AN: so just one chapter left after this one. I'm going to leave things open to write a sequel. Just need to finish working out what the story would be. In the meantime I have a few ideas for shorter stories, one shots etc. let me know what you think:)

I do not own or profit from The Walking Dead

Chapter 25

Three Weeks Later

They had decided to out wait the herd. Traveling down the dirt road they had hit asphalt as Carol had suspected they would. The small country road had lead to the outskirts of a town, the toppled welcome sign had boasted a population of five hundred. They had kept to the outskirts when they saw a house fitting their needs. An isolated brick bungalow with a garage. The yard was fenced in.

They cleared the house together and found only one walker, a man. He must have been a prepper, Carol thought as they found a stockpile of canned food.

That first night they spent in the basement of the house, Daryl had been relentless. Making love to her like he never wanted to let her go. Holding her close all night long.

The next day he had spread the map on the table. They needed to plan decide what they were going to do. The best they could figure the mega herd was traveling a path that was horizontal to the hilltop heading east. It didn't appear that the herd would hit The Hilltop directly, but it was acting as a barrier, effectively blocking their approach for miles in either direction. They could go west Daryl told her. Try and see if they could get around the tail end of the herd, or they could wait it out here. Carol sat back and looked at him.

"What do you think we should do ?"She asked.

" I think we should wait here, we don't know what the herd's gonna do, how it's gonna move. We don't know what we might find heading west either. This house seems safe enough."

So they had settled in and waited, and the days had slipped by with relative ease. For the first time, they were alone together and Carol found that she enjoyed that fact despite the circumstances. She had no doubt they would reach The Hilltop, and see the group again, but before the flu hit the Prison, they both had been pulled in so many directions even their friendship had suffered. Since the Terminus rescue the group had been on top of one to get privacy unless it was nighttime. The time together was something she would treasure.

Having Daryl's undivided attention was a sight to behold. They talked and told each other things, that she herself had never thought she would tell anyone. She told him about Ed, all of it. He had listened quietly intense, his hands shaking slightly when she spoke of a particularly horrific incident, but gentle as he brushed her hair out of her face and then kissed her softly.

Daryl had become even more overprotective if that was possible, seemingly alert to every possible danger. She didn't mind , she knew where it was coming from, he'd already told her about his guilt at Beth's kidnapping.

Carol had taken to referring to their time at the house as their"honeymoon." Daryl had chuckled stating they needed a wedding first. She had been serious for a moment her expression thoughtful before speaking.

"I don't need a ceremony to know that I am yours and your mine. I already feel like your wife. I made the decision awhile ago that there was never going to be anyone for me but you. We can have a small ceremony for our family when we get to The Hilltop, but I don't need it to know that we are married." He had nodded seemingly touched at her words.

They decided to be ready to leave at a moments notice, the truck was pulled into the garage and kept packed ready to go, only taking out what was needed. They did make daily runs together to check the movement of the herd from a distance. The mega herd seemed to stall for about two weeks, relatively at a standstill, but the week prior, they had begun to move, heading east yet again.

They had an excess of supplies between what had been packed in the truck and what they found in the house with the exception of gas. When it became clear they would be able to leave in a few days Daryl decided they should venture into the town, to scavenge what would be needed to make the trek to The Hilltop.

They stuck to the larger, parking lots, and had worked out a system, Daryl syphoning while Carol kept watch. They almost had their cans full when, they heard gunshots coming from a short distance away.

Daryl's first instinct had been to get the hell out of there. No way was he wanting to get involved in anything that would put Carol's life in danger if he could avoid it . But Carol had looked at him with fear in her eyes "what if it's them? What if they didn't get out in time?"

"If there's nothing we can do, we get out of there, I don't care who it is, ok?" He asked and she nodded.

They made their way towards the sounds, taking the truck as far they dared, getting out and darting behind buildings and vehicles to get a closer look, when Carol gasped and said "That's one of the Lieutenant's trucks" pointing down the block.

Just then a faint movement behind them caught Daryl's attention and he swung around crossbow ready, aimed at the head of Miller,his gun also drawn.

Miller dropped his gun immediately

"Carol" he exclaimed grabbing her in a bone crushing hug. "You're ok!, where's Beth? Where are the others, is Beth ok?..."

"I'm sure she's fine sweetie, we got separated, it's a long story, what's going on? We heard gunshots" Carol replied.

Millers face hardened "These asshole pirates calling themselves The Saviours, they're lead by that asshole Neegan we've been hunting. They destroyed Alexandria, all those people dead...They tried to get the jump on us this morning. We fought them off, I saw you guys from a distance thought there might be more...we gotta get back, the lieutenant was hit, I don't know how bad. Thomas might need your help ".

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They made there way quickly back to their truck and Miller lead the two back to the small post office the lieutenant's group had been using as a home base.

Gallant and Reynolds had been instantly alert at the unfamiliar truck but had been ecstatic seeing Carol. After their hugs for Carol and questions about Beth's safety. They had quickly lead them to the back of the post office. Daryl had muttered a comment under his breath about people needing to learn to keep their hands to themselves. Carol had smiled and said "Don't be mean Pookie".

The atmosphere in the post office though was not one of happiness. Anderson, Thomas, and Wong looked up smiling at Carol but she knew something was instantly wrong. The lieutenant was lying on a table and appeared to be struggling to breath. Carol glanced over at Thomas and he shook his head sadly. She took a sharp intake a breath and felt Daryl reach out and grab her hand.

Walking over to the table the lieutenant looked up at her and Daryl and smiled "Blue eyes, and Mr. Twilight" he said weakly. He looked at Carol who had tears in her eyes "don't cry Carol, I'm finally going to see my wife Elizabeth again. My Beth, ...that's the first time I've said her name since she died" he coughed, choking a little on some blood.

Carol reached down and grabbed his hand "thank you so much..." She started.

"No, not needed your group are good people. You're a good person Carol. I saw that from the start. Don't forget how lucky you are Dixon" he said. Daryl nodded.

"You can trust my men, Wong's in charge now. He's my Brother, he'll never betray you guys" the lieutenant continued."Make sure Blondie's alright she's a good kid".

Carol nodded tearfully brushing the hair off the lieutenant face "we will"

The group sat for hours, at his bedside Carol clasping one of his hands Wong the other. When the time came none on the lieutenant's men had been emotionally able to do what needed to be done. Daryl had made a move to do it but Carol had shook her head stopping him and said "I'll do it"