels good. It feels liberating.
"Fine, then I'll use my super powers for good, keep us all safe."
He leans his forehead to mine, fingers cupping the side of my face thumb tracing my cheekbone whisper soft. "We'll keep each other safe."
:: Walking Dead ::
Notes: Long chapter! And a bit more fluffy at the end then normal; but at this point it felt appropriate; hope it didn't come off as to OOC for Daryl. I'd hope that this far into a serious relationship he'd be able to admit he loves someone; and talk almost like a sorta 'normal' adult; doesn't mean he's going to go all Mr. big mouth with everyone else… lol
Plus I figured after 16 and a ½-ish chapters of angst it was time for some fun! Did that fit the bill? ; P
Enjoy it while it lasts Finryl you live in the universe of TWD afterall...*evil cackle*