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The soft beat of Dale’s ancient record player swept softly across the fields of the quarry. The twittering piano keys, background band, and string guitar had you swaying rhythmically as you hemmed the edges of a dress you scavenged for your daughter. Although the little tike could hardly walk she was growing faster than a weed and was in desperate need of new clothes. “You like oldies shit?” Shane asked curiously catching your attention. You huffed rolling your eyes at the wanna be hard ass. “Yeah… music like this played at the dinner I waitressed in all the time.” You muttered nonchalantly. You caught sight of the beaming smile Dale sent you and smiled back. The older man always seemed to feel like a guardian to you, Daryl, and a foster grandfather to Phoenix. You truly appreciated him for it. “I knew you had taste, Y/N.” Dale prided, walking over to stand next to Shane making his presence known to the other. You giggled setting your sewing down on the stand next to you carefully. “Thank you, hun.” You muttered sending the older man a wink just as a new song started. A bright smile graced your features as a new bright and bouncing song started. "This is one of my favorites." You whispered your smile growing as the older man laughed. "Well a pretty lady like you can't go without at least one dance during her favorite song. C'mon, Y/N." Dale offered holding his hand out for you to take.
Taking Dale's larger, calloused hand in your own you giggled as he pulled you gently to your feet completely ignoring Shane's sudden protests that you should be dancing with him instead. Dale held you at a respectable distance. "Enough room for Jesus, Y/N... We also don't want your husband's brother to give me what for." He muttered making you laugh and pat him on he chest. His hand was just a ghost on your waist as he took your hand in his own swaying with you to the beat of the music, pretending as if he were limber enough to dip you to the big crescendos and twirling you like a little girl. "You know." He muttered during a lower point in the song. "My wife loved to dance." He whispered sadly. The pain in his voice caught your eye and you couldn't help the frown that crossed your face. "If we had been blessed with a daughter I would have loved to have danced with her at her wedding..." Dale continued, either pretending not to notice your concern or not noticing in the first place. "This will just simply have to do..." He smiled nodding affirmatively, a single tear gracing the corner of his eye. His kindness and warmth washed over you. You couldn't help the tears the pricked the corners of your own eyes as you stopped dancing, pulling the older man in for a tight hug. "It most certainly will Dale. Thank you." You whispered, continuing to dance.
Turning to the feeling of a slight tap on your shoulder you smiled seeing Daryl, Merle not far behind him holding your daughter to his chest. Your brother in law paid you no mind, his loving eyes turned to the little girl currently trying to grab at his nose as he swayed and sang along to the sweet love song that played. "Mind if I step in?" Daryl asked looking to the dirt, his face flushed, hands wringing with a sweet nervousness you knew came from the deepest most loving parts of his soul. Dale nodded squeezing your hand before stepping away. "Thank you so much for the dance." You said sweetly, squeezing Dale's hand back before wrapping your arms around Daryl's neck. Dale patted Daryl's shoulder on his way passed. "You're a lucky man, Daryl Dixon." He muttered smiling earnestly at your husband as he walked back to his seat. You could still see the nervousness on Daryl's face. "Daryl." You whispered sweetly, catching his attention. Laying a tender kiss to your husband's lips to help him relax you felt Daryl lay his hands gently on your hips beginning to sway in time with the music with you. "Never knew you liked to dance." Daryl hummed tensely against your lips between kisses. Gently shrugging you murmured. "Me either... guess I just started to like it." You whispered, laying your head against Daryl's chest and snuggling under his chin. Listening to your husband's heartbeat you smiled closing your eyes. You felt so content and loved in his gentle and loving embrace. Opening your eyes you watched your brother in law dance so sweetly with your daughter. His gentle nature only on display around her, he pressed a tender kiss to her forehead sending a wave of lovely giggles from the baby. Thanking Dale mentally for the music that brought life back to a little normalcy to everyone at least for tiny bit. Because without a song or a dance what would life be? Turning to Daryl you kissed him once more as the song came to a close. "I love you more than anything." You whispered making the archer chuckle. "I love ya more."