"Better Days"

Author: carmen_085

Disclaimer: I don't own any Walking Dead characters. Original characters are mine

Author's Note: This story is AU and in it Sophia is never a walker. Takes place on the farm while Daryl is searching for the girl. My first attempt at Walking Dead fanfiction, hope you like it! Please review! I know it's been forever but I'm finishing it even though ten million things have happened on the show since.

Chapter Eleven

All the air left Sophia's lungs as a familiar voice stopped her dead in her tracks. Merle. Turning around she fought the urge to scream as she laid her eyes on what could only be described as a bionic redneck. Merle stood there half cocked as usual; his right arm was gone and in it's place a roll of metal with a sword on the end. Subconsciously Sophia slid behind Daryl so that she was almost completely concealed. Her small fingers wrapped around his back pocket as he shifted the crossbow in his arms and his hand reached back. Resting on her shoulder he pushed her behind him even further. Nervously her gaze shifted to Carl who fingered the gun on his hip.

Daryl didn't make a move as he stood there staring at his brother. After Rick locked him to the roof in Atlanta Daryl was livid and would have done anything to find him. But time had passed and Daryl had been given the chance to grow into the man he could never be with Merle hanging around. He liked that man and he didn't want to let him go.

"Now what the hell is all this?" Merle swung his prosthesis through the air wildly. "Ya ain't even happy to see your own brother?"

Daryl shook his head not wanting to make anything worse than it already was. "Nah...Good to see you, man." Taking a few steps forward he slung his arm around Merle before quickly stepping back. He could feel both Carl and Sophia leaning against him as he put a hand behind his back. Without hesitation Sophia grabbed onto his fingers and held tight.

Merle looked from right to left as a puzzled expression crossed his face. "You runnin' some kind of demented daddy daycare, brother?" His eyes went from Sophia to Carl where they stayed as an evil grin spread across his face. Jabbing the prosthesis in the air he took a step toward Carl. "Now ain't that the sheriff's kid?" Carl swallowed hard as he kept one hand on his gun and the other wrapped tightly around Daryl's fingers. A strange juxtaposition if ever there was one.

"Got separated from the group a while back. Just tryin' to get them back to their folks." Merle was silent for a moment before he laughed a little too loudly.

"I know that's right, little brother. Because you don't know shit about takin' care of anyone but yourself." Inside Daryl felt those familiar doubts begin to rise up like bile in the back of his throat. His shoulders slumped ever so slightly. Merle was the only person left in the world who could cut him down so fast. Well...not the only person. Nobody had ever been harder on Daryl than himself.

"That's not true. Daryl's been keeping us safe and he's going to find my dad again." Carl spat out hesitantly.

Merle scowled at Carl as his face twisted into a sick smile. "Well I hope he does..." Stabbing the blade on his prosthesis toward Carl he made the boy jump back. "Because me and him...well we got some unfinished business.

Carl swallowed hard as he tucked himself behind Daryl squeezing his hand until the blood drained out. "How many people you with?" He knew Merle couldn't be on his own out here. Sure they had been drifting around before the turn surviving, but Daryl was the hunter, the tracker, the survivor. Merle didn't really know shit about living off the grid; it was always Daryl who took care of what they needed. All Merle worried about was getting drunk, high, and finding some pussy for the night.

Daryl sat at the table a cigarette in his mouth and a can of coke in front of him. Sweat rolled down the back of his neck as he rolled it side to side. The light over his head flickered a little as he looked up at it with a frown before going to the kitchen and retrieving a new bulb. He couldn't explain it but just doing that; changing a light bulb gave him a certain level of satisfaction. Sitting there he took a drag on his cigarette as he stared at it.

He was twenty years old. He had his own place. If his goddamned light bulb flickered he could go to the kitchen and get another one. He had a fucking kitchen that was clean, the appliances worked, and there was food in the cupboards. All those years living with his old man and he had somehow turned into a civilized adult. While he could outwardly marvel at that fact he knew deep in his heart that it was no surprise. He was smart and he knew that, but more than that he was strong and nothing was going to hold him down. He would always find a way.

Looking at the stack of envelopes on the table he sighed a little. He had been in this place for about a month and the first round of bills had finally come in. The money was no issue; Daryl had been working as a mechanic for a few months now and had a little something saved up. But beyond that he had been so so careful to keep all his expenses as low as possible. There was only one problem. He didn't know how to write a check.

