Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead.

"Say cheese, birthday boy!" Daryl didn't have even a moment to prepare himself before the flash of Glenn's camera blinded him. His guttural snarl wasn't very intimidating as he sat rubbing the palms of his hands into his eyes to chase away the blur of dots. Carol, for her part, was trying not to laugh, too much.

"Get that thing outta my face, 'fore I break it." There was no real malice in his tone, but Glenn scurried away nonetheless.

The usual group had gathered for another night at the bar, specifically to celebrate Daryl's birthday. He'd outright refused the idea, but had eventually given in after seeing just how persuasive Carol could be. He'd surrendered, but he certainly hadn't come quietly, putting up more of a grizzly bear front than he had been of late. Even so, Carol could see that deep down he was touched that their friends would want to celebrate his birthday. But that's exactly what they were: their friends, not just hers. Even Andrea and Milton had stopped by, despite the blonde's steady avoidance of the birthday boy after her initial greeting.

"Don't see why we had ta do any of this." She'd lost count of how many times he'd said that. She would have found it irritating, if she didn't know that it was more from embarrassment and awe on his part than anything else.

"Because everyone wanted to help you celebrate. It's what friends do."

"S'not necessary, they didn't have ta do this for me."

"They're not doing it for you, they're doing it for an excuse to get drunk," he snorted as she nudged him playfully, "They all care about you, you know. You're gonna have to learn to live with the love."

"Right."

"Just so you know, I liked you first." She winked, rubbing his arm comfortingly to ease his awkwardness. He turned to her then, gaze nothing but serious as he wrapped an arm around her in an uncharacteristic show of public affection.

"I know ya did." Their smiles mirrored each other as they stayed like that, enjoying the moment.

"Got it!" A flash erupted along with Glenn's cry of triumph as their friends cheered. Before her vision even cleared, Carol realized he'd caught their moment on film and made to grab the instant Polaroid. The picture was still developing, but she knew by everyone's smiles that it was going to be one to keep. Daryl, despite his steadily rising blush, was smiling too, not bothering to hide his interest in the photo card she held.

Zach pulled Daryl away for a game of darts as Andrea slid into the seat next to her.

"You guys look good together. I don't think I've ever told you that before, but you do," Carol raised a brow in surprise, disbelieving, "You do! And, although it pains me to admit, I may have been wrong about him." That just about knocked Carol from her seat.

"Okay, who are you and what have you done with Andrea?"

"I'm serious. He's not what I thought he was. Awkward and a bit angry, but not anything like what all the stories say. There're still some things that I can't help but have questions about, but you trust him, and that says a lot."

"I'm glad you're giving him a chance." She gave Andrea's hand a squeeze, eyes crinkling with a smile.

"Only for you, Sarah, only for you." Not one to keep the sentimental emotions running, Andrea squeezed back before hopping off her stool to drag Milton onto the dance floor. Carol watched them for a moment, laughing at poor Milton's face of bewilderment at Andrea's drunken dance moves. The smile slipped from her face, however, when she saw who had slipped into the seat beside her.

"Now, didn't I warn you about runnin' around with your boy there, Darlin'?"

"I'm not afraid of you Dave. Threatening me isn't going to do you any good."

"It's not me who's the threat, Doll, and I think we both know that." Her first instinct was to brush him off, but there was a knowing sincerity in his voice that made her gut twist with unease. Still, she wouldn't let him faze her.

"Your cryptic messages don't mean much to me."

"Well, they should." He shrugged before casting a glance in Daryl's direction, slipping away as the other drew near with eyes narrowed in warning.

"What'd he want?" Daryl placed a domineering arm around her waist, a gesture she shrugged off. Daryl didn't seem to notice as his eyes trained the bartender.

"It's nothing Daryl, don't worry about it." She placed a kiss to the corner of his mouth before he could protest and dragged him to where their friends were dancing.

"Ya know I don't dance." He tugged at the arm she had clasped in her grip, but she was determined.

"So we'll just sway."

"Didn't think this was a swayin' song." He was right, considering the others were line dancing, but she didn't care.

"You can sway to anything. Just don't let them grapevine over you." She tugged him to the side as Beth and Maggie came in on cue, drunkenly sidestepping together. Still, he hesitated, so she took the lead placing his hands on her hips and hers on his shoulders. She exaggeratedly began swaying, forcing him to rock back and forth with her before he gave in, laughing as he slowed her down to match his much more subtle movements.

"See? Swaying is good. Swaying is nice."

"I guess." She rolled her eyes, swatting him lightly.

"So, 29. It's a big year. Gonna make it a good one?" He studied her for several moments, an unreadable look on his face before he nodded.

"Yeah, gonna make it the best one yet." She couldn't stop the huge smile from overtaking her face as her heart thudded at the promise of his words. She rose up for a kiss, fingers curling into the hair at the nape of his neck. She had every intention of making this year a good one and every year after even better.

"So ya gonna tell me what Dave was botherin' you about?" Daryl set his keys down on the counter, shrugging his jacket off and onto a nearby kitchen chair. They'd gone back to her apartment after the group had cleared from the bar. Daryl had been staying over more and more since just after New Year's, and now in April he was practically living with her full time.

