Chapter Summary:

Time to dial back the fluffy a bit. Things are about to ramp up in regards to Ed.

Sophia was knuckle deep into her new tubs of bath slime when Carol got the phone call she knew would be coming. She quickly told Sophia she would be out in the hallway, and to call if she needed her, excusing herself before her daughter caught on to her emotions.

"What do you want Ed?"

"Did you honestly think I wouldn't find out your slutty ass was out with the Dixon brothers today? What the hell Carol! With Sophia?! Don't you think it's a little early in her life to turn her into a wanna be slut like you?"

"I repeat Ed, what do you want?"

"I want to see my daughter. It's the weekend, and she's not here."

"She was there. You started drinking. She left your house 36 hours ago to go next door to Sasha's. I picked her up yesterday afternoon. Are you seriously just noticing that?"

"A man can have a few beers in his home Carol. You know – the home you walked out of? It's mine. I can do what I want. Same with Sophia. She's mine."

"She's also mine, and I would never put her in any kind of danger for any reason whatsoever. Who we spend the day with is not up to you Ed. It hasn't been for a long time now."

"I don't want my daughter to be around no Dixons."

"Well, you don't get a say Ed. You have visitation rights. We have stuck to them. You have chosen to ignore all manner of good sense when it comes to drinking, especially around Sophia. We are a little busy with getting ready for bed here, so did you have anything else?"

"I'm warning ya Carol. Don't fuck with me. I will mess you up. I will take Sophia. I will make your life hell."

"You already did Ed, that's why we left. Please don't call like this again. If you have anything to say, please put it into an email."

Carol then disconnected the call, hearing Ed's continuing tirade as she did. Maybe it was time to think about her and Sasha's conversation about limiting Sophia's exposure to Ed and his willfull refusal to stop drinking around her.

She waited another hour before she texted Daryl to ask if Merle's wife Andrea took custody cases.

twdtwdtwd

Merle had been home for a couple of hours when he got an unexpected call.

"Merle? It's Carol. I hope you don't mind, Daryl gave me your number. Is Andrea back in town yet?"

"Not yet sugar. What's goin' on?"

Merle didn't know much about Carol yet, but knew she was good people. She was also sweet on his brother, and knew his brother was sweet on her – he could tell that for damn sure. So why had Daryl had Carol call him?

"Daryl said that Andrea does some family law cases. Custody, visitation and such."

"Yeah. It's not her main deal, but she does do them on occasion. What's goin' on here Carol?"

"Sophia's dad. It's a long story, but he called awhile ago. I think I need some help."

Merle had briefly talked to Daryl when Carol had taken Sophia to the bathroom at the OCB they went to for lunch. He knew that the dad was a drunk who drank around Sophia. That was enough for him. He had already mentally thrown his lot in with Daryl in protecting his brother's woman and her girl. He just didn't know if Carol knew that he got a mini-rundown from Daryl or not.

"Anything. You and Sophia ok?"

"Yeah. We are at home. He just called and was drunk. Pissed off Sophia left his place cuz he had been drinking. Pissed he found out I was out with Daryl and you today with Sophia around."

"I will have Andrea call you tomorrow. But right now Carol? Pick that girl up and go to Daryl's. Or come here. Got a bit of experience in this shit, and if he called like that, then you need to not be at home in case he shows up."

"Oh, he wouldn't do . . . "

"Carol. Choose. You leaving, or are Daryl and I coming there?"

"Merle . . . "

"Don't. Choose. Or I get in my truck, I get Daryl and we are there anyways."

"Fine. Come over. Sophia's already in bed, so I don't want to wake her up."

"I'm gonna call Daryl. We'll be there in half an hour. Don't open your door until you know it's us."

twdtwdtwd

Unbenownst to Carol, Ed sat in his car parked in the next cul-de-sac. From his window he could see the comings and goings into the entire neighborhood. When he had been on the phone with Carol, he had even peered through the car window watching her house between the neighboring homes. He had seen her through the upstairs window, pacing while he was on the phone with her.

Now though, his blood boiled when he saw the pickup truck entering the development. He recognized it from earlier as being the truck of one of those Dixon fucks. He watched, pulling more liquor from his flask when he saw both brothers exit the truck and go into the house.

His daughter wasn't going to be around such filth as the Dixons if he had anything to say about it. He watched awhile longer. When it became clear that they weren't leaving, and his flask ran dry, he headed for home.

"Time to come home to daddy little girl" he said quietly to himself as he drove away. "Soon."

Chapter notes:

Next chapter - what happened when the Dixons arrived.