A/N: the people have spoken, and they want city of stars. and look, i’ve written enough Ryland Grace mini fics over the past three days to match the entire word count for my dissertation. which, at the moment, has stagnated at about 2,000 and is due May 6th. But the need for more fluff has its grippers in me and i cannot dissapoint the people (peer pressure always wins guys)
Pairing: Ryland Grace x Fem!Scientist!Reader.
Summary: Ryland Grace knows he’s never getting back to Earth, but that’s alright, he’s got his home with him already.
Word Count: 1.5k
Warnings: fluff
Rocky was off somewhere in the ship, speeding through his tunnels the way he did when he was bored and decided she and Grace weren’t fun to annoy anymore.
There’s nothing, really, to do at the moment.
So she’s lying by the observation window, watching the stars and he’s watching her.
How could he ever keep his eyes off her?
They met - technically - well over a decade ago, because of the induced coma. But it still only feels like a couple of months since she first walked into his lab, this angry British accent demanding his latest data.
Later on, she’d found him in the mess hall and sat across from him. Sliding him a cookie - she’d nabbed two, which was something you’d get told off for - and apologising.
She needed specific data to continue her side of the research and the person on his team responsible for passing it along was slacking. Anyway, the point is she apologised for yelling at him and made sure she’d only shout at the right people next time.
He promised her it wouldn’t happen again.
It did.
She stormed into his lab a week later, chucked him a cookie and apologised in advance for the scene she was going to make. My god, it was a scene and a half, the research assistant was never late with his reports again.
Even so, she continued to visit regularly. Bringing food because he always forgot to eat, or coffee when they were both there in the early morning.
A few times she’d ushered him off to his bunk at the godawful hours of the morning when he hadn’t slept as well.
All in all, they became very good friends.
The problem first made itself known when she told him the plans for the Hail Mary crew had changed. That they wanted two scientists to maximise the efficiency in space.
And she was chosen as the other scientist.
That was the first time he felt it, horrible, drowning terror that she was going into space and he’d never see her again. The startling realisation that he was starting to fall in love with her and now they’d never get a future.
Sure, the future already felt bleak considering the circumstances of the Petrova line. But at least the world would’ve ended in 30 years with them side by side.
He didn’t want to make it worse, didn’t want to stress her out needlessly with his feelings when she was going on a suicide mission.
So he didn’t say anything.
He hoped it came across, how he felt, with how hard he hugged her before she was put into the coma. She’d kissed his cheek and said she was grateful they at least got to know each other, demanding he teaches his students about her when he goes back to teaching.
The only words he could get out were a scrambled mess that he doesn’t remember anymore. He does, however, remember sobbing when he finally got back to his bunk. Hugging the hoodie she’d always steal from him when they worked late in his room.
Honestly he never expected to see her again.
When he woke up on the Hail Mary, bleary and absolutely no clue who he was, he still felt a surge of overwhelming relief when he’d stumbled into this unknown woman in the lab. Crying when she said his name and dragged him into a tight hug.
“What are you- Why are you here?!”
He couldn’t answer that, not for a long time. But she slowly helped him remember the parts of him she knew. And that was perfect, it was way more than he could’ve ever asked for.
Now they’re on the Hail Mary, the Taumoeba just needing to breed enough to send some with Rocky as well. Their little alien friend has given them the extra fuel they need to get home, that future didn’t seem so far fetched anymore.
They’d struggle with food, but they’re scientists and can figure that out, and honestly it makes more sense to put one of them back into a coma for the journey to save resources. But neither of them wanted to leave the other. So they’ll make it work, of course they will.
After the whole.. fishing incident, nearly dying from the force of the ship spinning and Rocky nearly dying for them, it seems stupid to keep his feelings to himself anymore.
They’re not going to die out here, they’re going to go home. Going home with the science that’ll save the world.
He knows he can’t be the only one feeling like this. Not with the way she was sobbing over his unconscious body, not with how hard she clung to him when he first woke up. Or how she slowly told him everything about his life, patient and desperate for him to remember her. Surely not with how she’d kissed him when they realised they’re able to breed the Taumoeba - which she’d quickly backtracked and said she was just overexcited.
