Carol could tell Daryl's knee was hurting him the next morning. After helping him down the stairs into the kitchen she considered trying to talk him out of going up into the tower with her, knowing the steps would be painful. But he looked far too excited about getting out of the house to break his heart. So they walked slowly to the tower and the night shift sniper helped Daryl up the stairs before he left. "Could have done it myself," Daryl grumbled, once he was gone. Carol was thankful he at least acted somewhat appreciative for the help to the man's face.

Carol ignored him and got herself set up to begin her watch. Every time, the same butterflies made their way into her stomach, thinking that it could be the day they needed her, could be the day she got to prove she was an asset to the group. Carol knew her family already saw her as an asset, but she couldn't help the need to show the rest. It bothered her that she felt that way because quite honestly, Carol made her own choices based on what she believed was the best course of action. She truly didn't care if others saw her choices as right or wrong, as long as she knew in her heart that she did the right thing. But the need to be seen as strong and independent was something different, likely stemming from being oppressed for far too long by Ed. There was no way she would ever let anyone view her as weak or a liability, ever again.

"You ain't gotta prove anything, to them, or anyone," Daryl said, from somewhere behind her. The annoyance of his ability to know what she was thinking and feeling had faded a long, long time ago. At first, as he got really good at judging her thoughts and moods, Carol had been frustrated that she couldn't hide anything from him. But over time she began to see it as an incredibly special connection, that not many people had, especially for Daryl. His ability to read her was novel for him, she knew that. When Carol finally realized and accepted that she was likely the only person on earth he would ever understand completely - that was when it became an absolute delight, rather than an invasion of privacy.

The connection they had made it all the more confusing that Daryl wasn't able to recognize that she was completely in love with him. He could stand behind her, without even seeing her face and recognize her need to prove herself, but when she flirted with him and actually tried to make him see how she felt... Nada. It was nuts and she just couldn't wrap her mind around it, which was exactly why she was treading so carefully. Though after the kisses the night before, Carol was feeling a lot more confident.

"I know I don't have to," she sighed in response. "But I just can't be seen as a weak link. I get that there's something vastly important in every job we do, whether it's being a sniper, a teacher, a cook... A leader... But with everything I've been through, this is where I feel I belong and I need to know, without a doubt, that others agree. Or I shouldn't be here..." her voice trailed off as she thought about how she had considered leaving the group after she got them out of Terminus. If it hadn't been for Daryl catching her... Who knows where she would have been at that point.

"Don't," he warned, interrupting her thoughts. "If you go, I go. We ain't never separating again." His voice was firm, tone commanding, and while Daryl never told her what to do or dominated her in any manner, there was a sense of both in his statement. But Carol knew it came from desperation and the pain of her loss he had felt far too many times since they had met. In any of their separations she felt it too. Carol often wondered if she would have gotten far that night, or if the ache of missing Daryl would have brought her right back with some excuse about looking for supplies.

"Deal," she said, turning to give him a smile. Carol saw he was still standing, leaning on his crutch. "Come on," she grabbed a chair and set it beside her own. "Come sit, help me keep an eye on things... And maybe we can start that talk we need to have." Carol recognized there was no sense beating around the bush. They had already done that, for far too long.

Daryl hobbled over and sat down and they both stared out the window, looking around though there was nothing to see. Finally Carol spoke, "I guess I can start if you want?"

"Mmm, hmm," came his reply with a nod. She took a deep breath thinking of where to begin, but before she let out a word Daryl spoke up. "Why didn't you say something? How long? Why now? Why here? Why me?"

Carol couldn't help but laugh at the way a man of few words had allowed so many questions to fly out of his mouth, but the laugh was particularly directed at the last question. "Why you? Are you kidding me?" Carol knew she should be looking outside, doing her job, but she couldn't resist a glance in his direction. She turned it back on him, "why not?"

Daryl looked down at the floor and shuffled his feet, stopping while it obviously hurt his knee. "Dunno," he mumbled. "Maybe I can never be what you need," he said quietly.

"Oh Daryl," she sighed, not with annoyance, but utter relief. "You already are." His insecurities made her heart hurt and Carol hoped he would accept and believe her words. "I need you to believe that... If not for yourself, believe it for me."

Slowly his head turned until their eyes met. Carol wanted to kiss him again, so badly. But she couldn't, she was working. The conversation itself was already distracting enough. Daryl didn't speak, but he did nod, sending relief washing over her and drawing a smile to her lips. Finally, finally they were getting somewhere.

