Italics is flashbacks.

Daryl didn't think he'd ever been as ready for a weekend as he was right now. It'd been a long ass week and all he really wanted was to lay his down and not wake up all weekend. For once he didn't need to go into the shop for something. Even if he was needed, he had plans to park his ass right here. He needed time to process everything. Not just his arrest, but Carol. That woman was working her way past his defenses and he didn't know how to stop her. Daryl wasn't sure he even really wanted to. Sighing to himself and pushing that thought aside he started getting ready for bed. He just needed sleep. That's all this was.

Daryl woke up when he felt the bed dip down on his side and someone climb on top of him. He didn't need to open his eyes to know it was her. Her smell of lavender was invading his nose and his head. It was making his body stir from sleep. He swallowed and opened his eyes. He took in the site of her setting straddling his hips in the pale moonlight coming in through his bedroom window. She was even more beautiful, she seemed to glow with the faint iridescent light. When his eyes connected with her he felt a fire burn up his spine from the way she was looking at him. She was smiling and nodding at him with her head tilted to the side. But her eyes, her eyes spoke of terrible things she wanted to do, that he'd be all to willing to let her do.

All she had on was one of his work shirts and it was partly buttoned and he prayed to whatever God was out there that those buttons would be opened for him. Carol seeing where his eyes were, smiled and leaned further back and rocking her hips down into his in the process, making him groan. She started unbuttoning the shirt the rest of the way but was holding it in place over her breast. When his eyes came back to her she quirked a brow at him looking at his own shirt clad chest. Without a second thought Daryl set up and whipped the shirt over his head, when he was freed from his shirt, instead of laying back down though Daryl done what he'd wanting to do since the day she came and got that car.

Daryl wrapped an arm around the base of her back and moved so fast she didn't have time to react. As much he was enjoying seeing her setting there he had other ideas. He pinned Carol below him, searching her eyes for any sign for him to stop. When he found nothing there but his own want and desire mirrored back at him, Daryl growled low in his throat and crushed his mouth to hers. She responded immediately giving as good as she got, her hands running freely over his chest and back. She wrapped her legs around his hips locking them in place and bucking into him, causing him growl in response and bite at her lips.

His own hands making a trip all there own. They started at her bent knees as he settled himself between her parted thighs. Sliding them up the smooth skin up over her hips. He felt her breath hitch and as he started kissing down her jaw making his way to her delicate neck. All the while his right hand still making it's way towards it's goal. Working in a comfortable rhythm with his mouth and tongue down her throat across her collar bones, he heard her moan low, panting his name. Urging him to continue with her hands in his hair. Daryl looked up at Carol, she looked beautiful like this. Here she was fully his, he waited for her to open her eyes up and look at him. Keeping his eyes locked with her he lowered his head to just above her left breast, mouth and tongue blazing a path down towards her hardened nipple. When Daryl hit his mark, eyes still locked with hers, he drew it into his mouth and sucked hard, causing Carol to shudder and moan out his name. She was gripping his hair so tight bordering on painful, but he fucking loved it.

Jerking awake Daryl groaned out loud the remnants of his dreams lingering just on the outside of his mind. Daryl swore he could still smell the mix of lavender and her arousal around him. Goddamn, looking down his body at the tent in his boxers Daryl chuckled, it was definitely one of his better dreams he'd had.

Of course he wouldn't be able to sleep in, always the same time. It was ingrained in him, David made sure of that. Looking over to the clock , it read five thirty in the morning. Daryl just laid there looking at the ceiling. His mind was running away with him again. Lately he'd been losing sleep, dreaming about things that he shouldn't even really be thinking about. His mind would go from Carol, to his mother, to that bastard of a father he had. He could hear the crack of belt. He swore he could feel the stinging pain of torn flesh from the buckle. He felt himself flinch each time he heard it, he tried to fight the flinch but he couldn't stop it. He could here the old bastards voice just like he was behind him. It was taunting him, like always.

