"Merle, will you stop the car" Carol folded her arms and sat straight, determined to find out where they were going. she was too old for mystery tours.

"Ah come on Carol don't ya like surprises?" Merle chuckled as he ignored her plea. They had dropped Sophia at school, and headed straight out of town.

"Merle Dixon you tell me right now where the hell we are going?" Taking the small turn off from the main road, he continued down a rough track, which opened up into a clearing. Carol gasped at the beautiful house, sat in the middle of the field. All around were woods, hiding it from view, travelling up the gravel driveway Merle stopped the car. The small driveway was lined with tree's, that would be great to climb, if she was a child.

"Merle whose is this place?. It's beautiful" she noticed the stone walk way to the side, which she could see led to a stream. The house was stone, two stories high, lots of windows allowing the daylight in, it was like her dream house. Whoever lived here was lucky, it was away from the main route, yet close enough by car. Carol felt jealous of the owners, she would have loved this for her family. Merle smiled at her reaction, routing through his glove box, he pulled a set of keys out, dangling them in front of her, waiting for her to notice. Carol saw them glitter in the sun, looking at Merle and the house, she wondered what was going on.

"It's ya house darlin. Daryl brought it for ya, Sophia and little one. I believe he has already set up Sophia's swing set and trampoline in the back." Carol took the keys, climbing out from the car, she walked up the small path to the porch, smiling when she saw the rocking chairs on it

"He brought this for us? Why Merle? Does he think this will make everything right? Buying me a house makes all he has done go away?. You tell your brother thank you but I don't want it. I don't want anything from that man"

"Come on darlin he's trying here"

"Yeah, he sure is Merle after all it's not as if he hasn't got the money. So don't YOU DARE TELL ME HE IS TRYING!"

"Calm down honey, ain't good for the baby, he knew you liked this house, so he wanted ya to have it. He's stayed out of ya life like ya told him too." Carol burst into tears, she was disappointed and let down. Daryl had stayed away, letting her and Sophia continue to live in his apartment, whilst he practically lived in his office. He did everything Carol had asked, stayed away from them and not once contacted her.

"I guess I thought he would fight for us" Rubbing her stomach she wiped her tears away

"Honey he would walk over burning hot coals for you if ya asked him. He has no idea what to do darlin. Ya know how badly he wants ya back, hell woman for almost two months, after Sophia's party, he followed ya like a whipped puppy and not once did ya acknowledge him. I understand ya reasons, I do,Carol, but even I felt sorry for him. The guy has no one, even Michonne and Rick have given him the cold shoulder. Ya wanted him to suffer, he is sweetheart believe me he is" Carol nodded, good he deserved it all.

"Talking of Michonne how's Beth? I'm sure she would be willing to sooth his wounded pride?" Merle wanted to cross his legs she sure knew how to kick a man in the balls when he was down.

"Damn Carol, Ya know full well after Michonne split her lip and busted her cheek, Beth won't go anywhere near your property, if she did he would throw her out on her ass" Carol laughed, remembering the scream from Beth when Michonne went for her. Not one person moved to help the younger woman that day, there again Michonne had pulled her away from the crowd, so no one saw what had really happened, just heard the screams.

"Carol honey have a look at the house darlin, please" ripping the keys from his hand, she unlocked the door.

"There I have looked. Now take the keys back and tell him no thanks"

"Ya can tell me ya god damn self woman" Carol felt her heart skip a beat, as her eyes came to rest on him. She could kill Merle, he had brought her here, knowing full well his brother was waiting

"You tricked me Dixon, and you Merle I expected better" Merle looked at the floor, he hated tricking her, but he knew the two of them needed to talk, both were miserable without the other and he felt they needed to sort their shit out. Walking backwards, he opened the car door and jumped in, hitting reverse, glancing in the rear-view mirror cringing when he heard Carol shouting

"MERLE DIXON GET BACK HERE!"

"Guess he left ya" Daryl mumbled as the car disappeared from sight. Carol walked towards the house, then turned on him pointing her finger in his chest.

" As for you, I have nothing to say" She moved a step back when he walked towards her, with each step she took, he did two.

"How's my baby? How's my daughter? How's my woman?"

