Chapter 10

A/N: So who saw The Walking Dead? I did. Wow. Emotional. I feel kind of bad for making Axel bad in my story now, but hey, can't change what is already written. I will miss Axel though.. Anyways, enjoy the chapter. Warning, it is sad and fluffy. It's suffy. :P
McBrideReedusLover.~

Carol stood at the stove, cooking breakfast for the group. She was the only one up besides Daryl, who had disappeared before she woke up. She figured he was out hunting, seeing as his crossbow was gone. She heard someone coming up behind her. She turned her head to see that very man she was thinking about. "Good morning." She smiled, and turned her attention back to the powdered eggs.
"Got us some squirrel for tonight." Daryl said, setting his crossbow down.
"That's good." Carol said, taking the pan off the range. She made sure each bowl had even amounts. There wasn't much, but it was something to get them through the morning. After each bowl had been filled, she turned around. "Look, sorry about Faith last night.. I could've prevented it if I just told her what she wanted to know."
"Don't be. You couldn't have known she'd sneak up on us." Daryl looked towards the cells. No one was up yet. Then again, it was still early.
"I guess but, with all she's done, we should know her by now. But she promised me last night that she wouldn't ruin anymore moments, or tell anyone about us. She even said she'd cover for us when we wanted to be alone." Carol had to smile at that.
"Well, let's hope she don't break that promise." Daryl said, walking over to Carol.
"Let's hope." Carol brought him down so their lips could meet. He wrapped his arms around her. God how she loved that. But she especially loved how his lips moved with hers. The kiss deepened, and it felt like they were the only two in the world. If only that were true.
"Gah! Sorry. I'm sorry." Faith had walked in on them. Of course.
Daryl sighed in frustration. Atleast it was Faith and not someone else.
Carol had to laugh. "It's okay. You couldn't have known." She said to Faith, and looked back up at Daryl. She mouthed a sorry, and he removed his arms from her waist.
"I promised I wouldn't ruin anymore moments. And what do I do? I ruin yet another moment! I'm a terrible person!" Faith sighed. "Anyway, the others are waking up, so I guess it is better that it was me and not one of the others."
"Just help me serve breakfast." Carol walked over to the bowls of food.
"It would seem Daryl already got his." Faith said.
"Oh that's it." Daryl went after the girl, but she hid behind Carol.
"Oh stop acting like kids." Carol laughed and handed Faith a bowl. "But she's right." She winked, and walked out of the cafeteria.

Carol sat at one of the tables, little Judith asleep in her arms. All Carol could do was smile. The fact that a baby could survive in this world gave hope. Maybe, someday, their lives would go back to normal.
"Hey Lil' Asskicker." Daryl called as he walked towards the two. Carol looked up with a smile.
"Asskicker?" She asked.
"What? It fits don't it?" Daryl said, sitting beside her.
"Yeah, I guess it does." Carol laughed. "You want to hold her?"
"I think it's better if you keep her." Daryl looked at the baby, a small smile forming on his face.
"Can I take her Carol?" Came a voice from the door. They both looked up to see Beth. She had really taken a liking to Judith.
"Sure." Carol smiled, and walked over to Beth. She gently placed the baby in her arms, and watched as Beth walked away. "She's a cute one." Carol said as Daryl walked up to her. She turned around and was about to wrap her arms around him when she saw it. Her face turned from happy to scared as she backed up. "Walkers!" She screamed.
Daryl whipped around to see three walkers coming towards them. He grabbed his crossbow and quickly loaded it. "How the hell did they get in?!" He shouted as he put an arrow through it's skull. "Run! Go warn the others!" Daryl shoved Carol back. "Go now!"
Carol ran outside to where the others had disappeared. She didn't have to warn them, as they were already shooting the walkers. Carol turned to run back inside, but a walker had come across her path. It ran straight for her, and she had no weapon. She couldn't run, because that would mean running into the line of fire. Daryl wasn't anywhere to be seen. This was the end. Just as she prepared herself for her death, the walker fell to the ground. She turned to see Axel standing there, his gun raised. "Come on, this way!" He grabbed her and they ran, away from the herd, and away from the cell block.

