AN: hey you guys, I really struggled with this chapter, I'm not sure if I like it or not. I have a couple more things planned that I wanted to do with this story , I 'm not sure how many more chapters I have left. An idea popped into my head that could be a possible sequel to this, I'm rolling it around in my head. It would have a little time jump maybe two months or so. So we will see where it goes. I never anticipated that I would get a little addicted to this :) Happy Easter!

I do not own or profit from The Walking Dead

Chapter 12

Nature's great masterpiece, an elephant; the only harmless great thing.~John Donne

Daryl had awoken the next morning, in his new favorite place. On top of Carol. Weight shifted to the side so he didn't crush her, his face in her neck, he groaned when realized his hands had burrowed in behind her to her ass in his sleep each palm now firmly planted on a cheek. Lifting her up off the bed experimentally he grinded into her just a little bit. He knew she was starting to wake when her legs started to raise, wrapping around his waist. She opened her eyes and gave him a grin, then her hand raised up and rubbed her eyes sleepily. God she was so fucking adorable sometimes.

She soon realized how late it was and sighed saying

"I guess I should be making breakfast"

"Nah, let someone else do it, you do enough. I ain't gonna let you keep working yourself to death. They need to learn to appreciate you, they can't do that if you're doing everything for them...B'sides I appreciate you and I got something I want you to do for me right now" he said lifting her hips and grinding into her again with a grin.

She laughed but then became very serious

"It's gonna take awhile for me to get used to this, someone wanting to take care of me. ...I've never had that before"

His heart ached at the far away haunted look on her face as he spoke.

"Angel, you ain't seen nothing yet".

Some time much later they made it downstairs, after their impromptu start to the day. Daryl watched as Carol went about the kitchen smiling at the original members of their group and found himself wanting to take her back upstairs for a repeat performance. Sex had always been an itch that had to be scratched for him. He'd never wanted anything more than that. But with Carol, he couldn't seem to get close enough to her, touch her enough, after her heartfelt admission this morning he found himself whispering in her ear an unending stream of endearments while he was inside her.

He was snapped out of his lust filled haze by a slightly girlish giggle coming from Glenn.

"You know Carl," Glen began "if we stay in this house, we'll have to do some investigating, I think it might be haunted, awful lot of moaning coming from the attic last night."

Carl choked on his drink snorting it through his nose as Carol past by, she nonchalantly patted Carl on the back and then plopped down next to Daryl.

Carol leaned over to a gleefully grinning Glenn and lightly patted his cheek "oh sweetie, if you thought those were noises from ghosts we have gotta have a little talk...I'm sure Maggie will thank me"

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The mood in the kitchen had turned somber quickly. Miller the kid who had shot the sniper in the woods the day before had come in from the yard and informed the group that he had just finished digging a grave for Perez, he'd also made a marker for Bob even though they did not have a body. "Thought ya'll might want a chance to say goodbye" he said shyly. Carol had gotten up and hugged him, whispering something to him and ruffling his hair like she might do for a kid.

The rest of the Lieutenant's group had started to filter down to the kitchen. More formal introductions were made by Carol and many thanks were passed their way. Daryl noticed they all seemed to stop and hug Carol then inquire about Beth . Carol quickly explained the lieutenant's group's history with Beth to him.

The lieutenant had been the last down. Daryl felt bad for the guy, he seemed weary, worn down, not the same wisecracking jackass he'd met in the train car, but he soon started to lose some of that sympathy he was feeling when he noticed how The Lieutenant's eyes seemed to follow Carol, and how he would smile at her when he called her Blue Eyes. Carol seemed oblivious to The lieutenant's attraction, which didn't surprise Daryl. She was blind to her own appeal which seemed to add to it somehow.

They had decided to meet in two hours to have a memorial for Perez and Bob. Carol had whispered to Daryl she was gonna go check on Beth and he decided to go with her.

They found Beth rocking a sleeping Jude while humming softly. She'd been subdued but happy to see Daryl and had scoffed when he'd tried to apologize to her for losing her.

"Daryl, you lead a herd of more than 20 walkers away from me, i'm the dummy who tripped over my own two feet. You have nothing to be sorry for." She sniffed suddenly serious " I still don't know why Perez did it, I mean who am I to deserve that? I ..."

"Sweetie, don't talk like that, Perez, he saw what we all do, a kind soul. You didn't know him long but he thought of you as family, all the lieutenant's group do." Carol responded.

"They must hate me know" Beth had responded softly .

"Now that, I know is not true, they are all downstairs, worrying about you. You need to go talk to them"

Carol settled a sleeping Jude in her crib and sent Beth to do just that. Carl had returned to the room he was sharing with Judith and Carol had grabbed Daryl's hand leading him back up to the attic.

"I just need a minute" she said wrapping her arms around his waist burrowing her face in his chest.

"Why take just one minute when you can have two?" He said returning her hug.

Her answering snort was muffled by his shirt and she brought her hand up and placed it over his heart.

"So much has happened the past two weeks, I felt like I was never gonna be happy again. I feel guilty, being happy, I don't want to tempt faith. I can't lose you ever again.."she said

"Don't ever feel guilty for being happy. I think this right here ? Us? this is our reward from fate, a big I'm fucking sorry for all the shit I threw you're way, so here's your fucking soulmate."

"Soulmate huh?"

"Yeah, just like a damn romance novel."