It's been a few days now since Charles showed up and he seemed to be a pretty good guy. He and Daryl even went on a run together and brought back some good stuff. I wanted to go too but, of course, I wasn't allowed because of my arm. I really hated that it was still healing. What I hated even more was this cast. It was so itchy! I cannot wait to get it off.

Anyway, they brought back a bunch of food so we decided to have a feast for dinner that night. While standing in the kitchen waiting my turn to get food, I dug my fork down inside of my cast to itch my arm.

"What are ya doin', shorty?" Daryl asked me. "Don't do that." He stopped me.

"It's so itchy." I complained. "I want it off."

"Well, you might as well get used to it cuz it ain't been two weeks yet." He told me. I huffed. He smirked at me, then ruffled my hair. I was struggling a little to get my food, so Daryl took my plate from me. "Here. I got it. Just tell me what ya want."

"I want that, that and some of that." I pointed.

"Okay." He said after spooning it on my plate. "What about over here?"

"I want some of everything except for the green olives." I said. I looked over and saw Charles smiling at me.

"You don't like green olives?" He asked me.

"No, they're foul."

Daryl and Charles laughed. "C'mon." Daryl said taking my plate in the dining room. "I want all that gone." He pointed at my plate. "Ya hear, little lady?"

"I'll try my best." I picked up my fork and started eating.

Daryl went back into the kitchen to get his food. "She's a good little girl." I heard Charles say.

"Yeah, she is." Said Daryl. My face flushed. "When she ain't bein' a smartass." He said loud enough for me to hear. I couldn't hide my smirk.

I noticed that Daryl kept giving me glances while we were eating and I didn't know if it was to make sure I was eating or because I was being quiet. "You okay?" He asked me. I just nodded. "You want me to get ya some more food?"

"No, thanks." I said while chewing.

"Hey, how'd you break your arm anyway?" Charles asked me.

Daryl and I shared a look. "…I tripped." I lied.

"Oh." He let out laugh. "You gotta be more careful."

"She's fine." Daryl said.

There was a brief pause. "Is that tub still filled with water downstairs?" I asked Daryl.

"Mm hmm." He nodded. "Why?"

"Cuz I wanna get washed after dinner."

"Okay. Just let me know before so I can wrap yer arm." He told me. I nodded.

Daryl wrapped my arm for me in a plastic bag, then I went down to the basement with a towel and soap and stuff. I was feeling dirty and gross so a bath would help. Although, it's not really a bath. We kind of just stand next to the tub, wipe ourselves down with water, then soap, then rinse it off. No one gets into the tub, that'd be gross. However, I do stick my head in there when I wash my hair. But that's my little secret.

Anyway, I was getting washed up and trying to go as fast as possible because I was always afraid that someone would come down even though they all knew I was down here. It also felt a little strange with a new person in the house, especially with it being a guy.

So, I got washed quickly and washed my hair, then I wrapped my towel around me, grabbed my stuff and headed up to my room to get changed. I just set my clothes out on my bed, then took my towel off and wrapped my hair up in it.

There was noise over by my closet, then someone said, "whoa!"

I gasped and spun around to see Charles standing there! He was in my closet! I immediately pulled my blanket in front of me. "D-Daryl!"

"No!" Charles said wide-eyed. "No no no! It was an accident. I swear. I'm leaving, okay?" He had his hands up and was backing up towards the door.

"Why were you in there?"

"I was…looking for something. A new shirt."

"Why would it be in there?" I was feeling very nervous.

"I-I don't know. I'm sorry." He left quickly.

I was breathing heavily and my heart was pounding, my face was also red when I looked in the mirror. I just quickly threw some clean clothes on, then did my hair. I was kind of scared to leave my room to face Charles, but I knew I had to. To my surprise, he was standing outside my door when I opened it. My eyes widened and I backed up a little.

"Abby, I'm so sorry." He said. "I swear it was just a stupid mistake."

It seemed genuine and not really a big deal to me anymore so I decided to let it go. "It's okay." I gave him a small, nervous smile.

He smiled back. "I promise I didn't even see anything." There was a brief pause. "Hey, Daryl and I got some sparklers. You coming out so we can light them?"

"Yeah." I nodded and smiled.

He smiled back. "Hey, sweetie," he put his arm across my shoulders as we started walking down the hall, "you think we can keep what just happened to ourselves? It would be a lot less problems."

