Hi everyone, hope you're all having an awesome day/night depending on wherever you are in the world. And thanks again for reading!

xKim

"Are we gonna clear the air?" Carol asked breathlessly, she leant her back against the nearest tree knowing that Daryl would stop for her, "You haven't said two words to me since we left the prison."

"You haven't spoke either." Daryl replied, he stopped walking and turned to face her, "Are you okay?" He asked noting how exhausted she looked.

"I'm not as fit as you." Carol explained waving a dismissive hand in front of her face, "Just give me 5 minutes."

Daryl nodded once and leant against the tree opposite her, "We'll keep at it another couple of hours and then find somewhere for you to sleep."

"Don't you sleep when you're out?"

"No, only in the confides of the prison." Daryl explained, "And then that's rare."

"Why?"

He shrugged and looked down at a spot on the ground, "Did you find it hard to sleep? After Sophia?"

Carol nodded firmly and caught his gaze, "Sometimes I still do."

"Sucks."

"You're not wrong." She replied with a sympathetic smile, "I won't patronise you and tell you it gets easier, you just kind of get used to it."

Daryl watched as a pained expression crossed her face, then, quicker than it had been there, it was gone. He admired Carol's strength.

When Carol's breathing had relaxed to a normal rate, she pushed back off the tree and stood in front of Daryl, "Ready?"

X

They finally stopped walking just before dark when Daryl found a quiet spot for them to settle, just next to a river embankment.

Carol sat down on a large boulder and groaned quietly, "My feet are throbbin'." She mumbled rubbing at her heel, "I didn't know huntin' involved this much walkin'."

"Yeah, I usually walk for days." Daryl explained flippantly, "We won't do that this time, we'll head back in the mornin'."

"Do what you usually do, I can keep up."

Daryl nodded, "I'm not disputin' that. You've done really well today."

A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, "Thanks."

"I just wanna get back to the prison and get these squirrel back to Hershel so he can make somethin' decent."

Carol nodded slowly, "Sure you're not just tryin' to avoid spendin' time alone with me? It's okay you know, I won't pounce."

Daryl scoffed and shook his head, "Do you think if I didn't wanna spend time with you, I would have let you come with me?" He asked.

Carol shrugged.

"I wouldn't have." He stated bluntly before smiling slightly, she returned the smile and his grew a little wider, "Ain't you tired? You've been walkin' hours."

"No, I'd rather talk."

"So we're friends again?" He asked hopefully.

"Sorry for answerin' a question with a question, but did we ever stop?"

Daryl shook his head, "I hope not." He stated sincerely.

Carol smiled widely, something she hadn't done in the few days that followed the kiss, she splayed her fingers out on her thighs and cleared her throat, "About the other night..."

"We don't have to talk about that." Daryl assured her.

"Thank you."

He nodded once and offered her a weary smile, truth be told he wanted to talk about it, he wanted her to tell him that he wasn't imagining things when he thought that there was something there, but that was just a pipe dream...

His attention was drawn to the sound of leaves crunching from behind him; he aimed his crossbow in the direction of the sound and squinted into the darkness. But nothing came... He slowly lowered his weapon and backed away slightly.

"What is it?" Carol whispered appearing behind him.

Daryl shrugged and chewed the inside of his mouth, he'd definitely heard something. He was sure of it. "Stay close."

"Always." Carol mumbled under her breath as they moved towards the direction of where the sound had been.

Daryl slowly moved forward, poised and ready for the kill.

Carol followed close behind clutching at her knife and looking over Daryl's shoulder, not that she could see much in the dark. "I can't see anythin'."

"That doesn't alter the fact that there's somethin' there." Daryl mumbled quietly, Carol ceased talking and followed him in silence. "Look." Daryl breathed in a voice barely above a whisper; he nodded his head in the direction of a motionless Walker. "Told you so." He added with an impish grin.

Carol rolled her eyes as Daryl aimed and fired his crossbow into the skull of the Walker. He walked over, retrieved his arrow, wiped the head on his jeans and stuck it back on the back of his crossbow.

He smiled slightly as he noticed Carol watching him, he tilted his head, "What you lookin' at?"

She shrugged, a ghost of a smile playing on her lips, "Just thinkin'."

"About?"

"About you," She admitted, then, noting the look of alarm on his face began to backpedal, "And err, how you're made for this world."

"Thanks, I think?"

"It's a compliment." Carol assured him with a nod, "You're so good at this whole survival thing, I wouldn't be surprised if you're the last of us all."

"Where would be the fun in that?" Daryl asked, he flicked his hair from his eyes and shrugged, "Best keep you alive for entertainment purposes." He told her with an attractive lopsided smile.