Authors Note1

Thank you all so much for the kind words and reviews they mean so much to me! We're starting off around the same time as we left last only the next morning. I'm going to start to leave a sort of time stamp in the chapters as we move ahead. As to when Carol and Daryl met, and when the ZA begins. Another note at the end like always. Thanks again for the kind reviews, the fav's and so on. They keep this going. Have a good week everyone!

Disclaimer: I don't own TWD, no copyright intended, just taking the characters out to play for a little while.


Chapter 7 ~ The Cherokee Rose ~

Saturday Morning, Early May

Day 9

Carol could feel Daryl's warm breath on the back of her neck it tickled and was giving her goosebumps. She was basically in a Daryl and Sophia sandwich, with Daryl spooned against her back, and her daughter pressed against her chest. His arms were around them both. She felt safe, protected…and she really, really had to pee. But she didn't want to wake either of them up. She squinted at the time. It was only six in the morning, so she settled herself once again, against Daryl's chest. His arms tightened around her, but he was still sleeping. She hoped that this wouldn't be weird when they all woke up. But, Sophia had wanted him to stay with them. So had Carol.

And he was a sweetheart for staying with them, and she had meant her words to him last night. Not just anyone would have done this for her. Stayed the night because Holly had to go to her sister's she still didn't believe that that was not a ruse to have them alone together. But she really wanted to get to know Daryl more. She wondered then if he had to work today, but she didn't think so…it was Saturday.

When Sophia woke up, they were able to untangle from Daryl's embrace, and get themselves to the bathroom. It was around seven in the morning now. Carol got to go to the bathroom, then she called Joel, to see if Daryl had to be at the station today. But Joel said they'd both had the weekend off. They'd been working about three weeks' straight.

Carol startled when suddenly she felt hands on her shoulders, and Daryl gave her shoulders a light squeeze, lightly massaging the tension he felt in them. "M'sorry for startling ya." Daryl brushed his lips against her ear. "Got the weekend off, ya wanna come up to my place need to check on Harley, and Holly told me she'd be spendin' the weekend with her sister." He continued to massage her shoulders and neck. Carol relaxed into him with a soft sigh.

"We'd like that."

Carol had told him last night that she'd wanted to file for divorce with Ed. So they spoke about it, and he said that he'd have his lawyers file for divorce in King County where Carol had lived. That morning already he'd had her sign the papers, and because she was in protective custody, it worked where she didn't have to put an address in. Daryl's lawyer just said that all they'd have to do is supply is the attorney's address. As she was in a safe house. Daryl had done this many of times, so it wasn't new to him. But he wanted Carol to be in the process of the entire filing process.

So while Sophia was in her shower, Daryl went over to his bag and brought out the paperwork he'd had emailed to him last night after Sophia had gone to bed, and Carol was getting her shower. Daryl had pulled up the attachment in his email and printed it out in Holly's office.

Daryl helped her fill out the paperwork, keeping an eye on the doorway for her from time to time because she didn't want Sophia to ask her questions, but Daryl stood by her and walked her through it, and keeping a lookout at the same time.

"Will it come to a trial though Daryl?" She whispered as she handed him the papers. She looked so scared, that he pulled her close to him, and wrapped his arms loosely around her. "I just don't ever want to see him again. After what he's done to me, what he did to So – "She buried her face in his shirt, and Daryl wrapped her up in a tight embrace and let her cry it out.

He just made soft cooing noises and rubbed light circles over her back. It took a long while for her breathing to even out again, and for her to look back up at him, her eyes were red-rimmed, and she was sniffling. "I'm sorry I keep crying on you." He smiled sadly and brought his hands up to her neck and shoulders.

He cleared his throat, "Ya don't gotta be sorry for anything. This is scary," He squeezed her shoulders gently. "And I promise ya now, if you don't wanna see him again, my lawyer will make that happen." He reached over and grabbed her a napkin from the kitchen table.

"Thank you," She blew her nose, and then looked for the basket, but Daryl just took it from her and tossed it across the room and made a basket. "Eww…gross, jeez were you in basketball?" She snorted.

He snorted, and lightly laid his hand on her back pulling her close again. He grabbed another napkin to help her clean the tears off her face, not even grossed out over having grabbed the snotty one. "Yeah." He grinned while meeting her eyes. "Junior and Senior years, but mostly I was in archery." He smiled, and tossed this napkin towards the basket and again it went in, and they were standing clear across the room.

"Archery?" She asked him meeting his eyes.

Daryl was still holding her in his arms, she saw him swallow, and a little pink touched his cheeks, "State champion all four years of high school." He looked embarrassed, but she was happy for him. "It wasn't anything, it's just something I loved to do. Went through three bows thanks to the old man, he didn't like me…getting the attention." Daryl cleared his throat, and Carol rubbed his chest.

"I'd like to see you shoot sometime…is that the right word."

Daryl just chuckled, and kept his arms loose around her, "We can do that." He met her eyes, asking her his eyes soft with just a look what her fears were, since they'd changed the subject for a moment.

Daryl still held Carol loosely in his arms. She was tracing her fingers over his heart, "I'm just scared if it would go to trial, and we'd have to testify, what it would do to Sophia. How much he hurt her." She looked up at him. Her eyes were dry this time.

"I know I get it. I can understand Sophia's side of this, I was hurt too, and I would have given my left nut to get away from that asshole." Carol blushed, and let out a giggle.

"Daryl you paint a picture…" She was laughing uncontrollably now, and it was exactly what he'd been looking for.

"Plan succeeded then." He grinned widely.

She smacked his chest. "You're too much…" She laid her head against his chest where she'd smacked it.

"I am huh?" He teased,

"I'm glad you are. I'm tired of crying." He chuckled, "And I'm sure you're sick of it too."

