Hello all. Chapter 5 has arrived.
If this chapter seems choppy or strange it is because I've contracted a rather nasty stomach bug that brings me pain every so often. I apologize ahead of time if the chapter isn't up to par. I just did not want to leave you all hanging for two weeks. The next chapter might not be up for another week because I have a very important paper to start writing for my English class and that will require most of my attention. So, give me a week and a few days to post chapter 6, please. I don't know how long I will have this illness.
I want to thank those who have reviewed, favorited, and followed me and my stories. You are all so kind!
AN: REMINDER: I am creating an alternate website for the M rated chapters of this fic that I will not post on here, but I will be putting a link at the end of each M or M+ chapters that I dwindled down to T rating. You can go to that website if you are interested. I will be using that site for fanfictions that are similar and I have one that will definitely need it.
I am happy to announce that my story has had over 1,200 views! I am so thrilled to see that people are looking at it! Thank you all!
Please Review!
Enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead or the characters. They belong to their respectful owners. I only own my OC(s).
Chapter 5
The world seemed to stop turning and time stop ticking. Everything froze in place. The man and woman stared at each, incredulous, excited, and bewildered. As Daryl stared at her, his dark blue eyes widened, his feet feeling like lead. His heart skipped to a race, his mind starting to spin as he stared at her, the ghost of the woman he so missed. Daryl wondered if he was dreaming, but as his eyes skimmed over her he knew she had to be real. She looked too real. She had to be real, she was even covered in blood and aged with time.
"MaryJane?" He managed with his gravelly voice.
Tears welled up in her eyes, her legs trembling at the amount of emotion that was taking over her. There he was! At last! Daryl in the flesh! He was alive, so very alive! Oh, how she missed him! The ache in her bones returned and her knees were ready to collapse from under her.
"Daryl," She whispered, her voice breaking.
She lunged across the cell and threw herself into his arms, her own arms wrapping around his neck. The dam broke, tears spilling from her eyes and sobs erupting from her throat. Daryl didn't move, stunned by the impact. She felt so real. When he inhaled he caught a whiff of her scent, that sweet, intoxicating scent he knew so well. His arms, shaking violently, wrapped around her. When his hands touched the material of her jacket he was gone. His arms coiled tightly around her, pulling her violently against him.
With an arm holding her waist, the other went up to cup the back of her neck, memorizing the soft feel of her hair as he did before. Daryl's mind was spinning so fast that he felt his knees begin to tremble. Everything inside him rejoiced, his racing heart, his gut, his hands, everything. As he held her, trying to take in what just happened and in reality of it, Daryl felt the angry tears turn into water of joy. Taking a deep breath of her smell, he closed his eyes tightly in relief. A tear fell from Daryl's eye as he buried his face in her neck.
MaryJane inhaled his musky scent that was laced with sweat. Her heart was beating feverishly against the cage in her chest. Her arms left his neck to wrap around his torso, grabbing tightly onto his leather vest. His body was so large and warm around her. The safety she felt with Daryl returned and never had she felt this safe since the apocalypse. She felt whole again, like that empty place had been filled now that she was with him.
That pitting in Daryl's chest vanished and the empty ache in him ceased to throb. He reaffirmed that she was in his arms by loosening his arm then retightening it. With every second that passed by it became all the more real. MaryJane sobbed violently against him in relief and Daryl sniffed quietly, barely feeling the tears that started to stream out of his eyes.
The world around them vanished and nothing else mattered. A walker could've walked in and Daryl wouldn't have noticed nor cared. She was here! She was with him! She was fuckin' alive! Holy fuckin' Christ! With hearing those thoughts finally break through the spinning chaos in his head he pulled back from her slightly, looking down at her with an incredulous expression and it almost looked like he was in physical pain from what he felt on the inside.
"MaryJane," He whispered deeply and in disbelief.
Her water filled whiskey eyes gazed down into hers intensely. She stared back up at him, her face pink and cheeks tear stained. God, she looked beautiful.
"You're real?" Daryl asked weakly.
She nodded, lifted a hand to rest it on his cheek. "I'm real…are you?"
Daryl's hand swiftly grabbed hers, keeping it against his warm cheek. Her hands were chilly and clammy from anticipation. Her hand felt real against his skin. The tracker's heart skipped a beat as he turned his face into her hand, his lips gently kissing her palm.
