Author's Note: I'm happy you liked the confrontation between Rick and Carol. It's important to know that they do love each other, they were in love, but Carol was never going to fall out of love with Daryl. Breakups are not pretty, especially when you live on top of each other. As you can see from this chapter and others to come, the action is ramping up and Rick is still going to be around, making an impact.

Thanks for reading and reviewing (please keep it up!) and following me on this journey. It should be winding down soon, probably within 10 chapters and I will be thinking of new ideas for another story. I'd love ideas, anything particular you'd like to see and think I could do justice to. Have a great weekend!

XOXO Pamela

21. Combustion

Carol woke up the next morning with a very hot Daryl wrapped around her like a ball python. He was snoring, but not loudly and was sleeping in just a pair of black boxer briefs. When he had stripped down last night once she came into the cell, she had been surprised. All the times she had seen him asleep in his cell when she would sneak in after he had come back from a late watch in order to bring him food or his laundry, he had always been fully clothed. More often than not he even kept his shoes on. So she had been thrown for a loop when he chucked everything save for the boxers.

He didn't press her for any details about her meeting with Rick and she didn't offer any. She still was trying to process it all herself and didn't want to burden him with her worries. She knew he still needed to have his talk with Rick and didn't want to give him anything to rile him up about.

Once she had laid her pack down next to the bed, he had gotten up and slowly undressed her. He didn't say anything, just laid her on the bunk and made love to her. Their first few times together had been all passion and heat, this was different, this was special. Not a word was said, the only sounds that filled the cell was that of their kisses and breathy moans. After they were sated, Daryl remained above her, kissing her deeply. Carol never knew it could have ever been like this between them. She had been overwhelmed by her emotions and tears had formed. Daryl chased every single one with a kiss. It was the most perfect moment.

She tried to wiggle out from under her human constrictor as she was back on breakfast duty for the next couple of days. Daryl protested, trying to keep her in their bed. "Let them all eat granola bars, it won't kill them." He growled.

"Now Daryl, don't be such a baby. We both have things to do today. Didn't you tell Hershel at the last Council meeting you were getting a group to finally finish securing the fences by tower three with all that wood you guys found last month?" She kissed him sweetly but then wrinkled her nose. "Ew, we both have kitten breath. Come on, let's brush our teeth and get moving."

He was on her in a flash, licking her face from her collarbone to her ear. "Kitten breath, my ass. You love it." He ground himself into her. "I just need five minutes."

"Oh my god, no! I'm beginning to believe you only want me for the sex, Daryl Dixon. Go take a cold shower." She pushed him onto his back so she could make her escape from the bed, pulling on her clothes. She decided she would shower after breakfast. She was almost late. She leaned down and kitten breath or no kitten breath, gave Daryl a hot, open mouthed kiss.

He responded, trying to unbutton her shirt, but she pulled his hands away. "Alright, you damn minx. But don't think we're done here." He was quite grumpy and demanding in the morning, she noticed. He kissed her lips quickly. "Love you." He huffed, pouting.

"Love you too, you brat. Don't forget to come get breakfast before you head to the fences." She made a face at him as she left the cell. As she walked down the corridor, she was relieved to see it was still too early for anyone else to be up. She didn't want Rick or Carl seeing her come out of Daryl's cell just yet. She wanted to respect Rick's wishes for as long as possible.

Her morning chores went by quickly. Daryl had come down after his shower to get his breakfast and she was relieved when he had been bombarded by several folks praising him for his successful hunt. She knew he loathed all that attention and he quickly grabbed his food and with only a soft brush against her arm and a knowing look he was off for the fences. She helped clean up and headed off to have her own shower.

She was in their cell, attaching her knife to her belt when Glenn called out from outside. "Carol, you in there?"

She opened the curtain and let him inside. The look on his face was priceless. "Glenn, before you give me any shit…" She began.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" He flapped his hands and jumped in place. "I knew it! I told Maggie when I saw you two at breakfast yesterday something big went down. Daryl looked like he was going to combust and wanted to swap his powdered eggs for a big old helping of you."

Carol's face burned at that thought. "Get ahold of yourself. Daryl and I… well, it's complicated." That was all she could come up with.

