Attention: For those who wanted a warning, here it is. We will jump into the ZA very soon. Probably in about 2 chapters from now. Looks like we might arrive just in time for the show to be back on air:-) Best motivation ever.

Chapter 19

Daryl had her squirming and moaning within a few minutes of climbing into the bathtub, and his ability to get her to that point this quick never failed to make him proud. Bay had moved the shower head along their bodies, wetting them before they soaped up. She only had the hand-held shower head, but not the wall mount thingy, so showering meant having to hold up the shower head by hand, which is why she preferred to take baths if she had enough time. She had only wanted a quick shower to wash off the lake and sun-screen, but Daryl had other ideas. Once their bodies were nice and slippery, he sat down on the edge of the tub with his back against the wall. He pulled Bay into his lap, with her back against his chest, giving him good access to her front. His slippery hands were massaging and squeezing her perky, wet breasts, his equally slippery thumbs giving her wonderful friction when he rubbed them over her nipples rhythmically. It was pulling the best, lusty moans from her throat, having him solid as steel in no time at all.

When she started moving her hips and ass, Daryl adjusted their position slightly, and pushed his hard cock between her thighs. He put his hands on the outside of her legs and exerted pressure, showing her to clamp them shut, therefore pinning his erection between her soft flesh and massaging him in the triangle between her pussy and her thighs, while he kept playing with her tits. "Can ya cum like this?" he panted against her neck while she moved her pelvis in the most brain-melting ways, making him rub against her pussy and basically giving him a 'thigh job' since she didn't have one of them so called thigh-gaps. A fact that Daryl got a big amount of pleasure out of right this moment.

"No... Can you? Is this good?" she was gasping, partly out of breath from moving around, partly out of breath due to his skilled fingers rolling and tugging her nipples.

"Yeah, but you first, baby girl." he groaned and grabbed the back of her right leg, yet again shifting their position slightly and sitting up straighter. He made her spread her legs and rest them on top of his. Bay curled her feet around his ankles, anchoring her position as she rested her torso back against his chest when he slid one hand down her belly and through her curls. "Mmmmmm..." he unconsciously groaned his appreciation against her neck when he found her clit hard and swollen, just waiting for him to touch it. He rubbed it with two soapy fingers, giving her slippery friction she had never felt before, and for a second, he was afraid she was going to fall off his lap, because she jerked so hard.

"Holy mother of uuuunnnfffff..." she yelped as involuntary shakes wracked her body with every stroke of his fingers.

"That's soap for ya." Daryl grinned and kept up his quick rhythm. "It's good, ain't it?"

"Yeah... " she closed her eyes and focused on her pleasure, letting her upper body sag back against his as her hips moved against his hand. "So good..."

It took him less than two minutes to stroke her to orgasm like that. Having her in his lap while she was in the throes of her climax was the best thing ever and he enjoyed every tremble and every gasp and moan it evoked. Before long she was turning around, now straddling him and facing him again. She grabbed the bottle of his shower gel and squirted some into her palm before she wrapped it around his pulsing length, quickly working it up into a lather when she moved her fist up and down his thick erection. While she jerked him off, Daryl was indulging in his favorite pastime, cupping her tits, squeezing them and playing with her nipples. He loved being able to pull those soft, sexy moans from her by doing that, and her sounds always heightened his experience.

"Faster, baby girl. No teasing." he breathed. His aroused tone of voice gave Bay the best chills and hardened her nipples almost painfully. "Seeing you on the beach in that bikini was enough teasing for one day." he grinned lazily as he leaned his head back against the wall and alternated between watching her hand massage his cock, and watching his own hands playing with her perky breasts.

Bay picked up the pace while her gaze traveled to Daryl's chest and his brand new tattoo. It looked absolutely gorgeous on him, but the possible meaning intimidated her and send her pulse racing in a slight panic. She knew that they were both in deep, she knew that their feelings for each other were there and were strong, but to have big glaring proof of his feelings staring back at her from his chest,... it would take some getting used to. She tore her eyes away from her own name on his body and focused on his beautiful face, which was currently contorted from the pleasure she was giving him. His teeth were clenched and he was grunting quietly as she twisted her hand around his tip on every upward stroke, bringing him closer to finding his own release. She heard his breaths coming out harsher and faster and a second later she felt his cock start to contract as he erupted all over her hand. Bay grabbed the shower head and guided it over his lower body, rinsing his essence off of his body and her hands before she rinsed the remaining soap off of their bodies. Then she put the shower head back to hang over the faucet and turned off the water. She didn't stay to cuddle, but got right out of the tub to dry off instead.

