I don't think I've ever updated this fast before, but after updating the last chapter I got right to work on this and the words just kept coming to me. This chapter is pure fluff, so I hope you all enjoy!

Chapter Twenty-Two

"I want a divorce!"

Daryl was nearly bent in half with laughter as Carol grabbed a handful of paper towels to wipe the cake smeared all over her face. Her own attempt at doing the same to him had landed on his neck and the floor. Unfortunately, most of it had landed on the floor and Daryl's attempt had gotten her square in the face. Some had even gotten in her hair.

"Oh, come on, darlin', we're just havin' a bit off fun." He wrapped his arms around her waist and licked a bit of icing from her cheek. "Besides, you were the one who started it."

Carol huffed and shoved him away half-heartedly as she cleaned the cake and icing from her face. Luckily, none of it had landed on her white dress. Daryl's shirt, however, hadn't been so luckily. The piece of cake on his neck was slowly sliding down the length of it and onto the collar of his shirt. Maybe she should take it off for him...so it wouldn't get anymore dirty...

No. There would be time to do that later. Now, they were still celebrating. Already Carol was enjoying herself much more than she had during the reception of her first wedding. Ed's parents had been older when they had him and he was an only child, so most of his side of guests was older. He had only had a best man, and she had just a maid of honor, which had been Michonne. So, the reception had been very conservative, and the only dancing that happened was their first dance as man and wife.

"Carol?"

"Hm?" Daryl's voice took her out of her thoughts.

In the time she had been spaced out, he had cleaned the cake from his neck and had cleaned it up from the floor. "Do you want some champagne?" There was concern in his eyes, knowing that she had been elsewhere in her mind, but didn't say anything. "Maybe we could put on some music. I want to dance with my wife."

"Okay." Carol felt light headed with giddiness. That was the first time he had called her his wife since they had gotten home, and she didn't know how much she would enjoy it, until now. "The champagne is over there." She pointed to the bottles on the counter. "You pour us some, and I'll play some music." In the living room, she had a CD player and some CDs, but before she could leave to get them, Daryl wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her soundly. His mouth tasted sweet, like the cake they had tried to smash on one another's faces.

"I love you," he said when they pulled apart. Carol cupped his cheek, smiled and kissed him one more time before pulling from his grasp to head to the living room. The three little words she so desperately wanted to say were right there. She just couldn't bring them to leave her mouth, yet.

Several minutes later, they were swaying together in the kitchen. Their glasses, still half-full of champagne, were abandoned on the table. Daryl's arms were wrapped securely around Carol's waist and his face was buried in her neck, where he continued to kiss the skin there, softly. The sun was setting and the room was getting dimmer by the minute, but neither one dared to leave their embrace to switch a light on.

As his kisses began to climb up the length of her neck and move across her jaw, Carol knew where this was heading and she waited for his lips to descend on hers in anticipation. When they finally did, one of her hands moved from his shoulder to the back of his head, fingers twining in his hair. With the other one, she hit stop on the player. Daryl looked down at her in confusion, eyes blown with desire.

"L-Let's get ready for bed." Heat pooled in her belly when his pupils darkened more until only a silver of blue was seen around the edges.

"Yes," he growled. Leaning down, he wrapped an arm under her knees and picked her up bridal style, just as he had when they walked into the house. Despite it almost being completely dark in the house, Daryl found the room to Carol's, no their, room easily.

He gently placed her on the bed before turning the lamp on the nightstand on, casting Carol in its rosy glow.

"You're so fuckin' beautiful," he said, openly admiring her face and body.

Carol flushed and didn't look him in the eye. The bed dipped as Daryl kneeled down and slowly made his way up her body until he was hovering over her. Carol looked up at him, then, and was surprised to see him look unsure.

"What's wrong?" Was he changing his mind already?

"I ain't never done this before. Bein' with a woman...and I want to make this perfect for you."

"Oh, Daryl." She cupped his cheeks. "Being with you is going to be perfect, no matter what. I promise."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Just do what feels good." She fingered the top button of his shirt. He took the hint and quickly shed his shirt. Carol admired it, and softly traced the scars on his torso that she could see. The wound on his side was still healing, so they would have to be careful when they did this.

"Your turn." He leaned back on his heels and allowed Carol to sit up. Instantly her dress was off and flying to the floor, but Daryl paused once he saw what had been underneath the dress.

Sexy red lingerie. His eyes widened and one hand reached out, shaking, as he traced the satiny material of her bra.

"Do you like it?" Carol was proud that she hadn't felt the need to cover herself with her hands. There was no reason to be ashamed of it.

"God..." He sighed and his eyes flicked up to her. "I'm one goddamn lucky man, Carol, to have a woman like you."

"And I'm one goddamn lucky woman to have a man like you." It was true. So fucking true. She reached for him, and he eagerly came to her. Kissing her, touching her and making her feel so loved.

In moments, they were completely naked, their clothes were littered all over the floor, and Daryl was sliding into her for the first time. The sensations of finally joining made them pause and just look at one another. Love for Carol shown brightly in his eyes, and tears brimmed in hers.

As they began to move together, Carol's feelings for this man were quickly solidified. She had been so stupid to deny them for so long.

Afterwards, they lay there, satiated and unbelievably happy. Daryl was dozing off at her side, but woke when he felt Carol shift in the bed to look at him. She cupped his cheek and smiled.

"I love you." She kissed him. "I love you so damn much, Daryl Dixon."

Some of you are probably disappointed in the smut(if you can even consider it that) but I'm just not that good at writing it, in my opinion, and I didn't want to ruin my story with it.

The next chapter won't be up as quickly as this. Truthfully, I shouldn't have been working on this chapter because of all the stuff I still have to do for school. I'll try to make time for writing, though!

Thanks for reading!