So, how about that premier, huh?! Pretty crazy stuff going down! And I know we all loved that little interaction between our favorite couple ;)
Here's hoping for more of those two next Sunday! *crosses fingers*
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The second Daryl's senses began to work as the sun's first light started to shine through the windows of the RV, he noticed the heavy musky scent of sex that hung around him. He glanced at the sleeping figure beside him and allowed himself a smile as he watched her breath. She was laying on her side, facing him, her arms curled up by her chest in something close to a self-hug, her lips twisted in a sleeping smile, and Daryl thought he'd never seen her look quite as lovely as she did now with the orange light of sunrise across her face. He turned onto his back and sighed, looking at the crossbow leaned up against the wall as he considered where he would go hunting this morning...but he just couldn't get his mind to focus on hunting and tracking right at that moment, he wanted nothing more than to just lay there and hold this woman until she woke up. And so that's what he did.
He let his eyes wander over every exposed inch of her that he could see, although the blanket pulled over them both obstructed his view of her lower half. He ran his calloused fingertips down her neck, her shoulder, her side and rested his hand on her hip, letting his fingers trace the hollow in front of the jutting boney prominence. He felt his stomach clench slightly, and he wished he could give her more than what they had, wished she didn't have to be so skinny, so tired, so hard-working...
His thoughts were interrupted when Carol's hand suddenly rose and rested on top of his, pressing his palm into her hip bone. She opened her eyes and smiled, a sight Daryl never got tired of.
"Good morning, beautiful," he whispered softly, pressing his lips to her forehead.
Carol snuggled closer to him, not quite one hundred percent awake, and sighed happily.
"G'mornin'," she mumbled softly.
Daryl smiled as she nuzzled her nose firmly into the junction of his neck and shoulder, closing his eyes at the shiver that shot down his spine from the contact. He'd missed this so much and he found himself wondering why he'd taken so long to let her back in, damn his pride.
"Missed you," he muttered, almost like his thoughts were spilling out of his mouth. "I'm sorry for everything that happened, Carol."
Carol pulled back slightly to look at him, her face was calm and she was smiling sweetly.
"Stop it, Daryl," she whispered, her thumb ran along his jawline and she twisted her fingers into his hair, "We both made a terrible mistake and I want nothing more than to just...put it in the past. Let's start over and make this work. I love you, I forgive you, and I trust you."
"You trust me?" Daryl repeated, quietly.
Carol nodded, leaning into kiss him gently. She pulled back just enough to break the kiss, but her lips still brushed his as she spoke again.
"Yes, Daryl, I do. I know now that I was still holding on to a little bit of fear...fear of being let down again, like I always have been by men. But you're not like him, you're everything a man should be. I'm sorry I haven't been giving you all of me...but I'm going to change that."
Daryl listened to her confession with his eyes closed, taking in her words and mulling them over in his mind.
"Because you're the best thing that ever happened to me, right there with Sophia, and you've proven yourself over and over again. I'll never let anything like this happen again...I'll never treat that way again. I love you."
"Less talk, more action," Daryl muttered with a grin, pulling Carol over so she was right on top of him and he claimed her lips with desperate roughness. His hands slid over every bare inch of her they could as he felt her smile into his lips and eagerly begin to reciprocate.
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Daryl stumbled out of the RV, knees still weak from that morning's roll in the sheets, and slung his crossbow over his shoulder as he fought the grin threatening to stay on his face the entire day and worked his face into the typical Daryl Dixon blank, imposing look he usually wore before he made his way to the woods.
On his way past the barn, the sound of a giggle caught his attention and he stopped in his tracks, something about that giggle sparking something in his brain and he waited for his brain to register why he'd stopped. Then it hit him, that was no giggle from and adult female, that was the childish giggle of a teenager being sneaky and thinking they're clever...
And there were only two teenage girls on this farm.
BAM! The barn door smacked into the wall from the force with which Daryl flung it open, causing the two figures on the pile of haybales to jump apart awkwardly, both pairs of cheeks flaring red and both pairs of eyes widening guiltily. Carl and Sophia...just as he had suspected.
"Daddy..." Sophia immediately sought to placate the raging tower of muscle that was her father.
"Sophia, go find your mother," Daryl's voice was deep and dangerous, leaving no room for argument. Sophia gave Carl a fearful look and whispered something to him before she slid off the haybales and began her embarrassed walk towards the door. As she passed Daryl he reached out and caught her arm, stopping her and glaring down at her. "I'll talk to you later, young lady."