"What's the hurry?" Daryl was still out of breath and frowning at her actions.

"Hungry." she smiled and handed him a clean towel so he could start drying off too.

"Mhm." he grunted quietly, not really buying her explanation, or should he say excuse?

Bay dressed in black cotton panties and a black tank top with spaghetti straps. She didn't bother brushing her wet hair before she walked out and into the kitchen to fix them something to eat, while Daryl used some deodorant and put on clean boxer shorts, before he joined her in the kitchen.

"Everything alright?" he asked as he wrapped his arms around her from behind. "Feeling okay?"

"Yeah, I'm good. Why do you ask?"

"Just curious. Don't want ya to get sick again. Was a long two weeks."

"It certainly was." she looked up at him over her shoulder and kissed him gently. "I feel good. Nothing to worry about."

Daryl nodded and let it rest. Maybe she just had some kind of moment, he thought, because after dinner, she was back to her usual self, watching TV, laughing and cuddling with him.

They were watching some documentary about lions, more by accident than by choice, but somehow they didn't switch the channel.

"I love lions. They are so strong and beautiful." Bay smiled and thought that the lions reminded her of Daryl.

"Yeah, they're pretty feral. That's cool." Daryl mumbled, earning himself a funny look from Bay. "What?"

"That's not how you pronounce feral." Bay explained. Daryl hadn't said feral which rhymes with carol, but he had pronounced it fee-ral.

"I know that it's not right... just keeps coming out that way." Daryl shrugged casually, like his explanation was the most logical thing in the world.

"What?" Bay laughed. "What do you mean it just keeps coming out that way? If you know it's wrong, why do you say it like that?"

"Just happens. Don't use that word too much anyway. No need to correct myself I reckon."

"Okay, but in case you ever accidentally call me Bee instead of Bay, you're not gonna keep calling me that, right?" she teased him laughingly and poked him in the ribs.

"Very funny." He narrowed his eyes at her playfully and tried to swat her hand away. "Stop it!"

"Gonna call yourself Deeryl?"

"Stop it!" he caught both her hands and pinned them to the bed next to her head.

"Oh, what about Pat? Gonna call him Peet?" Bay kept teasing him, but Daryl wasn't offended by it. He was glad things were normal again.

"I said stop it!" he growled as he laid down on top of her between her spread legs.

"Make me, you feeeeral lion!" Bay challenged him with a cheeky grin.

"You're gonna regret that." Daryl laughed quietly before he kissed her hard. "Maybe not today... not tomorrow... but one day... you're gon' pay!" he bit out between kisses until he made them both shut up and pushed his tongue into her mouth, letting it swirl around hers, before he withdrew and made her chase it into his mouth.

They soon forgot all about their playful teasing. Daryl was the best kisser and he was figuratively smooching Bay's brains out. She was pliant in his strong grip, letting him take what he wanted, while she enjoyed what he was giving in return. He sucked at her neck for a moment, but this time not enough to leave a mark. Bay still enjoyed it very much to feel his lips on her skin and she was barely aware of how he pushed up her tank top up to reveal her naked breasts, but she was every bit aware of how his lips closed around her nipple and how he sucked at it and let her feel his teeth. Instinctively she tried to bury her hand in his hair to keep his mouth in place, but he was still pinning her hands to the bed while he suckled at her, and Bay felt a little thrill rush through her veins. It was hot to have him restrain her like that.

"Mmmmm,... ooohh that's so good." Bay moaned quietly with closed eyes when Daryl let the very tip of his tongue rub and circle her hard nipple. His hair was falling in his eyes and brushing and tickling her breasts while he manipulated her nipples with his mouth and Bay soon started squirming and bucking her pelvis up against him to seek friction. Her breasts were really sensitive, every time he caressed or kissed them she felt the wetness start to form between her legs almost immediately.