It was so stupid and he felt stupid just for admitting it, even to himself. He went to the bank a few months back to open his account and he felt like a grown up Oliver Twist. The place was so clean and shiny, all the men were wearing three piece suits, and all the women had jewelry he was sure cost more than everything he had to his name. He stood there against the wall with grease stains all over him as he felt like maybe he should hold his hat out for a donation. The woman who finally acknowledged him standing there looking right down her nose at him like he was an animal and he had to summon all the resolve he had to not get up out of there and take off.

Walking to his truck in the hot Georgia sun, Daryl swung the door open as he slid behind the wheel. He took the checkbook she gave him out of his pocket and flipped through it. They were just blank checks. The bitch inside had explained that he would get ones with his name and address in a few weeks. Problem was he didn't have an address right now; least not one he was planning to stay at. He didn't miss the way she pursed her lips and rolled her eyes at that revelation. Grinding his teeth back and forth Daryl shook his head. Fuck her. He was doing this and no uppity bank bitch was going to make him feel otherwise. Be damned if he was going to live like his old man off the government.

Staring at the stack of envelopes he pulled his check book out of his pocket. Today at the garage some lady handed him a check and before he turned it over to the office he copied down what she wrote onto a blank check of his own. Holding the pen he carefully printed the date as a shrill ringing caused him to jump. Stubbing the cigarette out his brow furrowed. Who the hell knew this number already. Eyes slipping closed for a moment his heart sank.

"Hello?" His shoulders slumped in defeat as he rubbed his forehead. "How much for bond?" His eyes drifted to the checkbook and the stack of unpaid bills. Sighing loudly he nodded to no one but himself. "Yeah I'll come get him." Daryl threw the coke can in the trash as he grabbed his check book and cast another glance at those envelopes. Flicking the light off he shrugged on a leather vest as he slammed the door behind him.

"Little brother what in sam hell is wrong with you?" Daryl snapped back to reality as he felt Sophia press her cheek against his hip. Merle stared at him like he was nuts, and getting that look from Merle didn't say much about you. Swallowing hard Daryl blinked a few times.

"Nothing..." It came out more of a grunt than a reply. Daryl looked at Merle for the first time since their little meeting. His eyes narrowed to slits as he took in the fact that his brother was filthy dirty, unshaven, and skinnier than he had been. He had a knife on his belt and the butt end of a pistol hung out of his pants. Whoever he was with, they didn't have much, because if they did Merle would be taking advantage of everything he could get his hands on.

"Said I been with a group of guys." He eyed Carl and Sophia before looking back at Daryl with a knowing glance. "They're pretty rough guys...if you know what I mean."

Sophia felt her heart race in her chest as she was filled with the sudden desire for Daryl to pick her up and hold her. It was ridiculous, honestly, she was twelve years old. Much to old to be coddled and held but she just couldn't help wanting it. Nobody...nobody had ever made her feel as safe as Daryl did. Certainly not her father and not even her own mother. Carol protected her but she also always went back to Ed and for that Sophia had lost faith in her long ago.

"Yeah...well I don't know." The sun was dipping below the horizon and Daryl knew night was coming. They had to get somewhere and while the prospect of camping with a bunch of hostile ex-cons didn't exactly thrill him neither did being on the road in the dark with two kids alone. Merle might have been a douche but he wouldn't let anyone bother Daryl. Blood is blood. How many fucking time he heard that over the years he couldn't count. Looking up at his brother he nodded reluctantly. "Alright."

Behind him Sophia felt her heart sink as Carl swallowed the lump in his throat. "Camp's just about a mile away. Glad your back, brother." Daryl bit his lip as he followed Merle down the path. Carl and Sophia still firmly attached to his belt behind.

She didn't turn back and look at Daryl once as she stalked through the woods. Julie. She had said her name out loud for the first time in weeks and it made her sick. She had been slowly but surely withdrawing herself from every last shred of her old identity. She had been shutting down every emotion she ever felt until she was left with only numbness. She was ready to do it, didn't have a single reservation and then that little shit came running through the woods and fucked everything up. Daryl, the little girl, the kid holding a gun on her for the better part the day...the medical shit...and now the goodbye. She felt like a human being again. Sitting down against a tree she looked down at the gun in her hands. That didn't mean she had changed her mind though, it just meant she was thinking about it more than she should have been.

