Alicia Smith

5) I Promise

Daryl ran his fingers along the tattoo on her thigh that was thrown carelessly over his stomach. The prison was quiet, everyone else asleep.

"Did you know that you're my favorite person?" He asked, staring lovingly up at his new wife.

She grinned, her eyes sparkling in the dim light from the moon. "Did you know that you're mine too?" She asked.

He shook his head, pressing a kiss to her temple. "What would I do without you?"

"You'd be a mess." She chuckled, propping herself up on her elbow. "An absolute fucking mess."

He nodded. "I would." He agreed. "I wouldn't know what to do with myself."

"Is that why you came back?" She cocked an eyebrow. "Because you couldn't handle yourself out there with Merle?"

He sighed, shaking his head. "It wasn't just that." He gently poked her stomach, the baby still not showing. "I can't wait to meet them."

She smiled, placing his hand flat against her stomach. "You're going to be the best father this god forsaken world has ever seen."

She looked at him with such confidence, like she knew it was true. It made his heart swell, her words so sure and genuine.

"I love you, Alicia Dixon."

Her face flushed red, and she buried her head in the crook of his neck. "God, I love that name. It's much better than my maiden name."

"I love it on you too." He nodded.

She pulled her head up, looking down at him. "Promise me something, Daryl." She said gently.

"Anything."

"Promise me you'll never leave me again."

He looked up at her, sealing his promise with a kiss. "I promise." When he pulled away he brushed some hair out of her face. "Promise me the same thing."

"I promise."

When Alicia peeled her eyes open she could still feel his fingers brushing lightly against her skin. Her stomach churned and she ran to the bathroom, throwing her dinner from the night before up into the toilet.

She groaned, another wave of nausea washing over her. As she threw up again, she felt fingers brush against her neck, pulling her hair up.

The hands held her hair back as she continued to throw up, gripping the edge of the toilet. She finally caught her breath, wiping her mouth and collapsing against the wall.

"Fuck." She groaned.

Daryl stood above her, sending her a pitying look. He slid onto the floor beside her. "Too much wine?"

"Mhmm." She grimaced. "Why are you in here?"

"You were throwing up, I wasn't just gonna sit and watch." He scoffed.

"No, I mean why were you in my room in the first place?" She asked.

"I crashed on your couch last night." He explained. "I came in last night to apologize for how I talked to you and you couldn't even stand on your own." He shrugged. "I figured you shouldn't be left alone."

She looked up at him, debating on what to say. "Thank you." She eventually mustered.

He grunted in response. "Wasn't no problem."

Carefully she leaned into his side, resting her head against his shoulder. She felt him snake his arm around her, pulling her closer.

She didn't fight it, allowing herself to revel in his touch, if only for a moment. They sat like that, neither one of them speaking, afraid the other would pull away.

Eventually a knock at the door pulled them from their little bubble. "Alicia!" Laurent's voice called from her bedroom.

She reluctantly pulled away and stood up. Before she left the bathroom she turned to Daryl. "This doesn't mean anything."

He cracked a small smile, making her heart do a million flips. He held his hands up as he walked towards her. "It didn't even cross my mind."

She wouldn't let him see but a grin stretched across her lips. She entered her room, smiling at Laurent who sat on her bed.

"You're up early." She chuckled, siting down beside him and ruffling his hair. "What's up?"

"Isabell wants to see you and Daryl." He smiled. "She said for you to come whenever you were ready."

Alicia nodded and sent him off to thank her. She was grateful for Isabell. She was the only one who knew about her past with Daryl, and she was thankful she didn't question anything.

Daryl watched as she kissed his cheek and sent him on his way. His mind strayed to their daughter and he imagined her in Laurent's place.

He wondered how much she would've looked like her mother when she got to be his age. But he would never know.

"I'd forgotten how good you are with kids." He told her.

She nodded, pretending not to notice how he played with wedding ring that hung loosely on a chain around his neck. "Well, I take care of most of the kids here."

He nodded. "We should probably go see what she wants."

Alicia stood up. "Yeah, that's probably a good idea."