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:

When he noticed the way she was hunched over breathing heavily with her hands placated at her knees, Daryl found himself kicking out the stand and giving the handlebars a good turn, before climbing off the seat and over to where Carol was. The sound of her upchucking onto the ground where she stood caused a wrinkle to wind its way across his nose. It wasn't that he was disgusted by the act, it was the retching sound that got to him and he felt bad somewhat that a lot of this was spurred on because of his own selfish need for justification for her actions.

Looking down at his back pocket as she tried righting herself in a standing position, he pulled at the worn grease rag and held it out to her. "Here," he muttered offering it out so she could clean herself somewhat.

Her words confirmed what he had already knew was the reason behind it. That was clear enough. He was surprised mostly that she had held out for as long as she had without having a complete meltdown. There was no real idea as far as knowing was concerned— Tyreese was unpredictable. Daryl hadn't planned to have the man reel on him the way he had, pinning him against the wall when they'd all found the bodies burned to nothing. The man had enough force, he was sure, to choke him out with a single hand. That thrust when he had found himself pressed against the bars had scared him shitless. He had been at his mercy and had only gotten the brunt of the beat down that would have been for him had Rick not interfered like he had.

As she spoke and slowly turned to face him, Daryl was greeted with those bright eyes, corners brimmed with tears. Absently as she removed one stray one that had come loose, he thumbed the roughened pads of his fingers across her face, ridding her cheeks of the excess tears. "I know," he muttered softly in his gruff voice the best he could to somehow soothe her nerves.

Dropping his hands from her face, he watched as she moved towards the motorcycle waiting on him to climb back on. Her hand came to settle at his shoulder and he glanced down at the small frail hand there as she began to speak. Working his jaw slowly as he clung to each word, he gave a short nod before feeling his cheeks go flush at the brush of her lips against the scratchy stubble of his jaw.

Climbing on without much more being exchanged, he felt the warmth of her arms about his middle once more as he swept the kickstand back and started up the motorcycle once more. He gave Carol's arm a gentle squeeze before they took off and back onto the road headed for the prison.

"It's gonna be okay."

Carol's POV:

Carol wasn't so sure that it would be okay. She had no idea what her fate would be once they crossed the prison's threshold, and she couldn't and didn't expect for Daryl to have to put himself between herself and the others. In fact, it was something she wouldn't allow. She'd done an awful thing. And yes, it had been for the good of group that spurred her actions, but she still felt sick about it. She felt so many different things, but she'd own what she did. She had to. It was how society worked.

She laid her forehead between his shoulder blades, trying desperately for her emotions to settle down so that she could at least appear to be holding herself together. It would never do good to let the others see her like this. Daryl, she trusted herself with. She knew that he didn't and wouldn't judge her based on her outburst of nerves, but the others she wasn't so sure.

She hadn't ever expected Rick to turn her out, but he had. And the realization that he'd expected her death out there was still fresh on her mind. And yet, she couldn't bring herself to hate him or blame him. He had two children to look after and to make sure they did right by the others around them. And that was something she would always respect.

She lifted her head after a mile or two back on the road and laid her chin on his shoulder and moved her mouth close to his ear. "Thank you for everything, Daryl. You've been my everything through all this, and I don't know what I'd have done without you."

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!