Sophia didn't take to kindly to Daryl at first, and Carol had foreseen this.
Carol had held back on introducing Daryl to her daughter. It seemed to soon for Carol herself, jumping into another relationship with another man so soon her long painful marriage with Ed.
Sophia watched Carol as she got ready in the mirror, dabbing just a bit a blush on. Not too much. Carol never really liked wearing makeup.
Tonight she was going out to dinner with Daryl. Sophia had a sitter coming to watch her tonight and by the look on her face, Carol could tell she wasn't pleased. Carol set her blush down after clipping it shut, coming to sit down on the bed next to her daughter, pushing a strand of hair out of Sophia's eyes.
"Why do you have to go?" Sophia's eyes met her mothers as she asked the question, her small hand clutching Carol's. Sophia had always been a mommy's girl, always with her. She loved her mother unconditionally, her fear of Ed only keeping her by her mother's side more than ever.
Carol had always made it so that she carried the brunt of the abuse, leaving her daughter unscathed in most scenarios. The fear had faded from her daughters eyes, but the scars were still deep in her skin, a permanent reminder of her daddy.
"Sophia." Carol said quietly, clutching her daughters hand with her own. How was she supposed to explain this to her? How was she supposed to show her why she was going with this man.
"Baby...It's not like before." she said softly, cupping her cheek with one hand. "I won't be gone long love." Sophia nodded slowly, a slow smile creeping onto her face. Carol heard the doorbell ringing from downstairs and they both jumped.
"He's here." Carol smiled as she got up. This was the first time her and Daryl would be going on an "Official" date. She laughed to herself as she replayed the way he said it, eyes rolling as he put quote marks up in the air as he said official.
"What, going to coffee shops isn't official enough?" Carol nudged him with her shoulder as they walked through the park, each holding a cup of shaved ice. Daryl spooned some into his mouth shaking his head. His lips were stained red from the coloring in the syrup.
"Not official enough." he grunted as he chewed on the ice.
Carol opened the door slowly to reveal a very handsome Daryl, in his hand one solitary Rose. He shuffled his feet awkwardly, cracking a small smile as he looked at her.
"I didn't know what you liked..." he trailed off gruffly as he held the Rose out to her. Carol felt her heart twinge. It had been years since Ed had done anything like that for her. Taking the flower gently, she ushered him inside.
"Come in. I should really get some water for it." she said, turning to the kitchen, Daryl standing in the doorway awkwardly. His eyes went to Sophia, who was examining him closely, arms crossed over her chest as she looked him over.
"Hi." Daryl held up his hand. This little girl did not look amused. He didn't really have any experience with children, so he really didn't know what to say to her. After a minute, Sophia uncrossed her arms, her hostile look going down a few notches.
"My mamma talks about you all the time." she said, her hands on her hips this time. Daryl's eyes found a scar on her arm. Both of them were damaged, weren't they? Like him...
"Oh, and what does yer mamma say about me?" Daryl asked tentatively as he fiddled with his hands, not looking at Sophia, who demanded his attention. She walked right up to him, craning her head back as she struggled to look up at him.
"She says you're nice. And she..." Sophia paused, a devious smile curling on her lips as he looked down at her, his eyes sparking with curiosity. He got down on his knees, looking the girl in the eyes. She had her mamma's eyes.
"There somethin you ain't tellin me?" Daryl teased as the little girl looked down at her hands. They could hear Carol in the kitchen, she had finally found a vase, waiting for it to fill with water as she cut the plastic wrapping off of the rose.
"Oh nothing Mr." Sophia grinned as she backed away from Daryl. He couldn't help but let a deep chuckle fall from his lips. Then she was there in the doorway of the kitchen. It seemed like every time he saw her, it literally took his breath away. Her smile, her laugh. Everything vanished.
The memory of his brother mocking him still haunted him though. He scorned him for going with Carol. Leaving him alone every morning to go with her and stroll through the park or drink coffee with her. As he looked at her, his brothers voice dissolved until it was nothing but a whisper.