"What?" She kept her tone light, hoping to ease away from this topic. She'd be lying if she said her past couple of meetings with Dave hadn't been bothering her, but she didn't want to get into this tonight. Daryl stared her down even as she kept her back turned to him. She should have known better than to think he'd let it slide. Dave didn't exactly have the best record. No one would believe he wasn't up to something, especially not Daryl. With a sigh, she knew he wasn't going to let it go, and decided to just come out with it.

"He's just been saying really cryptic things lately."

"Lately? As in more than just tonight?" She winced at the accusing tone in his voice.

"He came to the diner on Valentine's Day, too. That and tonight are the only times I've talked to him since that night he came after me."

"Valentine's Day was over a month ago. Why didn't you say anything about it til now?"

"Honestly I'd kind of forgotten about him. I didn't say anything that night because we were having a nice time and I didn't want to ruin it. After that I just didn't think it was important."

"And yet he thought it was important enough to come to you again tonight. What's he been sayin'?"

"Not much, really. It's just-"

"Just what?"

"…I'm not sure. He said something about us being together, about people knowing, and news traveling."

"You think he's threatening you?" His concern was evident, despite his obvious attempt to remain calm. She hesitated, wringing her hands as she considered how to voice her concerns. She'd been pushing them from her thoughts as far as she could manage, and this was the first time she'd really let herself mull them over.

"I don't think he's a threat."

"You don't sound too confident about that."

"It's not him that worries me." Daryl wrapped his hands around hers, peering down at her questioningly. He was giving it his best effort to not overreact, but she knew he was jumping to get to the heart of the matter.

"I just – What if somehow Ed figures it all out? What if he finds me and-"

"Ed's miles away Carol. He has no idea where you are, how could he possibly find out?"

"Dave said that news travels, Daryl. And he talked about my past, about skeletons in my closet. Ed has to know, Daryl, that's the only answer."

"No, he doesn't. Dave's just trying to scare you." He was shaking his head vehemently, as if trying to shake off the very idea of Ed from existence. But there was no hiding the emotion in his eyes. Her worries weren't as farfetched and paranoid as she'd been trying to make herself believe. Ignoring them hadn't helped, and now she was floundering in her anxiety, unsure.

"I can change my name as many times as I want, and run all over Georgia and beyond, but it doesn't change who I am. It's not impossible for him to find me." She spoke with such detachment that she almost didn't recognize her own voice.

"Don't. Don't talk like you're givin' up."

"I'm not giving up. I'm just considering the possibilities."

"No. You're not gonna think like that. That bastard ain't gonna find ya, there's no way. Dave's just pissed and he's trying to scare ya. He's bluffin' Carol, he's gotta be."

"What if he's not?"

"He is. There's no one other than me who knows the truth about ya, and I sure as hell haven't been runnin' my mouth."

"All it takes is the wrong person to see me, to recognize me."

"Here? In Ashwicke? Carol, you're the first new person to town in years, decades maybe. People don't exactly travel far here," he cupped her face as she eyed him doubtfully, "The chances of Ed finding you are one in a million, I'd bet." His steadfast rationale was calming, but that nugget of doubt was buried deep.

"And what if I'm the one?"

"Then I'll make sure that prick doesn't get anywhere near ya."

"Daryl-"

"M'serious. If Ed comes lookin' around for ya, I'll take care of him." Steely determination blazed in his eyes, and Carol was afraid to ask exactly what means he intended to use to 'take care' of Ed.

"I won't let you do anything stupid, Daryl. Not for me."

"If not for you, then who else? You're the only person I care about. You're the only person who matters. Fuck the consequences, I ain't lettin' anything happen to ya. No matter what." There was such passion in his words, such care, and she was touched beyond comprehension.

Her body moved of its own accord as she wrapped her arms around him, mouth finding his in a need for closeness. Her emotions were in chaos, she was unable to decipher one thought from another. An overwhelming need was raging inside her, coursing through her veins.

"I love you." She choked on the words as she pressed the side of her face to his, breathing in his scent until she was lightheaded.

"I love ya, too," His hand cupped the back of her head, tangling in curls as he tucked her body into his comfortingly, "And I meant everything I said. You're all I've got, and I'm sure as hell not losin' ya now. I'm by your side, no matter what, as long as you'll have me."

She pulled back just enough to kiss him again, hands running over every inch they could find. They stood like that, an unspoken connection making them dizzy as they explored each other for what felt like the first time. Pulling apart, shaking with a newfound fervor, Carol had never felt such love for another person. She searched his face in wonder, his expression mirroring hers, before placing a quick peck at the corner of his mouth. Her hand slid down to lace her fingers through his and she led him slowly towards the bedroom. Daryl was quick to respond, in turn leading her towards the bed, laying her back softly as his hands traced the curves of her torso. His touch was gentle and as he kissed his way down the column of her throat, she knew she would stay by his side just as he promised to stay by hers. There was no tearing them apart now, and there was nothing that they couldn't handle. She pressed her body to his, kissing his collarbone softly between her own sighs of content, never having been more sure that she was right where she was meant to be. No matter what was to come, they had each other, fully and completely.