(A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews. I'm so happy to hear from everyone! It's really encouraging! Hope you guys like this one)

Chapter 43

Carol dropped the bucket of water she'd been carrying. It tumbled from her hands as though she had forgotten how to grasp objects. The bucket bounced as it hit the ground and spilled out over the dirt, but Carol didn't seem to notice that her hands were empty. They were still frozen in the same position, just like the rest of her body, just like his was. And just like him she could do nothing but watch as the girl ran through the open field, desperately trying to reach her mother.

This was the moment he had been chasing, for more then a year now he had thought of nothing else, but his mind couldn't seem to comprehend what it was seeing.

It wasn't until their bodies collided that Carol was finally able to move.

Watching Carol wrap her arms around Sophia sent a shock through his body and without thinking he dropped everything that he was carrying. Their bags and his crossbow all hit the ground and it wasn't until he heard them crash into the dirt that he realised he'd shed the weight he'd grown so accustomed to carrying.

He felt like he couldn't breathe, as though seeing Carol's arms wrapped around Sophia had knocked the wind out of him.

For a brief second Carol pulled Sophia back to search her face, to run her hands over her daughters dirt covered cheeks. Assuring herself that this was real, before pulling Sophia back into her arms.

It was then that his feet bound forward without him even being able to consider the steps he was taking. It felt like a magnet was in his chest and it was dragging him to her. The feeling was so strong that he found his hand gripping his chest as he made his way to her.

He didn't run to her. Not like he always thought he would, not like he'd always imagined he would.

He stumbled forward and choked on the hot air around him.

And he didn't smile from ear to ear, like he had in his dreams. Instead, his eyes filled with tears and he felt as though he could brake into pieces.

And when he finally reached her, when he got close enough to make out the details of her, he could see that she mirrored his reaction.

As if she could sense his closeness, she unfolded herself from around Sophia, who was clinging to carol's waist, and raised her head to meet his eyes.

He could see the tears streaming down her cheeks and her mouth agape as she took him in. And he knew, that like him, she couldn't believe this was happening.

He choked out a broken sound that scratched his throat and in that moment she used her free hand to reach for him.

He felt her cool palm land on the back of his neck before she roughly pulled his body into the safety of hers.

He melted into her then. He closed his eyes and dropped his head to bury his face into her shoulder. That was when the cracks that had been forming over the last year gave in and he let himself brake right there in her arms. He felt his body shake in harmony with hers.

He felt Sophia untie one arm from around Carol, to curl around him and he was certain that she was trying to merge the three of them into one being so that they could never be separated again.

Finally he forced himself to lift his face from the crook of her neck, only to be met with her warm eyes gazing into his and her palm sliding from his neck to his cheek.

"You found me" she breathed out so quietly that he was sure that even Sophia who had wrapped herself around carols waist, didn't hear a word.

When he kissed her it was slow and shaky and he struggled to stop the rapid breaths from being pushed from his lungs.

Even when it felt like the kiss should have ended, he left his lips pressed to hers for as long as he could, because it wasn't the act of the kiss that he was after, it was the feeling it offered, that soft familiar feeling that sent a shiver through his whole body.

When it was over he fell back into her, he wanted her protection he wanted the comfort that she'd always given him.

Right then she felt so much stronger then him.

She felt like home.

He didn't know how long the three of them had stood there twisted up into each other, he just knew when it was coming to an end.

It was to much for him.

He'd gone from being one on one with Sophia, to being caught in a crowd and it was making him more uncomfortable then he would ever admit.

At first it was OK. Glenn and Rick had appeared to shake his hand and pat his back. Carl had come running and Sophia had welcomed him with open arms.

But then their were strangers surrounding him, talking amongst themselves and asking Rick questions, as though he and Sophia weren't standing right there.

And as he stood there feeling trapped he found himself wondering where the others were. He couldn't see Dale, T-dog, Lori, Shane or Andrea. But he didn't ask. He didn't say a single word.

"Where have they been this whole time?"

"Did they come from another group?"

"are they ok?"

"Are you sure they aren't bitten?"

