I'm dedicating this chapter to SOA loving mom! Queen Kaye...thank you for all your support, your kind words, and being a friend. You're fucking AWESOME lady!

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CARYL ON!


It was dark the following evening by the time Daryl reached the gravel road leading to the prison but kept the truck on the main road. Walkers were everywhere making it unsafe to stop anywhere near the area. The place they had called home for almost a year gone and now a memory. Weaving around walkers to avoid wrecking the truck, he gripped the wheel, his nerves on edge. Pulling the pack of smokes from his pocket, he tore open the pack and lite one, cracking open the window to let the smoke out.

Carl sat in the passenger seat, quiet and starring off in the direction of the prison and Daryl knew the boy was thinking about all they had lost. They had each lost something or someone there, loved ones, cherished possessions, a sense of security. The list was long.

Glancing back at Carol, and then back to the road, he breathed out a sigh of relief that he had found her. It had taken them longer then he had expected to find her, but he didn't plan on returning without her with them. He would have looked all over the country if he had too, he was just glad they had gotten to her when they did.

Dakota began to stir in the backseat and he glanced in the rear view as Carol picked up the baby and cuddled him to her. The baby boy in a way had been a blessing he felt, giving Carol some sort of hope. He had also seemed to bring them together as a family, something he had always thought of Carol and Sophia being with him, but now, Dakota had made it official for them. Dropping the cigarette butt out the window, he rolled it back up and broke the silence, "Should be ta the warehouse soon. Be able ta at least sleep a little better tonight instead of crammed in here."

"Hopefully they'll have something hot to eat too," Carl said, his eyes watching the road.

Getting a bottle ready for Dakota, Carol shook it up and then placed it at the boys lips. He took it greedily and she smiled, "Maybe we'll be able to give this little guy a bath too. I'm sure it'd make him feel a little better. Daryl, do you think they'll still be there? Didn't you say you told them to move on if you weren't back?"

"Yeah, but if I know Merle he'd wait an extra couple days 'for movin'. Always was a stubborn jackass. If they did leave though, we'll still be able to stay there. Be safe for the night at least and we'll head back out in the mornin' then." Biting at his thumbnail, they reached the road taking them to the warehouse. Turning onto it, he sighed, "Guess we'll find out soon enough."

Daryl drove them another six miles before the warehouse came into site. The place looked dark and he wondered if they had already packed up and left out. As they got closer, he could make out a couple vehicles and smirked, they would finally all be reunited. Pulling in, several flashlights began to pop on outside from the shadows. Merle and Tyreese were the first to approach the truck and Daryl got out, nodding to his brother, "Was wonderin' if y'all would still be here."

"Had a few that didn't want to leave yet. Hope ya got a care package in that truck," Merle said, unable to see inside it.

"Got two," Daryl said, opening the back door and revealing Carol and Dakota.

Looking in, Merle smirked, leaning on the frame, "Well, welcome back, Mouse." Narrowing as his eyes, they landed on the baby and he cocked a brow, "Ya go have a pup on us?"

Smiling as she held Dakota, Carol shook her head, "No, it's a long story. Where's Sophia?"

"Inside washin' up with the other kids. She'll be happy ta see ya," Merle said as he stepped back.

Reaching in, Daryl helped her move to the edge of the seat and then took the baby from her. Handing the child over to Merle, Daryl smirked, "Hold your nephew for a minute for me."

"Nephew? The fuck, bro? Who'd ya go knock up?" Merle asked, taking the baby and holding him awkwardly.

Lifting Carol out the back, Daryl headed for the door, "Let's gett'em inside. Need Hershel or Bob ta check on her leg."

Following them, Merle glanced over as Carl came up beside him with a diaper bag and a large backpack, "This rugrat ain't yours is it?"

Carl chuckled and shook his head, "No. Dakota's theirs. He lost his family...so we're his family now. Well...Daryl and Carol are his parents now anyways."

Shaking his head, Merle sighed, "Send him ta get the Mouse and he come's back with a pup in tow. Boy always had a sweet spot for strays."

Going inside, everyone seemed to gather around them, asking questions and welcoming Carol back. They made room for Carol on a cot and Daryl laid her down on it, moving aside so Hershel and Bob could take a look at her leg. Taking Dakota back from his brother, he nodded his head back towards the door, "Got a truck load of shit we can use...food, medicines, clothes, medical supplies. Need ta get them inside and sort through them."

