A/N: I got a couple of requests to make some progress updates! Thank you all for the love on I’ll Cover You part 1!! I hope you guys like this one too!
Summary: Daryl has always taken care of you, but now he’s learning to take care of you while growing a baby. Even if she seems determined to mess with him every step of the way.
After the night at Siddiq’s all those months ago, you knew by those two pink lines, you had been pregnant. Still, a small part of you had told yourself the test had been wrong, even though deep down, you knew it was real.
You could feel it.
Every time you imagined a growing baby inside of you, something fluttered. But now, there was no more denying it.
Your belly was growing by the day.
First, you noticed the way your jeans no longer wanted to button. Daryl was able to find more for you, but eventually you lived in stretchy leggings.
And then the skin below your navel popped out beneath every shirt you owned. Daryl found you more of those too, but your baby was stubborn and wanted to be seen.
So you embraced the new cropped length of your shirts.
Daryl hadn’t minded either. Your ever-growing belly was one of his new favorite things about you. After he had been out of the house all day, whether on guard duty, runs, or his new chore of tending to the garden, your belly was always the first thing his worn hands gravitated towards as soon as he was back home.
Today was no different.
While he was out on the wall guarding the small town, you were at the house. More specifically in bed.
It had taken a lot of convincing, but you were finally okay with giving up your chores and staying inside. You hadn’t realized in the beginning just how much work making a baby was. Even getting out of bed was a job.
When the sun was high in the sky and peaking through your curtains, you rolled out of bed and padded down the stairs into your kitchen. Food was becoming less scarce now that it was time to harvest. Every day, Daryl was coming home with a basket of fresh vegetables and baked bread.
You rummaged through the basket and landed on having a tomato sandwich. It wasn’t the same as the ones you grew up eating, but a craving was a craving and your baby was demanding a food he or she had never even tasted before.
You sliced the bread first on a wooden cutting board that had been tucked away in a cabinet. Carol was always baking fresh goods for the community and her bread was heavenly. It was always soft and pillowy, with the perfect crispy crust.
Then you sliced the tomato. The thought alone was enough to send you back to your days of gardening. You missed it some days, but most, you were grateful for the break. This tomato in particular was ruby red—plucked at the best time.
Juice oozed out as the knife slid through the skin, dripping across the board. Your stomach rumbled and felt empty as you continued cutting.
The tomato smell permeated the air, filling your senses with the fresh garden scent. You knew it was going to satisfy the desire you felt.
You placed two thin slices between the two pieces of bread you had cut, deeming it the perfect ratio and went to take a bite. However, despite how delicious it tasted to you, nausea hit you straight away.
You dropped your food on the counter and bolted to the bathroom.
Heave after heave, your one bite came up along with stomach acid. Over and over you wretched until your stomach felt even more empty than it had before.
The craving was gone along with any desire to eat, so you trekked back to your kitchen to get yourself a glass of water to get rid of the horrid taste in your mouth and went back to bed.
Your bed is where you spent the rest of your day, dozing in and out of sleep until you heard the front door open and shut, and the sound of boots walking up the steps.
You couldn’t help but giggle to yourself as you waited for Daryl to walk in. He stood in the doorway a moment, admiring you with a soft smile before laying in the bed with you.
And his hands found their way to your belly.
”How was your day, sweetheart?” He mumbled against your lips as he kissed you.
”Hmm,” you breathed, soaking him in. “It was alright. Beside your stubborn child making me nauseous. All I wanted was a dang tomato sandwich.”
He huffed a laugh. “Takin’ after her mama already.” Daryl was already set in stone that your baby was a girl.
And he thinks the stubbornness comes from you…
”Not funny, Daryl Dixon.”
After cuddling for a while, the day was starting to turn orange, hinting at the soon sunset.
“Let me make ya somethin’ to eat,” he said, playing with your hair.
”You don’t have to.”
”Yeah, baby, I do.”
His words caused more fluttering in your belly. He had taken care of you since the day he met you, always, but you’d be damned if he didn’t spoil you like crazy now.
He helped you slide out of bed, still adorned in his old shirt you had claimed and had been wearing as a night shirt, and held your hand all the way downstairs.
You sat at the island and watched as Daryl heated up some green beans and potatoes—something hearty and savory.
You stomached it this time. Daryl was starting to learn which foods were safer and which foods to stay away from.
Later, when you both finally crawled back into bed, a place you had been more often than not that day, you laid on your side with a quiet exhale.
Daryl found his place behind you with his arm draped carefully around your waist, hand sprawling across your stomach.
You melted right into his touch, your eyes already growing heavy again. “You know… I really did want that sandwich.”
You could feel vibrations against your back as your boyfriend chuckled. “Mhm,” he hummed.
”I’m serious! I had Carol’s fresh bread and everything.”
”Sound devastated, baby.”
“I am devastated.”
He laughed again, a little harder this time. He leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to your temple before settling behind you again.
The room fell quiet.
After a few moments, you knew he had fallen asleep by the way his hand had relaxed around you. You snuggled in closer to him and allowed his soft snores to lull you to sleep.
The next morning greeted you the same. He kissed you a few times before leaving for garden duty. You loved these days the most because you could see him outside the window a few streets over.
After he left, taking the warmth with him, you stayed huddled under the covers for a couple more hours.
When you did finally rise up, it was only to waddle down the steps and into the kitchen, ravenous for food. You settled on a bright green apple. The sourness always calmed your nausea. Siddiq had told you the sourness tricks your brain into focusing on that instead of the sickly feeling.
It was juicy and the perfect balance of sweet and sour, with a nice crisp peel.
After you finished your apple while leaning against the counter, you, or rather your baby, decided that was enough standing and it was time to sit again.
The couch squashed beneath you as you sat down right in the middle, propping your legs up on the coffee table.
You rested a moment before deciding now was the perfect opportunity to admire just how round your belly had become. You tugged the hem of your shirt upward. “Hi,” you murmured while rubbing your hand across your skin.
Sometimes it felt silly talking to your stomach, but Siddiq had told you the practice was good for developing babies.
Your hand continued to drift over the curve of it, fingertips tracing absent-minded patterns. You started to hum lightly, a lullaby from your childhood, one you couldn't even remember the name of now.
And then something moved. You immediately froze. Your breath caught.
It wasn’t pain. It wasn’t cramps. Just the faintest little tap from somewhere inside of you.
”Oh…” you breathed.
For a small second, you almost thought you imagined it, but then it happened again, stronger this time. You could see the thump on the outside of your belly as it hit the inside of your palm.
Tears welled in your eye before you could think to stop them.
“Hello there,” you said, barely above a whisper. Another small kick answered, sending shivers down your spine. You let out a sound that was a mix between laughter and a sob. “Hi.” That one was even quieter.
Your hand sprawled out across your belly, trying to hold onto as much as you could.You couldn’t stop smiling. Or crying.
”Your dad is going to lose his mind,” you laughed.
What felt like hours went by as you waited for his arrival home. You stayed planted on the couch with your hand on your belly, feeling every kick from your baby. Each one was even more amazing than the last.
The door creaked open and Daryl walked in, huffing a laugh seeing you with your belly out. It was his favorite sight to see.
”Hey, sweetheart,” he said, setting down his crossbow against the wall. He took it everywhere with him still. “You okay?”
”More than okay,” you squealed. “Come here.” He kicked off his shoes and walked over to you. “Give me your hands.”
You took his hands and set them against your belly as if presenting something. “What’re ya doin’?” He laughed.
”I felt the baby kick!”
”…Ya did?” He breathed, eyes already shining at the thought.” He went completely still, like even the slightest movement might ruin the moment.
You waited. And waited. And waited. Nothing this time.
“Really?” You asked.
”She’s stubborn.”
”I know this. I tell you at least ten times a day, she gets it from you.” He playfully rolled his eyes, but you knew he was disappointed. “I swear she was kicking me like crazy.”
He pulled his hands away, stood up, and headed towards the kitchen. “Probably sleepin’ now.’
Over the next week, it became a pattern. Every single time.
You would feel movement and go looking for him. “Daryl! Daryl hurry!” Or “Oh my God, she’s doing it again.”
But every time, without fail, Daryl would drop whatever he was doing and put his hand carefully on your stomach and was met with nothing.
By day three, Daryl stared at your belly. “This kid’s messin’ with me.”
You laughed. “Is not.”
”She is,” he said. “Every damn time.”
Another afternoon, you practically dragged him away from sharpening arrows because the baby was going wild. But the second his palm reached your skin, everything went still.
He narrowed his eyes. “Ain’t funny.”
You leaned over and laughed, your belly bouncing up and down, but all he could do was grumble under his breath about stubborn babies.
A few days later, late one evening, the two of you were snuggled up in bed together. The room was nearly pitch black, all except for the moonlight peering in from the curtain.
You were half-asleep with Daryl’s arm resting across your stomach. He was sleeping quietly behind you, breathing against your hair.
Everything was still. Quiet.
And then—thump.
Another kick followed almost immediately. “Daryl,” you whispered excitedly.
”Hm?”
The baby kicked again, straight into his hand. Daryl stilled completely, afraid to even breathe. You glanced around you to see his face, tears stinging both of your eyes.
Another little kick pressed against his palm. He made a sound you had never heard before. Something softer than he had ever allowed to escape his body.
”Oh, Daryl,” you cooed.
And then he laughed, Quiet and disbelieving, but a true laugh. He looked utterly awestruck, in love, happy.
”Hey, baby,” he whispered softly to your stomach, causing the baby to move again. He leaned forward to rest his forehead against your shoulder blade, trying to muster up some strength.
”She knows your voice.”
”Mhm,” but strength still had not found him. He pulled his head back only to lean down and press a small kiss to your belly. And when you looked at him again, he was smiling. The kind of smile you only got to see when he forgot to hide it.
Soon after, the baby fell back to sleep inside of you. The two of you settled back into each other. The only sound filling the room was your breathing and the crickets chirping outside your window.
”I hope she has your eyes,” you said softly.
”Ya finally agree she’ll be a girl?” He laughed.
“I may have a feeling…”
He pressed a kiss to your shoulder, taking a moment to breathe you in.
You felt safe as your heavy eyes fluttered shut as Daryl continued rubbing slow circles across your exposed stomach. He held you both tightly for the rest of the night.
Warnings: NSFW, MDNI, characters are 18+, explicit sexual content, power imbalance, fingering, unprotected sex, slight praise kink
A/N: May the Fourth be with you! I had a BLAST writing this one, it’s one of my favorite things I’ve ever written now. Please be mindful that this will probably not perfectly line up with SW canon, this is my spin on it!
Summary: For Jedi Master Sebastian Sallow, a mission to Dagobah to capture a rogue dark side user alongside his Padwan seems too dangerous. What he doesn’t realize is something far more dangerous is already brewing between them at home.
The halls outside the Jedi Council chambers were quiet at this hour. They were in a meeting, one you were not invited to, but curiosity got the better of you. Something deep within you knew it involved you.
You slowed your pace as you approached towering doors. The evening skyline of Coruscant was reflecting off of the shiny floors from the massive windows.
And then you heard a voice.
”Are you sure she’s ready for a mission like this?” You heard your Master ask.
Your chest tightened at the sound, smooth and steady as always, but softer than usual. He respected his Masters…you, not nearly as much.
”She is capable, her record speaks for itself,” another Master chimed in, but you couldn’t recognize the deep and raspy voice. Perhaps Master Sharp.
”I am aware of her capabilities,” Master Sallow replied.
”Then what concerns you, Master Sallow?” Master Fig asked. You recognized him instantly. He treated you kinder than anyone else.
A pause followed, one long enough to allow your stomach to tie in knots.
Sebastian sighed. “Dagobah is not a suitable environment for incomplete discipline. The planet amplifies fear…emotion…impulse,” he started. “She acts too much on emotion. Far too often.”
