Chapter 2

Carol Mason met Daryl Dixon in her third year of residency. Daryl been grazed by a bullet in the line of duty, and she'd been the one to stitch him up. He'd been quiet, and she'd found him to be the most awkward, sweet young police officer she'd ever met. Apparently, her bedside manner had had quiet an effect on him, because a week later, he'd shown up at the ER with two cups of hot coffee and a couple of blueberry muffins. They married exactly two years after that very first date.

Sophia had been a welcome surprise, though Carol had honestly believed children were never in the cards for her. Still, being a mother and a wife were Carol's two very favorite things in the world. She loved her job, and she loved her family, and she made certain that she was able to spend as much time as possible with them.

Daryl Dixon was a hard working young police officer when they met, and he had gained the respect of many of his colleagues. He'd started out reckless, taking unnecessary risks that got him hurt more often than not. But the second Carol had agreed to date him, he'd begun to plan for a future, and there was no way they could have a future if he wasn't there to be a part of it.

By the time Sophia was born, she already had her daddy wrapped around her little finger. Daryl still couldn't get over how he had managed to get so lucky as to have a wife like Carol and a perfect, smart, funny little girl like Sophia.

His parents had passed years ago. His mother had been sick, and his father had been so broken hearted over her death that he'd pretty much drunk himself to his own. Daryl had an older brother named Merle who found every excuse in the book to not be around. Honestly, Daryl was pretty sure Merle was just jealous that his baby brother had found love and a family and a successful career and had made a decent life for himself. Merle had never had a steady relationship and was often on the wrong side of the law.

Carol's parents were gone, too, and unfortunately for Sophia, she'd never gotten to meet any of her grandparents. Still, there was Hershel, Carol's mother's brother, who had always thought of Carol like a daughter. He had married later in life and had a daughter, Maggie, and when his wife had passed when Maggie was six, he'd re-married and had another daughter, Beth, whose sixteenth birthday they'd just celebrated a couple of months ago.

Hershel, Maggie and Beth were the only family Sophia knew aside from her parents. Daryl had always expressed his anger that Merle had never come around after his niece was born. But, he also figured that maybe that was for the best. Whatever the case was, Merle still found time to send a card every year for the kid's birthday with a fifty dollar bill in it. To Sophia, Merle was just the guy that sent her money once a year. Aside from that, he was a stranger.

Carol and Daryl had made a nice life for themselves. Between her income and his, they'd bought a nice home in a nice area of town that had a big, fenced in yard. As much as they worked, they still found time to make sure Sophia was taken care of, loved and that she saw the love her parents had for one another.

At least once a week, they made a point to have a family date night, where they'd all go out for ice cream or dinner or to see a movie. And then after family date night, when Sophia was sleeping soundly in her room, Carol and Daryl would have their own date. It wasn't that they had to schedule sex. It was more that if their weeks were so hectic and exhausting that they didn't find time for intimacy, they would make sure to set aside one night a week, at least, where they could be together and enjoy one another and let the rest of the world melt away.

Tonight was supposed to be one of those date nights, but Sophia had worn herself and her parents out by having them quiz her on her spelling words. By the time she'd had her bath and gotten to bed, it was late, and Carol was physically and emotionally drained. Still, the second Daryl stepped into the bathroom with that towel wrapped around his waist and the water from the shower beading down his bare chest, she'd felt more awake than ever.

"Thought you'd be sleepin' by now."

"And miss date night?" Carol asked with a coy smile.

"You remembered?" Daryl asked, locking the door and removing his towel. Carol bit the tip of her index finger and let her gaze wander down her husband's well-sculpted body. Almost fifteen years of marriage, and his body still excited her in ways she couldn't quite explain.

"You think I'd forget?" Honestly, she'd been insatiable lately. The last few nights, she'd been so tired, but she'd pretty much pounced on him the second they were alone. Looking back, she knew her hormones had been a little off kilter, but she'd just chalked that up to her period coming. Well, now she knew better.

Daryl was already semi-hard. It wouldn't have taken much to have had him standing at full attention, but before Carol could even think of reaching out to him, he was crawling over her on the bed, opening up her robe and relishing the fact that she was completely naked underneath.

"So fucking beautiful," he growled, sucking at her neck, gently teasing one of her breasts with his open palm. "Love the way you taste."

"Daryl," she whispered, closing her eyes, treading her fingers through his hair, arching back as her body began to ache for more of his touch. His mouth closed over a nipple, and she bit her lip, gasping softly as his tongue and teeth worked her over before moving to the other breast. His hand moved gently down her stomach and down between her thighs. She opened up for him, whimpering the moment his fingers danced across her most sensitive skin, teasing her in gentle circles, bringing her close as he traced her body with his eyes closed, a man who knew every inch of her from memory.