Daryl frowned at that and touched his fingers to her chin drawing it up to look at her. "Never. But I don't like seeing you sad." He murmured, and Carol through her arms around him and squeezed him tightly, causing Daryl to gasp a little as she took his breath away.

But he embraced her tightly in return.

Once Sophia was done in her shower, Daryl went out and sat with her watching the morning cartoons. Sophia had gotten up, and slid into his lap. At first, it had startled Daryl, but then he'd just tucked her close and let her rest her head against his chest. It was making his chest feel warm and tight, in kind of a way that it never had. Pulling at his heartstrings he supposed. The fact of helping women and their kids he'd done. But he'd never had gotten this close. No this was different. Much different than he was used to. It made him a little flighty, he wanted to take a step back. But that was his old insecurities that were trying to plague him telling him that he wasn't good enough for them. But he fought against all that. He was long over his own father. Or so he'd hoped that he was.

But there's was a special case for him. Ed had a powerful family. He couldn't do this the way he normally would, he had to be smarter about it and just be there for these two ladies. They were fast becoming a unique part of his life. And had crossed that line that he usually held himself from. He wasn't a man that sought out relationships. Partly that was due to his past, and what kind of job he had.

He jumped when he felt Carol's hand touch his neck. She'd said something, but he'd been so lost in thought that he'd not heard her. "Sorry, hey I snuck up on you." She giggled, and then covered her mouth.

Daryl snorted, then looked down at Sophia in his lap, she was sleeping against his chest. "I guess we were sleeping." He looked back up at Carol. She was smiling down at him.

Carol leaned down and woke Sophia with a few soft caresses so Daryl could get up. He needed to get a shower too, so once Sophia was awake again, and Daryl had stood.

"I'm going to make some breakfast for us. How does that sound."

Daryl gave her a thumbs up, and turned to go back to the bedroom, he placed the papers that Carol had filled out into his bag, in a folder because he didn't want them to get wrinkly. Then he headed for the shower after grabbing his clothes for the day.


Sophia padded into the kitchen after Daryl had gone to shower. She padded across the tile to where Carol was working on bacon for all of them. She bit her lip, hoping that Daryl liked bacon, but decided…that was just Ed talking, and knowing that Daryl had told her last night how he'd been cheering away at her cooking. She blushed, it was really silly to think he'd not like bacon.

"Mama?" Sophia started tugging on her shirt. Carol jumped slightly having been lost in thought about cooking Daryl bacon, and then further lost in thought at the feel of his strong arms around her all night long. She was sure that he'd not gotten much sleep with having to be in there all night long.

"Yes, sweetie?" She heard the worried tone in Sophia's voice.

So she turned to look at her daughter after turning down the stove. "do you think Daryl is mad at me for asking him to sleep with us?" Sophia's worried voice asked.

Carol shot a look over Sophia's shoulder, to see if Daryl was still in the shower, the door was still shut across the living room to the bedroom they'd shared last night, so she was sure he was either dressing or still in the shower. "Oh sweetheart, I'm sure he was perfectly ok with that. He was just watching over us and keeping us safe."

"I know, but Ed was always angry with me if I got scared during the storm, then he'd hit you." She was twisting her hands, and chewing on the bottom of her lip, and looking up at her with tear-filled eyes.

Daryl had stepped into the kitchen as she had said that. She wasn't sure if he'd heard the rest, but from the look in his eyes, she was certain that he had. He looked as if he'd been punched for a moment. Then he wasn't sure what to do. If it would embarrass Sophia that he'd heard what she'd said or not. But that decision was made for him as he stood at the door, looking unclear on what to do. He immediately schooled his features and smiled at the little girl. He was dressed in his usual attire, faded out blue jeans, and a light blue cutoff button down. He was still barefoot, and Carol realized she'd been staring at him for too long again. He padded across the kitchen, turning his gaze to Carol to see if it was alright to talk to Sophia about what she said. Carol nodded.

He stooped down on the balls of his feet, so he was looking up at Sophia. "Darlin' why do you think I'd be mad at ya?" He asked after turning his gaze to Carol.

Sophia sniffled and bit her lower lip. "Because of Ed, he'd – he'd…" She trailed off and began to cry.

Daryl's eyes pooled with tears, and he pulled the little girl into his arms. "Darling' I could never be angry at you for being scared." He whispered as he held her close, her little arms slung around his neck nearly cutting off his air supply, so he shifted a little, and stood with a grunt. "I ain't mad at ya, alright." He leaned back when he could tell that she was breathing more even. "And I want you to know, that if you ever feel scared, or if you have something you'd like to say to me, please tell me. Always' don't hesitate to speak your mind." He caught her eyes, and she blushed.

"Ok, Mr. Daryl. Can you let me down now, I'm missing the Smurfs" Daryl chuckled, and set her on the floor, and she took off running across the tiled floor.

He turned to look at Carol and noticed her eyes were wet. "Hey sweetheart," He pulled her into his arms, and she wrapped hers around his waist. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing. I just keep having to tell you thank you." She sniffled against his chest.

He pushed her back and kissed her forehead. "Ain't nothin' but a thing Sweetheart, she's what matters, and I just want her to feel like she can speak her mind around me." He grinned while leaning back and rubbing her arms. "Now if ya don't mind…I grew up watching the Smurfs…" His eyes lit up like it was Christmas, and Carol giggled.

"That's fine, oh…wait, how do you like your eggs and bacon." He stopped, and turned, and through a panty-dropping grin over his right shoulder, and Carol dropped the spatula blushing.

"Eh, Love bacon crispy…Eggs, surprise me." He said with a wink. She nodded and picked up the spatula. Then jumped when his arms went around her middle, and he kissed her cheek. "Thanks for asking." He kissed her cheek again and was off.


