One Year

Disclaimer: They`re not mine. Not making any profit with them. Just having fun.

Field Trip (June)

„Do you want me to take over the reins?"

Ezekiel throws a side-ways glance at Carol. She`s sitting next to him on their wagon – or rather lounging in her seat. Her feet are stretched out, heels propped up on the front board, elbows resting on the backrest. She`s not looking at him, instead holds her face into the late-spring sun with her eyes closed. She`s a vision, looking infinite young with her hair tied into a loose braid, stray curls framing her freckled face. A soft smile is curving her lips. Ezekiel can`t help but smile himself seeing her this relaxed.

It just makes him happy that Carol has seemingly found her peace.

It has been a couple weeks now since their group – their family – has dispossessed Pamela Milton from her powers, liberating the citizens of the Commonwealth from her unfair regime. It has been a challenge, taking over responsibility for so many people. But somehow, they have managed. With Carol`s knowledge that she obtained during her work for Hornsby, they were able to keep the place running. And what they didn`t know, they somehow figured out on their own.

It was a constant learning process, but everyone was giving it their best.

If Ezekiel was completely honest, he was a bit surprised how dedicated Carol was in her efforts. Of course, he has always known her as the most loyal person he ever met, willing to do absolutely anything for the well-being of her family. And ultimately, she was helping her family by helping the Commonwealth as they needed the resources the Commonwealth could provide for building back up Alexandria and Hilltop.

But Ezekiel sensed there was more to her motivation than just supporting their old communities.

"No", he now answers her question. "You look comfy over there."

The corners of Carol`s mouth twitch a little bit, but she doesn`t bother opening her eyes. Instead, she says in a teasing tone "Just thought you might need a pee pause judging by all this fidgeting you`re doing."

Ezekiel glances at her again, raising an eyebrow. She`s still not looking at him, remaining in her position. Shaking his head, he looks back at the road in front of him, an amused expression grazing his handsome features. This woman really knew him way too well. He does have to pee, though not that urgently. His fidgeting rather comes from the same position he`s been sitting in for the past two hours or so. He`d really like a small break to stretch his limbs a bit.

He is not going to admit to that, though. If he did, it would mean Carol had to move and Ezekiel enjoys the small glances he`s sneaking way too much to risk that. Even more important, he cherishes the trust she exudes into him by letting her guards down like that, completely relaxing next to him. So yeah, he`s just gonna swallow some little inconveniences to give her these moments of peace.

This morning, the two of them headed out for a trip to the "opium people", as Carol calls them. It`s not the first time they did that. After the initial chaos had worn off and some plans had been made, Carol had suggested that it would be a good idea to visit the small communities scattered around the Commonwealth. Those communities were essential for the supply security within the Commonwealth, and their people needed to make sure that these fragile relations would remain.

That first trip they had travelled in a small group – Carol and Ezekiel, Daryl and Mercer, and two of Mercer`s troopers. The soldiers had kept in the back, though, as did Daryl, leaving the talking to Carol and Ezekiel. Well, mostly Ezekiel actually. He just had a way with people, gaining their trust easily. On behalf of the Commonwealth, he had expressed his desire to keep in good relations with the outside communities, reassuring them that they would be considered equal partners in their businesses and that they would be granted access to the Commonwealth without any limitations.

And it wasn`t just mere words. Although the major opium harvest was still weeks away, Ezekiel had planned this trip today in order to seal their alliances with a carefully written contract he had been working on. As Carol had already proven her abilities to act as an intermediary and also held the trust of the people there, she was more than willing to accompany Ezekiel. With everyone else being busy with other tasks, it was just the two of them on this beautiful day. Carol had even turned down Mercer`s offer of two troopers accompanying them.

Ezekiel was secretly happy about that as it meant he could spend the majority of the day alone with Carol. They hadn`t talked about their kiss a couple weeks ago on the morning after the grand explosion. But things have been easy between them. Comfortable. They have been working closely together in their mutual intent to build a future, although most of the time with other people around as well. And although Ezekiel was happy about every time he got to spend time with Carol, it was days like today that he cherished the most.

When they were alone together, he could still feel the deep bond that connected them, a bond that no tragedy could ever break.