It always felt like the first time, the way he looked at her with such awe, the way her skin prickled and flushed with each sweep of his gaze, each pass of his lips against her. If anyone had told her fifteen years ago that he could still make her feel like a newlywed after all of those years, she'd have probably thought they were crazy. But that was one thing that never became routine for them. It was always passion, always love. Carol was forever grateful she'd found a patient lover, an insatiable lover that understood her own needs and desires as well as his own.

Tonight, they took their time, enjoying one another, gentle and patient, and Daryl paused to kiss her stomach as settled between her legs. She brought her hand to the back of his head, gently threading her fingers through his hair. She bit her lip, looking down at him, and then he moved lower, kissing the sensitive flesh below her belly button, nipping at it as she arched back and opened herself up to him.

He pressed a kiss to her hip, smiling up at her as he nipped at the flesh there.

"Tease," she panted, almost breathless, voice hoarse as he finally tasted her, making her moan his name. "Daryl, please…"

To say she'd been blessed to have this man as a husband was an understatement. He never stopped surprising her, never stopped finding new ways to express his love for her. He was a sensitive soul, and she loved that. He was gruff and had the mouth of a sailor sometimes, but when they were alone, when he was at his most vulnerable, when they could both bare themselves to one another physically and emotionally, those were the moments she fell in love with him all over again.

She bit back a cry as her body trembled and thrummed beneath him. She felt light headed, swimmy, and by the time he pulled himself over her and buried himself inside of her, she was half gone, head thrown back, mouth open in a silent cry as he pulled her leg around his waist and pushed deeper.

His lips ghosted over her pulse at her neck, and he nipped at the line of her jaw, whispered softly against her ear, kissed her lightly beneath her eyes, before he kissed her fully , hungrily, tongue tasting hers, drawing out a moan that brought him closer.

Her hands gripped his shoulders urging him to move faster, and he moved with her, spurred on by the words she whispered in his ear, words that made the both of them blush, but it didn't matter, because they weren't meant for anyone else.

He held on for her, made sure she came crashing down once more before he let go, and when they held each other after, his hand grazed sleepily over her hip, and she curled a little closer against his chest with a sleepy smile upon her lips.

Fifteen years. It still felt brand new.

...

"Can I please?" Sophia begged, hopping from one foot to the other, as Daryl and Carol stood outside of Hershel's large farm house.

"It's ok, Carol. I won't let her out of my sight," Beth insisted. "I'm a good rider. She can ride with me."

"It's true," Maggie offered. "She rides everywhere. She's almost better than me." At Beth's grin, Maggie rolled her eyes. "I said almost."

"Well, it's not my fault Daddy won't let me get my license," Beth pouted. "I can drive the tractor better than he can!"

"I don't doubt that," Carol laughed. Both of the Greene girls had been on that tractor since before they could tie their own shoes. When they were little, Hershel would hoist them up on his lap and let them steer. "School's almost out. Any summer plans?"

"Me and Jimmy are gonna just hang out around the farm," Beth offered innocently.

"Yeah, and Jimmy's gonna be runnin' while Daddy chases him with the shotgun if he comes around too much," Maggie pointed out. Beth rolled her eyes.

"I'm allowed to have a boyfriend. You have a boyfriend."

"I don't have a boyfriend. I've had boyfriends. There's a difference," Maggie pointed out. "And you're too young to understand, anyway." Beth just sighed and rolled her bright, green eyes. There was a stark contrast in the half-sisters' appearances. Maggie was tall with dark hair and dark eyes, while Beth was short with green eyes and wavy blonde hair. Carol could remember scooping Maggie up out of her cradle and rocking her to sleep some nights. Even after they were married, Carol and Daryl would often keep both girls over night, taking them on little trips to the park. They even drove them down to the coast so they could see the ocean, once. Maggie and Beth had been like their own children, giving them a bit of practice before Sophia came along.

"Shit, I feel old," Daryl grumbled. He and Carol had gotten married when Maggie was missing her two front teeth and Beth was toddling around the farm in diapers.

Carol laughed and took Daryl's hand, giving it a squeeze.

"Mom, please?" Sophia begged again.

"Oh, alright. But you wear a helmet, and you listen to everything Beth says. Promise?"

"Promise! You're the best!" Sophia cheered, hugging her mother tightly. Carol sighed and shook her head.

"Oh, now I'm the best. This morning, she only wanted her dad to drive her to school," Carol sighed. "Where's your dad, Maggie?"

"He's inside. He's been pretty tired today."

"Oh, I hope he's not coming down with that virus that's going around."

"I actually told him to cancel, but he wanted to see everybody. I know he's been lonely since Annette died. Now that I'm out of school, I've been trying to keep him busy. Sometimes I feel like his heart might give out on him. He's really been grieving." She glanced over toward Beth. "He doesn't like Beth to see that. He tries to be strong when she's around."

