Chapter 6

"No offence Daryl, but this place is a shit hole." She had followed him inside, much to his displeasure. He walked back towards his room, and still she followed.

"Don't touch nothin'. I got my ammo and my bolts just where I want em'. She had been eyeing his table full of odd and ends where he crafted bullets and arrows. Much to his growing horror, she opted to lay down on his bed while he shoved things into his pack. "That things dirty, you shouldn't be on it" he growled, frowning.

"It's a bed, not a garbage heap. Just hurry up." She started flipping through an old issue of Guns and Ammo, and he prayed she wouldn't find the old Playboy under his pillow.

He finished pulling together a bag and they set off back toward the house. He lit a cigarette, and to his surprise she took one from him. "I quit when I found out I was pregnant the first time. Not a day goes by I don't think about smoking again. I think I need this."

"So you got a record huh? I didn't think they would let you work at a court house with a record." He lit it for her and she took slowly took a drag, enjoying the lightheaded feeling for a moment before responding.

"Nope, not a thing. Not even a parking ticket."

"Wait, what? But you said..." He snarled, bearing teeth.

"Oh I've committed crimes. A little theft, but mostly small time smuggling and drug sales."

"But no fuckin' record? No fuckin way."

"Oh I was lucky. And I kept it all small time; just enough to pay for food and rent while I was in school." He noticed that she wouldn't look at him, though her tone was even. "I cut out before I got too serious into it. The guy I worked for wanted to keep me, since I was smart and could think on my feet. And it was a hell of a lot better than becoming a call girl.

"Why'd ya quit then?"

"It never felt- right. But I did it anyway. I was a selfish bitch with a chip on my shoulder. I thought the rich kids with cash to burn for Molly and Weed owed it to me. And all I could think of was that I wanted what they had." She gave him a tight smile and finished her cigarette. He didn't think she lied to him- but he wasn't sure he was getting the whole truth either. But after the day they had he was willing to let it go. Too much truth all at once can rub you raw, and the two of them had had enough to make them feel a little extra tender with one another.

When they got in the house he helped her bandage her hand, and she gave him the last of the ice to put on his eye. The boys noticed the injuries when they got home, but she played it off well enough as a small bike accident. Daryl cooked again, still relishing in his usefulness, but he was solemn and spoke even less than usual. Then the boys got their first wash tub bath in the kitchen, which resulted in a massive amount of clean up and a good time all round. Between the daytime sun, and the fire running all day, May declared that the boys room was warm enough to sleep in. By the time they got the beds made, and the boys to sleep, May was exhausted but eager for a bath herself. Daryl helped her fill the basin with hot water from the stove, and was about to leave her alone to bathe, but she started talking to him.

"So. You have any ideas about what we're gunna do?"

"I'm gunna go talk to Merle and figure this thing out. I'm not gunna..." While he was speaking, May had gotten on her knees over the tub of steaming water, whipped off her shirt, and started wetting her hair to wash. He turned around quickly. "Damn it woman, don't you got no shame?"

"Daryl, at your age I'm pretty sure you've seen a pair of tits before. I haven't got anything special going on here." She poured shampoo on her head and started to work it through her long, thick hair.

He turned and looked a little over his shoulder. 'I really have to fucking disagree with that'; he thought, his eyes roaming over the curves of her thighs and ass. And while he couldn't see them while she was bent over, he knew he knew he wouldn't be forgetting the flash of her perky breasts, encased in a lacey white bra.

"Oh, and by the way;" she continued, "we will both go talk to him. I want to hear exactly what he has to say for himself. I assume that you really don't have any idea what those guys were talking about, right?"

"Uh, yeah, no. Nuthin'."

"Then let me go. He's your family, and I respect that but it's my ass on the line here too."

His voice was soft. "Don' you trust me?"

"Trust you to what?"

"Take care of...it?" She could feel the weight in his words. He wanted her to trust him with them; the family.

"I do trust you. Or else I would have just barged over to the jail by myself. But I need you to trust me too...Damn it... would you help me with this?" She held up a plastic cup. "I can't see what I'm doing and I need to rinse my hair."

He took the cup out of her hands. She felt his gentle fingers on the back of her neck, wiping up soap and loose strands. With one hand he poured the warm water, the other gently rubbing her head. She tried to hold it in, but a little moan escaped her lips, causing his to completely halt.

"I shouldn't be doin' this..."

"No! No don't stop. Sorry, that just felt really good."

She could hear the scowl in his voice. "It's just wash water. Jesus, you really enjoy bathing that much?"

She chuckled. "Yeah I guess I do."

He resumed the water pouring, much to her pleasure. "I wouldn't really know. I haven't really lived with a woman since I was 8."

"Was that your mom?

"Yeah." She didn't press him for more details. He gave what he gave, and she worked with it.

"Alright. You're done."

She rung out her hair, sat up, and worked it dry with the towel she had left on the floor. Her lips curled, and let out a dry little laugh. "I wonder sometimes when you'll get tired of us and all the shit we put you through."

