I want to thank Sam for the help in getting this chapter rolling :) I know you're reading this and I think you need to get a Fanfiction account!

To everyone who's stuck with this story for so long, I. Want. Input. Give me some scenarios you want to see, things you want to know, stuff you want to happen! This story is only continuing because you guys like it so much so I'm eager to see what you want to happen next! Plot is running on you!

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Two Weeks Later

Carol felt someone shaking her shoulder and she almost threw a punch before she realized it wasn't a walker touching her but just Daryl.

"Carol," he whispered in the darkness, "I'm goin' hunting and I'm taking Sophia with me."

"Mmm?" Carol groaned and rolled over to look at him, but it was too dark to see until her eyes adjusted. He was on one knee next to her and Sophia stood behind him with her bow in hand. "Mm, ok, have fun you two. Be safe."

Daryl smiled and nodded, leaning down to press a soft kiss to Carol's cheek before he went to do his perimeter check. When he was satisfied all was clear he called for Sophia and they set off towards the woods for her first tracking lesson. Daryl had chosen today specifically because it had snowed a little bit the night before so tracks would be very obvious.

Sophia, he noticed, was an excellent hunting companion. She was quiet and never talked out loud, but communicated with expression, hand motions and whispers. She tread lightly, Daryl noted as they picked their way through the trees on the trail of what Sophia had called "Wolf tracks" which were actually coyote tracks. Coyote fur would be useful with the snow now starting to fall, gloves, hats...warmth, in general.

He'd persuaded Sophia in leaving Lulu back in the tent with Carol, he'd felt a lot better about leaving his little family alone when he was out hunting if Lulu was there with them when he left, the bobcat had become very loyal to the three of them, even him now that he'd spent more time with her, and he knew she'd tear apart anything that tried to harm them. Plus, hunting with Lulu tagging along was a joke, everything ran from her and could smell her coming a mile away.

Suddenly, Daryl caught a slight movement ahead and he dropped into a crouch, feeling a jolt of pride as Sophia dropped down as well without a word, her blue eyes locked straight ahead and he knew she saw it too, a grayish brown tail sticking out slightly from behind a bush across the stream. Daryl motioned for her to stop moving and they stayed crouched in silence, waiting for the coyote to make the first move.

Daryl watched the coyote carefully, but glanced over at Sophia once in a while, admiring the way she froze like a statue, not even shaking for the effort of staying in a crouch or breathing hard or nothin', her eyes on the prize and an arrow in her hand ready to be nocked.

That's my girl.

Daryl smiled slightly before he caught her attention and silently slid over to her side.

"Take it," he said quietly, motioning for her to take control of this hunt. Sophia looked at him wide eyed but nodded almost imperceptivity. She remained where she was for a while longer and then completely shocked him by letting out a sharp barking sound, Daryl glanced over where the tail had now disappeared and watched in awe as the coyote came out, eyes scanning the area warily. It yipped back, as if trying to get a reply and Daryl held his breath as Sophia nocked her arrow when the coyote jumped and looked behind him where a squirrel had run down a tree, the coyote's hackles lowered when it spotted the squirrel and Sophia took the split second before it turned to look back in their direction to rise and aim, she took a steadying breath and blew it out slowly as she released the string and sent the arrow flying.

For a moment, Daryl though she'd done it, but then the coyote sniffed nonchalantly at the arrow quivering in the log next to it and loped off without a care. Daryl sighed as he watched it go and then looked at Sophia, she was staring where the coyote had been and he noticed her bottom lip beginning to quiver and her eyes starting to squint.

"Hey, hey, hey, none of that!" he said quickly, kneeling in front of her. He took her small face in his hands and stared into her eyes, which were brimming with tears. Has she always been this small and fragile? "Ya can't get 'em all."

Sophia nodded but didn't look at all comforted and Daryl wracked his brains for something to say to make it better.