Sophia wanted so badly to defend herself and Carl, to tell him not to hurt Carl, to say anything at all...but she ducked her head, afraid to meet his fierce glare, and ran from the barn with embarrassed tears streaming down her face.
Daryl watched her go with a thoughtful squint for a moment, then he turned to Carl, his face took on a look of cold anger, his eyes hard and squinted fiercely as he walked across the floor to where Carl sat looking very, very contrite.
"Daryl..." he started to speak, but Daryl's look silenced him.
"Shut yer mouth, boy," he growled, "Don't say a damn word until I'm done with ya."
Carl bit his bottom lip and hung his head, prepared to take the verbal abuse Daryl was surely about to throw at him.
Daryl clenched and unclenched his fists a few times, closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths before he began pacing in front of the haybales.
"Kid, what did I tell you about keepin' yer paws off my daughter?" he asked, deadly calm, "Ya remember?"
Carl nodded.
"I said I'd hurt ya," Daryl stated, in case the kid was just playing along, "But you know what? I ain't gonna hurt ya..."
Carl looked up in surprise but Daryl's look still made him duck his head again.
"I tell what I'm gonna do, kid," Daryl said calmly, "I'm tellin' ya right now, ya stay away from her. I gave ya yer chance to do things right, to be honorable and respect my rules. Well ya didn't do it, and ya lost yer chance. Yer done with her and I don't wanna see you near her again."
Carl looked up now, no longer afraid, more horrified than scared.
"But..." he started and Daryl cut him off by stepping towards him threateningly.
"Did I tell ya to talk yet?" he snapped and Carl shook his head, but didn't look down. "That's your problem, kid...ya don't listen t' no one. Well, yer listening this time because if you forget what I'm tellin' ya right now I'm gonna kick yer ass."
Daryl gave Carl a nod, telling him he was done talking and giving him the chance to defend himself.
"Mr. Daryl...I..." Carl stuttered and then he took a deep breath, calming himself down and trying to stop the tears gathering in his eyes from falling. "I'm sorry."
Daryl didn't say a word, he just leaned against the beam nearest the haybales and crossed his arms across his chest.
"I didn't mean for anything to happen when we came down here," Carl continued, his voice sounding a little on the pleading side, but Daryl thought he heard maybe a hint of acceptance as well. "We came down here to get hay for the horses...I never planned...we just..."
Daryl remained silent, waiting for Carl to organize his thoughts.
"Please don't tell me I can't see her anymore," Carl's eyes squinted in an effort not to cry, but Daryl heard his voice break slightly.
"Ya want her back, you've got a lot to prove," Daryl finally spoke, "Ya gotta get through me and Carol first, and after this...it ain't gonna be easy."
"Carol likes me," Carl stated simply.
"Yeah? Well she likes me better," Daryl replied with a growl, "Ya ain't off to the best of starts, ya little shit. And you should be thankin' me for m' generosity, because I'd much rather just kick your ass and be done with ya."
With that, Daryl ended the discussion and walked out of the barn, heading towards the RV where he knew Carol would be soothing a crying Sophia. He hesitated at the door, not sure if he even wanted to go in and face this...but he took a deep breath and stepped inside. Sure enough, Sophia had her face pressed into Carol's chest as she cried loudly, sobbing out her excuses and saying how unfair it all was.
"We just wanted some time alone together," Sophia sniffed, not aware of his presence yet. Carol looked up at him and gave him one of those sad, "you know how it is" smiles. "Daddy freaks out every time Carl even looks at me! I'm not a baby anymore, why can't he let us be?"
"Because he loves you, Sophia," Carol stated calmly, smoothing Sophia's blonde hair down with her hand. "I know he's pretty rough about it sometimes but that's just the only way he really knows. He won't hurt Carl, I promise, you know he's not that mean."
"He looked like he was ready to kill something," Sophia whined, "We were just kissing, mom!"
"And that's all?" Carol asked, wanting both sides of the story. She knew Daryl's side was coming soon.
Sophia froze.
"Well...mom we weren't gonna do anything," she said, lamely. "But we might have gotten a little touchy..."
"Sophia..." Carol's tone was disappointed and that made Sophia cry even more. Daryl figured now would be a good time to announce his presence and he cleared his throat and set down his crossbow against the wall. Sophia looked up immediately, her eyes flashing angrily...just like her mother's eyes, Daryl noticed. He met her glare without any anger in his own expression and waited for what he knew was coming...sure enough, Sophia pulled away from Carol and stepped toe to toe with him, tilting her head back to glare up at him.
