Moonstruck

Carol murmured a "Goodnight" to Denise and opened the door of the infirmary to find Daryl sitting on the porch. He stood up when she came out of the medical unit, "Ready to go home now?"

She eyed him warily. Carol had been meeting with Denise three times a week since Sam was killed. Most of her visits were late in the evening like this one. She and Denise would drink a cup of tea and talk. It wasn't a big secret but Carol had never talked with Daryl about it. They hadn't talked much about anything lately but here he was waiting on this porch to walk her back to the house. What's going on with you?

"Moon's full tonight. It's not cold. So you wanta take a walk?" He peered at her in the almost darkness.

She had a shitload of things to do at the house. Rick and Daryl had just returned from a run today and Daryl should be home sleeping. She was still a little unsettled from seeing him rocking on the porch as if he had nothing better to do but wait for her. "You going to protect me from werewolves?"

It was a lame joke and Daryl gave his almost smile, "You take out the werewolves and I'll take care of everything else." He took her right hand in his left to help her down the dark steps and didn't turn loose as they began to walk under the streetlights. "That's a harvest moon. Full moon closest to the autumnal equinox."

The moon was just coming up over the walls. Carol sighed, "I used to like to walk in the open area around the prison and look at the sky at night." Then if you were on watch I'd go up and sit with you for a while.

"I miss it too. Miss feeling like we were creating our own safe place. Not just a place for people to get away from the walkers, but a place where we could be the person we wanted to be." Daryl glanced up at the moon. "We can have that here. I know you're trying."

For a moment she was back in Atlanta talking to Daryl about this world consuming her. Maybe it was time to talk to Daryl again, "I started therapy with Denise after I couldn't stop crying one night. I went by the next morning and there wasn't anyone there and I told her about Karen and David. Then I told her about Mika and Lizzie. Cried the whole time. I've been seeing her three times a week since then. I bring her cookies and brownies." So go ahead and tell me therapy is for those who want to wallow in their misery.

He squeezed her hand gently, "I told everyone that I was going to the infirmary to have my wound checked, but I was in there spilling my guts out about my father and losing my mother. I knew you were going there too. I figured you would tell me when you were ready."

They walked two circuits around Alexandria before they decided to go home and eat a piece of apple cake. Carol was feeling slightly buzzed. Almost lighthearted. Comfortable with Daryl holding her hand. Laughing with him when he told her about trying to chase down "that asshole Jesus" and how Glenn was having more morning sickness than Maggie. The moon watching them as they headed back to the house. Carol went in first with Daryl right behind her. The living room was dark and they hesitated just a second to let their eyes adjust to the room's lack of light.

Then, the unmistakable moans of Rick and Michonne wafted down from the second floor. Carol froze in place but had to stuff her hand in her mouth to keep her from giggling. Rick and Michonne having sex? Awkward. Don't think I better ask if they want a piece of apple cake.

Daryl leaned close to her and whispered in her ear, "Let's go outside." His hot breath in her ear sent a message to her brain that she didn't want to decode right then.

Daryl shut the door behind them carefully and they sneaked off the porch and back out on the street laughing like idiots. Carol looked at Daryl, "We can't walk all night. Those two didn't sound like they are going to sleep any time soon. I have the keys to the house next door. Eric and I are working on it. Let's give the happy couple a little privacy."

Daryl followed her to Shelley's house and as always she avoided looking at the place where her friend was standing when she was killed. Carol opened the door and turned on the lamp. She and Eric had argued about every piece of furniture in the room, but they were both pleased with the result. They had taken the carpet up and put in a hardwood floor. Carol felt like that freed them up to add more color to the room.

Daryl ignored her red sofa and headed toward the artwork, "I like this one. It's the pond in the center of town. Looks peaceful. Who painted it? Don't see any name on it. This one looks like the farm." He was silent for a minute. Just examining the two paintings. "You painted them didn't you?" Daryl walked to her. "They're really good. Why are you hiding them over here?" Maybe I have a few secrets, Daryl. Maybe you don't know me as well as you think you do.

"I'm going to move here. All my life I've been living in someone else's house. I want a home of my own." Carol finally looked at Daryl. "I am just next door. I don't want to run away, Daryl. I just want some space, and from the sound of things Rick and Michonne need some privacy." She took her jacket off and tossed it on the chair. "Take your coat off and I'll make us some coffee. Shelley had two cans in the freezer."

He followed her to the kitchen. "I want a tour of our new house."

Carol looked up from the coffee maker, "Our house? I'm going to stay up all night reading. I'm going to paint instead of clean house. I start tomorrow at my new assignment. Eric and I are going to do repairs houses. So Casserole Carol is no more. The me I want to be isn't going to be a household drudge anymore."

Daryl was looking more pissed than hurt. "I don't want to live in a house with the lovebirds either. You got a man? That's why you wanta move out. So you can play house with Tobin or John Osborne?" I'm taking the high road here and not telling you to go to hell.

"You can move in with Eugene and Rosita. She's a good cook too." And pretty. Damn. Should have thought that through.

"I'd kill Eugene the first day. This looks like a nice place. Got a basement?" He wandered off downstairs while she made the coffee. He was soon back, "Not bad downstairs. Show me the rest of the house."

She led the way unwillingly. "You've seen the kitchen, dining area, and living room. Over here is the den and it has a bathroom. I've been using it as my studio." The room was a mess of scattered art supplies but Daryl plowed over to her latest painting. It was a pecan grove. Three girls were playing hide and seek among the trees and Carol had painted them more as ghosts than alive. It wasn't sweet and it wasn't beautiful. It looked haunted and slightly disturbed and she was fine with that. It was what it was.