You looked up, anger boiling in your chest as you stared at the thin light shining on the ground before you coming from between the doors.
”She trusts the Force,” Master Sharp countered.
”And sometimes the Force is not the only thing speaking.”
The words hit harder than they should have, but they were coming from your Master. You knew you weren’t perfect, you had only been a Padawan for a few years. You still had lots to learn, but hearing him speak about you like this, like you were reckless, stung more than you cared to admit.
”You seem unusually hesitant regarding your Padawan. Are you not confident in your teaching abilities?” Another Master asked.
”I am exercising caution,” Sebastian replied, sounding taken aback.
”Or attachment?”
The air stilled, silence filling the room. No one spoke for several long, dragged out seconds.
”My duty is to ensure the mission succeeds,” Sebastian finally responded, even quieter.
Heat started crawling up your neck, creeping onto your cheeks, and burning the tips of your ears. You suddenly felt foolish for standing there, eavesdropping on your Masters like this. Before anyone could sense you, you disappeared down the hallway which you came from and went back to your chambers.
An hour or so later, you found yourself packing for a mission you weren’t supposed to know was happening. Master Sallow had come by and told you to gather your things and to meet him by his ship when you were done. You did as you were asked without responding with words. He couldn’t know you had overheard, but you were finding it nearly impossible to let go of.
The ship’s engines hummed lowly beneath your black boots as you secured the last crate into place. You kept your pace brisk and efficient, trying to hide the anger, and refusing to even think of looking into the cockpit.
Outside the loading ramp, the Coruscant traffic glittered endlessly against the night sky, like each ship was a star forming constellations. Speeders even looked a part of it, shooting stars weaving between. Normally this was one of your favorite parts of missions, but tonight it barely registered.
”Are you planning on ignoring me the entire journey?” Sebastian's voice drifted from in front of you.
You didn’t even bother looking up. “I wasn’t aware I was.”
He stood up from his seat where he was getting ready for take off, boots echoing softly off the metal floor as he started walking towards you. You tried not to look, but out of the corner of your eye, you could see his tall figure lean against the wall, standing confidently in his dark robes with his lightsaber clipped to his belt.
”I’ve asked you three questions since arriving on the ship and you’ve barely acknowledged them. Normally, you’re thirsting for knowledge.”
”Would you prefer that I act more on instinct, Master?” You asked a little sharper than intended. Maybe emotions did get the better of you sometimes, but he wasn’t allowed to say that.
His normally sharp features softened, understanding flickering across his face. “You overheard the Council meeting…”
You crossed your arms tightly across your chest. “…Hard not to.”
”What you heard was not an insult,” he replied after a few moments.
You scoffed. “No? Because it sounded a lot like you telling them you didn’t think I was ready.”
”That is not what happened.”
”You said I was impulsive, that I act too much on emotion.”
”You do.”
You rolled your eyes then. The frustration you’d been holding in since you heard him open his mouth finally cracked through. “I know I still have training left, lots and lots of training, but if you truly believe that I’m a liability then maybe you should have asked for another Padawan.” The second the words left you, something painful flashed across Master Sallow’s face.
”You are not a liability.” The seriousness in his voice caught you off guard. He stepped closer to you now, lowering his voice. “Dagobah is dangerous. What they want us to do — you to do — is dangerous. There is a rogue dark-side user there trying to harness the dark energy from it. It already has enough energy inside to feed off emotions, fears, but now? We don’t know what we’re walking into. I needed to be certain you were prepared.”
“Prepared? Or controlled?”
His jaw flexed then, once. Quick enough that you almost missed it. You hated that you had, that you always did. You hated that you cared.
Sebastian exhaled slowly and turned back towards the cockpit, ready to drop it and change the subject. You were too honestly, it was getting too tense for your liking. “We should get going.”
A moment later, the engines roared louder. You stood up and dropped into the co-pilot seat beside him just as the loading ramp closed shut with a boom.
Blue and gold lights from the city flooded into the ship as he guided you up into the traffic. His hands moved precisely across the controls, calm and practiced, like he could steer a ship in his sleep.
You decided to stare out in front of you instead, looking at the night sky before you. The silence stretched as you finally broke the atmosphere and headed into space. Stars swallowed the skyline around you whole until you were met with nothing but planets, stars, and moons.
He shifted a gear and put you into hyperspace, blue light now beaming across his face, illuminating his cheeks and bringing the night sky into the ship with you, his freckles now the stars.
For a while, both of you continued to stay quiet.
Until quietly, Sebastian spoke up. “If I doubted you, you would not be here.”
And no more words were spoken for the rest of the journey.
Hours had passed by when you finally saw the planet in the distance. The deep green and creamy white swirls were undeniable even from far away.
”Get ready for landing.” Sebastian said under his breath as he shifted gears again.
As you neared, you could see it more clearly. No city lights, no traffic lanes, no signs of civilization. Only wilderness and something deeper within it.
And the closer you got, the deeper you felt it.
You wondered if he felt it too as his expression was unreadable beside you, but you noticed the way his shoulders had tensed up.
The ship shuddered violently as it pierced through the atmosphere, vibrating your seat as thick clouds swallowed the ship. Green mist spewed across the window while rain hammered against the metal.
You had never been to this planet before, but something felt off. You had heard stories before of the Force here, and the dark-side cave that had occupied it, but this felt darker than that. You didn’t feel peace here, you felt turmoil, anger, fear.
By the time Sebastian had lowered the ship to the swampy ground, your chest felt hollow. For a moment, neither of you moved, like fear had kept you in place.
”Stay close,” he said, finally standing up and heading to the exit.
”I know how missions work, Master,” you replied.
He nodded once before green illuminated the cabin walls as he drew out his lightsaber. You pulled off yours from your belt next, yellow smearing against the floor.
As the door fell open, fog swarmed inside, making it hard to breathe. It was thick and cold as you stepped through it and onto the planet. Swamp stretched as far as the eye could see. Every instinct inside of you was screaming to be cautious, but Sebastian stepped down onto the watery ground… and you followed.
Instantly, the Force hit you and it wasn’t gentle. This was hard and brutal, nothing like any other planet you had been on.
It creeped below your skin like icy, boney fingers, clawing at bones, begging to take something — anything — from you.
Sebastian felt it. “What is it?” He asked, snapping towards you.
”Nothing,” you lied. You knew he sensed that too, he always did, but he continued on.
Darkness touched everything around you. The trees, the water, even the mist. As though the cave found there had poisoned the planet itself.
”The corruption is spreading further than the Council had anticipated,” Sebastian said.
You listened, nodding once, but your focus was elsewhere. Because your fear was growing exponentially, and it wasn’t just your own. It was his mixed in.
It brushed against the door in your mind so suddenly, your breath caught out loud. It was worry, protection, everything a Master would feel towards their Padawan. He was scared for you both.
And then you felt something deeper at the exact moment his eyes landed on yours.You both froze at the realization. He wasn’t scared at all for himself, he was scared of losing you. It was so intense, it nearly hurt. His expression shifted instantly, like he felt the connection too.
The Force, darkness, whatever it was, was amplifying everything. You stumbled back, your foot landing in mush, as another feeling surged your chest. Your own fear this time.
Cold memories flashed through your mind before you could stop them. The deep glow of a red lightsaber, your mother’s cruel voice, whispers about bloodlines, and the knowledge you had spent your entire life trying to outrun.
But she was there, your mother, the Sith. She was there whispering in your ear that it wasn’t too late, you could join her, be a Sith with her. Her voice curled in your eardrum as it spoke of the darkness flowing through your blood, that dark part of your mind never went away.
You could join it so easily, just a flip of a switch she said.
”Kill him,” she finally whispered, chills running down your spine. “Kill him and join me.” Your hands gripped your saber tightly, vibrating from the pressure. Your breathing turned uneven, sweat beaded your temples.
”Hey,” Sebastian cut through the voices, stepping closer.
But the darkness was stronger. What if the Council had been wrong about you? What if the darkness was seeing right through you and welcoming you home with open arms because it recognized your soul?
”I can feel it,” you whispered.
”Feel what?” He asked.
”The dark side, i-it’s everywhere.” It had come out shakier than you intended, fear lacing your voice.
You tried hiding the rest of it away like you always did, but the energy here as ripping you apart like paper.
But through the Force, you felt him. You felt Sebastian reach for you in a way only a select few could.
Warmth brushed against the panic clawing through your chest, like it was an angry ocean and he calmed the waves.
”Look at me.” You did. The green light from his saber reflected softly off of the fog between you, illuminating the rain drops, and bright against his wet hair. “I know what fear feels like. Dagobah is taking it and feeding it back to you until it’s unbearable, but fear does not define you. Your mother does not define you. There’s a reason you’re a Padawan, don’t forget it. You have Jedi blood too.”
Before you could even nod your head, a branch snapped in the distance and both sabers lifted instantly toward the darkness.
Suddenly, a red blade ignited through the mist.
And then one became two.
Twin crimson beams burst from either end of a hilt with an eerie hiss, staining the fog as a dark figure emerged from between the trees.
Your stomach dropped as she got closer. Her face was partially covered by a dark hood, though her yellow eyes were a stark contrast to the fog between you.
”You’re far from the temple, Jedi,” she sneered.
The air around you felt rotten and wrong. It was like the cave itself had settled below her scorching red skin.
”Stand down,’ Sebastian spoke loudly.
She only laughed. Even her laughter felt evil. And then she lunged.
You barely blocked her first strike as the screeching from two sabers hitting filled your ears. The impact rattled you to your core. Sebastian immediately joined your side, pushing her away from you.
The rogue woman was fast, too fast. The planet seemed to be feeding her strength by the second. Mud splayed under your boots as you ducked another strike. The other end of her saber nearly struck your shoulder before Sebastian intercepted.
”Focus!” He snapped.
You were soaked to the bone from the rain, stomping around in the wet swamp while the Force was all around you. You couldn’t tell where one of your emotions ended and Sebastian’s began. You were fighting two battles here and only one was physical.
You felt his panic every time her red blade came too close to you, the anger he felt when you stumbled.
She noticed. “Oh,” she purred, “Now I understand.” She grinned beneath her hood, jagged teeth glowing from the sabers. “You care for her.”
Sebastian only attacked harder. Green light slashed through the rain as the fight turned brutal. The hum blasted with each attack as green met red. Even though she was stumbling backwards from his sudden aggression, her laughter only grew louder.
”Dangerous attachment for Jedi,” she breathed.
”Enough,” he yelled, his chest heaving. She raised her hand, claws emerging from her sleeve, gold jewelry adorning her fingers, and quickly threw him through the air without even touching him. His body thudded once against bark and slid to the ground.
Her eyes met yours as she sauntered over slowly. The whispers returned. “Join her,” your mother said. “Give in.” You knew she was quickly approaching, but you slammed your eyes shut, pressing your hands hard against your ears to block out any sound.
Hot, burning pain singed your upper arm. A sharp cry tore from your throat as her saber sliced your flesh. You dropped your weapon and crashed down into the mud.
Thick, sticky mud stained your skin and clothes as you scooted back, but she followed you, standing over you with her blade drawn. The pain was deep enough it blurred your vision. “You feel it, don’t you? The darkness inside of you.”
”I-I’ll never join you,” you heaved.
She smiled and raised her saber to strike.
And then, a flash of green. A gory sound cut through the air. Flesh burning. A body, now in two.
Heavy silence followed. The only remaining sound was the humming of her saber as it dropped to the ground and the raindrops falling from the sky.
Your hand was held tightly to your bleeding arm, blood oozing between your fingers, but your attention was elsewhere. Sebastian was standing a mere few feet away and his expression scared you. Not because he was angry, but because he wasn’t. He was just…undone.
