QUESTIONING Chapter 1

QUESTIONING Chapter 1

Daryl was walking down the hall, from the back bedrooms, towards the kitchen. He could hear voices. It wasn't his intention to eavesdrop, but he was naturally quiet, and they didn't notice his presence.

"Carol, I would like to broach a subject with you, which may be none of my business and may come off as insensitive. However, if one does not inquire, one does not learn" said Eugene, who was sitting on a stool at the island, while Carol cleaned the kitchen.

"You can ask me anything you want Eugene, but it doesn't mean I'm going to answer" Carol responded.

"Duly noted." Carol gave Eugene a raised eyebrow indicating he should continue with his line of questioning.

"What exactly is the nature of your relationship with Daryl Dixon?" Carol looked a little nonplussed. Daryl wanted to enter the room and tell Eugene to shut up, but he was also interested in how she would reply, so he remained hidden.

"What Daryl and I have is special, ... friendship doesn't seem like a strong enough word for it. He gets me, and I get him. He's my person." Daryl liked the way she described it, she was his person too.

"But, you don't share living quarters, so it's not a physical relationship?" Now Daryl wanted to punch Eugene in the gut.

"I see this is the insensitive part of your question. You're right, it's not physical. That's not what Daryl wants."

"You sure?"

"I'm sure. Trust me, I've tried a few times, he's not interested."

"That must get lonely sometimes."

"It does, but I've accepted it."

"Would you consider a physical relationship with someone else?" Carol let out a small laugh.

"I see, and I am sure you have somebody in mind."

"I might have a few suggestions."

"Well, I'm not in the market at the moment, but I'll let you know if I change my mind."

Daryl slowly backed down the hall. His lungs felt like all the air had escaped. She didn't think he was interested, that he didn't want her. He returned to his bedroom, he needed time to process what was just said.

(A03)

Arsonist’s Lullabye - Game of Thrones, fan vid featuring scenes from season 1-6 

NEEDING SOMETHING

"What about Tobin?" he asked

What about Tobin? She had been dreading that question. They were at the Kingdom, in a room that had once belonged to the school secretary, but had long since been turned into a bedroom. There were two cots pushed along either wall, and two utilitarian chairs. Daryl was sitting, she was leaning against the wall staring out the window, her leg hurt if she sat or stood still for too long.

When her family found her she had been both happy and sad. Happy to see them, but also sad because she couldn't be with them anymore. Rick had been full of admonishments, Rosita had been angry and the rest looked world weary and weighed down by grief. Daryl had been mostly silent, but he looked at her with worried eyes. Morgan filled them in on how they had been saved, and how the Kingdom's doctor had treated her wounds. They had fussed at her until Morgan decided to take them on a tour, so Carol could rest. Only Daryl remained, he sat with her, not pressuring her, but slowly asking questions, trying to access the situation. She answered him as honestly as she could. She didn't want to talk to him about Tobin, but if she was being honest about other things she needed to be honest about him as well. She sighed.

"Poor Tobin, he was just a warm body for my bed, and just saying that makes me sick." Daryl gave her a puzzled look. "I was miserable, and I just wanted the voices in my head to shut up. I used him to feel something else for a while, but afterwards the pain was still there."

"If you needed someone, why didn't ya come to me?" She could hear the hurt in his voice.

"Oh Daryl" she said lowering herself into the chair next to his "I couldn't have treated you like that. Plus, you would have known something was wrong, and called me on it."

"Yeah" he agreed, chewing on his thumbnail "but if you really needed something, I would have done anything to make you feel better." That was a pretty big admission coming from him, and Carol was touched.

"I don't want it to be like that between us" she said, grabbing his hand before he could pull away. "You mean so much to me, and if anything happened between us I'd want it to come from a place of joy not sadness." Daryl intertwined his fingers with hers.

"So, no more Tobin."

"No more Tobin." She smiled. Daryl seemed relieved.

"Good."

(A03)

Name meanings of (current) TWD ladies (x)

A strong woman is one who feels deeply and loves fiercely. Her tears flow just as abundantly as her laughter. A strong woman is both soft and powerful. She is both practical and spiritual. A strong woman in her essence is a gift to the world. - Ritu Ghatourey (x)

QUESTIONING Chapter 2

That evening Daryl found Carol alone on the back porch, there wasn't much to see but a strip of lawn and the wall. The crickets were noisily making their music. It was getting progressively darker outside and the light from inside the house shone on her back.

"Hey" he said. Carol turned to face him, giving a smile in greeting.

"I saw you and Eugene today" he said leaning against the house.

"It was his day off, and he was just hanging around. I think he wants first dibs on my baked goods." That's not the only thing he wants, thought Daryl.

"I heard you guys talking about me."

"Oh."

"Why'd you say that stuff?" A bit of anger in his voice.

"Because it's true. Look, I'm sorry. I know you probably don't like people talking about you, but he did ask me about my relationship with you. Also, with people like Eugene sometimes it's best just to be honest, that way you can nip any curiosity in the bud."

"But you weren't totally honest. You said that you tried to start physical relationship with me, and that never happened.'

"What?" Carol's facial expression changed from apologetic to irritated. "Daryl, do you even remember the prison? I used to flirt with you constantly."

"That was just to get a rise out of me."

"Sometimes, but sometimes I was trying to show you that I was open to more." Daryl was taken aback. Carol studied him, his reaction.

"Wow, you really didn't know did you? Daryl, you could have come to my cell any night and I wouldn't have turned you away." Daryl didn't think he could have been anymore shocked.

"I thought what we had was unique, but I didn't know..."

"Maybe I should have been more obvious, but I didn't want to push you, or be too touchy feely. You have boundaries and I respect that." Daryl realized he'd have to look back and reevaluate all his interactions with her.

"What about after the prison?"

"Things changed. Everything was a mess, the church, and then the road."

"But you never tried anything here."

"No, by the time we got settled here, I'd come to accept that what we had was rare and beautiful, but different from what I wanted at the prison."

"What if I told you I did want it, a physical relationship?'

"Daryl, if this is about Eugene you don't need to worry about it, I'm not going to take him up on his offer."

"Fuck Eugene, this has nothing to do with him, it's about you and me" he said as walked toward Carol, closing the space between them, placing his hands on either side of her hips on the porch railing. He saw her eyes widen in surprise.

"I'm not the same woman I was at the prison."

"And, I'm not the same man. Apparently that man was an idiot." Carol laughed, and then Daryl kissed her. It was awkward at first, he'd taken her by surprise, but then they adjusted and the kiss deepened. Her arms were wound around his neck, one hand tangling in his hair. He had one hand on her hip, when her legs opened he stepped between them, pulling her close. They stayed like that a long time, kissing and touching, getting to know one another. When he came up for air he would kiss her face, her jaw, her neck before returning to her mouth once more. When they finally broke apart they were both breathing heavily, Carol rested her head against his shoulder.

"My room or yours?" he whispered. She looked up at him.

"Are you sure? Really?"

"I'm sure."

"Why?"

"Because I've wanted you for a really long time. I should have told you."

"There's no going back from this you know."

"I don't want to go back, only forward, with you."

"Well then" she said moving away from the porch railing, she grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the back door "I suggest my room. I have a queen sized bed, and I have a feeling we are going to need the room."

(A03) (chapter 1)