AN: so I love this little story but I have no real direction I wanted it to go:) it was o my gonna be a one shot but i love to make you all happy. It's become my little outlet for when I need to vomit rainbows. Pure fluff. If you have any requests you would like to see happen let me know. Also if anyone has any separate unrelated prompts, you can pm me or let me know on tumblr. I am thejadehermit on tumblr :) let me know what you think

I do not own or profit from The Walking Dead

Chapter 5

She'd asked him out, she would need to be the one to come up with a date idea.

Carol had spent the last two days trying to make plan a date with Daryl and had become increasingly frustrated.

Go out dancing? Didn't seem like it would be his thing, most certainly was not hers.

Bowling, not special enough.

Diner and a movie seemed so cliched.

Carol wanted special. Hell she wanted to paint him naked she though with a groan as she saw him heading into his kitchen with only a towel the day of their date.

"Oh my god...drop the towel." She'd half moaned to an empty apartment, watching from her bedroom window. She grabbed her sketchbook and tried to work out the contours of his ass from what she could see under that towel. Oh god, she really was a pervert.

He was so shy, she was sure he was going to feel awkward meeting her tonight. She needed to lay all her cards on the table. Show him exactly where her thoughts were. No need to let him wonder. That's when she'd figured out what to do.

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"You look amazing...nice shirt."

Carol had to hold off a grin at the way Daryl's face flushed at her compliment.

"Thanks..you too, ... I mean nice dress.."

Oh wow his voice. Low and rough it was sending chills down her spine. Not what she had expected. It was better.

He was flustered, it was endearing. She had a feeling that making him blush would be her new favourite thing.

"Thanks," she smiled with a wink "I wore it for you."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"You sure you won't get in trouble for doing this?"

Daryl hurried along trying to keep up with Carol who had a hold of his fingertips leading him through the maze of hallways that lead to her office at the art college.

She squeezed his hand as she looked over her shoulder with a grin and he felt that same surge of heat pool in his stomach. He wasn't sure how she did it but she was as adorable as fuck and sexy at the same time.

This had been the greatest date of his life. Hell, it was probably the greatest night of his life. Carol was amazing. She had a way of putting him at ease that he'd never felt before with anyone in his lifetime.

They'd started the night at a little restaurant down by the beach. She was easy talk to, and easy not to talk to, too. There was no uncomfortable silences. She didn't seem to feel the need to fill silences with empty chatter. That was something that always made him feel awkward. He wasn't good at small talk. Never had been.

After dinner she'd kicked off her shoes and had wanted to walk on the beach. She'd slipped her hand in his like it was the most natural thing to do in the world. Softly teasing him to take off his shoes so they could dip their feet in the water.

He'd finally agreed, they'd been standing along the shore, letting the waves wash over the top of their feet, she'd been squealing in laughter with each wave that the water was freezing. A slight buzz was flowing through him, he'd had two beer at supper, not drunk, just a warmth flowing through his chest. He'd picked her up as a new wave approached. Both hands on her waist he held her off the ground her toes dangling just above the water. She'd stopped laughing, her expression intense as he lowered her down. Her body sliding down his own, her front coming in full contact with his own. She'd wrapped her arms around his neck. Not wanting him to let go.

"I wish you could see your face right now..." she murmured staring at him with a thoughtful look on her face. She'd pushed a stray strand of hair out of his eyes and he hadn't been able to stop himself from nuzzling her hand. "I want to show you something," she'd said with a secretive grin.

That's how they'd ended up here, sneaking into her studio office at eleven pm at night. He felt like a teenager sneaking in somewhere he wasn't supposed to.

"Our offices doubles as studio space, management don't mind if we are here on off hours." She said

They got to her office and she flicked on the light. He'd grinned at how neat and organized it was. Somehow he'd been expecting that. The far wall was filled with windows, and he could see the back side of an easel and canvas.

She gripped his hand pulling him towards the canvas, stopping just behind it.

"For so long, I had no motivation to do what I loved, even if Ed would have let me."

He felt a twinge of hatred for the man she had been married to. The asshole hadn't known what he had. He'd thrown it away. She deserved so much more than that.

"Even when Ed died I worried, that it would never come back to me. The first time I saw you, I felt it. It was there, like a rose blooming. Hope" she stared at him and he felt the breath stutter in his chest. "It didn't hurt that you are amazing to look at from across the way" she giggled. "You became my muse, in the least stalker/ creepy way possible," she paused to laugh "and I wanted to say thank you."

She walked behind the canvas her hand gripping his own and he felt his breath catch in his throat.

It was him, on the canvas. Her image was like a picture in some ways, other ways it was not. He'd never looked at himself that way, objectively. He couldn't believe she saw him that way.

He turned to her, her face had a cringe of fear, like she was waiting for his anger or disgust. He was awed that she put herself out there for him, despite her past with her husband she still took a chance and showed him this. Trusting him.

He put his hands on her cheeks, pressing his forehead to hers. Eyes locked, he could feel her breath blowing over his skin. That's when he realized that he'd seen the exact same thing in her, as she had in him. Hope. Pulling her closer, their lips met.

Xxxxxx