Side-by-Side

Chapter 16

Waking up everyday to see myself wrapped up in Daryl's arms, him looking at me in deep concentration and playing with my blonde hair so amazing. I wake up, we go down stairs, eat breakfast, then come back up stairs to enjoy the day.

But that wasn't what happened today.

As we went finished breakfast, I was ready to go back to the stairs just as Daryl grabbed the keys from the counter. He looked at me with hesitation before I nodded my head.

We walked up the stairs to retrieve our weapons before heading back down. We slipped on our shoes and walked outside to the bike. Daryl climbed over before I took a seat behind him. The motorcycle was started and we slowly made our way to the gate. Dad opened the gate for us and with a small 'see you later' we were off.

The ride was smooth. We didn't run into a herd, or into other cars. We just kept going down the quiet street. The only noise we can hear are the birds chirping and the roar of Daryl's bike as he holds the clutch, and releases the brake.

The wind is traveling through our hair, making mine whip around in its ponytail. Daryl's left hand is on my thigh, rubbing up and down slowly. We've been driving for about half an hour and we still haven't slowed down. I leaned over.

"Where are we going?" I had my voice raised a little so he can hear me over the engine. He took a quick look at me before turning his head to look in front, a small smile spread across his face as he answered my question.

"Ye will see when we get there. Only 'bout half an hour more, Darlin'." His voice raised slightly as well. I nodded my head before I took a look around.

My arms were securely wrapped around his waist and we were hitting at least a eighty miles. The wind was chilly but the sun made our skins warm enough the take no mind of the wind.

Another half an hour passed and as Daryl promised, we began to slow down. He turned his way into a plaza before making a complete stop. He parked just outside of a building in between the allies so if someone passed by they wouldn't notice.

I walked behind Daryl as he opened the door to a building and walked inside crossbow raised. My sword was up in the air and I shut the door behind us. Once I was inside, Daryl lowered his weapon and faced me.

I took a look around the building. There was a screen at the end of the wall, and hundreds of chair. I smiled once I realized, we were in a movie theatre. I looked up at Daryl who was climbing a set of stairs that lead us to the centre of the theatre.

"The screen and speakers will attract walkers. But, they was able to find a computer that we can put the movie into." Daryl said as he pulled out a movie. I took a look at the cover to see Dear John written across it.

"How did you guys get this?" I questioned.

"They said that they wanted to get ye a wedding gift. Although I told them that ye don't want it, they went out anyways. They came back one day and told me about this. So, I brought you."

My smile was wider than it was before. I was so happy that everyone wanted to do something to be part of this. I didn't know what to say that I just wrapped my arms around Daryl's neck and pressed my lips to his.

When we broke away, he sat down and pulled the chair beside him too. He told me to sit and he opened up the laptop and placed the CD in the slot. The movie began playing and even though we knew that no walkers were able to come in do to the security of the arm, we still kept watch.

When the movie was over, I wiped my eyes. Sure, I may have always been a pretty tough person but that doesn't mean that I didn't get emotional.

Daryl and I spent al little more time in the theatre just enjoying the silence that was there. It wasn't awkward. It was a comfortable silence. Daryl stood up and held his hand out for me. I took it gracefully as he led me outside.

We got onto his bike and began our journey home. When we got there, Dad opened the gate and Daryl drove through.

"So?" Dad asked us once he reached us.

"It was amazing. Thank you." I said as I wrapped him in a hug.

"You're welcome." He said as he released me.

We walked inside just as dinner was being placed on the table. Daryl and I sat beside each other as everyone else say around the table. Merle was beside his brother and made small talk with one another.

"Carly, have you and Daryl thought about having kids?" Maggie questioned. My fork dropped onto the plate from the shocking question.

Daryl's head snapped up as well, and looked at me. "We haven't talked about it." I said quietly.

I made eye contact with Daryl and nodded my head slightly. His eyes were torn away from mine as he picked up his fork again, and began eating away. I sighed slightly before doing the same.

After dinner, we relaxed in front of the fire. Glenn has been snooping up in my attic and brought down a guitar. "This yours?" He questioned.

"Yeah. Got it when I turned thirteen. Kept it up in the attic so when my father was gone, I could learn."

"Ye got really good." Daryl said. "Remember at the CDC?"

"And the farm!" Carl said. I nodded my head. "Can you sing another song?"

"We'd love to hear it." Michonne said. I nodded my head again as Glenn sat the guitar on my lap.

I pushed my hair back over my shoulders, and tuned the guitar to be best of my ability. I stunned a few strings before coming up with a song.

"Piece by piece he collected me. Up off the ground where you abandon things and piece by piece he filled the holes that you burned in me at six years old and you know. He never walks away, he never asks for money. He takes care of me. He loves me, piece by piece he restored my faith that a man can be kind and a father could stay."

I finished the song and put the guitar laying down on the floor. Daryl's arms wrapped around me and I rested my head against his chest. They all clapped for me as they began to get up to go to bed.

"Goodnight guys." Merle said as he was the last to leave the room.

Daryl and I were the only ones sitting down on the floor staring out into the fireplace where the fire was now put out. We sat in darkness, the only light being the moon.

"Have ye thought about the thing Maggie said?" Daryl's soft voice broke the silence. I shifted a little before tilting my head up.

"Mhmm."

"Do ye want?" He stopped. I knew what he was asking and to be honest, I did.

"There's a lot to talk about before we decide." I put out there.

"I know."

"Do you want to?" I questioned him.

"With you, yes." He said as he placed a soft kiss on my shoulder.

"I will be fat." I joked.

"But beautiful." He added. "Also, if ye were, there would be no heavy lifting, you would need naps, and definitely no runs." He said to me.

I nodded my head. I knew that I was going to need to take some time off of all the heavy duty shit that needed to be done.

"Okay." He said. I looked up at him. The moon lit his face slightly.

"Let's do it."