"I don't like this game," Daryl protested. They'd only been attempting charades for about five minutes and already he was annoyed with it. "I don't even know half this shit no way."
It had been raining since the night before, and it seemed like the perfect night to have a game night if they were going to do it. Maggie, Glenn, Mark, and Sadie had joined them. The coffee table was moved out of the way and everyone was sitting in a circle on the floor except for Michonne. She had chosen to remain on the couch, arguing that she wasn't sitting on the hard floor when she didn't have to. She was cuddling Paul who was sleeping against her, sucking absently in his dreams.
"Fine, Daryl, we can play something else," Maggie said. "What do you want to play?"
"I think we've got Candy Land in there somewhere," Glenn offered. "That shouldn't be too hard for you. You could play with Hope and Judith, then you'd be sure to win."
"You think you're funny?" Daryl asked, throwing one of the rubber balls that was near him at Glenn. Judith and Hope, both of whom had been playing with the balls, went after it. Glenn caught the ball and held it out to Judith who took it with a "thank you" and immediately started trying to keep Hope from getting it.
"Well we know you like Twister," Maggie said.
"Ah! Twister! The game that's made public foreplay acceptable since the sixties, excellent choice," Mark said. He burrowed in the plastic container and came out with the box. "Anyone fancy a game? Daryl? Glenn?"
Both of them looked at him, but neither said anything. He grinned.
"No takers? Aren't y'all just wet blankets," Mark responded.
"Let's just play cards, then," Tyreese offered.
Everyone agreed and Mark went to rummaging in the box again. He dug out two decks of cards and tossed them at Glenn.
"Go fish?" Glenn asked. "At least everybody should know the rules to that one."
He started shuffling cards without waiting for a response. He shuffled them a little longer than he had to simply because he suddenly had Judith's unwavering attention. Watching his hands had mesmerized her to the point that she'd even given the ball over to Hope who took at went directly to Daryl, gaining access to his lap in an effort to get him to help her protect her newly acquired treasure.
"So Mark and I are planning something," Maggie said. "A soiree of sorts."
"What the fuck is that?" Daryl asked, picking up the cards that were appearing in front of him now.
"It's like a party," Michonne offered.
"We were talking about how rich all the people that must have lived here were," Mark said. "I mean you don't have hardwood floors throughout your house and marble everywhere else if you weren't pulling in a little more than minimum wage."
"And then we started thinking about all the closets we haven't even begun to raid and how many nice clothes we'd be able to find if we started some kind of organized search," Maggie said.
"So since Maggie has a little free time on her hands right now I suggested that she see what she could find. She can gather some stuff together and we'll suit everyone up. We could make dinner just a little bit nicer. Everyone can just sort of hang out afterwards, instead of rushing back home," Mark said. "It would also be a good excuse for some well needed haircuts," he said, cutting his eyes at Daryl and Glenn.
"I don't want to get all dolled up," Daryl protested.
"Oh come on, Daryl, it might be fun," Michonne said. "You do need a haircut, and I might like to see you all fancy.
Daryl glared at her and she smiled at him. She wasn't going to say anymore, but he knew what she was referring to, that much was clear.
"Got any fours?" She asked, deciding to start the game.
"Go fish," Daryl growled.
"You'll have to hand me a card," she responded. "I can't reach the deck and I'm not talented enough to pick one up with my toes."
Daryl handed her one of the cards.
"If ya ask me, sounds like a stupid idea," Daryl said. "It's silly."
"Of course it's silly," Carol said, "but silly doesn't mean it's a bad idea. I think it could be fun."
"I know better than to say it's silly," Glenn said.
"Good boy," Maggie said. "Now give me all of your eights, and twos…"
"Do you want eights or twos?" Glenn asked.
"Both," Maggie said.
Glenn handed her some cards.
"Doesn't work that way, you only get twos," he said.
"Yes, but now we all know you have eights too, so I'll take those, please and thank you," Mark said.
Glenn sighed and handed him a card.
"Oh, and we're making the party a lady's choice party," Maggie said. "So if you make us mad, you could just end up without a date."
"Oh, now I like that," Michonne responded. "See, Daryl? If you won't get a haircut and put on some nice clothes for me then I'll just go with someone else."
"Who the hell ya gonna go with?" He asked.
"I could go with Mark," Michonne said.
"Then who's Sadie gonna go with?" Daryl asked.
"Mark gets all the girls," Glenn said.
"I can go with Hope then if ya don't want to go with me, 'Chonne. Hope ain't said not one thing about my hair or my clothes," Daryl said.
