A/N: Hello all! How is everyone coping with hiatus? I know, I know it sucks but don't worry, it's only til Feb!

Apologies for this being late and for anyone who was concerned for my wellbeing. I didn't intend to cause a panic, but thank you for your concern, you guys are sweet. It's been super stressy/busy at work and in real life with the mad Christmas rush and all. That and I have been struggling a little trying to keep ahead of time with these last few chapters which is why I had about 15 written before I even posted Chapter 1! I knew somehow that this was a possibility and lo and behold, I'm starting to panic!

Anyway, Chapter 26. One of the very first scenes I wrote for Embers believe it or not, waaaay back in February of this year! Inspired by a Carrie Underwood song, which made me cry the first time I heard it, because it made me think of these two. Yes, I know I am PATHETIC. It's different from what I originally wrote, but the way the story has turned out would have made it look weird. So, minor tweaks and voila! I hope you like it.

Disclaimer: TWD and its characters are property of Kirkman, AMC and so on. No copyright intended.

Chapter 26

A little over a week had passed since Carol got out of hospital, and already the summer seemed to have burnt itself out, the warm air barely lingering, whispering through the crisp leaves now clinging by a thread, heralding the changing of the seasons.

It had been hard for her, stepping back inside the cabin, where it had all happened. Forensics had cleaned it up so well it was impossible to tell that not even two weeks ago there had been a body laying lifeless and bleeding on the floor. But the moment Carol had walked in she could see Ed lying there; she could feel him, and she started to wonder whether she would ever look at that spot on the floor and not see the puddle of dark crimson seeping into the floorboards. Would she ever walk into the living room and not feel that chill gripping her bones? Thank God Sophia hadn't been there to look at the grisly sight, she was spared that trauma at least.

Carol and Sophia were Ed's only next of kin, meaning their house automatically fell to Carol. She decided without a moment's hesistation that it would go up for sale. None of the memories living within those four walls were happy. Every one of them that could have been was shrouded in fear and darkness, ever quaking beneath the shadow of the man she'd married. Daryl didn't say anything when she announced her plan, he'd simply nodded… he understood. He'd asked Dale for advice and he'd given Daryl the number of a real-estate agent who was a friend of his, and they'd sent someone out to survey the property and give them a valuation. The 'For Sale' sign was due to go up at the weekend, and Carol had yet to clear out hers and the rest of Sophia's things, ready for prospective viewers to look around. She'd been dreading it; she hadn't been back at the house since she'd taken Sophia and fled in the middle of the night, and going back filled her with unease. Sensing her trepidation, Daryl had immediately insisted he help her with the clearing out, but somehow that made her feel worse, the idea of him helping her sift through her haunted memories. They'd pulled up outside the property on the way to school, and the tightening coil in Carol's stomach was making her nauseous.

Daryl turned to look at her, leaning on the steering wheel with his forearm. "I'll drop Sophia off then head back… You be alright?"

"I'm a big girl," she smiled, hoping the knot in her stomach didn't betray her. "I can manage for a bit."

"Alright," Daryl nodded.

Carol opened the door of the truck and pulled Sophia in for a peck on the cheek. "Have a good day baby."

"You too Mama, love you."

"Loved you first," Carol smiled.

She heaved the truck door shut and gave a little wave to Sophia as they pulled away, leaving her alone on the sidewalk. She could almost feel the house behind her, as if it were watching her. Carol turned around and looked at the place she had called home for over a decade. It only struck her now how drab the house was, compared with how bright all the other houses in the street were. Gardens peppered with brightly coloured flowers and water features, and then there was her excuse for a garden. A lacklustre lawn and a path; not exactly inviting. As she took the path she recalled many times she'd travelled it before, wondering what awaited her when she reached the end of it, visions of cattle being herded to their fate invading her mind. She pulled the keys from her pocket, the noise almost comfortingly familiar, and turned one in the lock, stepping inside.