"What did you tell him!?" she hissed and Daryl couldn't help but raise one eyebrow at her tone.
"Told him to stay away from you until he can prove he ain't a piece of shit," he replied honestly. "So if I see him around ya, I ain't gonna hold back the ass whippin' next time. You two try and sneak behind my back and I'll be doin' the same. So if you want him to stay in one piece...stay away from him."
Sophia looked absolutely horrified.
"You can't do that!" she shrieked, "It's none of your business what Carl and I do, you're not even my real dad!"
Daryl saw Carol's hand cover her mouth in shock and even Sophia seemed to hesitate for a moment, considering her next words...but her anger won out.
"I hate you."
And she was out the door before either adult could even react, and the RV door slammed shut loudly, casting Daryl and Carol into complete silence. Daryl felt the sting of her words just like a smack in the face and he shut his eyes and tried to focus his breathing and calm down. He felt Carol's hand on his shoulder and he opened his eyes to look sideways at her, she looked horrified.
"Daryl...she didn't mean that, I know she didn't," she whispered, hesitating slightly to touch him more than she was, and Daryl knew she was afraid he was pissed. "She's upset and...and you know how easy it is to say things you don't mean when you're upset."
Daryl hated how uncomfortable she was being around him. God, it was going to take some time to recover from that smack he'd laid on her three weeks ago. He wanted her to know he wasn't that guy, he never wanted to hurt her and she shouldn't be afraid so he turned to face her and pulled her close by her midsection, his hands gripping her hips firmly, yet gently.
"I know," he whispered, but knowing it was true didn't make it any easier to hear.
"Daryl...I'm so sorry," Carol looked ready to cry and Daryl gave her a half-hearted smile.
"Stop it," he muttered, "Why are you always apologizin'? This ain't yer fault."
"But you're always getting yelled at and told terrible things," Carol's voice was thick as she looked at him seriously, "You don't deserve all that. Especially not from your own family."
"Families argue, Carol," Daryl whispered, "Just as long as we can forgive each other after, we're good."
Carol laughed slightly and let her head come to rest on his chest, a sighed escaping her.
"So...we keep them apart?" she asked softly.
"Yes," Daryl stated firmly, "I gave him his chance. If they want us to trust them to be responsible and smart...they got some provin' to do."
Carol nodded.
"I've got your back," she whispered. "Always."
Daryl smiled into his wife's soft, short hair.
"Thank you."
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Sophia kicked angrily at the rocks in the driveway, muttering out loud to herself about the unfairness of the situation, but inside she was feeling like a completely terrible person.
How could you say that to him!? After everything he's done for you, you said that to him?!
I KNOW! I know...I feel like crap enough without you reminding me.
You told him he's not your real dad! Duh, he knows that, you didn't have to shove it down his throat!
I. KNOW. THAT.
You love him more than you ever loved your real dad. Or did you EVER love Ed?
I wanted to...I do love Daddy Daryl more than I ever loved Ed. But he probably hates me now for what I said.
You know that's not true. He loves you...that's why he's doing this.
It's a shitty way to show someone you care!
"Gonna fry yer brain, kid," the gruff voice of Merle broke Sophia from her thoughts and she looked up, nervously. She knew he wouldn't hurt her...but he still made her uncomfortable. He HAD kidnapped her after all! "What ya thinkin' so hard about? And why ya so pissed?"
"Dad..." was all she could say as she kicked the dirt again.
Merle rolled his eyes and laughed.
"Yeah, I can understand that," he said, "What my dumbass little brother do this time?"
Sophia looked up and bit her bottom lip, wondering if she should even be speaking to Merle, Daryl probably wouldn't want her to...and that reason alone was enough to make her want to.
"He just told my boyfriend he couldn't be with me anymore," she said angrily, "He's so unreasonable! He didn't even stop to get an explanation, he just..."
"Flipped out?" Merle offered.
"Yes," Sophia sighed sadly. "He makes me so mad when he treats me like a baby."
Merle gave her a thoughtful look and then nodded at her to join him on the woodpile. They both sat down on the mountain of logs and Sophia kept her head hung.
"Daryl don't always think before he does stuff," Merle stated, trying to ease the tension.
"Well I guess we're not too different," Sophia stated miserably.
"Why's that?" Merle asked, interested.