They had four walkers trailing them as they ran. Axel lead her to one of the guard towers where she could be safe. "Here, take the gun!" He quickly gave her the pistol.
"What about you?" She shouted, but took the gun.
"It's alright. I've got a knife. Now go! Get in the tower! You'll be safe there!" He opened the door for her, and she ran quickly up the stairs. When she reached the top, she saw one of the walkers fall. He got another, and then the third.
"Look out!" She screamed as the walker came up behind Axel. She cried out in horror as the walker sunk it's teeth into Axel's shoulder. She quickly shot it, and then ran back down the stairs. "Axel! Oh god!" She knelt down beside him. "No no no!" She cried, looking at the bite mark on his shoulder.
"It's okay Carol. You don't have to worry about me. You've got Daryl, he's a good man. But you've gotta do it." Axel motioned to the gun in her hand.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she put the gun to his head. "I'm sorry Axel. You're a good man. Just know that." Her voice was shaky. She saw him nod, and she pulled the trigger. "I'm sorry." She stood up, and ran back to the prison, tears clouding her vision.

"Thank god you're safe." Daryl ran to her as she stumbled through the door. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, not caring if anyone saw them. "You're not hurt are you?" He asked, worry filling his eyes as he saw the blood on her hands.
"No." Carol choked out, looking up at Daryl. She wrapped her arms around him as well, hugging him as tight as she could. "But.." The tears started to pour again.
"What? What happened?" Daryl asked, the worry still in his eyes.
"Axel.. He.."
"He what?" Daryl asked her.
"He's gone. I couldn't save him in time. I tried. He helped me escape. He saved me from a walker. And he lead me to the guard tower. When I got up to the top, I saw him get bit. I wanted to save him but I couldn't." She burried her face into his chest. "I shot him. So he won't come back." She said into his chest as he hugged her tight.
"Carol, I'm sorry." He looked toward the door. Axel really wasn't as bad as he thought. He saved Carol, and gave his life to save her. That man deserved a little respect. Daryl kissed the top of her head as she sobbed. She shouldn't have had to go through that.

"We found the breach and fixed it. There shouldn't be any walkers coming into our cell block." Rick stated, and looked around. "Unfortunately, we lost Axel in the chaos."
Carol let a few tears run down her cheek. She felt like it was partly her fault Axel didn't make it.
After the meeting, everyone went to bed early. It was a hard day, and everyone needed a rest. Especially Carol.

No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn't sleep. She kept tossing and turning, but the image of Axel getting bit just wouldn't leave her mind.
Faith could hear Carol moving around. She looked down at her. "If you need to, go to Daryl. You shouldn't have to be alone after what you went through today." Faith said, sadness in her voice.
Carol looked up at the girl and sighed. "You're probably right."
"Of course I am. Now go." Faith pointed to the door. "He can help you more than I could." She smiled.
"Okay." Carol sat up. "Thank you, Faith." She stood up, and walked out the cell door.

"Daryl?" Carol whispered as she reached the top of the steps. She could see him lying on his makeshift bed. His back was turned to her. "Daryl?" She said a little louder. She saw him move.
"Hm?" He looked over his shoulder to see her standing there. He was sleeping when she called his name.
"Can I.. stay here for the night?" Carol asked, looking at him with sad eyes.
"Oh, yeah." Daryl nodded, and moved over to make room for her.
"Thanks." She said, and laid down beside him. "I just couldn't sleep in my cell."
"It's alright. I can't blame you." Daryl said quietly, and pulled her closer to him. He had his arm around her waist protectively.
"Faith was the one who told me to come over here." Carol gave him a sad, tired smile. "Even though she can be nosey, she is really a sweet girl."
"Yeah, I guess she is. She did, in a way, get us together." Daryl said, looking at Carol with a small smile. He wished so badly he could make her happy again, but with the recent events, it would probably be a while before she was happy.
"That she did." Carol sighed, and moved her face closer to his. "You know, he told me not to worry, because I had you. He said you were a good man." She shut her eyes to stop the tears from coming. "He was right about that."
Daryl looked into Carol's sad eyes. "It wasn't your fault, you know. I know you, and I know you're blaming yourself. You can't do that Carol. You couldn't have prevented it from happening."
Carol looked at him, tears in her eyes. "I know.." She whispered. She felt Daryl's thumb brush away the tears that fell from her eyes. He kept his hand on her face. Their faces were just inches apart, and she closed the gap. The kiss lasted a long time before they finally had to break apart. "Goodnight Daryl." She pecked his lips again, and closed her eyes.
"Goodnight Carol." He said quietly, and closed his eyes as well.

A/N: Well, if you didn't notice, I'm still sad about Axel's death. This is sort of a tribute chapter cause I felt bad about making him an asshole so.. yeah. R&R lovelies!
McBrideReedusLover.~