A/N: So sorry this took so long. I got all caught up in research and what not for my OC story, anyway, here's another chapter. I have a few later chapters for this story already written so this one should move along well now. I am sorry I don't update regularly. I'm in school and have a lot of kids. Once I graduate and have more free time you all are going to get it. xoxoxoxoxox Krissy

"Fine." Carol said. "I'm sorry I said fuck you." She said.

"Why? I deserved it." He replied.

"Yeah, you did. But, I don't usually swear at people; you make me mad." Carol said. "And truly Daryl, I am so sorry."

"It's nothing, I was being a jerk off." He said as they stood in the hallway. "Come outside? I need a smoke."

She nodded, locking the money box and taking it in her hands and followed him out the door. She leaned against the wall as he lit his cigarette and handed it to her and then lit one for himself.

"I'm an asshole for believing gossip and judging you, I don't know who I think I am sometimes, like I have any right at all."

Carol nodded, listening to him. She took a drag of the cigarette and thought to herself they really shouldn't be smoking there on school property. She didn't have the heart to tell him not to, she wasn't the type of woman who would kick someone when they were down. And he was definitely down.

She had also over reacted herself, she was aware of that too. She didn't use the f-bomb in casual conversation at all. She had shocked herself just a few minutes ago.

"We shouldn't smoke here, and I don't know why I am, I quit years ago." She threw the cigarette down and stamped it under her foot. "You're a bad influence Daryl."

He smiled. "Been called worse." He said with the cigarette hanging out of his mouth. "By you."

She laughed and looked out into the parking lot. He really was alright, and his son was a sweet boy.

"I'm really sorry Carol. It's just, I don't know." He said. "I was an ass, I aint got no excuse."

"It's ok." She said. "I won't hold a grudge."

"Good, cause, I don't know if you noticed…"

"Oh I noticed and I know just what you're going to say." She grinned. "I'm watching closely."

"Me too." He replied.

"I like Travis, he's a good kid."

"That's all his mother, she gets all the credit for that kid."

"I disagree, it's plain to anyone that you do right by him, and done well." Carol said.

She watched his face cloud a minute and then it was gone. She was sure he went someplace else just then.

"Maybe so." He replied. "You remind me of her, of my wife Kelly."

She looked over at him as he took a long pull on his cigarette.

"You don't look like her at all, that's not it." He tossed the cigarette on the ground and put it out. "It's your personality. You have the same fire as she did."

"I take that as a compliment, thank you. Ed hated that part of me." Ed had tried to beat the fire out of her but it wouldn't go away.

"No offense but he sounds like a douchebag."

Carol laughed out loud, a vivacious, merry laugh that made him happy just to hear it. He smiled then, surprised at himself, but not uncomfortable or upset.

"I mean I never met the guy, but anyone that would drag their ex-wife and start rumors just to ease their own guilt, douchebag for sure."

She was still laughing.

"Guess I'm still a redneck asshole at heart too, though. I believed it." He said.

"You didn't know me." She said opening the door. "Now you do."

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Sophia sat down next to Carol at the table on the back deck the day before Thanksgiving. Carol was taking a break before going back inside to finish her stuffing for the turkey Lori was making the next day. They always had holiday's with the Grime's family and this year they were having an open house dinner for everyone who wanted to come.

"I hear you and Judith asked for a sleep over tomorrow night." Carol said and Sophia nodded.

"We have a project at school to do. Mr. Grimes is going to let us interview him for journalism class."

"Carl said Travis and his dad and uncle are coming and Andrea, did you know she was dating him?" Sophia asked.

"Pumpkin, I don't have time to worry about who's dating who. It's all I can do to keep up with you." She grinned at her. "You're my full time job, you know, after I work my full time job."

"Do you ever think you'll date again?" She asked, Sophia was starting to worry about her mother. If Mr. Merle who worked on Connie found someone that meant her mother was the only single person she knew. At her age she couldn't fathom how it was her choice.

Sophia liked boys so much and one in particular.

"Honey, I…"

"They aren't all like him." Sophia said softly.

"I know honey, I'm just… I'll know when I'm ready."

"I know he hit you."

"I'm sorry that you have to know that." Carol replied saddened by the fact that Sophia did know.

"I also know what he said about you all the time, I hope he leaves us alone."

"He will honey, He's Jackie's problem now."

Sophia shuddered. "I always hated her."

"I don't want you to hate anyone Sophia. She is going to be like I was and that's sad."

"Sad for her." Sophia said grabbing her mother's hand. "Not you, you're strong and my hero."

Carol smiled a wry smile at her. "Sophia, I didn't have an education, going to online school while Ed wasn't looking was a dangerous thing for me to do, but it got me ready to take care of us. It was so hard though honey. Promise me you'll finish college."

"I promise."

Carol squeezed her hand. "I know you like this Travis and he seems like a nice boy, but boys, well…you just have to be able to take care of yourself, in case."

"I'm going to law school, Miss. Andrea said I can intern this summer, I'll be in the same building as you and Mr. Eugene."

"We can car pool."

"Can I drive Connie?"

"Ahh…" Carol stuttered. It wasn't that she didn't want Sophia to drive her car, but Connie was old and temperamental, and she needed an easy foot.

"Travis said his Dad and he are working on a truck for him, I'll just get him or Carl to drive me around."

"Don't they sell cars at their place too?"

Sophia nodded a smile breaking out on her face.

"Maybe we could find you something." She said.

Sophia couldn't hide her excitement and Carol knew the minute they were done talking she was going to be texting her friends. She was getting a car.

"I have money saved, from work and babysitting, almost fifteen hundred dollars saved."

Carol nodded. She remembered what it was like to be Sophia's age and so full of dreams. Life was stretched out before her and she could do and be anything. Sometimes Carol felt like staying with Ed had set the wrong example for Sophia, but it was times like this that told her, she had done alright in the end.

Sophia was going to be something.