It’s been a week and he hasn’t forgotten about it like she’d begged him to. It’s all he’s been thinking about, let’s be real.
So now he’s just watching her, watching as she gazes up at the stars. Legs crossed at the ankles and hands interlaced over her stomach, head tilted back to look at the window.
“I just, I still can’t believe there’s so much of it. So many stars.” Beckoning him over, patting the grated floor next to her before interlacing her fingers again. “Come have a look.”
Of course, he’ll never deny her anything, he’s by her side before she even settles her hands back on her stomach.
Forcing his eyes away from her to stare at the stars. As much as he wants to say something stupid like ‘they pale in comparison to her’, he can’t. These are stars so far away from Earth, they might’ve never been seen before.
As beautiful as she is, the stars are.. something else.
“Do you think that they’ll go to space again, once everything with the Petrova line is over?”
He gives an uncertain hum, eyes lazily dragging across the stars in front of him.
“Maybe. There were plans to make colonies on Mars- or build big spaceship hotels. Obviously all for the rich and famous.”
Without looking, he’s aware of her head turning towards him, a grin on her lips.
“A city in the stars?”
It takes him a moment but then he groans, turning away from her as she bursts out laughing.
Back on Earth, she’d watched this stupid movie and then insisted he looked exactly like the main character. Had pestered him to watch it and then he’d had to weakly deny that he was a lookalike.
Unfortunately, it was way closer than he would’ve liked.
She followed him around for days singing City of Stars. And now she’s humming it at him again, almost, the tune is a little off, but she doesn’t care.
Her giggles died down and she pressed her head to his shoulder with a sad smile.
“I don’t quite remember the words anymore, makes me a little sad.”
Debating it for a second, he then huffs and turns his head back. Dropping his cheek onto the top of her head as he reluctantly starts to sing it.
“City of stars, are you shining just for me~”
He can feel the smile against his shoulder and she snuggles in closer as he (not so reluctantly) keeps going.
“City of stars, there’s so much I can’t see~”
Rolling, he drags her into his arms, making her giggle as he sings into her hair.
“Who knows? I felt from the first embrace I shared with you.”
Both of them laugh now, and he squeezes her, hoping she remembers the next bit. The bit she always sings.
Luckily, being in his arms seems to jolt her memory and she moves a hand to his face.
“That now, our dreams, they’ve finally come true!”
They couldn’t stop grinning, foreheads pressed together. Just fondly remembering their time on Earth, the moments they spent together to get as close as they were. As they are.
Now feels perfect, to finally kiss her back and tell her that he doesn’t want to forget when she kissed him in the lab. That he wants a life together back on Earth, or here and now, on the Hail Mary for the trip home.
He wants more than this very ludicrous dance they’re doing as colleagues.
Searching her gaze, his chest tightens, using the sudden urge of bravery to hold her tighter. Lips parting and -
“Rocky hear music! Humans have human music?! Rocky want to hear again!”
He comes hurtling around the corner in his ball, and honestly if he wasn’t so cute (and if he wasn’t still full of relief that he lived) he’d send the rock out the airlock.
She’s laughing and sitting up, but he keeps his arms around her as he joins her. Watching fondly as she started to explain different types of ‘human music’.
The moment is gone, but there will be other times.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
Summary: You go on a run and leave your baby daughter at the safest place on this post-apocalyptic world... Daryl Dixon's arms.
Set in between Season 2 and 3!
Warnings: unestablished relationship, 'dad!Daryl', so much fluff, humor, idiots in love? mentions of toxic past relationship, baby/toddler things
Word Count: 5k
a/n: Listened to the song, saw some edits on TikTok and just had to write something. 🤗
Love In The Rearview Mirror °☆• EoH Masterlist °☆• Daryl Masterlist
I'll be your father figure
I drink that brown liquor
I can make deals with the devil because my dick's bigger
This love is pure profit
Just step into my office
I dry your tears with my sleeve
Leave it with me
I protect the family
Leave it with me
I protect the family
'Father Figure' by Taylor Swift
Life in the freaking apocalypse was hard. Without a doubt. Life in the apocalypse on the road was even harder. But life in the apocalypse on the run with an one-and-a-half year old toddler was borderline impossible. Except with a good group of people, who always looked after one another.
