AN - This is my first attempt at a strictly Walking Dead story. It's AU with no zombies. At least for now. Everyone is much younger in my story and will most likely be OOC, but it is an AU after all. I'm imagining Carol to be around 30 with Daryl a couple of years older. Most of the Walking Dead cast will make appearances but I'm focusing on Carol and Daryl mainly. Anyway, I really hope you enjoy. If you do, favorite it. Or review. That's even better. Thanks!

***TWD***TWD***

The sun beat down on the old highway, warming the frost off the spindly branches of the trees. Winter had stripped the trees of their leaves and the ground of its color, even in Southern Georgia. Daryl Dixon's eyes darted over the bleak landscape as he headed into town in his beat up truck. The cold weather had forced him to put his Triumph in the garage and he felt confined in the truck. He rolled the window down despite the cold air whipping in. His fingers adjusted the radio and classic rock blared out of the tinny speakers. With a groan, he turned the volume down when he heard his cell phone ringing.

"Yeah?" He barked into it, hating the feel of it in his hand. He missed the days when people weren't constantly available.

"You're late." His brother sounded surly on the other end.

"Fuck off, Merle." He rolled his eyes. "I don't punch no fucking time clock."

"Lucky fuckin' you." Merle snorted.

"Why the fuck you callin' me for when you know I'll be there when I get there?"

"Andrea called. Her friend broke down on the highway. The one I know you're driving on."

"What do you want me to do about it?" Daryl asked, already knowing he was getting roped into helping Andrea's friend. And he just knew without being told, that it was the friend that she had been trying to set him up with for the past few weeks.

"Help her out, brother." Merle chuckled. "You know she's knew to town and don't know no one."

"I swear to god if your wife staged this, I'm killing her Merle." Daryl threatened.

"It ain't staged, stupid." Merle rolled his eyes. "She's got a damn flat tire or something."

"Where is she?" Daryl sighed, already resigned to being a good Samaritan.

"On the highway, almost to town." Merle said. Daryl clicked the phone off and jabbed the radio back on. Three years ago, his older brother had settled down and married a lawyer who worked for the hospital. Daryl had been shocked at the development, considering his brother was a complete asshole. Women didn't tend to stick around Merle Dixon. But to Daryl's surprise, and most definitely to Merle's, Andrea had stuck. And ever since she'd said I Do to his brother, she'd been trying to find someone for Daryl to say the same words to. Daryl was resisting with everything he had. He liked his life the way it was. He had his house in the woods, his shop in town, and after a hard won battle he had his son.

He saw an older model Pontiac on the side of the road ahead and a tiny woman standing in front of the car. She had short red hair that twisted away from her head in crazy curls. Daryl shook his head as he pulled his truck over behind the car. He stuck his phone in his back pocket and hopped down from the truck.

"I've got someone coming." The woman said, her arms wrapped tight around her body, phone clenched tightly in one fist.

"I think I'm it." Daryl hook his thumbs in the belt loops on the front of his worn in jeans and rocked back on his booted heels. "You Andrea's friend?"

"Yeah." She nodded, loosening up a little. "Are you Daryl?"

"Yeah. What's going on with it?" He hadn't noticed any flat tires.

"I'm not sure. It started shaking really bad and then it just died. I'm lucky I got it off the road." She watched with cautious blue eyes as Daryl opened the drivers door and pulled the hood latch. He slammed the door and walked to the front of the car. He opened the hood and he disappeared from her view. She leaned against the back fender and groaned. Why was something like this always happening to her?

Six months ago, her husband had landed her in the hospital again. It wasn't the first time he had put her in, but she was damn sure it was gonna be the last. She filed a police report, got a restraining order, and called her friend from college. Michonne had driven the two hours in the middle of the night and picked Carol and her daughter up from the hospital. She had bundled them back to her small town and proceeded to help Carol get her life back. Michonne and her husband Rick, the local Sheriff, had helped her get a job at the hospital and a divorce. Six weeks ago, the divorce had come through and against Michonne and Rick's wishes, had moved into her own place with her daughter.

"Looks like the radiator's got a leak." Daryl came around the front of the car and startled Carol out her memories. "Was it getting hot?"

"Umm… I don't know." She shrugged. "I didn't notice."

"You headed to work or home?" He asked, slamming the hood down.

"Work."

"At the hospital, right?" At her nod, he motioned to his truck. "I'll drive you to work and tow your car. We'll have it fixed by the end of your shift. Andrea can probably give you a ride over, right?"

"R-r-right." She stammered.

"Ok. You got anything in there you need?"

"My purse." She jolted into motion and grabbed her stuff. She handed the keys to Daryl and followed him to his truck. He opened the passenger door for her and she awkwardly clambered into the seat. He slammed the door and walked around the truck. When he settled into his seat, the truck seemed overly crowded. Carol got her seat belt on and stared out the window. She watched as he steered around her car and continued down the highway.

