Interlude

Just Like a Star

Corrine Bailey Rae

Daryl poured two cups of coffee in the styrofoam cups. Saturday was finally here. He was still unsure how Michonne would act around him today. Out of all the women to like, he liked one more socially awkward than him. His patience was his best quality. Stubbornness was hers. Somehow they had to find a medium. He had to help her feel comfortable with him and within herself. Perhaps she was starting to. He was surprised when she volunteered to pick him up. He only hoped she would not see Rosita.

"God. Give me strength." Michonne gripped the steering wheel after she sent him a text.

She volunteered to drive because Daryl didn't deserve her harsh words. He deserved her full attention. Her hands shivered as she prayed she would not speak without thinking. Gripping her pants, she took a deep breath. Nervous was not even close to describing the panic she felt towards this man.

Daryl noticed her shaking through the windshield. Shutting the car door, he quickly placed the coffee in the cup holders.

"Yer shaking." Her abrupt stop startled him. It was like a child being reprimanded. He had to get her out of this mindset. "Was it Rosita or Andrea?" He spoke softly.

"No. no." She spoke. "I'm just a little cold that's all. "

They both knew it was a lie, but it was better than her jumping down his throat for caring. Daryl would pick and choose his battles wisely.

"This will warm yah right up. 'Drea said yah like it with cream and two sugars." She nodded.

"Ummm. Thank you." She accepted his kind gesture.

"ain't no problem." The two smiled.

"Daryl shut up. You deserve a gold medal for putting up with my attitude and hostility." She sipped. "I. All my life I was the odd girl out. Even with Andrea, in school I was known as Andrea's studious, weird friend. Especially when it came to boys." Michonne stuttered with his eyes on her. But the look on his face told her to continue.

"I was the last choice every time. I mean there was this one guy, Mike, but naturally that didn't last. Daryl. I don't know how to react to you." She put her cup down.

He knew how hard it was to trust yourself. To ignore the uncertainty and what ifs. Even now, they were building in his mind. What if she pushed away from him again? What if she felt obligated to talk to him? What if he was making a fool of himself? He shut those thoughts out when he saw her walls come down.

"like this." His finger gently moved her chin towards him. He could stare in her eyes forever.

"Growing up, I was the odd one out too. It wasn't just because of my personality but what I didn't have. I was one of the poor kids. Not too many people wanted to be around that. My anger issues made that worse. Plus, I had a lot of responsibilities. With just meh and my dad I had to help out with the finances."

Daryl was surprised she did not refuse his touch. The way her dreadlocks framed her face dared him to. Her smooth mocha skin was too tempting to overlook. He brushed his thumb along her cheek. Taking in her softened eyes.

"Your hands are really warm." She barely whispered. His dazed eyes startled her. "In a good way."

"Damn your beautiful." The random statement caught her off guard. But she did not stop him from touching her.

Michonne would have never thought a man this rough would know how to be this gentle. He was different than Mike. This man was wanting to be around her. She was not some chore. Looking back, she hated how she ignored those signs from her ex. Her eyes closed on their own when he rubbed his thumb across her lips.

No. not yet.

"So. What about your mom?" Daryl quickly moved his hand with the change of the subject.

"Never met her. But I don't want to meet a woman who didn't want me in the first place. That's what I used to be angry about. When I first met yah, yah had that same look in yer eyes I did."

"So how did you get over it? The pain. The betrayal." Michonne asked.

"I took it day by day. Eventually I learned to forgive her for myself. It's hard to do."

"Can you show me how?" She began to shake again. "I do forgive Andrea but I still can't forget. It's at the back of my mind. My ex boyfriend Mike, he was supposed to be my everything. But I think I held on for so long because I didn't think there was going to be anyone else." She shrugged.

"I think we all think that, but it ain't true." He smiled.

"I know that now." She stared at his big hands. Calloused, yet strong. Hard, yet delicate.

He fought the urge to hold her hand. Michonne needed assurance now, but he didn't want to come on too strong again.

"Come on. Abraham is waiting on us." Daryl said.

Michonne didn't know why her feelings were all of a sudden hurt. She was too sensitive for her own good.

The little church had this power to make her see the good in the world again. To bad that once she left, she was reminded of all its' evil. This place was somewhere to lay down her burden for 3 hours.

Michonne avoided Abraham's disapproving glances. Who would have thought the newly graduate would share the same passion for religion as he did the military? As a result, he hated tardiness. Daryl laughed at the man tapping his watch.

"Give us some slack Abe." Daryl stated. "It won't happen again."

