"Yeah…but…" Carol smiled as she started to reply; Daryl winked over as already knew what she was about to say.

"I loved you first." They spoke at the same time, and this time when he leant forward it was to find that she'd already met him halfway. Their lips met in the gentlest of kisses, and was only interrupted by Maggie's loud question;

"So, Daryl – you wanna catch my bouquet?" He raised his head and both he and Carol smirked over at the loud bride. He raised his eyebrow questioningly at Carol and she raised an eyebrow back at him; neither one wanting to give in and ask that all important.

"Do I hafta?" He whined playfully, "Ain't it enough that I sang ta ya?"

"Yes, ya 'hafta'. Otherwise, I'll be leaving you to explain to the grandchildren why grandma and grandpa are living in sin after sixty years."

"Only sixty years?" Daryl waggled his eyebrows suggestively and then realised what she had said. "Grandchildren? Ya mean that you'd wanna have kids with me? Really?"

"Of course I would, Pookie. I want the whole thing with you, no half measures." Carol placed her hands either side of his cheeks and kissed his lips tenderly, feeling him smile against her lips.

"Hershel! Where's that old goat got to now? Hershel!" Daryl rose to his feet, pulling Carol up alongside him.

"No need to shout boy, I'm right here." Hershel rose up from where he had been sitting chatting with Rosemary and felt in his pocket for his bible. "So, let's cut to the chase shall we? Daryl – do you want to marry this woman?"

"Yes sir, I do." Daryl nodded swiftly, squeezing Carol's hand as he spoke. Hershel turned to face Carol.

"Carol – do you want to marry this smart mouth redneck…" Hershel began and then catching a glare from Daryl started again. "Sorry, honey. What I meant to say do you want to marry Daryl?"

"Yes, I do." Carol returned Daryl's squeeze and he lifted their joined hands to his mouth to kiss the back of her hand.

"Okay, then. Consider yerself married!"

"Just like that? No fancy words or pergola? None of that shit?" Daryl gaped over at the older man, Hershel sighed.

"Son, you really want to go through all of this fuss and mess?" He swept his hand around the room, and looked over at the stunned looking man. "That's what I thought, now kiss your bride and if you hurry I hear there's still one remaining guard tower available…" Hershel found himself talking to thin air as Daryl swept a laughing Carol up into his arms and over his shoulder as he strode out of the door. Carol waved goodbye to a shocked looking Merle; who still didn't believe his brother just pulled that off and blew a kiss over to Rick and Carl.

"I'll have to give you that dance another time, gentlemen."

"No, she won't. We're gonna be too busy working on those grandchildren for anything else. Two days off rotation wasn't it, Rick?" Daryl swatted her bottom playfully and arched a brow over at his stunned friend. As Rick nodded slowly, the realisation of what had just occurred sunk through his alcohol soaked head.

"He really did it. I didn't think he would, but he really did it!" He sank back to the table and Merle slid another bottle across the table.

"Drink up, friendly. We're the last remaining single guys from the original group. I know you're probably still mourning Lori, but there's a lot of eyes on us at the moment; so drink up!" Rick looked up at the older man and discretely glanced around the room; why did he suddenly feel like he was on offer to the highest bidder? Merle was right, all the ladies were throwing suggestive glances across at the pair of them and it wasn't a comfortable feeling at all.

"Think I'll go and relieve Mick and Dave from watch, I'm suddenly not in a party mood." Rick pushed the bottle back at Merle and rose to his feet, suddenly stone cold sober.

"You know what? I think I'll join you." Merle got up too and shoulder to shoulder the two men swiftly left the room as fast as their feet would carry them without actually breaking into a run.

AN: 'How Do I Live?' Lyrics by Diane Warren, 'The Devil Went Down to Georgia' Lyrics by the Charlie Daniels Band and 'You Made Me Love You' Lyrics by Joseph McCarthy.