Carol set the vase down in the center of the table, turning back to them, arms crossing over her chest as she looked to Sophia then Daryl. "Sophia, what are you doing?" she asked in a suspicious tone.
"It's alright." Daryl whispered to Sophia. "Your mamma talks about you a lot too." he said as he looked at her, noticing her face heat up slightly. Sophia let out a soft giggle as there was a soft knock at the door and Daryl got up as Carol answered it.
A short woman stood on the porch, her wild black hair pulled back in a messy bun. "Hey Carol!" the woman exclaimed as Carol let her in. "Sophia!" the woman smiled. Sophia ran over to the woman, abandoning Daryl, wrapping her arms around the woman in a full out hug.
This woman had sheltered Sophia when times were rough. When it was too much for her to be at home. The nights Ed came home drunk, the nights when something went wrong. wasn't to far away, just a few streets. Such a short distance that Sophia ran whenever her mother told her to . Jones always let Sophia into her home with open arms, not ever questioning it. She knew.
"Thank you so much Mrs. Jones." Carol said after she gave the woman a quick hug. "I really appreciate it."
"Anytime." she replied as she looked Daryl up and down, a small grin quirking on her lips. "So this is him?" she said in approval, nudging Carol softly. Daryl let out another chuckle as he leaned against the table, unsure of what to say. He hadn't been with anybody like this before, nobody as sweet and delicate as Carol.
"That's him!" Carol nodded, checking her watch quickly. "We better get going if we want to get back at a decent time." Daryl nodded, opening the door for her.
"Bye Sophia!" Carol gave her daughter a quick peck on the forehead, smoothing her hair back as she joined Daryl.
Once they were settled at their table in the quiet restraunt, their usual chatter started up. Carol had quickly learned his likes and dislikes. She knew the subject of his brother was a touchy subject, even if he still lived with him. He didn't really talk about his family that much, so Carol didn't bring it up.
"I know we went to Highschool together, but I feel like I know you from somewhere else.." Carol folded her hands over the table, eyeing him. Daryl crinkled a brow at her.
"Highschool ain't enough?" he leaned towards her.
"It is.." Carol breathed, his face inches from hers in the dim light of the restraunt. Then she remembered it. Ed and his brother used to be very chummy. Of course, she was never aloud to talk to him, or any other boy for that matter. Ed was very possessive of her.
He leaned back, resuming his position against the chair, his feet playing with hers gently.
Carol set her fork down on her empty plate, watching Daryl as he finished eating. She just liked to watch him. Watch his eyes as they gaze into space, or watch his mouth as he spoke to her in his gentle, yet rough voice.
His eyes caught hers and his lips drew into a sweet smirk. "Whatcha lookin at?" he asked, wiping a hand over his mouth, thinking obviously something was on his face. Carol shook her head, not saying a word. When they finished, Daryl took the check, just about tearing the book from Carol's hands as she went to pay for it.
"I got it." he growled. Carol frowned, not exactly comfortable with it, but she didn't say anything about it. He always insisted on taking the check, mumbling the whole time about how she shouldn't have to pay for them.
"Come on." his hand grasped her gently as he pulled her from the chair.
"I know where to go."
The moon shone on the lake of the park as Daryl and Carol sat there, watching the small waves lapping on the shore line.
"I used to come here as a little girl." Carol admitted. Daryl's eyes trained on hers the moment she spoke. She wasn't used to getting this much attention from anybody. "Feed the ducks." she played with her left hand, marveling at her ring finger, which held no ring. It was so weird now, her hand had bore that ring for long and it was just...Gone.
"I never really...Had a good childhood." Daryl admitted, faltering as Carol's eyes flickered to his, her heart skipping a beat as they met again. Everytime, even after weeks of seeing him, her heart still skipped a beat when their eyes met. Slowly and gently, Daryl brought his hand up, cupping her cheek, leaning into her.
Their lips met softly in a sweet simple kiss.