Here's the next chapter. It's like the last chapter, except its in Carol's POV. I hope that's all right with you, plus I think you all will like the end. Well, I hope you all do, anyway! ;)

Chapter Seven

It was silent in the car as they drove the surprisingly short distance to Daryl's home. However, it wasn't the kind of silence that made Carol uncomfortable or...afraid. Like the kind of silence that would befall Ed right before he'd hit her. No, this was comfortable. She didn't feel the need to fill in the empty spaces with useless chatter and it seemed Daryl felt the same. But when a perplexed looked crossed his face, she had to know what the man was thinking. Normally, she would have never thought to be so bold and nosy, but Daryl was bringing out another side of her. A side she had thought was long gone. A side that she had liked. A side that Ed had beaten out of her.

When he had blurted out that it was her that he had been thinking so hardly about his face had flushed a deep red and she had to hold back a giggle. Daryl was awkwardly adorable and that was something she had never encountered in a man before and she liked it. After she had assured him, that she had been thinking about him, as well, she asked to know about his family. Did he have any other brothers that acted the same as him?

Daryl hesitated and Carol wondered if it was a sore subject for him. Her family stories were sad to recall, as well. When he started to talk about his parents and his brother, Carol knew why he had hesitated. Despite it all, though, especially the part about his being brother being in jail, she could tell that Daryl was a good man, or at least trying really hard to be one. She remembered back when they had first seen one another and how he had looked at her shyly before averting his gaze. Back then, he hadn't known her and had no reason to pretend he was a good man. The clerk on the other hand, had made it no secret at what a sleaze he was.

"I'm sorry, Daryl," she said when he was finished talking and reached over to grasp his hand. Another bold move on her part, but she didn't care.

"It's okay. Really. And now, I have you, too." His words and hand squeeze back, had Carol's heart thumping loudly in her chest because she could really see that being around her was making him happy. She saw it in the way he shyly looked at up at her.

After she told him about her family, they continued to chat a little more, but when they pulled into Daryl's driveway, he grew quiet. The atmosphere of his house reminded Carol of her own home and made her think about how alike they could be. Was Daryl hiding something, too?

"So, this is it?" She said and put the car in park before turning it off completely and turning to Daryl, who wasn't looking in her direction, but was looking down at his lap.

"Yeah. It ain't much, but it's all I need."

"It looks cozy," she said, honestly.

"Stop lyin'," he snorted.

"No, I'm serious!" Leaning on the steering wheel, she looked at the house more thoroughly. "It looks lived in and there's nothing wrong with that." Sure, it looked a little worn down, but that was what happened to homes that were lived in. At least it wasn't falling apart. Carol could very well see herself living in this house, with it being hidden from the outside world. The thought startled her. When they got married, she could very well live in that house. And, she was oddly okay with it.

Daryl opened the door to her car and mumbled as he stepped out, "Just wait until you see the inside. You'll probably change your mind." Carol seriously doubted it.

She followed him inside the house. It was clear that Daryl was even more nervous, now, and his eyes were on her as she stepped into the living room. It was exactly what she expected of him. A couch, table and TV were the only things that furnished the room. She hadn't expected anything fancy and that was okay.

Daryl walked to her side, hands shoved in his pockets. "I know it ain't much." He waited patiently for a reaction.

"You live by yourself. This is all you need." She turned to face him and gave him a reassuring smile. "My house is the same. Why have more than you need?"

"R-Right." The way his face brightened at her words did weird things to her heart. He looked at her as if she were the sun, or as if she were an angel.

They stood in silence for a bit. Daryl shifted nervously at her side. One hand had snuck out of his pocket and now, gnawed on the skin of his thumb. Carol had figured out that was one of his nervous ticks, very quickly.

"Well, uh, do you want to have a seat? I'll be back."

"Okay." Carol took a seat on his couch and watched with a small smile as Daryl hurried off to his room. She had no idea what he was after, but while he was gone, she would allow herself to get lost in her thoughts. Had it really only been yesterday when she had found Daryl at the bottom of a ravine? And since then, she had become engaged to the man, which still shocked her. Her first marriage had been horrible, but she knew this one would be better. She wasn't in love with Daryl, not yet, but she knew he would take care for her. Somehow, in that short period of time, he had fallen in love her, just when she had started to think no man ever would and she'd end up alone.