"You a lawyer like Andrea?" Daryl asked, trying to start a conversation. The awkward silence in the truck was grating on his nerves.

"No." She shook her head, causing the crazy curls to go bouncing. "I'm an OB nurse."

"OB?" He frowned.

"I help doctors deliver babies." She smiled slightly.

"You like it?" He glanced over at her.

"Most of the time." She nodded. "Do you work with Merle at his shop?"

"It's my shop and he works for me." Daryl explained. "Merle likes to take credit for it all but he wasn't around when I started it."

"Oh?" Carol looked at him. "Where was he?"

"On vacation." Daryl snorted. He knew that Merle had been in prison for most of his twenties, but he wasn't sure that Andrea had told Carol about her husband's sordid past.

"Oh, ok." She nodded. "Have you always lived here?"

"All my life." Daryl shook his head ruefully. It was more like he'd been stuck in this tiny town for most of his life. Between taking care of Merle through his drug days and taking care of his mother before that through hers, he hadn't had much of a chance to leave town.

"I've just moved here." She murmured, looking around at the sleepy town that she now called home.

"Where'd you come from?" He asked, wondering why anyone would choose to come here.

"Marietta. It's a suburb of Atlanta." She fumbled with her phone when it buzzed in her hand. She was busy texting someone back when Daryl pulled up in front of the hospital.

"I'll have your car done by the time you get off." He smiled at her.

"Thank you." She opened the door and hopped out. She looked back up at him and offered him a beaming smile that changed everything about her face. Daryl's breath caught at the sparkle it brought to her blue eyes.

"It's nothing." He shrugged, not liking the way her eyes were making him feel.

"For the ride and the car, Daryl. I really appreciate it." With that, she turned and closed the door. Daryl watched her disappear into the hospital and groaned as he turned his truck towards his shop. He parked behind the shop and pushed through the side door. On a cool day like today, all the bay doors were closed firmly against the chill and space heaters hummed from the bays were mechanics were working. Dixon Bros kept five full time mechanics and three body men hired year round. Daryl and Merle filled in where they could.

Daryl nodded at the guys he saw and slipped into the office. Maggie Greene was behind the front desk, a phone cradled in her shoulder. Ever since he had bought the building and land from her father, Hershel, he had kept Maggie on as receptionist. She did way more for Daryl than the name implied and he wasn't sure what he would do if she decided to move to Atlanta to go to college like she always talked about. He rolled his eyes when he saw Merle in his office, feet up on the desk.

"I'm pretty sure I can find something for you to work on if you'd like to earn your paycheck today." Daryl said as he stepped into the office.

"I'm earnin' my check, little brother." Merle dropped his feet to the floor. "Don't you worry none about that."

"You could have fuckin' fooled me. It sure looks like you're doin' a whole lot of nothin'." Daryl went to the wall where all the keys hung and pocketed the keys to the tow truck.

"You get the little mouse fixed up?" Merle asked.

"Little mouse?" Daryl shot Merle a glare over his shoulder.

"Yeah. Andrea's friend."

"She has a name, asshole." Daryl rolled his eyes.

"Course she does." Merle chuckled. "You get her car fixed?"

"No. It ain't no flat damn tire. Looks like the radiators busted. Gotta tow it back here." Daryl left the office and stopped behind Maggie at the desk. He looked over the invoices lined up on the corner while he waited for her to finish her phone call.

"Seems like the body shop always gets busy this time of year." She said as she hung up the phone. "Got a guy with an Impala wants it restored by Christmas."

"Christmas?" Daryl choked out, knowing what a big job it was to restore a car. "He out of his mind?"

"No." Maggie shook her head, her brown hair swinging around her face. "He said he just found the one he's been looking for and he wants to give it to his son for Christmas. Price is no option."

"Aw hell." Daryl sighed, knowing those were the magic words. "What year?"

"1967." Maggie said, looking at her notes. "He wants it black and mean. That's a quote."

"Tell him to get it in here." Daryl said. "I've got to tow a car and then I'll be busy most of the day getting it ready. You need me for anything?"

"You talking about Carol Logan's car?" Maggie smirked.

"Do you know everything around here?" Daryl frowned and headed towards the door.

"I do when your brother's got the biggest mouth in Georgia." Maggie laughed. "She's a real sweet lady. I hope you can get her clunker going."

"How do you know her?" Daryl stopped and turned to look back at Maggie.

"Mama watches her little girl while she's working." Maggie explained. "Haven't you seen her over there when you're getting Bowen?"

"No. Which kid's hers?" Daryl asked.

"Sophia. She's about three with crazy curly red hair."

