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The sun was setting on another day when Daryl made his way back up to the watch tower. He felt the air start to cool as the hot Georgia sun sank behind the tree line. This had always been his favorite time of day, and as the colors of the sunset danced in the sky, he couldn't help but be memorized by the scene in front of him. He had been so caught up in the sight that he didn't notice the presence of another person.
"Hey." The quiet voice took him by surprise but as soon as he realized who it was he instantly calmed down.
"You gotta stop sneaking up on me woman." He watched as a smile crept across the woman that stood before him.
"Learned from the best." Carol said with a tease. Daryl couldn't help but smirk which made her smile even more. Looking towards the sky Carol couldn't help but comment on the scenery.
"I haven't seen a sunset so beautiful in a long time, you know with the world gone to shit and all." A chuckle escaped Daryl's lips. He didn't quite get what it was about her, but she somehow made the hell they lived in a little easier.
"Mind if I watch with ya?" It seemed that she wasn't taking no for an answer because before he could even get a word out she was pulling up a chair.
"Yeah sure just do what you want." He tried to tease but he had never been real good at it. She knew that though, and soon they were sitting together taking watch. A comfortable silence fell over them as the sun continued to drop lower into the sky. He took a moment to look over at her, she sat comfortable in the lawn chair shot gun in hand. She wasn't the same woman he met back in Atlanta. Carol found a new source of strength that she never knew she had. He didn't care how awful this came across as, but the death of her husband was the greatest thing that ever happened to her. Although, Ed should just be happy that walker got to him before Daryl did. When he watched her take the axe to her now dead husband, that was the moment he really started to notice her. Sure he'd seen her around but not like this. He saw her strength, the potential she had to help out the group. From that day on he kept a closer eye on her.
"What?" Carol looked a bit confused but she still kept a small smile. She had felt him staring at her, at first shrugging it off, but after awhile she started to wonder what was going on. He instantly looked away, a hint of blush spread across his cheeks,
"Nothin." He said with a gruff. All she could do was let out a laugh as she looked over at him. Now she was the one staring. His dark hair lay shaggily across his face just long enough that he would need to occasionally brush it out of his eyes. His crossbow was in hand but he gripped it loosely, his strong arms rested on the arms rest of the chair. Carol had always noticed Daryl, how could she not? He in her eyes was breath taking, not that she would ever admit it. As close as they had become she knew if she ever mentioned anything like that he'd grow uncomfortable and she wasn't prepared to lose him.
She knew she needed to look away. Surprisingly it took more than she thought to just look away. They resumed their comfortable silence as the sun finally disappeared from the sky. The stars came out and yet again Carol found herself staring up into the sky.
"Everything is just so breathtaking. It makes you almost forget it's the end of the world." Daryl just nodded in agreement.
"It's beautiful." His voice was quiet but he didn't find himself looking to the sky as he said it, instead he was looking at Carol. She hadn't seemed to have heard him and he thanked whatever god was up there she didn't. He wasn't sure what had been going on with him, and he wasn't even sure if he was ready to figure it out, but whatever it was he didn't want it driving her away.
The temperature was dropping as the night went on. Although the cold didn't seem to affect him, he soon noticed Carol start to shiver.
"You don't have to stay up with me." Daryl spoke as he started to search for something to give her. Everything in him wanted her to stay, but he knew he shouldn't be selfish and let her suffer.
"I'm ok, really. Besides, I want to stay." The last part was just barely a whisper. "Did I really just say that?" She thought to herself as she searched for any kind of reaction from Daryl. "Maybe he didn't hear me." But of course just as that thought crossed her mind, a smile started to form on his face, disappearing as fast as it appeared.
"She wants to stay." Before he could even realize it a smile found its way across his lips. He did his best to hide it, not wanting her to see how happy that actually made him. Lucky for him he had found a blanket and handed it to her,
"Suit yourself, but no complaining about being cold." Carol, still embarrassed at what she said, just took the blanket with a nod.
While Carol was busy fidgeting with the blanket Daryl moved his chair over closer to her, "For safety purposes of course." It sounded more like he was trying to convince himself instead of just stating it. She hadn't seemed to really notice as Carol finally found herself comfortable again in the chair. Her mind drifted back to the day's events.
Rick thought it was for the best to give the prison to the people of Woodbury. With a missing governor everyone agreed it was safer to leave, although no one was necessarily ready to leave behind the place they had found themselves calling home. The decision was made to head towards the coast; it gave them lots of ground to cover, with so many miles in between they were bound to find another place to settle down in.
A sigh escaped her lips, "You think it'll be alright?" She was looking to him for some comfort. All she needed to know was that things were going to be ok no matter where they ended up. Looking away from the tree line, Daryl looks over to the woman beside him. With a deep breath he answered, "To be honest, I don't know. All I know is we are safer out there than here. We can handle walkers, but I'm not so sure about the governor."
He had never been real good at comforting or with words for that matter and by the look of fear still across her face he knew that he wasn't doing the best job right now. Something had to be done.
Daryl got up from his chair and moved to stand in front of her. Slowly he knelt down and took her hand in between his. He had been tense at first, giving him a moment to relax before speaking, "You know I ain't good with words or being all that comforting, but no matter what I'm always gonna be here. I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe."
It was a simple explanation, but to her it was perfect. Tears started to form in the corners of her eyes but she held them back knowing it would make him uncomfortable. The fear she felt soon vanished and she soon found herself smiling.
"That's all I needed to hear." She spoke and gave his hand a squeeze, "Thank you." With that Daryl found himself smiling right back at her, a genuine smile. He then got up and brought his chair right next to hers. Sitting down and taking one more look at her, he went back to watching the tree line.
A smile was still spread across Carol's face as she did the same. The idea of having someone like Daryl watching out for made her feel the safest she's ever been. She looked up to the sky again thinking how this night just what she needed and how it could not have been more perfect. That was until she felt him snake his hand into hers. "Now." She thought, "Everything is perfect."