Taking a deep breath she put the gun up to the back of her head like she had a few days ago. Smashing the barrel against the bottom of her skull she cleared her head of all the thoughts. She erased Carl smirking as he waved good bye, she erased Sophia's sweet and innocent smile, and she erased the feeling of Daryl's lips against her own. She had no idea why she kissed him, it wasn't out of attraction although he certainly was attractive. She just wanted to feel a real connection with a good person; she wanted that to be the last real thing she felt in this world. Not pain or fear or worse than all of that she didn't want to feel nothing.

The world went to shit, she did everything she could, and now she would leave this hellhole on a high note. Squeezing the trigger she was ready; there was nothing else left for her and she knew it. 'Slow, steady squeeze.' Her friends on the SWAT Team were always chiding her for yanking the trigger. She never had patience for much of anything. All the slack was gone; this was it. Her hand shook as she committed to the outcome and finished.

CLICK. There was no crack, just a click. Breathing in she was still alive as she heard the birds chirping around her. The gun hadn't gone off. Pulling it down she opened the slide. It was empty...her last bullet was gone. Suddenly a panic raced through her as she realized she was out here...still alive...without any ammo to kill herself or anyone else. Ripping her pack open, her eyes landed on a box of .22 rounds. Gasping she brought them up to her face looking at them almost reverently. What she wouldn't have given for this weeks ago. Sliding the tray out her eyes landed on a piece of folded paper. Her dirty fingers unfolded it as her eyes scanned the words, tears beginning to pool.

'This world needs people like you. Hope I saved your life...because I owe you mine.'

Shaking her head a smile came to her face as she wiped the tears away.

Daryl walked a few steps behind Merle as his eyes swept back and forth over the near darkened woods. At this side Sophia grabbed his arm and held on tight. "Daryl I don't want to go." Carl was silent on the other side although Daryl knew the boy well enough to know that he was scared shitless. Stopping he bent down so that he could look Sophia in the eye.

"I know. It'll be ok. Just a night then we'll be gone in the morning." He rubbed her forearm gently right over the bruise he left there a few days ago. Reaching down she latched onto his hand and refused to let go. Standing back up he shifted the cross bow so that he could hold her hand. Thankfully Carl was content keeping one hand wrapped around his belt and the other on his gun. Sophia had been fearful since the day he met her; but the more time they spent on the road the more she began to open up and he could see some of that fear fading away. He would never credit himself for that, although the truth was he was solely responsible for it. For the first time in her life she had an adult that she could trust to always keep her safe. But ever since the whole shit show with Shane she had reverted back to the quiet, fearful child he met at the Quarry Camp. Swallowing back a bitterness in his mouth he knew that was his fault.

Merle walked a few steps ahead as a gathering of tents came into view. Daryl sneered, this was worse than he thought it was going to be. "Hey...Hey Merle." The older man stopped as Daryl caught up. He had never asked his brother for anything, was always the other way around. But tonight he needed him to do something. "I'm going to tell them these are my kids, and I don't want you to say shit about it." Merle spun around and eyed Daryl. Disbelief tinged his features as he gave his little brother a once over. He had changed in the time they were apart. Merle always knew that Daryl was a good man. He would never admit that and he cut him down every chance he got, but he knew in his heart that him and Daryl weren't the same. Never was.

"Don't know why you'd want to claim that little bastard but..." He jabbed the blade toward Carl making the boy jump. "Whatever."

Daryl took a breath as they walked into camp. Were they safe...hell no but he reasoned the best play here was to make sure these shit heads knew he would do anything to keep these two kids safe. Claiming them as his own was the easiest way to get that point across.

"I'm back assholes." Daryl looked around; there were about ten men all together. They were rough looking that was for sure. Sophia squeezed his hand so tight he actually felt pain.

One of the bigger men stepped up to Merle clearly pissed about something. "What the fuck, Merle? You go out for food and come back with three more people to feed."

Merle stepped toward the guy, never one to back down from a fight. "Calm down, man. This is my brother Daryl and his..." Merle looked over and rolled his eyes. "His kids."

A few more of the guys appeared from their tents as Daryl stood his ground. "Just need a place to stay for the night. Don't mean no trouble." A man threw a can of something into the fire as they all stared Daryl over.

"Good. Because we don't want no trouble." A thin piece of shit with stringy hair and beady eyes looked down at Sophia as he took a step closer.

"Well aren't you the prettiest little thing." Daryl felt goosebumps all over him as his fingers curled around the strap of the crossbow. Reaching back with his other hand he pushed Sophia completely behind him as he put himself between her and his sick looks. The asshole looked up and feigned hurt, "Oh come on. I was just talking to her."

