A/N: Ah yes, another chapter! And if you don't read the Authors notes, at least read this one, has some important things to need to know. ;)

For those of you that don't know, a maul is NOT an axe. The maul is a wood splitting tool that has a cutting blade on one side and the head of a mallet or hammer type face on the other side of the head. A maul weighs much more than an axe and provides more cutting or splitting power. The head of the maul acts as a wedge that once engaged into the wood allows the cutter to use a mallet to knock the maul head through the log. While the axe is most commonly used to chop down the tree. ;)

I used to have to split wood all the time when I was younger, as the primary source of heat growing up was in fact a wood stove, not to be confused with a fireplace that is open. I don't know if I explained that in the earlier chapters. If you didn't know, which I am assuming most of you do, a wood stove has a locking door on it.

And if you hadn't noticed, I draw a lot of life experiences from myself in this certain fic. I have never done so before, but having based this fic in my hometown and state I find it's easier to actually base a lot of the 'roughing it' parts on certain things that I have experienced in my life. My father was a logger for a good portion of my childhood, so it isn't far fetched that a woman of Abby's size can indeed wield a very large chainsaw. The trees up here usually require a longer bar on the saw than what a lot of people are used to.

SO Any ways! On to the chapter! And I wonder how many of you actually read the Authors note… HAHA! I hope you do!

Chapter Seven:

Hershel could tell something had changed between the two young people. Even if they couldn't tell themselves, he knew. He'd been around long enough to know when a man was smitten with a woman. And he also knew when the two parties were trying their hardest to hide it from the rest of the group and even themselves. He also knew of the quiet jealousy brewing inside the usually docile Carol, and how ashamed the woman was of such an emotion. Hershel was an observer, and the way he observed Daryl tip toeing around Abby was amusing to him. He would never outright call Daryl on his actions, that would be suicide, but he would be a spectator from a distance.

It had proven to be a long winter, and it was far from over. Hershel sat atop the balcony with a long barreled rifle in his grasp, watching as Abby stood in the cleared off area in the back yard splitting wood. She'd insisted she do it and who was Hershel to tell a strong woman what she could and couldn't do? He was sure that if Rick knew his sister was outside doing men's work he'd make her stop, but their leader had taken Maggie and Carl on a run into town. After months of living with Abby she had finally allowed them to venture into town on their own, of course she had taken it upon herself to go with them the first several times.

Hershel could hear Beth and Carol talking quietly from inside the house and the soft coos of joy from Joshua playing with Judith made him smile. It was quite a comfort knowing that everyone had settled in so nicely, of course Glenn insisted that he be on watch most of the time, somehow convinced that something was going to pop out of the woods and attack them. Hershel couldn't blame the man, the group had been through hell and the fact that they seemed to have found a secure place to live was hard to believe.

The continued thud of the maul against wood drew Hershel's attention to the woman that in the yard. She didn't bundle up like the rest of the group, where as Hershel was in long underwear, jeans and the heaviest coat he had ever wore in his life, Abby wore boots, jeans and a simple sweatshirt. And she seemed to be sweating. She had a large portion of wood already piled up next to a chainsaw that looked possibly bigger than her. She had paused only to take a drink of a water bottle she had brought out with her and squint into the sun before she went back to work.

Hershel spotted a figure walking at a rapid pace through the forest beyond the chain link fence and smiled a little to himself. He knew Daryl would have a fit when he saw Abby splitting wood when Rick or Glenn should be doing it. Hershel also knew that Daryl would play it off as nothing after he took the tools from Abby. He would pretend like he was looking out for Rick in keeping her from hurting herself.

Hershel sat back and watched as the hunter came stalking in through the gate and closed it softly. He seemed to scan his surroundings, no doubt looking for the dark haired beauty that he always seemed to locate no matter where he was. When his eyes found her even Hershel could see the frown that creased Daryl's features.

