So – this is the first fanfic that I have written in many, many years and I am very rusty! So please go easy on me...

I love TWD, especially Daryl and Carol. This fic is intended to only be 2 or 3 chapters and it takes place at the end of Season 6, episode 13, with some spoilers taken from Episode 14. It begins after Carol and Maggie have escaped the Saviours.

By the way, I often add song lyrics to my fics, because I love fics which combine with music. The song lyrics featured throughout this fic are from "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri.

I do not own TWD or the characters. I hope you enjoy. Please read and review.

Chapter One

The RV rambled slowly through the gates of Alexandria, Rick at the wheel. His passengers were bruised, bloody and broken. Following closely behind was Daryl, finally reunited with his beloved bike. He pulled up alongside the RV, eager to get to Carol and talk with her. Something had happened out there, he wasn't exactly sure what, but when he, Rick and Glen had almost collided with her and Maggie at the entrance of the Saviour's safe house, Carol's demeanour had worried him. She had been different, she had been broken. Something was not right with her and he meant to find out what it was.

One by one, they alighted the RV, Maggie leaning on Glen for support, Carol following blindly, her eyes blank, her face a mask of nothingness.

Before Daryl could reach her, Tobin had appeared, running over to Carol and grabbing her by the shoulders, pulling her into an awkward embrace. Carol remained limp against him, her arms hanging by her side.

Daryl almost felt sorry for the guy. Would have felt sorry for him, if he didn't dislike him so much. He had been all over Carol like a fly on shit since they had arrived in Alexandria. What was he doing, putting his hands on her like that? He didn't know her, didn't have that right.

"Carol, thank god" Tobin breathed. He pulled back and eyed her curiously. "Carol? Are you okay"

She blinked, suddenly appearing to focus on her surroundings. She gave a small half smile. "I'm fine, Tobin" she said quietly. "Just fine. I need to get back to the house".

"I'll come with..." Tobin started.

"No" Carol cut him off. "I'm so tired. I just need to get home and crawl into bed." With that, she shook free of his grasp and walked slowly towards the home she shared with Rick, Michonne, Daryl and the children.

She felt the tears starting to prick at her eyes and her breath caught in her chest. She began to walk faster, trying so hard not to run – she could barely wait to get behind the door, shut herself away from everything, from everyone, to hide from the world.

Daryl watched her go, concern etched deep into his brow. She was not okay. She had told him that, back at the safe house. He had asked her if she was good and she had said no. He knew that something was very wrong. He fought the urge to go after her, he didn't want to push too hard. He would get his opportunity.

"Is she okay?"

Daryl had almost forgotten about Tobin, but now the other man stood before him. "Is Carol really okay?"

"She will be" Daryl muttered and started to push his bike slowly towards the house, not sure that he believed his own words.

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She hadn't come down for dinner, had told Michonne through the locked bedroom door that she wasn't hungry, that she was tired and just needed to sleep.

None of them had much of an appetite. Daryl pushed the food around his plate, his thoughts elsewhere. He needed to see her, make sure that she was...make sure that she was what? Okay? She certainly was not okay and he was worried.

Rick pushed his plate away and sighed, dropping his head into his hands. "Goddamit!" he cursed. "This is not how I wanted things to play out. We need to do something to stop Neegan, 'cos after today, I'm sure he's gonna come callin'. And Maggie, Carol...I don't know". He looked up at Daryl. "We need them strong. We need everybody strong. We can't afford to go down like this. Maggie's pregnant, she needs to lay low, but Carol...we need Carol." Rick clenched his fists and lightly thumped the table in frustration. "You think she's gonna be okay?"

Daryl pushed his chair back and stood up from the table.

"I'ma go talk to her" he mumbled, and made his way slowly towards the stairs.

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He knocked softly on her bedroom door. "Carol...S'me. Can I come in? Wanna talk to ya."

He heard the lock click, and his hand went to the doorknob, heart pounding, scared of what he would find on the other side. He hadn't seen Carol like this since...since Sophia.

He opened the door.

She was standing by the window, staring out into the night, hugging herself tightly. She had showered and had pulled on fresh clothes, cargo pants and a t-shirt.

She didn't turn around as he came in.

Daryl sank into the chair next to her bed and studied her closely. "You hurt?" he asked quietly.

She shook her head.

"You wanna tell me what happened in there?"

She turned slowly to face him, tears streaming down her cheeks.

His heart lurched and he fought the urge to jump up and pull her into his arms.

"They were gonna kill us. They were gonna kill you and the others. They were convinced that you were gonna ambush them, that Rick was setting them up. Maggie..." A sob caught in her chest. "We killed them. I didn't want to." She lowered her head into her hands, sobbing quietly now. "I told her to run. I didn't want to kill her. She wouldn't run...I didn't want to do it, I didn't want to kill anyone..."

"You had to" Daryl grunted. "None of us wants to kill people, Carol. But we gotta do what we gotta do to survive. You know that."

She regarded him and nodded slowly. "I know. But I hate it, Daryl. I hate what I've become".

Daryl leapt up and strode towards her, his large hands resting on her shoulders.

"You've become a survivor. You're strong, Carol. You 'aint nothin' like that little mouse you were when you was with Ed. Beaten down to nothin'. Not anymore. You do what you gotta do, Carol. We all do. You 'aint gotta like it".

He pulled her against him, and she let her body relax against his. His hands cradled her head and she sobbed against him. Her arms circled his waist and she felt herself melting against his chest. He stroked her hair, letting her cry against him.

When her sobs finally subsided, she pulled back and looked at him. Daryl gave a small smile and released her from his grip, walking over to the bed. He sat down on the edge, bent down and took off his boots, then settled himself against the pillows. He held his arms out to her. "C'mere" he grumbled.

Carol lay beside him and Daryl pulled her against him, and they lay like that for a while, content with each other's company. Daryl finally broke the silence.

"Did they touch you?" he half whispered, almost frightened to hear the answer.

"Not like that" she replied quietly. "The guy I shot...he came for me, kicked me a coupla' times."

Daryl winced. "You okay? You hurt? You need Denise to look at ya?"

"I'm okay" she whispered, touched by his concern for her, his tenderness. She smiled to herself She was broken. Her spirit had deserted her, and even though physically, her bruises would heal, Carol wasn't so sure about the rest of her.

Daryl pulled her close, as if he knew what she was thinking.

"Maybe you betta go" she said quietly. "People might talk".

"Let 'em talk" Daryl grunted. "I 'aint goin' nowhere"

He tightened his grip on her and closed his eyes. He was uncomfortable with the closeness, but every part of his body felt as if it were on fire, every nerve ending sprung to life and he wouldn't let her go.

…... "Time stands still

Beauty in all she is

I will be brave

I will not let

Anything take away

What's standing in front of me

Every breath

Every hour has come to this..."

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