His teary eyes met yours as he deactivated his weapon and ran to you, dropping to his knees. “You’re hurt.”
“I’m okay,” but your voice was shaking from the pain.
”You’re bleeding…” You hissed as he carefully moved your bloodied hand away to examine the damage. Panic flashed across his face. Not Jedi composure and definitely not his duty. It was raw, unfiltered fear. “I need to get your back to the ship.”
His hands scooped you up and carried you across the swamp and back to the ship. Despite its massive size, it felt much smaller now as he walked you through the cabin.
He sat you on the edge of a bench and you bit back another hiss as he cleaned the wound. It was deep, but he could mend it. He had years of experience, but his hands still shook as he wrapped the bandage around your skin.
”You should have let me take the forward position,” he muttered.
You blinked. “What?”
His eyes never left the bandage as he continued to wrap. “I told you to stay close.”
You scoffed. “So you think this is my fault?”
”I think you could have died.” A moment passed, but his eyes finally looked at you. “I saw it before it happened,” he whispered. “Whatever was there showed me. A-and I couldn’t stop it.”
You stared at him, his brown hair dripping rain above his chocolate eyes. He looked exhausted. Your faces were far too close, dangerously close. His breath was hot against your mouth. The Force between you pulsed again, aching and unsteady.
For a second, it looked like his gaze had dropped to your lips and then back up to your eyes. You should have moved away, but something kept you there.
Slowly, his lips brushed against yours. Your breath hitched in your throat as you eased closer to him, letting him capture you.
For one perfect second, the rest of the galaxy disappeared, but then reality came crashing in.
”Sebastian…” you whispered against him.
”I know,” he breathed. He barely sounded like himself. Then he pulled away too fast, like if he stayed put any longer it would destroy any composure he had left.
He got up and walked towards the cockpit and you followed, sitting down in your seat beside him. The rest of the ride home was in complete silence.
The journey home felt longer than the ride there, but finally you saw the lights of Coruscant.
After the near-death experience you had on Dagobah, the city seemed almost unreal. It was nighttime again by the time you made it back and you had never been happier to be home.
Sebastian swiftly guided the ship toward the temple and into the landing bay. His hands were perfect as they pressed buttons and moved joysticks around.
Neither of you had mentioned the kiss since it happened, but the memory of it was still fresh in your mind despite the hours that had occurred since. You couldn’t stop thinking of the way his warm mouth had felt against yours, the Force between you, but the look on his face after is what really got to you.
Like he had regretted wanting you.
The ship landed with a soft thud. “I’ll speak to the council,” he said.
”About what happened on Dagobah?”
”Yes.” Not about the kiss, of course not. Why would he do that? “You should get some rest.”
You walked to your chambers slowly, waiting to see if Sebastian would ever catch up, but he never did. The temple always felt so quiet at night, but tonight was worse.
You paced near your window overlooking the city, but no matter what you did, you couldn’t stop thinking about your kiss with your Master. The kiss that should have never happened. You knew that.
But what about all those feelings you felt from him on Dagobah? That should have never happened either. The utter fear he felt for you, the protectiveness of it all was more than a Master should feel for their Padawan.
Jedi can love, but not this way, not the way you were starting to be scared you felt, or he felt.That was one of the big things he had taught you. Attachment leads to fear and fear leads to darkness.
Part of you wanted to blame the kiss on Dagobah, maybe it was the fear still pouring through you. Maybe it was the raw emotion you had both been feeling, but the kiss hadn’t felt forced. It felt inevitable.
Your thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on your door. You already knew it was him.
You crossed the room before opening the door to see him standing there. He was still dressed in his dark robes. His hair had dried by now, but the ends were curled up, loose strands falling across his forehead. “May I come in?” He asked quietly.
You stepped aside without answering, allowing him into your room. You shut the door slowly behind him.
”I spoke with the council.”
”And?” You asked.
”The mission is considered complete.” You gave a short nod, but neither of you mentioned the reason he was really there. You knew the mission would be complete, it always was. And you never found him shut in your bedroom for him to tell you that. “I should have never allowed you to get hurt.”
“Stop saying things like that. I’m not fragile.”
”You nearly died,” he said, stepping closer.
”And you think that’s your fault?”
”I’m responsible for you.”
The frustration you had been feeling since you left Dagobah bubbled to the surface. You didn’t care about duty or responsibilities. “Then why did you kiss me? You don’t get to do that and then retreat back behind Jedi duty like it never happened.”
”I am not pretending it never happened.”
”Then what are you doing?”
A long silence followed. And for the first time since you met him, your Master looked entirely unsure of himself. He sighed. “That kiss should have happened long before this mission.” He stepped closer again. “I’m sorry for many things. For hesitating, for trying to convince myself this was something I could ignore, but I am not sorry for kissing you.”
”You’re my Master,” you whispered.
”I know.”
”And if the Council finds out…”
”I know.”
Your heart hammered painfully against your ribcage. He looked at you like he was fighting an internal battle he was losing by the second. “On Dagobah, when that blade was pointed at you…” He stopped and swallowed hard. “I have never felt fear like that in my life.”
His confession pulled you closer to him, shattering the remaining distance. His hand immediately found your waist and somehow pulled you even closer. Then your mouth was on his again.
This kiss was nothing like the first. That had been slow and quiet. But this kiss showed no restraint. His hand slid into your hair as he kissed your harder, mouth moving passionately against yours. Your fingers tangled in the front of his robe, urging him closer and closer until your bodies were pressed tightly against each other.
Sebastian made a small noise against your lips that nearly unraveled you on the spot. You could feel how desperately he was trying to maintain control and how badly he was losing it. He pulled away a moment, breathing in your shared air as his forehead rested against yours. “Tell me to leave,” he whispered.
“Don’t leave,” you replied.
Sebastian’s lips latched onto your again in a hungry kiss. Your hammering heart was loud enough, you thought even he could hear it as it thumped against your chest. “There’s no taking this back,” he mumbled into your mouth. But you couldn’t speak. You barely got your head to nod yes because you didn’t want to stop kissing him.
He pushed you gently backward until the back of your knees hit your bed. “Tell me if this is what you want,” he mumbled again. You nodded. “Use your words, sweetheart.” He pulled his lips away enough that they were only brushing as he waited for your response.
”I want this, Master.”
He chuckled lowly as he lips met yours again. He picked you up and laid you down gently on your plush, soft bed, never breaking the kiss.
He tasted sweet, like mint candies. And his lips were soft against your own. You never wanted to stop kissing him. He was a drug you were becoming addicted to.”Can I touch you?” He whispered. The idea sent racing vibrations straight to your core.
”Yes, Master,” you breathed into his mouth.
He giggled again, a blush now spreading across his cheeks. “Call me, Sebastian, sweetheart,” he whispered. He brought a gloved hand up to his mouth, biting down on the black leather, and pulled it off in one swoop, leaving the glove behind in his mouth. It dangled in his teeth by a fingertip until he dropped it beside your head.
He took his now bare hand and inched it down your body, dragging it along your chest, then your belly, and finally right where you wanted him. He moved around your night dress to find you panty-less.
“Do you always sleep with no panties on?” He asked, looking directly into your eyes, his nose brushing the tip of yours. You nodded your head as you felt yourself now blushing. “Fuck.”
His middle finger swiped through your folds once before landing on your clit.
No one had ever touched you there before and it was sending jolts of lightning through your body. Looking up at him now, you saw the city’s skyline reflected through his pupils. The blue and gold mirrored beautifully across the brown of his irises. You nearly got lost in them, forgetting where you were.
But then his fingers started working delicately around your nub, sending shockwaves through your body and bringing you back down to reality. His eyes turned drunken as he watched your writhe beneath him.
A soft moan escaped your lips as he continued toying with your clit, rubbing you in all the right ways. But then he pressed down a little harder causing another whimper to leave your mouth. He leaned down to kiss you again, swallowing down every noise you made.
He kissed you for a few seconds, taking in every moan, until he reluctantly pulled away, leaving a line of saliva connecting your lips. At the same time, he pulled his hand away from your core, leaving your aching for him in two places.
His eyes never left yours as his lips wrapped around his fingers, sucking up all of your juices and wetting his finger with a pop. “You taste so good, sweetheart,” he groaned.
He inserted his middle and ring finger into you, stretching you out slowly. “Fuck, Sebastian,” you breathed as your head lulled back against your pillow.
”That’s it baby, say my name again,” he cooed.
”Sebastian,” you moaned.
You could feel his cock getting harder through his pants as it rested against your bare leg. It grew harder by the second as he pumped his fingers in and out of you with a slick sound filling the air. He curled them up and brushed them against a spot inside of you that felt better than anything you had ever felt before.
He kissed you again to muffle your growing moans from escaping your bedroom. “Shh, baby, you got to be quiet for me.” But they were getting louder and louder, moaning his name over and over again as butterflies swarmed your belly.
He knew you were getting close to orgasming by the way you pulsed around his fingers. You could feel a tightening happening, like a coil winding up inside of you. The pressure was intense as his fingers gained even more momentum.
”You like that?” He rasped, pulling back enough to speak again. His lips were wet from your mouth sucking them. “You’re shaking. Are you going to come for me?”
You knew he wanted words, but you couldn’t answer. Your throat was too tight with moans, but your hips answered for you, jolting up once against his hand, begging for more.
This time he pressed deeper, letting his thumb find your clit. He curled his fingers in rhythm with the circling of his thumb against your clit.
“S-Sebastian, oh fu—“ you moaned as your back arched against the mattress.
”That’s it, sweetheart,” he groaned.
Your climax slammed into harder than you expected it to happen. It tore through you in waves that had you breathing out his name like it was the only word you knew. Your hands wrapped around his neck and you held him tightly against you as you rode out your high against his hand. It was a euphoria like nothing ever before.
When your body settled against the mattress, he slipped his fingers out of you and turned to get up, as if you would let him leave. “You’re leaving?” You asked disappointed.
“I must,” he replied. “Before I do something else I shouldn’t.”
“I want you.”
His body stopped instantly and without another word, he turned back around and was back on the bed, his lips on yours, sucking your bottom lip hard into his warm mouth. Every time his mouth was on yours, it felt like the very first time because your stomach fluttered.
The clanging of his belt filled the room, echoing off the white walls, as he undid it and let it fall to the floor with a thud. After he undid his pants, he lined himself up with your entrance, circling your hole once. It was still sensitive from him fingering you as he inched himself in.
It burned at first. You hissed as he stretched you out little by little until you didn’t think he could fill you up anymore, but he did. Your backside felt his legs and you knew he was buried all the way inside of you. Even slower, he pulled himself out and pressed himself back in.
Quickly, the burning sensation was replaced with pleasure. “Go faster,” you whispered.
His hips rolled as he started gaining speed, pressing you further and further into your bed. “Fuck, you’re so tight,” he groaned. Your legs were on either side of him when he grabbed one and slung it over his shoulder.
He was hitting you deeper and harder than before, hitting the spot he had before over and over again. You had no words to describe the feeling, it was better than anything you had ever experienced. Moans poured out of your lips faster than you had time to process.
His hand came up and covered your mouth sweetly. He pressed forward with his body until he was only inches away. “Shh,” he said again. You whimpered pathetically against his hand as your eyes rolled to the back of your head. “You gonna come for me again?” He asked. You nodded your head against his hand. “Good girl.”
And then you felt it again — the Force connecting you just like it had on Dagobah. Not thoughts exactly. Want. Desire. Devotion so intense it would have frightened you if it had been anyone else.
He had been waiting for this moment, for weeks, months. It was all pouring out as he fucked you — letting every stolen glance, touches that meant too much, and thoughts he had to keep to himself drive himself into you.