"Sophia, ya did awesome," he blurted, "Ya were a natural! You've got the makings of a huntress, kid, and I'm proud o' ya."

Sophia's eyes raised up from where they'd dropped down to stare at her feet and they were filled with some emotion Daryl found himself a little uncomfortable with.

"Really?" she whispered, unsure, "You're...you're proud of me?"

And that's when he realized...had Ed ever even given her a second glance? He never thought about the fact that Sophia had just as many daddy issues as he had! She'd probably never had a grown man be proud of her, let alone her dad. You're her dad now...ya gotta remember that!

"Yeah, peaches," Daryl found himself saying, "I am."

"But I missed it..." Sophia said hesitantly, "You're not mad that I wasted our time we spent tracking and waiting?"

Daryl shook his head and smiled slightly, feeling his face soften at her worries.

"Sophia, this hunting trip is about learning," he explained, "Why d'ya think I asked you to come along? Ya gotta get some experience under your belt."

Sophia nodded firmly, her eyes taking on a determined look.

"I'm gonna be the best damn hunter in this group, dad!" she said excitedly, "Well...not as good as you..."

"You can be better than me if ya put yer mind to it," he encouraged her. He patted her shoulders and stood up, nodding for her to follow. "C'mon, there's more game in these woods than just that damn coyote."

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Carol was sitting on the RV with Andrea keeping her company on watch when they spotted Daryl and Sophia returning for their hunt. Lulu took off at a run across the field as soon as she smelled them approaching and Carol watched in amusement as Daryl held the string of small game up high so the bobcat couldn't get at them. Sophia scratched her pet behind the ears and then took off running toward the RV, holding something furry high.

"Mom! Mom! Look what I got!" she yelled happily, "It's a rabbit! I shot it!"

Carol laughed when Sophia climbed the ladder and dropped the bloody animal by her side. Carol picked it up by the ears and smiled.

"Sophia! Good job!" she stated, "You're going to be a great hunter!"

"That's what dad said," Sophia said with pride, her chest stuck out a little. Daryl climbed up behind Sophia on the ladder and leaned forward, smushing her into the side of the RV.

"Ya'll seen a skinny little blonde girl?" Daryl asked teasingly as Sophia struggled to climb up the ladder to get out from under him, "I swear she was just here but she's so damn sneaky sometimes that...oh, there she is!"

Sophia plopped onto the roof when Daryl leaned back slightly, giggling like crazy.

"How was the hunt?" Carol asked him with a smile.

"Excellent!" Daryl claimed, winking at Sophia, "We got ourselves a little huntress here. She's got the basic skills already, she just needs a little practice and she'll be giving me a run fer my money."

"I've been watching you, dad, that's how I know what to do," Sophia stated brightly. Carol noticed Daryl's expression falter and he looked unsure for a moment.

"Hey, 'Fia," she said, "Why don't you take your rabbit and show Carl? I bet he'll be excited!"

"Yeah! You're right!" Sophia jumped up, "Can I get down, dad?"

Daryl climbed up and moved to the side so Sophia would get down the ladder and he watched her as she ran off with a thoughtful look on his face.

"You alright, Daryl?" Carol asked softly, "You look a little...worried."

"She's been watching me that close?" Daryl muttered quietly.

"I guess so," Carol said, not sure what the problem with that was.

"I really need to be more careful what I do, huh?" Daryl's voice was small and ashamed sounding.

Carol smiled and leaned over to press a kiss to his hair.

"It's scary being a parent, isn't it?" she asked softly. Daryl just nodded. "But I know you're gonna do a great job at it."

Daryl turned his head to look at her and Carol felt her breath catch when he locked eyes with her.

"I'm gonna do my damndest," he said seriously.

"Sorry to interrupt," Andrea stated suddenly, "But Herschel said he wants to see you, Daryl."

Daryl groaned and ran his hand through his hair nervously.

"A'right," he growled and swung onto the ladder and made his way down it quickly.

