Hotline

by SamiWammy

Hello : ) This is a series of one-shots based around Carol and Daryl. I am taking requests so content will vary from smut to emotional romance, horror, humor, you name it! If you want to see it happen, just send a PM. I'm a Caryl shipper through and through and I can't wait to see all the ideas you guys have for our favorite couple. Enjoy! 1st chapter is smut!

8. Chance

Ohhh my goodnesss! You guys certainly seemed to like the last chapter, you dirty birds lol! I'm super excited about this post because it's something I've never tried before. This request comes from Sinfulsatisfaction who wanted Daryl and Carol to meet in a bar. Now I know it's different, but I really, really had fun with this and think you guys will too! Want smut, feels, laughs and everything else in between? It's all here ; ) Enjoy, and kudos to Sinfulsatisfaction for the awesome idea! To avoid confusion: Sophia is younger here, I'm thinking first grade : ) This chapter requires a bit of background and build-up but hang in there, it'll be worth the wait!

Disclaimer: I do not own the walking dead, but I have just about all of the pop vinyls! lol

Chapter 8: Chance

Carol stood with her hand on her daughter's shoulder as the two of them waited anxiously for the school bus to arrive. Carol did this every morning. She had a tendency to stick close to her daughter and she always felt better when she watched the little girl climb the steps onto the bus. "You excited?" Carol asked.

Sophia looked up at her mother and nodded.

"You know the plan right?"

"Yep." Sophia answered with a smile.

"Miss Linda is going to pick you up right after school. She already has your overnight bag; I gave it to her yesterday."

"I know." said the little girl, the smile still on her lips.

"Well good, I'm just making sure." Carol tucked a strand of light brown hair behind her daughter's ear. "I heard that you and Breanna are going to help Miss Linda bake cookies tonight."

Sophia's eyes went wide and a little gasp escaped her. "Really?"

Carol chuckled at the look of excitement on her daughter's face. "Yes; really. Chocolate chip."

Sophia was giggling.

Carol could hear the bus coming and she took a moment to drop down to a crouch beside Sophia. "You're gonna be on your best behavior right?"

The little girl nodded enthusiastically.

"And you're going to listen to Miss Linda and go to bed when she tells you?"

Sophia nodded again, smiling from ear to ear.

"Okay then." Carol wrapped her arms around the little girl, hugging her tight. When she pulled back, she ran her thumb along Sophia's cheek. "You have a good day at school and a great time at your sleepover. I'll pick you up tomorrow."

Sophia hugged her mother back, still giggling. The bus slowed to a stop beside them, the doors squeaking on their hinges as they swung open. Carol held her daughter's face between her hands and kissed her forehead. "I love you."

The little girl smiled as she pulled away from the safety of her mother and started climbing the steps that lead into the bus. Before the doors could close, Sophia turned, waving goodbye. "Love you too!"

Carol waved back and watched as the doors eased shut. She hugged herself and allowed a sigh of relief to pass her lips as she watched the buss roll down the street, getting smaller and smaller in the distance. For most parents, busses weren't anything extraordinary…just convenient ways to get their kids to and from school. But for Carol, the sight of that big yellow bus was a great comfort each morning. She knew, that once her daughter climbed the steps, and the doors closed behind her, that Sophia was safe. No one could hurt her…and then she'd spend the entire day in school, surrounded by friends, teachers who could look out for her… And Carol could breathe easy knowing that, at least for a few hours every day, her daughter was safe.

She shivered slightly as she stood alone at the end of her driveway. This was the part she hated… Going back inside. Carol had taken every possible measure to keep her husband away from their daughter….she never left them alone together. She'd made arrangements with a friend, another mother from Sophia's school, so that the girl could spend the night on Fridays. Linda's daughter Breanna had become close to Sophia and the two girls always looked forward to their Friday sleepovers. When Linda initially questioned the arrangement, Carol did her best to avoid telling her the real reasons behind it… She was reluctant to tell anyone that she was afraid of her husband, for fear that action might be taken…by the police or someone else… As much as Carol despised the abusive relationship she and her husband shared, she wasn't sure she'd be able to handle legal action… She didn't want Sophia to see her father handcuffed and dragged from their home…she didn't want to be the one responsible for breaking up their family. So she skirted the issue, as best she could…but Linda seemed to understand that something was wrong.

She pressed Carol for answers. Carol offered up flimsy excuses for a while but one afternoon, the two women had stayed late at the school, both of them volunteering to help decorate the gymnasium for a fall festival. They'd been up to their elbows in glue, construction paper, streamers and glitter. As they worked side by side, Carol rolled her sleeves up, not wanting to ruin her clothes with glue. It was then that Linda happen to notice the startling assortment of bruises on her friend's arms. They appeared to be at different stages of healing…some were grayish-purple, while others were a sickly yellow… Linda was frozen, her lips parting when she saw the reddish marks around Carol's wrists…as if something had bound her…chafing the skin. They'd been sitting on the floor of the gymnasium, crafting supplies scattered all around them and groups of teachers and parents were working nearby. It took several minutes for Carol to realize that her friend had stopped working. She looked up and was startled by the expression on Linda's face. "Linda…" she started to say, her brows knitting together. "What's wrong?" But when she followed her friend's gaze, and noticed that the woman was staring at her arms, Carol panicked. She cleared her throat and quickly tugged her sleeves back down. She tried to resume her work, pretending that nothing had happened, but she could feel Linda's eyes on her…

"Carol…" she said…her voice hushed. "I didn't….I didn't know..."

But Carol simply shook her head, dismissing the statement as she worked to glue feathers onto a cardboard turkey. She cleared her throat again and addressed Linda, without looking up. "So we're good for Friday then?"

Linda swallowed hard; she was confused.

"Sophia loves spending time with you and Breanna. I think it's the highlight of her week."

"Carol…"

Finally, Carol looked up, meeting her friend's gaze. "She always seems to have such a good time. She really feels comfortable with you two. I can't thank you enough for inviting her into your home. You don't know what a treat it is for her." Carol was doing her best to put all of her hidden thoughts into those words. Her eyes shone with gratitude and sincerity as she stared at Linda.

It was then that the other woman understood. Those Friday nights weren't just about sleepovers…they were a way for Sophia to get out of her house…and away from whoever left the bruises on Carol's arms. Linda finally knew why Carol never invited Breanna over… As thoughts continued to race through Linda's skull, she swallowed hard and eyed her friend. The two women stared at each other for several minutes before Linda finally spoke. "Breanna loves having her." she said softly, a sad smile on her face. "She's welcome anytime." With that, Linda reached out, taking one of Carol's hands in her own and squeezing it gently.

Carol's eyes had grown warm and she reached up, wiping them before tears could fall. "Thank you. That means a lot to us." she said. She took comfort in the warmth of Linda's hand wrapped around her own and there, on the floor of the gymnasium, the two women seemed to reach an unspoken understanding. Carol would never be able to thank her friend enough, and Linda would help wherever she could. Ever since that day, Sophia had spent every Friday night with Linda and Breanna.

Carol blinked, pushing the memory from her mind. The wind was picking up and she knew she couldn't stand out there forever. Still hugging herself, she turned and began walking slowly back up the driveway. With each step, she rehashed the plan in her head… Carol was never reckless; she couldn't afford to be. She was never sloppy and she never left loose ends. Everything she did was calculated down to the very last detail. She'd chosen Friday as the designated sleepover day because Ed always seemed to be at his worst on Friday afternoons. Knowing that he didn't have to work all weekend seemed to leave her husband with the impression that he could start drinking the second he got home. Every Friday, like clockwork, he burst through the door, stalked into their kitchen and slumped down in the same chair. There was a small dining table at the far end of their kitchen, near a large window. He'd sit there, drumming his thick fingers on the table and kicking his boots off as he waited for Carol. She would always hurry to the kitchen, pull a chilled mug from the freezer and then pop the tab on a can of beer, pouring the liquid carefully into the frosty glass. He always watched her…as if he were waiting for her to make a mistake, but she'd mastered the routine. She always squinted against the gold-orange light of the afternoon that spilled in through the window while she walked slowly towards the small table. She would set the mug down in front of him, without a word, and then avoid eye contact as she stooped to collect his boots. Once she'd taken his boots out into the hall, she would return and ask him what he wanted for dinner.

When Sophia first started staying with Breanna, Ed had questioned Carol about it, wanting to know where their daughter was. Carol offered up excuses, just as she'd done with Linda, but Ed seemed to know that his wife was purposely keeping their daughter away from him. That first Friday, he'd taken his anger out on Carol…slapping her hard enough to tear her bottom lip. She'd stood shaking in the kitchen, one hand clinging to the counter while the other held her aching jaw. She could feel blood dripping from her lip, scarlet drops rolling quietly down her chin and making her hand sticky. With trembling fingers, she gingerly touched the stinging cut, but Ed wasn't giving her time to tend to the wound. He'd snarled at her, barking orders…telling her that dinner needed to be made. So she swallowed hard, ignoring the metallic taste filling her mouth and the terrible pain radiating from her jaw. Drops of blood continued to slip down the curve of her chin as she pulled open the fridge and grabbed a pack of ground beef. He'd stood in the kitchen the entire time, his eyes never leaving her. And she'd prepared their dinner…her heart pounding…with each passing second she'd grown more and more afraid that another blow was coming…

Things had calmed down a bit since then. Ed grudgingly came to accept that he wouldn't be seeing Sophia on Fridays…no matter how much he screamed at Carol, or how hard he hit her. He drank more…sometimes at home, and sometimes at local bars. More often than not, he stumbled home, piss drunk at three in the morning and collapsed on their living room couch. It was the only reprieve Carol ever got. He almost always slept late into the afternoon on Saturdays and when he finally woke, he was too hung over to pose much of a threat. Carol would slip out of the house, before he woke, and drive to Linda's where she'd spend some time with the girls before leaving with Sophia.

The routine seemed to be working, but Carol eventually realized that her daughter wasn't the only one who needed some time away from the house. Money was tight and Carol figured she could kill two birds with one stone. So one Friday night, as Ed reclined in his easy chair, a beer clutched in his hand, Carol moved so that she was standing behind him. She reached over the chair until her hands found her husband's shoulders and she slowly started to massage the aching muscles. He groaned at first. "The hell are you doin'?" he snapped.

But she kept her mask on, a soft smile on her lips and honey in her voice. "Nothing. Just wanted to do something for you. You work hard….keeping a roof over our heads and food on the table. This seems like the least I can do." Her hands continued to work his muscles.

Ed couldn't deny how good it felt to have someone rubbing his shoulders. He took a swig of his beer and grunted. "Keep at it then."

Carol steeled herself as she leaned down and kissed the spot just below his ear, her hands working harder, kneading the muscles. "I was thinking…" she whispered.

"Go on. Spit it out." He growled, but some of the anger seemed to have left his voice…she could feel the tension fading from his shoulders.

She smiled, kissing the side of his face. "Well, you do so much for me and Sophia, and I think there's more I could be doing."

He took another swig of his beer. "There is. Get on upstairs and get them legs open for me. I'll be up there when the game's over."

Carol did her best to maintain her composure; she couldn't let her revulsion register on her face. She simply smiled and continued rubbing his shoulders. "I can do that. But I was thinking of something else…something to help with the bills."

He snorted, dismissing the idea. "What's your ass gonna do to help with the bills?"

Nerves were starting to get the best of her. She needed this to work, but Ed had never been fond of letting her out of the house if he could help it. So she did the only thing she could. She ran her hands from his shoulders, down his chest, then back up again, her mouth at his ear. "I was thinking I could look for a job…just something part-time to help out. You do so much" she whispered to him. "I just want to feel like I'm pulling my weight." She placed a quick kiss to his neck, her hands still working him.

"You wanna work?" he asked, suspicion evident in his tone, but he seemed to be relaxing under her touch.

"Just something part-time…like I said…maybe even one day a week. I could work Friday nights…give you a chance to have the house all to yourself…" she whispered. Carol was practically purring and she kissed his neck again.

Ed had to admit that it was intriguing. He liked the idea of enjoying the peace and quiet of an empty house once a week. "Fine," he said. "Long as it don't interfere with all the shit that needs done 'round here. And as long as it's only once a week…Your ass needs to be here, in this house. Ya hear me?"

She squeezed his shoulders and smiled. "Sounds good to me. I'll make sure there's dinner waiting for you whenever you get home."

"Best see that ya do." he said. "Now go on; the game's on and you should be upstairs. Go get them clothes off."

Carol smiled as she walked around the chair and stood in front of him. "Let me refill this for you first." She leaned over him and gently pulled the mug from his hand.

He leered at her, openly staring down her shirt as she leaned over him. She caught him looking and smirked. When she turned away, he smacked her hard on the ass. "Hurry now, 'n get that ass upstairs."

She straightened her back, drawing on a strength that only women have, and forced a smile over her shoulder. "Yes sir." With that, she made her way to the kitchen and quickly refilled his mug. Once she gave him his drink and retreated to the second story of their home, she locked herself in their bedroom. It was only a precaution. He rarely ever made it up the steps once he started drinking, but she wanted to be on the safe side. She released a heavy sigh of relief and headed to their master bathroom. Carol stripped and jumped into the shower, doing her best to wash any trace of that man off her body. The hot spray of water hit her skin and she shuddered, cringing at the memory of what she'd just done. She hated having to touch him…to be close to him. But she knew that if she wanted her plan to succeed, she needed to get him on board. So she'd smiled and whispered, stroking his ego while she put on a performance worthy of an oscar. But it worked… She ran her hands through her short, wet hair and allowed herself to smile.

A job….time away from him…away from the house…

She knew there was never any real danger of him coming upstairs to be with her. If he ever summoned the strength to get out of his chair, it would only be to stumble to the kitchen for more booze. That secret knowledge was the only thing that enabled her to get through the performance. So she continued to wash up, her mind racing with possibilities as to where she might work.

It had been three weeks since she'd persuaded her husband to let her find a part-time job and she'd finally made a decision. There was a call center about fifteen minutes from their home; they ran twenty-four hours a day and there were always openings for people interested in the night shift. Carol convinced Ed that it would be the perfect place for her, and he'd agreed…his only consolation being that there would be plenty of other people there to keep their eyes on her. But Carol had no intention of ever setting foot in the call center.

As she walked back up her driveway, towards her home, Carol wondered if her plan would actually succeed…if she could really pull it off. She had it all figured out. She'd only be working Friday nights….and she'd leave the house before Ed even got home from work. She would be home the next morning, before he had the chance to wake up from his latest black-out. Carol took a deep breath as she reached her front door.

This is it….today's the day…just stay calm…everything's going to be fine.

When she turned the doorknob and stepped inside, Ed was standing in the hallway, pulling his coat on. "You startin' at the call center tonight?" he asked.

She hugged herself and nodded. "We'll see how it goes."

Ed huffed as he moved past her and reached for the door. "When you're there…I want ya keepin' your eyes to yourself. It's work…shit ain't happy hour. Ya got me?" His mean eyes were fixed on her.

She kept her mask on, giving him a soft smile. "Of course. And I'll have chicken in the microwave; it'll be ready for you when you get home."

"Fine." he said, pushing the door open and stepping outside.

Carol eased it shut behind him. Once she heard his car back out of the driveway, she leaned back against the door and released the breath she didn't know she'd been holding. Her heart was thrumming in her chest and her entire body was alive with nervous energy.

This is it….Sophia's on the bus…she'll be safe all day; she'll spend the night with Breanna and Linda…Ed will be at work all day and I'll be gone before he gets home…

The thought seemed so strange. Carol was going to have an entire day to herself. As she leaned against that door, trying to slow her breathing, she realized that this was the first time, since her marriage, that she'd experienced any sort of freedom.

A day to myself…

She couldn't even bring herself to say the words out loud…but a strange thrill was working its way through her frame. A smile was forming on her face and she slowly let her body slide down until she was sitting on the floor. Alone, excited and unsure, Carol let herself smile.

Daryl sat on the couch with a TV tray in front of him. He was leaning forward, his elbows resting on the tray as he ate his sandwich. He could hear his brother's heavy footsteps on the stairs.

"Ya done yet?" Merle called out.

Daryl rolled his eyes. "Would ya crawl outta my ass and let me eat?"

Merle whistled as he wandered into the living room and stared at his brother. "Well shit; what's got your panties in a twist?"

Daryl took another bite of his sandwich and chose to ignore the question.

Merle was smirking as he moved to stand in front of the TV, blocking Daryl's view.

The younger Dixon huffed, dropping his sandwich on the plate. "Will ya quit?"

"What?" Merle asked, feigning ignorance. "Somethin' good on?"

"I'm watchin' the news." Daryl growled.

Merle snorted as he reached for the remote on Daryl's tray; before the younger man could protest, Merle turned, aiming the remote at their cable box and turned the TV off.

Daryl glared at his brother.

"Boy ain't nothin' worth watchin' there."

"I was tryin' to see if the cops got any leads on Jesse." Daryl snapped, referring to a dealer his brother met with on a fairly regular basis. He and Daryl had formed a loose friendship but the man disappeared several weeks ago and no one had heard from him since. Daryl worried that one of Jesse's deals had gone south…that maybe someone hurt him.

Merle shook his head, chuckling. "Boy, don't go worryin' 'bout that tweaker. I'm sure his scrawny ass is holed up somewhere."

Daryl sighed, his narrowed eyes trained on his brother. "This ain't like him….he ain't one to take off…"

Merle's grin disappeared and he rubbed the back of his neck. He could see how much this was weighing on Daryl. "I'm sure the little bastard's fine. Maybe things just got a little hairy for him and he's layin' low for a while…that's all."

Daryl sighed again and clasped his hands under his chin. "Maybe."

A heavy silence hung over the two brothers and neither was sure what else to say. It was Merle who finally spoke up. "How 'bout I help ya out with this…" he said as he reached for what was left of Daryl's sandwich and took a good bite.

Daryl bristled. "Asshole."

But Merle just chuckled before taking another bite. "I got an idea. It'll get your mind off all this shit with Jesse."

The younger Dixon snorted, looking away.

"Ya done enough mopin' 'round here; I'm draggin' your ass outta this goddamn house." said Merle as he finished the sandwich and wiped his mouth with his wrist.

Daryl pushed the TV tray aside and moved to stand. "You can try…" he growled.

But Merle pushed his brother hard in the chest, forcing him to sit back down. "Best hear me out boy; now we're gettin' outta this house…"

Daryl was trying to control his anger as he sat on the sofa and glared up at his brother.

"I ain't lettin' ya spend your night in front of the TV, cryin' in your beer over that tweaker. How 'bout you go on upstairs, wash up, and grab a couple rubbers from under the sink. Get your ass back down here so we can leave."

The younger Dixon was not amused.

"What?" Merle asked. "Ya got wax in your ears? Move." He kicked at his brother's leg.

Daryl's blue eyes were narrowed to mean slits as he studied his brother. He knew he wasn't strong enough to take Merle on…no matter how much of a fight Daryl put up…Merle would get his way. "That your answer to everything? Piece of tail gonna solve all your problems?" Daryl snapped as he stood up.

Merle chuckled. "It'll solve half of 'em…'n some good booze will solve the rest, now move."

Daryl's fists were clenched at his sides as he walked past his brother and headed for the stairs. He didn't feel like going out…he was more than happy to do his drinking at home, not in some dive bar surrounded by strangers… But he'd realized a long time ago that there wasn't much use in fighting with his brother…not when Merle had his mind made up. So he grudgingly climbed the steps, his feet dragging the whole way.

When he reached the top of the stairs, Daryl turned right, heading towards the bathroom. As he made his way down the hall, the wooden floor creaked with every step he took. That was something the younger Dixon never realized he'd be so grateful for when they moved in…wooden floors. It meant he could hear people coming and going, if his brother had company, and he could take measures to make himself scarce. It was also a hell of a lot easier to clean than carpet. The Dixon's weren't exactly the tidiest home owners who ever lived…and they weren't used to taking care of their surroundings…but when their grandfather passed that spring, leaving his home to the two brothers, Daryl promised himself that he'd look after the place…the best he could. He spent a good amount of time picking up after Merle, but he didn't mind. Daryl was just glad that he finally had a decent roof over his head.

He pulled open the door to the master bathroom and locked it behind him. Merle had a bad habit of yanking the door open when Daryl was in the shower…and snatching his clothes… The younger Dixon shook his head, marveling at his brother's immaturity. "Asshole…" he muttered under his breath.

Now that he was completely alone, Daryl slowly pulled the faded wife-beater off, mussing his hair. He glanced at his reflection in the mirror, looking over his shoulder and studying the scars on his back. He hated the raised flesh...the stripes he would never get rid of… He'd had them since he could remember, and they never got easier to look at. Each time he undressed and caught a glimpse of his reflection, there was some small part of Daryl that hoped they'd be gone…but they never were. His brother had them too; Merle's were even worse. The older Dixon had spent years trying to convince his little brother that the scars weren't anything to be ashamed of. But Daryl still felt hopelessly flawed. He continued to stare at his reflection and tried to remind himself that he wasn't any less of a man…less of a person. Sighing, he turned away from the man in the mirror and worked on getting the rest of his clothes off.

After kicking his pants and boxers off the ends of his feet, he pushed aside the heavy shower curtain and stepped carefully over the side of the tub. Daryl would never admit it, but the master bathroom was one of his favorite things about the house. He liked that it was the one place where he could be completely alone. The shower was spacious, with a big tub, and there was even a small window, high on the wall, with a little ledge for setting soap and shampoo. Sometimes, when Merle wasn't home, Daryl would fill the tub completely with scalding hot water, and ease into it with a beer in his hand. He'd hiss at first, but once his body adjusted to the warmth, it felt incredible. He'd lean back, take sip of his beer and then set the bottle down on the edge of the tub. It was the most relaxing thing he'd ever done and he found that the sensation of sipping ice-cold beer, while being completely immersed in hot water, was amazing. Occasionally, he even took a book with him and did his best not to drop it in the water. He knew if his brother ever caught him, that would be the end of it…. Daryl reached for the knob and turned it, making the pipes groan. He closed his eyes and waited. When the hot spray from the shower-head hit him, he groaned. He ran his hands through his dark hair and tried to push any thoughts of Jesse from his mind. If Daryl were being honest with himself, he'd have to admit that a long, hot bath and a few beers would do more to ease his mind than bar hopping with Merle… But the younger Dixon didn't have much of a choice. If his brother wanted them to go out…then they would go out. Daryl reached for the soap, rubbing it in his hands. As he washed up, and let the warm, soothing water drip from the ends of his hair and trickle down his spine, Daryl hoped that the evening wouldn't be a complete nightmare…and that he wouldn't wind up hauling his brother off some filthy floor.

Carol chewed on the end of her pen as she sat at the small table in her kitchen. She was hunched over a yellow notepad, scrawling down recipes as they came to her. She'd earned extra money in college by tending bar at one of the local haunts near campus. She continued to gnaw on the pen cap as she mumbled to herself. "Whiskey sour…black cadillac….white russian…" The recipes were coming back to her in bits and pieces and she hurried to jot them down. Carol knew that once she got behind the bar, she'd be able to pick up right where she left off, but she was still nervous.

After she married Ed, Carol lost touch with most of her extended family. Little by little, he'd taken steps to isolate her, cutting her off until her family members gradually stopped calling. But she had a cousin who lived about forty-five minutes away, in the next county over, and the woman owned a small bar. She and Carol only managed to keep in touch with occasional phone calls. Carol would call when Ed was passed out drunk, or when he stayed out late on Fridays. The woman's name was Christine and Carol had done her best to explain her need for part-time work. Christine was sympathetic and knew that Carol had experience tending bar. Friday was one of their busiest nights and she told Carol she'd be glad to have her.

