The six month stretch from the day Daryl submitted his applications to the day the first response came in the mail flew by. The comissions kept coming, long after the event at the lingerie store wrapped up. His reputation was being passed on by word of mouth and even months later he was still drawing or painting portraits once or twice a week.

Daryl worked hard and made sure every customer was satisfied with the finished product, but there was one portrait that he was more proud of than anything he'd ever done in his life and Carol still hadn't seen it yet. They made a deal that he would reveal it to her when he got his first acceptance. He'd been hesitant to agree to it because Daryl was still worried he wouldn't get into any of the schools he'd applied to, let alone the one he wanted.

But the time had come to find out if his future was about to change course. He was sitting at Carol's kitchen table waiting for her to come home from work, staring at the unopened envelope on the table. For the past 2 weeks he'd been to Merle's place every day to check the mail. Finally, there was an envelope waiting for him. It wasn't from Savannah - it was the school in Nashville. Even though it wasn't where he wanted to go - the butterflies were swirling in his stomach because he needed it to at least be an option - a back up plan.

Daryl thought about the portfolios he'd created to send to the three schools. The ones he'd sent to Tennessee and Alabama were good, maybe even great, but the portfolio he'd prepared for the school in Savannah - it was the best work he'd ever done - all of it. If he took a step back from his fears and insecurities for a moment Daryl knew he was going to be offered a position.

The first step was to open the envelope in front of him though, and he was getting antsy waiting for Carol to come home. By that point he'd pretty much moved into her place. He mostly only went to Merle's to check the mail or pick up things he needed. Her place was small, but they were cozy and happy.

Daryl heard the door and he grabbed the envelope and ran to meet her. "Look," he blurted waving it around.

"Oh my god, what does it say? Which school is it? They said yes, right? I know they did," she gushed.

"I ain't opened it yet," Daryl said, shoving her the envelope. "You do it."

"You sure?" Carol replied, hesitantly taking it.

"Yeah, do it," Daryl said eagerly, starting to pace.

"Okay," she said with a smile, starting to rip the paper. Daryl eyed her, trying to gauge her reaction as she scanned the letter. Finally a smile spread across her face. "Congratulations," she said, before throwing her arms around him and kissing his face several times. "Not only do they want you - they offered a $10,000 entrance scholarship," Carol said, looking at him, with her arms still around his neck.

"Holy fuck," he replied.

"Yep, they really want you," Carol teased. The money didn't matter to him because it wasn't coming from the school he wanted, but it was damn good start to the process and it felt great that they saw enough promise in him to offer ten grand. He really should have been more excited though. No matter what the other schools said - he had options now - so why didn't he feel as happy as Carol looked. "Hey… what's wrong?" she asked, touching his face. Before he could answer she already knew. "Relax. Smile. This is just the first and it's a good option. But Savannah is going to say yes too. They will." She touched his chin and made him look at her. "I need you to be confident and believe it. You're an incredible artist Daryl - they would be insane not to accept you to their program." The way she spoke, so sure, it made him feel amazing. Carol believed in him and that meant more than anything else in the world. "So from this moment forward you will believe it too," she continued. "We will start planning for you to be in Savannah because that's where you're going to be. Got it?"

Daryl nodded, "Got it." She had that look on her face that told him there was no point in arguing with her and in the more than 8 months they'd been together he knew her well enough to concede.

Carol looked satisfied. "Good." A smile appeared on her face again, "Come on. Let's go."

"What? Where?" Daryl was confused.

"You have something to show me I believe," she replied over her shoulder, already headed out the door. Daryl chuckled and followed. She'd been patient for a long time but Carol wasn't waiting a second longer.

When they got to the studio he was nervous. What if she doesn't like it? He wondered. It was good. He knew it was. But sometimes people didn't see themselves the same way others did - what if she wasn't happy with it? Every time he'd drawn her in the past she had loved it. But the technique he'd used was different, somewhat edgy for him… "Daryl, come on... " Carol whined, interrupting his thoughts. "I wanna seeeeeeeee."

With a deep breath Daryl walked up to the easel where the painting had been sitting and pulled off the sheet that was covering it. He'd gone out and bought a really nice frame to protect it. It was probably way too expensive but her portrait was special and he wanted to treat it with respect.

He was eying the painting waiting for her to speak, getting more and more nervous the longer she was quiet. Finally he forced himself to turn around and he saw Carol crying, big tears dripping down her cheeks. "I don't know what to say," she whispered. "It's perfect." Daryl pulled her into his arms and hugged her against him while she continued to look over the painting. "My face… it looks like you took a photograph?"