"That's enough." He ground the words out, low and menacing. The guy stood up and stared Daryl in the eye before backing away. He felt his heart racing as a fine tremble went through his body. He was in over his head and he knew it. No way he was taking all these guys out. Thankfully the tension broke as an argument started over who got the 'better' tent to sleep in. Carefully skirting the outer perimeter of the camp Daryl found a place near the fire and sat down. There would be no sleep tonight and he knew that. Opening his pack he found the cookies that Julie had given to him for the kids before they parted ways earlier. Without anyone seeing it he slid one out into his palm and passed it to Sophia. Ducking her head against his arm he felt her inhaling it in two bites. She was starving and he knew that; tomorrow he was going to have to do better for both of them. Taking the other one out he passed it to Carl as he shoved it into his own mouth before anyone could see.

"Hey dad." It took Daryl a minute to realize Carl was talking to him. Looking over at him his lips quirked up into a smirk. "Think tomorrow will be it?" He knew what Carl was asking; it was always the same question. Rick must have been one hell of a father because that boy could never lose faith in him.

"Yeah...son...maybe tomorrow." Carl smirked at Daryl as he scooted closer to him. On the other side Sophia lifted his arm as she cuddled herself into Daryl's side. Anyone else and he would feel strange about all this physical contact but she was a scared little girl. Bringing his arm back down he closed it protectively around her shoulders.

Daryl stared into the fire as he scanned the activity around camp. Some of the men had dispersed back into their tents, a few sat across from him to tell raucous stories by the fire. He wanted to tell them to shut the hell up before they brought every walker in Georgia down on them. Eyes falling to Merle he felt a certain level of disappointment that Merle could do no better than this group of idiots. His brother sat down next to him as he licked a can of baked beans. He offered nothing to Daryl as he threw the empty can into the fire. Not that he expected anything either. Merle always looked out for himself.

Daryl stared into the flames as Merle rambled on about cutting his hand off the hacksaw. After that he roamed around Atlanta nearly bled out until a car rode up a cross on the back and as he put it 'run him the fuck over'. He woke up in a hospital with a doctor sewing him up. They gave him antibiotics, saved his life. But the place was run by cops, Atlanta PD, and old Merle and cops well they just don't mix. Top it off some high riding bitch was trying to make him work for her. The fuck was that? First chance he got he cold cocked two of them and fought his way out of that hell hole. Was picked up by the group he's in a couple months back. Been going place to place. He caught Daryl staring at the metal arm as he lifted it up proudly.

"Built this sumbitch myself. What da ya think?" Daryl nodded keeping his voice low.

"It's nice." Merle rolled his eyes and laughed before laying his head back on the log behind them. Closing his eyes he muttered under his breath.

"Oh Daryl...Daryl...Daryl."

Daryl wasn't sure how long he sat there staring into the fire but some time later he felt a jolt go through his body as he snapped awake. The camp was quiet now and he didn't see anything moving. Carl was still firmly attached to his right side but on the left he felt a chill. Sophia...she was gone. The fire had died down and it was near dark as Daryl used his keen sense of hearing to survey his surroundings. Somewhere behind him he heard a muffled cry. In a split second he went from zero to full throttle as he felt adrenaline pumping in his ears. With a single fluid movement he was up as he brought the cross bow level. He hadn't made a sound but yet the sudden movement caused Carl to wake. Sitting up the boy was rigid with fear within seconds as he saw Daryl standing there crossbow loaded. He opened his mouth as Daryl cast a warning glance at him. Bringing his finger to his lips he signed for Carl to be quiet.

Carl could never get over how silently Daryl could move. He stood there paralyzed with his own fear as Daryl took a tentative step and slipped between two of the tents. He could hear whimpering and he knew that give their current company it could only be Sophia. Nausea nipped at the back of his throat as he swallowed hard. The moonlight was bright as he stepped behind the tent. He felt like someone had punched him in the stomach.

Sophia was pinned to a tree. The asshole with the long greasy hair had one hand over her mouth and the other under her shirt. Her pants were down as she stood there in her underwear. Without thinking Daryl squeezed the trigger sending a bolt straight through his back. He cried out loudly but Daryl was quick as he took two bounding leaps. Clapping his hand over the shit head's mouth he pulled his knife out and slit his throat. Blood splashed everywhere including all over Sophia who was now screaming. Behind him he heard a commotion in the camp as Carl appeared with his own gun drawn and Daryl's pack slung over his arm. Merle appeared first and for that Daryl was grateful.

