Summary: This fic is set after the cave collapse (10x09) and the Hilltop fire (10x15). Daryl is on edge as Connie is still missing, and Carol is doing all she can to keep him grounded. He decides to set out to find her himself as everyone worries about Beta and the Whisperers.
Warnings: adult themes, violence, eventual (graphic) smut.
Chapter One here: Missing
Chapter Three here: Twist of Fate
Chapter Four here: Impulse
Chapter Five here: Linger
When Daryl opened his eyes, the sun was peeking in through the boarded windows. The fire had gone out at some point during the night. Connie stirred in his arms then, her shoulders stretching slightly, and she opened her eyes. She turned her head up to look at him and smiled. Both of them sat up together, Connie holding the blanket to her chest. She tucked it under her arms to free her hands and signed him a good morning. Daryl expected to feel awkward, he’d never woken up to a woman who was as naked as he was. But he didn’t feel awkward. He felt comfortable and accepted. He returned the sign and she smiled. She leaned towards him, brushing his messy hair out of his face, and kissed him.
She got to her feet, blanket wrapped around her and Daryl took the opportunity to pull his pants on. She held out her hand, determined to get him to take it. He did and she pulled him towards the door, the one that led to the upstairs hall.
‘Where are we going?’ he signed to her, and then spoke, “You’re not even dressed.”
Tucking the blanket under her arms to free her hands, she signed her reply, ‘We’re going to have a shower.’
He looked her up and down before his eyes settled on her face. She raised her eyebrows, giving him a questioning look, pushing him to answer. He nodded and led her to the bathroom.
She turned away from him then, pushing the shower curtain out of the way and turning the water on, steam filling the room. She glanced at him over her shoulder, dropped the blanket, and got in. Daryl hesitated a moment before he joined her under the stream of hot water, and sighed as it ran down his skin. He came up behind her, his hands sliding down her arms, and she sighed, her head tilting back slightly. She turned then, wrapping her arms around his ribs, her hands flat against his shoulder blades. Her face was almost against his shoulder and he ran his hand over her hair, long in its wet state, sitting between her shoulder blades. He pressed his lips to her hair. Daryl could be sweet when he wanted to. She felt safe. Truly safe.
She took it upon herself to grab the shampoo from the hanging shelf inside the shower and began emptying into her hand. Her hands rose to his hair and began gently massaging the shampoo into his damp locks, rubbing his scalp deep yet gently, causing him to let out breathy moans, his eyes closing. She’d teased him many times about his dirty, oily hair. He arched his head back, letting the water wash away the shampoo.
After scrubbing each other clean, Daryl and Connie, both wrapped in towels, peeked out of the bathroom, hoping for a clear coast. The house was still quiet, everyone seemingly still upstairs. Daryl took her by the hand and led her back to the stairs that led down to his room. She scooped up her clothing from beside the sofa and dressed quickly, succinctly as Daryl did the same, pulling on clean clothes. She looked around for her vest and tank top, spotting them by the window bench and snatched them up, tugging them on. She’d change when she got back to the house she shared with the rest of her family, the one they stayed in when they weren’t in the trailers at Hilltop. She had spare, clean, clothes there. But for now, the previous day’s outfit would suffice.
Daryl tied his boots as he watched her bundle her hair up on top of her head, digging into her pocket for a hair elastic. She smiled as she caught his eyes and winked at him. He huffed a chuckle and got up. He crossed the space to her, but she didn’t move, she only watched him. His hair was curling around his face where it was starting to dry, the deep color reminding her of dark coffee. Coffee, she thought, she could really go for that. And some fresh clothes.
‘I’ll see you later.’ She signed to him, ‘Midday? Near the reservoir and strawberry patch?’
He nodded and she smiled.
Wandering back across Alexandria in the early morning light, she was lucky enough to not draw any attention to herself past a brief hello from one of the farm helpers. The small curbside house she’d settle in with Kelly, Yumiko, and Magna, came into view, everything seeming peaceful. She mounted the stairs and reached for the door handle carefully. She opened the door with delicate hands and slipped in quietly. She headed for the stairs, yet something, someone, caught her attention. Kelly stood with a glass of juice in her hand and raised her eyebrows, she put the glass down.
‘Where were you?’ Kelly signed
Connie’s eyed widened slightly, her mouth dropping open slightly. Think, think, think…
‘Walking,’ she signed in reply
‘Walking?’ Kelly questioned and Connie nodded, ‘Before breakfast and in the same clothes as yesterday?’
Connie shrugged, trying to brush it off. Kelly’s mouth quirked into a ‘o’ as she put two and two together.
Connie kept her lips pressed into a stern line, and didn’t reply. Kelly stared at her, unamused.
Connie sighed, giving in, ‘Fine. Yes.’
‘Did you two…’ Kelly questioned
Connie threw her hands up, waving them in mortification, trying to get her sister to stop poking into her sex life. Kelly laughed, rolling her eyes at her sister’s reaction.
‘What?’ Kelly signed, ‘We’re not allowed to talk about it?’
‘I’d like to keep my sex life to myself.’
‘So you did sleep with him.’
Connie let out an exasperated huff and finally just nodded, giving in. She shook her head, annoyed by her sister’s probing in a loving way. Connie headed to her room to change into fresh clothing and tried to salvage her now dry curls, attacking the knots formed by her hasty ponytail with a comb. When she was done and her curls were smooth, she settled on her fresh outfit; clean jeans, a bottle green tank top, a tan button up shirt. She pulled her boots back on and headed back downstairs to eat. She was starving.
Dog wandered back into the room, now that the door was open. Daryl didn't know where Dog had spent the night, probably on the main floor or in someone else’s bedroom, probably Carol's. Everyone loved Dog. Dog sniffed around the room, catching Connie’s scent on the furniture, on him. He petted his companion. Dog barked, staring him down, as if questioning him.
"Yeah I know, I'm sorry." Daryl told him, "Though I'm sure you got plenty of treats wherever you were last night."
Dog grumbled and let out a low bark. Daryl huffed a laugh and got up from the sofa. He wandered out into the hallway, Dog following. He entered the kitchen, his stomach growling. Carol was nowhere to be seen, and Daryl didn't know whether it was because she'd already left or if she was still in her room, but judging by the plate of food left on the counter, she was already out and about.
He was thankful for the breakfast, even though it was cold. His stomach would have tried to eat itself if he had to spend the time cooking. He'd become to spoiled recently, he realized. He happily dug into the eggs and meat, poking at the grilled half tomato on the plate with his index finger. He gave in and ate it too, even though it wasn't his favourite. Carol always pestered him about eating more fruit and vegetables.
When he was done, he found himself leaving the house, Dog in tow. Judith and RJ were playing in the wide stretch of grass nearby and he waved at them as he approached.
"MORNING UNCLE DARYL!" Judith exclaimed and RJ just waved.
"Mornin'," Daryl replied, he flicked her hat and tousled RJ's hair.
"Hey Dog," RJ cooed as he petted him and ruffled his fur
"You seen Carol?" Daryl asked Judith
"Yeah, she's out running an errand with Gabriel, told me to tell you that she'll see you later," she answered
"M'kay," Daryl replied, "See you later."
"Bye!" RJ exclaimed as Daryl smiled at both of them and continued on his way.
He'd occupy himself with work until midday. And then he'd see her again.