I am smitten, I'm the real thing.

I'm the real thing.

Have you seen her come around?

My crush with eyeliner.

Crush With Eyeliner- by R.E.M

They got into an argument over the check and when Daryl yanked it out of her hand and told her to stop being a bitch. Carol burst out laughing as he walked up to pay for it. This was not new to them, they always fought over the check, and he always won. She followed behind him laughing towards the front of the diner.

He never let her pay for anything when they were together, so another thing that hadn't changed. It was nice, to be treated nicely, it had been a long time for her.

She met him up at the counter and told him she left the tip and he scowled and grunted at her. As they walked out to the bike and car he was wondering how he was going to see her again. Dale was inviting them over soon, but he wanted something definite, and soon. They reached her car way too fast for his liking. He didn't know what to do now. They had a good talk, but what was next?

"You got a new bike huh?" She remarked looking at his bike.

"Yeah, you still like to ride."

"Daryl." She laughed "I haven't been on the back of a bike since yours."

He was secretly pleased by this, she hadn't ridden with anyone else but him.

He remembered how she loved the feeling of flying on the bike, and how happy it had always made her. His mouth quirked up in a slight smile, that was because of him. That feeling of happiness, he had given her, and no one else had. She turned and looked up at him, her eyes clear and blue.

"This bike is way better than that old dirt bike I had. Can take you out for a ride sometime if ya want. Take ya flying?" He said, remembering how she said it felt to ride behind him.

He had to admit the idea of having her on the bike holding on to him was a welcome thought.

She nodded, not really thinking about it. But she was already preparing what she was going to say next.

"It was real Daryl, between us, I've never loved anyone like that." She suddenly blurted out.

He was surprised by her words, but not by what came out of his mouth. Now he knew what was next.

"I know, I never have either. Not ever." He wanted to make that clear, she had been the only one for him. Despite what he had told her, to make her go back to school.

He looked at her, there was a swirl of emotion in her eyes, and he was trying to read her. What did she want? What was she going to do next? Should he do something? She just stared back at him, he couldn't move or look away.

Now or never he thought to himself, no more regrets.

"I think I'm about to do something really stupid," he said, moving just a little bit closer to her.

"So do it." She answered, staring right at him, almost a challenge.

"Aint got nothing left to lose do I?"

"No, we don't." She said.

He took another step towards her and pulled her in his arms and kissed her, so sweetly. It was every good thing in the world. So long overdue.

They were both overwhelmed with the feeling and the memories that flooded back as they kissed. His arms went around her waist and hers around his neck. He pulled her close to him, sliding his lips against hers like they had never been apart. He couldn't get enough, he had been starving for a long time.

"That wasn't stupid at all." She said when they came up for air.

"Yeah, it was, but I guess I don't care."

"I'm going to be here a while, I have a lot to figure out, that's for damn sure. But us seeing each other after all these years is a sign for something, I think we should, I don't know have breakfast again?" She smiled

"At my house, next time" He winked at her and she let out a giggle, covering her mouth in mock surprise. She was thrilled because this was the old Daryl.

The one she fell in love with, playful, not the angry one that threw her out of the garage and his life.

The one who made her laugh every day for three wonderful years.

"I feel like no time has passed Carol. Like you never left, doesn't make sense to me."

"Daryl we never made sense. That was the best part." She was laughing, suddenly she was so very happy. "But I feel that way too, it's still so easy to talk to you."

"Was the only thing that made sense, I was a dumbass that night making you go." He said.

"I'm not going anywhere now."

She smiled up at him and took his hand and squeezed.

"When I do go back to Philadelphia it'll be to pack up for good. Abe and I talked about it, just this morning. He misses the girls and I, we, miss him and Ed, that's my soon to be ex-husband." She nodded to herself.

Yes they were getting divorced. She had decided this morning with Abe. Even before that if she really admitted things to herself. You don't hide money in a happy marriage and she had been doing that for years. You don't get a storage unit that your husband doesn't know about if you're happy.

"Well he could give a rat's ass about us, why should I go back? My family is here."

They leaned back next to each other both crossing their arms over their fronts.

"Good we can have dinner and then…breakfast. "He grinned and looked at her sideways and bumped her shoulder. She grinned too, he had changed. He never would have been able to flirt with her so openly. Not after being separated for so many years. Not the Daryl she remembered anyway.

He did say they were grown up, that was true. She decided to tease him a little and see if she could embarrass him like when they were first together.

"You're talking a lot of smack today, Dixon." She said.

"Told ya, I aint got nothing left to lose."