Carol grabbed the potholder and had to fan herself. That smile, those strong muscular arms and his warm…uh chest behind her… just felt right in all the right places. Carol had to take a drink of water, and then she splashed water on her red hot face. She covered her face.

She had to reel her mind more back into the G, or PG-rated version that was going around in her head. She might have to dig her vibrator out of her bag if he kept up like this. She could still feel his arms around her, and the kiss he gave her. Now all she could picture in her head were those hands on her.

With shaking hands, and not because she was any bit afraid of him she turned the stove back up so she could cook the bacon, and began their breakfast. She made sure that Daryl's bacon stayed long enough in the cast iron pan to be crispy, but not burnt.

When everything was finished cooking, she called out to her Smurf-loving children in the living room. They walked in hand in hand and laughing over the episode.

Both Carol noted looked happy after watching the episode.

"I didn't know grown up people liked Cartoons Daryl" He chuckled, and helped her get seated, then he helped Carol set the table as she got the food there. He even asked who got what eggs.

So Sophia got scrambled eggs, Carol got over-easy, and Daryl got sunny-side up, as Carol while blushing told Daryl with her lips firmly pressed against his ear that his eyes reminded him of them. Because he was the light in her darkness. Daryl had blushed, and looked down at his plate, then back up at her. "Stawp." He covered his face with his hand and chuckled. But she'd gotten a response even if she'd embarrassed him.

They prayed, and then dug into their breakfast. Daryl was again commenting on how well the eggs were done, and that he did like eggs any way she'd make them. He wouldn't say his favorite, so she'd have to keep surprising him until she got that right. Even if he didn't like them sunny-side up he didn't complain. He seemed to love them, and it touched her. If Carol ever got Ed's eggs wrong, there would be hell to pay. Usually in a form of a slap, or he'd squeeze her wrist, or well… breasts until she cried. Because she got nothing right.

Daryl seemed to sense where her mood had gone, and he patted her knee under the table causing Carol to look up. Then he just winked at her and smiled, and she blushed. "Stop thinking." He whispered.

Carol looked over at Sophia, but she was oblivious to what was happening between them.

Carol gave him a watery smile and turned back to her food. After they'd finished up, Sophia had gone back out to her cartoons, and Daryl stayed back with her helping her clean up the dishes.

She'd wash, and he'd rinse and dry. He looked so domestic with the hand towel over his shoulder, standing with his hand resting on the counter top. "You told me that you hadn't seen many movies. I do have a theater room, and Netflix, we can stream to our hearts content if you like later on tonight…and Soph can watch all the kiddy movies she likes up to bedtime." He whispered as he took a plate from her, and thrust it gently into the sink to rinse it off, and then dry it, and put it on the rack next to the sink that Holly had set up for drying. She had a dishwasher, but Carol rarely used it.

Carol continued to wash, as he continued to dry, "we'd like that." She nodded at him, "And I'd like to try and finish watching 'Pretty Woman' too. Do you think you can stream it on Netflix, or should I call Holly and see we can take it with us?" She asked.

"I'll text her and see," He grinned, and waggled his eyebrows.

"I don't trust you." She giggled, and he snorted.

"Pfft, I cross my heart." He winked, and she still didn't trust him, but he'd turned his back, and she tried to look over his shoulder, but it wasn't working out to her favor because he was just too tall and she couldn't see over his broad shoulders. And boy did he have some shoulders on him. She dropped the plate back into the sink, and he spun around with narrowed eyes. "Were ya ease-dropping." He smirked, and she blushed.

"No. well I tried. But I couldn't see over your muscular shoulders." Carol covered her face as soon as those words came out and he stepped closer after tucking his phone in his pocket to gently remove her hands.

He tipped her chin up and looked lovingly into her blue eyes, and her eyes met his cobalt ones, and she swallowed and bit her lip. She saw his gaze drop to her lips where she'd bit it, and then immediately darted back to her eyes. "You have beautiful eyes." He whispered, and she blushed further. "Anyone ever said that to you?" He asked his hand came up to cup her warm cheek, and he brushed his calloused thumb gently across her cheek bone, it was a feather of a touch, and she shook her head no. "Their as beautiful as the sky, on the clearest day in Georgia." He leaned in, and kissed her cheek.

Carol was breathing hard, and she looked up into his ocean blue eyes. "So do you." She whispered. And he grinned and pulled her to his chest. "Well I mean, uh…" He rubbed her back.

Then released her suddenly and scooped the plate out of the sink, and washed it, rinsed it and dried it. Her eyes stung at that.

After they got all the dishes done. Carol went to the bedroom to pack for the weekend. Daryl had told her that he had enough space, a lot more space really than Holly had in her apartment. So they could stay the weekend, and use one of the guest rooms that he'd had. He told her that his place was secure, it was fenced in, a wall surrounded the property, and he had an electrified fence, and camera's to go along with it. When Carol had raised an eyebrow, he'd told her that it was for the farm animals that he had on his property. Some were award winning horses from a friend of his grandfathers. They'd had a farm also, but had kept some at Daryl's because he had so much space.

His property was about 200 acres, of woods and pastures. Trails and he even had his private pond, or lake on his land, that he'd go fishing. So he told the ladies to pack swimsuits, and when Carol said that they didn't have any, he stated that they could make a stop at Walmart and pick up what they needed. Carol, he didn't realize was just living out a bag of 2 pairs of jeans, two pairs of shorts and two tank tops, and two shirts. The same for Sophia, they didn't have weather appropriate at all when it would start to get cold.

Daryl frowned at that.

