His first instinct when he woke up the next morning was to reach for her, which he did, his arm falling upon empty sheets. He opened his eyes and searched the room briefly to confirm what he already knew, breathed in her scent on the pillow before he pulled himself out of bed.

His heart ached for her and he decided to check in with her before he set out for the day. He knew he'd find her outside in the kitchen, probably cleaning up after breakfast by this time.

Sure enough, she was there, with Beth and Judith close by.

She looked up when she sensed him watching her, motioned for him to come over.

"Early start?" He asked with a frown when he was right beside her.

She shrugged. "I had breakfast duty this morning. Couldn't afford to sleep in. Saved you a plate, though." She nodded over to the counter.

"Thanks," He said gruffly, reaching for the food. "Why'd ya let me stay so late?"

"You were tired," she said. "Obviously needed your rest."

He munched on the bits she'd saved for him, his eyes steady on her as she moved about the kitchen. "I gotta go check the snares. Could be gone a couple'a hours. Wanna come?"

"I can't," she said with a hint of regret in her tone. She gestured to Beth. "We're on fence duty."

"Oh." He tried to hide his disappointment as he stood to go. "I'll see ya later then?"

She nodded, wiping her hands off with a dish towel.

He moved in several long, brisk strides until he was on the same side of the counter as she was. "Hay," he said, hooking a finger under her chin and tilting her head back to look at him. "You be careful, hear?"

She shook her head, her eyes locked on his. "You too," she said quietly.

He leaned over to kiss her briefly on the lips before heading out.

XXXXXX

Hours later, Carol was gesturing for Beth to follow her to the cell blocks. "We'd better get cleaned up before everyone starts coming in for their showers," she said.

Beth grinned. "You mean before Daryl comes back for some lovin."

Carol turned the water on and tucked her hands under the spray, pretending not to hear.

"So, what, he's kissing you in public now?"

Carol shrugged.

Beth frowned, clearly unhappy at the lack of response she was getting from her friend. She moved to hand Carol a towel when her gaze caught on something. "Wait, that's not your wedding ring, is it? It's pretty. Did you find that on a run?"

"Uh, no," Carol said, making a big project of drying her hands. "It's… Daryl's."

Beth gasped, eyes wide. "You mean, you two are married?"

Carol shook her head. "It's just… I'm just… keeping it safe for him. It was his mother's," she explained.

Beth looked at her disbelievingly. "And he gave it to you because you're his wife," she prodded.

Carol didn't say anything.

"You know, the only one I've seen wear a ring after the turn is my sister," the younger girl said.

Carol shrugged. "This is different."

"Whatever, Mrs. Dixon," Beth said, rolling her eyes as she left the washroom.

Carol's lips quirked up as she decided she liked the sound of that.

XXXXX

"Most everyone's inside for the night," a gruff voice said behind her.

She looked over her shoulder from her perch at the picnic bench. "It's such a nice night. I just had to be outside."

He held out his hand to her. "C'mon. Let's go for a walk then."

She placed her hand in his, let him pull her up. "Did you find anything in the snares?"

He shrugged. "Couple'a rabbits. 'Nough ta make it worth the trip."

She nodded, letting him lead her around the grounds.

He tucked her arm through his, gently patted her hand. "Missed ya today."

"I missed you, too," she said softly. They slowed their pace once they got to the garden.

"I figured out where Hershel's hidin' them onion plants," Daryl said. "Wanna see?"

She laughed. "I know where they are. The radishes too."

"Oh."

She stopped walking near the cucumbers, content to be standing under the moonlight. She pulled her cardigan tighter around herself.

"Carol," he said softly, and she turned around to face him. "Next time, wake me in the mornin' before you leave."

She nodded her head, her eyes meeting his. "Sorry."

"It's alright. I just-" He paused, reaching his hands out to touch either side of her face. "Just like wakin' up next to ya, is all."

"Okay," she whispered, not realizing that she'd been leaning closer and closer until his breath was on her face.

He closed the distance between them, touching his lips to hers and she let herself melt into his embrace.

"Who's on watch?" she asked, once they'd pulled apart.

"Does it matter?" He said, leaning his head down to kiss her again.

She raised her hands to his hair, letting herself get lost in his kisses. He sighed when he felt her fingers sliding over his scalp, moved his hands to hold her waist.

She kissed him back eagerly, her tongue slipping into his mouth and her hands falling down his neck and over his chest.

He lowered his mouth to her neck, nipping gently at her sensitive flesh until she let a soft moan escape her lips.

"Bed?" He asked hazily.

She nodded.

He took her hand in his again, squeezing tightly as he led her to the archway on the side of the building and up to the cell blocks.

She followed in silence, not wanting to make any sounds that would cause attention and force pleasant conversation before they were safely inside her cell.

"Where were we?" He asked, pulling the curtains closed once they were inside.

"You asked me if I wanted to go to bed with you," Carol said, her eyes twinkling.

