Beth was late so Carol had fed the milk monster. She was resting Judith on her shoulder when the young girl came rushing into the cell.

"I'm so sorry!" She cried. "I overslept! Daddy's snoring was unbelievable last night. Kept me awake most of the night."

Carol chuckled. "You sure it was Hershel's snoring and not writing songs about Zack that kept you up, huh!" She regarded the girl with a knowing smile. Maybe Sophia would have liked music the way Beth did. Maybe she'd have daydreamed about cute college boys and giggled over their innocent flirtations.

"Nooo, it was the snoring, definitely." Beth giggled as she reached for the little one. "She need anything?"

"I just fed her, changed her, cleaned her up a lit……uh oh!!!" Just as Carol handed the baby over, she brought back up what seemed like a swimming pool's worth of milk. Beth had taken hold of her from the back, so the warm liquid sloshed down Carol, who had dressed in her days clothes.

"Ew". Beth groaned at that baby sick smell. "I'll go clean her up."

"Mmmm," grimaced Carol, trying not to inhale. She sighed. Cold shower for her. The backup generators only kicked in for a couple of hours first thing, to try to save power. They'd be cold again now.

Beth slipped off with a gurgling Judith. Carol gathered up her things and made her way to the shower block. On her way, she could hear the sound of someone's hacking cough. That didn't sound good.

The only way to deal with freezing cold showers was to imagine they were hot ones. That had been Glenn's advice on the washing arrangements and it sucked. Carol shuddered as she cleaned the scent of spoiled milk off her skin with her coconut shower gel as quickly as humanly possible. She shuffled from foot to foot as she grabbed up her towel and wound it around herself. The cold seeped to her bones and her dripping wet hair didn't help. As she hurried out of the shower block, she ran into something hard.

"Ooof" she cried as she smacked off Daryl's chest. Her breath caught in her chest. From the cold, of course she thought later, not from being in front of him, naked with just a towel for cover and his blue eyes on her.

She played down a lot of his actions and words in her head but she wasn't stupid enough to not notice the want in his gaze at that moment. Once her insecurities kicked in later, she'd remind herself that he hadn't had any action for a long time, so his standards had probably lowered considerably.

"Woah, you ok. Watch yourself woman." He was carrying a water jug and looked his usual rugged self. He was wearing a thick leather jacket, a checked shirt with a t-shirt underneath and his usual torn jeans.

She'd offered to patch those jeans up countless times but he always brushed her off, even though he was at her cell regularly asking her to sew closed the worn patches on his shirts.

"Sorry, I was rushing back to my cell. Had to have a cold one cos Judith brought up her breakfast all over me." Her teeth chattered.

He drank the sight of her in again. "Go," he said "You'll catch your death if you're not careful." If only the heat from his gaze and his thoughts at that moment could warm her through. He saw the traces of scars left by cigarette burns on her back as she hurried off down the hallway, shivering.

They had both known pain from the hands of the those they loved. Daryl leaned against the wall, momentarily forgetting his task of filling the jug for the run.

Couldn't shake the image from his head, of creamy skin glistening with moisture, the goosebumps appearing, of the cold making those scars appears darker on her back. He'd kiss each of those scars one day, he hoped.

"DARYL!!!" Michonne screamed from the courtyard.

He straightened, picked up the jug and filled it as quickly as he could. An impatient Michonne on his case was the last thing he needed.

Once the runners were ready in the courtyard, the main council and leaders of the prison gathered. This happened on every run, everyone saying goodbye to each other because it could be the last time those going would see their family.

Daryl was going on Merle's bike as always. Michonne had acquired a horse she called "Blaze" which she rode on the other side of the pickup they always took.

Glenn was driving, Zack called shotgun and Sasha was in the back with Bob. Tyresse originally wanted to tag along on this one, but Daryl was wary of leaving the prison without protection, so he had selected Bob.

Carol had turned out to be a great shot after gaining confidence, Maggie could handle herself too. But with the majority of the Woodbury folk they took in being old, infirm, or young, Daryl worried whenever he left. Rick was unsteady even on good days. Hershel was on crutches, Carl, whilst being one bad ass kid in Daryl's opinion, was still just a boy. Tyreese, however, could wield a few weapons and looked imposing.

Shame he was something of a 'pansy ass' as Merle would say. Still, Daryl felt a twinge of something akin to jealousy whenever he caught the big black man with the hammer around Carol. He had a feeling Ty might have a crush on her, he was like a big, cuddly playful puppy and women and kids were suckers for that. Ty was too tactile for Daryl's liking so he found himself being snappy with the poor guy, even though he was probably just being friendly.

Maybe Daryl should take a leaf out of that guy's book, he thought as he sat astride the bike and watched Tyresse pump hands with Bob, a huge, genuine grin on his face and slap him on the back before going to linger near the door.

Daryl lit a cigarette as Rick walked over, looking more pale and lost than ever.

"You have the list, right?" He looked at Daryl intensely. Rick always managed to get eye contact with him. He'd duck his head to catch his gaze or physically adjust Daryl so that he had to turn to look at him. It was probably a skill learned a cop school, and he indulged Rick because he had a genuine love for the man like another brother. Not that he ever said that aloud. He puffed his smoke and looked up at the clear, cloudless sky.

Rick didn't give him time to answer, "You're clear on what to bring back and you know to avoid the area around that gas station? Michonne almost didn't make it back last time she went out searching for him." Rick's eyes wandered across the courtyard and he narrowed them as though he was looking hard at something. Daryl followed the other man's gaze and squinted in the early morning sun.

There was nothing to look at.

"Hey," Daryl stood up off the bike. He moved to Rick's line of sight, sure his friend was about to lapse into one of his episodes. The prison was to Rick's back and Daryl could see the concern on everyone's faces at him getting off his bike and throwing his butt aside.