"Okay." I agreed without much thought.

We were all outside in the backyard now getting ready to do sparklers. It's been a long time so I was a little excited. Daryl also lit a small campfire. "You each get two boxes." Daryl said to Carl and I. "And you come to me to lit 'em. You kids don't need to be playin' with fire."

I huffed with a laugh. "Says the man who got us sparklers." I teased.

He gave me a look. "You wanna do 'em or not?"

"I do."

"Well, then quit bein' a little smartass." He said roughly. I giggled a little. Daryl lit each of us a sparkler, then we kind of played around with them. When the first one went out, I lit two at the same time and swung them around like they were batons.

"Hey, cool." Carl said. "I wanna do two!" So he had Daryl light him two sparklers.

We played and danced around with the sparklers just like it was the fourth of July, and we were having a pretty good time. I threw one of mine in the air and it landed on top of the shed. "Uh oh." I looked at Daryl.

"S'alright. It'll go out." He said. "Don't do that again though."

Another time, I dropped one of mine while it was still lit and the grass caught on fire a little. "Whoa!"

"Abby!" Daryl scolded me. He stomped out the fire. "What are ya trynna do? Burn the whole yard?"

"My bad." Was all I said.

I started to get bored after that. Not like my brother who was four years younger than me, he could probably play with them all night. I was getting bored though, I needed something more exciting. "Can I throw the rest of mine in the fire?" I grinned.

"No. Ya cain't." Daryl said. But it was too late. I dumped the box in before he finished his sentenced. The fire lit up.

"Whoa." Carl and I said at the same time.

Daryl gave me a sharp swat to my backside. "I said not to." He scolded me.

"I did it before you…told me not to." I defended myself.

"Yeah?" He growled. "Keep it up, girl, and that swat's gonna turn into somethin' else."

My face flushed because he threatened to spank me in front of Charles. "Sorry." Was all I said.

"C'mon, Daryl." Charles said. "There was no harm done. Just a cool light show." He put his arm around me. I smirked at Daryl and stuck my tongue out at him.

Daryl stared at me. "One more thang, kid. One more thang and yer goin' in. And I'll beat yer little butt."

I kind of smiled, then looked at my brother. "Can I have one or yours?" I asked and reached for his sparklers.

"No." He pulled away.

"Are you serious?"

"You shouldn't've wasted all of yours!"

"Just gimme one." I tried to get one from him. I didn't see why he couldn't just give me one damn sparkler.

"No, get away." He yelled. There was a struggle.

"He said no, Abby." Daryl said to me. "Leave 'im alone."

I gave my brother an annoyed look, then knocked his sparkler out of his hand. "Hey!" Carl complained.

"Alright. Yer done." Daryl said and grabbed my arm. "Let's go. Inside."

"But, Daryl!" I tried to protest.

"But nothin'! I gave you fair warnin'. Now get yer little rump inside before I kick it there." He looked at me sternly. I gave him a mad, defeated look, then walked passed him into the house. He followed me. Carol was in the kitchen making something again. "How 'bout helpin' Carol make…whatever she's makin'?" I guess that gave him an idea.

I got annoyed. I didn't feel like baking right now. "I don't want to." I said lowly and complained.

Daryl stared at me at for a moment. "Alright." He nodded. "Then, you can take yerself up to yer room and wait fer me. You can stay in 'nere while everyone else is havin' a good time." He pointed. I went up to my room without protest.

I took my sweatpants off almost as soon as I was in my room because I thought Daryl was sending me to bed, even though it was pretty early. I just figured it was my punishment. Feeling like a little kid again, I got into my bed and pulled my blanket over my legs. I guess I deserved it though. I was being pretty immature down there. I put my head down feeling stupid.

Daryl walked into my room just then. I looked up slowly and saw him holding a rubber spatula. I gave him a curious look. "Abby." He said with a sigh.

I got an idea and my eyes widened a little. "W-what are you doing with that?"

He didn't answer me and closed the door. "I thank ya know what I'm gonna do with it."

I looked at the spatula, then at him and swallowed. "I'm sorry." I said. "Please don't. I'll—I'll go help Carol like you told me to."

"Nah. You had yer chance. This is what we're doin' now." He held up the spatula and came over to me.

"You can't spank me!" I became angry.

