So this has now turned into four parts instead of three, smut will be in the next one I promise.

It was supposed to be with this one but I have deleted and rewritten it countless times now and I just wasn't feeling it, my smut brain must be a little off I don't know.

I didn't want to just give you all garbage so I've decided to post what I had already and come back to it, sorry!

Anyway there is a big time jump between chapter 2 and this one, it's set in New Best Friends.

As always I'd love to hear what you think :)

Never in their lives had they felt more content than they did at this moment. Sat in front of the softly glowing fire, the room completely dark with the exception of a few candles, his arms wrapped around her shoulders pressing her gently into his side. She curled herself into him chasing more of the heat his body was radiating. They had been through so much in the passing months, things had been going smoothly for them for a while, and then Negan happened.

She had chosen to leave her family behind, something she had been considering for a long long time. Eventually it had gotten too much for her, she didn't want any more blood on her hands. The screams of the saviours she had burned alive in that kill room still haunted her every night, she didn't want to be that person anymore. She knew that if anyone tried to hurt her family she wouldn't be able to stop herself, and god help anyone who tried to hurt him.

Things had gotten a little awkward between them since their talk that morning in the infirmary. Carol's back had taken its time to heal, it was weeks before the bruising had subsided and her ability to move had returned to normal but when it had she was itching to make good on their deal, she just didn't know how to bring it up again. She had attempted to make so many moves on him already and she was starting to worry this wasn't what he really wanted. Sure he was an awkward person but he hadn't even kissed her again since that morning. She promised herself that she would allow him to initiate it when he felt ready, but that moment never came.

Daryl had spent the weeks since their talk a nervous wreck. Every time they were together his mind raced with thoughts of what he had promised her. The more time that passed the more he had been talking himself out of it, he loved her more than anything but her words echoed in his mind and he was terrified he wouldn't be able to give her what she deserved. Then not long later the whole shit storm with Negan began, and then she was gone. He hadn't even known. Not until a couple of days ago when he had escaped The Sanctuary and reunited with his family. The night that she left had been the day that Denise had died, his head was plagued with nothing but anger and thoughts of revenge. He had stormed out of Alexandria without speaking to anyone that morning, dead set on finding Dwight and putting an arrow through his head.

He had noticed her absence from Negan's line up, couldn't remember a time he had been more grateful, relieved that she didn't have to live the horrors of that night. If it had been her that ended up victim to Lucille as a result of his outburst he wouldn't have been able to live with himself. He had also noticed that she was missing the day he had been paraded around Alexandria, he so desperately wanted to ask someone where she was but he wasn't prepared to have another person he loved die because of his disobedience. So he had kept silent, praying with every fibre of his being that she was just out on a supply run or helping out at Hilltop, every moment alone in that god awful cell after that day was spent thinking about where she was.

When he found out the truth he had mixed emotions, he was so thankful she was alive but couldn't understand why she had left. How could he not have noticed there was anything wrong with her during the days before her departure? But he had found her, and now here they were basking in the warmth and comfort being with each other again had brung.

He had vowed to never leave her again. He meant every word he had said to Richard earlier that day, he would kill for her, he would die for her, he would tear the whole world to the ground for her if he had to. He wanted to worship her the way she deserved but he was scared he would be a disappointment, he knew this moment was something she had wanted for while. It had been so long since he had even let himself think about sex he doubted he would last more than a few minutes.

She felt his whole body tensing up around her and glanced a peek at his face, his eyes were fixed on a spot in the corner of the room, his brow furrowed completely lost in his thoughts. Slowly trying not to startle him she lifted her arm to gently brush the back of her hand across his striking cheekbone. He jumped a little at the contact but quickly recovered, turning to press a kiss to palm of her hand.

"What were you thinking about?" She asked curiously.

"Us," he replied. "What this is."

"I think we both know what this is," she said with a sincerity that made his chest swell. "I love you so much Daryl Dixon, so so much."

His emotions were soaring high as he met her glassy blue eyes. He did know what this was. He felt exactly the same. He let out a long shaky sigh as he wrapped his head around it all, nodding his head in agreement with her. "I love ya too. Really do."

Her whole face lit up brightly at his words, her beautiful smile sending a rush of butterflies to his stomach. "I want you, I want everything with you."

He cupped her cheek in his large palm and leaned down to press his lips against hers in a series of tender kiss. She turned her body to face him head on, boldly swinging her leg over to straddle his waist. This time they kissed he was brave enough to drag his tongue across her lower lip seeking access which she quickly granted. It was slow and loving, taking the time to explore one another's mouths with heated movements.

Her hands which had been fisted in his tangled hair began to head south, it was only when she smoothed her palms down the heaving muscles of his chest that she realised something was missing. He wasn't wearing his vest, it occurred to her that he wasn't wearing it when he arrived either. He usually never took the thing off.

"Where are your wings?"

"Bastard took it. The one from the forest that took all my shit, same one that killed Denise." He didn't want her to know how it had been taken, stripped from him with the rest of his clothes as he was thrown into that nightmare of a cell. "Was part of the deal we made with 'em"

A stab of anger flashed through her system as she thought of someone else wearing something that meant so much to him. They'd get it back for him, somehow, eventually.

"Don't worry, you're still my angel," she whispered, caressing his cheek with her thumb and moving the stray strands of hair hiding his tired eyes.

All it took was those words and he was right back in the infirmary all those months ago. The tension was thick in the air as they locked gazes once more, they were both thinking the same thing and they knew it. Their faces were less than an inch apart, heavy breaths mingling as she tilted her nose to brush lightly against his, encouraging him to make a move.

"Wanna screw around?" He mumbled after a few hesitant moments.

Finally, she had waited so long to hear those words again. She wasted no time in reclaiming his lips with her own only this time with more force, just desperate to feel him. They tasted each other hungrily, her hands finding purchase in his hair again, lust coursing through her veins as she grazed her nails across his scalp emitting low growl from deep in his chest. It was the sexiest thing she'd ever heard, she couldn't wait to hear what his moans sounded like.

His hands had made their way under the hem of her shirt, his fingers tracing dizzying patterns across the expanse of her back sending shivers down her spine, his touch set her skin on fire. Very aware of the prominent hardness pushing against her core she gave her hips an experimental roll, delighted in the way he gasped into her mouth. He wanted her, he really wanted her and there was no way this time that she could convince herself that he didn't, she could feel the evidence. Unable to wait any longer she broke away from him panting and pulled his sleeve until they were both standing, she interlocked their fingers and tugged him through to the small bedroom in the back of the house.