"Are they armed?"

The questions came in like a flood of noise and he felt Sophia clinging to his side tighter and tighter as more people curiously and anxiously tried to examine them, as though they were animals that had been rounded up.

When he took a chance to look around him he could see Michonne watching him closely. he'd never been able to send his thoughts to someone else, but for some reason the woman, who he'd been planning on killing not to long ago, could hear the thoughts in his head.

The woman dropped her eyes from his and stepped over to Rick who was still staring at him with his mouth hanging open, ignoring the crowd that was circling them.

Michonne placed a hand on Ricks shoulder and used her hold on him to draw him closer, so that she could whisper in his ear.

Rick quickly came out of his daze and raised his hands.

"let's give them some space." He didn't hear what else Rick had to say.

He only noticed Michonne passing him the bags he had dropped down by the gates, offering no words as she handed them over and seemingly expecting no thanks for her efforts.

Carol pulled them both along, back to her room. She didn't say much more, except to promise them that privacy was waiting for them in the quiet cell-block and she would make sure they weren't disturbed while they settled in.

She basically shooed people away as they made they're way in to the block, explaining to some that Rick could fill them in, but others she almost ignored.

"I'll get you both something to eat and then we can get you both cleaned up... Or you can rest first." She continued rambling as she led them down the hall and he suddenly felt his stomach twist. She was nervous and he didn't know why. And because he didn't know why, he found himself feeling nervous right along with her.

"This is mine" she said pulling the sheet back.

As he stepped into the cell behind Carol he quickly realized they were not alone in the small room.

Searching through a bag, with her free hand, was a young girl.

"Hey. You're back? Everything..." the blonde girl said, before stopping mid-sentence at the sight of him and Sophia.

The girl stopped what she was doing and adjusted the wrapped bundle in her arms. She held the baby close as she looked him over and he couldn't really blame her initial reaction. He knew how he looked right now.

"Everything alright Mrs Dixon?"

He choked back a sound at the question asked and looked at Carol,...at Mrs Dixon?

"Everything is great." Carol said quickly. "This is my daughter Sophia" Carol said looking down a her daughter who was still hanging onto her mother's waist.

"And this?" she started, looking over her shoulder towards him, reaching for his hand once more. As her fingers intertwined into his, he stepped forward to stand beside her.

"This is Daryl" she finished, with her eyes locked on his for a long and calming moment before she turned back to the blonde girl.

The girls eyes were wide and her mouth hung open. "You mean they're?...oh wow. That's...that's amazing"

Suddenly she looked down at the baby in her arms and shook her head.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" she asked as she approached Carol, clearly preparing to hand the baby over.

Once again he felt like there was too much going on. He didn't know who this girl was, why Carol was going to take care of her baby and he certainly didn't remember marrying Carol, so he wasn't sure why she was being called Mrs Dixon. But once again he stayed quiet And so did Sophia.

As she took the baby he and Sophia fell back behind her, while Carol asked Beth to bring some food to the cell block. The girl went, clearly eager to do whatever Carol asked of her.

He knew now that her name was Beth and she welcomed both him and Sophia warmly before she left them all in the cell.

Carol loosened the blanket around the sleeping baby. She kissed his brow before bringing it to him and Sophia.

"This is Hayes" she offered quietly. Suddenly her nerves were back and he could have sworn he could physically feel the anxiety coming from her in waves. Her eyes grew glassy and her skin seemed to pale. He wanted to ask her what was wrong but the next words to leave her mouth assured that he would remain speechless.

"Your son" she finished as she looked up at him clearly afraid of his reaction.

For the first time he looked down at the baby in her arms. He really looked at him.

"My son? You mean like-" he said, stuttering out his words.

He could feel his heart hammering in his chest and he was sure his breathing was so heavy that both Carol and Sophia would have been able to hear it.

It took a single second. There was no fear or hesitation, he just loved him. His heart swelled and made the extra room for his boy.

Carol must have sensed his approval because suddenly she was placing the baby into his arms.

"I'm filthy" he pointed out as his whole body tensed.