So he locked up Holly's apartment after they'd gotten everything they needed to be packed. Daryl carried their bags along with his. Then had to set down those bags to get the truck unlocked. They were still in a secure part of the apartment, it was underground parking and had a high-level security before they left also.

So even with Carol protesting and telling him that she didn't have any money. He told her he'd buy them what they would need. Which made her even feel guiltier.

Carol was looking at her lap, twisting her hands there. "Hey," Daryl reached over and pressed his warm fingers to her chin, and gently raised her chin so he could look into her tear filled eyes. "It's ok sweetheart, ya need clothes, ya need supplies, ain't nothing but a thing." He murmured, and lightly caressed her cheek.

"I just think we're putting you out." Sophia's wide eyes were looking back in forth at them.

"You ain't." He murmured.

So with that, he dropped his fingers, and took the keys out of the ignition of the truck, and jumped out and was around to her side before Carol could blink. He helped her down onto the hot pavement and then turned to pull Sophia out of the truck as well. In the process, she threw her arms around his neck, and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Daryl," Sophia whispered, and then he let her down.

He closed the door to his truck, and hit the lock button on the keychain causing a horn beep, letting him know it was locked, but he still tried the door. Then pocketed his keys. And did a quick scan around the parking lot, walking with an arm around Carol's shoulders, and his hand in Sophia's as they made their way into Walmart.

Daryl could feel the slight tremor in Carol's shoulders. He knew she was nervous about going out into the public. Ed could be anywhere, but Daryl had done this before, and not that every case was the same, it wasn't he knew that. Ed Peletier had a power family he knew that. They'd already been watching a PI that Ed had hired to look for Carol. So far that PI had been unsuccessful.

Daryl stayed with them as they shopped. Rarely letting them far from his sight. He had turned away when they were picking out underwear because it just felt weird for him to watch that. But they continued to walk through the aisles and went to the swim suits. Daryl wondered if they had to try them on. Carol was about to shake her head no when she realized that maybe they should. Sophia was getting taller, and she'd probably had outgrown the size of swimsuit she'd had at home. So Daryl made sure that the dressing room was clear, and had the dressing room attendant not give out any more keys while Sophia and Carol were in the room. After he'd flashed his badge at the attendant. He didn't go far, just stood near the counter, so it didn't look like he was hovering by the door. He noticed the young woman attendant was watching him closely, but he ignored her. She seemed to be just checking him out, and not paying any attention to Carol or Sophia. He supposed, because he was a cop, and flashed a badge she was wondering if he was for real or not. Since he wasn't on duty, and he had long hair, and wasn't wearing a cop uniform.

"Sorry Ma'am, dressing rooms are closed." The female attendant told an older woman coming over to ask for a key.

"But ones in use." The lady frowned, and Daryl rolled his eyes. Hoping that he wasn't going to have to bring down the law on this little old woman, but just as soon as he opened his mouth, his ladies stepped out of the dressing room.

He nodded at the attendant and made their way from the dressing rooms. "Who was that man?" He'd heard the older woman say, and he turned back looking at the younger woman, and she shook her head and just said he was a customer.

Like it had been any of her business, Daryl thought to himself. "Have you ladies ever been fishing?" He asked them both.

"Grandpa took me once he had pink lures for me to use." She told Daryl.

"Pink huh, well I don't got any pink ones, but we can go and get em now," So they made their last stop to be the fishing department. Daryl would usually buy them in town to support locally. But he was sure that they didn't have any pink ones. But if it was pink Sophia wanted that's what she was getting.

After finding the pink lures, and making their way back to the front to check out. Daryl throwing the M&M's that Sophia was looking at while licking her lips. Then he tossed in another two for himself and Carol.

Carol pressed her lips to his ear to whisper, "You don't need to do that."

Daryl just winked at her and pulled out his wallet as the cashier completed ringing everything up. So a total of $210.38, later…all the supplies that they needed or ever could use later. Daryl just pulled out the cash, $215.38, because he had the thirty-eight cents needed. He was showing Sophia how to count cash at the moment. Carol stood and watched with a lump pressing firmly in her throat. He was so good with her. The Cashier was smiling brightly, and Daryl motioned for Sophia to take the change because she got it right.

"I can have four dollars, Daryl?" He grinned and winked.

"As I said you got the math problem right darlin' yours to keep." Sophia turned to look at her mama,

"Look, Mama, I got the answer right." She jumped up and down holding the money in her hand.

Daryl ruffled her hair, and grabbed the bags in his other hand, as he picked them up and put them into the cart. "ya sure did." He said just as excitedly.


They had stopped at Joel's first to pick up Harley. He too had a fenced in property, not nearly as large as Daryl's was, but he had horses and cattle as well. As soon as Harley heard Daryl's truck she came prancing into the driveway, wagging her tail hard enough that Carol thought that she would take flight. Daryl hopped out, helping Sophia to the ground and then Carol.

Joel and his wife had come outside. Joel's wife Tessa was a beautiful woman. She had long auburn hair and the greenest eyes she'd ever seen she was a tall woman, almost as tall as Daryl. She also looked like she could probably take both the boy's out with just a flick of her finger. Daryl had told her what Tessa did, early on. She was certain that she remembered that she worked undercover for the FBI, and was former military. She had a firm handshake. "It's very nice to meet you finally Carol, and little Sophia." She smiled and shook their hands.

Daryl and Joel shook hands and wandered off as the ladies spoke. "There's been a little bit of trouble, Rick called, saying that Ed had been picked up on a DUI, but got out on a bail. He was eh, beating on the door of the King County Police Station wanting them to help him find Carol. They arrested him, but he put out bail, or someone did. He hired a PI." Joel scratched the back of his head.

