cassette tapes |d. dixon| [1]

48

"It has been awhile since everything that had gone down with Woodbury. It was getting warmer out, we had more people. Everything had felt... normal."

"ONE... TWO... THREE." Daryl and Caroline lifted the top bunk off and placed it down next to the bottom bunk.

Caroline smirked, placing her hands on her hips, "Perfect."

"Now we have a bit more space." Daryl stated, moving his bag around, 

"What, you don't like sleeping next to me?" Caroline asked, wrapped her arms around him from behind,

"Nah, just a small bed, that's all." 

"Okay, Mr. Snorey." Caroline mumbled, stepping back. She went to grab a sheet to connect the two mattresses when Daryl swatted her ass with his bandana,

"Ow!" She stood up straight and glared at him, "Really, Dixon?"

"Really." He smirked.

Caroline pushed him back onto the bed and straddled his waist. She pinned his wrists above his head on the mattress and smirked, "Wanna play dirty, Dixon, we can play dirty."

"Yo, Dixon!" 

Daryl shot up and lifted Caroline off of him. She let out a groan and laid against the bed as Zach walked in, "Ready for the run?"

Caroline looked over at Daryl, "Another one?"

He nodded at the younger man, "Yeah, I'll be down in a sec."

Zach left and Daryl leaned down to kiss Caroline quickly before grabbing his crossbow, "Got mouths to feed."

Caroline nodded, "Okay. See you tonight?"

He winked at her before leaving the cell. She laid against the bed, staring at the ceiling. 

Winter had come and gone, and everything was peaceful.

"No more keeping our guard up, wondering if we were gonna get attacked in the middle of the night. We all cared for each other, pulling our weight. We only let in people we could count on. It was the closest thing we could get to being back to normal."

They had set up a sanctuary. They cleaned out the other cell blocks so more people could move in. They set up a water source and made showers and sinks. They found pigs and horses at a nearby farm that they took in. Rick and Hershel had set up a garden so they could get fresh produce.

Daryl had gone out and found more people to bring in.

It was a real community.

Everyone pulled their weight. Whether it was taking down walkers at the fences, cooking the food, washing clothes, or going on runs.

They all lived peacefully together.

Michonne would leave every few weeks, looking to find the Governor. He had run off since slaughtering his people.

They had set up a council. Hershel led it and Daryl, Glenn, Sasha, and Carol were the other members. They were the ones who made the decisions.

Whether someone can stay. Whether a run was worth it or not. Set up jobs and work the rotations.

Caroline had been asked to join, but she stayed out of it. She preferred to stay out of the spotlight. She wasn't sure she wanted to be responsible for the choices made to benefit the prison.

She would often work the fence, killing walkers that had piled up. Sometimes she would go out with Rick into the surrounding woods and set up traps. Or possibly skinning the animals that Daryl brings in.

"As much as I would like to be part of the council, I think I would lay away at night wondering if I voted for the right thing. I'd rather spend time physically doing something to help the community."

Caroline had just finished her shift out on the fences, going inside to the showers to clean the guts and blood from her skin.

The shower curtain shifted and she almost let out a scream before a hand placed itself over her mouth.

"Miss me?" She heard Daryl mumble in her ear,

She shoved his mouth away, "Asshole." Caroline smiled, turning around in his arms, "Back already?"

"Gotta go back in a few days. Clearin' out all the biters now." He replied, using the water coming from the shower head to rub away some of the blood from her face, "How was is here?"

Caroline shrugged, "Nothing new. Still too many walkers on the fences no matter how many we take out."

"We'll come up with somethin'." Daryl stated.

Caroline grabbed some shampoo and began massaging Daryl's head, "We always do." She whispered, staring up into his eyes with a smirk, "Did you lock the door?"

"Of course."