Lestat's Immortal Erection

It's early and Loveday is still asleep in the backseat of the four door, his vest still draped over her on the blankets. They have one of those inflatable back seat bed things so they can both sleep a bit more comfortably.

The bed of the truck is loaded with food, water, ethanol, and other supply they've scavenged along the way.

"Alright, darlin'," he sighs, gently shaking her, chuckling when she groans, "We gotta hit the road, c'mon."

She slowly starts to wake, blinking sleepily up at him, "Hey."

"Hey there, pretty girl." He smiles softly, kissing her forehead. "You ready t'go?"

"Yeah." She yawns as she sits up, "I'll wake up while we drive."

She curls up in the backseat, his vest around her shoulders while she watches the still world pass by outside.

They drive for a bit before they have to get out and move an abandoned car, or log, on and off until sunset.

"Should get there by tomorrow." Loveday says through a mouthful of jerky they'd brought along. She's sitting in the bed of the truck, her legs sprawled out over the tailgate. They have a small fire going to cook a rabbit he got when they stopped that he's tending to.

"Only a week late." He sighs and she shrugs.

"As long as we don't get snowed in, we should get back in half the time, since we cleared the road."

He nods, the loos up at her, "What d'ya mean snowed in?"

"It's gonna snow." She says, sounding certain, "Either tonight or tomorrow. I can smell it."

"You can smell it." He snorts.

"I can!" She argues, "Just like how people can smell rain comin'! The air smells different!"

"Alright, Darlin', whatever you say."

She rolls her eyes and jumps down to get her water bottle from the cab.

"Keep laughing, Dixon, but when we-" she freezes, seeing something move a ways down the road, "Dare, put the fire out and get in the truck."

"What? Lady, we just-"

"I'm serious!" She snatches the halfzvooked rabbit and throws it off before stomping on fire, "There's walkers!"

His brow furrows and he looks past the truck. Sure enough, there are walkers, lots of em, shambling right toward them. He grabs one of the bags of food and water, shuts the tailgate and tosses the bag inside the cab before helping Loveday and climbing in behind her.

They scramble to lock the doors and cover the front windows and windshield. The back windows are tinted, and in the fading sunset light, walkers shouldn't be able to see through them.

"You okay?" He asks softly, checking her over as if they'd gone toe-to-toe with the hoard and she were at risk of being scratched.

"I'm fine," she breathes, "Just... scared me is all."

"Yeah?" He cups her left cheek and strokes his knuckles along her right, "What about now?"

"Nah," Her voice is hushed, "I got my man to keep me safe."

"Yeah, you do." He grins, pulling her into his chest.

The truck rocks and sways with every walker that bounces off the body as the hoard shuffles by. Loveday stays cuddled into Daryl's chest, the safest place in the apocalypse.

She jumps when the handle to one of the front doors clicks back into place, but Daryl is quick to calm her.

"Pro'ly just one'a the walkers got caught, you're okay, I've got'ya." He whispers. "Why don't you try'an get some sleep, yeah? I'll keep you safe."

His hand running along her back lulls her quickly to sleep despite the present threat.

Daryl holds back a chuckle when she fully relaxes against him, his girl, always his girl, looking absolutely adorable all safe in his arms.

He must have fallen asleep sometime in the night, too, because he wakes up to her lips pressed between his eyes.

"We didn't die." She whispers as she pulls away.

"I can see that." He smiles, brushing her hair aside to cup her cheek, "Mornin', angel."

"Mmm, morning," She hums against his lips.

The walkers had shambled off during the night, only leaving a few stragglers behind, that are easy enough to deal with before they hit the road again.

"Still 'smell like snow' to you?" Daryl teases as they drive down the deserted road, glancing over at her.

"Don't say it like I'm crazy," She laughs, "The cold air smells more... ozone-y."

"More ozone-y?" He laughs.

"Oh, just shut up and drive, Dixon."

He grabs her hand, squeezing it as he turns back to the road. They're only on the road for an hour before he pulls up to the front gate of the park.

"Alright, Darlin', you're up. Gonna have to take your lead on this one." He lets her play with his fingers as he speaks.

"First thing's first, you're gonna bundle up." She grins, "Can't have my lover losing bits here and there from frostbite."

"Yeah, yeah." He chuckles.

They both layer up and grab some water and rations before quietly making their way into the seemingly abandoned park.

"It's so... still." She murmurs, nocking an arrow from her hip quiver on her bow, "And quiet."

"Should start with some of the buildin's, don' want any surprises." He says, keeping close.

The two quickly clear the strip of gift and candy shops, many of which seemed to have been raided during the early days of the apocalypse, but a few seem untouched.

As they work their way around the property, the park is eerily silent. Even the waterpark, dried up and faded, is empty of both living and dead.

"We should block the front gates, keep out walkers in the spring." She explains as they walk down the main path, "And maybe clear out some of this debris before... that."

She sighs as large snowflakes start to flutter down and the temperature begins to drop.

