Pieces of Us
(Walking Dead, Daryl & Carol)
1. Reflections
The first time she meets Merle Dixon she sees another Ed; the first time she meets Daryl Dixon she sees herself.
2. Good
"What're followin' me for," he snaps at Sophia, but she doesn't flinch cause Ed's her father and she knows the difference between a good man and a bad one.
3. Symbol
Every time she sees a Cherokee rose she remembers how much it hurts to love; whenever he brings one to her she remembers that love is worth the pain.
4. Faith
She doesn't believe in heaven and hell any more, just this: the feel of leather beneath her fingers, the way the grit never really washes off, the smell of the rotting flesh and him.
5. Sleep
In her dreams Sophia is alive, always running just ahead, laughing as she turns to let her mama in on the joke.
Sleep II
In his dreams he finds Sophia on that first day and when they get back to the road Carol holds them both too tight as she smiles through her tears.
7. Souvenir
She presses the rose between the pages of Dale's awful novel, thinking that she'll give it to Sophia when Daryl finds her, because he's going find her.
8. Evidence
He keeps the ears as a reminder of how, no matter what, he'll always find his way back to them.
9. Comfort
"I don't need you hovering' over me every time I get a scratch," he says, but he doesn't do anything to stop her from settling down beside him.
10. Funeral
She visits the grave after dark, lays in the dust next to where they buried her daughter's body and, although her hand shakes as she presses it into the ground, she doesn't cry as she whispers her apologies into the earth.
11. Souvenir II
She finds the rose amongst Dale's belongings after they've buried him, the petals dried and fragile in the palm of her shaking hand, and can't bring herself to destroy it like she did the others.
12. Gift
"You'll scratch your hands somethin' fierce if you don't wear these," he says, not making eye contact as she accepts the gloves.
13. Muse
There's something about her quiet manner that inspires him to try and be more gentle.
14. Secret
He loves his brother, 'cause he's blood, but sometimes he's glad Merle never showed up after Atlanta because now he's got family.
15. Ritual
She's taken to following him to the bike, whenever he's ready to head out on his own, fingers brushing the cool metal before she says, "don't be too long" and he tells her to get out of the damn way.
16. Fantasy
Rick dreams of a perfect little hideaway, somewhere where they can all be safe, but Daryl knows that there's nowhere like that left; all he asks is that their group doesn't get any smaller.
17. Green
Daryl doesn't like the way Tyresse looks at Carol or the way she smiles back but when Rick asks, he can't think why.
18. Crossroads
"What do you mean you're not comin' with me," says Merle.
19. Apology
"I was thinkin' of you," she tells him later, sitting down next to him and handing him his share of their rations, "when I said a man of honour."
20. Touch
He doesn't flinch now, when she leans over to hug him, but he still makes a face.