We have an epilogue left. :D

The adjustment to Ed being dead. Her knowing he was surprised her. It made her question if she was really the person she thought she was. Instead of feeling sick or guilt knowing that he'd died because of her...she was relieved! When it came to Daryl the only thing she worried about was him going to jail. He killed a man in cold blood. He didn't even blink as he done it. Even when he's came back covered in blood and mud it didn't change. How could one man become the center of her world so fast?

"Carol?" Andrea smiled at her. "You dazed out on me."

Carol flushed and adjusted her work shirt. "Sorry it's been a long day."

Andrea gave her a knowing look. "You know if you wanted to leave I'd covered the last hour of the shift. Isn't he home already?"

Carol frowned. "I can't let you do that." She ran her finger along her register. "Besides he's probably already asleep. He knows my schedule."

Andrea huffed at her and slapped her hand on the counter. "Carol, do you know how many women would love to go home and crawl in bed with a man like Daryl? Even if he was already asleep and likely hogging all the blankets." Andrea stared at her hard before continuing. "I go home to a cold bed every night."

Carol looked over sharply. "I know how lucky I am! It's not about that."

"Then what is it?" Andrea questioned. "I'm not the only one who knows you're avoiding him."

Carol grimaced and looked around. The place was dead. Andrea was right. She could leave and it wouldn't matter. She hated that she was so easy to read. She was avoiding him. It wasn't because she didn't want to be with him. It was because she was trying to deal with the mess that was her emotions. She should feel more than just relief and the warmth when she looked at Daryl. At his family! They killed her dad and Ed. They went on the next day like nothing happened. That wasn't normal. She might not be as well traveled as others or know a great many people but she knew some. Her conscience said she should be terrified at how cold Daryl could become. Her mind was whispering to her that she was raised with monsters and now she could even be in love with one. She was vehemently pushing that away though. Daryl was no monster. She'd seen monsters and he was nothing like them. Sure he'd killed a man but he'd done it for her. It wasn't like he was a serial killer.

"Whatever it is you need to get it together before you lose him." Andrea hedged.

The door opened and both girls looked over. Will was there. His eyes locked on her and Carol swallowed. He wasn't his usual smiling self. He said nothing as he walked into the back where his brother was. Carol tensed as the door slapped shut. A loud whoop in the back had her looking over her shoulder.

Travis was striding towards them with Will right behind him. "Andrea do you care to lock up tonight? I have to leave."

Andrea smiled at him. "Don't mind a bit."

Travis looked between them and then around. "Just go ahead and close out your registers and head home. Place is dead tonight."

Will answered his cell phone before anyone could speak to him. He started smiling and Carol watched him quietly. Carol knew he was annoyed with her too. Not only was she avoiding Daryl but also him. He'd tried to ask her if they'd fought and she'd snapped at him. Her words were mean and she knew he'd been shocked. Since then he'd not said more than a few words to her. He'd given her space. He'd not come to the house in a week and a half. Of course Daryl noticed and asked her if she knew why. It bothered her that Will hadn't told him that she'd been rude to him. Surely Daryl would have been mad if he knew she'd been rude to his dad for no reason. Instead Will kept his mouth shut and her free of Daryl's wrath. It made her feel guilty.

"Merle got Daryl awake." Will looked over at his brother. "He's showering and I'm going to run to the house to grab some stuff."

"Meet at your place or where?"

Will's shot to her before they went back to his brother. "My house."

Travis didn't miss the look. He eyed her for a brief second. It couldn't have been more than a blink of an eye but she knew that a world was in that moment. She swallowed and knew she needed to tell Daryl what was wrong. He'd understand. He'd be frustrated but he'd get it. He was worried from the start that she wouldn't want to be with him for this very reason. He loved her though and that mattered.

By the time she was home Merle was gone. She tossed her purse and keys to the table. There was no sign of Daryl. No Rocky or Catrick. When she got upstairs she could hear Rocky barking. She walked in the bedroom and found Daryl fighting with him on his bed. If you didn't know any better you'd think Rocky was absolutely eating him up but he was barely touching him.