"Martinis….Sex on the beach…screwdrivers…" Carol was still mumbling to herself as the pen scrawled ingredients on the lined page. The more she thought about it, the better she felt. This wasn't just about bringing in a little extra cash…it was about escaping the hell that was her marriage…at least for a few hours, one night a week…. She'd get the chance to reconnect with a family member she hadn't seen in years and she could interact with people…normal people. Strangers who knew nothing about her…she supposed it was a chance for her to step into a different skin…become someone else for a little while, and that idea filled her with more hope than she'd felt in a long, long time. Setting the pen down, she pushed her chair back and stood, her hands going to her hips. Carol glanced down at her clothes…the oversized grey cardigan and faded jeans she usually wore around the house.

I can't wear this…

It was four in the afternoon. Ed usually pulled into their driveway around five-thirty and she planned to be long gone by then. Hurrying up the stairs to their bedroom, Carol briefly considered the outfits she had in her closet. Ed was incredibly controlling when it came to what she wore, and that meant her options were limited. But she hoped that she could find something suitable. When she entered the bedroom and walked past the dresser that was pushed against the far wall, Carol caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She shook her head, sighing and wondering when she'd let herself turn into the frumpy woman reflected in the glass. Pushing the thought from her mind, she pulled open their closet door and reviewed the contents. All of her shirts and sweaters were at least one size too big; Ed liked to make sure that she kept her body hidden. But Carol wasn't about to spend her first night of work looking like someone let the air out of her clothes. She wasn't stupid; she knew how bar tending worked. As long as you were quick with orders, could mix strong drinks, and wore something with a low neck-line, the tips would be good. She knew things had changed since her college days…she hadn't been a jaw-dropper then, at least not in her opinion, and she wasn't anything special now…but she could at least try and look her best.

No one's going to want a battered wife mixing their drinks….

It was hard to think of herself that way, but it was true. Or it was six days a week… Carol was determined to leave her baggage behind on Fridays. No one at the bar needed to know what her real life was like. So she continued to rifle through the closet, hoping to stumble across something that might work…but it was no use. She was tempted to stop by the mall on her way to the bar, and just pick something out, but Ed would see the charge on their account. Carol sighed and rubbed the back of her neck.

There's gotta be something…

Suddenly, a realization struck her. During the first few months of their marriage, Ed had taken most of her clothes, tossing them in bags and telling her to either trash them or take them to goodwill. She'd told him that she would…but she never made good on that promise. It had been Carol's first act of rebellion and the memory still made her shiver. She was always afraid that he'd find the bags and beat her….but he never did. Ed left the housework to her, which meant that Carol knew where everything was, and she'd gotten very good at hiding things from him. A smile was spreading across her face as she moved deeper into the closet and then dropped to a crouch. There were boxes piled high in the back of the closet…some were filled with Sophia's baby things while others held holiday decorations and old photos. She moved the boxes until she found the one she was looking for. It was labeled 'Albums' and Carol pulled the flaps open, coughing as the motion sent up little clouds of dust. While there were several photo albums inside the box, they were only meant to conceal the true contents. Carol dug in with both hands, rifling around until her fist closed around the first plastic bag. She grunted, hauling it up and then stumbling out of the closet.

Well….I've got the clothes…whether or not they'll fit is another story…

Carol slumped down to the floor and dumped out the contents of the bag. She sighed, eyeing the clothes she hadn't seen in five years. Carol had never been one for flashy, revealing outfits. She preferred to keep things simple…solid colors, long sleeves, straight leg jeans, the occasional pair of boot or heels… She crouched over her scattered clothes and began to sort through them, hoping that moths hadn't done any damage. After rejecting several tops, she finally settled on a black shirt. Carol held it up to her chest, trying to gauge whether or not it would fit. It was a fitted shirt, with long sleeves and a v-neck. Realizing that she was running low on time and options, Carol shrugged off her grey cardigan and let it drop. When she pulled the black shirt on over her head, and smoothed the fabric, a small smile formed on her face.

It fits…

Carol had never been overly confident when it came to her looks but she took some comfort in the fact she could still fit into clothes she'd purchased over five years ago. She'd always been slim, even after Sophia was born…all it took was a few months of breast feeding and the extra weight seemed to melt off her body. Not that Ed would have tolerated any weight gain on her anyway… Carol's small waist was her one source of pride, as far as her body was concerned, and she'd never been more grateful for it than she was on that first Friday. She stood quickly, undoing the button on her jeans. After she pushed the pants down her legs and kicked them aside, she stooped to grab a pair from her pile of old clothes. They were dark, the denim almost crisp from being in storage for so long. Carol bit her bottom lip, said a silent prayer and then slowly began to work the jeans up her legs. She had to shimmy a little to get into them but when all was said and done, she'd pulled up the zipper, fastened the button, and found that she could still breathe.

God…

It was a strange sensation…to be wearing form fitting clothes after years of hiding under baggy layers. She turned, eyeing herself in the large mirror above their dresser, and barely recognized the woman staring back at her. She looked younger, slimmer, and there was hope in her eyes. She continued to smooth the fabric of her shirt and brush away any dust on her jeans. There, in the stillness of the empty house that had become her prison, Carol finally felt as though she'd reclaimed some part of herself…some missing piece that she'd lost when she married Ed. She ran a hand through her short hair and made a silent promise to herself…she was going to get her life back…her freedom. Carol wasn't sure how, or what it would cost, but she knew that taking this job was a step in the right direction. She had no intention of being Ed's whipping post forever. It would take time, planning, and more courage than she'd ever drawn on before, but maybe with the support of people like Christine and Linda, Carol could find a way out of her hellish marriage. She just wanted a better life for her daughter….she wanted them both to be safe. Before she could get lost in her thoughts, Carol glanced at her watch.

Shit…

She didn't have much time. She gave the woman in the mirror one last glance and wished that she had a little make up to put on, but Ed never allowed her to keep any in the house. Carol ran her hands through her hair in a feeble attempt to style it, and then turned away so she could shove her old clothes back into the plastic bag. She worked quickly, making sure every last article was tucked into the bag and that the bag was buried at the very bottom of that cardboard box. Once everything had been put back in its proper place, she grabbed a pair of sneakers from under her bed. She would've liked to wear something else…she knew she had a pair of boots tucked away somewhere, but the idea of spending her entire shift in heels seemed foolish. Carol wanted to be comfortable and she knew she'd have to be quick on her feet, so sneakers seemed like the best choice.

No one's going to see my legs anyway….

She cut off the lights in her bedroom and practically ran down the stairs, her heart already thrumming in her chest. As she grabbed her coat from the wrack in the hallway, she peeked into the kitchen, reminding herself that she'd already put Ed's dinner in the microwave.

He's got food…the house is clean, the car has gas…

Carol grabbed her keys, her purse, and then lingered nervously in the entryway. She couldn't believe that she was really going through with it.

It's fine…just something to help with the bills…that's all. You're not doing anything wrong.

She released a trapped breath and nodded, convincing herself that it really was time to go. As she stepped out the front door and felt the cold February wind whip around her, Carol felt invigorated. She was anxious, excited and hopeful. She buttoned her coat with shaking fingers and made sure to lock the door. As she reached her car and yanked the door open, sinking into the driver's seat, she stared at her home through the grimy windshield.

You're not doing anything wrong.

With that, she stuck her key in the ignition and felt the car rumble to life beneath her. Before she could lose her nerve, Carol quickly backed out of the driveway and then sped down the street, leaving her home in the rearview mirror.

Daryl was pouting. Just because he'd let Merle drag him out of the house…it didn't mean he had to be happy about it. The younger Dixon sighed, leaning his head against the glass of the passenger's side window.

Merle glanced at him occasionally and frowned. "Boy, will ya buck up? For Christ's sake… Gettin' your sorry ass outta the house… I swear it's like pullin' goddamn teeth." Merle smacked the steering wheel for emphasis.

Daryl huffed. "Just don't see the point in goin' out. I don't need a bar to get lit. We got booze at home."

Merle grumbled something under his breath and gripped the steering wheel tighter. "You're missin' the point…"

"I must be…" growled the younger Dixon.

"Ya can't just go spendin' your time holed up in that house. Ya need interaction with other goddamn people… That's why your ass is all bent outta shape over that tweaker. Little bastard was the only person ya ever talked to…least for a while. Ya need to mix it up every once in a while. That's all this is. Just us, goin' out, meetin' some new folks." said Merle, his eyes trained on the road.

Daryl snorted. "Right. People."

Merle frowned. "What?"

"Quit actin' like ya give a shit about meetin' people…you're just lookin' for some tail." Daryl growled softly as he stared out the window.

Merle shrugged. "Ain't nothin' wrong with that. Nice piece of ass would do ya a world of good. Make ya quit bitchin' at least."

Daryl turned, glaring at his brother.

"So what If I'm lookin' for a little action? If I happen to meet some interestin' folks along the way…it's a win win. Get the stick outta your ass and quit judgin' me boy." said Merle.

The younger Dixon had another argument burning on his tongue but he didn't get a chance to use it. Merle was pulling the truck into a cramped parking lot and Daryl glanced at the name on the building. "Roy's?" he mumbled to himself, trying to remember if he'd been there before. "Why'd ya bring me way the hell out here?" Daryl asked.

Merle smirked as he pulled into a parking space and let the engine die. "Because they got the best booze."

Daryl ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "That all?"

Merle chuckled, pushing his door open. "Well there's that…'n then there's the fact that every time I been here I done walked out with a sweet little thing on my arm. Swear to god ya can't miss with the tail they got in there." He hopped down from the truck and gestured towards the building.

The younger Dixon rolled his eyes as he mimicked his brother's actions, hopping down from the cab, his boots hitting the gravel. He slammed the door shut and found himself face to face with Merle.

"Ya bring them rubbers I asked for?" said Merle.

Daryl sighed again and slipped his hand into his back pocket. He pulled out the condoms tossing them to his brother. "Here. Go on."

Merle brought out his wallet and tucked the condoms inside.

"Ya seem awful sure of yourself." said Daryl, his hands in his pockets.

Merle was still chuckling as he closed his wallet. "It's like shootin' fish in a barrel…I'm tellin' ya. Ya gonna be sorry ya didn't bring more."

Daryl turned his head to spit. "Doubt it. I ain't lookin' to drag home some skank that's so shit-faced, the bitch can't remember her name unless she stares at the tattoo above her ass in the bathroom mirror."

Merle shook his head laughing, creases forming at the corners of his eyes. "Boy….your ass is worse than I thought. Lord…" he paused to wipe at his eyes. "Do me a favor now…" he leaned in to his brother's space and placed a broad hand on Daryl's shoulder. "Relax. Alright? I ain't askin' for much. Just go on in there, get you some strong drinks, and see if ya can get that stick outta your ass."

Daryl bristled but didn't argue. He blew out a warm breath, releasing some of the anger that was trapped inside him. "Fine." he said, his shoulders slumping a little.

Merle grinned. "Well alright then baby brother. Let's go on 'n see what they got on tap tonight." With that, the older Dixon turned away and started heading towards the building.

Daryl followed his brother, feeling a little like a stray dog. As apprehensive as he was about this whole thing, he realized that he didn't have anywhere else to go.

Christine raised a glass to her lips and took a slow sip. A smile was spreading on her face as she nodded her approval. "Well damn…."

Carol bit her lip, anxious but hopeful. "What's the verdict?"

"That's the best bloody mary I've had in a long time. Might get ya to refill this in a minute." Christine took another sip.

"Really?" Carol chuckled. "Well I'm glad you approve. It's not too spicy?"

Christine took a quick sip and grinned. "No ma'am. Is that horseradish?"

Carol nodded. "It is."

"My last girl couldn't mix for shit…I swear one day she asked me how to make a rum 'n Coke."

Laughter burst from Carol's lips. "Oh goodness…I'm guessing she didn't last long?"

Christine snorted. "Try a week."

Carol was still chuckling.

"Just gets busy around here 'n I can't do it all alone…I put off hirin', 'n then I'm in a corner with my back against the wall and I gotta hire the first empty-headed little thing that comes along."

"You're terrible." Carol laughed.

"Now I got a guy comes in couple nights a week. He's a good kid 'n he'll be helpin' us out tonight. Glenn. Boy's smart enough, but he's still learnin' how to work the bar. I get him to do odd jobs around here…helpin' with the kitchen, gettin' orders out…bussin' tables. You feel like you're gettin' overwhelmed, just pull him aside and tell him what ya need done."

"He sounds sweet." said Carol.

Christine took another sip of her drink and smiled. "He is. Don't hurt that he's easy on the eyes too."

Carol's lips parted in disbelief. "Well now I'm getting the full picture…" she laughed.

"Hush." said Christine. "I didn't go hirin' him just 'cause I liked his ass…he works hard 'n he don't complain. That tight little ass is just a nice perk."

Carol's cheeks were turning red she was laughing so hard.

"You'll see." said Christine. "We get a few pieces of real nice eye candy that come in here from time to time."

Carol blushed and cleared her throat. "I'm here to work, that's all." Her voice was soft and she was hugging herself. In an instant, a harmless comment had turned her back into Ed's skittish housewife.

Christine noticed the change in her cousin and it worried her. She set her drink down on the bar and eyed Carol. "You know I didn't mean anything by that, don't ya? I'm just teasin' is all. I know you're spoken for."

Caro shifted uneasily on her feet but didn't say anything.

Christine took a step towards her cousin. "He's got quite a hold on ya, don't he?"

"Christine…"

"Quit. Now you ain't got nothin' to worry about here. We're family Carol." She reached out and grabbed Carol's shoulder, squeezing gently.

When Carol lifted her chin, there was fear in her eyes.

Christine's expression softened as she rubbed her cousin's arm. "I know ya don't wanna talk about it…'n I ain't tryin' to make ya. But…I just wanted to let ya know I'm on your side." she paused, hoping that her words were sinking in. "I know that man ain't treatin' ya right. Now he might think his word is law, in that house of yours, but 'round here…" Christine glanced around the bar. "I make the rules. And the first rule is this: what happens here…stays here."

Both women chuckled at that and Carol reached up to wipe unshed tears away from her eyes.

"I know that ain't exactly original, but it works. I mean it. You can cuss, pour yourself a few drinks, long as ya ain't gettin' sloppy, 'n ya can let them blue eyes wander if some fine young thing walks through the door. Ain't no harm in lookin'." She winked at Carol, and gave her shoulder a pat.

Carol didn't know what to say. No one ever gave her choices, freedom…permission… This was uncharted territory and she found that fear and excitement were warring inside her. She didn't have the words to thank Christine. Carol had pulled into the parking lot right around five and the bar didn't open its doors until six on Friday nights. She'd spent the better part of an hour reconnecting with her cousin, learning her way around the bar, and mixing drinks for Christine's approval. The two women were having a good time, both of them cracking jokes and making light conversation over Carol's drinks. Christine was older, a widow in her late forties, but she and Carol had always been close. The older woman had a mind like a steel trap and a wonderful sense of humor. She wasn't afraid to say exactly what she was thinking, and Carol loved that about her. Everything was going fine until Christine started talking about eye candy. The statement struck a nerve and Carol suddenly felt as though Ed could see her…that he knew where she was…. But just as quickly as the foolish fears gripped her, Christine was able to make the irrational thoughts fade away. She gripped Carol's shoulder and spoke to her as a friend, a family member, and as a woman. It was strange to have someone treating her as an equal, but Carol found that she liked it…she'd missed it. And so she stood in front of her cousin, and met the older woman's gaze. "Alright." said Carol, as she took a deep breath and tried to calm her nerves. "You make the rules." There was a faint smile on her face and she was standing just a little bit taller.

Christine smiled back. "That's what I like to hear. Now I'm gonna flip the switch on that open sign…folks usually start rollin' in around six fifteen…gives us a few more minutes to get ya set up here."

Carol nodded. "Sounds good."

Christine took a moment to grip her cousin's shoulders and look her square in the eye. "Do me a favor. Put him outta your head. Just for the night…just while you're workin'…don't want ya gettin' distracted worryin' about that asshole. Ya hear me?"

"You make the rules." said Carol, the smile still on her lips.

"Ya catch on quick." Christine smirked at her before turning away and heading towards the doors.

Carol braced her hands on the bar and released the breath she'd been holding.

You can do this…like she said…don't think about him…you're at work…

"I can do this…" she mumbled under her breath, repeating the words like a mantra. "I can do this…"

Merle pulled the heavy doors open and stepped into the already crowded bar. It was a little past seven and the place was packed. He glanced up at a TV that was mounted on the left-hand side of the bar, hanging down from a corner in the ceiling. There was a football game on and he took a second to squint at the screen and see which teams were playing.

Daryl moved past his brother, not wanting to linger in the entryway. Merle reached out to grab his arm. "Where ya goin'?"

"Thought ya told me to get a strong drink…I'm just makin' good on that promise." He yanked his arm away and stalked over to the bar.

"Go on then; I'll catch up." Merle called out after him.

Daryl didn't respond, he simply continued on his path and slumped into the first barstool he saw. His elbows were resting on the counter and he brought one thumb up, chewing the nail as he thought about what he should order. His mood was already sour and he was doing his best to block out the noise all around him. There was music playing, but he couldn't tell what it was…not over the sounds of drunken laughter, hands slapping tables, friends calling out to one another, and the blare of the television. With each passing second, he found himself longing for the peace and quiet of his bedroom. He was chewing his nail down to the quick and hoping like hell that no one tried to talk to him. In the periphery of his vision, Daryl could see men and women occupying the barstools on either side of him, but he kept his head down…he had no intentions of making eye contact. His free hand was splaying on the counter, his fingers drumming anxiously. He wasn't sure how long he'd been lost in his own head when heard someone clearing their throat. Startled, Daryl looked up and found himself staring into an unfamiliar face.

"Can I get you anything?" she asked. She had a white cloth in one hand and she was using it to clean a tumbler.

Daryl swallowed hard and slowly pulled his thumb away from his mouth, silently cursing himself for the bad habit. The woman behind the bar was staring at him; there was a smile on her face and her eyes were bright…kind. She seemed friendly enough, but Daryl couldn't recall what she'd said. "Sorry?"

She finished cleaning the tumbler and set it down on the counter. "I asked if I could get you anything. Were you still trying to decide?"

Daryl felt foolish.

She's the bartender…what the hell else would she be askin' ya?

"I could suggest something if you like?" she smiled at him, her elbows resting on the counter as she leaned forward a little.

He rubbed the back of his neck for a moment and then met her gaze. "Ya got any Evan Williams?" he asked.

She chuckled. "Of course. Straight up?"

Daryl nodded, his fingers gripping the edge of the counter. "Yes ma'am."

She turned away from him and moved towards the shelves that held the liquor. Standing on her tip toes, she reached up, trying to grab the bottle she needed.

The younger Dixon watched her. She was slim…small waist. Her shirt rode up when she stood on her toes and he saw the sliver of pale skin above her tailbone. Daryl didn't usually stare…his nerves had a tendency of getting the best of him, but when she stretched to reach that bottle…he stole a quick glance at her ass and found himself thinking that it wasn't bad…

On the other side of the bar, Carol was dealing with thoughts of her own. The moment he looked up, and their eyes met, she felt her cheeks get warm. There was something endearing about the way he'd been chewing his thumbnail…almost as if he were nervous, and when he looked at her…Carol knew that she'd never seen eyes like his. They were a cold, blue-grey, like ocean water…and seemed to cut right through her. In an instant, a total stranger managed to get her flustered and she was forced to don a mask in order to maintain her composure. She'd smiled, asked him what he wanted, and then took a moment to get herself under control when she turned away to find the bottle she needed.

Lord…what is wrong with me?

She took a cleansing breath as her fingers closed around the neck of the bottle.

I can do this…He's just another customer….

Carol decided that she was being ridiculous and she pushed the foolish thoughts from her mind as she turned around and moved back towards the counter. She unscrewed the lid on the bottle and poured a generous serving into the tumbler she'd just finished drying. Sliding the glass in his direction she smiled. "Whiskey, straight up. I was hoping you were gonna give me more of a challenge."

He licked his chapped lips and took the glass, clutching it loosely.

"It's my first night." she added, unsure of why she was bothering to make conversation with someone who clearly wanted to be left alone.

Daryl glanced at her, his fingers tapping the side of his glass. "How do ya like it so far?"

She was leaning on the counter as a nervous chuckle escaped her. "It's alright."

Before either of them could say anything else, a cry rang out over the clamor of the bar.

"Carol! I need ten Jeager bombs over here!"

She looked up to see Glenn standing near a crowded table; he was waving to get her attention and she waved back, giving him a thumbs up. "I got it! Be right there!" She gave Daryl another smile and moved to leave. "Duty calls. I'm Carol by the way. Let me know if you need anything."

He nodded to her. "I'm Daryl."

"Nice to meet you Daryl. Enjoy your drink."

There was a faint smile forming on his mouth and he raised his glass to her. "I plan on it."

As Carol turned away and searched for the shot glasses she needed, she could feel her heart beat speeding up.

Get it together…you have a job to do…

After she had ten shot glasses lined up, she grabbed a bottle of Jeagermeister and started pouring. She was doing fine until a realization struck her. Pausing after she'd filled the last glass, Carol turned suddenly and moved back towards the counter where Daryl was slowly sipping from his glass. She felt absolutely ridiculous as she clasped her hands and stared at him. "I should've asked before, but…would you like to start a tab?"

Daryl set his glass down and glanced over his shoulder. He could see his brother sitting at a small table with two women. Merle had an arm draped around one girl and he was laughing his ass off at something she'd said. "See that asshole over there?" said Daryl, pointing in his brother's direction.

Carol chuckled and nodded.

"Whatever I drink…just put it on his tab. That's Merle Dixon." When Daryl turned back around to face Carol, there was a smirk on his mouth.

The look on his face was making Carol blush and she had to bite the corner of her lip. "Alright. Merle it is." She chuckled as she turned away to resume her task. While she was arranging tall glasses and pouring beer for the Jager bombs, Christine came to stand beside her.

"How's it goin'? I see ya made it through your first hour."

Carol smiled at her. "So far so good. It's been a little hectic, but nothing I can't handle."

Christine looked closer and noticed the blush on her cousin's cheeks. "My, my, my…looks like somebody done got ya hot 'n bothered." she folded her arms across her chest and waited for a response.

Carol swallowed hard, ignoring the statement. She reached up to wipe a bit of sweat from her brow and called out over the noise. "These are good to go!" She waved to Glenn, beckoning him.

The young man hurried towards the bar and Carol helped him to load all ten Jager bombs onto a circular tray. He mumbled 'thanks' and rushed back out towards the large group he'd been serving. Once he was gone, Christine nudged Carol with her hip. "So? Ya gonna tell me who it is? I know them eyes of yours been wanderin'…."

Carol sighed and cast a subtle glance over her shoulder at Daryl. Christine followed her cousin's gaze and grinned. "Lord have mercy but ain't that the prettiest damn thing I've seen in a long while."

Carol blushed harder. "Christine!"

"What? I'm just sayin' what you're thinkin' is all. Mmm. Sweet young thing like that…now why in the world is he sittin' at this bar alone?"

"It's none of our business…" said Carol.

"And why not?"

Carol stared at Christine as if she'd gone insane.

"We're bartenders…ain't it our job to tend to him?"

"He already has his drink…I think that's where our obligations end…" said Carol.

"I disagree. Think I'll just go keep him company for a minute." Christine smirked.

"Christine," Carol insisted. "He's fine…"

"He sure enough is." The older woman laughed and gave Carol a slap on the back.

Without waiting for another argument, Christine made her way towards Daryl. When she reached the counter, she leaned over it, smiling at him. "You doin' alright sweetheart?" she asked.

Daryl took another sip from his glass before setting it down. "Yes ma'am."

She stared at him, her eyes drinking him in. "You sure? 'Cause I can top off that glass if ya like. Is Carol takin' good care of ya?"

Daryl nearly choked on the whiskey. He coughed a little and wiped his mouth with the back of his wrist. "Yes ma'am; she is."

Christine laughed at that. "Well I'm glad to hear it."

In the next instant, Carol was standing beside her cousin. "Daryl, is this woman bothering you?" Carol asked.

The younger Dixon wiped at his mouth again and chuckled. "No ma'am."