"You would know if you hadn't screwed up" He bit his lip, nodding at her answer

"I know but she won't tell me, she ignores my calls, she tells me to leave her alone and I have for three fucking months I have left ya alone and I'm done with it all. Hit me, shout at me, scream if ya have to, but please darlin don't keep doing this to me. Don't ignore me" Carol's back hit the side of the house as he entered into her space. Her heartbeat increased, as he moved closer, his hands slammed against the wall above her head. His mouth almost touching hers, his eyes glued to her tongue that slipped out and licked her lips. How he ached to suck on it, to bite the lip she was tasting. Carol saw the desire in his eyes, her breathing hitched up, how did he still effect her like this?, her body was a traitor.

"Give me one good reason Dixon why the hell you think I should give you the time of day. You scared me, you hurt me. Sophia cries herself to sleep wondering why you no longer love us? You called me a thief, a damn thief. Never in all my life have I..." His lips took hers, he couldn't help himself, seeing the anger in her eyes, the passion too, had him aching, he wanted a taste, when her mouth opened under his, he moaned deep, more so when his tongue touched hers. He took full advantage, his body pushing into hers, letting her feel what she did to him, what she had always done to him. She had so much power and control over him, and she had no idea, she owned him completely.

Carol's body came alive when he touched her, calling herself every stupid name under the sun. Yet her hands pulled him closer, gripping his hair, it felt so good to be back in his arms. They couldn't get close enough, it had been too long for them both, hands tore at clothes ripping them off in haste. He had to be inside her, he was so close to losing it. His hands smoothed over her soft skin, re learning her, feeling the small bump that carried his child. He knew when she came to her senses he would be kicked out into the cold again, and he would beg, if he had to, for her love and attention. For now he was grateful to be in her arms, to feel the change in her body. His shirt buttons scattered across the wooden floor of the porch, her nails dug into his skin drawing blood, he didn't care, she could rip his skin to shreds, mark him all over, as long as she allowed him to love her.

"Need ya Carol, Need ya so bad" his words whispered against her neck as he sucked the soft skin. Carol's body was on fire, her hormones all over the place, she had an ache that only he could sooth. Her mind was screaming at her to stop all this, yet her body craved his touch, his kisses. The sound of ripping fabric didn't stop their frantic touching. It was as if they had been apart for years, teeth bit, tongues soothed. Daryl knew his body would be a mess when it all ended. Lifting her up, he moved her higher on the wall, his mouth itching to taste her essence. It was too much for her, she wanted him deep inside her.

"No not your tongue I need you inside me NOW!" Daryl moved her body down, wrapping her legs around his waist he thrust home. Both of them roaring as they reached their climax too soon for either. Shaking in his arms, her head fell onto his shoulders, their breathing slowing as they fought to get it under control. Daryl helped her to her feet, he knew fucking her, would not solve what had happened, not make up for all he had done, he hoped it may help towards his cause.

"Just what I needed you can leave now" Daryl's head shot up, was she serious?

"Pardon?"

"I said you can leave now, you helped me scratch an itch which I thank you, been on edge all week. You did your job now leave" He fumbled around for his clothes pulling his jeans up, hell he hadn't even taken them off.

"I don't think so" Carol looked at him her hand on her hip, already dressed, which put him at a slight disadvantage

"Really Dixon? What makes you think I want you back, you have nothing to offer me but lies" Pulling his shirt on, he attempted to fasten it with what buttons were left

"Ya still want me Carol, what we just did..." His words were slapped from his mouth

"Don't you dare Daryl. So you scratched my itch, Hell if Axel was here he could have..." He pushed her back into the wall

"Don't say that, you wanted it as much as I did. Please Carol don't hurt me anymore" His head lowered to her shoulder, as he held his breath, praying she would stop his torture.

"I could never hurt you Daryl, to hurt you would mean you have feelings"

"Stop it please, I fucked up Carol hell do I know I fucked up and I will do anything, absolutely anything for you, all I ask is you let me try again, allow me to show you how much I love you. All I want is your forgiveness, to be allowed back in your lives and be a family"

"I can't Daryl, Sophia and I cannot go through that pain again" She fought back her tears as she spoke.

"Please, I'm begging ya one chance Carol"