A/N: Happy Friday Everyone!

As amazing as it sounds, I actually don't have a whole lot to say for this chapter, except that it's the one you've all been waiting for. I hope I make you all proud! Enjoy the moment and take it in. Twenty-three down…one to go!

Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead.

**Warning: This chapter contains scenes of a sexual nature and is not recommended for anyone under 16…heck maybe 18. Whatever…just please use discretion**

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Ch23.

It had taken a while, but she was finally ready to take the rest of her things back to her old cell. Maggie had helped with a large amount of it, but in the end, it felt like something Carol needed to finish on her own. Luckily, she hadn't gotten attached to the larger space yet.

It broke her heart to think of what could have been if they hadn't gotten into the argument. Daryl had given her everything he could handle, but she had been too greedy. It wasn't fair to ask something like that of him when he wasn't ready for it. Sex wasn't everything. It should have been enough just to know that he wanted her in his life. Now, it would mean that she would have to prove herself all over again. She just hoped she had the strength for this test.

I hope someday we get our chance.

Looking around once more to take it in, Carol turned to pick up the last of her things. She started to head for the door, but stopped dead when she realized that it was being blocked by a body. Daryl stood fixed at the door; sadness and confusion imprinted on his face.

"Goin' somewhere?"

Carol swallowed the lump in her throat. "I'm just getting the rest of my things."

"You're leavin'?"

"I'm going back to my old cell for now." She paused, trying to take in his expression. "I thought that's what you'd want."

He stared at her for a moment before coming into the room fully and shutting the door behind him. Carol's stomach dropped out from underneath her. He couldn't possibly want to continue their conversation now. No amount of yelling was going to make this situation easier. He had to see that they both needed time to heal from this.

"There's somethin' I gotta say first." He hesitated; trying to look her in the eye. "If that's all right with you."

She nodded. "Of course."

Daryl looked about as uncomfortable as she felt, but she had to hear him out. His eyes never seemed to quite reach hers, but she knew he was trying. This had to have been difficult for him. It was just as difficult on her having to witness it.

"You don't deserve what I said to ya. Merle used to get to me sometimes, but I never believed it for a minute." He shuffled his boots back and forth on the stone floor. "Truth i,s I was just mad at myself and I took it out on you. I know I messed up, and there ain't no way I can ever make it up to ya. Just hope someday you won't hate me no more, but I can't blame ya if you do."

Carol took in his apology, soaking up his words like a sponge. It wasn't eloquent, but she knew that it had come from his heart. It was better than any apology she'd ever received from Ed.

"I don't hate you Daryl." She said, her voice betraying her emotions. "I hate what this has made us do, but you weren't the only one to blame. I shouldn't have pushed you into something you weren't ready for, and I'm sorry."

Daryl looked up at her with utter shock on his face. He obviously hadn't been expecting to get an apology in return. There was a hint of embarrassment in his features, but he continued to look at her anyway. Something in him was changing. She could see it.

"You gotta know," He walked forward slightly. "I want it…that kinda life with you. I'm just scared you might be disappointed in what I can give ya."

"Daryl..." She was on the brink of tears. "I could never be disappointed in you. What we have may not be conventional, but it's all I've ever hoped for. You still can't see how much you mean to me can you?"

Daryl froze in his spot, his brain trying to process everything. Carol suddenly realized just how much he reminded her of Carl. There was an innocence to him that most people lost by the time their childhood was over, but Daryl still had it. He needed guidance and support, not anger and tears. She stepped forward slowly, closing most of the gap between them. For a moment, he looked like he wanted to run, but he stayed where he was. She raised her hand up and gently brought it up to his face, melting as he leaned into her and closed his eyes.

"I don't want you to go." He whispered.

Carol sighed. "I still think some time apart is the best thing for us right now. It will give us time to really think things through."

He opened his eyes. "Is that what you want?"

"Not really…" She said honestly. "But I don't want you to feel pressured right now. I know what you've been trying to tell me, and I understand that you're not ready yet. At least this way, it won't be so hard on you having me around all the time."

