If tomorrow never came

Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead, or anything at all of value, please don't sue. I am poor.

A/N: Sorry if this chapter sucks. I know that not much happens in it, but it's there to set up some later stuff. Please Review and let me know what you think!

Chapter 4: Fuckin' women

The next day had gone by tediously slow while Hayden waited for the phone call from Daryl about where to meet. She was anxious, a feeling that was foreign to her. She shot a quick glare at her mother. It was all her fault she was feeling this way. After the talk they had last night her dreams were filled with some pretty risqué scenes involving the older redneck. It was nearing two o'clock when her phone rang. She scrambled to answer it, but was gravely disappointed when the voice on the other side wasn't Daryl.

"Hi Glenn." The disappointment was obvious in her voice.

"Jeez, don't sound too excited to hear from me or anything."

"Sorry, I'm just waiting for a call." She slumped back in her seat. "My car broke down literally, just after getting into South Carolina. I'm hella pissed."

"What? No way, she was running smooth when you were down here in Atlanta." The Korean's voice was genuinely surprised. "What are you gonna do?"

"I've actually already found a guy whose gonna work on her, just need to get the parts. He's the call I'm waiting on."

There was silence over the phone for a few moments. She waited for Glenn to say something. Glenn was a pizza guy who, while they were staying in Atlanta delivered them pizza a few times. He and Hayden had become fast friends over the conversation's they had while she would pay for the food.

"If you tell me what part's you need I'll see what I can do."

"Dude, you're a pizza boy. How are you going to find vintage car parts?"

"I'm a pizza boy with connection's..."

"Legal or other?" She asked jokingly. Again there was silence.

"Uhhhm, other." He was unsure with his answer.

"No way! You're too innocent to be involved in shit like that." There was mischievous laughter in Hayden's voice. "I never would have guessed."

"Well, when times are tough... you've gotta learn to adapt right?"

"Amen, brother! When I know exactly what I need I'll let you know."

"Sounds good. I'll call you later. Let you get back to waiting for that other call."

"Okay, I'll text you later." She hung up her phone grinning like the cat that ate the canary. No fucking way was Glenn, Glenn jacking cars. That shit blew her mind. She sat at the desk watching episodes of a random show on her laptop. Her mother and Dylan had decided to go out for a walk during the hot summer day. It was maybe another ten minutes before her phone rang again. She picked it up although calmly this time. The voice on the other end drawled out. It was Daryl. He apologized for taking so long to call and they agreed on a time and place to meet. The conversation was short and Hayden felt more than a little depressed when she hung up. She wished she could have thought of more things to say over the phone just to hear his voice. She could listen to that man talk for hours. The low, slow drawl sent shivers down her spine.

It was nearing the time that Daryl was supposed to meet Hayden and her family. They were supposed to meet at a restaurant of his choosing, and with where he lived there wasn't much of a choice. Besides fast food, the only other place to get a meal was a local pub. He was uneasy. What if after they met up they thought the place was too low brow and got offended. That would be more then a little embarrassing. He didn't know how to act around these people. He pulled up into the parking lot and stepped out of his truck. He took a deep breath, and held it in for a few moments before exhaling slowly.

He even made sure that he put on clean clothes for this. He opened the door to the building and scanned his surroundings. He was always good at picking out small details. That was what made him such a fantastic hunter. All he had to do was a quick sweep with his eyes before noticing the three people waiting for him in a booth near the back. Quietly he made his way over to them. Hayden looked up as he approached and stood up to greet him.

"Hi." She said with a cheerful tone, smiling.

"Hey," he greeted in return. "Sorry tuh make yuh's wait."

"It's no problem at all." Hayden's mother answered. "We got here early." Hayden took her seat beside her mother and motioned for Daryl to sit next to Dylan. When he did he looked over at the kid and nodded, as a greeting.

"Sup, Batman!" The young boy said grinning. He eyed the two women across from him who wore the same look on their faces. Was grinning like a fool genetic? He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, he'd been doing a lot of that the past two days. What was it about this family that made him nervous?

