Thanks for the follows, reviews and what not, you're all legends.

xKim

Carol's hand remained on Daryl's upper thigh for the entire ride back to the prison, he squirmed and he fidgeted and at one point even groaned but not once did she remove her hand. After all, he'd have to get used to this kind of touching if they were ever going to be together in that way. It surprised her actually, that while he was clearly uncomfortable, he didn't tell her to get off. Which she was absolutely positive that he would...

"You, Tyreese and Glenn found a lot." She observed, turning in her seat and eyeing up the various items in the back of the car.

"Mhm," Daryl grunted, he flicked his hair from his eyes and cast a quick look towards Carol, "It was a good run, you know, bar bein' chased by a horde of the undead."

Carol jutted out her bottom lip and shook her head, "It was too much of a close call, I hate that you were in danger."

"These things happen," Daryl reasoned with a shrug, he frowned at the memory of Tyreese firing his gun despite the protests of the other men, "Granted they're more likely to happen if you've got Tyreese with you."

Carol nodded silently as Daryl pulled up on a deserted road, "Why're we stoppin'?" She asked, confused to say the least.

"I told Rick we'd be back before dark," Daryl began, he angled his body towards her and smiled shyly, "We've still got a couple of hours of daylight."

"What do you propose we do for those couple of hours?" Carol asked, playing dumb. She could tell what Daryl was thinking from the way he stared down at her lips and the way he placed his hand on top of hers.

Daryl shrugged and looked out of the car window, "It's hardly romanctic, doin' it in the back of a car."

"I didn't have you down as the romantic type." Carol teased him, she chuckled quietly as he cringed and turned her hand over so that their fingers were entwined, "But you do have a point..."

"Plus there's all that stuff, there's hardly any room," Daryl reasoned, he waved his hand at the back seat and shrugged, "Which leave us with two options..." She stared at him blankly, "We could risk gettin' caught at the prison or we can go fool around in that house there." He nodded his head towards a house at the end of the road, "I know you're, well, you know, wantin' it. I mean, it's no big deal, right? It's just sex."

"It is a big deal." Carol replied quickly, she smiled slightly and shrugged, "Daryl, I'm fine waitin'."

"I don't want you to get bored waitin'." He confessed, blushing under her cool gaze.

"Like that would ever happen," She scoffed and brought his hand up to her mouth, she placed a soft kiss on each of his knuckles and smiled, "Why are you so worried?" She asked softly.

Daryl was quiet for a long time, debating with himself whether or not to tell her the truth, but he knew she'd have to see them when they got up close and personal, it was inevitable. He cleared his throat and sighed inwardly, "My scars." He mumbled almost inaudibly, "Mostly."

"Oh," Carol breathed, she could have played dumb but she didn't feel like she should, instead she gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. "I've seen them. That day at Hershel's farm, after you went lookin' for Sophia? I saw them." She confessed.

Daryl looked down at the steering wheel and tried to focus on controlling his breathing, "It doesn't make it any easier." He told her.

She bit down on her bottom lip and placed her other hand on top of their hands, "Daryl, I love every bit of you, scars and all."

He didn't look up, didn't speak, didn't show any signs that he had actually heard her.

"You know, I have a lot of scars too. Some are fresher than others but some are decades old. Some are Walker related, others, well, you know who gave them me," She noticed his grip on her hand tightening; "I'm not ashamed of my scars. They're marks of a survivor."

"They're marks of weakness," Daryl argued then began to backtrack, "Not for you, you're not weak. You're the strongest person I know. But me? I'm different."

Carol tried to hold his gaze but he looked away again, "How are you different?" She asked arching an eyebrow, "We're so similar, you and I. I think that's why we're so compatible. We were both abused by someone who claimed to love us... I've had my time blamin' myself, frankly, I'm tired of resentin' myself for something that was beyond my control. It wasn't my fault." She stated shaking her head for extra emphasis, "And it sure as hell wasn't your fault."

"I should've done somethin'..." Daryl mumbled.

"It doesn't make you weak that you didn't, it makes you strong. You withstood so much shit, you're a fighter Daryl. That's what I thought when I saw those scars."

He finally looked up at her, his blue eyes dark, "Really?"

"Really," She offered him a wary smile, he sighed loudly and shook his head, "What is it?" She asked.

"You're just...so essential to my existence. Don't ever leave me, okay?"

Carol scoffed and patted the top of his hand, "That's really not an issue Daryl. I'm not goin' anywhere."

He nodded once and leant over, kissing her roughly and urgently, he cupped her cheek in his free hand, holding her face to his as they kissed. He freed his other hand and rested it against her hip, "Good." He mumbled as he pulled away.