"Pussy, if ya was any son of mine you'd kill that man." Davids deep voiced rang out.

Daryl grimaced, closing his eyes. Goddamn he hated that man.

"What you doing thinking about a girl like that for? You aint ever been shit and you aint ever gonna be shit. You aint good enough for that girl." David's nasty voice was laughing at him. "When she sees what you are, she's gonna find her a real man."

"You just like me boy. Don't you forget it!" slurring his words. Even in Daryls own mind the bastard was always drunk.

Snapping himself up out of bed, Daryl started jerking on his clothes. He didn't need this shit, and laying there was just going to make it worse. He wanted to get his hands dirty, but he wasn't about to go to the shop. No doubt his brother would be there with questions. He didn't want to talk about it.

Looking around his place Daryl's eyes landed on his crossbow, he snapped it up and headed for the backdoor. He would lose himself in the woods. It was always calming and that's what he needed. He needed to calm this tidal wave of emotions ripping through his chest and leaving a deep ache in its place.


Daryl body moved through the woods with silent purpose. He didn't even need to think of where he was going, he knew it by heart. He was going to his mothers spot. He always felt close to her there. It was her escape from his father, a place she kept locked away from him. He never took it from her and she had shared it with Daryl.

Getting to the ravine, Daryl gave a full smile. It was still untouched, still breathtaking. It had the all these faint smells. He could smell fresh earth, and the fast moving water below. He could smell all the pines around him. The fresh air that always accompanied the woods. Then there was the smell of roses. All these smells together was like his own sanctuary. It calmed him.

Daryl's favorite thing about it here was the Cherokee roses by far. The ravine on the other side had a steep incline, that was covered in moss and rocks. Climbing those rocks was hundreds of those very roses. He could remember his mother setting with him mere weeks before she was lost to him and telling him a couple of different things.

His mother was smiling and looking at all the roses, she looked over to him. She just smiled even wider. She pulled Daryl to her in a hug, "You see those roses my sweet boy?"

Daryl looked at her then to the roses, he just nodded. He never was one for much talk, he learnt fast that only led to more beatings.

"I want to tell you something, you mean more to me then life itself. I'd do anything for you. Those roses bloomed for you and your late brother."

Daryl's eyes widened, "Mama, what are you talking about Merle is fine."

Her smile turned sad and her eyes haunted, "No baby, before you were born. I was pregnant with your brother. I was going to name him Norman." she had tears tracks on her face. Daryl put his arm around her, Emma laid her head over on his shoulder. "I was about 7 months pregnant at the time. You're daddy, he didn't…" She stayed quiet for awhile just looking at the wall of roses.

Daryl stayed quiet knowing she would talk when she was able and ready. He was still reeling from the thought that he would have had another brother. Norman, he was guessing after his grandfather.

"You're daddy was in one of his moods, and I thought telling him the name I had picked for our little boy would make him happy. Happy to know it would be named after his father." Sighing. "He got so mad. I don't remember much from that night. But, I do remember never getting to meet your brother."

She was silently crying. Daryl felt hate boil inside him for his mothers pain, and for his lost brother. He wondered if Merle remembered this or if he was too young. If he did he never told him about it.

"But those roses my sweet boy, they bloomed for you two. I was having trouble with things after that. That's when I found this place." She gave a full smile again looking at him, she pulled his face around to look at her. "I came here and kept thinking how could something so beautiful be here when your brother was taken from me."

"No offense mama, but this aint exactly uplifting-"

Shushing him and patting his knee, "You're not listening, let me finish."

Daryl smirked and nodded to her. "Alright." Making a get on with it gesture with his hands.

"I set here for hours thinking about the life stolen and I begged God to make it right. I pleaded with him, and promised to keep my baby boy safe." She broke off shifting around too look at Daryl's side profile. "I came here every weekend, and every weekend for three months I made this promise. The last time I came here for that reason, those roses over there were bloomed. I had never seen them before. I found out the following week I was pregnant with you."

