AN: so I was experimenting, I wanted to write an AU with a season 3 feel. This is non zombie. This is angsty and will be short. A few chapters at most.

I do not own or profit from The Walking Dead

Xxxxxxxx

He was back.

Carol watched Daryl from behind the counter. He stretched his back out, popping his joints as he relaxed from the obviously long motorcycle ride. Michonne's long legs, swung easily off his bike. Michonne's handed Daryl his extra helmet with a playful push. He retaliated by grabbing a handful of her dreads, pulling in laughter, as she shrieked at him in good nature.

Carol watched through the window, the little gas bar becoming suffocating in a sudden oppressive heat. Or maybe it was a chill. Maybe it was the cold chill that seeped up into her heart, the pain of her intense loneliness so unbearable, it was as though she was breathing in a thousands shards of glass. Past a lump that would not go away.

He was happy, smiling. Laughing. That's what mattered. He was happy. That alone caused a small sob to bubble up from the depths of her soul. Somehow, somehow she had thought, that when he was ready. It would be her, and him. But he was laughing and smiling and happy, for the first time since Merle's accident. Since Merle and Andrea's death.

She watched through the glass, as Michonne's grabbed a small pack from the bike and headed over to the car. Smiling at the joy on his face as Michonne's playfully flipped him off.

They were two birds of the same feather. Michonne a law student deeply affected by the loss of her best friend Andrea in a car accident that took the life of Daryl's brother Merle. Brought together by chance. Daryl a police officer looking for justice as well at the shady trucking practices of Governor trucking and their long history of apparently a poorly maintained fleet of vehicles. As well as other dubious business practices. Michonne had hunted Daryl down to help her with the investigation. It had become the two's single direct focus for six months. Brigging down Governor trucking and the owner Phillip Blake.

A quest that had taken them, off so many weekends and nights. As the two held stake outs, and went on fact finding missions. All the while the stoic Michonne and Daryl burying their pain in apparently a deeper relationship.

Daryl Dixon, the love of Carol's life. The man of her dreams. Was in love with someone else. He may not even see it, may not realize it to be true. But he was smiling, and happy. Carol turned her back, whipping her eyes.

She was being foolish. They were friends. She had thought best friends.

She'd met him three years ago. Carol had answered an add, for a manager of Merle's garage. She's found so much more than what she's been hoping for.

Twenty seven years old she'd been broken and lost. Pregnant with Ed's child, barely able to open her eyes from the latest beating Ed had peppered her face with. Eyes blood shot and swollen nothing left to loose, she'd walked in hoping for a chance.

Merle had hired her on the spot. The big brother she had never had. Carol's heart twisted at the thought of the loss of Merle. His big booming laugh, his penchant for stupid nicknames. He'd given her a chance, one she would be forever grateful for.

Daryl, had been at the academy when Merle had hired her. But when he returned, she'd known. Known her life would never be the same.

His eyes seemed to always find her in a room. He'd been endlessly concerned about her awkward pregnant state. Showing up at the gas bar and convenience store to help on days off. Always there with a watchful eye. Always wanting to make her life easier.

They became friends, talking about everything and nothing. Daryl helped her move into a better place. Introduced to a growing group of friends. Convinced her to go back to school.

Anything had seemed possible. Until that night. The night she'd lost her baby.

Ed hadn't bothered her much. She felt his presence, but the sudden appearance of the two Dixon men in her life.

She'd been seven months pregnant when she'd met Ed in the back parking lot of the garage. Her last thoughts as Ed's fists descended on her had been she really should have gotten new lights for the parking lot like Daryl had said.

Waking up in the hospital, Daryl had been there. Grasping her hands so tightly. She'd seen his tears.

Her baby, her beautiful girl. Was gone.

The doctor's, the nurse's had told her. She could have more children. It wasn't over. Daryl and Merle had told her that it was over. Ed would never hurt her again.

Her baby was gone.

Carol had fallen, into a pit. A pit of inky black oblivion. The world turned into a million shAdes of grey. Or maybe black. Colorlous and monochromatic.

But he was there. Daryl. In his simple unassuming way. Sitting next to her as he watched her nervously. Respecting her silence. Day in and day out trying she was sure, the best way he knew how. To break through the barrier of loneliness she'd placed around herself.

He was so awkward and unassuming. She knew that something must have drove him to behave the way he did. His persistence broke through her barriers, as he burrowed his way into her heart. Latching on to everything she had left to give. All the love in her heart was his, he didn't even know it.

His shy smiles and blushes touched her heart, as she broke through her grief like a rosebud trying to bloom toward the sun. She soon took pleasure in teasing him just to see his beautiful eyes crinkle with a grin. He'd been happy because she was happy.

Shy smiles had turned to heated glances, and some long lingering touches. Carol had the feeling like they were headed towards something, something she'd been waiting her whole life. This was what love was supposed to be.

Then it happened, the accident.

Merle was gone, in an instant.

Selfishly she'd thought, she could be there for him. She thought she could help through it. She wanted to be what he needed.

What he needed was Michonne. She'd come into their lives grieving the loss of her best friend, looking for an ally, in taking down, Phillip Blake.

It began. The stake outs, the fact finding trips. The endless hours going through records upon records. Carol had offered, at first to help. To do what she could. But it had been apparent, that she was more of a hinderance. They were warriors. Carol was a survivor.

She'd backed away. Never one prone to jealousy, she would not be able to feel it if she tried. Daryl was everything to her. She couldn't deny him happiness. Even if it felt that it was going to drown her in sorrow. Even if she thought he would find it with her.

She liked Michonne. She was nice. Carol could not find one single fault with Michonne other than the fact that Daryl, had chosen her.

She would not pine. There was nothing she hated more than pinning after a man. Sadness was a given she would allow herself, but she was would never know. He would never know how she felt.