"That's just it." He removed her hand from his face and held it in his. "I am ready. Been tryin' to convince myself I wasn't, but I know I can handle it now. Just need you to be patient with me."

Carol couldn't help but laugh. "I will be so patient you won't know what hit you."

"Promise?"

"Promise." She looked into his deep blue eyes. "You don't have to say it back, but I want you to know…Daryl, I love you."

He held her gaze as he stepped even closer, closing the small gap left between them. She didn't even need to hear the words because it was written all over his face. Her stomach did somersaults and she suddenly felt lightheaded. His mouth descended to within inches of hers; so close and yet just out of reach. She focused her gaze on his lips, waiting desperately to him to make his move. Instead, she saw him forming words. They were the same words that she had heard weeks before…the words that had changed everything.

"I know."

Before she could truly process everything, Daryl swiftly closed the gap between them, taking her breath away. Carol felt her knees start to buckle underneath her and thanked god when his strong arms wrapped around her waist to help keep her upright. There was nothing gentle about this kiss. It was as if he'd been starving in a desert for months, and she was his oasis. Their tongues clashed in a mind-melting way as he continued to savage her lips to the point of bruising them. Her hands dove into his long locks, trying desperately to pull him even closer. In the midst of everything else, Carol had somehow got turned around. She gasped loudly as her back suddenly pressed up against the cold wall.

"You all right?" His lips pulled away in an instant; his face searching hers for signs of pain. "Did I hurt ya?"

"No." She tried not to look too dazed as she reassured him. "It just surprised me. I'm fine, I swear."

His eyebrows creased. "You ain't tryin' to pull the wool over my eyes again are ya?"

She chuckled. "Trust me…I haven't felt this good in years."

It took a moment to really convince him she was being sincere, but eventually she got her way. When he finally resumed his attack, it was much more controlled but still managed to turn her insides to mush. He nibbled his way across her bottom lip before pulling back slightly, guiding her over to the bed. As much as Carol wanted to believe that it was truly happening, she hadn't let her guard down yet. She needed to prove to Daryl that she was serious about this. If he wasn't ready, she would have to pull herself back together quickly.

Daryl's boot hit the edge of the mattress and they almost both went down at the same time, but he managed to maneuver himself so that she didn't fall. He kneeled, pulling her almost into his lap before turning her over so that she was underneath him. He was being very careful to balance his weight so that he didn't hurt her as his lips descended to her neck, licking and nibbling at the sensitive skin. His teeth caught hold of her earlobe and she thought she might explode from the sensation.

"Daryl…are you really sure about this?"

He didn't answer; his lips travelling back down her neck to her collar bone and up again. It was absolute torture, but the best possible kind. Unfortunately, if they were going to continue, she really needed to know.

"Daryl, wait." She pulled away as his lips came back up to hers. "I mean it. Are you sure?"

"I'm tryin' to prove my point here, ain't I?" He said sarcastically. "Why? You wanna stop?"

"No, but I don't want you to feel like you have to go through with this if you're not ready."

He hovered over her for a moment, his face a mask of indecision. She thought maybe she had confused him again, but then suddenly it changed. He looked as determined as ever.

"I wanna show you how I feel."

It was simple and direct, but it was also the sexiest thing that Carol had ever heard. She nodded, trying to convey her approval of his words, but he didn't move. It occurred to her that maybe he what he needed was physical permission. She leaned up and took his hand away from her head, placing it on the hem of her shirt and pulling it up towards her breasts. He followed her lead, dragging the fabric up inch by inch until Carol lifted her arms up so that he could pull it off completely. For a moment she felt self-conscious, realizing that her undergarments probably weren't the most alluring and that she had gotten sweaty while moving her things out of the room, but the look on Daryl's face took away all her doubts. He was staring at her like she was the best present he'd ever received.