Daryl knew about the PI, so he'd just nodded. "I've dealt with PI's before, know this one. Kind of works dirty, but I got my lawyers on it. We are putting in the divorce papers on Monday." Daryl ran a hand through his hair as a gust of wind blew it into his eyes. "So upping security if I gotta, I'll bring her here to stay. Just don't like being forty-five minutes away."

"You could be the same on a heavy traffic day in Atlanta though…she might be safer out here, she's close to my place, and Tess would help out if needed, you know that," Joel told him.

Daryl nodded and smiled. "Yeah, wouldn't wanna get on her bad side." Daryl snorted.

Joel chuckled and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "We got your back. You know that."


So they packed up again, this time, Harley jumping in the back seat behind Daryl, and licking his ear. He snorted, "Ya missed me." He was chuckling and wiped his ear.

From Joel's house, he was only about five miles away, so they made their way to his place.

Carol was impressed as they pulled up in front of a fence, Daryl pressed in code, telling her it was run a backup on a generator so if they ever would lose power, they were still secure. Later they were going to head back over to Joel's for dinner, and pool time. Joel had a large pool, so they were going to have a BBQ and pool party. After Daryl had pulled into the yard and scanning the area making sure that they were secure, he helped Carol with the bags and brought them up into the house for her.

He'd seen that Hershel had been there to feed his animals, and he must have fed him as well. There were only three besides himself that knew the code to get in, but Daryl trusted each of them with his life. Hershel knew it because he was always out there tending to the animals being the local vet around here, and he had his animals in the barn. Joel knew it because he'd always be the one watching Harley if Daryl had more business to do and worked longer hours than he normally did, then it was just himself and his granddaddy that knew it.

Daryl showed them around the spacious house. Daryl told her it used to be a bed and breakfast, but he and Joel had renovated it, and knocked out a few of the rooms to make it more spacious, and have the theater room, kitchen and living room. The floors were mostly hardwood, and Carol envied the kitchen when she came out into it. He had a large stove that he told her that his grandma loved to come and cook on. Then a huge island in the center where it was also a bar, with barstools around it. The floor was tiled in here, and most his appliances were in stainless steel, and black, with marble counters. Next, they came into the den. That opened off with a patio door, which opened off into the back yard. He had a garden back there, from fruits and veggies to flowers.

"You garden?" She asked Daryl.

He blushed a bit and nodded. "I hardly have time, but I keep it up, try to live off the land as much as I can. My grandma plants a lot of it. They tend to it, or Hershel's family does when they are here. Call it a joint effort." He grinned, and cleared his throat, "But yes I do on occasion garden."

Carol stood in awe, looking out at what he had done to the backyard. "You have peach trees!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands and jumping up and down.

"I do." He grinned and opened up the patio door so he and his ladies could look around. "We got apple, and plum as well, plus cherries, blueberries, and kiwi." He raised an eyebrow, and Carol was grinning like a fool.

"You even have a lot of vegetables." She looked up at him.

He chuckled, as they went to the garden and picked what they could. He told her that his grandma did a lot of canning for him so that he would show her the root cellar as well. Carol picked some fruit showing him that she was going to make a Peach and Blackberry Cobbler pie, and his eyebrows shot up. "Told ya I wanted to seduce you." Daryl chortled out a belly laugh, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders and dragged her into his chest. Kissing her on the temple.

"You have." He smiled warmly, and showed them to the trails, and Harley was trotting around happily behind them. "Later we can take the horses out if you like." He told them.

Carol had said that she knew how to ride, it was something that she hadn't done in fifteen years, but it was like riding a bike. So Daryl grinned at her and rubbed her back after they came out of the stables. He was just making sure everyone had been fed, and then he'd let them out for exercise. One of the horses didn't want to go anywhere, so Daryl stooped low and picked up the horse's hoof, and sure enough she needed some assistance. Somehow had gotten a burr in the shoe. "Do you need help?" She asked when the horse whinnied and threw Daryl into the wall.

He grunted, and panted, and worked a bit more, "Nah got it." He set the horses leg down and gave her butt a smack, and the horse made her way out.

Carol had made sure to stand clear of the doorway with Sophia. He wiped his hands on his jeans and rolled his shoulder a little. The horse had bumped into him hard. When just rolling didn't help, he rubbed it a little. "She's nervous." He nodded with his chin at the horse that just went outside. "Hershel calls her Nervous Nelly…got spooked once when she was little, a colt." He shrugged and winced at the pain in his shoulder.

Carol walked over and checked his shoulder for him, and he'd pulled a stitch again. "We'll have to patch you up again." She grinned at him, and he rolled his eyes.

"Ya, tend to do that a lot." He winked, and then closed up the stables, and left the back open so they horses could come back in as they pleased, or leave as they pleased. He'd put them back in if it got too hot out. The stable was air-conditioned with a swamp cooler.

"I want to be your horse." Carol pouted, and Daryl snorted, then laughed.

"Not my idea, Hershel takes care of them. He installed it." Daryl placed a hand on her lower back and rubbed circles as they watched Harley and Sophia play, she was throwing a ball for her right now.

"But you're still kind enough to let him house them here." She stopped him with a hand on his chest.

He nodded, "Can't have all this space, without having animals. Want to see the cattle barn?" He whispered. And she giggled.

So he showed them the rest of the farm. They were walking back up to the house when a truck was pulling in. Carol immediately looked for Sophia, but then sensed that Daryl was just waving at the person. "Hey, Hershel!" Daryl called out. As an older white-haired man got out of his truck along with a brunette, with short hair and a bright smile. "Maggie!" He called out when the young woman came up to them with Hershel.

