Chapter Notes:

This takes place on the way to and at the meeting with Andrea.

"Can I ask you a question?"

Carol turned to Daryl who was driving the truck down the road to Andrea's office for her appointment. She nodded, wondering at the hesitant tone of his voice.

"The thing is, I really like spending time with you. Sophia too, but I really like being with you."

He hadn't asked a question, so she just nodded and waited. He seemed to consider his words carefully before speaking again.

"I uh, I don't want to . . . um . . . put any more pressure on you cuz I think you got enough shit to deal with, but uh . . . . I just wanted to let you know that I took my picture and stuff off that dating site."

She smiled and nodded again, hoping he would know it was ok for him to continue to what he really wanted to ask her. She thought she knew where this was going, but wanted to be sure before she jumped in with any commentary of her own.

"When I signed up for that, I figured I would meet a couple women, see how things went, and maybe meet somebody to have a date or two. Never thought I would end up wanting . . . "

"Wanting what Daryl?

"Wanting to spend all my time with one woman. Well, two actually – you and Soph. I mean Soph's not a woman, but . . . girls . . I mean you're not a girl, but . . . . shit. I'm screwing this all up. All I wanted to do was let you know how I felt, and ask you a question."

"You're not screwing this up Daryl. And I am going to risk being presumptuous of what question you are going to ask, and let you know something. I like spending time with you too. I am not dating anybody else, and I took my profile off the site too."

"You did?"

"Uh huh. The night we came back from pizza."

"You serious? That's when I took mine down too."

"So, did I answer your question? Is that what you were going to ask?"

He reddened a bit, but nodded. "Now I've got another question though."

"Ok" she said, looking at him to continue.

"How do you think Sophia feels about us?"

"I happen to know for a fact that she loves that we are seeing each other."

"You know this for a fact? Really? How?"

"You know, that's more than two questions, Daryl!"

"Sorry, but I gotta know how ya know that."

"I was just teasing you, I promise. I know a few ways actually. But all come down to Sophia telling me."

He just looked at her so she continued. "The first time we met for Coffee at Dale and Irma's, when I went to pick up Sophia, I explained who you were and that you were a very nice man. She was very curious about you, and very open to meeting you for dinner. That's the first way. After Barnstormers, she raved about you and said how much fun she had with the both of us. She couldn't wait to go fishing with you and I. She had so much fun with you, and loved spending lunch with you and Merle. When we got home that night she asked if we could go on another date with you soon. Then this morning happened. She loved that you and Merle helped to get her on the bus too. Today when I picked her up before you got there, she said that Merle talked to her when we were at Perkins. She asked if you really liked the bear she gave you, and then she asked if you were my boyfriend."

He grinned at her as she was speaking but then sobered. "I loved the bear. What did you tell her when she asked that question about me being your boyfriend?"

"I told her that we had just started dating, but when you were ready, that I would happily call you my boyfriend."

"That right?"

"Yes that's right. Right now I wish you were just my boyfriend without also having to be a bodyguard from Ed though."

"Sophia doesn't know about what happened with Ed?"

"No, she doesn't. I am not sure how to approach that with her yet either. I figured I would see what Andrea has to say and go from there."

"So, speaking as your boyfriend and all; I want you to know that bodyguard duties are covered in the deal. So is anything you and Sophia need or want. That means that I am not expecting to be automatically included in the conversation with Andrea. I will come in if you want me to. Otherwise, I will wait in her reception room area."

"Well, I am not sure how to approach that. I don't want to do it alone, but think I have to at least try to stand on my own two feet."

"Whatever you want goes. But wherever you stand – just . . . .um . . . just know that I don't want to be anywhere but beside you supporting you. Even if I am not in the room, I will be there. Promise."

She leaned over and kissed his cheek. She would have planted one right on his lips, but he was driving after all. She waited for that until they pulled into the lot of the small office building. Then she gave him a sweet but lingering kiss.

twdtwdtwdtwd

Daryl pushed open the door to Andrea's office. They were greeted by the sounds of Guns N Roses "Welcome to the Jungle" blasting. The office was empty in the reception area – no signs of a receptionist. Daryl went down a small hall and the music stopped. He returned a minute later with a blonde woman wearing a pair of skinny jeans and a striped top. Carol had to admit, the blonde woman before her did not look like how she pictured a lawyer would look.

"Sorry about that. Daryl knows I like my music loud. You must be Carol?"

"Yes. No worries. I like my music loud too. And I love Guns N Roses."

"Good match there Daryl" she said to her brother in law who nodded in agreement while blushing. Then she turned to Carol. "Did he ever mention to you that he and Merle took me to my first concert?"

"No he didn't. Who did you guys see?"

"She dragged us to see 98 Degrees. It was a special kind of torture. But me and Merle lost the bet otherwise it would have been a metal fest."

