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Daryl Dixon x Single Dad!Male Reader
At first, I can imagine Daryl thinking one of the women were the mother, like people thought Shane was Carl's father
It wasn't until he actually noticed that it was just you two in the tent, I mean most single parents he knew were mothers with dead beat baby daddies, it was a bit of a suprise to him.
But of course, your kid is the one that decides everyone else are "scaredy-cats" and has practically imprinted on Daryl
Daryl at most said a few sentences total to them, doesn't matter how blunt the kid just won't get the hint
The more you had to go collect them or stand near Daryl to be close to them, the closer you and Daryl ended up getting.
If Merle was around he'd never hear the end of how soft he was, but something about this kid just knew how to tug at his heart
It became second nature to look for you in a room, moving closer when there was any danger,
He didn't even notice until Rick was looking for you and pointed out that Daryl tends to keep an eye on you two.
Daryl was honestly scared when he started feeling weird around you, he ended up brining it up to Carol before getting laughed at
He was not amused.
She told him it was called a crush, and that made it worse. What do you mean he had a crush? And to a man? This was all new so he avoided it
Which meant avoiding you and your kid
To say it hurt was an understatement, but your baby was hurt so much worse. They just couldn't understand why Daryl wasn't around anymore
You could push the feelings away when it was just you, but when they asked "Where's Dad Daryl?" it was enough.
It didn't help how they saw Daryl care for Judith, wondering why he didn't like them anymore.
You had to wait till your kid was asleep before confronting him, it was going to end up in a shouting match so hopefully they wouldn't hear it.
Shouting match was correct, what wasn't expected was it to be cut off by Daryl kissing you. He looked as shocked as you did, before you pulled him back in
What you forgot to warn Daryl about was he might accidentally be called dad, and that scared him.
How is he supposed to be a dad? He didnt exactly have a good example growing up. It was something to get used to for sure, but you always gave him the choice to talk and ask them to stop.
You really became a little family, a life without Daryl seemed impossible now.
When Daryl was out on runs he always looked for stuff for you and your kid, it helped that Carl enjoyed to share his comics, or as he said, "infect them with comics."
Your cell had a blanket covering the door, Daryl loved you, didn't hide or deny that he was yours, but he didn't want just anyone to see him so vulnerable.
Your kid, that was one of Daryl's favourite phrases now but you'd never hear it come from his mouth, but it was clear when his smile just slightly raised everytime it was said.
Your kid never left Daryl alone if they could stay together, somehow convincing him to carry them around on his hip or shoulders
If you'd told Daryl before the apocalypse he'd have his own little happy family, he'd have probably taken it as some sort of mockery.
And now he wouldn't change anything, even if it took the world ending to find his new world.