It had been two weeks since Carol had gotten injured and her and Daryl's first kiss. They had barely gotten to spend any more time together because of the community's demands on them. She would catch glimpses of him every now and again, and he always seemed to know. He would look up and catch her. He would always smile, she had never seen him smile so much. It filled her with confidence knowing she was the cause.

Today however, she hadn't seen him at all. By asking around she found out he had left early that morning, but no one could tell her where he went. Trying not to worry she kept herself busy in the storage building helping with supplies from a successful run.

She was by herself when she heard someone enter. Looking up she was relieved to see Daryl standing with a slightly nervous look. She fought the urge to run to him and settled for a smile instead, "You had me worried."

With a chagrined tone, "Sorry, I expected to get back sooner," he moved closer to her. He still seemed nervous when he reached her.

He simply stood in front of her before finally leaning near and kissing her cheek. When he pulled back he was looking down.

"Hey," she said gently getting him to look up. She grasped his shirt and pulled until their bodies were flush. She waited for him to meet her gaze and then she kissed him.

The kiss started gentle, but soon it turned heated. She felt a thrill go through her as he moaned and gripped her hips, pulling her even closer. It was Carols turn to moan when he ran his hands up her sides.

They both shot apart when they heard a startled, "Oh God!"

Turning quickly they were confronted by Carl standing at the door a hand over his eyes.

"I'm sorry, my dad is looking for Daryl."

"It's OK Carl, we were just kissing," Carol said with a chuckle.

He peeked out from behind his hand and relaxed when he saw them standing with space between them.

"You're not supposed to be kissing," he said dumbly. "I mean you're… you're Daryl and Carol."

"What the hell does that mean?" Daryl asked loudly.

"It means… I don't know. It's just weird OK." Carl explained before rushing out the door.

Carol laughed at the confused expression on Daryl's face, "He's just a kid Daryl," she tried to explain. Seeing him relax she asked, "Where did you go?"

"How do you feel like goin' on a little trip?" at her questioning look he continued, "We'll be gone a little over a day."

"Where are we going?"

He just shrugged, "It's a surprise." When he smiled she should could help but kiss him again.

He told her to grab her gear and meet him at the gate in ten minutes. She could help but feel nervous. It would be the first time they had spent any significant time alone since she had gotten back with the group.

When she got to the gate he was waiting, fiddling with his crossbow. He jumped when she asked, "Where we going?"

"Um… It's about a thirty minute walk from here," he said gesturing over his shoulder. "Rick knows where we're going. He'll come looking for us if we aren't back by day after tomorrow."

They quickly set off and she followed quietly as he led her through the woods. He would glance back occasionally to check on her. Carol was lost in thought with the woods suddenly opened up into a small clearing. In the middle stood a small A-frame cabin. Carol gasped at the beauty.

"This is amazing, it looks like it's out of a magazine," she turned and say Daryl looking pleased with himself.

"I stumbled on it a couple of months ago, when I was trying to get away for a while. It's too nice to be a hunting shack so I figure it was someone's escape from the world." Grabbing her hand he led her inside.

The interior was quaint with a small kitchen area and a living room area with a sofa and coffee table. There was a ladder to a lofted area where Carol could just make out a mattress. Most of the back wall consisted of windows.

"I love this," Carol announced turning to Daryl who was standing against the wall watching her take everything in.

"We haven't even been able to see each other. I know we need to talk about stuff," he paused and looked down shyly, "And maybe do other stuff." He glanced up trying to judge her reaction, he was relieved to see her smiling.

Sitting on the sofa she patted the cushion beside her. He sat at the opposite end not touching her.

"Um… I brought some food and water if you want some," he looked at her but quickly looked down again.

Carol scooted closer to him and took his hand, "Why are you so nervous?" she questioned quietly.

He shrugged, "I keep expecting you to realize who I am or something and realize you don't want to be here with me."

Carol put her hand on his cheek and turned his face toward her, "At the risk of sounding cliché, I can honestly say, there is no other place I had rather be."

He looked at her seemingly trying to judge if she was being serious. Apparently he saw what he needed to see. He smiled and moved to kiss her. She gladly met him halfway. The kissed for several minutes before pulling apart breathlessly.

"We're really good at that," Daryl said his voice huskier than normal. "I never even liked kissing before," he ran his thumb over her mouth, she smiled.

"I've never been much of a kisser either. With Ed it was more about domination than anything else," she trailed off not wanting to taint the moment.

Feeling tears fill her eyes she stood and moved to stand in front of the windows, wiping impatiently at the escaped tears.

