Alrighty guys, here we go. First off, I'd like to start by thanking all of you again. You're amazing and wonderful and I hope you like this chapter. I hope that y'all understand what I'm going for in the last part of the chapter. Some of the character moments there might be a little dramatic, for lack of a better word. I think it fits and it's necessary for the story, but some people might not, so we shall see. Second, I would like to clarify that I know practically nothing about the divorce process, except for what little research I was able to do on the internet as I was writing. There very well may be some incorrect information pertaining to divorce, and I apologize if that's the case. If it really truly bothers you, PM me or something and I'll be more than happy to fix any errors if anyone is more knowledgeable about the subject than I am and finds a huge error. I tried my best to gather resources for that bit, but divorce and the law are tricky subjects and I'm certainly no lawyer. Anyways, I hope I can have the next bit up for y'all soon and hopefully this is to your liking!

Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead. The characters presented are not mine, and any dialogue pulled from the show is not mine.

"So why did ya need a ride to Savannah, again?"

"I have a friend that I'm meeting. I haven't seen her in years, and she lives in Savannah."

"So you had to come all this way out to meet her? She couldn't be bothered to meet ya halfway?"

"Well, I offered to come up. I knew you make the trip regularly, I figured it would be easiest for me to just ask you for a ride."

"Nice ta know you're just usin' me." His focus was on the freeway, but Carol caught the smirk playing at the corner of his mouth.

"Well, I have to get around somehow don't I?" She slapped at his arm playfully, smiling as he snorted in return.

Carol was abuzz with excitement. She'd been looking forward to her appointment with the lawyer all week, hardly able to contain herself. She had so many questions about the divorce process, but really, she was just happy to get on with it. Her marriage with Ed was hanging over her like a rain cloud, especially since her new found interest in Daryl had begun to surface. She'd been fantasizing about how it would all work out since she'd officially decided to divorce him. There was no better way to give Ed that final notice to fuck off than to divorce him. Part of her was frightened, however. Ed was volatile. There was no telling how he would react to a divorce, or what course of action he would take. She was just grateful that she wouldn't have to deal with him for much longer.

The car ride to Savannah was three hours, but it felt like three hundred as she bounced her knee in anticipation. Daryl had lightly smacked her knee when she'd first started doing it, but had let it slide when she didn't show any signs of stopping. She just had too much energy to burn, too much excitement just waiting to explode from her. It made it that much harder that she couldn't tell anyone about what she was doing. She wanted to share her good news with her friends. Hell, she wanted to shout it from the mountains. She was cutting the dead weight from her life, and that was something to celebrate. But Ed was still out there, would still be after the divorce, and he wouldn't be happy. Keeping her secret was more important.

She was thankful that Daryl didn't pry too much. It was getting harder and harder to hide the truth from him the more time they spent together. He was quickly becoming the most important person in her life and she felt badly for keeping him in the dark. In the moments that they'd shared pieces of themselves with each other, he'd been open and honest. She could see how hard that was for him, to be vulnerable, and it made her stomach churn with guilt when she thought of all the things she was hiding from him. To her it was yet another barrier in the way of the potential relationship she saw with him. She knew what she wanted, knew that she liked Daryl, and she didn't have a problem admitting that. But could she pursue him when she knew she was lying about her most basic information? It wouldn't be fair to him. She knew though that other people had it in their minds that she and Daryl were a couple of sorts. While Daryl didn't pry, Beth certainly did and the younger girl wasn't afraid to ask questions.

"So you and Daryl, huh? Driving out to Savannah, all by yourselves?" Beth nudged her playfully as she set down a tray of dirty dishes.

"Beth, there is no me and Daryl. We're just friends." Carol didn't know how many times she'd had this conversation.

"You sure spend an awful lot of time together, for only being friends."

"We have a lot in common. He's easy to talk to." She didn't want to say too much, in case she gave away her feelings for the man. Beth would latch onto that in a heartbeat and would no doubt set out to play matchmaker.

"All I'm saying is that the drive to Savannah is a long one. Sounds like a romantic trip out of town to me. Perfect for a date." It was obvious what Beth was implying as she began to sashay out of the kitchen.

"It's not like that Beth. We both have errands to run, I asked if I could get a ride. That's it."

