A/N: Got a lot of reviews (THANK YOU!) and requests from people for a second chapter showing what happens the next day so here you go! Hope you like!

Carol let her eyes close as she took the first sip of her coffee. It was one of the few luxuries from her past life that still remained, though she would give anything for a real carton of half and half and not the powdered kind. The cafeteria was quickly filling with people as the morning sun rose higher and higher in the sky. She could see the people stagger in from the corner of the kitchen she was trying to hide in. it was rare she got a moment of peace and quiet so she had turned that corner into her spot, waking up almost an hour earlier than everyone to enjoy her coffee there. It wasn't much of a hassle as she had always been an early riser, be it as a child preparing for the school she so loved or as a mom herself tending to Ed and Sofia. Continuing to rise early wouldn't be that difficult now, either due to some new snoring she would have to put up with.

Carol felt her lips curve into a smile as she thought of the man responsible for the snoring. Despite how annoying it may have been when Ed did it, Daryl's snoring had not bothered her one bit. It had meant he was in bed with her and that's all she'd wanted for almost a year now. Waking up in his fierce embrace was her version of heaven on the hell they were living and calling it Earth. They had spent the night together but had literally only slept. Neither one had wanted to cross that line without at least letting their relationship turn a week old. It wasn't that they didn't want each other because Carol knew how intense her desire was for Daryl and she had felt how intense his for her the night before. It was that despite the world going to shit, she was still a good Southern girl and Daryl, for all his gruffness, was still a respectful Southern boy. Carol didn't mind. She only saw it as more proof of what she'd been saying all along; Daryl was a good, honorable man. He hadn't let his rough upbringing and Merle's horrible example change that.

As Carol swallowed the final sips of her coffee, she felt a pair of arms encircle her waist and jumped. She spun around in the embrace and locked eyes with the man consuming her thoughts.

"Just me,"

Carol smiled up at Daryl and set the cup down on a shelf. "You startled me,"

Daryl frowned down at her. "Shouldn't have. No one but me should be touching you like this,"

Carol rolled her eyes playfully and smiled. "They shouldn't? Maybe I should tell all the boys then…"

"Not funny," growled Daryl softly, moving his face closer to hers. Carol's smile widened and she pressed her lips onto Daryl's. He slid his tongue inside her mouth, deepening the soft kiss. Carol swallowed back a moan of pleasure before moving her lips from Daryl's face to kiss his neck lightly. The sound of voices outside the secluded corner made them pull apart and Daryl groaned softly as he placed a kiss on Carol's forehead. "We're gonna have to find somewhere to be alone now."

Carol nodded. "I'll get some recommendations from Maggie,"

Daryl nodded, keeping Carol pressed tightly against him. "Why didn't you wake me when you woke up this morning?"

Carol shrugged and smiled sheepishly. "I don't know. I have my routine and I come in here and have my coffee and just get a couple minutes of silence before the masses attack me for breakfast. Didn't make sense to wake you just to tell you I was gonna do all that."

"Didn't like waking up without you. Maybe I can be part of your morning routine now? I like coffee in the morning," Daryl looked down at her intently and Carol found herself nodding. Having that man be a part of her life in any way was fine by her.

"Did you sleep OK?" he asked, rubbing her back slowly. Carol dropped her head to his shoulder and sighed contently, enjoying the soft caress. "Yes, I did. Though, I will have to get used to the sound of a man snoring beside me again. It's been awhile."

Daryl chuckled beside her ear. "Shit, I'm sorry. I know how loud I snore. Merle used to tell me it sounded like a bear barreling through the woods."

Carol looked up at Daryl's face, smiling when she saw the blush on his cheeks. "I really didn't mind. The sound meant you were near me so…" She shrugged and trailed off, not knowing what to say.

Daryl nodded, knowing exactly what she meant. Carol rested her head on his shoulder once more, happy that the couple's friendship had made it so they knew each other so well that words were not necessary. She loved that she could be in completely silence with Daryl, neither person feeling the need to fill the silence with words. It was a feeling of ease she'd never known before.

"I'd better get out there,"

Daryl tightened his hold on her. "Not yet. Beth is fine. She's got an army of grandma's who have adopted her to help with breakfast,"

"But don't I have something else to do this morning?" Carol pulled back from Daryl, her eyebrow raised. "Wasn't I supposed to have a little chat with someone?"

Daryl's eyes widened as he remembered their talk the night before. After the couple's revelations of love for each other, he had completely forgotten about Karen and the meddling old Estelle. Instead, he had fallen into one of the most peaceful and restful sleeps he'd ever had.

