Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.

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Daryl and Carol spent that rainy day together, having white cranberry juice and talking. Lighting candles when the power went out, and Daryl hoped Spike was okay with being home alone in the storm, but he knew he likely fine. Or if he wasn't, he'd hole up in Daryl's closet and wait it out. He'd have to reward him when he got home that night, but he had another person keeping his attention right now. And he didn't want to die in this storm, because the wind was whipping so hard, and there was even some hail.

Honestly, it was amazing to spend the time together. They talked about real things this time, and Carol tried to explain the change from hearing to deaf, and it broke his heart that someone had done this to her. She got a little emotional in the middle of the conversation, and he assured her she didn't have to say anything she wasn't ready for. She continued on and assured him she was good to talk. He was proud of her, to be honest, to watch her struggle through that past and become this person. He was bit envious, and he decided to make a change in himself. He didn't know where to start, but he'd figure it out. For himself.

When the storm died down that night, Daryl decided to leave and check on Spike. She offered to walk him out, but he said he'd manage. He borrowed her umbrella and said he'd see her tomorrow. They parted at the doorway, and Carol exhaled deeply with him gone and knew it was time for that talk. She was in over her head, and she needed Michonne.

So, first thing in the morning when the store was open, Carol flipped the sign to closed and locked the door, and Michonne demanded to know what the hell she was doing. She answered by grabbing her hand and hauling her to the back. She threw her coat and purse into the seat beside her and motioning for Michonne to sit too.

"What is going on?" Michonne felt dizzy just watching Carol. "Are you all right?"

No, I am not okay. I have so many things I have to tell you, but I need to not ask me questions until I'm done. It's a long story, and my hands keep shaking. She held up her shaky hands to show for proof, and Michonne nodded. Okay?

"All right, just...lay it on me."

Here we go. Last month I asked Shawn for sperm, so I could make a baby, because my relationships are dead end, and I want kids. I really do, and I trusted him more than anybody else, so I asked him. And he gave me an answer at the cookout on the fourth; he agreed to do it. She watched the face journey Michonne was taking, and she continued. But there's a problem now. Well, two problems. The first is that I don't think I am ready for a baby, or if I am, I don't want it to be Shawn's. I... I don't know whose baby I want, but it isn't his.

And the second? Michonne signed, not breaking the no questions rule, because she didn't speak.

I think I have feelings for Daryl.

"What?!" Michonne erupted. "No, no continue. I'll wait."

I don't know when they started, but a couple nights ago we went out drinking, and we talked about the baby situation. He told me to wait, but he had so much faith in my ability to have a child. He wanted me to wait for my best interest, and we got so drunk trying to keep my mind off this huge choice I have to make. He stayed over at my place that night, but we didn't have sex. She could see the questions building in Michonne's eyes. The next morning, we were hungover, so we just signed until we felt better. I made lunch, and he asked me to wait again, but he didn't mean for me. He meant for us. And I told him I would, because I want to know where this could go, but I'm scared. He hasn't mentioned wanting to leave town since, and yeah, it's only been a couple hours, but still. It could become longer, right? And he meant it, Mich. He really meant it. I already knew he liked me, but I didn't know it was this much or that I felt it back.

Michonne watched as Carol panted soundlessly and awaited her response, and she heaved a sigh. "You wanted a baby with Shawn? And you never told me? You never told me, but you told Daryl?"

He was there after Shawn agreed.

"You still had all that time to tell me, but you didn't. And you were having doubts about it, and you still didn't talk to me. Why?"

Because you do everything perfectly. You made the right choices and are sure of them. I don't. And I needed something for myself.

"What's Daryl doing in it then?"

Because he was there.

"And I wasn't? I'm not?" She was on her feet, arms folded over her chest, trying to keep her composure. "And that's bullshit. I am not perfect. I make the wrong choices all the fucking time. You were there for most of them! How can you say that to me?"

Michonne, are you serious? You built a business out of nothing. You raise your son. You—you do all the right things, and you learn from the mistakes. I can barely figure out what the hell I did wrong to end my last two relationships.