"So, Hayden tells me that you do a lot of odd jobs around town." Helena attempted to start a conversation. Daryl replied with a nod thumbing at the menu laid in front of him. He couldn't put his finger on it, but the way this woman treated him was like he was on of her children. He wasn't sure whether to be offended or find it comforting. It was obvious they were decent people, which lead him to wonder what it was exactly that they found so appealing in him. "What about a girlfriend? If you did we could have invited her along as well." There was a strange glint in the older woman's eyes.

He looked over at Hayden, who elbowed her mother an exasperated look on her face. "Mom! That is none of our business!"

"What?" Helena put on a look of mock surprise. "What did I say?"

Daryl watched the two women argue. He had to admit he was a little jealous of the relationship they shared. He couldn't help but wonder, that if his mother was still alive would their relationship be like this? Finally the two women's attention returned to him. Helena's held a look of waiting, she wanted an answer, and Hayden's was of pure agonizing embarrassment.

"No," He finally answered, biting at his thumb. "Uhh, no girlfriend." The table got quiet after he answered. Everyone looked down at their menu's. He already knew what he would get, but scanned it over anyway.

"Man," Dylan sighed dropping his menu on the ground. "This place doesn't have poutine's either!" Daryl's response was to quirk an eyebrow as he glanced at the child. He always had an aversion to looking someone dead in the eye. What the hell was a poutine? He'd never heard of that before.

"Yeah, it's a home thing Bud." Hayden answered with a sigh. "We're not going to get any of those till we go back." Daryl could have sworn he heard reluctance in her voice. He would never ask, it was none of his business, but he did wonder if that's what it was.

"I know." The waitress came over to take their order's. Daryl inwardly grimaced when he saw who it was. Cheryl, his latest ex, stupid skanky bitch. He didn't know she started working here. His lips turned into a bit of a sneer when she looked him up and down. The others ordered oblivious to the fact that he could at any moment go ape shit. He would never hit a woman, but lord sometimes he wanted too. His muscles tensed. Hayden squinted her eyes curiously as she looked between him and Cheryl. She must have felt the tension. He watched her fingers tap on the table rhythmically as he ordered.

"Yew wanna drink with tha'?" Cheryl's voice twanged almost condescendingly in his ear. She flicked her big, curly brunette hair out of her eyes. They were brown like mud, and he couldn't remember what he ever saw in her. When he looked now everything about her was ugly. Inside and out.

"Yes, please!" Hayden interjected. "A pitcher of beer for the table, and a coke for the kid." She pointed to Dylan.

Cheryl eyed her warily, a small sly, wiry smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "I'll need tuh see a ID Sweetie." Hayden nodded smiling. Obviously she didn't catch the venomous tone hidden under all the fake syrupy sweetness. Or She didn't care. Daryl couldn't tell which. Hayden pulled out the card and passed it to Cheryl, who looked it over, mouth curling into a small sneer. She passed it back and looked between himself, and the family he was with.

"Comin' righ' up Sweetie!" She turned on her heel's and walked away clicking as she went.

"I'll Sweetie you." Hayden huffed under her breath. "What a bitch." She stated calmly when she was out of earshot. Apparently she did catch all the condescending tones. It didn't take long for the drinks to get to the table. Hayden took it upon herself to pour everyone's drinks.

"Anyway, Daryl," Helena started again. "I can't begin to thank you for helping out Hayden. She put's on this big ol' tough girl act, but she's still my baby... and I really appreciate all you're doing." Daryl glanced at Hayden who rolled her eyes at her mother.

"Honestly woman, you're insufferable." Hayden said before taking a long drink, and sighing contently at the beer.

"S'no problem, really." He scratched at the back of his head awkwardly, and took a drink of the cool liquid. The table was filled with chatter as they waited for the food. Helena sure loved to talk. He learned all kind's of things about this family. How Hayden had just graduated University, how she would take her younger brother hunting, how Dylan almost got kicked out of school for getting into a fight, about whether Kirk or Picard was the better captain. To which Hayden grinned stupidly, and high-fived the child over the table. To their mother's chagrin.

"You are a terrible influence!" Helena exclaimed mocking anger at her daughter.

