Home Is Your Heartbeat ('Home Is' Book Two - Daryl Dixon)

DARYL

Once I dressed and slipped out without wakin Nate? That's when I noticed it in the bushes just outside our cabin.

It was all bloodied up and there were notches on it....same as the Savior gun. So I knew it wasn't one of ours.

Didn't take long at all for me to put two and two together. Them escapin from the Sanctuary and their subsequent attack against us at Alexandria?

The Saviors are runnin out of ammo and they're down to using knives now.

When I told them my thoughts, Mags and G agreed. But couldn't see what the problem was as it'll work in our favour.

Rosie knew though, just like I did.

"They have our chief bullet maker!"

*

While waiting for Rosie to get ready, I trundle out to the mansion's porch. See the big feller, wanderin around and jigglin little Gracie. With the Mutt hovering protectively.

"Do me a favour, Jerry? When Nate wakes up, make sure she doesn't leave Hilltop to go off on her own. Yer have my permission to sit on her if that's what it takes."

"You got it, dude. Do me one in return? I need to go point Percy at the porcelain, so I won't have to abandon my post later. And you could probably do with some practice too?"

What the....I don't need no pissin pract....Oh....  🙄

Have to move fast. Throw the bow rig over my shoulder to free up my hands. Before the baby is shoved in em.

She just gazed solemnly at me and when her little forehead scrunched up? I thought she was gonna start hollerin a lung out.

"C'mon, sweetheart! Know I ain't no oil paintin. But my Little Idiot of a missus tells me I can explode knickers, and she don't lie. Though I'm prayin she doesn't mean diapers too?"  I growl gently in warning.

Gracie musta thought that was hell-funny, cos this huge smile broke out on her face. And when she turned her head, nuzzled into my chest? It just about explodes in return.

Jeez, I sure hope our next one will be a girl. Got me some names runnin through my head already  🤔

"If yer huntin for a boob to latch onto for a feed, kiddo? Yer gonna be real disappointed. If guys had tits? We'd never keep our own  damn hands off em"  I laugh softly, liftin her up so I can touch my nose to hers.

Luckily I splashed my face clean a bit when I woke up. Cos she gummed it instead.

"Never a truer word spoken"  Hearin G's voice behind me, I nearly leapt clean outta my boots.

He hobbled out onto the porch, leaning on a walkin stick. Then flopped down onto the swing seat with a groan.

"Nate's going to be a brilliant Mom. But you, Daryl? You'll be an awesome Father."

I smother a Pfffft  against her squirmy tummy. She's like a wigglin, gurgling puppy. Reminds me of my own  little wriggler.

"Just cos I can make....and hold them? Don't mean I know shit about raising one. Yer gettin on Ok?"

Caught a glimpse of his shaking head and things went silent between us for a while. There was only the sound of Gracie's murmurins and coos. As I rocked her in my arms and made silly faces.

"I've been a pinchazo. And an even bigger one for not saying this a lot sooner."

"I apologise, Daryl. For all the smack talk and things I did. Nate made her choice and it was the right one, I've known that for a while now. Still had too much free-floating, stubborn Latino bullshit in me to admit it."