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:

Panting from the immense force he had put into his kick, Daryl was bent over somewhat, forehead pressed against the wall trying to catch his breath. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Carol visibly slouching against the wall pulling her pack close to her. He felt the muscle around his heart tighten when he saw her wrap her arms around her body to protect herself. The look on her face had him wanting to slink into the darkest parts of the bathroom so he couldn't be seen— ashamed of his display of anger again.

The clenching feeling caused a sharp pain to run through his chest and he felt his hand pawing where he thought he'd felt the jolt shoot through him. She was cowering because of his selfish reaction. Drawing into herself because she was afraid of him— afraid that he would direct his anger at her. Daryl had never known her to be afraid of him and it hurt him more than he could possibly fathom the pain ever being… Almost nauseating to be literal. Never had he ever wanted Carol to be afraid or fear him the way she was cowering now. He wasn't his Daddy. He'd made sure that he didn't follow in his footsteps always being aware of whom his anger was keened at. Apparently he really was like his Daddy in the end despite his best efforts. Everything in vain.

He had never wanted to hurt her as he had but he did and there was no taking it back or getting a second-chance. This was it. He supposed this was the part where they were supposed to let go. Let it die. He hoped he hadn't fallen in love because of the pain involved— on both sides, but that wasn't so easily done as he had believed. He thought he was strong enough to deny himself some slice of happiness but he wasn't. Just as weak as he always was.

You don't want me…

Angling his head so he could somewhat catch a glimpse of Carol without being ostensibly obvious with his staring, Daryl saw the tears rolling down her cheeks and the sheer sadness that was evident in her eyes. He grit his teeth knowing her crying was because he didn't know how to deal with any of this. He'd broken her heart and he wasn't even man enough to pick up the pieces. He felt his fists balling at his sides, nails digging half-moons into the calloused skin of his palms. That wasn't even it.

Why couldn't he simply just live with the love she was giving him? What was so hard about it? If he was being honest with himself, he'd known for a while that he loved Carol. He just wasn't sure if he could will himself to let anything happen. He just never let her know. And instead, he had lashed out repeatedly digging his grave to keep her at bay, but that hadn't worked and here they were. Both torn asunder and a damn mess.

Working his jaw as he mulled over his own thoughts, he finally found his voice small and gravelly albeit there. "It ain't like that. Ain't anythin' ya did. It's all me. Always was. I ain't worth yer time. 'M only gon' disappoint ya." He confessed still not completely looking back at her. Truer words had never been spoken in his life. And the more he let linger his admonitions the more he felt like a complete failure.

The shame of having rescinded her love was still fresh and Daryl didn't want to look at her. He couldn't dare himself to fully look upon her face. He was well aware of how bad she was hurting from the way she curled into herself trying to fight back her sobs. Daryl didn't think she'd allow him that leeway to see that side of her anymore. The way she turned away, hiding her face from him— he'd gone and fucked up.

When the clapping sound echoed loud in the small space catching him off guard, Daryl's eyes shifted towards where it had been emitted. He could see Carol mimicking the same position he had currently been in. Forehead pressed against the cool of the wall, hand planted flat against the surface. The sound had been loud and he was sure it had hurt like a bitch.

"You alright?" He growled turning slightly somewhat from his place against the wall. Stuffing his fist back into his pocket, he thumbed the jasper stone around trying to find his center. Her words were still stuck in his head.

You don't get a choice.

"What choice did I have? Huh? Ya seem t'think this was all on purpose. That it was my fault fer feelin' the way I do. Hmph." He groused not even stopping himself from thinking aloud turning more so now he was looking at Carol. "What more d'ya want from me? I ain't the good guy."

Carol:

She remained quiet. Her eyes were clenched tightly shut at this point. The pain of her heart breaking was making her weak, making her almost beg, but she couldn't do that to him. She wouldn't put him in the position to outright deny her what she so desperately wanted. Her hand slid down the wall, and she turned around, pushing back against the wall for fear that she'd fall apart and sink to the floor if it wasn't there to catch her. She shook her head. "When you going to learn that nothing you've ever done has disappointed me? When are you going to let me decide if you're worth my time or not? Daryl, I'm not some fragile chinadoll that needs to be kept on a shelf away from your touch."

Hadn't she proved that to him? Hadn't she proved that to all of them? She'd clawed and fought her way into that cell down in the tombs. She hadn't given up hope that maybe by some damn chance that she was going to survive certain death. And hadn't she? And he'd found her, taken her back to the others. She'd lived to fight another day. And every day since then, she'd set about to show the world that she could make it. That she was a survivor. But it was him that she needed to see that side of her. Did he think she was weak? Or unworthy of his love? Of his touch?

She closed her eyes for a moment and remembered the feel of his fingertips as they'd danced across her cheekbone. It gave her a shiver and she let out a soft whimper. It was only moments before, and it felt like a lifetime ago. How she ached to have his hand on her again. Even if it wasn't but a simple touch. She swallowed hard, eyes flying open as she thought of how he must see her. She was a damn fool for thinking that Daryl Dixon could ever have eyes for her. And tonight, she'd have it out of him one way or another.

"Not the good guy?" She snorted, using his own favorite right back at him. "Pfft." She rolled her eyes in quite the way that he'd shown her and the others over the course of the last eighteen months together. "Bullshit."

She angrily wiped at the tears on her face with her fingers. She stamped her foot, impatience and stubborness meeting head on. She moved toward him, shaking her finger at him. "For one, you could stop being a goddamn coward, Daryl Dixon." Her hand then flew to her lips, completely taken aback at her own behavior, but she'd done it. She'd said the words and to hell if she was going to hide from them now. She moved her hand slowly down her mouth and from her face and shook her head.

"Say you don't love me. Say it, and we'll never speak of this again." She felt the pain as it trickled from her palm and through her wrist and up her elbow. This was all going to hurt in the morning, but it would be worth it, she supposed, but only if she got answers. Her eyes were locked on him, taking in every inch of him that she could without having to move her head. "Say it and this is over. One way or the other…"

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!