"You wanna bet?" He said with raised eyebrows. "Yer dad left me in charge 'a you so that means I can punish ya. Unless…ya want me to tell 'im about this and everythang else." He tilted his head. I looked down sadly. "I'm sure he'd be pretty upset about it." There was a brief pause. "So, it's either a spankin' or we can wait til yer dad gets back and we'll tell 'im everythang. Up to you."

I thought for a minute. I didn't want to disappoint my dad, I never liked doing that. And it would just cause him more problems. So, I decided my fate. "I'll take the spankin'." I said lowly.

"Good choice." He came over and pulled me up by my arm and brought me around to his other side, then he sat down on the edge of the bed. "Over my knees." He patted his leg. I just did what he said and laid over his lap. "Careful 'a yer arm now." He adjusted me better. Then, before I knew what was happening, he grabbed the waistband of my shorts and slid them down. Now my bare butt was out.

I wasn't expecting that and I froze for a minute, I couldn't even speak. The realization hit me of the position I was in and what was about to happen making me feel embarrassed. My face flushed and I bet it was super red already.

I didn't know what to do in this moment; should I put my hand back and try to cover my bottom? (I only had one good hand.) Should I try to run away? (I doubt I would make it very far.) Should I yell at Daryl? (That would probably just result in my punishment being more severe.)

Many different thoughts went through my head but in the end, I didn't say or do anything and so the spanking started before I could speak again. That little thing really smarted. I soon forgot about the embarrassment and started focusing on the pain. Daryl went back and forth between each of my butt cheeks. I cringed with every smack. Then, he started doing three smacks on one cheek, then three smacks on the other.

I was getting to my breaking point. "Daryl, it really hurts."

"It's supposed to hurt. That's the whole point."

He continued paddling my bottom like it was nothing. I gritted my teeth and tried not to cry, but it was getting harder and harder. Finally, my eyes welled up with tears but they hadn't spilled yet.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. My eyes widened. "Yeah?" Daryl said. To my horror, the door opened.

"Oh." It was Charles. I freaked out and tried to get away, but Daryl grabbed me and held me there.

"Nooo." I whined lowly sounding just like a little kid.

"Sorry…I'll come back later." Charles said all flustered.

"No, what?" Daryl caught me off guard by giving me two smacks. I stayed still and didn't try to get away again.

"Uh…I just wanted to see if you could give me a hand with the fire ring? But…I see your hands are already busy." He let out a laugh. I put my head down sadly. Daryl continued to spank me even though Charles was there. I was mortified.

"Yeah, lemme take care 'a this and I'll be down."

"Got it." Charles said and quickly closed the door.

"Daryl." I whined. "Why did you do that?"

"Do what? What do ya mean?" He said like he really didn't know. Could he really be that clueless?

"He saw me getting spanked." I babbled and pointed towards the door.

"So what? Yer a kid. That's what kids get when they're bad." Daryl said with confidence. He must be a firm believer in spankings.

"It's embarrassing." I cried and sniffled. "And he…saw me."

"…I'm sure he's seen a girl's naked butt before."

"Yeah, but…not mine."

"Well…sorry, baby. Maybe this will teach ya a lesson now." He gave me a few more good smacks, then the spanking stopped as quickly as it started. He pulled my shorts up for me, then helped me up. My hands flew to my bottom. I stood there with tears in my eyes and sniffled. "Hey." He moved my hair away from my face. "I'm sorry I had to do that…and I don't wanna have to do it again." He spoke softly and shook his head. "But you need to learn to listen. Yer a kid. You and Carl. Carol, yer dad and I are the adults." He tucked my hair behind my ears. "And I know ya probably heard this speech a million times but we know what's best fer y'all. So, when we tell ya to do somethin' or not do somethin', you should listen." He paused and looked at me. I sniffled.

"I want an apology."

"I'm sorry." I said immediately and cried.

"And yer gonna apologize to Carol too." He said. I nodded. There was a brief pause. "C'mere." He pulled me in for a hug. I wrapped my arms around his neck and took this in, I needed that. He rubbed my back in slow circles, I began to calm down.

Daryl finally let me go and stood up. "You can come downstairs whenever ya want. But you better come back down eventually. Or I'll come getcha." He smirked at me, then planted a kiss on the top of my head before leaving.

I sniffled and wiped away the remaining tears. My bottom was on fire. I had to see what it looked like. I stood in front of the mirror, then turned around and pulled down my shorts. My butt was super red right on my sit spot. I cringed just looking at it. Damn. I thought. Daryl sure knows how to give a spanking.