Several minutes had passed since Daryl had left Carol in the living room and she wondered what was taking him so long. Usually she would have sat and waited patiently for a person to return, but for some reason she needed to know what he was up, too. So, she got up from the couch and walked in the direction he had gone in. When she arrived at his doorway, she saw that he was clutching something in his hands.

"Daryl?" She said.

"Yeah?" He startled at her sudden appearance.

"Is something wrong? You were in here for a while. I just wanted to come check on you and make sure you're all right." She looked to his side, knowing that she had only stitched him up yesterday and he had done a lot of moving around since, then. "Is your side bothering you?"

"No." She breathed a sigh of relief, but then looked at his hands. There was something in them.

"What's that in your hands?"

"Curious one, ain't we?"

Carol couldn't help but flush. Of course, it was none of her business what he held, after all. "Sorry."

"Hey." A hand gently tilted her chin up so that she could look him in the eyes. "I was just kiddin'." He held out the box to her. "It's for you."

"For me?"

"Yeah. Open it." His hands went behind his back. Carol carefully opened the box and gasped when she saw the contents of it. It was a ring. A beautiful one.

"It's beautiful." She held it up.

"It used to be my mom's." Instantly, she placed the ring back in its box and shoved it back at him. The action had clearly taken him by surprise and he had nearly dropped it.

"Oh no, Daryl, I can't take it, then. Especially if was your mother's." His mother had died in a fire and this could quite possibly be the only thing he had left of her. She couldn't take it from him, especially since this whole marriage was only a way of being protected from Ed.

She almost gasped when he enclosed her small hands in his large, calloused ones and pushed the ring box into them. "She would have wanted you to have it. I may not have known my mama very well, but I know she would have liked you."

She couldn't help it, but tears came to her eyes. "Oh, Daryl."

He took the box from her and carefully removed the ring. "See it fits." Carol's hands were shaky so bad when she took back the ring, that she was afraid she would drop it. Eventually, though, she slipped it on her left ring finger and it fit. Perfectly. The air left her lungs, then. No way...

"Jesus," Daryl breathed and she turned to seem looking at her with wide eyes. "Does that mean this is fate? That we're supposed to be together?" His face turned red. "Uh, I mean-"

"Maybe it is." Carol looked down at the ring. "Maybe it is." This time around, the ring did not feel as heavy as the ring Ed had given her and she wondered what it was.

"So, now, it's...official." Daryl still looked slightly embarrassed.

"It is." Carol smiled and put her arm to her side.

"Um, can I-can I kiss you? I mean, really kiss you?" The thought of having Daryl kiss her made Carol nervous and giddy at the same time. She hadn't been kissed by a man in a long time and that included Ed. He no longer considered him a man. To her, he was a monster.

"O-Of course." She tilted her head up and waited. Not knowing what to expect from the incredibly shy man.

That moment right before his lips met hers, Carol was afraid that he would be rough. But he wasn't. Daryl was gentle as he cupped her cheeks in his hands and leaned down to kiss her. Tears sprung in her eyes at the softness of his mouth on hers. He was kissing her like she was going to break.

She tentatively wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. Then, it was like a dam had burst. Daryl's hands slid from her face and he wrapped his strong forearms around her waist and she found herself pressed against his back as he applied more pressure to their lips. A moan escaped from her and they both froze.

Daryl set her back on her feet, eyes wide and breathing ragged, and stepped back. "I-I hope that was okay."

Carol tried to catch her own breath. "It was perfect." She hadn't expected to respond like that, but kissing him had felt so right. She winced at how cliche that sounded, but it was true. She wasn't in love with him, yet, but something told her it wouldn't take long for her to be.

"Great." He gave her a shy smile. "Well, um, are you hungry? I can fix us something real quick, if you are."

It had been a few hours since she had last eaten and she figured it was about lunchtime. "Sure, and I can help." The smile on Daryl's face grew.

Right then, Carol hoped that Daryl would never have to find out why she was really marrying him.

Well, here's fic 2 out of 4 that I've updated before the premiere. Only 2 more to go. I hope I can get to them!

AND GUESS WHAT, EVERYONE! This is the LAST Sunday before TWD comes back on! Who's excited? I know I am! :D

Thanks for reading!