Glenn snorted. "Complicated? You're in here getting dressed, I see your stuff is in here, Daryl's walking around like he is high on nitrous oxide and just lost his virginity. Nope, seems pretty straight forward. You guys are together, together. This is awesome." He was grinning and then his face morphed into fear. "Shit, does Rick know? Is he okay with this? Do we need to hide the sharp objects?"

"We had a talk yesterday. He's not okay with it just yet, so in the meantime, Daryl and I are keeping things very low key. I've moved in here but out in the open around everyone else, it's still status quo." She reassured him.

She could see the wheels turning in his head. "So, no one is supposed to really know about you and Daryl. …" I can tell Maggie though, right? She'll keep quiet. I have to tell her. I have to or I'll explode!" So, no wedding planning just yet? I've got some great ideas for centerpieces. I was thinking of we could take squirrels..."

"Glenn!" Carol quickly interrupted his train of thought. "There's going to be no wedding and certainly no squirrel centerpieces. You can tell Maggie but you two must keep quiet for now. And for the love of all that is holy, DO NOT let Daryl know that you know. I will not be responsible for his actions, especially if you try to give him shit about it." She meant business. Glenn could go rogue at any time and Daryl would lose it.

"I promise I'll leave the no humor man alone. But he better watch his own self. He's acting way out of character for him. He's just so… happy." Glenn smirked at her. "It's a good look on him."

"I'll have a talk with him later. Just promise me you'll respect what I've asked of you. Both you and Maggie. Speaking of your bride, you better go find her so you can spill the beans." Carol was anxious to end this conversation, so nudging Glenn Maggie's way sounded like the perfect out.

Glenn was giddy at the thought of getting to tell their secret to his wife, so he left in a flash, leaving Carol alone in the cell once more. She had been in the process of putting some of her clothes in the beat up dresser drawer Daryl had. There was plenty of room for her things since Daryl barely had anything to call his own. Most of his clothes he had he was wearing at the moment and sleeveless shirts didn't take up much room in the drawers. She spent the next couple of hours bouncing between her old cell and theirs, gathering the rest of her belongings and organizing their cell to incorporate their things together. It didn't take long for Daryl's bare cell to look more inviting and warm. She hoped he wouldn't get too bent out of shape about it.

It was just after lunchtime when she finished and she headed to Beth's cell to take Judith for a bit. She missed the baby fiercely and knew Beth needed a break from nanny duties, since Carol had been MIA for more than half of the week. She arrived as Beth was struggling to feed a very fussy Judith.

"Carol, thank goodness. I don't know what's wrong with her. She's been in a state and I can't get her calmed down." Beth looked absolutely frazzled. Her blonde hair was messy and she couldn't keep the stress out of her voice. She practically shoved the baby in Carol's arms. "I promised to meet Zack for lunch. Do you mind?" She didn't even wait for a reply before she was hightailing it out the door.

Judith's face was red from screaming and Carol placed her against her chest and began patting her back. "I have missed you, baby girl. What's wrong? Who ticked you off?" She cooed to her. The baby nuzzled against her and calmed immediately. "Well, I guess that answers my question. You were mad at me for leaving you. Well, Aunt Carol is so very sorry and I'm back to take care of my favorite girl." She kissed Judith's head. She had missed her so much.

"It's good to see you back here, holding her again. She's been real ornery the past few days and I figured it was because you weren't around to spoil her." Rick appeared in the doorway, looking clean and calm. It was a relief to see him like that. He had spent so many months on the road and after Lori's death in a permanent state of distress. That look had returned a few days ago. She hoped that look would disappear forever.

"Nothing in this world could keep me away from this little lady." The baby let out a loud burp and Rick and Carol laughed. "So much for the little lady part…"

Her words were drowned out by a deafening BOOM and the whole cell block shook. Rick threw himself on top on Carol and Judith and pushed them into the bunk. She could feel bits of concrete stinging her legs as they pelted her. Judith was screaming bloody murder but Carol could barely hear her over the ringing in her ears. Rick was talking, grabbing her face to make her look at him. The ringing was subsiding.

"CAROL! Carol! Look at me! I need you to stay here with Judith." He thrust his Python into her hand. "I'm going to see what the hell is going on. Grab the emergency pack for the baby. Get ready to run if needed. Shoot ANYONE you don't know!" He kissed Judith first and then Carol on the forehead. "I'm coming back for you both." And with one glance back over his shoulder, he disappeared into the cloud of dust.