#neryl

Daryl held Judith close to him, the girl was tired and wanted reprieve from the cold. The winter storm was raging outside and the fire was only enough to warm them but he was happy she chose him. After Rick had disappeared Daryl was left to raise the girl himself. He had the family to help, but she looked to him as her parent. Not necessarily her mother, but not her father either. He held to child close letting her get warm while Dog curled up beside his feet. "Jude." He whispered softly, but she was out cold. He mumbled under his breath knowing he was in fact trapped until she woke. He didn't wish to wake her, she had a hard enough time sleeping.

Negan was making his way in from the cold, as he opened the door snow penetrated the front hall. Negan pushed the door closed trying to keep the cold form coming in. Daryl groaned as he felt cold air brush against his skin. Judith moved a bit in her sleep but didn't move from there. Negan took his boots off and made his way slowly towards the living room hoping to get warm by the fire when he noticed Daryl and Judith curled up in a chair. Daryl eyed him carefully, their relationship had always been rocky but Judith liked Negan and if Judith liked Negan he had to be good for something.

"She's asleep." Negan noted as he hovered.

"Yeah, can't move." Daryl mumbled kissing the sleeping child's hair softly. Negan could tell Daryl was cold, his skin was covered in goosebumps and he was shivering. Judith looked warm enough but Negan wanted to make sure they both were warm. The man walked out of the room and returned with a blanket, Daryl's eyes were closed as his head rusted on hers. Daryl let out a surprised gasp as Negan picked him up without saying a word and carried them towards the couch. "Negan..."

"Shh." Negan whispered softly as he laid back on the couch readjusting them in his arms. Judith fell snug between the two of them. Daryl's head leaned against his shoulder, Negan looked down at him as he pulled the blanket over the three of them. Daryl had a soft smile on he felt Negan's hand run through his hair, he was carefully scratching his head, as if petting Dog. "You're beautiful."

"Negan..."  

"You are, she's lucky to have you as a mother.. father.. Whatever you are to her she's lucky. Rick was a damn fool to die on you, leave you to raise her alone... I.. I want to help you, I want to raise her with you. I want her to have you and me... I. I want you Daryl." Daryl was silent, he missed Rick more then life itself. He hated being alone, hated having no one to turn to, no one to warm him on nights like these. No one to ask for help when Judith was angry with him. Negan kissed Daryl's forehead softly. "Daryl please.. just give me a chance..."

"I want to... but Negan you're...you've killed my people. My family..." He wanted to love Negan. Had felt a desire to have a relationship with him, but it was so difficult to see past what he had done.

"I will never be able to make it up to you, what I did... I know that but please Daryl please give me a chance.. I love Judith like she's my own..."

Daryl looked down at his girl, his little ass kicker. She needed people to love her, to care for her. That was when he noticed a small smirk on her face and her eyelashes fluttering. "Jude, I thought you were asleep."

Negan stiffened for a moment feeling her little legs move as she readjusted herself in their hold. "I think you should give him a chance papa." She whispered softly growing closer to him so only Daryl could hear her. Daryl smiled softly.

"You'd want him to be your other pa?"

"He loves you." She mumbled. "We talk about you a lot."

"Oh do you now?" Judith giggled and nodded. Negan's face reddened hearing Judith expose his secrets. "For her, I'll give you a chance." Negan held them both close hugging them tightly. "Now you go back to bed Jude."

She snuggled into their arms while Daryl leaning closer to Negan. "I love you Daryl."

Daryl smiled softly before finally pulling him into a deep kiss making sure not to disturb his sleeping girl. "I love you too."