A Survivor's Diary of the Apocalypse (TWD/Daryl Dixon)

S6Pt12 - New Adjustments

~~~~~ 1 month later ~~~~~

I woke up in bed with the sun shining through the curtains. I felt Daryl's arm slung around my waist, over a bedsheet, which was the only thing that covered me.
I stretched my arm out and rolled over to see Daryl was awake and watching me.
"Goodmorning love." I said.
He smiled and I kissed his lips. He then tucked a piece of hair behind my ear and kissed me again. He caressed my arm and stopped where my bandage was.
"I'm sorry." He said and moved his hand. "I'm still trying to get used to it."
"It's okay. Me too." I said.
I sat up in bed and held the sheet up to my chest. Daryl got up out of bed and walked over to the dresser, and reached for his crossbow that wasn't there.
"You miss it?" I asked.
I slowly got up and began getting my clothes on.
"Maybe it's a good thing. Maybe I don't need it anymore." He said.
"You'll get it back baby, don't worry." I said.
Daryl turned around and saw that I was struggling with getting my shirt on. He walked over to me and helped me, and I slowly put my pants on.
"You don't realize how much you really need two arms to change until one's missing." I said and sighed.
He ran his fingers through my hair and then cupped my cheek. I kissed his palm and then looked up into his eyes.
"Can you do my hair for me, please?" I asked.
"Of course." He said and grabbed a brush.
He gently brushed all the tangles out of my hair, then brushed it back and put my hair into my signature high ponytail. I looked in the mirror and smiled.
"You're getting good." I said.
"I've been practicing." He said back.
He held out his hand and I grabbed it. We then checked on Lee, I fed him, and we all left the house together.
I knew that Daryl was leaving with Rick today, so I decided to see him off at the gate. Rick already had the car running and was waiting for us.
Eugene was at the gate, waiting to open it, and waved when he saw me. I nodded at him and Daryl shook Rick's hand.
"You ready?" Rick asked.
"Yeah, let's roll out." Daryl said.
I kissed Daryl one more time, and he bent down to kiss Lee in my arms.
"Be safe." I said and then looked at Rick. "You too."
They nodded at me and got in the car. Eugene then walked up to the window and Rick rolled it down. He pulled out a map and gave it to Rick.
"I mapped out some of the agricultural supply places in the area." Eugene began. "Even if it's been cleaned out, I bet the sorghum is untouched. That there is a criminally underrated grain that can change the game of our food situation, from scary to hunky dunky."
Rick and Daryl stared at him questionably and I just smirked at his comment.
"I'm talking sustainably, drought tolerance, grain disturbance ratio that is the envy of all forms." Eugene said. "Think about it."
"Thanks." Daryl said and Rick nodded.
I waved at Daryl and blew a kiss to him as they drove off. I then looked at Eugene who was looking at another piece of paper.
"You ready for your new arm today ma'am?" He asked.
"What do you have for me?" I smiled and looked at the paper which had the blueprints to my prosthetic.
"Looks good Eugene. Can't wait to try it." I said.
"Meet me and Denise in the infirmary. We'll get you set up." He said.
"Okay, just let me drop off Lee with Carl, and I'll be there." I said and gave him a side hug.
I then walked down the street to Rick's house, talking to Lee along the way. Even though I didn't have a hand, I leaned Lee against my arm to help me readjust him into my left arm.
I soon knocked on their front door, but no one answered, so I let myself in. I walked upstairs into Carl's room and saw him laying on the bed, reading his comic books. Judith was playing with her toys on the floor and smiled when she saw me. 
"Momma!" She laughed.
"Hey baby." I said and pet her hair. "Hey bud." I then said to Carl.
"Hi Kelley." He said, but didn't lift his head.
I put Lee in his crib and gave him a toy to teeth on. I then sat down next to Carl and sighed. I've noticed that ever since he got shot and lost his eye, he's changed. No one's really noticed, but me being his mom, of course I noticed.
"Can you watch Lee for me today?" I asked.
He nodded his head and turned the page.
"What are you reading today?" I asked.
"Same shit I do everyday." Carl muttered.
I sighed and took the comic from him. He just shook his head and sat up.
"I understand where you're coming from Carl, I really do." I said and stood up and threw his comic book on his dresser. "But do not talk to me like that." I warned.
He bowed his head and I grabbed some bandages from the drawer. I gave them to him and lifted his chin so I could look at his bandage.
"And please, change your bandage." I said.
He sighed, took the guaze, and began replacing the bandage covering his eye. He threw his old ones away and looked in the mirror.
"I hate looking at it." He said and then whispered. "I look like the Governor."
I sighed and stood behind Carl, and gently placed my hand on his shoulder.
"Hey, I look like Merle, and he definitely isn't the best person to remember either." I said and then rubbed his shoulder.
"Just because you look like him, doesn't mean you're anything like him Carl." I said.
He just nodded, and I knew he didn't believe me. I looked at us in the mirror and saw Carl do the same.
"You wanna know who I see?" I said and then smiled at us. "I see my son... no one else." I said.
I patted his shoulder and then knelt down by Judith. I gave her a quick kiss and then kissed Lee one more time.
"Love you Carl." I said as I stood in his doorway. "Try to relax today."
I turned around and left his room, and then heard his quiet voice follow me down the hallway.
"Thanks Kelley."