Good Evening! Guess who has another chapter for you?! LOL. I really love this one, its the beginning of the start of something yet to come. I really hope everyone enjoys this one :)

I may or may not get another one out tomorrow, don't hold me to anything, if I don't then don't worry it wont be a long wait.

Her mind began to wander to what may happen when they got back home. She had never been one of those girls, but she found herself not caring in the least about what was proper or not. The more time she spent around Daryl, the more right and natural things seemed to be. She knew that if the events for the rest of the evening played out like she found herself desperately hoping they did, she wouldn't find herself regretting it at all come morning.

Walking past a row of cars, Carol could see a group of guys hanging out around a truck, but she didn't even spare them a passing glance as she wandered by the aisle. Hearing someone shout her name though, she acted on pure instinct and turned back towards the sounds. She stopped short when she realized that the one shouting her name was a friend of Ed's. Actually, now that she was getting a better look at them, they all worked out at the dealership with Ed. Carol muttered a curse when Ed hopped out of the truck they had all been standing around.

She turned, intending to head back towards the bar and wait for Daryl by the bouncer, but Ed was faster. Reaching her before she could make it back out of the aisle, he grabbed her arm, jerking her to a stop.

Giving Ed the best glare that she could muster, she stared back at him.

Glancing down at his hand on her arm then back to Ed she kept her voice low, "Let go of me Ed."

She heard his friends laughing, egging Ed on, telling him what they would do if their woman talked to them in that tone.

Ignoring them for now, Ed gave a shake of his head, "We still need to have a talk."

He opened his mouth to continue, but Carol cut him off, "I already told you the other night that I have nothing to say to you."

She could smell the alcohol on him and she wasn't at all surprised. Ed and his friends were damn cheap, always drinking as much as they could at home before going out. She was certain he was, if not already, well on his way to being drunk.

Carol leaned away from him, craning her neck to see back towards the door, trying to spot Daryl. She felt herself being jerked forward, further into the aisle.

"Looking for your little girlfriends?" Ed sneered, looking back to his friends.

They all laughed like he had just told the funniest damn joke they had ever heard.

Shaking her head, Carol gave Ed a smile, "Nope, looking for my date."

Her voice came out sweet and light. She knew it probably wasn't the best idea to taunt Ed like this, but she was tired of him popping up in her life when she just wanted him gone.

"Dixon. You son of a bitch."

Carol's head snapped up. Ed's eyes were no longer on her, but looking over her shoulder. Using him as a distraction Carol was able to pull away from Ed's grasp. Turning completely, she found Daryl standing behind them, his fists clenched at his sides. Carol moved quickly, going to Daryl's side.

"You okay?" He did not look at Carol, instead keeping his attention on Ed, "If this gets out of hand, don't interfere. Go back to the bar." Stepping slightly in front of Carol, he blocked her from Ed's view, "I thought we talked about this Ed, told ya to leave this woman the hell alone," Daryl said, his voice calm and smooth.

Chuckles and snorts could be heard coming from all of Ed's friends, all of them finding it funny that Daryl even thought he stood a chance against all of them. Ed's mouth was drawn back in a grimace of rage as he put together just who Carol's date had been. Ed began moving in on Daryl, his hands knotted into fists, his face beginning to turn red. He stopped just a few feet short of Daryl.

"And I told you," Ed spat, "I wasn't going anywhere until I talk to her," Ed rasped, "I sure as hell ain't gonna let you stop me."

"And I told you," Daryl responded, his voice even, "You are no longer allowed near her no more."

Letting out a sharp laugh, Ed shook his head and pointed a finger at Daryl, "Who the hell do you think you are, you bastard?"

Sighing, Daryl shook his head, "It's over. This is where you cut your losses and find yourself another woman."

"It isn't over until I say its over," Ed nearly shouted, "You hear me? I ain't finished yet!"

"You're drunk Ed," Daryl nodded his head towards Ed's friends, "Why don't ya let your friends take your ass home for the night."

Ed's face got redder when his friends turned their teasing on him, throwing around jabs about how it was past Ed's bedtime and how he couldn't hold his liquor.

"Don't tell me what to do. Stop interfering with Carol and me."

"Look, Ed-"

Ed lunged forward suddenly, swinging wildly, but Daryl sidestepped the blow. Ed was so unsteady on his feet that he was thrown off balance when his hit failed to connect. He smacked right into the fender of a Toyota instead. Shaking off the blow, he climbed back to his feet. His friends let out exaggerated, "Oohs".

Daryl was trying to keep his temper in check, doing everything short of fighting back.

"This is not a good idea," Daryl said. He saw movement out of the corner of his eye and realized Carol was starting to inch her way back towards the bar,"No, Carol. Not yet."

She hesitated, "Daryl, he is out of control."

"Bastard."

Ed shoved himself away from the Toyota and swayed forward a second time, drawing back his right arm and aiming for another punch at Daryl. This time Daryl let him get closer before he ducked the clumsy blow. He grabbed Ed's right arm and used the mans own momentum to pull him forward and off balance. Ed stumbled, attempting to right himself before it was too late. If he had been sober he might have succeeded. Instead he went down hard. Ed managed to push himself into a sitting position, but it took him several tries before he managed to pull himself first to his knees and then to his feet. Daryl stood still, not wanting to turn his back just yet on Ed until he was sure he had no more fight left in him.

After a few moments of Ed just breathing hard, Daryl looked to his friends, "Get his ass home."

He looked back just as Ed leaned over the hood of the same Toyota he had knocked into earlier, his breathing still heavy. Daryl walked back towards Carol, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. He led her away towards the truck.

Carol sat in the truck, her eyes following Daryl as he walked in front, heading back to the driver's side. She was so afraid this was going to be the end of it for them. What man wanted to deal with a woman's ex that just couldn't seem to get the hint?

Turning her head just as Daryl climbed into the cab, she heard him sigh. She braced herself for what she was certain he was going to tell her. Carol nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt his arm come up and around her shoulders, making her slide across the bench. Daryl cupped her chin gently and tilting her face up, he pressed a soft kiss to her lips.

"You alright?" He asked while pushing the overhead light on so he could take a look at her arm.

"I am so sorry, Daryl." Choking back a sob, Carol shook her head, "I will understand if this is too much for you."

Reaching out, Daryl palmed her cheek, his thumb wiping away the few tears that had managed to escape. "I love your eyes," Daryl whispered, "Remind me of them bluebirds I see in the woods."

Ducking his head down, he pressed another kiss to her lips. This time she responded, sighing when he deepened the kiss.

Breaking the kiss, Daryl smiled at her,"Gonna take more than Ed to chase me away from you, bluebird."


"Yuk it up assholes," Ed growled.

His friends had spent the last several minutes reenacting Ed's very one-sided fight against Daryl, each taking turns playing as Ed. They laughed as they stumbled around in an attempt to show Ed just how awkward he had been.

Ed shoved one of the guys when they stumbled by him, their arms outstretched and groaning like some kind of zombie. He wasn't going to let Dixon make a fool of him again.

Ed opened his mouth, ready to rip into his so-called friends, wanting to know where the hell they had been and why they hadn't had his back. He paused when something shining in the street lamp caught his attention. Bending down Ed let out a loud laugh, a wide grin spreading over his face when he realized just what he had managed to find.

Dun-dun-dun! LOL! So what do you think? Any guesses? I am particular proud of the amount of dialogue in this one, and bluebird I thought was the sweetest damn thing I ever thought of. Review?