AN: So, here's how this chapter's gonna work: I decided that since the last chapter will be the one after this and there's a fifteen year jump, I'd do like a highlight reel of every important event that happened over the fifteen years. I will put whatever the even was bold, underlined, and italicized then write about the event. You DO NOT have to read this but it might be kind of fun…and personally to keep everything in order I wanted to write it because I usually don't do time jumps and these were ideas I couldn't use on any other story. This isn't just about Daniel, yes he's in it, but as you can see the first thing is Lily and & Daryl's wedding. So here goes:
Lily & Daryl's Wedding:
It actually surprised Lily when Daryl asked her to marry him. Granted, he didn't have a ring, but she had never seen Daryl as the type to get down on one knee and ask for her hand in marriage. But, he did. So, at sunset one evening, about two months after Daniel was born, Lily dressed in a white sun dress that Beth had made for her, and allowed Rose to do her hair. She didn't wear high heels, in fact, she didn't wear shoes at all. She walked across the sandy beach, holding her bouquet of lilies, on her bare feet.
Rick married them, just as he had done for Glenn and Maggie, except, he left out the biblical stuff, since neither Lily nor Daryl were really religious people in the beginning. They said simple vows, that they'd written themselves (surprisingly Daryl's idea).
"I vow, to never let a walker eat any part of you flesh," Lily started, earning a surprised bit of laughter from the crowd. That's how they viewed it now, they had to laugh, or they might all go insane. "I vow to always be your hunting partner, and never complain about eating squirrel," another laugh. "And I vow to always love you, forever, always, and even during the zombie apocalypse."
Daryl smiled at her, the sun was hitting her beautiful face so perfectly. At this moment, there was nowhere he'd rather be then standing across from the woman he loved with all his heart, and surrounded by a group full people who had become family, and his actually family. His brother, his children…there wasn't a single thing he'd change.
"I vow ta do whatever I can ta keep ya safe…and protect ya from anythin' and everythin'. I vow ta hold you close on those nights yew jus' can sleep an' talk fer hours 'til the sun comes up. And, I vow to love you forever, always an' durin' the zombie apocalypse."
They two smiled at each other, as Rick finished the ceremony, with the "I do's". They shared a breath taking kiss as everyone in the group cheered.
Daniel's first word:
Lily was cooking a light breakfast for them all, because her and Daryl were going to go hunting on the other side of the yard. She had put Daniel in a wooden high chair with a bowl of mushy peas. He had gotten so big! His hair was getting long, and would probably need a hair cut soon, but he looked and acted so much like his father. When he didn't like someone, he'd simply ignore them and leave.
"Good mornin'," Daryl said against Lily's neck when he made his way into the kitchen and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.
"Good mornin' to you too," she placed her hand on his bare arm that was holding her close. "You're in a good mood, aren't ya?"
"I'm goin' huntin' with my wife, why wouldn' I be 'n a good mood?" Daryl loved to call her his wife…it just seemed so right.
"Mm. And what do you plan on doing to me once we're in those woods, Mr. Dixon."
"Everythin', Mrs. Dixon," he kissed her jaw and pulled away when he heard Daniel coo. "How's my lil' man?" Daryl asked as he kneeled in front of his son, crossbow on his back.
"Bow!" Daniel pointed.
"Did he just say 'bow'?" Lily asked from the kitchen.
"Bow!" Daniel called again. "Bow bow bow bow bow!"
"Our son's first word it bow…" Lily stated.
"He sure is our kid," Daryl chuckled softly.
First Date:
Lily was making lunch for everybody as Emily came bursting though the door. She had one of the happiest smiles on her face Lily had ever seen. Emily plopped down at the kitchen counter. She was now sixteen and was by no means the typical teenager, well by the old world's standards. She was a valued member of the group and helped with any chores that were needed.
"What's go you so happy?" Lily asked.
"It was great! So I was helping Carl fish from the dock…and he looked over at me and was all like, 'Emily, I really like you…and I'd love if you would go on a date with me later. So, will you?' and I was all 'Yes!' and he was all 'Awesome!'. Can you believe that?"