The door closed behind her and the once familiar noise now sounded foreign to her ears, like it had changed somehow, the atmosphere in the house now different. It was strange to be back here; all of their belongings remained, exactly where she remembered them last, but they held no meaning, no sentimental value. She felt like she was looking back in time, at someone else's life. She stood in the hallway, the tang of stale cigarette smoke still hanging in the air, and if she closed her eyes she could almost swear she could feel him still here, asleep in his chair or barking at her to get him a beer. His voice echoed in her ears, his dry snarky laugh at whatever he was watching; the sound even resonating in her mind grated on her nerves, prickling her skin in gooseflesh. He's gone. Carol tutted, huffing the imaginary irritant out of her system, and made her way into the kitchen, putting the keys next to the phone, a long engrained habit she had yet to unlearn.

The odour of stale smoke was stronger in the kitchen, Ed's last cigarette butt crushed out in the ashtray, his chair scraped back in a wide arc where he'd obviously gotten up and skulked out in a rage when he'd realised she and Sophia were gone. There were still dishes in the sink from Sophia's dinner the night they'd left the house. Carol had meant to wash them up before he'd got home, but her mind had been saturated with everything, and she'd gone up to lie down and lost several hours swimming in her thoughts. It all seemed like so long ago. She stood at the sink, staring down at the plate and the empty glass, trying to remember a single time in thirteen years she hadn't washed up right after dinner. How many meals had she slaved over and then had to clean up the kitchen afterwards? Mealtimes spent predominantly under a heavy silence, neither she or Sophia daring to speak unless his mood dictated otherwise. Sometimes he would pass comment on the food, and even occasionally make an effort at conversing, but she knew that beneath the surface there was a timer running, counting down to his next explosion. Carol frowned at the wasted years, and not just hers… Sophia's. Carol had been lucky, growing up knowing no different than the love of her parents. Sophia had only ever known fear and uncertainty. She didn't know if she could ever forgive herself for that.

Carol made her way out of the kitchen and found herself hovering in the hallway again. It was strange, knowing that this wasn't where she lived anymore and pretty soon someone else would call it home. A family she imagined, just starting out, all young and full of hope. The walls would vibrate with the laughter of children maybe, and not the rumbling terror they had felt for years. The quiet surrounded her, and now that she was actually here, for the first time probably ever, she wasn't afraid to be alone in the house. She knew Ed was gone, and that no matter how long she stood in the empty hallway, she wouldn't hear him cussing at the tv, or hear the disgusting rasp of his morning snoring echoing down the stairs.

Carol pushed the white noise to the back of her mind and started up the staircase, switching to productive mode, wanting nothing more than to make a start on it and just get everything done as quickly as possible. The quicker she was rid of this god forsaken place the better. She didn't relish the idea of going into what had been hers and Ed's room, so she decided to make a start on Sophia's. The only room in the house that had been void of any clouds of despair, Carol instantly felt light as she stepped foot in the small room. The baby pink walls adorned with drawings and various little snippets of her life; her bookshelf all tidy and organised; her shoes lined up neatly against the wall. It felt strange with Sophia's bed missing. Daryl and Sophia had been over and picked it up along with her clothes and things she needed for school, but most of her belongings had still to be packed up. Carol tried to kick start her brain into action and pack what she could carry, which meant having to go into the other room and rake through the closet to find bags.

The door to her bedroom was open slightly, and she could smell him in the room before she even stepped into it. His scent hung in the stuffy air of the room, the bedclothes crumpled in a heap where he'd thrown them back. It was like revisiting the scene of a thousand crimes. She shuddered at the memory of the night she left, what she'd almost had to endure, how lucky she was that he had passed out. There were times when she hadn't been so lucky, and she wondered about the morning after if she hadn't escaped. Another day under Ed's regime, quaking in fear, the guilt consuming her for hurting both Sophia and Daryl. The thought niggled away at her, and she tried to banish it from her mind, moving towards the closet and sliding the door open.

