AN: so last chapter :) let me know what you think.

I do not own or profit The Walking Dead

Chapter 6

Daryl was floating, suspended in time, where nothing else seemed to matter but the feel of Carol's body nestled on his chest asleep.

She had her cheek pressed to his heart, her injured hand propped on his chest in front of her face. He could see the dressing on the wound, it had stopped bleeding thankfully. His arms were wrapped around her body and she was warm, but not feverish. Thank God, or JC or whatever higher power was above them. She was safe in his arms, and she was whole. He felt like he could breath again.

He needed her, to breath. The last month had felt like he'd been forever with his head underwater, always trying to surface. She was his, she was what he needed to see anything but grey. Her smile did that for him. She brought color to his life and she was back.

He gripped her waist tightly. No more pulling away, no more keeping his distance. She would permanently have him adhered to her side and if she didn't like it she could lump it. He couldn't risk losing her again. He needed her he thought as he pressed a kiss to her temple.

She stirred then, her eyelids fluttering open. The beautiful crystal clear blue he loved, shinning at him, like a big neon sign that said find your happiness here.

Their gazes locked, a heat so intense he thought it might burn his gut began to boil in his stomach. A million and one things that he wanted to say to her rolling through his head. All the fear and anxiety and loneliness of the past month overwhelming him. His relief overwhelming him. His disbelief that he had actually found her overwhelming him. He was overcome.

Then she grinned that grin, the one he'd been dreaming of and but her lip her voice raspy and weak as she whispered "So anything to get me naked huh?".

He opened his mouth an involuntary loud chuckle escaping him, that quickly turned to silent shoulder shaking spasms and sobs. He hid his face in her neck, embarrassed that it was all coming out of him, now at this time. He didn't care if she knew he was gut shot, but she was the injured one, she was the one who had gone through hell. She should be falling apart not him.

He'd pulled her up closer to him and she held onto him, letting him vent it all, her fingers curling into his scalp.

"It's okay, I'm okay" she repeated over and over. Murmuring it, as his hands roamed her body, he was clinging to her, like a life jacket in the ocean. She was his lifeline, he couldn't lose her again.

When he calmed, his lips, began kissing long trails up her neck. It was the most natural feeling in the world. His lips on her skin, her naked body nestled on his chest. His hands splayed on her ribs, his fingertips brushing the undersides of her breast. She pulled back to look at his face.

"I knew you would come."

Fuck, he would not cry again. Merle would be kicking his ass right now. After a month, a month she'd never lost faith, she still believed in him, she always believed the best in him.

His lips found hers and heal but devoured them. His mouth unforgiving and wanting it all, probing at her lips his tongue was wanting nothing more than to have every part of her.

They broke apart panting, foreheads pressed together.

"I'm sorry...it took so long, ...I.." HeJ muttered, before she brushed her lips softly across his.

" I knew you would find me, I never gave up hope. Not once." She whispered pressing kisses to his neck. "Not once."

"Did they...hurt you?" He asked hesitatingly, unwilling to say the words out loud. Scared somehow they would make them more real. Scared somehow they would become true.

She was silent for a long time "They never raped me," she swallowed thickly her pausing for a moment. They had strict rules concerning the women. I made sure to make myself useful. But...I didn't always get away so lucky" she said gesturing to her face with her good hand. The swelling looked old, blues and purples surrounding her eye.

"Do you hurt?" He asked his voice a gravelly whisper.

She smiled up at him "A little, but You love me, " she whispered in awe "I love you too nothing hurts."

He flipped her to her back, gently, being careful with her hand which was above her head.

"No more." He said as his lips found her breasts, his teeth nipping lightly on her nipples. "No more being apart, being distant. From now on it's you and me, you're sleeping in my bed, or I can sleep in yours and no fucking secrets, and .." He faded off as he lost track of dwhat he was saying as she wrapped her legs around his waist, rocking her pelvis into him.

"Ok" she said with a smirk.

"I ain't joking, and you'll take care of yourself, and put yourself first, and when we get back you're gonna rest, and..." He hissed as she continued to rock her pelvis, grinding herself into him. Her good hand grasping his boxers and trying to pull them down.

"You'll stay in bed for a week...no a month." He added with a groan, kissing her breasts again, stroking from the side to the tips with his tongue.

"Kinky" she whispered.

"This ain't a joke...I was drowning, it was like I couldn't breath for a month. Nothing is right when you're not here." He said intensity shaking and then kicking his boxers off.

"I need you." He whispered. "I need you." His face falling into her neck breathing her in.

She nodded, tears filling her eyes "I hurt Daryl, I need you too. I've needed you for so long. Please, ." She whispered her hand sliding up his back.

"You ain't ever gotta ask baby." his arms banded around her waist, arching her back to bring him even closer to him. His dick found her entrance, as he clung to her, wishing he could surround her always, protect her always.

"I need you." She whispered as he pushed inside of her.

Every nerve in his body seemed to come alive, the pleasure of her walls around him was almost to much to take. They fit, he didn't have much experience with sex and it was though their bodies had been made for each other. Every part of her seemed to fit him, make him ready to explode.

His pace was fast, he clung to her waist with his face buried in her neck. He couldn't slow down, he couldn't stop himself if he tried.

"I'm sorry" he panted thrusting into her wildly "I can't slow down."

"Don't stop... " she murmured "Harder."

She needed him like he needed her, he could see that now. When he thrust into her even more widely, her felt her start to clamp down on him squeezing him, sending him towards his own release.

"You're my reason." He panted into her neck boneless and spent, his breath coming in gasps, he was unsure if she'd even heard him, knowing somehow she would understand.

"You're my reason too."