"You've all been through a lot," Carol murmured, drawing her younger cousin into a hug.

"You guys are doing ok?" Maggie asked, eyeing Carol and then Daryl.

"Yeah. We're good. Things are good," Carol promised with a beaming smile.

"Busy," Daryl offered. "Got a lot of stuff goin' on." Carol shot him a look and then a smile. She knew he wouldn't say a word about the pregnancy, but still, she liked having that little secret between the two of them. "Think I'll go on in and say 'hey' to Hershel." He gave Carol's hand a squeeze and leaned in to kiss her cheek. She smiled as he left, and she turned to Maggie.

"You look happy," Carol offered. "I mean, you've changed a lot since I saw you a few months back."

"I guess being a college grad just agrees with me," Maggie joked. "I got a job in town at Steve's Pharmacy. I'm a tech." She chewed her lip. "And I met someone. Ok, I met someone about six months ago, but I haven't told Daddy."

"You met someone?!" Carol grinned with delight and hugged Maggie. "Honey, I'm happy for you. So, what's he like? Is he good to you?"

"He's the best," Maggie murmured. "His name's Glenn, and we met at school. He went for computer programming, so I'm kind of surprised we even managed to cross paths, but we did, and he's so sweet. He was born in Michigan, but he's lived in Atlanta since he was about Beth's age."

"So, what does he do?"

"Right now?" Maggie asked. "He's working an unpaid internship at some law firm downtown. He's helping them set up a new system. To pay the bills, he's delivering pizzas. It's not much, but he's hoping his work will impress the company enough that they'll hire him on as their IT guy."

"I hope it works out," Carol offered. "You look so happy, honey."

"I am," Maggie gushed.

"And you're afraid to tell your dad."

"You know Daddy. Wouldn't you be?" Maggie asked with a smirk. Carol chuckled a little and nodded.

"He loves you girls. He just wants what's best for you."

"I get that, but I'm an adult, and if it weren't for Annette passing away, I probably would have my own place. I just feel like I can't leave him right now. And Beth's been acting out, sneaking out at night doing God knows what with that boy." She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "I heard her cryin' the other night, prayin' to God to take the pain away. I'm scared, Carol. I know what it's like to lose a mother, but I was so young when it happened. Beth's just…she's not handling it. She's keeping busy, and she's just acting out, but she's not dealing with Annette's dyin' at all."

"Just give her some time. She's growing up. It's not easy being the baby of the family, especially when your daddy is overprotective like he is."

The front screen door swung open, and Daryl came out on the porch. Carol and Maggie both turned to look at him, and he motioned for Carol.

"Everything ok?" she asked, moving toward the house.

"Think he's got a fever," Daryl said quietly, glancing at Maggie to see the worry in her eyes.

"I'll check on him," Carol offered.

"He wasn't feverish this morning," Maggie insisted. "He just felt a little under the weather. He went to lay down for a bit." Carol nodded, and she gave Maggie's shoulder a squeeze.

"I'll see how he's doing. Why don't you go keep Beth and Sophia company?"

"I wanna make sure he's ok."

"I'll do that," Carol promised. "Go on." She nodded toward the barn. Despite being twenty-two, Maggie was still Hershel's child, and in that moment, Carol still saw that little girl with two missing front teeth and pigtails. Maggie sighed, shoulders slumping, and she trudged off toward the barn.

"You think he's gettin' what's goin' around?"

"I hope not. I hear it's pretty nasty."

They headed into the house and up the stairs to the master bedroom. Carol could hear him coughing as soon as they stepped foot off the landing. She reached for the door knob, but Daryl reached out to stop her. She looked up to meet his gaze, knowing what he was thinking before he even said it.

"It's ok," she promised.

"It might be," he said quietly.

"Daryl," she whispered, reaching out to stroke his cheek, "we both worried about what could happen when I was pregnant with Sophia. I'm a doctor, and I take care of sick children almost every day. It's a risk that I had to accept a long time ago. I'll be careful. I promise." She leaned in and gave him a soft kiss on the lips. "Trust me. I won't take any unnecessary risks." Daryl nodded then, accepting that that was as good as she could give, because she was a doctor, after all, and Hershel had been like a father to her since her own parents had passed away.

Carol gently tapped on the door, and she heard Hershel cough again.

"Uncle Hershel? It's Carol. May I come in?"

"I'm fine, Carol. Don't worry about me. Just a little bug. Sorry to bring you folks all the way out here. But I'm sure Maggie and Beth will make something nice for supper."

"Well, I'm not worried about food right now. I'm worried about you. I'm coming in." She pushed the door open to find Hershel sprawled out on the bed, the top three buttons on his undershirt unbuttoned. His face was red, and sweat seemed to be pouring off of him. Carol flinched at the sight. Hershel had been a strong, healthy man ever since she could remember. She remembered him hoisting her up on his shoulders when she was a little girl, carrying her around. He'd always been her favorite uncle. He looked thinner now, sickly.