"So, you and all your wrong decision are going to have a baby?"

I'm not pregnant. I haven't even spoken to Shawn since he agreed. And you're missing the point. Daryl and I are the point.

"Oh, don't get me started on that." She scoffed. "He is leaving this town. He has made that known every day for two years, and all he wants from you is to get laid. He isn't the kind of man who stays, Carol. You have to know that. You're smart, but you pick the wrong guy over and over and over and come here and expect me to make you feel better. You don't learn. You're right on that. You need to grow up. You are not ready for a child."

Her eyes burned. He doesn't want to just sleep with me. He isn't like Rick.

"Rick did want something with you, but he wasn't in the right place to start. His heart was behind his head, and he rushed into it with you. It was a mistake." She realized how harsh she was being. "I—I'm sorry. It's just the truth, Carol. You and Daryl might seem like a good choice now, but he'll leave at the end of the summer. He told Hershel that. Shawn, too."

He isn't like that. You don't know him, but you and Rick seem pretty damn chummy. Are you the right choice for him now?

"Don't even go there. I am not involved with Rick. We are friends."

But you're defending him more than you've ever defended me. If you're fucking him and didn't tell me but come after me because of Daryl and Shawn and a baby I'm not sure I want for not telling you about them, you're a fucking asshole.

"Yeah, I am, because I've seen what men do to you. You lose all sense around them." Her eyes were filling with tears. "I love you so much, Carol, but you need to leave this be. You and Daryl won't work. You and Rick didn't work out. It's not... It's just a cycle. You aren't breaking it. You're actually making it worse by trying to date a man who is dead set on leaving. You can't change everyone, Carol. You have to know that by now."

I am not trying to change anybody but myself and the direction my life is going in. I'm not happy, Michonne, and I know a baby isn't going to fix that, but that doesn't make my desire to have one lessen. She stood up. And so what if Daryl and I just screw around? I've never done that before, so why not give it a shot? What do I have to lose?

"You don't want that."

What I don't want is my best friend defending my ex and not denying she's had sex with him. All I wanted was your advice on how to move forward with Daryl and with this baby. I just wanted... Fuck, I didn't want to fight with you, but a lot is clear now.

"Do you even like Daryl? Honestly? Or are you just playing off what he feels for you? Because you've done that before, and it was hell on both of us. You're highly emphatic, and I love that about you, but you need to step back and think about it."

I'm not a little girl anymore, Michonne. I'm not waking into a relationship with a man is going to brutalize me. I trust Daryl, okay? It feels right to trust him, and I don't know what that means, but I want to find out. I want to be with him, and I wanted your support. That's all.

"I'm sorry, but you won't get it. You do know Daryl best, but I don't trust a guy who constantly is trying to run. It's running from something, you know that much, right? He isn't good for you."

You don't know him, and clearly, I came to the wrong person. I'll make this decision on my own, and I'm taking a couple days off. I have to talk to Shawn, and I have a doctor's appointment.

"No, you don't."

I will. She collected her things. You're supposed to the one person I trust with everything, but all you did was judge a man you only know by rumors and not trust me with my own feelings.

"You wanted the truth, so I gave it. Maybe Daryl will prove me wrong. I hope he does, but in the end, he'll leave here, because everybody does. That's just the way of it." She tried to console Carol, but she moved back. "I'm sorry. I don't want you to get hurt. It's like nothing I do ever prevents that, so I wanted to try a different approach."

The approach where it's you who hurts me? A tear rolled down her cheek. Good job. It worked.

"I have to the bad guy sometimes, because the last time I didn't, you lost your hearing. I can't handle you losing something else to some other jackass, okay?" She wiped at her eyes. "You are my family, same as my baby boy, and I can't let anybody hurt you. Not Daryl, not Rick, and I wish it hadn't been me, but if it was then I can make it better. It was just hurt feelings, but Ed? I can't make that better, Carol. I live with that every day, and I can't trust that you won't meet another man like him."

