Red ~ TWD (Daryl Dixon)

There Goes the Neighborhood

It was all I could do the next morning not to throw up on my boots. I was blaming my queasiness on nerves until a pregnancy test told me otherwise. I lived my life by one simple equation, facts minus what I thought equaled denial.

Daryl hardly batted an eyelash when I announced my intention to travel back to Hilltop with Merle and Francine. He'd been bugging me for weeks to check in with Sid and no doubt thought he'd finally worn me down. I suppose I wasn't the only one with real estate in the land of denial.

"Got everythin'?" I nodded, adjusting the strap on my backpack. I'd be back tonight so I only packed the essentials. Guns, ammunition, knives, and a can of ABC's and 123's. "What is it?"

I threw my arms around his neck, hugging him hard, burying my face in the crook of his neck. His arms immediately wound around me, but I could feel the unease radiating off him.

"Ask me again sometime," I mumbled into his leather vest.

Pulling back I pressed my lips to his, sinking into his solid embrace. When I pulled back his eyebrows were furrowed in equal parts suspicion and worry, but he said nothing, taking my hand and walking me towards my waiting horse. Francine was all too eager to offer up her trusty steed because she was far too hungover to do anything more than slump against her husband and occasionally throw up. She was currently passed out in Merle's arms, snoring like an asthmatic banshee.

The large, white horse with brown spots snorted when we approached, bobbing its enormous head up-and-down as if to say stay back biotch. My feet stopped moving, but Daryl simply pushed me forward, my boots digging into the dirt.

"I don't think he likes me."

"It's a girl," he corrected.

"Fine, I don't think she likes me." Did gender really matter right now? The thing was baring its teeth at me. "I'll just walk."

"It's miles back to Hilltop." Miles, sh-miles. A little walking was good for the soul. "Besides, ya won't be able to keep up with Merle."

"I'll run." He stared at me like I was stupid. I tried to only run when it really mattered, like when walkers were chasing me or when someone made really good food. "Fine but when this beast kills me and you're a widower you'll be sorry Legolas."

He snorted, rolling his eyes which made me proud. I taught him that move.

He scratched the horses nose affectionately while I carefully and slowly climbed on. The animal snorted, pounding its front legs into the dirt causing me to yelp and grab the horn of the saddle.

"Shh," Daryl cooed, grabbing the bridle, "Red, it thinks yur scared."

"I am scared!"

"Ya gotta calm down." Easy for him to say, he wasn't 10-feet in the air trying to ride something that weighed 1,000 pounds and was giving me wicked side eye. To say I was nervous was like saying the ocean was a puddle. "Relax yur thighs, squeezing her that tight ain't helpin' nothin'."

Not true, it was helping me stay my ass on the horse.

"Shit," I mumbled, forcing myself to relax my muscles one at a time. Daryl continued to hold the horse, alternating between rubbing its nose and speaking to it in horse. "Good horsey."

"Take care of my girl, ya hear?" The horse neighed loudly making me cringe and Daryl smile. Wierdos, both of them. "You'll be a'right Red."

"If you say so."

"I'll see ya tonight."

He released the horse, stepping back and winking at me. Merle hooted something about hauling ass, digging his heels into his horse. The animal took off at a trot forcing Merle to clutch his snoring bride closer less she tumble off, the lightweight.