There a little time jump here, just for the progression of the story.

It had been a month and a half since filing for divorce from Ed. Things were tense at the beginning, she had a few run ins with Ed. The first couple were ridiculous, he acted like Carol didn't know who he really was on the inside. After that, Ed put blame on everyone except himself. Shaking her head Carol moved to cut on her coffee pot. She still laughed about that conversation.

It'd been a week since Daryl was arrested for the assault on Ed, and like always she found her mind drifting to the shy man. She couldn't figure him out and hadn't had a chance to see him since she dropped him off at home that night. Sighing to herself she rounded the corner on the last isle. She stopped in her tracks.

"Carol, it's good to see you." Ed spoke in a controlled voice. Carol knew that voice all to well. That was the voice he used when in public, when underneath he was really seething. That voice always guaranteed her a vicious beating.

"Ed, please move so I can get by." Carol her voice strong even though she was screaming on the inside.

"You're looking good. You know Carol I think, I think if we tried we could work things out."

Carol barked out a laugh at the prospect of Ed actually thinking she would come back. She seen the look flash through his eyes at her laugh, "Ed I'm sorry, but NO. We are done."

Carol moved to turn her buggy around, whatever was on this isle suddenly wasn't so important anymore. She just wanted away from Ed and his laughable approach.

Ed reached out and grabbed her arm as she was walking by, Carol fought to not flinch. Looking from his hand on her arm to his eyes. Her eyes went cold, "Get your hands off me, NOW!" she all but growled out.

"Four years Carol. You're going to throw away four years of marriage?!" Ed sneered at her, "No man is going to want your used up ass. You can't even please a man." Ed was trying to pull her towards him as he spoke.

Carol gave him a wry smile, "Ed, I need to be with a man before I can please one. And since I haven't had the pleasure yet in my life of being with a man I'm afraid your judgment for that doesn't really matter." Carol jerked her arm away from him and side stepped him moving down the isle. She knew what she said was likely to cause him to blow up. But damn if it didn't feel good. "But as soon as I have a chance, I'll let you know what he says."

Ed was reaching for her again, when a woman and her girl came around the corner. He backed up and tried to school his face, and was doing a terrible job. "You'll never find a man like me again Carol!" Ed called following her down the isle, "If you think that Dixon boy is going to want you, you're a fool."

At the mention of Daryl, Carol whipped around and glared at Ed. "What the hell are you talking about Ed. Why the hell would I want to replace shit, with SHIT! I would never want a man like you again." she kept her voice calm even though her eyes were screaming at him, "As far as Daryl goes, he has nothing to do with this."

"Yes he does bitch! You think I don't know you were-" Carol cut him off with a look.

Ed didn't follow her anymore around the store and she was praying she could get out without having another run in with him. She knew he was close to losing it in the store, with what she said. And what was he talking about Daryl for? The man was losing his damn mind.

Paying for her groceries and moving outside she seen Ed leaning against her car. She sighed, he wouldn't attack her in public at least. She took a moment to look him over. He looked like hell, you could see the bruises and stitches from his fight with Daryl. Seeing them made her smile. But it was more then that, Ed looked like he was drinking even more and wasn't sleeping.

"Ed I have nothing to say to you. Just go." she sighed exasperated.

"Then you're going to fucking listen to me." Ed said as he pushed himself away from the car, "Carol you're mine, aint no goddamn paper gonna make a bit of difference."

"How about what a Judge says Ed? Does that make a difference cause it makes a huge damn deal to me."

"Judge aint gonna look to kindly at you when he finds out you're a cheating whore!" Ed laughed.

"I'm not sure what you're talking about. But if anything in that marriage, I was completely faithful to you."

"Dixon comes to my house, attacks me and leaves with my wife. Sounds like a good reason to me, for the judge to think you were cheating."

Carol didn't respond immediately, she could feel Ed watching her as she put her groceries away. Pushing the trunk lid closed she turned to Ed. She hated this man with everything in her. How dare him try to drag Daryl through this, the man had nothing to do with any of this. She felt herself getting even madder at the thought of Daryl being accused of this.

Stepping close to Ed, "You and I both know I didn't cheat, Ed." she sneered, "If you were a smart man, you'd drop this. Don't drag his name into this."

"If you think he'll want you, you're wrong. You're just a scarred up hag!" Ed's barking laughter followed her to as she pulled out of the parking lot.

Thinking about it maybe she should tell Daryl what Ed had said that day. Carol got up when she heard a car door shut outside, looking out the window she seen Michonne making her way towards the porch.

Getting up she swung the door open before Michonne could knock, "Mich! What are you into today?"

Michonne smiled, it was good to see Carol so free and happy. "Nothing, thought I'd come see how you are."