Carol folded her arms across her chest and eyed Christine. "Are you sure? Because I can get rid of her for you."

Daryl wasn't sure if it was the whiskey, or something else, but the two women were making him chuckle. "She ain't done nothin'…" he insisted before taking another sip of his drink.

Christine wore a look of smug satisfaction. "See? This young man is enjoyin' my company."

Carol shook her head, laughing. "Well I'll leave you two alone then. I think there might be one or two other people in this bar that need drinks." With that, Carol draped a rag over her shoulder and turned away. She gave her companions a small wave and then made her way along the counter, asking the other customers if they needed anything.

Christine noticed that Daryl's eyes followed Carol after she left. The older woman smirked to herself. As she continued to admire the young man, she couldn't help but feel as though she'd seen him somewhere before. A crease was forming in her brow when the memory finally came back to her. "Now hold on a minute…" she said, smiling.

Daryl turned back towards her, meeting the older woman's gaze. "Hm?"

"I know you." she said, pointing at him. "Ain't you Merle Dixon's baby brother?"

Daryl sighed. He'd always been known as Merle's kid brother and having a close association, with someone like Merle, hadn't done Daryl many favors in his life. "That's me." he grudgingly admitted.

"Come on now," she said, drumming her fingers on the counter. "It ain't as bad as all that."

Daryl snorted. "You ain't never been Merle's kid brother…"

Christine laughed and wiped at her eyes. "I remember he dragged ya in hear a couple years back…ya'll bit off a little more than ya could chew…pretty sure we ended up havin' to pour both of ya into a cab."

There was a hint of color in Daryl's cheeks and he looked down, focusing on his glass.

Christine reached out, placing her hand on his arm. "Now don't worry…"

Daryl looked up, his eyes questioning her.

"I ain't gonna tell her." she glanced over at Carol. When she returned her attention to Daryl, she could see that he was blushing. "I'll just keep that little story to myself. My name's Christine…this here's my bar and that pretty thing ya been lookin' at is my cousin. But as I understand, ya'll already had the pleasure of makin' each other's acquaintance. Now ya know both our names so if ya need anything at all, just holler…one of us will hear ya." She gave Daryl another pat on the arm and then walked away.

He was left staring down into his glass and feeling utterly confused by whatever had just taken place. The two women had unnerved him, each for different reasons, and it was more than he was prepared to handle. So he decided not to over think it, and instead brought the glass to his lips, downing the last of the whiskey.

It was nine thirty and things were in full swing at the bar. Patrons came and went, some stumbling through the doors…some leaving with people they hadn't known an hour prior…but they all seemed to be in good spirits. Despite the laughter and loud music that filled the building, no one was enjoying the evening more than Carol.

She couldn't remember the last time she'd had so much fun. Christine continued to crack jokes, making her cousin laugh so hard that tears would form at the corners of her eyes. Glenn was amazing. Carol could've sworn that the boy was doing the work of at least three people but he never seemed to get overwhelmed. He was quick on his feet and always ready to help when Carol had questions. As the night wore on, she began to realize that he was as grateful for her presence as she was for his, and they worked well together. She wasn't entirely sure, but Carol felt that she and Glenn might even be friends by the end of the night…and that was no small thing. It had been so long since Carol experienced any sort of freedom, and even longer since she'd made a decent friend.

She was taking everything in, the smells, the sounds… To most people, she knew that the bar would seem noisy, crowded… But to Carol, the sound meant life…joy. She was surrounded by people who were enjoying themselves and it was incredibly refreshing. She felt useful, almost confident, as she took orders, mixed drinks, and made small talk with the customers. Her cocktails were met with more approval than she could've hoped for and she couldn't stop the smile on her face as she continued to tuck tips into the pocket of the small, black apron tied around her waist. There was never a dull moment and Carol wouldn't have it any other way.

The music was loud, the tips were good, and customers were friendly, but what really sold the whole thing for her was Daryl. He was easy on the eyes and easy to talk to. He'd ordered a second glass of whiskey and hung around the bar for a while, occasionally offering up bits of conversation when Carol happened to check on him. Halfway through his second whiskey, he even got bold enough to chide her when he saw Carol pouring a drink for herself. They both laughed at that, and Carol argued that her bloody Mary was more of a snack than a drink… Daryl eventually agreed with her and the two seemed to be enjoying each other's company. After a while, he abandoned his barstool. He clutched his glass and gave Carol a small smile before turning to leave. She bit the corner of her bottom lip, and tried not to let her disappointment register on her face. She was leaning on the counter and could feel a blush spreading on her cheeks as he made his way towards the table where his brother was waiting. Carol had to admit…she hated to see him leave the bar but she definitely enjoyed watching him walk away. She'd only been able to admire him for a few seconds before someone was calling her name and she had to return to her duties.

The customers kept Carol busy and she found herself getting just a little bit winded. The next time Christine happened to walk behind the bar, Carol grabbed hold of her arm. "Hey, what time is it?" she asked.

Christine glanced at her watch. "Nine thirty. Why? Ya doin' alright? Need anything?"

Carol wiped a bit of sweat from her brow and sighed. "I'm fine. Just a little hungry is all."

"Oh goodness…I'm guessin' ya didn't eat before comin' in here did ya?"

Carol offered up a weak smile and shook her head.

Just as Christine was about to speak, something caught her attention. She looked past Carol and saw that Daryl was making his way back towards the bar. There was a smirk on Christine's mouth as a plan formed in her head. "Tell ya what." she said. "Glenn's got a table over there needs five glasses of Yuengling. How 'bout you get them glasses filled 'n then we'll see about gettin' ya somethin' to eat."

Carol nodded. "Sure. Sounds good."

Christine smiled. "Alright then. Go on."

Carol smiled back before turning away to find the glasses she needed.

While Carol was distracted with her task, Christine wandered back to the counter just in time to see Daryl slump into the same barstool he'd occupied earlier. "Back for more?" Christine asked, smirking at him.

Daryl felt a faint blush spread across his face and he shook his head. "Nah. I'm good for now. Just needed some time away from my brother."

"That right?" Christine asked, her head cocked to the side as she leaned on the counter.

The younger Dixon nodded. "Sometimes I Just get tired of hearin' him laugh at his own jokes."

Christine chuckled. "Well you're welcome to hang around here, but ya best order somethin'."

Daryl scratched at the back of his head. The two whiskey's he'd finished were taking their toll on him. His lids were heavy and he wasn't sure he was ready for another drink just yet.

Christine could see that he was struggling to come up with something. "Darlin'?"

"Hm?" he lifted his chin to meet her gaze.

"I'm just gonna take a shot in the dark here, alright?"

Daryl was still confused.

"You ain't had nothin' to eat since ya been here…."

He gripped the edge of the counter and bit his lip. "No ma'am, I haven't."

"Well ain't that a coincidence; my cousin's been runnin' around this place non-stop and the poor girl ain't had a chance to eat nothin'…"

"Ma'am?" Daryl asked, still unsure about where this was all going.

She folded her arms and leaned over the counter, moving into his space. "She's due for a break right about now. How 'bout I get ya'll somethin' from the kitchen? I can have a plate of wings on this counter in five minutes. That is, if ya don't mind sharin'. It's Carol's first night here and I'm guessin' she'd be real grateful for the company. How's that sound?" she asked, smiling at him.

Daryl was having trouble processing what she'd just said. Truth be told, the real reason he'd wandered back to the bar was to see Carol. He knew she was working but he hoped to at least get a few minutes of her time. He'd planned on eventually ordering more drinks, just so he'd have a reason to talk to her…but he supposed, all things considered, Christine's idea made more sense. He might as well get some food in his belly if he planned on sticking around. Daryl wasn't sure when Merle would be ready to go, but the younger Dixon wanted to stay…for as long as he could. "Don't know that she wants to go sharin' a meal with a stranger…" he mumbled, his blunt nails clawing lightly at the counter.

Christine sighed, her eyes fixed on the young man in front of her. "Boy, that is my cousin." she insisted. "Ya don't think I know what she wants?"

Daryl was anxious as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Guess ya do." he admitted.

"Well alright then." Christine slapped the counter. "I'll have some wings out here in a few minutes. Ya need to eat somethin' before them whiskeys ya had knock you on your ass."

Daryl chuckled, nodding, and watched as the woman turned away.

Christine saw that Glenn was approaching the bar to take the tray of Yuenglings from Carol. As the boy lifted the tray and started to head back to his table, Christine whistled to get his attention. "Glenn!"

He looked up, acknowledging her. "Yeah?"

"After ya get them drinks out, we need a full order of wings up at the counter." She yelled over the noise.

He gave her a thumbs up and then hurried towards the customers that were patiently waiting for their drinks.

Christine moved to stand beside her cousin. "That sound good to you?"

Carol blinked. "What?"

"Wings. Ya like 'em right?"

"Sure…but…" Carol was confused.

"Well I took the liberty of orderin' for ya. Glenn's gonna have 'em up here in a minute." said Christine.

"Oh, you didn't have to…I would've been fine with…"

"Quit." Christine chuckled. "You're gonna take a few minutes and eat somethin'. Too skinny as it is." The older woman turned to leave but she paused, grabbing her cousin's shoulders. "Just one more thing….hope ya don't mind but you'll be splittin' that order with someone."

Carol's brow furrowed. "With who?"

Christine glanced over her shoulder at Daryl.

Carol's lips parted in disbelief. "No…"

"Ya don't have a say in the matter. I already talked to him…the boy needs to eat and ya both need the company. I know ya'll hit it off earlier. So go on over there and talk to him."

"Christine!" Carol was blushing hard and her fists were clenched at her sides.

But the older woman wasn't interested in arguing. "Thought I told ya I make the rules here, now git." she gave Carol a little swat on the ass, urging her to move.

"This isn't over…" said Carol, as she pointed at her cousin. "We will be having a long conversation about this later."

Christine just chuckled before moving towards the far end of the counter to take more drink orders.

Carol was incredibly nervous as she walked back to where Daryl was. She cleared her throat and folded her arms as she leaned over the counter. "I see you made your way back…" she said.

He looked up and couldn't stop his mouth from hitching into a half-smile when he saw her. "I did."

Her cheeks were getting warm and she turned away.

"Where ya goin'?" he asked.

"I'll be right back." she called over her shoulder.

Daryl bit the corner of his lip and drummed his fingers on the counter.

When she came back she had a glass of water in each hand and she slid one in his direction. "Thought we could use these…to go with our wings."

He chuckled, focusing on the glass. "Ya heard about that huh?"

Carol sighed, stirring the ice cubes with her straw. "I'm sorry about all this…really. She means well…I just think…."

But Daryl stopped her. "Don't be sorry. It's fine." He took a sip of his water and wondered what had gotten into him. "Beats eatin' with Merle."

Her lips spread into a soft smile and she seemed to relax a little. "I'm flattered."

He smiled back. They stared at each other, enjoying one another's company, and before either of them could say anything Glenn appeared with a tray. He glanced at Carol, unsure of who the wings were for. "Christine said we had an order for wings?"

Daryl lifted his hand, "That's me." he said.

Glenn carefully set the tray down on the counter and eyed the two of them. "Enjoy."

"We will, thanks." said Carol, she gave Glenn a small wave as he left.

Daryl and Carol were both staring at their food and neither was sure what to do next. It seemed to occur to them, suddenly, that they would be eating…a particularly messy food, in front of one another. "Aren't you hungry?" she asked.

His elbows were resting on the counter, his fingers still curled around the water glass. "Ladies first."

Carol chuckled nervously. "Not sure you'll think I'm much of a lady once you've seen me eat wings."

"I ain't here to judge." he said, smirking.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Oh really? This coming from the guy who practically lectured me for making that bloody mary earlier…"

He bowed his head, blushing. "That was just me bein' an ass…I'm sorry." he chuckled.

She ran a hand through her hair and sighed, a smile on her mouth. "No, you're probably right. I shouldn't be drinking on the job…at least not on my first night."

Daryl was clawing at the slick water glass as he glanced up at her, meeting her gaze. "Think it was more of a snack than a drink…" he smirked again, repeating her words from earlier.

She couldn't help but laugh at that. After she'd wiped the corners of her eyes, she refocused on him. "Okay…this is stupid…the wings are getting cold. Maybe you wanna sit here and crack jokes, but I'm actually hungry. You do what you want; I'm eating." she said as she reached for the basket and grabbed one of the wings, bringing it to her mouth.

Daryl chuckled as he watched her. "How's it taste?" he asked.

Carol was trying not to laugh while she chewed. She could already feel the sauce on her face and knew that she must look like a complete idiot. Ducking quickly under the bar, she reemerged with a stack of napkins. After finishing that first wing, she hastily wiped at the sauce around her mouth, but knew that she couldn't get it all off… Sighing in defeat, she smiled at him. "It's great."

He smirked at her and grabbed one of the wings. "Seems like ya enjoyed it."

She leaned over the counter, staring at him. "I'll enjoy it more when I'm not the only one covered in sauce."

Daryl chuckled and started eating. Accepting the fact that they were both going to get messy, Daryl and Carol forgot their insecurities and dug into their meal. She did her best to stay clean, constantly fidgeting with the napkins and dabbing at her mouth, but Daryl was less concerned with formalities. He opted for sucking the tangy sauce off his fingertips every so often. Each time, Carol watched his hands and experienced the slightest twinge of jealousy. She wanted to be that close to his mouth… The thought was a startling one…

You don't even know him…he doesn't know you….you shouldn't be talking to him, let alone eating together…What if Ed saw you? What if he walked through those doors and…

Daryl noticed the change in her expression and he cleared his throat. "Ya alright?" he asked, as he reached for another wing.

She blinked. "What?"

He took a bite and waited until he finished chewing to answer her. "Just look like ya got somethin' on your mind."

"More than you know…" she sighed softly, almost as if she were speaking to herself.

Daryl wasn't sure what changed. She seemed fine a minute ago…but now she looked sad, worried almost. He wanted to fix that. "Ain't this where folks come to get shit off their minds?" he asked, smirking at her.

She blew out a warm breath and nodded, a faint smile on her face. "I guess it is. I just need to keep myself distracted."

"What, I ain't enough?" he teased.

She blushed a little and felt her teeth sinking into her bottom lip. "You're definitely helping." she said. Carol wanted to keep the words locked behind her lips but they seemed to trip off her tongue before she could stop them.

It was Daryl's turn to blush. He hadn't expected that response but he certainly liked hearing it. He looked down, focusing on the few wings that remained in their basket.

What in god's name are ya doin'? Ya need to leave this woman be before ya make a damn fool of yourself…

He had never been good at this…interacting with other people. More often than not, when he tried to make connections, Daryl felt awkward, clumsy, crass, and out of place. But for some reason, he didn't feel that way with her. She made him feel comfortable. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that they were both out of their elements. Daryl had been dragged into the bar by his brother, and Carol was trying to make it through her first shift. That seemed to level the playing field a bit and the whiskey had given Daryl the false confidence he needed to keep the conversation going. Not to mention Christine's urging that the two should spend some time together… As the younger Dixon considered all the thoughts spinning in his skull, something startled him.

"Well, hey now baby brother!" said Merle as he slapped his hand down on the counter and stood beside Daryl's barstool. "I was wonderin' where ya took off to. Got some wings there?" he glanced at the nearly empty basket.

Daryl swallowed hard and looked at Carol.

She eyed the man standing beside Daryl and then gestured to him. "You must be Merle."

Merle seemed to notice her for the first time. "That's right. And what's your name darlin'?"

Carol stood up straight and folded her arms across her chest, one of her eyebrows arching as she marveled at the stark contrast that existed between the two brothers. "Excuse me?" she asked, plainly amused.

"She's the bartender…" Daryl growled at his brother.

"I figured that…" Merle chuckled. "Her bein' behind the bar 'n all. I'm just tryin' to get a name out of her…"

"It's Carol." she said.

He grinned at her. "Was that so hard?"

She cocked her head to the side as she studied him. "Can I get you anything?"

Daryl shook his head. "Ya ain't gotta wait on this jackass…" then he turned to face his brother. "She's on break. Leave her be."

Merle chuckled again, leaning on the counter. "Right. Then why's she standin' here talkin' to your sorry ass?"

The words seemed to hit on all of Daryl's insecurities and he bowed his head, not wanting to look at either of his companions.

"Ya tryin' to tell me this little thing's gonna spend her whole break with you?" Merle asked, still laughing.

Carol didn't have any claim on Daryl…she hardly knew him, but she wasn't about to let his brother pick on him. "Actually, Daryl here has been great company and
I couldn't think of a better way to spend my break." Once again, Carol found herself in awe of the words that had just flown out of her mouth, but it was too late to take them back.

Both brothers stared at her, each of them looking as shocked as she felt. It was then that Merle noticed that Daryl and Carol both had water glasses and that there was a pile of napkins on the counter between them. Realization struck and he glanced from Carol to his brother. "Wait a minute now…." he grinned. "I ain't interruptin' anything am I?"

Carol and Daryl stared at each other, neither knowing what to say…their lips parted but the words weren't coming.

Merle watched the two of them. "Oh shit…I really did crash ya'lls party didn't I?"

Carol was getting anxious. "You sure I can't get you anything?" she asked, forcing a smile.

Merle rubbed his jaw and considered the offer. "How 'bout a jack 'n coke?"

She nodded. "Coming right up." With that, she turned away from the brothers and headed for the shelves that held the liquor.

Daryl was too angry to speak. His elbows were resting on the counter and he had his hands clasped in front of his mouth. One of his legs had started to shake and he was fighting the urge to smack his brother. Merle slumped into the barstool beside him.

"Wanna tell me what's goin' on here?" Merle asked as he gestured to the basket that only had two wings left in it.

Daryl huffed, refusing to make eye contact. "Ain't none of your concern."

"Hold on now…I'm the one who dragged your sorry ass in here in the first place."

"So?" Daryl snapped.

"So if ya end up findin' a piece of tail, I feel like I deserve some of the credit…a 'thank you' might be nice…" said Merle.

The younger Dixon had reached his limit, he swiveled in the barstool and glared at his brother, leaning into the man's space. "She ain't a piece of tail…and ya best keep your mouth shut about her."

Merle raised his hands in mock surrender. "Easy now. I ain't tryin' to get ya rattled…"

Daryl glared at his brother for a few more seconds before turning away. Both men leaned forward in their stools, their elbows resting on the counter. Merle glanced at Daryl and could see that the boy was upset. "Look here…" he said.

Daryl lifted his chin. "What?" he growled, his expression sullen.

"If ya think this one might help ya get that stick outta your ass, I won't get in the way." said Merle.

Daryl bristled.

"Honest to god," Merle added. "I'll be on my best behavior."

The younger Dixon didn't trust his brother….at least not entirely, but he supposed he didn't have a choice. After several seconds of silence, Merle spoke up again. "She's cute. Girl's got a decent body…tight little ass…"

Daryl felt his blood pressure spike and he was just about to knock his brother out of that damn barstool when they heard approaching footsteps and looked up to see Carol. She leaned over the counter and set Merle's drink down in front of him. "One jack 'n coke." she said.

Merle eyed her as he took the glass. When he brought it to his lips and took a sip, he winced, shaking his head. "Good lord!" he said, coughing a little and setting the glass down.

Carol slid her hands into her back pockets and smiled. "It might be more jack than coke…" she admitted. While Merle was recovering…Carol met Daryl's gaze and they held the connection. He couldn't help but think that she'd poured his brother an especially strong drink on purpose. As if she could read his thoughts, Carol winked at him. Daryl smirked at her and for the first time, in a long time, the younger Dixon felt like he had an ally.

Merle was always the life of the party…He never turned down a drink, or a fight…and he always walked out with a girl on his arm. Daryl had spent his entire life in his older brother's shadow, but for once…he felt like he had the upper hand. Carol did that…and he wouldn't forget it.

"That is a stiff goddamn drink…" said Merle. He wiped at his mouth with the back of his wrist.

Carol chuckled as she cleared away the dirty napkins she and Daryl left on the counter. "Too strong for your blood?" she asked.

Daryl cleared his throat to hide a laugh.

Merle sat up straight and stared at her. "Ain't a drink on this earth that I can't handle…"

Carol seemed to find that amusing. "You sure about that?"

"Darlin', I might be a lotta things, but I sure as hell ain't a liar."

Carol stared right back at him as she leaned over the bar. She saw his eyes go to the dip in her cleavage and she smirked to herself. She was going to have fun with this. Daryl had done a good job of keeping her entertained and she wanted to return the favor. While Merle was distracted with her neckline, Carol reached into her apron and pulled out a ten dollar bill. She slapped it on the counter, startling Merle. "You wanna make this interesting?" she asked.

He eyed the money and then refocused on her face. "What'd ya have in mind?"

Daryl was looking at his two companions and wondering what the hell was going on.

"I bet you ten bucks that you can't get through two of those." she glanced at Merle's drink.

The older Dixon snorted. "Girl, that's some easy money right there." He fished his wallet out of his pocket and found a ten dollar bill, setting it down on top of hers.

Daryl just rubbed his tired eyes and shook his head.

Carol chuckled. "You've got a ways to go. Drink up." she pointed to the glass of dark liquid.

Merle kept his eyes on hers as he lifted the glass and took a sip. He groaned a little as the liquor burned his throat, but he kept it down and held Carol's gaze. "Like I said…" he growled, coughing a little. "Easy money."

Daryl had to admit that it was amusing watching his brother try to choke down the drink Carol had given him. He sat, sipping his water, and watched as Merle and Carol squared off.

"I think I'll just hang onto this…" said Carol as she reached for the two tens that were sitting on the counter. She carefully folded the bills and then stared at Merle as she tucked them into her bra.

Both brothers watched her delicate hands as she slipped the money into her bra. Daryl was paying attention now. Merle eyed her cleavage shamelessly until she cleared her throat to get his attention. "You should focus on your drink." she said.

Merle looked down, eyeing the dark liquid, but he wasn't ready to take another swig just yet. "Don't you go worryin' 'bout me sugar, I'll be just fine."

She smiled, leaning even further over the counter. Her arms were folded beneath her, and they seemed to push her breasts together. Merle's eyes darted to her cleavage again. "You just let me know when you're ready for round two." she said, her voice hushed, almost sultry.

"Oh I plan on it…" he said, raising his glass to her.

"Good." she gave him one last smile before moving back towards Daryl so that she could clear away the rest of their mess. She took the rag from her shoulder and started wiping crumbs off the counter, her eyes occasionally catching Daryl's. She felt like she owed him an explanation so while Merle was occupied with his drink she leaned over the counter and whispered to Daryl. "Hope I'm not overdoing it…"

The younger Dixon leaned forward so that he could hear her better. When she whispered, he could feel the warmth of her words against his ear. A slight shiver worked its way up his spine and he had to remind himself to relax. "Overdoin' what?" he asked, his voice low.

She giggled a little and whispered into his ear again. "I just get the feeling that he's used to being top-dog…am I right?"

Daryl really, really liked the way her warm breath felt against his skin and he fought to keep the smile off his face. "That's about the size of it…" he whispered back.

She smirked. "Just thought we might have a little fun with him…no way he makes it through two of those…"

"I'm havin' fun already…" he growled softly…he was so tempted to catch her mouth with his.

Carol felt herself get warm; she could feel Merle's eyes on them. "He's staring at us…." she whispered.

Daryl was too busy memorizing her scent to give a second thought to his brother. "Let him…"

Carol swallowed hard, trying to calm her nerves. To anyone looking on, their exchange wouldn't have seemed out of place. She was just a bartender, leaning across the counter trying to hear her customer's order over the clamor of the bar. And he was just answering her…the two speaking into each other's ears so that they could hear…But something about the tone in his voice made Carol think that it was more than that. Needing a distraction, she licked her lips and started speaking again. "Say something…" she whispered.

Daryl chuckled; her scent was clouding his judgment, along with the two glasses of whiskey he'd had. "What should I say?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Carol eased back and laughed as if he'd just said something amazingly clever; her laughter was loud enough to catch Merle's attention. She kept up the charade, even wiping at the corners of her eyes.