So goddamn responsive. Daryl grinned and tugged on her nipple with his teeth, making her yelp and arch her back. "Like that, sweetheart?"

"Yes. Do it again!" she muttered under her breath.

"What's the magic word, baby girl?" Daryl murmured between placing little kisses all around her nipple.

"Feeeral." She moaned seductively before she burst out into giggles.

Daryl didn't say anything, instead his grip on her wrists tightened and he chose a nice fleshy spot on her breast and sunk his teeth into it, growling quietly while he did it.

"Ow! Daryl!" She was laughing while she was complaining, he wasn't biting down unbearably hard. She struggled against him while she giggled and Daryl was surprised to find himself painfully hard in an instant when she started playfully fighting his grip on her. "I'm sorry. Okay? I'm sorry. I'll never tease you again."

Daryl finally tore his mouth away from her breasts, but this was far from over. He was intrigued by his own reaction and also by her reaction to his biting and he wanted to explore it. "I don't believe ya, Bay." he murmured as he brought her hands together in the middle right above her head. He needed one hand free, so he gripped both of her slim wrists in one of his big hands. "You been a bad girl." he rasped and the words paired with that tone of voice had Bay shivering. Her giggles quickly died down as her breath hitched in her throat. Her eyes glazed over, pupils blown as a heavy wave of arousal rolled through her body and left her center weeping. She stared at him wide-eyed and panting, a look which had Daryl feeling proud and powerful and horny as hell. He lowered his head and licked along the outer shell of her ear, letting her feel his hot breath against her skin before he whispered into her ear. "And bad girls get punished, Bay." he fought a grin when he felt her exhale a shuddering breath and felt her body tremble under his.

Bay was highly aroused just by his words and keeping her hands immobilized. It confused her to no end. She never had any fantasies, so she knew that she most definitely never had any fantasies about being a bad girl who gets punished by an authority figure or something like that, but obviously it was something that really got her going, to her own surprise. She held her breath in anticipation when he licked down the middle of her chest, growling once more when he licked right across her necklace before he ventured to the right. He used his hand to push her breast up slightly while he licked it, and then he bit down again in a spot right next to his previous bite.

"Aaahh..." Bay moaned and jerked once. Daryl's biting turned into hard sucking while he shifted his position slightly and straddled one of her thighs instead of laying between her legs. He needed room to work as his free hand now trailed down her body, his fingers itching to be inside of her.

Would ya look at that... he thought surprised when his fingers slipped into her panties and down to her opening and found her very, very wet. He groaned appreciatively and let his middle and ring finger enter her right away, pressing his palm against her clit and letting her move her hips to get some pressure and friction. He moved his mouth to yet another spot on her breast and bit down anew. Bay hissed and this time he was able to feel her walls clamp down on his fingers as she bucked up and tried to get his fingers moving. Damn baby girl. Yer turned on by this. My good girl doeslike it a bit rough. That sent his brain into overdrive and his actions became a bit more frenzied. He placed little bites all over her breasts, even biting her hardened peaks and letting his teeth scrape at them while he tugged and pinched, elongating her nipples until they plopped out from between his teeth. Bay was moaning up a storm and pumping her hips at a fast pace, trying to get his fingers to move.

"Please! Daryl please!" she moaned out a desperate plea.

"Please what?" he asked under his labored breath. His skin was glistening with sweat, just like hers was, both of them were extremely aroused.

"Please, I need you. Help me..." she was begging him to make her cum, he knew that without her saying it explicitly. He removed his finger from her and knelt up. He hooked his fingers into the sides of her panties and tugged them off of her. While they landed on the floor by the sofa-bed, Daryl pushed down his boxer shorts and tore them off of his legs before he got back between her legs. He took hold of his straining erection and rubbed the moist tip through her wet folds, teasing her clit for a moment before he laid down fully on top of her, shoving his arms underneath her back to wrap her up in his embrace completely before he started moving his hips and rubbed his hard dick against her soft, wet pussy. Bay wrapped her legs around his waist and crossed her ankles behind his butt as her hands held on to his sides when he started to move. They kissed sloppily, their harsh breathing filling the room as Daryl tried to make them both cum by dry-humping. It felt great, but this time it wasn't enough for Bay.

