Carol scowled at Rick not backing down. He really had no say in this. Sure they had all been through this together but she wasn't walking away from her daughter. Sophia made it painfully clear that she wasn't walking away from Daryl. Her exact words were determined and defensive when she realized the other groups intentions. Carol wasn't sure who told her that they intended to take her back to the prison but Sophia searched her out immediately. It didn't take her long to find Carol since she searched for Daryl at the same time. Her eyes kept going to him like he held the answers. The bond between them was obvious.

"Carol we don't know these people." Rick shook his head, "We're outnumbered here."

Andrea scoffed, "Rick I know we've seen some bad people out there but I think if they really wanted to hurt us they'd done it by now. Have you even looked around here and seen how many actual families are here, safe?"

Rick shot her a look before his eyes went back to Carol, "We can keep her safe. "

Sophia's words were sharp and clear in her mind. "I'm not leaving him! I'm not going there so I can be left behind in the woods again. I matter too!"

Carol licked her lips and shook her head, "Rick I'm doing what is right for my daughter. I can't take her away from here. These men put their lives on the line to keep her safe and make sure she got here."

"And now she has you, us." Rick pleaded.

T-dogg cleared his throat, "Rick I was talking with Merle and man I think we should consider working with them. They have military, hunters, and hell man they even have electricity and running water."

Carol nodded her head, "Don't you think Carl would benefit coming here?"

"No invitation has been extended Carol it's clear where they stand. Sure they're friendly with you they've had your daughter all this time."

Carol felt herself stiffen, "What the hell are you implying?"

Rick stood there looking at her like he was trying to see inside her and figure out the best answer.

"You know what Rick I'm not leaving her. I'm not abandoning my daughter and they might have extended a damn invitation if you didn't take every chance you could to antagonize them." Carol's chest heaved as she thought about the way he'd acted to Daryl just earlier when they came back from the guard duty. "When you found out he was teaching Sophia to hunt you just had to be rude and make comments. Do you even realize how valuable a skill like that is now days?"

"I wasn't being rude." He shook his head, "There is no reason to teach her those things with so many men to do it."

Andrea rounded on him, "I see sexism is live and well and here I thought it died with everything else."

Rick sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, "We can make this work. WE have to."

Carol nodded, "Go on back. Talk with the group and I'll talk with them here."

Andrea stood next to her and Carol smiled. She wouldn't be alone here and the feeling was amazing. Sure there were people everywhere but from some of the looks she was getting from some of the women she felt odd. They didn't seem very friendly. Hannah was but that was Brian's mother.

Hershel cleared his throat, "If I may I'd like to say that they have been more than accommodating. Rough around the edges but there is a respect there and integrity I thought gone now days. Rick i know that we haven't had the best of luck but I think this is the chance we need and we have to try." He studied the younger man, "You push your animosity aside and swallow your pride son because those men aren't bad no matter how they talk."

Rick nodded and looked over at her, "We will be back and hopefully then after we've discussed this with the group we can talk with them."

Carol nodded and everyone said their goodbyes. Andrea and her walked out of the building and Andrea snorted next to her. "Have you said something to anyone here?"

"I've mostly just talked to Sophia, why?"

"So you haven't really spoken to anyone else? Daryl, Mac, Merle, what about that other guy I seen?"

Carol scrunched her face up. "OH Carter yeah well that was just a moment. I mostly just talked to Hannah and Merle I haven't seen much. I have spoke to Daryl but that- well I figured that was obvious. I want to know the man who saved her."

"Well why you were studying the man in question and learning about him I took the time to people watch and learn what I could here." Andrea grinned, "And guess what I found out." Her voice was way too happy and Carol almost wanted to escape. She knew that voice it never meant anything good.

Andrea and her stood there a minute before Carol just tried to ignore it. She wasn't sure she wanted to know. No, she was sure that it would only open a flood gates for more things to come and that wasn't something she could take right now. Carol already felt overwhelmed with everything here. With her daughter being back, with Daryl, with his family, and with the sanctuary they were in.

"Well i'm going to answer anyways." Andrea quipped, "It appears that everyone thinks Sophia is his daughter. Not that he saved her but that she told people he was her father and that he never corrected it." Andrea motioned to the woman she heard Daryl arguing with the day before, "That harpy apparently has eyes for your baby daddy."

Carol turned her head so quickly a pain shot up her neck and she glared at Andrea. Andrea's smile was so wide Carol hoped it hurt.

"All I'm saying is that that cold shoulder you're feeling is because Harpy queen and her toad minions are jealous because apparently she's been after him since he got here. I also heard that Sophia ripped her ass over him once before."