Daryl was confused, but in the next instant, she leaned back into his space and brought her lips to his ear. "Just wanted him to see how much fun we're having…I get the feeling it'll bother him. Don't you?"

He grinned, nodding. "You have no idea…"

She smirked. "I've gotta work, but you keep an eye on him…make sure he finishes that drink…"

"I'll do my best." he whispered, not wanting her to go.

Carol loved his voice and the hushed words made her blush. She decided to take advantage of the color on her cheeks. Easing away from Daryl, she gasped, a look of shock and amusement on her face. "Daryl…I can't believe you'd say something like that…I hardly know you!" There was a smirk on her mouth and she swatted playfully at his arm before turning away to attend to other customers.

Daryl couldn't help the smile on his face as he watched her go.

Woman's a troublemaker…

He was blushing a little, and saw that his brother was staring at him. "What?" he asked.

Merle raised one arm and then let it drop. "What the hell was all that?"

"Hm?" Daryl asked, feigning ignorance.

"You 'n her…" said Merle as he pointed in Carol's direction.

"Nothin'. We were just talkin'." said Daryl. He ignored his brother and took a sip of his water.

"That right?" Merle asked. "Ya'll was lookin' real cozy for two folks just talkin'…. What the hell did ya say to her?"

Daryl just smirked, without looking up, and continued to sip his water.

"Boy, you hearin' me?" said Merle. "Them whiskeys gone to your head?"

The younger Dixon was savoring his brother's frustration.

"You really think ya got a shot with her?" Merle snapped, trying to get Daryl to acknowledge him. "She a bartender for Christ's sake, she's workin' for tips…"

But Daryl just shrugged. "Funny thing is, I ain't tipped her yet." he grinned at his brother and drummed his fingers on the counter.

Merle was getting pissed. He wanted to wipe that smug smirk off his little brother's face. He'd never been one to let Daryl out-do him, and he wasn't about to start now.

"Ya best work on that." said Daryl, as he pointed to Merle's glass. "Unless ya wanna admit that shit's too strong."

Merle scowled. "Don't you worry 'bout me. I'm gonna finish this. 'N when I do, ya can get your little girlfriend to pour me another one…I'm gettin' my damn money back."

Daryl chuckled. "Sure."

As Merle sat, clutching his glass and occasionally sipping the dark liquid, Daryl stared dreamily at Carol. The younger Dixon had a lazy smile on his face and he felt better than he had in a long time. He watched as she talked to the other customer's and filled their glasses. As the minutes ticked by, he found that he wanted her to come back. Filled with the confidence she'd given him, Daryl called out to her and ordered another drink.

It was one thirty in the morning and things were winding down. The bar closed at two and only a few patrons remained, scattered at various tables and booths. Merle was hanging on by a thread. The man had made it through one and a half of Carol's drinks before he had to tap out, much to Daryl's amusement. The brothers hung around the bar on and off. Some of Merle's frustration seemed to disappear after the drinks were in his system and Carol found that the man wasn't completely unbearable. He was loud, maybe a little crass, but she gathered that he was more bark than bite. Despite their obvious differences, Carol could tell that the brothers were close. She suspected that in addition to picking on Daryl, Merle looked out for him, and that was a comfort. Somehow, between drinks and the bits of conversation, Daryl found his way under her skin. She realized that the night was drawing to a close but she didn't want her shift to end.

The two brothers were sitting at a table and Merle had one arm draped around a red-headed woman. Carol was wiping down the bar, but she occasionally glanced at their table. She tried to focus on her work and bring herself to terms with the fact that she would be leaving soon…and she might not see the brothers again. She paused to wipe at the sweat on her brow but then the sound of someone calling out her name made her look up. "What?"

Merle was laughing. "Hey Carol, how's about you bring me 'n the boy two shots of rye whiskey."

Christine was standing behind the bar, near Carol, and she glanced at the younger woman. "You sure made yourself some fans over there didn't ya?"

"I guess so." Carol chuckled. "Let me get them squared away."

"Just so ya'll know, this here's last call…" said Christine, addressing the few patrons that remained.

Carol grabbed the shot glasses and poured the amber colored liquid. Once she screwed the lid back on the bottle she picked up the glasses and made her way carefully to the table where the brothers were waiting. "As requested." she said, setting the drinks down. She glanced at the young woman who was leaning her head on Merle's shoulder. "Can I get you anything?" Carol asked.

The girl just smiled and shook her head. "Thanks, but I'm drivin'."

"Sounds good." Carol answered, glad that the two men had a safe way to get home. She was thinking she'd have to call them a cab. With that, she left the three of them to their business and started helping Glenn clear tables.

People slowly filed out of the building, some of them tripping and stumbling on their way, others laughing, cursing… Christine had the cash drawer open while she counted bills. Once Glenn had taken the last load of glasses and other dishes to the kitchen for washing, he came back and stood next to Carol, holding out his hand.

She stared at him, confused.

"Well," he gave her a tired smile. "You made it through your first shift. Good job." He was still holding out his hand and Carol finally took it.

"You did great; I hope you stick around. We could really use you." he said.

She smiled back at him. "Thanks. I had a good time. Wouldn't have made it without you."

The two finished shaking hands and then separated. "Hope I see you again soon." he said.

"I plan on being here every Friday."

"Great. See you then. Night Christine!" he called out, waving.

"Night honey; get yourself home safe now."

He smiled over his shoulder. "I always do." Glenn made his way towards the doors and grabbed his coat from the wrack. With one last wave the bar's occupants, he pushed open the doors and headed out into the parking lot.

Christine was chuckling to herself. "Lord I never get tired of seein' that boy walk away."

Carol slumped into a nearby chair and laughed. "You're awful. You know that right?"

"Aw, c'mon now…she's fine." said Merle. "Ain't nothin' wrong with her wantin' to keep a little eye candy around if it helps her get through the day." He downed his shot of whiskey and laughed right along with Carol.

Daryl snorted, shaking his head as he tried to process the fact that his brother just used the term 'eye-candy.'

"Speakin' of things that are fun to look at…when do I get to see the rest of ya?" Merle asked as he leered at the red-head's cleavage.

She giggled, her cheeks turning pink, as she leaned in and whispered something in his ear.

Merle had a huge grin on his face and he tightened his grip on the girl, pulling her into his side. He stared at his brother, across the table, and seemed to realize something. "Aw…shit…" he groaned.

"What?" Daryl asked before taking his shot.

"See, me 'n Sara…we got plans back at her place…ya alright with takin' a cab home?" Merle asked.

Daryl's head was foggy and the shot of whiskey was burning a hole in his chest. "What?" he asked again, not sure he understood his brother's question.

Merle rolled his eyes. "Christ…ya'll wanna call this boy a cab?"

Christine was the first to speak up. "Nonsense. Carol can take him home."

Daryl and Carol both looked up, each of them trying to figure out if they'd heard her correctly. "Excuse me?" said Carol, as she twisted in her chair and eyed Christine.

The older woman was still counting off bills and stacking receipts on the counter. She glanced at Carol, meeting her gaze. "Ya'll don't live far, right?"

"Fifteen minute drive." said Merle.

"See?" said Christine. "It's fine. Carol can get him home. Ain't that right?" she eyed her cousin again.

Carol didn't know what to say…or think for that matter. She was dead on her feet and she hadn't planned on playing taxi. "I…" she was looking around the room, as if it held an answer for her.

"Ya ain't gotta.." said Daryl. "Cab's fine."

She turned to look at him; he was leaning over the table, his eyes downcast. The longer she stared at him, the more Carol hated the idea of him sitting alone in the back seat of some filthy cab. "No…" she said. "I can take you. Really, I don't mind."

He lifted his chin and met her gaze. "Ya sure?"

The very noticeable relief in his voice made her smile. "I'm sure. Just give me a minute to grab my things." She pushed her chair back and stood, stretching her arms above her head. As she walked back towards the bar, her eyes were trained on her cousin. She made her way behind the counter and stood face to face with Christine. "I know what you're doing…" Carol hissed under her breath.

Christine folded her arms across her chest and narrowed her eyes. "And what's that?" she asked.

Carol sighed in exasperation. "Christine…I'm married. It might not be a perfect arrangement…god knows there are times when I just want out of it…but the hard truth is that I am married. To Ed." She held up her hand, showing her cousin the plain gold band that had been on her finger for five long, miserable years.

"And why are you tellin' me all this?" Christine asked, her voice hushed.

Carol blinked and ran her hands over her face. "Because you don't seem to understand what that means. From the moment he sat down at the bar you have been doing everything in your power to push us together…"

"What all have I done?" the older woman asked. "I got ya'll to share some wings…and I'm makin' sure that boy gets home safe. I can't see anything wrong with that."

Carol was too tired for this. She placed a hand on Christine's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Look…I know what you're trying to do. I've gotta be honest…this is the most fun I've had in years…I can't remember the last time I laughed so much…and you don't know what this job means to me. Really; I can't thank you enough. But if you really care about me..if you want to do me a favor…you'll stop…with him at least…" Carol glanced over at the table where the brothers were still seated.

Christine nodded, her expression softening. "I'm sorry if I made ya uncomfortable…ya just seemed happy with him…that's all."

Carol swallowed hard and let her hand fall away from her cousin's shoulder. "I was. But that's where it ends. Alright?"

Christine released a heavy sigh. "Alright." She pulled Carol into a hug and kissed her cheek. "I love ya. Now you call me tomorrow, ya hear? Tell me all about Phia's sleepover."

Carol smiled, hugging her cousin back. "I will. And I'll see you next Friday."

"Sounds like a plan" said Christine. She watched as Carol hurried back towards the tables.

"C'mon boy," Merle kicked at Daryl's leg under the table. "That's our cue."

The younger Dixon stood slowly and blinked; the room was spinning a little and he had to grip the edge of the table. "Shit…" he groaned.

Carol headed to the doors and grabbed her jacket and purse from the wrack. When she looked up and noticed that Daryl was having trouble standing, she sighed, making a silent vow to pay Christine back for this.

She knew exactly what she was doing when she volunteered me for this little job…

Summoning what was left of her strength and her courage, Carol walked to the table and slipped her arm around Daryl's middle before he could stop her. She felt him tense at the contact. "Easy there tiger…just think you might need a little help staying on your feet. Think you can walk?" she asked as she hugged him tighter, pulling him into her side. Daryl gradually leaned against her, letting her take his weight.

"I'm good…" he said, his words slurring a little.

Merle chuckled but when he stood up, he noticed that he wasn't doing much better. His legs felt like jelly and Sara had to grab him to keep him standing. "Think ya'll had a little too much fun." she laughed.

Merle smirked as he turned to place a sloppy kiss to the girl's neck. "I plan on havin' some more in a little while."

Sara blushed hard and helped Merle stumble away from the table.

After waving goodbye to Christine, the two women did their best to get the brothers through the door. Their pace was slow and awkward. Sara and Carol were both struggling to support the men that leaned against them.

Christine just stood behind the bar, chuckling to herself as she counted the last of the bills from the cash drawer.

She'll thank me later…girl deserves to have some fun once in a while….

Christine closed the register, locking it with a small silver key. She pulled a till bag from under the counter and started tucking the cash inside when a sudden sound made her head snap up. She heard a loud thump, like a body hitting the ground, followed by Merle's husky laughter. A few seconds later, she could hear her cousin apologizing frantically and imagined that Carol was probably working to haul her companion off the cold ground. Christine shook her head, chuckling again.

She'll thank me later.

Carol was gripping her steering wheel so hard that her knuckles had gone white. Her breathing had picked up and she needed a moment to get herself under control. She watched through the windshield as Sara and Merle made their way to the opposite end of the parking lot, towards the girl's car.

Daryl had already taken a spill, much to Carol's dismay, and it was no small feat to get him off the ground and into her passenger's seat. The younger Dixon seemed to find the whole thing amusing, chuckles escaping him as he sank back into the seat. When Carol leaned over him to fasten his seatbelt, she caught his scent. She wasn't sure if it came from his hair, his clothes or his skin…but it was strangely addictive. Her fingers fumbled with the buckle as she tried to get it to click, all the while, that scent seemed to surround her and she tried to puzzle out the brand of soap he must use. She'd been struggling with the belt for a few seconds when Daryl moved to help her. His hands brushed hers and he mumbled something. "I got it…"

She blushed when his fingers found hers and he took over, finally getting the belt to click. "You good?" she asked.

He gave her a lazy smile and nodded.

She gently closed the passenger's side door and walked around the car so that she could sink into her own seat. Every nerve ending seemed to vibrate as she sat there, her sweaty palms clutching desperately at the steering wheel. She was scared. Carol couldn't remember the last time a man had been in her car…aside from Ed. If her husband ever found out that Daryl had been in the car…she shuddered, not even wanting to think about the possible consequences. Her fear had taken hold of her and she wasn't even sure she could drive…

A sudden movement caught her eye and she glanced at Daryl. He'd shifted in his seat so that he could lean against the window, his head resting on the cool glass.

He's tired…I need to get him home…I can worry about Ed later.

"Hey," she said softly, trying to get his attention.

"Hm?" he grunted without looking up.

She turned the key in the ignition, bringing the car to life. "You awake over there?"

He chuckled, his eyes easing open. "I'm up."

Carol breathed a sigh of relief and allowed herself to smile. "Good. Think you can get us to your place? I'm not overly familiar with the area."

"I'll try." he chuckled, turning to look at her.

Their eyes met and they couldn't help but smile at one another. "Alright then." she said. "I'll keep my fingers crossed. Now do I take a left out of here?"

He shook his head. "Take a right. Keep it straight for about five miles…we're gonna pass a dairy farm."

She smiled and started to ease her car out of the space. The gravel was crunching under her tires and just as they reached the end of the lot, the car hit a small speed bump, making Daryl groan. He brought one hand up to clutch his forehead. "Take it easy with that shit." he said.

Carol chuckled. "Sorry. Think you can make it all the way there? If you get sick in this car I swear I'll pull over and drag you out of that seat."

Daryl groaned again, his eyes closing. "Just drive."

She turned right, out of the parking lot, and followed her passenger's instructions. They drove in silence, neither of them feeling the need for pointless small talk. She was willing herself to relax and praying that Daryl could hold his liquor. It felt so strange…surreal to be driving down an empty road, in the middle of the night, with a total stranger in her car. She occasionally glanced up at the dark sky; stars were scattered across it…tiny points of flickering light piercing the inky blackness…the full moon hung heavy and bright, illuminating the endless wheat fields as the car sped past… Carol studied the way the silvery light fell across everything in its path. There was something calming about it…

She smiled to herself, thinking that this was nice. She'd spent her childhood in the country, surrounded by her family…cousins and uncles, grandparents and friends. But Ed had taken her away from all that… He wanted to be closer to Atlanta…to go where the jobs were. He told her there was nothing for them in the country, and she had no choice but to listen. Staring dreamily out her windshield at the stillness and the beauty that surrounded her, Carol realized how much she'd lost when she married Ed.

At twenty-five, she found herself pregnant and out of options. She couldn't do it alone, and Ed told her she didn't have to…that he'd be there…he'd help. She believed him then, thinking it would all be for the best…the marriage…the move… It was only after they'd been married for several weeks that Carol realized the terrible mistake she'd made. And things had only gotten worse since then. It had been five, long, hellish years since then but it felt like a lifetime to Carol. The memory chilled her and she needed a distraction. "Hey." she said, glancing at her passenger.

He yawned, his eyes easing open. "What?"

"Where's this dairy farm of yours?" she asked.

He grunted, sitting up straight in his seat and staring out the window. "We're comin' up on it."

"Alright. As long as you're sure. Don't go getting us lost out here." she said.

"I got this." he insisted, his hands resting in his lap.

She glanced at him again. "I hope so, because I am not spending my night driving around in circles with you."

He considered her words for a few seconds and then looked at her. "Could be worse."

When Carol met his gaze, she could see there was a smirk on his mouth and it made her blush. "Just focus on getting us home." she said, trying to keep her nerves in check.

He let his eyes linger on her for a moment longer and then returned his attention to the windshield. "It's right up there…just turn onto Montgomery."

Carol squinted, trying to read the sign in the distance. She was able to make out the letters and turned right onto a narrow road lined with tall trees. Her fear of small spaces seemed to surface as she stared out at the brush surrounding them on both sides. Her headlights barely cut through the gloom and she slowed down, worried that some animal might run across the road at any moment. "You get a lot of deer out here?" she asked, trying to distract herself.

Daryl chuckled. "The bastards are everywhere…seems like ya can't drive down this damn road without hittin' one."

Carol tensed, her fingers curling anxiously around the wheel. "God…don't say that.." she pleaded, the notes of fear evident in her voice.

He glanced at her. "Relax. You're fine. Just go slow through here. Besides, I ain't gonna let nothin' happen to ya."

Her breath caught in her throat and she turned to look at him. The lazy smile was still on his face and something about it made her feel warm. All of a sudden, the narrow road didn't seem so ominous…and the dark trees weren't as frightening. She had to remind herself that she wasn't alone. Drawing on her courage and releasing a trapped breath, Carol focused on her task. They fell into another comfortable silence…Daryl only speaking up when they had to make a turn. After a while, the trees had thinned some and Carol was slowing the car to a stop in front of an old, two-story house.

"I take it this is your stop?" she asked. She pulled the key from the ignition, letting the engine die. When she didn't get a response, Carol glanced at her passenger. "Daryl?" she called softly.

He was leaning against his window, his eyes closed. He muttered something under his breath but didn't stir.

"Daryl?" she called again as she unfastened her seatbelt.

He didn't respond.

Sighing and rolling her eyes, Carol pushed the driver's side door open and stepped out in the cool night air. She rounded the car until she reached his door and slowly began to pull it open.

When Daryl heard the door creak, his eyes eased open and he sat bolt upright, startled and a little disoriented. "Hm?" he looked around, trying to get his bearings.

Carol was holding the door open, her eyes locked on his. "I think we made it." she said, a smile on her lips.

He couldn't help but smile back at her as he began to fumble with his seatbelt. "Ya did good." he said.

She chuckled at that. "It was a team effort, but thank you." She heard his belt click and she held out her hand to help him out of the car. "Let's see if we can get you on your feet."

He gripped her hand hard and let her pull him. After a little grunting and cursing, on both their parts, Daryl found himself standing on shaky legs. Carol nudged the passenger's side door shut with her foot and then noticed that Daryl was swaying a little. Before he could fall, her hands went to his shoulders and she did her best to steady him. "You alright?" she asked.

He blinked a few times, trying to focus on her face. He was lightheaded and the world seemed to be slanting under his feet. Something about that just struck him as funny and he started to chuckle.

Carol shook her head, biting her lip. "Okay then. That answers that. Let's go." She moved so that one of her arms snaked around his middle. He leaned heavily on her and she grunted as the two of them began making their way, slowly, towards the front porch. They stumbled a little but she fought to keep him standing. "Let's not make this a repeat of the parking lot, alright?" she huffed.

"That shit hurt…" he laughed.

She cracked a smile and gathered her strength as they reached the first porch step. "I bet. Might teach you not to drink so much next time."

"Doubt it." he snorted.

"You know best…" she sighed. "Now I need you to grab the railing on your side. Think you can do that?"

He managed a nod and clumsily reached for the smooth, wooden railing. Somehow, the two companions scaled the steps, one by one, until they were standing at the front door. Carol was still holding onto him; she worried that once she let go, he'd end up on his ass and she wasn't sure she had the strength to keep picking him up. "I take it you have the key?" she asked.

Daryl panicked for a moment but then remembered the spare in his back pocket. He retrieved the key and gave it to her.

She breathed a sigh of relief and they both laughed at that. While he continued to lean on her, Carol worked the key into the lock, pushing and then turning the knob until the door gave way, swinging inward. They stumbled over the threshold, nearly losing their balance. After the laughter died down, they both caught their breath. "Well…I guess we made it." she said.

"I guess." he chuckled.

"I think I need a minute…mind If I sit?" she asked.

He shook his head. "Naw…make yourself comfortable." With that he released her. The younger Dixon thought he'd be able to stand on his own, but the room spun violently and he staggered back, hitting a wall. The floor rippled like water under his boots and he felt himself sliding down the wall until his ass hit the hard, wooden floor. He swore and then dissolved into a fit of laughter.

"Oh god!" said Carol, "Daryl? Are you okay?" She only left him long enough to shut the front door; cold wind had already blown several dead leaves into the entry way. When she made her way back, she dropped to her knees in front of him, her hands going to either side of his face. "Daryl?" she said again, her hands holding him in place as she tried to get him to focus. "Can you hear me?"

He was leaning back against the wall, his legs sprawled in front of him and Carol was kneeling between them. He wasn't sure why he was laughing….his ass hurt and he knew he'd just made an absolute fool of himself in front of her…but he couldn't help it. His mind was hazy and the whiskey was still coursing through his bloodstream. But then she was there…so close to him, her warm hands touching his face…her blue eyes fixed on him. He could see her lips moving but he couldn't make out the words. All that mattered was the warmth of her hands…

"Daryl?" she said again, her voice soft. She licked her lips and used one hand to brush a few locks of dark hair away from his forehead. "Daryl, I need you to let me know you're okay. Can you hear me? Is there anything I can get you? A glass of water…anything?"

His lids were heavy as he continued to stare at her mouth. The longer he stared, the more he wanted to touch her lips…to brush them with his fingers… There was a dull pounding in his skull and blood was beginning to rush in his ears. His breathing picked up and he couldn't take his eyes away from her.

Carol noticed the subtle changes in her companion and she was growing concerned. She knew she'd already lingered too long but she didn't want to leave him like this. Softly brushing his hair back, her other hand remained pressed to his cheek and she kept her eyes locked on his. "Daryl? Please…I just need you to say something. Let me know you can hear me, alright? Say something…any…" but he didn't let her finish.

Without warning, Daryl leaned forward, his hand cupping her jaw as he pressed his lips against hers. Carol shuddered at the contact. Her mind couldn't process what was taking place between them. She wanted to pull away, to push him back, but the instant his lips hit hers, she felt a stifling warmth rush through her body. His hand was gentle as he held her and Carol's eyes closed. The kiss wasn't urgent or forced, he simply lingered there, applying sweet pressure…and she let him…her heart suddenly thrumming in her chest. His lips were warm and surprisingly soft against hers. They held the connection for several more heartbeats before Carol's mind seemed to catch up with her. She pulled away, gasping.

Daryl stared at her. In the dim light of the hall, her eyes seemed to glow and he could see the hint of color on her cheeks. He wanted to say something…but he couldn't bring himself to speak. Instead, he licked his lips, tasting her there, and waited for his heart to stop pounding.

Carol couldn't believe what he'd done…or that she'd let him do it. The house was still but for the sound of their heavy breathing. Each of them was waiting for the other to speak…but they didn't know what to say. She brushed his hair back again and swallowed hard; she couldn't make herself look away. His hand still cupped her jaw and she found that she didn't want him to let go.

Daryl could see that she was scared…he was too, but he knew that his desire to kiss her was stronger than his fear. So he drew on his courage and moved into her space again. He could feel her tremble, but she didn't try to get away. With his lips hovering over hers, his eyes flicked to her face, seeking permission. She managed a slight nod and Daryl didn't even give her a chance to breathe. His mouth caught hers and a soft groan escaped her. She felt his hand move from her jaw to her neck, where he gripped her gently, keeping her close. Her eyes were closed as she savored the feeling of his lips moving softly against hers. The sensations coursing through her body were enough to make her gasp and Daryl took the opportunity to dip his tongue into her mouth. She shivered, but didn't stop him. Carol's mind was reeling.

This can't be happening….it's not real….