"Should head back," Daryl insists, taking her hand and leading her back toward the truck.

"No, no, Dare, can't."

"Loveday, I ain't waitin' around to get snowed in."

"But you'll risk getting caught out in a blizzard?" She argues, pulling him to a stop, "Look, we should try the lodge across the street. There's a big fireplace in the lobby to keep us warm."

He scowls at the way she orders him around then sighs in defeat, "Fine, but what happens if we get stuck? We're gon' need food."

"We packed rations..." She trails off when he gives her a look, "And some of the shops had trail mix and jerky? That should be enough to hold us over until my handsome, amazing husband can find us something more substantial... right?"

"Shit." He snorts, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and walking toward the gift shops that hadn't been raided yet, "Since when're you such a kiss ass, huh?"

"I know when to pick my battles." She shrugs.

"You know how'ta get what you wan', morelike." He huffs, grabbing a souvenir backpack from a rack and haphazardly throwing in packages of expired beef jerky and trail mix. "Jesus- put the bear down, Loveday, we don't gotta bring back toys."

"But Marnie would love it!" She pouts, hugging the toy to her chest, "And there's two! One for each girl."

"Loveday."

"I'm not puttin' em back." She says, grabbing a backpack of her own, grabbing some themed sweatshirts and a couple throw blankets.

"The hell am I s'possed t'do with you?"

She throws a smile over her shoulder at him, "Love me."

"Don't do that enough?" He teases, slinging his bag over his shoulder, "C'mon, should get over while it's still light."

He takes her bag and shoulders it before leading her out by the hand toward the truck.

"Up y'go." He tosses the bags in the back seat before helping her into the front, making her giggle. That's why he does it, every time. He knows she doesn't need his help, but he loves hearing that pretty little laugh of hers.

The ride to the lodge is about a minute and he pulls right up to the front door.

They pry open the sliding doors, and inside the lobby, there is overturned furniture and even some abandoned luggage, like whoever was here the day of the fall left in a hurry. To the left is a large stone fireplace, across from the doors, the check in desk, and on the right is a flight of stairs leading up to the second floor landing.

Cobwebs reach down from the rustic chandeliers, undisturbed for years.

The air is faintly musty, likely from an ajar door or cracked window to the indoor waterpark.

Daryl and Loveday share a brief look before she calls out a lingering "Hello."

The sound echoes throughout the still and deathly silent building.

"Don' sound like no one's home," He says quietly, walking quietly toward the far end of the lobby. She sticks close as they do a quick sweep of the open areas of all four floors, finding no undead guests to speak of.

Even still, they shut most of the hallway connecting doors, and once they're sure there is no immediate danger, they head back to the lobby. He starts looking up the chimney flue to see if it's blocked or not, as Loveday pokes around the check-in desk.

"This should work, got enough wood here for a couple days too..." He says over his shoulder, only to realize she's not there anymore, "Darlin'?"

"I'm in the office!" She calls, "Come here and give me a hand with this?"

"The hell're you doin'?" He grumbles, making his way behind the desk and into the office, "What'cha need?"

"There's something behind these," She says, trying to see behind a couple of filing cabinets, "I think it might be a crawlspace."

"Yeah, alrigh'."

They manage to drag both cabinets aside, and he helps her open the small door, shining his flashlight inside. "You got it?"

"Yeah- here." She hands him a laminated booklet labeled 'Emergancy' before pushing out one tote, then another. "I think we just hit the jackpot."

He sets the book down and opens the first tote, its packed full of canned water, and the second with MREs.

"Ain't the most appetizin', but we ain't gon' starve."

They bring the totes out into the lobby and Daryl starts working on getting a fire going. He chuckles when he hears her drop her bag on the coffee table and climb one of the couches.

"You already gettin' comfy?"

"I'm reading the emergency manual." She huffs, "There might be a back-up generator we can use."

"Fine, you read, I'll do all the heavy liftin'." He teases, squeezing her knees as he stands.

"Where are you going?"

"Going out to get us somethin' 'more substantial' as you called it, 'fore it snows too much." He explains, pulling on his poncho as an extra layer.

"Please be safe."

"I always am, Darlin'." He assures her, petting her hair before kissing her forehead, "You keep warm an' stay put. No wanderin' around 'til I get back and we clear it together."

It's been nearly two hours and there are over four inches of snow already due to the near whiteout conditions, and if he weren't such an accomplished tracker, he never would have found his way back to the lodge. The deer he got is small, but should feed the two of them for at least a couple nights.

He knocks on the front door to tell her he's back before bleeding and skinning it as best he can in the cold.

He wipes his hands in the snow and makes his way in.

"I started to worry you got lost." She says, holding one of the cans if water in a towel, "Here, I warmed this up so you could at least kind of wash your hands."

"Thanks, Darlin'."

She hums and starts brushing clumps of snow out of his hair.

"I think we made the right call hunkering down tonight." She murmurs, watching the snowfall, "Oh! I also found the master keys and got the gift shop open. We have chips now."