"I'm pretty good. Just relaxing today. I wanted to get out and maybe paint some, but dad told me not to be going in the woods on my own. Something about Ed and I could get lost." Carol said in mock annoyance.

Moving towards the kitchen, "You want some coffee?"

"Yeah, thanks. So what how you liking being on your own? Things are really coming together here. It looks good Carol." Michonne chirped..as much as Michonne could.

Carol looked at her over her shoulder smiling, "It's great. A breathe of fresh air!"

Michonne chuckled nodding. "I seen Ed, his face had a sickening shade of yellow to it. Daryl really must've done a number on him." Michonne sipping her coffee, "Would have loved to see that."

Carol set down at the table with her cup, "It was…it was something else I'll tell you that much." Carol said face tinting pink.

Michonne just set awhile, sipping her coffee and looking at Carol. Sweet Carol was blushing at the mention of the fight, "Why are you blushing Carol?" Michonne gave her a sly grin. She could remember in high school them both having crushes on him.

"I'm not." she said focusing intently on her cup.

Michonne laughed, "Oh yes, you are. Now why would the mention of that fight make you blush?" asked truly curious.

"Besides the fact that it was embarrassing for him to see Ed hit me." Carol sighed.

"Mhmmmm" Michonne hummed. There was more she could tell, Carol was avoiding looking at her.

"Carol how long have we been friends?"

Carol looked up at her, "As long as I can remember, why?" she answered, confused by the question.

"Then why aren't you being honest with me? It's just me, I'm not going to judge you or say anything to you. Lord knows you've listened to me over the years." Michonne spoke calmly.

"I'm not, it's just-" Carol stopped mid sentence, she was. She was lying to her best friend. Didn't she say she needed to talk to Michonne anyways, that maybe she could help her understand how she was feeling about Daryl and reacting to him. "It's embarrassing." Carol blushed again.

"And like me telling you that my dad walked in on me and Rick wasn't?" Michonne laughed. She was past being embarrassed in front of Carol. She knew more then what most people would be comfortable talking about, if Rick knew she knew some of it. Well he'd be mortified. She chuckled.

"Mich, it was so…so hot. No, that's not the words for it. It was primal and sexy." Carol blushed an even brighter shade of red. "When Ed tried to hit and me and Daryl stepped around and caught him in the act…I wanted to climb him like a tree right there. Ed be damned." Carol looked off fanning herself. "Seeing someone besides my own dad defending me, it was such a turn on. And he's so rough looking and spoken but he tried to comfort me. I cried all over the man, for Christ sakes!" Carol could feeling her face burning with embarrassment.

Michonne started laughing, she could imagine. She seen Dixon lose his temper a few times when they were high school, and she was right. That man riled up was a sight to see. Sexy. He'd made a few guest appearances in her own dreams.

"I'm sensing there is more to this?" Michonne asked tentatively. She knew Carol enough to know when something was on her mind.

"We use to set and fantasize about him, and Rick even. Hell if hadn't been for Ed it would've been a good day." Carol didn't know how to explain this, it'd been so long since she'd felt anything like this she was at a loss. "Even when I picked him up from the station I was to busy lusting after the man to even be able to drive." Carol was getting flustered.

Michonne seeing Carol struggling, "Yeah I remember all to well the stuff we came up with." tipping her head to side, "So, what's the problem here?"

"The problem is I'm not even divorced and I'm already thinking about other men. Well man. I spent the entire day trying to reign in my hormones, watching him working to move my stuff and laughing and joking with my dad." shaking her head, "You know how Dean can be, he don't joke with anyone. He hated Ed. But him and Daryl were a riot together."

"So, you're problem is the guy you have had a crush since freshmen year, gets along with your dad?" Michonne didn't get it. Carol was right , Dean was never one to go out of his way to be nice. Hell she figured Carol would be happy about Dean being nice to would be the first guy Carol ever liked Dean was nice too.

"Don't you think it makes me a bad person to already feel this way…hell I was about to throw myself at him in my car when I gave him a ride home the other day." Carol stood up and started pacing the length of the room.

Michonne looked at her, so this was what she thought was wrong? "Carol set down your pacing is making me nervous, I feel like I'm about be told I'm gonna die or something."

"I'm serious, do you think that makes me, " Carol moved to the table but looked off, "do you think that makes me a whore?"

"Carol how long was your marriage really over? I mean think about it, I'm not talking filing for papers. But when there was no feeling, no love, no intimacy."

Carol was quiet for awhile. Michonne had a point, her marriage to her had been over within eight months of it even occurring. Ed had become violent, he didn't talk to her, he didn't touch her. Sex had become almost like an assault itself.