Deep inside his heart, Ezekiel will always keep the hope that he and Carol will one day be more again than good friends. From the day he met her, he had known that she was the one for him. She was the love of his life, and nothing would ever change that. But knowing her by heart, Ezekiel is aware that it was no use to try and push Carol. She always did what she wanted to do, what she considered the right thing to do, and she would make her decisions when she was ready for them. He had accepted that right from the beginning. She was stubborn and independent and those were just some things that he loved about her.

For now, he was satisfied with having her by his side.

Next to him, Carol sits up, scanning the area in front of them. They were still about an hour from the western wall of the Commonwealth, and it was well into the afternoon already. Taking a car would have been much faster, but both her and Ezekiel were a lot more attached to traveling with horse and wagon. Some habits die hard. Or maybe her suggestion hadn`t been so much about habit, but more about the prospect of being out here with Ezekiel for some hours. Carol didn`t think about it too much, she simply enjoyed the day. The sun was pleasantly warming her skin and she really couldn`t imagine a place where she`d rather be now.

She even enjoys the little glances Ezekiel is throwing at her every now and then, giving her a fuzzy feeling in her belly. It was nice to know that he still appreciated the view, and it was nice to know that she still cared that he does – even though she wouldn`t allow herself to venture into that territory again.

They were nearing a small forest. Time for a break.

"Stop the wagon", Carol says.

Ezekiel does as requested, his eyes roaming from one side to the other, trying to detect if Carol had been alarmed by something. It all looks quiet to him.

"Anything wrong?" he asks.

"Nope. Just gotta pee."

When he turns his head to look at her, she winks at him, an amused grin on her face. Not waiting for a response, Carol climbs down from the wagon, heading straight for the tree line. Ezekiel waits until she is back before going about his own business.

Upon his return, Carol leans with her back against the side of their wagon, an apple in hand. She offers it to him, and he takes a bite, then gives it back to her. They share, passing the apple back and forth until there isn`t anything left except the core. Ezekiel tosses it away.

"Thank you for being out here today. I appreciate it."

Carol turns her head, meeting Ezekiel`s gaze. It`s warmer than the sun, touching parts within her that no one else could ever reach. She allows herself some moments to just bathe in it. To let his positivity, his kindness seep into her, drawing strength from it as she has always done. To let him heal her a little more every time they shared a moment like this. Sometimes, this is all she needs.

"You know me, I just like being outside", she tells him with a smile.

Ezekiel nods, his eyes not leaving hers. Tender. "I also know that you like having a home."

Of course, he is right about that. After the world fell, Carol wouldn`t have thought it possible to ever feel at home somewhere, to ever feel truly safe again. But then she met Ezekiel and he changed everything for her. At the Kingdom, with him, she was as happy as never before in her life. And maybe it could be like that again. Carol wasn`t quite there yet, but she liked the Commonwealth, and she liked having Ezekiel in her life. At the very least, that`s what she was sure of.

The smile on her face deepens, highlighting the wrinkles around her eyes and in the corners of her mouth. To Ezekiel, she looks absolutely perfect.

"I do."

Without elaborating any further on the matter, Carol turns to climb back up on the wagon again. Taking the hint to drop the subject, Ezekiel moves to follow her when he catches sight of something from the corner of his eye. Turning his face in that direction, he blindly reaches for Carol to catch her attention.

"Carol!" His voice is only a whisper, reverent.

She looks down at him and then over her shoulder to see what he is staring at. Her feet land on the ground again, careful, silent, so as not to disturb the creature that has emerged from the woods. Carol`s hands wrap around Ezekiel`s right arm, not bothered that his own hand is still tangled in the front of her shirt where he grabbed her. They stand close together, neither daring to move, their faces both carrying an expression of awe.

Across from them, just a couple meters away, stands a deer. A stag, to be specific. Tall and majestic, with the biggest antler Carol has seen in a while. Or maybe ever.

"Gorgeous", she whispers.

There once was a time when all Carol would have seen was the meat this animal would provide to keep her family alive. Not now, though. There was plenty of food in the Commonwealth for everyone. So here in this moment they could just indulge and admire the impressive beauty of nature before them. The stag doesn`t seem to be scared by their presence, proudly strutting along the edge of the woods.

"Now there`s a King." Ezekiel`s deep voice fills the air between them, admiration evident in it.