You don't get to do that. You don't get to make your words about Ed. You don't. She was crying even more now, and she wanted to sink into the earth. This wasn't at all the conversation she had planned. How can you bring him up? How? After I've asked to never mention him again? Hasn't he taken enough of my life?

"Because you worry the shit out of me." Her voice broke, and she dropped her arms. "Bad luck is attracted to you in so many ways, but only lately has it gotten better. I worry that's over, and I'm going to get a call from your mom telling me to meet her at the hospital all over again. I worry that the next time will be the last time, and I can't lose you."

Carol shivered, still remembering that night years ago when she thought it that night would be the night, and everything would be perfect. She just wanted to be with him in every possible way, but she chickened out. He wouldn't take no for an answer, and she fought back. He pinned her down and screamed at her could she not hear him? He said yes, he wanted it, and so would she. He tried to rape her, and when he couldn't because she fought, he beat her, deafened her and knocked her unconscious. She didn't know if he raped or her not after he knocked her out. Her mother never confirmed that, but she lived like he had for seven years. Michonne and her parents helped her through it, therapy and group sessions. And when she was ready to date again, she found the perfect man who was patient and kind, and they were together for three years, but they grew into different people.

"What happened that night changed all of us, Carol, and you can't act like you were the only one affected. It haunts me, seeing you lying there in that hospital bed, thinking you were dead, because you were completely black and blue and pale. I don't know what kind of man Daryl is, but I have to be wary of the stranger who's been in this town for two years and has made no friends but you." She snuffled. "It's a cause for concern, but I will try for your sake. I will, but please, if he acts suspicious at all, come and find me. We'll handle it. We can get Tara and Rick, and we'll handle it."

He won't be like that, but if it'll make you happy, all right. I will.

She smiled softly and closed the space between them. "You're great with Andre, but you're not ready for a child. Just give it some time. If you have these many doubts, you definitely need more time. But when you are ready, you'll be an amazing mother. Without a doubt."

I'll let you know when I am ready.

"I'd love that." She hugged her tightly. Daryl better be a good man, or she was going to kill him. She couldn't see Carol get hurt again. Emotionally or physically. She didn't want to end up at the hospital again or have to find Carol crying her eyes out, because some prick used her for weeks and then destroyed everything she thought about herself in one terrible breakup. They'd both grown since then, but it always felt right around the corner. Maybe it wasn't this time. And if it was, there wouldn't be a Daryl Dixon in this town anymore. He wanted out so damn bad, she'd let him go.

Carol left to get something to drink from the general store/gas station, finding Dale at the register. She smiled at him, and he waved her over.

Good morning! What's going on? She tucked hair behind her ear. Is everything all right?

"Yeah, it's okay. We just have a bit of a family emergency, and we're trying to talk Daryl into pulling an all nighter to watch over the store for us."

An all nighter? This isn't a twenty-four hour store, though. Why would he need to do this?

"Because we're having a trial run of being a twenty-four-hour store, and Daryl is the only other employee we have. We've tried to push it back due to emergency, but the window of opportunity might just pass us by. It'll be a slow night tonight, but I want Daryl to adjust to the possibility of having to pull an all-nighter or just working later into the evening until we can get someone else to cover the shift." He heaved a great sigh and shook his head. "But Daryl isn't going for it at all. I told him he could close up to check on Spike at midnight, and it's only a few more hours afterwards."

She nodded. It is a lot to ask out of the blue, so I'm inclined to agree with Daryl here.

"Yeah, me too, but I'm not going to let him know that." He smirked playfully. "But enough about me and my problems; what can I do for you?"

I was just coming to talk to Daryl.

"Talk him into staying late?"

Afraid not. Just a talk about our relationship, which is much worse and more likely to lead to blushing and awkward tension. She smiled at him and pointed to the back. Can I find him back there?

If him is me then look no further. Daryl joined the conversation and sent a smirk of his own to Carol then leaned against the counter, giving Dale a nod to more dismiss him than acknowledge him as he was still smarted after their conversation from this morning. He wasn't amused with being used to tend to a store long after his shift had ended. It was one thing to ask, but to assume he would agree without actually consulting with him dug under his skin like nails. He couldn't stand people making assumptions about him, even Dale and Nadia.

