AN: hey Part 2- this starts with Carol still at the party right before she dances with Rick. Let me know what you think :)

I do not own or profit from The Walking Dead

Part 2

"You know Carol...we should get out of here ...,,together"

Carol gritted her teeth as Alan put his hand on her back and slid it down her back. She moved and turned stepping out of his grasp, wondering how much of a scene it would cause, kicked him in the balls.

She was trying very hard to make a good impression on the safe zone. They'd seemed okay with her story during the interview but she knew without a doubt one outburst on her part and she would probably be labelled as a troublemaker. Not that she hadn't thought about it.

Alan was making her insane, every time she turned around he was there. Smiling at her, staring at her boobs and her ass. It was flattering at first, then tiring, now down right annoying. His efforts increased the past few days to trying to get her alone. She'd been blunt...she was not interested but Alan didn't stop. He didn't seem to understand the meaning of words that came out of her mouth.

She knew she was going to be extremely forceful in setting him straight. He was starting to violate her personal space which she would not tolerate. Her knife all but burned her skin where it was strapped to her thigh. She would love to press her knife to his throat and scare the living day lights out if Alan. But this wasn't the time or place.

"Did I tell you how great your ass looks in that dress?" Alan slurred out coming closer to her.

On second thought maybe this was the perfect place to teach him a lesson she thought as her fingers slipped down intent on grabbing her knife.

"Hold on there tiger"

She felt Rick's hand on her wrist, he'd obviously known her intent. Dammit, Rick always spoiled everything she thought with a chuckle.

"Come on, let's dance" Rick said with a smirk grabbing her hand and leading her onto the dance floor with a smirk.

"Thought I was gonna have to break up a brawl there." Rick said

"Brawl? It was just me and Alan.. ?" She said

Rick snorted "Daryl was watching your every move and you know it...if that assehole's hand had moved one inch lower his head may have actually exploded. There would have been bolts raining everywhere"

Carol laughed "So if Daryl's head explodes it rains bolts?" She said

"What...it sounds about right, doesn't it? He's watching us right now and your creepy little friend is too." Rick said grimly "I'll talk to the council about him, see if someone can talk to Alan and tell him to lay off. If not I'll talk to him myself...I know you can take of yourself, but sometimes douchebags just need to the shit scared out of them."

"And you don't think I could scare him?" She asked her brow arched.

"Oh I know you could scare him...hell I wouldn't mess with you, but I think it's better if it's not someone emotionally involved..like you or Daryl..that's when things get out of hand." Rick said

Carol looked across the room to where Daryl was sitting with Glenn. His eyes met hers briefly before he turned to Glenn. "I think your wrong about Daryl being emotionally involved" Carol said brooding

"Pfffttt, that's bullshit and you know it" Rick said "you said yourself to me you knew why he was pulling away from you...to protect himself from getting hurt. He loves you Carol, we all see it...I think he knows it too and it scared the shit out of him." He finished

Rick was right, she'd known for awhile that things between her and Daryl were changing. There friendship evolving yet again, she knew it but she hadn't thought he'd realized it.

The day that she'd helped rescue them from Terminus she'd began to wonder if he'd been a little more self aware of his feeling then she thought. That hug in the woods had only confirmed her own feelings for him. When he'd run to her, an actual smile on his face and grabbed her into his arms, he'd all but knocked her to the ground. He'd held her so tightly, and for what felt like so long, and it had felt warm and comforting and safe. It felt like home. He'd stood back a second and the look on his face, the fact that he had been in so much pain thinking she was gone and was now so happy, floored her. He'd placed his forehead again to her chest, she could hear him sniffling back tears. Her strong man she thought. She'd seen that iron control he had on his emotions slip a time or too, but never like this.

When he'd stepped back she'd seen it in his eyes. He loved her, she loved him too. She slid her hands down along the side of his neck needing to touch him in that moment, she wanted to draw him in, and kiss him. But she could see Rick approaching in the background.

She'd been messed up, her guilt eating her alive the next few days. She didn't deserve his love, she was more certain than ever that he felt the same way. He'd stuck to her like glue, and it had been sweet, he'd been shy and awkward, and had tried to show her she'd earned her place.

They'd gone after Beth, and that's when she had finally started to believe it. She deserved his love, she wanted it. She wanted to be happy.

They'd gotten seperated, she been taken by the same people who had Beth before they'd had a chance to talk to him.

When it had been over and the dust had settled, he'd grabbed her in yet another embrace. She felt his tears flow freely this time, when he looked at her she knew this time he knew...he loved her and finally knew it, and then he walked away.

Men were such idiots Carol thought as the song came to an end and Rick started to pull her back towards their table.

"No" she said "I'm gonna go home and avoid my headache"

Rick grinned and motioned toward Daryl "Don't you mean headaches?" He asked "Don't give up on him, he's coming around"

"Thanks"

"No problem...you want me to walk you home? Hell we could really throw Daryl for a loop and get some tongues wagging." He said with a mischievous grin.

"Ummmm...no" she said with a laugh "Don't worry about me I can take care of myself."

XxxxXxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Carol knew Alan was following her, god he was stumbling drunk and the smell alone carrying on the wind was enough to gag her. Apparently Alan had been barfing his guts up too...nice.

She sighed hoping the idiot wouldn't force her to hurt him. Without Alan seeing she slipped her hand down and pulled her knife from where it was strapped to her thigh.

She heard him then call out her name as his hand grabbed her shoulder and pushed her towards the wall.

Show time.

An: I intend to update my heart is broken next...sorry I know I have ignored it.