"You're pretty good at that. Maybe we should have another kid so you can make clothes for them."-
Lee Jin Wook
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-Chapter Summary:-
After years, Taylor is reunited with Daryl as he finally gets to truly meet Hailey, Autumn, and Abraham Jr., but this reunion is far from warm welcoming. Taylor despises that Daryl's back, but must put her feelings aside, as one of their own from Hilltop have gone missing.
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-Chapter ninety four; Stradivarius-
———
TAYLOR
IT WAS THE FOLLOWING DAY, AND
Taylor and Lee were out by the front of the Barrington house watching as Hailey, Autumn, and Abraham Jr. played out in the fields.
Jordyn and Alden had gone out on a supply run together a few hours ago on behalf of Taylor to get her the materials she needed to make the clothing she was going to sell at the trade fair in the upcoming weeks.
It was just one of the many other hobbies she had picked up over the years of the apocalypse.
Lee looked down at Taylor, watching as she smoothly poked the needle through the two pieces of fabric and began stitching them together.
He smirked, "You're pretty good at that. Maybe we should have another kid so you can make clothes for them.".
Her ears, nose, and cheeks dusted with blush as she bowed her head to hide her embarrassed face, "I-I uh...I think one's plenty enough.".
That's when the roaring sound of a motorcycle ripped through the air, and her heart immediately sunk, "Oh shit.".
He reassuringly placed a hand over her's as Hailey, Autumn, and Abraham Jr. rushed up to them at the picnic table they were stationed at.
"Auntie Tay Tay. What's that sound?" Autumn asked her.
Taylor sighed, setting down the two pieces of fabric as she rested her other hand over Lee's, "That would be a motorcycle, sweetie.".
"Oh yeah." Abe grinned, "Dad talks about them sometimes. They're super cool.".
Autumn folded her arms, "How would you know? You've never even seen one.".
"Now he has." Hailey pointed to the front gate of Hilltop as it opened, and in came Daryl on his bike with Carol and Henry behind him on a horse drawn carriage.
"It's Auntie Carol and Henry!" Autumn giggled while clapping.
"Mommy," Hailey looked up at Taylor, "Who's the man on the motorcycle?".
She furrowed her eyebrows, Hailey's question proof enough that Daryl wasn't in their lives like he should be, "That sweetie, is y'all's grandpa Daryl.".
Hailey gasped excitedly, rushing off ahead up to the motorcycle as Autumn and Abe followed behind her.
DARYL
AFTER HUGGING TARA, THE TWO
turned to see three young children running across the field up to them.
She smiled, "Looks like they missed their grandpa Daryl.".
Furrowing his eyebrows, he turned back to her, "Wait, ya' mean...".
She nodded, "Yep. It's Hailey, Autumn, and Abe.".
He looked closely over the three children, and now that he thought about it, it made sense.
The bright red, curly hair without a doubt belonged to Autumn, and the mirror image of Alden had to be Abraham Jr.
But then there was a young korean girl with big, black doughy eyes and her jet black hair cut and done into a short, neat bob.
Yep, that would be Hailey...
"Grandpa Daryl!" She cried, racing up to him and leaping into his arms as she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, "I've missed you so much!".
He couldn't help the smile that crept onto his face as he hugged her back, "I've missed ya' too, babygirl.".
"Where have you been? Mommy says we haven't seen you since you saved us from those bad people a few years ago." She asked.
"I've uh...I've been busy is all, kiddo." He replied, setting her down on the ground.
She really did look like Lee and Taylor...
He looked over at Abe and Autumn who were currently staring curiously up at him.
He grinned, kneeling down to their height, "Hey, you two. You've been good for yer mom an' dad?".
She nodded, smiling and speaking in a shy, quiet voice, "Yes.".
He outstretched his arms for a hug, for which she reluctantly returned, and he looked over her shoulder over at Abe, "C'mon, Abe. Don' ya' wan' a hug?".
Puffing his cheeks, Abe looked down at the ground and folded his arms as he mumbled under his breath, "Yes.".
He then reluctantly wrapped his arms around Daryl for a hug.
That's when Taylor walked up, a scowl on her face, "What the hell are you doing here?".
Pulling away from Autumn and Abraham Jr., Daryl stood up, "Babygirl, h-".
She interrupted him, "Don't fucking babygirl me, asshole. You're not my dad. Answer the damn question.".
Sighing, he gestured over to Carol and Henry who walked up, "Watchin' over Henry while he stays here an' trains under Earl.".
Her face immediately softened as she looked over at the two, "Carol, Henry, hey.".
Giving Daryl the cold shoulder, she walked past him like he wasn't there and walked up to Carol, bringing her into an embrace.
Carol hugged her back, "Hi, sweetie. You're getting so big. How old are you now?".
"Twenty two. My birthday was a few months ago." She then glared back at Daryl, "Another one Daryl didn't bother to show up to.".
Every word from her sent another stab to his heart, but he knew she was right.
As he watched her hug Henry as if he wasn't even there, he knew it was justified.
He felt a tug on his hand, and he looked down to see Abe looking up at him.
"What is it, bud?" He asked him.
"What did you do to make Auntie Taylor so mad?" Abe asked.
Daryl sighed, "It uh...it's complicated, bud. I'll tell ya' when yer a bit older.".
Lee walked up, resting a hand on his shoulder, "She'll come around, man. She just needs time.".
