#the walking dead holiday

[dixons-sunshine]

Sweet Treats | Daryl Dixon x Fem!Reader

Day One: Cookies/Cocoa

(GIF by @jaaryl)

“Jesus fuck, s’colder than a witch’s tit out there. M’freezin’ my ass off.”

The sound of your husband’s voice echoed through your shared Alexandrian home. You chuckled lightly to yourself, shaking your head as you continued with your task; placing the cookies you had baked into a tin, two steaming cups of hot chocolate resting on the countertops next to you. You had made the beverages when you had initially heard the roaring rumble of the archer’s motorcycle, knowing fully well that Daryl would be feeling like an ice cube when he returned.

And you were right.

The sound of Daryl’s footsteps grew closer, until the man himself was standing a mere few feet away from you. He hummed in approval when the aroma of the freshly baked cookies filled his senses.

“Mhm, smells good,” he started, rubbing his hands together in the hopes of heating them up. “What’cha makin’?”

“Hello to you, too, Daryl,” you began in a teasing voice, turning around to face him and nearly colliding with his chest, not expecting him to have been so close. However, you quickly composed yourself. “How was your day? My day was okay, thank you so much for asking.”

Daryl rolled his eyes, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “Yeah, yeah. M’sorry. Lemme try again.” He cleared his throat, stepped forward and gently pulled you closer by your hips, his ocean-like eyes sparkling under the faint light of the kitchen. “Hiya, Sweetheart. Whatever you’re makin’ smells fuckin’ amazin’.”

“Hmm, not exactly right, but we’re getting there.” You smiled softly and leaned forward to catch his lips with yours, slowly and tenderly moving your mouths against one another’s. When you pulled back, you reached up and tucked a stray strand of hair behind his ear. “Okay, but you weren’t lying. Even your lips are cold.”

“S’what I said. S’fuckin’ cold out there,” Daryl replied, moving to lean against the countertop while he carefully watched you grab a cup of, what he presumed to be, coffee and pass it over to him. However, when he took a sip, his eyes widened, and he looked back over at you. “S’this…?”

“Hot cocoa,” you confirmed, your eyes crinkling at the corners as you smiled at the almost child-like glee on his face at the sweet beverage. “I found some on a run the other day and I swiped it. And—” You grabbed the tin and opened it, before extending it to him. “—I asked Carol if I could borrow her cookie recipe, because you can’t have one without the other, right?”

“Right,” he agreed, taking a cookie from the tin and taking an eager bite from it.

He groaned in satisfaction and you laughed lightly. “Good?”

“Fuckin’ amazin’,” he complimented through a mouthful of the sweet treat. “You truly outdid yourself with this.”

“Thank you,” you replied, picking up your own cup and holding it up for a ‘toast’. Daryl scoffed but smiled faintly, before clinking his mug against yours.

“What’re we toastin’ ‘bout?” he inquired.

“Nothing in particular. Maybe about our love for each other.”

Daryl shook his head, but could not stop the warmth that bloomed in his chest at your words. “Way to make the moment sappy.”

“You love it, and you know it.”

“Nah,” he admitted after a moment of silence, “but I love you, and s’enough to make me overlook all of your chick flick moments.”

“You know what? I’ll take it.”

[lab-gr0wn-lambs]

my face when snowbal

[twdxtrevor]

I hope everyone's had a good holiday this year. Here's a picture of norman to brighten your day!

[angelwings-crossbowstrings]

Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree

Pairing: Daryl Dixon x Fem!Reader

Warnings: None

Summary: Daryl helps you reignite the Christmas spirit as best as he can.

A/N: This started as an incorrect quote inspired by a friend and her epic battle with a christmas tree. You can find the quote here. A special thank you to @shadowcitrine for allowing me to bear witness to this gladiator battle to the death. It was the hardest I have laughed in a long time. And furthermore, thank you again for allowing me to use your suffering to my creative advantage. I love you. ❤️

🎶Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree🎶

“How ya even know when it is anyway?” Holding the hex nut up to eye level, he turned it over between his fingers. Yep, that was the one. He placed it in the designated spot and fitted the wrench, his tongue poking out the corner of his mouth as he worked. 

“I don’t, but it’s mid winter and it’s snowing and why not? Don’t be so bah humbug, Daryl.” You chuckled at his expression. He never knew he was making it and you never told him. He would certainly make every attempt to stop and it was far too adorable to allow that. 

