This here is for my girl's over at Fans Of CARYL...you know who you are! This story is set where the S4 mid-season finale left off and goes from there. ALSO...in this universe Merle, Sophia and Hershel are still alive...cause I love them so much! And, just like in "Kiss From A Rose", Beth is older...she will be 23 in this story. I'm trying to keep the all the characters in character, but...at times they might get a little OOC, but not too often. I hope you enjoy this new adventure!

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT own any of The Walking Dead characters and I'm NOT making any money off of them! I only claim the OC characters I created for this story.

Please leave reviews. They are what keep me wanting to write!

For those on Twitter follow me at GrapeMystic and also check out my new CARYL group on fb called Fans of CARYL and our new CARYL website www dot fansofcaryl dot com !

CARYL ON!

It had been almost a week since the prison fell. A week of running, a week of hiding, a week of trying to stay alive. Gradually, they found each other over again, tired, weary, struggling to keep going. What started off as Sasha, Maggie, Merle and Bob at the designated meeting spot had grew in days. Not long after, the bus had pulled up, Glenn stumbling out and into Maggie's arms. Sasha and Bob had checked everyone over and got them inside while Merle patrolled the perimeter and watched for the rest of their group. The following day, Daryl pulled in on his bike with Beth on the back. The younger Green had stayed behind at the prison to find the kids, but with the yard getting overrun with walkers, Daryl had made them leave.

Most of the children were still missing, only two had been on the bus. Daryl and Merle had volunteered to go back to find them, but as they had started to head out, a car came driving up the road slowly. When it pulled in, Sophia spilled out from the passenger side, running straight to Daryl, her arms wrapping around him as she buried her head into his chest. Lizzie, Mikka, Luke and Molly got out the back, looking around hesitantly at the run down looking warehouse. The last one out was Tyreese with baby Judith in his arms and a smile on his face.

Sasha and Bob quickly gathered the kids, ushering them inside where it was safe. Sophia had remained with Daryl, refusing to let him go. Tears poured from her eyes as she looked up at him, her voice sounding broken, "M-Mom?"

Daryl glanced at Merle and Merle nodded to him before walking away, giving them some privacy. Daryl wasn't sure how to break the news to Sophia about Carol. Hell, he was still pissed about the entire situation. Taking in a deep breath and sighing, Daryl looked down at the girl that he'd grown close to over the years, "Ya momma...she's safe, okay. I'm'ma go find her and bring her back here. Gonna need ya to help with the other kids while I'm gone though, right?"

"Daryl...did, did mom get sick?" Sophia asked hesitantly, unsure of what had happened to Carol.

Shaking his head, he sighed, refusing to lie to the girl, "Nah...nothin' like that. See, ya momma..." Running a hand through his hair, Daryl let her go and began to pace, his anger over what Rick had done getting to him. Clenching his jaw, he breathed out, "Sophia, ya momma told Rick she killed Karen and David."

Crinkling her brow, Sophia looked confused and looked back at the building behind them where the others were, "But..." Her line of sight went back to him and she shook her head, "But Lizzie told Tyreese she killed Karen and David. Said it was to protect the others. She said they were bleeding from there eyes and all."

"What?" Daryl asked and then looked towards the building and then back out towards the road. Daryl had known the minute Rick had told him what had happened that she didn't do it and now everything had came to the surface. She had been doing what all mothers do, protecting her children and Carol saw Lizzie as her own. Growling, Daryl huffed, "Told the son of a bitch she didn't do it..."

Swallowing, Sophia shifted from one foot to the other, "Daryl, where's mom?"

His hands went to his hips, his eyes boring a hole into the ground at his feet. "Rick...he sent her away." Lifting his head back up, he looked up at the blue sky above them before looking back at her, tears streaking down her face. Releasing a breath, he held his arm out to her and she came to him, wrapping her arms around his waist, "I'll find her, don'tcha worry 'bout that. Just like I found you."

The last of the survivors to show up had been Rick and Carl, who had all but crawled there three days later. Rick looked like hell warmed over, the beating he'd taken from the governor almost doing him in. Daryl had been standing at his bike getting ready to head back out once again to look for Carol when Tyreese had spotted them coming up the road. Daryl did nothing to go help the man, instead letting Tyreese and Bob go. Cutting his eyes back to Merle and Sophia as they stood with him, he grumbled, "Keep that asshole away from Sophia, Merle..."

The words barely left his lips before Sophia took off running towards Rick and Carl. "SOPHIA!" he yelled, going after her but not reaching the stealthy young girl until after she had plowed into Rick, knocking him to the ground hard with her body. Her fists hammered down on Rick as she yelled at him and Daryl pulled her off the man as he groaned in pain. Wrapping her in his arms, he took a few steps back with her, but held her tight, "Calm ya ass down. Ain't gonna help nothin' with ya beatin' on 'em. Ain't worth it, girl."