Michonne nudged him with her foot.
"Sadie gets to pick who she's going with," Mark said, leaning over Maggie to get Sadie's attention. She was the only one that appeared to be taking the card game seriously. "Sadie had a gentleman caller today," he said when she looked at him.
"Beau still barkin' up that tree?" Daryl asked.
"No, it isn't Beau," Mark said.
"Stop," Sadie said. "Rick came to talk to me. Just talk."
"Rick just talking?" Maggie said, exchanging cards with Carol. "That's sort of a new approach for him, isn't it? I mean it's a little different than it was with Rachel. We didn't even know there was anything going on there before they started their watchtower adventures."
"Watch what?" Sadie asked.
"Watch TOWER," Maggie said. "It's a long story. We used to live in a prison, someone was always on watch. Let's just say the watchtower saw a lot more than just people keeping watch."
Sadie raised her eyebrows and nodded.
"Well I'm not Rachel," she said. "And we don't have a watchtower."
Glenn started laughing, quietly at first, but then it continued to grow.
"What's so funny?" Carol finally asked.
"Oh my God! Sadie sounds like the only one of us with any morals right now," Glenn said, barely controlling his laughter. "Watchtowers, pharmacies, prison cells, barns, you name it and at least one of us has probably done it there."
"Orchards," Michonne said smirking at Carol.
"Creeks," Carol shot back.
"I don't think it has to do with morals," Mark said. "Get your lovin' when and where you can, am I right? Sadie's just a tease."
Sadie reached over Maggie then and swatted at Mark.
"I am not a tease!" She said.
Mark shook his head and tried to look as serious as he could for a moment.
"Poor Beau, you teased that poor boy and ruined him. It was probably the first piece he ever thought he was going to get…probably had his tastes all ready for it…and then you snatched it right out from under him without so much as a consolation prize," Mark said.
Nearly everyone howled at that. Michonne looked at Daryl who had turned beat red and was trying to cover Hope's ears, even though the girl was far more interested in trying to bite the oversized rubber ball she had than she was in any of the conversation.
"She's not listening, Daryl," Michonne said, nudging him. "Y'all better watch out, though. Judith is a sponge. No phrases you don't want to hear ringing through headquarters over breakfast."
"I didn't tease Beau," Sadie said.
"What's going to be worse is when she finally gets done playing cat and mouse with Rick and decides to give in. Then the poor boy is going to have to see Rick playing with the toy he wanted," Mark said.
"Ok," Glenn said, "this conversation has gone bad. It's gone very…very bad. I can't even look at Sadie right now and I don't think I want to look at Beau or Rick for a while."
Daryl got up, picking Hope up with him.
"I'm puttin' my kid to bed before y'all get any rowdier down here," he said. He leaned over and let Michonne kiss Hope.
"I'll come with you, Daryl. I can put Judith down for Carol and Hope's not going to go to sleep without milk. She hasn't had any tonight, and I don't think you've got any magic tricks that I don't know about," Michonne said getting up. She passed a still sleeping Paul to Sadie, the baby stirring a little.
"Is that our cue to leave?" Maggie asked.
"Not hardly," Michonne said. "It's just the two of us taking an intermission. Y'all keep going…you know prizes, toys, pieces of things…I'm sure we'll catch right back up."
Michonne gathered up Judith who had decided to start her pre-bed cuddling in Tyreese's lap. The girl began to protest bedtime, a new hobby of hers, but Michonne ignored her. She followed Daryl up the stairs and left behind the conversation that had begun to pick up again.
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When everyone had finally gone home it was much later than usual. Michonne knew that if the rain didn't earn them an extra day of vacation they'd all be tired the next day. The conversation had been hilarious though, and they'd all dared to tell more than one secret about themselves leaving everyone blushing a time or two, especially Daryl.
Michonne hadn't told any real secrets on him, but she'd teased him all night like she was going to. It had been just enough to worry him, and the conversation had been just enough to get her wanting to stay up a little longer.
"If you wasn't pregnant, I'd beat you woman," Daryl said, just after he closed the bedroom door. "Threatening to tell everyone about me likin' it when ya put on things for me."
He reached out and grabbed her, pulling her to him. She could easily tell by the look on his face that he wasn't angry at all.
"I didn't tell them anything, Daryl Dixon," Michonne responded. She pulled a little loose from his grip and playfully swatted at him. "And don't you even say that you'd beat me because you and I both know that's a lie!"
