AN: I'll admit, I have been kinda dragging out Lily telling Daryl about being pregnant. I do apologize. I have a specific plan for that…I jumped the gun a bit on her finding out. She'll tell him soon, I promise.
The sun began to set low into the sky, and the group was discussing what they'd be doing during the night.
"I can captain," Lily offered. "I slept the whole trip here."
"You sure?" Mason asked.
"Yeah, I've drove before. Everyone can sleep in the...the..." she snapped her fingers trying to remember what the living space of the boat was called. "In there," she pointed.
"Sure there'll be enough room?"
"I don't know. It's your boat. Plus, they'll get soaked if they stay up here," Lily pulled her hair back with a hair tie that was on her wrist. "Give me the wheel, and go tell everyone the plan.
"Okay. Night, sis," Mason kissed his sister's cheek and went to the other end of the deck. Lily saw everyone file in. Emily and Carl took the lead, while Daryl was at the end. She focused on the task of steering. Instead of thinking about how she and Daryl hadn't spoken since earlier that day.
The staring night seemed to eat the boat, as they sailed through the ocean. All Lily could see was the deep blue of the sky, with sparklingly stars as it met the ocean blue water. The scent of the salty sea air, didn't bother her like it did some. She had never had sea sickness; in fact, she was comfortable on the ocean, given that she made this journey at least once a year.
"It's uh...kinda crowded in there..." a gruff manly voice said.
"I knew it would be," Lily replied, she didn't turn to look at the man behind her.
"I'm gonna chill out here," Daryl said as he made his way to the front of the ship, and stood next to Lily. She kept her eyes on the sea in front of her, either she didn't want any surprises to pop out, as unlikely as it was or she didn't want to look at Daryl.
"Okay," she said simply. It was the later, for sure. If he was mad at her, she'd be mad at him.
"So, when we git ta this place, where we sleepin'?" Daryl asked after a long silence.
"Depends. Do you still wanna sleep next to me?"
"Now an' forever," he closed the gap between the two. "I love yew, Princess."
"Sure doesn't seem like it, today anyway…" now Lily felt as if she was being kind of petty. Daryl was the strong silent type after all, and just because he wasn't talking to her didn't give her an excuse to be pissed at him. That would just be silly.
"Jus' tryin' ta keep ya safe. Yew can't run 'round an' be stubborn like yew were today. Like it 'er not. Yew gotta keep Emily safe."
"So do you," she protested.
"I kno'. But if she's only gonna git one a us. It's gotta be yew. Yer that mother figure."
Lily sighed. "You're right. I'm sorry I over reacted…" Daryl didn't reply, he simply wrapped his arms around Lily's waist from behind, and pressed his lips to her collar bone. "I love you too, you know that right?"
"Mm," he moved his lips up her neck, and began gently sucking on her skin. She couldn't help but moan, his lips felt to amazing against her skin. Even his facial hair felt nice. Which was surprising to her because, she'd always hated facial hair on a man, but Daryl just wore it too well? It was part of him. He kissed her neck more; this caused her to burn with the need to be with him.
"Daryl, we can't do this here…" Lily forced herself to say. She didn't like the truth of it anymore than he did. Daryl grunted, and pulled away. "We can when we get to the island. And, we'll have a whole house to ourselves."
"We will?" he asked.
"Yep, the guest house is mine. It has three bedrooms and two bathrooms."
"That'll be nice," Daryl half smiled.
"Won't it?" Lily agreed. "Emie'll get a room to herself…and so will we," she grinned.
The two stayed on the deck for the whole night, and only retired to the cabin once everyone else had woke. They slept soundly until Mason came and got them.
"We're here," he said.
Lily leaped from the bed, pulling Daryl with her. They quickly got off the boat and stepped onto the dock. Lily saw the snow white sand, and threw her boots and socks from her feet before she stepped into the smooth, grainy sand. It was soft one her calloused feet, she had been wearing shoes almost all the time for the past year.
"I'm in heaven!" she shouted. Mason smiled at his younger sister's actions. She'd always been like this when they'd arrive at the island. She loved being here so much, and he was glad to see her happy. At times they were the typical fighting brother and sister. But, most of the time they were loving, and protective of each other, even before the apocalypse.
"I'm gonna show 'em the house, Lil," Mason told her.
"Kay. I'll be here. Dibs on the guest house!"
"Fine!" Mason led the rest of the group, except Daryl, who stayed with Lily, into the large house. He showed them the kitchen first. It was large with two door black stainless steel fridge, a matching stove, and dishwasher.
"Does the electric work?" Maggie asked.
"Yes. This place runs on solar panels and wind turbines," Mason answered.
"What about food? How are we going to eat?"
"Deep freezer in the basement is fully stocked. There's also a wine cellar, but take it easy on the alcohol. We don't need anyone getting fall on their ass drunk."
"What about Judith? How's she gonna eat?" Carl asked. "We don't have that much formula."
"We can make a run into Rio sometime," Mason offered.
"Or," Merle started. "We coul' jus' wait fer little miss blondie-"
Rose slapped Merle's arm, causing him to stop.
"We should move on with the tour," Rick said. He didn't think Lily would want the whole group to know before Daryl did, especially not Emily or Olivia.
"Yes, good point," Mason smiled appreciatively.
OoO
"Want me to show you our house?" Lily asked.
"Whoa there Princess, yew tryin' ta git me ta move 'n wit ya?" Daryl acted shocked.
"Actually, that was you, back at the farm, remember?"
"Nah, yew must a heard wrong," he grinned as they started to walk down the beach. He slipped his hand around hers and gently swung it back and forth.
"That's what it was, Dixon," Lily laughed. They continued down the beach, passing the large, three story tan house, which was more window that wall, and had large double doors in the front. Next, they came upon and equally tan house, with a wraparound porch, two bay windows, and a big wooden white door. "Isn't just perfect?" Lily said wistfully, as if they were newlyweds picking out their first house together.
"Ya…it is," he agreed.
"C'mon, it gets better!" she pulled him up the three wooden steps and through the door. The old hardwood floor creaked beneath their feet as they walked. Lily showed Daryl the living room with an older big screen TV, walls and walls of movies, and two large leather couches. Next, came the dining room. It had a large oak dining table with six chairs.
The kitchen was always one of Lily's favorite rooms. It had marble counter tops, and appliances to match the kitchen in the main house. Other than all of the stuff it contained, Lily loved the fact that she'd be able to make meals for her family again. She loved to cook.
"The patio is out there," she pointed to a large glass door, as she took a seat on the island counter top. "What do you say, we break in this new house?" she grinned. Daryl didn't hesitate to make his way to her and attack her lips with his own.
"Lily!" a childish voice called.
"Aunt Lil!" another child's voice called.
"I'm in here!" Lily replied as she hopped down from the counter top. The pitter patter of little feet across the hardwood floor made her smile.
"Come build sand castles with us!" Emily smiled happily.
"Please?" Olivia begged.
"Yeah, just give me a minute. I wanna change my clothes first."
"Yew wan' me ta come too?" Daryl asked.
"No boys allowed," Emily said with her hands on her hips.
"Really?" Daryl mimicked her stance.
"Yeah, no boys allowed," Olivia joined. Lily chuckled as she slipped upstairs to the master bedroom. Once there, she found a pair of shorts and a tank top, which she'd left the last time she was on the island. Quickly, she dressed and went to join the kids.
"Our room's the door at the end of the hall way," Lily told Daryl as she kissed his cheek. "Make yourself at home."