"We'll get them inside..." Merle said, watching his brother with the baby.

"DARYL!"

Turning, Daryl smirked as Sophia caught sight of him and ran towards him. Her arms went around his waist instantly and he couldn't help but wrap his free arm around her. Turning her some, he nodded, "Got ya a surprise over there."

Looking in the direction he motioned to, Sophia's eyes landed on her mom laying on the cot, "MOM!"

Carol's head came up, hearing her voice and she found her in the small crowd of people, "Sophia." Tears pricked her eyes and the others moved out of the way and Sophia came to her. Wrapping her arm's around her daughter as she kneeled down next to the cot, Carol held her tight, "I'm sorry, baby...I'm so sorry..."

Sophia buried her head into the crook of Carol's neck, refusing to let go of her. Tears poured from her eyes not caring who saw. She had her mother back and that's all that mattered. When Carol pulled back from her and laid back on the cot, Sophia finally noticed Hershel and Bob working on her leg, "Mom, what happened?"

Shaking her head, Carol pushed her hair back from Sophia's face with her hands and made her focus back up on her, "I'm fine...it's just a cut. Are you okay? You weren't hurt were you?"

"No. Tyreese got us out and here. Why did you do it, mom?" Sophia asked, her tears still falling.

Looking up and seeing Lizzie and Mika standing to the side, Carol held out a hand to them. When they came to her and knelt down beside Sophia, she sighed, "I'd do anything to keep the three of you safe...anything. It's what a mother does." Carol looked at Lizzie who had her eyes down and reached for her hand, taking it in her's. When Lizzie finally looked up at her, she continued, "I know you told them what you did, Lizzie. Always tell the truth...no matter how bad it hurts. I should have, but I didn't want anything to happen to you. I was scared, but...we should have told them, trusted them."

"You did what you thought was right at the time, Carol. Hell, anyone one of us might have done the same had we been put in the same predicament," Tyreese said softly. Taking in a deep breath, he shook his head, "Please, don't ever be scared to tell me anything again...no matter how mad I might be, I'd never lay a hand on a woman or child out of anger like that. That ain't me."

Wiping at her own tears, Carol nodded, looking up at the man, "So you know...Karen and David...they were suffering. When I got there...they were already bleeding from there eyes and mouths. Lizzie...Lizzie thought she was protecting us."

Tyreese nodded, lowering his eyes and gripping his knit cap in his hands, "I know. She's told me everything. Said Karen begged her to do it." Looking back up at Carol, he nodded to her, "I'm glad your back, Carol. We need you with us here."

Giving him a smile, Carol released a shaky breath, "Thank you, Tyreese."

When the big man moved and headed out to help unload the truck, Daryl moved forward and laid Dakota back into her arms. Giving her a smile, he whispered, "Gonna get our shit inside. Ya rest up."

Daryl moved out the way and Sophia got a good look at the baby resting in her mom's arm's. Tilting her head, she raised her brow, "Who's baby?"

Smiling, Carol uncovered Dakota some, letting everyone see him, "This is Dakota...and he's going to be part of our family now. So you three will have a little brother to help raise and teach."

"Our family?" Lizzie asked hesitantly.

Nodding, Carol looked at the young girl, "Yes Lizzie...our family. You, Mika, Sophia, Dakota, Daryl and me. We're going to be a family...if that's okay with the three of you."

Sophia's eyes brightened and she smiled, "You and Daryl are getting married?"

Taking in a breath, Carol licked her lips as she noticed Hershel and Bob stop what they were doing and look at her, "Well...I uh...I wouldn't say that. We're uh...we're...we'll...Daryl suggested that we could use his last name instead of your fathers when we named Dakota. We both thought it would be better for all of us and Daryl and I will raise the four of you kids."

"Don't you have to love each other though?" Mika asked, still confused but trying to understand.

Unsure how to answer her, Carol thought for a moment before answering, "Well..."

"Family is what you make of it," Hershel said, hoping to help Carol out some. "As long as you look out for each other and care for one another, that's all that should matter really. I consider everyone here a part of my family, including you kids. Carol is like a daughter to me...all of you are like my grandchildren. Daryl and Merle...well, there like son's. All of you hold a special place in my heart. That's what family is. You don't have to be married or be related by blood...just be there for each other."