"Hm." Carol makes an unintelligible sound. "Too much attitude for my liking."

Ezekiel turns his head to look at her, a low chuckle rising in his throat when he sees the smirk on Carol`s face. Both her hands have wrapped around his, affectionately squeezing him, acknowledging the past they had together. The King and Queen were no more, but they were still here, just Carol and Zeke. And that was more than enough.

The stag, who`d been browsing, now raises his head again, perking his ears. And then he is gone again, disappearing into the forest he came from. They stare after him for another two or three seconds, grateful to have witnessed this scene. Just when Carol is about to turn around again to continue their way, she hears the sound that must have scared away their unexpected visitor.

"Zeke."

"I see them."

Three walkers have emerged from the woods at about the same spot that the stag had appeared before. They probably have been following the animal`s path, but they are more than just a bit decomposed and staggering slowly on their rotting legs. They do not pose as a threat, neither to the stag nor to the humans watching them.

"Do you want me to take them down?" Ezekiel asks Carol, already knowing the answer to that question.

"I got it."

She`s already up the wagon, bowing down to retrieve her bow and arrows from the open cargo area. When they had started their trip in the morning, she had placed them there, but hasn`t touched them since. Carol wasn`t the woman anymore who was constantly alarmed, who always had her bow and her bag in close range, ready to run. Ready to disappear. She has started to believe in a future again. And lots of that has to do with the man now looking up at her.

With the faith he always had in her.

Ezekiel has taken two steps back from their wagon to better watch Carol. He`s not worried about the walkers snarling behind him, trusting that Carol will put them out of their misery before they would get in his vicinity. He stares at her, not bothering to conceal the open admiration and pride he feels for her. He couldn`t keep it off his face even if he tried. She was simply breathtaking.

Carol is very aware of Ezekiel`s eyes on her. After all these years, she should be used to it. But he has a way of stirring feelings within her. Good feelings. Feelings she thought had been lost but were still there. She welcomes them, welcomes the warm fuzzy feeling spreading in her belly that she recognizes as desire. She knows that if she were to look at him right now, she would see the same desire reflected on Ezekiel`s face. She doesn`t look at him, though. She concentrates on the walkers, who slowly, but steadily come closer.

She aims, holds her breath, and lets the arrow fly. And another. And one more.

"Perfect shots!" Ezekiel exclaims.

Carol lowers her bow, only now allowing herself to look at him. He grins at her, hands on his hips. And yeah, there`s that tightening in her belly again.

"You didn`t even look", she points out, narrowing her eyes at him in mock accusation.

"Didn`t have to." Still grinning.

Rolling her eyes, Carol jumps off the wagon again, brushing past Ezekiel to retrieve her arrows.

"Idiot", she mutters as she passes him closely, their shoulders almost touching. His low chuckle reaches her ears, giving her a sense of satisfaction. She doesn`t have to look over her shoulder to know he is following her on her heel.

"Told you they were perfect shots."

Ezekiel watches as Carol pulls her arrows out of the dead bodies. All three have landed right between the eyes. He knew they would. He had spent quite a considerable amount of time watching her train day after day until she had perfected her new choice of weapon.

"They were easy", Carol says nonchalantly.

"Oh, well", Ezekiel regards her with a knowing look. "I`m sure we could find ourselves some more wasted if you would like to practice your skills a little more. It`s still early enough in the day."

He knows that Carol always enjoyed kicking some walker ass if it wasn`t out of pure need to survive. During their marriage, they always made sure that the area around the Kingdom was free of walkers. Mostly, that was easy as their guards would take out any strays they encountered. But sometimes, small herds would come in their direction and Carol would always take charge in wiping them out – with her husband right next to her. As strange as it may seem, they actually had quite some fun doing it.

Carol studies Ezekiel`s face, pondering if his suggestion was serious. He`s looking at her with an eyebrow raised in expectation of her answer, so yes, she thinks he is serious. The offer is tempting, but …

"I have a better idea", she says, smiling at him.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. We head home, get our work done and then you can invite me and the kids to an ice cream date."

"That is a better idea", Ezekiel agrees.

They walk back to their wagon side by side, not paying any more attention to the dead.

After all, it is the living that matter.

TBC