When the world falls down, I'll hold you up.
Set during the time jump between season 2 and 3, this is a little snap shot on how the relationship between Carol and Daryl changed.
Done for the missing moments challenge on NL and dedicated with much love to the girls of the Carolution.
It was so subtle, the changes in them.
Both so broken by the weight of the world.
Before…
Too many losses stacked up.
Too much pain.
YET….
There was something there, you just had to look.
Maybe it was the way she held her head a little higher.
Maybe it was the way he lost that false bravado.
Watching them drift closer on cold nights, for warmth he said.
Sure she replied, a hint of a smile just at the edge of her lips.
He wasn't one for touching,
She wasn't used to gentleness,
Yet here they were...
His hand reaching out to help her over a log or through a thicket.
Her soft sweet "thank you" his reward.
His hand lingering on her back, her shoulder
As she balanced the rifle.
His breath warming her as it blew across her neck.
He wasn't one for giving praise,
She wasn't used to receiving it
Yet there they were…
His encouraging words building her confidence
Her unwavering faith in him, building his.
He wasn't used to someone caring for him, not for who he was instead of what he could do
She wasn't used to having someone appreciate her, other than Sophia.
Yet here they were…
The shy dip of his head, hiding the gratitude he felt.
When she brought him food, washed and patched his clothes, sat watch with him.
He wasn't used to playful teasing, the kind that didn't hurt.
She wasn't used to teasing someone,
Yet here they were…
His "stawp" hiding the joy he found in her words.
Her musical giggle at his.
He wasn't used to talking this much.
She wasn't used to someone listening.
Yet here they were…
Sharing the good and the bad
He tells her about his life before.
She tells him.
Shared pain taking the sting of the memories,
He tells her about his brother,
She tells him about Sophia.
Cherished images traded, keeping both alive
In spirt.
He wasn't used to feeling loved, like he mattered
She wasn't used to feeling loved, like she mattered
Not until the world fell down.
They were used to being alone, having no one at their back.
Yet here they were….
When the world fell down, they held each other up.