Thank you so much for the reviews and follows - I know this is all pretty rough so thanks again for giving me a chance :-D

Meant to say at the beginning that there is serious love and filth coming along in the next chapters so please hold on for that!

Chapter 2

Day 9.

At around 3AM Tyreese shook Carol awake "Somethin's coming" he whispered. The sound of engines approached and she jumped from the bed she was sharing with Mika and Lizzie, waking them and ushering them downstairs as quickly as possible. They'd worked out an escape plan days ago and had their packs ready by the back door. Tyreese had already scooped Judith up into the baby carrier they'd found in one of the bedrooms and she was quiet against his chest as they gathered by the exit.

Tyreese peered out through the murky dawn into the yard that backed onto the woods behind the farmstead and announced it clear of walkers. Carl took up position crouched by the front window scanning the road. They stood tense, waiting to see if the vehicles would pass by or slow, glancing nervously at each other as the engines got louder before unmistakably drawing to a halt on the gravel out front.

"Two vehicles" whispered Carl. Carol grabbed hold of Mika and Lizzie's hands as they whimpered quietly. "Get ready" she quietly urged them, half crouching in the doorway, ready to run to the tree-line. "Wait - it's Dad!" cried Carl flinging open the front door and running out to greet him.

At the back door everyone breathed deeply before moving through to the front of the house and out onto the porch, scanning both the minivan Rick was exiting and another car drawn up slightly behind. Michonne quickly rose from the driver's side of the car, glancing down into the passenger seat at the pale face of Daryl who sat frozen, his eyes locked onto the house and focussed solely onto Carol as she stumbled onto the front steps, staring back with disbelief on her face.

"We've gotta keep moving" Rick urged as the group moved together, small smiles of relief etching onto the farmsteaders faces. "We managed to sneak Daryl out without ...too much trouble" he continued hesitatingly, "but they're going to notice him gone soon enough, along with some of their weapons and the bus, so we'd better get going. They're not a friendly bunch".

Carol had moved to the front of the car but seemed to stall again and was just standing staring at Daryl as he slowly got out of the passenger seat, his eyes also fixed on Carol. Tyreese moved over to Rick "We got a bassinet back in the house and a few other things we can carry now we've got a car" he suggested. Rick glanced at Carol and Daryl as they stood paralysed and began ushering everyone else back to the porch "Let's see what we can grab". He nodded toward Daryl "You've got five minutes" he said, a small smile lifting the side of his mouth as he walked into the house.

"Daryl..." whispered Carol as she took a tentative step towards the man she'd thought was lost to her forever, reaching her hand towards him before stopping herself and lowering it to her side. She could see he was staring at her but she didn't know what to make of his expression - was he unable to forgive her for what she'd done back at the prison? Would he even attack her for the killings - consider it murder instead of the mercy she had meant it to be? She gulped in the cool night air trying to compose herself, finally stuttering "I...I'm sorry, I'm just so glad to see you. You can go in with the others now if you want"

At this comment, Daryl flinched; his body tightening even further than the bow-string it'd been before, and he launched himself across the gravel, covering the steps between them in a second and wrapping his arms around the woman he loved. He crushed his mouth onto hers and groaned "Carol.." against her lips as they opened to his.

He couldn't believe she was here - that he'd found her again after nearly 2 weeks of thinking her lost and probably dead at the hands of that son of a bitch Governor. The force of his feelings momentarily overwhelmed him - moving him against her without the usual agony of doubt stopping him.

Carol wept silently as they kissed, tears streaming down her face as she sought to embrace him, only managing to encircle his waist because of the force of his grip around her upper arms. He pulled back and took her head gently in his hands - staring again into her eyes as though not sure she was really here.

"I thought you'd ..." she gasped, not able to articulate all the fears that had been plaguing her - that he might've been killed or had reverted back to the lone survivor, choosing to stay with the murderers Rick had told her about. "M' sorry" he growled back "Never should'a let ya go..."