"What? Picard was cool, and all don't get me wrong. But Kirk was the man! You don't mess with Shatner. He travelled the galaxy so he could bone sexy alien chicks, and Picard got turned into a borg." Hayden was so matter-o-fact about it that Daryl couldn't help but smirk. "What about you Daryl? You a Kirk or Picard man?"

"Nevah' really watched Star Trek, Dariln'." He shrugged

"Dear lord man, you haven't lived." She joked. "What about Indiana Jones? You see those movies?" Daryl nodded his head yes in reply. "Then I guess we can still be friends." He didn't think it was possible for her grin to grow wider but it did. The warmth emanating form this familial unit terrified him. If he wasn't careful he'd get caught in it, get used to it, and not want it to leave. That was impossible, they would be leaving once her car was fixed. They had lives somewhere else. Lives that he would never be able to catch up to no matter how hard he tried. There he went thinking again. He had to stop that shit. He took another long drink as Cheryl appeared with their food. After she set it on the table she looked pointedly at Daryl.

"Heard Merle got locked up again. Whut was it this time? Drug's again?" If it were anyone else asking he knew it wouldn't have been out of spite. But with Cheryl, she just liked torturing him, the dumb bitch. His muscles grew tense, and he was sure the vein on his neck was visible form space.

"Whose Merle?" Hayden questioned innocently.

"Oh! Yew don't know? Yew must not be from 'round here. Merle's his." She pointed a fake nailed finger at Daryl, "brother." The three people sitting at the table responded with a chorus of 'Ohhh's'. But none seemed fazed or bothered by the news. Cheryl looked disappointed at the lack of reaction.

"I don' think it's really any business o' yers." He answered teeth clenched, one hand balled into a tight fist under the table.

"Fine, was jus' curious is all." The woman laughed slightly as she sauntered away.

The table was silent. Daryl didn't know what to say to these people. He glanced at each one from the corner of his eyes as he took long, slow, deep breath's in an attempt to calm down. Now was not the time to let his temper get the better of him. He picked up his fork and started eating. The others did the same and they ate in silence for a few minutes.

"Hope, she's not expecting a tip."Hayden said trying to suppress the ever growing smile. He heard chuckling at his side as the young boy tried to hold it in but failed. Even Helena covered her mouth with her hand in attempt not to laugh. They all failed miserably and they table broke into fits of giggles. It was contagious. This family was contagious, and he found that the more time he stayed in their presence the more he was catching whatever it was they had. It worried him, and he wasn't sure how to react, it went against everything he knew. Still his lips pulled into a lopsided smile, as he too joined in, though his laugh's were silent and only noticeable from the shaking of his shoulders.

The rest of the meal went by quite well. None of them asked about, or brought up Merle for which he was thankful. Between him and the women they polished off the pitcher, and it seemed Helena was quite the light weight. Her pale cheek's were a rosy, drunken red, and the grin never left her face.

"Oh, Hayden!" Her mother cooed. "Have I ever told you how proud I am of you?" She let out a small hiccup.

"Yes." The dark haired, tattooed girl shook her head. "All the time."

"Good!" Helena stated trying to be serious. "Because I mean it!I couldn't have asked for a better daughter!" She then looked at Dylan. "Or a better son! I don't need anything else!"

"Okay I'm cutting you off."

"Yeah, that's probably for the best. Everything's spinning." Hayden motioned for Cheryl to bring the bill for the food. She paid, and true to her word didn't leave a tip. Cheryl glared angrily, which made everyone at the table crack up again.

When Daryl left the place he was feeling oddly good. Something he didn't remember feeling for the longest time. He was content as he climbed into his truck. He had waited until the cab came to pick them up before he had headed to his truck. When he looked behind him they were all, but Hayden climbing in. She motioned for the cab to wait a moment and she jogged over to where he was.

"Hey, Daryl." She called jogging over to his window. He rolled it down and leaned out.

"Yeah, Darlin'?" He questioned.

"Thanks for coming with us tonight. It was fun." She leaned up and kissed his cheek again. He recoiled in shock and looked at the shit eating grin on her face. "We should do it again." She skipped over to the cab and got in. It pulled away and as he watched it drive into the distance he couldn't help but rub his cheek.

'Fuckin' women.' He thought to himself, only this time a small smile forced it's way on to his face.