This is kind of a filler chapter, in my opinion anyway, but I hope you all enjoy.

Chapter Fourteen

Staying cooped in the dimly lit living room had quickly lost its appeal after they finished their lunch, especially since it was so nice outside. Daryl soon found himself lying on his back on the grass of Carol's backyard, while Carol worked in her garden. Kneeling in the dirt, still in her pajamas, Carol didn't seem to mind the dirt stains settling on the knees of her pants. Daryl leaned up on one elbow and watched as she dug her hands into the soft soil, a tranquil look on her face. Carol looked calmer than Daryl had ever seen, and he had to wonder if she used the garden as a type of therapy for the turmoil in her life. It would explain why everything was seeming to flourish in the small patch of dirt. Many of the flowers still had their vibrant and bright colors, despite how late in the season it was. Daryl's mouth watered at the smell of the mint plant. It reminded him of when he was younger and when his mother had grown mint in her window box by the kitchen. The male Dixons had let it die and wither away when she had passed.

"You know, I was sitting right here when I first heard you yell." Carol rocked back to her heels with dirt-covered hands in her lap, and looked over at him.

His hands plucked at some blades of grass. "Yeah?" That day had seemed so long ago, even though it had only been a few days. With everything that had happened with Carol, the constant twinging pain in his side had always been pushed to the back of his mind and forgotten. Even now, it was just a dull throb.

"I didn't know what to do, at first. I actually thought about bolting into the house and locking all the doors." She laughed softly at the memory. "For all I knew, you could have been getting murdered out there, and they would be coming for me next!" She wiped a strand of curly hair from her face using her wrist. "But then, I figured you needed help, so I ran inside, grabbed my gun and-"

"Whoa, wait." Daryl sat up and gave her a wide-eyed look. "You were packin'?"

"Yeah, I bought a gun after I left Ed. Luckily I've never had to use it, and I hope to keep it that way."

"But you were ready to use it on me," Daryl teased, hoping that the sad look on her face at the mention of Ed would go away.

"If you had been planning on hurting me, I would have. That's why I bought it. If Ed ever-" She choked up.

"Hey." Daryl stood and joined her in the dirt. "You don't gotta say anymore. I understand, and I'm here to tell you that you ain't goin' to need that gun, cuz I'm goin' to protect you." He tugged her on his lap and she tucked her head into his shoulder. The tears had been blinked back, and now, she just clutched him tight. "Ain't nothin' goin' to hurt you as long as I'm here."

Together, they sat like that for several minutes in the dirt. Daryl didn't want to let her go, and it seemed Carol didn't want to be let go.

"So," Daryl broke the silence and shifted so that his cheek settled on her head. "Do you think next year we can grow some vegetables, here?"

Carol looked up at him, smiling. "This garden will be just as much mine as yours next year, so you'll be able to do whatever you want."

In a year's time, hell in less than two weeks, they would be married and living together in Carol's home, which would then be theirs. Daryl couldn't help but wonder what things would be like in a year. Would Carol love him? Would she pregnant with his child? Fuck. He didn't know where that thought had come from, but he didn't regret it. Would they have a child this time next year? Or would they decide to wait a bit? Either way, Daryl would support whatever Carol decided.

Would Carol even want children? From her marriage with Ed, she had none and probably thought that a blessing. How about now, with him? Daryl knew their children would be beautiful. Especially if they inherited Carol's large, pale blue eyes and delicate features. A girl would be spoiled by him and a boy would learn to hunt.

"What are you thinking about, Daryl?" Carol's soft voice broke him from his thoughts.

"Chil-, uh, carrots." He winced at the lame cover-up, but he didn't know how Carol would react if he were to bring up children, right now. That would be a conversation he would save for later. Like, after they were married.

Carol settled back into his chest and got comfortable, again. "By the look on your face, I can tell you really want some carrots." Even through his shirt, Daryl felt the corners of Carol's mouth lift up in a wide smile. It didn't seem like she had noticed his almost slip-up and for that, he was grateful.

"Yeah..."

"I really need to pee." Carol blushed as the words burst from her mouth during another bout of silence between the pair. Daryl chuckled, his chest rumbled with the sound, and loosened his hold on her body. In the time they had sat unmoving, Carol's limbs had fallen asleep and when she stood, she stumbled slightly. Luckily, Daryl had anticipated the almost fall and was there to catch her before she fell back on her ass.