"I got the list. I know Carl wants comics Shonne is gonna pick him up some stale MMs from that grocery store." He tugged at Rick on the sleeve of his shirt. "Are you gonna be ok man? You gotta hold it together."

Rick's head snapped up and he turned to survey the friends gathered behind him in the yard before looking back at his best friend.

"You gotta think of Carl and Lil Ass Licker," Daryl said. "And keep an eye on Maggie for Glenn. You got all these old folk, women and kids depending on ya. That fence we strengthened needs to be checked on. Plus, you gotta watch Hershel don't go racing Carl and Patrick on his crutches again. Remember how competitive it got last time?"

A smile flickered on Rick's face and he nodded at the memory.

Daryl noticed Carol had appeared at the metal fence near one of the other doors. She was wearing clothes now. Shame. Although the grey top she had on emphasised her slender frame, the way it was tucked in her cargo pants. It was the right shade of grey to compliment her hair and her eyes. With the knuckle knife strapped to her waist, she looked sexy but powerful.

Daryl gathered himself, these amourous thoughts about her were becoming more intense, he needed to get a hold on them.

Rick spotted her too. "You want me to watch over her, right?" He gave a bitter laugh "You know I'm such a wreck, she'll be watching over me, Daryl. You ain't stupid."

Daryl's eyes flicked back to his friend. "You'll get through this. We'll help ya. That's what we do." He picked up his bow and flung it over his shoulder as Glenn walked over to Maggie and pulled her into an embrace.

Michonne stamped her foot. "Come on people!! We gotta get going! Glenn, we don't have time for a make out session." She jumped up onto her horse with urgency and the animal turned in a circle, eager to run. "I'll head down to the gate. Carl, I'll remember those comics!" Her silky brown horse trotted down to the main gate.

"And the MMs!!" Carl shouted after her, grin on his freckled face, his sheriff's hat tilted back. Everyone laughed, treats and chocolate were the holy grail of scavenging these days.

Daryl and Rick strode back towards the prison. As they passed by Glenn and Maggie, Daryl informed them he'd be down at the gate in a second. Rick went to take Judith from Beth and he rocked her gently.

Daryl pulled Carl to one side and asked him to keep an eye on his Dad. The kid nodded solemnly, Sheriff's hat bobbing with the motion. Carl assured Daryl he would, and that he knew what to do to protect the group. He clapped the boy on the back.

Carol was leaning against the metal doorway watching Rick. Daryl knew she was worried. This was a short run, they'd be back late the next afternoon, then they'd have their council meeting to discuss the whole situation. She smiled the smile that made his chest tight as he approached her.

"Sorry for running into ya this mornin'." He stood next to her at the doorway and may have snuck a glance down her top which showed a hint of cleavage. "Hope I didn't hurt ya."

"Well, your chest is kind of hard." She grinned, making a show of rubbing her forehead where they had made contact. "In a good way. But no, you didn't hurt me too bad."

"Hey, stay safe, right?" He nudged her and couldn't help himself looking at her mouth.

She was still smiling. "Nine lives, remember?" Referring to the time Daryl found her in the tombs after a Walker incident during the early days at the prison. She turned away, back to survey Rick as Judith started grumbling.

Daryl moved around so that he was in front of her, and without allowing himself to think, cupped her cheek with his hand and turned her face back to look at him.

"I mean it, aight?" Her brow furrowed slightly, mostly from the shock of him touching her voluntarily and without warning. Her face cleared and they stood, staring into each other's eyes, into each other's souls. She had finally gotten that eye contact.

They drank in each other in. Daryl's hair fell into his eyes but Carol knew if she reached up and swept it away, as she longed to do, that box in her mind would fall off its shelf with such force, the contents would spill out. Now was not the time.

Plus, they were taking baby steps and they had an audience. She thought the slow approach was best in this situation.

As his thumb gently traced a pattern on her jaw and Daryl, abandoning his inner turmoil, felt it would be so easy and the most natural thing to lean in a little and...

"Ewww, they're gonna kiss!" Carl said to Daryl's right and that moment snapped. "Gross!"

Glenn hissed "Carl!"

Carol put a hand to Daryl's hard chest and eased him away from her. "I promise, I'll be fine." She sounded a little breathless.

Daryl dropped his hand from her face and glanced around to give Carl a look.

"Think it's maybe time to go, Daryl." Rick said and gave him a knowing half smile. Carol was aware that everyone else was studying them and she was sure that Daryl wasn't or he'd have jumped four feet away from her.

Daryl nodded and gave her one last look, chewing on the side of his mouth, shaking his hair from his eyes and slowly lowering his hand. He walked backwards a few steps, still locked to her eyes, then nodded his farewell to her.

He waved at Rick, then headed for the bike, passing the pickup where Zack was leaning. The young man gave a low wolf whistle as Daryl passed, then he winked at Beth and climbed in. Glenn headed for the driver's side and Sasha and Bob were already seated. Daryl could hear Sasha asking if there had been a kiss, complaining that she hadn't had a good view.

Ordinarily, he would have blushed and cringed but right now, he didn't care who saw what or what they thought. It was becoming harder to fight against his natural urges. Yes, he was terrified of how he felt, of rejection, but the more he orbited her, the less those worries mattered.

A wise man would perhaps distance himself. Daryl however, had felt an inexplicable pull towards that woman since the turn, he was powerless to fight it. Walkers he could put down, he would kill for this new family of his, but he could not contemplate this life now without Carol. If he was the Earth, then she was his Sun.

Carol's knees almost gave way as everyone looked from Daryl to her in silence. She raised her hands in an 'I-don't-know' gesture, heat rushing to her cheeks, especially where he had caressed one and hurried inside.