"Mhmmmm, sure Sarah. Just don't do anything I wouldn't do." With a wink and a smirk, Beth left the kitchen, barely avoiding the dirty rag that Carol had tried jokingly to hit her with.

That conversation with Beth at the diner was the exact reason why she didn't want to ask her or Andrea for a ride. She loved her friends, but they could be nosy when they wanted to be. She needed someone like Daryl who wouldn't ask questions. If she'd been with the girls and they had kept asking her for answers, there was no doubt in her mind that she would have eventually given in. The lying was wearing on her.

"What about you? You're always driving off to Savannah and all you ever tell me is that it's 'personal business'. I told you, so now you have to tell me."

"It is personal business. I've got shit I need ta take care of out there."

"Well, what kind of shit?" He really did travel to Savannah more often than she thought would be necessary considering how far it was. His privacy about the matter caused her curiosity to eat at her.

"Did ya see that hunting bag I've got back in the bed?" Carol could barely see it through the back window, the large bag tucked safely in the corner.

"I sell pelts and furs out in Savannah. Got a good deal goin' with a shop owner out there. My kills are some of the cleanest around and he gives me a good deal for 'em. A lot better than what I'd get for 'em back home."

"That's it? All your secrecy is about a bag of animal skins?"

"Lot of people don't like hunting, let alone what ya do with the rest of the animal after ya get the meat. It gives me some good money on the side though. I mainly go for that, but I've got other errands I run when I'm out there." Nodding, Carol couldn't help but laugh a little to herself. All that curiosity for nothing.

The rest of the drive was filled with companionable silence. When they got into the city, Carol pointed out the mall she'd asked Daryl to drop her off at. She planned to go inside for a while until Daryl had gone well on his own way and then she'd walk the two blocks down to get to the lawyer's office. He didn't seem to think much of it as he idled in a parking spot in front of the entrance. They agreed to meet in two hours time, and with that, Daryl drove off, leaving Carol to take the next big step of her life.

The waiting room was empty when she got to the law office. She approached the receptionist, Karen by her nameplate, who handed her a clipboard with several forms for her to fill out. Before she turned to leave, she took notice of a picture frame on the desk, a photo of Karen with an attractive man. Their smiles were wide and sincere as they embraced for the camera.

"That's my husband, Tyreese." Karen had noticed her staring at the picture.

"You make a cute couple. You look really happy together." Karen's eyes crinkled happily at the compliment. It was strange to see a picture of a happily married couple in a divorce law office, and it reminded Carol of how things had been in the very beginning with Ed. She'd looked like that once. She'd blushed and smiled at the mention of her husband, been proud to call him hers. Shaking away those dangerous thoughts, Carol got to work on her forms.

She hesitated when she saw the personal information section. She knew that realistically, the lawyer needed her real name. But she'd been hiding it for so long that it just felt risky to write it down. Granted, she was three hours away from anyone who knew her. The confidentiality contract made her mind up for her. There was no way anyone would even find out about this, she was safe for the time being. She refused to use his last name, however. She'd never be Carol Peletier again, not if she had anything to say about it.

Once she gave the clipboard back to Karen, she was immediately taken to the back office where her lawyer was waiting.

"Carol Williams is here to see you." Karen left as the woman came around from her desk, arm extended to offer her hand.

"It's nice to meet you Carol. I'm Sasha." Her handshake was firm and Carol knew she meant business.

"You're here to divorce your husband." She did cut to the chase.

"Yes. We've been living apart for a little more than three months now."

"Are you legally separated?"

"Well, no. I just left on my own." Sasha nodded, scribbling something down on her notepad.

"What was the reason for leaving?" She looked up when Carol hesitated, silently waiting for her client to continue.

"We just had personal disagreements."

"Personal disagreements."

"Yes." Sasha locked eyes with her, staring long and hard before she sat back and clasped her hands in front of her. Her face was a mask void of emotion.

"Carol. I don't believe in magic or luck. I do the math, and I don't gamble. I'm a lawyer. I work with facts, and facts only. If I'm going to help you, I need you to help me." Carol's mouth was dry as she wrung her hands, her heart aching. She wanted to do this, she did. But to lay out her secrets like this to a stranger terrified her. The only person she'd ever mentioned the abuse to was Jacqui. She was embarrassed and ashamed of it. Of how weak it made her seem.