And fortunately, you had been lucky enough to find such a group.
But then Atlanta happened. Rick happened - and suddenly Daryl was cut loose. Something the archer didn't like at first. Unstable and wobbly to stand on his own two feet - to be his own man, but throughout the weeks and months, he slowly but surely learned to walk. He became more and more a part of the group. A valuable, important part.
You had stumbled over a bunch of those people you called family now already on day one of this shitshow. On the highway, as you wanted to flee as a single mom with your baby girl and tried to reach the highly praised refugee center in Atlanta. You first met Lori, Shane and Carl. Together with them, you bumped into Carol, her husband Ed and their daughter Sophia. Others found their way into the group as well and that's how you ended up in the camp at the quarry. That was where a - by now - very important man stumbled into your life... Daryl Dixon. He had been the first man in your life since almost two-and-a-half years. Since that day the bastard you had called your significant other once left you standing in the rain because you had gotten accidentally pregnant.
Daryl was different. You could tell from the first moment your eyes had seen him. A tough, stubborn redneck with a very short fuse. Hunted and troubled by his past. Having difficulties to show his emotions underneath all the anger. Rough around the edges but with a heart of gold. You knew he felt like he didn't belong; too attached to his older brother who had figuratively chained the younger man to himself.
During your (short) time at the CDC and the Greene farm, you and Daryl got closer. You were his first 'real' friend. Beside Carol. Someone he had opened the doors to his heart and soul for - even though just a crack. He was careful and needed time to gain trust - something you understood all too well. It wasn't you yourself who got closer to him, though... This friendship was owned by Willa - your baby girl. She - only God knew why - took a liking in the fascinating man. Her eyes constantly looking for him. Whenever you gave her the opportunity to practice her steps - especially in the safety of the farm, her first destination had always been Daryl. When he wasn't close, she was a little crotchety. Antsy. You could practically feel the uneasiness radiating off of her. When Daryl was around - or even better... Interacted, played and spent time with her, the world was alright.
Daryl didn't quite understand at first why such a pure, innocent tiny human found trust in a stained and tainted person like him. Therefore, he was reluctant and clumsy at first. Everything had been a little awkward - especially between you and the archer. But Willa had conquered the tough man's heart with the first pure, honest smile she gave him as he had picked her up into his arms for the first time. From that moment on, they were inseparable. A dream team. It was the cutest thing ever - and caused you to fight hard against developing romantic feelings for Daryl, which seemed to be a Herculean challenge. Still. You were still fighting - a losing battle. You could feel it... How your heart beat a little faster every time you locked eyes. The spark whenever you talked or he interacted with your baby girl. It was there. Unshakable. Undeniable. And you knew it wasn't gonna change anytime soon...
You, Willa and the group were huddled up in some kind of bar you had found on the outskirts of a little town for three days now. The longest you stayed in one place since months. And the best part of it? The bar had been monstly untouched. You found quite a few cans of food; beans, corned meet, tuna and even pudding. It was what the group desperately needed... Just to not move around for a while. Rest. Especially Lori, since she got closer and closer to her due date. Nevertheless, was everybody always on the edge; alarmed, tensed, prepared and with hightened senses - in case everything went south and the group had to flee.
You were upstairs in one of the living spaces the bar had; packing your bag. As quietly as possible since you didn't want to wake Willa yet. She was down for her nap; tucked inside a fluffy blanket on the way too big bed. Your plan was to accompany Maggie and Glenn on a small run into the little town. They wanted to look for more food and weapons, while you were interested in the baby store you saw as you drove through. Willa had been constantly losing more and more interest in breastfeeding - naturally. It had gotten a rare thing for her to nurse. She was way more interested in real food - already back at the Greene farm. So, you had started to try feed her complementary food - not one of the easiest tasks in the apocalypse. Baby food jars you found a while back and things like fruits or bites of cooked meat. Now, they were almost empty and you hoped to find more in that store.
