Took a break yesterday so I could dive fully into commissions and collab pieces, which I did. Then I decided to break in a new sketchbook with a super quick wind down sketch and a new (for me) face.
The house was quiet, most of the occupants had been long gone. You were left alone with Judith, who was minding her business reading a book on the couch. She looked lost, but not in the book. She was lonely, had been since Michonne left. It was difficult to keep her spirits up, especially now that Daryl too had left.
He had been gone for nearly two weeks now, out for a scavenge run but you were sure he was just being antsy. Almost like a caged animal. You tried not taking it all too personal, Daryl was a complicated man at times but he always kept his word. He had promised you that he would return alive, but time was ticking and all you could feel was this anxiousness rotting in the pit of your stomach.
Judith slumped back, eyes narrowed toward the book as you mentioned making lunch. She just nodded, never casting a glance in your direction.
Again, you tried not to take it personally.
Going into the kitchen, you took out a few eggs to boil - it was good protein for growing children. RJ was down for a nap, so you made sure to boil enough for the two Grimes children. Staring down at the heating water, you thought of Michonne. She had gone to find Rick, the man she loved so much. A part of you felt guilty then, thinking about Daryl out alone. You hadn't joined him outside the walls in a long time and you wondered if you had it in you to go look for him - like Michonne.
Had you grown weak after all these years?
Impossible, you thought, moving to the kitchen window. You had been there from the start, with Daryl and the others. In fact, you hated the man in the beginning. Couldn't stand the sight of him, but after years of survival - you had softened up, he had too.
Things had fallen into place one night at the prison, when things were going good before they weren't. He had climbed up the watch tower on your night shift and scared the living shit out of you. He laughed when you smacked him hard on the chest, pretending it hurt as he backed away.
"You're such a prick."
"Back at ya."
You laughed and nodded to the plate of food in his hand. "Tell me that's for me."
He grunted a yes, handing the plate over - watching as you moved down to the edge of the landing. Settling down, feet dangling over the edge as you placed your gun next to you. Daryl followed suit and sat next to you, the pair of you picking at the plate of food.
It was quiet for a few minutes until you looked at him - really looked at him and felt warmth swept across your cheeks. He wasn't so bad looking and it was dark out, and ideas started sprouting in your head.
"When's the last time you screwed someone, Daryl?"
"Jesus," he snorted, shaking his head at your brash question but he shrugged. "It's been a while...why?"
It was your turn to shrug, pretending like you found nothing of value in his honest answer. He stared at you as you explained that things were pretty quiet, no walkers in sight in the last hour or so.
"Maggie and Glen always use the tower..."
Daryl snorted. "A bunch of rabbits, those two."
You exhaled dramatically, telling him to forget it. "You're not the sharpest tool in the shed."
He hit him then, the idea you were proposing. He sat there quietly for a moment before he wiped clean his hands off his pants. He got up and nodded to the radio room, urging you to give him the plate.
"We can finish eating after."
A laugh escaped your throat as he helped you up - your body colliding into his haphazardly. His arm went around your waist and all that was left was his eyes on yours. The crickets sang below in the grass as you brushed hair away from his forehead; fingers gliding down his cheek. You knew then, in that silly little moment, that you would go to the ends of the Earth for him.
That moment flooded your senses and urgency erupted in your heart, as you called to Judith.
"Turn off the stove in five minutes!"
She hummed an okay as you raced up the stairs, to the spare bedroom Daryl and you had occupied after Michonne had left. Before that, the two of you had shared a small space in one of the townhomes. You grabbed a brown duffel bag from the closet, stuffing a few items of clothing for the weather into it. Then you moved to the dresser, taking out the two spare guns and bullets Daryl kept under his shirts. Trying to catch your breath, you looked into the mirror on the wall. The sun from the window shined off the necklace hanging outside your shirt.
Daryl had Alden forge a heart shape medallion from one of his broken arrows - it was attached to an old silver chain he had found. He had given it to you on your birthday several years ago and had never been without it since. Touching it, you remembered all the special moments Daryl and you had.
When no one was around and the world seemed quieter, when his body melted against yours and everything seemed right. When he'd look for you across any room and the way his eyes would softened when he finally found you. Or the whispers the two of you shared in bed, when your fingers would be entangled in his hair as he talked about his brother, Merle.
All those moments were real and there was no doubt that you would go anywhere to bring Daryl home.
So what was a few acres of woods?
Leaving the room, you walked down the stairs to tell Judith you were going to go out and bring Daryl back. You would ask Aaron to watch over the kids, just for a few days tops - confident that you would find him within a day or two.
As you reached the last step, the front door opened.
Daryl stood there, backpack in hand.
It took Judith no more than a second to realize what was happening, before she dashed toward the man. He smiled and kneeled down, embracing the little girl as she expressed her happiness in having him home. Daryl's eyes were tired, his cheek adored a new cut - a story he would share with you later. As Judith released her embrace, he stood up and finally looked at you.
"Hey," he said quietly, eyes on the bag in your hand.
"Hey," you repeated back, heart pounding as you dropped the bag and rushed to him. His arms were ready, taking you in against his hard, but tired body.
Daryl swept his hand up the nape of your neck, holding you steady as you kissed his neck several times. He held you tight as Judith made herself scarce, announcing she was going to check the boiling eggs. He pulled your head from his neck, fingers buried in your hair as he took you in - eyes fluttering down to the necklace on your chest.
He smiled then and chuckled. "You were going to go out there and bring my ass home, huh?"
"Yes," you confessed, holding back tears. He sighed and pulled you in again, this time his embrace was completely different. It seemed like his body was finally home, your warmth surrounding him as the two of you stood in the foyer. "You know I'd go to the ends of the Earth for you."
"I know," he whispered in your ear, eyes closed as his heart softening with your touch. "I know."
