Update! Finally! Sorry to keep you all waiting! I hope this makes up for it! Thanks for all your reviews!

She felt as though she was on a high and her hands wouldn't leave his face. It was only when he glanced behind him to check on everyone else did he stop looking at her. Rick, Glenn, Carl and Andrea were still stood still. Maggie then flew past Carol and into Glenn whose arms came around her. But Carol didn't care. Her gaze was still fixed on Daryl who was stood in front of her. She thought about the weapon on her back and then he looked back her and smiled slightly again.

"You're good wi' that," he said, nodding to his crossbow.

All she could do was smile up at him. Rick and Maggie, still holding Glenn up, ushered them all into the house. There didn't seem to be any walkers around this street and the windows were boarded up with thick planks of wood so they took it as a sign of safety.

"C'mon," Daryl said, putting his hand on the small of her back and guiding her back towards the house.

They passed the family of bodies on the grass and they dragged them to the front steps. It was an attempt, Carol thought, at warding off any walkers that might be near. It was camouflage- as Michonne said.

Once in the house, Daryl grabbed her by the hand and yanked her up the large wooden stairs. He ran into the closest bedroom, shut the door behind them and lifted the crossbow off her back gently. Her shoulder felt so much more relaxed. She didn't have time to marvel in that fact, however, as he grabbed her face in his calloused hands and brought their lips together again. It was forceful but she didn't care. Knowing that Daryl was here again and hadn't been lost to Woodbury for the second time made her even more grateful. She ran a hand through his hair and only broke apart when she needed to breathe.

"Thank God," she whispered with her forehead pressed on his.

"Shoulda given up on 'im a long time ago."

Carol shook her head. "You're here."

"I promised." He laughed slightly through his nose but smiled at her again. After a pause, he said, "We should go downstairs."

She smiled up at him and kissed him once more.

"Okay."

…

They were sat in a tight circle in the front room. It had gone dark now so they found candles and lit a few. The house was well equipped. Along with the canned food they had found before in the tiny shop, the house had more. It had blankets too. Maggie and Glenn huddled together in one. Rick and Carl shared another. Andrea and Michonne were silent but the blanket they had covered both their legs. Daryl inched closer to Carol until he felt comfortable but Carol didn't seem to care about personal space anymore. She pressed herself against him and her head fell to lean on his shoulder. His arms were behind him, pushing him in the upright position. A blanket was cast over her shoulder but she maneuvered it around his waist so it also covered his legs. He almost snorted but she wasn't taking no for an answer and she kept her arm around him.

"What now?" Maggie asked after a long silence.

All heads turned to look at her and Daryl saw the flash in Carol's eyes. He knew she had been enjoying this and they hadn't even been here a day. A nice house that was secure, food and warmth seemed enough to keep her happy.

"I don't know yet," Rick answered. "We'll stay here for a few days until we figure it out."

At that, Daryl noticed everyone in the room seemed happier and everyone shifted on the carpet, getting more comfortable. Carl was falling asleep next to Rick and Carol was dropping off on Daryl's shoulder.

"We'll stay down here," Michonne announced, obviously referring to herself and Andrea.

"There's a few rooms upstairs," Daryl said. "Should be enough."

Rick nodded and stood, picking Carl up. Daryl glanced at the boy and remembered just how young he was and how much he had gone through. Andrea and Michonne took off into the other rooms in the spacious house. Glenn and Maggie followed up the stairs next and then Carol yawned next to him.

"C'mon," he mumbled, nudging her. She clung onto his arm and he smirked. "There's comfy beds upstairs." She moaned, keeping her eyes shut. "'Kay," Daryl said shortly.

One of her bright blue eyes snapped open and looked at him curiously just as he threw one arm under her knees and placed the other on her back and then lifted her. She muffled a squeal at first and kicked her legs feebly before her arms fastened around his neck. Daryl noticed how light she was and he easily climbed the stairs with her. He kicked open the door to one of the rooms and placed her gently on the bed with the blanket still tangled around her legs.

"Daryl?"

"Hmm?"

"That was like somethin' a married couple would do."

His heart seemed to skip a beat at her blunt statement.

"What you sayin'?" he asked, settling next to her on the bed and throwing the blanket over them both.

Her eyes were still closed but she still smirked.

"How you lifted me."

"I done it before."

"When I couldn't walk 'cause I was so exhausted," she teased.

"Ain't no dif'rent. You're tired," he grunted.

She sighed blissfully and rested her head on his chest.

"G'night, Daryl."

…

"Sophia?" she heard herself say. "Baby, it's me!"

She was walking through the house. The back of Sophia's head came into view. The blue t-shirt was there. The one with the rainbow on the front. But something wasn't right. Her pants were dirty. There was a red, almost black, patch of sticky goo resting on her neck.

"Sophia?" she called again, fear creeping into her voice. "Baby?"

The dead version of her daughter slowly turned around. Then everything happened very fast. Her mouth snapped open. She ran forward. A bullet flew into her head. A gun that was resting in Carol's hand. Then the barrel of the gun came up to her face. She couldn't control it. A shot echoed.

She jolted awake, panting and sweaty, gripping onto the fabric of Daryl's shirt. The force of her grip seemed to rouse him and his eyes fluttered open, his expression turning to panic when he saw her face.

"Hey, woah," he whispered, pulling back to look at her. "The Hell happened?"

Carol allowed her breathing to slow before she spoke.

"Bad dream," she muttered.

There was a pause then Daryl pulled her in closer again.

"What about?"

She swallowed but said, "I had to shoot the little girl. She came at me. But she jus' reminded me of Sophia, is all. Probably why I dreamt that."

His arms tightened around her.

"You don't need t' think about that no more. It wasn't your fault. Hell, if it was anyone's, it was-"

"Shut up," she snapped, refusing to let Daryl put the blame on himself. "You did more for her in one day that Ed ever did in his whole life. I told you. You did all you could."

At that, she felt him relax and stroke her arm with his thumb. He was tired now and his thumb eventually slowed.

"I got ya," he sleep mumbled. "I love ya."