"Mmm," he said, slowly backing her up against the wall. "What was your answer?" He asked, pressing his mouth to her neck again as his hands found the hem of her shirt.

"Daryl…" she breathed as his fingers glided over her bare skin.

He moved his hands up her stomach. "Wanna touch you everywhere," He murmured as his scruff tickled under her chin.

"I wouldn't stop you," she said softly, tugging on his jacket.

He let her pull the leather off him, then moved to slide her cardigan to the floor. With one finger, he slipped a strap of her tank top down, lowered his head to kiss her shoulder as he pushed his hands back under her shirt. "What you want tonight, sweetheart?"

"Just you," she breathed, closing her eyes and pulling his face up to kiss his mouth. He kissed her deeply, hands gently caressing her stomach.

Slowly, she undid the buttons on his shirt, her fingers slipping under the material to feel his chest. He nipped gently down her neck, sucked softly at her collar bone.

"Daryl," she moaned.

"Mmm, Carol," he murmured.

"I have to tell you something," she whispered, taking his face in her hands. She opened her eyes to find his staring back at her, wide and fearful. "It's okay," she said. "I just.."

"Ssh, ssh, ssh," he whispered, pressing a finger to her lips.

"But, Daryl-"

"Don't," he nearly choked.

"O-okay…" she replied, eyes moist.

"Show me," He said, pressing his mouth roughly against hers. He was breathing heavy as he kissed her, his hands tangling in the hair at the back of her head to pull her further into him. "Show me," he repeated.

She nodded, sliding her hands down his neck and slipping his shirt off his shoulders. She bent her head to kiss his chest and he closed his eyes, pressing his lips against her hair.

He toyed with her belt buckle, slowly unzipping her zipper and pulling her cargo pants down her hips. He tugged at her top and she raised her arms to let him pull it off over her head, his hands grazing against her bare skin as he did so.

He kissed her softly, lifting her right up off her feet and carrying her the rest of the way to her bunk. She opened her eyes, watched as he set her gently on the mattress before crawling over her, his hands touching her skin in light caresses as he reached around to unhook her bra.

He finished undressing her slowly, letting the garment slide seductively off her skin as he sucked at her lower lip. His mouth moved lower and lower until he was kissing her breasts.

She pushed her hands into his hair, tugging softly as he sucked at her nipples. The tingling sensation that had started between her legs the moment he'd kissed her in the garden spread throughout her body and it took her awhile to realize that she was trembling with desire.

She knew from his light growls that he could smell her arousal.

He lightly traced her hipbones with his fingertips, moving lower until he hooked his fingers under her panties, tugging them off and discarding them on the floor.

His lips met hers for another soft kiss and she moaned into his mouth when she felt his hand between her legs.

"Alright?" he asked in between kisses and she nodded.

Slowly, he dipped his fingers inside her and began to slide them in and out.

She knew she was really wet, she could feel herself grow wetter as he fingered her and she thought she heard him curse, but it was so low that she couldn't be sure.

"Want you so bad," he murmured against her lips, his fingers still moving inside her.

"Then take me," she whispered shakily.

She felt him reach down with his other hand to undo his belt buckle, heard the unmistakable sound of his zipper being unzipped and she reached to help him get his pants off.

Then he was gripping himself into position at her entrance, asking "Ready?" in a hopeful voice.

She nodded, unable to keep her eyes off his face as he searched her expression before sliding into her.

She gasped as he stretched her open, placed her hands on his hips to urge him further as he pushed all the way in.

He kissed her softly as he slowly started to thrust, one hand cupping the back of her head, the other roaming up and down her curves. He rolled his hips and she cried out.

"Oh baby," he moaned as she started to move against him. "You feel so good."

"You too," she breathed, arms encircling around him to get him as close as possible as he pushed into her.

She moved her legs around his waist to take him deeper, moaned softly because it felt so good.

All the while he kept kissing her, touching her, whispering soft things into her ear as he slid in and out.

"Oh, like that," she told him as he started to move faster.

She pushed back against him. He was making low sounds of pleasure as he thrusted into her, his movements becoming more and more erratic. His bangs fell into his face as he pushed and she reached a hand out to smooth his hair back. His increased his pace as he slid in and out of her, moving faster and thrusting harder.

She closed her eyes as the sensation of him moving inside her threatened to overwhelm her and she felt herself begin to flutter, crying out loud as her muscles clenched around him.

He moaned as he felt her orgasm and with one final thrust, called out "Oh, Carol!" in a near whimper as he came hard.

He was panting hard as they both fought to catch their breath, holding onto her tightly as she touched his face.

"You okay?" He asked, eyes wide and breathing heavy.

"Yes," she whispered, as he wrapped her into his chest. "Are you?"

He sniffed, burying his face in her neck. "I don't know."

She sifted her fingers through his hair as her heart fluttered while she watched him, desperately trying to calm himself down as if he didn't know what had just happened. But she did. She knew this time was different, somehow.

And she couldn't keep a smile from spreading across her face with the knowledge that Daryl Dixon had just made love to her.