He nodded feverishly. "Fuck yeah,"
Daryl's eyes stared back into hers. There were no words to describe what either of them felt. All they knew is that it had been too long. Daryl didn't release her hand as he lifted his free one to cup her wet cheek. MaryJane stepped closer, their bodies molded together. Daryl's fingers grazed across her skin and he let an incredulous chuckle escape his slightly parted lips.
MaryJane stared into his eyes adoringly, her mind flashing to the past of their relationship that had grown from nothing into something beautiful. Something that helped Daryl stay on a relatively good path throughout his life. Now, he didn't have to stray far.
Dark blue eyes just gazed at her, soaking in her features, unfazed by the age that had begun to weather her youthful features. Despite it all, she was still beautiful to him. The disbelief that raged inside him made him question, again, if she was real. All that time wondering if somehow she was alive was well spent. That feeling he never nurtured deep down in his gut had been true all along. It made him wonder why he even began to doubt her in the first place.
"I thought you was dead." He breathed, his calloused hands feeling her soft skin.
"I'm not though…I made it." She smiled back in a whisper.
"Yeah, ya did…yer fuckin' alive." Daryl nodded in relief, letting the emotions wash over him completely.
He leaned his head down and pressed his forehead against hers. Their eyes closed at the contact, hearts rejoicing, reveling in the assuring contact and presence. It was like a story from one of those stupid romance novels MaryJane used to read. She made it her job to tell him about the story and the characters. At the time he couldn't give two shits, but now he understood what she was talking about. He understood what the characters felt like, especially the male love interest in the story. He understood how a man could long and yearn for a woman. Daryl finally understood how one's life can be changed in one burst of light from just one glance or one word and how what he thought was wrong was right and vice versa.
He was a man once blind, but no longer. Her soft breaths ghosted against his parted lips. The cracks in his once broken heart were sealed, like it had never been broken, but the remnants of shadows remained in the scars. Daryl opened his eyes, brushing his nose gently with hers. Her whiskey eyes gazed fondly into his with a mix of something he had no real knowledge of. When he spoke, his voice was pitiful and full of heart wrenching pain, almost like a child.
"I missed ya."
Fresh tears welled up in MaryJane's eyes. Daryl gave her no room to speak as he pressed his lips gently against hers. A tear fell from her whiskey brown eyes as her hands cupped the side of his face, burying her lips harder against his. Daryl's muscular arm wound around her waist, while the other cupped the back of her head, keeping her lips molded with his. The kiss grew desperate as the emotions fell on top of them like a brick wall. Breaths grew heavy and fast and blood began to boil. Daryl's lips moved over hers possessively, his hands tightening their hold on her.
In unison, having known the kiss of the other before, parted their teeth, their tongues meeting in a desperate fashion. They explored the other's mouth, relearning. MaryJane moaned against him, making his feet move forward. On her tiptoes, she let him push her back into the cell bars. The metal dug into her back painfully, but she didn't feel it. All she felt was Daryl, the one person that meant more to her than her own life. Her lean fingers buried their way into his longer hair. His facial hair tickled her chin at times as he moved his head to gain better access to her mouth.
MaryJane's mind flashed back to the past and the time the world was safer. Her mind made her remember her and Daryl and the way they were before they got separated and the world turned sour. As much as she wanted the past back, she knew the future would be better now that they were together again.
With the quick loss of oxygen, MaryJane broke the kiss, gulping in a deep breath of air as Daryl placed a light kiss to the corner of her mouth and rested his forehead on hers, getting his own breath back. The cell was silent except for their heavy breathing. Her heart raced in her chest as she held tightly to his face, assuring herself that he was real.
"How?" Daryl managed, opening his eyes to look into hers.
Her whiskey eyes opened slowly, her eyelashes fanning her face as she did so. Daryl's chest twisted at the sight.
"Con's group found me." She replied after taking a deep breath.
Daryl's dark brows furrowed, tilting his head as he gave her a questioning look.
"Who?"
One of MaryJane's fingers ran along his cheekbone soothingly.
"He's the leader of the group I've been staying with." She elaborated.
He nodded, but the dark questioning look remained. She sighed pressed one of her palms against his cheek.
"Let me start from the beginning and please don't freak out when I tell you some things okay, 'cause I know you will."
