This Is Reality

Chapter 28

When we got closer to the house, I carried her bridal style into the back door. She was already half asleep when I picked her up, she was so adorable when she slept... I went upstairs to the small house and sat her on the bed. Helping her take her boots off and changing out of her bloody clothes, she laid down and pulled the sheet over her. Grabbing the other light blanket, I covered her up and tucked her in. By now I couldn't tell if she was still awake or not. Her breathing was already calm, her eyes shut. I gently pulled some of her hair out of her face and placed a light kiss on her cheek. Standing back up, she grabbed my wrist.

"Stay" she mumbled

I couldn't tell her no, I moved her over some and climbed in next to her. She turned over to face me, and snuggled me like I was a teddy bear.

"Night" she whispered

"Night Dodger"

*Dodger's POV*

Upon seeing Daryl again, I have never felt so happy and ecstatic in all my life. I didn't blame him for almost stabbing me, I looked dead. I don't think I have ever seen his eye color change so quickly... A dark depressed midnight blue to a dark sky blue. His eyes were never as light as mine, but they changed pretty drastically.

When he told me that he loved me, this butterfly feeling came all over me. I've never felt like this before... I knew I loved him, but I never knew what it actually felt like. Being held in his arms, I don't think I've ever felt so safe. The things I felt before when I first woke up were forever gone. Being alone, killing off the dead at the church made me think real damn hard about my life. I had figured out what was important to me, the people I needed to live for, who I needed to protect.

In the little house, it felt like our own. I doubt we would stay here long, but it was nice. I didn't want him to leave, I made him stay with me. He probably wasn't going anywhere anyway, but I wanted to be next to him, to feel his love again.

As I slept, my dream wanted to make me cry... It felt like a nightmare, more like what seemed to be the possible future. I was in a small kitchen cooking pancakes and sausage, Daryl entered the kitchen holding a baby girl. I don't think it was the middle of the apocalypse anymore, everything was so calm... The way he smiled at the baby was so heart warming. I put the plate of pancakes on the table and felt a weird sensation in my stomach. Looking down, my belly was big, I was pregnant..? It seemed so real... I felt the baby kick, I smelt the pancakes, I heard the birds chirping. It didn't feel like a dream...

Slowly waking from my nap, the sun was almost setting. Daryl was sound asleep next to me. I got out of bed, trying not to wake him. Standing up, I looked down at him. Him smiling and holding the baby girl flashed back into my mind. Shaking my head at it, I went into the bathroom. We would never have kids, I don't know if we, well I, could handle it. I'd be paranoid and panicky the whole time, considering past events... If I did get pregnant, it would probably be a burden for everyone else. They probably wouldn't mind, but what if I or the baby didn't survive... I've cheated death too many times already.

Somehow, the house had running water. I turned on the water and took a half ass shower. There wasn't any soap or shampoo, so I kinda just rinsed off. Standing in that shower was probably the most relaxing thing I've done in a long time.

"Dodger?" Daryl's raspy voice entered the bathroom

I poke my head out from behind the shower curtain, "Hm?"

"Is that running water?" He tilted his head a little

"Yeah I didn't think there was any"

"This place ain't got any power though..." He scratched his head

"I don't know then" I shrug

He began to take his shirt off, which made me want to get out. I was still a disaster, my side was bruised badly. It's not that I didn't want to be in here with him, I just needed time to recover.

I grabbed my towel and got out as he was getting in. "Where you goin'?" He asks, not making me stay, but I could tell he wanted me to.

"Back to bed" I shot him a small smile as I moved my wet hair out of my face

"Alright fine" He sighs

~

The sun had set, the dark of night taking over. Daryl went out to tell everyone I was back and all that. No one has come by, he probably told them to wait until tomorrow. He was gone for some time, and for the time he was gone I got so bored in bed that I braided all the hair on my head. They were small tight braids everywhere you looked.

"I'll have a damn afro tomorrow..." I sigh, a small chuckle following

"An afro huh?" Daryl asks, entering the room with a smile on his face

I nod and go over to him, hugging him tightly. I was so short compared to him, my head easily rested on his chest. He placed a gentle kiss on my forehead, his hands around my waist.

"Everyone can't wait to see you..." He says, resting his head on mine

"I bet" I sigh

"Why the sigh?"

"Are they still going to look at me like I'm a killer or something?"

"They shouldn't. If they do, don't worry about them. They're missin' out" Picking me up, Daryl carries me over to bed and sits me down

Acting like the little kid I've been lately, I pulled him down too. As he kicked off his boots I sat on his lap, snuggling close to him.

"May I change" He laughs a little

"Fineeeeee" I let out a fake annoyed sigh and climb off

He changed his pants and took his shirt off, then came back over to me.