"Hey." Carol spoke quietly.

Daryl looked over his shoulder. He looked at the clock and then back at her. He nodded. "You're home early."

Carol felt horrible at the nerves in his voice. She walked further into the room and noticed he was freshly showered and in clean clothes. A bag was by the foot of the bed. She suddenly felt sick. Was he leaving? She knew she'd been distant but she didn't want him to leave. Distant and leaving the house were different. This was his house anyways. If anyone had to leave it was her.

Daryl stood and shifted. His face was slightly red and he fidgeted. She wasn't use to this from him. He was blunt and always spoke his mind. Even when she didn't want to hear it. He cleared his throat to get her attention and Carol looked up at him.

"I wasn't sure if you'd want to go..." He cleared his throat again and the roughness left slightly. She could still hear the sleep in his voice. "Mac called and-"

Carol stood quickly. "Is everything okay? Is he hurt? Is Harley! Oh god, the baby? Is there a problem with the pregnancy." Carol grabbed his arm and jerked him forward. "It'll kill her Daryl if she loses her baby!"

His eyes were wide and she was near frantic. "Calm the hell down. Mac called and said she was going into labor."

Carol blew out a breath. She nodded shakily. "Okay...okay. That's good. That's good."

Daryl eyed her nervously. Carol tried to smile but it was more a cringe and didn't meet her eyes. He sighed and set heavily on the bed. His elbows hit at his knees. He rubbed his hands over his face before they were in his hair. His head was hanging and with a defeated slump to his shoulders.

"I fucked this up didn't I?" He questioned. "Fuck, you won't even look me in the eyes. I get it though. I really do and I don't blame you."

Carol felt her eyes burn. She tugged on his arm but he didn't budge. He also didn't look up at her. Carol's heart constricted and she felt like she was smothering. It was perfect clarity that hit her. This was what it was like to watch your soulmates heart break. Going to her knees in front of him Carol looked up. He was still looking at the floor.

"You didn't fuck up." Carol whispered. "I messed up. I panicked and did what I do best. I distanced myself from the situation. Any other time I would have ran." Carol tugged on his arm. He looked up at her briefly. His eyes were heartbroken and dark. "I'm not scared of you Daryl Dixon. I love you and I'm not going anywhere."

She searched his face for a second before meeting his eyes again. That darkness was there but not like before. Her breathing hitched and his lip twitched. Her grip on his arm tightened.

"Where you go I go. This house, that car- none of it matters. It's not home. You're my home." Carol's voice cracked and tears spilled down her face.

He pulled her up into his arms and she cried against his chest. He didn't question her on why she'd acted the way she did. She should have known he'd understand. He knew more about her than anyone. Carol pulled back and his mouth crashed into hers. The kiss was desperate and she laughed. She missed this. She missed him.

He leaned back and regarded her seriously. His chest was heaving. "You're beautiful."

Carol smiled at him but his eyes kept her quiet. Her face was splotchy from crying and her lips worried bloody from the past week and half. She had dark circles under her eyes and she was a mess from work. His thumb slid over her cheek reverently as he cupped her jaw.

"Marry me." His voice was husky and deep.

Carol sucked in a breath and coughed harshly. He watched her that same fire in his eyes. His grip on her cheek stayed the same but he kept her steady as her world tipped on it's side. He smiled at her for a second and her breathing hitched again.

"Are you serious?"

He nodded slowly. "Yes." He ran his eyes over her before coming back to her face. "I never realized how starved my heart was until I met you, Carol. I never let anyone in until I met you."

Carol lunged for him and his arms wrapped around her. "Yes!"

He pulled her up into his arms as he stood. Her legs wrapped around him. That same feeling of home was there. Only more now. Her arms tightened around him possessively. She'd never really had much in her life. That was until she'd thrown a drink in his face that day and decided punching him was for the better. His persistence outmatched her ire. He was hers now.