Ed's clothes were still hanging up, and the sight of them stopped her in her tracks. She caught a whiff of the god awful cologne he used to wear and almost threw up on the spot. It was such a sensory overload; the smell of him, sharp and overpowering, and it touched everything. She could practically taste it. Carol screwed her face up against the scent and rummaged for the bags. The question was floating around in her mind again, refusing to leave her alone. What if you had stayed? The notion made her shudder, because she already knew what the answer was. He would've seen the dent in his precious car, yelled at her, she'd have taken a beating most likely. Then it would all die down again and the clouds would simmer and build until next time… and there was always a next time.

Gettin' pretty damn sick of your shit…

Irritation was stewing into anger in the pit of her stomach, her brow furrowed at her own stupidity. She'd cowered under him for so long, and for what? Rifling through the bottom of the closet, she realised her possessions took up barely a hair of space, because she hardly had any. Practically nothing to show for her life thus far. Her eyes were burning like hot coals in her head, her vision starting to blur as the fire raged inside her. She'd lived here for thirteen years and to look at the place you couldn't tell. She was invisible, and she always had been. Carol's blood ran hot in her veins, tension pulsing through her body in waves, as she recalled every incident that had ever occurred, and the way she just stood there and took every barbed comment, every blow without complaint, and she wanted to scream. Angry bullets forced themselves from her eyes, streaking down her cheeks as she thought of everything she'd ever wanted to say to his face but never had the guts to. Every put down, every ungrateful, sarcastic comeback he'd snapped at her, every bitter look of disgust in his leering eyes…

This is my damn house.

Something inside her snapped, and a red mist descended in front of her as she started ripping his clothes off the rail and launching them across the room. The effort left her almost breathless as she heaved fishing gear and waterproofs, hauling everything out of the closet. She had no idea what she was doing, but looking at all of his things in front of her was driving her rage, fuelling the flames as her hands fell to boxes upon boxes of trophies and mementos of hunting trips over the years. Without thinking, she grabbed the first one and hurled it at the wall. It missed the window by a fraction, but left a rather noticeable dent in the plaster.

Ha. Can't even do that right. You're useless.

"SHUT UP!" She screamed, launching another missile.

This one collided with the mirror on her dressing table and she felt a surge of euphoria as the glass smashed and scattered on the bedroom floor. Her heart was flying. She reached into the box and pulled out a framed photo of Ed and his hunting buddies with a stag they'd just shot. Ed was sitting on the animal, hauling it up by the antlers, his face a picture of pride. The sight of him made her teeth clench. The same smug look plastered on his face, controlling the animal's fate like it was his to own, just like he'd owned hers. She stood up, her breathing coming in short, barely contained rasps.

The picture hit the wall and exploded, impacting with such velocity the frame splintered and tumbled to the floor, the photo inside somehow surviving. Carol flew across the room and pulled it from the shrapnel, sobs laced with growls as she ripped it to pieces. She was gasping for air now, her entire body trembling as she tried to get her bearings. One of the trophies lay at her feet and didn't look nearly badly damaged enough for her liking. She picked it up ready to hurl it right at the window.

"Whoa, hey!"

Carol hadn't heard Daryl even come in, but then again she hadn't been aware of much except the boiling of her own blood in her veins. His strong arms caught her and she let him take over, her body finally giving in to the fatigue and the release. She sagged against him as he managed to pry the trophy from her hand and sit her gently on the bed.

"Jesus, wait right here, don't move…"

Suddenly he was rushing off somewhere and she sat in a trance, her heart rate finally beginning to slow and her breathing coming back down. Daryl returned and took her hand, wrapping it in a towel and elevating it. It was then she saw the blood dotted all over the carpet and streaking up her forearm.

"You're alright," Daryl spoke softly, his voice soothing her jagged nerves instantly. "I gotcha, it's okay."

