AN: helloooooo, not sure what I'm doing. I should not be starting a new multichapter. Ahhh but I can't get this out of my head. :) let me know what you think. You're reviews are what motivates me :) I'm still taking prompts if anyone has anything they would like. Pm me or I am thejadehermit on tumblr

I do not own or profit from The Walking Dead

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Deploying was the worst. In more ways than one for Daryl. Watching the guys (and two girls) in his unit, with long faces as their families circled around them, fluttering in worry, and sorrow. Trying to be brave and hold back tears, gave the family members a creepy fake vibe, that always creeped Daryl out. That is if he had any family.

He had made a mandatory appearance at the party on base. No one really wanted to be there, no one really wanted to spend any part of the last few moments home at some stuffy afternoon barbecue, but he went, because it was expected, and as soon as he was able he hightailed it out of there.

If Merle was alive he probably would have been there. Hell free booze and barbecue, Merle would have been all over that, but he was gone now. In the end taken by the addiction that had taken hold of merle's life when he had been injured ironically in the service. Honourably discharged Merle's life had spiralled, addiction to pain killers had grown into more, the gateway to a major drug addiction that had taken his life.

Daryl was alone, the only family he had were te members of his unit. It was better that way, no one to worry while he was gone. No one to care if he didn't make it back.

This was going to be a long deployment. Longer than most, 18 months. He could understand why the guys had long faces.

With a sigh he headed out, wanting a drink before he made it to sleep tonight. Heading to a local watering hole.

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The Rusty Star was a bar, that was off base, but close by, it was where most of the forces from the base hung out. As well as a nearby navy base. That had caused some good natured rivalries, but mainly just facing off against each other at pool or darts. The camaraderie was still there.

Daryl entered, not surprised that the place was almost deserted. Most of the patrons were probably at the barbecue being held in their honour.

He sat at a table he liked to think of as his, and watched as a waitress came from the back, spotted him, and picked up her order pad, heading towards him with a smile.

She was new. He'd never seen her before. The Rusty Stars uniform consisted of short denim shorts and tight t shirts. The owners weren't idiots they knew most of their customers were men.

She pulled off the uniform better than most though. Long legs, graced her petite frame. She had curves that put the other waitresses to shame. He noticed she had on a pair of sensible flats, her legs didn't need any help from the shoes.

She had a short pixie cut, with a shock of red curly hair, and a delicate neck. He glanced down at her name tag to see what her name was; Carol.

She came up with a sweet grin, not the outright flirty fake sexy stares the other waitresses tried to lay on thick for tips. He found himself surprised at the way a spark of heat was flaring in his gut. This wasn't the type of girl he usually went for. He went for quick and easy drunken hook ups.

"What can I get you soldier?"

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She'd spent most of the evening sitting with him. Laughing and teasing him. Watching with a smirk as he would flush brightly at her teasing. Fucking hell he was tied up in knots at this girl and of course he was leaving tomorrow.

She just ended a relationship. She was twenty eight. Friends with one of the waitresses who helped her get this job. She was going back to school in the fall.

When it was time for her to close up, he wasn't even buzzed, he'd had a total of three beers over a couple of hours. She'd been so easy to talk to, he'd forgotten about drinking.

He offered to walk her home when he found out that she was renting a room at a local motel that gave summer rates to students.

She invited him in.

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"This is crazy." She whispered, he had her backed up against a wall. His lips firmly on her neck her legs wrapped around him. He wasn't even sure how they got here, but he needed her. He set her down for a minute to whip off his t shirt, he needed to catch up she was only in her shorts he'd already helped her remove her t shirt and bra.

"You want me to stop?" He asked. Please no, don't let her want to stop. He would die if she wanted to stop.

She moaned, threading her fingers through his hair. "God no, don't you dare stop. It's crazy to do this against a wall when there is a bed right there."

He grinned and picked her up. Lying her on the bed, kneeling between her legs and popping the button on those damn shorts that where driving him insane all night. Peeling them down her legs along with a bright red thong. Fucking hell, she was as hot as hell. He groaned as he lowered his head between her legs. His mouth sucking lightly on her clit before he went to work with his tongue.

She was rocking her hips, moaning loudly, one hand clenched in the sheet, one hand in his hair. Pulling softly, it was spurring him on, making him crazy. He damn near wanted to tell her to pull harder.

She came suddenly, her whole body arching up tightly like a bow, and she cried out. He shed his pants and boxers before she had caught her breath, but she stilled grabbed his hand. "Inside me...now." She muttered.

"Yes ma'am" he said with a smirk. Pushing himself into her. It should have been hard and fast. He should have pounded into her, like he'd been planning. But somehow when he got inside of her, he couldn't go fast. He needed this to last, and he wasn't sure why.

Sex had never been intimate for him. He was pretty sure that this was though. Long slow stokes, while they maintained a breathless eye contact. He couldn't help himself but to touch her face in awe. He wanted to worship her body all night long. "Fuck" he muttered as she came again And he followed her over the edge. "What have you done to me Carol?"

Afterward she was drowsy, he knew she was exhausted. She snuggled into his shoulder, and gave him a tender kiss right above his heart. "Stay safe when you're gone..." she murmured "stay safe." Then promptly fell asleep.

He felt his heart painfully clench in his chest. She was the first woman he'd ever felt this connection too. It was scary. Scarier than what he would face the next 18 months. He slipped out of bed standing there watching her, brushing her hair out of her face tenderly. Wanting to wake her. He slipped out the door without even knowing her last name.

It was better this way, or so he thought.

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12 months later

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A year in this godforsaken hell whole and he still had not become accustomed to this dry stifling heat. It was unrelenting, no breaks from it at night, it seemed to dry out his skin and every mucous membrane. Dry eyes, a dry nose, a dry mouth and suffocating heat.

He had a private bunk thankfully. Daryl was sure his restless sleeping pattern would have done in even the most patient of bunk mates.

His thoughts turned to as they so often did, to Carol, the waitress from The Rusty Star. He wondered where she was, how she was doing if she ever thought of him, the way he thought of her. He thought about her, all the time. Reliving that night. Wondering if he made a mistake not finding out her last name. Not giving her his. He sighed it was for the best. He told himself that over and over.

He sighed flipping on his laptop. Might as well go over the mission for tomorrow. He noticed he had a notification of a message on Facebook. He never used Facebook, he'd mainly created a profile, to get notifications on the recreational baseball league he was in with some of his unit when they were stateside. He hated baseball but the guys had asked so he'd joined.

It was two am, and he had nothing better to do, so he checked the message. It was from Rick Grimes. His best friend from high school, they had lost touch. Rick had heard about Merle's death and that Daryl was deployed and offered his support. It was nice of him. He sent him back a quick message saying thank you, and that he was agreeable to visiting when he was back in the states.

Curious, he opened Facebook. Looking through Rick's friends, he found himself creeping through the profiles of friends from high school curious about where they were now. Michonne, Rick's second wife, had a friend who looked familiar. When he looked at her picture more closely he recognized her as Andrea. One of the waitresses at The Rusty Star.

It overtook him then. He was totally snooping but he started looking through Andrea's massive list of friends and her pictures when he saw her. Carol Miller. It was Carol, his Carol.

His heart was thumping in his chest as he clicked on her name, but she had her profile set to private, but that wasn't what was setting his heart at an irregular rhythm. It was her profile picture. A picture of her and Andrea and a few other women obviously at some kind of baby shower for a heavily pregnant Carol. It was also her wall picture of twin girls. A fanciful sign in the back said three months old. They were wearing onesies that said Mommy's Little Angels.

He was pretty sure he was looking at a picture of his daughters.