"I'll answer more of your questions," Carol said, directing her gaze back outside. "But you have to answer some too okay?" She continued to speak without waiting for a reply, "I can't pick a moment when I knew for sure, because the second I realized how I felt about you... When I try to think back I realize I always felt that way. I take myself back, moment by moment, through every separation, all the joy, all the heartbreak... I go back to Sophia coming out of that barn, and the days before that when you searched for her, never giving up... It was likely somewhere during that time, but the foolish romantic in me wants to believe I loved you long before, while Sophia was still alive and Ed... I remember the first time I laid eyes on you at that quarry, you and Merle, and I can't think back to that moment without feeling exactly what I feel for you right now." Carol risked looking away from her watch again to gauge his reaction. "Too Corny?" she asked with a laugh in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"Uh uh," Daryl shook his head. "I get it… I know the feeling." The shock of his statement hit her hard. Carol knew her jaw was slack, but she couldn't control it with the thoughts and emotions swirling around inside her. She couldn't believe he had felt that way for a long time, maybe even as long as she had. Carol assumed it had developed more recently for him – after she escaped the Hospital and they reunited again – if she had to pinpoint a specific moment. "I remember all the times we were separated," Daryl started, speaking slowly and carefully, as if he was really choosing his words, making sure they were perfect for her. "Even with everything I went through before all this… those were by far the worst moments of my life." Carol felt tears stinging her eyes and looked out the window again, to shift her focus just enough to keep the tears from falling. "I don't think about the quarry often… but when I do, I miss Merle… I miss Sophia… and I hate that Shane was the one who beat the shit out of Ed. It should have been me."

"You weren't even there," Carol said gently. "You were trying to find Merle, you didn't know what happened."

"Doesn't matter," Daryl snapped. "I knew what he was doing to you. We all did. I should have saved you from that."

Carol could sense a deep rooted pain and again it shocked her. He had carried that with him for a long time. "Don't Daryl, we're past that… He's gone and we're here… together."

"I know," he sighed. "I know…" his voice trailed off. "Just wanted you to see I do understand." Carol felt like a jerk when his words clicked. He wasn't drudging up the past at all, he was just trying to show her that he feels the same way she does. When he thinks back, even to when they first met and barely knew each other he wanted to protect her.

Carol didn't speak, she simply took a hand off of her gun, continued to stare straight forward, and somehow found his hand, slipping hers into it and squeezing gently. Daryl's hand was warm and comforting, even though it was rough and calloused. "Why now, why here," she repeated his earlier question after a nice moment of silence. "I'm not sure exactly," Carol began. "But maybe it's because we're settled, we're not running, not on the road…"

"The prison? We were safe there, for a while…" Daryl interrupted.

"Yeah… And I knew then, but I didn't think you felt the same," Carol explained. "Honestly, I didn't truly see it in you until after the hospital… And even now… I'm afraid this is too much, afraid you'll run… pull away from me."

"Won't be running anytime soon," Daryl replied, making a joke in his own strange way.

Carol laughed, "well I guess that's another reason why I'm doing this now."

"It doesn't matter," Daryl stated. "I won't run from you. Can't be away from you again. I just can't."

"I know that now," Carol said, looking at him with a smile. "Me neither." She was about to continue speaking when something caught her eye. There were strangers approaching the main gates. "What the hell," she whispered, directing Daryl's attention to the gate. They watched in silence and quickly realized these strangers were in a heated argument with Rick and Aaron. Carol scanned the area, glancing back at Rick and seeing his hands raised. She squinted and saw he had a red dot on his chest – they had a sniper hiding somewhere. "Fuck," she whispered. "Where are you, asshole…" She peeked through the scope in the direction she assumed the sniper was hiding. "Got ya," Carol said, spotting a man with a rifle, hiding on the edge of the woods, aim directed at Rick's chest. "Should I take him out," she whispered to Daryl. "I know I can hit him…"

"Do it," Daryl replied, without hesitation. "It'll give Rick the upper hand."

Carol put the man directly in her sights. It would be an easier shot to take him in the chest, in the heart area, but she shifted her aim to his head. If she missed his heart there was a slim chance he could survive, but he wasn't surviving a head shot, and he wouldn't turn after. She took a deep breath, calmed her nerves and trusted in her skills. Carol pulled the trigger and watched the man drop to the ground, then quickly turned her gun on one of the three men at the gate. Rick acted quickly. As soon as the red dot was gone from his chest his gun was in his hand, trained on another of the men. Daryl had his crossbow aimed at the third, but they were likely a bit too far out of range for his weapon. Luckily Aaron also pulled his gun. They had the group covered. But the three men also had their weapons pointed right back at Rick and Aaron.

"Take another," Daryl instructed. "Gotta show them they can't win."

Carol nodded and easily dropped the man she was aiming at. She saw the look of shock on the two remaining men's faces. They put their arms up in surrender, but something felt off. Neither one of them dropped their gun. She aimed at another, her heart hammering in her chest. His hand started to drop and she shot - Rick, Aaron and Daryl all shooting at the same time. Both men fell to the ground. Carol had no idea who hit them first, but all that mattered was they were dead. She was surprised to see a bolt in the head of one of the men and glanced over at Daryl with a smile. "I didn't think you could aim that accurately this far away."

"Got lucky," he replied with a shrug. Carol knew it was more than luck. Daryl was an amazing shot with his crossbow, far better than he was with a rifle and he was damn good with a rifle.

Carol felt a sense of relief that the threat was over. But it was short lived. "Oh shit," she muttered, looking at Daryl in horror. They both watched the edge of the forest as one of the biggest herds of walkers they had ever seen started to emerge.