Carol smiled widely at him. "Hi."

Daryl blinked and shot a look to Dale, who looked back at Daryl with wide eyes, and Daryl pushed off the counter to close the space between them and grasped her arms. "Y—you just spoke? I thought you were mute, too."

Carol's blue eye rounded at the excitement in his eyes as well as the confusion, and she chuckled softly, feeling out of sorts as she hadn't spoken in many years. She had practiced the word over and over in the mirror and hoped it sounded okay. She couldn't ask anybody how it sounded, because she wanted it to be a surprise for him. It was certainly worth it! Gosh, his reaction and how he held her so tight yet so gently.

"Say it again," he whispered, searching her eyes. "Say anything."

"Any…thing," she lowly repeated, unsure of her voice, eyes lowering.

"Wow." He chuckled. Her voice was unsure and soft, but it sounded like sweet honey, sticking to the roof of her mouth but so worth it to savor. Amazing. "You can talk." He released her when he realized just how closely he held her. "Why didn't you speak sooner? And I thought you were mute."

She wasn't sure of her voice enough to answer, so she signed. It's easier for people to assume I am both deaf and mute, so I simply agree. When I told you I couldn't speak, it was just to get my deafness across. It works faster that way.

"Your voice sounds so…weird," he decided, seeing her blush in horror, mouth agape. "Not bad weird, just…I can't believe I'm hearing it weird. I…kinda had a voice for you in my head, and it don't match up at all. I'm kinda glad. Yours is cuter—better! I meant, it's better than the one I made up." He blushed in horror now, and he turned to Dale to have him break up the tension, but the old man had slipped into the back while they were caught up. It was all on him now. Great.

"So," Carol touched his arm out of habit to get his attention, "are…you going to…stay?"

"Stay in town?" He shrugged a shoulder. "I don't know. I mean… I just dunno."

No, silly, I mean stay late tonight to help them out. She signed and searched his eyes. You should. I could come and keep you company.

He thought about it for a moment then sighed. "I don't like leaving Spike alone for that long."

Then I'll stop by and check to him. I can even bring him back with me. We can all hang out until the sun comes out. It'll be fun.

"Wait, you'll be here with me? Hanging around until the sun comes up?" He was more invested in staying late than he'd ever been. "Why?"

Because I need to talk to you, and this would give me the whole night. She searched his eyes. Besides I like talking to you.

"Me too," he admitted softly, a murmur of a confession. "I mean, what's the harm in staying a little late? And don't worry about Spike. I can ask Tara to look in on him. He loves her kids, and the kids love him, so that'll sort itself out."

"Good."

Daryl decided right then and there he loved the sound of her voice. It was unsure and honey sweet and perfect. It was a voice he wouldn't mind hearing for the rest of his life, helping her sound out words she wasn't comfortable saying, helping her adjust to speaking and signing and trusting him enough to know he would never embarrass her. God, what a life that would be.

"So, can I count you in, or do I have to lock up shop?" Dale returned when the conversation seemed to end, knowing that Carol could sway him before anybody else and hoping she had. Even if she agreed with Daryl. "Well?"

"I'll stay," Daryl replied, turning to the man and nodding. "It's fine."

"Oh, good. Thank you." Dale grinned at Carol and sent her a private wink then stood behind the counter to count down the drawer before leaving with Nadia. "I'm glad I could rely on you for this."

"Yeah, sure." Daryl looked down at Carol and nudged her in the ribs lightly. "Carol's gonna stick around with me. She might be the person to help cover this shift."

Hey, I do have a job, you know.

"A part time position," he corrected. "This is full-time. You could afford to build onto your cottage."

She inhaled and exhaled slowly. I couldn't do that to Michonne.

"Right, Michonne." He sent a look to Dale and joined him behind the counter. "I'll lock up at what time?"

"At seven in the morning."

Daryl heaved a groan and nodded. "I'll put on the coffee."

