Taking a Chance

Chapter 38

Gabrielle was absently drying a glass in the kitchen when she heard the bike pull up. There was no mistaking the sound of that engine. It was unique as her husband was. Fear caused her to start to shake. She had been waiting for him all night and now she would find out if he still wanted to stay married.

She knew that they had never talked about kids and that Daryl's childhood was anything but good, but she did not expect the reaction she got from him. Surprise and shock...definitely. Nervous and afraid of the responsibilities it entailed...of course, but the anger and accusations he threw at her were heartbreaking. How could he believe that she would do that on purpose without talking to him? Did he not know her at all?

After he stormed out of the house, and she had herself a really long cry before she called Michonne. She needed her friend to guide and soothe her. Michonne excelled at both. The panic she felt when Daryl walked out on her and the subsequent hysteria she went through, Gabrielle knew was not good for the baby. Michonne listened to what had happened, called Daryl some very creative names before she helped Gabrielle take the first step in fixing this, which was finding Daryl and bringing him home.

That is what they used Rick for. He came through as always and once Daryl was found and settled into the motel room to sleep off his drunkenness, Rick let his wife know what was going on. She subsequently called Gabrielle and let her know that Rick had found Daryl belligerently drunk and had taken him to a motel to sleep it off. At least she knew he was safe.

What she didn't know what man was going to be walking in that door – a happy one or one that was about to pack his bags. She prayed for the first one, but when she heard the front door open, her nerves got to her and she dropped the glass she was holding. It shattered it into a million tiny sharp fragments on the floor.

"Gabrielle!" Daryl shouted and dropped everything as he raced to the kitchen. "Are you alright? What happened?"

"I broke a glass," she told him with tears streaming down her face. Silently she cursed the hormones that were raging through her causing her to cry at the slightest thing. She was trying to blame her non-stop crying on anything but Daryl.

"Are you wearing shoes?" he asked.

Gabrielle shook her head no. Daryl instantly strode over to her as stepping on the broken glass. His thick soled boots saved him from the sharp shards as he scooped her up into his arms. The glass crunched under his feet as he moved her out of the kitchen. He didn't want to bring the glass shards onto the carpet so he put her down gently once he reached the living room.

"I'll go clean up the kitchen and you stay here. Then we'll talk, okay?" Daryl watched her nod, yes, but he saw fear in her eyes and he hated that he was the cause. "I'm sorry, Princess. I'm an ass," he told her before giving her a gentle kiss.

Quickly, yet thoroughly Daryl cleaned up the broken glass. All the while he worked he remembered the sadness, the fear and the uncertainness he saw on Gabrielle's face. It was entirely his fault. He was the one causing her this pain. He loved her more than life itself, but he was afraid too. How would a baby change them? He had finally gotten used to living with her all the time. He had been a loner for so long and to have someone not just in his life, but around him all the time was hard at first. He had gotten used to it and now loved it, but it had been a hard transition.

He loved Gabrielle and did enjoy her around all the time. She made his life happier and fun, but at the same time, he never had a minute to himself. Even his rides on his bike included her. The one time he asked if he could go alone, she looked so forlorn that he told her was teasing her and of course she was coming. Now there was another person coming into their lives that he was going to be responsible for. Could he do it?