"Y/N?" You heard Maggie's gentle voice from outside the door. "We're going in ten. You ready?" "Almost, yeah," you answered; whisper-shouting. "'Kay! Glenn and I will be at the car." Maggie's steps on wood could be heard as she walked away; fading quickly.
You zipped the backpack shut, shouldered it and lastly checked your knives attached to your belt, before you redirected your attention to the sleeping toddler again. You decided to wake her and tell her you'd be away for a while. You didn't want her to wake up without knowing where her mama was - but you knew exactly with whom you were going to leave her.
Her tired eyes visibly lit up as you said her favorite person's name. A bright smile stretched over Willa's face. So bright that her pacifier almost fell out of her mouth. The little girl bubbled excitedly. You giggled at her cute excitement. "Are you excited to stay with him?" Willa nodded; bobbing up and down on your arm. The archer didn't know yet what you were about to do - but you were pretty sure that he wouldn't have a problem with it. Although it was the first time Willa was going to stay with him alone without you around. Sure, you could've left her with the whole group. You trusted them a hundred percent, but... You trusted Daryl more. He was simply the best person your daughter could stay with. If someone could keep her safe and protected in the apocalypse, it was Daryl. You were sure of it.
"Baby..." You whispered softly and ran a gentle finger over her chubby cheek. She kept on sleeping at first; sucking like crazy on one of the pacifiers Daryl had scavenged for her, together with the teething ring she had desperately needed the past months, even though half her baby teeth were already there. "Willa, hey. Wake up, baby girl." You placed a hand on her tummy to gently shake her a little. The small girl peeled her eyes open; sleepy orbs which had the same color as yours focused on you.
You smiled down at her. "There you are, sweet girl," you said and dipped your head to kiss her cheek. "Hey." A tiny hand rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, while you untangled her from the warm blanket and lifted her up into your arms. "Mama?" Willa asked in a small voice; still slightly sleepy and noticeably a little confused of why you had woken her up. "Wun again, mama?" She continued to speak from behind her pacifier; seeing the backpack on your shoulder. You shook your head as you carried her out of the dusty room. "No, baby. We don't have to run again. Everything is okay for now," you instantly reassured her and pressed a kiss against her temple. "Mama is getting a few things outside, together with unlce Glenn and auntie Maggie - and you are going to stay with Daryl."
"I can go on tha' run, too. Or even alone. I can check it out fer ya if ya want. 'S no problem. Jus' say the word." You gave him another smile. "I know - and that's really super kind of you, but Willa is my daughter and I feel like I should go. Perhaps I - or well, Maggie, Glenn and I can find something for Lori's baby as well. I wanna contribute, you know?" The archer nodded; chewing on the inside of his bottom lip. "Yah, 'course. I got it. Jus', uh, be careful out there, yeah?" "Of course," you promised - and handed Willa over to the man. Something the little girl was visibly happy about. Daryl took her on his arm without hesitation - but with a questioning look on his face. He wasn't stupid. He knew what your plan was. He just couldn't grasp it.
Downstairs, you joined a few others of the group... Carol, Hershel and Beth. Lori and Carl were resting upstairs as well and Rick and T-Dog were on watch; patrolling around the house.
The moment Daryl saw you and Willa - sitting on the floor cross-legged, leaning against the wall and crafting new arrows, a soft smile darted over his lips. Almost unnoticeable - but it didn't slip your gaze. Just how his beautiful blue eyes seemed to shine a little brighter now.
