Dear Readers,
I apologize for the extended break between updates. Since my kids went to the Grandparents two weeks ago, my dear hubby has found all kinds of projects to occupy my time. Now that those projects are done I will hopefully be able to come back to writing. Thank you all so much for your patience, your reviews, your follows, your favorites. It all means the world to me. I hope you enjoy this update and look for another by the end of the week.
On with the show!
Allie pulled up to the Miller's house, seeing her blue Jeep sitting in the driveway. Allie looked over at Daryl; he was wound tight for action. She wasn't sure if he ever knew how to really relax; but could anyone really relax with the way the world was now? Allie couldn't remember the last time she had slept a full night without waking up gasping for breath; she'd liked to have thought it was before the outbreak on the camping/hunting trip she took with Mike and the horses, but even that memory had faded with time.
"Let's hope your Mama doesn't eat anyone for breakfast. Maybe she got a good night of sleep last night. I doubt it though. Let's get this done and get home." Daryl sighed as Allie parked the truck behind the Jeep. Daryl walked up to Natalie, her eyes hidden behind fire mirrored sunglasses.
Daryl swallowed as he looked Natalie up and down, something was different about her this morning, what it was he didn't know, but it sure looked good on her. "You okay Natty? I was kinda an asshole last night."
Natalie linked her fingers with Daryl's; stepping inside his personal space. Daryl didn't flinch or pull away, that was a promising sign. Natalie pushed her sunglasses on top of her head; taking a deep breath. "I'm the one who needs to apologize for being a bitch. My emotions have been all over the place since Rick brought you to me the other day. There's our past, there's our present and our future. And in the middle of that is Allie. Can we at least play nice for Allie's sake?"
Daryl blinked at Natalie; he couldn't believe she just apologized to him for acting like a grade -a whack-a-mole. Something changed last night, his Natalie was back and he wasn't about to complain. He laid his hand against her cheek, Natalie turned her face into his palm, for a moment they were both somewhere else in a whole other time together. Daryl tipped Natalie's chin up; gently kissing her lips as he tasted the salt of her tears. She had her answer from him in that kiss; he would be the partner Natalie missed and the father Allie needed him to be.
Daryl let loose of Natalie; he missed the feeling of her against him, but there was work to be done. He ran his thumbs over her cheeks, whispering to Natalie "Ya okay now Natty? We got a lot to get done today." Daryl smirked when he saw Natalie nod slowly, her eyes still closed.
Allie watched the interaction between her parents; Daryl was showing a kindness to her mother that surprised Allie. Her mother had been on edge since Daryl was brought to the house, but now with Daryl's touch, she seemed so much more relaxed. Maybe this was the break in the angst they needed to move on with? That was Allie's hope; it would be easier for her if they weren't at each other's throats all the time.
Allie popped the lock on the front door, gaining access to the living room. The house was still in the same shape she had found it the other day. Allie breathed a sigh of relief, they could use the supplies. Especially if Daryl's camp was moving onto the farm later in the day. Natalie stepped into the kitchen, opening cabinets and drawers. She took stock of things in her line of sight; it would take most of the day to get the property cleared out, even with a group of people. Natalie heard footsteps behind her, light and quiet. She knew that stride all too well as a hand laid across her ribcage, turning her around.
"Fuel tank outside's about half full. Need to figure out how to siphon it off. Storm cellar's full of canned goods. Gonna take us and my people and most of today to get it cleared out. They should be here shortly. We should get started on the guns first. Get Allie set on the kitchen, you take the storm cellar, I'll track down the guns. Can't be too many places to hide them in this house." Daryl ran his fingers over Natalie's ribs, talking quietly.
"You're absolutely right. It's going to be an all day job even with your people's help. But we need it all. I'll get Allie going on the kitchen, while I work on the storm cellar. Allie was right; this place is a gold mine." Natalie set her hand over Daryl's, holding him in place.
Daryl nodded; heading off down the hall, checking room to room. Two bedrooms, one bathroom and a den later he came across two rifles and a shotgun up on a rack. Beside the desk stood a gun safe, Daryl reached out and turned the handle, the safe's door eased open on the heavy hinges. "You sneaky old man, your collection's gonna save a lot of lives." Daryl grabbed a duffel bag sitting in the closet, pulling handguns and ammo out of the safe, stuffing them into the bag. Daryl lifted the rifles and shotgun off the wall, tucking them into the bag before he took it out to the truck.
Allie walked out to the truck with a box under one arm, a trash bag in one hand. She had cleared part of the cabinets of non-perishables, as well as the chemicals from under the sink. Allie felt a sense of accomplishment when she saw the smile on her dad's face. Natalie followed closely behind with a box of mason jars full of food. All three of their heads turned at the sound of a motorcycle coming down the road, followed by a pickup and a green car. Allie pulled up a shotgun, aiming for the rider on the bike. Her finger tensed on the trigger as they drew closer, she could take him easily.
Daryl glanced over at Allie, placing his hand on the barrel, pushing it down as her eyes darted over to his. "It's alright baby girl, that's my bike. It's my friends here to help us clean out. Ease it on down honey." Allie took her finger off the trigger as Rick pulled up on Daryl's bike, cutting off the engine before kicking it down.
Daryl walked up to Rick, clasping his hand hard. "Man Daryl I don't know how you ride that thing. My ass hurts and I felt like I was going to dump it more than once on the way over here. We're ready to help, just give the orders."
Daryl set each person to task on a room, clearing out small items first to load Allie's truck. Once the room was cleared out, the door would be shut and moved onto the next room. Before long furniture started going out the door, loaded into Rick's truck for hauling back to the farm. Daryl wiped his brow as a mattress came out behind him carried by Glenn and the Greene kid. The poor kid looked like he was going to shit his pants when Daryl looked over at him. Hell, even before Kyle shot Daryl he was scared to death of him. Now Daryl just found it funny, he'd never hurt the kid, even given the circumstances.
Daryl turned around to feel something hit him like a herd of horses square in the chest, falling off center to the ground. Heated lips attacked his own as a small, lithe body pressed hard against him. Daryl saw stars from the pain in his shoulder, as the breath left his lungs.
"Daryl! What the hell?!" A very pissed off female voice yelling his name brought him out of the haze as he shoved the person on top of him off. Beth rolled over onto the grass, her chest heaving.
Daryl wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, seeing Natalie stalking through the yard towards them, her eyes full of fire. This was not going to be good; the rest of the group gathered on the lawn. Allie's eyes went between Daryl and her mother, this incident would break what they had going on earlier in the day.
Natalie shot daggers at Beth, "What the hell are you thinking? He's old enough to be your father! His daughter is your age!" Natalie seethed with anger; her hands shook as she yelled.
"His daughter?" Beth croaked, stealing a glance at Allie.
"Daryl has a daughter?" Maggie's voice cut the silence of shocked bystanders.
Allie stood between Daryl and Natalie, scanning the faces of the crowd carefully. "Yeah Daryl's my Dad. And he's with my Mom." Allie crossed her arms defiantly; she didn't think anyone would want to question her statement.