Disclaimer: I own nothing related to The Walking Dead.
A/N: This is AU and will be mature themed.
When A Man Loves A Woman
Summary: What happens when Daryl realizes his feelings for Carol and decides to pursue them at the same time Carol decides that Daryl needs to find happiness with someone else. What happens when they collide? Daryl comes to realize that Carol's damage both emotionally and physically is far deeper than he ever imagined. Can he break down her walls?
He had realized weeks before. No. That was a lie. It had been months. He had known it was something. That day when her little girl stumbled out of the barn. That day that Sophia had stumbled out of the barn. He had restrained her. It didn't have to be him. He didn't even have to stop her. In that moment, everything she loved was gone. Many would say it would have been peaceful to let her go too. Let her slip away to some place better, some place with her daughter. He knew then that it was something as his arms strained her kept her from a different kind of peace. He just hadn't known what to name the instinct that had him reaching for her, restraining her. He knew it now. He knew the name for the something that she stirred inside him. He just didn't know what the hell to do about it. His hands curled into the metal fence as he stared out into the stillness of morning.
Carol was an early riser. It was a habit established well before the dead roamed terra firma. A habit built and nurtured out of the need for physical and emotional safety. A need to be caught off guard by Ed least of all in the vulnerability of their bed, so yes, she was an early riser. Probably the earliest of the group next to Daryl who mostly likely had similar reasons that were spawned out of the necessity to disappear from an abuser and a drug addicted brother. Carol swung her legs over the side of her bunk, stifling back a yawn as she stretched. She stood up and walked to the small makeshift dresser that had brought back from the now desolate town of Woodbury. Carol pulled out a pair of familiar tan cargos and black tank. She quickly shed her night clothes and changes into the fresh pants and shirt that smelled of the flowery detergent that Beth had insisted on when Glenn had brought it back from an earlier run. Carol rubbed her eyes and finger combed her growing silvery strands. Her hair was the longest it had been in years, curling at the base of her neck and ears. She left the cell in the darkness her tiny pocket light her only guide to the cafeteria. She ducked into the back grabbing two water bottles and peaches. She brought the fruit up under her nose inhaling the luscious fruity sent. The peaches had been an amazing find. She pocketed them before making her way back out. She opened the heavy prison door to step outside. Down the small set of concrete steps and across the courtyard. The morning air was already mild as they were well on their way to summer. It was still dark outside, but she no longer needed her light as crossed the prison yard to Daryl. It was there morning ritual. Breakfast together. Watching the sun come up, quite and alone sans those who were on watch in the tower. Carol threw her hand up in greeting as passed, smiling at Sasha who leaned against the tower railing, looking half dead on her feet. Daryl's back was to her, but she knew he heard her approach. "Hey." Carol smiled as she came to stand beside him, extending a peach and water bottle.
Daryl turned and nodded his greeting at her.
Carol shook her head, reaching out to playfully push a lock of errant hair out of his eyes. "You need a haircut."
Daryl gave her a scowl. "Ain't got time for that shit."
Carol leaned against the inner fence. "How on earth will all the pretty girls see those beautiful baby blues?" Carol teased.
It had been months of this. Daryl no longer flushed scarlet like a schoolgirl at her remarks. "What girls?" He retorted as he bit into the fruit.
Carol rolled her eyes at him before turning around to watch as the sun prepared to rise. Carol loved this time of day. When the promise of everything still existed. That day could be everything you wanted it to be. "What are we going to do with you?" Carol continued, shaking her head.
Daryl smirked and bumped her hip with his.
Carol raised an eyebrow. It still amazed her when he initiated contact even more than when he didn't flinch away from it. She wasn't exactly sure when that happened, but somewhere along the way Daryl's walls started to lower. "People will talk." She laughed lightly, bumping him back.
"Let 'em." Daryl stretched his hands over his head as leaned against the steel fence.
A smile twitched at the corners of Carol's mouth. She never thought she would be happy again. Certainly not at the end of the world, but she was. Daryl was a large part of that. He helped her become stronger, a survivor. In that he had allowed her to remember who she was before the dead roamed the earth and before she became Ed's wife. Little pieces of that person had become to come back and merge with the new person that she was becoming. "You going hunting today?" Carol asked as they waited.
Daryl shifted. "Naw…gotta work on the outer fence."
Carol nodded.
"Ya wanna help?" Daryl looked over at her.
Carol grinned. "You want my help?"
"Ya don't talk as much as Glenn." Daryl groused as he took another bite.
Carol leaned over and caught a line of juice on his chin with her thumb, eyes twinkling. "Messy."
Daryl rolled his eyes like he didn't care about the gesture, like his skin didn't burn where her fingers touched. He watched her as she took a small bite of the peach and caught the juice with her own fingers, wishing he could reach over and do it himself.
The sun slowly came into view on the horizon. It's bright glow slowly spreading light over the prison yard. "I can help." Carol said in answer to his earlier question. "I will get Karen and Beth to help inside."
Daryl nodded.
They watched in silence as the sun ascended fully.
"Are you happy?" The question slipped from her lips before she could stop it. It was a silly question at best, but would sound downright inane to Daryl.
Daryl looked over at her, quizzically.
"Forget, I asked." Carol pushed away from the fence. "Stupid question."
Daryl reached for her wrist. His fingers clamped firmly around her tiny bones. "Are ya?"
Carol nodded. "For the most part." Carol whispered.
Daryl knew the other part. Sophia. A topic they had not broached since the farm. His fingers squeezed her wrist slightly. "I want ya to be."
Carol grinned. "Me too. I mean I want you to be happy."
Daryl swallowed hard. His thumb rubbed softly along the inner skin of her wrist of its own volition. Should he say something? Tell her now?
"Carol!"
They both looked up and across the yard at Beth standing on the steps cradling Judith.
Carol smiled at Daryl before pulling her arm back. "I go check on Beth, make sure Judith is okay, and then come out here to help."
Daryl nodded.
Carol walked hurriedly across the yard, her own fingers glided across the skin where Daryl's thumb had been. She thought back to their conversation. Was he truly happy? He had gotten comfortable or relatively so with the new Woodbury residents. She wanted him to be happy. As she approached Beth, Maggie and Glenn walked out laughing. Carol watched them and wandered if Daryl missed that. Did he have a girlfriend before the world shifted on its axis? They never really discussed it before. He should have one someone to make him happy like Maggie did for Glenn. Carol was not stupid, that person would not be her despite the warm that flooded both her body and heart. She was his friend not a girlfriend. Even if Daryl felt different, she could not give him what he would want emotionally or physically. As she climbed the steps to Beth, she decided she would ensure that he was happy even if it hurt to see it.
Daryl watched Carol cross the prison yard. His chest tightened. He needed to tell her. It was getting next to impossible to be around her and not want more. He ached to touch her, to simply have her skin in contact with his. It was an alien feeling to him considering that he had spent a lifetime shrinking from any kind of physical contact. He had hoped with all the teasing that she might make a move. He had waited for it, but it never came. He took a deep breath as she walked up the steps, disappearing inside the prison. Waiting was no longer an option.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who have reviewed and read my other stories, I appreciate it! I want to say a big "thank you" to Yazzy and Soldiernoodles. Your reviews helped me break my writer's block! Please let me know if you would like this story to continue.