Carol shook her head, "You need to stop." Shaking her head, "Thats an exaggeration."

Andrea hummed in her throat. Her eyes went down the road, "Well here he comes now lets just watch and sees what happens."

Carol bit her lip. She wasn't sure what the hell Andrea was up to but she couldn't look away as he walked down the road. His nephew was with him. From what Carol had already gathered it wouldn't be long till Sophia appeared. Whenever Daryl was doing something those two were never far from him. Carol couldn't see his eyes but she took the time to silently appreciate him. It'd been a long time since she even found a man remotely attractive even before the world ended. Carol wasn't blind to the way the man looked as her eyes went to the other women that had been gathered. All their eyes were on him and sure enough the same woman was smiling at him.

Daryl was closer now and Carol hid her smile as he scowled at the woman and changed his direction. He looked up and realized he was walking right for her and Andrea. His eyes again went to the woman and his face darkened shaking his head. He didn't change the way he was walking though as he headed right for them. Carol felt eyes on her but ignored it.

Andrea leaned in, "I hate to be that person Carol I really do but...I told you so."

"Daryl!"

He paused and Brian swung down out of a tree suddenly followed by Sophia. Both were grinning at him talking animatedly. He smiled a full smile his face brightening before he barked out a laugh shaking his head. He motioned and said something. Sophia's eyes turned to her and she grinned.

"Hey mom." She trotted over, "I was waiting on you I didn't see you come out."

Carol smiled, "Haven't been out long."

"Sophia who is that woman?" Andrea looked over.

Sophia's face lost all humor and she huffed, "That is Karen."

Andrea raised a brow, "What' that face for?"

Sophia sneered, "She's a handsy bitch that don't know when to stop."

Daryl barked out a laugh closer by suddenly startling all them before Carol could even comment on Sophia's language.

Brian was walking backwards in front of Daryl, "He said that if I didn't go he was." Brian smiled, "Either way I'm going. I'll jump the fucking wall."

"You try me you little fucker and we'll see how that plays out." Daryl snapped without malice.

"All bark no bite." Brian taunted.

Daryl tilted his head still walking and moved quickly jerking Brian up and then catching his boot just behind Brian's. He started falling backwards his arms flailing and he yelped as he hit the ground.

"Your ass aint big enough for the shit you try to talk yet. Best grow some boy." Daryl taunted before walking off.

He nodded to both of them as he walked by. Sophia grinned and elbowed her mom, "Daryl don't you think that Brian should help his mom since Mac can't today."

Daryl looked down at the boy and Brian flipped her off. "Fuck that. I'm going!"

"Going where?" Sophia frowned.

Mac appeared whistling down the road, "LETS GO!"

"Go help your mom Brian."

"But-"

"Brian!" Daryl snapped and pointed his voice low and authoritative.

Brian glared at Sophia but turned and went. Carol watched as panic flared in Sophia eyes. She grabbed Daryl. It was the first time she'd seen anyone invade his personal space. He seemed to have an air about him that warned people away from doing the very thing her daughter just done. He stopped though his eyes going to her.

"You're going out there aren't you?" Her voice cracked.

Daryl's eyes lifted to Carol barely for a second but it was enough. Carol walked forward her arm going around Sophia's. She was shaking tears welling up.

"I just got my family Daryl, like we talked about and you're going out again!" Sophia whimpered, "What if something happens?"

Daryl shook his head turning to her fully. Carol's eyes went over his shoulder seeing Mac coming. He looked worriedly at her daughter. It was a look that made Carol thaw out even more.

Daryl hit his knee looking at Sophia. "I told you before Sophia and I didn't lie."

"It's not the same!" She hissed, "You're hurt."

Daryl scowled, "I'm fine."

"You're a bad liar."

"And you're a little shit."

Sophia grinned but then her eyes went to Mac as he got there, "If you don't bring him back Mac I'll tell Hannah Karen is after you now and Karen that you're interested.."

Daryl snorted and stood. Carol watched him and he kept himself together but she knew he was hurting. It was brief but it was in his eyes. She looked away though. His eyes were intense and she wasn't sure what to think of him yet. There were a lot of things to process right now.

"Ew fuck kid that's just...fuck that. Daryl you should stay she's trying to put that evil on me." Mac grimaced, "Shit kid you know I'll bring him back we just gotta get some shit."

"Take Merle."

"Merle is being a douche fag." Mac shrugged, "Besides he's got shit to do here and Daryl is the one who knows where everything is. We'll be back before dinner."

"You better be."