"He was abusive." The three words took more energy from her than she thought they could and she sunk back into her chair, exhausted.

"The whole marriage?"

"Most of it. We had a few good months, but it was eight years of hell." Carol couldn't tell if it was respect or sympathy that flashed across Sasha's face before the mask returned.

"In most cases, you have to be legally separated in order to file for divorce. Fortunately, the state of Georgia recognizes a separation as legal when marital relations are no longer existing and you personally consider yourself to be in a state of separation, which obviously is the case here."

"So we can move forward with filing to divorce?" Carol's head was swimming with this information and she wanted to make sure she understood exactly how things were going to work.

"Yes. This is what's considered a fault divorce case, meaning that your spouse is the cause for the breakdown of the marriage. Our first major step is to actually file, a step that I'll be taking care of. Basically what will happen is I will file the petition to divorce in the superior court of the county your husband lives in and the sheriff there will deliver the papers to him. At that point your spouse can either accept the petition, or contest it."

"He'll contest it." She knew that without even having to think about it. Ed had controlled every aspect of her life when she was with him. There was no way he'd let her get away from him that easily.

"A contest of the divorce will certainly make things a lot more difficult, but not impossible. It means that the whole process will take longer. It's unlikely that he'll agree to a settlement, so a trial will have to take place. You'll have to decide on matters such as spousal support and division of assets, which can take a considerable amount of time if one or both parties struggle to agree. Once that's all worked out, you'll have a final hearing in which the judge makes the final call and allows for an official divorce."

"So how long are we looking at before the divorce would be final?"

"If it goes uncontested, it could take as little as a month. If it is contested, it could take months, maybe even years."

"I don't have the money for that." Her heart sank. This was beginning to sound impossible.

"I'm flexible with payment plans, and it can be a part of the divorce agreement that your spouse will become responsible for your legal fees if you don't have the necessary means to provide for yourself."

There was too much to take in. She'd only been able to read a little bit about the divorce process, but had figured she wouldn't need to do much research past finding a suitable lawyer. She'd been dead wrong. Hearing Sasha give her the facts point blank was a blow to her confidence. This was sounding more and more complicated by the second.

"Once I file the petition, we can request to have a temporary hearing."

"Why would we need a temporary hearing?"

"To get a court ordered restraining order." Sasha was watching her carefully, looking for signs of distress.

"Do I need a restraining order?" As naive as it seemed, she'd never actually considered getting one before. She'd always thought that once she left and hid herself away in Ashwicke, a restraining order wouldn't do much more for her.

"In cases like yours it's the safest option. I recommend it to all of my clients in positions similar to yours."

"So what do I have to do in the case of a temporary hearing?"

"We'll go to court, we'll state our case, your husband will state his, and the judge will make a call that will be in place until we all meet again for a final hearing." Carol's heart stopped and her blood froze.

"I have to see him?" Her voice was tinny and weak.

"Well… yes. That's how the process will work. But once we get a restraining order, everything will be fine. You'll be perfectly safe." Sasha was doing her best to comfort her, but it wasn't working.

"You're going to tell me that a piece of paper is going to keep me safe? That what a judge simply says is going to protect me?" Carol knew better than that. There was a reason why she ran away and changed her name. If Ed knew she was close by, he'd come for her. Hell, if she had to be in the same vicinity as him, he'd probably try to kill her right on the spot. Even if she'd managed to make it out of court safe and sound, Ed would find her somehow. He had his connections.

"He legally won't be able to come near you Carol."

"That won't mean shit!" She shot up from her chair with her outburst. She felt like she was on fire, she couldn't see straight.

Sasha stood up and came around her desk to approach her, but Carol jumped away from her and towards the door in her state of panic.

"I can't see him again. Ever." It had been stupid of her not to even realize that if she wanted a divorce to happen that she'd actually have to see Ed again. It had been stupid of her to think that she could get away from him once and for all. It had been stupid of her to think that she could make it on her own and hide from him for the rest of her life.

"There are measures of protection for you Carol, resources for cases like yours. I can help you. We can get you a divorce and everything will be okay."