His warm tongue slid past hers and she couldn't help but wonder if they'd crashed on their drive home from the bar….if they'd both been killed in some sudden accident, leaving them suspended in this dream world where he could kiss her, and she could kiss him back…

It's not real…

But even as the words echoed in her mind, Carol could feel the warmth spreading through her. His lips were still pressed to hers and she was losing herself. She leaned in to him, her tongue slipping quickly under his. He groaned, tightening his grip on her neck as he continued to taste her. It was only when he paused to suck on her bottom lip that Carol managed to pull away, panting. After she had a moment to catch her breath, she met his gaze. "Daryl…"

His chest was rising and falling rapidly as he stared at her. He didn't know what was happening between them, but he didn't want it to stop. Daryl reached for her hand that was still pressed to his cheek. He gripped her wrist carefully and brought her hand to his mouth, placing a kiss to the center of her palm.

Carol watched him in awe. No one had ever been this way with her… Her chest tightened and she couldn't find the words she was looking for.

Daryl held her hand so gently, as if he might break her. One by one, he kissed each of her fingertips, his lips lingering a little longer on each one. When he finished, he let his fingers thread with hers, their hands clasped.

"Daryl…" she whispered, her voice strained.

But he just stared at her, his blue eyes clear and focused.

"We can't…I can't do this…" she said.

He still had one hand gripping the back of her neck and he was slowly rubbing the aching muscles there. "Why?" he asked.

She bit her lip, trying to hold back a sob. Her eyes were getting warm. "I'm married…I have a family…another life…." her voice was wavering and she worried that her resolve would crumble. She didn't want to cry in front of him.

Daryl's head tilted to one side as he stared at her. He considered her words but they weren't enough to dissuade him. He held her hand tighter and leaned into her space, his eyes fixed on her mouth.

"Daryl…" she pleaded with him. "I'm married…."

He hovered over her mouth without making contact and whispered softly against her lips. "Not tonight…"

Carol didn't have time to stop him; he collided with her again, taking her breath away, and she let him kiss her. In that moment, as they sat together in the dimly lit hall, their mouths working quietly against one another…Carol found that nothing else mattered. Her fears, her shame…all the pain she carried with her each day…it all seemed to disappear when they kissed. All that existed was the genuine warmth between them…kindness and gentleness that Carol had never known. She let the feelings wash over her, erasing her doubt… She wasn't sure when her hands found their way into his hair, or when his moved to her waist, but she supposed it wasn't important. She liked the way his hands felt on her body and she never wanted him to let go. Carol let the kiss deepen…she didn't want to break for air…to end it…she worried that once she pulled away, her fears would take hold and she'd run.

But Daryl had other plans. He reached for her wrists and slowly pulled her hands from his hair. When their mouths separated they were both panting. He stared hard at the woman in front of him.

"What?" she asked, her lips parting to make way for ragged breaths.

He released her hands and traced the line of her jaw with his thumb. "Not here…" he said, the words coming out in hushed whispers.

She closed her eyes for a moment, savoring his touch. "Where?" she breathed.

He tried to calm down as he started to push himself off the floor. He was struggling and Carol quickly moved to help him. She managed to drag him to his feet and he leaned back, letting the wall take his weight. They were both trying to catch their breath as they stood in the hall. "Upstairs…" he said, gesturing to a nearby staircase.

She nodded, wringing her hands and wondering how in the hell they'd gotten to this point. Carol started to pace; her nerves were getting the best of her. "I just…I need a minute.." she breathed. The temperature seemed to be rising at an alarming rate and she shrugged off her jacket, hoping for some relief.

Daryl watched her, and the look on her face was starting to worry him. "Don't" he growled softly.

She stopped pacing and looked at him. "Don't what?"

He grunted; he was still working to hold himself up against that wall. "Overthink it." he said.

She stared at him…the flush on his cheeks, the dark messy hair, and those vibrant blue eyes that had been haunting her since he first sat down at the bar. Carol knew that he was younger than her, at least by a few years…and he was too drunk to stand on his own…

He doesn't know what he's doing…

But she didn't know either. She supposed they were past that. His voice stirred her from her thoughts.

"Can't make it alone…" he said.

She met his gaze, her eyes questioning him, but he simply glanced at the staircase. It was in that moment that Carol realized her decision had already been made. The second she let his lips press into hers, she knew she didn't have the strength to make him stop. Her insides were twisting as she moved towards him…but the look on his face seemed to ease her fears. He was staring at her is if nothing else existed. She bit her lip and slipped one arm around his middle. He draped an arm across her shoulders and they moved slowly towards the staircase.

As the unlikely couple stood at the foot of the stairs, looking up, Carol wondered how they would ever make it to the top. But Daryl didn't seem interested in mulling that over. He was eager to move forward and climbed onto the first step, forcing Carol to do the same. Each of them gripped the railing. Despite their numerous frustrations, they couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of the situation. After each step, Carol was sure they would fall, but they managed to stay upright. Halfway up, Carol paused to catch her breath. "How is it…" she mused. "That you're better at making it up a flight of stairs than across a parking lot…"

He smirked, pressing onward and climbing another step. "I got somethin' waitin' for me at the top of these stairs…"

Carol blushed, moving with him. "Oh really?"

"Really…" he answered with a huff as he struggled to maintain his balance.

"Mind If I ask what it is?"

He chuckled, dragging her up another step. "I don't wanna spoil it…"

She smiled, gripping him tighter. "That good huh?"

He glanced at her. "I'll let ya be the judge…"

Carol was grateful for the surrounding gloom, she knew her cheeks were turning ten shades of pink. Trying to stay focused, she helped him climb the next step. "Sure hope it's worth all this trouble," she laughed.

Daryl snorted. "You'll find out here in a minute."

With each step, their anticipation seemed to build and they picked up the pace, chuckling and nearly falling in their haste. But they held tight to one another, neither letting go until they finally reached the landing. They were out of breath as they stared at one another. Carol had one hand resting on his back as she helped him stay standing. "Well…we made it." she said.

He smirked at her. "We did."

"Now what was so important that you made me drag you up here?" she asked, a smile on her face.

Daryl looked past her and pointed to the left, at a door that was slightly cracked. She followed his gaze and then refocused on his face. "A door?" she asked, her tone almost playful.

He started walking towards her, forcing her to retreat until her back hit the nearest wall. She giggled as he braced his hands on the wall, trapping her. She stared up at him while he looked down at her. His blunt nails were clawing at the paint and he watched the way her chest rose and fell. "Ain't the door…" he growled under his breath.

She bit her bottom lip. "It's not?"

He shook his head. "Naw…it's what's behind it…" he ducked down, pressing his lips against hers.

Carol's lips parted for him and she felt his tongue sink into her mouth. He kissed her hard…harder than he had in the hall….but she wasn't complaining. He was tasting every part of her, making her body warm and restless. When she felt that she couldn't take anymore, she pushed his chest, forcing him back. "What's behind the door?" she breathed.

He smirked at her in the dark. "Lemme show ya."

She stepped away from the wall and he draped his arm across her shoulders while she grabbed his middle. "I think we're getting the hang of this." she laughed.

He chuckled. "Maybe."

Together, they made their way to the door. Daryl wedged it open with the toe of his boot and let Carol step inside. She moved away from him and he closed the door behind them, leaning against it.

Carol took a few steps into the dimly lit room and looked around. A large bed with dark sheets took up a decent amount of the space. To the left, she could see a set of windows that seemed to almost reach the floor. A small lamp, sitting on a black nightstand, offered the only light. She noticed a few book shelves and a rug that covered a section of the hard-wood floor near the foot of the bed. Carol took one more moment to study her surroundings and then turned to face him. She stood with her arms folded across her chest and stared at her companion. "Well?" she asked. "I'm waiting…" there was a smirk on her lips. "What did you wanna show me?"

His eyes narrowed as he stared at her. Determined to walk without her help, he slowly pushed away from the door and started advancing.

Carol swallowed hard as she watched him get closer. He was unsteady on his feet but he continued to move in her direction. The space between them was shrinking fast and Carol found herself backing away. A small gasp escaped her when she felt something hit the backs of her legs. But Daryl didn't give her chance to recover. He reached out, placing his palm on her chest, and gently pushed her back onto the bed. She was giggling as she tried to scramble away from him, but he followed, crawling over her body. They moved further onto the bed so that their legs weren't hanging off the edge and Daryl quickly ducked his head to kiss the crook of her neck.

She was trapped underneath him, but she adapted, her body arching, pushing up against him. The sensation was too much for Daryl and he propped himself up, giving them both a little breathing room. The bed felt wonderful underneath her and Daryl's body was hard and lean above her. She smiled up at him as she placed her hands gently on his cheeks. He sighed, his eyes closing. He loved when she touched him. "This alright?" he asked, meaning the way they were lying on the bed.

She ran her fingers through his hair and nodded.

Smirking down at her, Daryl traced her collarbone with his fingertips, making her giggle. He found that he liked that sound. Despite his need to be with her, Daryl was still concerned about the woman underneath him. He eased back, so that she could move.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothin'…just figured you'd be more comfortable with a pillow under ya." He gestured to his headboard where several pillows were haphazardly arranged. "Get on up there."

She smiled at him as she moved back, further onto the bed, until she could feel the pillows behind her. She leaned back, trying to get comfortable and then beckoned him to join her. He smirked as he started moving towards her. It was then that Carol realized something was wrong. She sat up suddenly and held out her hand. "Wait…" she said.

He paused, staring at her. "What?"

"Your shoes…" she said, pointing at his boots.

Daryl's brows knit together. "What about 'em?"

"We shouldn't be on the bed with our shoes on…" She swung her legs over the side of the bed and quickly kicked her sneakers off.

Daryl nearly laughed. "Are ya serious?"

She shot him a pleading look. "It's just a pet peeve of mine, please?"

Accepting the fact that they weren't going to get any further until he did as she asked, Daryl sighed and moved so that he was sitting on the opposite side of the bed. He tugged at the laces on his boots and eventually yanked them from his feet.

When they were both finished, they turned to face one another. "Thanks." she said, smiling at him.

He chuckled and started crawling towards her, she moved, meeting him halfway. When his lips hit hers, Carol found herself giving in all over again. She eased down, the pillows at her back, and Daryl hovered over her, his mouth working against hers. She groaned, her arms winding around his neck. As the kiss deepened, Carol's natural instincts seemed to take over. Her tongue massaged his and the sensation was incredible. Her legs parted for him and he immediately bucked against her. Carol gasped, pushing her hips up into his. Daryl pulled his mouth from hers and swore.

"You okay?" she asked.

He took a moment to get himself under control. "Yeah…" he breathed. "You?"

She nodded, her hands lacing together at the back of his neck. Even as they stared at one another, their bodies continued to react. Blood was pouring into Daryl's groin and Carol could feel her core beginning to tighten. He was lying between her legs, his body trapping hers, and she was perfectly still underneath him, but for the beating of her heart.

"We can stop if ya want to…." he said.

She pulled him so that his mouth hovered over hers, "I kinda wanna keep going…" said Carol as she bit her lip and smirked.

"That right?" he asked.

she nodded, closing the small distance between them and kissing him. When her soft lips started moving against his, Daryl groaned, his hips bucking. Carol was startled to feel his need between her legs and she had to remind herself that it was normal. She wasn't used to any of this…taking her time…playing…kissing… Carol never knew that kissing could feel so good…that it could make her toes curl and her heart race… Daryl's tongue caressed hers and she felt herself get wet. She couldn't believe that she'd wound up in a stranger's bed, and the fact that she wasn't supposed to be there seemed to heighten her arousal. She let one of her hands travel into his hair and she pulled it as her hips moved against his.

Daryl was losing himself. Carol was so soft and warm underneath him, and her mouth was so sweet. He couldn't stop himself from grinding his hips into hers. He heard her gasp and that only made him press down harder. Her legs found their way around his waist…her ankles locking just above his ass, and Daryl growled against her lips. He wanted more from her.

Carol could've sworn that he was driving her crazy. Every kiss, every flick of his tongue, every jerk of his hips sent chills through her body. She locked her legs around him so that he couldn't get away. He seemed to like that and he bucked harder, making her whine. She could feel the hard length of his manhood pressing against her core and she wanted him to keep going.

Neither of them were sure when the kissing stopped, but suddenly, his hand was inching under the hem of her shirt and she put all of her focus into the steady motion of her hips. She wanted to feel as much of him as she could. Each time she rocked against him, Carol quivered.

Daryl's hand slid up, across her tight stomach, and then under her bra until he could feel her warm flesh in his palm. "Lord…" he groaned as more blood rushed to his groin.

Carol arched into his touch, her eyes slamming shut as she felt him massaging her breast. His touch was tender, but Carol needed more. She sat up, pushing him back. Her legs eased down, trapping him on either side and he found that he missed having her wrapped around him. As she sat, flushed and panting in Daryl's bed, Carol questioned what she was about to do.

Ever since she married Ed, the man had done everything in his power to convince her of her own worthlessness. He screamed at her, he beat her…sometimes for no reason…he insulted her, chipping away at her confidence, little by little until all that remained was a shell of the woman she used to be. At thirty, Carol had endured more pain than most people experience in their entire lives. The abuse from her husband was constant, and as hard as she tried to block the harsh words out….some got through, festering inside her until she believed them. He'd taken his anger out on her body until she couldn't stand her own skin. But here…now, with Daryl, Carol began to think that Ed had been wrong…she wasn't worthless. This kind stranger had seen something in her. He handled her so carefully, and every soft touch seemed to give her hope. He wasn't tearing at her clothes or forcing himself on her… Instead, he'd traced her jaw with his thumb, cupped her neck with a warm hand; he'd held her breast in his palm, massaging the flesh…making her feel safe, wanted….things she hadn't felt in years. With each passing second, Carol grew more convinced that she was doing the right thing. She deserved to feel something good. Daryl's blue eyes were fixed on her and he was trying to catch his breath. She knew they'd come too far…they couldn't stop now, but he seemed content to wait for her…

He sat back on his calves, his hands braced on his thighs as he watched her. "Sure you're alright?" he asked between breaths. A few shocks of hair had fallen in his eyes and sweat had broken out all over his body, making his shirt cling to his back.

Carol studied him…the living, breathing, warm person in front of her… He was real…and that's when it struck her…

This is happening…It's not a dream…

She knew it was foolish, reckless… Her husband could find out… If she and Daryl went any further…she might even develop genuine feelings for him…if she hadn't already…

What if you never see him again?

But as he continued to wait for her, his startling eyes locked on her face, Carol knew that none of her nagging thoughts mattered. Daryl was right…she could be someone else…a different woman, if only for a night. Taking a deep breath, and closing her eyes, Carol grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled it over her head in one fast move, before her nerves could get the best of her. She tossed the shirt aside, letting it hit the floor, and then forced herself to keep her arms down. Every cell in her body was telling her to hide from him, but she was stronger than that. She swallowed hard and kept her palms flat on the comforter beneath her as she waited for his reaction.

Daryl watched, in awe, as her shirt hit the floor. When he refocused on her, he felt his mouth go dry. She was gnawing her bottom lip…there was color in her cheeks, and her chest was rising and falling with each breath she took. His eyes found hers and they stared at one another, each of them frightened and fascinated. He inched closer to her, his movements slow and careful…he worried that at any moment she might change her mind and run…but she didn't. Carol simply licked her lips and waited, her body trembling with anticipation. Daryl was kneeling between her legs and his hands went to her back, searching for the clasp on her bra. Their bodies were closer now and he found himself staring at her lips.

Carol loved the way he looked at her. As he fumbled with her clasp, his eyes trained on her face, she knew that no one had ever looked at her that way…it was at once exciting and unnerving. Before she could take her next breath, she felt the ends of the clasp spring apart. Daryl's eyes never left hers as he slowly slid the straps down her arms. Carol shivered but didn't stop him. She wanted Daryl to see her. After he'd tossed the bra aside, he leaned down to kiss one of her bare shoulders. She smiled, giggling a little, and her hands went to his hair. She used her grip to keep him in place and he continued to kiss her, moving from her shoulder, to her collar bone….the crook of her neck, the spot just below her ear and finally…her mouth. They both moaned at the contact and she fell onto her back, bringing him down with her.

Carol had never been kissed so much in her life and she found that she liked it. His tongue slipped into her mouth, warm and wet, and she locked her legs around his waist again. His need was getting stronger…she could feel it, and there was a stabbing pain in her center. With her hands still tangled in his hair, Carol bucked underneath him, making his hips jerk. But the kissing didn't stop, he simply growled against her lips and moved his hands to her breasts. They both gasped when he felt the soft flesh filling his palms. He started massaging her, his thumbs brushing her nipples, making them tighten. His hips were moving again and each time he ground his pelvis into hers, he squeezed her warm breasts in his hands. She was countering his movements, her body working against his as they created incredible friction. Grunts and groans were escaping them as they moved together, his hips pressing hard into the space between her legs. She rocked underneath him and could feel his erection straining through his clothes.

Frustrated and hungry for more, Daryl pulled his mouth from hers and kissed a trail down her chest, his lips hot on her skin. He paused, letting his tongue flick out against one of her nipples. She gasped, her body arching and her nails grazing his scalp, as she urged him to keep touching her. "Please…" she moaned. Daryl didn't need much convincing; he took her nipple into his mouth and sucked gently, making her pull his hair. His eyes were closed as he tried to memorize the way she felt under his tongue…her breast, smooth and soft…a stark contrast to the hardened peak of her nipple. While his mouth continued to work her, his hands explored…one going to her small waist, the other sliding up and down her taut stomach, mapping out the skin. As he ran his broad hand down her body, he let one fingertip dip into her belly button, and she giggled. He couldn't help but smile at the sound, his lips still wrapped around her… Daryl let the tip of his tongue brush her nipple one last time before pulling away.

Carol propped herself up on her elbows so that she could watch him. He lifted his chin, smirking at her. The look on his face made her core tighten and she had to keep a groan locked behind her lips. "Wh..what are you doing?" she asked.

"Nothin'" he said, before ducking his head and kissing the spot just below her breasts. A tiny gasp escaped her, but he kept going. She swallowed hard, her skin tingling whenever he touched her. He moved lower, kissing all the way down her stomach, his hands gripping her waist.

Carol didn't understand. She'd never experienced foreplay. Daryl was young, healthy, and she could feel the urgency of his need. She had no idea why he was taking his time with her, but everything he did seemed to bring her body to life. He looked up at her, waiting for permission, as his fingers curled slowly around her waistband. Carol felt her breath catch. "Daryl?" she said, her voice soft and unsure.

"I was just thinkin'…" he said.

"Yeah?"

The corner of his mouth hitched up into a smirk as he stared at her. "We shouldn't be in the bed with our pants on…"

"What?" she chuckled.

His eyes narrowed but the smirk didn't go away. "It's a pet peeve of mine…"

Carol's lips parted in disbelief and amusement. "Oh really?"

He nodded.

Carol smiled at him and sat up. "How about a trade?"

Daryl cocked his head to the side. "Trade?"

She leaned forward and he sat back on his calves. The two were eye-level now and she braced her hands on his thighs as she moved even closer and whispered against his lips. "My pants….for your shirt."

Daryl's insides began to twist. He never made a habit of taking his shirt off when other people were around. But as he stared at the woman in front of him…her bright eyes and the smile on her face, he realized that he didn't have the strength to tell her no. Her hands were moving slowly, up and down his thighs, applying just the right amount of pressure and her mouth was so close to his. He closed the gap, kissing her hard, his hands gripping her waist. She moaned into his mouth, her hands traveling up to his strong shoulders. They knelt in the center of the bed, kissing and tasting one another, until they finally had to break for air. "Still want that trade?" he asked, his heart pounding.

She gave him a quick kiss and nodded.

"How 'bout ya lose the pants…" he said, as his hand slid down to her hips. "And these…" he dipped his fingers under her waistband until he could feel her panties.

Carol blushed hard. "Two for one…that doesn't seem fair…"

He bowed his head and sucked at her neck, muttering against her skin. "I'll make it worth your while…promise…."

She giggled as her hands moved to her waistband. She managed to push the button through the hole and tug the zipper down. "I could use some help…" she whispered, easing slowly onto her back.

Daryl hovered over her, his eyes lingering on her breasts before he remembered the task at hand. Grinning, he grabbed the sides of her waistband and started to tug the jeans down. The pants seemed to get stuck somewhere around her hips and Daryl huffed, tugging them harder.

Carol was giggling as she watched him struggle. After a few seconds, he seemed to figure out what the problem was and his eyes flicked to her face.

"What?" she asked.

"Get that ass up." he growled playfully.

She chuckled as she lifted her hips and he immediately yanked the denim down past her thighs, lower, to her shins, before he finally pulled the jeans off her feet. She felt terribly exposed but Daryl's warm hands were running up and down her pale legs…from her ankles, all the way up to her hips, and his touch was making her tremble. He massaged her hips for a moment, willing her to relax before they went any further. "Ready?" he asked, his voice thick with want.

She swallowed hard and made herself answer. "Yes." Her hands were forming fists as she clutched the comforter tightly in her sweating palms.

Daryl nodded, his eyes on hers as he slowly began to slide her panties down. He could feel goose bumps breaking out on her thighs as he worked the panties down her legs. When her core came into view, he wanted to stop….to stare and admire it, but he didn't want to make her uncomfortable, so he forced himself to keep going until the panties were yanked off the ends of her feet and tossed over his shoulder. He moved to crawl back over her naked body but she sat up suddenly, her face flushed and her eyes burning into his. "I think you owe me one." she breathed before pushing him onto his back and straddling him.

Her core was resting over his need and they both groaned. His hands went to her hips, holding her in place as she began to undo the buttons on his grey shirt. He couldn't stop his hips from bucking weakly underneath her. A thousand sensations were competing for Carol's attention but she had to stay focused and keep moving. It was the only way for her to get past the fact that she was naked in a stranger's bed. So she worked on the buttons, one by one, and when she pushed the last of them through the hole, she froze, her eyes locked on his.

Daryl sat up slowly and used one arm to keep her in his lap. She locked her legs around him and carefully pushed the shirt off his shoulders. He tensed when the fabric slid down but he let her pull the shirt from his body. Chest to chest, they stared at one another. Carol's hands moved from his chest, up his neck, and into his hair, where she held on tight. He was gripping her waist, and neither of them wanted to let go.

Carol could feel his arousal underneath her…and the sound of his breathing seemed to echo in her ears.

How did we get here?

The question loomed large in her mind but she supposed the answer didn't matter. They were together…in his bed…her body wrapped around him and his warm hands resting on her waist. She liked the way his hair felt between her fingers and she watched, in a trance, as the tip of his tongue darted out over his lips. As Carol sat in Daryl's lap, her slender fingers lost in his hair, she forgot about the golden band that always seemed to feel so heavy on her hand…the cold, metallic reminder that she belonged to someone else.

Not tonight…

His words were replaying in her head and she knew that he was right. She had a choice…and she chose to be with Daryl. Combing her fingers gently through his hair, she kept her eyes locked on his. "I'm scared…" she whispered..

Daryl ignored the nagging pain below his waist and put all of his focus on her. "Don't be…" he spoke softly, trying to ease her fears while his hands ran up and down her sides.

Carol gave him a sad smile. "I barely know you…"

He swallowed hard, his grip tightening on her ribcage. "Ya know enough…" He bowed his head and let his lips rest in the crook of her neck. She shivered, her eyes closing. Before she could say anything, Daryl began kissing and sucking the tender skin at the base of her neck. The sensation was so intense that Carol could feel it in her core and she tugged sharply at his hair. The pain only made him work harder…his teeth catching her flesh. His manhood was throbbing now and he knew they both needed more. With a soft groan, he pulled away from the warmth of her neck and carefully slid her off his lap.

Carol watched with wide eyes as Daryl scrambled off the bed and began fumbling with his belt buckle. He seemed nervous…anxious, and it took him several seconds to unfasten his belt and tug his zipper down. Grunting and muttering curses under his breath, Daryl pushed his pants down, along with his boxers, until he was kicking them both off his feet. He glanced at her, his face flushed and skin already damp with sweat.

