AN: hey! So, I was planning something else entirely for this chapter but this one happened instead. A little short I know, but I have something big on the horizon which I am setting up:) this is mildly smutty fluffy angst. let me know what you think please!

I do not own or profit from The Walking Dead

Chapter 17

Women are like elephants, I like to look at 'em but wouldn't want to own one~ W.C. Fields

They made it up to the attic in record time. Carol latched the door and was spun around by Daryl quickly pouncing on her. Groaning he pushed her back into the door and then slid his hands along the edge of skin below the hem of her shirt and up along the sides of her abdomen to the small of her back as he attacked her mouth. Carol had been surprised to learn that Daryl was great kisser. For some unknown reason she hadn't thought he would be. What he lacked in technique he made up for with pure enthusiasm. She'd never felt as desirable as she had the last two days in her life. She was far from perfect, or young , or what had passed for beauty before The Turn, but he made her feel like she was.

She brought her hands up to start unbuttoning her shirt again and he shooed her hands away, grabbing the hem and pulling it up and over her head. He unclasped her bra and threw it over his shoulder. He brought his hands up to her breasts rolling the nipples between his fingers. She leaned back against the door, gasping as his mouth blazed a trail down her neck. When she felt his hands move to the clasp of her jeans she muttered

"No fair, you're overdressed."

He grunted as he picked her up bridal style, carrying her to their mattress on the floor ,setting her down and then gently peeling her jeans and underwear off her so she was naked. Daryl was on his knees beside her and he sat back on his haunches as his fingertips stroked a trail on the outside of her leg,flaring over her hip to her waist. His eyes intense, as he whispered

"You're so beautiful"

She bit her lip, speechless and spellbound by his eyes, and his voice and the faint trail of his fingertips that continued to lightly roam over her body.

He groaned and leaned forward lightly kissing her lips, then his lips brushed down taking her bottom lip in between his own, bitting down softly and sucking intermittently.

He leaned back and shedding his clothing quickly, joined her on their bed.

He positioned himself on top of her weight on his forearms, hands beside her face , as his fingers softly brushed her cheeks. Then wrapping his arms around, pulling her as close as he possible could and even still he wanted more, as he molded his body to hers.

They came together quickly but he changed his pace soon after. Slowing it down. Taking his time as though he wanted it to last forever.

Much later Carol lay quietly wrapped in Daryl's arm with her head on his chest. His hand were repeatedly rubbing a pattern over her back and upper arm as he held her tightly. That had come as a surprise too. Daryl was a cuddler. She grinned involuntarily.

"What are ya smiling at? " he asked softly, openly curious.

"Nothing, just...happy... I never thought I would be happy again, after all those years with Ed and then The Turn and then Sophia". she paused,"you just get used to it, being unhappy. Sophia was the only good thing I had and then she was gone...and I never thought I would be happy again".

He was thoughtful for a moment then he asked

"Why did you stay with him? With Ed?"

"I don't know. At first I think it was shock, I guess thinking this can't be him, that's not who I married. Then fear, that I couldn't make it on my own, what he would do if I left, and then you turn around and you're trapped. No job, no friends, no family to help you, nowhere to go...I don't know, .. that makes me sound like a coward..., "

"No it don't...not at all" he said quietly kissing the top of her head. "It all sounds familiar" he said gruffly.

She looked and smiled sadly "you had no choice, you were young, and vulnerable, I was an adult with a child to protect..."

"I knew at the Quarry when I saw Sophia that it wasn't her he was hitting on, I remembered what that looked like. Seems to me if he wasn't it was because you were stopping it. Taking it on you, you did the best you could for her with what you had inside you at the time. You're different now"He said and continued "you've changed, more than anyone I think since this thing has started, you're stronger, braver, but what's in here hasn't changed" he said pointing to her heart.

"I want to believe that I've changed for the better, like you, look at how far you've come" she said

"You dealt with all the shit handed to you and came out stronger...when the prison fell, and I thought everyone was gone, I fucking lost it, fell apart, you're stronger than I am that's for damn sure."

I don't know about that" she said "I think you are the only one is this group who could survive on their own".

"I couldn't without you...no one can make it on their own anymore"