Carol was smoking on the porch steps of the house she shared with her family. Looking at the sunset, she was hit by the contrast which laid in front of her. How could nature remain so magnificent when their reality was filled with ugliness and misery ? It did not matter what would happened tomorrow, the sunset would remain perfect, shades of pink, orange and blue would still merge in perfect harmony.

"These things will kill you," Ezekiel said.

Lost in her thoughts, she had not seen him coming. She looked at him but did not respond.

"It seems like I have interrupted your meditation, my apologies." He said smiling.

"It's okay," she simply said. "Does his Majesty need anything ?"

He chuckled as she remained inexpressive.

"I just wanted to check on you. Tomorrow's a big day."

Indeed it was. Alexandria and Hilltop were conducting a raid on the Sanctuary. After months of conflicts they all knew how decisive this battle was going to be.

"I'm okay," she lied.

Carol was too anxious to talk, besides she did not like talking about her feelings

"Try to get some rest," he said. She nodded but he knew she probably would not listen.

"You do the same," she said, stubbing out her cigarette.

He gave his friend one last look and turned away. Behind her the front door opened and she did not need to turn around to know it was Daryl for she could recognise him from the sounds of his steps.

In silence, he sat next to her and looked at Ezekiel walking down Alexandria's main street.

"What's his deal ?" He asked her.

She smiled, she could not help it. Despite him and Ezekiel being friends - and she knew that Ezekiel having a pet tiger had a lot to do with this friendship, though Daryl would never admit it - he always became less friendly when it came to her own friendship with the King.

"He was just checking on me," she said.

Daryl did not reply.

"You've got nothing to worry about, you own my heart pookie." She looked at him with a smug smile on her face and received the exact reaction she wanted : Daryl looked at her, then down, then up again and snorted.

"Stop," he said blushing. And they both laughed like idiots. There was nothing funny really (for her heart truly was his), but he was embarrassed and teasing him was her favourite activity. They exchanged a few glances and she thought that there was truly nothing more endearing than seeing him smile.

After that, they sat in comfortable silence for a while, but the thought of what was coming tomorrow hit her again, like a punch in the stomach. She was not afraid to fight, she was scared of losing people she loved again. If she made it out alive, who will she have to live without ? Not to mention the inevitable new nightmares… she shook her head, trying to think about something else. It was not tomorrow yet.

"You good ?" He asked, despite knowing the answer.

"Just scared about tomorrow," she admitted.

He looked at her, there was nothing he could say for he was just as scared. Scared to lose their people. Scared to lose her, the person he had tried to protect from the conflict.

"Come'ere," he simply said.

Daryl wrapped one arm around her waist and she snuggled up against him. He held her small frame tighter, as if the gesture could protect her from the rest of the world, as if by simply holding her like this nobody would take her away from him. He slightly turned his head to press a kiss on her head and she closed her eyes at the touch.. He surprised himself with the gesture but closed his eyes too and buried his nose in her hair until finally resting his head against hers.

And in that moment, she realised that Ezekiel was right, it was not all bad.