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Chapter Forty: Daryl

The sun had been up for a little while when I slipped quietly out of bed and got dressed. I smiled when I saw my clothes scattered all over the floor. Yeah, I had been in a big hurry to get them off and it had been so worth it. I probably should have stayed in bed with her, but I was excited about this idea I had and wanted to run it by Rick as soon as I could.

I left Taylor sound asleep in bed as the door closed silently behind me. Scott was cooking something in the kitchen and we nodded at each other on my way out. When I hit the street in front of Taylor's house sun was moving up higher in the clear blue sky and I heard the birds chirping in the trees. I stopped in my tracks.

I never noticed the sky like that before unless I needed to. Like maybe if a storm was coming, sure, but otherwise the sky was always just there. And who gave a shit if the birds were squawking in the trees? They were always making a racket.

Except apparently, I did today, because the more I tried not to smile, the more I did. And I never smiled. I had nothing to ever smile about, except now I did. I had Taylor back since I stopped letting my past ruin my life. Today was gonna be a damned great day.

As I walked through the downstairs of my house, I saw Carol in the kitchen. She didn't live here anymore. Months ago she moved out and in with Tobin, but she spent as much time in our kitchen as she did before.

"Oh shit!" she exclaimed.

"What? What's wrong?" A million possibilities ran through my head. "What?"

"You're smiling. I never thought I'd see the day that you walked in this door smiling."

"Fuck you," I growled at her, but there was no heat in my voice. I just wish she wasn't so observant. I just couldn't help it. I was happy for a change.

"Since I didn't see you leave this morning, I can assume that you are just getting in. I hope its Taylor that put that smile on your normally pissed off face."

I didn't say a thing back to her, instead, I glared at her. Well, I tried at least.

"Stop that. Your mean look doesn't work on me especially today. Did you and Taylor work it out? You better have worked it out. We're all tired of you snapping at us all because you're miserable. So did you finally pull your head out of your ass?"

Not many people would talk to me the way that she does. And if they did, I'd kick their ass, but Carol was different. She understood me better than most. And I know she worried about me too. Didn't matter I was a grown man, but she was a good friend to have.

"Yeah, I did."

"So you two are back together, right?"

"Yep," I replied as I headed toward the stairs. "You see Rick yet today?"

"No, I haven't, but I only got here a little while ago." She said stopping me before I went up the stairs, "Daryl?"

"What?"

"I like Taylor. I really do. Let yourself be happy...okay?"

I nodded my head at her before I ran up to my room. I liked that I had Carol's approval. I didn't need it, but that Taylor was easily accepted by the people I considered family meant a lot. It also helped me to accept the fact that she was good for me. I needed her more than she would ever realize.

Now that I had my head on straight, there was no way I was ever going to let her go. I was gonna be up to me to keep her and our kid safe. If this was before, I doubt she would have even given me a chance, I probably wouldn't have even noticed her like before. Not to mention that she was married to that dick anyway. But it's different now. She's all mine and carrying my kid.