Energy --- d.dixon

.8

It was funny trying to get Daryl to meet Tobias. He is stubborn and refused to talk to the boy at first, only standing there watching as I playwith him.

I watch him from where I'm sat on the floor, Toby playing with some kind of blocks with Adrian. He stands in the corner of the room, legs crossed, arms crossed over his chest, and his thumb in his mouth. A bad habit he had.

I sigh and get up from off the floor, telling Adrian to give me a moment before walking over to Daryl. He watches my every move over to him, making me shiver at his hard stare.

" You know, you can't just stand and watch all day" I say to him as I put my hands in my back pockets and rock back on my heels

He scoffs, looking past me and at his son before back to my eyes

" I could, it's just he couldn't" he grumbles back, his words slightly muffled by his thumb being placed in front of his lips

I sigh and reach for the hand he's been holding to his face and pull it away. I look down at it as I run my fingers over his calloused knuckles. I feel a breath release from his chest and fan my face.

" What are you afraid of" I ask, looking back up to him

" I'm not afraid of nothin'" he grumbles at me, making me sigh

" Daryl, come on" I beg of him. He looks at me before looking back down to our hands

" What if he doesn't like me" he whispered to me. His voice raw and soft. I squeeze his hand in response

" Oh Daryl, there's no chance of that. He is you." I tell him and he looks back up to me

"You're gonna be his favorite person now. He is exactly you in all ways Daryl. His mannerisms, his mind, his personality. All you" I insure him.

He continues to look at me and bits down in his lower lip to hide the small quiver it makes and nods gently at me.

" Come meet your son" I encourage him as I walk backwards, tugging him by the hand I have yet to let go of.

This time he comes without any hesitation. He nods to Adrian, who politely stands up and gives us this moment to ourselves.

Tobias has now moved to a mini kids table and is now drawing on some paper, not paying any attention to his surroundings.

I walk up to him and place myself in the tiny kids chair as Daryl stand over to the side just a bit.

" Hi Momma" Toby whispers to me as he look up into my eyes

"Hi baby, what're you doing" I ask

" Coloring" he tells me, as he runs the crayon over the paper in a fast motion

"Oh that's cool baby. Hey can you look at me for a moment Honey" I ask him. He pouts but drops his crayon and looks at me while putting his hands in his lap

He then notices Daryls tall figure standing beside us and look at him deeply before looking back to me

" Who that" he asks pointing up to Daryl, in a small whisper

"That ,honey, is Daryl." I say to him.

I look up to Daryl and motion him to sit down in the floor which he does, slowly with a slight grunt. Toby watching every motion.

" Toby, do you remember when I told you about the man who helped me make you" I ask Toby, his eyes finally leaving Daryl as he nods to me

Toby looks back to Daryl and points his tiny finger at him