"You're welcome to a few energy drinks and a couple free snacks," Dale offered. "I know we just sprung this on you, so please. Help yourself to the homemade snacks, too."

"Thanks." He leaned against the counter and crossed his arms. "Hey, you gonna check on Spike now or later?"

I'll check on him now, refresh his water and food.

It was then that the duo parted ways. Carol went to check in on Spike and played with him for a little while before refreshing his food and water bowl, popping on the TV so he had some noise to listen to. She locked up using the key Daryl had given her and headed back to the store.

Dale was long gone with Nadia, and Daryl was tossing a ball up and catching it mid-air. She handed over the key, but he told her to keep it. She wasn't entirely sure why he wanted her to keep the key, but she was happy to have easy access to that bundle of fur. And to his owner, should something happen between them tonight or some other night.

"So, why did you decide to start speakin' again?" Daryl peeked at her from behind the counter, stretching his arms over the counter and holding onto the ball on his right hand. "I mean, it's kinda sudden is all."

I don't know. I guess I wanted…to be heard from certain people. She approached the counter and smiled at him. I want to be speaking again, but I'm scared I'll sound ridiculous. I haven't spoken in over fifteen years, maybe longer since I lost my hearing.

"Did you try and speak after you were deafened?" He wasn't sure this was the best place for this conversation, but he was curious and scared of how this happened to her. He was worried of the answers she might provide, and he was scared of what she might not tell him. It was a lose-lose situation, but he wouldn't poke unless he cared. And—perhaps surprisingly—he deeply cared for her. He was worried about the amount, because it wasn't going anywhere but up.

For the first couple of months, but people looked at me so strangely that I stopped trying and resorted strictly to sign language. It made me feel safe and less awkward. She tucked hair behind her ear and elaborated. People treated me like I was broken, because I couldn't hear anymore. Because of the situation, and I hated it. I hated myself, so I stopped speaking as a form of punishment, but…I had a great friend who broke down my walls and learned how to speak to me for my sake.

"So, Michonne saved your life?"

"Yes." She inhaled and placed her hands on the counter. "What do we do first?"

His lips formed a smile, and he pulled out a gun from behind the counter, Carol jumped back, and he pointed it at her, tugging lightly on the trigger. Bubbles blew out at her face, and she giggled, reaching up her hands to grasp them, and he chuckled, straightening up at the counter. She blew at them, sending the rainbow reflections floating higher and higher, and he admired her for a moment, realizing in that moment why he was taking this time. He would have gulped if he hadn't already suspected as much.

They spent a few moments playing with the bubble gun, Carol was highly amused by the sight of the bubbles and their rainbow reflections, and Daryl was completely taken by the sight of her. She was a truly beautiful woman, and he let himself admit this as well as several other facts about her. He would normally find himself attracted to chaos, but Carol was far from chaos. She felt like a haven, and he wanted nothing more than to bury himself in her arms and revel in that safety. After a life of horror, perhaps…his brain finally learned its lesson and jolted his heart with it, so he was ready for a haven instead of a hell clad in leather and cigarettes.

They helped themselves to a few ice cream sandwiches, sitting outside and waiting for customers, but it was a slow day. School would be starting in a few weeks. It would be slow until the old timers came in for their favorite vacation spot. It was going to be a long night, but maybe that was a good thing, if he could spend it with her.

"I love this type of day," Carol said, slowly, unsure, but still pushing using her voice. She wanted to try to speak again. Being deaf and using sign language was still huge in her life, but she wanted to use all of her advantages for a change.

"Slow as all get out?" He ran his tongue along the length of the ice cream sandwich.

She shook her head. "No, just…this type of day."

He nodded, though he didn't fully understand what she meant about the day. He did enjoy spending this time with her. She was this…ball of light in his life, and he wanted to do nothing more than to let her shine on. He hoped that he was the kind of person who could allow it to flourish. He'd hate to the be the type to extinguish it.

