AN: so...yeah...I'm sorry? I don't know why I found this epilogue so hard to write maybe because it was the end of my Elephant arc which is kinda special to me. I've had a very rough couple of months...I appreciate all the reviews and faves and follows on every story and the pm's. You guys are great! I hope this doesn't disappoint. I know there is probably not a lot of people left reading this but if you are review? Let me know what you think?

I do not own or profit from The Walking Dead

Chapter 14 epilogue (21 days later)

"Fuck...I wish we could stay in isolation forever."

Daryl smiled as Caryl giggled into her pillow. They were lying naked on the bed. She was on her stomach her arms folded below her head, the sheet just skimming her hips as his hand ran along the smooth contours of her back.

When the dust had settled at Negan's camp, they had been shocked by just how badly the mad men had been hit by the flu. They'd spent most of the day putting down the turned and in the end had burned the place to the ground.

The Hilltop council had been worried. They hadn't been hit with the flu but they knew how bad it could get. Everyone returning to The Hilltop from Neegan's camp had immediately been placed in isolation. The council had turned a small motel into their isolation rooms, all complete with a kitchen,which they would deliver to weekly.

The doctors had determined how long isolation was needed Thomas placing himself in for a full twenty one days. The council wanted Carol to be quarantined with Sascha as they didn't feel it necessary for Daryl to be isolated the full twenty one days, but he'd been adamant, he wasn't leaving her, not again, he thought as he leaned down and brushed his lips over the scar on her arm.

He pressed his forehead to her back marvelling again at how lucky he was, how close he came to losing her again.

They'd made good use of their time in isolation. The first few days they mainly slept while she recovered from the blood loss. He had clutched her tightly at night, scared it was a dream, that she would disappear. He hadn't been able to stop touching her. When they ate he would pull her down onto his lap, when she would go into the bathroom to take a bath, he would follow her. He was always spellbound by how comfortable she was with him. Like she had no qualms about him watching her in the tub because he was a part of her and she was a part of him. Fuck he was getting poetic.

When she'd been to weak from blood loss he'd help her, his hands rinsing out her hair, or washing her back. He knew she would be okay, she just needed time to recover from the blood loss and he enjoyed the chance to take care of her for a change. They both knew, deep down that neither would be getting sick. They could feel it.

They talked about everything. For the first time he told someone every sordid detail of his child hood, and he felt a weight lift off his shoulders. She didn't look at him with pity or sympathy if anything he felt like she was looking at him with an even deeper respect.

She told him about the promise she'd made to Meagan the knew she hadn't made it lightly. He was scared shitless to be a father, but he knew now, thanks to Carol he would be a good one.

Wyatt was being cared for by the daycare staff until they were released. Everyday someone would bring him to the window so they could wave and smile at him. Carol had fallen head over heels in love as he knew she would. If he was honest so had he. The past few years had proven to him that it was more than just blood that made a family. He had Carol and Wyatt now and he was looking forward to there life together. They were strong but they were stronger together.

When Carol had regained her strength she became insatiable, not that he was complaining. He'd never had sex so much, in his life. In every square inch of their room it seemed. Against every wall, on every piece of furniture, in the shower, and of course the bed. That was how they'd discovered that Rick and Tyreese had been placed in isolation in the room next to theirs. The two men had pounded on the wall in annoyance when they'd gotten a little to exuberant. Carol had only giggled and shouted back at them not to be such prudes.

But they were gone now, no one had gotten sick and all that remained in isolation was him and Carol and Thomas and Sascha. Whom Glenn had told him through the window were apparently doing some banging on the walls of their own when he'd brought Wyatt to the window today for a visit.

"Honeymoon's over tommorrow" Carol said with a smile rolling over on her back.

He felt the same hitch in his throat every time he looked at her. He wished he was a man who was better with words. He wished he could tell her exactly how much she'd affected him, how she saved him. She was it, the love of his life, his light in the forest that guided him back to where he belonged.

Her face changed then from teasing "Why so serious all of a sudden?" she asked.

His hand cupped her breast, he groaned a little at the feel of her skin in his hand.

"Sometimes it just hits me, and I don't know how to say what I feel." He said rolling over on top of her positioning himself at her entrance and pushing into her yet again as she wound her legs around his waist and his lips found that spot on her neck that he loved. He loved the fact that no one knew that spot was there but him.

It was soft and gentle. He braced his weight on his arms but he was a close to her as he could get. His arms banding arm round her back pulling her up and even closer to him.

She made soft little sighs in his ear and whispered endearments as her orgasm built slowly. He was silent throughout listening to her words. He couldn't speak he was overcome.

When it was over they lay panting he was sprawled on top of her. She didn't seem to mind she was hugging his weight to her.

When he could speak he raised his head staring at her with a smile on his face.

His voice broke when he spoke, the emotion still filling his soul.

"You're my angel"