He didn't say anything about the painting. Just bit his lip and stared at it. "Good place for your studio. Let's go upstairs."

There were three bedrooms upstairs. The master bedroom large and had an attached bathroom. The other two bedrooms were small and shared a Jack and Jill bathroom. The master had a bed with a brand new mattress. There was a bed in one of the other bedrooms that had never been used.

Daryl stared at her. "There is plenty of room for two people. Don't be so selfish. Now I'ma going over to the other house and swipe the apple cake. You get the coffee ready." He disappeared. The man is moonstruck. Holding my hand, being jealous, and wanting to live with me. I like it, but what happens when moon starts waning?

He was soon back with the cake, "Carl has eaten most of it. Damn kid." Carol cut him a generous slice and poured him a mug of coffee. She intended on talking him out of this mad scheme to play house with her.

He bit into the cake and chewed slowly, "I can see that you want to feel free in your own home. You got talents that you want to express. I ain't going to expect you to be my damn slave. Putting my cards out on the table. What I want is to go upstairs and help you make up the big bed. Then I want to be with you in that bed. I want as much as you are willing to give. "

Carol sipped her coffee, "Are you willing to use your body to convince me to let you stay?" She was only half joking. The concept that Daryl wanted to be in that bed with her was pretty staggering even if he had held her hand all evening. Denise must be a helluva shrink.

"Are you willing to let me try?" Daryl took another bite, "This new you is going to cook once in a while. Right? 'Cause I might have to reconsider giving you my best stuff if you aren't ever going to cook." He smirked at her. I am being trash talked by Daryl. He's looney tunes tonight.

Carol giggled. I'm getting that buzz back. The one that makes me want to do something crazy. It must be the full moon. Luna was a Spanish word meaning moon. People went crazy on full moons were called lunatics. I'm giggling like a middle schooler at her crush. "Might depend on how good your best stuff is."

"I'll be the best you ever had." Daryl finished his cake and coffee and put his dishes in the sink.

"That is setting the bar pretty low." Carol gave him a rueful smile and Daryl took her hands and kissed them. He didn't let go.

"Don't have to be the first, just want to be the last. Let's go upstairs. Rick and Michonne were still at it when I sneaked into the house and I don't think they need an audience. I can sleep in that other room or I can rock your world. It's your call."

She looked at their hands linked together. Different but they looked right together. Felt right too. Embrace the madness and let the moon take you to places you've never been. "Let's see if you're all talk and no walk." Over the falls in a barrel. That's the new Carol.

They went upstairs and Carol remembered the toothbrushes in the bathroom. "Shelley was a hoarder. The bathroom is stocked."

Okay, I might be wild enough to sleep with Daryl, but I'm not giving up dental hygiene. "I have to go brush my teeth."

Daryl laughed out loud, "I'll brush after you. I took a shower tonight. I swear I did."

He had the bed made by the time she was finished in the bathroom. "You just go ahead and hop into bed. Naked is going to look good on you." He made a dash to the bathroom. He's nervous too.

She undressed and put her cargo pants, boots, socks, weapons, and bra in a neat stack on the armchair by the window. She couldn't quite give up her long sleeved white t shirt and panties. Turned off the lamp, got in bed and covered herself with the blanket. The moonlight cast its bright shadow on the bed. The commode flushed in the next room and there was the sound of water running. Daryl came out of the bathroom throwing his clothes on a heap of the floor. He pulled off his boxers and moved toward the bed. Well, hello Sailor.

He pulled the blanket back and smiled when he saw that she was partially dressed. "Almost naked works too." He slid in beside her and snuggled her close. His lips met hers in a long close mouthed kiss and Daryl continued to kiss her without deepening the kiss until she understood. He is letting me decide what happens. He knows that I've never had that before.

She pulled back and then kissed him with her tongue tracing his lips. He opened to her then and her tongue sought his and she could feel his shudder when they met. She hummed in response. Little fires were stirring deep within her. She wanted more and she took his hand and guided it under her shirt to her breast.

Daryl murmured in her ear, "Can I take the shirt off?" She nodded and sat up and he took it off in one quick move. She let her body tell her when it was ready and it wasn't long until she pulled her panties down and then guided his hand between her legs. His eager fingers touched her swollen clit and then moved purposely to bring her pleasure. Daryl coaxing her to let it out and she gave herself fully to the novel experience of being with someone who was focused on her release. She kissed him after and combed his too long hair back from his face. "I love you."

Then she grabbed his cock and guided it into her. The feelings of pleasure and pressure mixed together into an intense need for this to last long enough for her to climax. Daryl moved slowly at first until she prompted him to go faster and deeper. She shuddered as his cock pushed against something inside her and there was a sudden burst of pleasure-pain and she came in a series of shudders and shakes. Daryl gave one more deep thrust that sent aftershocks through her core and then fell back against his side of the bed. He finally gasped out, "I love you too."

They went to sleep in each other's arms and Carol expected that Daryl would wait until she went to sleep and then move to his side of the bed. She woke up in the night to find him still spooned behind her and he was still there when she woke early the next morning. She kissed him, "Wake up, Cinderella, it's time to go back to our day jobs." She usually woke up in a good mood and got less cheery as the day went along. Daryl woke up surly and stayed that way.

He groaned, "I am hoping that last night was real and not the best wet dream I ever had."

She leaned over and bit his nipple, "I decided to let the past go. All about the here and now."

Daryl kissed her neck, "You woke me up to have sex with me. This day couldn't get any better."

AN

Loved the Cher movie "Moonstruck".

One more chapter to go. This story is all about my frustration at the last episode of The Walking Dead which had Daryl being a bit of a tool and no Carol. That's unacceptable.