"Yeah, it's a technique called photo realism," he explained.

"And there are parts that are like that and parts that aren't… it's so unique… so… interesting…" she continued. Daryl had highlighted certain parts of the portrait by using the photo realism technique. Her face, of course. It was almost erotic to look at it and see that lusty, urgent emotion he'd brought out in her before he'd started working. He had also chose some of his favorite parts of her and also used same technique… her left collarbone over to her shoulder, her right breast, the curve of her hip, and her right foot. "I wish people could see it," she sighed. "I wish the world knew you like I do."

Daryl shook his head. "No way in hell I'm letting other dudes see you naked." He spun her and pulled her against him. "You're mine," he said possessively before kissing her. When he pulled back he couldn't resist asking, "So you're sure? You really like it?"

Carol laughed. "Seriously? How can you ask me that?" she said, wiping the last of the tears off her cheeks. "I love it. So much. And I love you." Daryl reciprocated and kissed her again, pulling back before things got too heated.

"What the heck are we gonna do with it though?" Daryl asked, knowing it wasn't going to be hanging on a wall anywhere, anytime soon.

Carol touched his cheek, "For now we're going to put it the trunk of my car and take it to my house. We'll figure the rest out later."

Daryl nodded and he wrapped the frame up with the blanket and followed her to the car. "Hey, would you mind if we swing by Merle's before we head home?" he asked, as he put the portrait in the trunk. "I wanna check the mail again." Carol gave him a weird look. "I've been stopping on the way home from work, but the mailman doesn't actually come until just before 5," he explained. "The response I got today would have arrived yesterday… just thought maybe…"

"Got ya," Carol nodded. "Of course we can stop by."

"Just give me a sec to make a quick call," Daryl said, just as she was climbing in the car. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed. "Hey, go ahead with it. Yep, I'm sure," he said into the phone. Daryl hung up and jumped into the car.

They chatted easily on the way to Merle's. Laughing about a dude that had come into Carol's work that day. She had some really good stories, but so far nothing could top the 300lb man that couldn't find a teddy in his size. Carol pulled into the drive and Daryl jumped out to check the mailbox. It was empty but he noticed Merle was home. "Wanna go in for a sec?" he asked. "Maybe Merle grabbed the mail tonight." Daryl knew the chances were slim, Merle never picked up the mail. But he still wanted to be sure.

"Hey, asshole…" Daryl yelled the second he was in the door. "You get the mail today?"

Merle appeared in the entranceway. "Heyyyyy, long time no see, c'mere," he held out his arms to Carol. "How do you look even better every time I see you," he said, making Carol blush slightly as she hugged him. "You guys want to stay for supper?"

"Sure," Carol replied before Daryl could decline. He scowled at her. "We would love to," she added, giving him a sassy look.

"Oh fine, whatever," Daryl grumbled. "But seriously, you get the mail today?" he asked Merle again.

"Huh? Nah, not today," he replied. "Oh but there's something on the counter in the kitchen there… came early last week I think it was, no it was the week before actually. I had to forge your signature," Merle shrugged. "I figured you would stop by and see it, but I guess you forgot all about me," he rolled his eyes. It had been a while since he'd been home and even longer since he'd actually seen Merle.

"You could have fucking called," Daryl snapped, practically running into the kitchen. Carol trailed after him and by the time he was ripping into the envelope Merle had arrived as well. "Oh my God," he muttered, reading the letter quickly. The school in Savannah had said yes. He was in. "Holy fuck…" Daryl was so happy he wanted to cry. But Merle had no idea what was going on so he held it in.

"What does it say?" he heard Carol ask excitedly. Daryl continued to scan the letter and when he got to the end his entire world shattered. One week. He had one week to accept the offer. The date on the top indicated he was long past the week. "Daryl? Daryl? What's wrong?"

"The fuck is going on?" He heard Merle say.

The rage he felt inside himself was stronger than any emotion he had ever felt in his life. "You stupid motherfucker. Stupid fucking motherfucker," he screamed at Merle. It's over. I had everything I wanted and it's gone, his mind was screaming. Daryl crumpled the letter and threw it at Merle. "You ruined everything. You always ruin everything," he yelled, before shoving past his stunned brother and running for the car. He gave no thought to the fact he was stranding Carol by taking her car. He gave no thought to anything but the fact that his dreams were crushed because his brother was a complete asshole. Why did I believe it was possible, he wondered as he sped away. Good things don't happen to people like me. Ever.