"Daryl?" she gasped and looked at him, waiting for him to open his eyes. "I need you!"

"Ya got me... "

"No, I mean... I need you... inside..." she uttered and Daryl froze, stilling all movements.

"What?" he asked, slightly dumbfounded, even as Bay's hand reached between them and took hold of his cock and guided it down to her opening.

"I want us to do it right. I want you... all the way. Please. I'm ready." she looked up at him timidly. She really was ready, but that didn't mean that she wasn't nervous. She was shaking, which Daryl noticed and it prompted him to ask if she was really sure. "I am sure. Very sure. Remember what I told you once... just because I'm nervous doesn't mean I don't want it. I want it. I want you... please."

Despite her nervousness, Daryl was still able to see the certainty in her eyes. She really did want it. The moment had come, he would take her virginity and make her his once and for all. Fuck, now I'm nervous. His emotions were conflicting. He couldn't wait to feel her stretch around him, but he was also terrified of really hurting her. However he knew, that she was as wet as she was ever gonna be and his fingers had stretched her a little bit before. Shit, what's the best course of action here? Go slow or do it like rippin' off a damn band-aid? Just plunge in? Fuck, should'a asked Pat after all. "Might hurt..." he murmured, trying not to show his own nervousness and also not his big excitement.

"I know." she smiled reassuringly. "But it'll be worth it. Please." she was grasping his butt in both hands now and pushing down, trying to get him to push into her, showing him that she didn't want to wait any longer. Daryl nodded and reached down to position himself a bit better. He took one deep breath and then he slowly started to push his thick erection into her tight, virginal opening. Her wetness definitely made things a lot easier and he soon felt her velvety soft walls engulf him as he pushed on and opened her up for him. He felt like he was high, the rush he was experiencing at finally being inside of her and being her very first was making him quake and tremble and his blood was singing with male pride and his inner cave man was doing a happy dance. He was almost ashamed to admit it, but her little whimpers were causing little spikes of pleasure to shoot through his body, enhancing his experience. "It hurt bad?" he ground out between clenched teeth, his reasonable voice finally able to push through his pleasure-filled haze to make sure she was okay.

"No, keep going." Bay gasped out. It didn't hurt, but there was definitely uncomfortable pressure. Holy shit, so much pressure and stretching, which shouldn't be a surprise because he was damn big, but it took some getting used to. There were a ton of tiny sharp pinpricks and a bit of a dull aching sensation as he kept going. It wasn't too bad, just new and in a way it felt amazing and she tried to memorize that feeling, knowing that she might never experience this again. There would never be a second 'first time', and she wanted to remember this moment for the rest of her life.

Daryl pushed in as deep as he could go in this position. He didn't have it in him to wait and let her adjust. Honestly, it didn't even cross his mind, because his mind was screaming at him to move, to fuck her and give it to her good. At least he went slow when he pulled back out almost all the way only to push back in, quickly developing a slow rhythm. Bay wasn't complaining or stopping him, so she had to be okay. He knew she would stop him if she wasn't.

And she was okay. With every thrust the pressure let up and by the fifth or sixth thrust inside, she was able to relax and enjoy the sensation of him being inside of her. It felt good and it made her so happy, that tears welled up in her eyes. Daryl was about to stop when he noticed, but she giggled and shook her head. "No. Keep going. It's good. It's really really good." That had Daryl grinning and he quickly crashed his lips down on hers and kissed her passionately while he increased the pace of his thrusting.

"Still good?" he asked when he was delivering faster strokes.

"Yes. Don't worry. Just keep going." she moaned. It started to feel really good now and after a couple of minutes she was spurring him on with moans of 'faster' and 'harder'. It was the weirdest, but also the best sensation to have him plunge his hard cock into her over and over again and she wished they would be able to do this forever without stopping. But Daryl was close to losing it. He was surprised that he was able to hold out this long, but that was probably due to his orgasm in the shower. He was close and he couldn't wait to finally cum inside of her, but there was one thing he wanted first. He wanted her to cum on his cock. It was her first time and he wanted to make it count.