"Should have fuckin' known. Crazy damn hair." Daryl shook his head and left the office. He climbed into the tow truck and got it started, knowing that it would take awhile to get warmed up. He dug his phone out and flipped through his texts. One from Andrea caught his eye. He clicked on it and had to chuckle when he read it. Now that u've met her when can I set up the first date? She's great, right? He texted her back, telling her he could figure it out on his own and tossed the phone on the seat next to him. He was backing the truck out of its spot when the passenger door opened. Merle climbed in, knowing that Daryl wouldn't stop the truck for him.

"Couldn't even tell me you were leaving?"

"If I wanted your company, I would have told you." Daryl rolled his eyes.

"You always want my company, baby brother. You just don't know it."

"In your dreams." Daryl snorted as he pulled away from the shop.

"Stop by Horvath's. I need some fuckin' coffee." Merle ordered his brother.

"I ain't got time for no damn cafe." Daryl rolled his eyes. "You want coffee, you can get it at the gas station when I fuel up."

"Gas station coffee sucks." Merle grumbled. He threw his booted foot up on the dash and grabbed Daryl's phone from the seat next to him. Daryl glanced over and saw Merle with his phone and rolled his eyes.

"You even know how to work one of those, Grandpa?" Daryl asked, reaching over and yanking the smart phone from Merle's grasp. Merle surprisingly relinquished it without a fight.

"I got a phone, Darylina. I ain't an idiot."

"You got an old school flip phone, Merle." Daryl laughed. "That your wife had to explain to you with fuckin' pictures and shit."

"Fuck you." Merle glared at his brother. "You know I was out of the loop for a long time."

"Yeah, yeah." Daryl said as he pulled into the gas station. He parked in front of a diesel pump and shut the truck off. Daryl grabbed his gloves and climbed out to begin fueling the truck. He watched as Merle meandered his way into the store, stopping to talk to several people on his way. Daryl felt a little guilty about ribbing Merle about his time in prison. He knew his brother hated to talk about that part of his life. Daryl pulled the pump from the truck when it clicked off. Screwing the cap back on, he hurried into the store. He glanced over where Merle was making small talk with Jacqui, the proprietor, before moving to the coffee pots.

"Better hurry up, little brother, if you want to get the mouse's car fixed for her." Merle called out.

"Better mind your own fuckin' business, Merle." Daryl mumbled under his breath as he poured sugar into his cup.

"Now, Merle, you oughtn't mess with your little brother like that." Jacqui chided the redneck at her counter. "You know he don't deserve that."

"I think you might be soft on my baby brother, Jacqui." Merle fixed his blue eyes on Jacqui, who was obviously way too old for his brother.

"I just might be, Merle Dixon." Jacqui laughed. "You know he fixed the transmission in my old truck and he's letting me make payments on it."

"I'm pretty sure I helped fix that." Merle said, rolling his eyes. Everybody in this damn town had a soft spot for his brother.

"My shop, Merle." Daryl put his coffee cup on the counter and got his wallet out. "I get the credit for it."

"Lucky fuckin' you." Merle rolled his eyes. "Pay for my coffee."

"I always fuckin' do." Daryl smiled at Jacqui. "How's that truck doin' for you?"

"Runnin' like a top, thanks to you guys." Jacqui beamed at Daryl. "Don't gotta worry about a thing."

"Bring it in sometime this week and someone will check your fluids for you." Daryl offered, handing her his credit card.

"I will." She winked at him and turned to the credit card machine.

"Jesus Christ." Merle grumbled and stalked out of the store.

"What's his problem today?" Jacqui asked when she turned back around to hand Daryl's card to him.

"Same thing as it is every day." Daryl smirked. "He's a grouchy asshole."

"He's got that pretty wife and an adorable little daughter." Jacqui frowned. "You'd think he'd be happy all the time with those blessings."

"He's happy." Daryl scrawled his name on the credit card slip. "He just don't know how to show it, I guess."

"Andrea'll get him in line, I'm sure." Jacqui nodded. "Speaking of adorable, how's your son? You haven't brought him in here for a minute."

"He's good. Getting big." Daryl grinned. "We're working on potty training. It's not going so well."

"I always heard if you put Cheerios in the toilet, it gives 'em something to aim for." Jacqui offered. "You might try that."

"I just might." Daryl picked up his coffee cup and smiled at Jacqui again. "I'd best be going. Be sure to bring that old truck in this week."

"I will, Daryl." She nodded, watching him walk out the door. He waved and then hurried to his truck. Seemed like the wind was really whipping around now.

"What the hell's your problem today?" Daryl asked his brother when he climbed back into the tow truck.

"Not a damn thing, baby brother." Merle rasped out. "Let's get this fuckin' car towed and get back to the shop where it's warm."

"Alright." Daryl frowned across the cab at his brother and then popped the tow truck into gear. He didn't figure pondering on Merle's bad mood would do him any damn good anyway.