Civil?

A/N: Just want to thank you guys for the reviews! Means a lot that you guys have invested in Daryl and Shiv and all the other characters. Appreciate ya!

"Mommy, come watch me on my dance mat!" Rudy yelled from the living room where she was stepping around on her dance mat, trying to hit the parts on the mat at the right time when the TV told her to. Her favourite birthday present from Lyla.

"I can see you from here, baby. You're so great." AJ smiled from over in the kitchen.

"I know!" Rudy yelled excitedly as AJ chuckled.

"I don't know where the hell she gets the energy." Punk shook his head, helping AJ prepare dinner whilst Thomas was sat at the kitchen table with his action figures and toy cars.

"She's a kid. They got endless energy at all times." AJ smiled.

"Yeah, but she has too much." Punk concluded.

"What is for dinner?" Thomas asked.

"I told you. Chicken and rice." AJ said as Thomas huffed.

"I want tater tots and chicken nuggets." Thomas said, "Not chicken and rice."

"Tater tots and chicken nuggets will not help you grow into a big strong boy." AJ said.

"Yeah it will." Thomas objected.

"To be fair, that's what I grew up on and I turned into a big strong boy, didn't I?" Punk smiled to AJ.

"Do not encourage him." She pointed her knife at him, "I will not have them bullying us."

"When is Rudy going to be finished with the TV?" Thomas asked, "I want to watch something."

"Rudy." Punk called over to Rudy who was jumping around and dancing, "Why don't you put the dance mat to bed and you and Thomas can watch a movie or something?" He asked her.

"But I don't want to." Rudy said.

"You've been using it for hours." Thomas turned around to her, "Tell her to put it off, daddy." He looked to Punk for help.

"No, daddy. I'm not finished." Rudy frowned.

"Five more minutes, then you can both share the TV." He told them as Rudy smiled and continued dancing again.

"I think she's going to be a performer." AJ chuckled.

"Yeah, probably." Punk shook his head, looking over to Thomas who was playing with his action figures, "She's going to drive him up the wall for majority of their lives, isn't she?"

"Oh, definitely." AJ smiled.

"So… Shiv was not in a good mood today." He told her.

By the time they closed their shops, picked up the twins from Nico and got home, they finally got to chat about their day's whilst they made dinner together.

"I figured as much. I spoke with Daryl today. Sounds like they had a fight last night when he got home drunk." AJ said as Punk nodded.

"He was talking to you?" He asked.

"Yeah, he came to the Brewberry for coffee." AJ nodded, "He's messed up, Phil. Said Brianna would be better off without him. Said it'll never work out with him and Shiv again."

"Well of course he's going to be negative." Punk said, "His world has just been turned upside down."

"He's going to come work at The Brewberry." AJ said, "Which is good, because I can keep an eye on him. Did you know he's started smoking? Picked it up in prison apparently." She shook her head.

"Wait, he's really going to work with you?" Punk asked with surprise.

"Yeah." AJ said, turning to look at him, "Why the concerned face?"

"I just… I didn't think he'd actually take you up on the offer. I mean, it's a little weird, isn't it? Shiv working with me and Daryl working with you."

"I don't think it's weird. He needs a job and he knows how to make coffee." AJ shrugged, "If anything, it makes sense. And plus, some feminine company will do him good right now, I think."

"Feminine company?" Punk shook his head.

"Yes. You and Finn are great but you're like a pair of bulldozers. Not very subtle." She said as Punk scoffed.

"So Becca and Lyla are subtle?" Punk questioned as she made a face at him, "You think he'll ask Shiv if he can see Brianna?"

"I don't know. Maybe not yet. He needs to get his shit together. I think he's still processing all of it." AJ said.

"That is, if Shiv lets him see her. Whatever he said to her last night, she was not happy about. Me and Finn dodged her all day in fear of getting smacked by a tray." Punk said.

