A kiss, a shot and a mattress

"What I was going to say last night" Daryl approached Rick the next morning "is that if we remain here we better start surveying the area again. I'm gonna take myself a horse and ride far out to see how we stand. What' you say?"

"It's not a bad idea. Making sure we are safe" Rick said as he had also softened a little.

"I'll return before night fall" he added and walked towards the stable.

"Daryl" Carol called out as he was preparing the horse. "I repaired it" she said handing him his vest. "You have been wearing it since high school, I'm surprise it's still looking good".

"Yeah, I always asked myself why ya gifted me a vest with wings on it" he said pulling it over. He stopped and looked at her. "Then again I always wondered why ya always looked at me different than anybody else did".

"I'm going to train my shooting skills with Shane and the others. You return safe!"

"I will. Just don't get pregnant, running away with some other guy 'till I do" he arched a little.

Her smile vanished.

"And that's supposed to be funny?" her tone was cold and she turned to leave. He stopped her by catching her wrist and she turned around.

"Neah, it's supposed to anger ya a little" his lips had formed into a smirk. "So I see if ya meant what ya said last night" he pulled her closer while his other hand found her waist. "Maybe if I had done this years ago…things would've stand different".

He bent a little, his lips found hers. She wasn't taken by surprise; she had waited for it for years. She tasted his lips as he did hers. Slowly and exploring at first, the kiss gaining in pashion as their bodies finally met.

"Now ya go and shoot and I'm gonna play Indiana Jones in the woods" Daryl said as they eventually parted.

Carol hit his shoulder lightly in a playful move, for the words he had said before. There was a pleased smile on her lips that he enjoyed.

"Ok, really Carol" Rick said. "You've done this before?"

She nodded.

"Took classes. But I haven't practiced in a long while".

"It doesn't look like that".

"I am in a good mood, that's why".

"Can you shoot a riffle?"

"Only exercised on pistols".

"The riffle is heavy and the reaction is harder to control. But I think you could pull it off".

"I'll try".

It was getting late and Daryl hadn't returned yet. Carol and Lori had decided to cook dinner for Hershel's family as a thank you for having them there. Carol watched Lori very carefully, she could tell there was something going on. She stopped at some point and looked at her closely.

"Listen, I can tell there is something going on with you. And…judging from the fact that Rick returned and you are pretty picky with your food lately, you feel the need to sleep more…are you, maybe, pregnant?"

Lori sighted and closed her eyes. She nodded.

"You know…a baby in these times can be a big burden for the mother. The thought to raise it in this world, what will it become, what can you offer it…I get it, it's damn hard. But…a baby is also new hope. It's a new life it's a…proof that life goes on no matter what crazy world there is outside".

Lori looked at Carol and smiled somehow desperate.

"You'll have all of us to raise it and take care of you".

"Thank you, Carol" she said just as they heard a shot from outside. "What was that?" she said.

They both rushed outside.

"Is that…Daryl?" Lori asked as she saw Rick and Shane carry a very dirty man.

"Oh, heaven, no!" Carol whispered as her voice left her. She ran to them.

"He's unconscious it, it scratched his skull" Rick said.

They carried him inside, Hershel attending his wounds. Carol remained there, cleaning his face from the blood. Her hands were slightly shivering as he was telling how the horse threw him off the saddle, rolled down a rok and landed on his arrow. Also Andrea had shot him from far away confusing him for a walker. Hershel finished cleaning his wounds and sewing them. He bandaged his head.

"Daryl…don't die on us, ok?" Rick said as he left the room.

Carol smiled and filled another basin with water. She sat on the bed, sponge bathing Daryl's upper body.

"I'm gonna be fine in a day or two" he said to her.

"You scared me, Daryl. Looks like we never have...never get time. Does it always have to be like this? Why does something happen every time we get closer".

"I ain't going nowhere, woman. I'm here to stay" he placed his palm over her hand. He barely kept his eyes opened.

"Rest" Carol smiled.

He nodded shortly and fell asleep. She stroked his cheek and left the room.

That night they ate together and Carol brought Daryl something to eat. He was awake and she placed the platter next to his bed.

"I brought you something to eat" she said and he turned. "You know…everyone was sick worried for you".

"Yeah…" he looked at her. "Listen…I need to ask ya something. I'm gonna move out o' this room tomorrow…don't wanna sit too much on Hershel's nerves. Would you…would you move my things back to ya tent?"

"I already did" she smiled.

He huffed and also smiled.

"Now get better" she bent and kissed his cheek.

"Watch it I have stiches" he joked.

"Sleep tight, Daryl" she smiled and left the room.

Rick and Shane helped move Daryl to his and Carol's tent. Andrea came to apologize, also bringing him a book for time to fly faster. They all went training again, Carol remaining behind with Dale taking care of chores. She didn't need it as much as they did. Daryl slept and read something through the day. Dale seemed pretty preoccupied, but he said he was just tired when Carol asked him what was wrong.

"I said to ya I ain't no freakin' princess" Daryl said as Carol brought him food in the evening. "Why am I on this mattress and not the other?"

"Because you're healing, Daryl, don't play the tough guy with a wound. Eat your food, I'm coming to sleep soon. I have to check on Lori before that".

"You're pretty worried for her even with Carl having healed. What's wrong?"

"It's not for me to tell" she looked at him as she went out. He nodded and ate.

When Carol returned, she had changed her clothes for the night.

"What' ya doing?" he asked amused looking at her arranging the thin mattress. "Get in here, ya ain't sleeping on that. Besides…ya ain't sleeping alone anymore".

"I was rolling it away for more space".

"Yeah, you were" he laughed.

Carol sat on the bed and slipped under the blanket. She was inches away from Daryl, feeling his scent, without any other contribution of blood, dirt or walker smell. He turned to her and looked long at her, his eyes softening as they wondered on her face and upper body. His fingers brushed her cheek, her collarbone and he bent to kiss her. But as he pulled back he crooked his face from the pain.

"Fuckin' wound" he growled. He rubbed his eyes.

"Why? Is there anything you wanted to do?" she teased him. He looked down at her.

"Ya in the mood for jokes? I waited who knows how many years for that and my first night with ya in a bed I have a wound on m' head and one in m' rib?"

Carol chuckled amused. He also smiled.

"Why ya always have a hard time approaching me? Ya were about to sleep on the other mattress if I wouldn't have said a word".

"I'm still not sure you…would forgive the past".

"Woman, I'm with ya in the same bed, or whatever this is, I just kissed ya and ya still think that? I pretty much liked ya in the past. A lot. But now…I discover even more in ya. And I like that more and more. Maybe it's time to leave that past alone, what' ya say?"

She smiled and raised a little to kiss his lips without him having to make an effort. She rested her head on his shoulder. He embraced her back with his arm and closed his eyes.

"We're in this together, Carol, for good now" Daryl whispered before falling asleep.

Note: Oh well, poor Daryl. Hope you enjoyed, thanks for reading.