"Carol it's normal to feel this way. I don't know all the details of that marriage and even I could see you fell out of love just as fast you fell in. If you feel something for another man already, then don't think for a second it's cause you're a whore." Michonne growled the last word. "That's Ed in your head, don't let him win Carol. Find your own happiness out there."

Leaning back in her chair Carol nodded, "Ok enough with the heavy. It wouldn't happen anyways. He's still just as untouchable as in high school."

"Who Daryl? Why exactly is that?"

"You've seen him, there's no way a guy like that could be single. I'm sure he has an equally as beautiful woman waiting in bed at night for him." Carol stopped and gestured at herself, "Look at me Michonne, what would he want with me?"

This was one of things that pissed her off more then anything about Ed. Ed had taken someone who was beautiful through and through and made them feel like they were nothing.

"First off that is bullshit Carol. You know you are beautiful, this is another instance where Ed is in your head. Now stop it." Michonne smiled looking at Carol, "As far as Daryl, I happen to have it on good authority the man in question is very much single."

"How can you be so sure?"

Giving a mischievous grin, "Rick."

"So you and Rick set and talk about Daryl? Don't you have better things to do…" Carol wanted to change subjects but knew Mich wouldn't stop till she got what she wanted.

"Yes we do, thank you. But he's Rick's friend. He comes up, I've actually seen him a few times here recently."

Carol perked up at this, she hadn't seen him since she dropped him off that night. "How was he?"

Michonne smiled, this was more then just a crush. "He was good, he was a little pissed off."

Gesturing for Michonne to go on Carol got them another cup of coffee, "Him and Rick apparently were having a heated debate about something that I'm still not sure I understand, when Rick threw water on him." Michonne laughed.

Carol started laughing, "What'd he do to Rick?"

Michonne smile got even wider, "They were setting on the porch rails, he tipped Rick back and dropped him like a sack of potatoes on the ground. But I gotta say that shirt of his was clinging to him in all the right ways."

Carol and Michonne spent another two hours just talking and catching up. It felt good, it felt normal. Things were really looking up without Ed breathing down her throat. Carol couldn't wait for the divorce to be final.

Looking up at the tone Michonne used, "Are you listening Carol?"

"Sorry, I guess I kind of checked out there. What'd you say?"

Michonne stood up gathering her things, "I gotta run, I'm meeting my dad for lunch."

Walking with Michonne to the door, "Thanks for coming by and listening to me ramble."

Michonne turned and looked at Carol. "You know Carol, I've never been one to tell someone what to do, but I want you to listen and think about this."

Carol felt her gut churn, Mich wasn't one to beat around the bush. She tended to be brutally honest and direct. "Okay…" said in a wary voice.

"Carol you're an amazing person. I want you to stop letting Ed rule your life." Carol made to interrupt her, but Michonne shushed her, "Let me finish. I know you filed and you're taking these steps to move on with life. But you're still letting Ed in your head."

Carol just nodded, it was the truth. She couldn't dispute that.

"From what you've told me and watching you, I know you have feelings for Daryl. Even if you just pursue a friendship with him, try Carol. Don't bury yourself alive on the inside, so you can shut out the world. Not every man is a monster. Try t live a little." Sighing Michonne pulled her into a hug, "That's a lonely existence Carol."

Carol watched her walk to her car, her words ringing in her head. Michonne had a point, so far all Carol had done was hide out in her home. She had declined invitations from her own dad to barbecues. Shutting the door she moved through the house, a hot shower would make her feel better.

Carol stewed on what Michonne said to her for three days, not only was she being a coward and avoiding her own feelings, she was avoiding life. Thinking back to the quote that started her on this path, Carol wanted to live. She was going to get out there. Ed be damned.

Picking up the phone she dialed the number she knew by heart, "Hey!"

"Hey Carol Ann, what ya doin?" Dean spoke.

"Thought I would stop and see you when I got out, where are you right now? I called the house and got no answer."

"I'm at the shop shooting the shit with Norm and Merle, we're watching," she heard a barking laugh through the phone of someone she thought was Merle.

Merle was definitely the louder of the brothers. "DAMN Darylina, pick ya FUCKIN NUTS up and do the damn…" the rest of what he said was drowned out by more laughing and cussing.

"Yeah just stop by girl, I'll be here."

Carol smiled, the Dixons were a lively group. "Okay, I'll see you soon."

Carol was looking forward to see her dad, but she would be lying if she didn't admit that she was more then excited that he was at the shop. She would get to see Daryl, all the while making it look like she was there for her Dean.

Looking down at her clothes, maybe she should put on something a bit…she didn't know but something different. She'd just clean up a little.


Dean smiled to himself, Carol seemed to be in a better mood on the phone. Hell she had to be she was getting out of the house for once.

"Who was that Dean?" Norm questioned.

