Until the End

Chapter Seventeen: Mamma mia!

It was late at night and Daryl was laying awake in the bed he would share with Kirby and Mallorie. He had his left arm wrapped up under Kirby's waist, keeping her close as she slept. Mallorie, who had been brought in asleep by Lori, was passed out on Daryl's stomach with her thumb close to her mouth. Daryl continued his steady run of his fingers through Mallorie's hair, more to comfort himself then anything.

He couldn't sleep, plagued with the memories of earlier that afternoon. He had thought he lost Kirby and within that horrible moment in his life, he realized that he loved her and Mallorie. Daryl wanted Kirby to stay with him forever. He wanted Mallorie to be his by name right. He wanted them and nobody else. Long since adjusted to the darkness of the room, Daryl's eyes gazed down at his two girls. Starting then, he wouldn't let them out of his sight without knowing they were safe.

A light knock sounded against the bedroom door and Daryl lifted his tired eyes up to see Merle peeking his head into the door.

"Still awake, brother?" Merle whispered, quietly walking in and shutting the door behind him.

Daryl didn't say anything. Hell, he didn't know what to say. He just nodded and took in an unsteady breath. Merle took a seat in the uncomfortable chair that was in the corner of the room and stretched out his legs, before folding his arms behind his head.

"If it's all the same to ya, I'll sleep in here tonight." Merle whispered, closing his eyes.

Merle has never seen Daryl in this sort of state before and didn't know what he could do to help. All he knew was that Daryl needed him and the best thing Merle thought was to just be there for him. Even if it meant sacrificing his back to an uncomfortable chair for the night.

"I thought I lost her, Merle." Daryl's broken words had Merle's eyes reopen and he stared at Daryl for a moment.

"Yeah, me too, but ya didn't. She's right there, Daryl. So don't let her go." Merle mumbled, yawning.

"Merle, will ya promise me somethin'?" Daryl asked.

"Sure. We're brothers ain't we." Merle stated.

"If somethin' were to happen to me or Kirby or possible the both of us....Promise me that you'll look out for Mallorie." Daryl said, his voice growing lower with sleep.

"I'll make sure nothin' happens to any of ya." Merle said as Daryl fell asleep.

Merle watched the three of them sleep on the bed together. They already looked like a family to him and that was good enough for him to fight to keep the promise to his brother.
-
"Nhn..." Kirby groaned as the headache she had pounded away at the front of her skull.

A weight shifted and the arm around her waist tightened, coaxing her eyes to opened just a little. Kirby was met with a sleeping Daryl and a small curl of blond that belonged to neither one of them. She opened her eyes fully now and looked down. A smile formed on her lips at the sight of Mallorie clutching the front of Daryl's shirt in her tiny fist as she sucked on her thumb on her other hand. The sound of snoring had Kirby look over Daryl to see Merle passed out in the chair at an angle that made her wince.

Just the sight of her family had Kirby's headache down to an annoying throb. She looked back at Daryl and cupped his face. His eyes shot opened, surprising Kirby a little. She didn't expect him to awaken so easily.

"I was hoping to watch you sleep for a little bit longer." Kirby whispered, smiling at him.

"Kirby...." Daryl murmured and had his free hand up and tangled with her hair.

He pulled her mouth to his and just ravished her lips with his.

"Easy ya two lovebirds. There's a kid present." Merle's chuckle broke the two apart.

"Damn it, Merle. A few more seconds of not hearin' yer voice would have been great." Daryl huffed, grinning at his brother.

Merle stood up and stretched. His back gave off a loud pop and he grunted as he straighted back up.

"I need a drink." Merle said, going towards the door.

"Merle, thanks." Daryl said as his brother opened the door to leave.

"It was nothin'." Merle said.

Daryl shifted Mallorie off of him and onto a clear spot on the bed, before rolling on top of Kirby. He rested his elbows beside her shoulders and closed his eyes at the feel of her fingers trailing down the sides of his face.

"Don't ya ever scare me like that again, Kirby." Daryl whispered, opening his eyes back up.

"Daryl--"

"I love ya and I'll be damned if ya die on me and Mallorie." Daryl voiced, cutting Kirby off.

Her eye's misted over and she hooked her arms up under Daryl's arms to cup his shoulders.

