Taking a Chance

Chapter 21

Daryl spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning up the mess he had created these last few weeks. Currently, his apartment was everything he hated about living with his brother. It was cluttered, dirty and disgusting. He was annoyed at himself for letting it get that way. It took a lot of time and energy to get it back to the way he liked it. He used this time to think. He had it bad for Gabrielle and he didn't want that to cloud his judgment.

Was he assuming incorrectly that she wouldn't be able to handle living like he did? Then again would they have to? There was no way he was moving to Atlanta, that was non-negotiable, but could they compromise and find a place in between? Sure it was embarrassing as hell that she made so much more money than he did, but with her contributing to their expenses they wouldn't have to live in a dive like he did now, but he refused to live in a fancy place either. He did have his pride. That would be another compromise. Could they? Could he?

Gabrielle wasn't the same stuck up bitch as when he met her, she had mellowed and loosened up. He enjoyed her now and appreciated the spunk that she had, but they still had far to go in getting to know each other. Maybe he had jumped the gun. He just was not sure.

Daryl hated to admit it, but he was scared. He was scared that she could hurt him more than anyone ever could. His old man was the only other person that had done that to him. He abused him mentally and physically as a kid and it had scarred him for life. His head and back were never the same. Gabrielle had the potential to break his heart into a million pieces and that was what Daryl was afraid of. He might not survive that.

He wasn't used to feeling this way. Typically there was nothing that he was ever afraid of. He had been in fights with men much bigger than he was and there had not ever been a situation he couldn't handle, except when it came to Gabrielle. His feelings for her scared him to death and that shocked him. He had never been involved with a woman like this before and he was clueless on what to do. However, he had the feeling he was fucking this up royally.

It took him a couple of hours to get his place back to normal, but at least it was clean again. Daryl still hadn't made up his mind on what he should do with Gabrielle. It wasn't as easy as walking away from a one night stand, they were married.

There was another thing that he had been wondering about. She never asked him about his back. A few women had and he hated the pity he saw in their eyes. Gabrielle had to have seen it that weekend they spent together as they were naked most of the time. In fact, Daryl had forgotten about the scars as he was too wrapped up in her. That had never happened before. When his shirt was off, he was always keenly aware of how they looked.

Daryl dropped down on his worn sofa and turned in the TV. Married...him? He never would that thought that he would ever have gotten married, hell he didn't think there was anyone out there that would want him, but apparently Gabrielle did...at least for now. How he...Daryl Dixon...ended up with a woman as stunning as she was still unimaginable. That was part of what had him mixed up, not even considering their finances or his lack of, she was drop dead gorgeous and he was... well average. Women were never dropping at his feet.

He fell asleep watching a rerun of some comedy show he occasionally watched. He still hadn't been able to come to any decision on his life. What was the rush?

Gabrielle spent all afternoon making plans. She came up with a budget she wanted not to go beyond, did some research on what condo's in her building were going for and even checked out towns that may work for her and Daryl to eventually live in. Atlanta no longer held any appeal.

It was almost dinner time and she couldn't sit still. Her mind was made up and she was happy with the decisions she had come up with, the only problem was Daryl. They still needed to talk and straighten everything out. Gabrielle knew Michonne had told her to give him time, but in her mind he already had a couple weeks. What was taking him so damn long?