"Watch it, I'm this close to taking you up on that." She held her two fingers up.

"I wish you would, fifteen years is a long time." He huffed.

She looked over at him, her eyes wide, she was not going to win this, and he was not a kid anymore. He wasn't afraid to say what was on his mind.

He had no problem letting her know exactly how it was.

"Then I guess you have another date tomorrow night, pick me up on the bike?" She said.

He nodded once. "Tell Abraham you'll be out late." He almost growled.

She felt all the hair stand up on her neck and arms, butterflies in her stomach. Just like when they were young. She hadn't felt that way in such a long time, never with Ed. It felt so good.

They were leaning back against the car he instinctively moved away.

"Old habits huh?"

"Look, I can talk a whole bunch of shit, but I aint never messing with your Daddy's car. That's just looking for trouble." He said.

She laughed and he realized again, he had missed the sound of her laughter, what that sound did to him. He wasn't stupid, he knew this was complicated at best and a down right clusterfuck really. But he didn't care, she was back and he wasn't letting her go again. Not without a fight.

/

Saturday night Carol sat on the overstuffed couch at Tara's house next to Michonne. Tara was sitting in a chair with her feet up very close by they were drinking wine and laughing like they always were when they were together. There were containers of Chinese food on the coffee table and two bottles of wine. She had missed them so much.

"And you're seeing him again tomorrow?" Michonne asked.

Carol nodded talking another sip of wine.

"You got condoms?" Tara giggled, she always got very uninhibited when they drank together. Tara was always the one who said what was exactly on her mind, so add some alcohol and look out. They called her No Filter.

"What?" Carol said.

"What, I'm just sayin." Tara laughed. "You haven't seen him in a long time."

"No, I don't have condom's, I wasn't even thinking about that." Carol said putting her hands on her hips.

"Yeah, I call bullshit. " Michonne eyed her.

"Did you forget?" Carol held up her left hand. "Married."

"Gimme that fucking thing." Tara leaned over and almost fell on the floor. "Come on give it here."

Carol watched as Tara took her wedding band and diamond ring off her finger.

"We're gonna sell this shit and go on a cruise, all three of us. Got it."

Carol was laughing, this felt good, really good. She could smell freedom in the air, her father's death had freed her somehow. She could feel him looking over her shoulder somehow like he wanted her to do this.

Tara took the rings, staggered into her kitchen and dropped them in her cookie jar, which was Yoda. When she took the lid off it said "Do or do not, there is no try." In Yoda's voice.

"Yoda's got this." Tara laughed.

She turned back with a flourish almost losing her balance again.

"Now, Chonne you got any rubbers, she's gonna need a few."

Carol covered her head, as Tara came back and plopped herself between her and Michonne on the couch.

"I got some." Michonne's voice trailed off and Tara sat up.

"I knew it, I knew you were fucking Rick Grimes, you little sneak." Tara said grabbing for the wine bottle.

She turned to Carol.

"She's been denying this for six months Carol."

Carol shrugged. "I even figured it out all the way in Pennsylvania I dunno Tara, that Beth must have you all distracted."

They all three burst out laughing. Tara poured them each another glass of wine.

"Look it doesn't always look good, you know, we both have to appear in court sometimes, we're trying to keep it quiet." Michonne said.

"Oh fine. "Tara huffed. "I'll keep my yap shut about it but jeez Michonne, I can't believe it."

"Believe it, I'm involved with him, ok, you happy now?"

Tara nodded.

"Ok, moving on, Carol, do not go out with him unarmed, you never know, my money is on your getting laid tomorrow." Tara said.

"What makes you say that?" She laughed. "Do I look…?"

"Yeah you look like you need it."

Carol huffed. "Thanks a lot Tara."

"When was the last time?" Michonne asked. "Not the last good time we all know that was a long time ago, just the last time."

"Almost four years ago."

"That's terrible, I'm with Tara, bring them, and bring a lot of them."

"But..."

"I don't wanna hear it, why did you stop sleeping with Ed? Because you didn't want to catch anything right? Because he's fucking around. I know you, you feel guilty, stop it right now. He ruined the marriage, not you." Michonne said sipping her wine. "Guilt is self-inflicted, so stop right now."

She turned to Carol.

"I'm handling your divorce, were filing on Tuesday, you are about to be an unmarried woman."

They all raised their glasses and toasted. They toasted their longtime friendship, each other and anything else they could think of. She wasn't leaving again, her friends had her back for good. It was about time.

A/N: Thank you to everyone who reads, favorites, follows and comments.

I love you all.