Super short chapter, I know. But it's just a filler. A super fluffy filler! ;) And I think we all really really need fluffy right now.
I hope you all enjoy!
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Daryl watched Carol leave with a lopsided grin, still over the moon about Carol agreeing to 'move in' with him. Nine months ago, meeting Carol had only been a dream Daryl had and now, he had her. She was his. Things normally didn't go this well in his life. Though, he had lost his brother...
If Merle was still alive, his life would have been perfect. Well, as close to perfect as it could get in the middle of the damn apocalypse.
Finally deciding that he had been sitting on his ass for too long, Daryl got dressed and made his way down the stairs. He reached the bottom step just as Rick walked out of the cell he shared with his son and baby daughter. The former police officer gave Daryl a nod of greeting, which Daryl returned stiffly. Things were still tense between them since their last conversation that had ended up with Daryl punching him in the face. Daryl would not easily forget or forgive what Rick had said about Carol. The words had been uncalled for. Carol didn't like him just because he had been nice to her. That wasn't who Carol was.
Daryl slid open the door that led to the common room and saw Carol and Beth over by the counter, cooking. Carol lifted her head and gave him a small wave, which he returned with a shy smile of his own.
"Somethin' smells good," he observed as he got closer.
"It's just oatmeal," Beth replied. "Plain oatmeal at that." She went back to stirring the pot, making a face as she did so. Daryl supposed he didn't blame the young girl. They had oatmeal every morning, but at least they had food. Plus, he hadn't been talking to her in the first place.
"I was talkin' about you," Daryl leaned forward and whispered into Carol's ear. He wanted to take the lobe in his mouth, but Beth was looking at them from the corner of her eye. She thought she was being sneaky.
Carol flushed a dark red and swatted at him. "I didn't know you were such a flatterer, Daryl Dixon!"
Truthfully, he hadn't known he was one either. "You deserve to be flattered all the time." When Beth had her back turned, he leaned forward and gave Carol a quick kiss on the cheek. Most of the people at the prison knew they were in a relationship, but Daryl still wasn't keen on public displays of affection.
"Thank you," she whispered, happy tears glistening in her eyes. "D-Do you want some breakfast? We have a few bowls ready." The younger woman had turned to face them once more and Carol quickly blinked away the moisture in her eyes, knowing Beth would have asked about them.
"Sure," he answered. "I think I'll take it outside, though. Gotta scout out that tower." He winked and Carol blushed, again before handing him a bowl of oatmeal.
"I'll come out and join you when I'm done here. If you want."
"I want." Daryl wanted to kiss her once more before he left, but Beth was watching them with her wide blue eyes and made him feel uncomfortable. "I'll see you in a little bit."
"Okay." Carol smiled brightly at him and turned back to the meal. By now, Rick and Carl, who was holding his baby sister, Hershel and Axel had made their way to the common room. Glenn, Maggie and Michonne were the only ones not there. However, when Daryl went to open the door that lead to the prison yard, it was flung open and Maggie and Glenn stepped through.
It was clear where they had been. The watchtower. Daryl reminded himself not to go into that one. Besides the one they mainly used for keeping watch, there was another tower in the prison and that was the one Daryl planned on claiming. However, there was a gate between it and the yard he was in now. Rick had the keys, but Daryl didn't feel like going in and asking for them.
Daryl took his breakfast and sat on one of the picnic tables in the yard and allowed his mind to wander. What would the rest of the group think about Carol leaving the inside of the prison to shack up with him? They knew that they were together, but he didn't know any of their feelings about it. The only one who had come remotely close to it had been Rick.
And would Carol like to be separated from her family like that? They would only be several yards away, but that was still far. Especially since they wouldn't be able to know what was going on in the prison at night. Daryl told himself that he would be okay if Carol decided to stay with the rest of their group. He'd stay with her, if she let him. Though, the idea of having some privacy sounded amazing. They hadn't been together since that first time and Daryl craved the feel of her soft skin on his.
"Thinking about me?"
Carol's soft voice made Daryl jump and he nearly dropped his bowl of breakfast. "Actually, yes," he answered honestly and turned to see Carol take a seat next to him with her own meal in her hands.
"What about me?"
"I was just wonderin' when I'll get to see you naked, again." Two could play at this game. Normally, it was Carol who would do the teasing and trying to rile him up, but he had the perfect opportunity to do so and he did.
It had worked because Carol's face went an even darker shade of red than it had earlier. "Funny. I've been thinking the same thing about you." The retort was weak and Daryl didn't so much as flinch. He had won this round.
"Want to get naked right now?" But it didn't look like Carol gave up easily.
"Okay." Daryl shrugged and placed his bowl down so he could start unbuttoning his shirt. Carol reached for his hands, horrified.
"Daryl, don't! I was just kidding. Anyone could see us!" Smugly, Daryl rebuttoned his shirt and picked up his meal once more.
Carol pouted and stuck out her tongue. "I hate you."
"Too bad because I love you." Turer and easier words had not been spoken. Daryl felt damn lucky to have this woman in his life.
So, I plan on doing something in the next chapters that I am super nervous about. It has ALWAYS been in my plan to do this, but for awhile I kind of just set it aside. I've decided to do it. It's nothing bad, of course. I just don't know how you all will react to it. My hope is that you all will like it! :)
Thanks for reading!