I pulled myself together so that I could go back downstairs. When I was ready, I marched down those stairs and held my head up like everything was fine. Peeking my head around the corner, I saw that Carol and Daryl were both in the kitchen. I took a deep breath, then walked out into view.

Daryl turned my way. "Good." He said and put a hand on my shoulder. "I believe you owe Carol an apology."

I put my head down. "I'm sorry."

"Look up at her." Daryl said and lifted my chin.

"I'm sorry." I tried again.

"For?" Daryl pushed.

I glanced at him quickly, then licked my lips. "I'm sorry for not helping you bake…after Daryl told me to."

She smiled at me. "It's okay, honey." She rubbed my arm. "Have some cookies." She gestured towards the plate of cookies on the table. I smiled a little and took one.

"Hey." Daryl said to me. "Are you gonna be a good girl now?" He looked down at me. I nodded while taking a bite of my cookie. "Good. You can go in 'nere and sit with everyone for a while." He pointed in the other room.

I went in the dining room where my brother and Charles were. My face flushed and I looked away when Charles looked at me. I just walked over and sat in my original seat, he was next to me which was good because now I don't have to look at him.

The seat felt harder to me now, and I kept fidgeting. "Maybe you'd like to sit on a pillow?" Charles said to me with a smirk. My eyes glazed over to him. "Hey, don't worry about it, kid. We've all gotten our butts blistered at some point in our lives."

I just kept my head down and finished my cookie. "What's goin' on?" Daryl asked. He walked in and caught the end of what Charles said.

"Abby, here, was movin' all around the place so I said maybe she needs to sit on a pillow." He said and laughed.

"Oh." Daryl said then smirked. "Well, that's what happens when ya get yer hide tanned."

Charles laughed some more. "We've all been there. I didn't mean to walk in on ya." He shook my arm.

"Don't worry about it. She'll be fine." Daryl waved him off.

"What are you guys talking about?" Carl asked. I really wished he wouldn't have. I was about to tell him nothing but Daryl spoke first.

"Yer sister gotta spankin'." Daryl said. I bet my face was as red as my bottom.

"What? Again?" Said Carl. I didn't know he knew about it the first time.

"Yup." Daryl said. "That's what happens when yer bad."

"Again?" Charles asked. "Does this happen all the time?"

"Not since the first time I had to do it." Said Daryl. "Must 'a been overdue." He smirked and kind of stretched. My face flushed, I kept my head down and stayed quiet. I didn't think it would ever end.

"Will you leave that little girl alone?" Carol said coming to my rescue. "Stop teasing her."

"Yeah, well, her punishment ain't over yet." Daryl said. I looked at him. "As soon as yer done with yer cookies, yer ass is goin' back up to yer room. I'm puttin' ya to bed early tonight."

I still hadn't said a word.

When I was done, I headed for the stairs like Daryl told me. "Hey." He stopped me on the second step. "You okay?" I just nodded. "You sure?" I responded by nodding again. He paused. "Hey, I was just kiddin' in 'nere. I didn't mean to embarrass ya." He pushed away the hair that was in my face. "You mad at me?" I shook my head no this time. Daryl pulled me in for a hug, I wrapped my arms around his neck. He rubbed my back a little, then pulled my shirt down on the sides for me. "C'mon, I'll tuck ya in."

It took me a pretty long time to fall asleep, but I finally did. At some point in the night, I heard a strange noise and stirred in my sleep a little. Ignoring it, I repositioned myself and went back to sleep. Then, it happened again. But this time. I heard, "hey," and someone shaking my arm. I woke up immediately with my heart pounding. "Hey, wake up, little girl."

I gasped and sat up a little and turned on my lantern. Charles was there, he had a flashlight. "What are you doing?" I was nervous.

"I wanted to come see ya while everyone else is in bed." He touched my cheek. My eyes widened.

"Daryl?" I called.

"Shh." He said and put a finger to my lips. "We gotta be quiet." His hand slid down to my chest.

"Daryl." I called again but a little louder.

"Hey." He put his hand over my mouth. "What'd I just tell you?" He snapped. "Yer gonna get me killed." He looked towards the door. "And speakin' 'a that," he pulled out his gun, I pulled back, "if you wake up auntie or uncle, then I'm gonna have to kill 'em." He stared at me. It was like it was a completely different person. I was terrified. "So, what's it gonna be? You gonna cooperate?" Feeling scared, I thought for a minute. If I wake them up, he could shoot them. I nodded. He grinned evilly. "You are a good girl." His hand traveled down and into my shorts and he touched my private area.

