My civilisation (D.D)

A hundred and two: Lecture.

1 hour. 1 whole fucking hour I had been sat on this damn leather couch having to tolerate a lecture from both Rick and Daryl.

They'd been repeating the same things throughout, hell I could have sworn I saw Judith give me a nod when her dad was speaking.

You didn't only risk your life but your baby's.
Don't you know what he's capable of?
He could have killed you.
What you did was very dangerous.
No one was there to help.
He's gonna want revenge.
You've made yourself a bigger target-

"Okay guys. I get it. I'm sorry!" I mumbled. "Paid of though didn't it?"

"Ophelia that's not the point." Rick sighed, rubbing a hand over his chin. "We were worried sick. You disappeared without a trace, Dwight didn't even know where you were. We had nothing to go on."

"Ye gotta stop doin' tha' Ophelia." My redneck grumbled. "Ye tryin' to help, I get it. But ye gotta stop goin' of on ye own. Ye pregnant."

"Really Sherlock? I hadn't noticed." I huffed.

Getting a stern look from both Daryl and Rick did I sink into my seat slightly and look down at my shiny combat boots which were a little muddy and worn out.

Feeling the space next to me sag in weight did I look up to see Rick had placed himself beside me as he looked at me, his look had softened as he smiled softly.

"We don't mean to be harsh. We were just worried. That's all."

Nodding my head did I force a smile. I did understand, and to be honest I expected this lecture the moment I left.

"If anything ever happened to yo-"

Stopping Rick mid sentence did I place a gentle hand on his shoulder which was slightly tense as I did so.

"I'm alright Dad. Really."

Woah. I just called him dad. Oops.

But he didn't seem to mind, in fact all he did was stretch his lips into a smile and wrap his arms tightly around me as though I'd just given him a puppy for Christmas, which would be pretty cool.

Returning the gesture did I make small circle motions on his back with the palm of my hand as we rocked back and fourth slightly, Daryl standing awkwardly to the side of us slightly with his hands in his pockets.

Slowly pulling away did he place a hand on the side of my cheek, a small smile tugging on his lips.

"You always are."

After a few minutes did I push myself up of the sofa and brush myself down. I think my lecture was over now. I hoped.

"Can I go now? Is my lecture over or what?"

"Go on. I think Carl's waiting for you outside."

Nodding my head at Rick did I pat Daryl's shoulder on the way out, it was evening time and soon the sun would be setting, the sky would be a pretty pastel orange colour.

Silently closing the door on my way out did I see Carl was sitting on the patio steps. And so I joined him, him greeting me with a warm smile as he hugged his legs with his arms.

I took a minute, as we sat in a comfortable silence to just look around Alexandria, man did I feel good to be back here after having been away for a while. And man did it feel good to have everybody home, even if it was temporary.

"So, they go easy on you?" He asked, arching a brow. "I could hear them from out here."

"Were you eavesdropping?"

"Maybe a little." He smirked. "No, I've genuinely been sitting here since this morning."

"You've been sat this whole time? Doing what?" I asked.

Releasing a long sigh did he turn to face me, his blue eyes almost shimmering in the small sunlight there now was.

"Everything."

"Like...?"

"Are things gonna be different? I mean, when you have the baby."

"Why would they be?"

"I dunno." He shrugged. "You're one of the only people I really talk to. I don't wanna lose that."

"Why would you lose that?"

"I've seen it happen. People become moms and-"

"Hey." I interrupted. "I'm not going anywhere."

Wrapping one of my arms around his shoulders so that I could lean my head on his shoulder as we looked of into the distance did I give it a squeeze.

"Bud, you're my family. And I'll be damned if I lose you. I know a lot has changed since Atlanta, and a lot more will change. I've got a baby, you got a Enid, you'll grow up, you'll have kids, and we'll die. But what matters is that, when the time comes for us to take our leave, we enjoy the show when our life flashes before our eyes."

"You can be really deep sometimes." He chuckled.

"Anyway, my point is, you're my go to guy, nothing is gonna change that. You're a good kid Carl, and I can only hope my kid grows up to be like you."

****

Pulling the duvet over me did I lay flat on the mattress next to Daryl as we laid in silence and stared up at the bare ceiling. This was the first time we had slept in our proper home in Alexandria, in our double bed since the night before we met Negan.

"I'm sorry." He grumbled.

Turning my head that was resting against my soft pillow did I furrow my brows.

"For what?"

"Bein' an overprotective asshole. I know ye can look after yerself...I jus'...I can't lose anyone else Ophelia."

Placing one of my hands on the side of his face did I smile softly although the lighting was low and it was hard to see.

"You're an asshole sometimes, but don't be sorry for being protective baby."

"I thought it annoyed ye?"

"It does. But sometimes...on the occasion...on the rare chance...the very rare possibility...I might need protecting...sometimes!"

"I'll take it." He smirked.

Gesturing for me to budge up did I turn on my side so that he could wrap his arms tightly around me and nuzzle his face in the crook of my neck as we snuggled under the duvet together, how I had missed this.

"You think we're gonna win this war?" I asked.

"I do."

"Why?"

"Cause' we 'ave to. For our future. I'll be damned if I let tha' asshole win."

"You know Daryl, I really think I might just be crazy for you."

*****

AND THIS BOOK IS FINISHED😭 (till season 8)

But I've started two others fan fics which I will explain tomorrow so it's not over!

And thank you so much to every single one of you who have read, voted and commented❤️❤️