Warm Me Up* | D.D
Word Count: 3.4k | Setting: 11x10 | Pairing: Daryl x fem!reader
Warnings: Graphic sexual content, unprotected sex, fingering, cussing, overall adult themes - nsfw!🔞
Additional Tags: Fluff, smut, yearning, est!relationship
A/N: The first half is just fluff, sfw! The smut starts below the 'read more' cut! There's a few warnings! MDNI past that cut! 🔞
Losing someone never got any easier. Not after all the years you've spent on the road, all the years since the world fell to the walkers... You weren't close with the soldier who died today, but watching her get torn apart by walkers was still heartbreaking. A mission gone wrong, her truck flipped, got swarmed, partner couldn't get to her in time. You saw the sorrow in Mercer's eyes as one of his soldiers fell - he forced himself to watch, unable to do anything to help her.
Your shift was dismissed early in account of the day's events, and you returned home to Daryl sooner than he was expecting. The moment you walked in the door, he could see it in your eyes.
"Wha' happened?" he asked seconds after you closed the door behind yourself. A tear slipped down your cheek and he walked over to you, fully on guard, ready to move at your command.
"Genevieve, the red head..." you trail off, your head falling. "Eaten alive," is all you can mutter out.
Daryl pulls you against his chest, caressing your head gently. He didn't know her well either, but any death was sad, especially a gruesome one like that.
"'M sorry ya had t' see that," he mutters into your hair, stroking it softly as you try to pull yourself together against him.
"I'm so sick of people dying," you mumble.
"Where're the kids?" you eventually stand up straight, wiping your eyes and taking a deep breath, not wanting either of them to know what happened. They were finally starting to feel safe here, and you wanted that to last.
"In their room, using the record player," Daryl gestures toward the larger bedroom that the two kids shared. Both bedrooms in the apartment were very small, but the 'master' you guys had agreed to give to the kids, so they could each comfortably have their own twin bed. You guys didn't really use your room for anything other than sleeping, so it didn't matter. Daryl was always looking out for the best interest of his niece and nephew - and you of course.
"She never stops with it, you really made her so happy," you stroke his arm affectionately before walking around him to peek into the room, seeing the brother and sister softly singing along to one of the songs.
"They have dinner yet?" you ask, noting that the sun had begun to set.
"We were waitin for you, was gonna go get it," Daryl says, reaching for his vest where it hung by the door. His thoughtfulness always touched you, warming your chest and making you blush.
"Let's all go," you suggest, wanting to get out of the very loud apartment as the upstairs 'neighbors' started playing their music again.
It looks like Daryl might protest, but then he doesn't, instead nodding and heading to the room to knock and push it open, calling the kids out.
The walk to where the Commonwealth served dinner was relatively short - about ten minutes. Dog trailed alongside Judith as the kids walked a few paces ahead of you and Daryl. His right hand rested on his holstered knife, while his left hand occasionally brushed against yours.
Watching Daryl pay for takeout with money from his paycheck was probably the weirdest thing you'd ever seen. Getting served a decent meal in white styrofoam containers from a kitchen... It was all so bizarre. Not to mention being responsible for two children alongside Daryl... It felt like playing house. You liked it, but it was really weird.
The walk back was comfortably quiet, the kids talking to one another about music as you and Daryl trailed along, holding most of the food. Daryl tried to carry it all, but you didn't let him, as per usual. He was always trying to do everything, for everyone, and you kept him balanced.
The music upstairs hadn't quieted much by the time you got in and settled down on the floor. The lack of furniture sucked, but at least you guys had beds and a locked door.
"How was yer day?" Daryl asks as he divides out the containers to each of the kids, making sure to split the sides evenly amongst the three of you before getting any for himself.
"What?" Judith asks in a louder tone, unable to hear Daryl very well between his raspy drawl and the loud music.
"How was yer day?!" Daryl repeated a little louder, propping one arm on his bent knee and opening Dog's container where he sat beside you, across from the kids. You loved how much Daryl cared for Dog, enough to get him his own takeout!
"Here boy," he drawls, setting the container off to the side for the dog to eat behind you guys.
"It was great! I made a new friend!" Judith exclaimed with a smile. RJ nodded in agreement, never having a whole lot to say.
"Oh yeah?" Daryl furrows a brow skeptically for a second before changing his expression, covering his anxiety for her sake. You knew Daryl was still very on-edge about the people of the Commonwealth, and took protecting Rick's children very seriously.
"She got me a record!" Judith holds up the Motorhead record with a grin.
"That was awfully nice of her!" you smile.
"You ever heard of Motorhead?" she asks you guys, and you shake your head no with your mouth full.
"That's good stuff," Daryl responds, and you're not very surprised he recognized the band.
"Yeah?" he responds distractedly, shooing Dog from your food and trying to eat his own.
"Can I get an allowance?" Judith's question catches both of you off guard, and you smile over at Daryl as he eyes you up, shocked that he is in this position. You can practically see the thoughts going through his head, and giggle under your breath.
"Can we wait a little while? Til my job settles - then we'll talk bout it again?" he offers, nodding at her as she agrees silently, shooting you another look. You chew your food silently, smiling at your rice as you take in the moment.
"So... we can stay?" she presses. She reminds you a lot of Rick and Michonne.
"Do ya wanna stay?" Daryl questions, always putting their needs above his own. He looks at RJ and you as well. "Even after Alexandria's all cleaned up?"
"I do!" RJ finally speaks up with a small smile. You grin at the boy, glad he voiced his thoughts.
"Yeah?" Daryl seems to be thinking the same as you.
"It's nice," Judith says solemnly. "I think as long as my mom knows where to find us, I want to stay."
Daryl looks over at you, expecting an answer, but you shrug, not wanting to discuss it in front of the kids. He recognizes your silence and doesn't push it, instead eating his own food.
After getting the kids to bed, you and Daryl settled in for the night. Pulling on one of his black shirts after a quick shower, you brushed your hair in front of the dirty old mirror above the sink. Daryl was changing on his side of the bed, shooing Dog out of the room toward the kids room, and closing the door behind him.
You felt his eyes on you as he plopped into the bed very inelegantly, tossing one arm behind his head as he laid on top of the thin sheets, his blue eyes studying you.
"So... do ya wanna stay?" he brings up his question from earlier.
"I think it's good for now," you start, placing your brush down and approaching him at the bed. He pulls the sheets back on your side for you, making you grin down at him lovingly, always appreciating the small gestures.
"The kids are happy, have lots of people to socialize with... I think we should give it a good chance."
Daryl chews on his lip and nods, deep in thought. You settle in beside him and pull the blankets over yourself, cold in your lack of pants and the very thin walls that did little to trap the heat in the house. Rain pattered lightly on the windowpane, drowning out some of the music upstairs.
"I missed you," you mutter, rolling onto your right side and moving closer to him, resting your head on his chest. His left arm wraps around you, holding you close, and he hums.
"Ya been home for a few hours now," he comments teasingly.
"I always miss you. Even when I'm in the bathroom," you look up at him with a playful grin and he rolls his eyes.
"Yer weird," he drawls, rubbing your arm affectionately.