Carol was frozen as she knelt in the center of the bed… Her eyes roamed his body…from his feet, to his toned legs…She was trying to memorize every detail but her lips parted when she saw his arousal. The shaft was thick, rigid, and just looking at it made her core hurt. She wanted to move towards him….to take him in her hand and wrap her fingers around his swollen member. She stared hard, fascinated by his body, and noticed that there was already clear liquid pooling at the head of his cock. For one tortured second, she wondered what it might taste like…. Her gaze must've lingered too long because in the next instant, Daryl was clearing his throat to get her attention.

Mortified by her fixation, Carol blinked, refocusing on his face. "Hm?"

Daryl had been gripped with fear when he first pushed the black boxers down his hips. He wanted Carol, but he wasn't used to anyone seeing him naked. His manhood had grown painfully hard and he wouldn't be able to hide his erection. She was going to see everything… But he was too far gone to stop. So, on shaking legs, Daryl Dixon stripped down until he was left standing in nothing more than his own skin. He could feel the hairs sticking up at the base of his neck, and the muscles in his stomach were tensing, be he needed to do this…to let her see him. What he hadn't counted on was her immediate and very noticeable interest in his body. No one had ever looked at him like that…and he wasn't sure how to react at first…but his body seemed to make the decision for him. The longer she stared at his erection, the more blood poured into his groin, making the head of his cock tighten…beads of liquid forming at the tip. Any doubts he might've had were erased when he saw the look on her face. She seemed almost mesmerized by him and that was when he knew…she wanted him as much as he wanted her. When he cleared his throat, the trance was broken and she stared up at him, a beautiful, pink flush spreading across her cheeks. Their eyes met and he smirked at her. Daryl couldn't wait any longer. He moved back onto the bed and crawled towards her, like an animal stalking its prey.

Carol could feel the moisture building between her legs as he got closer. Once she reached the pillows, and his body was hovering over hers, they each took a moment to drink the other in. Carol reached for him, running her hands up and down his bare arms. Daryl growled softly, his hips bucking down into the space between her legs. When his cock brushed her slickness, they both hissed. Carol opened her legs and arched her back, urging him to do it again. He ground his hips into hers…the length of his manhood gliding along her slit. Carol could feel her walls opening in anticipation of his entry. She seemed to want him more with each passing second and she wasn't sure how much longer she could wait…but the way he teased her…it was helping. Having his cock so close to her core was keeping her walls open and she knew she would have to stretch to accommodate him. The longer he lingered between her legs, the more her body would crave him…with the craving came wetness that would help him get inside. So she dug her nails into his arms and whispered to him. "Tease me…"

Daryl swallowed hard; he didn't know what to do. The concept of teasing seemed strange to him when their bodies were so close. He knew that if he focused, he could breach her entrance…he could be inside her in seconds…but if she wanted to be teased, he would try…. He stared down at her and saw that she was gnawing her bottom lip. Something about that turned him on and inspiration struck. He lifted his hips, just enough to give himself room as he reached down between their bodies and gripped his cock. With his eyes locked on hers, Daryl bucked his hips gently and used his grip to make sure that the head of his member was pushing against her entrance. He didn't apply enough pressure to penetrate her, but her nails raked down his arms and her body arched up into his. He realized that he didn't even have to move. As long as he held himself there, at the sweet spot between her legs…Carol would do the work for him. She was so hungry for him that she rocked her hips, her slickness moving past the head of his swollen cock again and again until she couldn't stand it…she had to have him inside her.

"Daryl…" she moaned softly.

He gazed down at her, his eyes open and honest.

She moved her hands so that she was lightly clawing at his shoulder blades. Daryl tensed…but if she noticed the scars, she didn't let on. "I'm ready…" she said, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip

"Ya sure?" he asked. "We can stop if ya want to…"

Carol let one hand travel up and down his back and she didn't flinch when her fingertips brushed the raised skin…she simply pulled a strained breath into her lungs and smiled at him. "I don't wanna stop." she whispered.

All Daryl could do was nod.

With the tip of her tongue resting between her lips, Carol reached down between them. Daryl released his cock, letting her takeover. His entire body shuddered when he felt her fingers wrap around him, but he took several deep breaths and willed himself to relax.

Carol couldn't stop the gasp that escaped her when she grabbed him. The flesh was so warm, heavy, and she loved the way he felt in her hand. Trying desperately to focus, she helped to guide him until he was positioned at her entrance. They were both breathing hard as she looked up into his eyes. "Now…" Carol whispered.

Daryl's palms were flat on the comforter, his fingers curling, clawing at the dark blanket while he stared at her. His heart was racing and he hoped like hell that he didn't come in her hand…her fingers felt so good wrapped around him. Gritting his teeth, Daryl jerked his hips, pushing the tip of his cock into her heat. They both cried out at the sensation and Daryl let his forehead rest against hers. He licked his lips and waited for his breathing to slow. The tight ring of muscles at Carol's entrance was seizing around him.

Her frustration almost had her in tears…Daryl barely managed to get inside her and it only served to remind her of how empty she was. Her legs were raised, bent at the knee, and pressing in on either side of Daryl's hips. She knew that she needed to relax…to open up…so she focused on him. On the hardness that she craved… Her legs gradually began to spread and she could feel her walls opening again. Carol clutched at his sweaty back and rocked her hips, urging him to fill her. Daryl grunted, thrusting his hips forward and sending his cock further into her sex. It still wasn't enough. Carol was struggling and writhing underneath him. "Please…" she moaned. "Please…"

He huffed, jerking his hips a little harder. She cried out and he could feel his manhood sinking deeper into her center. "Jesus…" he nearly whined.

"That's it…" she breathed, feeling his length slip inside her.

He continued to buck, forcing himself into her tight passage, each time he pushed, Daryl felt wetness leaking from between her legs…coating his cock. It was exhilarating and he wanted more. So he clenched his teeth and thrust again.

Carol threw her head back against the pillows, her body arching as she allowed him in. She could feel the solid length of his manhood moving inside her…every last inch of him was buried in her sex and she closed her eyes, savoring the feeling of being so full. His pelvis was flush with hers and her body was already aching.

Daryl's mouth was open as he tried to process the heat and wetness surrounding his cock. Her pussy was so tight around him and the tension in her walls made him throb. Her insides seemed to squeeze his shaft and he worried that he would come. Daryl wasn't used to holding back, and he'd never been inside someone so tight…so wet…

As much as Carol loved being trapped underneath him, his stomach slick against hers, and his length pulsing between her legs. She knew that she needed him to move. With one of her soft hands pressed to the side of his face, she brought their mouths together…the kisses were greedy, lustful…teeth sinking quickly into tender lips and tongues probing…exploring… As the kisses deepened, Daryl's hips began to grind into hers, creating a delicious rhythm. She bucked underneath him, meeting him stroke for stroke. His confidence was building with each thrust and he seemed to sink deeper each time. He loved the way he could force her legs open, keep her spread apart with his dick filling her sex. He kissed her hard, sucking at her tongue, making her moan. She responded in kind, her lips working against his as she struggled to taste every part of his mouth.

As they moved together, Daryl found that he loved everything about the woman he was pleasuring. The sound of her moans…the way her back arched as he forced himself into her center, the smell of her hair, her smooth, pale legs that shook each time he thrust…the way sweat glistened between her breasts…the way her core continued to tighten. Everything about her turned him on and he was having to work harder and harder to keep himself at bay. He started moving faster, his engorged member slipping and sliding inside her.

Carol never wanted it to end. She hadn't been touched like this….loved like this in so long and she'd forgotten what true pleasure could feel like. He was long, and hard, and the way he filled her so completely made her want to scream. With his tongue in her mouth and his cock in her pussy, he seemed to control her. One of his sweaty hands found her breast and he squeezed, making her walls clench around him.

"Christ!" he snapped, his pace never slowing. The way her walls gripped him…it made his dick jerk and leak. He continued massaging her breast, occasionally tugging at the hardened nipple.

Carol was fighting for every breath, but she managed to tell him what she needed. "I…wanna….feel…your hands…on me…." she gasped.

Daryl shook some of the damp hair out of his eyes and focused on her face. She glanced at her chest and then met his gaze, hoping he understood. Daryl felt himself get harder as he moved his free hand to her other breast. He bit his lip and squeezed the two perfect mounds of flesh, making Carol buck and moan underneath him. "Ya like that?" he breathed.

Her eyes were slammed shut as she continued to rock her hips. "Yeah…"

Daryl licked his lips and smirked. He gripped her breasts harder, using them for leverage while his hips slammed into hers. The friction between them was amazing and he kept going, pushing harder, deeper…"So fuckin' tight…" he groaned.

She could hear the strain in his voice and it caused another rush of heat and wetness to hit her core. "Faster…" she pleaded, her nails digging into his shoulder blades.

Daryl wasn't sure how much more he could give her. He was doing everything in his power to hold off his own release. He worried that if he moved his hips any faster, the friction would be enough to drive him over an edge he wasn't ready for. But her body was demanding attention…her core sucking him in and trapping him within her walls. He just wanted to satisfy her…to make her legs shake and get her screaming until her lungs gave out…

"Daryl!" she cried, her body twisting underneath him.

"Fuck…get them legs open…" he growled, his thumbs moving roughly over her nipples.

Carol did as she was told, spreading her legs further apart and giving him more room. The instant she moved, she could feel the blunt head of his cock hitting a spot so deep that it hurt. She clawed at his back and a sharp cry burst from her lips. "God…." she groaned.

He could feel the pure need coursing through his veins as Carol's moans echoed in his ears. The knowledge that he was the one making her moan….making her hips rise, again and again and again…it was filling him with a confidence he'd never possessed before. He was too lost in lust to realize it then, but the reason he'd managed to hold his erection for so long was his concern for the woman underneath him. Despite his desperate need for release, Daryl didn't want their union to end. He wanted to be with her, inside her, for as long as he could. He wanted to stay close, breathing in her scent, listening to the sounds she made….kissing her, touching her… More than anything, Daryl wanted to please her….to push her and feel her entire body surrender. So he fought to breathe, and he kept his own frustrations at bay, as his hips continued to grind into hers.

Carol was coming undone. She was dimly aware of the bed underneath her…and the room she was in…the faint glow of the lamp on the nightstand, but the only thing that truly mattered was her partner, and the unbelievable pleasure he was bringing her. She'd never experienced anything like it. This was the sort of thing she thought about when she was alone with her vibrator….the kind of sex she dreamed about…Two people, tangled together, their bodies so close… A strong ache was building in her core as he continued to push himself inside…his hips, a powerful, relentless force between her legs… Carol was in a trance as he moved, back and forth. Her hips seemed to work on their own, rising to meet him each time he thrust. She closed her eyes and focused on the hardness that filled her core. His shaft was so stiff inside her that it almost hurt, but the spark of pain only heightened her arousal. Her walls clung to him, almost trapping him, but she was so wet…the tightness didn't seem to slow him down. He growled into the crook of her neck and bucked hard, his cock sinking deep into her pussy. Carol couldn't stop herself from raking her nails down his back and they both hissed.

Daryl was moving faster. He knew that he should wait, go slower…but she was twisting and panting underneath him. He loved the way his pelvis collided with hers when his manhood was completely buried in her center. She was so warm, her sex wrapped around him, those wet walls squeezing him in a way that sent chills up his spine. Her insides almost seemed to massage his swollen member, as if she were working to coax his pleasure from him. The muscles in his belly were tensing as his body geared up for release, but he snarled, clenching his teeth. He wasn't going to let himself finish first. He knew he could break her; he just needed more time. She was moaning, clawing his shoulders, her body arching into his, and he could feel the slickness between her legs…it was building each time he thrust. He just had to keep going. "Tell me…." he grunted, sweat dripping from the ends of his hair. "Tell me….what ya want…." He jerked his hips, feeling himself hit the top of her.

Carol bucked, her legs shaking…she wasn't sure that she could voice the thoughts in her head…the idea of stringing words together seemed nearly impossible while Daryl's thick cock continued to pulse inside her. But she knew she had to try… He was young, strong, and so eager… Carol knew she might never have another chance to tell a man what she wanted in bed…and she might never find herself with another partner who could satisfy her… So she eased her eyes open, swallowed hard and clung to his shoulder blades. The two breathless people stared at one another, his hips still moving between her legs. "Har…harder…" she managed to say, between thrusts.

Daryl had one sweaty hand cupping her breast while the other formed a fist near her head. He was struggling to breathe as he squeezed her soft flesh. When he heard those hushed words fall from her lips, a thrill seemed to rush through him like blue fire. The head of his cock tightened and his member throbbed inside her tight passage. He realized, for the first time, how he filled her. She could barely contain him and the veins on his shaft rubbed her walls with every push and pull. The knowledge that he was filling her completely…touching the deepest parts of her…it made Daryl growl and he squeezed her breast harder. She told him what she wanted, and he was going to give it to her.

He seemed to surround her. Carol was pulling his scent into her lungs and holding it there. His mouth found hers and she opened up for him willingly, letting his warm tongue slip under hers. She kept her legs parted and made sure he had the room he needed. His hand felt so good on her breast and each time he squeezed her, Carol felt her core tighten. She never wanted him to stop touching her…loving her. For someone who seemed so shy at the bar, Daryl seemed to possess startling sexual prowess. She was amazed by the way he could move his hips….the way he used his tongue…the way he touched her… All of his focus seemed to be on her. Carol never imagined that a man could be so selfless in bed. Ed only ever cared about his own gratification and he didn't care what it cost his wife… But Daryl was working her body, and that's when it struck her…

He's working…He wants me to come…

He was doing everything in his power to help her finish and Carol was momentarily overwhelmed by the thought. She couldn't believe that he was putting her needs before his own, or that he was so determined to bring her pleasure. They were hardly more than strangers…

Why does he care so much?

But Carol didn't have time to sort through the possible answers. His tongue was caressing hers in a way that made her whole body feel feverish and she knew she wouldn't last much longer. As they continued to kiss, their bodies moving together, Carol let one of her hands travel up his neck until her fingers were tangled in his hair. She tugged weakly and Daryl grunted against her lips, his shaft twitching inside her.

He likes it…

Knowing that the simple act brought him pleasure seemed to give Carol confidence. She continued to buck underneath him, making sure to counter his movements, while her other hand roamed up and down his back. When she neared his ass, she applied a hint of pressure and drug her nails lightly, all the way back up to his shoulder blade. She felt him shiver, but his pace didn't slow. Carol knew then, as they touched and teased one another, that this was how it was supposed to be. Two people…partners, completely focused on one another, using their hands, their lips and their bodies to please each other.

When he finally pulled his mouth from hers, they were both panting. She clung to his shoulder blade while his pelvis collided with hers. She stared up at him, mesmerized and he looked down at her, loving the way her face changed each time he thrust into her heat. "Ya alright?" he breathed, his hips still moving.

She bit the corner of her lip and nodded, her walls squeezing him as he slipped inside again. "You?" she managed to ask.

Daryl had to close his eyes for a moment as he savored the feeling of her insides tightening around him. When he opened them again, he was staring down into her face. "I'm good…" he said, a smirk on his mouth. Before Carol could say anything else, he ducked his head and nipped at the crook of her neck. He was working so hard between her legs and Carol couldn't help but to tug sharply at his hair. "Godammitt…" he snarled in response.

She moaned, arching into him, loving the way that curse sounded when it tripped off his tongue. Her nails were grazing his scalp and her toes were beginning to curl.

His palm still cupped her breast and he massaged it roughly while he hid in the crook of her neck. "You close?" he muttered against her skin.

Carol slammed her eyes shut as he thrust into her center. "Mhmmm…" she whined, her hips working against his.

Daryl hissed at the feeling of pushing through her tight core. "I wanna get ya there…." he growled. The tip of his tongue darted out over his lips and he forced himself to say the words that had been echoing in his skull since the moment their bodies first connected. "I wanna feel ya come." He jerked his hips hard and bit her shoulder.

"Fuck…" Carol groaned, her back arching again. The pleasure was starting to make her dizzy…delirious…she wasn't sure where she was anymore…who she was… There was heat and pressure between her legs and every muscle in her body was tensing. Daryl's heavy breathing echoed in her ears and she could feel the warm air passing his lips as he growled against her shoulder. She loved the way his damp hair felt between her fingers and she didn't want to let him go. He was moving faster, sinking deeper, and the sheen of sweat was getting thicker on their bodies…their stomachs gliding against one another. Carol could hardly breathe…

"C'mon…" he pleaded with her.

She clawed desperately at his back and tilted her pelvis up for him, inviting him in. His manhood slid into her heat and she tried to memorize the way it felt…that hardness pushing into her until she could hardly stand it. He was stretching her, breaking her…and the wetness between her legs eased the way, helping him to go as deep as he wanted. The tip of his cock was hitting a spot that made her weak and all she wanted was for him to keep going. "Right there…." she gasped.

Daryl pulled away from the warmth and safety of her neck with a grunt. He gave her breast one last squeeze before moving his hand to the bed, his fingers splaying. Bracing both palms on the comforter beneath them, Daryl stared hard at the woman he was connected to. He thrust his hips, and watched her twist underneath him, and knew that he'd found her spot. "Like that?" he growled.

She managed a nod as her insides began to quiver.

Daryl could feel her trembling around him and it only made him want to push harder. Throwing his whole body into the motion, he continued to force himself into her sex, hoping to hit her weak spot again. He picked up the pace, sinking and slipping inside her, amplifying the friction they'd already created. As he moved within her walls, Daryl realized that Carol wasn't the only one nearing her peak. He could feel himself getting closer with each push and pull. Her wetness was gliding around his cock, making it swell, and he began to worry that he would let go…She felt so good wrapped around him and he knew that if he didn't focus, he'd come. He needed release…

Carol couldn't believe what he was doing to her…the effects he was having on her body… His long, thick shaft was buried inside her, pulsing…twitching, filling every space…and she felt the need to give in… As he continued to buck into her core, Carol's head went back into the pillows, her eyes slamming shut. Her legs were shaking and her mouth was dry. "Daryl!" she cried, feeling herself nearing the edge…

He whined, his forehead coming down to rest against hers. She was clutching his hair, her hand forming a fist as he continued to pleasure her. Daryl's blunt nails were clawing at the bedspread and the head of his cock tightened. "C'mon!" he pleaded with her again.

Carol could feel it…like a wave rising inside her..she knew what was coming but she was torn. As much as she wanted him to push her over the edge, Carol didn't want their union to end. But she didn't have a choice…the sensations were too strong and her body couldn't take much more. Feeling more like an animal than a woman, Carol dug her nails into his shoulder blade and swore. "Fuck…yes….yes…yes…please…there…harder…please…god…yes…more…"

Every strained word that passed her lips made Daryl's cock throb. He jerked and bucked, trying like hell to break her, but she kept moving with him…panting…scratching him…her body was demanding more and Daryl didn't know how much longer he would last. She was so narrow, her walls closing in around him and could feel his shaft rubbing her insides with each thrust. "Christ…" he whined, his hips slamming into hers.

Carol's lungs were burning as she fought to breathe. He was so hard, his member pressing into her deepest places, making her weak. She wanted as much of him as she could get. Swallowing hard and spreading her legs, Carol arched her back and felt his cock slipping even further into her pussy. The pressure was too much as he throbbed inside her and a painful cry burst from her lips. "There!" she moaned, her body locking up around him.

Daryl was breathless. He could feel her muscles constricting suddenly and he knew that she was finally giving in. Growling and clenching his teeth, Daryl continued to thrust hard between her legs. His eyes were slammed shut and a bead of sweat rolled down his spine as he worked her body. He could feel himself sinking into her soft, wet, heat and he never wanted it to end…

Carol was losing herself as she came undone underneath him. Her nails dug into his skin and her walls opened one last time, allowing his swollen cock to fill her. He pushed hard, right into her center, and Carol felt the wave crash. "Oh god….Daryl….yes….god….fuck….right there…yes….yes…yes…I'm….I'm….." but she didn't need to finish the thought. Her walls slammed shut around him, squeezing him, a gush of warm wetness hit her core…coating his cock. With her head thrown back and her body arching into him, Carol let the orgasm cripple her. Her walls trembled, the muscles clasping and unclasping the rigid shaft buried inside her. And his pace hadn't slowed…he was still pounding into her pussy, over and over, harder, deeper, faster…compounding her pleasure. She was screaming as her body convulsed around him and her passage grew painfully tight. Each time he pushed through her already quivering core, Carol felt the air leave her lungs. All that mattered was the incredible pressure between her legs and the satisfaction rolling through her in warm waves.

Daryl whined when he felt the wetness wash out around him, as if it had come from someplace deep inside her. It helped him sink into her center while he continued to assault her pussy. He moved with purpose, back and forth, in and out of her tight heat. He loved the way the muscles in her thighs were quivering and the sound of her screams filling the room. "So good…." he groaned, unsure as to whether or not he'd spoken the words aloud… "So fuckin' good…." He was panting and whining as his cock seemed to grow inside her…the rigid flesh swelling and leaking at the tip. He pushed harder, slipping inside her sex, and savoring the way she clenched around him so tightly. "Fuck…." he was close, and her body was sucking him in…trapping him…as if she needed him. He was aching for release inside her and his cock was throbbing painfully. She kept her pelvis tilted so that he could sink all the way into her pussy and he growled as the sensation of being completely surrounded by her slick walls. He could move smoothly, in and out of her core, and the fluid, gliding motion of their bodies was pushing him closer to the edge. He pulled back and thrust forward, losing himself in the repetition. The friction, the wetness, the sounds she made…it was all too much and Daryl couldn't stop himself from thrusting violently into her center. "Naw…" he whined. "Fuckin'….jesus….christ….Carol…so good…" His hips were pumping as he neared his peak and he could feel his entire body tensing. "Yeah….yeah….sonofabitch….shit…" He moved faster and faster until the friction became too much and he felt his dick go completely stiff inside her. With his eyes closed and his mouth open, Daryl thrust into the woman underneath him and felt semen shoot from the tip of his engorged member. He was still moving…riding his high as he bucked in and out of her heat…the head of his cock pushed into the deepest part of her sex and his hot seed hit her womb. She was writhing under him, her body squeezing every solid inch of his shaft, milking it as he emptied himself inside her…his semen filling her pussy. He thrust a few more times, feeling the last of his pleasure spill into her…his cock spurting and spent. When he finally stopped moving, Daryl let his weight trap her. His manhood was throbbing in the aftermath of orgasm and her walls were still so tight around him. He found that he didn't want to be free of her…he wanted to stay like that, surrounded by her heat…feeling the way her walls twitched around him.

Carol was still recovering from her own climax. When she felt him come hard inside her, she groaned into the pillows and arched her back, wanting to feel him in the deepest parts of her sex. She loved the way he throbbed inside her…the way his semen filled her.. It was all so primal and Carol was having trouble processing the fact that she'd helped him to reach his peak. Her heart was still beating at an alarming rate and she wasn't sure it would ever slow down.

They were lying in his bed, tangled together, covered in each other's sweat, and Carol was absently stroking the ends of his hair. Her body was humming with satisfaction and she wondered if it had been as good for him as it was for her. She could feel him panting into the crook of her neck and she smiled. Before she could stop herself, Carol was sighing, "Wow…"

Daryl propped himself up on his elbows and stared down at her. "Ya liked that?" he asked, genuinely curious.

She bit her bottom lip and wrapped her legs around his waist, keeping their bodies connected. "I did."

He ducked his head, giving her a quick kiss on the lips. "Good," he said, smirking at her.

Carol wanted more; she pulled him back to her mouth and kissed him long and slow. Daryl felt himself twitch inside her and briefly wondered if he had the stamina to go again. As her tongue moved against his, Carol felt him stirring within her walls. It was in that moment that she seemed to realize something for the first time.

Oh my god…..

She pushed gently against his chest and their mouths separated. He stared down at her and saw that her eyes were wide and fearful. "What's wrong?" he asked,

Carol swallowed hard, unsure of how exactly to voice her thoughts.

Daryl was getting worried. "Did I hurt ya?"

She shook her head. "No…it's just…You…"

"Go on," he urged her gently. "You can tell me. What's the matter?"