"Daryl, thought you were still in Atlanta?" Hershel said by way of greeting, and he walked up to the younger man giving him a hug, "It's good to see you." He smiled a grandfatherly smile at him. Carol could tell that Daryl had a lot of respect for the elderly man. He hugged Maggie, and she leaned up and kissed his cheek. Like a younger sister would.

"It's good to see you Dare." She grinned brightly and turned to Carol, "You must be Carol." She stuck out her hand to shake, and they both introduced themselves to one another. "I'm Maggie Greene, Hershel's daughter."

Hershel introduced himself too. He told Carol that he was the local vet around these parts, and they had a vet clinic out of the home. That Daryl would help out with occasionally. Carol stared at Daryl wondering if there was anything that he couldn't do.

Daryl was blushing at the praise, and she knew that of him already though he had a hard time taking a compliment he could give them. "I just watered the horses when we got back, and let them out into the pasture. Nervous Nelly had a burr in her shoe, though that I got out."

Hershel nodded and then noticed Daryl's arm. "She nip you?" He asked.

Daryl looked at the bloodied bandage and shook his head. "Tore a stitch is all." He shrugged, but then Hershel walked over to get a better look.

"Doc look at this?" Hershel frowned, and Daryl nodded.

"Yeah. I've torn it a few times. Carol stitched it up last night."

"Good work, Carol," Hershel told her, and she blushed. "I've got some glue in the medical bag if you want to try some of that if you keep ripping them out?"

Daryl nodded, so Carol watched as Hershel cleaned Daryl's arm up, and worked the glue on their like magic, it was like stitches only it got in there better, and it allowed Daryl to move his arm a little better. "See that when the horses get stitches they pull them out a lot too. It's just when you got a lot of muscle…" Hershel trailed off at Daryl's eye roll.

He chuckled, snorted, "Comparing me to a horse, ya hear that Carol." He was laughing, though, and so was Hershel.

"Well, their big muscles." Then Carol clamped a hand over her mouth and blushed.

"He does now don't he," Maggie said brightly easing Carol's embarrassment but only had Daryl wrapping his arm around Carol's shoulder and squeezing gently. "That's helpful." Maggie teased, and Daryl narrowed his eyes, dropping his arm around her shoulders as well.

"Missed ya Maggie, you home for the summer?" He asked the young woman as they were making their way up to his porch.

"Got the summer off yes, Daddy needed more help on the farm."

While Daryl helped Maggie with the horses. Carol and Sophia spoke with Hershel, "Daryl was telling me about Nervous Nelly." Carol said.

Hershel had been talking about Nelly for the last five minutes on why she got the name, Nervous Nelly. Said that she spooked at everything, so he was telling her the horse that she shouldn't ride her. She said that she was fine with Daryl, but she recommended Star for Carol to ride.

Daryl, since Hershel was there, had him look at his side too. He'd tweaked it when Nelly had thrown him into the wall. But Hershel said it was okay, that he should still just take it easy.

So Daryl had his horse and Star out for riding. Sophia hadn't ridden before, and Carol was rusty from riding, so Sophia was going to ride with Daryl. On his horse Chewy. Sophia thought that was a weird name for a horse, but then Daryl explained when Chewy was born he looked like Chewbacca from Star Wars.

But when Sophia frowned, he pulled out his phone and showed her a picture of the Wookiee, and she laughed at the sound that he made. "Chewy doesn't look like a Wookiee, Daryl, you're silly." She giggled and handed the phone back to him.

Daryl bit down on his cheek so he wouldn't snort out a laugh, but it was hopeless, the girl's giggle and smile had him laughing, and letting out a hearty laugh of his own. "Alright Lil' bit' let's go for a ride." And Daryl lifted Sophia up onto Chewy, as Maggie held the bridle for them.

Then he walked over to help Carol up, but she got up on the horse just fine, Maggie was going to ride with Carol until she got used to being on Star.

Daryl took it slow out on the path with Sophia. She was sitting in front of him, just 'because he was sure that she'd have a hard time just holding on to him. So he'd wrapped his arm around her waist just making sure that she was holding onto her until she was steady. He took them out to his favorite watering hole. Maggie had been there before, so she'd wandered off with Sophia, and was looking for berries to bring back. But also giving them some privacy.

They'd come into a clearing with a small creek running through it. Daryl pulled out a blanket, and laid it on the ground, and pulled out the couple apples that he'd picked. Maggie took Sophia with her, as she was heading into the trees to look around and give them some space he assumed.

"Daryl this is beautiful out here," Carol whispered looking all around her. They were in the back part of his property if they'd walk out ways they would run into the back fence of his property. But that was still a little over two hundred yards away. There were field flowers around them, and what Daryl called the Cherokee Rose he picked one of them. "It's beautiful, do you know what it means?" She asked him. Having not grown up in the backwoods of Georgia she didn't readily know the story. But she knew that it was the State flower of Georgia.

"The Cherokee Rose," Daryl whispered his eyes were misting over. Carol nodded as she met his eyes. Daryl stopped what he was doing and looked at her face. He leaned forward with the rose that he had in his hand, and placed it gently behind her ear, then lightly brushed his lips over her cheek, he leaned back nodding.

He slowly began to recite the story he'd been taught about the state flower of Georgia.

"The story is that when American soldiers were moving Indians off their land, on the Trail of Tears, the Cherokee mothers were grieving and crying so much 'cause they were losing their little ones along the way." He met her eyes and took her hand playing with her fingers. "Exposure and disease and starvation; a lot of them just disappeared. So the elders, they sent a prayer, asked for a sign to uplift the mother's spirits. Give 'em strength, hope. The next day, this rose started to grow right where the mother's tears fell." Daryl picked up one of the white tear shaped petals that had fallen off of one of the older blossoms. "I hope there's a flower bloomin' for my mother." Daryl dropped his head and was playing with the tear shaped petal. When he looked up, his eyes were shiny with unshed tears.