Daryl looked over at his mother. She was beautiful, and not for the first time he wondered how she had ended up with the monster of man that was his father.

"Those roses bloomed for you and your brother. He's here in this place, our place Daryl. This is our place. No one can take this from you. Take this from us. No matter what, no matter what I'll always be here with the roses."


Daryl leaned back on his elbows in the same spot he and his mother had set all those years ago, looking out over the area. It was still just as calming. Daryl believed her when she said she would be here with the roses. When he came here, he felt like she was setting beside him like she did all the other times he came here.

Daryl's thoughts drifted to Carol, she wasn't like any woman he'd ever been around. She was soft spoken and sweet. But she had a underlying fire that he could see. She definitely gave him shit, he didn't even mind because he knew she was just trying to play around. Hell he thought her giving him hell was hot as fuck.

Daryl let himself really appreciate what Carol for the first time. He didn't have to keep himself guarded here. Her hair was a rich shade of auburn. It flowed freely in waves to adorn her glowing, porcelain-like skin. Her eyes, framed by long lashes, were a bright sapphire. They resembled the bottom of the ocean; mysterious, and intriguing. She had a straight nose with a smattering of freckles across it. He loved that when she smiled she her nose turned up just enough to make it even cuter. Her lips looked smooth and he found himself wanting to capture them every time he looked at her. Especially when he'd catch her biting her lip, he wanted to do that for her. She had the kind of smile that could brighten the world, or at least his. When she laughed, he swore when she laughed anyone would keep laughing, just to keep hearing that beautiful sound.

Daryl knew one thing, his mother would have loved Carol. The thought made him grin and feel a pang of loss at the same time. His mother would never get the chance to meet her. His dad would have tried to break her like he did with his mama. His father was right about one thing, he wasn't good enough Carol. She deserved the world, not some scarred up man who couldn't even handle the simplest of relationships half the time. Moving to stand back up, he knew he needed to head back before he lost the light.

When Daryl finally made it back to his house it was almost night. He was tired and starving, he hadn't eat all day and he was pretty sure he could eat enough right now to feed a small country.

Walking through his back door he smelt his cologne first. Shaking his head and pulling the crossbow from his shoulder, he should have known this was coming.

"Where you at old man?" Daryl called through the house.

"You can't disappear like that boy!" Norm boomed stepping into the kitchen. He looked tired and worn.

"Don't reckon I much disappeared, it is my day off after all." Daryl groaned looking into his fridge, he needed to go to the store. Fuck.

"After the week you've had boy, you know damn well what I'm talking about." Norm barked.

Daryl turned to look at the man in question, lighting a cigarette. He took in a lungful. He knew Norm was just barking and growling cause he was worried, he didn't let it get to him. He took a moment to study Norm. The man still didn't look his age. He looked like he could be his dad, the thought made Daryl snort. He's gladly accept Norman as a father over David Lee Dixon. How that son of bitch came from this man he'd never know. How he was a twin to Will, Daryl really didn't get. They were polar opposites. Shaking his head.

"Yeah I get it. Just didn't think anyone would be by today. Damn" Talking through a cloud of smoke.

"Sit down, I wanna talk to ya." Norm sighed moving towards the table. He just hope he could get Daryl to talk about shit for once.

Daryl narrowed his eyes at the man, but moved to the table all the same. "Shoot."

"What with the other day being the anniversary of your mama passing away, then the shit with Ed. Seeing him hit Carol. I know it's eating at you boy." Norm kept his eyes steadily on Daryl trying to get a read on his emotions. "I seen you at the station, I know that shit was bothering you. Being locked up for what you were and for your daddy did are two different things."

Daryl kept his eyes on the ash tray in front of him, he schooled his features into an impassive mask. "I told ya'll I was fine the other day. I'm saying it again." Daryl's eyes flashed up to Norms, "Stop. Stop asking me every year. If aint you it's Will, and if it aint him it's Merle. I get it."

