All eyes focused on Daryl once he'd made his quiet pronouncement. Glancing around the room, Rick got the impression that none of them could fathom the idea of someone—one of their own—never having celebrated Christmas. Come to think of it, Rick found it a bit disconcerting himself.
It was at that moment, seeing the look of embarrassment mixed with sadness on his friend's face, that Rick's course of action was decided. He didn't want to ever see that look in Daryl's eyes again. Looking across the room, he locked eyes with Carol and he knew…she felt it too. She was in! Together, they were going to ensure that Daryl's first Christmas would be one to remember.
Rick remembered the silence following the quiet pronouncement. Nobody had known quite what to say. Finally, the suddenly uncomfortable silence had been interrupted by Glenn's quiet voice.
"It's alright, Daryl. It's not always that big a deal. And besides, now you have it to look forward to!"
Rick had shot Glenn a look of thanks, thanks for stepping in and smoothing the situation over. He'd noticed some of the embarrassment leave Daryl's features, even as he ducked his head, allowing his hair to hang in front of his eyes in a familiar move, effectively shielding him from those around him. Across the room, Glenn had given Rick a quick smile and shrugged his shoulders slightly as if to say 'I tried!'
Now, a week later, Rick was putting his plan into action. He and Carol had enlisted the help of some of the others over the past week and it had paid off. Where their celebration was originally going to consist of a small, table-top tree—a stick with some spindly branches, really—the constable had sent Abraham and Rosita out to find an actual tree.
They had returned with not only a tree, and a beautiful one at that, but actual Christmas wrapping paper and some lights. Evidently those things weren't highly sought after in an apocalypse. Lucky for them! Jessie had been happy to store their haul in her garage until needed, lessening the chance of Daryl catching on to what was going on.
Carol had explored the attic of not just their house but the neighbors' also, and come up with several boxes of ornaments as well as a large Rubbermaid container filled with strands of lights and a train to go under the tree.
Glenn and Maggie had spent their evenings making stockings for everyone. Granted, they weren't the traditional "Santa" stockings. Rather, they were large socks with various fabric scraps glued on to form each person's name. Even Daryl's. Especially Daryl's. Rick was sure he was imagining it, but it really seemed as if Daryl's stocking was just a tad larger and brighter than everyone else's. Not to mention the fact that his was the only stocking with extra glitter surrounding the name.
They had all, as quietly and inconspicuously as possible, spent the last week gathering gifts—on runs and around Alexandria. Rick, himself, was extremely excited about the supplies he'd found—supplies that would enable Daryl to make more bolts. Even more exhilarating was the piece de resistance—a gift that Rick hoped would be accepted by Daryl and treasured.
Shaking himself out of his reverie and trying to come back to the present, Rick shot a glance at his companion, who had remained silent as he lost himself in his thoughts. Now, she stood watching him quietly, waiting for his command. Beckoning her with a wave of his hand and a finger to his lips, the former sheriff turned to head towards the stairs.
"Come on, Carol. We've got work to do."
The two conspirators fairly bounced down the staircase, totally oblivious to the fact that they carried the demeanor of two excited school children about to embark on a secret escapade.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Rick and Carol crept as quietly as possible to the living room. Moving quickly, they entered the room and looked around. Once inside, they stopped to relish the silence and solitude of the room, lit only by the dimly flickering fire in the fireplace. But, Rick told himself, there was no time for this.
There was work to be done. Turning to Carol, he laid out the plan. If they stuck to the schedule he'd outlined, they'd just have time to finish everything before the rest of the family, and especially Daryl, awoke.
Looking into his companion's bright blue, excited, eyes, Rick gave the word.
"Come on, Carol. Let's get to work."
"Aye, aye, Captain. Let's get to work," Carol echoed, giving a mock salute while trying to keep both feet planted firmly on the floor.