"Hope it's good news," Carol called after him and he turned to give her a cheeky grin and a two fingered salute before he trotted to the house.

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Carol waited impatiently for him to come back and her heart jumped into her throat when she saw him emerge from the house and trot back towards the RV with a skip in his step every few feet, he was grinning like crazy and wasted no time in climbing up and grabbing Carol by the wrist, tugging firmly.

"Andrea," he said quickly, "If Sophia is looking for us, we'll be back later. Keep her here, please?"

Andrea rolled her eyes with a smile, but she nodded and waved her hand in a 'Get out of here' way.

"Alright, you two, have fun."

Daryl grinned wickedly at that and Carol felt her stomach flip in anticipation as she followed him down the ladder. As soon as her feet hit the ground, Daryl yanked her by the arm and she had to practically run to keep up with him as he directed her towards their tent across the field.

"Daryl," she giggled at his hurry, "I take it Herschel cleared you?"

"Yep," was the only reply she got, but it was enough for her.

When they reached the tent he almost literally pushed her inside but he didn't fail to do his usual walker check before he slipped inside after her, zipping the flap behind him. Carol was sitting cross-legged on the sleeping bags and she bounced with eagerness when he turned around and caught her in his stare and closed the distance between them with one single step. She looked up at him as he towered over her and smiled softly when he got down on his knees to be on her level, his hands slid from her wrists up her arms, his right went to the back of her head and pulled her towards him as his tongue flicked out to lick his lips before he pressed them to hers firmly. Carol grinned into his mouth before reciprocating and her fingers clutched the material of his shirt over his chest firmly as she savored the feeling and taste of his mouth as he slowly drove her crazy with it. This man...it wasn't fair how helpless she was to resist him when he got it in his mind to kiss her, he was so good at it and Carol almost laughed when she imagined how jealous every female on this farm would be if they had any clue just HOW good he was.

Daryl broke the kiss suddenly and leaned his forehead into hers, his breathing was quick and he stared at her from under the hair that had begun to hang in his eyes recently.

"Carol," he said quietly, and she sensed a question in his tone...almost like he was afraid to ask it.

"Mm?" Carol murmured back, her hands had slowly made their way up under the material of his shirt during the previous moments and she now started twisting the soft curls of his chest hair bewteen her fingers, tugging ever so slightly.

"Were you serious about what you told me that night in the truck?" Daryl's voice was getting thicker and deeper by the minute, she noticed. But she wasn't sure exactly what he was asking.

"What did I say?" she asked, moving her fingers from his collarbones down to the flat expanse of his abdomen, tracing his hipbones which she noticed were becoming more prominent every week.

"Ya said..." he hesitated when her hands slid around him and slid into the back of his cargos and gripped his ass tight. "Mm, ya said ya wanted me t'...take ya harder than ever."

Suddenly Carol DID remember making that request and she grinned.

"I was completely serious," she whispered, flicking her tongue out to trace his left ear.

"I...fuck...I wanna but I don't think it's a good idea," Daryl muttered, his eyes dropped closed as Carol's tongue slid along the skin of his neck, just under his ear. "I don't wanna hurt ya."

Carol pulled back and locked him in a stern look.

"Daryl," she said firmly, "Shut up and stop second guessing everything. I MEANT what I said!"

That was obviously all the incentive he needed because Carol suddenly found herself on her back with him pressed on top of her, pressing her firmly down as he sucked the skin of her neck into his mouth and sucked it hard. She was going to have a very noticeable hickey in the morning, no doubt.

She didn't have time to think before she was pulled back into a sitting position and he yanked her shirt off over her head, tossing it aside carelessly and unhooked her bra faster than she thought possible, flicking it away. Then he did something Carol hadn't expected, he gripped her sides and spun her to where her back was pressed into his chest and he leaned her over till she was on her hands and knees. He reached around her to undo the button and zipper of her jeans before he yanked them down unceremoniously, pushing her flat on her stomach as he pulled them completely off.

