"Stay safe." Daryl says to me just as he's about to leave. I smile. "Nine lives remember?" I say. He smiles slightly then looks away at the others who are loading up the car. He has a conflicted look to his eyes, like he's not really sure if he wants to go or not.
Beth comes over to me then and takes the baby. She gives me a small smile before nodding towards Daryl and walking away. I look back at Daryl just as he's about to walk away. Without thinking I quickly grab his lower arm. "Can I talk to you really quick?" I ask softly.
"Carol, I ain't got time for this." He mutters, but makes no move to pull away just yet.
"Please, it won't take long! I promise, then you can come right back out here. Please." I plead and give him my best sad puppy face. He sighs loudly, but nods and I lead him back inside.
"What?" He asks. I stare at him for a few moments. If he doesn't come back I want to remember everything. I want to remember the way he looks at me and the way he can't quite make eye contact. I want to remember all those times we fought and when he couldn't stand to look at me. I want to remember when he looked for Sophia and how he was so determined to find her. When he held me back from letting my own daughter take me to my death. The looks on his face while he had his arms secured around me. I want to remember all the teasing and jokes and all the times he saved my life. I want to remember his reaction when he found me in solitary alive, barely, but alive. The way he picked me up and carried me back to safety. I want to remember how he pretends not to care.
"Please come back." I say, not able to tell him all that I want to…not yet.
"Why wouldn't I?" He asks. I look down feeling tears build in my eyes.
"I don't know, anything can happen. But you have to come back; I don't know what we would do without you. I don't know what I would do without you." I admit.
"I'm comin' back woman, ya don't need t' worry about me." He says. "Promise." He finishes. "Yer the one that needs t' be careful, don't need ya t' get lost again." He smiles slightly.
I smile back. "I know, maybe when you get back we could screw around?" I tease. He rolls his eyes. "Time to get a new joke, I know." I say, trying to mask my sadness and fear.
"Yeah, jus' remember, nothin' can kill a Dixon, but a Dixon. I'll be fine. Worry 'bout yerself and everyone here, not me." He says. I shake my head. As many times as he tell me that, I'll never stop worrying about him. He's the main person I do worry about, not because I don't think he'll make it, just because I'm paranoid like that.
"I'll try. Thank you, for everything." I say with a smile. He nods. I stand up on my toes and kiss his cheek lightly. He doesn't flinch this time like he used to. Like he did back on the farm. He knows his place here now. He belongs. He's comfortable with us now; he's comfortable with me now.
"Ain't got nothin' t' thank me for. I did what I had t' do." He says. I smile.
"Yeah, but you've done more than just find me in solitary Daryl." I pat his arm. "Anyways, go on. I'll see you soon."
We walk back outside into the bright sunlight. "You stay safe too." I tell him. He smiles at me, a real smile, not just one if his little smirks this time. I return it and watch as they all get into the car and drive away. I'll miss him while he's' gone, but I know he'll come back. He has to.
"Don't worry Carol, everything will be fine." Beth says. I look down at the baby in her arms.
"I know it will. I have faith in them."
I loved this short little scene, so decided to make it a little longer. I really like when Daryl walks away and Carol has this big smile on her face! :D Anyways tell me what you thought! Thanks for reading.