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:

As they traveled along the road for several minutes, it was done in complete silence. He didn't mind that she was clinging to him like a second skin. She'd be a damned fool not to with there being a lack of helmets to be had and no real doctors on hand in case something were to happen. But the warmth at his back was soothing as they continued on dipping around bends in the road and the occasional car or drifting tumbleweed that came bouncing along.

In the back of Daryl's mind he was wordlessly preparing himself for their next hurdle. There was still the unsurety of it all. The distinct finality in what Rick had said had ended on a sour note between them, but Daryl hadn't cared about repercussions. It hadn't been his call to make to decide her fate. There was a need for order. There had to be or else things simply fell apart and then what was there to follow?

He wouldn't admit it, but he was scared. Fearful of what might happen. He hadn't known Tyreese long, but he could only assume from the way he had reacted to finding out what had happened to Karen and David that their calm discussion wasn't likely to go off without a hitch. There would be a scuffle of it. He was sure. There had been no telling what he would do when he found out, but with that amount of strength behind such a man— conviction was a brutal thing.

Immediately his brow began to furrow when he felt the sudden tremor raking through Carol's body and he heard her voice at his ear. Without much a second thought, Daryl looked for a set of trees off the side of the road and came to a crawl off the road and down a beaten path. "Wait 'till I'm stopped," he warned as they finally rolled behind a wooded area— away from prying eyes.

Killing the engine, he flat footed the motorcycle as he felt it lurch and the warmth behind him disappear. Placating his hands to rest at his thighs, Daryl turned around to cast a rather concerned look in her direction. "You alrigh'?" He asked arching a brow up at the sudden need to stop.

Carol's POV:

Carol's hands were shaking now. The bile rose in her throat, threatening to betray her. She slid off the bike on shaking legs once it came to a complete stop. She turned her back to him, bending at the waist as she placed her hands on her knees. She took several deep breaths, trying to fight off the urge to be sick. But the heaviness in her stomach won out, and she purged it from her body. The water and stomach acid were enough to leave a dry, sickening taste in her mouth.

She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and then tested standing up straight. She shook her head at his question and managed a quiet, "No. I'm scared to death." The deaths of their friends at her hands was ever present in her mind. Tyreese was a big man. One in which she didn't want to tangle with, but she wanted desperately to go home. She needed to. Even if they sentenced her to death, or exile once again. At least this time it would be the right way.

She turned to fully face him now, tears pricking her eyes. They were hot and stung as one escaped down her cheek. She lifted her hand, brushing it away. Her lips pressed together tightly. "But I want to go home. I need to go home." She stepped toward the motorcycle. She paused beside him, touching his shoulder with a sad smile.

"You've done all you can for me at this point, and I'm grateful for everything, Daryl. I mean that, really." She moved her hand down his arm, resting her fingers over his and finally tangling them together as she gave a slight squeeze. "I would have never had the guts to come back on my own, but I'm ready to face what's to come. Because of you…" The last part was a whispered confession that she wasn't sure she was ready for him to hear, but it was out there now, and she couldn't take it back.

She leaned in slowly, kissing his cheek and then let her fingers slide from his. She slipped onto the back of the bike, wrapping herself around him almost as tightly as before.

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!