Not much left on this.

Daryl had to resist from breaking another one of Carol's rules as he held back a laugh at the groom. The man was running up to the altar after a solid thirty minutes of being late. Daryl himself thought he was going to be a runaway groom. He would understand after having to meet the bride herself. He was introduced at Carol's grandmothers house. Apparently they were related by her grandfather. For the most part he holds his laugh in but a sharp jab to his ribs from Carol's elbow lets him know it wasn't as quiet as he thought. Her own grandfather has a smile on his face but no one is elbowing him.

The ceremony is small. Just a few friends and the family. That is something Daryl is very grateful for. He hated crowds and shit like this. He'd let his mouth open that day before he'd even really considered what he was doing. Just thinking about it has his eyes shooting over to where Todd is seated. He can't remember the woman's name on his arm but doesn't care either way. He'd felt each time the man stared at him though and he'd fought smiling.

"Eric and Alex wanted to be the flower girls." Carol whispered to him while leaning more into his side. She done that a lot he noticed. Touching him more than she exactly had too. Daryl's eyes though land on the two cousins she's pointing too. "Lori wouldn't let them."

"She made the right decision." He mutters while watching the twins smear something onto the the seats in front of them. He grimaces. He catches another elbow to the ribs but this one is much gentler.

The ceremony doesn't take long. It's stuffy and has him adjusting his collar. He hates suits. He's always hated anything like this. Though it was worth it watching the way Carol's eyes glazed over when he'd stepped out ready to go. She'd hid it quickly but he'd seen the way her eyes raked over him. He wanted to laugh outright but she seemed prone to violence most of the time. He didn't like the idea of getting slapped before having to go out there and deal with her family again. They were like sharks as it was. He'd been questioned about everything imaginable. He knew that her grandfather was going to find a way to corner him but he was doing what Carol wanted. And one look at that man told him he wasn't going to be okay with the evasive ass answers he kept giving everyone else. Carol was anxious about it as well and he didn't even need her to tell him for him to see it.

They're standing soon as the couple walk out hand in hand to cheers. The reception is just in her grandmother's large backyard. It really is a charming setting. He'd watched as it was pulled together. More than once her aunts luring him into helping. He didn't mind. It kept his mind off shit he really needed to not think about. Like the way she fit perfectly against him when they'd fell asleep both nights here at her grandmother's.


Rick and Lori approach them almost immediately and Carol takes a sharp breath. He can see as she pulls on her game face. She's good at hiding in plain sight. He'd never thought he would see someone as good at it as him. She hates social shit just as much as him. It's almost laughable because he's turned down repeated offers to do shit like this with everyone he knew. But Carol's had him doing shit like this non stop with just a look and it should bother him but it doesn't.

"So this is the man we've heard so little about..." Lori smiles at Carol. She's giving her a pointed look. She turned her wide brown eyes on Daryl and smiles. "Honestly Carol, I shouldn't have to hear about your life from Todd of all people."

Carol flinches slightly. Lori and Rick both miss it but he doesn't. He frowns slightly.

Carol rolls her eyes. "Don't argue with me on your wedding day, Lori." Carol laughs while hugging her.

Daryl nods and smiles when he knows he's supposed to. Carol cuts off most avenues that could lead down a more familiar path with him and her family. He's gotten use to that though. It made his collar itch where it set against his throat. His tie felt to tight. It just didn't feel right. He was going out of his way and he wasn't sure it was even fucking worth it. He didn't do shit like this. Rick and Lori are all smiles and talkative.

Rick is suddenly looking at him. "It's nice to finally meet you." He holds his hand out for Daryl to shake. "I hope we'll be seeing more of you." He too gives Carol a pointed look.

When they walk away Carol lets out a heavy breath. "Why did you have to make them like you?" She sounds exasperated with him. Again. He's use that too.

She leads them to their seats. Carol scowls over at him as he takes his seat and shrugs out of his suit jacket. He doesn't miss the way her eyes linger on his shoulders or his chest. He almost smirks. Carol swallows and looks away sipping her wine.

"You've made my entire family adore you." She sounds petulant.