Daryl stood too and moved behind her, placing his forehead against the back of her head and placing his hands gently at her waist. The comfort was almost too much, "What if I'm too damaged to do this?" she questioned.

"What do you mean?" his voice was muffled.

"What if I can't do anything more than kissing? I've only had sex with Ed by choice a hand full of times, all the others were do it or be punished. Then after I left the group…" she trailed off lost in thought.

Daryl grasped her tighter and gently turned her, "Hey. Come back to me," when she met his eyes he continued, "What's between us isn't about sex. I mean I want that too, but what's most important us just being together. I don't care if there is never anything more than kissing. What's important is being together. Always together."

Carol sniffled and nodded and kissed him again. Unexpectedly the kisses ratcheted up in intensity. Daryl moaned when she boldly bit his lip. He pulled her closer to him, involuntarily thrusting against her, causing her to gasp. He tried to step back but she held him to her.

They stood foreheads together. Carol eyes were closed, "Do you want to stop?" Daryl spoke quietly. At the slight nod Daryl stepped away, but still held her arms.

"I'm sorry," her voice was full of shame.

He tilted her face to look into his, "You have nothing to apologize for."

She glanced down briefly and smiled slightly, "What about that?" she gestured to the erection tenting his pants.

He chuckled, feeling slightly guilty, "I've had a lot of experience in taking care of that."

Carol smirked suddenly and an unrecognizable expression crossed her face, "Can I watch?"

He actually had to grip her tighter to stay standing. She laughed at his reaction buy stopped quickly when he backed away and undid his pants. He heard her swallow.

She watched with rapt attention as he first removed his shirt and then his pants, exposing himself completely to her. She moved a few steps back and dropped down onto the sofa.

He was nervous, but then he noticed her quickened breaths and the way she unconsciously licked her lips and he quickly gained confidence.

She gasped when he grasped himself and started stroking. He could feel her eyes on him everywhere.

"Come sit by me," her voice was huskier than normal and it sent a shiver through him.

The sofa was small putting them close together. She watched him quietly. He was quiet except his sighs as his hand kept a steady rhythm. She knew she needed to touch him.

She put her hands on his thighs causing him to pause briefly, but continue when her hands started to move. She moved past his pumping hand and rubbed up his torso. She rubbed her thumbs over his nipples and was surprised when his hips jerked and he moaned. His head jerked to her, apparently just as surprised as she was.

His responsiveness sent a shiver through her and she took his mouth, not being able to control herself. He grunted at the forceful kiss, but responded immediately. He nearly lost it as she pushed away his hand and replaced it with her own.

"Oh God," he knew for sure he had never felt anything like this before. He knew he was close. He met her eyes and the look she gave him had him thrusting into her hand. When she leaned down and nipped at his neck he came with a shocked shout.

"Shit," he was gripping her shirt with both hands as he continued to thrust into her hand through the aftershocks.

"Jesus," her forehead was pressed against his and she was smiling, "That was unexpected," she chuckled.

She was still breathing heavily and he surprised her by pushing her away gently and sitting up. She started to speak, but he stopped her with a kiss. Grabbing his shirt from the floor he wiped himself quickly and then he was kissing her again.

He slowly pushed her until she was lying flat against the couch. He paused and gave her time to stop him, she pulled him to her. They kissed for several minutes before he started kissing down her neck. He had never done anything like this before, all his other sexual encounters involving very little foreplay.

He kissed until he reached the top of her shirt and then bent lower and pulled her shirt up slightly and started placing kisses on her stomach.

He started to remove her shirt to move higher, but stopped to look at her face. She stared at him wordlessly and then nodded. He kissed her mouth quickly before removing the shirt.

She was shaking and he simply caressed her. She met his gaze and the desire in his eyes calmed her. No one had ever looked at her the way he was now. He leaned down to kiss her and his hands moved to her breasts. She sighed into his mouth as his thumbs played over her nipples.

He moved his mouth down her neck again kissing and sucking, drawing sighs and moans from her. When he closed his mouth over her a nipple she thrust her hips against him and they both moaned.

She startled him by pushing against him and sitting up, be he realized quickly she was just removing her bra. He actually chuckled when she pulled him back to her breast, "You like that huh?" she laughed too, but it was cut off as Daryl enthusiastically explored her breast.

Carol was in heaven. Her breast had always been sensitive, but Ed had never cared enough to worry about her pleasure. Daryl however seemed to get pleasure from her pleasure. All thought left her mind as she felt his hands move to the button of her pants.

