Chapter Text
It is well past midnight when Daryl slides under the blanket next to Rick. He grimaces at his oil stained fingers once more and sighs deep. It was pointless. He’d been elbow deep in the insides of the car today.
Rick has been in a mood lately, and they haven’t had enough time for themselves. Carl’s been in a mood lately, because of some girl at school. And Judith’s been fussier than normally because everyone seems to be in a mood.
Daryl’s tried to be indifferent about it all, but currently he’s definitely more than ready to pack his shit and disappear into the woods until winter.
The lamp on Rick’s nightstand is still on and he glances at his lover incredulously. The Sheriff of King County is currently staring at the ceiling, his eyes slightly panicky.
“What’s the matter?” Daryl asks, after Rick doesn’t make a move to notice him.
“Nothing,” Rick growls as a shifty reply. He tugs the blanket higher up, under his arms, and Daryl can see him pouting just a little.
“’s somethin’,” Daryl replies, his brow knitting together, “Ya been all moody lately. Male PMS, or somethin’?”
Rick scoffs.
“Get them panties straightened then if ya ain’t gonna tell me,” Daryl huffs, shrugging.
Rick’s quiet for a moment, before he shuffles and sits up.
“My stomach is getting big,” he states, looking down and placing his palms over the small pouching belly.
“Wah?” Daryl asks.
“I don’t work out as much, and I’m eating like a pig!” Rick explains, complaining, “Aaron and Eric’s pasta night, Carol’s cookies, Glenn brings us all the pizza we can eat, Jesus being a wizard in the kitchen with all the things he makes and the Greene sisters bringing us those awesome peach cobblers and apple pies from the bakery!”
He huffs, spreading his arms, “Look at it!”
Daryl snorts, but says nothing.
“I’m getting fat. Need to start to workout more. Gotta be able to run after the criminals!”
“So, we have criminals in this town now?” Daryl asks slightly amused.
“We could have,” Rick replies defensive, “Don’t need them laughing at me, like you and Shane are!”
Daryl raises his eyebrow and stares at Rick. The corners of his lips tugged up slightly, but he stifles the smirk quickly.
“I ain’t laughing at you,” Daryl sighs, “Tha’s a good daddy tummy,” he pushes on, reaches over and pats Rick’s abdomen.
“Huh?” Rick inquires, turning his head to look at Daryl sliding down and pulling the blanket over him.
“Yeah, nothin’s wrong with it. It just means ya dedicated yourself to ya family. No time for workout, or takin’ care of ya physique.”
Rick blinks few times. Not at what Daryl is saying but him using a word like ‘physique’.
“It’s a lovely tummy,” Daryl says, rolling closer to Rick, propping his head up with his arm, “No more horrible sessions on a treadmill. I’d say a very lovely tummy, indeed. One that loves to watch movies on the couch, eat chips and some damn good chocolate, when the kids fall asleep and we get some time for ourselves.”
“What?”
Daryl grins, actually grins, and kisses Rick on the lips. When he pulls back he smiles softly.
“Go to sleep, Rick,” Daryl sighs and rolls onto his other side, and settles down to sleep, “And kill the light.”
“I’d feel proud of myself if I didn’t pity myself right now,” Rick winces.