He's With Me (Daryl Dixon Fanfiction)

Chapter 16

It had only been about eight hours since Rue had been born, I was barely awake, sitting on the couch in our bedroom. June, John and Charlie slept in one room, Luciana and Alicia shared the other room, Morgan and Victor slept in the living room. Daryl, Scout, Rue, and I got the master bedroom, which was very large, it had it's own sitting area. We set up a bed for Scout on the couch that was in here, and set up an area for Rue. We all washed up in the available plumbing, that was cold. I had to help Daryl, since he was adjusting to the missing limb. It had been a week since his last shower, he was gone for a week, and it was brutal.

"I hate being like this, needing help." Daryl grumbled after I helped him pull off his shirt.

"I know you do, but it's only for a little while." I said glancing at his bruised body. "I'm sorry I didn't come for you." My eyes welled up.

"No more crying please babe, I don't think I can handle it." Daryl pulled me against his chest, wrapping his available arm around me, even though he lifted both. "This is just like that thing with the Whisperers, remember, I wanted to go after you, but I stayed back and took care of Scout. That's what you did, you stayed back and took care of Scout and yourself." Daryl said soothingly. "I wouldn't have wanted it any other way."

"Okay." I sniffled taking a deep breath. "Let's get you cleaned up." I helped Daryl out of the rest of his clothes, then I undressed myself.

"I should be taking care you, you just had a baby damn it." Daryl grumbled. Rue was asleep in her homemade bassinet just outside of the bathroom, as we got into the cold shower. Scout was already washed up, hanging out in the living room with everyone else.

"Should probably take that off." I gestured to Daryl's bandage.

"Yeah I guess." Daryl said reluctantly.

"Hey, it's okay, it's just another scar." I said sympathetically. I carefully unwrapped the limb, trying very hard to keep my face calm when I revealed the grotesque wound. "We better have Warren take a look at that after our shower." I said cautiously.

"Okay." Daryl grumbled.

"C'mere, let's get this hair washed." Daryl leaned his head back into the shower stream, the water going down the drain was very dirty. I scrubbed his scalp, before putting a little soap into it. "That hair is getting really long babe, you want me to cut it yet?" I smirked.

"Maybe." Daryl grumbled. Daryl washed his own body, and I washed myself up before we both got out, Rue still sleeping.

Morgan retrieved food for our house, all of us eating in the big kitchen/dining room. When Daryl and I came into the room with Rue in tow, Warren was here.

"I took the liberty of fetching the doctor." Victor said loyally.

"We can do this in the bedroom." Daryl said glancing at Scout, who I could see in his eyes he was uncomfortable about the injury still.

Daryl and Warren went to the bedroom and the rest of us began dividing up our meal. About ten minutes later Warren returned.

"Is he okay?" I asked him.

"Yeah, he'll be fine, he just needs to keep it clean, and bandaged for at least a couple weeks, I'll need to look at it every other day, to determine how it's healing. A little pain and discomfort are normal but if there's any concerns feel free to come talk to me, I'm in the small trailer at the end of the street." Warren explained.

"Thank you." I said everyone else mumbling thank you.

"And how is this little one?" Warren said in a higher pitched voice as he approached Rue, who I was cradling in my arm while I ate. "Haven't seen her since word spread about her arrival." Warren studied her from where he stood. "She eats good I trust." Warren said taking her small hand in his.

"She eats very good." I laughed a little. "Even though it's only been a day."

"That's good, well same thing, any concerns don't be afraid to come see me." Warren smiled, and left waving at everyone.

Daryl then slowly made his way back to the kitchen, his arm wrapped, and in a sling, I assumed it was to hide it. This was a weird day for us, but a happy day, we we're all back together, and Rue had only been born hours ago, but we always had that funny feeling that this wouldn't last. I dressed Rue into her most comfortable pair of footie pajamas, I had a bag full of baby stuff for her. I sat in the gigantic bed we had with Rue, and began nursing her. I watched Daryl read to Scout, holding his injured arm close to himself but still in the sling, trying to keep it slightly hidden from Scout, who seemed uncomfortable about it. Daryl held the book with one hand, struggling every now and then to turn the pages, until Scout finally fell asleep. Daryl pulled the curtain closed that we hung to divide our room.

"Hey baby." I said tiredly. "How are you feeling?" I asked concerned about his multiple injuries, not to mention one specifically.

"Tired." Daryl grumbled, curling up in bed next to me, twirling Rue's hair with his fingers. "How are you feeling?" Daryl asked.

"Sooo tired." I groaned, my voice cracking. "And sore, so sore."

"You are incredible babe, that was, no is the craziest thing I had ever seen, and I've seen some shit." Daryl explained, and I couldn't help but laugh.

"It's been a long day." I yawned. I finally pulled Rue off of me, as she was snoring quietly now, then I covered up, Daryl sitting up as I adjusted. "Take the sling off." I ordered.

"What, why?" Daryl said confused, almost offended.

"Take it off, so you can hold your daughter." I ordered again.

Daryl took his sling off with a heavy sigh. I got ready to give Rue to him.

"No I can't hold her with this arm." Daryl discouraged me.

"Yes you can." I said determined. I then slowly lowered Rue into his arms, resting her head closer to Daryl's shoulder, the remaining part of his arm on her back. Daryl brought his hand behind her head, not moving a muscle, as he was afraid he would drop her. "Look at you, see you can still hold her on either side." When she was born Daryl held her in his good arm, but close to his chest, we needed to start training his injured arm. He then gently rolled Rue onto his chest, allowing her to sleep there for awhile.

"She already seems bigger." Daryl sniffled, a tear falling from his eye, he quickly went to wipe it with his right hand, but remembered it wasn't there.

"Hey." I wiped the tear for him. "You made it back, you got to be here when she arrived." I smiled.

"Not all of me came back." Daryl said bluntly.

"Hey, like you said, this is just like when I came back from the Whisperers. Neither of us came back the same." I mentioned.

"I know." Daryl sniffled.

"I get to be the strong one this time, let me take care of you, like you did with me. I want to take care of you, okay?" I kissed his cheek. Daryl then took my face into his hand, and brought my lips to his, giving me that passionate kiss I was waiting for.

"I love you babe." Daryl smirked as he pulled away. "You and me forever."

"Forever?" I asked jokingly, before kissing him once more. "I love you, I am so happy you're back."

I then took Rue from Daryl's chest gently, and placed her into her bassinet, swaddled her up neatly. I turned off the lanterns, and climbed into bed, curling up next to Daryl, god I missed him next to me. He was always so warm, and just radiated comfort for me, I wrapped my arm around his, lightly gliding the tips of my fingers over his skin.

"I missed sleeping next to you." Daryl whispered, a soft sigh leaving his chest. I felt his body instantly relax into the bed, his breathing becoming deeper, until a light snore left his lips, man I loved the sounds he made.

--------------------------------

Hey long time no post, sorry, but I hope you enjoyed this filler, things have been going on that I haven't felt the motivation to post, but here I am, I'm alive! Thank you guys for the patience and I hope you enjoyed this chapter! As always thank you for reading!