Journey. Seriously? Journey? That was the shit they were choosing to listen to out of all the epic bands of the past 30 years? Daryl sat on the steps of the prison cell block stoically watching everyone else dance and laugh as the small radio blared out the music. He shook his head and smirked at the way some of them were making complete fools of themselves. His eyes scanned the small crowd of family and Woodbury newcomers until they rested on Carol. He watched her talking and holding the hands of an elderly woman who sat in a chair next to her. She apparently had said something funny because the woman let out a booming laugh that echoed through the corridor. Carol was still smiling when her eyes met his. She gently motioned her hand and mouthed "come over" but he adverted his eyes and shook his head. Glancing down at his feet he looked up again and there she was standing before him.

"Come over and join us. This is fun. We never get free time. The new people are really nice." She said grinning.

"I don't really feel like getting any closer to that shit y'all say is music. Who was the douche bag you got that CD from?" Daryl said.

"Glen grabbed a bunch of CDs from one of the abandoned cars left in town." Carol said while chucking lightly.

"Well, maybe you should look through the whole stash. You might come up with some New Kids on the Block or NSync on the Backstreet or whatever the hell they're called." He joked. "Y'all need to get some Skynrd or Johnny Cash – damn."

"Okay, you don't like our music. That still doesn't mean you can't enjoy the company." Carol said as she gently elbowed his ribs. Come on. Come on. I know you want to dance." She teased while continuing to elbow him causing his body to sway to the right.

"Trust me it's way more entertainin' to watch." He laughed.

"Fine, whatever makes you happy." She said as she gently patted his leg.

The small gesture of affection sent chills through his body and gave him butterflies in his stomach. He hated that. What the hell? He thought. Snap out of it Dixon! This is the end of the world. This isn't time to be losing your head over some chick who just so happens to make you smile every now and then. But there she was walking away from him with that sway that he had studied so many times he could pick her out of a large crowd on a moonless night. She went back to the group, mingling with everyone and was for sure charming each one with her sincere kindness and quick wit. God, she was beautiful. She was not only beautiful, she was adorable. He admired her long, lean body and the long curve of her neck. He remembered how his mom loved watching Audrey Hepburn movies and Daryl secretly watched them with her, mesmerized at the stars graceful beauty and even incurred quite the Hollywood crush. Carol portrayed the star's loveliness. Only Carol was even more so. He knew her. He saw how far she had come from those early days of being Ed's punching bag. The thought sickened him. He wished he could have been Shane the day he nearly beat the piece of shit to death. But he knew now he wouldn't be able to stop. He couldn't imagine anyone harming her and to think that Ed even raised a hand, let alone punched her with it, made him furious. He watched her evolve from a shrinking violet to a beautiful rose, a Cherokee rose to be exact he thought, created from grief and hardship, delicate and beautiful – white representing her warmth and purity and of course gold in the center to represent her value; yet strong enough to endure the trampling. She was now a woman who for sure would knock the piss out of Ed if he even insinuated that he was going to strike her. The thought made him laugh – picturing the look on Ed's dumbass face as she stood up to him. I'm not in love he kept saying to himself. I admire her. I respect her. Okay, at the very most it's just a crush. This intelligent, beautiful, strong, loving woman shows you an ounce of attention, tells you she believes in you and you go acting like a schoolboy with a crush on the new teacher. He had to do something to justify the quickening of his pulse, the butterflies in his stomach, the undeniable lust that was mounting up in him every time he even thought of her. The prison's normal gloomy atmosphere began to change. The music was now soft and sweet. He remembered the song "Open Arms" and had to admit he liked it but would never tell anyone. Maggie and Glen sat closer together and Glen put his arm around her shoulder. Daryl watched them briefly, aching for the kind of love they shared.

Carol continued to talk to the newcomers as the song played but she glanced over at him several times and smiled. The words cut to his heart, saying exactly what he was thinking – though the inner struggle raged. Seriously? He thought. You're going to get all sappy over some love song from some pussies that were probably now zombies? He cringed at how soft he was becoming. He remembered Rick telling him that love would make you say and do things you never thought you would but the regret of never speaking a word in season was the one thing love would never forgive. Rick knew the pain of regret more than anyone; even more than he did with Merle. The words from their wise leader were meant as a warning, he knew that. They were meant to lead him out of this supposed denial he had of his feelings toward Carol. He appreciated Rick's brotherly advice but he knew there was nothing to confess. Feeling lonely and perhaps a little desperate, admiring someone's courage and even thinking they were attractive didn't mean love. Hell, he wouldn't know what love was if it came up and bit him and he chuckled to himself at the irony.