Carol realized that they were both to blame…this wasn't his fault. "We didn't use anything…" she whispered.

Daryl didn't follow her at first, his brows were knitting together as he stared at her.

"We forgot the condom…" She clenched around him to drive her point home.

Daryl's lips parted and panic seized his heart, but he wasn't going to fall to pieces in front of her. He didn't want to scare her. "Guess we did…" he acknowledged, trying to keep the fear out of his voice. "That a problem?" he asked hesitantly.

Carol brought one hand to her forehead and tried to think. The tip of her tongue was resting between her lips and her eyes were slammed shut.

What's today? The 13th? Jesus….one, two, three…

She was counting off the days in her head and trying desperately to remember when her last cycle was. She was good about keeping track at home; she had a small notepad where she marked off the days. As much as she loved her daughter, Carol couldn't risk bringing another child into a house that she shared with Ed…she had a hard enough time protecting Sophia. Her heart was pounding as she struggled to remember… Finally, after several agonizing minutes, her eyes flew open and she released the breath she'd been holding. "God…" she groaned, realizing that her and Daryl's union wouldn't lead to anything more than soreness…

"What is it?" he asked.

She took another calming breath and ran her hand through his hair. "Nothing." she sighed, the relief evident in her voice. "We'll be fine…but that was stupid…." she allowed herself to smile at him.

Daryl blushed and hid in the crook of her neck. "I'm sorry…" he said. One of his sweaty hands was moving slowly up and down her side.

Carol chuckled softly. "Don't be…it was wonderful…and the blame is on both of us. I can admit that."

He smirked against her skin, loving the smell of her. "We best use one next time…"

They were both laughing lightly but the smile slowly faded from Carol's face.

Next time?

She pulled his hair so that he would meet her gaze. "Daryl…I…"

He stared at her. "What?"

Carol pushed the locks of sweaty hair back from his brow. "This was wrong…it was incredible, amazing…the best thing I've felt in a long time, but it was wrong. I'm married. I shouldn't even be here…"

Daryl could feel the cold, sharp teeth of panic sinking into his heart again. He wasn't sure what to say. The liquor and the sex made his mind hazy, but even in his current state, he knew that there was an argument to be made. "Ya coulda just left…" he growled softly.

"What?" she asked.

Daryl let his fingertips trace her collarbone while his eyes remained fixed on her mouth. "Before this all started…Ya coulda left. Ya didn't have to stay…"

She swallowed hard. He was right. No one dragged her to his bed…or forced her to take her clothes off…. She did it because she wanted to…she wanted him. A heavy silence seemed to fill the room and Daryl kissed her shoulder. She couldn't stop the soft moan that escaped her when she felt his lips hit her skin. That sound only served to convince Daryl that he was right. He pulled back and studied her…the flush on her cheeks, her short, mussed hair, and her vibrant blue eyes. "Guessin' he don't do this for ya…" said Daryl, his voice low.

"Do what?" she asked, one of her hands was still lost in his hair.

He glanced at her from beneath his lashes before gently catching her collarbone between his teeth. She bit her lip and bucked underneath him. His hand moved to her hip, stilling her. When their eyes met again, he seemed to be looking right through her…seeing all of her secrets. "He don't take care of ya….treat ya like ya deserve….if he did…" Daryl paused to massage her hip. "Ya wouldn't be here."

Carol was at a loss…she didn't have any more arguments for him. She couldn't understand how this drunken stranger could be so startlingly insightful.

Daryl could see the doubt beginning to register on her face and he suddenly felt bad for pressuring her. "I'm sorry…" he said under his breath.

"What?" she asked.

"I'm…." he was struggling to find the right words. "I ain't tryin' to tell ya what to do…it's just…" he could feel another blush spreading on his cheeks. "thought ya liked it…"

She held his face between her hands, forcing him to look at her. "I did. Really. I've never experienced anything like this before…"

Daryl gnawed his bottom lip. "Me neither…"

Once again, Carol found herself stunned and out of words. Surely she was just one of many women to share his bed. She studied him in the low light and tried to puzzle out what he'd just said. Someone who looked like that, and made love like that, must entertain often. She tucked a strand of hair behind his ear and stole a quick glance around the room. "So…you don't get a lot of traffic in here?" she asked.

Daryl blushed harder. "I don't make a habit of bringin' girls home…"

Carol was chuckling but he stopped her by bucking his hips into hers. "That don't mean I'm an altar boy." The words came out as hushed growls.

Carol could feel lust coursing through her veins all over again and she clutched his hair tightly in her fist. "So you're just choosy…is that it?" Her legs were tightening around his waist.

He bucked again, making her gasp. "Yeah," he said. "I'm choosy." he ducked his head and let his tongue flick out against her nipple.

Carol groaned and for half a heartbeat, Daryl was tempted to fuck her again, but as he pushed his hips into hers, he realized that his body needed time to recover. His cock was going soft inside her. "Think I need a breather…" he grudgingly admitted.

She smiled, giving him a quick kiss. "Me too."

Before their bodies separated, Daryl met her gaze. "I want ya to stay…"

She took a deep breath and ran her fingers through his hair. "I can't…"

"Please…" he insisted, his eyes locked on hers.

Carol considered all the reasons she could give him…all the possible consequences for their actions, but as she studied him…his blue-grey eyes so open and honest, she knew that she didn't have the strength to tell him no.

Ed's probably passed out on the living room floor…he won't be up till noon…

"You really want me to stay?" she asked, her hand caressing the back of his neck.

Daryl answered her with a kiss, his tongue slipping into her mouth and tasting every part of her. It made Carol's body warm and they were both panting when they broke apart. "Stay" he growled softly.

Excited and unsure of what the night held for them, the two lovers carefully separated. When Daryl slipped his cock from between her legs they both whimpered at the loss. Carol could feel his semen dripping down the insides of her thighs and there was a powerful ache in her core. On weak legs, Daryl and Carol helped each other off the bed, stumbling a little in the process. They were both chuckling as they made their way across the room. Daryl had one arm around her as he jerked the bedroom door open. He almost fell, but Carol held him up and they padded out into the hall…the wooden floors cold beneath their feet. When they finally reached the bathroom, Daryl stepped past her and shoved the heavy shower curtain aside.

"Nice shower." Carol mused.

Daryl tried to focus as he fumbled with the knobs and got the hot water going. "Yeah, I like it."

The warm spray burst from the showerhead and Daryl and Carol helped each other to step into the tub. They did their best to stay standing as the clear liquid rushed over their aching bodies, washing away the salty layers of sweat. They talked, chuckling occasionally, as they tried to get clean. Daryl reached for the soap that sat on the small window ledge and he rubbed it vigorously between his hands…he eventually dropped it and they nearly slipped but they managed to stay upright while Daryl's soapy hands ran along her sides…down to her ass, her thighs, then back up.. He was standing behind her while he massaged her breasts, the soap and water making them so slick in his hands. He began squeezing her tighter, and tighter, tugging at her nipples, his chin resting on her shoulder and Carol leaned back into him, savoring his touch. She gasped when she felt his erection pressed against her ass.

"Guess I didn't need as long as I thought…" he whispered.

Carol was still sore, her body had only just begun to recover from the orgasm he'd given her. But as she felt his cock get harder, his hips bucking weakly into her ass, and his hands cupping her breasts, she knew that she was powerless against the forces of attraction that got her into his bed in the first place. With the warm water washing over them, Carol turned, her hands going to his chest. "Get down…" she said, her voice thick with want.

Daryl swallowed hard as he worked to ease himself down without falling. He sat for a moment, staring up at her, but then he seemed to understand. Leaning back, he tried to get comfortable, and one hand went to his cock, stroking it. Carol watched, in a trance, as his hand moved up and down his swollen shaft. Feeling her own need build, she moved so that she was straddling him. Now that they'd had a taste of one another, Daryl and Carol's fears were set aside. They knew what they wanted. Carol lifted her hips and then reached down between them to grip his member. They braced themselves as she positioned him at her entrance and then sank down onto his shaft. They cried out, their eyes slamming shut. It hurt to have him inside again so soon but her body craved him. She slid quickly down his length until her pelvis was flush with his. He gripped her hips and bucked hard, loving the way she screamed. With the hiss from the shower echoing in their ears, and the droplets pelting their skin, the two lovers enjoyed one another without fear and without restraint. Carol was bucking wildly on top of him, riding his cock, while he thrust and growled underneath her. They were slightly cramped in the tub, her legs pressed in tight on either side of his body, but neither of them cared. They were too lost in lust and the feel of each other's bodies. In the throes of passion and pleasure, Daryl and Carol's cries rang out through the empty house and the spray of water began to grow cold…

"Jesus…" Daryl groaned as he flopped onto his back and let the bed take his weight.

"How is that even possible?" Carol asked; she was still working to catch her breath as she lay beside him. They hadn't even bothered to dry off after their shower.

"Fuck if I know…" said Daryl, his eyes closed and one arm draped lazily over his forehead.

They'd both come hard in the shower….Carol's walls clenching around him with such intensity that it almost scared him. He hadn't been able to hold back…he finished with her, the pressure of her walls making him come…his cock sending a gush of semen up into her center….they rode the high together, bucking and moaning until they couldn't take it anymore. It was nothing short of a miracle that they'd found the strength to stand after that…somehow, they forced themselves to their feet and turned off the water. Cold, dripping wet, and throbbing in the aftermath of orgasm, they staggered back to his room and collapsed on the bed, their chests heaving.

Carol clamped her legs together, savoring the delicious ache in her core. "Oh my god…" she sighed, her eyes closing.

"What?" he breathed, his hand still cupping his forehead.

"I just didn't know sex could feel like that…"

The water was slowly drying on Daryl's skin. "Ain't ya glad ya stayed?" he turned his head, smirking at her.

She smirked back at him. "I am…but I really need to get some rest…"

"Well c'mon then…" he moved to crawl under the covers and motioned for her to follow.

Carol felt giddy as she eased under the dark comforter, her naked body so close to his. Before she could get comfortable, he pointed to the nightstand on her side of the bed. "Wanna cut the light?" he asked as he gestured to the small lamp.

She gave him a quick kiss before turning away and leaning over the side of the bed. Daryl stared hard at her ass.

"Is this alarm clock reliable?" she asked without looking back at him.

"It's fine." he said, his eyes still trained on her ass.

She set an alarm for eight in the morning and then turned off the lamp. The instant the lights went out, she felt Daryl's hands on her waist. He pulled her back into the bed until their bodies were flush. Her heart was beating hard as he draped the sheets over them and they both worked to get comfortable. Ed never held her when they slept, but Daryl felt so warm and strong behind her.

He had one arm curled loosely around her middle and he used his grip to keep her body against him. His eyes closed as he pulled the scent of her hair into his lungs. Daryl wasn't used to sharing his bed…not for this long anyway, but it felt right to have her there…to have her next to him. He continued to breathe in her scent as he kissed her shoulder.

A smile was spreading on Carol's face; his kisses were tickling her. She moved back against him, her ass pressed to his groin but his hand went to her hip, stopping her.

"Quit," he breathed, the warm air hitting her neck.

She chuckled, pushing back again, brushing his manhood.

He gripped her hip hard, "Please…"

"What's wrong?" she asked.

Daryl's hand moved from her hip, down between her legs until he found her clit. He let his fingertips circle it a few times as he whispered in her ear. "It's not that I don't wanna…"

She swallowed hard, feeling the sharp stab of need in her center.

"Just can't right now…" he said, rubbing her clit one more time before pulling his hand away. "let's get some rest…at least for a while, then you can wake my ass up and fuck me however ya want."

Carol blushed hard. "Oh really?"

He ran his hand along her side, following the curve of her body. "Really."

"Sounds like a plan.." she whispered, pushing her ass back into him again.

Daryl growled. "Quit teasin'…I already want that ass." He reached down and squeezed the firm flesh in his hand. He wished he had the strength go again, but his body needed time to recover.

Carol chuckled and finally agreed to stop moving. It was difficult to stay still with him so close to her. He seemed to make her restless. She felt young, excited, and scared all at once. As she lay there, in a room blanketed in darkness, with a stranger holding her, Carol began to question all of it. His body was curled behind hers, almost protectively, and he kept one arm around her middle…as if he thought he might lose her… She could feel his heart rate beginning to slow as he got comfortable behind her. His warm breath was hitting her shoulder.

"Daryl…" she whispered in the gloom.

"Hm?" he grunted, tightening his grip on her and pulling her back against him.

The warmth of his body was helping the water to dry on her skin. "You said you're choosy…when it comes to the girls you bring home…"

He smirked, kissing the back of her neck. "Guess I am."

She bit her bottom lip for a moment. "So why me?"

Daryl wasn't sure how to answer her. His mind was still hazy with pleasure and booze, but he felt that the question was strange. He couldn't understand why she was questioning his actions. She was kind, funny, cute…she stood up for him when Merle picked on him…she mixed a mean drink, her pussy was tight, her skin was soft, and she was just good company overall…the best company he'd had in a long time. But he didn't know how to say all those things out loud. So he just ran his hand up and down her side, mapping out her body. "Why'd ya stay?" he asked, his voice a hushed whisper.

Carol moved her hand so that it was resting over his, near her belly. The moment their hands touched, a silent understanding seemed to pass between them. They lay together, close and warm, with moonlight spilling in through the windows. The soft sheets felt good on their skin, and Carol knew why she'd chosen to stay. For five years she'd been trapped in a hellish marriage…she never felt that Ed loved her, even when she was carrying Sophia. They were together out of need. She couldn't afford to raise their child alone and he wasn't about to let her disappear with their daughter. They shared a home, but Carol knew that he didn't care about her. He saw her as a slave…a babysitter, and a vessel that he could use for his own release from time to time..but he never really saw her…the person that she was. From the moment Daryl first sat down at the bar, he treated her like a human being. He looked at her with kind, honest eyes, and took the time to keep her company in a room full of strangers. He made her laugh… and then, when he kissed her downstairs, in the hall…he'd been so gentle with her. He kissed her slowly, letting her adjust to the feeling. When they were in bed together, he pleasured her in a way that Carol never thought possible. It wasn't just physical release that she found with him…it was compassion, affection…things she'd been deprived of for so long… He was filling her with warmth, hope….and she wasn't ready to give up those feelings yet. But as she laid in his bed, with his arm around her, Carol felt her chest tighten. "I don't think we can do this again…after tonight…I…" but Daryl stopped her.

He held her tight and kissed the crook of her neck. "Not now…" he whispered. "Please…"

With that, Carol and Daryl finally allowed themselves to rest, neither of them sure what the next morning had in store for them….

Three months later…

Carol's eyes were slammed shut. Her fists were clenched so tight that her knuckles were turning white and her chest rose and fell with each labored breath. Her heart was hammering in her chest and she wasn't sure how much more she could take. Her back was arching and every last muscle in her body was tensing. She was clutching desperately at the sheets and her head was thrown back as powerful sensations continued to riot inside her. She couldn't believe the things she was feeling. Her legs were starting to tremble and her core was painfully tight. "Oh….Oh god…I…..I can't….I'm…fuck….fuck…fuck!" She was writhing, screaming, and bucking her hips as a crippling orgasm struck, making her core flood. "Jesus christ!" she groaned, still rocking her hips as she rode the waves of her climax. "Oh…oh…oh….fuck…how…..god…" her insides continued to flutter and spasm as Daryl worked her.

He gripped the backs of her thighs, keeping her legs open.

"Oh my god!" she cried out, her body shuddering. "I can't…..Daryl….please…stop…"

But he didn't listen. He kept sucking her throbbing clit as the orgasm worked its way through her body. When he felt her come, he slid his tongue down her slit, lapping at her, letting her taste flood his mouth. She was bucking against his mouth and he planned to savor every minute of her climax….every sound, every motion of her body…the wetness seeping from between her legs. He loved the way she tasted and he couldn't get enough of her.

Carol had never experienced oral sex. Ed hadn't shown any interest and she had no reason to press the issue…she didn't know what she was missing. But Daryl had been nagging her for weeks. At every opportunity he tried to get the green light and she always said no. It was her own foolish insecurities that held her back…she thought she might not be what he wanted…that he wouldn't get anything out of it and that the whole thing was just a waste of time. They'd already proven that they were good in bed, she didn't understand the need to substitute sex with anything else. Until now… She could feel his warm, wet tongue running up and down her pussy and his strong fingers curling around her legs. As the pleasure continued to rush through her in waves, she briefly wondered if this was one of the best orgasms he'd ever given her…and the fastest…definitely the fastest.

She was twisting and panting, but he didn't let up. He teased her with the tip of his tongue, pressing in near her entrance, causing more wetness to seep from her and when she thought the last shocks of ecstasy had worked their way through her body, he caught her clit between his teeth and sucked hard, making a string of curses fly from her lips. She finally stopped moving, her body spent and aching. Daryl smirked against her sex, his tongue running up and down her slit one last time as she came down from her high.

Carol's hands were in her hair as she stared wide-eyed up at the ceiling. "That was…I mean….it's just…." she was fighting to catch her breath.

Daryl chuckled, crawling over her body. He paused to wipe his mouth with the back of his wrist. "I take it ya liked that…"

She reached for his hair and pulled him down until his mouth found hers. She could taste herself on his tongue and she moaned into his mouth. When they separated, Daryl was smirking down at her. "Guessin' that's a yes. Never seen your ass come so quick."

Carol's hands were locked at the back of his neck. "You're really good at that…"

A faint blush spread across his face. "Ya think so?"

She nodded, biting her bottom lip.

He bucked down into her. "Been beggin' ya to let me eat that pussy…"

She groaned rocking her hips against his. "Sorry I made us wait…from now on…you wanna try something, we'll try it. I trust you."

"Don't go takin' that back later…" he said, running his hand over her breast.

Her heart was still thrumming in her chest. "I won't."

They were both silent for a moment as they stared at one another. Daryl massaged her breast, his eyes still fixed on hers. "So ya liked me goin' down on ya?" he asked, his voice husky.

She nodded again.

He smirked at her. "Well In that case, I was wonderin'…think ya might wanna return the favor?"

Carol didn't understand him at first, but when he bucked down into her, she got it. She sat up, pushing him back, her hands going to his chest. "I'll give it a shot." she smirked as she hovered over him. Daryl grinned as he ran his hands along her sides. He was rubbing her up and down, loving the feel of her soft skin but when he reached her lower back, his fingers curled around her hips and she winced, a slight whimper escaping her. The smile faded from his face and he sat up. "Ya alright?"

She sat back on her calves and tried to pretend everything was normal. "Yeah. I'm fine."

But Daryl wasn't convinced. They were both sitting on his bed and he started to close the distance between them. "Are ya hurt?"

She forced a smile and tried to crawl back over him. "No, It's fine."

Understanding seemed to hit him then. He forgot the pain below his waist and he slid off the bed.

"Where are you going?" she asked, nervousness creeping into her voice.

Daryl didn't answer her. He simply walked to the wall, flicked the light switch and made his way back to the bed. Carol was confused. Normally, they only ever kept the small lamp on in his room. She watched him as he stood beside the bed, his hands on his hips. "What's wrong?" she asked.

Daryl hung his head for a moment, sighing. When he lifted his chin to look at her, there was a pained expression on his face. She was kneeling in the center of his bed, her hands resting in her lap and light sheen of sweat covering her body…making her glow. "Turn around." he said, his voice low.

Fear pooled like ice-water in Carol's belly. "What? Why?"

Daryl sighed again, "Turn around Carol."

She hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn't want him to see….

"Carol," he snapped, breaking her trance.

Trying to remain calm, she sucked in a sharp breath and slowly turned away from him. Her entire body was trembling and her eyes were growing warm as she waited for him to say something.

Daryl felt his gut twist. His hands formed fists and his mouth was a thin line as he glared at the bruises on her lower back. They were angry purplish-grey marks…and they hadn't been there the week before. "Why didn't ya say something?" he asked, as he fought to control his temper.

Carol blinked away the unshed tears. She didn't know how to answer him. That first night they spent together had been perfect. They'd woken up, just before dawn, and made love one last time before she left. Leaving him was one of the hardest things Carol had ever done. He stood on the porch, watching her drive away, neither of them knowing if they'd see each other again. But the whole drive home, Carol replayed their night together over and over in her mind. She didn't want that to be the end of it…

She'd gone home to find her husband sprawled on the couch, an empty beer can clutched in his hand. She made her way up the stairs, ignoring the soreness between her legs, and stepped into her own shower, hoping to wash any trace of her and Daryl's union from her body. She hated to lose his scent…his sweat that had dried on her skin…but she couldn't risk Ed finding out. And then she'd gone through the longest week of her life. She had no way to contact Daryl…and he had no way to reach her. But she found herself thinking of him constantly.

By the time Friday came around, Carol was practically vibrating with nervous energy. Her heart was in her throat and her palms were sweating as she drove out to Roy's. When she got to the bar, she scanned the parking lot, hoping to catch a glimpse of Merle and Daryl's truck…but she didn't. She'd wandered inside, determined to keep the details of last Friday to herself. She wasn't about to tell Christine that she'd cheated on her husband…even if the woman was an ally. She smiled and nodded, going through the motions as Christine told her about the new menu and a special they'd be running that night. As more and more customers started wandering in, Carol found herself eyeing the door…hoping that Daryl would walk through it. She was so anxious that her chest tightened each time the doors squeaked on their hinges. But she had a job to do. So she took orders, mixed drinks, tucked tips into her apron and tried to keep her nerves in check. Daryl loomed large in her mind, distracting her…and she finally had to retreat to the safety of the bathroom so that she could splash cool water on her face and try to relax. She spent several minutes, pulling deep breaths into her lungs and gripping the edge of the sink. She stared hard at the woman in the mirror…the guilty, nervous, restless, mess she'd become and tried to keep herself from falling apart.

When she felt that she could function, she made her way back to the bar. She stood on her tiptoes, reaching for a bottle in the hopes that a small drink would calm her down, when someone cleared their throat. She turned around. "What can I get for….." but the words stuck in her throat. There, at the same barstool, wearing the same grey, button-down shirt he'd worn last Friday, was Daryl. Her lips parted in awe and she didn't know what to say.

They stared at each other for what seemed like the longest time. As happy and relieved as Carol was to see him, she hated that the bar separated them…that they were in public. She wanted to run her hands through his hair…to touch him, kiss him…tell him how much she'd been thinking about him….but she couldn't. All she could do was wring her hands and ask him what he wanted to drink.

He'd drummed his fingers anxiously on the bar, just as he'd done a week ago. All of his initial shyness seemed to have come back, now that the liquor was out of his system. For a moment, Carol wondered if he'd thought about her at all…if he remembered everything that happened between them. But he broke the silence for them. "Glad to see ya back." he said.

She let herself smile. "It's good to be back."

He'd missed the sound of her voice and it was already making him blush. "Guess your first shift went alright?" His eyes flicked to her face.

She grabbed a tumbler and started wiping it down with a white rag, hoping to distract herself. "It was great." she could feel her cheeks getting warm and she wouldn't look at him.

After several seconds, she couldn't take it anymore and she lifted her chin, their eyes locking. She knew then, as he stared at her and she stared back at him…that he remembered. She was tempted to lean across the counter and kiss him, but she couldn't. So they played the part of strangers, making small talk and exchanging glances every now and then. She poured his drinks and he thanked her. Merle eventually made his way to the bar and the three of them laughed at bad jokes. Several hours into her shift, neither of them could take it anymore. Carol made an excuse, telling Christine she needed to grab something from her car. The second she left the building, Daryl abandoned his barstool. When she pushed past the doors and felt the cool air hit her face, she realized that she had no idea what she was doing. She didn't know where to go so she made her way to the back of the building and waited there, pacing, her arms folded across her chest. She was beginning to think that she'd misread the situation but then she heard the crunching of gravel and turned to see Daryl standing there, his hands thrust into his pockets.

