Since coming to the prison, Amanda had slept on a mattress at the top of the stairs near Daryl. She was terrified of waking up alone again. She hated to let him out of her sights for long since she had found him. This morning she awoke to a boot nudging her in the ribs. "Wake up, Possum. Let's go huntin'."
Really? Daryl preferred hunting alone. Occasionally, he took Carl so he could teach the boy how but mainly he went by himself. When Amanda was twelve, her momma sent her to Georgia by way of airplane that summer. Daryl picked her up because Merle was in jail. She spent two month traipsing through the forest learning how to track and be very, very quiet so as not to scare the game away. She was still mad at him for the ugly words he said the other night but she knew this was his way of saying sorry so she dressed quickly because she also knew her uncle wouldn't ask twice. With that simple invitation, all would be forgiven between them without words being spoken. He knew she was in pain and she was thankful he didn't say I told you so.
It felt wonderful to be out of that damned prison and away from Rick. She had managed to avoid him for one whole day and even that wasn't easy due to the confined space the group shared. She actually missed their daily walk around the perimeter yesterday but there was no way in hell she could face him yet. She didn't know if she ever would.
The sun had not risen but she was able to see well enough in the waning moonlight to follow Daryl silently through the awakening woods that surrounded the prison. Dew clung to the grass and leaves, dampening her boots. It was peaceful here. Daryl shot a couple squirrels but game was getting scarce and he was going to have to venture farther out next time. They'd caught about all they were going to find for the day by noon. She helped him clean them without complaint and only gagged once.
They sat side-by-side on a fallen log and shared a bottle of water. Amanda was unusually quiet and it worried him a little. So against his better judgment he asked, "You okay, Possum?" He pulled a twig roughly out of her unruly hair.
"Ouch!" she rubbed her tender scalp. "I will be. Maybe."
"Wanna a talk about it?" Now why would I ask a damn fool thing like that?
Amanda snorted, "Really? With you? No."
Whew. He just dodged a bullet. Daryl said a silent prayer of thanks to whoever was looking out for him from above.
"What I don't understand is..." Shit, he sent that thanks too soon. "It's the fucking end of the world. Why does he have to be so... so right?"
"That's jus' how he is."
"Well it hurts, Uncle Daryl."
"Don't like seein' ya hurt. Possum, so I ain't gonna say it..." but I told you so.
"So don't."
"Want me to kick his ass?"
They both laughed. "Would you really?"
"Nah. He's my friend."
"Well, shit, then why'd you ask?"
He squeezed her shoulders. "There's always Oscar or Herschel. I can put in a good word for ya..."
She swung at him. but as usual he was expecting it and dodged. "I hate you."
He chuckled, "No, ya don't."
"I miss Daddy. I need one of his pep talks." They both laughed again.
"Yeah, I bet Merle would have some real good advice, Possum."
"He'd kick Rick's ass for me."
"No doubt."
"Then he'd wanna know why I'd took up with a cop."
Especially this particular one, Daryl thought grimly.
"So how do I face Rick?"
"I don't know, girl. Just do it."
"That's stupid advice."
"You asked and you get what you pay for."
"C'mon, Daryl. You're not helping."
"How the hell should I know? Just act like nothin' happen."
"But something did happen..." She shoved her curls back.
"Don't wanna know."
"I kissed him."
"I said I don't wanna know!"
"And he kissed me back."
"Damn it, Amanda! Ain't you listenin' to me?"
"And I wanted more and then he said we can't because we had to be careful. He didn't want to get me pregnant...because of what happened to Lori." Her voice quivered and tears threatened to fall.
"Fuck! Amanda, I really didn't wanna hear that." He covered his face with his hands.
"You asked if I wanted to talk."
"And you said NO!"
"Well, Daryl, I don't have anyone else to talk to." Her voice was small and damned if he didn't feel bad for yelling at her.
"What about Carol or Maggie?"
"We aren't close like that. Beth is too young and inexperienced with men. You know me better than anyone here. You're a guy so you can give me a male perspective."
"Shit Amanda, I ain't good at givin' advice."
"Let's say you're Rick and ..."
"Let's not..."
"What do you think he wants me to do?"
"I have no fuckin' idea so hush your mouth and let's get back before he sends a search party."
Her plans to avoid Rick were foiled when he and Carl were waiting for them back at the prison.
"Hey, Daryl! Amanda!" Carl called out as he ran up to check out the "catch of the day." Six scrawny squirrels. Still, it was better than nothing.
"Amanda, ready to walk the fence? I waited for you to get back." Rick looked at her expectantly. He even had the audacity to smile. Damn him!
"Sorry, Rick, I gotta help Daryl clean these squirrels. My daddy always said, 'You catch 'em, you clean 'em'."
"You ain't caught shit, Possum. And we already cleaned 'em." Damn him, too. She wanted to wipe that stupid grin off his face.
"Then, I'll just take these lovely little corpses to Beth and Carol."
"We'll do it, Amanda," Carl offered, so gallantly. "I wanted to show Daryl something anyway. C'mon Daryl. Let's go."