"No, don't stop, please." Bay moaned and tried to keep him in place when he pushed up on his hands.

"Don't worry, baby girl. Ain't stopping. Just gotta change position a little ta make ya cum good." he grinned. He knelt up and carefully lifted one of her legs until her ankle was resting on his shoulder. He grasped her hips and pulled her closer into his lap, immediately sliding into her deeper, making her breath hitch, when he reached the end of her. "Sorry."

"No... it's good." Bay closed her eyes as little tremors rocked her body once more at the new sensation. She didn't see Daryl licking his thumb and bringing it down to her clit, but she certainly felt the little circles he was rubbing while he pushed himself into her with little, persistent thrusts. Bay grabbed the sheets as lust shot through her like never before. It felt unbelievably good and she knew he was going to keep his promise and make her cum good. "Oh God... oh baby..."

His thumb and his hips picked up speed fast, spurred on by her moans and little shouts of pleasure. "Come on, baby girl... Almost there... I can feel it." he groaned as he fought to keep himself from cumming while her walls started fluttering around him. He pressed his thumb down on her clit and rapidly moved it back and forth, making her scream and arch her back and hips, pressing herself against him even harder. "Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck oooohh Daryl!" she came, and she came hard and wet. Her pussy milked him like there was no tomorrow and Daryl felt like he was going cross-eyed as his own climax ripped through his body like a damn freight train. He groaned her name as he pumped himself into her at an unsteady rhythm a couple more times, before he finally collapsed on top of her panting, sweaty form. Bay blindly grabbed his head in her hands and placed kisses on his lips and face, not really paying attention where her lips connected with his skin while she tried to catch her breath.

"Wow." she giggled after a while.

"Yeah." Daryl laughed out of breath. "Wow." He kissed her lovingly and smiled at her while he smoothed some hair out of her face that had gotten stuck to her sweaty forehead. I love ya, Bay. You're fucking amazing.

3 months later, 25th October 1998

Time passed quickly when you didn't do much else other than go to work, have sex with your boyfriend and sleep. Bay felt like she was able to count the real conversations they've had in the past three months, using only her two hands. Not that she was complaining though. She'd had a late start to sex and in the past couple of months they had gotten her up to speed and neither of them had a problem with that. And also this Sunday afternoon they were once again entangled in her sheets, the late afternoon fall sun shining through the window and directly on them, heating their bodies up even more as Daryl plowed his dick into her hard and fast while clutching her breast. They were in their "waking up position" Bay on her side, half on her stomach and Daryl behind and almost on top of her. It had turned out to be one of their favorite positions, because they were able to vary the depth of penetration by Bay angling and/or lifting her top leg. He was also able to play with her breasts or her clit, which meant maximum fun for the both of them.

"Fuck..." Daryl groaned under his breath when he came, and rested his forehead against her shoulder while he kept pushing his dick into her slowly during his aftershocks. Bay put her hand on top of his and gently pulled his hand off her breast and up to her mouth, kissing his fingertips and knuckles. She giggled quietly and let her tongue circle one of his fingertips before she closed her lips around it, bursting out laughing when Daryl groaned, sounding almost pained.

"Tease." he muttered and nuzzled her shoulder. "Shit... why ya gotta go?"

"Never hurts to make a little extra money. And hey,... free dinner for both of us."

"It's just pizza." Daryl sighed.

"Free pizza." she corrected him with a gentle smile. "Lighten up. Once Julian is in bed I'll sneak you into the house and we can still spend quality time together."

"We can't fuck."

"We could. Just gotta be quick and quiet." she shrugged and kissed his palm. Daryl finally pulled out of her and rubbed his hands through his face after rolling on his back.

"Damn... we forgot to use a damn rubber again."

"Right. We really gotta get better where that's concerned. We been lucky so far. But those things are so expensive." Bay said as she turned on her other side and snuggled up to him.

"A baby would be even more expensive." Daryl reminded her with a laugh.

"I know. But like I said, I haven't had my period in almost a year, so we're on the safe side, I guess."