She closed her eyes as his hands began to wander over her stomach and chest. His feather light touch was enough to make her think she might melt into a pile of goo right then and there. Suddenly his hands paused, hovering right over where her surgery scar was. He looked like he was afraid to touch it.

"It's okay." She tried to sooth his worries. "I won't break, I promise."

He shook his head. "It's not that."

"What is it?" She looked him straight in the eye. "Tell me."

There was fear in his eyes again, and she felt her breath leave her when he pulled back and sat up on his knees. "You know how I was brought up. My daddy liked to use actions instead of words to keep me in line. I never wanted nobody to see 'em, but I gotta stop thinking like that."

Carol sat up slightly, not sure what he was trying to say. Before she could ask, he began unbuttoning his shirt; his fingers trembling at the thought of revealing his wounds. He peeled it off slowly, and as he turned to lay it aside, she saw them. The scars from another lifetime. The ones he'd been so careful to hide from her and everyone else.

"Oh Daryl…" She sat up, her hands stroking over his spine as gently as she could. She could see whip lines and small round puckered marks that looked like cigarette burns. She was trying desperately to stay strong for him in that moment, but the sight of it brought fresh tears to her eyes. On his right shoulder blade, she saw the remnants of the demons that had haunted his past for so long. He had suffered, but he had also overcome it.

"I have them too." She admitted as he turned back to face her. "You can't see most of them, but they're there. Ed always made sure that he hurt me in ways that wouldn't be seen easily, but the scars never completely go away."

"I'm sorry for what you had to go through." He said softly, his focus coming back to her face. "I woulda killed him with my bare hands if I ever saw him lay a hand on ya."

Carol nodded, wiping away the tears that were threatening to fall. "I know. You've always protected me no matter what. You are the reason I went on living after Sophia died. In this world, you are the one thing that makes sense to me, and whether we go on living or we die tomorrow, it's you and me forever. You're a part of me now and I can't let you go."

Her sentiment had probably been more than he had been expecting, but it wasn't lost in the details. He grasped her face in his hands and kissed her like he'd never expected to kiss her again. It was the most tender moment they had ever shared and it nearly sent her back over the edge. He laid her back down against the mattress, this time crushing himself against her in every way possible. There was no doubt in her mind that he was ready now.

His lips descended to her chest as he undid the clasps of her bra. Carol could feel her heart pounding wildly in her ribs as he removed the garment and nestled himself against her cleavage. His mouth latched onto her breast voraciously, she thought she might expire right then and there. In the fifteen years that she had been married, Ed had never made her feel anything like this. He hadn't even come close.

"Oh god…"

Her back arched off the ground trying to get closer to him. Daryl's pelvis came into sharp contact with hers and she ground against him with a force she didn't know she possessed. He growled in the back of his throat, his breaths coming in short gasps as he tried to regain his senses. This may have been his first time, but he sure wasn't acting like it was.

Carol tried desperately to kick off her boots and finally succeeded. She nearly died when Daryl reached down to undo the buttons on her jeans; lifting her hips up so that he could slide them off easier. She sat up, hoping to be able to do the same for him, but he stopped her.

"Wait." He grabbed her hands as he tried to keep his composure. "I wanna do something for you first. At least…I wanna try."

She knew what he was insinuating, but he looked so determined that she couldn't tell him no. He leaned her back against the pillow and her eyes squeezed shut as he reached down to remove the final article of clothing. His fingers gently caressed her thigh, travelling down until they reached their destination. He very quickly found what he was looking for, and Carol's head rolled back and she gasped loudly as a tidal wave of pleasure coursed through her body. It had been much too long since she'd felt this way. He continued his attack on her sensitive flesh and she felt herself coming unraveled. Her body was responding to him in a way she hadn't thought possible. Her moans seemed to be guiding his direction, and after what seemed like only a few seconds, she hit the brink of ecstasy. Her scream filled the room as she spiraled out of control and she came crashing back down to earth.

"Oh my god…" Carol could barely find breath enough to speak. "I can't believe you ever doubted yourself."