He was getting close too, you could feel it in more ways than just physical. He was pushing to not let this moment between you end, begging his body to let him keep going as his thrusts started to become erratic.
You whined against his hand as you felt another orgasm rip through you, harder than before. Your nails found the only skin it could and dug crescent shaped divots into his hand that was pressed against your lips.
Warmth filled you to the brim as he came inside of you, white ribbons painting your internal walls. He drove into you a few more times to drain himself completely.
When you both were done, he released your lips and you pulled him down against you, kissing him a final time. He kissed you repeatedly, like he could never get enough of you before rolling onto his back beside you.
Your chest was still heaving as you tried to calm your breathing. Your mind was racing with thoughts: you couldn’t believe what you had just done, but you loved it. You loved him you realized and it scared you worse than the woman on Dagobah, worse than the whispers of your mother.
”I love you,” he said finally, relief washing over you.
“But what about the Jedi order?”
”My duty is to you. Only you.”
His passion scared you, but not more than your own. “I love you too,” you replied. And you did, deeply and truly. Even if it costs everything.
A/N: This was my first writing request! I hope you all enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it. It is also my first non-smut writing!!
Summary: You've been exhausted for days—more than usual and more than makes sense. Daryl notices, of course. He always does. Now, in a world that barely leaves room to survive, you're faced with something that asks you to live. And Daryl is determined to make sure you don't face it alone.
The sun was starting to peek through your curtain when you blinked awake. For a split moment, you thought you could still be sleeping as you listened to the breathing beside you.
Daryl had an arm slung around your waist and you could feel the steady rise and fall of his chest pressed against your back. The weight of him made you wish you could stay there all morning, hell all day even.
You closed your eyes again just for a moment to relish in the safe feeling he gave you, but when you opened them again, you realized his body wasn’t the only thing making you want to sleep the day away.
You were exhausted, even after a full night’s rest. Your eyelids felt heavy on your face, wanting to slam shut. You sighed, loud enough it caused your boyfriend to stir next to you.
“Mornin’,” he grumbled into his pillow before sitting up and wiping the sleep from his face.
“Good morning,” you replied, unsure if you could really call it that. He leaned over and pressed a small kiss to your shoulder, breathing you in in the way he always did when he was halfway between sleeping and being awake, a morning ritual at this point. He could never start his day without a fresh dose of you.
”You good?” He asked once you were both downstairs in the kitchen. He always knew somehow.
”Yeah,” you said. “Just tired.”
“Need more sleep?”
”The garden won’t tend itself.” Garden duty, that was your task of the day. You never minded it. There was always something to do in Alexandria and gardening was probably one of your favorite things, besides going on runs with Daryl. Despite how shit the world had gotten to, it was still nice getting out.
”I’d cover you, ya know,” he said, grabbing an apple off the countertop.
”You have to go to Hilltop with Rick. I’ll be fine.” But you knew he would if you truly wanted him to. Even something as small as needing more sleep had Daryl on his toes over you. He worried about you in ways he would never admit to.
He only nodded, understanding that you couldn’t, wouldn’t, just abandon your duties. He kissed you goodbye once before heading out the door to meet Rick by the gate.
By the time you were ready to go to the gardens, the sun had fully risen and was already beating down. You stuck on a wide-brimmed hat to keep the light out of your face and headed towards the plants in the center of town.
It had everything growing from tomatoes, to carrots, to corn, etc. And you had a lot to do, so you started right away with rummaging through the soil looking for weeds to pluck out.
Usually, you liked this part. The quietness, the routine. You felt useful, but today everything just felt heavy.
You were moving slower than usual, getting out of breath easier and fighting against the heat already settling in against your back. You found yourself needing to take more breaks to steady your breathing.
”Get it together,” you mumbled to yourself.
After a couple of hours, things still hadn’t let up. Even after an awful sleep, you would be alert by now, but you still felt the same desire to doze off. It was almost to the point you felt like slapping yourself to get some adrenaline pumping, but you decided to save yourself the embarrassment.
And then you felt it, the sharp pain rushing through your bare arm exposed by your rolled sleeve. You had reached your hand down, didn’t pay attention, and swiped your arm across a thick thorn. Warm, sticky blood trickled down your skin.
It wasn’t deep, but it was enough to stop work and get it taken care of. You felt silly, clumsy. Things you normally weren’t, especially with the protective nature of Daryl.
You stood up quickly and headed towards the infirmary. The faster you got it cleaned, the faster you could get back to work.
”Well there’s a rare sight,” exclaimed Siddiq upon seeing you enter.
You huffed a small laugh, sitting down on one of the beds. “Don’t get used to it.”
You watched in silence as he cleaned the dried blood off of your arm and cleaned the cut. It stung more than you had anticipated as he poured the strong-smelling alcohol over your skin.
”Sorry,” he whispered, not looking away from what he was doing. He grabbed a roll of gauze from the counter and started to wrap loops around your forearm. “Any dizziness? Nausua?”
”No, Siddiq, I’m fine.”
”You sure? You seem a little off today.”
”I didn’t sleep well last night. I’m just tired, promise.”
The look on his face looked almost like he didn’t want to believe you, but chose to anyway, nodding once before putting his supplies back into the cupboard. “I think you should head home, get some rest.” But he knew better, it was you he was talking to.
You smiled politely and walked out the door, heading straight back to your spot by the plants.
You found your place again in the blowing grass, kneeled down, and got back to work.
Luckily, the thorn sent the adrenaline you needed to finish the day out stronger than you had started. You worked through lunch, snacking on some fresh tomatoes instead, and worked the day away, eventually forgetting about the pain in your arm.
The evening brought in a cooler breeze, followed by the rumbling of Daryl’s bike outside the gate. He and Rick were back from their run, hopefully with some good supplies from Hilltop.
You decided you would just meet him back at the house. The adrenaline was long gone by now and combined with a long day of work, you were beat.
A few moments after you settled in the kitchen, the front door creaked open.
Despite the exhaustion, butterflies swarmed your belly. “Daryl?” You spoke out despite knowing it was him by the sound of his boots against the hardwood.
And then he walked in. He was sweaty from his own day of working and riding, but you skipped over to him anyways and planted a long kiss against his lips.
”Missed ya,” he mumbled
”I missed you,” you replied. “I brought some fresh stuff from the garden, it’s over—“
”Ya hurt yourself?”
You had forgotten and rolled up your sleeves, exposing the white cloth. You weren’t necessarily hiding it from him by any means, you just hated worrying him.
”It’s not a big deal,” you said. “Cut it on a thorn by accident.” But he was already standing next to you, examining it like if he stared long enough he could see the wound through the wrap. He worried his lip in his mouth, the look you knew all too well. He was getting nervous. “Baby, I’m okay, promise.”
He nodded his head once, still chewing on his bottom lip, but began rifling through the vegetables you had brought back with you to get his mind off things.
He didn’t ask anymore questions about it, continuing to pull out some fresh green beans and washing them in the sink before helping you start supper.
Your meal was quiet. The peaceful kind. The I-missed-you-all-day and need-to-relish-in-your-company kind. That is how it usually was with Daryl and you were always grateful for it. He never asked a million questions or breathed down your neck, he was just there when you needed him and when it mattered most.
After the two of you were done eating and washing the dishes, you trekked to your bedroom. As you were changing out of your clothes and into something a little more comfortable for sleep, he noticed a rusty color oozing from the gauze, sticking out against the white material.
”Hold up,” he said, grabbing your attention. “C’mere.”
He guided you gently into the bathroom, setting you against the counter. “I probably just moved wrong, reopened the wound.” But he didn’t care why, only how to stop it.
”Yeah,” was all he said, though it didn’t exactly sound like agreement. “Sit still.”
”You don’t gotta—“ but he already was.
His hands were rough and worn, but his touch was soft against your skin as he dabbed away the fresh blood and cleaned what had already dried. “Bleedin’ more than it should,” he said, watching as more dribbled out.
”It’s fine, Daryl.” Which earned you a look from him. A look you knew all too well. The one he gave you when you were being too stubborn for your own good.
When he got the bleeding mostly under control, he wrapped it again with a roll you had under the sink. Once he was done, he lingered a moment before pressing a brief kiss to the fresh bandage.
Your breath caught a little in your throat. “You’re sweet, you know.”
He huffed lightly, giving you another, gentler look. “Don’t start.” But still, his hand found yours as he pulled you back into the bedroom. “Get some sleep.”
You let him lead you back to bed where you found yourself snuggling under the covers with your back against his bare chest. You felt safe, at peace.
Still, in the morning you were met with the same grogginess.
And that is how you spent the next week.
You tried drinking more water.
Eating more of your vegetables.
Even going to bed a little earlier.
Nothing you did took away the same tired feeling you kept waking up to.
Eventually you chalked it up to your pillow. Or maybe your period was coming.
You knew you should stay on top of it better, but when the world ends, your cycle was the least of your concerns.
This particular morning had been no different. You were used to it by this point, though that didn’t take away from how annoying the feeling was.
It was another garden duty day, so you grabbed your hat from the stand and went to your position by the plants.
Hours went by and sweat was streaking your back and beading down your temples. Daryl was on wall watch and you could see his back towards you as he looked out beyond the gates.
Even from a distance, his broad back was striking with his crossbow slung over his shoulder.
But you knew better than to let yourself get distracted again, no matter how easy it would be to get lost in him. You didn’t want to earn another trip to Siddiq.
You were digging through the soil barehanded when you felt a squirmy worm under your fingertips. This was normal of course, worms were good for the garden, and you had felt and seen them a hundred times. You pulled out your dirt caked hands to take a peek, but then the smell hit you. You had never been able to smell worms before, but it was a horrid, earthy smell.
The tightening happened first, right down in your stomach, followed by a wave of nausea that was all-consuming. Your hands became clammy and you got dizzy.
“I think I’m gonna be sick,” you announced to anyone who was listening.
And then it all came up. Everything you had eaten for breakfast that morning spewed out of you and into the grass beside you.
After you were empty, you wiped your mouth and stood up, knowing where they would want you next.
On your walk, the nausea still hadn’t subsided. It didn’t make any sense. It was just a measly little worm. And you had never smelt them before, you didn’t even know they had a smell.
Siddiq was even more surprised to see you a second time.
”I’m starting to think you like it here,” he said as you were laying back in the bed with a cool rag on your forehead. You felt so weak, you couldn’t muster up anything besides a small smile. “It’s warm out there. And you’ve been pushing yourself. I’m thinking it’s just heat exhaustion starting to creep in. You’re done for the day and I’m serious this time. Go home and rest.”
It made sense. You probably were pushing yourself too hard. And it was an exceptionally hot day out.
The front door swung open. “What happened?” Asked a familiar voice. Daryl was standing in the doorway, heaving like he ran there from the gate.
“I’m fine. Nothing really. Just got a little sick…”
”I told her it’s most likely heat exhaustion. She needs rest. I was actually about to just walk her home.”
”I got her,” Daryl mumbled. He walked over to where you were sitting up in the bed, lightly wrapping his hand around your arm to help you stand up. “C’mon.”
”I told you I’m fine, Daryl.” But he didn’t listen. His hand never left your arm as the two of you walked out and into the street.
Slowly, as the two of you made your way towards the house, his arm trailed down to your waist to steady you. You let him because even though you were too stubborn to say it, you were feeling so tired and weak.
The rest of the walk back was silent besides the sound of your footsteps against the pavement. You leaned into him, his warmth radiated off of him and crept into your chest where it found a home behind your ribcage.
When you made it back, he opened the door for you and ushered you inside, where it was much cooler.
You started to make your way into the kitchen when Daryl stopped you. “Sit.” You rolled your eyes a little, but didn’t put up a fight. You leaned back into the plush cushions with a soft exhale, breathing out and feeling relief. He disappeared for a moment and returned shortly after with a glass of water. “Drink.”