"What did I say about wanderin' off? Loveday, it ain't safe-"

"I found them in the desk in the office, no wandering required."

"Good." He nods, going to warm up in front of the fire. "You gon' fill me in in the hotel emergency procedures? Or is that not important anymore?"

"Actually, I was right!" She grins, "And not only is there an emergency solar generator, there's a water pump connected to an emergency well!"

"But?"

"But... the hardware to turn them on is in maintenence... in the basement..." She explains, "So we'll have to rely on our flashlights."

He sighs, hanging his head slightly, "Course it is..."

He stands and reaches for his knife and flashlight, "Come on, let's go get you some runnin' water."

They unbar the door that leads toward maintenance and housekeeping.

"Well, we won't run out of linens." She comments, poking her head in housekeeping.

Daryl grunts in response, shining his flashlight around the room before they start down the stairs at the end of the hall.

The darkness of the basement is oppressive and silent, save for a dripping pipe somewhere out of sight.

"You stay close." He grumbles and she nods.

Their footsteps echo through the cement hallway, hers slightly heavier than his as their flashlights show the way.

She turns into a storage room while he stays by the door, and her light starts to flicker.

"Oh, come on!" She hisses, hitting it a few times until a hand grabs her ankle, a gurgling growl coming from the hidden walker. Her knife and flashlight clatter against the ground, still flickering, when a second hand grabs at her, making her fall back and scream Daryl's name in a panic.

She kicks at its head and scrambles for her knife in the darkness before Daryl plunges his blade into the walker's skull.

"Com'ere, I got ya." He shushes, helping her up, and yanking her close, "You're okay. Fuck, you scared me, but you're safe now."

"I got ya'," He says it more to himself than her, keeping her pressed against his chest, his hand buried in her hair.

He keeps her hand firmly in his as they clear the rest of the basement, not letting her get further than arms length away.

He only let's go when they find the generator and pump controls, letting her keep watch while he fiddles with switches and buttons, the butt of his flashlight between his teeth until-

"That should do it." He grumbles as the lights slowly start to come on, "It's gon' be cold, but I got runnin' water for my girl. Wh- hey."

He chuckles when she presses close and kisses his cheek.

"Yeah, you're welcome, Darlin'."

"Now we gotta get to work, help me grab some supplies?"

"How 'bout, I drag that walker outside, and you start grabbin' what you need?" He offers, patting her ass to get her on her way.

She brings up a few tools from maintenence and drops them in one side of one of the empty housekeeping carts, loading the other side with blankets, sheets, and towels.

She's just pushing it into the hallway when he gets back.

"You plan on redecoratin'? What's all this for?" He asks.

"The windows in the lobby have curtains, but the doors are glass and don't." She explains, "I'm gonna tack up some blankets over them to keep out any extra cold. And the towels are to mop up the snow you're just tracked in from outside."

"I'll take care a'that, kay?" He takes the cart and kisses her head, "Knowin' you, you'd fall tryin'a get em up."

He laughs when she smacks his stomach and starts to gather up some of the stuff, before heading across the lobby to the restaurant and kitchen.

He's just finishing up when he hears a loud clang and the clattering of metal pots and utensils. He drops the stapler in his hand and runs toward her, reaching for his knife, "Loveday?!"

"I'm fine!" She calls as he bursts in, his eyes darting around for danger, only to find her on the floor, surrounded by pots and pans, "I tripped."

He lets out a heavy sigh and sheathes his knife, "You tryin'a give me a heart attack?"

"No," She pouts, letting him help her up, "'M sorry, Dare, didn't mean to scare you."

"Then stop it." He urges, holding her face in his hands, "I ain't as young as I used t'be, my heart can't take it. If anythin' ever happened t'you, I-"

"Hey," She says softly, reaching up to squeeze his hands, "It was only a slip. I'm okay."

He relaxes slightly, thumb running along her cheek, before he leans down to press his lips to hers. She melts into him when he lifts her up and sets her on one of the stainless steel counters.

"Alrigh', I'll clean this up, and you sit pretty fo'me, yeah?" He orders playfully as he starts picking up her mess, stacking pots and pans on a nearby prep station where she'd collected various canned goods. "Hey, what'ed I just say?"

She squeals when he pulls her away from the oven, pressing her back against his chest. "Now sit that pretty ass back down, darlin'."

"I have ideas, let me get what I need," She giggles, leaning her head back on his shoulder.

"Oh yeah? What kind of ideas?"

"The useful kind, now let go."

"Never." He hums against her temple before removing his arm and letting her grab what she wants.

Once she has everything- everything being the racks from the oven, some metal tongs, and some hangers from housekeeping- they reconvene in the lobby.

He brings in one of the shanks from the deer outside while she fiddles with her 'supplies' and a pair of wire cutters and pliers.

"Aaaaaaand, there we go, a grill for the fireplace." She grins, setting it over the fire. "Once that's hot, we can get cookin'."

