Author's Note: Well, we're winding down our story and our beloved couple is together again. Again, I appreciate everyone who is still chugging along with me. I posted a new one shot "Icing on the Cake" yesterday. It's a fluffy oneshot set during the hiatus. I am open to any ideas for other one shots of quick short stories. I love writing I just feel like I need prompting, lol!

XOXO Pamela

26. Refuge

She couldn't believe how she felt in that moment. She felt victorious, floored and ecstatic all at once. Daryl was here, he was real, he was alive and he was kissing her. When his tongue touched hers she could taste cigarettes. She moaned into his mouth, her fingers pulling at his hair, pulling him deeper into her.

The man who introduced himself as Abraham cleared his throat behind them. "Looks like my friend here found his missus. You can thank me later after you two peel yourselves off each other." He chuckled heartily, clapping Daryl on the back, causing him to release her mouth to shoot him a glare.

"Thanks, asshole. I'd of found them days ago if you'd let me do it my way." He spun around to Abraham and Carol was shocked at his sudden agitation.

"Now, Daryl, we discussed this. We had to make sure you weren't leading us into some kind of trap, out to hurt our people. We've spent months building our place and we don't just let strangers in willy nilly. Especially raggedy ass biker dudes with crossbows. We're civilized people at the Estates." Carol marveled at how quickly Abraham could make himself so intimidating. When she opened the door, his body language was soft and now he looked like he meant business. She smiled inwardly. It's not often someone could out badass Daryl Dixon.

She wanted to know more about the place he was talking about. It sounded much like the prison had been, a community for survivors. "The Estates?" She questioned Abraham directly. "Is that your home, your refuge?"

Abraham's intimidating stance melted instantly, replaced with the southern gentleman she met before. "Yes, ma'am. It's called Wiltshire Estates and it's located just a few miles away. It's a gated community of fancy ass houses we secured and set up as our homes. There's just a handful of us there. We just got it recently secured and livable fulltime. Your man here came around looking for his lost people." He side eyed Daryl. "He's not one for manners. But after explaining his situation and leading us back to your former home, I realized there were some people that needed our help. So, we've been helping him find who's left."

Who's left. Those words struck Carol. Who else had made it? Beth, Zack and Hershel were certainly dead, and the bus with a majority of the group had been swarmed. She looked from Abraham to Daryl. Daryl's face reflected the sorrow she felt. He had to have tried to go to the rally point and saw the carnage. She addressed Abraham again. "Thank you so much for helping him. Rick, the man who is with me, he's injured. He was shot in the battle and I haven't been able to leave him to look for anyone. I was so worried we'd be separated forever." Her voice cracked at that and Daryl pulled her to him once more.

Rick slowly made his way over, helped by Carl. The beautiful Latina held Judith in her arms. When Judith saw Daryl, she went crazy, stretching out and reaching for him. He smiled widely and took her from Rosita. As he bounced a deliriously happy Judith against him, Rick came over and clapped a hand on his shoulder.

"You're a sight for sore eyes, brother. I thought I'd never see you again, thought I'd never see anybody again. Carol and Carl, they saved me. You've got yourself a wonderful woman. I know that better than anyone." He gave Daryl a resigned look and then spoke to Abraham. "I've already told Rosita here but I want to say I'm sorry I escalated things. We owe you a debt of gratitude for finding us. Rosita says we are coming with you back to your compound." He had put on a t shirt and jeans but was still barefoot in the grass.

"Yep, you folks are officially welcome. I advise you pack what you've got quickly. Rosita and I are going to head back first. Eugene's driving the other car. He'll bring you back once you've got everything. This doctor's place got lots of supplies?" Carol nodded at Abraham. "Good. Bring everything you can. Daryl here tells me you lost your doc but you have been training under him, that right?"

"Yes, Hershel was a wonderful teacher. Do you have anyone medically trained there?" Carol asked as they all turned to head back to the house.

"Eugene is a scientist so he's our go to guy. But I'm sure he'd love to have the extra hands since there's more of you than us now." Abraham stopped at the door. "Rosita and I are taking off. Try to get everything done before dusk. It can get hairy after dark where we are and we don't like to use any lights. It seems to attract them like moths to a flame." With that, Abraham gave a salute and he and Rosita headed for the truck.