”You’re bossy today,” you replied, taking the cup.
He didn’t respond with words, only a small nod before walking off again to try and busy himself.
You didn’t mean to doze off, but the couch was so comfy and your ears were filled with the familiar sound of Daryl tinkering with stuff around the house, so you did anyway.
And by the time you woke back up, the light inside had shifted. Dusk. “Daryl?” You called out.
”In here.” His voice came from the kitchen. Shortly after, you could smell steamed carrots wafting down the hall. You followed the scent and found your boyfriend leaned over the island, plating up supper on two separate plates. He nudged one in your direction. “Eat.”
You sat down on the stool and stared at the plate. It looked delicious. Daryl would be embarrassed if you had said it out loud, but he was a good cook. But no matter how appetizing it looked, your stomach wasn’t rumbling. In fact, it was doing quite the opposite.
You tried taking a couple of bites, but as you swallowed, it nearly came right back up. It had nothing to do with the taste either, it was perfect. But your stomach had closed up shop for the day and was not accepting anything else.
”You ain’t eatin’,” he said.
”I’m trying.” But try was all you could do, there was no use. You could not get anything down without feeling like you would throw it all right back up.
”Mm,” he grumbled. Not rude or harsh, never with you. He just hated seeing you sick.
”I’ll eat later.” You covered the food up and set it on the counter to try and eat later, but if this feeling didn’t go away, that would never happen.
He didn’t argue, but his worrying eyes lingered on you longer than usual.
That night, it got worse. You never made it around to finishing up your supper. And Daryl had insisted on you going to lay down even though you had already taken a nap, so by the time he had come to bed, you were already under the covers.
You woke in the middle of the night to the feeling of your stomach twisting in on itself. You sat up quickly, leaning forward, and grabbing ahold of your belly.
”Hey,” Daryl whispered. He sat up behind you and rubbed slow, sleepy circles on your back. “What’s the—“
But the sound of you retching cut him off. You barely had time to get to the edge of the bed, let alone stand up and make it to the bathroom. Vomit covered the front of your shirt and splattered into the ends of your hair. “Damn it,” you muttered under your breath.
”Shh, it’s okay.” Daryl was already standing in front of you, ready to help you stand up. “Easy, baby.”
You felt miserable. Tired, shaky, and now sticky. “I’m sorry. This is so gross.”
But he made no comment. He continued walking you into the bathroom and lit a few candles for light. He started the bathtub up before helping slip your soaked shirt over your head, careful to not make your hair even more of a mess.
The tub filled fast. Steam radiated off the surface and lingered into the air. “C’mere.”
You stepped into the warm water and sat, covering your body with the water. Daryl took a cup and started scooping up water to wet your hair. “You don’t have to do this, you know.”
”Yeah,” he said. “I know.”
But he sat on the edge of the tub anyway, sleeves rolled up, and got to work soaking your hair with the water before leaning over and grabbing your shampoo. He lathered the soap between his hands and reached for your scalp. His fingertips gently massaged as he worked the shampoo in. It was so heavenly, you almost moaned.
After he rinsed the shampoo out, he moved your wet hair out of your face and pressed a firm kiss to your forehead and then grabbed a rag to dampen. He started with your chest and worked his way down, scrubbing away your day with lavender soap and sending it right down the drain.
You wrapped yourself up tightly in the towel he grabbed from the closet, ready to just lay down and sleep.
“This been happenin’ all week?”
”I didn’t get sick until today, but…yeah. I haven’t been feeling right.”
He started to worry his lip between his teeth. “I think we should go see Siddiq.”
”But Daryl, it’s the middle of the night,” you replied, ready to just go to bed.
The night air was cool against your damp hair. And outside you were met with the same quiet as inside. Everyone was in their beds sleeping, like you wished you could be doing. The walk was somehow even more quiet than the walk you had earlier. Daryl stayed just as close, maybe even closer.
Daryl knocked once on the door and waited for Siddiq to open it. He was a night owl, so you knew he would be up, but you still hated bothering him over something you knew was nothing.
”Hey,” he said upon opening the door. “Everything okay?”
”She got sick again,” Daryl answered.
”It’s nothing, I’m ok—“
”When?” Siddiq asked, already pulling you to sit on a bed.
”Maybe fifteen minutes ago,” Daryl said.
Siddiq nodded and started to look you over. “Still nauseous?”
”A little.”
”Dizzy?”
”Yeah.”
He hummed quietly, thinking over your answers. “Any fever?”
You shook your head. Daryl stood in the corner, watching and listening, never taking his eyes off of you.
”Appetites been off?” But before you could answer, Daryl chimed in.
”Ain’t been eatin’ right.”
”I’ve been trying—“
”I know, baby,” he said, softer.
Siddiq stood there a moment, pondering, letting things start to piece together in his mind. “Mood swings?”
Daryl huffed a laugh at that one.
”Maybe a little,” you replied.
”Any breast tenderness?”
”What does that have to do with anything?” You asked.
”Humor me.”
”Yeah, some.”
”When was your last period?”
“I don’t even— I…I don’t know. I thought I was just stressed.”
The room felt smaller. You started to panic, scared of what he was suggesting. Not ready to hear his thoughts. Daryl picked up on your mood shift immediately and found a spot next to you. “What’re ya sayin’?”
“He thinks I’m pregnant,” you sighed.
”I”m saying it is a possibility. With all of your symptoms, I… I think it is highly likely. I may have some tests in a cabinet. Expired for sure, but they’re only more likely for a false negative. A false positive on the other hand…”
Were you really about to take a pregnancy test? You had always dreamed of this moment, but never imagined it happening in the world you were living in. That dream had set sail a long time ago. The world was different now.
Siddiq left the room for a moment to dig around in the back for a test. Part of you hoped he wouldn’t have one and let you stew a little longer before officially finding out.
When he returned, he handed you a small white, plastic test. It felt too small to be the one thing telling you if your future was about to change. You went into the bathroom and Daryl stayed outside the door, ready if you needed him.
“You okay?” He asked through the door.
”Yeah,” you replied. “…No.”
”I’m right here.”
Those three simple words helped more than you thought they would and when you walked back out of the door, the waiting began.
Five whole minutes. Which in this case, felt like a lifetime.
No one sat down. You were chomping your nails down while Daryl paced the room. Siddiq leaned against the counter, covering the test up with his body.
Four minutes. The two of you were restless. You already had your nails down to the quick.
Three minutes. You wrapped your arms tightly around yourself, like maybe if you squeezed tight enough you would wake up from this dream.
Two minutes. Daryl was still pacing, unable to stand still. He needed something to do with himself to pass the time.
One minute. It felt the longest out of all of them. Each second stretched longer than the last.
”If it’s negative?” You asked, breaking the silence.
”Then we reassess, but your symptoms didn’t come from nowhere. And a false negative is a possibility.”
”And if it’s positive?”
”It still isn’t going to be one hundred percent, but combined with your symptoms, I would say that would be accurate.”
Time.
Daryl stopped pacing and found his place next to you again, fingers intertwining with yours. Whatever happened, you knew the two of you were in it together, but that didn't diminish the racing in your heart.
”You check it,” you said to Siddiq who still had his back turned towards the test. He nodded once, understanding, and turned around. “Well?”
He faced the two of you then. Damn him and his poker face. He looked at you once and then to Daryl and back to you. “It’s positive.”
Feelings exploded in your chest. Excitement. Fear. Everything in between.
“Positive…” was all you could get out. Daryl’s grip around your hand became tighter.
”Like I said, it’s expired, but with your other symptoms, I’m pretty confident in its accuracy.”
Pregnant. Such a big word for an awful world.
You nodded. “…Oh.” Tears welled in your eyes. You were too scared to move. Daryl was too scared to move you, scared of shattering something fragile. “Hold me,” you whispered.
That was all it took for him to pull you into a hug. He rested his chin on your head and held you tightly to him as you shook against him. “Shh, it’s gonna be okay,” he said softly.
”How do you know?” You asked.
“I ain’t got it all figured out, but I know it will be.” He was always honest, especially with you.
”Okay,” you breathed against his chest.
”We’ll handle it, okay? Like always.”
You nodded and his hand found the back of your head, resting it there, holding you closer.
Siddiq watched for a moment before excusing himself, letting Daryl know he was stepping out with a subtle nod.
The two of you stayed like that a moment before deciding to head home and get some rest. Daryl’s hand never left yours once until you were both underneath the covers and his hand found its place against your waist, holding you closer than he ever had before.
You woke up the next morning, still feeling the same tired feeling you had been, but when you went to grab Daryl’s hand, you noticed his spot in the bed was empty. And the sun was higher in the sky than usual when you woke up.
Shit.
You were late for your chores. You scrambled together an outfit and ran out of the door, struggling to get on your other shoe and walk at the same time.
When you reached the wall for guard duty, you noticed Daryl was standing in your spot.
“What are you doing up there?” You called.
“Coverin’ you,” he replied, like it was no big deal.
You climbed the ladder to stand behind him. “I got it.”
”I know,” he replied, but didn’t move from his spot.
”Daryl…”
”Just get some rest, you had a rough night. Please.”
”Fine.” But you weren’t happy about it. You stormed back to your house and slammed the door shut, laying down on the couch where you sat for the rest of the day. You felt useless. You knew everyone was supposed to pull their own weight and you weren’t which aggravated you.
The next day, the same thing happened. When your eyes slowly opened, the sun was shining high in the sky, maybe even higher than the day before. Exhaustion found you next as you rolled out of bed and got ready for the day.
You walked out into the street and to the garden where you saw Daryl kneeling in your spot. He was dirt covered and dripping sweat from pulling weeds with the sun beating down on him.
”You’ve got to be kidding me,” you mumbled to yourself.
You kneeled next to him and started pulling at the fresh tomatoes, plucking the ripe ones and setting them down in the woven basket sitting between you.
”Baby…” he trailed off, eyeing you like you were committing a crime by just doing your job. You tried to ignore him and continue working. If he wanted to be on garden duty, which he never was, then fine. But that wasn’t going to stop you.
He stared at you as he kept pulling vibrant red tomatoes from the vines when a sharp pain jolted in your side.
You seethed, taking in a quick breath, and grabbed a hold of your abdomen.
”You okay?” Daryl asked, already rushing to your side.
”I think so, it’s just—“ another pulling pain ached. “Fuck that hurts.”
”You’re done,” he said, starting to put his hands beneath you like he was going to carry you.
“Daryl…” you started, but the pain had yet to subside. “Fine.”
He carried you all the way back to your house, up the stairs, and laid you in your bed. “You okay?” He asked again now that you were alone and settled in.
”I think so. The pain was awful, right here in my side.”
“Siddiq told me it’ll happen. It’s your body getting ready for a baby.”
All you could do was nod. You wanted so badly to work that day. You wanted to be stubborn and work through the pain, to not be lazy. But your bed was so comfy, the blanket so warm. You drifted off before Daryl even left the room.
You woke up later that evening to the sun being lower, your room darker. Daryl had to have been back by now. You slipped out of bed and slowly made your way down the steps when you heard voices — two voices to be exact.
You weren’t usually one to eavesdrop, especially on Daryl, but his words caught your attention and your body planted itself in place.
“—just don’t put her out there right now.”
Your brows furrowed, confusion running through your veins.
”She’s been doing her share, same as everyone else,” Rick said next.
”I know that.”
”Then what’s the issue?” Rick sounded even more confused than you felt.
A beat of silence followed, you knew Daryl was thinking. “Just give her somethin’ inside… or nothin’… for a bit.”
Your grip on the railing tightened, anger quickly replacing the confused feeling.
”That’s not really how this works. You know that.”
You could picture the scene without having to see it: Daryl with his arms crossed, jaw set, and standing like he had already decided this was happening, whether Rick liked it or not.