Carol was wiping her cheeks and sniffling. She scooted a little closer, so their hips were touching, and he was still playing with her hand, and the rose petal in his hand. She saw him reach up and wipe at his eye.

Daryl cleared his throat, and met her eyes "It was my momma's favorite she told me once that the rose is white for their tears, the gold center here represents the gold that was taken from the Cherokee lands." Daryl met her eyes, his still glassy with tears, but he was in control. He swallowed, and was pointing at each thing he said: "the seven leaves on each stem for Cherokee clans, the Cherokee rose grows wild around here…it bloomed next to her grave." His voice cracked, and he sniffed wiping at the corner of his eye as a tear tried to fall.

Carol couldn't help it she scooted closer and threw her arms around him in comfort, and sought to keep back her tears as she did so. She wanted to comfort him, he hugged her tight and kissed her neck. "It's been twenty-nine years Carol," His voice broke. Her hugging him had cut into his composure, and he sniffed again and nuzzled his nose against her ear. "But each year," His voice caught, and he swallowed hard. "It blooms." He sat back and cleared his throat. "Right next to her grave." He was shaking his head, as he looked at her.

Carol rubbed his shoulder, "I'm sure she would have loved it." Daryl sniffed and nodded.

Then reached up and pulled his sunglasses down. "She woulda." He said leaning back on his elbows and looking up at the sky. He'd seen Sophia and Maggie coming back with a bag in each arm of berries.

"We found some blackberries, haven't eaten any of them yet, wanted you to have a look, Daryl," Maggie told him.

Daryl jumped to his feet and Maggie showed him what the plant looked like on her phone, and then he inspected the berry. "Wild blackberries, they're safe." He murmured hoarsely while clearing his throat. Maggie glanced over at Carol, then back at Daryl.

"I just wanted to be sure." She whispered then she touched his forearm, causing him to look at her, but she couldn't see his eyes behind those black sunglasses he wore. "You ok?"

He nodded, dismissively, "Better safe than sorry is right…if they ain't just will have the shits." He smirked, and Maggie smacked his arm.

"Jack-ass." She whispered under her breath, and then touched his arm again, refusing him just to dismiss her this time. "You ok?" She asked again she had that uncanny ability to feel out his moods.

Daryl hummed under his breath and nodded, "M'fine, was talking 'bout the Cherokee rose." He whispered and Maggie knew that he was talking more about his mom too. They'd both lost their mom's early, and she knew what the Cherokee Rose meant to her.

He cupped the back of her neck with his hand and walked her back over to Carol and Sophia. "you can hang around sweetie."

"Oh but," Daryl shook his head.

"Carol don't have many friends to talk to." Maggie nodded and followed him.

He wanted Carol to get to know some of his friends, "Are you coming to Joel's tonight too?" Carol asked Maggie. It had been a long time since she had had girlfriends to talk to. Sure she had Holly, but Maggie was different again, another young woman like Daryl from the backwoods, and her accent was fun to listen too. She was falling in the shoes of her daddy and going to school to be a veterinarian while working as a nurse at a local hospital right now over the summer.

"How long do you have to go to school for Veterinarian?" Sophia asked her.

So Maggie told her that she'd go to school for two years in the tech program, and then from there it would be another four to six years. She'd done schooling for nursing because it gave her something to do while she studied animal science, and she had some money coming in.

They stayed a little while longer and headed on their way back. Maggie had offered to let Sophia ride with her now that she had a bit more control and wasn't as scared, and she was all right. Maggie led the way back with Sophia sitting in front of her. They were little ways up the trail from herself and Daryl, but Carol could still see them.


Carol too sat in front of Daryl. He'd scooted close, and held one arm around her and the other on the reigns. While Carol giggled when his whiskers would rub against her cheek. "I do know how to ride a horse." Carol laughed and breathed out a sigh when his thumb was tickling just the little bit of skin that was showing on her tummy. As her tank top had ridden up. Carol shivered at the sensations that were going through her. Then tilted her head to the side to give him better access to her neck, and she felt his lips and whiskers brush against her neck. He kissed her along the trap, and then up the side of her neck to her the sweet spot right under her ear.

"This ok?" He breathed and nuzzled her ear.

"Yes." She whispered, her fingers started to massage his forearm, gently, and pushed his hand, so it went up further on her tummy, but under the tank top. She shivered again, as his warm hand met more of the bare skin on her stomach.

"You sure?" He whispered, and she turned back and nodded, he'd lifted his sunglasses so she could see his eyes. "You tell me when to stop sweetheart. I won't do anything you don't wanna." He told her as his fingers gently massaged her stomach, she couldn't believe how good it felt. If he felt the scars that his fingers were going over he didn't say anything, his thumb brushed her stomach, and she could feel herself shudder with want, and need. He kissed her neck again and pressed his fingers into her belly.

Daryl packed them up again after they'd gotten back to the house. They were heading to Joel's for the BBQ. Daryl made sure to tell Carol again to pack their bathing suits because Joel had a swimming pool.

Daryl went and dug out his swim trunks, and listening a moment, his door wasn't fully closed, but he knew that Sophia was in the bathroom downstairs, so he quickly stripped down, and pulled on his swim trunks, and pulled on an old muscle shirt that he had. He could just wear the swim trunks for now. Joel had texted him telling him that swimming was first then they'd eat. Daryl shoved his t-shirt with the cut off sleeves and workout shorts in the bag and slung it over his shoulder. But right before he was going to exit his room his phone started buzzing in his bag. It was Holly. Holly had called Daryl and said that her sister still wasn't doing well, and they weren't going to make it to the BBQ.