He sighs, knowing he should have known better than to doubt what she's been doing. She's crafty, always has been, especially when it comes to making something useful out of next to nothing.

He watches her cook, somehow making a basic stew out of venison, expired canned goods, spices, and MREs.

"I swear, you use black magic when you do shit like that." He grumbles. He could have cooked the meat, but this actually smells good and even flavorful.

There's over eight inches of snow outside once they finished eating, and there's no sign of it stopping anytime soon.

The world is quiet outside, and the only sound in the lobby is the crackling of the fire as Daryl lays back on the sofa.

"Com'ere, Darlin'." He pats his leg for her to come share what would be their bed for the night, "Pretty girl needs her sleep."

She happily lays on top of him, pulling one of the hotel blankets over them.

"What happens when one of us falls off later?" She jokes and he snorts.

"You mean when you take the couch for yourself?" He corrects, "Then I'm takin' you with me."

"Sounds alright to me." She smiles softly as she leans up and kisses his cheek.

Just like he thought, she wedges herself between him and the back of the couch in her sleep, until he's hanging off the edge of it.

It's late into the night and Daryl just huffs out a small chuckle before getting up and tucking her in. He goes and grabs some extra pillows and blankets and makes up a makeshift bedroll on the floor beside her.

"Lucky you're damn cute." He grumbles, settling down with his arm under his head.

He doesn't sleep much, usually doesn't when they're out on the road, instead he lays awake, listening to the wind whip outside and beat on the windows.

By the time the sun rises, he's dozed a bit here and there, and there's over a foot blanketing the ground, deeper where it's been swept up in drifts.

He adds more wood to the fire and simply sits there, watching her sleep. When the world fell apart he had no one, just his brother. No home to miss, no family to mourn. But then... then he found Loveday, and she became his world, a world he would do anything to keep safe and happy. Even if it meant moving up North where it snows or having two little girls he'd adore more than anything. Even if it meant sleeping on floor, watching her sleep all cozied up without him.

"My everythin'." He murmurs, brushing his fingers through her hair.

He gets up and starts pulling on his coat, pausing when he hears her sit up.

"Come back t'bed." She grumbles and he chuckles.

"Ain't been 'in bed' more than half th'night," He teases, "Y'kicked me out hours ago."

"Come back anyway, it's too cold out f'r you." She pouts.

He sighs and crouches down by the couch.

"Gon' be too cold in here if I don' go out for more wood." He explains softly as she tugs oh the lapels of his coat to try and coax him back into bed, "Why don' you start up some food an' some'a that instant coffee, an' I'll be back soon."

She's right though, with the sun still so low it's absolutely frigid out. He huffs, pulling a bandana over his mouth and nose to stave off some of the cold, adjusting his grip on his axe. Even with an extra pair of gloves on, he'll have to keep an eye out for frostbite he realizes, but at least any straggling walkers will be slowed down by the freezing temperatures.

He's only out there an hour or so before he's desperate to get back inside, even if he only has a a few sad chunks of wood from the small tree he felled.

He shoves the door open and drops the wood on the floor, shaking off the snow gathered on his head and shoulders. The lobby lights are on and Loveday gasps when he yanks off the bandana.

"Jesus! Your face is all snow burned!" She worries, rushing over and cupping his cheeks. "I told you it was too cold! Let me see your hands."

"Quit worryin', I'm fine, I just-" He hisses when she starts peeling off his gloves, the warm air burning his fingers.

"You just nearly got frost bite!" She snaps, looking over his hands, "I'll go warm up some water, you need to soak these, and your toes too!"

He pulls off his coat and boots before slumping down on the couch, watching her go into caretaker mode.

The way she frets over him still makes him blush and he shifts uncomfortably, "Ain't gotta mother hen me. -Hey!"

He yelps when she flicks his temple, "Well, somebody's gotta take care of you! 'Specially if you're not gonna do it."

She checks on his hands again once they've soaked in warm water, her thumb running along his knuckles, "This isn't too bad, you should be fine in a bit."

"So I'm gon' keep 'em?" He jokes and she smacks his chest.

"Don't even joke about that!" She chastises, "Could you imagine having to make me do that? To you? Makes me feel sick just thinking about it."

He stares at her for a moment, noting how she won't even look him in the eye as she says it, and he sighs, pulling his hand away to cradle the back of her head, "'m sorry. You're right, shouldn't be jokin' about that."

She spends the next few hours worrying over him, which only makes that little guilty feeling worse, especially when she lays down next to him with her head in his lap and her arm hooked around his thigh, as if clinging to him to make sure he's still there.

"Didn' mean t'worry you." He grumbles, stroking her cheek with his knuckle, "Don' look so sad, you're breakin' my heart here, darlin'."

Her arm around his leg tightens and he lets her hold on, for a while at least, petting her hair as the fire crackles.

After about an hour, he sighs again and nudges her off him, "Alright, if we're gon' spend a while here, we're gon' need to clear some'a the guest rooms an' get ourselves a real bed. 'm gettin' too old t'be sleepin' on the floor like that."