"I love you too, Daryl." Kirby said, leaning up to kiss him.
-
A couple of hours later, everyone was spread through out the houseboat after breakfast. Carl, Sophia and Mallorie were with Kirby, Daryl, and Carol. Daryl was currently balancing Mallorie on one knee while he helped Sophia with her fishing line. Andrea and Amy were up on the second floor sun bathing. Rick and Lori were taking some personal time back in their room while Shane, T-Dog and Glenn played poker out of the second deck.

Dale and Jacqui were debating which was better; tea or coffee when Merle walked in and said liquor. That opened up a new can of worms and the three were currently in a heated conversation inside in the family room.

"He's good with them. I never saw it back at camp, but ever since you arrive, Daryl's been more....soft." Carol said to Kirby as the two watched Daryl with the three kids.

"There's a lot to Daryl that he doesn't often show. The longer we are from worrying about walkers, the more he seems to open up. It's a gradual thing, but it's something." Kirby stated, laughing when the kids yelled out in triumph at the first fish of the day was caught.

"I don't mean to pry or anything, but I was wondering about you and Shane." Carol said quietly.

Kirby turned away from Daryl and over to Carol.

"There is no Shane and I." Kirby told her.

"I realize that, but Shane doesn't. At least, that's from what I see coming from him." Carol confessed.

"What do you mean, Carol?" Kirby asked, interested now.

"Well..." Carol trailed and nudged her head up slightly, causing Kirby to look up.

Her eyes met Shane's, before he quickly looked away and disappeared back around the corner.

"He's been keeping to himself lately, but is always watching you. It's romantic and all, but mostly creepy." Carol stated.

"Or just plain creepy." Kirby huffed under her breath.

Carol laughed lightly and the two went back to watching Daryl and the kids.
-
Leaving the bathroom, Kirby fixed her top before ramming right into something hard. A pair of calloused hands gripped her upper arms, steadying her. Just at the pair of shoes on the person's feet had Kirby knowing exactly who she ran into.

"Shane, you need to stop. I'm with Daryl." Kirby said firmly, removing Shane's hands from her.

"And why is that exactly, Kirby? What does Daryl have that I don't?" Shane demanded, pushing her back inside the bathroom, locking the door behind them.

"He's my type."

"I didn't know stupid redneck hicks were your type."

"Shane, I'm warning you. We're on a boat in the middle of the ocean. A lot of things can happen." Kirby said, her voice hard with anger.

"Yeah, you're right about that." Shane said.

Kirby went to reply, but was cut off by Shane's mouth. His left hand cupped the back of her neck, keeping her from moving away while his right hand cupped her hip. He nipped at her bottom lip, ignoring her hands that tried to shove him back. She began to panic when Shane's hand left her hip to dip underneath her top. Squirming, Kirby gasped as Shane's rough hand grazed the skin right under her breast.

Shane took that moment to deepen the kiss. Kirby bit down on Shane's tongue, causing him to jump back.

"Damn it." Shane hissed, touching his hand to his mouth.

He pulled away and saw that he was bleeding. His eyes flashed and he went to grab Kirby. She brought her hand up and slapped him hard in the face.

"You bastard. You dirty bastard." Kirby whispered harshly.

She shoved past Shane and unlocked the door. She was suddenly yanked back and pushed up against his chest.

"I like 'em rough." Shane whispered huskily in Kirby's ear, before biting down on her earlobe.

She gasped in pain and Shane squeezed Kirby's right breast over her shirt. Pushing past the pain coming from her ear, Kirby stomped on Shane's foot. When his grip loosened on her, Kirby turned around and punched him right in the nose. Even as Shane cried out from his nose being broke, Kirby forced her knee in between his legs. Shane crumpled to the bathroom floor in pain.

"Touch me again and I'll hold up my end of my threat from back at camp." Kirby sneered before slamming the bathroom down shut behind her.

Daryl ran into a still furious Kirby in the hallway and stopped her. One look at her flushed face and the red skin of her ear lobe had Daryl's blood boiling.

"Where is he" Daryl seethed.

Not caring anymore, Kirby back tracked and threw open the bathroom door. Shane was still on the floor, his nose a bleeding fountain and his hands on his crotch. Daryl went over, full intent on ending Shane's life, but seeing the state he was in was so much better.

"Stupid fuck." Daryl spat at Shane.

Daryl took Kirby by her hand, leaving Shane in his mess.