I whimpered. "Please don't." I cried. "I don't want it."

"Hush now. It's gonna be okay." He touched my cheek with the hand that he just put down my pants. He gave me a sickly smile, then he started to lift up my shirt.

"No." I said and pulled it down.

"It's alright." He lifted it again.

"No!" I yelled and pulled it down.

"Hey." He snapped and hit me in my forehead with his flashlight. I felt blood trickle down my face almost immediately and cried. "You said you was gonna cooperate, so come here!" He grabbed me and ripped one of the straps on my tank top. If I don't do something now, he's going to rape me.

I took my chance and hit the gun out of his hand. "Daryl!" I screamed. "Daryl! Daryl!"

"Shut up!" He grabbed me and covered my mouth. I was still screaming for Daryl even though it was muffled.

All of a sudden, my door flew open and Daryl was there. He saw what was going on. "Get the fuck away from her!" He yelled.

Charles dropped me and put his hands up. "It's not what it looks like."

Daryl didn't waste any time and punched him in the face. I stayed back on the floor while they fought.

Just then, I spotted Charles's gun where I knocked it out of his hands. Grabbing it, I took my aim and took the safety off, they both stopped. "Do it." Daryl said. I shot Charles right in the head, he fell to the floor. I stared at him for a few seconds, then put the gun down on my bed.

My emotions quickly caught up with me and I ran to Daryl. He hugged me while I cried. "Shh shh. I got ya." He lifted me.

"No." I said because I'm too old for that but he did anyway and held me. I just let him.

"What's going on?" Carol was finally there, my brother was behind her. "What happened?"

Daryl immediately set me down. "Charles tried to…" He trailed off when he looked down at my little brother. "...do somethin' to Abby."

Carol instantly looked concerned and stepped into the room. She put her arms around me. "Are you okay, honey?" I didn't answer, just hung my head.

Daryl lifted my chin and looked at my wound. "I'm gonna take care 'a this." He was referring to the body. "You take care 'a that." He was referring to my wound.

Carol nodded. "Come on, sweetie. Let's take care of your head and get you a new shirt."

"Carl." Daryl said. "It's alright, buddy. You can go back to bed."

Carol took care of my wound and got me a t-shirt to wear. Now I was just sitting on my bed, I didn't feel right. "How about I brush your hair?" Carol said. "I used to love when my mom would brush my hair." She picked up my hairbrush and started brushing my hair for me. "When I was a little girl, my mom taught me to brush my hair a hundred times. I always thought, who has time for that?" She laughed. I didn't say anything. I knew she was just trying to be nice, but I just wasn't feeling myself at all. "Abby, are you okay?" She touched my back. I just nodded. "You can talk about what happened if you want."

I didn't say anything again, just stared at the blood on my carpet from Charles's dead body.

Daryl walked in the room. "…I, uh…took care 'a the body." He nodded.

"Good." Said Carol. There was a brief pause, I could feel Daryl's eyes on me but I never looked at him. They stepped out of the room and were talking behind my closed door. I only caught some of what they were saying.

"…okay?"

"I don't know…wouldn't talk to me."

My door opened and Daryl walked in, Carol was gone. "Hey, you okay?" He asked me. I nodded. Daryl walked more into the room and sat down on my bed. There was a brief pause where no one said anything.

"There's blood on my carpet." I finally spoke.

He looked down at it. "Yeah, there is." A pause. "How 'bout you can sleep in my room tonight?" He had his arm on me. "Yeah?" I just nodded. "C'mon." He helped me up and guided me to his room.

I was in Daryl's bed now, his bed was bigger than mine but softer. I like hard beds. He covered me up. "You gonna be okay tonight?"

I got a scary thought when he said that because I thought about being alone in here in the dark. I didn't want to be alone. I looked up at him. "Will you stay with me?"

He gave me a look. "Oh, I don't thank…" He trailed off.

Tears welled up in my eyes. "Stay with me." I cried and wiped at my tears with my arm.

"Okay." Daryl said. "Okay." He got onto the bed and scooted next to me. I wrapped my around him and laid my head on him and sniffled. "Shh." He played with my hair until I fell asleep.