Daryl raises a brow at her. Her eyes linger on him a little longer than necessary. "I could always propose to you during their reception. I doubt that would endear me to them. "He deadpans.

She scowls. "You wouldn't."

He's pretending to think about it. His fingers drumming next to his whiskey glass. He isn't even sure when he'd gotten that. "Actually I don't think you made any rules about that."

She smacks his arm playfully as a fully belly laugh escapes her. She's about to say something to him when he leans forward. His eyes on hers and then somewhere else. Carol's mouth parts suddenly and his finger lands on her soft lips. She freezes immediately. Eyes wide, dilated.

"Shh, the best man's speech is starting."


Carol isn't sure when Daryl disappeared. She'd thought he was getting her something to drink but when her mom dropped it off instead she began to worry. He'd stayed close to her like she wanted. She didn't need him socializing without her. People would ask questions if they got him alone. More than once she knew they were getting attention. It was hard though to remain aloof and at a distance with him. He was just easy to be around and he made her feel comfortable in her own skin.

Carol scanned around for him again. She paled seeing her grandfather with him. Daryl had an unreadable expression on his face. It made her chew her lip. Daryl's eyes went to her briefly before her grandfather laughed loudly. That got a few people looking over. Great the one man in the family who was known for hating the men the women brought around was suddenly chummy with Daryl, her fake fucking boyfriend. She downed her wine in one go and got another.

"Dance with me."

Carol looked up wide eyed. "Excuse me?"

Daryl is standing right beside her chair. He's looking down at her. Amusement dancing in his bright blue eyes. His lips are quirked in just a way that she knows he's fighting laughing or saying something that is going to make her lash out.

"Dance with me. It's what couples do at weddings." Daryl says like she's stupid.

Carol grits her teeth because that was true and more than once she seen people side eyeing them. They were the only couple who hadn't danced. Was her lie starting to show? Standing up she grips his hand and drags him onto the dance floor. He's chuckling and the sound is rich, deep, and just fucking delicious.

"Really?" Carol says sarcasm thick. "I thought they got trashed and went fucked in a coat room."

Daryl does smile then. His hand on her waist as he tugs her closer, their bodies flush. He isn't a bit bothered by her crass comment. He never is.

"We could that too." His voice is low.

She forces a laugh. "Thank you for inviting yourself as my plus one. It's better than sitting by myself and getting drunk."

Daryl feigns shock. "Is that a compliment?"

She's laughing in earnest now. She is leaning into him more now. He's bearing most of her weight without complaint. He smells wonderful, he always does. When the song ends he starts to untangle her from his body. She doesn't let go though and laughs when he grunts at her sudden hold.

"You didn't think I'd let you off with just one dance?" Carol is grinning.

"You didn't want to dance to begin with." He snarks.

"True." Carol laughs. "But it annoys you and that just makes it more fun."

She marvels that he can look this good even close up. He's a study in perfection that she's starting to realize she could master in. Maybe even get her doctorate. Her grandfather's words are ringing in her ear. He'd told her that story about how he'd chased someone who didn't want him. How he'd never given up. Was she him or was Daryl?

The songs ends again and Carol is breathless. She's smiled more tonight than she has in a long time. "That last spin made me a bit dizzy." She says apologetically. Like it was just the dancing, a voice in the back of her head says, images of his lips so close to hers flashing in her own mind as he'd leaned down to talk quietly to her while they'd danced was the real reason. It was sensory overload being around him. He was like a drug she could easily get lost to.

When they're back at the table he goes to get them drinks. It doesn't take long before someone descends on her.

"Carol." Carol jerks in her seat at the voice just behind her. Her eyes had been on Daryl. "Enjoy yourself?" Her mother waggles her brows.

"The wedding is lovely." Carol's voice is stilted.

Her mom makes a show of looking in Daryl's direction.

"That's not quite what I mean."

Carol licks her lips. Her mom's eyes were bright and happy. "We're….me and Daryl are still getting to know each other." It's not that far from the truth.