”She’s a part of this community, Daryl. Same as you. Same as me. I can’t just pull her off of jobs because you asked me to.”
Now Daryl sighed. “Ain’t just ‘cause I’m askin’.” You felt as your chest twisted, your stomach nearly lurched out of your throat. You knew this was all real, The two lines on that damned test all but confirmed it, but hearing Daryl tell someone else, Rick, this was entirely different. “She ain’t just her right now.”
His words were quiet, but they landed heavy, a cannon into the air.
Rick didn’t say anything, but you knew he was looking at Daryl in the way he always did when he needed him, they were brothers. Daryl didn’t have to say the words, he knew.
”You sure?”
”Test came back positive. Siddiq’s pretty sure.”
“Alright. That changes things.”
Daryl huffed faintly. “I know. She ain’t gonna like it.”
He was right, you weren’t going to like it. You hated he was going behind your back like this, pulling you out of work when all you wanted was to earn your place.
“It’s still her call, Daryl.”
”And I’ll still take most of it.”
You couldn’t listen to any more of it. It was utter bullshit, talking about you like you had no say. At least Rick took your side somewhat.
But then there was a loud creak.
”Baby? Ya there?” You heard Daryl yell, but you hurried too quickly to your bedroom for him to catch you in the stairwell.
It didn’t take long for him to be standing in your room though, chest lightly heaving like he ran after you.
”What the hell was that?” You said, turning to face him standing in the doorway. “You go to Rick? About me? I can make my own decisions, you know.”
”Was gonna talk to you.”
”When?” You shot back. “Afer you already decided for everything for me?”
He started to step closer, but you stepped back. “I ain’t decidin—“
”You asked him to take me off jobs, Daryl. I heard you.”
He stepped even further into the room, like he just needed to be closer to you. You hated how badly you wanted to be close to him too, especially when his soft blue eyes landed on you.
Focus.
”You ain’t been feelin’ right,” he said, pulling you from your thoughts.
”That doesn’t mean I stop working! I have to earn my keep!”
”You can’t do that if you keep pushing yourself,” he replied lowly. He never raised his voice. He was always soft with you, even when you knew he was getting frustrated.
But that didn’t stop the annoyance in your voice, the anger seeping out of you. “I was fine until you started to hover over everything I do!”
”You threw up in the middle of the day.”
”And I was fine after! I am fine!”
Again, he took another step closer. “Baby…” he said softly.
That did it. His softness. Tears broke open like a floodgate.”I’m pregnant, Daryl. Not helpless.”
“I know.”
”Then… then why are you trying to control me! It’s my body. I know when I have had enough.”
”And if something ha—happens to you—“ he stopped. You looked up and saw tears welling in his eyes too. “Ain’t doin’ that.”
”Doing what?’ You asked, quieter now.
”Watchin’ someone I—“ he cut himself off. “Not again.”
All of the anger disappeared. “Daryl…”
But he kept going, like if he stopped now he wouldn’t be able to finish and he had more to say. “Ya think I don’t know you can handle yourself? I know that. Seen it.”
”Then why are you—“
”World’s already bad enough. Now you’re carryin’ somethin’ in it—“ but he couldn’t finish like he wanted to.
You ran to him, held him in your arms like you had been aching to since he walked in the door. You nuzzled your head against his chest, breathing him in, and letting him wash away your frustrations and worries.
”You still should’ve talked to me first,” you breathed against him.
”…Yeah.”
”Maybe I do need to take it a little easier. I-I’m just scared, okay?”
His grip around you tightened and he rested his chin upon the crown of your head, running his hands up and down your back. “I know, baby girl, me too.”
You let out a small breath, staying in place in the home he created for you in his arms.
After a moment of standing together, you felt him start to pull away, your body already missing his warmth. “Got somethin’ to show ya.”
He moved over to your dresser and opened the top drawer, rummaging through clothes until his hands landed on the thing he was looking for.
When he pulled it out, you didn’t know what you were looking at. It was a rough, uneven piece of wood, but then you stepped closer. You could see it, the beginnings of a shape, the details were hardly carved in, but the shape was unmistakable. It was a small animal. A rabbit.
”Oh, Daryl…,” you started.
”Ain’t nearly done.”
”When did you—“
”…Other night.”
The night after.
He handed it to you and you closed your fingers gently around it, warmth radiating through your chest at the thought of him carving away at this piece of wood in his spare time. For your child.
This whole time you had been feeling sick, worried to death over this, he had been carving. He was thinking about something beyond just trying to make it to the next day.
He was thinking about this. About you. About a future.
Your thumb brushed over where you could tell the ears were going to go. The grooves were shallow and unfinished, but you loved it.
”It’s perfect,” you said.
He looked at you, standing there. You had no bump, no visual sign of pregnancy, but he felt it. He felt you, even from the gap between you. He saw you standing there holding the unfinished piece of wood and it felt real in a way it hadn’t before. “We’ll figure this out.”
His arms wrapped around you again, the rabbit still pressed in your palm, rough against your skin. It was something to hold on to.
”I know,” you replied.
And for the first time since that night, it didn’t sound like something you were trying to convince yourself of.
Daryl fic idea!!! I loved it most recently fic especially when he tells Rick she’s done going on runs could you maybe right a fic where readers getting tired and tired for “no reason” but daryl and her find out she’s pregnant and he makes Rick stop giving her any jobs? ty 💕💕
Hello!! Thank you so much for this idea, I had a lot of fun writing it! I apologize that it has taken me so long, but writing takes me a while. I hope you enjoy 💛🫶🏻
A part of me wanted him to hear, to hear what he did to me. I wanted him to listen on the other side of the door as I touched myself to the thought of him. I wanted to tease him, how he teased me.
This is an excerpt from my long fic Limerence, no context needed but it just kind of jumps right into the scene. Enjoy <3
“Will you stay with me tonight? To sleep…I mean.” I asked hesitantly.
“Are you sure?”
“Very.”
“Alright then, no funny business though, little birdie.” Sebastian joked.
“I make no promises.” I shot back with a wink.
He chuckled lightly.
There was nothing funny about what I wanted him to do to me.
We had finished dinner in relative peace. Sebastian told me about the work he did on the crops and I tried my best not to picture him sweating while doing manual labor. After dinner, he joined me again at the kitchen sink offering to dry while I washed. It was nice, so very domestic. I could get used to it. I retreated to the washroom when we’d finished. Shedding my clothes and the weight of the day as I waited for the tub to fill.
Sinking into the sweltering water felt like bliss. I felt truly happy. My mind raced with anticipation for tonight as I scrubbed. Should I wear something sexy? Do I own anything sexy? Does he even want me to? How do I tell him I’ve never been with a man in that way before? My cheeks began to flush with embarrassment at the thought.
Before I had realized what I was doing my hand began to snake its way down my stomach. I let my head roll back against the tub. I felt a little guilty touching myself with Sebastian in the other room but it excited me as well. I thought about what his face would look like if he walked in on me now. Would his eyes wander over me? Would he marvel at the way the suds clung to my naked breasts? The way wet wisps of hair curled around my neck. My fingers moved in slow, firm circles at my clit and my lips parted to release a shaky sigh. Quiet.
A part of me wanted him to hear, to hear what he did to me. I wanted him to listen on the other side of the door as I fucked myself to the thought of him. I wanted to tease him, how he's always teased me. My fingers worked their way lower and I slipped two inside of my desperate body. My breath was shallow and quick now as I worked my way in and out. The sounds of water rippling mingled with my panting breaths. I curled my fingers, imagining it was him pushing inside of me. Before I could stop it, a desperate whimper floated through the steamy room and I froze.
I tried to steady my breathing and listened. That's when I heard him. Slow footfalls against hardwood, growing closer and closer before he stopped right outside the door.
“Jay?” He asked, voice muffed.
“...Yeah?” I called back trying my best to keep my voice steady.
My fingers were still inside me and I clenched around them at the sound of his voice. God I was sick.
“Alright?” He called back, sounding genuinely concerned.
I resumed my movements, slowly this time. My hips rutted up lightly searching for more, searching for him.
“...Yeah.” My voice cracked. Fuck.
The heat in my belly pulsed and swirled. This was so wrong. He was just making sure I was alright and I was fucking myself to the sound of his worried voice, mere feet away. There was silence for a moment but he didn’t retreat. My free hand lifted from the water to palm at my breast and I threw my head back again. My chest was heaving struggling to draw breath and my heart was pounding in my ears. The air around me was becoming heavy and charged the way it only did when he was near.
“You sure you’re alright?” He asked.
“Mhmmm” I knew if I tried to speak, a moan would escape me. I bit down hard on my lip trying to hold myself together when-
“Can I come in?”
I froze again. Can he, what? Did he really think I was ill? Did he hear me? Did he need a wee? I started to spiral when I heard the knob turn. My eyes went wide with panic and I peeled my hands away from my body. The door slowly crept open. When he finally came into view, we locked eyes for a moment and both of us froze. He looked…focused. His brow was furrowed slightly, his bottom lip was caught between his teeth and there was a darkness in his gaze. Was he upset with me? Suddenly painfully aware of my nakedness, my arms shot up to cover my chest.
Only then did his eyes leave mine, traveling down my submerged figure. Then he moved. Slowly, painfully slow. He approached, peering down at me when he reached the side of the tub. I looked up at him through my lashes and brought my knees up to my chest. It was foolish really, he had already seen it all. Then he lowered himself down, crouching beside the bath. I was frozen as I watched him. His eyes traveled back up my body until they reached my lips. He kept focused on them as he began to roll his sleeves up.
Everything was fuzzy, my mind was complete mush. I should’ve been ashamed, upset, something. All I could feel was my never ending river of need for him. My cunt was throbbing and pulsing at the thought. His hand reached toward my face to wipe a wet lock of hair from my cheek. The contact made me shudder and my eyes fluttered shut. I couldn’t bear to look at him. He was watching me like a wolf stalking its prey and it was too intense. He was too intense.
Then his fingers trailed lazily across my jaw, stopping when he reached my mouth. The tips of his middle and index fingers pressed lightly against my bottom lip, pulling my mouth open gently.
“Look at me.” He commanded gently.
Nervously, I complied. If he was a wolf, this was the moment he was about to lunge for his kill. His eyes never left mine as he began to slide his fingers in between my open lips, past my teeth and across my tongue. My body knew what he wanted before my mind had time to catch up. I closed my lips around his knuckles and sucked gently. I watched his pupils dilate at the sensation, his lips parted slightly. I moved my tongue around his fingers and they twitched in my warm mouth. Gently, he pulled them back a fraction, before pushing them back in. I let out a muffled moan at the lewdness of it all.
His eyes flickered down to watch as he began slowly pumping in and out of my mouth, dragging my saliva out onto my lips with each stroke. He watched my mouth intently as the drool began to pool at the corner of it. He brought his thumb to it and swiped, spreading the wetness across my jaw. He retracted his fingers fully, a string of drool stretching between us.
“You’re so beautiful.” He murmured.
Then his arm moved down. I felt his large, warm hand rest gently on my knee. He waited for a heartbeat before he gently pushed it to the side and repeated the same with my other leg. I was laid open for him now beneath the water.
“Don’t look away.” He instructed.
I nodded, slow and shaky.
With that, his hand lowered into the water slow and gentle, eyes never leaving mine. The back of his knuckles brushed my inner thigh gently, a whisper of a touch, and I gasped.
“Do you want me to stop?”
I shook my head desperately.
“Good.”
His fingers finally made contact with a soft caress of my swollen lips. I let out a whimper, my mouth left slack. He used the same fingers that invaded my mouth to push gently at my entrance, as if he were asking permission. His thumb brushed against my clit and I threw my head back with a breathless cry.
