Redemption - The Walking Dead

Give me your tomorrow

Daryl knocked gently on Carol's door before he opened it and peeked his head inside. Carol was laying on her bed, hugging a pillow. She looked so sweet, he couldn't help but smile at her.

"Hey, you ok?" He could tell from her eyes that she had been crying but she nodded and smiled back at him.

"I'm fine. Sorry if you heard any of that earlier."

He hated how she always put on a front, always acting like she wasn't hurting.

"Nah I didn't hear a thing. You need anythin'?" Daryl stood picking at the doorframe awkwardly until Carol beckoned him in.

He slumped down on the bed beside her. He couldn't help but tense up for a moment when she leaned her head on his arm but he relaxed and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

"Y'all have an argument?"

"No, not really. I actually think it went as well as it could have. She and Hershel are leaving again, so there's not much she can do really. Once she's gone I think it'll be easier."

"You gonna go public?" Daryl couldn't think of a worse idea.

"Well, eventually I'd want to. I know you're worried about what people will think, but I don't think I really care anymore."

Daryl squeezed Carol into his side. He put his head on top of hers with a sigh. "I don't care what people think either, I just don't want you to get hurt. People are starting to talk already, you know?"

Carol shrugged. "Let them talk. He won't be the one that hurts me, Daryl. I just hope they try to understand, or at least give him a chance, like you did."

Daryl scoffed.

"What?"

"If I just met Negan today, and knew nothing 'bout him, I'd still think that guy was a jackass. He sure as hell doesn't help himself."

Carol let out a little laugh, she gently patted Daryl's chest. "Watch it, I'm feeling very protective of my man at the moment."

So he was her man now, Daryl scrunched up his face. "Gross."

Carol lay back down properly on the bed, she held her pillow to her chest. Daryl joined her. He put his hands beneath his head. They lay side by side in comfortable silence for a few minutes.

Carol sat up a little to look at Daryl. "Do you trust him?"

Daryl had to think carefully for a moment. He wanted to just say 'yes' for Carol's sake. But truthfully, he wasn't sure he'd ever truly trust anyone with her, let alone Negan.

He bit his lip before he spoke. "I don't think he'll do anything like he did before again." He rolled over to face her. "Do you?"

"Of course I do, I'd trust him with anything. But my dreams, those nightmares I have they're usually about him hurting other people. He's covered in blood. Or he's hurting you. Or you're hurting him." Carol looked upset.

Daryl chewed on the inside of his cheek, he didn't know the right thing to say. Hell, he himself sometimes still had dreams about his time spent at the Sanctuary.

"You can't carry his guilt for him. His past is part of him, it ain't gonna go anywhere." He knew it wasn't what Carol wanted to hear. "Sorry, I really hate seeing you like this. Wish he didn't do this to you."

"He didn't force me to fall in love with him, Daryl."

Daryl hummed in reply. He hadn't heard her say she was in love with him before. It stung like a bitch.