Loveday nods as she sits up, her hands still lingering on him as he stands, her fingers caught in the beltloops of his pants.

"You can stay close," He says gently, pulling her to her feet, "Can stay as close as you want. 'M not goin' anywhere."

It's not uncommon for her to get a bit clingy when something happens, she's always been anxious, and now's no different.

The night before had been quiet, no bumps or groans, so he doesn't think they'll run into more than a couple walkers tucked away in private rooms or dark corners.

"According to the layout, the rooms with king beds are... down here." She pulls him, by the hand, down a hallway, and he chuckles at her tight grip.

"I ain't goin' nowhere, darlin." His voice is soft as he lifts her hand up to his lips, "Don' always gotta hold on so tight."

She glares at him slightly and adjusts her hold so their fingers are threaded together instead, before going back to tugging him along behind her.

She only lets go when they get to the first door, knocking to see if there is anything undead behind it. Hearing nothing, she uses the masterkey to open it.

There's a healthy amount of dust coating the room, and is otherwise undisturbed.

Daryl quickly ducks his head into the bathroom to make sure it's fully clear before helping her strip the dusty sheet off.

"How we wanna do this?" He asks and she shrugs.

"We tip it on it's side, you take one end, I take another and we drop it over the landing rail?"

He chews on his lip as he thinks for a moment and nods.

It's an easy enough task between the two of them. The mattress makes a muffled thud on the lobby floor as it lands and the second one goes just as smoothly.

She leans over the railing, looking out over the lobby and a wide, childish grin stretches across her face.

"We should make a blanket fort!" She beams over at him.

"Why the hell do you wanna build a blanket fort?"

"Well, one, it would be fun." She scoffs, "And two, it would trap some of the warm air before it disperses throughout the whole lodge."

He huffs and moans the whole time he helps her move furniture and and lay each blanket just right, but it's a hard act to keep up, with the way she's smiling and giggling, knowing that's all his grumpiness is, an act.

They even use a length of parecord they manage to loop over one of the rafters to lift up the soft roof of their little sanctuary.

"There," he grumbles, pulling her onto his lap on the bed, "Happy now?"

"Quite." She admits happily, shifting to curl up in his arms.

The rest of the day fades away in that bed, with soft kisses and lingering touches. They're both safe, the cold outside warding off the dead, while the fire inside crackles and keeps them warm.

Murmured 'I love you's become lost in the snapping of burning wood, gasps swallowed by the wind against the windows.

His forehead presses against hers as his hands, rough and gentle, glide along her hips and thighs, pulling her closer, still in awe that she chose him all those years ago, that she still chooses him now, after everything.

He does his best to be worthy of it- of her. Of every touch and sigh and kiss. Of every desperate and trembling embrace she gives him. Of every bat of those pretty blue eyes,

Yet, finds himself sometimes straggling behind, never able to measure up to the love she gives him, feeling undeserving of adoration he receives, even as she whispers soft and intimate words meant just for him.

Still in awe of her meer attentions toward him.

"Hey," she breathes, fingers brushing his hair out of his eyes, "You look a million miles away, come back to me."

"'M right here." He mumbles, leaning in to mouth at her still-heaving chest, desperate to prove his devotion. "Not goin' anywhere."

"Slow down," She chuckles, tipping his chin up to look at her, "Don't gotta rush. We're not leaving for at least another week."

He lets out a heavy sigh, burying his face in the crook of her neck as he settles beside her.

"Don' deserve you." He mutters, keeping her body pulled against his.

"You know I don't like when you say that." She frowns, stroking his hair. "Makes me think I'm not loving you enough."

"Love me too much," He admits, his beard scratching at her skin, "Never know what t'do with it all. Don' know how t'make up for it."

"You don't have to make up for anything, Dare. You love me plenty, I promise. Wouldn't want you any other way."

It's not the first time they've had this conversation, but it is the first in a long while. It's usually after he does something stupid and she gets mad and protective over him. You'd think, over the years, he'd get used to the feeling of being cared for, but it still always hits him square in the chest, leaving a yearning ache that can only be filled with more. More of her touch, more of her voice, more of everything that makes her her- everything that makes her his.

He lays there, long after she's fallen asleep, watching the rise and fall of her chest as the light of the fire flickers across her skin.

He reaches over and brushes away the drool from the corner of her mouth, chuckling softly when her nose scrunches up.

He's surprised when he wakes up on his back with her pressed close to his side, her arm wrapped around his head, and her leg around his waist, pushing his face against her chest.

His clingy girl- always his clingy girl.

"Yeah, I love you too," He laughs, gently trying to pull away, only for her to drag him close again. He settles back in and pulls her even closer, breathing her in and letting his eyes fall closed again.

The air in their little blanket fort stinks of woodsmoke, sweat, and sex, but he wouldn't have it any other way. Death smells far worse, but they're alive, alive and together.

