SUMMARY: Carol and Ezekiel have to survive, cut off from the Kingdom.

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing of The Walking Dead

RATING: T+

PAIRING: Carol/Ezekiel

ON THE RUN:

The evening passed at a leisurely pace. Ezekiel had managed to coax Carol into a delightful conversation filled with teasing, and undertones of innuendo. He wanted her to relax, and to let the night fill her with a sense of anticipation of what was to come. If tonight was the only moment of calm they had, then he wanted to enjoy it to the fullest, enjoy her and all she would freely give him. He wouldn't take, only give. Ezekiel could tell she'd endured too much in her life to be used by him.

Carol tried to keep her nerves in check, and tried to keep her mind from jumping ahead to other things that could happen between them. Plenty of times during the night, Ezekiel had shifted in his seat, his hand resting over the healing bullet wound. They weren't in any state to endure anything too physically demanding like sex. Even though, sitting across from him at the table, that was all her body craved. The ache in her ribs warred with the powerful carnal hunger. She wanted him, that much she knew or certain. He was unlike any man she'd ever met; before and after the world fell.

"Carol," Ezekiel said her name softly, but it still made her jump, and not out of fear. He got up to go to her, offering her his hand. "I won't expect you to give me anything you do not wish to."

"What do you think I want to give you?" Carol asked, looking at his hand.

"Your heart, and all that it entails," Ezekiel replied gently. In this dark and terrible world, finding someone to care about was next to impossible. At least, that's what most people thought. Ezekiel knew this to false because he cared about Carol. He even went so far as to admit to himself that he was falling in love with her.

"Why do you say thing like that?" Carol inquired as she placed her hand in his. More than anything, she wanted to feel the touch of his skin against hers. They shared a connection that went beyond the need for survival. She had started to tie herself emotionally to him from the moment he showed up on the front steps of her little cottage.

"It's important, now more than ever, to say exactly what we mean," Ezekiel answered. He tightened his grip on her hand, urging her to stand up. She did so, standing before him, putting her at the right angle for him to kiss her. Except, he would wait until she wanted him to.

Carol brought her free hand up, the tips of her middle and index fingers touching his lips. She could feel his warm breath heating her skin. "I do want you," she admitted quietly, "but I don't want to hurt you."

"A little pain is nothing," Ezekiel shrugged his right shoulder lazily.

Carol dropped her hand, resting it on his chest. She leaned in and pressed her lips to his where she tasted the remnants of the fruit they had had for dinner. Like she had that morning, she applied more pressure, and deepened the kiss until her tongue was sweeping into his mouth to make him moan.

Ezekiel wrapped his good arm around her waist, his hand dangerously close to cupping her khaki covered backside. He let her control the kiss, let her take what she needed from him. This was for her as much as it was for him. A second later, he broke the kiss, breathing raggedly. "We should retire to your room," he suggested.

"Are you up for it?" Carol asked, and then looked away shyly.

"As I said, there are ways," Ezekiel replied slyly.

CAROL'S BEDROOM:

Carol was in in her bed, lying naked on her side under the light lavender sheet. Her skin tingled in anticipation of being touched by Ezekiel. He was across from her, a lightly smile tugging at his lips. Her eyes roved over his chest, and took a second to stare at the white bandage blazing brightly. He could have died on her. Carol reached out to him, her hand touched the center of his chest. Slowly she started to move it down.

Ezekiel mirrored Carol's actions, choosing to follow her lead tonight. The tips of his fingers whispered over the swell of her breast. She shivered in response, and her nipple puckered. He licked his lips, hungry to taste the ripe little berry, but he restrained himself. Ezekiel kept his moving down, disappearing under the sheet. Her stomach muscles were quivering under his palm. Stopping, he moaned lightly.

Carol paused her exploration of him. Her mind couldn't function when he was touching her so tenderly. He shifted closer to her, and before she could even breathe, he was kissing her sweetly. She felt emboldened to resume her exploration. Her finger tips brushed against the head of his burgeoning desire. This time, he was the one frozen in place, and his eyes fluttered close.

Ezekiel bit hit bottom lip. Her fingers wrapped around him, moving down slowly, but with certainty. With each stroke, each moan she pulled from his, her pace quickened until he felt as if he would spill himself in her hands. "Carol…" he said her name, getting her to stop. When he opened his eyes, he saw her smirking at him.