“I ain’t.” He grumbled, sitting up to scrutinize his own work. A droplet of melted snow landed on the apple of his cheek. He didn’t seem to mind, if he noticed at all. The roof of the old stall was known to leak. “Just—never understood it, s’all.”

Your smile faded. “You never had one.” You didn’t need him to confirm, and he didn’t. Not verbally. The way he paused with the wrench halfway to the bike spoke volumes. After a heartbeat, he cleared his throat and continued his work. 

The holiday wasn’t something that had been celebrated in the several years since the turn. Truthfully, no one had paid attention. Some of the children likely didn’t even know what Christmas was. The thought had always made your heart heavy but there had always been something standing in the way of any reclaiming of the holiday. 

“We should celebrate this year.” You blurted, not even really realizing that you had spoken out loud until Daryl scoffed. 

“Good luck with that.”

“I’m serious.” Crossing the space between the two of you, you crouched and balanced yourself with a hand on the bike’s front tire. “Come on, Daryl. It’ll be great for the kids. Hell, maybe it’ll do everyone some good.” He sighed, allowing his hand to fall away from its task. The pout you pinned him with was certainly what did him in. 

“Fine.”

Biting your lip in the center of a beaming smile, you lunged at him, almost toppling him over with the embrace. “Thank you!” Daryl nodded and patted your back, still awkward in his reciprocations of your touches even after so long as a couple. It was endearing. 

“Yeah, yeah. Whaddaya need me to do?”

With a firm grip on his upper arms, you pushed him back to arm’s length. “You’re gonna be Santa’s little helper! Come on!” 

Daryl scrubbed a hand over his face and gave a heaving sigh. “M’a regret this.”

It had taken six days and four supply runs to gather enough decorations for at least your own home to be decorated. You enlisted the help of some of the children for drawings and crafts that could be used as well. Though you wished you could color the community in lights and garland, your space would have to do for that first year. 

Your hope was for it to coax the holiday spirit from within the adults and inspire a sense of wonder from the little ones. Even with all the effort, it seemed so lackluster. And Daryl, bless him, was granting a valiant effort toward your endeavor. 

You had just pulled some cookies from the oven—gingerbread men for the kids to decorate with what little frosting and candy you could manage—when there was a knock on the door. 

“Yeah, one sec!” You called, pulling off the oven mitts to discard them on the countertop. A spared glance into the living room had you smiling. The multicolored lights you ran for a few hours each evening cast a brilliant illuminance across the door and then Carol’s face when you opened it. “Hey, come on in.”

Her boot had barely touched the floor on the other side of the threshold when a loud crash sounded from the living room. “What was that?” She queried.

“Don’t worry ‘bout it!” Came Daryl’s gruff response before your lips could even part. Carol’s eyebrows shot toward her hairline before another thump thud crash could be heard. 

“What was that?” She chuckled. 

“You’re askin’ a awful lot’a questions for someone who ain’t even in the goddamn room!”

Try as the two of you might to withhold, you broke out into laughter. You hid your knowing smile behind your hand. “Daryl’s putting up Christmas decorations.” 

“No I ain’t!” He shouted with obvious annoyance.  “M’playin’ “whose dick’s bigger” with a plastic fuckin’ tree!” 

More ruckus echoed, and you finally decided that maybe your archer needed some assistance. “Are you okay in here?” You chortled, rubbing your lips together in an attempt to maintain a straight face. 

Daryl was chewing his bottom lip in earnest when his eyes met yours. There was no anger there, but something more akin to embarrassment. Tilting your head, your nose crinkled and brow furrowed. What on earth could he be embarrassed—

Oh. 

The tree leaned to one side, bare spots where lights should be, limbs missing and broken on the floor. No matter the battle, it appeared the tree had won. Carol was snickering behind you, shushed by a wave of your hand and a stuttering ssh as you tried not to join her. 

“It looks—” You began.  

“Like it needs a stage name.” Carol finished for you. You turned to her again, your smile belying your admonishing tone. “Something about it seriously isn’t right with Jesus.” She laughed heartily. 

“He ain’t got nothin’ to do with this.” Turning back, you could almost see a pout decorating his handsome face. “May be his birthday but this is my tree!” Oh, how hard it was not to tease him. “Why couldn’t he just’a got a cake like everybody else?”

“Daryl!” You gave in, nearly doubling over. 

