Hi friends. Sorry for the delay with posting, but my hubby was off fighting a raging bushfire here in WA, so it was a pretty stressful few weeks for us! This is just a short fluffy chapter in the lead up to the big day :P Hope you enjoy and that it gets your weekend off to a positive start! Don't forget to leave me a review, it motivates me so much.
Daryl shot up in bed, decidedly disheveled yet willing to fight for his life when he felt an unfamiliar finger prodding him in the back. His peripheral vision reassured him that Beth remained, perfectly safe and still beside him. Maggie, however, was a completely unexpected guest in the darkness of their bedroom. She stood awkwardly over him, her hands flapping dramatically to indicate that he shouldn't talk, shouldn't disturb Beth.
"What?" he mouthed, still incredibly tired and irked at being awoken by his almost-sister-in-law.
"Come here," she mouthed back, taking silent steps towards the bedroom door towards the landing. She left the room and waited by the door so that Daryl had the opportunity to reach for his boxers before following her.
"Someone better be dying," he grunted as he closed their bedroom door behind him.
"This is important, stop being so grumpy. It's your wedding day!" Maggie reprimanded him.
"It's 2 o'clock in the fucking morning, is what it is. What do you need me for?" He begrudgingly allowed Maggie to shepherd him down the hallway towards the bedroom she shared with Glenn.
"We found something for you. For tomorrow. You should try it on." That was all the information she was offering, and Daryl knew from experience that it would be useless attempting to pry any further.
Glenn was lint-brushing a smart tuxedo suit that was hanging from the closet door in their bedroom. Daryl had to admit that his sleep-deprived brain lit up for a moment at the sight of the suit. It was handsome, he knew that much. He also knew that he'd never worn a thing half as nice in his entire existence.
"Daryl. Come here. There are a few – erm, sizes available, we just wanted to make sure we cleaned the right one." He glanced quickly at Maggie who kept her eyes focused intently on the carpet at her feet.
"Clean-?" Daryl trailed off as his brain slowly began to process the entirety of the situation.
"Did you take this suit off a corpse?" he groaned in disgust.
"Shh!" Maggie hushed immediately.
"Technically, we took the suit off an embalmed cadaver, if that helps?" Glenn shrugged apologetically as he held out the suit jacket to Daryl. He hesitated before taking it gingerly in his hand, the weight of it heavier than he expected.
"Why are you doing this?" Daryl raised an eyebrow in disbelief. They knew him by now, knew him to his very core. Daryl Dixon did not wear suits. Although, to be fair, Daryl Dixon also didn't generally fall in love and propose to women either. Perhaps this apocalypse had changed him in more ways than he realized.
"Damn it, Maggie, I told you we'd have to wrestle him into it!" Glenn grimaced.
"Of course we won't. Daryl is going to put on this expensive tuxedo, because my sister deserves a proper wedding despite the state of the world, and I'm sure as hell not letting this asshole marry her in a pair of dirty jeans and a sleeveless vest," she muttered as she rather forcefully shoved Daryl's arms into the tuxedo jacket.
"To be fair, your sister fell in love with me while I was wearing these dirty jeans and sleeveless vest, so…" he trailed off.
"I married a pizza delivery boy, but at least he showers semi-regularly," she commented, ignoring Glenn's huff of indignation.
"Perfect. It's like it was made for you, Dixon!" She brushed off his shoulders gently. Daryl caught a glimpse of his reflection in the mirror and felt his chest puff out just a little with pride at what he saw staring back at him.
"Except that it was made for a damn corpse…" he muttered, to ensure that Maggie's head didn't get too big.
"Now if only you'd let me cut your hair!" she continued, going to brush it off of his face but decided last minute that it was not the best idea.
"Not a chance. Only person ever touching my hair is Beth!" he ducked out of her way, before shrugging out of his tuxedo and handing it back to Glenn.
"Well, we've got the bride and grooms outfits organized. Our work here is done. Get back to bed or else you'll be dead on your feet tomorrow," she started to herd him back into the hallway like he was a damn sheep.
"Uh, Maggie, hold up," he turned to face her, suddenly very aware that he had only been wearing his boxers for the duration of this entire event.
"Listen, uh… thanks. For everything. I mean it." His voice was gruff, unfamiliar with apologies and sincere words unless they were directed at Beth.
He immediately saw her face soften as she processed his gratitude. The look of permanent anxiety that always seemed to cloud her pretty face eased momentarily, and her eyes sparkled at his in a way that reminded him of Beth.
"It's not a problem. You're my brother now, and I just want you to be happy." She blinked rapidly, perhaps diffusing a few tears.
"Well, I'm going to get some shuteye before tom-, uh, the big day," he gave her a small smile before sneaking back into his bedroom.
He tiptoed quietly back towards the bed. In his absence, Beth had rearranged herself over his half of the bed, no doubt lured by the warmth he had left behind. He awoke her as he struggled to climb in behind her as gently as possible.
"Hmmm, what happened?" she mumbled blearily as she reached for his arm, yanking it around her torso to hold her snug against his warmth.
"Nothing, princess. Go back to sleep," he murmured gently, pressing a soft kiss to her temple. A sleepy smile spread across her face, and he made sure he took a few moments to thank whatever powers that be for the woman next to him.