"Awkward" got such a great response, thanks all you's guys! Since I've been asked by several of you to do a continuation, I have decided to grant this request in a series of oneshots based on the awkwardness and cuteness that is our favorite pair. Be on the lookout :)
Here's the next one!
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After the unfortunately embarrassing situation last week, Carol and Daryl spent a lot of time apart. Carol focused on her study of the female anatomy in her quest to better prepare herself for Lori's delivery in case a C-Section was in the cards. Daryl spent a whole lot of time going around like a protective guard dog, taking down stray walkers, hunting when the coast was clear, visiting Axel and Oscar in their cell block to check on how they were holding up, and cleaning his crossbow...he did that a lot. Carol swore that thing must be smoother than a baby's buttcheeks.
This night in particular, Carol was laying on the top bunk in hers and Lori's cell listening to the howling of the wind through the cracks of the prison walls and over the roof, the sound alone was enough to make her shiver. Then came the heavy pitter patter of a sudden Georgia spring rain, it pounded the walls and the tin on the roof mercilessly and Carol sighed, knowing she wasn't going to get any sleep. She was scared of storms.
So when the cell block lit up with a bright flash of lightning and the place shook with the force of a huge clap of thunder, she jolted upright in bed and clamped her hands over her mouth to stifle her scream. She looked around, wide-eyed and calmed down her breathing.
Another huge clap sent her out of that bed and to the floor where she stood in her bare feet just hugging herself. She glance over at Lori who was sound asleep and sighed, wishing she could sleep through all this. She glanced out of their cell to get a look at the windows. They were covered in rivulets and the rain didn't look like it would be letting up anytime soon.
A shadow passed in front of her doorway and Carol nearly had a heart attack. She squeaked in fear and the shadow stopped.
"What's your problem?" came the surly voice of Daryl. By this time, Carol's eyes had adjusted and she realized he was soaked through with rain water and his hair was dripping little drops of it down his face.
"Scared of storms," Carol admitted miserably.
"Scared? Why, they ain't gonna hurt ya?" Daryl didn't seem to sympathize with her.
"I know that, Daryl," Carol rolled her eyes, but she wrapped her arms around herself anyway, a form of self protection that really did nothing but make you feel better. "But I just don't like them."
Daryl sniffed.
"I love 'em," he claimed, "Except when I get caught in the middle of 'em."
Carol giggle when he shook his head and sent little droplet flying in her direction. She saw the mischievous grin he gave her for a split second before he continued walking and headed up into his perch. Carol followed him without even thinking, but he must not have noticed because he immediately stripped off his wet jacket and shirt, leaving him bare topped in front of her. Carol stared at the expanse of his back in surprise, wondering if he had a clue she was there, and took in the rippling effect of the muscles under his skin as he crouched down and ruffled through his pack for a dry shirt and then pulled it on.
"Ya got starin' problems?" his voice made Carol jump out of her admiration and she blushed brightly.
"You knew I was here," she argued, "You're the one doing the strip tease."
Daryl looked over his shoulder with that familiar unamused squint, but then he grinned and turned around to face her.
"Well you hang around me so damn much it ain't like I have any kind of privacy," he stated gruffly, "And I'm soaked if ya haven't noticed, so I don't feel like sittin' around in these wet rags waitin' for you t' leave. But if ya'd at least turn around for a second while I get out of these wet jean, I'd appreciate it."
Carol's eyes widened, he usually didn't speak more than a few words each time he opened his mouth. She turned around and listened to the sound of material moving around until it finally stopped, then she turned back around.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"Huh?" Daryl asked, looking confused.
"I'll go back to bed and give you your space," Carol shurgged, knowing in the back of her mind he was either telling the truth and he actually wanted her gone, or this was his way of teasing her and in that case he would stop her from leaving. Win-win situation, so she turned to leave. Sure enough she felt a firm hand on her shoulder.
"Hey, stop it," Daryl growled, "You know I was just messin' with ya."
Carol turned back around and smiled, then a huge clap of thunder split the air and she squealed and jumped forward, smacking right into his chest and knocking him flat on his back in his pile of blankets on the mattresses he'd grabbed from the empty cells. Embarrassment flooded over her and she buried her face in his shirt collar, trying to block out his grumblings.
"Damn it, Carol," he muttered, pushing her off to the side, "It's a fuckin' thunderstorm, not a herd of walkers!"
Carol suddenly felt absolutely foolish. Walkers...they were truly dangerous, ruthless and horrific and they didn't even phase her anymore, but here she was, freaking out over a stupid static charge in the air and a little bit of rain. She felt ridiculous and all of the sudden she broke into tears. She saw Daryl recoil out of the corner of her eyes, he didn't deal well with crying and she knew that but she couldn't help it, she felt like a weak little child.
"Hey now," Daryl squeaked, clearly uncomfortable, "None o' that now! Carol, stop it."
"I...I..." but she couldn't speak for all her tears and her constricted throat.
"Damn it," she heard Daryl grumble darkly, but a few moments later she felt something warm against her back and she recognized it as his arm, resting across her shoulders, his hand closed hesitantly on her upper arm a second before she was pulled sideways into him. "Stop yer cryin', woman. I didn't mean nothin' by it."
She glanced up, realizing her head was now resting against his chest and her nose rubbed into the scruff on his chin, making her feel ticklish. It also made her shudder for reasons she decided would be best to keep to herself, imagining how that goaty scruff would feel like brushing against her thighs as he...oh good Lord, she had to stop thinking like that!
"Whatcha thinkin' about?" Daryl's question couldn't have been more perfectly timed. Carol immediately guffawed and started laughing, pressing her face into his chest to muffle the sounds. He pushed her off of him and looked at her in utter confusion.
"You don't even want to know," Carol giggled.
Daryl cocked an eyebrow in surprise and stood up immediately. He paced slightly before he went over to the bars around the perch and leaned down on them, his eyes focused on the window next to the perch. Carol bit her bottom lip, and moved to lean beside him.
"Can't help it, Daryl," she teased, "Maybe you should try not to be so damn good looking."
He looked over at her in shock.
"I...what are you talking about?" he snapped, clearly uncomfortable.
"Can't help the things that come to mind," Carol shrugged. Another crack of thunder made her jump and she noticed that he almost reached out to comfort her, but then stopped himself.
"I don't want to know," Daryl mumbled, tucking his arms underneath his chest as he leaned against the bar.
"You sure about that?" Carol teased, scooting over a little bit closer to him. "Some of it's pretty good."
"Shut up," Daryl muttered, leaning his head onto his arms. Carol laughed and fell silent, listening to the rain as it pounded the glass of the windows. Suddenly, the storm didn't seem so scary, the water droplets were soothing and soft as they slid down the glass and Carol smiled. Once again, Daryl managed to calm her down without even trying.
"Well," she said, standing up straight, "I feel a lot better and I'm really tired."
She leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to Daryl's temple. Then brought her lips to his ear.
"Thank you, Daryl," she whispered. Then she made her way down from the perch and towards her cell, her heart felt warm and fluttery and the next clap of thunder didn't even phase her, but if she would have turned around and looked up she would have seen Daryl's Dixon jump nearly a mile at the sound.
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Nothing smutty in this one because I figured she should probably chill out and not come on so strong again to let him cool off. I thought of this scenario in a dream and because it was raining when I woke up :)
Next section to be up soon!
