Farmer's Daughter (Daryl Dixon Love Story)

Chapter 59

Melinda's POV

"Merle?" Daryl breathes.

"Oh." Merle dragged out as if the two of us was in trouble. "What have we got here?" A sly smile covers his face as he eyeballs the two of us.

"Merle what the hell are you doing here?" I stand to my feet and look out the window to see most of the walkers gone. Just a few stragglers roamed free.

"Well I could leave darlin. But that little girl has been asking so much about ye." Little care was in his voice as he scans my revealed chest.

"Charlie? You're with them?" I stride closer to him as my excitement grows.

"That's right." He says coolly. "Went hunting but I think they'll be happy with what I bring back."

"Let's go. Now." I demand.

"Hold up here missy. It's almost dark. We're not gonna be headed back tonight I'm afraid." He slings his crossbow over his shoulder and walks toward Daryl. I stop him from ever getting past me.

"I'm not waiting another day. You either tell me the way to go, or you take me. Your choice." I say lowly. He looks back at Daryl his eyebrows raised. Out the corner of my eye I could see Daryl nod his head, agreeing with me.

"Alright." Merle slaps his lips together and shrugs. "Let's get going then."

Daryl's POV

She quickly walks ahead of us, a flashlight in her hand. She slightly trips over stumps and other foliage lying around.

"Ye know just as well as I do traveling at night is stupid and dangerous." Merle snaps lowly. My light barely hits her back, telling me she most likely didn't hear a thing he said.

"She's been weeks without her daughter. It's eating her up." My face held no emotion as I answer. I was too busy thinking about the minutes before Merle slammed his fat ass through that door. Too busy thinking about how I confessed my feelings for her twice now.

"Don't get all soft now baby brother. Ye could die out here, and for what? So she can see her chap?" He scoffed.

"It's not like that man." I hissed.

"Then what is it? Ye getting some of that?" He nudges me before falling into a fit of laughter.

"I love her." I say almost too low for even myself to hear. I still stare at her petite body as it quickly dodges obstacles.

"Ye love her?" He lowly chuckles, shaking his head. After I didn't say anything, or even move to look at him, he becomes more serious. "Ye serious?" His voice softens. His playful banter at a halt now.

"Yeah." I simply state.

"She know?" He keeps asking questions but I didn't mind all that much. It was nice to know that I could hear his voice again, and that he wasn't dead .

"Yeah." I state again.

"Hurry up!" She calls back to us as she quickens her pace.

"We'll get there by morning sugar. Calm down." Merle calls ahead. She doesn't pay any attention as she keeps going. "She feel the same?" He turns his attention back to me.

"I don't know. She's never said it if she does. But why would she?" I think of the woman just in my arms hours ago.

"Well either way. I'll look after her like she's one of us." He brings his arm up and claps my back, then slings his arm over my shoulders.

"Thanks." I simply put, a small smile on my lips as I wrap my arm around his shoulder.

"Now, Ye wanna tell me what was happening when I walked in on y'all?" His cackle filled the air around us as I rolled my eyes.

Melinda's POV

The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon when we came to a small clearing in the woods. A log cabin was sitting cozily inside of a chain link fence as a boarder. The gate in front of the house had a small keyed padlock.

"Rick!" I scream at the top of my lungs. I started shaking at the fence, all of my emotions coming to me at once.

"Rick!" I scream again. My voice echoed into the forest. The door swung open, a shotgun being the first thing I see when Rick steps outside.

"Melinda?" His voice held a tint of confusion. Like he didn't believe what was in front of him.

"It's me Rick. God, we've been searching for so long." Tears slide down my cheeks as he fiddles with the keys, trying to quickly open the gate.

"We?" He questions. The familiar click of the lock sounded, his hands quickly work to remove it. The gate swings open, and I can't stop myself from tackling him in an embrace I thought I may never feel again.

"Me and Daryl." The tears keep coming down my face, turning his shirt into a puddle. I look up to see people walking out the doorway, looking at the situation. That's when I see the tired little face I've been searching for all along.

"Charlie." I whisper.

"Momma?" She rubs her eyes as Mike places her on the ground.

"Charlie." I say a little louder as it sinks in. My feet take long strides to her. Her little legs pumping as she runs my way.

She screams as I take her into my arms. A wide smile plays on her face, showing her white teeth.

"Oh my god I missed you so much. I love you. I love you so much." I bawl. My arms completely engulfed the small child as I fall to my knees. Sobs racked my body.

"I love you, momma." She rubs her small hands down my hair.

"I love you more, baby." I turn to the opening in the fence, seeing Daryl looking intently.

'Thank you' I mouthed to him. He gives me a nod of his head before turning to talk to Rick again.

A/N

Ugghhh feels. Tell me what you think