He melts a little when she nuzzles into his hair, his fingers pressing into the skin of her back.

After a bit she groans and curls tighter around him before waking up.

"Mornin', pretty girl." He mumbles against her throat, "You comfy?"

"Holding you?" She yawns, "Always... You sleep well?"

"Mhm."

"Good." She's quiet for a moment, her fingers playing with his sleep-mussed hair before she says, "I miss our girls."

He sighs and pulls back just enough to look at her, his hand coming up to cup her cheek, "Yeah, me too... But Rick's lookin' after 'em, and we cleared the road, so we'll get home quick once it thaws."

"That could be weeks." She frowns, "I just... I wanna talk to them."

He sighs and pulls her close again, kissing her head, "I know, darlin. Me too."

They spend days inside, stretching their stew, exploring the hotel. and being intimate with one another.

They take a day taking down shower curtain rods from various rooms and Loveday uses metal wire to macgyver up a drying rack for the leftover venison.

All in all, the lobby has started to look and feel homey. Boots by the fire, coats by the door, a damp towel hanging over the armrest of a chair to dry.

Daryl is looking through one of the boxes of emergency rations as Loveday knits in the firelight with mismatch yarn they'd picked up at an artstore on the way over, her hair still wet from washing it.

"No shit." He mutters, feeling something different under the MREs. he shifts a few of the packets and pulls out a emergency radio hidden there, "Loveday."

Her eyes light up when she sees the find, only to be disappointed when they plug it in and tune it to the Sugar Run frequency and hear only static.

"Don' think we got a strong enough signal out here t'reach." He huffs, fiddling with the dial

"We need a bigger antenna," She agrees.

They fiddle with it for a few minutes longer, and he see the crease between her eyebrows deepen slightly.

"Hey." He moves to hold her hand. his thumb brushing over her knuckles, "They're fine. We'll see 'em when we get home."

"Yeah," She sighs, pulling away slightly, "I'm... I'm gonna go... take advantage of the arcade."

He watches her walk off, sitting on the ground by the radio. He hates seeing her look so sad and not being able to fix it. Leaving the radio on, he pushes himself to his feet and strides after her, taking the stair two at a time before scooping her up in his arms.

"I'm gonna kick your ass at skiball." He challenges playfully.

"Oh, your on!' She laughs, her arm wrapping around his neck.

It's when she's fiddling with one of the balls, losing by a lot, that she has an idea.

"When I was little my room had terrible radio signal," She says out of nowhere making his brow furrow as he turns to look at her.

"If y'think sayin' random shit is gon' help you win-"

"No, listen." She grabs his arm, "It was really bad, so I would untwist metal hangers and extend the antenna with them and then it came in clearer."

"You wanna use hangers to get ahold of Sugar Run?" He doesn't sound convinced.

"Not hangers, the shower curtain rods would work- I-I mean it would take some DIY, but I think it should work."

He grumbles and his nose scrunches up, but he stays sleeping, and she chuckles. She gently moves to straddle his hips, and he grunts beneath her.

"Daryl," She coos, leaning down to kiss his nose, "You're gonna be up all night if you keep sleepin'."

He huffs, his eyes still closed, but his arms uncross, and his hands move to grip her thighs.

"Darlin'," He sighs, "Why don' you just lay down'n join me?"

"Cause it's two pm, and if I nap now, my sleep schedule is fucked."

"Do it anyway," He grumbles, trying to pull her down on top of him.

"Daryl!" She giggles.

"C'mon, Darlin'. You know you want to."

She nips at his nose and sits up, laughing slightly at his clinginess, "You're impossible. Come on. Let's go for a ride or somethin'."

He whines as she pulls away and tugs her thighs, pulling her further up his body, so she's on his stomach, his hands sliding up to caress her back.

"Hey now," She breathes, "'m not letting you get your way just cause you're bein' all sweet on me... When was the last time you and I went out on a date, hm?"

"Date?" His eyes finally open, looking up at her, confused, "I dunno... we went on that run a couple weeks ago-"

"No, I mean a date." She corrects, "Not fighting for our lives and looking for supplies. Just the two of us, having a good time."

He snorts at that, his hand moving to cup her cheek, his thumb running along her cheek, "Thought we were havin' a good time. When we holed up in that apartment and... y'know."

She giggles again and nods, "The sex was fun, but the ride home covered in dirt and blood was... uncomfortable. I wanna spend time with you when we're not one wrong step away from being eaten."

He's quiet for a moment, his thumb still stroking along her cheekbone. She has a point. Every time they go "out" somewhere, their fun is cut short by walkers, and they end up covered in gore and viscera.

"What kinda date were you thinkin', beautiful?"

"Hmm..." She runs her hands along his chest as she thinks, "I'm thinking... we throw some food in a bag, get on the bike, and go for a ride."

"Yeah? I think we can do that."

"Yeah?" She grins and leans down to kiss him, her lips lingering against his, "Well, c'mon then."