Carol shushed him and continued to fold his arms around the bundle, helping him hold the baby,...his son, comfortably.

"You were pregnant?" he said without thinking. Even though the answer to his question was nestled in his arms. But Carol didn't laugh or roll her eyes at the obvious question. She knew what was going through his head. He was remembering those days before they were separated and he was realising that she had gone through an entire pregnancy alone.

Her face fell for a moment before she forced a weak smile. "I found out right after-"

He nodded.

He had a hundred questions, but he also knew he needed to give himself a moment to let it all sink in.

His mind spun with thoughts and feelings, until suddenly there was only one. Until there was only one memory in his head.

He turned from Carol then and crouched down to look at the girl who hadn't said a single word in a very long time.

Sophia's eyes were cast down and she seemed to be shrinking away from everything that was happening around her. Just like him, he knew this was to much to for her take in, bit also she was wondering if all the horrible things Ed had told her, all that time ago, were actually true. She was afraid that she didn't fit into this moment.

"Hey?" he said quietly drawing her attention to him. She looked at him with wide eyes, examining him to see if she could read the thoughts in his head.

"You wanna hold him?" He asked glancing down at the baby in his arms.

Sophia looked at the baby for a moment before biting her lip and shaking her head. "I don't wanna hurt him"

"You won't hurt him sweetheart" Carol promised, encouraging Sophia with a soft smile.

"You should hold him" he pointed out before placing the little bundle into her arms just as Carol had done to him minutes ago.

She wrapped her arms around Hayes, clearly nervous and uncomfortable.

"How's it feel?" he asked as she started to relax.

"What?" Sophia questioned, with confusion etched in her expression.

"Bein' a big sister" he added, watching as a smile grew on Sophia's dirt stained face.

He couldn't deny that he felt odd being alone. It wasn't the relief that he thought he would feel

He'd expected to return the kid to her mother and feel-….Accomplished? Free? Content? But he didn't feel anything like that,…. mostly he just felt uncomfortable.

By the time they had eaten and showered it was late and it still felt like his head was spinning. He still hadn't had any time to really talk to her. She had explained how things worked at the prison and he and Sophia had fallen quiet again. But thankfully she hadn't pushed them to talk.

He'd stood by while Carol put the baby in his crib and settled him in for the night. He'd hung around just long enough for Sophia to climb into her new bed. Then he'd told her to sleep good, before he left them be. They needed some space from everyone and he didn't want to interrupt that, so he had gone into, what carol had told him was their cell. He didn't question the joint ownership that she had assigned to the room, he just nodded and left them to talk before Sophia fell asleep.

He guessed it was more then an hour that had passed before Carol came back into the cell. He turned back to face her as she made her way in, smiling at her as he took in the sight he had been starving for.

"She out?" he asked as he stood up from the bed.

She chewed her lower lip, just like he remembered she used to do. "Yeah. She's fast asleep."

"Hayes? He need you soon or-?" he asked taking a few more steps in her direction.

"Later. He mostly sleeps through the night though. He'll wake up for a bit, but it wont be for at least a few hours"

He locked his eyes on her face as he stepped towards her, noticing the way her breathing had picked up. He could see the rough rising of her chest as she sucked in each breath.

She shook her head then, as though she was trying to shake off the feeling growing between them "Daryl we should talk"

"We will" he said with a firm nod as he got so close that he was looming over her.

"But not now" he finished.

He didn't expect her body to collide into his with such force, but he more then welcomed it.

He didn't realize he'd backed her into a wall until his hands on her lower back hit the smooth cold concrete. Her hands on his neck were encouraging him, holding on to him like she thought he would disappear at any second.

The mere thought of their separation forced his body to press into hers, until a satisfied sound was emerging from deep in the back of her throat, passing from her mouth into his. The sound was soft but full of a longing that caused him to loose control, it reminded him of the noises she had made when they were last together. Reminded him of the way she had smelled, tasted and moved.

He was so close to her, but it wasn't enough and the way her nails were digging into his neck assured him that the feeling was mutual. He needed to fix this, needed to get closer to her.