Carol liked seeing the look of pure unadulterated pleasure playing out on Ezekiel's face. This time it was her turn to moan when his hand slipped between her thighs. His middle finger stroked her, applying the right pressure to the little pearl that had sensual shudders running through her. She moved her hips as he moved his finger to keep the pleasure racing through her. Reluctantly, Carol stopped his hand from further movement. "Not like this," she said in a breathy whisper.

Ezekiel shifted until he was lying on his back, and Carol was straddling his hips with the sheet pooling behind her. She leaned down, kissing him gently. He couldn't keep his hands from her, from cupping her breasts to feel the press of her nipples against his palm. Before too long his fingers were digging into her slender hips as she started to rub against him, spreading some of her juices along his shaft. His body tensed in anticipation of being inside of her.

Carol let herself go still, breaking the kiss so she could look him in the eyes. It was there she saw the answer to her unspoken question. What she thought had been a twinge of pain, was actually something else. Desire. Eagerness. She sat up, reaching between them to grip the hard length of him. Positioning him at her slick entrance, she held his gaze as she slowly sank down on him.

Ezekiel sat up, putting his arms around her waist, and rested his brow against her chin. He'd never felt this level of intimacy with another woman, not in the way he was feeling it with Carol. His breathing hitched when she started to rock her hips back and forth. Ezekiel angled his head, looking up at Carol. She had her eyes closed with the most beautiful expression of pleasure he'd ever seen. Smiling, he kissed the side of her neck and delighted in the way her pulse leapt against his lips.

Carol brought her right arm over his shoulder, so that her hand could slip under his dreads, and cup the back of his neck. The feel of his beard scraping against her skin made her moan, made her move faster. He was holding her hips, guiding the way she rocked, but ultimately, he was following her lead. Carol felt every inch of him inside her, filling her, hitting every pleasure center. She ground down on him, adding a little twist to her hips. That had bursts of ecstasy racing through her.

Ezekiel started to move when Carol moved, heightening the pleasure, bringing them closer to spilling over the edge of completion. Th way she ground down on him had his brain shutting down neuron by neuron until all he could feel was the intimate grip her body had on his. Blindly, he kissed the side of her neck, the line of her jaw, underside of her chin. Then, just as she had moved her last, he felt himself spilling inside her.

Carol claimed his lips, letting her cry of release fill his mouth as her body quaked from the pent-up tension. He came seconds later. She felt every spurt, felt the way his arms tightened around her waist. He was that missing piece of her life she never knew she needed. Blissful moments later, they both went still. Carol leaned back, her hands on his shoulders so she could look in Ezekiel's eyes. Her heart was still beating wildly out of control, but she could handle that. She brought her hand up and caressed the back of his cheek with her fingers, smiling as she did so.

Ezekiel smiled at her touch, at still being mated to her. He was in no rush to break their intimate connection. Reveling in their orgasm, it dulled the pain of his wound, and made him momentarily forget that they were at war. Carefully, he leaned back, taking her with him. As they shifted, he slipped free of her, but he was able to hold her against him and she wasn't trying to leave his bed. Idly, his fingers ran up and down her back as he kissed her brow while they basked in the afterglow.

Carol rested her hand on his abdomen, rubbing back and forth to match the way he was touching her. "I may not have told you, but I'm glad Morgan brought us here."

Ezekiel kissed the top of her head, "Fate was kind the day my men happened upon you and Morgan out on the road."

*Knock. Knock.* "Your Majesty…"

Good naturedly, Ezekiel groaned when Jerry knocked at the door. He wasn't even annoyed that Jerry came here to Carol's quarters. "What is it?" he called out, sitting up. His faithful steward wouldn't interrupt him in the middle of the night if it wasn't important.

"One of our scouts on the edge of the kingdom reported a convoy coming our way."

Carol looked at Ezekiel, "Saviors."

"It would seem so," Ezekiel agreed. In concert, they both got out of bed, and got dressed. As he zipped his black cargo pants, he gave jerry a set of orders, "Gather our people at the back gates."

"Right away, My Lord."

Carol had a sick feeling she knew how the Saviors were able to get free of their walker surrounded sanctuary. 'Damnit, Daryl," she thought as she pulled on her shirt, and then sat on the edge of the bed to put her boots back on. She knew Daryl had something to do with them being in danger now. "If we have a good enough head start, we can get everyone to the cottage I was staying in. There's a fence, and just enough room for everyone."

