'NO!' Daryl almost shouted at Carol, Sophia looked up from her food wondering what was going on. 'I am, shit I just went to ballet class and enjoyed it, seeing her dance,... I am,'

'What? You are ...what?' Carol looked confused. He told her all along he wasn't the relationship sort, she had hoped it would change, she felt bad she twisted her hand a little by saying they could go back to where they had come from. She come to the realization when she knew he was caring for her daughter she wanted to be with him more permanent. When he come over a couple of nights not just club nights and spent the night leaving early in the morning before Sophia woke, she didn't want him to go. Before Ed, before this assult.

'That type, that you said I'm not,... I wanna be that type,' He told her quietly, 'You don't gotta leave, or come to stay, you can just... I don't know, ...just say your coming home? To me? Both of ya?'

'But you said,... you said,' Carol told him, she realized quickly he'd become attached to Sophia, before now she wouldn't have left him with Sophia, had him doing dance class, buying her clothes and doing the school run. Until now she would have been swinging back and forwards trying to keep the place between them, keep the peace for keeping the peace sake, because she'd done that with Ed trying to keep him at a safe distance from Sophia for her sake.

'Doesn't matter what I said, I'm a idiot, don't listen to what I say,' he told her, 'I mean just listen to what I'm saying now, not back then, that was before, now's different,'

'What if you change your mind,' Carol asked him, she knew it was Sophia, basically becoming an instant Daddy, protector of Sophia. She knew he had feelings stronger than what he implied. Today when he helped her in the shower she could see it on his face how he felt about her, he didn't have to say it. She just needed to know how he felt about Sophia before she decided if she was going to push her hand for him to commit to them.

'I'm not gonna change my mind, I already brought my princess over there a canopy bed, and learnt how to put ballet tights on,' Daryl pointed to Sophia, 'Please?'

'You brought her a Canopy bed?' Carol shook her head, she knew he'd fallen for Sophia a little but buying a canopy bed was a huge step. She knew there was other stuff he brought her without her knowing, she was cringing to think how spoilt she would be by the time she managed to get out of hospital. 'A canopy bed,... how the heck am I supposed to compete with that?'

'You don't gotta,... just don't leave me,' he was starting to freak out a little, thinking they were going to leave the stress was getting to him, 'I'm not as tough as I look, ... really, I have a weakness for little brown haired girls,' he pointed to Sophia.

'I'm not killing the spiders,' Carol told him, he bent down to kiss her, 'Leave me with Soph for a bit I want to talk to her,'

He nodded kissing her again, hoping that meant she was going to stay, he went and sat outside while Carol told him about Ed. The whole thing was so fucked up he just wanted to get them both to his house and not let them go. Sophia come out soon to find him, she climbed up onto his knee.

'Well he's gone,' She told him, 'He's just dead right now, ...he's not going to come back, ...Can I get a ice cream? Are you going to be my new Daddy?'

'UMmmmmmm yeah maybe,... lets ask Mummy first,... ummmmmm lets go see Mummy first, ok,' he followed her back in and Carol held up her hands indication that Sophia gave no fucks if Ed was around or not anymore, she moved on to ice cream.

'Is Daryl my new Daddy?... He's better than my old one, ...he brought me a frozen dress,' Sophia climbed up on the bed, 'Cos Ed's gone now Mama,' Sophia yawned. Daryl could see she was getting tired.

'You can call him what ever you want to sweetie, check with Daryl first though,' Carol glanced at Daryl, he looked like he had no worries with Sophia calling him Daddy, he just nodded.

'I need to get her home, Soph give your Mummy a kiss,' Sophia climbed up kissing her Mama, Daryl waited till she finished cuddling and telling her Mummy her secrets about everything. Daryl gave her a kiss, kissing a bit deeper than a simple peck on the mouth. 'So, we good now? Your not leaving me?'

Carol nodded, 'We are good, be good,' he heft Sophia up and she rode his shoulders out to the car park, to go home.

He opened the door coming inside Sophia still in her ballet outfit, 7pm at night she was past ready for bed, he was greeted by Merle at the door.

'Daryl, social services are here,' he whispered to him, 'Some one filed a report deeming we are not fit to look after Sophia,'

Daryl gut dropped, he knew who it would be one of Lori Grimes cronies, up tight bitches, he gave Merle a look that said was he fucken joking.

'Where are they?' he asked.

'Lounge,'