He paused meeting her eyes expectantly, she nodded after only a second's hesitation. He made quick work of undoing them and placed a kiss on her hip before removing them and her panties. She was briefly confused when he slid down and knelt between her legs.

A shiver ran through her as she started kissing his way up her thighs. Just before he put his mouth on her most intimate place he met her gaze.

He smirked when she whispered, "Oh God," then he lowered his head.

She moaned loudly and thrust against him, when his mouth touched her. Daryl had never bothered to do this with of his other partners, but he couldn't help himself with her. He was a little unsure of himself, but the noises she was making and the way she moved against him told him he was doing something right.

Sooner than expected she tensed and held him to her. He continued to work her.

"OK…OK…you have to stop," she eventually muttered pushing him away.

He sat back on his knees and took in the sight in front of him. She was sprawled on her back, legs still spread, and her arm over her eyes. Her skin was flushed and she was covered in a sheen of sweat. He had never seen her so unguarded.

When she got her breath back she looked down her body at him and saw him smirk. She rolled her eyes and sat up, grabbing the back of his head and kissing him hard, "Let's go lay on the bed."

Daryl grabbed a bottle of water he brought earlier and followed her to the loft. There was only a mattress and a small table in the loft. Daryl had put a lantern up here on his first visit.

He took a long drink and passed it to Carol. He sprawled on his back with his arms behind his head. He knew he should be nervous being completely exposed, but he wasn't. He trusted her completely.

His eyes were closed and he felt the mattress dip slightly as Carol moved beside him. He started violently when she grasped him in her hand and slowly stroked him.

"So what is this?" she asked casually.

He glanced at her and raised and eyebrow, "Um…it's a penis," his answer was followed by a groan when she squeezed him a little roughly.

"You're in an awfully vulnerable position to be such a smart ass."

"Sorry," he sighed in relief when she continued her lazy strokes. She was sitting raised on her elbow taking him in. Adjusting slightly Daryl was able to put an arm under her so he could pull her closer to him, he caressed her back. She smiled and kissed him. A deep kill full of feeling that Daryl felt to his toes.

"This is just us. It doesn't need a label," he was slightly disappointed when she stopped stroking him and mover her hand to his stomach.

"I never thought I would have anything like this. Definitely after the world changed. So this is just us?" she sounded like she was searching for something.

"Just you and me together. This is how it should have always been. There's no expectations," he said reassuringly.

She smiled and started stroking him again while she kissed him. When his breathing started to pick up she straddled his hips. His eyes were wide as he felt her moist heat rubbing against him.

"Is this OK?" she asked breathlessly as her hips picked up speed.

He nodded almost frantically. Raising slightly she grasped him and guided him to her, slowly sinking down on him, "Oh God," they spoke in unison.

When he was fully in, they paused, breaths coming harshly. Leaning down she kissed him deeply before the urge to move became too much.

Daryl's eyes rolled into the back of his head when she raised herself and then sank slowly back down. He grasped her hips and soon they found a perfect rhythm, which Daryl lost when she reached down and began to touch herself, "Oh shit," he knew he was close.

She laughed, able to see his internal struggle, speeding up her hand. A minute later she felt his release inside of her and followed quickly, pushed over by the look of sheer bliss on his face.

She lay on him briefly not wanted to break the connection just yet. She finally rolled off, lying beside him.

"We didn't use protection," Daryl said quietly, feeling ashamed for being so irresponsible.

Carol rolled and kissed his shoulder, "Its fine, I can't have any more kids."

He sighed in relief.

"You have a pretty penis," Carol said suddenly.

"What the hell?" he said, sitting up and looking at her like she had lost her mind, and then looking down at himself, "Do I?"

Carol laughed loudly, "You do. Nice and pink, no weird curves. Good size…"

"OK, OK stop," his face was bright red, "I never thought of a penis being pretty or not," he glanced down at himself.

Carol was laughing again, "Well now you know," she quieted, still smiling, "I haven't been this happy in so long."

Daryl looked up from his penis, "I was that good huh?"

Carol slapped him in the stomach causing him to grunt, "I'm pretty sure I did most of the work," they laughed together.

Turning serious he lay down on his side facing her, "I know what you mean. For the first time, possibly ever I feel like everything has meaning. Like this is where we're supposed to be."

Carol nodded wiping at the tears on her cheeks. They moved together sharing a kiss before settling down to sleep. Daryl was asleep almost immediately.

Listening to his breaths deepen Carol knew that no matter what this new world threw at them, they would handle it together.

END