“Don’t look away.” He reminded me firmly and I complied immediately.
The moment our eyes locked again, he pressed his thumb firmly to my clit and pushed into me with both fingers, immediately burying them to the knuckle.
“Sebastian!” I cried, back arching away from the tub.
Everything went hazy and blurry as he began to stroke into me, slow but unrelenting. I felt so full. My hands were gripping the side of the tub so hard my knuckles were white. My hips rocked into him, meeting every thrust of his hand. He drew tight circles with his thumb, making the muscles in my belly contract. My body was hot and needy for him. He studied my face intently as my cunt clenched and pulsed around his fingers.
“S-Sebastian I-I-”
“Shh, I know.” He cooed.
His free hand reached for me, brushing gently through my damp hair before tucking my head to his chest. His hand moved feverishly now, working in and out of me. Water splashed up around us but he didn’t stop. He wouldn’t stop until I was completely undone. He stroked my hair gently as he curled his fingers inside of me.
“You’re doing so well for me. So fucking good.” I could feel his words vibrating through his chest.
Every nerve in my body came alight at his praise, pushing me over the edge and I shook against him.
“Sebastian I’m-!” Was all I could manage as I went completely slack against him.
He continued pushing into me, pace slowing as I rode out my climax.
“That’s my girl.” He cooed softly into my hair, planting a kiss at the crown of my head before letting his fingers slip out of me.
He held my wet, trembling body to his chest, chin resting atop my head. We stayed like that for a few minutes while he waited for my breathing to steady.
“Are you okay?” He asked gently.
“More than okay.” I let out a breathy chuckle.
“Good. Let’s get you to bed, I know you’ve had a long day.”
“Okay.” My voice sounded so small.
It was a strange feeling to be taken care of by another person. Since his arrival, Sebastian has cooked for me, cleaned for me, tended the fields for me, pushed me towards world shattering orgasms and never once has he asked for anything in return. The thought nagged at me as he wrapped a fuzzy bath towel around me, giving me a gentle kiss on the forehead.
“Sebastian?”
“Hm?”
“Um…what about you? I-I mean don’t you want something too?” I asked sheepishly.
His brows knit together and he pursed his lips lightly as he thought on my question.
“Seeing you like that was more than enough, trust me. I want to do things right with you Jay. There’s no rush.”
This man was going to be the death of me I was sure of it.
“Come on, off to bed you go you wicked witch.” He teased, giving my bum a quick swat.
I giggled and did as he commanded, drying my hair roughly and tossing my towel over the chair at my vanity. Sebastian was close behind me, unbuttoning his shirt as I slid a lilac colored silk shift dress over my head. I climbed under the blankets and watched him as he shrugged off his shirt and began pulling at his belt. God I could watch him do that a million times over and never get bored. As if sensing my gaze on him he stilled and looked up at me, lips spreading into a familiar smirk.
“Shall I leave the room to undress? I can feel your eyes burrowing into my chest, I swear.” He teased.
I giggled and tugged the blankets up over my head. I heard his belt and pants land on the floor.
“You really are insatiable, Jay. I must say I’m scandalized.” He said before pulling the blankets down.
He looked down at me with amusement, sliding into bed beside me.
“Did you hear me?” I asked, cheeks flushing with shame.
“Well, let's just say the next time you want to touch yourself in the bath, use a silencing charm.” He let out a chuckle.
“Next time? I have you here now. I’ll just leave the door open whenever I want you to join me.”
A/N: I can’t stop thinking about Daryl Dixon, that’s all that’s the post.
Summary: After a run goes wrong, Daryl’s fear comes out the only way he knows how — by pushing you away. But when the dust settles, the two of you are left with everything that almost happened… and everything you still have.
"Sure you wanna go out?" Daryl asked as you were loading up the car with a few supplies for the road.
"I already told you, I'm fine," you replied.
The last time he had gone out on the road, Denise had been shot right through the head with an arrow. It fucked with Daryl's head more than he would ever care to admit, but at night when he would come to bed, he would lay there and toss and turn.
Last night had been no different for him, you knew it was another sleepless night, especially knowing you had volunteered to go out with him.
They hadn't been prepared for how much medicine would be left at the apothecary and didn't have the means to bring it all back, so the two of you were headed back that way to collect the rest.
You hadn't been dating long, but you knew him well enough to know that he hated the idea of you going out into the world, especially when you didn't have to. There were plenty of other able-bodied people who could make the short trip with him, but you missed him.
Was missing him enough of a reason to put your life on the line?
You thought it was.
The drive was quiet, but comfortable. Daryl was hardly a man of many words, so you relished in the peace and quiet he gave you. It was never awkward or weird, it was comforting.
"Hate you bein' here ya know," he mumbled after a few more minutes of not speaking.
"I know."
"Then why'd ya volunteer?"
"I don't know..." you trailed off.
His blue eyes met yours across the car. He'd hate you thinking it, but they were so soft. Underneath all of the grit and toughness he protruded, his eyes were pillowy and you could get lost in a trance if he'd let you look long enough.
He never did.
"I think ya do know and ya just don't wanna say."
"I wanted to spend time with you is all," you replied, looking out the window. It was silly. You could spend time with him when he got back tonight or hell, any other night he didn't have shit to do. But he was always needed somewhere or needed to do something because a man like him was built for a world like this and you just missed his touch.
He didn't say anything, he just reached a hand over and held onto yours, sitting it on your lap. Deep down, you knew he thought you were being ridiculous, but he went along with it anyways because he loved you.
The rest of the drive to the shop was silent, minus the in and outs of your breaths and the movement here and there of his skin trailing across your worn jeans.
He killed the engine outside the small store before stepping out into the beating sun. He handed you a small pistol to keep in your pocket as you scoped the outside for walkers. But he never strayed too far from you, always keeping himself one step ahead and looking back every few seconds to make sure behind you was cleared too.
Daryl was protective like that, though that is something else he would never admit to. You had made it on your own for a while before joining Rick's group, but he never seemed to care. He would put himself between you and a dozen walkers on his own if it meant you would be okay.
He swung open the door to the apothecary and guided you inside, gun held out and ready to shoot at anyone or anything, but it seemed to have stayed empty since the last time he had been there. You filled up your backpacks and made multiple trips out to the car to fill it up with medications and herbs they had to leave behind before.
There were a couple of boxes left to bring out, but Daryl told you to go wait out in the car. He was a nervous wreck having you out here and if sitting in the car made him feel better, you would do so.
As you sat there, toying at the hem of your shirt to make yourself busy, a store out of the corner of your eye caught your attention. It was a small convenience store, most likely ransacked already, but you were there, so what was the harm in checking?
"We should check that one out," you said to Daryl while he was finishing up sorting the boxes he had carried out. "See what's left."
He glanced up to see what it was were talking about, but he shook his head. "Not worth it," he muttered. "That shit's cleared out by now."
"We could always just check. Maybe it's our lucky day?"
"Nah. Leave it," he grumbled.
But you were more stubborn than he was. Your door was open before your mind could catch up as Daryl had gone back inside for the last box and wasn't there to stop you. Quickly, you ran across the hot pavement and made your way into the store.
Your instincts took over as you swept the inside for the undead. But unfortunately, Daryl had been right. There was nothing left there. You had scanned every countertop and shelf for anything to make this endeavor even seem remotely worth it, but there was nothing.
As you were getting ready to walk back out back to the car, you saw a can of beans sitting all by its lonesome on a shelf behind the register. You jumped the counter and made your way back when you smelled it. You always smelled them first. The scent of rotting flesh haunted your dreams at night, you could never forget the awful aroma. And then you heard it. Multiple "its" actually. The gurgling was all too familiar.
You needed to hurry and get out of there, but you were hell bent on that stupid can of beans. You reached an arm out when you felt it. The barely-hanging-on skin of the walker's boney hand latching onto your forearm. It groaned right in your face, putrid breath filling your lungs. Between the smell and the fear, you nearly lost your lunch on the tile floor.
You leaned your free hand back to grab the gun out of your back pocket, but it clattered to the floor and slid under a shelf.
"Shit!" You muttered to yourself. Two more walkers dragged themselves into the room from the stockroom, both in tattered gas station uniforms ripped at the chest.
You were fighting relentlessly at the one with the hold on your arm, pushing back its gnawing face trying to clamp down on any skin it could get to. You pushed and pushed, only pulling at bloodied flesh tearing away like wet paper and sticking to your fingers.
Closer and closer, the other two made their way towards you, their moans getting louder, scent getting stronger.
This was it. Daryl had told you not to and you did it anyways and now this was it. He would find you, either dead and eaten away at or walking towards him as a walker. Either way you knew this was it and you were about to break his heart.
You fell to the floor with a crash, shelves falling over and hitting the tile hard. Your heart was pounding out of your chest, urging the walker on like it could hear the beating and needed to stop it with its teeth. You couldn't breathe. You couldn't think. There was nothing around you to grab onto to bash its head in.
You screamed. Already imagining the feeling of teeth tearing you apart. You screamed as loud as you could.
Bang.
Bang.
Bang.
The walkers dropped "dead" to the floor with hollowed thuds, rusty blood splattering the walls and floor.
The only thing you could do was let your chest heave up and down, a loud reminder that you had made it, you were still here. The noise of your breathing calmed the nerves that had bottled up in your belly when you heard the breaths of someone else — familiar breaths.
"Thought I told you to stay in the damn car..." he mumbled before jumping the counter.
"I—" but words failed you. You could barely muster up a sound let alone a sentence. You couldn't even get yourself up the dirty floor, littered with dust, trash, and debris. But he met you there, kneeling beside you.
"Hey, s'alright," he whispered before gathering you up in his arms. He carried the warmth of the outside on his clothes, like he was the sun underneath the material. "You hurt?"
You shook your head. Besides the sore bottom from falling, you were alright. But then the tears found you. Hot, wet tears formed in your eyes, welling on the surface before falling in long lines down your cheeks.
"Shh, baby, s'alright. You're okay," he soothed, rubbing your back in slow circles. His hands vibrated against your skin through your flannel. You knew what had just happened scared the daylights out of him, maybe even more so than it did you.
"I— I just thought that..."
"Told ya it wasn't worth it. Nothin' but a damn can of beans," he said while eyeing the can you still hadn't let go of.
"I didn't want to come back empty handed."
"Ya almost didn't come back at all..."
The car ride back was somehow even more silent than the drive there, this time it was heavy with tension. Even though he had calmed you down, he was angry at you for not following what he had said, putting yourself at risk. If he hadn't shown up...
You couldn't think like that though because he had shown up, he saved you.
The trees passed by as he drove the two of you back to Alexandria, letting his anger stew.
When you rolled through the gates, he shut off the car and slammed the door shut after he got out.
Shit.
"She's done going on runs," he said angrily to Rick. "She's done."
"What happened?" He asked, confusion spreading across his face.
"Don't ask." And he was gone. He was going wherever it was when he needed to cool off, to not let anyone inside his head to see what he was really feeling.
Night had fallen over Virginia and Daryl still hadn't come back to the house. Your stomach rumbled and you decided that if he wanted to be stubborn, you would just have to eat without him. Though no one really had "meals" lately. Not proper ones anyhow.
You swung open the cabinet with a creak and your eyes met the can of beans you had grabbed earlier, had risked your life for. It seemed meaningless now, all that for a lousy can of beans. You hardly even liked beans, they were mushy and tasteless most of the time. The silver can was staring daggers into your heart, reminding you of the near-fatal attack you had encountered earlier.
You took that stupid can of beans and tore open the lid, staring down at the small morsels floating around on the top. You gritted your teeth as you took a warped spoon and scooped a shaky hand into the container, pulling out a small spoonful. Your stomach was so empty it ached, but for some reason you just couldn't get your hand to move the spoon closer to your mouth. It had stayed put, levitating over the top of the can, juice dripping down.
