A/N: Ever since I saw a fan vid using "All of Me" by John Legend with clips from the show, this song haunts my dreams and I can't stop thinking of Caryl. So here's a one-shot [set in Season Three] featuring duo, who I hope permanently unite in TWD:S5.
"What would I do without your smart mouth?/Drawing me in, and you kicking me out/You've got my head spinning, no kidding, I can't pin you down. What's going on in that beautiful mind/I'm on your magical mystery ride/And I'm so dizzy, don't know what hit me, but I'll be alright."
Daryl stomped through the cell block, pissed.
He was going out of his mind.
The woman infuriated him. She wanted him around and then she would chew him out. He would lean up against her and she would lean back. She was hot one minute and then she was cold the next.
His head was spinning.
Carol had told Daryl to stay safe during his hunt that afternoon, her eyes soft and tender. His mouth had twitched up in that classic Dixon half-smile and nodded.
Yet when he returned hours later with a doe in tow, Carol was irritated with him. Sure, he had a tussle with a couple of Walkers and may have gotten a few scrapes in the process, but he was otherwise unscathed.
They had exchanged words, in front of several witnesses, her accusing him of not being careful, him yelling back he had survived this long just fine.
Damn woman, he thought, as he strode toward his bunk, tearing off his shirt and tossing his crossbow in the corner. He winced.
Daryl may have lied a little when he said it was merely scrapes. He had been so focused on his target, a Walker had nearly reached him before he noticed it. Startled, he had reared back and stumbled, slamming into a tree and nearly dislocating his shoulder as the bark collided and ripped the top layer of skin in that spot. It had hurt like a bitch and he had struggled to carry the doe over his sore shoulder.
He peered over his shoulder, gritting his teeth as he saw the bruised and bloody spot reflected in the mirror.
Carol chose that moment to appear and gasped when she saw his injury.
"Shit," he cursed, jerking his head in her direction, his face guarded.
"Even when you're crying you're beautiful too/The world is beating you down, I'm around through every mood/You're my downfall, you're my muse/My worst distraction, my rhythm and blues."
Carol had instantly regretted the argument as Daryl stalked off.
She bit her lip and Maggie gave her a gentle shove, encouraging her to go make up with him.
The man made her crazy. He took calculated risks but always came back to her. He would seek her out in a crowded room and then he would avoid her. She didn't quite understand this slow dance they did.
Would she ever?
She followed after his retreating figure with the intent to apologize.
"Give me all of you/Cards on the table, we're both showing hearts/Risking it all, though it's hard."
"Pookie," she breathed as she stepped into his personal space. He tried to sidestep her.
"Don't," he growled, his eyes wild like a wounded animal.
Carol narrowed her eyes and gripped Daryl's arm with a strength he didn't know she had.
"Don't what?" she shot back, her anger rising. "Don't express concern when you get hurt? Don't touch you? Don't talk to you? Don't what?!"
Daryl glared at her, refusing to answer. Carol in turn refused to let him pass.
"We've had this conversation before, dammit! I told you don't even pretend like you don't care," she shouted.
"'Cause all of me/Loves all of you/Love your curves and all your edges/All your perfect imperfections."
Something inside him snapped. He suddenly hauled her to him, ignoring the radiating pain. He ground his mouth on hers as his fingers ground into her hips.
He was tired of fighting.
It took Carol a moment to register what was happening. Daryl nipped her bottom lip and her shocked reaction allowed his tongue access. Her eyelids drifted shut and she slipped her arms around his neck.
When his lips grazed her jaw then sucked on the jugular in her neck, Carol arched against him and accidently clenched her fingers into his wounded shoulder.
Daryl hissed at the contact, snapping Carol out of her haze. She leaned back so she could look in him the face.
"Let me fix it," she pleaded. He sat on the edge of the mattress and allowed her to doctor him without another sound.
Once Carol had set aside the gauze and alcohol, she pressed her lips to the bare skin between his shoulder blades and slipped her arms around his chest. Daryl rested his hands over hers and closed his eyes.
"I love you," she murmured into his back.
He was silent for a few beats.
They had never actually said it out loud; it had always been implied with every shared gaze and every subtle touch.
"Love you too," he replied in his low gravelly voice. "C'mere."
Daryl twisted around and pulled her into his lap. Carol gingerly placed her hands on his shoulders. Their eyes locked.
"Give your all to me/I'll give my all to you/You're my end and my beginning/Even when I lose I'm winning."
When Maggie ventured into the area to tell them dinner was ready, she realized it was too quiet. She tentatively peeked in the doorway.
Carol was curled against Daryl's side, her bare shoulder sticking out of the blanket he had pulled over them. He had one arm propped under his head and the other protectively wrapped around her. Their clothes littered the floor.
Maggie smiled to herself and backed away.
"'Cause I give you all of me/And you give me all of you."