He swiftly pulled her back a step with him. As his hands braced her waist, he hitched her up and pressed her into the wall. He quickly began dragging his hands from her waist, moving them over her ass until they were holding her thighs, keeping her in place while he applied the friction he knew they both needed. When he felt her hips roll into him in synchronicity with his, he ripped his mouth from hers.

There was a second where their eyes lined up, when their hard breaths hit each others lips and those hot breaths suffocated the air around them. Something in his head demanded that he look at her and assure himself that this wasn't a dream. A pained sound broke through his gasping and he was sure the shock of being here with her was far to much for his brain to cope with.

He felt his eyes flood with tears, before he dove into her shoulder and roughly planted his mouth over her neck, switching between dragging his tongue, teeth and lips over her skin.

Her legs wrapped tightly around him and her hands gripped his hair tightly, pulling him further into her until he could barely move.

But it still wasn't enough.

He growled into her throat and backed away from the wall. Their firm grips on each other didn't weaken for a single second as he lowered her onto the bed and he closed his body over hers. His mouth moved from her neck down to her collarbone, when all he could think about was her skin against his, their hands on each other without the barrier of fabric between them.

He quickly straddled her waist kneeling over her and sliding his hands around her back to pull her up.

Before he could sit her forward he felt her hands desperately grabbing at his shirt and he quickly pulled away from her to rip it over his head. Before his shirt hit the floor her mouth was on his chest and her hands were moving over his skin making his breathing hitch.

He wanted to stop and savor the feeling of her hands on his skin again but his body reacted on its own, he reached for the hem of her shirt, forcing her to pull back so he could finally remove it and get his hands on her and feel her body pressed into his.

The sound that rose from his throat was almost savage, just like the way he lowered himself back on to her. Like he was an animal pouncing on the prey that he had been stalking for a year, a year where he had thought of nothing else but her, craved nothing else but this moment that he was in the middle of right now. Though when ever he had imagined being with her again, it never went like this.

His mouth found hers hungrily and she arched her back forward as his hand snaked under her. If he had of been thinking clearly he would have unclasped her bra while she was still sitting up, but the urges he was acting on were not planned or devised strategically.

He hovered over her when the clasp released. Her arms moved between them so he could remove the thin lacy material from her. He smiled into her mouth as his hands moved over the soft flesh and his mouth left hers to leave a trail of kisses down her throat and onto her chest.

It seemed criminal to extinguish this heat that was burning between them, he knew he needed to slow down and he knew he should be doing all he could to make sure he dragged this out for as long as humanly possible, but he couldn't seem to pull his mouth from her skin. Not when each time his teeth grazed over the peaks of her breasts he heard her breathing grow heavier.

He wanted to bury himself in her and feel every part of her body beneath him, he needed her right now, in a way he had never needed anything before.

But even when he joined himself to her, it still didn't feel like enough. But with his body pressed to hers, he had to accept that this was as close as he could get.

It felt like nothing more then a few minutes had passed when he felt her tighten around him, when he came seconds after she did. But even though they were done he wasn't ready to loose the connection, he wasn't ready to move from where he was above her.

He shifted slightly to adjust himself, to hold himself up on his elbows so that he wasn't crushing her. As his hands slid along the mattress under the pillow, he felt something, something that didn't match up with the soft sheets.

He tugged at the fabric and removed it from where it had been, hidden away, and then he froze, staring at his old jacket in his hands.

The sight of it and knowing why she had kept it there, hit him like a ton of bricks and he couldn't stop the words from falling out of his mouth. They came with ease, just like they always should have.

"I love you" he said firmly, placing his hands on her cheeks. He tried to stop himself from crying as he spoke, but he knew there was no point in trying to hold it back. Not from her. She deserved all of him.

"I should have said it. I don't know why I couldn't… it felt like I couldn't. But it weren't you, I need you to know that it weren't you. Cause I do… and I did,… for the longest time."

She smiled sweetly and reached up to brush the tears from his cheeks and comb back the hair the had fallen down over his eyes.

"I know that. I've always known that."