"You're gonna talk to her? Here, in front of everyone?" he asked in surprise. His meek little Carol had certainly changed over the past year and he had to admit, he liked it.

"Well, no not in front of everyone. I'll ask her out to the hall or something. Either way, it's not like we're gonna have a screaming and hair pulling match or something," Carol shrugged. "I'm just gonna tell her that you and I have decided to give a relationship a go and that the respectful thing for her to do is back off."

"And if that doesn't work?" asked Daryl with a smirk.

"Well, then you may hear some screaming and hair pulling," responded Carol with a giggle. "I gotta protect what's mine, don't I?"

"Yes, ma'am," Daryl lowered his lips back to Carol's and dropped a soft kiss onto them. "So, the same goes for me, then, too?"

"Sure," Carol squeezed Daryl's hand before pulling away completely and heading for the kitchen door. She stopped abruptly and looked back at him. "Just don't do anything crazy to anyone, OK."

Daryl shrugged, a small smile on his face. Carol responded with a smile of her own and exited into the main part of the kitchen, the room alive with noise now. She quickly headed over to Beth and pulled the young girl aside.

"Bethy, I have to run a quick errand. Are you all right here without me for a bit?"

Before Beth could respond, Daryl's voice filled the air. "I'll help Beth if she needs it."

The chatter in the room stopped immediately as the women gaped at Daryl, who instantly turned red. A soft gasp from her right side made her turn and she noticed Estelle gawking back and forth between her and Daryl. It didn't take a genius to see Daryl had just emerged from the same corner Carol had a few moments before and it seemed Estelle was the first to figure it out.

"Uh, sure, Daryl, you can help but I'm fine. Go on and take your time, Carol," replied Beth as she stared at the couple.

"You heard Beth. Go on now, woman," Daryl urged, standing beside Beth and taking the bowl she handed him. "Go,"

Carol nodded and headed out of the kitchen, turning over once before completely exiting the room to catch one more glimpse of big, bad Daryl Dixon learning how to beat eggs with a whisk from his 18 yr. old teacher. She smiled and turned around, heading out into the crowded cafeteria. Her eyes scanned the room and she shot friendly smiles to the familiar faces. She spotted Karen at the children's table, the woman placing a kiss on her son's head before moving away. Her eyes locked with Carol's and she slowly smiled.

Carol took a deep breath and closed the gap between her and Karen. "Hey, Karen. How's your morning going?"

Karen nodded. "Good, thanks. I was just getting the kids settled down and then heading to the kitchen."

"Can you come out with me to the yard for a minute first? They're fine in the kitchen without us," Carol laughed. "They even have Daryl in there helping,"

"Daryl in a kitchen? I have to see that first!" Karen giggled and began to walk forward. Carol quickly reached her hand out and grabbed her arm. "No, you don't. Daryl is the reason we need to talk."

Karen's smile faded from her face and she stared down at Carol's grasp on her. She pulled it away and an annoyed frown came upon her face. "Fine. No need to pull my arm out of the socket, though."

"Sorry," apologized Carol distractedly. "Can we…" She led the way down to the hall and to the nearest exit to the yard. Pushing the door open, her eyes quickly scanned the grounds to make sure she and Karen would truly be alone, both from another person from inside the prison and walkers.

"Carol, what exactly do you want? What's the point of leading me out here?" Karen crossed her arms over her chest.

"Karen, there are a couple things I need to tell you and I figured out here where we could be alone would be best. I would like it to remain between us," Carol took a deep breath and rested against the closed door. "Daryl has mentioned to me a couple times how you flirt with him and…"

"I knew that's what this was about!" Karen huffed and shook her head. "There's no law against flirting, you know. A little looking never hurt no one."

"You're right; there's not. However, Daryl has told me you don't only stop at looking." Carol felt her temper begin to rise and fought to stay calm. "You follow him around and look for conversations but in his book, you cross the line with said looks and some of the things you say to him."

"Is that so?" Karen raised an eyebrow and shrugged. "Why do you care? If it bothers Daryl so much, why isn't he out here having this talk with me? Last time I heard, you and he were just friends,"

"Well, Daryl and I have an interesting relationship and it has evolved to more than just a friendship. That's why he asked me to have this talk with you. He figured it would be best if I had it with you; thought you would take it better coming from me; a fellow woman." Carol shook her head dismissively. "Look, none of that matters. All that matters is that I am telling you Daryl and I are now in a relationship and I'm asking you to respect that by taking a step back. Continuing to flirt with him the way you're doing wouldn't be wise anymore."

