I thought I was done writing for this story, but there are many characters and pairings I still haven't written about. I also needed a break from my other WIPs, so this chapter was born. I was going to split it into two chapters, but they would have been small. I hope you all enjoy and I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a wonderful New Year!


Cargene

"Carol, you are seriously one bad ass," Eugene said as he took a seat across the table from where Carol sat waiting for lunch to be ready. The last she had seen of Daryl had been a few hours before and since then, she had wiped off the remaining makeup from her face. She hoped Daryl had forgotten that she had been wearing any when he finally came in for lunch.

Maggie and Rosita had been the only two in the room when Carol had first walked in, so she had been surprised when Eugene seemingly came out of nowhere and took a seat across from her.

"Uh, thank you." It hadn't been the first time someone had called her that in the past few days, but they had been the first words the man with the mullet had said to her since they had met. When Rosita and Abraham had found out that he hadn't been a real scientist, the man had kept to himself. The only one he really seemed to talk to was Tara.

"I know I am quite overdue in telling you my thanks for saving my bacon. So, thank you." He nodded and the hair on his head moved with the motion. Carol tried hard not to laugh.

"It's all right. And I wasn't the only one who saved your...bacon that day. Tyreese helped as well."

"I realized that and have thanked him accordingly."

"Well, uh. That's good." Carol moved to stand to see if Maggie or Rosita needed help with lunch. Hoping they would so she could get away. However, the door at the end of the room opened and Daryl stepped through. Carol quickly sat back down and hoped Eugene's hair hid her.

"So, Eugene, how have you been lately?" Carol peeked over Eugene's shoulder and saw that Daryl was scanning the room. Quickly she ducked her head.

"Considering the circumstance, I am doing well. More so, now that I have finally gotten a chance to speak to you, Carol."

"Oh. Really?"

Boots could be heard coming closer and Carol started to inwardly panic. Of course he found her. The man was a freaking hunter! What did she expect?

"Yes. You are seriously hot, Carol."

"Oh. Um, that's flattering Eugene, but I like-"

"Girls, right?" He sighed, looking as if he had this conversation before with someone else.

"No. Me." A gruff voice said from behind Eugene and Daryl easily stepped around the table to slid into the spot next to Carol. Eugene's eyes widened at the sudden appearance of the hunter.

"Oh. Uh." He was at a lost for words, which seemed odd.

"Yep," Daryl said casually and to Carol's surprise, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to his side. The move wasn't him, but she didn't mind at all.

"O-Okay." Eugene stood just as the doors opened and everyone filed in, ready for lunch. "I will see you both later." He turned from the table and walked quickly away, arms flat to his sides.

"What was that?" Carol whispered to Daryl and watched as everyone began to take their seats at the tables around the room.

"Oh. Nothing." He shrugged.

"Yeah, right." Carol turned to face him and Daryl kissed her square on the mouth. In front of everyone.

When he pulled away, Carol followed where he was looking and saw that Tara was giving him a thumbs up.

Dargene

Somehow, Carol slipped away with Sasha and Tara after lunch, leaving Daryl to walk out into the sunlight by himself. Off a few feet to his right, Eugene stood standing awkwardly as he looked out to the woods beyond the fence. He spotted Daryl and started to walk his way. Daryl groaned, but didn't make a move to walk away and ignore the man.

"Congratulations," Eugene said with a nod of his head. "It must take a good, strong and brave man to be able to snag a woman like that. Unfortunately, I do not have any of those qualities and must be the reason why I am still single."

Daryl wasn't prepared for the onslaught of words that came out of Eugene's mouth since his interactions with him in the past had always been brief. "Uh. Thanks?" Daryl wasn't sure if a thanks were appropriate there, but didn't know what else to say.

"You are welcome."

That was all the other man seemed to have wanted to say and now, they were standing awkwardly outside. Daryl didn't know what to say to the man. Conversations had never been his strong suit.

When Carol made an appearance from around the corner, Daryl found his out. He nodded a goodbye to Eugene and went up to his woman and grabbed her hand, lacing his fingers in her. A smirk came to his face when she once again looked surprised at his actions. He should have started doing this months ago.

"Seriously. What's gotten into you?" She asked as they started to walk with their hands still clasped together.

"Nothing. Can't a man hold hand with his woman?" Carol didn't remark and narrowed her eyes.

"Oh, and I hope you don't think we're not goin' to talk about your run last night, sweetheart." He gently nudged her with his elbow.

"Shit."


I hope I did the character of Eugene justice and you all got some laughs (or at least a smile) out of this chapter!

Thanks for reading!