Chapter 33: Motivation

"And this is a picture of my big brother. His name's Carl. He lives with his mommy, but we always stay with our daddy on the weekends." Sophia was almost breathless after taking Daryl on a tour of the house including the downstairs bathroom, the upstairs bathroom, her room, the attic, down to the basement, back up to the living room and then into the hall where all the family photos were in frames along the walls.

Daryl had followed Sophia around patiently as she dragged him all over the place, and Carol had tagged along, stifling giggles along the way.

"Do you know my daddy?" Sophia asked, looking up at Daryl with bright, inquisitive eyes. Daryl laughed softly and glanced at Carol.

"Uh, yeah, I've met him a couple times."

"Do you like tea parties?"

"Can't say I ever had one before," Daryl said slowly.

"Do you…"

"Sophia, what's with all the questions?" Carol laughed. "It's getting late, honey."

"Can't I stay up a little longer?" Sophia begged.

"You have school tomorrow," Carol said softly. "You need to go brush your teeth and put on your pajamas, ok?" Sophia sighed, and she looked up at Daryl.

"Sorry, kiddo. Can't help you outta this one. Your mom's right. You gotta go get your sleep so you'll do a good job at school tomorrow." Sophia frowned, but she finally nodded.

"Ok, but are you coming to supper tomorrow?" Sophia asked.

"I have to work late tomorrow, kiddo. But soon, ok?"

"Since you and Mommy are friends now, does that mean you'll come over and play more?" Sophia looked to Daryl and then to Carol. Daryl was the first one to go red-faced, and Carol stepped forward and took her daughter's hand.

"Okay, that's another question," Carol pointed out. "Come on, sweetie. Let's get you ready for bed." She glanced at Daryl over her shoulder and flashed him a smile. "I'll be down in a few minutes."

"Take your time," he said with a little smile, waving at Sophia as she grinned up at him and giggled.

"Mommy, I like Daryl." Carol led Sophia into the bathroom, and the little girl hopped up onto her little step stool. She grabbed her mermaid toothbrush from her cup. Carol helped her put a little toothpaste on it, and she started brushing.

"I'm glad you like Daryl." Carol stood behind her little girl and started brushing her light brown hair out.

"Mommy?" Sophia asked, slurring around her toothbrush.

"Yeah?"

"Is Daryl your friend like Glenn is Rosita's friend?" Sophia asked. "'Cause I saw Rosita kiss Glenn on the lips. I wasn't supposed to see, but I did."

"Oh, you did, huh?" Carol asked. Sophia nodded and kept brushing.

"Uh-huh."

"Well, kissing is something grown-ups do when they care about each other a lot."

"Well, Rosita and Glenn must really like each other, 'cause they were really kissing." Carol bit back a laugh and finished combing out Sophia's hair. Sophia spat her toothpaste out into the sink and rinsed her mouth out, and Carol handed her a towel.

When Sophia hopped down from her step stood, Carol knelt down in front of her.

"What would you think if mommy and Daryl cared about each other like that?" Carol asked. Sophia furrowed her brows for a moment in concentration.

"Well, I think that'd be ok. I like him."

"Good," Carol chuckled. "Are you ready for bed?"

"Uh-huh. Mommy?"

"Yes, Sophia?"

"Is he?"

"Is he what?" Carol asked. Sophia sighed in exasperation.

"Is he your friend like Glenn is Rosita's friend?"

"Oh," Carol laughed. She took a deep breath and nodded. "Uh-huh."

"Do you kiss him?" Sophia giggled.

"That's enough questions for tonight, young lady," Carol laughed. "Come on. Bedtime."

...

When Carol finally came downstairs, she found Daryl sitting on the couch watching some silly cartoon on whatever channel Sophia had left the TV on last.

"You know you don't have to watch that," Carol laughed. Daryl looked up just as she flopped down on the couch beside him.

"Oh, hey," he murmured. "She asleep?"

"After two stories and a hundred questions," Carol laughed. "She's got a lot of energy. Sorry if she ran you ragged tonight."

"Are you kidding?" Daryl asked, reaching for the remote to switch off the TV. "She's awesome. I hope my kid's even half that awesome."

"She is pretty awesome, isn't she? And she's so smart. God, she picks up on everything." Daryl grinned and pulled his arms around Carol's waist, bringing her into his lap. She straddled his hips with her knees and clasped her hands behind his neck.

"You doin' ok?"

"I'm good," she said with a little smile. "I feel good. I'm glad we told Lucy, even if she didn't take it well."

"She was gonna find out sooner or later. I'd rather her know now. Give her time to adjust."

"Mmm," Carol agreed. "I'm glad you're here." "

"Me too," he grinned. "C'mere." He brought his hand behind her neck and urged her down gently for a kiss. She smiled against his lips before opening up to him, slipping her tongue against his as his hands roamed over her back and her ass. She sighed, melting into his kiss. "Taste so good." Carol giggled against his mouth, and when she pulled back, Daryl glanced toward the stairs.

"She won't wake up," Carol whispered. "She's out like a light." Daryl considered his options, and Carol snaked her hand down his chest and over the bulge in his jeans. He groaned when she gave him a squeeze.

"Fuck, you're killin' me," he groaned.

"You can stay," she whispered.

"Ain't that gonna confuse her?"

"She's going to have to get used to you being around. We're gonna live together someday," Carol smiled. Daryl's heart skipped a beat, and his smile widened.

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. What else would we do? Hmm?" She kissed him and pulled back. "We're not playing games here, are we?"

"No," he murmured, slipping his hand under her shirt. "No games." And then Carol paused.

"God, I'm freaking you out, aren't I?"

"What?" Daryl laughed. "No. Not at all. Why?"

"I don't know. I guess I feel like we can finally make plans, and now you're going to think I'm some clingy…"

"Stop," Daryl interrupted. He leaned in and kissed her. "I like you makin' plans. I wanna make more plans with you."

"You do?"

"I love you. 'Course I do."

"I love you," she whispered, smiling as she kissed him again. "You're not gonna stay, are you?"

"I gotta work early. So do you, if I remember right," he said quietly. "As much as I wanna stay, we ain't gonna be worth nothin' tomorrow if I do. You know that." Carol grinned and rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, I know," she sighed. "But can you do one thing for me before you go?"

"Anything?"

"Ooh, I like that," Carol teased, tugging on Daryl's belt. He groaned when she kissed him again, dipping her tongue into his mouth. And then she pulled back again, and Daryl's head fell back against the couch.

"What do you want?" he asked, tracing the outline of her lips with the pad of his thumb.

"I want you to take me upstairs," she whispered, nibbling at his earlobe, "and I want you to fuck me." Daryl nearly choked on his own tongue, and Carol raised an eyebrow. "I need it, Daryl. Please."

"Christ, you're gonna give me a goddamn heart attack with that mouth," he huffed out. She grinned, and Daryl squeezed her ass before lifting her up off of him and getting up off the couch. He looked back toward the stairs and then to Carol again. "Your door got a lock?"

"Yeah," she panted, staring up at him and licking her lips.

"Guess it's my lucky night," he smirked, before pulling Carol up. She yelped when he grabbed her hands and started leading her toward the stairs. He paused just before they got to the steps, and he pulled her in for a hungry kiss. "You gonna be quiet?"

"I can be very quiet with the right motivation." That was all he needed to know before he led her up the stairs and locked them both in her room.

Author's Note: Thanks for reading, guys! Feedback is always appreciated!