"A'ight," He replied quickly and sharply.
She furrowed her brows. "Promise me."
His dark eyes were sharp like his voice. "A'ight, I promise."
She broke eye contact as she put together the right words to explain. "Well, after we lost touch for those few years I'd gotten a student teaching job in Atlanta. On the day the walkers rose I had the day off so when I saw the news I was farther away from the disaster zone than most…" Her eyes zoned out as she recalled one of the most terrifying moments in her life. "…I flipped out and just grabbed a bag of things and left. I only had a pocket knife with me, but I drove back to your place as far as I could. Unfortunately, I had troubles and my car broke down. I was attacked by a few of those things and I managed to fight them off—"
Daryl jerked a few feet away from her like she burned him, his blue eyes fiery, his face contorted in a dangerous rage.
"Fuckin' Merle! Goddammit!" He snapped, kicking the wall beside him in derision.
MaryJane swallowed, but had seen Daryl snap like that before. He blamed Merle and himself.
"Daryl, you promised." She reminded, her hands grabbing the ends of her shirt.
His wide, enraged eyes shot to her, making a few of her muscles wince at the sight of the boiling anger in him.
"Fuck that shit, MaryJane, ya coulda been killed!" He snarled, gesturing to the cell door with a sharp flick of his arm in emphasis.
She took a tentative step forward, holding hand out, pleading.
"Daryl, it's not your fault and don't go blaming Merle either."
Daryl looked like a restless, pissed stallion, pacing his cell, his hands flexing into fists.
"Fuck that 'it ain't my fault'! I shoulda come after ya! Fuck wha' Merle said! I shoulda jus'..." He trailed off and laid a punch to the wall. "…fuck me!"
MaryJane's heart was racing quietly in her chest. She let silence pass between them, hoping he would calm down a little before she spoke again. When she did speak her voice was gentle, but pleading.
"Daryl, please...I don't want you to blame yourself. I can't let you do that."
His temper having not calmed, Daryl snapped back at her. "What if ya had died? Huh?! What if I found ya like one o' those things?! Whadaya think that woulda done ta me, MaryJane?!"
She flinched at his tone, but held her ground, keeping her voice soft and reassuring as she stook a step closer to him. She wanted to reach out and touch him, assure him like she used to, but now when he got angry it was uncontrollable. That was something that changed about him.
"I know what it would've done to you. It would've done the exact same damn thing to me to...but it didn't happen." She beseeched warmly.
Somehow, her words calmed him, his shoulders relaxing and hands falling limp from the tight fists they were in.
"I shoulda come fer ya." He repeated firmly, but softer, almost like he was wanting the last word.
MaryJane approached him then, wrapping her arms around him in a comforting hug. She felt him relax further against her. Daryl leaned his head down and buried his nose in her hair, inhaling the scent that always helped calm him in the past.
"It's okay. It's over. We can't change the past any more than we can control the future. Please, Daryl, let it go…for me."
Daryl was silent for a long time and that silence told her that he wasn't about to let it go. She gave the wall a mournful look.
"...I think ya gots more ta tell me."
She knew the conversation concerning his inactivity to save her wouldn't die and it would be brought up again in the foreseeable future. She wished he'd let it go. It didn't matter anymore. The past was the past and to change it is impossible. No need to live in it.
MaryJane nodded, deciding to let sleeping lions lay and continued with her story, never moving from her hugging position.
"After I fought them off I was lost as to where I was, but I knew I was too far away from you and Merle to find you so I ran into the forest. For days I lived off the land like you taught me. It was hard and I was scared, but somehow I made it through. I think it was a week later that Con's group found me and offered me a place amongst them. Ever sense then I've been with them...I never gave up hope that you were out there and still alive." There was a smile in her voice as she spoke the last sentence. "I knew you and Merle were out there because if there was any people I knew that would survive it would be the Dixon brothers."
Daryl was silent as he soaked in her recount and, like always with her, he could talk about what he felt. Only with her did he really talk.
His voice was reserved, but MaryJane could feel what he was feeling. The pain and the uncertainty and the fear.
"I didn't know if ya was alive or dead. I wanted ta know either way...ta put my mind at ease...but I never found ya. Then I...then I got tha ideas that maybe ya was a walker, hobblin' 'round Atlanta...jus' tha thought o' losin' ya then havin' ta put ya down...I..."
