Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Aaron rounded up towels to dry Spike off with, Carol and Daryl were still outside, and he didn't want to know what they were up to. He focused on the pooch before him, and he was all tail wiggles and kisses, and Aaron was glad to see he had warmed back up to him. He smacked his wiggling butt when he was dry to get him to leave the room, and he turned to check on the happy couple, finding them thoroughly intertwined with each other.

"Hey, I'm going to bed," Aaron shouted out to them. "Try not to wake up the house with all the sex!"

Daryl flipped him off, breaking away from Carol and guiding her inside as Aaron laughed and headed upstairs with Spike. Daryl went to get towels, and Carol stayed just outside the front door to keep from dripping on the floor, removing her layers slowly, and Daryl came back to her in panties and a tank top.

His ears burned red, and he all but chucked the towel at her face, turning around to give her privacy. Carol laughed at him, and he heard two wet plops before she walked by him wrapped up in a towel with her wet clothes in hand, and he followed her to the laundry room to undress and start the washer. Carol let him have his privacy and headed upstairs to get an umbrella and get her overnight bag to change.

Daryl changed into a t-shirt and sweats and found Carol disappearing into the bathroom. He hoped she stayed over again. He liked to sleep with her. She was warm and soft, and she was his solid reminder that he remembered in his dreams that chased off any nightmares. He would need that.

Carol joined him on the couch, yawning softly and trying to keep her attention on the TV, but he flicked it off at the first yawn and told her it was bedtime. She simply smiled at him and made a dirty comment. He laughed and caught her hand.

They went upstairs and settled down onto the bed, Carol focused on the overhead sky, which was revealed by the glass ceiling, and Daryl was focused on her. She suddenly started to smile and rolled her head over to the side to view him. He blushed like a kid caught staring at his crush, and while it was very true, it was still embarrassing.

Am I entertaining?

Maybe. He smiled at her naturally, unable to contain it.

Well, I could show you how entertaining I can be, but it's late, and I need to figure out my work situation tomorrow. She rolled onto her side to face him. "I want our first time to be special."

Daryl had never had anything special in his entire life. The closest thing that he had to it was the crossbow his brother had stolen for him when he was fifteen. He got Merle in a heap of trouble, but Merle assured him it was worth it. It was stupid, but it meant the world to Daryl then and even now. So, he'd wait for his next special thing, especially if it was with Carol.

"Good night." She kissed him and curled up against him. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Yeah, 'night."

Daryl woke up to find a note instead of Carol, saying Michonne had called her in to help with a truck, but she'd text him before she got home to see if he wanted to meet for dinner. He rolled out of bed and into the shower. Once he was nice and clean, he met Aaron downstairs.

"Hey, sleeping beauty." He winked at Daryl, and Daryl rolled his eyes. "Look, about last night..."

"No, I get it." He sniffed and poured himself a cup of coffee. "Don't worry. No hard feelin's."

"Okay, good." He exhaled and sat down at the table. "So, drinks for lunch?"

"Can't wait long, can you?" Daryl chuckled.

"No, I can't. I want to know."

"Fine. But you're helpin' me paint today."

"I'd love to."

The boys drank their coffee and got to work, and across town Carol and Michonne were putting away pounds and pounds of force-shipped dog food. They didn't speak much, but it wasn't anything harsh. It was just an early morning and heavy lifting that made them want to rethink their entire life choices.

Carol stopped to wipe her brow and get a drink of water, as this late summer heat was no joke, and Michonne set a hand on her shoulder to get her attention. Carol swallowed and met her eyes.

"How are you doing?" She didn't mean with the heavy lifting.

Fine. How about you?

"I'm okay." She searched Carol's eyes. "Did you... Have you and Daryl spoken?"

Carol inhaled and nodded slowly her head.

"How did it go?"

It went well. We are in a relationship, though he does have his doubts. I believe it's his first real relationship, so I understand those doubts. I only hope to work through them with him.

"Oh." Michonne was glad Carol couldn't hear the surprise in her voice, but she knew she wore it on her face, because Carol repressed an eyeroll. Michonne noted the twitch of her eye, and she pursed her lips. "I'm glad you two are working it out."

We're not two teenagers in puppy love, Michonne. We are two adults who want to build something with each other. I mean, I believe we want to build something. It's so new that we haven't truly discussed that.

"I know. I mean I understand." She attempted a smile. "You're happy, though, aren't you?"

It's just day one, but I am. She knew Daryl would have a lot of insecurities to work through, but so did Carol. They would work through them together and individually. It would make a great lov... erm...?

