Chapter 11: Sweet

Carol cut up the last of the apples she'd brought back to the house with her from the orchard. She'd asked Olivia for a few extra to make a pie with that evening, and thankfully, Alexandria's food monitor was in a good mood and gave Carol a whole dozen to take home with her.

She carefully placed the apples into the freshly shaped pie crust, and when she ran out of space, she took one slice into her hand and took a bite. It was sweet, fresh, juicy, and it made her hungry for more.

She heard his heavy footsteps on the linoleum floor, and she smiled when she felt his arms circle around her waist. She shivered when she felt his lips brush over the back of her neck in a lover's greeting. A flush spread through her chest and her cheeks, and she couldn't help but waiver for a moment. Her knees felt like jelly. This was new.

"You hungry?" she asked, as she ran her hand over his forearm that rested just below her ribcage.

"Mmm," he grunted, resting his chin on her shoulder. Carol smiled and lifted her hand back toward him, offering him her half-eaten apple slice. He ate it with one chomp, and she laughed, patting the side of his face before he let her go. She turned to face him, and he had a look in his eyes that she hadn't really seen before. His hair fell into his eyes, and he licked his lips, igniting a spark inside of her. She loved how they were growing closer, how each day was like a step in the right direction. But each day, it was a little more difficult to control herself when he started to look at her like he was ready to try something more.

"What?" she asked, taking a little step back, bumping into the counter as Daryl closed the gap between them.

"You wanna go for a ride?"

"A ride?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah."

"Like on a run?"

"No," he replied with a shake of his head.

"Like a date?" she teased. She saw the blush fill his cheeks again.

"So, what if it was?" His hands trembled when he pulled her waist in his hands, and she draped her arms around his neck.

"Well, I never thought I'd see the day that Daryl Dixon asked little 'ole me on a date."

"Stop," he snorted. "So, ya wanna go?" Carol's eyes were wide and the bluest blue he'd ever seen in that moment. She pouted her lips slightly and pretended to think about it for a moment.

"I have a pie to bake," she said thoughtfully.

"Can it wait?"

"Well, these apples are going to spoil fast if we don't cook them," she said with a frown. "Maybe if somebody were to finish it…"

"Carl's home. Carl!" Carol laughed then at Daryl's urgency.

"What?!" Carl shouted from upstairs.

"Giddown here."

"Why?"

"You want pie?!" Daryl hollered. A pause. Then clumsy teenaged feet were clopping down the stairs, and Carol snorted, covering her face with her hands. When Carl appeared, peeking out from the curtain of hair under his hat, he sniffed the air and looked around.

"I know I only have one eye, but I don't see any pie."

"Well, that's 'cause it ain't done yet. You want pie, you better learn how to make it," Daryl pointed out, sliding the pie tin toward the boy.

"I don't bake," Carl groaned.

"Well, if ya want pie, you're gonna learn," Daryl replied, grabbing Carol's hand and leading her out of the kitchen. Her face was bright red at this point, and she flashed Carl a guilty look. "Try not to burn the house down."

"Daryl!" Carol laughed, slapping his arm playfully as he led her into the foyer.

"What? C'mon, this is more important."

"What's gotten into you?" she asked, pushing the hair out of his eyes.

"Dunno," he murmured, pulling her in close. "But I like this a whole lot more than apple pie." He tilted her face toward his and bent down to kiss her softly. When he pulled back, he saw the smile spread over her face, and she sighed, biting her bottom lip.

"Alright," she whispered. "But you're gonna have to help me clean up the mess he makes when we get home."

"Deal," Daryl grunted, grabbing her hand and leading her out of the house.