MaryJane's lip twitched, the picture of Daryl looking at her walker with hurt and sadness. She wondered if tears would be streaming down his face upon finding her like that. Would he hold her after he killed her? Would he bury her or leave her to rot?
She the image from her head quickly. "It's okay...I understand...I know."
She felt his hands come to rest on her ribcage to awkwardly return the contact. "Ya was lost ta me fer so long...life had little meanin'."
MaryJane shook her head physically. "Oh, that's not true. You have Merle and this group, a group you're dedicated to."
His own head shook. "Nah, if you was 'ere I woulda fought a lot harder than I have."
Somehow she doubted that and she made it known.
"You would've fought to the extent of your strength to protect everything you care about."
Daryl was quiet as he searched for words, his fingers moving on her ribcage absentmindedly. "Fightin's become pointless at times. There was times I jus' considered givin' up 'cause it wasn't you I was protectin'."
She lifted her head to look into his dark eyes. She lifted a hand and moved some of his bangs from his eyes so she could see them better.
"But you did fight when I wasn't here and you didn't give up. If you had not cared and given up...you wouldn't be here. The question is why did you not stop fighting even though I wasn't here?"
Daryl shrugged, looking away and MaryJane gave him a look.
"Don't shrug. A verbal answer please."
"Ya know why." Daryl replied, his bangs falling into his eyes again.
"The same reason I kept fighting...hope."
Daryl's eyes flickered between the two of hers, his expression emotionless. Thinking he didn't understand she explained.
"No matter if I was losing enthusiasm of finding you I never lost hope. I had hope and true knowledge that you were alive. Even though I never found you I always had hope that one day I would."
The tracker grimaced slightly. "I'd jus' bought given up on hope."
Curious, MaryJane asked. "Well, when you did...when you gave up hope what did you feel here?" She pressed her hand against his chest, where his heart was. "Did you feel it here that I was forever lost or dead?"
Daryl gazed at the hand on his chest for a moment. Carefully, he lifted a hand and covered hers with his, his fingers curling around her hand, holding it there. He just stared at their hands, not knowing what it was, exactly, he felt. All he knew was that he had been right.
"I felt that you was alive. Ya had to be."
"Why?" MaryJane asked, earning a shrug and a sharp response from him.
"Damn ya already know, woman!"
"Daryl," She chastised softly.
He rolled his eyes, his fingers tightening on her hand reflexively. "Yeah, yeah, no damn shruggin'."
She giggled, earning a soft gaze from him, his heart missing the sound of her laughter. Her smile made her face glow creating a weak spot in Daryl's heart.
"Why did I have to be alive?"
Daryl's dark eyes shot to hers, the intensity in his eyes stopping her heart for a moment. The dark blue orbs scorched into her face and her soul felt like it has burst into flames.
"'Cause I wanted ya ta be."
A deep silence grew in the room as MaryJane immersed his words. She glanced down in her lap, then to her breast pocket. The ghost of a smile formed on her lips as she pulled the flap up and pulled the picture from the pocket. Her eyes flickered up to Daryl who glanced between her and the picture. With a bite to her inner cheek she held it out to him.
"I've had this with me since I took it." Daryl took it, gazing at it. "It's never left my sight. It was a reminder for me, when I myself felt that the running and fighting wasn't worth it...that death seemed like the best solution."
Daryl chuckled lowly as he observed the picture of a younger him.
"What?" MaryJane asked with a hint of a chuckle in her voice.
She furrowed her brows as Daryl dropped her hand, reached into his own breast pocket and pulled a picture out, handing it to her which she took easily. When she looked at it she chuckled too.
"I've had yers since back then. I ain't let nothin' happen to it."
MaryJane swallowed, biting her lip. The picture was worn with age, crinkled and blood stained like Daryl's was. Amusement welled up in her, another giggle bubbling from behind her lips in absurdity.
"It's pretty ironic, isn't it?"
Daryl shrugged carelessly. "I ain't ever believed in coincidences."
She nodded, gazing at the younger version of herself, feeling the crinkles edges of the small wallet photo.
"I can't believe you kept it." She breathed.
Daryl bit the inside of his cheek before answering. "It's the only reminder that you was real...that we was real...that what we had was real and that I'd have it again someday..."