Carol's eyes gradually readjusted, his thumb gently soothing the back of her hand and bringing her around. She surveyed the devastated room in horror and felt shame creeping into her cheeks.

"Oh God… what have I done?"

"Don't worry, we'll fix it alright? Hey…" Daryl tilted her chin to look at him. "It's gonna be okay."

"I don't know what came over me." Carol swallowed back the lump that had risen in her throat. "I-I was in Sophia's room, came in here to get a bag and I just…"

"I should never have left ya on your own… Stupid." Daryl scolded himself.

"I never meant to-"

"Hey it's okay, you don't gotta explain. I get it. When I came back, first time I set foot in the cabin, I took Merle's baseball bat and levelled the place." Daryl snorted.

Carol watched him, a little surprised and intrigued by this new information, wincing slightly as he unwrapped her hand from the saturated towel and inspected it through narrowed eyes. The bleeding from her finger had almost completely stopped; the cut looked worse than it was. She waited for him to continue.

"He was everywhere… my old man." Daryl pulled open a band aid and gently started applying it. "It was a shit tip, exactly how he'd left it. The whole damn place stank of him… I just lost it. Started swingin', smashin' shit up 'til I felt sick. I had to get him out. Felt like the only way to start over."

"Did you?" Carol asked quietly. "Start over?"

Daryl looked up at her with soft eyes, studying her quietly as he considered his response. "I'm tryin'. Didn't think there was any point at first… 'til there was."

The look in his eyes filled her heart with so much love she thought she was going to break down again, and she had to bite her lip against the swell of the tide. She held his gaze for a moment, before the intensity of it painted a blush on her cheeks that had her pulling away.

"You get another shot too," Daryl said, tracing the back of her hand with his thumb. "Ain't sayin' it's gonna be easy, but you ain't alone anymore."

A tear spilled over the edge and down her cheek, and Daryl's finger caught it, gently stroking it away. Her skin tingled at his touch, her hand settling over his and holding it in place. Her heart quickened a little in her chest, the weight of his stare crushing the breath from her lungs as his eyes pulled her in. Softly his mouth sought hers, delivering a kiss so gentle she was glad to be sitting down or she might have fallen. It was so much different from the other times. Not fuelled by anger, or desperation, or sheer longing. It sent the butterflies in her chest crazy, wings thrumming wildly as Daryl held her close.

He pulled back slowly, giving her one last look that left her in no doubt about what he meant, before heaving himself to his feet.

"C'mon…" Daryl tugged her uninjured hand, pulling her up beside him. "We don't gotta do this now…"

"No, it's alright. I'm alright. They're only things." Carol insisted, taking a deep breath. "I can do it. I have to do it."

"You sure?" Daryl asked her.

Carol nodded, gathering every last shred of strength she could find within herself as she surveyed the wrecked room. She lifted her eyes to meet Daryl's again, giving her the final boost she needed.

"Yeah, I'm sure. This is where I start over."

xOxOxOxOxOxOxOxOxOxOxOxOxOxOxOxOxOx

They had eventually managed to straighten up the mess at the house, getting a fair amount done so the place looked presentable for viewings. Daryl knew it was hard for her, sifting through the pages of her life and having to rehash things she wished she could forget, but he was there through it all, making sure she didn't give up. He was so damn proud of her for even trying. She'd seemed determined to just block out whatever she was feeling and blast through the task in hand. Now though, he couldn't shake the feeling that it was all just a façade for everyone else's benefit, like she was one breath away from breaking down again.

Sophia had gone to stay over at Carl's, and Daryl had prepared a quiet dinner for two. He just hadn't expected it to be this quiet. He tried not to make his concern obvious, concentrating on clearing his own plate, but the atmosphere hung thickly in the air between them, and he half wondered if he was just making something out of nothing. Allowing himself the odd quick glance up at her, he watched as she picked at her meal halfheartedly then pushed the food around her plate with her fork.

"Everythin' alright?" He eventually asked.

