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Disclaimer: Copyright for The Walking Dead belongs to AMC, et al. My writing belongs to me, as do errors.

Title: "Bands"
Chapter: "Still Here"

He knew when they left C, he knew how long they'd been in B, and he knew when Rick had left. He heard the door to B scrape open the second time when she came out with her lantern bobbing down by her leg. He knew she hesitated by the door for awhile, but he knew she'd be coming to talk to him. More than anything he knew what she was going to say. Most of all Daryl knew that it would hurt.

Her steps were slow on the stairs but light as always. How many times had she brought him a meal or slipped up in the middle of a night watch? Sometimes they didn't talk much before she left again, but it was always the best part of being alone up there – being together with her. He hoped it wouldn't change. The thought that it would left him feeling like there was a piece missing from under his ribs, like a part of his torso was suddenly gone. He rubbed at it absently through his poncho. It didn't help.

The hinges creaked like always as she stepped through. He didn't look. Then he did. She gave him the small smile that said she noticed and she knew he knew. Fuck. He looked back out. Why hadn't it just worked? Why had it been too hard? Why did he still want it? Why did he want her happy more?

"Busy night."

She could always do that – start things out light. He liked her so much for it. He nodded to the fence. "I think that one's kinda a Romeo. Seems ta be drawin' the ladies." There had been a strange alignment of the walkers that afternoon. For some reason they had grouped by gender on either side of the access road, with all the former males save one on the west and all the former females with the lone walker in a three piece suit sporting a charred face and right hemisphere of his body on the east.

Carol laughed lightly as she surveyed the scene below. Then, "Every girl's crazy 'bout a sharp dressed man."

He scoffed. "Heh. Didn't figure you fer a ZZ Top groupie."

She smiled more broadly. "Sucker for a great beard," she said, then she looked down shyly. "Why do you think I like you so much?" She leaned over and bumped his shoulder.

He smirked and bumped her back. "Not enough." It wasn't angry or sad, just a statement of fact. She met his eyes and the way she tightened her lips showed him that she understood exactly what he meant.

Their arms were still touching and it was nice. They leaned together for several minutes just being there. He wondered if she wasn't going to tell him after all. Daryl hoped she would as much as he hoped she wouldn't. The knowing and the not were both bad. Part of him wanted to make her say it, to force it out of her, like setting a dislocated joint. The pain would be fierce but then you could use it again.

"S'pose Carl came to ya ta get fixed up t'day."

He felt her nod. "He's going through some tough things. You gave him a nasty black eye."

"He's lucky that's all he got. S'lucky I's the one who did it."

"Why's that?"

"'Cause anybody else would'a meant it, and he'da really got hurt."

Carol turned to face him and her eyes were squinted, questioning.

"I let 'im feel it, but I didn't do no permanent damage. He needed to work off his temper. Needed ta see it weren't gonna get 'im anywhere."

She gave him a smile that said "it takes one to know one."

He smirked back. "Yeah, I know. Comin' from me..."

She laughed, and her eyes said she loved him. He knew what that look meant from her now. Something that he hadn't realized was knotted tight inside uncoiled. She still loved him. God, he still loved her. Maybe it was going to be alright.

Nodding toward B block he said, "What'd Rick have to say 'bout it all?"

Carol's eyes flashed for a second but it was long enough to catch the nerves there. She was worried about telling him. He steeled himself. He would need to be careful. He could not screw this up. She might not be where he wanted her, but he needed her close.

"I think it started them talking. It's...good if you can believe that." She looked him deep in the eyes, the way she had that connected them. He let her. Daryl wanted her to know he wasn't, he couldn't turn away. "You did something really important for them, Daryl. I don't think they...any of us can be connected to each other without you."

He swallowed hard. There were tears in her eyes. She was asking him to let her, wasn't she? How could she ask him that? Fuck. And how could he ever say no to what she needed from him? His whole chest hurt. Carol's eyes were still locked with his. He couldn't look away even as he shook his head. He reached up and slid his hand behind her neck and slipped his fingers into the short curls.

"I..." His voice failed him. He stroked his thumb against the silken skin of her neck, and a tear slipped from her eye as if the motion has squeezed it out. He couldn't watch it happen. "Don't," he choked out.

"Daryl, I..."

"Shhh." He bent and placed a kiss on her forehead and pulled back, looking down at her again. This time he bent to kiss her lips. It was probably the last one. He wanted her to know how much he cherished her, how much he wanted for her, and how good he hoped this would be for her. She was sweet under his lips and he pulled away before he wanted to.

Daryl let his hand fall away and he opened his eyes. He hoped it was enough. Carol's eyes were still closed but she reached her hand up and placed it on his poncho over his heart. She reached forward and fumbled around until he realized she was feeling for his hand and he gave it to her. She pulled it up and placed his hand over her heart.

"Still here," she said. "This doesn't change."

He tried to say something but he couldn't get anything out. He cleared his throat and tried again. "No."

Carol opened her eyes and looked up at him. She gave him a small smile and he did his best to return it. "Okay," she said as she nodded, seeking to reassure herself.

With his free hand he reached up and held hers in place. He nodded once. "You'll still come bother me on watch, wontcha?"

"Always."

"It'll be fine then."

"If we want it to, it will."