MaryJane felt a lump form in her throat at his words, tears beginning to blur her vision. She licked her lips and looked into his eyes.
"Daryl..."
Daryl saw the tears and he stiffened. "Now, don't go fuckin' cryin' on me again. Ya know I don't like no cryin' women." He said tersely.
That made her giggle because it was true. Poor Daryl still didn't know how to comfort a sobbing woman even after he had succeeded several times in the future. She sniffed and sighed.
"Merle said something similar to me earlier."
"Same apples from the same damned tree." Daryl replied matter-of-factly.
Unable to resist, MaryJane lifted on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. Daryl's eyes closed at the feel of her lips on his. A thrill drove through him and instantly he kissed her back, pulling her body flush against his. Her hands gripped the lapels of his leather vest, holding him close. Daryl tilted his head to gain better access to her mouth which she granted, moaning in the process. The euphoria Daryl felt at the sound she made shot him back to a time where his control was lost. Lost because of those little noises she made, seducing him and making him want to have her again like he did before.
MaryJane's breath hitched in her throat as Daryl's rough hands on her hips, slipped under her jacket and shirt, barely brushing the bare skin of her hips. Her heart began to race as fast as a Thoroughbred's run, her blood beginning to rush faster in her veins. She shivered as she felt the callouses on his fingertips ghost along the skin of her hips. A stirring deep down inside her tightened, the feeling curling deliciously in her stomach. She recognized the elation instantly. Desire.
She kissed him harder as his fingers moved higher, leaving tingles in their wake. They stopped a few inches higher, his thumbs joining his fingers to grip her skin gently. In response, MaryJane's hands snaked towards the buttons on his shirt, her fingers shakily loosening a few of them. With a little of his chest exposed, she pressed one of her hands on his chest, running her fingers down the center of his chest, feeling the sparsely placed hairs. Daryl stiffened under her touch, but she knew that stiffening. It wasn't a bad one, one that told her she was testing him. Even though her touches were small and rather insignificant, they made the blood in the hunter's veins boil.
Daryl started to move his hands higher when a voice broke the blissful moment.
"Ooo, I came at tha right damn time! Whoo! Get you some, MJ!"
With a gasp, MaryJane stepped back and Daryl growled, sending his brother a glare. Merle grinned in that Merle way.
"Ya don't 'ave ta fuckin' stop on my account. It was jus' gettin' so fuckin' good."
Daryl's jaw clenched while MaryJane's face wen red with mortification. Merle was leaned casually against the cell entrance, arms crossed, and a mischevious smirk on his lips. Daryl wanted to smack it off so damned bad. His hand physically itched at the image of doing it. MaryJane took another step away from Daryl to put a good amount of space between them. Daryl shot her a look and went over to her, standing slightly in front of her.
"Somethin' important ya wanted ta tell me, Merle. If ya came 'ere ta—"
Merle held up his only hand to cut his brother off. "Cool yer goddamned jets, little brotha, I's jus' tha messenger fer Officer Friendly."
Daryl rolled his eyes quickly and crossed his arms, giving Merle an expectant look. "Wha' does Rick want?"
Merle's eyes flickered to MaryJane who's eyes were averted to the floor, face as red as a beat, then back to Daryl.
"He wants ta introduce ya ta tha new group and their leader…and ya outta introduce MJ ta him and our group as yer woman."
Daryl just glared at his brother. Merle's icy blue eyes rested on MaryJane.
"Daryl still give good smack, MJ?"
MaryJane's eyes shot up to the older Dixon who was holding back a burst of laughter.
"Wouldn't you like to know. Why don't you kiss him yourself and find out?"
Merle let that burst of laughter out, throwing his head back as he did so. "I knew there was a damn good reason why I liked ya!"
Daryl growled and stalked towards Merle who held up his hand in defeat. "A'ight! A'ight! I'm fuckin' goin'! Report ta Officer Friendly, ASAP. He's in tha kitchen wit tha others."
When Merle left, laughing to himself Daryl just glared at where his brother once stood. MaryJane, feeling a little better, hugged Daryl from behind. His heart grew every time she hugged him and he felt his anger dissipate.
"Nice come back." Daryl commented after a few moments of silence.