"Looks like these pajama pants are goin' to need a good washin'." Daryl leaned down to swipe away some of the dirt caked to her knees, even though he swiped away most of the dirt, her knees were still covered in dark splatches. Looking at his pants, she saw that they hadn't fared any better than hers had.

"Your pants don't look much better. Let's get inside, and after I go to the bathroom, I can throw them in the wash for you." Her face flushed when the image of a pant less Daryl flitted across her mind. In two weeks, though, she'd see all of him. Every inch of this wonderful man would be bare to her.

"I see that your mind went to the gutter." Daryl was smirking. "You're red as a tomato."

"It did not!" She argued, weakly, not even convincing herself. "And you didn't answer my question, Mr. Dixon. Do you want me to wash your pants?"

"As much as I would love for you to do my laundry, soon-to-be Mrs. Dixon." He winked. "I should be heading home. It's late, I smell, and I have work in the mornin'." Carol deflated at his words. She wasn't ready for him to leave, yet. She didn't think she'd ever be ready.

"You have to work on a Sunday?"

"Yep. My boss keeps us open every day of the week. Most places are closed on Sundays, so we get a lot of business. It's good money, so I can't complain." He slipped an arm around her waist, and together they walked into the house. Carol made a beeline for the bathroom, and Daryl went to sit in the kitchen.

"You don't have to leave, you know. You can always get some stuff and stay the night, again." Carol bit her lip as she crossed her arms over her chest. "I wouldn't mind."

"I think I should give you some space." Daryl said with a smile. "Pretty soon, you won't be able to get rid of me." He leaned down and kissed her sweetly on the mouth. Carol returned the kiss by burying her hands in his hair and deepening it.

"You keep kissin' me like that and I'll never want to leave." Daryl was the one to break the kiss, but Carol felt his hesitation and it made her heart swell, knowing this man liked kissing her that much that he was reluctant to let her go.

"Maybe that was the point," she teased and kissed him quickly on the nose. "So, when will I see you, again?"

"I was thinkin' maybe Monday I could, um, start bringin' over some of my stuff. That all right? If it ain't, then I can always bring it over aft-"

"Of course it's all right!" She stopped his rambling with a giggle. "What kind of stuff were you thinking about bringing?"

"Some clothes? That's about all I have that's worth bringin' over here, actually." He shrugged and bit at his thumb. Carol wondered if he always did that when he felt nervous. She found it enduring.

"Okay, I'll clear out some of my dresser's for you." She blushed at the thought of what sharing drawer space meant. This was all becoming so real.

"A-All right. Sounds good." He shoved his hands into his pockets, most likely to stop himself from gnawing more on the skin of his thumb. Shifting somewhat nervously, he said, "I should go, then. I'll see you, Monday."

"Wait, before you go." Carol rushed to one of the drawers in her kitchen and grabbed something from one of them. "Here." She pressed something small into his hands. It was a key. "Just in case you come over and I'm not here. You'll need one, eventually, anyways."

Daryl stared down at the key, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "So does this mean I can come over in the middle of night and eat all your leftovers in the fridge?" Carol nearly burst out laughing at his words. For some reason, she hadn't expected him to say something like that.

"Sure, but just remember I have a gun and if I think you're an intruder, I may use it."

"I've already been shot before, by my own crossbow, and I would not like a repeat." He tucked the key into one of his front pockets. "I'll make sure to let you know before I come over for a little midnight snack." Winking, he tugged her closer and kissed her once more. "Now, I really need to go. Quit stallin' me."

Carol crossed her arms and stuck out her lower lip in a pout. She wasn't used to acting like this, but she liked it. She liked that she could tease a man without fear of him getting angry or hitting her. Daryl was such a welcome change in her life.

"I love you, Carol. See you soon." Daryl didn't want around to see if she would say the words back. Carol knew she couldn't, not yet. But she would. Soon. The way her heart beat faster in his presence was proof enough that once she let Ed and everything else plaguing her go, she would fall helplessly in love with Daryl and there would be no turning back.

Last night while in the shower, I kind of outlined the rest of this story, and there will be angst. Ed's still out there, so you all had to figure there would be. But don't worry this story will have a happy ending!

I also want to thank everyone for sticking with this story this far, it really means a lot to me, since this is the story that I enjoy writing the most right now!

Thanks for reading and if I don't get anything else this weekend, I hope you all have a lovely Thanksgiving(if you celebrate it!)!

Oh, and happy birthday, Robyn! I know I already said it two times already, but the third time is the charm! ;)