"Dawel," Willa called out with a cute smile from behind her pacifier; waving at the man she adored so very much. Daryl immediately placed his tools aside and got to his feet. "Hey, lil' angel", he greeted the toddler; smiling, then nodded at you - a gesture that caused your heart to skip a beat. "Y/N." You smiled as well. "Hey, Dar." "Ya two good?" You nodded. "Perfect, thanks." The man's eyes landed on your backpack, "Ya gonna go on that run with Maggie 'n Glenn?" then on the little girl in your arms, who was constantly trying to reach for him; wriggling around on your arms. A few protesting grunts left her mouth. Daryl couldn't help himself from gazing down at her with a gentle, almost loving look in his eyes. "Yeah. Willa needs more baby food jars. We're almost out. I, uh, saw that little store as we drove through the town and wanted to check it out; see what I can find." Daryl listened to you attentively; while he had lifted one of his big hands to offer it Willa. She didn't hesitate and grasped at his thick fingers with both her little hands; gurgling happily and satisfied. And you? You had a hard time to keep the butterflies swirling around in your belly in check.
"Yer... Yer gonna leave 'er with me?" Daryl asked; quite a bit stunned at the fact that you trusted him with your daughter's life. Not the entire group. Him. You nodded and smiled. "Yeah. She's the safest she can be." Then you pressed a kiss against your daughter's cheek, "Bye, bye, baby girl. Be good for Daryl." and walked past the pair towards the exit. Daryl's eyes followed you as a blush crept up his cheeks at your words. Something that didn't go unnoticed by other eyes in the room...
The sound of an item hitting the floor managed to rip Daryl out of his thoughts. Looking down, he saw Willa's pacifier. Squatting down with a grunt, he retrieved the item and put it in his pocket. "Hey, ya little gremlin. Whatcha up to, huh?" Willa just giggled and snuggled against his chest; looking up at him with big, innocent doe eyes. Daryl just shook his head; heart roaring with the love and adoration he felt for this miniature human. "C'mon. We're gonna find sum'thin' we can play with until yer mama's back. How's tha' sound?" The little girl nodded excitedly which caused the mop of bright blonde little curls on top of her head to bounce. "Dawel pway!" "A'right, c'mon," the archer announced and let her carefully down until her little feet touched the floor. He knew that Willa would've liked it better if he had carried her around, but he wanted her to practice walking.
Coming to stand beside the farmer, Daryl let go of Willa's hands to give her the chance to walk on her own. She did. Pretty good. Her tiny feet pitter-pattered over the dusty, wooden floor; both men watching. The girl waddled to the stairs which led to the second floor - and started to confidently climb them. That was the moment Daryl's heart almost leaped out of his chest. His protective instincts rang every warning bell inside his head. "Willa, stop! Dun climb 'em stairs!" He called out and crossed the distance with three wide strides. His big hands found their way around the small girl's waist; picking her up and lifting her up into his arms again. Willa squeaked as Daryl grabbed her, then broke out in giggles. The archer shook his head. "Tha' ain't funny ya lil' gremlin. Ya could've hurt yerself."
Taking both her tiny hands in his way bigger ones, he intended to help her. Willa understood the assignment, of course, and started to take some confident steps. She was good, but Daryl wanted to help her get even better. Walking and running was a necessity in this world.
Willa led Daryl around the bar counter, through the room and back to the stairs - past Hershel, who smiled proudly at the toddler. "She's getting really good," the older man spoke; watching Willa take step after step after step. Daryl's eyes landed on Hershel and he gave a nod alongside his signature grunt. "She does, yah." "It's good for her development. The practice." "'S what I thought 's well."
In short distance, Hershel watched the scenes unfold in front of his eyes with a soft smile on his lips. He knew that Daryl wasn't Willa's biological father - but he definitely acted like it.
"Ya wanna go up into yer room to play, huh?" Will clapped her small hands. "Dawel Willa pway!" The archer nodded. "'Kay. Then let me get my crossbow real quick. Jus' in case." Daryl took his babysitter job very serious - and if the house should get overrun, he had to protect her first and foremost.
After retrieving his precious weapon, he carried both - the crossbow and Willa upstairs and into your room. "A'right. Wha' are we gonna play, lil' angel?" He asked as he firstly set the weapon down, then the girl; letting her walk around again. Willa instantly made her way towards the little corner in which the few toys she had were stored. She reached for a puzzle Daryl brought her from a run already a few months back. He smiled and sat down cross-legged on the floor. "Ya wanna do the puzzle?" Willa nodded and waddled back over to him. "A'right."