"And like I said, shouldn't you go see someone 'bout that? Ain't normal, right?"

"It happens. Stress is a factor I suppose. But I feel fine and I'm not sad about not having my period anymore. I used to have bad cramps and headaches... no fun."

"I ain't no expert on woman things, Bay, but to me you not getting your shit means that something ain't right in there. Ain't working right no more. Ya didn't donate yer damn eggs because ya wanted to make sure that everything stayed okay, so why aren't ya making sure now? Don't want no kids later after all?"

"Yes Dad, I'll see a doctor soon." She rolled her eyes at him. He was always so concerned about her. She knew he meant well, but sometimes she didn't want to hear it.

"Gonna take that pill again? That makes sure nothing's gonna happen?"

"Yes, tomorrow after work." Bay nodded. She hated the morning after pill, it made her feel like shit and for that alone they should finally learn their lesson and start using protection religiously. There was no excuse not to use a condom, but they often forgot everything around them once they got to be alone together. It was irresponsible, it could mess up Bay's plans for the future, they both knew that and yet it still happened every once in a while.

"Awesome." he rubbed his face once more. "An hour of fun really ain't worth you feeling like shit for two days."

"I know. We'll be more careful from now on."

"That's what we said the last two times." Daryl scoffed.

"Third time's the charm." Bay smiled and stretched out her limbs. "Mmmm, I gotta get ready. I don't want to be late."

"Alright. Come here." he pulled her on top of him and before she knew what he was doing, he slapped her bare ass.

"Daryl!" she laughed and gently swatted at his chest.

"Don't roll your eyes at me again, baby girl. There's more where that came from." he mock-threatened, referring to the slap.

Bay tried to keep her expression casual while that little thrill rushed through her body again. Every time he did something like this, it did something to her and she was a little embarrassed to admit it, so she mostly didn't. "Yes Sir." she murmured and cursed herself when her voice came out squeakier than she had intended. Instinctively she touched her cross necklace after finally having gotten out of bed and sighed internally. God help me. The things this man can make me like...She would once again have a lot to confess in her silent prayers at church next Sunday. She had stopped going to a "real" confession. She would never be able to bring herself to say certain things out loud to a man of the cloth, so she did it silently just for herself. Daryl knew about that, and knowing that he made her sin on a daily basis turned him on even more. He was doing a very good job at corrupting his good little girl.

"You hear something?" Daryl perked up when he thought he'd heard a noise coming from somewhere inside the house.

"No. Everything's quiet. Keep going." she breathed and pushed his head back down underneath her skirt where he had pushed her underwear aside and was eating her out. Daryl listened for a moment longer, but when things remained quiet he ducked back down and kept going, circling her clit with his wet, hot tongue before he sucked it into his mouth and gave it little wet flicks with the tip of his skilled muscle.

"Oh shit... that's so good. You're so good at this, Daryl." Bay was whispering and grabbing her own breasts while he went to town on her. "Can we move? I wanna do you, too."

Before Daryl was able to reply his head shot up again, eyes narrowed and ears perked. "The kid is up!"

"You're being paranoid." Bay laughed and sat up. She kissed him and slowly pushed him on his back. "Everything is alright." she kissed him passionately, loving tasting herself on his tongue, until she heard a noise herself. She tore her lips from his and looked up towards the doorway that led to the hall. She almost shrieked in shock, when little Julian, dressed in his Spider-Man pj's, stood in that doorway, rubbing his eyes. "Oh my God." Bay quickly climbed off of Daryl and walked towards Julian.

"Told you." Daryl mumbled and wiped his thumb over his moist lips.

"Julian, what's wrong? Can't sleep?" Bay asked gently and lifted the almost 2-year old into her arms when he lifted them up towards her. "Uuuhhh... I see what's going on. Or should I say I smell what's going on?" she laughed when she caught a whiff of him, making the toddler giggle. Apparently his diaper was full. She carried him over to the sofa, where his mother kept a small stack of diapers and the wet wipes on the broad back rest of the sofa, hidden behind big throw pillows. Julian was too big for the changing table, so she changed him on the sofa. The boy eyed Daryl curiously while Bay laid him down and pulled down his pajama pants.