"I...I told him I hated him and...and that he wasn't my real dad," Sophia's voice broke as she made her confession, a tear spilled over her right lower lashes and slid down her cheek. "I didn't mean it! I don't know why I said it!"
Merle sucked in a breath, surprised at the feisty attitude this little blonde girl had in her...she was more Dixon than she knew.
"Well, don't we all say shit we don't mean when we're pissed?" he asked, not really knowing how to soothe this kid...his niece if he actually thought about it.
"Yes...but that was just...exceptionally bad," Sophia nodded sadly. "I wish I could take it back."
"Well ya can't," Merle said firmly, "Can't take shit back once it's out yer mouth. Only thing you can do is fix it."
"How am I suppose to fix it?" Sophia asked, trying not to cry. "I'm too angry to talk to him...and he's probably mad at me now too."
Merle looked around the corner of the house to where Daryl and Carol were standing by the RV, her hand pressed softly against his little brother's scruffy cheek as she spoke gently to him...he didn't look angry. Merle recognized the look he had now, the look he got every time Merle himself had hurt him back when they were young, every time he teased him about not being man enough...not a speck of anger, just deflated and out of fight.
"Trust me, kid," he stated when he looked back to Sophia, "He ain't mad."
"How do you know?" Sophia sniffed, wiping her eyes.
"B'cause he's my damn brother and I know shit about him no one else does," Merle replied confidently, "Just take some time to calm down yerself and when you're ready to talk, he'll be ready to listen. Daryl always was good about listenin'."
Merle gave Sophia a really awkward pat on the head and then he stood and walked off to continue whatever job he'd been doing before she'd caught his attention. Sophia watched him walk for a moment before she smiled and sat up straighter.
"Thank you, uncle Merle!" she called, loud enough for him to hear but not loud enough for anyone else to hear. Merle stopped in his tracks and looked back at her in surprise...but he gave her a small, unsure smiled before he turned back around and kept walking.
Sophia sat on the woodpile for a long time, letting her head clear and calming herself down, mulling over her apology in her head and planning on ways she could demonstrate she could be trusted...she knew Daryl would hold true to his word and lift the ban if they could just show him they were mature enough to handle themselves. Finally, she pushed herself up from the logs and rounded the house, looking around for Daryl's gruff stride or the flash of his crossbow in the late October sun.
"Mom!" she called when she saw Carol walking up to the house with a pile of wet clothes in her arms to hang by the fire. "Mom, where is daddy?"
"Out hunting, 'Phia," Carol replied, "He'll be back by dinner."
"I need to apologize..." Sophia hung her head.
"Yes, you do," Carol agreed, "What you said was very hurtful."
Sophia nodded miserably and followed Carol into the house to help her hand the clothes on the makeshift line in the living room.
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Daryl dropped the pile of squirrels on the table next to where Beth was skinning potatoes and made his way directly to Carol who was leaned over the sink, cleaning the already skinned ones. He encircled her waits with his arms and nuzzled his nose into her neck.
"Hey there," Carol laughed, flicking water at his face from her wet fingers. "Hunting go well?"
"Just got squirrels," Daryl muttered, clearly annoyed at the lack of game in the area. It's like the animals were getting use to him being out there and they were getting smart at avoiding him.
"Sophia's in the living room," Carol stated then, "She wants to talk to you."
Daryl grunted and backed away, turning to go to the living room. Carol watched him go with a smile, knowing everything was going to be ok.
Daryl found Sophia sitting in front of the fireplace, rubbing her cold arms, and he slid down beside her, setting his crossbow aside. She avoided looking at him for a while and he didn't say a word, just waited for her to speak.
"Daryl..." she started, almost so quietly he didn't hear, but then she cleared her throat and looked up at him. "Daddy..."
That made Daryl look over and meet her eyes. Big blue eyes that were squinted painfully as she struggled for words. Daryl gave her a twitchy smile and reached out, pulling her into his chest immediately. Why waste time talking? He understood what she meant in that one single word...and that was enough for him.
"Love ya, Peaches," he whispered as he held onto her for dear life. Damn, this being a father business was so hard...but he wouldn't trade it for the world now.
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Oh goodness it's 3 A.M. again...why must I get the urge to write at such late hours?! Now I'm dead tired and have to get up and do homework before class tomorrow! Well...whatever, I love it.
Leave me some reviews and make my late nights worthwhile, lovely readers! And, on another note, I CAN'T WAIT TILL SUNDAY NIGHT! :D Hope there's much more Caryl goodness!