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:

Her words caught him off guard.

All I want is you.

Did she really? Could she really want him? Could she honestly love him like she thought she did? Like she believed she did?

He'd come to take her home, back to the prison, in spite of whatever repercussions awaited him…them upon arrival. He'd deal with Tyreese if he had to. That didn't matter to him. He could handle him when all was said and done. Dixons weren't afraid of nobody.

And yet, this was simply more than he was bargaining for. More than he could ever swallow. He knew he'd never been any good… never be any good with his feelings. Only good at letting others be aware of the heart he left pinned at his sleeve. He was often an open gaping wound, but kept tight lipped about his internal monologue of thoughts. Never really allowing others to get too close. He couldn't risk them seeing the turmoil that writhed inside himself.

Her hands caught his head gently angling him to face her, stealing himself away from the damnation he was condemning himself for. Daryl's eyes met hers for a brief moment before shutting them— ashamed to look at her. Carol had been searching for something in his own, but he didn't care to let her try. He didn't want her to try. He still felt at best a little bit more than useless. He'd tried getting a reaction out of her— gauge where it was he stood with her— and she'd simply stared up at him as he leered down at her. What more could he do?

Instead of tackling it head on, he turned away from the problem— running away as he did.

Then… Everything seemed to still. He felt the brush of her lips at the corner of his mouth and instinctively he pulled away some, breaking the contact. He figured she would simply give up as he was battling her the entire way through it all. This was his way of trying to keep her from getting hurt. Or was it he himself keeping himself from being hurt? He felt guilty that he had been letting on that there could somehow be something more between them, but he couldn't remember when that line had blurred and he'd found himself seeking her out amongst the others or simply feeling more at ease knowing that she was simply nearby.

Daryl had felt the need to find her. And the more it wrangled around his mind, the more it came to light that he'd gone because he needed her. Needed the comfort of this constant person in his life. The only steady thing that seemed to persist in spite of all the drawbacks that seemed to follow. But here he was running around in circles of his self-doubt. He knew it could never be so easy for him to relent and allow this extension of vulnerability.

The electric shock that jolted him to snap his eyes open as he felt the press of her lips against his lingered for a few steady heartbeats. The thoughts in his head were halted. His breath caught in his throat and his eyes were wide still unable to process what exactly all was going on. Her small hands held his face close to hers, thumb brushing gently against the stubble of his jaw. The resistive urge to remove himself from her proximity was immediately compromised. Daryl stood rigid unable to will himself to move.

The knotted coils of tension slowly ebbed away and he felt his heart drop out through the bottom of his chest. A tingling sensation ran the gamut of his neck down to the middle of his back, zigging and zagging the length of his spinal column. There were so many mixed emotions and thoughts running through his head all of a sudden, Daryl couldn't keep track of how fast everything seemed to be spinning.

Everything was all at once and then suddenly it was nothing. It simply stopped.

Daryl stopped thinking. He stopped breathing. Stopped moving. He simply stopped trying to take that one step back that would send any progress back even more. He pulled away breaking their connection waiting on his nerves to settle and his heart to steady some as it was pumping rapidly against his chest threatening to break free from its bony cage. His hand hesitated to slide down from where he had settled it next to the short wisps of hair by her ear. The compulsion to touch was hanging in the air.

Daring to venture forth, his hand hovered near her cheek, fingers rubbing out of sheer fear that he may be rejected. That she would finally deny him what he'd been persistently denying her all this time. He rubbed his thumb along his index finger contemplating whether or not he should or shouldn't follow through with his action. She'd boldly taken the first step. Now it was his turn.

Swallowing the thick lump of anxiety that was slowly suffocating him, Daryl brought his hand down, fingers lightly brushing along her cheekbone. Her skin warm and soft beneath his fingertips. Elation was spiking in his chest, but he felt like at any moment she would push him away and simply put an end to this game of cat and mouse.

Brows knitted in confusion as he was unsure of how exactly he should feel in that moment. The scowl that curled his lips set itself but fell as he was doing his best to assess the hammering that had started up in his chest again. His eyes slowly began roving over her features taking note of the light smackle of freckles across her nose and cheeks. He'd never really noticed until now. He was incredibly close to her and each visible line of age was evident. The grey in his whiskers was proof of that in himself.

Finding her eyes, Daryl caught the flicker of something. Her jaw was taut and gently he caught her cheek in his bloodied hand, thumb grazing along her cheekbone. The words were stuck in his throat and he was sure as the sun would rise in the west that it would be near impossible for him to loose them. He hoped that his next action spoke more than he ever would.

The breath he'd been holding fell from his lips just as the tension slipped from his bones and his rigid posture relaxed some. The height of his shoulders sagged some coming off the rush of having taken that one step forward. Daryl could never be tamed. He wouldn't allow it. He'd heard that wild hearts couldn't be broken and he supposed that this was somewhat true in his case. He was rife with wild tendencies and it was near impossible to get him to just settle down.

Sucking in a staggered breath, he shut his eyes leaning forward. He was going to fumble. His nose brushed along hers feeling the stunted puffs of breath along his skin and he immediately recoiled back feeling the instinct to flee in him building itself in his gut. The taunting he could hear in his ear was creeping its way back telling him that he was making a damned fool of himself. Absently shaking his head, he felt a surge of determination. There would be no backing down if he could help it. Biting the inside of his cheek, he tried again, cracking an eye open slightly. Pressing his chapped lips against hers, Daryl felt the muscle around his heart tighten and his brow knit in slight pain. It was like he was strangling himself but then not. It was a tangle of anxious ardor.

