Author's Note: I know I haven't finished uploading Evolving but this came to me over the past couple of days. I needed something fluffy and happy for our couple. I'm sure the next one I write will be full of angst and longing. This is dedicated to my two biggest cheerleaders from Tumblr and Spoil the Dead, VickiH and AtoIzzard. I'd also like to dedicate this to Pat83, who's sent me such lovely messages of encouragement. I just reread The Days That Pass Too Quickly, a wonderful collection of short Caryl stories. It inspired me to contribute one of my own.

XOXO Pamela

The Icing on the Cake

Maggie sighed happily as she sunk down into the nest of blankets and pillows they had fashioned in the library. "Carol, I have to give it to you. I know I said I didn't want a bachelorette party, but I am so glad you didn't listen to me." She fiddled with the mother of pearl buttons on the black satin pajama set she got as one of her presents. They had spent much of the evening in the library, drinking, eating candy, painting their toes and rubbing some bootlegged Victoria's Secret lotion all over their skin. It was wonderful to feel like normal women for once. The room permeated with the smell of freesia and sweetpea. If they closed their eyes, they could imagine themselves in their own homes, surrounded by the mundane normality of life before the turn. The men were having their own version of a stag party in the generator room, complete with bourbon and cigars Daryl found at an unlooted smoke shop.

"I'm glad you acknowledge my wisdom. I always regretted not having one of my own. Every young bride should have a night full of fun, food, wine" She picked up her glass, grinning, "and her friends. You of all people deserve it." She held up her glass in a toast. "To Maggie, our resident hellcat and soon to be Mrs. Glenn Rhee. May you both have a LONG lifetime of love and happiness. Cheers!"

The others in the room raised their glasses in unison, offering their words of agreement and encouragement. Beth wrinkled her nose as she sipped the white wine, her young palette not used to the imbibement. They were all in dressed in a variety of sleek and sexy pajamas. Beth's was the most modest, a white lacy two piece set that had a tank top with blue bows across the neckline and cropped pants with matching ribbons. She looked the picture of innocence, albeit a slightly drunken one.

Michonne popped another chocolate into her mouth before downing the rest of her wine. "Barkeep, another round?" She handed her glass out to Carol, who poured more for her. "Carolllll," she drawled huskily, "Did I ever tell you how much I love all you guys? Did I? I'm wearing Hello Kitty pajamas for you bitches. I only do that for people I loveeeee." Her eyes drifted closed.

Carol giggled and crawled over to Michonne to help get her settled into her little corner. She took the glass out of Michonne's hand and pushed her gently so she settled into her blankets. "Well, that's one down. You'd think she would have outlasted us all." She took one look at Michonne's full glass, shrugged, and downed it. "No one say a word to her about her declarations of love. That's unless you like a katana shoved up your rear." She slowly got up off of the floor, her head spinning for a moment. "I'm going to go grab some more blankets and pillows from my bunk. I'll be right back."

"Hurry back!" Sasha slurred, the sash to her purple robe and chemise loosening. "We've got one more bottle of wine to crack open. If you're not back in ten, as a council member, I'm making an executive decision and opening it without you." She swung the bottle of pinot grigio in the air.

Carol waved them off, walking out of the room and towards their designated cell block. She felt unbelievably warm, the effects of the alcohol keeping her from feeling the chill of the late winter air. She was clad in a red silk two piece set, a work of wearable art by Donna Karan. It draped into a cowl neck and just a hint of cleavage was peeking out. Despite being in her forties, Carol's breasts were still firm and perky, one advantage of being small chested. The bottoms of the set were matching silk shorts that barely covered her cheeks. If Carol had had her wits still about her, she would have been horrified to realize she was traipsing around the prison like she was attending a party at the Playboy mansion.

As she reached the stairs to head to her cell on the upper floor, she tripped and felt herself begin to fall. Suddenly she was stopped and found herself slumped against the hard body of a man. It was very dimly lit in the cell block so she wasn't sure who it was until she heard a distinctive grunt and then a muttered curse. The clicking of a crossbow shifting was another clue that her rescuer was probably the last person she wanted to see right at that moment.

"Dammit, what in the hell are you doing wandering 'round in the dark?" She felt herself being righted and then heard a sharp intake of breath. "What the fuck are you wearing?" Daryl had both his hands wrapped around her biceps as he took her in. The moonlight hid most of his features but Carol could see his eyes were open wide and he was furrowing his bottom lip between his teeth. There was a strong smell of liquor emanating from him. It hit her senses like a freight train of desire.

