Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Carol was surprised when she received a text from Daryl, her heart fluttering at the sight of his name, having felt her cell phone vibrate in her pocket. She'd been outside, reading in a dress with pockets, and she was delighted.

She read over the text to learn he was cooking dinner for them tonight, that he had news for her, and she was stoked. She finished the chapter she was on and headed inside to pick out an outfit. She had a small selection of clothes, and it was going to be a casual meal. She'd probably wear some jeans and a nice top with some tennis shoes. She might do her hair up in a cute style, or something.

God. She hadn't been out on a date or had dinner made for her in so long by a man that she had no idea what to do or wear or act. And this would be the first time they saw each other since the kiss, so there would be a conversation about what it meant. It was going to be a lot, and she hoped it was an easy meal, because she couldn't swallow it if this went poorly.

Daryl wasn't the kind of man to stick around, people said. He had no connections, no roots here. He was the type to drink and drop, and it was sad but true to who he was at his core.

Puh-ha! It was all wrong and bullshit, and people didn't know him as she did. She accepted his flaws and bad days, because he still had growing to do. With people and with himself. She would stand by him through this growth, and if it seemed to be headed in a reverse direction or become harmful to her or himself, she would leave. She wasn't a fixer. It wasn't her job to make him whole again. She would help him along, but not...like before. Not when she gave so much of herself to a man that there was hardly anything left for herself.

She drank a glass of wine and looked over the outfit she has settled on. Jeans that were a tad tight on her but in a healthy way, a loose blouse with intentionally missing top three buttons and a lace black bra that could be seen through the shirt. She wasn't going for sex, simply wanted him to know that she had a body under all the clothes she normally wore. A body she wouldn't mind to one day share with him.

She smiled softly to herself and removed her sandals, polishing off the wine and undressing to shower. It was a quick one, mostly to wash off the afternoon sun and make her hair easier to work with.

Once she had made herself up, she headed out to his place, and she was instantly filled with nervous bubbles and giggles in her chest. They were fight each other for dominance. It churned her stomach, and the excitement about what might occur with her best intentions died out.

Daryl was a good guy, but there was a massive but. He was a little immature and still learning how to interact and be in a healthy relationship, and he might want to explore that elsewhere. Or he might want one of his previous types back, and he wanted to tell Carol that kiss didn't mean as much as it had to her. Or that it didn't feel as he had hoped.

Carol gulped at the thought and slowed her speed. She hadn't considered the negative part of this. That he didn't want her. That this was a polite easing out of any real relationship. He might think food and associate it comfort, and he might think a text was easier than person. She wasn't sure, but she felt sick now.

She shook her head, side to side, and she gripped the wheel. But he had contacted her first. He didn't let time or avoidance set in. He reached out first. It didn't always have to the negative latter, she told herself. It wasn't always like...her past. Sometimes it was her future.

When she arrived, her stomach was in knots, and she wanted to treat. She nearly did until Spike came trotting out the cracked door and spotted her. Instantly he began to jump about and darted over to her car, and she opened the door and let him lean up onto her lap.

"Hey, baby." She scratched his chin and kissed his snout. "Hello."

"Hey." This came from the doorway, and while Carol didn't hear it, she felt him nearing. He entered her line of sight as she lifted her head, and he smiled at her. It was a warm smile, and it made her heart flutter.

Hey. She gently pushed Spike down and slipped out of the car. How are you?

"I'm good." He searched her face, trying to get a read on her, but there was a mask there. She was guarded, and with reason, he knew, but he wished it wasn't so. "And you?"

"Okay." She smiled at him, and it was pure sugarcane, hitting him right in the jaw with such sweetness, it nearly ached.

"Let's go inside." He rubbed Spike's back down, and the pampered pooch walked between them back into the house. Daryl closed the door but left it unlocked, and Carol could smell cooking faintly. At the sight of her sniffing, he touched her arm and signed, I decided to cook out for us. It's gonna be great.

To be frank, he wasn't sure if it was going to be great or not. He had only made it once before, and he was stoned off his ass, so it tasted great to him. He looked up a recipe online for it, and it was simple and had a lot of great reviews. He just wasn't much of a cooker, but he was one hell of a griller. He hoped that was enough to make this dinner great.

Carol smiled once more and headed out the backdoor to find a table set up with one glass for wine, an open can of beer, and a red tablecloth with real plates and silverware and the works. It was the most romantic thing a man had ever done for her. Though she had a low bar, and Zeke tried his best, but there were so many obstacles.

But that wasn't the point. The point was Daryl was there with her, showing her show much he cared for her through actions instead of words, and it was downright sexy. She couldn't even lie. It was perfect. Homemade and perfect.

"It ain't a five-star restaurant," Daryl said, "but it's the best I can offer right now."

Carol smiled at him. It's perfect. I love it.