He was sitting on the floor, shirt wet, a little grin on his face; which he tried to cover with one hand. He kept scanning her body with darting looks. Her nipples were hard from the cold, almost completely visible through the soaked fabric. Little goose bumps rose all over her wet skin, and the candles cast light and shadow across the moisture.

He cleared his throat a little. "Shit, I aint' goin' nowhere. I don't cut and run on people."

"You sure? A single mom, two kids, that's a lot of baggage..."

He growled at her. "Hey. That's enough. I aint' goin' nowhere. That's final."

She smiled at him. "Alright then. I heard ya. Now skedaddle. Unless you want to watch me take the rest of my bath?"

He rubbed his nose, trying to hide the shit eating grin on his face. "You're dirty" he mumbled, walking past her and into the downstairs bath room, grabbing a jug of water on his way. She winced, knowing his bath would be ice cold. Ten minutes later he came back out, giving a brief glance towards the kitchen, confirming that May was still there bathing. He felt better- the ice water had mostly taken the lust out of him, putting him back in a clear frame of mind. His own mental dialogue wouldn't let him accept it, but her words had been pretty clear. She wanted him to stay. He didn't know why, and that was the part that frustrated him. Clearly she must want something; but what? He had nothing to offer. He had no money, no education, no real job. And he was pushing 50; his body would not be able to do heavy labor for much longer. He wasn't handsome... the list in his head went on and on, an old list of faults and tragedies; things that could never be and things that could never be undone. So it alluded him, as he sat in front of the wood stove, watching the wood burn to ash. All he knew is that he couldn't lose her. That everything good, everything his life might still be, was all wrapped up in her.

She didn't sneak up on him, but when she touched his shoulder he flinched. He looked up, and her head tilted to the side. She held her silky robe closed as she sat next to him. "You ok?" She always seemed to be worrying about him, checking on him, making sure he was alright. Why? If only he was a little smarter, maybe he could figure her out. But he wasn't. He was just an old fucked up redneck whose brother brought a bunch of blood thirsty bikers to her doorstep.

"I can see you thinking about something. What's going on in your head?" She stared at him and he could barely even look at her right now; all creamy skin poking out of that thin crimson material.

"Nuthin'. Why don' you go on to bed? I'll clean up down here."

"Damn it Daryl." She reached over and gripped his chin, pulling up his face to meet her eyes. "I try not to nag you, or ride you to talk. I know you move at your own speed, and that's ok. I wouldn't change you for the world. But goddamn it sometimes..."

"What?" He licked his lips and that did it. She leaned forward, one crooked finger still under his chin, and kissed him gently. He stayed frozen, arms wrapped around his knees. "Wha's that for?"

"Because I'm one hundred percent sure you never would have. Was I wrong? Because if you didn't like it..."

He cut her off. "No...I...it's fine."

"You didn't really answer my question. Did you like it?" He nodded, chewing the shit out of his fingernails. "May I do it again sometime?"

"Yeah. I guess. If you want."

She chuckled; "Not getting a lot of enthusiasm from you Daryl. It's alright, I can leave you alone and we would never have to talk about it again." She felt like her heart had just fallen into her guts. Hadn't she been reading him right- shy but willing? He leaned toward her slowly, and placed his hand on her cheek. He pulled forward, then back, as if waiting for her to say no. She reached out and pulled him forward by the collar of his shirt, finally closing the gap. But he still seemed stiff, leaving her to do most of the kissing. She broke away after a moment, gripping his chin to keep him from looking down. "I have been waiting for that for a very long time."

"Shit ya' coulda' tol' me. You aint' exactly a chore to look at ya' know."

"Well thank you. I feel the same." She let go of his chin. His hand dropped quickly from her cheek and his gaze dropped to the floor. She stood up, adjusting the robe around her, shifting on her feet. It all felt so bungled; did he really feel something? Was he just reciprocating out of kindness, to make the whole thing less awkward? She was normally so good at reading people, but trying to understand Daryl felt like trying to read Shakespeare backwards. She swallowed, trying not to let her internal barricade of doubt keep her in suspense. "You know I mean it right?" She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, her lips lingering near his ear. "I'm pretty sweet on you Daryl, I just hope you feel something for me too."

She pulled away and turned towards the stairs when she heard him give a little 'hey' towards her. She turned, and he grabbed her by the biceps. "I do... I just..." Instead of finishing his sentence, he pulled her into a soft kiss. His hands raised, gently gripping her face. He deepened it a little, their tongues brushing gracefully, but it didn't last long; he broke away after a moment with a sheepish look on his face.

She gave him a little smile. "That's all I wanted to know." He smiled back, slightly, dropping his gaze yet again, along with his grip. "Good night sweetheart" she whispered.

"Night'."

She turned and went up the stairs, leaving him standing there feeling intimidated and amazed. He built up the fire again and picked up the room before laying down on the couch. He didn't sleep for a long while, alternating between fear and excitement as to what it all meant, and how to keep it all going.