"Sure thing, kid." Daryl gave her his best over-the-shoulder Dixon smirk and went of with that little plan-spoiler.
"Ready?" Rick asked.
Nope. "Ready as I'll ever be." They walked in silence with Rick stopping occasionally to check the integrity of a the fence in a spot or two.
When they rounded a corner out of sight from the others, he stopped and turned to face her. He ran his hands through his hair and sighed. "How long you going to avoid me?"
"I wasn't..." Her lie died in her throat as his unwavering steel blue gaze met hers. She looked around, anywhere, settling to focus on her own feet, anywhere but his eyes. "I don't know. Forever?"
"Why, Amanda?"
"Because. I was, I am embarrassed. I was kind slutty and now I don't know how to act around you."
He took both her hands in his and brought them to his lips kissing her fingertips. Electric shocks shot straight to her heart. "Please don't feel like that. Nothing's changed. Not for me."
Oh, yes, everything has changed. I kissed you and you kissed me back and I wanted more and you said no. And it hurts. "You mean we can still be friends?"
"I didn't say that."
"Then what do you mean because I'm as confused as hell and I don't like feeling this way!" She tried to tug her hands free but he held them tightly.
"Don't pull away, Mandy. I said I wasn't ready the other night but that doesn't mean I won't ever be. We just have to do this right. We can't let our needs make us careless."
"I was never any good at that."
He smiled and kissed her fingertips again. Then he leaned over and pressed an achingly sweet kiss against her lips. "Be patient with me, Mandy. Please."
How patient? I can't! I'm not strong enough. Her traitorous head nodded and she whispered. "I'll try."
"Guess I can't ask for more than that, can I?" He dropped one of her hands then pulled her along by the other, weaving his fingers with hers. "Let's finish this up and head back to see if the food's done."
All she could think of was the feel of his big calloused hand in her. Warm and rough and how they felt on her bare skin the other night in the tower. Lord help her, this wasn't going to be easy.
Rick let go of her hand before they reached the others but not without bringing it to his lips for a quick kiss. Daryl gave them a patented Dixon scowl that went either unnoticed or unacknowledged by Rick. Amanda didn't hesitate to scowl back and then she flipped him off for good measure.
With Judith Grimes the center of attention, the meal was a messy, loud, yet joyful event. Sitting on Rick's lap, she sputtered and spit and ate with her mouth wide open, full of pureed green mush and other unrecognizable so-called edibles. When she giggled, those poor souls nearest to her, mainly Carl and Amanda, were showered with bits and pieces of the stuff. "That's just nasty!" Carl complained.
"Stop making her laugh while she eats," Carol retorted, trying not too laugh herself.
Even Daryl smiled and he didn't try to hide it. "You got quite the appetite, Lil Ass-kicker." He leaned back sharply as a piece of something flew by him. "Aw, baby girl. You don't hafta share. Uncle Daryl made sure there's 'nough to go 'round."
"Hey, Dad, was I this messy when I was a baby?" Carl asked, wiping spittle from his cheek.
Rick laughed and patted his shoulder affectionately. "Son, it was pretty bad."
"Hell, this ain't nothin'. You shoulda seen that one over there," he nodded towards Amanda.
"Shut up, Daryl." She was gonna have to smother him in his sleep if he kept this shit up.
"Me and Merle," he laughed, "used to put Possum out on the back porch to eat wearing nothin' but a diaper . The dogs ate whatever hit the ground. They loved her."
Elbow resting on the table, Amanda poked her spoon in her uncle's direction. "I hate you."
"That's twice you done tol' me that today and I still don't believe you."
"Don't get mad, Amanda. We like Daryl's Possum stories. They make everyone laugh." Rick placed his hand briefly over hers and squeezed it. She felt her face flush at the seeming innocent touch. The gesture didn't go unnoticed at the table. Carol raised her eyebrows ever so slightly. Herschel just smiled. And Daryl...well fuck Daryl!
"I bet you could tell some real good 'Uncle Daryl' stories," Beth chimed in. Daryl's eyebrows raised as his hard blue eyes went from the young girl across from him to his niece with a clear warning in them.
As much as payback was a bitch, Amanda wouldn't take it that far. "Sorry, Beth. There's none I can tell in front of minors."
"Hey," protested Carl. "I wanna hear..."
Rick shook his head. "I don't think so, Carl."
"I'm thirteen..." he whined, proving just how mature he was.
"Carl," Herschel interrupted. "I tend to agree with your Dad. I don't think I'm old enough to hear any 'Uncle Daryl' stories."
Everyone laughed. "Damn straight." Daryl smirked and rose from the table. "I'm goin' to relieve Glenn and Maggie."
"Wait up, Daryl. I'll go with you. There's something I wanna talk to you about," Rick said and handed Judith off to Carl.
Well, shit, what the hell is that about? Amanda wondered with a sense of dread.
Thanks to all my readers! Please take the time to review and let me know what you think!
Special thinks to Siarh for your infinite patience and wisdom.
Happy reading!