They're lying in the same bed for the first time. She's fallen fast asleep but he hasn't. The clean, crisp sheet is only covering her below the waist. Daryl just looks at her. Every single inch of her he can see. Carol was naked, face down, turned away from him. He's resting on his side, propped up on his elbow, when he very carefully reaches over. Daryl wants to touch her, but instead runs his hand mere centimeters over her, tracing every dip and curve of her body.

Carol opens her eyes and she can feel how close he is to her. She lays there enjoying the sensation and the fact that she's not alone for once. She slowly turns and he doesn't move his eyes from her body, hand still almost touching her. She smiles at him and softly asks "What are you doing?"

Daryl rests his hand on the small of her back, slowly moving his thumb back and forth. Carol smiles into her arm underneath her face. In this moment, it's almost somewhat innocent. For a while, they've forgotten that the world has turned into a hellish nightmare, that people are dying, and both their pasts. Right now, this is what matters. They're what matters.

She stares at him but he won't look her in the eye. Carol shifts and reaches out and turns his face towards her own. She smiles at him, hoping he'll reciprocate. He does, ever so slightly, while she caresses his face. She gets near him and places soft kisses on his cheek. She presses her forehead on his; she can feel him breathing and can feel his heartbeat beneath her palm. Daryl leans into her and finally kisses her on the lips.

Carol sinks into the space between his arm and his chest; it was almost as if it was made especially for her. Daryl tugged the sheets over both of them and slowly drifted off to sleep.