MaryJane just giggled against his back. The corners of Daryl's lips twitched at her giggle. She released him and took his hand, lacing their fingers together.
"Come on,"
She tugged on his hand and he followed her from the cell. Daryl led the way, briefly telling her directions in the prison. When voices began to get closer Daryl pulled his hand from hers. It didn't sting like MaryJane thought it would when he did that. Surprisingly, she was okay with it. Daryl was Daryl and he didn't like showing any kind of affection in front of others. She knew that first hand and now was no different. Even though their hands were separated, Daryl stuck close to her, the backs of their hands brushing at times.
Daryl led her into the mess hall which was filled with people they both knew and didn't know. Daryl eyed the newcomers with natural suspicion and walked up to Rick who was talking to a taller, older man. When Rick turned and saw Daryl he nodded. Rick's eyes flickered to MaryJane and nodded to her as well.
"Daryl, this is Con Slade, we found him and his group on the run earlier. Con this is Daryl Dixon."
Con held out his hand and Daryl took it. Daryl was surprised to see a warm smile spread across the man's face.
"I know ya, son. MaryJane 'ere's told me all 'bout ya. She's has been lookin' fer ya fer a long time."
Daryl nodded, glancing back at MaryJane who was smiling at Con like a daughter would smile at her father.
"I've been lookin' fer 'er too." Daryl replied, shaking the man's hand.
MaryJane's heart swelled as she saw the two men get along with just a short introduction. She wanted Con to like him and she wanted Daryl to like Con. Their hands fell away as Con nodded in response to Daryl's words.
"I'm real glad we's found ya, son, MaryJane's been pretty heartbroken…" His steel blue eyes rested on MaryJane with a gentle smile. "…now I can see that, that ain't tha case no more."
Daryl didn't respond, but replied. "I want ta thank ya fer lookin' out fer 'er when I couldn't."
Con shrugged his thanks off. "Ain't no problem. She's like another daughter ta me. I wouldn't let nothin' happen ta her. Then again, she can take care o' herself pretty well."
MaryJane flushed at Con's compliement and brushed it off. "I'm not that good."
The silver haired man just shook his head and looked at Daryl. "Ya got one strong woman there, Daryl, a damn good woman."
Daryl nodded firmly. "I know,"
After a few seconds silence, Con slapped a hand on Daryl's shoulder. "Any friend of MaryJane's a friend o' mine. Let's introduce ya ta our little family."
Daryl followed, glancing to make sure MaryJane followed him. She let her fingertips brush the back of his hand in comfort.
Con introduced Daryl to his wife, Katie whose eyes widened at the sight of him. She threw Daryl off when she tackled him with a hug. He stood there awkwardly, glancing at MaryJane who was just smiling. Katie finally released him.
"It's so nice to finally meet you, Daryl! MaryJane's told me so much about you!"
Daryl just nodded to her and she didn't seem to mind his lack of conversation. He assumed it was because MaryJane told her of his non-talkativeness.
"I knew she'd find you! I just knew it! Thank God for bringing you to her!"
MaryJane took the hug Katie offered. Con smiled fondly at his wife and MaryJane.
"Thanks fer lookin' out fer her." Daryl replied after a few moments.
Katie gave him a fond look. "I love this girl like she was my own. I'm just glad she can be happy now."
Daryl glanced at MaryJane who was watching him. She offered him a grin which he halfway returned. Katie didn't let the silence last long as she grabbed Daryl's arm and directed him towards her biological daughter and grandchildren. Daryl liked the daughter who seemed rather beaten down and wore out. Her two little boys eyed Daryl suspiciously, but when they were told who it was, they both attached to his two legs. Both of the boys talked to him about two different things at the same time.
The tracker just gazed down at the kids then to MaryJane as if to say: 'Save me'. MaryJane liked the image of those boys hanging off Daryl like he was something fascinating. Daryl wasn't a man who really liked kids, but tolerated them. Deep down, MaryJane knew he'd make a great dad, but bringing a child into this world was something he nor any other man would want. Before, MaryJane wanted kids and a part of her still did, but it was too dangerous now. She'd probably die giving birth without the proper hospital treatment.
MaryJane introduced Daryl to Slim, his wife and son. Charlie was sitting in a chair due to his sprained ankle and after Daryl talked to his parents he sat down next to Charlie. Daryl caught on easily with Charlie who used a bow to hunt. Daryl's whiskey eyed woman smiled fondly at the two as they started to talk to Charlie about bows and techniques.
