"I'm going to stay at the Sanctuary for a while." Carol announced as she folded clothes to fit in her knapsack.

"Should I be worried?" joked Ezekiel.

The war had been over for two years, but tension between the Saviors and other communities had ceased to end with it. Rumors were spread about Maggie, hate was whispered about Rick and now Saviors Save Us had been graffitied all over the Sanctuary.

He wouldn't admit it, but Carol could sense that Daryl was struggling to lead,the community. On their recent trip to Washington D.C., he'd been angry and emotional, shouting at Ezekiel after saving him from falling into a horde of walkers. She'd wondered if it was a one-off, but yesterday at Gregory's hanging Daryl had been the same, starting an argument with Rick. Something was wrong.

"Daryl's struggling," Carol wouldn't meet the King's eyes, "I can help."

"It may be dangerous," he frowned, reaching out for her hand. "We need you here."

Carol was seen as the "Queen" of the Kingdom and when she wasn't discussing politics with Rick, Daryl and Maggie she was teaching the children and cooking delicious feasts for the whole community.

That wasn't to say her departure would stop the Kingdom from functioning. Ezekiel held court - listening to the demands of the citizens and making internal decisions. Jerry and Nabila, who had since married, also taught in the school and grew crops to feed and trade. They would certainly cope without her.

"You'll be fine." Carol forced out a smile. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

Ezekiel watched her silently as she finished packing her clothes. She left a small space for the pork jerky she'd cured. Daryl would love it.

"If you must leave," the King reached into his pocket, "I must first ask if you-"

"Ezekiel!" Carol's voice escaped, interrupting him. He'd pulled out a ring. It was beautiful. A large diamond, sandwiched between two sparkling sapphires, was set in a shiny, gold band. It would have cost thousands of dollars, had it been bought in the old world.

Thoughts raced through her mind as she struggled to form a coherent sentence. She'd been with the King for about nine months. Not long in the old world, but things were different now. She shouldn't be so shocked. He must've been carrying the ring around for days.

Her stomach clenched, unnerving her slightly. I should be happy, she mused. Shouldn't I?

She did love Ezekiel, and Henry too. The three of them were a family. She was content with her life.

But that's all you are, a voice deep inside her whispered, just content.

Carol willed it to silence. There was no point in even entertaining it. Why risk everything for happiness when you could be content?

"It's...not the right time." She stammered.

The King looked wounded.

"As you wish." With a weak smile, he put the ring away. "Though I shall ask again, when I sense that it is the right time."

She should've guessed he'd be persistent. He had been from the start, knocking on her door when what she'd really wanted was to read a romance novel. Eventually, his determination had paid off, and she'd allowed him to come into her home. They gradually began spending more and more time together, until the lines in their relationship blurred to become romantic.

Jerry had joked that she'd been playing hard to get. She hadn't. She'd just realized that she should accept what was on offer: a good man who wanted to love her. Carol had been lonely for so long. Despite having no romantic feelings for Tobin, their relationship had been a nice distraction for the pain she tried so hard to bury. She'd liked playing house with him. So she'd done it again, but with Ezekiel.

Marriage, however, may be a step too far. She'd been raised a Catholic, and though her religion had been tested, Carol still tried to hold onto her faith. She wasn't sure she could make vows before God - vows to a man she wasn't sure she was in love with.

Eugene was there to greet her as Carol rode through the Sanctuary gates. She hadn't told Daryl she was coming.

Eugene was wearing a lab coat, and his trademark mullet was yet to be shaved. Carol felt sorry for Frankie, the attractive redhead who used to be one of Negan's "wives" but was now dating the scientist.

"It is certainly unexpected to see you here so instantaneously." He said as Carol jumped down from her gray horse. "The situation here has somewhat deteriorated…"

"Where's Daryl?" Carol interrupted. Her patience was being tested.

"I believe he is currently residing in the boardroom."

"Please take me to him."

Knock knock.

Daryl, startled, reached for his bowie knife as he opened the door.

His heart swelled. It was Carol. He'd only seen her yesterday, but he wanted to pull her into his arms and hold her. The past few days had been a mess.

"I'm sorry, I should've told you," she said, smiling, "I came to help."

He chewed his bottom lip. "I'm good."

"Daryl-" she sighed, pausing. She shut the door.

They sat at the table, opposite each other. Carol glanced at the empty liquor bottles strewn across it. He must've traded some of his food for those.

"Why don' ya say why yer really here?"

"I'm worried about you."

"Ain't yer a peach."

"I know about the words. What they mean."

Saviors Save Us had been branded on the Sanctuary walls six times in the last week alone. Kevin, one of Negan's supporters, had started the trend. He'd used walker blood to smear the words by the entrance. He, and the others, were locked in the cells where Daryl himself had been incarcerated.

He'd sensed unrest for months. He knew Rick was being a goddamn idiot for thinking all the communities could work together. That's why the dumbass wanted me 'ere, Daryl mused, so he wouldn't have t'deal with his own shit.

"We need to nip it in the bud," Carol continued, "stop it before it spreads."

"Yer think I ain't been tryin'?" Daryl roared, unable to control his anger. He'd been angry for so long. He was angry with Rick, for keeping Negan alive after he murdered Glenn and Abraham. He was angry with the Saviors, who he hated before and hated more now he had to lead them.

But most of all, if he was truly honest, he was angry with Carol. Though he understood why she'd had to leave, part of him was still wounded that she'd abandoned him for the Kingdom.

And if she hadn't left, she wouldn't have fallen in love with Ezekiel.