These Awkward Moments

Chapter 11 In Between

Daryl's POV
Mercy woke up and made cooing noises as we walked across the path between the buildings. I smiled and started talking to her, and she smiled a big drooly, toothless baby smile. I realized that she has her mama's dimples and my heart melted into a big puddle.

"Can I... would it be ok if..." I gestured towards the baby.

Delilah looked slightly surprised, but nodded and pulled the sling forward so I could lift Mercy out. I carried her and continued making funny noises. She giggled and put her chubby little hands on my cheeks, rubbing my beard. Delilah smiled, but still seemed a bit surprised. 

"What?"

She chuckled, "I guess I just never pictured you as someone who would be comfortable playin' with a baby."

I smiled and winked, "Girl, I got all sorts of mad skills that might surprise ya."

She looked down a bit and blushed slightly.

"I used ta play with Lil Ass-Kicker all the time, I guess I sorta got used ta it. To tell ya the truth, I kinda miss havin' a lil baby around ta play with."

We walked into her house, and Roe called out from the kitchen, "Hey Lila girl! You're just in ti... Well hey Daryl. How the hell are ya?"

He walked forward and shook my hand, raising his eyebrows in surprise as he saw me holding his niece. "I'm doin' good Roe. Hope ya don't mind me crashin' your dinner tonight."

He smiled wide, "Aw hell nah! Don't mind a bit. There's always more than enough for friends and family in this house."

Roe glanced towards the flowers that Delilah was carrying and grabbed a glass for her to set them in. He shifted his gaze to me and winked on the sly. Mercy began to fuss a bit in my arms.

Delilah reached for her, "Hey baby girl, gettin' hungry?" The baby leaned towards her eagerly.

"Just let me get her fed Daryl. Come sit with us." She headed for the sofa and I followed.

I tried to stay focused on watching Roe in the kitchen while she got the baby latched on. I never thought that I would find a woman nursing a baby so damned sexy... not like it made me horny, but just made her so much more attractive to me. I realized that it had more to do with seeing how much Delilah loved and nurtured her baby, than anything to do with her breasts. I hadn't been around many women with babies before, and my father made sure that my mother didn't show me too much love or attention.

Carlos and Billy walked in, greeted us, and headed to the kitchen. I sat forward with a natural instinct to place myself between them and Delilah, but they didn't even pay attention to her feeding the baby. They joked with Roe and started setting the table. I was surprised that Delilah seemed so comfortable breastfeeding the baby in front of them, and I finally sat back as I realized that I was the only one uncomfortable.

Delilah's POV
I noticed Daryl's nervousness when Carlos and Billy walked into the house. I guessed that he felt a need to protect me from them seeing me breastfeed the baby. I reached out and slowly placed my hand on his thigh. He look a deep breath and relaxed back into the sofa.

I whispered, "It's ok darlin', they've been around this for a few weeks now. I think we're all pretty comfortable with me feedin' the baby now. Would it make ya more comfortable if I covered up a bit?"