They both stood frozen, staring at one another, but Daryl was the first to move. He took a hesitant step in her direction. When he saw the hope in her face, he knew he was doing the right thing. He took another step, and another, quickly closing the distance between them until their bodies collided. Her arms wrapped around his middle and she buried her face in his shirt, breathing him in. He hugged her back, letting his chin rest on her shoulder. "Been thinkin' about ya…" he said.

Carol pulled back, staring into his face. They studied one another for several heartbeats before she stood on her toes and kissed him. They both groaned at the contact and Daryl walked her back into the nearest wall. She whimpered but didn't try to stop him. His body was warm and she ran her hands up the back of his shirt while his tongue dipped into her mouth. She wasn't sure how long they stayed like that, kissing, touching, muttering to one another while he kept her pinned against the back of the building…but she had sense enough to make them stop. She had a job to do and as far as the rest of the world was concerned, he was just another customer. But as they stood behind the building, shaking from the February cold, they made arrangements. He'd leave, an hour before closing, and Carol would meet him at the house once her shift was over. No one would know.

So she went back inside, and Daryl followed, several minutes later, so as not to arouse suspicion. She cleared her head and did her job. All the while keeping a smile on her face and honey in her voice. She could feel the genuine happiness and excitement bubbling up insider her. For the first time, in a long time, Carol had something to look forward to.

Ever since then…there wasn't a single Friday that passed without her and Daryl seeing each other. He didn't always go to the bar because they both agreed that someone would eventually catch on…namely Christine. They couldn't hide their attraction forever… On one particularly reckless occasion, they were both so turned on that they didn't even make it to the house. As soon as Carol was able to go on break, she and Daryl disappeared to the parking lot. They climbed into the truck and Daryl pulled it around to the back of the building. He drug her into the back seat and tore at her clothes until he had her pants down. He reached for his zipper and had his cock free before either of them could blink. Carol was afraid of getting caught but her need for him outweighed her fear and she gave in. They worked together, sweating and fumbling in the cramped back seat until he could set a steady rhythm inside her. Once they abandoned themselves to their lust, they both cried out in pleasure…their breath fogging the glass. It was rushed and hectic, but she came hard around him and he'd spilled his seed inside her. After that, Carol got better about keeping condoms around. She was convinced that one of these days…they might not even make it to the truck.

On the days that he did visit the bar, Carol did her best to treat him like anybody else, but she wasn't sure how convincing the charade was. She ultimately decided that friendship was acceptable. She and Merle had developed a good rapport and she supposed it wouldn't seem strange to anyone if she happened to talk to the two Dixon bothers more than she talked to other customers. She'd hoped to keep her and Daryl's relationship a secret from Merle, but he'd stumbled into the house one night and saw her and Daryl naked on the living room floor…Daryl wasn't one to stop once he'd started something, so he ignored his brother and continued to drive himself into Carol's center. Merle was so drunk that he just burst out laughing and staggered up the steps to his room. Carol was mortified, but Daryl just kissed her, assuring her that it was fine, his hips never slowing.

The next time she stopped by the house, Carol came clean with Merle. She and Daryl explained the situation and told him why they needed absolute discretion. The older Dixon was famous for his big mouth but Carol and Daryl pleaded with him, begging him not to breathe a word of it to anyone. Much to their surprise and mutual relief, they discovered that Merle was doing a good job of keeping their secret. He didn't let on, even when they were all together at the bar…even when Christine was around and the temptation to tease Daryl and Carol was strong enough to frustrate him.

The two brothers eventually reached an understanding when it came to Friday nights. Merle would make himself scarce, and if he didn't have plans…he'd stick to his room. In exchange, Carol would fix breakfast for all of them on Saturday mornings before she left. It was awkward, the first time the three of them sat at the kitchen table with omelets on their plates. They were all eating in silence, their heads down. Carol had made a pot of coffee and they were each clinging to their mugs like life preservers…none of them wanting to make eye contact with each other. Daryl and Carol had been particularly loud the night before…and Merle had spent the night trapped in his room. Carol felt guilty for even being there…which was how she felt every time…but the knowledge that Merle had been home, and that he heard them…it was only adding to her sense of shame. The three of them were dead quiet. The only sound came from the tines of their forks scraping the plates and the occasional sips of coffee. Finally, Merle blew out a breath and clasped his hands under his chin as he leaned on the table. He glanced at Carol and then at his brother. After several seconds of deep thought, he cleared his throat. "So…" he said, his eyes on Carol. "Tell me…"

She'd looked up at him, unsure of why he was breaking the silence. "Hm?" she lifted her mug, taking a small sip and hiding her face.

"He any good?" Merle asked, nodding in his brother's direction.

Carol nearly choked on her coffee and Daryl glared at his brother.

The silence just got worse as each second ticked by. Daryl's anger was palpable and by that time, Carol knew him well enough to know that it didn't take much to make his temper flare. Wanting desperately to diffuse the situation and clear the air with Merle, Carol set her mug down carefully and stared at the older Dixon. She remembered their first exchange at the bar, where he'd tried to embarrass Daryl and she'd poured him that especially strong drink. Carol figured she could find another way to unnerve Merle. With her fingertips lightly tapping the edge of her mug, and a serious expression on her face, Carol addressed the older Dixon. "I'm a little surprised that you'd ask…" she said.

Merle's brows knit together as he stared at her.

"Couldn't you hear us last night? I certainly wasn't making myself scream in that shower…" She said matter-of-factly, taking another sip of her coffee.

Merle couldn't help but grin at that. He shook his head slowly and laughed, rapping his knuckles on the table. "Well shit woman…that ain't exactly polite talk for the table now is it? Got a dirty mouth on ya."

Carol was un-phased. "Not nearly as dirty as the table." She held her mug to her lips and winked at Daryl. He'd bent her over that same table the night before, prior to their shower, and she was fairly certain that no one had washed it since then.

Merle slid his chair back suddenly, lifting his hands. "Jesus woman…I didn't need to hear all that shit. We got bleach under the sink. Ya'll best wipe this shit down…we're tryin' to eat for Christ's sake!"

Carol couldn't help but chuckle.

The younger Dixon, who'd been silent throughout Merle and Carol's little exchange, sat dumbfounded in his chair. He wasn't sure whether he should be angry, embarrassed, or some combination of the two…but if the changes taking place in his body were any indicator, he was definitely intrigued. He'd never been a very confident person. The only reason he'd had the courage to share his bed with Carol that first night was the alcohol in his system. It helped him overcome his insecurities and he'd wound up spending his entire night with a woman who erased all of his doubts…who gave him the most intense pleasure he'd ever experienced. Every night since then had been better. He always seemed to satisfy her and she paid him back in kind. She always knew what to do, what to say…how to treat him. Slowly but surely, she'd managed to build his confidence and he knew he'd never be able to thank her enough for that. But as he sat in his chair, staring at the woman who'd just turned his morning around, he felt that he could at least do one small thing to repay her kindness. He was shirtless, in boxers, his hair a mess, and she was in a short robe. He'd gotten it specifically for her to wear whenever she spent time at the house. He kept it hanging in his closet. Pushing his chair back and standing slowly, he gestured to her.

"Ya wanna help me with somethin' upstairs?" he asked.

Carol could feel herself getting warm all over. "Sure."

Merle was eyeing the two of them as if they'd both gone insane.

Carol stood, leaving her food unfinished, and walked around the table. Daryl grabbed her hand and began dragging her towards the stairs. "We're already dressed for it…" he chuckled as they hurried up the steps.

Carol called down to Merle. "It'd be nice if you could get that table cleaned!"

The older Dixon brought his hand to his face and rubbed his tired eyes. "Lord have mercy…" he muttered to himself. The next thing he heard was his brother's bedroom door slamming shut…

Things got better after that. The brothers made sure there was always food in the fridge; juice, eggs, fruit… And Carol always made sure that the two of them ate before she took off on Saturday mornings. The awkwardness faded, once Merle realized that Carol wasn't one to be trifled with, and that she wouldn't tolerate him picking on Daryl. Eventually, the companions began looking forward to these weekly breakfasts. The two brothers were grateful to have someone looking after them, at least once a week, and they liked having a woman around. Carol liked the company and the three of them all seemed grateful for the normalcy of it. None of them would ever admit it, but it felt like they had a family…however small and unlikely. They talked, they laughed…they even got bold enough to argue with one another from time to time.

That's what brought Carol to where she was now. She'd finished an exceptionally busy shift at the bar and gone straight to Merle and Daryl's. She barely had time to get in the door before Daryl was pushing the jacket off her shoulders and tugging at the hem of her shirt. He chased her up the stairs, into his room, pushing her onto the bed. Once they were both naked, he finally convinced her to try oral and she grudgingly said yes. He'd gone down on her for all of five minutes before she felt her body give in to the pleasure. It was supposed to be like any other night…playing, teasing, talking, sex…but then she made the mistake of wincing when he touched her lower back…and now she was kneeling on the bed, her head hanging low as she fought to keep the tears from rolling down her cheeks. She couldn't hide from him…and she didn't know what to do…

Daryl stared at the bruises, just above her tailbone, and felt his temper flare. It had taken time, but he eventually got Carol to talk to him about the man who'd placed the wedding band on her finger…just as she got him to admit how the scars wound up on his back. It was painful for both of them, but there were questions that needed to be answered. She told him that her husband was a violent man…that he made a habit of hitting her, and it had taken all of Daryl's self control not to go out looking for the bastard. He hadn't seen the evidence of her husband's abuse for himself…not until now, and the sight of her bruised flesh was enough to make his blood pressure rise. He was seething; he wanted to yell…to break something, but he knew that wasn't what Carol needed. So he held himself back and tried to breathe. "What happened?" he asked.

Carol sniffed and felt the first salty tear slip from the corner of her eye. Her shoulders slumped and she wasn't sure where to start. Daryl could see that she was shaking. He didn't want her to be afraid…or ashamed. This was supposed to a safe space…somewhere she came to get away from the rest of her life. He'd told her that when she first opened up about the abuse. Easing back onto the bed, Daryl sat behind her, his hands going to her shoulders. She tensed, but didn't try to get away. He kissed the back of her neck and started rubbing the muscles just under her shoulder blades. "Tell me what happened…please. I'm askin'."

She closed her eyes and let a warm breath pass her lips as he started to rub her back. "Dinner." she said, her voice soft.

Daryl pressed his thumbs in hard, driving the tension from her muscles. "What about dinner?" he asked.

Carol reached up to wipe the moisture from her cheek. She was glad he couldn't see her face. "I was making dinner last night and I forgot to set a timer…I left the bread in the oven too long and burned some of it."

Daryl stopped rubbing and sat frozen behind her.

Bread? The fucker beat her over burnin' bread?

He was really trying to keep his anger in check but it was proving difficult. "Tellin' me that sorry prick beat ya over some goddamn bread?"

She could hear the edge in his voice, and she wasn't sure how much she should tell him. But Daryl had been honest with her, from day one, and she felt that he deserved honesty in return. "He screamed first…he does that a lot." She wiped at her cheeks again. "Told me what a useless piece of shit I am…and then he…he…" Carol was having trouble finishing the thought.

Daryl bowed his head and resumed rubbing her. "Go on," he said. "Tell me."

She sniffed, her chin quivering. "He made me put my hands on the counter…lean on it…while he took his belt off."

Daryl was bristling, but he made himself listen.

"I held onto that counter so tight that my hands hurt…I knew what was coming, but it just…." She wiped at her eyes. "It never gets easier."

He knew all too well how abusive patterns worked. "No…it doesn't."

"I closed my eyes…I tried to be somewhere else, but then I felt the buckle hit me and I screamed. I didn't want to…It scares Sophia, but I couldn't help it. There was this awful pain in my lower back and before I could breathe he hit me again. Bit my lip to try to keep the noise down, but I knew she could hear me…I was crying. He doesn't stop until I cry."

Daryl had to bite back his anger…his revulsion for this man he'd never met. His hands traveled down her back, his fingertips ghosting over the dark bruises. She shivered but he didn't apply pressure. "Easy…" he said. "Ya put ice on it?" he asked.

Carol nodded. "Last night. It's gotten a little better, but it'll be a while before it heals."

Daryl leaned in close, kissing her shoulder. It was something he'd done since the first night they were together…just a small gesture, but it always made Carol smile. It was as if the kisses were something only the two of them understood. She suspected that he did this whenever he felt that words wouldn't be enough. "Lemme fill the tub." he said.

She turned around facing him, her hands going to his chest. "You don't have to."

"I want to. It'll help to get ya in some hot water." He ran his hand slowly along her side.

Carol sighed and gave him a sad smile. "It's almost irritating…how perfect you are." She closed her eyes and kissed the center of his chest.

Daryl snorted. "Quit."

But Carol just kissed his chest again, her hands sliding down, past his belly, dangerously close to his groin. "It's true…" she whispered against his skin. "I don't know what I did to deserve you." One of her soft hands wrapped around him and he hissed.

"Carol…" he growled.

"Mhmm?" she was humming as she kissed a trail down his stomach. Before she could reach her goal, he stopped her.

"Need ya to do somethin' for me."

She smirked at him, her hand still gripping his shaft. "I'm trying…"

"Naw." he said. "Not that." he gently pulled her hand away from his cock and forced her to look at him.

Carol was confused. "What is it?"

"Tell me where ya live."

She froze, backing away from him. "Daryl…we've been over this…I can't."

"Ya can." he insisted, his eyes trained on her face.

She shook her head, her eyes wide with fear.

He crawled in her direction and held tight to her shoulders. "Look at me."

She swallowed hard and met his gaze.

"I don't wanna see ya back here next week with a fresh set of bruises. Tell me where ya live."

Carol was getting scared. But as she stared into his blue eyes…the same ones she looked into when they made love, she knew that she couldn't keep anything from him. "22 Pinecrest…we're in a little subdivision twenty minutes outside of Atlanta." Her breathing picked up, as if she'd just revealed some terrible secret. "What are you going to do?" she asked.

Daryl rubbed her arms as he leaned in and kissed her temple. "Nothin'. Just wanna know where I can find ya."

She was panicking. "You can't come to my house…he'd kill you…if anyone saw you….if someone found out about us…."

"Quit." he said as he brushed her short hair with one hand. "Ain't nothin' gonna happen. Let's get ya to the tub." He slid off the bed and motioned for her to follow him.

When they were both standing, Daryl bent down, waiting on her.

"What are you doing?" she asked, a curious smile on her face.

"Get them arms around me girl."

Carol chuckled as she draped her arms around his neck and held on tight as he lifted her. With one strong arm curling under the backs of her knees, and the other supporting her back, he carried her slender frame through the bedroom, out the door, and down the hall. He only set her down when they reached the edge of the tub. They were both smiling as he reached for the knob and turned it, making hot water rush from the faucet. He sat beside her, on the edge of the tub, their bare hips brushing and she started to laugh.

"What's funny?" he asked.

"Nothing." she sighed. "It's just…it's four in the morning. I should be home, in bed. But I'm here…with you, about to take a bath…"

He smirked. "Ain't the worst way to spend your time."

She leaned over, kissing his shoulder and then letting her head rest against his arm. "No," she said, a smile on her lips. "It's not."

One month later….

Daryl had to bide his time. He knew he couldn't just rush out to her house at the first opportunity; it would scare her, and he didn't want that. He needed to let enough time pass that she'd forget their conversation about the bruises. Neither of them brought it up again, and he hadn't pressed her for any more information. Instead, Daryl went to Christine.

He knew Carol wouldn't want him talking to the older woman, but he needed help. He did his best to sound casual…telling Christine that Carol had mentioned having a husband and a young daughter, and that he was just curious about them. Every now and then, he lured Christine into conversations about Carol and her family. Whether or not the woman knew what he was up to, seemed to be irrelevant. Christine never outright said it, but Daryl could tell that she shared his distaste for Carol's husband. With the older woman's help, Daryl learned Ed's full name…where he worked, and even his schedule. When he felt that he had enough information, he went to his brother.

Merle liked Carol; he respected her, and he'd grown to think of her as part of the family…a welcome sight in their house. Daryl knew he could count on his brother to help him. Together, they sat at their kitchen table, late into the night, and thought about what they should do. They seemed to agree that action was needed, and that there could be no half-measures. They knew men like Ed Peletier…they were raised by one. So one Friday morning, before the sun was even up, the Dixon brothers grabbed their supplies and climbed into their pick-up. They drove in silence, each of them weighing the possible outcomes of what they were about to do.

As they neared their destination, the pre-dawn gloom began to melt away, and the sun blazed orange in an empty sky. Daryl's thumbnail was caught between his teeth…his eyes narrowed as he studied the time displayed on the radio. "Be there in ten minutes." he said.

Merle grunted. "Long as you know where we're goin'. I ain't tryin' to get lost out here."

Daryl spat out a nail fragment and brought one leg up, his boot resting on the dash. "We ain't lost." He'd worked it all out; the timing had to be perfect.

Finally, Merle pulled the truck into the neighborhood they'd been looking for. He drove slow, eyeing the street signs and glancing at the numbers on the mailboxes.

Daryl tapped on the glass of the passenger's side window. "Take a left down there." he said.

Merle followed his brother's direction and turned onto Pinecrest Avenue. "Ya best be right about all this boy."

The younger Dixon didn't acknowledge his brother; he kept his eyes trained on a small house in the distance. "Number twenty-two.." he muttered under his breath.

"Ya see it?" Merle asked.

Daryl sat up pointing to the windshield. "Up there, on the left…the one with the red door."

Merle blew out a breath and gripped the steering wheel just a little tighter. "Alright then…let's get this shit done."

Daryl eyed the radio again.

7:45

"Girl's on the bus by now…she gets picked up at seven thirty." said Daryl.

Merle let the truck roll slowly down the street until he reached number 22. He parked so that he was blocking the driveway but he kept the engine running. "And what time does this asshole leave for work?"

"He'll be out here in a minute. Just sit tight."

The two brothers waited in the truck, both of them staring at the pale blue house with the red door. Daryl was counting off seconds in his head. He should've been nervous…sweating at least, but he wasn't. Daryl was confident that he and Merle were doing the right thing.

After less than two minutes, they saw the red door open and a heavy-set man stepped out. Ed slammed the door shut behind him and was stalking through the yard, towards the driveway.

"Shit...he's right on time, look alive boy." Merle clapped his brother on the back.

Daryl slowly and calmly twisted in his seat so that he could grab the shot guns that Merle stashed in the back seat. When both brothers were holding weapons, they nodded to one another. Bracing himself, Daryl pushed the passenger's side door open and hopped down from the cab.

Ed was muttering curses as he fumbled with his keys but he turned around suddenly when he heard footsteps. He seemed to notice, for the first time, that an unfamiliar truck was blocking his driveway. His brows knit together and then he saw Daryl walking towards him. "Who the hell are you?" Ed spat. "That your truck? You best move or I'll move it for ya."

Daryl stopped when several feet remained between them. "Don't matter who I am." he said.

"Look jackass, I ain't got time for this now move that truck and get the hell off my property." Ed huffed.

Daryl brought the shotgun out from behind his back and raised it, aiming at Ed's chest. "I ain't movin'."

The large man went pale and dropped his keys. "The hell is this? Who are you?"

"That don't matter." said Daryl. "Now I heard ya got a nasty habit of beatin' on your wife…ya got a daughter too right?" Daryl took a step closer, the gun still raised. "Ya beat on her?"

Ed was backed against the side of his car, his face clammy.

Daryl used one hand to signal to his brother. Taking his cue, Merle jumped down from the cab and moved to Daryl's side. There were now two loaded guns pointed in Ed's direction and neither of the Dixons were backing down.

Ed snarled at them. "Who the fuck are you people?"

"You don't know us…" Merle chuckled. "But we know you. Yeah, we sure do. Mr. Ed Peletier. You work with Grayson's Construction, right? Got a few buddies workin' down there. I heard ya'll got a real big job in the city…makin' another one of them goddamn parking garages."

Ed glanced from one brother to the other, trying desperately to understand what was happening.

"Thing about construction is…it's real easy to get hurt. My buddy Tom…bastard was workin' on a beam, three stories up…one wrong move…and…lord." Merle whistled, shaking his head. "That boy landed on some rebar…shit tore his ass up good. He don't get around much anymore…it's a damn shame."

Ed was losing patience. He screamed at them. "What do you want!?"

Daryl's upper lip was curling back in anger as he stared the man down. "Wanna make sure ya keep your goddamn hands off your wife 'n daughter ya sorry piece of shit."

"Ya'll ain't got a say in how I handle my family!" he spat at them.

But Merle just chuckled. "Now see…you're wrong there. We got the guns…Way I see it, that means we got a whole lotta say in what you do. Now just promise to keep them hands to yourself, and we'll be on our way."

The large man was fuming; his face was flushed and there were deep creases in his heavy brow. "And if I don't?" he snapped.

Daryl took another step in Ed's direction, the gun still raised. "Like the man said," Daryl paused to glance at his brother. "Construction's real dangerous work…hate to see your fat ass take a bad fall. Ain't none of them other pricks you work with gonna blink an eye if somethin' happens to ya. And if turns out a good fall just ain't enough to educate ya…we'll be right here, havin' this little' talk again…" Daryl drove his point home by jabbing Ed in the chest with the barrel of the gun. "Now keep your hands off your wife 'n daughter. We clear, you sorry sack of shit?" Daryl's teeth were bared as he hissed at the man, his voice dangerously low.

Ed was glaring at the brothers as he finally raised his arms in submission.

"And don't worry." said Merle. "We ain't never gonna be too far. We'll check in on ya from time to time….make sure ya keep your word. We got eyes on you sunshine…now git. Your ass is late." He stooped to retrieve Ed's keys and then tossed them to the flustered, sweaty man.

Ed didn't say anything else. He fumbled with the handle on his door and quickly scrambled into the driver's seat. Merle said goodbye with a friendly wave and headed for his truck. Once he backed down the street, giving Ed room to get out, the man tore out of the driveway like the devil was chasing him. His tires screeched, leaving burn marks on the asphalt. Merle leaned out of the driver's side window and laughed as Ed's car flew down the street. "That's right boy…run."

Daryl stood in Carol's front yard, his chest heaving. He couldn't believe that they'd actually gone through with it. He dropped the gun and his hands went to his hair as he tried to calm down. His heart was beating wildly in his chest and he slammed his eyes shut, reminding himself that he did it for her. The blood continued to rush in his ears and he thought he might be sick. When his breathing finally began to slow, he wiped at the sweat from his brow and looked up. Daryl froze, his lips parting as he stared at the figure in the window.

Carol.

She was there, one of her hands was holding the curtain out of the way while the other was clamped over her mouth. Even through the glass, he could see the tears in her eyes. Worried that he'd scared her, Daryl ran across the yard until he was standing in front of her window. He was breathless…he didn't know what to say or how to explain himself.

How long was she standin' there? She see everything?

A thousand questions were rushing through his skull. As he stood in front of her window, staring at her, he saw her hand fall away from her mouth. Tears were slipping from the corners of her eyes, rolling down the curves of her cheeks, but there was a smile on her lips, and it made Daryl's heart stop.

She's happy…

The salty tears were leaving trails on her face and her eyes were shining, but she was happy. Blinking away the drops of moisture that clung to her lashes like jewels, Carol pressed her hand against the cool glass. She stared out at the man she'd grown to care so deeply for, and wondered what she'd done to deserve him. Daryl held her gaze, not wanting to look away. His chest tightened, and he finally let himself breathe. He saw the way her palm was pressed to the glass, her slender fingers splaying…and he knew what he had to do. As he waited for the pounding of his heart to slow, Daryl reached up, letting his hand rest over hers. A thin sheet of glass was all that separated them and they both stared down at their hands that were pressed to the window. She was still smiling through her tears, her blue eyes more vibrant than he'd even seen them, and he knew that he'd done the right thing. He did it for her.

OMG! so long! Please don't hate me! I got carried away and I'd love to make this a multi-chapter if I had time! This really gave me some feels and I hope you guys had fun with it. Please, please don't be shy with reviews! Tell me all your thoughts : ) Happy Valentine's day! xoxo

-Sami