"My girl, she was calling to see where I was at."

Norm nodded, "She coming by here?"

"Yeah she said she'd be here in a bit." Cutting his eyes to the shit eating grin Merle was wearing.

"Merle, when she gets here try, keyword being try, to temper your language boy." Norm scolded.

"What the fuck you on about, I talk good and proper an shit." Merle started cackling at the look Norman and Dean shot him, "Yeah yeah I hear ya. I'll be regular ol saint."

Dean set there a bit thinking about the way Carol had been acting, it was about like she had when she was with Ed. That shit made him nervous, he wanted his spirited baby girl back. The most lively he'd seen her was when she was around Daryl. That boy put some color in her cheeks. Looking over at Norm, he knew the man had tried talking to Daryl the other day.

" 'ey Norm, Daryl say anything the other day about what all went on with Carol after I left her house when him and Ed fought. Carol has been tight lipped. She wont talk about that shit with me."

Humming his response, "Yah."

Merle and Dean both cut their eyes over to the man, "Well what the hell he say?"

"He said she got hysterical and started crying all over him. Said she talked about it some…" Norm acknowledged, Daryl hadn't gave him much to go on.

Dean sighed, "That's more then she's said to me about any of it. I don't think there is a way for me to thank Daryl for stepping in-between those two. I know if I tried he'd shrug it off. I don't know what to do for him."

Merle looked at the two men, then down to his brother in the shop. There was some young blonde girl down there falling all over herself trying to talk to him while he worked on her car. Like always Daryl ignored the girl, and damn she was a tight little piece too.

Merle looked over and at Norm and Dean, "Am I the only one who has noticed how Carol acted both times around Daryl? Thinkin she might like the boy. Likewise with him."

Norman was nodding his head to what Merle said, "Yeah I noticed he didn't rip her a knew one the other night when she was bossing his ass around and touching him. Never seen that shit before."

Dean set there for while thinking about, Daryl was a damn good man. A hard worker, he had his own demons. He knew what it was like to be abused, he'd never lay his hands on a woman. He'd be more likely to kill someone for something like that. Ed almost met his end that way.

"Yeah I got that feeling to, I know my daughter. She had a crush on him in high school. Guess she still has it." Dean laughed. "But what makes you think Daryl would be interested in her?"

Merle laughed and gestured to where the girl was flirting with Daryl. About the time they all focused their eyes on the pair, the girl went to touch his arm when he jerked back from her scowling at her and shaking his head. "Now I know my brother, and that girl there has been trying for the better part of a year to get with him. No dice. He was around Carol for that bit of time and that is the most comfortable I've seen him around anyone."

Norm looked at the girl again, "Yeah he's got a point. Daryl has actually took off from the shop when he sees her show up, the only reason he's down there now is Merle wouldn't take his ass down there and handle the car." Norm looked over at Dean, "When I talked to him the other day, he didn't come out and say anything, but I got the sense he was attracted to the girl."

Merle was still watching Daryl when he spoke, "He mentioned Carol acting weird the other day when he had to stop and get gas. Something about her and the cashier acting weird."

"Who was the cashier?" Dean questioned.

Merle just nodded his head towards the girl in the shop pining for Daryl. "If she was already starting to show claws alittle there, I wonder how she'll act to seeing that girl trying to talk to him? What you think Dean?"

"Don't let Carol fool ya. She's a Halcomb aint she."

Norm was still watching Dean, "If your girl did want to pursue something with Daryl, what would you say to her?"

"Aint much I can say to the girl as far as what she does, she's twenty six. Daryl's a good man, but you all know as well as I do, baby Dixon aint much into dating."

"I don't know, he seemed different around her." Merle continued, "I think if any girl is gonna get past that wall he's built, it might be Carol Ann."

Norm thought about it for awhile, he wanted to see Daryl happy. There was no denying that Daryl had joked more now. He didn't quite smile or outright laugh, but it was a start. He did see him give Carol a genuine smile though, if Carol was what done it for the boy. Then he agreed with Merle, they needed to try.

Looking to Dean, "Let's see how she reacts when she gets here, last time she was around him and we were there she had her eyes all over the boy. If she gets jealous we should be able to tell." Norm laughed.

Looking at his grandfather, "Yeah, and if she does. Then we do what I said, start trying to get them around each other more." Merle nodding his head to Norm and Dean.

The two men nodded back. It was a plan.

They set there awhile longer laughing and joking with each other. Watching Daryl avoid the girls advances. They couldn't help but to laugh when Daryl would shoot Merle pleading glares.

They heard the rumble of the Torino, "Looks like its show time boys." Dean spoke.

Dean was hoping that if this was what his girl wanted things worked out. He wanted to talk to her though if this was what she wanted.