"I'm glad. I was real worried 'cause I ain't used to this." He cleared his throat. "Um, you thirsty?"

Very.

He welcomed her to the table and cracked open a bottle of white wine, and they enjoyed their drinks. Carol wanted to jump straight into the conversation while Daryl wanted to skirt around it. He'd made the first move, so it was time for Carol to do the same, to take the next step.

Daryl. She set a hand over his briefly to get his attention. We need to talk about the other night. It can't be avoided.

Daryl paused for a moment, tapping a finger against the can of beer he'd been working on for the past thirty minutes and trying to get used to the taste of semi-cold beer. He wanted to take a moment and just think of what to say. He knew this was the entire point of this dinner. He simply signed, I'm not trying to avoid anything.

That's good, because I couldn't stand that. She swallowed and crossed her legs under the table where they now sat. What did that kiss mean?

He gulped and avoided eye contact. He wasn't the best at conversation, certainly not one involving a relationship that could lead to romance and shit. He just wasn't that guy. Also he had never had a conversation about a relationship before, and he had no idea where to go from here.

Daryl?

Sorry. He rubbed his jaw and lifted his eyes to hers. They were the calmest oceans he had ever seen, and he felt instantly relieved and soothed. But most importantly, he felt safe. "I want you," he blurted out then his eyes rounded in horror, and a flush from hell rose up on his cheeks. "I—I just mean..."

Carol reached out and grasped his hands. "I...want you too."

His eyes never left hers. "I don't know how to do this."

"We can learn together."

"Carol."

She giggled softly. "I like when you say my name."

"Yea?"

She nodded.

His eyes lit up as his lips parted into a massive smile. "You are...so much more than I thought, and I am glad for that."

"There's always more to learn about people," she replied. "We're all full of surprises."

He smirked now. "Then...surprise me."

"Maybe later." She pointed to the grill. "Smells good."

"It'll be done in a couple minutes."

"Good." The knots eased at the conversation's flow, and she traced the lines on his hand with her finger. "You're a good man, Daryl. I'm lucky to have you."

"As a partner or friend?"

"Both." She searched his face. "I hope."

"You hope?" He straightened in his seat and cleared his throat. "Nah, it's real. What happened was real."

A natural smile bloomed across her lips, and Daryl was thoroughly taken by it.

"I want us...to work," he slowly added. "I... really care for you, more than I have about anybody in a long while, and I want more with you than friendship."

"Me too."

"But I ain't the type to tolerate strayin'," he quickly commented.

"You want... to be exclusive?"

"You got a problem with that?"

"No! No, not at all. I'm glad you offered it first." There were a lot of firsts from him today, and Carol loved it.

There was a moment of comfortable silence, Daryl brought her hand in his up and placed a small and tentative kiss there, and she smiled at him. He released her hand and rose to check on their meal, and Carol drank from her glass.

It was a lovely and delicious meal, although slightly over seasoned, but still eatable and good. There was light conversation about little things, and it was just nice. Maybe it was too simple after their conversation, but it felt like a step forward. A massive step forward. Carol and Daryl both needed it.

They washed up the dishes and had another drink, settling on the couch with a sulky puppy who didn't get any food from either party. There were no words needed and none shared as they drank, passing looks like high schoolers in puppy love, and it warmed them more than any amount of alcohol could.

"Do you wanna stay over?" Daryl inquired when the sun began to set, and a late summer chill moved in. "Just to sleep," he promised. "Just to sleep. I ain't gonna try nothin'."

"I'd like that."

He nodded. "Good 'cause I'm beat." The anxiety of this meeting and the drinking had worn him down. He had never had to do something like this before. Normally he'd drink and fuck someone then they would just make a habit of it and call it a relationship.

Yet this thing with Carol wasn't something he wanted to be equal to what he'd had in the past. He wanted something new and worth Carol's worth, and he would be the type of man she wanted. He needed to be the type of man Carol wanted.

She reached out and gripped his knee, and instantly excitement coursed through him, but he shut it down just as rapidly. She stood up and held that same hand out, and he clasped it, rising.

They went to his bedroom with Spike trotting behind them, Daryl told him to sleep in his bed within the bedroom, but he hopped right on top of the mattress. Daryl sighed and pointed to the loveseat with some clothes piled on it, saying he'd sleep there, and Carol said that wasn't necessary.

"There's not gonna be enough room for all three of us."

She simply chuckled at him. We'll make it work.

So, they removed their shoes and piled onto the bed like the clothes on Daryl's loveseat, and while it took a few minutes to get comfortable and warm, it was nice. Carol was this lovely weight on his chest and against his hip, and Spike kept their feet warm, and it was just amazing. He hoped to sleep like this more often.