Loveday packs them some sandwiches and drinks into a backpack and climbs on behind him on the bike.

She can feel his chest puff up when she wraps her arms around him, and she laughs, hiding her face between his shoulder blades.

"What? What's so funny, darlin'?" He teases, well aware of what made her crack up, "You better hold on tighter than that're you're gon' fall off."

He pulls her arms tighter around his middle, "There we go, nice an' snug. Don' wan' you goin' nowhere."

"I'm not goin' anywhere, just drive the damn bike."

"Oh, she's demandin' today, huh?" He snorts, revving up the bike, "Hell, princess, you got a destination in mind, or we just drivin'?"

She shifts behind him, her cheek pressing against his shoulder, "I dunno... there's a couple'a lakes just outside the walls... or we could stay on the backroads an' just drive."

"Pro'ly less walkers on the mountain roads, let's drive f'r a bit."

She holds on tight as they go, like always, and the sun warm on their backs as it filters through the trees. The dirt roads are well kept from the constant traffic on them since The Fall, and the ride is smooth. Loveday sighs deeply, her eyes falling shut as she relaxes against him.

"You awake back there?" He calls over his shoulder, and she gives him a slight squeeze.

"Yeah, 'm here!"

They drive around for a while longer before he comes to a stop next to the fence of one of the three orchards within the walls. The trees are all light pink and white with blossoms, and the ground is littered with petals.

"Pretty," She comments.

"I can be romantic when I wanna," He scoffs, glancing back at her.

"I know." She leans up and lets her lips brush against his cheek, grinning when she feels the skin heat slightly.

He turns away and clears his throat, "We uh... We gon' sit here all day r'what?"

She suppresses a laugh and gets off the bike, holding her hands out for him to take when he gets off, which he does, but not before glancing around to make sure they're alone.

"What's the matter? 'fraid someone'll see you bein' cute with your wife?"

"No, " he snaps defensively, sighing when she gives him a look. "... maybe."

She lets out a shrill giggle and rises to her toes, kissing him warmly, "They all know you're a softie, Dare. No use hidin' it now."

"Whatever," He huffs, his hands moving to hold her hips. He pecks her nose before turning her toward the fence, "Now walk."

He pats her ass to hurry her up, which only serves to make her laugh harder. "Don't get frisky with me, Dixon."

She squeals when his arms suddenly wrap around her waist, and he lifts her up and over the fence before ducking through the middle. She shoves his arm but he just chuckles and slides it around his shoulder, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head.

"This what you wanted?" He murmurs against her hair, "T'get outa the house f'r a bit?"

"Somethin' like that." She smiles and leans into him.

They walk in silence for a bit before he snorts, "Shit, did you jus' want my attention? Darlin', you didn' have'ta drag me out here f'r that, an' you know it."

"I know." She grumbles, pressing closer, "But it's nice out, so I did anyway."

"You gon' make this a habit? Wakin' me up and makin' me drive you places?"

"Not if you're gonna be an ass about it." She huffs, her arms crossing over her chest, but she makes no move to pull away.

"Ye're lucky ye're so damn cute, y'know that?"

"Or else you would'a told me t'fuck off, right?" She teases, "Would'a rolled over and gone back to sleep?"

"Mhm." He nods, chewing the inside of his lip.

"Gonna call bullshit on that one. I got you wrapped around my little finger."

"Yeah..." He rubs her arm, "Yeah, y'do."

She giggles when she looks up at him to see all the apple blossom petals sticking in his hair. He grumbles and runs his hands through his messy hair, shaking the soft-pink petals out, only to see her pouting when he does, "What?"

She takes his wrists and pulls his hands away from his hair, "Don't."

"Why not?"

"Cause I like it."

He sighs and looks at her a little resigned, "Guess I can't argue then- if my girl likes it."

"Well, she does." She mumbles and leans up to kiss him again.

"I'd do anythin' f'r you." He murmurs against her lips

She smiles into the kiss, pulling him down to sit with her under one of the apple trees, tossing the backpack on the ground beside her.

He lets out a quiet laugh and lays his head on her chest, letting her run her fingers through his hair and keep him close.

"Love you, darlin'." He breathes, looking up at her with soft eyes, "Fuck, I love you."

"I know, I love you too." She grins, kissing his forehead. She giggles warmly when he nuzzles into her neck and just seems to linger there, "I've got you."

"Y'know, Jude'n RJ gon' worry when they get back from Eli's an' we ain't there." He murmurs.

"Nah, I left 'em a note, they'll be fine for a bit," She curls closer to him, her chin resting on his head as her eyes fall shut, "They've got Dog and Bear to keep an eye on 'em."

He hums and tugs her as flush against him as possible, completely surrounding himself with her.

"You gon' fall asleep on me, darlin'?" He chuckles.

"No..." She mumbles, her head turning to bury her face in his hair, "Just... restin' my eyes."

"Darlin'."

Loveday jumps, blinking awake, and Daryl gently places his hand on her cheek.