"That's so great," Lily said, losing her alacrity as she spoke.
"What's wrong? I thought you'd be happy for me…"
"I am. But your dad won't be so much."
"Oh God…I didn't even think about that! Please just keep his cross bow away from him.
"Why don't I just talk to him?"
"You would?"
"Yeah."
"Thanks mom! I'm gonna go find something to wear!"
A few moments later Daryl made his way down the stairs. He looked at Lily, then back in the direction of the stairs.
"Whut's got her so happy?"
"Well," Daryl took a seat on one of the dining room chairs and Lily came over and sat on his lap. She pressed a sweet kiss on his lips.
"Whut's up wit yew, fer that matter?"
"Can't a wife be happy to see her husband?"
"Not when we jus' got done bein' happy ta see each other upstairs."
"Maybe I'm just extra happy today," Lily grinned.
"Whut do yew want?" he sighed. Daryl knew something was up with those two.
"Okay," Lily sighed, still not moving from his lap. "Emily was outside with Carl and-"
"No," Daryl said automatically.
"No? You haven't even heard what I have to say."
"Don' matter. I kno' it's got somethin' ta do with Emily an' Carl."
"C'mon Daryl…please. He wants to go on a date with her."
"Hell no! He's six years older than her."
"And you're eight years older than me!" Lily countered.
"That's different…"
"How?"
"Yew ain' ma daughter."
"Daryl…c'mon…What did you expect, anyway? Those two have the closest age gap. What? You want her to go out with Aden?"
"Well…no…" Aden was Maggie and Glenn's son, who was ten years younger than her.
"Good, then it's settled she's gonna go out with Carl tonight."
"Fine but I'm gonna talk to him first."
"Don't scare the poor boy too bad," Lily said.
"As lon' as yer not in the room when I talk to 'im. Yew help Em."
"Fine…he'll probably be here soon," Lily got up and walked upstairs. She crept into Emily's bedroom where she was holding up one of the dresses Lily had given her. "How about this one?" the blonde asked as she held up an ankle length white dress that Beth had actually made.
"I don't know," Emily sighed, she threw herself back on the bed. "What did dad say?" she asked, while staring at the ceiling.
"He said okay," Emily sat up quickly and gave her adoptive mother a questioning look. "But, he has to talk to Carl alone."
"Ugh," the raven haired girl threw herself back onto the bed. "He'll never speak to me again! Shoot! Where's his bow!?"
"Don't worry, it's in our room," Lily chuckled softly. "And, he'll be good or he'll have to fear me." Emily laughed and smiled brightly at the blonde. "Now, let's get you dressed."
"Okay…"
About half an hour later, Emily and Lily walked down the stairs. Emily had her hair in a pretty waterfall braid down-do and was wearing the white dress, paired with a pair of black heels Lily had brought with her. Even with Carl's height barely reaching 5'8", Emily was still shorter, even with the help of the heels. She reached a mere 5'1" flat footed.
"Don' keep 'er out too late," Daryl warned.
"Yes sir," Carl said nervously. His face was bright pink and quickly escorted Emily to the door.
"Daryl Dixon! Did you scare that boy?" Lily asked.
"Only the righ' 'mount. He knows what I'll do if he hurts 'er."
"Fair enough," Lily got on her tiptoes and kissed Daryl's cheek. "I love you, my trouble causin' redneck."
"An' I love yew ma badass princess."
Lily giggled. It was still mid afternoon and the beach looked so beautiful. She peaked out the front window to see Daniel playing with Aden, she looked a little further to see Maggie keeping a watchful eye on her son and Lily's.
"C'mon," she pulled Daryl up the steps to the bedroom.
AN: So there were the little memory tibbits. I hope y'all liked them. Please let me know…I love reviews! Hopefully I get the final chapter out very soon. I wanted to post this one tonight just because I could and it wasn't essential to the story. Thanks y'all!