This story is a "what if" type of story.

This is a Mature story. Please do not read if detailed sexual acts or vocabulary offend you...

This was really challenging to write, because I just can't picture Carol with anyone but Daryl. So, in the end, I just created an AU where Dixon doesn't exist.

I also believe that TWD writers messed with Carol and Rick's friendship...well...I'm just still pissed at that. I've always thought that Rick and Carol would make an amazing team. Especially now that Carol has grown so much. Both of them leaders and decision makers. Both survivors and fighters. They would balance each other out. Be equals. And make one hell of a couple!

So, here's my Carick story. I hope you enjoy it.

I don't own the Walking Dead.

Rick stood there overlooking the prison from the tower. It had been 4 years since the Governor had ambushed the prison for a second time. Working together, Rick and Michonne had taken out the Governor. Watching as Michonne had beheaded the Governor had been one of the best days of his life.

It was springtime and the prison was flourishing. Rick was proud of his family, they had stepped up, and helped him make a community out of this place. Rick defined his family as the people he had started with from the quarry and from Herschel's farm. Though he did count Tyreese, Michonne, Bob and Sasha as family.

His eyes raked over to the garden where Herschel was tending to the vegetables and flowers. Rick looked fondly upon the old man. He had helped Rick in many ways. Especially, when he had lost Lori and his mind for a while.

He looked towards the fence where Glenn and Maggie were organizing people who were taking out walkers through the fences. They made a great team, because they always had each other's back.

Rick looked over at the main gate. He saw that Tyreese was helping Michonne plan out their next run for supplies and materials. Their runs usually had Bob and Sasha involved, but because Sasha was due any day with the baby, they hadn't been on a run with them in weeks.

As he looked further to his right, he saw Carl and Beth holding each other behind a building. They thought no one could see them. It was young love at it's best. Over the past few years, Carl had grown into a man. Carl had even spoken to Herschel about his affection for Beth. Herschel supported it, because Carl had turned out to be loyal and protective to not only Beth, but his extended family.

Rick smiled, Carl and Beth reminded him of how Lori and he had been in high school. In the end, Rick had loved Lori, but he hadn't been in love with her. If the world hadn't ended, he was pretty sure they would have divorced. It had taken him a long time to forgive himself for not being in love with her, but as time went by he had let himself off the hook.

Rick had a few casual relationships in the past few years, but nothing concrete. He just never felt that connection. That soul connection. Physical connection, yes, but nothing that sent it over the top. It had caused a little drama in the prison. Him being seen as the leader of the community, even though there was a council, made him more appealing to some women.

Finally, his eyes landed on the outside dining area. The woman at the outdoor stove greeted each person with a smile as she handed out their breakfast. Carol. She was nothing like the person she had been at the quarry. She was strong, decisive, and a leader. She was also the only person, besides Herschel, that Rick felt he could turn to in his moments of doubt and fear. She was an equal to him in many ways.

He trusted Carol. She had become like a surrogate mom to Carl and to Judith. She often walked with Carl and gave him advice on Beth. Carol would often take Judith aside and play with her, and read to her without asking. She did it because she loved them. Carol was an important part of his life, and he had always loved her. He just didn't know what kind of love it was anymore.

As time went on, he began questioning how platonic his feelings really were for Carol. He had watched her "date" other men. At first, Rick had been fine with it. Maybe it was because he knew she was never fully invested in them. Where she would lock arms with him in a comfortable affectionate way...he never saw her do that to the men except Herschel, Glenn, and even Carl.

In the last few months, Rick's thoughts had started drifting towards those of a sexual nature involving Carol. Recently, he'd started having vivid dreams where Carol was his lover. Dreams where she was on top of him, and he was powerfully pumping into her with his hands on her hips to keep her steady. She'd had her head thrown back moaning with pleasure.