Carol sighed, finally putting down her fork. "It's nice, I'm just not all that hungry. I'm sorry."

"Don't be, it's alright."

Daryl cleared the plates away, sparing her the obligation of eating. He turned back to face her and folded his arms, the faraway look on her face unsettling him. She must have sensed his concern, her eyes darting up to meet his.

"You don't have to do that."

Daryl frowned in response, unsure what she meant.

"Look at me as if I'm gonna break," she half smirked. "I'm alright Daryl."

"You sure?"

She nodded thoughtfully. "I know this morning it must've looked like I wasn't, and I guess I wasn't really. Think it's all just gonna take a while to get used to."

"Yeah," Daryl agreed. "Well we got all the time in the world. As long as it takes."

Carol smiled back at him gratefully and lifted the tension just a little from his shoulders.

Her eyes lingered for a moment, warming him up from the inside, reminding him just what it felt like to be seventeen again. Feeling the colour rising to his cheeks he scratched his head and tried to conjour up a diversion, praying he didn't look like the same loser he'd been back then. Carol saved him the trouble, scraping back her chair and making her way into the living room. Daryl took his cue and followed her, watching as she examined his cd collection, trailing a finger along the cases lined up on the shelf.

"So whaddaya wanna do now?"

"Can we put on some music?"

"Music?" Daryl echoed, caught off guard by the request.

"Yeah, might help me relax."

"Alright," Daryl nodded his head. "Give it a shot."

Carol pressed play on the cd player, and the speakers came to life, halfway through a song, and he realised too late the last cd he'd listened to. She looked up at him, a playful pout on her lips and he dipped his head, ready to take whatever smartass comments she was planning to roast him with.

"Carrie Underwood?" Carol teased. "Would never have had you pegged as a Carrie fan, Dixon."

"Hey, ain't nothin' wrong with Carrie Underwood," he stated defensively.

"Oh no I agree," Carol hummed. "She's one of my favourites."

Daryl tried to stifle a grin, unable to help the way his mouth tried to curl at the edges at the sight of the mischievous glint returning to her eyes. She was starting to come back to him, and as hard as the day had been on her, she still managed to find a smile for him, and he hoped that somehow he had been responsible. As the upbeat song finished, the first notes of a country ballad hummed out of the speakers, and her face softened, the smile in her eyes barely lingering, giving way to something deeper that had been there all along, waiting for him.

"Dance with me?"

Daryl swallowed hard, the request taking him by surprise. "Dance? Pfft, no. Don't think ya want me steppin' on your toes."

"You won't. There's nothing to it, trust me."

Carol moved towards him, and took his hand, placing his other on her waist. From there Daryl gathered her in his arms, his hand slipping around to settle in the small of her back, holding her close to him.

Once upon a time our world was on fire

and I loved to watch it burn, wild and reckless

never any limits…

It wasn't as difficult as he'd feared, in fact it seemed to come naturally. He began to relax into it, his body swaying with her, rocking her softly. She buried her face in the crook of his neck and gave a small sigh as he rested his head against hers. Her breath on his skin made him shiver and his heart beat a little quicker. He had her fingers wrapped in his, resting between them over his heart as they swayed slowly. She was so warm pressed against him, and he couldn't help but close his eyes and nuzzle closer to her.

Guess I had a lot to learn

cause fire turns to embers, embers to ashes

that blow away too soon…

The words tugged at something inside him, making a lump swell uninvited in his throat. They had blown away too soon, and they'd lost so much time already it made him want to curse the stars. His grip on her strengthened, as if to remind himself that they were really here after all this time, and that he would rather die than let go of her ever again.

"I missed you," Carol lifted her head, the words obviously resonating with her too, her voice barely audible.

"I know," he responded quietly. "Missed you too." His palm found her face, his thumb whispering over her cheek as he got lost in those eyes.