"The scout Jerry referred to is thirty minutes away by vehicle," Ezekiel informed. He tied his boots, and then went to pick up his coat. There would be just scant seconds for them to get what they need and vanish into the woods. Luckily for them, Ezekiel had his people preform evacuation drills for such an event. They knew what they had to do.

"Will your scout be seen from the road?" Carol asked.

"No, he's well obscured," Ezekiel answered. The scout was concealed within a well hidden in hunting blind.

Carol went to the door, but didn't open it right away. She turned, leaning against the white painted wood. "Ezekiel, when we evacuate, you need to lead them."

"Why are you saying this?" Ezekiel asked, coming to stand in front of her. "Carol?"

"I'm going to stay behind and slow them down," Carol said, trying not to look at him.

"No." Ezekiel shook his head, "You're not staying here when they come to the front gates. They will not be merciful to you."

"Why do you assume I'll give them the chance?" Carol asked. "I'll enlist Morgan, and Jerry, we'll set a few traps and then follow after all of you." If it was within her power, then she would preserve the tranquility she'd found here in the Kingdom, and she would save the life of the King by sending him away. She just found him. She wouldn't lose him now.

"Carol…" Ezekiel wanted to argue, but he didn't have any better ideas. She was, in fact, one of the best people to lie in wait for the Saviors. She was ruthless in battle, and she would do what she had to when she needed to. "Alright, but you take no more than ten minutes, and then you follow us."

Carol was about to say that was impossible, but looking into his eyes, she nodded, agreeing to his terms. "Fine. Get Shiva, and lead your people to safety." Before they left the serenity of her bedroom, she stepped in close to him and kissed him gently.

OUTSIDE:

Jerry stood apart from the last group of people getting ready to depart. Anticipating his King's command, he told each evacuation group to head for the cottage where Carol had been staying. His lord was already there, making sure everyone had a place. It all took less than ten minutes to organize. He, Carol, and Morgan were going to stay behind and set a few traps. Though, Morgan had already started. He and Carol were going to set up the .50 caliber gun, training it on the front gates, and rigged with a trip wire.

Carol took one last look at the group of people setting off towards the back gate. She promised Ezekiel that she wouldn't stay too long. So, she had to get started. "Jerry, back the truck up to the mark on the pavement. I'm going to get to work on the trip wire." She headed to the front gates to start tying off the black wire while Jerry maneuvered the truck into place. Once the steady red light cast her shadow on the rusted metal, she started walking back. The trick was to keep the trip wire tight enough, and yet loose enough at the same time, so that when the doors were opened the weapon would fire.

Jerry put the truck in park, and then got out to go and help Carol. Together, they quickly rigged a makeshift pulley system that would squeeze the trigger of the big gun loaded in the flat bed. "Is this going to work?" Jerry asked, as he held the counter weight.

"That's my hope," Carol said, slipping the wire noose over the trigger. She breathed a sigh of relief, and backed away. "Ok, Jerry, you can let go. We're good to go."

Jerry did as he was told, and for one heart stopping second, he thought the large gun was going to go off. When the silence of the night remained unbroken, he breathed normally, and then he asked, "What now?"

"We get Morgan and get to the cottage." Carol replied. Retreat was the best option at the moment, and they had to make their way on foot. She looked around one last time seeing that all the lights were doused; not even torches were lit. Then in the darkness, she saw Morgan coming towards them. In the distance, they heard the roar of engines.

Morgan wasted no time with speaking. He joined Carol and Jerry, and the three of them took off on foot towards the back gate. From there they chained the door, before setting off into the trees. They had to move silently, but swiftly, while staying close to one another. Off in the distance they heard the shuffling and rasping of a few walkers, but none of them were close enough for it to be any danger. They just had to keep moving.

Carol took point, leading them on the most direct path towards the small cottage. Halfway there, the sound of gunfire broke the silence of the night; it was the .50 cal going off. At least now she knew the trip wire had worked. "Morgan, what traps did you set?" she asked, glancing at him to her left.

"A few bear traps, and other easy ones given the limited amount of time we had to set things up," Morgan answered.