Her mom frowns at her suddenly. Carol looks away. Instead watching as Daryl sips his drink as Rick talks at him. She smiles seeing the signs of his aggravation of getting cornered. Derek is there with Rick. Both men are talking to him and Daryl's eyes keep landing on her though. She makes a show of laughing at him when he looks again. He raises a brow and she snorts when he flips her off.

Her mom suddenly rolls her eyes at her. "OH please, you're crazy about him. Stop pretending your not. Everyone can tell."

Carol feels her eyes bug out. "What?" She squawks.

Her mom laughs and takes a bite of Carol's discarded wedding cake. "I've never seen you look at anyone the way you do him. Not even Todd and you gave that miserable retch almost five years of your life." Carol opens her mouth to speak but her mom shakes her head. "He's great, Carol, really. I'm happy for you. I really like him."

Fuck. It's all she can think. Fuck. Because this is a mess. Her mom is smiling in a way Carol's hardly ever seen. Her eyes go to Daryl and it just widens. When she looks at her daughter again she swipes at a tear that's starting to fall. Carol feels her face getting red and she isn't sure what to even say. How can she tell her mom she's a terrible liar and that she used Daryl?

"Oh, he's coming back." Her mom chirps happily. "I'll leave you two lovebirds alone."

"Here you go." Daryl hands her the wine she asked for. She doesn't even look at it, doesn't ask to make sure it's what she wanted. She just downs it in one gulp.

She likes Daryl Dixon. A lot.

Daryl in his seat now. He's watching her carefully. "Is everything alright?" His brow is furrowed. He looks all dark and brooding in his dark suit with his eyes so mercurial.

And he's just acting. This is just a game to him. She can remember the night she met him better now. He'd been charm and devastating good looks. The second they were alone though he dropped the pretense. He doesn't care, she thinks. She's only entertainment for him.

She looks up at him again. She's forcing a smile. "Yeah, great." She stands up. "Uh...I'm going to go to the bathroom. I'll be back."

He's frowning up at her. It tugs at something in her but she ignores it. She can see the confusion in his eyes. How she's went from easy going and laughing to suddenly whatever this mess is now. She doesn't even know what to say or do.

He lets her go though and is quiet. The moment she walks off he looks over in the direction she'd been staring at and suddenly everything makes sense. Todd is making out with whatever her name was. It's indecent the amount of tongue he can see from where he's sitting and the way they're pawing at each other.

He swallows thickly as his jaw clenches. Of course she's still hung up on that bastard he thinks.


"I didn't realize the bathroom had a mini bar." Daryl says later when he's about to drive Carol home. He isn't going to stay another night at her family's house. Not in bed with her. It makes his stomach churn after seeing her reaction to Todd kissing some whore. She's pretty wasted at this point, he thinks, his lip his curled in a sneer. Todd kissing some other woman shouldn't be able to reduce Carol to this.

"I must've gotten lost on the way there." She laughs through her slurred words. He's holding the car door open for her. He'd already said good bye for them to everyone. He climbs in quickly after words, if Carol notices how he slams the door she doesn't say anything.

The drive is in silence. Neither making an attempt at conversation. Daryl is still stewing, and he doesn't understand why he's so fucking pissed off. What does he care if Carol is still in love with her ex? He grits his teeth though because despite his inner monologue he is pissed. She's nothing to him. Except that she isn't, and she really hasn't since the night he brought her home from that godforsaken bar. Since she hissed and spit in his face as she stumbled around.

But that doesn't matter now because if she's still in love with her Todd, then he's not getting involved. Daryl has never been somebody's pity-fuck, somebody's second choice, and he's not about to start now. No matter how fucking beautiful Carol is or how bright her blue eyes light when she's looking at him. Or how fucking quick she is with her retorts that only make him want to laugh instead of snapping at her.

It's a while before they're back in the city. When he looks over she's slumped over and snoring. He grimaces. He can't just dump her back in her apartment. If she gets sick in her sleep and fucking chokes on her puke...well he'd rather not think about it. It's too reminiscent of how he met her. As Daryl lifts Carol from the car and walks into the building he lives in he decides to tell her tomorrow not to drink so much when she wakes up.