Carol twisted her head to look at him and saw he was unbuttoning his cargos, but not taking them off. But Carol didn't get much of a view before he lay half on top of her, his lower half pressed firmly into her lower back and ass to keep her pinned, but his chest remained off of her back and his hands gripped her wrists firmly, holding them on either side of her head as he braced his weight on his palms. She felt his knees nudge into her thighs and sucked in a deep breath when he pushed her legs to where thighs almost made a ninety degree angle to her hips, she felt like a frog in mid swim and also felt utterly exposed...

Before she could even comprehend what was happening, Daryl slammed into her with a force she'd never experienced with him before and a jolt of pain shot through her before she caught her breath. She'd never felt so completely filled before and she bit her bottom lip to keep the sharp cry she felt rise in her throat from coming out. She took a deep breath and was very glad he wasn't moving on top of her so she could get her bearings. She had to admit, this was a whole lot less comfortable than she'd thought...and unwanted memories of Ed dominating her much like this came to her mind. But, no, Daryl wasn't going to hurt her like Ed had, he'd never push her beyond her limits. Never.

When he finally started moving in and out of her, she closed her eyes and ignored the hip cramp she was developing as she listened to the sound of Daryl's heavy, panting breaths and savored the heat from said breathing on the skin as his nose slid along the back of her neck with each thrust. She dug her fingernails into the material of the sleeping bags beneath her and she felt Daryl's fingers intertwine with hers as his lips skimmed along the back of her ear.

"You alright?" he whispered at one point and she'd gasped out a small 'yes' before his next thrust cut off her breath again. He seemed encouraged and his pace had increased as well as the force behind them. Carol let out a gasp and she felt Daryl's grip on her hands lessen and he backed off, pulling out of her completely as he readjusted her onto her knees, giving her hips a rest. But he was back in her in a flash, and his thrusts picked up to a speed Carol hadn't known was possible and she felt that bubbling heat inside growing at an alarming rate, the sounds of Daryl's frenzied grunts and panting only fueled the fire! She was about to say that she was close when suddenly Daryl's mouth clamped down firmly on the crook of her neck and shoulder and she felt his teeth sink into her skin as a growl issued from his throat that seemed to rip through his entire body as he completely came apart, every muscle in his body jerked and rippled from the force of the orgasm that crashed into him. Carol ignored the pain in her shoulder as she tumbled over the edge with him, a long, shuddering moan came out of her that she had no control over and she felt that familiar dull warmth spread through her body as her muscles gave out.

But instead of falling onto her face like she expected when she let her body go limp, she felt herself being pulled back and she found herself leaning back into Daryl's still heaving chest. She sighed and relaxed in his lap as his lips littered her hair with kisses.

"God..." he mumbled gruffly, "I love you so much."

Carol let out a long "Mmmm" and nuzzled her nose into the side of his neck. She felt his fingertips slide over the spot where he'd bitten her and she felt the muscles of his face twitch and she knew he was making that face he did when he was sorry.

"Didn't realize I bit ya that hard," he muttered darkly, "I'm sorry, Carol. That was an ass move."

Carol giggled and grabbed his hand to press a kiss to his palm.

"Yeah, it wasn't very nice of you," she admitted, "But I love you anyway."

She felt his mouth twitch into a smile and heard him yawn, his chest rose and she was pushed forward with it. She found herself needing to yawn too and she moaned sadly.

"It's the middle of the afternoon," she pointed out, "We can't sleep."

"We can take a nap, Carol," Daryl stated as he pulled her down next to him so he could curl around her, "Andrea's watching Sophia, remember? We've got time to ourselves."

Carol smiled, glad to have a friend like Andrea...and even more glad to have a man like Daryl.

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So, I admit, I was half asleep when I wrote this so...I hope it's good because I REALLY have no clue what I just wrote. I guess I'll find out in the morning!

Review! And I'm SERIOUS about suggesting what you want in this story! G'night!