His brother took in Sophia's half dressed appearance and quickly concluded what had happened. Daryl quickly went to Sophia as he pulled her pants up roughly. The girl couldn't move, was paralyzed with terror beyond anything Daryl could comprehend. Swinging the bow on his back he didn't think as he picked her up in his arms. Sophia instantly wrapped her arms and legs around him as she clung tight. Merle pulled the bolt from the dead man handing it back to Daryl he nodded.

"Go...get out of here." The two of them shared a look before Daryl dipped his head in silent thanks to Merle. For his part Merle managed a half smirk as he bent down taking the prick's knife from it's sheath, smearing some blood on it. They turned to run but not before Carl could turn back to Merle with a smirk of his own.

"Thanks Uncle Merle." That earned him a sneer that he didn't wait to see as he took off after Daryl.

"What the hell is going on ?" Daryl heard an angry voice as he ran through the forest into the darkness.

"Nothin to see here man...Gene he decided to opt out on the whole matter." Merle looked at the others with nonchalance.

"Where your brother go?"

Merle shrugged his shoulders picking Gene's knife up as he forced the blade through his skull. "Took off a couple hours ago. Didn't even say good bye. Ungrateful little prick."

A few of the men lingered trying to decide if this was a story or not. Shaking their heads they eventually went back to their tents. Merle stood up as he stared into the darkened trees. A smirk came to his face as he shook his head.

Daryl didn't know how long he ran for but eventually he became aware of Carl behind him begging him to stop. Thankfully daylight had just begun to break as they took a moment to settle down on a fallen log. In his arms Sophia whimpered softly as he tightened his arms around her. He wanted to know but he didn't. Judging by the fact that her underwear hadn't been pulled down he hoped that he had got there in time although any touch from a creep like that was enough to make his blood boil.

"Sophia..." His voice was low and raspy. Carl sat next to Daryl staring at the ground. He didn't know what the hell had just happened but he knew it was really bad. Sophia had been back there with a stranger and her pants were down. A few years back Rick had taken Carl and sat him down and in no uncertain terms told him that the only people who were ever allowed to touch him...well touch him down there were him and his mom. Nobody else. No aunts or uncles or grandpas or anybody. And if someone did try to touch him Rick said they would need to answer to him. The way he said it made Carl afraid. Just the look on his face was enough to make him want to hide. So even though Carl didn't really understand what it all meant he knew it was wrong...very very wrong. Normally he would be chatting Daryl up about one thing or another, getting on his last damn nerve, but today he stayed silent.

"Sophia...what happened?" Daryl didn't want the gory details because honestly it was too late to matter now but he did want to know if she was hurt.

She sniffled as she turned her head so that her mouth was facing his ear. "I woke up and had to go to the bathroom. I thought I could go real quick but...that man he was back there and he grabbed me." She shuddered in his arms. He wish he could some how hold her closer to him to make her feel safe, to let her know that nothing else was going to happen to her as long as he was around but she was already suctioned to his chest. Would she believe that though? He had already promised her that she was safe with him and look what happened. In the span of a couple weeks he had hit her, she killed a man, and now another man tried to molest her. Daryl felt the familiar taste of guilt in the back of his throat. He was a piece of shit. The worst thing that probably ever happened to this little girl was ending up with him. Despite those feelings and his overwhelming urge to turn and run he couldn't deny her the thing she wanted most right now which was comfort. With no one else to provide it he did something he rarely ever did. He put beating himself down on hold for the needs of another person. He had to know, though, he had to know what that animal did to her.

"Honey...did he ?" Christ he couldn't even form the words. Next to him Carl squirmed around clearly uncomfortable by their current situation. Through a thin line of trees Daryl saw what looked like a pond. Gesturing toward the boy he nodded. "Why don't you go check it out ?" Carl shot to his feet clearly relieved to be released. Daryl nodded solemnly, "Keep your gun out, ok?" Carl gave him an affirmative look before his eyes trailed to Sophia for a moment before looking back to the water.

Daryl readjusted himself on the log as he took a deep breath. Hesitantly he took his arm from around her and gently ran it through her hair. He had never been affectionate or comforting to anyone in his whole life so this was so new to him. All he knew was that he would have wanted someone to do this for him when he was a kid. Wanted wasn't the right word; he had ached for someone to be there for him like this.

