Carol was certain something was going on with Daryl. But after not getting any hints from him earlier, she decided to wait for him to come to her. He has his reasons, she thought. But that didn't mean she wasn't curious. She had never seen him so anxious before. That night was confusing and, if she admitted it, thrilling. She liked how he yelled her name. Daryl was talking to Rick in one of the cells. She decided to move closer.
"…And then it was over." Daryl muttered.
"Wow, it sounds to me like you have a fear of losing Carol. You must care about her a lot."
Carol gasped, shocked by what she heard. Of course, she always hoped he cared for her.
"Yeah…" he paused. Daryl needed to confide in someone. He chose Rick because he considered him a brother. "What should I do?"
"You need to tell her how you feel." Rick put his hand on Daryl's shoulder.
"But what if…never mind. I'll tell her about the dream."
Dream? Was that why she found him so nervous? Carol heard them get off the bed and she quickly walked down the corridor, grabbing a gun to make it seem like she was busy cleaning it. They went passed her and she watched Daryl turn around and look at her. She gave him a reassuring smile.
Later that night, Daryl was pacing his cell. He kept trying to think of the perfect way to tell Carol. He punched the wall, frustrated. "Fuck!" he yelled out, his hand now throbbing. He sat on his bed with his head in his hands. Hearing a knock on the side of the wall, he looked up. It was Carol. Again. He tried to hide his hand from her view but of course she noticed it right away.
"Oh, are you okay?" she walked over to him to get a closer look.
"It's nothin'" he told her. His hand was scratched and bleeding. She went to get some bandages and returned to take care of him.
She remembered the time he found her in the closet after fighting off some walkers who had gotten inside. He had carried her to safety. The memory of his strong arms around her filled her heart with an emotion she never thought she would experience again. "There, good as new, Pookie." He looked at her like he was going to comment on the nickname but then he smiled his little smile. The one he saved just for her.
"Thanks."
She sat next to him for a while before speaking again. "Why did you punch the wall?"
Daryl thought for a moment. This could be the perfect time to tell her. But could he?
"I was mad," he said, nonchalantly.
"I can see that," she laughed. Her nose did that cute, little crinkle that Daryl loved. He swallowed nervously.
Suddenly, he came out with it. "I had a dream about you. One I didn't like."
Carol looked at him, now with concern on her face. "Is that why you were acting like that?"
"Yeah…"
"What was it about?" she whispered. She didn't know why she was whispering.
"We were running through a forest and you got bit."
Carol understood everything now. The conversation he had with Rick and the one they're having now made it all make sense. "Oh, I get it now. Everything's okay." She put her hand on his.
Daryl looked down at her hand resting reassuringly on his own. What did she get, exactly?
"Get what?"
"I'm not going anywhere," she whispered into his ear. Her breath on his skin made his heart skip a beat. He turned towards her and they locked eyes. He opened his mouth to say something but she put her finger to his lips, silencing him. Carol leaned in closer, pressing her forehead to his.
She knew what she wanted. She was finally going to kiss Daryl Dixon. She knew what he was feeling inside and she was going to let him know she felt the same. And then she kissed him. It was soft at first but then she felt him respond just the way she wanted. He kissed her hard, pulling her closer to him. Daryl couldn't believe this was happening, and in real life not just in his fantasies. She tasted like flowers, if that was a thing. Well, if it wasn't it should be. Does this mean she feels the same? She actually has feelings for him? It felt right, whatever it was. Her hands were in his hair as he pushed his tongue in her mouth. It was becoming more intense and Carol loved the way he kissed her. They slowly lowered down on the bed and Daryl twisted around so that he could be on top of her. They broke the kiss but just for a moment. He looked at her smiling up at him. This couldn't have gone better, he thought. I was all worried for nothing.
"So…" she began. "There were good dreams?" Carol smiled, mischievously.
Daryl chuckled. "You can say that."
They spent the rest of the night together in each other's arms. Rick was checking on everybody when he passed by Daryl and Carol, asleep. He paused and looked at them. "Finally."