"I'm alright," he assured her, holding a hand up before putting it over his mouth to cough.

"Let me be the judge of that," Carol insisted. She and Daryl both stepped into the room, and as soon as she was close to Hershel's bedside, she could see the rash spreading down his neck and chest. There were spots on his hands and face as well. "Hershel, how long have you been feeling bad?"

"Started feeling weak last evening after supper. I was fine this mornin', and then…" He started to sit up.

"No, no, lay back down." She glanced at Daryl and kept her voice even and calm. "I'm going to step out with Daryl for a minute. Let me get you some cool water, ok?" Hershel coughed again and nodded, leaning his head back against the pillow.

Carol glanced at Daryl and motioned for him to follow her into the hall. Once out of earshot, Carol looked him right in the eye and kept her voice even and calm.

"I need you to call 911. Tell them to get here as soon as possible."

"What is it?"

"I don't know. He has a lot of symptoms that could mean a lot of different things, but I've never seen it like this before. Not this fast. Whatever it is, it's probably highly contagious, so I don't want Sophia in the house."

"Should you be…"

"Whatever this is, it's probably airborne. We've both been exposed. Maggie and Beth will have been exposed. Sophia may have already been exposed by being with them. I want to get her in the car and get her home, Daryl. Can you take her? I need to go with him to the hospital."

"What about you?"

"I'll be ok. Please, take her home? I'll call you as soon as I know anything." She could see the fear in Daryl's eyes as he gave her a tentative nod. He turned toward the stairs, and Carol reached out to grab his hand. "If she starts to feel sick, or if you do, just come to the hospital. Call me, but get to the hospital first. I don't want to take any chances."

"Alright. I will. Promise."

"Thank you," Carol whispered, leaning in and kissing him softly. "Go on." Daryl nodded and grabbed for his phone, quickly dialing 911 as he headed down the stairs.

Carol stepped into the bathroom and grabbed a small glass off of the sink. She filled it with cool water and brought it back to Hershel. She sat on the edge of the bed, hand steady as she lifted the glass to his lips. He was so weak, he could barely lift his head, but he drank almost every drop down.

"Just rest, Uncle Hershel. You're gonna be ok."

...

"Daddy!" Beth cried frantically, as Maggie blocked her from going in the house.

"You don't wanna see him like that, Beth!" Maggie insisted. The second Daryl had come out for Sophia with his phone at his ear, the girls had coming running from the horse barn to see what was going on. All Daryl had said was that Hershel was sick, that Carol was tending to him and that they were calling for help. He hadn't wanted to panic the girls, but he saw no way of calmly taking Sophia and leaving with Carol still in the house.

Carol came down the stairs, one hand tightly gripping the banister every step of the way.

"Any sirens yet?" Carol asked, stepping out onto the porch. All they could hear was the breeze rustling the corn fields.

"What's wrong with him?" Beth choked out. "He's gonna be ok, right? He's gotta be ok!"

"He has a fever and a rash and some spots on his skin. It may not be anything serious, but it could be, so they're going to take him to the hospital to make sure."

"This ain't what's got the kids at school out sick is it?" Beth asked, eyes widening. "One of the boys in my school died yesterday." Carol felt the cold flood through her veins, but she remained calm, not wanting Beth to see the fear in her eyes.

"I'm sure it's not that," Carol offered, voice soft as she reached out to pull Beth into a hug. "Don't think like that, ok?"

"He can't die. I can't lose him, too. I can't!" Beth broke down sobbing, and Carol held the girl close, glancing at Maggie who seemed frozen in place, eyes filled with tears as she stared up at the old, white farm house.

"Maggie," Carol murmured. "Maggie!" Maggie flinched and swallowed back her fear. "I need you to go down to the end of the drive and wait for the ambulance. It's a long driveway, so they need to know they have the right place, ok?" Maggie nodded, but she hesitated to move. "Maggie, go!" Maggie jumped then, but she started running toward the barn. She came out riding one of the horses, dusting flying up at his galloped down the long lane that emptied out on an old dirt road.

Carol helped Beth up the steps onto the porch, and they settled down together on the old, creaky porch swing.

Beth leaned her head on Carol's shoulder, and Carol gently stroked her shoulder. They sat that way for a few minutes, and the cool breeze dried Beth's tears. Carol couldn't help but think back to when she lost her mother and then her father, and thought she hadn't been as young as Beth was now, she still remembered the pain. She could still feel it, and sometimes it was too much if she let herself linger on the past for too long.

"Whatever happens," Carol whispered, "you're going to be ok."

"I'm scared," Beth sniffled.

"I know, sweetheart. But everything's going to be ok."