"I need the boards on the windows to come down. If we're going to be staying here for awhile," She told him in a soft voice. "At least the one in the bedroom. It's too damn dark."

He thought for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. Lemme take a leak real quick and I'll help ya."

She crossed over to the other side of the room, flashlight in hand as she inspected the closed window. It was a shoddy job, she didn't think it would be that hard to undo. She was lost in thought and barely even heard him when he returned a moment later.

"Hay."

She jumped slightly when she realized he was right beside her.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to scare ya." He held up the hammer at his side and went to work.

She shook her head. "It's alright."

He paused with a frown. "Truth is, you're tha one that scares me sometimes."

Her shoulders tensed and she turned her head to look at him. "What?"

He shrugged without answering.

"Me? What'd I do?" She prodded.

"It's just…. I guess I just don't know what to do this time. How to bring you home. Out of the darkness." He pulled the board down with a harsh tug and she coughed at the sudden spread of dust.

The late morning light flooded the room suddenly and she slowly managed a small smile. "This is a good start. Do you think we could open it?"

"Don't see why not. We're on the second floor."

She grinned, reaching out to undo the shabby little latch.

His eye caught something on the floor and he bent down to retrieve it. "This belong to you?" He asked, holding it out to her.

Her expression changed when she saw the tiny ring in his outstretched hand. "Not anymore," she answered with narrowed eyes.

"Alright then. Guess we don't need it here." He gestured towards the window.

She felt like she was moving in slow motion when she took it from him, her fingers shaking. "Fine. But no comments on how I throw like a girl."

He held up his hands in surrender and took a step away from the ledge. With that, she took a deep breath and hurled it as hard as she could out the window, watching as it sailed across the yard, over the fence and disappeared somewhere she couldn't see.

He let out a low whistle. "Damn, girl. Where'd you learn to throw like that?"

She laughed, smiling widely into the light breeze that she'd only just realized was blowing softly into her face.

XXXXX

She found herself leaning out hours later, when the sky had turned black. Her elbows rested on the window sill, and she idly placed her chin in her hand. "The stars are out tonight." She looked over her shoulder and gestured for him to join her. "When was the last time we saw real stars?"

He shrugged. "I don't wanna see 'em through a tiny space. C'mon, I got a better idea." He moved swiftly out the door, grabbing her backpack off the nightstand.

"Daryl? Where are you going?" She called, running after him as he jogged the stairs two at a time.

He swung the door open and ushered her out in front of him. Then he pulled a blanket from her bag and spread it across the lawn.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" She asked quietly.

He settled down on the ground, patted the space next to him. "Just stay alert and don't fall asleep."

She sat down slowly, leaning her head back to gaze up at the sky. "You're right, this is much better."

He was quiet for a long while, but she wanted to keep talking. "My mama used to tell me stories about them when I was little. All about how the constellations connect and who they're named for. Like Andromeda and Cassiopeia."

He sniffed. "Yeah, I know all 'bout them bitches."

She laughed. "Bitches?"

"We learned it in grade school. How they were punished for thinkin' they're so much prettier, so much better than the rest."

She nodded. "It's amazing how much importance we've always placed on looks, isn't it? Even way back then." She laughed after a moment. "Although now, if we still thought that way, you and I would be at the top. Compared to everything else around us."

He chuckled at that. "Nah. You already are at the top."

She raised an eyebrow.

He reached out his arm, pointed at the sky. "See them three stars, the real bright ones? That's Carol."

She giggled a little. "It is?"

He nodded confidently. "Sure is. All pretty and strong, shining bright over everythin'. That's why they put 'er up there, ya know. So evry'one could see. And all the hunters'd have something powerful to guide 'em."

"I never heard that story before," she said playfully, leaning back to settle in between his legs.

He stiffened. "Uh, it's much better than the shit they teach kids in school anyway."

She tilted her head back to rest on his shoulder, felt him swallow hard since her face was so close to his. "You okay?"

"Yeah, it's just…. I ain't so good at this… affection stuff."

She reached up to pat his hair. He rested his chin against her shoulder and exhaled slowly, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. "I s'pose I could learn."

"Actually, you're much better than you think you are," she whispered, closing her eyes and burrowing against him.

They were quiet for so long that after awhile they both had to move to make sure the other wasn't asleep. Carol straightened up, wrapped her arms around her knees. "Daryl?" She asked after a moment. "Are you happy?"

He snorted. "Never really knew what that was like, before. Then the world ended." He scooted closer to her. "How 'bout you?"

She shook her head slowly. "I used to think that if I was a good wife, and a good mother, that I would be happy."

He watched silently as she hunched over, raised her hands to her face.

"But we both know how those things turned out." She sniffled.

"Hay." He reached out to move her hands from her face. "I didn't know ya before, but I know you now. I'll bet you were the best wife there is. That bastard sure as hell didn't deserve ya."

"But Sophia deserved better," She said meekly.

He bristled at the mention of her daughter's name, but wrapped an arm around her shaking shoulders anyway. "You did everything you could. We both did." He stroked his fingers soothingly through her hair.

"I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I didn't mean to betray… everyone…. I…."

"Sssh," he murmured. "Stop that now."

"And now look what's happened. I took you away from them. I took them away from you."

He thought for a moment, wanting to choose his words carefully. "My family was shit before. Then the shit hits the fan, and I find something more, great. It's all fun while it lasts, in this world, right?"

She blinked. "I guess so."

He smiled, nudging her jaw lightly with his knuckles. "Way I see it, I'm out here in the peace and quiet with a beautiful woman standing next to me. What's not to be happy about?"

She placed a hand against his chest. "Daryl… I…"

He stood up then, held a hand out to her. "We'd best get inside now, right?"

She nodded slowly, let him pull her up. "Right."