Let All Aquaintance Be Forgot

by sjb8706

(Original working title was "In the Bleak Midwinter") Caryl find each other on the road during wintertime. ZA AU where Carol leaves the kingdom and strikes out on her own. She heads north. Implied that after losing everything Daryl tracks her down. They begin their life together and celebrate Christmas. It's pretty fluffy at the end.

14. Chapter 14

FWD: Inspired by the song "Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing" By Sufjan Stevens. New Year's Eve isn't over yet. Chapter 15 will be the last chapter in this little ditty, it's written but I'm not going to post until tomorrow. :-) +++++++++++++++++++

Chapter 14: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

She stood frozen in the kitchen, afraid to move, sobbing over how stupid she'd been. The back door opened and she heard his heavy footsteps come inside and stop abruptly behind her. She sniffed loudly and turned around to face him. If she was brave enough to fight the dead, she was brave enough to be honest about her feelings.

"Carol," he spoke softly and looked at her lovingly.

A sob caught in her throat and she covered her mouth with her hand. She was a mixture of embarrassment and despair.

He cleared his throat and took a step forward. "I-"

She cut him to spare her feelings, "It's okay. I know that this is just… it just is" She paused to take a deep breath, "and it's really okay." She nodded and walked down the hall to one of the empty bedrooms and shut the door.

She heard soft sounds of drawers opening and things moving in the kitchen and then he appeared, opening the door and peeking inside. "You gonna come see this surprise I have for ya?" He asked.

She looked at him in bewilderment and stood up from the floor. "You aren't gonna leave?"

He shook his head his cheeks turning red and he chuckled.

"It's okay Daryl, you don't have to be nice to me about-"

"I ain't just being nice to be nice woman. Now c'mon!" he said rushing down the hall to the kitchen.

Once she got there she saw the table set with wine glasses, and an old bottle of wine. The record player in the living was playing the holiday stylings of Bing Crosby. "Where did you…" her thoughts trailed off.

"C'mere." he reached for her hand. She took it hesitantly. "Come dance with me."

She stepped away from him, "I can't."

"Soundin' like me now." he chuckled. "C'mon, I ain't half bad." He beamed at her, "Plus we got us some real music."

She nodded and reached for his hand. Bing crooned out Auld Lang Syne and they fell into an easy rhythm again. There was no twirling this time, no silly waltzing, just a slow two step where he pulled her into his chest and dropped his chin to the top of her head. As the last words of the song played he pulled away and looked down at her face. He smiled lovingly and gave her a New Year's kiss.