Carol felt like she was floating. She was regretting that fourth glass of wine as her legs wobbled. Her upper body was immobile, locked in a death grip by Daryl. Where his skin touched her skin it felt like bees buzzing. She hummed happily and leaned towards him. "Don't be such a buzzkill. It's Maggie's bachelorette pajama party. We have chocolate and lots of wine!" She grinned and pursed her lips at him. "Maybe you should stop being such a stick in the mud and just enjoy the sight of a lady in her unmentionables!" Her voice raised an octave and Daryl took one hand from her arm and pinched her lips together, cutting off any more griping.

"Believe me, I'm enjoying the view just fine. You are drunk off your ass. How are you going to make it up the stairs when you bout busted your ass trying to go up the first time?" She tried to answer but he was still pressing her lips together with his thumb and forefinger so she just ended up sort of blowing spit bubbles at him.

He cringed at her and after muttering, "Aw hell, I'm gonna regret this." She felt herself being swept off her feet and carried up the stairs by Daryl. She felt lightheaded so she laid her head in the crook of his neck, her breath tickling his ear. "Yep, I'm already regretting it." He sighed and she responded by nuzzling him. The grip on her thighs tightened as his gait increased up the rest of the stairs. He headed straight for her cell and unceremoniously dumped her in her bunk. He shrugged off his crossbow and then glared at her, his hands on his hips.

Carol was beyond caring, rational thought had left the building with her last glass of wine. She stretched her lean body out, pointing her toes toward the bottom of the bunk and lacing her fingers together over her head. She could see an immediate change in Daryl's posture. His hands fell from his hips and his eyes narrowed. Her top rode up, exposing her from her waistband to right below her breasts. He groaned and wiped his face with one hand. "Daryl, I need to get back to the party. They're waiting on me. Sasha said she's going to open more wine without me." She punctuated her last sentence with a pout and ran the tips of her fingers over her bare belly.

Daryl growled as he hesitantly stepped towards her. "I don't know what kind of moonshine you girls drank but you are a she devil bent to destroy me." He leaned down and snatched her hand that was caressing her stomach. "You gotta cut that shit out." He didn't release her hand, instead staring at it like it was some foreign object that required close inspection.

Carol's fingers were peeking through his grasp and she lifted their joined hands until the tips of them brushed his lips. Daryl was frozen in place, his eyes wild, nostrils flaring. "Lick them." She purred, pressing one delicately painted fingertip into the "O" his lips had formed with her statement. "I watch you lick your fingers all the time and it drives me wild. I want to feel your mouth on me." The burning affects from the alcohol seemed to shoot straight between her thighs at the look he shot her.

Daryl moaned and the next thing she felt was her finger being sucked into the hot wetness of his mouth. His tongue twirled around her finger, sweeping the knuckle and then sliding his mouth down until his lips touched where her finger met her palm. His eyes were closed and his other hand fisted the sheets of her bunk next to her thigh. It was if he was holding himself back from touching her anywhere else.

It seemed as if her overpowering arousal sobered Carol instantaneously. Her breath hitched as she felt him take a second finger into his mouth, humming against them sensually. Her insides twisted at the realization that the man who haunted her fantasies on many a lonely night was right in front of her, sucking on her fingers because she told him to. She knew when he woke up from his bourbon induced haze he would blame her, possibly refuse to speak to her for days. The thought of losing his friendship over a stupid flight of fancy was inconceivable to her. She had to stop the madness she had put into motion. "Daryl," She breathed, surprised at how husky her voice sounded. "I've got to get back to the girls." His eyes were still closed as she slid her fingers from his mouth and dropped her hand into her lap.

He opened his eyes and blinked quickly, not saying anything, just staring at Carol. He shifted from his crouching position next to her bed and lifted his thumb to his mouth like he was going to chew on it, but suddenly stopped right as it reached his lips. He lowered his hand back to his side, fist clenched. "Do you want me to walk you back to the library?" He asked quietly.

Relieved that the charged atmosphere was dissipating, Carol reached the hand he had not so intimately touched to him. "Yes, I'd love that. I'm feeling better but I don't think it's a good idea to be wandering around anymore tonight. I seem to find trouble." She smiled softly at him, trying to reassure him everything was okay. Her smile turned to a slight frown when she swore a quick look of hurt flashed over his face.

He grasped her hand and helped her up. "You wanna grab a robe or something?" His eyes raked down her body. He reached over and grabbed the god awful gray one she had for the showers.

"Ummm, I'm okay. It's a short walk and you'll be there to protect me from anyone who wants to ravish my body." She smirked at him but he didn't share her humor. He looked downright perturbed. She decided to end his suffering by heading back to the bachelorette party. She grabbed the pillows and blankets she originally came for and followed him out of the cell.

