The Cheerleader •Daryl Dixon AU•

Thirty

That night Daryl barely slept, eventhough Olivia was sleeping like a log he couldnt, he was worried for her even if she had sworn Mr Blake would never chase after her, he just couldn't put it past that petty excuse of a human being. He alone could just about survive in the trailer with the money Merle would send every so often but the more Merle is away the further apart the money transfers became.

Sneaking from bed he tucked Olivia in so she wouldn't get cold and made himself a black coffee as he lit a much needed cigarette. As he sipped and puffed away he pondered what he could do for Olivia, she wouldn't want to live here, even if she would insist at times it was practically a second home but even Daryl wanted a proper house over the trailer park. Not being able to sleep made it easy for him to put his plan into fruition.

He put on some music on a very low volume and began dusting, tidying and organising the kitchen-living area. Tidying was something he loathed and it didnt help Merle felt the same so the place was always a bit of a pig sty and until Olivia came alone Daryl didnt really care but now he wanted to make sure that this was perfect for her no matter how temporary it would be.

He knew Olivia enough to know she would never go back home but he thought deep down she may have to reluctantly go back as with the pair not having any money how could they both live here? even Daryl sadly knew love would never be enough to make it work.

Daryl rolled his eyes as he began wiping down the cupboard doors, especially when he realised the doors were a different colour to what he was used to, shows how often the Dixon's cleaned!

Dusting over the clock in the kitchen, after replacing the batteries, he saw the time was close to hitting 3am and he looked back on the progress he had made. No longer did the sofa have a dusty film over it, the cushions were more organised and the counters had had a deep clean and were shining up nicely. He smiled rather proudly when he admired the neater shelves and overhead storage, there was now some room for Olivia's stuff. Finally he found an old throw and after giving it a shake outside he placed it on the sofa and it really made a difference you couldn't see any of the holes or the sinking cushions. To him at least it looked like a show home trailer.

Entering his parents old bedroom he grabbed a sack and began tossing everything into it, none of it was of any value financial or sentimental and to him it was just cluttering up a decent sized room. A room he and Olivia would share rather than his room. He stripped the beds of their sheets and placed them in the sack and after dusting, wiping and airing out it was beginning to look like a good bedroom. He closed the door behind him as he couldn't do anymore and he vowed to get new bedsheets for them both, and they would both have a wardrobe each and their own side of the bed. It would be perfect.

After cleaning the bathroom to near on spotless he finished up sweeping, glancing at the time he realised it was far too late now to go to sleep so he made another coffee and perched himself on the porch outside for another cigarette.

Pulling his cell from his pocket he dialled for Merle, knowing at this time wherever it was in the world he was he would answer.

"hey baby brother" Merle greeted, it sounded like he too was having a cigarette as he puffed out his words on the other end, "hows it going?" Merle asked not allowing Daryl to return the greet.

Daryl caught him up on Olivia, and it being the first time in near on months he had spoken to Merle he had a lot to fill him in on.

"she sounds like a keeper bro, a made up one but still" Merle teased "a girl like that doesn't like guys like us" Merle reminded him, Daryl had begun to question why he would pour his heart out to his brother if he would just say things like that. " I know and that's why I'm grabbing it with both hands" He weakly replied, exhaustion beginning to wain on him. "The thing is, her douche of a dad has thrown her out so she is living here, I just tidied up hoping it can be a home for her" Daryl confessed mentally waiting for Merle to bring out a unnecessary joke. "sounds to me like she had the same dad we had" Merle grunted "Listen buddy, I gotta go but Ill send a cheque out first thing with enough money for the two of you for a while and I'll try and come home soon...try not to screw it up good girls don't happen to Dixon's" Daryl shook his head at his brother "Asshole" he quietly laughed after ending the call.

The birds were beginning to chirp their morning songs and Daryl knew if he didnt sleep now he never would.

Sneaking back into the bedroom he smiled as Olivia looked peaceful especially considering what was going on in her life. Lifting the covers up he stepped in feeling instantly warm as his body touched hers and he pulled her into a spoon. Considering he was not feeling tired when he got into bed it wasn't long before he was fast asleep.