When the puzzle was done, Willa peeled every puzzle piece out of their places again; skilled, tiny fingers working hard - so that she and Daryl, of course, could do the puzzle again.
They puzzled together. Daryl helped her from time to time to guide her tiny hand gently and put the fitting puzzle piece where it belonged. Sure, it was an easy puzzle for toddlers with farm themed things carved out of wood - but a little difficult for an eighteen-month-old.
"Where does the duckie go, Willa?" The small girl eyed the puzzle piece in her hands thoroughly, then the free gaps on the wooden board who still missed their fitting puzzle piece. Daryl could practically see the gears turning in that small head - and it was one of the cutest things Willa could do. She moved her hand then - and indeed found the fitting gap for the duckie. The archer smiled, "Good job, angel. Yer gettin' better." and handed her the next puzzle piece - a corncob. "Now where does this go?" Willa looked at it - and without blinking guided it towards her mouth; intention clear. But Daryl quickly interfered to stop her with a small chuckle. "Nah, dun put tha' in yer mouth. Tha's yucky. Ya can't eat tha'." Willa huffed in protest and pouted, but let Daryl take the puzzle piece from her hand and into the fitting gap on the board.
About halfway through it, the little girl stopped and placed her small hand on the archer's. "Dawel?" His eyes met hers. "Yeah, lil' angel?" "Wee-wee." The man frowned; brain working hard to somehow translate her words and understand what she meant. "Wee-wee?" Willa nodded; wriggling around slightly and swayed to and fro. She had been doing that for a while now like he noticed. Daryl analyzed her behavior and combined it with her words - and suddenly it clicked. "Oh, 'o course. Ya hafta pee." Willa nodded again. "Sorry, angel, took me a second," Daryl apologized and quickly got to his feet; scooping the toddler up.
Daryl grumbled under his breath at the amateurish mistake; actually knowing that he should never leave a kid that age out of his sight. He had learned a lot these past months through you and Willa.
With quick strides, he tried to get her to the bathroom. Not outside. Even though the toilet wasn't working anymore, Daryl wanted her to learn it right - even in the damn apocalypse. He didn't get that far, though. About halfway down the hallway Willa stopped him with one simple word. "Uh, oh." The man looked down at the miniature human on his arm. "Too late?" She nodded. Daryl gave her a little smile; knowing it was anything but her fault. "'S okay, lil' angel. Ya tried. We're jus' gonna getcha into a fresh diaper, eh?"
It wasn't the first time for him. Daryl had changed her diaper before. Quite a few times actually...
"A'right, let's get this done, then we can work on tha' puzzle again, huh?" The archer said and sat her down on the bed back in the room with her little legs dangling over the edge. "Jus' hafta get a diaper," he kept talking and turned his back to Willa in order to search through the bag standing in the corner. "Where does yer mama keep 'em..." A mistake. It took him quite a hot minute to get what he was looking for. "Found 'em!" Because when he turned around again, the little girl wasn't sitting on the bed anymore. She had run off.
"Damnit." He held onto the fresh diaper and exited the room once again. "Willa?" She couldn't have gotten that far. "Where 'r ya, ya lil' gremlin?" Small, hearty giggles coming undoubtedly from somewhere down the hall revealed her position. Daryl couldn't help but smile and shake his head; heart skipping a beat. Little girl held his heart in a death grip - and so does her mama, he wanted to add but quickly dismissed the thought.
The archer found Willa only a few minutes later. She had ended up in the bathroom in which the toddler had unfortunately found a new activity - in the form of an old toothpaste tube. Willa's face and especially her little hands were already covered in toothpaste; ready to smear it about everywhere. She was seconds away from painting the wall - when Daryl intervened. Just in time. "Willa, no. Toothpaste ain't for the wall. 'S no paint, lil' gremlin. C'mere. We get ya cleaned up." The little girl just giggled and clapped her toothpaste covered hands; fascinated and happy. The archer shook his head with an amused smile and cleaned her face and hands with the bottle of water standing on the sick. While he was already at getting the toddler toothpaste free, Daryl also made quick work of changing her diaper. Therefore that Willa was no infant anymore, he could easily do that while she was standing.