Daryl had talked to them all, telling them what Rick had done to Carol. Tyreese had filled in the gaps, letting everyone know that it hadn't been Carol who had killed Karen and David, it had been Lizzie. Even Maggie who had known what Rick had done felt bad, and even offered to help Daryl search for her. The only one who had seemed to side with Rick had been Beth. At every turn she seemed to try to justify what he had done.

Sophia struggled against him, trying to get away. Others had made there way outside and watched from a distance, "HOW COULD YOU!"

Tyreese and Bob helped Rick to his feet, holding the man up, "Sophia..." his tired voice breathed out, "She...she killed two of our own..."

"NO! SHE DIDN'T! IT WAS LIZZIE YOU ASSHOLE!" she yelled and then buried her head into Daryl's chest as he starred hard at Rick.

Breathing heavily, Rick lowered his head, barely able to keep holding it up, "She told me..."

"She was protectin' that 'lil girl. Same as she would do for Carl or any other kid here," Daryl growled out, his own anger making it's way to the surface.

Lifting his head the best he could, Rick looked at the man and then over to where the others were standing. His eyes then fell to the ground, his voice barely there, "I...I thought..."

"Ya thought wrong, Officer Friendly," Merle interjected. Pursing his lips, he lifted his chin, "Gotta say, ya getting' good at leavin' people behind. Me...Andrea...now Carol. Who's next in line, huh? Hershel? Maybe even Asskicker?"

Coming out to them, Hershel limped over, coming between the men, "Need ta get him inside. Get some food and water into them and let them rest. We'll have time to talk this all out. Daryl..." Turning his attention to the hunter, he raised his brow, "We'll watch over Sophia. You go find Carol. Bring her back. We should be good here for a couple more days before we'll need to start making runs or move on."

Daryl continued to glare at Rick. The man he thought he once knew was all but gone, just a shell now. Not sure exactly where Rick had taken Carol, raised his brow, "Where'd ya leave her?"

Rick remained quiet for a moment before breathing out, "That subdivision...eight miles west of the prison. The one you scouted out a few weeks ago." Lifting his head, he swallowed, "She's not there...she drove off. We had been on Manning Drive. Could be anywhere now..."

"Best be prayin' she's alive, asshole. 'Cause if'n she ain't..."

"Daryl, son...we've had enough blood shed," Hershel said gently. "He'll pay for his sins, just like the rest of us. Go on now and get your things and get going."

"I want to come," Sophia said, looking up at Daryl. "I want to help."

Shaking his head, he sighed, "Nah, ya best stay here. Ain't no tellin' how long I'll be. You'll be safer here." Pulling her from him, he bent down slightly, looking into her eyes, his hands gently gripping her upper arms, "I'll bring her back, kiddo. Ya stick with Merle, understand? Don't be given' him no shit. Don't need ya momma goin' on the warpath when she comes back for us not takin' good care of ya, 'kay?"

Nodding her head, she cut her eyes, glaring at Rick and then looked back at Daryl, "Is he staying?"

"Don'tcha be worryin' 'bout that none." Standing back up, he let her go, motioning her to go with Merle. Tyreese and Bob began to take Rick inside and Daryl finally looked at Carl, "Ya okay?"

Nodding his head, his eyes darted around some, "Yeah. Did..." Fighting to hold back his tears, Carl released a breath and looked back up at the man, "Judith?"

Smirking, Daryl nodded, "She's inside. Tyreese got her and the other kids out."

A smile made birth over his face and a weight seemed to lift from his shoulders. Adjusting his hat, Carl then offered up, "Let me go with you...to find Carol."

"Carl, you need to rest, son," Hershel said lightly, looking the boy over.

Shaking his head, he focused back on Daryl, "I'm fine. Let me help. I'm a good shot and you need someone to watch your back."

Knowing he was right, Daryl looked at Hershel, but the man offered nothing up. Making the call, Daryl nodded, "Go get ya some supplies and have Maggie give ya a box of ammo. We're leavin' in five."

Carl took off towards the building, leaving Daryl and Hershel standing there. Slipping his hands into his trousers, Hershel spoke up, "When you get back here with Carol, we're all going to have to sit down and decide what to do here."

"Figured as much. Look, if shit goes down while I'm gone, Merle knows of a place ta go. It'll be safe there. We'll catch up with y'all there if'n ya have to leave."

Looking at the younger man, Hershel nodded once and then placed his hand onto Daryl's shoulder, "You and Carl be safe out there, son."

"We will," Daryl said, his voice raspy and low. Carl came running back out with a small backpack on his back and gun on his hip. Going over to the motorcycle, Daryl got on, sitting it upright and starting it. Carl climbed on behind him and held on and before they knew it, they took off down the road, leaving there loved ones behind to go get the one person that meant more to them then anyone, Carol.

Wednesday, Dec 11th is "Fanfiction Wednesday" over at our CARYL website. Our featured author will be yours truley, yes, me! Come by and chat, ask me questions about my fanfics and pick my brain! You can find our live chat a www dot fansofcaryl dot com ! Chat room is at the bottom of the homepage at starts at 7:30 pm Eastern! Hope to see y'all there!