Andrea just shook her head in exasperation. "What can I say? Years being around the Dixon boys has greatly improved my taste in music. Our boys have grown up with their music and our oldest wants to go see Metallica when they play in Birmingham in January." Andrea stopped the chatter at that, and looked between Daryl and Carol. "Carol, why don't you come this way with me. Daryl?"

"I'm gonna wait here Andrea." He turned to Carol, took her hand and squeezed it. "I am right here if you need me. Ain't goin' nowhere."

Carol nodded and walked behind Andrea, following her to her office. She couldn't help but think about how she really wouldn't have minded Daryl coming back with her. She didn't want to seem too needy though.

"So, I have a few questions for you that I need answers to. They will help me know how to best approach the situation in regards to you and Sophia's safety and well being."

Carol nodded her understanding and indicated that Andrea could ask her questions.

"I talked to Rick Grimes this afternoon. I told him that I would be representing you and Sophia in whatever capacity you saw fit. He told me that Ed was released from jail early this afternoon. He also informed me of the restraining order he filed on your behalf. I gotta say, with your ex husband's record, I am surprised he got sprung so quickly."

"His record? Ed doesn't have a record."

Andrea looked up at her with a mixture of surprise and concern. "He didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"I took the liberty of pulling his public record data. You married him in 2010?"

"Yes. We had dated for under a year before we got married. Sophia was born in 2012."

"Edward Steven Peletier. Arrest for DUI September 2008. Arrest for assault November 2009. Since the two arrests were more than a year apart, he didn't get any time, just probation. Unsupervised probation."

"I didn't know. God, I feel so stupid. How could I not have known?"

He was required to meet with the court one year after the last conviction in order to close out his probation. That was November 2010. He didn't say anything about all this?"

"Nothing. I swear this is the first I am hearing about this." Carol was starting to get scared. How could she not have known anything about this?

"I took the liberty of pulling the transcript of the hearing to close out probation. According to the transcript, his lawyer was a man named Philip Blake. He produced a statement signed by you attesting to his good character, explaining you were not able to attend the court appearance due to your father's death."

"I never wrote anything like that! Philip Blake?! That man is a drinking buddy of Ed's. He creeps me out. I never liked him, and avoided him whenever possible. And for the record, my father died before I ever met Ed."

Carol started to get a very anxious feeling in her chest. She all of a sudden was thinking of how bad things could get with Ed if he had a lawyer on his side who would perjure himself in court. She started breathing heavier and could not stop the tears from forming. Images started going through her head of all the possible ways Ed could make her and Sophia's lives hell. Her breathing picked up more, and tears started streaming down her face.

Andrea watched Carol's face carefully. She knew the woman was genuinely freaking out here. She had had her share of shady clients, and Carol Peletier was not one of them.

"Carol. You have got to try to breathe. I promise that we will work together on this to protect you and Sophia."

Carol nodded, but could not seem to calm her breathing. In fact, it seemed to pick up.

"Carol, you have got to take some slower breaths or you will end up passing out."

Carol tried to breathe slower and deeper, but it wasn't working. She stood up and immediately got light headed. She sat down heavily. Andrea looked at her, noticing her ashen pallor. She put Carol's head between her knees in an effort to keep the woman from passing out. Carol was still sobbing, and Andrea made an executive decision.

"I am going to go get Daryl, is that ok?"

Carol nodded, but Andrea left the room, high tailing it back down the hall where she saw Daryl pacing in the waiting room. He had obviously heard Carol crying when Andrea opened the office door, because he looked like he was forcing himself to stay put.

"Andrea?"

"Carol needs you."

She hadn't needed to say anything more because he was already running down the hall. When Andrea walked back into the office, she saw that Daryl had already folded Carol into his arms and was comforting her.

"It's alright Carol. You can do this. You are strong. I am right here with ya woman to lean on though. Ain't goin' nowhere, remember?"

"I'm sorry Daryl. She said Ed has a criminal record. I didn't know. How could I be so stupid?!"

"Hey now. You ain't stupid. You are a very smart woman who happened to be married to a man who was less than honest."

"Still . . . "

"Nope. I refuse to let you talk about my girl like that."

His answer made her laugh in spite of herself.

"You still sure you want to do this with me?" she asked gesturing between them indicating their relationship.

"Remember what I said earlier about where I want to be?"

"You want to stand right beside me."

"That's right."

"Will you then? Stay here with me? Beside me while Andrea and I meet?"

"Ain't nowhere else I would rather be."

He pulled out the chair beside Carol. He helped Carol into her own chair, then took the seat beside her.

Author Notes:

Next up, we see what was decided on at the meeting with Andrea. Also, we meet Merle and Andrea's sons (insert evil grin here).