After everything was done, the archer took the girl's hand and walked with her back to your room. On the way, though, Willa's attention got attracted by an abandoned handbag in the hallway; left behind without a care as the world ended. "Dawel," Willa addressed her protector and tugged at his hand to drag him over. Daryl agreed to the little detour and let the child discover the object - not without checking it himself first, of course. What if a knife or another weapon was inside the bag and Willa got hurt?
Once she got the permission, her little hands were quick to clear the bag and eye the different found objects curiously. The man watched her; always aware of his surroundings, though. Just in case. He got used to never letting his guard down. Never.
"Dawel, look!" Willa's excited voice got his wandering gaze directed back on her. "Whatcha found, angel?" He squatted down to get a closer look at the thing she held in her hands... A small, bright pink bottle of nail polish. Daryl smiled. Of course, it would attract her attention. It was shiny and pink.
"Nail polish, huh?" The girl blinked; Y/E/C locked with his ocean blues. "Na- Nawl-... Nawl pal?" Willa tried to pronounce the words. Daryl's smile softened. Cute. "Almost, angel. Nail polish." She looked at the man with a questioning gaze. "What is nawl pal-ish?" "'S for painting yer nails." The kid blinked; not quite able to follow him. "Look," Daryl said then, took the small bottle gently out of her hands, opened it and painted the tiny nail of her pointer finger; highly concentrated. He never did that before, after all. The nail polish was old and clumpy - but it still worked. Then he blew to get it to dry faster. "See?"
Willa's eyes widened in amazement at her now pink nail. A happy, squeaky giggle slipped past her lips, before she reached for the bottle again. The archer smiled - yet. Her small hands worked on getting the nail polish open again. "Hand," Willa demanded then; free hand wrapping around Daryl's big thumb. Now his eyes widened; realization dawning on him. Oh no... "Willa, I dun know if-" The instant pout and puppy dog eyes the child gave him made him cut off his sentence. How on earth could he say no to her? "Fine," he sighed and grumbled lowly under his breath.
"Carol? I, uh, need help," he said; approaching and still bouncing the crying girl on his arm. "She's been cryin' for minutes now 'n nothin' soothes 'er. Tried everythin'. She jus' wants her mama. I ain't her mama." Carol looked up at her best friend with a playful smile. "Yeah, I heard." Daryl scoffed, "Stop." and Carol suppressed a giggle. She actually couldn't blame the man. He didn't have much to do with children - until Y/N and Willa came into his life and he got chosen by the miniature human... "Is she hungry? Did you try to feed her?" He nodded. "Ate a lil' but actually didn't want anything." Carol stood up then and took a closer look at the little girl; trying to figure out what she needed. "She looks quite tired to me," the woman noted and ran a gentle hand through the child's blond curls. "Yah, I know, but how do I get 'er to sleep. She has 't calm down first." "Read to her," Carol suggested; smiling once more. "This worked with Sophia, too. Try it." Daryl chewed on the inside of his bottom lip and nodded. "'Kay. Thanks," he said; placing his free hand on Carol's shoulder for a moment and then turned to get a book. He had scavenged books for kids before so they had to be somewhere in your stuff.
Offering his hand to her - Willa went straight to work; messily painting Daryl's nails in the bright pink color. When she was finished, there was nail polish everywhere... On the floor, on her hands - on Daryl's hands. There was even a small handprint on his beloved angel winged vest. One that he noticed with a scowl but deep down adored very much. It was almost an Herculean task to get his and the toddler's hands clean again - without accidentally scrubbing the nail polish from his fingernails, of course.
