A little something to counteract the sadness of the last chapter. I wrote this as kind of a sequel to the 40th chapter of Love Bites (One Way or Another), and I hope everyone likes it. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Not mine!

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Chapter Twelve: He Didn't Have to Be

And now, all of a sudden

Oh, it seems so strange to me

How we went from something's missing

To a family

-Brad Paisley, He Didn't Have to Be

"Daryl?"

Daryl forced his eyes opened, groaning softly. Vaguely he remembered being guided into the house and stitched up after reuniting Carol and her daughter. He must have passed out afterward, because it was morning now and Sophia was staring at him, her big blue eyes sharp and focused. He shifted uncomfortably under her intense gaze. "What?"

She broke out in a grin. "You're awake!"

"Guess I am."

Before he could say a word, Sophia scurried onto the bed with him and stretched out on her side, looking at him with nothing but adoration. Once more, he was uncomfortable. She hadn't had a good daddy, and neither did he. What did she want from him?

He didn't have long to think about it. His eyes grew heavier and heavier until finally they slid closed and he slept.


"Sophia?"

Maggie looked at Carol, who was scanning the room and looking worried. "I saw her head upstairs, Carol."

"Thanks, Maggie." Carol quickly headed up the stairs, and she had a sneaking suspicion of where she would find her little girl. Coming to a stop in front of the room where Daryl was sleeping, she pushed the door open quietly and smiled.

Sophia had climbed into the bed with Daryl and fallen asleep beside the roughneck.

Carol leaned against the door and watched them. Sophia hadn't slept since Daryl had collapsed after bringing her back to the farm, and she had cried so much. Carol had been startled by how much Sophia cared for the injured man, but she shouldn't have been. She cared about him, too.

Crossing the floor as quietly as she could, Carol tucked the sheet tighter around Daryl and lightly kissed his forehead. Then she moved around the bed and removed Sophia's shoes, setting them silently on the floor. Daryl and Sophia didn't move an inch as she went back to the door.

With a quiet chuckle, Carol backed out and closed the door softly, leaving her little family to sleep in peace.

The End.