His Ma had only been dead a month. Their house was gone, not that it was anything to miss in the first place. His old man moved them into a trailer out in the woods. It was dark out and they were sitting in front of the TV. His old man sucked on a bottle of beer clearly intoxicated, buckets of chaw sat around his recliner. From the kitchen a woman appeared with no top on as Daryl quickly averted his gaze to the floor. She saw this, though, and laughed loudly.

'Will...I think your son likes my tits.' His daddy didn't look up from the TV as he grunted waving her so that she would walk out of his line of sight.

'Don't know what he likes. Think he's going to grow up to be a fag.' Daryl tightly clasped his cold, sweaty hands together in his lap. She came over and sat on the couch next to him.

'We can fix that right now, you know.' Daryl felt his heart pound not sure what she was going to do next. He swallowed hard as he watched her hand find it's way to his crotch. Sharply he sucked in a breath as he pinched his eyes shut. He was afraid to move for fear that his daddy would beat him to death. Merle was in the wind somewhere; hadn't seen him in weeks and no idea when he would be coming back. So there was nobody left to protect him. She rubbed her hand back and forth as he remained paralyzed with fear. He was twelve; he knew how his body worked but he didn't really understand it. He squeezed his hands so tight they were white as he kept his stare straight ahead not blinking. At one point his daddy looked over and simply shrugged his shoulders.

His body began to shake uncontrollably as tears came to his eyes. She took her hand away and he took that as his opportunity to run. Bolting from the trailer he ran until he couldn't run anymore, tree branches slapping his face. Collapsing he hugged his knees to his chest as he sobbed into his jeans.

He didn't make it his business to tell Merle the things that happened when he wasn't around but this time he made an exception. When his brother turned up a week later Daryl still had the same stricken look on his face. It didn't take much prodding for that to come out. Merle, eighteen years old and fresh off two stints in juvie was a full grown man compared to Daryl. He beat the shit out of their old man and his girlfriend; she lost two teeth in the matter as Merle smashed her head off the counter so hard they skidded across the floor and under the stove.

Nobody ever touched Daryl again like that, but he never forgot. The very, very few times he had had sex in his life he always felt so dirty afterwards. Like it was wrong.

"Daryl..." His eyes fluttered open from the memory as he heard Sophia's voice. She had stopped crying as her head rested on his shoulder. "He didn't do anything except feel under my shirt. My pants were down from going to the bathroom." Daryl felt a certain level of relief although feeling under a twelve year old girl's shirt was more than enough to pay for your admission to hell.

"Are you sure?" He swallowed hard; he had to know. She turned his head so that her lips were against his ear. She didn't need to whisper as Carl was a ways away but she did anyway.

"I know how it works." Daryl was sure that his heart stopped for a second. "My dad did a lot worse to me." He let the air in his lungs go as he narrowed his eyes. Carol was neither here nor there to him on the farm. He wanted to find Sophia for her but not because they were friends or anything like that. He remembered the way that she ran after Ed at the other camp even when he beat her. Always went back to him. Now this too. She had to know something was going on but she kept taking her daughter back. If they ever found her again he would remember that.

Carl reappeared as he chucked a finger over his shoulder. "It's a little pond." Carefully Daryl peeled Sophia off of him. Blood caked the front of both of them from the guy Daryl killed. She had enough to worry about without being covered in her attacker's blood. Standing up Daryl bounced her once before looking down at Carl with a smirk. He needed to press the reset button somehow as only one idea came to mind.

"Hey Sophia you like to swim?" She looked at him confused for a moment before he took off running toward the water with her in his arms.

"NO! NO! I can't swim." Daryl didn't stop as he jumped into the water with her still in his arms. She screamed loudly as they hit the cold water and went under. Daryl never loosened his grasp on her as they bobbed to the surface. Coughing a few times she looked down at the blood dissolving in the water between them. Carl, not wanting to be left out jumped in on his own accord. Coming to the surface he whooped loudly at the coldness.

"OH ! IT's COLD." Daryl and Sophia looked at him as he laughed. Daryl smiled back, a real genuine smile not a smirk like usual. In his arms Sophia shivered as her teeth chattered loudly. Turning back to her she smiled hesitantly up at him.

"Are we going to be OK ?" Her question was innocent enough but he knew there were untold layers behind it. He didn't want to make false promises to them but this one time he couldn't help it.

"We're going to be OK." He looked into her eyes and smiled a little. "I promise."

TBC... Two more Chapters I think