Others involved her mouth around his dick, sucking and licking him. He'd even woken up with hard-ons so bad he'd had to jerk himself off to get comfortable again. Each time, he'd silently reprimand himself for his improper thoughts towards her. In the end, what really kept him from pursuing Carol was that they were such good friends. He didn't want to risk it. He couldn't lose her. It was rare to have people in your life now that you could fully trust.

Except for the recent guy, Richard... He'd been a refugee from another camp the prison traded with, and that had been overrun a few weeks ago. Richard was in his late 40's, fit, full head of brown hair speckled with grey. He had been an engineer before the end of the world. Since he'd been here he had been able to help rebuild areas of the weakened fences and walls inside the prison. When Rick had interacted with him, he had found the man pleasant enough and smart. He'd make a great addition to the prison community.

Normally, Rick wouldn't have thought twice about Richard, but he started noticing that Carol beginning to show outwards signs of affections. Pushing the hair out of his eyes, putting her hand on his shoulder to emphasize something she was saying. Carol and Richard's relationship had been confirmed for Rick was he'd pulled the privacy curtain aside and accidentally walked in on her with Richard in her cell. Richard had been sitting in a chair facing the inside of the cell, his pants were down around his ankles, and Carol had been naked on top of him riding him. Her eyes were closed, and she had sweat gleaming off her bare chest. He'd seen that her nipples had been tight little buds.

Swiftly stepping back, letting the curtain fall, he'd never mentioned it to her. He wasnt even sure if she had been aware he had walked in on them. He'd never been so embarrassed before, but there had been another emotion in there...jealousy...So, he had just pretended it didn't happen. From then on, he'd made sure to always knock first.

Tara came up to relieve Rick from his shift in the watchtower. Rick headed down the steps, and made his way across the yard towards Carol. He walked up towards Carol and noticed men looking in her direction.

Carol was a very attractive woman. Woman being the key word. In the beginning, younger women had started out being pretty popular. As time went on...with the stresses of this deadly world...many men sought the strength, confidence and self-assurance that more mature women held.

Another reason, that most hadn't thought of, was that pregnancy was a constant fear for most couples. Women Carol's age, depending on certain factors, were most likely at less of a risk of getting pregnant. Not only was that a relief for the women, but also for the men they had sexual relations with...Not that younger women weren't still desired. It was just that old world beliefs no longer held youth as being the most desirable trait.

Rick smiled at Carol as he approached her.

'"Looks good." Rick told Carol.

"Helps that we have a garden and herb garden." she told him. She bumped him with her hip affectionately. That got them inquisitive looks from both men and women at breakfast. Rick ignored them.

"Hey, wondering if you would want to organize the latest supplies together after dinner." Carol asked.

"Sure..." Rick told her. Just then a woman walked up to Rick.

"Hey Rick. Just wanted to thank you for fixing my cell issue. I just couldn't stand sleeping next to a snorer any longer." she told him. She was in her early 30's, blonde, blue-eyed. Attractive, but Rick wasn't interested.

"Uh, yeah...no problem...Carol fixed it though..." Rick told her. Carol handled most things involving community relations. There had only been a few times, she'd had to call in backup in the form of Rick.

"Oh...well...thanks Carol." She told Carol dismissively. "Anyway, Rick, I was just wondering if you wanted to swing by my cell tonight. I checked out the DVD player and we could watch a movie." She told him.

"I'm sorry, but I'm busy tonight. But thanks." Rick told her. He smiled at her to show he appreciated the offer.

The woman looked frustrated but smiled tightly.

"Maybe next time." She said cooly and walked away.

"Kinda shot her down there." Carol told him. "We can reschedule if you want to meet her." Her eyes fixed on the stove top as she stirred a porage in a huge pot on the stove.

"Thought the supplies could be a good excuse to get together and catch up. Been awhile since we hung out." Rick told her. Carol thought for a second.

"I have missed my friend a lot lately." she told him. She gave him a smile that warmed his heart.

"I'll meet you in the kitchen after I put Judith down to sleep." Rick told her. More people were coming towards him with questions. "I'll see you later." Rick told Carol and walked away.

to be continued...