“Ain’t nothin’ wrong with a lighter and some beeswax.” He grumbled, petulantly yanking his arm away when you laid your hand on it. 

“It’s got character.” You assured him, face mockingly serious. Arms crossed, you stood next to him, head tilted to match the lean of the tree. “Like an extra in the Nutcracker.”

“One ya ain’t gonna let dance in the front.” He mimicked your pose, appearing a little more at ease—almost as if he himself might laugh. Carol joined the two of you, three sets of eyes studying the colorful disaster. 

“It really says something.” She affirmed with a hint of amusement. 

“Yeah, says m’sorry.” Daryl huffed. Smiling genuinely, you switched the tilt of your head to the other side, your temple resting against his shoulder. 

“I love our little crooked tree.” Your smile broadened when you felt his arm move and come to rest around your shoulders, his lips pressing into your hair. “Thank you.”

“Mhm.” 

You weren’t sure how long you stood there, comfortable in his embrace, but the excited yays from Judith and RJ broke the trance, your already upturned mouth splitting into a beaming smile. 

“Uncle Daryl, we have a tree!” The young boy exclaimed, jumping up and down. You had explained the gist of things to a group of children, delighting in their excitement when you promised to try your hardest in reviving the season. 

“Sure do.” He sounded almost proud, sparking something warm inside your chest. 

“How about some cookies before we invite everyone over?” You offered, your eyes on the children before finding Daryl watching you, a corner of his mouth upturned. 

There almost wasn’t room in your modest home for all the townsfolk but you made it work, serving stew and desserts and heaping helping of cheer. The laughs and smiles were all you had ever wanted for the community, the desire to uplift their spirits and inspire hope where so little had remained.

“Hey.” Daryl breathed against your ear, his arms wrapping around your middle. All teeth and crinkled eyes, you laid your head back against his shoulder and just watched. “Think ya did it.”

“We did it.” You corrected him, angling your face upward to kiss his chin, his whiskers comfortably scratching your lips. He hummed.

“Got a surprise for ya.” Daryl stepped back, arms releasing their hold only for his hand to find yours with a gentle tug. A curious expression crossed your face. 

“A surprise?”

“Mhm.” 

It took no coaxing for you to follow him to the door, watching him open it with sheer excitement reflecting in your bright orbs. You weren’t sure what you were expecting but to see his bike, strategically wrapped in garland and bells under the gentle peppering of snow was not it. 

“Oh, Daryl.” Your bottom lip quivered, your voice trembling. “You did this for me?” The tears that began to escape were unbidden, born not of sadness. 

“Well, yeah.” He kicked at something nonexistent on the porch, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Y’deserve something too.” Your smile was dazzling but dimmed after a moment, expression falling as you watched him. “What?”

“I didn’t—I couldn’t get anything for you.” 

Daryl stepped into your space without hesitation, the side of his forefinger below your chin while his thumb stroked your cheek. “Got all I need right here in this house.”

“Daryl.” You sniffled, a sob cut off by his lips on yours. The kiss was chaste, the taste of sugar and smoke so deliciously Daryl that you felt your heart flutter. 

“C’mon, let’s take ya on a sleigh ride.” 

With your hand in his, he guided you to the bike, your eyes wet and your heart full. Not even the cold winter wind whipping against your face could erase your smile. 

[youledmehere]

happy richonne anniversary day 🤍

[naughty-negan]

Merry Christmas 🎁🎄🧑‍🎄

[akajustmerry]

heyyyy uhhhh do you guys ever think about how insane it is that in the episode where rick holds Judith for the fast time, he is like, "we don't have anything to feed a baby 🥺" and then quite literally in the next scene michonne, who overheard Maggie and Glenn scavenging for it earlier, shows up with a basket full of baby formula and THAT'S the first time Rick and Michonne see each other. anyway, I'm normal about it :)

[dreamidoodles]

i promise guys im still alive here’s old man yaoi to prove it

[smutinlove]

Alexandrian Christmas │ Carl Grimes Fluff

Description - An Alexandrian Christmas was always fun. But now it was a day to be remembered.

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✯ ⋅.} ────── ⊰

This night is sparkling, don't you let it go I'm wonderstruck, blushing all the way home I'll spend forever wondering if you knew I was enchanted to meet you

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✯ ⋅.} ────── ⊰

You had always favored Christmas over Halloween. As a kid, you'd always look forward to getting gifts over candy. And you preferred a nice Christmas dinner prepared by your parents instead of a cold and chewy turkey on Thanksgiving.

