Hi everyone, I'm back! :) I can't wait to start writing again. I know this is short but I just wanted to give you all a little sample to see if you like it. Thanks for reading! Here we go...

He could smell the cookies from the living room. Carol had just put in a fresh batch for the dinner party tonight. The people of Alexandria wanted to welcome the newcomers with a fancy dinner, the complete opposite of what Daryl was accustomed to.

It felt so weird living like this, living, acting like things were normal in Alexandria. If they only knew what it was like outside of the walls, if they only knew.

The others were quick to adjust to life here. They still didn't fully trust the people of Alexandria but they were adjusting and Daryl felt them slipping away, even Rick.

He felt her presence behind him.

"Hey." Carol interrupted his thoughts.

"Err hi." He looked up from cleaning his crossbow. He had talked Deanna into letting him keep the bow but with no arrows.

She snickered. "Am I disturbing you?"

"Nah I'm just thinkin'."

Carol knew him all too well to know that he wanted to be left alone.

"Well I'm going to take a walk around the block before the party. I will be back in a while, do you need anything?"

"Nah I'm good."

She nodded and left the room.

He hated this. They were just playing house and they all knew it deep down, this wouldn't last forever. Deanna gave the group four houses. Rick and the kids in one, Maggie and Glenn in another, Roserita, Abraham, and Tara in one and Daryl and Carol in another.

Daryl was the only one that had yet to take a shower. Sure, he knew he smelled and looked like shit but he didn't want to fall into this routine and have it all taken away from him once again.

This was the one thing he felt that he still had control over.

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She looked around. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, the grass was green. All the little things she used to take for granted. Carol never thought she would see the day when she would be able to take pleasure in these small things again.

That's why these walks meant so much to her. It was her time to be alone with her thoughts. She used to do the same before the end of the world. When she couldn't bear the thought of being in the same room as her husband or when she didn't feel like being beaten first thing when he got home from work, she would walk.

So she kept walking, even now.

She was so grateful for these people for welcoming them into their community. Of course she didn't trust them fully but she knew they were at least safe for the time being.

She knew Daryl's thoughts about being here. He hated it. He hated the pretending, the fake portrayal of a world they once knew.

"Carol!" A tall, blond woman whom they met when they first got to Alexandria approached her. "Carol hi!"

Carol closed her eyes shut and took a deep breath. She hated when her walks were interrupted. She couldn't remember the woman's name even if her life depended on it.

"Hi..."

"Amy, I know it must be hard keeping track of all these names."

"Right, Amy, I apologize."

"Oh don't worry about it I understand. Anyway, how are you guys settling in?"

Small talk... Something Carol hated even more than walkers. Figures, she didn't have friends before the apocalypse.

"We are settling in just fine. Thank you. We are all very excited for the dinner party tonight."

"Oh great well we can't wait to give you all a formal welcoming. And listen, about the party tonight don't worry about bringing anything. The ladies and I have created a schedule and it would just be easier for you and us not to bring anything."

Carol stared blankly at Amy.

Amy picked that up as her cue to leave. "Well I'll see you tonight!"

"Great."

The people were great but something was off. That's exactly why Carol, Daryl, and Rick had decided to keep their distance from the beginning and put on somewhat of a show.

They had to keep these people at a distance because last time they learned the hard way.

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Carol walked in the door and heard yelling. She went to the kitchen where Rick and Daryl were in a shouting match.

"Nah Rick I don't trust them and I ain't gonna act like I do!"

"Daryl you have to act like it otherwise they are going to sense our distrust."

Daryl shook his head and clenched his fists. "Y'all have jus been dumb asses since the day we got 'ere, running around acting like everythin' we seen outside those walls don't exist. Well fuckin' newsflash THEY DO!"

Carol flinched.

"I know that Daryl but I also know that if we don't do this, if we don't get along with these people then we are going to die. Each and every one of us. This is the only time that I've seen a future for my kids, for my baby girl, Daryl this is our chance."

"Fuck you Rick! Yer bein' real stupid. Yer lettin' this place and this fucked up glimmer of hope you have cloud yer judgement!"

Carol stood in the doorway watching it all unfold. "Stop it! Before anyone else hears you. You two should hear yourselves."

"I ain't goin' to that damn party that's for sure." Daryl glared at Carol.

She looked at him. "You're going to that party and you're taking a shower. And Rick you are loosing it a little bit, you're getting caught up in this fantasy world."

Rick stared at Carol like a deer in headlights. "Oh and you're not?"

She rolled her eyes. "I didn't say that. Of course I am enjoying it and getting wrapped up in small things but I'm keeping my distance."

"I can't believe you two." Rick stormed out of the house slamming the door behind him.

Carol and Daryl stood in the kitchen for a long time staring at each other knowing that things were about to change... Whether they liked it or not.