Daryl grinned at her.
"OK, so I wouldn't beat'cha, but I would throw you over my lap and spank you for being bad like you was," Daryl said.
"Now that I might not be opposed to," Michonne said, biting her lip. "Pregnant or not."
Michonne could see that Daryl clearly didn't know where to go from here. He just swallowed and looked at her, a little uncomfortable.
"Could be fun," Michonne urged. She started toward the bed, stripping off her shirt and bra as she went. When she sat on the bed, shimmying out of her pants, she chuckled a little at Daryl still standing there, looking conflicted. "Come on over here, Daryl, teach me a lesson about teasing you in public," she said.
Daryl shuffled forward a little and Michonne fought with herself. She was barely holding back the desire to laugh at his facial expression.
"Ain't gon' hit ya, 'Chonne," he finally said, reaching the edge of the bed, but not getting anywhere close to her.
"Well no, Daryl, I didn't expect you to wail on me," Michonne said. "I'd have to kick your ass if you did that, but a little playful spanking never hurt anyone."
Daryl swallowed again. Michonne thought he might run away. She sighed.
"OK, fine, you don't have to do it, Daryl. Not if it's going to make you uncomfortable. I just thought you might enjoy it is all. I thought it might be exciting…" Michonne sighed again and ran her hand across the blanket. "But if you just want to keep doing the same boring things, I guess that's fine too," she looked up at Daryl.
"That ain't even fair," Daryl said after a second. "Don't be givin' me them damn doe eyes like you ain't doin' nothin'. You tryin' to make me feel bad now just 'cause I don't want ta hit ya!"
"That's because I'm not talking about hitting me, Daryl! I'm talking about having some fun together, I'm talking about trying something different," Michonne said, irritated.
"You wanna do somethin' different, fine, but I don't want ta hit ya and I ain't gonna do it. You're always doin' that, 'Chonne. You're always tryin' to make me do things I don't wanna do, like dressin' up for that stupid ass party that Maggie came up with," Daryl said, raising his voice.
"What did you just say to me?" Michonne responded back, raising hers to meet his. "Me? I'm always trying to make you do stuff that you don't want to do? Maybe if you weren't such a kid about everything I wouldn't have to work so hard to convince you that you might actually like things. I think I'd like to see you dressed up once to go to dinner with me and you can't just agree to that? You have to put me in a position where I've got to beg you to do it, but I'm supposed to be like your own personal paper doll or something and wear whatever you want me to wear so you can fuck me? God forbid I suggest something that might be a turn on to me because then I've got to coddle you and feel like I'm trying to get a six year old to eat his vegetables."
"I ain't no fuckin' kid!" Daryl shouted. "Don't fuckin' call me one! You hate wearin' shit so damn much then don't fuckin' wear it. Don't do me no damn favors!"
Michonne got up then and started found her underwear. She slipped back into it and got up, storming toward the dresser.
"Where you think you're goin' all halfcocked?" Daryl growled. "You better not be doin' nothin' stupid, Michonne!"
Michonne pulled on one of the oversized shirts she used as a night gown on the nights she bothered to put anything on and turned around.
"That's another damn thing," she yelled. "Stop fucking treating me like I'm an idiot. I'm pregnant, Daryl, not mentally disabled. I'm not made of glass, I'm not helpless, and I'm not stupid! For the last six months you and Carol and everybody else have treated me like I don't have enough sense not to drown in the rain and I hate it. I have hated every damn minute of it. I cannot wait for this baby to be out of me so maybe I can be treated with more respect than you give Judith!" Michonne could see that Daryl was boiling mad, and she didn't care because she was angry enough to explode.
"What you mean you don't get no respect? I fuckin' worship you most a' the damn time, what else do you want from me? You needed a safe place an' I fuckin' got that for you! I have busted my ass tryin' ta come up with ways to get you every damn thing you've needed and now you're fuckin' actin' like some kinda spoiled brat 'cause I don't want ya to do stupid shit an' get your ass hurt or get the baby hurt?" Daryl barked back.
"Oh aren't you just my knight in shining armor," Michonne growled. "You did it all for me? You, Daryl, you did all this, just for me? My fucking hero!"
Michonne started for the door and Daryl crossed the room quickly. She froze just as he reached out toward her arm.
"Don't you put your hands on me," she warned.
"Where the hell you think you goin'?" Daryl asked.
"I'm going to sleep on the couch, Daryl," Michonne spat. She realized now that she was breathing heavily and her heart was pounding.