That was the most Norm had heard Daryl even say about all of it in years. He nodded to the boy, he'd give him that. "Okay, I get it boy."

They set there quiet for awhile both just enjoying being around the other. Norm really did love Daryl like was his son and not David's. He didn't understand David, wasn't sure he even wanted to try to understand what turned him into what he was. He still occasionally got news of his son from officials.

Now Norm didn't claim to know the inner working of Daryl's mind or half the shit the boy thought about but, he at least thought he knew him pretty good. That's when Merle brought up Daryl the other day at the shop actually laughing and joking with them. And even seeing the boy smirk some, he didn't think much about it. But Merle swore he thought it was cause of Carol. Merle was dead set on that if that girl was the one who made his brother seem lively, then he was gonna find a way to get Carol around him more.

He still didn't think nothing of what Merle kept saying about it the past few days, till watching Carol clean Daryl up the other night. Daryl didn't let anyone do shit like that for him. He always went off to lick his wounds, whether he was in a bad mood or not. He didn't like help, he took it as you pitying him. And he sure he fuck didn't let people touch him. It took months for Daryl to accept the smallest of gestures from him and even longer for Will to be able to. But Carol had hands all over him, he actually had to suppress a laugh at one point. She was talking to him and he wasn't looking at her, she just put her hand on his face and turned it towards her making him look at her. And damn if he didn't let her, no flinch or anything.

Another thing that shocked Norm, was the way Carol talked to him. She didn't talk down to him but damn if she didn't boss his ass around. She kept scolding him when he tried to clean his hand on his own. Daryl just nodded and let her do as she pleased. He didn't even put up a fight, he didn't even make a sound. Daryl never responded well to anyone telling him what to do. Norm supposed after so many years under the belt of his dad he never wanted to feel like someone had control over him. He would lash out and was fast to put you in your place.

He wanted to ask Daryl about Carol, but he needed to do it with care. Anyone who knew Daryl knew he avoided relationships. Women never got a chance to get any familiarity with him at all. He never talked about why he didn't date or even so much as give it a try, but Norm had a feeling it was something to do with his dad.

"If you got something' to say, say it. Aint got all damn day." leaning back in his chair to gaze at grandfather.

Norm smirked, "You went to school with Carol Ann didn't you?"

"You know I did."

Boy was gonna be difficult, but fuck it. "Ya'll ever talk in school?"

"She was a grade under me, I think. I hardly seen the girl." Daryl sighed. Why couldn't he get away from all things Carol. Even his own dreams. At the thought of his dream, he felt his face burn red.

Norm was watching Daryl when he blushed violently. Norm smiled, "She's a nice girl. She aint had many friends since Ed. Dean was saying she only really talks to Michonne. She seemed comfortable with you."

"Don't know why, never spoke to her before showing her the Torino." Daryl wouldn't look at him.

"Damaged people gravitate towards damaged people."

Daryls eyes snapped up to Norms, "What are you on about?"

"I'm just saying she could feel more comfortable around you because what's she has been through. It aint no secret boy. She might not know about your past, but still don't mean she can't feel that way." Sighing he leaned forward bracing his elbows on the table. "Dean says she don't talk about what all happened to her, says she don't even tell Michonne."

Daryl kept his eyes on Norms, "What are you expecting me to do? You know I don't do good with that emotional bullshit, and I sure as hell don't know what to say to a crying woman."

"Just listen; Dean said he's never seen her actually act comfortable with a man. Even with him that much."

"If she says anything to me, I aint that big of an asshole to tell her to shut up. I'll listen but what the fuck would I say." looking away. What the fuck were they expecting from him, he can't even fix himself. "Besides all that shit took care of, wont be seeing her anymore."

Norm nodded his head, "Alright. Well I gotta go boy. I'll see you at work Monday. Try to get some rest, you look like hell."

Standing up Norm patted him on the back as he moved to leave.