As soon as Carol left, Daryl radioed the Sanctuary. The plan would no longer work. After he told Negan about the Whisperers, Alpha, and Lydia, they proposed a new strategy: elect someone to dress in a walker-skin suit and infiltrate their base.

Daryl, desperate to stay a few more days with Carol, suggested that he prepare the walker suits before he returned to the Sanctuary.

He headed northeast, towards the woodland, hoping to snag a few squirrels in addition to the walkers.

With Ezekiel gone, Carol took over his duties, which meant holding court in the theatre. The priority was the defense against the Whisperers. She added more residents to the watch rota and drew up additional plans for strengthening their defenses.

When that was done, and she realized that her stomach was growling, Carol discovered that the Kingdom was running a surplus of fruit, so she organized a trade with Oceanside in return for fresh fish.

Despite putting on an act of strength, her insides felt as hard as a rock. Henry was in danger. There were still lots of walkers out there. It was dangerous to be alone.

She tried to calm herself. Henry was not Sophia. He was older, for one, and he knew how to defend himself. Morgan had trained him in Aikido, Ezekiel had trained him how to use a sword, and Carol had trained him how to shoot.

But Carol still couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible was going to happen. She should've gone with Ezekiel, but he'd wanted his space, and after everything, she owed him that.

So she kept going. She discussed plans with Larry, the new doctor, to erect a building to the west, which they hoped to turn into a medical center.

By this point, night had plunged the Kingdom into darkness, so Carol returned to the cottage.

Daryl's day had also been productive. He'd tracked and hunted a fox, putting down twelve walkers in the process. He only managed to skin four of them, carefully carrying them back so they wouldn't contaminate the meat.

After he placed the skins in the garden - god knows what Carol would say if she found them inside - he had the random notion of doing something he'd neglected for a very long time.

He took a bath.

As he scrubbed off months of filth, which turned the water brown, he had an even crazier idea.

Maybe he should cut his hair.

He hadn't trimmed it since the apocalypse. It was so long now, reaching his shoulders in lank, greasy tendrils.

He found a pair of rusty scissors and began to cut until his hair was as short as Carol's.

He almost didn't recognize himself, but he felt good, and he couldn't wait to see her.

When Carol opened the door, she was greeted by the sight of a dead fox staring at her.

"Daryl?" she called, half annoyed, and half bemused.

She almost didn't recognize him. He looked so… clean, which was a word she'd never thought she'd use to describe him, and his new haircut reminded her of the man he'd been at the farm.

"Ya like it?" He bit down on his lip, his voice sheepish.

"Of course," she kissed him, running her fingers through his new hair. "As long as you're not Samson."

"Who?"

"Never mind," she smiled. "What's with the fox?"

"Brought ya dinner."

When their bellies were full, they sat together on the sofa. Daryl felt both anxious and content. It was odd, this relationship stuff. He didn't know what was expected. Should they talk for a bit first, or would she want to go straight to fucking?

His parents had never sat together. Before his Momma died, Daryl could only remember her lying on the sofa in a drunken stupor, while his Dad went whoring around.

Merle had never gone steady either. He'd had plenty of women, all of them meth heads like him, but in his brother's opinion, they were good for only two things: fucking and drugs.

Carol's hands reached for his, and he held them, relishing their softness and warmth.

"Never done this b'fore," he admitted.

"Held hands?"

"Had a girl. Dunno what I'm s'posed t' do."

Carol gently kissed his cheek. "You're not supposed to do anything."

Her heart swelled for him. She'd guessed he lacked experience, but it didn't matter to her. She didn't exactly know what she was doing either.

Her first boyfriend was Ed, and when she was with him she'd thought it was normal to be abused. When she met Daryl and the others and learned how wrong she was, and how strong she could be, she tried flirting with Daryl, but she knew neither of them would've been ready.

In Alexandria, she'd forced herself to go along with dating Tobin, desperate to feel something. So when Ezekiel finally wore her down, she sort of knew what it was like, to be with a man.

But this was different. This was real.

"Things'll stay the same between us," she said as she straddled him, "only now we can do this…"

She pulled his face towards hers and kissed him, hungrily, feeling his cock harden through his pants. He fumbled with the buttons on her shirt, distracted by his desire. He was throbbing, desperate for her.

Carol moaned as he fondled her breasts, gently biting her nipples. She yanked off her pants. Her pussy was soaking. He slipped a finger inside, and she gasped, unzipping his pants, needing him inside her.

Daryl's arousal was close to climax. He entered her, biting his lip as he did, trying to hold back his pleasure. He stared into her eyes as he thrust, soaking in her beauty. She came quickly, moaning his name, and he gave into the pleasure then, joining her in climax.

Afterward, as they held each other, trying to calm their panting breath, Daryl smiled sheepishly and replied, "think that'll be a'right."

Carol awoke gasping. She'd had a nightmare about Henry.

Daryl stirred. "Ya good?"

"I'm worried about Henry," she swallowed, nauseated. It had only been 24 hours, but her gut was telling her something was wrong. "I should be out there, looking."

She sat up, looking for her clothes.

"What 'bout the Kingdom?"

"I need to find Henry," She pulled on her shirt.

"Ezekiel wanted ya t' stay," Daryl stood, reaching for his own clothes, "I'll go."

Carol felt as if she might burst into tears. "You don't have to."

"I do if it stops ya worryin'," he pulled on his pants. "Ya need t' look after this place."

She felt overwhelmed by emotion. Without being asked, Daryl had risked his life for Sophia, and now he was risking it for Henry.

"I love you."

The words escaped her mouth and hung in the air like a bad smell. Daryl froze. She wished she hadn't said them. It was too soon.

He hadn't expected that. No one had ever told him those words, not even his Momma.

"M'sorry," he croaked, not wanting his pause to upset her, "jus'... ain't never heard that b'fore."

A solitary tear ran down her cheek. He was the most loveable person she knew. She wished she'd told him sooner.

"You should've," she wiped her tears away. "I'm gonna keep saying it. I love you, Daryl. I've loved you for so long."

He gulped. His mouth felt dry.

"You don't have to say it," she smiled, "it's ok. I understand."

He finished dressing, hoping his tongue would stop feeling like cotton.

"Stay safe," he said as he opened the door, "I love ya."