This started out as a role play between myself (gunslingerdixon) and my Carol rp partner untapdtreasure (nolongeraxburden), and it was mutually decided upon to share with the rest of FF as a fanfiction. So here it is! Enjoy!

If y'all are interested in following us just go to: nolongeraxburden. tumblr .com or gunslingerdixon. tumblr .com

Also: we own nothing in regards to The Walking Dead. All rights belong to the copyright holder.

Daryl worked his jaw, disliking the reality that was brought forth by her question. He couldn't hide from her the truth that it would be damned near impossible for him to take her back to the prison. Too many people would feel uneasy and she would be ostracized for her actions. He didn't want anything like that for her. For no one. Even if people were bad at times, he never thought that they should ever know what it was like to feel like they didn't belong or weren't wanted. He'd felt it all too often for himself and he hated the people that made him feel that way.

His attention was held on the scuffing of his boots, jaw clenching and unclenching knowing that he would tell her and the blow wouldn't be something he could handle. Daryl's eyes carefully traveled up to find her own, meeting her teary gaze for that moment. He swallowed the lump in his throat, rolling out his shoulders, feeling the anxiety in his body start up again. He felt the need to pace and the desire to swivel his head back and forth as if surveying something, but he refrained as best he could trying to hold himself in place. He couldn't let on that this bothered him more than it should.

Finally coming to terms with everything somewhat, Daryl averted his eyes away from hers and mumbled, "No." The words hung in the air like an impenetrable silence. The words didn't feel real to him and he wasn't sure if he should repeat them or not but he did. "No, Ya can't go back." His stomach was twisting again and it was like the bile was rising in his throat and it burned like a scratching sensation.

He couldn't look at Carol in fear of those pleading eyes. He'd seen that look only a handful of times before but only recalled two— finding Sophia and when she'd asked him to not go searching for her. It was a look he wasn't ready to see nor willing to handle again. He'd been flippant about the one in the barn, having chucked the saddle across the barn floor doubling over in pain from the bolt he'd gouged himself on a few days prior. He wasn't sure if he could handle it again. It was always something he never expected with Carol and he wasn't sure if he ever would.

Uncomfortably he began toeing his boot into the ground, steeling himself for her possible reaction.

She stepped forward at hearing his words. She needed this over and quick. If this was the last time that they ever saw one another, she wouldn't go without having her arms around him. Just to feel it. Just once. For the first time since meeting him, she didn't care about his feelings or his space, she moved herself right into the space and slipped her arms under his and hugged him tightly while laying her head on his chest. She breathed in deeply.

"You should go," she whispered. She closed her eyes, still not letting him go. He felt good. Just like she always knew he would. It was no secret that she liked him. She always flirted with him. Even found it endearing and attractive that he was so out of his element when she did so that she did it just see him squirm. It wasn't done with malice. Just adoration. She could handle more coming from their relationship, but she knew when not to push.

To put it simply, Daryl Dixon wasn't ready for that. Or maybe he was, but he didn't think so. And that was good enough for her. She lifted her face up then, looking up at him. She was aware of his body language. Very aware that she was only making this harder for them both, but she needed this if she was going out there to brave this world alone.

"Tell the girls…" She trailed off then, unable to finish. She turned her head away, pulling out of his grasp then and toward the station wagon's passenger door from where she'd come. "Take the gas. I'll find more. Get back before it's too late."

Her hand shook as she pulled open the door, ready to climb back into her sanctuary. She wasn't ready to start this new chapter in her life. Especially not alone, but she'd accepted her fate. Now all she had to do was embrace it.

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