She frowned slightly, still worried about how he would react to the prison deaths and concerned at his haunted appearance, wondering what he'd had to endure with the depot group. He read the change in her expression the only way he knew how; suddenly loosening his grip on her body, shame flooding his face as he looked away and dropped his arms altogether "Sorry - was just pleased to see ya - didn't mean to go crazy" he mumbled.

"No, it's ok" Carol whispered back, her hand reaching for his stubbled cheek "I've missed you so much..." Her mind swam - had she misinterpreted that kiss completely? Was he actually just pleased to see any of the old crew still alive rather than being happy it was specifically her? Daryl dragged his eyes back up to hers, uncomfortable in his confusion. Was she really that pleased to see him? He must have revolted her, pouncing on her like that after days with those stinking geeks - he knew he was filthy and stank and being this close could just detect her own sweet fresh scent in embarrassing contrast to his own fug.

All the things he'd wanted to say to her, all the hours he'd spent building up the courage to tell her how he felt, drained away from him and he reverted to the self-loathing he always returned to. 'Goddamn stupid pig that I am' he thought as he stepped back from the beautiful woman in front of him.

But before he could move further she reached down and grabbed his wrist in a move he knew was meant to mirror the many times he'd caught her the same way, when she'd been the one full of pain and sadness. "No" said Carol firmly reaching for his chin and pulling it up to make him look at her. "I have spent all this time hoping,...wishing, I would get another chance to tell you Daryl Dixon. To tell you... that I..." She stumbled over her words, knowing he didn't want to hear this stuff from her, but the knot she'd been carrying in her stomach for what seemed like forever forced her to continue "That I love you, Daryl. And I know you don't feel like that about me - that I'm just a friend to you...but I had to say it - I had to...it's been killing me thinking I'd lost my chance forever" She turned her own face down to the floor, tears welling in her eyes again, letting her hand fall from his face as she felt her shame rise, starting to feel angry with herself for ruining their friendship like this.

With a lurch in his chest Daryl suddenly realised what she was saying - that she'd said she loved him - and not just like a friend? Maybe like he loved her? He thought of the breathless kiss they'd just shared. The best kiss of his life; the kiss that was still making his heart hammer. It had been no chaste friendship kiss - could it be a kiss that she might want to happen again?

He stepped back toward her again, standing closer than he'd ever managed before tonight and forced himself to say what he was feeling. Turning her shoulders back to face him he looked into her eyes again and whispered "I... love ya too, Carol, have done.. for so long... please..." he begged, trailing off, unable to put any more of himself into the words, and letting his forehead fall weakly against hers.

Finally, the truth hit them both and they moved together again, locking their open mouths, this time kissing deeper, pressing their bodies together and becoming light-headed as the explosive sensations of their tongues finally meeting, surged through them.

Suddenly the rest of the group were walking toward them, coughing gently and making their presence felt by the pair, passing bags between them and loading up the vehicles with everything they could carry.

Carol and Daryl broke apart, flushed and breathing hard but kept their hands gripped tightly together, dropping them down shyly between them. They turned as one to Rick who was telling everyone who would be travelling in which vehicle. "I'll take the van with Michonne, Tyreese, Carl and the girls - you take the car" he nodded towards Daryl. "We'll keep going a few hours then see if we can find somewhere to hole up - we've got to think about finding anyone else who might have made it out" he finished.

They all nodded and started climbing into their seats. Carol couldn't help but smile shyly as both Rick and Tyreese patted Daryl on the back as they passed him, wearing little smiles of their own. Michonne was less subtle, walking right up to Carol, and while Daryl was distracted by the congratulations of the others, showed her a big goofy smile with two thumbs stuck into the air. Carol giggled quietly, causing Daryl to look tenderly over to her with his own special smirk that he only ever showed her.

Thanks for reading - the filth is coming soon ;-)