DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY OF THE CHARACTERS OR STORY LINES FROM TWD.
"Oh, Maggie you look beautiful!" Carol was helping Maggie to dress in the Warden's office the day of her wedding to Glenn. It didn't seem to matter anymore if weddings were officiated or not; the little scraps of paper that used to signify that you were married were a thing of the past. Since the prison had taken in the refugees from Woodbury, Hershel had overseen two 'ceremonies'; Tyreese and Karen, being one of the first and Glenn and his daughter being the third.
"You don't think it's too much?" Maggie whirled around, sending the medium length cream skirt whirling out around her.
"I think it's perfect, and Glenn is gonna bust when he sees you walking out into the yard wearing that." Carol smiled over at the younger woman, stepping up to smooth the dress into place. Maggie and Michonne had found the dress in a little boutique whilst out on a run. It wasn't a traditional wedding gown by any stretch but a simple silk dress with a sweetheart neckline; it was a rich cream with layers of chiffon underskirts that billowed out as she walked along.
"I just wanted something a little special that could maybe be passed along to the next one in line, say Michonne maybe?" Maggie winked over at the lady in question who snorted in response.
"Not unless you've got Hugh Jackman tucked away somewhere I don't know about." Michonne took a swig of fizzy cider and jerked her head slightly in Carol's direction.
"No, Hugh Jackman we ain't got. We do have a rather handsome redneck or two, Carol – you interested in catching my bouquet?" Carol nearly spat out the mouthful of champagne substitute that she'd just taken and whirled around to face the innocent looking pair.
"What? Why…why would you say something like that? There's nothing going on between me and Daryl…" Too late, Carol realised that they could have classed any number of their group as rednecks and groaned when she realised her faux pas. "Ladies, stop. I repeat…there is nothing going on between Daryl Dixon and myself, nothing…Even if there were, he's been spending a lot of time over in the Woodbury block of late, so I think he's found someone of interest over there." Carol turned away slightly and swallowed hard, not wanting to let Maggie or Michonne see how much their teasing had affected her. Daryl had been pulling away from her ever since Maggie and Glenn announced their engagement, sure there was nothing intimate between them; but even the light flirtation had stopped in the last couple of weeks as he had been visiting someone over in the Woodbury block every evening and not returning to his perch until very late; and one more than one occasion not at all.
"Hey, Carol – we're sorry, we didn't realise. C'mon, there's no need to hide away, it's us." Maggie drew Carol back around to face them and gently wiped a tear away from her cheek. "Sweetie, you know you can tell us anything, right?"
Michonne stepped forward and placed a hand against Carol's back lightly. "I don't think you have anything to worry about with regards to the Woodbury women, Carol. I've spent a lot of time with Daryl out on runs, and he's never had a word to say about any of them."
"Yeah, well we all know how good he is about hiding his feelings or saying nothin' at all." Maggie muttered sotto voce, and Michonne dipped her head. "Yeah, maybe that wasn't such a good example after all. He doesn't have much to say at the best of times and he has been quieter than normal these last few weeks."
"Look guys, I'm fine okay? I've made my peace with it and I'm determined to be happy for him." Carol smiled tremulously and straightened her shoulders. "Now, I thought we had a wedding to get ready for?"
"Do you want me to have a word with him? Find out what's going on? It might set your mind at ease, at least then you might be able to move on…" Michonne offered quietly and Carol shook her head.
"Thanks sweetie; but he'd never admit to anything anyway, he'd probably go all gooey and hunch his shoulders; you can tell when he gets embarrassed as the tips of his ears go all red. 'S why he keeps his hair long at the sides; a bit of camouflage."
"Carol…" Maggie felt tears prickle behind her lashes and fluttered her hand in front of her eyes to prevent them falling.
"Maggie! Stop, you'll ruin your perfect face! We've been hoarding this stuff especially for today!" Carol sniffled a little and dabbed beneath Maggie's eyes with a piece of tissue.
"I can't help it; I'm so happy that I'm gonna get to be with Glenn for the rest of my life and you're not happy, and that makes me saaaddd!" Maggie slumped against Michonne's strong shoulder and sobbed; Michonne threw a startled look over in Carol's direction.
"You sure she's only had fizzy juice in that glass? Cause she's acting like she's three sheets to the wind."
"Maggie! Stop it!" Carol spoke firmly and tapped Maggie on the shoulder. "Listen to me, young lady! There is a man waiting for you out there, that one person that you've managed to find despite everything that's happened since the world went crazy. Now, you're gonna dry your eyes and we're gonna get Beth back in here to fix your face up and then all of us are gonna walk out of here smilin' and enjoy the day for what it is – your wedding day, Maggie."
"Okay, just promise me one thing, Carol." Maggie mumbled against Michonne's shoulder.
"What?"
"Promise me that you'll wear that blue dress that I picked out for you, and let Bethie fix your face up a little?"
"I don't know, Maggie. That dress is awfully skimpy; it's got no sleeves for one thing."
"Please, Carol? For me?" Maggie sniffled and Michonne reluctantly patted her back sympathetically, she really wasn't any good at the touchy feely stuff but was beginning to soften slightly from the hardened warrior that had appeared at the fence with Walker entrails smeared all over her slim frame.
"If I agree, will you at least let me wear my white wrap with it? Its lacy looking and I'd feel a little better without my scars on display for all to see; I really don't feel up to answering all of the questions tonight."
"Uh-huh." Maggie nodded slightly and peered up slightly through the hair that had fallen forward to cover her face.
"Okay, then. Bring on the dress."
"Yay!" Maggie sprang away from Michonne's shoulder and swept her hair back from a remarkably composed face. "Bethie!" She yelled out of the door. "Get in here! She said yes!"
"Why you little….." Carol realised she'd been had, and Maggie grinned over at her.
"I deserve an Oscar for that little performance, doncha think? Carol, we're gonna make that man regret never getting his chance with you. By the end of tonight, you're gonna have so many men drooling over your feet that in a couple of hours, you're gonna be saying; 'Daryl who?'"
"I don't know, Maggie…I haven't done this sort of thing since before I was married; Ed didn't let me wear more than a little foundation and mascara, and that was only because he couldn't stand my freckles and wanted me to cover them up all the time." Carol frowned over at the vast array of cosmetics that Beth was laying out on the desk.
"Well, I think your freckles are gorgeous so we're just gonna add a little sparkle here and there. Just a little something to make your eyes pop… voila! Don't get any over that dress, and make sure you wear the white heels if you're gonna be wearing that white lacy wrap." Beth issued stern instructions as she finished dabbing on the last of the pale red lipstick. "Now, you've got five minutes and then I want to see you all outside. Maggie – since Daddy's performing the ceremony all the guys were fighting over who was gonna be the one to walk you down the aisle. I had 'em picking straws to decide! Your escort will be waiting at the door for you; Michonne, go and get yourself seated, Carol, you're with me. Don't be late!"
"Quite the little Hitler, isn't she?" Michonne remarked as Beth hustled out of the office, closing the door firmly behind her.
"Beth's been planning our weddings since she was old enough to spell the word. All I had to do was supply the groom and the dress – she's arranged all the rest, wouldn't even give me a hint." Maggie held the blue dress out for Carol to slip into and then finally they were ready. "Come on ladies, let's get me married!"