"I think Daryl told her she'd ruined her life by having Brianna." AJ said as Punk winced a little, "Yeah. Not great." AJ concluded.

"It's just a frustrating situation because I can see both their points. I understand why Shiv didn't tell him, but I get why Daryl is mad she didn't. It's a difficult one." Punk nodded.

"I think it's best we don't get too involved, though." AJ said.

"Can she put the mat away now?" Thomas interrupted them as AJ and Punk turned around, looking over at Rudy who was attempting cartwheels now.

"Rudy." Punk called on her as she looked over, moving her frizzy dark hair out of her face, "Time to wrap it up, babe. Let Thomas watch some TV."

"Oh, fine." Rudy huffed dramatically, rolling her mat up as Thomas smiled happily, running over to the sofa and snatching the remote.

"I got a job today." Daryl told his mom as she put dinner down in front of him.

"Where? That's great." Carol smiled happily.

"The Brewberry." Daryl said as Carol nodded with surprise.

"Oh." Carol said, "And you're… you're ok with that?" She asked.

"I'm not really in a position to be picky, am I?" Daryl shook his head, "And I can't work with Phil. I just don't get why Shiv can't work at The Brewberry? I mean, they're her friends. Feels weird with her working at Brewks whilst I work at The Brewberry." He shook his head.

"It's just the way things are. No point in dwelling over it." Carol said, "AJ offered you the job?"

"Yeah. She probably just wants to keep an eye on me. Make sure I'm not spiralling into a psychotic break." He scoffed as Carol groaned.

"That's not funny." She shook her head, "She just cares about you. Her and Phil have really missed you, and they've been so helpful to me and Sadie. Money has been tight and… well, they've helped me out a few times." Carol told him as Daryl nodded.

"They're good people." Daryl said, "Still should have told me I had a kid. You too." He added, not ready to let it go just yet. It was still too raw.

"When do you start?" Carol asked.

"Tomorrow." Daryl told her, "I called Finn earlier. I'm gonna move in with him tomorrow, too. Probably works out even better now since Brianna comes here every now and then."

"And what? You don't want to see her?" Carol asked.

"Not particularly. I don't know what I'm supposed to say or how I'm supposed to act around her." Daryl said.

"There's no guidebook for it, Daryl. You think when I had you, I knew what I was doing? You wing it as a parent." Carol nodded.

"Yeah, but this is different. She's three. She can talk." Daryl said with worry, "She seems shy. She might not even want to see me." He shrugged.

"She's shy at first but she'll come round. She's going to love you. You just have to take it a step at a time." Carol said, "I think it's Shiv you need to talk to first, anyway. Clear the air and brush off any hostility you both have. No use having that kind of energy around a kid."

"See, it's best I just stay way." Daryl nodded.

"Are you listening to yourself right now?" Carol asked him angrily, "This is your daughter. Do you want her growing up into a woman who can't stand her dad because he didn't give a damn about her?"

"You know that's not how it is." Daryl said, putting his fork down, no longer hungry.

"That's how it's looking right now." Carol said.

"Hold on a minute." Daryl stood up with frustration, "You all keep this from me. You don't tell me I have a kid. And then when I do find out, I'm scorned for not knowing what the hell to do? For needing time to figure things out? Give me a fucking break, mom. I've spent four years living within the same four walls, living the same routine every day and night. I have no idea how to even live properly again, let alone be a father." He shook his head as Carol looked across at him.

"I know it's a lot for you-"

"No. You don't know shit." Daryl said, "You don't know how any of this feels."

"Ignoring Brianna isn't going to make things better." Carol said.

"I'm not ignoring her. I've been home for two days. The kid doesn't even know who I am." He shook his head.

"What? Of course she does." Carol shook her head.

"What?" Daryl said, "What… What do you mean?" He asked.

"I talk to her about you all the time." Carol said, "You think I wouldn't?"

"I thought… I thought Shiv wouldn't let you." Daryl admitted.

