Thats my girl

Chapter 7

Darcy's P.O.V

Maria wanted to braid my hair, so once she was seated in the chair behind me, I let her start braiding it. Despite the pain from the constant tugging, I allowed her to continue because she was having fun for the first time in who knows how long.

"Maria Darlin"

"Yes, daddy?"

Looking up, I noticed Daryl standing there watching us.

"Why don't you stop braiding her hair, I think you're hurting her head."

I shook my head in response "You keep branding sweetheart, I'm fine"

Daryl smiles at me and says, "you don't have to let her do that."

In any case, she's having so much fun doing it and it keeps her attention off of her walkers, so why not?"

I got a bigger smile from him, and then he kissed his little girl on the head and turned back to me.

"Sweetheart, I'm going with some people to look for Uncle Merle, so please stay with Darcy and the others."

" Okay daddy, be safe"

He laughed "I will sweetheart don't worry"

As he kissed her head one final time, he turned back to me and asked, "Can you keep her out of trouble? She seemed to stay with you more than anyone else."

"Of course Daryl, me and little pumpkin pie over here will have a fun day won't we?"

Maria giggled "Yup!!"

Daryl chuckled "alright be safe girls"

"We will" we both said. I turned to Maria and we both started laughing.

We sat around for a while just having a silly day after Daryl and a few others left to find his brother Merle. Initially, Sophia joined, but then decided to go back to her parents.

When lunchtime came, Lori and Carol got the kids onto a little mat to eat in a circle. I leaned against the RV watching them carefully.

"You sure are the mother hen aren't ya?"

I turned to see that Shane guy standing there with a creepy smirk. I sighed and rolled my eyes. I swear he thought the smike made him look sexy or somthin'. It most certainly did not.

"Yup got a problem!?"

"My favorite type of woman is the protective type, particularly a motherly type."

I gagged "Yea well you're not my type, so you can back off and find another one"

"What's your type?"

"Not you," I said and walked over to the kids.

Lori smiled and sat down beside me while I messed with Maria's long brown hair. She was chatting away with Sophia and Carl. Lori nugged my shoulder and when I looked over she gave me a knowing look.

"Shane being a perv?"

"Yea he was hitting on me and I pretty much gagged, he really is a sick and creepy dude..... do you think Daryl would shove an arrow up his ass if I asked?"

Lori laughed "That's Shane for ya...and I'm pretty sure Daryl would put an arrow up his ass, no reason needed"

I laughed as I messed with Maria's hair. After that, Lori left to do some laundry, leaving me with Maria. Throughout the conversation, we discussed many things and even told some stories. Later in the evening, after kissing her on the temple, I told her to go sit with Carl while I assisted Carol with dinner. While I got up and headed to Carol, who gave me a warm smile, while Maria ran to Carl.

"Hi Darcy."

"Hey Carol, need some help?"

"Sure thing honey."

Assisted Carol with gutting and cleaning the squirrels and cooking them over the fire. As soon as we finished, we gathered everyone around the fire to eat. I sat with Maria while she ate her food quietly. Everyone talked and it seemed like everyone was getting along and enjoying themselves. Amy came out and said something about toilet paper, and moments later we heard a blood-curdling scream. Everyone jumped up and watched as Amy struggled with a walker who had clamped down on her neck. More started coming from the forest and I knew I needed to act fast. In an attempt to get Maria to safety, I grabbed her and carried her over to the RV. However, the RV door was blocked and I had to push her onto one of the taller vehicles so they wouldn't grab her. As she was climbing up, one of the walkers grabbed me and I was thrown down to the ground. I made sure to push its snapping teeth away from my arms and neck to keep it at bay. As I struggled, I heard something fly through the air and heard a sickening sqwelch sound. I noticed an arrow had peiced the walkers head and I looked up to see Daryl standing there. I pushed the walker off me, Daryl came over and offered me his hand which I took and he helped me up.

"Thanks"

"No problem, where's Maria?"

I turned and pointed toward the car behind me and he smiled seeing his little girl safe. He grabbed her from the car top and held her in his arms. She had tear streaks running down her face and hugged him tightly. Maria looked up and over at me and started squirming in Daryl's arms. She finally jumped out of his arms and ran at me. I picked her up and hugged her.

"You're ok!"

"Sure I am sweetie"

"I thought the walker would hurt you"

"Nope your daddy saved me"

She smiled and snuggled into my chest "I love you Darcy don't ever leave me"

I smiled, tears threatening to spill over my eyes. "I love you too sweetie, very much".