Fire and Ice

Family

Lexi sat nervously and tried to smile watching her two favorite boys slurp down her spaghetti.  Joking and teasing each other with laughter, Lexi tried to laugh along but was so far into her thoughts and worries she had no idea what they were saying or what they were laughing at.  Cleaning up the dishes, trying to think how she could possibly bring up Merle to Daryl, Lexi jumped as Daryl put his arms around her.

"Are you going to tell me what's going on inside that pretty head of yours?" Daryl asked

Lexi laughed nervously.

"Nothing really" she said softly, not really wanting to bring it up yet.

"Lexi" Daryl said, turning her around "I know something is bothering you, it's written all over your face.  Talk to me sweetheart"

Lexi took a deep breath and stared into his beautiful blue eyes.

"You know when you called this afternoon and asked me to go get Luke and take him to his baseball game?" Lexi asked softly.

"Yeah" Daryl said with some concern.

"Well....when I went to pick up Luke, Merle was there." Lexi said quietly.

"What did he do?!?" Shouted Daryl, clenching his fists.

"Nothing!  Nothing sweetheart" Lexi said, trying to calm him down "Honest, he didn't do anything, but we did talk...."

Daryl stared at her and remained silent.

"Daryl....honey, he regrets everything very badly and he wants to fix it but he doesn't know how.  I know how mad you still are but hanging onto this anger and hate isn't doing you any good.  I'm not saying you need to forgive him, but maybe you need to talk to him about it and get everything out you want to say" Lexi said, hoping he would consider it.

"Stay out of my family business Lexi, they're my family not yours" Daryl growled.

Lexi stared at him with huge eyes, she could not believe he had just said that to her.  Watching his rigid shoulders walk out of the kitchen, her eyes flooded with tears so badly she could barely see.

"I'll be back later....I need to step out for awhile" Daryl yelled and then slammed the door as he walked out.

Walking into the living room, looking at Luke as he watched TV, he turned to her and looked at her curiously.

"What's wrong with dad?" Luke asked.

"Nothing sweetheart" Lexi tried to smile "He's going to go help a friend and was running late.  How about I run your bath water and you get your jammies for me"

"Okay Lexi" Luke smiled.

Watching him run up the stairs, Lexi followed behind with a completely shattered heart.  She couldn't believe she had completely broken she and Daryl's relationship while trying to fix his and Merle's.  She knew she might have over stepped her bounds a bit but how he had reacted was completely uncalled for!  All he had to do was say no but to tell her she wasn't a part of his family and to stay out of his business?  Maybe he didn't love or want her around as much as he said he did.  Trying to put on a happy face while helping Luke with his bath, all she could think about was how much her heart was hurting.  Helping Luke get ready for bed, it made her heart hurt even more seeing Luke's disappointed face that his dad wasn't there to tuck him in.  Reading him a story and chatting for a bit, Lexi turned out his light as he drifted off and went back downstairs to wait for Daryl.

Sitting on the couch watching the minutes tick by, Lexi felt her heart drop lower after every hour.  Watching headlights flash on the walls as cars drove by, Lexi didn't want to turn on the lights.  The room was dark, like her mood.  Looking at the clock she couldn't believe it was almost midnight and he still wasn't back.  Now getting angrier with each passing minute, Lexi jumped hearing the garage door go up.  Sitting back, letting out a long slow breath she stared at her hands as she heard him come through the door.  She couldn't look at him, she couldn't move, she had no idea what to do.  Keeping her eyes downcast as he sat down on the coffee table across from her, she tried not to cry as he grabbed her hands and held them.