"Hiiiii..." Julian grinned at Daryl, making Daryl smile back at him.

"Hey."

"Hiiii..."

"Hey."

"Hiiii..."

"Good Lord." Daryl laughed.

"That's kids for you. He can do that for an hour without getting bored." Bay smiled. "Hand me the wet wipes and a diaper please?"

"Damn, what they feed him? Rotten eggs?" Daryl made a face while he handed her the items she had asked for.

"Don't breathe through your nose." She smiled and proceeded to clean Julian up.

"Nose!" Julian pointed to his own, then he looked over at Daryl and pointed at his. "Nose!"

"That's right. Smart guy." Daryl praised him, causing the boy to grin even wider. "What else ya know? Know where your ears are?" Julian pointed at Daryl's ears. "Those are my ears. Where are yours? Ya know?" Julian pointed at Daryl's ears again and this time Daryl poked Julian in the ribs. "Your ears. Where are your ears?"

Julian laughed and squirmed, not making Bay's job easier, but this time he pointed at his own ears. "That's right, there are your ears. And yer mouth?" Julian proudly pointed at his lips, while Bay finished up.

"There, all done. Back to bed with you." she smiled, but Julian quickly protested.

"No!" he shouted and turned on his back and quickly crawled over to Daryl and plopped down on his lap, making Daryl almost yell out in pain, because the little boy had thrown his full weight down on Daryl's jeans-clad privates.

"Shit, dude. Damn near castrated me just now." Daryl winced and carefully shifted Julian a little.

"Sit! Sit!" the little boy giggled, making Bay's eyes widen.

"Please don't tell me you are repeating what Daryl just said. Your mother is going to kill me. Daryl, you have to watch your language around him."

"Sorry. He crushed my nuts."

"Hm... at least we'd save money for condoms." Bay laughed when Daryl shot her an exasperated look. She watched Julian get comfortable and lean back against Daryl's chest, while Daryl didn't quite know what to do. "He likes you."

"Ain't done nothing." Daryl shrugged, but he still felt a little proud that the toddler was taking to him like that.

"You have a friendly face and you played with him. Looks like you're good with kids." she smiled, surprised that she thought it was kind of a turn on.

"Bus! Bus!" Julian demanded, making Bay groan.

"Again? Alright fine, I'll sing the song and then you go to bed." Bay had to sing the song what had felt like a hundred times to get him into bed in the first place. She was sick of it, but of course she wouldn't deny the boy his wish, especially not if it would get him back into bed.

"The wheels on the bus go round and round,

round and round, round and round,

the wheels on the bus go round and round.

all through the town.

The wipers on the bus go swish-swish-swish,

swish-swish-swish, swish-swish-swish,

the wipers on the bus go swish-swish-swish,

all through the town."

Bay had only wanted to sing the song once, but she had noticed Julian's eyes starting to droop and fall shut, so she kept singing quietly until the boy had fallen back asleep in Daryl's arms. "Thank God." she whispered. "I used to like that song, but not anymore after today."

"That's kids for ya." Daryl grinned quietly, repeating her own words from earlier back to her.

"That's right." she smiled and watched the two of them for a moment, her mind wandering while she did it. Apparently Daryl's mind was wandering in the same direction.

"Think we're gonna have something like this one day?" he asked quietly, staring down at Julian's blond head of hair. "A house, a kid... livin' in a nicer town?"

"Might be a very long time until then, but yeah. Why not?" Bay replied, to which Daryl shrugged.

"Dunno... Jus'... sometimes I think Merle's right. You're gonna go to college, work after your classes, then you'll have papers to write... No time for me left."

"Don't be silly. There will always be time for you left." Bay frowned.

"Still,... what after? When you're a real shrink, make good money, and I ain't nothin' but an assistant to a cabinetmaker? And that's if I'll be able to keep that job. Like... what's it gonna be like? Doctor and Daryl Dixon? Ya know? That's where Merle is right... Where do I fit into that?"