Willa wasn't quite fond of yet another cleaning round but the archer noticed that she was getting tired in general anyway. No wonder... The sun had started to set and it was getting dark pretty fast. By the time Daryl carried her out of the bathroom again, she was crying; repeatedly asking for you. "I know, lil' angel, I know... But yer mama isn't back yet..." He tried to do everything in his Dixon power to soothe the crying girl. Without much success. Deciding he needed help, he went back downstairs to seek out Carol. He found her preparing some dinner over a small fire.
It didn't. Not at first at least, but the longer his deep, smokey and soothing voice urged to the toddler's ears, the calmer Willa got. Daryl noticed that it worked, of course and just kept going. At some point he felt that the hand she had placed on top of his around her torso slackened. The archer looked down and smiled; seeing that she had drifted off to sleep. Carefully, he put the book aside and adjusted his position, so that Willa laid more comfortably on his upper body. Once that was done, he literally froze in motion and refused to move even an inch; too afraid that she'd wake up again.
After blindly just grabbing one, he went back downstairs to make himself comfortable in that old armchair who stood in a side room of the 'bar'. He figured that would be the best place. He sat the still antsy, whining and sobbing Willa on his lap; securing her with on big hand wrapped around her torso and holding the book with the other. "'Kay. Let's read ya sum'thin' 'n try tha'. I know ya want yer mama, but she ain't here right now. Gotta put up with me. She'll be back soon, though. I promise, 'kay?" "Mama," was the only thing Willa answered; small hands rubbing her red, tired eyes.
Daryl sighed but started to read to her; hoping this was going to work out.
Not even an hour later, you returned from the run together with Glenn, Maggie - and a backpack full of baby food jars and some other useful stuff. Your first destination was Willa, of course. Your mother instincts were buzzing to see her again. Carol was so kind to point you into the right direction with a smile on her lips and something in her eyes you couldn't quite pinpoint. You peeked around the corner into the small, cozy but utterly dusty room; finding Daryl in that old armchair with Willa laying on top of him fast asleep. Your heart did that funny little flip thingy. You just knew it had been the right decision to leave her with him. She was safe and sound - and that was most important.
As he heard your steps on the wooden floor, the archer's eyes instantly lifted; meeting yours. "Hey," you whispered with a soft smile. The corner of Daryl's lip twitched slightly upwards. He gave you a nod in greeting. "Ya back?" You nodded; approaching. His beautiful blues roamed your body. "Ya okay? Everythin' went well?" Once more you bobbed your head in confirmation. "All good. Got a whole backpack of baby food jars." "Good. Tha's good."
"Thank you," you whispered; giving the sweet man across from you yet another smile. "For watching over her. For always keeping her safe." The archer blushed. "Dun hafta thank me. Goes without sayin'." You shook your head. "No, it's not. You are more of a father for Willa than her real dad ever was," you stated; voice laced with pure honesty. "Good night, Dar," you added with a smile and left the room before Daryl could even answer. Not that he had words for the things you just said anways. Your words hung thick in the air; lingered in the archer's head. He swallowed hard. More of a father for her than her real dad ever was. - that's what you had truly said. His cheeks burned even brighter, but the warmth also spread throughout his chest and touched his heart. Proudness. He felt proud. One of the few things he seemed to didn't fail in his life. One thing he got right - and he'd do anything to keep it that way. You and this precious little girl were his priority.
A beat of silence passed between the both of you, in which you just looked at each other. It wasn't unpleasant but at some point, the silence made Daryl a little... nervous and shy, so he broke it again.
"Ya, uh, want tha' lil' gremlin back, or...?" He spoke quietly. Another bright smile darted across your face. "I would take her upstairs yeah, and tuck her in. Get some sleep as well." Daryl nodded and cautiously and very gentle started to shift and move; transferring the little girl as smoothly and careful as possible. Luckily, she kept on sleeping. You held her in your arms; breathing in her scent. You would've lied if you said you didn't miss her. But worrying? No. You did not worry about her for even a second. Not when Willa was at the safest place on this God forsaken planet... Daryl Dixon's arms.
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
✓ Live Streaming✓ Interactive Chat✓ Private Shows✓ HD Quality✓ Free Actions
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming
