Ok walking dead time again, another attempt and a Caryl, this one has been bugging me since the mid season 6 break. enjoy

BITTER SWEET

It had been a long time since they had seen one another, in truth both had wonder if this moment would ever even come. Secretly they had both had their moments of despair when they thought the other dead, then almost immediately dismissing the idea, knowing they were survivors.

Now the moment had arrived, and they stood looking at one another across a small expanse of bodies. All embracing, all telling their story at the same time. The noise became a din, which then turned into silence as their eyes connected. A glance was all it took, there was no need for words. Then Carol was swept away in Abraham's arms as he expressed his happiness to see her with physical contact. Carol tried her best not to recoil from it. She was in fact happy to see him, to see all of them, but having just lost Alexandria, having seen what waited for them outside. Not just the walkers, but the wolves, and god knew what else, she just wasn't in the hugging mood.

It was, as it always was Rick who got them moving. His clear voice rang out across the group. Their full attention gotten in one simple word.

"Listen, we have to move, who knows how many more walkers are coming, not mention the others. Did you guys see anywhere safe on your travels?" Rick said looking at Daryl now, who, for the first time since they exited the car swung his eyes off of Carol and turned them to Rick "No where close, there were this other group, looked pretty bad-ass, plenty of guns, mean streak you know the kind. I say we head away from them" Daryl replied, trying hard not to turn his attention back towards the one person he wanted to, and for a moment he didn't. She was looking right at him. Daryl quickly dropped his head and ducked back inside the van.

"We can all fit, if we squash up a bit." He said looking from face to face, and feeling a slow sense of ease wash over him. He was home now, well sort of, but to Daryl home was anywhere with Carol.

"Then that's what we are doing, put as much distance between us and here as we can." Rick said, and that was it. In one orderly queue they filed into the back of the van. Abraham took up his drivers seat once more, and Rick, Judith and Carl sat next to him. Carol waited until last, waited for Daryl to nod at her before climbing inside. It was tight, and Carol knew when Daryl got in she would practically have to sit on him. Glenn and Maggie were already saving space, by Maggie sitting in Glenn's lap. Carol suspected they would probably have sat that way, even if it wasn't necessary. Tara had moved into the welcoming arms of Eugene and now Daryl got in he patted his lap indicating only one thing.

"Come on if I'm gonna get this closed, we are going to have to get a little more cosy." Daryl said, he said it loud enough so the group thought it was meant for all of them. Carol knew better it was meant for her ears only. As Daryl slid onto the floor, Carol shifted over until she was on his lap, settled comfortably on his legs, but she knew this was going to be though. To be so close to him, and yet remain so far away. To keep the distance they had built up, but somehow still remain together.

"Are we all sitting comfortably?" Abraham called, as he started the vans engine, it roared to life as a garbled grunts came from the rear of the van. Abraham afforded himself a smile before driving off. He glanced down at the fuel gauge and then across at Rick. The man was looking at him, concern etching his face, but he said nothing. "Maybe we should look for somewhere to set down before dark." Abraham suggested, and that was all Rick needed to here. Instructing Carl to keep his eyes peeled, Rick turned back to look for Daryl. At first he couldn't see him. Then he spotted him closed to the door, arms draped over Carol's thigh as she sat in his lap. The look of contentment on her face was enough to make Rick turn and continue scanning the woods or a possible camp. His question could wait until later.

"There!"

It was Carl's voice that shocked Carol awake, she found herself draped around Daryl, her head leaning on his shoulder, as the van bounced its way along slowly. She sat upright now trying to shake the sleep from her tired limbs, looking down at Daryl who had a slightly smug grin on his face.

"How long was I out?" Carol asked wanting to stretch, but there was no room inside the van.

"Oh I'd say at least ten minutes." Daryl said increasing the smirk on his face as Carol knitted her brows together.

"Must be why I feel so well rested." She stated without any hint of humour, but Daryl caught the slight glint in her eye as the van bounced over something, and threw them closer together. While Daryl could here the others complaining about the bumpy ride, he could only utter silent thanks to Abraham, who was forcing Carol to hold on to him increasingly tighter, for fear she would fall and bang her already injured head. Daryl made a mental note to ask her about it, but he would wait until they had some more privacy.

Finally the van slowed and then halted, an audible sigh came from the van, as everyone let go of tight muscles, and strained limbs.

"Couldn't have made that a bit smoother?" Rosita said as she passed Abraham on the way out of the van, all she got for her troubles was a small wink as they all emerged into the sunset. It was a beautiful evening, and whilst this was not lost on most of them, Rick wanted to move before they lost the light.

"Come on lets check inside." He said handing Judith to Carl and beckoning Daryl and Carol to follow him. The van had obscured most of the house, now it came into Carol's full view she was taken back, almost two years now, back to when her life had been nothing but a giant knot of worry. Back to the farm. The house was large, had a deep veranda, where an old dusty rocking chair sat, unmoving in the still of the air. The door was not solid the lower half was slightly off white pine, the top was solid frosted glass. They could not see beyond it. Trying the handle, Rick found it open, before pushing inside he sent Glenn, Maggie and Sasha around the back to check the perimeter.

"We go in when they get back." Rick whispered to them, receiving only silent nods in reply. Carol suspected if there had been any walkers in this area, the noise of the van, and their chatter would have them coming by now. Yet the woods surrounding them had remained silent.

The house looked pretty much untouched, as though no person, or otherwise had been inside it for a very long time. It had been the same though at Hershel's farm, that was until the heard had come though. So far this place had been lucky.

"All clear." Glenn's voice broke Carol out of her reprieve, she almost visibly jumped as Rick tapped on the door. Then silence, then they were moving forward. Daryl held his bow up to his eye. Scanning the rooms that split off from the hall way. They remained silent, empty, the only thing in them was dust. It covered everything leaving only a thick grey blanket. Carol coughed slightly as their movements caused the dust to fly into her mouth and up her nose. Rick turned to look at her before producing a splutter of his own.

"We may have to do a little house work." He said with a slight grin, before placing his foot on the stairs and banging on it. Hoping to draw out any hidden walkers. Nothing happened, the air was still, only puffs of dust risen from where Ricks foot had connected with the step floated around them

"Call in the others." Rick said as Daryl turned and gave a small sharp whistle. Glenn and Maggie appeared in the doorway, followed by Rosita and Abraham.

"We will check upstairs, you guys look around down here." Rick said motioning for Carol and Daryl to follow him. They did so in silence, a well practised routine, one they had done many times, and one they had learnt from.

They had on many occasions thought a house was empty, only to find walkers in closets, basements, even garden sheds. That's when most of their close calls had happened. Carol remembered a time when they had found a house, had bunked down in it for the night, and in the morning she had risen early to see what food she could rustle up. Having found what looked like a pantry behind the building she had opened it when a walker fell out right on top of her. Even now as they walked silently through the second story, she knew she wouldn't be alive today if Daryl had not come up and shot the thing dead. He had shrugged off his heroism by stating that he had come out for a leak, but Carol had her suspicions that he had been keeping a eye on her. She had not been strong then, not as cautious. For those early months he had been her guardian angle.

"In here." Carol whispered then, her memory triggering a thought as she approached what looked the the stairs to the attic.

"I hear it." Daryl stated nodding for Carol to open the door as he positioned himself to fire. In one smooth motion the door was opened, the walker stepped out, and fell down, as Daryl's arrow punctured its eye.

"Where there's one." Rick said moving into the darkness and sweeping the stairs.

"It would have been down here by now, if it could must be trapped." Carol stated as she began to here sounds from below them. It was the others checking the kitchen and living rooms. She refocused on the task and hand and nodded at Rick to continue up. This time she brought up the rear, only having a gun, she didn't want to use it unless she had to. It was however a good weapon to have as a rear guard. Reaching the attic it was easy to spot the second walker, who was just half a body, laying on what looked like a mattress.

"What do you reckon? He dies in the night, and turns over and eats half of her before she can get away." Daryl said putting the creature out of its misery with an arrow before collecting it and lowering his bow to the floor.

"Probably thought they would be safe up here, got cold, hungry thirsty who knows, but it looks like it was probably just the two of them. If they had kids they would have been up here to." Rick said heading back down the stairs with less caution now.

Quickly sweeping the rest of the rooms, they returned to the down stairs where the clean up had begun. Windows had been opened, brooms discovered, and other cleaning equipment.

"Sort out enough space so we can bed down for the night, we can worry about the rest when we have more daylight." Rick said over the chatter and cleaning. He then turned to take Judith from Carl who went to join Michonne who was getting a couch ready to sleep on.

"Wanna find somewhere cosy for the night?" Carol said in her best playful tone to Daryl who gave her a half smirk.

"You know it." He replied shocking her, his usual dismissal of her flirtatious behaviour gone, in favour of playing her at her own game. There was a brief moment of shock before she quickly regained her footing.

"This time I am finding somewhere good, I'm sick of being squashed up like rats in a barrel, but I will make an exception in your case." Her reply plus added wink had Daryl glued to the floor, even after she had made it almost to the end of the hallway. Her call finally got him moving again.

"You coming or what?"

Carol knew he was following her, without even taking a look back. It was not only because she could here him breathing, but she knew he could never deny her requests.

"You going upstairs, I thought Rick said."

"Rick said to clear the two rooms for sleeping in, not to not go up stairs. Plus I am only getting some things I saw that might make our night a little more comfortable." Carol interrupted him, as she looked over her shoulder and climbed the stairs at the same time. Daryl was not sure if she was being serious, or was just playing with him again. He had mixed feelings about both possibilities.

"Need any help?" He said knowing that would surely cover his bases.

"Always." She replied and now he knew she was being serious. She had not looked at him, but the tone of her voice suggested a far deeper truth in that one word.

When Carol opened the linen closest Daryl felt both relief and disappointment mixed together. It was an odd sensation.

"Here take these will you, it looks like they escaped the dust." Carol said handing him a load of pillows and sheets.

"We may need to do two trips." Carol suggested as she gathered a load in her own arms and turned for the stairs. Seeing Maggie pass below them Carol shouted for her.

"Hey Maggie, come takes these from me, there are more up here."

The brunette turned a smiled at the older woman and called for Glenn to come a relieve Daryl of his burden. Making somewhat of a chain gang, they all helped lay out the bed linen and pillows until the closet was nearly empty.

"Who gets the duvet?" Daryl asked as Carol removed it along with the last two remaining pillows. Handing Daryl the duvet and holding the pillows herself she gave him a wispy smile.

"We do." Once again Daryl didn't know what to say, his own confusion about seeing her again, holding her in his lap, and still wanting to maintain their easy friendship were at odds with each other inside him.

"Ok where are we going?" He asked simply, knowing that if he didn't bunk down with Carol he would inevitable have to do it with someone else. This he decided was the far more interesting offer.

"Kitchen, keeps us guarding the back door, just in case." Carol replied practically, she didn't mention that they would also be alone in there. Daryl decided not to question her, and when Rick asked why they were setting up camp in the kitchen, Carol gave him the same answer. Rick nodded and offered up a spare sheet to use as a cover. Accepting it graciously Carol arranged the duvet on the floor, pillows at one end and the sheet on the top. Stripping down to her tank top and pants, she peeled off her boots last.

"I'm at least glad I managed to get a shower and a change of clothes, before it all kicked off." Carol said taking off her sock and giving it a quick sniff.

"Shame I couldn't grab myself some new boots." She said with a slight wince and placed the sock inside the boot.

"Hey you smell better than I do." Daryl said only taking off his boots and leaving his socks on.

"Then maybe those should go over there and not in my bed." Carol said pointing to the sink and holding her nose. Daryl smiled and did as asked. Trying the tap, but knowing there was unlikely to be water he jumped back as the spray came on and splashed him in the face. Carol stifled a laugh, as the sound brought Rick and Michonne running from the next room.

"Was that water?" Michonne asked her hand reaching out to touch the light flow now coming out of the tap.

"We shouldn't drink it yet, not until we locate its sauce, probably some well out on the farm, we can use it to wash though, in the morning." Rick said before Michonne could place it at her lips.

"Good point." She said splashing the water on her arms instead to clean off some of the grime. The rest of the house fell silent quickly as Rick explained what had happened. It was funny how they were all so sensitive to each other, sensing danger, or excitement and distinguishing between the two so easily.

Settling down now in the softness of the duvet and pulling the sheet over her Carol fought off the urge to sleep for a moment to look at Daryl.

"I missed you, you know." She said as he brushed his ever lengthening hair out of his eyes.

"I know, I missed you too." He replied laying on his back, above the covers, hands clasped on his stomach, staring at the ceiling as he listened for any untoward noises.

"You can get in you know. I don't bite." Carol said after a few moments. Her voice only a whisper in the night, seemed so loud to his ears, probably because of what she said not how she said it.

"I thought it might, you know." He shrugged his shoulders, but in the dark realised Carol could not have seen it.

"What look bad, look like something is going on." Carol said her voice now holding a harsh edge to it. One Daryl didn't like.

"No, we've shared a bed before, just didn't know if you were ready." Daryl said his own anger tainted his voice. But it was not anger at her but himself.

"I think I will manage." Carol said, her voice held a smile this time, and Daryl relented, it was getting cold any way. The comfort of the sheet and her body heat made the offer irresistible.

Sleep came quickly, so quickly and so deep that Daryl didn't realise that he had manoeuvred himself in to Carol's back until he woke with a start, his arm that was draped over her waist tightened as she too rose from her slumber.

"Sussh." Daryl whispered in her ear, ignoring the feel of her backside pressed right into his groin, in favour of listening. Something had woken him, but now all he could here was the wind. Now as the silence drew on he began to ponder their position, how warm she was, how soft. How her curves felt alongside him. His body still half alert still half asleep responded to those curves. He quickly moved away from her, his hand lifted until hers clamped down on it, with a force he didn't know she possessed.

"Don't" She stated pulling him closer again and Daryl went, he could never refuse her requests. His mouth rested close to her ear, he could here her breathing, shallow and rapid her body tense. But this was not the usual muscle tense he had come to associate with her. She wasn't getting ready for an attack, or to run, this was something far more dangerous. This was desire, his own was building within him, only kept in check by his respect for her, and their friendship. Maybe her simple don't was the gateway to moving the relationship forward. Daryl closed his hand around her waist pulling her closer, she came willingly, her breath catching in her throat before she wiggled against him, the movements causing him to take in a sharp breath. His thoughts his senses trained only on her. Her breathing her body, where it touched his and what he had yet to explore.

Then the sound of breaking glass. Not from one of the rooms, but from the window above the sink.

TBC

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