"Just don't... fall to fast, okay?"

Okay. Carol wasn't sure where her thoughts were going, because while she deeply cared for Daryl, she wasn't in love with him. Not yet. Not in that way.

"Good. That's really good." Michonne attempted a smile. "I hear the house is looking lovely. Why don't you invite us over for dinner before it's sold? Hmm?"

Carol smiled softly. I don't think it's up to me.

I believe you can charm him into doing anything.

Carol chuckled. Let's get back to work.

They made haste of what had to be done, speaking now and then, seeming to have overcome the hump they had built only days ago. It was nice, relaxing, and there was laughter, and it made both of them feel relief. It was good to be around friends, especially after such uncertainty with Daryl. Repairs would be made. It was a sentiment Carol needed right now.

Carol departed from the pet shop once the truck was put away and Michonne closed up to take Andre to a doctor's appointment, and Carol was surprised to find Tara waiting on her. She smiled and greeted her, and she asked how she was doing.

"I'm doing well." She smiled at her. "Want to join me for lunch?"

Carol grinned and nodded. I could use some good food.

Then what are we still standing around here for?

Carol and Tara went to the diner for lunch while Daryl and Aaron sat out at the dock, drinking a few cold ones as a warm up for their plans at night. The pairs didn't speak much on anything meaningful, simply caught up with each other and offered advice that may or may not be heeded, and it was pleasant.

Tara and Carol did not dance around the subject of the town news of her and Daryl. How it became news was beyond her, but she was glad to talk—rather sign—about it. It was an interesting conversation, as Tara wanted to know how in hell Carol had managed to pin down the moving target that was named Daryl, and Carol could only laugh. She had no idea how it even came to be about, but it just fell into place. Roughly and jaggedly, but the pieces were smoothing out.

As for Aaron and Daryl, they polished off their beers and headed out to the local bar. The same one where Daryl and Carol had been what seemed like years ago, and they found a booth in the back. Aaron ordered two boiler makers, and Daryl knew his head was going to hate him tomorrow.

"Let's not dance around the subject." Aaron cleared his throat as Daryl tore into the peanuts in the middle of the table. "Why are you involved with Carol?"

"Because I care about her," he swiftly replied, shoving a whole peanut into his mouth to suck the salt off its skin.

"Daryl, that isn't what I meant." His eyes locked into his best friend's. "She's a good person. Loving. Selfless. Tender. She could really love you."

"Isn't that...the goal?" He wanted to avert his eyes, but he couldn't. "What do you want from me, Aaron? Hmm?"

"What are your plans for this house? For this town?"

Daryl gulped down the peanut, shell and all, and he grabbed the boiler maker once it was set down in front of him and downed about half of it, claiming to have choked on the shell. Truly biding his time. "What do you mean?"

"Don't play games with me. Are you staying? Or are you going?"

Daryl flicked crumbs off the table. "I got my plans in place for once the house is done."

"Stop half-answering me. Carol is gentle and thoughtful and a good person. I can see that, so surely you do too. Don't fuck around and screw her over." His eyes burned into Daryl's with annoyance and determination to get his point across. "If you need to get laid that badly, if you have to fall back on old habits, I still remember Cynthia's phone number, and she'll always take your ass back."

Daryl flinched at the mention of his ex. "No. Fuckin' hell, no. She ain't a move to me, man. I care about her, all right. I mean, how could I not? You met her. She's... just like you said." Aaron didn't speak, simply glowered, and Daryl sighed. "Look, man, she ain't a piece. She's a good woman, and I got... feelin's for her, all right? Hell if I can make heads or tails of 'em, but I know enough to know to take care of her. Good care of her."

"Do you love her?"

Daryl eyes rounded to circles at the question he was just asked, the tips of his ears cool as a cumber, and his heart did not skip or race with panic. He simply bowed his head and picked up a peanut, peeling the shell off and clearing his throat. "I dunno, Aaron, but it's a first for me. All of this is a first for me. It ain't about drugs or sex or havin' a roof over my head. It's... real."

Aaron's glower vanished, and a smile broke out across his face. "So, your plans? They involve her?"

He nodded his head. "I'd love for 'em too."

"Then I'm glad."

"I can't really picture a step forward without her, Aaron," he whispered. "She has plans and desires, and I don't know if I can meet 'em, but... I wanna try, y'know? To be here for her. But not in a way that compromises who I am."

Aaron chuckled. "Aww, that's precious."

