Authors Notes: Thanks for reading, reviewing, favouriting and following you lovely bunch of lovely people! It means a lot to a newcomer like me haha.

I forgot to mention this follows on from the end of season 3 - if you hadn't already guessed.

Here's more, I'll aim to have some more (preferably more interesting too) finished by the end of today :)

xKim

Rick let Carol back onto the prison forecourt and pinned her with a look that spoke volumes, Carol shook her head sadly and Rick let out an aggravated sigh.

"We can't rush him." Carol breathed in a voice barely above a whisper, the truth was she did want to rush him; the group was significantly weaker without him, especially now after the arrival of most of Woodbury, they needed him now more than ever. She needed him. "He needs time."

"How much time? Days? Weeks? Months maybe..."

"His brother died." Carol stated simply.

Rick nodded his head and averted his eyes to a Walker that had been standing at the fence snarling at them since Carol had passed it, "I don't like him bein' out there alone." He breathed.

"Daryl can handle himself," She reasoned following Rick's steady gaze, she watched the Walker for a few seconds before turning her head back to face him, "Right?"

"Completely." Rick agreed, nodding his head for extra assurance, "If I didn't think so I'd be out there lookin' for him myself."

Carol sighed inwardly and absentmindedly bit down on her bottom lip, "I'm goin' to do some laundry." She announced before moseying back across the forecourt towards the prison, she waved a dismissive hand at Rick and disappeared back into the prison.

Carol smiled warmly at Beth who was cradling a crying Judith and held her arms open, "Want me to take her?" She offered.

Beth shook her head and rocked the crying child, "No it's fine, I don't mind." She smiled back. "Did you find Daryl?"

"I did." Carol stated looking down at her feet, "He said he'd be back soon."

Beth nodded slowly, "I'm sure he will be." She drawled.

Carol nodded her head in agreement and passed the young girl, "Let me know if you need me."

"I will." Beth responded quickly before cooing at Judith who had began to calm down.

Carol set about doing some laundry; she scrubbed, hung to dry and folded every item of clothing she could find, anything to keep her mind from thinking of him. She knew he would be fine in terms of physical safety – Daryl always was. But when it came down to how he was emotionally, she just didn't know...