Drip.
Your mind was back in store, hearing the growls so close it shook your eardrums.
Drip.
The smell of rotten flesh filled your senses again, filling your stomach with a queasy feeling. It burned every nose hair you had and filled your lungs like smoke.
Drip.
You felt the tearing of flesh, leaving behind a slick residue on your fingertips. The way it had torn so easily it had looked fake, but you could still feel it. You could feel it all, like it was happening in that moment instead of hours prior.
And then the bangs.
The ringing in your ears.
The way the blood had dripped across your shoes that you stared at the entire drive home, how it was almost your blood, your flesh.
You dumped the whole can of beans into the trash, deciding to go to bed hungry. It wouldn't be the first time and it definitely wouldn't be the last, but you couldn't stomach it.
You laid in the bed, the one you normally shared with Daryl, and stared out the window. The full moon was in perfect view. Where was he? Did he like to look at the moon too? Was he looking at it at the very same moment you were?
Sleep found you eventually, though it took a while. It was hard to sleep when a whole person was missing next to you, when a whole person should be enveloping you with their arms and scent.
When you did wake, it was to Daryl rustling through the doorway and crawling under the covers, slipping in right next to you under the sheets.
Anger then found you.
How could he act like nothing had happened when so much had?
You nearly died and all he could muster up when you returned was telling Rick you weren't allowed on runs anymore, as if he had the right to take that away from you. Then he left to who knows where and thinks he can just get into your bed like it was nothing.
He draped his arm over your body and you inched away. "Seriously?" He grumbled, to which you didn't reply. "What's your problem?"
"My problem? Are you really asking me that right now?" You sat up quickly against the headboard and looked at him, but fuck, you hated being mad at him. His steel blue eyes were illuminated by the moon and the urge to kiss him was nearly impossible to resist. "First you tell me to stay in the car, like you can boss me around. And then you tell Rick I can't go on runs anymore. Who are you to tell me what I can and can't do?"
He rolled his eyes then and huffed. "Ya wanna go on runs so bad? Fine. But ya ain't goin' with me no more. Can't stand to see ya get yourself killed over a fuckin’ can of beans. Saw em' in the trash too. Wasted."
"Ugh!" You whined. "You're so frustrating! One minute you care and the next you don't. You're so confusing!"
"Ya think I don't care?" He said, voicing slightly raised. "That's the fuckin’ problem is that I care."
"That's a problem? Caring about me is a problem now?"
"Ya know that ain't what I meant..." he trailed off.
"Well it sure as hell seems like it. Bossing me around like you own me. And then just leaving! I was scared and you left me!" Tears started to form in your eyes and you hid your face in your hands, trying to keep him from seeing, but it was no avail.
"Baby..." he whispered, lightly pulling your hands away from your face. "M'sorry." He leaned forward to press gentle kisses to each tear that fell, wiping them away from your cheeks with his soft lips. "I ain't mean to hurt ya. I love you. Ya scared me s'all."
"So you get to just leave because you're scared?" You asked, your lip quivering.
He sighed. He knew you were right and there was no way around it. He left when he shouldn't have and he couldn't take that back, no matter how badly he might want to. "M'sorry ya know. For all of it. S'my fault."
Looking up at him, his stormy eyes were filling like rain clouds, ready to release themselves over his cheeks. "Daryl... it's—" you sighed, "it's not your fault. You're right. I was being stubborn and careless and put myself into a situation you shouldn't have had to fix. And I love you, but you don't get to just leave because you're upset with me. I needed you tonight."
Your last words cut through him like knives.
I needed you.
And he hadn't been there.
One by one, tears fell down his cheeks and now you were crying together, sitting in your bed. You pressed your forehead against his and listened to his breathing. "M'sorry."
"I know."
"Can't lose you baby, not you. Anyone but you." His words were quiet, but they hit you right in the stomach, sending it lurching forward. Your hand found its way into his long hair, sticky with sweat from the heat of the day, but your fingertips dug down onto his scalp to rub right at the roots.
You closed your eyes as you felt his warm, calloused hand find its way to your cheek, brushing away any left over tears with his rough thumb. "I'm sorry I scared you. I scared me too. I thought I was gonna d—"
"Shh,' he said. He couldn't bear to hear the word that was about to leave your mouth. Not when he saw it so close to happening. The momet had been replaying in his mind over and over since he saw it happen.
The two of you sat there quietly for a few moments, foreheads pressed against each other, hands tangled, breathing the same air.
The moment shifted — the fear and the tension. Neither disappeared, but rather they changed shape.
Daryl's hand slid from your cheek down to your neck, his thumb dragging across your skin. "You're here."
"I'm here," you whispered back, nodding your head. The movement made your nose tickle against his, making the air around you warmer.
Within seconds, his lips were on yours, capturing them fully in an all-consuming kiss. He was gentle for a few seconds at first, but he was hungry for you. His lips moved passionately against you, like if he stopped for even a moment, the two of you would end up back in the convenience store and he would be a second too late.
Slowly, your other hand made its way into his hair, tangling your fingers through every brown strand. Your body moved closer to his like a magnet, inching closer and closer.
"Need ya," he grumbled against your lips, still not daring to pull away.
That was all you needed to hear to pull yourself completely to his lap, crash landing onto his jeans he hadn’t bother changing out of. The bed caught your knees gracefully, holding you up like clouds that were you floating on.
His lips eventually did pull away, but only to trail down your jawline, paying close attention to the sweet spot below your ear.
"Daryl," you breathed out, egging him on. His mouth sucked delicately around the sensitive spot, building up the heat in your core. His erection was growing by the second, pressing hard against his pants, and begging to be freed.
Two can play at this teasing game. While Daryl was busy attacking your throat, leaving behind small hickeys, you started to grind yourself against his clothed cock.
The vibration of his groans against your neck sent shivers down your spine as the cool air hit the wetness he left behind.
His lips only dragged down further, making their way to your chest, exposed by the tank-top you were wearing. His tongue swiped across your bare skin, soaking in your taste. His hands had also found a spot on your hips and your plan to tease had backfired as he was thoroughly enjoying the feeling of you dry humping him. His hands were now guiding you back and forth across his lap.
"Take this off, baby," he said, tugging on the hem of your shirt. You reached down to pull it off in one swoop, leaving your chest completely exposed in front of him. The coolness of the night crept in through the windows and bit at your sensitive nubs, making them already halfway perky.
His tongue slid down, leaving a wet path behind, to your left nipple. His stubble tickled against your surrounding breast as his tongue swirled across your bud, completely hardening it in his warm mouth.
He left it bare to give your right breast attention, but between the coolness in the air and the wetness he left behind, the sensation was almost too much to bear. You lulled your head back and he caught your spine with one of his hands, the other snaked its way around your hips to hold you in place so he could give your other nipple the proper attention.
When he was satisfied with the hardness, he grazed his teeth across it sending another grueling sensation to your aching core. You were soaked through your shorts already and you were only halfway undressed.
"So needy," he mumbled, but you didn't care how needy you seemed. You were needy.
By this point, Daryl was completely hard beneath you as you continued grinding on him. You two had decided the same thing in your minds at the same time: there were too many clothes in the way.
He gently laid you down and your head landed softly on the pillows. Your shorts were the next item of clothing to go. The slickness from your heat slid down your thighs. His eyes never left yours as he positioned himself between your legs, looking up at you as he pressed an agonizingly slow kiss to your still clothed pussy.
Another kiss.
And another.
Still his eyes were focused on you. And then finally you felt your panties being pulled down your legs, exposing where you really wanted him at.
Daryl spread your legs apart, giving him the perfect view of every fold and the arousal dripping out of you. He dragged his tongue up once.
"Please," you begged.
His tongue dragged up another time before fully enveloping you. He watched you with careful eyes as you writhed beneath him. He watched for every jolt and listened for every sigh. He was a starving man and you were serving him a full course meal.
His tongue lapped up all of your juices as dove into every fold and ending on your clit. He sucked softly at first, easing you into it. But he started to gain momentum, sucking your clit fully into his mouth and releasing with a quiet pop. His tongue laid flat against you, covering every bit of you.
"Shit," you moaned.
Your hands had never left his head, holding him close against you, as if he would go anywhere else. And then you felt two fingers insert into your hole, stretching you out slightly. He pumped them in and out of you over and over again as his tongue rolled around your clit. You felt your release building up in your core, winding up tighter and tighter every time he hit your spot inside.
He knew you were close by the way you started to tug at his roots and wiggled around, begging for more stimulation. And then he started to hum. The humming sent small vibrations through your core not even your own fingers could have figured out. Your back arched instinctively, raising your body above the bed.
"Daryl," you breathed out. "Fuck."
You exploded. Your orgasm had wound up so tightly, you shook upon release as he continued lapping up more and more of you, letting you ride out your full high against his face.
He only pulled away once your body sank in relaxation. His face was glistening and he licked his lips, savoring everything you gave him. Your hand was still wrapped up in his locks, so you gently tugged him up to your face, tasting your own sweetness on lis lips.
It made your core ache again, but in the way only his cock could satisfy.
Through your kiss, you pulled at the button of his jeans, trying to undo them, but you struggled. Huffing a laugh, but not breaking the kiss, he brought his fingers down, trailing over yours, and unbuttoned his own jeans. You felt wildly satisfied as you heard the undoing of his zipper and felt him shimmy out of his pants.
"These next," you whispered, yanking at his plaid boxers.
He did as you said and pulled those down, his cock springing free.
"Been thinkin' 'bout this all day," he said while lining himself up with your entrance.
Gently, he eased himself into you, hovering over top of you and looking down into your eyes. Inch by inch, he pushed himself in, stretching you out in only the way he could. Butterflies filled your belly as you felt his hips pressed against you.
He eased himself out of you and pushed himself back in, over and over slowly until you were relaxed. And then he picked up speed. Every thrust, he came back harder, hitting your spot each time. Your legs wrapped around his waist and your arms were around his neck.
It was needy, desperate sex, I-almost-saw-you-die sex. Each thrust made the pain of the day lessen. He was fucking the fear right out of you, reminding you that he was there, always. Reminding you that you were there too.
His forehead found its way to yours again, pressing softly as you felt him rock back and forth. You were back to sharing the same small space of air, sucking frantically in what he was heaving out. He was inside of you and it still wasn't close enough.
You had him pull out of you long enough to slip onto your side and pull him behind you, slipping his cock back inside of you. Every part of him was covering your backside now, holding you close in his arms.
At this angle, he could reach around and rub circles on your clit. You reached behind you to hold him even closer to you. He was pushing inside of you deeper than ever. Every vein he had was prominent against your insides, memorizing every streak.
His thrusts started to become erratic, which partially disappointed you, only because you weren't ready for this moment with him to end — the closeness of it all.
Between Daryl hitting your spot over and over again and his rough fingers toying with your clit, you were racing towards another orgasm too. It was building up in your belly when you felt his warmth splatter the inside of your walls. The sensation was enough to tip you overboard and land in euphoria. You were seeing stars as you released on him, soaking up his ejaculation.
But still, you weren't ready for him to leave you feeling bare. He started to pull himself out when you stopped him, redness creeping onto your cheeks. "W-what if you just...stayed like that?" You asked, embarrassed, but hoping he would feel the same way. You needed him as close as you could get him, at least for tonight.
He eased himself back inside of you and pressed a kiss to your temple and then another to your shoulder. "Night baby. I love you." Was all he said. No ridicule or asking why, just understanding in the way he always did with you.
His bare chest was pressed up against your back as he laid an arm around you, pulling you in tighter against him. He didn’t want this moment with you to end either, scared you might slip away. “I love you too."
His heart beat was pounding against your back, lulling you to sleep with its gentle melody.
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