She looked up at him, expecting to see the smug grin that she had always loved, but instead she saw desperation. He was close and she knew it. Snapping herself out of the moment, she reached up to undo his jeans. Once again, he stopped her.

"Daryl, please let me help you."

"I don't…" His face was contorted. "I wanna be with you. Not like that."

"I know." She brought her free hand to his face. "I want that too, but that starts with taking these off. Let me help you."

He released his death grip on her other hand and she slowly pulled down the zipper. She heard him groan loudly as he was finally released and she took in the sight of him. He definitely wasn't far away now. She helped him position himself over her so that they were ready, but he froze up solid as his eyes got wide as saucers.

"Fuck…I don't have protection."

"It's okay." She soothed his fear. "I can't get pregnant anymore."

She rubbed circles on his arm in an attempt to get him to relax, and eventually it worked. He looked more terrified than he ever had, but she did her best to comfort him with her words and gestures. As he finally moved forward, sliding into her as gently as he could, all coherent thoughts left her mind. They both moaned in unison at the contact. It was bliss.

His movements were slow at first, but eventually his body took over and told him what to do. Carol knew that he wouldn't last very long on their first time, but he had already given her more than her share of indulgence. This was about him.

His thrusts came more quickly and she wrapped her legs around him to give him more leverage. Within a moment or two, she could feel him reaching his peak. He yelled out and collapsed on top of her; his face buried in her neck as he tried to pull himself back together. Carol wrapped her arms around him securely, hoping she could give him the support he needed.

"Are you okay?"

He tried to steady his breathing. "Holy fuck…I didn't know anything could be like that."

"That's how you make me feel." She kissed his shoulder. "It was like it was my first time too."

After a moment she let go and he rolled over onto the bed next to her. They were both sweating and out of breath, but nothing had ever been so perfect. He covered them with a blanket and pulled her up against him so that she could lay her head on his chest. As exhausted as she was, she couldn't make herself go to sleep. She never wanted to sleep again if she could have something this amazing in her real life.

"So…how do you feel?"

He chuckled and the sound vibrated through her ears. "Good…but mostly surprised."

"Why surprised?"

"Didn't think I had it in me."

Carol laughed loudly. "Oh ye of little faith. I knew you had it in you."

"Well I'm glad someone did." He kissed the top of her head. "I ain't gonna lie. I got a few pointers."

Carol's eyes got big. "On what exactly?"

"Just some techniques." He grinned. "Can't give away all my secrets."

"Who exactly gave you these pointers?"

He scoffed. "Can't tell ya that. I swore on my honor as a badass."

She smiled. "Well whoever it was, give them my thanks. They're a better teacher than I could ever be."

Daryl stayed quiet for a moment, and she looked up at him. His face was scrunched up like he was contemplating something else.

"Now what are you thinking?"

"You still plannin' to move back to your old room?"

"No, why?"

"Guess I gotta drag all your stuff back in here then don't I?"

Carol gasped. "Oh god, I forgot about that! I'm so sorry Daryl."

"How'd you manage to get it all outta here in the first place?"

"Maggie helped me get most of it." She admitted. "It's my fault so I'll move it all back."

"Don't worry 'bout it. We'll get it back over here eventually." He rolled over so that she was lying against the pillow again and he was hovering over her. He had a devilish look in his eyes. "Right now, you ain't goin' nowhere."

A/N: WHEW! *fanning self* I think it's safe to say that this is my favorite chapter so far. I hope you all feel the same, and if you do, let me know! I want to hear from as many of you as I can before it's all over. I promise the last chapter will be up soon, but don't let me down on this one!

For right now, I am off to read the newest chapter from Allidon's story, "Broken Chains". I actually went through withdraw symptoms while she was in the process of moving, so I am one happy camper that it's finally been up dated. If you haven't checked it out yet, please do!

Once again, thank you to everyone who has stuck by me for this long. I love you guys:*)

**BIG HUGS AND KISSES**