That's when Jesus walked up, "This is a pleasant surprise. What brings you all the way out here?".
"Henry. He's taken a stubborn interest in blacksmithing." Carol explained as Taylor and Daryl walked over to Aaron who came up with a horse.
"Did you know he was coming?" She asked him before glaring over at Daryl.
"Nope." Aaron replied, popping the p, "But isn't this a good thing? You two can finally make up.".
"Yeah, no. There's no fixing what he caused." She spat.
There went another stab to his heart as he hugged Aaron, "It uh..it's good ta' see you, man. What you doin' here? Somethin' up?".
"We found Rosita outside the walls yesterday. She's pretty banged up." Aaron explained.
"Is she here?" Daryl asked.
"Yeah. And, uh, Eugene's missing. We're headed out to go find him. Could use some good trackers." Aaron replied.
Daryl nodded, "Yeah. Of course.".
"I'll go too. I still owe Eugene." Taylor said, turning to Hailey, "You wanna come with mommy sweetie to grab my stuff?".
She nodded happily, "Yes please, mommy.".
She looked up at Daryl, reaching out her hand to him, "C'mon, grandpa Daryl. Come walk with us!".
He chuckled, grabbing her hand, "Alri', babygirl.".
As he walked with Hailey behind Taylor up to the Barrington house, he asked her, "So uh...what're you, Hailey, an' Lee doin' at Hilltop. Thought y'all live in Alexandria?."
"None of your goddamn business." She remarked.
"We came with Auntie Jordyn, Uncle Alden, Autumn, and Abe to help with the trade fair! Will you be there, grandpa Daryl? Mommy said they'll have carnival games, and I want to play them with you!" Hailey explained as the three walked inside and up the stairs.
"'Course, babygirl. I'll go an' play 'em games with ya'." He smiled.
He wasn't originally planning on going to the trade fair, rather staying at his camp in the woods, but he couldn't deny Hailey.
Besides, maybe this would finally convince Taylor that he was sorry for what he did, and wanted to come back into her life with her family, and he'd start by treating his granddaughter like his actual one.
Taylor opened the door to her and Lee's room, the three walking inside as she walked to the closet and grabbed her weapons and backpack.
"Grandpa Daryl," Hailey looked up at him with doughy eyes, "Do you and mommy have to go? It's dangerous out there.".
Before he could tell her it would be alright, Taylor beat him to it, shoving him out of the way as she knelt down to Hailey, "Don't worry, sweetie. Me and your grandpa Daryl have gone out there thousands of times. We'll be just fine and back very soon. I promise.".
"Mhm. Can grandpa Daryl have a tea party with me and Autumn when you guys get back?" Hailey asked.
"Of course. You can do his makeup and hair and put him in a pretty dress." Daryl could practically hear the smirk in Taylor's voice.
'Great. Now I gotta sit through a fuckin' tea party...'.
Hailey then walked up to Daryl and hugged his leg, "Keep mommy safe grandpa Daryl. Just like all the times you did before I was born.".
A small smile appeared on his lips as he patted her head, "O 'course, babygirl. I always will.".
The two waved goodbye to Hailey before walking out ot the room and back downstairs.
He sighed, "Bab- Taylor...would ya' please talk ta' me?".
"We have nothing to talk about." She stated as they walked outside.
Aaron and Jesus were both saddled up on their horses.
"You two ready to go?" Jesus then asked them.
"Yeah. Mind if I ride with you, Aaron?" She replied.
He coughed awkwardly, "Uh, sorry, Taylor. There's not enough room.".
She scoffed, "Sure. I'll just ride with Jesus then.".
He shrugged, "Sorry, Taylor. I'm out of room, too.".
She groaned, glaring over at Daryl, "Guess I'm riding with your nasty ass.".
Carol, who was previously talking to Lee about Hailey, Autumn, and Abraham Jr., walked up to her and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear as she smiled, "It'll be good bonding time for you and Daryl.".
Taylor nodded before following Daryl over to his bike, hopping on behind him.
"Dog!" He called, and a german shepherd then came running up from playing with Autumn, Abraham Jr., and Hailey.
"Awww. It's a doggy. He's so cute!" Taylor chimed as the dog came up to her, and she scratched it behind its ears.
"His name's Dog." Daryl smiled, petting Dog on his head.
Taylor scoffed, "I wasn't talking to you. Just go. I wanna find Eugene and get back and as far from you as possible.".
He sighed sadly, revving up the engine as the gate to Hilltop opened and Dog ran out, "Alri'...".
They followed behind him, Aaron and Jesus behind them as they rode out and away from Hilltop to find Eugene.
———
To Be Continued...
Word Count: 1890
Edited: ❌
@Taylor_Frickin_Dixon
Tag List:
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ConnieSpringersWifey
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A/n:
Hey guys! Real quick, I wanted to list the facelaims for Hailey, Abraham Jr., and
Autumn. ConnieSpringersWifey
picked the facelaims for Autumn and Abraham Jr., so credits go to her for that.
-𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒎𝒏 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒅 𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝑴𝒂𝒈𝒈𝒊𝒆 𝑬𝒍𝒊𝒛𝒂𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒉 𝑱𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔:-
-𝑨𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒉𝒂𝒎 𝑱𝒓. 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒅 𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝑴𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝑪𝒐𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒍:-
-& 𝑯𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒚 𝑾𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝑲𝒊𝒎 𝑺𝒐𝒐 𝑰𝒏:-