AN: sorry...I got a little overwhelmed by all the stories I needed to complete..didn't mean to leave you hanging :) not sure that I love this and it's a little short but last chapter let me know what you think :)

I do not own or profit from The Walking Dead

Part 5

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She watched him intently, silently, her gaze never leaving his face. He put the ice pack up on her cheek holding it in place.

"Thank you" she said covering his hand with hers.

Just tell her! He thought as he stared at her lips

"Daryl, I think we need to talk"

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His heart started pounding in his chest, he wanted it to be him, he wanted to be the one to tell her how he felt first, she deserved that, she deserved to be put first, he'd taken so long to realize he loved her and he felt like he needed to make it up to her somehow.

"Daryl" she paused smiling, biting her lip, in a sexy as fuck way. He fully intended to bite that same lip again in a little while. The things that were running through his mind that he wanted to do to her were surprising even himself. He'd always had thoughts about Carol in that way, her body, her smile, her neck (he was going to bite that too) but lately they had been more x rated. He was glad that he was done staying away, cause he was done trying to keep his hands off of her.

"Daryl...I.." She started but stopped when he interrupted her

"I'm a dumbass" he said and a confused grin spread on her face.

"What?" She said

"I..that ain't what I meant to say..I shouldn't have pushed you away...because I love you" he said quietly dropping the ice pack and pulling her into him.

"You do?" She asked seemingly holding her breath her hands shaking.

"Yeah" he said

"I love you too"

His lips landed on hers in a fierce kiss, but he cupped her bruised cheek gently.

"We should go to my room" she said panting when his lips moved down to her neck as she frantically opening the buttons of his shirt.

"Just a second" he said getting up, shrugging his shirt off going to the door and opening it, hanging his shirt on the knob outside then shutting it and locking it.

"We won't be bothered now" he said with a smirk, thinking of Glenn's dumb joke.

He knelt down in front of her shivering slightly as she slid her hands up his chest. He wound his arms around her waist finding the zipper on her dress, easing it down slowly then peeling it over her shoulders.

"Your so beautiful" he said as he opened the clasp on her bra. He pulled her down to the floor, grabbing a blanket and pillow for her to lie on. She kicked away her dress and panties.

This felt real, it felt right, it's what he'd been waiting for he thought as he stared at her stretched out in the firelight.

She crooked her finger at him and he grinned lowering himself on top of her. He put his face in her neck inhaling her scent. The feel of her skin against his own was captivating. She was so soft, he shifted he chest enjoying the feel of her nipples per long against his chest.

His hands touched her everywhere as she opened his jeans and he pulled them off.

She wrapped her legs around his waist when he positioned himself at her entrance.

It felt like coming home, like he'd found the part that had been missing from himself. His eyes staying connected with hers. The only word he could think of as they came together was perfect.

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He awoke with a start at a noise coming from outside the door, the fire was still going in the fireplace and Carol was nestled into him. He chuckled when he realized it was voices.

"Is that Daryl's shirt?"

"What was your first clue drunkie, come on Glenn looks like I'm hauling you to Abe's for the night." Maggie said

Daryl smiled down at Carol as she nuzzled her face in his neck sighing his name in her sleep. He closed his eyes and drifted back to sleep.