Daryl stood out in his drive way waiting on Carol to make an appearance not understanding what was taking thirty minutes for a woman to get dressed. He wasn't sure he even wanted to know what was taking so long. Some things he was sure he was better not asking not because he didn't care but because he just didn't think it mattered that a man know what was took a woman so long to do what she done. He'd seen his brother and dad make a enough dumbass comments about women taking too long to know he needed to keep his mouth shut.

"Daryl where are you?" Carol chirped.

Daryl looked over his shoulder and hollered for her letting her know where he was. The door swung open and she stepped out. Her clothes fit her perfectly. Better than he'd picked out for her that was for damn sure. He needed to thank Meg for that.

"So what exactly are we doing?" Carol was all smiles looking at him.

Daryl walked to his truck swinging her door open, "Told you wanted to show you around so you don't get lost if you get out without me while you're here..."

"You said we were late for something." Carol prodded smiling at him as he shut his own door.

"We are." He couldn't help but to chuckle with the noise she made in her throat at his words. "Will is back in town and they are having something at his house later."

Carol hummed at his words and started smiling, "So like a party for you?"

Scowling, "No."

"But it's...pretty convenient don't you think?"

Daryl wanted to ignore the amusement in her voice but couldn't and shook his head chuckling. As far as he knew it was just his aunt, Norman, Will, and Rick going to be there and no one else. He hoped no one else. He didn't want something as a farewell dinner or anything like that. He felt like that was just bad luck and asking for something to happen to him when he shipped out. The first person who actually said good bye to him was getting hit in the throat.

Pulling through town Daryl pointed out all the places that would be of interest to Carol. She perked up at quite a few and he couldn't help but to laugh at her facial expression.

"Don't laugh at me Daryl." Carol smiled, "Besides it'll be nice for you to get to spend time with everyone before you leave."

Daryl growled and parked, "Carol I aint worried about spending time with people who aint worried about coming and see me the rest of the time I'm here. So why the fuck they care now? Fuck that. You, Merle, Will, Norm, Dean, Rick, and Meg. Everyone else can blow me."

Carol set there and crossed her legs looking over at him, "I see your point."

Daryl stepped down from the vehicle and raised a brow as soon as he seen a local cruiser pull in blocking his walking path. The blue lights lit up flashing ominously against Daryl as he moved to stand in front of his truck.

"HANDS IN THE AIR!"

Daryl cocked a brow and done as he was told as the officer moved around the end of the cruiser holstering his pistol and grabbing a hold of Daryl. He could see Carol's wide worried eyes locked onto him. Daryl winked at her and she didn't relax if anything she looked confused even more.

"Rick are you aiming to feel me up or some shit?" Daryl questioned.

Rick started laughing and stepped back from him, "Just messin' around with you. Heard you got back in last night and figured I'd see you today just didn't think it'd be here in town, thought I'd have to track you down."

Daryl grinned and Rick's eyes went behind him finally registering Carol and her confusion. Daryl turned motioning her over and Carol walked to him a small smile on her lips causing both men to smirk.

"Carol this asshole is Rick."

Rick made a noise in his throat, "Excuse him ma'am he was raised in the woods...it's a pleasure to meet you. Heard a lot about you."

Carol blushed and she looked at him before looking back at Rick, "Nice to meet you too."

Rick smiled widely, "Daryl I'm going to ask you a serious question here and I'm only asking cause we've been friends since that time you busted your face in third grade on the wall."

"Fuck you." Daryl snapped cringing at a memory.

Rick laughed and nodded, "But man...how did an asshole like you get a well mannered beautiful woman to put up with you?"

Daryl growled and Carol blushed even redder looking at them.

"Hows Olive Oyl?"

Rick sighed and looked off and shook his head not saying anything. Daryl let it go able to read his body language and knowing something was bothering Rick. Carol ran her hand over his forearm and nudged him.

"I'm thirsty."

Carol turned to walk towards to gas station but he caught her wrist stalling her. Carol looked at him but Daryl didn't even question her before reaching back and getting his wallet and handing it to her. Carol huffed but he shot her a look and she walked away shaking her head.

"No really how did you coax her into putting up with you?" Rick smiled again.

"Fuck if I know but I aint questioning it."

Rick laughed and slapped him on the back, "I was gonna stop anyways and let you know to warn Merle we got some new hot head cop here in town."

Daryl sighed and shook his head, "He's gonna get picked up no doubt then when he gets in."

"Well let Will know and Norman and maybe they'll get his ass before he does something stupid." Rick warned, "I don't like the guy but he's new so they aint saying much right."

Carol appeared again handing him a water and sipping a lemonade. Rick waved at them before walking away and leaving them standing. Carol looked around at his hometown before looking at him.

"So do I get to meet the woman who picked out my clothes or we standing here?" Carol pushed his stomach.

Daryl grabbed her wrist and pulled her forward his arms wrapping around her and tightening them making it impossible for her to move. Carol squirmed against him and Daryl leaned down his mouth skimming along her throat barely touching. His breath fanned her flushed skin and he smiled kissing her just below her ear and groping her ass as he spun them towards the truck.

"Lets go."