"It won't be. He doesn't know where I am. I ran away from him, he has no idea where I am. If he finds me, he'll kill me. I can't see him again. I can't."

"Carol, if you don't divorce him you'll be missing out on your full living potential. Your marriage will hold you back. You'll always have his presence hanging over you. You need this."

"If I have to see him again to divorce him, none of that will matter because I'll be dead. You don't know him. I do. I can't take that risk. Thank you for your help, you've been great, but I just can't do this anymore." She was out of the office in a flash. She stumbled over a planter in her desperation to get away from Sasha and she faintly heard Karen ask what was happening. Shouts from Sasha and Karen echoed behind her as she ran back to the mall.

It felt good to run, even if just for a couple of blocks. She'd had so much pent up energy all day and it was a good release. It wasn't enough though and as she rounded the corner to the front entrance of the mall, she was still shaking and breathing hard. Daryl's truck was parked in the same spot it had been before he'd left her this morning and she scrambled up into the cab. Daryl looked shocked to see her in such a state.

"Are you okay? Did something happen?" He reached for her arm but Carol drew it back.

"It's fine. I'm fine. I'm okay. Let's just go home, okay?" She sounded crazy and maybe she was. She was terrified. Of all the ways for her meeting with Sasha to have gone, she certainly wasn't expecting it to go the way it had. She'd honestly believed that things would work out for the best, but she couldn't go through with it if it meant putting herself at risk like that. If she had to lie about her identity for the rest of her life to prevent Ed from coming after her, then that's what she would do. There was no other option.

Daryl didn't ask any more questions as they made the drive back to Ashwicke and the truck gradually filled with tension that she wasn't sure if she was imagining or not. Once he'd gotten over his initial shock, Daryl had seemed to be almost angry and she wondered if something hadn't gone well for him. His grip on the steering wheel was tight and he would only unclench his hands when his knuckles would turn a ghostly shade of white. She'd have mentioned it if she hadn't been so absorbed in her own situation. Three hours was a long time in the silence, and if she'd thought that the drive to Savannah had been bad, she didn't know what to think of the drive back.

When they finally pulled up in front of her apartment building, Carol unbuckled her seatbelt and awkwardly played with the buckle. She'd been able to calm down somewhat during the drive and was thinking a bit more clearly. She wanted to talk to Daryl, but she didn't know where to start. She was questioning everything at this point, and having someone to talk to was what she needed. But she'd brought this on herself. She made a grab for the door handle after sitting in the car for several minutes. Daryl still hadn't spoken. The car was still running and he was gripping the steering wheel as hard as he had the whole drive, but he hadn't said anything about the fact that she was still sitting in the car. She wanted to ask if he was all right, but she couldn't seem to find the words. He was the first to break the silence and for a second Carol was relieved that he was going to ease the tension, until she processed his words.

"I want to know why ya lied to me." He wasn't looking at her as he spoke but she could feel the strain nonetheless. Words still evaded her as she sat, looking at him with wide eyes.

"I know you weren't at the mall the whole time. I was driving past when I looked out the window ta see you go into some lawyer's building, alone. Ya lied, and I want ta know why." She couldn't breathe as he turned to look at her, a fire in his eyes that seared straight through her. She briefly considered lying to him, to try to cover it all up, but she knew he'd see right through it. And hadn't she been lying enough?

"It's a long story." It was the only thing she could think to say and it didn't sit well with him.

"Of course it fuckin' is. You went to see a goddamn lawyer, and for some reason didn't think ya could tell me 'bout it. I'm your friend and you lied ta me." He was upset, and he had every right to be. On one hand, she wanted to argue that it was her own personal business, but on the other, she knew he had a point. She'd lied to him so that he would give her a ride. He was her friend, and she was hiding so much from him and he deserved to know the truth.

"Come inside and I'll explain."

Daryl studied her for a long time, eyes locked on hers as he contemplated her offer. With a sharp nod, he turned off the car and unbuckled his own seatbelt. She slid out of the car as he did, leading him up to her door. Her heart was beating double-time to the sound of their footsteps on the sidewalk. Swallowing hard as she let him inside, she knew what she had to do and she could only hope that it wouldn't all blow up in her face.