"Whoa, hey. You're alrigh'. It's jus' me."

She groans slightly and looks at him, confused.

"What? What happened?"

"You fell asleep." He teases, "Think you were droolin' on me."

She huffs out a small laugh, "Yeah, well, your hair needed a wash away."

"That so?"

She shrieks in laughter when he hefts her up over his shoulder, "Put me down!"

"Nah," He pats her ass, "Like you where y'are."

"Down, asshole." She laughs, and he sighs and sets her on her feet.

"Y're no fun, y'know that?"

"Isn't that why you married me? Cause I'm a stick in the mud, like you?"

"Oh, now y're gon' get it." He scoffs. He grabs at her, barely missing her when she snatches the backpack and takes off, dashing between the rows of trees in a giggle fit, "Damnit- Hey! Get back here!"

It doesn't take him long to catch her, and when he does, they both tumble to the ground.

"Shit- You alright, darlin'?" He brushes her hair aside and looks her over when he rolls to a stop on top of her, "'m sorry, didn' mean t'-"

She leans up, her lips pressing to his, "I'm fine."

He wants to yell, to scream at and shake anyone who would dare harm the woman he loves, and yet, it's his beloved wife who hurt herself. He sighs, his eyes dark, and voice sharp as he scolds her for being so careless.

"Stupid, reckless woman." He chastises, his lips soft as they press against the injured muscle, "What am I to do with you? Carry you about like a child?"

"I'm sorry, Ly-"

"Don't." He growls, the sound of her apology leaving a sour taste in the back of his throat, like rising bile, at the thought of her feeling the need to apologize to him for anything. "Just-"

He lets out a deep, gravelly, sigh.

"Do not be so reckless with my love." He begs, reaching up to squeeze her hand, fingers feeling the scraped skin on her palm, "I know not what I would do without her."

Her heart stutters at his admission, the genuine fear and passion behind it making her feel a bit sick with guilt for worrying him so.

"Fucking took you long enough," He snaps when Maester Ferrah hurries in. He stays knelt before her, moving aside just enough for the maester to work, his hands squeezing hers comfortingly.

His grip tightens with every little whimper and wince from her as Ferrah adjusts and examines her swollen ankle until he lets out a sharp breath, his hands leaving hers to grip Ferrah's collar and shove him hard against the large mantle before either she or the maester knows what's happening.

"If I hear one more fucking sound of distress from my Nāenelle, I will gut you like a fucking fish, do you understand me?" He knows he's not being rational, that Ferrah is simply doing a thorough job, but every whine of pain from her lips is like a blade to his heart. He cannot stand to see her in even the slightest pain.

"Lyonel!" She barks, staring at him in disbelief when he looks back at her with wild eyes. His fingers tighten everslightly in the fabric of his robes before he releases him and returns to her side, resting his head in her lap, looking akin to a scolded hound, as she waves the other man back over. "Maester Ferrah, please finish."

And, what a well-trained hound he seems to be, allowing her to pet his hair, her fingers tugging at his curls with a hiss through her teeth as Ferrah finishes his examination.

"I will need to bandage it," He explains, reaching for his things, "And you should do your best to keep from putting pressure on it, my lady, lest it heal wron-"

"There will be no risk of that," Lyonel interjects harshly, his hands fisting the fabric of her skirts. "She will not be leaving my arms until she has healed."

"That does not seem practical, my love." She chuckles, freezing when she sees the seriousness in his glare.

"You will not leave my side until I am sure you have healed fully," His voice stern, as if speaking to a misbehaving child. "I'll not have another misfortune befall my heart when I could easily prevent such things from happening."

Keep her close he does. All through dinner, his eyes scarcely leave her, and then he again cradles her in his arms as he carries her to their bed. There's a coldness to his face, an anger brewing just beneath his normaly jovial features, like a storm that causes her chest to tighten.

"Are you cross with me, my love?" She asks quietly as he helps her undress,

"Do I seem cross?" He grunts, loosening the laces of her bodice and taking it off her.

"Yes," She admits, her voice small, and he stills.

He sighs and leans forward to rest his forehead on her shoulder, his arms wrapping around her waist from behind.

"No," He assures her, softly, "You infuriate me, but I could never be angry at you."

His thumb runs across her ribs. He never wishes to hear the insecurity he just has in her voice again.

"I love you," He insists, his lips kissing softly at the nape of her neck, before burying his nose against the side ofher throat, "Seeing you hurt... Nāenelle, please, you must take greater care. I could not bear to see you in pain again."

He shifts, carefully leaning her back against his chest, hugging her close as physically possible, as if terrified she might disappear.

"What would I ever do if you left this life without me?" He murmurs, voice low and suddenly quite melancholy, "My Nāenelle, my heart, my love. The only bit of light in this fucking shit life, my port in the endless storm. I cannot lose you. I will not."

Both his words and kiss to her head are overflowing with conviction. He's never been one to lie, and now is no different; he would be truly lost without her now.