Thirty minutes passed and Daryl became acquainted with most of the group, minus the kid in the corner who glowered at Daryl. Throughout the slightly awkward introductions on Daryl's part he'd taken notice of the young kid in the corner of the mess hall. He'd also taken notice when he saw the kid staring at MaryJane.
The possessive Dixon streak rose up, making him step closer to her in response, his stance becoming one of protectiveness. The way the young boy was looking at her made Daryl want to punch his pretty face. He gazed at Daryl's woman like she was a something he wanted to possess and have. It irked Daryl and he felt suspicion well up in him towards the kid and MaryJane. He made a mental note to ask her about the kid later on.
"MaryJane, this is Carol." Rick introduced before walking off to speak with Con.
MaryJane greeted the older woman with a wide smile. Carol was taller than her and lean with short cut silver hair. She was really pretty for a woman her age and she just let off this aura of gentleness and warmth. She was probably a big mother figure in the group. Carol told her that she did most of the cooking and laundry for the group. MaryJane immediately found a kindred spirit in Carol. She would be talking to her about Daryl. Carol made her own mental note to talk to MJ about Daryl's obvious protectiveness of her.
Next, she was re-introduced to Carl and Michonne whom she thanked again for saving her life. Carl just grinned at her while Michonne's was just a small smile. They were both likeable people and MaryJane could see a lot of Rick in Carl. MaryJane even met little Judith whom Carl had been holding. MaryJane cooed over the child, earning a slightly smile from Daryl who gazed at the infant with a warm expression. MaryJane always loved kids. That's why she went into teaching.
After a little chat with Carl, Daryl introduced MaryJane to Hershel, Glenn, and Maggie. She'd only briefly met Glenn and Maggie when she first arrived at the prison. She was surprised to see that Glenn and Maggie were married. Hershel was a very nice older man with a kind heart and warm eyes. She was reminded of her own father when he was alive. He carried a Bible with him and MaryJane smiled at that. She still believed in God because He returned Daryl to her.
Yes, God was still out there. Her and Daryl's reunion was living proof. She knew Daryl wouldn't agree with her because he had no aspirations towards God.
Hershel introduced his younger daughter, Beth to her. MaryJane immediately liked the young blonde girl. She reminded MJ of herself when she was younger. Beth was a strong willed girl and MaryJane looked forward to getting to know her better. Beth smiled at her so much more friendlier than the others and it confused MaryJane. It was like Beth already knew who MaryJane was.
"I'm so glad ta meet ya!" Beth beamed.
MaryJane missed the glare Daryl sent Beth's way.
"Same here," MaryJane replied, the blonde's smile infectious.
Beth explained to her that she took care of Judith and helped Carol with the laundry more than anything. She wasn't allowed to go on runs because she wasn't properly trained. She wanted to so bad, but her daddy and Rick didn't want to risk anything happening to her. MaryJane felt bad for her, seeing the bright determination in the eighteen year old girl's eyes.
Hershel began to talk to Daryl which averted Beth's attention to her father. MaryJane glanced towards the stairs to see Merle sitting there. She began to form a smile, thinking he was looking at her, but it vanished when she realized Merle wasn't looking at her…but at Beth. MaryJane glanced at Beth then back to Merle. She studied his stone-like expression and started to try and read him like she did Daryl.
Merle was a little harder to read, but there was one thing MaryJane found that shocked her to the core. Longing. Averting her eyes from the brooding older Dixon MaryJane glanced up at Daryl who was staring at Merle too, a darkness in his eyes that chilled MaryJane's bones.
Does Merle have a dirty little secret?
As MaryJane glanced between the two she realized that maybe she'd been right. When she noticed Merle was different she was suspicious. Merle had changed and maybe this girl, Beth, was the reason behind it. For some reason she hoped that was true.
There we have it. In character? Remember, Daryl is different with MaryJane so he might not be all that in character here. And this chapter is not as long as the other, but this was the best place to cut it off at the moment.
I hope it was enjoyable.
AN: As I said above, I won't update again for another week and few days due to college and a stomach bug I've caught.
More to come soon. Please review! I love feedback!
Happy Writing!