"You fit into that just fine, Daryl. Don't listen to Merle. He likes to feed people this bullshit. Don't let him get to you. Especially not now. He's more high than not these days." Bay was slightly disgusted with Merle by now. He had fallen off the wagon. He was no longer just transporting crystal meth, he was also sampling the goods quite a bit, and getting himself in trouble with dangerous people.

"Maybe,... but one thing is true... I'm more committed to this than you are." Daryl stated quietly what he'd been thinking and fearing the past couple of months.

"That's not true, Daryl. You know that it isn't."

"Do I?"

"Oh come on... It's not like you tell me how you feel about me." Bay had to remind herself to keep her voice down, because Julian was still in Daryl's arms.

"I don't have to. Your name on my chest tells ya every day, but ya don't wanna hear it. It's been like that ever since I first showed you. Don't tell me that it ain't true, 'cause that would be a lie. Don't think I haven't noticed. I ain't dense."

"Never said that you were, Daryl." Bay sighed deeply. She had known that it would come up sometime, but she really hadn't anticipated to have this talk today. "And you know very well that just because I haven't said it yet, that doesn't mean that I don't feel it. What do you want me to do? Put your name on my chest, too? I told you that you are the only man I will ever want in my life. If that's not a declaration of love, then I don't know what is."

"Ya also said that it scares ya, and that don't sound like love ta me."

"It's not true. Yes it scares me. Love scares me, because everyone I ever loved has left me Daryl. I'm scared of you leaving, too. It would destroy me. I was able to take the others leaving, but I wouldn't ever be able to take you leaving me. I'm scared that if I say it out loud, that it becomes very, very real and that history will repeat itself."

"It won't."

"You don't know that, Daryl. Especially with Merle the way he is now?"

"What does that have to do with us?"

"He is pissing off dangerous people, Daryl. Everybody knows who you are. Everybody knows you are brothers. What if they do something to you to get to him?"

"Ain't never gonna happen, Bay. And it's a bullshit excuse for you holding back."

"I'm not holding back. I'm right in there with you, Daryl. You know I am. You're everything to me. Don't you see? Just thinking about you getting hurt makes me cry. Just please... don't listen to Merle. Just don't. He likes to rattle you. He loves screwing with us, you know that. He doesn't know what we have, but we do. We know without words. I know how you feel about me and you know how I feel about you. It's the same for both of us. I promise."

Daryl took a deep breath and finally nodded. "Hate than he can do this to me. I don't know why I keep listening."

"He's got some weird power over you. I've never seen anything like it. You're not a pushover, but where Merle is concerned,... he just gets in your head so fast... I know he is a master manipulator and I would never blame you for him getting to you, but at least listen to me when I say that he is wrong." She scooted closer and kissed him gently and with all the love and tenderness she was able to muster. "I can't live without you. Please be careful around him."

Daryl nodded wordlessly and kissed her some more. When he went to wrap his arms around her, he noticed that a certain someone was still sleeping on his lap and he smiled quietly. "Let's get this little fella into bed."

"Good idea." Bay agreed and got up. "Careful." she smiled and led the way to Julian's room.

For now their discussion about feelings, or their apparent lack thereof, was over. Daryl vowed to himself for the millionth time not to listen to his older brother when he told him that Bay would dump him as soon as she got enough money for college. It was easier said than done though. Like Bay had said, Merle had some kind of power over Daryl. The younger Dixon hated it with a passion, yet he was unable to stop it from happening over and over again. Daryl knew that Bay loved him, he didn't know how he knew, but he did, but her plans for the future often did leave him insecure and Merle was an expert at feeding and fueling those insecurities so much, that Daryl started to doubt Bay. It had to stop. Daryl knew he had to fight and distance himself from his brother or he would give Merle the power to destroy what he and Bay had, and that just wasn't an option.

Thank you for reading!

Thank you for all the support and lovely messages and reviews, I'm reading them all, sorry for not responding yet. I will get back to it I promise. You guys are so amazing, I appreciate all of your reviews, kind words and input you have for me. I will properly thank you for it all again soon. Be patient with me. One more nerve wracking appointment on Thursday, where we will find out about the surgery. Pray for us, please. As you can see I am back to speed-writing. A couple of hours of daycare can do wonders. Let's hope it stays that way:) Love you all.

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