Smiling at the man, Carol nodded and then looked back at the girl's, "Hershel is right. So what do you say to us being a family?"

The three looked at each other and Sophia nodded and then looked back at her mom, "I think we can." Her smile seemed to grow and she chuckled, "It'll be good having two sister's and a little brother."

"Does...does that mean we can call you mom now?" Lizzie asked hesitantly.

Carol watched the girl's for a moment and then nodded, tears in her eyes, "If that's what you want. But...don't ever forget your mom and dad. I'm not here to replace them, but I will love you the same as I love Sophia."

Mika and Lizzie agreed and then stood up, "We're gonna go finish getting ready for bed. I'm glad you back with us...and I'm sorry I got you in trouble."

Taking Lizzie's hand once more, Carol raised her brow, "You didn't get me in trouble, Lizzie. It's in the past now though...so let's work on our future now, okay?"

"'Kay."

Watching them walk off over with Sasha to finish getting ready for bed, Carol looked back at Sophia, "Why don't you go get ready for bed to, sweetie. We can talk more in the morning, okay?"

Sophia moved close, giving Carol another hug and whispering softly, "I love you, mom."

"I love you too, baby." Holding her a few seconds longer, Carol then released her and smiled, "Go get ready for bed."

"Yes, ma'am," Sophia replied, standing up and going in the direction the other girl's had gone.

Looking down at her leg, Carol cocked a brow at Hershel, "What's the verdict, doc?"

Taking in a deep breath, Hershel moved his chair closer to her, "Leg look's good. Stitches seem to be holdin'...although I think ya might have a pretty rough scar once it's healed up. Let me check that boy of yours though."

Carol moved Dakota as Hershel reached for him and let the man take him. Watching him, she sighed, "I'm guessing he's a couple months younger then Judith. The girl that was with him, we don't know if she was his mother or sister...but she was pretty young."

"What happened to her?" Hershel asked, looking the baby over.

"She didn't make it. Daryl found him in the backseat of a car we think she was in." Hershel checked the baby's responses and Carol asked, "The virus...did the med's work?"

Taking the blanket that Bob had brought over for the baby, Hershel wrapped him up tight in it and then placed him back into Carol's arm's, "They did. We lost more though before they got back...Doctor S., Sam, Tyler, Cassandra, Tammy, Linda...just so many." Pointing to the baby, Hershel raised his brow, "He seems to be a healthy little guy, but he does need to put on a little more weight."

Looking down at him, Carol smiled and then looked back at Hershel, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, Hershel."

Raising his hand, he stood up and looked down at her, "All's forgiven. I'm just glad Daryl found you and got you back here. We need you with us."

"And I need all of you," she smiled as the baby began to fuss. Daryl appeared with a bottle, handing it to her as Hershel and Bob took there leave, leaving the two of them alone.

Sitting down, Daryl watched as Dakota closed his eyes, "You two okay?"

"Yeah, Hershel said we'll be fine. He does want him to gain a little more weight though. I'm sure once he's on a regular feeding schedule he'll put some on." Looking up at him, Carol lowered her voice, "What's going on?"

Shaking his head, Daryl rubbed the back of his neck, looking around some and then back at her, "Merle said Rick's wantin' ta head out...find another prison or some shit. Don't think it's a good idea though...nether do a few of the others."

"So what do we do?" she asked quietly as everyone began to settle down for the night.

Moving closer to her, he whispered, "Think it best if we head north...up inta the mountains. Get away from the cities and all. We'll have ta deal with snow and all come winter, but it'll slow the walkers down. Might give us a chance...find somethin' safe and permanent."

Thinking about what he said, Carol nodded and whispered back, "You lead and we'll follow. I trust you...if you think we should go into the mountains, then we go."

"You gonna be okay with leavin' the group?" he asked, looking her in the eyes.

Holding his gaze, Carol smiled, "As long as we're together, our family, I'm fine with it."

Daryl nodded, and then adverted his attention back down at Dakota. He didn't know what the future might hold for them, all he could do was hope he could find them someplace safe. If anything, they would at least be together.


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