"Ya sure you're ok Hols?" Daryl asked.

He heard her take a big ragged breath. "She left her husband because he was hitting her." He heard Holly sniffling, and clutched the phone a little closer. "It's bad Daryl, were at the hospital."

Daryl sucked in a startled breath, "Holly, why the hell didn't you tell me?" He asked.

"She's my sister Daryl, I thought I could handle it, and she's not awake, yet so I'm just sitting here. Please don't stop what you're doing on my account. This can wait until she wakes up. Doctors aren't sure that she will." Holly was crying now.

Tears stung in his eyes for his friend. He knew this was a hard thing for her. "Alright, Holly, but if you need anything, don't hesitate."

"Daryl, we'll be okay. My mom is here, and I will call if we need you. We're safe for now."

"For now?"

"The cops called in protection, and the FBI is involved." She sniffled,

"Ok. Call me if you need me."

He ended the call after they said their goodbyes, then just sat there his hands on his knees.

"Daryl?" Carol asked from the door. "What's wrong?" She whispered, still standing in the doorway.

Daryl stood, schooling his face. Motioning her to come in the room, and he took her hands and kissed them. "Everything's alright, just call from the station." If he told Carol what was happening to Holly, it would be a trigger. So that was the only reason he was refraining from telling her.

"Was it a bad call?" She asked squeezing his hands.

"It was a 'call me if they need me one.'" He leaned in and kissed her nose.

Carol smiled, "Well just wanted to tell you that we're ready to go. I packed, our bathing suits, sunblock, and towels." She said to him.

He pulled her close, and Carol wrapped her arms around him sensing he needed the comfort. Maybe him talking about the Cherokee Rose had made him a little nostalgic, or it was just something he couldn't talk about she knew there'd be some of that. So she wasn't going to press him. He'd gotten somewhat emotional out there with her about his mom.

"Alright, let's get this party moving…"He snorted, and pulled the bag he'd put his workout shorts and a tank top in over his shoulder, "How many towels ya pack?" He stopped.

"Enough for all of us including Harley," Carol smiled.

"I could kiss you." He murmured, and Carol looked up at him. And he dropped his bag to the floor as she bit her lip, and her gaze left him to his mouth. He leaned in.

"Mama, Daryl!" Daryl snorted and kissed Carol's nose with a wink. As little feet came rushing in. He pulled back quickly unsure if Carol wanted Sophia to see them that close yet.

"What is it, sweetheart?" Carol asked, scrubbing her face trying to calm her racing heart.

Daryl, on the other hand, was cool as a cucumber, and she wanted to smack him. She supposed it was his training that calmed him down. She informed them that She had taught Harley a trick. How to roll over and left the room. "Does Harley know how to roll over?" Carol asked.

Daryl nodded and smiled. He let out a breath, and she realized that he wasn't as calm as she initially thought. "Yep. Come on let's go entertain the girl, because if I kiss ya…we ain't leavin woman." He growled, but it was playful.

Carol blushed, and they left the room. Daryl was swinging the bag up to his shoulder that now didn't have a bandage on it anymore. It still hurt, and it looked awful. But the liquid glue stitches were holding. Hershel had told him it was okay to swim with.

So Carol and Daryl watch Sophia teach Harley to roll over… Daryl used hand signals to his dog to act like Harley was just learning. Then cheered when Sophia was so excited that she taught Harley something.

"what doesn't she know?" Carol whispered.

Daryl frowned in thought, "I'll think on it…maybe we can have some more fake tricks." He smirked. Carol swatted his good shoulder, and he snorted.

"Alright, I'm hungry." Daryl turned his gaze onto Carol with a double innuendo, and she about lost all the breath in her lungs at the smoldering look he gave her. He winked at her and motioned her to move on ahead as she was locked in place it seemed.

Daryl locked up the house and helped everyone into the truck. Before they left, Carol noticed that Daryl armed the fences again and smiled. She felt very secure with him at his own home. She felt more secure there than she did with Holly and considered asking him later if maybe they should stay with him if that was ok. But she hated being the one to ask…part of that was because of Ed. But she wondered if she'd be safer here. She already liked Hershel and Maggie. They'd be further away from any danger. Ed would never to think to look for her way out here.

So she was going to ask him when they got home tonight or if they had a bit of time alone. She couldn't explain it, but he made her feel safe. She was scared when he wasn't around more times than not.

Her only fear was if she was being too forward with that question.

Daryl seemed to sense her unease and reached over the seat to rub his hand on her shoulder in a comforting gesture. She'd never had this before; it was like he could read her mind.

She took the comfort that his fingers provided, wishing that she could be under his arm, cuddled up to his chest like last night. But Sophia was sitting between them at the moment.

She could cuddle with him later tonight.


AN2

So yes, Daryl knew Hershel before the ZA begins, I figured since he had a farm, and they had a farm it would be fitting. And in my story, Daryl's grandpa is still alive. And though Hershel is a little younger than that, and probably Daryl's dad's age, he's friends with his grandpa.

While I was picturing the pasture they were sitting in, I just pictured the Cherokee rose, so some of that is taking from when Daryl tells Carol the story of the Cherokee rose in the TV series. Just felt it would pull them a little closer, and it would be something his momma might have liked.

So Carol and Daryl are getting a little closer, as you can see here near at the end. I had to cut this chapter into three parts… so good news, we'll have another update in a day or two after I get that cleaned up a bit more. So maybe by Friday :) We'll go right into where we left off on this one. If I hadn't cut this chapter into three parts, well we'd have a 29k chapter…and that was like 45 pages… so I figured more updates, three chapters :) But the chapters will still be long ones. Thank you for reading, and let me know what you think… and hope you all have a great week.