Come morning, Daryl roused to Carol shifting away from him in her sleep, and he automatically shifted to keep close. His eyes opened at a soft moan, and his lips drew up a smile. He inhaled to repress a loud yawn and set a hand on her shoulder, stroking it down to her arm. A soft gasp came from her, and she rolled over once more, his smile reflecting on her own lips.

"Mornin'."

"Good morning." She curled up close to him.

"How'd you sleep?" He reached out and moved a cluster of fallen hair back from her face.

"Very well." She rubbed a hand over her eye. "And you?"

"Better than I have in a while," he murmured, knowing that she wouldn't be able to make it out with little he'd moved his lips.

"Hmm?"

"Nothin', just hungry." He kissed her brow tenderly, and Carol smiled at the touch. "You mind takin' the wheel for breakfast?"

"I think I can manage."

At their feet movement, Spike roused and burst to life with excitement at seeing his two favorite people. He jumped in between them, showering extra slobbery kisses down on Carol and Daryl both. Daryl noted that he went for Carol first, but it was all good. He didn't leave the bed until Daryl did.

Carol and Spike padded down the stairs, Daryl changed out of his wrinkled clothes and heard a shriek. He was halfway dressed in jeans and an undershirt when the shriek sounded. He had never moved so fast as that moment. He darted down those stairs and raced to the kitchen, finding Carol holding a knife to an intruder as Spike bared his teeth and growled.

"Hey, hey, easy, easy," Aaron pleaded to the dog and woman, speaking hastily so as to not get stabbed or mauled. "Friend. Friend. I swear. Hey!" He held his hands up, palms out, trying to keep them at bay, and it was fucking hilarious to see Carol holding his man back with a little bread knife essentially. It was an image he'd sear into his brain for the rest of his life.

Spike barked and drew closer to Aaron, sniffling the man as his tongue traced dagger-sharp teeth.

Carol stood her ground but said nothing.

"Fri—hey! Help me out here, you giant ass!" Aaron spotted Daryl smirking just inside the main area for the dining room. "Daryl!"

Carol gasped and turned to face to the man whose name was just called. She gestured with the knife. You know him?

He nodded.

How do you know him? And why did he just barge into the house? I came to make breakfast, not believed to be assaulted by some stranger!

He's harmless. Daryl approached her and grabbed her wrist to pry the knife from her hand. "It's okay."

"Hello!" Aaron waved a hand over himself. "Am I safe? Or should I start to bark back and walk away slowly?"

"It's fine, Aaron." Daryl met his eyes. "This is Carol. The one I told you about. She's deaf. You need to speak a little slower, so she can read your lips."

"Oh." Aaron laughed softly. "I see."

"And you are?" Carol demanded, short as nobody had spoken to her who this man was.

"Aaron." He smiled warmly. "I'm an old friend of Daryl's."

Carol's eyes rounded in horror, and she stumbled against Daryl. She hadn't even considered that this might be a person who knew Daryl. It was a laid-back town where everyone was friends with everybody, and it was beautiful and warm, but she assumed Daryl had no ties to people outside of her, Dale and Nadia. It might be cold thinking, but it felt right when it came to him. Did it not?

"It's okay," Aaron told her. "I've had his women come at me with guns and bats, so a knife is refreshing. The dog, though? That's terrifying."

Carol's head tipped back, brows lifting, and she eyed Daryl. Your women?

You knew there were others before we got together, Daryl signed. Not bucket loads, but some.

Some. She nodded. Some who had the privilege of knowing someone closest to you?

It wasn't like that. They were just around when he was. It ain't like I invited him up for lunch to meet 'em.

I see. Carol faced Aaron once more and offered a sweet smile. "It's nice to meet you."

"Likewise." Aaron didn't know much sign language, besides the basic cuss words and dirty gestures, but he had a feeling by the tension now in the air that it wasn't a cuddly conversation. "So, the dog?"

"Oh, right, Spike." Daryl snapped his fingers. "Stop."

Spike didn't instantly settle, but once Daryl closed the space and did a half-hug, half-handshake with Aaron, he eased himself.

"It's good to see you, Aaron." Daryl smiled somewhat at him. "I didn't know you would be here so soon."

"Yeah, I can tell." Aaron shrugged off his backpack. "I brought breakfast. Still warm muffins and lattes."

"Sounds good." Daryl spotted the carrier of lattes on the patio table. "Come in. I'll take Spike out for his morning business while you two get breakfast in you."

"Maybe get better acquainted too." Aaron smiled at Carol.

Daryl walked Spike outside for his morning potty, Carol and Aaron brought his belongings and food items in, and it was a good time. Aaron was funny, as he tried to mend bridges, and Carol cooled her heartrate down. It was nice, to be around someone who knew Daryl so well, but they hadn't gotten into old stories and wounds, so she'd leave it at nice for now. Maybe he would surprise her again, but with less knives and more knowledge.