A twig snapped gaining attention from the three of them. Automatically guns were pointed, and ready to be fired. The area was silent again, and they didn't hear the telltale signs of a walker snarling. Perhaps it was an animal.

"Carol…?"

Carol put her gun away and heaved a sigh, "Henry, come out here." The little blonde boy, carrying his brother's staff appeared from behind a thick brush looking thoroughly ashamed. "What are you doing out here?"

"I wanted to help…" Henry replied, looking down at his sneakers.

Carol had any number of biting remarks ready to rake him over the coals with, but she resisted. This little boy had lost his family, with only Ezekiel left to look after him. She went to him, put her hands on his shoulders, and turned him around. "Come on, we're going back, and you're going to explain to Ezekiel where you were. By now he knows you're gone."

Henry groaned.

COTTAGE:

Ezekiel was out on the porch debating whether or not he should gather Shiva and venture out into the night. Carol had promised to follow after ten minutes, and she'd gone over that allotted time by five minutes. Now, young Henry was missing, and he was kicking himself for not keeping a better eye on him. The boy had Benjamin's spirit, his sense of duty and honor. That settled it, he was going back to the Kingdom. He was sure that's where Henry went.

Ezekiel was no sooner at the back gate of the property when he heard movement just inside the tree line. He had his hand on his gun, ready to use it to defend himself and his people. Shiva was by his side, but he noticed that she wasn't poised for an attack. She knew who was there, and they were friends. A second later his heart lightened when he saw Carol, Henry, Morgan, and Jerry emerge. "You tarried longer than your allotted ten minutes," he said, with no need to raise his voice. The dead calm of the area wouldn't have distorted his words.

Carol released the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding when she saw Ezekiel and Shiva. Her relief at seeing them didn't keep her from saying, "I found something you lost." She rested her hand on Henry's shoulder, gently nudging him forward.

Henry shuffled forward, opening the black iron gate, going in, walking straight over to Ezekiel. His head was bowed, and he was looking at the ground. He didn't want to see the look of disappointment in his guardian's eyes. "I'm sorry…" he muttered.

Ezekiel wanted to be angry with the boy, and knew he should be, but Henry was safe. That's really all that mattered. "Your heart was in the right place," he acknowledged, pulling the boy in close. Crouching down, he added, "but the next time you feel the urge to run off into the darkness, remember that there are dangers out there you are ill equipped to face at your current age. Promise me you will not do this again."

Henry looked at Ezekiel this time, nodding solemnly. "I promise."

"Now, go into the house, and bed down with the others. You are a calming influence on the other children." Ezekiel stood up, patting the young boy on the head. This time Henry didn't argue, he ran off towards the cottage to so as the King commanded.

Carol watched Jerry follow after Henry, no doubt responded to a nonverbal cue from Ezekiel. Morgan, on the other hand had vanished. She knew where he was going. Back to the Kingdom. At one time, she might have followed him, but now she had something more important to protect. She didn't need to run off into the night and inflict pain on those she deemed worthy of it. Carol was choosing to stay with Ezekiel rather than indulge her darker impulses.

"We heard the gunfire," Ezekiel said, "and for a moment, I was deeply worried…" He sighed, looking around at the men who had volunteered to stand watch. This area was good for a short-term haven. The longer they stayed, the more of the wasted would be drawn to them.

Carol went to him, standing close so they didn't have to speak too loudly. "We were halfway here when it went off. It's when we came upon Henry." Without anyone paying attention to them, she took his hand and laced their fingers together. "We're fine here for tonight, barely, but morning we should be on the move."

"If the Saviors have come to our door, it' safe to assume they've gone to Hilltop, and Alexandria." Ezekiel pulled Carol in against his side, his hand cupping the back of her head. As of this moment, they were alone, and cut off from their allies. He didn't relish the idea of leading his people out into the wilderness, but it had to be done. "Where would be safe enough for all of us?"

Carol sighed, resting her head on the right side of his chest. "I don't know, but we can't be here come morning. There is the chance the Saviors will find this place, if they don't already know about it." This was just the beginning, and she knew that it wouldn't be safe to go back to the Kingdom for a while.

TBC….

A/N: I know this story has been without an update for a while. It's because I have been focusing all my brain power on finishing the edit of my second novel, and trying to get it ready to be published. Hopefully, I will be able to get the next chapter of this fic up within a reasonable amount of time. Thank you all or your patience.