"Yeah. Yeah." Abraham threw him the keys to the storage room. "Better not. Now go set up." He tended to his business.

Michonne gained comfort knowing that good men existed like Rick, Daryl, and Abraham. Men who had strong morals and protected those they held dear to them. Real men who loved the idea of having one girl and being content with her as they progressed in this world. The bitterness of Mike still lingered.

Daryl made her feel safe. It was unexplainable, yet natural. His touch put life into her again. Unlocking the door, they looked at the million of clothes the church collected. This was the only thing she hated. The set up. Luckily, the weather was perfect. Not too hot. Not too cold.

"I will set up the tables." Daryl began his task.

He needed something to occupy his mind. He had never touched a woman like that before. Nor told her she was beautiful. It was the truth. She didn't even see it herself, but he did. Somehow, he didn't give into the impulse to kiss her. There was still so much he left unsaid. Questions that needed to be asked.

"And I'll unload the clothes." Michonne tended to their ritual. She felt his fingers on her face. The curiosity he struck inside of her for him scared her.

She had to force herself to set up shoes, clothes and toys. A part of her didn't want people to come because she wanted to talk to him more. Walking back inside, Daryl watched her hips sway to their own rhythm.

"Yer at church." He chastised himself.

Michonne laughed as Abraham gathered the group of children in the choir. He was a man of many skills. He could quote bible scriptures, shoot a bull's eye, lead an army and then direct a choir. Her stomach was growling loudly. She was so excited about seeing Daryl that she forgot to eat breakfast. Luckily, Abraham had bought them some doughnuts.

"Next time bring chocolate glazed Abe." She teased while grabbing the box and napkins as the kids waved at her. They were so cute.

"So how many people are we expecting today?" Daryl made sure the price tags were secured on the items as he ate. Her eyes did not stray from him.

"Yah can ask." He recognized that look. "Whatever it is yer thinking."

She didn't want to be too forward, but it would not leave her thoughts.

"Did you really mean that I was beautiful?" Her bluntness caught him off guard. He took a deep breath.

"If yah want meh to take it back, I will."

"What the heck is that supposed to mean Daryl?" Frustration was heard in her voice.

"It's supposed to mean that I meant it, but if yah don't want to talk about it again I won't." He put his hands in his pockets.

"I don't know what I want actually. It's like I want to stay and runaway from you at the same time."

"I don't want to run." He removed the distance between them.

Her eyes glowed with want. His fingers twitched to touch her again. This time, he listened to his instincts. Tracing every feature of her face with his finger, he smiled as her eyes closed.

"Daryl please don't do this to me." Michonne placed her hands over his. "I think you should runaway from me while you have the chance."

"Michonne. I know what its like to be abandoned." He rubbed her arms. "To watch everyone you begin to have a connection with pick up and leave like you didn't exist. My dad would get into these relationships with women. After a month of dating, they would move in with us. They didn't mistreat meh, but they were just using my dad. I was angry at him for not seeing that."

"Daryl." Even she recognized when someone needed to be held. "Your father was lonely." She rubbed his back slowly.

"But while he was thinking about that, he should have thought about me too. That's why I was so angry. Me and my dad had hope shattered every time a woman walked out of my life."

Daryl hadn't been held like this in a while. He almost forgot what it felt like. Resting his head in the crook of her neck, he held her back. She smelled of honey and cinnamon.

"Ugh. Ugh." The two jumped apart at the sight of their first customer. The old woman smiled brightly at the two. "I don't mean to disrupt you two but I would like to buy these shoes."

"Sure." Daryl took her money as Michonne placed her shoes in a bag.

"It's alright. Young love is so beautiful." She winked at the two.

Michonne smiled at Daryl's blush. She now understood why he couldn't stop touching her. It was hard not to. Looking at his hand, she folded her lips. It was a nervous habit that would never go away.

Daryl only watched her grab his hand. It was the first time she became truly comfortable around him. He gasped as she traced the delicate lifelines. No longer were her eyes hardened. She was a little girl becoming familiar with something new. Something she didn't want to go away.

"Your hand are big." It was the only words she could muster.

"That's because yer hand is small." He spread his fingers as he watched her mentally question herself.

"Daryl. There's something about you that I. What I am trying to say is that I want to get to know you more." She laced her fingers with his.

"Isn't that what we are already doing?" He squeezed her hand. This woman was not even aware of the power she held over him.

The two stared at each other. Letting contentment, joy, wonder and hope wash over them. Both found themselves not wanting to let go of each other. Michonne was no where near ready for a relationship, but she knew she didn't want to live without this man in her life.