Looking up, he saw her through the veil of mist, covered in walker blood, her knife held tight in front of her as she yanked it from the walker's head. The corpse collapsed as she pushed it to the side. She paused to wipe the sweat from her brow with her forearm, her blue eyes flashing in his direction. They looked harder than he remembered. He took her in completely then, as he lay there against the tree, exhausted. His body ached with the full weariness of his age, but his chest throbbed like it was newly born. Carol appeared fierce, like some mystical force of nature. And he never thought she could look more beautiful.
"I never took you for the distressed damsel type, Daryl. Are you feeling alright?" She grinned wickedly as she extended her hand to him.
He felt the heat rise on his cheeks. "Somethin' caught my eye," he scoffed, accepting her hand, but looking past her to the pile of walkers that lay around them in the small clearing as she helped him up.
Examining him carefully, she squeezed his hand briefly before letting it go. "Are you sure you're not hurt?"
"You surprised me is all," he said flustered, trying to repress the harsh ancient remnants of his defensive urges, yet still avoiding her eyes by keeping his on the carnage even when he turned towards her. "Wasn't sure I was gonna find you. I mean, I wanted to, but..." his voice trailed off as he thought about his previous failures. Glancing down at his boots, ashamed, he thought of Merle. Of Sophia.
"Well, here I am," she beamed at him, reaching for his chin and lifting his face to meet hers again. "Over here."
Something flipped in his stomach as finally he met her eyes. The magnetic pull of those electric blues fascinated him. He smiled shyly, but this time he couldn't pull his eyes away from hers. "You're here," he paused to soak her up, "and I still can't believe it." Slowly, he reached his fingers to her cheek, caressing her in disbelief. Somehow, it was only the touch of her soft skin under his fingertips that made her real to him. "You're here. You're really here," he repeated in amazement, a shy grin of relief blossoming on his face. Time seemed to slow down and cease completely. He wasn't sure how long he stood there, entranced by her beingness.
She reached her hand up and placed it gently on his wrist, and it completed the circuit between them, blasting through his diffidence, amplifying his senses. "I'm really here." She gazed at him with triumphant tears that brightened her eyes. Turning her head slightly, she pressed her lips against his hand, in celebration of their victory. They had found each other.
Her kiss sent electrical currents up his arm into his chest, jolting him into action. Energized and unrestrained, he let go of the breath he was holding with a start and reached his other hand towards her. Soon he had her with both hands, pulling at the soft hair behind her ears, twisting it between his calloused fingers, feeling her softness swirl around and encompass him.
He drew himself closer to her until there was no longer any distance between them. But it wasn't enough.
"You saved me, Carol. You always do." With his own tears burning his eyes and the tightness in his chest opening to a warm joy, he knew in that moment that he could no longer deny how alive she made him feel. His excitement over this discovery percolated and bubbled over; the flame in his chest surged to his arms. His ardent hands tugged her closer still, until every part of him was wholly embracing her.
The heat of her pressed against him rushed inwards, burning away any remaining fear left inside of him, driving him towards her. There was nothing that could stop him. Not now. Her lips called to him.
So he kissed her.