AN: Wow, this story's a lot popular than I thought it was, lol. I'm so glad people like it. Here's the next chapter. This chapter focuses on the history of Carol and James for the first half, and the second half will be Daryl's reaction to what he witnessed. Just giving the heads up, in case someone gets confused, lol.

*12 years before the Apocalypse*

"Congratulations, Carol! I can't believe Ed proposed to you already, hadn't even been six months since he laid eyes on you at the car shop."

Carol was glad to hear her best friend James approved of the impending marriage. It's true, she hadn't known Ed for more than six months, started out innocently enough. Carol's car was making a weird noise from the engine block, and shuttering as she drove it down the highway. She couldn't help but notice the man laughing, commenting on her inability to realize you had to have the oil changed to keep the car running well. The tiny brunette wondered what her friend would think of the little girl growing inside of her. She had hoped her friend since elementary, would still remain supportive, but she knew she'd be okay. Because she had the love of her life, and her unborn daughter to make her happy. What could possibly go wrong, she thought.

After they said their I Do's, everything. Ed became more abusive. It started out just being verbally, and then his buddy from the shop got him to drink…..and then the bruises and broken bones began to show up. Carol never reported him for spousal abuse, because she'd always suffered from abuse since she was a little girl. One night, Ed became a little too rough, and threw Carol down the stairs when she had threatened to leave him. The stress and pain from falling down a flight of stairs was enough to send Carol into premature labor, giving birth to Sophia at only 34 weeks. Carol will never forget that, for that was the moment she truly became afraid of Ed. If he was willing to damage her body while carrying their child, there's no telling what he might do to her if she spill her juice, or breaks something of his on accident. Someone had to be there to protect her.

Someone had to protect Sophia from the monster that lives with them.

Carol slowly withdrew herself from her friends, closing out her social life inch by inch. She nearly had a heart attack when she heard a familiar truck pull into her driveway, the light thump of James' boots hitting the sidewalk. Carol tried to dive for the door, but Ed had caught her by the hair, when she had hair. He threw her to the floor, hitting a coffee table on the way down, as he yanked the door open.

"What do you think you're doing, visiting a married woman?" He boomed, acting offended like a jealous husband would, when a male friend visited his beloved.
"Just….bringing Carol her book back. And seeing how she's been since she gave birth. Haven't heard much." James timidly answered back, he never was one to challenge another man.
"And you won't, if ya keep coming around my woman. Now beat it, before I kick your ass into your teeth!" And with that, Ed slams the door, refusing the book James held out for him to take. Carol was fearful for her friend…..former friend, now. She was so sure Ed would've killed him just for coming around her. Her fears quickly turned to her own safety. That was the night she thought she'd lost her best friend.

It was also the night she thought she would die, she thought, as she lay on the floor of the living room and received the worst beating she'd ever get. She prayed that one day, she could exact revenge on her husband for all the times he'd hit her, beat her to near death. Who knew that day'd come when it was the end of the world?

AN: I know this is another short chapter, but I wanted to kind of do a throwback, a brief glimpse into Carol and James' history. I probably could've just thrown this into a chapter, but I honestly didn't feel up to it. Holiday traveling is upon us, and I must return to packing. I'll come out with one more chapter before the end of the year, and wrap up this story before the second half of season 4 begins on Walking Dead (which I'm still not happy about the possibility of the Caryl paring not happening. But I have hope, lol.) If for some reason I do not post Thursday night (48 hours from the time of this story being published), then I wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah or Happy Kwanzah, and a Happy New Years to you all!