The walk back to the library was tense and silent. Carol decided to break the ice and ask about the stag party the men had. "How did things go with the big bachelor party? Any strippers show up?" She nudged him with her shoulder.

He lifted one corner of his mouth in his attempt at a smile. "Glenn is shit faced right now. I left because he started crying about how he wanted to give Maggie her perfect wedding in a church, a big white dress and a DJ at the reception. He also whined about some sort of chocolate fountain shit. I have no fucking clue what he was yammering on about. Between him sobbing and Hershel smoking about eight cigars, I had to get out of there. But a stripper would have been hot. I would have stuck around for that." She shot him a look and he let out a chuckle. "If I knew you were going to flounce around dressed like a damn Pussycat Doll, I'da had you come as the entertainment. I'm sure Rick would have loved to get a lap dance from you." He eyed her challengingly.

She was up for the challenge. "I was thinking Tyreese looked like he needed a good bumping and grinding. I was on the dance team in school. I may be older but I still have moves." She shimmied her hips a little, laughing when Daryl's face went beet reed.

They could now hear the peals of laughter coming from the library. It seems like the party was still going on strong. They heard Beth start to sing and then a loud "Would you CAN IT?!" from Sasha, causing the duo to burst into laughter. "Poor Beth, she's been trying her best to turn this into a sing along." Carol shook her head and shifted the blanket over her shoulder. "Thanks for walking me back. I enjoyed the company. You sure I can't convince you to put on Rick's sheriff's uniform and come in here and arrest us for being naughty girls?" She batted her eyelashes and pursed her lips. "You could even use the handcuffs."

"Jesus Christ! You are a filthy woman. I wouldn't last one minute in there before I'd get eaten alive. Get back in there. I'm sure you've got some lingerie pillow fights to partake in. I'm hitting the hay. You forget you informed me I am to find ten cans of buttercream icing before Saturday." He emphasized his point by yawning. "Things sure have changed from the old days. Normally I'd get drunk, get laid then pass out. Now I barely can handle my liquor, I certainly won't get laid and I'm going to sleep before midnight like a senior citizen."

"Hey, you're the one who didn't want to get naked in a room full of drunk women. You only have yourself to blame." She smirked at him before reaching for the door handle. "At least I hope the thought of scantily clad ladies will give you pleasant dreams tonight." Before she could chicken out, she got on her tiptoes and kissed the scruff on the cheek ever so briefly. She turned to open the door but was stopped by his hand landing on her hip. She turned her face back toward him.

He didn't say a word, just stared at her face with a heated expression. She thought she imagined him leaning forward slightly, coming into her space. "Oh, I think I'm gonna have real good dreams tonight." He whispered, turning on his heel and headed back into the darkness of the cell block.

Carol let out a shuddering breath before opening the door and letting herself back into the room. She was bombarded with the girls talking all at once, asking her where she had been (Sasha), that she was a giant party pooper (Maggie), she missed her duet (Beth) and if she got laid while she was gone (a very intoxicated Michonne). She flung the pillows and blankets at them and made up a lie about going to the bathroom. She plunked herself back down and lost herself to the rest of the evening with the girls. Right before she finally crashed for the night, caught in a tangle of soft scented female limbs, she let her mind wander to the heated moment in her cell. The image of Daryl lustfully feasting on her fingers, the overwhelming want that washed over her, the sexually charged banter, all replayed in her head. She let herself wonder for just one moment if his good dreams might involve her. She fell asleep contentedly.

The day of the wedding was flawless. Mild weather, crystal clear skies and they had gathered enough decorations and baking supplies to make the outside gazebo area transform into a beautiful wedding venue. Daryl had made good on his promise and brought back all the icing a person could want and Carol was able to bake a three tier vanilla cake with buttercream frosting using the outdoor grills and some ingenuity.

Carol was putting some finishing touches on the cake, applying several edible flowers here and there. As she pressed the last violet into the middle tier, she pulled away her finger which was now covered in frosting. As she raised her finger to quickly eat away the evidence, a tanned arm shot out to grab her wrist. She looked up, startled, and watched as a freshly bathed, groomed and devilishly handsome Daryl gave her a smoldering look and slid her icing coated finger into his mouth. He took a full ten seconds to suck the sweetness off of her finger before pulling it out with a pop.

"Best thing I've had in my mouth since the bachelor party." With that he smirked and left a stunned Carol standing next to the cake, finger still poised in the air with Daryl's saliva cooling in the breeze. She glanced around and seeing no one, put the same finger in her mouth. She shivered as she removed it and murmured to herself, "Oh my, it certainly is delicious." She hummed happily as she headed off to find the happy couple so they could cut the cake. It was the very best of days, that's for sure.