But everything changed when the world ended. You still remember that night. You were alone, running away from walkers as fast as you could. Then, a man named Glenn found you and took you to a place called the quarry. There, you met a lot of kind people. You also met your best friend there. Carl Grimes.

But all good things come to an end. Walkers. Death and screams.

And now you find yourself in a town called Alexandria. It was a beautiful place. It was safe for you and for your group.

But it wasn't safe enough for Glenn and Abraham.

"Nice hair, idiot," you heard. Someone threw a pea at you, hitting your eye. "You asshat! I'm gonna get you, Grimes. I swear!" You yelled. Where did he even get that?

"I love you too," he teased. Carl grinned before he quickly ran away. That was your husband. Well, not really. You had a crush on him but never did anything about it. Deep down, you knew you weren't good enough for him.

He was everything to you. And you were just Y/N Y/L/N.

You sighed. You looked out the window and realized it was snowing. It was snowing! You hadn't seen snow in so long that you almost forgot what it looked like.

You ran to the door, put on your boots, and grabbed a coat from the coat rack. Michonne wouldn't mind, right?

You opened the door and ran outside. "Oh, my God!" you squealed. You felt something hit you. "Hey, what the fuck!"

Snow.

"Carl!" He winked. You grabbed a handful of snow and aimed it towards him, hitting his head. You grinned when you saw Carl wince. "Sorry!" You yelled, but he disappeared.

"Carl?" you called out. You sighed. "Carl, this isn't funny." Your soon-to-be boyfriend could sometimes be annoying.

You heard a scream coming from behind you. You turned around and saw Carl. He tackled you to the ground. He was on top of you. "Well, isn't this a sight?"

Carl looked up, finding a very amused Michonne. "Michonne. Hey!" Carl chuckled. He got up and extended a hand to you. You grabbed it, and he pulled you up.

"Michonne, it was not what it looked like. I swear!" Carl tried reassuring her. "I know," she said calmly. "You do?"

"And isn't that my coat?" Michonne asked. "Uh, no?"

Michonne narrowed her eyes, and that's when you knew you were done for.

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✯ ⋅.} ────── ⊰

Carol had decided to throw a Christmas party. And you loved that for her. Carol was the sweetest woman you had ever met, and she deserved the world, as did Carl Grimes.

As you entered the house, you could smell the warm cookies and cakes. You smiled. And it made you so happy.

There was booze too. Enough for everyone on Earth, including the walkers. You grinned at the thought. You poured a glass for yourself. Hey, it wasn't like anyone was going to arrest you or anything.

You took a sip, and it sucked. "It's expired, by the way." You looked to your left and saw Carl standing next to you. "Great. Adds more flavor." You two burst out laughing.

You put your glass down. "Y/N, I want to show you something," he said with an innocent smile.

"Okay," you replied. "Close your eyes." You closed your eyes, feeling excited. After a few minutes, Carl told you to open your eyes. He was holding a small box.

Carl blushed. "So." He opened the box, revealing a ring. He got down on one knee. "Y/N, I have loved you for years. But I was shy and scared. But now I'm not. It took me awhile to admit it to myself, but I really love you. Now, I only have one question, and although we aren't dating, will you marry me?"

A tear rolled down your cheek. "Yes!" He got up and slid the ring on your finger. Carl looked up. "Mistletoe," he whispered.

You grinned. You and Carl got closer to each other until the gap between your lips closed. He kissed you softly. And it was like everything you had ever imagined, but it was even better.

This was an Alexandrian Christmas that was going to be remembered for years.

To fall in love is one thing, but to fall in love with your best friend is beautiful.

───── ❝ authors note ❞ ─────

How'd y'all like my Christmas special?

(I made it silly on purpose!)

Thank you to everyone for the most momentous year ever! Especially @jas2010 @carlsdarling @taylormarieee I love you all so so much!!!! This year has been wonderful and I hope 2024 will also be fun and exciting. Thank you and Merry Christmas!!

[flowerprintundies]

How are Chaz and Luger celebrating the holidays?

by KISSING how else??!!!