This was simply too much. In that moment he realized he would never be enough for her. Daryl Dixon would never be the man she thought him to be. He would always be less than enough. And he would only disappoint her.

Carol:

Carol's thumb thrummed over his cheek, feeling the stubble against her fingertips and palm. She'd never wanted anything more than she had in this moment. It was all or nothing, and she knew deep down that she'd have to help him and guide him through this. At least for a little while. She understood his want to keep people at arm's length. She'd never do anything to embarrass him or bring any unwanted attention his way. She just wanted to be with him, share their quiet moments, and connect with him like this. She lowered her eyelids slightly, looking up at him with a soft expression of complete love and total understanding. Devotion if she wanted to go that far. Because that was the truth. She loved him with her entire being.

Her right hand slid down from his face and against his neck, cupping it and bringing him ever closer as she stepped back down to the ground flat on her feet. She was unsteady from the smell and feel of his lips against hers. They were everything like she expected them to be and nothing at the same time. She'd never been able to imagine this feeling no matter how hard she had tried. This was the moment of truth, and she wouldn't have wanted it to be anything less than what it was. She felt his lips leave his once more, and she tucked her bottom lip under her top teeth and let out a soft whimper. Now that she'd had this, she couldn't go back to the way things were if she tried.

The fluttering in her gut were white hot heat. She trembled slightly, just wanting to press her mouth to his again, but she had to wait for him to catch up. She had to let him react, and she had to be patient above anything else. She was his. And she hoped that he was hers. And if she was honest with herself, that had been true for longer than either of them had both admitted. It wasn't lost on her that when they stood in a group or sat, they were always close to the other. That when the conversations with the council were over, they lingered behind to have their own little meeting and get to the heart of it all. She trusted him beyond any measure, and in time, she could only hope that he'd be able to do the same with her again. After everything, she wanted to make amends.

The movement of his hand had her eyes darting to the side, watching and hopeful. She tightened her grip on his neck as she let her other hand slide down his chest to come to rest at his hip. She curled her fingers into the fabric of his shirt and parted her lips slightly. Her breathing was nowhere near under control, and she had to will herself to just breathe. In and out, she felt the air filling and dispelling from her lungs. Her eyes were shifting from his hand to his eyes again, watching him as he wrestled with the feelings and emotions and how hard it was for him. It was both beautiful and painful to see.

He'd never known good touch. She was his first. That much she was certain, and she wanted to encourage and guide him, but she had to let him try first. She had to let him be the man that she'd known was there all along. She had to let that man see that he could have the things he desired in the world so long as the woman before him was patient and understanding. She'd never rush or utter a harsh word of impatience. It wasn't how they worked. It would never be how they worked.

Her eyes closed of their own free will at the faintest touch of his fingertips along her cheekbone. She leaned into him more, holding him close to her. Her hand released the fabric of his shirt and slid around his waist to his lower back and all but pressed him forward, encouraging him and just loving him. Her hand that was at his neck loosened a bit and her thumb slipped along his jaw in a tender stroke only to repeat again and again. She let her eyes open slowly, taking him in as he watched her. It was like he was seeing her for the first time. It made her heart skip a beat. She held her breath, hoping that he'd close the distance and kiss her this time.

Her eyes danced along his as they drank each other in. Her body pliable against him. She'd follow him anywhere, no questions asked, and do whatever he needed. It made her feel good to know that this had all been for something. Her hand left his neck and settled upon his chest over his very heart. She could feel it thrumming beneath her very palm. It only intensified her own reaction and caused the butterflies to make round after round of flight and sudden dips in her gut. She felt like she was on the Ferris Wheel and she'd crested the top and started down and around the bottom curve only to repeat over and over.

She watched as his eyes slipped shut. His head moved forward, lower still. Their noses brushed, sending a jolt up and down her spine. She dug her nails slightly into his lower back at the sensation. Her breath came out in a soft gasp. And she felt him pull away and for a second there was a frown on her lips until she saw him leaning forward again. He hadn't walked away, ended their progress. Their lips met again. The rough of his against the soft of hers was a welcomed feeling. She whimpered again, tilting her head a little more and parting her lips slightly. She moved her mouth against his, taking her time to soothe away whatever indecision and doubt that still lingered inside him. The heat in her gut almost giving way and letting her knees do the same.

The hand that was at his chest just over his heart, slowly moved up and winded around his neck as she held him close to her. Their bodies pressed together, soft and pliable against his muscled torso. She silently begged for him to keep going. She needed this. She needed him in this way. This was the most intimate feeling she had ever experienced. Terrifying and at the same time at peace, she moved her other hand up accidentally raising his shirt and touching his bare, scarred skin. It caused her to tremble even more, knowing that at any moment it could be over.

She broke the kiss this time, pulling back only a whisper as she swallowed back the overwhelming feeling that threaten to spill from her lips. She whispered, "I've never trusted anyone the way that I trust you. Never wanted anyone…loved anyone… Daryl, you're my everything." And once again, her lips fell gently onto his, peppering them with tiny kisses of promise and total adoration.

Please review and let us know what you thought! Cheers!

*Note: This is also not 100% written by myself. I owe a lot of credit to my wonderful partner as she is Carol and does a phenomenal job. Send her some love too at untapdtreasure here at FF!