Side-by-Side

Chapter 17

I woke up wrapped up in the sheets, Daryl nowhere in sight. I smiled to myself when I thought back to last night.

Rough, and sexy.

I got up, the sheets wrapped around my body and went to the window of my room. I opened it and took a look at the yard.

The sun was already in the sky. Judging by the angle it's at I'd say it's almost noon. Rick, Carl, and Hershel are by the garden. T-Dog is bringing wood to the shed where it is safe away from the wet weather that should be arriving soon. Carol, Maggie, and Glenn were doing a perimeter check. Beth is with Judith. Daryl is cutting the wood up.

He is wearing his sleeveless flannel and jeans. His crossbow is not to far away from his feet and the ax is in his hands. The way he lifts it over his head, the way his muscles stiffen and retract was sexy.

He lifted his head and sent me a wink. I laughed to myself as I closed the blinds and got dressed.

I walked down stairs to see that breakfast has served. My stomach growled at the thought of lunch. Just as the thought passed through my head, Carol walked into the kitchen.

"Good afternoon." She greeted me

I smiled at her, and greeted back. I helped her prepared a few things for lunch, and soon enough everyone was coming in. I grabbed Judith from Beth and ushered her to go eat. I got the banana flavoured baby food from the cupboard and went to sit down.

"We are running low on baby food, and we need to get her some more formula." Dad said.

"She's getting kinda big to drink formula. We should get a cow." I said causing everyone to laugh.

I took the spoon out of her mouth, wiping it clean before taking another spoon.

"She needs a high chair too." Daryl said.

"She's also getting big for her crib soon. We need to get her a bed." Carl said.

"I have a small bed in the attic. If my father hadn't thrown it out that is. Same with the high chair." I said.

Daryl took Judith from my lap, and sat her in his.

"Ye eat. I'll finish to feed her." He said as he pushed my plate in front of me.

"Do you know how to feed her?"

"I've watched ye and Beth hundreds of times. How hard can it be?" He questioned.

I shrugged my shoulders and picked up my fork. I watched Daryl as he took some of the food into the hard plastic spoon and slowly place it into Judy's mouth. He then wiped her mouth with the spoon ask repeated the actions.

Judith got full once the food was done and Daryl took a wet cloth to wipe her mouth and hands. I smiled to myself at the thought that he could be doing this with our own baby.

"Thank you Daryl." Dad said as he took Judith from him. I placed my plate into the sink and began to gather the rest from the table.

I placed the plates on the counter, stacked upon each other. The cups were in the sink and the utensils where placed in the biggest one.

"I've come to notice that every time you do dishes you set them up this way." Maggie said.

"Did ye just realize?" Daryl questioned.

"Listen, not everyone is as observant as you, Daryl." Maggie retorted. He shrugged his shoulders and took the washed utensils from me and placed them in the dryer.

I stopped what I was doing and turned the spoons and forks over, so they were upside down.

I gave Daryl some glasses and he put them in there too. I once again had to place them on the side of the dryer.

Lastly was the plates. Daryl out them in sideways and I placed them forward.

"Am I doing this wrong?" Daryl asked. I shook my head.

"I have to have them this way. Which is why I don't like helping with dishes." I explained.

Daryl looked at me with confusion.

"I'm OCD." I concluded.

"What?" I laughed.

"It's obsessive-compulsive disorder. Everything has to be in a certain way. " I said.

"That explains everything." I laughed again before heading out to the back.

Daryl followed me, taking a look around with me.

"I was thinking about organizing a run. We are going to need more things for Judy. Plus, winter is just around the corner. We will need winter clothes." I said as I looked up at Daryl.

He nodded his head before looking at me.

"Ye planning on going?" He asked.

"If that's not a problem. We haven't been on a run before and I know this part of the city better than anyone. Rick knows the other side." I explained.

Daryl sighed.

"So much for relaxing." He mumbled.

"I'm sorry Daryl, but things need to get done. Just because we are planning on having a family doesn't mean I have an excuse from doing work. Besides, what can happen on a small run?"