[dixons-sunshine]

Mistletoe | Daryl Dixon x Fem!Reader

Day Fourteen: Mistletoe

Your eyebrows furrowed together at the sounds of your friends’ barely contained giggles. “Michonne? Carol? What—”

Michonne smirked knowingly. “Look up.”

You did just that. When you did, you saw a plant hanging above the entrance to the doorway of the gate leading into the main part of the prison. You sighed and rolled your eyes at it.

“Really, guys?” you asked rhetorically, shaking your head at them. “Sorry to tell you this, but there’s not exactly anyone standing next to me right now. This doesn’t mean—”

You got cut off by the feeling of someone coming to stand behind you. You jumped slightly and spun around, coming face-to-face with Daryl. He quickly steadied you before you could fall, although you weren’t actually stumbling. It was just an excuse to touch you without having it be awkward.

However, if Daryl knew what he got himself into by standing in the same doorway as you, he would definitely feel awkward at any second.

“Oh. Hi, Daryl,” Carol greeted him with a teasing smile. “You’re just in time.”

Daryl frowned and removed his hands from your arms. “What’re ya on ‘bout?”

“Like I told Y/N: look up,” Michonne repeated, her eyes darting up.

You quickly ducked your head in embarrassment, suddenly feeling very shy. It was no secret to your friends about your feelings for the archer, and now they were doing anything they could to speed up the process of getting you to admit your feelings for the man.

Daryl looked up and felt his cheeks heat up. He wasn’t an idiot. He knew exactly what that stupid plant meant, and now he was expected to follow the rules of a game he hadn’t even wanted to participate in. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to kiss you. God knows he really wanted to. He just didn’t want to kiss you because you felt like you had to.

“Well? Don’t get all shy on us now. You know what needs to be done,” Carol teased, her arms folded over her chest as she looked at the two of you.

“Yeah? And if we dun’ wanna do it? Then what?” Daryl asked, desperately trying to conceal his blush.

“I don’t know yet, but I’ll think of something.”

“It’s okay,” you said softly. You turned to Daryl and sent him a shy smile, before quickly pressing a soft, tender kiss to his cheek.

Daryl’s blush deepened even more. He ducked his head in an attempt to conceal it, but the laughter of his supposed friends told him that he wasn’t doing a good job at it. He really wished that the ground would just swallow him whole at that point.

“Well, not exactly what we were aiming for, but we’ll take it,” Michonne voiced with a shrug, before turning to whisper to Carol. “We’ll get them to break one day.”

“Oh, we will. I have no doubt about that.”

[alpacacare-archive]

If i think about noelle deltarune too hard i just crumple and die a little. I just want to give her her sister back and never replay the game again

[twdxtrevor]

Merry fucking christmas you sorry sack of shits!

[sunshinedaisy90]

Excited to post my first ever Bethyl Holidays Fest fic! And my first ever time sharing a fic on Tumblr!

(Though to be fair, I'm somehow that one person who's been reading fanfic since before Ao3 existed, and a millennial and yet somehow never really got into Tumblr. I feel like a grandma on one of those internet commercials who is just completely inept at technology.)

Here's my entry for the Halloween prompt: Shadows

I've been *attempting* to write something for Bethyl Holidays Fest since 2022 (and I do have drafts), and this year I finally finished one!

[therealroselovejoy]

Daryl Dixon x Reader

Daryl: We’re being watched.

Reader: That’s what you always say.

Daryl: And aren’t I always right, baby doll?

Let me know if you have any particular requests 🌸

[mistressheroine]

I’ll Be Home For Christmas by MistressHeroine

Daryl had been waiting at the gate with Aaron that day, all set for their latest excursion for supplies and possible new recruits for Aexandria’s growing community of survivors. Rick had been called for up on the wall and as he ordered the gate to be opened he had turned to look down at Daryl almost deathly pale. Before he had a chance to call up and ask him what was wrong, the gate had slid open with a creak. Stepping out from behind a tall forty-something African-American man came a ghost from their past. Beth had looked road-weary, in dirt crusted old faded blue jeans, a dusty olive green parka and a threadbare grey beanie hiding her blonde braid. What once was golden now looked tarnished, the blonde of her hair covered in grime and dried blood - whether her own or someone else's, something else’s, he couldn’t tell.

My new story for the BHF23 Christmas prompt “Christmas Carols” is now up! Massive thank you to @im-immortal for your suggestions on this one, you really are the best ☺️

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it and best wishes to everyone for the new year ahead 🖤