Daryl lowered his head in obvious irritation and readjusted the crossbow and sling of squirrels on his back as he took in the sight. He had one target and that was Abby, swinging away at the wood with her heavy maul. Hershel watched as Daryl marched across the beaten down snow toward her, and saw the irritation cross Abby's features as she knew what was happening before Daryl even approached. He came right up in her space and Hershel found himself sitting forward to watch the show.

He couldn't hear the words but saw Abby hold the maul behind her back out of his reach as he extended his hand to take it from her. She lifted her chin in a way that told Hershel they'd had this argument before and he chuckled to himself. Daryl puffed his chest up slightly lowering his head to speak to her in heated hushed tones and saw Abby gesture violently toward the house. The hunter reached out, chest brushing against the young woman's to take the tool from her hand and he replaced it with the string of squirrels before he shouldered her gently out of the way and resumed her work.

Abby made a face at him, saying something that Hershel didn't hear but got the message before she turned on her heel and stalked off in a huff with the squirrels in her grasp. She didn't give Daryl a second glance but he turned to look over his shoulder at her to make sure she made it safely inside.

She stomped up the stairs muttering under her breath about what Hershel could only assume was Daryl before she slammed the door shut behind her.

Hershel was an observer, and what he had witnessed was that these two wouldn't be able to play cat and mouse for much longer.

OoooOOOoooo

Carol watched as Abby marched inside with Daryl's hunt firmly clutched in her hand and she stood to follow the younger woman into the kitchen.

"Need a little help?" She asked causing Abby to look up from her muttering.

Abby flashed her a smile instantly happy to see the other woman and nodded, "You could keep me company. Daryl wanted me to skin these while he finished up outside." She said the last bit with a little venom and Carol only smiled.

"He's just looking out for you," The older woman said softly. Carol hadn't missed the way Daryl looked at Abby as of late, it was different. When the two had come back from town a few weeks ago something between them had changed. Carol wasn't sure how she felt about it, or how she suddenly felt about Abby. She knew she had no claim on Daryl Dixon, no one did, but Abby seemed to have a hold on him that Carol never had.

Abby leveled her with a look that made Carol smile, she knew the look and she knew the woman. Abigail Harper didn't need any more looking out than Daryl Dixon did.

"I appreciate it, but I can do my own looking after."

"What happened when you guys went to town?" Carol found herself asking before she could stop the words.

Abby knew where this was going and she shook her head, "Carol, I'm not going to take him away from you." She hoped and prayed that those words were true and she wasn't telling a huge lie to her new friend. Truth was, ever since Abby had kissed Daryl no matter how innocent that kiss was, she had felt something stirring inside of her when she looked at him. It unnerved her. She couldn't seem to get those lips out of her mind and she felt guilty for it.

Carol said nothing in return for a moment and then flashed a smile, "Daryl doesn't belong to me. He doesn't belong to anyone," She offered one of her sad smiled and walked away leaving Abby to her thoughts.

Abby stared at Daryl's kill in her hands and suddenly just didn't want to be in the house with all of these people. She tossed them down and muttered something about taking a walk to the others as she left.

Carol watched her go and silently went back to the kitchen and finished skinning the squirrels. She knew she'd struck a cord with Abby and on some level she felt guilty, but on another, on a level that was pure woman she hoped that Abby would take a step back.

A/N: I know it took me a while to write this, but I honestly had a tough time with this chapter. I know where I want to be in this fic but I also don't want to rush it. I want to take my sweet time getting to the good parts. Keep reading because I promise it will pick up. Just give me some time to get things set up. And yes I know that Carol came across as a huge bitch in this but bear with me on that too! I am not anti Caryl but… I wanted to do some sort of a fic that was a little different than the normal. So… read and review and I am going to start on the next chapter. It may be up tonight but it also may take me a few days so… yeah tell me what you think! I also want some opinions… what do you think Daryl did for work before the world ended? Give me some ideas! I will choose my favorite and give you full credit in the next chapter. :-D