Daryl was still holding Judith and he and Rick were looking at each other, seemingly having a silent conversation between them. Whatever passed seem to satisfy them both and they all went up the stairs to the house to pack what they could. It took less than thirty minutes and they had a huge haul of supplies they packed tightly into the back of the Suburban Daryl had arrived in.

Daryl introduced them to Eugene and Carol took to him right off the bat. He was hysterically funny and she could sense Daryl enjoyed his humor too, even when it was at his expense at times. Carol made sure Rick, Carl and Judith were secured in the Suburban and she and Daryl got into the Hyundai to follow them to their new destination.

As soon as they got strapped in the car, Daryl grabbed Carol's hand, entwining their fingers. "Missed you so much. I can't wait until we get there, I've got us our own house. It's fucking huge, five bedrooms, fully furnished. Looks like time just stopped there and everyone disappeared. No people, no walkers, everything intact." He leaned over as she drove, nibbling her ear. "There's the biggest fucking bed I've seen in my life there. We're going to christen it and every room in that damn place." He slid his hand up her thigh to the notch between her legs.

Carol felt heat rush right to that spot and she couldn't hold back the moan that escaped her. "I've missed you, too. But, we'll never get there if you make me come and I crash the car." She grabbed his hand that was rubbing her and placed it back into his lap, squeezing his erection through his pants.

This time, it was Daryl that moaned. "I'm a hair trigger right now, babe. Pedal to the metal." He groaned, covering her hand with his and shifting his hips against her.

She tsked him and pulled her hand away and he cursed in protest. "All in good time, my love. I want you in our new bed, showing me how much you missed me." She pecked his lips quickly and got her eyes back on the road. She changed the subject to a more tragic subject. "Has anyone else made it?"

Daryl's face was grim. "Glenn and Maggie got there yesterday. She's pretty much catatonic. Hasn't said a word since Hershel died from what Glenn tells me. Tyreese, Sasha, Bob and Michonne made it out with me. We got to the rally point and it was awful. We lost everyone on that bus. We put down who we could, but there were others… we just couldn't find enough of 'em to put down." He looked sick to his stomach. "I couldn't find Lizzie or Mika's bodies. But it was just parts and blood and…"

Carol put her hand up, bile rising. "Enough. When we got there it was swarming with walkers. Probably the herd from the college. If we had stayed any longer we would have met the same fate as them. Rick was unconscious and bleeding and I had to get him somewhere to get treated. It broke my heart to drive away from them." Her voice cracked and she swiped her eyes so she could see the road ahead of her.

Daryl reached over and used his thumb to catch a tear that got away. "You did right by Rick. He wouldn't want his kids in danger. He needed to get taken care of and you did exactly what you were supposed to do. I'm proud of my kick ass woman." He smiled at her and she tearfully smiled back.

The brake lights of the Suburban came on as they made a turn onto a private road. It was long and winding and magnificent oak trees lined it all the way to large wrought iron gates with a guard house in front. A very discreet but expensive looking sign welcomed them to Wiltshire Estates (est. 2010). The cars stopped right at the gates and Carol could see Abraham and Tyreese opening them to let them enter. It was a small cluster of very ritzy homes, each seemed to be on at least a half acre of land. They had circular driveways with pavers and fountains in many of them. The whole neighborhood had lots of wooded land with a creek between it and the solid walls that surrounded it entirely. It was perfect.

"We're over there." Daryl pointed over to a gorgeous brick Georgian that could have come straight out of a Jane Austen novel. Carol gasped and Daryl smirked. "I figured you'd like it. Reminds me of those fancy ass estates you see on those snooty BBC programs you always go on and on about." Carol pulled into the driveway and put the car in park. Daryl hopped out and headed over to her door, opening it for her and taking her hand to help her out. "I hope the new lady of the house approves." He said, grinning.

Carol looked at him, her eyes bright and shining. "Oh, the lady approves. The lady approves with all her heart!" She let him lead her to the front door and into their new home.