"Don't do that, 'Chonne," Daryl said. He looked like he was calming down, but Michonne was still just as mad as she was before. "I'll go sleep on the couch if ya want me to, but stay up here."
"No, Daryl," Michonne replied. "I do not want you to sleep on the couch! Then you'll just lord that over my head too."
She turned heading back to the bed.
"What'cha doin' now?" Daryl asked. She felt even more infuriated for a moment because it was like Daryl had suddenly calmed down. Like now it was all over for him and it was supposed to just be all over for her.
"I'm getting my pillows," she said. She stopped and turned around. "You know what, never mind. I'm not getting them. That would just be spoiled of me." She stomped past Daryl and started down the stairs.
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Tyreese and Carol sat side by side in the bed, in the dark. When they'd first gotten to their room they'd both been a little turned on by the racy conversation of the evening, but when the world war had started up across the hall they'd both lost interest. Now they were both half-dressed and wondering what exactly had started the battle.
"Daryl's going to be a mess when he calms down," Carol said finally. "You're going to have to talk to him."
"What am I supposed to say to him, Carol? Sounds like they both gave it and they both got it," Tyreese said. "I guess that's fair enough."
"Do you think it was serious?" Carol asked.
"It sounded serious," Tyreese offered.
"But do you think it was serious like 'give it a day' or do you think it was serious like 'start cleaning out another house'?" She asked.
Tyreese chuckled.
"I think it was just a marital spat," Tyreese said.
"I've never heard them fight like that before," Carol said.
"Well, we're comfortable here, and they've been together long enough to get up under each other's skin, it was bound to happen," Tyreese said.
"Daryl could drive anyone crazy," Carol said, chuckling.
"Michonne can be a real peach too, you know," Tyreese said. "Don't worry, Carol, they'll get through this. If they're on their second child I supposed they deserve to have their first fight. At least it didn't sound like anything got broken."
"Do you think we're going to start fighting?" Carol asked.
Tyreese chuckled.
"Oh I'm sure we'll have our day, just not tonight, OK?" He responded.
"Not enough couches," Carol said.
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Michonne was finally starting to calm down and was regretting most of what she had said. She was still angry at Daryl for what he had said, but this wasn't her first fight, and she knew well enough that this was just how things went sometimes and that though they'd both meant, at least to some degree, what they'd said, their delivery could have used some improvement.
Michonne shifted, trying to get comfortable. Admittedly she now wished she hadn't insisted on being the one to sleep on the couch, but she had too much pride to go and admit that now.
She wasn't entirely surprised, though, when Daryl showed up a few minutes later, carrying one of the lamps, with a pillow and blanket tucked under his arm.
"Brought ya your pillow," Daryl said, putting the lamp on the coffee table that had been restored to its place after the gathering.
"It was such a nice night," Michonne said, taking the pillow from him.
Daryl sat on the coffee table and it creaked a little.
"So does this mean ya don't love me no more?" Daryl asked.
"Does it mean that you don't love me?" Michonne countered.
Daryl chewed his lip.
"'Course I still love ya," he said.
"And I still love you…" Michonne responded.
"I didn't mean to call ya spoiled, 'Chonne," Daryl said after a minute.
"Just because you didn't mean to say it doesn't mean you didn't mean it," Michonne said. "And maybe you're right. Maybe we're all getting a little spoiled here. I mean it's easier to be comfortable here than it has been anywhere since this happened." Michonne paused a minute. "I'm sorry I called you a kid," she said.
Daryl nodded his head slightly.
"Maybe I'll go to Maggie's stupid party," Daryl said. "If ya still wanna go with me…if you want to see me dressed up, then I reckon I owe it to ya 'cause I made you wear so much stuff that ya don't like."
"I don't really mind all of it," Michonne said. "But I would like to see you all cleaned up. You didn't even dress up when we got married."
"Neither did you," Daryl countered. "Nobody did."
"Exactly, so this could be our chance to dress up for each other," Michonne said. "It's just for one evening, it won't kill you."
"I reckon not, 'Chonne," Daryl said. He was quiet for a moment and then he sighed. "Fuck it, I don't know what I'm doin' here 'Chonne, so is we done fightin' now or what?"
"I'm too tired to fight anymore," Michonne said.
"You wanna come back to the bedroom now? Or you want this blanket?" Daryl asked.
Michonne lie there for a minute, considering her options. Finally she reached her hand out to Daryl and he pulled her up. She grabbed her pillow and started back upstairs with him following along behind her with the lamp.