They played around for most of the day, only a few people came into the store, mostly to put some good ole lemonade of Nadia's. Everyone else seemed to desire gas or snacks. It was a good night, filled with laughter and making fun of each other and servicing customers. Daryl even showed Carol how to use the register to ring customers up. She seemed to be enjoying herself. She was a good customer service agent, very humble and very kind. There were a few times when passing older gents would come in and playfully flirt with Carol. It was kind of sweet to see her blush like that, but it was all playful, and Daryl tried not to laugh at the warmth her blush brought to his very soul.

They settled outside, watching the sun set behind the clouds and enjoying some of Nadia's homemade snacks. Daryl wanted to make a move, to make a bold move, but he wasn't sure what to do exactly. Mostly his past girlfriends were the ones who made the move, but he didn't want to treat Carol like how he had been treated. He doubted she wanted to be grabbed, kissed and fucked over the bathroom sink. Or kissed and slipped a pill on the tongue. He didn't even have any pills, and he wouldn't do that anyway. He hated when that happened because he'd be fucked up for hours. He liked drugs, but he liked it being his choice. Not like that.

But he was getting off point. He wasn't sure how to approach a woman like her. He would have to be smooth and be sure she knew she had a choice in however he made his move. He had to be a man about it, but a gentle man, not a brute, not someone who was taking it by force. He just wasn't used to that. Force had painted his entire existence. He had to take what he wanted, or he would have nothing. So, how the hell was he doing to do this?!

She had been giving him signals all night. He was sure of that. He just didn't know how to move forward with that information. How could he be the only one of them stressing the fuck out right now? Where did any of his cool go? Jesus, he really had no game at all!

"Hey." Carol was standing in front of him. She had run inside the store to grab something and as before him now to present it with a wide grin on her lips.

"Hey." God, she was gorgeous when she smiled like that. And at it was pointed at him. Fucking hell. "What's up?"

She showed her hands and revealed bang snaps poppers. "Here."

"Shit. I knew we had some of these in the back, but I hadn't thought about 'em since I was a kid." He accepted the pack she offered and tore it open, seeing the small white drops inside. He stood up and set the near empty packet of gummies down, moving back from the bench and shaking a few out onto his palm. "All right. Stand back."

Carol moved to be by his side since she missed what he said, and she watched the handful fly through the air. Little shimmers of white that exploded into seven bright flashes and vanishing into of puff of smoke. The scent of burning filled the air, and Carol chuckled, remembering why she preferred fireworks, but still. It was pretty and fun.

They played with the poppers for about twenty minutes until they were all gone, Carol's laughter infected Daryl, and he was chuckling over surely nothing at all. It was just a great night to be alive and to be with her, and he couldn't just sit there a second longer without kissing her. He could hardly stand the thought of kissing her—of feeling her lips on his, of tasting her breath, of feeling the soft skin of her cheek against his palm—because the mere thought made him tremble and grow weak. But he had to. He hoped she let him. If not…he sorely misread signs and needed to be smacked.

He set a hand on her shoulder to get her attention, those crystal blues turned to him, and he gulped before signing if he could kiss her. She blinked and turned pink, but she nodded—holy fuck, she nodded—and closed her eyes. He inhaled curtly and released it, reaching up and grasping her chin. She was trembling underneath his touch, and he was laughed softly, mustering his courage.

He leaned down, her hands grasped his wrist on the hand that held her chin, and he feared for a moment she was going to push him away, but she didn't. She just wanted to hold him, and he closed his eyes, sealing her lips with his. Softly. Longingly. Earth-shakingly. For however longer those perfect lips met his again and again, the world didn't seem to exist.

Her fingers slipped into his hair, pulling him down to her and kissing him harder, with just a touch of tongue as she moaned, allowing him the access. Her heart was pounding in her chest as desire coursed through her, and she wanted him to be hold her, and she didn't realize he already was. As tightly as his arms would allow, he was holding her, and everything else seemed to fade away from her as his hands caressed her hips and brought her even closer to his body.

It was the perfect first kiss—kisses—and when they broke apart, a giggle of pure happiness passed through them both, and Daryl didn't let go of her. He had an inkling he might never let go of her again.