I am taking a break from the battles a moment to concentrate why I love The Walking Dead; it's not the zombies for me because I believe that TWD is essentially a love story. Rick's story was based on his love for Lori and Carl. Morgan was stuck between loving his wife and the knowledge that he should put her down. The bonds of love are strong between the characters on the show and I have tried to keep my story true to that. Evil exists in both the television show and this story, but the main focus is love here. The zombies and the big bads are always going to be there to add excitement and chaos to the story, but never the inspiration.

I own nothing, not the characters or anything from the show. I hope you enjoy this short chapter devoted only to love.

Love Story

Daryl opened Carol's door to the truck and she got in. They were going to visit Dave and Sam in the hospital and check on everyone at Ashton's. Daryl got in and looked at Carol, "I took this truck because it had a bench seat, slide over here and sit close to me." Carol laughed and slid over. He took his right hand off the wheel and pulled her close to him for a kiss. "We have some stuff to talk about. Something happened with me up on the mountain and I want to talk to you about it." Daryl went on to tell her about his dream/hallucination.

Carol listened without interrupting Daryl. She smiled a little when Daryl shared what Merle had told him, and sighed when Daryl talked about his mother. She could feel the malevolent presence of the darkness just from Daryl's description. She shared Daryl's murderous rage at his father and understood why he picked up the knife. Daryl had chill bumps when he got to the part of story in which his father morphed into his son. She put her arm around him and could feel the waves of emotion when his rage against the father turned to joy at the sight of the boy. Daryl went on, "it was a test, if I had let my rage control me, I would have hurt the boy. If I would hurt a child I shouldn't have a child. He was maybe seven or eight years old and he looks like me, built like me, but he has your eyes and your smile. I knew who he was when he smiled. Our boy." Daryl glowed with happiness; she prayed that this would come to pass. They couldn't take losing another child. She warned Daryl, "Anything could happen, let's not share this for a while. So he looked like you, lucky boy then." Daryl rolled his eyes, "He is a cute little sucker, especially when he smiles. He is my son so I get to name him". Carol would take a bullet for Daryl at any time but she wasn't naming her only son Merle". She sighed with relief when Daryl said the name out loud for the Universe to hear for the first time, "Michael McAllister-Dixon". Her father's name linked to Daryl's. She smiled through her tears, "Good choice, if it is to be that is our son's name, Michael McAllister-Dixon".

Dave was sitting up in bed whining to Sam about going home when they got there. They were glad to hear that Michonne and Tyreese were back on the mountain. Daryl told them they had found that the raiders were some sort of modern day Nazis and had a fortified camp. He described the slave barracks, the idyllic community, and the walkers all around the place. The doctor came by to check on Dave and Sam and Daryl stepped out. Carol stayed with Dave; she was less squeamish about blood and wounds than the tough guys.

Sam and Daryl moved to the waiting area and sat down. Daryl asked if there was anything he could do and Sam needed the cow to be taken care of if Dave didn't get released. Sam thanked Daryl for being such a good friend to them both. Daryl said that they had been awfully good to him; he owed them more than he could ever repay. Sam spoke again, "Daryl, I appreciate that you accept us as a gay couple without making a big deal about it. I have heard enough Merle stories to know that he didn't raise you to be so tolerant." Daryl had to laugh at what Merle would think of this conversation. Daryl became more serious because he was speaking from his heart now, "I don't really understand all about why some people are gay and some are straight. You and Dave came by that first night we got to the house and brought us some eggs. You all were standing there and you looked at Dave when he said something kind and welcoming to us. I knew that look; it is how I look at Carol. I knew that you loved him, like I love Carol. I would love her if she was a man or a woman. I was created to love her and you were created to love Dave". Carol stepped out of Dave's room and motioned them back. The doctor was releasing Dave this afternoon. Carol and Daryl said their goodbyes and started back to the mountain.

Daryl parked the truck outside of Ashton's fence. Carl and Arya were practicing with a bow and arrow in the driveway. Daryl stopped to give some instruction and Carol watched Joaquin and Emily talking to each other on the patio. Daryl laughed, "Get the smug look off your face, girl, you just got lucky with that one. " "Called it", she said triumphantly, "Let's just say hello."

Joaquin had stayed at the house on the night before the attack and had not been able to sleep. He had wandered into the center courtyard and found a sleepless Emily as restless as he was. They had talked and found that they had a lot in common; in fact, they were still awake and talking when the warning came over the radio. They share a bunker than morning, both of them shooting to kill a common enemy. Joaquin had been disappointed when Andrea had told him that she wanted to be with Rick but not crushed. Joaquin never wanted to leave this place; it felt like home and he wanted to stay here with Emily and Arya. He had tried a year ago to start something with Emily but she hadn't seemed interested. She did now.

Carol and Daryl just gave a quick greeting and went in search of Kevin and Connie. Connie was helping Jo make sandwiches for lunch and looking very comfortable with her. Kevin, Ashton, and Jonathan were back at Frank's house working on the new fence. Daryl went to help and Carol visited with Jo and Connie and got caught up on all the gossip. Jo was excited about the way Joaquin and Emily were acting; she was ready to host the reception tomorrow the way she talked.

Emily came in to the kitchen; Joaquin had walked down to Frank's with Daryl. Carol thought that love must be contagious around here; at this rate they would need an elementary school to accommodate all the babies that are going to pop out. Carol said that she was glad that Joaquin had not been wounded seriously.

Connie said that she would like to walk over to the other house and bring the men some sandwiches, Carol and Emily decided to accompany her. Carol picked up her sword and pistol in the truck as they left. Emily had a holstered pistol. There might be walkers around.

The men were glad to take a break to eat lunch. They were using a post hole digger to dig the holes for the fence post. They would use cement to make sure the fence was strong. They were only enclosing the house and yard, but it was going to take some time.

Daryl had thanked Kevin for all his help with the battle and getting the tracking equipment to work right. The men wanted all the details about the Nazi compound; it sounded like it would be difficult to even get close to it.

The mood had lightened when the women showed up with lunch. Ashton told Carol that Frank had come over a week ago and had him write up a will leaving the farm to Kevin and Connie. He wanted them to have it and take care of everything in case something happened to him. Connie liked the place and Kevin liked wherever Connie was so it was going to work out.

Later, Carol and Daryl drove home; she was going to make some lasagna for dinner. Carol asked Daryl if he would mind taking some over for Sam and Dave this evening. Daryl was pretty sure that he had that look again, the one he recognized in Dave, the one that said, "I love this person."