My Exception (sequel to No Exceptions)

Three

I jolted myself awake many hours later, thankfully not remembering the nightmare that had awoken me. I looked over to the blinds that had been slightly opened to see that it was light outside, dawn if I had to guess. I sat up and stretched my arms out in order to crack my back and eased myself out of bed. I started to feel somewhat human again after my long rest.

I went to the wardrobe and decided to put on a knee length dress to walk around the house in, not ready to mingle with people just yet. I took a quick glimpse in the mirror and noticed my hair looked healthy, but messy, reminding me of a clump of golden springs, jutting out in all directions. As I cracked open the door I found Daryl to the left, fast asleep. His lips were slightly parted releasing a slight snore. I retrieved a blanket from the linen closet and draped it over him; he had rustled at my actions but overall stayed asleep.

I headed down to the kitchen to get a glass of water, then proceeded to the one way screen door. I could hear the faint hum of cicadas in the distance, welcoming the day in. I gulped down the water as the morning breeeze flew through my door, helping me to properly wake up.

I chucked the cup into the sink and braved a step outside, sitting on the porch, goosebumps forming on my skin from the slight breeze the continued to whoosh down the street. I closed my eyes and took a big breath of fresh air in, enjoying the solitary nature of this moment. That was quickly ruined by the sound of heavy footsteps, travelling my way. My eyes slowly opened to reveal Rick Grimes, the last person in the world I wanted to see marching towards me with a hard look on his face. I froze for a moment, not sure if I was going to gouge his eyes out or collapse into a grieving heap. I just sat there staring at him, mouth gaping at his audacity. When he finally reached me he shifted from one foot to another, something I'd learned he did when particularly nervous.

"I'm sorry" is what he chose to start with, and he sat there waiting for me to respond. When I sat there and did nothing but cry silently he sat next to me, sensing I needed comfort. It was true, but from anyone but him; not from my husband's murderer. He went to rub my back in a comforting gesture but I dodged his touch and immediately slapped him.
"Don't you dare fucking touch me!" I spat as he sat there rubbing his jaw, his self pity apparent, making me sick.
"You don't get to waltz over to me with a simple sorry and expect everything to go back to normal. You think just because you see the world one way it just makes it so?" He stood up as his crystal blue eyes locked onto mine as he clenched his jaw.
"He killed Abraham Rackel, then demanded half of our stuff! He was going to kill all of us, he had to be stopped"
I hissed at his short sightedness and couldn't help but defend my husband.
"What about the 30 people we killed at the outpost? What about all the innocent workers YOU killed at Sanctuary? What about Sherry?" My voice broke as I said her name, heart aching. He looked away from me then refocused, taking it all in. I took a shaky breath
"I know he wasn't prefect and had done absolutely horrible things, but he was changing and I was helping him do that. People can learn Rick, he was more than a rabid dog for you to put down."
Just after I had said my piece I heard the porch light flick on making me turn around. Daryl was standing behind me, he nodded at me for support. Rick persisted shaking his head at me, his voice more hushed, making his words feel all the more severe.
"Not everyone can be saved, your complete blind faith in the unredeemable is going to get you killed one day. Hell, it damn well near got Carl and I killed once."
I stood up to face him, my shoulders rising and falling quickly, trying to contain my rage about him having a stab at my brother. My hands now balled into fists
"What did you say?"
"You heard me" he shot back as I tackled him to the ground and got two good punches in before Daryl peeled me off him. I spat at him
"Never, ever bring up Shane again! Do you understand me? My brother lost everything when you turned up! He lost his place as leader, he lost his lover and parentage to his unborn baby and to top it all off you killed him. He was sick Rick, he needed your help and you turned your back on him!"
Rick leaned into my face, feeling brave now that Daryl was restraining me.
"She was my wife Rackel! She was never his to begin with! It wasn't my fault your brother was weak minded, it'd only been a year and he completely lost it, became a danger to all around him. Guess it runs in the family."

Before I could react Daryl threw me back and his fist connected with Rick's jaw. The pure satisfaction I felt in that moment was indescribable, Rick finally getting a little bit of his back.
"Leave 'er be!" Daryl also waving his hands in warning to Rick, both of us staring at him stunned. Rick retreated as Daryl quickly turned around and led us back inside the house. He stopped as we made it to the lounge room and we stared into each other's eyes. He hovered close but didn't touch me
"He shouldn' of talked to you like tha'" I stared straight back at him as our lips collided, his stubble rubbing roughly against my skin.

His hands snaked around my body, pulling me in tight while still having a tenderness to his touch. I rested one hand on his cheek deepening the kiss, he was completely cathartic. I began unbuttoning his shirt, giving him unspoken permission to go further. He grabbed my hand and lead me upstairs to our old bedroom and we stood next to the bed. I noticed his hands started to shake; it had been a long time since he'd been with a woman, even before the apocalypse.

I held his hands firmly as we re-engaged the kiss, his shaking subsided. I finished taking his shirt off and unbuckled his belt. He gently tugged at my dress and pulled it off leaving me completely naked. We entwined our bodies losing ourselves in each other, his skin almost scorching to touch. As my nerves crackled from the electricity between us I pushed him down onto the bed and quickly followed him, straddling him.

He sat up and nuzzled my breasts tracing his fingertips across my ribcage, teasing the tip of his throbbing erection across my entrance.
"My Rackel"
As my name bubbled so longingly from his lips it made my heart ache. I held him in place as I eased him into me, a sigh escaping my lips. As I reached the hilt he squeezed his eyes shut as he slightly twitched inside me, already close. I kissed him as he climatized to me, then began to slowly move up and down. Everything was so tender, so gentle.

As our breathing quickened he raised his hips to meet mine as whimpers of pleasure filled the room. I moaned as he surprised me with a deep thrust hitting my g-spot.
"Oh god Daryl!" My exclamation urged him to quicken his pace, I felt my sex begin to clench around him. He pressed on, grunting as we both got close, kissing and nipping at my neck driving me wild. He made sure that I was taken care of before he came. I exploded yelling unintelligibly and Daryl followed, letting out the three little words I couldn't stand to hear.
"I love you"
I'd known that, but couldn't bare to hear it. I got off him as I scrambled for my dress and bolted out the door as the tears began. Daryl got out of bed and quickly zipped his jeans, hearing his heavy footsteps travel downstairs behind me.

What have I done?