"Shiv tells her about you too." Carol said, "I don't know what happened between you and Shiv that night you killed that man. I don't know why you both have so much… hatred towards each other. But you have a child together. You're never going to lose that. You're bound by that." She emphasised as Daryl ran his hand through his hair, "She still loves you. Why do you think she went through with having the baby?"

"Cause she's a Catholic and they hate abortion?" Daryl shrugged as Carol rolled her eyes.

"This is her address." Carol said, writing on a piece of paper cut off from a discarded envelope lying around, "Go talk to her."

"What? No." Daryl shook his head, "She won't give me the time of day after what I said to her last night."

"Do you want to see your daughter?" Carol asked him as he looked across at her.

It had been on his mind all day. The look on Brianna's face when she looked across at him the other night. He couldn't stop seeing it. He didn't know how to feel or what to do, but he knew he couldn't walk away. As much as he figured it'd be easier. He knew he wouldn't.

"Yes." Daryl answered.

"Then start by talking to Shiv." Carol slid the address over to him on the table, "And take it one day at a time from there. You two don't have to get back together. You don't even have to be good friends. But you have to be civil if you're going to make it work for Brianna."

"Did she really name her that after dad?" Daryl asked, picking up the piece of paper with Shiv's address on it.

"Yeah. She did." Carol smiled, tears welling in her eyes, "And I talk to Brianna about her grandfather all the time." She assured him as Daryl nodded, looking down to avoid showing his mother the tears in his eyes.

"I'll go to her. But I can't promise it won't make things worse." He said, grabbing his jacket and leaving the house. It would be a cold day in hell when he ignored his mother's advice, despite him still being mad at her.

"Sweet dreams, beautiful girl." Shiv smiled, brushing Brianna's hair out of her face after putting her to sleep with a bedtime story and lullaby.

When her whole world felt like it was coming down, she just had to look at her baby girl and everything didn't seem so bad.

She turned off the starry night light beside Brianna's bed, walking out of her bedroom and closing the door over a little. She was incredibly proud of herself for the humble life she'd managed to give Brianna thus far. It didn't start off so well for them, but she was proud she had a roof over their head, food on their table and clothes on their back. She never knew what people meant when they talked about motherly instincts, but having Brianna ignited a spark in her to do everything she possibly could to provide a safe life for her.

She was heading through to the kitchen to do the washing up from dinner when she heard a knock at the door. Assuming it was Punk or AJ, she headed down the hall and unlocked the door, opening it up and finding Daryl standing. Sober, thankfully.

"What are you doing here?" She asked nervously.

"I don't know." Daryl said truthfully as Shiv made a face at him.

"You don't know?" She questioned, "Why don't you just go home then." She suggested, shutting the door over as he put his hand out to stop it closing.

"No, I… I want to talk." He nodded, "We have to talk."

"You said all you had to say last night. I don't need to listen to a thing you say." Shiv said.

"I was drunk and… it was my first day back. You just dropped this bombshell on me. I didn't know what to say or do. I still don't." He said as Shiv stared at him. Sometimes she couldn't believe he was really standing in front of her after all this time.

"What is it you want to say then?" She asked, not budging.

"I… I want to see Brianna." He nodded, "I'm not sure I'll be any good. I… I won't have a clue what to do, probably. I know nothing about kids and… I still can't believe she's actually mine. That you… actually had a baby." He admitted, "When did you know you were pregnant?"

"A week after you got arrested." Shiv said, "I was fourteen weeks. Didn't have a clue." She said.

"You never thought to visit me in prison and tell me?" He asked with confusion.

"My parents had just thrown me out. I was a little preoccupied. And there was nothing you could have done to help." She shrugged.

"Your parents still live here?" He wondered.

"Yeah. They pretend I don't exist." Shiv nodded.

"Can I come in? Or are we gonna talk with me standing in the hallway?" He asked her as she looked at him, wondering if she wanted to invite him in or not.