Now everything after you is like having,

wine after whiskey… It went from

do anything for ya baby… to

you don't even miss me…

Carol leaned into his touch, a little sigh escaping, like she'd waited her whole life for this moment. She leaned in to rest her head against his, almost in relief, and all Daryl could do was close his eyes. It had been a long time coming, and now that he was here in this moment with her, he never wanted it to end.

Once you've tasted a love that strong

You can't go back and you can't settle on

Anything less…

Carol pulled back slowly, lifting her lashes to look into his eyes. Her mouth was so agonisingly close. He closed the gap so that their noses brushed gently, her warm breaths making his heart blaze fiercely.

"I ain't ever leavin' you," he whispered.

"You never did."

Daryl leaned in and Carol's breath left her in a soft rush, like she'd been holding it, as his lips barely grazed hers. The need he felt was unbearable. He wanted to smother her, to extinguish any doubt she could have over how he felt, but he held back, wanting to savour every last second of the sweet ache he was feeling. His eyes burned, heavy with longing as he gauged her reaction. Her eyes locked on his lips and she paused briefly, seemingly unable to breathe until he moved again. Daryl took the hint and tilted her chin, giving him better access to fully capture her soft mouth. Her hands buried themselves in the warmth of his chest as his arms enveloped her, crushing her body against his. He was finding it difficult to draw breath, the relentless banging of his heart making it increasingly hard work. He buried his fingers in her hair and opened his willing mouth to her tongue, drinking her in as she backed him slowly into the wall. She was taking over, and Daryl had no problem with that. She could do whatever she wanted, because this was everything… she was everything. All he could focus on was the warmth of her mouth on his and the thunder in his ribcage.

He caressed the crown of soft hair on her head, his fingers weaving absently through the rapidly greying wisps. She was damn near perfect in his hands, and he swore a silent oath that he would make her see it somehow. Her hands snaked up around his neck, pulling him even deeper into her kiss, and it was all too quickly apparent that this time there would be no backing away. His pulse quickened in his ears, fuelled by the rush surging through him and by her quick breaths.

Carol pressed against him, her leg between his, making her desire painfully obvious as she rolled her body against his, never breaking the kiss not even to breathe. The feeling overwhelmed him and he couldn't help the breathy groan that escaped his throat at the intimate contact. She began to unpick the buttons on his shirt, every brush of her fingers over his skin setting his nerve endings on fire. He broke away for a minute, his chest heaving, exploring every facet of her eyes, searching for even the tiniest sliver of uncertainty, that she wasn't ready, but there was none. Daryl experimentally slid his hands under her shirt, his fingertips barely kissing the soft skin above her waistband, his thumbs tentatively exploring the outskirts of her tummy. Carol visibly relished the contact, leaning into his touch and encouraging him to venture higher. Her skin prickled with goosebumps under his touch, and as he grazed her ribs her breath hitched a little. He gave her a glance, seeking permission and she gave it with a nod, raising her arms and allowing him to peel the garment over her head. Her mouth was on his again, smothering him with her kiss urgently, making it plain that things weren't moving as fast as she would like. Daryl took the hint, grabbing her thighs and hoisting her up, kissing her with growing ferocity as she wrapped her legs around his waist, her arms locking around his neck. He carried her to the couch, laying her down as gently as he could. He kissed her hungrily, growling softly to himself as his need to be closer to her grew. .

Carol reached behind to pick at the clasp of her bra. As she slid the straps off her shoulders, he swallowed hard at the sight of her body bared to him. She was beautiful, and he felt like he had no right to even look at her, let alone touch her, she was so far out of his league. Carol looked up at him, the softness in her eyes telling him she understood he was nervous, but that he had no need to be.

"It's okay," she whispered, taking his hand in hers and settling it on her body.

As he complied she yielded eagerly to his touch, her lower body just brushing his erection and eliciting a little sigh. Daryl sought out her lips again, craving the warmth and sweetness of her mouth. Carol unbuckled his belt hurriedly and it fell to the floor with a clatter. They freed each other from their clothes in turn, skin melting into skin as the layers fell to the floor. Carol let her hand wander, snaking lower until she reached her destination. The feeling of her small, delicate hand on the most intimate part of him was almost enough to undo him on the spot.