"Shut up, man." Now his ears burned, and he threw the shell he'd carefully peeled off at his best friend with a smirk on his lips. "So, what's up with you? Aside from Eric. How's work?"

"Wow, you really want to change the subject. You never want me to talk about my work." He bellowed out a laugh, and Daryl smiled more than smirked now.

They spoke and drank in that dingy little bar, Aaron and Daryl played a little pool and had a shot competition that ended with them both spinning. Aaron knew it was time to call for someone else to take them home, and Daryl began to drift off into his stupor. It was a good time, and Daryl was glad to him there. He'd really missed him.

Carol rolled over in bed the next morning, watching the sun peek out from the clouds, and she smiled softly to herself. She watched it for a moment then slipped out of bed and into the shower. She washed the sweat from hauling around boxes of truck off her body, and she messaged her hair with shampoo and conditioner. She melted into a puddle of relaxation then slipped into shorts and a t-shirt to head out to work.

Michonne was sitting at the counter, going over the manifest of the truck, and Carol frowned, wondering if they were shorted something, but Michonne was just being thorough. They'd gotten it all, and Carol was glad, because she had some news for Michonne, and she didn't want to be upset with it.

So, how's your morning going?

"It's been a morning." Michonne attempted a smile. "Rick and I spoke, and... we've decided to go our separate ways. We never slept together. We came close a couple times, but I couldn't take it any further. I didn't want to hurt you, and that's all I could think of when we were together in any romantic sense."

"Oh."

"Yeah." She bobbed her head. "It wasn't a good time, because Carl's back home, and Andre's grown attached, but I had to."

Carol walked around the counter and embraced her tightly. Michonne slumped against her, eyes burning, and they had a moment of silence for what could have been. Carol didn't mind the two of them being together, as long as Michonne was honest about them, and it was something real. Carol hoped she hadn't cut into something meaningful. If she had, she needed to speak to Rick, have him fight. There was nothing but sex between Carol and Rick, but Rick and Michonne could build something. They had some many things in common, and Carol didn't want to be the reason Michonne ended up alone. It'd break her heart.

Michonne patted her back and leaned back. "How are you?"

I'm good. Thanks for asking. She smiled at her. I think I need to take some time off. Not a vacation, not like the break I took before, but... time off as in me leaving my position.

Why? Michonne didn't trust her voice. Carol may not be able to ear, but she sure as shit could see the tremble in Michonne's lips.

I want to figure out what's best for me career wise. I love working with you, and it's been great, but I want to find my own passion. I want to find out who I am away from my attachments.

Okay...?

It's nothing you did or said. It's just me. I've lived so long going with the flow, but I want to stand against it now, find my own flow. And I have plenty saved, so I can afford my bills and food, and I think it's just best for now. I'll work until you can find someone to cover for me, but then I think it's time for me to go.

Sounds permanent for a break.

Maybe so, but I have to find something that moves me like owning this business and raising your son moves you. I've lived too long bogged down by what happened to me and settling, and I can't keep doing it. I'm sorry, Michonne.

Don't be sorry. I already have a new hire coming in for the second half of the season, and I can fill your position too. It won't be the same without you here, but we will make do. I'll make do. Always have, always will.

Thank you.

They hugged once more, and Carol worked one of her last few shifts in full. It was a slow day, but the usual suspects came in. It was nice, and Michonne and Carol played some music to make the day go faster, and Carol was glad she couldn't hear what kind of back woods music Michonne was into day. She was an artistic soul, both with art and music, and Carol loved her, but when she could hear, Michonne played the oddest and most obscure music. Although today's music had a nice beat. Carol could feel it from the speaker, and it was pleasant.

Once her shift was over, Michonne told her to go get some food and to be a good girl, and Carol rolled her eyes and headed over to Daryl's to see if he and Aaron wanted to cook out since it was such a nice day. She didn't want to text, simply surprise, and surprise she certainly did.

Daryl had woken up with a hangover, Aaron was nursing himself with coffee and aspirin in the kitchen, and Spike was trotting around the house with the bone Aaron had given him to get him off his back. It was a man's morning, that was for sure.

Daryl slowly crept down the stairs, feeling the pressure in each step, and he nearly winced when a knock on the door came. He hoped it was Carol, come to help him nurse his hangover and sign with him, keep a conversation going to distract him until he sobered up. God, he fucking hoped.

When he opened the door, he rubbed his eyes at the sunlight and felt his fingers in his skull, and he groaned. Once the sunlight had moved from his view, he spotted two people standing there. A woman in a suit and his nephew.