"Brianna is asleep." She told him, stepping to the side and opening the door wider to let him in.

"I'll be quiet." Daryl nodded, walking into the apartment, heading through to the living room as Shiv shut the door and joined him, "This is a good apartment." He nodded.

It was a small apartment with very few things in it, but it was homely and warm. Blankets on the sofa. A box of toys in the corner. A lamp in the corner. And a cat… standing on the small coffee table.

"Off." Shiv clapped at the large grey cat as Daryl looked at it closely.

"Is that… Laffy?" Daryl realised. He remembered him as a kitten, the smokey grey colour of him, the big paws.

"Yeah." Shiv nodded, picking the cat up and sitting him off the coffee table, "I took him in last year. Mostly for Brianna. She loves cats." She said.

"Hey, buddy. Remember me?" Daryl asked, crouching down at the cat, scratching him under his chin.

"I wouldn't do that. He's a bit-" Shiv paused as Laffy's paws began scratching at Daryl rapidly, hissing before shooting away out of the living room, "He's a bit of a menace." Shiv finished as Daryl stood up, rubbing his arm.

"Little shit." He scoffed, examining his arm.

"Yeah, he only really likes me and Brianna." Shiv nodded, folding her arms and looking across at him as he smiled a little, "So what is it we're talking about?" She asked.

"I just want to see Brianna." Daryl nodded.

"Why the hell should I let you? After what you said to me last night." She said.

"Shiv, my head was up my ass last night. I just found out I had a daughter." He said.

"Yeah, a daughter who you think ruined my life." Shiv nodded.

"I didn't mean it like that." Daryl said.

"You did. I know you did." Shiv said, "I'm sorry, Daryl, if you thought you were gonna get out of prison and learn that I was a straight A graduate with my own business, and a doting boyfriend. I'm sorry if I didn't quite live up to your expectations." Shiv nodded.

"Yeah. That's the way it should have gone." Daryl nodded, "But life happens. And this is where we're at now." He said, "So where the hell do we go from here?"

"I never asked you to take the fall for me." Shiv reminded him, "It was your decision. You insisted on saying it was you who shot him."

"Yeah, well… sometimes when I was sitting alone in my cell, I kinda regretted that decision." He told her truthfully as she glared at him.

"I get you've probably been through a lot in prison, but you have no idea what the past four years have been like for me." Shiv said.

"You chose to run away. You could have stayed. You would have been supported by my mom, our friends… you chose to face life alone. I had no choice." He reminded her.

"Just get out." Shiv shook her head tiredly, "I'm not going to stand here and fight with you over who has been more miserable."

"I just want to see Brianna." Daryl said, "Even if it's just for an hour."

"I'll think about it." Shiv nodded.

"You'll think about it?" Daryl screwed his eyes up at her, "I don't even recognise you, Shiv. I really don't."

"Yeah? Likewise." Shiv nodded.

"You tell anyone the truth? About what really happened that night?" He asked her.

"No." Shiv said, "But believe me, it has eaten me alive for the past four years."

"And that's why you pushed your friends away?" Daryl nodded as Shiv just looked at him, not replying.

"I think you should just go." Shiv nodded, "I'll talk to your mom about you seeing Brianna."

"Jesus, really? We're gonna communicate through my mom? Is that how it's going to go?" He asked.

"Yeah. Cause I don't want to talk to you." Shiv nodded truthfully.

She just couldn't bare it. Thinking about all that had happened between them. How she had known him since she was a child. Loved him since she was a teenager. Her best friend. Her first everything. The love she had for him was still there, but it was complicated and confusing. She hated herself for allowing him to go to prison for her, and she hated him for implying their daughter was a mistake.

"Fine." Daryl nodded, "Have it your way." He shook his head, walking out and leaving the apartment.

Shiv sat down on the sofa, placing her hand on her mouth as she began to sob. Hard. Crying as hard as she ever had whilst Laffy prowled in and purred around her legs.