"Ain't gonna last long if you keep doin' that," he breathed.

Carol nuzzled at his lips tenderly as she slid her hand inside the material of his underwear and settled around him gently. She began to stroke him slowly and he was embarrassed at the little whimper that escaped his lips, his hips betraying him and pushing towards her hand. Her hand moved along his eager length and he knew he definitely wouldn't last long. His underwear found its way to the floor, followed closely by Carol's. The feeling in his chest was so intense he could hardly breathe. His fingers tenderly traced the inside of her thigh and with an insistent roll of her hips he could feel how ready she was, her breath giving out in a rush as he caressed her.

"I need you now... please," she whispered against his ear.

It was all the encouragement Daryl needed and he lowered himself, pushing her legs apart a little more as he positioned himself to sink into her. Carol gasped as he filled her, and the sensation just about took his breath away; she was so warm, her body contracting around him receptively. He gave her a look to make sure she was alright and that he hadn't hurt her. She silenced his concern before it left his lips by rocking slightly under him, encouraging him to move. It was a slow, tender movement at first, Daryl pushing gently as his mouth made love to hers. Their two bodies merged as they moved in perfect sync, giving themselves completely to each other. Daryl rolled his hips slowly, the feeling of being buried inside her almost too intense, trying to keep control of himself as her inner muscles pulled him in further.

His heart pistoned in his chest, overwhelmed by a feeling he'd only ever felt once before, but this time it was amplified tenfold by too many years apart. A fire burned within him as he moved inside of her and his hands explored every sweet inch of her. Fingertips whispered over her skin leaving goosebumps in their wake. Needy little whimpers muffled as he kissed the breath from her like he'd just discovered heaven and didn't want to leave. It was all soft lips and tongues; a yearning that had been pent up for too long and was now coming full circle. Their kisses became more feverish as excitement grew between them, their movements much more urgent and with purpose. Her heavy breaths were fuelling his desire and he knew he couldn't hold out much longer. He would try for as long as his eyes could still see, his pelvis running away from him, his emotions snatching control out of his reach.

"Daryl, please…"

A heartfelt cry escaped her lips as she unravelled around him. Her body shuddered as euphoria ripped through her in waves, her legs wound tightly around Daryl's waist, gripping him as aftershocks rocked her. He felt his control snap like a rubber band.

"Oh God-"

Daryl cried out as he finally gave himself to her, his voice trembling with emotion as he moved deeper within her, his body shivering as the whole moment exploded inside him like a supernova. Everything he'd ever felt for her, everything he'd ever wanted to tell her, he was saying it now with every movement of his hips and every sweet cry that left his throat. He hoped to God she could hear what he was saying, that she felt it too. The delirium of it all made his head ache and he fell down beside her, the sheer scale of it almost bringing him to tears.

Daryl pulled her into his arms and kissed the back of her neck as they lay huddled on the couch, the silence perforated by heavy, exhausted breaths. His arm closed around her waist, pulling her flush with his sweat slicked body. She felt like fire against his skin. Carol scooted around to snuggle into his chest and he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. He didn't say a word, unable to guarantee he wouldn't fall apart just looking into her eyes, but somehow words seemed useless. They weren't enough to tell her what he felt in that moment for her. Daryl nestled his chin in her hair, his eyes flickering dreamily as he fought the lure of sleep. He felt void of any coherent thought other than how complete he felt with her, lying here in his arms, and as he felt her body relax against him he pulled a blanket over them both.

Daryl couldn't fight the faintest smile that pulled on the corner of his lips as they fell asleep. She was back in his arms, for good this time, and he realised that she was the only thing he'd ever wanted, needed in his life, and it had never left him.

The feeling in the core of his chest as he pulled her close, told him that it never would.