Carol looked at him wide eyed but nodded and got in the vehicle. Daryl shut her door for her after she buckled and chuckled walking away and getting in. He looked up feeling eyes on him and seen a cruiser setting just across the road. A dark haired man was watching him intently his face severe as he glared heatedly. Daryl kept his mouth shut but felt his anger rising from the looks. He didn't know the man and he had no reason to be looking at him like that.

"SO what is it you and Norman do all day?" Carol turned in her seat after buckling up and smiled.

"Work on cars...build...shit like that."

"So like my dad?"

Daryl smirked, "You just compare me to your dad?"

Carol made a face and cringed, "Ew...no...just new subject."

Pulling in Daryl seen Meg leap to her feet and start straight down the steps. Her face was set serious and she was walking right for him her hands on her hips.

"Now you listen to me Daryl Dixon when your daddy says be here at this time have enough respect to show up!" Meg snapped a smile on her lips.

"Bite me." He shrugged.

She tilted her head and looked him over, "Nah you're to stringy and mangie." Carol busted out laughing tsking and slapped her hand over her mouth her face burning bright red. Meg focused her eyes on her and turned her body, "You disagree with me?"

Carol looked to Daryl for help but he leaned back looking at her and leaving her to figure Meg out. Hell he'd known this woman most of his life but still couldn't figure her the fuck out.

"Yes." Carol's voice held conviction and she turned her gaze on him where he leaned against his truck. Her eyes ran up his body and then she looked back at the woman slapping him solidly on his stomach, "I do very much."

Meg started laughing loudly and looked at Daryl her eyes amused, "Oh I like her...I really like her."

Daryl pushed off his truck and started walking leaving them together and going in search of his dad.

Carol watched him walk away and Meg smiled at her, "You look nervous."

Rubbing her hands together, "I kind of am."

"Why? I hardly think you two have anything to be shy about by now." She shrugged, "You've met his dad...his asshat of a brother and I know you've met Norman. SO what is the issue?"

Carol sighed, "Who are you two him he said aunt but I didn't know Will had a sister."

Meg made a face and looked off before looking back at her briefly and motioning Carol to follow her. Carol thought for sure she had pushed to far but it was only a few minutes before Meg seemed to recover from whatever had upset her.

"I'm not Will's sister...not really. I'm his sister in law sweetie, Emma was my big sister. I was so much younger than her and Will, hell they were already married by the time I was here."

Carol looked at her, "So your closer to Daryl and Merle's age?"

"Yup." Meg laughed, "Merle's to be exact I'm three years older than him."

Carol sifted through this and realized she didn't really know what happened to his mother. Daryl had never mentioned it to her at all. He never really talked about the past but made it clear it was something he didn't like brought up.

"I'm guessing from that look just hearing the name Emma outloud is a revelation for you." Meg sighed, "Daryl don't talk about her and Merle don't much either. She was a good woman from what I can remember...Will was across seas a lot and dealing with ptsd when he'd come back." Meg set down and motioned Carol to do the same. The were resting under a large oak tree that had a swing in it. "Will was drinking to even fall asleep and she stayed up more and more with the boys during that time. Daryl wasn't but about eight maybe nine but I remember that day getting back from all of us being out together and seeing the house fire."

Carol sucked in a breath trying to piece things together. Feeling her throat tighten she looked at Meg begging her to go on with her eyes.

"Daryl was close to his mom, very close. She died that day. Will had tried to get back in the house and if you ever see him without his shirt you'll see the scars from the burns on his back from the fire and him fighting trying to get to her...but we showed up when the firemen fought him out of that house. We showed up when he was forced to leave his wife in that house."

Carol calculated their age and realized that Merle and Meg must have been in their teens while Daryl was still a young boy. He must have been traumatized.

"After Will seen us Daryl's eyes searched for Emma and when he didn't see her he fought trying to get there. But it was too late they had to sedate him. He didn't talk for an entire year after that. Nothing. He pushed people away and refused to let people close...that is why you surprise me."

Carol looked at her and shook her head, "He's never told me this stuff."

"No one brings it up to keep from upsetting him but they don't give him enough credit. Daryl isn't a child anymore and he isn't so delicate he can't remember his mother and smile fondly." Meg elbowed her, "You're good for him you know."

Carol swiped away tears and nodded, "He's good for me."

Carol listened to stories from Daryl's past watching as Meg leaned back laughing. She was infectious and Carol realized she was likely more like a sister to the boys than an aunt. She definitely talked to Daryl like a sister would.

Both looked up when the sun was blocked and seen Will looking down at them, "You realize Daryl isn't here anymore right?"

Carol set up and looked around seeing his truck, "Are you lying to me?"

"Nope." He tossed her his keys and she looked up at him. "He's with Norman...he stole him for a bit...more of a distraction."

Carol set up all the way, "Was I right? You are throwing him a party..."

"Not a party...we don't say that word around him." Meg grinned. "He turns into a sourpuss."

Will grabbed both of their hands giving them a boost up and motioned towards the house. Carol seen the man from earlier there Rick and smiled as he unloaded some stuff from the back of a truck. It sure looked like the beginning of a party to her.