Karen slowly smiled. "It wouldn't be wise? Why? Afraid of a little competition, Carol?"

Carol's mouth dropped open in surprise. She couldn't believe Karen's gall. "Are you kidding me? I'm trying to save you from any embarrassment! Do you really want to be the topic of conversations around here? You know what they say about a woman who goes after a man who's already spoken for?"

"Why don't you let me worry about embarrassment and what people are gonna say about me? I may be willing to risk a couple murmurs for a man like Daryl Dixon…" Karen smirked over at Carol.

Carol stared at the younger woman, still in disbelief. "Wow, Karen. I never expected this from you." She frowned over at her. "You have a son. Do you really want Noah to hear people talking about his mom that way?"

Karen's smirk remained and she lifted her head defiantly. "Like I said, you let me worry about that."

Carol sighed and shrugged. "Fine. Do what you will. It's not gonna work, though. I'm telling you that right now. Daryl and I are committed to each other and whatever you try on him won't work. I trust that man with all my heart. I know he's not going anywhere."

"You got that right, woman."

Both women turned over at the sound of Daryl's voice. The man stood in front of the now open door leading back into the prison, a stern look on his face. Karen's eyes widened when she saw the look on Daryl's face. She slowly moved over to him and smiled. "Well, if it isn't the most handsome cook I've ever seen. I heard you made your way into the kitchen this morning. What I wouldn't have given to seen that."

Daryl narrowed his eyes at her before looking over at Carol, who shrugged and rolled her eyes. "Is she kidding me?"

"Talk didn't work, obviously," responded Carol with a laugh.

Daryl shook his head. He moved past Karen as if she didn't exist, ignoring her comment to him. Pulling Carol into his arms, he rested his forehead on hers gently. "Let's get inside and eat some breakfast, sweetheart. You're too good to be out here amongst the vultures and trash."

Carol smiled and let her arm circle Daryl's waist. "Gladly,"

The couple walked back into the kitchen, leaving Karen alone in the prison yard without another look. Carol held onto Daryl's hand as they walked back into the prison. She bit her lip and wondered if Daryl would be annoyed with her since she hadn't made much of an influence on Karen. A soft sigh escaped her lips and Daryl looked over at her. "You all right?"

Carol shrugged. "I swear, I tried to convince her to leave you be. I don't think I did a good job, though."

"Stop it," he said turning, pulling her against his chest. "I heard you tell her we were together. That's all she needs to know. Let her make a fool of herself from now on if she wants. All that matters is you and me now," he said before he crushed her lips beneath his. It was possessive, erotic and hot. When he pulled back Carol was breathing heavily.

"I love you so much, Daryl,"

"I love you, too, woman," responded Daryl softly. Carol stared into his intense gaze and her arms circled his neck, dragging his head down to kiss him once more.

Daryl started kissing her back, showing everything he was feeling in that kiss. Carol slid her fingers through his hair, then down his neck, resting on his chest. He pushed her back against the wall, sliding his thigh between her legs as he pushed his body against her. He wanted her, she could feel it, and the knowledge made her reckless, and forgetting where they were, she slid her hands down his chest to his stomach. Carol bunched the material in her hands, lifting it so she could feel his skin. She heard Daryl hiss out his pleasure.

"Carol," Daryl said pulling her hands out and holding her wrists, with controlled patience. "You have no idea how good it feels having your hands on me," he said on a sigh, pulling her to him and taking her mouth again. He pulled back, moving down her jaw to her collar bone.

"I think I have a pretty good idea," Carol moaned softly.

"We'd better get back inside." Daryl said reluctantly, kissing up to her ear and nipping it with his teeth.

Carol groaned but slowly nodded. "I know,"

"Beth kicked me out of the kitchen; says I should stick to hunting the animals because I'm no good at cooking them," Daryl laughed as he and Carol begin the walk back down to the kitchen.

"Who cares how good you are in the kitchen when you can kiss like that, Mr. Dixon?" Carol winked over at him as she bumped his hip gently with her own.

Daryl turned to look at her once more, his blue eyes smoldering. "Just wait until you see what else I can do,"

Carol's smile widened as she found herself enveloped in Daryl's arms once more. She couldn't wait.

A/N: Hope you all liked!

A/N 2: I firmly believe Norman Reedus' eyes should be a natural treasure. Have we seen the looks that man gives? Smoldering doesn't cover it. We need to think of a new word to describe how hot his gazes are!